Robbie Finch and her found family of fellow lady criminals are weathering tyranny from a theocratic patriarchal rule. Their resistance movement is interrupted when they get word that her niece is in trouble. Disguising themselves as penitents on a religious pilgrimage to a powerful enemy city, the ladies set out on a rescue mission. Along the way, lifelong enemies persecute them, an old flame reignites and danger threatens. And a strange man will not stop dogging Robbie’s steps. As she and her mysterious new suitor dance around each other’s desires and intentions, Robbie is forced to reckon with her past. She can only defeat the evil that looms if she remembers who she is, what gift she possesses, and opens her heart to new kinds of magic.
My Review
Let me tell you about Kara Reynolds, because if you’re not reading her yet, we need to fix that immediately. Her prose is unlike anything I’ve ever read — the way she turns a phrase is so specific and so her, and I am obsessed with it. The first book in this series, Priestess, is a book I read in 2025 and still think about basically every single week. So needless to say, I came into Pilgrimess with very high expectations. And honestly? A million stars. We’re doing it.
Pilgrimess follows Robbie Finch — village midwife, herb woman, and provider of women’s healthcare (including birth control and abortions) in a theocratic patriarchal society that tolerates her while also kind of hating her for it. She and her found family of fellow lady criminals are out here resisting tyranny, and then they get word that Robbie’s niece is in trouble. So naturally, they disguise themselves as pilgrims and set off on a rescue mission. As one does.
The girl gang dynamic is absolutely one of the highlights of this book. Robbie takes all these women under her wing — each of them an outcast in her own way — and the found family energy is so warm and so real. I loved every single one of them.
And then there’s the mysterious suitor who will not stop following Robbie around, and the slow dance of figuring out each other’s intentions, and the old flame that reignites along the way — yes, there is a LOT going on, and it is all delicious.
One small personal note: the book uses dual timelines, and I’ll be honest, I got so invested in one timeline that switching to the other made me want to scream (affectionately). But that is entirely a me problem — if you love dual timelines, you are going to be absolutely living for this.
Oh, and the villain? Fueled by patriarchy and religion and pure concentrated evil? You will not find a more hateable antagonist anywhere. I was personally offended by this character and I loved every second of it.
THE GOOD:
- Kara Reynolds’ prose is genuinely unlike anything else out there — stunning and so distinctive
- Robbie and her girl gang found family dynamic is a total highlight
- The villain is supremely, satisfyingly hateable
- The slow-burn romance with the mysterious suitor is so good
- Robbie’s role as a provider of women’s healthcare adds such rich thematic depth
THE NOT-AS-GOOD:
- The dual timelines may frustrate readers who get deeply invested in one over the other (hi, it me, but that’s just personal preference!!)
THE NEUTRAL:
- If you haven’t read Priestess yet, I’d strongly recommend starting there first
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (I’d give this all the stars in the galaxy if I could!)
Pilgrimess is a fiercely feminist, beautifully written adventure with a found family to root for, a villain to despise, and prose that will stop you in your tracks — Kara Reynolds is in a league of her own.
PERFECT FOR:
- Fans of feminist fantasy and found family stories
- Readers who love morally rich, atmospheric worldbuilding
- Anyone who appreciates truly distinctive, literary prose
- People who enjoy a slow-burn romance woven into a bigger adventure
- Readers who love when female friendships are the main focus of the story
