Basic premise: Princess Clia is shocked when her intended, Prince Domhnall, jilts her, telling her he needs a warrior woman, not a fashion plate. She is humiliated and decides to apply to the same warrior academy that Domhnall will be attending with the intention of winning him back.
At first, I had no idea what to think of Clia. She is motivated by her desire for perfection, but never measures up to her parents' expectations. She is also devoted to sewing, a skill which interests me not at all. She is obsessed with fashion. I came to appreciate her because she doesn't give up on warrior training and she works hard. She is not immediately an sword wielding badass, but becomes one through perseverance. Of course it is Domhnall's guard/friend Ronan who helps Clia gain her skills and who may also help her with her heartache.
I know this is fantasy and therefore there will be unfamiliar names. Many of them in this novel have accents on some vowels. I almost always find this distracting as I get jolted a little bit when I run into a name that I have to think consciously about how to pronounce it. It takes me out of the story and irritates me. I get the feeling that these names are based on Irish Gaelic (surnames like O Connor point in this direction).
The story wraps up enough at the end that this may be a standalone, but there are sufficient remaining questions that Jacobs may be planning a sequel. I wouldn't be opposed to it, but I won't wait with bated breath either.
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