Pennyblade by J.L. Worrad

 

4.5 stars rounded up. 

First I'd like to thank #Netgalley and the good people over at #TitanBooks for allowing me to read an ARC. 

Kyra Cal'Adra is a Commrach Highblood (a noble of an Elf-like race) who finds herself exiled to the Mainland away from her home and everyone she loves working as Pennyblade (mercenary) for humans. There is no love lost between these two races and when Kyra is doublecrossed by her human Pennyblade partners she's not really surprised. However, as the story unfolds we find that this doublecross is more than it seems and that there are greater beings at work here, possibly the Devil himself and as Kyra teams up with a Sister of the church, the very man that doublecrossed her, and a half-breed Commrach Kyra's past and her present catch up with her with devasting results. 

I'm just going to address this right off the bat: Yes, there are what I'd even term as "vulgar" sex scenes in this book and I almost stopped reading it because of these. That being said I am so glad I kept reading it, as while I can't say for certain as I'm not the author I saw these opening scenes of promiscuity to be an important part of showing Kyra's growth as a character throughout the book. And I also found it to be an important commentary period on sexuality, especially after the introduction of Benadetta. 

I honestly thought this was going to be a straightforward fantasy novel but I found the story itself to be a commentary on sex and sexuality and how society's view of these two things affects how we view ourselves, as well as one on the responsibilities that are placed on us from family and our society. Also, the Commrach culture revolves around the "perfection of their race" through breeding. It's an interesting take on eugenics and while this book doesn't delve too deep into that side of things this theme is important to the book. 

I honestly think the only thing I found to be "wrong" with this book was there were times when I thought I'd missed something and would have to go back and reread it, which is the only reason I gave the book 4.5 instead of 5 stars. And to be honest, it may not be the book's fault, I started reading this rather late in the evening the other night so it could have just been me.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy with an LGBTQ+ twist. The author doesn't go too deep into any of the aforementioned themes but I found them to be just enough to make you think while reading it. And in the end, it's really just a love story, a sad one, but a love story nonetheless.