Spoilers ahead for the first two books

...

Imperial Princess Jenna of Dasnaria was raised to be obedient and to pleasure the man her father and brothers chose for her. In Dasnaria women have nothing and no power, they are kept sequestered in a seraglio. When Jenna is married she finds her husband is a sadist and enjoys taking out his hatred of her father on her body. Eventually her brother helps her to escape and she travels to new lands, trains as a Priestess of Danu and takes vows of chastity and silence. At the end of the second book Jenna, who now calls herself Ivariel had made a new life with a family in Nyambura where she tends to the elephants and teaches the children to dance the warrior's dance, until her abusive husband tracks her down and she kills him and his men in a beserker fit of rage, although it almost kills her too - until Ochieng and his family rescue her with all their elephants.

In this third, and I believe final, book in the trilogy Ivariel is still recovering from the beating and rape by her now deceased husband but the family face further threats from a neighbouring city after the rainy season extends longer than ever before. The people are starving and so they come to pillage and steal from the peaceful Nyamurans. Ivariel is struggling to deal with her violent impulses, fearful that when the rage descends she could kill one of her friends, but maybe that's just what the Nyamurans need to protect them from the outside.

I still haven't read the first book, even though I bought it when it was on sale, I'm a bit scared about how horrific Jenna's life with her abusive husband will be ...

What can I say? A fitting end to the trilogy. I think you could read this as a stand-alone novel, although the backstory would all be told not shown. Jeffe Kennedy writes such beautiful prose, such engaging characters and such evocative landscapes. I felt like I was tending the elephants with Ivariel, singing the songs with the family, the torrential rain we had last night also felt very much like the rainy season in Nyamura, water everywhere and your clothes are vaguel damp all the time!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Warrior of the World by Jeffe Kennedy, the second in this series. This book picks up right away, after the tramatic experience that ended the previous. This book lives up to the first one, as Ivariel works thru the wounds left upon her body and soul. Definitely put this book on your TBR!

Great finish to Jenna’s story. I would like to know how her life and her family tie in with the rest of the characters of the world Jeffe Kennedy has created. Because even though this story is complete there are signs at the end that there’s more to come and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Warrior Of The World continues where Exiles Of The Seas ended. At its very core this story is about healing, soul searching, preparing for things to come, awakening the warrior within and embracing new possibilities, new ways of life and thinking. I readily admit that the story didn't go the way I thought it would which makes me happy in that it wasn't predictable but part of me wishes that some of the things I wanted to happen happened. I still found it enjoyable and I'm excited to see what, if anything comes next. I recommend this series to those who like fantasy with darker themes.

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
The Chronicles of Dania continue as Princess Jenna, now known as Ivariel, continues to find her place in the world away from the empire she grew up in. She has many internal battles to conquer as well as external ones. Ochieng has fallen in love with Ivariel and wants to marry her. However, the scars left by her deceased husband still affect her, yet she tries to move forward. She continues her work with the elephants, especially Efe, who also bares scars and sees as a kindred spirit as well as being a warrior priestess of Danu. She continues to use her dances she learned to become stronger. Ivariel still wonders about the family members she left behind and if she will be hunted for the death of her brutal husband. She begins to feel like one of the people until a tragedy forces her to become the warrior priestess to protect those she cares about and seek justice to those who did them wrong. Ivariel is clever and uses the lessons learned from childhood and her skills as a Danu priestess to help the people of Nyambura have the peace they long desire. Still the world is changing and the people of Nyambura need to adjust to the change and Ivaeriel let the others know of the power of the goddess Danu.