Reviewed by Leigha on
A young woman learns her brother is alive - and living with the enemy - in this epic tale of love and war.
Run to your local bookstore to purchase this novel when it comes out in April. It's a phenomenal story of family, courage, and love set in medieval times. Eelyn's world is rocked the day she discovers her "dead" brother fighting alongside the enemy. Circumstance forces her into an uneasy position when she ends up in enemy territory. At its heart, this story is about family - the family given to us by blood and the family chosen by us through love. It's about people looking past their prejudices to embrace a new reality. Truly a powerful story relevant for today.
Eelyn is a compelling character. Her Aska heritage and faith are core components to her characterization. While secondary characters are not nearly as complex as Eelyn, they provide a foil to her growth. One of my favorite aspects of the story is the romance between Eelyn and Fiske. Their evolution from enemies to lovers is slowly and methodically built over the course of the novel. I wish Eelyn connected to other Riki characters outside of Fiske's immediate family, but the tightly woven plot line didn't leave much room for further development.
It may be a character driven novel, but it's got plenty of action and adventure. It does not shy away from the blood and gore associated with tribal clans warring over religion and land. At times the scenes are brutal, but never did the violence feel out of place. The setting would not be as vibrant without each of the clan's religions. It creates a believable world where the characters react to their surroundings. I'm excited for future books from this author if they are this good!
tl;dr An immersive setting, a complex character, and themes of family, loyalty, and love make this a must read.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 15 January, 2018: Finished reading
- 15 January, 2018: Reviewed