I was offered this book as an ARC by NetGalley and really enjoyed the world building of The Healer's Rune by Lauricia Matuska. The main protagonist is nuanced and I found myself empathising with her especially when she was faced by moral dilemmas. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is I felt that it slowed a little in the final third before rushing to what felt like an abrupt climax but I can understand that this is only the first book in a series the need to leave the reader wanting to know what is coming next. I can certainly say that I would like to know what is going to happen in book two!

At a glance, The Healer's Rune is about a young human woman, Sabine, from a small village living under the rule of the Ruddan, a tyrannical race intent on wiping out humanity. After witnessing her friend's execution at the hands of the Ruddan, Sabine seeks out the truth of what really happened in the history of her country and how the human race came to be controlled. In seeking out these truths, Sabine gains access to powerful players in what could become the political uprising of a lifetime.
The Healer's Rune was an incredibly intense read, and it was the first book in years that I haven't been able to put down. There was more than one night that I fell asleep with my face in the pages, but I couldn't even bring myself to regret it in the morning. It was just that good! Sabine herself is a fun character with a sharp wit. As a healer, she has a strong sense of morality that lets her sympathize not just with her patients, but with her enemies and potential allies as well. Finally, I felt like I was reading a main character who was more than just a self-insert. Sabine has such a strong personality and commitment to her ideals, and both of those things helped move her character through the action of the plot flawlessly.
The politics of it all was really what kept me coming back to it, though. The power struggle between the Ruddan and the humans kept the atmosphere of the story tense with conflict, and the mysteries of what secrets Sabine was discovering had my brain itching to know what would come next.
All in all, an amazing read. I'm off to get my hands on the next volume!

The Healer's Rune is book one in this series, and I'm really excited to see what comes next. If you are a fan of fantasy this book is for you, its a fresh thought and unique concept in the fantasy stories I have ready. Many others have too many similarities that reading this was a refreshing change.

Mankind has been oppressed as slaves, but can man change their fate? Without the use of magic how can they overcome their oppressors? Sabine works to start a revolution to free mankind from their suppressed state. As a healer in the village she is from she has a unique opportunity to reach out to the sick and hurting. She must overcome prejudices, fears, and lies that have kept human kind beneath the heel of their oppressors.

I really enjoyed this fresh approach to a fantasy novel and I'm can't wait to see where this story takes us in the next book. It is a fun read with a great pace, the characters have depth and you feel a connection with Sabine. 5 Stars!

I came across this book on NetGallery, the title drew me in. And OMG excellent! I literally could not stop reading. What an adventure! The next in the series cannot come soon enough..