Duty or Heart, What Would You Choose?
Book Review of The Moon’s Daughter by Leena Kazak
Published: December 16th, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 Stars)
Genres: Romantasy (Romance Fantasy), Romance, Fantasy
Series: The Moon & Sands Trilogy (Book 1 of 3)
Disclaimer: Thank you Leena Kazak and Inkspire Services for sending me this book. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.
CW/TW: attempted rape, violence, animal death, murder, blood, torture.
Welcome to Alzahra
Crown Princess Layna’s kingdom is on the brink of war. She is prepared to do her duty and secure a alliance through a political marriage. However, her heart has other plans.
When warrior Prince Zarian arrives at court, he works his way into the heart of the princess. Beholdent to his own mysterious duty, Zarian finds himself struggling between a secret prophecy and the call of his heart.
Can Layna lead her kingdom to survive the inevitable war and follow her heart at the same time? Or will the prophecy alter her entire world?
Struggling with Self-Sacrificing
One of the biggest internal struggles that Layna faces throughout The Moon’s Daughter is prioritising herself over her kingdom. She was raised knowing that she would most likely have to marry for the betterment of the kingdom instead of for love. As The Moon’s Daughter falls into the genre of romantasy (fantasy romance) this struggle plays a major role throughout the book, especially after being teased with the possibility of having both with Prince Nizam.
Sister & Soul Mates
The sisterly love between Layna and Soraya in The Moon’s Daughter is beautiful and reflects their own kind of soul mate bond. I loved seeing them support each other through the ups and downs of the story. The following quote perfectly sums up their relationship:
“Do you have any siblings… or someone special back home? Someone who is to you what Soraya is to me?”
It’s one of those relationships where neither Layna nor Soraya would be who they are without the other. Which, now that I think about it, terrifies me for the rest of the series. They better both survive!
Many Stories Becoming One
The Moon’s Daughter is mainly told in two POVs, Layna and Zarian; however, there are both flashbacks and one (or a few) off POVs from other characters. The flashbacks slowly tell a story that adds a lot of mystery to the book. They slowly unravel until the mystery unfolds, and instead of mystery, the flashbacks give context.
Favourite Quotes
“He doesn’t define your worth, Layna”
As queen, she would be powerful yet, in many ways, tragically powerless.
He was a Medjai, sworn to his duty, yet his heart rebelled, yearning for something achingly, tantalizingly beyond his reach.
“Then, Princess, you are playing with fire. You will get hurt.” Layna looked down at her lap, silent in her sadness. Tinga tugged at her hair, forcing Layna to meet her sharp eyes in the mirror. “Or perhaps that fire will burn through the ropes that bind you.”
It was a lapse in his control, a moment of weakness he regretted, yet he regretted not kissing her even more.
He feared his eyes would betray him, and his years of training to master his emotions would crumble under the weight of a single glance from her.
His eyes shone with a love so fierce, so powerful, that he would let his own kingdom, the entire world, the very balance burn away into nothingness for his beloved.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed so many aspects of The Moon’s Daughter. Especially the heavy tension of the romance and the soul mate sisterly bond. I’m excited to see these expanded upon in the following books.
If you enjoy tension-filled romantasy and strong, determined women, The Moon’s Daughter is definitely for you.
Author’s Website | Amazon AU | Amazon US
Where you can, please purchase from the author’s website to support indie authors
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
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