Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Bea, whose hidden talents include communicating with her cat, Sah, is sent to spy on the Royals by her clan who want to overthrow them. She has been ostracized from the clan because she refused to give up father after he betrayed them. This is her only hope to be accepted by the Egals. Her sense of right and wrong and her volatile nature almost get her into some very bad situations but thanks to Sah, she is able to walk a very thin line.

She expects to despise all the people she meets but is shocked to discover they are not all monsters. In fact, when she becomes scribe to the Prince, she is able to earn his trust and his ear. He is the best hope for the people of her country even if her own people do not see it that way. She is forced into a situation that breaks her heart- the impossible choice. Her regrets are but the least of her worries afterwards. But just when all seems lost, something remarkable happens.

The story has a common thread of the Sword in the Stone. But it turns out to be a far more violent and brutal one with a decidedly feminist twist. It did not leave me satisfied but it did end with some hope. Four purrs and two paws up.

The story was very fun and action packed, more so in the end and I wished it was like that throughout the book. However, the parts that weren't action packed were so fun! Seeing Bea spy and form friendships with those she is suppose to hate was so heartwarming but also tore my heart out. The history of the world was very interesting. I felt like Iwas in the kingdom and experiencing all the things Bea was. However, I wished there was more of the kingdom's culture shown and not just the little of it we got.

Beatrix can share thoughts with a cat, she is a likeable fmc but wished she had more personality. We only saw a little but of how her personality pushed her to make certain choices but I wished there were more moments like that. I do like her character development throughout the book on how she slowly made choices for herself and became more independent.

Ronan can go away, I hate him so much just because of what he did in the story.The other characters I wished we saw more from and how they drive the story as well, Not just the Egal's. More of Misty and those kinds of characters. Sahse was a funny cat and I loved seeing how she can Bea came together. It was a very sweet connection and I liked their friendship!

This was a good start to a trilogy! I will be finishing the series once the next two books come out. I'm excited to see more of Bea and Sahse's journey and what they do next!

˗ˏˋ꒰⭐⭐.5 ꒱

If the words “nothing burger” had a picture to come with its definition, that picture would be of this book.

I don't know how to feel about this book. Whether that's good or bad, I also don't know.

I'll try to organize my thoughts as coherently as possible, but don't expect too much from me lol.

If you don't read a lot of fantasy and want a story set in a medieval Europe-ish country with a chosen one protagonist, then this book is for you.

I don't think it does anything exceptionally bad, but also nothing exceptionally good either.

I couldn't bring myself to care for literally any of the characters (except Sashe, who is a cat, so it is to be expected). Bea, the MC, has depth to her; she's torn apart in her loyalties, she wants to please her family but also doesn't think the monarchy is as bad as it seems. However, she's so incredibly dumb that the only reason she has not been killed yet is thanks to the power of the script. She's also very rude toward the royalty, which you'd think would have real consequences for her actions, but naaaah, some talking here and there and everything's forgotten!

Prince Oscar, on the other hand, is good—great even. He's not a good person by any means, but he's also not as terrible as the first impression might suggest. He wants to learn and be better; he's reckless and stupid and suffers the ramifications of his actions. I found him so much more enjoyable than Bea, even at his worst.

The other characters are meh; I can't even bring myself to hate the ones I'm supposed to hate.

The romance isn't any different. I couldn't believe for a second any sort of relationship that the book wanted to sell to me. I don't think I need to say that the "betrayals" and "plot twists" felt as empty and boring as they seemed, for anyone who has read more than two fantasy books in their lifetime.

Aaaand the plot...

I am really trying hard to think of something interesting to say about it without resorting to the cheap "here's a copy and paste of the blurb written on the back of the book that I am intending to pass off as my own original thoughts" technique.

It's boring, that's how I would describe it. I don't think there's anything wrong with using an overused series of clichés or plotlines, as long as you bring something new to the table.

This book didn't do that.

It was a cut-and-dry story about a (very bad) spy trying to overthrow the government, with a love triangle involved and plain-as-hell characters. The most interesting part, Bea's connection to Sashe, is so secondary that it is almost infuriating, and that's the most emotion I've ever felt reading this.

I'll still read the second book, Flare Bound, because I think Ronan has potential, even when he's predictable and boring as gods know what.

I have a lot of nitpicks, that I honestly think could've been solved with a little more world-building and time with the Egals. I would say that's one of the problems of book series, but it really isn't, as more books should give you more time to introduce the world you built in the first book. But oh well...

An overall meh if there's ever been one. Maybe I would've given this 3 stars if I didn't know better about the genre.




Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of an honest review

Stone Sword kicks off an exciting new fantasy trilogy with a bang! The story follows Beatrix Arnett as she battles to prove herself within her family of rebels while dealing with royal intrigues, budding romance, and unexpected betrayals. I was hooked from the first page by the rich world-building and the intriguing mix of political drama and personal stakes. The dynamic between Beatrix and her feline companion, Sahse, adds a charming touch to the high-stakes adventure. This book has everything you need for a gripping fantasy read that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Hold onto your seats, fantasy fans! ⚔️ Stone Sword is a wild ride where loyalty is tested, and love gets dangerously tangled up with royal secrets. Beatrix Arnett’s quest to prove herself is packed with epic moments, fierce battles, and a cat that steals the show! If you love a good mix of adventure, romance, and intrigue with a strong, brave heroine, this book is a total win. Can’t wait for the next book in the series—bring on the drama and magic! 📚✨

This was a quick and easy read. It was quite fun.

I liked the MC who tried to find her own way, caught up in politics between her rebel "family" playing the spy in a bid to overthrow the monarchy.

I would have liked to learn more about the magic. Some more worldbuilding would have been nice.

Additionally, every single plot device introduced was highly predictable as to how it was to be used. It didn't make the book unlikeable, by any means, but it did mean that nothing was really a surprise. In fact, there are already several ploy points I can predict for the next book. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't read it though, as I did enjoy the story overall.