Bargain @ $1.99 from HarperCollins' HarperVoyager imprint in Canada & presumably also the US (linkage goes to Kobo, should be the same price at all the other retailers):
The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (
Wikipedia), 1st in her Queens of Renthia series of epic fantasy set in a tree-dwelling humans amidst elemental nature magic world. I
read this just a couple of days ago from the library's copy, and really liked it (and it was $11.99 CAD when I went to put it on my wishlist), so I'm pleased to see it drop so quickly.
Despite what the one Kobo reviewer says, it's not actually a YA, though it is YA-compatible. More of a New Adult with some mature themes, but non-explicit levels of sexuality and carnage. Wikipedia says that the American Library Association gave this their 2017 Alex Award for “ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18”.
A Tor.com Best of 2016 pick!
Set in the magical world of Renthia, The Queen of Blood is Sarah Beth Durst’s ambitious entry into adult epic fantasy. With the danger of Peter Brett’s The Warded Man, heart of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, and lyricism of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind, this is the first chapter in a series destined to be a classic.
Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .
But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.
With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.
Also @ $1.99 from HarperCollins' decidedly YA HarperTeen imprint:
Sabriel by Garth Nix (
Wikipedia), 1st in his excellent Old Kingdom series. This is pretty cheap for the 1st one, but I've never seen #2-4 drop from the $10-$12 asking price and there's an
omnibus edition of #1-4 which sometimes goes to $15.99 CAD on sale. IIRC the UK editions from a different publisher are couponable, though, and sometimes go fairly cheap on sale.