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renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just like your usual Aiken's book, although if you new to her works then her writing style especially the PoV's changing can be too overwhelming. Also, full of dialogue, but there's some narrative too. If you had read her Dragon Kin series, chance you already familiar with the world building though Scarred Earth saga took place in Black Hill and I don't have slighthest idea where is it. There's no map. A map will be nice, especially there's mention of Dark Plain which is Anwyl's territory and one of the Daughter of the Steppes with their ridiculous long name make appearance.
So..new characters, new places, new power dynamic, same family focused theme, sisterhood, female rage, over the top fighting between siblings (still fun) and light romance. The romance is SO LIGHT it's more like an afterthought. So if you want to read romantic relationship between Keeley and Caid, you will be disappointed because their romance more like...err..lukewarm? They have sex just once, but if there's no sex that okay too. Didn't affect the story at all. I think Aiken try to focus to so many things, so the romance got sacrificed. For fantasy aspect and action also violence you get plenty, just like your usual Aiken's trademark.
Even The Blacksmith Queen is about Keeley that come to term with her being a queen from the prophecy and face her little sister, Beatrix's betrayal, the end of the story seems like Keeley's journey is not end yet. The next book, Princess Knight will be about Gemma Smythe, another Keeley's sister whom already suspect Beatrix's evilness while Keeley remain oblivious (or choose to oblivious at first and want to protect Beatrix until Beatrix stab her in the stomach). Just like Dragon Kin, I think Keeley's story will be continue in Gemma's book and there will be many new players to introduced.
A good book if you had read Aiken's works before and worth to try if you new to her books. Also recommended if you like your fantasy romance is heavy on fantasy rather than romance
So..new characters, new places, new power dynamic, same family focused theme, sisterhood, female rage, over the top fighting between siblings (still fun) and light romance. The romance is SO LIGHT it's more like an afterthought. So if you want to read romantic relationship between Keeley and Caid, you will be disappointed because their romance more like...err..lukewarm? They have sex just once, but if there's no sex that okay too. Didn't affect the story at all. I think Aiken try to focus to so many things, so the romance got sacrificed. For fantasy aspect and action also violence you get plenty, just like your usual Aiken's trademark.
Even The Blacksmith Queen is about Keeley that come to term with her being a queen from the prophecy and face her little sister, Beatrix's betrayal, the end of the story seems like Keeley's journey is not end yet. The next book, Princess Knight will be about Gemma Smythe, another Keeley's sister whom already suspect Beatrix's evilness while Keeley remain oblivious (or choose to oblivious at first and want to protect Beatrix until Beatrix stab her in the stomach). Just like Dragon Kin, I think Keeley's story will be continue in Gemma's book and there will be many new players to introduced.
A good book if you had read Aiken's works before and worth to try if you new to her books. Also recommended if you like your fantasy romance is heavy on fantasy rather than romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Alcohol, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Toxic relationship and Religious bigotry
burrowwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Murder, War, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
lizzylovebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
! Kann Spoiler erhalten!
Dieses Buch ist gefüllt mit lauter krassen Weiblichen Charakteren. Ich hab mich von Seite 1 an in diese Welt verliebt und bin von Seite zu Seite immer mehr gefesselt worden.
Caid.... achja, er hat sich durch seine ruhige und doch krasse Art, sehr schnell zu meinem Lieblingscharakter hochgemausert🥺😍👌🏻💞 i need also a Caid in my life ❤️🔥
Keeley ist eine richtig sympathische Protagonistin, die einfach nie das tut, was man von ihr erwarten würde. Genau das macht dieses Buch aus. Keeley ist einfach eine Hammerfrau, im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes.
Das einzige was ich nicht leiden konnte, waren ihre Zankereien mit ihrer Schwester Gemma, da dachte ich mir oft so: Muss das jetzt wirklich sein?
Zu Keran kann ich nur eines sagen: Why?
Mit ihr bin ich noch nicht sonderlich warm geworden, allerdings auch weil sie immer pennt, sauft oder sich Leben rauskotzt😅
Und bezüglich Beatrix... die Frau habe ich von Minute 1 an merkwürdig gefunden und dann flossen die Vermutungen auch nur so dahin... als sie bestätigt wurden, das sie die Antagonistin ist und mit ihrer scheiß Aktion, durch die sie Keeley, ihre eigene Schwester fast getötet hätte wusste ich einfach nur: Ich wusste da stimmt was nicht. Bestätigung folgte 🙏🏻
Dieses Buch bekommt verdiente 5⭐ von mir. Zudem freue ich mich extremst auf Band 2. Gemma und Quinn hatten hier im 1.Band schon so kleine Momente, wo ich mir dachte: Yes, das passt🥺💝😍👌🏻
Dieses Buch ist gefüllt mit lauter krassen Weiblichen Charakteren. Ich hab mich von Seite 1 an in diese Welt verliebt und bin von Seite zu Seite immer mehr gefesselt worden.
Caid.... achja, er hat sich durch seine ruhige und doch krasse Art, sehr schnell zu meinem Lieblingscharakter hochgemausert🥺😍👌🏻💞 i need also a Caid in my life ❤️🔥
Keeley ist eine richtig sympathische Protagonistin, die einfach nie das tut, was man von ihr erwarten würde. Genau das macht dieses Buch aus. Keeley ist einfach eine Hammerfrau, im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes.
Das einzige was ich nicht leiden konnte, waren ihre Zankereien mit ihrer Schwester Gemma, da dachte ich mir oft so: Muss das jetzt wirklich sein?
Zu Keran kann ich nur eines sagen: Why?
Mit ihr bin ich noch nicht sonderlich warm geworden, allerdings auch weil sie immer pennt, sauft oder sich Leben rauskotzt😅
Und bezüglich Beatrix... die Frau habe ich von Minute 1 an merkwürdig gefunden und dann flossen die Vermutungen auch nur so dahin... als sie bestätigt wurden, das sie die Antagonistin ist und mit ihrer scheiß Aktion, durch die sie Keeley, ihre eigene Schwester fast getötet hätte wusste ich einfach nur: Ich wusste da stimmt was nicht. Bestätigung folgte 🙏🏻
Dieses Buch bekommt verdiente 5⭐ von mir. Zudem freue ich mich extremst auf Band 2. Gemma und Quinn hatten hier im 1.Band schon so kleine Momente, wo ich mir dachte: Yes, das passt🥺💝😍👌🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Vomit, War, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gore
sphynxmom's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
noetical's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual content, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Animal cruelty
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
I always know what I’m getting when I pick up a Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken book: a strong heroine (with the shoulders to match), a hero who appreciates that strength, a wacky sense of humour, cartoonish violence, borderline crazy characters, and bickering siblings.
The romance here was very low-key. It felt more incidental than an integral part to the story and I wish it had been a bit more prominent. But I did like how steady and easy it was — you won’t find a lot of romantic drama here.
I enjoyed the fantasy plot and I am very interested to see where it goes in future. It’s not breaking new ground or anything, but it was entertaining and I loved seeing the weird and wonderful characters Aiken came up with. The dwarves were hilarious! The constant head-hopping did get a bit tiring after a while, but that’s also a signature of this author.
This is an ongoing series and while it didn't end on a cliffhanger, the story isn't fully resolved at the end.
This is an ongoing series and while it didn't end on a cliffhanger, the story isn't fully resolved at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
sarah984's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This is a very weird book because the summary sounds great! If you describe what is happening to someone else as you're reading, it sounds really cool!
But the book is not good.
None of the characters (except for the villain a bit, I won't spoil who it is but if you can't see the "twist" coming from about page 3 I question if you've ever read a book before) have distinct personalities. They all speak in vaguely Whedon style "quips" with a bunch of misogynistic language piled on for no reason. Characters claim to have specific beliefs but act counter to them all the time (eg. Keeley saying she wants to respect everyone even if she can't understand them and then spending several pages ranting about a religion she doesn't like), every sibling in this book is a hair-trigger for screaming matches or attempted murder no matter how important the things are that are happening around them, two characters are together for almost the whole book and somehow it's still insta love when it happens, and despite the apocalyptic sounding plot there are zero stakes. Everything always magically goes Keeley’s way so you're never worried about her.
But the book is not good.
None of the characters (except for the villain a bit, I won't spoil who it is but if you can't see the "twist" coming from about page 3 I question if you've ever read a book before) have distinct personalities. They all speak in vaguely Whedon style "quips" with a bunch of misogynistic language piled on for no reason. Characters claim to have specific beliefs but act counter to them all the time (eg. Keeley saying she wants to respect everyone even if she can't understand them and then spending several pages ranting about a religion she doesn't like), every sibling in this book is a hair-trigger for screaming matches or attempted murder no matter how important the things are that are happening around them, two characters are together for almost the whole book and somehow it's still insta love when it happens, and despite the apocalyptic sounding plot there are zero stakes. Everything always magically goes Keeley’s way so you're never worried about her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, War, and Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Rape
kazemiko's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It was something. Almost a direct opposite to the last book I finished. The Old King dies, and all hell breaks loose (page one, folks). You would think the kingdom would fall to the eldest son, or child, as it does in most modern monarchical societies. This is a last man standing deal. The victor takes the crown. So the now deceased king's three eldest sons (the rest have been...taken care of, shall we say) begin their war for power, only to find out that about a 'prophecy' that none of them will rule. A woman will.
Enter Keeley Smythe and her family. Made up almost entirely of farmers and blacksmiths. No one is particularly surprised when the soft-spoken middle child is named future Queen of the Hill Lands.
The book is quite well written, though I would not suggest it for a younger audience. There is a lot of violence, profanity, and at least mentions of sex. Nothing someone under say, 14-15 should be reading.
I am intrigued by the blossoming romance between two of the characters who by all accounts, should not end up together.
This is different from the last book in that the roles seem almost reversed. A band of what I assume are elite mercenaries are expecting to find helpless farmers and peasant women, only to be soundly destroyed by a family of smithing women. That isn't even considering what the father, uncle, and sons do. The Farmerson/Smythe family is not one to be trifled with.
We leave off before the final battle, and that was a bit disappointing. I want to know how Keeley, Gemma, Keran and co. handle Beatrix and her grab for power.
Enter Keeley Smythe and her family. Made up almost entirely of farmers and blacksmiths. No one is particularly surprised when the soft-spoken middle child is named future Queen of the Hill Lands.
The book is quite well written, though I would not suggest it for a younger audience. There is a lot of violence, profanity, and at least mentions of sex. Nothing someone under say, 14-15 should be reading.
I am intrigued by the blossoming romance between two of the characters who by all accounts, should not end up together.
This is different from the last book in that the roles seem almost reversed. A band of what I assume are elite mercenaries are expecting to find helpless farmers and peasant women, only to be soundly destroyed by a family of smithing women. That isn't even considering what the father, uncle, and sons do. The Farmerson/Smythe family is not one to be trifled with.
We leave off before the final battle, and that was a bit disappointing. I want to know how Keeley, Gemma, Keran and co. handle Beatrix and her grab for power.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault and Animal death
flik's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content
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