Steelflower by Lilith Saintcrow

 "Steelflower" byLilith Saintcrow, the first book in the Steelflower Chronicles, was published in 2008. The story centers around Kaia Steelflower, an outcast thief, mercenary, and sellsword of the G'mai or Elvish people.   In the book she left her homeland after being shunned because, unlike the all other G’mai people, she has no magic and no twin.  In Kaia’s homeland, Elvish twins link for life.  Self-exiled, she is satisfied with her life as a sellsword and thief.

However, while acting in her role as a thief, and without even thinking about it, she picks the pocket of a giant barbarian who passes by her as she sits at a bar.  This act alone changes the path of her life forever.  Although what she steals is a cheap-looking pendant that appears to have no value, she feels strangely compelled to wear it.  But there's more to the pendant than meets the eye.  You see Kaia's  countrymen have been following the barbarian because they want the pendant back.  They attack the barbarian and Kaia steps in to save his life.  What started out as a simple theft turns into a big mess for Kaia.  Accustomed to working alone, she now has a large barbarian following her every step!

To make matters worse, one of the men following them is a prince from her homeland who says the pendant tells him that she is his twin, or adai.  The prince joins her retinue, trying to convince her that she is the adai that was fated for him.

From a world building perspective the story was pretty believable.  The planet in the story was not named Earth, but, as I read about them fighting with swords and drinking mead, I pictured the action occurring in a medieval setting. The premise of the adai, or twins, is much like a husband and wife on Earth. They are mentally and emotionally linked, feeling each other’s pain, joys, and sorrows. Although there's no explicit sex described in the book there is strong sexual tension between the twins.  And although the story is action-filled, violent acts are not described in great detail, making this a suitable read for young or old.

I recommend this book as the first in a new series. I'm definitely looking forward to more of Kaia’s adventures and watching the development of her relationship with her twin. Steelflower is a satisfying story that delivers action, romance, and fantasy.

Note:  This book is suitable for teenage readers.

I first starting reading Lilith Saintcrow books when I picked the first book in the Dante Valentine series. Lilith's worldbuilding skills are awesome and drew me in almost from the first page. It's more of a sci-fi world than a world with vampires or werewolves, a refreshing change from the norm.

Here are the Dante Valentine books in order:

Working for the Devil (Dante Valentine, Book 1)

Dead Man Rising (Dante Valentine, Book 2)

The Devil's Right Hand (Dante Valentine, Book 3)

Saint City Sinners (Dante Valentine, Book 4)

To Hell and Back (Dante Valentine, Book 5)


Lilith Saintcrow also writes the Jill Kismet fantasy book series:

Night Shift
Hunter's Prayer
Redemption


The Watcher Series:

Dark Watcher (The Watcher Series Book 1)


The Society Series:

The Society (The Society Series, Book 1) by Lilith Saintcrow (Paperback - Aug 15, 2005)


Steelflower Chronicles:

Steelflower (Steelflower Chronicles, Book 1)