Kendare Blake

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake comes a new epic duology following a young woman’s training to shepherd a princely hero to victory. Perfect for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Stephanie Garber. The Aristene are an elusive order of immortal female warriors. To be championed by them is to become a legend. They are the Heromakers. As an orphan raised by the order, Reed has always dreamed of taking her place beside her sisters-in-arms. To do that, she must to guide her first hero to victory. Nothing is going to stop Reed. Until, that is, she meets her assigned hero – the fiery and infuriating Hestion. But what begins as a strategic alliance turns into something more and she starts to question the true cost of becoming an Aristene. With battle looming, Reed must make an impossible choice – her hero or her order.

Champion of Fate

Izaac Richards

'Not ours," Orna said again. Not mine and not yours, plain for anyone to see. So why get attached?"

They were Areion, sacred mounts of the order of the Aristene. They could have run for days without drinking, reaching speeds that would outpace the fastest of hunting cats. It was also said that the horses could speak, but only if one was worthy of words. 

"I felt Her there today," said Aster, and Veridian didn't need to ask who she meant. Kleia Gloria, the goddess of glory. The only god an Aristene answered to.

She woula be like them and have what they had. Strength. Wisdom. Great purpose in service to Kleia Gloria. And all of that immortal time.

"Combat training," Gretchen said when she reached her. She leaned over the fence and gave Silco a smacking kiss on the muzzle; he shook his head and turned to swat her in the face with his tail on his way back to the herd. Not nice. He was a very not-nice horse. 

"Glory is ours to make, Gretchen, and ours to bestow." 

"As its humble servants," said Reed. "Don't forget."

"It's not her body they're testing," said Reed. "It's her heart. If they threw you into the air, vou would find a way to fly."

Lyonene grinned. "Yes, but not all of us are walking miracles." 

Lyonene also had some of that soothing quality, or at least she could fake it. Reed could not fake it at all. She could barely manage a "there, there," and a stiff slap to the back in the face of tears. But how often, really, did heroes cry? 

Gretchen snorted. Lyonene was always going on about seducing her hero. Bedding her hero. Tossing a collar around her hero's neck and leading him about like a well-trained hound. It would be a good strategy. But it wouldn't be Reed's

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