What do you think?
Rate this book
The Blacksea Odyssey #1
Unworthy
Capture one harmless fugitive. What could go wrong?
Nyssa Blacksea is eager to silence her doubters. The only warrior in her guild without magick, she’s forced to rely solely on her martial arts mastery, unwavering confidence, and charisma. When given the chance to hunt down a mysterious woman named Quinn, and earn the coveted title of Ashcloak, Nyssa seizes the opportunity. Track down a fugitive? An easy task.
There’s just one problem—Quinn isn’t receptive to Nyssa’s charms and refuses to go down without a fight. Dangerous secrets swirl around Quinn and a treacherous guild leader, rattling Nyssa’s faith in the very system that raised her.
Though troubled by the sinking feeling she’s not meant to survive the mission, Nyssa confronts the dangers awaiting her, clashing with pirates, assassins, and undead horrors. Duty pulls her in one direction, but a strange, undeniable spark of connection draws her towards Quinn. With only her heart and code of honor to guide her, Nyssa risks death to stay true to herself.
For readers who love unique epic fantasy set against a semi-modern backdrop, featuring a sapphic enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance. Unworthy will appeal to fans of Arcane (Netflix), The Legend of Korra, and Gideon the Ninth.
Nyssa Blacksea is eager to silence her doubters. The only warrior in her guild without magick, she’s forced to rely solely on her martial arts mastery, unwavering confidence, and charisma. When given the chance to hunt down a mysterious woman named Quinn, and earn the coveted title of Ashcloak, Nyssa seizes the opportunity. Track down a fugitive? An easy task.
There’s just one problem—Quinn isn’t receptive to Nyssa’s charms and refuses to go down without a fight. Dangerous secrets swirl around Quinn and a treacherous guild leader, rattling Nyssa’s faith in the very system that raised her.
Though troubled by the sinking feeling she’s not meant to survive the mission, Nyssa confronts the dangers awaiting her, clashing with pirates, assassins, and undead horrors. Duty pulls her in one direction, but a strange, undeniable spark of connection draws her towards Quinn. With only her heart and code of honor to guide her, Nyssa risks death to stay true to herself.
For readers who love unique epic fantasy set against a semi-modern backdrop, featuring a sapphic enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance. Unworthy will appeal to fans of Arcane (Netflix), The Legend of Korra, and Gideon the Ninth.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2024
501 people are currently reading
4681 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Vodvarka
4 books226 followersJ.A. Vodvarka is an adult fantasy author, combining action, humor, romance, and unique world-building to create epic fantasy stories with a ton of heart. The Blacksea Odyssey trilogy features strong, sensitive, kick-butt women in a semi-modern setting.
Her writing is inspired by: a childhood spent watching kung fu movies, Toshiro Mifune’s swagger, a splash of Hayao Miyazaki's mysticism, her 5000+ comic book collection, and a love of fun, smart, and complex female characters who appreciate a fine dessert.
Originally from Illinois, J.A. received a degree from UIUC in English and American Literature and Creative Writing. J.A. currently resides in Houston, Texas with a surly French bulldog, Emmitt.
Her writing is inspired by: a childhood spent watching kung fu movies, Toshiro Mifune’s swagger, a splash of Hayao Miyazaki's mysticism, her 5000+ comic book collection, and a love of fun, smart, and complex female characters who appreciate a fine dessert.
Originally from Illinois, J.A. received a degree from UIUC in English and American Literature and Creative Writing. J.A. currently resides in Houston, Texas with a surly French bulldog, Emmitt.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
April 22, 2024
I received an ARC of this book for my
honest review. Looking at the other reviews, I almost feel like we read different books. I really wanted to like this - sapphic pirate enemies to lovers for fans of Arcane and Gideon the Ninth?! That’s my jam. And while there was really interesting world building/characters, the dialogue was stilted and the plot wandered so ultimately it all fell flat for me.
One of the main problems is that it’s simultaneously too much and not enough. Characters overreact to seemingly small things, and underreact to huge things. Sometimes things happen with little explanation, and we’re left to figure out what it means. Other times, we’re told and not shown (or told and told and told again, but not shown). I felt like the pacing stumbled over itself, desperate to reach the next plot point, but also dragged out.
The shifting third person perspective was confusing, sometimes happening mid-chapter. I think it would be more effective if it was all from one perspective, or it was clear each chapter was in perspective of a character (like in Six of Crows). I wished there was more non-dialogue world building and this would’ve been easier with fixed perspective.
Finally, I found Nyssa to be combative and unlikable. She spends a lot of the book acting like a temperamental, petulant child. Her interactions that are meant to be snarky, mouthy, and badass just come off as insolent and rude.
The plot was interesting (I love a good magic system) and I think this book had a lot of potential, but ultimately could’ve benefitted from another round of careful editing.
honest review. Looking at the other reviews, I almost feel like we read different books. I really wanted to like this - sapphic pirate enemies to lovers for fans of Arcane and Gideon the Ninth?! That’s my jam. And while there was really interesting world building/characters, the dialogue was stilted and the plot wandered so ultimately it all fell flat for me.
One of the main problems is that it’s simultaneously too much and not enough. Characters overreact to seemingly small things, and underreact to huge things. Sometimes things happen with little explanation, and we’re left to figure out what it means. Other times, we’re told and not shown (or told and told and told again, but not shown). I felt like the pacing stumbled over itself, desperate to reach the next plot point, but also dragged out.
The shifting third person perspective was confusing, sometimes happening mid-chapter. I think it would be more effective if it was all from one perspective, or it was clear each chapter was in perspective of a character (like in Six of Crows). I wished there was more non-dialogue world building and this would’ve been easier with fixed perspective.
Finally, I found Nyssa to be combative and unlikable. She spends a lot of the book acting like a temperamental, petulant child. Her interactions that are meant to be snarky, mouthy, and badass just come off as insolent and rude.
The plot was interesting (I love a good magic system) and I think this book had a lot of potential, but ultimately could’ve benefitted from another round of careful editing.
September 14, 2024
I was wrong! I was mistaken! This book is bloody awesome and I am embarrassed by my initial review!
Unworthy is every bit the fantasy story it promises. The world building was out of this world (I really loved the messenger bowl thing). The characters had personality. It was easy to differentiate them and in turn root for them. But what sent me was the twist around 68%. It was just a nugget but it played a rather big role in the grand scheme of things. It’s very hard to circumvent the facts here just so there’s no spoilers! I’m twisting my words to hint but not divulge what on earth I am talking about.
My point is, Unworthy IS worthy to take up space in a reader’s psyche. It’s made of the good stuff and it’s quality fantasy.
Unworthy is every bit the fantasy story it promises. The world building was out of this world (I really loved the messenger bowl thing). The characters had personality. It was easy to differentiate them and in turn root for them. But what sent me was the twist around 68%. It was just a nugget but it played a rather big role in the grand scheme of things. It’s very hard to circumvent the facts here just so there’s no spoilers! I’m twisting my words to hint but not divulge what on earth I am talking about.
My point is, Unworthy IS worthy to take up space in a reader’s psyche. It’s made of the good stuff and it’s quality fantasy.
November 20, 2025
Unworthy: The Blacksea Odyssey Book 1 by JA Vodvarka was a wild ride from start to finish. I was immediately drawn into the story when meeting the orphaned Quinn as she escapes her guild where she has been secretly held prisoner her entire life and forced to do unsavory things. She is then pursued by Nyssa and friends who are tasked with returning her.
The orphaned, as well as magickless adept Nyssa, has spent her whole life trying to prove her worth by faithfully living out the words of her guild oath until her assignment to return Quinn leads to the tenets of that oath contradicting and testing her loyalty. She finds herself in impossible circumstances with her future, honor, and life on the line.
This novel is filled with action, suspense, romance, friendship/found family, tests of strength, skill, honor, and determination. There are some predictable bits and some twists I didn't see coming.
The homonormative world in Unworthy sees relationships of all kinds respected with healthy boundaries, open communication, and clear consent. The spice level is low with a fade to black and closed-door scenes of intimacy. Strong, intelligent women lead and fight alongside mature, supportive men who also hold their own. I enjoyed the relationships between the main characters and the dialogue was witty at times and always believable.
I learned a new word/genre with this book. The author categorizes Unworthy as arcanepunk/fantasy. It was defined for me as such because the technology is powered by magick.
The world-building was great. There are strict hierarchies of politics and magick in place. This world is geographically and systematically vast and I loved being immersed in it with the characters as they journey physically, and metaphorically through a very difficult growth process. I was fully engaged for the entire story. I understand it is book 1 in a trilogy, so I am thrilled to read the rest of their adventures. Unworthy ended with plenty of material left to fill those next two books, but it was not exactly a cliffhanger, so I was satisfied where it left off.
PS. Wraiths are very scary, and the bad guys are really bad!
This is a debut novel, and though not perfect, it is a fantastic start. I gave it 4.5 stars rounded up and would highly recommend it.
I received this ARC from the author, and this is my honest opinion.
The orphaned, as well as magickless adept Nyssa, has spent her whole life trying to prove her worth by faithfully living out the words of her guild oath until her assignment to return Quinn leads to the tenets of that oath contradicting and testing her loyalty. She finds herself in impossible circumstances with her future, honor, and life on the line.
This novel is filled with action, suspense, romance, friendship/found family, tests of strength, skill, honor, and determination. There are some predictable bits and some twists I didn't see coming.
The homonormative world in Unworthy sees relationships of all kinds respected with healthy boundaries, open communication, and clear consent. The spice level is low with a fade to black and closed-door scenes of intimacy. Strong, intelligent women lead and fight alongside mature, supportive men who also hold their own. I enjoyed the relationships between the main characters and the dialogue was witty at times and always believable.
I learned a new word/genre with this book. The author categorizes Unworthy as arcanepunk/fantasy. It was defined for me as such because the technology is powered by magick.
The world-building was great. There are strict hierarchies of politics and magick in place. This world is geographically and systematically vast and I loved being immersed in it with the characters as they journey physically, and metaphorically through a very difficult growth process. I was fully engaged for the entire story. I understand it is book 1 in a trilogy, so I am thrilled to read the rest of their adventures. Unworthy ended with plenty of material left to fill those next two books, but it was not exactly a cliffhanger, so I was satisfied where it left off.
PS. Wraiths are very scary, and the bad guys are really bad!
This is a debut novel, and though not perfect, it is a fantastic start. I gave it 4.5 stars rounded up and would highly recommend it.
I received this ARC from the author, and this is my honest opinion.
November 6, 2025
Unworthy is YA coming of age fantasy that definitely feels inspired by the Netflix anime Arcane. It has action, intrigue, magic, humour, and hints of slow burn romance. It also has likeable characters that are easy to root for and plenty of twists and turns to keep the happenings engaging.
The plot was pretty fun. Nyssa Blacksea was an orphan who had been raised, by her adopted father, in the warrior ways of the Emerald Order. Quite the achievement considering Nyssa is the only adept in the history of any of the Orders without any magic. She made up for it by being an elite warrior. Still, she had watched all her peers become full Ashcloaks while she still patiently awaited the honour and recognition. It was why she jumped at the chance to earn the title by accepting a mission to track down, and return, a runaway adept from a rival order. One who’s forbidden magic caused issues for other magic users. Which made Nyssa, magicless as she was, ideal for the task!
It was an enjoyable tale. The task of hunting down Quinn and returning her proved far more complicated than Nyssa expected and ended up challenging her in ways she did not expect.
The fantasy world was solid. The magic was pretty cool. There was a few different types of magic (corporeal and ethereal) with some hints of other forbidden types given as well. It was also a slightly more modern feeling fantasy setting what with some technology being powered by magic. I guess it could be called magic-punk in style!
There was an Empress in this fantasy land with Justicars at her disposal but this first book mostly just explored the intrigue within the Orders. It also had plenty of action and adventure as the main focus was on the task to find and return Quinn.
I felt it was a tad slow to get going but that when I was sucked into this one it did successfully hold my attention. It was an enjoyable YA feeling coming of age fantasy tale. It was not perfect. The story was interesting and the characters pretty likeable and easy to root for but the worldbuilding could be a little sparse at times and the dialogue was a tad stilted. Some great ideas but this did feel a bit too “anime” in tone and complexity at times. It was still fun though as this tale had plenty of positives and the core of a good fantasy tale.
Most of the story was told from Nyssa’s POV but the perspective did occasionally switch to let us see things from Quinn or the other support characters perspectives. I can see that being a little annoying for some with the floating third person storytelling style but I’ve encountered it in a few other indie fantasy books in recent years, and like it, and I thought it was executed successfully enough in this tale that things never become confusing.
Nyssa could be a bit annoying at times but she was mostly easy to root for as despite being a bit naive she was brave and hard a good heart. She was also an atypical YA lead in many ways. She was outgoing and confident despite being a bit of an outsider in her own order and never shy to let her fists do the talking when she felt somebody needing a good punching! She was tall and muscular due to years of combat training which was a fun change of pace from the tiny typical YA heroine.
The support cast were easy to root for. Nyssa had her longtime friend in Athen. He was a guild mate and longtime friend who accompanied her on the quest to retrieve Quinn. They were joined by the bookish but very talkative Aryis. Outside of that Nyssa also had Reece, a new friend, and a father figure in her guild leader. They story had a suitably awful villain in the form of Ceril, Quinn’s guild leader.
We got a sort of slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance set up in this first book between Nyssa and Quinn but Nyssa was an outgoing and flirty character in general and not shy when it came to romantic pairings. Which was a fun change of pace from the usual blushing heroines in similar tales. Another big plus was the fact that this story seemed to lack any overt homophobia or misogyny. There was plenty of other issues in the world (including plenty of corruption, cruelty, and discrimination) but it was refreshing to see a lack of the usual homophobia and misogyny in the genre.
The story had a few twist and turns towards the end that leave me curious to see where the story will go next. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
Rating: 4 stars. Not perfect but it was earnest and enjoyable.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Paige Reisenfeld. She gave a good performance for the most part.
The plot was pretty fun. Nyssa Blacksea was an orphan who had been raised, by her adopted father, in the warrior ways of the Emerald Order. Quite the achievement considering Nyssa is the only adept in the history of any of the Orders without any magic. She made up for it by being an elite warrior. Still, she had watched all her peers become full Ashcloaks while she still patiently awaited the honour and recognition. It was why she jumped at the chance to earn the title by accepting a mission to track down, and return, a runaway adept from a rival order. One who’s forbidden magic caused issues for other magic users. Which made Nyssa, magicless as she was, ideal for the task!
It was an enjoyable tale. The task of hunting down Quinn and returning her proved far more complicated than Nyssa expected and ended up challenging her in ways she did not expect.
The fantasy world was solid. The magic was pretty cool. There was a few different types of magic (corporeal and ethereal) with some hints of other forbidden types given as well. It was also a slightly more modern feeling fantasy setting what with some technology being powered by magic. I guess it could be called magic-punk in style!
There was an Empress in this fantasy land with Justicars at her disposal but this first book mostly just explored the intrigue within the Orders. It also had plenty of action and adventure as the main focus was on the task to find and return Quinn.
I felt it was a tad slow to get going but that when I was sucked into this one it did successfully hold my attention. It was an enjoyable YA feeling coming of age fantasy tale. It was not perfect. The story was interesting and the characters pretty likeable and easy to root for but the worldbuilding could be a little sparse at times and the dialogue was a tad stilted. Some great ideas but this did feel a bit too “anime” in tone and complexity at times. It was still fun though as this tale had plenty of positives and the core of a good fantasy tale.
Most of the story was told from Nyssa’s POV but the perspective did occasionally switch to let us see things from Quinn or the other support characters perspectives. I can see that being a little annoying for some with the floating third person storytelling style but I’ve encountered it in a few other indie fantasy books in recent years, and like it, and I thought it was executed successfully enough in this tale that things never become confusing.
Nyssa could be a bit annoying at times but she was mostly easy to root for as despite being a bit naive she was brave and hard a good heart. She was also an atypical YA lead in many ways. She was outgoing and confident despite being a bit of an outsider in her own order and never shy to let her fists do the talking when she felt somebody needing a good punching! She was tall and muscular due to years of combat training which was a fun change of pace from the tiny typical YA heroine.
The support cast were easy to root for. Nyssa had her longtime friend in Athen. He was a guild mate and longtime friend who accompanied her on the quest to retrieve Quinn. They were joined by the bookish but very talkative Aryis. Outside of that Nyssa also had Reece, a new friend, and a father figure in her guild leader. They story had a suitably awful villain in the form of Ceril, Quinn’s guild leader.
We got a sort of slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance set up in this first book between Nyssa and Quinn but Nyssa was an outgoing and flirty character in general and not shy when it came to romantic pairings. Which was a fun change of pace from the usual blushing heroines in similar tales. Another big plus was the fact that this story seemed to lack any overt homophobia or misogyny. There was plenty of other issues in the world (including plenty of corruption, cruelty, and discrimination) but it was refreshing to see a lack of the usual homophobia and misogyny in the genre.
The story had a few twist and turns towards the end that leave me curious to see where the story will go next. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
Rating: 4 stars. Not perfect but it was earnest and enjoyable.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Paige Reisenfeld. She gave a good performance for the most part.
June 30, 2024
Nyssa Blacksea is determined to prove herself in a guild where having magick is one of its chief criteria. The only warrior without magick, she relies on her martial arts skills, confidence, and undeniable charisma. I'm a bit in love with Nyssa, tbh. Her chance to shine comes when she's tasked with capturing Quinn, a fugitive who turns out to be more than she bargained for. Quinn is a bit of a mystery and ends up shaking Nyssa's faith in the system she's been raised to trust. Unworthy has a diverse cast of characters and intricate world-building. There are pirates, assassins, and undead wraiths. What's not to love?
Nyssa has fascinating relationships with many great characters. She's at the center of the story, but the secondary characters are just as compelling. The friendships and found family aspect of the story are heartwarming. I love that all of these characters are nuanced and have both strengths and vulnerabilities. I love that Nyssa and Quinn and both outcasts in their respective guilds. Love the romances in this - hoping for a poly relationship in the future?
The action sequences are well-written and engaging, with Nyssa’s martial prowess shining through. Yet, amidst the action and adventure, there is a softness to the characters, a genuineness that makes their struggles and triumphs deeply relatable.
Unworthy is a phenomenal story that will appeal to fans of character-driven epic fantasy. With its rich world-building, diverse and genuine characters, and a slow-burn romance that feels authentic and earned, it stands out.
Nyssa has fascinating relationships with many great characters. She's at the center of the story, but the secondary characters are just as compelling. The friendships and found family aspect of the story are heartwarming. I love that all of these characters are nuanced and have both strengths and vulnerabilities. I love that Nyssa and Quinn and both outcasts in their respective guilds. Love the romances in this - hoping for a poly relationship in the future?
The action sequences are well-written and engaging, with Nyssa’s martial prowess shining through. Yet, amidst the action and adventure, there is a softness to the characters, a genuineness that makes their struggles and triumphs deeply relatable.
Unworthy is a phenomenal story that will appeal to fans of character-driven epic fantasy. With its rich world-building, diverse and genuine characters, and a slow-burn romance that feels authentic and earned, it stands out.
August 3, 2024
good foundation, poor execution
So Nyssa Blacksea is a powerful warrior without magic. Until she has tons of magic and apparently is easily defeated by everyone until it’s time for the plot armor to kick in.
One little bit of foreshadowing is all you get before it’s shown to the reader that Nyssa is actually… apparently a god? Something like that.
The entire book is sloppy. The author never really explains anything except for little tidbits that you are meant to pick up from people talking. Which is never really done with any sort of expositional intent. I honestly think the author is accidentally revealing the world they have created. I’m fairly sure Vodvarka is intent upon keeping everything but the characters names and that they are part of the emerald order or something out of the knowledge of the reader.
It may even be an accident that we know the characters names.
The magic system, the way the ‘empire’ is set up, the way the ‘guilds’ are set up, just little bread crumbs that you have to make assumptions about.
This book needs a good editor. It has decent bones. It could be really good. But I would not say it is meeting its potential in any way, shape, or form.
Also, Reece just gets left behind? Dummmmmmb.
So Nyssa Blacksea is a powerful warrior without magic. Until she has tons of magic and apparently is easily defeated by everyone until it’s time for the plot armor to kick in.
One little bit of foreshadowing is all you get before it’s shown to the reader that Nyssa is actually… apparently a god? Something like that.
The entire book is sloppy. The author never really explains anything except for little tidbits that you are meant to pick up from people talking. Which is never really done with any sort of expositional intent. I honestly think the author is accidentally revealing the world they have created. I’m fairly sure Vodvarka is intent upon keeping everything but the characters names and that they are part of the emerald order or something out of the knowledge of the reader.
It may even be an accident that we know the characters names.
The magic system, the way the ‘empire’ is set up, the way the ‘guilds’ are set up, just little bread crumbs that you have to make assumptions about.
This book needs a good editor. It has decent bones. It could be really good. But I would not say it is meeting its potential in any way, shape, or form.
Also, Reece just gets left behind? Dummmmmmb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
"Trust me, I have excellent tastes, and you're beautiful."
If you take the fantasy and politics from Brandon Sanderson, a bit of humor from Gideon (Gideon the Ninth), and sprinkle a dash of sex into the mix - you get this debut novel from J. A. Vodvarka. It's not quite on BrandoSando's level, yet, but I truly think the author could get close.
The plot was really quite good, and most of the dialog felt natural. There were a few places the dialog didn't feel natural, but that may have been intentional. While the prose could've been more descriptive, it was good. Vodvarka managed to make me chuckle out loud a few times, a few snorts, and even a couple tears. There were some unexpected (but good) twists, as well. There was one twist I kept waiting for, I was absolutely sure it was coming. I was wrong. Unless it comes about later in the series.
This book follows magick-less Nyssa, who is part of a guild that never allows anyone with magick to be a part of. She's essentially an orphan, and has one last quest she has to complete before gaining what she's worked so hard and tirelessly for over the course of many years.
"At some point, you'll have to decide for yourself what's truly important to you. Until that time, everything you do or say feels hollow. And you, of all people, cannot afford to doubt who you are and where you stand."
Being a magick-less orphan has caused her a ton of pain, both mental and physical. Bullies targeted her, repeatedly, and what makes it worse (in my opinion) is that the administration knew and allowed it (or turned a blind eye, at bare minimum). Still. As an adult the constant bullying she experienced growing up impacts her regularly, in various ways.
"We're both treated differently because of who we are. Fuck the lot of them."
Characters, like living humans, grow and change. Some sacrifice themselves, their morals, etc in order to achieve their goals. Others don't, they stay true to themselves. There's plenty of growth in this novel.
It has found family, some (sapphic and hetero) romance, adventure, twists and turns, corruption, an imperfect heroine, all the usual fantasy stuff, plus a bit of pirates and a smidgen of sex. This book has healthy platonic and romantic relationships - I love that.
The Gideon-lite humor - I just adore it. Nyssa's relationship with Little Hawk warms my heart. It gives baby sister type vibes. All the funny quotes I'm finding either need too much context for a review, or give away stuff that I don't want to risk spoiling. Here's the best I can find without ruining anything [for clarity, Nyssa is a little bit drunk and injured during this exchange]:
"Take your shirt off," Aryis ordered, waggling a finger for Nyssa to get up.
She stood. "Ho now, I'm flattered, but not with an audience. I'm shy…"
Things I feel kept it from being a 5 star read for me:
I wish the magic (or as this book spells it, magick) system had been explained more. It was just there, with the only info given on it being there are two forms (corporeal and ethereal, I believe they're called). Well, other types are loosely mentioned once, but they're forbidden.
The world didn't feel entirely fleshed out, there didn't seem to be a way to orientate yourself in the world. I wish we were given more on the history/origins of the world, the guilds, etc. Details. Who? How? When? Where? Why?
Early on, I feel if being labeled/marked Unworthy had been explained more thoroughly, more detailed, it would've made the stakes higher.
"She knew that getting captured meant execution, or worse - being marked as Unworthy, a traitor to the Empire. Death or cursed exile, both preferable to living one more second in the Citadel."
As I recall, that's really all there is about it until the end. What would being marked as Unworthy mean for a person? Besides being worse than being dead. How is it worse than being dead? I strongly feel this needs expanded on, early on in the book.
If you're scratching your head, wondering how I rated it 4 stars since I'm then pointing out a number of things I feel were missing - it's because the plot is that good. Especially now that I'm scrolling through the book, seeing and making connections I initially missed. It's interesting and hard to put down.
Nyssa: "I belong to the Emerald Order."
Reece: "You belong to no one but yourself."
I loved that a lot of the main characters were strong women (mentally and/or physically), supporting other strong women. None of the I'm so tiny and fragile, yet watch me kick major ass *dainty giggle* (insert side-eye to Rebecca Yarros). Strong women with autonomy and agency, and remind the other women that they do, too. There was none of the women pushing other women down (for absolutely no reason) competitiveness we see all too often (IRL and in fiction).
"… the world is full of liars who wear kind faces."
Without spoiling it, there's a tie in in this book that's just beautiful. You'll know it when you read it. It especially has me excited to read the second installment of this series (releasing in July 2024 according to the authors website). There are many tie-ins in the plot, but one that hit me right in the feels.
There were tie-ins, actually a fair number, that I'm only now catching as I scroll through the book looking at my notes and highlights. I feel like some of them need to be harkened back on, touched on in some way. Without spoiling anything, I don't think I can give specifics unfortunately.
If you like Sapphic fantasy/romantacy, you'll probably enjoy this book.
"Sincerity requires effort, not just intention."
In being transparent, if this wasn't a debut novel I would've rated it 3 stars. But it is, and since the plot and pacing are too good to rate it only 3 stars, I'm giving debut grace and rating it 4. If the things I mentioned were fixed, it would likely be a 5 star, even if not a debut novel.
I think some light re-working could make this a Mistborn level (or close to it) for me, for me. It's all there, just felt to me like there were a number of loose threads I was only able to bring together once I looked back through at my annotations. It doesn't need to tied up all perfectly neat, with a coordinating ribbon or anything. However, I do feel it would greatly benefit from tying some things together more than it is currently.
"When you save others, you save yourself."
If it applies to you, I would look up trigger warnings regarding violence and things related. Right off I don't recall any other things that are common, big triggers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you take the fantasy and politics from Brandon Sanderson, a bit of humor from Gideon (Gideon the Ninth), and sprinkle a dash of sex into the mix - you get this debut novel from J. A. Vodvarka. It's not quite on BrandoSando's level, yet, but I truly think the author could get close.
The plot was really quite good, and most of the dialog felt natural. There were a few places the dialog didn't feel natural, but that may have been intentional. While the prose could've been more descriptive, it was good. Vodvarka managed to make me chuckle out loud a few times, a few snorts, and even a couple tears. There were some unexpected (but good) twists, as well. There was one twist I kept waiting for, I was absolutely sure it was coming. I was wrong. Unless it comes about later in the series.
This book follows magick-less Nyssa, who is part of a guild that never allows anyone with magick to be a part of. She's essentially an orphan, and has one last quest she has to complete before gaining what she's worked so hard and tirelessly for over the course of many years.
"At some point, you'll have to decide for yourself what's truly important to you. Until that time, everything you do or say feels hollow. And you, of all people, cannot afford to doubt who you are and where you stand."
Being a magick-less orphan has caused her a ton of pain, both mental and physical. Bullies targeted her, repeatedly, and what makes it worse (in my opinion) is that the administration knew and allowed it (or turned a blind eye, at bare minimum). Still. As an adult the constant bullying she experienced growing up impacts her regularly, in various ways.
"We're both treated differently because of who we are. Fuck the lot of them."
Characters, like living humans, grow and change. Some sacrifice themselves, their morals, etc in order to achieve their goals. Others don't, they stay true to themselves. There's plenty of growth in this novel.
It has found family, some (sapphic and hetero) romance, adventure, twists and turns, corruption, an imperfect heroine, all the usual fantasy stuff, plus a bit of pirates and a smidgen of sex. This book has healthy platonic and romantic relationships - I love that.
The Gideon-lite humor - I just adore it. Nyssa's relationship with Little Hawk warms my heart. It gives baby sister type vibes. All the funny quotes I'm finding either need too much context for a review, or give away stuff that I don't want to risk spoiling. Here's the best I can find without ruining anything [for clarity, Nyssa is a little bit drunk and injured during this exchange]:
"Take your shirt off," Aryis ordered, waggling a finger for Nyssa to get up.
She stood. "Ho now, I'm flattered, but not with an audience. I'm shy…"
Things I feel kept it from being a 5 star read for me:
I wish the magic (or as this book spells it, magick) system had been explained more. It was just there, with the only info given on it being there are two forms (corporeal and ethereal, I believe they're called). Well, other types are loosely mentioned once, but they're forbidden.
The world didn't feel entirely fleshed out, there didn't seem to be a way to orientate yourself in the world. I wish we were given more on the history/origins of the world, the guilds, etc. Details. Who? How? When? Where? Why?
Early on, I feel if being labeled/marked Unworthy had been explained more thoroughly, more detailed, it would've made the stakes higher.
"She knew that getting captured meant execution, or worse - being marked as Unworthy, a traitor to the Empire. Death or cursed exile, both preferable to living one more second in the Citadel."
As I recall, that's really all there is about it until the end. What would being marked as Unworthy mean for a person? Besides being worse than being dead. How is it worse than being dead? I strongly feel this needs expanded on, early on in the book.
If you're scratching your head, wondering how I rated it 4 stars since I'm then pointing out a number of things I feel were missing - it's because the plot is that good. Especially now that I'm scrolling through the book, seeing and making connections I initially missed. It's interesting and hard to put down.
Nyssa: "I belong to the Emerald Order."
Reece: "You belong to no one but yourself."
I loved that a lot of the main characters were strong women (mentally and/or physically), supporting other strong women. None of the I'm so tiny and fragile, yet watch me kick major ass *dainty giggle* (insert side-eye to Rebecca Yarros). Strong women with autonomy and agency, and remind the other women that they do, too. There was none of the women pushing other women down (for absolutely no reason) competitiveness we see all too often (IRL and in fiction).
"… the world is full of liars who wear kind faces."
Without spoiling it, there's a tie in in this book that's just beautiful. You'll know it when you read it. It especially has me excited to read the second installment of this series (releasing in July 2024 according to the authors website). There are many tie-ins in the plot, but one that hit me right in the feels.
There were tie-ins, actually a fair number, that I'm only now catching as I scroll through the book looking at my notes and highlights. I feel like some of them need to be harkened back on, touched on in some way. Without spoiling anything, I don't think I can give specifics unfortunately.
If you like Sapphic fantasy/romantacy, you'll probably enjoy this book.
"Sincerity requires effort, not just intention."
In being transparent, if this wasn't a debut novel I would've rated it 3 stars. But it is, and since the plot and pacing are too good to rate it only 3 stars, I'm giving debut grace and rating it 4. If the things I mentioned were fixed, it would likely be a 5 star, even if not a debut novel.
I think some light re-working could make this a Mistborn level (or close to it) for me, for me. It's all there, just felt to me like there were a number of loose threads I was only able to bring together once I looked back through at my annotations. It doesn't need to tied up all perfectly neat, with a coordinating ribbon or anything. However, I do feel it would greatly benefit from tying some things together more than it is currently.
"When you save others, you save yourself."
If it applies to you, I would look up trigger warnings regarding violence and things related. Right off I don't recall any other things that are common, big triggers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 22, 2024
Dnf. Tried for days to make progress but lowkey I think it put me in a slump. It's not bad by any means, but the progression has held no interest and I don't wanna try to continue, hoping it gets interesting. It hasn't so far.
January 5, 2025
I was going to call this a bargain basement ripoff of Gideon the Ninth, but even that would be giving this book too much credit.
DNF. I just couldn’t anymore. The similarities between Nyssa and Gideon were impossible to ignore.
Let me count the ways—all of this from reading less than 10% of the book:
Out of the gate, she’s in a brawl she apparently started just because she loves punching people—and she’s utterly obnoxious.
She’s immature and swears like a sailor.
She can’t resist hitting on anything with legs.
She’s an orphan, and seemingly insignificant in this world.
She constantly brags about her sword skills and charm.
Oh yeah, she’s a sword master.
She boasts about how muscular and nice of a body she has.
Did I mention she has auburn hair?
Nyssa feels like a knockoff action figure: the same parts, none of the magic. She doesn’t possess an ounce of Gideon’s wit, charisma, or endearing chaos. And say what you will about Gideon, but she was charming in her own unique way.
The writing wasn’t compelling enough to stop me from thinking, what else has this author "borrowed"? Cough. Maybe partially an overarching storyline? Cough.
DNF. I just couldn’t anymore. The similarities between Nyssa and Gideon were impossible to ignore.
Let me count the ways—all of this from reading less than 10% of the book:
Out of the gate, she’s in a brawl she apparently started just because she loves punching people—and she’s utterly obnoxious.
She’s immature and swears like a sailor.
She can’t resist hitting on anything with legs.
She’s an orphan, and seemingly insignificant in this world.
She constantly brags about her sword skills and charm.
Oh yeah, she’s a sword master.
She boasts about how muscular and nice of a body she has.
Did I mention she has auburn hair?
Nyssa feels like a knockoff action figure: the same parts, none of the magic. She doesn’t possess an ounce of Gideon’s wit, charisma, or endearing chaos. And say what you will about Gideon, but she was charming in her own unique way.
The writing wasn’t compelling enough to stop me from thinking, what else has this author "borrowed"? Cough. Maybe partially an overarching storyline? Cough.
April 1, 2024
You know the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages while at the same time you don't want to finish it because then the experience will be over? Yeah, this book is the one.
It is a well-written story that had me intrigued from the moment I read the blurb, and it did not disappoint. I loved Nyssa, Quinn, and the gang. I don't want to go on any more about the story because I don't want to give spoilers. I cannot wait for the next one.
It is a well-written story that had me intrigued from the moment I read the blurb, and it did not disappoint. I loved Nyssa, Quinn, and the gang. I don't want to go on any more about the story because I don't want to give spoilers. I cannot wait for the next one.
July 3, 2025
Oh, this book was so good.
I loved it. The story started interesting and sucked me in from the beginning. I couldn’t put this book down. Pirates, magic, secrets, surprises and a lot of amazing adventures. It was so much fun to read this book. The characters are likable, author’s writing style is very nice and this whole story is living in my head right now. I will continue with book 2 in the series. Worth reading!
I loved it. The story started interesting and sucked me in from the beginning. I couldn’t put this book down. Pirates, magic, secrets, surprises and a lot of amazing adventures. It was so much fun to read this book. The characters are likable, author’s writing style is very nice and this whole story is living in my head right now. I will continue with book 2 in the series. Worth reading!
October 14, 2025
I could not get into this book. I tried. I really did. I made it eighty pages into the story and the only action that happened was in the first chapter, and even that only a smidge. Eighty pages and the plot hasn't moved past Nyssa receiving orders. I need something to keep me reading, not just the promise of more later. World building should not interfere with moving the plot along. The premise sounds cool and all, but I'm not going to wait around forever for it to materialize.
March 2, 2025
Nyssa is a magickless warrior who’s mission is to capture a fugitive, and if she does? She finally gains the title of an Ashcloak. You follow Nyssa and her friends across the world attempting to capture Quinn and bring her back, whose magick weakens others powers with a simple touch.
The story follows multiple POVs which is an interesting take. It gives you an opportunity to get to know the characters better. Everyone around Nyssa hated her simply because of her lack of magick, but you get to see Nyssa’s friends defy that. You get to see her power, love, and her unwavering need to protect everyone. The character growth/development for all MCs were such a great touch to the storyline.
The first half of the story was a bit slow and there wasn’t much action, mainly just following Nyssa and her crew but the details the author integrates into her story is amazing. It continuously kept my attention.
Theres a bit of romance, but not as much as I expected. This first novel focuses on the storyline of Nyssa and her character growth as well as the other characters.
The novel kept me on my toes and had me guessing what on earth was going to happen next, and it was PACKED with action. I’m very interested to read the next series and continue to see more MC growth. The last 20% was well worth the build up of the whole story.
The story follows multiple POVs which is an interesting take. It gives you an opportunity to get to know the characters better. Everyone around Nyssa hated her simply because of her lack of magick, but you get to see Nyssa’s friends defy that. You get to see her power, love, and her unwavering need to protect everyone. The character growth/development for all MCs were such a great touch to the storyline.
The first half of the story was a bit slow and there wasn’t much action, mainly just following Nyssa and her crew but the details the author integrates into her story is amazing. It continuously kept my attention.
Theres a bit of romance, but not as much as I expected. This first novel focuses on the storyline of Nyssa and her character growth as well as the other characters.
The novel kept me on my toes and had me guessing what on earth was going to happen next, and it was PACKED with action. I’m very interested to read the next series and continue to see more MC growth. The last 20% was well worth the build up of the whole story.
September 25, 2024
I love the pacing. And that epilogue was annoying, if she dies, I will be happy because how dare she, after all we have been through.
July 11, 2025
4.25 ⭐
This book series is another reason to love fantasy novels. Tah said, I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
This book series is another reason to love fantasy novels. Tah said, I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
December 7, 2025
Stunned. Will revisit. Book hangover incoming.
March 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It has a bit of humor, likable characters, mysterious origins, strong friendships, some pirates and assassins, and a good plot. The story flows well and while at times I’d like a bit more world building, it’s a good start as we move through the story. Both main characters are strong women who have had to deal with more than their share of adversity to overcome their circumstances. One was given a chance in a world she was never meant to belong to as a magickless person. The other holds a special magick that found herself raised by a powerful man using her for his own means. While the main characters are enjoyable, their supporting cast is fantastic as existing and new relationships are formed. This is a very well told start to Nyssa and Quinn’s story.
April 8, 2024
This is an ARC I have been fortunate to read, thank you to J.A Vodvarka and Book Sirens !
Warning: this review contains spoilery personal opinions on character behaviours and mental states (not outward spoilers but could give you plot indications).
First of all, I have to say, this book has gotten me out of a years-long reading slump. Do you remember the first time you read Percy Jackson, Six of Crows, The Hunger Games ? This is what Unworthy did for me, rekindled my love for reading.
Before talking about the plot, let's talk about the quality of the author's writing. For a debut novel, you can tell there is a lot of work put into this book, but also a keen understanding of world building, show not tell (which I love).
With a great dose of humour, and a touch of flirtiness, this book really wins you over, just like it's main character, Nyssa.
I didn't expect a book to capture my attention this much so quickly, after the 50 pages mark, I was already planning my review, my copy is filled with annotations.
I am glad to say that this book contains a woman/man friendship, with NO ROMANCE, only platonic love and care. Athen, Nyssa's best friend isn't patronizing, and doesn't overstep (no male intervention to protect the meek female protagonist), he is what a man friend should be like in my opinion.
Back to Nyssa, she is so real, with a strong moral compass. She defends women, can't help but care, even when she is hurt, or hurts others, even when the person is her target and she is unsufferable (for plot reasons, she's annoying, but understandably so).
The author drops bits of lore and backstory in a fluid manner, puns are impeccable (I laughed out loud in public multiple times), I teared up, and was properly SHOOK. The plot twist IS twisting.
Overall, this was an enrapturing read through and through, with great writing quality, and a lot of potential for a debut book and trilogy to come !
Warning: this review contains spoilery personal opinions on character behaviours and mental states (not outward spoilers but could give you plot indications).
First of all, I have to say, this book has gotten me out of a years-long reading slump. Do you remember the first time you read Percy Jackson, Six of Crows, The Hunger Games ? This is what Unworthy did for me, rekindled my love for reading.
Before talking about the plot, let's talk about the quality of the author's writing. For a debut novel, you can tell there is a lot of work put into this book, but also a keen understanding of world building, show not tell (which I love).
With a great dose of humour, and a touch of flirtiness, this book really wins you over, just like it's main character, Nyssa.
I didn't expect a book to capture my attention this much so quickly, after the 50 pages mark, I was already planning my review, my copy is filled with annotations.
I am glad to say that this book contains a woman/man friendship, with NO ROMANCE, only platonic love and care. Athen, Nyssa's best friend isn't patronizing, and doesn't overstep (no male intervention to protect the meek female protagonist), he is what a man friend should be like in my opinion.
Back to Nyssa, she is so real, with a strong moral compass. She defends women, can't help but care, even when she is hurt, or hurts others, even when the person is her target and she is unsufferable (for plot reasons, she's annoying, but understandably so).
The author drops bits of lore and backstory in a fluid manner, puns are impeccable (I laughed out loud in public multiple times), I teared up, and was properly SHOOK. The plot twist IS twisting.
Overall, this was an enrapturing read through and through, with great writing quality, and a lot of potential for a debut book and trilogy to come !
May 18, 2025
5/5 stars!
Where do I even start with this?
I loved this so much! It was packed with just the right amount of humour! Nyssa was very charming and Quinn was charming in her own way.
What did I like:
Nyssa
Eron - Nyssa adopted father.
Anna - the Captain or the airship.
Athen - Nyssa best friend.
Ayris - the tracker.
The messenger bowl of Pol’s.
Elias - he was quite charming.
Eventually Quinn.
What did I not like:
Ceril - the First Master of the guild who locked Quinn up and she ran away from. He was rude to Nyssa.
The sibling assassins.
This was a brilliant read, it did take me a whine to finish due to travelling and life getting in the way at times, but the hesitance to finish it was worth it. It had a lovely balance of humour and action, sprinkled with a little romance.
Nyssa Balcksea is a magickless adept in the Emerald Order - being magickless is not common in this world and she was shunned nearly her whole life. Her adopted father Eron the head of the order takes her in and makes her an adept. Her best friend Athen also is in the order. Her dream, to become a Ashclock so she can finally have proved her worth. She is tasked with bringing back a runaway, Quinn. With the help of a tracker Ayris, who turns out to be a Queen-in-waiting, Nyssa, Athen and Aryis take off on their hunt for Quinn.
Quinn, a adept herself breaks free form the Citadel and takes off. She’s a force to be reckoned with herself and outs Nyssa through her paces.
Quinn saves Nyssa and Quinn starts to make Nyssa questions everything.
When Eron, is murdered, Nyssa takes off after Quinn, knowing that Ceril is behind it, the one who was behind Quinn’s captivity.
Nyssa has macigk! 🫣
This was such a good read and I can’t wait to get stuck into book 2 and 3!
Where do I even start with this?
I loved this so much! It was packed with just the right amount of humour! Nyssa was very charming and Quinn was charming in her own way.
What did I like:
Nyssa
Eron - Nyssa adopted father.
Anna - the Captain or the airship.
Athen - Nyssa best friend.
Ayris - the tracker.
The messenger bowl of Pol’s.
Elias - he was quite charming.
Eventually Quinn.
What did I not like:
Ceril - the First Master of the guild who locked Quinn up and she ran away from. He was rude to Nyssa.
The sibling assassins.
This was a brilliant read, it did take me a whine to finish due to travelling and life getting in the way at times, but the hesitance to finish it was worth it. It had a lovely balance of humour and action, sprinkled with a little romance.
Nyssa Balcksea is a magickless adept in the Emerald Order - being magickless is not common in this world and she was shunned nearly her whole life. Her adopted father Eron the head of the order takes her in and makes her an adept. Her best friend Athen also is in the order. Her dream, to become a Ashclock so she can finally have proved her worth. She is tasked with bringing back a runaway, Quinn. With the help of a tracker Ayris, who turns out to be a Queen-in-waiting, Nyssa, Athen and Aryis take off on their hunt for Quinn.
Quinn, a adept herself breaks free form the Citadel and takes off. She’s a force to be reckoned with herself and outs Nyssa through her paces.
Quinn saves Nyssa and Quinn starts to make Nyssa questions everything.
When Eron, is murdered, Nyssa takes off after Quinn, knowing that Ceril is behind it, the one who was behind Quinn’s captivity.
Nyssa has macigk! 🫣
This was such a good read and I can’t wait to get stuck into book 2 and 3!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2024
"'My guild trained me and gave me purpose.'
Reece shook her head and smiled sadly. 'You should give yourself purpose, Nyssa.'"
In this beautifully written book, two women, one of whom is a runaway prisoner that the other must recapture to return to her captors, find that they have a connection that they do not yet understand. I found myself trying to guess at what's going to happen next only to have my expectations thwarted in the best way! There is also a sapphic romance (not the two women!), and a genuine male-female platonic best friend dynamic (which I find so refreshing)!
One thing I wanted to see more of was the philosophy of Sakei that at one point Nyssa, the main main character, claimed was who she has been trying to live by. But there was not a lot of mention of him or his philosophy, especially in pivotal moments of the story where Nyssa begins doubting her order to return the prisoner. "The one thing that always stuck out to me was Sakei's belief in casting your own shadow. To have the courage to be true to your convictions, even if you stand alone. I've been striggling with how to cast my own shadow and still be loyal to the Empire." I would've liked to see this struggle made more apparent in this book, because he was sort of just mentioned in the beginning and then suddenly again in this quote. A deeper dive into these thoughts and struggles would've made for a more engaging read for me.
But in any case, I'm eager to read the second book, which will be coming out in about two months!
Reece shook her head and smiled sadly. 'You should give yourself purpose, Nyssa.'"
In this beautifully written book, two women, one of whom is a runaway prisoner that the other must recapture to return to her captors, find that they have a connection that they do not yet understand. I found myself trying to guess at what's going to happen next only to have my expectations thwarted in the best way! There is also a sapphic romance (not the two women!), and a genuine male-female platonic best friend dynamic (which I find so refreshing)!
One thing I wanted to see more of was the philosophy of Sakei that at one point Nyssa, the main main character, claimed was who she has been trying to live by. But there was not a lot of mention of him or his philosophy, especially in pivotal moments of the story where Nyssa begins doubting her order to return the prisoner. "The one thing that always stuck out to me was Sakei's belief in casting your own shadow. To have the courage to be true to your convictions, even if you stand alone. I've been striggling with how to cast my own shadow and still be loyal to the Empire." I would've liked to see this struggle made more apparent in this book, because he was sort of just mentioned in the beginning and then suddenly again in this quote. A deeper dive into these thoughts and struggles would've made for a more engaging read for me.
But in any case, I'm eager to read the second book, which will be coming out in about two months!
April 12, 2024
This was my first ever ARC book, and all I can say is WOW! I absolutely loved this adventurous, spunky, and fantastical story. It gave me Star Wars mixed with pirates, Game of Thrones, and a dash of Avatar the Last Air Bender vibes. The story fallows Nyssa Blacksea, an orphan and misfit, who’s been sent on a mission to find a runaway member of the guild in which Nyssa is also a member. Loyal to the Empire and her guild, she is eager to begin her mission and finally earn the title of Ashcloak by completing her mission and returning the fugitive. Though magickless in an organization that only allows those with magick, Nyssa is able to overcome the many challenges she faces throughout the story, some due to her past and some brought on by her mission. When coming face to face with the fugitive, Quinn, Nyssa starts to question herself and the order that looked after her since she was a child.
I honestly did not want to put this book down and looked forward to reading more and more of Nyssa’s, Quinn’s and their entourage’s adventure! I saw a lot of myself in Nyssa and was vicariously living through her experiences in the story. I cannot wait to see how the next part of their story unfolds, especially with the surprise we discover at the end of this one!
If you like feisty characters, a bit of humor, a little bit of spice, strong friendships, pirates, assassins, and an epic adventure, I HIGHLY recommend this book!
I honestly did not want to put this book down and looked forward to reading more and more of Nyssa’s, Quinn’s and their entourage’s adventure! I saw a lot of myself in Nyssa and was vicariously living through her experiences in the story. I cannot wait to see how the next part of their story unfolds, especially with the surprise we discover at the end of this one!
If you like feisty characters, a bit of humor, a little bit of spice, strong friendships, pirates, assassins, and an epic adventure, I HIGHLY recommend this book!
December 4, 2024
*very mild spoilers*
This book had a lot of potential. I think with some more structural edits, it could have become a favorite.
I found our little cast of characters to be very endearing. There are a lot of cozy moments and found family vibes, which I always love.
Unfortunately, the plot just felt sort of… disconnected. It felt like a lot of pages for very little to actually concretely happen.
I also think some of the lore could have been woven through the novel to make it pack more of a punch. Everyone lives in terror of being marked as unworthy but… why? It’s mentioned offhand in a sentence near the end of the book, which sort of blunts the severity of the event. We don’t need all the info right away, but better breadcrumbs through the first part of the novel could really have added the emotional impact. Same goes with the lore of the cursed gods. If childhood stories or other bits of folklore had permeated the beginning of the story, the idea of the cursed gods could have felt much more like an “oh shit” moment.
Will I be reading the rest of this series regardless? Absolutely.
This book had a lot of potential. I think with some more structural edits, it could have become a favorite.
I found our little cast of characters to be very endearing. There are a lot of cozy moments and found family vibes, which I always love.
Unfortunately, the plot just felt sort of… disconnected. It felt like a lot of pages for very little to actually concretely happen.
I also think some of the lore could have been woven through the novel to make it pack more of a punch. Everyone lives in terror of being marked as unworthy but… why? It’s mentioned offhand in a sentence near the end of the book, which sort of blunts the severity of the event. We don’t need all the info right away, but better breadcrumbs through the first part of the novel could really have added the emotional impact. Same goes with the lore of the cursed gods. If childhood stories or other bits of folklore had permeated the beginning of the story, the idea of the cursed gods could have felt much more like an “oh shit” moment.
Will I be reading the rest of this series regardless? Absolutely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2025
I absolutely love this book!
It has the potential to become one of my all time favourite book series and I can't wait to see what the other two books have in store for me.
Nyssa is an as***ley character but very lovable and charming, dripping with sarcasm and sass and the side characters are amazing and lovable in their own unique ways. The writing style is clear and I love the world Vodvarka created. I can't wait to learn more about it and also get to know Quinn better in the next part. I can see why this series appeals to fans of "Legend of Korra" and "Gideon the Ninth" and, if you love those, I'm pretty sure you'll love "The Black Sea Odyssey" as well!
It has the potential to become one of my all time favourite book series and I can't wait to see what the other two books have in store for me.
Nyssa is an as***ley character but very lovable and charming, dripping with sarcasm and sass and the side characters are amazing and lovable in their own unique ways. The writing style is clear and I love the world Vodvarka created. I can't wait to learn more about it and also get to know Quinn better in the next part. I can see why this series appeals to fans of "Legend of Korra" and "Gideon the Ninth" and, if you love those, I'm pretty sure you'll love "The Black Sea Odyssey" as well!
April 10, 2024
I cannot express how INCREDIBLE this book is! It had me laughing and crying and shouting out loud so many times! The FMC is so freaking awesome and the insane twist at the end about her and Quinn…. Holy crap! I can’t wait to read the next book and see where the adventure goes this time!! 10/10 recommend this book. By far my favorite arc read of the year so far and definitely in my top 3 favorite books I’ve read so far in 2024!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2024
I was in a huuuuge reading slump before I started this book. I have been ever since I finished Iron Flame in January. I was slightly intimidated by this book but it has turned out to be exactly what I needed. The vibes are Game of Thrones/Fourth Wing/high fantasy, dystopian, anarchist adventure. I felt incredibly connected to every single character. Nyssa is complex and frustrating because I knew her heart would find the right answer but some people have to learn the hard way (ask me how I know lol). Despite resonating deeply with Nyssa, I never knew exactly what would happen next. The last 10% of the book absolutely knocked me off my feet. I am eagerly awaiting the next books in the series and plan to buy physical copies of them all. Well done!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 15, 2024
A fun, swashbuckling adventure
This tale of fantasy adventurers will keep your eyes glued to the page. Twists and turns galore keep the reader guessing as to what will come next. Great action scenes too!
This tale of fantasy adventurers will keep your eyes glued to the page. Twists and turns galore keep the reader guessing as to what will come next. Great action scenes too!
April 28, 2025
WOW! That was so good and so much fun. Sapphics, pirates, magic, secrets, and so much more?? Uhhh count me in! I have wanted to read this book for quite sometime because everyone on booktok was highly recommending it and I am so glad I picked it up! Super pumped to read the rest of the series!
September 22, 2025
Holy shit
April 21, 2025
(4.00)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews