4 ⭐ CW: violence, blood, gore, sexual content 

Vassal by Liv Savell and Sterling D'Este is book one in the Call of Calamity duology. This is the second book by these authors I've read, and neither one has let me down! A sweeping fantasy with strong female leads, a sapphic love story, and some great relationship dynamics abound. 

We follow Alphonse, a healer student at Moxous Magic Academy, and Etienne, her best friend a mage student. Alphonse is meek, kind, and shy while Etienne is passionately studious and driven to be the best. On his quest to prove his mage superiority, he summons an ancient goddess, Enyo, who possesses Alphonse. 

Once Etienne has realized what he has done, he and Alphonse go on a quest to find Enyo's temple to banish her, and along the way find Delyth, a warrior priestess of Enyo with wings, and a gambler and cocksure thief named Tristan. At first uneasy with each other, Alphonse and Delyth become close even as Alphonse battles the goddess fighting for control inside her. 

We had some great female characters! Alphonse is all softness in contrast to Delyth's warrior strength and stoicism, but their relationship is so pure. We get some really great conversations on consent and relationship expectations. Some of the healthiest stuff I've read in a long time. We also get some really great spicy scenes that I very much enjoyed. I love Delyth so much. 

Enyo, our villain, is a goddess of the wilds, mercurial, vicious, and bloodthirsty. Everything opposite of Alphonse. The men on the other hand, weren't my favorite. Etienne is kind of weak and a coward. He becomes selfish and annoying quickly, while Tristan was never likable. This was definitely a character centered story, and I look forward to book two!