E. K. Johnston

Olsa the thief and Kalanthe the apprentice knight were part of a seven-woman team who went on a quest to save the realm. All of them grew as close as sisters, but Olsa and Kalanthe share even more. However, life after the quest hasn't been easy for either of them. Olsa used her prize money to buy her way out of the Thieves' Guild, but she still doesn't know any other way of earning a living, and now she's easily recognizable. Kalanthe's prize was not enough to completely pay off the debt incurred in her knight's training, and now she must marry a rich lord, no matter where her heart pulls her. Can the two find a way to the life they want, despite their circumstances?

The narrative jumps back and forth from the characters' present-day, to the events of the quest, so in the end the reader gets the full story. Readers who seek out stories of lady knights will want to take a look at this one.… (meer)

E.K. Johnson bravely confronts a lot of taboo topics in the Winter’s Tale inspired YA novel Exit, Pursued By a Bear. Cheerleader captain Hermione has been looking forward to her senior as co-captain of the team with her best friend, Polly, since they were in elementary school. When she is roofied and raped at the pre-season summer camp the team attends, she refuses to become the victim everyone expects. This is a very YA book with uneven writing, but Johnson’s unapologetic approach to some touchy subjects will speak to a lot of readers and stands as an important book to be out there.… (meer)