Secret Burdens (Stories of Lorst #3) by Suzanna J. Linton _ Book Review

Release Date : July 20th

Jarrett failed everyone close to him.

In disgrace, he resigned his position as Captain of the Royal Guard and entered self-imposed exile in the Eastern Forests. As a common soldier, he fought the remainder of Marduk’s monsters.

A surprise summoning, though, brings Jarrett back to Bertrand. He finds Clara nearly bedridden from an assassination attempt. Tension between Lorst and Tier runs high. In need of someone she trusts, Clara appoints Jarrett Captain of the Seer’s Guard over his protests.

He searches for both her enemies and his sense of honor. However, his investigations threaten to expose secrets that could ruin them all and shake Lorst to the core.

The thrilling third novel of The Stories of Lorst Series takes the reader from the immaculate halls of the Palace to the dingy streets of the Low Quarters on an epic tale of secrets, betrayals, and lost love.

Suzanna J. Linton grew up in rural Orangeburg County. At age eight, she tried to read The Secret Garden by herself. After following her mother around for a day, asking questions about the Yorkshire accent, she gave up, but that didn’t deter her in developing a deep appreciation for books and the worlds to which they open. A few years later, she wrote her first poem, which eventually led her to try writing fiction.

In 2002, she went to the summer program at the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where she refined her poetry and wrote her first decent short story (before this, she mostly wrote novels along with her poetry). In 2003, Suzanna began attending Francis Marion University, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in English.

Today, she continues to live in South Carolina with her husband and their menagerie of animals.

[I recieved an ARC for an honest review]

The third book in the Lorst series, Secret Burdens, did not disappoint. Suzanna J. Linton has created a cast of amazing characters that you care and root for. The emotion in her writing is real. You celebrate and mourn along with them. This third book has secrets around every turn and you lose track or whose trust worthy. If you have already started the Stories of Lorst series than this is a must read that you don’t want to miss.

5/5 Stars🌟

I know I usually keep my reviews spoiler free but this has become one of my favorite series and I just needed to get ALL my feelings out about everything that happened with my favorites characters. So if you haven’t read Secret Burdens then stop reading now and go read it! Then come back and fan girl with me 😁

Let’s start with Jarrett, the main star of this installment in the series. From the beginning he is laden with guilt over his actions before now. He is always taking responsibility for everything and it makes me sad that he doesn’t see his own worth. My heart was just constantly breaking for him especially his sorrow over the woman he loved. At the end Jarrett realizes his love for his best friend Clara. I wasn’t totally surprised, but I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t because first Gavin (who no offense loved Clara first so will always be my number one) fell in love with her, then Emmerich and now Jarrett. I mean I get it she is strong-minded, beautiful, and kind but still, I feel like Jarrett deserves an EPIC love. I also know it’s going to gut me reading his jealousy and yearning over her in future books.

Now Emmerich, if you read my reviews for the other books you would know I wasn’t his biggest fan, but he has redeemed himself in my eyes. He’s loyalty, love, devotion and determination to marry Clara is what you want to see in the actions of someone in love. I knew he would never in a million years agree to take the easy road and marry someone else and even though everything in the future points against them he stands his ground. He was such a sweet heart comforting and keeping watch over Clara when she was ill. Then when he was playing with Niall, and she called him ‘Father’ my heart turned to mush.

Lastly I want to talk about Bran. I felt so bad for the boy who just wanted to prove himself. His personal quest to find the Aerials was one of my favorite parts of the story. Not only does he discover the existence of hundreds of them, but they heal his body and put his mind at ease by reassuring him that Asher truly does see him as a son.

Gah I just know the next book is going to be action packed and I’m afraid of the fate of the characters I have grown to love!! The need for the next book is already strong and it hasn’t been written yet 😣