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Valrue #1
The Dark Side of Happiness
A crisis plagues the city of Valrue. An excess of majik has driven nature away, leaving a barren expanse around the city, tempting its demise. Embittered by their suffering, the People demand vengeance against Valrue's majikal inhabitants.
His future as a Krijen warrior threatened, Jin suppresses his majik, unaware he treads an even more perilous path. Smothered in the safety of her wealthy family home, Aren seeks purpose, seduced by risks she should not take. The Great Kahn reigns over it all, festering in his failure to free his city until something surfaces from his past that changes everything. He devises a daring plan, endangering the ugly secret that could spell his ruin . . .
His future as a Krijen warrior threatened, Jin suppresses his majik, unaware he treads an even more perilous path. Smothered in the safety of her wealthy family home, Aren seeks purpose, seduced by risks she should not take. The Great Kahn reigns over it all, festering in his failure to free his city until something surfaces from his past that changes everything. He devises a daring plan, endangering the ugly secret that could spell his ruin . . .
- GenresFantasy
462 pages, Paperback
Published July 11, 2023
11 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 1, 2023
Y’all. Listen. I’m not very big into fantasy or world building, but I think I have finally found the book that has hooked me! This was the first fantasy book I have read that I finished and actually enjoyed reading.
The author does an incredible job of world building, and I felt like I could picture everything. I also really appreciated the glossary at the front of the book that I could reference! It really helped me immerse myself into the story because I didn’t have to wrack my brain, instead I could just go check right quick and jump back into the story. OH and also, there’s a map!! Who doesn’t love a map??
So if you like fantasy, world building, magic, and a slow burn love story, add this to your TBR.
I can’t wait until the next book!!!
The author does an incredible job of world building, and I felt like I could picture everything. I also really appreciated the glossary at the front of the book that I could reference! It really helped me immerse myself into the story because I didn’t have to wrack my brain, instead I could just go check right quick and jump back into the story. OH and also, there’s a map!! Who doesn’t love a map??
So if you like fantasy, world building, magic, and a slow burn love story, add this to your TBR.
I can’t wait until the next book!!!
July 20, 2023
Why must we always try to get rid of people with majik/: this was a great story and I enjoyed its twists and it did keep me entertained!
I received this ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts/opinions above are my own.
I received this ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts/opinions above are my own.
July 23, 2023
I really enjoyed this fresh take on magic (Majik). This story had me really captivated from the beginning and I found it very hard to put down.
I loved the cliffhanger ending and it left me really keen to read the second book! I’m very excited to learn more about the characters and this world!
I loved the cliffhanger ending and it left me really keen to read the second book! I’m very excited to learn more about the characters and this world!
November 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this one…the magic system and the fantastic world building. I also really love stories told in multiple POVs.
There was plenty of action and plot twists and full of intrigue.
Can’t wait to read book 2 to see where the story goes!
There was plenty of action and plot twists and full of intrigue.
Can’t wait to read book 2 to see where the story goes!
September 11, 2023
I am not your typical fantasy reader, but this one hooked me right in! I was actually sad that there’s not an immediate second book for me to start! Im not great at writing reviews, but I really recommend finding a copy of this and starting it asap!
July 22, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book prior to its release, and boy did it have me hooked!
From the world building, to the multiple POVs, I was entranced through its entirety. I love a morally grey character, bad-ass women, MAJIK, and this book PROVIDES. 👏 Not to mention, a slow burn romance that I hope we’ll see more of in the next book. 😍🤤
One thing I often struggle with while reading a fantasy book is how to pronounce a new words / names I’ve never seen before. I was so happy the author provided a glossary at the beginning of the book. NOT only with how to pronounce certain words / names, but what they mean!!! More authors should be dOING THIS.
I cannot wait for the next instalment!
From the world building, to the multiple POVs, I was entranced through its entirety. I love a morally grey character, bad-ass women, MAJIK, and this book PROVIDES. 👏 Not to mention, a slow burn romance that I hope we’ll see more of in the next book. 😍🤤
One thing I often struggle with while reading a fantasy book is how to pronounce a new words / names I’ve never seen before. I was so happy the author provided a glossary at the beginning of the book. NOT only with how to pronounce certain words / names, but what they mean!!! More authors should be dOING THIS.
I cannot wait for the next instalment!
January 16, 2024
I wish I had liked this book more than I did. It was really hard to get through. I didn’t like how often the point of view changed. With the frequent changes, and the unfamiliar terms for characters, I had a really hard time keeping it all straight. I felt like this book would have been better if the author didn’t change the point of view as much. If she had kept it to two points of view, it would have been much better. The issue with having as many points of view as the author did in this book is that it can be confusing and the reader doesn’t care about the characters. It was annoying for me, and I found it hard to follow the story.
This book could have been made into two books. In the middle of this book, there was a time gap of six months. The author could have taken the first half and expanded it, turning it into its own book. Same thing with the second half. I feel like that would have been better in the long run. The author would have been able to develop the world and characters more. Additionally, it almost felt like I was reading two different books. One about Jin and one about Aren. With random POV shifts scattered throughout. I was hoping that the two storylines would eventually connect and mesh together, but that never happened.
The interactions between Aren and Wren were unnatural. Wren kept asking Aren why she was talking to him, and she wouldn’t answer. The emotions portrayed in the scenes were very chaotic and messy too, and changed frequently. It didn’t feel natural. Wren kept calling her annoying, Aren didn’t like him at all, but they ended up in the bed together. I think the author was trying to go for an enemies to lovers romance with Wren and Aren, but I don’t feel like it worked.
I had some questions about the majik of the world. Majik apparently just built up in mayjen. They had to harness every so often, however, or else they would lose control. Jin had to run away in the middle of the book to release the pent up majik within his chest because it gagged him, and felt like a burning, crushing pain in his chest. One of the punishments for mayjen caught harnessing was cutting off their hands. This made it so they couldn't harness. However, that didn't make much sense to me. The majik was channeled and controlled through the hands, yes. But it built up in the chest. It was mentioned that once a mayj's hands were cut off, they not only lost the abiltiy to harness, but also lost their majik. How does cutting off their hands make it so mayjen no longer have majik if that majik is in their chest?
I thought Jin getting a pardon was really dumb. It took me right out of the story. Throughout the entire book, I was told that being a mayj was reprehensible, that it was immediately punished by death. Jin was terrified of that happening to him throughout the entire story, and it made sense. When he revealed that he had majik, I was excited to see what consequences there would be for him. I was very disappointed and annoyed when he didn’t get a punishment at all. He was able to remain a squad leader, and his superior asked Jin if he could join his squad. Jin broke the law, but instead of being punished, he was…rewarded? That part of the book really did not make sense to me. It would have been better if he had to struggle (for example, he decided to run to escape his fate), and then at the end of the book provide the pardon.
I did not like Aren. She honestly seemed like a bratty twelve year old and I was not sure what her role in the story was. She was Jin's friend in the beginning, but then he killed his opponent during his Dance, and Aren suddenly hated him. It would have been cool if they resolved their differences, and became close friends again.
I wish the book made a bit more sense. For example, there was no explanation given for why Jin started seeing and having conversations with the person he had killed in his Dance at the beginning of the book. Why was he able to see that person? Why was he able to talk to him? Authors can do what they want in books, on the condition that they provide a logical reason for it. This can be done either through character building or through world building. Some possible explanations for why Jin was able to talk to the person's spirit: Jin's majik latched onto the person's spirit as he was killed, holding him here. The person, seeing as he was a member of a certain ethnic group with its own religion, could have lingered instead of going to the stars because he hadn't yet completed his purpose. Or, during world building, the author could have made it so that the spirits of people who were unjustly killed would linger, haunting their killers. Those are just a few examples of how the author could have made the interactions between Jin and the person he killed make sense.
The death of Oji was so obviously telegraphed it was almost painful. The Great Kahn talked to the mayj, told him that Oji was the reason he had scars and had been imprisoned, but it was a lie because the Great Khan wanted to get rid of Oji. Jin was talking to Oji, and was bothered by Oji implying that he wouldn’t be around much longer. Then Oji said that all men die. And then Oji died. Those three events were way too close together in my opinion. It made the death of Oji predictable. If you want to have a twist, you need to leave little breadcrumbs throughout the story so that the reader can look back and see how seemingly unrelated things throughout the entire story tie into the twist. The hints to the death of Oji were too obvious. I was not surprised by it. Frequently throughout the book, the same thing happened, and as a result, the events in the story were dull. K. M. Weiland put a post on Facebook on 12/8/2023 that I thought was applicable to this story. The post said “Don’t kill your story’s suspense with multiple POVs.” That’s exactly what the author did to this story. She killed the suspense. I was bored when reading through the book.
The world building was lacking in a few areas. The Unsettlement, and the Turning of mayjen. What was the Unsettlement? I was hoping that there was going to be more information about it and what happened later on in the book, but that information was never provided. The only clue I got was at the end, when the girl who could absorb magic for some reason jumped into the lake the city was built by. She did it to absorb majik that had apparently been locked away within it. This was an important piece of information that the story was missing, because the entire conflict revolved around the Unsettlement. Why were mayjen and majik banned? What happened to the world due to majik? Frequently throughout the book, it was mentioned that the mayjen who used their majik too much were at risk of Turning. What was Turning? Why was it something the people were frightened of? What happened when mayjen Turned? Because Turning was not developed, I was not concerned when mayjen came close to Turning in the book.
Jin being granted a pardon by Oji made me really mad. I was only a little mollified when the end of the book revealed that Oji had lied about Jin being granted a pardon by the Great Kahn. Jin’s actions were witnessed by many people. The Great Kahn somehow never hearing about what happened doesn’t make any sense to me, especially since the Great Kahn was depicted as a controlling leader.
The book started off good, but then it felt like I had to force myself to finish it. Overall, the book was a good first attempt by a new author. I remember my first book...it will never see the light of day. But I keep it around so I can look back and see how far I have come. The skills and knowledge to write books that people enjoy is something that is developed over time. With experience, the author will probably be writing great books. It will be interesting to see how the author improves.
This book could have been made into two books. In the middle of this book, there was a time gap of six months. The author could have taken the first half and expanded it, turning it into its own book. Same thing with the second half. I feel like that would have been better in the long run. The author would have been able to develop the world and characters more. Additionally, it almost felt like I was reading two different books. One about Jin and one about Aren. With random POV shifts scattered throughout. I was hoping that the two storylines would eventually connect and mesh together, but that never happened.
The interactions between Aren and Wren were unnatural. Wren kept asking Aren why she was talking to him, and she wouldn’t answer. The emotions portrayed in the scenes were very chaotic and messy too, and changed frequently. It didn’t feel natural. Wren kept calling her annoying, Aren didn’t like him at all, but they ended up in the bed together. I think the author was trying to go for an enemies to lovers romance with Wren and Aren, but I don’t feel like it worked.
I had some questions about the majik of the world. Majik apparently just built up in mayjen. They had to harness every so often, however, or else they would lose control. Jin had to run away in the middle of the book to release the pent up majik within his chest because it gagged him, and felt like a burning, crushing pain in his chest. One of the punishments for mayjen caught harnessing was cutting off their hands. This made it so they couldn't harness. However, that didn't make much sense to me. The majik was channeled and controlled through the hands, yes. But it built up in the chest. It was mentioned that once a mayj's hands were cut off, they not only lost the abiltiy to harness, but also lost their majik. How does cutting off their hands make it so mayjen no longer have majik if that majik is in their chest?
I thought Jin getting a pardon was really dumb. It took me right out of the story. Throughout the entire book, I was told that being a mayj was reprehensible, that it was immediately punished by death. Jin was terrified of that happening to him throughout the entire story, and it made sense. When he revealed that he had majik, I was excited to see what consequences there would be for him. I was very disappointed and annoyed when he didn’t get a punishment at all. He was able to remain a squad leader, and his superior asked Jin if he could join his squad. Jin broke the law, but instead of being punished, he was…rewarded? That part of the book really did not make sense to me. It would have been better if he had to struggle (for example, he decided to run to escape his fate), and then at the end of the book provide the pardon.
I did not like Aren. She honestly seemed like a bratty twelve year old and I was not sure what her role in the story was. She was Jin's friend in the beginning, but then he killed his opponent during his Dance, and Aren suddenly hated him. It would have been cool if they resolved their differences, and became close friends again.
I wish the book made a bit more sense. For example, there was no explanation given for why Jin started seeing and having conversations with the person he had killed in his Dance at the beginning of the book. Why was he able to see that person? Why was he able to talk to him? Authors can do what they want in books, on the condition that they provide a logical reason for it. This can be done either through character building or through world building. Some possible explanations for why Jin was able to talk to the person's spirit: Jin's majik latched onto the person's spirit as he was killed, holding him here. The person, seeing as he was a member of a certain ethnic group with its own religion, could have lingered instead of going to the stars because he hadn't yet completed his purpose. Or, during world building, the author could have made it so that the spirits of people who were unjustly killed would linger, haunting their killers. Those are just a few examples of how the author could have made the interactions between Jin and the person he killed make sense.
The death of Oji was so obviously telegraphed it was almost painful. The Great Kahn talked to the mayj, told him that Oji was the reason he had scars and had been imprisoned, but it was a lie because the Great Khan wanted to get rid of Oji. Jin was talking to Oji, and was bothered by Oji implying that he wouldn’t be around much longer. Then Oji said that all men die. And then Oji died. Those three events were way too close together in my opinion. It made the death of Oji predictable. If you want to have a twist, you need to leave little breadcrumbs throughout the story so that the reader can look back and see how seemingly unrelated things throughout the entire story tie into the twist. The hints to the death of Oji were too obvious. I was not surprised by it. Frequently throughout the book, the same thing happened, and as a result, the events in the story were dull. K. M. Weiland put a post on Facebook on 12/8/2023 that I thought was applicable to this story. The post said “Don’t kill your story’s suspense with multiple POVs.” That’s exactly what the author did to this story. She killed the suspense. I was bored when reading through the book.
The world building was lacking in a few areas. The Unsettlement, and the Turning of mayjen. What was the Unsettlement? I was hoping that there was going to be more information about it and what happened later on in the book, but that information was never provided. The only clue I got was at the end, when the girl who could absorb magic for some reason jumped into the lake the city was built by. She did it to absorb majik that had apparently been locked away within it. This was an important piece of information that the story was missing, because the entire conflict revolved around the Unsettlement. Why were mayjen and majik banned? What happened to the world due to majik? Frequently throughout the book, it was mentioned that the mayjen who used their majik too much were at risk of Turning. What was Turning? Why was it something the people were frightened of? What happened when mayjen Turned? Because Turning was not developed, I was not concerned when mayjen came close to Turning in the book.
Jin being granted a pardon by Oji made me really mad. I was only a little mollified when the end of the book revealed that Oji had lied about Jin being granted a pardon by the Great Kahn. Jin’s actions were witnessed by many people. The Great Kahn somehow never hearing about what happened doesn’t make any sense to me, especially since the Great Kahn was depicted as a controlling leader.
The book started off good, but then it felt like I had to force myself to finish it. Overall, the book was a good first attempt by a new author. I remember my first book...it will never see the light of day. But I keep it around so I can look back and see how far I have come. The skills and knowledge to write books that people enjoy is something that is developed over time. With experience, the author will probably be writing great books. It will be interesting to see how the author improves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2023
Hard to believe a book like this has come from such a new author! Was such an enjoyable read!
A lot of effort has been put into building this world, and as with most epic fantasy, once you get your head around the world building you can find yourself lost in it.
If you're looking for spice and sexual tension, there's some of that in there but it's not overpowering.
Plenty of action, plot twists, and drama.
Feels very inspired, similar to the works of Sanderson and Maas so if you enjoy their styles, you might have just found a new series to start...at least I hope there's more to come from Coley Taylor!
A lot of effort has been put into building this world, and as with most epic fantasy, once you get your head around the world building you can find yourself lost in it.
If you're looking for spice and sexual tension, there's some of that in there but it's not overpowering.
Plenty of action, plot twists, and drama.
Feels very inspired, similar to the works of Sanderson and Maas so if you enjoy their styles, you might have just found a new series to start...at least I hope there's more to come from Coley Taylor!
July 23, 2023
This book was an interesting dichotomy because while it may have been a little slow at the pacing at times, it was also highly intriguing and kept me interested despite the fact that it’s not usually a genre I read a lot of.
I enjoyed the multiple POVs that we were given and I especially enjoyed reading Jin’s. He was a very interesting character to me, especially after the first attack in the Deadlands. I found following his storyline to be most intriguing and kept wanting to know how his flashbacks related to the present.
I struggled to relate to Aren though. It might be because I’m older and more cynical than her character but I found myself getting frustrated by her response to things. She almost felt like a child which I guess considering she’s written as being sheltered and coddled her whole life, this makes sense.
It was initially quoted to me as a dark fantasy, and I was worried because that’s not my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised. While there was some violence and killing, it was not totally focused on that and it wasn’t gratuitous. My heart definitely broke for the women at the brothel and the young ones with majik 😞
I appreciated that you got POV’s from both the good guys and the bad as it made the tension even higher. You knew exactly what moves were coming from the villains and still had to sit there waiting for it to play out. The high stakes was so intense but that’s what kept me coming back for just one more chapter. I also liked that the good guys were more morally grey than completely good. I’d say the only one who was innocent and wholesome was Maude.
Overall this was an interesting and intriguing read. After the way it ended, I’m definitely curious about how their world works from here on out so I’ll most likely continue with book 2.
I enjoyed the multiple POVs that we were given and I especially enjoyed reading Jin’s. He was a very interesting character to me, especially after the first attack in the Deadlands. I found following his storyline to be most intriguing and kept wanting to know how his flashbacks related to the present.
I struggled to relate to Aren though. It might be because I’m older and more cynical than her character but I found myself getting frustrated by her response to things. She almost felt like a child which I guess considering she’s written as being sheltered and coddled her whole life, this makes sense.
It was initially quoted to me as a dark fantasy, and I was worried because that’s not my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised. While there was some violence and killing, it was not totally focused on that and it wasn’t gratuitous. My heart definitely broke for the women at the brothel and the young ones with majik 😞
I appreciated that you got POV’s from both the good guys and the bad as it made the tension even higher. You knew exactly what moves were coming from the villains and still had to sit there waiting for it to play out. The high stakes was so intense but that’s what kept me coming back for just one more chapter. I also liked that the good guys were more morally grey than completely good. I’d say the only one who was innocent and wholesome was Maude.
Overall this was an interesting and intriguing read. After the way it ended, I’m definitely curious about how their world works from here on out so I’ll most likely continue with book 2.
November 14, 2024
ValRue Book One: The Dark Side of Happiness is the first installment in a series from author Coley Taylor, but it seems like it was written by a seasoned writer. She includes epic world-building, a romantic sub-plot, an over-arching mystery, political intrigue, sword and dagger fights, and religious undertones.
While I find that most people don’t like the time spent on world-building, I think it’s necessary for the immersive experience. I really appreciate the attention to details put into this book. The same goes with the character development; you get a clear picture of each of their personalities and how they grow throughout.
The story takes place 20 years after The Unsettlement, a Crisis of majikal (magical) and natural imbalance in ValRue where an excess of majikal power drove almost all living things except humans from the city and surrounding area. As a result, majik becomes outlawed.
The main characters are Aren and Jin who have been best friends for many years. Jin must keep his secret of being a mayj (mage) hidden as he trains to become a Krijen warrior. Aren did seem to be a bit childish at times, but her great empathy for others made her more endearing. As the story progresses, we get to see how the characters evolve with their own sense of morality. For example, Jin’s trauma, guilt, and his own inner voice of reason and logical thinking is manifested as an apparition.
There are only a few intimate encounters, but they either fade to black or are not very descriptive.
This book does come with a huge resolution; but I was not ready for it to end when it did, as there are still some questions to be answered. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series so I’ll be continuing the adventure!
While I find that most people don’t like the time spent on world-building, I think it’s necessary for the immersive experience. I really appreciate the attention to details put into this book. The same goes with the character development; you get a clear picture of each of their personalities and how they grow throughout.
The story takes place 20 years after The Unsettlement, a Crisis of majikal (magical) and natural imbalance in ValRue where an excess of majikal power drove almost all living things except humans from the city and surrounding area. As a result, majik becomes outlawed.
The main characters are Aren and Jin who have been best friends for many years. Jin must keep his secret of being a mayj (mage) hidden as he trains to become a Krijen warrior. Aren did seem to be a bit childish at times, but her great empathy for others made her more endearing. As the story progresses, we get to see how the characters evolve with their own sense of morality. For example, Jin’s trauma, guilt, and his own inner voice of reason and logical thinking is manifested as an apparition.
There are only a few intimate encounters, but they either fade to black or are not very descriptive.
This book does come with a huge resolution; but I was not ready for it to end when it did, as there are still some questions to be answered. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series so I’ll be continuing the adventure!
March 15, 2024
3.5/5 rating
This review contains my thoughts and opinions about the book but I was approached by the author asking if I would be interested in reading TDSOH. Thank you for reaching out and sending me a copy of The Dark Side of Happiness to review.
If you're new to fantasy or looking for a high fantasy with some of the story terms and cultures brought into the writing, this book you may be interested in.
Parts of this book are fun, well-developed and easy to digest, making this story world interesting. The world-building is full of detail and locks down the place and space the characters are in quite nicely, helping to aid in the plot development and pacing/tension building. The majik and the magical aspects are fresh and interesting and a pleasant take on some great fantasy components.
Sometimes the dialogue can lean too closely to exposition dumping or telling and not showing and some characters feel a little underdeveloped for my tastes. I also had some trouble keeping up with all the perspectives, but I am someone who doesn't like large casts and more than a handful of perspectives at a time. I would have liked to have seen some longer chapters and a little more depth with some plotlines and character relationships, but overall it was a fun read.
Coley Taylor is an author who I can see developing a firm grasp on her narrative voice and style and over time her skills will sharpen up, something I will be keeping an eye on as I am excited to see what else she releases.
This review contains my thoughts and opinions about the book but I was approached by the author asking if I would be interested in reading TDSOH. Thank you for reaching out and sending me a copy of The Dark Side of Happiness to review.
If you're new to fantasy or looking for a high fantasy with some of the story terms and cultures brought into the writing, this book you may be interested in.
Parts of this book are fun, well-developed and easy to digest, making this story world interesting. The world-building is full of detail and locks down the place and space the characters are in quite nicely, helping to aid in the plot development and pacing/tension building. The majik and the magical aspects are fresh and interesting and a pleasant take on some great fantasy components.
Sometimes the dialogue can lean too closely to exposition dumping or telling and not showing and some characters feel a little underdeveloped for my tastes. I also had some trouble keeping up with all the perspectives, but I am someone who doesn't like large casts and more than a handful of perspectives at a time. I would have liked to have seen some longer chapters and a little more depth with some plotlines and character relationships, but overall it was a fun read.
Coley Taylor is an author who I can see developing a firm grasp on her narrative voice and style and over time her skills will sharpen up, something I will be keeping an eye on as I am excited to see what else she releases.
September 18, 2023
Valrue is book one in a series of a world building fantasy set. This is one of my first world building stories that I have read, often finding them too tedious and boring to read. While the beginning couple of pages were a bit slow as to be expected due to the detail that goes into creating a work of art, the tempo begins picking up after the first 30 pages. Those first 30 pages are worth it though, never have I ever been sucked into a story so thoroughly. I was in the wine cellar with Aren, I was in the arena with Jin during the dancing ceremony and not just reading about it, but physically with the characters. On several occasions I forgot that I was actually reading, when coming back to myself, realizing large chunks of time had passed. Each chapter that she writes is from the different perspective of each character allowing you to personally connect with each of them, making them seem real instead of just fictional characters in a book. I do have some questions about some characters that I definitely hope to get answered in the next book and I can't wait to see how their lives play out.
For spice I give it 🌶️🌶️.5 there are a few quick spicy scenes.
All in all it was an amazing book and I can't wait for book two to be finished so I can see how the story continues.
For spice I give it 🌶️🌶️.5 there are a few quick spicy scenes.
All in all it was an amazing book and I can't wait for book two to be finished so I can see how the story continues.
December 19, 2024
For twenty years, the city of Valrue has been consumed by majik, trapped in the desolate Deadlands and spiraling toward collapse. Starvation tightens its grip, tensions ignite, and the once-thriving city begins to devour itself. Majik is blamed for it all, and the price for wielding its power has become dangerously high.
Through the eyes of compelling characters, the story weaves a tapestry of survival, loyalty, and despair. Aren, the disillusioned daughter of a powerful political family, struggles to find hope amid the ruins of privilege, her loyalty tested to the breaking point. Jin, a hardened warrior shaped by a cruel upbringing, reveals the brutal cost of enforcing strength and control in a city on the edge. A host of other complex characters add an excellent depth to the storyline. A collection of fragmented letters and cryptic notes help uncover the hidden truths behind majik’s destructive grip.
As their fates intertwine, the story explores the devastating toll of majik on Valrue and its people, painting a vivid picture of a world where survival demands sacrifice. In Valrue, the line between saviour and monster is perilously thin. Coley Taylor should be immensely proud of this writing, it had me hooked.
I can’t wait to dive into the sequel!
Through the eyes of compelling characters, the story weaves a tapestry of survival, loyalty, and despair. Aren, the disillusioned daughter of a powerful political family, struggles to find hope amid the ruins of privilege, her loyalty tested to the breaking point. Jin, a hardened warrior shaped by a cruel upbringing, reveals the brutal cost of enforcing strength and control in a city on the edge. A host of other complex characters add an excellent depth to the storyline. A collection of fragmented letters and cryptic notes help uncover the hidden truths behind majik’s destructive grip.
As their fates intertwine, the story explores the devastating toll of majik on Valrue and its people, painting a vivid picture of a world where survival demands sacrifice. In Valrue, the line between saviour and monster is perilously thin. Coley Taylor should be immensely proud of this writing, it had me hooked.
I can’t wait to dive into the sequel!
October 19, 2024
This is an incredible debut fantasy novel by NZ author Coley Taylor. I was amazed at her impeccable writing style, complex characters and epic world building.
Told from multiple POV really helped bring each character alive and gave us some backstory with an understanding of their motivation for the decisions they made. Coley managed to seamlessly weave these together in a way that kept the story flowing and me fully engaged and invested.
The depth of the characters and their development throughout the book is genius, your feelings for characters will change as you continue to read, and you will question good and bad as you go.
Tropes include:-
📍Fantasy
📍Majikal abilities
📍Action scenes
📍Warriors (Krijen)
📍Romance
📍Political intrigue
📍Revenge
📍Secrets
📍Morally grey characters
This fantasy book belongs up there with the best of them. Ending in a cliffhanger provides the perfect segway for Book 2: All the Shadows of Death
September 6, 2023
This was a great book. I’m having a bit of a book hangover right now, I became so invested in the characters and their stories.
This dark fantasy book has some Fourth Wing vibes to it. No dragons, but plenty of magic, political intrigue, action, wonderful world building and amazing story telling. The characters are so well written, and I love that the POV’s were not only from the young protagonists, but also older characters. Even the villains.
It’s amazing that this well written book is Coley Taylor’s first. It’s just as good, if not better than most of the bestsellers out there! If you love dark fantasy books, this is definitely a book for you. I cannot wait to see how the story unfolds in book two.
Total 5 star read for me!
This dark fantasy book has some Fourth Wing vibes to it. No dragons, but plenty of magic, political intrigue, action, wonderful world building and amazing story telling. The characters are so well written, and I love that the POV’s were not only from the young protagonists, but also older characters. Even the villains.
It’s amazing that this well written book is Coley Taylor’s first. It’s just as good, if not better than most of the bestsellers out there! If you love dark fantasy books, this is definitely a book for you. I cannot wait to see how the story unfolds in book two.
Total 5 star read for me!
December 20, 2023
This fantasty was a ride right from the beginning. The villains are the worst and are trying to remove all the people who have majik within them.
Aren is determined to prove she is more than a privileged daughter of the "right kind of family" and follows in her mother's footsteps in caring for those who are oppressed.
Aren's childhood friend, Jin, hides his majik and is now in the army who are charged with controlling the people and are ruled by the most powerful man in Valrue, The Great Kahn. The Great Kahn is on a "no holds barred" rampage to eliminate those who are majikal.
Twists, turns, ambushes, and trechary are plentiful in this multi POV and to add honey to the plot there is a sweet love story. Highly recommend reading.
Aren is determined to prove she is more than a privileged daughter of the "right kind of family" and follows in her mother's footsteps in caring for those who are oppressed.
Aren's childhood friend, Jin, hides his majik and is now in the army who are charged with controlling the people and are ruled by the most powerful man in Valrue, The Great Kahn. The Great Kahn is on a "no holds barred" rampage to eliminate those who are majikal.
Twists, turns, ambushes, and trechary are plentiful in this multi POV and to add honey to the plot there is a sweet love story. Highly recommend reading.
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May 31, 2024Unfortunately i didn't finish this book so I wont be giving it a rating. Thank you to the author for getting in touch and for the opportunity to read your book.
Here any my thoughts:
Told from three main POVs, it was an interesting way to see how majik affected each of our character, one being the ruler, one a majik welder and another just a simple girl.
Unfortunately this was a bit too slow paced for me. Jin's character was the only one I felt interested by, as Aren read really young. The world building also was slower than i liked in fantasy books, as I got confused about why majik was such a bad thing.
I did put it down for a while which didnt help as when i tried again it still didnt entice me.
This one was not for me unfortunately.
Here any my thoughts:
Told from three main POVs, it was an interesting way to see how majik affected each of our character, one being the ruler, one a majik welder and another just a simple girl.
Unfortunately this was a bit too slow paced for me. Jin's character was the only one I felt interested by, as Aren read really young. The world building also was slower than i liked in fantasy books, as I got confused about why majik was such a bad thing.
I did put it down for a while which didnt help as when i tried again it still didnt entice me.
This one was not for me unfortunately.
September 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this fantasy novel and in fact this fantasy world that the author has created. The premise is novel but understandable, and the characters are nicely complex rather than the one-dimensional good/evil paradigm that one often sees.
I particularly liked the way that there are a few different strands but they're tied together nicely and develop along without getting too convoluted. The characters expand along with the plot, and the overall pacing is enough to be engaging without being frenetic. It's well written too, without egregious style-devices that can detract from the storyline.
Top marks Coley Taylor. I'm buying the sequel now.
I particularly liked the way that there are a few different strands but they're tied together nicely and develop along without getting too convoluted. The characters expand along with the plot, and the overall pacing is enough to be engaging without being frenetic. It's well written too, without egregious style-devices that can detract from the storyline.
Top marks Coley Taylor. I'm buying the sequel now.
September 20, 2024
Love fantasy and this was a super refreshing tale. Coley's majik system is very deep and thorough, and I'm really excited to see how it evolves in future sequels. Diverse characters, too, all with very interesting backgrounds but whose stories are not predictable but very satisfying. Also really impressed with the worldbuilding, which was naturally layered in and hints at a greater threat.
Overall an awesome and unique setting that is consistent, with lots of drama, intrigue, action and mystery. Do yourself a favour, it's top stuff.
Overall an awesome and unique setting that is consistent, with lots of drama, intrigue, action and mystery. Do yourself a favour, it's top stuff.
September 21, 2024
Right from the beginning you get involved in another world. The more you read the more you relate to the different characters and find yourself wanting to read just one more chapter. A good book is one that is hard to put down and this is a good book.
I really liked the way each character evolved the more you read and it was written in a way that gave you background to each person and a greater understanding of Valrue.
Coley Taylor is certainly a talented author and brings a new and exciting way of writing that I found refreshing.
Very much looking forward to reading the next book.
I really liked the way each character evolved the more you read and it was written in a way that gave you background to each person and a greater understanding of Valrue.
Coley Taylor is certainly a talented author and brings a new and exciting way of writing that I found refreshing.
Very much looking forward to reading the next book.
November 3, 2024
Book #1 in the Valrue series and it did its job in completely pulling me in and engrossing me into the world of Valrue. There are alot of different POVs in the book, but I think that is important in seeing how the situations touch each character and how everything in the story is interconnected. Every small detail was all brought together to a huge ending that makes you eager to know what's next with each character and what it all means for Valrue. I loved this story and can't wait to read book #2!
November 7, 2024
The Dark Side of Happiness by Coley Taylor is a gripping dive into a world where magic is both a gift and a curse. The story shines in its character dynamics, especially with Aren, whose desire to make a difference is inspiring despite the heavy consequences she faces. The forbidden magic system is original, and the moral complexities keep you guessing. Some readers may find the multiple perspectives a bit challenging, but they add richness to the plot. If you enjoy fantasy with a dark edge, this book is a must-read.
November 22, 2025
Thank you Coley Taylor for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unfortunately this wasn't the book for me. DNF 25%.
It wasn't bad at all, and what I read was really good quality writing. It just wasn't the kind of writing style that works with my brain. The POV changes were too quick for me, and I kept getting a bit lost with the constant back and forth.
The worldbuilding in the part I was able to finish was great, and I think this would be worth giving a try if you love books with multiple POVs.
Unfortunately this wasn't the book for me. DNF 25%.
It wasn't bad at all, and what I read was really good quality writing. It just wasn't the kind of writing style that works with my brain. The POV changes were too quick for me, and I kept getting a bit lost with the constant back and forth.
The worldbuilding in the part I was able to finish was great, and I think this would be worth giving a try if you love books with multiple POVs.
August 27, 2023
What an enjoyable read! I was fully engrossed in the characters and world and I found myself wondering what was going to happen next when I wasn’t reading it.
I usually find made up words and names distracting (I stumble over them in my head trying to figure out how they are supposed to be said) so the addition of a glossary with pronunciation was super helpful.
Can’t wait for the next book!
I usually find made up words and names distracting (I stumble over them in my head trying to figure out how they are supposed to be said) so the addition of a glossary with pronunciation was super helpful.
Can’t wait for the next book!
August 29, 2023
Coley Taylor has created a unique and intriguing magical fantasy setting with Valrue in which to tell their story. It is filled with (not too many!) interesting, if sometimes slightly clichéd or overly naive, characters. A few small contradictions aside, I found the story to unfold with good pace, revealing just enough in a way that left me wanting to keep reading. I think the best praise I can give is that I’m genuinely looking forward to the next instalment!
September 1, 2023
Such an interesting book and really well written. Very grateful for the glossary as it made it so much easier to understand!! Wren and Maude were my favourite characters and honestly they were all so well developed. There were plot twists that made me so shocked and just when I thought there wouldn't be more, another was thrown in there. I want to read so much more about this world, will definitely be looking out for more books by this author 🥰
January 21, 2024
This is a slow burn magical novel. It is one of love, friendships and a mystery to be solved.
The characters are done very well and the world building is top notch.
Will Aren ever learn to not run into everything without thinking? Will Jin survive what's coming? So many questions to be answered. But, will they find the answers before it's to late?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters are done very well and the world building is top notch.
Will Aren ever learn to not run into everything without thinking? Will Jin survive what's coming? So many questions to be answered. But, will they find the answers before it's to late?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 10, 2024
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I think it takes massive guts to write an epic fantasy novel for your first book and I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment! I found I was compelled to read more as each chapter left you on a small cliffhanger. The only thing I would have liked more of is world building. I felt at the end of the book I still didn't have a complete understanding of majik and the Unsettlement but maybe I just need to be patient and wait for the next book!
October 5, 2024
Hats off to you, Coley. I am a sucker for world building, cool magic systems, and parallel plot lines. It took a little getting used to the multi-POVs, but the flashbacks and the letters slowly peeling back important details was really well layered. Also, there are sections of the book that jump between POVs that kept ending in cliff hangers and it had me enthralled, unable to put this down. I’m excited for book 2!!
August 15, 2023
Absolutely stunning! I struggled to put this book down. I found myself completely lost in this new world, and became enamored with all the colourful characters of Valrue. It was such an easy read, the story was captivating and flowed so well. Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction, not just fantasy. Bring on Book 2.
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