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The Scorched Divide #1
Echoes of Hollow and Ember
Magic has always been their hindrance. Now, it’s their gift—and their only weapon in a war they never asked for. Magic was once their greatest weakness. Now, it’s their only gift–and their only weapon in a war they never wanted.
THE RUNES SISTERS
For as long as they can remember, sisters Leola and Juniper Runes have lived as mundane beings in a world that favors magic-wielders while oppressing their kind. When a ruthless regime seizes control of Heri, their lives are uprooted as they discover a secret that changes everything. They become pivotal to ending a decades-long war.
Hunted by a powerful immortal and torn from the world they thought they knew, the sisters are forced to discover themselves amongst a landscape of betrayal, rebellion, and impossible choices. When one of them finds love in an unlikely ally in the midst of doom, the value of victory becomes even greater.
As war rages around them, they’ll be forced to surrender to fate or forge their own destiny—no matter the price.
BENN
From his first breath, he was forged for war–honed into a dual-powered weapon, built to defeat the enemy. Finally initiated into the secret society that has controlled his entire existence, he is vastly disappointed when he meets his companions–The Prophesied Pair, two sisters who are supposed to be essential to the war. He learns that they have spent their life hiding in the shadows, adding to his disillusionment of winning the war.
Will the companionship between Benn and the sisters lead to their ruin, or will he get a firsthand look at why the Gods chose the Runes girls in the first place?
Perfect for fans of fast-paced dark fantasy, multi-POV storytelling, sibling bonds, and slow-burn romance.
THE RUNES SISTERS
For as long as they can remember, sisters Leola and Juniper Runes have lived as mundane beings in a world that favors magic-wielders while oppressing their kind. When a ruthless regime seizes control of Heri, their lives are uprooted as they discover a secret that changes everything. They become pivotal to ending a decades-long war.
Hunted by a powerful immortal and torn from the world they thought they knew, the sisters are forced to discover themselves amongst a landscape of betrayal, rebellion, and impossible choices. When one of them finds love in an unlikely ally in the midst of doom, the value of victory becomes even greater.
As war rages around them, they’ll be forced to surrender to fate or forge their own destiny—no matter the price.
BENN
From his first breath, he was forged for war–honed into a dual-powered weapon, built to defeat the enemy. Finally initiated into the secret society that has controlled his entire existence, he is vastly disappointed when he meets his companions–The Prophesied Pair, two sisters who are supposed to be essential to the war. He learns that they have spent their life hiding in the shadows, adding to his disillusionment of winning the war.
Will the companionship between Benn and the sisters lead to their ruin, or will he get a firsthand look at why the Gods chose the Runes girls in the first place?
Perfect for fans of fast-paced dark fantasy, multi-POV storytelling, sibling bonds, and slow-burn romance.
475 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2025
26 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
T.C. Jenson
2 books51 followers
TC Jenson crafts tales that are fast-paced and immersive with themes of magic-wielding, rebellions, secret-societies, and romance. She brings richly-built worlds to life through complex characters who are just like you... but living in a Dystopian Fantasy world. .
When she's not exploring a thrift store or traveling, you’ll find her diving into tales of fantasy, romance, true crime, or historical fiction. Whatever it is, she's either within an arm's reach of a book, glued to her Kindle, or browsing a local bookstore.
As a lifelong bookworm turned author, she's thrilled to release her debut title, Echoes of Hollow and Ember, in 2025. EHAE follows two sisters who hold the key to ending the decades-long war that has plagued their people and divided their world... if they can survive the evil forces standing between them and success.
Visit her website to find her socials or sign up for her newsletter!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 21, 2025
I honestly knew I would love this book but it went above all the expectations I thought I had! This was so personal. I have never felt more seen while reading a fantasy novel. For starters T.C Jenson fed us hair rep, not once or twice but throughout the entire book. WE NEEDED THIS.
You will find so many layers to this story but one that stood out to me the most was the family dynamics. Found family is amazing and I eat it up always, but here we got to see the dynamics of (more than one) family who keep secrets and push feelings aside in the name of keeping the peace. And while this book IS a fantasy and they quite literally needed some secrets to keep the peace — you can feel that distance affecting the characters as you read.
Now that I got that out, onto the plot. We have two sisters who find themselves to be the very thing that may change the corrupt world they know.
Everything you can ask for? delivered. — A dystopian world, A prophecy, time-bending magic, elemental magic + training of said magic. Slow-burn romance & heavy banter. Multiple POVS with characters that are easy to love. A rebellion (gods I love a rebellion) & a few twist and turns that leave your jaw on the ground🫠
OH and that ending was INTENSE! I am desperate for the next book in this series and cannot wait to have this physical book!
You will find so many layers to this story but one that stood out to me the most was the family dynamics. Found family is amazing and I eat it up always, but here we got to see the dynamics of (more than one) family who keep secrets and push feelings aside in the name of keeping the peace. And while this book IS a fantasy and they quite literally needed some secrets to keep the peace — you can feel that distance affecting the characters as you read.
Now that I got that out, onto the plot. We have two sisters who find themselves to be the very thing that may change the corrupt world they know.
Everything you can ask for? delivered. — A dystopian world, A prophecy, time-bending magic, elemental magic + training of said magic. Slow-burn romance & heavy banter. Multiple POVS with characters that are easy to love. A rebellion (gods I love a rebellion) & a few twist and turns that leave your jaw on the ground🫠
OH and that ending was INTENSE! I am desperate for the next book in this series and cannot wait to have this physical book!
June 12, 2025
This was an immersive dark fantasy with elemental powers, hidden identities, time travel and prophecies. I enjoyed the characters distinct personalities, the worldbuilding and dystopian vibes, and the themes of resistance, hope and hidden power.
Amongst the dark themes there is banter, a slow burn romance, and a unique relic.
It was great to see 2 strong heroines, and their siblings bond, and I liked that Benn and Levi balanced them out.
I enjoyed all the layers of the plot with them working with rebels, on the run, understanding their role as saviours, and trying to survive.
Amongst the dark themes there is banter, a slow burn romance, and a unique relic.
It was great to see 2 strong heroines, and their siblings bond, and I liked that Benn and Levi balanced them out.
I enjoyed all the layers of the plot with them working with rebels, on the run, understanding their role as saviours, and trying to survive.
May 7, 2025
I was lucky to receive an ARC of the book, and this is my honest review. I really loved this book! It’s so different from my usual books and I couldn’t put it down! It was a captivating mixture of time travel, magic, fantasy with a nice hit of romance. All of my favourite things! I was sad to finish it, and eagerly await the next instalment. I would highly recommend reading it.
March 8, 2025
While I’ve never really read a fantasy or dystopian based novel, this story was PHENOMENAL. T.C. Jenson really knows her way around the written word and made the reader feel as though they were immersed in the world of the characters. While reading, I could feel the magic and the powers, smell the various locations from forests to city, see the characters in their roles, and experienced the feeling of dread when things got heavy. Each character was written so well, it’s as though I knew each one personally. Their actions, words, and thoughts were written so clearly, it made the story come to life. The villain was also written SO well (although I HATE the person…) that it almost felt like this person was a villain in real life! Wild feeling. Overall, one of the better written books I’ve read and enjoyed. Way to go, T.C. Jenson. Autobuy author added to my list!
June 1, 2025
First off I wanna state that i have received this book as a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This review contains mild spoilers.
The book Echoes of Hollow and Ember is a distopian fantasy with a unique magic system that has multiple POVs and even some spice-free romance.
The book follows two sisters (Leola and Juniper) that grow up in a world divided between mundaners and magic wielders. Magic wielders are considered superior and have way more rights and freedom to do what they wish to do. Whilst life as a mundane person is very difficult and hard. Furthermore you have two groups of magic wielders the Opasteg (a group that really enforces the belief of a division between the mundane and magic wielders - the villains if you like) and the Underground (secret group that fights for the rights of a mundane person and tries to create a save and peaceful world for everyone). The sisters grow up as mundaners in the modern-era, who stumble upon a magical time relic that accidentally transfers them to the past. They wake up in a forest near a labour camp, where the mundane were kept as chattle/slaves.
At the same time we follow the Story of Benn, a member of the Underground group, who is a very powerful emotion and time wielder. Benn is being sent to an undercover mission in the past, with very little information what the objective of the mission is. All he knows is that he is supposed to blend in as chattel in the labor camp and wait for further instructions. One day Benn receives a vellum from the Underground that tells him to protect and bring two sisters from the forest to the labor camp.
This is where the true journey starts. Here both Sisters and Benn go on a heart wrenching journey, no one could have foreseen. They discover many things about the world, their past and even find out about a vision of a future they might help achieve. I won't spoil more of the book, so if you want to know how it continues you will have to pick the book up yourself ;)
In the book Echoes of Hollow and Ember, TC Jenson flawlessly tackles many difficult topics like slavery (explicit, very graphically detailed), sexual assault (implied), death and discrimination. All topics, that hit very close to home. There were many times when the book brought me close to tears. TC Jenson immerses you into this tragic world, that really gets you thinking about our history as humans and how we used to treat each other and our differences.
One thing I truly enjoyed reading about was the undying love Juniper and Leola shared for each other. That is something I wish for anyone with siblings to experience and was truly heartwarming to read about. I also loved the concept of magic in this book, even though I have read about similar magic systems this one still felt extremely unique and special in its own way and never felt like a copy of another magic system. I enjoyed the different categories of the magic wielders (my favourite being the Illusionists #goGrandmava), while still leaving room for one person to access multiple "forms" of magic if they are powerful enough. One thing I appreciated was that there was always some form of balance and that the characters in this book had to be mindful of their power reserves before plunging into action, simply because using up all their power would kill them, which let's be honest who would want that?
Echoes of Hollow and Ember will take you on a very complex journey where you will cry tears, laugh, want to scream internally and tear the book apart (or at least throw it across the room). The story is very complex and never gets boring. It has many plots that truly always leave you guessing about what is going to happen next, and I can guarantee that you won't guess it right till the very last page! Honestly this book was such an emotional journey and I already wish that I could re-experience for the first time again! (So lucky you, if you have yet to read it). If you haven't already added it to your TBR, I beg you to reconsider. Seriously it's that good. I wholeheartedly believe that it is an amazing (and very emotional) book to read that at the same time really gets you thinking. The book definitely deserves 5/5 stars. TC Jenson, you really have created a masterwork!
This review contains mild spoilers.
The book Echoes of Hollow and Ember is a distopian fantasy with a unique magic system that has multiple POVs and even some spice-free romance.
The book follows two sisters (Leola and Juniper) that grow up in a world divided between mundaners and magic wielders. Magic wielders are considered superior and have way more rights and freedom to do what they wish to do. Whilst life as a mundane person is very difficult and hard. Furthermore you have two groups of magic wielders the Opasteg (a group that really enforces the belief of a division between the mundane and magic wielders - the villains if you like) and the Underground (secret group that fights for the rights of a mundane person and tries to create a save and peaceful world for everyone). The sisters grow up as mundaners in the modern-era, who stumble upon a magical time relic that accidentally transfers them to the past. They wake up in a forest near a labour camp, where the mundane were kept as chattle/slaves.
At the same time we follow the Story of Benn, a member of the Underground group, who is a very powerful emotion and time wielder. Benn is being sent to an undercover mission in the past, with very little information what the objective of the mission is. All he knows is that he is supposed to blend in as chattel in the labor camp and wait for further instructions. One day Benn receives a vellum from the Underground that tells him to protect and bring two sisters from the forest to the labor camp.
This is where the true journey starts. Here both Sisters and Benn go on a heart wrenching journey, no one could have foreseen. They discover many things about the world, their past and even find out about a vision of a future they might help achieve. I won't spoil more of the book, so if you want to know how it continues you will have to pick the book up yourself ;)
In the book Echoes of Hollow and Ember, TC Jenson flawlessly tackles many difficult topics like slavery (explicit, very graphically detailed), sexual assault (implied), death and discrimination. All topics, that hit very close to home. There were many times when the book brought me close to tears. TC Jenson immerses you into this tragic world, that really gets you thinking about our history as humans and how we used to treat each other and our differences.
One thing I truly enjoyed reading about was the undying love Juniper and Leola shared for each other. That is something I wish for anyone with siblings to experience and was truly heartwarming to read about. I also loved the concept of magic in this book, even though I have read about similar magic systems this one still felt extremely unique and special in its own way and never felt like a copy of another magic system. I enjoyed the different categories of the magic wielders (my favourite being the Illusionists #goGrandmava), while still leaving room for one person to access multiple "forms" of magic if they are powerful enough. One thing I appreciated was that there was always some form of balance and that the characters in this book had to be mindful of their power reserves before plunging into action, simply because using up all their power would kill them, which let's be honest who would want that?
Echoes of Hollow and Ember will take you on a very complex journey where you will cry tears, laugh, want to scream internally and tear the book apart (or at least throw it across the room). The story is very complex and never gets boring. It has many plots that truly always leave you guessing about what is going to happen next, and I can guarantee that you won't guess it right till the very last page! Honestly this book was such an emotional journey and I already wish that I could re-experience for the first time again! (So lucky you, if you have yet to read it). If you haven't already added it to your TBR, I beg you to reconsider. Seriously it's that good. I wholeheartedly believe that it is an amazing (and very emotional) book to read that at the same time really gets you thinking. The book definitely deserves 5/5 stars. TC Jenson, you really have created a masterwork!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2025
Echoes of Hollow and Ember is your next fantasy novel waiting to be dove into. The magic system within the story is intricate and well written. Not to mention the diversity in character arcs and how TC Jenson weaves a story of multiple characters into one storyline. The world building is exquisite and the explanation of the magic, names and political situation at the beginning helps paint the story of an adventure waiting to happen.
If you like The Sword of Shannara Trilogy, Doctor Strange and a political separation like the Hunter Games this novel is for you. The story itself pulls you in right at the beginning and I flew through the pages to follow the story of Leola, Juniper & Benn.
If you like The Sword of Shannara Trilogy, Doctor Strange and a political separation like the Hunter Games this novel is for you. The story itself pulls you in right at the beginning and I flew through the pages to follow the story of Leola, Juniper & Benn.
May 12, 2025
First off Cover Art? GORGEOUS
Second I adored this book, it was a little slow to get started but once it started I could not put this book down. Beautifully done and would read again.
Second I adored this book, it was a little slow to get started but once it started I could not put this book down. Beautifully done and would read again.
May 20, 2025
OMG, Echoes of Hollow and Ember was incredible. All I had to do was read the prologue, and I was immediately hooked. Not only is it filled with unexpected twists and turns, it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. TC Jenson knows how to draw the reader in and keeps them coming back for more, and she has a gift for keeping the reader in suspense until the very last page.
June 4, 2025
I received an ARC of this book but all my thoughts and reviews are my own!
I absolutely adored this book. While the beginning was a little slow and it took me a bit to feel fully immersed, once the plot picked up, it really took off. I would read again and probably will now that I feel I fully understand the magic system and differences between Mundaner and Magic wielder. ✨Keeping this review light and short as not to spoil too much. ✨
I absolutely adored this book. While the beginning was a little slow and it took me a bit to feel fully immersed, once the plot picked up, it really took off. I would read again and probably will now that I feel I fully understand the magic system and differences between Mundaner and Magic wielder. ✨Keeping this review light and short as not to spoil too much. ✨
May 16, 2025
First of all, thank you so, so much to TC Jenson for allowing me to ARC read this beauty. It was phenomenal.
I really enjoyed the unique magic system and the lore behind it all! The parallels between some of the atrocities we’ve seen in our own world are so hard, but make it so real with high stakes and had me flipping through the pages to see how it unravels. One thing I appreciated was that, in most stories with a sister pair, one is always more powerful, relatable, and likeable than the other. That was not the case in this book! I adored both characters and really loved the sass and lightness that Juniper brought to the story. And the girl was just as bad ass and powerful as her sister, holding her own and being a protector in her own right. Jenson did the story justice by writing them this way since they truly were the prophesied pair.
The only thing I do wish we had more of was a building up to the love between Benn and Leo. Their love for each other was truly so sweet, but it was hard to feel the depth of it since we didn’t get to experience a journey of really seeing/feeling them falling in love with each other. To me, it felt like a bit of a jump happened where they were suddenly unequivocally, unconditionally, deeply in love with each other. Since the book specifically states that being mates does not necessarily mean there will be love, it would have been nice to explore this growth in relationship more. Nevertheless, there was a sweetness and gentleness in their love that I treasured and was happy to experience 🤍
I cannot wait for the next instalment in the series and will definitely be reading it as soon as it’s available 🤩
I really enjoyed the unique magic system and the lore behind it all! The parallels between some of the atrocities we’ve seen in our own world are so hard, but make it so real with high stakes and had me flipping through the pages to see how it unravels. One thing I appreciated was that, in most stories with a sister pair, one is always more powerful, relatable, and likeable than the other. That was not the case in this book! I adored both characters and really loved the sass and lightness that Juniper brought to the story. And the girl was just as bad ass and powerful as her sister, holding her own and being a protector in her own right. Jenson did the story justice by writing them this way since they truly were the prophesied pair.
The only thing I do wish we had more of was a building up to the love between Benn and Leo. Their love for each other was truly so sweet, but it was hard to feel the depth of it since we didn’t get to experience a journey of really seeing/feeling them falling in love with each other. To me, it felt like a bit of a jump happened where they were suddenly unequivocally, unconditionally, deeply in love with each other. Since the book specifically states that being mates does not necessarily mean there will be love, it would have been nice to explore this growth in relationship more. Nevertheless, there was a sweetness and gentleness in their love that I treasured and was happy to experience 🤍
I cannot wait for the next instalment in the series and will definitely be reading it as soon as it’s available 🤩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
Echoes of Hollow and Ember, book one in The Scorched Divide series, (book two expected early 2026.)
ARC.
Thank you T.C. for a great read!
Our young heroines, sisters Leola (Leo) and Juniper (Bug) have been raised in the darkness with no idea about the lies they've been fed to protect them and hide their true identities – not just from themselves but from an evil dictator who will stop at nothing to destroy them. Sacrifices for the greater good, and the sisters, simply had to be made.
Will they understand the choices their family had to make?
T.C Jenson's debut novel is a fast paced YA dystopian fantasy with a diverse cast of characters and a fantastic unique magic system. Great for fans of Hunger Games and Divergent. High stakes with huge burdens for our young, inexperienced heroes & heroines to shoulder – talk about getting thrown into the fire!
Overpowered good guys and truly vile bad guys? Lots of potential for this series!
Be prepared to face dark themes including labour camps, oppression and a regime that is out to nullify Mundaners - non magics. Espionage and secret societies. Blood, gore, grit & violence.
This is wartime – it’s not pretty but boy is it powerful!
Within the darkness we get some hilarious banter, even dark times have to find humour, lovely found family vibes with new friends & blood family working together to pull society out of the shadows.
The romance is sweet, no spice, just kissing and implied situations. I’d have loved this to have been a much slower burn but it is a beautiful addition to the story – hope in the bitter darkness.
The relationship between the two sisters Leo and Bug was so touching and so relatable if you have a close sibling relationship – you know you'd stop at nothing to protect them!
I really loved some of the earlier content – I won’t list spoilers – a unique addition to the magic system and possibilities for further story telling. I’d love to see a lot more of this “jumping” around in book two as it was really intriguing and fun to see how our characters had to adapt and handle “changing” situations.
The relic! Please bring this “character” back in book two. Very cool concept!
There are lots of hidden treasures to be found in T.C. Jenson’s debut novel – I’m very impressed with the vastness of this world and the actual size of the book for a debut! So much work would have gone into crafting this story for us! Bravo T.C.
I can’t wait to see what you’ll have next for us! Keep on writing!
ARC.
Thank you T.C. for a great read!
Our young heroines, sisters Leola (Leo) and Juniper (Bug) have been raised in the darkness with no idea about the lies they've been fed to protect them and hide their true identities – not just from themselves but from an evil dictator who will stop at nothing to destroy them. Sacrifices for the greater good, and the sisters, simply had to be made.
Will they understand the choices their family had to make?
T.C Jenson's debut novel is a fast paced YA dystopian fantasy with a diverse cast of characters and a fantastic unique magic system. Great for fans of Hunger Games and Divergent. High stakes with huge burdens for our young, inexperienced heroes & heroines to shoulder – talk about getting thrown into the fire!
Overpowered good guys and truly vile bad guys? Lots of potential for this series!
Be prepared to face dark themes including labour camps, oppression and a regime that is out to nullify Mundaners - non magics. Espionage and secret societies. Blood, gore, grit & violence.
This is wartime – it’s not pretty but boy is it powerful!
Within the darkness we get some hilarious banter, even dark times have to find humour, lovely found family vibes with new friends & blood family working together to pull society out of the shadows.
The romance is sweet, no spice, just kissing and implied situations. I’d have loved this to have been a much slower burn but it is a beautiful addition to the story – hope in the bitter darkness.
The relationship between the two sisters Leo and Bug was so touching and so relatable if you have a close sibling relationship – you know you'd stop at nothing to protect them!
I really loved some of the earlier content – I won’t list spoilers – a unique addition to the magic system and possibilities for further story telling. I’d love to see a lot more of this “jumping” around in book two as it was really intriguing and fun to see how our characters had to adapt and handle “changing” situations.
The relic! Please bring this “character” back in book two. Very cool concept!
There are lots of hidden treasures to be found in T.C. Jenson’s debut novel – I’m very impressed with the vastness of this world and the actual size of the book for a debut! So much work would have gone into crafting this story for us! Bravo T.C.
I can’t wait to see what you’ll have next for us! Keep on writing!
June 14, 2025
I found it a bit hard to get into at first but once they "jumped" the first time it picked up and did not stop.
In a world separated by those with magic and those without we find those without being treated no better than animals. Leo and Juniper are living their lives without magic not knowing what flows through their blood could save them all.
They meet up with Benn and start to learn who they really are. The power they both have is unimaginable and they are the worlds only hope.
With found family, hidden identities, magic and more this book has something for everyone.
I received an advanced reader copy but these thoughts are my own.
In a world separated by those with magic and those without we find those without being treated no better than animals. Leo and Juniper are living their lives without magic not knowing what flows through their blood could save them all.
They meet up with Benn and start to learn who they really are. The power they both have is unimaginable and they are the worlds only hope.
With found family, hidden identities, magic and more this book has something for everyone.
I received an advanced reader copy but these thoughts are my own.
June 30, 2025
3.5 ⭐️’s!! I really enjoyed this story! I loved getting back into a dystopian world again, and this definitely delivered! It was a complex journey that mimicked history with a magical twist, reminding us of the importance of protecting our rights and the feelings of living in an unjust world. It was filled with powerful questions and themes that really had you feeling empowered and grateful for life.
Time magic, elemental magic, multi-POV, and everyone’s fav- a rebellion. The found family and sisterly bonds in this book are soo powerful. I really enjoyed the relationship between Leola and Juniper, our FMCs. They were so well described, and their unique sass and dynamic really had me feeling like I knew them! As a younger sister myself, I felt really connected with Juniper, her magic was my FAV and I loved her personality, and I thought that her character ARC was very powerful. Anddd I’m waitingg for something else to maybe develop with a certain someone in the next book…which I was DYING for even more than Leola and Ben (whom I love haha). Our MMCs were such green flags, I loved their introductions into the storyline, particularly with Levi, I’ll touch upon this more later! There is nothing that makes you feel more connected to a book and its characters than strong family bonds and found family, in my opinion, and I was really happy to have that constant pull in the story! The love that these sisters share with each other is so heartwarming and strong, it’s so powerful to read about and feel a part of!
I also enjoyed the magic systems a lot. While it wasn’t necessarily anything new, it was still exciting to experience and felt unique to its storyline. I loved the different types of magic wielders, and the concept of their power reserves being displayed really gave it a little extra high stakes push I love. It was really beautifully complex. I felt like there were so many complimentary powers to each other, which was so cool and really pulled the story along and exciting directions. I also loved the dual powers, and I think the choice of powers for everyone was really perfectly catered to their personalities!
On to some other feedback and thoughts that reflect my rating. The story definitely started a bit slow for me. The world-building was a bit confusing at first, and I was definitely lost in the beginning with the first time jump. Unless you have a great memory, it was hard to grasp where we were in time and how far we went back or forward. It’s really hard to be memorizing the dates, locations, and understanding if you’re going back or forth in time and how far out each event being discussed is when you are first starting to understand the world and the world building. I think things definitely shifted very quickly at a time when we were intentionally left in the dark with details and were full of questions, which I think made it a bit harder to get into and understand. I was hoping we would get some insight on the sudden loss of memory and magic earlier in the story, as I felt like even with the age jump it made me heavily confused as to why the girls were living the way they were, and wondering if I remember incorrectly myself. There were some comments from Leola that made me think maybe she did remember and was hiding it from Juniper, so I think not having this knowledge as the reader made me question things I didn’t need to. I do wish we got a scene perhaps from the grandparents or parents in the beginning as well for some more backstory, as I felt like we didn’t need to be as left in the dark as our FMCs as the reader with this instance!
Between the history, time jumping, 3rd person multi-povs, memory loss, new magic systems and the actual storyline and character introductions, it was really hard for me to get pulled into this book as a reader at first. The FMCs and promised plot really carried me through, hence why my ARC review is a bittttt later than I had hoped 😭. I sometimes forgot whose chapter I was reading, and it took a while to gain context to figure it out at times since it was switching so often. It took me about 45% to really feel invested in the storyline, and I did have trouble picking it back up a few times because pacing or confusion. Even though there was a glossary of terms at the beginning of the book, it was hard to remember everything, so I had to take myself out of the story to go back and make sense of things- especially since there were a lot of made up terms that were so close to terms in real life that I confused meanings. I didn’t feel like there was always enough context to explain the information properly. On the other hand, I did also feel like there was certain information that was reiterated too much, leaving a bit less room for deductive skills with easier information to grasp and more room for questions on the confusing stuff. It definitely was a bit of an information overload at times. There would be very long sections of history and explanation that made information retention/reading retention difficult. I felt like some of the storytelling was a bit too blunt and not naturally explained in the story. It felt too plainly said, like you were pausing the story to hear an explanation and then continued on, rather than experiencing the explanation within the story. This made some of the characters feel a bit too much like plot devices, in the sense where they felt only introduced more or less to tell the reader this long winded info. I felt that way about Mother Gaia, whose appearance felt very random to just deliver information. Regardless of her connection to Junipers power, it through me off especially since she was never mentioned in the story before as a goddess who is worshiped in this specific story (I never assume any specific gods are believed in or mentioned in any works I read unless they are started to be worshipped or followed). I think Mother Gaia came off a bit too “cool” and youthful sounding, rather than wise and peaceful which at first made me question her authenticity, whether she was actually real or good. Her presence felt less like a part of the story and more like an excuse to information bomb if that makes sense. I also felt this way about Grandmava on occasion, whom I loved, but also felt like she was only there to deliver all the history as well as information that we should have intuitively caught on to as readers, and was explained at times in an inorganic way. Gordon and Boyd as well felt a bit planted at times, yet also made so much sense. I think the unknown full power and knowledge of the underground maybe left me felling this way. While I LOVED these characters themselves and what they brought to the story, it felt like we were following the prophecy through every step of their life without room for nuanced or organic relationships. Like the underground knew their every move before they did without explaination how, and made these relationships feel less authentic. I think this is why I LOVED Levi as a character. He felt like the least expected person, it was such an exciting character introduction that although I anticipated it from his introduction, it was thrilling to read and be right about. I felt like his dynamic with Juniper was so fun and real, I am so excited to read more about them (HOPEFULLYYY) in the next book! I also loved his bond with Benn, all their families being interconnected felt so special and purposeful which I really enjoyed. As much as I felt these things took me out of the story at times, I truly loved every character that was introduced and their purpose, I just wish the information was relayed a bit more organically!
All this being said, once I got around to that 50% mark, I definitely felt more invested in the storyline. I felt really drawn to the plot and characters from the beginning, which made the slow introduction so hard for me, because I KNEW I’d like it if I pushed past some of what I struggled with, and I really am glad I did! While my ARC read took longer than expected because of this, I really knew this was a story I’d love and I just had to take my time pacing with it! I thought the ending was SO good, it was full of twists and turns and that crazy whip lash feeling we all love when unexpected things start to happen at the end of books! It was such a powerful and intriguing face-off, and it left me so excited to keep going with the series! It was a cliffhanger, yet a resolved one that makes me longing for more but satisfied with what where we left off for now! As a debut novel, I think this was so impressive, filled with amazing characters, and such a powerful read! I can definitely see this series going so far, and I can’t wait to continue on! I would definitely recommend this book to any readers who love found family, dystopian magical beings, sisterly bonds, and a powerful story!
A huge thank you to T.C. Jenson for allowing me the opportunity to read an e-arc of her debut story in exchange for my honest thoughts. I am honored to have had this opportunity! You are such a kind and bright light in the community, and I am so thankful to have crossed e-paths with you to allow me an introduction into your sacred world! Such a job well done, and I look forward to book 2 so very much! 💗
Time magic, elemental magic, multi-POV, and everyone’s fav- a rebellion. The found family and sisterly bonds in this book are soo powerful. I really enjoyed the relationship between Leola and Juniper, our FMCs. They were so well described, and their unique sass and dynamic really had me feeling like I knew them! As a younger sister myself, I felt really connected with Juniper, her magic was my FAV and I loved her personality, and I thought that her character ARC was very powerful. Anddd I’m waitingg for something else to maybe develop with a certain someone in the next book…which I was DYING for even more than Leola and Ben (whom I love haha). Our MMCs were such green flags, I loved their introductions into the storyline, particularly with Levi, I’ll touch upon this more later! There is nothing that makes you feel more connected to a book and its characters than strong family bonds and found family, in my opinion, and I was really happy to have that constant pull in the story! The love that these sisters share with each other is so heartwarming and strong, it’s so powerful to read about and feel a part of!
I also enjoyed the magic systems a lot. While it wasn’t necessarily anything new, it was still exciting to experience and felt unique to its storyline. I loved the different types of magic wielders, and the concept of their power reserves being displayed really gave it a little extra high stakes push I love. It was really beautifully complex. I felt like there were so many complimentary powers to each other, which was so cool and really pulled the story along and exciting directions. I also loved the dual powers, and I think the choice of powers for everyone was really perfectly catered to their personalities!
On to some other feedback and thoughts that reflect my rating. The story definitely started a bit slow for me. The world-building was a bit confusing at first, and I was definitely lost in the beginning with the first time jump. Unless you have a great memory, it was hard to grasp where we were in time and how far we went back or forward. It’s really hard to be memorizing the dates, locations, and understanding if you’re going back or forth in time and how far out each event being discussed is when you are first starting to understand the world and the world building. I think things definitely shifted very quickly at a time when we were intentionally left in the dark with details and were full of questions, which I think made it a bit harder to get into and understand. I was hoping we would get some insight on the sudden loss of memory and magic earlier in the story, as I felt like even with the age jump it made me heavily confused as to why the girls were living the way they were, and wondering if I remember incorrectly myself. There were some comments from Leola that made me think maybe she did remember and was hiding it from Juniper, so I think not having this knowledge as the reader made me question things I didn’t need to. I do wish we got a scene perhaps from the grandparents or parents in the beginning as well for some more backstory, as I felt like we didn’t need to be as left in the dark as our FMCs as the reader with this instance!
Between the history, time jumping, 3rd person multi-povs, memory loss, new magic systems and the actual storyline and character introductions, it was really hard for me to get pulled into this book as a reader at first. The FMCs and promised plot really carried me through, hence why my ARC review is a bittttt later than I had hoped 😭. I sometimes forgot whose chapter I was reading, and it took a while to gain context to figure it out at times since it was switching so often. It took me about 45% to really feel invested in the storyline, and I did have trouble picking it back up a few times because pacing or confusion. Even though there was a glossary of terms at the beginning of the book, it was hard to remember everything, so I had to take myself out of the story to go back and make sense of things- especially since there were a lot of made up terms that were so close to terms in real life that I confused meanings. I didn’t feel like there was always enough context to explain the information properly. On the other hand, I did also feel like there was certain information that was reiterated too much, leaving a bit less room for deductive skills with easier information to grasp and more room for questions on the confusing stuff. It definitely was a bit of an information overload at times. There would be very long sections of history and explanation that made information retention/reading retention difficult. I felt like some of the storytelling was a bit too blunt and not naturally explained in the story. It felt too plainly said, like you were pausing the story to hear an explanation and then continued on, rather than experiencing the explanation within the story. This made some of the characters feel a bit too much like plot devices, in the sense where they felt only introduced more or less to tell the reader this long winded info. I felt that way about Mother Gaia, whose appearance felt very random to just deliver information. Regardless of her connection to Junipers power, it through me off especially since she was never mentioned in the story before as a goddess who is worshiped in this specific story (I never assume any specific gods are believed in or mentioned in any works I read unless they are started to be worshipped or followed). I think Mother Gaia came off a bit too “cool” and youthful sounding, rather than wise and peaceful which at first made me question her authenticity, whether she was actually real or good. Her presence felt less like a part of the story and more like an excuse to information bomb if that makes sense. I also felt this way about Grandmava on occasion, whom I loved, but also felt like she was only there to deliver all the history as well as information that we should have intuitively caught on to as readers, and was explained at times in an inorganic way. Gordon and Boyd as well felt a bit planted at times, yet also made so much sense. I think the unknown full power and knowledge of the underground maybe left me felling this way. While I LOVED these characters themselves and what they brought to the story, it felt like we were following the prophecy through every step of their life without room for nuanced or organic relationships. Like the underground knew their every move before they did without explaination how, and made these relationships feel less authentic. I think this is why I LOVED Levi as a character. He felt like the least expected person, it was such an exciting character introduction that although I anticipated it from his introduction, it was thrilling to read and be right about. I felt like his dynamic with Juniper was so fun and real, I am so excited to read more about them (HOPEFULLYYY) in the next book! I also loved his bond with Benn, all their families being interconnected felt so special and purposeful which I really enjoyed. As much as I felt these things took me out of the story at times, I truly loved every character that was introduced and their purpose, I just wish the information was relayed a bit more organically!
All this being said, once I got around to that 50% mark, I definitely felt more invested in the storyline. I felt really drawn to the plot and characters from the beginning, which made the slow introduction so hard for me, because I KNEW I’d like it if I pushed past some of what I struggled with, and I really am glad I did! While my ARC read took longer than expected because of this, I really knew this was a story I’d love and I just had to take my time pacing with it! I thought the ending was SO good, it was full of twists and turns and that crazy whip lash feeling we all love when unexpected things start to happen at the end of books! It was such a powerful and intriguing face-off, and it left me so excited to keep going with the series! It was a cliffhanger, yet a resolved one that makes me longing for more but satisfied with what where we left off for now! As a debut novel, I think this was so impressive, filled with amazing characters, and such a powerful read! I can definitely see this series going so far, and I can’t wait to continue on! I would definitely recommend this book to any readers who love found family, dystopian magical beings, sisterly bonds, and a powerful story!
A huge thank you to T.C. Jenson for allowing me the opportunity to read an e-arc of her debut story in exchange for my honest thoughts. I am honored to have had this opportunity! You are such a kind and bright light in the community, and I am so thankful to have crossed e-paths with you to allow me an introduction into your sacred world! Such a job well done, and I look forward to book 2 so very much! 💗
June 17, 2025
I like a good, old classic prophecy about a person(s) saving the day, and this book delivered. I enjoyed the 4 main characters' personalities, their relationships with each other, dialogue, and banter made the book endearing to me. At some point, this book had me tearing up, and if a book made me feel things and some tears, that's just a solid for me.
The world-building was easy to digest, we learn about it and the magic system as the sisters navigate their environment. I like how magic works in their world; they can be all-powerful, but all are limited by the % of their power reserve. And the magical abilities? Emotion-wielding is my favorite out of all of them; it has so much potential for good and evil, and it's a double-edged sword for the user. Story-wise, if you're familiar with the "prophesied sisters/friends/lovers/people will arrive and save the day" then you know how this works. But how this was executed just felt right to me. I like how the sisters are already powerful and didn't need to go on some Naruto-esque journey to get there. I do have some questions about the plot or story, but I wouldn't really consider them plotholes and would probably be answered in the next installments.
I really enjoyed this book. I like the story, magic system, and characters. I look forward to reading more about them in Book 2!
The world-building was easy to digest, we learn about it and the magic system as the sisters navigate their environment. I like how magic works in their world; they can be all-powerful, but all are limited by the % of their power reserve. And the magical abilities? Emotion-wielding is my favorite out of all of them; it has so much potential for good and evil, and it's a double-edged sword for the user. Story-wise, if you're familiar with the "prophesied sisters/friends/lovers/people will arrive and save the day" then you know how this works. But how this was executed just felt right to me. I like how the sisters are already powerful and didn't need to go on some Naruto-esque journey to get there. I do have some questions about the plot or story, but I wouldn't really consider them plotholes and would probably be answered in the next installments.
I really enjoyed this book. I like the story, magic system, and characters. I look forward to reading more about them in Book 2!
June 13, 2025
Wow! This book was spectacular and I’m so happy I got the chance to read the eARC! 4 ⭐️
Let’s start with what I loved:
- the magic! this dystopian world and the magic was so cool to me. there were so many complex elements (time travel, elemental powers, prophecies) that TC Jenson wrote very well.
- the family - I love a found family & sisters fighting together to save the world? YEP. SOLD.
- the relationships 😍 hehe
- the ending - I liked that there was a lil cliffhanger but there was still some resolution. I’m VERY interested in reading the next one!
- the cover art? perfect!!!
- the relic character
- the glossary was a helpful addition - I found myself flipping back to the beginning in the first few chapters and then I didn’t need it after that
I will say the book being written in third person confused me a few times, but I was mostly able to figure that out. Besides that my only qualm was that the beginning was a lil slow and a lil hard to get into BUT once I started tracking the characters and the world, I was in.
I’d definitely recommend this one to any fantasy readers.
Thank you to @TC JENSON for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let’s start with what I loved:
- the magic! this dystopian world and the magic was so cool to me. there were so many complex elements (time travel, elemental powers, prophecies) that TC Jenson wrote very well.
- the family - I love a found family & sisters fighting together to save the world? YEP. SOLD.
- the relationships 😍 hehe
- the ending - I liked that there was a lil cliffhanger but there was still some resolution. I’m VERY interested in reading the next one!
- the cover art? perfect!!!
- the relic character
- the glossary was a helpful addition - I found myself flipping back to the beginning in the first few chapters and then I didn’t need it after that
I will say the book being written in third person confused me a few times, but I was mostly able to figure that out. Besides that my only qualm was that the beginning was a lil slow and a lil hard to get into BUT once I started tracking the characters and the world, I was in.
I’d definitely recommend this one to any fantasy readers.
Thank you to @TC JENSON for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 11, 2025
*ARC Review* T.C. Jenson warps us through a delightfully fast-paced story that had me FLYING through each page. The parallels of this Heri’s history and what we’re currently experiencing is painfully accurate: a mirror that requires looking into straight-on. Sisters Leola and Juniper are the heart of this story, with a beautifully crafted sibling relationship. As an eldest daughter, I quickly resonated with Leola and her struggle with always being there for everyone, yet learning that asking for help is not a show of weakness. The introduction of Benn and Levi provided the perfect counter-balance to our fierce heroines, as Benn and Levi supported them throughout their time & space-traveling journeys.
While we’re guided through the horrors of “Chattels” and labor camps, and their effects that transcend time, we’re reminded of just what the U.S.’s history has yet to reconcile with in regard to its own dark past. Prepare to be moved and motivated as you dive deep into the portals of this exceptional story. Thank you T.C. Jenson for having me as a part of your ARC Team. This is a story that lingers with you and leaves you wanting so much more.
While we’re guided through the horrors of “Chattels” and labor camps, and their effects that transcend time, we’re reminded of just what the U.S.’s history has yet to reconcile with in regard to its own dark past. Prepare to be moved and motivated as you dive deep into the portals of this exceptional story. Thank you T.C. Jenson for having me as a part of your ARC Team. This is a story that lingers with you and leaves you wanting so much more.
June 10, 2025
This book was a bit of a slow start for me. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it as the beginning was very reminiscent of slavery and KKK days. Historical Fiction/fantasy isn't usually my cup of tea (dystopian vibes came a bit later on for me), HOWEVER, the characters were very well done and I found myself drawn in by their relationships and the magic as it was introduced. TC Jenson has an excellent writing style and it kept me engaged. I had to know more and I am so glad that I stuck around!
Typically, I am not a big fan of time-travel, however, the time-travel in this book is so engrained in the story and I enjoyed it. The heart breaking moments were epic and were nicely balanced with the banter. Juniper and Liam-yes! They had me laughing. Leola and Benn had me in the feels with their budding relationship. The bad dude, I NEED to know more on his story and the founders-Prequel?!
And the ending.....TC Jenson's ending left me reeling. The pace of this book for the last quarter had me so engrossed, I didn't want it to end. Be warned, there is a cliffhanger. It could be worse people, but it's definitely there and I have questions!! Book two is in the works, I am ready to read it!
If you are looking for a unique magic system with a time traveling twist that has a lot of representation, a bit of mental health rep, adventure, rebellion, and a rollercoaster of emotions, then you definitely should be checking this book out.
Tropes:
Rebellion
Unique magic to include time travel
Slow burn
Fated mates
Fierce FMCs
Banter!
Quotes:
“Evil performs best when it is hidden in plain sight.”
"For without evil, goodness cannot shine."
“When are you going to accept that I’d do anything to help you?” His smile was soft, but his eyes remained serious. “You want me to beg; is that it?”
Thank you TC Jenson for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.
Typically, I am not a big fan of time-travel, however, the time-travel in this book is so engrained in the story and I enjoyed it. The heart breaking moments were epic and were nicely balanced with the banter. Juniper and Liam-yes! They had me laughing. Leola and Benn had me in the feels with their budding relationship. The bad dude, I NEED to know more on his story and the founders-Prequel?!
And the ending.....TC Jenson's ending left me reeling. The pace of this book for the last quarter had me so engrossed, I didn't want it to end. Be warned, there is a cliffhanger. It could be worse people, but it's definitely there and I have questions!! Book two is in the works, I am ready to read it!
If you are looking for a unique magic system with a time traveling twist that has a lot of representation, a bit of mental health rep, adventure, rebellion, and a rollercoaster of emotions, then you definitely should be checking this book out.
Tropes:
Rebellion
Unique magic to include time travel
Slow burn
Fated mates
Fierce FMCs
Banter!
Quotes:
“Evil performs best when it is hidden in plain sight.”
"For without evil, goodness cannot shine."
“When are you going to accept that I’d do anything to help you?” His smile was soft, but his eyes remained serious. “You want me to beg; is that it?”
Thank you TC Jenson for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.
July 24, 2025
I loved this book! In a dystopian fantasy series, it is important to develop the characters. In book one of this series, the author did a really good job developing the main characters. I even felt the bond between the sisters. I enjoyed the supporting characters that the author introduced in the story - it was easy to dislike the villain because of the details provided . I also enjoyed how the author developed the relationships with historical events. The author detailed the surroundings so that as I was reading, I felt like I was part of the world. It is very intense at the end. TC Jenson captures relationships, history, and time travel in the first novel. BRAVO!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
A huge thanks to TC Jenson for my ARC copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
Wow! This is a great start to a new fantasy series. The start was honestly a bit slow for me but once our main cast got acquainted and finally got the ball rolling on their journey, I was hooked! The subject matter can be a bit tough as it deals with an oppressive regime government and slavery so check trigger warnings and be mindful.
That aside, one thing I particularly loved was the variety of settings where this story takes place! Without giving too much away, I’ll say it was effective without being overly complicated.
Small complaint about the main romance between Benn and Leola. Lots of cute interactions and the chemistry… kind of came across for me, but only kind of. It felt a bit ‘instant love’ without as strong of a basis as I’d like. There’s an explanation for their instant draw to one another in the book I didn’t completely buy it.
Overall engaging story, lovable characters with great dynamics, and some well thought out world building. I’m excited for the next installment!
Wow! This is a great start to a new fantasy series. The start was honestly a bit slow for me but once our main cast got acquainted and finally got the ball rolling on their journey, I was hooked! The subject matter can be a bit tough as it deals with an oppressive regime government and slavery so check trigger warnings and be mindful.
That aside, one thing I particularly loved was the variety of settings where this story takes place! Without giving too much away, I’ll say it was effective without being overly complicated.
Small complaint about the main romance between Benn and Leola. Lots of cute interactions and the chemistry… kind of came across for me, but only kind of. It felt a bit ‘instant love’ without as strong of a basis as I’d like. There’s an explanation for their instant draw to one another in the book I didn’t completely buy it.
Overall engaging story, lovable characters with great dynamics, and some well thought out world building. I’m excited for the next installment!
June 11, 2025
What can I say except WOW!! This book 1000% blew me away. TC Jenson beautifully blends conflict, romance, friendship and bonds of sisterhood into an action-packed fantasy, full of twists and turns that kept me audibly gasping and frantically flipping pages.
There are so many parallels to real history and what’s going on in the world today and I was so impressed by the beautiful and thoughtful way the author handled some of the heavier aspects of the storyline. It was easy to connect with the characters and become completely and wholly immersed in the world TC Jenson built.
I loved the changing third-person POV, the magic system was new and refreshing (obsessed with Benn’s powers), the character banter was 10/10, the huge twist at the end, it was all just SO GOOD!!! This was my first time getting an ARC copy and this book is going to be tough to top. Thank you so much for this literary gift, I seriously can’t wait for the next one!!
There are so many parallels to real history and what’s going on in the world today and I was so impressed by the beautiful and thoughtful way the author handled some of the heavier aspects of the storyline. It was easy to connect with the characters and become completely and wholly immersed in the world TC Jenson built.
I loved the changing third-person POV, the magic system was new and refreshing (obsessed with Benn’s powers), the character banter was 10/10, the huge twist at the end, it was all just SO GOOD!!! This was my first time getting an ARC copy and this book is going to be tough to top. Thank you so much for this literary gift, I seriously can’t wait for the next one!!
June 12, 2025
I received this book as a free ARC and I loved it so much I will be buying a physical copy. I need Book 2 expeditiously!!! The book immediately drew me in from the first chapter. Being an older sister, Leola and Juniper's bond resonated with me. Throughout their journey you see how their bond literally is tested and strengthened through time. Through Benn you see how the story uses fantasy to tackle themes of oppression, power, identity, and resistance. If you like books that have a dystopian feel like the Hunger Games but with magic look no further! This is the one for you
June 10, 2025
Echoes of Hollow and Ember explores themes of class divides, power struggles, secrets, and magic in a novel and creative way. The Runes sisters are compelling characters with depth and flaws that you can grow with on their own journeys to discovering their true potential.
The only reason I didn't give this one a 5 star is that there were a couple of points in the book that felt a little bit stalled to me, and I had to put it down and pick it back up a few times. The story and characters are beautiful, however, and 100 percent worth the read!
Thank you, TC, for allowing me early access to your beautiful and brutal world as an ARC reader. I look forward to many more of your stories!
The only reason I didn't give this one a 5 star is that there were a couple of points in the book that felt a little bit stalled to me, and I had to put it down and pick it back up a few times. The story and characters are beautiful, however, and 100 percent worth the read!
Thank you, TC, for allowing me early access to your beautiful and brutal world as an ARC reader. I look forward to many more of your stories!
June 16, 2025
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐.75 / 5
Spice: 0.5🌶️ / 5
First and foremost, I loved this book. There’s something important about this story. Its parallels to what we’re living through today were at times difficult to read–it was less of an escape and more a confrontation of very real issues. Even though it’s wrapped in a paranormal / fantasy adventure with magic and demons, it’s startlingly real.
Leola and Juniper, our leading sisters, shine in their own ways. I appreciated their differences–Juniper bright and bubbly to Leo’s strong and stoic–and their unwavering loyalty to each other and to the cause they become embroiled in. It was also refreshing to see a lead tackle anxiety and mental health difficulties head on in a supported way; characters surrounding Leo were there for her when and how she needed them, without pomp or circumstance.
Both sisters are easy to love and root for. Their bond is believable and the way they tackle challenges is strong, compassionate, and remarkably human (though also plagued with the blunders of immaturity given their young ages). The characters who surround and love them, from their family to the friends they find along the way, are rich and intriguing in their own right. I imagine we’ll learn more about them in future books and I so look forward to the exploration.
The romance that unfolds is a long, slow burn. It’s sweet and oh so satisfying (they both deserve every happiness), though it definitely takes a back seat to the world-saving plot.
This has all the potential to be a five star series, particularly since this epic is Jenson’s debut. For me, there were a few areas I stumbled. The third person POV felt limiting and at times a bit confusing, and a lot of the world building happened in big blocks of text or dialogue that felt overwhelming. The moments when things were moving quickly and thoughts/info were shared in brief paragraphs between activities were brilliant and kept me highly engaged.
There’s an incredible, worthy story here and I’m eager for more of it to unfold! Highly recommended for fans of Suzanne Collins, the dystopian worldbuilding of Stacey Marie Brown, and epic high fantasy adventures.
📚Fast facts📚
✨ High stakes dystopian world
✨ Time travel
✨ Chosen ones
✨ Found family
✨ Mental health rep
✨ High banter, slow burn
✨ BIPOC leads (and author!)
✨ Closed door
✨ PNR/fantasy new adult (borderline YA) w/ MF romance subplot
✨ First in a series
✨ Third person limited, multi-POV, past tense
I am so grateful to the author to have received an advanced copy of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.
Spice: 0.5🌶️ / 5
First and foremost, I loved this book. There’s something important about this story. Its parallels to what we’re living through today were at times difficult to read–it was less of an escape and more a confrontation of very real issues. Even though it’s wrapped in a paranormal / fantasy adventure with magic and demons, it’s startlingly real.
Leola and Juniper, our leading sisters, shine in their own ways. I appreciated their differences–Juniper bright and bubbly to Leo’s strong and stoic–and their unwavering loyalty to each other and to the cause they become embroiled in. It was also refreshing to see a lead tackle anxiety and mental health difficulties head on in a supported way; characters surrounding Leo were there for her when and how she needed them, without pomp or circumstance.
Both sisters are easy to love and root for. Their bond is believable and the way they tackle challenges is strong, compassionate, and remarkably human (though also plagued with the blunders of immaturity given their young ages). The characters who surround and love them, from their family to the friends they find along the way, are rich and intriguing in their own right. I imagine we’ll learn more about them in future books and I so look forward to the exploration.
The romance that unfolds is a long, slow burn. It’s sweet and oh so satisfying (they both deserve every happiness), though it definitely takes a back seat to the world-saving plot.
This has all the potential to be a five star series, particularly since this epic is Jenson’s debut. For me, there were a few areas I stumbled. The third person POV felt limiting and at times a bit confusing, and a lot of the world building happened in big blocks of text or dialogue that felt overwhelming. The moments when things were moving quickly and thoughts/info were shared in brief paragraphs between activities were brilliant and kept me highly engaged.
There’s an incredible, worthy story here and I’m eager for more of it to unfold! Highly recommended for fans of Suzanne Collins, the dystopian worldbuilding of Stacey Marie Brown, and epic high fantasy adventures.
📚Fast facts📚
✨ High stakes dystopian world
✨ Time travel
✨ Chosen ones
✨ Found family
✨ Mental health rep
✨ High banter, slow burn
✨ BIPOC leads (and author!)
✨ Closed door
✨ PNR/fantasy new adult (borderline YA) w/ MF romance subplot
✨ First in a series
✨ Third person limited, multi-POV, past tense
I am so grateful to the author to have received an advanced copy of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.
June 10, 2025
Leona and Juniper had lived as mundaners their whole lifes, so when they get attacked by a strange man and suddenly appear in the past, they don't know what to do. Their whole reality was a lie, and they are supposed to trust a boy they know nothing about.
I am so glad that dystopian books are coming back! In a social context like ours, genres and books like this one help us to remember the importance of protecting our rights and freedoms. This social background and a really good world building were something I really appreciate in this novel.
If we speak about the characters, the girls were sassy with strong personalities, and although I wasn't convinced with the boys at the beginning, they did grow on me. I'm waiting for maybe a new couple in the future? 🫣
To say something that didn't convince me (not everything is perfect in this world), I got the sense that the same information was sometimes reiterated too much, usually about feelings or new intel being deducted. This could perfectly be a choice of style by the author, but I am more of a intuitive reader (I like when things are left for the reader to interpret and understand without an extensive and deep explanation) so I would have prefer to keep some room for deduction.
Let's also remark this is the first book from Jenson, and she did, in my opinion, an impressive work, and I can see her developing into an incredible author in a near future 🫶🏼
Finally, I want to thank T. C. Jenson, who has trusted me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. I really appreciate your trust 🥺
I am so glad that dystopian books are coming back! In a social context like ours, genres and books like this one help us to remember the importance of protecting our rights and freedoms. This social background and a really good world building were something I really appreciate in this novel.
If we speak about the characters, the girls were sassy with strong personalities, and although I wasn't convinced with the boys at the beginning, they did grow on me. I'm waiting for maybe a new couple in the future? 🫣
To say something that didn't convince me (not everything is perfect in this world), I got the sense that the same information was sometimes reiterated too much, usually about feelings or new intel being deducted. This could perfectly be a choice of style by the author, but I am more of a intuitive reader (I like when things are left for the reader to interpret and understand without an extensive and deep explanation) so I would have prefer to keep some room for deduction.
Let's also remark this is the first book from Jenson, and she did, in my opinion, an impressive work, and I can see her developing into an incredible author in a near future 🫶🏼
Finally, I want to thank T. C. Jenson, who has trusted me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. I really appreciate your trust 🥺
May 12, 2025
TC Jenson's debut novel Echoes of Hollow and Ember is set against a fantasy dystopian world influenced by the echoes of history with aspects of Harry Potter and Avatar the Last Airbender as well. From the beginning, readers get warped to another world that they can relate to, and can't help but root for our characters to succeed. One can connect with this story and its characters because it is about something fundamental: the human condition. The characters were well written in a way that makes you want to hang out with them in real life. The banter between characters is reminiscent of my own with my own friends and family members. What struck me while reading was not only the imagery of Jenson's words, but the mental, emotional, and psychological aspects of our main characters. The characters are struggling and living in an unjust world while suddenly being thrust in a new one in the midst of war. The battle between good versus evil is determined by a prophecy waiting to be fulfilled. The weight of the world lies on their shoulders, and their cognitive dissonance is relatable. “After today, when we survive, we can think of forever.” While I won’t give any context to what this quote refers to, I find that they’re words to live by. Like the characters in our story, everyday we struggle, but having hope for a better outcome is what makes it possible to keep moving forward. I can't wait to see what is next for the Runes sisters and join them on their epic quest for a better world.
May 25, 2025
My mind is still reeling. Let me start by saying this arc was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for having me!
The characters in this book take you on their journey and grip you from the start. The epilogue made me drewl. The rest of the first act is packed with action- travelling back to 1855- but felt like the author and characters were trying to find their way through this novel. Genius or debut writer? The characters are thrown into this magical adventure, so it hits the right vibe. After that, this book takes you on a ride with a layered magic system that sometimes feels as conveniently adaptable, but you get monsters, gore and romance (closed door, this novel is teenage proof imo!).
Junebug brings the sas, Leola broods and omg the boys bring the best green flag sweetness: I am here for General Wyndmere. All these have their own POVs and I liked the change between the different characters.
As I am fond of dystopian worlds and epic world building, it didn't hit the 5 starts, but I had a really really good time with this book. Can't wait to read the next and would recommend you starting this series (Yes, there is more!!).
Great read. 🫶
The characters in this book take you on their journey and grip you from the start. The epilogue made me drewl. The rest of the first act is packed with action- travelling back to 1855- but felt like the author and characters were trying to find their way through this novel. Genius or debut writer? The characters are thrown into this magical adventure, so it hits the right vibe. After that, this book takes you on a ride with a layered magic system that sometimes feels as conveniently adaptable, but you get monsters, gore and romance (closed door, this novel is teenage proof imo!).
Junebug brings the sas, Leola broods and omg the boys bring the best green flag sweetness: I am here for General Wyndmere. All these have their own POVs and I liked the change between the different characters.
As I am fond of dystopian worlds and epic world building, it didn't hit the 5 starts, but I had a really really good time with this book. Can't wait to read the next and would recommend you starting this series (Yes, there is more!!).
Great read. 🫶
June 14, 2025
What a debut!! Thank you so much to TC Jensen for an advanced copy. I can’t wait for book 2!
This fantasy delivered so much for me. I genuinely enjoyed her writing style, there’s multiple POV, multiple places in time and space, & I really enjoyed her magic system with elemental and time magic. And she has a unique creation origin. The world building was intricate, and admittedly a bit heavy in subject matter in the beginning. You can tell she really put a lot of thought into creating this world. It was one I wanted to take my time looking for the small details that would be important for later.
The MMC is swoon-worthy and such a gentleman, but the FMCs are where the real story is. These sisters find out that the fate of the modern world relies on them and they step up to the task, no questions asked. If you like strong female characters, these two are for the win. Their sisterhood and personal strength are truly empowering and I loved them both right away. They’re opposites in the most complimentary and world-changing way.
Jensen’s character banter is 😘🤌🏻 *chef’s kiss*. I can’t even tell you which relationships in the book were my favorite because I genuinely loved them all. Her interactions and relationship development was really well done!
🌶️: low spice/fades to black in final chapter.
🤬: in world slurs, infrequent use of explicit language.
C/TW: slavery (graphic imagery), discrimination, mistreatment of people, anxiety, sexual assault (implied), violence, blood, gore, death, imprisonment
This fantasy delivered so much for me. I genuinely enjoyed her writing style, there’s multiple POV, multiple places in time and space, & I really enjoyed her magic system with elemental and time magic. And she has a unique creation origin. The world building was intricate, and admittedly a bit heavy in subject matter in the beginning. You can tell she really put a lot of thought into creating this world. It was one I wanted to take my time looking for the small details that would be important for later.
The MMC is swoon-worthy and such a gentleman, but the FMCs are where the real story is. These sisters find out that the fate of the modern world relies on them and they step up to the task, no questions asked. If you like strong female characters, these two are for the win. Their sisterhood and personal strength are truly empowering and I loved them both right away. They’re opposites in the most complimentary and world-changing way.
Jensen’s character banter is 😘🤌🏻 *chef’s kiss*. I can’t even tell you which relationships in the book were my favorite because I genuinely loved them all. Her interactions and relationship development was really well done!
🌶️: low spice/fades to black in final chapter.
🤬: in world slurs, infrequent use of explicit language.
C/TW: slavery (graphic imagery), discrimination, mistreatment of people, anxiety, sexual assault (implied), violence, blood, gore, death, imprisonment
May 28, 2025
I am absolutely loving these 5⭐️ fantasy ARCs!
This one was simply brilliant. I loved literally everything about it.
The setting, plot, characters, world building, magic system.. all of it was beautifully written and thought out. There was some PG romance! At times it seemed a bit rushed but also not. There was a fated mates aspect, so it seemed natural & believable. And honestly, I LOVE the mates dynamic! I’m not naming names though to not spoil anything!
I loved learning the scope of power/magic in this story. The main circle of characters were badass and had some of the best powers I have ever read. The Runes sisters.. I don’t know where to start and end with them. I adored them wholeheartedly. Their iron clad bond and the “us against the world” vibe really latched me onto them.
There was some “oh shit” and “NOOO” moments towards the end that made me hell bent on finishing the book. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read this early because I will think about this book & it’s characters for a very long time! At least until book two comes out in early 2026!🤗
This one was simply brilliant. I loved literally everything about it.
The setting, plot, characters, world building, magic system.. all of it was beautifully written and thought out. There was some PG romance! At times it seemed a bit rushed but also not. There was a fated mates aspect, so it seemed natural & believable. And honestly, I LOVE the mates dynamic! I’m not naming names though to not spoil anything!
I loved learning the scope of power/magic in this story. The main circle of characters were badass and had some of the best powers I have ever read. The Runes sisters.. I don’t know where to start and end with them. I adored them wholeheartedly. Their iron clad bond and the “us against the world” vibe really latched me onto them.
There was some “oh shit” and “NOOO” moments towards the end that made me hell bent on finishing the book. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read this early because I will think about this book & it’s characters for a very long time! At least until book two comes out in early 2026!🤗
June 4, 2025
What’s not to like? Strong young women of color leading the story, young charming men who help them but don’t silence them, hair rep(!!), a rebellion and a dystopian world, specific power classifications?
Fun for sure.
I think,for me, the thing about this book that was a little jarring was how unique some aspects of the story feel and then the juxtaposition of those pieces with a very ham-fisted allegory of America’s insidious history regarding enslavement and civil rights. I think that using years that line up with our own historical timeline (1855-antebellum south/slavery, 1965-civil rights movement, the bad guys being an anagram of GESTAPO) kept pulling me out of the world that Jensen was crafting. When I got beyond the little things, I really enjoyed the story. The characters are charming and you get sucked in quickly after the exposition. I tore through the last two thirds, so maybe it was just a world-building thing for me. I loved the dystopian world that Jensen built, it was just jarring to have it pulled from a fantasy world to our real life history so blatantly. I totally see what she is doing though and I can’t wait to read more of Jensen’s writing and see how she grows!! I’ll def read her next one in 2026!!
Fun for sure.
I think,for me, the thing about this book that was a little jarring was how unique some aspects of the story feel and then the juxtaposition of those pieces with a very ham-fisted allegory of America’s insidious history regarding enslavement and civil rights. I think that using years that line up with our own historical timeline (1855-antebellum south/slavery, 1965-civil rights movement, the bad guys being an anagram of GESTAPO) kept pulling me out of the world that Jensen was crafting. When I got beyond the little things, I really enjoyed the story. The characters are charming and you get sucked in quickly after the exposition. I tore through the last two thirds, so maybe it was just a world-building thing for me. I loved the dystopian world that Jensen built, it was just jarring to have it pulled from a fantasy world to our real life history so blatantly. I totally see what she is doing though and I can’t wait to read more of Jensen’s writing and see how she grows!! I’ll def read her next one in 2026!!
June 16, 2025
I went into this expecting a decent fantasy debut, but TC Jenson absolutely blew me away. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked and found myself staying up way too late because I HAD to know what happened next.
The sister dynamic between Leola and Juniper is everything—authentic, complex, and beautifully written. You can feel the genuine love and bond between them, which makes every danger they face feel that much more intense. And can we talk about Bennjamin? His perspective adds such fascinating layers to the story, and watching his character unfold was incredible.
The plot twists! Just when I thought I had things figured out, TC Jenson would pull the rug out from under me in the best possible way. There are several moments that had me audibly gasping, and one particular scene involving Leo later in the book left me completely shaken... I was NOT prepared.
What really impressed me was how grounded this felt despite all the magic and fantasy elements. The dialogue flows so naturally, and the characters react like real people would in impossible situations. The romance between Leola and Benn develops beautifully without overshadowing the main plot.
Perfect for anyone who loves fantasy with heart, complex family relationships, and romance that makes you actually care about the characters. I'm already dying for the next book in The Scorched Divide series!
Thank you to TC Jenson for the ARC—all opinions are my own and I'm so glad I got to experience this early!
The sister dynamic between Leola and Juniper is everything—authentic, complex, and beautifully written. You can feel the genuine love and bond between them, which makes every danger they face feel that much more intense. And can we talk about Bennjamin? His perspective adds such fascinating layers to the story, and watching his character unfold was incredible.
The plot twists! Just when I thought I had things figured out, TC Jenson would pull the rug out from under me in the best possible way. There are several moments that had me audibly gasping, and one particular scene involving Leo later in the book left me completely shaken... I was NOT prepared.
What really impressed me was how grounded this felt despite all the magic and fantasy elements. The dialogue flows so naturally, and the characters react like real people would in impossible situations. The romance between Leola and Benn develops beautifully without overshadowing the main plot.
Perfect for anyone who loves fantasy with heart, complex family relationships, and romance that makes you actually care about the characters. I'm already dying for the next book in The Scorched Divide series!
Thank you to TC Jenson for the ARC—all opinions are my own and I'm so glad I got to experience this early!
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