4 stars
Received a free digital copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was immediately engrossed by this collection of powerful women risking it all the save their worlds.
Rich fantasy with splendid storytelling. Each tale features a fierce woman doing whatever it takes to save the world and the people she loves. Filled with adventure, action, and a touch of romance. Dive in and get wrapped up in discovering hidden truths, foiling wicked plots, and the ongoing battle of good overcoming evil.
The eight stories beautifully come together at the end in an impressive culmination of the book’s central themes.
Though much of the book focuses on the darkness of human nature, filled with war, chaos, power struggles, and greed, there are beautiful themes throughout. Love, kindness, and the courage to do the right thing permeate the darkness of each tale in a wonderful blend of the good and evil of the human condition.
Each story is quite unique in tone and texture. Langtree holds nothing back, showing the full range of her characters’ fear, anger, sorrow, love, joy, and wrath. The length of each tale allows for wonderful world building and character development without feeling rushed. My personal favorites were “Once a Queen” and “Wind-Dancer”.
For those who may be sensitive to issues of consent, there are a few scenes and mentions of rape and sexual assault.
A powerful read inhabited by fierce women taking the fantasy world by storm. Mothers, lovers, rulers, warriors, guides, and protectors, the women featured in this collection will not soon be forgotten.