Review: Dagger Eyes by Tarin Santos

Review by Amy Stoothoff

Tarin Santos started writing her young adult novel at age eleven. She dedicated seven years to
getting Dagger Eyes just right. It’s a great beginning to her writing career. She’s from Seattle.
It’s good to see new writers emerging in the Pacific Northwest. I like rooting for a homegrown
writer like Santos.

The intriguing main character young Princess Alanitora, embodies the strong female character.
Her skill with weapons is legendary in Trenvern, her kingdom. She’s spent all her life devoted to
learning the art of hand to hand combat. Her piercing eyes give her the ability to see into
people’s hearts and intentions. She guards her heart, keeping everyone out including her ladies
in waiting Gwendolyn and Korena. She earns a reputation for being cold and aloof. Despite that
her ladies and friends are loyal and she makes new allies throughout the book.
It’s a fast paced adventure containing a compelling mystery and a good dash of romance. She’s
forced to flee her home when a catastrophe strikes. Her destination is a nearby kingdom
Donasela where her betrothed lives. Along the way, she meets all sorts of characters, some
with less than honorable intentions. Her friends and allies surround her as she fights to reach
safety. Her combat skills come into play on the road which resembles a battlefield at times.
On the way out of Trenvern, after she reunites with a long lost friend. He does his best to get
close to her in spite of her prickly nature. Their friendship evolves as they work together to elude
various threats. She slowly warms to him but will her devotion to duty win out.
Tarin Santos will be at the Inklings Author Spring Fair on June 3rd, 2023 from 1-3 PM. There will
be over 20 PNW authors across genres attending. They’ll be set up just outside the doors of
Inklings.