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Far Removed
On the moon of Knyadrea, the sea yields intelligent life. For a species shaped by tides, change is the only constant.
Little can be hidden in the glare of a spotlight.
Charismatic and innovative, Oklas Sayve has risen to prominence in Apidecca, the moon's capital city. A politician and college director, he has the resources to effect the changes he envisions for the world. But the sovereigns he serves oppose him at every turn and his status cannot protect the low-strata students attending his college. After a young knyad is wrongly linked to insurgent activity, Oklas must find a way to smuggle her out of the city while hiding his involvement from the authorities.
A spark in the dank depths.
Below the grand Assembly Chambers, a knyad in a mask sculpts, grasping for scraps of beauty in her shrinking world. Years ago, Prismer made a costly mistake and now has only her job at the projection booth and a few special interests to fill her days. But it is not her sculptures that draw the attention of a powerful client, and she is soon met with a request to undertake a dangerous mission. Will she answer the call and risk losing the little she has left?Mysteries surface. A supernatural substance is used in corrupt ways. As identities shift and predicaments are reshuffled, what alliances might be forged?
Little can be hidden in the glare of a spotlight.
Charismatic and innovative, Oklas Sayve has risen to prominence in Apidecca, the moon's capital city. A politician and college director, he has the resources to effect the changes he envisions for the world. But the sovereigns he serves oppose him at every turn and his status cannot protect the low-strata students attending his college. After a young knyad is wrongly linked to insurgent activity, Oklas must find a way to smuggle her out of the city while hiding his involvement from the authorities.
A spark in the dank depths.
Below the grand Assembly Chambers, a knyad in a mask sculpts, grasping for scraps of beauty in her shrinking world. Years ago, Prismer made a costly mistake and now has only her job at the projection booth and a few special interests to fill her days. But it is not her sculptures that draw the attention of a powerful client, and she is soon met with a request to undertake a dangerous mission. Will she answer the call and risk losing the little she has left?Mysteries surface. A supernatural substance is used in corrupt ways. As identities shift and predicaments are reshuffled, what alliances might be forged?
- GenresScience FictionAdult
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2023
5 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 11, 2024
The cover of this book has stood out to me ever since I first saw it and the premise sounded really interesting so I happily accepted a review copy. While it wasn’t exactly what I had expected, I’m still really glad to have read it and am looking forward to the second part of this duology.
What I really enjoyed was the incredible world the author created. It was absolutely fascinating and I’m honestly sad about having finished the book because I wanted to know more and more and more. This is a society and world I could read endless stories about. I did think that it was a bit confusing at first in terms of social strata and I admit I put it down at one point and took a longer break than planned because of it. But once I picked it back up and learned more and got re-immersed, I was hooked.
Another thing that was a little two-fold for me was that the description didn’t quite fit the book for me. It wasn’t wrong. Those things definitely happened. But they were over much sooner than anticipated with much of the book still left to go. And the rest of the book felt like it had less of a direction. I can envision the overall arc for the series, I think, but this book didn’t have as much structure on its own as I usually like. But despite that, I still loved the adventure of the first part (as hinted at in the description) and the developments in the second. That second part is what really made me feel so invested in this world. I just would’ve liked a bit more structure.
Overall though, like I said, I had a really good time with this book. I honestly miss reading about the characters and still think about them a good bit. I’m glad I have a short story downloaded for this series already.
What I really enjoyed was the incredible world the author created. It was absolutely fascinating and I’m honestly sad about having finished the book because I wanted to know more and more and more. This is a society and world I could read endless stories about. I did think that it was a bit confusing at first in terms of social strata and I admit I put it down at one point and took a longer break than planned because of it. But once I picked it back up and learned more and got re-immersed, I was hooked.
Another thing that was a little two-fold for me was that the description didn’t quite fit the book for me. It wasn’t wrong. Those things definitely happened. But they were over much sooner than anticipated with much of the book still left to go. And the rest of the book felt like it had less of a direction. I can envision the overall arc for the series, I think, but this book didn’t have as much structure on its own as I usually like. But despite that, I still loved the adventure of the first part (as hinted at in the description) and the developments in the second. That second part is what really made me feel so invested in this world. I just would’ve liked a bit more structure.
Overall though, like I said, I had a really good time with this book. I honestly miss reading about the characters and still think about them a good bit. I’m glad I have a short story downloaded for this series already.
November 29, 2025
Work in Progress:
This Science Fiction novel took me out of my comfort zone and into a world completely foreign to me. I found the read rewarding with C.B. Lansdell's strong character work and unique take on alien cultures and races driving the entire book with prose that felt affiant and unlike anything I'd read before. The prose was technical and personal to each of the charters and when it gets dark, its gets brutal. The world was detailed and thoughtful and unlike anything I could imagine.
This Science Fiction novel took me out of my comfort zone and into a world completely foreign to me. I found the read rewarding with C.B. Lansdell's strong character work and unique take on alien cultures and races driving the entire book with prose that felt affiant and unlike anything I'd read before. The prose was technical and personal to each of the charters and when it gets dark, its gets brutal. The world was detailed and thoughtful and unlike anything I could imagine.
September 16, 2025
Far Removed takes place in a fantastical world with a sociopolitical landscape that manages to be special to the universe while mirroring struggles we face today. It is a balance of alien concepts, sciences, and social structures that explores the familiar themes of class, morality, and self acceptance.
The character designs are inspired by and molded from cephalopods, which when anthropomorphised allows for an interesting expression of self, fashion, and culture. I particularly enjoyed the way that the knyads enhance or adorn their tendrils!
There is a resource called resin which is the strongest power source in their known world with seemingly unlimited uses. Its harvesting is of great importance to the government, and violence both overt and secretive are used to secure it.
Lansdell choses to guide us through Apidecca with two very different characters, and in doing so gives us a look at how divided the society is.
Oklas shows us, through his privilege and access to the upper echelons, how deeply seeded the resentment and distrust of maskads are. They are viewed not simply as lower, but other, and deserving of their subservient position.
Prismer, a maskad working at the college, teaches us quickly how the maskads have been beaten down and forced into pliancy. They are not allowed to be unmasked around knyads and often are not unmasked around one another, as there is a deep shame in uncovering their faces. The explanation of what happens to make them this way (physically and emotionally) is explained in the later half of the book in great detail, and I won’t spoil it here, just know it is gruesome.
Prismer is creative, strong, and is quick to help others while asking nothing in return. I loved her character from the start! She has this desire for connection to others that surprises even her, and Lansdell uses this character trait to create a yearning in multiple places in the narrative that gave me a twang in my heart. I love LOVE LOVE when authors can achieve this.
Oklas though, had my favorite character arc. He discovers who he is outside of the flirting, politicking, and collegiate presentations, which he is forced to do after a scheme goes sideways. The intricacies of his character cannot be fully appreciated till he is made to face his shortcomings. Lansdell makes him FACE them in a sudden and cruel way.
This character-forward first installment to the Apidecca Duology is a scientific fantasy ride that left me satisfied while excited for book two!
The character designs are inspired by and molded from cephalopods, which when anthropomorphised allows for an interesting expression of self, fashion, and culture. I particularly enjoyed the way that the knyads enhance or adorn their tendrils!
There is a resource called resin which is the strongest power source in their known world with seemingly unlimited uses. Its harvesting is of great importance to the government, and violence both overt and secretive are used to secure it.
Lansdell choses to guide us through Apidecca with two very different characters, and in doing so gives us a look at how divided the society is.
Oklas shows us, through his privilege and access to the upper echelons, how deeply seeded the resentment and distrust of maskads are. They are viewed not simply as lower, but other, and deserving of their subservient position.
Prismer, a maskad working at the college, teaches us quickly how the maskads have been beaten down and forced into pliancy. They are not allowed to be unmasked around knyads and often are not unmasked around one another, as there is a deep shame in uncovering their faces. The explanation of what happens to make them this way (physically and emotionally) is explained in the later half of the book in great detail, and I won’t spoil it here, just know it is gruesome.
Prismer is creative, strong, and is quick to help others while asking nothing in return. I loved her character from the start! She has this desire for connection to others that surprises even her, and Lansdell uses this character trait to create a yearning in multiple places in the narrative that gave me a twang in my heart. I love LOVE LOVE when authors can achieve this.
Oklas though, had my favorite character arc. He discovers who he is outside of the flirting, politicking, and collegiate presentations, which he is forced to do after a scheme goes sideways. The intricacies of his character cannot be fully appreciated till he is made to face his shortcomings. Lansdell makes him FACE them in a sudden and cruel way.
This character-forward first installment to the Apidecca Duology is a scientific fantasy ride that left me satisfied while excited for book two!
September 5, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
Far Removed is the first book on the science fantasy series The Apidecca Duology, written by the South-African author C B Lansdell. A novel where you can guess how much time the author has spent building and creating a complex world, really intricate and with unique inhabitants, that are used to tell an apparently simple story that hides a lot between the lines.
A novel that is told using two POVs, situated in the extremes of the Apideccan society. On one hand, we have Oklas Sayve, a politician and college director that has risen to prominence in Apidecca; he has the resources that would be needed for changing the world to the image he envisions, but he's also experiencing how the sovereigns he is serving are opposed to it. The higher stratums of society are a pit of corruption, looking to keep the status quo; Oklas wants to protect the low strata students that attend his college, and with this in mind, when a young knyad is accused of insurgency activity, he will risk his position in order to smuggle her out of the city. After being discovered, the world he carefully crafted around him will shatter, getting punished and demoted to the lowest position in society, maskad.
On the other hand, we have Prismer, a knyad who made a big mistake in the past, costing her all the opportunities to climb. Now, she only has her job sculpting, but some of her interests will end drawing the attention of powerful people. In comparison with Oklas, she's really kind, and even helps him when he's relegated to the position of a maskad; without her, surviving would have been impossible.
Those two stories get woven together, creating a character driven plot that draws us really close to them. The two characters feel real and sensible, having to deal with horrific situations, and even if their initial points are so different, they end converging due to circumstances.
The world is excellently built, with an insane attention to the detail. In order to avoid an excessive amount of exposition, Lansdell opts for having a small appendix where the basic details about Knydrea and the knyads are collected.
Inside the novel, we can see how this is a society based on technology and in theory around change, but this soon turns to not be applicable to social status; a society divided into stratas, and which is really still. Corruption and racism are implied, especially for those that are in the higher positions.
Apart from this, we have some elements that are closer to fantasy, such as the mysterious resin, which I hope gets expanded more in book 2, as there are still some questions I have about it.
With this book, Lansdell mirrors some aspects of the real world, portraying them subtly. In the same way those aspects might be horrific, the complete novel is focused on hope; even in the worst situations, you can find it.
Far Removed is an excellent novel, a book that leaves you craving for a second part, perfect for those that love character-driven stories, but with an extensive amount of world building. I can say that waiting for the second book will be painful!
Far Removed is the first book on the science fantasy series The Apidecca Duology, written by the South-African author C B Lansdell. A novel where you can guess how much time the author has spent building and creating a complex world, really intricate and with unique inhabitants, that are used to tell an apparently simple story that hides a lot between the lines.
A novel that is told using two POVs, situated in the extremes of the Apideccan society. On one hand, we have Oklas Sayve, a politician and college director that has risen to prominence in Apidecca; he has the resources that would be needed for changing the world to the image he envisions, but he's also experiencing how the sovereigns he is serving are opposed to it. The higher stratums of society are a pit of corruption, looking to keep the status quo; Oklas wants to protect the low strata students that attend his college, and with this in mind, when a young knyad is accused of insurgency activity, he will risk his position in order to smuggle her out of the city. After being discovered, the world he carefully crafted around him will shatter, getting punished and demoted to the lowest position in society, maskad.
On the other hand, we have Prismer, a knyad who made a big mistake in the past, costing her all the opportunities to climb. Now, she only has her job sculpting, but some of her interests will end drawing the attention of powerful people. In comparison with Oklas, she's really kind, and even helps him when he's relegated to the position of a maskad; without her, surviving would have been impossible.
Those two stories get woven together, creating a character driven plot that draws us really close to them. The two characters feel real and sensible, having to deal with horrific situations, and even if their initial points are so different, they end converging due to circumstances.
The world is excellently built, with an insane attention to the detail. In order to avoid an excessive amount of exposition, Lansdell opts for having a small appendix where the basic details about Knydrea and the knyads are collected.
Inside the novel, we can see how this is a society based on technology and in theory around change, but this soon turns to not be applicable to social status; a society divided into stratas, and which is really still. Corruption and racism are implied, especially for those that are in the higher positions.
Apart from this, we have some elements that are closer to fantasy, such as the mysterious resin, which I hope gets expanded more in book 2, as there are still some questions I have about it.
With this book, Lansdell mirrors some aspects of the real world, portraying them subtly. In the same way those aspects might be horrific, the complete novel is focused on hope; even in the worst situations, you can find it.
Far Removed is an excellent novel, a book that leaves you craving for a second part, perfect for those that love character-driven stories, but with an extensive amount of world building. I can say that waiting for the second book will be painful!
December 6, 2023
5 stars.
"You never ask for help Dy…this is for someone else, isn’t it?”
Far Removed is the first book in the Apidecca Duology and the debut book of author CB Landsdell.
When a dangerous mission leads two characters with different backgrounds to meet, they find the journey is more than leading a young recruit to safety, but to face the harsh reality of their society, and without prior notice discover a friendship they didn’t expect.
Writing a review has taken a lot more consideration than I thought. This book reads differently from the other books I’ve read this year, so that played in part. From the beginning, I found Prisma to be a deep thinker. Her body had not just gone through modifications, but she has to live with the stigma brought by her past. Though she likes to do her own thing, I found her character innately strong. We see this in her private hobbies, sometimes left alone. Her own opinions about politics are firm, and she’s not afraid to be honest while being careful of what consequences it might lead to. Oklas is also easily a likable character, despite what he goes through, his optimism and love for brainstorming and engineering haven’t changed. I also found Illanu super sweet. Her curious mind stuck out to me when she was with Rosha and Prisma in the beginning.
There was a lot of dialogue for my taste, but the dialogue felt more like a play, everything that was being said was hinting something, and Lansdell wove those words well, as it kept my attention. When it came to the character’s inner thoughts, the prose was poetic and raw. I can really see this book being picked up at a high school or college where students can digest the words and interpret the meaning and perspective of each character.
Another thing I want to mention that’s in the book is how the first pages introduce lovely designs of the Knyadrea, and its rotation. I saw very quickly that much thought, research, and love was poured into his book. The descriptions and world-building were vivid, to the point where I was protective of Prisma and the burden she carries both inside and physically.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi with dystopian elements, power-hungry influencers, and complex but rich friendships, you have to read this book!
"You never ask for help Dy…this is for someone else, isn’t it?”
Far Removed is the first book in the Apidecca Duology and the debut book of author CB Landsdell.
When a dangerous mission leads two characters with different backgrounds to meet, they find the journey is more than leading a young recruit to safety, but to face the harsh reality of their society, and without prior notice discover a friendship they didn’t expect.
Writing a review has taken a lot more consideration than I thought. This book reads differently from the other books I’ve read this year, so that played in part. From the beginning, I found Prisma to be a deep thinker. Her body had not just gone through modifications, but she has to live with the stigma brought by her past. Though she likes to do her own thing, I found her character innately strong. We see this in her private hobbies, sometimes left alone. Her own opinions about politics are firm, and she’s not afraid to be honest while being careful of what consequences it might lead to. Oklas is also easily a likable character, despite what he goes through, his optimism and love for brainstorming and engineering haven’t changed. I also found Illanu super sweet. Her curious mind stuck out to me when she was with Rosha and Prisma in the beginning.
There was a lot of dialogue for my taste, but the dialogue felt more like a play, everything that was being said was hinting something, and Lansdell wove those words well, as it kept my attention. When it came to the character’s inner thoughts, the prose was poetic and raw. I can really see this book being picked up at a high school or college where students can digest the words and interpret the meaning and perspective of each character.
Another thing I want to mention that’s in the book is how the first pages introduce lovely designs of the Knyadrea, and its rotation. I saw very quickly that much thought, research, and love was poured into his book. The descriptions and world-building were vivid, to the point where I was protective of Prisma and the burden she carries both inside and physically.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi with dystopian elements, power-hungry influencers, and complex but rich friendships, you have to read this book!
January 12, 2025
I adore this book! I listened to the audiobook and the narration is fantastic. I did struggle a bit at first but it's more because I have brain fog so I needed to rewind a lot because I couldn't remember what had just been said and by whom. I do think it would benefit most people to read this as an ebook or physical copy along with the audio as a lot of the names and world building elements are so unique it's a bit trickier in audio format.
as for the story itself, it was so lovely. I immediately took a liking to Prismer and the way Lansdell presents Prismer's disabilities throughout with thought, care, kindness and respect means so much to me as someone who struggles with various disabilities and chronic illness. Oklas was the stark opposite of Prismer but his easygoing charm did win me over eventually and his chapters are quite fun because of the contrast with Prismer's.
The world building was phenomenal. very unique but thought through in every detail even if we readers only get to see a carefully curated part of the world it's very clear Lansdell knows her world down to the smallest details.
Lansdell has a confidence in her mastery of the prose. it was straightforward yet intriguing and easily evoke deep emotions that made me shed a few tears towards the end.
Maybe some readers will find it a little slow and steady as it does delve into political intrigue and is largely character focused but to me it was the perfect pace with some edge-of-the-seat tense scenes and others where the characters and world gets allowed the breathing room a lot of modern authors are scared to employ in the belief that readers will "get bored".But in Far Removed there wasn't a single sentence that hadn't been purposely and carefully selected and I didn't get even a second of boredom or temptation to fast forward(even after I was fully in the world and could follow I kept rewinding to relisten to conversations and world descriptions!)
I absolutely can't recommend this enough and can't wait for the sequel. This is a beautiful book!
as for the story itself, it was so lovely. I immediately took a liking to Prismer and the way Lansdell presents Prismer's disabilities throughout with thought, care, kindness and respect means so much to me as someone who struggles with various disabilities and chronic illness. Oklas was the stark opposite of Prismer but his easygoing charm did win me over eventually and his chapters are quite fun because of the contrast with Prismer's.
The world building was phenomenal. very unique but thought through in every detail even if we readers only get to see a carefully curated part of the world it's very clear Lansdell knows her world down to the smallest details.
Lansdell has a confidence in her mastery of the prose. it was straightforward yet intriguing and easily evoke deep emotions that made me shed a few tears towards the end.
Maybe some readers will find it a little slow and steady as it does delve into political intrigue and is largely character focused but to me it was the perfect pace with some edge-of-the-seat tense scenes and others where the characters and world gets allowed the breathing room a lot of modern authors are scared to employ in the belief that readers will "get bored".But in Far Removed there wasn't a single sentence that hadn't been purposely and carefully selected and I didn't get even a second of boredom or temptation to fast forward(even after I was fully in the world and could follow I kept rewinding to relisten to conversations and world descriptions!)
I absolutely can't recommend this enough and can't wait for the sequel. This is a beautiful book!
December 30, 2025
Far Removed is a deeply character driven sci-fi story with dual POVs. Rich with political and socio-economic undertones, it is reminiscent of Dune but with sea anemone people as the only race on this distant moon.
If you like deep worldbuilding, then this story will pull you to the depths. Every detail layered together to form an interconnected web of cause an effect. For example, the setting is a city on a moon so they don't have a typical day/night cycle. This also affects the tides, which influences “birthrates” for the different clans since they are fished out of the shallows. Between this and many more beautifully interconnected details, Knyadrea feels rich and deep. But it did come at a cost; I struggled a bit wading through all the new terms before I was able to get fully invested in the story.
Far Removed is filled with some very interesting themes. Classism or prejudice against once's birth is paramount to how the society of Apidecca operates and it has already impacted both Prismer and Oklas in almost every way. And then there's the maskads, who are perfect parallels for body dispmorphia or neurodiveregence. There are a million ways you could slice this story, but the takeaway is that Far Removed will leave you with plenty to think about.
That being said, I would have liked a slightly stronger climax for Far Removed. It is the first half of a duology, so I'm sure that we will have that when the next book is published, but I personally felt that not enough of the plot and character points were resolved in this one (the big twist/revelation with Oklas felt more like a midpoint to me, with the remainder of the story as falling action).
All in all, I had a great time with Far Removed! And I recommend it to anyone looking for deep characterization, rich worldbuilding, and complex socio-economic themes.
If you like deep worldbuilding, then this story will pull you to the depths. Every detail layered together to form an interconnected web of cause an effect. For example, the setting is a city on a moon so they don't have a typical day/night cycle. This also affects the tides, which influences “birthrates” for the different clans since they are fished out of the shallows. Between this and many more beautifully interconnected details, Knyadrea feels rich and deep. But it did come at a cost; I struggled a bit wading through all the new terms before I was able to get fully invested in the story.
Far Removed is filled with some very interesting themes. Classism or prejudice against once's birth is paramount to how the society of Apidecca operates and it has already impacted both Prismer and Oklas in almost every way. And then there's the maskads, who are perfect parallels for body dispmorphia or neurodiveregence. There are a million ways you could slice this story, but the takeaway is that Far Removed will leave you with plenty to think about.
That being said, I would have liked a slightly stronger climax for Far Removed. It is the first half of a duology, so I'm sure that we will have that when the next book is published, but I personally felt that not enough of the plot and character points were resolved in this one (the big twist/revelation with Oklas felt more like a midpoint to me, with the remainder of the story as falling action).
All in all, I had a great time with Far Removed! And I recommend it to anyone looking for deep characterization, rich worldbuilding, and complex socio-economic themes.
January 29, 2024
FAR REMOVED BY C.B LANSDELL
Author C. B. Lansdell, who is also from South Africa, is the author of the first book in the series The Apidecca Duology, titled Far Removed. This book, which at first glance seems to have a simple plot but has a lot of hidden meanings, develops into an incredibly complex world with unique characters.
There are two points of view in this book, set in the Apideccan Society. Prismer and Oklas Sayve are here. Oklas is a well-known politician and college director in Apidecca who possesses the means to alter the world to the way he sees it. Oklas wants to protect the lower class students who attend his college, so when a young knyad is accused of insurgency activity, he will risk his position to smuggle her out of the city. The higher strata of society are a pit of corruption, seeking to maintain the status quo. The environment he had built around himself will collapse upon discovery, and he will be punished and degraded to the lowest rank in society—maskad.
Next, we have Prismer, a knyad who has a history of grave mistakes. She is losing out on all future prospects because of this, but it's not entirely pointless. Her hobbies will draw in influential individuals. She demonstrates that Oklas could not exist without her when he is reduced to the role of a maskad.
I was drawn into a universe with subtle allusions to the real world being reflected by the character-based plot that the sophisticated, well-built, and meticulously detailed environment offers.
The tale of Oklas and Prismer appears to be rather clear-cut and uncomplicated at first glance. However, it is employed to investigate intricate subjects like sexism, marginalizing individuals who are not like "normal" people, and various forms of societal injustices. I want to clarify that this is not a romantic partnership. Since knyads are incapable of procreating, they do not engage in romantic relationships. Watching the walls between the breakdown—both societal and personal—was nevertheless captivating.
There's an amazing universe just waiting to be revealed, if you can put up with being lost for a few chapters.
Author C. B. Lansdell, who is also from South Africa, is the author of the first book in the series The Apidecca Duology, titled Far Removed. This book, which at first glance seems to have a simple plot but has a lot of hidden meanings, develops into an incredibly complex world with unique characters.
There are two points of view in this book, set in the Apideccan Society. Prismer and Oklas Sayve are here. Oklas is a well-known politician and college director in Apidecca who possesses the means to alter the world to the way he sees it. Oklas wants to protect the lower class students who attend his college, so when a young knyad is accused of insurgency activity, he will risk his position to smuggle her out of the city. The higher strata of society are a pit of corruption, seeking to maintain the status quo. The environment he had built around himself will collapse upon discovery, and he will be punished and degraded to the lowest rank in society—maskad.
Next, we have Prismer, a knyad who has a history of grave mistakes. She is losing out on all future prospects because of this, but it's not entirely pointless. Her hobbies will draw in influential individuals. She demonstrates that Oklas could not exist without her when he is reduced to the role of a maskad.
I was drawn into a universe with subtle allusions to the real world being reflected by the character-based plot that the sophisticated, well-built, and meticulously detailed environment offers.
The tale of Oklas and Prismer appears to be rather clear-cut and uncomplicated at first glance. However, it is employed to investigate intricate subjects like sexism, marginalizing individuals who are not like "normal" people, and various forms of societal injustices. I want to clarify that this is not a romantic partnership. Since knyads are incapable of procreating, they do not engage in romantic relationships. Watching the walls between the breakdown—both societal and personal—was nevertheless captivating.
There's an amazing universe just waiting to be revealed, if you can put up with being lost for a few chapters.
December 28, 2025
Far Removed by C.B. Landsell is a beautiful and unique work of fantasy set on the moon of Knyadrea, that follows two fascinating characters from different walks of life whose paths cross in unexpected ways.
I had heard so many good things about this book and yet I still hesitated to pick it up, which I now regret as it is possibly one of my favourite reads of the year. I found myself enthralled by the unique world the author has created, fascinated by the culture and society and the hours of thought that must have gone into building it all. When it comes to characters, while I initially was more interested in Prismer, the journey that Oklas went on over the course of the book broke my heart and by the end of the book I had fallen in love with both characters and their friendship.
Beautiful, unique and moving, I loved this book and am really excited to see what the author does next.
I had heard so many good things about this book and yet I still hesitated to pick it up, which I now regret as it is possibly one of my favourite reads of the year. I found myself enthralled by the unique world the author has created, fascinated by the culture and society and the hours of thought that must have gone into building it all. When it comes to characters, while I initially was more interested in Prismer, the journey that Oklas went on over the course of the book broke my heart and by the end of the book I had fallen in love with both characters and their friendship.
Beautiful, unique and moving, I loved this book and am really excited to see what the author does next.
October 1, 2023
"No physical transformation in itself makes you a monster," said Raganys, "but it can cause others to treat you like one."
Far Removed is a fascinating Sci-Fi story which follows two POV's: Oklas the College Director, a super outgoing charismatic professional whos very much over his head, and Prismer, an introverted artistic type who keeps to herself.
I must admit, it took me a while to find my bearing in the first few chapters. It helps a lot that the two POV characters are complete opposites. We get dropped right into the world, and have to figure most things out through the dialogue, which, fortunately, is excellent. This is more of a thinkers scifi—there are almost no action scenes, most of the chapters are two characters in a location talking to each other.
The entire book has a very ominous feeling. I would say its a depressing read, but there are slivers of hope. The world itself is dystopian, and honestly, I would say it veers into scifi, horror at certain sections. I can't discuss without spoilers but there are chapters that are just brutal to read. In the end, the beauty outweighs the horror. Oklas and Prismer's ongoing friendship is really moving, and after finishing the book, I appreciate the opening chapters so much more.
If you can tolerate being confused for a few chapters, there is an incredible world waiting to be discovered.
Far Removed is a fascinating Sci-Fi story which follows two POV's: Oklas the College Director, a super outgoing charismatic professional whos very much over his head, and Prismer, an introverted artistic type who keeps to herself.
I must admit, it took me a while to find my bearing in the first few chapters. It helps a lot that the two POV characters are complete opposites. We get dropped right into the world, and have to figure most things out through the dialogue, which, fortunately, is excellent. This is more of a thinkers scifi—there are almost no action scenes, most of the chapters are two characters in a location talking to each other.
The entire book has a very ominous feeling. I would say its a depressing read, but there are slivers of hope. The world itself is dystopian, and honestly, I would say it veers into scifi, horror at certain sections. I can't discuss without spoilers but there are chapters that are just brutal to read. In the end, the beauty outweighs the horror. Oklas and Prismer's ongoing friendship is really moving, and after finishing the book, I appreciate the opening chapters so much more.
If you can tolerate being confused for a few chapters, there is an incredible world waiting to be discovered.
July 28, 2023
I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of this book.
Far Removed is a relatively simple tale set in a beautifully complex world. It is clear the author put much time and thought into the intricacies of the world of Kynadrea and its inhabitants, the kynads. A culture centered around beings born from the sea, it features some unique concepts that spurred my interest in learning more. As I read, I not only became invested in the creative worldbuilding, but the characters as well.
Prismer and Oklas served as good characters, each coming from a unique background—one from privilege and one from solitude and ostracism. Over the course of the story, both endure some horrific things. By the end, I was satisfied with how their storylines came together. I am looking forward to the next book in the duology. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys unique worldbuilding, sci fi, and character-driven stories.
Far Removed is a relatively simple tale set in a beautifully complex world. It is clear the author put much time and thought into the intricacies of the world of Kynadrea and its inhabitants, the kynads. A culture centered around beings born from the sea, it features some unique concepts that spurred my interest in learning more. As I read, I not only became invested in the creative worldbuilding, but the characters as well.
Prismer and Oklas served as good characters, each coming from a unique background—one from privilege and one from solitude and ostracism. Over the course of the story, both endure some horrific things. By the end, I was satisfied with how their storylines came together. I am looking forward to the next book in the duology. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys unique worldbuilding, sci fi, and character-driven stories.
January 8, 2025
Far Removed is a powerful, grand but personal sci-fi/fantasy with themes of power, societal expectations, identity, and changing circumstances. It is told in a polished, succinct yet beautiful prose, and from the PoV of two compelling yet wildly different characters.
In terms of setting and worldbuilding, this gets incredibly detailed while never being overwhelming. Lansdell has crafted a unique, distinctive race—the knyads—whose social and political structure has deep implications for the plot. However, all of this is presented in a straightforward way, though bits woven into the plot events. It is a pleasure to read because, beyond progressing through the plot, we're also discovering this unique society.
To know more about the knyad society, I'd definitely recommend picking up her novelette The Tidelings of Dras Sayve: A Novelette. It's not a prerequisite reading but it adds a lot of depth. However, The novelette is far darker than Far Removed.
In terms of plot and expectations, I found this to be quite a curious read. It begins as a clearly political plot, with a setup that seems to be large scale and with the potential to affect a lot of characters. However, as the story progresses (especially around the halfway mark), this takes a turn to be a more personal story.
To explain that, I'll review the PoVs and characters. We basically follow Oklas (a Deputy Minister) and Prismer (a low-cast low-rank worker). It seems from the start, that both are quite entrenched in their ways, positions, and world-views—but the plot challenges that, playing with the character's agency in a way that's real-life and shocking. It is done superbly, and the more the story progresses, the more Oklas and Prismer jump from the pages with their very human-like (or knyad-like in this case?) reactions.
Now, something to note with regards to character progression here are the content warnings. Although the story is never explicit, some harsh themes and moments are expertly presented and that made it far more terrifying and realistic. I'll explain in spoilers.
Moving forward with the characters, something I truly loved within this story are the quiet, domestic details Lansdell added to the character lives that make them popup from the page. For example, Prismer has a collection of meaningful scarves, an sculpture she's working on, while Oklas has some projects that interest him. These mini-mini-mini-sub-plots may not necessarily "go anywhere" but they add depth and make the characters feel round and believable. It is through those details that we can see their emotions and past, making them even more compelling.
Another detail I loved are the overarching themes, and how they are so subtly presented. Discrimination and classicism are at the forefront of knyad society, and are a big part of why the plot happens the way it happens; there is also a subtle hint at religion used to empower/disempower people , societal perception and how it makes beutify standards more pervasive, how poverty limits growth opportunities, and how talented yet poor people may never be allowed to access well-deserved life-changing opportunities.
Regardless, these themes are subtly presented, woven into the plot gently and with care. I loved the depth and presentation of such meaningful topics.
Finally, something to note is that this book doesn't really start with a clear inciting event or motivation. It's the type of story that will take you on a journey of unpredictables, because perceived agency and power are important concepts for the character's journey—and how they deal with that is key for their character progression.
Regardless, the set up is incredible, and by the end of this book we have a lot of things brewing up that should likely blow up in the next book.
In terms of setting and worldbuilding, this gets incredibly detailed while never being overwhelming. Lansdell has crafted a unique, distinctive race—the knyads—whose social and political structure has deep implications for the plot. However, all of this is presented in a straightforward way, though bits woven into the plot events. It is a pleasure to read because, beyond progressing through the plot, we're also discovering this unique society.
To know more about the knyad society, I'd definitely recommend picking up her novelette The Tidelings of Dras Sayve: A Novelette. It's not a prerequisite reading but it adds a lot of depth. However, The novelette is far darker than Far Removed.
In terms of plot and expectations, I found this to be quite a curious read. It begins as a clearly political plot, with a setup that seems to be large scale and with the potential to affect a lot of characters. However, as the story progresses (especially around the halfway mark), this takes a turn to be a more personal story.
To explain that, I'll review the PoVs and characters. We basically follow Oklas (a Deputy Minister) and Prismer (a low-cast low-rank worker). It seems from the start, that both are quite entrenched in their ways, positions, and world-views—but the plot challenges that, playing with the character's agency in a way that's real-life and shocking. It is done superbly, and the more the story progresses, the more Oklas and Prismer jump from the pages with their very human-like (or knyad-like in this case?) reactions.
Now, something to note with regards to character progression here are the content warnings. Although the story is never explicit, some harsh themes and moments are expertly presented and that made it far more terrifying and realistic. I'll explain in spoilers.
Moving forward with the characters, something I truly loved within this story are the quiet, domestic details Lansdell added to the character lives that make them popup from the page. For example, Prismer has a collection of meaningful scarves, an sculpture she's working on, while Oklas has some projects that interest him. These mini-mini-mini-sub-plots may not necessarily "go anywhere" but they add depth and make the characters feel round and believable. It is through those details that we can see their emotions and past, making them even more compelling.
Another detail I loved are the overarching themes, and how they are so subtly presented. Discrimination and classicism are at the forefront of knyad society, and are a big part of why the plot happens the way it happens; there is also a subtle hint at religion used to empower/disempower people , societal perception and how it makes beutify standards more pervasive, how poverty limits growth opportunities, and how talented yet poor people may never be allowed to access well-deserved life-changing opportunities.
Regardless, these themes are subtly presented, woven into the plot gently and with care. I loved the depth and presentation of such meaningful topics.
Finally, something to note is that this book doesn't really start with a clear inciting event or motivation. It's the type of story that will take you on a journey of unpredictables, because perceived agency and power are important concepts for the character's journey—and how they deal with that is key for their character progression.
Regardless, the set up is incredible, and by the end of this book we have a lot of things brewing up that should likely blow up in the next book.
October 1, 2023
This is a very shifty and tricky book to get into - but all in a good way. The society set up is not something I come across most of the time in a fantasy world so that definitely piqued my attention.
Albeit, the themes about mystery, adventure and political intrigues are considered common; the author managed to have a separate take on it by introducing quirky characters and interesting writing approach.
If you are looking for a book version of something like Atomic Blond x Aeon Flux x Ghost Shell, then this is for you.
Albeit, the themes about mystery, adventure and political intrigues are considered common; the author managed to have a separate take on it by introducing quirky characters and interesting writing approach.
If you are looking for a book version of something like Atomic Blond x Aeon Flux x Ghost Shell, then this is for you.
August 3, 2023
Far Removed is the first in the Apidecca duology.
*** SPOILERS ***
On the moon of Knyadrea, the knyads are born of the tides. Their world is one great innovation and technology, but underneath the surface of Apidecca, its capital city, corruption festers. Oklas, a college director and inventor, is a champion of his students, trying to ensure they live a better life, and a protector of those who are under threat from the state. Illanu, a young knyad linked to insurgent activity, is one such student. Oklas arranges for her escape from the city with the aid of Prismer, a masked knyad who was once caught stealing supplies from her employers. Because of this, she was forced to undertake scumbling, a transformation which removes the eyes, nose and mouth and replaces them with an optic pattern (like a single eye), in an attempt to dehumanise an individual. Prisma is successful in her mission, but Oklas is caught working against the state and captured. He ends up being scumbled like Prisma, and she must show him how to survive the life of a maskad.
I loved Oklas and Prima as characters. They felt so real. Prisma is sensible, durable and hard on herself when she lets her guard down. She is also incredibly kind, even though she doesn’t think that way about herself. For example, following Oklas’ scumbling and public denunciation, she tells him of the rumours circulating about him but keeps the nastier ones to herself, seeing that they would serve no purpose. Oklas, on the other hand, is charming and intelligent. Following his scumbling he seems to lose the personality that had served him so well in life, but with Prisma’s help, regains something of it, perhaps becoming a bit wiser in the bargain. By about one-third through the story I could not put it down because I was so immersed in the plot, and I think this was because I felt like I was in the characters’ heads, and feeling something of what they felt. The tension when Oklas was caught was unbearable! I didn’t think the same thing would happen to him as it did to Prisma, and then it did, and I knew how much he would lose. I’m desperate for these characters to be alright by the end of the duology. Their closeness towards the end of the book was heartwarming.
*** END OF SPOILERS ***
The world was well described and fully realised. I felt like we see only the tip of the iceberg as readers, which is as it should be, but the rules and worldbuilding were sound. I don’t read as much sci-fi as fantasy, but I didn’t have any trouble understanding what was going on. In particular, I greatly enjoyed the mystery of resyn, a kind of rare fuel, and feel it will play a large part in the sequel. The writing style reminded me of Ursula Le Guin, in regards to profound ideas being discussed within a sci-fi setting, as well as the beautifully crafted prose. The world had a Hunger-esq element to it (more 2nd and 3rd Hunger Games than the 1st). Hope is a big theme in this story, as is truth.
All in all, I would say this is an outstanding book and probably the best sci-fi I’ve read. I would massively recommend for fans of that genre, and those who enjoy character-driven plots.
Quote - 'It seemed knyads felt their creator’s presence most keenly in the forgotten depths of the world. There was a change in the wind, a promise of better things to come, and Prismer was a part of it.'
Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
*** SPOILERS ***
On the moon of Knyadrea, the knyads are born of the tides. Their world is one great innovation and technology, but underneath the surface of Apidecca, its capital city, corruption festers. Oklas, a college director and inventor, is a champion of his students, trying to ensure they live a better life, and a protector of those who are under threat from the state. Illanu, a young knyad linked to insurgent activity, is one such student. Oklas arranges for her escape from the city with the aid of Prismer, a masked knyad who was once caught stealing supplies from her employers. Because of this, she was forced to undertake scumbling, a transformation which removes the eyes, nose and mouth and replaces them with an optic pattern (like a single eye), in an attempt to dehumanise an individual. Prisma is successful in her mission, but Oklas is caught working against the state and captured. He ends up being scumbled like Prisma, and she must show him how to survive the life of a maskad.
I loved Oklas and Prima as characters. They felt so real. Prisma is sensible, durable and hard on herself when she lets her guard down. She is also incredibly kind, even though she doesn’t think that way about herself. For example, following Oklas’ scumbling and public denunciation, she tells him of the rumours circulating about him but keeps the nastier ones to herself, seeing that they would serve no purpose. Oklas, on the other hand, is charming and intelligent. Following his scumbling he seems to lose the personality that had served him so well in life, but with Prisma’s help, regains something of it, perhaps becoming a bit wiser in the bargain. By about one-third through the story I could not put it down because I was so immersed in the plot, and I think this was because I felt like I was in the characters’ heads, and feeling something of what they felt. The tension when Oklas was caught was unbearable! I didn’t think the same thing would happen to him as it did to Prisma, and then it did, and I knew how much he would lose. I’m desperate for these characters to be alright by the end of the duology. Their closeness towards the end of the book was heartwarming.
*** END OF SPOILERS ***
The world was well described and fully realised. I felt like we see only the tip of the iceberg as readers, which is as it should be, but the rules and worldbuilding were sound. I don’t read as much sci-fi as fantasy, but I didn’t have any trouble understanding what was going on. In particular, I greatly enjoyed the mystery of resyn, a kind of rare fuel, and feel it will play a large part in the sequel. The writing style reminded me of Ursula Le Guin, in regards to profound ideas being discussed within a sci-fi setting, as well as the beautifully crafted prose. The world had a Hunger-esq element to it (more 2nd and 3rd Hunger Games than the 1st). Hope is a big theme in this story, as is truth.
All in all, I would say this is an outstanding book and probably the best sci-fi I’ve read. I would massively recommend for fans of that genre, and those who enjoy character-driven plots.
Quote - 'It seemed knyads felt their creator’s presence most keenly in the forgotten depths of the world. There was a change in the wind, a promise of better things to come, and Prismer was a part of it.'
Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 21, 2024
I don't even know where to begin with this one. It's good. REALLY good. I don't read sci-fi as much as I read fantasy (though this particular book has fantasy vibes, which I like), but I was quickly captivated by this story. Even though there's a bit of a learning curve, it becomes almost transparent when you allow yourself to focus on the characters and developments, and there are enough to keep the ball rolling.
The visuals were simply stunning, and went really well with the vibe I gleaned from the cover. The author did an excellent job of painting a vivid (and enticing) picture of Apidecca, and I found myself constantly wishing for more illustrations just so I could compare them to the pictures in my head. And, if you know me, you probably noticed I usually don't focus a lot on descriptions (even in my own work, lol).
But even with all that beauty, there is something rotten under the surface. We are gradually introduced to it, and to the quiet oppression going on in the setting, and I particularly liked how casually cruel the regime is. It doesn't keep the bad stuff a secret, but at the same time it doesn't glorify in the violence that happens backstage either. Things are... "normal". And the normal isn't good for everyone (in fact it sucks for many), much like in the real world. Granted, things might look this way because the entirety of the plot is set in the most important city, so I'd love to see more from other places across Knyadrea as well, and maybe more about the other moon too.
We also can't forget the characters! They were another thing that brought this story to life in my eyes. Prismer and Oklas are unique, authentic individuals, and this book succeeded at not having either of them steal the spotlight from the other (a common problem in multi-POV books). They each have their own strengths and moments to shine, and I loved how they grew from complete strangers, each with preconceptions about the other, to something more. I look forward to seeing how they (and the plot) develop in the next installment.
Returning to the genre thing, I guess what gives the book so much of a fantasy vibe is because the technology is a bit similar to our own, with resyn as the blatant outlier, almost magical in nature. The things made with resyncraft in this book are probably why I've seen it being described as having horror elements on top of the sci-fi/fantasy thing, and seeing such a blend of genres done well was a delight.
Far Removed is also a deceptively short book. The first few pages (and a lot of the final ones) contain other extra information, so imagine my surprise when I thought I had another 20 pages to read and realized I had finished. But the glossary helped. Part of the fun I had with this book involved comparing anything and everything alien to what we have on Earth (like Oklas's scrambler, which I totally saw as a motorcycle), and I also had a great deal of fun trying to figure out how the author came up with each new term. Scumbling, in particular, was a word I dwelled on for quite a while.
Aaand I guess I started rambling. Suffice to say, Far Removed was an entertaining reader on multiple levels, and I strongly recommend it to fans of both sci-fi and fantasy (especially if you're into horror elements). An excellent read.
The visuals were simply stunning, and went really well with the vibe I gleaned from the cover. The author did an excellent job of painting a vivid (and enticing) picture of Apidecca, and I found myself constantly wishing for more illustrations just so I could compare them to the pictures in my head. And, if you know me, you probably noticed I usually don't focus a lot on descriptions (even in my own work, lol).
But even with all that beauty, there is something rotten under the surface. We are gradually introduced to it, and to the quiet oppression going on in the setting, and I particularly liked how casually cruel the regime is. It doesn't keep the bad stuff a secret, but at the same time it doesn't glorify in the violence that happens backstage either. Things are... "normal". And the normal isn't good for everyone (in fact it sucks for many), much like in the real world. Granted, things might look this way because the entirety of the plot is set in the most important city, so I'd love to see more from other places across Knyadrea as well, and maybe more about the other moon too.
We also can't forget the characters! They were another thing that brought this story to life in my eyes. Prismer and Oklas are unique, authentic individuals, and this book succeeded at not having either of them steal the spotlight from the other (a common problem in multi-POV books). They each have their own strengths and moments to shine, and I loved how they grew from complete strangers, each with preconceptions about the other, to something more. I look forward to seeing how they (and the plot) develop in the next installment.
Returning to the genre thing, I guess what gives the book so much of a fantasy vibe is because the technology is a bit similar to our own, with resyn as the blatant outlier, almost magical in nature. The things made with resyncraft in this book are probably why I've seen it being described as having horror elements on top of the sci-fi/fantasy thing, and seeing such a blend of genres done well was a delight.
Far Removed is also a deceptively short book. The first few pages (and a lot of the final ones) contain other extra information, so imagine my surprise when I thought I had another 20 pages to read and realized I had finished. But the glossary helped. Part of the fun I had with this book involved comparing anything and everything alien to what we have on Earth (like Oklas's scrambler, which I totally saw as a motorcycle), and I also had a great deal of fun trying to figure out how the author came up with each new term. Scumbling, in particular, was a word I dwelled on for quite a while.
Aaand I guess I started rambling. Suffice to say, Far Removed was an entertaining reader on multiple levels, and I strongly recommend it to fans of both sci-fi and fantasy (especially if you're into horror elements). An excellent read.
June 29, 2024
A quiet, character-centric dark fantasy novel with some sci-fi-ish choices taking place on another planet--more precisely a moon of a planet, in the harshly stratified society of knyads. The worldbuilding and the characters immediately pulled me in. The story starts very slow, and it lets the reader get lost at first, but little by little and with patience, most things become clear and it's honestly worth to wait that out.
In a somewhat irregular way, the inciting incident happens a little way into the first third, and it's the largest plot thing that happens. It changes both POV-character's lives: Oklas' life upturns radically, while we see how the threads tug at Prismer for the rest of the book. After this, there's no real action: we see how the events change the two characters, and we see how they cope with it, individually, and together. They are formed by their world in front of our eyes, forming each other and trying to form things in their reach all the while. It's fascinating to watch, and I'm really curious where they will go after this.
Knyads cannot reproduce: they are born from the ocean through a yet not-understood process and order themselves into clans and very strict stratas (castes). There's no way to cross stratas, or if there is, it's supervised by the ruling clan and only happens when they profit from it. The whole thing is based on strange theological/scientific reasoning (which I hope we'll get to know more about!) and seems unbreakable: it worked so far so it will continue to work. But if we really look at it, we see how it doesn't work just as the main characters do. Knyad civilization is decaying. It was very interesting to see their technology, "magic" (a very rare substance called resyn which is energy source and can also manipulate biology/chemistry/genetics(?) and I think it's going to be really important going forward) and culture. We get bits, and still, the city of Apidecca feels real. And even though little happens, there's lots of tension. Dark secrets, political machinations, even an organized insurgent group: there's plenty to immerse in.
But the focus always stays on Oklas and Prismer. They are, indeed, start far removed: Oklas a politician, an inventor, a college director, part of the highest social caste, charming and well-known, while Prismer on the bottom, a reclusive, bitter, but self-assured and kind person. As they get close to each other and form a cautious friendship, we get to know things from both sides of the coin and see the tug of war that the oppressive societal structure and their own personal wounds play on them. I just loved both of them so much and their dynamic is lovely.
The book is slow, never meandering but taking its time, measured and never self-important, but it managed to capture my attention so much as to feeling I have to pay close attention to each sentence. The story is very dark, if you really look at it, but the warmth and connection glimmering in both main characters gave a direction out of the darkness the whole way.
I really loved it, and I'm very curious about the sequel. Lovers of intricate world-building and subtle character work will appreciate this book.
In a somewhat irregular way, the inciting incident happens a little way into the first third, and it's the largest plot thing that happens. It changes both POV-character's lives: Oklas' life upturns radically, while we see how the threads tug at Prismer for the rest of the book. After this, there's no real action: we see how the events change the two characters, and we see how they cope with it, individually, and together. They are formed by their world in front of our eyes, forming each other and trying to form things in their reach all the while. It's fascinating to watch, and I'm really curious where they will go after this.
Knyads cannot reproduce: they are born from the ocean through a yet not-understood process and order themselves into clans and very strict stratas (castes). There's no way to cross stratas, or if there is, it's supervised by the ruling clan and only happens when they profit from it. The whole thing is based on strange theological/scientific reasoning (which I hope we'll get to know more about!) and seems unbreakable: it worked so far so it will continue to work. But if we really look at it, we see how it doesn't work just as the main characters do. Knyad civilization is decaying. It was very interesting to see their technology, "magic" (a very rare substance called resyn which is energy source and can also manipulate biology/chemistry/genetics(?) and I think it's going to be really important going forward) and culture. We get bits, and still, the city of Apidecca feels real. And even though little happens, there's lots of tension. Dark secrets, political machinations, even an organized insurgent group: there's plenty to immerse in.
But the focus always stays on Oklas and Prismer. They are, indeed, start far removed: Oklas a politician, an inventor, a college director, part of the highest social caste, charming and well-known, while Prismer on the bottom, a reclusive, bitter, but self-assured and kind person. As they get close to each other and form a cautious friendship, we get to know things from both sides of the coin and see the tug of war that the oppressive societal structure and their own personal wounds play on them. I just loved both of them so much and their dynamic is lovely.
The book is slow, never meandering but taking its time, measured and never self-important, but it managed to capture my attention so much as to feeling I have to pay close attention to each sentence. The story is very dark, if you really look at it, but the warmth and connection glimmering in both main characters gave a direction out of the darkness the whole way.
I really loved it, and I'm very curious about the sequel. Lovers of intricate world-building and subtle character work will appreciate this book.
July 31, 2025
Far Removed by C.B. Landsdell is one of those rare gems of storytelling that both captivates and challenges. It’s a subtle story that upon closer inspection is layers deep in character development, world building, and social commentary. It will keep you turning pages and when there are no more left, its message and characters will keep you thinking.
Like classic sci-fi works, Far Removed takes a bit to sink into as a reader due to the extensive worldbuilding. The universe and its workings—the vernacular, social strata, and the race that comprise them all—aren’t spoon-fed to readers in the story. There’s detailed information on terms and the universe before and after the story, but the tale itself is dedicated to weaving a complex narrative within a relatively short read.
And it mostly certainly does.
The story takes place on the moon of Knyadrea, home of the knyads. Knyads are a humanoid, semi-aquatic race with incredibly well-thought-out physiological traits that make me want to research ocean life to see if I can spot their inspiration. In any case, we follow two kynads of vastly different social statuses: Okas and Prismer.
Oklas is a member of the upper class who serves as minister of the college. While he has a good heart, often aiding those of lower status, he is blind to some of the deeper issues within the world and within himself at the start of the story. He has money, looks, and charm, and he knows it. For the first part of the book, I struggled to relate to or care about him with any depth, but in the end, his journey is the one that completely captivated my heart. There is a scene involving this character that was so beautifully written in its poignancy that I’ll be thinking of it for weeks to come. It completely shifts the story, and once this scene happened, I was emotionally invested in a way I haven’t experienced with a story in quite some time.
The other main character is Prismer. Prismer is one of the maskad of the kynad. This essentially means her body, especially her face, has been genetically altered as punishment for a crime, and she’s forced to wear a mask in public. Maskad are the lowest of the low, socially shunned and even feared as contagious or dangerous. From the very start, Prismer is a complex character you can’t help but sympathize with. She’s brilliant and brave but often overlooked. She longs for friendship and purpose but has so many walls up she doesn’t allow herself to seek either. Her journey to both is incredibly touching and done in a way that isn’t overly dramatic, which I appreciated.
Far Removed holds so many powerful messages without hitting readers over the head with them. They unfold naturally, their bloom more beautiful for the subtlety. If you enjoy understated drama, where characters are mature and layered and the darkness isn’t the main focus but is certainly present, this book is a must read. With such a powerful start from C.B. Landsdell, I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for book 2.
Like classic sci-fi works, Far Removed takes a bit to sink into as a reader due to the extensive worldbuilding. The universe and its workings—the vernacular, social strata, and the race that comprise them all—aren’t spoon-fed to readers in the story. There’s detailed information on terms and the universe before and after the story, but the tale itself is dedicated to weaving a complex narrative within a relatively short read.
And it mostly certainly does.
The story takes place on the moon of Knyadrea, home of the knyads. Knyads are a humanoid, semi-aquatic race with incredibly well-thought-out physiological traits that make me want to research ocean life to see if I can spot their inspiration. In any case, we follow two kynads of vastly different social statuses: Okas and Prismer.
Oklas is a member of the upper class who serves as minister of the college. While he has a good heart, often aiding those of lower status, he is blind to some of the deeper issues within the world and within himself at the start of the story. He has money, looks, and charm, and he knows it. For the first part of the book, I struggled to relate to or care about him with any depth, but in the end, his journey is the one that completely captivated my heart. There is a scene involving this character that was so beautifully written in its poignancy that I’ll be thinking of it for weeks to come. It completely shifts the story, and once this scene happened, I was emotionally invested in a way I haven’t experienced with a story in quite some time.
The other main character is Prismer. Prismer is one of the maskad of the kynad. This essentially means her body, especially her face, has been genetically altered as punishment for a crime, and she’s forced to wear a mask in public. Maskad are the lowest of the low, socially shunned and even feared as contagious or dangerous. From the very start, Prismer is a complex character you can’t help but sympathize with. She’s brilliant and brave but often overlooked. She longs for friendship and purpose but has so many walls up she doesn’t allow herself to seek either. Her journey to both is incredibly touching and done in a way that isn’t overly dramatic, which I appreciated.
Far Removed holds so many powerful messages without hitting readers over the head with them. They unfold naturally, their bloom more beautiful for the subtlety. If you enjoy understated drama, where characters are mature and layered and the darkness isn’t the main focus but is certainly present, this book is a must read. With such a powerful start from C.B. Landsdell, I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for book 2.
June 13, 2024
Far Removed gently plucks the heartstrings in this dark and somewhat horrific tale. It’s a story of quiet tensions and small rebellions within a stratified dystopian society of knyads.
I suspect this is going to develop into a larger conflict come book two, but I really enjoyed reading about these characters while they’re still living in fear of action. That precipice of just-comfortable-enough-to-survive that keeps people in a state of compliance even in the face of great wrongs.
One’s sense of identity, acceptance, guilt and responsibility, and other heavy themes were addressed throughout the book in intriguing ways that made this one of the more thought-provoking books I’ve read recently. How much of your identity is in your face?
There were no humans in the book, only knyads, and their anatomy was intricately tied into the world, society, and plot. The worldbuilding was comprehensive and included time segments, life cycles, biological variation, historical evolution theories and more. This world is thorough and lived in!
The darker elements of this book, the maskads and scumbling, were as beautiful as terrible. It was really a unique idea presented in a fascinating way. It’s difficult to say anything specific about this without feeling like I’m spoiling things, as part of the pleasure of this read was the slow unmasking of this aspect of the world.
While I read a good amount outside of my preferred subgenres and I don’t reduce stars for something that just happens to not be my niche of SFF, I do always savor these books that are really exactly the sort of dark adult SFF that drives my love of books.
Nothing over the top here, just a dark gritty environment, broken characters, a meticulously crafted world, and an intriguing plot.
I’ll definitely also qualify this as a genre mashup. Nyads are traditionally fantasy, yes, and I see the inspiration there, but these knyads are living with cybernetic implants and other such tech. I think it safely fits into cyberpunk, but also has a dash of fantasy and some light horror.
I suspect this is going to develop into a larger conflict come book two, but I really enjoyed reading about these characters while they’re still living in fear of action. That precipice of just-comfortable-enough-to-survive that keeps people in a state of compliance even in the face of great wrongs.
One’s sense of identity, acceptance, guilt and responsibility, and other heavy themes were addressed throughout the book in intriguing ways that made this one of the more thought-provoking books I’ve read recently. How much of your identity is in your face?
There were no humans in the book, only knyads, and their anatomy was intricately tied into the world, society, and plot. The worldbuilding was comprehensive and included time segments, life cycles, biological variation, historical evolution theories and more. This world is thorough and lived in!
The darker elements of this book, the maskads and scumbling, were as beautiful as terrible. It was really a unique idea presented in a fascinating way. It’s difficult to say anything specific about this without feeling like I’m spoiling things, as part of the pleasure of this read was the slow unmasking of this aspect of the world.
While I read a good amount outside of my preferred subgenres and I don’t reduce stars for something that just happens to not be my niche of SFF, I do always savor these books that are really exactly the sort of dark adult SFF that drives my love of books.
Nothing over the top here, just a dark gritty environment, broken characters, a meticulously crafted world, and an intriguing plot.
I’ll definitely also qualify this as a genre mashup. Nyads are traditionally fantasy, yes, and I see the inspiration there, but these knyads are living with cybernetic implants and other such tech. I think it safely fits into cyberpunk, but also has a dash of fantasy and some light horror.
August 16, 2024
First off, I want to say I liked this book very much. The characters are interesting and the world building is top notch, but I don't think this is a book for everyone.
This is a character driven story through and through. In fact, if you were to ask me to describe the plot, I'd be hard pressed to tell you what it was about. What you think the plot will be about in the beginning is quickly resolved before the book is even halfway finished. The rest explores the depths of our two POV characters. First there's Oklas, a politician and revolutionary, who sets the events of the story in motion, an act which changes his life forever before the story's end. And then there's Prismer, the scumbled artist tasked with completing the task.
The mission that sets the story in motion is completed before the book is halfway finished, and the back half of the book delves deeper into these characters bringing them together and exploring their blossoming friendship with hints of underlying romance. I found myself rooting for these two. They're fleshed out characters with hopes and flaws, and I'll be happy to spend more time with them when the second part of this duology is released.
The other aspect of this story that makes it five stars for me is the world building. Everything about the alien world of Apidecca is wonderfully unique. There are no human characters here. The planet is populated by a race of sea people called Knyads. They have advanced technology based on a seemingly magical substance called resyn. There's extreme body modification that plays a large part in the story. Everything about it is strange, new, and interesting, but it is so "Far Removed" from the real world that it might be difficult for some readers to accept.
Overall: Five stars for me, but I can't recommend this to readers who come for the plot or have a hard time imagining an unfamiliar world.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a character driven story through and through. In fact, if you were to ask me to describe the plot, I'd be hard pressed to tell you what it was about. What you think the plot will be about in the beginning is quickly resolved before the book is even halfway finished. The rest explores the depths of our two POV characters. First there's Oklas, a politician and revolutionary, who sets the events of the story in motion, an act which changes his life forever before the story's end. And then there's Prismer, the scumbled artist tasked with completing the task.
The mission that sets the story in motion is completed before the book is halfway finished, and the back half of the book delves deeper into these characters bringing them together and exploring their blossoming friendship with hints of underlying romance. I found myself rooting for these two. They're fleshed out characters with hopes and flaws, and I'll be happy to spend more time with them when the second part of this duology is released.
The other aspect of this story that makes it five stars for me is the world building. Everything about the alien world of Apidecca is wonderfully unique. There are no human characters here. The planet is populated by a race of sea people called Knyads. They have advanced technology based on a seemingly magical substance called resyn. There's extreme body modification that plays a large part in the story. Everything about it is strange, new, and interesting, but it is so "Far Removed" from the real world that it might be difficult for some readers to accept.
Overall: Five stars for me, but I can't recommend this to readers who come for the plot or have a hard time imagining an unfamiliar world.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 4, 2025
Who are you, when you're forbidden to be you? Who are you, when the powers that be erase and destroy pieces that anchor your sense of self?
That's one of the themes Coe makes us reflect and explore in Far Removed.
In this theme our characters are faced with those questions and you, the reader, faces them as well. You will invariably ask yourself what makes you, you.
It's a book that explores how a broken person comes into their own after being broken.
Far Removed also Is a book that puts us to see a society that is based in a very stratified class system, where those in power will do everything in their power to preserve the status quo. They wield their power without remorse and compassion. All to hoard the power and keep the other classes under them. It's all very Apartheid on steroids. Incredibly dystopian.
The worlbuilding is complex is vivid and it's supremely alien and grounded at the same time. Coe only makes you work a little to piece some of the unique aspects of this world.
Far Removed is a story that is best read with an open mind and an open heart. This is not an alien escapade or an adventure. Far Removed is a book about piecing yourself together after all you were and all you had were forcibly removed.
It's also a book about how to combat the forces that did that to you. How to do it when those forces act on a global scale. A global power. How do you fight that? And that is the question we will most likely be posed front and center in Book 2.
Read my full review here
4.75⭐️
That's one of the themes Coe makes us reflect and explore in Far Removed.
In this theme our characters are faced with those questions and you, the reader, faces them as well. You will invariably ask yourself what makes you, you.
It's a book that explores how a broken person comes into their own after being broken.
Far Removed also Is a book that puts us to see a society that is based in a very stratified class system, where those in power will do everything in their power to preserve the status quo. They wield their power without remorse and compassion. All to hoard the power and keep the other classes under them. It's all very Apartheid on steroids. Incredibly dystopian.
The worlbuilding is complex is vivid and it's supremely alien and grounded at the same time. Coe only makes you work a little to piece some of the unique aspects of this world.
Far Removed is a story that is best read with an open mind and an open heart. This is not an alien escapade or an adventure. Far Removed is a book about piecing yourself together after all you were and all you had were forcibly removed.
It's also a book about how to combat the forces that did that to you. How to do it when those forces act on a global scale. A global power. How do you fight that? And that is the question we will most likely be posed front and center in Book 2.
Read my full review here
4.75⭐️
April 9, 2024
I loved this book.
It has so much that is fresh and different which the author uses consistently as driving forces in the novel.
Knyadrea is a moon world, part of a two-moon system with a complex “seasonal” structure between the moons, planet (uninhabited), and the sun. The author never forgets to place us in the right season and all the pros and cons, to the characters, of that season.
The Knyads (the sentient species) have a unique multi-part life cycle. This affects their individual outlooks and gives each of them depth as they share their stories. They are also both familiarly human and sharply distinguished. Their skin is multi-hued, for example and they lack hair but have colorful tendrils.
Society is also unique. Knyadrea is divided into clans. These clans are then stratified into Orta, Praemor, and Erud. The five Erud clans rule Knyadrea with a despotic, paranoid fist. There is also a large group of knyads who are unclassified, the lowest of the low.
Our main characters, Oklas and Prismer, are multi-dimensional and each carry their struggles, successes, and failures to us, the readers, in a way which pulls us deeper into the story and finds us hoping for their success. Secondary characters also have depth. They are deftly used to give us more information – about the culture, the life cycle, the politics, the seasons, the history, and the main characters themselves.
In short, Far Removed is a well-done, unique, intriguing, and engaging story. I cannot wait for its companion volume, the conclusion to the Apideccan Duology!
It has so much that is fresh and different which the author uses consistently as driving forces in the novel.
Knyadrea is a moon world, part of a two-moon system with a complex “seasonal” structure between the moons, planet (uninhabited), and the sun. The author never forgets to place us in the right season and all the pros and cons, to the characters, of that season.
The Knyads (the sentient species) have a unique multi-part life cycle. This affects their individual outlooks and gives each of them depth as they share their stories. They are also both familiarly human and sharply distinguished. Their skin is multi-hued, for example and they lack hair but have colorful tendrils.
Society is also unique. Knyadrea is divided into clans. These clans are then stratified into Orta, Praemor, and Erud. The five Erud clans rule Knyadrea with a despotic, paranoid fist. There is also a large group of knyads who are unclassified, the lowest of the low.
Our main characters, Oklas and Prismer, are multi-dimensional and each carry their struggles, successes, and failures to us, the readers, in a way which pulls us deeper into the story and finds us hoping for their success. Secondary characters also have depth. They are deftly used to give us more information – about the culture, the life cycle, the politics, the seasons, the history, and the main characters themselves.
In short, Far Removed is a well-done, unique, intriguing, and engaging story. I cannot wait for its companion volume, the conclusion to the Apideccan Duology!
August 8, 2023
FAR REMOVED was a fantastic sci fi debut by C.B. Lansdell. Told from the perspective of two characters, Oklas and Prismer, it details a world and society that is highly oppressed where even the smallest crimes are punished brutally by an authoritarian government. Oklas works at a college he founded as an engineer and also secretly aids rebel factions. Prismer is one of the maskads—a subset of the people who are of the lowest social level and forced to keep their entire bodies and faces masked. They cannot own property and cannot speak of their condition—and rumors abound about what truly causes the maskad condition. When Prismer helps smuggle a young rebel out of the city, she and Oklas cross paths, and she reveals some of her truth. I loved the world building in this novel. The political climate and the planet were all richly developed. There’s so much detail and it’s all well done. I really felt the novel hit its stride in the second half when a major event happens and a character is forced to question everything they once knew. The scenes that follow are horrific, emotional, traumatic to read, and very well written. I loved the second half of the book, where I felt the strong emotional meat of the story lay and liked the friendship between Oklas and Prismer that developed. I am excited to see what book two has in store for us! 5/5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the author for review purposes.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the author for review purposes.
April 11, 2025
Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell is a richly imagined sci-fi novel set on the moon of Knyadrea, where intelligent life thrives beneath the tides. The world-building is immersive, blending political intrigue with social commentary and a hint of the supernatural. Oklas Sayve, a visionary politician and educator, battles against a rigid system to protect a wrongly accused student. His struggle reveals the moral complexities of leadership and loyalty in a stratified society.
Meanwhile, in the moon’s underbelly, Prismer—a reclusive artist haunted by past mistakes—is drawn into a dangerous mission that forces her to choose between safety and purpose. As both storylines intertwine, Lansdell explores how power, identity, and resistance intersect in a world where change is as relentless as the tides.
This thought-provoking novel balances lyrical prose with tense suspense. Fans of layered speculative fiction and character-driven storytelling will find Far Removed a compelling and meaningful read.
Meanwhile, in the moon’s underbelly, Prismer—a reclusive artist haunted by past mistakes—is drawn into a dangerous mission that forces her to choose between safety and purpose. As both storylines intertwine, Lansdell explores how power, identity, and resistance intersect in a world where change is as relentless as the tides.
This thought-provoking novel balances lyrical prose with tense suspense. Fans of layered speculative fiction and character-driven storytelling will find Far Removed a compelling and meaningful read.
November 1, 2025
DONE. This one gets an easy 5 stars for quality.
Honestly, I had trouble getting into this one for about the first half of the story. Incredible prose, amazingly rich worldbuilding, but the story just wasn't for me...
UNTIL that thing that happens. You'll know it when you get there. And oh wow, does it bring everything together perfectly. And suddenly I couldn't put the thing down and kept reading well past when I should have been asleep. Haven't had a book do that to me in a while.
I'll say this too: I listened to that first chunk of the book on audio, and the narrators are incredible. But audio slows down my reading, for one, and something about it I think contributed to me not enjoying what I was reading as much as once I switched off audio and dove in, text only. Can't explain it, but I'm so glad I switched.
Well worth the read, and an indie novel of this quality (prose, character, worldbuilding) deserves way more attention.
Honestly, I had trouble getting into this one for about the first half of the story. Incredible prose, amazingly rich worldbuilding, but the story just wasn't for me...
UNTIL that thing that happens. You'll know it when you get there. And oh wow, does it bring everything together perfectly. And suddenly I couldn't put the thing down and kept reading well past when I should have been asleep. Haven't had a book do that to me in a while.
I'll say this too: I listened to that first chunk of the book on audio, and the narrators are incredible. But audio slows down my reading, for one, and something about it I think contributed to me not enjoying what I was reading as much as once I switched off audio and dove in, text only. Can't explain it, but I'm so glad I switched.
Well worth the read, and an indie novel of this quality (prose, character, worldbuilding) deserves way more attention.
December 14, 2025
In the beginning, I found this a book little hard to read. Sometimes, it is like that when one is entering a new realm all together, and maybe a few ‘big’ words for an expat for whom English is their second language.😉
After a little reading in the appendix, the reading got easier and easier, and before long, the pages just flew by. Almost too quickly as the plot just gets more and more exciting.😊
I personally liked the world this author has created. I felt the dampness in the subterranean paths leading to the harbour, and I got a little claustrophobic as the tunnels got tighter.
We meet Oklas, a jack of many trades who is dabbling in politics and aerodynamics.
His life is anything but boring, and his extracurricular activities are not without danger.
The book is written with two POVs; Oklas' and Prismer's. So close, yet so far from each other.
There is a map with the subterranean pathways. I do love maps.🩵
At this point, I can barely wait for the next one.
After a little reading in the appendix, the reading got easier and easier, and before long, the pages just flew by. Almost too quickly as the plot just gets more and more exciting.😊
I personally liked the world this author has created. I felt the dampness in the subterranean paths leading to the harbour, and I got a little claustrophobic as the tunnels got tighter.
We meet Oklas, a jack of many trades who is dabbling in politics and aerodynamics.
His life is anything but boring, and his extracurricular activities are not without danger.
The book is written with two POVs; Oklas' and Prismer's. So close, yet so far from each other.
There is a map with the subterranean pathways. I do love maps.🩵
At this point, I can barely wait for the next one.
November 28, 2025
This was a very interesting sci-fi book, with humanoid aquatic aliens with a lot of geopolitical happenings. There's class warfare between higher education systems and rebels. That said, this is a quiet book, in that there isn't a lot of flashy sci-fi action or spaceships. This is mostly a story of two individuals coming to terms with their lot in life, as formed by a process called 'scumbling', which is where a sort of magic is used to alter their faces, which result in them becoming 'maskads' or masked. I thought the first quarter of the book was a bit hard to get in because of the new world terms and jargon (there is appendices and glossary at the back), but once one of the POVs becomes a maskad, the book just flowed and there was a great dichotomy of life's lot and growth. Highly recommend.
August 24, 2023
A fascinating tale! Lansdell weaves an intricate story that is compelling and melancholy. We are introduced to Oklas Sayve, a prominent educator and politician on the moon of Knyadrea. Oklas longs to effect change in the rigid society in which he lives, but finds himself thwarted at every turn. When he vows to help a political dissident evade capture, he doesn't realize he will soon be plunged into the dark underbelly of society -- and into the company of Prismer, one of many knyads forced to wear a mask and live in obscurity. Part adventure, part mystery - this book introduces readers to a new and frightening world that somewhat mirrors our own. (I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
November 10, 2025
4.5 Rounded up
I read this as part of the WWP November book club (In audio)
Far Removed was a little slower-paced than I typically prefer, but the pacing serves the characters and world well, as there is a lot of depth to this. The prose was smooth, and the dual narrators gave the audio a nice touch.
A unique setting that still manages to deal with all the familiar issues of discrimination, power dynamics, and self-acceptance.
I read this as part of the WWP November book club (In audio)
Far Removed was a little slower-paced than I typically prefer, but the pacing serves the characters and world well, as there is a lot of depth to this. The prose was smooth, and the dual narrators gave the audio a nice touch.
A unique setting that still manages to deal with all the familiar issues of discrimination, power dynamics, and self-acceptance.
August 24, 2023
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everything I say here is my own opinion.
Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell is a debut novel that sets its ambitions high. The book introduces a captivating world that stands out – and in the best way!
The story follows two main characters: Oklas Sayve, a bold politician and college director challenging his world's norms, and Prismer, a gifted artist grappling with her own struggles. Both undergo significant personal growth throughout the novel, as they're confronted with truths about themselves and their society, leading them to question the impact of their efforts.
I really connected with Prismer at the start, but surprisingly, Oklas really won me over by the end. The supporting characters, particularly Rosh and Ilu, also added real depth to the narrative and rounded out the world, and I really hope to see more of them in the next book.
Beyond the impressive world-building and well-crafted characters, Lansdell subtly addresses crucial social issues. However, one concern I have is that the book's approach to this might be too vague at times, in an attempt to make them relatable to a greater audience. While this approach has its merits, it could potentially dilute the overall focus.
Another challenge I encountered was the abundance of specialized jargon and explanations unique to the world. But, considering that this is a debut novel with a complex setting, I can forgive that as I look forward to the sequel.
Ultimately, Far Removed offers readers a thought-provoking and enjoyable experience. Lansdell is a talented writer, and I look forward to seeing more from her as she continues to develop her unique voice.
Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell is a debut novel that sets its ambitions high. The book introduces a captivating world that stands out – and in the best way!
The story follows two main characters: Oklas Sayve, a bold politician and college director challenging his world's norms, and Prismer, a gifted artist grappling with her own struggles. Both undergo significant personal growth throughout the novel, as they're confronted with truths about themselves and their society, leading them to question the impact of their efforts.
I really connected with Prismer at the start, but surprisingly, Oklas really won me over by the end. The supporting characters, particularly Rosh and Ilu, also added real depth to the narrative and rounded out the world, and I really hope to see more of them in the next book.
Beyond the impressive world-building and well-crafted characters, Lansdell subtly addresses crucial social issues. However, one concern I have is that the book's approach to this might be too vague at times, in an attempt to make them relatable to a greater audience. While this approach has its merits, it could potentially dilute the overall focus.
Another challenge I encountered was the abundance of specialized jargon and explanations unique to the world. But, considering that this is a debut novel with a complex setting, I can forgive that as I look forward to the sequel.
Ultimately, Far Removed offers readers a thought-provoking and enjoyable experience. Lansdell is a talented writer, and I look forward to seeing more from her as she continues to develop her unique voice.
October 14, 2023
A compelling, beautifully-crafted read.
This book is all about subtleties and intricacies, from the characters and their relationships to the complex, layered world-building. The author doesn’t just create a new world and species, she brings them to life — it’s been a long time since I’ve read a book so thoroughly crafted and immersive.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
This book is all about subtleties and intricacies, from the characters and their relationships to the complex, layered world-building. The author doesn’t just create a new world and species, she brings them to life — it’s been a long time since I’ve read a book so thoroughly crafted and immersive.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
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