Loyalty to Alter is the second book in The Lone Thorn series by B.B.E. Gwyn. The story follows Victoria Tessier, a woman torn between too many worlds and too many responsibilities. In the city, Vicky manages mercenary work with her tailoring business, while in the wilderness, she protects a sanctuary for the displaced with the help of her advisor, Persimmon. On top of that, she must constantly contend with the dangerous effects of the full moon on her sanity. Her desire to please everyone only makes her burdens heavier. However, things take a drastic turn when a mercenary mission spirals out of control and Vicky begins to suspect darker forces are at play. As violence erupts during a fashion event and mysteries become too much to ignore, Vicky is forced to confront truths she’d rather deny and to decide where her loyalty and her heart truly lie.

Author B.B.E. Gwyn did a fantastic job of creating an amazing protagonist living in a believable world. The world-building is incredible. I loved the elements of magic in mundane, everyday life. Vicky is the perfect protagonist for the story. Her inability to say no makes her incredibly human, and her struggles with identity, loyalty, and love made the story even more enjoyable for me. The narrative effectively builds tension as Vicky's personal and professional lives crash together. I enjoyed her responses, her witty charm, and her attractive personality. I don’t remember the last time I loved or connected with a character this quickly. I loved the fast pace, the action, and the drama. The narrative was light, fun, and entertaining, everything I needed for a great read. Loyalty to Alter is highly recommended!

Perhaps the only other person busier than Victoria “Vicky” Tessier in Silver Valley is the business magnate Zachary Tessier, Vicky’s father. Apart from helping run the Rose Union, an adventure guild, she is also a mercenary and a protector of the Helping Place, a sanctuary for refugees in the Outlands. But she had no idea her duties would drive her down a path of life-shattering discovery. It all begins with an investigation into rampant raids on supply trucks to a neighboring city. Chasing clues, she finds herself at a fashion pageant whose highlight is an attack by vengeful villagers. Soon, she learns that these two incidents, including the abduction of foxes in the Outlands, are connected, and big corporate names are behind them. But that’s not all. She is about to discover the mastermind behind it all, a man she has trusted all her life. Find out how it all goes down in Loyalty to Alter: A Lone Thorn Novel by B. B. E. Gwyn.

Lovers of fantasy urban novels blended with adventure, a touch of action, suspense, plot twists, and mystery will find Loyalty to Alter an enthralling read. Through purposeful, character-driven conversations and vivid depictions, B. B. E. Gwyn introduced me to a diverse and dynamic cast, allowing me insight into their emotions and complex traits, which made it easy to connect with them. The author uses them to explore themes of betrayal, truth, loyalty, corporate greed, family, identity, deceit, and more. Vicky has lived a lie her whole life, believing her family roots are the essence of her special abilities. However, as the truth about her origin dawns on her, she must choose between loyalty to her creator and her cause. Vicky demonstrates that, even when nurtured by evil, good cannot be corrupted. Good will always prevail, whether in the dark or in the light.