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The Heart of Quinaria #2
Of Love and Loss
War has come to Neharem.
Despite surviving betrayal, capture, and a deadly challenge to reclaim her position as high chieftain, Elaysia faces a nation torn apart by her actions. The looming threat of invasion from Az Zar further divides the tribes of Neharem, fracturing their faltering loyalty and deepening the vengeance shadowing her reign. The stormbirds, having not yet come into their powers, remain as much a vulnerability as they are a symbol of hope.
To strengthen her forces, Elaysia agrees to an arranged union with a noble from Orillon, forging a precarious alliance. Meanwhile, unrest brews in Cadar, where the oppressed rise against the All-Sovereign’s iron-fisted rule, igniting a rebellion that threatens to engulf Az Zar. Zavik, striving for a sustainable use of weaponized nevethium, uncovers the devastating costs of progress. In the north, Jakki learns the true nature of her magic parchment and the people it originated from. Lumira steps up to lead war efforts in Agaas, reawakening painful memories of her past. And Konar’s fate hangs in the balance.
As past transgressions and suppressed truths resurface, Elaysia and her companions find themselves haunted by their histories, their darkest secrets threatening to unravel their delicate unity. Beneath Quinaria’s surface, an ancient power stirs, ready to shatter the world’s fragile peace. For the land they’ve called home is no longer the place they thought it was.
Maybe it never had been.
Despite surviving betrayal, capture, and a deadly challenge to reclaim her position as high chieftain, Elaysia faces a nation torn apart by her actions. The looming threat of invasion from Az Zar further divides the tribes of Neharem, fracturing their faltering loyalty and deepening the vengeance shadowing her reign. The stormbirds, having not yet come into their powers, remain as much a vulnerability as they are a symbol of hope.
To strengthen her forces, Elaysia agrees to an arranged union with a noble from Orillon, forging a precarious alliance. Meanwhile, unrest brews in Cadar, where the oppressed rise against the All-Sovereign’s iron-fisted rule, igniting a rebellion that threatens to engulf Az Zar. Zavik, striving for a sustainable use of weaponized nevethium, uncovers the devastating costs of progress. In the north, Jakki learns the true nature of her magic parchment and the people it originated from. Lumira steps up to lead war efforts in Agaas, reawakening painful memories of her past. And Konar’s fate hangs in the balance.
As past transgressions and suppressed truths resurface, Elaysia and her companions find themselves haunted by their histories, their darkest secrets threatening to unravel their delicate unity. Beneath Quinaria’s surface, an ancient power stirs, ready to shatter the world’s fragile peace. For the land they’ve called home is no longer the place they thought it was.
Maybe it never had been.
- GenresFantasy
861 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2024
4 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
B.S.H. Garcia
6 books120 followersB. S. H. Garcia writes dark speculative fiction with epic stakes and morally gray characters. Her work explores the intersection of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, and she’s far more interested in what people do when there are no easy answers than in giving them one.
She grew up with stick swords, library books, and muddy shoes, thinking she could take on the world. She still tries, mostly at night, mostly in other worlds. Sometimes she forgets which one is real. Oh, and she earned an English Writing degree from the University of Colorado, which no one asked for, but she’s still proud of.
Get your free prequel novelette, From the Ashes, at www.bshgarcia.com. All she asks in return is your soul (or maybe just your email).
She grew up with stick swords, library books, and muddy shoes, thinking she could take on the world. She still tries, mostly at night, mostly in other worlds. Sometimes she forgets which one is real. Oh, and she earned an English Writing degree from the University of Colorado, which no one asked for, but she’s still proud of.
Get your free prequel novelette, From the Ashes, at www.bshgarcia.com. All she asks in return is your soul (or maybe just your email).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 28, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
4.5 stars
B.S.H. Garcia soars to exciting new heights and explores darker and more disturbing depths in Of Love and Loss, the gripping second instalment in her exquisitely epic The Heart of Quinaria series. Personal backstories and complex interpersonal relationships are deepened, the fascinating history and lore only becomes richer, the stakes and tension are raised to unimaginable heights, and the level of emotional destruction is just cranked up to eleven. And then we also get to see so much more of the giant stormbird companions; what more could you wish for in a sequel?!
Look, I have made it no secret that I consider Of Thieves and Shadows, book 1 in this series, one of the most ambitious and promising debuts I have ever read. And now that all the groundwork has been laid, both in book 1 and in the two exceptional prequel novellas (which I highly recommend reading before diving into this book), it’s beyond exciting to see Garcia fully unleash her visionary ideas for this series and really sink into the deeper layers of this world and its characters in Of Love and Loss.
“If you live in the past, you can’t be present and make a better future. You are exactly who you need to be for the life given to you. No more, no less.”
In a way, I guess The Heart of Quinaria series reminds me subtly of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive or Michael J. Sullivan’s Legends of the First Empire, in the sense that we’re dealing with a breathtakingly epic fantasy tale full of rich history and lore, diverse (clashing) races and cultures, and incredibly high political and personal stakes, yet it’s all grounded through such beautifully intimate storytelling. And then add to that all the carefully planted seeds hinting towards larger (malignant) forces pulling the strings and puppeteering your most beloved characters, which just create such a riveting level of intrigue, wonder, unpredictability and foreboding that kept me in a chokehold from start to finish.
And whereas book 1 primarily felt like Elaysia’s story to me (despite the well-executed multi-POV storytelling), Of Love and Loss really expands in scope and balances out all the characters’ individual storylines to perfection. Yes, Elaysia still absolutely gets her time to shine, and I thought it was so heartbreaking yet powerful to see her navigating all her different roles; strong leader, gentle friend, caring mother, tentative lover (Vahid is a GEM, just saying), and so many more faces and masks to wear and hide behind.
“That’s what it means to be a mother and a leader during wartime, for a mother and a leader aren’t so different. We protect fiercely, guide with empathy, and make the wisest decisions we can for all our children, whether or not they are bound to us by blood.”
But then there’s also the shocking revelations about Zavik’s heritage (the easter eggs!!) and his devastating discoveries about nevethium (hello tech/steampunk aspects?!), Jakki’s revelatory exploration of skulmor culture (underground civilizations, anyone?), Konar’s deeper investigation of the magical scrolls and his struggle with loyalty, morality and regret, Lumira’s struggle with her (cultural) identity and some inexplicable mystical visions, and the delicious cherry on top of this sublime sundae: Davier’s absolutely devastating rollercoaster of an emotional journey.
Honestly, trying to choose a favourite aspect of Of Love and Loss is nearly impossible to me, not merely because the many moving pieces are all equally exciting to me, but especially because all the seemingly separate story threads are so impressively and inextricably tied together into one breathtaking masterpiece. Even the tiniest and most innocuous decision from one character can have devastating rippling effects across time and space, which gives this world a level of immersiveness that makes the story and its characters just come to life off the page.
“She saw nothing but her path through the trees, heard nothing but the pulse of Quinaria, and trusted nothing but the guidance of her own heart. It was all she needed.”
There is so much hurt, trauma and regret that they all have to work through, and I love that Garcia is not afraid to show them during their ugliest moments, making stupid mistakes and acting irrationally. There were so many gut-wrenching moments in Of Love and Loss where I didn’t know if I wanted to hug or strangle a character, and that level of messiness and gritty reality is exactly what makes their slow yet powerful growth feel so incredibly earned and satisfying in the end.
Garcia honestly just continues to astound and impress me with her ability to balance and interweave the larger scope themes of war (both on a national and international scale), leadership, corruption, rebellion, racism, twisting of history, and the cost of progress with more intimately vulnerable themes of motherhood, morality, loyalty, family, redemption, hope, loss and love in all its devastating beauty; this is exactly how you write a multi-layered story that creeps under your skin and hits incredibly deeply in ways you could never even have anticipated.
“All you must concern yourself with is what’s true. If you’re true to yourself and true to others, you’ll find most things happen as they should.”
Now, there is no denying that Of Love and Loss is a slightly intimidating chunker, and while I love how that allowed for all this rich and juicy development, I did find the pacing to be slightly rocky at some points; I guess I personally enjoy the slow and emotional character moments just a bit more than the bombastic and slightly hectic action sequences, no matter how objectively well written they are. And in a weird way, I almost feel like the exceptional development of the primary characters made some of the (newly introduced) secondary characters pale a bit in comparison, which resulted in a few supposedly tragic events falling slightly flat for me personally.
That said, those very minor quibbles didn’t hold me back from effortlessly devouring this almost 800-page beautiful brick of a book in just 3 days, and if that isn’t a testament to Garcia’s incredible skill as an author and storyteller, then I don’t know what is. As big in scope as it is in heart, The Heart of Quinaria series is an absolute must-read for anyone who likes their fantasy dark, epic, emotional and visionary. I can’t recommend this series highly enough, but just be sure to bring some comfort food and tissues when you embark on this journey, because Garcia will crush your soul without remorse (and you will love her for it.)
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
B.S.H. Garcia soars to exciting new heights and explores darker and more disturbing depths in Of Love and Loss, the gripping second instalment in her exquisitely epic The Heart of Quinaria series. Personal backstories and complex interpersonal relationships are deepened, the fascinating history and lore only becomes richer, the stakes and tension are raised to unimaginable heights, and the level of emotional destruction is just cranked up to eleven. And then we also get to see so much more of the giant stormbird companions; what more could you wish for in a sequel?!
Look, I have made it no secret that I consider Of Thieves and Shadows, book 1 in this series, one of the most ambitious and promising debuts I have ever read. And now that all the groundwork has been laid, both in book 1 and in the two exceptional prequel novellas (which I highly recommend reading before diving into this book), it’s beyond exciting to see Garcia fully unleash her visionary ideas for this series and really sink into the deeper layers of this world and its characters in Of Love and Loss.
“If you live in the past, you can’t be present and make a better future. You are exactly who you need to be for the life given to you. No more, no less.”
In a way, I guess The Heart of Quinaria series reminds me subtly of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive or Michael J. Sullivan’s Legends of the First Empire, in the sense that we’re dealing with a breathtakingly epic fantasy tale full of rich history and lore, diverse (clashing) races and cultures, and incredibly high political and personal stakes, yet it’s all grounded through such beautifully intimate storytelling. And then add to that all the carefully planted seeds hinting towards larger (malignant) forces pulling the strings and puppeteering your most beloved characters, which just create such a riveting level of intrigue, wonder, unpredictability and foreboding that kept me in a chokehold from start to finish.
And whereas book 1 primarily felt like Elaysia’s story to me (despite the well-executed multi-POV storytelling), Of Love and Loss really expands in scope and balances out all the characters’ individual storylines to perfection. Yes, Elaysia still absolutely gets her time to shine, and I thought it was so heartbreaking yet powerful to see her navigating all her different roles; strong leader, gentle friend, caring mother, tentative lover (Vahid is a GEM, just saying), and so many more faces and masks to wear and hide behind.
“That’s what it means to be a mother and a leader during wartime, for a mother and a leader aren’t so different. We protect fiercely, guide with empathy, and make the wisest decisions we can for all our children, whether or not they are bound to us by blood.”
But then there’s also the shocking revelations about Zavik’s heritage (the easter eggs!!) and his devastating discoveries about nevethium (hello tech/steampunk aspects?!), Jakki’s revelatory exploration of skulmor culture (underground civilizations, anyone?), Konar’s deeper investigation of the magical scrolls and his struggle with loyalty, morality and regret, Lumira’s struggle with her (cultural) identity and some inexplicable mystical visions, and the delicious cherry on top of this sublime sundae: Davier’s absolutely devastating rollercoaster of an emotional journey.
Honestly, trying to choose a favourite aspect of Of Love and Loss is nearly impossible to me, not merely because the many moving pieces are all equally exciting to me, but especially because all the seemingly separate story threads are so impressively and inextricably tied together into one breathtaking masterpiece. Even the tiniest and most innocuous decision from one character can have devastating rippling effects across time and space, which gives this world a level of immersiveness that makes the story and its characters just come to life off the page.
“She saw nothing but her path through the trees, heard nothing but the pulse of Quinaria, and trusted nothing but the guidance of her own heart. It was all she needed.”
There is so much hurt, trauma and regret that they all have to work through, and I love that Garcia is not afraid to show them during their ugliest moments, making stupid mistakes and acting irrationally. There were so many gut-wrenching moments in Of Love and Loss where I didn’t know if I wanted to hug or strangle a character, and that level of messiness and gritty reality is exactly what makes their slow yet powerful growth feel so incredibly earned and satisfying in the end.
Garcia honestly just continues to astound and impress me with her ability to balance and interweave the larger scope themes of war (both on a national and international scale), leadership, corruption, rebellion, racism, twisting of history, and the cost of progress with more intimately vulnerable themes of motherhood, morality, loyalty, family, redemption, hope, loss and love in all its devastating beauty; this is exactly how you write a multi-layered story that creeps under your skin and hits incredibly deeply in ways you could never even have anticipated.
“All you must concern yourself with is what’s true. If you’re true to yourself and true to others, you’ll find most things happen as they should.”
Now, there is no denying that Of Love and Loss is a slightly intimidating chunker, and while I love how that allowed for all this rich and juicy development, I did find the pacing to be slightly rocky at some points; I guess I personally enjoy the slow and emotional character moments just a bit more than the bombastic and slightly hectic action sequences, no matter how objectively well written they are. And in a weird way, I almost feel like the exceptional development of the primary characters made some of the (newly introduced) secondary characters pale a bit in comparison, which resulted in a few supposedly tragic events falling slightly flat for me personally.
That said, those very minor quibbles didn’t hold me back from effortlessly devouring this almost 800-page beautiful brick of a book in just 3 days, and if that isn’t a testament to Garcia’s incredible skill as an author and storyteller, then I don’t know what is. As big in scope as it is in heart, The Heart of Quinaria series is an absolute must-read for anyone who likes their fantasy dark, epic, emotional and visionary. I can’t recommend this series highly enough, but just be sure to bring some comfort food and tissues when you embark on this journey, because Garcia will crush your soul without remorse (and you will love her for it.)
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read
October 10, 2025IT'S RELEASE DAY!
Ebook live; print copies coming in the next few weeks.
Some trigger warnings that I'll get up on my website soon:
-alcohol use/abuse
-drug use/abuse
-violence
-language
-depression
-childbirth (on-page)
-child abuse (off-page/reference to past)
Thank you to everyone who's spent some time in Quinaria. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
***
Update: ARCS ARE LIVE! Check your inbox/spam folders if you signed up for an ARC!
***
Update: Cover reveal day!! OLAL releases September 28th. ARC sign-ups and pre-orders live!
***
I'm sorry to everyone I ghosted while revising this beast of a book.
It absolutely broke me.
Special thanks to my early readers for helping me make this baby shine. Sorry you had to keep reading "scones" instead of "sconces" over and over again.
Release details, blurb, and cover reveal coming sometime in July.
99% certain.
Ebook live; print copies coming in the next few weeks.
Some trigger warnings that I'll get up on my website soon:
-alcohol use/abuse
-drug use/abuse
-violence
-language
-depression
-childbirth (on-page)
-child abuse (off-page/reference to past)
Thank you to everyone who's spent some time in Quinaria. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
***
Update: ARCS ARE LIVE! Check your inbox/spam folders if you signed up for an ARC!
***
Update: Cover reveal day!! OLAL releases September 28th. ARC sign-ups and pre-orders live!
***
I'm sorry to everyone I ghosted while revising this beast of a book.
It absolutely broke me.
Special thanks to my early readers for helping me make this baby shine. Sorry you had to keep reading "scones" instead of "sconces" over and over again.
Release details, blurb, and cover reveal coming sometime in July.
99% certain.
May 21, 2025
B.S.H. Garcia’s Of Love and Loss is a testament to her exceptional talent in weaving intricate narratives within a richly imagined world. Her prose is nothing short of poetic, painting vivid images that transport readers directly into the heart of Quinaria. The depth and detail of her world-building are reminiscent of Tolkien’s work, yet she brings her unique voice and vision, expanding upon the foundations laid in her previous installment.
What truly stands out is Garcia’s ability to delve deep into the emotional landscapes of her characters. Their journeys are not just physical but profoundly emotional, offering readers a chance to explore the complexities of love, loss, and resilience. As the second volume in a trilogy, Of Love and Loss carries the weight of darker turns—by the end of the book, the tide has turned in favour of shadowy forces, and the main characters have endured harrowing setbacks. The sense of tension and uncertainty is masterfully handled, setting up what promises to be a gripping and high-stakes finale.
While my own reading experience was drawn out due to work, illnesses, and life in general and I tend to favour faster-paced narratives over traditional epic fantasy, I recognize and commend the artistry and dedication Garcia brings to her work. Her imagination knows no bounds, and her storytelling prowess ensures that readers are in for a memorable journey.
I’m genuinely eager to see how Garcia concludes this epic tale in the next instalment.
What truly stands out is Garcia’s ability to delve deep into the emotional landscapes of her characters. Their journeys are not just physical but profoundly emotional, offering readers a chance to explore the complexities of love, loss, and resilience. As the second volume in a trilogy, Of Love and Loss carries the weight of darker turns—by the end of the book, the tide has turned in favour of shadowy forces, and the main characters have endured harrowing setbacks. The sense of tension and uncertainty is masterfully handled, setting up what promises to be a gripping and high-stakes finale.
While my own reading experience was drawn out due to work, illnesses, and life in general and I tend to favour faster-paced narratives over traditional epic fantasy, I recognize and commend the artistry and dedication Garcia brings to her work. Her imagination knows no bounds, and her storytelling prowess ensures that readers are in for a memorable journey.
I’m genuinely eager to see how Garcia concludes this epic tale in the next instalment.
October 1, 2024
This one was an epic marathon. Between this and another recent read I'm just emotional drained from these tales at the moment. Plenty of notes to go through and full review to follow in the next day or two. Just in time for release!
If you haven't started this series and you love epic fantasy with complex characters and a dark and gritty magical world, check this series out.
If you have already begun this journey and are anticipating the release of this one, get ready, clear your plate to focus on this read. You're not going to be disappointed! ❤️
***** Full Review Below *****
I've done my best to keep up with the works from B.S.H. Garcia since initially reading Of Thieves and Shadows in July of 2023 when it was an entry in the SPFBO-9 competition. Since then she also released two novellas to add further depth to this world and series with From the Ashes and From the Depths. Of Love and Loss was certainly one of my most anticipated releases for 2024. I'm happy to say it was well worth the wait. I didn't even notice how quiet I had been on social media and lack of other reviews until a day or two after finishing this one. I suppose I was just dug in and hyper focused on this read.
The pacing of OLAL is very much epic fantasy. I don't want to necessarily describe the pacing as slow because a lot of readers may take that as a knock. However this is a read on the thicker side looking at page count. The author was also very descriptive through the book. I may share a couple of quotes I highlighted later on with a spoiler warning just to show some examples. This read took me a solid three weeks from start to finish. Granted I was really focused on this and took my time with it. No speed reading through this story for this reader. I've been very lucky of late and again had no issues with names of locations or characters here. And there is a lot of both present in book two.
The world building was amazing in my own opinion. I've already mention the amount of descriptive storytelling and Garcia just nailed it with this one. I constantly lost myself in the world whether I felt I was stuck in a small cell built with the seaside cliffs, I was in the thick of bloody and messy battles or feeling the character anxiety returning to locations of my past. There is so much going on in this book and series from magic and religion, to gritty action, and characters so complex I couldn't help but wonder what could happen next.
Another favorite aspect of the world building is the diversity of fantastical races and creatures. found in this world.
That brings us to the character development which might just be the icing on the cake and I have a feeling we are still just getting started! Many reads offer up a character or two that I would consider complex. What I mean by this is a character not only with a good arc and growth but has many layers to them. So many characters in this book and series have changed so much due to the circumstances they have been through. Then you throw in the mix a couple of characters with unnaturally long lives and how their views of the world may or may not have changed over all those years and it really puts the depth of the story into a different perspective as a reader.
At this point I need to read book three simply to see who will be our next betrayer or hero! I don't want to say this book ended with a cliffhanger, but I'm excited to see what happens next in this story!
If you enjoy fantasy tales with a strong epic feeling, a good mix of world building and character development you need to check out The Heart of Quinaria. If you've already dipped your toe into the series perhaps with book one or one of the novellas, you owe it to yourself to take a plunge off the great tree right into Of Love and Loss!
As mentioned earlier, I'd like to share a couple of quotes from book two. There are possible spoilers below so venture at your own risk!
"Unless there was a nest hidden somewhere in the rot, a favorite place of the females. He reached his hand back inside the log and tore away a chunk of bark as long as his forearm. All manner of insects spilled out into the night, wriggling on the carpet of decay. Ants, grubs, beetles. A shudder seized Konar as he peered closer. There, tucked in the shadows of the log an guarding a sizable next, was a widow-maker, much larger than the one that had bitten him. It raised is barbed front legs as if taunting him."
Perhaps this draws upon my dislike for spiders and creepy crawling things in general but this scene was terrifying for me to read. Also a good sense of the dread throughout this story.
"The cloaked figure didn't flinch as she approached. Not so much as a twitch of the hand or a shift of the leg. Whomever it was stood a good head taller than her six-and-a-half-foot frame, far taller than the average human or nyrian. She hurled her spear. It hit the sword-wielder in the heart. And sailed right through."
Still descriptive but also a good example of different races and a sampling for one of the many strong female characters found in this tale.
If you want more, you're going to need to pick up a copy and read it for yourself!
If you haven't started this series and you love epic fantasy with complex characters and a dark and gritty magical world, check this series out.
If you have already begun this journey and are anticipating the release of this one, get ready, clear your plate to focus on this read. You're not going to be disappointed! ❤️
***** Full Review Below *****
I've done my best to keep up with the works from B.S.H. Garcia since initially reading Of Thieves and Shadows in July of 2023 when it was an entry in the SPFBO-9 competition. Since then she also released two novellas to add further depth to this world and series with From the Ashes and From the Depths. Of Love and Loss was certainly one of my most anticipated releases for 2024. I'm happy to say it was well worth the wait. I didn't even notice how quiet I had been on social media and lack of other reviews until a day or two after finishing this one. I suppose I was just dug in and hyper focused on this read.
The pacing of OLAL is very much epic fantasy. I don't want to necessarily describe the pacing as slow because a lot of readers may take that as a knock. However this is a read on the thicker side looking at page count. The author was also very descriptive through the book. I may share a couple of quotes I highlighted later on with a spoiler warning just to show some examples. This read took me a solid three weeks from start to finish. Granted I was really focused on this and took my time with it. No speed reading through this story for this reader. I've been very lucky of late and again had no issues with names of locations or characters here. And there is a lot of both present in book two.
The world building was amazing in my own opinion. I've already mention the amount of descriptive storytelling and Garcia just nailed it with this one. I constantly lost myself in the world whether I felt I was stuck in a small cell built with the seaside cliffs, I was in the thick of bloody and messy battles or feeling the character anxiety returning to locations of my past. There is so much going on in this book and series from magic and religion, to gritty action, and characters so complex I couldn't help but wonder what could happen next.
Another favorite aspect of the world building is the diversity of fantastical races and creatures. found in this world.
That brings us to the character development which might just be the icing on the cake and I have a feeling we are still just getting started! Many reads offer up a character or two that I would consider complex. What I mean by this is a character not only with a good arc and growth but has many layers to them. So many characters in this book and series have changed so much due to the circumstances they have been through. Then you throw in the mix a couple of characters with unnaturally long lives and how their views of the world may or may not have changed over all those years and it really puts the depth of the story into a different perspective as a reader.
At this point I need to read book three simply to see who will be our next betrayer or hero! I don't want to say this book ended with a cliffhanger, but I'm excited to see what happens next in this story!
If you enjoy fantasy tales with a strong epic feeling, a good mix of world building and character development you need to check out The Heart of Quinaria. If you've already dipped your toe into the series perhaps with book one or one of the novellas, you owe it to yourself to take a plunge off the great tree right into Of Love and Loss!
As mentioned earlier, I'd like to share a couple of quotes from book two. There are possible spoilers below so venture at your own risk!
"Unless there was a nest hidden somewhere in the rot, a favorite place of the females. He reached his hand back inside the log and tore away a chunk of bark as long as his forearm. All manner of insects spilled out into the night, wriggling on the carpet of decay. Ants, grubs, beetles. A shudder seized Konar as he peered closer. There, tucked in the shadows of the log an guarding a sizable next, was a widow-maker, much larger than the one that had bitten him. It raised is barbed front legs as if taunting him."
Perhaps this draws upon my dislike for spiders and creepy crawling things in general but this scene was terrifying for me to read. Also a good sense of the dread throughout this story.
"The cloaked figure didn't flinch as she approached. Not so much as a twitch of the hand or a shift of the leg. Whomever it was stood a good head taller than her six-and-a-half-foot frame, far taller than the average human or nyrian. She hurled her spear. It hit the sword-wielder in the heart. And sailed right through."
Still descriptive but also a good example of different races and a sampling for one of the many strong female characters found in this tale.
If you want more, you're going to need to pick up a copy and read it for yourself!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
This deserves every star! I simply do not have the skill to write a review of how outstanding Of Love and Loss is. She has such a beautiful gift of storytelling. Every character’s growth and journey through book 2 was amazing. This story, this world you created is stunning, heartbreaking, and just brilliant.
The Heart of Quinaria series is set in a world on the brink of war. It’s full of ancient secrets and history waiting to be discovered, but some would use that power to destroy. This series is epic fantasy through a world of beautiful cultures and fight of survival. There are multiple POV but Elaysia is our focal point. I love how Vahid described her, loved how he understood her. Elaysia’s growth of becoming a mother and the leader her people needed just captured me. Lumira, Jakki, Zavik, Davier and Konar POVs brought so much depth to the overarching story of the world plot. There are 2 novellas that are worth reading because the history in them is referenced the books. Just another example of how talented of a writer Bethany is. I can’t wait for her next book. Her writing has gripped me and I don’t ever want it to let go.
This series is available on Kindle Unlimited and I think the first novella is free after subscribing to the author’s newsletter. Don’t skip the novellas! They so good too!
The Heart of Quinaria series is set in a world on the brink of war. It’s full of ancient secrets and history waiting to be discovered, but some would use that power to destroy. This series is epic fantasy through a world of beautiful cultures and fight of survival. There are multiple POV but Elaysia is our focal point. I love how Vahid described her, loved how he understood her. Elaysia’s growth of becoming a mother and the leader her people needed just captured me. Lumira, Jakki, Zavik, Davier and Konar POVs brought so much depth to the overarching story of the world plot. There are 2 novellas that are worth reading because the history in them is referenced the books. Just another example of how talented of a writer Bethany is. I can’t wait for her next book. Her writing has gripped me and I don’t ever want it to let go.
This series is available on Kindle Unlimited and I think the first novella is free after subscribing to the author’s newsletter. Don’t skip the novellas! They so good too!
September 22, 2024
Of Love and Loss is an incredible follow up Of Thieves and Shadows! It's bold, it's bloody and its brutal.
B.S.H. Garcia shows the world just what she can do in this EPIC sequel! The war for Quinaria has just begun and no one is safe.
What impressed me the most is how much the characters had to grow up to prepare and be present for the world they now live in. Each POV has something at stake that they cannot give up on, and each of them have to adapt to the changing pressures of the world around them. Without going into spoiler territory for book one, each person goes though a series of loves and losses to come out (or not) the other side completely changed.
It's in the title ... and the author does not hold back one bit. Garcia has given the reader an incredibly engaging look at a world falling apart. Those inside of it will have to rely on their friends and sometimes their enemies to see a new dawn. New alliances will form as others are broken in often devastating confrontations. Its every woman, man, Beridian and Storm Bird for themselves as the ever present threat of the scrolls and what they could potentially unleash comes to the forefront of their minds.
An incredible sequel from a fantastically talented new voice in the dark epic fantasy realm. If you haven't experienced the world of Quinaria yet, the time is now.
B.S.H. Garcia shows the world just what she can do in this EPIC sequel! The war for Quinaria has just begun and no one is safe.
What impressed me the most is how much the characters had to grow up to prepare and be present for the world they now live in. Each POV has something at stake that they cannot give up on, and each of them have to adapt to the changing pressures of the world around them. Without going into spoiler territory for book one, each person goes though a series of loves and losses to come out (or not) the other side completely changed.
It's in the title ... and the author does not hold back one bit. Garcia has given the reader an incredibly engaging look at a world falling apart. Those inside of it will have to rely on their friends and sometimes their enemies to see a new dawn. New alliances will form as others are broken in often devastating confrontations. Its every woman, man, Beridian and Storm Bird for themselves as the ever present threat of the scrolls and what they could potentially unleash comes to the forefront of their minds.
An incredible sequel from a fantastically talented new voice in the dark epic fantasy realm. If you haven't experienced the world of Quinaria yet, the time is now.
October 8, 2024
Of Love and Loss is the second book of The Heart of Quinaria series but the fourth in this world since there are two predecessor novellas. I have to say that Quinaria is now one of my favourite worlds where I enjoy losing myself in and these characters journey one of my favourite adventures to join.
Characters: I would say this is one of the strengths of this book and the whole series so far. Since the first page to the last across the books, these characters become alive. The depth of each of them is amazingly well done and you get to experience love or disgust or mixed emotions since some of them will challenge you in likebility. I cannot say I am indifferent to any of them. All have something to bring not only into the story but into your life. My heart breaks for some of them.
Atmosphere: Very inmersive, you find yourself not only reading but walking beside Elaysia, running behind Lumira, trailing Jakki, observing Konar, worrying about Zavik, what.. Karliah!...and, can I understand the all sovereign?.. I need to stop not to make this review too long! All within this rich and vivid world.
One of the achievements of it is because you are told about utensils, clothing, appearance, language, food it is like a history class alongside the adventure. If I have to find similarities with our world, I feel Quinaria as a mix of middle east, with a spice of north Africa, a brushstroke of Indigenous cultures washed by moments of green lush and shores with its own uniqueness.
Writing: Absolutely beautiful, intimate, it is like a whisper in your ear that shows beauty when needed and it is brutal when the plot demands it.
Plot: Here is where I struggled a bit but because of the type of reader I am. I do better with shorter chapters than longer. Also while I love characters, knowing them, following them, sometimes the slice of life moments or pauses within the story may impact the pacing I feel from the book. I think it is my impatience. Having said that, the plot is amazingly constructed and if you enjoy layers and depth while connecting dots with each story line, this is for you!
Intrigue: very well accomplished, I did not feel forced to pick the book, quite the contrary I wanted to go back and see why, what happens, what is this that I am being told!
Logic: Similarly to the plot, here I am impressed with the connections across. This is a big book, with many characters across lands, each with their struggle and story, personal growth and evolution across lands and a plot that thickens and it is unfolding one time and hiding the other -to connect all of this well is a massive and precise work.
Enjoyment: I usually mark my favourite books with a favourite tag and if i really loved them with a re-read tag because this is not a book to read and leave, this is a book and a world i will return to. The same happened to all the books in this series. 4,5 stars for me on first read. Loved it !
Characters: I would say this is one of the strengths of this book and the whole series so far. Since the first page to the last across the books, these characters become alive. The depth of each of them is amazingly well done and you get to experience love or disgust or mixed emotions since some of them will challenge you in likebility. I cannot say I am indifferent to any of them. All have something to bring not only into the story but into your life. My heart breaks for some of them.
Atmosphere: Very inmersive, you find yourself not only reading but walking beside Elaysia, running behind Lumira, trailing Jakki, observing Konar, worrying about Zavik, what.. Karliah!...and, can I understand the all sovereign?.. I need to stop not to make this review too long! All within this rich and vivid world.
One of the achievements of it is because you are told about utensils, clothing, appearance, language, food it is like a history class alongside the adventure. If I have to find similarities with our world, I feel Quinaria as a mix of middle east, with a spice of north Africa, a brushstroke of Indigenous cultures washed by moments of green lush and shores with its own uniqueness.
Writing: Absolutely beautiful, intimate, it is like a whisper in your ear that shows beauty when needed and it is brutal when the plot demands it.
Plot: Here is where I struggled a bit but because of the type of reader I am. I do better with shorter chapters than longer. Also while I love characters, knowing them, following them, sometimes the slice of life moments or pauses within the story may impact the pacing I feel from the book. I think it is my impatience. Having said that, the plot is amazingly constructed and if you enjoy layers and depth while connecting dots with each story line, this is for you!
Intrigue: very well accomplished, I did not feel forced to pick the book, quite the contrary I wanted to go back and see why, what happens, what is this that I am being told!
Logic: Similarly to the plot, here I am impressed with the connections across. This is a big book, with many characters across lands, each with their struggle and story, personal growth and evolution across lands and a plot that thickens and it is unfolding one time and hiding the other -to connect all of this well is a massive and precise work.
Enjoyment: I usually mark my favourite books with a favourite tag and if i really loved them with a re-read tag because this is not a book to read and leave, this is a book and a world i will return to. The same happened to all the books in this series. 4,5 stars for me on first read. Loved it !
August 24, 2024
Of Love and Loss by B.S.H. Garcia - Second book in The Heart of Quinaria series
adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
I'll just say it here, my favourite character in this series is Elaysia, but within this book, I started feeling bad for Davier. I don't like him, but for some reason...I want him to make ammends for all that he's done. Not that I exactly want Elaysia to forgive him (though if she did, I'd want her to be sure he wouldn't betray her, again).
There were times in this story, that I was worried for our loved ones in this book, for they're at war...and in war, people die. Yep. Sadness.
The damn scrolls and what they can and cannot do, the missing one, and how they can/cannot be used. Ugh.
Also, the puppet-master that is controlling the entire thing...makes me SO mad.
Oh, by the way...I need to read the NEXT book in this saga ASAP.
I know that THIS book hasn't even been published (this being an eArc), but I need to feed the beast.
Thank you so much for allowing me to read this story, and to hype up those who haven't yet even picked up the first book, or even the free ones. Oh, they are in for a treat. I am so thankful for B.S.H. Garcia for giving me this eArc to read and review, and to recieve my honest opinions. Thank you.
This is a lot of fun/painful, at the same time.
adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
I'll just say it here, my favourite character in this series is Elaysia, but within this book, I started feeling bad for Davier. I don't like him, but for some reason...I want him to make ammends for all that he's done. Not that I exactly want Elaysia to forgive him (though if she did, I'd want her to be sure he wouldn't betray her, again).
There were times in this story, that I was worried for our loved ones in this book, for they're at war...and in war, people die. Yep. Sadness.
The damn scrolls and what they can and cannot do, the missing one, and how they can/cannot be used. Ugh.
Also, the puppet-master that is controlling the entire thing...makes me SO mad.
Oh, by the way...I need to read the NEXT book in this saga ASAP.
I know that THIS book hasn't even been published (this being an eArc), but I need to feed the beast.
Thank you so much for allowing me to read this story, and to hype up those who haven't yet even picked up the first book, or even the free ones. Oh, they are in for a treat. I am so thankful for B.S.H. Garcia for giving me this eArc to read and review, and to recieve my honest opinions. Thank you.
This is a lot of fun/painful, at the same time.
June 5, 2025
I savoured this book like my favourite bottle of wine: in small sips to prolong the inevitable end.
The world Garcia has created in Quinaria is Tolkienesque in its scope and detail. It has all the makings of a beloved high fantasy epic, with mythical races, blistering battles and world-ending stakes.
I loved the addition of T'Vak to the cast and cannot wait to see where this sprawling saga goes next.
The world Garcia has created in Quinaria is Tolkienesque in its scope and detail. It has all the makings of a beloved high fantasy epic, with mythical races, blistering battles and world-ending stakes.
I loved the addition of T'Vak to the cast and cannot wait to see where this sprawling saga goes next.
September 16, 2024
Of Love and Loss is a thrilling, heart-wrenching, character-focused story that far exceeds expectations of everything you hope a second book of a series would be. From the first page I was riveted, my hunger for more of this world and its characters insatiable, especially coming on the heels of From the Depths, which blew me away. When you read B.S.H. Garcia’s books, you’re not reading a story with predictable beats and a checklist of character moments that leave you satisfied on the surface only. You are transported to another world, living and breathing alongside the characters, feeling the heat of the Orillon deserts, the cold of the Skulmor territory, the salty sea spray of the Beridian Sea. The characters’ pains and joys become your own, you feel the subtle nuances and repercussions of the decisions they make, share in their triumphs and commiserate with their losses on a deep, visceral level. It’s not just a story, it’s an experience, and when you emerge from Quinaria, you are not only satiated--you are changed.
One of the aspects I loved most about From the Depths was the nuanced characters, and the layered themes those characters explore, and Of Love and Loss takes that character work and deepens it tenfold. The characters all had amazing growth, every POV carrying so much weight and maturity, and nothing is ever simple. Garcia is the master of morally grey characters, and in OLAL we get to dive deeper into the psyches of these characters and learn more about their light and dark sides. Garcia handles the balance between more suffering and change for characters in a second book with enough hope and connection to the original characters to ground it in believability with an expert hand. The effort Garcia put into making sure the characters struck the right balance and that the character growth and changes would have a big impact on readers is obvious, and pays off in a big way. Elaysia’s storyline might be my favourite in this book simply because of how much she matures and grows, and how complex she becomes in a myriad of relatable ways, but honestly every POV is amazing in its own unique way, and none of them lag or disappoint. Zavik, Konar, Lumira, Jakki, Davier--all have such rich, varied, complex storylines, I was fascinated by them all. Even side characters like Grokhion have deepened arcs, and the varied pairings of characters in different locations helps bring out new sides of them we haven't explored before. And the new characters we meet are all equally fascinating as well. Some make your skin crawl and despair in humanity, and some restore your faith in humanity (like Vahid).
I could gush about the characters forever, but I also don’t want to give too much of their storylines away, so I will gush about the worldbuilding instead. Many old favourite locations from Of Thieves and Shadows return in Of Love and Loss, but we are also introduced to new locations and learn more about some of the races only touched on in the first book, and once again the attention to detail is astounding. You can taste the food and feel the elements and picture the clothing and housing and weapons and creatures so vividly. The Skulmor and Orillon kingdoms were highlights, and I am constantly in awe of Garcia’s vivid, cinematic descriptions. And have I mentioned the stormbirds? I absolutely LOVED the stormbirds in this book, we got to see so much more of them and they were EPIC. This whole book is the epitome of epic.
Once again, Garcia strikes the perfect balance between beautiful prose and witty dialogue, increasing the stakes while making sure the characters don’t get left behind. The pacing moves the plot forward without it feeling rushed, and you have the time to get to know the characters better and really live in the moment with them, feeling their full range of emotions, so that when changes happen to them, you feel like they’re natural and believable and earned. Incredible action sequences and battles are balanced with more quiet moments of beauty and revelation. So much happens in this book, and the juggling of plot advancements that blow your mind and raise the stakes even more is masterful.
I laughed, I cried, I fell in love, I had my heart broken. I connected to themes on a deep level, felt them in my soul in a way I have only ever felt with Tolkien and some of my favourite books. I thought about Of Love and Loss whenever I wasn’t reading it, desperate to get back to Quinaria, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it long after I finished. So many of the themes and character moments made me feel seen, and the amazing part is that I could find something I related to with every character POV, a truth I could see reflected in my own life. The impact Of Love and Loss has is profound and powerful.
It is hands down the best book I have read this year, and the perfect second installment in my favourite fantasy series published in the last ten years!
One of the aspects I loved most about From the Depths was the nuanced characters, and the layered themes those characters explore, and Of Love and Loss takes that character work and deepens it tenfold. The characters all had amazing growth, every POV carrying so much weight and maturity, and nothing is ever simple. Garcia is the master of morally grey characters, and in OLAL we get to dive deeper into the psyches of these characters and learn more about their light and dark sides. Garcia handles the balance between more suffering and change for characters in a second book with enough hope and connection to the original characters to ground it in believability with an expert hand. The effort Garcia put into making sure the characters struck the right balance and that the character growth and changes would have a big impact on readers is obvious, and pays off in a big way. Elaysia’s storyline might be my favourite in this book simply because of how much she matures and grows, and how complex she becomes in a myriad of relatable ways, but honestly every POV is amazing in its own unique way, and none of them lag or disappoint. Zavik, Konar, Lumira, Jakki, Davier--all have such rich, varied, complex storylines, I was fascinated by them all. Even side characters like Grokhion have deepened arcs, and the varied pairings of characters in different locations helps bring out new sides of them we haven't explored before. And the new characters we meet are all equally fascinating as well. Some make your skin crawl and despair in humanity, and some restore your faith in humanity (like Vahid).
I could gush about the characters forever, but I also don’t want to give too much of their storylines away, so I will gush about the worldbuilding instead. Many old favourite locations from Of Thieves and Shadows return in Of Love and Loss, but we are also introduced to new locations and learn more about some of the races only touched on in the first book, and once again the attention to detail is astounding. You can taste the food and feel the elements and picture the clothing and housing and weapons and creatures so vividly. The Skulmor and Orillon kingdoms were highlights, and I am constantly in awe of Garcia’s vivid, cinematic descriptions. And have I mentioned the stormbirds? I absolutely LOVED the stormbirds in this book, we got to see so much more of them and they were EPIC. This whole book is the epitome of epic.
Once again, Garcia strikes the perfect balance between beautiful prose and witty dialogue, increasing the stakes while making sure the characters don’t get left behind. The pacing moves the plot forward without it feeling rushed, and you have the time to get to know the characters better and really live in the moment with them, feeling their full range of emotions, so that when changes happen to them, you feel like they’re natural and believable and earned. Incredible action sequences and battles are balanced with more quiet moments of beauty and revelation. So much happens in this book, and the juggling of plot advancements that blow your mind and raise the stakes even more is masterful.
I laughed, I cried, I fell in love, I had my heart broken. I connected to themes on a deep level, felt them in my soul in a way I have only ever felt with Tolkien and some of my favourite books. I thought about Of Love and Loss whenever I wasn’t reading it, desperate to get back to Quinaria, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it long after I finished. So many of the themes and character moments made me feel seen, and the amazing part is that I could find something I related to with every character POV, a truth I could see reflected in my own life. The impact Of Love and Loss has is profound and powerful.
It is hands down the best book I have read this year, and the perfect second installment in my favourite fantasy series published in the last ten years!
August 25, 2024
Thank you so much to the author for giving me an arc! This is a fantastic sequel to an already fantastic book. No second book syndrome here! There will be devastation and carnage though! Anyways, here are some things I loved about this book:
-Expanded and incredible world building to add on to the already-immersive world we got in the first book. More lore! More cultures! More landscapes! It’s delicious
-the character arcs and plot lines are both believable and incredible. These characters are really their own autonomous beings that come to life outside of the page.
-Redemption storylines, as well as characters that redeemed themselves in my eye
-Vahid
-plot twists I didn’t see coming! I’ll say no more than that…heehee
-Ancient cultures and weapons! This series is quickly genre bending with some tasteful and awesome sci fi aspects that��s you’ll read about! I loved every second of it, and am excited to see it take even more of a focus as the series continues.
-Fierce rituals, resurrection, visions, and prophecies. I won’t give any more details, but this series is also very much leaning into “old man fantasy” realness. You really can’t pin this book down. It swerves into so many cool niches and sub genres as well as plain genres, and with grace. Just know you will find some lovely sword and sorcery here.
-the ending is VERY intriguing
So, yeah! What a fantastic series! It seems it is getter better with each installment, and I am heavily anticipating all future releases. Everyone needs to read this. -4.5 stars
-Expanded and incredible world building to add on to the already-immersive world we got in the first book. More lore! More cultures! More landscapes! It’s delicious
-the character arcs and plot lines are both believable and incredible. These characters are really their own autonomous beings that come to life outside of the page.
-Redemption storylines, as well as characters that redeemed themselves in my eye
-Vahid
-plot twists I didn’t see coming! I’ll say no more than that…heehee
-Ancient cultures and weapons! This series is quickly genre bending with some tasteful and awesome sci fi aspects that��s you’ll read about! I loved every second of it, and am excited to see it take even more of a focus as the series continues.
-Fierce rituals, resurrection, visions, and prophecies. I won’t give any more details, but this series is also very much leaning into “old man fantasy” realness. You really can’t pin this book down. It swerves into so many cool niches and sub genres as well as plain genres, and with grace. Just know you will find some lovely sword and sorcery here.
-the ending is VERY intriguing
So, yeah! What a fantastic series! It seems it is getter better with each installment, and I am heavily anticipating all future releases. Everyone needs to read this. -4.5 stars
November 2, 2024
This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, after loving the first book and the two prequels in The Heart of Quinaria. Of Love and Loss increases the stakes as well as building on the lore and characters that were introduced in Of Thieves and Shadows, and it didn’t disappoint at all.
The story is much more brutal and darker than the first book, as well as more ambitious. Garcia has constructed a rich and beautiful world, but within this beauty are dangers and disturbing characters and creatures, and she doesn’t hold back on the dark moments. Characters suffer both emotionally and physically, and Garcia spends a lot of time developing these characters so that we really care what happens to them.
Like Of Thieves and Shadows, Of Love and Loss is very character-focused. There are some great action scenes (particularly an arena battle that takes place later in the story), but the main focus is on the relationships and conflicts these characters have with each other. There is a new character in this book where you are constantly questioning where their allegiance lies, which makes for some fascinating reading.
My only quibble with Of Love and Loss is that it felt a little too long. I love the world and the characters that Garcia has created but it did come to a point where i felt there wasn’t too much happening and it could have been about 100 or so pages shorter. Some epic fantasy lovers will be very happy with the 800 page length, but I did feel that there were some scenes that could be trimmed down.
It’s still a five-star book for me though. I had a lot of fun in this world with Elaysia and the Stormriders. A dark, beautiful and emotional tale full of intrigue and heart, and I can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you to B.S.H. Garcia for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is much more brutal and darker than the first book, as well as more ambitious. Garcia has constructed a rich and beautiful world, but within this beauty are dangers and disturbing characters and creatures, and she doesn’t hold back on the dark moments. Characters suffer both emotionally and physically, and Garcia spends a lot of time developing these characters so that we really care what happens to them.
Like Of Thieves and Shadows, Of Love and Loss is very character-focused. There are some great action scenes (particularly an arena battle that takes place later in the story), but the main focus is on the relationships and conflicts these characters have with each other. There is a new character in this book where you are constantly questioning where their allegiance lies, which makes for some fascinating reading.
My only quibble with Of Love and Loss is that it felt a little too long. I love the world and the characters that Garcia has created but it did come to a point where i felt there wasn’t too much happening and it could have been about 100 or so pages shorter. Some epic fantasy lovers will be very happy with the 800 page length, but I did feel that there were some scenes that could be trimmed down.
It’s still a five-star book for me though. I had a lot of fun in this world with Elaysia and the Stormriders. A dark, beautiful and emotional tale full of intrigue and heart, and I can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you to B.S.H. Garcia for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2024
As much as I loved the first book in the series (and both novellas in between), this is my favorite one so far. Like when you think it can’t get any better, and then the author goes ahead and writes THIS. The most immersive experience. The perfect escape. The book that makes you forget about everything.
Quinaria is now a place in my heart. I miss it. I need it. I can’t wait to go back there.
Quinaria is now a place in my heart. I miss it. I need it. I can’t wait to go back there.
December 3, 2024
This installment in The Heart of Quinaria series is nothing short of epic. I loved the first, but I love loved this one.
I’m just going to share some bullet points on why this book is amazing:
1. Garcia has created a rich, vivid world of vibrant characters that hook you to every page.
2. The book has many POV characters and I think we all know what it’s like to be more invested in some than others when that’s the case, but every POV gripped me in this book. I love this whole world.
3. There are some books that I inhale in one breath, this story demanded I experience it slow and steady, and I really appreciated that about it. I want to call this “epic pacing”. It’s not slow, but it sweeps you up and carries you without rush.
4. This is maybe a small thing, but it was important to me. The depiction of birth in this story was the most beautiful and honest I’ve ever read. It meant a lot to me, a mother, to see it done this way. It’s so often not.
If you love epic fantasy and haven’t experienced Quinaria yet, you’re missing out.
I’m just going to share some bullet points on why this book is amazing:
1. Garcia has created a rich, vivid world of vibrant characters that hook you to every page.
2. The book has many POV characters and I think we all know what it’s like to be more invested in some than others when that’s the case, but every POV gripped me in this book. I love this whole world.
3. There are some books that I inhale in one breath, this story demanded I experience it slow and steady, and I really appreciated that about it. I want to call this “epic pacing”. It’s not slow, but it sweeps you up and carries you without rush.
4. This is maybe a small thing, but it was important to me. The depiction of birth in this story was the most beautiful and honest I’ve ever read. It meant a lot to me, a mother, to see it done this way. It’s so often not.
If you love epic fantasy and haven’t experienced Quinaria yet, you’re missing out.
October 8, 2024
This book follows multiple POVs of a large fantasy world. One area is plagued by internal war, led by Elaysia, who is grieving the loss of her beloved. She is thrust not only into leadership, but into motherhood. Her journey through both is beautiful. Her emotional journey is a joy to follow and led to even more layers. She is a beautifully flawed character that I enjoy to read!
In another corner of the world, multiple characters uncover the larger magical and political turmoil. The scrolls that provide untold powers are being revealed and all parties scramble to take them for themselves. One vicious ruler increases the pressure on the people, causing a rebel faction to fight back.
It is so interesting to see the overall stories play out through multiple POVs. How each decision plays out and its impact on others was engaging and has me excited to see where the world goes from here.
Bethany writes an engaging fantasy world with complex characters and emotional depth. It takes a special author to juggle so many POVs, but she does it seamlessly!
This is an enjoyable high fantasy series!
In another corner of the world, multiple characters uncover the larger magical and political turmoil. The scrolls that provide untold powers are being revealed and all parties scramble to take them for themselves. One vicious ruler increases the pressure on the people, causing a rebel faction to fight back.
It is so interesting to see the overall stories play out through multiple POVs. How each decision plays out and its impact on others was engaging and has me excited to see where the world goes from here.
Bethany writes an engaging fantasy world with complex characters and emotional depth. It takes a special author to juggle so many POVs, but she does it seamlessly!
This is an enjoyable high fantasy series!
March 27, 2025
Some books entertain you. Some books take your hand, lead you into their world, and leave you changed. Of Love and Loss is the latter—it is a wound and a balm, a story that devastates as much as it heals. It is a book that lingers, long after the last page, refusing to let go.
BSH Garcia does not merely write—she unearths, revealing the rawest, most aching parts of her characters and, in turn, her readers. This second installment in The Heart of Quinaria is heavy with sorrow, but also with the quiet kind of hope that comes only after surviving the worst of storms.
**BELOW CONTAINS SPOILERS**
*
*
*
*
Elaysia’s birth scene is a moment that feels like standing at the edge of something vast and unknowable. It is pain and prophecy, sacrifice and fate, the first breaths of 2 beautiful babes who will shape the future, even as the world around them fractures. A poignant glimpse of how out of heartbreak and mourning, hope can be born and ignite something within us we never knew was there. It is quite literally, the most beautiful and powerful scene I have ever read.
And then there is Jakki’s journey—a revelation, a breaking and a remaking. She has spent her life believing the Skulmor to be monstrous, barbaric, and yet, in being forced into their shelter, she finds something she never expected: herself...and even a home. The way they love—fiercely, unshakably, without condition—undoes her entirely. She was certain that she never meant to belong, never meant to have a true family, and yet, she finds one in the most unlikely of places. It is beautiful. It is everything.
But perhaps the most haunting thread of all belongs to Zavik. His past is not just painful—it is unforgivable. The truth of the atrocities he faced as a child, the betrayal by someone meant to protect him—it is the kind of horror that cannot be undone. And yet, he is here. He survives. He fights, even when the weight of his past threatens to crush him. Garcia does not shy away from his pain, nor does she allow it to define him. Instead, she shows the impossible resilience of a heart that has every reason to shatter but refuses to break.
Of Love and Loss is Quinaria at its most brutal, its most breathtaking. It is a story of war and ruin, of love found in the unlikeliest of places, of grief that settles into your bones and refuses to leave. It is about what we are forced to endure—and what we choose to fight for.
This book does not let you go easily. It lingers. It aches. It stays.
And when you close it, you will not be the same.
BSH Garcia does not merely write—she unearths, revealing the rawest, most aching parts of her characters and, in turn, her readers. This second installment in The Heart of Quinaria is heavy with sorrow, but also with the quiet kind of hope that comes only after surviving the worst of storms.
**BELOW CONTAINS SPOILERS**
*
*
*
*
Elaysia’s birth scene is a moment that feels like standing at the edge of something vast and unknowable. It is pain and prophecy, sacrifice and fate, the first breaths of 2 beautiful babes who will shape the future, even as the world around them fractures. A poignant glimpse of how out of heartbreak and mourning, hope can be born and ignite something within us we never knew was there. It is quite literally, the most beautiful and powerful scene I have ever read.
And then there is Jakki’s journey—a revelation, a breaking and a remaking. She has spent her life believing the Skulmor to be monstrous, barbaric, and yet, in being forced into their shelter, she finds something she never expected: herself...and even a home. The way they love—fiercely, unshakably, without condition—undoes her entirely. She was certain that she never meant to belong, never meant to have a true family, and yet, she finds one in the most unlikely of places. It is beautiful. It is everything.
But perhaps the most haunting thread of all belongs to Zavik. His past is not just painful—it is unforgivable. The truth of the atrocities he faced as a child, the betrayal by someone meant to protect him—it is the kind of horror that cannot be undone. And yet, he is here. He survives. He fights, even when the weight of his past threatens to crush him. Garcia does not shy away from his pain, nor does she allow it to define him. Instead, she shows the impossible resilience of a heart that has every reason to shatter but refuses to break.
Of Love and Loss is Quinaria at its most brutal, its most breathtaking. It is a story of war and ruin, of love found in the unlikeliest of places, of grief that settles into your bones and refuses to leave. It is about what we are forced to endure—and what we choose to fight for.
This book does not let you go easily. It lingers. It aches. It stays.
And when you close it, you will not be the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2024
4.5⭐️ rounding up to 5
Wow! What an excellent follow-up to last year's Of Thieves and Shadows! I was thoroughly impressed and enjoyed reading this immensely. I hate that it took me forever to get through, but it's a CHONKER y'all! LOL! I had to pace myself to make sure I was taking it all in. There was just SO MUCH good stuff packed in here! Garcia continues to amaze me with her storytelling!
I almost don't know where to start with this book, but first I'll take a moment to direct you to my other reviews of Garcia's work within this series (in suggested reading order):
- My review of book 0.5, From the Ashes, here.
- My review of book 1, Of Thieves and Shadows, here.
- My review of book 1.5, From the Depths, here.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment. As with book 1, the pacing was exceptional overall, as well as within the individual POVs. We even got a new POV with this book. It almost felt like Garcia took a lot of my feedback from my book 1 review and gave me just about everything I wanted in this book! The character development and expansion was GREAT, I was thrilled to read that, especially with Elaysia (which I was hoping for from the first book). I did feel like Jakki's background was still a little unknown (like why she has such a chip on her shoulder), which was a comment I had from book 1. But I loved her progression in this book. The overall political conflict and its exacerbation was intriguing. The progression of the Stormbird/rider relationships was great to see, though I wish it hadn't been quite so much in the background. It did feel seamlessly woven into the story though, which I thought was great. I'm so eager to know how this portion of their story plays out. We also got more scroll and Caman action in this book, albeit a small bit more. We're slowly learning more about what the scrolls can do (or not), how they might be used by either side, and what the plans are for incorporating them by Az Zar.
Specifically on the birthing scene with Elaysia: This was incredibly powerful and exceptionally written, in my opinion. As someone who's never gone through the process of childbirth, it really felt like I was experiencing the process while reading that scene. Not to mention it just felt so visceral in it's emotional impact as well. Splendid writing and choice of scene inclusion.
There's so many notes I'd love to write here about specific things within this book, but I'd have to spoiler block so much, so I'm not going to do all that. Just know that Garcia sent me on an emotional rollercoaster. After every chapter I kept saying that it was just getting better and better. I got more of my favorite characters like Zavik, Lumira, and Grokhion, which I loved. This book made me fall head-over-heels in love with a new character; it gave revelations that I was desperately hoping for; it made me cry at the losses we had to endure; it broke my heart to see certain characters subjected to certain things; and it kept me on the edge of my seat with the action and thrill of wondering what the heck was going to happen next. This book seriously felt like all gas, no brakes, for miles. And the title is incredibly appropriate, this book was truly one Of Love and Loss.
Once again, I want to take a moment to give praise to Garcia's inclusion of multiple appendices. These are just the best resources for books like this and they truly make her books easier to consume and appreciate. And in book 2 we got a "The story so far..." section, which I was so incredibly appreciative of, because after spending over a year away from this world and characters, your girl needed a refresher! So thank you ma'am!
Recommendation:
I really can't say enough good stuff about this book and series thus far. Garcia has done an amazing job of creating this world and these characters and I am so excited to see where this story takes us next. This is truly high fantasy at it's finest and I encourage avid fantasy readers to give this series a go. As I've said previously, I also think this series would be very suitable for those who are new to the genre. The concepts and situations are easy to understand, yet the story that's told is a semi-complex web that will have you theorizing and wanting to read more.
Enjoy and happy reading! 🤙🏼💕
Thank you to the author for an early copy of this book. This review, as always, is my honest feedback and given voluntarily.
Wow! What an excellent follow-up to last year's Of Thieves and Shadows! I was thoroughly impressed and enjoyed reading this immensely. I hate that it took me forever to get through, but it's a CHONKER y'all! LOL! I had to pace myself to make sure I was taking it all in. There was just SO MUCH good stuff packed in here! Garcia continues to amaze me with her storytelling!
I almost don't know where to start with this book, but first I'll take a moment to direct you to my other reviews of Garcia's work within this series (in suggested reading order):
- My review of book 0.5, From the Ashes, here.
- My review of book 1, Of Thieves and Shadows, here.
- My review of book 1.5, From the Depths, here.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment. As with book 1, the pacing was exceptional overall, as well as within the individual POVs. We even got a new POV with this book. It almost felt like Garcia took a lot of my feedback from my book 1 review and gave me just about everything I wanted in this book! The character development and expansion was GREAT, I was thrilled to read that, especially with Elaysia (which I was hoping for from the first book). I did feel like Jakki's background was still a little unknown (like why she has such a chip on her shoulder), which was a comment I had from book 1. But I loved her progression in this book. The overall political conflict and its exacerbation was intriguing. The progression of the Stormbird/rider relationships was great to see, though I wish it hadn't been quite so much in the background. It did feel seamlessly woven into the story though, which I thought was great. I'm so eager to know how this portion of their story plays out. We also got more scroll and Caman action in this book, albeit a small bit more. We're slowly learning more about what the scrolls can do (or not), how they might be used by either side, and what the plans are for incorporating them by Az Zar.
Specifically on the birthing scene with Elaysia: This was incredibly powerful and exceptionally written, in my opinion. As someone who's never gone through the process of childbirth, it really felt like I was experiencing the process while reading that scene. Not to mention it just felt so visceral in it's emotional impact as well. Splendid writing and choice of scene inclusion.
There's so many notes I'd love to write here about specific things within this book, but I'd have to spoiler block so much, so I'm not going to do all that. Just know that Garcia sent me on an emotional rollercoaster. After every chapter I kept saying that it was just getting better and better. I got more of my favorite characters like Zavik, Lumira, and Grokhion, which I loved. This book made me fall head-over-heels in love with a new character; it gave revelations that I was desperately hoping for; it made me cry at the losses we had to endure; it broke my heart to see certain characters subjected to certain things; and it kept me on the edge of my seat with the action and thrill of wondering what the heck was going to happen next. This book seriously felt like all gas, no brakes, for miles. And the title is incredibly appropriate, this book was truly one Of Love and Loss.
Once again, I want to take a moment to give praise to Garcia's inclusion of multiple appendices. These are just the best resources for books like this and they truly make her books easier to consume and appreciate. And in book 2 we got a "The story so far..." section, which I was so incredibly appreciative of, because after spending over a year away from this world and characters, your girl needed a refresher! So thank you ma'am!
Recommendation:
I really can't say enough good stuff about this book and series thus far. Garcia has done an amazing job of creating this world and these characters and I am so excited to see where this story takes us next. This is truly high fantasy at it's finest and I encourage avid fantasy readers to give this series a go. As I've said previously, I also think this series would be very suitable for those who are new to the genre. The concepts and situations are easy to understand, yet the story that's told is a semi-complex web that will have you theorizing and wanting to read more.
Enjoy and happy reading! 🤙🏼💕
Thank you to the author for an early copy of this book. This review, as always, is my honest feedback and given voluntarily.
September 23, 2024
It took me two days to read this book and over two weeks to find the words for a review. I only put it down for a few hours of sleep. And I cannot express how much I enjoyed it.
Garcia has once again delivered a story filled with depth of characters, a world of astounding imagination, and intertwined relationships. She paints such a detailed picture that I feel like I know the characters and can really “see” the environment that each lives in. Of Love and Loss, book 2 in the series, is filled with excitement from start to finish, unexpected twists and turns, joy, sorrow, and creativity. I literally laughed out loud, and yes, shed some tears. It’s not often that an author can so fully draw me into a story, but Garcia has pulled me deep into her worlds.
While this book is fantastic by itself, I would suggest you read the first book in this series, Of Thieves and Shadows, as well as the novellas, before this one comes out, to get the full impact of this story. This is a series that is a must have for any readers library. I cannot wait for the next one!!
Garcia has once again delivered a story filled with depth of characters, a world of astounding imagination, and intertwined relationships. She paints such a detailed picture that I feel like I know the characters and can really “see” the environment that each lives in. Of Love and Loss, book 2 in the series, is filled with excitement from start to finish, unexpected twists and turns, joy, sorrow, and creativity. I literally laughed out loud, and yes, shed some tears. It’s not often that an author can so fully draw me into a story, but Garcia has pulled me deep into her worlds.
While this book is fantastic by itself, I would suggest you read the first book in this series, Of Thieves and Shadows, as well as the novellas, before this one comes out, to get the full impact of this story. This is a series that is a must have for any readers library. I cannot wait for the next one!!
December 2, 2025
An epic fantasy sequel
Been a while since I read the first book, but this had been on my list for a while, and it didn't disappoint... Good to see old favourites like Lumira and Elaysia again, and the struggle for Quinaria definitely has grown more urgent (also didn't expect both a redemption arc for Davier or to enjoy it as much as I did! Plus I enjoyed Jakki's time with the skulmor)... Seriously hope there's another part to this story in the works, I need to know what comes next!
Been a while since I read the first book, but this had been on my list for a while, and it didn't disappoint... Good to see old favourites like Lumira and Elaysia again, and the struggle for Quinaria definitely has grown more urgent (also didn't expect both a redemption arc for Davier or to enjoy it as much as I did! Plus I enjoyed Jakki's time with the skulmor)... Seriously hope there's another part to this story in the works, I need to know what comes next!
October 2, 2024
Welcome back to the World of Quinaria.
Not all is as you have left it, though. Darkness has crept in amidst our hearty crew of warrior revolutionaries, leading to complexities each character must deal with.
Elaysia, now growing into her new role, casts about for supporters as she and her fledgling nation face warfare... both from the Empire of Az Zar, and from within her own council....
Jakki is forced to confront the power growing within her; but is she strong enough to control it, or will it turn her closer to the beast she feels it will make her....
Davier finds himself cast into a role he feels scarcely prepared for; and when a face from the past threatens his reality, what might he sacrifice for answers to his future....
Lumira, once of the street, now a trusted confidant, is beset from all sides; enemies new and old alike. Will she find the strength, this time, to stay? Or will she lose herself as she sees more of the world she loves slip away....
With the same top-notch world-building and a palpable love for her characters, Garcia gives us a deeper, darker look into the struggle for Quinaria's soul. With wit, humor, and yes, love and loss, we once again climb upon our stormbirds, ever watching, ever hoping for justice to be done, for a heart that heals.
Brilliantly executed, I LOVED this!
Not all is as you have left it, though. Darkness has crept in amidst our hearty crew of warrior revolutionaries, leading to complexities each character must deal with.
Elaysia, now growing into her new role, casts about for supporters as she and her fledgling nation face warfare... both from the Empire of Az Zar, and from within her own council....
Jakki is forced to confront the power growing within her; but is she strong enough to control it, or will it turn her closer to the beast she feels it will make her....
Davier finds himself cast into a role he feels scarcely prepared for; and when a face from the past threatens his reality, what might he sacrifice for answers to his future....
Lumira, once of the street, now a trusted confidant, is beset from all sides; enemies new and old alike. Will she find the strength, this time, to stay? Or will she lose herself as she sees more of the world she loves slip away....
With the same top-notch world-building and a palpable love for her characters, Garcia gives us a deeper, darker look into the struggle for Quinaria's soul. With wit, humor, and yes, love and loss, we once again climb upon our stormbirds, ever watching, ever hoping for justice to be done, for a heart that heals.
Brilliantly executed, I LOVED this!
November 24, 2024
This is worthwhile read, even for a fantasy novice such as myself. In the tradition of Dumas, the long journey through the substantial story is paid off with conclusions that steadily increase the pace and connect the dots. As the second book in an anticipated trilogy, OLAL develops its characters well and advances the storylines without feeling like a mere connector. Looking forward to book 3!
September 17, 2024
WOW is the first word that occurs to me, minutes after I finished reading OLaL. If I was blown away by the first book in the Heart of Quinaria series for all its uniqueness and the novelty of Garcia's storytelling, if I was taken and moved by the companion novellas - especially that second one, which contained some of the best overall writing I've encountered in my life - what can I say of this second book in the series, other than WOW?
I expected nothing short of a great story told in a spellbinding manner, but I have to admit I was in for a surprise with the deep delving into Quinarian cultures and its people - the intricate detail with which Orillon is presented to us made it so vivid in my mind's eye, and yet, it wasn't page after page of boring descriptions, quite the opposite, it was a taking the readers by the hand for a stroll around its streets and palaces and peoples, for a bite of lunch and a bit of dinner. The manner in which it was presented was just so organic and vivid, I was enchanted immediately. But if with Orillon I was mesmerised by the beauty and the easy living (despite the seedy, terrible things that happened on the backstage, hidden in the shadows of said nation) I was constantly on edge once we entered Skulmor territory, and by the hand of my favourite character, nonetheless. Jakki's journey on this book is positively mind-blowing, her growth, the way we watch her change and become less bigotred, more open-minded, less guarded but even stronger, for me, it was a delight. And it was a delight to see her have more page time. Same for Lumira, because Lumira is my dearest, and my heart aches in anticipation of what awaits her in the upcoming instalments, but I won't even get into that. I think I know what a certain cat wanted to tell her, and never managed, and boy, is it gonna hurt. Davier continued to be that character I love to hate, and even through 'all he had to suffer' I still see him as a self-centred, selfish man, but now, he's showing it in other ways. In fact, I hope a certain event that took place during one certain battle was not written into the story just to give Davier an opening in the future... in fact, I had hoped the author would not go there (don't want to give you any spoilers) regarding Vahid (who I thought had SO MUCH POTENTIAL) but I was not to have my way, and it felt like a cop-out and honestly, the only thing I liked less about the book, as it really felt very contrived and obvious and an easy way to reinforce Elaysia's arc... on the other hand, Zavvi, boy, how you surprised me! If during book one I was left rather indifferent to him, he stole the show, now. And I can't wait to see where he's going. Konar and Elaysya remain those two characters I'm very conflicted about and can never quite make up my mind, regarding them. On the other hand, Karliah, OMG, yes! That damn ending, bloody hell, what was that? WHERE IS THE REST? I need to know, now, I need to have it all! The scope of what that ending opened up, the sheer possibilities and implications, damn, it sent my mind into a whirlwind and I cannot stop weaving theories about it!
The battle scenes were damn well written, I could almost smell fires around me, through some of them!
Overall, I think I liked this one even better than the first book, for it allowed me to delve far deeper into the Heart of Quinaria - pun intended, yes. I sensed Star Wars, LOTR, GoT, all through this book - in a good way, mind - the worldbuilding being cinematic in its scope and the way it's presented to the reader, because I could easily picture and envision it in my head as if I had a screen before my eyes where the action took place. For that alone, this is an author you should keep under your radar. Now add that to the completely spellbinding manner in which Garcia weaves her tales and offers her characters, and you have the makings of a classic in your hands. This is some of the best fantasy I've read lately, in every aspect.
I expected nothing short of a great story told in a spellbinding manner, but I have to admit I was in for a surprise with the deep delving into Quinarian cultures and its people - the intricate detail with which Orillon is presented to us made it so vivid in my mind's eye, and yet, it wasn't page after page of boring descriptions, quite the opposite, it was a taking the readers by the hand for a stroll around its streets and palaces and peoples, for a bite of lunch and a bit of dinner. The manner in which it was presented was just so organic and vivid, I was enchanted immediately. But if with Orillon I was mesmerised by the beauty and the easy living (despite the seedy, terrible things that happened on the backstage, hidden in the shadows of said nation) I was constantly on edge once we entered Skulmor territory, and by the hand of my favourite character, nonetheless. Jakki's journey on this book is positively mind-blowing, her growth, the way we watch her change and become less bigotred, more open-minded, less guarded but even stronger, for me, it was a delight. And it was a delight to see her have more page time. Same for Lumira, because Lumira is my dearest, and my heart aches in anticipation of what awaits her in the upcoming instalments, but I won't even get into that. I think I know what a certain cat wanted to tell her, and never managed, and boy, is it gonna hurt. Davier continued to be that character I love to hate, and even through 'all he had to suffer' I still see him as a self-centred, selfish man, but now, he's showing it in other ways. In fact, I hope a certain event that took place during one certain battle was not written into the story just to give Davier an opening in the future... in fact, I had hoped the author would not go there (don't want to give you any spoilers) regarding Vahid (who I thought had SO MUCH POTENTIAL) but I was not to have my way, and it felt like a cop-out and honestly, the only thing I liked less about the book, as it really felt very contrived and obvious and an easy way to reinforce Elaysia's arc... on the other hand, Zavvi, boy, how you surprised me! If during book one I was left rather indifferent to him, he stole the show, now. And I can't wait to see where he's going. Konar and Elaysya remain those two characters I'm very conflicted about and can never quite make up my mind, regarding them. On the other hand, Karliah, OMG, yes! That damn ending, bloody hell, what was that? WHERE IS THE REST? I need to know, now, I need to have it all! The scope of what that ending opened up, the sheer possibilities and implications, damn, it sent my mind into a whirlwind and I cannot stop weaving theories about it!
The battle scenes were damn well written, I could almost smell fires around me, through some of them!
Overall, I think I liked this one even better than the first book, for it allowed me to delve far deeper into the Heart of Quinaria - pun intended, yes. I sensed Star Wars, LOTR, GoT, all through this book - in a good way, mind - the worldbuilding being cinematic in its scope and the way it's presented to the reader, because I could easily picture and envision it in my head as if I had a screen before my eyes where the action took place. For that alone, this is an author you should keep under your radar. Now add that to the completely spellbinding manner in which Garcia weaves her tales and offers her characters, and you have the makings of a classic in your hands. This is some of the best fantasy I've read lately, in every aspect.
September 18, 2024
You want character-driven dark fantasy? This series has everything you need...and "Of Love and Loss" launches on September 28th!
Firstly, the characters. Garcia has a wonderful roster populated by the noble guardians, the snarky warriors, the brooding tacticians, and the reclusive outcasts. They come from various races, possess several abilities, and represent intriguing cultures.
Secondly, the magic! I COULD offer all kinds of details, but there were a few curveballs in the third act that dramatically reoriented the magical landscape. Perhaps I could pique your interest by simply stating that god-like power is unveiled, and that Quinaria will never be the same.
Lastly, the plot. I believe Garcia writes character-driven stories very well. The overarching conflict continues to build from where we left off at the first book, but the consequences are determined by impulsive, honorable, or downright desperate actions made by the characters. This lends the wonderfully messy human element I crave in fantasy...and the novel is titled "Of Love and Loss" for a reason. Things get downright brutal toward the book's end, and you'll finish it wondering if you'll ever be ready for book three...only to immediately say "yes, I need more. I NEED to see this through."
Garcia already hooked me with book one, but now there's no escape. I will gladly and instantly read her future releases.
Firstly, the characters. Garcia has a wonderful roster populated by the noble guardians, the snarky warriors, the brooding tacticians, and the reclusive outcasts. They come from various races, possess several abilities, and represent intriguing cultures.
Secondly, the magic! I COULD offer all kinds of details, but there were a few curveballs in the third act that dramatically reoriented the magical landscape. Perhaps I could pique your interest by simply stating that god-like power is unveiled, and that Quinaria will never be the same.
Lastly, the plot. I believe Garcia writes character-driven stories very well. The overarching conflict continues to build from where we left off at the first book, but the consequences are determined by impulsive, honorable, or downright desperate actions made by the characters. This lends the wonderfully messy human element I crave in fantasy...and the novel is titled "Of Love and Loss" for a reason. Things get downright brutal toward the book's end, and you'll finish it wondering if you'll ever be ready for book three...only to immediately say "yes, I need more. I NEED to see this through."
Garcia already hooked me with book one, but now there's no escape. I will gladly and instantly read her future releases.
September 28, 2024
Just started, but I can tell I'm about to be torn to shreds by this story. I mean that as a compliment.
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