Format: Kindle, 550 pages
Release Date: February 13, 2023
Publisher: Alchemy
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she’s always dreamed of being: a warrior legend.
Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with protecting the five kingdoms.
The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.
All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.
Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?
Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with protecting the five kingdoms.
The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.
All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.
Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?
"In the shadow of a fallen kingdom, in the eye of the storm, A daughter of darkness will wield a blade in one hand And rule death with the other. When the skies are blackened, at the end of days, The Veil will fall. The tide will turn when her blade is drawn. A dawn of fire and blood."
Blood & Steel is the first installment in author Helen Scheuerer's The Legends of Thezmarr series. 24-year-old Althea Zoltaire had always dreamed of becoming a great warrior, but fate had other plans for her. Althea has been devastated by a prophecy that predicts her untimely death at the age of 27. As an orphan, she had to rely on her own wits and strength to survive in a world that didn't favor women with the blade. Despite the odds stacked against her, Althea never gave up on her dreams. Even though she trained alongside her sister, she never gave it real effort.
She trained tirelessly in the shadows, honing her skills in secret, knowing that if she was ever caught, it would mean the end of her dreams and banishment. Thea's journey is not just about battling external forces but also about overcoming her internal fears and doubts. One of the most heartwarming aspects of the novel for me was the bond between Thea and her sister, Wren, a chemist with her own story to tell one day. Their relationship is a beacon of steadfast love amidst the chaos, providing a heartwarming subplot that adds depth to the narrative.
Then there's Wilder Hawthorne, the youngest of the three remaining Warswords, along with Vernick and Torj. Wilder knows that things are changing. He has seen the ugliness spreading across the borders from the mist, which is supposed to be in the penetrable wall. He has seen monsters that once were men. There is also a prophecy that was foretold 20 years ago that ended all hope for any more female warriors. The only hope for Thea is to prove to the King that she is worthy to take the trials. After a trip to the capital, she does just that.
The slow-burn romance between Thea and Wilder added a layer of tension that kept me turning the pages. Now, at the age of 24, with only three years left to live, Althea must hurry to make her dreams come true. With her heart set on her goal, she dives headfirst into the world of warriors, even with all the challenges, from the harsh training to her fellow candidates to evil that appears unstoppable. Will she succeed in her quest to become a great warrior before time runs out? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – Althea is not one to be underestimated.
"If you seek power in a world of men and monsters, there is nothing more powerful than knowledge and the ability to wield it. Remember that, would-be shieldbearer."
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