Title: Warrior Princess
Series: Blood Weaver Trilogy
Author: Karina Espinosa
Genre: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: 16th August 2024
BLURB
In the fantastical realm of Asteria, where ancient bloodlines and magical allegiances govern the land, Leila, a blood mage with a complicated past, finds her fate intertwined with Ronan, the fierce warrior from the Crimson Clan. When an insidious plot by Prince Caelan of Eldwain threatens to destabilize all of Asteria, Leila must harness her formidable powers and confront secrets that could shatter the very foundations of her world.
Together, Leila and Ronan embark on a perilous journey through treacherous territories, from the Grasslands, Keldara, the Central Plains, to the deceptive courts of Eldwain, to safeguard their people and uphold ancient alliances. As battles rage and loyalties are tested, the pair must navigate a tapestry of intrigue and betrayal, where love may be their most powerful weapon or their ultimate undoing.
With the fate of Asteria hanging in the balance, Leila must decide if she can go against the man she once considered her best friend. In this epic tale of magic, love, and rebellion, only the strongest will survive to tell the tale of their victory—or their defeat.
REVIEW
I think the covers for the Blood Weaver Trilogy are all very striking and Warrior Princess fits with the two previous covers very well. It was mixed emotions approaching reading Warrior Princess as it’s the last book in the trilogy, I was eager to read the book but at the same time wasn’t totally ready to bid farewell to Leila and the other characters.
Warrior Princess starts with a small prologue that is a flashback to how/why Shiro was made into the Demon Fox. Celeste put her beloved Shiro into slumber to stop him attacking/destroying Asteria. Celeste then cursed her own bloodline saying there will be no female blood mage born until Shiro has had time to think things through and sort of see the error of his ways, only then will a female blood mage be born. The female blood mage must fall in love with one from the Crimson Clan, then be sacrificed to bring back Shiro the Demon Fox. The female blood mage must be in love with one of the Crimson Clan that way she will feel the betrayal when he kills her for his own people. It’s quite a sad kind of prophecy/ceremony really though Ronan thinks he has a way around the fact Leila must die for the Demon Fox to return. Once returned the Demon Fox can grant one wish. Ronan decides he will use this one wish to bring Leila back to life.
Chief Aryan of the Crimson Clan thinks sacrificing Leila/Princess Lyanna of Valoria is the only way to make the Crimson Clan the strongest army so that they can defeat all enemies in war. He doesn’t care that his son Ronan is in love with the Princess and he has no intention at all of honouring his agreement with his son, to use the one wish that Shiro grants to bring Leila/Princess Lyanna back to life. Chief Aryan wants to use the wish for himself which is why he uses a tranquiliser dart to put Ronan out of action whilst he persuades Leila to let him perform the sacrificial ceremony. Silas finally finds Ronan after the ceremony has been performed and has to break the devastating news that Leila is dead. Ronan rushes to find his father and the Demon Fox to make the wish to bring Leila back to life which is rightly his wish to take.
Leila does struggle with the memories of the sacrificial ceremony that Chief Aryan performed on her, the way he began slitting her wrists and then quite callously and savagely slits her throat to enable her blood to flow fast and freely onto the stone she is laid on. In fact, she is rather self-concious of the scar at a neck so much so she initially wears scarves at her neck to hide it. Shiro – the Demon Fox being brought back does give the Crimson Clan army extra strength, they feel the extra power almost immediately. Shiro is also a formidable fighter in any battle himself. Shiro also helps Leila develop, wield and learn to control her Blood Weaver magic which certainly comes in useful.
Without going into detail there is more than one person who would force Leila into marriage with them to gain control of Valoria who are willing to go to extreme lengths to get what they want. Leila also has no shortage of potential agreeable suitors either! There is lots of betrayal and conspiracy going on, some from quarters you would not expect that Leila has to deal with from her adopted home of the Grasslands with the Crimson Clan as it is not safe for her to return to Valoria. Leila has the help of most of the other regions in Asteria
So, there’s lots of action scenes both of the steamy and battle varieties making this book really difficult to put down once you start reading! Though I did enjoy the epilogue at the end I would have loved a little more of a mention of Selene & Marcellus and their relationship outcome. I did love the way Henry is happily settle with Ronan & Leila. I'm not sure how to explain it but it just ended a little abrupt & quickly for me....it left me wanting a little more…..maybe that’s a good way to end leaving me to fill in the blanks
Summing up Warrior Princess really is an action-packed, edge of your seat conclusion to The Blood Weaver Trilogy. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author!
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