Left Unread Books | A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga)

How it Works Bookshop

Publishing Team Contact

A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga)

Melissa Blair

Save to Your Books

Bookshop

Amazon

100% of affiliate revenue supports Left Unread Books

The BookTok sensation from debut author Melissa Blair—now with exclusive bonus content!

“Gripping and fierce. This is much-needed fantasy with its fangs honed sharp by the power of resistance. Melissa Blair has built a tremendous world.” —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

My body is made of scars, some were done to me, but most I did to myself.

Keera is a killer. As the King's Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the king’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure moves against the Crown, Keera is called upon to hunt down the so-called Shadow. She tracks her target into the magical lands of the Fae, but Faeland is not what it seems . . . and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she learns, and can't help but wonder who her enemy truly is: the King that destroyed her people or the Shadow that threatens the peace?

As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago, one that will test her in every way. To keep her word, Keera must not only save herself, but an entire kingdom.

Fans of fast-paced high fantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses series, The Inadequate Heir, and From Blood and Ash author Jennifer L. Armentrout, will enjoy the fierce female characters, sapphic representation, and fantasy romance of A Broken Blade.

Get the Bindery app

Posts about this title from Left Unread Books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Dec 26 2025

Books For People Dealing With Grief

8 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jan 10 2025

GIVEAWAY: The Halfling Saga

If you haven't read The Halfling Saga by Melissa Blair, you are truly missing out on one of the best series to come out in recent years! Luckily for you, I am giving away two full sets, so check out how to enter!!!

4 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jan 5 2025

Here's what I read this week!

If you've been following me a while, you know reading wrap-ups are not really my thing. But 2025 is about trying new things! So here is our first of the year! Enjoy!

12 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Nov 4 2024

Indigenous Books You NEED To Read This November!

If you aren't already aware, November is Native American Heritage Month. And while I think you should have Indigenous books moving through your TBR all year round, I thought this would be a good time to tell you about some of my favorites!

10 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Nov 4 2024

November Book Club Pick

We are reading A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair for November! If you want to be a part, make sure you grab a copy and read along! There are several ways you can engage with our community as we read, so check out the information below for details!!!

4 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jun 26 2024

Read this instead of ACOTAR

If you're here, you are probably already aware of the reasons I don't like Sarah J Maas or A Court of Thrones and Roses (if not, read below), so here are two series' that I think will scratch the same itch...but you know...better. | Also, here are the other places you can engage with me: tiktok.com/@michael.laborn, www.instagram.com/michaellaborn/, www.threads.net/@michaellaborn & https://discord.gg/zejmcM5m

7 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jun 24 2024

When you think about the best fantasy/sci-fi you have ever read, I can almost guarantee you that one of the things they all have in common is that they introduced you to characters who refused to compromise their voice. And that doesn't just go for feel-good stories or books that work to highlight systemic issues. It's also true for the stories that introduced you to your favorite villains!\ \ Think about characters like Almira (Queen and Conquerer), Rin (Poppy War Trilogy), Anequs (To Shape A Dragon's Breath) or Kiera (The Halfling Saga). One of the most endearing things about those stories is that they gave us main characters who are so firmly rooted in their own will that we almost lose sight of the fact that there is an author pulling their strings. And that is not to say that a character must have a fully fleshed out sense of self in order to hold this kind of impact. Nova (The Name Bearer) spends the first two books of this Quala having to wrestle with the fact that she has been denied any sense of identity. But that doesn't stop her from holding the kind of determination and resolve that leave us, the readers, wondering if Natalia Hernandez had any say in who Nova became.\ \ When I am reading a book, and preparing to talk about it publically, I always ask myself how consistently the character's speak for themselves. Do they make their own decisions or are they constantly compromising for the sake of the story arc? Do they stick to their guns, even when the readers will struggle with their choices (Such as the iconic moment where Ikenna kills...ok fine, i won't spoil it. But go read Blood Gifts Duology!!!)? Do their mistakes and victories make sense for who they have shown themselves to be? Do they push back when people challenge them?\ \ I don't need characters to be fully fleshed out from the beginning, but I do need them to always be consistent with however much of their identity they have come to terms with at any point in the story.\ \ Let me know some stories that do this for you!!!\ \ \ \

Writing Tip: Never Betray Your Character's Voice

Writers, as a reviewer, I can tell you. that nothing draws me into a story faster than a main character who has owned their own voice. Read more about that down below!

11 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • May 8 2024

Melissa Blair is the author of the Halfling Saga (Broken Blade, A Shadow Crown, A Vicious Game). She is an indigenous "BookTok sensation" and is coming to hang out with US tonight at 6:30 CST. Come join us!\ \ Melissa is one of the most brilliant authors and marketers I know personally and I cannot wait for you to get to know her and learn from her! Come ready!\ \ The meeting will take place on Zoom. Here is the information:\ \ https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81282561608?pwd=gA7Fo5qtWbBaWCrWDsKLwl2aOwjBA8.1\ \ Meeting ID: 812 8256 1608\ \ Passcode: 819394

Meet author Melissa Blair

3 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Dec 26 2025

Books For People Dealing With Grief

8 books

Rachel Skye Reads\ \ Rachel\ \ • Jul 23 2025

Join for free

Read these books if you like : Indigenous Stories

Read these books if you like (part 34): Indigenous Stories 📖 Love is a War Song by Danica Nava 📖 Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie L. Dove 📖 To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose 📖A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair 📖 Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley #indigenousboooks #bookreccomendations #boktokbookrecs #diversebooks @Random House Books @berkleypub @Union Square & Co.

5 books

All Shades\ \ Sera\ \ • Jul 9 2025

Join for free

My Green Flag Books!

THESE ARE MY BABIES!! IF YOU DIDNT LIKE THEM. TELL YOUR THERAPIST. NOT ME.

5 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Jun 20 2025

Join for free

Intersectional Representation in Books

Do you remember the last book you read that featured multiply marginalized characters?

We talk a lot about prioritizing diversity in the books we read, but intersectional identities are far too often left out of the conversation. I have spoken to far too many authors who have had publishers or agents push back because their character can’t be a person of color AND queer AND disabled (or any other marginalized identity—Jewish/muslim/plus sized, you get the drill). That would just be TOO MUCH for one character.

As if that’s not the actual lived experience of these authors and so many real people.

I wanted to come on here and recommend some books that I love (or in the case of If We Survive This—a book I am highly anticipating) that feature characters of 3+ marginalizations (I specifically went with disabled, BIPOC, & LGBTQ+ for this post), because the more we read and support these books, the more we show publishing that these stories matter.

#bookstagram #bookish #weneeddiversebooks #fantasybooks #romancebooks #yabooks #bookrecs #diversebooks #diversebookstagram #disabilitybooks #disabilityrep #bipocbooks #lgbtqbooks #takeahintdanibrown #taliahibbert #thefinalstrife #saaraelarifi #ifwesurvivethis #thisismetrying #racquelmarie #abrokenblade #melissablair

5 books

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jun 18 2025

Join for free

Books I'm Ashamed I Haven't Read Yet

Yes, I know I am wrong, I am trying to be better. Please be nice to me… or bully me into reading some of these.

📚 Books Mentioned 📚

- A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair - Model Home by Rivers Solomon - Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab - The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne@l - Evocation by S.T. Gibson - The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

#5starbooks #bookreel #bookstacks #toberead #tobereadpile #bookstagram #5starreads

6 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Jun 3 2025

Join for free

Disability Rep <3

I have a vendetta against that book and I will until the end of time thank you

6 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • May 23 2025

Join for free

June Book Club Pick!

Six of Crows!!!! Whether you’d be rereading or reading for the first time—you should join us!!

4 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • May 18 2025

Join for free

Do Our Tastes Align? Indigenous Edition.

Indigenous edition! How many of these have you read and how many are on your TBR! Add them up and drop your score below! Also, if you’re seeing this and you haven’t followed me on Bindery yet for free, can you please do that? It’s quick and simple and would make an impact! #boozhoobooks #indigenous books #booksrecs

35 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • May 9 2025

Join for free

Romantasy Books I Recommend

Romantasy Recs from someone who doesn't think you should turn off your brain to read critically

7 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Apr 28 2025

Join for free

May Book Club Pick + June Voting Options

Did you know I run a disability-themed book club over on Discord?

Diversify With Disability alternates each month between Fantasy and Romance books, always with an emphasis on disability, chronic illness, and mental illness representation.

We’ve read books like Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young and The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. We’re currently finishing up To a Darker Shore by Leanne Schwartz—and will even be doing a Live Q&A with her in early May!

Our May read will be Reel by Kennedy Ryan, and we are currently voting on our June Fantasy pick! (Voting closes 11am PT May 1st)

You can get access to the book club discord by following the FREE tier of my Bindery (link in bio!)—plus all the other benefits of that free subscription.

5 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Apr 21 2025

Join for free

Shelves and The City Influencers Recommend Indigenous Books (Part One)

At Shelves and the City, I asked influencers to give me an Indigenous book they would recommend! Shout out to Joshua who wasn’t the only influencers to admit he hadn’t read one, but suggested he talk about it on film! You’ll also notice a lot of repeats! Nothing wrong with that! Great books! My hope is to get people to expand and read more books by Indigenous authors. At an event with over 100 readers, I passed out about 50 book bingo cards and if you didn’t get one and were there, drop a note in our chat and I will mail you one if you want! If you aren’t a member of my reader community on Bindery, joining is free (first 🔗) and I’ll be posting about my entire SATC experience and a post with all the books mentioned here to make them easy to check out! My goal with my publishing imprint, Boozhoo Books, is to help make sure people have several options in the genres they love to read #readindigenous #shelvesandthecity #bookinfluencer #bookrecommendations @steph ✨ 📚 ✡︎ (@starrysteph) @zach•booksthatslay @aubrei @priyanka 📚✨ @Alex @Amivi⁷ @serareadthat 🌿📖🤠 @SARAH @Rae @Mari - booktok + media reviews @maya @A Very Queer Book Club @Rachel Skye @EmmaSkies @Greekchoir🧋| Bailey @IG/YT: ashunti_reads @Seth | dramakingbooks @Emma Ann (@theaceofbooks) @Joshua @Michael LaBorn

19 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Feb 24 2025

Join for free

My Bookish Pet Peeve

Its a good series but 😭😭😭 #booktok #fantasybooktok #romantasybooktok #bookpetpeeves #bookishpetpeeves #thehalflingsaga #abrokenblade

1 book

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Feb 4 2025

Join for free

Vote for Our February Book Club Pick!

February’s Nominees: - Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman - This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede - The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon - A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

4 books

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jan 19 2025

Join for free

Indy Book Haul

Book haul from my quick trip to Indy this week! Indy has some of my favorite bookstores in the country, so I can never resist a good book haul. Bonus points, because three of these books I had never even heard of, which is rare for me.

Descriptions are in order from left to right. Which one would you read first?

4 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jan 10 2025

GIVEAWAY: The Halfling Saga

4 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jan 5 2025

Here's what I read this week!

12 books

Tattooed Bibliophiles\ \ Zee\ \ • Nov 14 2024

Join for free

These books are better than their overly hyped counterparts written by palm colored people. In fact, I come to issue a challenge. Tell me your favorite book written by a white author and I'll find you a better one written by a black or brown author. I said what I said.

BIPOC books to piss off the racists

8 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Nov 12 2024

Join for free

Indigenous Book Bingo Check-In

Update on my personal Indigenous Book Bingo Card, includes a blank card for new members

11 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Nov 4 2024

Indigenous Books You NEED To Read This November!

10 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Nov 4 2024

November Book Club Pick

4 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jun 26 2024

Read this instead of ACOTAR

7 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jun 24 2024

Writing Tip: Never Betray Your Character's Voice

11 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • May 8 2024

Meet author Melissa Blair

3 books

Paws, Pages and Brews\ \ Sammie\ \ • Apr 12 2024

Join for free

\ \ Upgrade for $12 or login](https://pawspagesandbrews.binderybooks.com/item/04fmrNNiJoDQTm0cMi3u/)

Interview With Author Melissa Blair

Chatting with Author of the Halfling Saga Melissa Blair!

4 books

Paws, Pages and Brews\ \ Sammie\ \ • Mar 27 2024

Join for free

Live with Author Melissa Blair!

1 book

Paws, Pages and Brews\ \ Sammie\ \ • Mar 12 2024

Join for free

What are you reading this week?

What is everyone reading this week?

5 books

Paws, Pages and Brews\ \ Sammie\ \ • Feb 29 2024

Join for free

Our March Book Club Pick!

We will be reading A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair in the Month of March!

1 book

All Shades\ \ Sera\ \ • Dec 21 2023

Join for free

Fantasy Books to Diversify your TBR!!

diverse books for your 2024 tbr #2024tbrchallenge #2024tbr #diversefantasyreads #fantasybookrecs2024 #diversifyyourtbr 2024 to be read fantasy books fantasy book recommendations fantasy reader

8 books

Fantasy & Frens\ \ Zoranne\ \ • Jan 3 2023

Join for free

THE JANUARY BOOK FOR THE FANTASY & FRENS BOOK CLUB IS A BROKEN BLADE BY MELISSA BLAIR!\ \ i am so excited to read this with v'all! you can read A BROKEN BLADE with the club right now in the @fable app! link in my bio to join! swipe to read the synopsis 😊\ \ if you haven't yet, follow @fantasyandfrens on instagram! and use #fantasyandfrens to show off your book club reads! \ \ #abrokenblade #booktokbooks #fantasybooks #fantasybookclub #fantasyandfrens #getfable #fablebookclub

THE JANUARY BOOK FOR THE FANTASY & FRENS BOOK CLUB IS A BROKEN BLADE BY MELISSA BLAIR!

i am so excited to read this with v'all! you can read A BROKEN BLADE with the club right now in the @fable app! link in my bio to join! swipe to read the synopsis 😊

if you haven't yet, follow @fantasyandfrens on instagram! and use #fantasyandfrens to show off your book club reads!

#abrokenblade #booktokbooks #fantasybooks #fantasybookclub #fantasyandfrens #getfable #fablebookclub

1 book

Ezeekat Press\ \ Jaysen\ \ • Jan 3 2023

Join for free

Hope to see you all in a book club!! #booktok #bookclub #fable #books

5 books