Item: The Last Lion of Karkov
Rating: 3.00
Author: quirkycat

by Dale Griffin

Raised in Karkov, a military, male-dominant kingdom, twins Natalia and Jillian know nothing but battle. When Jillian emerges as the dominant twin and apparent heir to the throne, Natalia, the softer and more diplomatic sister, ceases her military training. As Natalia prepares to marry the prince of her father's favored Western ally, Jillian is set to become the first woman Lion of Karkov. But things don't go as planned when the older generation of warriors values her womb over her sword. Suddenly, the role Jillian has fought for all her life is slipping through her fingers...and she's not about to let it go without a fight.

At first, Jillian wants to destroy the young male warrior that the older generation favors. But soon, the two begin to fall for each other, and dark secrets behind Karkov's past come to light. Now, Jillian finds herself in the unthinkable position of defending her former rival...and defying her father. Her defiance inspires a younger generation of warriors, who dub her the Lioness of Karkov.

Furious, her father ousts Jillian and the warriors who swore allegiance to her, setting in motion a chain of events that will disrupt everything he swore to protect. As innocent lands suffer invasion, greedy monarchies fall to revolution, and the wedding of the century threatens to live up to its name, Jillian and Natalia must reckon with the consequences of love and war. When four nations converge on a battlefield, one sister must decide whether to embrace the life she always wanted-or stand up for the destiny that was never meant for her.

Book Summary:

Twins Natalia and Jillian were born for battle. It's not a figure of speech either – Karkov needs fighters, and this is the world they've always known. Jillian, being the firstborn, is the heir apparent. In contrast, Natalia is more diplomatic – perfect for a different form of battling.

Unfortunately, all the planning in the world can't change how the world sees these twins. They were born in a male-dominated world, a world that only ever wants to see these women in certain ways. They must find a way to break that.

My Review:

The Last Lion of Karkov is an interesting fantasy tale set in a world that does and doesn't feel like this one. I hope I phrased that well. It's not urban fantasy but is sometimes almost like a historical fantasy.

This is a Slavic-inspired fantasy tale, and overall, I loved the premise. Twins fighting to save their world and country? Yes, please! It was a bit slower than I had expected/hoped.

In truth, I wish that there had been a lot more magic in this world. Most of the magical elements came toward the book's end, which disappointed this reader. On the bright side, it is a standalone novel, so it's a low-investment read for those looking for something different!

Highlights:
Slavic Inspired Fantasy
Twins
Magical World

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

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The Last Lion of Karkov

by Dale Griffin

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Jul 3, 2023

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