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Beginnings and Endings #1
Of Secrets and Beginnings
In the outskirt villages of Irropia, twenty-one-year-old Atallia has only ever glimpsed bits of magic on her slowly dying world. Outcasted and shunned, she longs to be left alone and live her life in peace, but as fate would have it a mysterious disease has begun to spread across the land, cursing those who fell ill to a slow, cruel death.In but a single night her world is shattered and reshaped, lies and truths blending together as her destiny is laid out before her in a blaze of light and destruction. Attacked and nearly killed, power that had simmered beneath her skin her entire life tears free and shakes the world.Saved by a magical people long thought lost, Atallia’s life would never be the same. Especially after meeting Kanan, the military might and revered champion of his kind. Everything about him may have drawn her in, made her heart beat faster, but the darkness in his eyes—the secrets—had her wondering whether he could be trusted, or if he was just another name to add to the long list of those who sought to pacify her. To control her.With visions of war chasing her in her dreams, and more questions than answers, Atallia would soon find out if secrets really did run as thick as blood; and if so would anyone make it out unscathed?Or would she have to burn the world down to find out the truth…?
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2023
292 people are currently reading
2047 people want to read
About the author
Ashlyn B. Rudd
2 books34 followersAshlyn B. Rudd is the American author of the captivating and enthralling romantic fantasy, Of Secrets and Beginnings.
She lives in the States and is currently working on her degree in nursing. She spends her days in scrubs going through classes, and at night, in between bouts of studying, she lives in the fictional worlds in her head, kicking ass with a sword and casting magic.
When she’s not with her friends and family she enjoys stormy days with her animals, a good book, a cozy blanket, and a fireplace. Outside of books, her interests lie in a whole host of things including: gardening, horseback riding, cooking, and binging a good show.
If she could she’d live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, so when she finally takes the dive deep into the woods, don’t be surprised if she only comes out for trips to the bookstore and to stock up on snacks.
She lives in the States and is currently working on her degree in nursing. She spends her days in scrubs going through classes, and at night, in between bouts of studying, she lives in the fictional worlds in her head, kicking ass with a sword and casting magic.
When she’s not with her friends and family she enjoys stormy days with her animals, a good book, a cozy blanket, and a fireplace. Outside of books, her interests lie in a whole host of things including: gardening, horseback riding, cooking, and binging a good show.
If she could she’d live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, so when she finally takes the dive deep into the woods, don’t be surprised if she only comes out for trips to the bookstore and to stock up on snacks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 17, 2023
ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
⭐ ⭐⭐⭐💫/5
"Of Secrets and Beginnings" is a captivating high fantasy/romantasy novel that effortlessly transports you into a mesmerizing realm. The author's boundless imagination shines through in this intricately crafted world. From its great plot to its wonderful relationships, this book is a must-read for fantasy lovers.
The novel's plot is a true highlight. Right from the start, the author presents you with a gripping premise that slowly unravels layers of complexity. Each chapter is meticulously crafted, maintaining a seamless flow of events that keeps you engrossed throughout. The pacing is skillfully managed, allowing for moments of calm reflection amidst the intense sequences. It's a testament to the author's storytelling prowess that the plot remains consistently engaging, leaving you eager to uncover the next secret waiting in the upcoming chapters.
However, what truly sets this book apart is its emphasis on worldbuilding. The author's imagination knows no bounds when it comes to creating a rich and detailed fantasy realm. Every aspect of the world is thoughtfully constructed, from sprawling landscapes to an unique "magic" system. The attention to detail is exceptional, enhancing the overall reading experience and fully immersing you in a believable and vividly realized world. Comparisons can be drawn to the skill and attention to detail seen in Stephanie Garber's works, making this new realm your favorite spot, surpassing even the beloved Velaris.
The characters in "Of Secrets and Beginnings" are beautifully written, with Atallia standing out as a particularly well-portrayed protagonist. Her emotions and motivations are brilliantly depicted, drawing you into her journey. The author excels at creating authentic and multi-dimensional relationships, be it friendships (such as the lovable Wrynn), romantic entanglements (the swoon-worthy Kanan), or the bonds of a found family. Although the relationships are just beginning to develop, you will find yourself invested in Atallia's triumphs and heartaches, rooting for her growth and cherishing her moments of vulnerability. These relationships add depth and emotional resonance to an already compelling narrative, and it's worth noting that a certain "Kanan" may very well become your next book boyfriend. Additionally, prepare for some spicy moments that will leave you wanting more.
While "Of Secrets and Beginnings" is an outstanding novel, it does have one minor shortcoming. A certain aspect about Atallia's character is somewhat predictable early on in the book, and it would have been more satisfying if it had been better concealed. However, this slight drawback doesn't diminish the overall enjoyment of the plotline, which remains captivating and well-executed.
In conclusion, "Of Secrets and Beginnings" is a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts who crave a thrilling story set in a meticulously crafted world. With its great plot, intricate worldbuilding, and wonderful relationships, this novel showcases the author's undeniable talent for storytelling. You will find yourself completely immersed in this enchanting tale, eagerly anticipating the next installment in what promises to be a captivating series.
Moreover, this book is highly recommended for fans of JLA, SJM, and Carissa Broadbent. While it isn't a copy of their works, if you love those authors, you will undoubtedly find the same enjoyment within the pages of "Of Secrets and Beginnings."
⭐ ⭐⭐⭐💫/5
"Of Secrets and Beginnings" is a captivating high fantasy/romantasy novel that effortlessly transports you into a mesmerizing realm. The author's boundless imagination shines through in this intricately crafted world. From its great plot to its wonderful relationships, this book is a must-read for fantasy lovers.
The novel's plot is a true highlight. Right from the start, the author presents you with a gripping premise that slowly unravels layers of complexity. Each chapter is meticulously crafted, maintaining a seamless flow of events that keeps you engrossed throughout. The pacing is skillfully managed, allowing for moments of calm reflection amidst the intense sequences. It's a testament to the author's storytelling prowess that the plot remains consistently engaging, leaving you eager to uncover the next secret waiting in the upcoming chapters.
However, what truly sets this book apart is its emphasis on worldbuilding. The author's imagination knows no bounds when it comes to creating a rich and detailed fantasy realm. Every aspect of the world is thoughtfully constructed, from sprawling landscapes to an unique "magic" system. The attention to detail is exceptional, enhancing the overall reading experience and fully immersing you in a believable and vividly realized world. Comparisons can be drawn to the skill and attention to detail seen in Stephanie Garber's works, making this new realm your favorite spot, surpassing even the beloved Velaris.
The characters in "Of Secrets and Beginnings" are beautifully written, with Atallia standing out as a particularly well-portrayed protagonist. Her emotions and motivations are brilliantly depicted, drawing you into her journey. The author excels at creating authentic and multi-dimensional relationships, be it friendships (such as the lovable Wrynn), romantic entanglements (the swoon-worthy Kanan), or the bonds of a found family. Although the relationships are just beginning to develop, you will find yourself invested in Atallia's triumphs and heartaches, rooting for her growth and cherishing her moments of vulnerability. These relationships add depth and emotional resonance to an already compelling narrative, and it's worth noting that a certain "Kanan" may very well become your next book boyfriend. Additionally, prepare for some spicy moments that will leave you wanting more.
While "Of Secrets and Beginnings" is an outstanding novel, it does have one minor shortcoming. A certain aspect about Atallia's character is somewhat predictable early on in the book, and it would have been more satisfying if it had been better concealed. However, this slight drawback doesn't diminish the overall enjoyment of the plotline, which remains captivating and well-executed.
In conclusion, "Of Secrets and Beginnings" is a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts who crave a thrilling story set in a meticulously crafted world. With its great plot, intricate worldbuilding, and wonderful relationships, this novel showcases the author's undeniable talent for storytelling. You will find yourself completely immersed in this enchanting tale, eagerly anticipating the next installment in what promises to be a captivating series.
Moreover, this book is highly recommended for fans of JLA, SJM, and Carissa Broadbent. While it isn't a copy of their works, if you love those authors, you will undoubtedly find the same enjoyment within the pages of "Of Secrets and Beginnings."
January 22, 2024
The book starts slow, slow, slow. FMC and MMC don't meet until 33% of the way through, and waiting that long is my biggest pet peeve in romance. I didn't enjoy the prose, specifically the writer's frequent use of passive voice, for example:
"White candles lined the entrance along the black rocks, their wax having dripped down from hours of burning."
"Touching my face, I felt wetness on my cheeks, tears having welled without my knowledge, sharing the poor man's pain. "
It's very tiring to constantly read passages like that, which should've been simplified to make the prose snappier. There were also issues with tense that should've been caught by an editor, for example in this sentence, which manages to mix past, present and pluperfect all at once:
"Their discussion was so heated I don't think they had even spotted us, except for Zanaya's uncle, who walked over quickly."
Every new room and location gets at least an entire page of description, if not more, again contributing to the feeling of the story dragging itself out.
The MMC and FMC don't say a word to each other at their first meeting, unless animalistic growling and horny whimpering counts as dialogue, and then they suddenly have a strange rivalry that seems to come out of nowhere. It's obvious that MMC is going through the genre-typical hyper-protective "fated mates" instinct thing, but FMC is frustratingly oblivious and MMC is not forthcoming, which makes it super weird when their second unchaperoned conversation comes right out of the gate with MMC basically telling her to "take it one day at a time", a total non sequitur, because the last thing that happened before he sent everyone away was a mind-reader failing to understand why there's a block on her magic powers, and the last exchange FMC and MMC had was about her running off onto a battlefield because she's got main character syndrome and is TSTL. It's like we're meant to assume that the block on her powers is emotional and not physical or magical (although the fact that the failed mind-reading caused her physical pain would indicate otherwise) and also that he somehow understood this implicitly and immediately.
Each plot point and trope is utterly predictable; I couldn't have been less surprised when FMC and MMC were traveling together and, stopping at an inn to sleep for the night, discovered there was Only One Bed. It takes FMC literally the entire book to figure out the reason her powers are what they are and who MMC is to her, even though it's super-obvious. And the moment she figures it out, the story ends. Cliffhanger. I wish I had DNFed at the 20% mark, when she still hadn't met the MMC.
"White candles lined the entrance along the black rocks, their wax having dripped down from hours of burning."
"Touching my face, I felt wetness on my cheeks, tears having welled without my knowledge, sharing the poor man's pain. "
It's very tiring to constantly read passages like that, which should've been simplified to make the prose snappier. There were also issues with tense that should've been caught by an editor, for example in this sentence, which manages to mix past, present and pluperfect all at once:
"Their discussion was so heated I don't think they had even spotted us, except for Zanaya's uncle, who walked over quickly."
Every new room and location gets at least an entire page of description, if not more, again contributing to the feeling of the story dragging itself out.
The MMC and FMC don't say a word to each other at their first meeting, unless animalistic growling and horny whimpering counts as dialogue, and then they suddenly have a strange rivalry that seems to come out of nowhere. It's obvious that MMC is going through the genre-typical hyper-protective "fated mates" instinct thing, but FMC is frustratingly oblivious and MMC is not forthcoming, which makes it super weird when their second unchaperoned conversation comes right out of the gate with MMC basically telling her to "take it one day at a time", a total non sequitur, because the last thing that happened before he sent everyone away was a mind-reader failing to understand why there's a block on her magic powers, and the last exchange FMC and MMC had was about her running off onto a battlefield because she's got main character syndrome and is TSTL. It's like we're meant to assume that the block on her powers is emotional and not physical or magical (although the fact that the failed mind-reading caused her physical pain would indicate otherwise) and also that he somehow understood this implicitly and immediately.
Each plot point and trope is utterly predictable; I couldn't have been less surprised when FMC and MMC were traveling together and, stopping at an inn to sleep for the night, discovered there was Only One Bed. It takes FMC literally the entire book to figure out the reason her powers are what they are and who MMC is to her, even though it's super-obvious. And the moment she figures it out, the story ends. Cliffhanger. I wish I had DNFed at the 20% mark, when she still hadn't met the MMC.
July 20, 2023
Advanced reader's copy review
I don't think I've ever been so blown away by a fantasy world as I was with this book. From the very first page, the author develops a rich mythological lore, magical system, and unique physical setting. I was never lost, nor was I ever overwhelmed with information. I was very impressed by the way the magical system and mythology were intertwined. There is also amazing visual imagery to emphasis key pieces of the lore and political world. I also loved the voice and narration of the main character. It felt very conversation but there were still absolutely stunning lines. I loved Atallia as a character, finding her so strong yet also caring. She is very well rounded and I couldn't help but love her. However, I wanted her relationships with other characters to have a bit more depth and emotion. I felt more told than shown the building of trust. Also, I wish Atallia had figured some things out faster, because I certainly did. However, I still enjoyed the big reveal and ending, and definitely look forward to the next book.
Thank you to the author for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think I've ever been so blown away by a fantasy world as I was with this book. From the very first page, the author develops a rich mythological lore, magical system, and unique physical setting. I was never lost, nor was I ever overwhelmed with information. I was very impressed by the way the magical system and mythology were intertwined. There is also amazing visual imagery to emphasis key pieces of the lore and political world. I also loved the voice and narration of the main character. It felt very conversation but there were still absolutely stunning lines. I loved Atallia as a character, finding her so strong yet also caring. She is very well rounded and I couldn't help but love her. However, I wanted her relationships with other characters to have a bit more depth and emotion. I felt more told than shown the building of trust. Also, I wish Atallia had figured some things out faster, because I certainly did. However, I still enjoyed the big reveal and ending, and definitely look forward to the next book.
Thank you to the author for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2024
NOW THATS HOW YOU WRITE A FANTASY BOOK
January 15, 2024
I found this book to be extremely hard to finish. It was a pretty good read at first but then dropped off at around 60%. It then became so hard to finish. While I enjoyed the story, I just found myself not really caring and just wanting to get to the end. So.. of course it ends in a cliffhanger. I think what made it hard to read was that the story was everywhere, and some scenes didn’t have enough information or detail to grab my attention. It could have been a great story if it was fleshed out and blocked better. The idea behind it though was quite interesting, it just needed more time and an extra spark.
July 20, 2024
I literally have chills; this book was SO good. With the sequel coming out in September, I absolutely cannot wait. What an incredible story with such colorful characters and insane world-building. A new favorite for me.
August 7, 2024
I really wanted to like this book but it just feels... underdeveloped. the romance is hollow, she becomes best friends with a group of people she meets in a tavern once. the characters felt one dimensional. there was a lot of over wrought dialogue, passages of it, which made interactions feel unnatural. the world and magic system was interesting
July 31, 2023
Of Secrets and Beginnings review! Thank you so much to Ashlynn for giving me an ARC of this masterpiece in exchange for an honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
🌶🌶
Blurb:
In the outskirt villages of Irropia, twenty-one-year-old Atallia has only ever glimpsed bits of magic on her slowly dying world. Outcasted and shunned, she longs to be left alone and live her life in peace, but as fate would have it a mysterious disease has begun to spread across the land, cursing those who fell ill to a slow, cruel death.
In but a single night her world is shattered and reshaped, lies and truths blending together as her destiny is laid out before her in a blaze of light and destruction. Attacked and nearly killed, power that had simmered beneath her skin her entire life tears free and shakes the world.
Saved by a magical people long thought lost, Atallia’s life would never be the same. Especially after meeting Kanan, the military might and revered champion of his kind. Everything about him may have drawn her in, made her heart beat faster, but the darkness in his eyes—the secrets—had her wondering whether he could be trusted, or if he was just another name to add to the long list of those who sought to pacify her. To control her.
With visions of war chasing her in her dreams, and more questions than answers, Atallia would soon find out if secrets really did run as thick as blood; and if so would anyone make it out unscathed?
Or would she have to burn the world down to find out the truth...?
Quotes I loved:
✨ “For what was Death without Life? What was an Ending without it’s Beginning?”
✨ “The flow of existence was endless, like a circle, and everyone was bound it it.”
✨ “His eyes told stories just as mine did, deep and endless, full of secrets that I yearned to know.”
✨ “The majestic vastness of it all spoke wonders and worlds well beyond our own. It made me curious if there were people on those worlds, if they too were looking up and glimpsing the same sky I was.”
✨ “Don’t corner the psychotic bitch with the daggers. It won’t end well.”
Read this if you love:
🌙 Romantic fantasy
⭐️ Smart, sarcastic and witty FMC with a hidden identity
🌙 Broody, mysterious, dragon shifter MMC
⭐️A diverse, whimsical and magical cast of lovable, heartwarming characters. I’m looking at you- Wrynn, Cashim, Zanaya, Zander and Nala!
🌙 Incredible and immersive world-building that is centered around nature. I wanted to move into this world.
⭐️ A compelling and thought-provoking plot that makes you question your place in the vast Universe
🌙 Reincarnation
⭐️ Powerful Gods and Goddesses
🌙HUGE Cliffhanger
I enjoyed this debut novel SO MUCH! It was very different than anything I’ve read before. Ashlynn’s writing is absolutely beautiful and made me tear up a few times. I love Atallia and Kanan and this world and I can’t wait to read more about it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
🌶🌶
Blurb:
In the outskirt villages of Irropia, twenty-one-year-old Atallia has only ever glimpsed bits of magic on her slowly dying world. Outcasted and shunned, she longs to be left alone and live her life in peace, but as fate would have it a mysterious disease has begun to spread across the land, cursing those who fell ill to a slow, cruel death.
In but a single night her world is shattered and reshaped, lies and truths blending together as her destiny is laid out before her in a blaze of light and destruction. Attacked and nearly killed, power that had simmered beneath her skin her entire life tears free and shakes the world.
Saved by a magical people long thought lost, Atallia’s life would never be the same. Especially after meeting Kanan, the military might and revered champion of his kind. Everything about him may have drawn her in, made her heart beat faster, but the darkness in his eyes—the secrets—had her wondering whether he could be trusted, or if he was just another name to add to the long list of those who sought to pacify her. To control her.
With visions of war chasing her in her dreams, and more questions than answers, Atallia would soon find out if secrets really did run as thick as blood; and if so would anyone make it out unscathed?
Or would she have to burn the world down to find out the truth...?
Quotes I loved:
✨ “For what was Death without Life? What was an Ending without it’s Beginning?”
✨ “The flow of existence was endless, like a circle, and everyone was bound it it.”
✨ “His eyes told stories just as mine did, deep and endless, full of secrets that I yearned to know.”
✨ “The majestic vastness of it all spoke wonders and worlds well beyond our own. It made me curious if there were people on those worlds, if they too were looking up and glimpsing the same sky I was.”
✨ “Don’t corner the psychotic bitch with the daggers. It won’t end well.”
Read this if you love:
🌙 Romantic fantasy
⭐️ Smart, sarcastic and witty FMC with a hidden identity
🌙 Broody, mysterious, dragon shifter MMC
⭐️A diverse, whimsical and magical cast of lovable, heartwarming characters. I’m looking at you- Wrynn, Cashim, Zanaya, Zander and Nala!
🌙 Incredible and immersive world-building that is centered around nature. I wanted to move into this world.
⭐️ A compelling and thought-provoking plot that makes you question your place in the vast Universe
🌙 Reincarnation
⭐️ Powerful Gods and Goddesses
🌙HUGE Cliffhanger
I enjoyed this debut novel SO MUCH! It was very different than anything I’ve read before. Ashlynn’s writing is absolutely beautiful and made me tear up a few times. I love Atallia and Kanan and this world and I can’t wait to read more about it!
January 15, 2024
Captivating!
This book captivated me from the beginning! The story, the world building... It was all so fascinating!
Some things were fairly predictable, but I still enjoyed this story! Heck, it's 2 am and I just finished it because I couldn't put it down!
I will say, the spelling, grammar and punctuation were not that great. I nearly DNF because of them. Which is too bad. I'm sure many people may do so, despite it being such a great read!
Overall, I truly hope there will be more of this series!
This book captivated me from the beginning! The story, the world building... It was all so fascinating!
Some things were fairly predictable, but I still enjoyed this story! Heck, it's 2 am and I just finished it because I couldn't put it down!
I will say, the spelling, grammar and punctuation were not that great. I nearly DNF because of them. Which is too bad. I'm sure many people may do so, despite it being such a great read!
Overall, I truly hope there will be more of this series!
January 14, 2024
In Love!!
One of my new anticipated series to come! What an incredible journey. Definitely felt like I could guess the story line, there were plot twists but they weren’t anything not easily guessed. That being said I still enjoyed the book and fell in love with the characters stories. Could have been more character building for me but I ate up the annoyed friends to lovers trope!
One of my new anticipated series to come! What an incredible journey. Definitely felt like I could guess the story line, there were plot twists but they weren’t anything not easily guessed. That being said I still enjoyed the book and fell in love with the characters stories. Could have been more character building for me but I ate up the annoyed friends to lovers trope!
August 4, 2024
I loved it
Though I did see where the storyline was going, I still loved the build-up to the ending. I am interested to see how the story continues into the next book
Though I did see where the storyline was going, I still loved the build-up to the ending. I am interested to see how the story continues into the next book
January 28, 2024
So a bit predictable. You know what’s going to happen from about the 25% mark in the book up until the end. Does have insta-love that I’m typically not a fan and some smut thrown in that didn’t really need to be in there imo. But the writing wasn’t that bad! Wasn’t a bad read.
May 28, 2024
While the pacing was a little jumpy near the beginning, and there were quite a few grammatical errors, the concept and plot completely made up for that. It's amazing. AND THAT ENDING?! I need book 2.
October 14, 2024
Like others pointed out, it was easier to guess where things were going but I was still interested in continuing to see what was going to happen next. There were parts that were a little wordy and over descriptive for random things that didn’t seem too necessary but all in all, I think it was a fun read! I think people should give it a shot!
Looking forward to the next book!!
Looking forward to the next book!!
January 20, 2024
3.5/5
Guessed the plot early on, and the sheer amount of spelling mistakes & missing words kept taking me out of the story.
The world building in this book is incredible, so vivid , and I absolutely love Wrynn!
Over all an enjoyable, easy read & im looking forward to the release of the next installment.
Guessed the plot early on, and the sheer amount of spelling mistakes & missing words kept taking me out of the story.
The world building in this book is incredible, so vivid , and I absolutely love Wrynn!
Over all an enjoyable, easy read & im looking forward to the release of the next installment.
November 11, 2024
Just did a reread of this for the second book and it is just as amazing as the first time. The world building is amazing, the story telling pulls you right in. I felt immediately connected to the characters and loved every minute of it
January 20, 2024
I usually try to give a book at least 100 pages before DNFing. It was a struggle to get passed page 70. I just couldn’t get through it. I was not a fan of the authors writing.
July 23, 2024
DNF 22% You know it’s bad when you start skimming around 12%
February 3, 2024
First of all, WOW!!! What an amazing story and world that Ashlyn B. Rudd has created for us. For a newer author, the world building and the character development can easily be compared to authors who have been writing for many years. After receiving this book for free on a stuff your kindle day, I was instantly drawn in by the first chapter. Ashlyn B. Rudd created a compelling and captivating story that I could not put down.
The main characters in this book were extremely loveable and kept me laughing, tearing up, heartbroken, and one hundred other emotions that made the book that much more memorable. Shout out to some of my favorite characters, Wrynn, Kannon (for obvious reasons), Geoff, Zanaya, Gideon (who I hope to see more of in book 2), and Orion.
If you are an enjoyer of dragons, magic, gods, war, political unrest, secrets, mystery, romance, soulmates, found self, a little spice, plague, and/or mythical creatures, then Of Secrets and Beginnings is ABSOLUTELY the book for you.
The reason that I rated this book four stars instead of five was really for two main reasons. The first being the spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout the book. There were quite a few mistakes but it wasn't bad to the point of being unable to get through it. I will say that the mistakes took me out of the experience at times or made what the author was trying to say a little confusing. The second reason was that a decent amount of the plot was predictable as the reader. A lot of people like knowing what's going to happen before it does but I am a lover of unexpected twists and turns!!
Things that I am hoping to see in the next book/ left wondering about:
- Atallia's birth parents (what's their story, why did they give her up, how did she end up with Geoff and Maris in their small village)
- Anything Gideon related
- How is all of this affecting Rhaelyth
- What is Lars willing to do to keep his power
- Deeper plotline with the whispers
- Spice!
My note to the author: I would just like to say that you did an amazing job on your first book. I loved every second of OSAB and I absolutely cannot wait for book two. Please keep us all updated on your socials because I am watching and waiting for any news on my girl Atallia. I am so impressed with your work and I hope to see more of it soon!
The main characters in this book were extremely loveable and kept me laughing, tearing up, heartbroken, and one hundred other emotions that made the book that much more memorable. Shout out to some of my favorite characters, Wrynn, Kannon (for obvious reasons), Geoff, Zanaya, Gideon (who I hope to see more of in book 2), and Orion.
If you are an enjoyer of dragons, magic, gods, war, political unrest, secrets, mystery, romance, soulmates, found self, a little spice, plague, and/or mythical creatures, then Of Secrets and Beginnings is ABSOLUTELY the book for you.
The reason that I rated this book four stars instead of five was really for two main reasons. The first being the spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout the book. There were quite a few mistakes but it wasn't bad to the point of being unable to get through it. I will say that the mistakes took me out of the experience at times or made what the author was trying to say a little confusing. The second reason was that a decent amount of the plot was predictable as the reader. A lot of people like knowing what's going to happen before it does but I am a lover of unexpected twists and turns!!
Things that I am hoping to see in the next book/ left wondering about:
- Atallia's birth parents (what's their story, why did they give her up, how did she end up with Geoff and Maris in their small village)
- Anything Gideon related
- How is all of this affecting Rhaelyth
- What is Lars willing to do to keep his power
- Deeper plotline with the whispers
- Spice!
My note to the author: I would just like to say that you did an amazing job on your first book. I loved every second of OSAB and I absolutely cannot wait for book two. Please keep us all updated on your socials because I am watching and waiting for any news on my girl Atallia. I am so impressed with your work and I hope to see more of it soon!
August 3, 2023
"𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗒. 𝖭𝗈, 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗒."
“𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚎. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝙸'𝚖 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞."
"𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎- 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞."
-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆
-𝗛𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
-𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
-𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘀
-𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗱
-𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟰.𝟱/𝟱 ⭐️
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟮/𝟱🌶️
𝘈 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸, 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.
𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘦. 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘈𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥? 𝘖𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩...?
My mind is blown that this is a debut novel. This high fantasy book is not just beautifully written but it has amazing characters and a great plot that makes it a great addition to anyone who is looking for a new Romantasy series.
There are a few fictional fantasy worlds I would love to visit and Eskira is now one of them. The way this world was written nothing short of magical, I finished reading the description of Eskira and I had to message Ashlyn right away and let her know how amazing her world sounded.
I do wish we got a little more in depth into the characters and their relationships but I do know this is a series so we definitely have time to build on that.
I have three words for you when it comes to the love interest Kanan. Dragon. Shadow Daddy. Yep, you read that right. This man might just have me in a chokehold. Every time he said the word ‘love’ I was putty in his hands.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new fantasy series with amazing world building!
“𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚎. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝙸'𝚖 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞."
"𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎- 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞."
-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆
-𝗛𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
-𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
-𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘀
-𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗱
-𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟰.𝟱/𝟱 ⭐️
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟮/𝟱🌶️
𝘈 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸, 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.
𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘦. 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘈𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥? 𝘖𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩...?
My mind is blown that this is a debut novel. This high fantasy book is not just beautifully written but it has amazing characters and a great plot that makes it a great addition to anyone who is looking for a new Romantasy series.
There are a few fictional fantasy worlds I would love to visit and Eskira is now one of them. The way this world was written nothing short of magical, I finished reading the description of Eskira and I had to message Ashlyn right away and let her know how amazing her world sounded.
I do wish we got a little more in depth into the characters and their relationships but I do know this is a series so we definitely have time to build on that.
I have three words for you when it comes to the love interest Kanan. Dragon. Shadow Daddy. Yep, you read that right. This man might just have me in a chokehold. Every time he said the word ‘love’ I was putty in his hands.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new fantasy series with amazing world building!
June 5, 2024
3.5/5
What I liked most about this book was that the world building was definitely interesting and detailed. Very well done.
However, the plot was extremely predictable right from the start.
And while the world building is detailed, the same does not happen for the characters. Their personality are made of tropes: the snarky gal, and the grumpy silent giant. I wish there was more to them, but alas. Its not bad, but ive seen so much of this in fantasy that it gets tiring.
Another thing that cut me off is kind of the gen-z way of talking that the main character has. Its kinda off putting and doesn't fit.
But the book does have some interesting characters that give life to the plot, like Wrynn. Though he should have had more time, so that his importance is well connected.
Overall it was fun. And I will read the next installment!
What I liked most about this book was that the world building was definitely interesting and detailed. Very well done.
However, the plot was extremely predictable right from the start.
And while the world building is detailed, the same does not happen for the characters. Their personality are made of tropes: the snarky gal, and the grumpy silent giant. I wish there was more to them, but alas. Its not bad, but ive seen so much of this in fantasy that it gets tiring.
Another thing that cut me off is kind of the gen-z way of talking that the main character has. Its kinda off putting and doesn't fit.
But the book does have some interesting characters that give life to the plot, like Wrynn. Though he should have had more time, so that his importance is well connected.
Overall it was fun. And I will read the next installment!
January 12, 2024
3.5 stars.
Overall, it was a smooth read and manageable story. I really liked the magic system and the system was set up very well. I really find the emphasis and the connection between life and death, and the fact that one cannot exist without the other, very interesting.
Plot-wise, it was quite predictable and didn't immediately come as a surprise. The moment Atallia has her awakening and meets Kanan for the first time, I already had a pretty good idea where the story was going to go. The further I read, the more my thoughts were confirmed.
Nevertheless, I am curious to see how the story will unfold.
By the way, Wrynn was cute, and at one point I briefly thought he might not be as cute and innocent as thought after all.
Overall, it was a smooth read and manageable story. I really liked the magic system and the system was set up very well. I really find the emphasis and the connection between life and death, and the fact that one cannot exist without the other, very interesting.
Plot-wise, it was quite predictable and didn't immediately come as a surprise. The moment Atallia has her awakening and meets Kanan for the first time, I already had a pretty good idea where the story was going to go. The further I read, the more my thoughts were confirmed.
Nevertheless, I am curious to see how the story will unfold.
By the way, Wrynn was cute, and at one point I briefly thought he might not be as cute and innocent as thought after all.
January 7, 2024
4.5/5 ✨
Diving into this slow burn high fantasy was a treat, as the characters charmed their way into my heart. The extensive world-building, delving into the history of the realm, added depth to the narrative. However, the predictable plot twists took away some of the excitement. Yearning for more of Kanan's point of view and a deeper exploration of his emotions, I found myself wanting a more intimate connection with this intriguing character. Despite this, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to friends, and I can't wait to delve into the second book, hoping for more surprises and further insights into Kanan's world.
Diving into this slow burn high fantasy was a treat, as the characters charmed their way into my heart. The extensive world-building, delving into the history of the realm, added depth to the narrative. However, the predictable plot twists took away some of the excitement. Yearning for more of Kanan's point of view and a deeper exploration of his emotions, I found myself wanting a more intimate connection with this intriguing character. Despite this, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to friends, and I can't wait to delve into the second book, hoping for more surprises and further insights into Kanan's world.
March 27, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. I picked it up cause it seemed interesting and continued cause I absolutely love the world the author built. The romance is a back seat to the actual story and thats super important to me in a book. Them being together is intregal to the plot but it is not the whole plot. I could predict the plotline pretty easily, but that never bothers me in books. I read so much that its easy to start predicting how things will turn out. The writing is so good. The story is absolutely stunning. This is one of my favorite reads this year and I can't wait for the second book in September. The ending was perfect.
April 7, 2024
Found this book on KU and it was exactly what I needed. A fast paced and easy-to-get-into fantasy story with elements of romance. Strong female character and nice world-building and magic system. And of course we have the hot & broody MC. It was a bit predictable but I didn’t mind it much. Sometimes the language felt a bit too modern for the setting, but it didn’t really steer away from the story. Some steamy scenes, but more plot-focused which I prefer. Only thing that greatly disappointed me is that I didn’t realise it wasn’t a complete series when I started it. Oh well. Would recommend for fans of SJM etc.
January 19, 2024
wow wow wow
I knew from the first chapter this book would be 5 stars for me. The writing, the characters, the action and horrors, the steaminess. This was a perfect start to an unraveling series I look forward to continuing as they are released. Highly highly recommend if you like: sassy FMC, shadow daddy, hidden secrets and magic, fantasy, dragons, war/action, fated lovers
I knew from the first chapter this book would be 5 stars for me. The writing, the characters, the action and horrors, the steaminess. This was a perfect start to an unraveling series I look forward to continuing as they are released. Highly highly recommend if you like: sassy FMC, shadow daddy, hidden secrets and magic, fantasy, dragons, war/action, fated lovers
March 31, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ … the story was interesting, the characters likable, but the pace was off - too fast in the end - and the „plot twist“ too predictable. The cliffhanger doesn’t really make me want to keep on reading, even if I liked the world that was built and the story that was told.
Also… why was she naked in the end? Like… girl… put on some clothes, will you?
Also… why was she naked in the end? Like… girl… put on some clothes, will you?
July 9, 2024
It was an okay book. It felt a little bit slow and the way she described the dude was kinda cringe. It was gonna be 2.5 stars for me. BUT I thought the cliffhanger at the end was really good and the torture scenes were very interesting with her thinking of a happier place. I still don't know if I'll be reading the second one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
The only reason I didnt finish this book sooner was because Christmas stole my attention a little bit BUT i loved this book so much!!!!!!!
Such a unique story, even though I was convincing myself I worked out the plot which i did in parts, its still so satisfying when it all unfolds
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such a unique story, even though I was convincing myself I worked out the plot which i did in parts, its still so satisfying when it all unfolds
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 7, 2024
An amazing book. It was written beautifully and allowed me to really be immersed into this fictional world. Was it predictable yes but it kept you on the edge of your seats throughout the whole book .
I cannot wait until the second book is written and released.
I cannot wait until the second book is written and released.
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