The Blood Queen (Spy and Guardian #2)
Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
Sourcebooks Fire
Published October 6, 2026
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads
About The Blood Queen
In this stunning sequel to The Crimson Throne, Alyth and Samson must infiltrate the fae court to prepare to face the bloodthirsty army of the High Blade who is intent on destroying both the mortal and fae worlds. From the New York Times bestselling authors of the Witch and Hunter duology, Sara Raasch and Beth Revis, comes the conclusion to this incredible romantasy duology.
Alyth and Samson finally know the identity of the High Blade, leader of the bloodthirsty Red Cap army, and it’s someone they never suspected. They’ll use every bit of courage, smarts, and luck they have to escape her grasp and flee to the fae court, where they hope to find aid in the fight against the Red Caps.
But the fae princes have been apathetic since the Faerie Queen disappeared years ago at the hands of the High Blade. They seem unwilling to help. And if they find out Samson’s true identity, he’ll be killed and Alyth banished.
Alyth and Samson can only depend on each other and their love as they navigate fae politics, try to win allies, search for the missing queen, and face down the greatest threat the two worlds have ever known.
My Review
Have I mentioned before how much I love the trend toward duologies and away from trilogies? I love that we skip right over saggy middles that feel like they exist only to heighten tension in the romance and set up for the final battle. This book skips right over all of that and gives us a strong opening and a fantastic conclusion.
I really enjoyed the way that the authors reimagined a historical moment in British and Scottish history as a clash between mythical Fae and Red Caps. There were characters from history and some references to real historical events, but it’s all steeped in a dangerous magical world filled with treacherous political relationships and magic. I loved it.
The romance between Alyth and Samson is also a central part of the story, especially during the chapters from his point of view. He’s so aware of how who he is can be dangerous to her, and so desperate to protect her at any cost. It’s not easy to balance the romance with the other components of a story like this, but I think it’s done pretty well here.
I really liked Alyth’s character. She’s smart and scrappy, and it takes a long time for her to trust herself and make herself heard, but when she does, she is a force to be reckoned with. I loved watching her grow into that fierce Fae Lady that I knew she was.
If you aren’t familiar with the series, I recommend that you start with The Crimson Throne, the first book in the duology. If you like fantasy inspired by British history, definitely check out this series.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 15 up.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.
Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing, brief nudity and references to sex.
Spiritual Content
Some characters have magic. Red Caps grow more powerful as they commit violence.
Violent Content
Battle scenes showing some gore and death.
Drug Content
Alyth cautions Samson not to eat any Fae food that she hasn’t confirmed is safe.
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