I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, and I’m SO glad I had a chance to read it and form opinions before seeing a bunch of reviews! As someone who frequently tries to guess plot twists (and frequently gets them right), this book actually kept me on my toes.

These are some of my favorite characters that I’ve seen in a book in a while! Ertha feels very real with both lovable traits and flaws. The supporting characters made me laugh and get a sense of a “found family” from them. And then all I can say without giving much away is that the men in this book just make sense. If someone made Ertha uneasy but she moves past that feeling and grows to like them, I felt the exact same way as the reader. If Ertha was annoyed by someone, I was also annoyed by them. It was so refreshing compared to many popular books right now where you’re questioning the FMC’s judgement for the majority of the book.

The plot was also fantastic! By the end I felt like the real story was just getting started and I have no clue what direction it will take. There’s so much left to explore, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

My only complaint was the use of “dey” instead of “day” and “noct” instead of “night”. My brain kept seeing them as typos even thought it was clearly intentional. It’s such a minor complaint, but just a heads up if this is something that will bother you.

Balance the Scales

As Above So Below

When Ertha is stolen away to the dark shores of the enemy kingdom she's thrust into a tangled web of political intrigue and deadly secrets that leaves her wondering who she can trust. The otherworldly right hand of the king, who is her keeper? Or the soldier she healed who has vowed to protect her at all costs?

**This book comes with trigger warnings**

When it becomes clear she wasn't just taken by chance– that there are much more powerful entities with their hands steering her fate— she's forced to confront that nothing is as it seems, not the men who protect her, the world she knows, or even herself.

I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book and read in one sitting! The Seventh Sister follows our FMC Ertha who is kidnapped by the Sons of Uthar. I don't want to give much away but this is a fantasy book with slow burn romance, witchcraft, shapeshifters and mystery. All my favourite troops.
I enjoyed this book and it is a great start to what I believe is a duology. I am excited for the next book in the series as this one ended on a cliff-hanger.

This is my first experience reading a book by M.A. Brown and I will be reading her others, I enjoyed this book and loved her writing! Thank you again for allowing me to read the ARC!


#TheSeventhSister #NetGalley

This was a fun read - it was really easy to fall into the story.

I was a little lost at times when locations were mentioned and definitely would’ve enjoyed a little more world building in the background bc what we did get was so interesting.

I’ve also been having issues with FMCs over the past year but Ertha was a comfort to follow throughout the story.

It was giving road of bones/shield of sparrow vibes which I enjoyed. Overall a solid romantasy! All my reviews can be found on my linked Goodreads account!

Reading The Seventh Sister felt like being awake inside a dream. This was hands down a 5 ⭐️ read for me!

This book was whimsical and written with the kind of polish that makes everything from the quiet moments to the big moments absolutely shine. The worldbuilding is rich with its own terminology and layered mythology, but it never got overwhelming. Instead, it unfolded gently like a classic fairy tale.

The pacing is slow yet obviously deliberate. Plot wise, the book takes its time, but not in a way that dragged. By the time the plot crested, it landed hard. I didn’t even realize I was approaching the end until I turned the final page.. and wow. That ending.

Some of the tropes you can expect: “who hurt you,” “don’t touch her,” “she’s mine,” found family, and last of her kind. But they’re all handled with a kind of graceful restraint that makes them feel earned, not performative.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the art. It added so much charm and I really hope it stays in the final copy!

While the story had a fairytale softness to it, it doesn’t shy away from darker themes… there are subtle references to violence, forced pregnancy, and control. It never feels gratuitous, but it does add weight beneath the whimsy. The result is a story that balances beauty and brutality really well.

If you like your romantasy with rich worldbuilding, emotionally layered, and interesting romantic subplot, check out The Seventh Sister.

Big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, I had a blast with this book and can’t wait to see people enjoying it as much as I did!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I came here for fantasy. I left with trauma, trust issues, and a deep-rooted need to lie face down in a mossy forest for seven business days.

M.A. Brown, how dare you? How dare you build a world this rich, characters this broken-but-beautiful, and then stab me repeatedly in the feelings with betrayal, magic, and morally grey chaos.

💀 Betrayal? YES.
💫 Magic that burns like truth? YES.
🪞Trust-no-one energy? YES MA’AM.
💌 And the tiniest, gentlest hint of romance that made me screech like a banshee into my pillow? Ohhhh absolutely.

I finished it and immediately sat in silence like I’d just watched a prophecy unfold. I will now be emotionally unavailable until Book 2 arrives to ruin me further.

📣 TL;DR: Elemental magic, slow-burning suspense, and trauma recovery all walk into a warzone... and I never want to leave. If you love your fantasy with soul, scars, and the scent of rain on magic-soaked earth, this one’s for you.

I love the setting and premises! The chapter art are also really pretty. Reading this book felt like reading a fairytale, and I really like the storytelling. Ertha is a good lead for the story although she did make some questionable choices (lol) but it's so good to see her character developed throughout the story! I love Fenris and Huggin & Munnin as well. That ending aaaaa I need to know more!

4 🌟

Tags/tropes/themes:

🌙 Last of her kind
🩸 Healer FMC
🌙 Unique worldbuilding
🩸 "Who did this to her?"
🌙 Kidnapped by the enemy
🩸 Hidden/secret identity
🌙 Background sapphics, as a treat
🩸 Meddling gods
🌙 Semi-sentient magic
🩸 "She's mine"
🌙 Slow burn

I had trouble getting pulled into the story toward the beginning, but eventually it picked up for me, and I was on the edge of my seat to know how everything fit together!

This book has such a unique story and worldbuilding, which is so refreshing when a lot of romantasy books start to blend together these days. I loved Ertha and the fact that she still stuck to her role as a healer, even if she loathed the person she was healing. The characters are all well-developed in my opinion, and it was fun trying to guess all their secrets and motives. The romance also builds nice and slowly, so it feels genuine.

Like other people have said in their reviews, I really had no idea what was going to happen next. The hints are there, but they're subtle, and I wasn't being spoon-fed foreshadowing. At the same time, there's still so much more story to tell, and I can't wait for book 2 to learn more!

The cover art, chapter headers, and scene break art are also really pretty 💖

I was a little worried the book would be too dark for me. It has dark themes throughout, the most prominent being r*pe threats and forced pregnancy threats (not by MMC), but it was relatively mild overall in my opinion, which was perfect for me.

Overall, I definitely recommend giving this romantasy a chance, and I am metaphorically knocking on M.A. Brown's door asking for book 2 🙏


Thank you Netgalley and M.A. Brown for the chance to read the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

This was such an enjoyable read I had a hard time setting it down and nearly read it all in one sitting! Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC!

I loved the Norse vibes of the story and the character development as the story progressed, without feeling like I was being bombarded with backstories for them all. The world building was excellent and I really enjoyed all the little nods to Norse mythology.

The only thing that took me out of it a little bit was using 'dey' and 'noct' instead of 'day' and 'night', but I get the reason. It is just a personal feeling, like when a book uses words like 'magik' instead of 'magic' just to be different. This didn't quite feel like that, since I do think it was to keep with that Norse vibe, it just was slightly jarring. But certainly not enough to take away from my enjoyment of the book.

The romance was slow burning and I think most of it is building up for book 2, which I look forward to reading. Overall, a delightful read!

Where gods meddle in mortal affairs, destinies twist, and the line between captor and companion blurs. The Seventh Sister is a Norse-inspired romantasy full of prophecy, tension and quiet emotional depth.

Ertha’s journey is deeply personal, kidnapped and forced to heal the very people who killed her people, she navigates survival and strength in a brutal world. Despite everything, she remains steady, grounded and easy to connect with. I guessed a few twists, but that didn’t pull me out of the story.

The world-building is rich but never overwhelming and the lore around the gods, especially the Red Lady, adds a mythic weight that lingers. The magic system is intriguing without being over explained and I’m curious to see more in the next book.

Romance here builds slowly, layered with survival, power shifts and vulnerability and ends with a clever twist. Overall it mostly feels like a strong setup for the next installment and I’m definitely here for it.

A strong start to what I think will be a very exciting duet. Huge thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I clapped when I finished this book. Literally. My boyfriend looked at me like I was crazy. It’s so good, though! The slow burn was torture in the best way. And I do mean SLOW. Like a nonexistent, I-just-know-eventually-something-will-happen kind of burn. I can’t even say much about the MMC because I’ll spoil it but all I’ll say for now is I can’t wait for book 2!! I can just imagine the romance we’ll get as the story continues. This is the problem with reading the first book of a series. It just makes you want more! Following this author so I can get updates about the next book. What a great storyteller. Thanks so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this incredible ARC!

Read full extended review on my website

Ertha's story was so intriguing, romantic and tragic. I loved this story between enemy kingdoms and old magic. Would recommend for high fantasy readers. This had interesting political games which had great payoff.

I am literally enchanted by the cover of this book. It is so pretty that I need it on my bookshelf just to look at. This dark romantasy was lush and the prose was just as elegant as the cover. I loved every trope this book hit.

4.5 ⭐️ rounding up to 5

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This book completely pulled me in. The worldbuilding is rich, immersive, and so well done. It has its own lore, language, and pantheon of gods, and yet it was never overwhelming or confusing. There’s even a glossary at the start, but I didn’t need to use it because everything was woven into the story so naturally.

Ertha is a compelling main character, and I absolutely loved her relationship with Fenris. Their banter was one of my favorite parts, and I’m seriously rooting for them. The political intrigue, secrets, and shifting alliances kept the tension high, and even though I predicted one twist early on, the big reveal at the end left me completely shocked. I need the next book immediately! There are so many questions I’m dying to have answered.

Tropes include:
✨ Hidden Identity
✨ Chosen One
✨ Slow burn
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Betrayal
✨ Magical bond
✨ “Who did this to you?”

If you love fantasy with strong writing, unique worldbuilding, and slow-burn tension, this is definitely one to add to your list.

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

This story felt ethereal and magical. Ertha lives in a temple, learning her craft of true healing. It is a simple life but one important for her to go through to develop her skills until she moves back home. As she reaches that time, a raid occurs that shakes the foundation of her life. With the town and temple bathed in blood, Ertha does everything in her power to save anyone, even her enemies. But lingering can only lead to misfortune and not soon after, Ertha's life path changes drastically with an ominous shift of a red skirt signaling more is at play.

This story took a while to compound but it was such a fun process seeing the story knit together and joining Ertha as her magic and life changed drastically. This story felt like a blissful mix between a Rebecca Ross story and When the Moon Hatched - I especially enjoyed the addition of a glossary and backstory of the gods in the world. There was subtle spice throughout the story which I could have done without but I was thankful it was minor so as to not overwhelm the plot. This book was the epitome of "there's only 50 pages left, how will a satisfying conclusion occur" but it managed it perfectly somehow! I also completely missed it at first but this story has so much symbolism and subtle hints along the way, which truly made it feel complete in all ways!

Thank you to the author, M.A. Brown, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read this ARC! I already want to read book 2!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
While Norse mythology-based and easy to understand, the world building is still unique. The gods are stirring things up and give cryptic warnings of prophecy that move the plot along. Ertha is such a complex main character. Being in her head, while she navigates the enemy's kingdom and learns more about herself, provides a tense mood that kept me guessing and on the edge. I was suspicious of everyone but also wanted to know more about each character.

If you're into dark fantasy, morally complex characters, and prose that will gut-punch you and make you thank it for doing so — this one’s for you.

I first noticed this book because its cover stood out to me. After reading the synopsis, I was sold. I genuinely think this story is best enjoyed the less you know about it beforehand.

Synopsis
Ertha is stolen away to the enemy kingdom, where she finds herself caught in secrets and betrayals. In the end, the question isn’t just who to trust or how to get home, but also who she is — and what kind of world she’s been born into.

What to Expect
🐺 First in a Duology
🐦‍⬛ First-Person POV
🐺 Forced Proximity
🐦‍⬛ Magical Bond / Mates
🐺 Slow Burn
🐦‍⬛ Hidden Identity

Ertha’s world is a dark one, her path splattered with gore and cruelty — but also wonder.

"But the Sons of Uthar had come, and the reality was far worse than what I’d imagined as a child in my bed — despite the fact, or maybe because of the fact, that they were, after all, real flesh-and-blood men."

Despite taking my time with this book, it wasn’t boring by any means. I’m grateful for the opportunity to fold my braincells around its words. The prose especially stood out to me: brutal and raw, yet lush and precise. It combines as many contradictions as Ertha’s beliefs about who to trust.

I often found myself pausing in admiration at the author’s word choices — in the best way. More often than not, that amazement came from small, subtle details rather than sweeping, revolutionary prose. Still, it reminded me why I first fell in love with literature: the sheer power of words and how they shape the world — especially the one presented here, built word by word as an ode to the beauty of language.

The worldbuilding is especially detailed when it comes to the lore — particularly the deities. One example is an Emrys, which gave me strong Greek mythology vibes, which luckily I enjoy. A glossary is included, and I definitely had to refer back to it a few times — a lot of names get thrown around. That made it a bit tricky to keep track of who’s who, especially since some characters have limited page time or aren’t introduced in much detail.

The plot progression felt natural overall, though I would’ve liked a bit more detail in certain areas. The romance is more of a subplot at this stage, and if you enjoy a slow burn, this definitely lays the groundwork. I was invested in the MLC and hoped he’d become the love interest — fingers crossed the sequel delivers more in that department!

Some twists I saw coming, and others completely blindsided me. Personally, I enjoyed this balance — it gave me just enough stress over plot developments while still letting my smart-ass reader instincts enjoy a little treat every now and then.

Characters
Ertha is a great heroine, and I really enjoyed spending time with her. Given her upbringing, she’s not experienced in the romance department, and it was exciting to watch that part of her slowly come to life. What I especially liked is that she didn’t strike me as overly naive — she acknowledges her feelings and emerging sexual fantasies bit by bit. She also knows how to use her skills to her advantage, like when she checks for poison. Small moments like that made her feel grounded and capable.

"It had been a stupid and wistful thought at best, to wonder if he was feeling as raw and hollow on the inside as I was. A man baptized in that much blood could not possibly fathom the ache of an empty chest where a heart had once beat for those you’d loved and lost."

📖 Dates Read: June 5th, 2025 – July 13th, 2025
📅 Pub Date: August 6th, 2025

A huge thanks to M. A. Brown, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.