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Osea: an Isarine story
When her peaceful town is razed by the ethereal flames of a heavenly bird, Haevynne decides to follow in her sister’s footsteps to join the Aleksarian Guard. Driven by the madness of loss, and committed to preventing such an atrocity from ever happening again, Hae is forced to leverage every tool at her arsenal to continue barreling forward, three steps at a time, toward her goals.
But what are the consequences of her burning ambitions, and where will they lead her? When the smoke clears, who will Hae reveal herself to be?
Osea is a fantasy novel about identity, sacrifice, dreams, and love. It explores the price of power, the impossibility of a wish fulfilled, and the haunting decisions that we make in order to protect the ones we cherish. It challenges what it means to be a "hero", and embraces what it means to be a friend.
GPT No AI is used in the writing or art of this novel.
But what are the consequences of her burning ambitions, and where will they lead her? When the smoke clears, who will Hae reveal herself to be?
Osea is a fantasy novel about identity, sacrifice, dreams, and love. It explores the price of power, the impossibility of a wish fulfilled, and the haunting decisions that we make in order to protect the ones we cherish. It challenges what it means to be a "hero", and embraces what it means to be a friend.
GPT No AI is used in the writing or art of this novel.
630 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2024
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1996 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 16, 2024
Best novel I ever wrote.
June 11, 2025
Osea Review
♾️⭐️
I feel like a review and my thoughts on this book aren’t enough. How is one supposed to wrap up everything they’ve read in merely a few paragraphs and words. How do you even begin to explain how everything you’ve read has now shaped and changed the way you love and experience reading. This book honestly was worth the infinite stars, because I won’t stop thinking about it ever.
I love Sophie’s writing already because I fell deeply and unconditionally in love with it when I read decadence. Then came B&W and of course now I’m head over heels and attached to Osea [by the way this was your sign to read those other books if you haven’t] Best believe if there were flights to Isarine I’d be on the first plane out. The fantasy world is created and written in such a unique vivid way. I felt like I was there seeing and feeling these places and encounters. I think you have to be truely gifted and creative to write in a way where readers feel apart of the story, and Sophie does just that.
From the first chapter - well from Act 1 really, you’re engaged and eagerly flipping pages to get to more of the good stuff, or as I like to call them “golden nuggets”. You meet Haeyvnne our main character, who embarks on this journey of discovering who she is whilst honouring her sister and living out the plans/ hopes she had. It’s quite powerful and respectful really, Hae taking on this path of to avenge her sister. It’s unknowing and new, yet she faces it with complete confidence and determination. At West Camp is where we see Hae really hone and strengthen her gifts, whilst meeting and building long lasting friendships/ relationships. I am a HUGE lover and fan of found family and a good friend group - and this book HIT THE MARK! The characters you meet along the way throughout the duration of this book, stay with you forever. You fall hopelessly in love with a Princess, you grow curious and weary of Selvi, you find warmth and protection in Leshan, you find your voice and tune in Pahli, you find a love of facts and learning with Ariena, you learn to be resilient with Jestrille, you can’t help but admire and respect Majira, you seek answers and hope for Keppla and lastly, you see so many parts of yourself and find healing in Osea!
This book also does world building incredibly well. I felt like every place we stumbled across or discovered was explained and described beautifully. I never felt out of place or lost. I also found the magical element “essence” in the book really interesting and unique. It was a different take on the usual/ common magic, and I found utilising and understanding the elements/ weaving was such a brilliant idea!! Even the way duel’s took place, had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and anxiously awaiting the final results. I also find https://www.sophieindustries.com was SO good to look at after reading this. There is so much GOLD and GOODNESS on that site.
If you want to be transported and inspired - escape reality and fall in love with a new fictional land, Osea is it! The story is infused with complexities and mystery, as well as character developments, SO MUCH ACTION, epic battles, tough choices, love and family!!
🖤🏹🏔️👑🔥
[To Osea: Thank you for teaching me what it means to drop the mask of everyone’s expectations and truely be myself. I don’t think I ever expected someone, especially a character, to change the way I saw myself, but somehow, you did. You taught me how to love myself, even the parts I always felt were too messy, too much, or too broken. You helped me realise that trusting people doesn’t have to mean preparing to be hurt. That maybe, just maybe, there are people out there who want to know me, not to fix me or change me, but simply to love me as I am. You helped me open up to things I used to push away. Affirmation. Friendship. Softness. You reminded me that being vulnerable isn't a weakness, it's a strength, and one that takes time to learn. And in that process, you were patient. You made it okay that my feelings are sometimes hard to understand or express. You didn’t rush me or expect me to be perfect. You just stayed. Through your story you showed me that healing doesn’t happen all at once. But it does happen. That people can walk into your life and not expect the worst from you. They can see your hurt and still choose to offer kindness, warmth, and love. You gave me that hope again. So thank you for healing parts of my heart that had been shattered by trauma and past hurt. For helping me be softer with myself. For showing me that I am not too hard to love. You reminded me that I can be known deeply and still be accepted. And I’ll never forget that]
♾️⭐️
I feel like a review and my thoughts on this book aren’t enough. How is one supposed to wrap up everything they’ve read in merely a few paragraphs and words. How do you even begin to explain how everything you’ve read has now shaped and changed the way you love and experience reading. This book honestly was worth the infinite stars, because I won’t stop thinking about it ever.
I love Sophie’s writing already because I fell deeply and unconditionally in love with it when I read decadence. Then came B&W and of course now I’m head over heels and attached to Osea [by the way this was your sign to read those other books if you haven’t] Best believe if there were flights to Isarine I’d be on the first plane out. The fantasy world is created and written in such a unique vivid way. I felt like I was there seeing and feeling these places and encounters. I think you have to be truely gifted and creative to write in a way where readers feel apart of the story, and Sophie does just that.
From the first chapter - well from Act 1 really, you’re engaged and eagerly flipping pages to get to more of the good stuff, or as I like to call them “golden nuggets”. You meet Haeyvnne our main character, who embarks on this journey of discovering who she is whilst honouring her sister and living out the plans/ hopes she had. It’s quite powerful and respectful really, Hae taking on this path of to avenge her sister. It’s unknowing and new, yet she faces it with complete confidence and determination. At West Camp is where we see Hae really hone and strengthen her gifts, whilst meeting and building long lasting friendships/ relationships. I am a HUGE lover and fan of found family and a good friend group - and this book HIT THE MARK! The characters you meet along the way throughout the duration of this book, stay with you forever. You fall hopelessly in love with a Princess, you grow curious and weary of Selvi, you find warmth and protection in Leshan, you find your voice and tune in Pahli, you find a love of facts and learning with Ariena, you learn to be resilient with Jestrille, you can’t help but admire and respect Majira, you seek answers and hope for Keppla and lastly, you see so many parts of yourself and find healing in Osea!
This book also does world building incredibly well. I felt like every place we stumbled across or discovered was explained and described beautifully. I never felt out of place or lost. I also found the magical element “essence” in the book really interesting and unique. It was a different take on the usual/ common magic, and I found utilising and understanding the elements/ weaving was such a brilliant idea!! Even the way duel’s took place, had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and anxiously awaiting the final results. I also find https://www.sophieindustries.com was SO good to look at after reading this. There is so much GOLD and GOODNESS on that site.
If you want to be transported and inspired - escape reality and fall in love with a new fictional land, Osea is it! The story is infused with complexities and mystery, as well as character developments, SO MUCH ACTION, epic battles, tough choices, love and family!!
🖤🏹🏔️👑🔥
[To Osea: Thank you for teaching me what it means to drop the mask of everyone’s expectations and truely be myself. I don’t think I ever expected someone, especially a character, to change the way I saw myself, but somehow, you did. You taught me how to love myself, even the parts I always felt were too messy, too much, or too broken. You helped me realise that trusting people doesn’t have to mean preparing to be hurt. That maybe, just maybe, there are people out there who want to know me, not to fix me or change me, but simply to love me as I am. You helped me open up to things I used to push away. Affirmation. Friendship. Softness. You reminded me that being vulnerable isn't a weakness, it's a strength, and one that takes time to learn. And in that process, you were patient. You made it okay that my feelings are sometimes hard to understand or express. You didn’t rush me or expect me to be perfect. You just stayed. Through your story you showed me that healing doesn’t happen all at once. But it does happen. That people can walk into your life and not expect the worst from you. They can see your hurt and still choose to offer kindness, warmth, and love. You gave me that hope again. So thank you for healing parts of my heart that had been shattered by trauma and past hurt. For helping me be softer with myself. For showing me that I am not too hard to love. You reminded me that I can be known deeply and still be accepted. And I’ll never forget that]
July 22, 2024
Read this if you like lesbian swordfights.
But also, there's: highly imaginative worldbuilding, giant eldritch monsters, gorgeous magic and humor and intrigue. The action is great and there are so many subtly woven reveals that really reward your attention to detail. The lore is deep and worth rereading to discover what you missed - I think there are still things I have yet to catch after my second readthrough. The author also has a bunch of extra content on her website to supplement the story.
An earnest, touching story about fantasy lesbians (and others!) fighting their way through a hostile world. Highly recommend!
But also, there's: highly imaginative worldbuilding, giant eldritch monsters, gorgeous magic and humor and intrigue. The action is great and there are so many subtly woven reveals that really reward your attention to detail. The lore is deep and worth rereading to discover what you missed - I think there are still things I have yet to catch after my second readthrough. The author also has a bunch of extra content on her website to supplement the story.
An earnest, touching story about fantasy lesbians (and others!) fighting their way through a hostile world. Highly recommend!
September 21, 2024
If you like adventure stories you should read this book. If you like magical worlds you should read this book. If you like well developed kick-ass characters you should read this book. If you like suspense and intrigue you should read this book. If you like friendship you should read this book. If you don’t like friendship you should still read this book and maybe you will change your mind. If you like getting lost in a great story you should read this book. Basically, everyone should read this book!
Osea is exciting, heartfelt, hopeful, fun, and beautifully written. :) I don’t have the words to express how amazing it is - you just have to read it!!!
Osea is exciting, heartfelt, hopeful, fun, and beautifully written. :) I don’t have the words to express how amazing it is - you just have to read it!!!
January 13, 2025
I really loved the story created here and I cannot wait for another book. The magic system is so Interesting and unique, the characters were lovable in so many different ways. I can’t lie and say I wasn’t confused af at some points, but I decided to trust the process and Hope I’d get some of it explained later (which oh boy I did) my jaw dropped in the ending!! 💖 so excited to see what happens in the next one, and what the author writes next. I will happily read more by them!! 💖
July 14, 2024
Just finished "Osea: An Isarine Story" by S.E.T., and wow, what a ride! Imagine your town getting torched by a celestial bird – that’s where Haevynne’s saga begins. She’s driven by loss and sheer willpower, ready to join the Aleksarian Guard and stop future disasters.
Hae’s journey? Absolutely intense. Her relentless drive to make a difference comes with a big price. Watching her evolve is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. You’ll find yourself questioning ambition, power, and what it really means to be a hero.
S.E.T. weaves in themes of identity, sacrifice, and true heroism. This book flips the script on what it means to be a hero, focusing instead on friendship and love. The emotional depth and moral dilemmas will keep you hooked.
The fantasy world is vivid and dangerous, with ethereal flames and mystical creatures. Action-packed scenes blend perfectly with deep, reflective moments. This book makes you think and feel in equal measure.
In short, "Osea: An Isarine Story" is a must-read for fantasy lovers who crave emotional depth and a thought-provoking plot. It’s a powerful tale of dreams, sacrifices, and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love.
Hae’s journey? Absolutely intense. Her relentless drive to make a difference comes with a big price. Watching her evolve is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. You’ll find yourself questioning ambition, power, and what it really means to be a hero.
S.E.T. weaves in themes of identity, sacrifice, and true heroism. This book flips the script on what it means to be a hero, focusing instead on friendship and love. The emotional depth and moral dilemmas will keep you hooked.
The fantasy world is vivid and dangerous, with ethereal flames and mystical creatures. Action-packed scenes blend perfectly with deep, reflective moments. This book makes you think and feel in equal measure.
In short, "Osea: An Isarine Story" is a must-read for fantasy lovers who crave emotional depth and a thought-provoking plot. It’s a powerful tale of dreams, sacrifices, and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love.
September 11, 2024
Osea starts off with some intense action that really sets the tone for the rest of the book. It’s a super action-packed fantasy novel with really wholesome vibes between the MC, Haevynne, and her friends, but not at all wholesome vibes between Haevynne and the super dangerous world of Isarine. I really like the magic system in the book, it doesn’t feel like traditional magic as it’s not something that comes from within or is conjured from thin air but drawn from the elements in the world around the characters, and if the fight is taking place in an area without much of a person’s specific element of expertise, they’re at a severe disadvantage. It’s very cool.
Hae has a sweeping character arc, and by the end of the book she’s grown so much. She’s super easy to love and watching her grow is as satisfying as watching a close friend come into their own. One of my favorite things about Hae is that even though she has a lot (A LOT) going on, her friends are incredibly important to her and they are major a motivation behind a lot of what she does. Her friends are great, too. My favorites are Selvi, a “social underdog” (a term I accidentally made up when I couldn’t remember the word “outcast” 😂) and Pahli, an eternal optimist.
Something I really liked about Osea is that everything isn’t spelled out perfectly right away, it’s not all laid out in front of you. There’s a lot of mystery and intrigue and a lot of room for developing your own theories as to why something has happened or what is motivating a certain character. Even by the end, you might not have answers to all your questions. Maybe they’ll be answered in the next book 😉
Not only will Hae return, but there are future books planned that take place within the world of Isarine but feature different characters and factions and I’m pretty excited to read and learn more about them!
I spent the last 30% of the book talking to and sending my reactions to the author, which is something I’ve never done, and it was such a fun experience. We’re not close friends or anything so they could have just, you know, not been super into it, but they were, and it was so cool to talk about a book with the person who wrote it!
*Quick note: There’s a note in the beginning of the book that suggests you check out sophieindustries.com/osea for some background info and supplementary materials (there’s a map!). I didn’t look before I started because I’m a dummy (I ended up checking it out before I finished the book though) but there’s a lot of really cool information and I highly suggest taking a look before reading!
Hae has a sweeping character arc, and by the end of the book she’s grown so much. She’s super easy to love and watching her grow is as satisfying as watching a close friend come into their own. One of my favorite things about Hae is that even though she has a lot (A LOT) going on, her friends are incredibly important to her and they are major a motivation behind a lot of what she does. Her friends are great, too. My favorites are Selvi, a “social underdog” (a term I accidentally made up when I couldn’t remember the word “outcast” 😂) and Pahli, an eternal optimist.
Something I really liked about Osea is that everything isn’t spelled out perfectly right away, it’s not all laid out in front of you. There’s a lot of mystery and intrigue and a lot of room for developing your own theories as to why something has happened or what is motivating a certain character. Even by the end, you might not have answers to all your questions. Maybe they’ll be answered in the next book 😉
Not only will Hae return, but there are future books planned that take place within the world of Isarine but feature different characters and factions and I’m pretty excited to read and learn more about them!
I spent the last 30% of the book talking to and sending my reactions to the author, which is something I’ve never done, and it was such a fun experience. We’re not close friends or anything so they could have just, you know, not been super into it, but they were, and it was so cool to talk about a book with the person who wrote it!
*Quick note: There’s a note in the beginning of the book that suggests you check out sophieindustries.com/osea for some background info and supplementary materials (there’s a map!). I didn’t look before I started because I’m a dummy (I ended up checking it out before I finished the book though) but there’s a lot of really cool information and I highly suggest taking a look before reading!
September 7, 2024
I was given this book complimentary from Book Sirens in e-book form in return for my honest review. Everything stated in this review is of my own opinion and I was not compensated monetarily for providing this review.
If you are lucky every 3-5 years you will come across a book that you can truly describe as awesome and this is such a book. Five stars seems too small for this work,
If you are a fan of imaginative fantasy fiction you need to read this book. The world building may be a bit lacking but that is OK as this book is about the characters and the story. All the main characters are complex and continue to surprise as the story unfolds and the plot has more twists and turns than a rural road. Running through it all is the low key Sapphic romance between the m/c and her best friend/girlfriend
Plenty of action and blood to keep the pages turning. Hopefully the relationship between the m/c and Majira will be explored more in the future as the author says "Osea will return in Hero."
In the afterword the author says "Osea is a story many years in the making, and I'm so relieved to finally have her tale out in the world, so that everyone has a chance to meet her and fall in love with her." Well thank you for giving us this opportunity, your hard work shows through in every page - not page filling love scenes or digressions here just pure story beginning to end.
Recommended to all thinking fantasy fans - if you are looking for groups of humans, elves and dwarfs fighting groups of orcs, ogres amid trolls up and down the country maybe "Forgotten Realms" is more your speed, me, I can't wait to see what more this author has to offer
If you are lucky every 3-5 years you will come across a book that you can truly describe as awesome and this is such a book. Five stars seems too small for this work,
If you are a fan of imaginative fantasy fiction you need to read this book. The world building may be a bit lacking but that is OK as this book is about the characters and the story. All the main characters are complex and continue to surprise as the story unfolds and the plot has more twists and turns than a rural road. Running through it all is the low key Sapphic romance between the m/c and her best friend/girlfriend
Plenty of action and blood to keep the pages turning. Hopefully the relationship between the m/c and Majira will be explored more in the future as the author says "Osea will return in Hero."
In the afterword the author says "Osea is a story many years in the making, and I'm so relieved to finally have her tale out in the world, so that everyone has a chance to meet her and fall in love with her." Well thank you for giving us this opportunity, your hard work shows through in every page - not page filling love scenes or digressions here just pure story beginning to end.
Recommended to all thinking fantasy fans - if you are looking for groups of humans, elves and dwarfs fighting groups of orcs, ogres amid trolls up and down the country maybe "Forgotten Realms" is more your speed, me, I can't wait to see what more this author has to offer
November 18, 2025
🌿I took so much pleasure in discovering and exploring this very special universe. A distinctive system of magic and fights, a bundle of characters, each with their own personality, a FMC that grows tremendously throughout the novel...
📜The book is quite long, but I couln't drop it. There was a lot of information to take in, a lot of characters too, but the author managed to make everything and everyone important and valuable to the story.
👭I loved watching Heavynne grow and following her in her battles and quests into revealing herself, but I also grew fond of her group of friends. The found family trope melted my heart. I liked that friendship was put forward like that, and that the topic of romantic love was gently brought up without changing anything to the main storyline.
🗡The description of fights was great - there was always an element of surprise to make them interesting. As for who was good or bad, the lines were blurred all along, until the end of the novel. Every character had their reasons to act the way they acted, and it made them all the more realistic. In addition, the representation of different ethnicities, homosexuality and trans-identity brought the novel to an even higher level.🌈
This was definitely an amazing (very underrated) read for me, and I would recommend it to every fantasy lover! I can't wait to discover the author's other works. ✨
📜The book is quite long, but I couln't drop it. There was a lot of information to take in, a lot of characters too, but the author managed to make everything and everyone important and valuable to the story.
👭I loved watching Heavynne grow and following her in her battles and quests into revealing herself, but I also grew fond of her group of friends. The found family trope melted my heart. I liked that friendship was put forward like that, and that the topic of romantic love was gently brought up without changing anything to the main storyline.
🗡The description of fights was great - there was always an element of surprise to make them interesting. As for who was good or bad, the lines were blurred all along, until the end of the novel. Every character had their reasons to act the way they acted, and it made them all the more realistic. In addition, the representation of different ethnicities, homosexuality and trans-identity brought the novel to an even higher level.🌈
This was definitely an amazing (very underrated) read for me, and I would recommend it to every fantasy lover! I can't wait to discover the author's other works. ✨
April 8, 2025
The last third of this book was amazing. I was hooked by the plot, the characters and found family were wonderful, the action scenes intense, the magic unique, basically I loved everything about it.
I had a bit of a tougher time early on. While I enjoyed every individual scene I read, I spent much of it a bit disoriented (Who actually is Osea? Where is the story going? How can Hae be astoundingly good in one contest and seemingly easily bested in the next?), and most importantly, the hook wasn’t really there. I enjoyed reading each individual bit, but it was a little too easy to put down.
Then suddenly about 2/3 of the way through, a fair amount of the mystery was cleared up, the high-level endgame of the story became more evident, Hae had progressed out of her student stage and really started to be capable, and the whole thing really started clicking. I just kinda wish that had happened sooner, because it’s a lot of pages to keep the faith to get there.
Still, for a first novel, this was darn impressive. :)
I had a bit of a tougher time early on. While I enjoyed every individual scene I read, I spent much of it a bit disoriented (Who actually is Osea? Where is the story going? How can Hae be astoundingly good in one contest and seemingly easily bested in the next?), and most importantly, the hook wasn’t really there. I enjoyed reading each individual bit, but it was a little too easy to put down.
Then suddenly about 2/3 of the way through, a fair amount of the mystery was cleared up, the high-level endgame of the story became more evident, Hae had progressed out of her student stage and really started to be capable, and the whole thing really started clicking. I just kinda wish that had happened sooner, because it’s a lot of pages to keep the faith to get there.
Still, for a first novel, this was darn impressive. :)
September 1, 2024
Absolutely loved reading this. Osea is a breath of fresh air as a veteran fantasy fanatic. It's completely it's own and if you enjoy anything to do with fighting, magic, and complex characters, this is for you. Also nice bonus giving it a website filled with supplemental stories and resources to further expand the world of Isarine. I also loved having a fantasy novel with lesbian love in the main character. The ending with its twist and wonderful resolution left me so satisfied but also craving more adventures in Isarine. I'm excited to read more from this author.
September 1, 2024
Get ready for a fiery adventure with Osea: an Isarine Story! 🔥🦅 Haevynne's quest to become a hero after her town is destroyed is as intense as it gets. If you love stories about epic battles, tough choices, and discovering what it truly means to be a hero (or a friend), this book is totally your jam! It’s got everything from magical flames to heart-wrenching decisions. Get ready to be blown away! 🌟📚
September 2, 2024
Osea: an Isarine Story dazzles with its creative worldbuilding, featuring giant, otherworldly creatures and stunning magical elements. Haevynne, the resilient and courageous lesbian heroine, navigates a world filled with humor, action, and deep lore. The novel is packed with cleverly hidden details that make each page turn thrilling. I loved how the story keeps you guessing with its complex plot and diverse characters.
July 1, 2025
The story was good, but could have used more descriptions and polishing.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews