Imagine, if you will, that you are dropped into a world as a sheltered fledgling, unaware of the political machinations, inter species revulsions and even gawk at common celebrations, but with deadly assassin level skills! What a brilliant premise and refreshing start to a series!!! Welcome to the world of Wren - the little bird whom everyone wishes to ensnare. The book starts with an epic opening which is built up with various characters whose actions are explained in later chapters for context.
Wren, finds her father killed in their remote hut, and sets off as she promised him. In escaping, she gets arrested and the prison is attacked by a Nagendron (dragonish creature) - and from here she stumbles across disavowed princelings, Elven healers, Wolf pack twins, makes a family with the warriors, reconnects with an old friend and a lot of adventures as she tries to piece together the truth and falsehoods dealt by her father's shuttered upbringing.
I LOVED this tale - no slow burn romance, just fast paced adventure and a truly world building novel where each character's motivations are not clearly stated. The book definitely builds the suspense and is reminiscent of wheel of time in its treatment of certain characters (Marshall Aderlain especially...) The unfolding of social stigmas, emotions and past hurts is gut wrenchingly amazing! A breath of fresh air from all the romance infused heroines matching towards destiny by choice. The lack of knowledge makes Wren seem like Fitz from the assassin trilogy by Robin Hobb, as she tries to trust and finds herself in sticky situations by virtue of omission.
I cannot wait for the sequel - to unpack the mysteries of the guardian and what Marshall Aderlain and the deposed heir Marius have planned... and of course, the trouble a Wren can get into when she discovers her claws... Absolute magic!!!
My lupine gratitude to Three Amigas Press and Netgalley for the ARC and curtsies to Tracy Leonard Nakatani for penning this brash, upturned and massively immersive experience of a story!!! I devoured this read in two days and am howling for more!!
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