Pilgrimess

Gods of Tintar #2

by Kara Voorhees Reynolds

Robbie and her found family of fellow lady-criminals are weathering tyranny from a theocratic patriarchal rule. They get word that her niece is in trouble. Disguising themselves as penitents on a religious pilgrimage to a powerful enemy city, the girl gang sets out on a rescue mission. Along the way, old enemies rise and persecute them. And a mysterious man will not stop dogging Robbie’s steps. In order to defeat the evil that looms, Robbie must remember who she is, what gift she possesses, and open her heart to new kinds of magic.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Romance

586 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 28, 2026

About the author

Kara Reynolds is a watercolorist who lives in Florida with her husband and their cats.

Reviews

[Erica Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were devastated by Priestess by Kara Reynolds BOY HAVE I GOT GOOD NEWS FOR YOU. 🎉 TINTAR IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!

You got:
✨️ religious trauma
✨️ Girl gang vibes
✨️ vigilante shenanigans
✨️ Y E A R N I N G
✨️ Queer Rep like a mf'er

I was beyond excited to receive an ARC from the author. Reading Priestess and Illuminator healed me in ways I didn't expect, so applying for an ARC of Pilgrimess was a no brainer. Imagine my joy when it landed in my inbox!

That being said, Pilgrimess did not let me down. A new girl gang, a new love interest(s), new GODS. What i love about TGoT is that you never get the same story. Every character is so nuanced and distinguishable, to the point of feeling like my friends long after I've closed the book.

In my many years as a literate human who is constantly trying to find not only themselves in fiction, but also constantly seeks healing in fiction, it isn't super often i find a book that hits those thorny parts of me that need healing and acknowledgement...but here we are 2.5 books deep and each book has healed some buried aspect of me.

I grew up in a military family. This comes with baggage and trauma all its own, but it also comes with the expected "rub some dirt on it and keep going" coping mechanisms. If you acknowledge the pain you're weak. If you're weak, the mission fails. What mission? Who knows. keep pushing.

And thats where Pilgrimess comes in. Robbie is the kind of carer who does not stop for herself. She keeps going because without her, women die. Without her, babies die. The weight of her village rests on her and when they're uprooted by the war Perpetane incites with Tintar, she is the ONLY midwife who can keep the women safe on their resettlement journey. Robbie doesn't have the luxury of dissecting the many traumas life had visited upon her up to that point.

But, the events of the pilgrimage forces her to confront her heart breaking last. The discomfort of the lowlands and the emotional toll of being around people who want you dead will do a number on your mental health and this book does not shy away from that reality. Robbie is torn down, laid low, multiple times but shes the type to push herself up, spit out a gob of blood, and say "Is that all you got?!" as she sways in her feet. She is a survivor through and through, and she knows how to survive, but she doesn't know how to heal. And that is what she must learn on the road.

The book is equal parts mystery, romance, ride-or-die friendships, and healing. You should know by now that Kara doesn't write with half her heart, she uses the whole thing to give you a story worthy of the time she's asking you to invest in her books. I cried multiple times for multiple reasons, and I cannot recommend this book enough. Priestess was written so beautifully. Illuminator upped the ante. Pilgrimess proved that Kara does not write to plateau, she writes to scale mountains. Her craft comes first and it shows with each book. Some lines and passages tore my heart to shreds with their beauty.

I am beyond excited for the world to read this. I believe a lot of people will face a reckoning with core aspects of their lives should they choose to pick this book up, and that is one of the highest compliments I can give a book. Books change our lives, they force us to rip apart the thornhedges within us that have kept us safe from hurt....why else would powerful men want to ban and burn such books?

[Jennifer (ConsortingWithBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.75/5
Spice Level: 3/5

Note: I haven't read Priestess yet and that didn't affect my enjoyment of this book. Since finishing this book, I have purchased and have started reading Priestess, due to how much I enjoyed this book.

Trigger Warnings: Spicy Content, Religious Abuse/Intolerance

Having grown up in a Christian household and now am an atheist due to my experience with religion, this book hit very close to home. The entire story is tied very closely with religion, especially with keeping women downtrodden, which happens commonly all over the world, in religious ways as well as non-religious, societal ways.

I love Robbie as a character, how headstrong and fiery she is against injustice. I really love that she is experience at life and acts like her 40 years of age. No 20 year old FMC here! Which really is a breath of fresh air for a reader who is quickly approaching 40 herself. She's lived and loved and lost, and it's reflected in her personality and the decisions she makes.

I love the male love interest(s) (sort of love triangle-y vibes, but not seriously, so don't let that put you off), including the love interests from the past and present. Really like the way the book is split up into parts alternating between the now/present and the then/past. All clearly labeled and well paced/split up. The two timelines following the main plot of the present events and her childhood and life leading up to those events, which really give background and understanding to her actions.

Found family vibes are also immaculate, and the relationships between these characters are so strong. And there's so much representation amongst them as well.

Now, I rate books off of vibes and enjoyment, rather than objectivity, and I found myself sucked into this story so quickly and thoroughly and just hooked by the FMC and the whole story/environment. I have only one MINOR criticism and it the one thing that made me not give this book a full 5 stars. During the show-down with the Big Bad (which, btw, I didn't see that full situation coming at all), I felt like the FMC didn't make the best decisions/take the best actions. I was mentally yelling at her to do something, anything! Now there was a lot going on, quite a bit of things from the multitude of characters who were all in action, so maybe everything was being described so much that it seemed like she wasn't doing anything, but I think that was the only "issue" I had with this entire book.

So overall, what a wild and fun ride. Really had a great time and recommend this to anybody looking for a fully fleshed out fantasy world/story with a non-overpowered, older FMC.

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Pilgrimess✨

Pilgrimess felt like reading modern literature. Robbie’s world felt vast and timeless, a magical memoire full of heartbreak, loss, hope, pain, perseverance, chosen family, and love.

In this standalone within Kara’s interconnected world, we follow a singular POV from our FMC, Robbie, as she undergoes a pilgrimage to save her niece during a time where her country is at war. Her life has been difficult, to say the least, relegated to an outcast “witch” from the religious patriarchy that seeks to rule and oppress its people. We spend half our time (woven within) learning of Robbie’s past and what brought her to where she is today: taking her family across the country, fighting for her life against men who want to kill her, illegally helping women under the cover of the stars, hiding her magic, and slowly falling in love with a mysterious scout.

Robbie experiences 3 great loves but the most being the male who empowers her wildness. This is a story of sorrowful events that lead us to the most joy-filled futures, standing firm in our values despite it not aligning with society, and loving hard. The cast was so beautifully done and Reed’s letter had me MELTING. All those small moments we get with him… they build up so beautifully. Their eventual freedom made my heart so happy. And Thane. Oh gosh… he has my heart too, that poor precious soul.

Tropes you may find in Pilgrimess are forced proximity, bodyguard, one tent, 30+ y/o characters, practical magic, fighting the patriarchy, religious trauma, chosen family, standalone, banter, medium spice, and a HEA.

Thank you, Kara, for this gifted arc. Robbie’s story is one that will continue to stick with me.

[Reading . Current · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Tales & Teacups for Pilgrimess (Gods of Tintar) which was one of my most anticipated reads of the year considering the first book and I appreciate that this can be read as a standalone.

Fantasy has a habit of casting teenagers as the heroine but here we have an actual adult (40yo FMC) which is fantastic! Representation actually does matter especially considering the graphic nature of this book and it did actually
offer a varied perspective that is so often left out and challenges the stereotypes we so often see.

I would definitely reccommend this but consider the trigger warnings before doing so

[Sussu {Romance Obsessed} · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the arc, but it's going to be a dnf at 7% for me.
These are my opinions below.

Please. Please. Please.🙏
Hire an editor.
I'm so sorry. I don't want this to come off as mean, just constructive.

To me, the writing is unfortunately very awkward, clunky and really interrupts the flow of my reading.

Some examples:

"For caged birds everywhere. May the bitter screech of your beak’s drag on the bars frighten the hell out of the ones who put you there."

"Your beak's drag "sticks out here, you could put: "the drag of your beak"

First paragraph:

"It was the reappearance of my favorite book that saved me. It was taken from me, and then it was returned. But before it was returned, I lost hope. I had finally caved to a lifetime of pursuit, of being the skittish deer darting between trees, the hunter’s horse on my heels. I had felt the arrow strike me in the neck and take me down. When they came for the books, they came for all that I believed in. It was a death. But I would have that book again."

I think if you rework the first 3 sentences, into one, you can make it less repetitive and wordy.
We should also talk about the deer part, if you commit to imagery, deer don't have heels.They have hooves.

Next: "I had felt the arrow", don't need the word "had" here, since the "felt" is already in past tense.

I also want to talk about the use of the word strike, because even though arrows do technically strike, that action is more related to one of a hammer or a dull instrument.
Arrows are more known for piercing or grazing due to their sharp points.

"They came to my house on the day before my fortieth day of birth."
This line also confused me, bc are you talking about being just over a month old? Is it 40 years?
Why not phrase it more clearly?

There are so many examples of this in just the first chapter, unnecessary words like "had been", or "had never".
The word "had" appears ~1400 times in this book. Unfortunately for me, and my brain, I really seem to notice repetition and patterns in things. 🤷‍♀️

All of these are, of course just my personal opinion and my preferences when it comes to writing. There is no wrong or right way to write and this book may just not be my cup of tea.

[Pandorameetsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever been told that you shine too brightly, told that you must dim your light so not to offend the delicate sensitivities of men in power, then this is the book that you need to read. This is a book about how women are less, subservient to men and church, and it’s about rebellion, the quiet ways in which women say no. Who find small ways to fight back, who find their worth, not in being less than, but in who they are.

If you like fast-paced fantasy stories, then this is not the story for you, if however, you love slow-paced stories that flow gently like a peaceful lake before throwing you into the deep rapids at the end, and will have you reading through floods of tears, this is the book for you.

For this story blocks slowly, its beauty revealed with each opening of a petal, under the bloom of sunlight. The tension, a slow simmering thing that has you turning the pages, awaiting the next reveal.

This story might be fiction, but it is grounded in startling reality and that is what makes the story so brilliant to read, and makes you so angry as a reader, because we read this not only from a modern perspective where we clutch our pearls at the idea of living in a world like this, while knowing that bit by bit it is exactly the life we’re being pushed towards. Where the bright are expected to douse their flames to become less than for those in power, as if they have any actual right to be there.

Better still, the FMC isn’t young, she’s not untested, Robbie is the opposite of that, she’s mature, she’s emotionally scared. She’s been tested over and over again, her faith wavers, and when she falters, her friends are there to pick her up and dust her off. The diversity within the story is so well done, and without drawing overt attention to it, each character is so beautifully normal, not the overly attractive, good at everything, characters we usually see within fantasy settings. They are all flawed in their own way.

For some Robbie is going to grate, but thats her superpower, shes unafraid to be herself, even if shes’ been forced to be less to save herself from burning, because yes, in this story if the woman doesn’t bow, if she doesn’t lower herself to a man, if she doesn’t repent, she’s burned at the stake.

We follow our character’s are they flee from war, and towards Robbie’s neice who sent a startling letter begging for help, in secret code. There is hardship on the road, though, and strangers who linger.

This is a love story, but not just a love story between main characters, though that story is beautiful in its own regard. It’s a love story between friends. It’s a love story with yourself. The friendships in this book are the foundations of the entire story; without it, there would be no story. These women have been through so much and yet together they found a home and a life that carries on right to the very end. Where I ugly cried. A lot.

The actual love story, though, is such a brilliant slow burn; it’s gentle and surprising. It sneaks up on you, which makes sense given our Salt Mans affinity. He’s so freaking smooth, and honestly, how Robbie held out for as long as she did is truly beyond me.

This book, broke me in the best way, because we sit with these characters, it’s like sitting with friends, you get to truly know them, so that when they feel pain or fear, or suffer loss, you suffer it too. Those last chapters had been read through tears, which is a hard thing to do. Because they were all too real.

This story also manages to take my least faviourte thing in fantasy, which is past and present being woven into together (we read several chapters in the present, and then jump back into the past) and had me enjoying it because those chapters built on what we knew, they offered you insight and understanding and without them we wouldn’t have enjoyed the story half as much. They were needed. We needed to understand Robbie, I feel, without them, we might have found her jarring, and less likeable plus they make sense for the end of the book.

Which had me sobbing, did I say that yet?

Please check your triggers though, they are clearly outlined, and for good reason, if you're sensitive to any of them, this is probably not the read for you. They are haddled with such grace, though and done tastefully. All in all i’d give this six stars if I could.

[Sarah Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

TLDR: If you earned your grey hairs from hard times and got your tattoos to reclaim yourself; you're going to love this even when it hurts. Just like her other books in the Gods of Tintar universe, Pilgrimess healed something in me. Reynolds writes 6-star, gold tier, Romantic Fantasy and should be all over your TBR.

Reynolds has the uncanny ability to illuminate what it means to draw strength from an empty well. How trauma and hopelessness can become shame and how women both wear and transcend those feelings over and over in our lives. This book examines grief, religious trauma, and family exile in more depth than Priestess. (Note: these are interconnected-stand-alones and you can enjoy Pilgrimess without reading Priestess).

Robbie's story is raw, violent and unsettling. There is an enemy here philosophically and there is a literal villain (who feels a little too real these days). Hers is also a story of love and healing. Romantic love that curls your toes, sure. But also rebuilding a found family, a safety net, a real community, and healing through love that way. Her gentle and caring addition of a varied cast of character gave the story gorgeous queer representation. The balance is delicate and the pacing made me sit in discomfort and grief just as much as in excitement or anticipation. Another author would have turned this story into trauma dumping but Reynolds' characters are so authentic you just feel with them and then you get to grow with them too.

The love story is very different than in Priestess. Which makes sense, Eddie (the heroine in that book) is very different than Robbie. A part of me felt something was missing in the romance. I wanted to know him more. Get to know the scouts better. But, I think the story flows in the way Robbie does. Shes's got a foot in the water before she can feel the cold. (I did enjoy the spice, I would give it 2 peppers). It makes the book feel more like fantasy with a romantic subplot but we get our HEA! Like Priestess, like Illuminator, if you can read the whole epilogue without ugly crying at how beautiful it is, I would be amazed. I could barely see the words jellyfish woman through my epic and satisfying sobs.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and it didn't disappoint. It was one of very few books that I have to just sit in silence for an hour or two after it's done. I'm just sad I read it so fast and now I'll have to patiently wait for her next book. Which is hard because I'm too much like Robbie.

[achaserigtrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually more like 4.5 ⭐️ rating. So much of this book was beautiful, salient, touching, and heartbreaking. It is first and foremost a celebration of women and our ability to persevere with one another’s support. It digs into the toxicity of religion and theocracy and how they are uniquely designed to prey on women. And it reminds us of the importance of staying true to one’s self, even if the society you were born to doesn’t approve of you.

Robbie is an authentic and real FMC. She is flawed and human, and has true lived experiences. Reynolds does this so well, as we saw with Edie in Priestess and Helena in Illuminator. Robbie is the defiant twin being raised in a rural, religious area, and is daily punished for being intelligent, curious, brave, and empathetic, and willing to fight to the death to protect and help women. The “Then” chapters show us her past and allow us to see her grow into who she is in the “Now” chapters, and they are so nicely woven in. She is a woman in her early 40s who believes her time for love and attraction is long gone, and cannot see the effect she has on men. When a one-eyed, hooded, lean man comes into her life, she cannot believe he may be attracted to her or have her best interests in mind. She has just seen too much betrayal from men.

A big part of this book is an emphasis on “acts of care”, which means a few different things in this book, and both Robbie and Reed demonstrate their care for others via their actions. Both struggle to orally communicate affections; their love is shown by their commitments, even if others don’t understand the toll it takes on them. Reed sometimes flirts awkwardly, saying coded things that Robbie can’t quite understand, and I loved these parts.

The only reason this is not more highly rated for me is it needed a bit more editing for pacing. The first 10% felt like a lot of information dumping and then the last 8% or so dragged in one spot but then rushed in another. While I loved everything about Robbie and Reed, I wished the final chapter had been different. Both Pilgrimess and Priestess ended in a similar manner—once the main plot was resolved, Reynolds gives us a quick rundown about the immediate aftermath and then jumps ahead decades. It would be nice to leave that to the reader’s imagination but provide them more about that couple now that the major issues are resolved. These time jumps could be epilogues after a chapter or two of wrap up. I guess I just wanted a little more of Robbie and Reed.

I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author!

[Micca B aka gigglybookgeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really made my religious trauma felt seen. Make sure you read the trigger warnings, because protecting your mental health is important.

Robbie is a 40 year old woman that lives on the outskirts of town in the woods. There are flashbacks to different times in her life, to tell her story and the story of others. Like any woman that dares to question a man or even just want to know why the rules are the rules, she is punished for it from a young age. The patriarchy will NOT tolerate being questioned. She has lived a life with the priest plotting and waiting to take her down. Even though she cares for the women of her town, she does grow weary. She misses those gone before her, and tired of always having to be looking over her shoulder

Thane, a dukes’s son, has stepped in and advocated for her over the years as his sister-in-law. However, he travels and cannot always be there. Which is perfect for the leaders in the church. The memory of her mentor’s fate is never far from her mind, and watching Robbie walk the line between being fearless and white, hot fear is a reminder of all of this.

More trouble is brewing besides the church leaders going after women and children that do not follow the list of rules. Now, a war threatens their town, but they do have the option to go the safety of another town, but is that what a woman that loves the land she lives on wants to do? In the mix of it all, an old flame is making eyes, and a new mysterious man is watching her and asking questions. Robbie also must worry about those that she cares for. Is she the only one that can protect them? How will she draw on her beliefs and strengths to fight against all of the obstacles facing her?

This book was good! Kara Reynolds really does a fantastic job of weaving the story together. The found family Robbie builds just fills me with so much happiness, and the banter is spot on. There is some low spice and a slow burn yearning that leads to full spicy scenes. The LGBTQIA+ rep and the danger from towns with one religion but others know love is love really hit home. The ending an authors note hit my heart so hard. I highly recommend this book. Pre-order now, and the Pilgrimess releases on April 26, 2026.

I want to thank Kara and her team for the opportunity to read the ARC. My thoughts and review are my own.

[downtown · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There will always be some fierce woman angry at the way of kings.”

Book 2 of the Gods of Tintar series and Kara serves us lore. She not only builds the world more but gives us the lore behind the gods, and it was epically good! (This is a standalone and reading book 1 isn't required to understand book 2.)

There is so much wrapped up in this story of Robbie. And it is truly the story of Robbie’s life. A midwife, a witch, she takes in every stray she meets. This woman may be fierce but she is so kind and selfless and I loved getting to read her story. It flashes back to when she is young and takes us through her whole life. Amidst all of her struggles and heartaches she meets and falls in love with a man who truly deserves her. It is a slow burn but Kara makes Robbie’s wait worth it and then gives us a love letter to rival Persuasion by Jane Austen. Yeah, I said it.

“Your love might be prickly, but that is why it is a powerful thing. You do not disperse it freely, as an easy thing for just anyone. That makes this life a challenge for you. But it is to you people will turn when they are challenged. Because of your nettle love. Prickly but useful.”

Themes that are becoming signature for Kara are in this book. An older FMC, Robbie is almost 40 when we meet her! There is religious persecution, a spotlight on womanhood and sisterhood, queer rep and wonderful men, a tight group of badass women and a moving epilogue set long in the future that wraps this story up perfectly.

There is action and romance. Friendship and heartache. I think Magda was my favorite and I will now be using the phrase “in the peas” to describe overwhelming emotions.

I once again had the pleasure of reading this in Beta form and again as an ARC. It was that good. She continues to impress me more each time with her skills! Her stories are so worthwhile and deserve to be in the world.

“Believe me when I tell you that I love you. Perhaps you are to learn to be cared for and I am to learn not to fear the breadth of my care, the expanse and scope of it, this weightless but heavy thing my body barely contains. Learn next to me. Let this be our lifelong study, side by side.“

Thank you Kara for this ARC!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical romantasy full of spice with a side of fast-paced world-building. Nothing about Kara’s books is typical, and that is exactly why you need to read them. Yesterday.

If you read Priestess, you may be tempted to dismiss it early on due to some close similarities at the beginning: the same concept of a female assembly (who found each other while surviving traumatic lives) being forced to leave their home and find love along the journey. I even remember thinking, “Gods, the same stolen glances from a cart?”

HOWEVER, dear gentle reader and grateful past me, you must stick with it, for the differences are beautiful.

The first thing I enjoyed was the fact that Robbie (Pilgrimess’s FMC) lives under the tyranny that Eddie (Priestess’s FMC) escaped. Eddie’s past trauma is mainly shown through snippets involving her ex-husband, but with Robbie, we get to experience the horrors of an inquisitive girl growing up in a system designed to force women down. We see her childhood doubts, her teenage heartbreaks, and her early-adulthood hope—and how she suffers under and fights the system along the way. It not only fleshes out adult Robbie wonderfully, but it also gives you better insight into the hell Eddie escaped.

Eddie is the lucky one who managed to escape. Robbie is the unlucky one who stayed behind and was forced to risk her life for a living, looking after the women of her village. Eddie was level-headed and armed with wit. Robbie is a reckless saint armed with passion and balls of steel. Her village doesn’t deserve her.

I may have spent almost the entire book thinking that I liked Alric better, but after finishing it, Reed won my heart too.

But enough comparison between the two. Because if you haven’t read either, you must. These are books about female resilience, about sisterhood, and about how family is forged by love. They’re about how love comes in many forms—just like fear and control. They’re a manifesto against religions that thrive on hating and shaming half the population.

Like Priestess, Pilgrimess will heal parts of your soul you didn’t even know needed healing. So go get your copy. (You’re welcome.)

[Holly K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the eArc from the author! Kara has easily become an insta-read for me, as her books always seem to awaken a deep-seated appreciation for being a woman and having community and friendship, and this book did not disappoint. Take strong heed of the trigger warnings, though. Although they are presented and handled in an extremely sensitive manner, I did find portions of this book to be very difficult to read - even parts I have no direct experience with (such as Robbie's religious trauma).

Difficult parts aside, the book is a fantastic deep dive into a woman's struggle to maintain her independence and fortitude in a community bent on controlling and destroying women. I enjoyed the pace of the book, how it bounced between the past and the present, describing Robbie's physical journey to a new land as well as her journey into adulthood - traumas and heartache included. As with all other books by this author, reading about the FMC and her band of women's experiences always stokes a feminist fire within me, spurred on by the lengths these women must go - their secret communications and dealings with each other, hidden movements within the patriarchy - to keep one another safe.

Pros:
- Beautifully written and thoughtful, with a fully developed set of characters, relationships, and a magic system.
- The MMC. We love a supportive man who says the wildest, most poetic things out of desire.
- I cried all the tears at multiple points in this book; it was like going to therapy for trauma I didn't even have. Robbie's perseverance was palpable.

Cons:
- Not quite a con, but I was surprised that the destination of the penitent's journey wasn't a larger part of the book. I kept wondering when they were going to reach their new town, but looking back at the goal of the book, this was paced appropriately.

A fantastic book that I'm sure I'll be thinking about for weeks to come, and I will eagerly await the next installment in this series to ignite new fires and bring fresh tears.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider Priestess my top read of 2025, so I was very excited and lucky to receive an ARC of Pilgrimess from the author.

First, this is a five star read. It is as good as, or even better than, Priestess. No one writes women like Kara Reynolds writes women and it is a joy to read.

Pilgrimess is a character-driven story of Robbie and her struggle to find love and acceptance in a world that fundamentally does not accept her. She does this with wisdom, grit, and love despite repeated heartbreak and rejection.

The secondary characters are well-developed with their own stories and personalities. The bonds and relationships are developed beautifully. Like Priestess, Pilgrimess feels like a love letter to sisterhood and the power of found family.

The romance and MMC’s character feel less developed, though this seems fitting because it is Robbie’s story and Reed’s role is secondary. I felt their relationship development was too focused on lust throughout the majority of the book, but eventually you see that this was a conscious choice by the author and makes sense in the end.

Themes around aging and sexuality were discussed beautifully and spoke to me in a personal way (I am 40 just like Robbie), while themes around oppression, reproductive rights, and women’s agency feel more relevant than ever for the wider world. The author presents these themes in an obvious but not heavy-handed way.

The author’s style is emotional but not dramatic. Her writing is generally unassuming but communicates a great deal of tenderness. The book reads like it was written by someone who truly loves the characters and wants the reader to love them too. The book can be heartbreaking at times, but the writing always communicates this with affection and compassion.

The plot and world-building are less fleshed-out than the characters, but not necessarily to the story’s detriment. I would, however, love to see the author grow more in this direction as she continues to write.

Overall, this is just a great book.

[Vice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches have sacred texts of their own and one of mine says, ‘There will always be some fierce woman angry at the way of kings.'

Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Pilgrimess. Priestess was one of my favorite reads last year and also one that I was aggressively pushy about telling people to read. So when I saw there was another book in this universe and ARC requests were open, I hit that request form so fast.

Robbie and her role in her village, publicly hated but secretly essential to the women, was so well done. I enjoyed going back and forth between the past and present, as always I have a soft spot for a quest/journey story framing, and similar to Priestess I appreciate how honest and compassionate the story is about women and their experiences in a world biased and stacked against them. Robbie as a woman of 40 and all her life experiences brought a lot of depth, and once again the deep love between female friendships made the relationships and interactions shine. Everything felt genuine and realistic and I think truly makes this stand out where other stories feel more surface level or forced.

Then he asked, ragged and anguished, “Why don’t you like me?”

And I am weak for a devotedly obsessed man with an attitude and who has deep loving friendships. I am physically, spiritually, and emotionally unwell after reading his letter. The only minor quirk: the necklines of this man's clothing hate to see his hands coming, they must be stretched and exhausted by how many times we were told his fingers were looped into his collar.

I laughed, I cried, I raged, I stressed, I gagged a little, while reading this. Once again, this world feels fresh and unique, the themes and story that the author wanted to tell were deftly woven together, and I didn't want to stop. So so happy to have had a chance to read this, and cannot wait for others to pick this up as well.

[Liz Croyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly want to just scream at the top of my lungs for people to READ THIS SERIES.

The power of sisterhood shines through the pages in each novel/novella. I LOVED Robbie’s story. Her flashback chapters….like all of the characters are so fleshed out and well developed.

These characters. Where do I even begin?

-Thane. I felt for you, I really did. You are a good man who was surrounded by some awful people.
-Magda. You were such an amazing foundation for the girls. The chapters I read with you teaching the girls…I just wanted to be on that little farm as well. Digging my hands into Mother Earth and soaking up all the lessons.
-Avery. AVERY. A V E R Y. You were in my top five characters for this one. The banter….the chemistry….the love and affection for your woman. Be still my heart.
-Reed. THE PERFECT MMC. I love how it all connected to the first book. Ugh. His whole personality….new book boyfriend. Don’t even get me started about THE letter and book 😍

And let’s not forget the ladies. Every single one of them made this story. The representation in this book….its just so flawless. I love when I’m reading a book and there is representation and it doesn’t feel forced. Like the author needs to have a checklist (do I have a POC character, a queer character, straight, trans, disabled…you get my drift) and tick all the boxes. I think it takes true talent to let a story unfold naturally and let it be beautiful with the diversity of the characters.

I am so happy that I was able to get an ARC of this book (it’s my first time). I’m not a seasoned reviewer or influencer at all…I just write how I feel after I finish a book. This book is raw and beautiful…I was so sad to finish it and close the door on Robbie and her friends and family’s story.

[Jenreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The female mind is too easily corrupted. When you teach a woman to read she will surely seek out ungodly books.”

I would love to sit around a campfire with Robbie and her gang of outlaws to chat about ungodly books.

I adored all the strong female characters in this book and the found family dynamic on their journey. This author writes diverse mature characters with life experience, which can be hard to find in the fantasy genre.

The banter between the two main characters was genuinely funny, I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.

“Perhaps one day I will earn the sound of my own name from your lips” the grovelling from the MMC reminded me of Westley in the Princess Bride.

Robbie was an incredible fiery main character. We learn more about what shaped her through artfully done flashback chapters. These flashbacks made me feel so angry about how the church and the town treated women.

“That she is a witch? I don’t believe in witches. Witches are just women who read, according to your church.”

The authenticity of Robbie’s trauma and the importance of her work as a midwife hit even harder when I finished the book and read the authors note. It feels very timely to be reading books about women’s healthcare and it is so important that these stories keep being told.

This world is distinctive from other fantasy books I’ve read. It was such a treat to return to it and make links with the story in Priestess. Will continue to devour anything this author writes!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.

[Shawna Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book cracked me open and spoke directly to my soul. I can’t even begin to describe the ways in which this story resonated with me and hit me with so many emotions. I might just relate a little too hard to an FMC who goes into the forest on her 40th birthday and shouts about her grievances, frustrations and losses.

This is a story with magic, set in a fantasy world but it often reads more like historical fiction than a typical fantasy book. We get to follow along with Robbie in her journey as a 40-year old midwife but also get stories of her past and how she got to where she is. There is a wonderful slow-burn romance, but this is also a story about women supporting other women in an oppressive, religion-driven patriarchy. It is a story of fighting injustice, found family, changes in relationships/friendships over seasons and navigating loss.

I found the writing refreshing and unique. The characters were all wonderfully complex with their own unique flaws, both in personality and in physical appearance. I was deeply moved in so many places but this book is also witty and made me laugh. The ending was perfection, even though it had me shedding a multitude of tears.

I went into this one without having read the previous books in the series and felt this was complete and moving without any prior knowledge of the world or the other books. I will absolutely be going back to read the others very soon!!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of being able to BETA read this book for Kara 🥲🥲 I always say “I think this is my favorite in the series” for each book which makes me sound like a broken record but I truly believe this is my favorite book in the God’s of Tintar series.
Opening this book and going back into this series felt like visiting my childhood home in the sense where I just felt so welcome and happy to be reading Kara’s writing again. I was so sad when I finished this book because I really didn’t want it to end.
I think Robbie is the most relatable FMC I’ve met. She is so headstrong and a rule bender and pushing the limits in any situation she’s in and for that I love her. My heart broke for her several times during this book and I found myself needing an IV to help with the dehydration I got from crying while reading this book.
Once again Kara raised the bar for fictional MMCs because Salt Man (he has a real name but I’m not spoiling it) is EVERYTHING! I loved how subtly charming he was and how he matches Robbie’s attitude.
This is an interconnected standalone so you do not have to read the first book to understand this book but there are parallels, which will surprise and delight you if you’ve read both books. I don’t care how you read these books I just care that you do 🤣 I highly reccomend this book and this series in general. Thank you Kara for allowing me to read your book before everyone else 🥲🥲

[L M P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: All opinions contained herein are my honest thoughts and feelings. I received this ARC copy from the author.

Summary:
Robbie Finch has grown up in the patriarchal society of Tintar, dogged by oppressive theocracy from a young age. Despite this, Robbie has quietly assisted the women in her community with the help of her found family of other ostracized women.
When a troubling letter arrives from Robbie’s niece, the women join a religious pilgrimage to a neighboring city, intent on carrying out a secret rescue. On their journey, powerful enemies continue to threaten Robbie and her friends while suitors old and new provide safety and companionship.
As Robbie reflects on her past and comes to terms with the present, she will fight to protect her family and save her community from the dangers disguised as pious religious observation. Robbie’s unique magical gifts and selfless devotion to her loved ones will be tested as she bravely wrestles with the pain in her past and the horrors of her present.

Review:
Pilgrimess is the second full-length novel in The Gods of Tintar, a series of interconnected standalones. I was immediately interested in the story based on its promise of magic, found family, and feminine rage. As a 41 year-old myself, stories with “older” FMCs are very appealing and Kara Reynolds delivered such a relatable badass in Robbie!
At times, the plot seemed to move ever-so-slightly too slow but these moments were few and far between. The author did a fantastic job interjecting the current story with flashbacks to Robbie’s youth and transition to adulthood. We also learned quite a lot about the history of Tintar, the religious teachings that shaped its society, and the older magic that shaped the world.
There is a beautiful map at the beginning of the ebook and that is very useful in keeping track of the various cities. I would find a list of the characters and their relationships useful as well. There are quite a few characters and having a firm grasp on them is important for following the political intrigue and overall plot.
I fell in love with so many of the characters. I found their interactions to be genuine, often heartwarming, sometimes humorous, and sometimes upsetting. I enjoyed the romance and found the spice to be just right for me. It is certainly not ‘closed door’ but is not graphic and doesn’t dominate the plot.
Overall, I had the best time reading this! I absolutely recommend Pilgrimess to lovers of fantasy with elements of magic and lots of feminine rage. I plan to pick up physical copies of both novels and the novella in The Gods of Tintar series. I can’t wait to return to this world!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank the author for an advanced reader copy of this book!

I found Priestess last year. I felt like I had found a little known treasure, I loved Priestess so much I was happen when the author started conjuring more attention around her well written stories. I was so excited when I got my ARC of Pilgrimess, but I will admit I was slightly disappointed when our old cast of characters from Priestess was not the center of this novel as well. I wasn’t disappointed for long!! Robbie and her band of sisters stole my heart so quickly, especially because Robbie and her sister have women’s health and wellbeing as a large part of their life which resonates with me pursing a career in healthcare.

Sometimes books with long journeys as the center of the plot can feel like a slog, but I didn’t get that from Pilgrimess- I felt that the flashbacks where we get to learn about Robbie’s history provided strong context and good pacing for the “present” moment of the book.

I think I will echo many other readers in that I love Reynold’s books because of the mature female representation in her novels. Her characters feel multi faceted and complex, which many novels I feel tend to lose in lieu of fast paced romance.

Cant wait for another book!!

[Emilie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not go into any of Kara Reynold’s books expecting a run of the mill romantasy! Her prose is lush and immersive and it’s clear that the entire world has been carefully constructed with a fully developed lore that rivals any fantasy I’ve read. The story is told by alternating the past and present and as a result you really get a sense of who the characters are. Robbie, the FMC, is a grown ass 40 year old who isn’t here to mess around and I loved her immediately. In keeping with Kara Reynold’s style, Robbie also has a lovely girl gang who supports each other through thick and thin. The romance is a great push and pull between the two characters. “Salt Man” was giving me Tom Hardy in Mad Max vibes and I loved him.
One thing to be prepared for is that there is, in my opinion, a LOT of lore building in this book. You even get to read a two chapter excerpt of an ancient text. An easy, brain-off fantasy this is not.
One thing that was unexpected and I loved, and I don’t think it’s a spoiler but I’m putting it down here at the end just in case:

The last quarter or so of the book gives us some spooky, T. Kingfisher-esque eldritch horror that genuinely gave me the creeps. Miss Kara, I didn’t know you had it in you!

[paige :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars! ☆

i really enjoyed this book! first i want to thank Kara Reynolds and her team for the advanced copy of this book! i was so excited to receive this arc because i absolutely loved priestess.

Kara’s books tend to have a heavy focus on female friendships and overcoming hardships, which i really enjoy and is what keeps bringing me back to Kara’s books. i really enjoy her writing. i loved the friendship between all the women in this book.

when i got to the end of the book, i honestly wished that it was longer or that there was another book, because i wanted the story to continue. i wish we got to learn more about the side characters in the book. i’m hoping we might get a novella like priestess did.

i also really enjoyed the romance in this book, but i did wish that we got a little more romance. what can i say, im a sucker for a good romance plot line.

even so, i really enjoyed learning more about our FMC Robbie throughout the book. learning about her past. i did think some sections about her past dragged on a little bit in the middle of the book. but overall, this was an amazing read and i’ll be looking forward to Kara’s next book!

[Nidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pilgrimess is the kind of book to make you remember why female friendships in fantasy matter, and are not just background noise. I enjoyed returning to Kara Reynold’s writing after reading her debut Priestess, which left me emotionally invested in her world. Pilgrimess tells the story of an outsider, Robbie, who tirelessly fights for other women in a misogynistic theocracy, then makes a decision to leave it in order to save a loved one. Similar to her debut, Pilgrimess develops heartwarming characters with complex relationships, deepened by love and history such as Isilt and Adelaide. I also appreciated Robbie’s inner character work, as we learn how her restrictive childhood frames every decision she makes. She is a unique FMC in that she is older and finds love in many forms. I did feel the pacing slowed a bit too much towards the middle, as I was wishing for the plot to progress. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic fantasy with a unique yet wildly relevant world with layers of female friendships at the heart of it. My review is 4.5 stars.

Thank you so much to Kara Reynolds for the honor of reading this ARC!!

[Jess Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I officially adore anything Kara Reynolds writes. I don’t think anyone writes dialogue, specifically romantic banter, like she does. I couldn’t put this down. I just love how she represents complicated relationships of all kinds, especially friendships. Reading this, I felt the same comfort and joy of being in the Priestess world; I loved the similarities woven between the two stories, but Pilgrimess expands upon the world with unique characters, settings, and revelations.

I’m really struggling to put into words what I love about her take on religion- how these characters are victims of an abusive, theocratic, patriarchal tyranny but they find solace in a different spirituality, just as all consuming, but rooted in the natural elements and offering an unconditional loving support. Does that even make sense? This book makes me think about life and sigh contentedly. It makes me want to sit around a fire with all the women I have ever known.

Thank you Kara for my advanced copy 💗

[Frida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by Kara Reynolds!

Coming back to the universe of the Tintarian gods is like crawling into your own bed with new sheets - safe and comfortable with the excitement of something new. Priestess is one of my favorite books, and it's a pleasure to come back to the same world.

Taking on a different type of story, this book digs deep into religious trauma and female oppression, but also the other side which is female empowerment, people who help other people even with risk to their own life. This story is strong and emotional without being heavy. We get to know kind, interesting lovely characters, and of course we get a big dose of lust, love and longing (which Kara always write excellently)!

For anyone interested in fantasy, romance or romantasy, this series is at the top of my list of book recommendations.

Kara, thank you for writing another gorgeous book!

[Jennifer Speidel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read book one, but it never felt as though I was missing important background knowledge. The women centered story about refusing to confirm to societal expectations resonated with me. The found family troupe also pulled me quickly into the story.
With misogynistic behavior at every turn coupled with the religious zeal, the fire and brimstone that was the undercurrent of the society, brought the town and characters to life through both their fears and their strengths.
A great read that left me pondering the role of religion in all its faiths throughout the world. Especially how at times real damage is done under the umbrella of organized religion when we make individuals or groups “other”.

[Amanda Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gratefully received an ARC and WHOA!

So first off, it was lovely to be back in the Tintar universe, and meet a whole new cast of incredible characters.
Our heroine Robbie is EVERYTHING! She’s full of rage and spends all of her energy taking care of the people she loves, whether they deserve it or not. Robbie is multi faceted and gloriously human and I truly wish we could be friends. I don’t want to get into spoilers but her fight against the patriarchy is inspiring and the love interest is amazing.
I have loved Kara Reynolds’ other books, and this was definitely up to her standards: lyrical writing, wonderful real female friendships, interesting plot and good action, and a bit of spice to top it off! I love the heroine of a Romantasy being over 35 too!

[Viveka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blazed through this last night and still reeling. This definitely retains the charms of Priestess, the authors first breakout novel, in terms of the found family, slow burn spicy romance, tattooed older FMC, authentic spirituality but with a darker and deeper exploration into patriarchy and in particular patriarchal religion. I'm still pondering the allegorical aspects of this with the tower and what it represents, and I feel like I got a vicarious understanding of what it may be like to live in and resist such a world. It literally makes me want to write an essay, lol, and it's one of the few novels I'm left truly thinking about.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this was going to be a beautiful read. It isn't just feminine rage, but feminine strength, which is so inspiring. I really enjoyed this book so much and loved jumping back into the Gods of Tintar world. Another fun, powerful girl gang. Another sweet but secretive man. Lots of found family. Plenty of swoony moments and tons of mystery and adventure. I usually don't really enjoy "time jumps" where we go back and forth from current to past, but this was done so well I found myself looking forward to jumping to the past to get more answers.

Thank you to Kara and her team for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I really loved this. Robbie and her girl gang feel distinct from Edie and her group, but the world feels the same, which is no mean feat. The romance was sweet, and the found family vibes immaculate as always.

I did not fall as madly in love with Robbie as I did with Helena from Priestess and Illuminator, but I think that is what makes Kara Reynolds' writing so wonderful - there is a character to truly relate to for every adult woman out there. For me it was Helena, but for others it will be Robbie. Fabulous book, very highly recommended.