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The Elixir of the Green Willow Guard: A Kingdom of Ethereal Story
THE ELIXIR OF THE GREEN WILLOW GUARD is a thrilling YA Fantasy Romance filled with secrets, betrayals, and impossible choices.
To protect her sister’s life, Shylah will risk everything—even her heart.
Since their parents’ deaths in a fire three years ago, seventeen-year-old Shylah has one keep her twelve-year-old sister, Trulian, safe from the ruthless Queen of Dimmet. Trulian is a Traveler, a rare gift that allows her to enter the dreams and memories of those she meets. If the Queen gains control of Trulian, no one’s secrets—past, present, or future—will be safe. Shylah designs a forbidden elixir to suppress her sister’s powers, but the ingredients are running out, and with the help of a mysterious figure intent on unlocking her sister’s true potential, Trulian is building up a tolerance.
Shylah’s plans unravel when her caretaker’s once-scrawny nephew, Durmad, returns from Green Willow Guard training. Now a confident, skilled soldier with his own dangerous ability, the Queen wants his loyalty, and she isn’t above manipulating him to secure it. As old frustrations and flirtations turn to undeniable feelings, Shylah can’t decide if Durmad is her salvation—or her ruin.
Shylah must decide where her true loyalties lie— before the Queen tears them apart for good.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2025
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 26, 2025
3/5 Stars
I really wanted to love this book. The concept? Amazing. The execution? Not quite there for me.
The Good:
✨ Unique magic system—the idea of Travelers and the elixir-making had so much potential!
✨ Protective sibling dynamic—Shylah’s devotion to her sister was definitely a highlight.
✨ Slow-burn, angsty romance—Durmad and Shylah’s dynamic had some great tension.
The Not-So-Good:
✨ The romance felt more like "he's mean to her because he likes her" than an actual enemies-to-lovers arc.
✨ The world-building needed more depth. At times, I felt like I had accidentally skipped a book because so much was left unexplained.
✨ Maybe this is a weird complaint, but my Kindle didn’t show the chapter numbers or names, which made tracking progress really frustrating.
Overall, I love the concept, but the execution wasn’t quite my cup of tea. If you’re into fantasy romance with a strong sibling bond and don’t mind a bit of a messy magic system, it might still be worth checking out!
Thanks BookSirens and A.D. Uhlar for opportunity to read that ARC
I really wanted to love this book. The concept? Amazing. The execution? Not quite there for me.
The Good:
✨ Unique magic system—the idea of Travelers and the elixir-making had so much potential!
✨ Protective sibling dynamic—Shylah’s devotion to her sister was definitely a highlight.
✨ Slow-burn, angsty romance—Durmad and Shylah’s dynamic had some great tension.
The Not-So-Good:
✨ The romance felt more like "he's mean to her because he likes her" than an actual enemies-to-lovers arc.
✨ The world-building needed more depth. At times, I felt like I had accidentally skipped a book because so much was left unexplained.
✨ Maybe this is a weird complaint, but my Kindle didn’t show the chapter numbers or names, which made tracking progress really frustrating.
Overall, I love the concept, but the execution wasn’t quite my cup of tea. If you’re into fantasy romance with a strong sibling bond and don’t mind a bit of a messy magic system, it might still be worth checking out!
Thanks BookSirens and A.D. Uhlar for opportunity to read that ARC
April 11, 2025
YA Fantasy Romance . Debut Novel . Frenemies to Lovers . Forced Proximity . One Horse . He Falls First . Secrets . Hidden Abilities . No Spice
Shylah and her little sister, Trulian, are orphans who are forced into a life of servitude. Trulian has a gift that they must keep secret lest the Queen get wind of it and want to take control of that power for her own gains. However, keeping it a secret is no easy task and requires special elixirs in order to subdue Trulian's gifts and nightmares. Obtaining the scarce components is a dangerous and daunting undertaking that puts Shylah’s life in jeopardy. But a guard, the bane of her existence from her past, has returned.
Despite Shylah's aversion to Durmad's maddening attention, he becomes the one person who can help keep her and her sister safe. Though it might end up costing her more than she knows.
......
Shylah, though forced to be strong because she was the caretaker and protector of her sister, was still young, herself. On one hand, she was a fighter. On the other hand, she exhibited a willfulness and recklessness with a smattering of petulance. She often jumped to a conclusion without preamble.
Durmad had been Shylah’s tormentor years prior, and that, paired with his abrupt departure, left her with resentment and bitterness toward him. Overcoming those feelings was a bit of a challenge. Durmad, however, did make a valiant effort to prove his worth, albeit in a quasi-errant manner that may have perpetuated things longer.
The tension between the two was palpable. They both still need a little more growing up to do. Hopefully, when that happens, they can see more eye-to-eye and build a stronger connection and romance. The kindling is there to start the fire!
"She was beautiful, feisty, and still awkward. It was bewitching—she was bewitching."
(pg 346)
"Drawing in a breath, his spiced scent was like the perfect elixir." (pg 226)
I thought this was a good start with nice character development - especially for Shylah. There was no conclusion, as it was left open-ended. So, hopefully, we'll get to see more of them and get to know them better.
Gifted an ARC of the book! The print illustrations are so lovely!
Shylah and her little sister, Trulian, are orphans who are forced into a life of servitude. Trulian has a gift that they must keep secret lest the Queen get wind of it and want to take control of that power for her own gains. However, keeping it a secret is no easy task and requires special elixirs in order to subdue Trulian's gifts and nightmares. Obtaining the scarce components is a dangerous and daunting undertaking that puts Shylah’s life in jeopardy. But a guard, the bane of her existence from her past, has returned.
Despite Shylah's aversion to Durmad's maddening attention, he becomes the one person who can help keep her and her sister safe. Though it might end up costing her more than she knows.
......
Shylah, though forced to be strong because she was the caretaker and protector of her sister, was still young, herself. On one hand, she was a fighter. On the other hand, she exhibited a willfulness and recklessness with a smattering of petulance. She often jumped to a conclusion without preamble.
Durmad had been Shylah’s tormentor years prior, and that, paired with his abrupt departure, left her with resentment and bitterness toward him. Overcoming those feelings was a bit of a challenge. Durmad, however, did make a valiant effort to prove his worth, albeit in a quasi-errant manner that may have perpetuated things longer.
The tension between the two was palpable. They both still need a little more growing up to do. Hopefully, when that happens, they can see more eye-to-eye and build a stronger connection and romance. The kindling is there to start the fire!
"She was beautiful, feisty, and still awkward. It was bewitching—she was bewitching."
(pg 346)
"Drawing in a breath, his spiced scent was like the perfect elixir." (pg 226)
I thought this was a good start with nice character development - especially for Shylah. There was no conclusion, as it was left open-ended. So, hopefully, we'll get to see more of them and get to know them better.
Gifted an ARC of the book! The print illustrations are so lovely!
April 6, 2025
A really great read! Although it isn’t one of my favourite reads this year I still enjoyed it, the magic system is really intriguing to me and I would really like to read more about different powers within the world in future books! Shylah is such a strong character in this novel and the love for her sister is so beautiful, I’m really interested in seeing Trulian’s POV and how she is learning more about her power and maybe even see a future with Jorden?
Overall it was an awesome read
* I received an ARC copy of this book and I’m leaving this review voluntarily*
Overall it was an awesome read
* I received an ARC copy of this book and I’m leaving this review voluntarily*
April 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
shylah is our fmc and although she once was a very happy child this all changed due to the death of her parents and having to be bonded to an awful man.
Shylah lives with her sister and bonded which in general is quite a tense situation and has resulted in a character which seems very lost in her ways.
our love interest Durman, does everything to install some "fire" back into Shylah and when this finally happens he has to leave.
book was okay, interesting concept of being bonded to someone but I am more excited for book 2 - just for some excitement.
shylah is our fmc and although she once was a very happy child this all changed due to the death of her parents and having to be bonded to an awful man.
Shylah lives with her sister and bonded which in general is quite a tense situation and has resulted in a character which seems very lost in her ways.
our love interest Durman, does everything to install some "fire" back into Shylah and when this finally happens he has to leave.
book was okay, interesting concept of being bonded to someone but I am more excited for book 2 - just for some excitement.
April 4, 2025
I’m not entirely sure what the “main” plot was in this book. It’s about a sister who would do anything and does everything she can to protect her younger sister due to her younger sister’s unique and coveted ability. And then there’s a guard who she slowly falls in love with.
That’s basically the plot. And don’t get me wrong, I actually did enjoy the book. The story was sweet, at times, and I loved how fiercely Shylah protected her sister. Being a sister myself, I would do the same, well except for one thing Shylah did or attempted to do that I still don’t understand why that was put in there since it basically turned Shylah into a different person in my eyes, but I’m not going to get into details due to spoilers! The world sounded interesting and the magic unique.
One thing that I noticed that seemed unique in this fantasy is that everyone seemed to have unique hair and if they used too much of their magic, their hair color would dull until they took the time to replenish. I thought that was a nice touch.
The romance itself is like an enemies to lovers slow burn. There are moments where it seems quick, but Shylah is the one that made it slow because her trust took a long time forming.
My biggest issue are the plot holes and random things shoved into the story. There would be people’s names mentioned suddenly that I had never heard of and it seemed I should know who that is. Shylah did, but I didn’t. There was not enough world building to understand the world and the different kingdoms, or how their magic works or do all of their hair fade. Shylah would mention how they escaped their home and their parents didn’t, and then I find out halfway through the book what happened, but that should have been told from the beginning, especially since it would have made A LOT of things make more sense to me, like Shylah’s feelings. It just seemed like things were thought of and then shoved into the story at that moment. There’s definitely a lot of telling and less showing.
Overall, it’s a cute book with some darker moments. The cover is stunning too!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
That’s basically the plot. And don’t get me wrong, I actually did enjoy the book. The story was sweet, at times, and I loved how fiercely Shylah protected her sister. Being a sister myself, I would do the same, well except for one thing Shylah did or attempted to do that I still don’t understand why that was put in there since it basically turned Shylah into a different person in my eyes, but I’m not going to get into details due to spoilers! The world sounded interesting and the magic unique.
One thing that I noticed that seemed unique in this fantasy is that everyone seemed to have unique hair and if they used too much of their magic, their hair color would dull until they took the time to replenish. I thought that was a nice touch.
The romance itself is like an enemies to lovers slow burn. There are moments where it seems quick, but Shylah is the one that made it slow because her trust took a long time forming.
My biggest issue are the plot holes and random things shoved into the story. There would be people’s names mentioned suddenly that I had never heard of and it seemed I should know who that is. Shylah did, but I didn’t. There was not enough world building to understand the world and the different kingdoms, or how their magic works or do all of their hair fade. Shylah would mention how they escaped their home and their parents didn’t, and then I find out halfway through the book what happened, but that should have been told from the beginning, especially since it would have made A LOT of things make more sense to me, like Shylah’s feelings. It just seemed like things were thought of and then shoved into the story at that moment. There’s definitely a lot of telling and less showing.
Overall, it’s a cute book with some darker moments. The cover is stunning too!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 1, 2025
This is my first ever ARC review!
I thought this story was well thought out. The thing I liked most about this story was its simplicity. Yet, it did not lack depth or details. This storyline was quite easy to follow, which is something I struggle with when reading fantasy books.
I feel that the character development was also quite interesting. I enjoyed following the main characters along their difficult emotional and physical journeys. However, especially for the female main character, Shylah, I felt that her character was pretty much the same from the beginning till the end. I enjoyed her reading character and how she dealt with difficult situations, but I did not really discover anything new about her.
The pacing of this story was one of my favourite elements. As a reader, I tend to get tangled up in a web of details. I appreciated the fact that the author did not just keep throwing things at me; rather, she introduced me to a few new terms or characters at one go, then continued on with the story, letting the ideas marinate in my mind.
I enjoyed the conflict in this story, and I thought it was quite exciting. However, I think that the conflict could have been better explained, as I felt that I was barely scratching the surface.
Lastly, the thing that was quite disappointing was the worldbuilding. This is the thing I look out for most in fantasy books, as I enjoy the feeling of being immersed in a new world with fascinating aspects to it. Unfortunately, I found it hard to imagine what this world would have looked like, due to the lack of explanation. Of course there were descriptions of the environment here and there, but overall, I felt that this aspect of the story could be greatly improved on.
In conclusion, this book was an enjoyable, light read. It was easy to comprehend, with a simple yet deep storyline. Although it has its flaws, like the worldbuilding and character development, I still highly enjoyed it and would recommend it!
Stay tuned and check out my website for a more in-depth review on this story that will be published soon!
I thought this story was well thought out. The thing I liked most about this story was its simplicity. Yet, it did not lack depth or details. This storyline was quite easy to follow, which is something I struggle with when reading fantasy books.
I feel that the character development was also quite interesting. I enjoyed following the main characters along their difficult emotional and physical journeys. However, especially for the female main character, Shylah, I felt that her character was pretty much the same from the beginning till the end. I enjoyed her reading character and how she dealt with difficult situations, but I did not really discover anything new about her.
The pacing of this story was one of my favourite elements. As a reader, I tend to get tangled up in a web of details. I appreciated the fact that the author did not just keep throwing things at me; rather, she introduced me to a few new terms or characters at one go, then continued on with the story, letting the ideas marinate in my mind.
I enjoyed the conflict in this story, and I thought it was quite exciting. However, I think that the conflict could have been better explained, as I felt that I was barely scratching the surface.
Lastly, the thing that was quite disappointing was the worldbuilding. This is the thing I look out for most in fantasy books, as I enjoy the feeling of being immersed in a new world with fascinating aspects to it. Unfortunately, I found it hard to imagine what this world would have looked like, due to the lack of explanation. Of course there were descriptions of the environment here and there, but overall, I felt that this aspect of the story could be greatly improved on.
In conclusion, this book was an enjoyable, light read. It was easy to comprehend, with a simple yet deep storyline. Although it has its flaws, like the worldbuilding and character development, I still highly enjoyed it and would recommend it!
Stay tuned and check out my website for a more in-depth review on this story that will be published soon!
May 22, 2025
So, after reading this book. I had to take about a month just to wrap my head around it before I could write this review.
Cough.
Anyways.
I devoured this book like the feral goblin screaming into a void, “TRULIAN DESERVES BETTER.”
How did we get here?
Man, the answers are simple.
I came for this cute fantasy to protect your sister book trope that I thought I was getting myself into. Excuse my French, but I am a wh*** for them. I stayed for the quick-witted banter and the KARMA that I knew was coming for Abaddon, but my god, I lost it at the “Drug your sister. Steal from your Teacher. Fight the Queen.”
Like forbidden Elixirs? Okay, sure, Shylah, do some light murder and break a few laws. They don’t matter, right? Who’s gonna stop you? That brooding soldier over there is giving you 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬?
This book has it all. And at the heart of it all? The plot is incredibly simple. Something that I highly respect and adore. It’s about 17-year-old Shylah who would stop at nothing to protect her 12-year-old sister Trulian (Who istg is more powerful than Voldemort. Like let’s be real?? The girl gave me whiplash from her devious actions.)
from the Queen of Dimmit. (snake)
While it's currently unclear as to why there’s this massively strong divide to shield Trulian and her powers from the (snake) Queen, I believe that the lore and path is being paved in book two. It’s a jaw-dropping great start to this beautiful series.
The magic was flowing
The banter was hotter than the desert scene
The bonds between the sisters? Unbreakable.
AD UHLAR, I hope you’re satisfied with the emotional ruin you’ve put us readers in as we come, crawling for book two. At this point. I think I’d trade my soul to a squirrel if it meant I could find out what happens to Trulian and Shylah after the palace.
It's a literary crime to end the book the way you did. And I absolutely love every moment of it. Thank you so much for allowing me a copy of Elixir of the Green Willow Guard, and I hope this babbling mess of a review is even comprehensible.
Cough.
Anyways.
I devoured this book like the feral goblin screaming into a void, “TRULIAN DESERVES BETTER.”
How did we get here?
Man, the answers are simple.
I came for this cute fantasy to protect your sister book trope that I thought I was getting myself into. Excuse my French, but I am a wh*** for them. I stayed for the quick-witted banter and the KARMA that I knew was coming for Abaddon, but my god, I lost it at the “Drug your sister. Steal from your Teacher. Fight the Queen.”
Like forbidden Elixirs? Okay, sure, Shylah, do some light murder and break a few laws. They don’t matter, right? Who’s gonna stop you? That brooding soldier over there is giving you 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬?
This book has it all. And at the heart of it all? The plot is incredibly simple. Something that I highly respect and adore. It’s about 17-year-old Shylah who would stop at nothing to protect her 12-year-old sister Trulian (Who istg is more powerful than Voldemort. Like let’s be real?? The girl gave me whiplash from her devious actions.)
from the Queen of Dimmit. (snake)
While it's currently unclear as to why there’s this massively strong divide to shield Trulian and her powers from the (snake) Queen, I believe that the lore and path is being paved in book two. It’s a jaw-dropping great start to this beautiful series.
The magic was flowing
The banter was hotter than the desert scene
The bonds between the sisters? Unbreakable.
AD UHLAR, I hope you’re satisfied with the emotional ruin you’ve put us readers in as we come, crawling for book two. At this point. I think I’d trade my soul to a squirrel if it meant I could find out what happens to Trulian and Shylah after the palace.
It's a literary crime to end the book the way you did. And I absolutely love every moment of it. Thank you so much for allowing me a copy of Elixir of the Green Willow Guard, and I hope this babbling mess of a review is even comprehensible.
May 28, 2025
I am utterly floored after reading this book.
It was such a beautiful, captivating story with a wonderful blossoming romance on the move.
I often don't give books without smut enough credit, but this is one that really truly will appeal to all romantasy fans.
I'm in love with the whole set up of the local town, being a small town girl myself, I love markets, my town has them frequently. All sorts and styles. This book however, has a kind of olden day, yet not quite medieval, but something alongside those lines? I suck at history so I'm sorry if I'm giving a very bad picture in your mind.
The bond between Shylar and her sister, really moved me, have 2 younger sisters myself, also being a semi-orphan, I had to bring them up and make sure they grew up well. So I feel that love and protection instinct, in the face of loss we cling on to everything we can to hold us together as one.
There are some characters I'm wary of, as with any good book I suppose, I initially liked them but now I doubt intentions and have to sit and stew until we get a follow up novel to relieve me of my anxiety. Fictional character attachment is hitting hard.
I hope to see more of the Green Willow Guards journey in book 2, I feel we only saw the negative side here (minus our lovely male lead) I hope there are some redeeming moments for the soldiers to come.
The magic system was very well written out, even with the prologue word soundy guide I still struggled with some terms that surfaced, I took to just guessing and going with it. I love having a female lead that is nature based. Kind of an earth witch without the powers? Herbal remedy.
I really look forward to book 2, I think we shall get more of Trulians story with it, which shall be very interesting. I'm intrigued as to what exactly the mysterious girl has in store for us.
An excellent, very richly detailed book for all fantasy fans.
Very worthy of my 5 stars!
It was such a beautiful, captivating story with a wonderful blossoming romance on the move.
I often don't give books without smut enough credit, but this is one that really truly will appeal to all romantasy fans.
I'm in love with the whole set up of the local town, being a small town girl myself, I love markets, my town has them frequently. All sorts and styles. This book however, has a kind of olden day, yet not quite medieval, but something alongside those lines? I suck at history so I'm sorry if I'm giving a very bad picture in your mind.
The bond between Shylar and her sister, really moved me, have 2 younger sisters myself, also being a semi-orphan, I had to bring them up and make sure they grew up well. So I feel that love and protection instinct, in the face of loss we cling on to everything we can to hold us together as one.
There are some characters I'm wary of, as with any good book I suppose, I initially liked them but now I doubt intentions and have to sit and stew until we get a follow up novel to relieve me of my anxiety. Fictional character attachment is hitting hard.
I hope to see more of the Green Willow Guards journey in book 2, I feel we only saw the negative side here (minus our lovely male lead) I hope there are some redeeming moments for the soldiers to come.
The magic system was very well written out, even with the prologue word soundy guide I still struggled with some terms that surfaced, I took to just guessing and going with it. I love having a female lead that is nature based. Kind of an earth witch without the powers? Herbal remedy.
I really look forward to book 2, I think we shall get more of Trulians story with it, which shall be very interesting. I'm intrigued as to what exactly the mysterious girl has in store for us.
An excellent, very richly detailed book for all fantasy fans.
Very worthy of my 5 stars!
April 3, 2025
Thank you to the Author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
2.5 stars
I will start out with the positives.
Shylah's character was was very strong willed and I liked the bond between her and her sister and that she would do literally anything (even kill someone) for her.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and the dual POV. Sometimes fantasy books can be quite confusing when you throw a bunch of stuff in there and expect the reader to remember it all within a couple of chapters.
That being said...
For me personally there was not enough world building. I had a really hard time placing myself at the scenes and imagining what was happening with the characters. The magic system was really unique and I was really intrigued but I felt as if I never learned enough about it to truly understand what exactly was happening. The whole thing just felt very vague to me.
Now onto the romance...
I was immediately turned off to the romance as a whole when we are told the story of Durmand tricking Shylah into getting drunk and pretending it was medicine while she was 14 and he was 19. I think the author meant for this to just be playful behavior but in todays world I just feel like it did not hit the way she was expecting it too. So now I am imaging a 19 year old "teasing" a 14 year old in all the flash backs pulling her braid and what-not and I'm just thinking to myself what 19 year old is still teasing a child and it's implied that he basically had a crush on her. This happens at the beginning of the book so the romance as a whole was scrapped for me.
It could've been bumped up a half star but the ending also fell flat for me.
This book has a lot of promise and some really great concepts but I definitely think the author needs to rethink the age gap and the scene with the alcohol because I'm sure a lot of people will find that just as off-putting.
2.5 stars
I will start out with the positives.
Shylah's character was was very strong willed and I liked the bond between her and her sister and that she would do literally anything (even kill someone) for her.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and the dual POV. Sometimes fantasy books can be quite confusing when you throw a bunch of stuff in there and expect the reader to remember it all within a couple of chapters.
That being said...
For me personally there was not enough world building. I had a really hard time placing myself at the scenes and imagining what was happening with the characters. The magic system was really unique and I was really intrigued but I felt as if I never learned enough about it to truly understand what exactly was happening. The whole thing just felt very vague to me.
Now onto the romance...
I was immediately turned off to the romance as a whole when we are told the story of Durmand tricking Shylah into getting drunk and pretending it was medicine while she was 14 and he was 19. I think the author meant for this to just be playful behavior but in todays world I just feel like it did not hit the way she was expecting it too. So now I am imaging a 19 year old "teasing" a 14 year old in all the flash backs pulling her braid and what-not and I'm just thinking to myself what 19 year old is still teasing a child and it's implied that he basically had a crush on her. This happens at the beginning of the book so the romance as a whole was scrapped for me.
It could've been bumped up a half star but the ending also fell flat for me.
This book has a lot of promise and some really great concepts but I definitely think the author needs to rethink the age gap and the scene with the alcohol because I'm sure a lot of people will find that just as off-putting.
March 28, 2025
Thanks BookSirens and AD Uhlar for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC!
Overall, this book held my interest, I wanted to see where the story went, and I’m intrigued enough to want to read book 2 once it’s done. It’s a soft magic system, with enough vagueness that it keeps the mystery of how everything works. I also think the royal family is super interesting, the queen reminds me of Levana from the Lunar Chronicles. A few of my main notes that prevent it from having a higher rating:
Shylah gets on my nerves with how quickly she jumps to conclusions. Many times she makes snap decisions that could seriously hurt someone without taking a second to think critically, particularly with the poisoned dessert she makes for Durmad
Trulian was honestly more interesting to me than Shylah was. Her powers are really cool and I mostly just wanted to see where her development goes
I’m not too sold on the “he was mean to her because he liked her” thing Shylah and Durmad have going on. Also, it really weirded me out that he was 19 when he met her, a 14 year old, and is now 21-ish to her 17-turned-18 in this book. Especially with the alcohol “prank” he pulled when she was young. It felt icky.
There were 1 or 2 grammatical errors, like using “said” instead of “say”
TLDR: I thought this was an interesting premise with a promising story, some weird elements regarding character age and relationships, and a brash main character who sometimes needs to take a second to think. I really appreciated the pronunciation guide in the beginning and thank BookSirens and the author for the chance to read this ARC!
Overall, this book held my interest, I wanted to see where the story went, and I’m intrigued enough to want to read book 2 once it’s done. It’s a soft magic system, with enough vagueness that it keeps the mystery of how everything works. I also think the royal family is super interesting, the queen reminds me of Levana from the Lunar Chronicles. A few of my main notes that prevent it from having a higher rating:
Shylah gets on my nerves with how quickly she jumps to conclusions. Many times she makes snap decisions that could seriously hurt someone without taking a second to think critically, particularly with the poisoned dessert she makes for Durmad
Trulian was honestly more interesting to me than Shylah was. Her powers are really cool and I mostly just wanted to see where her development goes
I’m not too sold on the “he was mean to her because he liked her” thing Shylah and Durmad have going on. Also, it really weirded me out that he was 19 when he met her, a 14 year old, and is now 21-ish to her 17-turned-18 in this book. Especially with the alcohol “prank” he pulled when she was young. It felt icky.
There were 1 or 2 grammatical errors, like using “said” instead of “say”
TLDR: I thought this was an interesting premise with a promising story, some weird elements regarding character age and relationships, and a brash main character who sometimes needs to take a second to think. I really appreciated the pronunciation guide in the beginning and thank BookSirens and the author for the chance to read this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
I was excited to read this book because of the interesting premise and beautiful cover. After reading this book, I have a few positives that I would like to share before I get into the negative.
The book’s pacing is well-done. Writing a dual-POV book can be difficult as it’s hard to keep up the pacing in two different characters. I found myself flipping ahead just to see what happened to Shylah because of the good cliffhangers. I also appreciate the interesting world-building and I think the author has come up with unique ideas especially in an over-saturated genre.
Unfortunately, I think the book fell flat to me in a few ways. First, there should be another edit of this book as I found a few grammatical errors (lude should be spelled as lewd, query as quarry) which took away from my experience. I also thought the flow of the book was very choppy and I often found myself very confused by the illogical jumps of behavior in the characters. The main characters are in an enemies-to-lovers romance but I don’t think this was executed in a way that made me believe in the romance or even want to root for their relationship. Finally, the world-building was interesting but a lot was left unexplained. Maybe this book would’ve benefitted from an illustrated map to give the readers an idea of what’s happening where. I thought the elixir-making and unique ingredients were solid, but the history and magic system left a lot to be desired.
I received an ARC of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
The book’s pacing is well-done. Writing a dual-POV book can be difficult as it’s hard to keep up the pacing in two different characters. I found myself flipping ahead just to see what happened to Shylah because of the good cliffhangers. I also appreciate the interesting world-building and I think the author has come up with unique ideas especially in an over-saturated genre.
Unfortunately, I think the book fell flat to me in a few ways. First, there should be another edit of this book as I found a few grammatical errors (lude should be spelled as lewd, query as quarry) which took away from my experience. I also thought the flow of the book was very choppy and I often found myself very confused by the illogical jumps of behavior in the characters. The main characters are in an enemies-to-lovers romance but I don’t think this was executed in a way that made me believe in the romance or even want to root for their relationship. Finally, the world-building was interesting but a lot was left unexplained. Maybe this book would’ve benefitted from an illustrated map to give the readers an idea of what’s happening where. I thought the elixir-making and unique ingredients were solid, but the history and magic system left a lot to be desired.
I received an ARC of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2025
The Elixir of the Green Willow Guard is a very original tale that is well thought out and nicely written. The world building is of the highest quality and the plot gripped me from the first page and wouldn't let go. I found myself totally engrossed in the world of Dimmet with Shylah, Durmad and Trulian as they navigated the treacherous political waters. I wanted to spend more time in the magical places they discovered, like the cottage and the waterfall.
I really liked Trulian and Durmad, but Shylah sometimes made me want to slap her as she jumped to the worst conclusion in most scenarios. I found her to be a little too petulant for my tastes, but considering that she is just 16, this is consistent with teenage angst and over-reaction.
The supporting characters could have used a little more fleshing out, but that did not negatively impact the story. I would have loved to see the queen as more of a real person, instead of the big baddie that was often referenced but seldom seen. And that mysterious grey-haired old man - I definitely need more of him.
This book was a great read and I will be recommending it to all teens and fans of YA fiction. With the nonstop action and the mysteries that abound (some to be answered in future books), this book is sure to delight. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really liked Trulian and Durmad, but Shylah sometimes made me want to slap her as she jumped to the worst conclusion in most scenarios. I found her to be a little too petulant for my tastes, but considering that she is just 16, this is consistent with teenage angst and over-reaction.
The supporting characters could have used a little more fleshing out, but that did not negatively impact the story. I would have loved to see the queen as more of a real person, instead of the big baddie that was often referenced but seldom seen. And that mysterious grey-haired old man - I definitely need more of him.
This book was a great read and I will be recommending it to all teens and fans of YA fiction. With the nonstop action and the mysteries that abound (some to be answered in future books), this book is sure to delight. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 3, 2025
I found this very hard to get into, kept trying as I did not want to leave a review without an honest effort.
DNF at 25%
Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I’m an emotional reader and I did not feel any connection to the FMC. The premise of the book is supposed to be about the need to protect her younger sister, who, apart from being asleep in the opening chapter doesn’t appear or speak until almost 60 pages in. No world building or relationship dialogue that makes me feel connected to any of the characters.
I think editing and revisions are needed.
I found issue with the writing, italicized internal dialogue followed by “she thought” several times.
Lots of overly basic explanations, rudimentary diction and repetition of basic movements of the FMC - paragraph after paragraph of repetitive lists and thoughts in the first few chapters that do not add to the story. Repetitive smilies.
A few minor grammar issues “I didn’t said instead of I didn’t say..etc”.
I did like the dual POV and the story seemed to get marginally more interesting after chapter 4. Ultimately, I did have to shelf the book unfinished.
Thanks to the author and booksirens, I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2025
Thank you A.D. Uhlar for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book sounded absolutely amazing, but sadly it was just meh.
The pacing was incredibly slow, and the plot was confusing. I did enjoy the characters, and the magic system was interesting and varied. The bonding system could have been explained better, and I still don't understand what it does. The worldbuilding was very light here. I never had a good grasp on who people were, why they were doing things, or even the general history other than there was some sort of plague.
The romance was okay, but only felt surface deep. It felt very forced. The 5 year age gap also hits weird. She was 14, and he was 19 when they first met. That's like High School boy, hitting on a Middle School girl. It's uncomfortable to read the flashbacks knowing this. Durmand lying to get Shy drunk at 14 was really not cool either.
I honestly think where this book fell down was the total lack of a plot. We meandered around for the whole book, and it was a struggle to stay engaged with the story. We finally got some action at the very end, but it was still very vague about what was going on.
This book sounded absolutely amazing, but sadly it was just meh.
The pacing was incredibly slow, and the plot was confusing. I did enjoy the characters, and the magic system was interesting and varied. The bonding system could have been explained better, and I still don't understand what it does. The worldbuilding was very light here. I never had a good grasp on who people were, why they were doing things, or even the general history other than there was some sort of plague.
The romance was okay, but only felt surface deep. It felt very forced. The 5 year age gap also hits weird. She was 14, and he was 19 when they first met. That's like High School boy, hitting on a Middle School girl. It's uncomfortable to read the flashbacks knowing this. Durmand lying to get Shy drunk at 14 was really not cool either.
I honestly think where this book fell down was the total lack of a plot. We meandered around for the whole book, and it was a struggle to stay engaged with the story. We finally got some action at the very end, but it was still very vague about what was going on.
July 14, 2025
The Elixir of the Green Willow Guard The Kingdom of Ethereal: Book 1 has a good bones but the foundation needs to be solidified a bit more.
The relationship between the two main characters seems a bit flat, even for an enemies to lovers romance. Given their age difference, the basis of thier conflict seems odd. Would a 19 year old young man treat a 14 year old the way that he did. It's a bit predatory, although the author clearly didn't intend it to be.
The relationship between the two sisters doesn't seem to gel well either, in light of how devoted Shylah seems to be to her sister, but her sister is so secretive about what she knows, even things that could actually make their lives easier.
The world seemed very interesting, but was choppily delivered. I'd be interested in seeing greater world building in the next book. And yes, I would read the next book. I feel as though this author is just getting started and has a lot to offer. So I'll definitely stick through for the next book to see how she connects the dots.
The relationship between the two main characters seems a bit flat, even for an enemies to lovers romance. Given their age difference, the basis of thier conflict seems odd. Would a 19 year old young man treat a 14 year old the way that he did. It's a bit predatory, although the author clearly didn't intend it to be.
The relationship between the two sisters doesn't seem to gel well either, in light of how devoted Shylah seems to be to her sister, but her sister is so secretive about what she knows, even things that could actually make their lives easier.
The world seemed very interesting, but was choppily delivered. I'd be interested in seeing greater world building in the next book. And yes, I would read the next book. I feel as though this author is just getting started and has a lot to offer. So I'll definitely stick through for the next book to see how she connects the dots.
March 27, 2025
3.5 rounded 4 - It's a debut novel and it is still solid.
I liked this book until I didn't. I was very excited to read it; the cover is quite cute, and I liked the blurb. I was quite invested until I reached 70/75% of the book. Then, it felt like a lot of things were happening, but I couldn't grasp part of them. I liked Durmad as a character, Shylah is the typical "I can't do it myself character and I need to protect my sister...", it started to annoy me in some chapters (I will let you decide if you pick the book). The "love" story between the main characters is sweet, do not expect anything spicy, it's a YA book. It feeds well into the story.
As I finished this book, I was expecting some more about the Queen. I guess book 2 might come with some answers. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I received an e-copy of this book from the author. Thank you for the opportunity. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
I liked this book until I didn't. I was very excited to read it; the cover is quite cute, and I liked the blurb. I was quite invested until I reached 70/75% of the book. Then, it felt like a lot of things were happening, but I couldn't grasp part of them. I liked Durmad as a character, Shylah is the typical "I can't do it myself character and I need to protect my sister...", it started to annoy me in some chapters (I will let you decide if you pick the book). The "love" story between the main characters is sweet, do not expect anything spicy, it's a YA book. It feeds well into the story.
As I finished this book, I was expecting some more about the Queen. I guess book 2 might come with some answers. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I received an e-copy of this book from the author. Thank you for the opportunity. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
April 21, 2025
The Elixir of the Green Willow Guard had a concept that immediately caught my attention, magic, secrets, and a mysterious elixir all wrapped in a fantasy setting. There’s clear passion in the world-building, and the lore of the Green Willow Guard was one of the more intriguing parts of the story.
That said, the pacing felt uneven at times. Some scenes moved too quickly, while others lingered longer than necessary. I also found it a little hard to connect with the characters emotionally. they had potential, but I wanted more depth or growth to really root for them.
The writing itself is solid, and there are some truly vivid moments that shine, especially in the magical descriptions. Readers who enjoy immersive fantasy worlds and light political intrigue might still enjoy this one.
Overall, this book had some great ideas, and I’m curious to see how the author evolves in future installments. It’s a decent read with a lot of potential.
That said, the pacing felt uneven at times. Some scenes moved too quickly, while others lingered longer than necessary. I also found it a little hard to connect with the characters emotionally. they had potential, but I wanted more depth or growth to really root for them.
The writing itself is solid, and there are some truly vivid moments that shine, especially in the magical descriptions. Readers who enjoy immersive fantasy worlds and light political intrigue might still enjoy this one.
Overall, this book had some great ideas, and I’m curious to see how the author evolves in future installments. It’s a decent read with a lot of potential.
March 15, 2025
I enjoyed the plot of this book and thought it had great potential. Unfortunately that was really the only positive. The romance felt more like "he's mean to her because he likes her" than it did "enemies to lovers" which isn't really my thing but I was ok with it until I realized that at the time he was tormenting her he was 19, she was 14, and he was intentionally giving her alcohol and telling her it was medicine just to get her drunk. That age gap honestly ruined any chance of me rooting for that relationship.
I also felt that the world building, magic system, and timeline all needed more work to really pull me into the story. There were times that I felt like I was reading the 2nd book in a series because it seemed like I was expected to know details about this world that simply weren't given.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I also felt that the world building, magic system, and timeline all needed more work to really pull me into the story. There were times that I felt like I was reading the 2nd book in a series because it seemed like I was expected to know details about this world that simply weren't given.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 25, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Shylah is an Elixir Designer, and she is trying to protect her little sister Trulian. Trulian has a special power, and no one should know that, especially the Queen. Everything is fine until Durmad returns. Durmad is a Green Willow Guard, and he is faithful to the Queen. What can possibly go wrong?
Shylah is a really interesting FMC. She's so protective with her sister, and I loved that. She struggles to keep her sister's power a secret, and she doesn't hesitate in front of anything.
Durmad is serious, and he tries to stay away from Shylah, but he can't, and omg, I loved these moments. He's desperate to help her and protect her. A man who'll do anything for his woman.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Shylah is an Elixir Designer, and she is trying to protect her little sister Trulian. Trulian has a special power, and no one should know that, especially the Queen. Everything is fine until Durmad returns. Durmad is a Green Willow Guard, and he is faithful to the Queen. What can possibly go wrong?
Shylah is a really interesting FMC. She's so protective with her sister, and I loved that. She struggles to keep her sister's power a secret, and she doesn't hesitate in front of anything.
Durmad is serious, and he tries to stay away from Shylah, but he can't, and omg, I loved these moments. He's desperate to help her and protect her. A man who'll do anything for his woman.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 3, 2025
I’m honored to have revived this as an ARC.
Overall a solid debut novel. I was intrigued by the title and cover, which is how most Romantacy books grab my attention. I love the artwork for each MC for their chapters. As well as it being written from both MCs POVs. The book was written very well. Interested to see what book 2 will have in store.
The story line was relatively easy to follow. Sometimes there is so much world building that it can be overwhelming, but you don’t feel that in this book.
I really just didn’t love the FMC and how she was always jumping to conclusions. But I get it that’s how I am, so maybe that’s why I wasn’t a fan of her. Her making elixirs was a cool concept. It kind of gave me Witcher vibes
Overall a solid debut novel. I was intrigued by the title and cover, which is how most Romantacy books grab my attention. I love the artwork for each MC for their chapters. As well as it being written from both MCs POVs. The book was written very well. Interested to see what book 2 will have in store.
The story line was relatively easy to follow. Sometimes there is so much world building that it can be overwhelming, but you don’t feel that in this book.
I really just didn’t love the FMC and how she was always jumping to conclusions. But I get it that’s how I am, so maybe that’s why I wasn’t a fan of her. Her making elixirs was a cool concept. It kind of gave me Witcher vibes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
ARC Review:
I'm giving The Elixir of the Green Willow Guard 5 stars because I enjoyed it that much. I really enjoyed the characters especially Durmad and Shylah because I like their relationship. I also can't wait to find out more about Liam and Durmad's relationship and I'm trying very hard to keep this review as spoiler free as possible. I kind of also want to know if Durmad and Abaddon's friendship can be resolved. I can't wait for book two because I really want to know more the characters abilities and more about what Queen Naamah's are for the bonded, the guards, and her country as well as her sons Jorden and Liam. I really liked the writing style of this book.
I'm giving The Elixir of the Green Willow Guard 5 stars because I enjoyed it that much. I really enjoyed the characters especially Durmad and Shylah because I like their relationship. I also can't wait to find out more about Liam and Durmad's relationship and I'm trying very hard to keep this review as spoiler free as possible. I kind of also want to know if Durmad and Abaddon's friendship can be resolved. I can't wait for book two because I really want to know more the characters abilities and more about what Queen Naamah's are for the bonded, the guards, and her country as well as her sons Jorden and Liam. I really liked the writing style of this book.
April 10, 2025
ARC review:
I was underwhelmed by this novel. It is low-stakes fantasy, with an undercurrent of romance (it is YA, so obviously this was not spicy). The magic system is interesting and there is clearly more lore/history that will be revealed in subsequent stories. I was curious to find out more about the little sister character, Trulian, and the epilogue points to her character being more fleshed out in the next book.
However, I found the MCs were underdeveloped and I had trouble feeling a connection with their journeys and motives. And I do enjoy low-stakes, cozy fantasy, but this was just too slow.
The writing was nice and the attention to details was evident on each page.
I was underwhelmed by this novel. It is low-stakes fantasy, with an undercurrent of romance (it is YA, so obviously this was not spicy). The magic system is interesting and there is clearly more lore/history that will be revealed in subsequent stories. I was curious to find out more about the little sister character, Trulian, and the epilogue points to her character being more fleshed out in the next book.
However, I found the MCs were underdeveloped and I had trouble feeling a connection with their journeys and motives. And I do enjoy low-stakes, cozy fantasy, but this was just too slow.
The writing was nice and the attention to details was evident on each page.
May 23, 2025
This was such a wonderful young adult romantasy. I adored Shaylah and her sister, their bond, and the aspect of an older sister's love and drive to protect her younger sibling was heartwarming. Shylah was such a wonderful, rounded character to follow on her journey, navigating court and trying to keep her younger sister safe. Durmad was such a fun character also, and I enjoyed his and Shylah's relationship immensely though there age difference was a little ick at the beginning with the flashbacks (she was 14 and he was 19).
I can't recommend this book enough, and I'm so excited for book two!
I can't recommend this book enough, and I'm so excited for book two!
May 29, 2025
I enjoyed this book and found the plot intriguing. However, I frequently felt like I was reading a sequel, as many elements of the plot, world and characters were not explained, leaving me feeling lost at times.
The characters were likeable, but some felt quite one-dimensional.
The overall story was good and kept me hooked. However, there was no major hurdle that the FMC had to overcome. Instead it felt a little that things were just happening to her, rather than her influencing what happened.
Despite some issues, it was still fun and the relationships depicted are sweet. I look forward to the next one!
I read this book as an ARC but all views are my own.
The characters were likeable, but some felt quite one-dimensional.
The overall story was good and kept me hooked. However, there was no major hurdle that the FMC had to overcome. Instead it felt a little that things were just happening to her, rather than her influencing what happened.
Despite some issues, it was still fun and the relationships depicted are sweet. I look forward to the next one!
I read this book as an ARC but all views are my own.
January 4, 2026
No spoilers, just honest review. The concept of the novel, what with the backstory of the characters and world-building, was absolutely intriguing. There is so much room to delve into more details and provide a little more exposition.
The thing that turned me off were the spelling and grammatical errors and illustrations. This book should have been more thoroughly proofread before it was put out there for millions of people to read. It was really hard to get through after the first few errors I found.
Furthermore, I realize that art is subjective and many people clearly loved the illustrations, but I found them juvenile.
Three stars for the beautiful concept but frequent errors.
The thing that turned me off were the spelling and grammatical errors and illustrations. This book should have been more thoroughly proofread before it was put out there for millions of people to read. It was really hard to get through after the first few errors I found.
Furthermore, I realize that art is subjective and many people clearly loved the illustrations, but I found them juvenile.
Three stars for the beautiful concept but frequent errors.
March 4, 2025
This was a strong start to the Kingdom of Ethereal series, it had that fantasy romance element that I was looking for and was invested in what was going on with the characters. It had that world building that I was looking for and enjoyed going on this journey with the characters. AD Uhlar has a great way of telling a story and keep you invested. I can't wait to read more in this series and am excited for more from AD Uhlar.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this read! I enjoyed the magic system and the world building but I am left with so many unanswered questions at the end of this book. I guess that’s a good thing, because I will be reading book 2 to get some answers.
I would have liked a little more fluidity as it sometimes jumps around. I enjoyed the dual POV but it didn’t read as a true enemies to lovers story for me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the rest of the series!
I received an advanced readers copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I would have liked a little more fluidity as it sometimes jumps around. I enjoyed the dual POV but it didn’t read as a true enemies to lovers story for me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the rest of the series!
I received an advanced readers copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 19, 2025
I am not one to give compliments unless they are truly deserved, but this book is indeed deserving. I love a good romantasy, especially when it's heavy fantasy with adorably necessary romance. This book was a great read, fun and addictive. I tackled it in about 36 hours, and I often only listen to my books nowadays. I would recommend this to readers aged 13 and up, as well as anyone who enjoys solid world-building, touches of magic, and innocent love. I am very excited about the second book, which I hope will be released soon.
July 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It is very character driven and you are learning more about who the characters are with some movement forward than having it be more plot focused I think this will set it up well for the next book.
This is a YA book so the language level is targeting a younger audience. I was okay with it because I knew that going in but some prefer to have more mature language as an adult.
I think the two main characters have interesting interactions and I can’t wait for the next book.
This is a YA book so the language level is targeting a younger audience. I was okay with it because I knew that going in but some prefer to have more mature language as an adult.
I think the two main characters have interesting interactions and I can’t wait for the next book.
March 11, 2025
I haven’t read a book quite like this one before. Very imaginative and unique. It was a little slow at the beginning, but picked up pace after a while.
My personal preference is to read books with no reference to “bedding a girl” or any swear words (a few mentions of d@mn and b@astard). But the inclusion of these does not affect the rating. The use of these were not over the top.
Overall, I’d give it a 4.5. Not bad for a debut novel!
My personal preference is to read books with no reference to “bedding a girl” or any swear words (a few mentions of d@mn and b@astard). But the inclusion of these does not affect the rating. The use of these were not over the top.
Overall, I’d give it a 4.5. Not bad for a debut novel!
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