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Beneath a Mourning Sky
“He was dead—and strangely, I couldn’t recall why I should care.”When Clìana Goddan’s tutor deems her a master healer, relief washes through her like a flood. Finally, at four-and-twenty, she has the title she needs to escape her grief-stricken life in the Daor highlands and pursue a position at imperial court. But before leaving for Alamada Palace, she receives an unexpected a grimoire filled with the secrets of bloodcraft—an ancient, forbidden magic.At first, Clìana puts the book from her mind. Bloodcraft may grant supernatural power over the body, but those who wield it often lose themselves to madness, and Clìana has no interest in tempting such a fate. That is, until her future at imperial court hinges upon healing an incurable affliction . . .Though she forswears further use of magic, Clìana’s hand is forced when a rival house wages war against the imperial family. Determined to protect the empire’s burdened Bright Prince, she leverages bloodcraft’s full power—even as it exacts a devastating cost upon her soul. When she finds herself once more Beneath a Mourning Sky, will bloodcraft prove her undoing?
420 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2023
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Kieffer
5 books192 followersKristen Kieffer is a fantasy author and creative coach who lives for art that unflinchingly explores our hurt and hope as human beings. A proud autistic and ADHD artist, she lives at home in New Jersey with her rock of a mom and rescue dog Aggie. When she isn’t creating, she can be found walking through meadows, staring at the stars, and waxing poetic about the creative work that has most recently captured her attention.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 31, 2023
I may be undoubtedly biased, but I am also undoubtedly sure that this is the book of my heart — the story that I have always longed to read but that had gone, until now, unwritten. I hope it speaks to your heart as much as it does mine.
March 8, 2024
This story dug deep for me. It is a beautiful, sensitive, compelling look at grief and the power it wields within us to impact our decisions, dreams, and identity. And it is a testament to hope. Cliana’s character shows a human’s ability to hold within themselves extreme and conflicting emotions and in the end find peace and an inner anchor. Her story is full of love and loss and more love. This writing does not shy away from harshness and violence, with just the right amount of tenderness and romance. There is magic and faith and desperation and beauty. I am now a big fan of Kristen Ellis Kieffer!
April 13, 2024
4.5 stars! I’ve been following Kristen Keiffer for years - I think since 2017 - and avidly awaiting her debut novel. I even have a vague memory of a post she made saying that she had to write a story about a healer (this book) before she could write more of Casdar’s story.
I really enjoyed this book. It was thoughtful and deep, and broke out of the mold in more ways than one. I think this is a beautiful story about grief and power and the way we react in fear. It’s a great debut and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
I really enjoyed this book. It was thoughtful and deep, and broke out of the mold in more ways than one. I think this is a beautiful story about grief and power and the way we react in fear. It’s a great debut and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
November 30, 2023
The years seemed to fall away as I read Kristen E Kieffer's brilliant debut novel, Beneath A Mourning Sky. A lifelong reader, I hadn't read anything like this since my teens - too long ago - and I loved it!
The beckoning cover with the beguiling idea of 'The Dark Between', were what caught my eye - and I was not disappointed.
And, btw, this was my first ever e book purchase. So who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Highly recommended!
The beckoning cover with the beguiling idea of 'The Dark Between', were what caught my eye - and I was not disappointed.
And, btw, this was my first ever e book purchase. So who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Highly recommended!
January 14, 2024
When I finished reading every word of Beneath a Mourning Sky, I was left with goosebumps. I immediately started reading it for the second time; each word breathed life into the story, captivating me and holding me spellbound. It is a rare occasion that I read every word in a novel twice. But this book is a work of art. Pure genius. Yes, I read the novel twice.
The characters are well developed, as though they step from the page as real people from a foreign world—a world that comes alive, and I see it before me as I read. The names chosen for the characters and setting are unique and fascinating. The prose is beautiful. I didn’t want to miss a word. The voices are authentic and unforgettable. I am with everyone every step of the way, especially Cliana, the main character.
As an apprentice healer, Cliana had spent years caring for the wounded in her home area of the high glens of Daorender. She is kind but broken as life has thrown her a raw deal (several), and she rightly wants to escape her misery to something better. She’d lost her mother and raised her sister on her own until she died, and her father had turned to the bottle and moved away. But now that she’d earned her feathers as a master healer, she wanted to pursue a career as a master healer at the imperial court and become something great. But she has a lot to learn. She thinks that greatness comes from doing. Sensing her vulnerability, her first love, Lenghan, uses his influence to manipulate her, and he causes her more pain and suffering, especially after giving her a grimoire that teaches the forbidden magic of bloodcraft, whose power comes at a cost.
I am in the saddle on the horse, “Frasie,” with Cliana when Lord Ulmhar escorts her through the high glens of Daorender to the port of Marnos where she’s booked a passage on the ship for Carastile. Lord Ulmhar’s kindness shines through when they spend time together on the journey to the port together. Kindness is a gift that can easily be taken for granted.
Throughout the novel, Cliana learns that bloodcraft is a power that can cause a person to succumb to madness. When a rival house wages war against the imperial family, her deep love for the Bright Prince of the Radiant Astral Empire puts her in a challenging position. I feel deeply for her.
Cliana views life through the lens of grief. But the ‘world can also be a kind place if you let it.’ It’s a lesson to learn.
Thank you, Kristen, for this beautiful work of art and the inspirational message your words portray.
Keep writing. You’re gifted and unique.
The characters are well developed, as though they step from the page as real people from a foreign world—a world that comes alive, and I see it before me as I read. The names chosen for the characters and setting are unique and fascinating. The prose is beautiful. I didn’t want to miss a word. The voices are authentic and unforgettable. I am with everyone every step of the way, especially Cliana, the main character.
As an apprentice healer, Cliana had spent years caring for the wounded in her home area of the high glens of Daorender. She is kind but broken as life has thrown her a raw deal (several), and she rightly wants to escape her misery to something better. She’d lost her mother and raised her sister on her own until she died, and her father had turned to the bottle and moved away. But now that she’d earned her feathers as a master healer, she wanted to pursue a career as a master healer at the imperial court and become something great. But she has a lot to learn. She thinks that greatness comes from doing. Sensing her vulnerability, her first love, Lenghan, uses his influence to manipulate her, and he causes her more pain and suffering, especially after giving her a grimoire that teaches the forbidden magic of bloodcraft, whose power comes at a cost.
I am in the saddle on the horse, “Frasie,” with Cliana when Lord Ulmhar escorts her through the high glens of Daorender to the port of Marnos where she’s booked a passage on the ship for Carastile. Lord Ulmhar’s kindness shines through when they spend time together on the journey to the port together. Kindness is a gift that can easily be taken for granted.
Throughout the novel, Cliana learns that bloodcraft is a power that can cause a person to succumb to madness. When a rival house wages war against the imperial family, her deep love for the Bright Prince of the Radiant Astral Empire puts her in a challenging position. I feel deeply for her.
Cliana views life through the lens of grief. But the ‘world can also be a kind place if you let it.’ It’s a lesson to learn.
Thank you, Kristen, for this beautiful work of art and the inspirational message your words portray.
Keep writing. You’re gifted and unique.
November 8, 2023
Solid writing, character-driven story with a fresh POV in a familiar fantasy setting.
Healers have the ability to take the body apart and to put it back together. This story is a refreshing take on just how violent healing can be, both in its traditional nature, and when the temptation of bloodcraft come into play. Our main character, Clìana, struggles to find this balance when she realizes that her exceptional medicinal skills, alone, may not be enough to save those she truly cares for.
I loved the story’s focus on Clìana's struggles; how her past informs her new life at court, and how the revealed truths of said past influence all of her choices. Every aspect of the book is filtered through the themes of grief, intention, love, and bloodcraft, which made this story coherent and purposeful for me.
The romance is refreshing and clean, and in full service of the plot. I felt the darker themes like grief were explored with respect, and the level of violence appropriate for YA. Pacing quickens as the story unfolds; the external plot resolved fairly quickly in favor of the choices and consequences that come from it.
The prose is beautiful and solid, and the author’s love for her world and its characters shines brighter than the Star of Imbela! I look forward to the next installment, and learning how the consequences hinted at climax will play out and affect the world of the Radiant Astral Empire at large!
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Healers have the ability to take the body apart and to put it back together. This story is a refreshing take on just how violent healing can be, both in its traditional nature, and when the temptation of bloodcraft come into play. Our main character, Clìana, struggles to find this balance when she realizes that her exceptional medicinal skills, alone, may not be enough to save those she truly cares for.
I loved the story’s focus on Clìana's struggles; how her past informs her new life at court, and how the revealed truths of said past influence all of her choices. Every aspect of the book is filtered through the themes of grief, intention, love, and bloodcraft, which made this story coherent and purposeful for me.
The romance is refreshing and clean, and in full service of the plot. I felt the darker themes like grief were explored with respect, and the level of violence appropriate for YA. Pacing quickens as the story unfolds; the external plot resolved fairly quickly in favor of the choices and consequences that come from it.
The prose is beautiful and solid, and the author’s love for her world and its characters shines brighter than the Star of Imbela! I look forward to the next installment, and learning how the consequences hinted at climax will play out and affect the world of the Radiant Astral Empire at large!
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 5, 2024
J'ai passé des années à lire assidûment les conseils d'écriture de Kristen Ellis Kieffer sur son blog Well-Storied, ce qui m'a donné envie de lire son premier roman enfin paru.
C'est une histoire originale, bien loin des romantasy un peu copiées-collées qu'on voit partout.
La plume m'a paru très travaillée, riche et précise sans être lourde, on sent que chaque mot a été choisi avec soin. L'univers est un empire de fantasy assez classique, dont j'ai un peu mélangé les différents royaumes.
Le thème est assez sombre, puisqu'il explore
Ce que j'ai moins aimé, c'est que j'ai eu du mal à m'attacher aux personnages, qui étaient tous plutôt sombres et torturés, notamment l'héroïne qui ne trouve jamais le bonheur. Le ton manquait pour moi d'un peu de légèreté, mais c'est vraiment une appréciation personnelle puisque ce n'était pas du tout la promesse de l'histoire. Le seul personnage chaleureux et sympathique meurt quelques chapitres après son apparition et les thèmes du deuil et de la vengeance sont très présents pour tous les autres.
J'ai aussi eu du mal à suivre la structure de l'histoire, dont la fin m'a paru assez déconnectée du début avec une montée en puissance des conflits politiques. C'est peut-être dû au côté "premier tome qui attend une suite".
En résumé je pense que c'était un bon livre qui n'était pas forcément pour moi.
C'est une histoire originale, bien loin des romantasy un peu copiées-collées qu'on voit partout.
La plume m'a paru très travaillée, riche et précise sans être lourde, on sent que chaque mot a été choisi avec soin. L'univers est un empire de fantasy assez classique, dont j'ai un peu mélangé les différents royaumes.
Le thème est assez sombre, puisqu'il explore
Ce que j'ai moins aimé, c'est que j'ai eu du mal à m'attacher aux personnages, qui étaient tous plutôt sombres et torturés, notamment l'héroïne qui ne trouve jamais le bonheur. Le ton manquait pour moi d'un peu de légèreté, mais c'est vraiment une appréciation personnelle puisque ce n'était pas du tout la promesse de l'histoire. Le seul personnage chaleureux et sympathique meurt quelques chapitres après son apparition et les thèmes du deuil et de la vengeance sont très présents pour tous les autres.
J'ai aussi eu du mal à suivre la structure de l'histoire, dont la fin m'a paru assez déconnectée du début avec une montée en puissance des conflits politiques. C'est peut-être dû au côté "premier tome qui attend une suite".
En résumé je pense que c'était un bon livre qui n'était pas forcément pour moi.
November 9, 2023
Beautiful writing, immersive fantasy world, fascinating main character
I loved tagging along with Clìana on her journey from apprentice healer in the highlands to master healer at the imperial court! The book is surprisingly fun and engaging for a story with major themes about death and the dark arts. It takes you in close enough to feel Clìana’s pain and grief, and understand the hard choices she makes, but has enough fun and romance to balance out the tears and keep you turning pages all night.
Clìana surprised me over and over again throughout the story, rarely taking the hero’s path, but rather reacting like a real person, even if it meant being selfish at times.
This richly-detailed fantasy world contains so much of the stuff I love reading - romance, fantasy, magic (with consequences!), becoming a badass healer, not-your-typical heroine making realistic choices, a handsome prince! The violence level and romance spiciness are age-appropriate for YA. Highly recommended!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved tagging along with Clìana on her journey from apprentice healer in the highlands to master healer at the imperial court! The book is surprisingly fun and engaging for a story with major themes about death and the dark arts. It takes you in close enough to feel Clìana’s pain and grief, and understand the hard choices she makes, but has enough fun and romance to balance out the tears and keep you turning pages all night.
Clìana surprised me over and over again throughout the story, rarely taking the hero’s path, but rather reacting like a real person, even if it meant being selfish at times.
This richly-detailed fantasy world contains so much of the stuff I love reading - romance, fantasy, magic (with consequences!), becoming a badass healer, not-your-typical heroine making realistic choices, a handsome prince! The violence level and romance spiciness are age-appropriate for YA. Highly recommended!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 1, 2025
Kristen Kieffer's Beneath a Mourning Sky is a beautifully-written fantasy with a gripping plot of political drama and star-crossed love. The protagonist, Clìana, is a complex and flawed character with a tragic and redemptive arc. Haunted by the death of her younger sister Ailis, Clìana is driven an obsessive desire to protect those she loves at all costs—even if it means sacrificing her own soul. Her pursuit of power as a healer ultimately costs her what she holds most dear. The story's tragic twist is gut-wrenching and brilliantly executed. Kieffer's prose style sings with lyrical description and emotional depth. The fantasy worldbuilding is unique and fleshed-out. The cast of characters is rounded out with complex and sympathetic love interests. Like many of the best fantasy stories, this thematically-rich story is about the dangers of getting carried away by power, and how recklessness with power can end up damaging one's self. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
November 2, 2023
I have heard so much about this book and when Kristen said it was out I was so excited. The name, the feel, everything about it feels like it calls to me. One of the lines which stood out to me was: “There is beauty in pain. Not the elegance of polished pearls and gems or chips of ivory, but the grace that is woven inextricably from suffering in the tapestry of life. ” I appreciated the poetry of her writing and how it felt like I was in another world. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a deep and profound piece of work, written from the heart. Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
November 2, 2023
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own)
This is a shining debut in the fantasy genre. Kieffer's love for everything within the story comes through wonderfully in her writing, lending a richness to the world and those within it that I know will be loved in turn by many.
This is a shining debut in the fantasy genre. Kieffer's love for everything within the story comes through wonderfully in her writing, lending a richness to the world and those within it that I know will be loved in turn by many.
November 14, 2023
a wonderful debut!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. BUT I liked it so much I bought my own copy!
This book was a great debut! Full of emotional highs and lows, it’s sure you keep you enthralled in the world of The Dark Between.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. BUT I liked it so much I bought my own copy!
This book was a great debut! Full of emotional highs and lows, it’s sure you keep you enthralled in the world of The Dark Between.
December 10, 2023
This book - and its fierce main character, Cliana - had me hooked from the first page. I loved her story and how fiercely she fights for herself, despite a traumatic past that could have felled her. Growing alongside her was a non stop ride with perfect pacing. This is a MUST READ!
January 21, 2024
Impeccably well-researched and lovingly crafted. A different spin on medieval-inspired fantasy.
November 24, 2023
It took me a bit longer to read this than it normally would have due to a whole lot of international travel, but when I tell you this book had me gripped by my physical heart I'm not kidding. Every word was written from Kristen's soul and she truly poured herself into this work of art.
Clìana is a strong-minded character caught between her logic (/trauma) and the deep-set longing to open her heart and allow herself to be loved. I saw a lot of myself in her and was able to navigate some of my own wounds as she was doing the same.
THAT, friends, is the mark of good storytelling.
In some parts, I was nearly tearing up at how badly she was in pain—because I know those feelings, and I know how the bottom of the pit eats away at your soul just as bloodcraft does.
Okay. Deep breath.
Before I accidentally rant about the plot twists that nearly gave me whiplash (in the best way), allow me to share a couple of the highlights I made.
"It is a strange thing, how power can shackle as surely as it can liberate."
"I didn't know the horror of violence. Not truly. I had never been assailed by brigands or borne witness to bloody feuds. But I knew the trauma of the body. I knew how to steel myself against its gore, how to cut through flesh and bone and slip my hands into the warm, dark chasm of a wound. How to harden myself against the unnerving animal cries of a patient in pain."
"There is a weariness one can only know in the face of loss, at once bone-deep and brittle."
And my personal favourite to end this review:
"Was it necessary that I calm every weak-minded man?"
Thank you, Kristen, for this gift of a book. I cannot WAIT for the second instalment. 🖤
Clìana is a strong-minded character caught between her logic (/trauma) and the deep-set longing to open her heart and allow herself to be loved. I saw a lot of myself in her and was able to navigate some of my own wounds as she was doing the same.
THAT, friends, is the mark of good storytelling.
In some parts, I was nearly tearing up at how badly she was in pain—because I know those feelings, and I know how the bottom of the pit eats away at your soul just as bloodcraft does.
Okay. Deep breath.
Before I accidentally rant about the plot twists that nearly gave me whiplash (in the best way), allow me to share a couple of the highlights I made.
"It is a strange thing, how power can shackle as surely as it can liberate."
"I didn't know the horror of violence. Not truly. I had never been assailed by brigands or borne witness to bloody feuds. But I knew the trauma of the body. I knew how to steel myself against its gore, how to cut through flesh and bone and slip my hands into the warm, dark chasm of a wound. How to harden myself against the unnerving animal cries of a patient in pain."
"There is a weariness one can only know in the face of loss, at once bone-deep and brittle."
And my personal favourite to end this review:
"Was it necessary that I calm every weak-minded man?"
Thank you, Kristen, for this gift of a book. I cannot WAIT for the second instalment. 🖤
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews