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Shades of Aura #1
The Walls of Toterrum
Long ago, the Five Auras—Perception, Vigor, Mentality, Luck, and Empathy—lived in harmony. That peace shattered when the Vigor Aura seized control, driving two Auras into hiding and forcing the others into isolation. The new regime, Toterrum, claimed the land of Biome as its own, suppressing all knowledge of the Auras and oppressing its people.
On his eighteenth birthday, anxious Yaron Meek sees a strange mist hovering above those around him. When he accidentally moves it above a Toterrum Officer, something changes in the man… and in Yaron’s life. Now a fugitive, Yaron escapes the city and begins a journey into the forgotten world of Aura.
As he explores Biome’s wild landscapes and mystical partner beasts bound by Aura, Yaron must discover which Aura he can control—and why it could change everything. But with betrayal, love, and the threat of war looming, mastering his power may come at a devastating cost.
Can Yaron unlock his true potential before his past—and his deepest fears—catch up to him?
On his eighteenth birthday, anxious Yaron Meek sees a strange mist hovering above those around him. When he accidentally moves it above a Toterrum Officer, something changes in the man… and in Yaron’s life. Now a fugitive, Yaron escapes the city and begins a journey into the forgotten world of Aura.
As he explores Biome’s wild landscapes and mystical partner beasts bound by Aura, Yaron must discover which Aura he can control—and why it could change everything. But with betrayal, love, and the threat of war looming, mastering his power may come at a devastating cost.
Can Yaron unlock his true potential before his past—and his deepest fears—catch up to him?
Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2024
16 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Kamphuis
3 books31 followersBenjamin Kamphuis writes fantasy for readers who crave magic systems with meaning, creatures with heart, and characters who confront the storm within. A mental health advocate and former anxiety survivor, Benjamin crafts young adult stories that celebrate community, neurodivergence, and personal power.
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, and RuPaul’s Drag Race will feel right at home in his worlds. Lyrical in tone and emotionally rich, his novels are written to remind young readers that their inner world matters just as much as the outer one.
When he’s not writing, Benjamin draws inspiration from musicians like Mumford & Sons, Taylor Swift, and Noah Kahan, blending emotion with epicness.
Visit him at https://benkamphuis.com
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, and RuPaul’s Drag Race will feel right at home in his worlds. Lyrical in tone and emotionally rich, his novels are written to remind young readers that their inner world matters just as much as the outer one.
When he’s not writing, Benjamin draws inspiration from musicians like Mumford & Sons, Taylor Swift, and Noah Kahan, blending emotion with epicness.
Visit him at https://benkamphuis.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 14, 2024
I really enjoyed this novel. The author has a very pleasing writing style. I just floated along the pages as I was taking in this epic quest of Yaron and his friends. Yaron just had his 18th birthday and everything changed. He lived in Toterrum, a very restrictive and controlled city. He found an escape route and took it. The rest of the book covers new alliances, learning more about the power of auras, how one can manipulate others with the aura one possess. There are five different types of auras. This book focused on vigor and perception. Yaron finds out not everyone appears as they seem. He finds out who his real friends are and who will betray him as he is being hunted. This book was so much fun to read. The story isn’t over as Yaron gets more answers to who he really is. If you like fantastical YA adventure this is the book you need to pick up.
I want to thank the author for reaching out to me and offering me his book to read. These opinions and review are my own and voluntarily given.
I want to thank the author for reaching out to me and offering me his book to read. These opinions and review are my own and voluntarily given.
May 13, 2025
This book is very reminiscent of a YA fantasy dystopian book that I would have loved in middle school. It has similar vibes to Percy Jackson with lots of world building and fascinating aspects to its story. There are many different layers to this story which in many ways is what makes it so unique.
This story is a fast paced simple read that tackles complex themes within self and society in a digestible and entertaining way. A commentary on class structures and governmental corruption is very prevalent throughout the whole book and smoothly transitions the reader into learning more behind the search for self and purpose. The main characters all struggle with their own perceptions of belonging and what they believe they should be or where their purpose lies, which makes this book such a positive one for young adults coming into their place in the world.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I felt that its whimsical nature and connection to relatable world events made this book a very purposeful read. I’m very excited to see what happens next in this series and how the characters face the villains in their story and their own self doubts simultaneously.
This story is a fast paced simple read that tackles complex themes within self and society in a digestible and entertaining way. A commentary on class structures and governmental corruption is very prevalent throughout the whole book and smoothly transitions the reader into learning more behind the search for self and purpose. The main characters all struggle with their own perceptions of belonging and what they believe they should be or where their purpose lies, which makes this book such a positive one for young adults coming into their place in the world.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I felt that its whimsical nature and connection to relatable world events made this book a very purposeful read. I’m very excited to see what happens next in this series and how the characters face the villains in their story and their own self doubts simultaneously.
March 7, 2025
From the start you can feel the tension, how the lower class are made to feel like they are weak and therefore disposable, this really helps you feel for Yaron and how he begins to see the world differently, you kind of just gravitate towards him and hoping the best for him. The tension does just keep pulling until wow what an ending and that cliffhanger well that's something!
This is a YA fantasy and has alot of description to keep up with. It's an adventure worth reading.
This is a YA fantasy and has alot of description to keep up with. It's an adventure worth reading.
March 5, 2025
Behind The Walls of Toterrum, the only things Yaron Meek knows is that the government is corrupt, the people are oppressed, and he wants to be free of this anxiety he’s feeling. Shortly after his eighteenth birthday escapes to discover a world full of Auras and partner beasts beyond the wall. His new journey brings him friendships, romance, and betrayals.
The Walls of Toterrum took me a minute to get into, but the more I read the more I was needing to know what’s next. We get a glimpse of what 2 out of 5 Auras can do in this first installment of Shades of Aura and I already can’t wait to see what is in store for Yaron, Aurora, and Naso next.
If you love a good YA fantasy with a strong FMC, budding romance, corrupt history, and betrayal; check out The Walls of Toterrum by Benjamin Kamphuis July 12, 2024.
Thank you to Benjamin Kamphuis and Bengar Publishing for this advanced readers copy. This honest review is voluntary and the thoughts are my own.
The Walls of Toterrum took me a minute to get into, but the more I read the more I was needing to know what’s next. We get a glimpse of what 2 out of 5 Auras can do in this first installment of Shades of Aura and I already can’t wait to see what is in store for Yaron, Aurora, and Naso next.
If you love a good YA fantasy with a strong FMC, budding romance, corrupt history, and betrayal; check out The Walls of Toterrum by Benjamin Kamphuis July 12, 2024.
Thank you to Benjamin Kamphuis and Bengar Publishing for this advanced readers copy. This honest review is voluntary and the thoughts are my own.
August 10, 2024
Wow! I am impressed with this book. A solid 4.5/5 for me.
Right from the beginning, the author draws you into the world of Biome. He does an excellent job with descriptions and details making you instantly feel immersed into this new world. There are 5 auras that are focused on throughout the book, which definitely gave me Divergent vibes in reference to how people were divided into groups based on their skill set/personality. The Mentality Aura was able to control what one knew. The Perception Aura could control one's sense of the world around them. The Vigor Aura could control the power someone would have or would not have. The Empathy Aura could control emotional response and display. And finally, the Luck Aura could control small outcomes.
To summarize the book, The Walls of Toterrum follows our main protagonist, Yaron, as he escapes from inside the walls of Toterrum (home of the Vigorists) and realizes that everything he knew was a lie. On his 16th birthday, he learns he has the power to manipulate people's auras and struggles with trying to understand which class of manipulation he falls into as well as learning to yield his new power correctly. Along the way, he meets Aurora who brings him to the city of Flaunte (the home of the Perceptionists). Within Flaunte, he gets trained by the council members who each have their own strengths with manipulating the Perception aura. They all assume Yaron "may" be a Perceptionist, but they can't confirm just yet without further training. Throughout his training, he meets his companion animal, Ricochet, who I just love! LOL. Giving me all the Pokémon vibes right here and I felt this was such a great add on to the book with having a companion animal. It's soon found out that there is a traitor amongst the Perceptionists and this causes Yaron and everyone else to be on high guard. I won't spoil anything else from here, but the book DEFINITELY ends with a MAJOR cliff hanger, and I swear I read those few pages like 3 times and was like WHYYYYYYY. I need the 2nd book to come out like yesterday lol. I'm also super excited to learn more about the Mentalists in the next book and dive into their city. On a side note, there also needs to be a Buzzfeed Quiz on which manipulator you would be based on your answers!
Thank you to the author, Ben Kamphuis, who provided me with an ARC of this book. This review is completely my own and I whole heartedly recommend you read this book. 😊
Right from the beginning, the author draws you into the world of Biome. He does an excellent job with descriptions and details making you instantly feel immersed into this new world. There are 5 auras that are focused on throughout the book, which definitely gave me Divergent vibes in reference to how people were divided into groups based on their skill set/personality. The Mentality Aura was able to control what one knew. The Perception Aura could control one's sense of the world around them. The Vigor Aura could control the power someone would have or would not have. The Empathy Aura could control emotional response and display. And finally, the Luck Aura could control small outcomes.
To summarize the book, The Walls of Toterrum follows our main protagonist, Yaron, as he escapes from inside the walls of Toterrum (home of the Vigorists) and realizes that everything he knew was a lie. On his 16th birthday, he learns he has the power to manipulate people's auras and struggles with trying to understand which class of manipulation he falls into as well as learning to yield his new power correctly. Along the way, he meets Aurora who brings him to the city of Flaunte (the home of the Perceptionists). Within Flaunte, he gets trained by the council members who each have their own strengths with manipulating the Perception aura. They all assume Yaron "may" be a Perceptionist, but they can't confirm just yet without further training. Throughout his training, he meets his companion animal, Ricochet, who I just love! LOL. Giving me all the Pokémon vibes right here and I felt this was such a great add on to the book with having a companion animal. It's soon found out that there is a traitor amongst the Perceptionists and this causes Yaron and everyone else to be on high guard. I won't spoil anything else from here, but the book DEFINITELY ends with a MAJOR cliff hanger, and I swear I read those few pages like 3 times and was like WHYYYYYYY. I need the 2nd book to come out like yesterday lol. I'm also super excited to learn more about the Mentalists in the next book and dive into their city. On a side note, there also needs to be a Buzzfeed Quiz on which manipulator you would be based on your answers!
Thank you to the author, Ben Kamphuis, who provided me with an ARC of this book. This review is completely my own and I whole heartedly recommend you read this book. 😊
March 16, 2025
It has a map, it has a map, it has a map. In my eyes that makes a book a winner! Other than that, physically it's a lovely looking book, although I found it slightly too big to hold comfortably. The font was quite small, although I actually prefer that, I have my kindle set on the smallest size and this book was a similar text size to that.
As soon as I started reading, and we were introduced to the different classes and how they were treated, I was put in mind of The Hunger Games and the districts. That means I immediately had high hopes for this book. And wow did it meet them!
Told in the first person, from Yaron's perspective, The Walls of Totterum was a fantastic read from start to finish. The world building is solid and easy to follow, but also exciting and different.
The pacing was perfect with action right from the first page, and that cliffhanger at the end? Love it!
I really liked the writing style of this book. There were some magical elements and interesting creatures, all of which were described and explained so clearly. The loved all the different auras, and the way different people can manipulate them. I may have spent ages wondering which one I would most like to be able to do, and concluded that I can't choose.
I also really liked the mental health element running throughout. I'm a massive advocate for more talk and clarity around mental health issues, and I think this book actually dealt with this subject really well, without being 'a book about mental health'
Well I'm off to look at that map some more. When I rule the world I'm going to make it a rule that all books have a map!
As soon as I started reading, and we were introduced to the different classes and how they were treated, I was put in mind of The Hunger Games and the districts. That means I immediately had high hopes for this book. And wow did it meet them!
Told in the first person, from Yaron's perspective, The Walls of Totterum was a fantastic read from start to finish. The world building is solid and easy to follow, but also exciting and different.
The pacing was perfect with action right from the first page, and that cliffhanger at the end? Love it!
I really liked the writing style of this book. There were some magical elements and interesting creatures, all of which were described and explained so clearly. The loved all the different auras, and the way different people can manipulate them. I may have spent ages wondering which one I would most like to be able to do, and concluded that I can't choose.
I also really liked the mental health element running throughout. I'm a massive advocate for more talk and clarity around mental health issues, and I think this book actually dealt with this subject really well, without being 'a book about mental health'
Well I'm off to look at that map some more. When I rule the world I'm going to make it a rule that all books have a map!
November 9, 2025
This novel is all about the world building and what a journey that is. Yaron and his friends live behind the walls of Toterrum unaware that there is a whole wide world out they know nothing about. Their society is based on a class system and those at the lowe end arre not treated well at all.
On his 16th birthday strange things start to happen to him and he learns that he has the power to influence peoples auras, although he doesn’t realise what it is at first. After a confrontation with the guards of Toterrum Yaron and his friends run.
While escaping they cross paths with Aurora who leads them to Flaunte. This is where Yaron starts to come into his own and to learn about his powers. Trouble is not too far from him though and it is clear that not everyone can or should be trusted.
The book flows really well I loved the characters even if I did want to shake Yaron a few times because damn if I didn’t see the ending coming. A note to readers this one ends on a cliffhanger so you are going to want to down load book two ASAP.
On his 16th birthday strange things start to happen to him and he learns that he has the power to influence peoples auras, although he doesn’t realise what it is at first. After a confrontation with the guards of Toterrum Yaron and his friends run.
While escaping they cross paths with Aurora who leads them to Flaunte. This is where Yaron starts to come into his own and to learn about his powers. Trouble is not too far from him though and it is clear that not everyone can or should be trusted.
The book flows really well I loved the characters even if I did want to shake Yaron a few times because damn if I didn’t see the ending coming. A note to readers this one ends on a cliffhanger so you are going to want to down load book two ASAP.
February 12, 2025
3.5 stars.
Aspects I liked:
I enjoyed this book as others have said this brings me back to dystopian fiction books we used to read in high school. The complex auras, and creatures were very interesting. While it was a quicker read sometimes I was overwhelmed and the amount of info thrown at me but had to keep going to know how things would change for our main characters. I am ready to see how the next book plays out with new auras.
Things I didn’t enjoy:
The characters seemed very simple ( sometimes stiff and robotic other times deeply emotional and able to connect with) but didn’t seem about 18 more of a 16. There was lots of info thrown out at times and it was a little hard to keep up with the different types of auras and the different people that developed those auras. One of the female characters name was Aurora which is a bit confusing next to aura frequently.
Thank you to the author for sending me this e-ARC copy
Aspects I liked:
I enjoyed this book as others have said this brings me back to dystopian fiction books we used to read in high school. The complex auras, and creatures were very interesting. While it was a quicker read sometimes I was overwhelmed and the amount of info thrown at me but had to keep going to know how things would change for our main characters. I am ready to see how the next book plays out with new auras.
Things I didn’t enjoy:
The characters seemed very simple ( sometimes stiff and robotic other times deeply emotional and able to connect with) but didn’t seem about 18 more of a 16. There was lots of info thrown out at times and it was a little hard to keep up with the different types of auras and the different people that developed those auras. One of the female characters name was Aurora which is a bit confusing next to aura frequently.
Thank you to the author for sending me this e-ARC copy
March 23, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up.
I really enjoyed this book and the creative world-building that it features. The author did a great job of settling the reader in Toterrum, with its dystopian tyranny, before showing us that there's more to the world than that. The mines in Toterrum reminded me of a creepy thriller I've read, and I thought the early scene there really heightened the fear of everyday life.
Flaunte was a wonderful contrast, with amazing flora and fauna, and I liked the way the story progressed. This book is unabashedly a YA fantasy, and to that end, there is quite a bit of exposition, and the plot is very easy to follow (and in parts, predict). That being said, there were still bits that surprised me towards the very end.
Sidenote to the author directly: if anything bad happens to Ricochet, you will receive the sternest letter I am capable of writing.
I really enjoyed this book and the creative world-building that it features. The author did a great job of settling the reader in Toterrum, with its dystopian tyranny, before showing us that there's more to the world than that. The mines in Toterrum reminded me of a creepy thriller I've read, and I thought the early scene there really heightened the fear of everyday life.
Flaunte was a wonderful contrast, with amazing flora and fauna, and I liked the way the story progressed. This book is unabashedly a YA fantasy, and to that end, there is quite a bit of exposition, and the plot is very easy to follow (and in parts, predict). That being said, there were still bits that surprised me towards the very end.
Sidenote to the author directly: if anything bad happens to Ricochet, you will receive the sternest letter I am capable of writing.
March 13, 2025
I loved the world building in this, I loved the people we meet, my favourite being Aurora and her aunt. I like how no-nonsense they both are. I enjoyed reading about the Aura's and the different types of Aura's people harbour. The idea of Manipulators and Perceptors who can control your thoughts and feelings, making things appear which aren't there or feeling things which aren't happening. Crazy!
I like how fast paced this book is, I binged the majority of this book as I was interested in the story. Yaron is on a mission but he gets caught up in a whole new sub-mission he knew nothing about.
I love the idea of partner beasts, animals that you form a bond with, a creature that comes to your aid as and when needed along as you show it respect and Carr when you first meet. The names of the creatures made me smile, the Riverok named Era by Aurora and the Riddledog named Ricochet by Yaron.
Looking forward to book two, I'm intrigued about Labyrintha and what secrets it holds! I also want to know more about the Light and the Soothsayer!
I like how fast paced this book is, I binged the majority of this book as I was interested in the story. Yaron is on a mission but he gets caught up in a whole new sub-mission he knew nothing about.
I love the idea of partner beasts, animals that you form a bond with, a creature that comes to your aid as and when needed along as you show it respect and Carr when you first meet. The names of the creatures made me smile, the Riverok named Era by Aurora and the Riddledog named Ricochet by Yaron.
Looking forward to book two, I'm intrigued about Labyrintha and what secrets it holds! I also want to know more about the Light and the Soothsayer!
July 14, 2024
I am absolutely impressed with The Walls Of Toterrum. It was a wonderful book following the journey of Yaron. One thing I adored about this book was the descriptive work when describing the colors and the world building that came with it. Yaron is fighting for what is right but he has a such a tender heart. The world is crashing around him, but he’s quick to adapt and he takes time to appreciate the vibrancy around him. The aura concept was developed in a wonderful way and intrigued me. Overall, the world building was fabulous to me. Character development was phenomenal.
I think this would be a great read if you enjoyed The Lightning Thief.
I think this would be a great read if you enjoyed The Lightning Thief.
February 11, 2025
The Walls of Toterrum is a fast paced, Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure novel with some dystopia, magic, aura manipulation, magical creatures and lots of cool world building with fantastic characters! Thank you to @Author Benjamin Kamphuis for letting me have a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book is available now on KU and all the book places! The new book The Calamaties of Toterrum is available in March of 2025 so go get caught up!
December 27, 2024
I think one of my favorite parts about being an indie author is meeting other indie authors and reading their books!
I met @bengar_kamphuis at the @louisvillebookfestival this year, and who would have known that Ben and I only live 30 minutes away in Michigan? 🤯
Historically speaking, I have never been a big YA/sci-fi/fantasy reader, but Ben’s charm and book pitch had me sold.
The Walls of Toterrum gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
This book immediately pulls you into a magical world where one’s aura can be manipulated in a variety of ways.
I love how Ben kept me captivated throughout the story, as I followed Yaron’s adventures. There are so many parallels to current events, and I found myself relating to Yaron on so many levels.
If you want to escape reality, but still want to see the underdog fight back, then get a copy of this book!
Also, check out his website- you can take your own quiz to see what kind of aura manipulator you are.
I’m proud to say I’m a perceptionist! 💃🏻
I met @bengar_kamphuis at the @louisvillebookfestival this year, and who would have known that Ben and I only live 30 minutes away in Michigan? 🤯
Historically speaking, I have never been a big YA/sci-fi/fantasy reader, but Ben’s charm and book pitch had me sold.
The Walls of Toterrum gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
This book immediately pulls you into a magical world where one’s aura can be manipulated in a variety of ways.
I love how Ben kept me captivated throughout the story, as I followed Yaron’s adventures. There are so many parallels to current events, and I found myself relating to Yaron on so many levels.
If you want to escape reality, but still want to see the underdog fight back, then get a copy of this book!
Also, check out his website- you can take your own quiz to see what kind of aura manipulator you are.
I’m proud to say I’m a perceptionist! 💃🏻
February 14, 2025
This book was an absolute treat. It had good conflict, solid characterization, and a unique world. I really enjoyed
March 13, 2025
Mystical
I am going to be honest at first I had a hard time getting into the book, until I started understanding what was happening. I liked the different creatures and how they could interact with people. I liked that Yaron is working to save the people of Toterrum by learning more about himself. I can't wait to find out who Yaron's real parents are. Does he stay with Felicity or does he fall for Aurora?
I am going to be honest at first I had a hard time getting into the book, until I started understanding what was happening. I liked the different creatures and how they could interact with people. I liked that Yaron is working to save the people of Toterrum by learning more about himself. I can't wait to find out who Yaron's real parents are. Does he stay with Felicity or does he fall for Aurora?
July 27, 2024
I enjoyed every bit of this book. The writing flowed so easily. The world building was amazing.
October 11, 2024
Very impressive read. The MMC knows the government is corrupt.
Dont wanna give to much away but for sure entertaining.
Dont wanna give to much away but for sure entertaining.
July 20, 2024
Excellent book, very descriptive, easy to forget you’re reading!! Highly recommend this book!!!!
August 11, 2024
It was a joy to read this book! The descriptions of the world of Biome were beautiful, the characters were fun to get to know, and the storyline was engaging throughout. The book was very well-paced and had me wanting to read more every time I finished a chapter. I am looking forward to the next one!! Well done, Benjamin!
March 6, 2025
What did I just read? I really, really loved it. It was definitely YA Fantasy done extremely well indeed. I love the story and how Aura came into it. The world building was exquisite.
The book was superbly written. It flowed so well. No stones were left unturned by the end. The descriptions were vivid and I could imagine everything so clearly in my mind.
The characters were amazing. Yaron was a great kid. I say kid but he's 18! His learning and working with the Aura was extremely special. Naso his friend was goofy and fun. I liked both of them. All the people we met along the way were so good. All these characters worked so well. It truly was refreshing. The creatures were all extremely interesting and unique!
The book is written in first person from the point of view of Yaron. The epilogue is from the perspective of another but I won't say who! The single person POV always works really well I'm YA fantasy. It was another element that Benjamin nailed.
I really recommend this to you all. I am super excited for the next installment!
The book was superbly written. It flowed so well. No stones were left unturned by the end. The descriptions were vivid and I could imagine everything so clearly in my mind.
The characters were amazing. Yaron was a great kid. I say kid but he's 18! His learning and working with the Aura was extremely special. Naso his friend was goofy and fun. I liked both of them. All the people we met along the way were so good. All these characters worked so well. It truly was refreshing. The creatures were all extremely interesting and unique!
The book is written in first person from the point of view of Yaron. The epilogue is from the perspective of another but I won't say who! The single person POV always works really well I'm YA fantasy. It was another element that Benjamin nailed.
I really recommend this to you all. I am super excited for the next installment!
July 17, 2024
Great, new book! This book has all you can hope for: adventure, twists, friendship, drama! I found myself cheering on the characters and constantly surprised by the world that was being created before my eyes! I am super excited to continue the journey and discover my aura!
March 13, 2025
This was a sweeping YA adventure following a young man coming into his powers and escaping the oppressive governing power that keeps him and all he loves trapped. When Yaron first sees a strange mist floating around people's heads, he doesn't think much of it. But when he discovers that he can control that mist, his life changes forever.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the magic system where people manipulate aura was really cool. I loved following along as Yaron discovered more of the world out side of Toterrum. The characters felt authentic. They argued, the disagreed, they forgave, and there were plenty of awkward moments. The writing style was smooth and clean, easy to understand while still giving all the detail to paint the scene out. It brought to life the colorful world outside of Toterrum.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the magic system where people manipulate aura was really cool. I loved following along as Yaron discovered more of the world out side of Toterrum. The characters felt authentic. They argued, the disagreed, they forgave, and there were plenty of awkward moments. The writing style was smooth and clean, easy to understand while still giving all the detail to paint the scene out. It brought to life the colorful world outside of Toterrum.
March 5, 2025
CORRUPT HISTORY, PARTNER BEASTS, EXOTIC LANDSCAPES, BETRAYAL, BUDDING ROMANCE, DEVELOPING MENTAL HEALTH, AND WAR ALL FOLLOW YARON AS HE BEGINS HIS ADVENTURE IN THE WORLD OF BIOME.
This book was so good. I enjoyed learning about the world and magic that comes from it.. the beats sounded amazing and now I want a Riddledog as my friend.. the twist at the end of this book had me wanting to know more about Yaron and his friends!!!
This was a 4 star read for me and would recommend this to anyone who love fantasy like Avatar and Pokémon you should really go check out this book.. it’s part one of The Shade of Aura Toterrum Trilogy. I’m lucky to be an Arc reader for this amazing author and i was just sent book two which comes out March 15th..
This book was so good. I enjoyed learning about the world and magic that comes from it.. the beats sounded amazing and now I want a Riddledog as my friend.. the twist at the end of this book had me wanting to know more about Yaron and his friends!!!
This was a 4 star read for me and would recommend this to anyone who love fantasy like Avatar and Pokémon you should really go check out this book.. it’s part one of The Shade of Aura Toterrum Trilogy. I’m lucky to be an Arc reader for this amazing author and i was just sent book two which comes out March 15th..
March 22, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. Unique plot, intriguing world, and very cool magic system that kept me turning pages all night. The creatures had a very fun whimsical pokemon feel that contrasted the dystopian vibes in a very thoughtful way.
February 26, 2025
In The Walls of Toterrum, we follow Yaron, who feels trapped behind the walls of the city of Toterrum, and the unfair, authoritarian society he lives in harsh and unrelenting.
Yaron yearns to escape, and one day, a mysterious mist appears, which Yaron finds he has the ability to control. Before long, he manages to escape the oppressive walls, and with a friend, travels far a nd wide on wonderous adventures in the world of Biome.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, I throughly enjoyed this read. At 260 pages, I flew through this in two sittings.
It's a very descritive read, which allows us, the readers, to perfectly picture the characters and places clearly in the mind.
The world building is expansive and sweeping, and the story flows along nicely at a decent pace.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Yaron yearns to escape, and one day, a mysterious mist appears, which Yaron finds he has the ability to control. Before long, he manages to escape the oppressive walls, and with a friend, travels far a nd wide on wonderous adventures in the world of Biome.
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So all in all, I throughly enjoyed this read. At 260 pages, I flew through this in two sittings.
It's a very descritive read, which allows us, the readers, to perfectly picture the characters and places clearly in the mind.
The world building is expansive and sweeping, and the story flows along nicely at a decent pace.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
March 31, 2025
this story was so good I love the magic system and the way it showed how a he deals with his anxiety. and I love the beasts that live in this world. the story telling was so good and the way it ended I need more..
January 2, 2025
A fantastic read, and the author has a wonderful, story teller narrative approach with descriptions that will leave you lost in the world he created. The world building is done very well, the animals and environments created are all unique, and they feed into the magic system which itself is a really interesting play on the concept of auras. The characters are all relatable on their own way and the first person perspective provides a really immersive reading experience. Some major plot twists and character betrayals will leave you shocked, and unable to put the book down until you’ve finished!
March 16, 2025
I had this book in my TBR pile for a really long time, and I absolutely regret it. I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick read for me because I couldn't put it down. I loved this author's writing style, and the world building was amazing. There were so many details, and the characters were fantastic. Really enjoyed reading this book, and I definitely recommend it.
August 28, 2024
If you’re looking for a coming of age fantasy adventure, you should definitely read this book.
February 5, 2025
“May we see what we see.”
4.00 / 5.00 stars
“The Walls of Toterrum” is the first book in The Shades of Aura series by Benjamin Kamphuis. A HUGE thank you to the author for selecting me to read an ARC of his new book in the series, “The Calamities of Toterrum,” and gifting me this book to get caught up. All opinions are my own.
Yaron has grown up trapped inside the walls of Toterrum. Worse yet, he’s part of the lowest class of the Weak and has to watch his words and actions so he doesn’t face punishment at the hands of the Strong. A magical discovery on his 18th birthday launches him into a journey that will take him across the continent to places he never dreamed existed and a resistance he didn’t know he was capable of. Join Yaron, Naso, and Aurora as they discover fantastical beats and battle to free the ones they love.
What initially drew me in about this book was the list of comps – it was compared to Pokemon, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and LOTR. I would definitely add Attack on Titan to that list since Yaron’s whole existence in Toterrum has consisted of living in a military state behind a wall where the victors control all the information. Whew! There’s a lot going on in this book. It’s got magic, it’s got an epic journey, it’s got fantastical beats. It’s got two teenage boys actually showing emotion and sharing with each other how much they love and miss their families. What a refreshing concept! There’s even an “ugly duckling” discovery at the end that I didn’t see coming.
There were a few draw-backs for me – it was more on the side of middle-grade literature than YA for me, so I can imagine some older or more advanced readers finding it slow or hard to push through at times. There’s also a lot of formal or unnatural feeling conversations between characters, especially characters who are supposed to be close to one another (like mother-son or best friends) or conversations / interactions that made the characters feel a lot younger than they were. I kept imagining Yaron and Naso as early teens, not as 18, so that was hard for me to get past.
“I got a Strange Magic / Oh what a strange magic.” Strange Magic by Electric Light Orchestra is definitely the right song for this book. Stepping into Yaron’s world means stepping into the discovery of Aura, a strange magic indeed, and one Yaron still doesn’t quite understand. But he definitely deserves the soothing pop-synth-beat to keep him company on his journey across Biome.
Overall, I enjoyed this first book in this series. It definitely sets up the ending to flow nicely into a sequel, and I’m excited to continue Yaron’s story in the next book! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys an adventurous coming-of-age story, no-spice romance, and characters who work on their emotional intelligence.
Connect with me on Instagram (@bookmarks_and_backbeats) for more reviews, musical pairings, and all around good times!
4.00 / 5.00 stars
“The Walls of Toterrum” is the first book in The Shades of Aura series by Benjamin Kamphuis. A HUGE thank you to the author for selecting me to read an ARC of his new book in the series, “The Calamities of Toterrum,” and gifting me this book to get caught up. All opinions are my own.
Yaron has grown up trapped inside the walls of Toterrum. Worse yet, he’s part of the lowest class of the Weak and has to watch his words and actions so he doesn’t face punishment at the hands of the Strong. A magical discovery on his 18th birthday launches him into a journey that will take him across the continent to places he never dreamed existed and a resistance he didn’t know he was capable of. Join Yaron, Naso, and Aurora as they discover fantastical beats and battle to free the ones they love.
What initially drew me in about this book was the list of comps – it was compared to Pokemon, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and LOTR. I would definitely add Attack on Titan to that list since Yaron’s whole existence in Toterrum has consisted of living in a military state behind a wall where the victors control all the information. Whew! There’s a lot going on in this book. It’s got magic, it’s got an epic journey, it’s got fantastical beats. It’s got two teenage boys actually showing emotion and sharing with each other how much they love and miss their families. What a refreshing concept! There’s even an “ugly duckling” discovery at the end that I didn’t see coming.
There were a few draw-backs for me – it was more on the side of middle-grade literature than YA for me, so I can imagine some older or more advanced readers finding it slow or hard to push through at times. There’s also a lot of formal or unnatural feeling conversations between characters, especially characters who are supposed to be close to one another (like mother-son or best friends) or conversations / interactions that made the characters feel a lot younger than they were. I kept imagining Yaron and Naso as early teens, not as 18, so that was hard for me to get past.
“I got a Strange Magic / Oh what a strange magic.” Strange Magic by Electric Light Orchestra is definitely the right song for this book. Stepping into Yaron’s world means stepping into the discovery of Aura, a strange magic indeed, and one Yaron still doesn’t quite understand. But he definitely deserves the soothing pop-synth-beat to keep him company on his journey across Biome.
Overall, I enjoyed this first book in this series. It definitely sets up the ending to flow nicely into a sequel, and I’m excited to continue Yaron’s story in the next book! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys an adventurous coming-of-age story, no-spice romance, and characters who work on their emotional intelligence.
Connect with me on Instagram (@bookmarks_and_backbeats) for more reviews, musical pairings, and all around good times!
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