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Beyond the Horizon #1
Beyond the Horizon
Leaving is a death sentence. Staying might be worse.
For centuries, humans have hunted and killed elemists, like seventeen-year-old Emery, forcing them to hide away on an island they raised from the ocean. But now, a devastating illness is ravaging the community, including Emery’s beloved sister, stripping elemists of their powers to control the elements, or simply killing them. Unless the illness can be halted, the island will fall.
Then an outsider, Tavor, lands on their shores. Though an Ungifted human, Tavor seeks to bring an end to the conflict that has been raging between elemists and his kind. He makes Emery’s people an offer: send an ambassador back with him to introduce to the human world and help facilitate the beginnings of reconciliation.
When Emery has the choice to be that ambassador, she must decide: refuse Tavor’s aid, remain in the safety of the island, and hope they can fight the illness before it slowly destroys her home and kills her sister, or risk exposing her people to the countless dangers of the outside world and gain not only a cure but the freedom they’ve been denied for so long.
The decisions made will launch Emery across oceans wrought with peril, including storms, sea monsters, and a crew of rebel elemists who wreak havoc across the seas, ensuring peace between humans and elemists remain far out of reach.
Soon, Emery must accept that truth and justice are not as clear-cut as they appear, and people are not always what they seem. Who should she trust when everyone has secrets, and the wrong choice could destroy everything she holds dear?
Moana meets Pirates of the Caribbean and Avatar: The Last Airbender in BEYOND THE HORIZON, a swashbuckling YA Fantasy featuring pirates, elemental magic, secret societies, and an enemies to lovers slow burn romance.
For centuries, humans have hunted and killed elemists, like seventeen-year-old Emery, forcing them to hide away on an island they raised from the ocean. But now, a devastating illness is ravaging the community, including Emery’s beloved sister, stripping elemists of their powers to control the elements, or simply killing them. Unless the illness can be halted, the island will fall.
Then an outsider, Tavor, lands on their shores. Though an Ungifted human, Tavor seeks to bring an end to the conflict that has been raging between elemists and his kind. He makes Emery’s people an offer: send an ambassador back with him to introduce to the human world and help facilitate the beginnings of reconciliation.
When Emery has the choice to be that ambassador, she must decide: refuse Tavor’s aid, remain in the safety of the island, and hope they can fight the illness before it slowly destroys her home and kills her sister, or risk exposing her people to the countless dangers of the outside world and gain not only a cure but the freedom they’ve been denied for so long.
The decisions made will launch Emery across oceans wrought with peril, including storms, sea monsters, and a crew of rebel elemists who wreak havoc across the seas, ensuring peace between humans and elemists remain far out of reach.
Soon, Emery must accept that truth and justice are not as clear-cut as they appear, and people are not always what they seem. Who should she trust when everyone has secrets, and the wrong choice could destroy everything she holds dear?
Moana meets Pirates of the Caribbean and Avatar: The Last Airbender in BEYOND THE HORIZON, a swashbuckling YA Fantasy featuring pirates, elemental magic, secret societies, and an enemies to lovers slow burn romance.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2023
22 people are currently reading
482 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 25, 2023
Set on the high seas, Beyond The Horizon is a captivating YA fantasy. This book has it all, elemental magic, pirates, adventure, and slow burn romance. The author did a really good job at creating a captivating story and I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the magic system.
It took me a few chapters to really get into the story as it started off a bit slow. However, once the world was established I was completely immersed and had a hard time putting it down.
I would recommend this one for those who loves action packed adventure fantasy novels.
It took me a few chapters to really get into the story as it started off a bit slow. However, once the world was established I was completely immersed and had a hard time putting it down.
I would recommend this one for those who loves action packed adventure fantasy novels.
January 11, 2025
This book left a bittersweet aftertaste within me. Despite every element I hold dear being woven into its pages, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
The author, without a doubt, possesses a magical gift for bringing the sea, the ships, and even the characters to life. Though many unexpected twists took me by surprise, there was an undeniable sense of familiarity—like I knew them, could feel their choices and discomforts deep within.
I found myself deeply connected to Emery and her fears. There’s a certain kind of terror that comes with daring to risk, to act for ourselves, only to end up hurting those we hold dear. The romance enchanted me, and I yearned to turn more pages. It seems that we must journey into the second book to uncover more about the Elemists, the secrets of this mysterious new race, and the story that lies hidden beneath the surface.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author, without a doubt, possesses a magical gift for bringing the sea, the ships, and even the characters to life. Though many unexpected twists took me by surprise, there was an undeniable sense of familiarity—like I knew them, could feel their choices and discomforts deep within.
I found myself deeply connected to Emery and her fears. There’s a certain kind of terror that comes with daring to risk, to act for ourselves, only to end up hurting those we hold dear. The romance enchanted me, and I yearned to turn more pages. It seems that we must journey into the second book to uncover more about the Elemists, the secrets of this mysterious new race, and the story that lies hidden beneath the surface.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 24, 2023
For over 100 years, elemists have lived on an island called Orabel after the Elemental War caused them to leave and have lived peacefully there since. Emery and her family live there, and has always wondered whether their parents would return after leaving about seventeen years ago. One day, a man called Tavor Thantos comes to tell them he wants elemists and humans to live in peace together again and to do this, he wants to get to know the elemists and understand which he thinks will help him to reintroduce them to the world and humans again.
This was an interesting and unique world. Quite the mix of genres with the elemental magic, the setting being at sea with pirates and a morally grey world and an island filled with rather primitive people called the elemists who live in isolation away from humans ever since the Elemantal War. So, they don’t really know what the world is like at all. They are rather naive when it comes to the world. I love the elemental magic!
I love books set at sea, so I was all for the adventure and pirates in this book! I love a good swashbuckling story! And this one definitely delivered!
I also really liked the connection the twins Liam and Emery have. Siblings who always look out for each other and are so in tune with the other and just know what the other wants or is thinking. I really liked Sean! He’s the broody, misunderstood male character I always love 🥰 He was also very patient and very mature for his age compared to everyone else!
Which brings me to why this book is more like 3.5-4 ⭐️ for me. It’s mainly because of Emery. I did not like her, at all, ever. I know she’s supposed to be obviously naive when it comes to the real world and the people in it, but why, WHY is it she trusts one person so implicitly, but not the other? And after the one willingly answers all her questions, she refuses to return the favor. To me she was very immature and way too naive for the entire book. By the end, she learned a lot, the hard way might I add, that she does not know anything about this world and should not be making assumptions or trusting as easily as she was. She just frustrated me and I find it hard to enjoy a book when I don’t like the main character. And I know she’s seventeen, but everyone else seemed so much more mature than her, it was odd to me. There were also some details that were odd to me, such as the gods the elemists worshipped. They made it seem like these gods have been around forever, but they’ve only been on this island for a bit over 150 years, and I don’t get the impression anyone else worships them. I’m also confused by the fact that apparently there are still elemists in the real world, so why are there some who live in isolation? What about the rest? Are they not allowed there? Why don’t they know about this island? I’m hoping we get more answers in the next book as well as see Emery grow up a bit. Oh and to see more elemental magic!
Overall, I enjoyed the story, the family aspect, the swashbuckling pirate adventure and being at sea! I do recommend this book if you love books set at sea! I received a gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was an interesting and unique world. Quite the mix of genres with the elemental magic, the setting being at sea with pirates and a morally grey world and an island filled with rather primitive people called the elemists who live in isolation away from humans ever since the Elemantal War. So, they don’t really know what the world is like at all. They are rather naive when it comes to the world. I love the elemental magic!
I love books set at sea, so I was all for the adventure and pirates in this book! I love a good swashbuckling story! And this one definitely delivered!
I also really liked the connection the twins Liam and Emery have. Siblings who always look out for each other and are so in tune with the other and just know what the other wants or is thinking. I really liked Sean! He’s the broody, misunderstood male character I always love 🥰 He was also very patient and very mature for his age compared to everyone else!
Which brings me to why this book is more like 3.5-4 ⭐️ for me. It’s mainly because of Emery. I did not like her, at all, ever. I know she’s supposed to be obviously naive when it comes to the real world and the people in it, but why, WHY is it she trusts one person so implicitly, but not the other? And after the one willingly answers all her questions, she refuses to return the favor. To me she was very immature and way too naive for the entire book. By the end, she learned a lot, the hard way might I add, that she does not know anything about this world and should not be making assumptions or trusting as easily as she was. She just frustrated me and I find it hard to enjoy a book when I don’t like the main character. And I know she’s seventeen, but everyone else seemed so much more mature than her, it was odd to me. There were also some details that were odd to me, such as the gods the elemists worshipped. They made it seem like these gods have been around forever, but they’ve only been on this island for a bit over 150 years, and I don’t get the impression anyone else worships them. I’m also confused by the fact that apparently there are still elemists in the real world, so why are there some who live in isolation? What about the rest? Are they not allowed there? Why don’t they know about this island? I’m hoping we get more answers in the next book as well as see Emery grow up a bit. Oh and to see more elemental magic!
Overall, I enjoyed the story, the family aspect, the swashbuckling pirate adventure and being at sea! I do recommend this book if you love books set at sea! I received a gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 19, 2023
I'm going to start this review by saying: Do not sleep on this book! I must be in my pirate era, because I am loving most any book with pirates in it that I've come across or been recommended. Beyond The Horizon was no exception. A YA book that is written for upper YA without being smutty, having complexities that fit that demographic, but without the teenage characters being annoyingly "teenagers".
I really loved Emery and how she came across on page. The author wrote her so well, taking into consideration how incredibly sheltered she was on Orabel in so many ways. But also having her kindness and naivety be something that can be a strength instead of just a weakness. Despite Em’s ignorance about the world outside her island, she learns to embrace it and the people she encounters.
Yall, I don’t know if I can write about Tavor and Sean “The Scourge of the Sea” without giving anything away. Let’s just say I both did and did not expect all of that to go down the way it did. I need more of a certain someone in book 2, and I’ll let you figure out who that is when you read the book.
If you’re a fan of Fable by Adrienne Young, On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen or All The Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace, Beyond The Horizon is right up your alley!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I really loved Emery and how she came across on page. The author wrote her so well, taking into consideration how incredibly sheltered she was on Orabel in so many ways. But also having her kindness and naivety be something that can be a strength instead of just a weakness. Despite Em’s ignorance about the world outside her island, she learns to embrace it and the people she encounters.
Yall, I don’t know if I can write about Tavor and Sean “The Scourge of the Sea” without giving anything away. Let’s just say I both did and did not expect all of that to go down the way it did. I need more of a certain someone in book 2, and I’ll let you figure out who that is when you read the book.
If you’re a fan of Fable by Adrienne Young, On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen or All The Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace, Beyond The Horizon is right up your alley!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
February 5, 2023
Thank you to the author and BOMM for sending me the ARC to swashbuckling YA Fantasy featuring pirates, elemental magic, secret societies, and enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance.
It did start out slow as the story took the time to establish the world. We learn about the elemists, the disease that’s killing them and a solution sent to them through an outsider. Emery leaves the island with Tavor on a quest to harbor peace for her people among people who ostracized her kind and find a cure to the disease.
This begins an exciting journey across oceans filled with obstacles and challenges like storms, sea monsters and a crew of rebel elemists set to destroy them. Emery learns about the world slowly and the truth about the people around her which makes her question who to trust.
The setting was vibrant with intriguing characters I couldn’t stop loving. The author has done a fantastic job giving us an exciting story with sword fights, forced proximity and battles. I enjoyed the action packed adventure Emery was thrust into with all the unexpected twists and turns.
I loved all the characters and the camaraderie between them. I enjoyed the way the characters took their time to learn about each other and grow closer. I enjoyed the complexity of every character and the development they went through during the journey.
I’m excited for the sequel! I need more with these characters!
It did start out slow as the story took the time to establish the world. We learn about the elemists, the disease that’s killing them and a solution sent to them through an outsider. Emery leaves the island with Tavor on a quest to harbor peace for her people among people who ostracized her kind and find a cure to the disease.
This begins an exciting journey across oceans filled with obstacles and challenges like storms, sea monsters and a crew of rebel elemists set to destroy them. Emery learns about the world slowly and the truth about the people around her which makes her question who to trust.
The setting was vibrant with intriguing characters I couldn’t stop loving. The author has done a fantastic job giving us an exciting story with sword fights, forced proximity and battles. I enjoyed the action packed adventure Emery was thrust into with all the unexpected twists and turns.
I loved all the characters and the camaraderie between them. I enjoyed the way the characters took their time to learn about each other and grow closer. I enjoyed the complexity of every character and the development they went through during the journey.
I’m excited for the sequel! I need more with these characters!
Read
March 8, 2025K.J. Cloutier captured the magic of travelling by boat in a way that most people do not know about today. There is something about ships/sailing/pirates that I really love, and the author did a great job of writing it. It's so different from our typical, modern way of travel today.
Although it becomes rarer that I read Young Adult novels these days, this did not read at all like a YA book. It wasn't until Sean said his age near the end of the book that I realized how young these folks were. I honestly would have pinned them for mid-twenties, late-twenties at least.
I had zero issue with any of the characters. Although I had a feeling that Tavor was a sleezeball from the beginning. Glad I guessed correctly.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Although it becomes rarer that I read Young Adult novels these days, this did not read at all like a YA book. It wasn't until Sean said his age near the end of the book that I realized how young these folks were. I honestly would have pinned them for mid-twenties, late-twenties at least.
I had zero issue with any of the characters. Although I had a feeling that Tavor was a sleezeball from the beginning. Glad I guessed correctly.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 21, 2023
Beyond the Horizon was such a neat book! I don’t read much YA anymore but I really enjoyed this.
The elemists were so cool. And the magic was truly fascinating!
These people have been living in hiding for many years and are out of touch with the modern world.
They were given an opportunity to go with outsiders to hopefully find a cure for the disease ailing many of the elemists.
The beginning was a bit slow for me but once I got into it I was into it!
Emery did a lot of growing and learning and I think that’s important for a main character.
Great read if you love pirates, slow burn, and cool magic!
The elemists were so cool. And the magic was truly fascinating!
These people have been living in hiding for many years and are out of touch with the modern world.
They were given an opportunity to go with outsiders to hopefully find a cure for the disease ailing many of the elemists.
The beginning was a bit slow for me but once I got into it I was into it!
Emery did a lot of growing and learning and I think that’s important for a main character.
Great read if you love pirates, slow burn, and cool magic!
July 17, 2023
This had everything I wanted in a story.
I loved the fast paced action that constantly kept me on my toes!
I also really enjoyed all of the settings! Especially Orabel & the ships!
The characters were definitely some of my ultimate favorites. I don’t want to give too much away but the main male love interest was exactly the type of character I wanted to read about. I also loved the main female character’s bravery & curiosity!
Overall this was a fantastic & fun high seas adventure! I cannot wait for the next book!
I loved the fast paced action that constantly kept me on my toes!
I also really enjoyed all of the settings! Especially Orabel & the ships!
The characters were definitely some of my ultimate favorites. I don’t want to give too much away but the main male love interest was exactly the type of character I wanted to read about. I also loved the main female character’s bravery & curiosity!
Overall this was a fantastic & fun high seas adventure! I cannot wait for the next book!
March 24, 2025
This book had very well thought out world building for the elemists and the ungifted persons. The story revolves around Emery and her twin Liam, as they travel with Tavor off of their safe island and to the open world beyond the horizon. They are tricked by Tavor who only wants to rid the world of the "bad" elemists. Thankfully, Emery is saved by pirate Sean and his found family crew, who like her have special abilities. Throughout the journey Emery comes to realize Sean is not the enemy, but instead someone like her, in whom she could learn to trust and love.
May 23, 2023
This debut novel from K.J Cloutier was adventurous, magical, and quite intriguing. I love pirates and have always thought they were fascinating, so this book just spoke to me. I loved how the loyalties were played in this book, because you never really knew which way it would go. With all the twists and turns this book had to offer, it definitely kept you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what would happen next.
July 21, 2023
What a wild ride. This was such a unique and interesting world and I loved the sea voyage setting. I loved all of the characters and how they changed and developed. This was very much a YA and I wasn’t in my YA era so some parts felt a little juvenile for me, but overall I loved it.
June 10, 2024
Admittedly, I don’t normally read fantasy books but the concept sounded so intriguing that I thought I’d give it a try.
I devoured this book, and so help me gods, if there’s not a sequel, I’m going to riot.
I devoured this book, and so help me gods, if there’s not a sequel, I’m going to riot.
September 23, 2024
Wow! This was amazing! I really found the book to be a mix of Moana, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. I can’t say much about the story without giving away spoilers, but I loved every aspect of it. I couldn’t stop myself from turning the pages.
The characters are all compelling and well-developed. I don’t often like the main character, but I loved Emery. The author portrayed her so well, showing us her naivety but also her strength, and I really enjoyed her growth throughout the novel. And the villain! Finally, I found one truly worthy of the title.
The novel is written in the third person, following Emery’s POV. The world-building isn’t heavy since much of the plot takes place on ships in the middle of the ocean, but despite this, the pace is fast, and the plot is thrilling with some intriguing plot twists.
I can’t wait to start reading the next book! A new favorite series and author!
The characters are all compelling and well-developed. I don’t often like the main character, but I loved Emery. The author portrayed her so well, showing us her naivety but also her strength, and I really enjoyed her growth throughout the novel. And the villain! Finally, I found one truly worthy of the title.
The novel is written in the third person, following Emery’s POV. The world-building isn’t heavy since much of the plot takes place on ships in the middle of the ocean, but despite this, the pace is fast, and the plot is thrilling with some intriguing plot twists.
I can’t wait to start reading the next book! A new favorite series and author!
June 22, 2023
Emery, a resident of the island of Orabel is given the opportunity of a lifetime. Her and brother are chosen as peace ambassadors, representatives of magic wielders in the hope of bringing medicine back for their ailing younger sister, Ayana. They board a ship with the mysterious captain, Tavor, who claims that his mission is to recreate a world where magic and non magic users can live peacefully.
When attacked at sea, and Emery finds herself prisoner to a pirate, Sean, who has a vendetta against Tavor. As she searches for purpose, she learns more about the world around her through the eyes of the captain. She learns that the world is not as black and white as she’d believed, and that people are not always what they seem to be.
Beyond the Horizon kept me up, long into the night. I was dying to know if Emery would be reunited with her brother, if the slow burn with Sean would finally ignite, and what Travor’s role really was. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the way Clouter used the different elements. The pacing of the book was good, and I didn’t feel bored while reading.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoyed Defend the Dawn and Daughter of the Pirate Queen.
When attacked at sea, and Emery finds herself prisoner to a pirate, Sean, who has a vendetta against Tavor. As she searches for purpose, she learns more about the world around her through the eyes of the captain. She learns that the world is not as black and white as she’d believed, and that people are not always what they seem to be.
Beyond the Horizon kept me up, long into the night. I was dying to know if Emery would be reunited with her brother, if the slow burn with Sean would finally ignite, and what Travor’s role really was. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the way Clouter used the different elements. The pacing of the book was good, and I didn’t feel bored while reading.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoyed Defend the Dawn and Daughter of the Pirate Queen.
March 30, 2023
So grateful to have received an ARC of this wonderful book! As someone who loves all things pirates, Beyond the Horizon was the perfect mix of seafaring, adventure, magic, and loyalty. Not only is this book beautiful to look at (I'm a sucker for pretty covers and chapter titles) the story itself brought a love for these characters and a longing for a world I've never been to.
July 22, 2023
Wooow just wooow the way this made me want to live in this book!! The elemental magic alone had me wanting to have a magic of my own, the story is so beautifully written. The way everything is explained is as if a friend was telling me the stories and customs of her homeland. I loved how strong willed and resilient Emery is, she’s definitely an incredible heroine!
The world building was incredible in a non overwhelming way, you guys the slow burn!!!! Ahhh 🥵 the FMC and the MMC are everything omg, swooon 🥰 I don’t know how to say much without saying too much but trust me, this is a must read if you like fantasy fiction.
Emery’s family and the found family is my favorite, watching them come together no help each other is amazing. I loved the twists and turn that kept me hooked throughout the whole story.
If you like YA books about fantasy, a strong female lead, elemental magic, set at sea, pirates, enemies to lovers and some slow burn romance. I highly recommend Beyond the Horizon!! Plus I can’t wait for what’s to come from book 2 😉
The world building was incredible in a non overwhelming way, you guys the slow burn!!!! Ahhh 🥵 the FMC and the MMC are everything omg, swooon 🥰 I don’t know how to say much without saying too much but trust me, this is a must read if you like fantasy fiction.
Emery’s family and the found family is my favorite, watching them come together no help each other is amazing. I loved the twists and turn that kept me hooked throughout the whole story.
If you like YA books about fantasy, a strong female lead, elemental magic, set at sea, pirates, enemies to lovers and some slow burn romance. I highly recommend Beyond the Horizon!! Plus I can’t wait for what’s to come from book 2 😉
May 3, 2023
This is a self-published, debut novel by a new author. It definitely shows. It's riddled with grammar errors, mistaken pronouns and prefixes. There's consistency issues that break immersion, and the narrative meanders. It really needs a professional editor.
Fans of the existing properties Avatar The Last Airbender and Moana will be able to pick out the bits & pieces that were lifted from their plots & worlds, and rebranded for this title. A consequence of using other people's ideas, is the author doesn't have original ideas of what to do with them. The setup for the plot ('Go find a cure for the mysterious disease') is fully abandoned for 200 pages, then nullified by a sudden plot twist. The use of Elemental magic is minimal. It comes off like an afterthought, and gets reserved for last-resort or failed application scenarios. More time & effort is spent on convincing the characters + readers of what can't be done with magic/who can't use it/how weak it is, than gets spent doing cool magic.
The Afterward section mentions this book was rejected from publishers numerous times. I can see why. The story is built on using:
-The ignorant noble savage trope for the BIPOC MC, painting her as a naive, infantalized, other-ed character.
-The colonial white savior trope, wherein the catalyst characters come to save MC from the oppression they themselves caused.
-The damsel in distress trope. MC is rescued from every situation, large or small, by a man. Every single time. She can't do anything for herself, and needs men to teach and show her everything about how the world works. She's weak, clueless and helpless. Yikes.
-Stockholm/Hostage syndrome romance setup trope. This is marketed as a slowburn enemies-to-lovers, but it's executed by physically removing MC from her homeland, friends+family, confining her as a captive on a hostile ship, and socially ostricizing her from all but 1 character (the love interest) until they kinda-like each other. It's the romance equivalent of adopting a dog, which grows to love its owner as its only source of physical caretaking + social contact, for lack of any other options.
-Deus ex machina convenient solutions tool gets used to force plot progression for the 'Find MC's Family' subplot by way of unbelievable coincidences.
-Betrayal trope x2. One comes totally out of left field with no foreshadowing, highlights several consistency issues and opens a gaping plothole. The 2nd betrayal is fixed in the scene immediately following it. Rushing the resolution with that much urgency strips it of any impact or interesting fallout.
-Fails the Bechdel test. Every conversation between female chars gets steered to talk about a man (Either Sean/Tavor or MC's brother or parents- dad included).
-The Chosen One trope would have been fine, except the Chosen One isn't the protagonist. He spends 80% of the book being gone from readers POV. MC is an accessory in his story, but doesn't contribute to or advance it. This little 'sike' twist of making the MC not the Chosen One backfires, because she's just baggage being toted around the entire time. MC spectating other men realizing their goals sure is a weird way to write a female protagonist.
The book pacing slows to a crawl after 25% in. The author splits the cast, but doesn't change reader POV between the groups to keep things fresh or advance any storylines. So for 14+ chapters, MC is stuck talking to an extremely limited revolving door of 2-3 characters. Some conversations happen on loop. Characters feel like NPCs in a video game, waiting in place for MC to come talk to them, exhaust their dialogue trees, then return to the previous area to check if anything changed.
The author tends to write herself into dead-ends in conversations, and uses unprovoked anger in MC to un-stick interactions. MC will 'suddenly snap' and become irrationally hostile very often, as a writer's crutch to create drama or force an outcome.
I think the story would've turned out better as an Avatar fanfiction posted free-to-read on AO3. I don't anticipate reading the next BTH installment.
Fans of the existing properties Avatar The Last Airbender and Moana will be able to pick out the bits & pieces that were lifted from their plots & worlds, and rebranded for this title. A consequence of using other people's ideas, is the author doesn't have original ideas of what to do with them. The setup for the plot ('Go find a cure for the mysterious disease') is fully abandoned for 200 pages, then nullified by a sudden plot twist. The use of Elemental magic is minimal. It comes off like an afterthought, and gets reserved for last-resort or failed application scenarios. More time & effort is spent on convincing the characters + readers of what can't be done with magic/who can't use it/how weak it is, than gets spent doing cool magic.
The Afterward section mentions this book was rejected from publishers numerous times. I can see why. The story is built on using:
-The ignorant noble savage trope for the BIPOC MC, painting her as a naive, infantalized, other-ed character.
-The colonial white savior trope, wherein the catalyst characters come to save MC from the oppression they themselves caused.
-The damsel in distress trope. MC is rescued from every situation, large or small, by a man. Every single time. She can't do anything for herself, and needs men to teach and show her everything about how the world works. She's weak, clueless and helpless. Yikes.
-Stockholm/Hostage syndrome romance setup trope. This is marketed as a slowburn enemies-to-lovers, but it's executed by physically removing MC from her homeland, friends+family, confining her as a captive on a hostile ship, and socially ostricizing her from all but 1 character (the love interest) until they kinda-like each other. It's the romance equivalent of adopting a dog, which grows to love its owner as its only source of physical caretaking + social contact, for lack of any other options.
-Deus ex machina convenient solutions tool gets used to force plot progression for the 'Find MC's Family' subplot by way of unbelievable coincidences.
-Betrayal trope x2. One comes totally out of left field with no foreshadowing, highlights several consistency issues and opens a gaping plothole. The 2nd betrayal is fixed in the scene immediately following it. Rushing the resolution with that much urgency strips it of any impact or interesting fallout.
-Fails the Bechdel test. Every conversation between female chars gets steered to talk about a man (Either Sean/Tavor or MC's brother or parents- dad included).
-The Chosen One trope would have been fine, except the Chosen One isn't the protagonist. He spends 80% of the book being gone from readers POV. MC is an accessory in his story, but doesn't contribute to or advance it. This little 'sike' twist of making the MC not the Chosen One backfires, because she's just baggage being toted around the entire time. MC spectating other men realizing their goals sure is a weird way to write a female protagonist.
The book pacing slows to a crawl after 25% in. The author splits the cast, but doesn't change reader POV between the groups to keep things fresh or advance any storylines. So for 14+ chapters, MC is stuck talking to an extremely limited revolving door of 2-3 characters. Some conversations happen on loop. Characters feel like NPCs in a video game, waiting in place for MC to come talk to them, exhaust their dialogue trees, then return to the previous area to check if anything changed.
The author tends to write herself into dead-ends in conversations, and uses unprovoked anger in MC to un-stick interactions. MC will 'suddenly snap' and become irrationally hostile very often, as a writer's crutch to create drama or force an outcome.
I think the story would've turned out better as an Avatar fanfiction posted free-to-read on AO3. I don't anticipate reading the next BTH installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2023
Beyond the Horizon is the debut novel for author KJ Cloutier and tells a swashbuckling tale of adventure, intrigue, and romance set on the high seas. When a group of strangers come to the hidden island of Orabel which is home to a group of elemists, or those who can wield magic, Emery and her twin brother find themselves agreeing to help the leader of the group, Tavor on his quest to have peace between magical and non-magical beings.
For a debut novel, Cloutier does a relatively good job weaving together a gripping and fascinating tale. It’s well paced and the story is easy to follow with enough action to keep you engaged from the very beginning until the final pages. I also really liked the originality of the magic system and the use of the elements to drive the magic in a more natural way. It made it part of the world around the characters instead of being a system of spells or potions.
There were several moments though where the characters' motivations or actions left me a bit perplexed. For example, the main character, Emery, is described as knowing how to fight and shows her skill on several occasions, often sat out the larger fight scenes. The villain’s true motivations are also a bit muddled, something I hope might be clarified further if there is a sequel to this novel.
I truly loved the characters in this book. Emery has so many interesting facets. At times she is a bit like a naive child as she experiences the outside world for the first time, and other times she is a fighter capable of handling any situation. She is the heart of the story, and her love for her family and friends shines through over and over as the plot progresses.
The supporting characters were also quite interesting. Liam, Emery’s twin brother, is a bit of a lovable troublemaker who, like his sister, also sets out to help his people. Tavor and his adversary, Sean, are not entirely what they seem from the first impression the reader is given of these two characters. Emery’s choice of who to trust drove much of the second half of the novel and truly kept me turning the pages till the very end.
I very much look forward to a possible sequel to this novel to see how these characters continue to grow and develop.
Overall I gave this book 4 stars out of 5. There is very little spice, although there is some romance with the potential for that to grow into more in book two. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an adventure fantasy novel, and look forward to the story continuing in the future.
For a debut novel, Cloutier does a relatively good job weaving together a gripping and fascinating tale. It’s well paced and the story is easy to follow with enough action to keep you engaged from the very beginning until the final pages. I also really liked the originality of the magic system and the use of the elements to drive the magic in a more natural way. It made it part of the world around the characters instead of being a system of spells or potions.
There were several moments though where the characters' motivations or actions left me a bit perplexed. For example, the main character, Emery, is described as knowing how to fight and shows her skill on several occasions, often sat out the larger fight scenes. The villain’s true motivations are also a bit muddled, something I hope might be clarified further if there is a sequel to this novel.
I truly loved the characters in this book. Emery has so many interesting facets. At times she is a bit like a naive child as she experiences the outside world for the first time, and other times she is a fighter capable of handling any situation. She is the heart of the story, and her love for her family and friends shines through over and over as the plot progresses.
The supporting characters were also quite interesting. Liam, Emery’s twin brother, is a bit of a lovable troublemaker who, like his sister, also sets out to help his people. Tavor and his adversary, Sean, are not entirely what they seem from the first impression the reader is given of these two characters. Emery’s choice of who to trust drove much of the second half of the novel and truly kept me turning the pages till the very end.
I very much look forward to a possible sequel to this novel to see how these characters continue to grow and develop.
Overall I gave this book 4 stars out of 5. There is very little spice, although there is some romance with the potential for that to grow into more in book two. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an adventure fantasy novel, and look forward to the story continuing in the future.
June 6, 2023
📚BOOK REVIEW📚
Note : I received a copy of this from the author and Storygram Tours in exchange for an honest review
Beyond the Horizon (Book 1) by K. J. Cloutier
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 0/3
Genres: YA, romantasy
Tropes: forced proximity, enemies to lovers, secret powers, us vs them, betrayal, prejudice
Seventeen-year-old Emery lives on the small island of Orabel, hidden away from the rest of the world. This is to protect them from other people, because they are elemists (able to control the elements), and seen as dangerous by the rest of the world. Orabel is hidden well enough that no one has found it for over 150 years.
That changes when Commissioner Tavor and his crew find a way on to the island with the promise of peace. He wishes to take a few people from Orabel to travel with him like ambassadors, teaching people about peaceful elemists. The elders on the island agree, with the hopes that the ambassadors can find a cure for an illness spreading on the island. Emery’s twin brother is selected, and she chooses to go with him.
Tavor tells them stories of the murderous Forbiddens (name for “aggressive” elemists) and their especially dangerous leader, all while Emery and her brother Liam divulge secrets about their home.
During a pirate attack, Tavor’s ship sinks and Emery is taken by the Forbiddens. When she realized the leader actually saved her life, she starts to question everything Tavor told her about them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was described as “Moana meets Pirates of the Caribbean and Avatar: The Last Airbender” and I agree; from the elemists being able to control multiple elements, to the fact that most of the story takes place on ships, and Emery leaving her home to embark on a journey to save her people. It definitely had a lot of the same elements and vibe, while still being unique.
I enjoyed this book, and the last 25% especially was very fast paced.
However, it definitely started off slow. Slow enough that I had trouble keeping focused while reading, making it hard to get through. Emery, who the story follows, is a little boring. I feel like her character gets better throughout the book, but it took a while to get there. I am hopeful that the next book in this series will be faster paced.
Note : I received a copy of this from the author and Storygram Tours in exchange for an honest review
Beyond the Horizon (Book 1) by K. J. Cloutier
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 0/3
Genres: YA, romantasy
Tropes: forced proximity, enemies to lovers, secret powers, us vs them, betrayal, prejudice
Seventeen-year-old Emery lives on the small island of Orabel, hidden away from the rest of the world. This is to protect them from other people, because they are elemists (able to control the elements), and seen as dangerous by the rest of the world. Orabel is hidden well enough that no one has found it for over 150 years.
That changes when Commissioner Tavor and his crew find a way on to the island with the promise of peace. He wishes to take a few people from Orabel to travel with him like ambassadors, teaching people about peaceful elemists. The elders on the island agree, with the hopes that the ambassadors can find a cure for an illness spreading on the island. Emery’s twin brother is selected, and she chooses to go with him.
Tavor tells them stories of the murderous Forbiddens (name for “aggressive” elemists) and their especially dangerous leader, all while Emery and her brother Liam divulge secrets about their home.
During a pirate attack, Tavor’s ship sinks and Emery is taken by the Forbiddens. When she realized the leader actually saved her life, she starts to question everything Tavor told her about them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was described as “Moana meets Pirates of the Caribbean and Avatar: The Last Airbender” and I agree; from the elemists being able to control multiple elements, to the fact that most of the story takes place on ships, and Emery leaving her home to embark on a journey to save her people. It definitely had a lot of the same elements and vibe, while still being unique.
I enjoyed this book, and the last 25% especially was very fast paced.
However, it definitely started off slow. Slow enough that I had trouble keeping focused while reading, making it hard to get through. Emery, who the story follows, is a little boring. I feel like her character gets better throughout the book, but it took a while to get there. I am hopeful that the next book in this series will be faster paced.
July 22, 2023
It's more like 4.25 or 4.5 just because the beginning was a little slow to me and it took me a bit to become invested, but once The Scourge of the Sea came into play it was almost constant action from there.
The beginning at first made the book seem like it had a simple plot, random guy is the savior for a group that is isolated from the world and wants to bridge the gap between two enemy groups, but I'm glad I kept reading because it was NOT THAT AT ALL! Honestly most of it I felt like Tavor was some snake oil salesmen but, well, you'll see.
Emery was thankfully very suspicious but her being kinda naive helped and didn't help them at the same time. It delayed seeing who Tavor was but it meant her becoming close with Sean. And I loved Sean, he seriously was so, like calm and just willing to deal with Emery and all her negative ideas about him and just let her see what was actually the truth about his crew. But back to Emery, she kinda learned quick about how the world outside Orabel is and I was very happy with her character progression since hopefully in the next book we get to see more of her quick thinking and stubbornness in regards to new issues and maybe being worth more that she thinks at the moment based on a line the "bad guy" says in the last fight(?)
Okay and I have to give props to Ranit was an awesome bard and I was glad there was one optimistic character that saw Emery as being good and not a threat but someone who would be a good fit for the crew and Sean, and that he kinda had a better idea of what her actions were gonna be even if she didn't know because their conversation before she tried to "escape" made me laugh 😂.
And the fighting was really good! I was so glad everyone maintained their injuries, weird I know, but I swear sometimes people get hurt in books and miraculously they still look good after and aren't sporting bruises and whatnot when they just got mangled so I was glad for that little detail.
Can't wait for the next book based on all the loose threads the end had, and because I wanna see what else Sean, Emery and the crew will get up to!
The beginning at first made the book seem like it had a simple plot, random guy is the savior for a group that is isolated from the world and wants to bridge the gap between two enemy groups, but I'm glad I kept reading because it was NOT THAT AT ALL! Honestly most of it I felt like Tavor was some snake oil salesmen but, well, you'll see.
Emery was thankfully very suspicious but her being kinda naive helped and didn't help them at the same time. It delayed seeing who Tavor was but it meant her becoming close with Sean. And I loved Sean, he seriously was so, like calm and just willing to deal with Emery and all her negative ideas about him and just let her see what was actually the truth about his crew. But back to Emery, she kinda learned quick about how the world outside Orabel is and I was very happy with her character progression since hopefully in the next book we get to see more of her quick thinking and stubbornness in regards to new issues and maybe being worth more that she thinks at the moment based on a line the "bad guy" says in the last fight(?)
Okay and I have to give props to Ranit was an awesome bard and I was glad there was one optimistic character that saw Emery as being good and not a threat but someone who would be a good fit for the crew and Sean, and that he kinda had a better idea of what her actions were gonna be even if she didn't know because their conversation before she tried to "escape" made me laugh 😂.
And the fighting was really good! I was so glad everyone maintained their injuries, weird I know, but I swear sometimes people get hurt in books and miraculously they still look good after and aren't sporting bruises and whatnot when they just got mangled so I was glad for that little detail.
Can't wait for the next book based on all the loose threads the end had, and because I wanna see what else Sean, Emery and the crew will get up to!
August 1, 2023
I was invited to participate in a review tour for Beyond the Horizon hosted by the author K.J. Coultier and Hidden Hollow Book Tours. Thank you to both for inviting me along and for the gifted e-arc. I loved this book!
To say this book is action-packed is an understatement. Once decisions were made and the journey began, it was non-stop and, for me, it was intense. Pay attention to the trigger warnings because some scenes could be tough.
Emery is a force to be reckoned with! It’s comical at times because you just shake your head and say, “there she goes again.” She wants healing for her sister, and others who have the illness stripping them of their powers, and she wants safety for her people to return to life with the rest of the realm without fear of being hunted and slaughtered because of their powers. No more hiding. So when someone comes along promising those very things, of course she decides to do whatever is necessary for him to keep his promises…no matter how dangerous it is.
When things go impossibly wrong, Emery is sure that she is being lied to and is in the company of the most evil being in the realm. She finds it hard to believe anything, except the stories that she learned growing up and the promises made by a stranger.
I love the adventure of the journey that Emery is on. The battles are so well-written I felt like I was there. At some points, I actually felt like I was Emery…could feel her fear, her pain, her heartbreak.
The enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance is so good, You just hope things are going to turn out for this couple, but something happens at every turn and you don’t know if it’ll ever come around. You can only hope for a happily ever after for them.
The ending is perfect. Tears were shed. The cliffhanger leaves me wanting the next book now!
I highly recommend Beyond the Horizon to fans of YA Fantasy, high seas adventure, swashbuckling adventure, pirates, elemental magic, secret societies, and enemies to lovers slow burn romance.
To say this book is action-packed is an understatement. Once decisions were made and the journey began, it was non-stop and, for me, it was intense. Pay attention to the trigger warnings because some scenes could be tough.
Emery is a force to be reckoned with! It’s comical at times because you just shake your head and say, “there she goes again.” She wants healing for her sister, and others who have the illness stripping them of their powers, and she wants safety for her people to return to life with the rest of the realm without fear of being hunted and slaughtered because of their powers. No more hiding. So when someone comes along promising those very things, of course she decides to do whatever is necessary for him to keep his promises…no matter how dangerous it is.
When things go impossibly wrong, Emery is sure that she is being lied to and is in the company of the most evil being in the realm. She finds it hard to believe anything, except the stories that she learned growing up and the promises made by a stranger.
I love the adventure of the journey that Emery is on. The battles are so well-written I felt like I was there. At some points, I actually felt like I was Emery…could feel her fear, her pain, her heartbreak.
The enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance is so good, You just hope things are going to turn out for this couple, but something happens at every turn and you don’t know if it’ll ever come around. You can only hope for a happily ever after for them.
The ending is perfect. Tears were shed. The cliffhanger leaves me wanting the next book now!
I highly recommend Beyond the Horizon to fans of YA Fantasy, high seas adventure, swashbuckling adventure, pirates, elemental magic, secret societies, and enemies to lovers slow burn romance.
February 6, 2023
𝘈 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘺, 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘴 - 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.
𝘈 𝘴𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 02.07.23
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Fantasy
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Pirates, elemental magic, enemies to lovers, morally grey characters, forced proximity, adventure, sibling love
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬: Fable, All The Stars & Teeth, Daughter Of The Pirate King
𝐓𝐖: N/A
𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQX5HYVM
I was completely blown away by this book. It was like a mix of Peter Pan, Pocahontas, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Throne of Glass. The writing was so captivating, the imagery was so vivid, and I just couldn’t put this book down.
What an incredible heart pounding and fun adventure. I fell in love with the island of Orabel and it’s people. The whimsy, magical “one-ness” of the elemists and their land was powerful and lyrical.
The mashup of pirates and elemental magic and betrayal was top notch. Yes there is a slow burn romance aspect, but this book was so much more than a romantasy. The focus is on the three elemists’ quest to bring peace to the warring people, and hopefully a cure to the disease slowly killing their kind.
I am BEYOND excited to see where this series ago (see what I did there?). Seriously, grab this book. You won’t regret it.
👏🏼👏🏼 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 to readers who enjoy fantasy, epic journeys, stories of the sea, and pirates of the Caribbean.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
𝘈 𝘴𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 02.07.23
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Fantasy
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Pirates, elemental magic, enemies to lovers, morally grey characters, forced proximity, adventure, sibling love
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬: Fable, All The Stars & Teeth, Daughter Of The Pirate King
𝐓𝐖: N/A
𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQX5HYVM
I was completely blown away by this book. It was like a mix of Peter Pan, Pocahontas, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Throne of Glass. The writing was so captivating, the imagery was so vivid, and I just couldn’t put this book down.
What an incredible heart pounding and fun adventure. I fell in love with the island of Orabel and it’s people. The whimsy, magical “one-ness” of the elemists and their land was powerful and lyrical.
The mashup of pirates and elemental magic and betrayal was top notch. Yes there is a slow burn romance aspect, but this book was so much more than a romantasy. The focus is on the three elemists’ quest to bring peace to the warring people, and hopefully a cure to the disease slowly killing their kind.
I am BEYOND excited to see where this series ago (see what I did there?). Seriously, grab this book. You won’t regret it.
👏🏼👏🏼 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 to readers who enjoy fantasy, epic journeys, stories of the sea, and pirates of the Caribbean.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
July 30, 2024
For decades, since the war between elemists and humans, the elemists of Orabel have stayed hidden on their island. An illness is sweeping through them though, stripping many elemists of the powers and strength.
When an outsider finds their island, Emery and her brother Liam must choose: become ambassadors for the elemists, leave the island's safety and hope they find a cure, or stay and watch people they love die.
This was a really captivating young adult novel. I find on occasion I struggle to relate to and like characters in young adult books because I am so much older, and I find them a bit childish (which makes sense since they're basically children). I did not get that here. Emery was a very logical, selfless and genuine character. Yes, she was naive and stubborn at points, but to me this felt more a product of her upbringing in an isolated island, not that she was seventeen. She thought about things before doing them and cared fiercely for those around her.
The magic system was interesting: elemists control water, earth, air and fire, and generally develop a preference for one. The elements were used in really interesting ways, like manipulating the water in blood for healing. It was quite unique.
The romance in this was slow burn, and pretty predictable, but was written well and was believable. The male character was given quite a lot of depth and development despite appearing later in the story.
I did find the names a little jarring. While most of the characters had more fantasy-sounding names: Emery, Caelin, Tavor, Ayana. Then there's Liam and Sean. I have no problem with these names in general, they just felt a bit out of place in this huge fantasy world.
When an outsider finds their island, Emery and her brother Liam must choose: become ambassadors for the elemists, leave the island's safety and hope they find a cure, or stay and watch people they love die.
This was a really captivating young adult novel. I find on occasion I struggle to relate to and like characters in young adult books because I am so much older, and I find them a bit childish (which makes sense since they're basically children). I did not get that here. Emery was a very logical, selfless and genuine character. Yes, she was naive and stubborn at points, but to me this felt more a product of her upbringing in an isolated island, not that she was seventeen. She thought about things before doing them and cared fiercely for those around her.
The magic system was interesting: elemists control water, earth, air and fire, and generally develop a preference for one. The elements were used in really interesting ways, like manipulating the water in blood for healing. It was quite unique.
The romance in this was slow burn, and pretty predictable, but was written well and was believable. The male character was given quite a lot of depth and development despite appearing later in the story.
I did find the names a little jarring. While most of the characters had more fantasy-sounding names: Emery, Caelin, Tavor, Ayana. Then there's Liam and Sean. I have no problem with these names in general, they just felt a bit out of place in this huge fantasy world.
January 31, 2023
I really liked this one! I'll admit it took me a little while to get into, but once it picked up, I couldn't put it down. Books about pirates are some of my favorites, and this was no exception!
My favorite thing about Beyond the Horizon was definitely how it played with loyalties. While reading, I had my hunches about who I could trust, and I was never quite sure if I was right or wrong. Being kept guessing the entire time was so much fun! And although I can't say too much because of spoilers, I loved the way Cloutier wrote the betrayals and who ended up being the 'right' choice.
Like I said earlier, I'm a pirate fan. I love books set on the high seas with swordfights, forced proximity, and ship battles. Cloutier did an amazing job with all of this. The setting was so vibrant, and I loved meeting the entire crew.
As for the semi-love triangle, I'm super happy with how it seems to be playing out. My ship is sailing!! One boy is obviously superior, , and I'm so happy that's being acknowledged. I can't wait for Book 2 to see how their relationship continues developing!
Although I went into this one blind, I ended up loving it! It took some of my favorite fantasy elements and combined them into a super entertaining book. I'm looking forward to Book 2!
Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
My favorite thing about Beyond the Horizon was definitely how it played with loyalties. While reading, I had my hunches about who I could trust, and I was never quite sure if I was right or wrong. Being kept guessing the entire time was so much fun! And although I can't say too much because of spoilers, I loved the way Cloutier wrote the betrayals and who ended up being the 'right' choice.
Like I said earlier, I'm a pirate fan. I love books set on the high seas with swordfights, forced proximity, and ship battles. Cloutier did an amazing job with all of this. The setting was so vibrant, and I loved meeting the entire crew.
As for the semi-love triangle, I'm super happy with how it seems to be playing out. My ship is sailing!! One boy is obviously superior, , and I'm so happy that's being acknowledged. I can't wait for Book 2 to see how their relationship continues developing!
Although I went into this one blind, I ended up loving it! It took some of my favorite fantasy elements and combined them into a super entertaining book. I'm looking forward to Book 2!
Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 27, 2026
Wow!
'Leaving is a Death Sentence. Staying Might Be Worse' hooked me right away with its high-stakes premise and didn’t let go. An island raised from the sea, elemental magic, a deadly illness, and a heroine forced to choose between safety and survival? Yes, please.
Emery is an easy character to root for. Her fear for her sister and her people gives real emotional weight to every decision she makes, and I loved how the story constantly challenges her idea of who the “enemy” really is. The tension between humans and elemists feels layered rather than black-and-white, which made the moral stakes just as compelling as the physical danger.
The adventure elements were a blast—storms, sea monsters, and rebel elemists bring serious Moana energy, with strong Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes in the elemental magic system. The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance was subtle but satisfying, adding depth without overpowering the main plot.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars for me is pacing in a few spots, where things slowed just enough to pull me out of the action. Still, the worldbuilding, emotional stakes, and themes of trust, sacrifice, and freedom more than make up for it.
If you love swashbuckling YA fantasy with elemental magic, morally complex choices, and a heroine forced to risk everything for the people she loves, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
'Leaving is a Death Sentence. Staying Might Be Worse' hooked me right away with its high-stakes premise and didn’t let go. An island raised from the sea, elemental magic, a deadly illness, and a heroine forced to choose between safety and survival? Yes, please.
Emery is an easy character to root for. Her fear for her sister and her people gives real emotional weight to every decision she makes, and I loved how the story constantly challenges her idea of who the “enemy” really is. The tension between humans and elemists feels layered rather than black-and-white, which made the moral stakes just as compelling as the physical danger.
The adventure elements were a blast—storms, sea monsters, and rebel elemists bring serious Moana energy, with strong Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes in the elemental magic system. The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance was subtle but satisfying, adding depth without overpowering the main plot.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars for me is pacing in a few spots, where things slowed just enough to pull me out of the action. Still, the worldbuilding, emotional stakes, and themes of trust, sacrifice, and freedom more than make up for it.
If you love swashbuckling YA fantasy with elemental magic, morally complex choices, and a heroine forced to risk everything for the people she loves, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
May 19, 2023
Beyond the Horizon is a captivating YA novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the cost of prejudice. The story is set in a world where humans and elemists have been at odds for centuries, with elemists being hunted and forced to hide away from the human world. The novel follows the story of Emery, a seventeen-year-old elemist, who is grappling with the devastating illness that is ravaging her community, including her beloved sister.
The arrival of Tavor, an outsider, brings a glimmer of hope for Emery and her people. Tavor seeks to end the conflict between elemists and humans and offers to take an ambassador back with him to the human world to facilitate reconciliation. This sets Emery on a journey of self-discovery as she grapples with the decision to stay and fight for her community, or to leave and risk the unknown.
The characters in the novel are well-developed and relatable, and the world-building is vivid and immersive. The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of tension and urgency throughout the novel, which keeps the reader engaged and invested in the story.
Overall, Beyond the Horizon is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that tackles important themes in a unique and compelling way. It is a must-read for fans of YA fiction and anyone who enjoys thought-provoking stories about identity and belonging.
The arrival of Tavor, an outsider, brings a glimmer of hope for Emery and her people. Tavor seeks to end the conflict between elemists and humans and offers to take an ambassador back with him to the human world to facilitate reconciliation. This sets Emery on a journey of self-discovery as she grapples with the decision to stay and fight for her community, or to leave and risk the unknown.
The characters in the novel are well-developed and relatable, and the world-building is vivid and immersive. The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of tension and urgency throughout the novel, which keeps the reader engaged and invested in the story.
Overall, Beyond the Horizon is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that tackles important themes in a unique and compelling way. It is a must-read for fans of YA fiction and anyone who enjoys thought-provoking stories about identity and belonging.
April 6, 2025
I got KJ Cloutier's books via her Kickstarter package, wanting to support a fellow author, and wow, I did NOT get disappointed. Beyond The Horizon is marketed as Moana meeting POTC meeting ATLA and it really is all that. I sometimes even had some vibes from Pocahontas 2 while reading. Read this book during lunchbreaks at work, and I completely ignored any other colleagues who were seated next to me (sorry, not sorry lol).
The characters are well constructed, especially the main protagonist Emery. It's easy to feel for her and want her to achieve her goals of finding a cure for her sister and others affected by this mysterious illness that's affecting her island. And the pirate captain! I mean, yes, gimme that dual character who appears an absolute ruthless cutthroat but is really a diamond in the rough with a hefty backstory.
There are plot twists upon plot twists in the last part of the book, and I instantly went on to book two, which I normally don't do since I prefer a break and read a book or two in between, but I honestly couldn't do that here. This series is actually THAT good!
The characters are well constructed, especially the main protagonist Emery. It's easy to feel for her and want her to achieve her goals of finding a cure for her sister and others affected by this mysterious illness that's affecting her island. And the pirate captain! I mean, yes, gimme that dual character who appears an absolute ruthless cutthroat but is really a diamond in the rough with a hefty backstory.
There are plot twists upon plot twists in the last part of the book, and I instantly went on to book two, which I normally don't do since I prefer a break and read a book or two in between, but I honestly couldn't do that here. This series is actually THAT good!
February 6, 2023
Beyond the Horizon is a swashbuckling, high seas, enemies to lovers adventure novel. This book is jammed packed with magic, piratery, and fast paced action. With plot twists and turns, this book kept me on my toes and made me want to keep reading.
This novel was really fun! The book entertained me throughly and I was excited to keep reading to find out what happened next. Our main character, Emery, despite living a relatively sheltered life is a strong female character and the only way I know how to describe her is a firecracker. She strives to help her family and her people and is determined in her own right. I really enjoyed our remaining cast of character, especially a few certain elemists.
So grab your pirate hat, hop aboard your ship and read Beyond the Horizon by KJ Cloutier. I'd recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a YA fantasy filled with pirates and magic.
Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for a review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.
This novel was really fun! The book entertained me throughly and I was excited to keep reading to find out what happened next. Our main character, Emery, despite living a relatively sheltered life is a strong female character and the only way I know how to describe her is a firecracker. She strives to help her family and her people and is determined in her own right. I really enjoyed our remaining cast of character, especially a few certain elemists.
So grab your pirate hat, hop aboard your ship and read Beyond the Horizon by KJ Cloutier. I'd recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a YA fantasy filled with pirates and magic.
Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for a review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.
September 18, 2024
"'You can't just kiss me every time you want me to do something.'
'Why not?'
'Because it bloody works.'"
This was such a fun read. It's Pirates of the Caribbean meets Moana with elemental magic, which is honestly such a vibe, perfect for the conclusion of pirate summer.
Emery and Liam are twins from a secret island of Elemists, magic users who have had to hide away to to the prejudices of the Ungifted. When an outsider comes to their island looking for an ambassador to help bridge relations with the outside world, the twins go with him on their first off-island adventure. That is until they're attacking by a vicious Elemist pirate who changes their journey and the lives of the twins.
This world was very cool, and I loved getting to spend so much time on the ocean. Emery doesn't know anything of the outside world, so we get to learn along with her both about the wider world and ships.
There was a twist in the story that I didn't really see coming and I was delighted by it! The story after that just kept getting better and better, especially as we got to know more of the characters better. The blossoming romance was also very sweet.
Overall, if you're looking for an adventure on the high seas with a splash of magic, check this book out!
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book. This review was left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
'Why not?'
'Because it bloody works.'"
This was such a fun read. It's Pirates of the Caribbean meets Moana with elemental magic, which is honestly such a vibe, perfect for the conclusion of pirate summer.
Emery and Liam are twins from a secret island of Elemists, magic users who have had to hide away to to the prejudices of the Ungifted. When an outsider comes to their island looking for an ambassador to help bridge relations with the outside world, the twins go with him on their first off-island adventure. That is until they're attacking by a vicious Elemist pirate who changes their journey and the lives of the twins.
This world was very cool, and I loved getting to spend so much time on the ocean. Emery doesn't know anything of the outside world, so we get to learn along with her both about the wider world and ships.
There was a twist in the story that I didn't really see coming and I was delighted by it! The story after that just kept getting better and better, especially as we got to know more of the characters better. The blossoming romance was also very sweet.
Overall, if you're looking for an adventure on the high seas with a splash of magic, check this book out!
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book. This review was left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
February 10, 2023
Beyond the Horizon is a crossing of Pirates of the Carribean and Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series. I've never really thought about trying a pirate fantasy before, but I'm so glad I picked up this one!
Cloutier carefully writes each character in such ways that you can't tell what they're actually thinking but you know something else is going on. Emery's innocence and trust is instrumental to the storyline and is so pure even as we see her grow into her new world.
I am intrigued by the magic of this world, it is still very much unexplained overall and I hope there will be a second book that dives into this more. This book does leave off on a partial cliffhanger in my opinion, if that bothers anyone. The main plot wraps up but basically none of the subplots do.
I recommend this for YA Fantasy lovers, it's definitely a solid debut from author K.J. Cloutier that I hope brings us more to enjoy in the future.
Cloutier carefully writes each character in such ways that you can't tell what they're actually thinking but you know something else is going on. Emery's innocence and trust is instrumental to the storyline and is so pure even as we see her grow into her new world.
I am intrigued by the magic of this world, it is still very much unexplained overall and I hope there will be a second book that dives into this more. This book does leave off on a partial cliffhanger in my opinion, if that bothers anyone. The main plot wraps up but basically none of the subplots do.
I recommend this for YA Fantasy lovers, it's definitely a solid debut from author K.J. Cloutier that I hope brings us more to enjoy in the future.
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