A review by askoda
MAELSTROM: Southwest Faerie Chronicles by MAGGIE CRITCHLEY

5.0

Maelstrom was a fantastic debut novel! Don’t be fooled by the quick read, Critchley fuses her novel with a deep understanding of family, love, and most importantly… magic (insert swoon here). Plus, who doesn’t love a badass woman protagonist?

As someone who doesn’t read fantasy often, I found Critchley’s storytelling not only believable but intrinsic and alluring. There was something so natural about the different realities of each character and their magical gifts. It made me wonder if faeries truly do walk among us!

Pushing the magical realm aside, Maelstrom takes place in my home state and it was so fun to see the desert painted in such an ethereal light. The brutality and beauty of the desert highlighted the elegance and strength of each character in the novel.