I am so sad that this duology has concluded. I need and want more! Kendare Blake has such a way with building worlds and characters and making you fall in love with them all.

I appreciate the representation of having strong willed women who are in higher up positions that you normally see men in. It really shows that women can be and do anything.

This is the sequel to Champion of Fate, which ended with Reed and Lyonene becoming official Aristene. Since their first hero quest, Reed has been on a frenzied pace, taking on hero after hero, bringing them glory that will be sung about for ages, while Lyonene has chosen to stay with her first hero and lover, much to the dismay of the elders. The story starts quick, slows, and then finishes in a flurry of monstrous battles, several deaths, and surprising twists and turns that leaves the reader hoping for at least one more installment in the series. This is probably best read after Champion of Fate, but still highly recommended for fans of fantasy.

Warrior of Legend is the second installment in author Kendare Blake's Heromaker series. Picking up where Champion of Fate left off, Reed is now an Aristene, but old flames and old foes rear their heads during her next quest. Though the stakes were high for Reed in Champion of Fate, they’re impossibly higher for her in Warrior of Legend. She has a devastating new role as an Aristene and an old flame keeps crossing her mind. Meanwhile, an old enemy is growing ever more powerful, and new monsters are waiting for her. Be prepared to gobble up this suspenseful read in one sitting!

Reed is officially a member of the immortal order of the Aristene. The Aristene are a legendary order of female warriors who guide heroes to victory. They are also known as the Heromakers. She even has a new name: Machianthe. It’s everything she’s ever dreamed of—so why isn’t she happy? Maybe it’s because every hero she helps can only find glory at the cost of their life. Reed has already had three more heroes, leading them to Glorious Deaths. She is moving a bit too fast, trying to escape her broken heart. Or maybe it’s because she can’t stop thinking about the prince she left behind.

Lyonene is still with Alsander but it’s time for her to go to a new hero, but Reed comes up with the idea that she takes Lyonene’s new hero and Lyonene can stay with Alsander. Reed’s new hero is Yngarue a princess, and Reed's job is to act as a matchmaker the only problem is that one of the Princes coming to see Yngarue is Hestion. Not only does Reed have to deal with seeing Hestion try to win over a princess but there’s something far more sinister coming for the princess and anyone who stands in the way especially the Aristene.

Lyonene ends up making some bad decisions when it comes to Alsander like getting married. As much as the girls tried to keep their switch under wraps they end up being found out and that’s when things really begin to pick up in the book. While Reed is occupied trying to win him back, an old danger is gaining strength. To battle the growing threat, the Aristene must band together, but the order has never been more divided. Will Reed be able to survive this war with her chosen family and her heart intact?

We also get to see the POV of multiple characters which leads to what I thought was a really heartbreaking ending for many characters. We get to see more of the villain from book one, the bones of the prophet. We get to see more monsters. Such a twisted story. I'm not sure how the author wraps up this series after all the crap Reed went through and then was forced to become to defeat an enemy by elders who should have known better what would happen. If you have read Three Dark Queens, there is a character that ties into that book. A character who was once a queen, Aethiel.

I liked this one more than it's predecessor. It made me feel a lot of emotions. Not sure how I feel about what happens to Reed at the end. Some threads left open. Author says it is done but I feel like there could still be more. I love these characters and would like more.

I lveod these characters in the first book but they just got better in this book as their characters developed and grew to have more weight. I loved the plot twists- many of which I never even saw coming! The endning was amazing and I was hurt and loved every second of it!

I don’t know how to describe what this series makes me feel. from the first page, it pulled me back into its world and refused to let go. it made me understand and love lyonene’s character more, and everything about the worldbuilding and Ancient Greek epic feeling of it was perfectly executed

my only complaint is that the last 25% or so felt a bit rushed, and it didn’t feel like a clear conclusion to the series- I’m not sure if there will be more written about the world, so there may be a reason for that!

I like this story, but for some reason I thought that this was a duology not a series and was hoping for a conclusion in this installment. I was wrong, series it is, and we are left with more things lingering for another book to come.

Book 2 of the Heromaker series again follows Reed as she comes to terms with her new role as a full Aristene and the whole ordeal with Hestion. However, much of that has to take a backseat to a new threat against the whole order of Aristene.

I enjoyed this book but found it to move slowly. It gave me that second book slump/syndrome feeling where it is mostly just filler to eventually get to the the next and final piece. I almost DNFed the book honestly. Then I read online that there was an out of left field death and had to keep going... sadly that death is really close to the ending. It was very surprising but also kind of not given the state of things.

I liked the continuation of the world building, but the characters seem to lack growth a bit. Yes, Reed is coming to terms with her new role, but when we pick up she is just full-throttle and there isn't much time for us to see her adapting and growing. I also felt like this installment sent more time on some of the other characters, bringing them into the fold more and giving more backstory. I liked this but after spending so much time with Reed and her peers, it was an odd transition.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it was a slow read for me. Maybe others will feel differently but if you liked the first book, you should definitely give this one a shot.

Warrior of Legend is the second novel in the Heromaker series. It continues to follow Reed who is now officially a member of the immortal order of the Aristene. Her name has now been changed to Machianthe. She travels to play matchmaker for a princess and finds out one of the suitors is Hestion. As she still has feelings for him, then drama ensues. The two of them need to deal with the consequences of actions done in the first novel. There is also Lyonene who spent time with her first hero, Alsander. Lyonene and Reed have a great relationship, and I enjoyed watching their bond grow.

While there are tropes in this story, I enjoyed that Blake tried to take everything in new directions. There were some unexpected moments, and I liked how it wasn’t entirely predictable. There are many directions another novel can go for this series in the future, so it will be interesting to see what happens. I think there was more that could be expanded on and explored, but this was another fast read in the series. The characters all continue to have potential, but I was disappointed in the treatment of some of them. I can see Blake’s vision and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Quill Tree Books, for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

I think Three Dark Crowns is one of the best YA fantasy series out there, and I keep waiting for Kendare Blake to give us another book or series with that level of originality and world building.

Two books in, this series is fine, but it’s very standard material for the genre, and it’s missing both the immersive world building and the delightful creepiness that is evident in Blake’s best work.

There’s space for this kind of story in the YA fantasy space, but it’s too similar to hundreds of books that have come before it to hold much space for a reader today. If you just can’t get enough of this type of plot-heavy high fantasy, you’ll do fine with this book. Blake paces well and writes action very competently. But if, like me, you’re waiting for the next truly original world building and atmospheric fantasy that Blake gave us in the Three Dark Crowns series, this series isn’t going to give you what you’re hoping for.

I keep trying to read this author, hoping that one of these books will click. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through this sequel. I didn't connect with the characters, and the world's to be honest didn't wow me. The hardest part was the writing. It felt forced, so it was a struggle to finish. It wasn't a bad read overall, but i just didn't enjoy it much.

I appreciate the e-galley of this book. After reading the first of this series, I wanted to know what happens next to our characters and heroes. It was an enjoyable ride, but I spent the last half of the book trying to figure out if this was actually a duology or if they are expanding the series. The ending left a lot open-ended and unanswered.

Warrior of Legend is book two in the Heromaker series by Kendare Blake and I was very captivated.
I was enthralled by the worldbuilding and cast of characters.
The story is full of action and unique characters.
I was completely captivated by this book the moment I started reading it. I literally did not put it down until the very end.

Warrior of Legend by Kendare Blake is a captivating and action-packed tale that draws readers into a richly woven world filled with compelling characters and epic battles. Blake’s vivid storytelling and masterful pacing keep you on the edge of your seat, while the intricate plot twists add depth to the adventure. With themes of bravery, friendship, and destiny, this book is a thrilling ride that will resonate with fans of fantasy and mythology alike.

I forgot this was the second in a series by Kendare Blake. After reading a bit, I remembered more of the first book… and how annoying it was. These characters in general just aren’t great. Reed seems much changed in this yet can’t get over the events of the first book.

The writing is also odd at times. One quote can sum it up: “what kind of nonsense was she spouting? What in balls and ass did that even mean?”

It took me until 50% of the way through this book to realize Aethiel is from Kendare Blake’s other books, the Three Dark Crowns series. I’m not enjoying this series enough to reread and figure out all the other connections.

Ultimately I can’t recommend this book because it is infuriating what these characters do.

Kendare Blake has done it again! I've been almost holding my breath waiting for this second book and it did not disappoint! There is a great balance of magic, adventure, character development, etc. It's just all around enjoyable for fans of the genre!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Warrior of Legend was a STUNNING continuation from where we left in Champion of Fate. Ms. Blake has such a beautiful way of writing, so many twists and turns, and her characters are so unique and complex. I'm normally wary of sequels because I've been burned too many times, but I can honestly say that this sequel is just as good, if not better than Champion of Fate. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

4.25 ⭐️ I definitely loved this second book way more than the first one!! 🙂‍↕️ The pacing was perfect for me bc there was so much happening all at once that I never got bored, it made a pretty big book fly by super fast. The ending was a bit weird for me but honestly, it was such a good read

4.5 stars

One thing I love about Kendare Blake's books is that I am always surprised by something in the story.

The story of Reed and the Aristene continues in this challenging sequel where the order faces the threat of monstrous men turned by the prophet's bones.

We see familiar characters and even get some more about the former war queen of Fennbirn, which I absolutely loved since that's my favorite series. I still have questions about what happened to the bone dagger... The ending left me wanting to know what's next in store for the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

3.5 stars

“Warrior of Legend” is the sequel to “Champion of Fate,” a novel telling of the deeds of the secret society of the Aristene, immortal women who assist heroes seeking glory. Reed is a newly anointed Aristene of Glorious Death, meaning all her heroes are doomed to perish, and she is still in love with Hestion, her first hero, who only survived because his brother took his place. Now Reed has a new hero, a princess seeking a glorious marriage, and Hestion is one of her suitors. War is brewing between the princess’s kingdom and their longtime enemy, and Reed will be caught in the middle. Meanwhile, a new threat against the Aristene has risen: terrifying men mutated partially into animals, hunting the warriors. In order to prevent calamity, everyone must make choices they would rather not.
This story started off promising, with a slightly darker tone than the previous novel, and with characters already learning hard lessons from the get-go. By the end, it had become something very weird, and not in an entertaining or satisfying way; and I felt that everyone was acting out of character. I think Blake also leaned a little too far into involving Fennbirn (the magical island where her other series takes place) and its legends; I’m all for different series being in the same universe, but it started to take me out of the current story. I’m not really sure where the series will go from here, but I’ll probably read to find out.

What a beautiful masterpiece of a book...

Warrior of Legend did not leave me feeling disappointed, actually I think it was better than the first book!

The characters developed so much in this book from the very start to the end and I loved seeing all the povs in this. Gosh, it felt like the plot took you on a rollercoaster ride (and an emotional one at that)!

So many plot twists I couldn't see coming and some almost had me in tears. The writing in this book was quite different from the first, definitely more mature which was a nice surprise!

I had a feeling this book would hurt and...yep, yep it did. I can say I definitely stared at a wall in fits of rage, although that cliffhanger was wonderfully done and I can't wait for the third book!

*𝘓𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴/𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘤*