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My Time in Amar #1
A Twist in Reality
An anxiety riddled mage
A dragon rider afraid of heights
And a quest to find out about a quest
Up until last week, Chelsea was a completely ordinary girl growing up in the American suburbs. But then a portal drags her to another world alongside her brother and two childhood friends. This world is brilliantly beautiful and dangerously magical, and it is where they are cursed to remain until they can complete the quest that their fathers began long before they were born.
The only problem? No one bothered to tell them what this quest is. And to make matters worse, Chelsea soon learns that this quest isn’t the only thing she inherited from her father, but a corrupted magic also. She’s a mage with an ability that will make her go mad if she uses it too much and a power that will make her a target of anyone who discovers it.
She just wants to get home safely, but first she needs to…
—Embark on a quest just to discover what her dad’s quest was.
—Survive the werewolf hunting her for her magical blood.
—And avoiding falling for her childhood friend Easton who it turns out is a dragon lord and still doesn’t know about her magic.
It shouldn’t be too difficult, right?
As the werewolf prowls, Chelsea is left wondering which will get her killed first, her magic and the darkness it draws to her, her brother and his embarrassing bets, or her supposed “destiny” to be a hero to an already fallen realm.
The Mage’s War Saga is a YA portal fantasy series with echoes of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, the Wizard of Oz, and King Arthur. Set in a vibrant world of decaying magic this series is full of humor, whimsy, sweet slow-burn romance, and stepping into your destiny whether you want to or not.
A dragon rider afraid of heights
And a quest to find out about a quest
Up until last week, Chelsea was a completely ordinary girl growing up in the American suburbs. But then a portal drags her to another world alongside her brother and two childhood friends. This world is brilliantly beautiful and dangerously magical, and it is where they are cursed to remain until they can complete the quest that their fathers began long before they were born.
The only problem? No one bothered to tell them what this quest is. And to make matters worse, Chelsea soon learns that this quest isn’t the only thing she inherited from her father, but a corrupted magic also. She’s a mage with an ability that will make her go mad if she uses it too much and a power that will make her a target of anyone who discovers it.
She just wants to get home safely, but first she needs to…
—Embark on a quest just to discover what her dad’s quest was.
—Survive the werewolf hunting her for her magical blood.
—And avoiding falling for her childhood friend Easton who it turns out is a dragon lord and still doesn’t know about her magic.
It shouldn’t be too difficult, right?
As the werewolf prowls, Chelsea is left wondering which will get her killed first, her magic and the darkness it draws to her, her brother and his embarrassing bets, or her supposed “destiny” to be a hero to an already fallen realm.
The Mage’s War Saga is a YA portal fantasy series with echoes of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, the Wizard of Oz, and King Arthur. Set in a vibrant world of decaying magic this series is full of humor, whimsy, sweet slow-burn romance, and stepping into your destiny whether you want to or not.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2025
About the author
Nicki Chapelway
43 books338 followersNicki is a twenty-something author of swoony romantic fantasy. She has been writing since she was eleven and has since published several works. She enjoys creating stories with twisty-stabby faerie romances, retellings that take a darker turn, and epic fantasies in worlds full of monsters and magic.
Nicki lives in Ohio where she spends far too much time watching TV, playing video games, and sleeping. She listens to music basically all the time, and adores obsessing over mythologies, her shows, and her slew of fictional boyfriends. When not writing, she can usually be found at her desk with either a paintbrush or a pen in her hand.
Subscribe to her newsletter and receive a free book!
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Nicki lives in Ohio where she spends far too much time watching TV, playing video games, and sleeping. She listens to music basically all the time, and adores obsessing over mythologies, her shows, and her slew of fictional boyfriends. When not writing, she can usually be found at her desk with either a paintbrush or a pen in her hand.
Subscribe to her newsletter and receive a free book!
https://mailchi.mp/b6ec5f4a74a5/subsc...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 30, 2025
One of the first YA portal fantasy books I’ve read in a long time that actually feels and sounds like YA in the best way possible and I wouldn’t hesitate to hand to an actual teen unlike, um, cough, 99% of “YA” books that are slapped on the market these days, cough.
I was 100% certain the randomly appearing portal was going to be the main villain for a bit there, haha, but no there’s an actual mage controlling them, and honestly the “quest to figure out their actual quest” is such a hilarious idea I wonder why it isn’t used more often, though it’s probably for the best since this would be a tricky plot to not screw up.
And this wouldn’t be a Nicki book without her delightful characters, both main and side, and each of the teens have such vibrant thoughts and personalities they seemed alive and REAL, and I just love it when an author can pull that off. Chelsea and Easton are definitely my faves and I totally ship them, not gonna lie, heehee. Clint can be a very egotistical little pain, so he’s my least fave (he loves his sister though, so he gets points for that), and Bobbi I would need to spend more time with before I can have a solid opinion on her, but for now she’s cool.
The only annoying part was when Chelsea decided to not tell Easton the truth in a VERY life or death situation and I just kept screaming at her to just TRUST HIM, TELL HIM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING GIRL?!?! In retrospect, she’s an overthinking teenager with anxiety and to be completely fair I probably would have acted the same at sixteen because I had serious trust issues by then, HOWEVER she has no reason to distrust Easton so that comparison kinda goes out the window, haha. So while I get it, I also spent a lot of time feeling frustrated with her and screaming at her for the good last half of the book.
Also in classic Nicki fashion there’s a werewolf and the slight horror vibes from the midpoint on were extremely chilling while staying at a PG-13 level, which I appreciated as a stay-away-from-all-horror type of girl, and also balancing the life of death tension of it all. No killer plants though which is a first in a Nicki forest; I suspect those will show up in a later book…
It’s only other flaw? The cliffhanger ending. Like, come on, rude! Happily I had the ARC for the next book so I just dove right in, so for those who don’t like cliffhangers you might want to wait until the next book or two comes out before reading.
A wonderful, fun, adventurous, nail biting start to what I strongly believe will be a great YA series I will love to devour. Highly recommend, even if you’ve given up on or are deemed “too old” for YA.
‼️Content‼️
Language: jeez; what the heck; oh my gosh; freaking; what the freak; b—; gosh; heck; crud; gee
Violence: injuries and blood (not detailed); characters fall off a roof; characters fall in an old well; fighting with weapons, magic, and hand to hand (not detailed); a werewolf talks about and wants to eat a character; a werewolf chases, traps, and attacks characters (not detailed); a character vomits up blood; a giant wants to eat characters; dead, bloody bodies are seen in a town square (not detailed)
Sexual: characters are found sleeping next to each other (nothing happened)
Alcohol/Drugs: werewolf claws scratch and poison a character
Other: portals to another world; magic; magical abilities/creatures/places; mages; a character sleepwalks/has visions; a “ghost” girl; a character is tied up; characters are caged up; death
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
I was 100% certain the randomly appearing portal was going to be the main villain for a bit there, haha, but no there’s an actual mage controlling them, and honestly the “quest to figure out their actual quest” is such a hilarious idea I wonder why it isn’t used more often, though it’s probably for the best since this would be a tricky plot to not screw up.
And this wouldn’t be a Nicki book without her delightful characters, both main and side, and each of the teens have such vibrant thoughts and personalities they seemed alive and REAL, and I just love it when an author can pull that off. Chelsea and Easton are definitely my faves and I totally ship them, not gonna lie, heehee. Clint can be a very egotistical little pain, so he’s my least fave (he loves his sister though, so he gets points for that), and Bobbi I would need to spend more time with before I can have a solid opinion on her, but for now she’s cool.
The only annoying part was when Chelsea decided to not tell Easton the truth in a VERY life or death situation and I just kept screaming at her to just TRUST HIM, TELL HIM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING GIRL?!?! In retrospect, she’s an overthinking teenager with anxiety and to be completely fair I probably would have acted the same at sixteen because I had serious trust issues by then, HOWEVER she has no reason to distrust Easton so that comparison kinda goes out the window, haha. So while I get it, I also spent a lot of time feeling frustrated with her and screaming at her for the good last half of the book.
Also in classic Nicki fashion there’s a werewolf and the slight horror vibes from the midpoint on were extremely chilling while staying at a PG-13 level, which I appreciated as a stay-away-from-all-horror type of girl, and also balancing the life of death tension of it all. No killer plants though which is a first in a Nicki forest; I suspect those will show up in a later book…
It’s only other flaw? The cliffhanger ending. Like, come on, rude! Happily I had the ARC for the next book so I just dove right in, so for those who don’t like cliffhangers you might want to wait until the next book or two comes out before reading.
A wonderful, fun, adventurous, nail biting start to what I strongly believe will be a great YA series I will love to devour. Highly recommend, even if you’ve given up on or are deemed “too old” for YA.
‼️Content‼️
Language: jeez; what the heck; oh my gosh; freaking; what the freak; b—; gosh; heck; crud; gee
Violence: injuries and blood (not detailed); characters fall off a roof; characters fall in an old well; fighting with weapons, magic, and hand to hand (not detailed); a werewolf talks about and wants to eat a character; a werewolf chases, traps, and attacks characters (not detailed); a character vomits up blood; a giant wants to eat characters; dead, bloody bodies are seen in a town square (not detailed)
Sexual: characters are found sleeping next to each other (nothing happened)
Alcohol/Drugs: werewolf claws scratch and poison a character
Other: portals to another world; magic; magical abilities/creatures/places; mages; a character sleepwalks/has visions; a “ghost” girl; a character is tied up; characters are caged up; death
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
August 30, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
If you were to tell me to recommend only two books by Nicki Chapelway, I would say: rude! But you should pick up "Rage Like the Gods" and this book, "A Twist in Reality". I feel like these two books are the best gateways into Nicki's works, both being a first in a series. I also feel that the worlds of Ruskhazar and Amar showcase Nicki's writing the best. The characters have so much life and witty banter, and the worlds are so rich, you can tell how much love and joy Nicki has for the series, and you'll be flipping through the pages, always begging for more.
I feel that Nicki nailed down how a modern teen would take in a fantasy world and the realization that they might be stuck there for a while. A sense of awe, a bit of panic, and glad that they thought to bring a first-aid kit and a couple of water bottles.
There's a little bit of everything that every fantasy lover would enjoy. Dragons (a must-have), deadly werewolves, creepy faeries, giants, knights, lords, magic, and more! It does a wonderful job of ticking-off everything on my fantasy checklist. I might go as far as saying that this world is what really got me into fantasy.
Also, can we just talk about the cuteness of the baby dragon and then the dragon ride when he is all grown up? I was wearing the stupidest grin when reading these scenes. I absolutely LOVE dragons, and if someone were to tell me I was suddenly a dragon lord (ahem, *lady*) or something? Like awesome! Easton is probably one of my favorite characters, partly because of this. Odysseus is the best dragon ever!
Speaking of the characters, Chelsea is so well-written. She's very relatable. I love how she's trying to help Easton after she thinks he has a concussion, even with his protests. How she's having a mini panic attack, doesn't know who to talk to about this world and other problems, is in awe of how fantastical everything is, still loves modern technology, and doesn't know what to do with her feelings for Easton once it's brought up. Plus, she loves doggos! I do wish she got to have some more interactions with Wilhelm's dog, Cletus, but I love how protective she was of her dog, Hercules, especially when he accidentally gets pulled into Amar with her one time. (Even though I really like Chelsea, there were a couple of scenes where I was like TELL HIM THE TRUTH! Really, Chelsea. I still love her anyway.)
Easton. I really like this guy. I love how he's down to earth, easy to forgive others, I don't know, he's just a cool guy. I like him. I also really like the slow-burn romance between him and Chelsea.
Bobby! I really like how Bobby has a fiery attitude about her, but also can't stand the sight of blood. I do feel like she needs a cool weapon or something. But maybe she might have some cool abilities that might be explored later? Hint, hint. I also love her relationship with the group and how she still kept ties with everyone when everyone else tried to move on. And that one scene she has with Chelsea, her asking to sleep in Chelsea's room. I just really liked her character.
Clint. He made me crack up laughing more than once. He was a little bit annoying in some parts with trying to be the hero, or dragon lord, or whatever. I guess he was a little full of himself and had a big ego. Still, a really fun character. And I do love the times he shows that he does care about the people around him.
Content in Book:
1. Accidents (a character almost gets hit by a car, a character falls off the roof and is knocked unconscious, a character has something fall on their head and is knocked unconscious).
2. Kidnapping??? (A slightly insane character brings four teenagers into a fantasy world with no way for them to get home, so they can do a quest for him.)
3. Violence. (Bandits. Multiple times, different creatures try to capture and eat the main characters (and sometimes eat and hurt innocent bystanders). One character is known to punch people and/or scratch and kick them. Multiple people get punched or kicked, sword/dagger/arrow violence. A character has a hunting/guard dog. Magical violence, including fire and portals, and a couple of enchanted weapons. Empty threats of talking about killing people. Actual threats of talking about killing people. Etc.)
4. Injuries. (A character might have had a concussion. Head injuries. Broken ankles. Dislocated shoulders. A character gets scratched with venom and gets really sick; ends up vomiting blood. Blood and gore, not too focused, but there.)
5. Mythical creatures. (Dragons, werewolves, faeries, giants, etc.)
6. Magic. (Elemental, charms, persuasion, portals, healing, enchantments, prophecies, etc.)
7. Talk about alcoholic drinks. (A character accidentally takes a slip once, but another time they pass them up).
Who I Would Recommend This Book To:
Those who want to start an epic portal fantasy YA series with a portrayal of realistic teens from the modern age. Those who love witty banter. Those who love slow-burn romance (they do not kiss in this book). Those who love normal characters getting magical powers. Those who love the vibes of the dragon riding scene in "How to Train Your Dragon". Those who love creepy werewolves. Those who like the more dangerous/animistic ways of faeries. Those who love epic quests. Trust me, this is not a book you want to sleep on. Why are you still here? Go get yourself a copy!
If you were to tell me to recommend only two books by Nicki Chapelway, I would say: rude! But you should pick up "Rage Like the Gods" and this book, "A Twist in Reality". I feel like these two books are the best gateways into Nicki's works, both being a first in a series. I also feel that the worlds of Ruskhazar and Amar showcase Nicki's writing the best. The characters have so much life and witty banter, and the worlds are so rich, you can tell how much love and joy Nicki has for the series, and you'll be flipping through the pages, always begging for more.
I feel that Nicki nailed down how a modern teen would take in a fantasy world and the realization that they might be stuck there for a while. A sense of awe, a bit of panic, and glad that they thought to bring a first-aid kit and a couple of water bottles.
There's a little bit of everything that every fantasy lover would enjoy. Dragons (a must-have), deadly werewolves, creepy faeries, giants, knights, lords, magic, and more! It does a wonderful job of ticking-off everything on my fantasy checklist. I might go as far as saying that this world is what really got me into fantasy.
Also, can we just talk about the cuteness of the baby dragon and then the dragon ride when he is all grown up? I was wearing the stupidest grin when reading these scenes. I absolutely LOVE dragons, and if someone were to tell me I was suddenly a dragon lord (ahem, *lady*) or something? Like awesome! Easton is probably one of my favorite characters, partly because of this. Odysseus is the best dragon ever!
Speaking of the characters, Chelsea is so well-written. She's very relatable. I love how she's trying to help Easton after she thinks he has a concussion, even with his protests. How she's having a mini panic attack, doesn't know who to talk to about this world and other problems, is in awe of how fantastical everything is, still loves modern technology, and doesn't know what to do with her feelings for Easton once it's brought up. Plus, she loves doggos! I do wish she got to have some more interactions with Wilhelm's dog, Cletus, but I love how protective she was of her dog, Hercules, especially when he accidentally gets pulled into Amar with her one time. (Even though I really like Chelsea, there were a couple of scenes where I was like TELL HIM THE TRUTH! Really, Chelsea. I still love her anyway.)
Easton. I really like this guy. I love how he's down to earth, easy to forgive others, I don't know, he's just a cool guy. I like him. I also really like the slow-burn romance between him and Chelsea.
Bobby! I really like how Bobby has a fiery attitude about her, but also can't stand the sight of blood. I do feel like she needs a cool weapon or something. But maybe she might have some cool abilities that might be explored later? Hint, hint. I also love her relationship with the group and how she still kept ties with everyone when everyone else tried to move on. And that one scene she has with Chelsea, her asking to sleep in Chelsea's room. I just really liked her character.
Clint. He made me crack up laughing more than once. He was a little bit annoying in some parts with trying to be the hero, or dragon lord, or whatever. I guess he was a little full of himself and had a big ego. Still, a really fun character. And I do love the times he shows that he does care about the people around him.
Content in Book:
1. Accidents (a character almost gets hit by a car, a character falls off the roof and is knocked unconscious, a character has something fall on their head and is knocked unconscious).
2. Kidnapping??? (A slightly insane character brings four teenagers into a fantasy world with no way for them to get home, so they can do a quest for him.)
3. Violence. (Bandits. Multiple times, different creatures try to capture and eat the main characters (and sometimes eat and hurt innocent bystanders). One character is known to punch people and/or scratch and kick them. Multiple people get punched or kicked, sword/dagger/arrow violence. A character has a hunting/guard dog. Magical violence, including fire and portals, and a couple of enchanted weapons. Empty threats of talking about killing people. Actual threats of talking about killing people. Etc.)
4. Injuries. (A character might have had a concussion. Head injuries. Broken ankles. Dislocated shoulders. A character gets scratched with venom and gets really sick; ends up vomiting blood. Blood and gore, not too focused, but there.)
5. Mythical creatures. (Dragons, werewolves, faeries, giants, etc.)
6. Magic. (Elemental, charms, persuasion, portals, healing, enchantments, prophecies, etc.)
7. Talk about alcoholic drinks. (A character accidentally takes a slip once, but another time they pass them up).
Who I Would Recommend This Book To:
Those who want to start an epic portal fantasy YA series with a portrayal of realistic teens from the modern age. Those who love witty banter. Those who love slow-burn romance (they do not kiss in this book). Those who love normal characters getting magical powers. Those who love the vibes of the dragon riding scene in "How to Train Your Dragon". Those who love creepy werewolves. Those who like the more dangerous/animistic ways of faeries. Those who love epic quests. Trust me, this is not a book you want to sleep on. Why are you still here? Go get yourself a copy!
January 31, 2026
A new to me author and another freaking hit!!! This book was perfect from start to finish. I absolutely adore how Clint, Bobby, Chelsea, and Easton all were summoned into another world. It was a cool way to start off the book. They were dropped in with very little preparation. The way they reacted and how it all unraveled was exactly how it should have gone. The kids arent perfect at everything. They have fear and worries about how they are going to complete their father's quest. Chelsea is my favorite. Her personality and voice was the easiest to be in. Her love of dogs is my favorite part of her personality. There isnt a moment in this story where I was bored or annoyed. Even Clint and Bobby's bickering was endearing. I'm 100% diving into the rest of the series.
April 7, 2026
I liked this more than I thought I would! The world that is built, the characters, the prophecies, and their magic powers, I was on the edge of my seat. The. Whole. Time.
*Warning**It will end with major cliffhanger, have book 2 on hand*
Thank you so much, Nicki!
I received a free copy of the book
from the author. All thoughts and
opinions are most assuredly my own.
*Warning**It will end with major cliffhanger, have book 2 on hand*
Thank you so much, Nicki!
I received a free copy of the book
from the author. All thoughts and
opinions are most assuredly my own.
April 8, 2026
This is a good YA portal fantasy. It starts off really exciting! I think teens would really enjoy it.
October 2, 2025
Thank you to Nicki Chapelway for the ARC.
Plot 4/5
Characters 4/5 Ending 3.75/5 Interest 4.25/5
Overall 4/5
-The begging of the book felt a little long. There was a lot of setting the scene, introducing the characters and the writing fro this part didn’t particularly real me in. It felt quite juvenile and very descriptive rather than storytelling. But once the main event happens, I started to be more and more invested in the story. The world was very interesting, I do wish that we could have had more explanation of the link between the two realms. But the quest then felt a like it was lacking a little. I still don’t really understand what the quest actually is.
-The characters were cute. I don’t particularly connect with them nor do I feel like they connect all that well together that well and sometimes it felt a little forced. But looking beyond that, they’re all alright. Chelsea and Easton together are cute as a whole but I don’t really like the bet because now all she thinks about is that.
-The ending had been so sudden. I just suddenly ends with no real cut off and I feel like if I didn’t have book 2 to read immediately after, then I would have been missing key moments of the ending.
Plot 4/5
Characters 4/5 Ending 3.75/5 Interest 4.25/5
Overall 4/5
-The begging of the book felt a little long. There was a lot of setting the scene, introducing the characters and the writing fro this part didn’t particularly real me in. It felt quite juvenile and very descriptive rather than storytelling. But once the main event happens, I started to be more and more invested in the story. The world was very interesting, I do wish that we could have had more explanation of the link between the two realms. But the quest then felt a like it was lacking a little. I still don’t really understand what the quest actually is.
-The characters were cute. I don’t particularly connect with them nor do I feel like they connect all that well together that well and sometimes it felt a little forced. But looking beyond that, they’re all alright. Chelsea and Easton together are cute as a whole but I don’t really like the bet because now all she thinks about is that.
-The ending had been so sudden. I just suddenly ends with no real cut off and I feel like if I didn’t have book 2 to read immediately after, then I would have been missing key moments of the ending.
August 21, 2025
4.5/5
Chelsea is a 16 year old girl going through something absolutely crazy - she has been pulled through portals and then spit back out in strange places over the last week. Thinking she is crazy and can't tell anyone, she is surprised to find out that her twin brother, Clint, and childhood best friends, Easton and Bobby, have been having the same issue. When they are all gathered together for their annual family get together, they are all pulled through a portal together. A seemingly crazy mage tells them they must finish the quest their fathers started before they can go home but that is all they know. Now they are forced to travel this strange world with dangers they couldn't even imagine while learning that they have "powers" they never once realized they had.
This book is a multiple POV, but mostly focuses on Chelsea. She is your average teenager thrown into a crazy (and sometimes funny) situation. While I'm sure she didn't think it was funny, I giggled at the portal situation in the beginning. She is a little more prepared than most kids her age though, having a backpack prepared and getting others to do the same. Overall, she is an easy character to like. My one complaint (as is with a lot of YA) is the miscommunication or lack there of she shares with mostly Easton. Easton has been her friend her whole life, yet she feels like she cannot trust him with anything which gets them into some dicey situations.
We get a little bit about her twin, Clint, and Bobby. It seems those 2 always have to argue. They are both the type to want to be right and have some normal snarky teenage attitudes. But even though they bicker, you know they will always be there for each other. I'm hoping we get to read more from their POV in the next books. I am looking forward to seeing how these characters grow, esp Bobby. And after the ending of this book (I mean WOW), you can really see her potential!
As usual, I love the world building from this author. She creates beautiful and scary worlds and you can imagine you are there. I like the twist on the werewolf story in this book as well. We also get to meet several other fantasy creatures during the story as well. While a lot of this book is just the 4 of them navigating this new world trying to fulfill a quest they don't even know, there are definite medium stakes moments, and the later part of the book has some tense high stakes moments! And talk about a cliff hanger! Now I have to know what happens next!
Chelsea is a 16 year old girl going through something absolutely crazy - she has been pulled through portals and then spit back out in strange places over the last week. Thinking she is crazy and can't tell anyone, she is surprised to find out that her twin brother, Clint, and childhood best friends, Easton and Bobby, have been having the same issue. When they are all gathered together for their annual family get together, they are all pulled through a portal together. A seemingly crazy mage tells them they must finish the quest their fathers started before they can go home but that is all they know. Now they are forced to travel this strange world with dangers they couldn't even imagine while learning that they have "powers" they never once realized they had.
This book is a multiple POV, but mostly focuses on Chelsea. She is your average teenager thrown into a crazy (and sometimes funny) situation. While I'm sure she didn't think it was funny, I giggled at the portal situation in the beginning. She is a little more prepared than most kids her age though, having a backpack prepared and getting others to do the same. Overall, she is an easy character to like. My one complaint (as is with a lot of YA) is the miscommunication or lack there of she shares with mostly Easton. Easton has been her friend her whole life, yet she feels like she cannot trust him with anything which gets them into some dicey situations.
We get a little bit about her twin, Clint, and Bobby. It seems those 2 always have to argue. They are both the type to want to be right and have some normal snarky teenage attitudes. But even though they bicker, you know they will always be there for each other. I'm hoping we get to read more from their POV in the next books. I am looking forward to seeing how these characters grow, esp Bobby. And after the ending of this book (I mean WOW), you can really see her potential!
As usual, I love the world building from this author. She creates beautiful and scary worlds and you can imagine you are there. I like the twist on the werewolf story in this book as well. We also get to meet several other fantasy creatures during the story as well. While a lot of this book is just the 4 of them navigating this new world trying to fulfill a quest they don't even know, there are definite medium stakes moments, and the later part of the book has some tense high stakes moments! And talk about a cliff hanger! Now I have to know what happens next!
August 21, 2025
This is an imaginative and unique portal fantasy about a group of teenagers who are transported to another world and tasked with completing a mission their fathers were unable to finish. The story has adventure, magic, dragons, and plenty of secrets that slowly come to light.
I really enjoyed the concept and the sense of adventure. A group setting out on a quest in a mythical, medieval-style world is always exciting, especially with the mix of magic and hidden truths.
That said, I did struggle with the pacing and some of the story elements that felt a bit random. For example, at one point a dragon suddenly appears, drops an egg, and then flies away—it left me confused since dragons hadn’t really been introduced beforehand. I think a little more setup about the kinds of creatures or rules of this world early on would have made moments like this feel more natural.
The magic system was also a little confusing. Some of the teens seemed to inherit powers but weren’t allowed to use them, and I wasn’t fully sure how or why that worked.
As for the characters, they definitely acted like teenagers, which added some realism, but at times their choices didn’t match the seriousness of their situation. Chelsea, in particular, often focused more on her feelings for Easton than on the quest, which made her harder for me to connect with. I don’t mind romance in an adventure story, but I wished it had been more balanced with the larger mission.
Overall, I think this book has a lot of potential. The world, concept, and setup are engaging, and I stayed invested because I wanted to know what would happen next. With some adjustments to pacing, character focus, and world-building clarity, this could become a really strong fantasy series.
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed the concept and the sense of adventure. A group setting out on a quest in a mythical, medieval-style world is always exciting, especially with the mix of magic and hidden truths.
That said, I did struggle with the pacing and some of the story elements that felt a bit random. For example, at one point a dragon suddenly appears, drops an egg, and then flies away—it left me confused since dragons hadn’t really been introduced beforehand. I think a little more setup about the kinds of creatures or rules of this world early on would have made moments like this feel more natural.
The magic system was also a little confusing. Some of the teens seemed to inherit powers but weren’t allowed to use them, and I wasn’t fully sure how or why that worked.
As for the characters, they definitely acted like teenagers, which added some realism, but at times their choices didn’t match the seriousness of their situation. Chelsea, in particular, often focused more on her feelings for Easton than on the quest, which made her harder for me to connect with. I don’t mind romance in an adventure story, but I wished it had been more balanced with the larger mission.
Overall, I think this book has a lot of potential. The world, concept, and setup are engaging, and I stayed invested because I wanted to know what would happen next. With some adjustments to pacing, character focus, and world-building clarity, this could become a really strong fantasy series.
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 26, 2025
This is the first of the Amar books by this author that I have read and I am intrigued enough that I have get my hands on some of the earlier books. This young adult novel has elements of litrpg, portal fantasy, and epic fantasy - definitely not cozy fantasy, as there is very little cozy about it. This is like the author threw together Andre Norton's "The Magic Books" with Tamara Pierce's Circle of Magic series and Joynell Schultz's Quarter Witch Chronicles to come up with a group coming-of-age story set in an unexpected world (with all the fairytalesque troubles and farces and absurdities that implies). I may be intrigued enough to explore Amar but I am also intrigued enough to want the next book in this new series.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 1, 2025
Oh, that ending was just cruel. Luckily it won't take long to get to the next book.
A mix of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and a couple of other fantasy novels that slip my mind right now, A Twist in Reality falls four teenagers united by their fathers' friendship and their sudden trips through a portal. Eventually they all end up trapped in this other world until they finish the quest their fathers started. The only problem: they have no clue what the quest is.
This is a relatively fast read that incorporates all of the characters' points of view. I'm excited to find out more about the fathers' pasts as well as what this mysterious quest ends up being.
A mix of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and a couple of other fantasy novels that slip my mind right now, A Twist in Reality falls four teenagers united by their fathers' friendship and their sudden trips through a portal. Eventually they all end up trapped in this other world until they finish the quest their fathers started. The only problem: they have no clue what the quest is.
This is a relatively fast read that incorporates all of the characters' points of view. I'm excited to find out more about the fathers' pasts as well as what this mysterious quest ends up being.
August 30, 2025
This was an exciting clean portal fantasy with a fascinating world that had so many of the creatures you could think of in fairyland! From mages to dragons, to fairies, giants, and more… this book had chaos and danger every time I turned around, sometimes because of the poor choices that the characters made, and sometimes because of their travels. It made reading a grand adventure, all while keeping things clean.
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