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.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

I couldn’t put it down!

It was so entertaining. I felt a little lost at first but really immersed myself into the world once it got going. I love the characters!

4 stars = Great! Might re-read

I have mixed feelings here, although I enjoyed the book overall. This picks up right where the last book ended, with the arrival of dragons. So the first part of this book didn't include a lot of geographical movement - the story stayed locked into one location early on (or, at least it felt that way) so there was a different energy to the story right from the start.

While I loved the teased Ainsley scenes in the previous book, her constant fighting with Gemma here was tiresome. And I struggled to keep all of the dragons straight. I enjoyed Ainsley's best friends, but I really wanted to see more of their interactions - I liked that group dynamic more than the romance this time.

I think this book didn't click for me like the first two because it felt like a transition instead of a story all its own. I'm not sure the overall story advanced a lot here, but I think there was a lot of set up for what's to come. That said, there was a lot of what I have enjoyed about the series here - the family dynamics, the humor, the fantasy elements.

In the end, I was happy to spend time in this world I have come to love. And the epilogue left me literally shouting for more! I adored Isadora in this book, so I am excited to see more of her in the next book, assuming this is following the pattern seen here.

I adored the first two books SO much, that while this one didn't hit the same way for me, I still enjoyed the continuation of the story, and I am frantically anticipating the next book, which is a good 18 months away since I read this several months before the book releases. Series fans should pick this up and see for themselves how the story continues. Newcomers definitely need to read these in order. (Language, violence, gore, sex)

I'm strangely disappointed in this one. Even though I don't remember the events of The Blacksmith Queen or The Princess Knight, I remember absolutely loving them. And even though I recognized elements of what I'd loved in this (the humor, the characters. the absolute chaos), as a whole it was underwhelming. I think it was just a bit too long with way too little plot progression. Maybe if I'd reread the first two books before reading I'd have enjoyed this more, but as it stands, this was mediocre.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

A lot happens but the story really don't progress very much further throughout the book. Characters are still crazy and fun to read, And I feel like I need to read the other series, okay, want to read the other series. I didn't feel like I was missing out not having read it she does a nice job of giving pertinent information without overloading you. But it really dropped the carrot in front of me. I love Grumpy/Sunshine trope.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. This book was a lot. And I say that as someone who has read pretty much everything G.A. Aiken has written. This is the first book where the dragon series and the queens series crossover, and I spent the first 30,% trying to remember which dragon did what. It might not be completely necessary to have read the dragons books, but it definitely would help. That being said, because there are so many characters and moving pieces in this book, this one does feel a bit more clunky than the first two.
It's a lot to keep track of, but it did eventually settle down into a classic G A. Aiken book, meaning lots of shouting, gleeful violence, and unrepentant crankiness. It cracked me up a few times, but I could not fault Ainsley for climbing trees to escape the noise. The practically silent Gruff is a great match for her, and even though much of their relationship involves her throwing him under a bus, it really works. Overall, this was a fun book, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

We are on the fourth of the three Smythe-Ferguson sisters (the third being a scheming bitch who is trying to build an empire), Ainsley, in this book. She feels like a forgotten sister. Keeley, the oldest, loved her brothers and sisters and the forge. Gemma was a fighter and then a war monk. And she was always Ainsley's main sparring partner and now the first to dismiss any of the contributions Ainsley is trying to make. But, now that the dragons have arrived (a crossover from Aiken's Dragon Kin series) and that might change the odds.
There are SO MANY characters in this book. You will have a little bit of a chance if you've read either the Dragon Kin books or the Scarred Earth books so far but there are still a LOT of people to keep track of. Aiken is great at spinning off side characters and that happens again in this book but we also get a return of the rather large group of characters from the previous book in the series. So, a lot of page space is taken up with these characters. did I still enjoy this book? Mostly, yes. I really wish we had gotten to see more of Gruff, the centaur who doesn't usually talk, especially in the building of his relationship with Keeley. As it's own book, this is about three stars but as an addition to the overall series, four stars

This is a pretty typical Shelly Laurensten/G. A. Aiken chaotic story at the beginning full of family sniping each other. It finally settles down and we figure out the major story line at about the mid point. I just love her crazy family dynamics and relationships. This one is Ainsley Farmerson, fourth oldest daughter of the Blacksmith/farmer family's story. Her protector is Gruffyn of Torn Moon centaur Clan, the Grudge Keeper and therefore next in line to lead the clan. The centaur princess Laila appointed him to be Ainsley's bodyguard. Ainsley doesn't feel she has an important role in helping her oldest sister Queen Keeley. She can frequently be found up in a tree somewhere watching, sorting through her thoughts and staying out of her older sister warrior monk Gemma's sight so she doesn't give her a menial job to do.

When Queen Annwyl and her dragons, from her Dragon Kin series, appear chaos and panic rule. Annwyl knows a queen is enslaving children and she's there to put a stop to it. Quickly they set her straight that it is their sister evil Queen Beatrix, not Keeley doing this. They finally all relax and try to set up an alliance as Annwyl knows she's next after Beatrice takes down Keeley. Through Annwyl's spies it's determined that Beatrice is sending warriors to steal away one of Keeley's many younger siblings in order to get Keeley to bend to her will and step down. Ainsley decides it's time for her to step up and stop the raiders. As with most of this author's stories the two leads fall in love but it's more by spending time and not with sexy times. They eventually have there time together but it's near the end of the book. Overall this was a fun chaotic adventure where her dragon series merges with the Scarred Earth saga.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The third book in The Scarred Earth Saga, The Heretic Royal is an amazing addition to this series. From the large ensemble cast of characters we have met and already love, to the snarky humor and laugh out loud moments and the compelling storyline that runs through it this story had me hooked from beginning to end. I loved it and highly recommend this author and all of her books.

If you’re familiar with this author, then you already have a pretty good idea of what you’re wading into when you open The Heretic Royal. Shenanigans, blood-thirsty yet loving characters, and a good time.

This book continues the ongoing plot arc of the Farmerson-Smythe family’s quest to stop their evil sister Beatrix and keep their kingdom safe. The third oldest sister, Ainsley, is known for climbing trees and her ability with a bow. She loves her family, even if their overprotective ways sometimes drive her crazy. Especially her sister Gemma. Gruffyn of the Torn Moon Clan, the grudgeholder of his clan, is known for not having much use for humans and communicating through grunts and growls. He ends up a protector to Princess Ainsley and very soon realizes she’s just as unpredictable as the rest of her family.

If you love this author’s Dragon Kin series, you’ll absolutely adore this book. Dragons have come to Keeley’s kingdom and while they are at first mistrusted and considered potential enemies, everyone soon figures out a way to ally together for the good of the world. Beloved characters from that series are prominently featured in this current book and are a vital part of the climax and end battle.

Like so many of this author’s more current releases, the romance is super quiet and the main protagonists don’t really become a couple until the very end. Oh, you see them together a lot, but not in a super lovey-dovey way. Gruff kind of falls into protecting Ainsley and then starts to like her. There are quite a few dangerous situations they need each other to get out of, and then BOOM! love. But I didn’t really mind, I expected it, and the overall fun, wacky storyline drew me in and kept me reading.

I do think the overall story arc was moved along, this book acting as sort of a bridge toward the final showdown between sisters, and with the addition of the Dragon Kin characters is sure to get more exciting as the series continues. I’m especially interested to see how the family member exchange plays out in the future.

Picking up a G.A. Aiken book, I know the characters are going to be larger than life, and that I’m going to laugh and be in for an over the top ride. That’s exactly how I felt about The Heretic Royal. I will say, it helped that I’d reread both the Dragon Kin series and the first two Scarred Earth books earlier in 2022. This book is essentially a cross-over between the two series and A LOT of characters from Dragon Kin are reintroduced. Even with the background knowledge, it was hard to keep them all straight and therefore this book absolutely cannot be read on its own. Ainsley is currently in battle with Keeley for my favorite of the sisters. She’s often overlooked, especially by her two older sisters who don’t seem to realize she’s grown up. She’s brave and determined and slightly more rational than most of her family. Her centaur hero, Gruff, is a delight. A delight in that he’s always grumpy, and his job in his clan is to hold grudges. Seriously, how can you not love this book and this world! I was having a bad day when I read this book and it was exactly the distraction I needed! I’m already planning a reread!

THE HERETIC ROYAL is the third instalment in GA Aiken’s adult SCARRED EARTH SAGA fantasy series set in the author’s DRAGONKIN world. Although focusing on several characters, and intersecting plot lines, THE HERETIC ROYAL follows the building relationship between Ainsley Farmerson , and Gruffyn, centaur of the Torn Moon Clan. THE HERETIC ROYAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

SOME BACKGROUND: Beatrix Smythe was prophesized to become queen, and her sister Keeley grew to protect her older sibling but Beatrix’ assent into power was driven by madness, and in the ensuing time everyone would come to fear the all powerful queen.

Told from several third person perspectives including Ainsley and Gruffyn aka Gruff THE HERETIC ROYAL is a flight into the fantastic as the author brings together our favorite dragons, their kin, the centaurs, and an assortment of undead horses, demon wolves, war monks and mythological gods.

With the appearance of Annwyl the Bloody, aka the Mad Queen, and a large assortment of squabbling dragons (Fearghus, Briac, Gwenvael, Gwenvael’s son Unnvar Reinholdt, and Morfyd, Bram, Ghleanna and Queen Rhiannon), Ainsley Farmerson and her sister Queen Keeley Smythe, knew all was not well with the world. Annwyl’s reputation has far surpassed all imaginable rumors but when Annwyl suspects one of the human queens is enslaving children and teaching them to kill, Keeley and Ainsley must come to an arrangement that proves to the Mad Queen that someone else is responsible for the annihilation of innocents. Meanwhile Ainsley has found herself with a guardian, so to speak, in the form of centaur Gruffyn of the Torn Moon Clan, a centaur who is willing to sacrifice himself to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. As Beatrix’ armies advance on Queen Keeley’s territories and lands, the Dragons find themselves making an alliance with Keeley, in advance of the terror that is about to reign down.

THE HERETIC ROYAL has a large ensemble cast of fabulous and fantastic secondary and supporting characters many of whom we have met in previous story lines. There is humor, snark and sarcasm as per G.A. Aiken’s style of writing. Once again, the back and forth banter between siblings in both dragon and human families is fast, furious and frenetic, as is the requisite crazy uncle, long suffering parents, and oblivious but powerful kin. The inventive premise is detailed and fanciful with plenty of action, violence, blood shed, and fun. The characters are numerous, familiar, powerful and charismatic; the slow building romance is passionate and intense.



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