Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn

Third Daughter is my Q in my series of authors and I enjoyed it so much, that I have bought the next book in the series, Second Daughter.

The blurb says: 

Sneaking out of the palace wasn’t one of Aniri’s best ideas. But she’s the Third Daughter of the Queen of Dharia—zero responsibilities and zero royal duties. She’s just the backup daughter, in case her older sisters’ arranged marriages—to take the crown or broker an alliance—don’t quite work out. But once Aniri reaches her 18th birthday, she’ll be truly free… and then she can marry the charming fencing instructor she meets for fevered kisses in the forest.

But then the impossible happens—a marriage proposal. From a barbarian prince in the north, no less. And if Aniri refuses, the threat of their new flying weapon might bring war.

So she agrees to the young prince’s proposal, but only as a subterfuge to spy on him, find the weapon, and hopefully avoid both war and an arranged marriage to a man she doesn’t love. But once she arrives in the sweeping mountains of the north, she discovers the prince has his own secrets… and saving her country may end up breaking her heart.

This book surprised me by how much I enjoyed it.  It is a romance, full of both high and low emotions.  You are really transported into Aniri's world and feel what it must be like to have your chance of freedom snatched away from you.  Aniri is a head-strong, independent young lady, which is great to read about as the protagonist in a romance novel!  Not only that, Susan Kaye Quinn has created a world that satisfies my love of fantasy novels too - a different world, with it's own royalty, deception and technology.

I don't know if this book would be classed as Young Adult, given the age of Aniri, however, it certainly won't only be enjoyed by teens, as I enjoyed it lots.