Gods of Tintar Series by Kara Voorhees Reynolds

Edie Finch was living a content life working in the city-state of Eccleston, ten winters estranged from her husband. When the savage land of Tintar invades, she and other women, taking refuge in a chapel, pretend to be sacred priestesses to avoid their certain deaths, fooling an elite group of Tintarian warriors into taking them captive. This is a standalone fantasy with romance and self-discovery about a thirty-eight year old working-class woman who is not a chosen one, princess or warrior... moreEdie Finch was living a content life working in the city-state of Eccleston, ten winters estranged from her husband. When the savage land of Tintar invades, she and other women, taking refuge in a chapel, pretend to be sacred priestesses to avoid their certain deaths, fooling an elite group of Tintarian warriors into taking them captive. This is a standalone fantasy with romance and self-discovery about a thirty-eight year old working-class woman who is not a chosen one, princess or warrior. She, using grace and wit, will navigate an invasion and abduction by an enemy army, be dragged halfway across her continent, form a circle of strength with her fellow captives, learn she has a practical sort of magic, be made to marry one of her captors, and uncover ancient mysteries that will save her world. Content Warnings. Religious trauma. Infertility. Sexual assault. Homophobia. Self harm. Violence. Suicidal ideation. Two mentions of death in childbirth. less

Helena Tefraine was abducted from her homeland alongside her teenage daughter, her two closest friends, and other women who were in the wrong chapel at the wrong time. She finds herself in Tintar, the only known country in her world where magic exists. Forced into service as a muralist for a foreign king and bound by an arranged betrothal she did not choose, Helena must also unearth buried parts of herself as she perseveres. Her new role does not just challenge her—it awakens her... moreHelena Tefraine was abducted from her homeland alongside her teenage daughter, her two closest friends, and other women who were in the wrong chapel at the wrong time. She finds herself in Tintar, the only known country in her world where magic exists. Forced into service as a muralist for a foreign king and bound by an arranged betrothal she did not choose, Helena must also unearth buried parts of herself as she perseveres. Her new role does not just challenge her—it awakens her. As she adapts her old life's skills as an illuminator to paint an enemy's throne room, she begins to recover the divine spark within her that refused to be extinguished. A poetic return to the friendship, magic, and romance of Priestess, Illuminator is a companion novel written as a love letter to readers. This is not only a story of survival—it is a story of the soul. less

Robbie and her found family of fellow lady-criminals are weathering tyranny from a theocratic patriarchal rule. They get word that her niece is in trouble. Disguising themselves as penitents on a religious pilgrimage to a powerful enemy city, the girl gang sets out on a rescue mission. Along the way, old enemies rise and persecute them. And a mysterious man will not stop dogging Robbie’s steps... moreRobbie and her found family of fellow lady-criminals are weathering tyranny from a theocratic patriarchal rule. They get word that her niece is in trouble. Disguising themselves as penitents on a religious pilgrimage to a powerful enemy city, the girl gang sets out on a rescue mission. Along the way, old enemies rise and persecute them. And a mysterious man will not stop dogging Robbie’s steps. In order to defeat the evil that looms, Robbie must remember who she is, what gift she possesses, and open her heart to new kinds of magic. less