A Quest of Blood and Stone — S. Usher Evans

Find the most powerful magical object ever created, win the princess's heart - or so they think. Princess Ayla will ascend the throne in six short weeks, fearing the fae to the north are about to invade. The magical stone that had been protecting her kingdom was stolen in her infancy by her evil fae stepmother to weaken her kingdom, and the evil monsters to the north have been biding their time ever since.

 Ayla's trusted advisor has news that he might have found the stone's location, and proposes sending his young apprentice—and Ayla's best friend—Cade to retrieve it. Cade is eager to complete his training and become a full-fledged wizard to protect his adopted kingdom, and perhaps help its princess to see him as more than her closest friend.

 One complication—a handsome newcomer to Ayla's guard, one who recently caught the eye of the princess, is hand-selected to accompany Cade on this quest. Ward is eager to prove himself, and perhaps win a few more minutes with the beautiful would-be queen when he returns, if only he can keep this sheltered wizard's apprentice from tripping to his death on a rock.

 As their journey takes them farther from home, a mysterious fae girl begins to follow them, swearing their quest is a lie and there's more to the king's death than they've been told. And most importantly: she knows exactly where to find the stone.

Full of twists and turns, magical monsters, and a slow burn mystery, A Quest of Blood and Stone is sure to delight all young adult readers of epic fantasy fiction.Winner, 2022 Florida Author Project Young Adult Book of the Year

An enthralling tale that wraps you up in the quest, the politics, and the wondering of who is the bad guy. - Jen Farnworth, Young Adult Books Central

[F]ast-paced packed with twists and turns that leaves the reader guessing about what's going to happen next. - Bethany Wicker, Young Adult Books Central