Seven Black Birds (Fall of Kingdoms) by Andy Lee Barnes

Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Independently Published
Publication Date: July 21, 2021
Pages: 546
Format: ePub
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Life in the kingdom of Guerra is fraught with dangers. Sapherone knows them all too well. She is a skilled huntress. But she’s no match for the merciless creatures that stalk the Forbidden Mountains. No mortals are. Another dark threat looms too: Soon, like generations of girls before her, she will be sold off as breeding stock. It is a fate she despairs.

That is until, she finds herself imprisoned by the enemy kingdom of Krysland – with four other Guerra girls. And Sapherone is thrust right into the heart of dangerous territory. Fallon, the charismatic Krysland leader, is not what she expects. Certainly, he doesn’t seem to be the ruthless murderer they have been warned all their lives about. As danger and desires become twisted, Sapherone finds herself falling for him. But he hides a dark secret, and as her fate draws closer, she must find a way to escape. None of the girls have her skills, and she must be willing to do whatever it takes, no matter the cost, to save them.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

On one hand with this story, I loved the writing and the world building. It seems like the Krysland folk are a lot less savage than their Guerra neighbours thought they were. I also 100% appreciated the slow burn romance in it. So much nicer to read something like that instead of instant infatuation. 

But Saph just rubbed me the wrong way. I did enjoy that she was strong and independent, from the beginning she clearly did not belong in Guerra and she expressed that deeply. She loathed their customs and was not impressed to be forced into it. 
Although the Krysland people did not really tell the girls why they had them, it seemed that from the beginning that the women in Krysland had more freedoms and were treated significantly better than those in Guerra, who were little more than chattel. Yet Saph was abrasive and defiant of them constantly and I wanted to reach in, shake her and say "stop, you've been given a second chance, take it!"

The twist was interesting though. I hope that Saph grows from her experiences and within the next book, she's a little less abrasive.  

Rating:

3.95 Stars

via Goodreads

Andy Barnes lives Tasmania with her husband, Nick, and their two girls, Pirri and Inika. When she isn't glued to the keyboard, a steaming cup of coffee and a choc chip cookie by her side, then you can usually find her running her children around, from one thing to another, or outside enjoying nature with the families labradors, Tilly, Caddie and Pepper.

Connect with Andy:
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