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The Runic Saga #1
Well of Dreams
The gods predicted the end, but they never counted on mankind's will to survive...
After an apocalyptic event that left the world in ruin, the surviving nation of Evrópa returns to the reverence of ancestral magic and mystic runes. Seventeen-year-old Larissa Daldóttir has little time to dwell on such folklore—not with a monthly produce quota to meet and an illegal second-born sister to hide. Enslavement, if not death at the hands of the Empress, awaits her family should Halla be discovered.
When Larissa is mistaken to be in league with the resistance against the Empress, she must flee with Halla. Wounded and hunted by agents of the Empress, Larissa’s survival relies on a mercurial shapeshifter and a mysteriously familiar young man from her forgotten past.
Running from both her past and the Empress, Larissa has no choice but to trust in the tenuous bonds built through heartache and tragedy. In a race to find the resistance before the Empress finds them, Larissa and Halla unintentionally unravel secrets of their history that not only unhinge the stability of the crown but their very lives.
After an apocalyptic event that left the world in ruin, the surviving nation of Evrópa returns to the reverence of ancestral magic and mystic runes. Seventeen-year-old Larissa Daldóttir has little time to dwell on such folklore—not with a monthly produce quota to meet and an illegal second-born sister to hide. Enslavement, if not death at the hands of the Empress, awaits her family should Halla be discovered.
When Larissa is mistaken to be in league with the resistance against the Empress, she must flee with Halla. Wounded and hunted by agents of the Empress, Larissa’s survival relies on a mercurial shapeshifter and a mysteriously familiar young man from her forgotten past.
Running from both her past and the Empress, Larissa has no choice but to trust in the tenuous bonds built through heartache and tragedy. In a race to find the resistance before the Empress finds them, Larissa and Halla unintentionally unravel secrets of their history that not only unhinge the stability of the crown but their very lives.
405 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2023
42 people are currently reading
2047 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
March 7, 2025
5 star!!!! I absolutely loved this book. As soon as I read the first chapter I loved the characters and was hooked. The dystopian elements are wonderful, but not too heavy.
I loved the way the Norse mythology was integrated into the story. As someone that knows very little about Norse mythology was very interesting, but not confusing. As an aspiring author it takes a really well written story to turn off my inner critic. This story did that within the first chapter. The pacing of the story was perfect the reveals were well paced with the increasing questions and the flashbacks were very smooth.
But characters were where the story really shown, especially the dynamics between them. This book probably had some of the most interesting and complex friendships I’ve ever read about and the way Kayla showed us how the characters felt through body language was incredible.Halla is the sweetest. And the main character Larissa is so strong with on the masterfully built internal conflict and mysterious past. Darien was probably my favorite character. The romance was a fantastic slow burn. I loved the two of them together so much. I am so excited for the next book.
I loved the way the Norse mythology was integrated into the story. As someone that knows very little about Norse mythology was very interesting, but not confusing. As an aspiring author it takes a really well written story to turn off my inner critic. This story did that within the first chapter. The pacing of the story was perfect the reveals were well paced with the increasing questions and the flashbacks were very smooth.
But characters were where the story really shown, especially the dynamics between them. This book probably had some of the most interesting and complex friendships I’ve ever read about and the way Kayla showed us how the characters felt through body language was incredible.Halla is the sweetest. And the main character Larissa is so strong with on the masterfully built internal conflict and mysterious past. Darien was probably my favorite character. The romance was a fantastic slow burn. I loved the two of them together so much. I am so excited for the next book.
October 9, 2023
4.5* — ARC
• Norse mythology
• Dystopian society
• Magic
• Dual POV
• Slowburn forgotten romance
• Found family
• Fast paced
I came by this book on Instagram reels and the tropes immediately pulled me in. What I certainly didn’t know was, that seeing this random post will result in one of my favourite reads of this year!!
I can’t understand how this is a DEBUT novel! Great world building, interesting characters, something is always happening so you’re never bored, beautiful illustrations. I loved revealing the truth bit by bit through the flashbacks and skipping between the POVs. It does end on a cliffhanger so I can’t wait for the second book!
• Norse mythology
• Dystopian society
• Magic
• Dual POV
• Slowburn forgotten romance
• Found family
• Fast paced
I came by this book on Instagram reels and the tropes immediately pulled me in. What I certainly didn’t know was, that seeing this random post will result in one of my favourite reads of this year!!
I can’t understand how this is a DEBUT novel! Great world building, interesting characters, something is always happening so you’re never bored, beautiful illustrations. I loved revealing the truth bit by bit through the flashbacks and skipping between the POVs. It does end on a cliffhanger so I can’t wait for the second book!
January 5, 2026
You guys.... YOU GUYS. If this review does nothing else, I hope it convinces you to RUN 🏃♀️ (don't walk) to pick up this book and read it immediately so we can freak out about it together.
It's got everything:
✅ FASCINATING plot with insane twists
✅ Relatable, authentic characters
✅ SO MUCH ACTION and battles
✅ Super cool mashup of Norse mythology and lore with a dystopian evil emperor-ruled world
✅ Constantly rising stakes
✅ Best Version Ever of the amnesia plot (divinely wiped/replaced memories??? Hello!?)
✅ Star crossed lovers but like... What if they don't remember each other?? 👀😱
Ugh... I just adored this book. It's been on my radar for over a year and when I finally picked it up a couple weeks ago, I was immediately sucked into the world and didn't want to put it down. The forgotten memories element unraveled so cleverly and kept me turning pages for hours at a time. And in between the mysteries, the story is bursting with action, danger, and epic battles against mythical creatures. The emotional and relationship elements feel so real and anchor the story perfectly.
Poor Larissa... That girl really goes through it 😮💨 But the way she grows is incredible to watch and I am rooting for her so hard the whole time. 🙌 GO, GIRL, GO!!! I can't wait to read book 2. I ordered it immediately 😂
This is by no means my most coherent review, but I'm just too overwhelmed by how much I loved this to say anything eloquent and there are also a lot of surprises I don't want to spoil for you. I really loved the God of War PS games, so reading a story with lore I'm already familiar with and loved in a new context was SUCH a treat.
If you're not convinced yet, let me leave you with this: ANASTASIA X NORSE MYTHOLOGY Need I say more???
| CONTENT NOTES |
👉 There are at least three big battles and they're somewhat descriptive, including wounds and blood; a handful of violent, on-page deaths
👉 Very minimal swearing, mostly just "Kings and Queens" and a Norse version of "h**l"
👉 You can easily gather this from the book's blurb, but the Norse gods play a SIGNIFICANT role in the story. Characters pray to them, interact with them, and receive power from them (a form of magic called "galdr")
👉 Very little romance, only a few hugs and almost-kisses
It's got everything:
✅ FASCINATING plot with insane twists
✅ Relatable, authentic characters
✅ SO MUCH ACTION and battles
✅ Super cool mashup of Norse mythology and lore with a dystopian evil emperor-ruled world
✅ Constantly rising stakes
✅ Best Version Ever of the amnesia plot (divinely wiped/replaced memories??? Hello!?)
✅ Star crossed lovers but like... What if they don't remember each other?? 👀😱
Ugh... I just adored this book. It's been on my radar for over a year and when I finally picked it up a couple weeks ago, I was immediately sucked into the world and didn't want to put it down. The forgotten memories element unraveled so cleverly and kept me turning pages for hours at a time. And in between the mysteries, the story is bursting with action, danger, and epic battles against mythical creatures. The emotional and relationship elements feel so real and anchor the story perfectly.
Poor Larissa... That girl really goes through it 😮💨 But the way she grows is incredible to watch and I am rooting for her so hard the whole time. 🙌 GO, GIRL, GO!!! I can't wait to read book 2. I ordered it immediately 😂
This is by no means my most coherent review, but I'm just too overwhelmed by how much I loved this to say anything eloquent and there are also a lot of surprises I don't want to spoil for you. I really loved the God of War PS games, so reading a story with lore I'm already familiar with and loved in a new context was SUCH a treat.
If you're not convinced yet, let me leave you with this: ANASTASIA X NORSE MYTHOLOGY Need I say more???
| CONTENT NOTES |
👉 There are at least three big battles and they're somewhat descriptive, including wounds and blood; a handful of violent, on-page deaths
👉 Very minimal swearing, mostly just "Kings and Queens" and a Norse version of "h**l"
👉 You can easily gather this from the book's blurb, but the Norse gods play a SIGNIFICANT role in the story. Characters pray to them, interact with them, and receive power from them (a form of magic called "galdr")
👉 Very little romance, only a few hugs and almost-kisses
July 30, 2024
This was a solid 3.5.
I loved the amount of time that we spent on backstory and building these characters. Kayla Ann clearly put so much heart and soul into the pain and grief they experienced and I loved that so much. It was raw and thoughtful and well done in a way that made me happy.
However, I think the constant flashbacks took away from the urgency of the present plot. This is definitely a character driven book, but the actual plot elements were completely done by the 80% mark, and the last 65 pages or so were fully just character wrap up. I was invested in the characters so I was glad we got that time, but I never felt 100% clear on the stakes in the present timeline. Dual timelines are hard to master; this one did the past timeline masterfully but struggled more on the present.
HOWEVER because I loved the dynamics between the characters and the way the past bled into the present: yes I am obviously going to read book 2
I loved the amount of time that we spent on backstory and building these characters. Kayla Ann clearly put so much heart and soul into the pain and grief they experienced and I loved that so much. It was raw and thoughtful and well done in a way that made me happy.
However, I think the constant flashbacks took away from the urgency of the present plot. This is definitely a character driven book, but the actual plot elements were completely done by the 80% mark, and the last 65 pages or so were fully just character wrap up. I was invested in the characters so I was glad we got that time, but I never felt 100% clear on the stakes in the present timeline. Dual timelines are hard to master; this one did the past timeline masterfully but struggled more on the present.
HOWEVER because I loved the dynamics between the characters and the way the past bled into the present: yes I am obviously going to read book 2
December 4, 2023
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy!
FANTASTIC DEBUT.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
This is your sign to take a chance on debut indie authors. I loved this book y’all.
I’m not a big dystopian fan, but this felt different. It was a subtle dystopian vibe mixed with all things Norse mythology and I loved the combination. There’s intense moments, dark creatures and a past that’s trying to find it’s way to the present.
I love the multiple POV’s and how it kept the pace going. There’s a lot of flashbacks that helped build the story and once I started clicking pieces into place I became increasingly invested in knowing the full scope of what happened. I really like all of these characters too and can’t wait to see how the story continues to unfurl.
There’s a romance sub-plot I am absolutely here for. I loved the reveals and the writing was wonderful. The paperback edition I received had gorgeous art throughout too and I loved being able to get a better picture of the cast. I’m genuinely excited to see what’s next!
Overall audience notes:
- YA Dystopian Fantasy
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence
FANTASTIC DEBUT.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
This is your sign to take a chance on debut indie authors. I loved this book y’all.
I’m not a big dystopian fan, but this felt different. It was a subtle dystopian vibe mixed with all things Norse mythology and I loved the combination. There’s intense moments, dark creatures and a past that’s trying to find it’s way to the present.
I love the multiple POV’s and how it kept the pace going. There’s a lot of flashbacks that helped build the story and once I started clicking pieces into place I became increasingly invested in knowing the full scope of what happened. I really like all of these characters too and can’t wait to see how the story continues to unfurl.
There’s a romance sub-plot I am absolutely here for. I loved the reveals and the writing was wonderful. The paperback edition I received had gorgeous art throughout too and I loved being able to get a better picture of the cast. I’m genuinely excited to see what’s next!
Overall audience notes:
- YA Dystopian Fantasy
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence
November 20, 2023
*spoiler free comprehensive review*
2023 ARC read (my first ever ARC read 🤍)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I mostly enjoyed this book
I probably will not reread, however I will continue to read the books in the series! I have a feeling book two will be better since we are through the unfortunate monotony of the fantasy world building!
Spice: no spice; slow burn romance, nothing more than a physical touch and almost kissing
Please note, Kayla has written this to be a PG/family friendly book. If you are looking for true spice, please look elsewhere or you may disappointed.
•
•
My most comprehensive review (since this is indeed an ARC review):
The beginning starts out slow; a low anxiety fantasy beginning is what I needed coming off reading Iron Flame. This ‘low anxiety fantasy’ gave me ‘Divine Rival’ vibes.
There is a lot of information at the beginning and into the middle of the novel, I understand this is world building but I did forget a lot of the different mythology gods during reading and had to go back to remind myself. At times, it felt too slow (up until about 40% through the book).
I do feel like there was an overly used amount of description, some of which could be rendered unnecessary by the reader.
This added to the monotony of the first 40% of the book.
Chapter 17: Things start coming together and you’re finally like “wait, what!?” And in a good way.
I think this is the part in the book that once you get to, you start realizing the monotony of the world building was worth it and the action begins and the plot lines start aligning.
As the novel goes on, I feel like the character development gets better. Something I really enjoy is Larissa’s internal struggle with herself; I think this mirrors real life for a lot of people and I love how Kayla Ann was able to capture this within a character like Larissa.
One of my favorite quotes are from one of the strong women in this book, “Don’t force yourself to be who you were; accept who you have become and use your power…”
I think this is such an empowering quote even when taken out of the scene’s context.
This book is a dual POV. These are very tricky to get right; the fantasy genre does better at keeping each characters personality separate between chapters and not allowing them to cross over (compared to some other genres, in my opinion). Kayla did well with this, however, using the same exclamations between characters is one of my pet peeves (such as “Kings and Queens”). I would like more uniqueness to the character and this includes their exclamations, said and unsaid.
Overall I enjoyed this book; it was a slow start to get into, but after chapter 17, things started making more sense and coming together. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
Thank you Kayla for allowing me to be an ARC reader! I am excited to watch your writing journey!
2023 ARC read (my first ever ARC read 🤍)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I mostly enjoyed this book
I probably will not reread, however I will continue to read the books in the series! I have a feeling book two will be better since we are through the unfortunate monotony of the fantasy world building!
Spice: no spice; slow burn romance, nothing more than a physical touch and almost kissing
Please note, Kayla has written this to be a PG/family friendly book. If you are looking for true spice, please look elsewhere or you may disappointed.
•
•
My most comprehensive review (since this is indeed an ARC review):
The beginning starts out slow; a low anxiety fantasy beginning is what I needed coming off reading Iron Flame. This ‘low anxiety fantasy’ gave me ‘Divine Rival’ vibes.
There is a lot of information at the beginning and into the middle of the novel, I understand this is world building but I did forget a lot of the different mythology gods during reading and had to go back to remind myself. At times, it felt too slow (up until about 40% through the book).
I do feel like there was an overly used amount of description, some of which could be rendered unnecessary by the reader.
This added to the monotony of the first 40% of the book.
Chapter 17: Things start coming together and you’re finally like “wait, what!?” And in a good way.
I think this is the part in the book that once you get to, you start realizing the monotony of the world building was worth it and the action begins and the plot lines start aligning.
As the novel goes on, I feel like the character development gets better. Something I really enjoy is Larissa’s internal struggle with herself; I think this mirrors real life for a lot of people and I love how Kayla Ann was able to capture this within a character like Larissa.
One of my favorite quotes are from one of the strong women in this book, “Don’t force yourself to be who you were; accept who you have become and use your power…”
I think this is such an empowering quote even when taken out of the scene’s context.
This book is a dual POV. These are very tricky to get right; the fantasy genre does better at keeping each characters personality separate between chapters and not allowing them to cross over (compared to some other genres, in my opinion). Kayla did well with this, however, using the same exclamations between characters is one of my pet peeves (such as “Kings and Queens”). I would like more uniqueness to the character and this includes their exclamations, said and unsaid.
Overall I enjoyed this book; it was a slow start to get into, but after chapter 17, things started making more sense and coming together. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
Thank you Kayla for allowing me to be an ARC reader! I am excited to watch your writing journey!
December 1, 2023
4.5 Rounded Up. This is my first ever ARC so i’m really excited to review this book! Luckily for me, I played the most recent God of War games which are heavily steeped in nordic mythology so I was already kind of familiar with some of the folklore. I feel like that gave me a bit of a better understanding of the book and its world building. I appreciated the inclusion of pictures of the characters more than i thought i would, it helped me get a clearer image of what the characters looked like. I think that this was a fantastic debut and I really enjoyed the twists and turns. The concepts in this story were weaved together really well and I found myself surprised sometimes by what was happening. I really enjoyed this book but now I just want the second one so I can know what happened! Give this book a chance for sure!
November 7, 2023
Well of dreams arc review:
I don’t even know where to begin! I had the privilege to be an ARC reader and I am blown away by this story. I came across Kayla Ann’s book through a Facebook group and was interested by the dystopian society and Norse mythology. This was the first YA book I’ve read in awhile and it didn’t disappoint. The story was so well written. You could tell a lot of heart went in. I enjoyed every second. A family needing to meet their quota at their farm while having to hide their second born when inspections happen, 17 year old Larissa didn’t believe the tales told to her by her parents. When she’s mistaken for being in the resistance against the empress, Larissa had to escape and go on the run protecting her sister, Hella. As they travel with the help of Darien and Anara, Larissa tries to figure out the prophecy and unraveling secrets from her past, the one that she can’t remember. Larissa is unwilling to let go of the life she remembers on the farm, for the life that was true. In the race to get the answers, the stakes get higher and Larissa brings together who she was with who she is now to protect the people she loves the most. I am excited for the next book to see where the story leads. I can’t wait to see more of Larissa, Darien, Hella and Anara.
I don’t even know where to begin! I had the privilege to be an ARC reader and I am blown away by this story. I came across Kayla Ann’s book through a Facebook group and was interested by the dystopian society and Norse mythology. This was the first YA book I’ve read in awhile and it didn’t disappoint. The story was so well written. You could tell a lot of heart went in. I enjoyed every second. A family needing to meet their quota at their farm while having to hide their second born when inspections happen, 17 year old Larissa didn’t believe the tales told to her by her parents. When she’s mistaken for being in the resistance against the empress, Larissa had to escape and go on the run protecting her sister, Hella. As they travel with the help of Darien and Anara, Larissa tries to figure out the prophecy and unraveling secrets from her past, the one that she can’t remember. Larissa is unwilling to let go of the life she remembers on the farm, for the life that was true. In the race to get the answers, the stakes get higher and Larissa brings together who she was with who she is now to protect the people she loves the most. I am excited for the next book to see where the story leads. I can’t wait to see more of Larissa, Darien, Hella and Anara.
August 14, 2024
⭐️4.5 I loved this book!! Did it take me like three weeks to finish? Yes. But I loved it nonetheless.
Characters: loved every single one of them (though I did find Halla a little annoying at times). Darien is definitely my favorite, and not even because he’s the love interest. I just loved his character, and pretty much everything about him 😅 following closely behind him is Anara. Her sass and character were just so relatable haha. I did like the main character Larissa, but she was just a little too reluctant for my taste. Not that I mind a reluctant chosen one, but she kept mentioning how she somehow thought she’d done something awful, hence why she didn’t want to remember. While what happened was traumatic and heartbreaking, I didn’t quite understand why it made her so afraid to remember. Like—she didn’t do anything, yet she acted like she attacked the palace herself.
Plot: loved it! I love the lost memory trope, and for it be both sided… 🤌🏽 chef’s kiss. It was very different with both dystopian and Norse mythology mixed together. I loved the vibes, and just this world in general. And the reappearance of a certain character…I’m so excited to see where this series goes next!!
Romance: there wasn’t a ton in this book, but honestly, it didn’t need it. I am however very excited to where Darien and Larissa go now that she finally remembers him! Also—Darien was so kind and patient with her while waiting for her to remember him even though he already remembered her. Totally clean romance. A few hugs, hand holding, and very light kissing (as in like one kiss 😆). I can safely give this book a 12+ rating
Anyways, that’s all from me. I’m so hyped for book 2!
Characters: loved every single one of them (though I did find Halla a little annoying at times). Darien is definitely my favorite, and not even because he’s the love interest. I just loved his character, and pretty much everything about him 😅 following closely behind him is Anara. Her sass and character were just so relatable haha. I did like the main character Larissa, but she was just a little too reluctant for my taste. Not that I mind a reluctant chosen one, but she kept mentioning how she somehow thought she’d done something awful, hence why she didn’t want to remember. While what happened was traumatic and heartbreaking, I didn’t quite understand why it made her so afraid to remember. Like—she didn’t do anything, yet she acted like she attacked the palace herself.
Plot: loved it! I love the lost memory trope, and for it be both sided… 🤌🏽 chef’s kiss. It was very different with both dystopian and Norse mythology mixed together. I loved the vibes, and just this world in general. And the reappearance of a certain character…I’m so excited to see where this series goes next!!
Romance: there wasn’t a ton in this book, but honestly, it didn’t need it. I am however very excited to where Darien and Larissa go now that she finally remembers him! Also—Darien was so kind and patient with her while waiting for her to remember him even though he already remembered her. Totally clean romance. A few hugs, hand holding, and very light kissing (as in like one kiss 😆). I can safely give this book a 12+ rating
Anyways, that’s all from me. I’m so hyped for book 2!
![Profile Image for Yves V.H. [Slow reading].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1710076694i%2F170151541._UY200_CR5%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 8, 2023
The book is kind of slow for me but still, it was an interesting story. There are revelations and twists here that were totally unexpected. I love the world building and how Norse mythology is blended into this book. I think the characters are very interesting specially Anara who could shape shift. Although the heroine, Larissa, is quite reluctant to accept her responsibility, I still think that her character is strong, just needed a little push and she'll get there specially when it meant protecting her little sister. Darien, although has the most interesting backstory for me and his past reveals a lot. Entirely, I did enjoy this book 💚 There are also illustrations of the characters which I found very stunning.
🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own
🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own
December 1, 2023
Well of Dreams
ARC Review
"Halla had been right. Larissa shook her head, smiling through the pain. Of course, Halla had been right."
This book. This book was pretty wonderful. Firstly, I am not a huge mythology retelling reader, but honestly, I did not know much before my reading of this book.
This story is compelling from the beginning pages until the end. As you begin reading you really think you know what you're about to read and you assume so incorrectly. The love created within this book whether it was parents, siblings, friendships, or lovers. It is so real and when thrown into the fire (literally) sticking together is the only option. Even if you don't know if it was your choice or the choice of the gods of fate
The characters are intriguing and there is great character development for the FMC which really she needed as she begins very closed-minded, but for traumatic reasons of course. Her sister really brings out the best in her! The magic is fun, but I enjoyed the balance of nature and the cost of using it instead of the endless supply style some other stories seem like.
I am eagerly waiting for the next book in this series and
I look forward to these great characters finding themselves in a whole new way.
Amazing job Kayla Ann!!
ARC Review
"Halla had been right. Larissa shook her head, smiling through the pain. Of course, Halla had been right."
This book. This book was pretty wonderful. Firstly, I am not a huge mythology retelling reader, but honestly, I did not know much before my reading of this book.
This story is compelling from the beginning pages until the end. As you begin reading you really think you know what you're about to read and you assume so incorrectly. The love created within this book whether it was parents, siblings, friendships, or lovers. It is so real and when thrown into the fire (literally) sticking together is the only option. Even if you don't know if it was your choice or the choice of the gods of fate
The characters are intriguing and there is great character development for the FMC which really she needed as she begins very closed-minded, but for traumatic reasons of course. Her sister really brings out the best in her! The magic is fun, but I enjoyed the balance of nature and the cost of using it instead of the endless supply style some other stories seem like.
I am eagerly waiting for the next book in this series and
I look forward to these great characters finding themselves in a whole new way.
Amazing job Kayla Ann!!
October 21, 2023
A dystopian YA story with Norse mythology.
Having more than one child is illegal and families need to be creative in order to hide them from regular surprise patrols. A prophecy of a lost princess who will bring down the tyrant ruler so that people may return to living in peace.
Larissa: I don't believe in anything
Halla: I believe in everything
Darien: I believe in Larissa
Anara: I don't believe this!
This was a fun, very youthfully YA adventure story. The concepts were very unique and the friendships were sweet. I was pulled in right away.
I think I read too much fantasy because all the talk about kings, queens, princesses, and walled cities really messed with me seeing this as dystopian and imagining a present/future with trucks and guns.
Bear in mind this was a self published novel, and as such it is not as polished a book as something gone through a traditional publisher. The scene transitions aren't quite as seamless and there are some spelling/grammatical errors. But I also found that to be quite endearing in a "damn the man" sort of way.
Overall this was a fun read. I'd have no problem recommending it for teen readers.
Content has clean language, clean romance, and mild violence.
Having more than one child is illegal and families need to be creative in order to hide them from regular surprise patrols. A prophecy of a lost princess who will bring down the tyrant ruler so that people may return to living in peace.
Larissa: I don't believe in anything
Halla: I believe in everything
Darien: I believe in Larissa
Anara: I don't believe this!
This was a fun, very youthfully YA adventure story. The concepts were very unique and the friendships were sweet. I was pulled in right away.
I think I read too much fantasy because all the talk about kings, queens, princesses, and walled cities really messed with me seeing this as dystopian and imagining a present/future with trucks and guns.
Bear in mind this was a self published novel, and as such it is not as polished a book as something gone through a traditional publisher. The scene transitions aren't quite as seamless and there are some spelling/grammatical errors. But I also found that to be quite endearing in a "damn the man" sort of way.
Overall this was a fun read. I'd have no problem recommending it for teen readers.
Content has clean language, clean romance, and mild violence.
November 11, 2023
Such a unique and utterly breath-taking story! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, waiting to see what would happen next. Larissa and Halla's sister relationship is so wholesome and I love it! All the twists and turns of the story kept me glued to the pages. The complexity of the story and the way it was crafted is amazing. And the writing--beautiful! Every sentence was skillfully written. 100% recommend this book to all those who love fantasy and dystopian. One of my top favorite books of 2023!
December 1, 2023
Well of Dreams by Kayla Ann ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This is definitely a five star read I’d highly recommend anyone looking for a new book surrounding Norse Mythology, sibling bonds, romance, and sarcastic friendship vibes. This book brought me happiness and was so well written!! I’m astounded this is a debut novel because it was brilliant from the world building to the character development. Even the plot for this book was amazing! It left me on my seat at times and I just kept on reading 🥰
“𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙨.”
Even the dual POV was perfect and I didn’t find myself confused at any points or stages at all. It was so well thought out. My only downside is that I did have to keep flipping to the glossary to understand words but as I got to the very end I could read it without flipping so I guess that’s just normal after it’s repeated! ✨
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙪𝙨 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚.”
The characters are amazing and the sibling bond between Larissa and Halla is so strong. The way I feel these emotions when it comes to my sister are so real and you don’t really get much sibling recognition or bonding in books! Really brought me a breath of fresh air 🎉
“𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙢.”
The romance in this was perfect and especially it being YA it was kind of nice to read a book without spice and it wasn’t fluffy romance. It was just a refound connection that brought warmth to my heart but not in a cringey way! I instantly fell in love with this romantic bond. ❤️
“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨.”
Just the meanings behind this book are beautiful and really reflects the characters strength and integrity. I absolutely love Anara and all she has sacrificed and I can’t wait to find out more about each character in book 2!
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧.”
Overall this book was amazing and I recommend it to everyone! Especially if you want to try out something different! On the plus side the book is also as pretty as the book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This is definitely a five star read I’d highly recommend anyone looking for a new book surrounding Norse Mythology, sibling bonds, romance, and sarcastic friendship vibes. This book brought me happiness and was so well written!! I’m astounded this is a debut novel because it was brilliant from the world building to the character development. Even the plot for this book was amazing! It left me on my seat at times and I just kept on reading 🥰
“𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙨.”
Even the dual POV was perfect and I didn’t find myself confused at any points or stages at all. It was so well thought out. My only downside is that I did have to keep flipping to the glossary to understand words but as I got to the very end I could read it without flipping so I guess that’s just normal after it’s repeated! ✨
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙪𝙨 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚.”
The characters are amazing and the sibling bond between Larissa and Halla is so strong. The way I feel these emotions when it comes to my sister are so real and you don’t really get much sibling recognition or bonding in books! Really brought me a breath of fresh air 🎉
“𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙢.”
The romance in this was perfect and especially it being YA it was kind of nice to read a book without spice and it wasn’t fluffy romance. It was just a refound connection that brought warmth to my heart but not in a cringey way! I instantly fell in love with this romantic bond. ❤️
“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨.”
Just the meanings behind this book are beautiful and really reflects the characters strength and integrity. I absolutely love Anara and all she has sacrificed and I can’t wait to find out more about each character in book 2!
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧.”
Overall this book was amazing and I recommend it to everyone! Especially if you want to try out something different! On the plus side the book is also as pretty as the book!
November 8, 2023
I am SO glad that I signed up for an ARC of Well of Dreams! I went into this book with no expectations, only skimmed the summary. Let me tell you… I could not put this book down!!! The story is so unique, and personally, I haven’t read anything like it. This is a YA dystopian fantasy inspired by Norse mythology.
I absolutely love Kayla’s writing style. I love the dual POV, the magic, the slow burn, the adventure. The characters are so unique, and I love the illustrations so I can picture the characters how the author meant for them to be pictured. I hardly had to sit and try to imagine what was going on. Everything was so well narrated that it just FLOWED into my brain and felt like I was watching a movie. The world building was amazing. I was fully immersed into the story almost immediately, and usually it takes me a few chapters in fantasy books.
I did receive this for free as an ebook, BUT I loved this book so much that I pre-ordered the hardcover to add to my book trophies. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!! 🤩
I absolutely love Kayla’s writing style. I love the dual POV, the magic, the slow burn, the adventure. The characters are so unique, and I love the illustrations so I can picture the characters how the author meant for them to be pictured. I hardly had to sit and try to imagine what was going on. Everything was so well narrated that it just FLOWED into my brain and felt like I was watching a movie. The world building was amazing. I was fully immersed into the story almost immediately, and usually it takes me a few chapters in fantasy books.
I did receive this for free as an ebook, BUT I loved this book so much that I pre-ordered the hardcover to add to my book trophies. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!! 🤩
October 25, 2023
Kayla Ann blew me away with her debut novel. It was so well written, the formatting was professional and beautiful, the artwork was stunning, and the story was fantastic! It's clear that Kayla put an immense amount of time and energy into this book, the attention to detail and the care that she put into every aspect of this book shines throughout the story. Well done, Kayal! You are such an inspiration.
If you love...
- Magic
- Dual POV
- Norse mythology
- NO spice
- Slowburn romance
- Royalty
....then this book is for you!
The characters were relatable and had evident growth. Sometimes I found myself getting a little annoyed with Lorissa and her refusal to accept her past, but maybe that's a good thing. It meant that the author was really getting me to feel, really getting me to be emotionally involved in the story. Larissa's close bond with Halla was sweet and the way Halla's story ended (at least in this book), broke my heart. Anara was a super cool character, and I'd love to know more about her (hint, hint...maybe we can get an Anara side story?). Then, of course, we had Darien. Sigh...poor Darien. I felt there wasn't a huge amount of growth with Darien and that his flaws were not quite so obvious, but he was still a loveable character and I felt so bad about the way Larissa treated him.
The pacing was fairly quick, but it didn't leave me feeling out of breath. It was a "good fast." And lastly, this was a clean read which I LOVED! Thank you Kayla Ann for creating such a wonderful book that I can feel good about reading from cover to cover. I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you love...
- Magic
- Dual POV
- Norse mythology
- NO spice
- Slowburn romance
- Royalty
....then this book is for you!
The characters were relatable and had evident growth. Sometimes I found myself getting a little annoyed with Lorissa and her refusal to accept her past, but maybe that's a good thing. It meant that the author was really getting me to feel, really getting me to be emotionally involved in the story. Larissa's close bond with Halla was sweet and the way Halla's story ended (at least in this book), broke my heart. Anara was a super cool character, and I'd love to know more about her (hint, hint...maybe we can get an Anara side story?). Then, of course, we had Darien. Sigh...poor Darien. I felt there wasn't a huge amount of growth with Darien and that his flaws were not quite so obvious, but he was still a loveable character and I felt so bad about the way Larissa treated him.
The pacing was fairly quick, but it didn't leave me feeling out of breath. It was a "good fast." And lastly, this was a clean read which I LOVED! Thank you Kayla Ann for creating such a wonderful book that I can feel good about reading from cover to cover. I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2024
Well of Dreams is a YA Dystopian Fantasy that takes place in a future world where the legends of Norse mythology aren't just legends anymore.
Larissa and Halla have all the charm of Katniss and Prim with more sass, magic, and adventures spent together!
The combination of tropes is a dream:
➰Lost princess
➰Forgotten romance
➰Dual POV
➰Dark creatures
➰Hidden memories
➰Fast paced
➰Detailed world building
➰Found family
I could go on and on...
I loved Larissa's bravery and protectiveness, as well as Halla's impulsivity and determination. Darian and Anara were loveable characters. The pace was exciting and easy to read.
You can tell how much Kayla has poured into this book over her YEARS of developing it, and how much she has planned for this series!
Not to mention the gorgeous illustrations throughout. I've never seen a book with such beautiful art tucked inside!
The literary world is lucky to have this book!!
Larissa and Halla have all the charm of Katniss and Prim with more sass, magic, and adventures spent together!
The combination of tropes is a dream:
➰Lost princess
➰Forgotten romance
➰Dual POV
➰Dark creatures
➰Hidden memories
➰Fast paced
➰Detailed world building
➰Found family
I could go on and on...
I loved Larissa's bravery and protectiveness, as well as Halla's impulsivity and determination. Darian and Anara were loveable characters. The pace was exciting and easy to read.
You can tell how much Kayla has poured into this book over her YEARS of developing it, and how much she has planned for this series!
Not to mention the gorgeous illustrations throughout. I've never seen a book with such beautiful art tucked inside!
The literary world is lucky to have this book!!
November 14, 2023
ARC READ: Thank you Kayla Ann for the opportunity to read this incredible story.
Tropes readers will encounter while reading Well of Dreams includes: Norse mythology, magic, dystopian society, found family, dual POV, no spice, and slow burn romance.
Well of Dreams is a fast paced YA fantasy novel that is set in a modern but dystopian era. The FMC Larissa lives with her family on a berry farm. Throughout her childhood, Larissa has heard tall tales of past kings and queens, but never truly believed the stories of old until certain events make them reality. Larissa and her sister are on the run from danger and along the journey Larissa and a boy named Darien discover they play a much more important role when it comes to overthrowing the evil empress.
Tropes readers will encounter while reading Well of Dreams includes: Norse mythology, magic, dystopian society, found family, dual POV, no spice, and slow burn romance.
Well of Dreams is a fast paced YA fantasy novel that is set in a modern but dystopian era. The FMC Larissa lives with her family on a berry farm. Throughout her childhood, Larissa has heard tall tales of past kings and queens, but never truly believed the stories of old until certain events make them reality. Larissa and her sister are on the run from danger and along the journey Larissa and a boy named Darien discover they play a much more important role when it comes to overthrowing the evil empress.
November 22, 2023
First, thank you so much to the author for my ARC of Well of Dreams. I have watched her journey for so long on Booksta and getting chosen to receive an ARC was such an honor!
I fell in love with Larissa and Halla instantly. Their sisterly bond was truly beautiful. They encounter some hard obstacles, but together they make quite a team.
Our girl Larissa had some things to work through and throughout the story we get to really experience the growth of her character. I really loved the support she had from Anara, Darien and Halla even when she didn’t have the best attitude about her situation.
The world was incredibly well thought out. I felt like I was in the story with the characters. There is lots of action and twists that keep the story interesting. I really can’t wait to see where this story will go in book 2!
If you need more convincing - the illustrations in the book are amazing!
I fell in love with Larissa and Halla instantly. Their sisterly bond was truly beautiful. They encounter some hard obstacles, but together they make quite a team.
Our girl Larissa had some things to work through and throughout the story we get to really experience the growth of her character. I really loved the support she had from Anara, Darien and Halla even when she didn’t have the best attitude about her situation.
The world was incredibly well thought out. I felt like I was in the story with the characters. There is lots of action and twists that keep the story interesting. I really can’t wait to see where this story will go in book 2!
If you need more convincing - the illustrations in the book are amazing!
June 5, 2024
What a ride this book took me on!
The unfolding of memories throughout this book between two characters and the steady presence of the other characters was done beautifully!!
Loved everything about this! Anxious to see what comes of book two but I can feel some major twists are about to come about.
The unfolding of memories throughout this book between two characters and the steady presence of the other characters was done beautifully!!
Loved everything about this! Anxious to see what comes of book two but I can feel some major twists are about to come about.
May 28, 2024
My favorite book club pick so far this year!!!!!!
October 13, 2023
I came across Kayla Ann's account by chance and seeing that she was looking for ARC readers, I signed up and here we are.
This is the first of a saga, so it seemed quite introductory to me, it is true that things happen (chapter 12 broke my heart💔) but mainly we get to know the characters and see how their stories intersect, forming a group that seeks freedom for their kingdoms. What I liked the most are the characters, my favorite is Anara, the relationship between the sisters, how sometimes the little girl became the older sister and the way Larissa wants to escape from her past just to protect Halla (although sometimes it was difficult for me to understand her obstinacy for not wanting to remember).
I don't know anything about Norse mythology but after this book it made me want to know a little more.
In this debut novel by Kayla Ann, good characters, Nordic mythology, plot twists, flashbacks, dual POVs, found family and an ending that will leave you wanting more, come together.
Looking forward to reading the next one.
This is the first of a saga, so it seemed quite introductory to me, it is true that things happen (chapter 12 broke my heart💔) but mainly we get to know the characters and see how their stories intersect, forming a group that seeks freedom for their kingdoms. What I liked the most are the characters, my favorite is Anara, the relationship between the sisters, how sometimes the little girl became the older sister and the way Larissa wants to escape from her past just to protect Halla (although sometimes it was difficult for me to understand her obstinacy for not wanting to remember).
I don't know anything about Norse mythology but after this book it made me want to know a little more.
In this debut novel by Kayla Ann, good characters, Nordic mythology, plot twists, flashbacks, dual POVs, found family and an ending that will leave you wanting more, come together.
Looking forward to reading the next one.
October 5, 2023
Well of Dreams is beautifully, whimsically and lyrically written. This is a special story! I devoured it as quickly a I could.
This story shows the power of sibling bonds and friends who would go to the end of the Earth for you.
There’s adventure, love, plot twists, fun cliff hangers, incredible plot development, and overall learning to be who you are while also accepting who you were.
As someone who doesn’t have a running movie in their head while reading, the illustrations were so helpful and creative!
I will be hibernating until the 2nd book is done, because I need to know what happens next. Oh my heart, I love this story! I can’t wait for it to be debuted to the world!
This story shows the power of sibling bonds and friends who would go to the end of the Earth for you.
There’s adventure, love, plot twists, fun cliff hangers, incredible plot development, and overall learning to be who you are while also accepting who you were.
As someone who doesn’t have a running movie in their head while reading, the illustrations were so helpful and creative!
I will be hibernating until the 2nd book is done, because I need to know what happens next. Oh my heart, I love this story! I can’t wait for it to be debuted to the world!
November 8, 2023
Predictability: 7/10
This book was very hard for me to get into in the beginning. There were so many different components happening, and I just kept getting more confused. Once I was through 20% of the book, I was finally able to understand the theme more and the build up.
The premise of this book is a dystopian tale with two sisters, and add the Norse mythology, with a sprinkle of romance. The concept is great, and I liked the book, I just don’t think it was for me, but I do see how others would enjoy it greatly.
This is a YA fantasy and if you’re starting out as a fantasy reader, I would say this isn’t an easy read to start out with. The author is great with details, but as I said previously, those details did overwhelm me at first, and can overwhelm a new reader.
All in all, it’s wasn’t a bad book. I liked it. There were positives as well as negatives. What’s not for me, could be potentially your favorite book. Once the second book of the series is released, I will go back and reread this book just in case I missed anything.
*Thank you to the author, Kayla Ann, for giving me this ARC to read for an honest review.
This book was very hard for me to get into in the beginning. There were so many different components happening, and I just kept getting more confused. Once I was through 20% of the book, I was finally able to understand the theme more and the build up.
The premise of this book is a dystopian tale with two sisters, and add the Norse mythology, with a sprinkle of romance. The concept is great, and I liked the book, I just don’t think it was for me, but I do see how others would enjoy it greatly.
This is a YA fantasy and if you’re starting out as a fantasy reader, I would say this isn’t an easy read to start out with. The author is great with details, but as I said previously, those details did overwhelm me at first, and can overwhelm a new reader.
All in all, it’s wasn’t a bad book. I liked it. There were positives as well as negatives. What’s not for me, could be potentially your favorite book. Once the second book of the series is released, I will go back and reread this book just in case I missed anything.
*Thank you to the author, Kayla Ann, for giving me this ARC to read for an honest review.
February 6, 2024
From hiding an illegal second-born sister to fleeing the Empress’ accusation of treason, this mystery-packed adventure is a must-read!
The daughter of a simple fruit farmer under the cruel reign of the Grand Empress, Larissa can only roll her eyes at his stories of the old Norse gods. But her sister Halla, an illegal second-born, believes in them with her whole heart. What happens when Larissa suspects the stories—and gods—are real? And what are they trying to tell her about her past?
Narrative Voice: 3rd person (dual)
Cussing/profanity: 0/5
Drug/alcohol use: 0/5
Kissing: 1/5
Sex/nudity: 0/5
Violence/gore: 3/5
I’ve never read a dystopian-fantasy book [and a post-apocalyptic one at that!]. I had no idea what to expect, but all I can say Kayla Ann has set the bar for any future books I read in this genre!
The world building is refreshingly unique, with elements I never thought would work weaving together in an exciting adventure of forgotten pasts, ancient magic, and Norse mythology. Each of the characters are so well written (Darien is my favorite) that it truly deepens the story and makes it feel real and believable.
Great read, lots of mystery, sweet subplot romance (YAY!), and the illustrations are beautiful! Gimme the sequel!!
5/5 would recommend
The daughter of a simple fruit farmer under the cruel reign of the Grand Empress, Larissa can only roll her eyes at his stories of the old Norse gods. But her sister Halla, an illegal second-born, believes in them with her whole heart. What happens when Larissa suspects the stories—and gods—are real? And what are they trying to tell her about her past?
Narrative Voice: 3rd person (dual)
Cussing/profanity: 0/5
Drug/alcohol use: 0/5
Kissing: 1/5
Sex/nudity: 0/5
Violence/gore: 3/5
I’ve never read a dystopian-fantasy book [and a post-apocalyptic one at that!]. I had no idea what to expect, but all I can say Kayla Ann has set the bar for any future books I read in this genre!
The world building is refreshingly unique, with elements I never thought would work weaving together in an exciting adventure of forgotten pasts, ancient magic, and Norse mythology. Each of the characters are so well written (Darien is my favorite) that it truly deepens the story and makes it feel real and believable.
Great read, lots of mystery, sweet subplot romance (YAY!), and the illustrations are beautiful! Gimme the sequel!!
5/5 would recommend
November 8, 2023
ARC review
Fans of The Hunger Games and Norse Mythology will love Kayla Ann's post-apocalyptic magical adventure. Larissa, Darien, and Anara are intriguing heart felt characters set in a world that is all too familiar yet entirely different. I loved Ragnarok being the apocalypse and people serving the old gods again and using ancestral magic. It is very refreshing and I can't wait to read the next book.
Fans of The Hunger Games and Norse Mythology will love Kayla Ann's post-apocalyptic magical adventure. Larissa, Darien, and Anara are intriguing heart felt characters set in a world that is all too familiar yet entirely different. I loved Ragnarok being the apocalypse and people serving the old gods again and using ancestral magic. It is very refreshing and I can't wait to read the next book.
December 1, 2023
ARC Review
YA-no spice- Norse mythology- dystopian
This was my first ARC and I have to say the bar is set HIGH. I gave it 4 stars only because fantasy world building can be tedious. With that being said I LOVED the plot once it picked up pace. I’m excited for the next book in the series.
YA-no spice- Norse mythology- dystopian
This was my first ARC and I have to say the bar is set HIGH. I gave it 4 stars only because fantasy world building can be tedious. With that being said I LOVED the plot once it picked up pace. I’m excited for the next book in the series.
September 3, 2023
Well of Dreams is truly everything I expect a YA Dystopian Fantasy to be. Kayla Ann has crafted a beautiful tale of forgotten pasts and discovering who you are, full of action and suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat! I had so much fun reading this book, and it's just the beginning. I can't wait for the rest of the series!
October 28, 2023
Well Of Dreams is the first book in The Runic Saga. It is a fantasy based story with references to Norse mythology. This book features Larissa, Halla, Darien and Anara.
About 50 years ago, there were five kingdoms who ruled Evropa together: Smaragd, Rubin, Perle, Safir, and Diamant. When Princess Shiko of Diamant was to be sworn in, she sliced through the tapestry that tied the five together. She lay claim to all the land and reigned over the five commonwealths. The Empress, as she came to be known, changed life for everyone.
Larissa and her sister Halla lived outside the city wall of Safir. They lived and worked on their parents berry farm. There were quotas that needed to me met and delivered, or they could face punishments including being sold into slavery or even death. On top of that, Halla was a second-born child. The Empress had a mandate that families were only permitted one child. Second borns were regularly taken away as slaves, and the punishment for hiding one was death. The Empress' sentries regularly performed spot inspections so the family always had to be ready to hide Halla.
On one of the Produce Days, when they were loading up their truck to deliver their berries to the city, sentries showed up and Halla didn't have enough time to hide in her usual spot. Larissa doesn't realize that she has stowed away in Helga, their beloved truck, until it is too late. That is when she meets Darien, another farmhand who lives and works his father's apple orchards. He knows the penalty of hiding a second born child, and yet steps up to help Larissa, a complete stranger.
On his drive back to the orchards, Darien has an unusual encounter with a young child who seemed to emerge from the trees. He learns her name is Anara. After their encounter, he seems plagued by hallucinations.
That is just the beginning of a wonderfully written story filled with adventure, intrigue, magic, and more. The author did a fantastic job building this world without overwhelming readers. There is a riveting plot with well developed and captivating characters. There are a plethora of relationships including sisters, brothers, friends, and a potential love interest. Having finished the first book, which ends on a cliffhanger, I feel very invested in the story and cannot wait to discover what comes next!
It is hard to believe that this book is Kayla Ann's debut! I was thrilled to be able to support her Kickstarter campaign which allowed multiple maps and other illustrations to be included in her book. They definitely enhance the reader's experience and enjoyment. I also love that she included a pronunciation guide, a glossary, and bonus chapters... as well as a sneak peek at the next book. I highly recommend getting a copy and checking it out.
About 50 years ago, there were five kingdoms who ruled Evropa together: Smaragd, Rubin, Perle, Safir, and Diamant. When Princess Shiko of Diamant was to be sworn in, she sliced through the tapestry that tied the five together. She lay claim to all the land and reigned over the five commonwealths. The Empress, as she came to be known, changed life for everyone.
Larissa and her sister Halla lived outside the city wall of Safir. They lived and worked on their parents berry farm. There were quotas that needed to me met and delivered, or they could face punishments including being sold into slavery or even death. On top of that, Halla was a second-born child. The Empress had a mandate that families were only permitted one child. Second borns were regularly taken away as slaves, and the punishment for hiding one was death. The Empress' sentries regularly performed spot inspections so the family always had to be ready to hide Halla.
On one of the Produce Days, when they were loading up their truck to deliver their berries to the city, sentries showed up and Halla didn't have enough time to hide in her usual spot. Larissa doesn't realize that she has stowed away in Helga, their beloved truck, until it is too late. That is when she meets Darien, another farmhand who lives and works his father's apple orchards. He knows the penalty of hiding a second born child, and yet steps up to help Larissa, a complete stranger.
On his drive back to the orchards, Darien has an unusual encounter with a young child who seemed to emerge from the trees. He learns her name is Anara. After their encounter, he seems plagued by hallucinations.
That is just the beginning of a wonderfully written story filled with adventure, intrigue, magic, and more. The author did a fantastic job building this world without overwhelming readers. There is a riveting plot with well developed and captivating characters. There are a plethora of relationships including sisters, brothers, friends, and a potential love interest. Having finished the first book, which ends on a cliffhanger, I feel very invested in the story and cannot wait to discover what comes next!
It is hard to believe that this book is Kayla Ann's debut! I was thrilled to be able to support her Kickstarter campaign which allowed multiple maps and other illustrations to be included in her book. They definitely enhance the reader's experience and enjoyment. I also love that she included a pronunciation guide, a glossary, and bonus chapters... as well as a sneak peek at the next book. I highly recommend getting a copy and checking it out.
June 28, 2024
Read if you enjoy:
💠 strong sibling relationships
💠 slow-burn romance
💠 Norse inspired mythology
💠 awesome side characters (my favorite is the bada** best friend)
💠 dystopian fantasy settings
I’ve had this one for a while and was excited to finally read it! Also, I’ve found that I really enjoy having a physical and e-copy of a book so I can read in whatever format is most convenient/I’m in the mood for. It’s the little things 😂
I was impressed by this debut! It’s a unique mix of dystopian and fantasy with elements of Norse mythology that I haven’t really encountered before. The world is a mix of semi-modern technology (cars, electricity, etc.) and a more typically fantasy setting (castles, monarchy, etc.). Sometimes I forgot the book was set in a more modern time until a truck or a character’s leather jacket was mentioned 😂
Since this is the first book in a fantasy series, I expected more time to be dedicated to world-building/setting up the story, and I’d say that assumption was accurate. The story started a little slow, and I’ll admit it was hard to keep some of the details/names straight at first, but everything soon sped up and started to fall into place—the last third of the book kept me on my toes and ended with a gut-wrenching cliff-hanger, so I’m excited to see that action continue in book two!
The story is told via two POVs and a series of flashbacks, which I really enjoyed. Both POVs felt equally matched and the flashbacks added a lot of depth and character growth—they were probably some of my favorite parts of the whole book. Also, definitely don’t skip the prologue/epilogue on this one and there is a pronunciation guide in the back (I definitely needed it 😆)
I’m excited to continue the series as it comes out and see where this story goes! 🙌🏻
🌶️ slow-burn longing and an almost-kiss
⚠️ loss of parents, injury, blood, kidnapping, fire, manipulation
💠 strong sibling relationships
💠 slow-burn romance
💠 Norse inspired mythology
💠 awesome side characters (my favorite is the bada** best friend)
💠 dystopian fantasy settings
I’ve had this one for a while and was excited to finally read it! Also, I’ve found that I really enjoy having a physical and e-copy of a book so I can read in whatever format is most convenient/I’m in the mood for. It’s the little things 😂
I was impressed by this debut! It’s a unique mix of dystopian and fantasy with elements of Norse mythology that I haven’t really encountered before. The world is a mix of semi-modern technology (cars, electricity, etc.) and a more typically fantasy setting (castles, monarchy, etc.). Sometimes I forgot the book was set in a more modern time until a truck or a character’s leather jacket was mentioned 😂
Since this is the first book in a fantasy series, I expected more time to be dedicated to world-building/setting up the story, and I’d say that assumption was accurate. The story started a little slow, and I’ll admit it was hard to keep some of the details/names straight at first, but everything soon sped up and started to fall into place—the last third of the book kept me on my toes and ended with a gut-wrenching cliff-hanger, so I’m excited to see that action continue in book two!
The story is told via two POVs and a series of flashbacks, which I really enjoyed. Both POVs felt equally matched and the flashbacks added a lot of depth and character growth—they were probably some of my favorite parts of the whole book. Also, definitely don’t skip the prologue/epilogue on this one and there is a pronunciation guide in the back (I definitely needed it 😆)
I’m excited to continue the series as it comes out and see where this story goes! 🙌🏻
🌶️ slow-burn longing and an almost-kiss
⚠️ loss of parents, injury, blood, kidnapping, fire, manipulation
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