Heed

by Annait L.J.

Cameron Harkens is about to lose it all. Her art scholarship. Her friends. Her sanity. At least, that’s what she thinks when her memories come and go in fragments. On top of that, she starts having visions of the end of the world.

Wanting to free herself from the relentless torment, Cameron begins to paint vivid scenes that feel as foreboding as they do comforting. Maybe this is exactly what she needs to keep her scholarship. Maybe this will get rid of the shadows watching her every move.

When an unlikely ally steps up, the truth becomes a threat to everyone Cameron loves. Everyone she thought she knew. Death knocks at her door with a destiny that suits her more than she knows. It’s up to her to ignore it, or end the world while trying.

ebook

Published September 25, 2024

About the author

Annait is a 24-year-old military soldier who believes American Sign Language should be a standard practice. She centers her debut novel around an alternate earth where ASL is the primary form of communication.

Annait focuses on writing Young Adult and New Adult novels. Her fear of high fantasy keeps her from going off the literary deep end. She knows nothing of tropes, but believes in character development over plot focus. She loves dystopian and post apocalyptic novels. Her debut novel, SILENT SOUNDS, is a dystopian New Adult Fantasy focusing on an aunt and a niece navigating a supposed utopian society that would rather have them dead.

Reviews

[M.C. Jeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an ARC reader for Heed and I absolutely enjoyed it. Before reading Heed, I knew nothing about the story of the Four Horsemen. But after I read it, I started seeing it EVERYWHERE and Heed gave me a great foundation. The novel is expertly constructed, with all of the characters being multidimensional. Some things were a little slow in my opinion in the beginning, but things really pick up in the middle and by the last 5-8 chapters, you'll be so absorbed in the story you'd think your world was ending along with our main character Cameron. The basic premise of Heed is that these four college friends are living their life when they suddenly start developing (or it is suddenly revealed that they have) these aspects/skills relating to attributes of the four horsemen. For Cameron, she is compelled to depict the end of the world through her art, but if she creates it on a canvas, it is destined to be reality. If you are looking for a book that makes you angry, pissed, stressed, and nervous, this is the book for you. My heart was BEATING at the end. I actually was reading the last couple of chapters lying down but then had to sit up in anticipation because WOAH, things are going down, but Ms. Annait LJ take me WITH YOU.

[Bo-Maree Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Releasing on 25 September, Heed by Annait LJ, is an urban fantasy novel inspired by the four horsemen. I love the four horsemen but am not a reader of urban fantasy so I was a little apprehensive going into this book.

The main character, Cameron Harkins is a college student on an art scholarship who is about to lose that, and her group of friends after losing long periods of time and her memories. On top of that she feels compelled to paint the vivid visions she has been having of the end of the world.

The beginning of the book started off a little slow but it didn't take long for it to pick up and I ended up engrossed in the story and needing to know what happened next.

While the book focuses on Cameron coming into her powers and trying to prevent then end of the world, it also explores the complexities of friendship and how things may not always be as they seem.

What you can expect
- reluctant hero
- college setting
- unlikely allies
- friendship and betrayal
- unique powers/magic
- representation of marginalized groups

Heed is a well constructed moden apocalyptic urban fantasy with a unique twist on the four horsemen that will have you angry, nervous, and on the edge of your seat until the last page.

[Allie Lueck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review:

This is one of only a couple urban fantasies I have read, and I really enjoyed the plot. I did not know much about the four horsemen of the apocalypse going into this one, so I found myself really drawn to picking it up and learning more with each page. Initially, it was hard to keep track of the characters because they were introduced so quickly, and even at the end I still felt like I needed to get to know them on a deeper level. I could tell they were complex multi-faceted characters, but it still felt like I only knew them at the surface level. The main character is likeable and relatable. I loved the representation of marginalized groups. The book felt quite short in that it could have been expanded a lot more to create a more atmospheric setting and magic system. I would recommend this if you are interested in a quick modern apocalyptic fantasy! I am glad I read it.

[slimsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re someone who is into dark apocalyptic fantasy then you’re in the right place. If you wanna be angry yet invested into a chaotic, intense, and drama filled story then you are also in the right place. The way everything snowballed towards the middle/end of the story had me on the edge of my seat. I finished reading this book in 2 days because the madness and the build up to the ending was WILD. I just had to see how it ended. It’s was a fun and wild ride with a interesting twist on the 4 horsemen and the end of the world. This book will keep your eyes on the page😤.