What do you think?
Rate this book
Thieves of Felshan #1
A Song of Thieves
The kingdom of Felshan is at its breaking point. The death of the prince seven years ago left the country vulnerable. In their grief, the King and Queen have all but abandoned their duties, leaving their daughter to hold the pieces together. The last hope for a peaceful future rests with Princess Adalena, the new, albeit hesitant, heir of Felshan. When the princess is kidnapped, a secret few must find her before a power grab for the throne dismantles the country for good.
Ari is a commissioned thief and spy, her skills honed by the very palace she once despised. Being asked to save the missing princess brings her head-to-head with the last person she’d ever choose—Roan Montgomery. Roan is captain of the Royal Guard, working through his own misery and troubled past while attempting to keep the peace in a crumbling Felshan.
Ari wants to be free. Roan wants to forget.
This treacherous quest will push Ari and Roan to their breaking point, pulling the duo intimately together in the process. The fate of the realm rests with these unlikely allies, who discover along the way that they themselves might be the ones who need saving.
A Song of Thieves is Book 1 of the Thieves of Felshan series and is a closed-door, non-magic, fantasy romance.
Ari is a commissioned thief and spy, her skills honed by the very palace she once despised. Being asked to save the missing princess brings her head-to-head with the last person she’d ever choose—Roan Montgomery. Roan is captain of the Royal Guard, working through his own misery and troubled past while attempting to keep the peace in a crumbling Felshan.
Ari wants to be free. Roan wants to forget.
This treacherous quest will push Ari and Roan to their breaking point, pulling the duo intimately together in the process. The fate of the realm rests with these unlikely allies, who discover along the way that they themselves might be the ones who need saving.
A Song of Thieves is Book 1 of the Thieves of Felshan series and is a closed-door, non-magic, fantasy romance.
372 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2023
56 people are currently reading
1344 people want to read
About the author
Jacqlin Guernsey
2 books58 followersJacqlin Guernsey has loved reading since she was a child, and dreamed of writing her first novel after reading The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. She currently lives in Washington state with her four young boys and her wonderful husband. Jacqlin loves to take long walks and hikes, watch movies with her family, and dream up possibilities for her next story. Her biggest bucket list items are to see the Northern Lights, and visit the Mediterranean Sea.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 7, 2023
I can honestly say I've read this a bajillion times, and I love it! ;)
December 12, 2023
Solid characters, engaging plot, slow burn, fun read.
I really enjoyed everyone being capable and having a brain in this book😅
I really enjoyed everyone being capable and having a brain in this book😅
May 23, 2024
Immediately captured from the first chapter, I didn't want to set this book down. Ari & Roan's journey as they head off into the unknown to help save the Kingdom of Felshan is full of excitement, disappointment, trust and distrust alike.
Jacqlin does an excellent job of making you feel like you are in the story, that you are Ari or Roan or the other characters when it is their point of view being shared. You feel sympathetic with them and their own personal struggles and understanding comes forth as more is revealed.
This story contains multiple point of views, a slow burn romance, but nothing beyond a steamy kiss. It is a fantasy type story but no magic, just adventure and the challenge of staying alive. It is a book that with no hesitation I'd hand to my teenagers.
If you are looking for a fun, engaging, read that will make you sympathize with all of the characters and what path they are on, I definitely recommend this one.
I had a book hangover from this one honestly, I want to continue the adventure and I'm looking forward to book 2!
*I recieved a complimentary electronic copy of this book as an ARC in return for an honest opinion and review.*
Jacqlin does an excellent job of making you feel like you are in the story, that you are Ari or Roan or the other characters when it is their point of view being shared. You feel sympathetic with them and their own personal struggles and understanding comes forth as more is revealed.
This story contains multiple point of views, a slow burn romance, but nothing beyond a steamy kiss. It is a fantasy type story but no magic, just adventure and the challenge of staying alive. It is a book that with no hesitation I'd hand to my teenagers.
If you are looking for a fun, engaging, read that will make you sympathize with all of the characters and what path they are on, I definitely recommend this one.
I had a book hangover from this one honestly, I want to continue the adventure and I'm looking forward to book 2!
*I recieved a complimentary electronic copy of this book as an ARC in return for an honest opinion and review.*
June 6, 2023
This was a fantastic book! Loved the characters and the no-magic fantasy land — reminded me of the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen. I can’t wait for more of Parker and Lena’s stories!
March 10, 2023
This book was fun to read. The characters are very likable and I enjoyed their adventures. I am looking forward to the sequel because the story obviously isn’t complete!
March 12, 2024
SOLID START.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I am here for this series and am committed to reading book two now.
A small rocky start for me because I really prefer a little more dialogue in my reads, but as the story progressed I got invested in the characters, romance and plot and found myself actually almost finishing this in a day.
I loved the multiple POV’s. It was done well and only enhanced the story. I am curious about even more world building aspects from this and actually really liked that this didn’t have a complex magic system, it didn’t need it.
The romances have my attention. Some fantastic slow burns are brewing right now and I can’t wait to see those continue. I love when a couple isn’t fully together in the first book, draw it out, make me want more, and this has made me want more.
A good (maybe slightly predictable) plot, characters you’ll love and a story I think can be enjoyed by a lot of people.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one, weapons violence, battle themes, kidnapping
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I am here for this series and am committed to reading book two now.
A small rocky start for me because I really prefer a little more dialogue in my reads, but as the story progressed I got invested in the characters, romance and plot and found myself actually almost finishing this in a day.
I loved the multiple POV’s. It was done well and only enhanced the story. I am curious about even more world building aspects from this and actually really liked that this didn’t have a complex magic system, it didn’t need it.
The romances have my attention. Some fantastic slow burns are brewing right now and I can’t wait to see those continue. I love when a couple isn’t fully together in the first book, draw it out, make me want more, and this has made me want more.
A good (maybe slightly predictable) plot, characters you’ll love and a story I think can be enjoyed by a lot of people.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one, weapons violence, battle themes, kidnapping
August 20, 2023
Oh. My. Word. This was so fantastic
The ending 😱
This fantasy book was fantastic. Full of adventure, intrigue, healing, slow burn clean romance, and so much more. Wow. So very well written.
I love our cast of characters and the different points of view we read from during the book. It truly enriches the experience and builds the suspense and your investment in the storyline and characters.
I love the slow unfolding of each character's backgrounds and true feelings. It keeps you invested in the entire book and just builds the story so well. You gain little pieces throughout reading that truly make this book into a masterpiece.
The romance! Y'all the slow-burn of this romance was phenomenal. It's clean, it's magical, it just is all the things you want in a good romance. The fact that there are two going on at the same time. That was magic. Magical writing. So good.
There are handful of h*** and d*** words included, but are used in ways that aren't too distracting.
The ending 😱
This fantasy book was fantastic. Full of adventure, intrigue, healing, slow burn clean romance, and so much more. Wow. So very well written.
I love our cast of characters and the different points of view we read from during the book. It truly enriches the experience and builds the suspense and your investment in the storyline and characters.
I love the slow unfolding of each character's backgrounds and true feelings. It keeps you invested in the entire book and just builds the story so well. You gain little pieces throughout reading that truly make this book into a masterpiece.
The romance! Y'all the slow-burn of this romance was phenomenal. It's clean, it's magical, it just is all the things you want in a good romance. The fact that there are two going on at the same time. That was magic. Magical writing. So good.
There are handful of h*** and d*** words included, but are used in ways that aren't too distracting.
April 3, 2023
This book was such a fun adventure. I’ve never read multiple POV before but Jacqueline did an amazing job keeping everything straight & organized. I stayed up till 2 reading this because it for so stressful towards the end and I NEEDED CLOSURE. Little did I know that closure wouldn’t quite happen at the end 😂😂 I’m excited for the second book and can’t wait to read it!
March 29, 2023
Absolutely loved this book. I genuinely had fun reading it, and I can’t wait to find out what comes next! Jacqlin is an author to watch, she has such a talent for pulling you in and creating vivid pictures. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
March 16, 2023
The characters and settings captured me from the first page of chapter one. The story contains such emotional depth and I loved the detailed world building. I found myself in awe of the author's attention to detail and description which had me feeling like Felshan was all around me. My only complaint is that I hate a cliffhanger and don't want to wait for book 2! I'm especially excited to see what happens with Lena's part of the story now.
July 27, 2023
Deceptive
This book started out with promise and potential but I’m sad to say it did not meet expectations. First of all, the MCs inner dialogue was ALWAYS lengthy. It often got in the way of the action taking place in that moment. I ended up skimming about 40% of the book as a result.
The enemies to lovers wasn’t very believable. Then again, I prefer the tactic where we’re also led to hate the ‘bad guy’ and then the author totally surprises you with the twist. I think that’s true enemies to lovers. Otherwise, it just feels like the MC is trying too hard to hate the one they love and that’s annoying. We’ve got to have a legitimate reason to want to hate the enemy too.
I wasn’t buying the kidnapped princess’s character either. How she just accepted her position and how she felt about her circumstances was just ridiculous. She hardly tried to escape and her attempt was half-a. Her character annoyed me the most.
Finally, the prologue ended up ruining the reveal toward the end. Trying not to give anything away, but I was able to pin the suspect back when the first clue was given just because I read the prologue. A planned plot ten years in the making…it was obvious at that point. So when I reached the end where the truth is revealed, it was pretty anticlimactic.
All that being said, I will say that the writing quality was at least decent. And by that, I mean, word choice, structure, and grammar were not too bad. Good editing. However, the overall way in which the story played out…disappointing. I think the whole thing could have been better.
This book started out with promise and potential but I’m sad to say it did not meet expectations. First of all, the MCs inner dialogue was ALWAYS lengthy. It often got in the way of the action taking place in that moment. I ended up skimming about 40% of the book as a result.
The enemies to lovers wasn’t very believable. Then again, I prefer the tactic where we’re also led to hate the ‘bad guy’ and then the author totally surprises you with the twist. I think that’s true enemies to lovers. Otherwise, it just feels like the MC is trying too hard to hate the one they love and that’s annoying. We’ve got to have a legitimate reason to want to hate the enemy too.
I wasn’t buying the kidnapped princess’s character either. How she just accepted her position and how she felt about her circumstances was just ridiculous. She hardly tried to escape and her attempt was half-a. Her character annoyed me the most.
Finally, the prologue ended up ruining the reveal toward the end. Trying not to give anything away, but I was able to pin the suspect back when the first clue was given just because I read the prologue. A planned plot ten years in the making…it was obvious at that point. So when I reached the end where the truth is revealed, it was pretty anticlimactic.
All that being said, I will say that the writing quality was at least decent. And by that, I mean, word choice, structure, and grammar were not too bad. Good editing. However, the overall way in which the story played out…disappointing. I think the whole thing could have been better.
August 6, 2023
Oh, this book! So good! I'm pining over Ari and Roan; my favorite type of love story - enemies to lovers and a clean slow burn. I think I've found "my genre" of books and this is it! Highly recommend!
December 29, 2023
The writing is plain, the plot is sluggish and dragged out, and the chemistry between any romantic interests is not hitting. Not hitting at all. Zero charming words or flirting. I don't need sex or even kisses. But I do need your words to bait my temptations.
April 15, 2024
“I would feel any amount of pain if meant being close to you.”
Song of Thieves is Book 1 of the Thieves of Felshan series and is a closed-door, non-magic, fantasy romance. In this thrilling adventure, the kingdom of Felshan is nearly at its breaking point. The death of the prince seven years ago left the country completely vulnerable. In their great grief, the King and Queen have all but abandoned their duties, leaving their dear daughter to hold the fragile pieces together. The last hope for a peaceful future rests heavily with Princess Adalena, the new, albeit hesitant, heir of Felshan. But, when the princess is kidnapped, a secret few must find her before a power grab for the throne dismantles the country for good.
Ari is a commissioned thief and spy, her skills honed by the very palace she once despised. Being asked to save the missing princess brings her head-to-head with the last person she’d ever choose-Roan Montgomery. Roan is captain of the Royal Guard, working through his own misery and troubled past while attempting to keep the peace in a crumbling Felshan. All Ari wants is to be free. All Roan wants to forget.
This treacherous quest will push Ari and Roan to their breaking point, pulling the duo intimately together in the process. The fate of the realm rests with these unlikely allies, who discover along the way that they themselves might be the ones who need saving…
Dear @authorjacqlinguernsey, A Story of Thieves, is weaved beautifully with a solid and exciting plot, engaging characters, roaring adventure, great action, and swoony romance mixed in. The mystery and suspense are the added layers that make this story come alive. I enjoyed the multiple points of view, the fast pace and plot twists along the way. Also, be on guard, for a cliff hanger at the ending of this dear story so hold on tight, and get excited for more to come! This dear book is worth reading!
•Content: Lots of fighting with injuries/mentions of blood, handful of bible swears, mild violence, death/blood scenes, very mild innuendo, kisses.
Song of Thieves is Book 1 of the Thieves of Felshan series and is a closed-door, non-magic, fantasy romance. In this thrilling adventure, the kingdom of Felshan is nearly at its breaking point. The death of the prince seven years ago left the country completely vulnerable. In their great grief, the King and Queen have all but abandoned their duties, leaving their dear daughter to hold the fragile pieces together. The last hope for a peaceful future rests heavily with Princess Adalena, the new, albeit hesitant, heir of Felshan. But, when the princess is kidnapped, a secret few must find her before a power grab for the throne dismantles the country for good.
Ari is a commissioned thief and spy, her skills honed by the very palace she once despised. Being asked to save the missing princess brings her head-to-head with the last person she’d ever choose-Roan Montgomery. Roan is captain of the Royal Guard, working through his own misery and troubled past while attempting to keep the peace in a crumbling Felshan. All Ari wants is to be free. All Roan wants to forget.
This treacherous quest will push Ari and Roan to their breaking point, pulling the duo intimately together in the process. The fate of the realm rests with these unlikely allies, who discover along the way that they themselves might be the ones who need saving…
Dear @authorjacqlinguernsey, A Story of Thieves, is weaved beautifully with a solid and exciting plot, engaging characters, roaring adventure, great action, and swoony romance mixed in. The mystery and suspense are the added layers that make this story come alive. I enjoyed the multiple points of view, the fast pace and plot twists along the way. Also, be on guard, for a cliff hanger at the ending of this dear story so hold on tight, and get excited for more to come! This dear book is worth reading!
•Content: Lots of fighting with injuries/mentions of blood, handful of bible swears, mild violence, death/blood scenes, very mild innuendo, kisses.
May 16, 2023
4.5/5
This book is one that sneaks up on you. It gets better and better the more you dive into the story. By the end, I was sad I had run out of pages.
The characters of dynamic, raw, and powerful. I cannot wait to see where their stories go. I love the 3 POVs. It kept you guessing as to what would happen next.
A solid YA fantasy book filled with fun, adventure, and action.
This book is one that sneaks up on you. It gets better and better the more you dive into the story. By the end, I was sad I had run out of pages.
The characters of dynamic, raw, and powerful. I cannot wait to see where their stories go. I love the 3 POVs. It kept you guessing as to what would happen next.
A solid YA fantasy book filled with fun, adventure, and action.
April 7, 2024
Started a little slow as she built the world, but I couldn't put it down after I got past the beginning. I am excited for the second book.
February 9, 2024
This book drew me in from the start. It was such an engaging and fun read! Now I can’t wait for the second book!
April 8, 2023
“Use your sword to help you walk— to balance.” She puts the weapon in my hand. “And if they see you, stick them with the pointy end.” ~ Ari
You’ve got to love Ari! She is fierce and feisty, sarcastic and stubborn, and she could hold her on with any man be it wits or war. A definite Natasha Romanoff type, with wicked skills, a questionable past, and a tender, tortured heart hiding beneath the armor she has encased it in.
And Roan, he gives me all the Steve Rogers vibes: diplomatic, dutiful, protective, willing to sacrifice his own happiness and desires for the greater good of the kingdom. And did I mention he is totally killer in the swoony, devastatingly handsome department, with his teasing winks, genuine smile, and his clear respect and admiration for Ari’s confidence and skill. I love when a man can be comfortable with and accept a strong woman. The way he takes his defeats at her hand is just as entertaining to the reader as it is enjoyable for him. It is a great dynamic these two have and their enemies to partners to friends to more is all you could ever hope for!
Read this book if you like multiple POV, royalty, fantasy with no magic, enemies to more, forced proximity, amazing clean slow burn romance and the promise of a very interesting second romance in the next book. You will be screaming for book 2 to hurry and release.
You’ve got to love Ari! She is fierce and feisty, sarcastic and stubborn, and she could hold her on with any man be it wits or war. A definite Natasha Romanoff type, with wicked skills, a questionable past, and a tender, tortured heart hiding beneath the armor she has encased it in.
And Roan, he gives me all the Steve Rogers vibes: diplomatic, dutiful, protective, willing to sacrifice his own happiness and desires for the greater good of the kingdom. And did I mention he is totally killer in the swoony, devastatingly handsome department, with his teasing winks, genuine smile, and his clear respect and admiration for Ari’s confidence and skill. I love when a man can be comfortable with and accept a strong woman. The way he takes his defeats at her hand is just as entertaining to the reader as it is enjoyable for him. It is a great dynamic these two have and their enemies to partners to friends to more is all you could ever hope for!
Read this book if you like multiple POV, royalty, fantasy with no magic, enemies to more, forced proximity, amazing clean slow burn romance and the promise of a very interesting second romance in the next book. You will be screaming for book 2 to hurry and release.
May 20, 2024
4.25 Stars!!! ⭐️🔥❤️
I loved this! It had adventure, it had romance, just that perfect Romantasy vibe❤️❤️❤️ I loved the characters and the strong female lead. Totally different than some other female fantasy main characters that I’ve read about before. Our main girl Ari is so strong and feisty and I wish all books had girls like her. It’s not a five stars for me just because of violence and some different parts that I didn’t love that I thought got a little cringe. But the next book comes out April 9th soooooo i may need it asap!!!
April 4, 2023
Honestly, this book should probably come with some sort of warning label! It pulled me in from the first chapter and did not let go until I turned the last page. I may have lost a significant amount of sleep to finish but oh, it was absolutely worth it!
Ari is a thief of sorts who secretly works for the palace. Roan is Captain of the Royal Guard.
When the princess is kidnapped, they are tasked to find her and bring her back. In order to survive, the two must put aside their hatred of each other but even as they uncover treachery and betrayal on all sides, they also discover that underneath their hatred for each other lies an undeniable attraction.
What I LOVED!
Enemies to lovers
Multiple POV
Robin Hood vibes
Plot Twists
Slow-burn romance but SO much chemistry
Lots of action and adventure
Forced proximity
Kissing scenes that will melt your heart into a puddle
Great world building
Ari's fighting skills
Compelling side characters
I don't want to say too much because I would hate to spoil anything. This is a book you just need to go experience for yourself! It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger...not so big that it keeps me up at night, but it is definitely a cliffhanger. Just read it anyway and then we can count down to the next book together, alright?
With a highly enjoyable and solid plot, engaging characters, and enough action, adventure, and romance that the pages practically turn themselves, this is a book that absolutely belongs on your reading list.
I still have a hard time believing this is a debut novel and if you are a fan of Shari Tapscott, Heather Frost, and/or Mary Pearson, you would enjoy this one!
CW: Lots of fighting with injuries/mentions of blood, couple of Bible swears, mild innuendo
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
Ari is a thief of sorts who secretly works for the palace. Roan is Captain of the Royal Guard.
When the princess is kidnapped, they are tasked to find her and bring her back. In order to survive, the two must put aside their hatred of each other but even as they uncover treachery and betrayal on all sides, they also discover that underneath their hatred for each other lies an undeniable attraction.
What I LOVED!
Enemies to lovers
Multiple POV
Robin Hood vibes
Plot Twists
Slow-burn romance but SO much chemistry
Lots of action and adventure
Forced proximity
Kissing scenes that will melt your heart into a puddle
Great world building
Ari's fighting skills
Compelling side characters
I don't want to say too much because I would hate to spoil anything. This is a book you just need to go experience for yourself! It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger...not so big that it keeps me up at night, but it is definitely a cliffhanger. Just read it anyway and then we can count down to the next book together, alright?
With a highly enjoyable and solid plot, engaging characters, and enough action, adventure, and romance that the pages practically turn themselves, this is a book that absolutely belongs on your reading list.
I still have a hard time believing this is a debut novel and if you are a fan of Shari Tapscott, Heather Frost, and/or Mary Pearson, you would enjoy this one!
CW: Lots of fighting with injuries/mentions of blood, couple of Bible swears, mild innuendo
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
April 3, 2023
I've used Goodreads for ages to look at recommendations and pick new books (and make my TBR list loooooonnnnger), but I had to actually get a Goodreads account to review this book. Totally worth it. As soon as it comes out, the sequel will catapult to the top of the TBR list.
I loved a LOT of things about this book.
-real relationships develop between characters. Good romance, just good books in general, build relationships. This one develops lots and lots of them.
-TWO sets of main characters. I think. Okay, Parker and Lena are secondary main characters. Having two sets of main characters who I'm sure will interact in the sequel was awesome!
-changing POVs make my world go round. I especially appreciate when the different POVs are in the chapter headings. I like to think, but not too hard!
-surprises. There were a lot of pivotal plot events I was not expecting. This book did not end up where I thought it would. The author clearly thought about crafting a great adventure, but not just a new version of the same adventure.
-when characters change their mind about other characters. First impressions are strong but not always correct.
-especially when the characters who change their mind acknowledge that incorrect first impression was based on their own baggage.
-a new, indie author who clearly loves to read and has done lots of reading. Strong plot, good vocab without me thinking she sat there with a thesaurus, good mix of dialogue and action
Only one thing I did NOT LOVE about this book:
-the sequel isn't ready yet! The ending was so fast, I wasn't ready for the story to end. Please be writing already, Jacqlin.
I loved a LOT of things about this book.
-real relationships develop between characters. Good romance, just good books in general, build relationships. This one develops lots and lots of them.
-TWO sets of main characters. I think. Okay, Parker and Lena are secondary main characters. Having two sets of main characters who I'm sure will interact in the sequel was awesome!
-changing POVs make my world go round. I especially appreciate when the different POVs are in the chapter headings. I like to think, but not too hard!
-surprises. There were a lot of pivotal plot events I was not expecting. This book did not end up where I thought it would. The author clearly thought about crafting a great adventure, but not just a new version of the same adventure.
-when characters change their mind about other characters. First impressions are strong but not always correct.
-especially when the characters who change their mind acknowledge that incorrect first impression was based on their own baggage.
-a new, indie author who clearly loves to read and has done lots of reading. Strong plot, good vocab without me thinking she sat there with a thesaurus, good mix of dialogue and action
Only one thing I did NOT LOVE about this book:
-the sequel isn't ready yet! The ending was so fast, I wasn't ready for the story to end. Please be writing already, Jacqlin.
April 26, 2023
I loved the vibes of this book and the traveling aspect of it. There were a lot of lovable characters and fun personalities. I feel like the book had the perfect balance of action and discussion. The politics were intriguing and not confusing. Lots of favorite tropes too! The banter was fun to read. The meet-cute was probably my favorite part.
SPOILERS and book notes and favorite quotes:
Wow the author wrote a very emotional and impactful prologue. I’m so happy our thief helps out the innocent little boy of ten. She reminds me of Aladdin! Now the captain has really hard emotional baggage: “my selfishness got the prince killed”. I loved the description of the flower filled ballroom that was her grandmothers. What Ari’s job is: “The darkness that once hid corruption became the shining blaze of truth under my hand.” The forced proximity trope was so good here. But not just her and roan. Her and all three guards in one tent haha. The name “thief” is growing on her haha. At first I was like how could the princess like her captor even if he was kind? But then this quote makes sense: “His kindness is genuine and not bc he fears a royal repercussion if he acts otherwise”. I love this quote after ari trips: “I suppose we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t act dim witted on occasion”. Oh man that kiss in the pouring rain in the middle of the forest was something else. But I love what she says that we can never be truly happy if all we do is play it safe and comfortable. This life is for growing. And becoming better. And that also means risking your heart and letting people in. Oh man it ends on a cliffhanger!!! I want more Lena and Parker next book please.
SPOILERS and book notes and favorite quotes:
Wow the author wrote a very emotional and impactful prologue. I’m so happy our thief helps out the innocent little boy of ten. She reminds me of Aladdin! Now the captain has really hard emotional baggage: “my selfishness got the prince killed”. I loved the description of the flower filled ballroom that was her grandmothers. What Ari’s job is: “The darkness that once hid corruption became the shining blaze of truth under my hand.” The forced proximity trope was so good here. But not just her and roan. Her and all three guards in one tent haha. The name “thief” is growing on her haha. At first I was like how could the princess like her captor even if he was kind? But then this quote makes sense: “His kindness is genuine and not bc he fears a royal repercussion if he acts otherwise”. I love this quote after ari trips: “I suppose we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t act dim witted on occasion”. Oh man that kiss in the pouring rain in the middle of the forest was something else. But I love what she says that we can never be truly happy if all we do is play it safe and comfortable. This life is for growing. And becoming better. And that also means risking your heart and letting people in. Oh man it ends on a cliffhanger!!! I want more Lena and Parker next book please.
December 14, 2023
4⭐️
the slowwwwwest of slowest slow burns — which i don’t mind! but if you do mind, be aware that there isn’t a first kiss until ~80% through the book.
i wasn’t sure of the two of them at first, but they are the cutest, most cautious couple and i love watching them explore and work through their emotions with one another. i hope they are end game.
my biggest complaint with this one is that i’m left still with a lot of questions. and i know the series is still ongoing but the main conflict of this book wasn’t even resolved .. personally would have preferred a longer book to see the conflict through to the end and see a little bit more of ari and roan’s relationship develop since it took so long into the book (almost the end!) for them to admit their feelings.
i am pleasantly surprised with this one coming from a small author with only one book under their name; this was written very well and i’m curious where the story is going to continue to take us.
the slowwwwwest of slowest slow burns — which i don’t mind! but if you do mind, be aware that there isn’t a first kiss until ~80% through the book.
i wasn’t sure of the two of them at first, but they are the cutest, most cautious couple and i love watching them explore and work through their emotions with one another. i hope they are end game.
my biggest complaint with this one is that i’m left still with a lot of questions. and i know the series is still ongoing but the main conflict of this book wasn’t even resolved .. personally would have preferred a longer book to see the conflict through to the end and see a little bit more of ari and roan’s relationship develop since it took so long into the book (almost the end!) for them to admit their feelings.
i am pleasantly surprised with this one coming from a small author with only one book under their name; this was written very well and i’m curious where the story is going to continue to take us.
January 7, 2024
Alright, I am having a hard time with words right now. Guys, this is so good. Such an adventure and so descriptively vivid. I feel like I was cheering in the book, and squinting while silently screaming for them to run at certain points.
Ari is full of strength and hidden emotions and you can’t help but root for her. She’s been through so much. Roan is broken but strong and seemingly resilient. He pushes past the limit, and you desperately wish for him to be whole again. The Princess needs her story completely told. She is bursting for it to come out and for her whole story to be explained.
Okay, warning, you are going to finish this and desperately want the next, but take heart! It comes out soon, and I am so ready for it. Don’t miss out on this epic ride, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes:
“I would feel any amount of pain if it meant being close to you.”
See what I mean?!
CW: This is a clean book with mild language
Ari is full of strength and hidden emotions and you can’t help but root for her. She’s been through so much. Roan is broken but strong and seemingly resilient. He pushes past the limit, and you desperately wish for him to be whole again. The Princess needs her story completely told. She is bursting for it to come out and for her whole story to be explained.
Okay, warning, you are going to finish this and desperately want the next, but take heart! It comes out soon, and I am so ready for it. Don’t miss out on this epic ride, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes:
“I would feel any amount of pain if it meant being close to you.”
See what I mean?!
CW: This is a clean book with mild language
April 1, 2023
Holy Moly, talk about a slow burn that makes you wanting more! I felt like, for me, the beginning was a little slow start (I'm horrible with multiple POVs) but I'm glad that I stuck it out and kept reading because SHOOOOOOOT! Your girl NEEDS MORE! Like the sequal can't come fast enough.
Give me an enemies to loves with a slow burn romance plus you add on the adventure = SOLD. Jacqlin did a wonderful job captivating the characters stories, described the setting and had great world building that made you picture you were with them! <3
I love me an ending that leaves you wanting more and I absolutely can't wait to see this story progress! Definitely recommend reading this for all of the fantasy lovers out there! <3
Thank you so much for the electronic copy of this book to read as an ARC in return for my honest opinion and review. Can't wait for book 2! *wink wink*
Give me an enemies to loves with a slow burn romance plus you add on the adventure = SOLD. Jacqlin did a wonderful job captivating the characters stories, described the setting and had great world building that made you picture you were with them! <3
I love me an ending that leaves you wanting more and I absolutely can't wait to see this story progress! Definitely recommend reading this for all of the fantasy lovers out there! <3
Thank you so much for the electronic copy of this book to read as an ARC in return for my honest opinion and review. Can't wait for book 2! *wink wink*
April 9, 2023
This was this authors first book, and it was incredible. Her writing style is amazing, it keeps you captured, not able to put down, and creates real situations you are SO INVESTED IN.
Ari is my favorite, but princess lena is surprisingly another favorite female character I was happy to get to know ! Roan is so admirable, strong, and just an overall wonderful guard. Parker is a surprise too so funny, silly, and also quite endearing. I do hope to learn more about him……. And the princess …… 😉
Without giving anything away I really just am pleased with the authors ability to create these characters stories!
I have SO MANY QUESTIONS. We are going to have to wait until they’re answered in the next book 🙉🤣!!
Congratulations Jacqlin on your first book! I cannot wait for more!
Ari is my favorite, but princess lena is surprisingly another favorite female character I was happy to get to know ! Roan is so admirable, strong, and just an overall wonderful guard. Parker is a surprise too so funny, silly, and also quite endearing. I do hope to learn more about him……. And the princess …… 😉
Without giving anything away I really just am pleased with the authors ability to create these characters stories!
I have SO MANY QUESTIONS. We are going to have to wait until they’re answered in the next book 🙉🤣!!
Congratulations Jacqlin on your first book! I cannot wait for more!
Read
December 22, 2023DNF - I struggle with enjoying 1st person narrative, maybe it’s how I read it in my mind, but it always comes across as a bit emotionless to me. That also always causes me to have a hard time differentiating between the POV’s. So really this one is on me.
Ari’s joy for bloodlust ( against a truly rotten man in her defense) rubbed me the wrong way, she just seemed to enjoy the thought of killing a bit too much. And her hatred for what seemed like all wealthy people seemed a bit hypocritical, but I also DNF pretty early on in the book, so those issues could be addressed later on.
Content (from the handful of chapters I read): 1 damn, and a few hell’s. A bit of violence but nothing gory.
Ari’s joy for bloodlust ( against a truly rotten man in her defense) rubbed me the wrong way, she just seemed to enjoy the thought of killing a bit too much. And her hatred for what seemed like all wealthy people seemed a bit hypocritical, but I also DNF pretty early on in the book, so those issues could be addressed later on.
Content (from the handful of chapters I read): 1 damn, and a few hell’s. A bit of violence but nothing gory.
November 5, 2025
3.75 starts rounded up to 4. It was a pretty good read and I pretty much have to read the 2nd book to finish the story because I now care about what happens to them.
The character development and backstory for all the main characters is laid out really well enough to make you care about each person and empathize.
This is definitely YA. The dialogue was a little juvenile for me, the action is a bit dull for most of the story and Ari was a little TOO skilled at literally everything, which can get exhausting. I don't expect realism in a fictional novel but a woman with a "small frame" taking on 3 large guards in perfect form is a bit much when there isn't one single flaw written for her character
The character development and backstory for all the main characters is laid out really well enough to make you care about each person and empathize.
This is definitely YA. The dialogue was a little juvenile for me, the action is a bit dull for most of the story and Ari was a little TOO skilled at literally everything, which can get exhausting. I don't expect realism in a fictional novel but a woman with a "small frame" taking on 3 large guards in perfect form is a bit much when there isn't one single flaw written for her character
March 27, 2023
"'To be human is to experience the pain of this world, lass. The more you acknowledge it, the less power it has over you.'"
This debut novel from Jacqlin Guernsey sucked me right in and didn't let me go until well after I read the last pages! I had the hardest time stopping because I *had* to know what came next for Ari and Roan. Their enemies-to-lovers relationship happened so naturally and I loved it when they each opened up to each other and shared their emotional scars. And Roan...*swoon*!
I can't wait to see where the next book takes us and what Jacqlin has in store for these characters!
This debut novel from Jacqlin Guernsey sucked me right in and didn't let me go until well after I read the last pages! I had the hardest time stopping because I *had* to know what came next for Ari and Roan. Their enemies-to-lovers relationship happened so naturally and I loved it when they each opened up to each other and shared their emotional scars. And Roan...*swoon*!
I can't wait to see where the next book takes us and what Jacqlin has in store for these characters!
December 18, 2023
DANG
Okay. Whoa.
New Favorite Book Alert.
I'm not much of a reader, but friends. This is a fantastic book. Not only was I hooked on the storyline, I found myself wanting to know more about the Author (as a fellow author myself.) Like how long it took for her to write this masterpiece?! Where she got her editor, because the editing was flawless. And I wanted to let her know that her imagery left me speechless! I cant think of the word to explain just how impressed I was.
The storyline was suspenseful and fun! I loved the action and slow burn romance! I loved the POVs and I fell in love with all this side characters!!! I cannot wait to read the next book!!!
Okay. Whoa.
New Favorite Book Alert.
I'm not much of a reader, but friends. This is a fantastic book. Not only was I hooked on the storyline, I found myself wanting to know more about the Author (as a fellow author myself.) Like how long it took for her to write this masterpiece?! Where she got her editor, because the editing was flawless. And I wanted to let her know that her imagery left me speechless! I cant think of the word to explain just how impressed I was.
The storyline was suspenseful and fun! I loved the action and slow burn romance! I loved the POVs and I fell in love with all this side characters!!! I cannot wait to read the next book!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews