Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: September 19, 2023
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
Behind every great hero is an Aristene.Aristene are mythical female warriors, part of a legendary order. Though heroes might be immortalized in stories, it’s the Aristene who guide them to victory. They are the Heromakers.Ever since she was an orphan taken in by the order, Reed has wanted to be an Aristene. Now, as an initiate, just one challenge stands in her way: she must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and Reed will take her place beside her sisters. Fail, and she’ll be cast from the only home she’s ever known.Nothing is going to stop Reed--until she meets her hero. Hestion is fiery and infuriating, but what begins as an alliance becomes more, and as secrets of the order come to light Reed begins to understand what becoming an Aristene may truly cost. Battle looming, she must choose: the order and the life she had planned, or Hestion, and the one she never expected.
Review:
Reed is an initiate to the Aristene - a mythical order of female warriors who assist humans on their journeys to glory by war, fights, marraige, or death. Their legacies live on once their bodies no longer thrive and the immortal Aristene move on. Reed must complte her first hero quest, helping her human achieve glory, in order to become a full Aristene but her path is different from others - she has been gifted the blood of the gods to bring glory in death.
* This book was hard to explain and talk about when people asked, I didn't want to give too much away, but also the concept seemed odd then spoken aloud. However, it was a good book!*
Reed is simple, angry, but normal in light of her training to be immortal. She was emotional and aggressive where needed, and not overly stubborn, like most would be in her position. I thought that the world was interesting - an in between for the Aristene and then the 'real world' that was still fiction. I think we could have popped them into our world w/ similar effect, pre-tech maybe. (just a random thought).
Reed struggled with her plans to become an Aristene and her drive to 'keep' her charge - Hestion. She saw him in the Aristene mirror pool so early that she formed a connection long before meeting him as her hero and the aspect lends well to her overall struggle.
I though it was a horrible move to also not tell her that for some Aristene, their heros gain glory in death - that would have been a good thing to share with the class pre-plan. 'Hey, BTW before you essentially kill yourseld to be reborn, immortal... did you know...?'
Rant incoming...
I like miscommunication in book but I HATE when info is purposefully withheld 'to protect' someone. They are the judge of that. Reed already survived the death of all her village then being an offering and then extensive training too... arrrrg. She was young, but cabable and if she can make this life choice as a child, she can make ones for herself now too.
End Rant.
Anywho, overall this was a good book. I as invested in Reed's sense of duty and her turmoil over her love for Hestion. I liked the timeline presentated and am interested ot see what happens in the next book of the series.
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