This entire series so far has been a joy to read and in each book you get a pov from a different sister. It's funny and full of magic. Also I love the covers. So beautiful.

4.0 Stars

This is a terrific action-packed fantasy romance that is heavily weighted on the action more than the romance. The humor is spot-on, as Aiken consistently delivers in her books. The main relationship is between Ainsley, sister to the queen, and Gruffyn, a centaur of the Torn Moon Clan.

She's human. He's a centaur. But both pledge loyalty to the queen (Ainsley's older sister) opposing Ainsley's other sister, an evil woman bent on taking over the land.

The story is full of family banter, slapstick humor, violence and fights. But it all fits, unfortunately with little left over for the romance. But if you're invested in the Blacksmith Queen's journey to defeating her sister, this book is not to be missed. The author has developed a rich world full of adventure, mythical creatures, and magic.

***5 Stars***

Is there a book series (or even tv series) that you love simply because of the crazy?
This is that series for me, well that the others she has written, and I freakin’ loved it!
Especially since my fav Mad Queen and Dragons were a part of it!

But I loved getting to know Ainsley and Gruff and watching as Ainsley found her footing with her sisters and showed her sneaky side when dealing with them. Gruff’s name is apt and I honestly couldn’t blame him for only speaking when it was with someone he liked. Their journey was fun because it was simply that they liked each other and while it took them both a long time to act on their attraction, I liked how they got to know each other and just liked what they saw.

But as for the series plot line, I do like that we are getting closer to a showdown with Beatrix…especially since the Dragons and the Mad Queen are involved, but I’m totally looking forward to seeing where things go and crossing my toes that we get more of Isadora and Var in the future!

I received this book from Netgalley for a honest review.

he Heretic Royal is the third book in the Earth Saga series, while I enjoyed this book, it was not my favourite. Having said that I really do enjoy all of Shelly Laurenston's book and I'm sure I will be rereading this series.

I was so excited to see some old characters!! It was a must read and I didn't want it to end! Hopefully we get another one with returning favorites!

The Heretic Royal is the 3rd book in The Scarred Earth Saga. I’d already read the first 2 and loved them, so I was ecstatic to get the opportunity to recieve an ARC of the 3rd! This book follows Ainsley, who is the “forgotten” child in the series. It’s both comical and sad how often her family forgets where she is or that she even exists.

In this book, she decides to finally determine her own destiny, by doing what she wants and not what she is told. And of course, along the way she falls in love. I love the character development in this book, even if there isn’t much progression in the overall storyline. I love the series and can’t wait to read the next!

definitely recommend reading through that section before trying any of the recipes.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

God save the queen! But which queen? Cruel, power-hungry, soulless Beatrix, wife of King Marius, the Wielder of Hate? Or her sister Keeley, a blacksmith who wants to live a peaceful life but, when pushed, can do more than bend metal with her hammer? As war breaks out across the land, every person, centaur, and dragon must pick a side, even the members of Keeley and Beatrix’s family. Ainsley is one of those family members; often feeling invisible within her family, Ainsley, willing to do whatever is necessary to stop Beatrix, will be sure to make her presence known.

The Heretic Royal picked up right where The Princess Knight left off, and I was so excited to jump right back into things with Keeley, Gemma, Ainsley, the centaurs and more. I found myself laughing as much as I did with the previous two novels in the Scarred Earth Saga as I dove back into the events involving Beatrix’s consuming desire for power. I enjoyed the new characters and what they brought to the story, especially Annwyl the Bloody; they all contributed wonderfully to the story and I can’t wait to see what they will bring to the next novel. I did feel that this installment in the Scarred Earth Saga seemed to end rather abruptly; the climax and falling action seemed a little rushed.

This is the 3rd book in the Scarred Earth Saga. Ties in nicely with past characters. The pace of the story is good and the book is really engaging. the author has a distinct narrative voice in the fantasy realm. For me, it was an enjoyable, interesting, and entertaining read.

Like the previous books in this series, I was completely enthralled by this book. Five out of five stars!

Each time I read one of these book I find more to love. This was a fun fantasy read. Each character had their quirks and that’s what I love about this series! Especially the unique pets they find along the way. Everyone has a unique perspective- I love the ongoing bickering! It makes it feel real. I would rate this a 4 out of 5. I definitely recommend reading in order.

Utterly Fantastic!! This is an excellent continuation and the ups and downs are even crazier. I was a little surprised that Ainsley was getting her story next, I expected it to be Kera or something, but it was just right for the next step in the saga. The chemistry, banter, fierceness, and tenderness was all there as it should be. I love this saga and am crazy excited for more!

I adore GA Aiken/ Shelly Laurenston, and will always read anything she writes! I really liked the Dragon Kin series, and the Pride series, and okay, all if it.

That all being said, something about the Scarred Earth Saga books leave me wanting more, wanting more of the energy and verve of the earlier books by this author, wanting them to be a little longer and delve into life past the HFN (Happy For Now.) Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book, I will read any of the subsequent books, and I liked Ainsley and Gruff (and the whole crazy family.)

I particularly liked the appearance of some familiar characters from the Dragon Kin series - that was a really fun crossover! (I will be SO disappointed if anything seriously bad happens to them!)

Beatrix seems like a caricature at this point, just pointlessly, needlessly evil, and frankly, I'm not that interested in her as a villain - I'd rather just have more hijinks among the family and potential love interests!

Ainsley Farmerson is the second sister to the Blacksmith Queen. Basically, she’s been ignored all her life by her family. Ainsley is an expert with a bow and arrow and has never wanted to be a farmer or blacksmith. Gruffyn “Gruff” of the Torn Moon Clan is the keeper of the Grudge. He’s reluctantly part of the centaurs who are protecting the Blacksmith Queen. Gruff’s attention is on the younger sister, who everyone underestimates and entertains him. When dragons show up to stop the slavery, they think is happening an alliance may just need to be made to fight a common enemy. A small group of determined fighters just maybe the answer to the danger headed their way and being led by the one who everyone calls The Heretic Royal.

G.A. Aiken’s third book in the Scarred Earth series revolves around the third oldest sister to the Blacksmith Queen Ainsley Farmerson called The Heretic Royal. She’s basically the unseen sister and spends most of her time alone sitting in the trees. Besides her two older sisters who are enemy Queens and the other a Warrior Monk. Her two older sisters are always wanting to protect her, and she’s determined to find a way to prove herself to them. Gruffyn “Gruff” of the Torn Moon Clan and his people aren’t the friendliest of centaurs but are determined to help protect Queen Keeley. When dragons show up and he’s assigned by his leader to protect Princess Ainsley that’s when all the fun starts. In The Heretic Royal takes and continues the story of warring Queen sisters and takes it to the next level as the danger takes a new vision. New allies, amped up danger, an underestimated sister who turn into the hero. There’s humor, fighting between siblings, family and enemies and also a little romance. G.A. Aiken also known as Shelley Laurenston’s The Heretic Royal continues the story of the struggle between warring sisters with the third book about a younger sister finding her way through her family and as part of her sisters Queendom. She shows her courage, fearlessness, and determination to find her place in the world and finds romance along the way with a centaur everyone is leery of and doesn’t think can speak but is extremely dangerous. The only person who seems to see him as nonthreatening is the woman he’s ordered to protect. They see what others don’t see in each other that there is more to them than people think. A must read for Aiken fans and a wonderful story with humor, danger, and love of family and friends that keeps the reader completely engaged and sorry to see come to an end because you’ve got to wait for the next book in the Scarred Earth series. Which Farmerson-Smythe sibling is next to get their story? This reader can’t wait to find out.

Ms. Aiken has done it once again!!! An Exceptional, Wonderful, Terrific Stupendous, and Exciting read! Once again Beatrix is up to her old tricks, trying to annihilate and kill her entire family! Lol. We have Queen Keeley, Brother Gemma, Princess Ainsley, and Princess Isadora. Then there is Ainsley's love interest who is from the Torn Moon Clan, Gruffyn, a centaur, who grunts and Ainsley understands exactly what he is saying. So many laugh-out-loud moments, full of murder, mayhem, and dragons, so many lovely dragons. If you have read her dragon series you would understand. They are not lovely at all, Lol. Full of mirth and sarcasm dripping all over the place. I cannot explain all the scenes that flip through my mind as I read, it's like a movie playing in my head. Absolutely, wonderful! I wonder why I can't have these people as my friends, they would be awesome friends. Alas, this is fiction and it's not meant to be however if it was real I would be a Warrior Queen!!!! 5 Stupendous, Wondrous, Warrior Monk, Queen Annywl, Queen Rhiannon, and all the other crazy Dragons, (because who doesn't love fire-breathing, eating humans dragons) that I will read over, and over again stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley.******

ANNWYL IS BACKKKKKK! ♥️🙌

🦖 GA Aiken has yet to disappoint me! Every time I get my hands on one of her books, I know I will be cackling, doing my Hehehe 😈 in public like a freak & that I will love EVERY female character in the book. She is amazing.

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Rough and Wild
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: Annwyl (Always)
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Easy
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲:
5/𝟱

🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ Interesting female characters
~ Return of Annwyl (YASSSS)
~ Battles & madness
~ Building out of new world & beings
~ Sexy menses
~ Dragons
~ Funny af

The third book in the series, things are heating up in this new kingdom of humans & centaurs. With the mad, evil & impeccably composed sister enslaving children in mines, the dragons are non to pleased. As they come to investigate what is happening & unsettle all with dragon fear (except Isabella 🤣) things will get crazier & spicier.

✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.

🌱THE MEH
~ I NEED THE NEXT BOOK PRONTO!

♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)

While not my favorite of this series, I overall enjoyed this book. It had G.A. Aiken's trademark humor and fans of the Dragon Kin series will be thrilled to see some familiar faces in this new saga. While most of the focus of the book was devoted to furthering the overall plot to fight against evil Queen Beatrix, I did enjoy the dynamic between Ainsley and Gruffyn. Their relationship development was acquaintances, then friends, then lovers, and while the story didn't deep dive into the progression of their relationship, I still think they are a good pair together. After how things unfolded in this story, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I have read previous books in this series and I really liked each of them. There are lots of new characters and creatures - trust me this one will be a rollercoaster! This one has crazy characters, females that can fight and will fight when needed!
Ainsley is a sister of already well-known Keely & Gemma, but she had no place in her family, as she was overlooked by everyone else. Underestimated by everyone, as she just wants to be herself, but being the sister of the queen and the war monk. And when we add to it some romance with Gruff, who is a really cute guy. Yet they will be a great combination for the enemies-to-lovers story - this is a ship that would not be at risk at any time, but more development of it would make this story even better - it was not bad, but adding more would be something greatly appreciated!
Overall I consider The Heretic Royal a really nice fantasy romance for fans of this series (can't be read as a standalone). I'm looking forward to reading the fourth installment in this series!

Book three in the Scarred Earth series follow Ainsley, the third daughter in the Farmerton/Smythe family as she tries to find her place and prove her worth to her family who overlook her and don’t quite know what to do with her, while continuing to try and protect Keeley’s crown and keep Beatrix from taking over. This time they have new friends and allies in the Bloody Queen and the Dragons.
The Heretic Royal has all the humor and over the top action that you expect from GA Aiken, it is a fast paced and fun read

I am a fan of this author and read many of her books. What makes this book so good is the story and all the action. It is about love and expectations, siblings and interactions, accepting what needs to be done and the struggles to do so, and enemies and lovers. This is book 1 in a series. So worth it. It doesn't disappoint and leaves you wanting more.... which I am. Can't wait for the next in series.

**I received this book from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I didn’t think I would ever finish. This will be a little ranty.

If you are a fan of Aiken’s Dragon Kin’s series, you will be deliriously happy about this third book in the Scarred Earth Saga. I only read the first book and that was about five years ago. I am embarrassed to say that it took me awhile to figure it out what was going on. I probably should have figured it out at the end of book 2 when the dragon shows up, but I wasn’t thinking cross over series, I was thinking they were introducing new characters.

I loved the first two books in this series. The characters were bizarre and unusual and the whole thing was funny, as I would expect from this author. Queen Keeley the blacksmith wasn’t what you would expect as a future Queen, and her sister, Gemma, the Battle Monk, wasn’t what you would have expected from a Princess. The choice of the heroes of the story being centaurs goes along with these usual characters. Both stories were enjoyable and brought in an interesting cast of secondary characters.

When we got to this third story, I wasn’t so excited about Ainsley. Heck, her little sister toddling around with her baby hammer (which I imagined as more like a tiny version of Thor’s hammer) was more interesting as she whacked everyone with it. The most we saw from Ainsley was the fact that she kept climbing trees to get away from her family but of course, we knew that the author would make Ainsley shine in her own book. So I excitedly grabbed a copy of The Heretic Royal. The problem was there really wasn’t too much Ainsley in Ainsley’s book. Even for her love interest, we had new centaur Gruffyn of the Torn Moon Clan, who everyone thought was mute since he only grunted at everyone, everyone except Ainsley. Gruff held the title of Keeper of the Grudge for his Clan as they held a grudge against Caid and Quinn’s clan. I thought a title like keeper of the grudge would warrant further attempts at humor, but it doesn’t really come up again.

We spent a lot of time reminiscing with the dragons and being reminded this guy was the scholarly one and that one is very vain and don’t forget that Annwyl the Bloody is absolutely crazy.

Again, if you are a fan of the Dragon Kin, this book will make your dance with joy, but I wanted to find out about the final battle with Beatrix. And…it never came. What? I thought this was going to be a trilogy, but is it going to be a series? I mean Keeley, Gemma and Ainsley have a ton of siblings. Their parents seemed determine to populate the planet by themselves, but most of these kids are young still. Are we doing to be fighting this battle with Beatrix for the next decade so they all grow up to have stories of their own?

As I said, because I never read the rest of the Dragon Kin series, I wasn’t fan-girling this story. The majority of this story was just the dragons and mostly, Gemma going back and forth whether or not one party could trust the other enough to make an alliance to defeat Beatrix. That was it. I can’t even tell you how many pages were dedicated to just Annwyl and Keeley wanting to go off and talk Queen things and discuss what to do but their respective families kept fighting with them that the other party was dangerous and not to trust them. And on…and on…and on. That was most of this story plot.

I can’t tell you how many times I put this book down and read another or just put it aside to do dishes. I just wanted to see how the final battle would play out or I would have tossed it aside halfway through. Once I realized that we were not going to get a conclusion, I was more than simply disappointed, I was pissed off.

Beatrix was actually the best part of this story even though she was only in about 10 pages of the entire thing but in those 10 pages she let an underworld God know that she was unimpressed with his offer to help and wasn’t even impressed by his grotesque visage. Only Beatrix could turn her back on an evil God of the underworld and yawn.

With so much of this story now split with the Dragon kin characters, I don’t think I am coming back for any more of this series. There is a hostage swap which was finally agreed to where one of the dragons will stay in Keeley’s kingdom and one of Keeley’s younger sisters is going to the dragon kingdom, so I am going to imagine that there will be at least two more stories before we can have a conclusion but I think unless there is a story featuring the baby hammer-wielder, I am done. I can’t enjoy a story with 300 pages that does nothing to drive the story arc forward.