Royal gryphons almost killed her brother. Now the queen demands that she train to fight with them.When a royal gryphon nearly kills her brother, two things become clear to nineteen-year-old Farren she is not the best person to care for her brother, and she despises the vicious beast who changed him forever. But an unwanted letter commands her father to fulfill a decade-long Servitude to the crown. In a desperate attempt to protect her family, Farren takes her father’s place and is brought to Alidonia—a place full of infuriating Enchantments, a selfish queen, and two princes who are like oil and water.
Worst is her new to train with the queen’s deadly, heartless gryphons. The gryphon guard has six weeks to prepare before they are launched onto the streets—putting innocent lives at risk of the gryphons’ ruthlessness. Their potent elemental magic and intricate runebonds do nothing to reassure Farren, but she has no choice in the matter—even when faced with the very beast who attacked her brother.
Of Gryphons and Runes is the first book of a New Adult epic fantasy trilogy filled with suspense, romance, and deep-spun mysteries. Perfect for readers who love animal-human bonds, mythical creatures, elemental and telepathic magic, lovers-to-enemies romance, and a strong female protagonist.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
what i loved about this book is how each character is unique and dynamic. the author did a fantastic job crafting individuals who stand out on their own but also complement one another. these characters create complex relationships that keep the reader constantly guessing about what is real and what is not. their interactions are so well-written that you find yourself deeply invested in their lives and secrets.
the plot twists and the problems that the characters face are multifaceted and intertwined, making for a gripping read. every challenge is layered with deeper implications, adding to the richness of the story. just when you think you've figured it out, another twist comes along and turns everything upside down.
one aspect that pleasantly surprised me was the interaction between animals and humans. i didn't expect to love this element as much as i did. the bond between the characters and their animal companions felt natural and added a heartwarming touch. the gryphons are more than just majestic creatures; they're integral to the story and add a layer of magic and wonder.
the fantasy feel of the story is beautifully executed. the world-building is intricate, and the magical elements are seamlessly woven into the narrative. you can practically feel the enchantment in the air and see the mystical landscapes. the author has created a world that you want to get lost in, filled with adventure, mystery, and a touch of whimsy.
overall, of gryphons and runes is a captivating read that keeps you engaged from start to finish. it's a delightful blend of fantasy, mystery, and adventure, with a cast of characters you'll quickly grow to love (or love to hate). if you're a fan of richly detailed worlds, complex characters, and surprising plot twists, this book is an absolute must-read.
This book made my fantasy loving heart so happy! The character development & world building was so good! I highly recommend if you love books with intelligent animals who can mind speak…. (*Ahem* like Fourth Wing with their dragons!)
Farren is the fmc and in this world, most humans are born with rune gifts where they can bond with an animal. Farren’s rune gift is with birds. She is enlisted to help the royal family on a gryphon security project, by working with the gryphons and building her rune skills. This is a problem, considering she despises gryphons after one seriously injured her younger brother while in her care.
This book ends on a big cliff hanger, so I’m desperately waiting for book 2! I’m excited to see how Farron & Cato’s relationship builds in book 2…. & where the heck did Isander (I referred to him as the salamander the entire book because he gave me snake vibes, lol) go?!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Book Sirens for an incredible fantasy book!
They almost killed her brother and she is going to have to work with one. Her father was the one asked for but she cannot help her brother so she takes her father place. It is not going to easy for her but she knows she needs to get on with it. How will she get on? Can she form a connection? Can her life get better? See hoe she gets on I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
In this world, humans have the ability to runebond, or basically have a mental connection with a single type of animals. People can also have an affinity for plants, and in that case they are able to grow plants at will. Farren is an avis just like her father; which is someone who can runebond with birds. After her brother, Desmond, is attacked and almost killed by a gryphon, their father is summoned to the palace to help train the Queen's gryphons in Alidonia. Farren ends up going in his place, even though she is deathly afraid of them after what one did to her brother. Farren has six weeks to figure out what to do with these gryphons before they are paraded around in public, putting the people of Alidonia at risk. Can she figure out how to stop the gryphon program before more people are hurt?
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this! If you are a fan of magical animals and telepathic bonds with said animals (very reminiscent of Violet and Tairn/Andarna in Fourth Wing) then this will be right up your alley. I also liked how different animals had varying levels of intelligence through the bond - ie small birds like sparrows could talk in simple phrases and images, more intelligent birds like hawks could talk in more complex sentences with more nuanced emotions, and the Gryphons hav human level intelligence and emotions and can have full on conversations. We only got the POV of the birds through Farren as this story is told solely through her, but I wish we saw this theme explored with other people and their runebonds with different species. I hope we either get a multi POV in the next book(s), or at least Farren's friends explaining more how their runebonds work with the varying levels of intelligence with their species of animal, and more on the runebonds people have with plants. I think Burnett did a good job introducing the runebond idea with Farren, but it could be explored so much more with more POV's or just hearing about the experiences of other people and their unique runebonds. We got a little bit of that with Isander, and I hope this is explored more in the sequels.
I also think the characters are really well written - they're all multi-faceted and complex, and we are able to get attached to all of them and care about their character arcs. I liked all of the characters, however I did sense the twist with Isander coming. That is one of my only qualms about the characters - I feel like it was easy to sense that he isn't all that he appears to be as Cato is wary of him and tells Camilla to avoid him. Besides that, Scipio was so annoying and I get that he is supposed to be a bully but his one insult, "bumpkin", doesn't really fit the vibes of a fantasy IMO, and also felt like a lazy insult. Besides them, I really liked everyone else and their progressions.
I really liked the world building and the magic system, and the character development was really well done - especially for Farren. This is a solid start to what I hope to be a great fantasy series!
Thank you to E. A. Burnett, Talon & Ink Press, and BookSirens for the eARC!
A great fantasy story focusing on a unique magical system and intelligent animals.
We follow Farren a young girl who is capable of telepathic bonding with birds and crucially, Gryphons. After a disastrous Gryphon attack rocks her family, and leaves Farren with a deep fear and mistrust of these seemingly violent beasts Farren comes home to a summons from the Queen and ends up having to serve in her Gryphon guard training program,. meaning she must conquer her fear and learn to bond with these animals.
The absolute selling point for this book is the way the magic works both the humans magic by bonding with animals and the Gryphons own varied magical abilities the idea of "narrowing" and widening the bond to let more/less communication through and not letting negative emotions/experiences through, all very cool ideas.
The other highlight for me was Farren herself, she was a capable and strong girl and watching her tackle her fears. I also loved her relationship with Camilla, seeing a genuine female friendship that wholesome and supportive.
I think the only thing I would really criticise was Cato's attitude at times, he felt kind of all over the place with his motivation i.e. whether he wanted Farren to bond with the Gryphons or got annoyed at her for doing so and towards the end of the book .
Other than that though I did enjoy the side characters (or despise their guts when appropriate).
Overall a great read and I will definitely be continuing this series.
Oh and Torch is the bestest boy in the world, if anything bad happens to him I will riot.
Firstly, I want to say thank you to HGB, for my ARC of this book. Second, I freaking loved it!
I always get excited at the prospect of a new fantasy to sink my teeth into, this book is no exception.
The story plays out through the eyes of our heroine, Tarren, we discover the world of Runeskills, Runebonds and what it takes to protect those we love.
It delved into some deeper themes at the very beginning of the book, by dragging us deep into the outskirts of their reality and making us witness to the terrifying reality that nature can bite back.
The early story speaks of how life-changing one simple accident can be, and how guilt can tear into ones entire being, making us shut off parts of ourselves that have enabled that failure that led up to the event, leading to the thought, which is better? Living with knowledge someone died on your watch, or living knowing that person will suffer through life because of you?
I love how the story focuses on the perception of Gryphons being vicious beasts rather than some fantastic mythic creature to be cherished and adored. They are written as cruel and malicious towards the MC.
The rest of the story focused on the uprising of a percentage of the population that choose to live without their abilities, waiting in essence, for the mothership while getting crazy and causing a fuss.
I loved the MC feisty nature, her willingness to believe in herself and her passion.
There is much more I could say, but I believe it's something you should read for yourself.
Gryphons and Runes is another 5⭐ read for me, and a stunning tale that will leave readers with questions and feelings, but also knowledge that more is yet to come. I will recommend it to all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Farren was supposed to be watching her brother at the fair instead of fighting, but in a moment of distraction, a gryphon attacked Farren's brother. A short time later, Farren was conscripted to the queen's gryphon training service. Knowing how dangerous the beasts are, Farren does her best to sabotage the training & to take her revenge. But her best efforts aren't good enough. In order to stop the queen's plan and protect the world from the savage beasts, Farren needs to team up with the very same gryphon that attacked her brother and ruined her life.
I liked the premise - the whole Idea of being able to mentally bond with animals, working with gryphons, and all that magic, but I didn't always connect with Farren's view. For one, the way she kept running after the prince while she pushed away everyone else. Her falling for the prince was too cliche, and while I'm happy with the way it turned out, the journey didn't speak to me. I didn't like the prince, and the relationship happened too quickly. It felt more like a convenient physical outlet than a romantic emotional connection, one that Farren fell for because of her emotional vulnerability.
The best parts of this book were when Farren bonded with the gryphons, particularly the young one, and slowly came to change her view of them over time.
While the book started off being about the gryphons, it ends off with a new danger and a possible revolution. I'm not sure if I'll continue this series. It was well written and I liked several parts, but it just didn't connect for me.
This is the first book of this author’s that I have read… and I want, no, NEED more!
I’ve never read a book with Gryphons as part of the main cast of characters, and I am here to tell you that I LOVE it. I devoured this book from beginning to end and cannot wait for the second book to come out! I did not expect to fall in love with gryphons, but here we are.
In this beautifully built world, people are given a rune at birth. This rune determines what they can bond with, whether it be birds, foxes, frogs, lions, obviously gryphons, and even plants! This gives them the ability to speak with animals (something i wish I could do) and in some way, control them as well.
Farren, the FMC has a rune bond with birds, and as gryphons are part bird, she can bond with them as well (no spoilers here. This much is obvious). This is a story of a woman finding her strength and the will to fight for what she believes is right even when the odds are stacked against her.
I fell in love with Delphi and even the gruff Naronimus. But I really loved sweet, innocent little Torch, who helped Farren heal her wounds.
There were a few points in the book that had me in tears! (Some in a sad way, some in a happy way!)
If you love fantasy of any kind… you should really give this book a try. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
I would like to thank the author EA Burnett for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Of Gryphons and Runes was the first book I read by E.A. Burnett; and I was delighted. There was no wordy exposition explaining this world and its magic/rune system; it was all explained through the characters going about their lives. This is something I find is not normally done in fantasy books. I enjoy being dropped in to the story and having to use the context clues to figure out where we’re going.
I honestly did not expect to go on the wild ride mentally and emotionally that this book took me through. Without giving too much away you could feel the animosity between some of the characters based on the runes that are part of them. The quick pace keeps your brain moving as you try to figure out why the princes do not get along, who the Enchanters are and how they’ll fit in, and what is happening in the city. I do wish there had been a couple more clues a long the way. A lot happened in this book, but I do wish a couple things had been more flushed out regarding the queen, the Runeless sect, and how many possible runes there are. However I truly look forward to seeing where this series goes and how Farren and Cato continue to save their people.
I received an advanced reader copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
- Character Development & World-Building:The characters are unique, dynamic, and their relationships keep you invested. Farren’s growth, especially in overcoming her fear of gryphons, is well done.
- Magical Creatures: The bond between humans and animals, particularly the gryphons, adds magic and wonder. Fans of intelligent creatures like the dragons in *Fourth Wing* will enjoy this.
- Plot Twists: The story is full of twists that keep you guessing, with layered challenges that deepen the mystery. The cliffhanger ending leaves you eagerly awaiting the next book.
- Engagement: The book kept my fantasy-loving heart happy, blending adventure, magic, and emotional depth in a captivating way.
What I Didn’t Like About the Book:
- Complexity: The plot can feel overwhelming at times, with multiple storylines and character arcs that may require rereading to fully grasp.
- Cliffhanger: While exciting, the abrupt cliffhanger leaves many questions unanswered, making the wait for the next book feel a bit frustrating.
Overall, the book is highly enjoyable with just a few pacing issues, and I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds in the sequel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The anxious, angry and guilty feeling Farren wants to help her family and has to work in the royal mews for ten years. when arriving there, she is referred to as the naive country girl.
While trying to detect who to trust and who to evade, she also wants to learn more about what happened to her hawk Mellion.
What she discovers during her time there is not what she expected.
Who says that old stories contain no thruth?
It seems the gryphons are the least of her problems.
While Farren is trying to understand her strengthts and capabilities she gets entangled in a web of betrayal, powerplay, magic and murder.
Slowly but with a nice narrative rhythm, the truth unfolds itself.
The further the story progresses, the more details come to life.
At the end of book one I still am guessing which way this story continues.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I always love to read fantasies that use elements I haven't seen before or don't often see. I definitely got that with this one with the gryphons and runebonding. This was a great read, the pacing felt really good. It never felt rushed, not even toward the end, and it also didn't drag. I didn't expect this to be unputdownable but for me it was just that! Farren may be frustrating at times but she's a strong character and, importantly, believable. The characters are interesting and not without flaws and there were a couple plot lines going to keep it really engaging. It has a good blend of romance with the other storylines without it being too in your face which I love. Cannot wait for the next one, especially after that ending!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved that I understood what was happening without having to flip back and forth to a glossary or the map 1000 times. The magic system was so easy to understand that it was nice to just be immersed in the story like you were there all along. Things are easily and naturally explained along the way. Generally you’ll see the MC be unshakable or is somehow the only on able to tame the ‘xyz’ in the whole world but that is not the case here.
I throughly enjoyed the plot and the little family she gathers. I will look out for the next in the series can’t wait to see what happens.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this eARC. I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved the world building in this book so much! The concept of how the magic works is great and the mystery was also enough to keep you wanting more.
The only thing that keeps me from giving it a full 5 stars is that it is a bit difficult to keep all the characters and their names straight sometimes with just how many moving pieces are involved usually.
There is a bit of romance, but it really is a minor element. So if you are coming to this looking for a great romantic read, you will be disappointed. However, there is a great plot and lots of action that keeps the book flowing. Highly recommended for anyone who loves fantasy books for sure.
Thank you E.A and BookSirens for a copy of this ARC!
My love for fantasy and fantastical creatures was well met and exceeded with this book! Excellent world building and character building, Farren is shown as a complex FMC with feelings that run deeper than the need to meet the male gaze (women written by women 👏🏻👏🏻) and show the love and compassion a person can have for something or someone other than themselves.
The rest of the character cast is also filled with complex, colourful characters that take you on twists and turns, making you think one thing when really it's a misdirect. Once I got started reading, I wasn't able to put the book down!
I can't wait for the rest of this series and see how it pans out
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy & I am absolutely going to be buying a physical copy when it comes out. I am almost at a loss for words. I was super excited to begin with because I love Gryphons but then I was really drawn in when we have our first real interaction with them because I wasn’t sure where we were going to go with this. I have loved each of the Gryphon’s, yes all of them. Going through the development of all the relationships was exciting, the understanding, the reflection almost, was an interesting parallel . I was once again fooled by my love of specific types of characters.
The ending has me reeling. I can’t wait for more of the world to unfold.
This was a good start to the series. It left a lot of room for growth with the characters and the author as well. It allows for the next book or more to become more than this one was. It was entertaining. Decent characters and a good storyline. Lots of information and some unneeded information, but overall a entertaining and good read. I liked the gryphons. I want to know more about naronimus and delhi and torch. I'll check out the next one and see what the author does with what she has begun.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The novel is fascinating! The world building is well done and the magic of the people wherein they runebond or connect to a specific type of animal is not a common fantasy aspect.
The book explores a variety of relationships making those the focus since the magic is all about bonding. Beyond the runebonding, there are plenty of human relationships that are complex, such as the main character’s own family.
While the relationships really build the story, there is no lack of action. The protagonist loves a good fight and as such finds herself stepping in where she feels justified.
I am very interested in this series and cannot wait for the next book to come out!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved this book! The writing is great, drawing me in from the very first page. The plot is not only intriguing but also filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are incredibly well-developed and believable, making it easy to connect with their journeys.
Each chapter left me eager to turn the page, and I found myself immersed in the story. I can't wait for the next book in the series! If you enjoy a captivating narrative with rich characters and surprising developments, this is a must-read!
A young woman is required to work in the royal mews with gryphons. Terrified of the powerful and dangerous creatures, Farren finds her world view turned upside down and is embroiled in intrigue at the highest levels of the kingdom. The world is fascinating, with a great set-up between humans and gryphons, as well as other animals. The tensions set up between having a typical bad guy and a sympathetic one make things even more interesting.
I received an advance copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
I went in incredibly curious, never having read anything about Gryphons. And boy was I in for a treat !
I loved every aspect of it, the characters, the gryphons, the rune system, the plot. ALL OF IT ! The FMC has the perfect balance of badassery, independence, relatability and character building. And soo many plot twists, I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the second one !!!
+10 points for making me read 500 pages while imagining Buck from Harry Potter the best side kick of all time !
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a strong start to the Enchantress Rising series, I was engaged with the story and loved the use of mythical creatures in this world. The overall concept was strong and had that feel that I was hoping for in a description. It left me wanting to read more in this series and from E.A. Burnett. I thought the blend of suspense and romance worked overall with the characters and glad this was so strong.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
HOLY HERA! this book was one hell of a wild ride. It was such a fresh storyline and I ATE. IT. UP.
Farren started this book so angry, understandably, but she also held onto it so fiercely. Being forced into servitude with the one animal she hates, and seeing her learn that maybe they aren't as bad as she believes.. loved it.
Isander 🤬
Cato 🤔
I'm dying for book 2.
Also Torch holds all my heart ❤️
*I received an eARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
This book… I LOVED the premise of it, rune-bonding, animals, gryphons. All amazing. The world building was excellent, enough detail to be able to imagine but not too much that you get bogged down with details.
The author painted beautiful pictures of the characters and wove the stories well. The growth of the characters was incredible and I even found myself crying at one point. The twists and turns left me hanging and wanting more. I can’t wait for the second one to come out!!
Please note.. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wasn't too sure about this book when I picked it up but it sucked me in pretty quickly. There were some characters that just rubbed me the wrong way from the start and no spoilers but yikes. I'm curious to see where the story goes, Farren (the main character) changes so much when it comes to her views but man is she also kind of stupid.
An absolutely captivating and interesting storyline. I have yet to read a book that puts Gryphons so much in the foreground and that they appear as characters. I find this very refreshing and wonderful. Stunning storytelling with very complex characters and the interactions between them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was very well written. I enjoyed the characters however, wasn’t a huge fan of the storyline (more personal preference than anything and nothing against the authors writing at all). If you’re up for a wonderful fantasy read, definitely give it a go!
This was my first time reading this author, and it definitely won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and the characters. The narrative flow is excellent, and I can't wait to see more.