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Birthright
When her spies bring news that a swordswoman imprisoned in a neighboring kingdom bears the Royal mark, Princess Kathryn sets out to rescue Aiden, the woman she’s sure is the true heir to the Belstaff throne and the solution to a tyrant’s campaign to overrun her small queendom of Olmstead.
That solution, however, is more of a problem. Too footloose for responsibility and distrustful of Kathryn’s selfless moral code, Aiden is a resistant heir. Her only interests are freedom and adventure.
Despite their differences, Kathryn and Aiden discover common ground and a growing attraction as they set out on their mission to defeat the ruthless rogue ruler of Belstaff. The true test lies ahead, when they find they must free their hearts to finally liberate their queendoms.
That solution, however, is more of a problem. Too footloose for responsibility and distrustful of Kathryn’s selfless moral code, Aiden is a resistant heir. Her only interests are freedom and adventure.
Despite their differences, Kathryn and Aiden discover common ground and a growing attraction as they set out on their mission to defeat the ruthless rogue ruler of Belstaff. The true test lies ahead, when they find they must free their hearts to finally liberate their queendoms.
264 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2017
13 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Missouri Vaun
24 books143 followersMissouri Vaun is a two-time Golden Crown Literary Society award-winning lesbian romance writer published by Bold Strokes Books. FOREVER'S PROMISE is Vaun's latest, a historical romance. Wes dresses as a man for property rights. Will she risk it all for love?
Vaun spent a large part of her childhood in southern Mississippi, before attending high school in North Carolina and college in Tennessee. Strong connections to her roots in the rural South have been a grounding force throughout her life. Vaun spent twelve years finding her voice working as a journalist in places as disparate as Chicago, Atlanta and Jackson, Miss., all along filing away characters and their stories. Her novels are heartfelt, earthy; speak of loyalty and our responsibility to others.
She and her wife live in Northern California.
Vaun spent a large part of her childhood in southern Mississippi, before attending high school in North Carolina and college in Tennessee. Strong connections to her roots in the rural South have been a grounding force throughout her life. Vaun spent twelve years finding her voice working as a journalist in places as disparate as Chicago, Atlanta and Jackson, Miss., all along filing away characters and their stories. Her novels are heartfelt, earthy; speak of loyalty and our responsibility to others.
She and her wife live in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 2, 2017
3 1/2 Stars. I am a huge fantasy fan, so I was anxious to get my hands on this book. This book was a little lighter than I would have liked, for my fantasy tastes. I prefer fantasy books that really grab you either emotionally or leave you wondering "how will they ever survive this?" This book is not like that. There is plenty of sword fighting and adventure, and having to kill to survive, just on a lighter scale. Even though this is not my favorite type of fantasy, I think this book will appeal to more people. You don't have to be a big fantasy fan to enjoy it.
The story is about Aiden, who grew up orphaned in a monastery. She has no idea that the birthmark on her back is really a royal symbol announcing she is the next in line to rule a kingdom. Kathryn, a ruler of a neighboring kingdom, hears that the heir might be alive. She is constantly at war with the kingdom Aiden should inherit. If only she could find the true heir and help them take back the throne, it would hopefully bring peace across the lands. Kathryn is not the only one that knows the heir is alive, and Aiden is in danger. Can Kathryn help Aiden take back her thrown, and what happens when feelings may get in the way?
I liked the world building Vaun did. In a time of horses and swords, no one really blinks about two women being together. While maybe not the most realistic, it was a nice change of pace. I was glad sexuality did not play a part at all. As in most fantasy books, there is a lot of traveling. I liked the beginning of the book with all the traveling the best. I thought the book got a little too predictable in the second half, and I found it easy to guess what was going to happen.
The romance was very sweet. With Aiden growing up with monks, she was a 21 year old virgin. I enjoyed her naivety when trying to figure out if a woman was even flirting with her. While the attraction between the mains was very fast. I still enjoyed the romance. I thought it was well written for Aiden's experience level.
This book was difinetly lighter and sweeter than most fantasy books. As I said before, I don't think you have to be a fantasy fan to enjoy this. It was not exactly what I was hoping for, but I still liked it and think most people will to.
An ARC was given to me by Bold Strokes Books, for a honest review.
The story is about Aiden, who grew up orphaned in a monastery. She has no idea that the birthmark on her back is really a royal symbol announcing she is the next in line to rule a kingdom. Kathryn, a ruler of a neighboring kingdom, hears that the heir might be alive. She is constantly at war with the kingdom Aiden should inherit. If only she could find the true heir and help them take back the throne, it would hopefully bring peace across the lands. Kathryn is not the only one that knows the heir is alive, and Aiden is in danger. Can Kathryn help Aiden take back her thrown, and what happens when feelings may get in the way?
I liked the world building Vaun did. In a time of horses and swords, no one really blinks about two women being together. While maybe not the most realistic, it was a nice change of pace. I was glad sexuality did not play a part at all. As in most fantasy books, there is a lot of traveling. I liked the beginning of the book with all the traveling the best. I thought the book got a little too predictable in the second half, and I found it easy to guess what was going to happen.
The romance was very sweet. With Aiden growing up with monks, she was a 21 year old virgin. I enjoyed her naivety when trying to figure out if a woman was even flirting with her. While the attraction between the mains was very fast. I still enjoyed the romance. I thought it was well written for Aiden's experience level.
This book was difinetly lighter and sweeter than most fantasy books. As I said before, I don't think you have to be a fantasy fan to enjoy this. It was not exactly what I was hoping for, but I still liked it and think most people will to.
An ARC was given to me by Bold Strokes Books, for a honest review.
March 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this read. The two main characters and supporting characters were really great. I wish it could have been longer as I would have liked the wolf to have played a bigger part or maybe a longer journey back or maybe start with Aiden's life in the temple and so and so forth. Little things like that. But overall, I liked it. My favorite part is how the final confrontation played out (don't want to give anything away) and some may think it's a bit anticlimactic but I enjoyed it.
January 23, 2017
*ARC provided by Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review*
I have read a few of this authors books and I can honestly say that her butch yet sensitive characters have started to grow on me. Vaun bucks lesbian fiction stereotypes in most of her writing and especially so in this book. Aiden is young, naive and head over heals in love with the feisty and very experienced Queen Kathryn, there are damsels in distress and action packed rescues. This book is a bit of a different take on a fairytale but it is still an enjoyable and light read.
I have read a few of this authors books and I can honestly say that her butch yet sensitive characters have started to grow on me. Vaun bucks lesbian fiction stereotypes in most of her writing and especially so in this book. Aiden is young, naive and head over heals in love with the feisty and very experienced Queen Kathryn, there are damsels in distress and action packed rescues. This book is a bit of a different take on a fairytale but it is still an enjoyable and light read.
April 11, 2017
Received to review via Netgalley
Birthright is a fun, fast-moving story of a sort typical in fantasy: the lost heir to a throne taken by a tyrant. And this version is a fun example of the genre, with strong female characters coming out of your ears — and falling in love with each other, too. The love story is at least as important to the plot as the lost heir, which is worth keeping in mind; it motivates the way the end of the story shakes out, and takes up a good amount of the narration. I enjoyed that though Aiden is boyish and Kathryn more feminine, there’s no stereotyping — both can fight, both can rule, both know what they’re doing.
There are a couple of moments where I felt things rushed by a little too fast — the connection between the two characters grows very quickly in just a couple of scenes — and where I’d have liked a bit more depth, like the characters of Frost and of Gareth, or even Rowan. Without more background, for example, Kathryn’s jealous moment made little sense, especially since how we got to that moment felt a little contrived.
Nonetheless, it’s fun and has a happy ever after, and I’d definitely recommend it to people looking for lesbian fantasy.
Originally posted on my blog.
Birthright is a fun, fast-moving story of a sort typical in fantasy: the lost heir to a throne taken by a tyrant. And this version is a fun example of the genre, with strong female characters coming out of your ears — and falling in love with each other, too. The love story is at least as important to the plot as the lost heir, which is worth keeping in mind; it motivates the way the end of the story shakes out, and takes up a good amount of the narration. I enjoyed that though Aiden is boyish and Kathryn more feminine, there’s no stereotyping — both can fight, both can rule, both know what they’re doing.
There are a couple of moments where I felt things rushed by a little too fast — the connection between the two characters grows very quickly in just a couple of scenes — and where I’d have liked a bit more depth, like the characters of Frost and of Gareth, or even Rowan. Without more background, for example, Kathryn’s jealous moment made little sense, especially since how we got to that moment felt a little contrived.
Nonetheless, it’s fun and has a happy ever after, and I’d definitely recommend it to people looking for lesbian fantasy.
Originally posted on my blog.
February 16, 2017
This book was ok. I liked the main characters and the setting. Unfortunately, there wasn't much chemistry there for the romance, but it was sweet. The book was short which may have not given time for better development. I liked the characters enough to read further stories written by the author.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2017
This is a fantasy taking place in a medieval setting. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. Although it did not grab me until the third chapter, from that point on I wanted to continue reading to find out what was going to happen in this adventure.
The two main characters are Aiden and Kathryn. Aiden is an orphan who was raised in a monastery and is quite naïve in all areas of life. She is not aware that she is really royalty until she meets Kathryn. Kathryn is a queen who comes to rescue Aiden at the beginning of the book. She is experienced in warfare and in sexual encounters. As one might expect, Aiden and Kathryn immediately feel an attraction and eventually identify it as love. The sex scenes were not intense and therefore didn’t take away from the storyline.
There are two secondary characters, Venn and Rowen. Venn is the protector for Aiden and Rowen is a cousin to Kathryn. They were good supporting characters and added to the story.
I found it interesting that the book appears to be set in a medieval era where love between two women is considered normal. This is certainly a wishful fantasy. I am glad to see that this was not a main issue.
The storyline is good and the momentum continues at a fast pace. The chapters are short and allow for Ms. Vaun to easily move from one main character to another to tell the story.
I have not read one of Ms. Vaun’s books but will surely do so in the future. It is always nice to read a new author and decide to follow their past and future creations. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a well written book over a weekend. Sit back and enjoy the light fantasy. I gave Birthright 4 out of 5 stars.
I was given this ARC in return for an honest review.
The two main characters are Aiden and Kathryn. Aiden is an orphan who was raised in a monastery and is quite naïve in all areas of life. She is not aware that she is really royalty until she meets Kathryn. Kathryn is a queen who comes to rescue Aiden at the beginning of the book. She is experienced in warfare and in sexual encounters. As one might expect, Aiden and Kathryn immediately feel an attraction and eventually identify it as love. The sex scenes were not intense and therefore didn’t take away from the storyline.
There are two secondary characters, Venn and Rowen. Venn is the protector for Aiden and Rowen is a cousin to Kathryn. They were good supporting characters and added to the story.
I found it interesting that the book appears to be set in a medieval era where love between two women is considered normal. This is certainly a wishful fantasy. I am glad to see that this was not a main issue.
The storyline is good and the momentum continues at a fast pace. The chapters are short and allow for Ms. Vaun to easily move from one main character to another to tell the story.
I have not read one of Ms. Vaun’s books but will surely do so in the future. It is always nice to read a new author and decide to follow their past and future creations. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a well written book over a weekend. Sit back and enjoy the light fantasy. I gave Birthright 4 out of 5 stars.
I was given this ARC in return for an honest review.
August 6, 2017
I like this writing! I got into it immediately - the detail really helped me picture the scene.
It’s a beautiful love story.
But it’s stories like this that make me rethink my Goodreads star-rating system.
Normally, if I thoroughly enjoyed a book, I will give it a 4-star rating. This is the problem with the Goodreads ratings skewing high. I can think a book is great - and recommend it to people and it still only have 4 stars. I reserve the 5-star rating for those books that pushed me over the edge; that had that je ne said quoi that made me fall in love with it.
But it seems like a crime to give this book a 4-star rating. It was very well-written; very enjoyable. I’d recommend it to other people. So, do I give it a 4? A 5? A 4.5 and round up to a 5?
This has got to be frustrating to authors. When people gush about a book in a review and only give it 4 stars? That’s got to be annoying.
Anyway. I don’t normally give ½ stars to a book. But I think this one was a 4.5. Rounded to 5.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
It’s a beautiful love story.
But it’s stories like this that make me rethink my Goodreads star-rating system.
Normally, if I thoroughly enjoyed a book, I will give it a 4-star rating. This is the problem with the Goodreads ratings skewing high. I can think a book is great - and recommend it to people and it still only have 4 stars. I reserve the 5-star rating for those books that pushed me over the edge; that had that je ne said quoi that made me fall in love with it.
But it seems like a crime to give this book a 4-star rating. It was very well-written; very enjoyable. I’d recommend it to other people. So, do I give it a 4? A 5? A 4.5 and round up to a 5?
This has got to be frustrating to authors. When people gush about a book in a review and only give it 4 stars? That’s got to be annoying.
Anyway. I don’t normally give ½ stars to a book. But I think this one was a 4.5. Rounded to 5.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
February 19, 2018
My critique of this is much the same as my critiques of other books by Vaun have been - there is too much time/emotion/energy spent on the romantic relationship between the main characters and the unique plot they are dropped into suffers because of it. It feels particularly egregious with this book because it feels almost fantasy like, but there is next to no world building. Part of me thinks I should just accept that this is who Vaun is as a writer (and I do), but I can’t seem to avoid the feeling of desperation I have while reading these books, trying to will the characters in a different direction, to participate in the story and the world around them. It’s frustrating.
February 4, 2017
I received this copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I liked this story a lot. Well written, not to heavy, active, and flowed along at a nice pace. It would be a nice selection for vacations or "looking for belief in love again" types. It runs a bit along the typical lesbian story of everyone is ok with strong women figures in history and no one bats at any of it, but that's a nice thing to envision in current times.
August 26, 2023
I'm conflicted. It's an easy read. Well written, but it could have been so much more.
February 4, 2021
3.4 star ratings
This is a book I would have appreciated better for its style if i were still wet behind the ears....it truly would have been delightfully entertaining. However, at present, it seemed juvenile and it was a quick read. All the same it presented the entertainment
This is a book I would have appreciated better for its style if i were still wet behind the ears....it truly would have been delightfully entertaining. However, at present, it seemed juvenile and it was a quick read. All the same it presented the entertainment
February 21, 2017
Great book. I really enjoyed the pace, not to fast or slow. I do wish the book had been a bit longer.
* Honest review for Netgallery*
* Honest review for Netgallery*
March 21, 2017
*I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
Missouri Vaun's Birthright is an LGBT fantasy/adventure novel. The author develops a world that has a medieval feeling, complete with monasteries and vassal farmers, while also being a place and time where a lesbian relationship is just as legitimate and open as a heterosexual one. This kept pleasantly surprising me throughout my reading of the book. The adventure part of the story was fun, including traveling across kingdoms, on "wind-ships" across deserts, and plenty of sword fighting.
While I felt that the fantasy world was well-developed, I was less impressed with the main characters. Queen Kathryn has prematurely inherited the throne from her recently deceased father and is experiencing some struggles presenting herself as a strong ruler. She is being challenged by a neighboring kingdom's ruler, Balak. When she hears news of the resurfacing of a missing, legitimate heir to Balak's kingdom, she sets out to find him. She is surprised to discover that Aiden, the long-lost rumored heir, is actually a young woman who has been raised by warrior monks. The two experience an immediate attraction and a romance that develops seemingly overnight. While their romance was sweet, I did not find it interesting, nor was I rooting for their love story. I had trouble connecting with these two, finding the secondary characters of Rowen and Venn more interesting and appealing.
This book is worth reading for its fantasy world alone. In our world, where those in the LGBTQ communities still often face derision, prejudice, and danger for living and loving openly, being immersed in a world where the Queen can openly love another woman is a refreshing break from reality.
Missouri Vaun's Birthright is an LGBT fantasy/adventure novel. The author develops a world that has a medieval feeling, complete with monasteries and vassal farmers, while also being a place and time where a lesbian relationship is just as legitimate and open as a heterosexual one. This kept pleasantly surprising me throughout my reading of the book. The adventure part of the story was fun, including traveling across kingdoms, on "wind-ships" across deserts, and plenty of sword fighting.
While I felt that the fantasy world was well-developed, I was less impressed with the main characters. Queen Kathryn has prematurely inherited the throne from her recently deceased father and is experiencing some struggles presenting herself as a strong ruler. She is being challenged by a neighboring kingdom's ruler, Balak. When she hears news of the resurfacing of a missing, legitimate heir to Balak's kingdom, she sets out to find him. She is surprised to discover that Aiden, the long-lost rumored heir, is actually a young woman who has been raised by warrior monks. The two experience an immediate attraction and a romance that develops seemingly overnight. While their romance was sweet, I did not find it interesting, nor was I rooting for their love story. I had trouble connecting with these two, finding the secondary characters of Rowen and Venn more interesting and appealing.
This book is worth reading for its fantasy world alone. In our world, where those in the LGBTQ communities still often face derision, prejudice, and danger for living and loving openly, being immersed in a world where the Queen can openly love another woman is a refreshing break from reality.
February 3, 2017
OH MY GOD! I absolutely loved every thing about this story. From the opening paragraph to the closing moments, this story held my interest throughout. Rich, well developed characters, with substance and interesting personalities helped move this story and kept me glued to every single page. Capable swordswomen, fair, but no less capable maidens, in a world where a mysterious foundling can learn that she is the heir to a kingdom she did not know existed. I slurped this book as soon as I had it in my hand and now am regretting that I have to leave Aiden and Kathryn behind. I have high hopes for a sequel of some sort, as there are other characters whose stories I'd like to know.
Missouri Vaun has done it again.
Missouri Vaun has done it again.
February 4, 2018
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF
Unfortunately I could not finish this one. Everything felt a little flat and I didn't feel like reading it becuase of it.
Might give it another chance someday, but it's unlikely.
DNF
Unfortunately I could not finish this one. Everything felt a little flat and I didn't feel like reading it becuase of it.
Might give it another chance someday, but it's unlikely.
dnf
July 25, 2018DNF. Couldn't relate to the characters in the book.
April 17, 2017
A solid 3.5 stars on this one, but I can't quite bring myself to click '4'. It was an enjoyable read overall. It's easy to get through, being short and plainly yet effectively written. I always like to see a book where the author doesn't need to use evil male characters hell bent on sexual assault to propel a story, and this one didn't end up doing so, which was great. It also didn't make sexuality or gender a big issue, people just are who they are and love who they love. All good points, in my opinion.
I did find myself questioning how fast the two leading ladies seemed to fall for each other, with there being very little interaction before they become closer physically. I would have liked to see more world building and more time spent developing a more convincing relationship between K. and A. There's so much untapped potential here.
In a fantasy novel, readers are usually keen to know more about the landscape, the political situations, ceremonial practices and so on. A lot of these genre tropes felt glossed over in this novel, as though the situation between warring households was only there as a backdrop to the romance story. The scenes on the desert involving the wind ship were fantastic and the closest the book came to being a genuine example of fantasy. More of this sort of thing would've been fabulous.
I am not, personally, a fan of 'head hopping', so the perspective of the story changing from one person to another within the same chapter, even the same scene, was a little frustrating at times. This may not even matter to most readers though.
Overall, its worth reading if you are looking for something fairly short and formulaic. Nothing wrong with either of those things, just don't expect a grand, epic fantasy. It's a bit lighter than other texts you may find in the genre.
I did find myself questioning how fast the two leading ladies seemed to fall for each other, with there being very little interaction before they become closer physically. I would have liked to see more world building and more time spent developing a more convincing relationship between K. and A. There's so much untapped potential here.
In a fantasy novel, readers are usually keen to know more about the landscape, the political situations, ceremonial practices and so on. A lot of these genre tropes felt glossed over in this novel, as though the situation between warring households was only there as a backdrop to the romance story. The scenes on the desert involving the wind ship were fantastic and the closest the book came to being a genuine example of fantasy. More of this sort of thing would've been fabulous.
I am not, personally, a fan of 'head hopping', so the perspective of the story changing from one person to another within the same chapter, even the same scene, was a little frustrating at times. This may not even matter to most readers though.
Overall, its worth reading if you are looking for something fairly short and formulaic. Nothing wrong with either of those things, just don't expect a grand, epic fantasy. It's a bit lighter than other texts you may find in the genre.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews