The Afterward

Gr 8 Up—A year has passed since Sir Erris and her band of lady knights (and one male mage) found and used the Godsgem to get rid of Old God and free the king of Cadrium from his enchantment. While they all basked in glory and fame, the two youngest members of the group, Olsa and Kalanthe, find their lives very difficult. Olsa, a thief who is now too-easily recognized, keeps being arrested and only kept from prison through the intervention of her knightly friends. Apprentice Knight Kalanthe must find a husband to marry and to pay her debt from her training. Despite their close and romantic relationship, Olsa finds that Kalanthe has grown impatient with having to rescue her from prison and after her latest caper, she remains imprisoned. When Mage Ladros discovers that the Godsgem's hiding place is not as secure as first thought, he frees Olsa from prison and gathers the rest of the lady knights to unite one more time to save the kingdom. Both the world-building and the LGBTQ romance are well done and appealing. Kalanthe and Olsa have strong characterization. The other knights, while not as well drawn, add depth to the action. Plot action, divided into "Before" and "After," could initially make readers wonder if the book is a sequel, but the structure becomes clear after a few chapters.