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Dawn of the Forsaken
Lianna has never fit in.
And it’s not just her garnet red eyes speckled with silver. Or the stark difference in appearance from everyone else in Peham. And it’s not the fact that she was secretly adopted into her family when she was a few months old.
It has everything to do with the fact that she’s Fae hiding in the human realm, left behind by her birth mother to keep her safe from the darkness that overthrew her home kingdom, in search of her and her magic.
But when letters start appearing from her birth father, demanding she comes back to the Fae Realm to protect them, or else he would force her to, she has no other choice but to leave her home. The only life she’s ever known.
With the darkness returning to claim her once more, she is no longer safe and now she must fulfill her role in keeping her estranged kingdom safe, no matter what.
But how much of what she has been told is truth? What is she willing to believe from the male that calls himself her father? And how much must she sacrifice in order to fill the role she’s expected to?
Lianna must embrace the magic in her that has been pushed down her whole life and become what she was born to be.
And it’s not just her garnet red eyes speckled with silver. Or the stark difference in appearance from everyone else in Peham. And it’s not the fact that she was secretly adopted into her family when she was a few months old.
It has everything to do with the fact that she’s Fae hiding in the human realm, left behind by her birth mother to keep her safe from the darkness that overthrew her home kingdom, in search of her and her magic.
But when letters start appearing from her birth father, demanding she comes back to the Fae Realm to protect them, or else he would force her to, she has no other choice but to leave her home. The only life she’s ever known.
With the darkness returning to claim her once more, she is no longer safe and now she must fulfill her role in keeping her estranged kingdom safe, no matter what.
But how much of what she has been told is truth? What is she willing to believe from the male that calls himself her father? And how much must she sacrifice in order to fill the role she’s expected to?
Lianna must embrace the magic in her that has been pushed down her whole life and become what she was born to be.
ebook
Published May 19, 2025
5 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Michelle
1 book8 followersKyle Michelle was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where she still lives now and doesn't plan to leave. She has always had an intense love for books, both reading and writing them, whether it be short stories in class, poetry in her down time, or writing fantasy novels. After what felt like an eternity in a writing slump, the idea for Dawn of the Forsaken came to Kyle and, after a year of writing, her debut novel was finished, with ideas for the rest of the series already planned and plotted.
When Kyle isn't writing, you can find her waitressing at her full-time job or playing Barbies with her daughter and other half.
When Kyle isn't writing, you can find her waitressing at her full-time job or playing Barbies with her daughter and other half.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 17, 2025
I want to start off by saying thank you to Kyle Michelle choosing me to be a beta reader, and sending me a copy of her debut novel! I was super interested in reading this book when I saw posts about it. I think the lovers to enemies, betrayal, and loss of home, sounded like an interesting twist for a fantasy novel. It also was only 350 pages, so if you are looking to pick up a shorter fantasy book, definitely think about grabbing this one!
I think Kyle did an amazing job of writing her characters, developing the storyline, and keeping readers on their toes. I know with some fantasy books things get really predictable but I felt that Dawn of the Forsaken did a really good job of always keeping me guessing ESPECIALLY with the ending of the book.
I do wish we had gotten a little more of a backstory on Tate and Shay. I also felt that the way the book was written, we might get that later on in the series, as it might not have been as important for the storyline of the first book. I am super excited to see where Kyle decides to take the rest of the series!!
I think Kyle did an amazing job of writing her characters, developing the storyline, and keeping readers on their toes. I know with some fantasy books things get really predictable but I felt that Dawn of the Forsaken did a really good job of always keeping me guessing ESPECIALLY with the ending of the book.
I do wish we had gotten a little more of a backstory on Tate and Shay. I also felt that the way the book was written, we might get that later on in the series, as it might not have been as important for the storyline of the first book. I am super excited to see where Kyle decides to take the rest of the series!!
April 1, 2025
if you’re looking to support a new/indie author, this is the one ladies and gents! Buckle up and enjoy the ride 🖤
Thank you so much to Kyle Michelle, you are truly an amazing and thoughtful author not only in your books but the way you treat your Beta Readers 🫶🏼
Not only did she personally supply a PHYSICAL ARC copy to us all, but the amount of love and personalization in the package itself was so astounding. Authors: take notes!!!
Let’s get into the book, I found a lot of elements in this story that I personally don’t see much these days (even in the current romantasy boom). From loss of home, to the pace of the plot, I think she did a wonderful job.
I fell in love with our FMC and her companions pretty quickly I think she did an amazing job at the character writing/development and personal growth in this story from our main protagonist.
One thing I was we had more of was the banter and relationship between our main couple. I feel like I would have appreciated their relationship a bit more to have some more dialogue before things heated up. I even wish there were some more detailed scenes of their spicy situations because of how romance focused this book was. But all around, I love our MMC; so maybe that’s why I want more details about him 🤭 he’s a keeper for sure #AntiFadeToBlack
THE ENDING????? I just pray that Kyle Michelle adds me as a Beta for her next book because I am DYING to see where this series goes, and I am HERE FOR IT. #sat
Thank you so much to Kyle Michelle, you are truly an amazing and thoughtful author not only in your books but the way you treat your Beta Readers 🫶🏼
Not only did she personally supply a PHYSICAL ARC copy to us all, but the amount of love and personalization in the package itself was so astounding. Authors: take notes!!!
Let’s get into the book, I found a lot of elements in this story that I personally don’t see much these days (even in the current romantasy boom). From loss of home, to the pace of the plot, I think she did a wonderful job.
I fell in love with our FMC and her companions pretty quickly I think she did an amazing job at the character writing/development and personal growth in this story from our main protagonist.
One thing I was we had more of was the banter and relationship between our main couple. I feel like I would have appreciated their relationship a bit more to have some more dialogue before things heated up. I even wish there were some more detailed scenes of their spicy situations because of how romance focused this book was. But all around, I love our MMC; so maybe that’s why I want more details about him 🤭 he’s a keeper for sure #AntiFadeToBlack
THE ENDING????? I just pray that Kyle Michelle adds me as a Beta for her next book because I am DYING to see where this series goes, and I am HERE FOR IT. #sat
March 31, 2025
Firstly I want to express so much thanks to the author for selecting me as one of their ARC readers! It has been such a special honor to be one of the first pairs of eyes to read this book and to experience this world and meet their characters.
While I do love the characters I agree with the other review here by mirandareadsagain that mentions that they lack a bit of depth and back story and I do also wish that we had a bit more world building that took place outside of conversational dialogue. A lot of the dialogue is witty and bantery though and i do love that!
I also share the same opinion that the soul bound is a great addition to this story but a lil rushed for my personal tastes as I am a tried and true enemies to lovers gal but Shay still gets me giggling and kicking my feet nonetheless.
Overall I LOVE the plot and the direction that this world is headed. In some ways the world reminded me of Prythian and the human world from ACOTAR but with differences in the type of magical characters we encounter. I cannot wait to see how the final form of this will be when it is officially published and to see how this world and the characters evolve in the coming books!
Definitely a fan and grateful for this experience!
While I do love the characters I agree with the other review here by mirandareadsagain that mentions that they lack a bit of depth and back story and I do also wish that we had a bit more world building that took place outside of conversational dialogue. A lot of the dialogue is witty and bantery though and i do love that!
I also share the same opinion that the soul bound is a great addition to this story but a lil rushed for my personal tastes as I am a tried and true enemies to lovers gal but Shay still gets me giggling and kicking my feet nonetheless.
Overall I LOVE the plot and the direction that this world is headed. In some ways the world reminded me of Prythian and the human world from ACOTAR but with differences in the type of magical characters we encounter. I cannot wait to see how the final form of this will be when it is officially published and to see how this world and the characters evolve in the coming books!
Definitely a fan and grateful for this experience!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
First off… I want to say thank you to Kyle for choosing me to be on her ARC team. Truly, what a privilege!
So I love fantasy. I love romance. I love romantasy. I really enjoyed the premise of the book and how Lianna comes into magic, lost home, love, soul tearing situations.
I almost wish that there was more of us experiencing the trauma of Lianna getting her wings removed, ears cut or more uneasy situations with her boyfriend, Luke. I love being emotionally torn up about the characters. I want to feel what they feel!
I really like the idea of the soul bound bond, and Shay being an overprotective guy. I want more of him! I want to connect with him more. There were some parts we were told about something and not necessarily experience that said something and I think that could make it just a little bit deeper and maybe connect us I little bit more!
I props you for writing a book. That is SO COOL. Overall, loved it. It was a faster paced fantasy book, so if you’re looking for something not too lengthy, I recommend.
I’m looking forward to part 2!
So I love fantasy. I love romance. I love romantasy. I really enjoyed the premise of the book and how Lianna comes into magic, lost home, love, soul tearing situations.
I almost wish that there was more of us experiencing the trauma of Lianna getting her wings removed, ears cut or more uneasy situations with her boyfriend, Luke. I love being emotionally torn up about the characters. I want to feel what they feel!
I really like the idea of the soul bound bond, and Shay being an overprotective guy. I want more of him! I want to connect with him more. There were some parts we were told about something and not necessarily experience that said something and I think that could make it just a little bit deeper and maybe connect us I little bit more!
I props you for writing a book. That is SO COOL. Overall, loved it. It was a faster paced fantasy book, so if you’re looking for something not too lengthy, I recommend.
I’m looking forward to part 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
I was honored to be chosen as a beta reader for this book! I want to preface my review by saying I am no writer. Anyone who tries to write a book and then publish it is a FORCE. So I respect this author for her work!
The overall story is reminiscent of Daughter of No Worlds or Red Queen. A young girl, not understanding her origins, comes into power and is in fact Fae royalty.
The overall plot and storyline has great potential. The execution was just a little haphazard. The book is written in first person, which can be done successfully, but not my preference. There is also heavy reliance on dialogue, which gives From Blood and Ash vibes. World building depends a lot on dialogue both through verbal conversation and internally. This prevents a lot of organic world building and can become repetitive.
The characters also aren’t allowed to breathe. We don’t get enough time or back story to develop an attachment to them. Certain main characters like Shay and Tate seemingly appear out of no where and aren’t given much depth to form attachments. The love connection with Shay and the “soul bonding” also felt rushed. The MMC and FMC aren’t given trials or much angst or slow burn to go from acquaintances to love interests. So the ultimate betrayal at the end (which I did love this twist) wasn’t as gut wrenching as it could have been.
I would love to see heavy world building and character development in the next book along with a different slow burn romance. Perhaps even Shay not being the primary love interest. Maybe it’s actually Tate or a new character entirely.
Overall, the story has incredible potential and as the writer develops, I know the story will too!
The overall story is reminiscent of Daughter of No Worlds or Red Queen. A young girl, not understanding her origins, comes into power and is in fact Fae royalty.
The overall plot and storyline has great potential. The execution was just a little haphazard. The book is written in first person, which can be done successfully, but not my preference. There is also heavy reliance on dialogue, which gives From Blood and Ash vibes. World building depends a lot on dialogue both through verbal conversation and internally. This prevents a lot of organic world building and can become repetitive.
The characters also aren’t allowed to breathe. We don’t get enough time or back story to develop an attachment to them. Certain main characters like Shay and Tate seemingly appear out of no where and aren’t given much depth to form attachments. The love connection with Shay and the “soul bonding” also felt rushed. The MMC and FMC aren’t given trials or much angst or slow burn to go from acquaintances to love interests. So the ultimate betrayal at the end (which I did love this twist) wasn’t as gut wrenching as it could have been.
I would love to see heavy world building and character development in the next book along with a different slow burn romance. Perhaps even Shay not being the primary love interest. Maybe it’s actually Tate or a new character entirely.
Overall, the story has incredible potential and as the writer develops, I know the story will too!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
Wow! 🤩 Firstly thank you so much for allowing me to be a BETA reader for this book!! 🖤 I LOVED IT. Hooked from chapter one.
The diary entry format is one of my fav things in books & I loved that this book started off with this as it really made setting the scene for the book easy to get into.
This story for me was quite unique & wasn't just your typical human girl going into the fae realm story that we as readers have seen a lot of before. The characters were all interesting, the plot was good. The twists I didn't see coming. The world building was fun & easy to follow too. I loved the adventure aspect to this book, again another favourite thing of mine in books!
I loved the memory walking, this gave me time turner from Harry Potter vibes!!!
The creatures, the magic, the different types of fae & goddesses. All done so well too! 🧚♀️👑
THE ENDING!!!!!!🤯🤯🤯
The only reason this wasn't a full 5 stars for me as a first copy was it felt slightly rushed in some areas & I kind of wanted a spicy scene or 2 between Li & Shay, but in another sense it was quite refreshing to read a book that was more plot based after reading a lot of spicy books recently!
I can't wait for this to be released in May & so happy to be on your ARC team & blessed to have received such a beautiful PR package!!!! 🖤🖤🖤
The diary entry format is one of my fav things in books & I loved that this book started off with this as it really made setting the scene for the book easy to get into.
This story for me was quite unique & wasn't just your typical human girl going into the fae realm story that we as readers have seen a lot of before. The characters were all interesting, the plot was good. The twists I didn't see coming. The world building was fun & easy to follow too. I loved the adventure aspect to this book, again another favourite thing of mine in books!
I loved the memory walking, this gave me time turner from Harry Potter vibes!!!
The creatures, the magic, the different types of fae & goddesses. All done so well too! 🧚♀️👑
THE ENDING!!!!!!🤯🤯🤯
The only reason this wasn't a full 5 stars for me as a first copy was it felt slightly rushed in some areas & I kind of wanted a spicy scene or 2 between Li & Shay, but in another sense it was quite refreshing to read a book that was more plot based after reading a lot of spicy books recently!
I can't wait for this to be released in May & so happy to be on your ARC team & blessed to have received such a beautiful PR package!!!! 🖤🖤🖤
March 29, 2025
Thank you to Kyle Michelle for allowing me to read and review this Arc.
Dawn of The Forsaken being her debut novel, sitting at around 350 pages is a manageable fantasy novel if you want enemies to lovers with a betrayal thrown in.
I loved the banter between Shay and Lianna but I do wish we had a little more backstory with them, I felt it was insta- love, which I don’t mind. It’s a fast paced book so this can easily be read in 1-3 days.
I’m hoping to see more world building and maybe some more backstory with the sequel. It has such potential as a great fantasy series but it’d also the 1st book so hopefully we’ll see more in the next.
Again thank you, I enjoyed this book and hope to see much more to come.
Dawn of The Forsaken being her debut novel, sitting at around 350 pages is a manageable fantasy novel if you want enemies to lovers with a betrayal thrown in.
I loved the banter between Shay and Lianna but I do wish we had a little more backstory with them, I felt it was insta- love, which I don’t mind. It’s a fast paced book so this can easily be read in 1-3 days.
I’m hoping to see more world building and maybe some more backstory with the sequel. It has such potential as a great fantasy series but it’d also the 1st book so hopefully we’ll see more in the next.
Again thank you, I enjoyed this book and hope to see much more to come.
March 31, 2025
First off, thank you so much for allowing me to be apart of this team!
This was an Incredibly fast paced book that dragged you in from the first page, and i absolutely love that. It grabbed your attention right off the bat. While I loved the banter between Shay and Liana i definitely wig and hope we get some more back story in the next book. The plot, and world building were easy to keep up with and had you pulled in.
So I can’t wait to see what she does with the next installment on this series, and where everything goes.
This was an Incredibly fast paced book that dragged you in from the first page, and i absolutely love that. It grabbed your attention right off the bat. While I loved the banter between Shay and Liana i definitely wig and hope we get some more back story in the next book. The plot, and world building were easy to keep up with and had you pulled in.
So I can’t wait to see what she does with the next installment on this series, and where everything goes.
June 3, 2025
I'm hooked!
Kyle did such a great job with "story building" - I was able to follow along easily with places/characters. So many seeds are planted in this book - I literally have no idea what twists will happen next.
I love when there are a mix of predictable & non-predictable surprises, so that you don't know whether to trust your gut on certain characters or not. This book definitely kept me on my toes!!
What an amazing debut novel.... cannot wait for the next!!! 💫
PS map was really helpful and definitely was an easy reference point for me!!
Kyle did such a great job with "story building" - I was able to follow along easily with places/characters. So many seeds are planted in this book - I literally have no idea what twists will happen next.
I love when there are a mix of predictable & non-predictable surprises, so that you don't know whether to trust your gut on certain characters or not. This book definitely kept me on my toes!!
What an amazing debut novel.... cannot wait for the next!!! 💫
PS map was really helpful and definitely was an easy reference point for me!!
February 21, 2025
3.5/5
I was kindly chosen by Kyle to be an Arc/Beta reader for Dawn Of The Forsaken, so thank you!
I enjoyed the premise of the book, lost home, found/unlocked power and I found the magic system and fae to be very unique! The sacrifice her mother makes in the beginning set the tone for a potentially great storyline.
I found the relationship between the FMC (Lianna) and the MMC (Shay) a little rushed. I wasn’t able to connect with either of them, with how fast paced the first 20-100 pages were. The soul bound bond is very cool, just again it all happened very fast.
The plot and storyline has so much potential, and I’m hoping in the next books we get more backstory on Shay and Tate, and a little more storyline / character building overall!
I think if you’re looking for a fast paced, instant romance fantasy under 350 pages, you will enjoy this book!
I was kindly chosen by Kyle to be an Arc/Beta reader for Dawn Of The Forsaken, so thank you!
I enjoyed the premise of the book, lost home, found/unlocked power and I found the magic system and fae to be very unique! The sacrifice her mother makes in the beginning set the tone for a potentially great storyline.
I found the relationship between the FMC (Lianna) and the MMC (Shay) a little rushed. I wasn’t able to connect with either of them, with how fast paced the first 20-100 pages were. The soul bound bond is very cool, just again it all happened very fast.
The plot and storyline has so much potential, and I’m hoping in the next books we get more backstory on Shay and Tate, and a little more storyline / character building overall!
I think if you’re looking for a fast paced, instant romance fantasy under 350 pages, you will enjoy this book!
March 29, 2025
Thank you Kyle for letting be apart of your arc team!
I really enjoyed the world building and the elements of magic. I really liked Lianna’s journey on learning the extent of her powers and her fae heritage. Did the ending leave me gut wrenched, absolutely. The last couple pages I literally had my mouth hanging open because I couldn’t believe what happened. I am so excited to continue reading the rest of the series because I need to know what happens next!
I really enjoyed the world building and the elements of magic. I really liked Lianna’s journey on learning the extent of her powers and her fae heritage. Did the ending leave me gut wrenched, absolutely. The last couple pages I literally had my mouth hanging open because I couldn’t believe what happened. I am so excited to continue reading the rest of the series because I need to know what happens next!
March 29, 2025
I cannot WAIT for this story to progress!
There are some instances where I wish we had more background on certain characters but I feel that we will be getting that as more books come out.
One of the best ARCs I’ve read, I felt like the world was very interesting and similar to ACOTAR in the way everything is split up.
I truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue to follow along. Definitely worth the read to support a debut author!
There are some instances where I wish we had more background on certain characters but I feel that we will be getting that as more books come out.
One of the best ARCs I’ve read, I felt like the world was very interesting and similar to ACOTAR in the way everything is split up.
I truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue to follow along. Definitely worth the read to support a debut author!
June 26, 2025
Amazing writing! Although this is not my typical genre to read, my fantastic daughter wrote it, so I dove right in! I had no idea what to expect and was so pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it! I loved the characters, the descriptions, and the magical world! Once I got to the second half of the book, I literally could not put it down. I can’t wait for the next book!
March 20, 2025
I want to start off by expressing my sincere gratitude for choosing me to be a beta reader and sending me a copy of her debut novel! This was the most exciting book mail that I have received. The themes of lovers turning into enemies, betrayal, and the loss of home offered an intriguing twist on the fantasy genre. "Dawn of the Forsaken" kept me guessing, especially with its ending, which was a pleasant surprise and OMG do I need so much more …. I need to know. I will forever recommend this heartbreakingly beautiful book. Kyle’s writing is exceptional, and I was over the moon reading this book. It was difficult to put down at times even when I needed too. This is a long overdue raving …. Save the date MAY 19th – This is not a book that you will want to miss.
March 26, 2025
First of all thank you Kyle for choosing me to be a beta reader! This book was really good, the world building and magic system is really cool , the plot twist at the end GUTTED me 😩
July 16, 2025
Just finished Dawn of the Forsaken and I seriously can’t stop thinking about it. First off, a huge thank you to Kyle for choosing me as a beta reader—what a fun experience! She sent such a thoughtful box of goodies that made the whole reading process so exciting and immersive.
Now onto the book—wow. This story was packed with twists I didn’t see coming and kept me guessing right up until the end. At around 350 pages, it was a super approachable read (especially for fantasy), which I appreciated. Sometimes fantasy books can feel like a marathon, but this one hit the sweet spot between depth and pace.
Kyle did such a great job with character development. I actually felt connected to the characters, like I was right there with them—feeling their highs and lows. The world-building unfolded naturally, never feeling forced or overly detailed, and the action scenes were so good. I found myself wishing for even more of them, but I have a feeling Kyle’s saving some wild stuff for the next books (and yes, I’m already impatiently waiting).
If you're into fantasy that’s rich in story but not overwhelming, and love stories that balance heart, tension, and a bit of mystery, definitely keep your eye on this one. Can’t wait to see where Kyle takes us next. 💫
Now onto the book—wow. This story was packed with twists I didn’t see coming and kept me guessing right up until the end. At around 350 pages, it was a super approachable read (especially for fantasy), which I appreciated. Sometimes fantasy books can feel like a marathon, but this one hit the sweet spot between depth and pace.
Kyle did such a great job with character development. I actually felt connected to the characters, like I was right there with them—feeling their highs and lows. The world-building unfolded naturally, never feeling forced or overly detailed, and the action scenes were so good. I found myself wishing for even more of them, but I have a feeling Kyle’s saving some wild stuff for the next books (and yes, I’m already impatiently waiting).
If you're into fantasy that’s rich in story but not overwhelming, and love stories that balance heart, tension, and a bit of mystery, definitely keep your eye on this one. Can’t wait to see where Kyle takes us next. 💫
March 27, 2025
Lianna embarks on a journey to discover where she came from along the way she discovers things about herself and things about her past that really impact her! When I say this book took hold of me and would not let go till i finished! Miss Kyle you out did yourself with this book! If I could give more stars I would!!! Absolutely fantastic read, I cannot wait to read for book 2 I already know it will be just as fantastic as this one!!!!
September 18, 2025
If you want a fast paced Romantasy book on your shelves, then I would highly recommend this one! This was a fun read that really pulls you in right away and I think Kyle did an amazing job crafting each character in this story as it gets you connected with them.
I enjoyed the witty, banter and tension between Shay and Lianna 🤭 I thought it was easy to follow of what was going on throughout the story which I really liked. After that ending I was stunned lol I can’t wait for book 2!
I enjoyed the witty, banter and tension between Shay and Lianna 🤭 I thought it was easy to follow of what was going on throughout the story which I really liked. After that ending I was stunned lol I can’t wait for book 2!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews