Daughter of Crows

The Kindness Academy #1

by Mark Lawrence

The survivor of a brutal academy must exhume her own past in the first book in a new series from the international bestselling author of the Library Trilogy and the Broken Empire series.

Set a thief to catch a thief. Set a monster to punish monsters.

The Academy of Kindness exists to create agents of retribution, cast in the image of the Furies—known as the kindly ones—against whom even the gods hesitate to stand. Each year a hundred girls are sold to the Academy. Ten years later only three will emerge.

The Academy’s halls run with blood. The few that survive its decade-long nightmare have been forged on the sands of the Wound Garden. They have learned ancient secrets amid the necrotic fumes of the Bone Garden. They leave its gates as avatars of vengeance, bound to uphold the oldest of laws.

Only the most desperate would sell their child to the Kindnesses. But Rue … she sold herself. And now, a lifetime later, a long and bloody lifetime later, just as she has discovered peace, war has been brought to an old woman’s doorstep.

That was a mistake.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Adult, High Fantasy, Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Dark

416 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 24, 2026

About the author

My books vary a LOT - so here's a handy guide.

[My new book The Book That Broke The World is out now!]

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Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. Before becoming a fulltime writer in 2015 day job was as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say 'this isn't rocket science ... oh wait, it actually is'.

Mark used to have a list of hobbies back when he did science by day. Now his time is really just divided between writing and caring for his disabled daughter. There are occasional forays into computer games too.

Reviews

[Mark Lawrence]

Signed a few copies recently...



I've written a DARK book here!







Here's the cover reveal, along with an interview with the artist!
https://thatthornguy.com/2025/10/21/i...



There are ARCs - you'd have to contact Ace (US) or Voyager (UK) to lay hands on one though.

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Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes



…...

[ଘRory]

_A great cover,gods and academic vibes plz sign me up .

[Mitriel Faywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What kind of heroine this book is about you might ask? “The kind that crawled from the grave spitting dirt and ready for vengeance.”

I beta-read this in 2023-24, chapter by chapter as it was written, and later edited, providing detailed feedback.

It’s a grimdark novel, blurbed as Squid Game meets John Wick, with an old woman as the main character. The story shows her at different ages (the trilogy’s original working title is Maiden, Mother, Hag—if that doesn’t mean anything to you, look up "Triple Goddess").

Needless to say following the blurb, it’s a very dark book. A LOT of people die and some in terrible ways. Some will then even come back for a while. But necromancy has never been written more beautifully before.

It’s a revenge story that is powerful, fascinating, grim and even creepy at times, with a seasoning of occasional dry humour and lumps of heartache.

Additionally, I’ve just seen the final version of the UK cover art and it’s so hauntingly beautiful I’ve got goosebumps all over!

It’s another triumph for HarperVoyager after the stunning Library trilogy covers. Cover artist Tom Roberts is definitely a keeper!

[Morwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review step 2:





What I've loved
1 Absolutely stunning prose, and deep meanings. I’ve highlighted more than 40 paragraphs.

2 While the pace felt slow, the twists always hit right. For the first half, every time I thought I understood what was going on, I was wrong.

3 The "Eldest" chapters were possibly my favourite. Even compared with the Academy, what happened here was weirder and crueler.

4 It was quite hard for me to put myself in Mollandra’s shoes, cause, luckily, I had nowhere near such a shitty childhood and life in general, but I really loved the diversity and depth of all the characters. Different personalities, drives, traumas and challenges. What they all share is pain and resilience.

Some considerations
1 A bit hard to relate with the protagonist(s) (thankfully) makes it such a great and well told story, but with a possibly weak emotional connection between reader and main character.

2 I loved being unable to predict where it was going, but I think I was missing a main driver to root for other than my curiosity. For this, I wouldn’t define this a page turner exactly, but one that rewards the reader nonetheless.


Conclusions
There is a weird power to this book. Like a true beautiful monster, I found my mind trying to escape while reading, and incessantly thinking how great story and prose were as soon as I pulled my eyes away.

It's not an easy book to read, but not for lack of merit. It just needs patience, a bit a trust in the process, and a bit of a strong stomach. Probably some anxiety meds.

I’m so grateful for this ARC copy, because the book was a masterpiece, but also because it put an end to my “I want to read some Mark Lawrence someday” and let me find out what the “fuss” is all about. What a writer!












Review step 1:
Reading experience in GIFS



















_________

Wow. What a book. I need to reorder my feelings about this, but RTC soon. Not the easiest of reads, but one of the most singular ones for sure.

Pre-read
I was lucky enough to have received this book as an e-ARC. I've been meaning to read something by this author for like forever. Today is the day to stop procrastinating!

[Patrycja · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Now that was some VERYYY DARK fantasy.
My first book written by Mark Lawrence and already perfectly suited to my bookish taste. Can’t wait to read more!

"Daughter of Crows" is the first book in a new series written by Mark Lawrence. It tells the story of an older woman living in a very cruel and brutal world. It tells a story of an Academy, where each year a hundred girls are sent to become extremely dangerous and powerful, but only three of them can survive the process. It's a story about revenge, friendship and discovering the truth that lies within oneself.

Mark Lawrence created a very dark and dangerous world, where death is something that even kids have to get used to. The fact that described events concerned 12+ y.o. children made it even more grim and deeply sad. It's definitely not a book for someone who can't handle reading about violence.

Author creates characters that are very easy to like and to care about. Since at some point they are only children the only thing I wanted to do was protect them agains the cruelty of this world. The book is split into different times and we spend the majority of it in the Academy, which for me was both fascinating and absolutely terrifying to read about (which is a good thing!). Getting to know different point of views was extremely engaging and I really appreciate how intelligently Mark Lawrance interweaved the threads of the plot. All those secrets, all those plot twist, they were perfectly balanced and at the same time very accurate to what was going on.

The story is overall pretty sad. To see how many pain can one person suffer and see that this pain will never end is absolutely heartbreaking.
It ended with a plot twist which makes me wonder where will the author take as next and if we'll ever get back to the place we've been.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Shauna Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come - but needless to say - this is the Return of the King of Grimdark

[ฅ^•⩊•^ฅ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This was my first time reading anything by Mark Lawrence. I actually planned to start with The Book That Wouldn’t Burn this year, but when I spotted an ARC of Daughter of Crows on NetGalley I abandoned all plans like a crow chasing something shiny. Zero regrets.

This book is chaotic in the best way. You’re thrown into the story with "a lot of characters" and shifting perspectives, and at first it feels overwhelming. But after a few chapters, everything starts to click, and suddenly the chaos makes sense.

Mollandra’s storyline at the Academy had me in a chokehold. That POV was my favorite by far, no competition. I was fully invested, emotionally attached, and absolutely not okay with everything that happened to her because let’s be honest, the girl did not get a single happy moment in this book. Not one. Zero. Just pain, trauma, and suffering on repeat. She was funny, loyal, and the kind of person you know you’d want in your life. The type who has your back no matter what. Which makes it even worse, because she deserved so much better than what she got. For her, I would become Kindness itself, just so I could get revenge and kill everyone who hurt her.

-"You told him to fuck off!"
-"I know what i did."
-"But he's the ferryman! He's Death with his scythe! He's the winged ones who take the warriors straight from the battlefield. He's-"
-"He's propably used to it. Dying's enough to give most people an attitude."

Honestly, in every book there’s usually at least one character I can’t stand, but not here. Somehow, everyone made sense. Every character had a purpose, and even when they were awful, it was clear they were like that because the world broke them first. The Academy, the system, the whole mess. No pointless villains, no “why are you even here?” characters, just deeply damaged people doing their thing.

If you’re into Greek mythology, this book will be right up your alley. The Furies (Erinyes) are basically the backbone of the story: ancient goddesses of vengeance pulling the strings, ruining lives. Fans of Squid Game should feel right at home here, too. It’s drenched in blood, death and gore.

Last but absolutely not least, the magic in this book is chef’s kiss. There are magical mixtures designed to unlock your inner rage, mess with your memories, or erase things entirely. And yes, there’s a talking crow. No, I will not explain. Just read the book.

[Paul Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being in my 60s it was refreshing to read a book where the main character was relatable (except the knitting) 😉 I have struggled with some previous books by the author but this book was a pure joy from start to finish
Well done sir, well done

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll read anything Mark Lawrence writes. This is partly loyalty, partly curiosity, and partly trust. Mark never writes the same book twice. His series always feel different from each other. Daughter of Crows might also have his best cover yet (which is impressive, given how good the Library trilogy looked). It’s also his best novel so far.

Now. I love The Book of the Ancestor with my whole heart, but this? This is bloody brilliant.

Rue is the reason. She is sharp, furious, stubborn, and held together by scars and bad memories. Fantasy rarely gives us elderly female leads, and almost never ones this dangerous or this compelling. I loved watching her limp, calculate, remember, and kill. The other half of fun is figuring out who she used to be.

The book runs on two timelines: present-day Rue hunting the mercenaries who destroyed her quiet life, and past Rue being forged into what she became. The past sections take us through a childhood that would make a nightmare ask for a night-light, and then to the Academy of Kindness - a school whose definition of kindness involves death rates. One hundred girls enter. Three leave. The rest, well, they contribute to the curriculum.

Interestingly, the past sections add backstory but also continue to reframe everything. The twists are all strong, starting early and tightening as the timelines converge. You can play detective if you want; the clues are there, but chances are just when you think you’ve solved it, another revelation will prove you were wrong.

I loved how Lawrence played with mythology here. Daughter of Crows incorporates a fascinating take on Furies, vengeance cults, divine bargains, and afterlife journeys. A heady mix, but it’s done well. The world runs on old laws, older gods, and the idea that justice and cruelty might be the same blade held at different angles. That theme shows up everywhere, from the Academy’s philosophy to Rue’s own moral math.

Daughter of Crows is dark. Children die. Mercy is rare and some scenes edge into horror. At times, it makes other grimdark novels look like they brought a candle. And yet the book still finds space for dry, perfectly timed humor. My favorite line comes when Rue considers bringing proof of her kills:

“She had considered bringing the heads from Debban's hut and tossing them before her when challenged, but the brothers had been balding beneath their caps, and heads without hair were awkward to carry.”

That line tells you everything about Rue. Practical. Violent. Mildly inconvenienced by logistics.

The story moves when it should and slows down only when it matters. The violence hits hard but never feels there just for shock value. The prose is sharp and purposeful. Lawrence always seems to know when to let a moment breathe and when to end it.

I finished it with one clear thought: I may have just found my favorite book of 2026. It’s going to take something extraordinary to beat it.

[sophie ☁️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re only a couple of weeks into 2026 and this may already be a top competitor for one of my top books of the year.

Daughter of Crows is a dark, macabre and atmospheric first instalment to a new fantasy series. It revolves around the Academy of Kindness, where girls are sold to become powerful and bloodthirsty agents of justice to serve the gods. The world was immersive and the character development was a real highlight, Rue is our main character and takes on several forms throughout the different timelines we visit in this story, and she is GREAT.

Absolutely loved this world (despite how dark it is!) and I’m intrigued to explore more of it in the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the eARC!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book I’ve read by Mark Lawrence and holy shit, I loved it! I am already thinking of rereading the book when it comes out and I get my hands on a physical copy. This is a different kind of fantasy academia novel than I’ve read before, and it hooked me almost immediately. We get shifting perspectives, creepy vibes, and gore. Eldest’s storyline had me GRIPPED. I can’t wait to read the next book, and I’m so excited to read more by Mark Lawrence!

[Jasminegalsreadinglog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of Crows is just wow! A dark epic fantasy that’s a true page-turner. The Academy of Kindness is a brutal world where girls are taught anything but kindness. No one wants to end up there unless they’re desperate, but once the girls are sold, there’s no way out.

I had such an amazing time reading this book. It’s grim, yes, but even in this grimdark world, there are friendships and relationships that shine through. There’s pain and trauma, without question, but alongside that comes survival and resilience. The Academy teaches retribution, revenge, and killing. But are those killings unjustified? That’s for the reader to decide.

At first, I was a little confused by the world, but as the story progressed, everything started to fall into place. Now my biggest challenge is waiting for the next book in the series 😁 One thing for sure is that this novel is going to be one of the best books of the year for me.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Ace Books for the digital galley of this book.

[✨ tweety ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Harper Collins for the chance to read this amazing book before publication :)

Daughter of crows will make you feel a lot of anger, melancholy, and also chill you to the bone. Mark Lawrence shows once again how talented of a writer he is in this new series.

The blurb only skims the surface of what the story is about. Daughter of Crows is the story of a woman and how she got where she is now, as we see her when the story begins. I don't want to say her name because as the story taught me, our main character wasn't just one person. The timelines switch from the present to past and they will make you guess. They will try to mess with your memories so that you'll bet that the mc is this or this other character you'll encounter down the road. They are proof that the name one is given doesn't define who they are.

One important theme is memory, this is why the story is told from different povs and it shows the reader how things are and how they used to be. Memories can be lost, forgotten, or one wishes they were but the rage of being left behind is charged with vengeance and it won't leave our mc alone. Memories can also be manipulated.

You will eventually find the truth (or sort of) because the author masterfully leads you to discovering it as you go. It felt like an adventure to me, and when I think about it, it starts as one because the balance is disrupted when some mercenaries get to a quiet village. And you're brought back into the past to understand why things as what they are, as the present story moves.

Our heroine has had a rough life and we learn of her past throughout the book. The story is dark, grim, with touches of horror as well. The author draws from mythology, fantasy lore, history, and turns these ingredients into something new and compelling. One thing I learned from reading Mark Lawrence is that he never writes the same book.

This story is one of child neglect, abuse, abandonment. No one who appears in this story has had an easy life and the scars they carry - both literally and figuratively - still burn. It is also a story about sisterhood and the bonds we forge along the way, our found family, or the family that is forced upon us. And as I mentioned earlier, the rage when these bonds are severed. The main heroine can't ever be left alone, and she won't go down without a fight.

The writing is excellent. The author isn't just great at creating new worlds and characters and creating a compelling plot. The prose itself is complex. If you enjoy dark-epic fantasy, I'm sure you will love this book.

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'm out of superlatives because Mark Lawrence strikes again with an absolutely splendid story in Daughter of Crows!
The cover is exquisite, and I couldn't take my eyes off it from the moment I saw it😍
Masterfully weaving the story like a spider, perfectly using all POVs and times as threads that connect at some point or other, just enough to keep you hungry for more. Until it all collides into one intricate web, where you are familiar with all the threads representing the events and emotions that led you to that point where everything makes sense.
A merciless place, The Academy of Kindness takes girls who are sold and forges them into weapons of revenge against injustice. After ten years of bloody survival, only three will leave alive, with all the secrets they've learned there making them the perfect avatars of vengeance. Rue - one of our main characters - is one of the many girls there... but the difference is that while the others were sold by their families, she sold herself.
Gripping, bloody, and a brilliant take on necromancy that I loved.
It gave me John Wick vibes, especially that part with the pencil in the action scenes😂😈
I liked Rue and her complex character, a tender heart wrapped in tenacity, sharp edges, and unrelenting will.
But to be honest, Sharp, with her fiery temper and devil-may-care attitude, was my absolute favourite character.
I feel that the book only scratched the surface of the enormous potential of this world, and to say I'm curious to learn more about Rue and her world is an understatement.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, twisted and fully befitting The Morrigan.

The Academy of Kindness (or rather temple to The Morrigan) is anything but kind. The academy is fuelled by female rage and inequality and injustice of the world. 100 girls each year are sold to the academy and only 3 will graduate. The Kindesses that graduate, unleash vengeance on the world that allows supports the academy in the first place, as 100 boys would never be sold.

What’s most fascinating (although also confusing) in the storytelling of this book, is the time jumps. It goes against expectations and the main storyline in the now setting is not the girls learning at the academy or even graduated 10 years. No this story opens on an older woman in her 60s who graduated many moons ago and thought that part of her life was over. Then we get many flashbacks to tell the story of the academy and what made our fmc who she is today. This is dark, darker than I even excepted and yet so interestingly done. Cant wait to get a physical copy of this book on my shelf

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

THIS COVER OH MY GOD

[Lumley Little Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it too bold to claim you've just read one of your top reads of 2026 when it's only January? Because that's genuinely how I feel.

This is my first read of anything Mark Lawrence has written but it certainly won't be my last.

Everything about this book is captivating and disturbing in equal measure. It is not an easy read. It does not have a comforting, happy ending. It's the sort of book that will tear you apart but you somehow want more of it.

Think dark academia mixed with Squid Games mixed with something so beautiful it almost hurts.

We follow the grim survival of our main character - a woman in her 60s - through a mixture of present day events and her time at the Academy as a teen. Chapters that at first seem disconnected begin to seamlessly weave together to paint a raw and brutal image of an individual who has clawed her way through life and suffered trauma beyond what you could ever expect any one person to survive. Yet survive, she does. Her need for vengeance sustains her and propels her onwards. Her stubbornness even brings her back from death until her score has been settled. Like, literally back from death.

As in, she told Death to fuck off 😂

I don't want to say too much about what happens in this book because I believe it is best experienced without prior knowledge. The twists, the reveals and the poignant moments are best experienced without any hints about what to expect.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooft, this is dark.
The Daughter of Crows is a dark and often brutal fantasy. It's a story of survival and revenge.
The story starts off at the Academy of Kindness, a school where hundreds of girls are sold each year by desperate families, but you won't find kindness here. The girls are taught to become killers, and if they survive, they are sent out into the world to seek vengeance.
I really enjoyed this it's told over 3 POV, and to start with, I couldn't work out who was who, but it didn't take long before it clicked into place.
There's some fabulous characters here, some downright, creepy.
This is dark, but there's a sprinkle of humour, too.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the eArc.

[Mark Redman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of Crows by Mark Lawrence is a dark tale, but I wasn’t prepared for just how layered, gritty, and emotionally piercing it would be.

The story jumps between three timelines, all centred on Rue a former Daughter of the Academy of Kindness now in her seventies. In the present, she lives a quiet life in a small village until violence pulls her back into action. When it does, it’s striking to see that age hasn’t dulled her edge. Watching an elderly woman reclaim her role as avenger was something I never anticipated, and it felt utterly fresh.

The other timelines whisk us back to Rue’s childhood and her tumultuous years at the Academy which, despite its name, is anything but kind. Each year, 100 girls enter; a decade later, only three remain, transformed into “Kindnesses," divine avengers inspired by the Furies. The very idea captivated me. The Academy’s scenes are brutal and bleak, illustrating how grief, rage, and trauma are forged into formidable weapons.

At first, the shifting timelines and POVs took me a moment to fully grasp. The pacing felt uneven early on, and I wished the plot had been a bit clearer in those initial chapters. But once the threads began to intertwine, everything fell into place. What initially seemed disorienting became deliberately so, and I loved realising that some moments only made sense later, once I had all the pieces.

Rue stands out as the strongest part of the story. Unapologetically morally grey, she’s more cruel than kind, more vengeful than heroic yet I couldn’t help but root for her. She defies the traditional hero archetype, which makes her fascinating. She’s a hero in her own fierce, bloodied way, shaped more by loss and violence than nobility.

Lawrence’s style leans toward showing rather than telling, which I really appreciated. There are subtle details that might be missed on a first read, hinting at a rich, layered story that rewards rereading. It’s complex, unpredictable, and doesn’t hold your hand.

This is a bleak, atmospheric, often horrific story filled with necromancy, ancient laws, and an undercurrent of nature versus nurture. It’s not an easy read, nor does it aim to be. But if you love dark fantasy with deep character focus and a brutal edge, this is perfect.

Overall, I found Daughter of Crows ambitious and compelling, despite its initial roughness. I’m genuinely excited for the next book in the trilogy and I’ll probably reread this one before the next instalment arrives. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher HarperCollins for an e-arc.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Ace books for the ARC!

Hey, so respectfully, WTF?? (ACE)

This was WILD. I went in expecting it to be dark, but man, I wasn't expecting *THIS*.

And I loved every second. There is so much anger in these pages. Like, bone deep anger. This is a story about that anger, about being rejected, about doing what it takes to survive, and about what it means to find family--to find your sisters. And those bonds can be more important than anything.

This story is masterfully woven through a multi-timeline, multi-pov story that keeps you questioning what is going on, who you're ACTUALLY reading about, and how memory can be manipulated to serve a greater purpose. This is one of those books where the story isn't actually the story--the story is the vehicle to TELL the story. Sure, this is the story of how our heroine came to be who she is. But it's ACTUALLY a story about oppression and violence, and how we treat each other. Hint: It's generally not well.

Oh, and did I mention there's necromancy??

The blurb does NOT do this book justice. It was SO GOOD and I had the best time reading it. I really hope future books expand upon the lore and history of the world. There isn't a lot of worldbuilding throughout the book--you're given just enough information to understand what's happening in the moment, but not enough to piece together the full world and history. It's absolutely fascinating, and I really hope we get more of it in future books.

My only real qualm is that there are a lot of moments when the prose gets in the way of the story. When things are getting intense, I don't want (or need) a 3-paragraph explanation of what the dagger looks like. I get that it's done for dramatic effect and to increase tension, but it didn't really work for me--it just made me want to start skimming to figure out what is going on!!

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so this was DARKKKKK Academia and DARK Fantasy. I loved the creative story and how this did not feel like anything else I’ve ever read (this is my first book by Mark Lawrence though). The dual timeline was also interesting because it isn’t often that we see a main character who is a 12 year old girl or a 60+ year old woman. Despite the heavy violence in this story I did think it did a solid job of touching on how dark life can be for young girls who face unimaginable horrors in their childhood and how strong those young women can be in order to live through them. Overall a very unique read and I look forward to seeing where book 2 takes the plot. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc in exchange for my review!

[Levi Goodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mark Lawrence shows us once again what a master he is at weaving and creating such intricate and sophisticated worlds. This was so rich with story and character I shouldn’t have doubted it from the guy who gave us the Library trilogy. He’s a genius at subverting your expectations, we follow so many characters that you think this time, this is the one that matters, but they are just a piece of thread in the tapestry that is this novel.

I loved the horror-ish elements of this book. The horrific and disturbing Mother and Night-Father and how the Cruelties can manipulate shadow and memory. The way the Kindness can use necromancy in ways that goes beyond the usual ‘make this dead person do something’, the fire they hold within. There’s so much gore and blood and pain, but under it all is a true feeling of sisterhood between the girls in this, shining through all of the darkness.

There’s still so much to uncover, and Lawrence does plot reveals in such a delicious way that I can help but to be excited for the next instalment already. I want more of this mysterious and dark world. I want more of this old lady fighting for what she thinks is right, for her friends and for her sisters and for her children. I enjoyed this so so much.

[Bibiane Schoofs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

I was not prepared for how dark this book turned out to be. Truly. I don’t think I’ve ever read something that descended into darkness quite like this—and that alone made for a striking reading experience.

The story, for me, unfolds in three very distinct parts.

The first part completely consumed me. From the prologue onward, I was hooked—heart racing, fully immersed, and constantly bracing myself for the next twist. The tension was razor-sharp, the atmosphere gripping, and I found myself genuinely in awe of how quickly and effectively the story pulled me in.
Welcome to the academy.

The second part slowed the momentum somewhat. At times, it felt drawn out, and the introduction of a new POV didn’t immediately capture my interest. That said, the payoff later on was undeniably strong. Once the reveal hit, everything snapped into place, casting this entire section in a new light and retroactively deepening my appreciation for it.

The **final part—the ending—**was where my enthusiasm dipped slightly. I was left with several unanswered questions that I would have loved to see explored or clarified within this book. While I understand this may be intentional groundwork for book two, I can’t help but feel that resolving some of these threads earlier would have made the story feel more complete and emotionally satisfying on its own.

The academy chapters were easily my favorites, and I sincerely hope this setting plays an even bigger role in the next books—it’s where the story felt most alive to me.

Despite a few pacing issues and a somewhat open-ended conclusion, I really loved the concept and the writing. This book was intense, unsettling, and memorable, and I’m very much looking forward to continuing the series. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next, and I hope it recaptures the relentless intensity of its opening.

[Kristen Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus CHRIST.

Review to come.

[LambchoP]

Love the cover art! From the synopsis it sounds like Lawrence is going back to grimdark territory and I am all in! Hoping to get an ARC;)

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was dark and full of plot twists. In this story we follow Rue as an old lady now who has been attacked by soldiers. However Rue has a dark and twisted upbringing and the soldiers don’t truly know who they have against them.

I was really shocked by some of the revelations and plot twists in this book. I was heartbroken for some of the losses and confused about some points, but a lot was left open to discover in the sequels so I can’t complain about that. I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters and I want to know more about what happened in the past especially since I’m really intrigued to know more about the academy. I also enjoyed the different timelines which is not something I particularly love, but it was done really well here and it created a very good pace for reading.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Emilie Margolis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5!!

This book was such an amazing ride and I couldn’t predict a minute of it. First book by this author but will pick up many more of his books going forward!

[Cassanova33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first read the description I thought to myself, “Again, Mark? But you already did assassin academy.” He shut me up real quick. This was a flex, and I am sat for the whole series.

[Thye DeForest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ace for the digital ARC of this book!

This is my first review that’s not in like quippy letterboxed style commentary, so please bear with me…I’m a huge fan of grimdark, and any book involving deadly women seeking vengeance in a fantasy setting is a guaranteed three stars at least. And I want to say that I really enjoyed this one; I wanted to love it so bad, but it just kept falling a little short for me.

Mollandra and Edlest’s POV’s worked extremely well in how they built on each other and slowly revealed more backstory in interlocking chapters, but considering those were meant to fill in gaps in our understanding of Rue’s life, her POV just fell a little short. I thought the writing was superb on a technical level, and all of Mollandra and Eldest chapters had me turning the pretend pages of my Kindle so fast, but Rue’s just felt a little underbaked. I love the idea of a fantasy protagonist in her sixties or seventies going on one last quest to seek vengeance, but I don’t think we spent enough time with Rue before everything went to shit for her quest to feel important. But Mollandra and Eldest were SO GOOD!

Also, structurally, I didn’t feel like the climax really hit, and the cliffhanger and exposition revealed in the last few chapters felt like the reveals that should happen before a big battle or climax, not after. And speaking of battles, if each of them were just a little longer, I might not be writing this sentence at all. To be fair, though, I haven’t read any Mark Lawrence before, so it could be that I’m just not used to his writing. Or it could be that I read Nona the Ninth right before this, where the climax is genuinely the last 40% of the book, right up until the last page.

This is sounding quite negative, but I loved the world-building with the myriad of religions and the slow reveal of exactly what the Kindnesses are, and I hope we get to learn more about everything on the islands of Gog and Magog throughout this series. And every single character was deeply enjoyable to spend time with, especially Sharp and Senna. I can’t wait for the next book in this series and really hope Lawrence really dives into the Maiden Mother Crone of it all! The reveals at the end are an excellent setup for another book; I just wish that instead of another book, it was a great setup for act three of this book! Thank you for your time!

3.5 out of 5 Stars!

[Maëlys]

gorgeous gorgeous cover with an intriguing synopsis (and i do love to follow an older character!!)