The First Ethereal

The Ethereal World #1

by E.L. Williams

Lost magic, buried secrets, love, and found family. Can Lilly and Storm find the First Ethereal before all is lost?

Super empath Lilly is almost relieved to be living her last human life. With only her spirit guide, Jack, for company and the world unravelling around them, she longs for the peace of the Eternal Forest.
When catastrophic floods force Lilly from her home, fate intervenes, and she finds refuge with Storm, a widowed ex-witch who has mysteriously lost her magic.

As Lilly falls in love with life and finally finds the family and community she has always dreamed of, the two become entwined in a desperate mission to find the First Ethereal – the one being prophesied to save the world from imminent destruction.

But they’re not the only ones seeking this mythical being. Dark forces, driven by fear and greed, are closing in, determined to seize the Ethereal’s power at any cost – and they’ll destroy anyone who stands in their way.

As the clock ticks down, Storm must unlock the secret of her missing magic, while Lilly confronts the devastating truth about who Jack really is. Are some truths better left buried?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Unique, intriguing, and brimming with surprises.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is escapism at its best.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Beautifully told, The First Ethereal will stay with you for a long time.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Read it all in one sitting… If this is your genre, you won’t be disappointed!’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A story of love and hope in a world teetering on the edge of disaster.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautifully told modern fairy story.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Lifted my spirits!’


A Discovery of Witches meets The Celestine Prophecy, this fast-paced fantasy is the first book in the Ethereal World series. The Blessing of Crows is book two. [Previously published as The Cold of Summer]. The Magic Keepers is a standalone prequel.

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Paranormal, Magic

Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2024

About the author

E. L. Williams grew up in the Welsh Valleys in a tiny house overflowing with books and stories of magic.

Emma is the author of the Ethereal World fantasy series - a duology (The First Ethereal and The Blessing of Crows) and two standalone novels set in the same magical world hidden within our own: The Magic Keepers and The Butterfly Witch.

When she's not writing, she's usually reading, gardening, torturing her cello, or sneaking yet another houseplant into the home she shares with her endlessly patient husband.


Join the readers’ club for a free short story https://elwilliamsauthor.com

Connect with Emma on Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and Substack: @ELWilliamsAuthor

Reviews

[Fuffles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the main characters a lot but feel like there were a lot of side characters to keep track of. I also feel like the ending was quite rushed, and I would’ve liked the last few chapters to just be a bit more fleshed out.
But I’m definitely interested to see where it goes in the next book.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm struggling to put into words how much I loved this book and why. It's so relevant and rooted in reality while still being full of real magic, with a sprinkle of hocus pocus for good measure!
The underlying message is so beautiful and made me cry at various points through the book. It threads hope into the most painful, hopeless situations and highlights the beauty of humanity without ignoring the awful parts of it.

The characters are relatable and, despite having clear goodies and baddies, the plot manages to expose the shades of grey in situations.

I was so moved by the story, it made me think and really look at my own beliefs and the way I've been acting simply by showing the complexity of the human experience.

I can't wait for the sequel!

[James Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to begin, I assumed this was an "chosen one" story, I was assured by the author it wasn't, then there was a prelude to the story which doesn't shed much light on what the book will be about, apart from magic and a spirit guide. When speaking to the author I said Storm was an unusual name she said she met someone called Storm and she was a person who was spiritual and so when it came to create the character Storm was who it was always going to be.
I got through the book fairly quickly, I definitely bonded with the characters but I have questions:
What or who is Lilly? Is she the witness?
Is Storm the Ethereal?
Jack doesn't feel like a guide more like a lover, it's hard to trust Jack.
Was Lilly's transformation due to Storm's presence?
Apart from empath what else can Lilly do.
Storm seems to pull magical people to her, the magical family she built herself despite her condition seems odd.
The books even though magical, the other magical people use magic instinctively which somehow doesn't track, is there only a couple of magical libraries? Where do magic people learn? Is it more past down knowledge?

[Helen Garraway · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to talk about in this book, that I hardly know where to start! What an amazing setting, combining humanity's disdain and lack of care for the world we live in with the final apocalypse of our own making, encouraged by an evil sect who want to wipe out everyone but themselves.

But the Earth and the spirits of the universe have one last throw of the dice, and the hunt is on for the First Ethereal to save the world. The spiritual world is well developed and the magic adds an additional dimension to the story. You feel for Jack as he struggles to fulfil his purpose, and not feel jealous as Lilly blossoms. There are so many strong characters; Storm and Isaac, Veronica, even Margot, and emotions run high as the story progresses.

Combine a variety of amazing characters along with a range of adorable pets - We all know Williams loves her animals - all cleverly intertwined as the book progresses and it's lovely to see them represented in this slow build adventure that grabs you and doesn't let go until the final explosive page.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the characters. Highly recommended, and I can't wait to read book two.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly wonderful story that gives a frightening glimpse into where our world is headed, and some hope for the future of humanity in this alternative magical universe.

I felt like the layers of magic and spirituality unfolded alongside the main characters' own understanding of what was happening, so I felt just as in the dark as them but equally as captivated and uncertain by where the story would go next.

The story gathers pace throughout and I never wanted to put it down, as I was so gripped by the fate of the characters. I can't wait for the sequel to see which fascinating direction the story takes next.

[Ray Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

‼️Alert!!!

I don’t say this lightly…
But it HAS to be said…

✨This is genuinely the best book I’ve read since Harry Potter.✨

Absolutely ten out of five stars and I am itching for book two to arrive.

If you love magical fiction with characters to root for, a relatable narrative that could quite easily be our future, and twist and turns that keep you guessing right until the end, with *just* the right amount of romance - The First Ethereal is a must read.

Now to read A Blessing of Crows 🐦‍⬛ I have to know how this story ends!!!

Superb writing, absolutely beautiful.

[Madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish... Lilly is a great character who i found was easy to relate and feel attached to. Storm is such a amazing character I was instantly super interested in her story and what she had/was going through throughout the story. The way this book relates to the state of the world in real life was eye opening and made the story feel really real. I loved the entire concept of this book. And I am so excited to start on the next one!

[Steve Candler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and you get drawn into the characters. Slight feeling that the end was quite rushed, perhaps would have liked a little bit more detail, though did make it quite dramatic. Quite light in a way, but worth reading.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I feel like I’d love to read a sequel to find out even more about the characters.

[Aimee Schornig-Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, beautiful characters and such a lovely, natural flow through the whole book. Would love another instalment❤️

[Marilyn Sitar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop reading!

Read it all in one sitting. Couldn’t stop reading it! Very different story line but very good. If this is your genre, you won’t be disappointed!

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book! It was really easy to read, lovely story line and great characters. I love the small village coffee shop owner vibe. Definitely recommend

[Jo Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow after I have read the series

[Hayley Hemming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow! I enjoyed this book and all the characters that were involved throughout the story. There were quite a few to keep track of and some of them, I don't really remember (but they were people that I didn't really care much for anyway!)

I really liked the premise of the book and where the story was going, especially learning all the things we did about them all.

Loved Lilly and Storm's friendship too and Jack was a favourite from the beginning.

I did feel as though the ending was a little rushed and would have loved to have seen more of the conflict and more of the fight that happened and the powers that were revealed etc.

However, I still really enjoyed the book and I can't wait to read the second one to see where it'll go!

[read. by. emma_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Magical Adventure. Spoiler-free ✨️

When I first read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘌𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭, I shared a quick video with some of my thoughts, but after finishing the next two books and falling even more in love with E.L. Williams’ writing, I realised I hadn't done a proper review. So here it is. 📖

I was already intrigued by the premise—lost magic, a secret library, a world on the edge of collapse, but what I didn’t expect was just how deeply I’d connect with these characters and the heart of the story. It’s the kind of book that quietly draws you in, layer by layer, until you realise you’ve been completely swept away.

The world E.L. Williams has created is rich and feels so real, full of mystical elements, but grounded in very human emotions. Beneath the magic, there’s a powerful sense of loss, survival, and hope. Lilly, a super empath nearing the end of her final human life, is ready to let go—until she crosses paths with Storm, a once-powerful witch who’s lost her magic. From there, everything changes.

I adored watching their connection grow. Lilly, who felt she never truly belonged, begins to find a sense of home and family for the first time. And Storm… there’s just something about her. That quiet resilience, the vulnerability she rarely shows, and her fierce protectiveness She quickly found her way into my heart.

The story is full of emotion, tension, and the kind of magic that lingers in the background until it suddenly knocks the wind out of you. There’s a race to find the First Ethereal before dark forces get there first, and every chapter pulls you in a little deeper. E.L. Williams adores animals, and they’re woven in beautifully. 🐾

I absolutely devoured this book. It’s immersive, moving, and impossible to put down. Having now read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, I can say this series just keeps building in the best possible ways.🥰

If you love found family, layered characters, and the kind of magic that wraps itself around your heart, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘌𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 belongs on your shelf.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shouldn���t have left it as long to review since finishing the book.

What I do know is that I really enjoyed it. The characters was relatable and they were well built on throughout.

It was a definite page turner, particularly towards the end where things get a little more scary.