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The tangible magic that tethers the five kingdoms of Aksel is a double-edged sword; tread with caution, children of the sacred vine
you have been warned.

Sayah is anything but your average elf; she is a Marked One, blessed with gifted powers alongside her twin, Ornella. The villagers around her may dislike her, but that does not stop her from enjoying an occasional visit to the local baker for a delectable pastry or her routine mug of hot tea in the morning. The sister's rite-of-passage ceremony is upon them, as it has been three-hundred-and-twenty-five moons since their creation. Every elf has its place in society, and Sayah has her fingers crossed to take over Mãe's hard-earned business: the village's music academy. Playing the grand piano is her main escape from the dreary world surrounding her.
On the day of their much-anticipated ceremony, she discovers several truths that lead to more unanswered questions. The magic that encompasses their world is more complex than once imagined, and those in authority have shrouded the two sisters in a veil of deceit, for power is coveted more than all the treasures inside the five kingdoms, as greed and desire easily corrupt souls.

Sayah will be forced to use the rare power flowing inside her veins, regardless of how the elders and priests have warned her that siphoning energy goes against the ways of Elven-kind.


If you are the type of reader who enjoys a mixture of cozy feelings and nature-influenced magic alongside a dash of despair, then I can guarantee you are in for a real treat.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2024

52 people are currently reading
889 people want to read

About the author

Victoria M. Sorenson

2 books50 followers
Victoria M. Sorenson is the USA's best-smelling author; she exudes the blended fragrance of melancholy tones and a hint of rich sarcasm, paired beautifully with individual notes of floral.

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5 stars
57 (53%)
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32 (30%)
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11 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Beth.
467 reviews2 followers
November 15, 2024
First and foremost, how is this a debut novel?? So good!!

“𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍. 𝑫𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉- 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒆.”

The plotline is so unique from other fantasy novels that I have read so far this year. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗲 is a YA fantasy set in kingdoms tethered in magic and mystery. The story centers around two twin sisters who bloom from the vine of life and are rare 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘖𝘯𝘦𝘴 —blessed with gifted powers from the Creator. The story even has dragons corrupted by greed (there are good dragons too!). There’s no explicit language and some sweet, closed-door swoony romance.

The story includes intricate world building, likable characters, and a refreshing and unique storyline. I admit, it started a little slower than I am used to; however, the plot and characters were immediately intriguing. The plot picks up about halfway through and then at the last 10-20%, the author adds some 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 plot twists that will leave your mouth gaping. I literally stared at my kindle for like 5 minutes after I finished the last chapters. I NEED MORE!!

If you are the type who enjoys a mixture of cozy feelings, elemental magic, mystery, and a dash of danger and despair, then I can guarantee you that you will enjoy this one.

💚 Look at this cover! Stunning. 💚

Trope time:
💚 Unique magic system
💚 Chin lift
💚 Powerful twin sister FMCs
💚 Coming into powers
💚 Training scene
💚 Elves, werewolves, dragons
💚 Elemental magic
💚 Found family
Plus, more!
Rating: 4.75/5
Profile Image for Mika.
3 reviews
November 29, 2024
The Sacred Vine is Victoria M. Sorenson's debut novel and this is my debut ARC review but only one of us writes like a novice and it's definitely not Sorenson. This book was written beautifully! The Sacred Vine is easily one of the best books I have read this year. I could not put it down! A rejuvination of the YA fantasy genre, The Sacred Vine is a whirlwind of adventure and romance that whilst being seen through a teenager's eyes can be enjoyed at any age.
Sorensen effortlessly explains a complex world and magic system in way that is easily digestible and intriguing for the reader. Not to mention that the magic and the creation story in this novel is truly one of a kind. While I am a fantasy lover through and through, a lot of times it feels like I'm reading the same book with a different name, and that was definitely not the case here! I was awestruck with how creative and fresh the story was from the very beginning. There were even a couple poems which I loved!
The characters in this book were amazing! Even the minor characters are so well described that it was impossible not to feel adoration for all of them. The main character Sayah is so relatable and anyone who has ever felt themselves an outsider will feel a kinship with her. 
The romance in this book is the only reason I did not give this five stars. To me the relationship between Sayah and her love interest was too rushed. It is very much Insta-love and personally I would have liked to see a longer build up to their relationship. However, overall I did like the romance and I am looking forward to seeing the characters relationships develop.
Lastly, the PLOT TWISTS! I am usually the person who calls twists before they happen, but I will tell you I did not see these coming. I was sitting on the edge of my seat screaming WHAT??? I loved it every moment of it and was crushed with the massive cliffhanger! I need more!!!
Overall, I loved this book and I cannot wait to read the next one!

I want to thank Victoria for choosing me as one of her ARC readers and trusting me with her masterpiece ❤️
Profile Image for Stephanie O.
64 reviews7 followers
December 4, 2024
This was such a wonderful debut novel! I flew through it and absolutely loved it - 4.5 ⭐️

Firstly, the magic systems and world were so unique and intricate in this book, unlike anything I have read before. The elven birth/bloom ritual and the vine of life were so fascinating! All these details immediately captured my attention and Victoria’s lovely writing, character development and plot twists kept me hooked. Definitely couldn’t set it down once I was in the last quarter of the book.

Going in I knew this book was YA, closed door romance and no vulgar language. But I stayed smirking, giggling, kicking my feet throughout (chocolate - my only hint 🤭) and didn’t feel like I was missing any of those elements. I really enjoyed watching the romance blossom as well as all the other relationships forged throughout the book. All the characters felt so thoughtfully developed and I loved all their interactions.

As for the plot and the twists, these were so well done too! The ending had me wishing for book 2 immediately. I loved seeing all the details coming together as the book progressed, it is definitely plot driven! The story also has themes of overcoming grief/loss which were so wonderfully done and I realized when I teared up I haven’t cried with a book in a hot minute and that’s always a SUPERB sign in my opinion. Can’t wait to continue this story, definitely add it to your TBR!

Thanks Victoria for having me on your ARC team and sending me a copy of your book, such a pleasure to read your work!
Profile Image for Courtney Vollan.
21 reviews1 follower
December 2, 2024
4.75⭐️

For this to be a debut novel? Incredible.

I want to start this off at the very beginning before the story even starts. Tori did something that I think EVERY fantasy author should do. The glossary and pronunciations at the beginning was everything! I appreciated that I could read the story knowing what everything meant, how it was connected, and how to pronounce everything. It’s so much easier going through a fantasy read when you have a better understanding of the pieces that make up the story.

I ate this up! The storyline is so well written and thought out. It had me hooked from the very beginning, and continued to keep me hooked throughout. There were moments of sadness (I did shed a couple tears), anger, and happiness. And the PLOT TWISTS?! Excuse me. The only reason I personally knocked it down from 5 stars, was due to the romance between the two love interests. It was very much insta love, and if i’m being honest, i’m not the biggest fan of insta love.

I love fantasy reads but i’m definitely newer to the YA fantasy space. I primarily read adult romance/fantasy so I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy the YA aspect of it. However, the plot made up for it! It being YA didn’t even cross my mind as I was reading because I was so enthralled in the plot line. So, if you aren’t the biggest YA fantasy reader, take it from me. This book is worth the read!
Profile Image for TheSpeedyReader.
268 reviews8 followers
January 31, 2025
First I want to personally thank Victoria Sorenson for this ARC! I’m truly honored.❤️ Also congrats on your debut novel!
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review…so here it is. This book was BEAUTIFULLY written. Sometimes fantasy books are hard to follow when you are world/ character building, but not with this one. I was also pretty excited about the glossary with pronunciations, I wish every fantasy book included that. I also have to say the concept of the pods from the videira(the vine), was probably the most creative idea I’ve ever read in a fantasy book. The vine was one of my favorite things, it sounded absolutely beautiful and magical, I wish I could experience it. A book that makes me go through all the emotions; laughing, crying, or on the edge of my seat, is instantly a top favorite! Highly Recommend this book. I literally can’t wait to read the rest of this series.

Quotes: **So many beautiful ones but I didn’t want to share too much before it’s released. But this one made me giggle…
“I, however, needed a cup of hot tea before anyone even tried to speak to me. I wasn’t coherent without its warm fragrance, delighting all my senses.” (I can relate to Sayah on this one 😂)
Profile Image for Nadine - Tales Beneath The Trees.
27 reviews8 followers
January 20, 2025
✨️ The Sacred Vine Spoiler Free Review ✨️

In this YA romantasy debut novel, you are taken on a journey with twin sisters that have magical abilities. Ornella is kind and responsible, while Sayah is a little hot tempered and sticks to herself. The story is written in first person from Sayah's POV.

You'll experience awesome world building the whole time and the scenes are described well. A lot of mythical fantasy creatures will appear throughout the book like elves, orgres, werewolves, fairies, dragons and you will learn a unique magic system, too ✨️ The romance was decent. I didn't feel the connection too much between the lovers at first, however it became swoony at the end and I liked that it was clean and sweet, and also a subplot.
Once you're a little more than halfway through, it picks up and it'll become a page turner. The ending had me at the edge of my seat wanting the next book to see what happens.

Key points:

🌿Plot driven
🌿Plot Twists
🌿Found Family
🌿Overcoming Grief and loss
🌿Elemental Magic
🌿Twin Sisters with powers
🌿Learning to use powers
🌿Intricate Magic System
🌿Clean Language and Romance


The author is currently writing a sequel and I can't wait to get my paws on it 🌿
Profile Image for Jaclyn.
144 reviews
March 28, 2025
4.5 stars!
I'd like to thank my friend Stephanie for introducing me to this book!
This was a fun YA fantasy read!
If you liked FernGully, Willow and Avatar, you'll enjoy this book! I loved pretty much all of the characters, except Kazumi. She reminded me of a thug Tinkerbell. Loved the found family and all of the different types of characters. My biggest dislike was the quick relationship with the FMC and MMC, I know it's YA and teen love is quick and fleeting, but it didn't seem authentic. Also, I'm not a fan of pet names (jewel 😫).
Overall, exciting ride and can't wait for the next!
Profile Image for Zephyr.
91 reviews14 followers
February 1, 2025
I can’t believe this is a debut novel. It’s beautiful! The magic system is unique and the characters are a kaleidoscope of species and personalities. The plot twists near the end were completely unexpected (I LOVE when that happens!). The relationship building was fun. The story was perfectly paced and made me want to keep reading. YA fantasy fans will enjoy this immensely! I can’t wait for book 2!
Profile Image for Fia Sylvan.
Author 1 book1 follower
February 6, 2025
Fun and enchanting, beautifully drawn, detailed world with lovable characters and a unique magic system. Really enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Lopez-Collier.
323 reviews21 followers
December 7, 2024
I had the honor of ARC reading this beautiful book. In this story, elves are bloomed from a sacred vine. Sayah and Ornella are twins and have been given the title ‘Marked Ones’ with special powers. They’re on the brink of adulthood and their rite of passage ceremony when there’s an attack and they have to leave.

There are so many elements of this book that I loved, but my favorite parts involved the high fantasy characters, such as ogres, dragons and fairies. I think that Victoria did a wonderful job explaining the magic system, and the lore of the world and creatures. There is a sweet romance subplot and I think the male character is so wonderful!

The ending blew me away, and the author did such a great job dropping little breadcrumbs throughout the plot. There are secrets that unfold over time, and it’s hard to guess what will happen next. I think this book is going to really take off and her writing style is so beautiful. Check this one out if you are a big fan of young adult fantasy with an emphasis on sisterhood and coming of age, mixed with magic and high fantasy elements.
Profile Image for Chelsie Speakman.
218 reviews2 followers
November 29, 2024
The Sacred Vine is a YA Fantasy novel following twin elves, Sayah and Ornella. They’re both marked ones, which means they’re imbued with powers from the creator. Ornella with the gift of giving magic, and Sayah for taking it. However, being a marked one makes them a target for the thereon. Unfortunately, this means they have to leave the comfort of home and venture into unknown territory to try and find solace.

This novel is truly unique: the vine and videiras is such a captivating idea. When intertwined with the intricately detailed world building and amazing writing style, it’s the key to getting enveloped into each page.

The Sacred Vine is a perfect example of a wholeheartedly cosy read juxtaposed by fantastical action. Loveable side characters with heartwarming interactions and their bonds with the twins makes this a beautiful story, with a beautiful cover to match. This is an immediate addition to the list of books I will not stop thinking about and recommending to everyone!
Profile Image for Olivia Renner.
Author 3 books22 followers
February 4, 2025
I absolutely adored this book! Not only did Tori craft such a beautiful world, but the characters were full of such life. I connected with the story immediately, and despite all of life's busyness, I had a hard time putting it down!

Sayah's journey is one that has been on my mind since I finished reading. She is such a lovable character, and I cannot wait to see where her story goes! I'm rooting for her and hope she finds so much peace because girl deserves it 😭

The romance in this is SO sweet. The kind that makes you kick your feet, but it's innocent and new, which I love. For closed door fans who love sweet romance, this is absolutely the series!

I was so shocked at the ending, plus cried throughout, giggled, and just had so many emotions reading this book.

On the edge of my seat waiting for the next one!!
Profile Image for Ky (kys.bookish.adventures).
226 reviews
November 22, 2024
I can’t believe this was a debut novel it was so well written! I love YA Fantasy and this totally delivered. The writing flowed so well and the characters were fleshed out and developed beautifully. It also was just very unique I haven’t read anything like it and the concept of “the vine” was so intriguing. I love elemental magic systems so couldn’t put this down. It really picks up even more in the later half of the book. It’s hard to even describe the book with our spoiling it as it’s such a fresh unique take! Definitely check it out if you are a fantasy fan!

Thank you to Victoria Sorenson for the advance review copy!
Profile Image for Kassandra H.
104 reviews3 followers
December 2, 2024
What a wonderful debut YA fantasy novel!! This was such a fun read full of twists and turns!

I enjoy a fantasy novel that sets the world up in a way that you don’t get lost and have a true understanding of the magic and kingdoms involved and this one delivers on that!

And a small hint of romance that I cannot wait to see how that story line plays out in book 2!

Wonderful work Victoria!
1 review
December 5, 2024
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

This book has everything - happiness, grief, love, despair, adventure, mystery, action, etc etc etc.

Truly such a fun and entertaining read. I cannot believe this is a debut novel!

The writing is beautiful and the world sucked me in right away. I loved the characters and felt connected to Sayah on a deep level.

The only bad part about it…. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR BOOK 2 😭😭
Profile Image for Anna Helwig.
36 reviews
January 4, 2025
5/5.
Absolutely loved this one! From the storyline to the magic system, the kingdoms and all the characters in between, this one kept me on my toes and wanting more. I love the authors detail and the way her writing gave such picture to her words, I was able to create such amazing visuals as I read. I truly think this will be the next big fantasy read! Honored to be here before it goes viral!
Profile Image for A.M. Kay.
Author 2 books48 followers
December 2, 2024
It has been a hot minute since I’ve read a YA Fantasy and this book was so fun. The author does an excellent job painting a scene in your mind and transporting you to another world. It takes little effort on the reader’s part to imagine the scene unfolding because of her incredible imagery. The world building is so unique and perfectly woven into the story. The Sacred Vine is a story of sisterhood, found family and the enduring power of friendship. The twists and turns kept me hooked and I loved, loved, LOVED the cliff hanger ending! This is the type of book I could see my daughters picking up as they get older.
Profile Image for The_neurospicy_bookworm.
100 reviews11 followers
December 18, 2024
What can I say about this book, aside from wow, easily one of my top reads this year. The author has managed to create such a magical world filled with the perfect balance of beauty and horrors. It starts with definitions and pronounciations which is a nice little touch. Then a beautiful dedication follows it. There's also a lovely little map at the start which helps you see the layout of the lands. Now we begin, the prologue really draws you in, this was a prologue that was something you would expect in Lord Of The Rings or series similar. That was when I knew I was hooked. The FMC is very relatable, outcast, weird, loner, studyaholic bookworm who is such a vibe. She is also strong, determined, caring, protective of those she cares about and fiercely loyal which I love her for.
The imagery the author manages to create with her descriptions is just phenomenal, a few times I was just in awe by how vivid the images were and that is coming from someone who struggles to picture things, yet I could picture everything so clearly. Not always a good thing though as whilst there is such beautiful magic moments and imagery, there are also soul crushing moments that feel so much more heartbreaking or so much deeper because you can picture it so vividly. The author managed to break me several times.
Speaking of breaking me a few times, the author manages to create such strong empathetic links between you and most of the characters even ones that are just in the book for a split second, just so she can tear your heart out while it's still beating and cause you to become a blubbering mess in the corner. There are also moments that make your heart feel so full, your mouth starts to hurt as you smile so widely you look like the cheshire cat. There are so many twists and turns that you absolutely will not see coming that had my jaw on the floor. If you are the type of person that shies away from YA fantasy, then you are seriously missing out as this book is iconic.
Profile Image for Sharee Peplinski.
2 reviews
October 13, 2025
Okay let me start off by saying if you haven’t read this book and are about to start… go on ahead and buy the next book too. Thank me later.

This book really solidifies my love for all things fantasy and YA. But also Victoria M. Sorenson I have a bone to pick with you. There are so many unexpected twists in here and OH MY GOD BUCKLE UP AT THE END. You’ll think there can’t be any more twists and Victoria is like HAHAHAHAH SIKE and you get whiplash and you end up crawling across the floor all broken and beaten with your last $20 to her feet begging for book 2.

Victoria has a very poetic way with words and I really like how she describes things or phrases things. This book is really beautifully done. The magic system is so much more complex than you initially expect and the bond between the sisters is so strong and beautiful. Also NOX… HUBBA HUBBA! I’ll take one LARGE slice of Nox pie please (as long as it’s not baked by Ornella…) I seriously cannot wait to read book 2 but if it has a whiplash cliffhanger ending like this one know I’ll ride at dawn and get my answers.
22 reviews
March 13, 2025
This book was incredible! Victoria Sorenson writes like she has multiple best sellers already under her belt. I genuinely have no complaints. The pacing was perfect. The plot was intriguing. The characters are lovely (I especially loved Kazumi!) and I'm most excited for where she is going to take us in book two.

I especially liked that it gave me similar vibes to Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries and even though this is a YA fantasy, I'd recommend it to any adult who enjoys fantasy!

It's been two weeks since I finished and I've thought about each main character everyday since. I cannot wait to be back in this world and read more about Sayah, Ornella, Nox, and Kazumi!!! The Sacred Vine is a must-read! I truly enjoyed every second of it and will be thinking about it until she publishes the next one.
Profile Image for Brandie Michelle.
131 reviews8 followers
June 7, 2025
First, I want to say how much I appreciated ordering this book directly through the author’s page, the packaging was so thoughtful and personal, and the cover artwork is absolutely beautiful.

I also really appreciated the upfront guide to pronunciation and terminology, it was such a thoughtful touch that helped me feel more grounded in the world from the start. It gave great insight into the characters, the culture, and the magic system. I thought that was a really creative way to bring readers deeper into the story. I also loved the unique font used for the chapter headings, it added a whimsical, artistic feel that fit the tone of the book beautifully.

I did find that this one was a bit of a mixed experience for me. I was really drawn in by the premise of a nature-based magic system, elven lore, and the bond between two sisters. The concept has so much promise, and I genuinely loved the creativity behind the world building and the different types of characters introduced. (Ogres, fairies, werewolves, dragons, etc!)

That said, the writing style just didn’t quite work for me personally and the dialogue felt a bit unnatural. I found it hard to stay fully connected to the story and wasn’t able to build a connection to the characters, but I still appreciate the imaginative foundation the author built here.

As an indie author, Sorensen clearly poured her heart into this project, and I’m always grateful to discover new voices bringing fresh ideas into the fantasy space. I’m hopeful that as the series continues, it’ll find its stride and reach readers who connect more deeply with the style and storytelling.

Rating - 🌟🌟 🌟
Profile Image for Ashley L.
106 reviews5 followers
December 9, 2024
TSV is such an amazing YA fantasy book. The writing was amazing, nothing felt too rushed or fluffed up in any way. All the breadcrumbs left throughout the book leading up to the plot twist at the end were so well thought out!
The bond between Sayah and Ornella was executed very well and was persistent throughout the book.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Waggoner.
43 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2025
The Sacred Vine is a YA fantasy with a sweet romance subplot.
In this world all elves bloom from the vine of life, the Videira. Sayah and Ornella are rare not only because they bloomed from the same pod - but also because they are Marked Ones. Everyone in this world can use magic with a few requirements, but only Marked Ones are blessed by the creator with unique powers. The sisters are giving Yin and Yang. Sayah has dark hair and grey eyes, Ornella has white hair and green eyes. Their powers are polar opposites as well. Ornella was praised and adored by the community for her powers, while Sayah was shunned and feared. This causes their personalities to be very different too.
Victoria did such an amazing job creating a beautiful, captivating world with a unique intricate magic system. This book elicits so much emotion with themes of overcoming grief, finding yourself, and a feral need to protect those you love.
Along the journey you meet a cast of characters all of which are flawed, and complicated, yet extremely loveable (even the pesky, riled-up fairy… if you know you know)
The bad guys are bad guying… let me just tell you. The amount of times I wanted to throw the book (but of course didn’t cause shes so pretty). I felt so much rage. Which is actually wonderful because sometimes I find that books don’t make me feel anything. It’s books like this that remind me I’m not a robot lol.
The plot twists were Epic… Throughout the story you get little droppings of information that make you wonder "ooh where is this going?" I’m usually pretty quick to guess plot twists, but not this time!! I was genuinely surprised.
This book has elves, werewolves, ogres, fairies, and other fantastical characters. There’s magic, and fights. Found family, finding oneselves, adjusting to a new reality, and overcoming grief.
This book is great for fans of fantasy, or anyone looking for a new adventure.
The romance between the FMC and MMC (not naming names so you get to be surprised) is SO sweet. The MMC love interest is definitely a cinnamon roll.
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room….. The ending. MA'AM YOU DID NOT HAVE TO DO THAT TO US. The ending made me instantly wish I had book 2. I can't wait to watch this series grow and develop, and to find out where the journey takes us.
THANK YOU VICTORIA FOR THIS WONDERFUL ADDITION TO MY SHELF. The time, dedication, love and talent that went into this story is so evident. I cannot believe this is a debut. Keep rocking it!! You have a major fan in me.
Profile Image for the_bookishbee_.
65 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2025
4.5⭐️
The Sacred Vine is a beautiful and radiant story, wholly unique and a strong debut. The gorgeously descriptive and evocative language made the world feel so real to me. The realm itself feels alive, its light connecting everything in a beautiful, fragile balance. If I could move there next week, I would!

The magic feels like it flows through every tree, every whisper of wind, every glimmering star above. The elves, born from the sacred vine, are a reflection of this vibrant world, a race intertwined with the essence of the realm itself. But beneath the beauty, the lush forests, and the melodies that stir the soul, there’s a darkness lurking, a web of secrets spun by the powerful few. There is an abundance of mythical creatures which I just loved, and they are woven through this gripping journey of two elven sisters, Sayah and Ornella, who are forced to search out answers to their past and how to save their future.

Sayah and Ornella are like two sides of the same coin, similar and yet wholly unique. Their powers are as opposite as their appearance and I feel like they will both need to work together to save the world, it will not happen unless it’s the two of them providing the balance. I really enjoyed seeing their sisterly bond and the lengths they go to for each other.

The romance between Sayah and the MMC was quick to develop and, very much a fated mates with all the cosy, romantic vibes and I couldn’t get enough. Their romance and bond made me smile-their moment at the festival was so whimsical and heartwarming… one of my favourite parts of the story, I found myself lost in their tenderness and the spark that sizzled between them.

And of course that touch-her-and-die trope never gets old, the MMC was protective and you can tell he is thoroughly smitten. Just what we all need from a great romance story, a love that feels destined and written in the stars.

Now we need to talk about that ending-it got me! I had guessed one thing but not the rest and I was FLOORED. I need book two ASAP!

If you love stories brimming with mythical creatures, fun magic systems, a sprinkling of romance, adventure and cosy vibes then you definitely need to add this to your TBR.

Thank you so much to the author for an ARC to review prior to release.
Profile Image for Andrea.
14 reviews
January 15, 2025
A beautiful YA fantasy debut, and a refreshing change from the usual sassy/stabby FMCs we're seeing in a lot of upper YA right now.

I was pulled in right from the beginning of this book. The relationship between the twins, Sayah and Ornella, was so intriguing and real, and the way their differing powers affected the way they moved through life was spectacularly shown. The magic itself is gorgeously depicted; Sorenson's descriptions of the world, the sacred vine, and the different creatures we encounter (dragons, fairies, orgres, and hunky werewolves) put her poetry background on full display. The story managed to gut punch me in just the first few chapters, and the theme of grief is handled beautifully throughout. It's obvious that there is so much more of the world to see and the plot has only just begun!

One of the biggest selling points for me was the sisters, and I was a little disappointed they didn't do more together after the opening sequence. Sayah spent most of her time with the love interest, Nox. He has an intriguing past of his own and they have some really sweet moments together! But the fixation on his muscles is probably more fitting for this book's target audience than for me.

The Sacred Vine ended on an excellent cliff hanger, with a chapter from Ornella's perspective (we spend the rest of the book in Sayah's) that made my heart ache and left me eager to find out what happens next. Sorenson is an author to watch if you want to buck some of the current YA trends and love magic, world building, and a plot-driven series!
Profile Image for Jay.
Author 3 books9 followers
January 21, 2025
This is a promising start to the Tendrils of Light series. The worldbuilding is wonderful, and I'm a fan of the magic systems and history of Askell.
Profile Image for Ciara Hartman.
Author 21 books52 followers
June 14, 2025
This book… where do I even start?! I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet this author & that I took a chance on her debut series starter! First, the author did a great job adding a glossary at the beginning of the book so you knew how to pronounce things and what they referred to. Also, the formatting with little flowers and whatnot at each chapter heading, loved it! Beautiful book, inside and out! Then, for the story itself… two sisters with two very different powers wind up alone and fleeing for safety. Hunted by both the elvish military and monstrous creatures of evil darkness! As we delve deeper, we find out things are more complicated than they at first seem. Who can you trust to tell you the truth? What even is the truth?! Our FMC, Sayah, has wicked cool powers, but she hasn’t learned how to properly harness them. She keeps making decisions that wind up backfiring and she rakes herself over the coals for it. She finds it hard to see the good in herself because of how people have always treated her, due to her powers. But what’ll happen when she finds a love interest? Will she see herself differently? Will she let someone else in at a time where everything is fraught with peril? And she’s also struggling with wondering if she deserves to be happy, when (in her mind) she allowed a person she loved to die … This story gets more intense the deeper in you dive! By the end of the book, I was riveted to every word and kept saying omg repeatedly out loud as I was reading! - This is only book 1, so obviously I need to know what happens next! Thankfully the author didn’t do a jaw dropping cliffhanger where you absolutely must dive into book 2 the second you finish book 1, but it still left you wanting to know what’s gonna happen next because a bunch of stuff happens at the end of the book! - There’s plenty of magic, evil forces, dragons, corrupt leaders, budding romance, elves, werewolves, giants, piano music, and a spicy fairy! What more could you want?!
Profile Image for Lisa  Serang.
26 reviews3 followers
November 28, 2024
First I would like to thank Victoria for letting me ARC read her masterpiece.
This book had me reeled in from the very beginning and just kept pulling me in deeper and deeper as I got further into the book. I love the uniqueness of her story. It was like no other fantasy book I have read and I loved that.
I definitely went on a roller-coaster ride when it came to my emotions, she has me smiling, laughing, crying, angry, full of love and back to crying.
The world building was amazing, i could picture this world and the characters so easily. Her character building was outstanding, I just love how she captures each character, the ones we love and the ones we hate.
All I can saw is after reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗲 I am lost, I don't know what to do with myself while waiting for the next part. I need to find out what is going to happen.
I highly recommend this to my fellow fantasy readers, and cant wait for others to get to enjoy this story really soon.
I definitely will be buying this book when it comes out and patiently waiting for more to come.
Thank you again Victoria for allowing me a chance to read your debut novel, I look forward to enjoy more treasures from you.
1 review
January 21, 2025
I loved this book! I usually do not read Young Adult novels; however, this one was worth it! I personally loved that there were no curse words or overly sexual scenes, just flirtation and sweet romance. In the beginning, we meet twin sisters, Sayah and Ornella, who are Marked Ones with special powers. I loved learning about them, they have very realistic personalities. After some character/world-building, the action begins and goes throughout the entirety of the book with many plot twists along the way which were introduced very creatively. I began to question the sister's relationships with one another after a love interest is introduced for Sayah. But hold on!! You must read through the end. The last chapter is Ornella's point of view which explained it all for me! At the end there is a heartbreaking cliffhanger which has me desiring the next novel! I can't wait for it! It is a must-read!
Profile Image for Cristina.
1 review
February 13, 2026
Aside from her lack of word choice to describe characters eyes and features, AND describing physically attractive people as delectable a few times, i guess it was entertaining.
I finished this book because I was curious about the world building, and I think it was very well done. I really liked the world she created, but at times she lacked imagination. For example: You’re telling me that she made up this whole complex world and the pastry she chose to say the main character had found the most delicious was a plain old croissant with melted chocolate inside lmao? She couldn’t imagine a pastry?
Also the romance felt more like lust disguised as love. Their love story was poorly written, and it often read as a fanfic. And to be blunt, i cared very little for it. But i guess i’ll read book two mainly because i want to know what’s gonna happen. I just hope the other book’s mostly Ornella’s pov.
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