Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I rounded this up to 3 ⭐️s, it was more 2.5 ⭐️s for me. The premise of this book was interesting, but I couldn’t quite vibe with the writing style.

Ok bring on more Norse inspired worlds ❤️

I do feel like the tension and relationships with the love interests were a little underdeveloped BUT I did have a lot of fun with this book. The cover originally caught my attention and I was pleasantly surprised with how the book unfolded.

There were a few spelling and grammar mistakes (grammar is not my strong suit so I am the pot calling the kettle black here), so I feel like one more good round of edits would have been helpful!

I just think the characters, tournaments and relationships needed more fleshing out and expanding. That would have taken this book to the next level for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

The Seventh Sister is a wonderful and enchanting novel with complex world building, endearing characters and a magic system that is written wonderfully.

Title: The Seventh Sister
Author: M.A. Brown
Media Type: ARC through NetGalley


The twists and turns at the end of the book were absolutely delicious! The build up of the story was great. I felt that the prologue was a great way to start the story and was much needed to set the vibes. The vibes of vikings meets gods and dark academia had me feral! This is a fantasy book with a sub-plot of romance. Which I am very hopeful will be able to see more of the romance in book two.

The pacing of the story seemed fast at times and then perfect through the rest. The way that the author kept me guessing on who her love interest would turn out to be had me in a chokehold. Then the twit and turns at the end have me anticipating for book twos release. Slow burn romance for sure.With some wonderful angst.

The characters have much to grow in the upcoming books. However I was hoping to get to know Fenris more. Knowing there is a second book to come makes me hopeful to see the characters grown. The magic system has much room for play as well. It was new and refreshing to read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Midnight Tide Publishing and M.A. Brown for allowing me to review The Seventh Sister. I will be posting a review on Goodreads (TriciaReads), TikTok (triciareadds) and Amazon (TriciaReads).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love this book. Gave me all the feels.
I will be recommending to other Romantasy readers.

3.5 ⭐

The Seventh sister is a story rich in layers of world building and lore, with the author having clearly taken the time to weave all the elements of the world (such as the Gods, magic and history) together. I would definitely class this book as more of a Dark Fantasy book with a slight romantic subplot, than Romantasy, as the plot lends itself more to complex politics, war and magic than romance.

The complex world building was definitely a strength of this book, though there was a helpful glossary at the start to help readers, I did find the terms, places and backstory of the world easy to follow. I love the lore of how the magic came to be in the world and how the FMc's magic had a personality of it's own, with it's own actions.

The opening premise of the book hooks you straight away, as the FMC, Ertha, is taken by raiders from her home to their land. Immediately wanted to learn more about the raiders' homeland and the challenges now facing Ertha. However after the initial hook, I did find the pace of the story to be varied and a little slower in places. The pacing of the story does pick up as the book progress and I found myself being pulled back into the story once more.

The FMC, is likeable and though not physically strong, she is a resilient character. I did however wish that she could ask more questions in particular situations and be more curious about certain characters! The romance element of the story was not a focus and parts of it did confuse me. I felt it could have been a little more developed more tension and yearning.

Towards the end, a few of the plot points did leave me a little perplexed as to why they were happening and I wish that we had more of an insight into particular character's motivations. Twists plots were a plenty, with some I did see coming and one major one that I did not. Upon finishing, I did need to sit there for a second and stare at the fall to process 😅

If you enjoy darker fantasy, fairytale like stories, then The Seventh Sister is definitely one for your TBR. Some of the questions and perplextions that I had about the plot could definitely be answered as the plot progresses in Book Two, so I will for sure be picking that up when it's released.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.5 ⭐
I totally did not see this coming. And I am not okay. LoL
There was so much going on - death, kidnapping, warring invaders, magic, ballroom dancing, romance...
I was not expecting many of the twists, and the ending, I was definitely not okay with that.
The world building was fascinating - rich descriptions, captivating characters, and I could feel some of Ertha's emotions along the way. Since I finished the book, I'm now saying "wait, does this mean xxx?", or "oh, now I understand this part". I will be thinking about this book for some time, and hoping there is more to this world to come.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is voluntary and completely my own opinion.

I want to preface this by saying that this book was beautifully written and the synopsis really interested me.
However, I felt like some of the pacing in this book was a bit off and some of the characters I did not care for.
With that being said, if you love the romantasy genre, you’ll probably like this book, it does hit a lot of the romantasy markers but still has its own uniqueness.
I’ve read my fair share of romantasy books and I can usually predict what will happen, I am happy to report that this book did keep me guessing and the ground works was done perfectly to lead into the next book, which I will be keeping a look out for.

Thank you Netgally for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book started strong, but unfortunately as it progressed, it's could keep my attention. I see that other people review it high and I'm glad it found its audience.

Beautifully written and with such lovely vibes and an amazing aesthetic! Really intricately woven and very unique world building as well. I definitely enjoyed this and will be picking up a physical copy eventually.

The story itself was more like 3.75 stars but I rounded up to 4 based on all the “extras” that I’ll explain.. I listened to the audiobook for most of the book and finished it on my Kindle. I would have to say immersive reading would probably be the best way to experience this story.

This is definitely “high fantasy” with a lot of complex world building, but I think the audiobook was better for that because it was easier to pick up on context clues. I ended up enjoying the story a lot more than I thought I would at the beginning of the book.

The author’s writing style is very descriptive and poetic and haunting. Between her descriptions and the audio, I felt like I could picture every setting in detail.

The music and sound effects in the audiobook were a nice added touch. My favorite part of the experience was finding the character art in the book on Kindle Unlimited. That’s not something you normally see in ebooks but it was so beautiful and I loved it!

Overall, I’ll definitely be checking out the next book in the series to see where the story goes.

This book started off on a wild ride, with a captivating premise and a setting that was both vivid and immersive. As the story went on, it started to feel a bit like it lost its way. The pacing was all over the place, with some parts dragging on unnecessarily. Some of the plot points were predictable, which made the twists feel a bit less impactful. And while some character relationships were really well-developed, others felt a bit shallow and lacked emotional depth. It had moments of promise and creativity, but the lack of focus and uneven execution held it back.

M.A. Brown’s The Seventh Sister is a lush, atmospheric Romantasy brimming with myth, magic, and political tension. The world feels fully formed, with layered histories, rival kingdoms, and an undercurrent of mystery that pulled me in immediately.
When the temple where Ertha trains as a healer is destroyed, she’s taken across enemy borders and compelled to use her skills for those she once considered foes. What begins as survival becomes a journey of self-discovery, as hidden truths about her lineage emerge and hints of a larger destiny surface.
The romance is a slow burn that develops into a love triangle with an enemies-to-lovers edge, it hits all the right notes, with spice that perfectly matches the intensity of the story. Combined with the intrigue, rich lore, and compelling characters, it makes for an utterly addictive dark fairy tale. I’ll be first in line for the sequel, especially if it comes with a map and glossary.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 Stars

The Seventh Sister drew me in instantly with its poetic, atmospheric writing style and a strong, captivating start. M.A. Brown has a gift for crafting sentences that feel as beautiful as they are meaningful.

While the middle section slowed down and dragged slightly, I appreciated how that space was used to let the characters breathe and grow. Watching Ertha piece things together, both in her world and within herself, was deeply satisfying. Her journey of discovery and self-realization gave the story an emotional weight that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

I did see a few things coming toward the end, but the final twist completely blindsided me in the best way. Now I’m left eagerly waiting for more from this world and these characters.

A beautifully written, slower-paced dark fantasy that rewards readers who love rich prose, layered characters, and the quiet power of personal transformation, with a finale that ensures you’ll be thinking about it long after closing the book..

Thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I want the second book NOW! Get ready for a Norse inspired world with high stakes and plenty tension.

Ertha is a healer that gets captured by the Sons of Uther after her village is slaughtered and pillaged. This book had me engaged the entire way though and the ending? Like I said I need book 2 right now. Cannot wait to continue what is likely to be one hell of a series!

The book opened with a compelling start, immediately capturing my attention through a fascinating concept and an immersive, vividly described world. The early chapters were rich with suspense and a strong sense of intrigue, which made me eager to see how the plot would unfold. The overarching theme of balance held a lot of promise, and the world was infused with several imaginative and thought-provoking elements.

As the narrative progressed, however, it began to lose its drive. The pacing became inconsistent, with extended sections that felt slow and lacking urgency. Some of the story developments were fairly easy to anticipate, which caused the intended surprises to fall flat. While certain character interactions were effective and engaging, the core relationships that should have carried emotional weight felt underdeveloped and lacking in resonance.

A significant hurdle for me was the author’s writing style. The prose leaned heavily toward elaborate description—at times so much so that it seemed the focus shifted away from storytelling and toward crafting poetic language. This emphasis, along with the uneven rhythm of the plot, made it difficult to stay consistently invested. Additionally, I struggled to understand the protagonist’s motivations for much of the book. Although there was a general desire to escape or break free, the character’s specific goals and inner conflicts only became apparent quite late in the story.

Despite these issues, there were aspects I appreciated. The world-building was layered and imaginative, and it’s clear the author invested considerable effort in developing the setting and its underlying themes. With stronger structural cohesion and more clearly defined character arcs, this story could have had a far greater impact.

Ertha is studying as a healer at the Temple of Selenyss when the city is attacked by the brutal Sons of Uthar and she is taken captive and returned to The Father in his kingdom across the sea. Luckily he sees value in her exceptional skills and decides to keep her as a part of his collection. As Ertha navigates her new life in this strange realm under the careful watch of her keeper, Fenris, she keeps getting cryptic messages that she needs to create balance, "as above so below." Can Fenris be trusted? Or can her trust be better placed in the hands of Kastor, the soldier she saved during the attack on her temple who swore to protect her in return? Though she has much to discover and no one to guide her,

I have to say this one disappointed me. The premise was so cool! But I feel the execution was lacking. There is a difference between creating intrigue and just not giving enough information to move the story forward. The prose was clunky. The two love interests were not convincing. A side character, Huggin, was the only one with any convincing amount of character development. Our main character, Ertha, is somehow so sharp tongued and quick witted but also doesn't ask enough questions or push back when there are unexpected developments (why'd you go through the trouble to bring me on this raid? what's this shell? what happened that you're slumped half dead by the door in the middle of the night?). She also somehow decides she made a deal with the goddess of Death but never thinks to confirm the bargain, she just assumes if she does what Death asks she'll get to go on her merry way. Fenris applies this bond to Ertha when she's first put under his care that's supposed to keep her from running away, yet she can sneak away on a few occasions with seemingly no consequences. There's some kind of prophecy when the Father has a child, but Ertha helps deliver two of his children and seemingly nothing happens. what gives? Do the kids have to grow up first before this comes to pass? What is she supposed to be balancing? I just have way too many questions about our hero's goal that still remain at the end of the book. HOWEVER the ending was great! Truly, the author has developed such an interesting concept of a story, I just wanted it to be way more fleshed out. As it's written now, I would not recommend the book. If this had been a draft with the opportunity for another round of editing to clean it up, I'd be on board!

Thanks to Net Galley, Victory Editing, and the author for the opportunity to review the book. All opinions are my own.

The Seventh Sister is a dark, immersive debut that feels like stepping into a shadowed fairytale and finding the edges sharp. It’s a romantasy that doesn’t just play with familiar tropes — enemies-to-lovers, found family, forbidden magic — it reshapes them into something moodier, more atmospheric, and deeply emotional.

The story follows Ertha, a healer taken from her homeland to serve a powerful, mysterious figure in a realm far colder and crueler than her own. What starts as a forced proximity situation evolves into something layered: romance entangled with power, vulnerability, and prophecy. The emotional build is slow, but deliberate — Brown lets her characters earn their tension and trust.

What makes the novel stand out is its tone. The writing is lyrical without being overdone, and the world feels like something out of a northern myth — ice, blood, and ancient magic humming just beneath the surface. There’s also a quiet intensity to it; you’re never quite sure who to trust or what each moment is building toward.

There are a few small bumps — the opening throws you into the world with minimal explanation, which may be disorienting for some readers. But once it settles, the plot grips hard. And the ending? Cold. Brutal. Perfect. A true “stare at the wall for five minutes” kind of cliffhanger.

Now the actual story left me confused. The writing flowed well but I was still left wanting more. I felt like more of the world and politics could have been explained more to answer some questions. And while I liked Ertha, she still frustrated me at times. I will be picking up the next book because duologies can improve and I want to know what happens in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 3 stars

The Seventh Sister offers a richly imagined world with strong Norse-inspired mythology, a dark and magical atmosphere, and fluid writing. The setting felt immersive, with beautiful visual details and a clever lore system that gives weight to the magic.

However, the story leans heavily on exposition and worldbuilding, which slightly slows down the pacing and leaves the plot feeling secondary. I found it difficult to connect emotionally with the characters, especially the main romantic dynamic, which lacked the slow-burn tension or development I usually look for in romantasy.

Still, this book will appeal to readers who enjoy vivid fantasy worlds, mysterious magic systems, and atmospheric northern realms. The ending leaves potential for more, and I’d be open to reading the next installment to see how the emotional arcs and character bonds evolve.

Thank you to the author M.A. Brown, the publisher and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC of The Seventh Sister for an honest review.

The cover and the chapter illustrations? Gorgeous!

As for the book itself, I kind of do not want to rate this as I think with more editing this could seriously shine. However, for now it sits at 2.75 stars, if I could rate it that.

The premise itself is intriguing and there were really good parts (how the magic works) and the story starts off well - the beginning and the following chapters pulled me in but then around 40% my interest started waning. I am not sure if it was the choppy pacing, the weak character growth or even the love interests - although I do appreciate that there is no insta-love trope, there are other tropes here that I was not fully vibing with. And yeah, something just fell apart for me and I could not get it back in the second half of the book.

Possibly the second book is stronger and builds up more on the first one, but that remains to be seen.