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Imbued
"Magic was always going to be my downfall. I've known that from the start."
Calla has no memories of her childhood except for hazy, recurring nightmares. Working as a servant in Kiriong, the picturesque terrace garden home to one of the most influential families in the Kamphua Dominion, she's content to live a simple life. As long as no one finds out about the forbidden magic stirring under her skin.
When the estranged family heir, Gray-a magehunter in servitude of the royal hold-unexpectedly returns home, Calla's secret threatens to surface. Instead of turning her in, however, Gray offers her the one thing she always to teach her how to use her powers. And as the turbulent tides of long-forgotten magic draw them together, Calla finds it harder and harder to deny her potential.
But Gray knows more than what he admits. In the aftermath of a vile political plot targeting him and with the shadow of a mage uprising cast upon the land, finding out what happened to Calla in her forgotten years might be their only chance to survive.
Except the knowledge could break them both.
It could break the world.
Calla has no memories of her childhood except for hazy, recurring nightmares. Working as a servant in Kiriong, the picturesque terrace garden home to one of the most influential families in the Kamphua Dominion, she's content to live a simple life. As long as no one finds out about the forbidden magic stirring under her skin.
When the estranged family heir, Gray-a magehunter in servitude of the royal hold-unexpectedly returns home, Calla's secret threatens to surface. Instead of turning her in, however, Gray offers her the one thing she always to teach her how to use her powers. And as the turbulent tides of long-forgotten magic draw them together, Calla finds it harder and harder to deny her potential.
But Gray knows more than what he admits. In the aftermath of a vile political plot targeting him and with the shadow of a mage uprising cast upon the land, finding out what happened to Calla in her forgotten years might be their only chance to survive.
Except the knowledge could break them both.
It could break the world.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2024
3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Helyna L. Clove
3 books35 followersHelyna L. Clove (she/they) is a science-fiction/fantasy novelist, and a lover of all types of storytelling, hot comfort drinks, and a universe full of stars.
She was born in Hungary and raised in a small village a few miles off the shores of Lake Balaton. She was often described by her teachers as someone always having “her head in the clouds”, and she spent the first fifteen years of her life mostly consuming books from her parents’ home library, watching some great 90’s sci-fi shows, and working on her eclectic music taste. After several arduous years of obtaining her astrophysics degree, she currently lives in Wales with her small family of a wonderful boyfriend and Puddle, the tortoiseshell cat.
When not writing her stories, she can be found commandeering radio telescopes, reading, cooking, playing video games, or trying her hand at different art forms.
She was born in Hungary and raised in a small village a few miles off the shores of Lake Balaton. She was often described by her teachers as someone always having “her head in the clouds”, and she spent the first fifteen years of her life mostly consuming books from her parents’ home library, watching some great 90’s sci-fi shows, and working on her eclectic music taste. After several arduous years of obtaining her astrophysics degree, she currently lives in Wales with her small family of a wonderful boyfriend and Puddle, the tortoiseshell cat.
When not writing her stories, she can be found commandeering radio telescopes, reading, cooking, playing video games, or trying her hand at different art forms.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 6, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Brimming with mystery, magic and stirring emotion, Helyna L. Clove’s Imbued is a deeply character-driven and vulnerably intimate fantasy tale that honestly reads like a mad feverdream in the best way possible. It’s somehow both darkly disturbing and mesmerizingly wondrous, and it will pull on your heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways.
Something that immediately hooked me about Imbued is the fact that our protagonist, Calla, remembers nothing about her past except for some vague recurring nightmares. She wants nothing more than to live a simple life as a servant to a noble family, but when the estranged family heir comes back home, her entire life is uprooted. As a magehunter, Gray senses her hidden and untamed magical powers, yet instead of capturing her, he offers to help her control them. What follows is a quietly powerful tale of trust, self-discovery, trauma, healing and defiance, all set against the backdrop of an escalating mage uprising that could very well destroy their world.
Now, the amnesia trope can be very hit or miss for me, but somehow I just never seem to be able to resist its alluring air of intrigue and mystery. Right from the very first page, I was just totally enraptured, and I could not stop turning the pages to figure out how all the puzzle pieces would fall into place. Clove honestly does a masterful job of trickling in just the right bits of information at exactly the right times, which makes Imbued a dangerously addictive pageturner despite the fact that it’s not a particularly fast-paced or action-packed narrative.
Moreover, Calla’s intimate first person narration positively entranced me, and as an introvert myself, I really appreciated that she is not your typical bold, brash and loud fantasy heroine. While I would have like a bit more characterisation outside of her all-consuming anxiety and emotional trauma, I ultimately really enjoyed her harrowing yet powerful journey of growth. Clove doesn’t shy away from exploring the darkest realms of the mind through Calla’s perspective, and I deeply appreciated the brutally raw and authentic exploration of mental health. Calla’s intrusive thoughts and emotional spirals were terrifyingly well written, which only increased the already intense looming sense of dread that hangs as a dark thundercloud over this story.
Though, in a weird way, I almost feel like Calla’s voice might have been a bit too strong, as I personally found most of the side characters to pale a bit in comparison to her. Most of the supporting characters in Imbued were little more than a vague name to me, either because they felt a bit underdeveloped or because they remained so elusively enigmatic (mostly in Calla’s backstory) that I just could not get grasp onto them.
However, I did really enjoy Gray (who almost serves as a foil to Calla), especially because his dynamic with Calla is filled with so much fragile distrust and tentative hope. At first I thought he would be just another stereotypical ‘broody mysterious love interest with a tragic past’, but he turned out to be so much more than that. While his motivations remained a bit murky for me, especially at the start, I soon came to appreciate his duality and I found it so touching to see how he tenderly guided Calla to help her unlock and embrace her full powers.
Even though some of their ‘lessons’ felt a bit forced and exposition-heavy to me, I also can’t deny that I was gobbling up all of the little tidbits of information about the magic and lore of this world. I especially loved how Imbued has one of those nature/life-force based magic systems that leans more into the soft and mystical side, yet at the same time also comes with dire consequences; consequences that we get to experience first-hand as the story unravels and escalates.
The way that Calla’s inner conflict and mysterious backstory was interwoven with the external political conflict looming in the background not only shocked me in the best way possible, but it also resulted in such a rewarding, smooth and immersive reading experience. Not to mention, Clove’s lush and evocative prose created an absolutely entrancing atmosphere, and I loved how her wild imagination imbued (pun very much intended) this world with so much rich culture and breathtaking vibrancy. There’s almost a bit of a cozy, mystical mood to this story, which is exactly what makes Imbued stand out from the crowd for me.
While this story is absolutely unlike anything I have ever read, I think fans of Sarah Chorn’s The Necessity of Rain, Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi will find much to love here. Imbued is an intriguing start to a boldly ambitious duology, and after that brutal cliffhanger I am desperate to see how this story continues. Come for the riveting mystery and soft yet dangerous magic, but then stay for the flawed underdogs, complex emotions, and gorgeous prose; what a wild ride.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Brimming with mystery, magic and stirring emotion, Helyna L. Clove’s Imbued is a deeply character-driven and vulnerably intimate fantasy tale that honestly reads like a mad feverdream in the best way possible. It’s somehow both darkly disturbing and mesmerizingly wondrous, and it will pull on your heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways.
Something that immediately hooked me about Imbued is the fact that our protagonist, Calla, remembers nothing about her past except for some vague recurring nightmares. She wants nothing more than to live a simple life as a servant to a noble family, but when the estranged family heir comes back home, her entire life is uprooted. As a magehunter, Gray senses her hidden and untamed magical powers, yet instead of capturing her, he offers to help her control them. What follows is a quietly powerful tale of trust, self-discovery, trauma, healing and defiance, all set against the backdrop of an escalating mage uprising that could very well destroy their world.
Now, the amnesia trope can be very hit or miss for me, but somehow I just never seem to be able to resist its alluring air of intrigue and mystery. Right from the very first page, I was just totally enraptured, and I could not stop turning the pages to figure out how all the puzzle pieces would fall into place. Clove honestly does a masterful job of trickling in just the right bits of information at exactly the right times, which makes Imbued a dangerously addictive pageturner despite the fact that it’s not a particularly fast-paced or action-packed narrative.
Moreover, Calla’s intimate first person narration positively entranced me, and as an introvert myself, I really appreciated that she is not your typical bold, brash and loud fantasy heroine. While I would have like a bit more characterisation outside of her all-consuming anxiety and emotional trauma, I ultimately really enjoyed her harrowing yet powerful journey of growth. Clove doesn’t shy away from exploring the darkest realms of the mind through Calla’s perspective, and I deeply appreciated the brutally raw and authentic exploration of mental health. Calla’s intrusive thoughts and emotional spirals were terrifyingly well written, which only increased the already intense looming sense of dread that hangs as a dark thundercloud over this story.
Though, in a weird way, I almost feel like Calla’s voice might have been a bit too strong, as I personally found most of the side characters to pale a bit in comparison to her. Most of the supporting characters in Imbued were little more than a vague name to me, either because they felt a bit underdeveloped or because they remained so elusively enigmatic (mostly in Calla’s backstory) that I just could not get grasp onto them.
However, I did really enjoy Gray (who almost serves as a foil to Calla), especially because his dynamic with Calla is filled with so much fragile distrust and tentative hope. At first I thought he would be just another stereotypical ‘broody mysterious love interest with a tragic past’, but he turned out to be so much more than that. While his motivations remained a bit murky for me, especially at the start, I soon came to appreciate his duality and I found it so touching to see how he tenderly guided Calla to help her unlock and embrace her full powers.
Even though some of their ‘lessons’ felt a bit forced and exposition-heavy to me, I also can’t deny that I was gobbling up all of the little tidbits of information about the magic and lore of this world. I especially loved how Imbued has one of those nature/life-force based magic systems that leans more into the soft and mystical side, yet at the same time also comes with dire consequences; consequences that we get to experience first-hand as the story unravels and escalates.
The way that Calla’s inner conflict and mysterious backstory was interwoven with the external political conflict looming in the background not only shocked me in the best way possible, but it also resulted in such a rewarding, smooth and immersive reading experience. Not to mention, Clove’s lush and evocative prose created an absolutely entrancing atmosphere, and I loved how her wild imagination imbued (pun very much intended) this world with so much rich culture and breathtaking vibrancy. There’s almost a bit of a cozy, mystical mood to this story, which is exactly what makes Imbued stand out from the crowd for me.
While this story is absolutely unlike anything I have ever read, I think fans of Sarah Chorn’s The Necessity of Rain, Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi will find much to love here. Imbued is an intriguing start to a boldly ambitious duology, and after that brutal cliffhanger I am desperate to see how this story continues. Come for the riveting mystery and soft yet dangerous magic, but then stay for the flawed underdogs, complex emotions, and gorgeous prose; what a wild ride.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2024
There was something about Imbued which was just ... pure magic.
Following Calla who has hidden her magic since before she remembers. Living her days serving the upper classes focusing heavily on keeping her secret. She believes she is safe, until a well known mage hunter Gray is rumoured to enter into her life. Someone who be able to seek her out and submit her to the tortures of so many others before her. In fear she hides, only to find that Gray was not as he seemed.
They intertwine in a complex weave of emotions as Calla discovered who she really is. In a showcase of beautiful prose, dangerous magic and complex emotion, Clove takes the reader on a journey of self discovery.
Imbued couples, the beauty of the world with the brutality of humanity, and explores heavy themes of PTSD, anxiety and trust. I was impressed at how the author has taken care to present these gently while still having every beat hit home.
Thank you to the author for allowing me an ARC copy of this book.
Following Calla who has hidden her magic since before she remembers. Living her days serving the upper classes focusing heavily on keeping her secret. She believes she is safe, until a well known mage hunter Gray is rumoured to enter into her life. Someone who be able to seek her out and submit her to the tortures of so many others before her. In fear she hides, only to find that Gray was not as he seemed.
They intertwine in a complex weave of emotions as Calla discovered who she really is. In a showcase of beautiful prose, dangerous magic and complex emotion, Clove takes the reader on a journey of self discovery.
Imbued couples, the beauty of the world with the brutality of humanity, and explores heavy themes of PTSD, anxiety and trust. I was impressed at how the author has taken care to present these gently while still having every beat hit home.
Thank you to the author for allowing me an ARC copy of this book.
June 26, 2024
Imbued is an emotionally-complex fantasy with visually-arresting descriptions. I am grateful to have received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.
The world-building has a lush, defined quality; it is filled with flower and plant symbolism, magically-tainted purple soil, and dream-like visions. The magic in this story is parasitic in nature, drawing power from the life force of plants and creatures. It is easy to see why our protagonist, Calla doesn’t heed its call. Mages seeking power have left distant lands scarred and brimming with warped creatures. The mage-stalking Venai in particular, are at once pitiable and horrific.
This is a book for fans of Margaret Rogerson (I’d comp it to A Sorcery of Thorns in tone) and the Grishaverse. Imbued powerfully deals with the theme of trust. Learning when to trust your abilities and instincts, and when to place your wellbeing in someone else’s hands.
The book starts off in the peaceful land of Kiriong, but there is a simmering tension here – something like the magic that is always lashing against Calla’s composed surface. Her dangerous gift cannot be revealed or she will likely lose her life. So she hides it, serving Ma-yi Sulla, a local authority (someone like a duchess, I think) and her family. Calla does not seem to remember her childhood and has worked as a servant for as long as she can remember. When the Ma-yi’s son, a mage trained to hunt those of his kind, returns home for the first time in years, Calla is faced with difficult decisions. Should she flee from her simple life before she is found out? And just how much longer can she afford to remain an observer?
Content warnings:
The author gradually weaves traces of foreshadowing into the early part of the story. This pays off in the last third of the book when events start ramping up dramatically, and the seemingly disconnected threads of Calla’s past and present pull together.
Going by the ending, the sequel promises to be a wild adventure, navigating some challenging waters where character relationships and morality are concerned.
The world-building has a lush, defined quality; it is filled with flower and plant symbolism, magically-tainted purple soil, and dream-like visions. The magic in this story is parasitic in nature, drawing power from the life force of plants and creatures. It is easy to see why our protagonist, Calla doesn’t heed its call. Mages seeking power have left distant lands scarred and brimming with warped creatures. The mage-stalking Venai in particular, are at once pitiable and horrific.
This is a book for fans of Margaret Rogerson (I’d comp it to A Sorcery of Thorns in tone) and the Grishaverse. Imbued powerfully deals with the theme of trust. Learning when to trust your abilities and instincts, and when to place your wellbeing in someone else’s hands.
The book starts off in the peaceful land of Kiriong, but there is a simmering tension here – something like the magic that is always lashing against Calla’s composed surface. Her dangerous gift cannot be revealed or she will likely lose her life. So she hides it, serving Ma-yi Sulla, a local authority (someone like a duchess, I think) and her family. Calla does not seem to remember her childhood and has worked as a servant for as long as she can remember. When the Ma-yi’s son, a mage trained to hunt those of his kind, returns home for the first time in years, Calla is faced with difficult decisions. Should she flee from her simple life before she is found out? And just how much longer can she afford to remain an observer?
Content warnings:
The author gradually weaves traces of foreshadowing into the early part of the story. This pays off in the last third of the book when events start ramping up dramatically, and the seemingly disconnected threads of Calla’s past and present pull together.
Going by the ending, the sequel promises to be a wild adventure, navigating some challenging waters where character relationships and morality are concerned.
April 5, 2024
Imbued is a lush story about the depths we're willing to go to protect ourselves, and the hands that reach out to pull us toward the light.
First, thank you to Helyna, who offered me an ARC copy and the opportunity to blurb this lovely book. She's been a colleague for a while, so take that with whatever grain of bias you'd like.
I read her original book, Skylark in the Fog, a while ago and was taken in by the depth of the worlds that the author is able to build. That skill shows up again in Imbued, which occurs in a world full of exquisite detail and a large cast of characters that make the world feel full and inviting. The book had me from page one, and the main character, Calla, is the kind of introverted and self-protective character I love to see in stories. The kind that knows what she wants and what she must do, even if that's more quiet and reserved than many other main characters might be. Not all of us protagonists can be extroverted after all ;)
Imbued is for lovers of worldbuilding, culture, and slow-burn character arcs. I loved the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) themes of class, power, strength, and religion that play into the story and follow Calla throughout. I enjoyed this most especially in the wealthy family Calla serves, and how their station does and doesn't protect them from the ways of the world. I couldn't exactly say more than that though, since that would be a spoiler! The author leans on just enough familiar imagery to keep things familiar, but still drops the reader into a beautiful imaged world with enough fantastical elements to keep us on our toes.
The thing that sticks with me most firmly is the presence of doubt in this book. Calla's doubt for her safety, her doubt in the people in her life, and most especially her doubt in Gray, Calla's foil. Like so many of us, Calla has a hard time believing, and it struck me as both very real and a cautionary tale. She has every reason not to believe in others, and sometimes it's so very hard to, even if it would change everything. When it comes to Gray himself, the duality of his existence as forbidden and feared is something so many of us don't need to imagine. The mystery of who he is, how he fits in the world and in his family, and what exactly he has in store for Calla kept me turning page after page.
Imbued is the first book in the series and I'm excited to see where Helyna takes us next.
First, thank you to Helyna, who offered me an ARC copy and the opportunity to blurb this lovely book. She's been a colleague for a while, so take that with whatever grain of bias you'd like.
I read her original book, Skylark in the Fog, a while ago and was taken in by the depth of the worlds that the author is able to build. That skill shows up again in Imbued, which occurs in a world full of exquisite detail and a large cast of characters that make the world feel full and inviting. The book had me from page one, and the main character, Calla, is the kind of introverted and self-protective character I love to see in stories. The kind that knows what she wants and what she must do, even if that's more quiet and reserved than many other main characters might be. Not all of us protagonists can be extroverted after all ;)
Imbued is for lovers of worldbuilding, culture, and slow-burn character arcs. I loved the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) themes of class, power, strength, and religion that play into the story and follow Calla throughout. I enjoyed this most especially in the wealthy family Calla serves, and how their station does and doesn't protect them from the ways of the world. I couldn't exactly say more than that though, since that would be a spoiler! The author leans on just enough familiar imagery to keep things familiar, but still drops the reader into a beautiful imaged world with enough fantastical elements to keep us on our toes.
The thing that sticks with me most firmly is the presence of doubt in this book. Calla's doubt for her safety, her doubt in the people in her life, and most especially her doubt in Gray, Calla's foil. Like so many of us, Calla has a hard time believing, and it struck me as both very real and a cautionary tale. She has every reason not to believe in others, and sometimes it's so very hard to, even if it would change everything. When it comes to Gray himself, the duality of his existence as forbidden and feared is something so many of us don't need to imagine. The mystery of who he is, how he fits in the world and in his family, and what exactly he has in store for Calla kept me turning page after page.
Imbued is the first book in the series and I'm excited to see where Helyna takes us next.
November 11, 2024
A great story, well-written, and with quite an unique take on the magic trope. It gripped me right from the start and made me wish I'd still had more time for reading in a day.
The characters are great - I especially love Gray - and really come to life, the world building is rich and vibrant, the story itself is equally intriguing, and heart-warming as it is thought-provoking. The pace is medium slow, I'd say, with some passages also being quite fast paced.
I am quite sad now that this book is finished and I have to wait until 2026 for the sequel.
If you love fantasy, give it a try!
The characters are great - I especially love Gray - and really come to life, the world building is rich and vibrant, the story itself is equally intriguing, and heart-warming as it is thought-provoking. The pace is medium slow, I'd say, with some passages also being quite fast paced.
I am quite sad now that this book is finished and I have to wait until 2026 for the sequel.
If you love fantasy, give it a try!
August 13, 2024
This was a beautiful read! I was fully absorbed from the get-go, from the detailed and interesting world, the tension that hardly eased after the first page, to the pretty prose that was somehow both wordy and sharp at the same time.
Unraveling the mystery of servant Calla' past, the reader is thrown into a big world with fascinating lore of gods and devastating magic. We're kept on our toes constantly because magic is not only forbidden and dangerous, Calla is barely to contain hers, and if she's discovered it'll most likely be the end of her. Then add a handsome, brooding - but kinda sweet - stranger that can teach her to control said magic but also happens to be the very person who could expose her - oh the tension just keeps building!
The writing is full of beautiful imagery that makes the background lore a treat to read and makes you crave more. Honestly, I'd love a history book from this world! The magic is mysterious, deep, and powerful, and there's a good dose of "everything is possible, but comes with a price" and Calla constantly walks along this edge. You never quite know who to trust as everyone holds tight to their secrets, and the characters are multi-leveled and with streaks of selfishness, pride, and cowardice that makes them feel very real.
The story is seeped in trauma as a main story point is Calla's discovering and processing of her own. The more her past is revealed, the more you’re rooting for her to regain control of her power and take charge. This is helped immensely by the romantic interest, Grey, who’s very inclined to help her and has her back. Even when they hit a few bumps on the road, they seem to be a perfect power-couple that will redeem themselves and save the world. Or least, so I thought… all my scheming and plotting went down the drain with the final little plot twists… Eeek! Now I need the next book!
With lots of queer and mental health rep, devastating tension, wonderfully slow-burn romance, and stunning prose and world building, this book will most definitely end up as one of my favorite reads of the year!
I’m quite eager to get my hands on the sequel!
Unraveling the mystery of servant Calla' past, the reader is thrown into a big world with fascinating lore of gods and devastating magic. We're kept on our toes constantly because magic is not only forbidden and dangerous, Calla is barely to contain hers, and if she's discovered it'll most likely be the end of her. Then add a handsome, brooding - but kinda sweet - stranger that can teach her to control said magic but also happens to be the very person who could expose her - oh the tension just keeps building!
The writing is full of beautiful imagery that makes the background lore a treat to read and makes you crave more. Honestly, I'd love a history book from this world! The magic is mysterious, deep, and powerful, and there's a good dose of "everything is possible, but comes with a price" and Calla constantly walks along this edge. You never quite know who to trust as everyone holds tight to their secrets, and the characters are multi-leveled and with streaks of selfishness, pride, and cowardice that makes them feel very real.
The story is seeped in trauma as a main story point is Calla's discovering and processing of her own. The more her past is revealed, the more you’re rooting for her to regain control of her power and take charge. This is helped immensely by the romantic interest, Grey, who’s very inclined to help her and has her back. Even when they hit a few bumps on the road, they seem to be a perfect power-couple that will redeem themselves and save the world. Or least, so I thought… all my scheming and plotting went down the drain with the final little plot twists… Eeek! Now I need the next book!
With lots of queer and mental health rep, devastating tension, wonderfully slow-burn romance, and stunning prose and world building, this book will most definitely end up as one of my favorite reads of the year!
I’m quite eager to get my hands on the sequel!
June 1, 2024
I was privileged to receive an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Imbued, despite its sometimes dark content, is a lovely story. But don’t get me wrong: the dark content is not a drawback by any means. It’s hard for me to describe how I felt while reading this book (for the second time; I beta read it as well) but imagine, if you will, that satisfying sensation you get from inhaling fresh air full of the scent of spring and new blossoms while a thunderstorm broils on the horizon. It was kind of like that.
The prose is beautiful, and right from the start I was captivated by how well Helyna created imagery of the world. The book is full of flowers and flower references, and the gardens are described so well I didn’t have any trouble visualizing the scenery. There’s also a diverse cast of characters and each one speaks with a unique voice. The romance, the very slowest burn type, is handled with care so as not to be thick or overbearing on the story. It’s all just so very well done.
Imbued touches on darker themes, like human captivity, abuse, PTSD, oppression, trauma, and others, but despite that, it felt like a light read rather than a heavy one because the treatment of these topics was done so well. I was eager to pick up the book each day to read, and reluctant to stop. For me, this was a book that I felt like I was devouring, and if I could have read it in one sitting I absolutely would have.
Gray is certainly my favorite character out of the bunch. I enjoyed his quiet complexity, his patience, and his determination. This doesn’t mean the other characters are forgettable; far from it. I’m definitely eager to find out what happens to all of them in Imbued’s sequel, Untwined.
Imbued, despite its sometimes dark content, is a lovely story. But don’t get me wrong: the dark content is not a drawback by any means. It’s hard for me to describe how I felt while reading this book (for the second time; I beta read it as well) but imagine, if you will, that satisfying sensation you get from inhaling fresh air full of the scent of spring and new blossoms while a thunderstorm broils on the horizon. It was kind of like that.
The prose is beautiful, and right from the start I was captivated by how well Helyna created imagery of the world. The book is full of flowers and flower references, and the gardens are described so well I didn’t have any trouble visualizing the scenery. There’s also a diverse cast of characters and each one speaks with a unique voice. The romance, the very slowest burn type, is handled with care so as not to be thick or overbearing on the story. It’s all just so very well done.
Imbued touches on darker themes, like human captivity, abuse, PTSD, oppression, trauma, and others, but despite that, it felt like a light read rather than a heavy one because the treatment of these topics was done so well. I was eager to pick up the book each day to read, and reluctant to stop. For me, this was a book that I felt like I was devouring, and if I could have read it in one sitting I absolutely would have.
Gray is certainly my favorite character out of the bunch. I enjoyed his quiet complexity, his patience, and his determination. This doesn’t mean the other characters are forgettable; far from it. I’m definitely eager to find out what happens to all of them in Imbued’s sequel, Untwined.
August 8, 2024
Thank you to Helyna L. Clove for making the ARC of 'Imbued' available for review on @booksirens
'Imbued' follows Calla, a woman who has spent the last fifteen years of her life hiding her magic in a world where being a mage is a death sentence. When the return of Gray, whose own magic saw him trained to be a magekiller, threatens to reveal her secret, Calla will learn that she has no choice but to decide where her loyalties lie - and who she's willing to hurt along the way.
From its very first pages, I found 'Imbued' to be highly immersive. The combination of Clove's highly descriptive writing and the world-building that she immediately jumps into did a great job of pulling me into Calla's life, and the complexities of her experience of trying to find her place while constantly held apart from others by the fear of discovery.
If I'm being completely honest, I do think that Gray is a bit tropey in his characterisation as the dark and mysterious love interest - and I'm not a huge fan of him as a love interest in general - but I think that characters like Calla, Marigo and Aesh are interesting enough on their own that I can look past this. He might be a bit boring, but I could name dozens of examples of much more egregious examples of this kind of character.
I would have liked a bit of a better understanding of the magic system, which seems to lean a bit more squishy than not, but it'll be interesting to see how that pans put in later books.
Given where book one finished, I'm very interested to see what happens from here on out. Calla is a complex enough character that it could really go any way, and it's fun to have a series with some genuine ambiguity at play.
'Imbued' follows Calla, a woman who has spent the last fifteen years of her life hiding her magic in a world where being a mage is a death sentence. When the return of Gray, whose own magic saw him trained to be a magekiller, threatens to reveal her secret, Calla will learn that she has no choice but to decide where her loyalties lie - and who she's willing to hurt along the way.
From its very first pages, I found 'Imbued' to be highly immersive. The combination of Clove's highly descriptive writing and the world-building that she immediately jumps into did a great job of pulling me into Calla's life, and the complexities of her experience of trying to find her place while constantly held apart from others by the fear of discovery.
If I'm being completely honest, I do think that Gray is a bit tropey in his characterisation as the dark and mysterious love interest - and I'm not a huge fan of him as a love interest in general - but I think that characters like Calla, Marigo and Aesh are interesting enough on their own that I can look past this. He might be a bit boring, but I could name dozens of examples of much more egregious examples of this kind of character.
I would have liked a bit of a better understanding of the magic system, which seems to lean a bit more squishy than not, but it'll be interesting to see how that pans put in later books.
Given where book one finished, I'm very interested to see what happens from here on out. Calla is a complex enough character that it could really go any way, and it's fun to have a series with some genuine ambiguity at play.
June 1, 2024
Imbued is a book where it feels like the pacing is quite laid back and relaxed, but there is a point at which you realise the many threads involved in the plot are actually moving forward quite quickly; and any semblance of an easy resolution for the main characters (Calla and Gray) seems to disappear in no time.
There were times, especially in the first third or so, that I would roll my eyes at Calla's seemingly constant anxiety - in fact, her internal monologue is so well written that it seems you can feel her tension and disquiet emanating from the page. To me, this is a feat not often achieved by authors, and as Calla's story and history begin to unfold it becomes obvious as to why her psychological state tends that way.
The world-building here also feels distinctive; rather than the usual medieval-type setting, there is an additional apocalyptic overlay. I also felt there was an East Asian, perhaps Shinto, influence in some of the cultures portrayed.
In all, an enjoyable read; and in my opinion, the semi-cliffhanger ending means book 2 in this series can't come soon enough.
Many thanks to the author for the advance copy on which this review is based.
There were times, especially in the first third or so, that I would roll my eyes at Calla's seemingly constant anxiety - in fact, her internal monologue is so well written that it seems you can feel her tension and disquiet emanating from the page. To me, this is a feat not often achieved by authors, and as Calla's story and history begin to unfold it becomes obvious as to why her psychological state tends that way.
The world-building here also feels distinctive; rather than the usual medieval-type setting, there is an additional apocalyptic overlay. I also felt there was an East Asian, perhaps Shinto, influence in some of the cultures portrayed.
In all, an enjoyable read; and in my opinion, the semi-cliffhanger ending means book 2 in this series can't come soon enough.
Many thanks to the author for the advance copy on which this review is based.
September 6, 2024
So... I had the luck to read an ARC copy of this book. Here are my notes:
- I do love fantasy, although I've only read Harry Potter in English, so this is my first one in English besides that series.
- It took me a month to finish, but it's not because of the story. I just didn't have so much time to read (summer break with 3 kids), and sometimes I struggle with reading ebooks (I prefer the paper one)
And for the book. I think it's not an easy story. So this isn't the kind of book you casually flip through with a glass of wine on a seaside vacation. :) But I don't think that's the book's purpose anyway.
At times, I could really identify with the protagonist. Most of us carry some kind of childhood trauma, which many can only bear by somehow locking away the memories. The book does a great job of describing the process the protagonist goes through in trying to understand themselves and control the suppressed, traumatic experiences that unconsciously try to direct them. It's an excellent book! I especially recommend it to those who feel that something isn't quite right but can't put their finger on what it is. Naturally, the path of self-discovery is dark. I felt that throughout the mood of the book as well.
I'm glad I could be part of the story. The author skillfully wove the narrative and kept me intrigued. I'll be happy to continue the story when the second book is published. In the meantime, I wish you great success!
- I do love fantasy, although I've only read Harry Potter in English, so this is my first one in English besides that series.
- It took me a month to finish, but it's not because of the story. I just didn't have so much time to read (summer break with 3 kids), and sometimes I struggle with reading ebooks (I prefer the paper one)
And for the book. I think it's not an easy story. So this isn't the kind of book you casually flip through with a glass of wine on a seaside vacation. :) But I don't think that's the book's purpose anyway.
At times, I could really identify with the protagonist. Most of us carry some kind of childhood trauma, which many can only bear by somehow locking away the memories. The book does a great job of describing the process the protagonist goes through in trying to understand themselves and control the suppressed, traumatic experiences that unconsciously try to direct them. It's an excellent book! I especially recommend it to those who feel that something isn't quite right but can't put their finger on what it is. Naturally, the path of self-discovery is dark. I felt that throughout the mood of the book as well.
I'm glad I could be part of the story. The author skillfully wove the narrative and kept me intrigued. I'll be happy to continue the story when the second book is published. In the meantime, I wish you great success!
January 10, 2025
If I had more than 5 stars to give, then I would give them all to this book.
First of all, I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, but I have since purchased my own copy of the e-book, and am desperate for the physical copy as well.
It is a Masterpiece in all possible ways, from the beautifully descriptive and heart wrenching writing style, to the intricately broken characters and the way they react to each other and the equally broken world around them. And we can't go without mentioning that stunning cover!
Calla's journey from a servant girl hiding from fragments of a horrific past she can barely remember to someone learning to place her trust in others, to someone learning to place her trust in herself and taking control of her own choices and mistakes, and future to try and fix everything that was broken inside her was absolutely beautiful. And I adore Gray and his own selfless determination to do the right thing and make up for the mistakes and betrayals in his own past. The way their relationship bloomed from a state of mistrust to a cautious alliance, to friends, and then to something a little more than that, was an absolute joy to watch; one of the most organic and heartwarming relationship developments I've read in a long time. I adore them both, and especially when they're together.
But even the side characters had so much personality and depths, from Marigo with her willful excitable and optimistic views on the world, to the other servants working with Calla around the Hennan's palace, to the Hennan family themselves, and not to mention the villains of this story, of which there are a few, most of them hidden in plain sight.
The world itself held so much life, and every description made it feel that much more vivid. I was in love with the tropical, junglesque, wartorn and magic-ruined world this book is set in, and the unique history behind the mages and the peoples who call it home. There were unique creatures like the nugars they used as steeds, and the predatory kootahs, and different plants and foods, and even the amethyst soil! It all worked to shape into a beautiful, rich landscape unlike anything else. And though I'm not sure it's a place I would like to visit, given how many horrible things seem to be happening within it, it definitely felt so real and tangible while reading that I might as well have traversing the jungle alongside the characters.
All in all, I can't say enough about how much I loved this book; the writing was beautiful, the characters and world were rich and real, and the emotions were high and heartfelt. A highly recommended read, that's for certain! My only disappointment is that the second book is not yet out, because I need that desperately!!!
First of all, I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, but I have since purchased my own copy of the e-book, and am desperate for the physical copy as well.
It is a Masterpiece in all possible ways, from the beautifully descriptive and heart wrenching writing style, to the intricately broken characters and the way they react to each other and the equally broken world around them. And we can't go without mentioning that stunning cover!
Calla's journey from a servant girl hiding from fragments of a horrific past she can barely remember to someone learning to place her trust in others, to someone learning to place her trust in herself and taking control of her own choices and mistakes, and future to try and fix everything that was broken inside her was absolutely beautiful. And I adore Gray and his own selfless determination to do the right thing and make up for the mistakes and betrayals in his own past. The way their relationship bloomed from a state of mistrust to a cautious alliance, to friends, and then to something a little more than that, was an absolute joy to watch; one of the most organic and heartwarming relationship developments I've read in a long time. I adore them both, and especially when they're together.
But even the side characters had so much personality and depths, from Marigo with her willful excitable and optimistic views on the world, to the other servants working with Calla around the Hennan's palace, to the Hennan family themselves, and not to mention the villains of this story, of which there are a few, most of them hidden in plain sight.
The world itself held so much life, and every description made it feel that much more vivid. I was in love with the tropical, junglesque, wartorn and magic-ruined world this book is set in, and the unique history behind the mages and the peoples who call it home. There were unique creatures like the nugars they used as steeds, and the predatory kootahs, and different plants and foods, and even the amethyst soil! It all worked to shape into a beautiful, rich landscape unlike anything else. And though I'm not sure it's a place I would like to visit, given how many horrible things seem to be happening within it, it definitely felt so real and tangible while reading that I might as well have traversing the jungle alongside the characters.
All in all, I can't say enough about how much I loved this book; the writing was beautiful, the characters and world were rich and real, and the emotions were high and heartfelt. A highly recommended read, that's for certain! My only disappointment is that the second book is not yet out, because I need that desperately!!!
July 22, 2025
Opening thoughts: I've read Skylark in the Fog, also by Clove, previously and absolutely adored it, so I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up Imbued. This is a story full of heart with characters that you really want to root for the whole way through.
Worldbuilding: I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding in this book. Clove does an excellent job at fully immersing you in the world and expertly weaving in tidbits that both hint at the plot to come and the greater world around the characters. I really loved the backdrop of a world still recovering from the damage caused by foolhardy mages.
Emotions: Calla goes through it and I just want to bundle her up and tell her everything will be okay (will it though????). There's this constant back and forth of Calla hating and fearing the magic within her but also wanting to learn more about it, and Clove does an excellent job at pulling you into Calla's inner psyche as she struggles with this. The prose is at times very poetic, and I think that lends wonderfully to allowing the reader to really feel alongside Calla.
Intrigue: I was a huge fan of the dichotomy between the nature gods worshipped in Kiriong and the ancient, long dead Luor. I also absolutely love what Clove did with flashbacks and dreams in Imbued. We slowly figure out with Calla what happened to her in her past, and what the magic inside her truly is.
Relationships: The relationship between Calla and Gray is a complex, twisted thing built, at first, on distrust and survival instincts, but it slowly (ever so slowly) blossoms into a mutual understanding and, eventually, something more. I would have loved to have a couple Gray POV chapters to really get into his head, but even seeing him through Calla's POV it's wonderful to watch his and Calla's transformation as they grow closer. I really hope things work out for them because I think they just deserve love and happiness :') I also really loved Calla rediscovering the friendship she once had with Aesh and the complex emotions that dredges up for her. There's quite a large cast of background characters in Kiriong, and while I sometimes forgot some of their names, I think Clove did an excellent job at establishing Calla's relationship to each of them.
Descriptions: Imbued is full of incredibly rich descriptions that really transport you into the moment. I found myself lost within its pages more than once while I was reading. Clove masterfully weaves in sensory details that, combined with the first person narration, allow you to see the world through Calla's eyes.
Engagement: This is one of those books that took me a while to read, not because it was slow but because I wanted to savor every chapter. The pacing starts out gradual, as Calla begins to train with Gray and learn more about her magic, and then it ramps up at exactly the right moment and takes off at a break-neck speed towards the end. I was engrossed at every moment while reading.
Final thoughts: This was a wonderfully heartbreaking read. The characters all had an incredible depth that really made them come alive on the page and the world is rich and unique. Calla's internal struggle with her relationship towards magic and the outer forces working against her created a fantastic reading experience. I can't wait to see what happens in book two.
Worldbuilding: I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding in this book. Clove does an excellent job at fully immersing you in the world and expertly weaving in tidbits that both hint at the plot to come and the greater world around the characters. I really loved the backdrop of a world still recovering from the damage caused by foolhardy mages.
Emotions: Calla goes through it and I just want to bundle her up and tell her everything will be okay (will it though????). There's this constant back and forth of Calla hating and fearing the magic within her but also wanting to learn more about it, and Clove does an excellent job at pulling you into Calla's inner psyche as she struggles with this. The prose is at times very poetic, and I think that lends wonderfully to allowing the reader to really feel alongside Calla.
Intrigue: I was a huge fan of the dichotomy between the nature gods worshipped in Kiriong and the ancient, long dead Luor. I also absolutely love what Clove did with flashbacks and dreams in Imbued. We slowly figure out with Calla what happened to her in her past, and what the magic inside her truly is.
Relationships: The relationship between Calla and Gray is a complex, twisted thing built, at first, on distrust and survival instincts, but it slowly (ever so slowly) blossoms into a mutual understanding and, eventually, something more. I would have loved to have a couple Gray POV chapters to really get into his head, but even seeing him through Calla's POV it's wonderful to watch his and Calla's transformation as they grow closer. I really hope things work out for them because I think they just deserve love and happiness :') I also really loved Calla rediscovering the friendship she once had with Aesh and the complex emotions that dredges up for her. There's quite a large cast of background characters in Kiriong, and while I sometimes forgot some of their names, I think Clove did an excellent job at establishing Calla's relationship to each of them.
Descriptions: Imbued is full of incredibly rich descriptions that really transport you into the moment. I found myself lost within its pages more than once while I was reading. Clove masterfully weaves in sensory details that, combined with the first person narration, allow you to see the world through Calla's eyes.
Engagement: This is one of those books that took me a while to read, not because it was slow but because I wanted to savor every chapter. The pacing starts out gradual, as Calla begins to train with Gray and learn more about her magic, and then it ramps up at exactly the right moment and takes off at a break-neck speed towards the end. I was engrossed at every moment while reading.
Final thoughts: This was a wonderfully heartbreaking read. The characters all had an incredible depth that really made them come alive on the page and the world is rich and unique. Calla's internal struggle with her relationship towards magic and the outer forces working against her created a fantastic reading experience. I can't wait to see what happens in book two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2024
Imbued by Helyna L. Clove is an original fantasy novel, the first in a planned duology, that takes the reader to a world where magic is so tightly controlled as to be effectively banned. It tells the story of Calla, a young servant woman who is hiding the secret of her magical abilities while also trying to cope with a form of amnesia that means she has no real memories of her childhood, except of course for the nightmares that regularly disturb her sleep. The last thing she needs is the return of Gray, the estranged heir of the family she works for. As a mage hunter he is bound to uncover her secret and destroy her life. When instead he offers to help her learn to control and use her powers she is reluctant at first, but finds herself increasingly drawn to him. It turns out that Gray has secrets of his own, and may in fact be the key to uncovering the mystery of Calla's past.
There were many things I liked about this book, chief among them the beautifully lush and vividly descriptive writing. I also love a book where the main character's past is a mystery, and I think this is a theme that is well developed over the course of the book. The reader is dropped into an original world with a complex history and magic system and I will admit that I struggled with the book at first, there were so many concepts and pieces of lore, culture and history in the first couple of chapters that if it were not for my liking for Calla as a character and my curiosity about her past I might have given up, which would have been a shame, as once the story got going I was captivated. if the reader is willing to go with the flow and give the author time to set things up the reward is there but I fear that some readers will lack that patience. I liked the magic system which seemed to be almost parasitic in some ways as using magic requires so much energy that it risks injuring the user. It worked well with the idea that magic is so dangerous that it cannot be used freely. As I said earlier the writing is very descriptive and I loved the world the author imagined with its purple soil and rich cultural history. It was clear that she put a lot of thought into the setting for her story. This is definitely a book for readers who like a slow burn and prefer a more character driven story, much of the book focuses on Calla, both in terms of her trying to understand her past and also her developing relationship with Gray. The story definitely has a darker side which is explored in Calla's nightmares, which of course relate to her mysterious past and feature confinement, captivity, pain and torture. There are several secondary characters that added a nice extra dimension to the story most notably Calla's friend Marigo and the mysterious Aesh. The last third or so of the book is more dramatic and fast paced and I loved seeing how the author was able to bring together the mystery of Calla's past and the drama unfolding in the current timeline. The ending left me curious as to where the author intends to take the story and keen to read more of her work.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
There were many things I liked about this book, chief among them the beautifully lush and vividly descriptive writing. I also love a book where the main character's past is a mystery, and I think this is a theme that is well developed over the course of the book. The reader is dropped into an original world with a complex history and magic system and I will admit that I struggled with the book at first, there were so many concepts and pieces of lore, culture and history in the first couple of chapters that if it were not for my liking for Calla as a character and my curiosity about her past I might have given up, which would have been a shame, as once the story got going I was captivated. if the reader is willing to go with the flow and give the author time to set things up the reward is there but I fear that some readers will lack that patience. I liked the magic system which seemed to be almost parasitic in some ways as using magic requires so much energy that it risks injuring the user. It worked well with the idea that magic is so dangerous that it cannot be used freely. As I said earlier the writing is very descriptive and I loved the world the author imagined with its purple soil and rich cultural history. It was clear that she put a lot of thought into the setting for her story. This is definitely a book for readers who like a slow burn and prefer a more character driven story, much of the book focuses on Calla, both in terms of her trying to understand her past and also her developing relationship with Gray. The story definitely has a darker side which is explored in Calla's nightmares, which of course relate to her mysterious past and feature confinement, captivity, pain and torture. There are several secondary characters that added a nice extra dimension to the story most notably Calla's friend Marigo and the mysterious Aesh. The last third or so of the book is more dramatic and fast paced and I loved seeing how the author was able to bring together the mystery of Calla's past and the drama unfolding in the current timeline. The ending left me curious as to where the author intends to take the story and keen to read more of her work.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
September 14, 2024
I wish I could do half stars on Goodreads 😭 this was 3.5 stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Helyna L. Clove for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Imbued is the first foray into fantasy for Helyna L. Clove and what a start it is. Our main character, Calla, has worked as a servant to the Hennan family (an influential family in the Kamphua Dominion) for the majority of her life and can't remember much of it from before she ended up there at Kiriong. All she does know is she has magic -- powerful and dangerous magic -- that, if discovered, would put her in grave danger. She's spent her life being afraid of and hiding it by preventing anyone from getting close enough, but her magic and the terrible nightmares and memories that come from her past continue to push to be acknowledged.
The Hennan's eldest son, Gray, is a mage who was allowed to live due to his family's place in society and has been used against his own kind by being turned into a mage hunter. He makes a reluctant return to his family home to fulfill his duty as heir, making a marriage alliance to provide security against a war that's been brewing for some time. Almost immediately he notices Calla and her magic, but rather than turn her in as she fears, he seeks her out and offers to help her better understand it. Though Calla is slow to trust him and his motives, she agrees. As Calla practices with Gray and her memories become clearer, she finds that she isn't quite as indispensable as she once believed.
The story doesn't play into the idea that there are good guys and bad guys and nothing in between. Our protagonists are real people faced with difficult decisions that don't only impact themselves but the ones around them. How they approach them is certainly fascinating.
One thing I wish had been different, though, was Calla's level of agency. It seemed as though the events of the story just happened to her rather than her making decisions or doing things that impacted the plot and moved things forward. It made it more difficult for me to really feel engaged with the story, but it's possible that the idea of an unwilling protagonist isn't necessarily for me. Hopefully that will change as the series progresses and Calla comes more into her power and herself.
Thank you NetGalley and Helyna L. Clove for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Imbued is the first foray into fantasy for Helyna L. Clove and what a start it is. Our main character, Calla, has worked as a servant to the Hennan family (an influential family in the Kamphua Dominion) for the majority of her life and can't remember much of it from before she ended up there at Kiriong. All she does know is she has magic -- powerful and dangerous magic -- that, if discovered, would put her in grave danger. She's spent her life being afraid of and hiding it by preventing anyone from getting close enough, but her magic and the terrible nightmares and memories that come from her past continue to push to be acknowledged.
The Hennan's eldest son, Gray, is a mage who was allowed to live due to his family's place in society and has been used against his own kind by being turned into a mage hunter. He makes a reluctant return to his family home to fulfill his duty as heir, making a marriage alliance to provide security against a war that's been brewing for some time. Almost immediately he notices Calla and her magic, but rather than turn her in as she fears, he seeks her out and offers to help her better understand it. Though Calla is slow to trust him and his motives, she agrees. As Calla practices with Gray and her memories become clearer, she finds that she isn't quite as indispensable as she once believed.
The story doesn't play into the idea that there are good guys and bad guys and nothing in between. Our protagonists are real people faced with difficult decisions that don't only impact themselves but the ones around them. How they approach them is certainly fascinating.
One thing I wish had been different, though, was Calla's level of agency. It seemed as though the events of the story just happened to her rather than her making decisions or doing things that impacted the plot and moved things forward. It made it more difficult for me to really feel engaged with the story, but it's possible that the idea of an unwilling protagonist isn't necessarily for me. Hopefully that will change as the series progresses and Calla comes more into her power and herself.
September 3, 2024
Hiding from the world in an aristocratic household, Calla is a servant to a wealthy family. Maintaining anonymity, Calla has no memory of her past. However, she has a secret. In a land where magic is outlawed, and those with magic are hunted, she has to keep her secret locked away so that no one can ever find out the truth. Except that is, until the dashing young heir of the aristocratic family discovers her truth.
But instead of reporting her to the authorities, Gray, a magehunter instead offers to teach her..
Told in the first person, Helena L. Clove’s new book, Imbued is a book that is full of plot twists and surprises.
Calla, a girl who has no past is an intriguing character, who on the whole tends to push others away and instead of being the usual brash chosen one, is a quiet, introspective heroine.
At first, the other characters of the book can seem a little distant. However, as we are seeing this word through our protagonists eyes, this is conveyed surprisingly well by Helena Clove’s writing. You always get the feeling that Calla never wants to interact with the world around her due to the secrets that she keeps. This can be a little frustrating at first, but this is not in a bad way, it is simply due to the fact that you cannot help to become immersed in Calla’s personality and see the damage that she is doing through the omnipresent eyes of a reader.
However, despite how frustrating Calla can be, she is a likeable character as she is very reminiscent of Eleven’s character in Stranger Things, and like Eleven, we know that Calla is going to be extraordinary, both in her relationships with others and with the powers that she has kept hidden.
Helena Clove’s first book in her duology is a fantastic read and one that I enjoyed immensely. The book is brimming full of mystery and secrets, and I definitely had that ‘one more chapter’ vibes going on as I read this book.
The story is initially a slow burn as Clove gently builds the beats to the final conclusion, gently feeding the reader with bits of information.
In terms of world building, Clove has created an immersive world that put me in mind of a south Asian feeling, which is refreshing at times although it can be difficult for the reader to get used to the language of some of the world that Clove has built, but trust me stick with the book and you will be richly rewarded with a pleasantly surprising immersive read that had me on the edge of my seat several times whilst reading it.
As I have mentioned before, the characters at first can seem a little fuzzy around the edges, due to us seeing them through the ever mistrustful eyes of the main protagonist. However, as the story progresses and as Calla discovers that there is more to the characters themselves, we get more rounded characters. Gray, is a surprising character. At first he appears to be the typical teacher cum love interest, but these boundaries soon shift and he proves to be a really good counterpoint to the main character.
Imbued is a fantastic start to Helena L. Cloves’ duology, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
But instead of reporting her to the authorities, Gray, a magehunter instead offers to teach her..
Told in the first person, Helena L. Clove’s new book, Imbued is a book that is full of plot twists and surprises.
Calla, a girl who has no past is an intriguing character, who on the whole tends to push others away and instead of being the usual brash chosen one, is a quiet, introspective heroine.
At first, the other characters of the book can seem a little distant. However, as we are seeing this word through our protagonists eyes, this is conveyed surprisingly well by Helena Clove’s writing. You always get the feeling that Calla never wants to interact with the world around her due to the secrets that she keeps. This can be a little frustrating at first, but this is not in a bad way, it is simply due to the fact that you cannot help to become immersed in Calla’s personality and see the damage that she is doing through the omnipresent eyes of a reader.
However, despite how frustrating Calla can be, she is a likeable character as she is very reminiscent of Eleven’s character in Stranger Things, and like Eleven, we know that Calla is going to be extraordinary, both in her relationships with others and with the powers that she has kept hidden.
Helena Clove’s first book in her duology is a fantastic read and one that I enjoyed immensely. The book is brimming full of mystery and secrets, and I definitely had that ‘one more chapter’ vibes going on as I read this book.
The story is initially a slow burn as Clove gently builds the beats to the final conclusion, gently feeding the reader with bits of information.
In terms of world building, Clove has created an immersive world that put me in mind of a south Asian feeling, which is refreshing at times although it can be difficult for the reader to get used to the language of some of the world that Clove has built, but trust me stick with the book and you will be richly rewarded with a pleasantly surprising immersive read that had me on the edge of my seat several times whilst reading it.
As I have mentioned before, the characters at first can seem a little fuzzy around the edges, due to us seeing them through the ever mistrustful eyes of the main protagonist. However, as the story progresses and as Calla discovers that there is more to the characters themselves, we get more rounded characters. Gray, is a surprising character. At first he appears to be the typical teacher cum love interest, but these boundaries soon shift and he proves to be a really good counterpoint to the main character.
Imbued is a fantastic start to Helena L. Cloves’ duology, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
January 28, 2025
Calla has spent her whole life, or at least what little of it she can remember, fighting to keep her magic hidden even as it rebels inside her. She focuses on serving her masters in Kiriong, fearing that at any moment someone could discover her magic and have her executed. That is until Grey Hennan, the heir to Kiriong, returns. Grey himself had developed magic at a young age and been sent way to a special facility to train him to become a mage-killer. With his return it seems like now more than ever Calla's life is in danger, and worse still her magic seems to have gone feral so close to another mage. Yet strangely Grey doesn't seem inclined to kill her. Rather he intends to teach her how to control her magic. Calla hopes this means she'll be able to remain in hiding forever, but there are secrets about her past that not even she knows that are about to destroy the life she has created for herself.
This is a really fun read. I enjoyed the world of the story. The Kamphua Dominion is fascinating. The mage war that led to its creation and the subjugation of its native people is something that I can't wait to read more about in the next book. I want to know more about the world and it's history.
Calla, the main character, is very anxious throughout the book and I felt sorry for her. For her entire time in Kiriong she has felt isolated and hunted. She keeps herself apart from others and she fears her own powers. I was rooting for her the whole time to realize that there were people trying to help her and for her to take back some of her power.
I also really loved the character of Grey. I think a lot of times a character in his position would be a battle hardened and bitter person that treats the main character like a spoiled child and that wasn't the case for him. He did act a little harsh at the beginning but it make sense considering some of the things that happen later in the book. Despite that he is always kind and understanding when Calla herself is harsh. I really found that style of Male Lead more refreshing.
This is a really fun read. I enjoyed the world of the story. The Kamphua Dominion is fascinating. The mage war that led to its creation and the subjugation of its native people is something that I can't wait to read more about in the next book. I want to know more about the world and it's history.
Calla, the main character, is very anxious throughout the book and I felt sorry for her. For her entire time in Kiriong she has felt isolated and hunted. She keeps herself apart from others and she fears her own powers. I was rooting for her the whole time to realize that there were people trying to help her and for her to take back some of her power.
I also really loved the character of Grey. I think a lot of times a character in his position would be a battle hardened and bitter person that treats the main character like a spoiled child and that wasn't the case for him. He did act a little harsh at the beginning but it make sense considering some of the things that happen later in the book. Despite that he is always kind and understanding when Calla herself is harsh. I really found that style of Male Lead more refreshing.
September 10, 2025
Discaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favourite reads this year 💜
The story builds up slowly, but the general athmosphere caught me immeadiately. Also retrospectively I'm extremely grateful to see the least evenful days, so we could better see the long journey of Calla. Because she had a long journey, and she still has a long one ahead, which I'm totally here for!
Every aspect of the story is well connected. I liked the vivid imagery, the physical world we were put in, and it was also really fitting for our narrator and main character, Calla. She is a silent observant for most of the story, but given the main conflict - and her own, inner conflict! - it makes perfect sense. At the beginning her strong inner voice seemed a bit out of place, but when I learned that she is constantly fighting against a magical seel, it just fell into its place, because it takes lots of willpower to suppress a truer version of one's self.
Even though the romance wasn't highlighted in the blurb, I ended up rooting for the couple(-to be? please be it in the second book) quite quickly. I'm fond of characters spending quality time with eachother, and through their mutual scenes I really felt that they indeed come closer to eachother. Given the way they were perceiving themselves, I could totally see why they liked eachother, because they incorporated some sort of virtue for eachother. I also bet that they liked the way the other person was perceiving them, even though I'm sure that Calla couldn't fully process that someone finds her brave, appreciates her efforts and doesn't mind her making mistakes.
I loved the way magic was working and was displayed (also talking about connections, the cover is beautiful, and after finishing the story I love it even more for the symbolism), it remained mysterious enough to fit into the regular vibe, but I still managed to get a picture on what's possible with it. I can't wait to make it clearer!
The mystery aspect of the story also played out well, I loved the dreams/memories where we slowly got the memories of Calla's old life, and having some invaders meddling and deceiving her added a lot to it.
I'm looking forward to book 2!
One of my favourite reads this year 💜
The story builds up slowly, but the general athmosphere caught me immeadiately. Also retrospectively I'm extremely grateful to see the least evenful days, so we could better see the long journey of Calla. Because she had a long journey, and she still has a long one ahead, which I'm totally here for!
Every aspect of the story is well connected. I liked the vivid imagery, the physical world we were put in, and it was also really fitting for our narrator and main character, Calla. She is a silent observant for most of the story, but given the main conflict - and her own, inner conflict! - it makes perfect sense. At the beginning her strong inner voice seemed a bit out of place, but when I learned that she is constantly fighting against a magical seel, it just fell into its place, because it takes lots of willpower to suppress a truer version of one's self.
Even though the romance wasn't highlighted in the blurb, I ended up rooting for the couple(-to be? please be it in the second book) quite quickly. I'm fond of characters spending quality time with eachother, and through their mutual scenes I really felt that they indeed come closer to eachother. Given the way they were perceiving themselves, I could totally see why they liked eachother, because they incorporated some sort of virtue for eachother. I also bet that they liked the way the other person was perceiving them, even though I'm sure that Calla couldn't fully process that someone finds her brave, appreciates her efforts and doesn't mind her making mistakes.
I loved the way magic was working and was displayed (also talking about connections, the cover is beautiful, and after finishing the story I love it even more for the symbolism), it remained mysterious enough to fit into the regular vibe, but I still managed to get a picture on what's possible with it. I can't wait to make it clearer!
The mystery aspect of the story also played out well, I loved the dreams/memories where we slowly got the memories of Calla's old life, and having some invaders meddling and deceiving her added a lot to it.
I'm looking forward to book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2024
Imbued follows a woman hiding from the world. She’s hidden so well, she can’t remember her past. Where she came from. Who she really is. She’s merely a servant named Calla, a tender of the royal gardens and the palace, serving the upper class.
But Calla holds a deep, dark secret. One she’s yet to fully understand, but one that fuels her need to hide. Calla has magic. And a well-known mage hunter has just moved back into his home of Kiriong, where Calla resides.
The prose of Imbued is done so well, and the way magic is described and manifested is so interesting and unique from methods I’ve seen described in most fiction. There are so many twists and turns, situations where I thought would go one way, but Calla or someone else turns that right around to something else.
The relationships forged, the PTSD and anxiety, everything flows so well and realistically. There is so much culture here, so much diversity, and while I might not have understood some of the culture at first—names, species—I eventually learned through context, which is exciting, as you don’t need to have everything laid out all at once. I never felt like I was having to read an excessive amount of details or worldbuilding at any one time.
I love that Calla is a quiet, untrusting person. She has reasons to hide, reasons to do what she does, and watching her unfurl and blossom, even if just a little, is a treat—even if it comes with the dark, even terrifying consequences of her past and the world around her.
The slow-burn romance depicted here already has me on the edge of my seat, because it’s very possible that things won’t work out the way I imagine they might. There are several incredibly interesting characters that I can’t wait to see more of. I’m extremely excited to see what’s coming next.
Imbued by Helyna Clove gets 5 stars from me.
But Calla holds a deep, dark secret. One she’s yet to fully understand, but one that fuels her need to hide. Calla has magic. And a well-known mage hunter has just moved back into his home of Kiriong, where Calla resides.
The prose of Imbued is done so well, and the way magic is described and manifested is so interesting and unique from methods I’ve seen described in most fiction. There are so many twists and turns, situations where I thought would go one way, but Calla or someone else turns that right around to something else.
The relationships forged, the PTSD and anxiety, everything flows so well and realistically. There is so much culture here, so much diversity, and while I might not have understood some of the culture at first—names, species—I eventually learned through context, which is exciting, as you don’t need to have everything laid out all at once. I never felt like I was having to read an excessive amount of details or worldbuilding at any one time.
I love that Calla is a quiet, untrusting person. She has reasons to hide, reasons to do what she does, and watching her unfurl and blossom, even if just a little, is a treat—even if it comes with the dark, even terrifying consequences of her past and the world around her.
The slow-burn romance depicted here already has me on the edge of my seat, because it’s very possible that things won’t work out the way I imagine they might. There are several incredibly interesting characters that I can’t wait to see more of. I’m extremely excited to see what’s coming next.
Imbued by Helyna Clove gets 5 stars from me.
October 27, 2024
Imbued by Helyna L. Clove is an intriguing fantasy that pulls readers into a world where magic is forbidden, and those with magical abilities must keep their powers hidden. The story follows Calla, a servant with no memories of her past, who is hiding a dangerous secret—her ability to wield magic. When Gray, a magehunter and the estranged heir of the aristocratic family Calla works for, discovers her secret, he offers to help her understand and control her powers rather than turning her in.
The novel unfolds slowly, allowing readers to explore the complexities of Calla’s character, who is quiet, introspective, and deeply affected by her hidden past. The dynamic between Calla and Gray evolves in unexpected ways, as their relationship becomes central to the larger, politically charged plot involving a mage uprising and dark secrets about Calla’s forgotten childhood. The world-building is immersive, with a unique setting that hints at South Asian influences, although some readers may find the language and intricacies of the world take a bit of time to adjust to.
Overall, Imbued offers a richly layered fantasy with emotional depth, mystery, and a touch of romance. It’s a strong start to Clove’s duology, filled with political intrigue and a slow-building tension that keeps readers engaged. Fans of character-driven, magical adventures will find this a rewarding read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review
The novel unfolds slowly, allowing readers to explore the complexities of Calla’s character, who is quiet, introspective, and deeply affected by her hidden past. The dynamic between Calla and Gray evolves in unexpected ways, as their relationship becomes central to the larger, politically charged plot involving a mage uprising and dark secrets about Calla’s forgotten childhood. The world-building is immersive, with a unique setting that hints at South Asian influences, although some readers may find the language and intricacies of the world take a bit of time to adjust to.
Overall, Imbued offers a richly layered fantasy with emotional depth, mystery, and a touch of romance. It’s a strong start to Clove’s duology, filled with political intrigue and a slow-building tension that keeps readers engaged. Fans of character-driven, magical adventures will find this a rewarding read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review
September 17, 2024
Masterful. Intricate. Magnetic. Raw.
Imbued takes the beat of the amnesia trope and reimagines a mystery of magic, terror, self-discovery, and agency in a vivid world where magic is reviled.
A clever narration on oppression, rebellion, agency, and trust, Helyna L. Clove weaves a tale so rich and deep that it grips you from the first page to the last.
This is a story I will be thinking of for days, if not weeks to come; eagerly looking forward to more on this world, more from this story,and definitely more Grey and Calla.
Imbued takes the beat of the amnesia trope and reimagines a mystery of magic, terror, self-discovery, and agency in a vivid world where magic is reviled.
A clever narration on oppression, rebellion, agency, and trust, Helyna L. Clove weaves a tale so rich and deep that it grips you from the first page to the last.
This is a story I will be thinking of for days, if not weeks to come; eagerly looking forward to more on this world, more from this story,and definitely more Grey and Calla.
September 14, 2024
Calla, I love Calla lilies. They are beautiful.
My apologies, I digress.
Our Calla don’t really remember much from before she came out of the forest years ago. Now, she is keeping her head down to not be noticed.
She has powers. Magical powers are a no-no, and it does not help when Prince Grey comes back to the city after hunting others with magic. She can not be discovered!
I feel that this book, in its own beauty, has taken the proper number of pages and time needed to let everything simmer. Calla needed time to learn how to control her powers, trust her new partner in crime, and for feelings to develop.
I would not say that the book is slow, nor does it feel so. It just seemed that way the first time I read what I wrote. There are things going on in the kingdom along the way that are oh so intriguing.
As time goes on, we get to learn more about her past as we progress towards the day comes that she has to run for her life, and this gentle reader learned what Imbued actually means. Intriguing, indeed.
I am still not over how this book ended. I am just saying it. I think I heard the doctor's orders: I need book two STAT!. 😄💙
My apologies, I digress.
Our Calla don’t really remember much from before she came out of the forest years ago. Now, she is keeping her head down to not be noticed.
She has powers. Magical powers are a no-no, and it does not help when Prince Grey comes back to the city after hunting others with magic. She can not be discovered!
I feel that this book, in its own beauty, has taken the proper number of pages and time needed to let everything simmer. Calla needed time to learn how to control her powers, trust her new partner in crime, and for feelings to develop.
I would not say that the book is slow, nor does it feel so. It just seemed that way the first time I read what I wrote. There are things going on in the kingdom along the way that are oh so intriguing.
As time goes on, we get to learn more about her past as we progress towards the day comes that she has to run for her life, and this gentle reader learned what Imbued actually means. Intriguing, indeed.
I am still not over how this book ended. I am just saying it. I think I heard the doctor's orders: I need book two STAT!. 😄💙
August 22, 2024
A young woman working as a servant on the royal estate where they could kill her for having magic. I liked the high-stakes and the danger of being found out. The magic was interesting. My only critique is I wish we got to the magic a bit sooner, but overall I would recommend giving this book a read.
March 31, 2025
astonishing book! Definitely following this author. I almost gave up because too many unfamiliar words/names etc in the beginning and so glad i persevered. Also didn't care much for the ending but everything in between felt so rich & real. Glorious writing.
August 24, 2024
Beautifully -written book, great imagery. Love the author's versatility; this is a dark fantasy and she also writes rollicking space opera!
November 15, 2025
I had such a fun time reading this book!
It starts a bit slow, the world has to build up, have to learn about our characters.
But ohh my. It kept me reading and things happened i didn't expect. I could understand fmc feelings, it really came through in the book. Very well written. I really loved to read this book and can't wait for the second book!
It starts a bit slow, the world has to build up, have to learn about our characters.
But ohh my. It kept me reading and things happened i didn't expect. I could understand fmc feelings, it really came through in the book. Very well written. I really loved to read this book and can't wait for the second book!
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