**Review based on a free digital ARC received from Net Galley**

When Alexa and her twin brother lose their parents and livelihood at the tender age of 14, they don't have many options. Instead of choosing the only path open to her as a girl, namely the "pleasure house" where she would endure rape and constant pregnancy, Alexa instead poses as a boy and joins the royal guard with her brother. The deception works for 3 years, and Alexa becomes the best fighter in the royal guard and personal protector to the Prince. However, after some shocking twists, Alexa soon finds herself in a fight to protect her prince, her identity, and her realm.

Do I recommend? Not really. The entire focus of this tale is the love triangle between Alexa, her prince and her closest friend in the royal guard. For reasons unclear to the reader, both boys are very entranced by this girl and instead of focusing on the dangers at hand, there is much flushing, blushing, and shirt whipping off. Read Graceling instead. I had high hopes, so I hope the author takes some time to flesh out her characters. I felt like I barely knew them.