Prior to starting this book, I retained such high hopes for an intense story and a badass heroine. To be fair, the book delivered as promised, but in what seemed to be too campy for my tastes. There seemed to be a lack of gravitas about the death of the king and the prophesized queen, as well as the betrayal by one of Keeley’s supposed allies. The story was pretty good and possessed a lot of potential, but I did not find myself enjoying it as much as I expected.

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

This first line is real catching and made me want to read more. G. A. Aiken does a wonderful job of world building and making her characters realistic. The bickering between the siblings is like any you would see in the real world. I was captured by the story and visually see what was happening. Prince Marius seemed like a toddler in a grown man's body the way he kept losing his temper over everything that he didn't like. I loved Keeley and the fact that she never judged anyone or animal unless they attacked her or her family.

Wow. Just wow…..I would give this book more stars if I could! This book was everything I didn’t know I needed right now. It had amazing freaking characters, deadly battles, different kinds of creatures, and of course love!

Keeley was amazing. I think I have a girl crush on her. She is an amazing blacksmith, loves her family with everything she is and can kick some major butt with her giant hammer. I loved her sense of humor, her excitement over animals and metal, and her commitment to her family. And what a crazy family it was. Caid was the sexy, strong, and silent type. I really love how Keeley broke through his barriers. His family was just as crazy and interesting as Keeley’s. Keeley is already forging strong connections with other races and with the humans. I cannot wait to see what she will do next in her fight for the crown and saving the world.

Aiken does an amazing job at captivating readers with amazing characters and a rich world. If you are a fan of her Dragon Kin series you will love this series, which actually takes place in the same world! I already want to read the next book and I am sad that I will have to wait a year for it. Maybe rereading the Dragon Kin series will hold me over until the next release.

I love G.A. Aiken (aka:Shelly Laurenston) her writing and characters are so good. Since this new series set in her Dragon Kin world I was excited to to get to know some new people. Unfortunutly the Characters in this one are so much like her previous books that I kept comparing each quirk to the the other characters, which was very distracting. Not one of her best books but still better then many others books by others. I can’t wait for the next one hopefully the characters will develope more and read as more unique then her previous characters.

This book was just not for me. I had the hardest time reading it. I had difficulty following all the characters and trying to figure out who was speaking and then to whom they were speaking to. The dialogue got on my nerves too. Grown adult people sounding like they were in high school and then solving it by trying to beat each other up or trying to kill them. REALLY?!? It just was all too much for me. I liked the concept but not the delivery. To put this book under romance is also the wrong move and false advertising. Not my cup of tea but others really enjoyed it.

Received a copy from the publisher for a honest review.

yet another absolutely stunning story from G.A Aiken. I don’t know what it is about this author, but the quirky humor and action always keeps me enthralled with her storytelling. Yet another four stars to the riveting stories that continue to land on my shelves or in my kindle.

When I initially saw this book, I was expecting a new series from scratch— but was pleasantly surprised to find that this series plays in the world of Dragon Kin, yet has a new set of characters to follow around.

I’m always one to stay true to heart about those series that are special to an author, so the fact that we now get some possible cameos from those beloved characters keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting for more. Both the characters and the setting of the book were well though of and developed nicely throughout the story, there was plenty of humor, spicy times, and drawn out dialogue that actually kept me entertained rather than bored. I think anyone willing to take this journey is going to be pleasantly surprised by its amazing blend of humor, romance, suspense, and fantasy.

3.75 Stars (I rounded up because she is one of my favorite authors)

Was it fun? Yes. Was it sexy? Meh.
Is it the start of something epic? YES!

Aiken continues to entertain with crazed villains and even zanier families that can’t stop and won’t stop. Our hero and heroine don’t spend a lot of time together, too busy fighting others to fulfill a great destiny. The other characters, siblings, aunts and parents keep us very entertained, but then it seemed to drag.

The story seems to repeat the storyline of Laurenston (aka Aiken), but I know it will be a fun ride to read.

Anyone who loves wacky, will love Aiken/Laurenston.

ARC provided by NetGalley!

A lot of Fun. A little silly. And also a little ...dark.

In this we meet Keeley Smythe our heroine. She is a blacksmith who hails from a very, very large farming/blacksmithing family. She lives in a small village with her mother, father, 11 siblings and her crazy pit fighting cousin.

As the book starts, the Old King of their land dies and his many sons are all murderously vying for his throne. But not so fast murderous sons.... there is a prophecy that says the land shall not be ruled by a king, but a queen. The witches who speak the prophecy and who are also the ones who are tasked with legitimizing the person who sits on the throne have also given the name.

And this is where Keely's family comes in because it is her sister Beatrix who is named by the witches. The murderous brothers (separately because they are also busy trying to murder each other) come to kill the queen.

But that isn't easy because this is no regular old peasant family. And they fight for theirs. And they are <i>really</i> good fighters.

If you are familiar with GA Aiken (aka Shelley Laurenston) then as you read this book it will become very familiar to you very quickly. This author has a very distinctive style. It is very female centric. Even thought he murderous princes are catalysts to a lot of the action, make no mistake it is the women who are the movers and shakers in this this book. Even amongst the Centaur tribes (oh... did I mention the hero in this book is a Centaur?) the Chieftan is a woman.

It is also very funny with characters who are over the top, they argue, fight with ferocious glee, and will happily maim someone -- and that is just amongst the family members. But they are also very much ride or die for each other. In this book that is both a blessing and a curse.

But it also has some dark undertones. This is the first book of the series. It ends at a good place and a battle is won, but not the war and there is a confrontation that absolutely has to happen before the entire story can end and it will have some unhappy consequences for some of our layers.

The worldbuilding is quite good for a first-in-series. No data dumps, but you get a good strong sense of the world and also of the characters. This is set in the same universe as her Dragon Kin series but has the added element of the dwarves, elves and Centaurs. I really love how she conceptualizes the centaurs, very cool.

The characters are very appealing, with trademark Aiken bent humor and almost manic energy. The romance is low key and nice but isn't at all central. Although Caid (the hero) and Keeley get a lot of page space together and it is very telegraphed their relationship is going to be important.

All in all very enjoyable. Very much looking forward to the next one and see what happens as Keeley & family get closer to coming face to face with their foes.

<i>This is an honest review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.</i>

Thank you Netgally and Kensington Books for an ARC for a review. One my favourite authors is Shelly Laurenston, but I had not read any of her books written under the pen name G.A Aiken yet. The Blacksmith Queen is a brand new fantasy series, set in her dragon series world, but its not necessary to read anything previously written. When a prophesy brings war to the Land of the Black Hills, Keeley Smythe must join forces with a clan of centaurs, a pack of demon wolves, and her crazy family to bring peace, or at least not get killed. I totally enjoyed this book. The usual snarky, humorous dialogue is there, the romance is less steamy than her shifter series, but lots of action, fighting (and I am not just talking about the war); and some slap-stick relief. The girls are strong, and gutsy, the guys, beefy and hot! Not a cliff-hanger ending, but definitely a pause. Can't wait for book 2!

I absolutely loved this book! If you are a fan of the Dragon Kin books, this season s a must read. It’s the story of Keeley Smythe, blacksmith carrying on the tradition of the women in her family. She is teamed up with a group of centaurs who were tasked to take Keeley’s sister who has been prophesied as the next queen to safety. Of course all is not what it seems. This book sets up what I hope will be a long running series, and I cannot recommend it enough.

This tale begins when the old King dies, his family immediately splitting into different factions, killing each other and anyone unfortunate enough to be close to them in the quest to become the next ruler. However, a prophecy foretells the rule of a new Queen. A commoner. Someone who’s going to be facing some big, big, deadly problems….

Anyhoodle, Keeley, our blacksmith heroine, is a caretaker by nature. Her parents depend on her to help them on their farm, run the family forge (a tradition that runs through her mother's side of the family for generations) and to raise the family - yes, all twelve siblings and counting. She’s all about her family and protecting them, bickering with some of them, but in the end, family is all to her. Her journey centers this tale and what happens when that prophecy decrees that her sister Beatrix is to be the next Queen. As you can imagine, there’s a whole bunch of people (and other creatures) not happy with this and it becomes very clear when the killing starts. While fighting, Keeley meets an envoy of Amichai, kilt-wearing centaur shifters, including Caid, a warrior who’s tasked with protecting the potential future Queen. Keeley and the Amichai, along with her sister Beatrix, set out to meet with the Witches of Amhuinn, the ones responsible for the prophecy. Along the way, alliances are tested, betrayals are inevitable, everyone’s in danger, snarky banter abounds and a (very little) bit of romance happens.

The Good
G.A. Aiken, aka Shelly Laurenston, aka my favorite author, has certain hallmarks to her writing. Her stories center around relationships, some romantic, some familial, all with a mix of biting humor and deep affection, even when those relationship insist on testing you. I adore her action sequences, because she’s great at setting the scene and she doesn’t hold back with the violence when necessary. Her heroines are typically strong, take charge, occasionally vicious, always smart, and best of all, willing to go ovaries to the wall to do what they have to do. Her heroes have their own strengths, appreciate a heroine who’s equal (or greater) and are not diminished in the least if they are occasionally the ones who need saving. Both fight for themselves and for what they believe in, and there’s usually some shifting involved, like lions, tigers, bears, dragons, or in this case, centaurs. So, I appreciate the way her mind works, the way she structures her stories, and her humor is very much in line with mine. Let me tell you, with the start of this new series, I wasn’t disappointed.

The ‘verse that she’s created here is set adjacent to her Dragon Kin series, but it is absolutely not necessary to read that series to enjoy this. Her worldbuilding unfolds in an interesting way, bringing the reader into this story by beginning with a minor character’s POV. It gives a bird’s eye view of the big players in this saga, and sets up the overarching storyline, if that makes sense. *blinks* If not, let’s roll with it. I loved getting to know Keeley and her motley crew of kin, as well as the herd of Amichai. Their interactions made me laugh, made me like them, made me invest in them, and by extension, in this story. Plus, I just enjoy road trip romances, since the potential mix of adventure and romance in close quarters is so high. Speaking of….

The Bad(ish) and Everything in Between
This is all about personal preference - I’m a self-professed romance junkie. It’s the thing that lures me in and keeps me hooked to a series. The romance in this story is NOT the focal point, but more incidental. If you are looking for a strong romance element to the story, this may not be for you. Personally, the story itself is intriguing enough to keep me interested, but the lack of romance is the only thing that I wish I had more of.

Now, I loathe cliffhangers, it is no secret, but I do not mind an “unfinished” type of ending in a fantasy series, which is what this is. I was happy with the way things end, because it’s not a sharp cliffhanger that would make me throw my kindle. It gave me a sense of resolution for this chapter of the story and left me wanting more. That’s all I ask for.

The Bottom Line
Yes, I loved this. I really enjoyed the fantasy elements, the humor and the strong action in this story. The dash of romance was nice, even if I wanted more of it. While I feel there is an “ending” of sorts, it is clearly only the beginning of this series and I can tell you now, I’m all in for this bumpy ride. If you like fantasy series, you may enjoy this. I definitely did.

<b>FELT LIKE A CARICATURE OF A FANTASY NOVEL - AND A BAD ONE AT THAT</b>

<b>Actual rating: 1.5⭐️</b>

I read a lot of fantasy. It was the genre that first made me fall in love with reading. So I might be a bit biased. This book seemed to make a joke of the fantasy genre and that really bothered me. I am all for trying something new and expanding the genres in innovative ways. But this one just piled bad on top of bad.

<b>THE THINGS I DISLIKED 👎</b>

<u>Dialogue</u>: About 85% of this book was dialogue. There were no passages that weren't dialogue driven. First of all, that leads to a lot on confusion because actions, surroundings and settings aren't described properly. Secondly, it just feels static and monotone.

<u>World building</u>: Partly because of the dialogue driven plot, the universe of this book was so poorly explained and built that I hard a terrible time trying to get into it. There is no background story, no explanation of anything, just a cluster of strange fantasy-elements with no attachment to anything. Might just be the worst world building I have ever encountered.

<u>Swearing</u>: Now, I am not against swearing! I swear myself. But the amount of swearing in this book was simply off putting to me. And felt really unnecessary!

<b><i>ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i></b>

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Im a sucker for a lost queen story! Add in magic and shifters and I’m a fan! The first chapter of this book had me hooked. I found the Keeper POV the most intriguing of all of them. But the rest of the book didn’t live up to its strong beginning. I wish this story focused on the remaining brothers and their search for the queen and the war between them instead of the direction it took. While this book was good it seriously needed more world building. And drastically cutting down the amount of characters. While it was over the top and ridiculous it did have a great premise. I just wish it had a little more editing.

** ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **

Oh wow. This is the first book I have read by this author and I immediately want to pick up the rest of her books. The comedy factor in this book is absolutely filled to the brim and honestly, it was an absolute breath of fresh air. There was so much fun put into this book that nearly every chapter i was thinking what did I just read? In the best way possible. I often thought back to comedy sketches and Monty python movies, it gives off such good vibes and laugh out loud moments. The girls are so fun, crazy and brutal, they seriously kick major ass. Cenaturs, dragons, bad ass females, family, adventure, crazy, jaw dropping. This book seriously has it all.

I hate using the word 'disappointment' for a book (I don't know why) but this was a disappointment.
One thing that matters a lot to me about a book is the dialogues. The dialogues were just not good I mean honestly they kind of felt childish considering the MC is above 20 (I'm not even sure what her age is tbh)
I really wanted to like this but unfortunately I did not.

Let me just say that this book is completely insane. Off the wall bonkers! It was outrageous and ludicrous. It was fabulous!!! I laughed out loud so many times and found myself reveling in the sheer insanity of it all. I cannot wait to see what happens next!!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Keeley Smythe has two loves in her life: her family, and her blacksmithing. Coming from a long line of female blacksmiths, Keeley is strong and savvy with her hammer- and not just in a work sense. Give her a person in distress, and she will slam a few faces in with her handy tool.

So when one of her sisters is fated to be the next Queen, to win the crown above the Old King’s remaining sons, Keeley’s first order of business is to protect her sister and fight by her side. Along with a few mythical Centaurs warriors, a War Monk, and Keeley’s drunk but deadly cousin, the fated Queen’s Court is ready to fight for the good of all lives in their kingdom.

But when betrayal and treachery reaches the Smythe family, Keeley will stop at nothing to save them and secure their people a better future. Even if it means risking her life for new alliances. Even if it means becoming a unlikely saviour. Even if it means dying on the battlefield in the bloody war that awaits

The first thing I want to say is: this book is so damn hilarious. Yes, it's set in a fantasy world with centaurs and dragons and dwarves. Yes, it's based around a regular family that is pulled into war. Yes, it's got gory battle scenes and bloody deaths. BUT the hook and sinker for me was the comedic writing that makes this such an entertaining read.
If this is starting to get your attention, then definitely read on!

The plot in this story was pretty original- and feminism, hell yeah- although some twists weren't exactly surprising (but I don't think it was a downfall), with a world that kept you guessing on whatever danger is going to come next. Will it be mage dragons? Will it be a deadly soldier? What about a stampede of centaurs or an army of wood elves? Every page keeps you on edge and waiting for the next development in this fantastical world.

The characters were also refreshing, each completely different from each other yet having things that brought them together as a loveable Court for their Queen. They were so endearing and each had hilarious quirks that kept them realistic

I loved how Keely was not perfect in every way, but she was loved by her friends and her romantic interest because of how she treated them and her bubbly, kind personality. I loved how the evil characters weren't just evil for the fun of it, and actually might not be evil exclusively, but they are antagonists in every sense of the word.
Usually, I'd criticize a book for having dialogue carry the story, but in this case with it worked so perfectly. The humour carried the plot and saved it from being boring, and the characters showed their intentions and personalities with their individual dialogue

Also- I shipped the banter between Keeley and Caid so damn much. Their romance was so fun to read, and I loved their slow building tension. Agh, I need more! And, for anyone who reads this book, please tell me you ship Laila/Gemma too! These ladies were so badass and such strong, influential side characters and their chemistry made me ship them almost as much as Caid/Keeley. But is it weird for siblings to date siblings? 🤔


I really don't know how to end this off, so I'll just say: I loved this book. I loved these characters. I loved this storyline. And I need book two

"The great king had barely taken his last breath before one brother took the head of another."
The Blacksmith Queen had my attention from the first sentence,.and never let go. I loved Keeley from the beginning, and thoroughly enjoyed her relationships with the characters around her (human, centaur, and animal alike). With tons of complex, interesting female characters, and lots of magic (and magical beings), I'm looking forward to more books set in this world.

This is a new-to-me author, which I got based on the recommendation of one of my fellow bloggers. Although I read fantasy on occasion, this was my first book that involved some shifting and I was pleasantly surprised.

The pace of the book was a little slow at first, as the author introduces a series of characters and set the storyline. But around 40%, things get really interesting. Buckle up!

There are some great battles in this book. What I loved most about them was how the woman fought just as hard the men. This is led by the heroine of the book, Keeley. She's a bad ass! I loved how this woman, and most of the other's in her family do not shy away from a battle.

The romance in this book is slow to develop. I had an inkling as to who it would be, and that was confirmed. Just know up front that the romance is a tiny part of the story. Given all of the danger the characters face, that made sense.

There is some interesting drama between Keeley's family, which is the heart of this story, as one family member isn't what they seem. Unfortunately, this part of the story isn't resolved at the end of the book. There is a cliffhanger, which I began to suspect towards the end of this book. Although I don't have an issue with cliffhangers, I'm in shock my co-blogger, who hates cliffhangers, suggested this to me. But I'll say, I was intrigued by this story and where things could lead, so I'll definitely check out the next one.

That was just awesome! There was so much going on in this book to set up this world, and these characters, and all the dynamics. But it was all laid out methodically, and built on each step, that it was easy to keep things straight. So much wonderment, and so much violence, and so much laughter. It was easy to be on the side of good, and despise the side of evil, and to see the gray from the people and creatures in-between

Humans, and centaurs, and dwarves, and elves, and wolves, and witches, oh my! This was a wonderful story, and I can’t wait for more 😊