The Gaill

The Gaill #1

by Lo Meyer

For three hundred years, the kingdom of Calderone has survived inside the walls built after the Nuclear War of 2060. Eighteen-year-old Jacqueline Livingston knows that her true identity as heir to the throne is only one of her kingdom’s secrets. Then, on the night before she’s to be revealed as heir, she is kidnapped during a raid by the Gaill—the kingdom’s mortal enemy. No one knows who she is, and Jacqueline assumes the role of a servant in the palace of the merciless Gaill prince Daxinius.

While plotting her escape, she befriends a group of tattoo-covered servants and learns that the Gaill, far from being traitors, were banished from Calderone for speaking out against the dark secret to the kingdom’s prosperity. And Daxinius is perhaps not so merciless after all.

Jacqueline’s people are in certain danger, but it seems the true threat may not come from the Gaill but from inside the kingdom's walls. She’ll have to risk everything—including her own heart—to save the kingdom she is destined to rule.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Dystopia, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Young Adult

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2023

About the author

Lo Meyer is a lifestyle blogger, social media content creator, and author of the new novel The Gaill. Growing up with librarians for parents, Lo developed her love for reading and writing early, earning a BA in English before starting her blog in 2017. Inspired by her love for all things fantasy, sci-fi, and romance, as well as her fascination with the way in which history repeats itself, she penned The Gaill.

Lo lives in Minnesota with her husband and three fur babies. When not reading or writing, she’s spending time outdoors, buying more turtlenecks she doesn’t need, and wrangling her zoo at home (husband included). Connect with Lo on Instagram, Youtube or TikTok (@_lomeyer_) or her blog thelomeyerblog.com.

Reviews

[Katie Hoyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, this was such an amazing story!! The concept is so unique and was a breath of fresh air, quite different than most other fantasy romance novels out there. I seriously couldn’t put it down and will be thinking about this story for a while… book 2 cannot come soon enough!! So often I find myself annoyed with the FMC in romance books, but that was absolutely not the case for Jacqueline - she *actually* has common sense and a grasp on reality. There is quite a bit of world-building to get through initially, but it’s actually quite simple once you get your bearings. The synopsis cites ACOTAR, but it was definitely giving more Crescent City vibes, which I loved! I had full faith Lo Meyer would deliver a stunning debut novel, and I was 100% correct.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m struggling on how to rate this. It was the authors debut book and I applaud her. It’s definitely much better writing than most other self published fantasy books. I just struggled the whole book constantly asking myself “What? Why?” The insta love should have been more drawn out and fleshed out. And the MC just kind of was naive and gave up trying to escape literally after one try lmaoooo. Also her powers come out of nowhere and the plot twist as well?? Just a lot seemed rushed and didn’t make sense. All of a sudden we find out Dax is best friends with her friends there but hasn’t SPOKEN to them in 15 years for what???? He was trying to protect them but the minute she shows up he’s like “nvm your safety, this girl i just met is more important, let’s drink again boys!” The world was unique and interesting, overall I was wanting more depth in most aspects. I think I’m mostly frustrated bc there’s a lot of potential here, and I’m hopeful the next book will have more development.

[Keri M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely sucked me in!! I couldn’t stop reading and now that I’ve finished, I’m just sad lol. This was an amazing fantasy story about a girl who’s forced to hide her identity her whole life and a deviant who’s been looking for “The One” his whole life. When Jac and Dax’s paths cross, they both realize everything is about to change.

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE. STAR. READ.

Listen, if you love dystopian books at all, you should give this book a try. I will admit that the chapters are a bit long and so the first 10% drags just a smidge, but it is such an amazing book once you get into it.

The characters are phenomenal, and I just love the banter that they have with each other. And they’re such a strong female character, which is a must in a book that I’m gonna read.

I don’t wanna say too much, but I will say that it does leave the book unfinished at the end, but not at a cliffhanger where you’re mad at the Author. The next book will be in August or September and I cannot wait.

READ THIS BOOK!

[Crystal Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this book a 3.5 stars. The best part is that the concept is a completely fresh perspective on the fantasy genre. While there is supernatural powers included, the modern twist on kept me interested. The entire book I wanted to keep reading to see what would happened. Also, loved the found family trope. The characters were so likable and fun to read.

However, this book let me down in the romantic department. This was upsetting because Dax and Jacqueline had so much potential. I kind of felt like it was instant love and the connection was just based off initial attraction and him seeing she was special.

I truly think this book would have been a 4 or 5 star read if she had gone with a slow burn. Or, enemies to lovers. Romance always gets less exciting once love is established and that happened very early on.

The plot could’ve happened exactly the same but without them admitting feelings / fighting feelings and it would’ve increased the tension and chemistry so much. We needed more romantic scenes, romantic build up, and internal monologues about this.

So yes, this book is worth reading and I had a fun time with it! But the romance just wasn’t as good as it could have been and I’m unsure where the rest of the series can go when the couple is already happily in love. A part of me even hoped he was secretly evil to make the romance more interesting for the future.

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started very promising with some unique world details. Then it just… kinda… dived.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the pacing but there were other issues I had with this that prevented me from really enjoying this.

The FMC felt a bit too Mary Sue.

There were numerous plotholes that were never really answered and everything just ended where it was.

The romance was never really “earned” and there was no real build up between them, it was just instant love with very little romancing involved.

Everything just felt like it worked out too perfectly or was just way too convenient. There wasn’t any true challenges and characters just kinda all fit into place there was no push and pull or anything really challenging for them for development.

I feel like this had a lot of elements that could have made a really good story but the actual storytelling maybe needed some work.

[Mackenzie Nalder · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. A 3 star might even be a stretch for me. It was a good concept and I liked the storyline. The writing was just not good in my opinion. The relationships didn’t feel believable. The story takes place in 2023 and yet no technology is mentioned currently but she references our current time period often but also doesn’t reference anything within 2020-2300. They also bounced from talking like young immature 18 year olds to talking like they were in a Bridgeton novel. I was entertained but just didn’t connect to the characters like I should have. I know this is the first novel for the author so I’m hoping the next one will flow better!

[Shantey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
The Gaill had me completely hooked—I finished it in less than 24 hours! It brought back that classic dystopian vibe I loved when I was younger, with a twist of magic caused by radiation from the war. The enemies-to-lovers storyline was a standout; it truly felt like they were enemies before any sparks flew, rather than the usual "I hate you but I'm also inexplicably drawn to you" dynamic that’s become so annoyingly common.

**One thing that did bother me, though, was the constant drinking throughout the book. I understand that not everyone is sober, but it felt like alcohol was present in nearly every chapter. While it may be reflective of the world we live in, it seemed excessive and distracting from the overall plot. Still, the book's other strengths make it a worthwhile read for fans of dystopian romance!

[Alyssareads3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounded up for 4.5⭐️

I absolutely loved this story line and while somethings may have been expected I enjoyed the ride! And for this to be Lo Meyers debut novel is AMAZING! I cannot wait to see how things progress in book two!

[Taylor Goodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was instantly hooked by this book. The characters were great. The world building and politics system was so interesting! I felt like I was one of the group while reading this, it was truly immersive.

[Bree Womack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have rated this 5 stars, but Jacqueline “held a breath [she] didn’t know [she] had been holding” at least THREE times.

Please, Jacqueline, for the sake of my sanity, PLEASE be more aware of your breathing.

[Tabitha Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I haven’t loved a book this much in so long! Dystopian meets Norse Gods. Enemies to lovers. Found family. Prophesies. What more could you ask for in a romantasy!

[Becca Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of the year so far!! Everything I wanted, and then some. Absolutely LOVVVEEEDDD this book. Could not put it down.

[Nicole Wijendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Honestly, this was really interesting. I could kinda see the end coming from a mile away, so it was very predictable in that sense, but I really did like the world it was set in.

The one thing that continuously irked me in the book was the amount of time spent on describing in different ways how hot the male love interest was. Like….I get it! He’s hot! I don’t need to hear more about that!

Like I said, I really enjoyed the premise, and although it was fairly predictable, I cannot wait till the next book comes out!

[Bree]

Dnf @ 50%
I have so many notes about this book. Maybe I'll update this later and add them. But for now, I just want it off my currently reading shelf. I hate dnfing this far into a book, but I just can't finish it.

I really wanted to like this. I bought it off tiktok and got a signed copy from the author. She seems really sweet, and I admire her for writing and self-publishing a book. It just wasn't for me.

The writing was..... hard to read....
Every sentence was: She walked over here. She bent down. She picked up the book. She then stood back up. She thought to herself how much she hated being a prisoner.

Like, idk, it just wasn't for me.

[Elianna McHenry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, but just good. A couple typos brought the rating from a 4 to a 3. I like the idea of the story. It was intriguing to read future fantasy. Would I read this again? Probably not. Might I read the next book? Yes.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent plot but..

Decent plot. WAAYYY too much description of house chores 😭 and the romance was so out of nowhere. The twist wasn’t shocking at all. Extremely mid.

[Sylwia Mieczkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐️ the plot of the book was good, but I feel like it dragged on forever. The romance between Jacqueline and Dax felt too rushed.

[cari · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was there, it just needed better writing

[Amber Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW incredible!!

First of all, thank you so much @_lomeyer_ (IG) for initially reeling me in with your super fun fashion blog on instagram and secondly giving me the honor to review your 1st!!! book!!! as an ARC!!!

I recently became a lover of fantasy books and I’ll start by saying if you haven’t read one this is a great one to start your fantasy journey! The Gaill is set in the future following a large nuclear war that focuses majorly with 2 divided sides that succumbed from war repercussions. All that being said the characters are human with some magical elements so very easy to follow if you’ve never read fantasy before!

There were many things I love love loved about this book I haven’t got from others but the girl group loyalty to tell your friends about your love life was my fav! i feel like in a lot of books everything is hush hush and that just isn’t realistic to me.

On to the synopsis!! Our leading lady Jaclyn has spent her life in her little world assuming the best of everything her father tells her. As she approaches a big change in her life she gets a quick reality smack and ends up realising the grass might actually be greener on the other side! She finds solace in a group that she previously would have deemed enemies and begins to question everything. Is everything she was told a lie? Who has been lying to her and for how long!? There’s also a tall dark and handsome to make things even more confusing. She has the power to change it all and she’ll have to figure out how to do it!!!

Incredible book, truly. Please do yourself a favor and preorder THIS BABY IS OUT ON 10/23/23!!!

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve followed Lo Meyer on Instagram for a few years and i was very excited when I was chosen to get an ARC of the Gaill!!

The synopsis: a post nuclear war world set 300 years into the future. Jacqueline is the heir to the throne and is taken by the enemy, the Gaill, by accident one night out. She tries to blend in as a servant and initially tries to escape. Along the way she finds a great group of friends and learns that maybe the Gaill she has been taught to fear, may not be the enemy that she thought.

Lo Meyer’s writing style had me completely sucked in. I could not put this book down. The story was interesting and the twists and turns along the way had me hooked.

I loved Jacqueline’s group of friends and that they were also a large part of the plot.

Dax, I don’t even know what to say, but as you will find out when you read he’s a brooding, attractive, male that has more to him than meets the eye.

One of my fav quotes from the book:

“You’re intoxicating.” The words were out before I could stop them.
Smiling suddenly and lowering his gaze, he just laughed. “If I’m intoxicating, Jacqueline, you’re absolutely addictive.”

Thanks again for letting me be apart of the ARC journey, and I can’t wait for book 2.

[Lee Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mesmerizing and vividly told tale

The Gaill is extraordinary! Beautifully written and so descriptive you feel like you are in the kingdom and the characters are people you grow to know. Lo Meyer has proven herself to be a wonderful storyteller. The story flows like a movie in your head. The characters Jacqueline, Dax, Lana and the others are described so wonderfully that you can easily picture them in your mind.
This story is filled with adventure, a bit of mystery mixed with fantasy and a bit of love and budding friendships.
I can’t wait for the rest of the series! I’m hooked

[Olivia Siclari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the different world in this fantasy book, but it felt a little off. I found myself wishing there was more, but also less of the description which is utterly confusing, I know.

The romance was there, but it also felt very quick, way too instant, love at first sight.

I’m intrigued by the ending and will probably read the next one.

[Kellie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much!!! It’s about a princess whose identity is a secret and she gets captured by the enemy. She has to hide who she is but in the meantime falls in love with the enemy prince!! I ate it up!!!

My only complaint… the chapters were so long!! But there were tons of chapter breaks so I just paused at those if I needed to!

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion this was a great book and whizzed through it. The plot was brilliant and I can't wait to find out more in book 2. It was fast paced with long chapters and a subplot of enemies to lovers in a dystopian world. I like how the plot changed but it never felt abrupt in the way that it moved from one place and time to another. This was a five star read and I would recommend this book.

[Lexie McMillin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book- even though the story was pretty predictable! I liked the characters. The only
Thing that’s throwing me is that this is set in the future, but there’s no futuristic elements. It was pretty much the same (plus guns) as if it was set in the past. Which irked me but not a ton!

[Kayla Mourato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It grabbed my attention immediately and I quickly found myself falling for all the characters instantly. I felt like one of the group and didn’t want this book to end! Stay deviant, friends <3

[Sarah Engel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Beautifully written, excellent world building, and so much potential for this world! Can’t wait for the second book.

[sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

got to 70% before i gave up 🤧 shes freshly 18 and he is like centuries yrs old

[Melanie Kuran · Rating 2 out of 5]

womp womp… this book had so much potential but the writing was dreadfully slow and if i almost DNFed after the 94th time she wrote “i bit my lip”