English language
Published Nov. 8, 2022 by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc..
Keera is a killer. As the King's Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the king’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure moves against the Crown, Keera is called upon to hunt down the so-called Shadow. She tracks her target into the magical lands of the Fae, but Faeland is not what it seems . . . and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she learns, and can't help but wonder who her enemy truly is: the King that destroyed her people or the Shadow that threatens the peace?
As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago, one that will test her in every way. To keep her word, Keera must not only save herself, but an entire kingdom.
I'm not sure why I'm "meh" on this one. I usually enjoy the various elements here: a hidden, dying magic (that maybe isn't), mysterious births, female lead (especially with a bad attitude), treachery, and heist-like plot devices.
I didn't like using "halfling" because that word already has a specific meaning for me and it's different from the usage here.
I dunno. It was fine, just maybe not for me.
Content warning Spoiler for plot.
Very much "booktok." I read this expecting sapphic. And I am bi, so I appreciate there is bi rep, but the fact that it started with "dead lesbian and makes MC into a 'monster' that wants revenge" and she sends up with a guy.... Just.
This isn't shade, btw, to booktok books, but they just use tropes and conventions that just aren't my cup of tea. Nothing wrong, just not my thing. If you like booktok, you'll like it if you can get over "dead lesbian/monster lesbian" trope. I picked up the second book from the library, too, so I'm gonna read it just because I want to see if it does "get better" in my opinion, it had a lot of potential in places and I want to see if those plot points get actualized.
Hella trigger warnings, exposition could be spotty at times, and the author doesn’t seem to know whether the Shadow is a tactical genius or a bumbling noob, but I like the magic system and the attention to infrastructure and it’s nice to follow the characters’ developing relationships. A decent choice if you’re relatively unburdened. If you have serious addiction gremlins though, I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble, at least not this early in the series. It’s entirely probably the author improves further in.
Purchasable
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798212221832-a-broken-blade.