Back Cover Blurb
Lily is desperate to experience the world beyond her small village. A summer trip through the kingdom in the company of her uncle promises just the sort of escape she yearns for until, scarcely a day into their journey, the threat of battle on the road ahead ends her exploration before it’s even begun. But the path home proves more perilous than she could have imagined. After a terrifying encounter with her uncle’s merciless adversary, Lily must flee for her life. Separated from her uncle, she has no choice but to enter enemy territory alone. It appears that adventure is on the horizon after all . . .Thrust into an unfamiliar world, Lily is forced to align herself with Wren, a young knight from a rival land. With war looming, they must set aside generations of contention to save the ruling family—as well as Lily’s own people—from annihilation. But when a shocking secret is revealed, her allegiance to her clan—and her growing feelings for Wren—are called into question. Now, Lily must make a choice: continue on the conflict-ridden path of her kin, or break down the barriers in her land . . . and her heart.
My Review
4 out of 5 stars
I was really excited about this book, and overall it was a good read. I loved the medieval setting. I think the author did a fantastic job of making me feel like I was actually in feudal Europe, and as a former history teacher, I think she did her research well. I also really enjoyed the way witchcraft and superstitions–so common in the middle ages–played into the story. It added a richness and depth to the setting that I absolutely loved.
I was intrigued by the plot, and anxious to find out if the bad blood between the two fiefs would be resolved. There were some really unexpected plot twists that I loved. I also enjoyed the way the romance naturally developed between the hero and heroine.
What I didn’t love was the heroine. I had a really hard time liking Lily in the beginning. She was a little whiny, and had a woe-is-me attitude that drove me nuts. She was incredibly judgmental and prejudice too. Although Lily did have a character arc and was a different person by the end of the book, the switch was too sudden for me, and honestly by that point I disliked her so much, I couldn’t be brought around to loving her. That being said, Ren was likable enough to carry the story forward. I rooted for him the entire book, and felt for his struggle. He was a complex character, and I really understood his motivations for the things he did in the book.
The lead-up to the climax was fantastic, but the actually climax involved a too-stupid-to-live moment that had me rolling my eyes. Overall, the book is definitely worth your time. While there were some things I really didn’t like about the book, the things I did like I really loved, and it was more than enough to carry me through the rougher parts of the story. I’ll definitely be looking forward to move books by this author
