Sorrel lives in a world on the brink of disaster. The Fulcrum - a mystical prison that houses a great evil - is about to fall. As the demons walk among the people, her own misunderstood gifts place her in great danger. When she flees her village with the aid of a handsome mercenary, she is granted a final gift from her dead mother - a compass and a crown - and a quest that will challenge everything she is.

This was a wonderful dark fantasy from JR Ward. The pacing is excellent; the characters are vivid, and the mystery of Sorrel's past is skillfully woven into the narrative. I can't wait to read the next one. Bravo!

A fantastic new series by J.R. Ward, the author of "The Black Dagger Brotherhood" books, unfolds with intriguing characters Merc and Sorrel, whose mysterious identities and powers are revealed gradually throughout the story. The adventure takes readers into the badlands, filled with excitement and battles, leading to a thrilling conclusion in this new addition to J.R. Ward's anthology.

After reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series I was so excited to see there was a new fantasy book (series?) by JR Ward! I was expecting something darker and spicier but was pleasantly surprised by Sorrel and Mercs story. Most fantasy journeys don't keep my interest but I kept wanting to know where Sorrel and Merc were going next. I enjoyed this read and look forward to more.

I was so excited for this book, especially having read the author's previous works. I can definitely say that I very much enjoyed this read and the new fantasy world that J.R. Ward created. The writing and interactions between the main characters helped in making the story flow easier, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story. While the world-building was very intricate, there were some points throughout the book that left me questioning how the system actually works. I was able to quickly jump back into the plot, but these moments throughout the book did pull me out for a while. The romance was also very well done and had me swooning nonstop! It does take some time to fully get into the story, but I still recommend it for anyone who is a fan of the romantasy genre.

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I think I have read everything J.R. Ward has written, and totally fan-girled when I received the ARC approval. This new series was pretty fun. This is a slow-burn, forced-proximity romance that gives me a little spicier (but not usual JR Ward-level spice) Shadow and Bone vibes. I was pulled in from the get go. Sorrel was a likeable character. Merc takes a while to warm up to. There were twists I didn't see coming for sure!

***Possible Spoiler Alert****
The story was well planned and exceptionally written, but the ending felt so rushed to me. I had unresolved feelings! Where is Sorrel's warrior mother? What happened to her? What IN THE LOVE is Merc's real name?! Am I to keep calling him by his "occupation"? Will these questions be answered in the next books?! Send help...

Thanks to JR Ward, NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I always love J.R. Ward books, but I especially loved this beginning of a new series. There were some twists I saw and some I didn't. Very much already looking forward to the next installment. Welcome addition to the world of fantasy/romantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for access to the ARC.

This book read like it was written by a man and not in a good way. I wasnt a fan of how the lead female character was written and also the male character was kind of a bully.

Thanks to NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adult fantasy set in a dark, ancient world filled with dangerous creatures and mystical entities. Sorrel, an orphan, goes on a quest after living a difficult life as a servant to an unpleasant tavern owner. She is known in her village as a type of healer but no one is kind to her; they only use her when they need her. She meets up with various characters as she tries to find someone to help her fight a darkness that is threatening her village. Sorrel engages a mercenary to help her on her quest. They form a reluctant partnership. As the story progresses, she finds out more about herself and who she really is.

The book feels more like a young adult book with the theme of good versus evil. It appears to be part of a series. Character backstories are hinted at but mainly underdeveloped.

It weirdly feels like a video game--but not in a good way. Lots of backtracking for certain quests, weird quests given by weirder characters, and Sorrel is the Chosen One who can do No Wrong...