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Solum Iris
Hundreds of generations have passed since the Goddess blessed the Azura Isles and then mysteriously disappeared.
Dove Cita has finally achieved her lifelong ambition; acceptance to Prism Academy, the Azura Isle’s most prestigious university. At the annual Revelation Ceremony, every student discovers their soul’s color—a reflection of their identity and place in society. Dove dreams of a soul as rich and ruby red as her mother’s.
But when she steps before the Aura Mirror, it reveals the unthinkable; her soul has no color at all.
Shunned and adrift, Dove’s carefully laid plans crumble. When a mysterious sickness strikes campus, the students see her colorless soul as the culprit. Desperate to prove her innocence, Dove uncovers unsettling truths about the disease—secrets that tie it to the Azura Isles’ forgotten history and the goddess who vanished generations ago. As these revelations unravel everything Dove thought she knew about her world, she must confront not only the island’s past but her place in its future.
And while Dove navigates the tension of a life upended, she finds herself drawn to her roommate Rory, a rare black soul whose magnetic presence is impossible to ignore.
Solum Iris is a standalone, cozy romantic fantasy novel inspired by the beauty of nature and color-based magic. Perfect for readers of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Legends & Lattes, it combines found family, a cozy academic mystery, and soft romance with a satisfying conclusion.
Dove Cita has finally achieved her lifelong ambition; acceptance to Prism Academy, the Azura Isle’s most prestigious university. At the annual Revelation Ceremony, every student discovers their soul’s color—a reflection of their identity and place in society. Dove dreams of a soul as rich and ruby red as her mother’s.
But when she steps before the Aura Mirror, it reveals the unthinkable; her soul has no color at all.
Shunned and adrift, Dove’s carefully laid plans crumble. When a mysterious sickness strikes campus, the students see her colorless soul as the culprit. Desperate to prove her innocence, Dove uncovers unsettling truths about the disease—secrets that tie it to the Azura Isles’ forgotten history and the goddess who vanished generations ago. As these revelations unravel everything Dove thought she knew about her world, she must confront not only the island’s past but her place in its future.
And while Dove navigates the tension of a life upended, she finds herself drawn to her roommate Rory, a rare black soul whose magnetic presence is impossible to ignore.
Solum Iris is a standalone, cozy romantic fantasy novel inspired by the beauty of nature and color-based magic. Perfect for readers of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Legends & Lattes, it combines found family, a cozy academic mystery, and soft romance with a satisfying conclusion.
223 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2025
5 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Ledvina
3 books40 followersT.M. Ledvina is an avid reader and writer with a bachelor of the arts in English, and loves all things fantasy and romance. They live in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, Ryan, and certified good boy, Cori. When they aren’t writing, you can find her watching anime, playing ttrpgs, or enjoying video games. Ledvina is the author of the Brimstone and Fire series.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 1, 2025
Solum Iris by T.M. Ledvina
4.6⭐️ and 1/2🌶️(kissing only)
🖤Sapphic Romantic Fantasy
🖤Magical Academy
🖤Color based magic
🖤Mystery
🖤Slowburn, no spice
🖤Found family
I didn’t know what I was walking into when reading this, but this was absolutely incredible and beyond any expectations I had. Packed into a 223 page book, I was handed a tender, sweet story that held incredible mystery, magic, and a happy ending. Although I did guess the PART of the twist near the end of the story, I didn’t guess the entire twist and regardless, it didn’t make the ending any less enjoyable. This book was an absolute TREAT-Like eating a cinnamon roll and sipping on a chai latte outside on a picnic blanket in the spring.
Thank you so much to the author T.M. Ledvina for the pr/press box and the opportunity to read and review your gifted copy of this book.
4.6⭐️ and 1/2🌶️(kissing only)
🖤Sapphic Romantic Fantasy
🖤Magical Academy
🖤Color based magic
🖤Mystery
🖤Slowburn, no spice
🖤Found family
I didn’t know what I was walking into when reading this, but this was absolutely incredible and beyond any expectations I had. Packed into a 223 page book, I was handed a tender, sweet story that held incredible mystery, magic, and a happy ending. Although I did guess the PART of the twist near the end of the story, I didn’t guess the entire twist and regardless, it didn’t make the ending any less enjoyable. This book was an absolute TREAT-Like eating a cinnamon roll and sipping on a chai latte outside on a picnic blanket in the spring.
Thank you so much to the author T.M. Ledvina for the pr/press box and the opportunity to read and review your gifted copy of this book.
September 19, 2025
Solum Iris by T.M. Ledvina is a standout in cozy fantasy storytelling. In only 222 pages, Ledvina delivers a narrative that is rich, immersive, and deeply satisfying. The premise is instantly gripping: Dove Cita, after working her way into the prestigious Prism Academy, discovers at the Revelation Ceremony that her soul has no color at all. From that moment, her life unravels into mystery, prejudice, and unexpected self-discovery.
What impressed me most was how efficiently the story unfolds. Fantasy often leans on sprawling chapters and endlessly long books, yet Ledvina proves that brevity does not diminish depth. The pacing is flawless—I started at 7:30 in the morning and closed the final page by 10. Every scene mattered, every character choice propelled the narrative forward.
At its core, this is a book about identity, belonging, and resilience. Dove’s journey from rejection to agency is both tender and fierce. The worldbuilding, with its color-based magic and forgotten goddess, feels vivid without ever overwhelming. The academic setting adds a touch of coziness, while the creeping sickness and whispers of divine history keep the tension sharp.
And then there is the romance. The relationship between Dove and Rory is beautifully handled. It brims with sapphic yearning, softness, and the uncertainty of first love. Their connection unfolds naturally, adding emotional weight without overshadowing the central mystery.
Solum Iris is perfect for readers who loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or Legends & Lattes. It balances heart, magic, and intimacy with precision. Ledvina’s prose is warm and assured, making this debut sapphic romance not only a joy to read but also a promise of what is to come from her as a writer.
If you want a fantasy that is cozy yet layered, short yet resonant, this novella deserves a place at the top of your list.
What impressed me most was how efficiently the story unfolds. Fantasy often leans on sprawling chapters and endlessly long books, yet Ledvina proves that brevity does not diminish depth. The pacing is flawless—I started at 7:30 in the morning and closed the final page by 10. Every scene mattered, every character choice propelled the narrative forward.
At its core, this is a book about identity, belonging, and resilience. Dove’s journey from rejection to agency is both tender and fierce. The worldbuilding, with its color-based magic and forgotten goddess, feels vivid without ever overwhelming. The academic setting adds a touch of coziness, while the creeping sickness and whispers of divine history keep the tension sharp.
And then there is the romance. The relationship between Dove and Rory is beautifully handled. It brims with sapphic yearning, softness, and the uncertainty of first love. Their connection unfolds naturally, adding emotional weight without overshadowing the central mystery.
Solum Iris is perfect for readers who loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or Legends & Lattes. It balances heart, magic, and intimacy with precision. Ledvina’s prose is warm and assured, making this debut sapphic romance not only a joy to read but also a promise of what is to come from her as a writer.
If you want a fantasy that is cozy yet layered, short yet resonant, this novella deserves a place at the top of your list.
August 31, 2025
I have been a part of Tia's Street Team for as long as I can remember lol I absolutely devoured her OBBT series so far and new I was going to love this!
This is completely different as this is a Sapphic Cozy Fantasy with Magic set in an academic setting ... buuut it is still phenomenal!
Tia's writing is so beautiful and she has a way with words that keeps you captivated throughout the whole story... this took me longer to read than most 200 page books purely because I just just wanted to saviour it 😍
This is a slow burn with no spice but the relationship build up was beautiful... you grew to love Dove and Rory simply for them 🥰
I also loved the side characters including the teachers as well as the other students but especially the librarian and Roan 😅
I did see the twist coming from pretty early on but it in no way distracted me from the story!
This is completely different as this is a Sapphic Cozy Fantasy with Magic set in an academic setting ... buuut it is still phenomenal!
Tia's writing is so beautiful and she has a way with words that keeps you captivated throughout the whole story... this took me longer to read than most 200 page books purely because I just just wanted to saviour it 😍
This is a slow burn with no spice but the relationship build up was beautiful... you grew to love Dove and Rory simply for them 🥰
I also loved the side characters including the teachers as well as the other students but especially the librarian and Roan 😅
I did see the twist coming from pretty early on but it in no way distracted me from the story!
December 25, 2025
SO BEAUTIFUL, I can not believe I didn't read this book sooner, it's definitely underrated, it's one of those hidden gems nobody realises is THAT good before they read it themselves.
The world building, SPECTACULAR, color is so important in this world and that is established from page ONE, the descriptions are thorough and beautiful and just SO good.
The storyline itself is also just gorgeous, it progresses at a good pace, not too quick, not too slow, it's relaxing to read but also keeps the reader interested. Each Soul Color is explained at the beginning (basically the beginning) and and it's easy to understand, since Dove spends almost all her time in the library the soul colors and the worlds origins is easy to understand.
No information is shoved in the readers face though, it is given naturally, it's not just a list of everything the reader needs to know, it's just dropped in when its relevant to the story.
The characters are amazing, Rory is my favourite, her kindness and her whole personality is exactly what Dove needs and exactly what the story needs, Dove and Rory together are like a breath of fresh air, the reader should be able to see that they are supposed to be together from the start, it's like their life began when they met, they were drawn to each other and that is on Good Writing. Everyone needs a Rory in their life.
Other characters are also amazing, though they aren't the main two characters they are still well written and well described, I particularly loved the main three adults, I didn't guess at ALL their story, I was as shocked as Dove. I also like how to others Hyacinth comes across as maybe one of those strong intimidating characters, but when she sees Dove she softens, I loved that, especially after finishing the book. I did guess the end twigs though with the Iris thing, I think for me at least it was obvious something with that character was going to happen at some point.
I loved all the library scenes, even though they were kind of also sad because it was obvious Dove was overworking herself, the library kind of felt like a second base. There are a lot of things that, once you've finished the book, just shine, moments that seem normal when reading, but once the book is finished are just so satisfying and nice and cute.
Overall I loved this book, I Adored it, it's so special to me, it's kind of like an adult children's book? I don't know how to explain how it made me feel, but it was just such a smiley cozy read.
Everything about this book was just so beautiful, it's obvious to me that if I had to describe this book in two words, because the first has to be colorful, I would say Beautiful.
The world building, SPECTACULAR, color is so important in this world and that is established from page ONE, the descriptions are thorough and beautiful and just SO good.
The storyline itself is also just gorgeous, it progresses at a good pace, not too quick, not too slow, it's relaxing to read but also keeps the reader interested. Each Soul Color is explained at the beginning (basically the beginning) and and it's easy to understand, since Dove spends almost all her time in the library the soul colors and the worlds origins is easy to understand.
No information is shoved in the readers face though, it is given naturally, it's not just a list of everything the reader needs to know, it's just dropped in when its relevant to the story.
The characters are amazing, Rory is my favourite, her kindness and her whole personality is exactly what Dove needs and exactly what the story needs, Dove and Rory together are like a breath of fresh air, the reader should be able to see that they are supposed to be together from the start, it's like their life began when they met, they were drawn to each other and that is on Good Writing. Everyone needs a Rory in their life.
Other characters are also amazing, though they aren't the main two characters they are still well written and well described, I particularly loved the main three adults, I didn't guess at ALL their story, I was as shocked as Dove. I also like how to others Hyacinth comes across as maybe one of those strong intimidating characters, but when she sees Dove she softens, I loved that, especially after finishing the book. I did guess the end twigs though with the Iris thing, I think for me at least it was obvious something with that character was going to happen at some point.
I loved all the library scenes, even though they were kind of also sad because it was obvious Dove was overworking herself, the library kind of felt like a second base. There are a lot of things that, once you've finished the book, just shine, moments that seem normal when reading, but once the book is finished are just so satisfying and nice and cute.
Overall I loved this book, I Adored it, it's so special to me, it's kind of like an adult children's book? I don't know how to explain how it made me feel, but it was just such a smiley cozy read.
Everything about this book was just so beautiful, it's obvious to me that if I had to describe this book in two words, because the first has to be colorful, I would say Beautiful.
August 16, 2025
"Rory is here because she is rare and beautiful and something to be celebrated. Dove is here because she is broken."
Solum Iris is an exploration of what it is to be other. Colorless in a sea of vibrant souls. This story is so lovely and beautifully written. It's a cozy fantasy in an academy setting with the sweetest sapphic romance subplot. Ledvina's worldbuilding is imaginative, vibrant, and also easy to understand. Solum Iris is an engrossing and quick read that will tug at your heart strings, bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face.
If you're looking for a warm hug of a book in the same vein as Legends & Lattes or House of Frank, then you will adore Solum Iris as much as I do!
"Everyone deserves to be comforted. Even people, I don't know." She bites her lip. "Or rather, especially people I don't know."
"This is right. The two of them sticking together is the only right thing in the world, when so much of it has gone wrong."
"It is an awful thing to be so good at concealing pain- it means they have practice. That alone breaks her heart all over again."
"It doesn't matter that she's done nothing. What matters is that she is other, she is something that everyone else is not, and she is something no one understands. Rory can't possibly fathom that- her soul is all the colors. Hers is none."
"The Goddess must have known what was in store for her; in response, she sent Rory. A Goddess- send. That is what Rory is for Dove. A light in the darkness, a warm embrace when she is too weary to continue."
Solum Iris is an exploration of what it is to be other. Colorless in a sea of vibrant souls. This story is so lovely and beautifully written. It's a cozy fantasy in an academy setting with the sweetest sapphic romance subplot. Ledvina's worldbuilding is imaginative, vibrant, and also easy to understand. Solum Iris is an engrossing and quick read that will tug at your heart strings, bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face.
If you're looking for a warm hug of a book in the same vein as Legends & Lattes or House of Frank, then you will adore Solum Iris as much as I do!
"Everyone deserves to be comforted. Even people, I don't know." She bites her lip. "Or rather, especially people I don't know."
"This is right. The two of them sticking together is the only right thing in the world, when so much of it has gone wrong."
"It is an awful thing to be so good at concealing pain- it means they have practice. That alone breaks her heart all over again."
"It doesn't matter that she's done nothing. What matters is that she is other, she is something that everyone else is not, and she is something no one understands. Rory can't possibly fathom that- her soul is all the colors. Hers is none."
"The Goddess must have known what was in store for her; in response, she sent Rory. A Goddess- send. That is what Rory is for Dove. A light in the darkness, a warm embrace when she is too weary to continue."
August 19, 2025
“I thought you might need a reminder that you’re worthy of being treated kindly.”
Dove Cita has worked her whole life to gain entry into the prestigious Prism Academy on the Azura Isle. Upon entry, each student attends the annual Revelation Ceremony where they discover their soul’s color. This important tradition leads to house colors, career choices, and helps build relationships. However, during Dove’s ceremony she is shocked when the ceremony reveals her soul has no color. Devastated, Dove is blamed when a mysterious illness starts spreading around the campus, draining the students of their colors. Dove makes it her mission to learn more about the colorless and find the real culprit, while trying her hardest to fight her attraction to her roommate, Rory, along the way.
This was the sweetest and most beautifully written story. It is short a warm hug of a story! Ledvina’s prose was gorgeous and I enjoyed her imagery immensely! I loved the story and mystery with the colorless and the drain. I adored Dove and Rory’s relationship from the beginning. Rory latched right on to Dove and is her champion and biggest supporter. If you need a cozy, light academia story that is super cozy, definitely pick this one up!
Dove Cita has worked her whole life to gain entry into the prestigious Prism Academy on the Azura Isle. Upon entry, each student attends the annual Revelation Ceremony where they discover their soul’s color. This important tradition leads to house colors, career choices, and helps build relationships. However, during Dove’s ceremony she is shocked when the ceremony reveals her soul has no color. Devastated, Dove is blamed when a mysterious illness starts spreading around the campus, draining the students of their colors. Dove makes it her mission to learn more about the colorless and find the real culprit, while trying her hardest to fight her attraction to her roommate, Rory, along the way.
This was the sweetest and most beautifully written story. It is short a warm hug of a story! Ledvina’s prose was gorgeous and I enjoyed her imagery immensely! I loved the story and mystery with the colorless and the drain. I adored Dove and Rory’s relationship from the beginning. Rory latched right on to Dove and is her champion and biggest supporter. If you need a cozy, light academia story that is super cozy, definitely pick this one up!
December 10, 2025
“An invisible string connects [them] now. She senses it all the time, a sort of persistent, ever present tug deep in her belly that tethers her to the girl beside her. She doesn't know how it formed, but it is precious to her now.”
“That invisible string between them braids into a cord, an unbreakable bond that grows stronger with each step they take.”
“It never gets easier. You only learn to live with it. You learn to adapt to your new normal. But it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve help while you’re figuring it out.”
“[She] can sense her, the same way she can sense the sun on her skin. What is this feeling? The bubble in her chest is too big, cracking her ribs apart in the sweetest way, like her chest is made of spun sugar.”
“She loves [her], in more ways than one. She loves her like a flower loves the sun, or like a bee loves the cerise blooms. She loves her in a way that makes it impossible to imagine what life was like before loving her.”
“That invisible string between them braids into a cord, an unbreakable bond that grows stronger with each step they take.”
“It never gets easier. You only learn to live with it. You learn to adapt to your new normal. But it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve help while you’re figuring it out.”
“[She] can sense her, the same way she can sense the sun on her skin. What is this feeling? The bubble in her chest is too big, cracking her ribs apart in the sweetest way, like her chest is made of spun sugar.”
“She loves [her], in more ways than one. She loves her like a flower loves the sun, or like a bee loves the cerise blooms. She loves her in a way that makes it impossible to imagine what life was like before loving her.”
September 7, 2025
This was such a beautiful read! The magic system was so creative and explained in a way that was easy to follow! It was completely unpredictable for me. What I thought was going to be the outcome was not it at all but was still such a beautiful ending. And the relationship between Dove and Rory has to be one of my favorites! The unconditional support they gave each other, especially Rory, was so heartwarming! This book is perfect for cozying up in your favorite spot and sinking into this world! It was the perfect start to my Fall reading!
Thank you to T.M. Ledvina for the gifted press box!
This is my honest thoughts and opinions.
📖
5/5⭐️
0/5🌶️
Thank you to T.M. Ledvina for the gifted press box!
This is my honest thoughts and opinions.
📖
5/5⭐️
0/5🌶️
August 8, 2025
This was the perfect cozy, magical read that I needed. It was soft and beautiful and hopeful and I loved it so much!!!
The way the world was described gave the whole book a kind of iridescent sheen in my mind’s eye - everything was so colorful and sparkling. Rory was by far my favorite character and her relationships with everyone around her were so sweet.
If you’re looking for a quick, hopeful read to heal your soul, this is it!!
The way the world was described gave the whole book a kind of iridescent sheen in my mind’s eye - everything was so colorful and sparkling. Rory was by far my favorite character and her relationships with everyone around her were so sweet.
If you’re looking for a quick, hopeful read to heal your soul, this is it!!
September 29, 2025
This was such a great, cozy fantasy read. The idea of soul colors is unique. And I enjoyed the conflict that arises from the colors of the soul and the disappearance of the goddess. I thought everything was revealed in an artful way. I was hooked on trying to figure out the Drain, and I loved how everything ended up. I adore Dove, Rory, and Roan's relationship. I feel like I can see a lot of myself in Dove; she was easy to relate to.
September 7, 2025
A wonderfully cozy book with a beautiful and pretty magic system based on soul colors! This book covers grief, bullying, self doubt and more in a wholesome and comforting way in such a short amount of time not to mention the suspense and drama from the main story! It was wonderfully written and I definitely recommend as cozy reading season approaches!
August 6, 2025
Sapphics save the world after discovering their souls make up the rainbow?? I said OH IM SURE! I'll take this wonderful book as an apology for Tia hurting my feelings with her other books thank you.
January 20, 2026
4.75 stars
September 27, 2025
cried a lot so obviously it was good
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews