I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Y’all, I have found a new favorite! The Lost Legends by Cait Marie is the first book in her series The Nihryst. I read it in one-sitting, skipping sleep to do so. When I talk about fantasy being my favorite, I’m talking about the epic adventure fantasies that take you on a journey and leave you hopeful. There is a little romance (or in some cases a lot of romance) involved with a pinch of magic. Battles are fought and won. The good guys aren’t necessarily the knight in shining armor type. These are my favorite fantasies, and The Lost Legends hits every one of those marks.

Princess Adalina is longing for adventure in her life. Her mother read her stories of the cursed immortal warriors called the Nihryst. Her entire life Ada’s studied the stories. She told her mother that she would break their curse, a curse put into place by her ancestor and tied to tarot cards Ada currently holds. After discovering the king’s plan to start war with their neighbors, Ada knows she has to stop it. Her only hope is finding the Nihryst warriors if they even exist and asking them to help her. Ada escapes her kingdom with a crew of pirates and begins the adventure she’s always longed for.

Ada’s brother, Prince Shane, is the next ruler of Detmarya, and since the untimely death of his mother which led to the king’s descent into madness, he has ruled the best he can. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” and this has never been as true as it is for Shane. He loves his kingdom and his people and will do whatever is necessary to save them. While his sister is off looking for the legendary warriors, Shane stumbles upon a disease that is killing the poor in his kingdom. With the help of a rebel faction, Shane sets the stage for Ada’s return and prays that the help she’s looking for comes with her.

Told from Shane’s and Ada’s POV, the plot moves and twists together seamlessly. It’s like having two stories in one, and I love it! Ada’s chapters focus on her hunt for the Nihryst, her interactions with the pirates, and the lengths she will go for her kingdom. Shane’s story focuses on what is happening in Ada’s absence, the king’s plans, and the budding rebellion. Being able to see from all sides of the story led to a great amount of foreshadowing. While I was able to predict a few things as the story progressed, it was still exciting and engaging. The puzzles and mysteries that Ada has to solve to find the Nihryst kept me up well into the morning hours, and I’m pretty sure my heart stopped more than once reading as Shane led a double life trying to find answers about the plague.

My favorite part of this book though is the pirates. I love them! They are such a fun crew and fully fleshed out. The captain Lee and his banter with Ada helps drive the plot. He is guarded with his feelings and keeps to himself, yet something about Ada brings his walls down. Remember how I said a little romance is a must in my fantasy? Slowburn y’all