The Crown's Dog by Elise Kova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

The first in an Air Awakens prequel trilogy.

A coastal summer is turned upside down by a violent murder, and a quest for lost pirate treasure turns into a hunt for the killer.

Jax Wendyll is the crown’s dog. As punishment for the unspeakable crimes that tourment him to this day, his life has been conscripted to the Empire Solaris. However, in an Empire afflicted by peace, his duties are relegated to unquestioningly aiding the antics of the youngest prince, Baldair.

Erion Le’Dan, a nobleman’s son, expects a quiet summer visit to the Imperial Palace, his only agenda to visit with his unlikely friends. But Jax’s discovery the legendary pirate Adela Lagmir’s old workroom inspires a hunt for her long lost treasure.

The pursuit of Adela’s truth takes the three men to the Imperial summer manor, built along the old pirate mainstays. When Adela’s trident is branded into a murdered servant, Prince Baldair’s summer amusement of treasure-hunting becomes a hunt to find the killer. But, as mysteries compound, the ghosts of Jax’s past may not be the only things haunting them.







I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I learnt that my dear Elise Kova was writting a prequel novella series for the characters of her completed "Air Awakens" series, I could sign fast enough! I loved all her characters on her debut series and while it's sometimes hard for me to read novellas, (they have to make me interested on them) this one had everything I loved in a good short story: memorable characters (Baldair and Jax!) and a good ystery to go with it.

It almost turned Sherlock-like with the mystery behind the Pirate Queen! How strong the friendship between everyone was! It's clear now why the Guard seemed to be so well connected with each other on the series.

I'll be anxiously waiting for the next novella!