Tag: the blameless

Book Review: The Blameless (The Blameless #1) by E.S. Christison

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 300 pages
Author: E.S. Christison
Publisher: Wildling Press
Release Date: July 7th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Briana, Princess of Predonia, has lived a happy and sheltered life. Then, in a single night, her kingdom is overthrown and centuries of peace are abruptly shattered. Fleeing for her life as her kingdom burns, Brie is rescued by Flinton, Derek, and Kove, three powerful protectors who pledge to teach her how to fight and use the powerful magic that has awakened within her. Brie finds sanctuary in the mountain stronghold of the Blameless, people who receive magical gifts from the gods after performing acts of unparalleled selflessness. Among them, Brie’s grieving heart slowly learns to live and laugh again. With the help of her new friends, she strives to master her growing powers so she can avenge her family, take back her place as the rightful heir to the throne, and free her people from the clutches of a tyrant. But can one girl change the tides against an evil that has conquered an entire kingdom?

Thank you to the author for sending me a gifted copy.

SOLID MIDDLE GRADE.

I know this isn’t my usual fantasy grade level, but I was sold on the idea and I think it is great for this age group. Keeping that in mind as I read led to a good reading experience and I’m excited for book two.

Briana, our lovely FMC, was wonderful. I loved that she acted and responded appropriately for her age group, but that it also didn’t bring on any annoyance. She’s going through a lot of growth and processing very hard things. I also loved that she wasn’t immediately good at everything, I liked seeing her learn new things and how to handle her power.

Her found family group was full of the kindest souls. I loved seeing them all together and enjoyed the lighter dynamics they brought to the table. There’s great father-like figures and friends Briana’s age that she’s able to connect with.

I enjoyed the plot and getting some snippets of the antagonists point of view to see inside his mindset too. There’s plenty of action and moments that keep those pages turning.

Overall audience notes:

  • Middle Grade Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of family, small battle themes, weapons, physical and magical violence

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Book Review: The Tarnished (The Blameless #2) by E.S. Christison

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 372 pages
Author: E.S. Christison
Publisher: Wildling Press
Release Date: November 22nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Princess Briana has escaped imprisonment and is on the run. Her beloved Predonia is in upheaval as the villainous Vaylec tightens his grip on the Blameless, tearing the kingdom apart in search of the girl who’s evaded him. To regain her people’s freedom, Brie must turn her back on her friends and her new home as she and her uncles race to uncover the secrets of Vaylec’s mysterious and growing power. There is no safety nor rest for the usurped heir to the throne, and Brie must dig deep inside herself for strength to take action as her world crumbles around her.

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!

SOLID SEQUEL.

This was another enjoyable read for The Blameless series. And one of my favorite aspects is that it really is great for the middle grade/young YA audience. There’s some heavy themes but nothing overly gory/detailed and I really love the FMC.

Briana is committed to helping her kingdom and doing the hard things to get there. I love seeing her work and train to be the best person she can be. There’s mistakes made along the way and I love how sincere apologies are given and you can see the heart of those surrounding Bri.

I love all of the side characters and the big found family. Getting the point of view from the antagonist really amps things up too. Plenty of action, intrigue, what will happen next and some good fun moments to give the cast a breather. It’s a good series and I look forward to reading the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Middle grade fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, small scale battle scenes, weapons and physical violence

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