[A quick note: I own all of Rebecca Ross’s books and had yet to read a single ONE. They all come highly recommended and I realized it was high time I get to reading them. I decided to start with this one because it’s a stand alone. Naturally, I loved it so much that I’m already gearing up to read the next stand alone from her, which is Dreams Lie Beneath. After that, I plan to dive into her other books.]
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒕.” —Rebecca Ross
Two sisters, one a warrior, the other a scribe, must unravel the plot to overthrow a kingdom. In doing so, they will face sacrifice, loss, and even love. Being sisters ties them together, but their fight to save the kingdom might tear them apart.
I LOVE stand alone fantasy!!! It’s so satisfying. I couldn’t stop thinking about this story after I started it! It was WONDERFUL!! It’s got excellent tropes like sister bonds, plot to overthrow a queen, artifacts, forced proximity, self discovery, and more. There was so much I loved, but especially the sister bond.
Rebecca Ross did an excellent job building intrigue and creating moments that pulled at my emotions, all while giving me a perfectly crafted story within a single book. Yes, I teared up and almost cried twice. TWICE!! Also, I loved the structure of the plot, the splashes of unpredictability, and the sacrifices that added realism.
While SOSAS started a smidge slow, which worried me, that quickly changed. Silly me! There was no need to fret.
The writing was beautiful. I absolutely loved the Greek fantasy setting with its own mythology, artifacts, and customs. I was sucked out of reality in a fantastic way. It’s impressive when an author can create excellent world building within a single book, while still getting you through the plot with solid characters. There was never too much, or not enough. It was all perfectly balanced.
Our story follows Evadne and Halcyon, who have have been separated for eight years. On the eve of Halcyon’s glorious return to her family, she sneaks back through Eva’s window rather than announcing herself at the front door. Something isn’t right. She hasn’t come back a honored soldier. Instead, she’s returned a murder. And when she’s tried for her crimes, she’s given a harsh punishment.
Eva can’t bear to lose her sister for another fifteen years, so she makes the ultimate sacrifice, offering to take a portion of Halcyon’s sentence. As both girls begin their sentences, we get hints about a deeper problem. Something is happening to the kingdom. Those with magic are working to overthrow the queen. Both girls become wrapped up in the plot to save her before it’s too late.
There’s mystery, intrigue, and adventure. There are artifacts passed down from the gods that must be found. There’s heartbreak and sacrifice. But there are also soft, happy moments, too.
I loved that Eva has a disability. After an ankle injury, she walks with a permanent limp. She’s imperfect. All her life she wanted magic and never got blessed with it. So instead, she becomes a scribe for a mage. After seeing her older sister as the strong warrior, she realizes that she has her own strength, too.
Overall, I just adored this book. It’s perfect for fantasy fans looking for a stand alone story. It’s going to be my new go-to rec! While it is YA, it will please fantasy fans of all ages, simply for the beauty of the story.
𝑴𝒀 𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮: 𝟓/𝟓⭐️
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