The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon

What I Loved:

Amy Harmon has a talent for creating a world and utterly sucking you into it. She completely did this with the kingdom of Saylok. I loved the way she built the story over the 20 year span to give life and history to the characters.

How I Felt:

I was drawn into the story during the first scene, I was so interested in where this story was going. I felt that way through the whole book. There was always a reason for a character to be introduced, or for a scene to take place. I was very interested in the idea of a cursed land that would bear no girl children. I wondered how they would manage, would there be danger for the remaining women, etc…and the book answered those questions.

Why 4 Stars:

I didn’t LOVE the book. I loved parts of story, I loved characters, I loved the details. I just don’t find myself continuing to hang on to the story after I finished it. I need a book hangover to give a book 5 stars. It really has to stick with me and make me continue to think about the story and the people. That said, this was still a great Amy Harmon book, just not my favorite one.

To Read or Not To Read:

The First Girl Child is a great book for someone that is interested in fantasy, but you could also enjoy this even if fantasy isn’t your normal genre. There weren’t magical beasts you had to wrap your head around or completely different ways of living, or anything like that. So, while it was fantasy, it was a softer version, easier for someone not usually reading this genre. There was romance, and don’t we all love a little love-story in our books? I would recommend this to any reader.

Where To Find This Book:

Amazon Kindle | Amazon | Goodreads

If you haven’t yet read any books by Amy Harmon yet, here are the list of books by her that I have already read and recommend!
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Advertisements

Dagmar is a Keeper of Saylok, living in the Temple, going about his daily chores, when he finds his sister dying at the base of a tree, with a newborn baby in her arms. With her dying breathes she curses their kingdom, Saylok, that they will bear no girl children and that her son, Bayr shall be the kingdom’s salvation.

Dagmar is at a loss, grief stricken, and yet protective of the infant, he brings Bayr back to the temple. Bayr is allowed to stay and will grow learning the ways of the Keepers of the Temple.

Ghost is a slave who births a baby girl when the kingdom had not had any girl children for years. The King takes the baby and passes it off as his own, ordering that Ghost be murdered to keep hers silent. Ghost goes into hiding to try to stay alive…

This books stretches over the childhood, youth, and young adult life of Bayr, paralleled alongside the girl child, Alba. Bayr grows to be a strong, fierce boy and Alba a beautiful, thoughtful Princess. Alba’s father is crowned King however, and he is not the person that the Kingdom needs to remove the curse.

Just the Facts: