Enjoyable, but takes a bit of time to get going. I think this could benefit from a few edits for consistency issues. Also, I get super stressed out by the ideas of doppelgänger or missing information so I might not be the target audience for this. But I do think people who enjoy FROM BLOOD AND ASH would enjoy.

This is my first read of this author and boy did she blow me away. I love a good paranormal but this one seems to bring in not only those elements but some dystopian world building and a myriad of characters representing all kinds of diversity of people.

There are twist and turns and this does end on a huge cliffie. But I am so ready to jump into book 2! I need to know what happens to Saraya! This is a YA/NA book which does not usually attract me. The best thing about paranormal and fantasy stories is that we can suspend our disbelief just a little bit more. Saraya is wise beyond her years. Her training and magic have given her insight into the human condition, even if she is just a little bit more than human. She does not present as a 19 year old pampered princess.

Loved the secondary characters. I can't wait to see the woman her sister grows into being. Great story and a pleasure to read.

This book completely surprised me. The beginning starts off a little slow and I had conflicted feelings about Addy and her conflicetd feelings about Jack, but as the book progressed and we start to see more sides of Jack it wasn't hard to see why Addy felt so confused about him. The ending of the book was fairly easy to predict but their story didn't feel like any other story which I feared it would when I started the book. This book is completely worth the read and will surprise you with how much you find yourself rooting for Addy and Jack.

There are a lot of things to really love about this book. Personally, I love that there are non-binary characters, POC, and lots of positive feminism.

I found myself constantly going back to read, “just one more chapter.” It hit all the right notes for me and honestly can say I’d recommend this book again and again. There was just enough romance to scratch that itch without it being too romance driven, if that makes sense. Overall, 5 out of 5 and would read the next book from this author.

I was very fortunate to receive a pre-release of this book via NetGalley.

This book was amazing. I absolutely believe this will be a standout out NA fantasy for 2022 and cannot wait to read the next book!
E.P. Bali has done a fantastic job of creating a MC (Saraya), who is sassy and funny in a way that doesn't come across as anything but..
The relationships between the characters are believable and I loved reading how they evolved as the story progressed.
The addition of (probably) the most adorable animal companion is reason in itself to grab this book and give it a go!

Saraya is a human and the crown princess to Quartz city, but she has a secret. She has magic, and humans are not supposed to have magic. Inherited from her mother, her unique gift allows her to assist both the mother and child during childbirth.
But when she discovers she is to be be wed to a Fae Prince, the world as she knows it will change, just not in the way you'd expect. Approached by the Order of Termari, the ancient guild of warrior midwives, Saraya makes a choice to join their cause and in doing so uncovers some dark truths.

She's the Man meets fantasy? Heck yes! I could not put this book down.

Princess Saraya is beloved by her people in Quartz City. She has secret magic powers she uses to help as a midwife when something goes wrong. She's about to turn nineteen and finds out she was promised to the firstborn son of the fae Black Court. She also finds out her magic can protect human children from magic-stealing demons. So to prevent another war she needs to get engaged but also train to stop demons. Which leads her to escaping the fae and sneaking in, disguised as a male, to the warrior training academy.

I loved that this book didn't focus solely on the romance and instead we got to know the character of Saraya - or should I say Sam Sourbottom - really well. I enjoyed following her journey, as well as learning about her past.

I've always said I love an angry woman and this book didn't disappoint. I'm so excited to see what happens in the next book. She has a lot of rage to act on! Fair warning the book does end on a cliffhanger.

There's a few delightful teases at a romance throughout the book. While, the romantic interest seems obvious from the moment he entered the room. It was still delightful getting the few scenes they have together. We also get a few POVs from his perspective that I enjoyed as they reveal more about him and his companions. Who I'm dying to see more of.

The book also hits the "who did this to you" trope perfectly.

There were a few times the writing felt a smidge clunky or things were just a bit too convinent. I was left with a lot of questions that I'm hoping the next book will fill in.

Overall, I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel! I need it right now!

Warning: This book will take away your day and you will be happy about it.
I am fairly certain this is my book of the year. I loved every second of the read.

This book had everything you might need. It had a kick-ass female lead who knew her strength. Shared such healthy relationships with her female counterparts. Arranged marriage and an evil step-monster and it took a wonderful page turn with the midwifery knowledge, I was be very okay with Saraya guarding all of my babes. I can absolutely get behind the ancient Goddesses and a whole new view on the world of magic. Sometimes it really isn't necessary to have spice or even romance in a book, and this read proved that. This reads like a YA - but doesn't have the young feel to it at all.

I cannot wait to read the next books (and sister series) - I'll be waiting by the keyboard for the drop!

If you love strong female leads and dark and mysterious Fae, this one is for you. I also recommend for fans of ACOTAR. I highly recommend this to everyone - I even told hubby he should read it!

This was fun. I admit, I had reservations from everything that was crammed into the synopsis and it definitely leans hard on the YA tropes, but it does it well. It was a fast paced fantasy adventure with the MC managing to be slightly more nuanced that the ubiquitous ‘strong female character’ ie a girl with a sword. Enjoyed it and would happily read the next one.

I absolutely loved this story, I was hooked from the start. I love the concept of a princess, who is also a midwife with a unique magical ability and a warrior what’s not to love!!
The story was very well written with a knowledgeable medical background into midwifery and the detail the author used for when Saraya used her healing ability was absolutely magical.

At the start I was thinking call the midwife with a twist but halfway through the story I got Mulan vibes with her little sidekick opal which reminded me of mushu haha

Saraya was very likeable she’s a strong female lead who stands her ground! Drake is the brooding dark and dangerous type that will have you swooning!
I honestly can’t wait for the second instalment I need to know what happens next!
Highly recommend to all fantasy fans who is looking for a nice easy read with magic, action and adventure!

The Warrior Midwife
It is clear that this is a YA book. A lot of colloquial language feels too sporadic to be a character choice which takes me out of the story a bit. It’s chock full of fairy-tale, YA tropes, which is not a bad thing. My current WIP actually has a lot of similarities to this story, so I’m very glad I read it, even if I did have some issues with it (which are also issues I have in my own work, so I can’t be that harsh about it).

There seem to be some overlooked mistakes? The armsmaster is supposed to indistinguishable as a man or woman, but in a few pages later is referred to as “she.” Also said later that armsmaster is as powerful as a strong man, which implies that they are a woman. I liked the gender-ambiguousness but it wasn’t consistent enough so it felt more like an afterthought or failed attempt.

At one point (before Drake says who his father is), Saraya already thinks of him as such. When I read that I thought, “Oh, I guess I missed that bit but okay.” However, it is later a surprise to her, which makes me think that was another slip. There are a few other slips, but they are mostly minor grammar mistakes rather than thoughtless plot reveals. I would like to clarify that I do think these are overlooked mistakes rather than bad writing, but it was very noticeable to me.

I could tell there was some mythological real world influence in the setting which I enjoyed. I found Saraya to be a little dense and annoying at times, but that’s how protags are in YA and I she grows significantly as a character, so it makes sense. The romance is quite obvious and a little abrupt, but again, YA tends to be that way. I would like the read the next two books as I expect they get a little spicier which will be fun.

Overall, it took me a few chapters to get into, but I enjoyed it. Torn between 3-4 stars but going with 3 because it took me a longer to engage with the story and it reads like it could use a couple more edits.

When I tell you I could not put this book down, I mean I devoured it in less than a day, it was so freaking fantastic!
Aussie author, E.P. Bali comes through with a knock-out in her first NA novel!

Saraya is a princess with a magical gift for healing and midwifery. The book opens on a birth scene and you can just tell the author has a medical background with the level of accuracy here. Saraya helps the women of her kingdom to safely birth their children, despite her stepmother, the Queen, trying to stop her at every turn.
In a devastating turn of events, it transpires that Saraya's father promised her hand to the son of the Dark Fae King in exchange for a peace agreement between the two kingdoms. Saraya worries how she will leave the women of her kingdom to marry an evil, brutish monster, but when the fae retinue arrives, they aren't as she had first thought. Crown Prince Draxian is an arrogant ass, but he doesn't appear to be evil. And the commander of the King's forces, Drakus, comes with a bad reputation, but his actions don't match the rumours which perplexes Saraya. The fae are about to find out they got more than they bargained for with this princess.

But there is more at work than Saraya realises, when she is approached by the spectral form of a Warrior of Temari, an ancient sacred order of women who had all been massacred long ago. In order to become strong enough to fight the evil that plagues her kingdom, Saraya must disguise herself as a fae male and train with them at their mountain academy. She must decide between her duty to her blood oath, and her duty to her people in this fast-paced, kick-ass adventure.

There is so much to love about this story. Saraya and her sister Altara are biracial, curvy young women who are so strong of character, they impressed me so much. Their relationship reminded me of the Sharma sisters on Bridgerton.
There is also a great and influential non-binary character who I love.
There is enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, a cute (and useful) animal sidekick, and a twist that had my jaw on the floor!

I am so excited for the rest of this trilogy, it's going to be a favourite, I can tell!

Fans of From Blood and Ash, The Prison Healer, ACOTAR, Mulan, Song of the Lioness and Protector of the Small, and so many more will love this, I promise!

I absolutely loved this book! The world within is described in such vivid colors that I almost feel like I can see it! A super strong heroine lead and a dark brooding Fae warrior, this book has it all! I can't wait to read more!