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The Legacy Chapters #1
Fortified
Devora's perfect future shatters. Instead of attending Vlacklear Academy, she is sent to the Fortress-a prison holding murderers and thieves that make up the soldiers in His Majesty's Army. She fears it is the end of her.
Suppressing her forbidden Seeing abilities, Devora is thrust into the role of soldier, and must learn to defend herself while avoiding Warden Hazor and his ruthless right-hand man, Captain Blake.
When Devora's Seeing abilities are exposed, she's thrown into a tournament to win her right to live. She must turn to Captain Blake for help or be slaughtered like all the other Seers before her.
Suppressing her forbidden Seeing abilities, Devora is thrust into the role of soldier, and must learn to defend herself while avoiding Warden Hazor and his ruthless right-hand man, Captain Blake.
When Devora's Seeing abilities are exposed, she's thrown into a tournament to win her right to live. She must turn to Captain Blake for help or be slaughtered like all the other Seers before her.
ebook
First published January 1, 2023
5 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
V. Romas Burton
11 books161 followersV. Romas Burton grew up bouncing up and down the East Coast where she wrote her first story about magical ponies at age seven. Years later, after studying government and earning an M.A. in Theological Studies, V. Romas Burton realized something even bigger was calling out to her--stories that contained great adventures and encouraging messages. When she's not writing, she's taking care of her three rambunctious sons. You can find future updates and news on her website: www.vromasburton.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 11, 2023
I loved Burton’s Heartmaker trilogy. But I found Fortified to be a whole other level. With a beautiful blend of heartache and hope, Devora’s story shows how there’s beauty in the refining fire, even when all it feels like is painful.
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Also moment of fangirling—CAPTAIN FREAKING BLAKE 😭♥️ I love him and if Burton hurts him I’m going to cry. That is all.
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Five hundred out of five!
Cannot wait for book two!
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Also moment of fangirling—CAPTAIN FREAKING BLAKE 😭♥️ I love him and if Burton hurts him I’m going to cry. That is all.
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Five hundred out of five!
Cannot wait for book two!
November 10, 2022
How do I even begin to explain my love for this book? From the moment I started, I knew this was going to be special. I read the Heartmender series by this author and I liked it but…only some of it. I really struggled with some of the writing and execution of the plot. Going into an arc of her next book was obviously a little scary. But wow, she really blew this out of the park! This is one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read recently. The writing development alone is astounding. The talent is just mind blowing. And the characters were so well crafted. Also the world? Super fun. The plot? Heart racing and kept me on my toes. Was it predictable? I mean this isn’t the most unique novel I’ve ever read, but it’s still one of my favourites. I am dying to read book two!
(This would go on my top ten list for the year but I’ll probably reread it and have it next year when I have a physical copy)
(This would go on my top ten list for the year but I’ll probably reread it and have it next year when I have a physical copy)
December 5, 2022
4.5 stars.
What a wonderful story! I loved each of the characters; there were so many wonderful personalities that all felt so real. The plot didn't follow the "expected" routes, and that ending was simply fantastic. So unexpected but perfect, and I can't wait for book two!
If you're looking for a read with knights and betrayal and battles and enemies to lovers, check out this story!
What a wonderful story! I loved each of the characters; there were so many wonderful personalities that all felt so real. The plot didn't follow the "expected" routes, and that ending was simply fantastic. So unexpected but perfect, and I can't wait for book two!
If you're looking for a read with knights and betrayal and battles and enemies to lovers, check out this story!
October 27, 2022
Fortified is an exciting tale of redemption, empathy, doubt and faith. The fast-paced fights and intriguing twists had my head spinning by the end. I’m left waiting on the edge of my seat for the next installment in this new series.
March 10, 2023
WOW. If you like Shadow and Bone, this one’s for you. It’s a powerful story of strength and standing up for what’s right. There are so many Christian themes in there as well. I need book 2 ASAP.
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!
February 3, 2024
Ok, I was just scanning through ratings and a few reviews. There are LOTS of 5-star reviews, so my opinion is obviously not the norm, so take it with a grain of salt.🤷♀️
This book, and even the story, just didn’t do it for me. I found it to be quite basic and have a “new author” feel, despite the author already being published. The characters did not seem well developed; the world wasn’t fleshed out enough; the author seems to borrow from various stories, fairytales, and biblical accounts randomly; there was a choppiness to the flow, maybe due to lack of description; I didn’t connect with the romance; and the essence of the plot twist, although not performed the way I expected, was easy to see coming from far away.
All in all, it was an unsatisfying read for me. I hate to be negative, and I rarely give less than 3 stars unless there are major content issues. I debated on 3 or 2 stars, but I always assure people that my 3-star rating means I liked a book, and I honestly did not like this one. I’m sorry.😞
I love and appreciate Christian fantasy and can be quite forgiving of authors/publishers when there are problems with a story, but Quill & Flame missed the mark with this one.
This book, and even the story, just didn’t do it for me. I found it to be quite basic and have a “new author” feel, despite the author already being published. The characters did not seem well developed; the world wasn’t fleshed out enough; the author seems to borrow from various stories, fairytales, and biblical accounts randomly; there was a choppiness to the flow, maybe due to lack of description; I didn’t connect with the romance; and the essence of the plot twist, although not performed the way I expected, was easy to see coming from far away.
All in all, it was an unsatisfying read for me. I hate to be negative, and I rarely give less than 3 stars unless there are major content issues. I debated on 3 or 2 stars, but I always assure people that my 3-star rating means I liked a book, and I honestly did not like this one. I’m sorry.😞
I love and appreciate Christian fantasy and can be quite forgiving of authors/publishers when there are problems with a story, but Quill & Flame missed the mark with this one.
October 18, 2022
V. Romas Burton’s Fortified transports the reader to another world. Main character Devora faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles and learns so much along the way. With vividly developed settings and a cast of enthralling characters, this is a book I will read again and again.
January 9, 2023
I was an ARC reader and thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters will stay with me for a long, long time. I loved exploring Devora's character growth and relationships. The romance aspect was fun with a bit of an unexpected twist for me at the end. This story is fantastic for a young reader who enjoys a story that explores justice, fun banter, fantastical beasts, friendship and magic.
Fortified strikes the perfect balance between engaging YA readers and enticing older folks like me. I could not put it down once I started reading. I can't wait for the second book release!
Fortified strikes the perfect balance between engaging YA readers and enticing older folks like me. I could not put it down once I started reading. I can't wait for the second book release!
December 2, 2025
This story was fabulous! The main character, Devora, was strong and feisty, but not annoying. I could really empathize with her. And her male counterpart was mysterious, handsome, and brooding. The story was so easy to follow and enjoy. If you like Hunger Games, you should try this one out. But watch out for the twist!
November 14, 2022
Romas Burton has a way of luring you into the world with enchanting prose and heart-pounding scenarios. Fortified kept me flipping pages to find out every one of the characters’ secrets. It is a must read for fantasy fans who love a visceral experience with twists and turns around every corner.
November 18, 2025
Fortified is one of my favorite stories I have written. I've reread it several times and still enjoy the story time and time again. I hope you enjoy it just as much as I do!
January 6, 2023
You will not want to miss this one! Here's my endorsement:
For fans of empowered heroines, soulful themes, and gorgeous worldbuilding reminiscent of C.J. Redwine, Morgan L. Busse, and Mary Weber, Fortified is the kind of pure romantic fantasy that will leave you swooning. Get ready to meet Devora, a young woman with powers the kingdom hates in a fight for her life, and the secretive hero we've all been waiting for, Captain Blake, who helps her survive and is the most appealing sort of strong, silent, military version of Mr. Darcy type. Political intrigue, unexpected friendships, and the ending-my heart! Read and see for yourself!
For fans of empowered heroines, soulful themes, and gorgeous worldbuilding reminiscent of C.J. Redwine, Morgan L. Busse, and Mary Weber, Fortified is the kind of pure romantic fantasy that will leave you swooning. Get ready to meet Devora, a young woman with powers the kingdom hates in a fight for her life, and the secretive hero we've all been waiting for, Captain Blake, who helps her survive and is the most appealing sort of strong, silent, military version of Mr. Darcy type. Political intrigue, unexpected friendships, and the ending-my heart! Read and see for yourself!
January 14, 2024
Characters - 6/10
Atmosphere - 6/10
Writing Style - 6/10
Plot - 7/10
Intrigue - 7/10
Logic/Relationships - 6/10
Enjoyment/Vibes - 7/10
45/70 = 6.4 = ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 out of 5! A solid read.
If you enjoy war college, enemies to lovers, secret abilities, and trials this book is for you! It reminded me a a lot of Prison Healer.
I liked the growth of Devora. This book is truly YA, very clean, and written for a younger audience. I struggled picturing a lot of the situations because I felt like descriptions could have been more of a focus.
This is the first time I’ve used this rating system for books and it helped me a lot!
Atmosphere - 6/10
Writing Style - 6/10
Plot - 7/10
Intrigue - 7/10
Logic/Relationships - 6/10
Enjoyment/Vibes - 7/10
45/70 = 6.4 = ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 out of 5! A solid read.
If you enjoy war college, enemies to lovers, secret abilities, and trials this book is for you! It reminded me a a lot of Prison Healer.
I liked the growth of Devora. This book is truly YA, very clean, and written for a younger audience. I struggled picturing a lot of the situations because I felt like descriptions could have been more of a focus.
This is the first time I’ve used this rating system for books and it helped me a lot!
July 10, 2023
This book was so good! I loved the dystopian-like setting and the Biblical themes woven throughout the book!
There were times that the repetitiveness drew me away from the story, but overall, I still enjoyed it. And that ending?!?! 😱😱😱
Also, I really hope we get Captain Blake's POV in book 2! I understand why we didn't have it in this book, but I want to see more of him in the next book.
There were times that the repetitiveness drew me away from the story, but overall, I still enjoyed it. And that ending?!?! 😱😱😱
Also, I really hope we get Captain Blake's POV in book 2! I understand why we didn't have it in this book, but I want to see more of him in the next book.
December 31, 2022
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
“Fortified” was an enjoyable read with an emphasis on overcoming obstacles and trusting God (Tunri). The story follows Lady Devora Medee as her plans are shattered, her heart is broken, and she’s thrust into the brutal, bleak world of the Fortress. Her arc and the story are well-executed and I can see why Burton has won awards.
There were a handful of minor issues I had with the book, which are likely unique to me. Nonetheless, “Fortified” was an engaging read, with clever Biblical allusions and a hearty dose of adventure/romance.
Positives:
The characters. Lady Devora is a great lead who changes quite a bit through the story. It was cool to see her faith, fortitude, and humility grow. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s associated with purple, my favorite color. 😀 Her abilities are interesting and unique, and I enjoyed how Burton portrayed them. Also, I appreciated that while she was strong, she wasn’t a Mary Sue.
Captain Blake was a surprisingly good character. He’s complex and believable. We also get to know him gradually and Burton does a masterful job peeling back the layers of this business-like officer. The supporting characters were also a nice addition, from the icy warden to the skilled best friend. I simply wish more of the female sidekicks had been fleshed out because, apart from Nadia, I got most of them mixed up with each other.
The Biblical Themes and symbolism. I felt like they were subtle but clear. Burton’s allegories and allusions to Scripture were something I really enjoyed. Her theme of “refined by fire” was my favorite, and she deftly weaves it throughout the novel, along with scenes reminiscent of events from the Old Testament. 👍 As for symbolism, a purple sash plays into the story and reflects Devora’s state. Her Seeing powers and dreams added a lot to the tale, and the imperial opal was a cool (albeit chilling) touch.
The world. While I wished for more description (see below), I loved Burton’s world and the variety of locales. “Fortified” takes you from the warm jungle to the cold north to a burning desert! The giants were well-done, her Tinker race is awesome, and the Behemoth…it was just SO COOL!
Negatives:
Too little description. Again, this is probably unique to me, because I have a very hard time visualizing in my head. But Burton’s style is short on description. As a result, I had almost no visuals of anything and it lessened my enjoyment. I did have an emotional connection with her characters, so that compensated. But this is definitely a show, don’t tell type of story. Most of you probably prefer that, so I fully acknowledge it as a style thing.
A slight scripted feel. For the first half of the novel, I felt like the story was a tad formulaic. As a reader, I could tell Burton was intentionally steering things to hit certain tropes and plot points and it distracted me. This was particularly true with the romance, which wasn’t my favorite. This issue went away the last half of “Fortified,” but it felt conspicuous and made some of Devora’s reactions seem unrealistic.
In conclusion, “Fortified” is a book I would recommend. There’s plenty of action, cool locations, and a clean romance. It’s also subtly Christian and explores some great Biblical themes. I’m grateful to the author for giving me an ARC copy. Visualizing and trope issues aside, I truly did enjoy it. My rating is 4.5, rounded up. 😊
“Fortified” was an enjoyable read with an emphasis on overcoming obstacles and trusting God (Tunri). The story follows Lady Devora Medee as her plans are shattered, her heart is broken, and she’s thrust into the brutal, bleak world of the Fortress. Her arc and the story are well-executed and I can see why Burton has won awards.
There were a handful of minor issues I had with the book, which are likely unique to me. Nonetheless, “Fortified” was an engaging read, with clever Biblical allusions and a hearty dose of adventure/romance.
Positives:
The characters. Lady Devora is a great lead who changes quite a bit through the story. It was cool to see her faith, fortitude, and humility grow. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s associated with purple, my favorite color. 😀 Her abilities are interesting and unique, and I enjoyed how Burton portrayed them. Also, I appreciated that while she was strong, she wasn’t a Mary Sue.
Captain Blake was a surprisingly good character. He’s complex and believable. We also get to know him gradually and Burton does a masterful job peeling back the layers of this business-like officer. The supporting characters were also a nice addition, from the icy warden to the skilled best friend. I simply wish more of the female sidekicks had been fleshed out because, apart from Nadia, I got most of them mixed up with each other.
The Biblical Themes and symbolism. I felt like they were subtle but clear. Burton’s allegories and allusions to Scripture were something I really enjoyed. Her theme of “refined by fire” was my favorite, and she deftly weaves it throughout the novel, along with scenes reminiscent of events from the Old Testament. 👍 As for symbolism, a purple sash plays into the story and reflects Devora’s state. Her Seeing powers and dreams added a lot to the tale, and the imperial opal was a cool (albeit chilling) touch.
The world. While I wished for more description (see below), I loved Burton’s world and the variety of locales. “Fortified” takes you from the warm jungle to the cold north to a burning desert! The giants were well-done, her Tinker race is awesome, and the Behemoth…it was just SO COOL!
Negatives:
Too little description. Again, this is probably unique to me, because I have a very hard time visualizing in my head. But Burton’s style is short on description. As a result, I had almost no visuals of anything and it lessened my enjoyment. I did have an emotional connection with her characters, so that compensated. But this is definitely a show, don’t tell type of story. Most of you probably prefer that, so I fully acknowledge it as a style thing.
A slight scripted feel. For the first half of the novel, I felt like the story was a tad formulaic. As a reader, I could tell Burton was intentionally steering things to hit certain tropes and plot points and it distracted me. This was particularly true with the romance, which wasn’t my favorite. This issue went away the last half of “Fortified,” but it felt conspicuous and made some of Devora’s reactions seem unrealistic.
In conclusion, “Fortified” is a book I would recommend. There’s plenty of action, cool locations, and a clean romance. It’s also subtly Christian and explores some great Biblical themes. I’m grateful to the author for giving me an ARC copy. Visualizing and trope issues aside, I truly did enjoy it. My rating is 4.5, rounded up. 😊
March 19, 2023
I hope you all love the first book of The Legacy Chapters! <3
January 9, 2023
Fortified by V. Romas Burton was everything I could have wanted in a fantasy adventure. This beautiful book contained a tournament, swoony love story, character growth, and thread of faith that was expertly woven throughout! I can’t tell you how many times I told myself ‘just one more chapter’ just to be sucked into the next one and then the next.
I cannot wait for the next installment in the series!
I cannot wait for the next installment in the series!
January 22, 2024
I got back into reading the day I read Heartmender by this author and fell in love with her writing style….. I preordered this book when I found out she was writing a new series this book did not disappoint…..it exceeded my expectations and I can’t express how much V Romas has grown as an author. This story has so much depth and character. I love the friendships created in the book and how they cause Devora to grow. I love the relationship building between devora and Matthias . I can’t wait to see this group go further in the next book. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. I have no regrets pre ordering this book and for sure I will be pre ordering book 2 of this series….
February 6, 2023
This beautiful retelling of the Biblical story of Deborah will grab you and take you on a thrilling journey filled with romance, discovery, and faith.
Fortified is an adventure I couldn’t stop reading (I literally did it in a couple days!) It has some characters that will tug at your heart strings and some that will make you want to throw stuff across the room. The twists were perfectly timed. And that ending! Wow. Also, it's slow-burn romance that will make your heart pitter-patter. *swoon*
If you’re looking for a new read for 2023, I highly recommend this upcoming release!
Fortified is an adventure I couldn’t stop reading (I literally did it in a couple days!) It has some characters that will tug at your heart strings and some that will make you want to throw stuff across the room. The twists were perfectly timed. And that ending! Wow. Also, it's slow-burn romance that will make your heart pitter-patter. *swoon*
If you’re looking for a new read for 2023, I highly recommend this upcoming release!
August 18, 2023
4.5 Stars ✨
Clean YA Fantasy
I wanttttt moreeee… 🎶
Not gonna lie, first couple chapters had me doubting my decision to read only because I was confused with the magic/ability system and didn’t know if I wanted to invest the time in trying to figure it out.. but guess what- didn’t matter because it wasn’t really that important to understand at first (gets explained later on in the book) so I’m glad I kept going or I would have missed out on this beautiful story!
Where do I start? The world building was rocky at first, but got exponentially better along with the plot - the more I read. I became fully engaged after about 10 chapters. The characters were fully developed and I adored most of them. I absolutely loved the friendships that were built over time. The main character grew on me and personally as a character SO MUCH throughout the book and I was just so proud of her by the end *sniff sniff* 🥹.
There is also a bit of romance and I really enjoyed the push and pull between the two main characters. It was definitely not an insta love.
***Exceptional Writing*** The author used lots of imagery from the Bible and it’s woven so effortlessly, if you weren’t looking for it you wouldn’t see it, and sometimes that’s a good thing in stories like these- it’s subtle but yet powerful. The storyline was so unique and I love reading something fresh and new. I can not wait for the next installment, I will miss these characters until then! Highly recommend!
*book blurb*
Devora's perfect future shatters. Instead of attending Vlacklear Academy, she is sent to the Fortress-a prison holding murderers and thieves that make up the soldiers in His Majesty's Army. She fears it is the end of her.
Suppressing her forbidden Seeing abilities, Devora is thrust into the role of soldier, and must learn to defend herself while avoiding Warden Hazor and his ruthless right-hand man, Captain Blake.
When Devora's Seeing abilities are exposed, she's thrown into a tournament to win her right to live. She must turn to Captain Blake for help or be slaughtered like all the other Seers before her.
Clean YA Fantasy
I wanttttt moreeee… 🎶
Not gonna lie, first couple chapters had me doubting my decision to read only because I was confused with the magic/ability system and didn’t know if I wanted to invest the time in trying to figure it out.. but guess what- didn’t matter because it wasn’t really that important to understand at first (gets explained later on in the book) so I’m glad I kept going or I would have missed out on this beautiful story!
Where do I start? The world building was rocky at first, but got exponentially better along with the plot - the more I read. I became fully engaged after about 10 chapters. The characters were fully developed and I adored most of them. I absolutely loved the friendships that were built over time. The main character grew on me and personally as a character SO MUCH throughout the book and I was just so proud of her by the end *sniff sniff* 🥹.
There is also a bit of romance and I really enjoyed the push and pull between the two main characters. It was definitely not an insta love.
***Exceptional Writing*** The author used lots of imagery from the Bible and it’s woven so effortlessly, if you weren’t looking for it you wouldn’t see it, and sometimes that’s a good thing in stories like these- it’s subtle but yet powerful. The storyline was so unique and I love reading something fresh and new. I can not wait for the next installment, I will miss these characters until then! Highly recommend!
*book blurb*
Devora's perfect future shatters. Instead of attending Vlacklear Academy, she is sent to the Fortress-a prison holding murderers and thieves that make up the soldiers in His Majesty's Army. She fears it is the end of her.
Suppressing her forbidden Seeing abilities, Devora is thrust into the role of soldier, and must learn to defend herself while avoiding Warden Hazor and his ruthless right-hand man, Captain Blake.
When Devora's Seeing abilities are exposed, she's thrown into a tournament to win her right to live. She must turn to Captain Blake for help or be slaughtered like all the other Seers before her.
March 24, 2023
4.5 🌟
Audiobook version - Jane Maree Narrator
I started this a few weeks ago and took some time getting into it. But I picked it up again the last couple days and was hooked! It became very intense and I did not see all those twists and turns coming! That ending left me a little bit destroyed and a lot desperate for the next book! 😱
I really enjoyed Devora’s character development, especially how her faith grew. There are beautiful parallels to Christianity and encouragement to trust in God regardless our circumstances. I love this type of novel - written from a Christian perspective that gives you the thrill of fantasy and also lessons applicable to real life.
Maree’s narration was excellent. She uses lovely, distinctive voices for each character which helps keep everyone distinguished in one’s mind.
I would definitely recommend reading or listening to this book! And I myself will be anxiously waiting for the sequel. 😉
Audiobook version - Jane Maree Narrator
I started this a few weeks ago and took some time getting into it. But I picked it up again the last couple days and was hooked! It became very intense and I did not see all those twists and turns coming! That ending left me a little bit destroyed and a lot desperate for the next book! 😱
I really enjoyed Devora’s character development, especially how her faith grew. There are beautiful parallels to Christianity and encouragement to trust in God regardless our circumstances. I love this type of novel - written from a Christian perspective that gives you the thrill of fantasy and also lessons applicable to real life.
Maree’s narration was excellent. She uses lovely, distinctive voices for each character which helps keep everyone distinguished in one’s mind.
I would definitely recommend reading or listening to this book! And I myself will be anxiously waiting for the sequel. 😉
October 22, 2023
Well I just found a new favorite series. I love all the characters and the part they play in the story. You can never tell who you can trust and when you think you have the story figured out nay nay you don't. Wonderful twist and intriguing characters the world building is amazing but not so overly detailed you loose focus just enough to draw you in and make you feel like you are there literally seeing everything. I would highly recommend this story and I am ready for book 2 especially after that ending! I would recommend the audio book as well I adore Jane, she is a wonderful narrator.
August 2, 2025
EXCELLENT BOOK TEN OUT OF TEN I absolutely love the Biblical inspired parts, the way the main character grew, and all the side characters were AMAZING!!! The world building was excellent, and OH BOY THAT CLIFFHANGER THREW ME FOR A LOOP I'm so excited for the next book!!
February 9, 2023
Quite a page turner 💜 Devora goes through quite a transformation and journey, growing into the person Tunri created her to be. If you like adventure, character growth, the feels, and a few amazing creatures than this book needs to be on your To Be Read list 📚💜📚
January 19, 2024
Such a beautiful allegorical fantasy!! I loved the nods to biblical stories such as Deborah and Jael, along with the touches of Mulan. V. Romas Burton is one of my favorite Christian authors!! Can't wait for the rest of the series, because that cliffhanger was a killer!!
February 26, 2023
Fortified by V. Romas Burton, the first installment of The Legacy Chapters, is a beautiful coming of age young adult fantasy novel with poignant lessons for readers.
Devora can only categorize her stones in one order. She believes this is undeniable proof that she is meant to attend Vlacklear Academy and become a scholar. However, Devora's perfect future shatters when the king changes the color orders the day of her Categorization Call. Instead of attending Vlacklear Academy, she is sent to the Fortress to train among criminals to become a soldier in the king's army. Her life plans uprooted paired with no more access to herbal tea to suppress her secret abilities as a Seer, Devora wonders if Tunri has forsaken her.
When Devora's Seeing abilities are inevitably exposed, she's thrown into a tournament to win her right to live. She must turn to Captain Blake, the right-hand man of the ruthless warden of the Fortress, for help or be slaughtered like all the other Seers before her.
In short, this book is phenomenal. Fortified follows Devora as she comes into her own on her unexpected journey. She learns that Tunri's plan was better and that without it she wouldn't have found several blessings. Likewise, we can apply Devora's lesson to our own lives. It is important to trust in God's plan even when it goes against our own vision.
In addition to the book's themes, the world-building is unique. The tournament Devora participates in to win her life is reminiscent of some popular series but stands on its own. Fans of both Divergent and Hunger Games will enjoy this fantasy story with the addition of the tournament. Readers who enjoy fantasy worlds with positive female friendships, enemies to lovers romance tropes, and a good balance between a character-driven plot and high-stakes action will love Fortified by V. Romas Burton. Plus, the clean romance sub-plot brings all the swoon!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Devora can only categorize her stones in one order. She believes this is undeniable proof that she is meant to attend Vlacklear Academy and become a scholar. However, Devora's perfect future shatters when the king changes the color orders the day of her Categorization Call. Instead of attending Vlacklear Academy, she is sent to the Fortress to train among criminals to become a soldier in the king's army. Her life plans uprooted paired with no more access to herbal tea to suppress her secret abilities as a Seer, Devora wonders if Tunri has forsaken her.
When Devora's Seeing abilities are inevitably exposed, she's thrown into a tournament to win her right to live. She must turn to Captain Blake, the right-hand man of the ruthless warden of the Fortress, for help or be slaughtered like all the other Seers before her.
In short, this book is phenomenal. Fortified follows Devora as she comes into her own on her unexpected journey. She learns that Tunri's plan was better and that without it she wouldn't have found several blessings. Likewise, we can apply Devora's lesson to our own lives. It is important to trust in God's plan even when it goes against our own vision.
In addition to the book's themes, the world-building is unique. The tournament Devora participates in to win her life is reminiscent of some popular series but stands on its own. Fans of both Divergent and Hunger Games will enjoy this fantasy story with the addition of the tournament. Readers who enjoy fantasy worlds with positive female friendships, enemies to lovers romance tropes, and a good balance between a character-driven plot and high-stakes action will love Fortified by V. Romas Burton. Plus, the clean romance sub-plot brings all the swoon!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2025
3.5 starzzzzz. It wasn’t quite a 4 star book, there’s really not a main reason this wasn’t a 4 star book for me, it just wasn’t it. Actually maybe it was because of THE ENDING, LIKE WHAT THE WORD BROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! (Iykyk) *ahem* anyways, I really liked the main characters, the only thing I didn’t like about Captain Blake was his first name. It’s not a bad name, but I got to know his character and personality as Captain Blake, so when people called him Matthias it just didn’t work for me. I loved our main girl, she didn’t magically learn to fight super fast and she had flaws but was also strong. She was definitely a girl boss in my opinion. I loved One Shot, his personality and role in the story was 🤌🏻. I also really liked how well the author incorporated Christianity into this book, I also liked the Bible story reference in it. This was a clean, fantasy read that I enjoyed. It had a great enemies to lovers trope and don’t get me started on the PLOT TWIST!!!!! (I was NOT expecting it at all)
January 28, 2024
This might be my new favorite book !! If you like dystopian fiction, you will love Fortified. It’s beautifully written and very suspenseful. I read the whole thing in a day! I love the characters especially One Shot. I also love how the story has bits of allegory from Deborah’s story in the Bible. It’s also clean which I really appreciate. If you like dystopian romance, V. Romas Burton's Fortified is a must read!!! 💕
May 19, 2025
Loved the story, and Devora was a protagonist that you always wanted to root for, as well as my favorite character, Captain Blake! An amazing story! Loved it!
June 7, 2025
I couldn't put this book down! Devora was such a relatable main character and I loved all the nods to Bible stories. The ending had me so upset and ready to get into the second book!
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