The Variance: The Test of Time Book 1

by A.C. Marholin

In the mystical world of Isynt Vale, on Zarvan Realm, a dark curse ensures that no one lives beyond the age of 30.

Eloise, a 17-year-old on the brink of the Quest—a rite that will reveal if she possesses magical powers—fears the potential upheaval of discovering her own abilities and thus having to leave her family—some of whom are precariously close to the deadly age limit.

Mitac, a Black magic warrior from the capital, Amiket City, arrives with orders to oversee the Quest and retrieve anyone who's shown to have magical powers for the Illume Council. He's relieved to be assigned to Eloise's land where nothing strange or exciting happens...until suddenly he finds himself bringing home an orphan, a Quester gets attacked, and another goes missing. To save his job, and his head, he needs to find them, but are the Illume actually as good as they seem?

Across the vale, Aerith, a Purple magic dreamer, begins to question her allegiance to the all-knowing Council as she conceals ominous dreams about Eloise and others who could be in serious danger. As alliances shift and secrets unravel, together they must outwit the Illume Council and uncover the truth behind their motives and the curse. This might be the only way to chart a future in which they can all survive.

489 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2024

Reviews

[Willa Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of beta reading this book!
I can’t say enough good this about the author’a writing. It was totally captivating to the point where you knew exactly what everything looked, smelt, or tasted like. It had a unique way of drawing you in with just the right amount of mystery and suspense to keep you going.

The premise is also something that is totally unique. Everyone dying at 30… like what!?

I also loved the characters relationships and felt like they really shined.

Overall, I think this amid a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy with unique magic and story telling. I’m super excited to see where Marholin goes in the future.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

30 years… it’s not nearly enough. Then you will die. Everyone dies. There is no escaping this. You are registered with the city at birth. At 17 you under go the Quest to see if you possess magic. It’s the way it’s been, it is the way things are. Never changing.
The Quest isn’t suppose to harm you. You either change because you have magic or you don’t. Those with magic are sent to the city. Some are never seen or heard from again. The rules are the same everywhere in the realm.
Eloise has known this. It’s why she only allows herself 2 minutes to grieve anyone passing. No time to waste. She packs for her quest but she knows she will be out in less than an hour. Her family is boring. They don’t produce magic.
The night before her Quest she is told to run. Her family is cursed. To keep her life simple she must run. Three times. Run. Run from the Quest tests. Have the forest tell you to leave. Things are never that simple.

Lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this brilliant piece of work. The major publishing houses let this little gem of an indie author slip through. She moves readers through the landscape, the characters and the food in the most amazing detail. Her writing is engaging, detailed, spellbinding and leaves the reader hungrily wanting more.
While leaving just enough mystery to entice readers back for another book (I believe there will be 5 to this series).

I want Book 2 NOW!!! 😍🤤

[Lumie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to A.C. Marlin for the ARC.

Plot 4.25/5
Characters 4.25/5
Ending 4/5
Intrerest 4/5

Overall 4/5

-I believe this book to be a solid four stars. It wasn’t a perfect book by any means but I was entertained enough. Although, it did take me a little while to really be interested in these storyline, right about until the start of the quest. I love the fact that time is a strong concept in this book but it still confuses me. I still enjoyed myself but I don’t think I was paying attention enough to understand everything that was going on.

-I did really like the characters. Again, I don’t think I was paying attention enough to be perfectly attentive to the characters but I still really liked what I understood and got from them. I’m curious as to if there will be a more developed romance and with whom because I feel like there is an obvious option and less so obvious option that was added later on in the book.

-I am very curious to read more but I might need to get a recap of this book before hand to understand things better cause there are quite a few elements I don’t quite remember but I would love to see where things will lead.

[Lusann Strop · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Variance is book 1/5 in the realm of Zarvan. I really enjoyed this book. While Eloise is considered the main character, there are multiple POVs that are just as engaging. I found the tests Eloise was faced with during her Quest interesting and not at all what I had expected. The curse preventing the realm from aging past 30 tugs at the heartstrings just enough. I felt that how the curse came about and how it is expected to progress made sense. I’m a person who likes to know what the problem is then map out what needs to be done, so the fact that we get a general overview of the problem at large right away, and not in like book 3, is satisfying lol. At one point I literally said out loud “WTF?!?” when the author dared to unalive someone. Then again when a sliver of hope was given. The book ends on a small cliffhanger and I am eagerly awaiting the next book!

[GhostDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a blast... No words

It got me so excited from the very first pages and I couldn't stop thinking about it and couldn't stop turning page after page, so good.

I really loved everything about the magic system, the way it worked and how it was discribed - was really easy to picture and it was fresh and new for me and it made it more imersive.

And to put this all together we have this amazing characters, with diferent places on the branches of this magic world and we see how they manage their way around this crazy world and how diferent people react to diferent triggers and how people move people, what makes it a really intresting story.

And what... What was this ending? How could you leave us hanging like this? I need to know what is gonna happen next pretty please.

[Hali Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading *Variance* by A.C. Marholin, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author did an excellent job of world-building and crafting an intriguing plot. This book stands out from my usual reads with its unique premise: everyone dies at the age of 30. At 17, individuals embark on a quest to discover if they possess magic, knowing that many never return. Our main character, Eloise, is prepared for this perilous journey. I was completely enraptured by the story and Eloise's experiences. The book ends on a dramatic cliffhanger, with Eloise escaping the guards through a sewer, covered in excrement. I eagerly await the next installment and highly recommend this book!

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbidden magic, political intrigue, quests, and the first book in a new series? Count me in! This book was so good and engaging, Eloise was chock full of personality and I had such a fun time with her. The magic system in this world is unique and explained in such a good way without it feeling like a giant info dump. There were twists that I wasn't expecting and I quite possibly shed a few tears at one point.

I can't wait for book 2 to come out so I can see what happens next, while the ending wasn't quite a cliffhanger, it left me wanting more and to know what happens next!

[Haley Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this book is so unique.... everyone perishing by age 30?? I had never heard of AC Marholin before and was grateful to be chosen as an ARC reader, and I am so glad I was. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait for book 2. The last chapter where Eloise is covered in excrement... it really reminded me of Blighttown from Dark Souls 1. Immediate flashbacks. I can't say enough about this story and if you love fantasy romance, this one is worth the read!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a high fantasy reader, but The Variance hooked me right away. The premise that everyone dies by 30 makes the stakes feel urgent and real. What really stood out to me, though, was the unique color-based magic system. It’s creative, original, and adds so much depth to the story without being confusing. Fast-paced and full of tension, this book pulled me in and kept me turning pages. Highly recommend for anyone looking for something fresh in the fantasy genre!

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of action and suspense. I love the magic system and how it works and how the people get their powers. I like the tension between the characters and the multiple points of view. Also that ending……makes me want the next book immediately. The author has described settings and characters in a way that is easy to visualise as well.

[yareadswithmegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of this story was so fun and interesting with everyone dying at the age of 30! The author did an amazing job with world building and creating an intriguing plot. The writing was easy to read and the story was well paced.

With forbidden magic, quests and such a unique magic system I was flying through this book!

There were a few twists and the ending has me wanting the next book!

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique magic system, interesting concepts on society, and fantastic world building. I had the pleasure of reading this book as an ARC. I really can't wait to learn more about the realm of Zarvan. Really liked the idea that people are sent on quests to learn if they have magic. Elouise was such an interesting FMC and I can't wait to see where this story goes from here.

[Megan Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!
Alright this one is a chunker but SO! WORTH! IT!
The curse of time. The Gods interference as a joke. I loved the system of magic that A.C. created in this world. Talk about a limited time to do what you need to. I loved Eloise and Mitac. I loved Chance and that gave me ugly tears...iykyk. I particularly enjoyed the depth of the conspiracy around the Variance.
The idea of a hero being on a time limit is fascinating and this world of Aireth sucked me in very quickly. I ended up flying through the book and I am so glad I picked this one up. I could not put it down. I cannot wait for book two!

[Andria Kister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the concept and the characters the ending i felt could do without that last chapter but overall A very enjoyable read

[Blackeyes17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it great book

[Meredith Kasian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited that her book baby is out in the world. Make sure you go pick this one up today because it's the beginning of a series that is sure to be a great one.

I flew through this ARC. The writing is beautiful, easy to follow, and the story is well-paced. The concept of time as an antagonist, the world building, the complexity of the magic system...all of these elements made this series kick off so fun.

I look forward to seeing where this goes, including exploring more how a world run by 20 year olds with an expiration clock on them works. Can't wait for book 2!

[Lyss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really had a hard time putting this one down. The variance has a magic system that I haven't come across in other books and I found it very interesting. There are political themes, coming of age quest/test, the beginnings of a found family. I'm really looking forward to seeing the development of this story in the coming sequels.

Thank you to the author @book_leigh for the advance copy. I can't wait to read the sequel!

CW:
No spice
Mild language
Death and violence