About the Book
-
Author:
- Traci Chee
- Genres:
- Action-Adventure
- Fantasy
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- Non-Binary
Cover Story: The Seven Something or Other
Drinking Buddy: Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash
MPAA Rating: R (Graphic violence, sexuality, alcohol use)
Talky Talk: I’ll Second That
Bonus Factors: Eclectic Group of Misfits, Post-Apocalyptic
Bromance Status: Once More into the Breach
Cover Story: The Seven Something or Other
A well done, minimalist cover. The samurai imagery made me picture all the characters as Asian, which wasn’t a bad thing.
The Deal:
Years after the end of the war, the old veterans are at a loss, especially the feared kindlings. Child soldiers capable of terrifying battle magic, they tore the country apart with their exploits. Use of the magic saps the spirit and the health, unfortunately, and the kindlings are out of the service, broken and bitter old women in their teens.
But banditry is rife in these lawless times, and when a farm girl comes to town, searching for heroes to save her village from a warlord, seven kindlings still answer the call.
Drinking Buddy: Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash
This eclectic group of soldiers are the ones I’d want to have on my side. There’s Amity, the Twin Valley Reaper, once one of the most feared warriors on the battlefield, but whose health is now failing. Leum, bitter after the war, but still willing to fight for the little guy. Emara, the gambler, trying to find what happened to her family. Ben, the terrifying knife fighter. Kanver, who crawled into a bottle after the war, but might be convinced to get back in the saddle again. Ket, who travels from town to town, seducing girls and then leaving them, trying to fill the hole in her heart. And Siddie, who was too young to fight in the war and is desperate to prove herself.
By the way, almost every character in this book is a woman (Kanver is non-binary): the warriors, bandits, and romantic interests…other than a few minor characters, everyone is female.
MPAA Rating: R (Graphic violence, sexuality, alcohol use)
The kindlings were shock troops. Like the name says, they flamed hard and burned up quickly. These women are formidable with swords and knives and arrows, but when they use their magic…it’s deadly for all involved, including themselves. But when facing an enemy who brings villages to the brink of destruction, just to attack them again when they start to recover, and who kills anyone in her path, the kindlings have to be willing to risk everything.
Talky Talk: I’ll Second That
First of all, this book had seven point of view characters, which is a bit much. It took me a hundred pages to get everyone straight in my mind. More importantly, this book is told in the second person. YOU wake up. YOU feel angry. YOU rush into combat. Combined with the many POVs, it struck me as a confusing gimmick and took away from the book. Unless a chapter ends with If you investigate the creepy building, turn to page 60, then stick with first or third.
Bonus Factor: Eclectic Group of Misfits
The seven kindlings couldn’t be more different. Some of them even fought on opposite sides of the war. Some are soldiers to the bone, some are ready to leave their training behind them. And almost none of them get along. But with a scorched earth bandit threatening a peaceful little town, who ya gonna call?
Bonus Factor: Post-Apocalyptic
The war left the world in ruins, with just a few farming villages eking out a living in the rubble. Personally, I would have liked more history of this world, the causes of the war, and who’s in charge now (there’s some sort of queen). And I’m always a sucker for hints that this is our world, a thousand years in the future.
Bromance Status: Once More into the Breach
I look forward to more missions with this author.
Literary Matchmaking
Joseph Bruchac’s Killer of Enemies has a similar, badass female warrior vibe.
The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen is another good ‘slobs vs. genocidal warlords’ book.
As is Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey.
FTC full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but no money or enchanted armor.
