Centa Isla

by Jack Hale

For Rissa Rawdon, a disgraced Versorcerer, an isolated death on the floating empire of Centa Isla seems inevitable... until dark forces stir beneath the city's towering shadows.

As demonic servants infiltrate the very foundations of the city, a fierce storm arrives, bringing with it a vengeful renegade.

In the chaos, Rissa glimpses a sliver of hope - a chance to reclaim control of her destiny and forge a new purpose in a world teetering on the edge of collapse.

434 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2025

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been very lucky to be able to read this book before the release date and I absolutely loved it.

With its unique magic system and intricate world building this is truly an amazing fantasy book accessible for both fantasy fans and those new to the genre.

I can't wait for you all to be able to read it upon its release on May 15th.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a book that will fully immerse you in a fantasy world of magic and adventure this is the book for you. It just keeps pulling you in and you find yourself thinking about it even when you aren’t reading it and wanting to get back to it. I could picture it all like I was watching a film- so descriptive. What really makes a good book great for me are the characters not just the story. Some great characters- even some that aren’t a main part- it makes you want their back story!! Great to find a new author, I look forward to more

[Matt Currey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a ride this book was. It’s a mix of fantasy, dystopian and sci fi mixed all into one and it does it flawlessly. All 3 genres fit seamlessly together in this whirlwind of a book from start to end.

I found myself loving each and every character from the main characters of Rissa and Gault to the side characters of Stanwyck and Celia. The writing style was so smooth with the change of POVs feeling right and not that you were jumping about at all.

Each character has their own personal journey alongside the main story and even some of the bad guys in the stories have their own personal journeys too.

The book also finished in a way that felt final but also left an opening for a second book which is absolutely perfect. I would 100% read another book if it came out.

I picked this up at Comic-Con and the author is a really kind genuine guy :)

[Pam Keevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a first insight into modern fantasy novels, I was intrigued to discover all the features and this book has it all; from magic to dystopian futures, twists and turns of plot, good versus evil, plenty of action, sometimes aided by strange powers, sorcerers and mysterious creatures. But I have to conclude fantasy is not for me. It will delight fans of the genre, I am sure.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book has a lot of potential, the world and your writing is really interesting and I really enjoyed!
Glad I got it signed too!!

[Sian Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and would have given it a 4.5 if I could give half stars. I loved the overall storyline, my only issues are really that I wanted a deeper insight into certain storylines, as it felt like by the end of the book I only had a surface level understanding of each character.

SPOILER WARNING. I found the idea of the Brands really intriguing, but felt like I was still confused about the system of the Brands by the end of the book, personally I would have preferred to have seen some flashbacks showing how the Brands became the Brands and why each one is which. Although I do think the book was a really good length, so I personally would have preferred a bit more explanation of this instead of some of the side storylines like the occasional scenes from Lachesis' perspective which I would have preferred to be more about how she became a Brand instead of her feelings in that moment about her brother, which felt like they never really concluded into anything, beyond her missing him once he dies.

I think the author's passion for this world came through so clearly for me, and I think the author's intrinsic understanding of the world led to some details being left out of the writing that would help readers who will not already have knowledge of the politics and hierarchies of this world.

Overall I loved this book and will definitely come back to it in the future to read again and try to gain more of an understanding of the world. And I will be keeping an eye out for any more books from Jack Hale in the future!

[Chris Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read, packed with interesting characters, a twisting plot and some imaginative world building. The action scenes are particularly well-written and to me had an anime/video game feel, like the fights in the Devil May Cry video-game series. The world has a kind of fantasy noir feel, kind of like the movie Dark City. It's an imprressively complex story as well, full of scheming factions and characters who may or may not be trust worthy. Altogether, it's a really compelling read, I'll definitely be looking out for more books from this author.

[Hobbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Not often a new fantasy book has something genuinely different to offer, and actually carry it off. This has a novel new world of magic, engaging characters and a great storyline. Stonkingly good first novel, I'm really looking forward to the next one.

[C J S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was a gripping read, lots of magic,dark magic, demons and plenty of fights