I have read the two released novels in the Dark Apostle series, and I really enjoyed this novella that follows Allyson and Randall. It takes place against historical events with names familiar to anyone who has watched Braveheart: Longshanks, Edward II, and Robert the Bruce. Ambrose creates deep, well-researched settings with a gritty touch of magic. Here, she goes deeply into the perspectives of Allyson, a witch who has kept her abilities and emotions hidden from her new husband, Randall, after her very abusive first marriage. This novella is a love story, but absolutely not a romance. These are two people deeply divided by a lack of communication and the expectations of their own gender roles within the period, and it's a divide that makes sense considering Allyson's past abuse.

I highly recommend this for readers who enjoy historical fantasy, and it's a great introduction to the world if you haven't read any of the Dark Apostle novels. ( )