Blade of Hope" by S.E. Babin is a gripping urban fantasy novel that seamlessly blends action, suspense, and romance. Set in a world where supernatural beings and humans coexist, the story follows protagonist Hope, a kick-ass heroine with a mysterious past and formidable abilities. Babin's writing is sharp and engaging, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with its fast-paced plot and well-developed characters. With its unique take on the supernatural genre and compelling storytelling, "Blade of Hope" is a must-read for fans of urban fantasy.

I DNF this book after page 133. I’m probably not the audience for this book. I wanted to like it! The plot was promising and I was intrigued by Harlow and Nova., but it felt very slow and repetitive. Too many characters take on the bully role. I didn’t even realize a romance was building until I read other reviews. The little hints and clues into the mystery surrounding Harlow weren’t enough to keep me engaged. I hate abandoning books, but I just couldn’t get through this one.

Way too many details and so many inconsistencies with the characters. I got about 20% of the way through before giving up. Needs at least one more round of edits, in my opinion. Tried to give it a chance but didn't enjoy it.

This was a strong start to the Book of the Virago series, it had the elements perfectly and had that romance element with everything that I wanted. It uses the fantasy elements with what I was looking for, the characters were everything that I wanted and thought it worked as a opening chapter and a great introduction to this world. It had a great overall collection of characters and I thought they were beautifully done. I can't wait to read more in this series and from S.E. Babin

Unfortunately, this book was not for me, and after 40%, I had to DNF it.

What I liked:

- The main plot, the idea of magic being gone and the suspense around the FMC
- The characters in general and their potential

What I disliked:

- The insta-lust, almost love between the main couple. I was really interested in seeing how it would play out, but was too fast and without proper development for it to make sense
- Every couple of pages, we would get a memory between the FMC and her sister, and this made the story slow since we were told about a lot of things and didn't see them. Also, because it happened so many times, I felt pulled out of the story.

Maybe it was the FMC age, or maybe it's knowing there is some romance aspect to the plot and not knowing who (or what gender) she is developing feelings for, but I was just not able to fully immerse myself in this story. Sadly, a DNF for me. The fantasy plotline of this sounded intriguing.

Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours!
As an American woman, reading a book where the women are in charge? I know it’s a fantasy!
That being said…
Blade of Hope is set in a Queendom, and a group of young women are being trained to be elite security for their future queen. Magic has disappeared from the lands under mysterious circumstances, so Harlow is attempting to find her missing sister the old fashioned way.
Great characters, excellent universe building for a first book-can’t wait to see where this series goes!

At first it took me a minute to capture all that was going on but as soon as the lightbulb started coming on I really enjoyed this adventure. It had everything I love the most and definitely would recommend some my friends! I really enjoyed the writing style I’m looking forward to checking out more by this author.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book.

I loved our FMC Harlow - she is a wonderful strong character. She is unapologetically herself and dives headfirst into every challenge. I thought that the descriptive writing was great. For the first bit of the story, I was very much invested in the characters and storyline. The idea of a group of warrior girls to protect the princess was excellent! I also enjoyed watching the relationships unfold between the girls and watching Harlow come into her own skin.

Unfortunately, there was a lot that fell short for me. I think that the book was very repetitive and the pacing was fairly slow. Harlow was unapologetically herself... but in a truly ruthless kingdom, some of her behaviour and actions should've ended in her being executed. A lot of the happenings were unbelievable for me (for instance to cover up the use of magic thay destroyed the dorms, the girls say there was a storm that caused the damage... how would the rest of the village miss a storm so powerful? These are supposedly small villages. The royal guard could not be that naive). The worldbuilding also fell short and wasn't very clear in my mind. There is almost too much going on and it gets hard to keep track of the characters. I think if this was marketed as a children's fantasy book, it would've worked better for the naivety of the characters and simplicity of the worldbuilding; however- some scenes imply pretty horrendous sexual assault and suggest the sexual assault of a toddler (which made my adult fantasy reader stomach roil) and that would be too graphic for even YA fantasy.

Another qualm I had is that the story sometimes shifts POVs/time periods and it's unclear that there has been a shift so it can be confusing to follow.

I think there is probably a good story here there are just too many layers and it needs to find its intended audience.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I really enjoyed it. The story line was great and the characters were well described. It is now one of my recommended books and i am looking forward to the next one.

Rating- 4 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley, S.E. Babin and Xpresso Book Tours for letting me have a copy of this book and allowing me to give my honest review of this book.
Trigger Warning -Please be mindful I have mentioned of SA in this review- be cautious

After the destruction and terror the kingdom of Thornwood has done in order to seize power, Nova flees the village with a baby called Harlow where she is surrounded by dead bodies. A little baby who is someone that needs to be protected. The girl who can save them all. Harlow and Nova makes a life together before Nova finds a village where they move in with a couple who can not have children. The couple adopted them as their own. Thirteen years later, Nova has disappeared and her foster parents have died of fever. With nobody left in the village, Harlow leaves the village clutching a note that her sister has left for her. A note to tell Harlow to go to the castle and find work there. At the castle, Harlow finds work as a maid but a oppournity arises where she is asked to become part of the Virago. Will she find her sister? Will she find out why she disappeared so many years ago?

This book was a enjoyable fantasy read. It was full of plot twists- some of which I was not expecting at all. As the first book in the trilogy, this definitely started the series off strong. This book is marked at YA which I do feel is a bit low for this book. Granted that the female main character is fifteen years old, I do think some of the themes are quite explicit for YA. They do not go into details but SA was mentioned quite a lot throughout from threats and history. I am aware that this can happened in real life but I feel uncomfortable with this being recommend as YA. I would rather say this is upper YA or NA.

I also really liked the side characters through this novel too. I really enjoyed Bloom and can not wait to see her in future books. The way they all worked together and then came at the end. At the end it came together and feels like there is going to be a found family that will carry on the future books. I am looking forward to seeing this. Furthermore, I am also looking forward to the sapphic romance between Desminda and Harlow as well in the future book.

This book was fast-paced and full of twists and turns. I did feel there was issues with the way the chapters were set out.. I was often confused on how the chapter was about and had to check many times. It would have been easier if the characters name was at the top of the chapters. It would have been a lot easier to understand.. Flashbacks would also have been easier if they were made clear.. With that being said, this was a enjoyable fantasy read and I can not wait for Book 2 at the end of the year..

Action action action and suspense..... fantasy and on the edge of your seat writing is what I look for in books and this one dod just that! Blade of Hope is a must read the season ...

Blade of Hope went wildly different from what I expected. When we started off from Nova's POV, I was set to follow her and small Harlow in their adventures in surviving. When instead we switch to Harlow's POV and she's now a nearly grown woman who has lost her adoptive parents, and her rescuer turned adoptive sister has gone missing. Harlow finds that while Nova has trained her body to keep her safe, she hasn't trained her mind. Harlow is naieve to the world she finds herself in, but is dedicated to the one clue her sister left behind - get a job at the castle. She gets a job as a servant through deception, only to be recruited to an elite group of warriors in training. The princess of the realm needs bodyguards, and Harlow fits the mold. Maybe a little too well, as she finds herself falling for the princess in question, and making enemies at every turn.

Not for me. The writing is rather childish, and seems like it's aimed at a middle school audience, but it starts out with violence and rape - including the almost rape of a 2 year old.... I found the characters flat and there was far too much telling rather than showing.

I loved Blade of Hope! The plot was intriguing and I liked the different characters, I think they all complemented each other to bring the story forward.

I enjoyed following Harlow along as she tries to find her way back to her sister, Nova. From leaving her home, to getting employed in the castle as a maid, only to end up getting enrolled as part of the Virago, the female guard who will be responsible for the future Queen's safety. She learns a lot about herself and her heritage along the way, and discovers that everything she thought she knew about magic is not entirely true...

My only complaint is that the timeline was a bit confusing. Except for Harlow and the Virago, we don't really know how old the other characters are (like Desminda, Shade or Nova) and the flashbacks to the past are not really helping.

It was a bit slow at first, but I think the conclusion makes up for it, and I can't wait for what's next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Actual review closer to 3.5 stars. An easy read that felt closer to the Y in YA with hints of romance. The middle didn't seem to move as fast and the POV switching (particularly mid chapter) was a little confusing at times.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read Blade of Hope.
A classic magic-stifled tale for young adults.
Harlow is an orphaned girl saved during a raid by another female who risked everything to save her. Nova, now her sister helped raise her and teach her about the kingdoms.
Years later, Nova leaves to be with their foster family who then die. Harlow is left on her on and told to go to the castle, They will help.
Help she finds in training to become a Queen's guard.
On and on, training and finding out who she is through being bullied. Magic comes raging out of her.

"The Blade of Hope is a captivating tale that delves into the depths of despair and the unwavering power of hope. The story follows protagonist, Sarah, as she navigates through a world filled with uncertainty and challenges. Despite facing numerous obstacles and setbacks, Sarah's determination and resilience shine through as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Author, John Smith, does an excellent job of weaving together themes of perseverance, friendship, and the importance of never giving up, even in the darkest of times. The character development is rich and nuanced, drawing readers in and keeping them engaged from start to finish.

Overall, The Blade of Hope is a poignant and thought-provoking read that will resonate with readers of all ages. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder that no matter how dire the circumstances may seem, there is always a glimmer of hope to hold onto."

In the magic-banned Kingdom of Thornwilde, Harlow, a teenage orphan searching for her missing sister, finds herself thrust into a world of court intrigue and hidden powers. When she catches the eye of the future princess and her elite guard, she's offered a chance to join the Virago, a prestigious all-female force tasked with protecting the royal family. However, secrets and betrayal lurk within the castle walls, and Harlow soon discovers she possesses magic within herself, forbidden and dangerous. As she uncovers a plot to overthrow the queen, she must choose sides and fight for her own survival, the princess's future, and the fate of the kingdom. This is only Book One of the Virago Series, so it sets the stage leaving unresolved questions and cliffhangers for future books.

This book was so fun to read. The character development of Harlow is great and the secrets you learn throughout the book just keeps you engaged and entertained to keep reading. The Thornwilde 'Kingdom' is so fascinating filled with so many interesting people, I just couldn't wait to learn more about everyone and all the cool places within the kingdom. The Virago give off this Dora Milaje from Wakanda vibe, which is really cool. Lots of strong female characters in this book. There are multiple POVs throughout the story which can get confusing if you're not focused enough, but that's a minor thing. Overall, this was a great read and I cannot wait to continue the series.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

I thought this book was a little slow. I did like how there was great representation and it did show in the book a good development but overall, a little too slow for me.