Magical chaos, this book is engaging and exciting. I love love loved the characters and the whole plot had me page turning. Highly recommend.

The story started pretty interesting, with a good world and lovable characters.
Personally, I just found it a bit slow and got bored about half-way through, never finishing the story.
I think this is better suited for a younger audience (even tho I love and enjoy plenty of MG books, this wasn't the case).

This is exactly what I was hoping it would be and very much the type of fantasy story I enjoy reading. The main characters and their developing relationships are established quickly, the action fast paced and I very much hope there will be further books in this series so I can read more about Brie and her Blameless companions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed reading this. The action starts off immediately, and I loved how the story unfolded. Brie is a great main character, her confidence in herself grows as the story progresses, and she becomes an amazing headstrong character. The magical system was easy to follow, and the powers of the blameless were very interesting. I loved that even though this was a short story, a lot was packed in. I am definitely excited to see where the rest of the series goes! Also, Kove, Flinton, and Derek are such cinnamon roll characters!! I would definitely recommend picking up this book!

This is the opening to a heartfelt Middle-Grade, found family, fantasy adventure series. Princess Briana Rose suffered a great loss and trauma after her family was slaughtered in front of her but she miraculously survived and ran away. Later she was rescued by three men who claimed to be on her royal family's side and take her to their hidden town of Blameless who are people that were given magical gifts of either sun, air, earth or a combination of those. Brie discovers she is also magical and now has to learn her powers, and how to live and enjoy life while also preparing to take back her kingdom and punish the criminal who killed her family and is controlling her people.
It's quite good. The cover is pretty. The story in itself feels basic but it's got the right vibes. The characters' interactions were awesome. I really liked Cassie and Taeo, they were perfectly funny and mischievous friends for Brie. Flinton, Derek, and Cove were also so nice and sweet. The training sequences were interesting too. But the magical system was a little rusty and confusing. I mean it's just three elements but the gifts and ways their powers appear are so different it makes the boundaries of magic being quite blurred. Especially with our extra-powerful MC who's basically got all the powers, ever.
The writing was a little too juvenile at the beginning which was kind of annoying, especially when it comes to Brie who was so childish and confused all the time, but it got better. I guess it was a me thing, I don't know. The kids actually acted like kids and that was very fun because as I have said before I'm tired of adults writing kids/tweens/teens as grown adults. It's gross, stop it. So I really appreciated that point in her. I guess it has to do with the fact the author is a mother so she knows. Authors who are parents know how to get that right, I've noticed. Anyways, awesome book, would love to read the sequel!

What worked:
The format is familiar as a young princess named Brie is rescued by three men with powers from murderers invading the castle. Brie too has newly-discovered rare skills that may make her the most powerful Blameless but she must learn to manifest and control them. An evil, ruthless man has taken over the kingdom with abilities no one can explain and he seems to want Brie captured alive. The first half of the book deals with Brie learning about her powers and establishes the plot’s overall situation while the second half develops a head-on confrontation with the man responsible for the king and queen’s deaths. The tension and suspense are amped up as Brie fights for her life, freedom, and vengeance for her parents.
The story is filled with magic that Brie had only heard fantastic tales about. The Blameless first appear a thousand years earlier and wield abilities aligned with the sun, air, and land to protect the innocent. They go underground and live in the shadows, only appearing to help others or carry out the king’s business. The Blameless restrict their appearances because they don’t want to use their powers for unimportant situations that might create additional problems. They don’t want to cause unintentional, negative consequences with their actions. What if helping one person results in another person being harmed in some way as collateral damage? Remaining anonymous avoids being inundated with requests for help every day and allows the Blameless to observe, consider, and decide when it’s time for them to step in. Their powers won’t work in selfish situations.
A refreshing aspect of the story is the feeling of family and community the author is able to create through Fenton’s family and the secret city of the Blameless. Brie has lost her parents and brother and the plot could easily have turned serious, dark, and angry. However, Fenton, his wife, and Fenton’s five younger sisters treat her as family and help her feel welcome and loved. Cassie is especially ecstatic that she has a new best friend in Brie, who happens to be Blameless, and happens to be a princess! Cassie’s adventurousness and free spirit are just what Brie needs while dealing with the murder of her family. Life with Fenton’s family allows Brie to be herself without worrying about royal expectations. A friend enjoys teasing her with various creative names that hint at her status as the future queen. Positive emotions continue even when Brie encounters danger and imprisonment, although those moments are more challenging.
What didn’t work as well:
It’s unexpected when Brie never fully embraces her powers. She’s trying to keep them secret from her enemy but she mostly summons objects and practices becoming invisible. Not exactly abilities associated with being the most powerful Blameless. The most interesting question in the book is how Brie’s enemy is able to force Blameless to do his bidding.
The Final Verdict:
This book is a creative, entertaining beginning to a new series and readers should be prepared to read its sequel. This book establishes a backstory for future editions as the conflict isn’t fully resolved. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment and I recommend you give this book a shot.

This is a MUST for the classroom shelf. Students will love Brie and her quest to master her Blameless magic and reclaim her kingdom from a jealous tyrant.

I was so impressed with Brie’s VOICE. The author does a fabulous job of writing in tween and I am living for the world building that is happening. We need more characters like this.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A delightful read. The book has a positive message and good influence. It was balanced in the amount of action vs down time. It was a little cliché that Brie was the most powerful and the only one with powers from all elements, but it didn't bother me. It is a feel good book that leaves you wanting more.

Characters
The characters were well developed and had a fun relationship with each other. I loved that the biggest guy of the group knitted, it was a cute touch. They were also introduced at a good pace.

It did seem a little violent for a middle grade, but overall, I'd recommend the book to others.

E. S. Christison has written one of the best middle-grade fantasies I have read in quite sometime. With incredibly rich world building and character development, the reader is instantly engaged and connected to the story of Princess Briana.

Left an orphan after witnesses the murder of her family, Princess Briana of Predonia flees the only place she has ever found home. With only the thought of survival in mind, she winds her way through the city that her parents used to rule over, finally finally shelter within a blacksmith’s short.. There, she is found by an incredibly large man named Flinton, who has come to the city with others for the soul purpose of ensuring the Princess’s safety.

With the destruction of everything she once knew behind her, Briana is swept away to into the custody of Flinton and his companions Derek and Kove, all of which have mysterious and powerful abilities. Within the safety of their care, Briana learns of the existence of the Blameless, a group of people who liven hidden within the mountains who have been gifted with powers by the gods after they’ve conducted an immense act of selflessness.

After days of travel, Briana arrives to the stronghold with her three guardians, where she will learn about her own powers that reside deep within her. Here Briana will find people who’s hearts are full of kindness and love, allowing Briana to slowly heal from the traumas that have befallen her.

With the help of her new makeshift family, Briana will learn all she can of her powers in order to do whatever it takes to overthrow the usurpers within her kingdom, and reclaiming Predonia as its rightful heir.

Christison’s world is so fully developed that I am in awe of the fact that this is their debut release. I hope that the story of Predonia continues, and I very much look forward to her future works.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wildling Press for the opportunity to read and review this title!

This book provided an exciting adventure from the very first pages. The characters were vivid and relatable and the world was one which I could see as it was described. While some descriptions were a little too typical or expected, I have little double that lovers of middle grade fantasy and adventure will enjoy Brie and her companions.

This is a charming middle grade fantasy about a princess who must flee her home when her family is killed by a usurper and discovers her magic powers with help from a group of companions. I think readers in the demographic for this book are really going to like the characters and their relationships to one another. Brie has a nice arc of gaining confidence in her powers but also in her personality. It does have some repetitive scenes where very little driving action is happening, but those do provide some nice character moments.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this book. The opinions given are strictly my own.

I'll start by saying I did enjoy this book and I believe middle schoolers etc. Will too. It is age appropriate and gives a nice lesson on friendship and kindness as well.

My only complaint is it's too descriptive. It did not leave much for the reader to for with their imagination. You can easily envision what the author writes, but sometimes it's nice to create a scene on one's own.

I read this with two of my granddaughter and they thought it was pretty great. It is a tale of adversity and finding help and kindness in unexpected places. I thought it was a suitable story for the age range specified but also offers a good read for anyone older too.

If I could rate this 4.5 stars on here I would. I really enjoyed this book. It felt like a perfect mix of a cozy fantasy with the good drama and action of most high fantasy books.

The main characters feel like a warm hug. I loved every one of them.

The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because of pacing and because I wish there had been more story in the last few chapters, but honestly it was a pretty great story!

I did receive a copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

The perfect book for middle school fantasy readers and all fans of good stories. This is a heart warming story, with lots of humorous touches. Country over thrown, the Princess escapes. But help and friendship are out there. This book concludes the first part of Briana’s story. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.