Review by Booklist Review
For Reed, one life ended when a raiding party slaughtered her entire family. When Reed, then a child, was rescued by two women, she began a new life as an initiate of the Aristene, a mythical order of ageless women warriors who ride legendary horses to battle and lead heroes chosen by fate to glory. Now at 17, Reed is one of three initiates preparing to become a full member of the order. To do so, she must successfully guide a hero to his destiny; if she fails, she'll be cast out. But a holy war is brewing and the hands of fate are moving the Aristenes with unprecedented purpose. As Reed plays a role she isn't wholly aware of, she also grows too attached too quickly to her hero, Hestion, the second son of a king. More than one life hangs in the balance, and Reed has sacrifices to make. Blake has proven herself a confident creator of fantasy worlds (the Three Dark Crowns series), but this duology starter, epic in scope and deliberate in tone, is unmatched. The story borrows from the familiar--there are shades of Madeline Miller here, of Valkyries and Amazons, of Hector and Achilles--but, bittersweet and glorious, this is all its own. As Reed grapples with what choices she has when she answers to fate, readers will follow her to the end.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
As the only survivor in her village following a raid, Reed is saved by the Order of the Aristene, a society of seemingly omniscient, immortal female warriors, in this thrilling fantasy duology opener from Blake (All These Bodies). Now 16 and having been raised in the mythical Aristene Citadel, Reed--described as being "big as an ox" and "strong like one, too"--dreams of joining their ranks and becoming a shepherd meant to guide heroes to victory. Finally allowed to begin her Hero's Trial, Reed, supported by her mentor and her beloved horse, and joined by fellow initiate Lyonene, is tasked with helping Prince Hestion, whose country is on the brink of war, defeat the rumored prophet-killing king. If he fails, she will be forced to leave the Citadel. Curiosity-stoking worldbuilding paired with the characters' fully fleshed-out histories--particularly the lore and the tight-knit relationships between the women of the Aristene--keep the story's stakes high, and electric fight scenes proffer steady pacing. Characters are described as having varying skin tones. Ages 14--up. Agent: Adriann Ranta Zurhellen, Folio Literary Management. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Blake kicks off a new fantasy series with a divine order of immortal female warriors who set their hands on the scales of history and the teen girls who must pass one final test before they can take their place among them. The Aristene creates heroes, driving them towards their fates for the glory of their goddess, always in the background of history. If Reed fails to guide Hestion to glory, she will be forced to leave the order and her found family behind. Hestion's country is on the edge of a holy war that could change the whole world. The coming conflict is more complicated than any Hero Trial ever; Reed's friend and fellow initiate Lyonene is enduring her Trial with a different prince, and there may not be enough glory for both of them. Reed will need her wits, her strength, and her friends to emerge from the other side--and to handle the consequences. Blake deftly balances distinct character arcs and themes with sharp, thrilling action sequences. Fate versus free will, the limits of religion, and the responsibility that comes with friendship are all explored from different angles as the author pulls readers through twists and turns. Reed is described as having tan skin and dark hair, and other characters represent a variety of ethnicities. VERDICT The tight-knit friendships and thrilling action sequences are the true heroes of this duology opener. Blake subverts classic tropes to reward new and frequent fantasy readers. Recommended for general purchase.--Emmy Neal
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The epic journey of a foundling girl in pursuit of glory and immortality. After the population of her entire village is killed when she is a child, Reed is rescued by two members of the legendary Order of the Aristene. Creatures of legend, the Aristene are female warriors in service to the goddess of glory, tasked to guide heroes to victory, whatever it takes. Brought up in their Citadel and expected to become one of them, Reed, now 16, and her initiate friends are about to start their Hero's Trials. Should they succeed, they will become fully fledged Aristene, immortal and nearly impossible to defeat in battle. But if she fails to guide her first hero--Hestion, a prince from a country on the cusp of a world-changing war--to glory, Reed will have to leave the community. As Reed grows closer to Hestion, she comes to fully grasp the sacrifices required to achieve what she always thought she wanted. The novel features enthralling worldbuilding and a nail-biting character arc that genuinely surprises with its twists and turns. Its highlights are the strength of the female friendships, the bonds between the Aristene, and the ties formed between the Aristene and their heroes. Explorations of tragedy, myth, and the power of agency versus fate enrich the story. Reed has dark hair and tan skin; in this fantasy world there is a diverse range of skin tones. A fabulous series opener combining true thrills and deep relationships. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
