The Blacksmith Queen by GA Aiken
The Scarred Earth Saga #1
Fantasy Romance
August 27, 2019 by Kensington
ARC

The Blacksmith Queen was just what I needed last week. If you are familiar with GA Aiken/Shelly Laurenston then you know how much humor and zaniness are packed into her storytelling. Her over the top characters, the wonderful, sometimes bloody and violent, yet loyal extended family, the broad, interesting worldbuilding, and the fierce women who are the center of everything. THIS IS BOOK IS EXACTLY THAT.

Ms. Aiken takes her readers to a world adjacent to her Dragon Kin series, and introduces new characters. Keely Smythe is the newly dubbed Blacksmith Queen, only she never had any intention of becoming queen until her sister forced her into the situation and now she is fighting for her and her family’s lives. She must gather allies and goodness gracious I enjoyed getting to meet them all. Centaurs, dwarves, elves, demon wolves, war monks, and more. I kind of hope this series and the Dragon Kin series merge at some point in the future.

There is violence and a lot of gory scenes, but I expected that. The romance is light and I expected that too. This book was just what I wanted and hit all the right notes for me. Quirky humor, strong heroines, set against a rich fantasy world… what more can you ask for?

Final grade- B

KINDLE * GOODREADS * AUTHOR’S WEBSITE

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Hidden Legacy #4
Urban Fantasy Romance
August 27, 2019 by Avon
ARC

Sapphire Flames is the fourth book in the Hidden Legacy series, yet the first full length book featuring Catalina Baylor as the main POV. Long time fans of this series are familiar with Catalina and have been waiting patiently for her to grow up and become head of the Baylor family now that Nevada and Rogan are starting their own family.

Catalina did not disappoint and right from the opening scene I knew that this series would only get better as we get to know her and follow along as she navigates the dangerous, powerful world of House politics and Baylor Investigations.

As with any book in this series, Sapphire Flames has a mystery and the Baylor family members are drawn in to help. This time they are aiding Runa Etterson, who we have met before in Diamond Fire, in discovering who murdered her family. Which means danger, villains with every sort of power, and the assistance of Alessandro Sagredo, one-time teenage crush of Catalina. And oh boy, the tension and chemistry between these two was blazing hot. I can not WAIT for them to be back together again on page.

Sapphire Flames was probably my most anticipated book this year and it did not disappoint. I missed this family so much and was so happy to be back in alternate Houston, Texas in the middle of sophisticated, yet deadly House politics.

Final Grade- A

KINDLE * GOODREADS * AUTHOR’S WEBSITE

What I’m reading this week: