Author: Amy Harmon;
Genre: YA Fantasy;
Format: Audiobook;
Narrator: Rob Shapiro;
Publisher: Brilliance Audio (2019);
Rating: 
(5 / 5).
An excellent coming-of-age fantasy with a lovely romantic subplot (or two). I had to force myself to pause the recording and go about daily life, but I rushed back to the book whenever I could. Excellent characterizations throughout, the complete story in one volume, and a slow burn leads to an exciting conclusion.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and the book hinges on a deathbed curse, an orphan raised in a monastery, and a corrupt king. Lots of honor and clans and swords, an interesting magical system, Nordic mythology, and familial love. No foul language or sex, with applicable violence but not overdone.
Rob Shapiro does a fabulous job with the audiobook narration; it doesn’t get better than this.
Reminded me of:
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
The Once and Future King by T. H. White
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings