4.2/5 STARS. 
 AHHHHH I LOVED THIS. 
 Esp the characters! I love Kelsea's badassery. She is intelligent and strong. I absolutely love strong women as protagonists. 
 Loved the elements and the world in here. Romance, is like almost non-existent but I love it. Better than those sappy romance shoved in your face. 
 Worldbuilding is alright. You will learn about the world together with the protagonist, since she s hidden away most of her life. 
 Would I recommend this book? HELL YES. DEFINITELY IF YOU LOVE BOOK WITH STRONG WOMAN AS THE PROTAGONIST, AND FANTASY AND LITTLE ROMANCE. 
 SPOILERS BELOW. 
 We start off with the late queen's queensguard getting to 19 year old Kelsea from her foster parents, Barty and Carlin. She has these twin saphire necklaces to show that she s the next heir. They have to escort her to the keep, where her corrupted uncle sits on the throne as the regent. 
 However on the way, they are being hunted by the Caden, which are like from the assasins guild. So, they are forced to be separated. 
 Kelsea goes with the Mace, where they then captured by the Fetch. Who actually saved them but took one of her necklaces. He seems suspicious. but. And Kelsea has a crush on him. But I would too, if I had not seen a man most of my life and suddenly, a hot one appeared in front of me hahahaa. 
 Both are then released and gone to the keep. Kelsea found out that in order to stop Mort from invading Tearling, her mother signed a treaty whereby some of her people will be taken there as slaves. 
 IT S SO BADASS WHEN SHE BURNED THE CAGES. THEN WHEN SHE MEETS HER UNCLE AND ASKED HIM TO GET OFF HER THRONE WAS WOW. OH, ESP WHEN A KNIFE WAS THROWN INTO HER BACK AND EMBEDDED THERE AND SHE STILL CONTINUED THE CEREMONY TO BE QUEEN. WOW. Then he got kicked out of the keep and captured by the Fetch. Thorne, the kinda of in charge of the cage to send the people over, decided to secretly build cages in tearling wood and captured people to send them over. Arlis, the finance person is pretty cool. They then prepare for siege since the Mort will come. 
 Then Kelsea was almost killed by an assasin that came into her bath. But wah her necklace killed him. The Mace deduced that they have a traitor among the queensguard. THEN she had a vision of Thorne s treachry and demanded to go to the borders with the queensguard. Its saddening that they did not believe her and thought she was a fool. But they had to follow her because Mace had to follow her. 
 I loved it when they were proven wrong. Then the Fetch came to help them. And Kelsea released power from her two necklaces and saved them all. 
 I think now her queensguard respects her and trusts her more. 
 It turns out that Mhurn was the traitor. I saw it coming. But still. Gah it hurts. And Kelsea had to kill him. 
 Pen is a sweetheart. 
 Anyway, it was definitely a good read.