Kendare Blake has been hailed as one of the best fantasy authors of this generation, and continues to prove herself worthy of the title in this explosive second novel.
From the blurb;
'Reed is officially a member of the immortal order of the Aristene.
'And she's not just any Aristene, but a Glorious Death. Reed guides only those heroes whose price for victory on the battlefield is their lives. It is a heavy burden, but she throws herself into the role in the hope of forgetting the prince she loved and betrayed.
'When fellow Aristene Lyonene is summoned to guide a princess to a glorious marriage, Reed sees an opportunity for a simple mission and they secretly arrange for Reed to go in her place. But she arrives to find that Prince Hestion is one of the suitors. Now, Reed faces a battle between her duties and the desires of her heart.
'All the while, an old enemy is rising to threaten the Aristene. Reed has already given everything to the order. As oaths are broken and lives re lost, what more must she sacrifice to save her sisters... and herself?'
Champion Of Fate was a jaw dropping opener to this action packed series, setting up a strong cast of warrior women, painted into the world of Three Dark Crowns, and allowing for an explosion of fantasy world building to bloom. Running off of that set up Warrior Of Legend is everything readers could have hoped for and more.
Returning to Reed's life months after the close of Champion Of Fate we are instantly thrown back into the action, and it doesn't take long to realise that the strong willed girl we knew before has changed into a harder creature.
The books starts off with those who love Reed trying to bring her back from the depression she has fallen into, and through this we are reintroduced to our lovable cast of Aristene and the world in which they live.
Warrior of Legend is a quick paced novel, swiftly moving us into the crux of the story, and in Blake fashion building the anticipation with every page. Before long it becomes clear that an old enemy is resurfacing, though this time their threat upon the Aristene seems far greater than it was before. Between this and instability within the order itself we soon begin to question the guiding hand of the organization's elders.
Throughout the novel Blake begins to sow the seeds for the next instalment, lining seemingly inconsequential moments with nods towards bigger questions, sparking our excitement for everything that is to come from this action packed fantasy series.
As Reed struggles to become the Aristene she spent her life dreaming of being, those around her fight for her happiness, and mistakes on all sides force them all to an explosive conclusion.
Blake squarely set's up for her third novel, while giving us an immersive, jaw-dropping and fully realised second act that will keep readers glued to the page throughout.
If you haven't yet jumped into Champion Of Fate now is the time.
We give Warrior Of Legend Five Stars
ISBN - 978-0-86154-894-1 Cover Price - £9.99 First published in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland by Rock the Boat, an imprint of Oneworld Publications Ltd, 2024
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