CBR17 Bingo: B – Behold, the title.
Gwenna is determined to join the Royal Artificer’s Guild, where she’ll be able to leave behind her past life as a maid – but between her budding necromantic powers and her growing attraction to Raptor, who suspects she may be a thief, her dream might be slipping out of reach.
I utterly loved this book, which improves on the good points of the first book in the series (world-building, humor, and complex main and supporting characters) while improving on the few weak points (bringing the romance to the center of the story). Though Gwenna and Raptor are intimate off the bat, their romantic relationship is more slow-burn, and I enjoyed how they gradually opened up to each other and balanced each other.
While the new members of Gwenna’s Five took a little longer to get me on board, I found myself rather attached by the end, and enjoyed getting to know other teachers in the Guild and the barmaid at the King’s Onion better. The mystery is also a compelling one – while I guessed some of the twists, I did not figure out the biggest ones, which I think is the proper balance to strike with a mystery.
I’m really excited for the new book! Alas, since this one’s just come out, it’ll be a little bit of a wait, and I have no clue who might be featured next.