This was a quick read that made me want to explore the other books in the series. The character development of Des was good, and I enjoyed the story. I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator, Katherine Littrell, did a very good job. My only criticism is that even for a novella, I did find the ending to be a little rushed. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, short and sweet start to this series. I’m definitely curious to see where things go with it. The narrator was also excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I dont even know what the hell just happened 😳 Ok gathering my thoughts ....
This is the first works I've read by J.C. Rycroft but most definitely won't be the last. I'm a sucker for prequels in the sense they give you insight to a character you may not have had without reading it and sometimes, you find Easter eggs along the way that come back to you in future books.
The story was fast-paced and although brief the world building and character introductions were done well. The ending shook me and that's all I'll say on that!
The narration for this audiobook is stellar. There are certain accents that I struggle with not was not the case with this narration. Katherine Littrell can put smoke in her voice 🔥
I most definitely plan on delving into this series and further exploring this author's works!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the opportunity to advance listen to A Hired Blade.

This novella was my first dive into this series, and judging just by this, I will be reading more of this series. This book takes place prior to the rest of the series, and was short but enjoyable and had an ending that had me so shocked. Des was such a cool character and one that I could see myself rooting for and wanting the best for her. I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes her.

Thank you to J.C. Rycroft, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Wow this narration! You cannot top this. This was a whole experience. I am so glad I got this audiobook. I was over here for days hoping to be approved. I love it. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

This was my first venture into the series and it was excellent! Characters I cared about in a world that I enjoyed reading about. I love the strength of the characters and there's a good amount of spice! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series now.