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When the Dawn Comes
When the Sacred and the Damned collide, a druid princess and a cursed lord must face the legacy of their ancestors and the wrath of an elven king bent on conquest—or see their realm consumed by a darkness as old as the land itself.
Nesiarānnī Januksāf is no stranger to loss. She’s always believed her path was avenge her mother, stop the rising darkness, and protect the powerless trampled beneath the boot of the elven king. But war doesn’t bend to noble intent. Thrown into the heart of a realm where betrayal runs deep and shadows whisper of forgotten gods, she’s bound to a fate that could break her. With her mother’s dying wish echoing in her ears and the voice of an ancient power stirring in her soul, Nesia must walk a path where duty, desire, and sacrifice blur—and the past is never truly buried.
Níkav Hælbjórn walks in the shadow of what he once a farmer’s son forced to command, now crippled by a curse that has stripped him of his power and family legacy. Desperation drives him to seek salvation in the most unlikely place—Nesia, the daughter of the man who condemned his people to this fate. In her, he may find the key to breaking the curse, or the final blade that sends him and his kingdom to its doom.
In a realm screaming for salvation, Nesia and Níkav are forced to confront the brutal truths of their bloodlines and a destiny they never chose. With Eldrean on the edge of ruin, they must either submit to the chains of prophecy or tear them apart, defying the gods themselves to forge their own path.
Nesiarānnī Januksāf is no stranger to loss. She’s always believed her path was avenge her mother, stop the rising darkness, and protect the powerless trampled beneath the boot of the elven king. But war doesn’t bend to noble intent. Thrown into the heart of a realm where betrayal runs deep and shadows whisper of forgotten gods, she’s bound to a fate that could break her. With her mother’s dying wish echoing in her ears and the voice of an ancient power stirring in her soul, Nesia must walk a path where duty, desire, and sacrifice blur—and the past is never truly buried.
Níkav Hælbjórn walks in the shadow of what he once a farmer’s son forced to command, now crippled by a curse that has stripped him of his power and family legacy. Desperation drives him to seek salvation in the most unlikely place—Nesia, the daughter of the man who condemned his people to this fate. In her, he may find the key to breaking the curse, or the final blade that sends him and his kingdom to its doom.
In a realm screaming for salvation, Nesia and Níkav are forced to confront the brutal truths of their bloodlines and a destiny they never chose. With Eldrean on the edge of ruin, they must either submit to the chains of prophecy or tear them apart, defying the gods themselves to forge their own path.
- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 28, 2025
When The Dawn comes is one of the most original forms of fantasy I’ve read in the longest time. From characters to creatures, magic systems to word building.
I was hooked from the first chapter (Not exaggerating I cried within the first 25 pages.)
I felt every emotion possible during this book, and completely fell in love with the characters. Which is so easy when the MMC ( Níkav) is the kindest most charming man you’ve ever read, yet strong in every sense. The FMC ( Nesiarānnī / Nesia ) is a head strong, loving, (excuse my language) BADASS!
I was thrown into a world like nothing I’ve ever experienced / read before. I felt wholly immersed like I was living and experiencing this world alongside the characters, learning everything just as they were.
I found everything I look for in a fantasy book, in this book- found family, AMAZING world building, insane plot twits, the most swooning slow burn romance, a magic system like you’ve never seen before, and my personal favorite, detailed and original lore!
I’m so happy that this was my first book of 2025, it sets HIGH expectations for whatever else I read. I truly cannot recommend When The Dawn Comes enough.
I was hooked from the first chapter (Not exaggerating I cried within the first 25 pages.)
I felt every emotion possible during this book, and completely fell in love with the characters. Which is so easy when the MMC ( Níkav) is the kindest most charming man you’ve ever read, yet strong in every sense. The FMC ( Nesiarānnī / Nesia ) is a head strong, loving, (excuse my language) BADASS!
I was thrown into a world like nothing I’ve ever experienced / read before. I felt wholly immersed like I was living and experiencing this world alongside the characters, learning everything just as they were.
I found everything I look for in a fantasy book, in this book- found family, AMAZING world building, insane plot twits, the most swooning slow burn romance, a magic system like you’ve never seen before, and my personal favorite, detailed and original lore!
I’m so happy that this was my first book of 2025, it sets HIGH expectations for whatever else I read. I truly cannot recommend When The Dawn Comes enough.
March 5, 2025
An epic high fantasy with endearing characters and a lush world that absorbs you in the best way possible. The turning pages show the love, sweat, and tears the author has put into it, building a spectacular story that reminded me a lot of old fantasy Tolkienesque books.
When the Dawn Comes is humongous, a doorstopper; there's no other way to describe it. But it isn't intimidating or heavy because the world-building isn't overwhelming, and truly, there's no info dumping, a feat considering how many characters, places, societies, political intrigue, and magic systems it has. You are carried with the main characters as the plot unfolds and progresses, so the twists and turns are felt vividly. Keep in mind, though, that the pacing is much slower than we are used to with new publications, especially if you read romantasy, so the scenes are not as fast-paced, but they are accompanied by tension and high stakes. Nothing to add to the romance; I love a good slow burn that pays off at the end!
Hopefully, this hidden gem will reach popularity in the book community, because it deserves it! Can't wait for the next installment.
When the Dawn Comes is humongous, a doorstopper; there's no other way to describe it. But it isn't intimidating or heavy because the world-building isn't overwhelming, and truly, there's no info dumping, a feat considering how many characters, places, societies, political intrigue, and magic systems it has. You are carried with the main characters as the plot unfolds and progresses, so the twists and turns are felt vividly. Keep in mind, though, that the pacing is much slower than we are used to with new publications, especially if you read romantasy, so the scenes are not as fast-paced, but they are accompanied by tension and high stakes. Nothing to add to the romance; I love a good slow burn that pays off at the end!
Hopefully, this hidden gem will reach popularity in the book community, because it deserves it! Can't wait for the next installment.
January 24, 2025
THANK YOU RAE FOR THE ARC COPY🤎🤎I would give this a solid 4.25/4.5 by the end! This is a super lush and expansive debut high fantasy novel with a romance subplot! The setting definitely sang to my D&D loving heart filled with druids, dragon shifters, elves and much more. We follow our fmc Nesia who is a druid princess who witnesses the brutal murder of her mother during a meeting attempting to broker peace. Ever since this event she has been on a journey of revenge, while also being plagued with nightmare's alluding to an even larger darkness on the horizon. She leaves her kingdom and her dad that she sees as a pushover content to hide behind his own walls, and goes on a journey to attempt to stop this darkness along with bringing her mothers killers to justice. She of course meets a gruff, rude, and handsome man along the way and the story unfolds. There is politics, unlikely alliances, overcoming prejudice, and discerning right from wrong with extremely high stakes.
My Pros: I just LOVED how this felt like a classic fantasy story. It gives that feeling of watching and reading lord of the rings as a kid which I struggle to find in alot of fantasy.
I loved seeing the Elven race through a more sinister lens, more often than not they are usually the lawful good or lawful neutral type characters.
Throughout reading the story I could just feel the LOVE that the author had for her characters and world that I couldn't help but want to know more. This is such a large and complex world with multiple languages, races, religions etc I give huge kudos to the brain that thought it all up.
I loved how Nesia was just this flawed rage machine essentially haha. We get to see that you dont have to be perfectly in control in order to do good in the world, and you really get to see her battle through that and almost rewire her own way of thinking.
Nikav DEFINITELY is Kili (from the hobbit) coded haha just much taller ;) I loved seeing this character begrudgingly step into shoes he never wanted to fill and learn that its ok to accept help and love from others.
My Cons: I would say my main thing would be pacing. Which is partially a me thing and something I feel is sooo hard with a fantasy story of this scale! At times we would spend so long in routine at one place and then suddenly I would be like whoa when did we get here, who are these people etc. It wasnt enough of an issue to keep me out of the story, but at times it was discombobulating.
I really wish we saw more of Astarion, or even from his POV! I feel like we were only getting one half of the picture without it, however maybe that was the point?
After the end I really am alittle confused as to like who is the "bad guys" and who are the "good guys" now and again that might be on purpose.
Lastly ...GIRL YOU MADE US WAIT UNTIL 80% THROUGH THE BOOK?!
My Pros: I just LOVED how this felt like a classic fantasy story. It gives that feeling of watching and reading lord of the rings as a kid which I struggle to find in alot of fantasy.
I loved seeing the Elven race through a more sinister lens, more often than not they are usually the lawful good or lawful neutral type characters.
Throughout reading the story I could just feel the LOVE that the author had for her characters and world that I couldn't help but want to know more. This is such a large and complex world with multiple languages, races, religions etc I give huge kudos to the brain that thought it all up.
I loved how Nesia was just this flawed rage machine essentially haha. We get to see that you dont have to be perfectly in control in order to do good in the world, and you really get to see her battle through that and almost rewire her own way of thinking.
Nikav DEFINITELY is Kili (from the hobbit) coded haha just much taller ;) I loved seeing this character begrudgingly step into shoes he never wanted to fill and learn that its ok to accept help and love from others.
My Cons: I would say my main thing would be pacing. Which is partially a me thing and something I feel is sooo hard with a fantasy story of this scale! At times we would spend so long in routine at one place and then suddenly I would be like whoa when did we get here, who are these people etc. It wasnt enough of an issue to keep me out of the story, but at times it was discombobulating.
I really wish we saw more of Astarion, or even from his POV! I feel like we were only getting one half of the picture without it, however maybe that was the point?
After the end I really am alittle confused as to like who is the "bad guys" and who are the "good guys" now and again that might be on purpose.
Lastly ...GIRL YOU MADE US WAIT UNTIL 80% THROUGH THE BOOK?!
January 12, 2025
This is absolutely one of the best books I have read in a long time. The world building in this book was just absolutely amazing! The way Rae describes the setting and important background information really made me feel connected to this world. I loved learning about all of the important lore and background information associated with our main characters and with the side characters that were introduced. The information was not just dumped into readers lap all at once, instead it was spaced out throughout the story and was described in a way that could be easily followed.
Nesia is our FMC, and she is a breath of fresh air because she isn’t a stereotypical FMC seen in newer fantasy books. She is actually very relatable in the way she acts and feels throughout the story. Nesia shows fear and uncertainty multiple times throughout the book, and she makes mistakes and misjudgments that she later learns to grow from. She accepts her faults and perseveres because of her intense love for her people and her found family. I absolutely love Nesia’s character because she isn’t too over confident and rarely cares what people think of her. I also wanted to point out her relationship with her brother is so realistic, they literally fight once second then have tea the next acting like nothing happened lmao.
Níkav is our MMC and I love his character so much. He’s introduced as an asshole with prejudice against our FMC, but as the story goes on, we see how he overcomes this. Ník is fiercely protective of the people he loves and the people of his land. He cares deeply for his people and will put himself in danger throughout the book many times to try and save them. He is very smart and does many things (can’t say because of spoilers) to get a leg up on his enemies. Once we get further into the book, we start getting to know him more. How he feels so much pressure from those around him to do what is right, even when he knows he needs to take a different route. He has been trained to not show emotion because it is a weakness, so he is definitely a character that has inner turmoil going on.
This brings us to Níkav and Nesia as a couple. Their whole relationship made me so giddy. Their banter and the way they talked to each other in the beginning was absolutely hilarious. They both had prejudice against each other, and they truly hated each other. As the book goes on, they’re forced to work together and slowly start to feel differently about the other. Though they tried to hide it, everyone can tell lol. The yearning from these characters made me genuinely giddy (can we bring back men that yearn please?!). They start trusting each other and eventually form an alliance. Thus blooms a beautiful relationship. The love these two characters have for the other is just insane. They truly are perfect together. She understands him and the decisions he has to make, even when those around them doubt him. He loves her unconditionally, and literally worships the ground she walks on.
Oh my god the way everything came together at the end shook me to the core. Small details from the beginning of the book come back around and cause some big revelations. The ending almost had me crying with the way some events were misunderstood and were finally realized. I need the next book immediately!
TLDR; This book absolutely wrecked me (in the best way possible), I love it so much and can’t wait for the next one.
Nesia is our FMC, and she is a breath of fresh air because she isn’t a stereotypical FMC seen in newer fantasy books. She is actually very relatable in the way she acts and feels throughout the story. Nesia shows fear and uncertainty multiple times throughout the book, and she makes mistakes and misjudgments that she later learns to grow from. She accepts her faults and perseveres because of her intense love for her people and her found family. I absolutely love Nesia’s character because she isn’t too over confident and rarely cares what people think of her. I also wanted to point out her relationship with her brother is so realistic, they literally fight once second then have tea the next acting like nothing happened lmao.
Níkav is our MMC and I love his character so much. He’s introduced as an asshole with prejudice against our FMC, but as the story goes on, we see how he overcomes this. Ník is fiercely protective of the people he loves and the people of his land. He cares deeply for his people and will put himself in danger throughout the book many times to try and save them. He is very smart and does many things (can’t say because of spoilers) to get a leg up on his enemies. Once we get further into the book, we start getting to know him more. How he feels so much pressure from those around him to do what is right, even when he knows he needs to take a different route. He has been trained to not show emotion because it is a weakness, so he is definitely a character that has inner turmoil going on.
This brings us to Níkav and Nesia as a couple. Their whole relationship made me so giddy. Their banter and the way they talked to each other in the beginning was absolutely hilarious. They both had prejudice against each other, and they truly hated each other. As the book goes on, they’re forced to work together and slowly start to feel differently about the other. Though they tried to hide it, everyone can tell lol. The yearning from these characters made me genuinely giddy (can we bring back men that yearn please?!). They start trusting each other and eventually form an alliance. Thus blooms a beautiful relationship. The love these two characters have for the other is just insane. They truly are perfect together. She understands him and the decisions he has to make, even when those around them doubt him. He loves her unconditionally, and literally worships the ground she walks on.
Oh my god the way everything came together at the end shook me to the core. Small details from the beginning of the book come back around and cause some big revelations. The ending almost had me crying with the way some events were misunderstood and were finally realized. I need the next book immediately!
TLDR; This book absolutely wrecked me (in the best way possible), I love it so much and can’t wait for the next one.
February 9, 2025
It's the night before release, and I'm here with one last message—and a reminder of the trigger warnings—before I vanish into the void (see: escaping Goodreads). My book baby, When the Dawn Comes, is about to be set loose upon the world after twenty long months of it only belonging to me. Like, wtf. What do you mean it releases in a few hours?
I poured everything I love about the fantasy genre into this book. I love the characters, the world, languages and lore, and the slow burn tension—the sheer fantasy of it all. If even one person falls in love with it the way I have, I’ve already won. And I know it's obnoxious to rate my own book five stars, but those are for past me. The girl who never imagined she'd be sharing this story with anybody else. She earned those stars.
Alright, that's it from me. Thank you for being here, and giving this book a chance. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.
Check below for Potential Trigger Warnings:
- Disownment
- Strong Language
- Violence and Gore (dagger, sword, spear & axe violence)
- Sexual Content and Explicit Scenes
- Abuse of Power and Authority
- Death of Family Members and Loved Ones
- Grief and Loss Depiction
- Brief Mention of Necrophilia (not described)
- Mentions of Rape (non-main characters)
- Themes of War
When the Dawn Comes contains themes that may be triggering. While this list aims to capture all potential triggers, every reader’s experience is unique. If you feel anything has been overlooked, please don’t hesitate to contact the author at raeauthor@gmail.com
I poured everything I love about the fantasy genre into this book. I love the characters, the world, languages and lore, and the slow burn tension—the sheer fantasy of it all. If even one person falls in love with it the way I have, I’ve already won. And I know it's obnoxious to rate my own book five stars, but those are for past me. The girl who never imagined she'd be sharing this story with anybody else. She earned those stars.
Alright, that's it from me. Thank you for being here, and giving this book a chance. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.
Check below for Potential Trigger Warnings:
- Disownment
- Strong Language
- Violence and Gore (dagger, sword, spear & axe violence)
- Sexual Content and Explicit Scenes
- Abuse of Power and Authority
- Death of Family Members and Loved Ones
- Grief and Loss Depiction
- Brief Mention of Necrophilia (not described)
- Mentions of Rape (non-main characters)
- Themes of War
When the Dawn Comes contains themes that may be triggering. While this list aims to capture all potential triggers, every reader’s experience is unique. If you feel anything has been overlooked, please don’t hesitate to contact the author at raeauthor@gmail.com
June 1, 2025
This book made me gasp, giggle, and squeaaaaaal and that’s the trifecta I look for in romantasy.
First off, Nesia. She’s a powerhouse. Not just strong in a sword-wielding way, but in presence. She carries both princess and warrior in her bones, and I loved that she never needed saving, but still had someone who cared deeply enough to worry. Her druid powers were such a refreshing change from the usual magical tropes, giving me flashbacks to my MMO days (druids were my fave back then too!).
And then there’s Níkav. Cursed and mysterious. But he’s loyal, tender, and quietly intense - my type of MMC to a T. That moment when he confessed his love in the middle of a battle? Literal chef’s kiss. Also: the name Twig cracked me up.
The worldbuilding is done gradually, so while it might feel slow at first, I appreciated not being overwhelmed by info-dumps. That said, I did find some of the fantasy terms hard to grasp at first, but it didn’t pull me out of the story too much.
In short:
- Strong and capable FMC
- Cursed (possibly dragon) MMC who is a complete softie for her
- Druid magic + slow-burn tension
- Battle confessions and a few good giggles
- "My heartbeat." No notes.
First off, Nesia. She’s a powerhouse. Not just strong in a sword-wielding way, but in presence. She carries both princess and warrior in her bones, and I loved that she never needed saving, but still had someone who cared deeply enough to worry. Her druid powers were such a refreshing change from the usual magical tropes, giving me flashbacks to my MMO days (druids were my fave back then too!).
And then there’s Níkav. Cursed and mysterious. But he’s loyal, tender, and quietly intense - my type of MMC to a T. That moment when he confessed his love in the middle of a battle? Literal chef’s kiss. Also: the name Twig cracked me up.
The worldbuilding is done gradually, so while it might feel slow at first, I appreciated not being overwhelmed by info-dumps. That said, I did find some of the fantasy terms hard to grasp at first, but it didn’t pull me out of the story too much.
In short:
- Strong and capable FMC
- Cursed (possibly dragon) MMC who is a complete softie for her
- Druid magic + slow-burn tension
- Battle confessions and a few good giggles
- "My heartbeat." No notes.
February 3, 2025
First, thank you Rae for the ARC copy!! 🐉🧝🏻♀️
When the Dawn Comes is an immersive fantasy novel with incredible world-building that makes it easy to understand the different factions, characters, and power structures without feeling overwhelmed. Every location feels distinct, and the political intrigue is woven in seamlessly, keeping the stakes high and the tension gripping. The magic system is mysterious but gradually unfolds as the story progresses, making each new revelation feel both exciting and rewarding.
The slow-burn romance was one of my favorite aspects, reminding me of Throne of Glass with its gradual buildup and undeniable chemistry. Every interaction between the characters felt meaningful, and the payoff was completely worth the wait. Combined with the rich world, layered politics, and unfolding magic, this book kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m already excited for the next one!
When the Dawn Comes is an immersive fantasy novel with incredible world-building that makes it easy to understand the different factions, characters, and power structures without feeling overwhelmed. Every location feels distinct, and the political intrigue is woven in seamlessly, keeping the stakes high and the tension gripping. The magic system is mysterious but gradually unfolds as the story progresses, making each new revelation feel both exciting and rewarding.
The slow-burn romance was one of my favorite aspects, reminding me of Throne of Glass with its gradual buildup and undeniable chemistry. Every interaction between the characters felt meaningful, and the payoff was completely worth the wait. Combined with the rich world, layered politics, and unfolding magic, this book kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m already excited for the next one!
June 16, 2025
I will start with the good first. Nesia is a lovable FMC, her brother is another lovable character. The world building is deep, and it was reminiscent of reading a D&D campaign. Nesia and niktos’s love story is well written and thought out. I truly loved reading about them and watching their romance build painstakingly slow.
For the bad:
This book was hard for me to get into. The FMC is great, very easy to follow, but some of the character dialogue is pretty weak. The reveal of who Niktos is similar to twilight, which made me cringe. What ever happened with the staff? What was the point. Where’s asterion for the remainder of the book?
Overall this book was good, I have to critique it though because the writing really could be better and the character dialogue needs improving for sure, but it definitely improved by the end of the book.
For the bad:
This book was hard for me to get into. The FMC is great, very easy to follow, but some of the character dialogue is pretty weak. The reveal of who Niktos is similar to twilight, which made me cringe. What ever happened with the staff? What was the point. Where’s asterion for the remainder of the book?
Overall this book was good, I have to critique it though because the writing really could be better and the character dialogue needs improving for sure, but it definitely improved by the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2025
Hello ??? Did this author put drugs in this book or something 😫.
I love it when I read books and can smell the passion in the writing. This book was written SO BEAUTIFULLY. The author created such an interesting world, and the multiple plot twists stunned me each time ! The druid and dragon system was expanded on and explained so well - RAE LAVELLAN DOESNT MISS. The attention to detail is out of this world - both sylvanum and irkadrev feels SO REAL and RIGHT + the religious system the author created is impressive amongst many other things which I fangirled over. The dialogue was well done, and I loved that characters were having actual conversations instead of spewing random one-liners to each other.
Nesia and Nikav are such complex characters and have so much depth and realness to them, which I liked alot. Every other character introduced in the book felt very relevant and had an important role to play. One thing about Rae ?? She's gonna give every character a backstory (an interesting one too), and I'm here for it !!
I felt every emotion reading this book, and seeing Nikav (thats my min hjartsvit😡) and Nesias relationship development must've been the most romantic thing I've read in a whillleeee .
This book was very well thought out, I'm actually smiling so hard thinking about it again. I enjoyed reading this book so much and I cannot wait for book 2. IM HUNGIES !!!!
I love it when I read books and can smell the passion in the writing. This book was written SO BEAUTIFULLY. The author created such an interesting world, and the multiple plot twists stunned me each time ! The druid and dragon system was expanded on and explained so well - RAE LAVELLAN DOESNT MISS. The attention to detail is out of this world - both sylvanum and irkadrev feels SO REAL and RIGHT + the religious system the author created is impressive amongst many other things which I fangirled over. The dialogue was well done, and I loved that characters were having actual conversations instead of spewing random one-liners to each other.
Nesia and Nikav are such complex characters and have so much depth and realness to them, which I liked alot. Every other character introduced in the book felt very relevant and had an important role to play. One thing about Rae ?? She's gonna give every character a backstory (an interesting one too), and I'm here for it !!
I felt every emotion reading this book, and seeing Nikav (thats my min hjartsvit😡) and Nesias relationship development must've been the most romantic thing I've read in a whillleeee .
This book was very well thought out, I'm actually smiling so hard thinking about it again. I enjoyed reading this book so much and I cannot wait for book 2. IM HUNGIES !!!!
January 20, 2025
*4.25⭐️
An amazing start to a series!! The world building and magic system was top tier and definitely was one of the main focus points of the book, besides the threat of war. I absolutely loved all the twists and turns with the characters and the storyline and I did absolutely not see the ending coming!!
I loved how our main characters grew with each other and learned to become each others comfort. The romance was definitely more of a subplot but really well done and I was totally rooting for them the whole way, giggling and the smallest things.
I loved how Nesia grew into her powers and how both she and Níkav had their own struggles with power and the responsibilities that come with it. I also really loved how they both had close relationships to the side characters which I’m also super excited to learn more about!! A longer book but well worth it for the plot and world building focus!
Hoping for some more dragons, more magic and more of Nesia and Níkav in the next book, and looking forward to seeing where she takes the ending!
Thank you Rae Lavellan for the e-arc copy and the opportunity to read this one before it comes out.
An amazing start to a series!! The world building and magic system was top tier and definitely was one of the main focus points of the book, besides the threat of war. I absolutely loved all the twists and turns with the characters and the storyline and I did absolutely not see the ending coming!!
I loved how our main characters grew with each other and learned to become each others comfort. The romance was definitely more of a subplot but really well done and I was totally rooting for them the whole way, giggling and the smallest things.
I loved how Nesia grew into her powers and how both she and Níkav had their own struggles with power and the responsibilities that come with it. I also really loved how they both had close relationships to the side characters which I’m also super excited to learn more about!! A longer book but well worth it for the plot and world building focus!
Hoping for some more dragons, more magic and more of Nesia and Níkav in the next book, and looking forward to seeing where she takes the ending!
Thank you Rae Lavellan for the e-arc copy and the opportunity to read this one before it comes out.
April 10, 2025
Beautiful does not begin to do this book justice. This was everything I could have possibly wanted from a fantasy book. The world building was well thought out and the character arcs were just exquisite. If you are a fan of Tolkien then you absolutely must add this to your TBR. An absolutely stunning read from an author that quite literally wove her soul into this book AND YOU CAN TELL. 10/10 NO NOTES 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
April 18, 2025
I feel like I’ve been torn apart and put back together 100 times. This was a journey I had not expected to take. As my best friend says, “You and your niche books.” I will forever read the random books that come across my tiktok if they all end up being like this one. I hope this book (and series that is in the beginning of creation) gets as much attention as Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, etc.
P.S. If I don’t get the second book soon I may die. Please Rae, hear my plea.
P.S. If I don’t get the second book soon I may die. Please Rae, hear my plea.
July 16, 2025
This is the most refreshing book I have read in a long time. This book had Druids, Elves, complex magic systems and so much more. The romance aspect of this book was really sweet and had me swooning on some chapters and dying of laughter on others. And kudos to Rae Lavellan for making all the characters in this book so complex and multi-layered because I fell in love with each and every character in this book.
December 20, 2024
truly a breath of fresh air.
January 16, 2025
Wowie wowie wow wow.
Writing: beautiful
World building: stunning
Political systems: intriguing
Romance: don’t even get me started
Character building: AGGGHHHHH
Truly such a beautiful book
Writing: beautiful
World building: stunning
Political systems: intriguing
Romance: don’t even get me started
Character building: AGGGHHHHH
Truly such a beautiful book
May 2, 2025
loved!
This was a slow burn but really paid off! Great storytelling and loved every character! Can’t wait to get into the next one.
This was a slow burn but really paid off! Great storytelling and loved every character! Can’t wait to get into the next one.
July 5, 2025
I've loved - and felt - this book. AMAZING. Hype has been worthy.
October 14, 2025
This book exists for true fantasy fans. If you are not deterred by intense world-building, winding lore, and politcal intrigue, then pick up this book. The author's attention to detail and writing style is akin to storytelling that has been lost in recent years. I was held captive by the sheer intelligence of the words on the page as much as the plot.
With characters too easy to love (Fenral, I'm looking at you), a true slowburn romance that doesn't drive but subtely adds fire to the already-existing inferno, and plot twists that I lost sleep over, this is the first book I've read in a decade I have felt compelled to leave a review for. I earnestly leave my heart in the hands of this series as I await book two.
With characters too easy to love (Fenral, I'm looking at you), a true slowburn romance that doesn't drive but subtely adds fire to the already-existing inferno, and plot twists that I lost sleep over, this is the first book I've read in a decade I have felt compelled to leave a review for. I earnestly leave my heart in the hands of this series as I await book two.
March 15, 2025
when the dawn comes brought me to such highs while reading that i couldn't even function well enough to put my thoughts on paper
i honestly don't even know where to start with this book because there's so much i want to say
let me start off by saying that this book is everything a book should be!!!!
it had me giggling & kicking my feet because of the tension and banter
it had me laughing
it had me wanting to turn the page at an insane speed
it had me captivated from start to finish
it made me remember what i love about reading
i could get lost in this world and these characters again and again and again and never get tired of it
before this book, i felt like it'd been so long since i've read a book that brought me the joy this book did while reading
it ticked ever single box for me
for everyone saying "bring back tension and yearning and a good slow burn" look no further cause Rae delivered exactly that
the mc are everything to me!!!!
Nesia has the biggest heart and wants nothing more than to help others and she takes us with her on this journey
you'll see her be compassionate, but stand her ground when others undermine her strength and integrity. she's her to help and doesn't shy away when things get hard
and Níkav is just dreamy!!!! he's a stubborn grumpy bastard in the beginning but he makes amends and isn't shy to admit when he's in the wrong
he's fiercely loyal and there isn't anything he wouldn't do to help his people
Níkav and Nesia together??? my babies forever and ever!!!!!!
the slow burn is slow burning, the tension is tensioning, the giggles and feet kicks are giggling and kicking
i could go on and on about them if you'd let me, but i'll end of by saying: if you ever take a recommendation from me, let it please be this one <3
endless ★ for this one
these are my own honest thoughts and opinions! thank you to Rae for the arc🫶
i honestly don't even know where to start with this book because there's so much i want to say
let me start off by saying that this book is everything a book should be!!!!
it had me giggling & kicking my feet because of the tension and banter
it had me laughing
it had me wanting to turn the page at an insane speed
it had me captivated from start to finish
it made me remember what i love about reading
i could get lost in this world and these characters again and again and again and never get tired of it
before this book, i felt like it'd been so long since i've read a book that brought me the joy this book did while reading
it ticked ever single box for me
for everyone saying "bring back tension and yearning and a good slow burn" look no further cause Rae delivered exactly that
the mc are everything to me!!!!
Nesia has the biggest heart and wants nothing more than to help others and she takes us with her on this journey
you'll see her be compassionate, but stand her ground when others undermine her strength and integrity. she's her to help and doesn't shy away when things get hard
and Níkav is just dreamy!!!! he's a stubborn grumpy bastard in the beginning but he makes amends and isn't shy to admit when he's in the wrong
he's fiercely loyal and there isn't anything he wouldn't do to help his people
Níkav and Nesia together??? my babies forever and ever!!!!!!
the slow burn is slow burning, the tension is tensioning, the giggles and feet kicks are giggling and kicking
i could go on and on about them if you'd let me, but i'll end of by saying: if you ever take a recommendation from me, let it please be this one <3
endless ★ for this one
these are my own honest thoughts and opinions! thank you to Rae for the arc🫶
April 22, 2025
If you're sick of a strong FMC becoming a useless and uncoordinated at the appearance and protection of MMC then please read this book. Strong but not pig headed, not some kind of 20 year old savant in everything but her virginity. A wonderfully vibrant and engaging story with 2 competent main characters. My favorite part though is-
actual good, age appropriate banner that's realistic. I don't know if it's because I'm running headlong into 40 but I just DNF at this point if someone is supposed to be some hellish warlord that's 5 million years old but banters like a middle schooler. This is not that, refreshing banter that makes sense for the ages and stations as warriors.
actual good, age appropriate banner that's realistic. I don't know if it's because I'm running headlong into 40 but I just DNF at this point if someone is supposed to be some hellish warlord that's 5 million years old but banters like a middle schooler. This is not that, refreshing banter that makes sense for the ages and stations as warriors.
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