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Fatal Spores & Fiery Paths
Zayla was just an infant noxling when her bitterroot offshoot was destroyed by a terrible suncreature. No one from her home survived. And from what she knows of her Nemora history, she shouldn’t be alive either.
But she is. There’s a constant hum inside her, a shaking that grows more violent and painful each time she harnesses her crafting to do her bidding. Nature is clearly trying to finish the job the suncreature started.
Her only hope is to finish walking the path. When she completes this sacred rite of passage, she'll never need to use her crafting again. She has to get to Ratnaa Grove, her final stop, and the quickest way there is through the deadly Cinder Forest. With the help of her sibling Oryn and an alluring musician named Shadre who they met along the way, Zayla fends off bloodthirsty suncreatures and discovers an invasion of evil sun goddess worshippers bent on razing the Groves.
As she struggles to survive, betrayal lurks on every side, and her crafting demands a higher price than even she expected. But the fate of the Nemora Groves, and the world as she knows it, might just lie within her.
But she is. There’s a constant hum inside her, a shaking that grows more violent and painful each time she harnesses her crafting to do her bidding. Nature is clearly trying to finish the job the suncreature started.
Her only hope is to finish walking the path. When she completes this sacred rite of passage, she'll never need to use her crafting again. She has to get to Ratnaa Grove, her final stop, and the quickest way there is through the deadly Cinder Forest. With the help of her sibling Oryn and an alluring musician named Shadre who they met along the way, Zayla fends off bloodthirsty suncreatures and discovers an invasion of evil sun goddess worshippers bent on razing the Groves.
As she struggles to survive, betrayal lurks on every side, and her crafting demands a higher price than even she expected. But the fate of the Nemora Groves, and the world as she knows it, might just lie within her.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2025
32 people want to read
About the author
Kellie Doherty
7 books27 followersKellie Doherty is a bisexual writer living in Eagle River, Alaska. Her work has been published by Desert Palm Press, Queer Sci Fi, and Pathos Literary Magazine, among others. She's currently writing a five-book intertwined standalone fantasy series; book four is her next WIP! She works full time as a marketing assistant and part time as a freelance editor. In her (mostly non-existent) spare time, she likes to read, play games, hang with her cats, and watch way too much YouTube. She also writes fanfiction under the name SerenityQuill.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 1, 2025
When I started reading Fatal Spores & Fiery Paths by Kellie Doherty, I wasn't sure what to expect, and I was a bit confused until I became acclimated to this new fantasy world. I did not realize this was the fourth book in an interconnected series. It was a standalone novel, though, and for me, it worked.
This author has many strengths that make this a truly enjoyable adventure. The setting and character descriptions are beautifully immersive, and the magic system linking the beings to their natural environment is fascinating. The various antagonists, the action and suspense, the romantic subplot, and the system of gender identification are interesting and engaging, moving the plot along easily. The characters are likable, and I was invested in their journey.
The story had a satisfying ending and plenty of material for a follow-up, which I would love to read.
This is a young adult novel featuring strong found family relationships, sapphic romance, no spice, and non-binary representation. Fatal Spores & Fiery Paths, Book Four in the Broken Chronicles series, was published on March 15.
#sapphic #scifi #fantasy #naturemagic #nonbinary #quest #war #HEA #action/suspense
I received a free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
This author has many strengths that make this a truly enjoyable adventure. The setting and character descriptions are beautifully immersive, and the magic system linking the beings to their natural environment is fascinating. The various antagonists, the action and suspense, the romantic subplot, and the system of gender identification are interesting and engaging, moving the plot along easily. The characters are likable, and I was invested in their journey.
The story had a satisfying ending and plenty of material for a follow-up, which I would love to read.
This is a young adult novel featuring strong found family relationships, sapphic romance, no spice, and non-binary representation. Fatal Spores & Fiery Paths, Book Four in the Broken Chronicles series, was published on March 15.
#sapphic #scifi #fantasy #naturemagic #nonbinary #quest #war #HEA #action/suspense
I received a free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
May 8, 2025
An Emotional Journey!
Zayla is driven by something inside that tells her she is lucky to be alive after a suncreature attacked her home. It has left her on a journey that’ll complete her in a way that means she doesn’t need to use her crafting ever again. With help from Oryn and musician, Shadre they meet on their journey, Zayla struggles through until she learns there is more to her destiny than she thought.
What a fantastic fantasy story, with imagination and beautiful world building, but deep emotional roots and challenges that were both enlightening and hopeful, yet heartbreaking. I really felt a connection with Zayla. Nothing about her life was easy and everything required careful consideration as it had consequences for more than just herself. This is the fourth book in the Broken Chronicles series, and I haven’t read the other books in the series but felt this worked well as a standalone and I was not at a disadvantage. There was lots of background, especially when Zayla was thinking things through, or explaining what she needed to do along the way that meant I understood enough about her. My heart kept breaking for her though, every decision held so much more than taking her a step closer to her journey, and they uncovered things she had not considered about her fate. There was a whole cast of characters surrounding the story and those that played an important part in making sure Zayla achieved what she needed to, but not without some danger lurking and dramas.
Shadre came into Zayla and Oryn’s lives and shook things up. At first Zayla was a bit wary but wanting to be trusting of someone who appeared to need their help and could offer guidance and help through the dangerous areas she needed to cross to reach her destination. For a long while we were all in the dark about Shadre and when it appeared to Zayla she had betrayed her, my heart hurt for them both. I desperately hoped that Shadre would redeem herself because she and Zayla had definitely had a spark and a connection I hoped they would get to explore.
Really enjoyable adventure, with magic and fantasy, and lots of emotions. Enjoyed it and excited for the next adventure now!
Zayla is driven by something inside that tells her she is lucky to be alive after a suncreature attacked her home. It has left her on a journey that’ll complete her in a way that means she doesn’t need to use her crafting ever again. With help from Oryn and musician, Shadre they meet on their journey, Zayla struggles through until she learns there is more to her destiny than she thought.
What a fantastic fantasy story, with imagination and beautiful world building, but deep emotional roots and challenges that were both enlightening and hopeful, yet heartbreaking. I really felt a connection with Zayla. Nothing about her life was easy and everything required careful consideration as it had consequences for more than just herself. This is the fourth book in the Broken Chronicles series, and I haven’t read the other books in the series but felt this worked well as a standalone and I was not at a disadvantage. There was lots of background, especially when Zayla was thinking things through, or explaining what she needed to do along the way that meant I understood enough about her. My heart kept breaking for her though, every decision held so much more than taking her a step closer to her journey, and they uncovered things she had not considered about her fate. There was a whole cast of characters surrounding the story and those that played an important part in making sure Zayla achieved what she needed to, but not without some danger lurking and dramas.
Shadre came into Zayla and Oryn’s lives and shook things up. At first Zayla was a bit wary but wanting to be trusting of someone who appeared to need their help and could offer guidance and help through the dangerous areas she needed to cross to reach her destination. For a long while we were all in the dark about Shadre and when it appeared to Zayla she had betrayed her, my heart hurt for them both. I desperately hoped that Shadre would redeem herself because she and Zayla had definitely had a spark and a connection I hoped they would get to explore.
Really enjoyable adventure, with magic and fantasy, and lots of emotions. Enjoyed it and excited for the next adventure now!
March 20, 2025
The world building in this is so unique and fun. I wish it had gone just a little deeper. The story was well thought out and I enjoyed the characters. Overall I just wanted a bit more from this story.
March 26, 2025
Excellent characters, a super fun magic system, and overall amazing high fantasy book! If you’re looking for a solid sapphic romance and themes related to women vs nature, this is the book for you!
March 29, 2025
Well written, great storyline, definitely a must-read!
March 29, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Loved the characters, the world building, magic system and Sapphic aspects. I liked the plot but I wanted even more to this story!
Good 4.75 stars read for me, I just wanted more :)
Loved the characters, the world building, magic system and Sapphic aspects. I liked the plot but I wanted even more to this story!
Good 4.75 stars read for me, I just wanted more :)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews