The Third Daughter
Betrayal Prophecies Book 1 | Out Now
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cover art by Gemma O'Brien, designed by Karina Granda
A Read With Jenna Jr. Pick!
Hachette | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | IndieBound
UK: Hachette | Goldsboro (signed copies) | Amazon UK | Waterstones
Book 1 in a sweeping YA duology about legacy, betrayal, sisterhood, and politicizing emotion in the quest for power—all balanced by a slow-burn sapphic romance.
For centuries, the citizens of Velle have waited for their New Maiden to return. The prophecy states she will appear as the third daughter of a third daughter. When the fabled child is finally born to Velle’s reigning queen all rejoice except for Elodie, the queen’s eldest child, who has lost her claim to the crown. The only way for Elodie to protect Velle is to retake the throne. To do so, she must debilitate the Third Daughter—her youngest sister, Brianne.
Desperate, Elodie purchases a sleeping potion from Sabine, who sells sadness. But the apothecary mistakenly sends the princess away with a vial of tears instead of a harmless sleeping brew. Sabine’s sadness is dangerously powerful, and Brianne slips into a slumber from which she will not wake. With the fates of their families and country hanging in the balance, Sabine and Elodie hurry to revive the Third Daughter while a slow-burning attraction between the two girls erupts in full force.
A must-read for fans of the BookTok sensations Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.
FOREIGN RIGHTS:
🇬🇧 The Third Daughter is published in the UK/AUS/NZ by Hodderscape
PRAISE:
“The Third Daughter is subtly vicious and achingly tender, with a charming cast and delightful twists to boot. In the queendom of Velle, divinity and royalty clash, romance and intrigue simmer, and betrayals abound—but at the novel’s gentle heart is a story about the healing magic of being known. This is Adrienne Tooley at her most powerful.”―Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
"Spectacularly emotional and majestically dark, The Third Daughter is a glittering jewel of a novel certain to win over even the most hard-hearted readers."―Morgan Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series
"Political intrigue and emotional intimacy balance on a knife's edge, teetering constantly, precariously between the two in this story of sisterhood, love, and duty. Elodie's journey held me captive in this stunning series starter and I cannot wait to see where she takes me next."―Courtney Gould, author of The Dead and the Dark
"Emotionally gripping and devastating—I held my breath the whole way. Adrienne Tooley deftly weaves prophecy, mystery and intrigue into a deeply intimate story. I ached with Elodie and Sabine, and I utterly fell in love with this exquisite sapphic fantasy. I’m already yearning for the sequel!"―Leslie Vedder, author of The Bone Spindle
“This gripping sapphic fantasy portrays the anti-hero princess taking on the patriarchy. Potential love interest Sabine has a deep sadness that results in magical tears for her potions. The absolute rage of Elodie and the softer, emotional needs of Sabine complement each other and help their alternate character traits emerge… Immersive and intense; hand this royal fantasy to readers of Kendare Blake’s “Three Dark Crowns” and Victoria Aveyard’s “Red Queen” series.” — School Library Journal
“Emotions run high in this engaging fantasy, where sparks fly between Elodie and Sabine and royals battle. The dangers of dictated religions and the manipulative power they can wield provide an interesting undercurrent to the narrative, which advocates for conscious action and genuine communication between families. A quick, magical, and interesting read.” — Booklist
“This sprawling fantasy by Tooley, told in alternating third-person narration that features excerpts from Brianne’s dreams and Velle’s historical New Maiden scriptures, features frothy romance and charismatic, take-charge heroines.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“Tooley weaves familiar fairy tales into a captivating dual point-of-view narrative. The tenuous alliance between royal Elodie and commoner Sabine blossoms into a riveting star-crossed romance as well as a story of two teenage girls embracing their emotions as a source of strength.” — Shelf Awareness
PRESS:
“The Third Daughter” is Sapphic Slow-Burn Fantasy and Feminist Rage - Autostraddle
Twitter’s Anticipated Releases, Or A Look at What 2023 Has in Store - Reads Rainbow
81 Queer and Feminist Books Coming Your Way Summer 2023 - Autostraddle