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Ranger
Jaina Creighton has always known what it means to sacrifice. When both her brothers are marked for conscription into the Dominion’s wars, she makes a desperate choice—trading her own freedom to join the rangers, an ancient order bound by oath to walk the wilds and guard the people. Her decision will spare her brothers from service… but binds her to a life of duty from which there is no return.
Far to the south, Antoinette DeLuca—scion of one of Vetticci’s most powerful houses—has secrets carved into her every masterpiece. An artist, a spy, and a woman trapped by her family’s ambitions, she has learned to shape beauty from duty and deceit alike. When her path collides with Jaina’s, the chemistry between them is as dangerous as it is undeniable.
But the Dominion is shifting. The dukes raise armies. Shadows lengthen across the land. And as the days slip away, whispers of something vast and terrible grow louder.
To protect the ones they love, Jaina and Antoinette must each come to understand the truth of who they are—and choose between loyalty and desire, between what they owe and what they yearn for.
The countdown has already begun. And when it ends, nothing will be the same.
Far to the south, Antoinette DeLuca—scion of one of Vetticci’s most powerful houses—has secrets carved into her every masterpiece. An artist, a spy, and a woman trapped by her family’s ambitions, she has learned to shape beauty from duty and deceit alike. When her path collides with Jaina’s, the chemistry between them is as dangerous as it is undeniable.
But the Dominion is shifting. The dukes raise armies. Shadows lengthen across the land. And as the days slip away, whispers of something vast and terrible grow louder.
To protect the ones they love, Jaina and Antoinette must each come to understand the truth of who they are—and choose between loyalty and desire, between what they owe and what they yearn for.
The countdown has already begun. And when it ends, nothing will be the same.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2025
4 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 31, 2025
Dietrich Stogner is an instant read for me. I don't need a description, I don't need a genre. You give me a book with his name on the cover, and I'm in.
Nuance, depth, and excellent humor sprinkled throughout.
AND-- this is the third in a series that is, thus far, only connected with a gentle thread and a misunderstood donkey. I can just feel that an enormous stage is being set. We'll see this big picture, and (in the coming books) we'll watch it all go to shit in a beautifully crafted story.
Seriously. Get on board and read these books.
Nuance, depth, and excellent humor sprinkled throughout.
AND-- this is the third in a series that is, thus far, only connected with a gentle thread and a misunderstood donkey. I can just feel that an enormous stage is being set. We'll see this big picture, and (in the coming books) we'll watch it all go to shit in a beautifully crafted story.
Seriously. Get on board and read these books.
September 24, 2025
Dietrich Stogner has done it again.
His new book, the third in his Alddarri Archives, is Ranger, and I had the privilege of reading an ARC before release. Having read Frostbitten and Extraction (both of which I loved), I had high expectations for Ranger. Stogner delivered—and I’m not surprised. The writing is clever, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is tightly paced.
I really enjoyed the story of Jaina and Antoinette, but what struck me most was that it’s about so much more. It’s a story of survival—of love in a world full of chaos, diversity, hardship, and the constant battle to overcome everything thrown in their path.
I won’t spoil anything, but the way Stogner wove Jaina’s brothers into the dialogue, and the way their closeness came through, was truly moving. He also absolutely shattered my heart (though it was somewhat mended later on). Why? That’s for you to discover.
There are plenty of nuggets and hints from his previous books, so while it’s not strictly necessary, I’d recommend reading Frostbitten and Extraction first to fully appreciate the cameos and connections.
It’s amazing how Stogner shifts seamlessly from Fantasy Horror (Frostbitten), to Fantasy Heist (Extraction), to Fantasy Romance (Ranger) without missing a beat. You can clearly see his writing evolve with each story.
For me, this is a solid five out of five. I urge you all to read it.
His new book, the third in his Alddarri Archives, is Ranger, and I had the privilege of reading an ARC before release. Having read Frostbitten and Extraction (both of which I loved), I had high expectations for Ranger. Stogner delivered—and I’m not surprised. The writing is clever, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is tightly paced.
I really enjoyed the story of Jaina and Antoinette, but what struck me most was that it’s about so much more. It’s a story of survival—of love in a world full of chaos, diversity, hardship, and the constant battle to overcome everything thrown in their path.
I won’t spoil anything, but the way Stogner wove Jaina’s brothers into the dialogue, and the way their closeness came through, was truly moving. He also absolutely shattered my heart (though it was somewhat mended later on). Why? That’s for you to discover.
There are plenty of nuggets and hints from his previous books, so while it’s not strictly necessary, I’d recommend reading Frostbitten and Extraction first to fully appreciate the cameos and connections.
It’s amazing how Stogner shifts seamlessly from Fantasy Horror (Frostbitten), to Fantasy Heist (Extraction), to Fantasy Romance (Ranger) without missing a beat. You can clearly see his writing evolve with each story.
For me, this is a solid five out of five. I urge you all to read it.
October 26, 2025
"For however long it lasts..."
This book destroyed me. It's been a while since I've cried this much reading a book.
This is a fantasy book with light magic and lots of political intrigue, with a no spice sapphic forbidden romance subplot. There are tons of twists and turns to the story that were unexpected and heart wrenching. This is the first book I read from Stogner and won't be my last.
The writing is fantastic with approachable yet intelligent prose, and absolutely hilarious dialogue. I laughed out loud more times than I can count. It's rare that I love both characters in a romance equally, but this book did it for me. Jaina is an adorable and loyal golden retriever type of character, Antoinette is a calculated and guarded black cat type of character, but that is truly just the surface. It was so refreshing to see a man who writes women that are complex and flawed. I wanted their happiness so badly, and their romance made me kick my feet and giggle.
There are two main reasons I gave this 4 stars instead of 5:
The first had to do with pacing. The story kicks off strong, but around the 15% mark it slows down significantly, not in a boring way, I was still very much interested, but in a way that made me believe I was in for a cozy romance book. Around 45% into the story things shift dramatically, and I found it jarring. I had to take some time away to readjust my expectations for the story.
The second reason may very well be a me problem, but I never truly felt like I understood the political side of things. It was said that all of these books can be read as stand alone books, but I still felt a bit lost, like I was expected to know something going into it. There was a name mentioned that I know is from another book, and so I wonder if reading the past books would have filled in those knowledge gaps. Or maybe everything truly was made clear in this story and I'm just a dumb dumb. which is a high possibility, let's be honest. But I must speak my unintelligent truth, come what may.
Either way, I sort of regret not reading the other two books first, because I suspect if I had done so this would have been an even greater experience.
Despite that, I really enjoyed this, and I'd like to end my review with the quote that will stay with me for a long time:
"You can move forward. Not because it will fix what’s broken. But because you’re not the type to ever stop trying."
This book destroyed me. It's been a while since I've cried this much reading a book.
This is a fantasy book with light magic and lots of political intrigue, with a no spice sapphic forbidden romance subplot. There are tons of twists and turns to the story that were unexpected and heart wrenching. This is the first book I read from Stogner and won't be my last.
The writing is fantastic with approachable yet intelligent prose, and absolutely hilarious dialogue. I laughed out loud more times than I can count. It's rare that I love both characters in a romance equally, but this book did it for me. Jaina is an adorable and loyal golden retriever type of character, Antoinette is a calculated and guarded black cat type of character, but that is truly just the surface. It was so refreshing to see a man who writes women that are complex and flawed. I wanted their happiness so badly, and their romance made me kick my feet and giggle.
There are two main reasons I gave this 4 stars instead of 5:
The first had to do with pacing. The story kicks off strong, but around the 15% mark it slows down significantly, not in a boring way, I was still very much interested, but in a way that made me believe I was in for a cozy romance book. Around 45% into the story things shift dramatically, and I found it jarring. I had to take some time away to readjust my expectations for the story.
The second reason may very well be a me problem, but I never truly felt like I understood the political side of things. It was said that all of these books can be read as stand alone books, but I still felt a bit lost, like I was expected to know something going into it. There was a name mentioned that I know is from another book, and so I wonder if reading the past books would have filled in those knowledge gaps. Or maybe everything truly was made clear in this story and I'm just a dumb dumb. which is a high possibility, let's be honest. But I must speak my unintelligent truth, come what may.
Either way, I sort of regret not reading the other two books first, because I suspect if I had done so this would have been an even greater experience.
Despite that, I really enjoyed this, and I'd like to end my review with the quote that will stay with me for a long time:
"You can move forward. Not because it will fix what’s broken. But because you’re not the type to ever stop trying."
October 22, 2025
4.5/5
One woman who sacrifices everything for family though they beg her not to. One woman who sacrifices everything for family because they demand it. We get the POV of both and they each have a perfect introduction. They and their lives are warped mirrors of each other, and it’s quite beautiful how there are so many reasons why they shouldn’t be together, yet need to be together. Coming from entirely different backgrounds, meeting in a world sinking into war, tension builds from every angle. The conflicts of the war, relationships, and family responsibilities braid together to complement each other, and they all balance well. This is a story of loyalties, control in its various forms, the mess that is human emotion, complicated family dynamics, the value of trying, the thoughtless decisions of those in power over the people they rule, and the helplessness of being at the whims of chance. Ranger is lighter than Stogner’s other Aldarri books so far, relatively speaking, but he doesn’t shy away from physically and emotionally beating the living daylights out of his characters, nor the gore that comes with it. The main characters and side characters alike feel all too real, and so does the dread and delight you feel for them. I think I have a new favorite character in Fillias. Toni DeLuca is as mesmerizing as she is ruthless. My heart breaks for Edley. I admire Jaina for her decisiveness, and relate to Antoinette for her methodicalness. I really appreciate that the sibling relationships were given a spotlight too, though I do wish the twins felt more like individuals. The ending escalates quickly, puts your heart through a ringer of a rollercoaster, then wraps up in a way that I’m feverish for the next installments. I’d love to follow these characters again, and there are quite a few new elements that I can't wait to see what comes of them. Characters from the books before, Frostbitten and Extraction, are mentioned, but not to a degree that is confusing if you haven’t read the previous books. If you want to start the Aldarri archives here, you are in the clear to if you wish, but I’m always a proponent of reading in publication order.
Thank you Dietrich Stogner for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
One woman who sacrifices everything for family though they beg her not to. One woman who sacrifices everything for family because they demand it. We get the POV of both and they each have a perfect introduction. They and their lives are warped mirrors of each other, and it’s quite beautiful how there are so many reasons why they shouldn’t be together, yet need to be together. Coming from entirely different backgrounds, meeting in a world sinking into war, tension builds from every angle. The conflicts of the war, relationships, and family responsibilities braid together to complement each other, and they all balance well. This is a story of loyalties, control in its various forms, the mess that is human emotion, complicated family dynamics, the value of trying, the thoughtless decisions of those in power over the people they rule, and the helplessness of being at the whims of chance. Ranger is lighter than Stogner’s other Aldarri books so far, relatively speaking, but he doesn’t shy away from physically and emotionally beating the living daylights out of his characters, nor the gore that comes with it. The main characters and side characters alike feel all too real, and so does the dread and delight you feel for them. I think I have a new favorite character in Fillias. Toni DeLuca is as mesmerizing as she is ruthless. My heart breaks for Edley. I admire Jaina for her decisiveness, and relate to Antoinette for her methodicalness. I really appreciate that the sibling relationships were given a spotlight too, though I do wish the twins felt more like individuals. The ending escalates quickly, puts your heart through a ringer of a rollercoaster, then wraps up in a way that I’m feverish for the next installments. I’d love to follow these characters again, and there are quite a few new elements that I can't wait to see what comes of them. Characters from the books before, Frostbitten and Extraction, are mentioned, but not to a degree that is confusing if you haven’t read the previous books. If you want to start the Aldarri archives here, you are in the clear to if you wish, but I’m always a proponent of reading in publication order.
Thank you Dietrich Stogner for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
November 1, 2025
Stogner did it again - a brilliant book, a character gallery that has you cheering, crying, laughing and a storyline that keeps throwing curveballs.
This is the third book in the Alddarri Archives and although all three books are standalone stories, you get a lot of little easter eggs in here if you read the first two books.
Ranger is a great combination of "all-vibes" character study where you get to know the two main women and their very different personalities and fast-paced epic fantasy-intrigue. The romance between our two heroines is sweet, heartbreaking and so well-written that I did go back several times in the book to re-read entire chapters. And the ending makes it really difficult to wait for the next book to come out.
Highly recommended!
This is the third book in the Alddarri Archives and although all three books are standalone stories, you get a lot of little easter eggs in here if you read the first two books.
Ranger is a great combination of "all-vibes" character study where you get to know the two main women and their very different personalities and fast-paced epic fantasy-intrigue. The romance between our two heroines is sweet, heartbreaking and so well-written that I did go back several times in the book to re-read entire chapters. And the ending makes it really difficult to wait for the next book to come out.
Highly recommended!
October 10, 2025
An absolute winner. Dietrich Stogner continues to weave in and out of genres at will. This book is primarily romantasy, with a background of epic fantasy. Epic romantasy?
Jaina and Antoinette provide a powerful force at the center of the narrative, and the rest of the story orbits them. In the background, we have major pieces on the move and coming together from the previous books.
All in all, this is an incredible ride. Read these books!
Jaina and Antoinette provide a powerful force at the center of the narrative, and the rest of the story orbits them. In the background, we have major pieces on the move and coming together from the previous books.
All in all, this is an incredible ride. Read these books!
October 11, 2025
I was not prepared.
One would think that after reading the emotional slingshot that is Extraction that I’d be better prepared for whatever Mr. Stogner threw my way in RANGER.
But, no.
The latest installment of the Alddari Archives, by one Dietrich Stogner, follows Jaina Creighton, a smithy from a middle-of-everything-but-nowhere town. Her parents run an inn that’s been in the family for ages, and her older brothers are possibly the better and funnier version of the Weasley twins. Everything is as it should be until every able-bodied male from all corners of the continent are conscripted into the army. Including Jaina’s brothers. In order to keep her brothers from harm, Jaina launches into an impossible and gut-wrenching journey of self-discovery, love, and loss.
We also follow Antoinette DeLuca, heiress of the DeLuca Empire and renowned artist extraordinaire. Trapped between a world of what she wants and that of obligation to the family, Antionette’s path collides with Jaina’s, where she questions where her loyalties should be rather than what’s expected.
*I* was not prepared, so allow me to prepare *you*. Tissues ready? Good.
Jaina is the kind of character that I’d think many readers can see themselves in. She’s the youngest of three, just wants to do her thing, and make a life for herself. But you get the sense there’s something more she wants, something scratching just under the surface. On the other hand, Antoinette has everything – wealth, respect (aka fear), and a prestigious position within her world – but realizes there’s more to life than the carefully crafted facade her grandmother, Madame DeLuca, molded her into.
Told from alternating points of view, Ranger drags these young women down a road of hard choices, impossible circumstances, and unbreakable bonds. You’ll grin at the clever wit and banter, gasp at the horrors they experience, and weep when they meet the end of their respective ropes. And when that happens, Stogner pushes them just a little more until you’re gasping for breath or a ding dang break for these two!
While the first third of the book felt a tad bit slow for my tastes, Ranger quickly picks up the pace and then a wild last 10% of the book I never saw coming. The ending also leaves us a nice bridge for the next book in the series without being an infuriating cliffhanger.
Both Jaina and Antionette have delightfully unique voices and are wonderful characters to follow. Their romance is sweet and perfect, and I want to thank Mr. Stogner for making a point of doing his homework to make this beautiful sapphic story not only authentic but so, so endearing. And don’t get me started on how else Ranger yanks on those heartstrings! Let’s just say Jaina’s bond with her brothers runs deep, Antoinette’s longing for a real connection strikes every tender nerve, and I must thank all the gods I got home from work before reading THAT chapter [gives Dietrich the evilest of evil eyes because how dare you, sir!].
The magic system within Ranger is a bigger leap into fantasy than its predecessor, and I for one am thrilled to see how the unique abilities of the rangers and the mysterious Empire plays into future books.
So, to make a long story short (too late), Ranger is a grand adventure into duty, sacrifice, standing ten toes down for what’s right, and learning that you can never be wrong if you follow your heart.
One would think that after reading the emotional slingshot that is Extraction that I’d be better prepared for whatever Mr. Stogner threw my way in RANGER.
But, no.
The latest installment of the Alddari Archives, by one Dietrich Stogner, follows Jaina Creighton, a smithy from a middle-of-everything-but-nowhere town. Her parents run an inn that’s been in the family for ages, and her older brothers are possibly the better and funnier version of the Weasley twins. Everything is as it should be until every able-bodied male from all corners of the continent are conscripted into the army. Including Jaina’s brothers. In order to keep her brothers from harm, Jaina launches into an impossible and gut-wrenching journey of self-discovery, love, and loss.
We also follow Antoinette DeLuca, heiress of the DeLuca Empire and renowned artist extraordinaire. Trapped between a world of what she wants and that of obligation to the family, Antionette’s path collides with Jaina’s, where she questions where her loyalties should be rather than what’s expected.
*I* was not prepared, so allow me to prepare *you*. Tissues ready? Good.
Jaina is the kind of character that I’d think many readers can see themselves in. She’s the youngest of three, just wants to do her thing, and make a life for herself. But you get the sense there’s something more she wants, something scratching just under the surface. On the other hand, Antoinette has everything – wealth, respect (aka fear), and a prestigious position within her world – but realizes there’s more to life than the carefully crafted facade her grandmother, Madame DeLuca, molded her into.
Told from alternating points of view, Ranger drags these young women down a road of hard choices, impossible circumstances, and unbreakable bonds. You’ll grin at the clever wit and banter, gasp at the horrors they experience, and weep when they meet the end of their respective ropes. And when that happens, Stogner pushes them just a little more until you’re gasping for breath or a ding dang break for these two!
While the first third of the book felt a tad bit slow for my tastes, Ranger quickly picks up the pace and then a wild last 10% of the book I never saw coming. The ending also leaves us a nice bridge for the next book in the series without being an infuriating cliffhanger.
Both Jaina and Antionette have delightfully unique voices and are wonderful characters to follow. Their romance is sweet and perfect, and I want to thank Mr. Stogner for making a point of doing his homework to make this beautiful sapphic story not only authentic but so, so endearing. And don’t get me started on how else Ranger yanks on those heartstrings! Let’s just say Jaina’s bond with her brothers runs deep, Antoinette’s longing for a real connection strikes every tender nerve, and I must thank all the gods I got home from work before reading THAT chapter [gives Dietrich the evilest of evil eyes because how dare you, sir!].
The magic system within Ranger is a bigger leap into fantasy than its predecessor, and I for one am thrilled to see how the unique abilities of the rangers and the mysterious Empire plays into future books.
So, to make a long story short (too late), Ranger is a grand adventure into duty, sacrifice, standing ten toes down for what’s right, and learning that you can never be wrong if you follow your heart.
September 30, 2025
After having read Extraction last year, when I had the opportunity to read the next book in the series I couldn't pass it up. And even though this is a very different book it really works for me for much the same reasons: Lots of world building for such a short book, action-packed, and complex but relatable characters.
The book is dual-POV from the two main characters, and with the timeline made clear in the title chapters, I was quite intrigued for what we are counting down towards. And while the books starts relatively easy-going, it slowly introduces with a looming threat of war, with a buildup to 'event'.
Against this background we follow Jaina who signs up to join the Rangers, and Antoinette, spying in the Dominion to find out more about the war (and the Rangers). Both are trying to find out who they are and what they value, and there is a lot of character growth, especially for Jaina. I think it's especially well done how this journey interleaves with the larger events in the world.
The book also really sets up a greater story arch of this world, and I'm looking forward to the next book. That being said, even though this book is part of the series you can easily read it standalone/first; you'll just miss some references (like when reading a Discworld)
* I was provided an ARC with hope but no requirement of a review
The book is dual-POV from the two main characters, and with the timeline made clear in the title chapters, I was quite intrigued for what we are counting down towards. And while the books starts relatively easy-going, it slowly introduces with a looming threat of war, with a buildup to 'event'.
Against this background we follow Jaina who signs up to join the Rangers, and Antoinette, spying in the Dominion to find out more about the war (and the Rangers). Both are trying to find out who they are and what they value, and there is a lot of character growth, especially for Jaina. I think it's especially well done how this journey interleaves with the larger events in the world.
The book also really sets up a greater story arch of this world, and I'm looking forward to the next book. That being said, even though this book is part of the series you can easily read it standalone/first; you'll just miss some references (like when reading a Discworld)
* I was provided an ARC with hope but no requirement of a review
October 14, 2025
Jaina refuses to lose her brothers to a pointless war effort. Antionette strives to eke out any miniscule amount of freedom in her carefully crafted existence.
When they're brought together by fate, it's clear that their growing desires will have ripple effects beyond anything they could imagine. While Ranger has strong themes of love and devotion, this book isn't a typical romance. Stonger touches on all aspects of loving someone so deeply that you make extremely poor choices, whether it's a family member or a partner. I found myself unable to be angry at either Jaina or Antionette, because in their places, I don't know if I could make different choices.
Ranger is a slow burn, but not in the romance trope kid of way. The story builds over the course of the novel and I found myself unable to stop reading once the engine had gotten to full speed. If you're a fan of emotionally driven conflict, fantasy where magic is not the main character, and well-written banter, Ranger is a definite must-read.
When they're brought together by fate, it's clear that their growing desires will have ripple effects beyond anything they could imagine. While Ranger has strong themes of love and devotion, this book isn't a typical romance. Stonger touches on all aspects of loving someone so deeply that you make extremely poor choices, whether it's a family member or a partner. I found myself unable to be angry at either Jaina or Antionette, because in their places, I don't know if I could make different choices.
Ranger is a slow burn, but not in the romance trope kid of way. The story builds over the course of the novel and I found myself unable to stop reading once the engine had gotten to full speed. If you're a fan of emotionally driven conflict, fantasy where magic is not the main character, and well-written banter, Ranger is a definite must-read.
September 18, 2025
Disclaimer -I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
I've been a fan of Stogner's Aldarri sequence since finding him on Instagram roughly a year ago.
His world and character building are fantastically nuanced and detailed while still remaining familiar and accessible.
It was this character work that hooked me while reading Ranger.
From the first time meeting Jaina or Antoinette we see right to the core of the person, what makes them tick. Not through any clunky exposition-filled info dumps but through witnessing their actions and reactions.
The author's prose skips along delightfully providing detail and texture without providing all the unnecessary gubbins that usually come with fantasy novels.
The romance sub plot is also handled deftly and delicately, other male authors take note. This is how you write a queer love story.
I genuinely can't wait for the next installment.
I've been a fan of Stogner's Aldarri sequence since finding him on Instagram roughly a year ago.
His world and character building are fantastically nuanced and detailed while still remaining familiar and accessible.
It was this character work that hooked me while reading Ranger.
From the first time meeting Jaina or Antoinette we see right to the core of the person, what makes them tick. Not through any clunky exposition-filled info dumps but through witnessing their actions and reactions.
The author's prose skips along delightfully providing detail and texture without providing all the unnecessary gubbins that usually come with fantasy novels.
The romance sub plot is also handled deftly and delicately, other male authors take note. This is how you write a queer love story.
I genuinely can't wait for the next installment.
September 26, 2025
“ And none of it has to do with actually being a ranger.”
This was one of many highlighted quotes in my Kindle as I looked back over my notes for Stogner’s Ranger. For a story set in a fantasy world of mighty and powerful heroes, mystical transformations, and fantastic possibilities, what I loved most about Ranger was how grounded it was in its humanity. Jaina, our protagonist, is above everything a daughter and a woman trying to establish who she wants to be and what she is willing to do in order to become that person. As always, Stogner’s writing is sharp, unflinching, and heartwrenchingly honest. It does what all good fantasy should do. It poses a critical lens against the very foundations of reality, of the world as we know, while getting us to ask ourselves “what if.” What if I were braver? What if I made a mistake? What if this person is the love of my life?
I can’t wait for more readers to discover this book and the rest of the series.
This was one of many highlighted quotes in my Kindle as I looked back over my notes for Stogner’s Ranger. For a story set in a fantasy world of mighty and powerful heroes, mystical transformations, and fantastic possibilities, what I loved most about Ranger was how grounded it was in its humanity. Jaina, our protagonist, is above everything a daughter and a woman trying to establish who she wants to be and what she is willing to do in order to become that person. As always, Stogner’s writing is sharp, unflinching, and heartwrenchingly honest. It does what all good fantasy should do. It poses a critical lens against the very foundations of reality, of the world as we know, while getting us to ask ourselves “what if.” What if I were braver? What if I made a mistake? What if this person is the love of my life?
I can’t wait for more readers to discover this book and the rest of the series.
October 21, 2025
This book was my first foray into the Romantasy genre. I’m not entirely sure it qualifies, but it’s certainly more of a love story than most fantasy novels I’ve read. I primarily read fantasy, and this book has two of the best protagonists of any of my recent fantasy reads. I thoroughly enjoyed both the characters and the world they live in. The author does a fantastic job of building emotional stakes and giving readers ample time—and reason—to fall in love with these characters. Jaina may be one of my favorite female protagonists across the many fantasy books I’ve read.
I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers, but if you’re looking for a great read with a sharp emotional edge and a fair amount of punch (can you really knock off someone’s jaw and still call it Romantasy? Apparently so), this one delivers. A great pick for any fantasy reader willing to dip their toe into something with a romantic soul.
I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers, but if you’re looking for a great read with a sharp emotional edge and a fair amount of punch (can you really knock off someone’s jaw and still call it Romantasy? Apparently so), this one delivers. A great pick for any fantasy reader willing to dip their toe into something with a romantic soul.
November 26, 2025
I was very hesitant to read this as I don’t trust cis men to write sapphic romances. But I’m glad to say this author proved me wrong.
This was a very interesting story with a super cute romance between the two leads. Both women were well written with unique backstories that kept me entertained. I never felt like their voices were too similar, which is often a problem with dual POV romances.
As someone who hasn’t read the previous installments in this series, my one complaint is that the last 20% had so much jammed into it that I felt it should’ve been a bit longer to fully flesh out some of the new events that took place.
Overall, I really enjoyed this world that Stogner has built and I may just read the rest of the series. Hopefully we will see more of Antoinette and Jaina!
This was a very interesting story with a super cute romance between the two leads. Both women were well written with unique backstories that kept me entertained. I never felt like their voices were too similar, which is often a problem with dual POV romances.
As someone who hasn’t read the previous installments in this series, my one complaint is that the last 20% had so much jammed into it that I felt it should’ve been a bit longer to fully flesh out some of the new events that took place.
Overall, I really enjoyed this world that Stogner has built and I may just read the rest of the series. Hopefully we will see more of Antoinette and Jaina!
October 22, 2025
I could not, for one moment, comprehend what I was getting myself into when I started my journey with Jaina and Antoinette. This was Dietrich Stogner's first romance novel, and I truly hope there are more in our future, because the way he brought these two women together was nothing short of pure magic. The time I spent between the pages of Ranger was something so beautiful, so funny, nuanced, and romantic...
October 26, 2025
Having received an early copy, to the absolute leap this story took in its final draft, I am blown away. Dietrich paints such vivid characters and drive in a world where the politics are more prominent than they would seem at a surface level. I feel like I know these characters and, more than that, their hearts, as they navigate a complex landscape on the cusp of war and the dynamic juxtaposition of their respective families. Dietrich has truly outdone himself, and I know full heartedly that is only a symptom of what’s to come for the rest of this series.
January 7, 2026
Yet again! Another amazing story by Dietrich. He did an amazing job with the relationship between Antoinette and Jaina. I felt their emotions on this one. And this ending leaves me so excited to see what's to come!
I listened to the audiobook version of this one and Cassie did a wonderful job with their voices. She made it feel like I wasnt just watching the story unfold from a distance, I was even more emotionally invested.
100% recommend either version.
I listened to the audiobook version of this one and Cassie did a wonderful job with their voices. She made it feel like I wasnt just watching the story unfold from a distance, I was even more emotionally invested.
100% recommend either version.
October 22, 2025
Another fantastic read from Dietrich Stogner
A great story which leaves you waiting for more.
A complex world with very easily recognisable human emotions in characters who have choices thrust at them due to understandable external circumstances. Awful choices in which there is no obvious correct decision...
A great read...
A great story which leaves you waiting for more.
A complex world with very easily recognisable human emotions in characters who have choices thrust at them due to understandable external circumstances. Awful choices in which there is no obvious correct decision...
A great read...
November 27, 2025
Simultaneously heart fluttering and shattering.
I have been burned in the past with "men writing women", but Stogner has developed such wonderful female leads and did their story justice.
Moreover, as the younger sister to two brothers, many parts of this book hit hard for me. I really appreciated the way the brothers provided comedic relief, voices of reason, and lights in the darkness.
I have been burned in the past with "men writing women", but Stogner has developed such wonderful female leads and did their story justice.
Moreover, as the younger sister to two brothers, many parts of this book hit hard for me. I really appreciated the way the brothers provided comedic relief, voices of reason, and lights in the darkness.
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