What do you think?
Rate this book
A Flame Forged in Mist
"I'll avenge my little brother, no matter the cost."
For ten years, Ever Tillman has yearned for revenge. When the Mystics announce a rare tournament that will grant ten mortals the gift of magic, she seizes the opportunity to grow stronger. The trials bring her goal within sight, and she'll stop at nothing to reach it.
But Parodyn is full of dark secrets, and the prize of magic comes with a far greater cost than Ever imagined. The victors of the tournament will become part of an elite group called the Ten, tasked with defending the North by travelling deep into enemy territory.
Warrior. Major. Prince.
Calyx Heartsworn wears many masks to hide his darker side. As the king's son, he's bound by duty to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success, and Calyx can't lose sight of his duty, yet Ever Tillman is the one distraction he can't ignore.
Drawn to her fiery determination and the shadows lurking beyond those enthralling eyes, Calyx finds himself torn between duty and desire, and his masks begin to slip. He'd sacrifice everything to protect her... even if it means turning his back on the land he's sworn to defend.
For ten years, Ever Tillman has yearned for revenge. When the Mystics announce a rare tournament that will grant ten mortals the gift of magic, she seizes the opportunity to grow stronger. The trials bring her goal within sight, and she'll stop at nothing to reach it.
But Parodyn is full of dark secrets, and the prize of magic comes with a far greater cost than Ever imagined. The victors of the tournament will become part of an elite group called the Ten, tasked with defending the North by travelling deep into enemy territory.
Warrior. Major. Prince.
Calyx Heartsworn wears many masks to hide his darker side. As the king's son, he's bound by duty to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success, and Calyx can't lose sight of his duty, yet Ever Tillman is the one distraction he can't ignore.
Drawn to her fiery determination and the shadows lurking beyond those enthralling eyes, Calyx finds himself torn between duty and desire, and his masks begin to slip. He'd sacrifice everything to protect her... even if it means turning his back on the land he's sworn to defend.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2025
12 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Samara Saward
16 books51 followersSamara is a fantasy author from Melbourne, Australia, where she lives with her three kids, partner, and an English staffy named Boots. While she loves Melbourne, she grew up surrounded by a large family in north-west Tasmania, and misses the quiet life. When she's not writing, you'll find her reading, drinking coffee, camping, or playing Monopoly with her kids.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
February 22, 2025
3'5★ Soooo many thoughts with this one.
First of all, the cover is STUNNING. Second of all, this might have some bumps and things I think need some polishing and better development, but the overall plot is super interesting! And I'm actually not talking about the mc and her desire for vengeance (that had quite the little prominence beyond being mentioned like, three or four times, honestly), no, I'm talking about the conflicts and incoming war(I believe?) between the North and South... Nations? Countries?
I was thinking of rating this 3 stars and being specific in the review, but I feel like being a mother, having a job AND pursuing your passion for writing must be hard enough lol.
• one (1) semi-moraly gray character (at the moment)
• summer camp trials (only 2/7 of them being actually lethal boo)
• Semi trial/academic (but there's no training whatsoever) scenery
• Mortals and Mystics (magic people with their own drama)
• Semi-dual pov?? Maybe?? (there's like, 6 (SIX) episodes from his pov in the 46 of them total, and only one of them has original content, the rest is a semi recycled scene from the previous chp in her pov )
• medieval vibes. (but medieval times? Kinda I guess, more like mid-fantasy times, with original fantasy/culture inflection AND greek inspired culture?? (At least mythologically speaking)
• 0'5% love
• forbidden love? Future "frown-upon" love?
• detailed magic categorization (semi-detailed magic system)
• secret identity (unknown (later known) birth origin and identity)
• fun magic! (Telepathic conversations | Shapeshifting (little to no protagonist boo x2)
• TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of past sexual assault
✷Because yes folks, this in theory sounds super good but I found it leaking on intensity and/or focus on supposed plot points in several aspects. It's like a very very VERY deluded version of an adult high fantasy story. Yes, the mc is a 25yo but this actually feels like a YA in every aspect (and there's nothing wrong with that).
SO, I'm a little mad with the synopsis. Because the synopsis is more intense than anything that happens in the book. It's like the typical romantasy synopsis but then the book is almost nothing alike, and I HATE when the synopsis lies. So I tweaked it a bit.
This is how it should have been:
[For ten years, Ever Tillman has yearned for revenge for the death of his little brother.
When the Mystics announce a rare tournament that will grant ten mortals the gift of magic, she seizes the opportunity to grow stronger. The trials bring her goal within sight, and she'll stop at nothing to reach it.
But the prize of magic comes with a far greater cost than Ever imagined and the victors of the tournament will become part of an elite group tasked with defending the North.
—
Warrior. Prince. Major.
Calyx Heartsworn wears many masks. As the king's son he's bound by duty to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success, and Calyx can't lose sight of his duty, yet Ever Tillman is the one distraction he can't ignore.]
AND THE REST WASN'T NEEDED. Maybe further along the book series the story will resemble more the original synopsis but NOT NOW, definitely not going by what happens in the first book.
✷ the narrative was pretty good, I actually enjoyed reading something with a mid-high bar, even if the living situation of the protagonist doesn't perfectly align with that knowledge or level of expressiveness
✷ the pace was quick and dynamic, there's always something happening or the mc is thinking about something or any of the other characters is doing something, and that's nice
✷ the relationship I enjoyed most is actually between the mc and the friend (ward) of the prince, the telepathic one that had a couple of chats with our mc in her head. He's funny.
✷ I'm interested in the general plot and in knowing more about the conflict between nations. And I'm actually happy the romance didn't have more focus, it wouldn't have worked any better if it had, honestly, and it just gives it more room to develop in the incoming books.
✷In general I liked it. The end left me wanting to know more. It was very much a YA for me, as I said. I like it more thinking about it as a YA, but the case is I don't think the author intended for this to be one? BUT it works best that way (FOR ME), so I'm rating it as such and viewing the construction and plot from that view.
[You do you author, this plot is actually super promising, I'll just read whatever comes next with my YA glasses to better enjoy it. Go queen.]
• and thank you so much to the author for providing a digital arc and for the opportunity of an advanced read in exchange for an honest review
NOW buckle up, this is where I might talk and throw around spoilers, you've been warned.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
SPOILERS BELOW
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
My main issues were two,
I think.
✷One being the confusion in the whole map.
SO, there's the North Nation, the South nation, and... A middle nation where the humans reside freely?? But... the humans are inside the north nation, and there's a gigantic wall no one can see past, so no human knows there's an evil south nation. So... the humans live inside a territory in their own nation (Monerast)... but FOR the north king??? Or I guess not, maybe in a nobody territory, because they know nothing of the north nation neither, they don't let them know much. And the humans have town mayors who apply public punishments, and I guess the north nation has no power over these people because they don't do public slashing and punishment themselves, that's too evil for them. But at the same time there's no mention of any human king and queen or court??? and there's no wall or crossing point between the north and the humans, because north mystics go around towns freely making the announcement of a recruitment for a trial in the north and nobody stop them. AND ACTUALLY, the mystics (from north I assume, because the magic powers can only be given by the north nation) go around assaulting the humans and instauring oppressive laws and everybody hates them. IN FACT, there are Hags, Mystics banished to the mortal realm, that are essentially vampires (a story for another day). And then again, there's no mentioning of any human king to rule over them, but the north nation itself doesn't rule either over the humans because they have different laws, soooo..... Yeah. Oh and living 5 HOURS or DAYS to the nearest town is kinda crazy for a freelance territory hshhs.
✷The other issue I had was the incongruences.
There's just a good amount of instances where there's something being said that later doesn't happen, or contradictory stances, chats, or just an overall confusion because of scenes where it seems the mc or other characters have a better understanding of things opposed to what they're supposed to know in the context of the scene.
And I'm adding here some scenes or actions that didn't have much sense or seemed logical to me.
✷ I lied, I remember what more I wanted to write about.
The trials.
They were supposed to be DEADLY trials but overall they're just summer camp kind of trials??? I know they talked about doing the less difficult first but cmon. TALKING with the superiors and confessing a secret is a trial? Showing MERCY is a trial? (and don't get me started on that scene where snatching a poor(double meaning) woman's child from her arms while she screams and cries is to show MERCY, like wth) [in general the trials are... Okay (*whispers* for a YA book)]
The later trails are more fatal, but just because of failure on gambling tests and trials subjects to chance, randomness and being lucky. Like how winning a board game based in roll dice shows anything about you? And why's failing that result in the death of ANOTHER person?? How's that even- anyway.
In general it just feels like (and it is basically) this is a pre-book, with the excuse of having trials to select 10 people, for the actual training that'll take place in the second book.
—
• thank you so much to the author for providing a digital arc and the opportunity of an advanced read in exchange for an honest review
First of all, the cover is STUNNING. Second of all, this might have some bumps and things I think need some polishing and better development, but the overall plot is super interesting! And I'm actually not talking about the mc and her desire for vengeance (that had quite the little prominence beyond being mentioned like, three or four times, honestly), no, I'm talking about the conflicts and incoming war(I believe?) between the North and South... Nations? Countries?
I was thinking of rating this 3 stars and being specific in the review, but I feel like being a mother, having a job AND pursuing your passion for writing must be hard enough lol.
• one (1) semi-moraly gray character (at the moment)
• summer camp trials (only 2/7 of them being actually lethal boo)
• Semi trial/academic (but there's no training whatsoever) scenery
• Mortals and Mystics (magic people with their own drama)
• Semi-dual pov?? Maybe?? (there's like, 6 (SIX) episodes from his pov in the 46 of them total, and only one of them has original content, the rest is a semi recycled scene from the previous chp in her pov )
• medieval vibes. (but medieval times? Kinda I guess, more like mid-fantasy times, with original fantasy/culture inflection AND greek inspired culture?? (At least mythologically speaking)
• 0'5% love
• forbidden love? Future "frown-upon" love?
• detailed magic categorization (semi-detailed magic system)
• secret identity (unknown (later known) birth origin and identity)
• fun magic! (Telepathic conversations | Shapeshifting (little to no protagonist boo x2)
• TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of past sexual assault
✷Because yes folks, this in theory sounds super good but I found it leaking on intensity and/or focus on supposed plot points in several aspects. It's like a very very VERY deluded version of an adult high fantasy story. Yes, the mc is a 25yo but this actually feels like a YA in every aspect (and there's nothing wrong with that).
SO, I'm a little mad with the synopsis. Because the synopsis is more intense than anything that happens in the book. It's like the typical romantasy synopsis but then the book is almost nothing alike, and I HATE when the synopsis lies. So I tweaked it a bit.
This is how it should have been:
[For ten years, Ever Tillman has yearned for revenge for the death of his little brother.
When the Mystics announce a rare tournament that will grant ten mortals the gift of magic, she seizes the opportunity to grow stronger. The trials bring her goal within sight, and she'll stop at nothing to reach it.
But the prize of magic comes with a far greater cost than Ever imagined and the victors of the tournament will become part of an elite group tasked with defending the North.
—
Warrior. Prince. Major.
Calyx Heartsworn wears many masks. As the king's son he's bound by duty to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success, and Calyx can't lose sight of his duty, yet Ever Tillman is the one distraction he can't ignore.]
AND THE REST WASN'T NEEDED. Maybe further along the book series the story will resemble more the original synopsis but NOT NOW, definitely not going by what happens in the first book.
✷ the narrative was pretty good, I actually enjoyed reading something with a mid-high bar, even if the living situation of the protagonist doesn't perfectly align with that knowledge or level of expressiveness
✷ the pace was quick and dynamic, there's always something happening or the mc is thinking about something or any of the other characters is doing something, and that's nice
✷ the relationship I enjoyed most is actually between the mc and the friend (ward) of the prince, the telepathic one that had a couple of chats with our mc in her head. He's funny.
✷ I'm interested in the general plot and in knowing more about the conflict between nations. And I'm actually happy the romance didn't have more focus, it wouldn't have worked any better if it had, honestly, and it just gives it more room to develop in the incoming books.
✷In general I liked it. The end left me wanting to know more. It was very much a YA for me, as I said. I like it more thinking about it as a YA, but the case is I don't think the author intended for this to be one? BUT it works best that way (FOR ME), so I'm rating it as such and viewing the construction and plot from that view.
[You do you author, this plot is actually super promising, I'll just read whatever comes next with my YA glasses to better enjoy it. Go queen.]
• and thank you so much to the author for providing a digital arc and for the opportunity of an advanced read in exchange for an honest review
NOW buckle up, this is where I might talk and throw around spoilers, you've been warned.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
SPOILERS BELOW
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
My main issues were two,
I think.
✷One being the confusion in the whole map.
SO, there's the North Nation, the South nation, and... A middle nation where the humans reside freely?? But... the humans are inside the north nation, and there's a gigantic wall no one can see past, so no human knows there's an evil south nation. So... the humans live inside a territory in their own nation (Monerast)... but FOR the north king??? Or I guess not, maybe in a nobody territory, because they know nothing of the north nation neither, they don't let them know much. And the humans have town mayors who apply public punishments, and I guess the north nation has no power over these people because they don't do public slashing and punishment themselves, that's too evil for them. But at the same time there's no mention of any human king and queen or court??? and there's no wall or crossing point between the north and the humans, because north mystics go around towns freely making the announcement of a recruitment for a trial in the north and nobody stop them. AND ACTUALLY, the mystics (from north I assume, because the magic powers can only be given by the north nation) go around assaulting the humans and instauring oppressive laws and everybody hates them. IN FACT, there are Hags, Mystics banished to the mortal realm, that are essentially vampires (a story for another day). And then again, there's no mentioning of any human king to rule over them, but the north nation itself doesn't rule either over the humans because they have different laws, soooo..... Yeah. Oh and living 5 HOURS or DAYS to the nearest town is kinda crazy for a freelance territory hshhs.
✷The other issue I had was the incongruences.
There's just a good amount of instances where there's something being said that later doesn't happen, or contradictory stances, chats, or just an overall confusion because of scenes where it seems the mc or other characters have a better understanding of things opposed to what they're supposed to know in the context of the scene.
And I'm adding here some scenes or actions that didn't have much sense or seemed logical to me.
✷ I lied, I remember what more I wanted to write about.
The trials.
They were supposed to be DEADLY trials but overall they're just summer camp kind of trials??? I know they talked about doing the less difficult first but cmon. TALKING with the superiors and confessing a secret is a trial? Showing MERCY is a trial? (and don't get me started on that scene where snatching a poor(double meaning) woman's child from her arms while she screams and cries is to show MERCY, like wth) [in general the trials are... Okay (*whispers* for a YA book)]
The later trails are more fatal, but just because of failure on gambling tests and trials subjects to chance, randomness and being lucky. Like how winning a board game based in roll dice shows anything about you? And why's failing that result in the death of ANOTHER person?? How's that even- anyway.
In general it just feels like (and it is basically) this is a pre-book, with the excuse of having trials to select 10 people, for the actual training that'll take place in the second book.
—
• thank you so much to the author for providing a digital arc and the opportunity of an advanced read in exchange for an honest review
February 21, 2025
ARC review
4.5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this, the magic system is great and the world building is perfect giving enough detail to not be overwhelming or confusing.
The characters are enjoyable and for those who love a real slow burn they will be happy.
The story ends at the perfect point, knowing there's more to come and more that can come without pushing the story on too much and no gut wrenching cliffhanger (a perfect balance to pause at).
4.5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this, the magic system is great and the world building is perfect giving enough detail to not be overwhelming or confusing.
The characters are enjoyable and for those who love a real slow burn they will be happy.
The story ends at the perfect point, knowing there's more to come and more that can come without pushing the story on too much and no gut wrenching cliffhanger (a perfect balance to pause at).
May 17, 2025
Okay, so... hear me out xD Even as an infamous Romantasy Hater in my friend group, I did have fun with this one.
Now the plot and the characters aren't anything groundbreaking or original, and they are a little flat and silly at times, but they do have a good amount of depth at some of the more emotional moments, and the character growth happening really surprised me.
Was the reason for the trials a little stupid? Yes. We're some of the trials, silly? Definitely. Was it still kinda fun? Yeah.
Most importantly though, Calyx and Ever did work pretty well together. They were both complete simps and matched each others freak. There is just no romantic gesture like burying your enemies alive.
Overall? Yeah, if you're into romantasy knock yourself out. If you aren't? Read it with like a slight comedic lens and you should still have a good time.
Now the plot and the characters aren't anything groundbreaking or original, and they are a little flat and silly at times, but they do have a good amount of depth at some of the more emotional moments, and the character growth happening really surprised me.
Was the reason for the trials a little stupid? Yes. We're some of the trials, silly? Definitely. Was it still kinda fun? Yeah.
Most importantly though, Calyx and Ever did work pretty well together. They were both complete simps and matched each others freak. There is just no romantic gesture like burying your enemies alive.
Overall? Yeah, if you're into romantasy knock yourself out. If you aren't? Read it with like a slight comedic lens and you should still have a good time.
February 21, 2025
No spoilers in this review
I found this book a very enjoyable read. It was fast paced. Awesome world building. Definitely a slow burn and strong MC's. I enjoyed the storyline and look forward to the next book.
Highly recommend this book
I found this book a very enjoyable read. It was fast paced. Awesome world building. Definitely a slow burn and strong MC's. I enjoyed the storyline and look forward to the next book.
Highly recommend this book
April 2, 2025
3.75⭐️
I came across the ARC signups for this book through threads and I am so glad I did! I am also incredibly grateful to have been able to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was such an entertaining book, with a mix of trials and fantasy, similar to that of the Artefacts of Ouranos series which I absolutely adored.
A Flame Forged in Mist follows Ever, a farmer in the mortal lands, who lives with her adopted father and best friend Erryn. One day on a trip into town for some supplies, her and Erryn end up signing up for the newly announced trials that are set to find the newest soldiers for a unit called the Ten. This group of soldiers will be used to help fight against the South who continues to push against the Mystics in the North for control of the Gyre (how the mystics receive their magic) Upon acceptance to these trials, Ever, Erryn and 40 plus other contestants will have every strength and weakness tested for the chance to be part of the Ten and gain their magic from the Gyre.
This book is split into two POVs however it is mainly Ever’s point of view that we get as Calyx’s are more of just a replay of certain intense moments from his view.
From the beginning, I adored Ever’s character. She’s been through some intense moments in her life and yet she has come out stronger, not only teaching herself how to fight but her determination is so admirable. She also has a thing for sarcasm and standing up to people she probably shouldn’t and honestly I’m so here for that.
Calyx is our broody MMC who is the Prince of the North. And from the first moment he sets his eyes on Ever, he can’t look away. We get “who did this to you”, carrying in his arms, one horse travel. Definitely an intense slow burn but honestly it’s working for me.
While there were some humorous moments, some slight twists and emotional parts, I did struggle with the overall tone of the story. It felt very YA even though the majority of the characters are over the age of 25. Sometimes the way the characters spoke was a little unbelievable especially if this is considered to be a possible medieval era story (don’t quote me on that as it wasn’t inherently clear about the timeline).
And I would’ve loved more actual chapters from Calyx rather than just a recap with a huff of breath and a sentence about sparks.
Either way, the story definitely has potential and I will most likely continue the series and hopefully it just gets better from here!
I came across the ARC signups for this book through threads and I am so glad I did! I am also incredibly grateful to have been able to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was such an entertaining book, with a mix of trials and fantasy, similar to that of the Artefacts of Ouranos series which I absolutely adored.
A Flame Forged in Mist follows Ever, a farmer in the mortal lands, who lives with her adopted father and best friend Erryn. One day on a trip into town for some supplies, her and Erryn end up signing up for the newly announced trials that are set to find the newest soldiers for a unit called the Ten. This group of soldiers will be used to help fight against the South who continues to push against the Mystics in the North for control of the Gyre (how the mystics receive their magic) Upon acceptance to these trials, Ever, Erryn and 40 plus other contestants will have every strength and weakness tested for the chance to be part of the Ten and gain their magic from the Gyre.
This book is split into two POVs however it is mainly Ever’s point of view that we get as Calyx’s are more of just a replay of certain intense moments from his view.
From the beginning, I adored Ever’s character. She’s been through some intense moments in her life and yet she has come out stronger, not only teaching herself how to fight but her determination is so admirable. She also has a thing for sarcasm and standing up to people she probably shouldn’t and honestly I’m so here for that.
Calyx is our broody MMC who is the Prince of the North. And from the first moment he sets his eyes on Ever, he can’t look away. We get “who did this to you”, carrying in his arms, one horse travel. Definitely an intense slow burn but honestly it’s working for me.
While there were some humorous moments, some slight twists and emotional parts, I did struggle with the overall tone of the story. It felt very YA even though the majority of the characters are over the age of 25. Sometimes the way the characters spoke was a little unbelievable especially if this is considered to be a possible medieval era story (don’t quote me on that as it wasn’t inherently clear about the timeline).
And I would’ve loved more actual chapters from Calyx rather than just a recap with a huff of breath and a sentence about sparks.
Either way, the story definitely has potential and I will most likely continue the series and hopefully it just gets better from here!
February 21, 2025
ARC Review: 4.8-5.0 Stars- This book feels different from most of the fantasy romance books/series I've read.
The pacing is nice, an easy/fast read, and the descriptive world building from a first person POV does not confuse or overwhelm the reader. The romance is definitely a slow burn (who doesn't love a good slow burn). The foreshadowing is easy to follow.
As far as the story goes, I'm loving the plot. Also, the cliffhanger does NOT immediately incinerate my heart and soul to ashes. Definitely the perfect place to stop the story before we can continue.
The pacing is nice, an easy/fast read, and the descriptive world building from a first person POV does not confuse or overwhelm the reader. The romance is definitely a slow burn (who doesn't love a good slow burn). The foreshadowing is easy to follow.
As far as the story goes, I'm loving the plot. Also, the cliffhanger does NOT immediately incinerate my heart and soul to ashes. Definitely the perfect place to stop the story before we can continue.
February 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! There is a lot that happens in this book to set up for the series, but overall really easy read. If you are looking for a slow-burn, strong FMC character, this book is for you!
The only reason I did not give this book a 5 ⭐️ is because I wish we got more of Calyx's POV. I feel like it allows us to know more about a character when we get their POV.
*This is an ARC read, I was given a copy of the book by the reader, but the opinions are my own.*
The only reason I did not give this book a 5 ⭐️ is because I wish we got more of Calyx's POV. I feel like it allows us to know more about a character when we get their POV.
*This is an ARC read, I was given a copy of the book by the reader, but the opinions are my own.*
April 29, 2025
ARC Review
This book completely captivated me! The world-building is vivid and immersive, paired with a fascinating magical system that feels fresh and unique. Set in medieval times with deadly trials, the story unfolds with a slow-burn romance and strong characters you can’t help but root for. The ending delivers a cliffhanger that left me eager for more. I highly recommend picking this one up!
This book completely captivated me! The world-building is vivid and immersive, paired with a fascinating magical system that feels fresh and unique. Set in medieval times with deadly trials, the story unfolds with a slow-burn romance and strong characters you can’t help but root for. The ending delivers a cliffhanger that left me eager for more. I highly recommend picking this one up!
March 14, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨ Semi-Spoilers Ahead
Ok…where to begin. I really, really wanted to love this. The cover is absolutely stunning. And the tropes had everything I love in a fantasy book. However, I found that the supposed tropes were lacking and a stretch at best.
Overall, the story was interesting. I mean, deathly trials where only ten can make it? Let’s go. However, there was more thought being put into describing Ever’s farm and where the garlic field was located than the actual “deathly” trials. Out of the seven trials, only one I could say matches that description and honestly I felt that trial was unnecessary and proved nothing of the prospects. I wanted there to be more to the trials. Everything felt easy and so obvious. One of them being not to open a scroll until you’re told to do so? Then towards the END of the trials someone who’s made it THAT FAR without opening it suddenly feels the need to? I don’t buy it.
Additionally I was getting whiplash throughout the writing. The FC literally explains almost EVERYTHING. There is no room for the reader to see the development through actions of the characters. It’s just spelled out and most of the time her conclusion doesn’t match what is happening. However there were moments where she would “have a revelation” about something that happened earlier in the book and it would have me wondering if I skipped a chapter (when did the pebbles move?!) Also felt like random things were said for no reason that did not bring anything to the plot (ie Valen, who I totally forgot about, apologizing to Ever at the end?????)
I was also VERY confused as to why Calyx flipped out on her when she returned with her magic because of her name. Like….why was this surprising to you. I do not get it. If you are supposedly obsessed and saying “who did this you” why on earth are you flipping out on ever right now? But don’t worry, it only lasts one paragraph before it’s resolved with words.
Saying this is a dual POV is a stretch. I would call them Bonus Chapters. One: I think there are only 5 chapters from the MC. And all of them are just recaps of the previous chapter’s scene from his POV except for one. No new information. Nothing groundbreaking.
Slow Burn? Was the burn in the room? I wanted more of Calyx. There was more sexual tension between Rogue, Brandys and Quirin with Ever than there was with Calyx. To tease me with a one horse trope and get two sentences worth that basically just say there’s one horse and they ride for TEN HOURS with no inner monologues on how close they were or how he skimmed his lips against here neck is blasphemy. In fact, she rode BEHIND HIM in the saddle. I just was not buying that they were more than semi attracted to one another. Yes I know he un-alived some people for her but like….give me more because right now it just seems like he just likes to find excuses to murder people.
Ever Tillman. I don’t know what’s special about her. Kind of boring and too diplomatic. Seeking revenge yet knows nothing about Mystics. You cannot tell me that the situation that happened to her, being adopted and having the tell-tale golden eyes did not make you curious enough to ask about your heritage? Especially if it’s your only motivation in life to find these two a-holes? Again, don’t buy it.
One thing I did like was the mind speaking and banter with Rogue. Could have had more of that.
I guess overall it just felt like a bunch of random ideas were thrown into it and not fully developed. I did finish the book in hopes that it would make sense at the end, but it just left me feeling a bit disappointed. I’m on the fence if I’ll continue the series, but hopefully in book two there will be more focus and clarity.
Ok…where to begin. I really, really wanted to love this. The cover is absolutely stunning. And the tropes had everything I love in a fantasy book. However, I found that the supposed tropes were lacking and a stretch at best.
Overall, the story was interesting. I mean, deathly trials where only ten can make it? Let’s go. However, there was more thought being put into describing Ever’s farm and where the garlic field was located than the actual “deathly” trials. Out of the seven trials, only one I could say matches that description and honestly I felt that trial was unnecessary and proved nothing of the prospects. I wanted there to be more to the trials. Everything felt easy and so obvious. One of them being not to open a scroll until you’re told to do so? Then towards the END of the trials someone who’s made it THAT FAR without opening it suddenly feels the need to? I don’t buy it.
Additionally I was getting whiplash throughout the writing. The FC literally explains almost EVERYTHING. There is no room for the reader to see the development through actions of the characters. It’s just spelled out and most of the time her conclusion doesn’t match what is happening. However there were moments where she would “have a revelation” about something that happened earlier in the book and it would have me wondering if I skipped a chapter (when did the pebbles move?!) Also felt like random things were said for no reason that did not bring anything to the plot (ie Valen, who I totally forgot about, apologizing to Ever at the end?????)
I was also VERY confused as to why Calyx flipped out on her when she returned with her magic because of her name. Like….why was this surprising to you. I do not get it. If you are supposedly obsessed and saying “who did this you” why on earth are you flipping out on ever right now? But don’t worry, it only lasts one paragraph before it’s resolved with words.
Saying this is a dual POV is a stretch. I would call them Bonus Chapters. One: I think there are only 5 chapters from the MC. And all of them are just recaps of the previous chapter’s scene from his POV except for one. No new information. Nothing groundbreaking.
Slow Burn? Was the burn in the room? I wanted more of Calyx. There was more sexual tension between Rogue, Brandys and Quirin with Ever than there was with Calyx. To tease me with a one horse trope and get two sentences worth that basically just say there’s one horse and they ride for TEN HOURS with no inner monologues on how close they were or how he skimmed his lips against here neck is blasphemy. In fact, she rode BEHIND HIM in the saddle. I just was not buying that they were more than semi attracted to one another. Yes I know he un-alived some people for her but like….give me more because right now it just seems like he just likes to find excuses to murder people.
Ever Tillman. I don’t know what’s special about her. Kind of boring and too diplomatic. Seeking revenge yet knows nothing about Mystics. You cannot tell me that the situation that happened to her, being adopted and having the tell-tale golden eyes did not make you curious enough to ask about your heritage? Especially if it’s your only motivation in life to find these two a-holes? Again, don’t buy it.
One thing I did like was the mind speaking and banter with Rogue. Could have had more of that.
I guess overall it just felt like a bunch of random ideas were thrown into it and not fully developed. I did finish the book in hopes that it would make sense at the end, but it just left me feeling a bit disappointed. I’m on the fence if I’ll continue the series, but hopefully in book two there will be more focus and clarity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
"He looks down at me, and in that look, a thousand words are spoken."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AAAHHH.
I loved loved loved this book by Samara Saward!
I am SUCH a sucker for a good games/trials trope (It's the Hunger Games lore, for sure), and I absolutely ate it up in this one.
The trials as a whole didn't feel rushed, and it was a largely prominent focus in the book that it's exactly what I signed up for and did not disappoint.
Ever's past trauma and how she has been able to overcome it, where possible, was really inspiring, and her confidence and dedication really made her a badass FMC.
Not to mention, she's also a girl after my own heart when it comes to potatoes.
"Potatoes. A girl can never have too many."
One thing that really stood out to me as unique, was where the majority of the MMC's (Calyx) POV chapters were situated.
So often I've read books where I wish I could read the same scene from the other characters' POV, and that's what this gave me. I loved that so much!
I frothed every time I got to a Calyx chapter and this is what I'm here for!
"As she turns away from me, something in my stomach twists. Sparks of flame dance at my fingertips, sparks I have no hope of dousing. Sparks I don't want to douse."
I am so ready for the next instalment - I can't wait!
Thank you, Samara, for the opportunity to read this eARC!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AAAHHH.
I loved loved loved this book by Samara Saward!
I am SUCH a sucker for a good games/trials trope (It's the Hunger Games lore, for sure), and I absolutely ate it up in this one.
The trials as a whole didn't feel rushed, and it was a largely prominent focus in the book that it's exactly what I signed up for and did not disappoint.
Ever's past trauma and how she has been able to overcome it, where possible, was really inspiring, and her confidence and dedication really made her a badass FMC.
Not to mention, she's also a girl after my own heart when it comes to potatoes.
"Potatoes. A girl can never have too many."
One thing that really stood out to me as unique, was where the majority of the MMC's (Calyx) POV chapters were situated.
So often I've read books where I wish I could read the same scene from the other characters' POV, and that's what this gave me. I loved that so much!
I frothed every time I got to a Calyx chapter and this is what I'm here for!
"As she turns away from me, something in my stomach twists. Sparks of flame dance at my fingertips, sparks I have no hope of dousing. Sparks I don't want to douse."
I am so ready for the next instalment - I can't wait!
Thank you, Samara, for the opportunity to read this eARC!
March 6, 2025
3,5 ⭐️ read
I truly enjoyed the book and I would recommend it as an introduction to reading fantasy.
The story is easy to follow and quite fast paced! The world building is great and I devoured the first 50 % in a day!
This story has a lot of potential. I want to explore more of the world and I wil definitely continue to read the rest of the books in this series when they’re out. Personally, I wanted more depth to the story and that the trials was more thrilling with higher stakes. The trials went on quite easily and I missed the more intense emotions these trials might provoke to keep the reader on edge🤓
The romance between the FMC and the MMC wasn’t really burning, but there were a few moments that I did enjoy! The romance is not the main focus in book one, and that’s fine, but I wished to delve deeper into their emotions during their interactions since it’s obviously is a thing between them hehe.
Thank you Samara for sharing your book and that I got to read and review it! Excited to see what will happen next! I received an eARC of the book.
I truly enjoyed the book and I would recommend it as an introduction to reading fantasy.
The story is easy to follow and quite fast paced! The world building is great and I devoured the first 50 % in a day!
This story has a lot of potential. I want to explore more of the world and I wil definitely continue to read the rest of the books in this series when they’re out. Personally, I wanted more depth to the story and that the trials was more thrilling with higher stakes. The trials went on quite easily and I missed the more intense emotions these trials might provoke to keep the reader on edge🤓
The romance between the FMC and the MMC wasn’t really burning, but there were a few moments that I did enjoy! The romance is not the main focus in book one, and that’s fine, but I wished to delve deeper into their emotions during their interactions since it’s obviously is a thing between them hehe.
Thank you Samara for sharing your book and that I got to read and review it! Excited to see what will happen next! I received an eARC of the book.
March 9, 2025
ARC Review:
Tropes:
✨Medieval times
✨Dual POV
✨Lethal trials
✨Morally grey characters
✨"Who did this to you?"
Spice: 🫑
🏵️The book cover colour is quite aesthetic and it relates to a certain element that starts the book off, and ends it too. Also, it's great to see some bright colour for fantasy.
🏵️There was a guidance for pronouncing the character names which was good.
🏵️The ARC did not have a map. But I hope the main book has one.
Ever wants revenge for her brother's murder, and she'll do anything to get it. This book is about her journey through a magical tournament to seek revenge.
While there is some romance element, it's really more about the fantasy world and Ever's mission in avenging her brother's death.
Ever is a 25 year old girl and she is a mature character from the start, and so is her friend Erryn who is a great sidekick.
The story started at a nice pace. There wasn't much world building at the beginning to bore you, or overwhelm you with lots of information.There was world building weaving in and out throughout the story which made it flow really great.
The tournament trials are interesting and keep you engaged, even though you kind of know the main characters will succeed. The trials began with 60 participants so that was a lot to deal with. It ended up with 10 winners. The way the side players are introduced at the right moment before their exits was done really well.
The story gets really good around chapter 12, and then it gets super exciting around chapter 30.
Calyx, the prince, is a bit of a mystery. He seems to have a darker side, but we only see glimpses of it. He's mostly shown as a prince and leader. It makes you want to know more about him in the next book.
The book is dual POV and what I really loved was that some of the dual POVs overlapped for the same scenario. So we were getting both Ever and Calyx's perspective of the same scenes.
There are some dark elements in this book but the book in itself is not a dart fantasy genre.
Basically, if you're looking for a good fantasy story with action, secrets, and a strong female lead, this is a good read. It's not really a romance, but it's a solid fantasy adventure.
I read it quickly once it picked up, and I can't wait for the next one!
Tropes:
✨Medieval times
✨Dual POV
✨Lethal trials
✨Morally grey characters
✨"Who did this to you?"
Spice: 🫑
🏵️The book cover colour is quite aesthetic and it relates to a certain element that starts the book off, and ends it too. Also, it's great to see some bright colour for fantasy.
🏵️There was a guidance for pronouncing the character names which was good.
🏵️The ARC did not have a map. But I hope the main book has one.
Ever wants revenge for her brother's murder, and she'll do anything to get it. This book is about her journey through a magical tournament to seek revenge.
While there is some romance element, it's really more about the fantasy world and Ever's mission in avenging her brother's death.
Ever is a 25 year old girl and she is a mature character from the start, and so is her friend Erryn who is a great sidekick.
The story started at a nice pace. There wasn't much world building at the beginning to bore you, or overwhelm you with lots of information.There was world building weaving in and out throughout the story which made it flow really great.
The tournament trials are interesting and keep you engaged, even though you kind of know the main characters will succeed. The trials began with 60 participants so that was a lot to deal with. It ended up with 10 winners. The way the side players are introduced at the right moment before their exits was done really well.
The story gets really good around chapter 12, and then it gets super exciting around chapter 30.
Calyx, the prince, is a bit of a mystery. He seems to have a darker side, but we only see glimpses of it. He's mostly shown as a prince and leader. It makes you want to know more about him in the next book.
The book is dual POV and what I really loved was that some of the dual POVs overlapped for the same scenario. So we were getting both Ever and Calyx's perspective of the same scenes.
There are some dark elements in this book but the book in itself is not a dart fantasy genre.
Basically, if you're looking for a good fantasy story with action, secrets, and a strong female lead, this is a good read. It's not really a romance, but it's a solid fantasy adventure.
I read it quickly once it picked up, and I can't wait for the next one!
February 22, 2025
This one started out really strong for me, and I was really excited to see where it went.
I really enjoyed the overall storyline and the plot.
I’m always a sucker for a book with trials!
I do wish the trials were a little more in depth. Sometimes they felt a little rushed and were over so quickly.
I also wish we got to explore the side characters more. I loved Rogue and would have loved to dive into his character and see him develop and his friendship with the MMC and FMC.
I would have loved to see more from the MMC as well, but I think there is a lot of potential for the rest of the series.
I really enjoyed the overall storyline and the plot.
I’m always a sucker for a book with trials!
I do wish the trials were a little more in depth. Sometimes they felt a little rushed and were over so quickly.
I also wish we got to explore the side characters more. I loved Rogue and would have loved to dive into his character and see him develop and his friendship with the MMC and FMC.
I would have loved to see more from the MMC as well, but I think there is a lot of potential for the rest of the series.
March 24, 2025
ARC Review - Spoiler Free, 3.5stars
> Strong female (25, love that she's not a teenager) MC with traumatic backstory that is the reasoning for the choices she makes in the book
> Pronunciation guide at the start is fantastic, more fantasy books should do this
> 1st POV, I prefer third but this is a good balance of general observations and limited the "I did this.... I did that..."
> Strong male MC but his over protectiveness comes a little bit out of nowhere and could maybe have done with some reasoning
> Strong supportive best friend to the FMC who adds to the story and isn't just an extra
> Challenges and trials were varied and interesting to read
> Magic system is explained well without bogging the story down
> Absolutely gorgeous cover art
> I will read the sequel!
> Strong female (25, love that she's not a teenager) MC with traumatic backstory that is the reasoning for the choices she makes in the book
> Pronunciation guide at the start is fantastic, more fantasy books should do this
> 1st POV, I prefer third but this is a good balance of general observations and limited the "I did this.... I did that..."
> Strong male MC but his over protectiveness comes a little bit out of nowhere and could maybe have done with some reasoning
> Strong supportive best friend to the FMC who adds to the story and isn't just an extra
> Challenges and trials were varied and interesting to read
> Magic system is explained well without bogging the story down
> Absolutely gorgeous cover art
> I will read the sequel!
March 2, 2025
Thank you for the ARC!
No spoilers.
I definitely loved this fantasy world and it was a cool mix between high fantasy and YA.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book and it was quite face paced (slow burn romance but otherwise fast).
🙌Strong FMC
✅descriptive world building
💜intensity between characters but I am so much fonder of a slower burn
🌎 Amazing descriptions of world building
🔖Appreciative pronunciation guide
No spoilers.
I definitely loved this fantasy world and it was a cool mix between high fantasy and YA.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book and it was quite face paced (slow burn romance but otherwise fast).
🙌Strong FMC
✅descriptive world building
💜intensity between characters but I am so much fonder of a slower burn
🌎 Amazing descriptions of world building
🔖Appreciative pronunciation guide
March 24, 2025
Great book ! I found it to be a cross between the hunger games and the Witcher.
I throughly enjoyed this book grear world building fantastic descriptions and storyline , I will be reading the rest of the series when it comes out.
Touch her & for vibes
Magic
Trials of success or failure
Found family.
Thank you to the author for letting me ARC read
I throughly enjoyed this book grear world building fantastic descriptions and storyline , I will be reading the rest of the series when it comes out.
Touch her & for vibes
Magic
Trials of success or failure
Found family.
Thank you to the author for letting me ARC read
April 12, 2025
When I saw the trope list, ARC ban be damned I was signing up for this one and it does not disappoint. Our FMC Ever is fierce, even in her pain, her sunshine bestie Erryn is a delight to be around, and our FMC, a dark prince with a chip on his shoulder is everything I look for in a book boyfriend. There are trials, there is banter, there is found family and healing - and there’s scenes which we are fortunate to read TWICE but from both perspectives and that had me kicking and screaming wildly. I’ve never seen that before and it is GENIUS. If you’re looking for a true slow burn, one that simmers for effectively the entire book, look no further.
March 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! I’m a vibe reader and loved the experience the book took me on!
The magic system was intriguing and I loved the morally grey characters. I am looking forward to the sequel and the continuation of Ever’s journey.
The magic system was intriguing and I loved the morally grey characters. I am looking forward to the sequel and the continuation of Ever’s journey.
May 6, 2025
This is my first experience with Samara Saward and it will absolutely NOT be my last, by far.
I could not put this book down! From the very first sentences, I was hooked. This book is a fast pace, but it doesn’t skimp on content, and the prose is beautiful. I felt like I was transported to a completely different world and swept away into Ever’s life - I felt her anguish, the love she holds for those important to her, her frustration, her desire, her yearning, all of it. And Calyx? Ugh yes please!! Absolutely touch-her-and-die vibes. However, he doesn’t take away from Ever being a strong, independent FMC who can take care of herself and those around her, but rather supplements her. He knows she’s got it handled but he’s still gonna make sure she’s taken care of as well…..in a few ways IYKWIM. The magic system is also fairly novel, I personally can’t recall others like it and the division between the Mystics and the mortals also serves as another plot point that imo was done fairly well. My only complaint is that I finished it too quickly and now I have to wait for the next one!!
This honest review is being given in exchange for a ARC copy of this book
I could not put this book down! From the very first sentences, I was hooked. This book is a fast pace, but it doesn’t skimp on content, and the prose is beautiful. I felt like I was transported to a completely different world and swept away into Ever’s life - I felt her anguish, the love she holds for those important to her, her frustration, her desire, her yearning, all of it. And Calyx? Ugh yes please!! Absolutely touch-her-and-die vibes. However, he doesn’t take away from Ever being a strong, independent FMC who can take care of herself and those around her, but rather supplements her. He knows she’s got it handled but he’s still gonna make sure she’s taken care of as well…..in a few ways IYKWIM. The magic system is also fairly novel, I personally can’t recall others like it and the division between the Mystics and the mortals also serves as another plot point that imo was done fairly well. My only complaint is that I finished it too quickly and now I have to wait for the next one!!
This honest review is being given in exchange for a ARC copy of this book
May 3, 2025
I was lucky enough to have received an arc of this book, and all I can say is WOW!!
I loved it, the character development, the trials, the magic system. It really does hook you and keeps you interested. It’s fast paced and to the point, and didn’t have a dull moment!
I love the connection to the Oranges 🍊 and I cannot believe it ended the way it did, I need the next book like…. Yesterday 🤣🙊
Can’t wait to see where this journey takes Ever & Erryn, I’m excited to see what could potentially happen with Calyx, want to learn more about the magic and how everyone’s gifts work.
Recommend to everybody 👌🏻
I loved it, the character development, the trials, the magic system. It really does hook you and keeps you interested. It’s fast paced and to the point, and didn’t have a dull moment!
I love the connection to the Oranges 🍊 and I cannot believe it ended the way it did, I need the next book like…. Yesterday 🤣🙊
Can’t wait to see where this journey takes Ever & Erryn, I’m excited to see what could potentially happen with Calyx, want to learn more about the magic and how everyone’s gifts work.
Recommend to everybody 👌🏻
May 2, 2025
2,75 ⭐️ Rounded up
So I did the thing I shouldn't have done : I waited before writing my review. I wanted to let the book come out before I wrote all the things that made me not like it that much, but now... well I don't remember. In itself, it says quite a lot : the story didn't stick with me at all. 🫠
What I remember is this : lots of confusion and inconsistencies, lots of "wtf" moments... I wrote lots of comments in my Kindle about things that made no sense at all to me (for example : the FMC says her father is the most important person to her, but when a weird summon is done to the population about joining a weird militia, she doesn't even think about him and puts her name in without hesitation).
Anyway. The idea was very good and the cover is amazing, but the story in itself left me more puzzled and confused than happy and hyped. I also remember feeling like this was a debut novel that had not been revised well, and then realizing the author actually had a lot of work out... I was a bit icked by that 😬
**This book was gifted to me by the author, who I want to thank SO MUCH. I know it must be hard sending your work into the world like that. I also wish her nothing but the best. All opinions are my own.
So I did the thing I shouldn't have done : I waited before writing my review. I wanted to let the book come out before I wrote all the things that made me not like it that much, but now... well I don't remember. In itself, it says quite a lot : the story didn't stick with me at all. 🫠
What I remember is this : lots of confusion and inconsistencies, lots of "wtf" moments... I wrote lots of comments in my Kindle about things that made no sense at all to me (for example : the FMC says her father is the most important person to her, but when a weird summon is done to the population about joining a weird militia, she doesn't even think about him and puts her name in without hesitation).
Anyway. The idea was very good and the cover is amazing, but the story in itself left me more puzzled and confused than happy and hyped. I also remember feeling like this was a debut novel that had not been revised well, and then realizing the author actually had a lot of work out... I was a bit icked by that 😬
**This book was gifted to me by the author, who I want to thank SO MUCH. I know it must be hard sending your work into the world like that. I also wish her nothing but the best. All opinions are my own.
Read
March 21, 2025Just finished A Flame Forged in Mist! It was the first book I read specifically with the intent to review and I loved it. Such a great experience, trying to pay attention to what I enjoyed or not, instead of just being along for the ride.
I'm very thankful to have been able to get an advance copy.
Now for the actual review. Spoiler : I enjoyed AFFIM a lot and look forward to a re-read, as well as the next two books.
The first thing of note is that the FMC, Ever, is 25. What a welcome change to have a slightly more mature protagonist. The story is narrated nearly exclusively from her POV, with a few chapters from the MMC’s, Calyx.
Ever was an interesting and complex character, I’d call her morally grey but in a very relatable and understandable way. She’s been shaped by horrific events in her youth and I could certainly appreciate how this would impact her psyche and values. I also liked that these events were referred to throughout the book and not just mentioned in passing then brushed aside - that felt realistic.
The plot was interesting, the pacing good. I had to actively slow myself down or I would have finished the book in a couple of days. The writing style is clear and has a lovely flow.
I felt the world-building was very well executed. It’s my favourite thing about fantasy in general, yet it can often feel a bit contrived and in-digest - too much at once and we lose the momentum of the story, not enough and the world feels flat and one-dimensional. No such issues here, we get to discover Parodyn gradually and we go deeper into it as the story unfolds. I’m fairly certain there will be more to explore in the following tomes.
What I loved best :
- The atmospheric feel of the book. The author has shared on her socials that, as part of her writing process, she creates a calendar for her world, with the moon cycles, the weather… That attention to detail really does shine through. The descriptions are sensorially rich and detailed, which for me created an immersive experience. I have had an extremely vivid impression of the opening scene etched in my mind since I first read it a month ago. If I was a more talented painter I’d actually attempt to put it on paper - that's how much I liked it.
- The cover, which ties in so well with the story and the nod to my favourite line : “It all started with an orange.” Because sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference in our lives.
What I hope for in the next books :
- I’d dearly love to see more chapters written from Calyx’s POV. While I’m comfortable with morally grey characters, we’re pretty much talking charcoal here :-) so I would like to understand how he came to be this way. I’d like to connect more emotionally with him, and it would help me if I could get into his mind more. (Kind of hoping for some kind of ACOMAF-style reveal if I’m super-honest! I can be patient though, it is a trilogy after all…)
- The romance is so far fairly light, I’d qualify it as slow burn, which again is good for a trilogy. I except it will build - connecting more with Calyx would also get me more invested in their relationship.
- The magic system is intriguing and I look forward to learning more about it.
Best creative swear : “Son of a traveling hag!” [I just had to get that in here. And yes, you guessed it, there’s a nice little bit of world building to back it up.]
Finally, a note about audience: another reviewer suggested that this could have been classified as YA. I must respectfully disagree, not on the basis of the spice [though that may change with future tomes] but on the basis of the casual violence, frequent deaths, and general the lack of qualms about it. Not to mention the sexual assault, which is not only referenced several times but is very much an integral plot point.
All of the above I’d consider appropriate for the period / setting / story, but NOT suitable for a 13 y-o to read. The author has classified it as 18+ and that is definitely correct. She has also provided a list of triggers, which is a practice I wish would become standard as we grow more aware about mental health.
To sum up : I wish the next book was available already! Need to know what happens next !
Now for the actual review. Spoiler : I enjoyed AFFIM a lot and look forward to a re-read, as well as the next two books.
The first thing of note is that the FMC, Ever, is 25. What a welcome change to have a slightly more mature protagonist. The story is narrated nearly exclusively from her POV, with a few chapters from the MMC’s, Calyx.
Ever was an interesting and complex character, I’d call her morally grey but in a very relatable and understandable way. She’s been shaped by horrific events in her youth and I could certainly appreciate how this would impact her psyche and values. I also liked that these events were referred to throughout the book and not just mentioned in passing then brushed aside - that felt realistic.
The plot was interesting, the pacing good. I had to actively slow myself down or I would have finished the book in a couple of days. The writing style is clear and has a lovely flow.
I felt the world-building was very well executed. It’s my favourite thing about fantasy in general, yet it can often feel a bit contrived and in-digest - too much at once and we lose the momentum of the story, not enough and the world feels flat and one-dimensional. No such issues here, we get to discover Parodyn gradually and we go deeper into it as the story unfolds. I’m fairly certain there will be more to explore in the following tomes.
What I loved best :
- The atmospheric feel of the book. The author has shared on her socials that, as part of her writing process, she creates a calendar for her world, with the moon cycles, the weather… That attention to detail really does shine through. The descriptions are sensorially rich and detailed, which for me created an immersive experience. I have had an extremely vivid impression of the opening scene etched in my mind since I first read it a month ago. If I was a more talented painter I’d actually attempt to put it on paper - that's how much I liked it.
- The cover, which ties in so well with the story and the nod to my favourite line : “It all started with an orange.” Because sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference in our lives.
What I hope for in the next books :
- I’d dearly love to see more chapters written from Calyx’s POV. While I’m comfortable with morally grey characters, we’re pretty much talking charcoal here :-) so I would like to understand how he came to be this way. I’d like to connect more emotionally with him, and it would help me if I could get into his mind more. (Kind of hoping for some kind of ACOMAF-style reveal if I’m super-honest! I can be patient though, it is a trilogy after all…)
- The romance is so far fairly light, I’d qualify it as slow burn, which again is good for a trilogy. I except it will build - connecting more with Calyx would also get me more invested in their relationship.
- The magic system is intriguing and I look forward to learning more about it.
Best creative swear : “Son of a traveling hag!” [I just had to get that in here. And yes, you guessed it, there’s a nice little bit of world building to back it up.]
Finally, a note about audience: another reviewer suggested that this could have been classified as YA. I must respectfully disagree, not on the basis of the spice [though that may change with future tomes] but on the basis of the casual violence, frequent deaths, and general the lack of qualms about it. Not to mention the sexual assault, which is not only referenced several times but is very much an integral plot point.
All of the above I’d consider appropriate for the period / setting / story, but NOT suitable for a 13 y-o to read. The author has classified it as 18+ and that is definitely correct. She has also provided a list of triggers, which is a practice I wish would become standard as we grow more aware about mental health.
To sum up : I wish the next book was available already! Need to know what happens next !
February 23, 2025
3.5⭐️ This review MIGHT contain some light spoilers but I tried being vague as much as possible please read with caution. ❤️
I enjoyed this book, and it had me hooked from chapter one! The writing was easy to follow, and the pacing flowed smoothly, which made it a quick and engaging read. The cover is absolutely stunning and sets the tone for the story beautifully. However, the book could use a bit more polishing before its official release. Despite that, I enjoyed the plot and characters overall.
The story was supposed to focus on the FMC’s vengeance, I suspect it will play a bigger role in the sequel. That said, I really enjoyed the trials, their uniqueness kept me interested, and they added an exciting element to the story.
❤️🌶️ Romance-wise: it was very minimal.....no yearning, no spice, just a mention of possible feelings. Going into the book, I expected more romance, but it was definitely more plot-focused. Luckily, the story itself was strong enough to carry the book without needing a heavy romance element. Buuut...*wink wink* I hope for some form of romance in the sequel even if it is just minor.
I went in expecting a New Adult or Adult fantasy, but some elements leaned more toward YA. This really stood out in some character interactions and the way certain moments were written. Even though there were some darker and heavier themes in the story, I still felt the same sense of *safe* like when I read YA... does that make sense?
Things I Liked:
- Dual POV: I usually love this, because the reader can get tired of only one POV, so a break from the main POV is always welcome... but the second POV felt too minimal and mostly recapped previous interactions with the main POV. I wished we got more of his thoughts, especially after key moments with her.
- Unique and interesting magic system.
- Strong characters.
- Chuckle-worthy moments.
- The author balanced spoon-feeding the reader important information while still leaving some things up for interpretation.
Things That Brought Down The Score: (sorry)
1. Over-explaining character appearances. Every single character’s skin, hair, and eye colour was described excessively, often repetitively. It didn’t always add to the story, and I wish there had been less of this. If it is important to the story...could it be revealed perhaps? I like characters being described in different ways than in appearance. Especially with minor characters.
2. The "Who did this to you?" moment. It didn’t give me the butterflies :( it felt forced and out of place. Maybe if it had been solely in his POV, it would have landed better... And I mean I love this trope but it fell flat to me, unfortunately.
Overall, I’d recommend this to fantasy readers who are looking for a fast-paced book to get them out of a reading slump. It was a fun read with strong plot elements, and I’m curious to see where the sequel takes things!
I do like this author's work and I think she is highly talented. Having said that, thanks to the author for giving me a free digital copy as an advanced read in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book, and it had me hooked from chapter one! The writing was easy to follow, and the pacing flowed smoothly, which made it a quick and engaging read. The cover is absolutely stunning and sets the tone for the story beautifully. However, the book could use a bit more polishing before its official release. Despite that, I enjoyed the plot and characters overall.
The story was supposed to focus on the FMC’s vengeance, I suspect it will play a bigger role in the sequel. That said, I really enjoyed the trials, their uniqueness kept me interested, and they added an exciting element to the story.
❤️🌶️ Romance-wise: it was very minimal.....no yearning, no spice, just a mention of possible feelings. Going into the book, I expected more romance, but it was definitely more plot-focused. Luckily, the story itself was strong enough to carry the book without needing a heavy romance element. Buuut...*wink wink* I hope for some form of romance in the sequel even if it is just minor.
I went in expecting a New Adult or Adult fantasy, but some elements leaned more toward YA. This really stood out in some character interactions and the way certain moments were written. Even though there were some darker and heavier themes in the story, I still felt the same sense of *safe* like when I read YA... does that make sense?
Things I Liked:
- Dual POV: I usually love this, because the reader can get tired of only one POV, so a break from the main POV is always welcome... but the second POV felt too minimal and mostly recapped previous interactions with the main POV. I wished we got more of his thoughts, especially after key moments with her.
- Unique and interesting magic system.
- Strong characters.
- Chuckle-worthy moments.
- The author balanced spoon-feeding the reader important information while still leaving some things up for interpretation.
Things That Brought Down The Score: (sorry)
1. Over-explaining character appearances. Every single character’s skin, hair, and eye colour was described excessively, often repetitively. It didn’t always add to the story, and I wish there had been less of this. If it is important to the story...could it be revealed perhaps? I like characters being described in different ways than in appearance. Especially with minor characters.
2. The "Who did this to you?" moment. It didn’t give me the butterflies :( it felt forced and out of place. Maybe if it had been solely in his POV, it would have landed better... And I mean I love this trope but it fell flat to me, unfortunately.
Overall, I’d recommend this to fantasy readers who are looking for a fast-paced book to get them out of a reading slump. It was a fun read with strong plot elements, and I’m curious to see where the sequel takes things!
I do like this author's work and I think she is highly talented. Having said that, thanks to the author for giving me a free digital copy as an advanced read in exchange for my honest review.
July 7, 2025
Samara Saward smashed it out of the park with this first book in what is to be a trilogy. This may be the longest review I've written but I just loved the book. There were very few things that left me rating this 4 instead of 5
stars.
Personal Pros:
1. Character Development
For the first of this three book series, the character devlopment has been set up beautifully. I'm left feeling curious and excited to see where she takes our MCs and their supports.
2. The Slow Burn 🔥
The tension that develops between Calyx and Ever is delicious, and it doesn't overpower the main storyline. If you want a Romance novel, read a romance novel. If you want a romance woven throughout the tapestry of a bigger fantastical storyline, read this book.
3. The Friendships and Supports around MC's
I actually love that the MC's have strong supports. The way the MC's lean into their friends, and highlight how important they are to them and not just entirely consumed by attraction and romance and now all they need is each other was a big thumbs up for me.
4. The Trigger Content
There are some heavy things explored in this book regarding sexual abuse. Saward, in my opinion, does this beautifully, honouring the topic by acknowledging the trauma that can stem from such experiences, not dancing around it and treating it like a taboo subject. I appreciate its not left unclosed like a dark cloud hanging over the FMC, but Saward also highlights how the FMC begins to heal from trauma, not necessarily on her own, but does the work in 'finalising' and accepting the healing without interference of romance 'healing' it for her.
5. The Names of The MCs
Duh, Calyx and Ever. There's nothing more needed to be said. ❤️
6. Australian Author
Yes!!!
Personal Cons:
1. Dual POV
- Loved that I was given some of Calyx's POV but his POV was mostly a rewrite and "copy paste" of the same moments word for word dialogue with his emotion and response inserted instead of hers. This made it almost skippable - i didn't skip but definitely skimmed as it was almost as if there was no new information to learn. How he feels is very 'assumably' clear in Ever's POV's, so it felt unnecessary. There were some pieces of new information at times. But perhaps Dual POV could have been written for what he did next after the POV we got from Ever would have given us deeper clarity of his emotion towards her and who he is a character from his side.
2. World Building
LOVED the world we got to see, but personally found it a little excessive in the amount. Not a deal breaker. Some people love reading this way, and if you love writing about it, you should stay true to what you love.
stars.
Personal Pros:
1. Character Development
For the first of this three book series, the character devlopment has been set up beautifully. I'm left feeling curious and excited to see where she takes our MCs and their supports.
2. The Slow Burn 🔥
The tension that develops between Calyx and Ever is delicious, and it doesn't overpower the main storyline. If you want a Romance novel, read a romance novel. If you want a romance woven throughout the tapestry of a bigger fantastical storyline, read this book.
3. The Friendships and Supports around MC's
I actually love that the MC's have strong supports. The way the MC's lean into their friends, and highlight how important they are to them and not just entirely consumed by attraction and romance and now all they need is each other was a big thumbs up for me.
4. The Trigger Content
There are some heavy things explored in this book regarding sexual abuse. Saward, in my opinion, does this beautifully, honouring the topic by acknowledging the trauma that can stem from such experiences, not dancing around it and treating it like a taboo subject. I appreciate its not left unclosed like a dark cloud hanging over the FMC, but Saward also highlights how the FMC begins to heal from trauma, not necessarily on her own, but does the work in 'finalising' and accepting the healing without interference of romance 'healing' it for her.
5. The Names of The MCs
Duh, Calyx and Ever. There's nothing more needed to be said. ❤️
6. Australian Author
Yes!!!
Personal Cons:
1. Dual POV
- Loved that I was given some of Calyx's POV but his POV was mostly a rewrite and "copy paste" of the same moments word for word dialogue with his emotion and response inserted instead of hers. This made it almost skippable - i didn't skip but definitely skimmed as it was almost as if there was no new information to learn. How he feels is very 'assumably' clear in Ever's POV's, so it felt unnecessary. There were some pieces of new information at times. But perhaps Dual POV could have been written for what he did next after the POV we got from Ever would have given us deeper clarity of his emotion towards her and who he is a character from his side.
2. World Building
LOVED the world we got to see, but personally found it a little excessive in the amount. Not a deal breaker. Some people love reading this way, and if you love writing about it, you should stay true to what you love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 3, 2025Thank you to the author for the ARC ebook!
I wanted to love this one but I ultimately DNF’ed it at 65% 😭 I can normally get through books even when I’m not feeling them but this really dragged for me.
I think my main issue, aside from the somewhat lackluster plot, was the writing style - the descriptors were often contradictory (“plain yet beautiful face,” “his voice smooth like honey yet rough as claws scraping down stone”) and it was almost all tell instead of show. For example, when trying to show reader that MMC is especially powerful, his inner monologue is: “I’m too powerful for something as mundane as an attack to bring me to my knees.” MMC thinks this while talking about how he feels as though he doesn’t need personal guards, but then not one page later says: “now I understand the necessity of guards.” There’s a LOT of this type of inconsistency, even with major plot points. The FMC talks about how mortals have a fear/distrust/dislike of Mystics and magic and yet they jump at the chance to fight on their behalf for reasons and rewards unclear, and FMC intermittently talks about how awed she is by their demonstrations of magic. She also makes a big deal of hiding her “real” reason for joining the trials (to find her brother’s murderers), but then needlessly tells MMC about it. He brushes over it. End scene.
There is next to no dialogue. Instead of writing out the actual conversations, there will be one paragraph along the lines of “as we walk, we discuss x” - no elaboration.
The allegedly deadly trials are…tame. The first trial is for them to tell a secret. FMC tells a secret that she apparently holds tightly, but that she one chapter later tells a group of people she just met. The second trial tests “mercy” and made next to no sense to me - killing the rabbit, saving the mom/kid, sure - but then as she’s leaving the forest she sees a wounded person. And reasons that she isn’t meant to help him because it’s the “forest trial.” What does that even mean?? If it means not helping other humans, what was the point of saving the mom and son? The entire chapter of the maze, save for one minor character death, is FMC’s team getting through every obstacle without issue. Like, not even a close call.
My last thought - the “slow burn” “romance” between FMC and MMC was nonexistent.
I wanted to love this one but I ultimately DNF’ed it at 65% 😭 I can normally get through books even when I’m not feeling them but this really dragged for me.
I think my main issue, aside from the somewhat lackluster plot, was the writing style - the descriptors were often contradictory (“plain yet beautiful face,” “his voice smooth like honey yet rough as claws scraping down stone”) and it was almost all tell instead of show. For example, when trying to show reader that MMC is especially powerful, his inner monologue is: “I’m too powerful for something as mundane as an attack to bring me to my knees.” MMC thinks this while talking about how he feels as though he doesn’t need personal guards, but then not one page later says: “now I understand the necessity of guards.” There’s a LOT of this type of inconsistency, even with major plot points. The FMC talks about how mortals have a fear/distrust/dislike of Mystics and magic and yet they jump at the chance to fight on their behalf for reasons and rewards unclear, and FMC intermittently talks about how awed she is by their demonstrations of magic. She also makes a big deal of hiding her “real” reason for joining the trials (to find her brother’s murderers), but then needlessly tells MMC about it. He brushes over it. End scene.
There is next to no dialogue. Instead of writing out the actual conversations, there will be one paragraph along the lines of “as we walk, we discuss x” - no elaboration.
The allegedly deadly trials are…tame. The first trial is for them to tell a secret. FMC tells a secret that she apparently holds tightly, but that she one chapter later tells a group of people she just met. The second trial tests “mercy” and made next to no sense to me - killing the rabbit, saving the mom/kid, sure - but then as she’s leaving the forest she sees a wounded person. And reasons that she isn’t meant to help him because it’s the “forest trial.” What does that even mean?? If it means not helping other humans, what was the point of saving the mom and son? The entire chapter of the maze, save for one minor character death, is FMC’s team getting through every obstacle without issue. Like, not even a close call.
My last thought - the “slow burn” “romance” between FMC and MMC was nonexistent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, there are some bumps and things I think need some polishing and better development, but the overall the book is super interesting. I am hoping some of the bumps get worked out in the coming books, but a big one for me was how the nations work. It seems the North has the Mystics and magic and the King (Calyx is from there) and then there is the Mortals in the Middle (but they are under the rule of the King and his guards and they are also ruled by their own Mayor who is very strict and cruel but the King is the ultimate rule or maybe not? this part was muddy for me), but then there is the South where the Bad Queen lives (but the mortals don’t know about her) and the West (where it is lawless) and nothing to the east (or is there?), yet the mortals don’t know much about the North even though they are under its control. So that part was the bumpy part that could be hashed out a bit more for me.
Ever is a fantastic FMC, she has come from trauma and hardship and while she has a mind on vengeance, she isn’t unnecessarily cruel or heartless. She is loyal and strong and shows through these trials that she has the capacity for forgiveness. Her best friend is a fantastic best friend who of course couldn’t let her go through this adventure without her and finds herself along the way. I loved that we got both Ever and Calyx’s point of view. The side characters are fantastic, from Dreadlocks to Shep and the way they interact made the book even more enjoyable. There is good banter and one soul searing kiss between Ever and Calyx. The cliffhanger isn’t a rip your heart out spot, it was a good spot to end it while making you still want more. I look forward to the next book and where it takes us. The author built a very interesting world, how magic is given and what magic is given, what lessons they need to learn and how they learn them so that they actually learn them was very creative. I liked how the Gyre helped her heal from her trauma as well by showing her the alternates she had convinced her self were true were not (I am trying to not give spoilers).
All in all I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one and am grateful that I had the ability to ARC for this author.
Ever is a fantastic FMC, she has come from trauma and hardship and while she has a mind on vengeance, she isn’t unnecessarily cruel or heartless. She is loyal and strong and shows through these trials that she has the capacity for forgiveness. Her best friend is a fantastic best friend who of course couldn’t let her go through this adventure without her and finds herself along the way. I loved that we got both Ever and Calyx’s point of view. The side characters are fantastic, from Dreadlocks to Shep and the way they interact made the book even more enjoyable. There is good banter and one soul searing kiss between Ever and Calyx. The cliffhanger isn’t a rip your heart out spot, it was a good spot to end it while making you still want more. I look forward to the next book and where it takes us. The author built a very interesting world, how magic is given and what magic is given, what lessons they need to learn and how they learn them so that they actually learn them was very creative. I liked how the Gyre helped her heal from her trauma as well by showing her the alternates she had convinced her self were true were not (I am trying to not give spoilers).
All in all I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one and am grateful that I had the ability to ARC for this author.
March 18, 2025
4,5⭐️
1🌶️
Ever lost her little brother in a vicious attack 10 years ago. She’s determined to get her revenge. When the Mystics organize a rare trial for Mortals to gain magic and become part of the Royal Guard, she doesn’t hesitate.
Not letting Ever going through this alone, her best friend Erryn joins too. Together, they enter the biggest challenge both have ever faced.
Calyx has many masks to hide his darker side. As the king’s son, he’s to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success and he’s determined to do his duty. But Ever proves to be a distraction he can’t ignore. When he becomes torn between duty and desire, his masks begin to slip.
𝐼𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶𝓃 𝑜𝓇𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒.
I absolutely loved this book! The writing is so good. The author gives us such great descriptions without it ever becoming too much. You can easily picture the scenes in your head, which is something I really like.
The trials are super important and I feel like they were well thought out. Some parts may have even been longer or darker but that’s a personal preference. And this book feels very YA so it would make sense not to make them too deadly.
The only thing I didn’t like was the way the author did the dual POV. I loved getting some of Calyx’ POV’s but it was always a repeat of the scene from his perspective. I think if the author would have switched the one telling the scene or given us his POV afterwards in a “new” scene, that would have made the story and those scenes that much more interesting.
I loved Ever and Calyx! I do hope we get to see more of him in the next book because I feel like we got some teasers about him but never really got to see the end of that. IYKYK 👀
“𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝑒?”
Add to your tbr if you love:
🩷strong female friendship
⚔️interesting trials
❤️🔥slow-burn romance (no smut)
🪄magic
🖤morally grey mmc
🐴one horse
👩🏼hidden identity
👥dual POV
❤️🔥”who did this to you”
Thank you so much for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.
1🌶️
Ever lost her little brother in a vicious attack 10 years ago. She’s determined to get her revenge. When the Mystics organize a rare trial for Mortals to gain magic and become part of the Royal Guard, she doesn’t hesitate.
Not letting Ever going through this alone, her best friend Erryn joins too. Together, they enter the biggest challenge both have ever faced.
Calyx has many masks to hide his darker side. As the king’s son, he’s to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success and he’s determined to do his duty. But Ever proves to be a distraction he can’t ignore. When he becomes torn between duty and desire, his masks begin to slip.
𝐼𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶𝓃 𝑜𝓇𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒.
I absolutely loved this book! The writing is so good. The author gives us such great descriptions without it ever becoming too much. You can easily picture the scenes in your head, which is something I really like.
The trials are super important and I feel like they were well thought out. Some parts may have even been longer or darker but that’s a personal preference. And this book feels very YA so it would make sense not to make them too deadly.
The only thing I didn’t like was the way the author did the dual POV. I loved getting some of Calyx’ POV’s but it was always a repeat of the scene from his perspective. I think if the author would have switched the one telling the scene or given us his POV afterwards in a “new” scene, that would have made the story and those scenes that much more interesting.
I loved Ever and Calyx! I do hope we get to see more of him in the next book because I feel like we got some teasers about him but never really got to see the end of that. IYKYK 👀
“𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝑒?”
Add to your tbr if you love:
🩷strong female friendship
⚔️interesting trials
❤️🔥slow-burn romance (no smut)
🪄magic
🖤morally grey mmc
🐴one horse
👩🏼hidden identity
👥dual POV
❤️🔥”who did this to you”
Thank you so much for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.
March 23, 2025
I didn’t really know how to write a review for this ARC because I couldn’t put it down but I also found myself frustrated with it.
First up, the premise is perfect. Mortal farm girl Ever and her bestie/adopted sister Erryn are taken to the northern land of the mystics to try and survive 7 deadly trials to secure a place as one of the Ten - a new mortal squad to work for the mystics and in return receive magic.
The story has everything you want, trials, magic, mysterious kingdoms, unknown backstories, a Fourth Wing-esque military academy, found family and of course a brooding, royal, hot-as-fuck commander.
I loved the plot, the characters and the world, and I’ll definitely keep up with the sequel, but I did have some issues with the book.
It felt like the author couldn’t decide if the training school/commanders were brutal or bantery. One minute they’re not batting an eyelid at them dying or threatening people who step out of line, then the next minute they’re cracking jokes and treating them to nights at the pub. It was just a weird dynamic.
Then there were some moments that just needed sooooo much more time put into them. The book is only 300 and something pages so for a fantasy it’s on the shorter side - so there was definitely room for more development. There would be scenes where the characters would just LEAP into something that felt really inauthentic and I found that really cringey. For example, if a commander and a new recruit have had a grand total of like 3 conversations, there shouldn’t be really deep and intense declarations, it just made it feel kinda creepy at points because he would just get really intense out of nowhere. It reminds me of that meme “what happened to hello? Good morning?” Cos like damn dude how are you this obsessed with someone you’ve spoken 24 words to in total.
Anyway, this is a solid story, but a sometimes disappointing book if that makes any sense. I reeaaaaaallly wanna know what happens next but I hope the follow ups have a few more pages and more of a chance for the characters and plot to develop a little more
First up, the premise is perfect. Mortal farm girl Ever and her bestie/adopted sister Erryn are taken to the northern land of the mystics to try and survive 7 deadly trials to secure a place as one of the Ten - a new mortal squad to work for the mystics and in return receive magic.
The story has everything you want, trials, magic, mysterious kingdoms, unknown backstories, a Fourth Wing-esque military academy, found family and of course a brooding, royal, hot-as-fuck commander.
I loved the plot, the characters and the world, and I’ll definitely keep up with the sequel, but I did have some issues with the book.
It felt like the author couldn’t decide if the training school/commanders were brutal or bantery. One minute they’re not batting an eyelid at them dying or threatening people who step out of line, then the next minute they’re cracking jokes and treating them to nights at the pub. It was just a weird dynamic.
Then there were some moments that just needed sooooo much more time put into them. The book is only 300 and something pages so for a fantasy it’s on the shorter side - so there was definitely room for more development. There would be scenes where the characters would just LEAP into something that felt really inauthentic and I found that really cringey. For example, if a commander and a new recruit have had a grand total of like 3 conversations, there shouldn’t be really deep and intense declarations, it just made it feel kinda creepy at points because he would just get really intense out of nowhere. It reminds me of that meme “what happened to hello? Good morning?” Cos like damn dude how are you this obsessed with someone you’ve spoken 24 words to in total.
Anyway, this is a solid story, but a sometimes disappointing book if that makes any sense. I reeaaaaaallly wanna know what happens next but I hope the follow ups have a few more pages and more of a chance for the characters and plot to develop a little more
February 27, 2025
*Possible Minor Spoilers*
Book Summary:
We follow Ever, our MFC, who is hellbent on getting revenge against the Mystics who killed her younger brother. When the Mystics announce a tournament that will give her a chance to join their ranks, she seizes the opportunity to get stronger and seek those who wronged her. However, there seems to be secrets and challenges at every turn, and there's a good chance her failing in this tournament means death.
My Review:
I really enjoyed this book!! The worldbuilding was beautifully done - immersive without being overwhelming, and I really loved the magic system too. Super interesting concept balancing different types of magic within one system, I'm super excited to learn more!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and some of their morally-grey ways/values! The development throughout the book for our main character Ever was great too, as we slowly get to see her begin to heal from her past. The side characters were also fantastic, Rogue and Erryn especially stand out. Calyx is a super intriguing character, and I wish we had learned more about him (but this is only book 1).
The slow-burn romance was great, and I loved the dynamic between our main characters. The book was also plot focused, without the romance being too much, which I loved.
The pacing started slightly slow for me, but it really kicked up and by the end of the book I just could not put it down!! The ending was fantastic, and has left me wishing I could read book 2 straight away!
Overall, I found this book to be super enjoyable read, and really good basis that can be expanded and explored in future books
Favourite Quotes:
'I swore I'd never be that broken, defenseless girl again.'
'He's the kindling to my fire, and I'm ready to burn.'
'...this is different. It’s deeper. She’s too much like fire. Too bright, too hot. I’m standing too close. And I find I don’t mind the heat of her flames. In fact, I yearn for more.'
Book Summary:
We follow Ever, our MFC, who is hellbent on getting revenge against the Mystics who killed her younger brother. When the Mystics announce a tournament that will give her a chance to join their ranks, she seizes the opportunity to get stronger and seek those who wronged her. However, there seems to be secrets and challenges at every turn, and there's a good chance her failing in this tournament means death.
My Review:
I really enjoyed this book!! The worldbuilding was beautifully done - immersive without being overwhelming, and I really loved the magic system too. Super interesting concept balancing different types of magic within one system, I'm super excited to learn more!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and some of their morally-grey ways/values! The development throughout the book for our main character Ever was great too, as we slowly get to see her begin to heal from her past. The side characters were also fantastic, Rogue and Erryn especially stand out. Calyx is a super intriguing character, and I wish we had learned more about him (but this is only book 1).
The slow-burn romance was great, and I loved the dynamic between our main characters. The book was also plot focused, without the romance being too much, which I loved.
The pacing started slightly slow for me, but it really kicked up and by the end of the book I just could not put it down!! The ending was fantastic, and has left me wishing I could read book 2 straight away!
Overall, I found this book to be super enjoyable read, and really good basis that can be expanded and explored in future books
Favourite Quotes:
'I swore I'd never be that broken, defenseless girl again.'
'He's the kindling to my fire, and I'm ready to burn.'
'...this is different. It’s deeper. She’s too much like fire. Too bright, too hot. I’m standing too close. And I find I don’t mind the heat of her flames. In fact, I yearn for more.'
March 15, 2025
"For anyone who has ever dreamed of fighting back. Revenge is coming"
Thankyou @samarasaward.author for the early copy!
A Flame Forged in Mist by @samarasaward.author
Releases: 4 April 2025
For ten years, Ever Tillman has yearned for revenge. When the Mystics announce a rare tournament that will grant ten mortals the gift of magic, she seizes the opportunity to grow stronger. The trials bring her goal within sight, and she'll stop at nothing to reach it.
Calyx Heartsworn wears many masks to hide his darker side. As the king's son, he's bound by duty to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success, and Calyx can't lose sight of his duty, yet Ever Tillman is the one distraction he can't ignore.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a spectacular read
The cover is stunning and it's content is even better - the vibes are incredible
It was fast paced and dynamic in plot like something is happening all the time so it never got boring to read, it feels very much both character and plot driven.
The plot itself is interesting, I'd love to eventually learn more about the conflict between the North and South.
The characters never felt flat or forced, they were enjoyable and relatable, especially the way they interacted with each other - Shep, Rogue, Calyx, and Ever were some favourites.
I love the found-family-sisterhood between Ever and Erryn, found family is a for sure way to get into my heart - go ahead and bond over your traumas, hell yeah!
The magic system is so fun, I love a mysterious higher being that bestows power onto its little children, and the world building is informative without being too much at once.
The only thing I disliked? The reaction to their lips touching for not even half a second - it felt very overdone and unrealistic for them to be like "he/she is everything, I'll burn mountains for him/her".
I do ABSOLUTELY recommend reading this when it releases!
Thankyou @samarasaward.author for the early copy!
A Flame Forged in Mist by @samarasaward.author
Releases: 4 April 2025
For ten years, Ever Tillman has yearned for revenge. When the Mystics announce a rare tournament that will grant ten mortals the gift of magic, she seizes the opportunity to grow stronger. The trials bring her goal within sight, and she'll stop at nothing to reach it.
Calyx Heartsworn wears many masks to hide his darker side. As the king's son, he's bound by duty to oversee the mortal trials. The fate of the North depends on his success, and Calyx can't lose sight of his duty, yet Ever Tillman is the one distraction he can't ignore.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a spectacular read
The cover is stunning and it's content is even better - the vibes are incredible
It was fast paced and dynamic in plot like something is happening all the time so it never got boring to read, it feels very much both character and plot driven.
The plot itself is interesting, I'd love to eventually learn more about the conflict between the North and South.
The characters never felt flat or forced, they were enjoyable and relatable, especially the way they interacted with each other - Shep, Rogue, Calyx, and Ever were some favourites.
I love the found-family-sisterhood between Ever and Erryn, found family is a for sure way to get into my heart - go ahead and bond over your traumas, hell yeah!
The magic system is so fun, I love a mysterious higher being that bestows power onto its little children, and the world building is informative without being too much at once.
The only thing I disliked? The reaction to their lips touching for not even half a second - it felt very overdone and unrealistic for them to be like "he/she is everything, I'll burn mountains for him/her".
I do ABSOLUTELY recommend reading this when it releases!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews