The High Seer

Darkling Souls #1

by Alex Bree

Aurienne had been a pawn of prophecy for too long. She would take control of her fate, even if it turned her into a monster.

For years, High Seer Aurienne has lived with a single haunting truth—her visions will not save her people from the prophesied apocalyptic war that’s always haunted her nightmares. That all changes the day blacksmith Theo saves her life. She foresees Theo’s destiny to gather the continent’s five warring nations to stand against the invading forces. Suffering the soul-rending consequences of spirit necromancy, Aurienne finds herself fighting to survive a deadly web of assassination attempts, mind-shattering visions, and ruinous betrayal.

Theo cannot refuse when Aurienne asks for his help to save their people. He travels the length of the continent facing timeworn superstitions coming to life as he asks neighboring nations to join their cause. Refusing to let down the woman he is falling in love with—even though the fates whisper she will never love him back—he assembles an army of rebels fighting to retain their humanity as the corrupted magic of the land transforms them into the monsters of legend.

Saving the world does not come without cost. Standing against the conquering emperor, backed by his bloodthirsty goddess and moon-cursed army, Aurienne and Theo must decide whether to unleash forces more monstrous than the enemy they’re fighting against.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Monsters, Ebooks, Witches, Adult, Magic

534 pages, Hardcover

First published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[elder_millennialnitemar_reads (Ashley) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mind has been completely blown by this author’s DEBUT novel. DEBUT?!?! Fairytale monsters come to life, entwined Fates, visions, dark forces, Elvish warriors, harbingers of doom, vampires, humans…. It doesn’t end on a massive cliffhanger, thank goodness, but a major event does transpire in the last few pages. This book broke my heart, in the best way. I’m so ready for Rianne to bring them to their freaking knees. Unrequited love. Betrayal. Epic world building with a kaleidoscope of colors. This is going to be on everyone’s TBR, in all the bookish boxes with special edition covers, and all over social. This is, hands down, the best fantasy read of 2023. I received this ARC from the author. These are my unbiased opinions.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant debut fantasy novel by an upcoming author that includes monsters, entwined Fates, Witches, Tarot, Visions, Elves, Vampires, Humans and Sacrifice.

The world is so well developed and realistic, even though it involves all kinds of magical creatures. In order to save the world, the main characters must ask for help of power-hungry kings and other common folk who, at the end of the day, only care about themselves. At some points, you have to question why they are worth saving at all. But that doesn’t matter, because you need them. Maybe, under the right circumstances, everyone can become a little bit of a monster too.

Brilliantly written, here’s a debut novel that doesn’t feel like a debut novel. If you’re looking for a great witchy book for fall, I can’t recommend this one enough!

[Makaela Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This book…🫢
Wow. Beyond just being a DEBUT NOVEL (like hello?!) this is like nothing I’ve ever read.

🌙She has created a beautifully complex world with so much lore and ancient history, I feel like I’ve been absorbed into this universe.

🌙Her FMC is incredibly dimensional and unique (and hottttttt in a scary way😮‍💨🔥)

🌙Her PROSE?! She has some serious talent.

🌙The spook factor is 1000% so I also think this makes a great fall read 💀🥀

I am absolutely blown away by this book and I am so grateful I was able to access this ARC. Thank you so much for sharing this and I am excited to see this blow up (and I know it will). Pardon the sparse analysis, I am just speechless 🥲

[Mandy]

I dnf’d at 40%. I tried. I really did. This story is interesting and I want to know more, so maybe this is a dnf for now?? But the insta-love that started in chapter 2 immediately made me lose interest 😭 Also, there is way too much telling and not enough showing. I tried to push through, but idk if I can anymore.

[Jessica Osorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE HIGH SEER by ALEX BREE
Darkling Souls Book 1

There is a certain sadness that carries on throughout the book. And it’s not a bad thing AT ALL. It’s due to the fact that all the odds are stacked against our main characters: there is pain, loss, yearning, humans and creatures of all manner trying become the ones on top no matter what it costs. And the costs?? They’re more than what I want Aurienne (our h) and Theo (our H) to bear. Aurienne, the High Seer, is Goddess touched and sees so much in her visions. The weight of carrying one possibility of saving the continent from evil is a tremendous one, but she does everything she can to fight destiny. Theo, a sweet and kind blacksmith apprentice hopeful, is her champion and she Sees him gathering the necessary forces meant to fight in the oncoming war. But will a man with no training or rank succeed in a world of cutthroat nobles and bloodthirsty monsters?
It’s all too realistic, what these fictional characters had to go through- asking for help and everyone turns a blind eye. Fighting for something and others making you wonder why you bothered at all. And you think that maybe under the right circumstances, you can become a little bit of a monster too. But then you get those little bright lights that remind you that the world is worth fighting for and worth saving. There are characters you fall hard for and can’t wait to see again and PRAY you get to see again (if anything happens to my little Warbringer, I will CRY AND RIOT).
This book left me feeling lost and sad because it ended and I NEED to know what happens in book 2! If you love dark magic, world ending prophesies, frightening fairytales, terrifying monsters, forbidden love, and fighting against all odds- The High Seer is for you 🖤.

Thank you for the arc @alex.bree.writes and @booksirens!!! It was SUCH wild and emotional ride 😭! Congratulations on your debut book!!!

[Resh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Terrible secrets sold and bought. Remember me once, forget me not. Empires rise, and empires fall. Death to one, death to all”.

Blurb: For years, High Seer Aurienne has lived with a single haunting truth-her visions will not save her people from the prophesied apocalyptic war that’s always haunted her nightmares. That all changes the day blacksmith Theo saves her life. She foresees Theo’s destiny to gather the continent’s five warring nations to stand against the invading forces. Suffering the soul-rending consequences of spirit necromancy, Aurienne finds herself fighting to survive a deadly web of assassination attempts, mind-shattering visions, and ruinous betrayal.

The high seer who’s destined for sight that can change lives of kingdoms, a blacksmith who’s destiny is written in his ancestry, their love which is forbidden and dangerous. A queen who’s born to be a sacrifice, a cursed warrior who is born to kill, their love which is hanging on fate. An emperor full of greed plotting to conquer the kingdoms. An army of vampires and the mysterious grim fall joining to destroy the cursed creatures of the emperor. Kingdoms with secrets and power in a quest to conquer the evil emperor…

Will the high seer and her chosen champion be able to convince nations to join hands and escape the war or worse, death?

I’m in awe after finishing this book! I can’t believe that this is a debut novel because it’s so good! 🫨 This is an epic dark fantasy with a lot of characters and a series of fast paced events. I particularly enjoyed the short opening lines which are both mysterious and compelling. There’s a lot of world building with many fantasy elements and creatures which became cinematic to me pretty quickly because of how well it’s written. The characters, their own respective stories, romance, and dark fantasy themes are very well blended and will keep you hooked till the end. This book deserves all the merch, special editions and so much more for how amazing it is! wow, just WOW!! 👏🏽

Fantasy fans, run!!! This is a must read!

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are of my own.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book was full of witchy, fantasy, dark goodness, and sexy banter. I just ate it up.

-Dark monster
-Visions
-Interesting witch magic
-Secrets/Betrayal
-Strong world-building
-Forbidden Love
-Against all Odds

-Blurb-
This is the story of how monsters saved their corner of the world. Whether they deserve to be saved is another story.

For years, High Seer Aurienne has lived with a single haunting truth—her visions will not save her people from the prophesied apocalyptic war that’s always haunted her nightmares. That all changes the day blacksmith Theo saves her life. She foresees Theo’s destiny to gather the continent’s five warring nations to stand against the invading forces. Suffering the soul-rending consequences of spirit necromancy, Aurienne finds herself fighting to survive a deadly web of assassination attempts, mind-shattering visions, and ruinous betrayal.

Thank you to Alex Bree for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review

[Sarah Madigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here for the dark academia world! I can’t wait to see where this story takes us in book two!

[caffeinated_reads3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. After finishing this debut novel by Alex Bree, I am simply floored. I am emotional, I am ecstatic, I am left wanting. If you want to talk about fantasy, this book has got it all. It features, psychics, blood magic, witches, a monster hunter, vampires, creatures made of rock and trees that were once human, werewolves and elves!!!!!!!! This is one dark, epic fantasy filled with world building of superstitions, war prophecy, politics, betrayal, kingdoms, queens, and assassins, with humans jumbled up in it all. The best are the morally grey FMC and MMC. Think of “for the greater good” characters who are star crossed lovers. Dare I even say this is LOTR meets a retelling of vampiric and lycan lore, and feels like a dark, twisted Priory of the Orange Tree feel??? I don’t even know I anymore. My mind is still reeling from book one. My heart is broken that book 2 doesn’t come out until fall 2024. The story has a cliffhanger, but the story leaves off well. I was able to read this as an e-book and seriously considering purchasing a physical copy because it was that amazing. Enjoy reading.

[Chrissy MacLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God.

This book was NOTHING like what I expected and so incredible! There’s prophecy, there’s magic, there’s monsters, there’s a quest, there’s loss, there’s love, and there is SO. MUCH. ACTION.

4.75 stars (rounded up to 5 for Goodreads purposes). There was one small section where the pacing was just slightly off for me, but hot damn - THIS IS A DEBUT?! This was an adventure to read, in the best way! I can’t wait for the next book in this series, because THAT ENDING WRECKED ME.

[Holly Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five glorious stars to this work of art.

I’m not okay, I’m not sure another book can ever compare the this DEBUT novel!!

I cried, I laughed, I had heart palpitations…

I threw my kindle when I was done because I was so heartbroken that this book ended.

I NEED MORE!!!

[RoXXie | The Art of Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mesmerizing Journey into the World of Magic and Mystery - 5 Stars!

I just had the most amazing time reading The High Seer by Alex Bree, and I can't stop talking about how wonderful it was. This book fully captured my attention from beginning to end and took me on a captivating journey into a world of magic and mystery that left me completely enthralled.

The High Seer ♦ Alex Bree



Opinion

The storytelling ability of Alex Bree is extraordinary. Her capacity to combine words is a kind of magic unto itself; it conjures up a rich, engaging universe that seems wholly real. Richly developed characters, minute details, and a suspenseful scenario await you throughout the entire story.

Despite living in a magical universe, the protagonist, the mysterious High Seer, is a figure you will immediately bond with. Her intricacy, depth, and the emotional trip she takes are all brilliantly portrayed. You can't help but relate deeply with her challenges, aspirations, and goals as you follow her on her adventures.

The High Seer has an incredible world-building. You will be drawn into the novel and experience the wonder and peril with the characters thanks to Bree's evocative descriptions of the mystical landscapes and complex magic system.

The book's brilliant exploration of the concepts of fate, free will, and the need of self-discovery, however, is what really makes it stand out. As readers follow Aurienne, the High Seer, on her quest, Bree dives deeply into these fundamental issues and gives her readers an opportunity to consider their own lives.

A masterful story with the ideal balance of magic, philosophy, and suspense, The High Seer is well written. This book is a must-read regardless of your preference for epic fantasy or just well-written stories. It's an incredible journey that will have you gripped from start to finish and thinking about its deep topics long after you've read the last page.

Conclusion

The High Seer sticks out as a real gem in a world full of excellent literature. I really recommend it and can't wait to read more of Alex Bree's captivating Darkling Souls series. It receives five stars from me. You'll never regret starting this amazing adventure, so do yourself a favor and read it now!

I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This review was first published at The Art of Reading.

[Sharon Coronado · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to say thank you to booksirens and alexbree for the ARC, what an absolute adventure this was. I’m still in shock while processing the fact that this is the authors DEBUT novel! The fact that this is her starting point is just absolutely awe-inspiring.

This is a high fantasy with epic world building, while reading this book you will be transported to a new world and will endure a grueling quest. I got LOTR vibes for the journey you go on, Priory vibes in the style of story and writing, and One Dark Window dark fantasy vibes… that’s right just take that in.
The world building was done so well that althought there are multiple moving parts I never felt lost or confused as to what was going on.
There are multiple POV’s through the book, each story was so captivating that I found myself unable to pick a favorite. The story mainly follows Aurienne and Theo, two characters that you can’t help but love. Aurienne is a woman willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING because of her devotion to her Goddess and her people. I couldn’t believe the strength Aurienne had, the lengths she was willing to go to to give her people just a sliver of hope and a chance of survival. Then there is Theo, a man who craves a quiet normal life but whose Fate is intertwined with the oncoming war. I immediately felt drawn to Theo and admired his strength, had I been presented with task he is given I know I would have run away screaming but he faced it head on and never waivers in his duty.

[Loren Huxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The High Seer tells a story of forbidden love, war, and monsters. As the main characters fight for their freedom, darkness settles over the land, and ancient curses come to life. The High Seer has beautiful worldbuilding with unique magic systems and histories that are delightfully dark. I loved all the characters' conflicting interests and the gods/goddesses weaving tangled webs behind the scenes. This is a must-read for anyone who loves court intrigue, slow burn romances, magic, curses, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, ancient bloodlines, and forbidden love.

PS~ Without spoilers, my favorite part was the bromance between the two MMCs. The cave scene has endeared me to both of them😆

[Ellysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are honestly not enough words to adequately describe how amazing this book was! Alex Bree’s debut work of The High Seer combines many different magical and fantastical elements–both new and traditional–to create something that is unique enough to set her apart within the genre, while also providing a storyline that is classic enough to entrap readers that prefer a more traditional fantasy. This was one of my top reads of the year thus far. This is also a perfectly spooky read for fall—it releases on October 13th!

“‘The path to gathering our allies is fraught with monsters, gods, corrupted magic, and nightmares coming to life.’” (The High Seer, Chapter 6).

The High Seer follows, mainly, Aurienne and Theo as they set off on an adventure to save their world from the impending doom of a cursed and cutthroat invading empire. From birth, Aurienne was raised to become the High Seer—born with clouded eyes, her fortune was told when she was just a baby; her visions and tellings would bring about death and destruction. From a young age, Aurienne was plagued by visions of destruction of her nation and people. As the High Seer, her job is to predict the future accurately enough to save her people from calamity–her frustration lies in the fact that the Fates are fickle and refuse to show her enough to help prevent the inevitable destruction. That is until Theo enters her life. All Theo wants from life is to live long, have a great love, and become a blacksmith. Fate has other plans, however, when he rescues Aurienne from certain death during one of her rituals. Suddenly, Aurienne can See further into the future, and her cards become clearer–Theo is chosen by Fate to bring together the last remaining free nations in order to make a last stand against the encroaching cursed empire. As they travel together, Theo and Aurienne fight a doomed mutual attraction—Theo is destined to have three great loves, while Aurienne is cursed to never love. Will Theo and Aurienne be able to unite the remaining kingdoms before the empire invades? Are they destined to be star-crossed lovers? Why do the empire’s soldiers seem more animal-like than human? The High Seer begins to address these questions, and more, through a tale of magic, adventure, and love.

The world building is so well developed and richly detailed–it creates an absolutely immersive reading experience. From the geography and political systems to the lore that is built into the history of the region, the world building is absolutely top notch. Bree does a phenomenal job of describing everything that the characters see, smell, and feel, and it creates a sensation of being directly in the story. The lore is absolutely incredible and detailed, and Bree wove it into the history of the region. Each chapter starts with a children’s poem, or a foretelling by a Seer, which adds to the understanding of the world and story as a whole. This is incredibly reminiscent of Sanderson’s weaving of lore into the character’s current world, and I really enjoyed that parallel. Additionally, there are so many different fantastical elements and storylines seamlessly woven together. However, this never seems overwhelming and adds to the complexity of the world and story as a whole. The characters are also incredibly detailed and possess such a depth that it seems that the story is not from a debut author. I really enjoy Aurienne and her complete commitment to her position as High Seer—she loves her people and nation and does anything she can in order to protect them, even if they seem woefully ignorant of the sacrifices she makes for their safety and prosperity.

The magic is incredibly interesting and detailed, and I liked that it pulls on more traditional forms of magic than an innate source. Often tarot cards or fortellings are used as a side piece in a magical system, but they take the forefront in the High Seer. They literally seem to have a life of their own, and communicate with Aurienne and other Seers when they see fit. I enjoyed this characterization of the cards, and especially liked that Aurienne is completely devoted to her craft—every decision she makes, sometimes even down to what she eats for breakfast, is dictated by her faith in the cards and goddess.

I thoroughly enjoyed this particular book and thought it was an exceptional start to the series. I look forward to reading the next installment to see what happens to Theo and Aurienne in their quest.

[BookishWanderlist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! 5 stars doesn’t even do this book justice!! I’m pretty sure my reactions to the last 10% are the reason my plane had turbulence while reading!!

I am absolutely floored that this is Alex Bree’s debut novel. The world building is so impeccably done. I’ve read too many books where each kingdom feels like a copy/paste situation but every kingdom in this book had a completely different soul about it. I rarely had to check where a chapter was set. Avyllon had a very neutral feel (almost like home), Rodarri felt like fear and opulence, the 7 forests had me holding my breath for fear of what was hiding in those woods, etc.

Alex has completely mastered character building. Each one of her characters felt like she knew them so intimately that she was able to perfectly convey even the slightest change in their emotions. Even when I didn't agree with actions I felt so deep in the characters heads that I completely understood why they made the decisions they did! Alex has done such a good job instilling dread of the monsters the world has made that I have the fear that the emperor is no where near the worst monster in the world/even at the summit.

The FOX!!!! I have to take a minute and gush about this fox! This beautiful little creature wove it's way through the story so perfectly. At first I barely noticed it's presence. Just a little side creature that would probably disappear fairly quickly. But little by little this beautiful fox became one of my favorite characters! I cannot wait to see more of this fox!!! I think there is A LOT more to come from it!

The lore feels like it has truly been developed for centuries. The epitome of "history became legend, and legend became myth". And the way truth was revealed from the myths was just *chefs kiss*! I need an entire book just on the lore of this world alone!

I absolutely detest multiple POVs in books but I do have to note how well done they were here. It had what most multiple POVs lacking: an innate difference in who each character is. Also the switch from pov to pov was so smooth it was like a camera panning to another character in a movie!

I could rave about this book forever! Five stars is nowhere near enough!!

[sairs_readsandreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has brilliant world building and a diverse set of characters who come together try to fight a common threat against life as they know it.

It’s not my usual read but I really enjoyed the sprawling world, the endearing character journeys and the lore and alternate religions in the story.

A lot of work has gone into creating the different layers of the world and it gave me game of throne and lord of the rings vibes. You have multiple character arcs, visiting different lands with their own traditions and challenges, multiple POVs in chapters, political and court intrigue, misogynistic realms, a big bad that unites previously antagonistic kingdoms and journeys with bands of found friends who create endearing micro dramatic events.

Where this book’s strengths and uniqueness lies are in the namesake of the story. Aurienne’s high personal cost challenging lifestyle where she must sacrifice everything for her Goddess and calling, by using her sight and Seeing which leads her to at times come up against actions that make her feel distant from other characters as she is working on a much larger scale, trying to save the world.

I felt it was well written and a good start to the series. I personally prefer a little more action and romance, at times it felt a lot was happening but it felt like we are only scratching the surface and we will get more happening overall in the series. I could have had a whole book on each of the different realms to be honest so although loads happened it was a whistle stop tour for some parts. I could honestly see this working well as a tv show as some of the smaller events that were quite quick in the book could be embellished and go into more detail visually. The aqueduct scenes for example could for me, be a whole hour episode!

Really enjoyed and would recommend to fans of this genre, I will be looking out for the follow up!

I received an arc of this book and this is my honest review.

[Sahara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to believe this fantastic start to what will no doubt be a wonderful fantasy series is Alex Bree’s debut novel! High off of a recent D&D campaign, I was in the mood for something fantasy without being too intense. This was a perfect read for that. Interwoven character stories, interesting world building, unique characters with voices I can easily discern from one another are everything to me and this book sure delivers. Aurienne is one powerful Seer and I love her for that, but simultaneously feel for her every time she overuses her powers. I love watching her be a powder house but hate to know how she might end up if she continues on. Our other lead, Theo, a farm boy with a heart of gold who just wants a simple life as a blacksmith but is destined for greatness is another fantastic addition to this tale. There’s just something about a regular person being in a leading role such as his, a perfect contrast to the compelling performance from Aurienne. But, while the two of them have the majority of the lead voices in the story, I will say Rhydian and Rianne caught my attention most. Rhydian’s Warbringer curse is quite possibly one of the most interesting curses I’ve read about. Rianne’s story also intrigues me and I have to give props to the author for coming up with something so unique but so heinous at the same time. You root for these characters page after page, begging them to finally get a happy ending. This book does leave off on a mild cliffhanger, nothing too stressful, though, so waiting for the next installment won’t be so painful. Overall this was a 5/5 read and I cannot wait to see where this series goes! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cleo & Vine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Darkling Souls series is one of the most ambitious, immersive fantasy debuts I’ve ever read. Prior to reading The High Seer, I downloaded the free prequel novella, The Darkling Prophecy. While it wasn’t necessary—as the author expertly introduces her magic system and breathtaking worldbuilding—it provided a little glimpse into the story behind the story.

Alex Bree’s series reads like your favorite legends and well-known mythologies. It’s filled to the brim with complex, dimensional characters, spellbinding lore, and refreshing themes. Forget the fae fantasies currently dominating the industry (no hate here, we love those too) because this book lets the other supernaturals shine. Vampires. Witches. Mortals. Elves. And of course, the titular seers. Prophecy, expectation and fate guide this tale, taking you on a journey you’ll never expect.

I cannot thank the author and Book Sirens enough for the advanced copy. Amidst a complicated past weeks, this book kept me company and made me feel a part of something magical. It reminded me why I love this genre so much. And I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series has in store.

[April Suratos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you BookSirens for a free advanced copy of High Seer in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE THIS STORY. The lore, the story, the world building, the characters, all of it. This book has dark, witchy, world-ending vibes. The high seer is both a terrifying figure to behold as well as a strong woman willing to sacrifice everything she has and is for the people she has been entrusted with. Theo is a sweet, golden retriever of a love interest who goes through one crazy journey. All he wanted was to become a blacksmith and he ends up being the linchpin of a world-ending war. I felt so much for every relationship throughout the entire book. There wasn’t a POV that I wasn’t invested in.

There are witches, vampires, elves, monsters made of stone, seers trying to save the future, and greedy men desperate for power. There’s tarot cards with minds of their own and bloody rituals held in moonlight, blades of light and darkness, dead queens haunting living ones, and ancient brothers ready to tear each other’s throats out. There was so much action and lore in every storyline yet I didn’t feel lost in the world building at all. Each kingdom is so unique and each story is so distinct, I can’t wait for it all to come together.

If you are looking for a dark, amazing adventure full of characters that will have you rooting for them, pick up High Seer on Oct. 13!

For more reviews check out The Storied Blog

[Joe Rotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The High Seer Alex Bree has developed a world that I felt instantly drawn into and I found myself wanting to return to it time and time again. The depth of detail allowed me to visualize landscapes, cities, roads, markets, buildings, forests... Amazingly well done. I am very excited for another book so I can return to this magical, intriguing world. Alex maintained a perfect balance in developing complete characters that caught my attention and allowed me to love, hate, hope for, wonder about, cheer for, or against, and actually see in my minds eye, and also keeping the story line moving at a fantastic speed that made me unable to put the book down. After completing the book I searched for other books by this great author. I would highly recommend any book by this author!!

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want fantasy, magic, witches, seers, vampires and monsters?!? This book is for you! I absolutely loved the plot of this and felt initially like I was going to be lost or confused with the world building, but honestly I sped right through it with zero confusion. Aurienne and Theo are amazing characters and seeing all that they have to go through in the book is insane, heartbreaking and also freeing at the same time!

Im thoroughly amazed that this is a debut novel..it reads amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I also really appreciated the spooky vibes and atmosphere it gave off especially for this time of year. Bravo Alex, can’t wait to read more of your work!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kyle Modschiedler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It had my attention the entire time. The beginning did a great job at pulling me in and kept my looked in. The middle i felt there were times where the plot was a little too rushed and I found myself wanting more depth in everything but I still enjoyed it. The last 200 pages really took off and I was loving it. This is definitely more of a YA Dark Fantasy but I’m not made at it. I think it would have been incredible if it was more on the adult side but it is what it is haha I loved the all the characters. The magic system was great. The overall plot was great. All loved all the different types of fantasy elements that were used in this. I have very high hopes for book 2 and am excited to read it when it comes out later this year!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Read it if you want all the epic fantasy vibes with awesome magic, monsters, flawed heroes, rage-inducing villains, but with a lot of interesting twists on common fantasy tropes. Bree has created some lovely characters that you will want to die for, and you will die a little inside when they are hurt. There’s a big cast, but I just wanted more about everyone because all the characters have their own interesting internal conflicts with magic and power and moral turmoil. I loved, loved the main character, Aurienne, who is so tough and willing to give up herself to protect others. She’s a lot more interesting than the traditional “tough women” I see in fantasy novels, and feels like a real person, who is willing to break herself if that’s what it takes. And I loved that none of the character’s choices are easy. They have to really question what’s right, and sometimes, I’m not so sure they picked the correct path.

This story is a sometimes hilarious, many times horrifying adventure with all different kinds of unique, enchanting, and creepy magic. It will give you all the feels.

Also, there is an adorable yet mysterious fox, so of course it’s a must read.

I’m so excited for the sequel and to find out where this epic magic war and these deep personal struggles go.

I read this as an arc reviewer in exchange for an honest review.

[Bre ☾⋆⁺₊✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The High Seer
Alex Bree

“Beautiful. Brilliant. Determined. Slightly terrifying. He was drawn to her in ways he couldn’t explain and didn’t understand.”

Darkish epic fantasy. A quest to save the kingdom vibe.

Gang is all here in this one: werewolves, vampires, sorcerers, witches, seers, etc.

The slow burn between the two main characters I LOVED!!! I do wish there had been more spice between the two main characters. The ending definitely leaves you hanging. I’ll be stalking my email to see if/when another is being released. 👀

Fantasy friends you will love this journey!!!!

[Stephanie]

Such a good book!! I will be moving on to the other books in the series. It's full of dark and light characters that just capture your attention, so entertaining! I couldn't put it down! It is well written and was a very nice read with so much drama that it keeps you really involved. Made me want to take out my own Tarot again :)
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who likes a bit of fantasy in their reading and not an over whelming air of romance, there is some but it's not all about that it's more about the adventure and the intrigue.

[Kari Grindel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. This book is everything you could want from a high fantasy novel! Fate, kings, war, humans, monsters, magic. It's all there. Its definitely not a quick, easy, light hearted read (but who really wants those anyway?) but it's so much more and every step of the way is worth it!

There is not really any spice in here, but there is definitely tension and some romance and I am very curious to see what happens with our relationships in future books (looking at you Theo)

Would 100% recommend for anyone who love high fantasy.

I cannot believe that this is the author's debut novel and I am so excited to see what comes next!

*Thank you to Book Sirens for giving me this ARC. I requested an advanced copy and am leaving this review voluntarily*

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

So - I have completely fell in love with Alex Bree’s writing. This book gets a big juicy 5 starts from me ⭐️
The world building and descriptions in this book had me absolutely floored from page 1. There’s so much history, lore, politics and religion which had me fully immersed in this story with my jaw on the floor. The writing in this book is beautiful and I cannot recommend it enough! 🥹
There IS a sense of sadness in this book, since the odds are SO stacked against Aurienne and Theo as they have so much to achieve in such little time - but it makes the book even more consuming to read. I love these characters so much.
If you love books with seers, witches, vampires, myths, legends, greedy kings and ghostly queens add this to your tbr!

*i was sent this ebook as part of a bookstagram tour, this is my unbiased review. Highly recommend!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen I requested an e arc of this based on the cover alone and went in blind. THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. I saw the page count and was worried it’d be slow or super convoluted but my fears were quickly dispelled. The characters are all so amazing. Like even the ones I don’t like? I love them. I love the relationships we see grow and change between everyone. There are multiple plot lines and jumping around locations and such but I was never confused or anything. And the author does a great job of giving us enough time with each character. I can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next!

[Maia James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna need book 2 like, right now please. I love Aurienne and Theo and all the rest. The characters are just so loveable even as they make the hard choices that turn them to monsters. “This world makes monsters of us all.” 😭