Vilaya, Val, has gone against everything her family believes in by joining the rebel army who fight against the Kingdom of Praiton. Growing up with brutally violent brothers who maliciously tormented Val she is ready to escape and find her own family. Finding a band of sisters within the rebel army, Val now knows the true meaning of family… a family that will stand by her side no matter what.
While serving in the rebel army Val rises to high ranking quickly, to the bemusement of the male rebels who think she must have only achieved this by doing the male general “favors”. While Val is betrothed to someone else she can not fight the attraction she has for general Aris. But the neverending war they fight has no patience for love.
This new family, and this new life that Val has built for herself will soon come crashing down. Will Val find the happiness she deserves?
Overall rating 5/5
We get a delicious sneak peek into Val’s back story in this novella. Val’s character was more vulnerable in this book than in A Crown of Star & Ash. Seeing how she was before her stint at Ironbalt Prison is truly heartbreaking knowing her fate. The ending tore my heart out. I so want her to have the happy ending she deserves! Val is the character for all the women who have fought, struggled, and exceeded expectations, she is a true hero.
*Thank you to Victoria Taylor for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.