Morvelving

by C.J. Switzer

Enter the captivating fantasy world of Erviad and begin a journey of family, magic, and cruel Fates.

‘They see you, hold your immortal thread, but hers. Her short mortal ribbon warms their timeless hands. The Fates cackle with glee at the sorrow and doom that awaits upon her path’

Morvelving, an exile trapped by the same vices that led to his son’s death, is ready to end it all. Until he meets the orphan, Nippiktua, a mute and deaf child, marked by the Fates and with a knack for mischief. Though guilt ridden, Morvelving will not allow himself to abandon her to her treacherous destiny, and so vows to find her a safe and hidden home.

A wayward and perilous journey begins. Along their path, the two encounter a mystical Stag, escape warmongering centaurs, dispute with an obstinate prince, and flee from a dragon’s zealots.

But when the zealots capture Nippiktua as a sacrifice to the dragon’s whim, Morvelving must allay his fears and race to save the child from the strings of the Fates in the shadow of the tyrannical dragon.

Genres: Fantasy

380 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2025

About the author

C. J. Switzer loves reading fantasy so much that he has worked for more than a decade to breathe life into his own stories, starting with his first publication: Morvelving. A graduate of Warner Pacific College with a BA in Social Studies, he enjoys studying history, engaging in a voracious fencing bout, and the challenge of bouldering. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Hannah, and his two dogs, Feanor and Turin, who are experts in tragedy and cuddles.

Social links and Newsletter: https://linktr.ee/cj_switzer

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start with the cover! That was the thing that drew me in like a magnet! Mysterious, dark, and with a pinch of vintage vibe….combined with the mysterious title that makes you ask questions like “What/who is Morvelving?!” and you want answers!
It's an intriguing story of two souls that the fate (or THE FATES?🤔) gave rough obstacles to deal with but found each other when they needed it the most.
Morvelving (a.k.a. Fluff 😂❤️) is a famous mercenary, but wrong choices lead him to a life full of regret as an exile from his people, the Mulranei.
In his most desperate moment, all the reason to live - lost, he found Nippiktua—a little girl with blue skin and curious red eyes whose parents were killed, left all alone in the world.
Determined to find her a safe place to live, their journey together begins.
I loved how the fact that Nippi can't talk and hear was used beautifully to strengthen the bond between her and Fluff and felt like something special only for them❤️(I have to mention that I adored how she treated him like and oversized pet with those ear scratches and ruffling his fur😂❤️Also the nickname Fluff speaks volumes😂❤️) Furthermore made the communication between Nippi and everyone else more interesting and richer on emotions.
The world that surrounds them is full of different tribes and races, but you learn about them like a piece of a puzzle, you get a new one every new step Fluff and Nippi take during their adventure. I mean female dwarves with beards! I loved that!😂👌
Significant character growth and healing for both of them, especially for Morvelving, and I think that quote sums it up perfectly :
“There's a saying among my People: better to chase than be chased.” I's the courage to accept your fears and face them rather than run. Tonight, or tomorrow, that is what we must do."
Despite his fears, he took on the mantle he needed to and found new drive, purpose, and love❤️

[Quilted.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morvelving is a dark myth touched fantasy about broken people, cruel Fates, and the kind of magic that doesn’t always sparkle it scars. The story follows Morvelving, an exile haunted by grief, and Nippiktua, a mute and deaf orphan marked by the stars. Their journey winds through stag lore, centaur wars and more .I loved the way the world of Erviad felt ancient and strange like a half remembered dream. The relationship between Morvelving and Nippiktua was the heart of it all equal parts guilt, protection, and a flicker of hope in the dark.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover was so pretty, I couldn’t resist picking up this book.

It tells a beautiful and touching story about an adoptive father and a child bound by fate. He’s forced to become better, as she grows up under his protection and guidance.

The book leans heavily into world-building, and it feels like it’s laying the foundation for what’s to come in future books. For some reason, it gave me Witcher vibes, maybe because he’s roaming around slaying monsters to earn a living.

I would say that isn’t for everyone since not much is happening throughout the book. A lot of talking, walking and fighting.

*Title was provided by NetGalley, all opinions are my own

[Dan Swinnen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will be right up the alley of all those who like the old Tolkien-esque style of worldbuilding with a fresh new twist.

Discovering this vast world through the eyes of Morvelving, a cross between a ferocious wolfish fighter and a learned, gentle soul was both exciting and refreshing. Following the relationship between Morvelving and Nippi, his young ward, is as rewarding as it is touching.

Both of these characters bring out the color in the other in a way that keeps evolving throughout the book.

The constant eye to detail when it comes to worldbuilding, combined with a beautiful prose that tastes of the fantasy greats of old make this a book for any classical epic fantasy fan.

[Gwynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is really hard for me to rate. I'd probably say closer to 2.5 than 3. On the one hand the culture and world building of this book is incredible. It draws from many places a makes for a fresh fantasy setting. That said I did find it a little dry. I can't really explain why but the narrative wasn't that engaging. For characters that were almost always in danger is some how never felt that thrilling. I'd like to see where the story goes since the characters were so interesting though.

[Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book smells like the beginning of something special, like walking outside at night right after its finished raining...ripe with potential.

I think this book managed to be exactly what it was trying to be, with some extra flavor along the way that sets it apart. The smells! So many smells! I really enjoyed the element of the main character being a hundreds of years old wolf-man who can smell emotions. Set in a rich world full of history that didnt feel force-fed to the reader, I think it started out as an endearing, plucky tale about found family and trying to right past wrongs, and ended as a compelling nod to forgiveness, courage, and growth that leaves the reader satisfied but wanting to continue exploring the world alongside two unusual main characters who have grown on you quite a bit by the end of the book.

I would recommend this to long-time fantasy readers for something that felt fresh and out of the ordinary, and also people just dipping their toes into fantasy and looking for something that's not a ginormous commitment. It was fun, easy reading and within a couple chapters the narrative was pulling me along and left me curious what was coming next every time I set it down.

[Carina_inkdrinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morvelving was a tragic but beautiful story in a dark world. Where C.J did a incredible job with showing the unconditional love between two people, who is so different from each other.

It starts off with a few time jumps early on in Morvelving's journey, but nothing that affects the enjoyment of the story. The longer trough the story i came the harder it was to put down, even if it was a much slower pace to the book then I'm used too. But after about halfway, the book was just to damn good!

You have mostly 2 Povs from Morvelving and the orphan girl Nippi. With the character growth to be so incredibly strong, that you are bound to love them. 

With war, centaurs, elf's and magical creatures. You will definitely find amazing places in this world. With the world building definitely is one of his strength here with the characters.

If you love a slow paced journey, with incredible characters growth and a fantastic world building. Then this is for you!

[Cassidy Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morvelving was a phenomenal read! I haven’t read a fantasy book quite like it - but I loved it! The worldbuilding was deep and extensive, but delivered in a way that didn’t bog down the story. Rather, it left me eager to learn even more about this amazing world Switzer crafted. The adventure Morvelving and Nippiktua go on is full of so much heart, bonding, and genuine emotion. For being such starkly different beings, they worked perfectly together and truly complemented one another. The inner growth of the characters and the found family they became together were a joy to experience. I cannot wait for the next adventure Switzer takes us along on!

[Logan Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story and fun read! The relationship between the two protagonists is heart warming and as a father I can confirm that there is no path I wouldn’t take to protect my kiddo. The world is reminiscent of childhood imagination, a world created down to every detail and built for exploration. Because of the vastness of the world the story feels like playing an rpg with new things happening around every turn and the decisions you have to make as you play along. I loved this book and highly recommend to anyone out there.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so enjoyable to read. I had a hard time putting it down! I could readily see all the love and care put into creating the world in which this story takes place, which only opens up more doors and reveals more roads to be explored. It's fascinating to see the world through the eyes of Morvelving and Nippiktua. There were moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and others that were just sweet. I eagerly look forward to the next one!

[Joe Colistro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morvelving is up-front about what it is and what it promises: a found-family story and a love-letter to fantasy adventure. And in both cases it delivered.

Freshman novels often need to go to extreme lengths to show the reader how much thought and effort has gone into the worldbuilding. Switzer does an excellent job of shucking that trend by introducing the reader on the fly and not holding their hands unnecessarily.

From the first scene onward what struck me about this novel is how well paced it is. Even during the "slow" parts, which were mostly delightful character and relationship building, I never felt bored or lost interest. The action is crisp and well-described and the reader feels as though they're on a rip-roaring adventure, reminiscent of the high-fantasy films of the 80s (obviously with less synth and glitter). The set-piece encounters were memorable and never overstayed their welcome, with the heroes constantly thrown into the next stage of their adventure.

The main character straddles the line of being endearing and reprehensible, which was a bold choice that pays dividends as the character develops over the book. We don't see him go from being a failed parent to a perfect one; we see him struggle with his flaws, embracing them when necessary, while also continually falling prey to them. The result is an incredibly human lead (although not 'technically' human), who you are equally inspired by and frustrated at.

The ending is a strong setup to what comes next, and if the second outing keeps the sense of adventure that this one had, I'll be there for it.

[Books are Friends Not Food · Rating 5 out of 5]

Support Indy authors! This is C.J. Switzer's debut novel and it's pretty fantastic!
It follows a wolf humanoid called Morvelving and a human child named Nippiktua as they travel the world and become a found family.
Nippi is adorable and spunky. Morvelving, like someone suddenly finding themself the owner of a stray cat - ready or not, gets adopted as her father figure. Nippi is deaf and mute and unstoppable. Morvelving is reserved and powerful and a bit out of his depth with this wild child. It's adorable.
The first half of the book is slower paced with the characters mostly traveling, getting to know each other and interacting with the world as they go. I loved the "stop and smell the world building" vibe. The fantasy character people groups are based on historical peoples and placed into this bronze age world.
The action picks up after the mid point rising to an epic encounter with a dragon at the end. I love the unique takes on typical fantasy peoples and the blood magic system.

[Aaron Donogh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. The cover art is so intriguing. We rarely get fantasy stories centered on characters as exotic as this one, and at the start I was pretty interested.

Unfortunately it isn't what I want it to be. The prose is extra basic, things are lacking enough description to paint a vivid picture, but most of all the pacing is way off. I felt like the author was racing through stuff in order to get to whatever he thinks is "the good part", or skipping things that might be more challenging to write with a simple time skip.

DNF at 30%

[Katie Quirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Morvelving” is set in carefully crafted fantasy world and explores a loving relationship between an adoptive father and his child.

In the author’s note, Switzer mentions that he spent ten years writing the book, clearly evident by the intricate history and lore of this world. And while some of the magic is explained in the book, there are still more than enough questions left to be answered. As the first book in a series, it did a great job of whetting my appetite for any future novels.

Additionally, I loved the exploration of Morvelving’s relationship to Nippi. I feel that there is a gap in the fantasy genre for books about familial love/adoptive family, as most books focus on platonic or romantic love. This book filled that gap nicely and was heartwarming to read.

My critiques of the book deal more with how the story is told. The first half of the book had a lot of exposition in the form of Morvelving explaining the world and its mythology to Nippi. While this got a bit repetitive at times, the biggest issue was this was not the most efficient way to convey large amounts of world building to the reader. I found myself having to go back to remind myself on certain topics such as Ergald vs. Eifgald.

The only other critique I would offer was that both the piphlid and Windtail’s death seem a bit more like plot devices than actual facets of Morvelving’s character. For piphlid, perhaps if mentions of it were sprinkled more through the book. While for Windtail, we only ever focused on his fall. I would have loved for there to even be a section/chapter about Morveling’s memories with his family. This could have helped create a stronger characterization of Morvelving.

Nevertheless, this was a fast paced and engaging story set in a rich world with lovable characters. What makes the story even more impressive is that this is both self-published and a debut novel! I would encourage others to read this and to keep their eyes out for the next novel in this series.

** Disclaimer: I received the book for free through NetGalley **

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

The general vibe of this book is very much inspired by the Witcher books, if Geralt were a wolf man and instead of a small brotherhood of monster hunters, there is instead religion and a church involved. Morvelving, the brooding monster hunter, has instead of a princess, a deaf and mute peasant girl rescued from … bandits? Slavers? Some form of bad guy, anyway.

My biggest issue with this book is that it’s so … flat. It’s all telling, so much telling, and I personally found it hard to stay invested. I’d read a few pages, put it down, pick up another book and eventually remember I still had this one and so pick it up, only to find my attention waning after a handful of pages, and repeat. However, there are two or three good things in this book that I want to mention.

Morvelving’s behavior — sneezes, yawns, snarls, eye contact, movements — are all done with an eye as to how a canine would use them. He never comes across as human. Nippi, the deaf mute child, remains deaf and mute. There’s no magic cure, no monster blood, just the reality of her disability. In her POV chapters she never hears anything, no sounds are mentioned, and she has to ask people what happened in conversations because she wasn’t able to read their lips or they weren’t able to sign.

This is a solid book, it’s just not one I personally enjoyed. With the book so external, the focus always on a character’s actions — and having any emotions or feelings explained to me rather than having the characters feel them or express them — it just didn’t hold my attention. Again, it’s not bad or wrong, it’s just not for me.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Graham | The Wulvers Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morvelving is an exciting novel by CJ Switzer that caught my eye as soon as the cover was revealed.

This is a story about grief but also finding family in manners of strife. I have to commend Switzer for the way that he made me feel about an "animal" but it doesn't matter which race the characters are, or their own views, or what they do for the things they love - Switzer has a brilliant way of grabbing you by the arm and dragging you through this journey with them and feeling everything they have felt.

I've described this as Redwall meets Earthsea, partly because of the animal characters but more so in the descriptive way that Switzer writes being reminiscent of that in Earthsea. We don't need overly descriptive paragraphs about the world. Instead, Switzer guides us as part of the story and we see the world through these characters eyes. I really enjoyed this method of telling.

The relationship between Morvelving and Nippiktua, his adopted daughter, as they travel through the lands is one of my favourites in recent years. The trials and tribulations that they have went through had me on the edge-of-the-seat and each scenario was about as disturbing as the last. Morvelvings grief and Nippi's innocence is a great combination to read as it feels real.

The lore itself was only touched upon but had me yearning for more. Across this journey, there are so many opportunities to discover more about the world and its inhabitants and I have a feeling that Switzer has only touched upon this world.

This is an impressive novel and one for fans of found-family, epic fantasy and wanting to have your heartstrings pulled. This was a fantastic start to what I hope is an expansive series. I'm eager to learn more and cannot wait for more from CJ Switzer.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an unexpected delight. If I had to describe it, I'd say it's a father-daughter road trip across Middle Earth's Bronze Age with a badass Redwall wolf slash warrior wizard for a protagonist—somehow it works extremely well.

The relationship between Morvelving and his adopted daughter Nippi as they wander across the lands of treacherous centaurs, raiding lizardfolk, slaver elves, fugitive dwarves, and ever-squabbling human kingdoms, trying to stay ahead of a nebulous but dark fate they've been warned is coming for them, provides the throughline. The middle can feel at times like a bit of an episodic travelogue, but the world we're traveling through is compelling enough to carry it—fans of Mediterranean history will recognize some Easter eggs drawn from classical Greece and its surrounds.

There's a sense of depth to the mythology, and a feeling that despite its already impressive scope, this book only scratched the surface of a world with a lot more to show us—I'll be keeping my eye out for the sequel!

[Janneke Beer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book from the author.

Morvelving is a delightful fantasy adventure full of heart and emotion, set in a living, dynamic world. I'm not generally a fan of extensive fantasy worldbuilding, but the world here is well designed and easy to get lost in. The author does a fantastic job of smoothly introducing the reader to it and helping us feel like we're part of the story.

The story itself is a deeply sweet one. Fans of The Name of the Wind will find a lot to love here. There's a lot of heart, and a deep sense that this story is one of many, and ongoing. I can't wait to see where it goes next!

[Kevin Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensational debut novel. Normally, fantasy books with meticulous world-building can be a chore, but I couldn’t put Movelving down. Suddenly I was halfway through it. I cared about the characters (love, love, love Nippi), felt their pain, and cherished their victories. Certainly, the author relies on fantasy and mythology tropes, but I believe it’s all to the reader’s benefit. We’re in good hands, as Switzer is a master of his genre. You can truly feel the care that went into every chapter. Excited to see where this series goes.

[Janne van eyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the story got going it was difficult the put the book back down. I didn't expect to care this much about Nippi, a ten year old girl who doesn't hear and can't speak but here we are.

The writing style of this books makes it so that it is very easy to read and you just fly through this book. Morvelving is a very unique character of which I haven't encountered very much in a fantasy world but he is very interesting and you are immediately invested when you read the amazing opening of the book.

I very much want to know what happens to them and can't wait to read the next book!

[Barcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise. The story was full of heart and I very much liked how there was a bunch of lore and mythology, yet at the same time the story felt very personal. There was a certain timelessness or should I say classic feel to the atmosphere of the book which hit the right spot.

There were a few clunky sentences here and there and at times Nippiktua appeared (in my mind) too mature and eloquent for her age but overall the writing was good enough to not break the immersion.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing what the author cooks next.

[Ingrid Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging adventure story. The mute human child taken under the wing of the Muranei and their closeness and loyalty to each other made for an interesting read with plenty of monsters to battle against on their journeys.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Sabrina Cadena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really hated this book. Every time I tried to let myself get immersed in the story, I would be yanked out by the confusing prose and grammar mistakes. This book needs another proofreader and editor, because with the amount of writing mistakes that it contains, it is not fit to be sold in the state it is currently.

I really gave it a try, but inevitably had to DNF at chapter 21 when I realized I truly did not care what happened to any of the characters, or about any plot twist that might've happened. The main protagonist, Morvelving, was insufferable and only marginally better towards the end. He never shakes his "main character" energy. Nippi did have her endearing moments, but I could not bring myself to care about her or her relationship with Morvelving. The world building and timeline were both confusing and uninteresting, and I often found myself extremely frustrated while trying to read.

Kudos to the author for writing a book and putting himself out there. I won't sit here and say I could make something better- because I can't- but I also can't say this book should be a series. I have no interest in finishing this book or reading the following series as the story itself isn't very original or entertaining. While I can tell this is the author's first book, I believe he can produce something better if he keeps on working hard and improving.