Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

A Vow of Blood and Sap by Haley Gallant follows Princess Valia’s quest to locate her missing twin brother Niko, prophetically hidden at the Sacred Triant Monastery in the Nelirrhi mountains. After surviving palace politicking, illusions, and threats from draevori, she escapes with Kirin Adante, a skilled guide, and travels across forests, villages, and mountains. Along the way, they evade magic and mythical creatures, from manticores to fallows and fetterbeaks, while Valia hones her floramantic powers and combat skills under Kirin’s guidance. She discovers clues suggesting her sibling survived but that her family was killed, pushing her forward. Whether or not she can make it to the monastery, or what state Nico may be in under the manipulative Leander, could set the stage for a devastating showdown under Leander’s shadow and the approaching Avanian army.

Haley Gallant’s A Vow of Blood and Sap delivers a really well-written, tightly constructed journey, and every step we take along the way feels alive and authentic in Valia’s quest. Her fleeing the palace in disguise kicks off our sense of the power of her floramancy and how she uses it to heal, protect, and make her way through this cinematically imagined, dangerous world. The partnership between Valia and Kirin rests on tenuous trust as they ride together, spar, and strategize, learning to rely on one another despite past wounds and conflicting, often misunderstood motives. From rescuing a child from menacing creatures to evading bounty hunters, the interplay of action, combined with breathtaking landscapes and a brilliant climax, makes this first book in the Whispers of the Flora series a true promise of the wonderful saga to come. Very highly recommended.