June 17, 2019
This unsuccessfully farcical fantasy series launch by paranormal romance author Aiken (the Dragon Kin series) is set in a world full of centaurs, witches, and necromantic war monks. The old king’s death leads his sons to go to war for his throne. When word gets out that a prophecy has predicted that a farmer’s daughter will be queen, her blacksmith sister, Keely, assumes the burden of trying to protect her, only to learn that her sister is not what she seems. The story is meant to be absurdist but comes across as merely ridiculous, with a plot that takes itself just a little too seriously to pull off its Pratchettesque tone. The book’s packaging implies a more standard fantasy epic, but readers drawn to that will be surprised to instead get an adolescent dramady—complete with catty slap-fights—transplanted to a cookie-cutter sword-and-sorcery setting. While some will undoubtedly find this flavor of comedy to their tastes, this isn’t a book that will appeal to mainstream fantasy fans.
September 1, 2019
In the Land of the Black Hills, the Old King has died, and each of his sons is ruthlessly battling for the throne. The Witches of Amhuinn, however, foresee a queen ruling the kingdom, not a king. Keeley Smythe is a renowned blacksmith who typically delights in the business that war brings to her forges. Yet this time, she will wield the weapons instead of making them, as it's revealed that her younger sister, Beatrix, is the one prophesied to become queen. Luckily, the family is more than ready to fight the angry royals, and Keeley has a few surprising aides to help her bring Beatrix to safety. Among them a small group of Amichai, mysterious mountain warriors sent to protect the incumbent queen and their neighboring realm from the power-hungry heirs. Caid, a taciturn member of the Scarred Earth Clan with a reputation for roughness, is amused by Keeley's outlook and antics and agrees to join her to face the oncoming threats. VERDICT This new series opener from Aiken ("Dragon Kin" series) is a bit bumpy in its worldbuilding, but readers looking for a fantasy romance that doesn't take itself too seriously will enjoy.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash
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