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Keirling
Fight the enemy or save them.
Since childhood, Ryka has wondered about the world beyond the Waning Woods, an impassible, ever shifting forest that protects her village from those who wish her kind harm. Ryka is Keirling which means she can harness the magic of nature, and her kind have been hunted for centuries for it, pushed to the very edges of the Plain to spend their lives in hiding. Their biggest Krafatians, the magicless people who dominate the Plain and began the witch hunt for Keirlings long ago.
When a troubled and mysterious Krafatian named Viggo kidnaps Ryka from the woods, she is thrown into a world with creatures and people wishing her harm at every turn and a landscape as treacherous as a wild beast. Ryka must learn how to survive in this new world and find a way home before it’s too late. But Viggo has his own motives–and secrets–that pose both a threat and an opportunity for Ryka. Can they put their differences aside and learn to trust one another before they become their own ruin?
Inspired by Icelandic landscapes, Keirling is a tale of acceptance, overcoming trauma, and being brave enough to do the right thing, even if it scares you. Keirling is Dow-Kenny's debut novel.
Since childhood, Ryka has wondered about the world beyond the Waning Woods, an impassible, ever shifting forest that protects her village from those who wish her kind harm. Ryka is Keirling which means she can harness the magic of nature, and her kind have been hunted for centuries for it, pushed to the very edges of the Plain to spend their lives in hiding. Their biggest Krafatians, the magicless people who dominate the Plain and began the witch hunt for Keirlings long ago.
When a troubled and mysterious Krafatian named Viggo kidnaps Ryka from the woods, she is thrown into a world with creatures and people wishing her harm at every turn and a landscape as treacherous as a wild beast. Ryka must learn how to survive in this new world and find a way home before it’s too late. But Viggo has his own motives–and secrets–that pose both a threat and an opportunity for Ryka. Can they put their differences aside and learn to trust one another before they become their own ruin?
Inspired by Icelandic landscapes, Keirling is a tale of acceptance, overcoming trauma, and being brave enough to do the right thing, even if it scares you. Keirling is Dow-Kenny's debut novel.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2025
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About the author
Avery Dow-Kenny
1 book2 followersHello all! I am an author and artist living near Vancouver, Canada. I spend my free time creating art, reading books, writing stories, snuggly my extra fuzzy cat Henry, and making delicious food. I hold a BFA in Visual Arts and Creative Writing, and am currently pursuing my Library and Information Technology Diploma.
My debut novel Keirling is out now on Amazon!
How I rate my reads:
⭐ didn't like it
⭐⭐ it was okay, didn't really enjoy it
⭐⭐⭐ neutral
⭐⭐⭐⭐ thoroughly enjoyed it
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ masterpiece
My debut novel Keirling is out now on Amazon!
How I rate my reads:
⭐ didn't like it
⭐⭐ it was okay, didn't really enjoy it
⭐⭐⭐ neutral
⭐⭐⭐⭐ thoroughly enjoyed it
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ masterpiece
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 25, 2025
Reminiscent of some of my favourite witch x witch-hunter fantasy romances, but with an incredible twist and hauntingly captivating story of generational trauma inspired by Indigenous history. This is such a fun, fresh take on the romantasy genre. The themes of overcoming generational trauma and learning to trust are so beautifully handled. The world is gorgeous and comes alive with incredible atmosphere. If you like books inspired by Icelandic landscapes, this is definitely a book you need to read. From the very start the plot grabs hold of you and it’s so hard to put down. And the magic system was so cool!
Viggo and Ryka's romance is literally the cutest. The enemies to lovers is so well done. Viggo is so wholesome and cute and so soft. They're both so damaged but watching them learn to love and trust one another is so lovely and so well done. There are so many cute scenes of them bonding and ahhh I'm so obsessed. I had the pleasure of beta reading and arc reading so getting to see their romance twice was so lovely. Ryka is such a badass and so fierce. She is such a strong main character that you instantly love and root for. Her growth over the course of the novel was perfect. So was Viggo’s. Both characters are just so dynamic and realistic. You’ll fall in love so easily!
Overall, if you love the romantasy genre and want one with an incredible take on enemies to lovers and overcoming generational trauma inspired by Icelandic landscapes, run to pick this book up!
Viggo and Ryka's romance is literally the cutest. The enemies to lovers is so well done. Viggo is so wholesome and cute and so soft. They're both so damaged but watching them learn to love and trust one another is so lovely and so well done. There are so many cute scenes of them bonding and ahhh I'm so obsessed. I had the pleasure of beta reading and arc reading so getting to see their romance twice was so lovely. Ryka is such a badass and so fierce. She is such a strong main character that you instantly love and root for. Her growth over the course of the novel was perfect. So was Viggo’s. Both characters are just so dynamic and realistic. You’ll fall in love so easily!
Overall, if you love the romantasy genre and want one with an incredible take on enemies to lovers and overcoming generational trauma inspired by Icelandic landscapes, run to pick this book up!
June 26, 2025
A beautiful debut! The characters truly grew into their power in ways that makes the climax feel wholly earned. The romance doesn’t rush in the best way possible. The pace had me reading when my eyes were tired and the action had my heart racing! Clear careful and passionate work was poured into this.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews