Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite

In The Freedom You Seek by Emily Villin, Nayana is from a small town called Credenta. Growing up, she consults with an oracle who warns her of the heavy price paid by heroes. Other things that set Nayana apart are her views on issues like marriage, which she doesn't care for, like the people of her town. One time, her parents organize her marriage to a merchant’s son, but things do not go as planned, as Nayana ends up killing the merchant’s son. Meanwhile, a group of soldiers who have been on the road for more than four months arrive in Credenta and take interest in Nayana’s case, as she is set to be executed for murder. They help her to escape, and soon they realize Nayana is part of what they were trying to uncover. How will things turn out?

The Freedom You Seek by Emily Villin is wonderfully written, and once you start reading, there is no putting it down. I loved the strong female characters and the diverse themes such as magic and equality. This thought-provoking work also got me thinking about the various things that women go through and the need to strive for a more just society. Emily utilized suspense to great effect, and the vivid descriptions of events and emotions left me yearning for more and looking forward to the events of subsequent chapters. The seamless flow of events also ensured no room for confusion, and the reader will also appreciate the excellent narration, which added to the overall beauty of the work. This was a good read, and I look forward to reading something else by this author.