The Legionnaire
Samantha Traunfeld
(Author)
Description
Discover the epic military fantasy where magic determines your place in life. "This grim, passionate tale will scorch readers." - Kirkus recommended review Saiden, a Blood-Cursed legionnaire--blessed by both the God of Life and Goddess of Death--is a paradox. Called both "death-bringer" and "world-ender," she is surprisingly careful about taking lives and proving herself to be a monster. Torn between her loyalty to her queen and the need to protect her people, Saiden struggles to decide who she is going to be in a world that has already cast her aside. Queen Loralei is hiding the fact that she's been blessed by the God of Life while navigating the manipulative and dangerous landscape of ruling a kingdom. When she discovers a mysterious prisoner in her dungeons, she begins to unravel a complicated plot that shadows her reign and would change the course of history. Mozare, gifted by the Goddess of Death with the powers to control shadows, is hiding lots of secrets in the dark. As Saiden's legionnaire partner, he would do everything to protect her--even if that means killing the queen she swore to protect to save her from a fate worse than death. With friends and enemies becoming indistinguishable from each other, can these three individuals survive long enough to fulfill their destinies without losing those closest to them, or will their missions irreparably ruin them--and possibly the entire kingdom?Product Details
Price
$26.95
$25.06
Publisher
Inimitable Books
Publish Date
November 14, 2023
Pages
288
Dimensions
0.0 X 0.0 X 0.0 inches | 0.0 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781958607183
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Samantha Traunfeld's love of stories began when she was about 12--back when she could read a whole book in a day, and wrote lots of stories featuring cute ghosts. Now she writes stories about badass women, sharp weapons, and banter-y relationships.? When she isn't writing, she's usually cuddling her dog, starting a new craft project she might not finish, or trying to figure out how video games work. There's a 94.6% chance you can find her curled up in a bookstore somewhere (math is not her strong suit), but if you don't, you can find more information on her website: samanthatraunfeld.com.
Reviews
A young soldier with untapped abilities must protect her new queen in this New Adult fantasy. In the realm of Kaizia, Saiden is a member of the deadly Legion. She and her partner, Mozare, take missions from Gen. Nakti on behalf of Loralei, their young and newly enthroned queen. In Kaizia's culture, the Gifted develop their magical powers when they're teenagers. Saiden, with her red mane, is Blood-Cursed, supposedly too dangerous to live because of her connection to both gods. Her powers never manifested, however. She's become a fearsome warrior with a reputation that's earned her a post in the Queen's Guard. Guarding Loralei involves protecting Kaizia from dangers, including the Enlightened, religious fanatics who are willing "to die to bring the gods closer to earth." There's also an underground Rebellion led by the charismatic Revon, who claims to know an ugly truth about Kaizia society. While Mozare cares deeply for Saiden, his allegiance may be compromised. He wants to dismantle the realm's foul monarchy, which abides by brutality against common people. When Saiden learns the truth about her own family's past, will she join the Rebellion? In her series opener, Traunfeld ably depicts the strands of darkness and romance that often weave through YA fantasy. Saiden keeps track of her kills by getting leaves tattooed on her arms, and she always manages to cause more collateral damage than Nakti would like. Loralei, meanwhile, has taken her serving girl, Cara, as her lover, a secret that threatens to bring further turmoil to the country. The narrative shifts among Saiden's, Mozare's, and Loralei's perspectives, with the latter bolstering the tale's sensuality; in one scene, the queen "watched Saiden pick an orange off the tray, peel it slowly and savor each slice of the fruit." Some plot components click readily into place, like the identity of an imprisoned woman, and well-executed twists abound in the second half, adding deep emotional shading to the small cast. Traunfeld's finale reveals bleak terrain ahead in installments to come. This grim, passionate tale will scorch readers.-- "Kirkus recommended review"
