Rating: 4.25⭐️🌈
A Broken Blade, the first book in the completed The Halfling Saga by Melissa Blair, an indigenous writer from Canada, is a fascinating read.
It’s Blair’s first published novel and it’s a dark fantasy that features a bisexual woman protagonist, a Halfing, who’s as layered and realistic as I have read recently.
Starting from the very first paragraph, the reader is drawn into a dark narrative because Keera, the King’s Blade or assassin is also a drunk who is losing her edge.
She’s become a guilt ridden alcoholic, all the deaths of innocents she’s taken on the King’s orders, most her own people, Halflings who only wanted freedom from slavery haunting her in a very specific way. She’s self harming, a cutter.
She’s also in charge of the Shades, a group of assassins of Halfling women, stolen as children and raised to become the monsters they are.
In a dying fantasy world of humans who hate the Fae and Halfings (those who have Fae blood), all of the Halfings physically are owned by the King.
Blair creates a realistic world where the poor are starving, lining the streets with their corpses while the King and his sadistic son live extremely well, shored up by his powerful assassins.
Until an enemy known as the Shadow strikes against the King, and he sends his Blade to find him.
This is a enemy to lovers dark fantasy with the main character having a strong tragic sapphic romantic backstory. The main male character isn’t as well written as she is, and that impacts their dynamics. He’s always a lesser character and while he’s still a good one, this aspect of the story reduces the power of the relationship.
I found Keera a trapped and emotionally haunted character. She’s constantly trying to escape her surroundings only to find that those around her haven’t been truthful.
Whether you as a reader find that is a betrayal to her or not is up to you.
Who and what she actually is remains part of the series mystery. It seems that it isn’t really revealed until the end.
As the series is finished, I did skim over the descriptions of the next stories (I know, bad me), and Keera’s journey is anguished, filled with deep tragedy, and relapse. Some people weren’t happy with the ending.
Was it dark? That would make sense because Keera actually said she should pay for the deaths of the innocent victims.
I don’t know. But as tough a read as this might be, I’ll probably continue reading. The main character is real and damaged by her choices. I’ll see her out.
Is this a series for you? There’s trigger warnings plenty. SA, torture, self harm, violence, alcohol abuse, and other issues. So only you can make the decision.
The Halfling Saga:
A Broken Blade #1
A Shadow Crown #2
A Vicious Game #3
An Honored Vow #4
Buy link
Book 1 of 4: The Halfling Saga
Blurb
My body is made of scars,
some were done to me,
but most I did to myself.
Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the king’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure moves against the Crown, Keera is called upon to hunt down the so-called Shadow. She tracks her target into the magical lands of the Fae, but Faeland is not what it seems . . . and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she learns, and can’t help but wonder who her enemy truly is: the King that destroyed her people or the Shadow that threatens the peace?
As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago, one that will test her in every way. To keep her word, Keera must not only save herself, but an entire kingdom.
Fans of fast-paced high fantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses series, The Inadequate Heir, and From Blood and Ash author Jennifer L. Armentrout, will enjoy the fierce female characters, sapphic representation, and fantasy romance of A Broken Blade.
Publisher
Union Square & Co.
Publication date
August 2, 2022
Language
English
Print length
439 pages
Book 1 of 4
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 