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The Scarred Earth Saga #2
The Princess Knight
Gemma Smythe dedicated her life to the glory of battle. With her fellow War Monks, she worshipped the war gods, rained destruction on her enemies, and raised the dead when the fancy took her. Until her sister Keeley became the prophesied Blacksmith Queen, and Gemma broke faith with her order to journey to the Amichai Mountain and fight by Keeley’s side.
The Amichai warriors are an unruly, never-to-be-tamed lot, especially their leader-in-waiting, Quinn. But when the War Monks declare support for Gemma’s ruthless younger sister Beatrix, the immaturity of her key ally is the least of Gemma’s problems. She has to get to the grand masters, dispel their grudge against her, and persuade them to fight for Keeley and justice. If her conviction can’t sway them, perhaps Quinn’s irritating, irreverent, clearly unhinged, ferocity will win the day . . .
The Amichai warriors are an unruly, never-to-be-tamed lot, especially their leader-in-waiting, Quinn. But when the War Monks declare support for Gemma’s ruthless younger sister Beatrix, the immaturity of her key ally is the least of Gemma’s problems. She has to get to the grand masters, dispel their grudge against her, and persuade them to fight for Keeley and justice. If her conviction can’t sway them, perhaps Quinn’s irritating, irreverent, clearly unhinged, ferocity will win the day . . .
354 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2020
862 people are currently reading
8201 people want to read
About the author
G.A. Aiken
56 books4,453 followersA.K.A. Shelly Laurenston
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author G.A. Aiken, Originally from Long Island, New York, lives on the West Coast and spends most of her time writing and making sure her rescued Pittie doesn’t love everyone into a coma. When she’s not writing about sexy dragons, she’s writing about sexy wolf, lion, tiger, and other fang-filled predators under the name Shelly Laurenston. Find out more about this New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors books at www.shellylaurenston.com.
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author G.A. Aiken, Originally from Long Island, New York, lives on the West Coast and spends most of her time writing and making sure her rescued Pittie doesn’t love everyone into a coma. When she’s not writing about sexy dragons, she’s writing about sexy wolf, lion, tiger, and other fang-filled predators under the name Shelly Laurenston. Find out more about this New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors books at www.shellylaurenston.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 894 reviews
November 24, 2020
Out today!! 24/11/20
4 stars
Review now posted 3/8/2020
When you pick up a G.A.Aiken/Shelly Laurenston book, you know two things for a certainty. One, you will get the most badass, kickass female characters and two, craziness will ensue in every shape, way or form. With multiple POVs, an abundance of quirky side characters and gory battles, this book was a ride and a half.
As this is an ARC I'm not sure what I can say and how I can explain without spoilers so bear with me. Gemma is a War Monk that has dedicated her life to a War God, Morthwyl. One of their powers is raising the dead. She has vigorously trained and fought for her God. But when the events of the previous book, happen and a prophesy of a Blacksmith Queen is made known and coming true, she drops everything to go to her family as the late King's heirs will kill Keeley, Gemma's sister, before letting her come to power.
Two years later when this book picks up, Queen Keeley is establishing her territory and has to deal with the remaining heirs. I fell in love with Keeley, who was the main character in the first book and I loved every appearance she made here. To be honest I think I loved her a bit too much and because of that I didn't quite get Gemma, her sister, the protagonist in this book. I enjoyed her but I didn't love her.
Gemma is very different from her sister in many ways. Where Keeley accepts everyone and offers no judgement, Gemma is paranoid and sees danger in every corner. One thing the two do have in common is their deep love of their family and willingness to protect them from any harm. We also get a bit better acquainted with another sister, nineteen year old Ainsley, who I'm hoping the next book will follow.
Once again this wasn't about the romance. The eventual romance between Gemma and Quinn takes backstage amid the battles, the politics, the plans and every new character that appears. And like in the previous book, I didn't feel any earth shattering chemistry. Their relationship was more of the best friends that needle each other, letting down their guards and becoming a devoted couple. I prefer my romance to have a bit more sizzle and push and pull but that's just me. I enjoyed reading about them getting together but I actually loved everything that was happening around them more. Like the heirs individual plans to destroy Keeley and the consequences from it all. The blurb doesn't even cover 2% of what actually goes on and that was the real roller coaster.
The events that happen during this book change the dynamics between Queen Keeley and the remaining heirs. The power struggle is real, the battles are awesome, and the side character additions made this into a pandemonium of a book. But I loved it all and I can't wait to find out where this is going.
30/7/2020
I got an ARC!!
** ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. **
28/3/20
4 stars
Review now posted 3/8/2020
When you pick up a G.A.Aiken/Shelly Laurenston book, you know two things for a certainty. One, you will get the most badass, kickass female characters and two, craziness will ensue in every shape, way or form. With multiple POVs, an abundance of quirky side characters and gory battles, this book was a ride and a half.
As this is an ARC I'm not sure what I can say and how I can explain without spoilers so bear with me. Gemma is a War Monk that has dedicated her life to a War God, Morthwyl. One of their powers is raising the dead. She has vigorously trained and fought for her God. But when the events of the previous book, happen and a prophesy of a Blacksmith Queen is made known and coming true, she drops everything to go to her family as the late King's heirs will kill Keeley, Gemma's sister, before letting her come to power.
Two years later when this book picks up, Queen Keeley is establishing her territory and has to deal with the remaining heirs. I fell in love with Keeley, who was the main character in the first book and I loved every appearance she made here. To be honest I think I loved her a bit too much and because of that I didn't quite get Gemma, her sister, the protagonist in this book. I enjoyed her but I didn't love her.
Gemma is very different from her sister in many ways. Where Keeley accepts everyone and offers no judgement, Gemma is paranoid and sees danger in every corner. One thing the two do have in common is their deep love of their family and willingness to protect them from any harm. We also get a bit better acquainted with another sister, nineteen year old Ainsley, who I'm hoping the next book will follow.
Once again this wasn't about the romance. The eventual romance between Gemma and Quinn takes backstage amid the battles, the politics, the plans and every new character that appears. And like in the previous book, I didn't feel any earth shattering chemistry. Their relationship was more of the best friends that needle each other, letting down their guards and becoming a devoted couple. I prefer my romance to have a bit more sizzle and push and pull but that's just me. I enjoyed reading about them getting together but I actually loved everything that was happening around them more. Like the heirs individual plans to destroy Keeley and the consequences from it all. The blurb doesn't even cover 2% of what actually goes on and that was the real roller coaster.
The events that happen during this book change the dynamics between Queen Keeley and the remaining heirs. The power struggle is real, the battles are awesome, and the side character additions made this into a pandemonium of a book. But I loved it all and I can't wait to find out where this is going.
30/7/2020
I got an ARC!!
** ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. **
28/3/20
November 5, 2020
At this point I’m used to the signature style of a GA Aiken fantasy series. There is blood, guts and glory. Strong women wielding hammers, swords and bows. Fantastic and hilarious side characters. Storylines that never get boring. All in all, great stories to escape in.
If you haven’t read the first book in this new series, The Blacksmith Queen or even the original series which started it all Dragon Kin, you really should start at the beginning. It’s worth it.
As with many of the author’s other books, this one has multiple POVs from recurring characters and builds on the storyline from The Blacksmith Queen. It’s a continuous plot that only gets more interesting with each book. Although each book has its own battles which are being resolved, the biggest enemy is always being dispatched at the end of the series.
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
I enjoyed Gemma’s storyline as much as Keeley’s from The Blacksmith Queen. Both are distinctively different women, but since they are sisters they are destined to push each other’s buttons in a typical GA Aiken/Shelly Laurenston way, which they do constantly and with glee. Keeley is still very much a main character, which makes sense since she is the Queen and family to Gemma.
The friendships in The Princess Knight were wonderfully satisfying, with lots of banter and teasing. The author’s signature humor was everywhere. Both Gemma and Quinn could be a bit ridiculous at times, but it just added to the overall fun of the story. Also they matched beautifully, had each other’s back, and almost understood one another without talking. Overall a pretty awesome couple.
For me Gemma and Quinn’s romance was even more slow burn than in The Blacksmith Queen. I feel the romance is just an afterthought at this point, and the fantasy and the story-building is in the main draw. So, please don’t expect much romance, this is really mostly a fantasy series.
BONUS: the book has the BEST ending for FANS of the Dragon Kin series. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!!!
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog
Follow me on Bookstagram
If you haven’t read the first book in this new series, The Blacksmith Queen or even the original series which started it all Dragon Kin, you really should start at the beginning. It’s worth it.
As with many of the author’s other books, this one has multiple POVs from recurring characters and builds on the storyline from The Blacksmith Queen. It’s a continuous plot that only gets more interesting with each book. Although each book has its own battles which are being resolved, the biggest enemy is always being dispatched at the end of the series.
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
I enjoyed Gemma’s storyline as much as Keeley’s from The Blacksmith Queen. Both are distinctively different women, but since they are sisters they are destined to push each other’s buttons in a typical GA Aiken/Shelly Laurenston way, which they do constantly and with glee. Keeley is still very much a main character, which makes sense since she is the Queen and family to Gemma.
The friendships in The Princess Knight were wonderfully satisfying, with lots of banter and teasing. The author’s signature humor was everywhere. Both Gemma and Quinn could be a bit ridiculous at times, but it just added to the overall fun of the story. Also they matched beautifully, had each other’s back, and almost understood one another without talking. Overall a pretty awesome couple.
For me Gemma and Quinn’s romance was even more slow burn than in The Blacksmith Queen. I feel the romance is just an afterthought at this point, and the fantasy and the story-building is in the main draw. So, please don’t expect much romance, this is really mostly a fantasy series.
BONUS: the book has the BEST ending for FANS of the Dragon Kin series. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!!!
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog
Follow me on Bookstagram
August 30, 2020
Blink and you will miss the love story…
The Princess Knight was a bloody good story but it wasn’t a great “love” story.
I could easily leave my review at that because I think it sums it up quite nicely.
But… I can’t help myself, and I probably need to explain my 5-star rating for a not great love story, so, here goes…
G.A. Aiken again proves her stuff writing such a thoroughly entertaining para/fantasy. The characters were strong, determined, obstinate, and extremely passionate about protecting and caring for those they love. The humour in this tale is off the charts and you can’t help but wear a goofy grin while reading. The storyline is riveting with very clear goodies and baddies and the goodies have me wanting to strap on armour and raise my sword to the cause.
This may not appeal to some, but I absolutely love the clarity identifying the good and bad guys. I don’t like suffering (along with the characters) when a friend turns out to be a foe. Sure, I get over it, but there is a little part of my book-loving heart that breaks with the betrayal. G.A. Aiken makes you feel connected to The Blacksmith Queen, her loyal Princess Knight, and the motley crew who stand with them. She also gives you a clear target with the very greedy, deceitful, and unemotional Beatrix. I know where my loyalty lies.
The family dynamics are a little crazy with siblings Keeley, Gemma, Beatrix, Ainsley, and a whole bunch of other brothers and sisters we haven’t formally met yet. Beatrix, obviously, is not really part of the family. She showed no loyalty, love, or care for her family, so she’s out and I’m very satisfied that in this instalment she reinforced the need to completely ostracise her. I really can’t see the author redeeming her, to be honest. Between Keeley, Gemma, and Ainsley, they squabble like most siblings but it’s obvious they love and care for each other. We also have the centaur siblings Cade, Laila and Quinn (forgive me if I've spelt their names wrong). Again, they squabble but they definitely have each other’s backs.
So, we get to the romance… or maybe lack of romance, part of the story. You’re going to laugh at this but it kind of worked. See, Gemma and Quinn are not mushy gushy people so we weren’t going to 'see' them pining over each other. They’ve seen some truly horrible stuff since the *War of Sisters* (my words, not a quote) began. Gemma is a War Monk who deals death blows daily. While she is passionate, she’s never really had the time or inclination to dedicate to someone who she could love. Quinn is such a great character with a dry sense of humour I really appreciate. He is strong, a great fighter, and very proud whether he has two legs or four.
Initially, Quinn and Gemma seem odd together, because they appear to hate each other. I even had to go back to the blurb to work out who the main couple was supposed to be. When they do eventually connect, it’s a blink and you could miss it type of connection. But, you realise that is was just the final piece to their love story that needed to be placed.
The Princess Knight was everything I hoped for and more. Packed with action, adventure, intrigue and a huge dose of humour, I loved every minute of it. I’m just sorry it took me days to get it read. I’m tempted to read it again when I can dedicate some serious hours to reading. I kind of miss those days where I could dedicate hours on end to sit and concentrate on a book. While I still love reading, there are too many things going on in my world… our world, that's messing with my concentration.
If you haven’t read a G.A. Aiken and love para/fantasy with a decent dose of humour, I highly recommend giving The Scarred Earth Saga a try.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
The Princess Knight was a bloody good story but it wasn’t a great “love” story.
I could easily leave my review at that because I think it sums it up quite nicely.
But… I can’t help myself, and I probably need to explain my 5-star rating for a not great love story, so, here goes…
G.A. Aiken again proves her stuff writing such a thoroughly entertaining para/fantasy. The characters were strong, determined, obstinate, and extremely passionate about protecting and caring for those they love. The humour in this tale is off the charts and you can’t help but wear a goofy grin while reading. The storyline is riveting with very clear goodies and baddies and the goodies have me wanting to strap on armour and raise my sword to the cause.
This may not appeal to some, but I absolutely love the clarity identifying the good and bad guys. I don’t like suffering (along with the characters) when a friend turns out to be a foe. Sure, I get over it, but there is a little part of my book-loving heart that breaks with the betrayal. G.A. Aiken makes you feel connected to The Blacksmith Queen, her loyal Princess Knight, and the motley crew who stand with them. She also gives you a clear target with the very greedy, deceitful, and unemotional Beatrix. I know where my loyalty lies.
The family dynamics are a little crazy with siblings Keeley, Gemma, Beatrix, Ainsley, and a whole bunch of other brothers and sisters we haven’t formally met yet. Beatrix, obviously, is not really part of the family. She showed no loyalty, love, or care for her family, so she’s out and I’m very satisfied that in this instalment she reinforced the need to completely ostracise her. I really can’t see the author redeeming her, to be honest. Between Keeley, Gemma, and Ainsley, they squabble like most siblings but it’s obvious they love and care for each other. We also have the centaur siblings Cade, Laila and Quinn (forgive me if I've spelt their names wrong). Again, they squabble but they definitely have each other’s backs.
So, we get to the romance… or maybe lack of romance, part of the story. You’re going to laugh at this but it kind of worked. See, Gemma and Quinn are not mushy gushy people so we weren’t going to 'see' them pining over each other. They’ve seen some truly horrible stuff since the *War of Sisters* (my words, not a quote) began. Gemma is a War Monk who deals death blows daily. While she is passionate, she’s never really had the time or inclination to dedicate to someone who she could love. Quinn is such a great character with a dry sense of humour I really appreciate. He is strong, a great fighter, and very proud whether he has two legs or four.
Initially, Quinn and Gemma seem odd together, because they appear to hate each other. I even had to go back to the blurb to work out who the main couple was supposed to be. When they do eventually connect, it’s a blink and you could miss it type of connection. But, you realise that is was just the final piece to their love story that needed to be placed.
The Princess Knight was everything I hoped for and more. Packed with action, adventure, intrigue and a huge dose of humour, I loved every minute of it. I’m just sorry it took me days to get it read. I’m tempted to read it again when I can dedicate some serious hours to reading. I kind of miss those days where I could dedicate hours on end to sit and concentrate on a book. While I still love reading, there are too many things going on in my world… our world, that's messing with my concentration.
If you haven’t read a G.A. Aiken and love para/fantasy with a decent dose of humour, I highly recommend giving The Scarred Earth Saga a try.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
March 28, 2022
*** 4.65 ***
These books are NOT for everyone! They are very specific type of over the top Fantasy, with an absurd romance, humorous family relationships, a whole a lot of beheadings, disembowelments, foul language, and at least one mandatory sex scene, which for me is the moment I zoom out, usually. It is very, very hard to put this in any specific genre, thus I think not enough people who might enjoy the books even give them a chance, because they are usually classified as paranormal romance, and as I already said, the romance is the least of it. I think that fans of Barbarian Fantasy might appreciate these series better than those of romance. Either way, if you love big swords, scared and scary strong women, and heroes who go into battle after a night of debauchery, this is something you need to check out! You will have fun, I promise 👍😎😃
These books are NOT for everyone! They are very specific type of over the top Fantasy, with an absurd romance, humorous family relationships, a whole a lot of beheadings, disembowelments, foul language, and at least one mandatory sex scene, which for me is the moment I zoom out, usually. It is very, very hard to put this in any specific genre, thus I think not enough people who might enjoy the books even give them a chance, because they are usually classified as paranormal romance, and as I already said, the romance is the least of it. I think that fans of Barbarian Fantasy might appreciate these series better than those of romance. Either way, if you love big swords, scared and scary strong women, and heroes who go into battle after a night of debauchery, this is something you need to check out! You will have fun, I promise 👍😎😃
September 12, 2020
I don’t know if you know this but The Blacksmith Queen by G.A Aiken was by far one of THE most memorable book of 2019 for me.
Keeley (The Blacksmith Queen) was one of THE most unique badass heroine I have EVER come across and Gemma (Keeley’s sister) intrigued the hell out of me.
For those who don’t know, Gemma is a war monk (I think that title pretty much sums up what she does) and she has fascinated me. She has always been such an angry character and the ‘curious me’ always wanted to probe about and find out her reasons.
Let’s start with the obvious because I LOVED Keeley and I did find myself drawing comparisons between the two (couldn’t help it 🙈).
While Keeley aka The Blacksmith Queen is always kind (not a pushover), generous (not gullible), welcoming (not stupid )and truly doesn’t judge people. Whereas Gemma was quite the opposite… angry, fowl tempered, hypocritical…did I mention ANGRY? She is like a little ball of anger. I am not doing Gemma much justice am I? BUT bear with me…hang on.
Besides the obvious personality difference, one can’t help but admire Gemma because though she may be smaller in size as compared to Keeley (I mean…she does wield a HAMMER!!), Gemma is a powerful, deathly package. It is because of G.A Aiken’s amazing storyline telling ability that makes this character truly unique and oh-so-interesting.
I never did like Quinn all that much in the first book to be honest BUT I have done a complete 180. Quinn is such a delight. Funny, sarcastic, humorous and deathly…
Quinn and Gemma have one of those chemistry that gets you glued to the story. Quinn knows just what buttons to push to annoy and irritate the hell out of Gemma. I honestly LIVE for those scenes. I loved how their relationship went from strength to strength… Around each other, they could be themselves, lean on each other, show their weakness without judgement. I think they become each other’s strength and weakness.
In all honesty, I cannot tell you how many times I laughed my ass off, wanted to shout my encouragement during certain scenes and cried my eyes out reading The Princess Knight. There were also moments in The Princess Knight where I felt exactly like the characters in the book, where we are just stood there, staring straight ahead for several long minutes. Saying nothing. Unable to move… Why you ask? Because those *clap* scenes *clap* were *clap* EPIC!!!!!!!
The Princess Knight is for all fantasy book lovers out there. The book is all about the power struggle, the battles (AMAZING!!!), the conflict of interests, the sheer unadulterated delights of love and respect, and the marvellous comical moments of old and new characters that you will definitely adore.
I for one, am already looking forward to reading more from this series.
P.S. Can we talking talking about that epilogue?! Can we?!
4.5 stars
September 18, 2022
I enjoyed the series very much. The reason for the four instead of five-star rating was because I expected recompense for Beatrix, the soulless queen, that enslaved children and mercilessly shed blood, but that part was up to the reader's imagination. Granted there are many ways I could imagine her final demise; I still wished the author completed it.
Once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down. It was a fun, humorous, action-packed read. I loved it.
Once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down. It was a fun, humorous, action-packed read. I loved it.
November 24, 2020
Have I told you lately how happy I am to have found G.A. Aiken's books?
There is just so much to love:
🎔 amazing banter
🎔 unbelievably beautiful world-building
🎔 remarkable characters. Although this author is famous for character dumps, so many people to keep track of, I haven't had a problem with it yet.
🎔 so much humor... I can't begin to count the amount of times I laughed. The fact that I was able to bust a gut while the characters were slicing and dicing and decapitating people says it all.
I easily fell in love with The Blacksmith Queen and knew by the end of it that I needed to get my hands on the next book. The Princess Knight did not disappoint. If anything, it exceeded my expectations. I was still a huge fan of Keeley and Caid and the men and women who made up their families and armies, but this story was primarily about Gemma and Quinn and they kept me entertained well up to the final word.
As a war monk, Gemma has never had a problem with meting out death. And in her opinion, no one deserves to be run through with her blade more than her sister, Beatrix. Actually, she has no shortage of people she'd love to hurt and Quinn, in all his awesomeness, hasn't escaped her notice. However, Quinn's charm and his pursuit to grant her every wish slowly wins her over. He finds his way not only onto her greatest ally list, but into her heart. And why not? He was AMAZING!!
From the battle scenes, the many reveals, and the complexities of the characters, a lot was going on in this book. There was so much heartbreak, plenty of triumphs, and tons of heart. While they were able to finally quash a coup from a villainous foe, Beatrix is still alive and kicking to cause trouble and torment another day. The cliffhanger of this part of the story is insane, more drama is sure to come, and I need the next book pronto!
There is just so much to love:
🎔 amazing banter
🎔 unbelievably beautiful world-building
🎔 remarkable characters. Although this author is famous for character dumps, so many people to keep track of, I haven't had a problem with it yet.
🎔 so much humor... I can't begin to count the amount of times I laughed. The fact that I was able to bust a gut while the characters were slicing and dicing and decapitating people says it all.
I easily fell in love with The Blacksmith Queen and knew by the end of it that I needed to get my hands on the next book. The Princess Knight did not disappoint. If anything, it exceeded my expectations. I was still a huge fan of Keeley and Caid and the men and women who made up their families and armies, but this story was primarily about Gemma and Quinn and they kept me entertained well up to the final word.
As a war monk, Gemma has never had a problem with meting out death. And in her opinion, no one deserves to be run through with her blade more than her sister, Beatrix. Actually, she has no shortage of people she'd love to hurt and Quinn, in all his awesomeness, hasn't escaped her notice. However, Quinn's charm and his pursuit to grant her every wish slowly wins her over. He finds his way not only onto her greatest ally list, but into her heart. And why not? He was AMAZING!!
From the battle scenes, the many reveals, and the complexities of the characters, a lot was going on in this book. There was so much heartbreak, plenty of triumphs, and tons of heart. While they were able to finally quash a coup from a villainous foe, Beatrix is still alive and kicking to cause trouble and torment another day. The cliffhanger of this part of the story is insane, more drama is sure to come, and I need the next book pronto!
August 11, 2020
I’m totally loving this series! Filled with so much excitement, drama, humor and intrigue, once I began I couldn’t stop.
Gemma was so different from Keeley and yet I loved her every bit as much as I did Keeley. I actually appreciated the differences between them and that this was not a replica of book one but was totally original in every way. Yet both of these characters are tough heroines as in they know how to kick tail and never look back.
Quinn intrigued me from the beginning. I learned to love him more as he proved to be the perfect sidekick for Gemma. The romance takes a far back seat and to be honest, this really isn’t romance at all in my opinion. The smexy times are kinda tossed in there but it really didn’t bother me. Everything else is so entertaining and engaging that I probably wouldn’t have missed it.
This book introduces a lot of new characters that I suspect we’ll be seeing plenty more of as it lays out a foundation for the series to be built upon. I’m curious to see exactly what is going to happen in future installments and how many books there will be until a resolution is found. I laughed my way through so many of the conflicts and found myself getting excited when certain characters were thrown into a scene together because I knew it was going to be good...and it was, every time.
And now to hurry up and wait for the next book.
Multi POV
Safe
Triggers
Gemma was so different from Keeley and yet I loved her every bit as much as I did Keeley. I actually appreciated the differences between them and that this was not a replica of book one but was totally original in every way. Yet both of these characters are tough heroines as in they know how to kick tail and never look back.
Quinn intrigued me from the beginning. I learned to love him more as he proved to be the perfect sidekick for Gemma. The romance takes a far back seat and to be honest, this really isn’t romance at all in my opinion. The smexy times are kinda tossed in there but it really didn’t bother me. Everything else is so entertaining and engaging that I probably wouldn’t have missed it.
This book introduces a lot of new characters that I suspect we’ll be seeing plenty more of as it lays out a foundation for the series to be built upon. I’m curious to see exactly what is going to happen in future installments and how many books there will be until a resolution is found. I laughed my way through so many of the conflicts and found myself getting excited when certain characters were thrown into a scene together because I knew it was going to be good...and it was, every time.
And now to hurry up and wait for the next book.
Multi POV
Safe
Triggers
April 8, 2023
#1) The Blackmsith Queen ★★☆☆☆
#3) The Heretic Royal ★★☆☆☆
➸ Trigger warnings for .
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
April 25, 2021
Diese Reihe macht so viel Spaß! ❤
December 9, 2020
THERE'S A COVERRRRR!!!!
I. CANNOT. WAIT.
November seems so...far away :(
But still...
I. CANNOT. WAIT!
EDIT : HAVE READ (09.12.2020) PROPER REVIEW TO COME ! 4.5 STARS !!
I. CANNOT. WAIT.
November seems so...far away :(
But still...
I. CANNOT. WAIT!
EDIT : HAVE READ (09.12.2020) PROPER REVIEW TO COME ! 4.5 STARS !!
May 3, 2021
The Princess Knight is the second book in The Scarred Earth Saga by G.A. Aiken and Narrated by Mia Barron.
I love Aiken’s Dragon Kin series, which The Scarred Earth Sage series is in the same world, just a different part, so I was very excited to start this second book. I loved The Blacksmith Queen and The Princess Knight didn’t disappoint.
Like most of Aiken’s books it’s pure chaos, jumping from one POV to the next. This is typical Aiken style and best to just go with the flow and not dive deeper into the meaning of things. It’s also got a dysfunctional family, disorders, name-calling, gore, violence, lots of hilarious banter and action.
We start The Princess Knight two years after the conclusion of The Blacksmith Queen. This time around we get to dive into Gemma’s life, the War Monk sister. Besides that we still have Keely trying to defeat her ruthless power hungry sister Beatrix and deal with another threat targeting different religious sects and stealing valuable powerful artifacts.
Gemma is our star in this novel. She’s fierce on and off the battlefield. She gave up her War Monk calling to help Keely, but she must return back to her War Monk home and things have changed. We learn more about her, her journey to become a War Monk and how she’s worried for Keely and her family.
We do get a romance thou the story doesn’t focus on it. It does make for a nice addition. It’s clear from the start that Quinn and Gemma have a strong connection. Their banter is fun and highlights their chemistry. I enjoyed the romance.
One of the aspects I like about Aiken’s Fantasy series is the strong fierce women she portrays. They are all intelligent and strong in their own way and yes they get partners, but their partners complement them and improve their kick-ass ness.
Narration: Mia Barron did a great job. She uses subtle clues to indicate the quick moving changes in POV. Each character has a unique speaking voice. I enjoyed the preference and pace.
Last, I have to just mention the epilogue. OMG I did a happy dance; because I’m a fan of Aiken’s Dragon Kin series, so I can’t wait for the next. All and all The Princess Knight was a nice listen and fun adventure.
Rated: 4 Stars
I love Aiken’s Dragon Kin series, which The Scarred Earth Sage series is in the same world, just a different part, so I was very excited to start this second book. I loved The Blacksmith Queen and The Princess Knight didn’t disappoint.
Like most of Aiken’s books it’s pure chaos, jumping from one POV to the next. This is typical Aiken style and best to just go with the flow and not dive deeper into the meaning of things. It’s also got a dysfunctional family, disorders, name-calling, gore, violence, lots of hilarious banter and action.
We start The Princess Knight two years after the conclusion of The Blacksmith Queen. This time around we get to dive into Gemma’s life, the War Monk sister. Besides that we still have Keely trying to defeat her ruthless power hungry sister Beatrix and deal with another threat targeting different religious sects and stealing valuable powerful artifacts.
Gemma is our star in this novel. She’s fierce on and off the battlefield. She gave up her War Monk calling to help Keely, but she must return back to her War Monk home and things have changed. We learn more about her, her journey to become a War Monk and how she’s worried for Keely and her family.
We do get a romance thou the story doesn’t focus on it. It does make for a nice addition. It’s clear from the start that Quinn and Gemma have a strong connection. Their banter is fun and highlights their chemistry. I enjoyed the romance.
One of the aspects I like about Aiken’s Fantasy series is the strong fierce women she portrays. They are all intelligent and strong in their own way and yes they get partners, but their partners complement them and improve their kick-ass ness.
Narration: Mia Barron did a great job. She uses subtle clues to indicate the quick moving changes in POV. Each character has a unique speaking voice. I enjoyed the preference and pace.
Last, I have to just mention the epilogue. OMG I did a happy dance; because I’m a fan of Aiken’s Dragon Kin series, so I can’t wait for the next. All and all The Princess Knight was a nice listen and fun adventure.
Rated: 4 Stars
April 6, 2021
Ok, so I didn't rate this one as high as the first book, why? Well while this book was seriously funny, I mean I laughed out loud many many times funny, I just had a hard time getting through it. When I was reading it I enjoyed it quite a bit. But putting it down was too easy to do and while it wasn't hard to pick it up to read again, I just didn't feel the pull to do so.
This book is a little different, it follows Gemma instead of Keeley this time. Which from a romance point of view is always a good idea. You get a fresh new romance to gush over while continuing the same story. Although Keeley seemed a bit crazier from Gemma's point of view than she did when the story followed her.
I really hope the next book follows their sister Ainsley. I think she would be a very interesting character to get into the mind of. And because she is apparently forgettable, there is a lot she can see without being seen. And the book ended on a serious cliffhanger so I know I just have to know what happens next.
This book is a little different, it follows Gemma instead of Keeley this time. Which from a romance point of view is always a good idea. You get a fresh new romance to gush over while continuing the same story. Although Keeley seemed a bit crazier from Gemma's point of view than she did when the story followed her.
I really hope the next book follows their sister Ainsley. I think she would be a very interesting character to get into the mind of. And because she is apparently forgettable, there is a lot she can see without being seen. And the book ended on a serious cliffhanger so I know I just have to know what happens next.
August 17, 2020
This time the author gives us Gemma the War Monk as our heroine which I hadn’t expected instead of her sister Keeley who two years ago became Queen of the Western Lands. Gemma has spent time protecting Keeley from their cold, evil, almost sociopathic sister Beatrix who is Queen of the East. Now though it’s Cyrus another of the old Kings children who is raging war and overthrowing religious sects . Gemma returns to her order to warn them but she’s not exactly sure that she will be welcome after all this time and it turns out she was right to worry !
Whilst I had initially hoped for more about Keeley I did enjoy this book which was very different. There are numerous characters which does mean you have to pay attention to just who everyone is. Witches, Monks, Nuns, Priests, Assassins, Virgins ( yes really !) Dwarves and just about everything else feature here although most notable was definitely a dead horse ! We still have the Centaurs around and indeed it’s Quinn the ever affable and always truthful who kind of sneaks up on Gemma. No it’s not an obvious romance and for this reader the chemistry wasn’t really there but it was everything happening around the couple that really kept me rapidly turning the pages.
In closing I will say that it’s everything I have come to expect from this author and so much more. I did feel at times that Gemma could very well be a honey badger because she’s this whirling dervish of a woman. Quinn understands Gemma in ways she doesn’t understand herself and continues to aggravate her and yet Gemma’s trust of him grows into so much more. The overall story arc evolved into something that I honestly hadn’t expected and that epilogue was absolutely fabulous and I cannot wait to get my grabby little hands on the next book because it’s going to be a glorious ride !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Whilst I had initially hoped for more about Keeley I did enjoy this book which was very different. There are numerous characters which does mean you have to pay attention to just who everyone is. Witches, Monks, Nuns, Priests, Assassins, Virgins ( yes really !) Dwarves and just about everything else feature here although most notable was definitely a dead horse ! We still have the Centaurs around and indeed it’s Quinn the ever affable and always truthful who kind of sneaks up on Gemma. No it’s not an obvious romance and for this reader the chemistry wasn’t really there but it was everything happening around the couple that really kept me rapidly turning the pages.
In closing I will say that it’s everything I have come to expect from this author and so much more. I did feel at times that Gemma could very well be a honey badger because she’s this whirling dervish of a woman. Quinn understands Gemma in ways she doesn’t understand herself and continues to aggravate her and yet Gemma’s trust of him grows into so much more. The overall story arc evolved into something that I honestly hadn’t expected and that epilogue was absolutely fabulous and I cannot wait to get my grabby little hands on the next book because it’s going to be a glorious ride !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
September 16, 2020
I got so excited when I found out my request for an ARC was approved. I loved the first book so much, craziness and fun all around, this book was just as good! I have to say The Princess Knight made me tear up a couple of times so it also shows how much I care for these characters.
In this sequel, Gemma, our war monk, is the main character but we also have chapters from Quinn and the author also includes perspectives from different characters along the way which was pretty nice and added another layer of humor sometimes.
Two years after the end of book one, we get to meet a lot of new characters in this book and therefore, we have new personalities to love (or hate like Sprenger). I do have to say this series really doesn't focus on the romance which is in the background and that changes a little from other books so that's nice but I can't say I didn't wish for a little more hints sometimes ;).
Other than that, the ending of this book is amazingly not the end of the series and I'm pretty sure there's going to be another book perhaps with Ainsley as a main character, you know that sister Gemma and Keeley keeps forgetting ^^. I'd love to see her and Ragna grow closer as their first meeting was pretty cool.
Overall, if you loved the first book, don't hesitate and pick this one up because you'll love it too!
(Thank you so much for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
In this sequel, Gemma, our war monk, is the main character but we also have chapters from Quinn and the author also includes perspectives from different characters along the way which was pretty nice and added another layer of humor sometimes.
Two years after the end of book one, we get to meet a lot of new characters in this book and therefore, we have new personalities to love (or hate like Sprenger). I do have to say this series really doesn't focus on the romance which is in the background and that changes a little from other books so that's nice but I can't say I didn't wish for a little more hints sometimes ;).
Other than that, the ending of this book is amazingly not the end of the series and I'm pretty sure there's going to be another book perhaps with Ainsley as a main character, you know that sister Gemma and Keeley keeps forgetting ^^. I'd love to see her and Ragna grow closer as their first meeting was pretty cool.
Overall, if you loved the first book, don't hesitate and pick this one up because you'll love it too!
(Thank you so much for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
April 27, 2023
Overall Rating : B-
Funny, stupid, easy to read, and every characters a hotty. Where can you go wrong?
Funny, stupid, easy to read, and every characters a hotty. Where can you go wrong?
February 7, 2021
THE PRINCESS KNIGHT is the second book in The Scarred Earth Saga and I was really excited about getting this book because I’m always a big fan of Aiken’s Fantasy series.
As you can expect, there’s a lot of hilarious banter and action. If you’re looking for something different and a little over-the-top, then I always recommend Aiken. She’s got an interesting set of characters that never fails to entertain me. You may need to exercise some patience though if you’re looking for fast-paced action and romance. However, I like that her books are written differently from the other Fantasy novels out there. You still get the same amount of Fantasy elements, but the pacing and presentation may just be a little different.
All in all, this book was enjoyable and I look forward to seeing more Fantasy novels from Aiken.
December 30, 2020
Notes:
3.5 Stars for Story, 3 Stars for Narration
This one only has one narrator. She's okay but has a tendency to stress on 's' and that kind of drives me nuts.
I think I would enjoy the series more if it focused on Keeley. I like Keeley a lot. Gemma is ok but not as interesting. Unfortunately, Aiken has decided to end the story on a mild cliffhanger. That wasn't necessary but it happened.
Fun books when you're in the mood for a light, fantasy adventure story.
3.5 Stars for Story, 3 Stars for Narration
This one only has one narrator. She's okay but has a tendency to stress on 's' and that kind of drives me nuts.
I think I would enjoy the series more if it focused on Keeley. I like Keeley a lot. Gemma is ok but not as interesting. Unfortunately, Aiken has decided to end the story on a mild cliffhanger. That wasn't necessary but it happened.
Fun books when you're in the mood for a light, fantasy adventure story.
March 3, 2021
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did not know that this was the second book in The Scarred Earth Saga series, but that didn't actually hinder my reading experience as much as I thought it would have as The Princess Knight follows Gemma and not Keeley (who the first book is The Blacksmith Queen). I will say that some parts of how Keeley was integrated into this book did confuse me slightly - but that is to be expected if I haven't read the first book.
I enjoyed the banter and humour and the strong female characters. I also liked how Gemma and her anger were portrayed.
The world-building is strong and I was able to immerse myself into the story, which is always a great sign.
This is definitely a great series for readers wanting to branch out into Adult Fantasy and need some recommendations.
I did not know that this was the second book in The Scarred Earth Saga series, but that didn't actually hinder my reading experience as much as I thought it would have as The Princess Knight follows Gemma and not Keeley (who the first book is The Blacksmith Queen). I will say that some parts of how Keeley was integrated into this book did confuse me slightly - but that is to be expected if I haven't read the first book.
I enjoyed the banter and humour and the strong female characters. I also liked how Gemma and her anger were portrayed.
The world-building is strong and I was able to immerse myself into the story, which is always a great sign.
This is definitely a great series for readers wanting to branch out into Adult Fantasy and need some recommendations.
October 28, 2020
When I entered for a free copy via BookishFirst, I didn't realize this was a sequel. So, when I won, I rushed and snagged a copy of Blacksmith Queen and dove in. Suffice it to say, I absolutely loved it. I was not prepared for the level of sass and badassery. I thought nothing can top this book, a sequel especially. But boy, was I wrong. I got exactly what book one had:
Amazing banter
Strong, but flawed heroines
a funny family dynamic
centaur love
demon wolves
Gary the sorcerer
Need I say more?
PRINCESS KNIGHT centers not around Keely, but around the war monk sister, Gemma. I was so happy when I found that out. Gemma is the most intriguing character so it was amazing to read the book mostly through her POV. They all still Beatrix, and there's no shortage of sisterly arguments that had me roaring. I loved Quinn and everything he represented for Gemma. They had a sort of love/hate thing that worked.
I cannot wait for the third book. I want to read more about Ainsley!
Amazing banter
Strong, but flawed heroines
a funny family dynamic
centaur love
demon wolves
Gary the sorcerer
Need I say more?
PRINCESS KNIGHT centers not around Keely, but around the war monk sister, Gemma. I was so happy when I found that out. Gemma is the most intriguing character so it was amazing to read the book mostly through her POV. They all still Beatrix, and there's no shortage of sisterly arguments that had me roaring. I loved Quinn and everything he represented for Gemma. They had a sort of love/hate thing that worked.
I cannot wait for the third book. I want to read more about Ainsley!
Read
February 12, 2021
THE PRINCESS KNIGHT is the second book in The Scarred Earth Saga and I was really excited about getting this book because I’m always a big fan of Aiken’s Fantasy series.
As you can expect, there’s a lot of hilarious banter and action. If you’re looking for something different and a little over-the-top, then I always recommend Aiken. She’s got an interesting set of characters that never fails to entertain me. You may need to exercise some patience though if you’re looking for fast-paced action and romance. However, I like that her books are written differently from the other Fantasy novels out there. You still get the same amount of Fantasy elements, but the pacing and presentation may just be a little different.
All in all, this book was enjoyable and I look forward to seeing more Fantasy novels from Aiken.
Reviewed by Ann❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
March 17, 2023
Second in The Scarred Earth Saga fantasy series and revolving around Queen Keeley, the Blacksmith Queen, and her world. The couple focus is on Brother Gemma and Quinn, although it’s a romance you really have to look for.
My Take
The Smythe family would fit right in with the Dragon Kin. Although I do wonder about Uncle Archie and his desire to teach the kids how to slit each others’ throats. Ugh.
With that, Aiken is using third person global subjective point-of-view, as there are many a’many characters whose thoughts, actions, and feelings we encounter in this tale of greed versus compassion.
That Brother Sprenger . . . not much of a monk. And he takes it out on Gemma that day that Katla, Kir, and Shona are promoted.
Beatrix. Oh boy. Just goes to show that nature has overwhelmed nurture in the Smythe family. The whole family may be somewhat nuts, but Beatrix is in a nasty class of her own.
Lol, “they’d have to stop thinking like fair-minded individuals and start thinking like men”. Hmmm, d’ya think this is a woman-oriented story?
It’s also animal-oriented. There’s Keeley with her appreciation for all animals, understanding their “negative” behavior. And, of course, ahem, the centaurs, lol.
After two years, Agathon has gotten to know Queen Beatrix very well. And he’s terrified. It must be true because King Marius is terrified of her as well. He certainly isn’t as smart as she is.
Geez, all the politics in whether Beatrix, oh, and Marius, should offer protection to religious orders. Beatrix uses some disgusting “politics”.
Interesting, Brother Gemma reveals her real purpose in coming to the war monks. A purpose that got redirected after Brother Sprenger’s attack. Wait’ll Sprenger finds out what Gemma did to/with Kriegszorn! Oops. I guess he won’t, and I suspect you’ll find Kriegszorn as gross — and yet as funny — as I do.
Another threat, lol, yes it is gross, and yet it’s quite funny coming from Quinn, when he’s in his centaur form. An unfunny threat is from Beatrix and her master plan for using orphaned children. I do love how that plan turns on her. Although, Beatrix does think ahead and there was that prophetic question she asks at the end.
The interaction between these memorable characters is similar to that in the Dragon Kin series, but less funny and more violent. There’s a huge escalation of the nasty, especially in the bad guys. *shudder* And still a fascinating read.
I’m looking forward to reading The Heretic Royal , 3 — I want to read the encounter between this series’ characters with those of the Dragon Kin series . . . and what Beatrix plans next.
The Story
With orders to spread Queen Keeley’s offers of protection to endangered religious groups, Brother Gemma returns, after two years, to the Order of Righteous Valor where she’s threatened with execution.
It’s an amazing journey with the Amichai and the heretics, as they do battle across the land.
The Characters
Brother Gemma Smythe is a Warrior Monk with the Order of Righteous Valor, and she’s painfully honest. Dagger is the horse who “succeeded” Kriegszorn. Samuel is her frightened squire.
Keeley Smythe, Gemma’s eldest sister, is the The Blacksmith Queen , 1, the Queen of the Hill Lands. Her demon wolves are loved. A primarily blacksmithing family, there are ten other Smythe siblings — their parents, Emma, a blacksmith, and Angus Farmerson, a pig farmer, are prolific. Ainsley, the “loudest hog caller in all the valleys, is amazing with a bow, and yet her siblings keep forgetting she’s there. Isadora appears to be the primary caregiver for the younger children, who include Cadell, Farlan, Endelyon . . . and Beatrix. Cousin Keran is a retired mercenary who loves the bottle. Uncle Archie is absolutely nuts and also brilliant at engineering. He’s in cahoots with the stonemason dwarves. Poor old Tommy, their da loved that pig.
Carl is a servant. Old Matheson got mauled by a she-bear. Mary decided to take the job as head cook to Keeley.
The Amichai are . . .
. . . a race of shapeshifting centaurs, and it’s the Scarred Earth Clan who are allied to Keeley Smythe. Quinn, the nutter, and Caid (the gruff one who’s sleeping with Keeley) are brothers; Laila is their logical sister and their mother’s direct heir. Scandal is Quinn’s war horse — the only horse that’ll tolerate him.
The Order of Righteous Valor worships . . .
. . . Morthwyl, a war god, who is their main deity. Gemma’s battle-cohorts (friends) are Katla, Kir (Katla’s twin brother, who’s a bit of a sobber), and Shona. Brother Thomassin, an elder, is allied with the Grand Master Joshua (he’d been Gemma’s mentor), Bartholemew, and Brín, and they support Gemma. General Lady Ragna is not a lady and is hated by all. Master General Pierce. Brother Mariello works in the library.
Brother Sprenger has his own allies within the order, and he hates Gemma. Master Sergeant Alesandro despises Gemma. Brother Richard sneers. Gary is a seer and a sorcerer. Brother Julia is a bit of a lapdog. Brothers Millie, Peters, and James are definitely Sprenger supporters. The Challenge is the old way to fight to be Grand Master. Sin Killer had been a massive war horse.
The heretic team includes . . .
. . . the war priests: Father Aubin who was attacking temple virgins and Father Léandre. Balla is the head of the temple virgins; Priska is her assistant. As a truce vicar, Vicar Ferdinand’s job is to stop the unnecessary killing — he plans to help Cyrus see his wrongs. Adela is a witch. Tadesse of the High Plains and Faraj of the Low Mountains are divine assassins. (Faraji is a monk whose god actually likes them, and they’re willing to give up sex for him.) The Abbess Butcher, a.k.a. Abbess Hurik, is notorious, thought to be a myth for young novitiates. Ludolf of the Eastern Shores, a blood warlock, has news for Gemma and her heretics. He also appreciates Keeley’s pro-animal stance. Gregorio is another truce vicar. Brother Damian.
The dwarves are . . .
. . . ruled by Mundric; his wife is Queen Vulfegundis, the master blacksmith of her guild. She does amazing things with Keeley’s hammer.
Queen Beatrix is the Smythes’ psychopathic sister who is married to King Marius, the Wielder of Hate and the son of the Old King, and intends to rule all the land. Agathon has been the Follower of Her Word for two years now — and he’s thrilled to get away. Ivan is a mystic. Duke Reinhold is raising an army.
Cyrus the Honored, a.k.a. the Religion Killer, is Marius’ brother who worships only one god, Soiffart.
In the Southland . . .
. . . Donan — his oldest son wants to be a librarian — lives near the mountains. Tommy is another son. His wife is a marvel of organization. Lady Sheela lives nearby. Bessie is their horse?? The ruler is Queen Annwyl and her family and army of laughing dragons.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a blend of purples, a night sky? or royal purple? Who knows. It’s smoky appearance and the sparkles at the bottom are beautiful, especially with that shining sword with its gold guard and pommel, sticking into the bottom of the cover. Just below the pommel is the white info blurb with the author’s name below that. The title, also in white, is centered along the blade below the hilt. At the very bottom is a testimonial in electric yellow.
The title is all about Brother Gemma Smythe, The Princess Knight *snicker*.
My Take
The Smythe family would fit right in with the Dragon Kin. Although I do wonder about Uncle Archie and his desire to teach the kids how to slit each others’ throats. Ugh.
With that, Aiken is using third person global subjective point-of-view, as there are many a’many characters whose thoughts, actions, and feelings we encounter in this tale of greed versus compassion.
That Brother Sprenger . . . not much of a monk. And he takes it out on Gemma that day that Katla, Kir, and Shona are promoted.
Beatrix. Oh boy. Just goes to show that nature has overwhelmed nurture in the Smythe family. The whole family may be somewhat nuts, but Beatrix is in a nasty class of her own.
Lol, “they’d have to stop thinking like fair-minded individuals and start thinking like men”. Hmmm, d’ya think this is a woman-oriented story?
It’s also animal-oriented. There’s Keeley with her appreciation for all animals, understanding their “negative” behavior. And, of course, ahem, the centaurs, lol.
After two years, Agathon has gotten to know Queen Beatrix very well. And he’s terrified. It must be true because King Marius is terrified of her as well. He certainly isn’t as smart as she is.
Geez, all the politics in whether Beatrix, oh, and Marius, should offer protection to religious orders. Beatrix uses some disgusting “politics”.
Interesting, Brother Gemma reveals her real purpose in coming to the war monks. A purpose that got redirected after Brother Sprenger’s attack. Wait’ll Sprenger finds out what Gemma did to/with Kriegszorn! Oops. I guess he won’t, and I suspect you’ll find Kriegszorn as gross — and yet as funny — as I do.
Another threat, lol, yes it is gross, and yet it’s quite funny coming from Quinn, when he’s in his centaur form. An unfunny threat is from Beatrix and her master plan for using orphaned children. I do love how that plan turns on her. Although, Beatrix does think ahead and there was that prophetic question she asks at the end.
The interaction between these memorable characters is similar to that in the Dragon Kin series, but less funny and more violent. There’s a huge escalation of the nasty, especially in the bad guys. *shudder* And still a fascinating read.
I’m looking forward to reading The Heretic Royal , 3 — I want to read the encounter between this series’ characters with those of the Dragon Kin series . . . and what Beatrix plans next.
The Story
With orders to spread Queen Keeley’s offers of protection to endangered religious groups, Brother Gemma returns, after two years, to the Order of Righteous Valor where she’s threatened with execution.
It’s an amazing journey with the Amichai and the heretics, as they do battle across the land.
The Characters
Brother Gemma Smythe is a Warrior Monk with the Order of Righteous Valor, and she’s painfully honest. Dagger is the horse who “succeeded” Kriegszorn. Samuel is her frightened squire.
Keeley Smythe, Gemma’s eldest sister, is the The Blacksmith Queen , 1, the Queen of the Hill Lands. Her demon wolves are loved. A primarily blacksmithing family, there are ten other Smythe siblings — their parents, Emma, a blacksmith, and Angus Farmerson, a pig farmer, are prolific. Ainsley, the “loudest hog caller in all the valleys, is amazing with a bow, and yet her siblings keep forgetting she’s there. Isadora appears to be the primary caregiver for the younger children, who include Cadell, Farlan, Endelyon . . . and Beatrix. Cousin Keran is a retired mercenary who loves the bottle. Uncle Archie is absolutely nuts and also brilliant at engineering. He’s in cahoots with the stonemason dwarves. Poor old Tommy, their da loved that pig.
Carl is a servant. Old Matheson got mauled by a she-bear. Mary decided to take the job as head cook to Keeley.
The Amichai are . . .
. . . a race of shapeshifting centaurs, and it’s the Scarred Earth Clan who are allied to Keeley Smythe. Quinn, the nutter, and Caid (the gruff one who’s sleeping with Keeley) are brothers; Laila is their logical sister and their mother’s direct heir. Scandal is Quinn’s war horse — the only horse that’ll tolerate him.
The Order of Righteous Valor worships . . .
. . . Morthwyl, a war god, who is their main deity. Gemma’s battle-cohorts (friends) are Katla, Kir (Katla’s twin brother, who’s a bit of a sobber), and Shona. Brother Thomassin, an elder, is allied with the Grand Master Joshua (he’d been Gemma’s mentor), Bartholemew, and Brín, and they support Gemma. General Lady Ragna is not a lady and is hated by all. Master General Pierce. Brother Mariello works in the library.
Brother Sprenger has his own allies within the order, and he hates Gemma. Master Sergeant Alesandro despises Gemma. Brother Richard sneers. Gary is a seer and a sorcerer. Brother Julia is a bit of a lapdog. Brothers Millie, Peters, and James are definitely Sprenger supporters. The Challenge is the old way to fight to be Grand Master. Sin Killer had been a massive war horse.
The heretic team includes . . .
. . . the war priests: Father Aubin who was attacking temple virgins and Father Léandre. Balla is the head of the temple virgins; Priska is her assistant. As a truce vicar, Vicar Ferdinand’s job is to stop the unnecessary killing — he plans to help Cyrus see his wrongs. Adela is a witch. Tadesse of the High Plains and Faraj of the Low Mountains are divine assassins. (Faraji is a monk whose god actually likes them, and they’re willing to give up sex for him.) The Abbess Butcher, a.k.a. Abbess Hurik, is notorious, thought to be a myth for young novitiates. Ludolf of the Eastern Shores, a blood warlock, has news for Gemma and her heretics. He also appreciates Keeley’s pro-animal stance. Gregorio is another truce vicar. Brother Damian.
The dwarves are . . .
. . . ruled by Mundric; his wife is Queen Vulfegundis, the master blacksmith of her guild. She does amazing things with Keeley’s hammer.
Queen Beatrix is the Smythes’ psychopathic sister who is married to King Marius, the Wielder of Hate and the son of the Old King, and intends to rule all the land. Agathon has been the Follower of Her Word for two years now — and he’s thrilled to get away. Ivan is a mystic. Duke Reinhold is raising an army.
Cyrus the Honored, a.k.a. the Religion Killer, is Marius’ brother who worships only one god, Soiffart.
In the Southland . . .
. . . Donan — his oldest son wants to be a librarian — lives near the mountains. Tommy is another son. His wife is a marvel of organization. Lady Sheela lives nearby. Bessie is their horse?? The ruler is Queen Annwyl and her family and army of laughing dragons.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a blend of purples, a night sky? or royal purple? Who knows. It’s smoky appearance and the sparkles at the bottom are beautiful, especially with that shining sword with its gold guard and pommel, sticking into the bottom of the cover. Just below the pommel is the white info blurb with the author’s name below that. The title, also in white, is centered along the blade below the hilt. At the very bottom is a testimonial in electric yellow.
The title is all about Brother Gemma Smythe, The Princess Knight *snicker*.
November 24, 2020
Four and a half awesome stars!
See there's this War Monk called Gemma who becomes a Princess and she goes on a mission with a Centaur because she thinks her evil younger sister is killing holy people for some nefarious purpose.
Oh, and there's Witches and Virgins and Assassins and a Truce Monk and a Blood Warlock and a Nun and two Queens (one of whom is really a Blacksmith) and Dwarves. Sorry, forgot the chainmail. And Gods, how could I forget the Gods?
If all that sounds intriguing then I think you are going to love this. Every single member of the supporting cast of mages, witches, warlocks, nuns etc deserves their own book because each of them is intriguing (well, okay maybe not the virgins). There are battle and feasting, sometimes battles during a feast and that isn't even the best bit. Because, the end, holy cow … I. Did. Not. See. That. Coming!
If you've loved G.A. Aiken's other series Dragon Kin then I know you are going to love this and if you don't? Well have a go anyway.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
See there's this War Monk called Gemma who becomes a Princess and she goes on a mission with a Centaur because she thinks her evil younger sister is killing holy people for some nefarious purpose.
Oh, and there's Witches and Virgins and Assassins and a Truce Monk and a Blood Warlock and a Nun and two Queens (one of whom is really a Blacksmith) and Dwarves. Sorry, forgot the chainmail. And Gods, how could I forget the Gods?
If all that sounds intriguing then I think you are going to love this. Every single member of the supporting cast of mages, witches, warlocks, nuns etc deserves their own book because each of them is intriguing (well, okay maybe not the virgins). There are battle and feasting, sometimes battles during a feast and that isn't even the best bit. Because, the end, holy cow … I. Did. Not. See. That. Coming!
If you've loved G.A. Aiken's other series Dragon Kin then I know you are going to love this and if you don't? Well have a go anyway.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
February 1, 2023
If you loved The Blacksmith Queen then you must pick up a copy of The Princess Knight. Although the story takes a direction I never expected or anticipated, I really loved it (maybe even more than the first book…and I loved that one already). What can I say G.A. Aiken is an amazing storyteller making prolific worlds for us to devour!
If it's high fantasy you love, you will not be disappointed. If it is science fiction you love, you will not be disappointed. If it is stories told with humor and heart, action and emotional connections then The Princess Knight will be a book for you as it was for me.
I received this ARC copy of The Princess Knight from Kensington Books. This is my honest and voluntary review.
If it's high fantasy you love, you will not be disappointed. If it is science fiction you love, you will not be disappointed. If it is stories told with humor and heart, action and emotional connections then The Princess Knight will be a book for you as it was for me.
I received this ARC copy of The Princess Knight from Kensington Books. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 29, 2020
Nothing tops Aiken’s early Dragons, but this series is rollicking - though light to none on the romance. Happy chuckles throughout and that Dragon-Epilogue leaves this Reader fingers-crossed-hopeful.
November 11, 2020
4.5 stars
The Princess Knight had pretty much everything I like to see in a sequel, character growth, plot progression, a few twists and turns, and an extra plus with this series...loads of smartassery and humor!
We get to know Gemma much better in this one. While I missed Keeley being front and center, I still really enjoyed the spotlight on Gemma. What makes it extra great to me is that Keeley is quite frankly much easier to like right off the jump, while Gemma takes a little more time to really warm up to, but the storyline is continously strong and the more you get to know Gemma the better you like and connect with her. I was so glad to get a closer look at the War Monks in general! It was nice to see the inner workings of this other life Gemma had outside of her family. It also helped give us a fuller picture of her as an independent character. I liked Quinn too. He is honest to a fault, loyal and outgoing. It was a nice balance to Gemma's brash, distrustful, standoffish nature.
The romance element was interesting and not as predictable as many I've read before. I kinda liked that it was mostly in the background and how the frienemies unobtrusively just become more one day. Aiken did such a wonderful job laying the foundation and making that so strong that once the romance did click into place it felt comfortable and right and all the typical bells and whistles frankly weren't necessary so I didn't ever miss them. You could easily see the trust and knowledge of each other they had in every single battle and their interactions with each other, even when they were poking at one another.
Like with the first book, I absolutely loved the familial banter! It is a shining light in this series. The way they drive each other nutty but have so much love for one another is heartwarming and entertaining as all get out. I could listen to the sisters messing with each other all day long. Beatrix being the obvious exception because that girl does not play well with others. I find myself more and more curious about her motivations though. Another great thing is even the side characters are immensely intriguing. There's really no one-dimensional filler in this story. You get a good feel for the unique personalities from initial meetings and it only grows from there. It was enjoyable meeting so many new characters in this one. I look forward to seeing more of them in following books.
The ending was truly spectacular! I'm dying to see what happens next! It is going to be torture waiting for book 3.
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley and this is my honest review.
The Princess Knight had pretty much everything I like to see in a sequel, character growth, plot progression, a few twists and turns, and an extra plus with this series...loads of smartassery and humor!
We get to know Gemma much better in this one. While I missed Keeley being front and center, I still really enjoyed the spotlight on Gemma. What makes it extra great to me is that Keeley is quite frankly much easier to like right off the jump, while Gemma takes a little more time to really warm up to, but the storyline is continously strong and the more you get to know Gemma the better you like and connect with her. I was so glad to get a closer look at the War Monks in general! It was nice to see the inner workings of this other life Gemma had outside of her family. It also helped give us a fuller picture of her as an independent character. I liked Quinn too. He is honest to a fault, loyal and outgoing. It was a nice balance to Gemma's brash, distrustful, standoffish nature.
The romance element was interesting and not as predictable as many I've read before. I kinda liked that it was mostly in the background and how the frienemies unobtrusively just become more one day. Aiken did such a wonderful job laying the foundation and making that so strong that once the romance did click into place it felt comfortable and right and all the typical bells and whistles frankly weren't necessary so I didn't ever miss them. You could easily see the trust and knowledge of each other they had in every single battle and their interactions with each other, even when they were poking at one another.
Like with the first book, I absolutely loved the familial banter! It is a shining light in this series. The way they drive each other nutty but have so much love for one another is heartwarming and entertaining as all get out. I could listen to the sisters messing with each other all day long. Beatrix being the obvious exception because that girl does not play well with others. I find myself more and more curious about her motivations though. Another great thing is even the side characters are immensely intriguing. There's really no one-dimensional filler in this story. You get a good feel for the unique personalities from initial meetings and it only grows from there. It was enjoyable meeting so many new characters in this one. I look forward to seeing more of them in following books.
The ending was truly spectacular! I'm dying to see what happens next! It is going to be torture waiting for book 3.
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley and this is my honest review.
October 25, 2020
The Princess Knight is the second installment of the Scarred Earth Saga. In this second installment, the focus is centered on Gemma Smythe, the Blacksmith Queen's (Keeley Smythe's) sister. Gemma is a war monk, which means that there will always be blood and death involved in what she does.
Gemma is tasked with recruiting as many sects and factions to build an army that could potentially defeat the evil Queen Beatrix (Gemma and Keeley's sister.) Along the way, Gemma and her war cohorts encounter several enemies and in epic battle style, manage to defeat them. Yet, not all are defeated. There are still other enemies lurking in the land.
The Princess Knight, though full of action, didn't quite impress me as much as it's predecessor -- The Blacksmith Queen. Perhaps it is because I could relate more to Keeley Smythe's style and snarky humor. Gemma Smythe, on the other hand, is the diametric opposite of Keeley. Dark and angry. Nevertheless, The Princess Knight did not disappoint. I had a smashing good time with this novel. The humor made me laugh out loud and quelled the gory detail of the battles. It was a very enjoyable read and perfect for fans of fantasy.
I rated it four stars. I really liked it and look forward to the future installments of the Saga.
I claimed a print copy ARC from Kensington Books through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Gemma is tasked with recruiting as many sects and factions to build an army that could potentially defeat the evil Queen Beatrix (Gemma and Keeley's sister.) Along the way, Gemma and her war cohorts encounter several enemies and in epic battle style, manage to defeat them. Yet, not all are defeated. There are still other enemies lurking in the land.
The Princess Knight, though full of action, didn't quite impress me as much as it's predecessor -- The Blacksmith Queen. Perhaps it is because I could relate more to Keeley Smythe's style and snarky humor. Gemma Smythe, on the other hand, is the diametric opposite of Keeley. Dark and angry. Nevertheless, The Princess Knight did not disappoint. I had a smashing good time with this novel. The humor made me laugh out loud and quelled the gory detail of the battles. It was a very enjoyable read and perfect for fans of fantasy.
I rated it four stars. I really liked it and look forward to the future installments of the Saga.
I claimed a print copy ARC from Kensington Books through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
August 1, 2020
I loved this book!
I was entertained, amused, engaged, and satisfied with the story and the characters.
In most (if not all) of G.A. Aiken's (and when she's writing Shelly Laurenston) series', there is one character that is over the top and slightly more insane than the rest of them.
Gemma is that character and this is her book.
She's dramatic, loyal, loud and somebody you want on your side when in trouble.
Her relationship with her Queen, (who also happens to be her sister) is what makes this story good, BUT the bantering and her relationship with Quinn is what made it great.
Tears! I was laughing with tears in my eyes.
Great story!
Great characters!
I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 😍
I was entertained, amused, engaged, and satisfied with the story and the characters.
In most (if not all) of G.A. Aiken's (and when she's writing Shelly Laurenston) series', there is one character that is over the top and slightly more insane than the rest of them.
Gemma is that character and this is her book.
She's dramatic, loyal, loud and somebody you want on your side when in trouble.
Her relationship with her Queen, (who also happens to be her sister) is what makes this story good, BUT the bantering and her relationship with Quinn is what made it great.
Tears! I was laughing with tears in my eyes.
Great story!
Great characters!
I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 😍
January 24, 2023
A second book in the series, wish I knew it before picking it up because of its interesting title and cover. But as you know the title is about a princess who works as a knight, the story is same the princess Gemma is a knight who works as war nun? I am not sure about that but there is certainly a war god and monks in monastery concerned. The story is basically about two reigning queens who also happen to be sisters and our MC helps her elder sister fight younger sister.
Interesting plot, the writing was really engaging too. The only thing that hindered my enjoyment was too many characters and I lost track of who was who specially as I read an eBook copy, it definitely made me wonder who is doing what.
I received this arc from Net galley in exchange of an honest review.
Interesting plot, the writing was really engaging too. The only thing that hindered my enjoyment was too many characters and I lost track of who was who specially as I read an eBook copy, it definitely made me wonder who is doing what.
I received this arc from Net galley in exchange of an honest review.
November 25, 2020
This is the joining of my two favourite NONRH series .... I am SO SO SO SO VERY HAPPY!!!!! Yayayayayayayayayayayayaya
Read this ... and dragonkin.....
bigger review to come
❤️10/10
Things you will see in this book
✨continuation of a series MF 1:1 but different MC to last book.
✨part of a larger book World Series :dragon kin
✨fantasy creatures, dragons /centaurs / demon wolves/dwarves etc
✨ more plot less sex. ... a lot more plot than sex but still lovely fun tension
✨sassy full of rage MCs with good humour.
✨easy read, not complicated, not stressful, not super dramatic ... easy
✨fluffy while still beheading things... ALL OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS
✨emotionally fairly mature male lead that was less mr Darcy than the last book.
Would HIGHLY RECCOMEND
Read this ... and dragonkin.....
bigger review to come
❤️10/10
Things you will see in this book
✨continuation of a series MF 1:1 but different MC to last book.
✨part of a larger book World Series :dragon kin
✨fantasy creatures, dragons /centaurs / demon wolves/dwarves etc
✨ more plot less sex. ... a lot more plot than sex but still lovely fun tension
✨sassy full of rage MCs with good humour.
✨easy read, not complicated, not stressful, not super dramatic ... easy
✨fluffy while still beheading things... ALL OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS
✨emotionally fairly mature male lead that was less mr Darcy than the last book.
Would HIGHLY RECCOMEND
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