The Orc and Her Spy (The Sapphic Orcs of Torden Book 2)

I really enjoyed the journey this book took me on. The setting, the intrigue, the forbidden love and the longing all worked together beautifully and pulled me right into the story. Freya and her jaded little heart absolutely bowled me over. I adored her, even when she was being a little… unhinged. Her devotion to her Queen and the pride she takes in doing her duty well says so much about who she is as a character. There’s something really compelling about someone who has built their whole identity around loyalty and service. And then there’s Astrid, the reluctant Queen. I really felt for her. She’s leading in a time where every decision carries weight, where war is a very real possibility, and where she has to keep people at arm’s length because the needs of the kingdom come first. That kind of responsibility would isolate anyone, and you can feel that loneliness in her. I loved how the relationship between Freya and Astrid developed. The connection and trust between them felt especially meaningful because both of them struggle to let anyone in. Watching that wall slowly come down was one of my favourite parts of the story. The intimate scenes were also written in a way that really suited their relationship and added to the emotional connection between them. I do think there were a few moments where I would have loved a little more emotion on the page, but overall this was a fantastic read and I really enjoyed the journey these characters took me on.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved that the queen and her shadow finally admitted their love for each other. The storyline kept me wanting to know what happens next. There was a decent amount of spice and I loved that the spice was two sided. I love sapphic orc stories! The ending of the story set up for a 3rd book nicely.

I was given an ARC copy of The Orc and Her Spy by author Lila Gwynn. Thank you Lila for the chance to be an ARC reader. Lila Gwynn has created another amazing story! The Orc and Her Spy is the second book in the Sapphic Orcs of Torden series. If you like a story about unspoken love between an orc queen and her devoted human spymaster that has some yearning, fixated devotion, and a little mystery thrown in, this is the book to read. The dynamic between Queen Astrid and Freya is one of long term devotion that at some point turns to more and their slow burn romance builds naturally. I liked that the journey of their relationship was very natural and believable. There are some adorable and hilarious moments in this book I chuckled and wanted to shout kiss already, but the evolution of their relationship was perfectly written. The story kept my attention throughout as they explored their relationship while facing expected and unexpected challenges that came their way. I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about these two characters that were introduced in the first book. I hope there is another book in this series and look forward to reading it if there is.