Wonderfully written, fast paced and entertaining read. Great world building, really nice mix of fantasy and sci-fi. Well paced throughout and relatable, interesting characters, fantastic read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

God, I loved this book. I can't remember the last time I read anything that actually resembled a true and honest novel. I love reading the fast-paced books that have good beginning, middle and ends, but this one gave me a mini series and a dozen other reasons to come back.

The writing is as gorgeous as the cover, the characters played off well on each other, and I liked the duo POVs. Like the two opposing forces, they gave you a better idea of the world building up with every step these two characters took, and it was magical. Information was slowly fed to you, giving it to you when you needed it, and I was pleasantly shocked at a lot of things that were revealed. I liked how dark Leena's opposition was, but mostly because a lot of his 'darkness' took pride in providing for his people. There's nothing better than complex characters who've made up their mind.

It's a definite recommend. It's heady, fantastical, and you'll like watching these characters slowly turn into family.

Three and a half
This YA fantasy has a lot to recommend it and it was an enthralling idea that sometimes had a little too much going on. I really liked that we got not just the protagonist Leenas point of view but also that of the villain Mordecai as it allowed the reader to understand their motives.
Leena has had an awful life and has been lied to, betrayed and used as a host for a power that's celestial in origin. She's used to protecting herself but when someone tries to run her off the road Leena discovers that her family are definitely not what she thought ! With help from new allies Leena undertakes a journey that sees her truly embracing everything that she's capable of.
Mordecai is a conundrum. He's the Prince that led an attempted revolution only to fail and find himself and his allies banished . Now their powers are diminished and he's desperate to save his people. Oddly he isn't really written as vile or odious . Yes there's a brief mention of him murdering people but essentially Mordecai felt heroic ! Perhaps the author realised she had made him likeable because then very strangely he has the ability to leave his body and destroy souls ! This came out of nowhere and didn't fit in with the plot and honestly he was the oddest type of Grim Reaper that I've ever read .
The world building here is immense and yet at times difficult to grasp. There's technology and a police state that appears barbaric. We also get a fantasy element with magic that's almost scientific. Then I have to mention supporting characters such as Aiden the token love interest and it's an enemies to almost lovers that was obvious a mile off but still felt rushed to this reader. Zacharias is a warm loveable character who I wanted more of and Suki is bright and breezy but has a secret . Which brings me to that family because Leena truly has the family from hell ! Violent mother, absent father, a grandfather who just didn't make sense and an uncle who wants to kill her ! Yes for me just too much here felt like it needed a beta reader to advise revisions. I really want to rate this higher because I did enjoy parts of this but sadly because it couldn't decide if it was fantasy, sci fi , paranormal or maybe even dystopian I feel three and a half is appropriate.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I enjoyed this book. It is a two-hander where the story is told through the eyes of the heroine Leena and her nemesis Mordecai. It is quite an elaborately imagined and constructed world (or set of intertwined multiple worlds...) and we discover much about how the various different groups of inhabitants interact as Leena does, as she has been hitherto kept in the dark about them and how she fits in it. I liked much of the book, apart from the ending, which seemed to come to its crescendo very quickly, although it mat just be being left more open ended to allow for further books..

God, I loved this book sooooo much!
I didn't know what to expect at first, BUT WOW, this was more than I could ever ask for in a book!

I LOVED getting to know Leena and Prince Mordecai as individuals in their separate narratives.
Main character, Leena, who has been hurt and abandoned, must decide who she can trust, and whether she can harness her strength and her mysterious abilities to help the people that she suspects have betrayed her.
Prince Mordecai bears the responsibility of his peoples’ exile. Separation from their land is slowly killing them off and he must take drastic actions to fight his family and regain his throne.
When Leena and Mordecai’s stories intersect, it is so satisfying and the story really takes off.

The writing is as gorgeous as the cover, the characters played off well on each other, and I liked the duo POVs.

Looking forward to reading more from this author!

I loved this book. I loved everything. Cover art, storyline, characters. I was hooked from the start. It was fast paced and wonderfully written. Another thing that i loved about this book was narratives. We read both povs so that was amazing.

A very detailed book of the live of a young woman, wo discovers she ka going to ne a leader in one of the three worlds den lives on.

Leena is a loner, a fencer who hones her skill at a place where illegal sword fights take place over gaping holes. She's sent a lot of opponents down to either suffer or die or both. She does it for the money, to survive. She does it because, though she's only 16, there's no one to take care of her. She does it for the thrill.
I liked Leena a lot as well as her other friends. The characters in the story are great, especially Mordecai. The author does a fantastic job of taking the villain hunting Leena and making him relatable, human. That takes skill.
My only complaint is the unanswered questions I and other readers are left with. Why did Leena's mother hate her so? Why did her father choose her mother and then abandon them? Is she ever going to build steam with Aiden?

(Rant to begin, ending on a high note)

I'm so sad. I'll just jump right in and say, this book left me so disappointed. Don't get me wrong, there were so so many things that I loved about this book and for a long while I honestly thought it was going to be 5 stars, til the end. This is a very long book and I feel like I invested so much time and energy into these characters and this world, I truly cared about them and what was going to happen. It was such a long, emotional, bouncy, sometimes tiresome, roller coaster ride - with virtually no pay off.

I can't say much here without spoilers but I think everyone who has read this book knows the true relationship between Leena and Mordecai.. and I just wanted him to figure it out! I wanted there to be that moment right at the end, where he had an epiphany - yes! I wanted to see his reaction and feel his heartbreak and betrayal. Everything could have still gone exactly as it was written, with Leena still being none the wiser and Mordecai doing what he did and Noxden (trying my best to be cryptic). It's all I wanted. I wanted all that work to finally lead to something that had meaning (at least for me personally). Instead we were given the most teeny tiny subtle hints that maybe, just maybe in the future, he might finally see the truth. As others have mentioned, the story is left wide open, so it may or may not be continued.

A lot of the second half was very repetitive, with essentially the same scenes on a loop with the cat and mouse game becoming a bit tedious. Overall, I thought the writing was very good, but the action scenes felt rather clunky, as if they had been written in bullet point form. You also bounce back and forth quite a lot between past, present and different POVs (getting a bit dizzy).

I just feel like, after all that, it was for nothing. Right now, I'm tired and I don't know if I feel invested enough to read a second book, if there ever is one. So much time and energy has already been spent just trying to understand the world, which again as mentioned by many others already, I still don't fully understand. In saying that, I did love the world, but it's like missing that final puzzle piece that brings it all together.

Ending with the good stuff.. and there is a lot! I really thoroughly enjoyed this book, which I guess is what makes my disappointment even more apparent. Aside from the confusion, as mentioned, I really did love the world. I love the concept of the duality, opposing forces, the light and dark, one can't exist without the other, all that I really liked. I thought the main plot was very well done, I enjoyed following the journeys of the 2 protagonists and the split pov (though I personally would've liked a lot more pages from Mordecai's).

Which brings us to the shining stars of the book, the characters. Superb! Absolutely so well written, I am gushing! Stealing the words from another reviewer, the characters are all so imperfect and flawed, which makes them wonderfully - human. Yes! I had my favourites (Mordecai, Aidan and Zacharias), but each and every one of them was so fleshed out and defined. They each had their own clear voice and morals, intentions, motivations, struggles.. bringing a unique dynamic to the story and the relationships. It was raw, it was pure, it really was just fantastic.

Ms Logan clearly has a flare for creating believable characters and relationships through emotional and relatable storytelling. Aleena, damn girl, I feel your hurt and the betrayal. It was so real.

The kind of immersive experience I was able to share with the characters in this book is why I read! So, thank you.

The Chameleon with a Sword was a really interesting read. It was fast-paced, a great fantasy / Sci-Fi read. I loved the characters and the storyline.
Thank you Net Galley for the E-book

The Chameleon With a Sword follows a sixteen year old girl named Leena who spends her days earning money in illegal underground fencing matches. When her mother decides she wants to move someplace else, they get into a car crash and when Leena wakes up, she finds that her mother has disappeared. She soon finds herself in a strangers house, who claims to be an old friend of her family and takes custody over her until they are able to find her mother. Leena's new life is not what it seems and she needs to learn to navigate through a life of deceit and magic.

I really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the plot from beginning to end.

Brilliant and so much fun to read
Loved the cover, characters and the world building. Highly recommend this book

"The Chameleon with a Sword" by B.L. Logan is a riveting fantasy adventure that immerses readers in a world where shifting identities and swordplay intertwine in a thrilling narrative. Logan's vivid world-building and dynamic storytelling create a compelling backdrop for this tale of intrigue, courage, and transformation.

The protagonist, a chameleon-like figure capable of changing their appearance, is a fascinating and multifaceted character. Logan expertly delves into themes of identity and self-discovery as the protagonist navigates a labyrinth of political machinations, hidden agendas, and personal vendettas. The swordplay scenes are meticulously crafted, delivering pulse-pounding action that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Logan's prose is both eloquent and accessible, making it easy to become absorbed in the richly detailed world and the complex characters that inhabit it. The plot is well-paced, with a perfect balance of suspense, adventure, and character development. Each twist and turn of the story reveals new layers of intrigue, ensuring that readers remain engaged from beginning to end.

"The Chameleon with a Sword" is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure. B.L. Logan has created a captivating tale that combines the thrill of combat with the deeper, more introspective journey of understanding oneself. This novel is a testament to Logan's storytelling prowess and leaves readers eagerly anticipating what lies ahead in this enchanting world.