No Man’s Daughter

by T.H. Abram

An orphan girl marked for death.
A would-be paladin thrown into war.
And a mad prophet who would end the night forever.

…no more dusk…

Sadia and her chosen siblings are reviled in Qasira, scorned as al-Yetim — children of no one. But when she defies a zealot’s attempt to burn a child alive, she becomes a fugitive, hunted for the life she saved. Her only chance of escape lies with a roguish dwarf and his ramshackle river barge. But fleeing is not enough. As she journeys farther from home, Sadia must fight against a horror she can’t even comprehend — all to save a world that doesn’t even want her.

…and no more dawn…

Gideon has long dreamed of swearing the Oath of Woe to become a paladin, but on the eve of his final trial, doubt gnaws at his faith. Before he can prove himself, war arrives at the monastery gates. Archoness Lorica, an infamous commander of the Church Militant, demands the untested recruits march to face a growing darkness — one responsible for the slaughter of her warriors. Thrust into an unfathomable nightmare, Gideon must survive his first battle… and learn that the price of glory is paid in blood.

…only the unsetting sun:

the burning Lidless Eye….

Genres: Fantasy

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2025

Reviews

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written. I was hooked pretty much from the start. There's a lot of found-family going on, which is one of my favorite tropes. The story follows two main characters, Gideon and Sadia. Though their plots have yet to converge, I think I can see where this is heading. I'm very interested in continuing this story!

Both MCs have a strong sense of what's right, and handle it in different ways. Both are trying their best. The author gives you enough insight to see why they do what they do.
The side characters thus far have all been interesting and probably deserving of their own books (Dalgrim and Lu especially!).

I think YA and fantasy fans will enjoy this book a lot.

Thank you T.H. Abram for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orphans protecting orphans and the lost trying to find their way.

We follow two characters as they search for their place in the world, both chasing and being chased by light & dark. Their fates are surely intertwined, we just haven't figured it out yet!

This book had me hooked from the very start and it's momentum did not let up the whole time. You really do feel for the characters and their motivations as they do what they think is right, leading them to all sorts of trouble.

An incredibly well written book with an intricate and intriguing world with complex characters. I will absolutely be impatiently awaiting the next installment in The Oath of Woe series.

[Jeff Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action, adventure, good, evil, magic, mayhem, what more can you ask for in a fantasy? Oh, and don't forget about religious fanaticism. Plenty of that as well. Well written characters, fast moving story, lots going on. This book isn't even out yet and I am ready to read the next one.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

Thank you Netgalley and SP T.H. Abram for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 5 May 2025

[Carla Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. This book would've got 4 stars, but it didn't hold my attention. It started slow for me but it did not quicken at all. It was slow all the way through. There were action scenes, near death scenes, but none of them felt exciting to me. The book has two story plots and the characters are not intertwined and do not meet each other. Both characters have to fight their own kind of evil. Sadia an orphan, who saves a baby from a sacrifice in fire, saves the infant then has to leave her home to try to save the baby. The insane cultists find her in every town she goes to.
Gideon is in training to become a warrior to fight all the evils in the world. But his dreams don't come totally true. His newly trained regiment go to search The wicked witches who keep destroying people everywhere they go. In battle with the witches he loses his good friend to death. Both characters are fighting for their lives. My opinion, may not be your opinion. Read it and come to your own conclusions.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible fantasy read! I loved the journey that this book teleported me through. This is the type of book I would want to share with my children.

[Gwynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had, hands down, some of the creepiest monsters I've ever read in a fantasy novel. It was fantastic. Both narratives are incredibly engaging, so much so that its hard to remember at times that they take place in the same book. The characters and settings are so varied that it feels almost like they are taking place in different worlds rather than in separate continents as I think is the case. I loved it. I can't wait to read more in the series. I hope that the two narratives will come together soon.

[Samantha H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: No Man’s Daughter by T.H. Abram
Rating: 4.25 stars

No Man’s Daughter is an emotionally rich, beautifully crafted fantasy that follows two distinct but equally compelling journeys: Gideon’s pursuit of a dream while wrestling with deep personal flaws, and Sadia’s fierce mission to protect a child she’s claimed as her own. Both narratives are emotionally charged, but it was Sadia’s arc that truly stole my heart.

From her pivotal moment early in the book, I was hooked—and, honestly, in tears. Her story is filled with aching vulnerability, intense love, and a makeshift family I couldn’t help but root for. I cried multiple times throughout her journey, deeply invested in every twist and heartbreak.

Gideon’s story, while compelling in its own right (and featuring the absolutely fantastic Donnal!), felt a bit more one-dimensional in comparison. I’m hopeful that in the next installment, we’ll get more development from his side of the narrative—and fingers crossed that the two storylines will finally converge.

The world-building is seamless and immersive, and the themes of found family and flawed, lovable characters shine throughout. I would absolutely recommend No Man’s Daughter to any fantasy lover looking for emotional depth, vivid characters, and a story that’s easy to fall into and hard to leave behind.

♡follow my booksta♡

[K.Rafyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

• I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and I appreciate both your work and commitment to this project. The following opinion is my own and holds no major spoilers. •

No Man’s Daughter
MC Rising
Rating: 2/5

No Man’s Daughter attempts a tale of rebellion and resistance but fails in giving their characters an active voice, which turns the story into a plot who runs freely despite the main characters and not because of them.

The book tells the story of a world packed with several sects and a dual POV between Gideon - a wannabe paladin - and Sadia - an orphan girl - who decides to save a child from a ritual. Unfortunately, neither of the characters shine enough to pace the plot forward or to keep me interested in their destinies.

Gideon is whiny, pathetic and boring, constantly in need of approving or reassuring words to do anything at all. Sadia has no active role except carry a child around for whom she leaves half of her siblings (starving children, by the way) behind. Besides, one of the lowest points of my reading towards the end was realizing their stories would barely intertwine, if not at all, what felt like reading a manuscript instead of a finished book.

Some of the secondary characters, however, were very interesting, and I can tell the author has a good hand to write older characters, which is unusual for a YA author.
I didn’t have any problems with the author’s writing skills, but I can tell the book is YA with a very narrow possibility of luring mature readers to read it by the way the dialogues are very high exposure and the characters act too childish for their ages most of the time.

I was really excited to find a fantasy built with a different culture only to be disappointed. Despite the folclore built with an Indian background/inspiration, the lack of references, language or representation in general erases the differential of the story, turning it into a generic fantasy.

Unfortunately, I don't see myself recommending this book to anyone I know.

[Anisa Jawed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.25 stars
No Man's Daughter is an amazing read. Through dual POV's, we follow Gideon, a Paladin who faces a crisis of faith and Sadia, an Orphan trying to protect her siblings.
The story had me hooked from the very beginning. Each character is on a very different journey to the point that I didn't believe the characters were in the same world, but the author very cleverly drops little hints showing how they are connected.
The journeys each character pursues were also very compelling. I found myself more interested in Sadia's story, but Gideon's journey had me even more hooked by the end. The side characters were one of the best parts of the series. Lu and Dalgrim added a comedic and emotional presence, as did Donnal and James.
I'm looking forward to the next book very much, to see how the characters' journeys come together and where it takes them. A great YA Fantasy read with no romance.

[Alesha Melville · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Man’s Daughter is an exciting fantasy with witches, magic and mythical creatures. The plot is the focus and it was excellent. There is both real family and found family incorporated throughout the book. The world building was good and character development was well thought out. The book is written in dual pov, but the main characters are not romantically involved, nor do they cross paths.

Sadia is the FMC and an orphan. She and her siblings live in poverty, scrambling to survive. She finds herself drawn to save a baby boy and must flee from her home and her family to do so. She finds and interesting group to travel with on her journey.

Gideon is the MMC and he has trained to become a paladin touched by the gods. His journey takes an unexpected turn and he is forced to join a battle against something he couldn’t have imagined existed.

I devoured this book and I absolutely cannot wait to see what is next for all of the characters. If you like a plot heavy fantasy with a bit of mystery and suspense, this is definitely worth every second!

[Krissi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book, with its dual timeline, started off interesting but then started to slow down towards the middle of the book. The action scenes were ok, but I wish we could have gotten a little more out of them to help quicken the pace of the story and make it more interesting. Of the two main characters, Gideon had more of an interesting story. Ultimately, with both stories, it seemed to end abruptly, which of course leaves the book feeling unfinished. I'm not sure if there's going to be more after this or not, but I'm not sure if I'm interested enough to grab for it if so. Give it a try if it sounds interesting as you may like it.

[Jamison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story. I think the characters were great, funny, and had depth to them. The only thing that I didn’t like was that Gideon and Sadia never actually met. Their stories were completely different and it was like reading two different books in one. I’m not sure if they will meet in the next books as this is a first in a series, but I hope I do. I would definitely be interested in reading the sequel!

[Nicole Ledford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this book on NetGalley. While the dual storylines were compelling and had real potential, the book ultimately felt unfinished—not in a cliffhanger way or like the first in a series, but more like it stopped mid-thought. Each storyline builds to a major confrontation, the dust settles, and the characters begin taking steps toward their goals… and then it just ends. The two threads never intersect, and nothing truly gets resolved. I have a good sense of where the overlap might eventually happen, but the ending still felt abrupt and unsatisfying.

[bbs_bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took a bit for me to really get into it, but I'm intrigued to see where the story goes. The writing is good and the perspectives of two seemingly unrelated characters really builds into something great. Thank you to Net Galley for the early copy!

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captured me with its deep emotions. From the first pages, the orphans' story has captured my heart and would not let go. I was deeply moved by watching these children, who own nothing in material terms, make something so precious, a family bound by choice rather than blood.
Their shared moments of joy, those simple times of connection, small moments of shared happiness and laughter, felt more genuine than any wealth could provide.
Their humble warmth was a stark contrast between the paladin's more structured, rigid path of bonds and duty.
While the world forms, and the story echoed familiar historical places from our own past, the storytelling constantly surprised me. Just when I thought I knew where things were heading, the plot would take an unexpected turn that felt both surprising and in same time inevitable.
This is a rich, layered tale that stays with you long after the last page.
I am still thinking about these characters and their world, even days after finishing the book. This is not just fantasy... it is a deep exploration of human purpose and of what drives us to fight for something bigger than ourselves. This book will stay with me for a long time.

[Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

No Man’s Daughter immediately swept me into its world. The dual POVs of Sadia and Gideon, two characters that share such similar paths while being in different places, was an aspect that I really enjoyed. Sadia’s storyline especially resonated with me—her "eldest sister" energy was so raw and relatable, I felt every step of her journey deep in my chest. Doing everything in her power to help her baby brother... yeah that hits. Gideon’s arc was just as intriguing, full of doubt, growth, and hard choices that kept me fully invested. I’m so excited to eventually see if their paths will cross.

The side characters deserve their own shelf: I loved them so much I’d happily read entire spin-offs about their lives. The pacing was strong throughout: always eventful without feeling overwhelming. If I had one small wish, it would be for a map—just to help visualize the world a bit more easily—but honestly, that’s a tiny thing compared to how much I enjoyed this book. No Man’s Daughter is a powerful, gripping fantasy, and I will be recommending it to everyone I can.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book started with a bit of a slow build but quickly erupted into an exciting story. It held my attention throughout because of the very different struggles, which I thought were creative and interesting, faced by the two main characters. Both were very relatable and well developed. I loved everything about the Oath of Weal or Woe and justice being served for the sake of justice (but with mercy when appropriate). These and other themes throughout the book were refreshing and insightful and added depth to the overall story. Additionally, some of the supporting characters brought a bit of lightheartedness to this tale that helped give it some balance. The other thing I really appreciated was the writing itself. I think the author writes well and is really good at painting a picture for the reader. I was able to envision the characters and the scenery, and I love when a book combines a great story with wonderful writing. This book had me thinking about some deeper issues and was also really entertaining. I look forward to book two and seeing what comes next for these characters.

[RORO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher and the author, for this arc, and the chance to read this book, in exchange for my honest review.

I was really intrigued by the concept of this ans I wasn't dissapointed! The whole plot idea is so unique and was really interesting! The world building made everything feel realistic and I had fun reading this!

The characters were also lovable and I enjoyed learning about them.

What made me take off the 1,5 stars is that the plot moved really slow in my opinion and the book didn't always manage to catch my attention.
There were parts I kind of had to force myself to continue bc I knew something interesting coming.
If this only would have been a bit more action filled, I would have had even more fun reading this.

All in all not a bad book!

3,5 out of 5 stars

[dorota.reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

No Man’s Daughter wasn’t bad, it just didn’t do much for me. The concept had potential with themes of revenge, betrayal, gritty vibes of the new world, but the execution didn’t grip me. I’ve had troubles connecting with the main characters, which is important to me as a reader. The pacing was a bit all over the place, where some parts dragged, others felt rushed.

While I can’t fault the worldbuilding, which felt immersive at times, however, it never pulled me in, and I kept waiting for something… but it never quite happened. I’m quite an emotional reader, give me characters and world to care about, and I’m halfway there to 5* read, but here… I knew I was supposed to care, but I just didn’t.

In the end, I DNFed at 85% as it took me a long while (a month!) to finish, and by the end I was ready to move on.

Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to review this e-arc.

[Michaela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book! This had an interesting premise that it really didn’t deliver on (in my opinion). The 2 narrators never meet and have no connection to each other and the problems we begin the story with are never resolved and only seem to get worse. There is also pretty significant info dropped seemingly at random with no one noticing or trying to follow-up on the very important information someone just casually dropped during a battle scene. Ifyky.

Once I made it about halfway through, I knew this was not a standalone and that I would not read any other books in the series, and after finishing this, I am even more certain I won’t be.

[grumpy_bookdragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story starts out very promising, but the first book is two separate stories in one book. I am curious as to how these stories wil join.

Gideon wishes to become a paladin, but questions his faith. He is sent on a mission with other new recruits, to kill a witches coven to save the world from an unspeakable evil.

Sadia is an orphaned girl in a city where orphanes are seen as cursed beeings. She saves a baby from a cult, and we follow her journey as she tries to save him.

This book feels like a migration between fantasy and literary fiction. The first part of the book is good at building tension, but somehow it flattens out and the excitement of the fantasy is overshadowed by a more literary fiction writing style. This book is for those who likes both of these genres.

[Sabrina Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

No Mans Daughter follows two very different story paths, one for a knight in training, the other for a orphan girl who has just saved a baby from a ritual and is now on the run trying to save him.

That’s honestly it. The book is dual and the two main characters never meet, it’s never discussed who they are to eachother, if they are in the same family, same timeline, or even the same continent. The story itself felt like we were reading two VERY different stories from their narration and the ending just left it more incomplete. I’d say that further books would help this but as it stands, I’m uninterested in continuing. I barely liked the characters themselves and felt uninvested in either of their stories since we got half a book from each of them

[Janneke Merkens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I read it in one sitting, maybeee. So I think that’s a good statement on how I liked the book.
The story follows two people in different parts of the world, Gideon and Sadia, and how their choices have effect on their lives. The found-family and the lengths the characters go to protect one another. Their path is not intertwined yet, but hopefully this will in book two. Excited to see how the storyline and characters will develop.

And can we appreciate the cover please!

4⭐️
Thank you to netgalley and the author for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow- what a delightful blend of fantasy, intrigue as well as adventure all whilst depicting both light and dark throughout this amazing story. The story had me invested from the prologue and the momentum of the plot never let up until the very end- the setting was vivid and immersive, all the characters were very well developed and the plot was both break neck and suspenseful from start to finish.
A fantastic and enjoyable read for all fantasy fans.
Thankyou to Net galley and the author for an arc of this book.

[Livi ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. I loved the dual timeline and the sheer level of detail that was used to describe everything was amazing. I was impressed with the world-building, and the sheer level of dystopia brought me back to reading books as a teen. I loved the overall story, and I really hope there are more. I was invested pretty much the entire time, and I needed a good fantasy to lose my life to again!

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do believe I have to reread this as I probably was not in the right frame of mind this first time - BUT the fact is that I DO want to. Definitely has a a style and story that I am drawn to. Genuinely good story, and am keen to see where the paths lead to.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC, opinions are my own.

[Michael Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this in a giveaway. I'm not quite sure what to make of it. It is very much the first in a series. It has the makings of being good, but this will need to be read with the reminder that this is the first book.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting world, an interesting concept, and just kind of okay at execution. The two stories/points of view don't meet, and seem to take place in two cultures that are so different they didn't seem to belong to the same universe up until the last 10% or so. The writing wasn't bad, but it read rather juvenile for a book that contained a graphic scene of a woman burning to death.

The two points of view we get are very lawful good - I would have rather followed Dalgrim and Lu than Sadia and Gideon, as they seemed to have more complexity to them.

There were a few eye-rolling tropes/stereotypes as well - the dwarves with Scottish accents, the sidekick exiled from definitely-not-East Asia, to name a few.

Overall it was just kind of okay. 3/5.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was unique, interesting and very well written. It took me longer than I expected to get into the story but I must admit that I’m looking forward to the next book.