The Seventh Sister had a lot going for it, especially the worldbuilding. I really enjoyed getting lost in this Viking-inspired fantasy world, and there was clearly a lot of thought put into the mythology, magic, and history behind it. Ertha was also a character I really enjoyed following. She’s a healer who gets thrown into a world far outside her own, and watching her navigate everything that comes with that was easily one of my favorite parts of the book.

The romance was more of a mixed bag for me. I liked the characters well enough, but the romantic side of the story didn’t grab me quite as much as the fantasy elements did. I found myself much more interested in the world and what was happening around Ertha than in the romance itself.

What It’s About (Spoiler Alert)

Ertha is a healer whose life takes a dramatic turn when she’s taken to an enemy kingdom. Suddenly she’s surrounded by unfamiliar customs, political tensions, magic, and people whose loyalties aren’t nearly as straightforward as they seem.

As she tries to figure out where she fits into this new world, Ertha becomes caught between two very different men: the mysterious right-hand man of the king and a soldier she once healed. Meanwhile, there’s much more happening beneath the surface of the kingdom, and Ertha’s abilities make her far more important to the conflict than she initially realizes.

There’s a lot of mythology and history woven into the story, and the world itself feels like it has plenty more secrets left to uncover.

What Got Me Hooked

The worldbuilding. This was definitely the strongest part of the book for me.

I loved the Viking/Norse-inspired setting and all the mythology and magic woven throughout it. There’s a real sense that this world has a history that extends far beyond what we’re seeing on the page, and I enjoyed piecing together how everything connected.

Ertha was another highlight. I liked her as a heroine, especially seeing her navigate a world where she has very little control over what happens to her. She has a strength to her that I appreciated without feeling like she had to be invincible.

The romance, unfortunately, didn’t hit quite as hard for me. It wasn’t bad, but I never found myself as invested in it as I was in the fantasy side of the story.

My biggest issue was the pacing. This one dragged for me in places. There were stretches where I was really enjoying the world and characters but felt like the story was taking a little too long to get where it needed to go.

That said, the worldbuilding kept me interested enough to stick with it, and there’s definitely enough here to make me curious about where the story goes next.

Should You Read It?

If you’re looking for a fantasy romance with Viking-inspired worldbuilding, Norse mythology, magic, political intrigue, and a strong heroine, The Seventh Sister has a lot to offer. The worldbuilding was easily my favorite part, and Ertha was a character I genuinely enjoyed following.

The slower pacing and romance that didn’t quite grab me kept this from being a complete hit for me, but I still enjoyed getting to explore this world—and I’m curious to see what comes next.

My Rating: 🌶️🌶️ | 🩵🩵🩵

Rating Legend

Spice Level
🌶️ — Closed door / fade to black
🌶️🌶️ — A few steamy moments, mostly implied
🌶️🌶️🌶️ — On-page, moderately explicit
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Frequent and explicit
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Extremely explicit throughout

Overall Rating
🩵 — Not for me
🩵🩵 — Had potential, didn’t fully land
🩵🩵🩵 — Solid, enjoyable read
🩵🩵🩵🩵 — Really good, would recommend
🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵 — Auto-buy author, instant favorite

Book & Author Info

Release date: August 6, 2025
Publisher: Quick Brown Fox
Pages: 606
Where To Get The Book: Amazon
Author: M.A. Brown

Disclosure: I received a complimentary ARC of The Seventh Sister through Netgalley in exchange for a review. Receiving a complimentary copy does not guarantee a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.