Cover Image: The Scout and the Scoundrel

The Scout and the Scoundrel

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I had not read the first book, but I feel like I should have. There was definitely some understanding and enjoyment missing due to this.I would definitely want to read other things by this author based on what I have read so far.

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I really enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting, great characters and storyline. Zara is head of the army scouts scout (and has this amazing metal bird). Veronique is a thief and new recruit. Solid book, and I would read the next in the series. Don’t let the cover fool you, it is not boring, and it is an easy and quick read, YA 8/10

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4.5 stars. The second book in the Sisters of Sarras series and my favorite so far! From the books I’ve read, I’ve found that Wright’s stories have serious content (like thievery, imprisonment, extortion and even murder in this book), but they are very light to read and meant to entertain.

In the first book quite a bit of worldbuilding is done to understand the world of Sarras. This book has a completely separate romance, which is a standalone, but I think you would miss some background information to fully enjoy the other storyline. So, I recommend to read them in order. In book one you get to know Adella, Zara and Gisele, and this book focuses on Zara and I adored her.

Zara needs structure, rules and logic, she’s super smart, but unable to read people’s emotions. Unfortunately, that often brings her in difficult and awkward situations. Reading what she’s thinking (all logic) and then seeing her blurting out her thoughts without realizing that it is totally inappropriate, was pure entertainment for me (and I generally do not deal well with humor in books). Zara is a commander in the army and the rules and regulations of the army fit her well, but imagine her being forced to work with a prisoner, a thief! It totally rocks her world and not in a good way.

I enjoyed the romance, for Roni it’s lust at first sight for this tall dark hunter (her words), but of course Zara doesn’t recognize lust when it would have slapped her in the face, she learns though;) Roni is the opposite of Zara, she hates authorities, has a big mouth and rules are meant to be broken, and she’s determined to break through Zara’s professional shields and to get to know her. I liked how they stay true to their personalities when the romance develops, it’s sweet, a bit awkward and it works.
One more thing that I really liked is that there are no forced I love yous. For me a good romance is to believe the characters belong together and to believe they have a future together. I do not need to have this confirmed with an I love you. The often premature I love yous that I’ve seen in so many romances are bothering me more and more lately and I wish more writers opt to not go there when it doesn’t fit with the timeline. This was perfect for me.

I’m not going to say anything about the adventure storyline, it’s way too easy to spoil, but there is plenty of action and I liked to get to know the other soldiers and their interactions as a group. As I said these books are meant to entertain, therefore there are some things that may be less believable, but they didn’t bother me at all. One last thing I want to mention is “the Vox”. This is a magical being and there is telepathic communication between the Vox and Zara. They make a fun duo, as the Vox is giving communication tips to Zara. The imagination behind the whole construct of the Vox is marvelous and I also really liked their personality.

If you’re looking for action, humor, romance and a little bit of magic, this is an excellent choice! I’m looking forward to reading the third book in this series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Zara del Amanecer’s purpose in life is to do her duty, whether as a noble or a scout. She never shirks her responsibilities, especially with missions as simple as this one: to reconnoiter the border with the Firellian Empire.When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Barbara Ann Wright is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book

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I loved It!! This was a well written story with amazing characters. It was Action packed and kept me wanting more. Well Done.. I definitely recommend. 4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Enjoyed this book very much. Put a hard copy on my Xmas list!! (Second in this world - first book was good, but I liked this one better. You could read this stand alone.)

Opposites (in so many ways) attract, super-adventure romance. No homophobia in this world, which is very refreshing. One main character, the "scout," is neuro-divergent - though this isn't explicitly stated - and is completely badass.

**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

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4.25 Stars. Yay, another Sisters of Sarras book! I love this charming little series and this time Wright has us follow middle sister, Zara del Amanecer, the uptight soldier of the Kingdom of Sarras and a very bold thief, Veronique whole is pressed into military service in order to avoid a harrowing jail sentence. These two women couldn't be more different in how they express themselves, but they don't clash as often as you might think - and the two women are thrown into a situation that could make or break any potential relationship.

I think that 'The Scout and The Scoundrel' is one of the better examples of the best of Wright's ability. She does soft magic systems so well, and this book highlights it to a tee. I think She also is one of the better lesfic fantasy authors at portraying socio economic systems within her world building. All that is front and center here, as Zara is part of a semi fallen noble house, but because her sister was an ambassador to the rival Firillian Empire, they stay above destitution. Zara herself is most likely neuro divergent of a sort, and is often misunderstood by the people around her. She does have a kind of therapy partner in a magical mechanical being that likes to take the shape of a bird, and the Vox is the key to her and Veronique meeting. Roni is a fast talking thief who has got a nasty serial killer on her heels, and her task is to take the Vox or get killed. Problem is that Roni, after meeting the very taciturn Zara, wants to peel back the stiff layers of Zara's shell.

I love the dynamic between Roni and Zara, as Roni is a straight shooter and wears her emotions on her sleeves, while Zara has some trouble understanding people around her. Zara is a passionate person - and Roni saw that almost right away, even as Zara sneered at Roni for being a thief. But, Roni's straight forward approach to romancing Zara was appreciated. Zara's idiosyncrasies would normally turn people away, but Roni found them to be a part of Zara's attractive whole.

The other thing that I enjoyed about this book was how tightly paced it was. The high point of the book is when Zara's ragtag unit of recently released prison scouts are effectively being chased from both sides. One side is the Firillian Empire's soldiers with their new 'monster' wizards, and the other is that brutal assassin. Their band of scouts had to tough out the brutal run to report back what they'd seen. This mission gave them high stakes and Zara's brain needed to focus on the quicker thinking that she usually shies away from, and that helped open her up to Roni's gentle (but blunt) advancements. I loved this and it was such a great balance between the "Run for Your Lives" sections and the syrupy sweet romantic sections.

Wright is one of those authors that I always try to pick up, because while some of her stuff doesn't always land for me, when her stuff resonates, she usually knocks it out of the park. I had way more fun with this one than the first book,The Noble and the Nightingale, and think if you thought the first one was just okay, you'll probably enjoy this one far more. I can't wait for the third sister's book.

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This was a great addition to a great series. The main characters had good chemistry and were both intriguing, well developed characters. The plot was original, the storyline around their mission was so gripping it had me on the edge of my seat. It was also good to see some of the characters from the previous novel. I look forward to the next instalment.

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This is the second book in the Sisters of Sarras series, but it is not necessary to have read the previous book to settle comfortably into this one.

We open in prison. Veronique "Roni" Bisset has been caught coming down the outside of a building where she has just had the easiest steal of her life. Pity for her there were two guards patrolling right then. She ran ("Everybody runs.") and during her run, has hidden the jewels away under a footbridge. Eventually, she is chased down and hauled away to the hoosegow. While there, she figures this stay won't last long, and starts doing the math to figure out what the jewels are worth, and then how much the cuts are going to cost her - especially the cut to the local crime syndicate, for operating in their territory. As Roni does not belong to any syndicate, the cuts are of course higher.

Zara del Amanecer (Zara of the Dawn) is a scout for the Sarrassian forces, leading scouting missions to the border to ensure no Firellian incursions into the country. It's fairly clear Zara is on the autism spectrum (most likely: Aspberger's), but she's an excellent scout, leads her team well, and has just returned from a mission. She's also the controller of the Vox Ferama, a sort of metal bird she can use when wearing a particular chain on her wrist and hand, tied in a particular way. While back in the city, she uses the Vox to fly around, and then runs into - and manages to insult - the daughter of a colonel in the army. Zara doesn't understand why it's an insult, as she's only speaking truth, and that's par for the course with her throughout the book: things are black and white, up or down, part of the mission or not.

Roni gets a shock when it becomes clear she is in fact going to be sent to prison, and she's a bit worried about this as one would be. While being led out, the leader of the local syndicate, Julia Esposito, tells her that she's a dead woman. But things change when the army decides on a rehab program for nonviolent offenders: Roni and some others are taken to the army compound and placed under the leadership of Zara.

Zara, for her part, is distressed, as this throws her orderly world into chaos. But she manages to talk herself down into a new order, and the new "soldiers" are started on training. During Roni's training, the goon Hacha (Axe/Hatchet) from Esposito's syndicate tells her they have a deal: Ronis will liberate the Vox from Zara and hand it over to Esposito. Roni doesn't know what that is, but agrees.

Training finished, Zara and her troops head out on their next mission. What they find is almost impossible to believe, but the rumor of a very heavy weapon in the hands of the Firellians turns out to be very true.

Roni reminded me quite a lot of the character Tas from the old (mid-1980s) Dragonlance series. She often says things without thinking, especially when it comes to Zara and her attraction to Zara. This rocks Zara from time to time,trying to process a "soldier" speaking out of turn to a superior officer, but also trying to determine what to do with the flirting. Beyond that, we don't get much of a rounded character in Roni.

Zara, however, is a fully realized character, and also learns during the last part of the book that at times, you have to give up control of something to save your own life, which in turn will save the live of others.

This is a primarily fantasy novel, with the romance an incredibly slow burn. As is often the case, the dustup between the two is caused by them not talking to one another, even though they had been doing quite well on that front as the book went along at the end.

There's a consistency issue with the name of the woman in charge of the local crime syndicate -she's referred to as Julia at the beginning, then Judith around the middle, and then she's not spoken of again until Hacha comes calling, to force Roni to betray Zara and her fellow troops.

Overall, it's a fun read. I had hopes, based on the blurb, that we might be seeing fantasy sitting on a Castillian framework, versus the Middle Ages England most authors use, but beyond the names of Zara, Hacha, and a few of the soldiers/officers, there wasn't enough to say one way or the other.

Four out of five stars.

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Earlier this year, Barbara Ann Wright launched The Sisters of Sarras with The Noble and the Nightingale, the story of Adella and Bridget, two women from different classes who fall in love amidst politics and thievery. It was a wonderful book that put the romance first, but it was still a satisfying work of high fantasy. With The Scout and the Scoundrel she switches the focus to Adella's sister, Zara, while nudging the fantasy ahead of the romance, growing the world, and expanding the story.

An unexpected delight, Zara appealed to me immediately because firstly, she appears to be on the autism spectrum, and secondly, neither Wright nor the characters call attention to it. Her preference for solitude, difficulties reading social cues, and struggles to recognize other people’s feelings are just part of her character - precisely as they are my own. I identified with her deeply, and her slow burn romance with Veronique (Roni), the thief assigned to her unit as part of an experimental prison reform program, felt comfortably familiar. In the wrong hands, Zara's uncertainty over Roni's flirting could have been played for laughs or pity, but Wright makes it sweet and endearing, putting a fresh spin on the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Getting back to the fantasy aspect, though, this is a fantastic narrative about scouting the woods, searching for enemy forces and the truth behind rumors of a secret weapon. It's a suspenseful, action-packed tale with environmental challenges and human conflicts. I'm a sucker for traditional, forested fantasy, and when you throw in magic and monsters . . . oh, I am so hooked! There are some fabulous surprises to that narrative that I refuse to share, but the climax aboard a ship that shouldn't be on the river is simply exhilarating.

The Scout and the Scoundrel offers up another happier-for-now romantic ending, even as it leaves more threads dangling to pull the trilogy together. We're left with bigger questions and bigger worries at the end of this book, and that just makes me all the more anxious to see how everything will be resolved. If you're looking for addictive fantasy and engaging romance, then Barbara Ann Wright is well worth a read.

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Barbara Ann Wright has taken her readers back to the land of Sarras to tell the story of Zara del Amanecer in her newest novel, The Scout and the Scoundrel.

This is the second book in the “Sisters of Sarras Trilogy”. I’ve been looking forward to reading this story since I read The Noble and the Nightingale, the first in the series. I loved the first novel, and this one is just as good if not better.

The tale starts off with a bang and lets the reader meet Veronique (Roni) Bisset, the “scoundrel” in this story. Things don’t look good for Roni until she is conscripted from prison into Zara’s scouting command. However, danger follows Roni and grows for both women as they and the other soldiers in Zaras’ group head out for a routine scouting trip.

What made this novel so special were the characters, especially Roni and Zara. Zara grabbed my heartstrings from the beginning and never let go. She has this loveable, everything-is-black-and-white, no-filter personality that often gets her in trouble. She reminds me a bit of a female Sheldon Cooper from “The Big Bang Theory” but less irritating and definitely better looking. Roni is a perfect foil for Zara’s character, and the chemistry between them grows steadily as the two are thrown together. The danger and excitement in the story brings the two closer in spite of Zara’s initial loathing of Roni’s past.

This is a thrilling fantasy/adventure novel with a lovely enemies-to-lovers romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. While this book could be read as a standalone, I would suggest you read both books in order. Then we can all look forward to the third book in the series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

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The Scout and the Scoundrel is the second book in the Sisters of Sarras Trilogy. It can be easily read as a stand alone novel without any confusion.
Zara is a Commander in the Sarras army where she leads scouting missions to protect their borders.
Roni (Veronique) is an newly imprisoned thief assigned to Zara’s unit through a prison reform initiative. Roni has the head of the local syndicate after her for retribution for debts owing. What she now owes is her life as the syndicate has sent an assassin to find and kill her.
Wright creates an imaginative fantasy world reflecting some of our world with added bonuses such as mages and a mind syncing animal-ish. It felt really comfortable slipping into this world where even the names of people and places are easy to pronounce.
The character of Zara is an uniquely talented soldier used for her enhanced mental capacities unclouded by most emotions. She is lost when trying to read conversational nuances yet right at home following a trail left by her enemy. You cannot help but like this straight talking character. This is an ingenious use of a character who I believe is neurodiverse.
Wright’s writing carries you through the novel with nary a hiccup. You will be captured by the story from the very beginning as you meet one of the two narrators. While you continue reading you will barely notice the shift of the narrators point of view. It is a seamless transition because of the high quality of the story and the storytelling.
I can appreciate why Barbara Ann Wright has won and been nominated for many literary awards. The Scout and the Scoundrel is proof of her talent.

I received a free advance review copy from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Haven’t read the first book in this series but having read this one I’ll be sure to give it a go. Good characters, action, bit of romance. All good.
Only criticism, perhaps before this is published it could be confirmed if Esposito’s first name is Julia or Judith as it varies in the story.

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There were a lot of very interesting world-building elements in this latest book of Wright's, and I really appreciated and loved Zara, who is adorable (and as others have pointed out, is neurodiverse). Wright also did a really excellent job of exploring the issue of poverty forcing individuals into crime, lack of support/care for at-risk individuals, and the lack of compassion/understanding from the point of view of non-impoverished individuals. Another positive point was one relationship/friendship that was really well done and genuinely touching. Wright is an extremely good writer and as fantasy books go, this was a quick, enjoyable read.

However, I was ultimately disappointed in that I felt the ending came on too suddenly and there were several hanging threads. I expect this is to set things up for a sequel, but I think more resolution was needed to make this a genuinely well-rounded book. This also would have helped the issue of Zara and Roni's relationship, which wasn't very believable in the build-up. The conflict they experience also felt forced and out of place- it came down (as always) to a lack of communication, but at the point the "fatal" miscommunication occurs, they had been very good at being honest with one another, so it felt unbelievable that such a scale of miscommunication would have occurred at the point it did.

Another negative against the book to me is that Zara is extremely well-rounded, but Roni is not. Her personality comes across as being "cheerful rogue who's had hard knocks", but there doesn't seem to be much behind that. There are some mentions of her life outside of thieving, but it doesn't seem to exist in any important way, whereas Zara has sisters, a backstory, friends in the army, jilted wanna be lovers, etc. I think this also plays into their romance feeling a bit flat/forced- Zara is a complex individual, whereas Roni is a nice girl who likes her.

All of that being said, this is recommended as a fun read to enjoy over a few days/nights, and will be a good launching off point for the sequel(s) that come.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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I never thought I liked fantasy, but I think these books are so similar to reality that I can get on board. I am really enjoying this series. Wright puts you on the edge of your seat through the entirety. Very high action.

The characters definitely found a place in my heart. There were times where I wanted to ring their necks because of a stupid decision or comment, but I loved them nevertheless. Zara, one of the MCs, is a bit of a neurodiverse character, but she really makes the book. She is just different, and I liked that. She is an unapologetic bad ass, but still struggles to understand others. I think we can all relate in some fashion. I may have like the first book in the series slightly better, but only because of the novelty of the story line. I am for sure looking forward to the third!

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The scout is Zara, she leads her troops to secure peace in her kingdom. Roni is a street thief recently sentenced for her crimes.
The army has a new program to bring in criminals to rehabilitate them.
The two are about to meet and begin training and more.
There is a group that will force Roni to steal what is most precious to Zara and her ability to lead into battle.
But as the two train and work together their feelings begin to deepen which side will Zara chose?
If Roni betrays Zara will she forgive her?

What an adventure this is. There are twists and turns that keep you guessing.

I enjoyed this and look forward to Barbara Ann Wright's next adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced copy.

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I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Zara life is to do her duty wether the missions are going right and nothing suspicious going on. She doesn’t have time to breath or relax because she always on guard until she meets Roni who throws her for a lope.

Roni and Zara have different outlook on life but those differences maybe the only thing that can stop what coming. I enjoy this read I won’t say much because I tend to spoil what’s happening especially when magic is involved but it’s is a great second book to the series.

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