Title: Warmaidens (Gravemaidens #2)
Author: Kelly Coon
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication date: October 20th, 2020
352 pages
4/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Warmaidens is the dark, action-packed conclusion to the heartwrenching Gravemaidens fantasy duology. Kammani and the maidens are now going to war against the ruler who tried to entomb them.
In the refuge city-state of Manzazu, Kammani has built a thriving healing practice and a life she’s proud of with her siblings, the maidens, and her love, Dagan.
But when an assassin murders a healer he believes is Kammani and attempts to kill Arwia, the displaced queen of Alu, they realize they’re not safe in their safe little haven anymore. Uruku, the usurper to Alu’s throne, has found out they escaped the tomb and must kill them to protect his newly acquired power.
Burning for retribution, the ruler of Manzazu wants to unleash her fiercest weapons on Alu–her warmaidens. But when Kammani’s best friend, Iltani, is captured, Kammani must use her intuition and her heart to restore Arwia to the throne before the life she’s built–and a future with Dagan–burn up in the flames of war.
Review
Warmaidens is a solid conclusion to Gravemaidens, which I read as an ARC in 2019 I believe. I put off the put because I really enjoyed Gravemaidens and wasn’t prepared for the conclusion. But, the library desperately wants their copy back so I decided now was the time and there was no waiting more for it. And I’m glad I didn’t, because it went nowhere I thought it was going to, but it was great.
Warmaidens picks up 9 months after the events of Gravemaidens, where Kammani and her friends are hiding in a neighboring city-state from Uruku. The action picks up pretty quickly when there is an attempt on Arwia’s life and the gang must make the decision to return to Alu to save everyone.
There isn’t much that I can say about this book without spoilers – but if you enjoyed Gravemaidens you’ll enjoy the conclusion. It left me feeling satisfied and all the end were tied up well. I enjoyed reading it, but will I remember this duology clearly in the future? I don’t think so. As a whole the duo is missing a quality that take fantasy books to the next level, where they stick with you for awhile.
Happy reading, folks!
Baltimore Bibliophile 