Lisa Henson
The Tribe of Toloron has fallen. Lord Regent Okon rules in Numeria until the Heir of the Tribe of Azu comes of age to take the throne. But rumor has it that there is an heir to Toloron who yet lives. A prophecy tells of three Khuselas who are destined to restore the Tribe of Toloron to the throne. Chaos, Conflict, and Calm. This is their story.
Jorann - the nameless slave boy found by great warrior K'Nan - is Calm. He has no idea of his true identity until K'Nan frees him and opens his eyes. Gesi - companion to the royal twins of East Rhydor, good enough to do their bidding but not good enough to be treated as truly noble - is Conflict. He surprises himself and everyone else when he bests the First Knight, Jorell Boro, in single combat. Sania - raised in a pleasure house - is Chaos. She has always created chaos with tricks and tantrums, and when three supposed envoys come to the pleasure house with trouble on their minds, she stirs it up and discovers strengths she didn't know she had. The three leave the lives they've known and journey away from what they were, toward what they are meant to be - the protectors of the true Heir.
I found it very refreshing to read a fantasy set in an African world. I read a lot of fantasy, but I haven't read anything in this setting before, and Mr. Hurst did an excellent job of drawing me into the world he created. The first chapter, chapter and a half was a little slow, and then I was hooked. The heroes are suitably heroic, or on their way to becoming so, but not without flaws that make them relatable (and sometimes dislikable). The villains - ooh, reading about Lord Regent Okon just gave me the shivers. I can see him in my mind, and he isn't physically imposing, but he is terrifying. That's one thing I loved about this book. The writing style was such that I could create pictures in my mind of the setting, the people, and the action. And the twists and betrayals that I didn't see coming really drove the action and kept me interested to the end.
With action, tension, and plenty of adventure, The Onyx Crown is a rip-roaring good read. I'm looking forward to the second book in the trilogy to see what happens next.
Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader copy through Reedsy Discovery. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Nothing is ever normal for long in Normal, Kentucky. Coke Ogden has bought and refurbished the Old Train Station, turning it into a motel, and grand opening is just in time for the big hoedown. Mae West finds herself in the middle of a mystery when Jay Russel ends up dead during the hoedown. Her detective boyfriend, Hank, tells her to stay out of it, but Mae can't do that. She and the Laundry Club gals have to try to figure out who's responsible. Was it Jay's best friend, Lee, over business matters? Jay's ex-wife Paulette, or his apparently estranged daughter Glenda? Or was it the mysterious hiker who's been pilfering items from businesses around town? With some adventure, laughter, suspense, and a generous helping of Southern sass, they're going to figure it out.
Enjoyable, as always! And the recipes at the end are a fun bonus.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Haven was rescued from a life of slavery by Bell, the Prince of Penryth. She works her way up to become his royal companion guard, and he's also her best friend. When Bell is spirited away by the Noctis, taken for the magic they believe him to have, Haven must enter an uneasy alliance with Archeron Halfbane, a Sun Lord, and the other Solis that he is traveling with so that she can rescue Bell. She doesn't count on the feelings she finds herself having for Archeron, nor does she count on learning that she is the one with magic. Her magic is a forbidden blend of light and dark, and she must learn to control it.
The action is fast, the characters are interesting, and the book is a darn good story. There's good versus evil, reluctant attraction, a quest imposed by a malevolent queen, and more. Haven isn't a one-dimensional character. She has strengths and weaknesses, and the weaknesses make her all the more relatable. Bell's stepmother and stepbrother are deliciously dislikable, and both the Shade Lord and the Sun Lord are fascinating. You'd think the Shade Lord would be straight evil, but that may not necessarily be so. I'm very interested to see how his character develops in the next book. The book leaves us in suspense as to what will happen next, and I look forward to reading more, to see what happens. If you're a fantasy fan, this is well worth reading.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Jill Eileen Smith's latest novel, The Heart of a King, takes you back to ancient Israel, to the ending of King David's reign and to the ascension to the throne of his son, Solomon. Solomon has been renowned as the wisest of kings, and this book gives us an insight into his life and the lives of four women he loves, a fictionalized account grounded in Scripture.
Naamah the Ammonite, mother of Rehoboam who will be king after Solomon. Abishag the shepherdess, first a wife of King David as he nears the end of his life, then a wife of Solomon. Siti, headstrong daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh and worshiper of a foreign goddess. Nicaula, Queen of Sheba. Each of these women were important to Solomon, although they numbered as just a few among his many wives and concubines. Solomon asked God for wisdom, and God gave that wisdom to him. Clearly, though, it didn't keep him from making mistakes in his relationships with women.
Abishag was my favorite. She was unsure of herself at times, and sometimes longed to go back to her life among the sheep. But she was intelligent and kind, and when Naamah was clearly jealous of her, she sought common ground so that their relationship could improve.
Naamah was terribly needy. She was Solomon's first wife, and the mother of his firstborn son, and she wanted very much to be his only wife. She struggled with the fact that what she wanted would not come to pass.
Siti was probably my least favorite of the four, and to my reading, she gave Solomon the most grief. She pushed him to allow her to worship the goddess Bastet in Jerusalem, even though Solomon knew – and told her – that God prohibited the worship of foreign gods. She regrets her actions later, but she drove Solomon farther from his faith than he would have gone had she not been in the picture.
Nicaula was a queen in her own right. Solomon loved her deeply, but could not keep her. She had her own responsibilities, and was not willing to give her kingdom up to be queen of his. And I can't fault her for that. She took her duties to her people seriously, and after a short time, she left Solomon and went to tend to business.
Solomon. Ah, Solomon. He had sense enough to ask God for wisdom, rather than wealth or long life or military might, and so God gave him wisdom and more as well. Solomon was very wealthy, a very prosperous king. Yet he took multiple wives and concubines, going against the wisdom God gave him, and he saw that so much of life was futile, striving after things. But even Solomon can learn from difficulty.
The story is roughly equally divided among the four women. King David and Queen Bathsheba both appear in the story, and their roles are not large, but they are significant. David gives advice on kingship to his son, and Bathsheba offers a listening ear and wise counsel to the four wives of Solomon that we meet in the story.
This is a fictionalized account of a Biblical story. It expands on what we read in Scripture, and I think it's a well-imagined account of what Solomon's life and interaction with some of the women in it could have been like. If you enjoy historical fiction, if you've ever spent time imagining what actually happened as you read through the Bible, then this is a book you should check out.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Rachelle Matthews is 16 years old. She lives in Eden, Utah, a small, self-sufficient community protected from the outside world. She's been blind since an early age due to sickle cell anemia, but she's learned to work around her lack of physical sight. Her father, David, has arranged with community leaders for Rachelle to undergo an experimental treatment that he believes will restore her sight. It goes right – and then everything goes horribly wrong.
For years, Rachelle has suffered with what she believed were horrible nightmares. After her treatment, we learn that when she is dreaming in Eden, Utah, she is alive in a future world, and vice versa. It is in this future world that she learns that she is the prophesied 49th Mystic, and that she must find five ancient seals before powerful enemies can stop her. If she succeeds in her quest, both worlds will be at peace, and the lion will lie down with the lamb. If she doesn't, both worlds will be in darkness. (Literal? Figurative? Read and find out.)
The story focuses on polarity – light versus darkness, good versus evil, fear versus love. In the world of Eden, Utah, everyone is bound by polarity. People take action based on this versus that, what will benefit me the most. In the future world (called “Other Earth”), Rachelle begins to learn of the power of love, which is free of the bonds found in polarity. She learns how to re-member who she is and from whence she comes. We see her fighting her earthly, physical nature, struggling against great adversity, and trying to help those in her community see past the physical to the eternal truth. The book is not smack-you-over-the-head-with-a-Bible, but it is clearly grounded in the Christian faith and offers some simple yet profound theological insights for those willing to dig into them. I enjoyed the book on both levels – the humdinger of a thrill ride level and the “wow, that is simple but deep, and it changes my faith outlook” level. If you aren't interested in the faith-based aspects, give it a read just because it's an engrossing book. I read it in two days, and I didn't finish it in one only because I had to sleep sometime.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Mercy has been raised by the Assassins' Guild. She was given to them when she was just a week old. She has trained, and she has fought – maybe harder than other apprentices, since she is an elf and held in low esteem by humans. More than anything, she wants to be made a Daughter of the Guild. Each year, a Trial is held, in which one apprentice earns her place as a Daughter. Mercy isn't old enough for this year's Trial, but at the urging of Calum, she cheats her way in – and wins.
Her first assignment: go to Sandori and kill Prince Tamriel. If Mercy can do this, no doubt her reputation as a Daughter will be secure. But will she succeed?
Jacqueline Pawl builds an intriguing world here. One example: The royal hierarchy includes the usual kings and queens and princes, but also has other ranks, such as Seren. The ranks are alphabetical – the closer your designation is to the beginning of the alphabet, the higher your rank. And in a twist on the usual fantasy, elves are of lower rank and status than humans.
The characters are engaging. There are the ones you love, the ones you hate, and the ones you love to hate (and you can read and figure out which ones fall in each category). Mercy doesn't start out as the most likable protagonist. She's very driven and extremely ruthless at the start of the novel. Does she remain so? Tamriel is a prince, but is he a stereotypical self-absorbed royal? Y'all just need to go read.
The book is written in third person present tense, which isn't what I'm accustomed to. It took a bit to get used to, but it didn't throw me off so much that I couldn't enjoy the story. The story started a little slowly, but picked up as I read more. I wouldn't go so far as to call it “un-put-downable”, but once I got into it, I really wanted to know what happened next. It also left things at a spot where I need the next book in the series to see how the story unfolds.
If you enjoy a good fantasy, check out Merciless. There is some violence (there always is, with assassins). Other than that, it's a pretty clean read – no graphic scenes, not a lot of swear words. It's got a couple of things that sneak up on you, too. Time to add Heartless (the second in the series) to my TBR pile!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Penne Dreadful is the first in the Italian Chef Mysteries by Catherine Bruns. This was also the first of Bruns' books that I've read. I will definitely be back for more!
Tessa Esposito is a wonderful chef. She's also now a widow, reeling from the death of her husband Dylan. He died in what she thought was a car accident, but now she's learned that it was no accident. Gino Mancusi, her cousin, is a police officer working on the investigation, and he gives Tessa the heads up. He also encourages her to apply for a job at a restaurant Dylan used to frequent, where she might have a chance to do a little investigating of her own. (Not police approved, of course.) Gabby, Gino's sister and Tessa's best friend, is happy to help root out information. As the story progresses, Tessa learns some things that make her question not only who might have wanted Dylan dead, but how well she really knew him.
This book is a joy to read. There are twists and turns and intrigue, and hints of romance yet to come in the series. I cheered for Tessa and wanted to bop her over the head sometimes, putting herself in situations that had me on the edge of my seat. The characters are believable and engaging (sometimes you love them, sometimes you don't, and that's how books should be), and the story doesn't drag. I look forward to more books in this series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
UPDATE: I finished the book. It was marvelous, and my review still stands. Well worth reading, go get it, and enjoy.
The publisher was kind enough to provide me with the first eight chapters of this book, and my review is based on those first eight chapters. After reading them, let me tell you, April 9 CANNOT GET HERE FAST ENOUGH so that I can get the entire book (which I have pre-ordered) in my hot little hands.
Susannah B. Lewis is a Southern girl, as am I. That makes me love her right off the bat. She's from a small town. She has lost both her parents. She's a mom. I can relate to all these things. And she throws down some serious truth in these first eight chapters, and does it in a way that will make you laugh and cry (and maybe laugh and cry at the same time) and want to reach into the book and give her a big ol' hug.
She writes about her life and the truths she's learned in the living of it. She shares glimpses into her past and present and weaves in Scriptural truth. You don't even have to be Southern, or a mom, or from a small town, to appreciate it. The truths found here are universal.
Do yourself a favor. Just go pre-order the book, because you won't want to wait one second longer than you absolutely have to to read the whole thing. And then you'll want to read it again. Trust me on this one.
Disclaimer: The publisher provided the first eight chapters of the book to me free of charge. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like. I'll come back and review the full book after I've read it.
A tyrant king harnesses the power of the spoken word for his selfish ends while his people go hungry. His army of Whisperers speaks his wishes into the universe and brings them to pass. Jeremiah is conscripted as a Whisperer, leaving his sister Micah and his parents behind. The promise of a better life is soon shown to be a lie, as Whisperers lose everything once in service to the king. They even lose the right to speak for themselves. They are to say nothing, except what the king wishes.
Rose, the king's eldest daughter, has been told by her mother for as long as she can remember to be ready to run. The king isn't interested in daughters, and once her mother has a son, Rose knows that the days of her and her sisters are numbered.
The Whisperers of Evernow is a story of good versus unspeakable evil, a wicked, selfish king, and a love that is willing to risk all to bring about change. Heidi Catherine does a wonderful job of building the world her characters inhabit and of drawing her characters so that they take on life. Micah, feisty and unwilling to take no for an answer, was my favorite. This was the first book of Heidi Catherine's that I've read, and I look forward to reading more.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Amy Matayo's latest book doesn't disappoint. After ending up on the same cruise with Dillon's large, somewhat overbearing extended family, Dillon and Liam find themselves in quite a predicament. Dillon, desperate to get away from the crush of well-meaning family who really want to see her married, heads off on an excursion not authorized by the cruise line. Liam, who has feelings for Dillon but tries to ignore them (because his brother Chad really carries a torch for Dillon), won't let her go on the sketchy excursion alone, and joins her. The excursion guide leaves them stranded in the middle of the ocean, and they make it to a small island. They have to work together to survive, with limited resources, and they discover that adventure doesn't always mean fun.
This is a story of making the best of a really bad situation. It's a quick read, and one that draws you in. Ms. Matayo doesn't coddle her characters or make things all sunshine and roses. Dillon and Liam read as real people, with real issues, and there are moments you aren't really sure how things will turn out. I enjoyed this book, and I'd recommend it if you like adventure, suspense, and romance.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. All opinions expressed here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Roxy and Patrick are happily married now, and a movie has come to film in Honey Springs. Roxy is providing sweets and coffee for the production, and Aunt Maxi has press credentials, writing for People magazine. The star of the movie, Daisy Lemon, makes arrangements with Roxy to pay a hush-hush visit to the Bean Hive. After getting one of Roxy's special Star-Studded Lattes, Daisy walks out the door, only to be kidnapped before Roxy's eyes. When Roxy tries to solve the puzzle, she starts to wonder who Daisy Lemon really is, and what secrets she's been hiding. And then Aunt Maxi disappears, too.
I love Roxy. I love Patrick. I love Roxy and Patrick together. I wish Honey Springs was a real place so I could go visit. It's that much fun to read about. This is another delightful read from Tonya Kappes, and there are twists and turns aplenty to keep you hooked until the very end. (And recipes, too!)
Disclaimer: I read an advance copy of the book provided by the publisher. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Murder Lo Mein is the third in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. There's a competition going on to decide Cleveland's Best Noodle, and Lana Lee is hoping her family's restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House, takes the prize. But things are put on hold when judge Norman Pan receives a threatening fortune cookie and then drops dead after the first round.
Lana is determined to help her maybe-boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, solve the mystery. She's persistent, and with the help of friends and family, she digs a little deeper into the lives of everyone involved in the contest. Turns out a lot of people might have had a reason to want Norman Pan dead. Then another judge is killed, and the tension ratchets up a notch. When Lana receives an ominous fortune cookie herself, you've got to wonder - will she be next?
Lana Lee is a delightful heroine. She's clever, has a sweet tooth (like me!), and generally able to think pretty quickly in a jam. This is the first of the Noodle Shop Mysteries that I've read, but I will be back for more. #MurderLoMein #NetGalley
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't like.
White Knights is my first introduction to Julie Moffett's books. Angel Sinclair is a highly intelligent student at a school for technologically gifted children, a self-proclaimed geek and accomplished hacker. She tends to keep to herself, but must learn to work with others in order to help her assistant principal when he finds himself in a difficult situation. She's also trying to find out what happened to her father, who disappeared from her family's life when she was just a baby.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Angel kind of reminds me of myself (although I wasn't quite that intelligent, and I was a little more involved and social). The book has action and twists and turns and some high school drama (but not so much that it made me want to put the book down!). I read it to my 9-year-old - he enjoyed it, too, and we've got to get the next book in the series!
Have you ever thought that there just aren't any good devotionals out there for the geeks among us? Geek and Ye Shall Find would have you think differently. This book is a series of devotionals with geek-a-riffic themes. Pulling from fandoms like Star Wars and Star Trek, and from a wealth of other pop culture references, Ellen Elliott shares scriptural insights in a way that even the geekiest among us can relate to. I am a geek and a nerd, and these devotionals are a great way to close out my day with Biblical truth.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like. #GeekAndYeShallFind #NetGalley
In A Charming Blend, Roxy and Patrick (Killer Coffee) are taking advantage of a gift to spend their honeymoon in the nearby town of Whispering Falls. June Heal gets word through the local “newspaper” that there will be a sleuth in town, so she sets Mr. Prince Charming to keep an eye on Roxy. It isn't long after Roxy and Patrick arrive that there's a murder. Roxy starts digging, and June makes every effort to keep Roxy from noticing the more unusual aspects of the town. (Roxy notices some things anyway. You know she would). The story is told from the points of view of both June and Roxy, but it's easy to distinguish between their voices as the story unfolds. This was a quick read, but one that was a lot of fun. It was my first introduction to the world of Whispering Falls, and now I'll have to read more of the Magical Cures series. (I already knew I loved Killer Coffee!) And goodness, imagine what June and Roxy could accomplish if they worked together with full disclosure of their abilities! It would be fun to see more stories that blend these two worlds.
I received an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
How the Light Gets In is Jolina Petersheim's modern retelling of the story of Ruth. This is the first of her books I've read, but after finishing this one, I look forward to reading more.
I've always loved the story of Ruth. This version is one I'm glad I took time to read. In How the Light Gets In, Ruth and Chandler are husband and wife. They met doing missions work at an orphanage, and adopted their first child there just about as soon as they were married. At first they were very much in love with each other, but life happened, communication fell short, and that glow of new love was replaced with resentment and bitterness. Chandler went to do humanitarian work in Afghanistan with his father, leaving Ruth and their children behind.
When she receives word that Chandler is dead, killed in a bombing half a world away, Ruth retreats to the Wisconsin Mennonite community he grew up in, to bury him. There she gets to know her mother-in-law and other family members, who are not perhaps what she expected. She also finds herself struggling to provide comfort to her girls, and to work through what it means to live up to the expectations God has for us versus the expectations we have for ourselves and each other, and what it means to be in God's will.
The story unfolds through flashbacks, letters, and journal entries. One of my favorite quotes was from Ruth's father (who was seen only in flashbacks): “God's will is like this hand. The five fingers represent the five different routes your life could take - and yet, regardless of what you choose, are you still not contained in the palm of his hand?”
This book made me smile. It made me cry. And the twist at the end - well, let me just tell you I'm glad I was sitting down, and I had to go back and re-read, because I was thinking, “Wait, did that just happen?!” It wasn't a “sweetness and light, happy happy joy joy” book, necessarily, but it was a worthwhile read.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Tyndale. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Never Let Go is a book that grabs you from the first page and...well, never lets go. (Yes, I went there!) We meet Willow Anderson, reeling from the sudden loss of her beloved grandfather, JT. She and JT were Anderson Consulting, a forensic genealogy consulting firm. When she decides to try to close out JT's final case, she is brought back into contact with Austin McKade, her former boyfriend and ex-FBI agent, who was called in on the case by JT and agrees to help Willow see it through. The book takes the reader on a rocket ride with twists and turns aplenty, and it was hard to put down! I'm not normally a fan of romance, but I do like suspense, and there's plenty of that here. There are things you don't see coming until they hit you upside the head, and the way the author builds the tension and pulls you along is quite a rush. If you like a good suspense novel, with a little clean romance thrown in, you will love Never Let Go. It's the first book in the Uncommon Justice series, and I am ready to read more of it!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
You might know that Gary Sinise is an actor. But did you know that he also works tirelessly to help our folks serving in the armed forces and our first responders? I didn't, not until I read this book. Grateful American is the story of Gary's journey from an average teenager to an actor to a man who loves those who defend and protect his country. It was his role as Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump that got such a positive response from the veterans' community, and this prompted him to start investigating what he could do to help our troops and veterans. His acting and directing career has been a good one, and he uses the good that has come from that to benefit and bless others. It's good to know there are folks in the world like Gary Sinise, working for the good of others without making it all about them. I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher. All opinions in this review are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Birth of Magic is a novella that tells the story of Kari and introduces us to the world so well developed in the Sun-Blessed Trilogy. Kari's father abandoned the family months earlier, and when Kari's mother dies giving birth to her tenth child, teenage Kari decides the best thing she can do for her siblings is to walk away from them. She strikes out on her own, and finds herself facing difficult choices as she tries to find her way.
Carol Beth Anderson has a wonderful writing style. She's descriptive, but not overly wordy, and I felt like I knew the characters. I sometimes wanted to hug Kari, sometimes wanted to shake her, and there were parts of the book where I laughed and cried and cheered. This novella is a good introduction to the Sun-Blessed world for those not familiar with it, or helpful backstory for those who have. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Brave Love is a quick read, and an inspiring one. Lisa Leonard shares her struggles in learning that she is worth fighting for. She shares stories of her challenges in parenting, in running a business, in life, and how she learned that God loves her just as she is. Her writing is straightforward and her story is refreshingly honest. I recommend this book for anyone who had ever felt like they were losing themselves in the minutiae of daily life.
Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.
I love Tonya Kappes' books! Since I grew up in a small Southern town, I feel like I know the characters in Fixin' to Die, the first of her Kenni Lowry series. I understand the challenge Kenni faces in trying to keep information from getting out before it really needs to. This was a fun, quick read, with enough twists to keep it interesting, and I look forward to reading more of the series.
I read through Love Does for Kids with my 9-year-old son. He thoroughly enjoyed it, and I did, too! Bob Goff uses anecdotes from his life to illustrate how we can put love into action and show others the love of Jesus. It's written at a level that kids can understand, but it's good for adults, too. The illustrations are delightful, and some of the stories had us laughing out loud. I highly recommend it, and we'll probably be re-reading it.
This is the first of Krista Davis' Diva series that I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were engaging, and I really didn't figure out who did it until well into the book. I'll be reading more of this series! Thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to a copy. #TheDivaCooksUpAstorm #NetGalley
The City of Veils is the first in S. Usher Evans' Princess Vigilante series. It's a hoppin' good story, about Brynna, a princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a masked vigilante protecting her city. She's quite happy with things as they are, and she is highly displeased when she's tracked down and compelled to return home. Her brothers' untimely (and suspicious) deaths have made Brynna heir to the throne, and she's got a lot to learn. She does come home, reluctantly, and even more reluctantly agrees to learn what she needs to know to rule, but doesn't hang up her vigilante mask just yet.
This is a good, fun read. I love Brynna. She cares deeply for her people, she'd just prefer to work for their good from the shadows instead of from the throne. She has to grow up a fair bit, and sometimes I want to hug her and tell her it will be okay, and sometimes I just want to shake her. I think Felix, the captain of the guard, is my favorite. I think sometimes he wants to shake Brynna, too! Their interactions are wonderful. The story has fantasy, mystery, adventure, intrigue - a little bit of everything. I can't wait for the second book to come out!