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The Women of Apasas
.Kynna, a young priestess from Krete, finds herself fleeing the only home she’s known. When she is rescued by a young warrior she must learn to trust again and open her heart or make the long journey with her grandmother to Arispa.
Myrine, a young warrior of the Amazzi army in the city of Apasas, has one thing on her mind, being chosen for the elite Leopard unit. When she rescues Kynna and her grandmother, she struggles with feelings she’s afraid to admit.
Two women, coming of age in a changing world. Fate may have brought them together, but destiny will change everything.
Myrine, a young warrior of the Amazzi army in the city of Apasas, has one thing on her mind, being chosen for the elite Leopard unit. When she rescues Kynna and her grandmother, she struggles with feelings she’s afraid to admit.
Two women, coming of age in a changing world. Fate may have brought them together, but destiny will change everything.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2021
23 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 22, 2021
The Amazzi people are known to treat their women with respect and awe 'cause of the Goddesses that they believe in. They're meant to be a strong people... their women are warriors and leaders. At least, that's what I believed before diving into this book.
Instead, the city is slowly being overwhelmed by people who believe that women are a thing that’s there for the needs of men and nothing more. A General of Amazzi already warned the Queen of Apasas about them but it was a tad disappointing to finally get some insight into the Queen of Apasas and see that she’s a sexual being that cares only for her own pleasures and nothing of her people and their well being.
It makes me wonder if she’s actually Amazzi? ‘Cause her actions or lack there of made absolutely no sense to me.
I'm so curious to see if the story gets better after this first book. I only realised at the end that this is part of a series... so if the second book comes out, I'll give it a try and pray that it's better than this one.
Instead, the city is slowly being overwhelmed by people who believe that women are a thing that’s there for the needs of men and nothing more. A General of Amazzi already warned the Queen of Apasas about them but it was a tad disappointing to finally get some insight into the Queen of Apasas and see that she’s a sexual being that cares only for her own pleasures and nothing of her people and their well being.
It makes me wonder if she’s actually Amazzi? ‘Cause her actions or lack there of made absolutely no sense to me.
I'm so curious to see if the story gets better after this first book. I only realised at the end that this is part of a series... so if the second book comes out, I'll give it a try and pray that it's better than this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2021
Synopsis:
Kynna, a young priestess from Krete, finds herself fleeing the only home she’s known and trying to survive in a foreign land. When she is rescued by a young warrior she must learn to trust again and open her heart or keep traveling.
Myrine, a young warrior of the Amazzi army in the city of Apasas, has one thing on her mind, being chosen for the elite Leopard unit. When she rescues Kynna and her grandmother, she struggles with feelings she’s afraid to admit. A warrior is armed and trained to face fear in battle, but love only wields one weapon, trust.
Two women, coming of age as love grows and joins their lives like twisting vines. Ancient rituals and heart choices bring them together and tear them apart in their changing world. Both must make a decision; choose the greater good or risk everything for love.
First and foremost, I have rarely felt so thoroughly disappointed and mislead; but I'll try to find some good as well.
Pros:
I THINK they were people of color
It feels like a solid first attempt
Cons:
1. I REALLY don't see how Myrine fell in LOVE with Kynna. And STAYED that way after SEVERAL emotional wounds hurled at her from Kynna. The sharpest being "I desire you, but I want children and I don't know how I feel about Vettias but he's nice so it's the best option". All I know is months went by and Myrine is in love. Kynna is...she likes hanging out with Myrine ALOT and likes asking her questions. Also, wasn't seeing where Kynna redeemed herself for the things she said to Myrine.
2. The world building felt so nonexistent that it can't even make up for how you don't have a love story at ALL.
3. There's apparently a greater threat of Myceneans wanting to overtake Apasas since they've done this before, but their Queen or what you witness of her is enamored with sex? And apparently there is a secret agreement (which I'm guessing will be shared in later books) but she's willing to sleep with a Mycenean general with....what plan if any?
Excerpt:
.."I mean, I can see how you feel about me even though I've tried not to" [mind you earlier in the book she actually castigates Myrine in her internal monologue for not admitting how she feels about Kynna!] Myrine stiffened and I sensed her fear. I scolded myself for letting anything I said or did mislead her to think I wanted more than friendship with her. I felt more than I could ever say, but I didn't want to hurt her"
~Later on the same page after Myrine evades an earlier blunder and says Kynna is her closest friend~
[Still Kynna's perspective btw] I shifted closer to her and she finally turned to face me....I was sure her feelings for me were more than what she pretended them to be. I moved closer, knowing what she wanted, feeling her fight her urges, her desires, as a warrior would. But a force neight of us could stand pulled me closer....
Anyway she goes on to kiss Myrine on the cheek down to her lips for they passionately kiss, but Kynna admits to Myrine she has the feelings for Myrine and Vettias. Why not just let her respect the space that Myrine has created and the boundary ESPECIALLY when she's aware enough to know it would hurt Myrine? And AGAIN, Kynna seemed much more confident that she wanted Myrine to confess her feelings to her EARLIER in the book, so?
It really could have been me but nothing about this screams lesbian (MAYBE the Amazon part, but that was inherent in their culture) or love story. There was a straight sex scene and an allusion to other straight sex happening. Like the most lesbian sex it got was a seemingly bisexual Queen, having sex with her body-washing nameless priestess for a sentence.
I get coming of age, but labeling this a lesbian romance when only one of the characters can be interpreted as such seems like erasure for both lesbian and bisexual parties. If Kynna is bisexual in that actually LIKES being in a relationship with the man she chose (even if her reasoning is that she wants kids), I'm not sure where "risk everything for love" is even a consideration. Kynna wants to have children and a family. She can't have that with Myrine. That's something as a lesbian, I know many bisexual people would resent in caricature given very prevalent lesbian prejudices in the community. Historical or otherwise.
So why not let it simmer unaddressed by the two until Kynna can figure out what love is? Again......I only saw Myrine in love but Kynna can't even see who she loves or is IN LOVE with given she doesn't even know herself.
I've read several bisexual romances and historical as well that provided great depth and mutual respect. Of course, people can have more than one attraction, but being inconsistent and cavalier is a shallow trope.
There were other inconsistencies and grammatical errors that I feel an editor should have/could have caught.
I might read the second one of the series because I'm curious, but again, this was terribly disappointing.
Kynna, a young priestess from Krete, finds herself fleeing the only home she’s known and trying to survive in a foreign land. When she is rescued by a young warrior she must learn to trust again and open her heart or keep traveling.
Myrine, a young warrior of the Amazzi army in the city of Apasas, has one thing on her mind, being chosen for the elite Leopard unit. When she rescues Kynna and her grandmother, she struggles with feelings she’s afraid to admit. A warrior is armed and trained to face fear in battle, but love only wields one weapon, trust.
Two women, coming of age as love grows and joins their lives like twisting vines. Ancient rituals and heart choices bring them together and tear them apart in their changing world. Both must make a decision; choose the greater good or risk everything for love.
First and foremost, I have rarely felt so thoroughly disappointed and mislead; but I'll try to find some good as well.
Pros:
I THINK they were people of color
It feels like a solid first attempt
Cons:
1. I REALLY don't see how Myrine fell in LOVE with Kynna. And STAYED that way after SEVERAL emotional wounds hurled at her from Kynna. The sharpest being "I desire you, but I want children and I don't know how I feel about Vettias but he's nice so it's the best option". All I know is months went by and Myrine is in love. Kynna is...she likes hanging out with Myrine ALOT and likes asking her questions. Also, wasn't seeing where Kynna redeemed herself for the things she said to Myrine.
2. The world building felt so nonexistent that it can't even make up for how you don't have a love story at ALL.
3. There's apparently a greater threat of Myceneans wanting to overtake Apasas since they've done this before, but their Queen or what you witness of her is enamored with sex? And apparently there is a secret agreement (which I'm guessing will be shared in later books) but she's willing to sleep with a Mycenean general with....what plan if any?
Excerpt:
.."I mean, I can see how you feel about me even though I've tried not to" [mind you earlier in the book she actually castigates Myrine in her internal monologue for not admitting how she feels about Kynna!] Myrine stiffened and I sensed her fear. I scolded myself for letting anything I said or did mislead her to think I wanted more than friendship with her. I felt more than I could ever say, but I didn't want to hurt her"
~Later on the same page after Myrine evades an earlier blunder and says Kynna is her closest friend~
[Still Kynna's perspective btw] I shifted closer to her and she finally turned to face me....I was sure her feelings for me were more than what she pretended them to be. I moved closer, knowing what she wanted, feeling her fight her urges, her desires, as a warrior would. But a force neight of us could stand pulled me closer....
Anyway she goes on to kiss Myrine on the cheek down to her lips for they passionately kiss, but Kynna admits to Myrine she has the feelings for Myrine and Vettias. Why not just let her respect the space that Myrine has created and the boundary ESPECIALLY when she's aware enough to know it would hurt Myrine? And AGAIN, Kynna seemed much more confident that she wanted Myrine to confess her feelings to her EARLIER in the book, so?
It really could have been me but nothing about this screams lesbian (MAYBE the Amazon part, but that was inherent in their culture) or love story. There was a straight sex scene and an allusion to other straight sex happening. Like the most lesbian sex it got was a seemingly bisexual Queen, having sex with her body-washing nameless priestess for a sentence.
I get coming of age, but labeling this a lesbian romance when only one of the characters can be interpreted as such seems like erasure for both lesbian and bisexual parties. If Kynna is bisexual in that actually LIKES being in a relationship with the man she chose (even if her reasoning is that she wants kids), I'm not sure where "risk everything for love" is even a consideration. Kynna wants to have children and a family. She can't have that with Myrine. That's something as a lesbian, I know many bisexual people would resent in caricature given very prevalent lesbian prejudices in the community. Historical or otherwise.
So why not let it simmer unaddressed by the two until Kynna can figure out what love is? Again......I only saw Myrine in love but Kynna can't even see who she loves or is IN LOVE with given she doesn't even know herself.
I've read several bisexual romances and historical as well that provided great depth and mutual respect. Of course, people can have more than one attraction, but being inconsistent and cavalier is a shallow trope.
There were other inconsistencies and grammatical errors that I feel an editor should have/could have caught.
I might read the second one of the series because I'm curious, but again, this was terribly disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2022
This book takes place in Mycenaean Greece in 1600's BC. I'm not sure if it is historically accurate but it does offer fresh settings and cultures I've not read about before. It follows the lives of a tribe of Amazon-like women warriors and the people they love during a time when the Mycenaeans threatened to take over their land and culture. The language and tone is thoroughly modern, which doesn't quite ring true. One of the main characters, Kynna, supposedly a priestess, devolves throughout the story, ultimately making decisions that lack maturity, even after she has a "vision" about her future. The sex-obessed queen who ignores her people and duty for trysts with Mycenaean officers is poorly conceived and presented. Instead read it to know some of the other wonderful characters who lend gravity to the story - Myrine, the stalwart, love-sick warrior and the Amma's - the mothers and grandmothers. Overall, an enjoyable read.
November 28, 2021
a good read
I do enjoy this book, the main characters were put together nicely and pace was decent as well. I didn’t understand why the author let us in other side characters head later on in the book. I am guessing the author was setting a foundation for the next book. I am interested in the characters lives and to see how they fare so I’ll definitely read the next book.
I do enjoy this book, the main characters were put together nicely and pace was decent as well. I didn’t understand why the author let us in other side characters head later on in the book. I am guessing the author was setting a foundation for the next book. I am interested in the characters lives and to see how they fare so I’ll definitely read the next book.
October 15, 2021
Jesus I need to know what happens next like now!!!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews