Crier's War

In Crier's War, human servant Ayla works in the manor of Lady Crier, the daughter of the Sovereign who rules their kingdom. The story takes place in a world where Automae - powerful, artificial beings - have conquered humanity and now maintain control over human subjects. Ayla harbors deep hatred for the Automae who killed her family and seeks vengeance against their rule. Her position in close proximity to Lady Crier presents an opportunity, but complications arise as she begins to learn more about the young Automaed noble. The narrative follows both Ayla and Crier's perspectives as political tensions escalate and long-held beliefs about both humans and Automae face challenges. Their paths become increasingly entangled amid schemes, secrets, and brewing rebellion. This fantasy novel explores questions of humanity, free will, and the nature of consciousness through its portrait of two characters from opposing sides of a power divide. The relationship between Ayla and Crier forms the center of broader themes about prejudice, justice, and unexpected connections.

Readers praise the slow-burn romance between Ayla and Crier, with many highlighting the tension and emotional depth. The writing style receives frequent mentions for its poetic qualities and vivid descriptions. Multiple reviews note the strength of the worldbuilding and political intrigue. Common criticisms include a slow start to the plot, with several readers noting it takes 100+ pages to gain momentum. Some found the technical aspects of the automae society confusing or under-explained. What readers liked: - LGBTQ+ representation - Complex character development - Detailed fantasy world - Enemies-to-lovers dynamic What readers disliked: - Pacing in first third - Info-dumping - Plot predictability Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (32,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,200+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 "The romance between Ayla and Crier burns so bright it almost hurts to read," notes one top Goodreads review. Another common sentiment: "Worth pushing through the slow start for the incredible second half."

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🔮 Author Nina Varela wrote the first draft of Crier's War during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) when she was just 19 years old. ⚔️ The story's concept of Automae (humanoid beings with mechanical hearts) was inspired by the author's interest in both classical automata and modern artificial intelligence. 💫 This YA fantasy novel features LGBTQ+ representation with a prominent sapphic romance between the two main characters, Crier and Ayla. 🏰 The world-building in Crier's War draws from both science fiction and traditional fantasy elements, creating a unique genre blend sometimes referred to as "science fantasy." 📚 The book was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection and received starred reviews from both School Library Journal and Booklist.