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Prioress
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26Tilda Finch is the acting abbess of Our Lady Maureen, a sanctuary for women of every creed and walk of life, a place where men are not allowed. When war breaks out and a thousand foreign soldiers march toward the abbey’s fortress walls, she reluctantly allows in ten city guards sent to defend the abbey. One of them is the most infuriating man she has ever met. Then a body is found, strangely marked with an arcane symbol. With terror spreading among her devotees and the nearby town, Tilda uses her little bit of magic, hoping to uncover the truth, but accidentally discovers a forgotten spell buried beneath Our Lady Maureen. But someone else has the recipe and wants to use it for evil. A murderer is prowling the surrounding countryside. Enemies gather at the gates. Tilda and her friends, old and new, must solve the mystery before everything they hold dear is destroyed. The more she digs into ancient riddles and ciphers, the more Tilda finds herself in a passionate entanglement with the one man she cannot stand.
584 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 10, 2026
About the author
Kara Voorhees Reynolds
8 books326 followersKara Reynolds is a watercolorist who lives in Florida with her husband and their cats.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m very sad to say that this was not a book for me, although I’m certain many will love it and I understand why. I love Kara Reynolds’ universe and I absolutely loved the setting of Prioress : for history nerds, it’s reminiscent of the Beguines. To say I love the Beguines and all their accomplishments is the understatement of the century, so I was extremely excited for this book and for Tilda and the sisterhood.
As usual, the characters are well thought and the setting rich and detailed, I cannot fault the author for that and I loved it. I was fond of most of the supporting characters (I think I would have liked a book about Timothy and Griffin more !), and I absolutely loved the feeling of community/sisterhood (I would have liked it better if it was more realistic, but I understand it’s a fantasy book) even if it wasn’t fully fleshed out. The ending was rushed, but satisfying in a vindictive way.
However, Prioress lost me with the romance. I just can’t read about a woman being repeatedly insulted, belittled, manhandled by her love interest who apparently is so full of himself he thinks that he has her all figured out and takes it upon himself to humble her.
Cyd is a bully to Tilda. For 70% of the book, he had nothing kind or even vaguely neutral to say to or about her. He takes every occasion to try to shame her and bring her down because his insecurities makes him believe she looks down on him and he resents her for it, besides having absolutely 0 respect for her position as prioress, leadership and intelligence (in the middle of a crisis, when she is sending letters to everyone about a military siege, the idiot thinks she is writing love letters to an old flame !).
When she reacts, he takes it as a proof that he is right… and Tilda just goes with it.
She is supposed to discover her submissive side and enjoys being bruised (physically and metaphorically, because she likes Cyd sexually AND romantically) to the point of making excuses for Cyd and finding him an exemple to follow ? What ? « His lack of guilt was in itself a kind of apology » no Tilda, an apology is him not deliberately calling you a name you hate, not behaving like a sex pest 2 seconds after meeting you (and keeping at it, because on page 645 she says no several times because she is exhausted, and he wakes her up saying « I will be quick, I promise » and she relents. Coercion, how sexy, and framed as the first time he is tender/loving with her. I can’t even say how mad I was), and not yelling repeatedly that he could kill you because you are so dumb and haughty.
He bruised her ass during sex (without asking first obviously) and she feels it the next day : he apologize (yay !) and immediately follows with « it’s so fat and round, it begs to be mistreated. Next time I will only spank you a little. Or I will try to only spank you » and well. The man can’t stop being an asshole for a single minute, at more than 50% of the book. Later, he still insults her and leaves right after having sex with her when she is still new to that particular kinky dynamic, because aftercare ? Never heard of her !
Sure, Tilda likes it and specifically with him, as a subversion of her role (she is supposed to be submissive in this one area but retain her independence and power in others if I interpret the author’s intent well)… but she is also feeling guilty, inadequate as a prioress, stressed out of her skull by current events, shut down by her friends (who don’t exactly respect her either by the way), and surrounded by men who believe women to be a lesser subspecies. Tilda is by no means a perfect character : she snaps sometimes, she breaks her vow of celibacy without a second thought, she moans about being unsuited for the abbess role but do nothing about it, she lacks a spine and is abysmal at communicating (and also has terrible taste in men).
I can understand how this type of relationship could work for people, and Cyd does grovel slightly in the last part of the book, but I spend too much time actively despising him to care at that point. I simply do not enjoy reading about a woman in rare powerful role (prioress ! In a pseudo medieval world !) being brought down from every corner, including romantically and sexually. I think it would have been different for me if she was confident in her prioress role, or had supportive friends.
As you can read, I was so mad about Asshole Cyd and what is (to me) a bad relationship dynamic that it completely took over my enjoyment of the book. A shame, because I so dig the setting, the abbey, the sorority, even the murder mystery (even if I guessed at some key elements before the reveal) ! Tilda even starts coming into her own at a little over 2/3 of the book, when the misogynistic Perpentanian general does his thing, but it was too little to late for me, even as the romance turns weirdly sweet at 85% of the book. It was as if, in the end, the book couldn’t fully commit to its own dynamic : all the dom/sub stuff suddenly stops and Asshole Cyd breaks into a saccharine love declaration praising Tilda’s character at 95% of the book. Tilda weeps with joy, obviously.
I guess I just wanted to read about a powerful woman being unapologetically proud and hard in a world led by patriarchy, instead of one who secretly dreams of submitting to a man and relinquish her power. I was also big mad about her abdicating and leaving the order to pine after Asshole Cyd then marry him. The « teehee no way I’m giving up sex lol » from the new abbess also didn’t help.
Oh, how I would have loved for Tilda to stay, become fully abbess and find her happiness with her sisters ! I don’t have anything against choosing love, leaving a calling and changing course, and I’m glad Tilda got her happy ending, but in this story, in this setting ? It hurts.
That whole dynamic could have worked (I have absolutely nothing against bdsm, submissive relationships or even degradation, even if it’s not my jam), if it wasn’t in the setting of a Beguine abbey : a sanctuary created by and for women as a way for them to live free without men, by their own rules and submitting to no one.
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, my thanks to the author and publisher for a well written and edited book.
As usual, the characters are well thought and the setting rich and detailed, I cannot fault the author for that and I loved it. I was fond of most of the supporting characters (I think I would have liked a book about Timothy and Griffin more !), and I absolutely loved the feeling of community/sisterhood (I would have liked it better if it was more realistic, but I understand it’s a fantasy book) even if it wasn’t fully fleshed out. The ending was rushed, but satisfying in a vindictive way.
However, Prioress lost me with the romance. I just can’t read about a woman being repeatedly insulted, belittled, manhandled by her love interest who apparently is so full of himself he thinks that he has her all figured out and takes it upon himself to humble her.
Cyd is a bully to Tilda. For 70% of the book, he had nothing kind or even vaguely neutral to say to or about her. He takes every occasion to try to shame her and bring her down because his insecurities makes him believe she looks down on him and he resents her for it, besides having absolutely 0 respect for her position as prioress, leadership and intelligence (in the middle of a crisis, when she is sending letters to everyone about a military siege, the idiot thinks she is writing love letters to an old flame !).
When she reacts, he takes it as a proof that he is right… and Tilda just goes with it.
She is supposed to discover her submissive side and enjoys being bruised (physically and metaphorically, because she likes Cyd sexually AND romantically) to the point of making excuses for Cyd and finding him an exemple to follow ? What ? « His lack of guilt was in itself a kind of apology » no Tilda, an apology is him not deliberately calling you a name you hate, not behaving like a sex pest 2 seconds after meeting you (and keeping at it, because on page 645 she says no several times because she is exhausted, and he wakes her up saying « I will be quick, I promise » and she relents. Coercion, how sexy, and framed as the first time he is tender/loving with her. I can’t even say how mad I was), and not yelling repeatedly that he could kill you because you are so dumb and haughty.
He bruised her ass during sex (without asking first obviously) and she feels it the next day : he apologize (yay !) and immediately follows with « it’s so fat and round, it begs to be mistreated. Next time I will only spank you a little. Or I will try to only spank you » and well. The man can’t stop being an asshole for a single minute, at more than 50% of the book. Later, he still insults her and leaves right after having sex with her when she is still new to that particular kinky dynamic, because aftercare ? Never heard of her !
Sure, Tilda likes it and specifically with him, as a subversion of her role (she is supposed to be submissive in this one area but retain her independence and power in others if I interpret the author’s intent well)… but she is also feeling guilty, inadequate as a prioress, stressed out of her skull by current events, shut down by her friends (who don’t exactly respect her either by the way), and surrounded by men who believe women to be a lesser subspecies. Tilda is by no means a perfect character : she snaps sometimes, she breaks her vow of celibacy without a second thought, she moans about being unsuited for the abbess role but do nothing about it, she lacks a spine and is abysmal at communicating (and also has terrible taste in men).
I can understand how this type of relationship could work for people, and Cyd does grovel slightly in the last part of the book, but I spend too much time actively despising him to care at that point. I simply do not enjoy reading about a woman in rare powerful role (prioress ! In a pseudo medieval world !) being brought down from every corner, including romantically and sexually. I think it would have been different for me if she was confident in her prioress role, or had supportive friends.
As you can read, I was so mad about Asshole Cyd and what is (to me) a bad relationship dynamic that it completely took over my enjoyment of the book. A shame, because I so dig the setting, the abbey, the sorority, even the murder mystery (even if I guessed at some key elements before the reveal) ! Tilda even starts coming into her own at a little over 2/3 of the book, when the misogynistic Perpentanian general does his thing, but it was too little to late for me, even as the romance turns weirdly sweet at 85% of the book. It was as if, in the end, the book couldn’t fully commit to its own dynamic : all the dom/sub stuff suddenly stops and Asshole Cyd breaks into a saccharine love declaration praising Tilda’s character at 95% of the book. Tilda weeps with joy, obviously.
I guess I just wanted to read about a powerful woman being unapologetically proud and hard in a world led by patriarchy, instead of one who secretly dreams of submitting to a man and relinquish her power. I was also big mad about her abdicating and leaving the order to pine after Asshole Cyd then marry him. The « teehee no way I’m giving up sex lol » from the new abbess also didn’t help.
Oh, how I would have loved for Tilda to stay, become fully abbess and find her happiness with her sisters ! I don’t have anything against choosing love, leaving a calling and changing course, and I’m glad Tilda got her happy ending, but in this story, in this setting ? It hurts.
That whole dynamic could have worked (I have absolutely nothing against bdsm, submissive relationships or even degradation, even if it’s not my jam), if it wasn’t in the setting of a Beguine abbey : a sanctuary created by and for women as a way for them to live free without men, by their own rules and submitting to no one.
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, my thanks to the author and publisher for a well written and edited book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I liked this one a lot. The story was beautiful and had so many great elements: found family, fighting the patriarchy, romance (slow burn 😻, forced proximity, grumpy MMC), mature FMC (in her 40s!), mystery and magic. I laughed, I cried and felt intense rage burning at the audacity of entitled men. The pacing was a bit slow to pick up but in the end it was perfect and intentional. I highly recommend this read!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you ever worried that Kara Reynolds was a one trick pony, let Prioress clear that fear from your mind. I received this as an ARC and I am so happy I got to read this ahead of publication. Its already in my cart, ready for pre-order from The Crafty Bookstore so that I can round out my Tintar collection.
Let's move on because even though I finished this book a few days ago, I wasn't quite ready for it to be over. The Gods of Tintar series has been so kind and beautiful to me from the first page of Priestess. I've lived through an invasion, healed from an assault, made a pilgrimage to a hostile land, and now I've survived a siege from a religious nation.
Tilda is the Prioress of the abbey dedicated to Maureen, who we met via writings in the other books in this world. Its truly beautiful seeing more of this world fleshed out in such realistic way that makes the story leap off the page. Tilda is in the middle of the everyday running of her abbey when a retinue of Eccelstonian guards are at her gate advising her of the invasion of Eccelstone and offering their services as guards. Being that the Abbey has NEVER been occupied by men, Tilda is haughty when she refuses them. Its only when roughly a thousand Perpetanian soldiers show up at her door, also offering their (shady af) services to protect the Abbey from theoretical invasion from Tintar. Doing the math, Tilda prefers 10ish men to a thousand and allows the Eccelstonian guards into the Abbey.
As I am a ho for large casts, this book hits that sweet spot of a lot of characters but doesnt lose itself in a sea of names and a soup of personality. Tilda is an eldest daughter through and through and she achieves the eldest daughter final form by becoming the Prioress of the Abbey. This parent-molded personality is unfortunately well suited to being in charge of nearly 300 souls. Which makes it so that she knows all her Daughters, Mothers, and Maureens in a begrudgingly compassionate way. Tilda cannot help but worry about their wellbeing. She cannot help but know each soul. She cannot help but be a true caregiver.
And she, even more upsettingly, cannot help but learn the souls of the guards now living in her Abbey. We get real, true friendship, care for who the rough around the edges men, and very real dynamics that reach natural conclusions by the final pages. Then there's Cyd. Oh, Cyd.
Hes the roughest of the guards, but also the softest...to everyone except Tilda. Its insta-hate with a tinge of lust. Okay, more than a tinge. Tilda is almost immediately having tawdry dreams about Cyd and as in every other book in Tintar, we get lush passages about female sexuality. Tilda has taken a vow(ish) of celibacy, and she's been expected to be a parent from her earliest memories, her life is ruled by control.
And THAT is the secret sauce of the explosive attraction between Tilda and Cyd. Its the loss of control from two people who are high control individuals. They cannot help themselves and it is in the breaking of their separate spheres of control that makes their courtship so compelling.
As always though, Kara doesn't simply give us a romance. This time she's given us
💥 A murder mystery
💥 DEATH MAGIC
💥 Manual labor is noble
💥 Espionage
💥 Religious Trauma
💥 LIBRARIANS ARE THE HEROES
💥 Messy friendships
💥 Zombies????
There's a reason these books need to be so thick! Its so i can spend literal weeks in this world without judgement from Fast Readers....or its because Kara has a world so densely built with so many gorgeous themes that every page needs to be a work of art. But im thinking its for MY benefit and no one else's.
I don't want to dwell on the intense themes too much because I'd risk spoiling the book because its SO GOOD. It is sufficient to say that I could write 600 pgs as my dissertation of this book alone and id still not do it justice.
While I am sad that this is the final book in Tintar, I am glad I got to spend any time at all in this world. Its so beautiful, and at every turn of the page you're greeted with a scar that you thought was healed but had only been unacknowledged until Kara put words to paper. And I think thats what plucks at my heartstrings so profoundly.
There are scars we become accustomed to living around, that life tells us we don't have time to dig the infection out of, so we live with the pain and with the fear, but Kara says with every book "no, kindred, this will hurt but you will suffer alone no more".
Let's move on because even though I finished this book a few days ago, I wasn't quite ready for it to be over. The Gods of Tintar series has been so kind and beautiful to me from the first page of Priestess. I've lived through an invasion, healed from an assault, made a pilgrimage to a hostile land, and now I've survived a siege from a religious nation.
Tilda is the Prioress of the abbey dedicated to Maureen, who we met via writings in the other books in this world. Its truly beautiful seeing more of this world fleshed out in such realistic way that makes the story leap off the page. Tilda is in the middle of the everyday running of her abbey when a retinue of Eccelstonian guards are at her gate advising her of the invasion of Eccelstone and offering their services as guards. Being that the Abbey has NEVER been occupied by men, Tilda is haughty when she refuses them. Its only when roughly a thousand Perpetanian soldiers show up at her door, also offering their (shady af) services to protect the Abbey from theoretical invasion from Tintar. Doing the math, Tilda prefers 10ish men to a thousand and allows the Eccelstonian guards into the Abbey.
As I am a ho for large casts, this book hits that sweet spot of a lot of characters but doesnt lose itself in a sea of names and a soup of personality. Tilda is an eldest daughter through and through and she achieves the eldest daughter final form by becoming the Prioress of the Abbey. This parent-molded personality is unfortunately well suited to being in charge of nearly 300 souls. Which makes it so that she knows all her Daughters, Mothers, and Maureens in a begrudgingly compassionate way. Tilda cannot help but worry about their wellbeing. She cannot help but know each soul. She cannot help but be a true caregiver.
And she, even more upsettingly, cannot help but learn the souls of the guards now living in her Abbey. We get real, true friendship, care for who the rough around the edges men, and very real dynamics that reach natural conclusions by the final pages. Then there's Cyd. Oh, Cyd.
Hes the roughest of the guards, but also the softest...to everyone except Tilda. Its insta-hate with a tinge of lust. Okay, more than a tinge. Tilda is almost immediately having tawdry dreams about Cyd and as in every other book in Tintar, we get lush passages about female sexuality. Tilda has taken a vow(ish) of celibacy, and she's been expected to be a parent from her earliest memories, her life is ruled by control.
And THAT is the secret sauce of the explosive attraction between Tilda and Cyd. Its the loss of control from two people who are high control individuals. They cannot help themselves and it is in the breaking of their separate spheres of control that makes their courtship so compelling.
As always though, Kara doesn't simply give us a romance. This time she's given us
💥 A murder mystery
💥 DEATH MAGIC
💥 Manual labor is noble
💥 Espionage
💥 Religious Trauma
💥 LIBRARIANS ARE THE HEROES
💥 Messy friendships
💥 Zombies????
There's a reason these books need to be so thick! Its so i can spend literal weeks in this world without judgement from Fast Readers....or its because Kara has a world so densely built with so many gorgeous themes that every page needs to be a work of art. But im thinking its for MY benefit and no one else's.
I don't want to dwell on the intense themes too much because I'd risk spoiling the book because its SO GOOD. It is sufficient to say that I could write 600 pgs as my dissertation of this book alone and id still not do it justice.
While I am sad that this is the final book in Tintar, I am glad I got to spend any time at all in this world. Its so beautiful, and at every turn of the page you're greeted with a scar that you thought was healed but had only been unacknowledged until Kara put words to paper. And I think thats what plucks at my heartstrings so profoundly.
There are scars we become accustomed to living around, that life tells us we don't have time to dig the infection out of, so we live with the pain and with the fear, but Kara says with every book "no, kindred, this will hurt but you will suffer alone no more".
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5! I received Prioress as an ARC (which I totally fan-girl shrieked about when it hit my inbox!!), and as soon as I finished reading the first paragraph I let out a contented sigh to be settling back into the world of Tintar, enveloped in Kara's rich prose. Even though this book contains dark elements, like murder, warfare, and an evil patriarchy, I consider her books to be my version of a cozy read! Kara achieves this by creating a cast of female characters that make you feel like no problem is insurmountable when you're surrounded by your sisters, aunties, and wise women. I didn't give Prioress a full five stars only for the fact that I felt like one of the main plot lines, the mysterious killing of multiple women, was a bit of an afterthought at times, and would have liked to feel a little more suspense or urgency about it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 stars ˙⋆✮⋆˚࿔
first, thank you to the author and publisher for the arc of this book!
i absolutely devoured this book! stayed up late reading and the continued reading and finished it the next morning. as always, I love Kara Reynold’s writing. she has such a way of writing female relationships and i love that her books are matriarchal.
our FMC of this book, Tilda, is the prioress of Our Lady Maureen. being named prioress by the late abbess. she is not yet ready to accept the title of abbess, and is in her regency prioress time. the abbey is a place where women can come and find a home, free of men. this story takes place during the war between Tintar, Eccleston, and Perpetane like the other books in this series. ten men from Eccleston come to protect the abbey during the war, but shortly after, a legion of men from Perpetane come and claim the same.
i really enjoyed Tilda throughout this book, her struggles being the prioress, and her conflicting feelings about her future. i like how the book told the story of her finding herself.
the romance was not my favorite. our MMC, Cyd, was too mean for my liking, and i don’t think he groveled enough (as i do personally enjoy a significant amount of groveling). the romance is a slow burn, but again i personally didn’t find the payoff to be enough.
i thought the side characters all really shined in this book and i enjoyed learning more about all of them.
overall, i really enjoyed this book and it didn’t turn out the way that i expected initially. for readers who enjoyed the previous books in this series, i think you will enjoy this installment.
1. Priestess: 4.25 stars
2. Pilgrimess: 4 stars
3. Prioress: 4 stars
first, thank you to the author and publisher for the arc of this book!
i absolutely devoured this book! stayed up late reading and the continued reading and finished it the next morning. as always, I love Kara Reynold’s writing. she has such a way of writing female relationships and i love that her books are matriarchal.
our FMC of this book, Tilda, is the prioress of Our Lady Maureen. being named prioress by the late abbess. she is not yet ready to accept the title of abbess, and is in her regency prioress time. the abbey is a place where women can come and find a home, free of men. this story takes place during the war between Tintar, Eccleston, and Perpetane like the other books in this series. ten men from Eccleston come to protect the abbey during the war, but shortly after, a legion of men from Perpetane come and claim the same.
i really enjoyed Tilda throughout this book, her struggles being the prioress, and her conflicting feelings about her future. i like how the book told the story of her finding herself.
the romance was not my favorite. our MMC, Cyd, was too mean for my liking, and i don’t think he groveled enough (as i do personally enjoy a significant amount of groveling). the romance is a slow burn, but again i personally didn’t find the payoff to be enough.
i thought the side characters all really shined in this book and i enjoyed learning more about all of them.
overall, i really enjoyed this book and it didn’t turn out the way that i expected initially. for readers who enjoyed the previous books in this series, i think you will enjoy this installment.
1. Priestess: 4.25 stars
2. Pilgrimess: 4 stars
3. Prioress: 4 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gratitude for receiving an ARC! I was thrilled to return to the Gods of Tintar world. This being the final book made it bittersweet (insert happy tears)
Loved the setting with the self-sufficient & delightfully industrious abbey, neighboring small town and woodsy backdrop. I fell head over heels for all the Our Lady Maureen characters; they each shined in their own way and I ate up the sisterhood dynamics and community. Enjoyed the dash of murder mystery along with the mystery within Our Lady Maureen itself…the big reveal had me hollering and cheering!
The MMC Cyd frustrated me for a good portion of the book with his meanness and snark however imo he redeemed himself by the end. :) Speaking of end, I have no idea what magic Kara uses to craft endings but this one did not disappoint! They are simply the best, beautifully reflective and so so satisfying!
Bravo for another wonderful Gods of Tintar story 🧡
Loved the setting with the self-sufficient & delightfully industrious abbey, neighboring small town and woodsy backdrop. I fell head over heels for all the Our Lady Maureen characters; they each shined in their own way and I ate up the sisterhood dynamics and community. Enjoyed the dash of murder mystery along with the mystery within Our Lady Maureen itself…the big reveal had me hollering and cheering!
The MMC Cyd frustrated me for a good portion of the book with his meanness and snark however imo he redeemed himself by the end. :) Speaking of end, I have no idea what magic Kara uses to craft endings but this one did not disappoint! They are simply the best, beautifully reflective and so so satisfying!
Bravo for another wonderful Gods of Tintar story 🧡
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for the ARC but sorry this is a DNF for me at 47%. It’s a bit repetitive if you’ve read her other books, but mainly because it’s a bully romance. I really think it needs a TW for meanness as the MMC is so cruel to the FMC that it’s really starting to affect her mental health, and mine too. And I loved The Cruel Prince! This guy is just a douche with a massive chip on his shoulder.
September 23, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC, it was thoroughly enjoyed. Probably around a 4-4.5 for me, as I feel as though I didn't quite connect with Tilda as much as I did the other titular women in the series, but that didn't diminish my experience in the slightest. As always I appreciate the author's use of sensitivity experts as many of the issues in her books can be heavy and difficult to read, and the themes of loss, miscarriage, religious trauma, and so forth were presented with her signature care. The sistership was strong in this book, and seeing the women work together against the patriarchy, religious oppression, and threats from foreign lands, was inspiring. I should have known we'd be in for a ride when the book itself was dedicated to "tired women".
What I loved:
- The maze scene. Oh to be chased slowly through a hedge maze by a downbad man. Cyd is truly "a man of appetites".
- As always, the sisterhood. Tilda was a flawed heroine and very classic oldest sister, but she balanced her role of leader and friend as well as she could given her situation.
- The slow movement of Tilda and Cyd's relationship from a place of irritation to one of lust and then to love. I loved how Cyd awakened something long forgotten from within Tilda.
- The battle at the end of the book. I'll keep it vague for spoilers, but the sisters were definitely doing it for themselves.
As with the other books in the series, the romance was the main focus. Somewhere along the line the main plot does pick up, but it felt a little rushed at the end as I noticed we were running out of pages and much had still to be resolved. I'd like a little bit more detail eventually here about the external forces and the wars between the different groups, but maybe that will never be integral to this series and I'll be fine with that. I'm excited to see where we go next in this journey and much love to the author with her ability to keep writing such strong beautiful women and their complex and nuanced relationships with each other.
What I loved:
- The maze scene. Oh to be chased slowly through a hedge maze by a downbad man. Cyd is truly "a man of appetites".
- As always, the sisterhood. Tilda was a flawed heroine and very classic oldest sister, but she balanced her role of leader and friend as well as she could given her situation.
- The slow movement of Tilda and Cyd's relationship from a place of irritation to one of lust and then to love. I loved how Cyd awakened something long forgotten from within Tilda.
- The battle at the end of the book. I'll keep it vague for spoilers, but the sisters were definitely doing it for themselves.
As with the other books in the series, the romance was the main focus. Somewhere along the line the main plot does pick up, but it felt a little rushed at the end as I noticed we were running out of pages and much had still to be resolved. I'd like a little bit more detail eventually here about the external forces and the wars between the different groups, but maybe that will never be integral to this series and I'll be fine with that. I'm excited to see where we go next in this journey and much love to the author with her ability to keep writing such strong beautiful women and their complex and nuanced relationships with each other.
Review of advance copy received from Author
THIS BOOK IS FOR THE BRATS!!
But on a more serious note, Kara has done it again and she does not miss. I’m so in awe of her world building and complex characters. Her books are always such a celebration of womanhood down to the unglamorous details. I love hearing these women’s stories and feeling connected to them. And the dialogue, the banter…ugh!
Cyd and Tilda are so frustrating and satisfying and beautiful. Thank god for authors who know the meaning of SLOW BURN! So tension-filled, so sexy, and such a payoff!
And yet again, we have a wrapped up and beautiful ending that doesn’t leave you wondering. Kara has a fan for life in me and I’m so grateful to have gotten to read an advanced reader copy of this story!!
But on a more serious note, Kara has done it again and she does not miss. I’m so in awe of her world building and complex characters. Her books are always such a celebration of womanhood down to the unglamorous details. I love hearing these women’s stories and feeling connected to them. And the dialogue, the banter…ugh!
Cyd and Tilda are so frustrating and satisfying and beautiful. Thank god for authors who know the meaning of SLOW BURN! So tension-filled, so sexy, and such a payoff!
And yet again, we have a wrapped up and beautiful ending that doesn’t leave you wondering. Kara has a fan for life in me and I’m so grateful to have gotten to read an advanced reader copy of this story!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC from the author.
I have loved all the books in this series and was delighted to get a chance to read this before it is published. The way Reynolds writes sisterhood and older protagonists is masterful. I wish we had gotten to know some of the other guards a bit better, but with the number of side characters I was impressed that they all felt like fully unique individuals. I didn't love this book quite as much as the previous ones but it's still a solid 4.5 at least.
I have loved all the books in this series and was delighted to get a chance to read this before it is published. The way Reynolds writes sisterhood and older protagonists is masterful. I wish we had gotten to know some of the other guards a bit better, but with the number of side characters I was impressed that they all felt like fully unique individuals. I didn't love this book quite as much as the previous ones but it's still a solid 4.5 at least.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Had genuinely forgotten that I had applied for the ARC of Prioress, so it was a pleasant surprise when it dropped into my inbox one day.
I continue to sing this series' praises: Kara Reynolds does an incredible job at telling stories inherently about the experiences and lives of being women that deeply resonate with me. Here, Tilda's eldest daughter and oh shit how did I end up being important experience with the pressure of leadership really hit for me. I absolutely loved the community of women with all their disagreements, relationships, support, and resilience. As always, really appreciate the strong cast of supporting characters and how much they enrich the story.
The big fight scene was a wild ride of feminine rage and community protection that made me whisper "hell yeah" a few times: I think when I've seen feminine rage marketed before, it's usually fallen short or felt superficial. Here, it absolutely did not disappoint, especially with how it wove in the mystery of why the women were being murdered, why the abbey was of such interest to the army, and the secret that Tilda and co had been working to understand.
As for the romance, I honestly got super concerned about 40% in because Cyd and Tilda were being so mean to each other and that's really not my vibe and I was not sure how it was going to turn. I do think it turned around in a natural way and they endeared themselves to me: probably not fully my cup of tea at the end but I thought it was done well. In particular, I do think some characterizations and explanations of Cyd were subtle and required you to pay attention, as well as came pretty late in the game.
Overall Prioress was a great addition to this universe with the writing and storytelling that I've come to expect and that just lingers with you when you're done reading.
I continue to sing this series' praises: Kara Reynolds does an incredible job at telling stories inherently about the experiences and lives of being women that deeply resonate with me. Here, Tilda's eldest daughter and oh shit how did I end up being important experience with the pressure of leadership really hit for me. I absolutely loved the community of women with all their disagreements, relationships, support, and resilience. As always, really appreciate the strong cast of supporting characters and how much they enrich the story.
The big fight scene was a wild ride of feminine rage and community protection that made me whisper "hell yeah" a few times: I think when I've seen feminine rage marketed before, it's usually fallen short or felt superficial. Here, it absolutely did not disappoint, especially with how it wove in the mystery of why the women were being murdered, why the abbey was of such interest to the army, and the secret that Tilda and co had been working to understand.
As for the romance, I honestly got super concerned about 40% in because Cyd and Tilda were being so mean to each other and that's really not my vibe and I was not sure how it was going to turn. I do think it turned around in a natural way and they endeared themselves to me: probably not fully my cup of tea at the end but I thought it was done well. In particular, I do think some characterizations and explanations of Cyd were subtle and required you to pay attention, as well as came pretty late in the game.
Overall Prioress was a great addition to this universe with the writing and storytelling that I've come to expect and that just lingers with you when you're done reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ah, how I love to return to Tintar. Having read the previous books and novella in the series, I was so excited to be given an advanced reader copy for this release. And it did not disappoint.
Prioress is set in the magical land of Tintar and overlaps with the timeline of previous books. Tilda was nominated several years ago to the role of abbess of Our Lady Maureen, a women only community dedicated to serving the religion that each member feels called to. Tilda has been reluctant to take on the role in full, unsure about why she was named as the successor. Running a multi-faith convent comes with its fair share of complications, and things become drastically worse when the abbey becomes caught between warring factions wishing to commandeer their space and claim the rumored treasure buried somewhere on the grounds. Prioress is a story about determining who can be trusted, what can be given up, what is worth protecting, and trusting in the magic you know to be true.
I deeply love books written by Kara Reynolds and really respect her skill at writing very relatable stories set in magical places. While the book revolves around Tilda and a romance plot line, it is also very much about the cast of characters. All of her female characters feel fully fleshed out and vivid. They are young, middle aged, old, trans, straight, gay, and many things in between. Women have deep friendships with each other and don't just talk about the men that they are interested in. They grapple with sexism, religious intolerance, their own trauma, their occasional bad behavior towards their loved ones, their fear about the future, and their love for those around them. I can only describe the experience of reading these books as healing, as seeing parts of you and your experience in various characters and stitching it all together with sadness, anger, heart, and humor. While I wish she would stop writing such sad epilogue chapters (IYKYK), I look forward to reading every book she writes for many years to come.
Prioress is set in the magical land of Tintar and overlaps with the timeline of previous books. Tilda was nominated several years ago to the role of abbess of Our Lady Maureen, a women only community dedicated to serving the religion that each member feels called to. Tilda has been reluctant to take on the role in full, unsure about why she was named as the successor. Running a multi-faith convent comes with its fair share of complications, and things become drastically worse when the abbey becomes caught between warring factions wishing to commandeer their space and claim the rumored treasure buried somewhere on the grounds. Prioress is a story about determining who can be trusted, what can be given up, what is worth protecting, and trusting in the magic you know to be true.
I deeply love books written by Kara Reynolds and really respect her skill at writing very relatable stories set in magical places. While the book revolves around Tilda and a romance plot line, it is also very much about the cast of characters. All of her female characters feel fully fleshed out and vivid. They are young, middle aged, old, trans, straight, gay, and many things in between. Women have deep friendships with each other and don't just talk about the men that they are interested in. They grapple with sexism, religious intolerance, their own trauma, their occasional bad behavior towards their loved ones, their fear about the future, and their love for those around them. I can only describe the experience of reading these books as healing, as seeing parts of you and your experience in various characters and stitching it all together with sadness, anger, heart, and humor. While I wish she would stop writing such sad epilogue chapters (IYKYK), I look forward to reading every book she writes for many years to come.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book! I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books in this unique world and this was no exception!
The sisterhood was authentic and heartbreaking at times, reminding me of the lengths women will go to look after each other in a world that doesn’t look after them.
I loved the different friendships (especially between Tilda and Serena) and moments of dark humour between the women. I was laughing out loud when the devotees were gossiping about the men!
Tilda was an incredible main character who really portrayed the weight of leadership and making decisions on behalf of others. I felt exhausted along with her. She was constantly dealing with other leaders (men) condescending to her at the same time as a panel of women undermining her.
“So, sir, guard, criminal, man, whatever you are, whomever you are, I do not care what in the fiery blazes of any hell you think of me. For you must understand that within these walls? I am a queen. I may as well be a queen to you. And you'll treat me like one from here on out."
The tension of the power struggle between the main characters went on for a long time and I was beginning to wonder if they would ever learn to communicate. It made for some fantastic banter though, the maze and the hot spring were 10/10! Cyd proper irritated me at first and I kept wanting him to be put in his place more by Tilda earlier. I came to appreciate how she unapologetically carried on rather than trying to placate him, and it made the grovelling even better later.
The sisterhood was authentic and heartbreaking at times, reminding me of the lengths women will go to look after each other in a world that doesn’t look after them.
I loved the different friendships (especially between Tilda and Serena) and moments of dark humour between the women. I was laughing out loud when the devotees were gossiping about the men!
Tilda was an incredible main character who really portrayed the weight of leadership and making decisions on behalf of others. I felt exhausted along with her. She was constantly dealing with other leaders (men) condescending to her at the same time as a panel of women undermining her.
“So, sir, guard, criminal, man, whatever you are, whomever you are, I do not care what in the fiery blazes of any hell you think of me. For you must understand that within these walls? I am a queen. I may as well be a queen to you. And you'll treat me like one from here on out."
The tension of the power struggle between the main characters went on for a long time and I was beginning to wonder if they would ever learn to communicate. It made for some fantastic banter though, the maze and the hot spring were 10/10! Cyd proper irritated me at first and I kept wanting him to be put in his place more by Tilda earlier. I came to appreciate how she unapologetically carried on rather than trying to placate him, and it made the grovelling even better later.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of ARC ebook from author. All opinions are my own and not influenced by receiving an ARC copy.
4 stars! I loved being back in the Gods of Tintar world and love these characters that are together in the abbey of Our Lady Maureen—almost 300 women, one male scholar, and 10 guardsmen. In addition to dealing with what war-time may bring there is a murder mystery/thriller storyline that brings an serious and personal edge.
Prioress brings a unique depiction of this world from an abbey that is sanctuary to about 300 women, when war has broken out between two regions. The characters are wonderful and so varied in personality, age, and demeanor—I cared about all the characters and their lives 😭🥹 and of course there are also those who need to be punished as well. I absolutely love the found family aspects within the story, the complex and supportive friendships, and strong, smart, fully-grown adult main characters. The magic system takes more of a backseat for much of this book (but not all) having the murder mystery, political, and social dynamic of running the abbey and the wartime atmosphere taking precedence. While this is marketed as loathing to lovers, I was still surprised at the level of unwarranted resentment and pettiness from the MMC toward the FMC. This aspect of the romance lessened my enjoyment of the book a little, but it is still overall a great read. I just wish this type of behavior wasn’t so romanticized in a way, or thought of as redeemable. There are amazing secondary characters, and even romantic relationships amongst them, that are more loving and supportive than what is shown between the main characters. Overall enjoyable read and beautifully written.
While this is an interconnected standalone, I do feel it is helpful to have read Priestess first as I feel Priestess had more world building and explanation of the different religions and the magic in the world—but not required. Prioress also occurs during the same time period as Priestess happens but in a different part of the world. Overall I love the series, with Priestess and Illuminator as my favorites of the series—both 5 stars!
4 stars! I loved being back in the Gods of Tintar world and love these characters that are together in the abbey of Our Lady Maureen—almost 300 women, one male scholar, and 10 guardsmen. In addition to dealing with what war-time may bring there is a murder mystery/thriller storyline that brings an serious and personal edge.
Prioress brings a unique depiction of this world from an abbey that is sanctuary to about 300 women, when war has broken out between two regions. The characters are wonderful and so varied in personality, age, and demeanor—I cared about all the characters and their lives 😭🥹 and of course there are also those who need to be punished as well. I absolutely love the found family aspects within the story, the complex and supportive friendships, and strong, smart, fully-grown adult main characters. The magic system takes more of a backseat for much of this book (but not all) having the murder mystery, political, and social dynamic of running the abbey and the wartime atmosphere taking precedence. While this is marketed as loathing to lovers, I was still surprised at the level of unwarranted resentment and pettiness from the MMC toward the FMC. This aspect of the romance lessened my enjoyment of the book a little, but it is still overall a great read. I just wish this type of behavior wasn’t so romanticized in a way, or thought of as redeemable. There are amazing secondary characters, and even romantic relationships amongst them, that are more loving and supportive than what is shown between the main characters. Overall enjoyable read and beautifully written.
While this is an interconnected standalone, I do feel it is helpful to have read Priestess first as I feel Priestess had more world building and explanation of the different religions and the magic in the world—but not required. Prioress also occurs during the same time period as Priestess happens but in a different part of the world. Overall I love the series, with Priestess and Illuminator as my favorites of the series—both 5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨✨Prioress✨✨
I once again have found myself in a position where I am declaring that this is my favorite book in the Gods of Tintar series. I swear every single book that comes out within this series just keeps getting better and now Prioress is my favorite by far!
Prioress is different from the others, it is gritty and dark and just so powerful! I think we find ourselves as readers often times putting authors in boxes and expect every single book they write to be similar. This is not the case and Kara continues to surprise and delight me!
In this book we find ourselves in a completely different region within Tintar and much like different regions of the world this setting is different from previous books. The world building in this book is beautiful and I love the Abbey so much but unlike the white fantasy light kind of like LOTR that I saw Priestess in, I pictured Prioress in a darker closer to GOT style. Which is absolutely perfect for this book!
The FMC Tilda is so relatable. She sacrifices herself over and over even when she doesn’t have to she still feels responsible. We do get her back story to understand why she feels this sense of responsibility her entire life and how her upbringing was a factor in who she is today. I admire Matilda for her resilience and how she is able to keep a level head even when the abbey is under siege.
The MMC Cyd I refer to as my lava cake boy. He is hot as heck, has a crusty hard exterior but a gooey delicious inside. Cyd is flawed but in a way that is beautiful and when you as a reader come to realize why he acts the way he does throughout the entire book you fall so in love with him.
This isn’t an enemies to lovers situation but more of a dislike to lust to love. I adored the banter between these two characters and watching their story unfold.
I cried so hard at points during this read that I became dehydrated. All together this is a beautiful story and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to BETA read it and then eventually read it again to see how it changed after edits as an ARC! Thank you Kara for trusting me with your book and for allowing me to read this book early. Gods of Tintar holds a place in my heart that I cannot even find the words to describe.
I once again have found myself in a position where I am declaring that this is my favorite book in the Gods of Tintar series. I swear every single book that comes out within this series just keeps getting better and now Prioress is my favorite by far!
Prioress is different from the others, it is gritty and dark and just so powerful! I think we find ourselves as readers often times putting authors in boxes and expect every single book they write to be similar. This is not the case and Kara continues to surprise and delight me!
In this book we find ourselves in a completely different region within Tintar and much like different regions of the world this setting is different from previous books. The world building in this book is beautiful and I love the Abbey so much but unlike the white fantasy light kind of like LOTR that I saw Priestess in, I pictured Prioress in a darker closer to GOT style. Which is absolutely perfect for this book!
The FMC Tilda is so relatable. She sacrifices herself over and over even when she doesn’t have to she still feels responsible. We do get her back story to understand why she feels this sense of responsibility her entire life and how her upbringing was a factor in who she is today. I admire Matilda for her resilience and how she is able to keep a level head even when the abbey is under siege.
The MMC Cyd I refer to as my lava cake boy. He is hot as heck, has a crusty hard exterior but a gooey delicious inside. Cyd is flawed but in a way that is beautiful and when you as a reader come to realize why he acts the way he does throughout the entire book you fall so in love with him.
This isn’t an enemies to lovers situation but more of a dislike to lust to love. I adored the banter between these two characters and watching their story unfold.
I cried so hard at points during this read that I became dehydrated. All together this is a beautiful story and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to BETA read it and then eventually read it again to see how it changed after edits as an ARC! Thank you Kara for trusting me with your book and for allowing me to read this book early. Gods of Tintar holds a place in my heart that I cannot even find the words to describe.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Who harms a daughter?”
“Then this is their end.”
Kara has done it again! I'm so grateful for receiving this ARC, I knew I'd love it. I smashed through it in a day yesterday and I know I'll spend today rereading parts.
Her stories are original while still feeling familiar because the writing is so vivid and real.
I always love Kara's romances, but it's the female friendships that truly capture my heart.
Kara writes women in such a way that you feel like you know them. They're realistic and relatable, they're flawed, complex, argumentative, fiercely protective and loving.
The way Tilda was reminiscing on her friendships with Freddie and Lynette and how they had drifted apart as they got older was all too real.
Her friendship with Serena was a highlight.
‘I was still cross, though she was being cheeky and would win me over in mere heartbeats.’
The romance delivered as usual.
Tilda and Cyd were so infuriating!
They judged each other too quickly and too harshly, insisted on constantly misunderstanding each other, and then were both too stubborn to say what they were really feeling.
But honestly that just made the pay off all the more satisfying.
I mean their CHEMISTRY 🥵
The way they kept maintaining they still loathed each other even when they were only fooling themselves.
“I have loved you ever since you looked down that proud little nose at me and told me I was uncouth. It was pitiful. Enormously embarrassing. That’s why I had to be so mean to you. I couldn’t let you catch on.”
We have:
🍑 Found family
🍑 Female friendship
🍑 Fuck the patriarchy
🍑 Murder mystery
🍑 Loathing to love
🍑 Forced proximity
🍑 Powerful women dealing with entitled men
🍑 Puzzles and riddles
Finally, I just love the unique way in which these books are wrapped up. It's the epitome of bittersweet to me and I always find myself crying and smiling at the same time.
I still have Illuminator to read which I'm putting off because I'm not ready to say goodbye to this world 🥹
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Then this is their end.”
Kara has done it again! I'm so grateful for receiving this ARC, I knew I'd love it. I smashed through it in a day yesterday and I know I'll spend today rereading parts.
Her stories are original while still feeling familiar because the writing is so vivid and real.
I always love Kara's romances, but it's the female friendships that truly capture my heart.
Kara writes women in such a way that you feel like you know them. They're realistic and relatable, they're flawed, complex, argumentative, fiercely protective and loving.
The way Tilda was reminiscing on her friendships with Freddie and Lynette and how they had drifted apart as they got older was all too real.
Her friendship with Serena was a highlight.
‘I was still cross, though she was being cheeky and would win me over in mere heartbeats.’
The romance delivered as usual.
Tilda and Cyd were so infuriating!
They judged each other too quickly and too harshly, insisted on constantly misunderstanding each other, and then were both too stubborn to say what they were really feeling.
But honestly that just made the pay off all the more satisfying.
I mean their CHEMISTRY 🥵
The way they kept maintaining they still loathed each other even when they were only fooling themselves.
“I have loved you ever since you looked down that proud little nose at me and told me I was uncouth. It was pitiful. Enormously embarrassing. That’s why I had to be so mean to you. I couldn’t let you catch on.”
We have:
🍑 Found family
🍑 Female friendship
🍑 Fuck the patriarchy
🍑 Murder mystery
🍑 Loathing to love
🍑 Forced proximity
🍑 Powerful women dealing with entitled men
🍑 Puzzles and riddles
Finally, I just love the unique way in which these books are wrapped up. It's the epitome of bittersweet to me and I always find myself crying and smiling at the same time.
I still have Illuminator to read which I'm putting off because I'm not ready to say goodbye to this world 🥹
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Kara and team for the ARC! Note that everything in this review is my personal opinion and is in no way subject to any outside influence.
While I devoured this book and ignored all of my responsibilities for the day, I still felt like it didn't quite capture the magic of Priestess. I wish I could explain why. Maybe it was the timing of when I read Priestess, maybe it resonated with me in ways I never knew existed, but Prioress is still a great example of the way that Reynolds can capture themes in a way that doesn't feel like preachy white feminism. It feels like she demonstrates a deeper understanding of the complexities of the world, flaws and all, while highlighting the importance of honoring the women who built our world.
Our story, just like Pilgrimess, picks up at a different location in the Gods of Tantar world that coincides with the events of Priestess. It begins with the invasion of Eccleston by the kingdom of Tintar, and wraps up at the same point as Priestess. Similar to Pilgrimess, it was nice to experience a different perspective in the vast world constructed by Reynolds, especially since each region is so different and the experiences of the individuals in these regions are going to be very different depending on which nation rules that territory and the religious laws.
The setting of Prioress is a cathedral in a technically neutral territory called Camden that houses women of all ages above 18, all sexual orientations, and all religious beliefs. As a result of the invasion of Tintar, ten soldiers from Eccleston are sent to the cathedral to provide protection. Our female main character, Tilda, initially refuses their entry. However, she is forced to concede and allow them to take up residence in the cathedral once a thousand soldiers show up at the gates to also "offer protection". The difference? These ten men are from Eccleston and are technically politically neutral. They have nothing to gain by helping the abbey. The soldiers? From a nation that is notorious for oppression of women and worship of a misogynistic god.
The choice is obvious.
Priestess explored the themes of womanhood, motherhood, and friendships among women. While the love story was beautiful, it read more like a treatise against gender essentialism while still embracing the beauty of the facets of womanhood, and I personally found it very successful.
Pilgrimess focused more on women surviving under an oppressive government that punishes anything outside of the submission of women, and how reliance on sisterhood is sometimes our greatest strength.
Prioress is more of a love letter to women in power who are pushed to their absolute breaking point. Matilda "Tilda" Finch, the prioress of the abbey who was named to her position by the former abbess, is pushed to what I truly think is a fair point of breaking. She is surrounded by local leadership (all men, of course) who discount her, minimize her magic, ignore her, imply she is emotional and needs to be told what to do, etc. The soldiers at her gate believe that they are entitled to this haven for women, and eventually move from just pressuring them to surrender the territory to a full siege with a threat to kill anyone who doesn't yield and accept their "guidance".
Not only is this woman put in a position of leadership that involves protecting her charges, but she has to answer to a panel of "Maureens" who don't always support her, work on solving local murders while the men in leadership discredit her at every turn, oversee food rationing, keeping up morale while still being honest about the conditions, survive a siege, and be essentially betrayed by someone on the outside whose support she thought she had. And, what I ended up really caring about, is that very few people seem to respect her position by not addressing her as "prioress". Usually I'd think that titles are arbitrary, but I ended up really caring about the lack of respect she had to face. To the point that it actually made me grumpy and I had to explain to my husband that my bad mood wasn't for realsies. It was just a reaction to a book that knew exactly how to create justified feminine rage.
Frankly, the fact that she only snaps at some people and lashes out a couple of times is impressive. I would have broken and drowned myself in the underground caverns like the drama queen I am. She shows a lot of patience and tries to listen to everyone, regardless of whether or not their statements are useful.
I love a flawed heroine with grit. And what I love more than a flawed heroine with grit is a clear feeling that the author doesn't always agree with her heroine's feelings and actions. And more than just "she needs to mess up". It is clear that Reynolds is always aware that she is writing characters with flaws and may not always agree with those actions and flaws, but it makes the experience more authentic for it.
Our male main character, Cyd, did not help my mood. He really is a vicious little fuck. And while you understand his lashing out and insecurities, I was initially really annoyed that Tilda didn't defend herself more or correct his deliberate misunderstandings of her. And it took me a bit to realize that it really isn't her job to soothe his pride or make him feel better. Her conclusion was "you're wrong about me, but what the fuck is the point of wasting my energy on you?" I think, sometimes, women in positions of leadership need to be reminded that appealing to the pride of men is a waste of our time. We move forward, and they can catch up eventually. Which, luckily, Cyd did catch up. And though his penance was sweet and he did come round to seeing her as she is, I still feel a little grumpy with him.
As usual, the epilogue had something lovely to say and it wrapped things up in a bittersweet way.
All in all, I would give this a 4.25/5. Great book, you can see the improvement in Reynolds's writing, and it still maintains the talent she has for weaving beautiful stories that properly address the complexities of our world without making me feel like I'm on Twitter.
While I devoured this book and ignored all of my responsibilities for the day, I still felt like it didn't quite capture the magic of Priestess. I wish I could explain why. Maybe it was the timing of when I read Priestess, maybe it resonated with me in ways I never knew existed, but Prioress is still a great example of the way that Reynolds can capture themes in a way that doesn't feel like preachy white feminism. It feels like she demonstrates a deeper understanding of the complexities of the world, flaws and all, while highlighting the importance of honoring the women who built our world.
Our story, just like Pilgrimess, picks up at a different location in the Gods of Tantar world that coincides with the events of Priestess. It begins with the invasion of Eccleston by the kingdom of Tintar, and wraps up at the same point as Priestess. Similar to Pilgrimess, it was nice to experience a different perspective in the vast world constructed by Reynolds, especially since each region is so different and the experiences of the individuals in these regions are going to be very different depending on which nation rules that territory and the religious laws.
The setting of Prioress is a cathedral in a technically neutral territory called Camden that houses women of all ages above 18, all sexual orientations, and all religious beliefs. As a result of the invasion of Tintar, ten soldiers from Eccleston are sent to the cathedral to provide protection. Our female main character, Tilda, initially refuses their entry. However, she is forced to concede and allow them to take up residence in the cathedral once a thousand soldiers show up at the gates to also "offer protection". The difference? These ten men are from Eccleston and are technically politically neutral. They have nothing to gain by helping the abbey. The soldiers? From a nation that is notorious for oppression of women and worship of a misogynistic god.
The choice is obvious.
Priestess explored the themes of womanhood, motherhood, and friendships among women. While the love story was beautiful, it read more like a treatise against gender essentialism while still embracing the beauty of the facets of womanhood, and I personally found it very successful.
Pilgrimess focused more on women surviving under an oppressive government that punishes anything outside of the submission of women, and how reliance on sisterhood is sometimes our greatest strength.
Prioress is more of a love letter to women in power who are pushed to their absolute breaking point. Matilda "Tilda" Finch, the prioress of the abbey who was named to her position by the former abbess, is pushed to what I truly think is a fair point of breaking. She is surrounded by local leadership (all men, of course) who discount her, minimize her magic, ignore her, imply she is emotional and needs to be told what to do, etc. The soldiers at her gate believe that they are entitled to this haven for women, and eventually move from just pressuring them to surrender the territory to a full siege with a threat to kill anyone who doesn't yield and accept their "guidance".
Not only is this woman put in a position of leadership that involves protecting her charges, but she has to answer to a panel of "Maureens" who don't always support her, work on solving local murders while the men in leadership discredit her at every turn, oversee food rationing, keeping up morale while still being honest about the conditions, survive a siege, and be essentially betrayed by someone on the outside whose support she thought she had. And, what I ended up really caring about, is that very few people seem to respect her position by not addressing her as "prioress". Usually I'd think that titles are arbitrary, but I ended up really caring about the lack of respect she had to face. To the point that it actually made me grumpy and I had to explain to my husband that my bad mood wasn't for realsies. It was just a reaction to a book that knew exactly how to create justified feminine rage.
Frankly, the fact that she only snaps at some people and lashes out a couple of times is impressive. I would have broken and drowned myself in the underground caverns like the drama queen I am. She shows a lot of patience and tries to listen to everyone, regardless of whether or not their statements are useful.
I love a flawed heroine with grit. And what I love more than a flawed heroine with grit is a clear feeling that the author doesn't always agree with her heroine's feelings and actions. And more than just "she needs to mess up". It is clear that Reynolds is always aware that she is writing characters with flaws and may not always agree with those actions and flaws, but it makes the experience more authentic for it.
Our male main character, Cyd, did not help my mood. He really is a vicious little fuck. And while you understand his lashing out and insecurities, I was initially really annoyed that Tilda didn't defend herself more or correct his deliberate misunderstandings of her. And it took me a bit to realize that it really isn't her job to soothe his pride or make him feel better. Her conclusion was "you're wrong about me, but what the fuck is the point of wasting my energy on you?" I think, sometimes, women in positions of leadership need to be reminded that appealing to the pride of men is a waste of our time. We move forward, and they can catch up eventually. Which, luckily, Cyd did catch up. And though his penance was sweet and he did come round to seeing her as she is, I still feel a little grumpy with him.
As usual, the epilogue had something lovely to say and it wrapped things up in a bittersweet way.
All in all, I would give this a 4.25/5. Great book, you can see the improvement in Reynolds's writing, and it still maintains the talent she has for weaving beautiful stories that properly address the complexities of our world without making me feel like I'm on Twitter.
November 7, 2026
Well, I am absolutely destroyed in all the best possible ways after finishing this book. What an amazing ride. First off, Kara and her writing! Woah! I felt completely transported into this world, the language usage, the words, everything was so lush and felt ancient and thought of. As if every single word was placed there with a reason. As a lover of the fantasy genre, sometimes I feel like the world’s building gets lost with the usage of language that feels too modern. That is not the case with Kara. She truly writes in a way that you feel as if you are at exactly the place where she wants you to be.
This is a beautiful romantic fantasy. with a very powerful female character who is strong, sassy, secure in herself but also tender when she needs to be. I loved Tilda’s character so much from the first pages. She simply gave off such a beautiful energy that completely connected me to her:
“I am the prioress. I am the acting abbess. So, sir, guard, criminal, man, whatever you are, whomever you are, I do not care what in the fiery blazes of any hell you think of me. For you must understand that within these walls? I am a queen. I may as well be a queen to you. And you’ll treat me like one from here on out.”
Then we have Cyd, our MMC who has so many layers to his character that evolve over the story. I found him completely lovable, even if he is the epitome of grumpy and maybe a little bit mean. As he is pulled apart protective layer by protective layer, you begin to see a strong and deeply emotional man. And I think that was one of my favorite parts of this story.
“It’s mean, Abbess. It is mean to have the body of a goddess, to have the face of one, and then to constantly look down your nose at a man who cannot have you, to flaunt your perfections as you do. I may be responsible for my behavior, but you could do me the decency of refraining from your parades. I am in my own hell. And it is agony.”
I absolutely enjoyed the yearning and the slow burn so much. It builds up so intensely and reminded me so much of the way Jane Austen writes her love stories, where even a single touch makes you feel high emotions, and when they collide, oh man, do they collide. Trust me, you will become obsessed with their love story.
Towards the last 15% of the book, I sobbed a few times, again, because the writing is so descriptive but easy to immerse yourself in, it transports you to the moments so easily.
Even if you are not a fantasy reader, you should give this one a read. I think this book gives you a story that is so real and more based on storytelling than fantasy, because while it does have some magical elements to it, it really is a story about women’s resilience, the power of togetherness, survival, love, friendship, and ultimately community. Keira offers so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom in her story that I ended up annotating about 35 quotes that I just found so rich and just beautiful. As I received this as an advance reader copy, I read it on my Kindle app on my phone, which is crazy because I hate reading on my phone, but this story was just so good that I could not stop and wait to get home to my Kindle.
I can’t wait to read her other books. because after this one I am a Kara girl for life.
This is a beautiful romantic fantasy. with a very powerful female character who is strong, sassy, secure in herself but also tender when she needs to be. I loved Tilda’s character so much from the first pages. She simply gave off such a beautiful energy that completely connected me to her:
“I am the prioress. I am the acting abbess. So, sir, guard, criminal, man, whatever you are, whomever you are, I do not care what in the fiery blazes of any hell you think of me. For you must understand that within these walls? I am a queen. I may as well be a queen to you. And you’ll treat me like one from here on out.”
Then we have Cyd, our MMC who has so many layers to his character that evolve over the story. I found him completely lovable, even if he is the epitome of grumpy and maybe a little bit mean. As he is pulled apart protective layer by protective layer, you begin to see a strong and deeply emotional man. And I think that was one of my favorite parts of this story.
“It’s mean, Abbess. It is mean to have the body of a goddess, to have the face of one, and then to constantly look down your nose at a man who cannot have you, to flaunt your perfections as you do. I may be responsible for my behavior, but you could do me the decency of refraining from your parades. I am in my own hell. And it is agony.”
I absolutely enjoyed the yearning and the slow burn so much. It builds up so intensely and reminded me so much of the way Jane Austen writes her love stories, where even a single touch makes you feel high emotions, and when they collide, oh man, do they collide. Trust me, you will become obsessed with their love story.
Towards the last 15% of the book, I sobbed a few times, again, because the writing is so descriptive but easy to immerse yourself in, it transports you to the moments so easily.
Even if you are not a fantasy reader, you should give this one a read. I think this book gives you a story that is so real and more based on storytelling than fantasy, because while it does have some magical elements to it, it really is a story about women’s resilience, the power of togetherness, survival, love, friendship, and ultimately community. Keira offers so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom in her story that I ended up annotating about 35 quotes that I just found so rich and just beautiful. As I received this as an advance reader copy, I read it on my Kindle app on my phone, which is crazy because I hate reading on my phone, but this story was just so good that I could not stop and wait to get home to my Kindle.
I can’t wait to read her other books. because after this one I am a Kara girl for life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I amso incredibly thankful to have received an ARC copy directly from the author. ❤️
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I loved this book with every fiber of my being. The story, the characters, the setting… everything came together to create what I think is the most touching story in the entire series. And that is saying something, because I have loved every single book.
I genuinely think this may be the first series I’ve ever read where every single book has been a five-star read for me. Every. Single. One.
Cyd and Tilda… the push and pull, the tension, the chemistry. Oh, my word. These two were a fire that simply could not be extinguished. Cyd was downright HORRIBLE to Tilda at times, and the cruel things he said made me want to shake him, but beneath it all, you could feel just how fiercely he burned for her. Their dynamic was absolutely captivating.
And Tilda? What an outstanding FMC. I will never tire of seeing older female characters written with such depth, wisdom, and life experience. She has so much knowledge and strength, yet she still questions, searches, and wrestles with impossibly difficult truths. There is something so beautiful about a woman who can be both wise and still willing to learn.
The abbey was an incredible setting for this story. The women there made me want to step right into the pages and stay awhile. I wanted to work in the fields, share in their daily lives, and find communion with these extraordinary women. There was something so special about the sense of community that developed within those walls. Griffith and his guard becoming part of Our Lady of Maureen felt so natural and seamless, and I loved watching those relationships take shape.
The second half of this book was phenomenal. I especially loved watching these women band together for something greater than themselves. Their strength, their solidarity, and their willingness to fight for what mattered most were deeply moving. And those final chapters? My heart was breaking in the most beautiful way. Change was inevitable because the people themselves had changed, and watching their journeys unfold was nothing short of brilliant. These characters felt so real, their growth so earned, that they practically leapt off the page.
I have recommended this series to SO many people, and I will continue to do so every chance I get. There are certain books and series that stay with you long after you’ve finished them. The ones you return to, the ones that become your personal God tier reads, the ones that set the bar impossibly high for everything that comes after.
This series is, without a doubt, one of those for me.
Every book has given me something to love, but this one touched a part of my heart that I don’t think I’ll be forgetting anytime soon. What an absolutely extraordinary series. ❤️
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I loved this book with every fiber of my being. The story, the characters, the setting… everything came together to create what I think is the most touching story in the entire series. And that is saying something, because I have loved every single book.
I genuinely think this may be the first series I’ve ever read where every single book has been a five-star read for me. Every. Single. One.
Cyd and Tilda… the push and pull, the tension, the chemistry. Oh, my word. These two were a fire that simply could not be extinguished. Cyd was downright HORRIBLE to Tilda at times, and the cruel things he said made me want to shake him, but beneath it all, you could feel just how fiercely he burned for her. Their dynamic was absolutely captivating.
And Tilda? What an outstanding FMC. I will never tire of seeing older female characters written with such depth, wisdom, and life experience. She has so much knowledge and strength, yet she still questions, searches, and wrestles with impossibly difficult truths. There is something so beautiful about a woman who can be both wise and still willing to learn.
The abbey was an incredible setting for this story. The women there made me want to step right into the pages and stay awhile. I wanted to work in the fields, share in their daily lives, and find communion with these extraordinary women. There was something so special about the sense of community that developed within those walls. Griffith and his guard becoming part of Our Lady of Maureen felt so natural and seamless, and I loved watching those relationships take shape.
The second half of this book was phenomenal. I especially loved watching these women band together for something greater than themselves. Their strength, their solidarity, and their willingness to fight for what mattered most were deeply moving. And those final chapters? My heart was breaking in the most beautiful way. Change was inevitable because the people themselves had changed, and watching their journeys unfold was nothing short of brilliant. These characters felt so real, their growth so earned, that they practically leapt off the page.
I have recommended this series to SO many people, and I will continue to do so every chance I get. There are certain books and series that stay with you long after you’ve finished them. The ones you return to, the ones that become your personal God tier reads, the ones that set the bar impossibly high for everything that comes after.
This series is, without a doubt, one of those for me.
Every book has given me something to love, but this one touched a part of my heart that I don’t think I’ll be forgetting anytime soon. What an absolutely extraordinary series. ❤️
September 18, 2026
This is the third book in the Gods of Tintar series and follows Tilda, a Prioress of a non-denominational abbey ran by industrious women that becomes under threat of siege by Perpetane, the misogynistic, unyielding, monotheistic city state that has caused the wars with Tintar. Tilda must navigate a horrifying responsibility to keep 289 women safe with the help of 10 guards from Eccleston, a nearby democratic city-state and uneasy ally of Perpetane.
One of those guards is Cydwyn, a former criminal-turned-city guard who seems to hate Tilda but cannot stop staring and helping her, while charming all the other elderly women of the abbey and working very hard. Tilda cannot believe how insulting he is, calling her haughty and snobbish, but is also attracted to his overall demeanor, candor, and smirk. It definitely has a touch of pride and prejudice throughout.
I love the world Reynolds has crafted so much. I love the deities, the humanity, and the deep empathy and morality each character has. The love story in this book, however, needed more. There was a lot of exposition on being a prioress and running an abbey and it veered on too much. I appreciate the care given to the reality of what women in power put up with from various men in their fields. Tilda has various interactions with men where their disrespect is blatant and she holds her head. We definitely understand what Tilda’s responsibilities are and how exhausting the role is, but I reached a point of not wanting anymore of that information or how the abbey functions—perhaps because it is so close to my own career reality of running a program and managing people, and I read to escape—and wanted much more of how she and Cyd would look past their pride and prejudices. They’re both pretty awful to one another for most of this book. He reads like an insecure man and what woman wants a man so insecure that they belittle and insult? And she is haughty and rude. And there are just not enough opportunities for Tilda to trust and grow to love him, even while he’s lusting for her. It feels really late to the game when things start to finally move for them. Then, once they start to be involved sexually, it’s hinted that Tilda wants to lose control and be dominated—she is exhausted from her responsibilities—but we only see an inkling of how Cyd can do that for her. It was like Reynolds was flirting with dom/sub but not ready to fully dig into it.
Finally, I’d like a bit more of how the three different books truly connect—across the war, how Tintar fairs, etc. it feels like they all just take place in this world but there is no ultimate plot connecting them that will need resolved. How do the events at Skow from Pilgrimess connect to this book? When in the timeline of events does this book take place, as opposed to Priestess?
So, overall, it was a strong addition to this series of interconnected standalones but not as good as Pilgrimess.
I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Many heartfelt thanks to the author.
One of those guards is Cydwyn, a former criminal-turned-city guard who seems to hate Tilda but cannot stop staring and helping her, while charming all the other elderly women of the abbey and working very hard. Tilda cannot believe how insulting he is, calling her haughty and snobbish, but is also attracted to his overall demeanor, candor, and smirk. It definitely has a touch of pride and prejudice throughout.
I love the world Reynolds has crafted so much. I love the deities, the humanity, and the deep empathy and morality each character has. The love story in this book, however, needed more. There was a lot of exposition on being a prioress and running an abbey and it veered on too much. I appreciate the care given to the reality of what women in power put up with from various men in their fields. Tilda has various interactions with men where their disrespect is blatant and she holds her head. We definitely understand what Tilda’s responsibilities are and how exhausting the role is, but I reached a point of not wanting anymore of that information or how the abbey functions—perhaps because it is so close to my own career reality of running a program and managing people, and I read to escape—and wanted much more of how she and Cyd would look past their pride and prejudices. They’re both pretty awful to one another for most of this book. He reads like an insecure man and what woman wants a man so insecure that they belittle and insult? And she is haughty and rude. And there are just not enough opportunities for Tilda to trust and grow to love him, even while he’s lusting for her. It feels really late to the game when things start to finally move for them. Then, once they start to be involved sexually, it’s hinted that Tilda wants to lose control and be dominated—she is exhausted from her responsibilities—but we only see an inkling of how Cyd can do that for her. It was like Reynolds was flirting with dom/sub but not ready to fully dig into it.
Finally, I’d like a bit more of how the three different books truly connect—across the war, how Tintar fairs, etc. it feels like they all just take place in this world but there is no ultimate plot connecting them that will need resolved. How do the events at Skow from Pilgrimess connect to this book? When in the timeline of events does this book take place, as opposed to Priestess?
So, overall, it was a strong addition to this series of interconnected standalones but not as good as Pilgrimess.
I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Many heartfelt thanks to the author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Kara Reynolds and her team for the ARC of this book!
Prioress follows Tilda, abbess in waiting for a sanctuary for women, who is faced with the politics of a neighboring war and her own internal struggle of self-identity. Unfortunately, I found the third book in the Gods of Tintar series to be my least favorite. While Kara Reynolds has done a remarkable job of creating a unique world in this book as she has in the first two, the journey of the main character and her romance were disappointing.
I did love learning about the ecology and mysterious history of the Abbey, despite the predictable outcome of a magical source that saves everyone at the last hour. The unsettling murders were also intriguing. The author always develops strong sisterhoods in her novels and this was no exception. The Maureens and other sisters were charming in their sense of community and loyalty to each other.
The romance was difficult for me to stomach. I understand that the goal is to develop tension between Tilda and her love interest through their hatred and disrespect, but I never felt that it was resolved. So much hurt is done, both psychologically and physically, that I found it difficult to root for them. Some of the actions and verbiage of the male love interest felt just cruel and when they come together at the very end, the romance felt disingenuous. Tilda’s choosing of this partner over the Abbey, though in line with her realization of her dreams, also felt disappointing. Especially after she showed great leadership (though I would have wished she investigated the mystery of the Abbey personally, when it seems clear there is some sort of power in the Abbey that could have assisted her during her political plights and with the murder investigations). Overall, a wonderfully crafted world but the romance and character arc were not satisfying to me.
Prioress follows Tilda, abbess in waiting for a sanctuary for women, who is faced with the politics of a neighboring war and her own internal struggle of self-identity. Unfortunately, I found the third book in the Gods of Tintar series to be my least favorite. While Kara Reynolds has done a remarkable job of creating a unique world in this book as she has in the first two, the journey of the main character and her romance were disappointing.
I did love learning about the ecology and mysterious history of the Abbey, despite the predictable outcome of a magical source that saves everyone at the last hour. The unsettling murders were also intriguing. The author always develops strong sisterhoods in her novels and this was no exception. The Maureens and other sisters were charming in their sense of community and loyalty to each other.
The romance was difficult for me to stomach. I understand that the goal is to develop tension between Tilda and her love interest through their hatred and disrespect, but I never felt that it was resolved. So much hurt is done, both psychologically and physically, that I found it difficult to root for them. Some of the actions and verbiage of the male love interest felt just cruel and when they come together at the very end, the romance felt disingenuous. Tilda’s choosing of this partner over the Abbey, though in line with her realization of her dreams, also felt disappointing. Especially after she showed great leadership (though I would have wished she investigated the mystery of the Abbey personally, when it seems clear there is some sort of power in the Abbey that could have assisted her during her political plights and with the murder investigations). Overall, a wonderfully crafted world but the romance and character arc were not satisfying to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Exquisite.
This book is exactly what romance is. Because Kara threads romance through every sentence. In the arguments, in the loaded words spoken, in the stolen glances and heaviest of moments.
Even under the pretense of war and political uprising that was a major plot of this book, every word is so artfully written as it blends to the next to further the plot without so much as a hitch.
When I say this is exactly what romance is, know that I am a contemporary romance girlie through and through, so this is not a dig at that part of the genre.
I wish I could explain it better. But the way Kara writes is exactly how romance should. With all the aches and frustrations, sorrow, joy shyness.
I am rambling at this point. I feel all my emotions deeply but this book felt like a work of art to me and I’m so glad Kara gave the chance for an early read and review.
I will say Cyd probably got under my skin as much as he did under Tilda’s at first LOL. But he was just a big, strong man, with a bigger crush and hurt ego. Their scenes were perfectly steamy and THICK with tension. The greedy, hasty touches they seemed to only have at first made the softer scenes later on that much sweeter.
It’s the last chapters that really got me though. I don’t want to spoil too much, but what a way to wrap up a well-earned love story.
Prioress is out on 11/10 and 100% worth the add to you TBR if you love a good slow burn and enemies to lovers (he’s very bad at hiding that he likes her)
This book is exactly what romance is. Because Kara threads romance through every sentence. In the arguments, in the loaded words spoken, in the stolen glances and heaviest of moments.
Even under the pretense of war and political uprising that was a major plot of this book, every word is so artfully written as it blends to the next to further the plot without so much as a hitch.
When I say this is exactly what romance is, know that I am a contemporary romance girlie through and through, so this is not a dig at that part of the genre.
I wish I could explain it better. But the way Kara writes is exactly how romance should. With all the aches and frustrations, sorrow, joy shyness.
I am rambling at this point. I feel all my emotions deeply but this book felt like a work of art to me and I’m so glad Kara gave the chance for an early read and review.
I will say Cyd probably got under my skin as much as he did under Tilda’s at first LOL. But he was just a big, strong man, with a bigger crush and hurt ego. Their scenes were perfectly steamy and THICK with tension. The greedy, hasty touches they seemed to only have at first made the softer scenes later on that much sweeter.
It’s the last chapters that really got me though. I don’t want to spoil too much, but what a way to wrap up a well-earned love story.
Prioress is out on 11/10 and 100% worth the add to you TBR if you love a good slow burn and enemies to lovers (he’s very bad at hiding that he likes her)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of ARC received from author!
I absolutely loved this book. I connected with Tilda, the vulnerable, fierce hero of the story, thrust into a leadership position, but searching for her path while trying to do her best with what she’s been given. And what she was given is a lot of work that sometimes feels thankless in the moment, but the love shown to her by the well rounded and interesting women who surround her brings so much joy.
The strength of 300 women united in their fierce love for each other and independence against patriarchy made me cry at the end. And the surprise twist of how love stays and protects even through death was a very fun part of the ending.
And then there’s Cyd, Tilda’s love, who’s persistence, unabashed sexual interest, and (eventual) kindness makes him so perfect for her. Their strong dislike to love arc was a fun slow burn for me. Tilda never loses herself to Cyd though, all her decisions are for her alone and he is just the delicious cherry on top who makes her happy.
The pacing of the book was slow and detailed, like Priestess, but I found myself loving the details because I wanted the story to be drawn out as long as possible so I could live in Tilda’s world with her. Another beautiful story that made me feel seen, especially as an eldest daughter <3
I absolutely loved this book. I connected with Tilda, the vulnerable, fierce hero of the story, thrust into a leadership position, but searching for her path while trying to do her best with what she’s been given. And what she was given is a lot of work that sometimes feels thankless in the moment, but the love shown to her by the well rounded and interesting women who surround her brings so much joy.
The strength of 300 women united in their fierce love for each other and independence against patriarchy made me cry at the end. And the surprise twist of how love stays and protects even through death was a very fun part of the ending.
And then there’s Cyd, Tilda’s love, who’s persistence, unabashed sexual interest, and (eventual) kindness makes him so perfect for her. Their strong dislike to love arc was a fun slow burn for me. Tilda never loses herself to Cyd though, all her decisions are for her alone and he is just the delicious cherry on top who makes her happy.
The pacing of the book was slow and detailed, like Priestess, but I found myself loving the details because I wanted the story to be drawn out as long as possible so I could live in Tilda’s world with her. Another beautiful story that made me feel seen, especially as an eldest daughter <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC READ:
"You think softness is seen as a weakness. But a soft heart is often quite practical in execution" - Tilda Finch
Told from the first-person perspective of heroine Tilda Finch, this story follows her unexpected journey into a position of power as the acting Abbess of Our Lady Maureen. Though the role wasn't one she wanted, she graciously accepts the responsibility of leading the abbey and protecting its inhabitants as the looming threat of a siege by Crusaders draws closer. The Crusaders are searching for supposed treasure, but they're not the only source of trouble within the abbey. As mysterious deaths begin to unfold, Tilda must unravel what's happening while trying to maintain her sanity, adjust to her new life, and navigate her frustrating yet increasingly tempting relationship with an "uncouth" guard. He's one of ten men she allows through the abbey gates for the first time, under the promise that they'll help protect the women within.
This story is filled with found family, sisterhood, practical magic, the pains of womanhood and adulthood, the weight of responsibility, and, of course, a deliciously slow burn that leads to the spiciest of spice. And once again, if you're not familiar with Kara's particular brand of bittersweetness, prepare yourself for an emotionally charged epilogue.
"You think softness is seen as a weakness. But a soft heart is often quite practical in execution" - Tilda Finch
Told from the first-person perspective of heroine Tilda Finch, this story follows her unexpected journey into a position of power as the acting Abbess of Our Lady Maureen. Though the role wasn't one she wanted, she graciously accepts the responsibility of leading the abbey and protecting its inhabitants as the looming threat of a siege by Crusaders draws closer. The Crusaders are searching for supposed treasure, but they're not the only source of trouble within the abbey. As mysterious deaths begin to unfold, Tilda must unravel what's happening while trying to maintain her sanity, adjust to her new life, and navigate her frustrating yet increasingly tempting relationship with an "uncouth" guard. He's one of ten men she allows through the abbey gates for the first time, under the promise that they'll help protect the women within.
This story is filled with found family, sisterhood, practical magic, the pains of womanhood and adulthood, the weight of responsibility, and, of course, a deliciously slow burn that leads to the spiciest of spice. And once again, if you're not familiar with Kara's particular brand of bittersweetness, prepare yourself for an emotionally charged epilogue.
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 24, 2026I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the author. This book, as the other 2.5 Gods of Tintar’s, blew me out of the water. The world-building was just detailed enough to make you feel like you were fully emerged in it without feeling slow. The romance was the slowest burn, but SO rewarding once it warmed up. Their chemistry was off the charts. I loved how patient, protective, loyal, and selfless Tilda was through the challenges that the abbey faced. The concept of the abbey itself was enough for me to give this five stars. The matriarchal worlds that Kara creates and endlessly fascinating and entertaining. Every book digs deeper into the toxic roots of the patriarchy, and the ways that her characters reject male hegemony, center the female perspective, naturally accept and uplift LGBTQ+ life experiences, and thrive in their self-built communities are both refreshing and inspiring. Can’t wait to read the next ones, and hope to see some crossover between the characters and chosen families in future reads.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have loved this series since the beginning and was so happy to be able to jump back into the world of Tintar and read this book before it was published. I absolutely adored Priestess. It’s in my top 5 all-time favorite books. I also really enjoyed Illuminator and Pilgrimess. Which is why it’s frustrating that I had a little bit of a hard time with this one. I’m still giving it 4 stars because I loved the setting, the murder mystery, enjoyed most of the characters and felt such empathy for our struggling heroine but I absolutely could not stand Cyd. I get that he was supposed to be struggling with his pride and whatever but his character was unnecessarily cruel. In my opinion having mean main characters is only okay if both main characters are equally mean to each other. He was way more cruel than Tilda ever thought of being and we never even see him come close to apologizing enough. Overall I enjoyed this book but it was missing some of the magic of the previous books in the series.
Many thanks to author for providing an ARC.
Many thanks to author for providing an ARC.
October 18, 2026
I received this book as an ARC, after having become enamored with the author’s other works.
What I think I like most about Prioress, like the other heroines of the series, is how mature and competent she is. Tilda isn’t infallible, she makes mistakes, she is unsure of herself, she acts out when she shouldn’t, and she has a past to contend with. But she already has a baseline level of wisdom and empathy. She’s beloved and respected, sometimes begrudgingly, by those around her and admired for her obvious fine qualities. She’s not the Chosen One or brimming with magic. She’s just smart and determined. I read a lot of fantasy, and it’s just a breath of fresh air. And her love interest is just a different kind of scorching. A Daddy without a single shadow or fake morally gray fiber. His asides on how attracted he is to her plumpness, are mouth watering.
I’m going to head to my local book store and order this to add to my collection. And put it on the suggested order list at my local library.
The cover art, also by the author I think, is gorgeous.
Enjoy!
What I think I like most about Prioress, like the other heroines of the series, is how mature and competent she is. Tilda isn’t infallible, she makes mistakes, she is unsure of herself, she acts out when she shouldn’t, and she has a past to contend with. But she already has a baseline level of wisdom and empathy. She’s beloved and respected, sometimes begrudgingly, by those around her and admired for her obvious fine qualities. She’s not the Chosen One or brimming with magic. She’s just smart and determined. I read a lot of fantasy, and it’s just a breath of fresh air. And her love interest is just a different kind of scorching. A Daddy without a single shadow or fake morally gray fiber. His asides on how attracted he is to her plumpness, are mouth watering.
I’m going to head to my local book store and order this to add to my collection. And put it on the suggested order list at my local library.
The cover art, also by the author I think, is gorgeous.
Enjoy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Excellent writing by Kara Reynolds as usual! I had the opportunity to beta read Prioress, and I enjoyed it very much. I love the setting of this series, and the characters feel real and complex. This book, as in the other books, mixes girl gang vibes, feminism, humor and love, but also adds a darker vibe which is really interesting.
Set in the world of "Gods of Tintar", this standalone third book in the series follows Tilda, Prioress of an abbey. The usual quiet of the countryside is broken by news of a coming war. Help is offered, but who is friend and who is foe? Who will protect the abbey? Who is committing murders in the area? And in all this, is happiness and love in the cards for a middle aged Prioress?
Prioress tropes:
- Romantic fantasy standalone
- An abbey under siege
- She's a respected leader, he's a criminal
- They literally cannot f*cking stand each other
- Feminine rage
- Girl gang
- M*rder mustery
- Forced proximity
- 41 y/o FMC
Set in the world of "Gods of Tintar", this standalone third book in the series follows Tilda, Prioress of an abbey. The usual quiet of the countryside is broken by news of a coming war. Help is offered, but who is friend and who is foe? Who will protect the abbey? Who is committing murders in the area? And in all this, is happiness and love in the cards for a middle aged Prioress?
Prioress tropes:
- Romantic fantasy standalone
- An abbey under siege
- She's a respected leader, he's a criminal
- They literally cannot f*cking stand each other
- Feminine rage
- Girl gang
- M*rder mustery
- Forced proximity
- 41 y/o FMC
Review of advance copy
Wow, I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book. After loving Pilgrimess and Priestess so so much, I was unsure whether Prioress would live up to those standards for me… well it did.
I LOVED Prioress - I think possibly it’s my favourite of the three? Which says a lot as they are such wonderful books. Whilst set in the same world, the story was so different. This book, I would say, has less story setting but more build in the middle. I loved the difference in pace and new elements this brought - there was variation whilst staying true to the author’s writing style.
I love the diversity and strong female leads Kara always includes in her books. She has this way of evoking such strong and deep emotions. Her characters are so whole and developed. I was attached to them all that I felt like crying when this beautiful story finished.
If Kara writes it, I’m going to read it.
Thank you!
I LOVED Prioress - I think possibly it’s my favourite of the three? Which says a lot as they are such wonderful books. Whilst set in the same world, the story was so different. This book, I would say, has less story setting but more build in the middle. I loved the difference in pace and new elements this brought - there was variation whilst staying true to the author’s writing style.
I love the diversity and strong female leads Kara always includes in her books. She has this way of evoking such strong and deep emotions. Her characters are so whole and developed. I was attached to them all that I felt like crying when this beautiful story finished.
If Kara writes it, I’m going to read it.
Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: 4.5/5⭐
Spice Level: 2.5/5🌶️
Tropes: Found Family, Murder Mystery, Eff the Patriarchy, Loathing to Love, SLOW BURN
Trigger Warning: Religious Trauma
I have really loved the entire Gods of Tintar series. Was introduced to them earlier this year and have since read them all. Kara Reynolds has become an author where I don't care what I'm already in the middle of reading, when she releases a new book, I'm dropping everything and starting it immediately.
As with the rest of her books, we have an older FMC (40+) and age appropriate MMC. Tilda, while being a strong character, is not perfect, feels real and makes mistakes like a normal person could. I love the community within the abbey, even when there are disagreements between some of the characters (of all religious backgrounds). It is helpful to have read the previous books in the series (even though they are standalones) as you get more insight into the overall world, including the different religions within it, but it's not mandatory as there is enough explanation/context anyway.
The relationship between Tilda and Cyd was such an angsty slow burn. I got so frustrated with both of them (in the best way) because of their constant misconceptions and unwillingness to set the record straight. The spice is spicing and overall satisfying. My only very small complaint is Other than that, it was delicious, lol.
I really liked the story as a whole and just like with her other books, you get sucked into it and it feels fairly cozy, then things open up in the last third into craziness. Stakes aren't exactly low for these women of this abbey, and it gets pretty tense.
This is another amazing entry into this series and I really do just love them all. Highly recommend for people looking for some cathartic eff the patriarchy vibes and older FMCs in their fantasy romances.
Please note, I, just like the author, have been through some personal trauma related to religion, so this series resonates with me heavily, but the very heavy religious themes might not be for everyone, so that should be taken into account when picking up any of the books in this series.
Special thanks to the author for an ARC of this lovely book.
Spice Level: 2.5/5🌶️
Tropes: Found Family, Murder Mystery, Eff the Patriarchy, Loathing to Love, SLOW BURN
Trigger Warning: Religious Trauma
I have really loved the entire Gods of Tintar series. Was introduced to them earlier this year and have since read them all. Kara Reynolds has become an author where I don't care what I'm already in the middle of reading, when she releases a new book, I'm dropping everything and starting it immediately.
As with the rest of her books, we have an older FMC (40+) and age appropriate MMC. Tilda, while being a strong character, is not perfect, feels real and makes mistakes like a normal person could. I love the community within the abbey, even when there are disagreements between some of the characters (of all religious backgrounds). It is helpful to have read the previous books in the series (even though they are standalones) as you get more insight into the overall world, including the different religions within it, but it's not mandatory as there is enough explanation/context anyway.
The relationship between Tilda and Cyd was such an angsty slow burn. I got so frustrated with both of them (in the best way) because of their constant misconceptions and unwillingness to set the record straight. The spice is spicing and overall satisfying. My only very small complaint is Other than that, it was delicious, lol.
I really liked the story as a whole and just like with her other books, you get sucked into it and it feels fairly cozy, then things open up in the last third into craziness. Stakes aren't exactly low for these women of this abbey, and it gets pretty tense.
This is another amazing entry into this series and I really do just love them all. Highly recommend for people looking for some cathartic eff the patriarchy vibes and older FMCs in their fantasy romances.
Please note, I, just like the author, have been through some personal trauma related to religion, so this series resonates with me heavily, but the very heavy religious themes might not be for everyone, so that should be taken into account when picking up any of the books in this series.
Special thanks to the author for an ARC of this lovely book.
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