Second Spear (Border Keeper, #2)

by Kerstin Hall

After surviving the schemes of a vengeful goddess and learning some shattering truths about her former life, the warrior Tyn feels estranged from her role guarding her ruler. Grappling with knowledge of her identity, she unleashes her frustrations on all the wrong people.

When an old enemy returns wielding an unstoppable, realm-crushing weapon and Tyn is swept up in the path of destruction, she must make a choice about who she is and who she wants to be.

• ISBN10: 125025017X
• ISBN13: 9781250250179
• Publish Date: 16 August 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 8 February 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Kerstin Hall is back! Second Spear is the second novel in her Mkalis Cycle series, and I have to tell you – I've been SO curious to see where the story was going to go. So I'm thrilled to have this novel in my hands.

Tyn has been tasked with guarding her ruler – a task she has succeeded in, despite all the danger of recent events (including a vengeful goddess, mind you). But those events left Tyn questioning her role in all of this. More specifically, it makes her feel estranged and isolated from the very ruler she's been assigned to protect.

Naturally, another enemy will rise and strike before Tyn can come to terms with everything that has already occurred. She will be thrown from one danger to the next, all in the name of following her duty.

I think I've already said this, but I was looking forward to Second Spear. Some series just get stuck in your mind, you know? Mkalis Cycle happened to be one of those series for me.

Tyn is by far one of my favorite fantasy characters (at the moment, it changes too much for me not to add this caveat). She's strong, determined, and probably a dozen other adjectives I could throw into the mix if I felt so inclined.

I am pleased that my expectations were met, even if they were perhaps a little unfairly high (anticipation does that). Second Spear was a delightful read and is the perfect second novel to this series.

This series has done an outstanding job of driving home Tyn's purpose in life. Or, more accurately, how everyone in the world (especially those she is sworn to protect) seems to take that (and thus her) for granted. It made my teeth grind at points, but that further proves how invested I got in this tale.

Long story short, Second Spear is a fantastic novella, and I can't wait to see what else Kerstin Hall comes up with!

Thanks to Tor.com and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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