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Faithless
One wild night, Shance Windkeeper discovers he is married to a death unicorn.
But that’s the least of his troubles.
As an agent for the Lawless, Shance is working with dragonshifters Kesia Ironfire and Zephryn Nightstalker, trying to end the dragon-human war and the organization that masterminded it. While on a mission in the Scepter of Knowledge, the Lawless is hit with a devastating death unicorn attack.
Out of the wreckage new allies emerge: Lirome Ukerys, and his twin sister Maira, the death unicorn queen—Shance’s long-lost wife.
Recently freed from captivity, Maira is fighting to regain control of her herd. Lurien Alistil, a rogue death unicorn, has bespelled the Scepter of Knowledge and taken Maira’s son. When Kesia unexpectedly challenges Lurien to a public debate over the fate of the city, the Lawless has a chance to break the usurper’s hold. To obtain vital information they must infiltrate her lair—and as the husband of the death unicorn queen, Shance Windkeeper is the perfect prize to go in.
But Lurien’s power is stronger and more insidious than they realize. And if the final pieces of her plan fall into place, not even Shance’s newfound Talents and knowledge will be enough to stop her.
But that’s the least of his troubles.
As an agent for the Lawless, Shance is working with dragonshifters Kesia Ironfire and Zephryn Nightstalker, trying to end the dragon-human war and the organization that masterminded it. While on a mission in the Scepter of Knowledge, the Lawless is hit with a devastating death unicorn attack.
Out of the wreckage new allies emerge: Lirome Ukerys, and his twin sister Maira, the death unicorn queen—Shance’s long-lost wife.
Recently freed from captivity, Maira is fighting to regain control of her herd. Lurien Alistil, a rogue death unicorn, has bespelled the Scepter of Knowledge and taken Maira’s son. When Kesia unexpectedly challenges Lurien to a public debate over the fate of the city, the Lawless has a chance to break the usurper’s hold. To obtain vital information they must infiltrate her lair—and as the husband of the death unicorn queen, Shance Windkeeper is the perfect prize to go in.
But Lurien’s power is stronger and more insidious than they realize. And if the final pieces of her plan fall into place, not even Shance’s newfound Talents and knowledge will be enough to stop her.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2018
30 people want to read
About the author
Janeen Ippolito
36 books150 followersJaneen Ippolito does all the things! She’s an award-winning author of bestselling fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. She’s also an experienced editor, coach, and marketing strategist and ran a publishing house for seven years. She hosts the Author Culture podcast and is an in-demand teacher and speaker who helps authors grow their book businesses in healthy, sustainable ways. In her spare time, she helps her husband with his youth swordfighting programs, cooks fun food, reads whatever she feels like, and plays the ukulele. Connect with her at jiauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 12, 2018
I can't talk about this book. Everything I think of is a Spoiler. I really want to talk about the plot twist when ___ ___. Or about the unexpected romance between ___ and ___. Or the fact that Shance has a ___ and a ___, oh and he's actually a _____!
There are Death Unicorns! As in Unicorn Assassins who bring Death! The Cat Dragon is actually ____ and he can ___.
(Hold on I think I hear sirens.)
My review has been edited by the spoiler police. Below is all I'm allowed to tell you:
This book has much feels. There are many surprises. You will not want to miss it.
The spoiler police are real spoil sports.
Why is this so hard? Why haven't you read this book yet?
Read the book before I get arrested for spoilers.
*I was given a free ARC of this novel in good faith with the hope that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. All opinions are my own including the opinion that spoilers are hard to avoid.*
There are Death Unicorns! As in Unicorn Assassins who bring Death! The Cat Dragon is actually ____ and he can ___.
(Hold on I think I hear sirens.)
My review has been edited by the spoiler police. Below is all I'm allowed to tell you:
This book has much feels. There are many surprises. You will not want to miss it.
The spoiler police are real spoil sports.
Why is this so hard? Why haven't you read this book yet?
Read the book before I get arrested for spoilers.
*I was given a free ARC of this novel in good faith with the hope that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. All opinions are my own including the opinion that spoilers are hard to avoid.*
August 8, 2020
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/tJbE35I2jvA
I wish I wasn't sick and brain muddled so I could accurately describe how much I loved this book. It well exceeded ALL my expectations and absolutely loved everything about this powerful story.
Truly, it's a must read. The author weaves in so many layers to the story itself and the characters. I felt encouraged and inspired by different truths that characters like Kesia learn about herself. It's ultimately a story of growth, and I think one for the reader too.
As with the first novel and novella in this series, there is still plenty of snark to make one smile and sometimes laugh. (Ademis is awesome!) Yet, I will mention there are parts of sadness too. Everything was so beautifully woven together and brings a story of discovering who you are, despite what may have happened in the past.
Lastly, because I have to mention it. Lirome is AMAZING!!!! I did not expect to enjoy his character so much, but AH! I greatly did and I'm excited for all the growing I know he'll do in the next book.
I would definitely recommend this series to fantasy and steampunk readers alike. Great world building, plot twists, romance, and characters that will leave you desperate for the next chapter (and book).
*(Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me an ARC. I was not required to write a review or positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
I wish I wasn't sick and brain muddled so I could accurately describe how much I loved this book. It well exceeded ALL my expectations and absolutely loved everything about this powerful story.
Truly, it's a must read. The author weaves in so many layers to the story itself and the characters. I felt encouraged and inspired by different truths that characters like Kesia learn about herself. It's ultimately a story of growth, and I think one for the reader too.
As with the first novel and novella in this series, there is still plenty of snark to make one smile and sometimes laugh. (Ademis is awesome!) Yet, I will mention there are parts of sadness too. Everything was so beautifully woven together and brings a story of discovering who you are, despite what may have happened in the past.
Lastly, because I have to mention it. Lirome is AMAZING!!!! I did not expect to enjoy his character so much, but AH! I greatly did and I'm excited for all the growing I know he'll do in the next book.
I would definitely recommend this series to fantasy and steampunk readers alike. Great world building, plot twists, romance, and characters that will leave you desperate for the next chapter (and book).
*(Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me an ARC. I was not required to write a review or positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
October 14, 2018
A bold, vibrant continuation of the series. The story had me from the start and unfolded in unexpected and potent ways. It was deeply satisfying to watch the characters' (especially Shance and Kesia) journeys unfold as they grew and came into their own. One of my favorites reads this year!
December 7, 2018
HELP! I don't know how I feel about this!!
So I'm finally writing a review for this and I'm still not sure how I feel about the BIG THING that happened. I'm still sad and not sure how I feel about all the things that happened as fallout from it.
BUT let's talk about Shance because he's awesome and this book is all about him. <3 He's one of my favorite characters in this series, so getting to find out more about his backstory and NOT TO MENTION THAT HE'S MARRIED! lol! It's in the synopsis, so not a spoiler. I loved his backstory and all the feels that came with it! And how he's now trying to take care of everyone. <3
Plot - intrigue and action abound! Plus heart breaking things. You have been warned. And all the unresolved things that make me worried for more books!
Characters - love them all. Except the villain. She's a special kind of creepy. ;)
Loved this book! Highly recommend for fans of steampunk fantasy, snarky characters, and adorable airship captains. ;)
So I'm finally writing a review for this and I'm still not sure how I feel about the BIG THING that happened. I'm still sad and not sure how I feel about all the things that happened as fallout from it.
BUT let's talk about Shance because he's awesome and this book is all about him. <3 He's one of my favorite characters in this series, so getting to find out more about his backstory and NOT TO MENTION THAT HE'S MARRIED! lol! It's in the synopsis, so not a spoiler. I loved his backstory and all the feels that came with it! And how he's now trying to take care of everyone. <3
Plot - intrigue and action abound! Plus heart breaking things. You have been warned. And all the unresolved things that make me worried for more books!
Characters - love them all. Except the villain. She's a special kind of creepy. ;)
Loved this book! Highly recommend for fans of steampunk fantasy, snarky characters, and adorable airship captains. ;)
February 22, 2021
Aaaaah! How do I review this book without spoiling something? The entire plot is one big spoiler!
Well…I’ll start with big-picture stuff. In Faithless (and the two books that came before, Lawless and Priceless) Janeen Ippolito weaves a fascinatingly complex and extremely original world. With unicorns (er, death unicorns—and by the way, the story behind why they’re called, specifically, *death* unicorns is an interesting one) and dragons in a steampunk fantasy world, I’ve never read another book like it. The worldbuilding, with the five Scepters and the different races, is so unique, and that’s probably one of my favorite things about this series. But then, I’ve always had a thing for genre-benders.
The character dynamics take new and unexpected directions in this third (second? Was Priceless #1.5?) installment of the Ironfire Legacy. I fell completely in love with Kesia—traumatized, broken, unsure of herself, but compassionate and kind to a fault. I liked the balance of kindness and sweetness and…well, dragon-ness in her character. She can be enthralled by a waterfall and yet also have the urge to hunt down a sheep and eat it. She is sweet and empathetic, and yet also blunt and completely unaware of human customs. (And I got a kick out of the shapeshifters’ annoyance with human clothing.) I loved her journey to discovering her own worth—and that’s all I’ll say about her character arc in this one, because the other Big Thing is a major spoiler.
Regarding the Big Thing (and you’ll know what I’m talking about when you read it), I wasn’t sure how I felt about the new plot development at first. After all, it seemed like all the setup in Lawless had suddenly been cut off. But once the plot really started to develop after that, I actually ended up really enjoying the direction the story took. (And the completely unexpected romance.)
Shance was…well, there’s a lot I could say about him, most of which are probably a little to spoiler-y for a review, but I will say this: the revelation of who and what he really is gave me chills. I loved his relationship with Maira, and it kind of makes me wish Ippolito would’ve written a book just about that backstory, because I want to read more of it than just a Shance-just-got-his-memories-back flashback scene. (Although that was an awesome scene, so that’s not exactly a complaint.)
Regarding relationships, one thing I should note is that there’s…very frequent talk of sex. No graphic scenes, but lots of implications. It didn’t *really* bother me, because it was either between a married couple or clearly intended to be creepy and wrong (*cough*Lurien*cough*) but it is…a fairly prominent part of the story. I guess personally I tend to like a little less of that kind of thing, but on the other hand, it was nice to see relationships between married couples portrayed with a healthy amount of attraction, because I feel like you don’t see that very often. So again, this doesn’t really add up to a complaint. Also, I liked that Shance’s…exploits…of the last book were clearly portrayed as a failing on his part, and something which his character develops away from.
But in general, I have very few actual criticisms. This series is unique and original and I’m excited to see where it goes in future books!
Well…I’ll start with big-picture stuff. In Faithless (and the two books that came before, Lawless and Priceless) Janeen Ippolito weaves a fascinatingly complex and extremely original world. With unicorns (er, death unicorns—and by the way, the story behind why they’re called, specifically, *death* unicorns is an interesting one) and dragons in a steampunk fantasy world, I’ve never read another book like it. The worldbuilding, with the five Scepters and the different races, is so unique, and that’s probably one of my favorite things about this series. But then, I’ve always had a thing for genre-benders.
The character dynamics take new and unexpected directions in this third (second? Was Priceless #1.5?) installment of the Ironfire Legacy. I fell completely in love with Kesia—traumatized, broken, unsure of herself, but compassionate and kind to a fault. I liked the balance of kindness and sweetness and…well, dragon-ness in her character. She can be enthralled by a waterfall and yet also have the urge to hunt down a sheep and eat it. She is sweet and empathetic, and yet also blunt and completely unaware of human customs. (And I got a kick out of the shapeshifters’ annoyance with human clothing.) I loved her journey to discovering her own worth—and that’s all I’ll say about her character arc in this one, because the other Big Thing is a major spoiler.
Regarding the Big Thing (and you’ll know what I’m talking about when you read it), I wasn’t sure how I felt about the new plot development at first. After all, it seemed like all the setup in Lawless had suddenly been cut off. But once the plot really started to develop after that, I actually ended up really enjoying the direction the story took. (And the completely unexpected romance.)
Shance was…well, there’s a lot I could say about him, most of which are probably a little to spoiler-y for a review, but I will say this: the revelation of who and what he really is gave me chills. I loved his relationship with Maira, and it kind of makes me wish Ippolito would’ve written a book just about that backstory, because I want to read more of it than just a Shance-just-got-his-memories-back flashback scene. (Although that was an awesome scene, so that’s not exactly a complaint.)
Regarding relationships, one thing I should note is that there’s…very frequent talk of sex. No graphic scenes, but lots of implications. It didn’t *really* bother me, because it was either between a married couple or clearly intended to be creepy and wrong (*cough*Lurien*cough*) but it is…a fairly prominent part of the story. I guess personally I tend to like a little less of that kind of thing, but on the other hand, it was nice to see relationships between married couples portrayed with a healthy amount of attraction, because I feel like you don’t see that very often. So again, this doesn’t really add up to a complaint. Also, I liked that Shance’s…exploits…of the last book were clearly portrayed as a failing on his part, and something which his character develops away from.
But in general, I have very few actual criticisms. This series is unique and original and I’m excited to see where it goes in future books!
October 24, 2018
Shance's story takes the forefront in Faithless, though there are some major events that happen in Kesia and Zephryn's storyline. One of which is... utterly shocking. The appearance of Lurien as their nemesis really ups the stakes in this book--not only is she a powerful death unicorn with many other death unicorns in her (and the Curious Intrigue's) service, she also holds Maira's son captive. Actually, I think you see more death unicorns than dragons in this one. Ademis the cat-dragon is also an utterly fascinating and unique character here, though he's in a rather more support-y role.
Storywise, things get more twisty--lots of secrets revealed, new enemies appear, unexpected connections, both good and bad... I really don't know what I can say that isn't spoilery. You just have to read it!
Where Lawless focused on redemption, resilience seems to be a key theme in this second book in the series. Blow after blow strikes the ranks of the Lawless, both personal and political, and it's all they can do to keep it together through death, near-death, and betrayal. Still, they push on. Kesia has to find new ways to survive, both emotionally and politically; Shance has to deal with extremely surprising revelations of his identity and past; Lirome has to deal with his dark past in light of his strange new future; and Maira has to figure out how to defeat Lurien, who's holding everything dear to her at ransom.
The one thing that confused me a little was the elocution ranks... which qualifies who can or cannot speak. I don't think that came up in any of the previous books, but it's probably something unique to the Scepter of Knowledge.
Faithless seems slightly less focused than Lawless and Priceless, probably because of it's wider scope and all the new threads that are going on. Still, it's an intriguing read, full of twists and revelations and OMG WHAT moments... and it looks like we might be heading to the Scepter of Pleasure next!
Can't wait! :)
Note: I received an ARC from the publisher. This review is my own independent and fair evaluation.
Storywise, things get more twisty--lots of secrets revealed, new enemies appear, unexpected connections, both good and bad... I really don't know what I can say that isn't spoilery. You just have to read it!
Where Lawless focused on redemption, resilience seems to be a key theme in this second book in the series. Blow after blow strikes the ranks of the Lawless, both personal and political, and it's all they can do to keep it together through death, near-death, and betrayal. Still, they push on. Kesia has to find new ways to survive, both emotionally and politically; Shance has to deal with extremely surprising revelations of his identity and past; Lirome has to deal with his dark past in light of his strange new future; and Maira has to figure out how to defeat Lurien, who's holding everything dear to her at ransom.
The one thing that confused me a little was the elocution ranks... which qualifies who can or cannot speak. I don't think that came up in any of the previous books, but it's probably something unique to the Scepter of Knowledge.
Faithless seems slightly less focused than Lawless and Priceless, probably because of it's wider scope and all the new threads that are going on. Still, it's an intriguing read, full of twists and revelations and OMG WHAT moments... and it looks like we might be heading to the Scepter of Pleasure next!
Can't wait! :)
Note: I received an ARC from the publisher. This review is my own independent and fair evaluation.
October 10, 2018
I recommend the novella PRICELESS from this series. That’s where I started reading but those characters have only minor roles in this book. The plot felt a tad disjointed to me, but I would still give it 3.5 out of five stars.
I thought this was going to be Shance’s story. About half of it is. The other half goes to Kesia, and I can’t really relate to a dragon with such low self-esteem. All of Shance’s charm was stolen from him for this book, so I didn’t like him as much as I did when he rescued and flirted with Kesia in the first book of the series.
There’s a lot of backstory for the unicorns in this book and as much as I liked the unicorn in PRICELESS he came across much differently in this story. And there wasn’t much told from his perspective so I could understand him better.
The universe is unique but I’m still unsure about the talents and how that magic system works. I felt by a second book that should be clearer.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and have decided to review it.
I thought this was going to be Shance’s story. About half of it is. The other half goes to Kesia, and I can’t really relate to a dragon with such low self-esteem. All of Shance’s charm was stolen from him for this book, so I didn’t like him as much as I did when he rescued and flirted with Kesia in the first book of the series.
There’s a lot of backstory for the unicorns in this book and as much as I liked the unicorn in PRICELESS he came across much differently in this story. And there wasn’t much told from his perspective so I could understand him better.
The universe is unique but I’m still unsure about the talents and how that magic system works. I felt by a second book that should be clearer.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and have decided to review it.
October 29, 2018
Ahh Faithless exceeded my expectations! It’s a story of growth, and I am absolutely obsessed with this series.
There are so many layers to this story and characters. Lots of snark, which had me grinning ear to ear.
I love Janeen Ippolito’s writing style. I’ve loved it since Lawless, and she hasn’t disappointed yet (and I doubt she will). She was able to beautifully weave together intricate characters and a unique plot to give us a story about discovering who you are.
I highly recommend this series to fantasy and steampunk readers! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the world building, plot twists, characters and romance.
*I received an ARC from the publisher. This review is my own independent and fair evaluation.*
There are so many layers to this story and characters. Lots of snark, which had me grinning ear to ear.
I love Janeen Ippolito’s writing style. I’ve loved it since Lawless, and she hasn’t disappointed yet (and I doubt she will). She was able to beautifully weave together intricate characters and a unique plot to give us a story about discovering who you are.
I highly recommend this series to fantasy and steampunk readers! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the world building, plot twists, characters and romance.
*I received an ARC from the publisher. This review is my own independent and fair evaluation.*
May 21, 2019
Complex and Curiously Intriguing
Janeen Ippilito is a worldbuilding master. She did write the book on it after all. Her talent (Talent?) is showcased in Faithless with dragons, death unicorns, snarky cat shifters, and even a few humans.
Shance transforms as he comes into his own but never loses his roguish charm.
Kesia’s life takes an unexpected turn that twists the plot and deepens this series.
I hope there are more journeys to this world.
Janeen Ippilito is a worldbuilding master. She did write the book on it after all. Her talent (Talent?) is showcased in Faithless with dragons, death unicorns, snarky cat shifters, and even a few humans.
Shance transforms as he comes into his own but never loses his roguish charm.
Kesia’s life takes an unexpected turn that twists the plot and deepens this series.
I hope there are more journeys to this world.
June 23, 2021
a gripping story // heartbreaking... AAAHHHH... SOBS FOREVER // loved the development of the characters // Shance was a huge surprise // all the nail-biting at the end // would probably give this 4 stars but the amount of romance/longing for the bedroom stuff was a bit much for me... the couples in question are married (or end up married before said bedroom shenanigans occur) but it's just not my cup of tea to read
November 1, 2018
Great story! You will laugh, you will cry… as you read this novel of self-discovery. I found the story to be very interesting as I don’t usually read steam punk—and as such I think you will enjoy the story too. I definitely recommend you start of with Book 1 of the series though before delving into this book. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy from the publisher.
December 6, 2018
I loved this return to the world of Janeen Ippolito's Kesia and Co.! The new villain was a big threat to the crew, and I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of each character as they dealt with her dastardly deeds. I laughed a lot, cried some, and all-around had a great time. Can't wait for the next installment of the Ironfire Legacy!
July 14, 2019
It took me a long time to finish this. I kept starting other books. I'm not sure why, but this one didn't grip me quite the way the first book did, so I was easily distracted. It followed on well to the first book and was well-written; the characters were developed well and it wasn't hard to keep track of "who was who." I probably just have too many irons in the fire.
November 22, 2018
Awesome story. Suspense mixed with supernatural. Shance is an agent for the Lawless working with certain Shifters. A book that’s not to be missed.
May 25, 2021
This book is a very good read and was worth the it took to read it from cover to cover. It does great as the second book in the series and I recommend it to anyone that enjoyed the first book.
July 17, 2025
Book three of the Ironfire Legacy is a novel, not a novella. (See review of book two.) But it should have been a book plus a novella. The author packed in so much information that I found the next storyline and the next twist and the next hurdle more and more difficult to digest and accept.
Then why do I give the book an okay rating? Because I loved Lirome. His sister not so much. Lurien the radical hedonist and feminist (how old was the boy?) won the award for most resented character. But her past pain didn’t warrant her revenge. And my opinion of Shance hit rock bottom. But give me a unicorn like Lirome any day.
Some plot points I struggled with. For example, I failed to understand how a debate between two non-ruling parties could determine the governmental destiny for an entire nation. Weird. And I still get confused with the inconsistency with whether or not you’re naked when you shift shape and whether or not you care about it. You’d think that would be important to know.
But book three was a good one and a half books. Perhaps the author would be willing to write a novella (I wouldn’t mind that if I knew ahead of time) in which she explained Maira. And why Shance felt no shock at learning how old he is. And other backstory that would make re-reading this book essential. I’d look forward to it. Would you? Have a read and see for yourself.
Then why do I give the book an okay rating? Because I loved Lirome. His sister not so much. Lurien the radical hedonist and feminist (how old was the boy?) won the award for most resented character. But her past pain didn’t warrant her revenge. And my opinion of Shance hit rock bottom. But give me a unicorn like Lirome any day.
Some plot points I struggled with. For example, I failed to understand how a debate between two non-ruling parties could determine the governmental destiny for an entire nation. Weird. And I still get confused with the inconsistency with whether or not you’re naked when you shift shape and whether or not you care about it. You’d think that would be important to know.
But book three was a good one and a half books. Perhaps the author would be willing to write a novella (I wouldn’t mind that if I knew ahead of time) in which she explained Maira. And why Shance felt no shock at learning how old he is. And other backstory that would make re-reading this book essential. I’d look forward to it. Would you? Have a read and see for yourself.
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