by G. A. Aiken
First published 2020
Gemma Smythe spent years serving the war gods as a devoted War Monk, bringing destruction to enemies and raising the dead alongside her brothers in arms. Everything changes when her sister Keeley fulfills prophecy by becoming the Blacksmith Queen. Gemma breaks faith with her religious order and travels to Amichai Mountain to stand with Keeley. The Amichai warriors prove wild and untamed, particularly Quinn, their future leader whose reckless nature tests Gemma's patience. When the War Monks choose to support Gemma's ruthless younger sister Beatrix instead of Keeley, Gemma faces an impossible mission. She must return to the grand masters who now consider her a traitor, overcome their anger at her betrayal, and convince them to abandon Beatrix for Keeley's righteous cause. With Quinn as her unlikely ally, Gemma discovers that winning this conflict will require more than military strategy. She must navigate family loyalty, religious duty, and her growing connection to the infuriating warrior who might be exactly what she needs to save her sister's throne.
Genres: romance, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Amichai Mountain
Period: medieval
Audio CD