Review by Booklist Review
To be a godforsaken in Bhorglid is to be seen as less than. To be a godforsaken princess in a royal family of godtouched is to be derided. Revna has spent years facing the scorn of her family and the priests that rule the kingdom because of her lack of magic. Wanting to overthrow the oppression, Revna volunteers for the Bloodshed Trials, a death match between her brothers for the throne. When Revna is kidnapped before the trials by her country's biggest threat, she thinks her chance is lost. Prepared to die at the lethal hands of the Hellbringer, Revna is surprised to learn that he's been tasked by his queen with training her to win the trials. As the two spend more time together training, their mutual reluctance becomes a mutual attraction, and Revna begins to question: Is it a greater sin to love a monster . . . or to become one? Kennington's debut romantasy novel is full of angst (and spice), with an underdog heroine leading a rebellion and an unexpected ending that readers will enjoy.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Kennington sets her satisfying romantasy debut in the stratified Fjordlands country of Bhorglid, where the magically gifted godtouched look down upon the powerless godforsaken. As one of the latter, Princess Revna Thorunsdotter is despised by her family, useful only to be married off in a political alliance as part of the holy war against neighboring Kryllian. In a desperate gamble to evade this fate, Revna enters the Bloodshed Trials, a deathmatch against her brothers in which the last one standing claims the throne. During her preparations, she's abducted by Kryllian's general, the terrifying Hellbringer, who can kill with a single touch. To her surprise, however, his intention is to train her into a mighty warrior in hopes that her victory over her bloodthirsty relatives might bring an end to the war. As Revna hones her martial prowess, she and the aloof Hellbringer grow closer, discovering unexpected common ground. Kennington conjures a dangerous world populated by colorful characters and enhanced by an underlying tension--romantic and otherwise. Though the love story occasionally overshadows the political intrigue and familial drama, it's undeniable that feisty Revna meshes well with her enigmatic and alluring captor. This is a promising start. Agent: Bethany Hendrix, Spencerhill Assoc. (Mar.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Princess Revna grows up knowing exactly why her kingdom disdains her: she has no magical ability, and only those with magic are considered worthy in her realm. When Revna helps prevent a brutal religious rite, her friends are condemned to pay the price. In a final act of defiance toward her parents and an attempt to save her friends, Revna turns down her arranged marriage to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Instead, she commits to entering the Bloodshed Trials, in which she and her brothers will fight to the death for the right to ascend the throne. But before the competition can commence, Revna is abducted by a man known as the Hellbringer. The Hellbringer can tear souls to shreds with his magic, but rather than kill Revna, he offers to train her to compete in the Bloodshed Trials. Revna wonders why a powerful enemy wants to help her win the trials and become queen, but she takes advantage of the opportunity to learn his fighting skills and eventually gives him her trust and heart. VERDICT Kennington's gripping debut romantasy starts with the risky, disobedient act of a princess, follows with an abduction, and keeps the action going until the blood-soaked end, leaving readers eager for more from the novel's pair of doomed lovers.--Eve Stano
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