I love Shelley Laurenston! So imagine how stoked I am to have been given an opportunity to review the ARC?!

I've finished two chapters, and this is a very preliminary review that talks about the story so far. Will update it once I finish, and will publish a complete review, closer to the date of release.

If I'm honest, I wasn't aware of the story or even who was going to be the MC when I came across this title on Netgalley. (I know, I know, shame on me!) It's been a while since the first book came out, and while I knew the second would be releasing sometime, I hadn't kept track of it at all. Nonetheless, I saw the book and bam! I had to have it! Can you blame me? It's a G A Aiken book, people! I'd read ALL her books without any prodding.

In the last book, we spent a lot of time with Keely and her family - especially Beatrix and Gemma. I must admit, Gemma was my favourite of the lot in The Blacksmith Queen, because she was such a badass. The reveal of her status as the War Monk came out of nowhere! This book is Gemma's tale, and two chapters in, I can tell you that I already relate to her. She is such a joy to read. She just leaps off the pages, which I must admit, is quite rare.

This has started off really well, and fingers crossed it concludes the same way.

***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***