The great king had barely taken his last breath before one brother took the head of another.

With that sentence I was hooked and boy did it get bloody fast. The Old King is dead and his sons are fighting for the crown and they are brutal, cruel and have no mercy.

Keeley is one of the kindest heroine’s I have met who really knows how to swing a hammer and is so oblivious to everything that you can’t help but not love her. She has her demon wolves with eyes of flames, the wild horses are her friends and she goes around saving strangers.

The centaurs of the Amicahi Mountains are sent out to find the queen and bring her to safety or the witches of Amhuinn to verify that she is the foreseen queen. Only the so called seer choses to queens. You can guess where this is going right?

While helping the stranger, Keeley is helped by the centaurs specifically Caid. Gosh, how I love the Hero who thought centaurs could be sexy.

I really have a bit stuck on how to review this book as well I don’t want to give anything away as it is awesome. It is well written, there is an extensive plot with so many possibilities. There is the typical banter and great secondary characters. I have read some of this author‘s books but under her other pen name. But this was truly fantastic for me at least. I highlighted at least half of the book. So that says it all really.

I mean we have a seer, dwarves, barbarians, elves, dragons and a frigging war monk. So cool.

My verdict read the bleeding book it is so worth it.

This story snuck up on me. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to love it. I don't want to say it felt simple, because that isn't quite right, but maybe as if it was kind of immature. In a sense some of it is a bit immature, with the constantly bickering sisters especially, but honestly it ended up just being so much fun! The plot was interesting, the action was an ever flowing gift from the gods, and the characters and their banter were wildly entertaining.

Can we also just talk about how freaking awesome it is to have kickass heroines that aren't stunningly beautiful without knowing it?! A big-burly-hammer-toting-foul-mouthed-warrior-blacksmith-queen....YAAASSSS.

That alone really sets this one apart from many others in this genre and I'm so here for it. I mean how could you not love Keely extra hard? That girl has a heart of gold and a fierce unrelenting spirit. The whole Smythe clan was a riot, not to mention the myriad of magical/mmythical beings they befriend along the way. Even the animals were captivating! Long live the demon dogs!

* "THEY ARE WOLVES" Caid adamantly reminds *
This book was full of little surprises like that. I also wasn't expecting it to be as brutal as it was in the fighting scenes either, but it was, in the best possible way. I love that this author doesn't shy away from things, she goes for it...with gusto. Whether it be bloodshed, swearing, or even just traversing a giant willful family dynamic. It also managed to feel very light to me even though there was so much destruction and danger. The banter and camaraderie kind of helped give it this awesome balance. I really appreciated that.

This was a bolder book in a lot of little ways like that and it made the journey incredibly entertaining and just so darn fun! I see this author has other books out and I can't wait to read more by her.

Have you ever read a book where you just could not decide if it was for you or not? Then it won you over right there at the very end? That’s how it was reading The Blacksmith Queen.

This book is about a woman named Keeley who is prophecized to become the new queen after the Old King’s death. To make it brief the Old King has died and his bloodthirsty sons are killing each other off to claim the throne. Keeley and her sister are both prophecized as the potential queens. In a wild twist of event Keeley’s sister turns against her and Keeley is faced with battling not only the King’s sons but her bloodthirsty kin.

I have got to say that this book is a little cheesy and I had a hard time getting through it. The main character, Keeley, her last name is Smythe, can you guess what she does for a living? Yes, she’s a blacksmith, hence The Blacksmith Queen. If that doesn’t make you cringe just a little her father’s last name is Farmerson, and yes, he is a farmer. The names in this book were not everything that made it cheesy, there is campy humor spread throughout the books and sometimes the dialogue is a bit off-putting. Here is an example between Keeley and a centaur named Quinn about a horse who’s offspring was killed in a previous battle.

Quinn studied the gray mare and the saddle on her back. “If she’s not your horse, then what is she?”

“A mother looking for justice.”

I just thought this was a little over the top and reminded me of a really bad action movie. I pictured Tom Cruise holding patting the horse while dramatically proclaiming the horse’s desire for revenge.

There’s also an awkward sex scene that I found off-putting. I honestly really don’t want to go into it, here is a weird quote from a romantic gesture between the two. Sorry, it might be a small spoiler so if you’re interested in the “mysterious” love arc to skip this quote and the following paragraph.

A hand pressed against his hindquarter and he recognized Keeley’s touch.

Yes… the romance is between Keeley and a centaur. It’s a little strange but also pretty cute. I am not going to hate on the love story, it felt a little awkward to me but maybe that’s just the way I interpreted it.

Okay now that I have gotten that off of my chest let’s move on to what endeared me to this story. The characters are badass. Keeley is awesome, her sister Gemma is stone cold, and their cousin Keran is a drunken disaster that I enjoyed every second of. This book is extremely explicit when it comes to the battle sequences, punches are not held and there will likely be scenes that turn your stomach a little.

Keeley is such an interesting character. She loves her family above all and is capable of making friends with the strangest of beings and animals. This includes demon wolves, a vengeful mare, and grumpy centaurs. Her ability to be likable while also being stubborn and flawed made her feel very well rounded and interesting. She is the kind of character you want to win because she doesn’t want the power she just wants to help those she cares about.

I struggled to read this book in the beginning and I don’t want that to deter anyone because it gets better. The cheesiness and oftentimes awkward dialogue are worth it because the characters are loveable and the plot is quite interesting.

I was originally going to give this book 3/5 stars but after reading the ending and doing some reflection I have deemed it worthy of 4/5 stars. This book captured my attention and with the flaws taken with a grain of salt, it is quite funny and ambitious. It seems that this is the debut of a series and I look forward to the next installment.

As always thank you to NetGalley and a big thank you to and Kensington Books for giving me access to this book.

Omg. This is the book I've been waiting for forever. I have been waiting for a book to fulfill my fantasy, adventure, paranormal, and of course romance needs. It had everything and then some.

Keeley and Caid were amazing. I want more. I want more in this world. I want more of the characters.

I received a free copy of THE BLACKSMITH QUEEN by G.A. Aiken in exchange for an honest review. When the old king dies, a war for succession leaves two surviving bastard princelings to fight over the crown. A prophet creates a third party to the succession war by predicting a queen from the common-born Smythe family is the rightful heir to the Black Hills throne. For blacksmith Keeley Smythe, the war is great for business until the battling bastards attempt to eradicate her family. Mountain warriors called the Amichai intervene to help the Smythes escape and to safely escort Keeley’s younger sister Beatrix to be confirmed as the prophesized queen. The second war for succession begins. What chances do a common-born queen have against an entire country’s army?

It looks like the start of another great series! It’s full of profanity and sibling rivalry, both murderous and mundane. Though it’s set in the same universe as the dragon novels, G.A. Aiken adds in human witches, centaurs, elves, and dwarves. There’s a lot of fighting throughout the book, both silly and serious. Romance and sex are present but take a low-key second place to the adventure quest that forms the backbone of the story. I recommend this book to fans of high fantasy with off-beat and occasionally funny characters.

#TheBlacksmithQueen #NetGalley

I could not believe how much I enjoyed this book. G.A. Aiken consistently delivers a fabulous read. I found myself laughing out loud several times and have reread already. Keeley Smythe is your typical older sister. Protective, supportive and did I say protective? She finds herself in the middle of a quest, She just needs to accompany her younger sister, on her trip what could go wrong? How about dragons, centaurs, gladiators and witches? Not to mention conspiracy, romance, sorrow and war. Loved this story.

I’ve loved G.A. Aiken’s books since Dragon Actually. If you’re like me, you’ll love this book too. This book is an RPG come to life alà Dungeons and Dragons or the like. It’s high fantasy with dragons and villains and strong willed women, all of which I love to read, trademarked with the usual Aiken wit and humor. Highly recommend.

I loved this book just as I did all the others from Ms. Aiken. You experience all kinds of emotions from happiness to heart break. There's also lots of family love and drama. The characters are well developed and keep you on edge wondering what will come next. Laugh out loud and enjoy the beginning of a new series that is sure to become one of your favorites.

If you’re looking for a light, fun romp of a fantasy romance, this is the book for you. If you expect traditional high fantasy, this book is not for you.
Annwyl the Bloody will forever by my favourite character by this author, see her Dragon Kin series. But Keeley Smythe, blacksmith, chiropractor, and savior of demon wolves, is quickly becoming my second favourite character.
This series take place in the same world as the Dragon Kin series but can be read separately. The characters I met in this book were the same type of hilarious, bickering, raunchy family members I met in the other series. And I loved it. I can’t wait for the next book.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I feel really bad that this is like the 4th arc in a row that I can't finish.
The author writes like a child.
I didn't understand what was going on at all. They just threw you into this story that we were supposed to know.
Seriously the dialogue was horrible
And from that I have seen of the main character she was horrible too.

The Old King has died and a prophecy that a queen will ascend to the throne of the Black Hills has emerged and the king’s sons are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers including each other. Blacksmith Keeley Smythe is benefiting from the war until it looks like the chosen queen will be her younger sisters, now it’s all she can do to protect her family from the enraged royals. Luckily she doesn’t have to fight alone, because the clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amicahi have joined the quest.

The author has given her fascinating world life once again with some truly wonderful additional elements that readers can definitely appreciate. The dragons may not be a full part of this story, but it takes place in the same world, just a different part. The characters of this new series are strong and blood thirsty as the others and there definitely grab all of the reader’s attention from the very beginning. While Keeley reminds readers of the Human Queen, she has her own refreshing personality that readers can definitely enjoy and the budding relationship that is building between her and Caid promises to be epic.

This fast paced story is full of adventure, suspense, excitement and emotional angst, but the way these characters deal with that turmoil can be a bit frightening as well as charming. The author makes this blood thirsty world seem so very reasonable that readers can’t help but have fun and be delighted with the captivating characters, which includes centaurs, dwarves, barbarians, witches, and wild horses, while they are completely enthralled by this riveting and exhilarating adventure.

I don't typically pick up fantasy romances! But this one was thrilling to read and it was highly entertaining. We follow a blacksmith whose family comprises of hard headed, stubborn warriors and they are thrown into a war for the throne. There are centaurs, elves, magical monks, and more!

The writing style is different since it was very direct and to the point. The dialogue was a bit stiff but I loved the banter between characters. I would have loved to see more world building as well! It was fun to read about the hijinks of these characters though.

I have to start this review with two points of context. First, I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK. I enjoy everything Shelly Laurenston/GA Aiken writes, and I particularly love this book. I just wanted to lay that out at the start of this review because there will be some squee. Second, while it pains me to say it, I would not call this book a romance. There is a satisfying, HEA romance in it, and it’s a lovely one, but the romance is only a small part of the plot. Therefore, it’s not a romance, and if you go in expecting that you may be disappointed. That said, the book is so good, and I am all in on this world and these characters.

It’s hard to summarize this book without spoilers, so I’ll just let the cover copy do that. What I can talk about, however, is the main character Keeley Smythe. I love her! She is a blacksmith who runs her own shop, and she is capable AF. The opening scene, where she kicks the asses of a whole group of baddies in order to save a defenseless young man, just sucks you right in and shows you what kind of person she is. She is strong, she is fearless, and she is by and large very cheerful. She is also incredibly devoted to her family, and it was so great to see. Basically most of what she has done in life has been to protect and serve her family, but she isn’t resentful and doesn’t play the martyr. She does it because it needs doing--she is a woman who quite simply gets shit done. Aiken's heroines are pretty much all capable and strong, however. What sets Keeley apart is that she’s really...nice. She loves the people around her despite their obvious faults and despite, in some cases, them being seemingly undeserving of her love. I love her for it.

The rest of the characters in the book are also amazing, particularly Keeley’s family. One thing I love about Aiken's characters is that they have faults but are still deserving of their own happiness. Keeley’s family isn’t perfect, but they are ALWAYS interesting. There are so many conflicting personalities and agendas, and you get the sense that this book only revealed the tip of the iceberg of what’s really going on. I particularly loved the dynamic between Keeley and her sister Gemma. I am definitely hoping to hear more of Gemma’s story in the future! This book is also set in the same universe at the Dragon Kin. We've also heard allusions to the queen we know is Annwyn, and hopefully we'll get even more crossover later. (Hoo boy I'd love to get a scene of Keeley and Annwyn together!)

As for the romance, it may be small but it’s cute. Caid is taciturn and grumpy, but his grumpiness is no match for Keeley’s exuberance and kindness. It was fun to see her grow on him until she had wormed her way right into his heart. They were a great match, and I could see how his support would be so valuable for Keeley going forward. While I would have loved to see more page time for the romance, even my “romance or GTFO” heart was satisfied enough at the end of this book.

I know the small amount of romance will disappoint some, and as usual Aiken's campy, violent fairy tale style is not for everyone. I, however, loved this book and I just want more. I want more of seeing Keeley come into her own, I want more story for the rest of Keeley’s family, and I want more of this world.

Grade: 4.75 out of 5

So who will be Queen? Keeley will do anything in her power to keep her family safe so when she finds a group of centaurs near her family's farm she tries to be more trusting but why are they really here. Now that Gemma has returned for a visit Keeley knows that there is something bad about to happen and she has never forgiven her sister for leaving so suddenly. Will they be able to put aside their anger to help with the journey that they need to go on together? They know that something strange is going on as they can't figure out why their sister Beatrix has been chosen to be the new Queen. She has never left the farm and there is something not quite right with her. But Keeley knows that she needs to go with and now that the truth has been revealed she has no choice but to follow her destiny. Caid knows that he shouldn't fall for this strange woman but she is everything that he has wanted but can they really be happy together knowing what is expected of her and will his parents accept their relationship seeing that she is human?
Gemma followed her heart and she is now a feared war monk that will do everything to save her family even if that means having to kill her sister Beatrix. Can her & Keeley repair their relationship and will Keeley accept her as a trusted advisor?
A great read kept turning those pages to see what was going to happen next. Who doesn't enjoy a book full of mysterious creatures? Can't wait to see what will happen next in the series. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house n exchange for my honest review.

Another solid series by the talented G.A. Aiken. While set in the Dragon Kin universe, the standalone Scarred Earth series brings forth a new cast of shifters. If you have read her other books, Aiken brings that same level of hilarity to this new series.

I'm a fan of G.A. Aiken which is also Shelly Laurenston. Her writing is definitely OTT and her characters are outrageous and zany but they are humorous and endearing. This series is no different - the characters are outrageous and there are a few moments that are crazy - but it's all fun! There is also quite a bit of violence in this book but the way it's written the book never seems dark.

I really enjoyed getting to know Keeley and the cast of characters surrounding her. She has quite the adventure and along the way you get to meet centaurs, demon wolves, war monks, dwarves, elves, witches and a dragon. This book is set in the same world as the Dragon Kin series and has some similarities - a crazy family that loves to argue, really strong women, men who love and respect strong women, humor, and lots of action. The romance takes a backseat to all the intrigue, action and overall plot but it's just enough that someone who loves romance like me will be happy.

This looks to be the beginning of a great adventure for Keeley and company and I can't wait to see what happens next.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
Wowee what an amazing start to a new fantasy romance series! GA Aiken has created a female driven world full of female empowerment. They are bat sh*^ crazy most of the time but also know what they want and take it (and take no prisoners) which is a refreshing take not only on fantasy but romance in general.
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Our heroine is a blacksmith and proud of it, following in the footsteps of her mother. When her sister gets declared next queen of their land she and her family get drawn into a very bloody war. Our hero is a centaur (OMG YES) sent to protect the new queen and family. An epic adventure ensues that includes demon wolves, war horses, dwarves, elves and the dead rising.
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I will admit that the romance is so slow burn it’s almost an afterthought. There isn’t even any sexual tension between the two main characters until 85% of the way through the book... but I’m actually not bothered by it because I was so captivated by the story and the world. The world building did not detract from the story in any way (she is clearly a master).
The villian in this was so well set up I was gobsmacked- we are talking crazy, smart and more than a little terrifying. I need the next book stat!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You know what? This book is a delight. I can’t be partial-- I love GA Aiken/Shelly Laurenston’s heroines, their unabashed pride in their strength, their dedication to their families (chosen or birth), their refusal to back down from a challenge, and their willingness to own their own crazy. Keeley Smythe is no exception.

As the eldest of a passel of kids from a love match between a soldier and a blacksmith, Keeley grew up in the forge, dedicated to her craft and her siblings, not necessarily in that order. While war between heirs to the throne is happening, it’s a distant threat, one that Keeley is aware of but hasn’t felt. That is, until there’s a prophecy that her quiet, book-loving sister Beatrix will become queen. Now, Keeley’s long-lost sister who ran away to join a religious order has returned, fistfights ensue, and the whole family has to pack up and protect Beatrix, as one of the rival heirs is determined to take her out of the equation. In order to remain safe, Keeley and her family travel with the Amchai, a band of warriors from the mountains, fabled for their ferocity in battle… and also for being centaurs. (Never let it be said that Aiken/Laurenston is afraid to mix it up with mythological creatures in her novels, which have featured dragon shapeshifters, were-honey badgers, and a winged immortal pit bull.)

As the Smythes and Amchai travel, they’re accompanied by Keeley’s unexpected companions, a pack of demon wolves as well as a wild mare she befriended. Along the way, there will be prophecies, betrayals, War Monks, and necromancy. If you’ve read anything from this author, you’d expect nothing less.

While this was tagged as “romance” as well as “sci-fi/fantasy”, I would put this firmly in fantasy, as the romance is an afterthought to the adventure. Keeley’s budding relationship with the centaur Caid is a subplot, the main plot is about who’s going to end up being queen of the Black Hills. If sequels come, I’ll read them as fantasies, not as romances, and I’ll recommend this as a fantasy, not a romance, when I do reader’s advisory.

Review: THE BLACKSMITH QUEEN (The Scarred Earth Saga) by G.A. Aiken https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bfD
Publication Date: August 27, 2019
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars

What fun! Ms. Aiken has managed to create another world for us to dive into. She is a master at describing where and what, so that you are quickly immersed and feel a part of it all. Centaurs? Sure…Demon Wolves? Of course…they’re all real – right? I loved it all. Keeley and her family are a rowdy bunch that poor Caid and his fellow Centaurs can only gird their loins for what might happen next. I did wonder if it was a fantasy with romantic elements, but Keeley and Caid’s romance grew steadily, culminating in a steamy love-scene. So yes, this book had it all. Magical creatures, horrible antagonists, crazy family and friends, humor, romance and of course – a happily ever after. The kind of story that keeps you in its grasp long after the book is closed. I cannot wait for the second installment.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle $9.99 https://amzn.to/2RRstMj

The Blacksmith Queen literally gives us a strong female main character with a tender heart and affinity for animals ( both the regular and other wordly beings) who is reluctantly being cast as queen of the realm. She’d rather forge weapons! This paranormal fantasy saga is really going to make readers role in laughter, cheer for the good guys against insurmountable odds and go all teary eyed when sisters are forced to either fight against each other or with them. The Blacksmith Queen is just the beginning of a story but its already shaping up to a great epic story! The fight continues to the next book but Keely Smythe and her band of unconventional warriors has already captured my heart and I cannot wait for the next book!
PS it ends in a not so cliffhanger but the romance angle is resolved but the adventure continues