Format: Kindle, 306 pages
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: Kensington Books
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy
When a prophesy brings war to the Land of the Black Hills, Keeley
Smythe must join forces with a clan of mountain warriors who are really
centaurs in a thrilling new fantasy romance series from New York Times bestselling author G.A. Aiken.
The Old King Is Dead
With the demise of the Old King, there’s a prophesy that a queen will
ascend to the throne of the Black Hills. Bad news for the king’s sons,
who are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers. But for
blacksmith Keeley Smythe, war is great for business. Until it looks like
the chosen queen will be Beatrix, her younger sister. Now it’s all
Keeley can do to protect her family from the enraged royals.
Luckily, Keeley doesn’t have to fight alone. Because thundering to her
aid comes a clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amichai.
Not the most socially adept group, but soldiers have never bothered
Keeley, and rough, gruff Caid, actually seems to respect her. A good
thing because the fierce warrior will be by her side for a much longer
ride than any prophesy ever envisioned …
The Blacksmith Queen is the first installment in author G.A. Aiken's The Scarred Earth Saga. This story has the most action packed scenes of any book I've read this year. When the Old King dies, his sons immediately begin killing each other as well as anyone else who could possibly challenge them for the throne exactly as the King predicted it would. Marius, wielder of hate, is the eldest & ends up with 1/2 of his fathers army; Straton, the Devourer, has an army of mercenaries at his beck and call; Cyrus, the Honored, has the other half of his father's army. If you thought the opening scenes were out of this world, you haven't seen anything yet!
According to the Witches of Amhuinn, a prophecy claims that a farmer's daughter will be the next queen. As the brothers prepare to scour the Earth trying to find this farmer's daughter and raise any town that stands in their way, the question becomes, which daughter? Could it be Keeley Smythe who the oldest and a blacksmith with her own forge who carries a deadly battle hammer? Or, Beatrix who is a young woman with her nose always in books and who seems almost too introspective? She also wears the finest clothing anyone has seen and she is always wandering off.
Everyone assumes that daughter is Beatrix, as she appears the one best suited to someday becoming a queen. To add even more craziness to the story, Sister Gemma, who left 10 years ago, is back and she's a War Monk! A War Monk is a Knight who has given up her life and soul to fight for one of the Gods called Morthwyl. She also has the ability to raise the dead and use the dead as her own army. Then the author adds a group of Centaurs led by Cade and Laila to the mix. They have been sent by the witches to test whether nor not Beatrix is the alleged Queen to be but arrive just in time to see Straton destroy everything in his path.
Keeley does everything she can to stand up against the mercenaries and armies who invade her village, but it's a hopeless cause. Keeley, Beatrix, Cade, Laila, and Gemma's squire Samuel, travel to see the Amhuinn witches. After a disturbing betrayal, Keeley finds that she has been named as the prophesied Blacksmith Queen. All she needs to do is put an army together, ask the Centaurs, Dwarves, Elves and Barbarians to fight for her and viola! she's Queen. The degree of treacherous deeds by Beatrix in this story is mind blowing.
The death and destruction that abounds in this book because of
greed and the quest for power is staggering in most cases but we'll
deserved in others...no good or bad deed goes unpunished. Keeley is a badass. She’s
rude, surly, and violent, but she’s fun, very protective of her family,
totally selfless and thinks outside the box. She's has her own forge, can wield a battle hammer capable of crushing a man's head in, and really stands out while Beatrix is a scheming off screen and Gemma is coming to terms with who she should stand by.
Although most family members constantly bicker, especially Keeley and Gemma, they always stand together as a family against any outside threat. The parents, Emma and Angus, are no joke when it comes to fighting and protecting their family. Add in the crazy uncle, the strange cousin who is either extremely sleepy or drunk all the time, and Keeley herself with her strange affinity for dangerous creatures that most people are calling demon wolves. Aiken uses secondary characters to share the experiences and it offers something different and gives us a more menacing light on some.
Another added piece of information, this book takes place
in the same world as the authors Dragon Kin series and there may or may
not be a crossover in the third installment. If you are looking for a story that is filled with action, humor, twists, betrayals, and heroines who have an attitude and humor, then congratulations you've found the right book for you!
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