It is really great to see more and more fantasy novels coming out that feature diverse characters. For so long, the genre has been dominated by white guys, and to see that changing is really pretty awesome. A River of Royal Blood is a diverse fantasy which is also Young Adult, and features many characters of color and of varying sexual orientations, which makes me really happy. Fantasy is my favorite genre and I love reading new fresh stories with diverse characters. That being said, this book was simply fantastic. Eva is a wonderful protagonist; strong, fierce, sassy, and smart. She's also vulnerable and emotional, and I loved seeing her come into her own within the story as she struggled to overcome all the obstacles in her way. The magic system and worldbuilding was also really enjoyable. I very much loved this book and look forward to the next one in the series!