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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If there's ever a book where I need the sequel to be released yesterday, it's this one. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this as it's a debut work, but it honestly reads like the work of someone who has been publishing books for years. It's powerful, emotive, has amazingly strong characters, solid world building and a strongly woven narrative that stays tightly plotted despite the significant page length. There is very little here not to love.
We start the tale with our two leads Gaeren and Aeliana. Gaeren is a reluctant prince, forced into royal duties when his real focus is finding 'Daisy', a girl he knew as a child who was taken from her home whilst he was on placement. Unsurprisingly, Aeliana is 'Daisy' and has been on her own journey in the intervening years, blooded and used by her captors as they try to find a particular magical artifact. It could have been a very standard trope YA fantasy from there, but Karyne Norton bucks the trend and puts together one of the most well thought out epics I've read in a while, full to the brim with magical and political world building along with astounding character development throughout.
This is frankly, one of the best fantasy books I've read in a hot minute. And that's saying something, as I read a lot of fantasy books and a lot of them are awesome. What I really liked was how the characters grew and developed as they went, they change and grow with circumstance, learning from mistakes and starting to overcome their fears and traumas. They are absolutely human and you can see that in every page; from Gaeren's internal conflict between his family loyalty and his morals to Aeliana's hesitation over her magic and learning to use it rather than be used by it.
I also loved the world building; it's rich, detailed and comes alive around you - both in terms of the place and time to the political machinations going on that Gaeren is caught in the middle of. There's a wealth of magic here. Some of it is overt; healing, destruction, mind reading. But magic is etched into the very bones of this world and goes to the deepest levels, with entire relationships being based on the bonds that were drawn before the individuals were old enough to understand the implications. It's written in such a way that it's as natural as breathing in some cases. And talking about world building, I need to talk about the Winex. Rarely has an author made me feel so much for a completely new race they have created, particularly one that is initially described as animalistic and vicious. Anyone who doesn't fall in love with Felk has no damn soul.
All in all, this is a frankly astounding debut novel. In fact, we can scratch the debut. This is just an astounding novel.
We start the tale with our two leads Gaeren and Aeliana. Gaeren is a reluctant prince, forced into royal duties when his real focus is finding 'Daisy', a girl he knew as a child who was taken from her home whilst he was on placement. Unsurprisingly, Aeliana is 'Daisy' and has been on her own journey in the intervening years, blooded and used by her captors as they try to find a particular magical artifact. It could have been a very standard trope YA fantasy from there, but Karyne Norton bucks the trend and puts together one of the most well thought out epics I've read in a while, full to the brim with magical and political world building along with astounding character development throughout.
This is frankly, one of the best fantasy books I've read in a hot minute. And that's saying something, as I read a lot of fantasy books and a lot of them are awesome. What I really liked was how the characters grew and developed as they went, they change and grow with circumstance, learning from mistakes and starting to overcome their fears and traumas. They are absolutely human and you can see that in every page; from Gaeren's internal conflict between his family loyalty and his morals to Aeliana's hesitation over her magic and learning to use it rather than be used by it.
I also loved the world building; it's rich, detailed and comes alive around you - both in terms of the place and time to the political machinations going on that Gaeren is caught in the middle of. There's a wealth of magic here. Some of it is overt; healing, destruction, mind reading. But magic is etched into the very bones of this world and goes to the deepest levels, with entire relationships being based on the bonds that were drawn before the individuals were old enough to understand the implications. It's written in such a way that it's as natural as breathing in some cases. And talking about world building, I need to talk about the Winex. Rarely has an author made me feel so much for a completely new race they have created, particularly one that is initially described as animalistic and vicious. Anyone who doesn't fall in love with Felk has no damn soul.
All in all, this is a frankly astounding debut novel. In fact, we can scratch the debut. This is just an astounding novel.
A fantastic epic fantasy story starts here with a complex magic system (I loved the spokes), found family (always a favorite trope of mine), a dragon, healing from trauma and abuse, and a slow-burn romance that is not the focus of the story at all. The ragtag team of characters stole my heart as they grew together and headed toward their goal of stopping essentially an evil sorceress who has gained the confidence of the royal family and influence over a large swath of the nation.
I love how much character growth there is and how Aeliana and Gaeren are able to grow close again after so long apart from each other. The world-building is fantastic, the characters are memorable and I am already impatiently waiting for the sequel!
I love how much character growth there is and how Aeliana and Gaeren are able to grow close again after so long apart from each other. The world-building is fantastic, the characters are memorable and I am already impatiently waiting for the sequel!
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I was able to ARC this book & I was floored it was over 600 pages & NOT a standalone. I wanted to cry. But it was such a good book! It doesn't end on a total cliffhanger (so that's a plus) but, there's so many questions I have and I cannot wait for the next book.
It's an amazing fantasy story. There's not a ton of romance - and as a romance girlie that was rough for me - BUT, I think it sets up pretty nicely for the romance in the next installments & I'm excited to see that unfold. So many good characters, an amazing story & unique magic systems/world building. You don't want to miss out on this series!
What to Expect:
* Slow Burn
* Frenemies to Lovers
* Found Family
* Dragon
* Unique World-Building & Magic System
* Blood Magic
* Royals
* FMC Finding Herself & Power
It's an amazing fantasy story. There's not a ton of romance - and as a romance girlie that was rough for me - BUT, I think it sets up pretty nicely for the romance in the next installments & I'm excited to see that unfold. So many good characters, an amazing story & unique magic systems/world building. You don't want to miss out on this series!
What to Expect:
* Slow Burn
* Frenemies to Lovers
* Found Family
* Dragon
* Unique World-Building & Magic System
* Blood Magic
* Royals
* FMC Finding Herself & Power
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Wow, what a debut! This has powerful magic, political intrigue, and a story filled with great characters and unique world-building. It’s a dark, unpredictable world that has aspects that I really adore.
Aeliana, a determined but initially fearful protagonist, must learn to control her magic if she is to have any hope of saving herself and those she loves. Aeliana's character is complex and relatable. She was raised by two people who used her for her magic and allowed her to become addicted to dangerous blood magic. In the beginning, she is struggling and incredibly afraid of her own power. It's delightful to watch her grow, stumble, and get back up again. The magic system is super interesting in this one. Her willingness to see the good in monstrous creatures is a beautiful aspect of her character, one that I share with her. Her acceptance of the winex is a MAJOR highlight for me. I hope that is something that continues. I love how tied these creatures are to the lore.
Gaeren is haunted by the guilt of his past and driven by his sense of duty, as he embarks on his desperate mission to find Aeliana. Their relationship is complex and fascinating. The morally grey aspects of this novel are another highlight. The characters aren’t black-and-white heroes or villains; instead, they exist in that fascinating in-between space where their decisions are driven by survival, love, and sometimes unknown motives. This ambiguity, paired with the intricate bonds between characters, adds such emotional weight to the story. The connections between characters feel authentic and earned, which is not always easy to achieve in a fantasy setting with so many moving parts and so many characters!
This is the perfect read for anyone who loves epic fantasy with a touch of darkness, a lot of wonderful characters, and plenty of action. This story is full of unique bonds (LOVE those), hidden truths, and a thrilling quest for redemption. I am eagerly anticipating what comes next in this series! Highly recommend for your TBR if you’re a fan of high-stakes fantasy and beautifully crafted worlds.
Aeliana, a determined but initially fearful protagonist, must learn to control her magic if she is to have any hope of saving herself and those she loves. Aeliana's character is complex and relatable. She was raised by two people who used her for her magic and allowed her to become addicted to dangerous blood magic. In the beginning, she is struggling and incredibly afraid of her own power. It's delightful to watch her grow, stumble, and get back up again. The magic system is super interesting in this one. Her willingness to see the good in monstrous creatures is a beautiful aspect of her character, one that I share with her. Her acceptance of the winex is a MAJOR highlight for me. I hope that is something that continues. I love how tied these creatures are to the lore.
Gaeren is haunted by the guilt of his past and driven by his sense of duty, as he embarks on his desperate mission to find Aeliana. Their relationship is complex and fascinating. The morally grey aspects of this novel are another highlight. The characters aren’t black-and-white heroes or villains; instead, they exist in that fascinating in-between space where their decisions are driven by survival, love, and sometimes unknown motives. This ambiguity, paired with the intricate bonds between characters, adds such emotional weight to the story. The connections between characters feel authentic and earned, which is not always easy to achieve in a fantasy setting with so many moving parts and so many characters!
This is the perfect read for anyone who loves epic fantasy with a touch of darkness, a lot of wonderful characters, and plenty of action. This story is full of unique bonds (LOVE those), hidden truths, and a thrilling quest for redemption. I am eagerly anticipating what comes next in this series! Highly recommend for your TBR if you’re a fan of high-stakes fantasy and beautifully crafted worlds.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a very interesting BIG story! The magic system is deep and intricate with the sun, stars and blood magic, starbridges and starlocks, it's a lot to take in and make sense of. There are bonds and brands which I hope we'll get more information about in the next book. because they are super interesting(and powerful!!) The first 25% of the book was world building and although it was really interesting, I did struggle to keep everything straight. Once I hit that sweet spot though, it was a great read to the end.
I love how the author wove the past and present together as the story goes on, you can see everything coming together as we get deeper into this epic adventure. There is found family, always my favourite, and I absolutely loved how Aeliana was so kind to creatures who were thought to be wild and evil. I was really invested in some of the side characters, maybe more so than Aeliana herself. Some of the characters I liked are Felk (of course!), Riveran and the story of our nameless friend without his memory. I hope we see more of Durriken too, always happy for more dragons!
Although the tale ended with certain story lines seemingly wrapped up, there are many secrets outstanding for the next book to resolve. I'm really looking forward to that!
I love how the author wove the past and present together as the story goes on, you can see everything coming together as we get deeper into this epic adventure. There is found family, always my favourite, and I absolutely loved how Aeliana was so kind to creatures who were thought to be wild and evil. I was really invested in some of the side characters, maybe more so than Aeliana herself. Some of the characters I liked are Felk (of course!), Riveran and the story of our nameless friend without his memory. I hope we see more of Durriken too, always happy for more dragons!
Although the tale ended with certain story lines seemingly wrapped up, there are many secrets outstanding for the next book to resolve. I'm really looking forward to that!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall, as my first fantasy in a while, it was an ok read. There were many times were I thought this didnt need to be so long and it was telling us a rush of details in the space of one or two chapters, and I do think the book could have been even better without that rush of detail, it seemed like several details had been 'forgotten' and then rushed to be told later in the story. I did love the suspense and the characters and discussions of different types of magic in this story and how it was used. It also shows how friends will go above and beyond in extreme ways possible. An ok read and when next books of the series come out I will still read them.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an amazing read honestly. The world building, the magic system, it was all so unique. But what really got me was the characters. I just absolutely loved the characters. I loved some of the mystery that surrounded characters like Marnok, Orra, and Riveran. I see so many potentials for short stories or at least details about their lives and answers to questions in later books. And then there were your classic characters like Aeliana, Gaeren and Cyrus and I loved how they all interacted. I was very invested in their developments. What gives this book four stars instead of five is the consistency. There were some parts, especially in the beginning and middle that just seemed to drag, and then there were big tome gaps between certain chapters, and it was just a bit annoying. And then other parts went by so fast that it was hard to understand what was happening. Overall though, a very good story and would highly recommend.