What do you think?
Rate this book
Enemy's Keeper #1
Healer's Blade
Medieval fantasy with wholesome enemies-to-lovers romance.
A healer on the run. A rogue knight bound by secrets. Love was never part of the plan.
Eighteen-year-old Aliwyn, a healer's apprentice, lives in shame after her medical failures. Despite a rebellion brewing against William the Conqueror, she yearns to practice medicine in peace.
But when she hides an endangered orphan, Aliwyn is plunged into the deadly revolt. A daring escape entangles her with the young rebel leader, Tobias, and she is swept into a world of rival factions and secret alliances. Caught in the heart of the insurgents' army, she must decide who to save. Worst of all, Tobias' compassionate nature turns her perceptions of the enemy upside down.
As she unravels the rebels' fiery secret that could destroy England, Aliwyn is challenged to take fate into her own hands. Will she rise to save her kingdom? And can she resist the magnetic charms of the man she’s vowed to defeat?
A healer on the run. A rogue knight bound by secrets. Love was never part of the plan.
Eighteen-year-old Aliwyn, a healer's apprentice, lives in shame after her medical failures. Despite a rebellion brewing against William the Conqueror, she yearns to practice medicine in peace.
But when she hides an endangered orphan, Aliwyn is plunged into the deadly revolt. A daring escape entangles her with the young rebel leader, Tobias, and she is swept into a world of rival factions and secret alliances. Caught in the heart of the insurgents' army, she must decide who to save. Worst of all, Tobias' compassionate nature turns her perceptions of the enemy upside down.
As she unravels the rebels' fiery secret that could destroy England, Aliwyn is challenged to take fate into her own hands. Will she rise to save her kingdom? And can she resist the magnetic charms of the man she’s vowed to defeat?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
63 people are currently reading
956 people want to read
About the author
Kyrie Wang
4 books222 followers—–██—– Put this on
—–██—– your profile
██████ —if you’re not
—–██—– embarrassed
—–██—– to tell others
—–██—– that you
—–██—– believe in God
The Thief's Keeper (An Enemy's Keeper Prequel) is FREE for all my
newsletter subscribers! You'll also receive a free 50-page Medieval Fantasy coloring book featuring places and people inspired by my books!
I'm a small-town physician and mom with a passion for writing adventure stories blended with wholesome, slow-burn romance.
I'm also an artist. Here are other characters I drew for my Enemy's Keeper book series.
More art, and even original music, are available on my website :)
—–██—– your profile
██████ —if you’re not
—–██—– embarrassed
—–██—– to tell others
—–██—– that you
—–██—– believe in God
The Thief's Keeper (An Enemy's Keeper Prequel) is FREE for all my
newsletter subscribers! You'll also receive a free 50-page Medieval Fantasy coloring book featuring places and people inspired by my books!
I'm a small-town physician and mom with a passion for writing adventure stories blended with wholesome, slow-burn romance.
I'm also an artist. Here are other characters I drew for my Enemy's Keeper book series.
More art, and even original music, are available on my website :)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
Read
June 12, 2025*Update August 2 2023* A Goodreads librarian told me it's Goodreads's policy to combine the reviews for the revised and new editions of a book. So, just keep in mind all reviews before June 1, 2023, belong to the previous and unpublished version of Healer's Blade!
*Update July 16 2023: Goodreads combined the reviews of the unpublished, old edition of "Healer's Blade" (formerly called "Forbidden Ties") with the reviews of the real "Healer's Blade." This was done without my permission.
The reviews of "Forbidden Ties" are dated before June 1, 2023 and are inaccurate portrayals of "Healer's Blade", which is 25% longer and has new protagonist names.
I am still trying to separate the reviews for Forbidden Ties and Healer's Blade.
**************
What to write in this space? I'll start from the heart.
I am so, so grateful for all the alpha and beta-readers out there who gave my work a chance-- for the over one thousand comments they left to make Healer's Blade so much more gripping and satisfying than my first attempt in telling this story (as Forbidden Ties). I believe in second chances and redemption, and the Enemy's Keeper series has both as core themes. Only recently have I realized how I was living my own "second chance" as an author, and it was only possible because of the support from both friends and total strangers on the internet, who decided to give an unknown author a chance.
My protagonist was originally a passive young woman thrown into situations she rarely tried to control. Maybe this was how I felt in medical residency when I first drafted the book to relieve stress. She has become a very different person in Healer's Blade and I believe her change is a reflection of how I had also grown over the years. In my final edit for this book, I was cheering her on!
Oh yeah, and the cliffhanger ending. I FIXED that ;D
The Enemy's Keeper series helps me remember that, despite the divisions in the world, we share a common humanity. We are capable of love, kind deeds, laughter, and forgiveness. Because of this, there is reason to look deeper than our apparent differences.
Once again, my sincerest thanks to everyone who has embarked with me on my author's journey!
*Update July 16 2023: Goodreads combined the reviews of the unpublished, old edition of "Healer's Blade" (formerly called "Forbidden Ties") with the reviews of the real "Healer's Blade." This was done without my permission.
The reviews of "Forbidden Ties" are dated before June 1, 2023 and are inaccurate portrayals of "Healer's Blade", which is 25% longer and has new protagonist names.
I am still trying to separate the reviews for Forbidden Ties and Healer's Blade.
**************
What to write in this space? I'll start from the heart.
I am so, so grateful for all the alpha and beta-readers out there who gave my work a chance-- for the over one thousand comments they left to make Healer's Blade so much more gripping and satisfying than my first attempt in telling this story (as Forbidden Ties). I believe in second chances and redemption, and the Enemy's Keeper series has both as core themes. Only recently have I realized how I was living my own "second chance" as an author, and it was only possible because of the support from both friends and total strangers on the internet, who decided to give an unknown author a chance.
My protagonist was originally a passive young woman thrown into situations she rarely tried to control. Maybe this was how I felt in medical residency when I first drafted the book to relieve stress. She has become a very different person in Healer's Blade and I believe her change is a reflection of how I had also grown over the years. In my final edit for this book, I was cheering her on!
Oh yeah, and the cliffhanger ending. I FIXED that ;D
The Enemy's Keeper series helps me remember that, despite the divisions in the world, we share a common humanity. We are capable of love, kind deeds, laughter, and forgiveness. Because of this, there is reason to look deeper than our apparent differences.
Once again, my sincerest thanks to everyone who has embarked with me on my author's journey!
Want to read
June 14, 2023
It's not too late to sign up for the ARC Team, you guys! <3
Kyrie, I am so excited for Healer's Blade to happen!
If y'all love supporting faith-based authors, or if you like medieval fantasy, historical fantasy, and/or the enemies-to-lovers trope, make sure to sign up for the launch team @ www.kyriewang.com/arc to help the author share about her new book. :)
April 12, 2022
A good story about the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England. I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for a review.
June 4, 2023
A well written historical romance. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2023
One character in Healer’s Blade is a burly redhead pagan woman from early medieval Britain. She proudly leads a band of barbaric male warriors into battle, where she is as ruthless toward the enemy as any of them—and probably more so—but also shows more sympathy for the weak and pitiable. She’s brimming with confidence and competence. There are many books today in which she’d be the protagonist.
Not this one. Here, the heroine is a modest peasant woman. She loves her chickens and her home, and dreams of a happy future with the boy she grew up closest to. When hostile soldiers come, she doesn’t demonstrate a sudden startling proficiency for the sword, turning them away at bladepoint. She runs away, doing her meager best to defend those she loves as she does so. In a burgeoning rebellion of the English against newly Norman rule, she doesn’t pick a side and usher it to victory. She just tries to stop people from dying.
Here, the heroine is surrounded by people who are capable of overpowering her with brute force, and often close to doing so. This is a story of how she overcomes them not by fighting like them, but through a mix of wits, kindness, persistence, and a talent for healing—all while doing her best to adhere to her morals and faith, while wracked by doubts about what she’s done and should do. Healer's Blade is a title well-chosen.
This is an adventure where romance is prominent. There’s one main woman—but definitely more than one man. Scenes abound where the reader is prompted to ask: “Is he the one? Or is he the one?” “Which one is her friend? Which one is her enemy?” There is, in short, plenty of love, heartbreak, and affection. But it’s all done in a distinctly chaste and delicate way. It’s the sort of book that a parent could read and enjoy, and then recommend unblushingly to her teenage daughter. (Or son! There’s a lot of good medieval action here.)
Healer’s Blade touches on issues of race and religion lightly and admirably. The protagonist and her fellows, back in early medieval England, reserve their animus mainly for two groups: redheads and pagans. The fact that this is historically accurate makes it all the more funny, sad, and profoundly revealing at the same time. Similarly realistic is the fact that this early medieval protagonist has no grand epiphany about the shared essence of humanity and respecting all creeds—but she does gradually and subtly come around to judging those she’s with based on who they are as individuals.
It’s clear the author is impressively versed in early medieval British history. The book is distinctly in that historical period, and not some vaguely medieval fantasy land. But the author also doesn’t flaunt that knowledge unnecessarily with long, dry historical asides, as is the bane of many writing historical fiction.
The last thing I’d note that there are frequent subtle callbacks to earlier scenes and events, in which minor things you'd read earlier are suddenly illumined with new significance by later enlightening revelations—sometimes fundamentally changing how you’d understood earlier events and their emotional dynamics.
That’s probably enough to give you a flavor of the book and whether it falls within your preferred genres. If so—and maybe even if not!—give Healer’s Blade a try. Highly recommended.
Not this one. Here, the heroine is a modest peasant woman. She loves her chickens and her home, and dreams of a happy future with the boy she grew up closest to. When hostile soldiers come, she doesn’t demonstrate a sudden startling proficiency for the sword, turning them away at bladepoint. She runs away, doing her meager best to defend those she loves as she does so. In a burgeoning rebellion of the English against newly Norman rule, she doesn’t pick a side and usher it to victory. She just tries to stop people from dying.
Here, the heroine is surrounded by people who are capable of overpowering her with brute force, and often close to doing so. This is a story of how she overcomes them not by fighting like them, but through a mix of wits, kindness, persistence, and a talent for healing—all while doing her best to adhere to her morals and faith, while wracked by doubts about what she’s done and should do. Healer's Blade is a title well-chosen.
This is an adventure where romance is prominent. There’s one main woman—but definitely more than one man. Scenes abound where the reader is prompted to ask: “Is he the one? Or is he the one?” “Which one is her friend? Which one is her enemy?” There is, in short, plenty of love, heartbreak, and affection. But it’s all done in a distinctly chaste and delicate way. It’s the sort of book that a parent could read and enjoy, and then recommend unblushingly to her teenage daughter. (Or son! There’s a lot of good medieval action here.)
Healer’s Blade touches on issues of race and religion lightly and admirably. The protagonist and her fellows, back in early medieval England, reserve their animus mainly for two groups: redheads and pagans. The fact that this is historically accurate makes it all the more funny, sad, and profoundly revealing at the same time. Similarly realistic is the fact that this early medieval protagonist has no grand epiphany about the shared essence of humanity and respecting all creeds—but she does gradually and subtly come around to judging those she’s with based on who they are as individuals.
It’s clear the author is impressively versed in early medieval British history. The book is distinctly in that historical period, and not some vaguely medieval fantasy land. But the author also doesn’t flaunt that knowledge unnecessarily with long, dry historical asides, as is the bane of many writing historical fiction.
The last thing I’d note that there are frequent subtle callbacks to earlier scenes and events, in which minor things you'd read earlier are suddenly illumined with new significance by later enlightening revelations—sometimes fundamentally changing how you’d understood earlier events and their emotional dynamics.
That’s probably enough to give you a flavor of the book and whether it falls within your preferred genres. If so—and maybe even if not!—give Healer’s Blade a try. Highly recommended.
June 8, 2023
From my daughter, Abigail:
I really loved this intriguing book! It was really informative about English history and the storyline was full of twists and turns I never anticipated. I read the whole book in one sitting because I was so fascinated I could not put it down! As an avid bookworm, I usually prefer fantasy and action novels. I am so glad I tried out A Healer’s Blade, which was my first romance novel; it was extremely good. The cover art is beautiful and the characters are so real! I felt like I could hear the dialogue, and felt their emotions. This is definitely one of my favourite book series. I can’t wait for book 2!!! I am an 11 year old girl and I received an advance reader copy of the book in return for an honest review. -Abigail
I really loved this intriguing book! It was really informative about English history and the storyline was full of twists and turns I never anticipated. I read the whole book in one sitting because I was so fascinated I could not put it down! As an avid bookworm, I usually prefer fantasy and action novels. I am so glad I tried out A Healer’s Blade, which was my first romance novel; it was extremely good. The cover art is beautiful and the characters are so real! I felt like I could hear the dialogue, and felt their emotions. This is definitely one of my favourite book series. I can’t wait for book 2!!! I am an 11 year old girl and I received an advance reader copy of the book in return for an honest review. -Abigail
June 8, 2023
This book is everything in a historical romance that I adore and more! I finished it in one day, I just could not stop reading, lol. Which hasn’t happened with a full length novel in some time. Just wow! The writing was hands down really immersive and “like a movie playing in your head” type of feel. As someone with relatives related to William, this was a wonderful insightful experience. You will love the war, political intrigue and romance! 5/5 permanent fan.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
October 7, 2022
Review to come!
June 13, 2023
A fantastic tale of the complexities of human nature. From the opening line you are transported back in time. The sights and sounds feel authentic. The characters are all so well developed and the conflicts between each other and within themselves are genuine and relatable. I enjoyed the growth and depth of every character in the story and I am excited to see what happens to Toby and Aliwyn in the next book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action packed historical fiction.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action packed historical fiction.
June 28, 2023
Full disclosure: I received an advanced readers' copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a historical fantasy action-adventure with a dash of romance, as per the book's description. I don't generally read historical fiction (the ones I've read generally suffer from a lack of characterization), but between the fantasy and the clean enemies to lovers, I gave it a try.
First thoughts: this book is much more intense than I'd thought. To be fair, I don't generally care for violence/battle scenes in books, so readers who are more interested in that would be fine with this, but this is more "action set in historical fantasy" than "historical fantasy with action in it". Fighting is simply a part of this period in history, though, and the author couldn't very well keep things moderately accurate without it. Still, for anyone who's planning on reading this: There are many fight/battle scenes, and it is a struggle for these characters to stay alive. This book is not light reading (though it does remain enjoyable reading, if you can get past that) and is generally intense and action-packed. Sensitive readers beware.
My first reading, I couldn't look past the intensity, which was much more than I had anticipated, and was mostly skimming pages for most of the book. Because of this, I read it a second time, and appreciated it so much more. I'm not sure if this means the book has some work to do in making things clearer/less intense, or I just need to not skim books, but after my second reread my gut is that it's the latter. It's a bad habit I'm working on. ;)
Other things I didn't like: Aliwen had a minor case of "main character personality disappearance" syndrome. I've seen far worse, and Toby makes up for most of it in this case, but I would've preferred more personality. Another things is despite being marked as clean, there was at least one "h*ll". I'm pretty allowing on swears, as long as they don't take over the book, but for a supposedly clean book it was disappointing. (Or if it was only referring to the clean romance—maybe make that a little clearer?) And this is laughably minor, but I'm 90% sure Evelyn was still a male name when this book took place (the period-accurate female version is Aveline, which on second thought might've been too close to Aliwen). But little inconsistencies. Still perfectly readable.
Now for what I did like about the book! I love Toby (even if the guy isn't perfect—he's a fascinating character and very nicely balanced out all the murderous thugs) and . Aliwen, somewhat, though The plot is lightning fast, but if you're able to keep up with it the ride is breathtaking. This book is practically dnf-proof; even if you want to stop reading, like I nearly did when (spoiler happened), you can't. Description and dialogue are too brilliant to stop reading.
All in all, definitely worth reading! Possibly a re-read in the future. And I'm excited to read the next book and see what else Aliwen and Toby get up to!
This is a historical fantasy action-adventure with a dash of romance, as per the book's description. I don't generally read historical fiction (the ones I've read generally suffer from a lack of characterization), but between the fantasy and the clean enemies to lovers, I gave it a try.
First thoughts: this book is much more intense than I'd thought. To be fair, I don't generally care for violence/battle scenes in books, so readers who are more interested in that would be fine with this, but this is more "action set in historical fantasy" than "historical fantasy with action in it". Fighting is simply a part of this period in history, though, and the author couldn't very well keep things moderately accurate without it. Still, for anyone who's planning on reading this: There are many fight/battle scenes, and it is a struggle for these characters to stay alive. This book is not light reading (though it does remain enjoyable reading, if you can get past that) and is generally intense and action-packed. Sensitive readers beware.
My first reading, I couldn't look past the intensity, which was much more than I had anticipated, and was mostly skimming pages for most of the book. Because of this, I read it a second time, and appreciated it so much more. I'm not sure if this means the book has some work to do in making things clearer/less intense, or I just need to not skim books, but after my second reread my gut is that it's the latter. It's a bad habit I'm working on. ;)
Other things I didn't like: Aliwen had a minor case of "main character personality disappearance" syndrome. I've seen far worse, and Toby makes up for most of it in this case, but I would've preferred more personality. Another things is despite being marked as clean, there was at least one "h*ll". I'm pretty allowing on swears, as long as they don't take over the book, but for a supposedly clean book it was disappointing. (Or if it was only referring to the clean romance—maybe make that a little clearer?) And this is laughably minor, but I'm 90% sure Evelyn was still a male name when this book took place (the period-accurate female version is Aveline, which on second thought might've been too close to Aliwen). But little inconsistencies. Still perfectly readable.
Now for what I did like about the book! I love Toby (even if the guy isn't perfect—he's a fascinating character and very nicely balanced out all the murderous thugs) and . Aliwen, somewhat, though The plot is lightning fast, but if you're able to keep up with it the ride is breathtaking. This book is practically dnf-proof; even if you want to stop reading, like I nearly did when (spoiler happened), you can't. Description and dialogue are too brilliant to stop reading.
All in all, definitely worth reading! Possibly a re-read in the future. And I'm excited to read the next book and see what else Aliwen and Toby get up to!
June 30, 2023
”Yet, he was wounded and hurting like anyone else who had lost a loved one, and it didn't matter if he was Danish or English or Norman, rich or poor, a thief or a king. The sorrow of loss transcended all divisions.”
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you to the amazing Kyrie Wang for the ARC!
So, I haven’t read historical in a while. This book is single-handedly encouraging me to get back into it, which is in my opinion a sign of a great book.
And this was a great book. I loved the cocktail of genres (historical, romance, and medical), and the writing was precise like a surgeon’s. Thus, it doesn’t surprise me that Kyrie is a doctor! I’ve not read anything as immersive in a while, and I adored that the book utilized historical conflict in a tactful and mostly faithful way. I don’t know much about the Middle Ages (admittedly my historical interests have historically lain elsewhere) but by the end of the book, I felt like I had a good sense of the times. I also admire the subtle integration of faith—it meant a lot to me as a believer.
And can I talk about Aliwyn and Toby! Gosh, they’re so sweet. This was a book with a strong cast of characters all around, but I adore Aliwyn and Toby. They are both so brave and so strong, but in entirely different ways. I loved every second of them, and I think they’re both well-constructed characters with complex struggles. I’m also glad there wasn’t any Insta-love; it was interesting to see their relationship mature and turn into something strong.
The book was fast-paced and perpetually exciting, and it did a great job of emphasizing its messages without heavy-handedness. I had a great time reading it, and I cannot wait for the next one! Excellent job 🤍
I received an ARC in an exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you to the amazing Kyrie Wang for the ARC!
So, I haven’t read historical in a while. This book is single-handedly encouraging me to get back into it, which is in my opinion a sign of a great book.
And this was a great book. I loved the cocktail of genres (historical, romance, and medical), and the writing was precise like a surgeon’s. Thus, it doesn’t surprise me that Kyrie is a doctor! I’ve not read anything as immersive in a while, and I adored that the book utilized historical conflict in a tactful and mostly faithful way. I don’t know much about the Middle Ages (admittedly my historical interests have historically lain elsewhere) but by the end of the book, I felt like I had a good sense of the times. I also admire the subtle integration of faith—it meant a lot to me as a believer.
And can I talk about Aliwyn and Toby! Gosh, they’re so sweet. This was a book with a strong cast of characters all around, but I adore Aliwyn and Toby. They are both so brave and so strong, but in entirely different ways. I loved every second of them, and I think they’re both well-constructed characters with complex struggles. I’m also glad there wasn’t any Insta-love; it was interesting to see their relationship mature and turn into something strong.
The book was fast-paced and perpetually exciting, and it did a great job of emphasizing its messages without heavy-handedness. I had a great time reading it, and I cannot wait for the next one! Excellent job 🤍
I received an ARC in an exchange for an honest review
May 26, 2025
⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏𓊝﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏⊹ ࣪
🗡️~Genres~🗡️
Non-magical fantasy/Historical/ Light Romance/slow burn/Enemies to lovers/Clean
🌸~Characters~🌸
(Aliwyn "Ali") FMC I liked her.
(Toby) MMC I liked him.
(Aelfric "Aelfie") ALIWYN'S BEST FRIEND he was ok.
(Marie) MATTHEW'S 8 YEAR OLD COUSIN I liked her she was cute.
(Evelyn) MATTHEW'S OTHER COUSIN she was ok I guess.
(Reiya) VASFIAN CHIEF she was so annoying not just no.
(Kato) EVELYN'S BELOVEDED I sort of liked him.
(Matthew) AELFRIC'S BEST FRIEND he did some stuff I really didn't like.
(Emma) She was so sassy I really liked her.
(Edward "Ed") TOBY'S UNCLE gosh this guy was awful.
(Zelrin "Zel") TOBY'S CLOSE FRIEND he was great.
(Ida) LEPER this lady was so annoying.
(Garett) OTHER LEPER he was uh ok I guess.
🐓~Quotes~🐓
His tunic and cloak were warm with the smell of fresh hay and wood smoke. She loved that smell, loved the sound of his beating heart. She could have stayed there all day,
It didn't matter if he was Danish or English or Norman, rich or poor,a thief or a king. The sorrow of loss Transcend all divisions.
Toby's gashed hand quivered by her own. He must be freezing, and her urge to grasp his fingers and comfort him alarmed her.
She wallowed in this bewildering attraction like a fly in honey, stuck in something delicious while drowning at the same time.
🥚~What I liked~🥚
The scenery, The writing style, The plot,
🔥~What I disliked~🔥
All the child death, The lack of banter between the MCs,
🛶~Trigger/Content Trigger~🛶
Racism, Murder, Attempted murder, Death of a loved one, death, Fighting, Medical treatment, shooting, child death, torture, Grief, suffering, Blood, Robbery, Dog abuse (in self defense), poison, Death of a pregnant woman,
🏹~Language~🏹
Bloody,
🗡️~Genres~🗡️
Non-magical fantasy/Historical/ Light Romance/slow burn/Enemies to lovers/Clean
🌸~Characters~🌸
(Aliwyn "Ali") FMC I liked her.
(Toby) MMC I liked him.
(Aelfric "Aelfie") ALIWYN'S BEST FRIEND he was ok.
(Marie) MATTHEW'S 8 YEAR OLD COUSIN I liked her she was cute.
(Evelyn) MATTHEW'S OTHER COUSIN she was ok I guess.
(Reiya) VASFIAN CHIEF she was so annoying not just no.
(Kato) EVELYN'S BELOVEDED I sort of liked him.
(Matthew) AELFRIC'S BEST FRIEND he did some stuff I really didn't like.
(Emma) She was so sassy I really liked her.
(Edward "Ed") TOBY'S UNCLE gosh this guy was awful.
(Zelrin "Zel") TOBY'S CLOSE FRIEND he was great.
(Ida) LEPER this lady was so annoying.
(Garett) OTHER LEPER he was uh ok I guess.
🐓~Quotes~🐓
His tunic and cloak were warm with the smell of fresh hay and wood smoke. She loved that smell, loved the sound of his beating heart. She could have stayed there all day,
It didn't matter if he was Danish or English or Norman, rich or poor,a thief or a king. The sorrow of loss Transcend all divisions.
Toby's gashed hand quivered by her own. He must be freezing, and her urge to grasp his fingers and comfort him alarmed her.
She wallowed in this bewildering attraction like a fly in honey, stuck in something delicious while drowning at the same time.
🥚~What I liked~🥚
The scenery, The writing style, The plot,
🔥~What I disliked~🔥
All the child death, The lack of banter between the MCs,
🛶~Trigger/Content Trigger~🛶
Racism, Murder, Attempted murder, Death of a loved one, death, Fighting, Medical treatment, shooting, child death, torture, Grief, suffering, Blood, Robbery, Dog abuse (in self defense), poison, Death of a pregnant woman,
🏹~Language~🏹
Bloody,
July 1, 2025
I listened to the audiobook and it was fantastic! I loved the narrator. The fmc, is humble and strong. I love the unexpected connections. I love that she just wants to be independent. I’m ready for book 2.
June 11, 2023
Fast-paced and action-packed, Healer’s Blade kept me turning the pages. Set in 11th century England, the chaotic politics of the time are well-rendered. When the Anglo-Saxons, the Normans, and Celtic tribes clashed, peasants had to fend for themselves. The themes of loyalty and prejudice are handled well. This story would appeal to readers who enjoy non-stop action with authentic period details.
April 5, 2025
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). Okay, so I read this after the prequel. And the very first chapter had me howling because
Anyways, back to the story. I really enjoyed getting to meet Mathieu, though he was definitely not as nice as I thought he'd be. I also quite liked Toby once I figured him out. And the little girl is a hoot. To be honest, some of the politics confused me, but probably because I read this so fast and over so many days. (How is that simultaneously possible, you ask? 6 letters: S-C-H-O-O-L.) However, it was definitely exciting and kept me hooked because you never knew what came next. I anticipate the next book.
*Better review and content list to come upon reread*
Anyways, back to the story. I really enjoyed getting to meet Mathieu, though he was definitely not as nice as I thought he'd be. I also quite liked Toby once I figured him out. And the little girl is a hoot. To be honest, some of the politics confused me, but probably because I read this so fast and over so many days. (How is that simultaneously possible, you ask? 6 letters: S-C-H-O-O-L.) However, it was definitely exciting and kept me hooked because you never knew what came next. I anticipate the next book.
*Better review and content list to come upon reread*
September 26, 2022
Enemy’s Keeper by Kyrie Wang is a historical YA fiction novel centered around Heather in the 1000s AD. Heather has to decide between two things that could change her life.
The only positive I have for this book is that the actual writing wasn’t so boring I wanted to Dnf. I kept reading because the actual writing made me want to see if it got better.
But truly this book had so much going on while at the same time absolutely nothing happened. I’m not sure where the conflict was or what the point of anything was in this. There were too many characters to keep track of and I just didn’t care.
The time period would have been more interesting if it was explained and explored more.
I just don’t think this book was for me. I’m sure that others out there will like it, but I didn’t.
Read via NetGalley and this is my honest review.
December 10, 2023
An interesting read about medieval England. I love enemies to lovers and this was a good one. I love the slow to start relationship between our female MC and the guy that she is supposed to hate. I have to admit I lost the book for almost a year, it got shoved behind a bookshelf after it fell out of my tbr pile of books, but I found it and I am sooo glad I did! The writing is great and the story is entertaining and engaging. I like this author and will certainly be following her work in the future and also this series called Enemy's Keeper!
April 15, 2022
I was hooked from the very first chapter of Forbidden Ties! It is an exciting tale with superb character development of the main heroine. I highly recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction.
I received this book free of charge.
I received this book free of charge.
April 3, 2022
Exciting historical romance and action story!
Full of action, a real page-turner. The characters were rich, three-dimensional, and relatable.
Congrats to the author for such a well-written work.
Full of action, a real page-turner. The characters were rich, three-dimensional, and relatable.
Congrats to the author for such a well-written work.
November 28, 2025
Healer’s Blade is one of those books that quietly pulls you in and suddenly you realize you’ve spent hours completely absorbed. It blends medieval political tension, found family vibes, and a sweet, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance in a way that feels both cozy and adventurous.
Aliwyn is such a relatable heroine, young, unsure, and carrying the weight of past mistakes. When she’s forced into the middle of a rebellion, her journey from self-doubt to courage feels natural and well earned. Tobias, the rebel leader she’s supposed to distrust, is one of those characters who sneaks up on you with his depth and quiet charm. Their relationship builds slowly, with plenty of internal conflict and tenderness along the way.
The world itself is richly imagined, historical yet slightly alternate, with Vikings, Celts, and Norman knights all tangled in a tense political fight. There’s plenty of action, secret alliances, and even some fun seafaring moments to keep the pace moving.
I listened to the audiobook, and Kiera Rhodes absolutely brought the story to life. Her emotion, accents, and pacing made the characters feel vivid and the world more immersive. If you’re an audio listener, it’s definitely worth grabbing the narrated version.
Overall, Healer’s Blade is a charming, engaging read with the right balance of warmth, tension, and adventure, perfect if you love clean medieval romance with a lot of heart.
Aliwyn is such a relatable heroine, young, unsure, and carrying the weight of past mistakes. When she’s forced into the middle of a rebellion, her journey from self-doubt to courage feels natural and well earned. Tobias, the rebel leader she’s supposed to distrust, is one of those characters who sneaks up on you with his depth and quiet charm. Their relationship builds slowly, with plenty of internal conflict and tenderness along the way.
The world itself is richly imagined, historical yet slightly alternate, with Vikings, Celts, and Norman knights all tangled in a tense political fight. There’s plenty of action, secret alliances, and even some fun seafaring moments to keep the pace moving.
I listened to the audiobook, and Kiera Rhodes absolutely brought the story to life. Her emotion, accents, and pacing made the characters feel vivid and the world more immersive. If you’re an audio listener, it’s definitely worth grabbing the narrated version.
Overall, Healer’s Blade is a charming, engaging read with the right balance of warmth, tension, and adventure, perfect if you love clean medieval romance with a lot of heart.
July 20, 2022
If a Historical Fiction novel and an Action/Adventure movie had a baby, this story is it. I was hooked from the first sentence. It was nonstop adventure, ups and downs, and near death escapes all nestled into a well developed setting of England in 1075 AD. The characters were bold and well developed. The main characters struggle to define good vs. evil was relatable. This book definitely kept me turning the pages and I hope there will be another book in this series!
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only
April 14, 2022
A gripping adventure with relatable characters, vivid descriptions, true historical elements, and complex moral implications. The level of thought and research that went into creating this story is remarkable! I look forward to the rest of the series.
September 1, 2023
Healer’s Blade: Medieval Adventure with Wholesome Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Enemy’s Keeper Book 1)
Healer’s Blade: Medieval Adventure with Wholesome Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Enemy’s Keeper Book 1) was a wonderful story. Lots of adventures throughout the book.
Healer’s Blade: Medieval Adventure with Wholesome Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Enemy’s Keeper Book 1) was a wonderful story. Lots of adventures throughout the book.
August 9, 2025
✨Holding his hand sent her soaring into a sky of rosy clouds and spring mist that she didn’t want to come down from. All this in the dead of night. Was she falling in love?✨
Aliwyn is a brave and strong. She faced so many difficult and dangerous situations. I was so happy to see her use her healing skills on her “enemies”. I loved Aliwyn realizing that her enemies could’ve been her friends and her friends could’ve been her enemies. Her determination to thwart the Norman’s plans was crazy. I was so happy to see her friendship with little Emma and her begrudging alliance with Zelrin and Toby. Toby! He definitely was a contradiction. I went from feeling sorry for him, to hating him, to loving him. He is conflicted. His care for Zelrin and little Emma and his tenderness toward and defense of Aliwyn made my heart melt.
I cannot wait to read the second book to see how this story resolves.
Note: There is a large amount of Viking era violence, including de@th.
A few more lines I loved:
Human beings were a flaming mess and terrible to each other.
“Zel and Emma, I’ve been telling you to stop thinking of all Normans as evil. Regardless of what you’ve heard, this rebellion is not about the English driving out the Normans. It’s about the oppressed inhabitants of England overthrowing a tyrant king, who happens to be Norman.”
She held a handsome knight without his armor. It was a reason to smile, and she did.
Aliwyn is a brave and strong. She faced so many difficult and dangerous situations. I was so happy to see her use her healing skills on her “enemies”. I loved Aliwyn realizing that her enemies could’ve been her friends and her friends could’ve been her enemies. Her determination to thwart the Norman’s plans was crazy. I was so happy to see her friendship with little Emma and her begrudging alliance with Zelrin and Toby. Toby! He definitely was a contradiction. I went from feeling sorry for him, to hating him, to loving him. He is conflicted. His care for Zelrin and little Emma and his tenderness toward and defense of Aliwyn made my heart melt.
I cannot wait to read the second book to see how this story resolves.
Note: There is a large amount of Viking era violence, including de@th.
A few more lines I loved:
Human beings were a flaming mess and terrible to each other.
“Zel and Emma, I’ve been telling you to stop thinking of all Normans as evil. Regardless of what you’ve heard, this rebellion is not about the English driving out the Normans. It’s about the oppressed inhabitants of England overthrowing a tyrant king, who happens to be Norman.”
She held a handsome knight without his armor. It was a reason to smile, and she did.
May 31, 2025
This was SUCH a rollercoaster of emotions. A 10/10 book from start to finish! I can't wait to read the next one!
First of all, it is absolutely beautifully written. I have no attention span when it comes to reading most of the time but I simply could not put it down!! Every environment is descibed so clearly that I was literally watching it play out in my mind as I was reading.
I am devistated by the first few chapters, and heartwarmed by everything that occurs after. The fear, the excitement, the tenderness - it's all expressed so vividly I can put myself into Aliwyn's shoes with ease. Toby is an absolute hearthrob, I wish he was real!! Zelrin and Emma are adorable too, they remind me of my own younger siblings in many ways and their dynamics with eachother, Toby and Aliwyn are so sweet.
Kyrie has an amazing talent for writing and I am so grateful to have found this series. I'm ever impatient for the next book to release!
First of all, it is absolutely beautifully written. I have no attention span when it comes to reading most of the time but I simply could not put it down!! Every environment is descibed so clearly that I was literally watching it play out in my mind as I was reading.
I am devistated by the first few chapters, and heartwarmed by everything that occurs after. The fear, the excitement, the tenderness - it's all expressed so vividly I can put myself into Aliwyn's shoes with ease. Toby is an absolute hearthrob, I wish he was real!! Zelrin and Emma are adorable too, they remind me of my own younger siblings in many ways and their dynamics with eachother, Toby and Aliwyn are so sweet.
Kyrie has an amazing talent for writing and I am so grateful to have found this series. I'm ever impatient for the next book to release!
October 30, 2024
I finished this book a few days ago but couldn't bring myself to write this review because it felt like saying goodbye to the characters, and I wasn't ready for it. My love for this series began with the prequel 'The Thief's Keeper' and has continued well into this book. I can't wait to read the next one.
The characters were deeply flawed but that's what made them so realistic and relatable. Having read the prequel first, I think I understood Aliwyn better in this one. Her motives, thought process, and reactions were so well explained in the book. Even those times when her actions shouldn't have made sense, I felt like I got her because not everything we do always has to be logical.
Tobias and the other characters were well written too. It was tough to hate anyone or take sides despite what they did because in the end everyone was going through a tough time.
I knew what to expect after reading TTK, so I cried a little less during this book, but it did have some heartbreaking moments that made me keep it aside for a while so that I could calm myself down.
The writing style was great, and I liked the worldbuilding with historical details. The author has clearly done a lot of research to bring it all together. Overall, this was an amazing read. I still have a lot of questions regarding the fates of some of the characters, especially Aliwyn's. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her and eagerly waiting for the sequel.
Highly recommend this book to historical fantasy lovers who love themes of friendship, forgiveness, and redemption.
The characters were deeply flawed but that's what made them so realistic and relatable. Having read the prequel first, I think I understood Aliwyn better in this one. Her motives, thought process, and reactions were so well explained in the book. Even those times when her actions shouldn't have made sense, I felt like I got her because not everything we do always has to be logical.
Tobias and the other characters were well written too. It was tough to hate anyone or take sides despite what they did because in the end everyone was going through a tough time.
I knew what to expect after reading TTK, so I cried a little less during this book, but it did have some heartbreaking moments that made me keep it aside for a while so that I could calm myself down.
The writing style was great, and I liked the worldbuilding with historical details. The author has clearly done a lot of research to bring it all together. Overall, this was an amazing read. I still have a lot of questions regarding the fates of some of the characters, especially Aliwyn's. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her and eagerly waiting for the sequel.
Highly recommend this book to historical fantasy lovers who love themes of friendship, forgiveness, and redemption.
August 12, 2025
It was fast-paced and action-packed. I had purchased Healers Blade after reading the prequel The Thiefs Keeper because I fell in love with the characters, the story, and Kyrie Wang's writing.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Kiera Rhodes. Between Kiera's voice and narration and Kyrie's writing style, I never wanted to put the book down. It kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat the whole time.
The beginning hit me hard. Between certain events that happened and the way the story starts off with a bang, I knew I was in for a ride. Each of the characters is well developed. Each one has their own strengths, their own weaknesses, and they all seem real. It was as though I was reading about people that really existed.
By the end of the book, Toby had me swooning! The relationship between Toby and Aliwyn is a very unique take on the enemies-to-lovers trope and I was there for it.
I look forward to reading Book 2 of the series, Traitors Heart, and I look forward to reading other future works by Kyrie Wang.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Kiera Rhodes. Between Kiera's voice and narration and Kyrie's writing style, I never wanted to put the book down. It kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat the whole time.
The beginning hit me hard. Between certain events that happened and the way the story starts off with a bang, I knew I was in for a ride. Each of the characters is well developed. Each one has their own strengths, their own weaknesses, and they all seem real. It was as though I was reading about people that really existed.
By the end of the book, Toby had me swooning! The relationship between Toby and Aliwyn is a very unique take on the enemies-to-lovers trope and I was there for it.
I look forward to reading Book 2 of the series, Traitors Heart, and I look forward to reading other future works by Kyrie Wang.
March 13, 2025
This is the first book of the Enemy’s Keeper and it is perfect for any reader who loves Historical Romances and Medieval Times. Though I would classify it as a fantasy since some of the events, weapons, people, places are unique to this world it isn’t your typical fantasy with Magic and Dragons. It is just the perfect balance where you easily get pulled into that world of Knights and Healers.
I loved the aspect of Enemies to Lovers and never knowing who to trust just like the FMC Aliwyn. There was definitely a lot of action taking place and though it does end on a cliffhanger it will leave you wanting more.
I loved the aspect of Enemies to Lovers and never knowing who to trust just like the FMC Aliwyn. There was definitely a lot of action taking place and though it does end on a cliffhanger it will leave you wanting more.
July 27, 2023
yay!
I don’t give five stars very often, but I could have given five stars for this book alone just based on the cover!
I love the characters so much and felt so involved in their romance. It was sweet and engaging and I can’t wait to read more.
I don’t give five stars very often, but I could have given five stars for this book alone just based on the cover!
I love the characters so much and felt so involved in their romance. It was sweet and engaging and I can’t wait to read more.
July 20, 2025
The Healer’s Blade is book one of the Enemy’s Keeper series, and is a great read. I actually listened to the audiobook, and I felt like it was well done. The narrators voice and characterizations were great.
Even though it came out after The Healer’s Blade, I read The Thief’s Keeper, which is a prequel, prior to reading this book, so I had a lot more background knowledge of one of the main characters in this book, which I feel is needed, so I would definitely recommend reading The Thief’s Keeper first.
I really liked this book, and the storyline. It was entertaining and exciting, and filled with great characters and relationships. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Even though it came out after The Healer’s Blade, I read The Thief’s Keeper, which is a prequel, prior to reading this book, so I had a lot more background knowledge of one of the main characters in this book, which I feel is needed, so I would definitely recommend reading The Thief’s Keeper first.
I really liked this book, and the storyline. It was entertaining and exciting, and filled with great characters and relationships. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews