Sestia

With this multifaceted epic, Macallister brings her Five Queendoms trilogy to a satisfying close (after Arca). The Drought of Girls, during which no female babies were born, has ended, and now the five queendoms must reckon with the fallout. Scorpica’s Queen Amankha, having left her secret daughter, Roksana, in a safe place, attempts the difficult task of making peace with the other queendoms after Scorpica’s panic-driven attacks during the Drought. Eminel, the new queen of Arca, arranges her court and wrestles with her loneliness after being abandoned by the woman closest to her. The regent of Paxim, Stellari, cares for the infant queen while struggling to navigate a power that isn’t her own. And in magical Sestia, the High Xara Concordia faces her downfall, brought on by her own actions. Ascending in her wake is Olivi, a young woman who survived the previous Sun Rites, a ritual sacrifice, and harbors shocking secrets. As the queendoms shift and change, the next Sun Rites are fast approaching. Meanwhile, in the Underlands, the deceased sorcerer Sessadon hasn’t yet finished scheming. Balancing character development and worldbuilding can be a difficult task, but Macallister handles it with ease. This is a worthy finale. (May)