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The Severed Era trilogy #1
A Realm Undone
Not yet published
Expected 20 Jan 26Centuries ago, mortals split the realm into two, with a magical veil placed firmly between them and their immortal rulers, the Tiarcons. Fueled by stolen magic, the mortal kingdoms flourished, but the Tiarcons never stopped trying to reclaim their magic and mortal subjects. And now, generations later, the veil between realms has begun to tear, letting immortal monsters ravage across the nations and threaten all the mortals have built.
Alia Meador would happily watch the mortal kingdoms buckle, as long as she could keep herself and her teenaged daughter, Lena, alive. After all, her own kingdom of Mandal, cast her out for her volatile magic, sending her to wander remote villages for decades. But when the treatment for Lena's illness comes along with a royal order to defend Mandal with the same magic they once spurned, Alia is caught between protecting the one person she loves and the reckoning she's so long desired.
With every moment spent in Mandal, Alia is subjected to the grasping of her ruthless family, a traitorous mage determined to understand the extent of her power, and the allure of the prince she once loved. And with every immortal confrontation, Alia's magic comes closer and closer to consuming her.
As the balance between realms shifts, Alia has to decide if her realm is worth saving, or if it all needs to be undone.
Alia Meador would happily watch the mortal kingdoms buckle, as long as she could keep herself and her teenaged daughter, Lena, alive. After all, her own kingdom of Mandal, cast her out for her volatile magic, sending her to wander remote villages for decades. But when the treatment for Lena's illness comes along with a royal order to defend Mandal with the same magic they once spurned, Alia is caught between protecting the one person she loves and the reckoning she's so long desired.
With every moment spent in Mandal, Alia is subjected to the grasping of her ruthless family, a traitorous mage determined to understand the extent of her power, and the allure of the prince she once loved. And with every immortal confrontation, Alia's magic comes closer and closer to consuming her.
As the balance between realms shifts, Alia has to decide if her realm is worth saving, or if it all needs to be undone.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 20, 2026
4 people are currently reading
5657 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Lienhardt
1 book28 followersJL Lienhardt is a lifelong writer and reader of fantasy novels, favoring those that explore contemporary issues through engaging magical worlds. Her debut book is being published by Rising Action Publishing in 2026.
JL lives in Michigan with her family.
JL lives in Michigan with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 1, 2025
I read the new fantasy romance by debut author JL Lienhardt and gotta say- this book IS A HIT. I could NOT put it down, and the characters felt so alive I'm still thinking about them. Read this if you’re looking for a grown-up ACOTAR, beautiful world building, entertaining and complex characters that you’ll invest in, a touching love story, smart and emotional dialogue, and a screamingly gripping and fast-moving plot. What more could you ask for?!
You can tell the author is a fan of the genre and has thoughtfully and reverently built a series in which readers fall in love with a world that feels familiar and yet avoids the too-worn tropes and tired sexism of other fantasy novels. The dialogue in this book!!! So smart, the one-liners will surprise you and make you laugh, and the exploration of trauma and family betrayal is heartbreaking and compassionate.
This book follows a 30-something mother Alia and her teenaged daughter Lena who return to Alia’s kingdom of origin - despite Alia swearing she would never return - to seek healing for Lena's magical ailment that seems to be killing her. You’re immediately thrust into the kingdom with its charms, gossip, and evils, watching Alia rediscover relationships she loved alongside memories of great trauma. Her power grows, they are all in grave danger, and the reader is along for a wild ride.
It's so refreshing to have a strong woman MC who is not a teen, but a mom who actually acts her age. She is deeply flawed, but you know her bad decisions come from a real and relatable place. Between Alias relationship with Lena (they fight like a mom and teen daughter often do), her relationship with her heartwarming group of old friends, a former lover and a new sexy and mysterious Master Mage (the sexual tension!!! You will ship these two), and the larger existential battle between the moral realm and the immortal one- I was hooked from chapter 1.
Alia is the best kind of powerful (and a little mean) but never annoying heroine that you root for as she wades through her past to understand the power she wields in the present. Will she use that power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her??? You’ll have to see!!! Take a chance on this new author and you won’t be disappointed. JL Lienhardt really knows what she’s doing. Can’t wait for Book 2!!!!! I need to know what happens!!!!!!
You can tell the author is a fan of the genre and has thoughtfully and reverently built a series in which readers fall in love with a world that feels familiar and yet avoids the too-worn tropes and tired sexism of other fantasy novels. The dialogue in this book!!! So smart, the one-liners will surprise you and make you laugh, and the exploration of trauma and family betrayal is heartbreaking and compassionate.
This book follows a 30-something mother Alia and her teenaged daughter Lena who return to Alia’s kingdom of origin - despite Alia swearing she would never return - to seek healing for Lena's magical ailment that seems to be killing her. You’re immediately thrust into the kingdom with its charms, gossip, and evils, watching Alia rediscover relationships she loved alongside memories of great trauma. Her power grows, they are all in grave danger, and the reader is along for a wild ride.
It's so refreshing to have a strong woman MC who is not a teen, but a mom who actually acts her age. She is deeply flawed, but you know her bad decisions come from a real and relatable place. Between Alias relationship with Lena (they fight like a mom and teen daughter often do), her relationship with her heartwarming group of old friends, a former lover and a new sexy and mysterious Master Mage (the sexual tension!!! You will ship these two), and the larger existential battle between the moral realm and the immortal one- I was hooked from chapter 1.
Alia is the best kind of powerful (and a little mean) but never annoying heroine that you root for as she wades through her past to understand the power she wields in the present. Will she use that power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her??? You’ll have to see!!! Take a chance on this new author and you won’t be disappointed. JL Lienhardt really knows what she’s doing. Can’t wait for Book 2!!!!! I need to know what happens!!!!!!
October 17, 2025
A Realm Undone starts so strong, but unfortunately loses its grip so quickly. I devoured the first 50 pages in one sitting. Alia and Lena have such a real relationship that is written so well. I also enjoyed the non-traditional beginning. Starting sort of in the middle of Alia's story and seeing her meet up with old friends she hasn't seen in decade(s?) was a great way to introduce us to the world without a info dump.
However, after those first 50 pages I realized that I needed the info dump. And reminders. And context.
I spent a lot of this book feeling lost. I never quite felt like I had enough of an understanding of the world to fully appreciate the gravity of events as they occurred. Consequently, I never really cared about or even really knew what the plot was. Many characters were introduced with very brief qualifiers, that were not mentioned in follow up scenes, making it difficult for me to keep track of who was who. Blocking in conversation scenes was lacking, making emotional tone difficult to pick up on, and confusing the heck out of me when characters were suddenly a lot closer to each other than I had thought. Conversations tended to be abrupt and difficult to follow, as halfway through someone would say something that felt completely unrelated to everything said up to that point, but the other character followed the transition seamlessly, leaving me with only obscure context clues to figure out what they were talking about now.
Cormac has the personality of a rock. I want to kick him down the street and into the sewer.
But Alia. I stuck around as long as I did for her. Hat's off to JL Lienhardt for having the balls to write a complex and sometimes downright unlikable main character in her debut novel. You can tell that a lot of love went in to crafting Alia and her relationship with her daughter Lena, and I wish we had gotten a little bit more of it. I actually think some Lena POV chapters would have really added to the story. Alia is a grown woman, but she has suffered a lot in her past, and has never really confronted her suffering. Consequently, her secrets affect her personality and her relationship with her daughter in a really realistic way. She makes some mistakes, and sometimes she recognizes that they are mistakes, and other times she does not. She keeps all of her old friends at an arm's length, which makes sense, given her exile from them was a direct result of her trauma. I wanted to DNF earlier, but pushed through for Alia's sake. Unfortunately the deeper I got the less I cared about the plot and was really ready to move on to something else.
DNF @ 73%. Something just wasn't clicking for my brain, and reading began to feel like a chore.
I would recommend A Realm Undone to readers looking for a fantasy series with a complex mother/daughter relationship, very powerful magical threats, and older main characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for a fair review.
However, after those first 50 pages I realized that I needed the info dump. And reminders. And context.
I spent a lot of this book feeling lost. I never quite felt like I had enough of an understanding of the world to fully appreciate the gravity of events as they occurred. Consequently, I never really cared about or even really knew what the plot was. Many characters were introduced with very brief qualifiers, that were not mentioned in follow up scenes, making it difficult for me to keep track of who was who. Blocking in conversation scenes was lacking, making emotional tone difficult to pick up on, and confusing the heck out of me when characters were suddenly a lot closer to each other than I had thought. Conversations tended to be abrupt and difficult to follow, as halfway through someone would say something that felt completely unrelated to everything said up to that point, but the other character followed the transition seamlessly, leaving me with only obscure context clues to figure out what they were talking about now.
Cormac has the personality of a rock. I want to kick him down the street and into the sewer.
But Alia. I stuck around as long as I did for her. Hat's off to JL Lienhardt for having the balls to write a complex and sometimes downright unlikable main character in her debut novel. You can tell that a lot of love went in to crafting Alia and her relationship with her daughter Lena, and I wish we had gotten a little bit more of it. I actually think some Lena POV chapters would have really added to the story. Alia is a grown woman, but she has suffered a lot in her past, and has never really confronted her suffering. Consequently, her secrets affect her personality and her relationship with her daughter in a really realistic way. She makes some mistakes, and sometimes she recognizes that they are mistakes, and other times she does not. She keeps all of her old friends at an arm's length, which makes sense, given her exile from them was a direct result of her trauma. I wanted to DNF earlier, but pushed through for Alia's sake. Unfortunately the deeper I got the less I cared about the plot and was really ready to move on to something else.
DNF @ 73%. Something just wasn't clicking for my brain, and reading began to feel like a chore.
I would recommend A Realm Undone to readers looking for a fantasy series with a complex mother/daughter relationship, very powerful magical threats, and older main characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for a fair review.
October 2, 2025
A promising idea with a lackluster execution.
“A Realm Undone” forces Alia to return to Court where she must face justice for the crimes of her past and all she left behind when her daughter is in desperate need of a healer. A prisoner in the place she once called home she tries to navigate her powers of Undoing and ensure her daughter’s safety as darkness closes in threatening to take all that she loves from her for good.
I was so excited when I got this book and it has taken me so long to get through it. It’s rare, for me at least, to have a fantasy novel center around an older woman who is also a mother. Adding that relationship creates a complexity where not only is she navigating loyalty and danger to protect herself but also to protect her daughter Lena. They have this back and forth where it both are willing to run head first into danger of it means saving the other or just because it is in their nature and that tug of war between responsibility to your nature and your king vs to your role in a family would be more impactful if it didn’t feel like the same fight happening ever chapter. There’s a lot of fade to black to move the plot along and I got lost on which character was which and if they were good or not and if I’m honest the magic system was a bit muddy too it just seemed like a lot of ideas crammed together so you didn’t forget them later when maybe it would have worked better.
Having Alia return to the palace where she has to answer for her hasty exit and where she’s been the whole time was one of the more fun parts because again it broke the usual formula of first introductions to those relationships and romantic interests. There is love stories here and deep deep wounds and I wish we really felt that more because despite Alia feeling like she was above it all she really wasn’t and we don’t get a lot of growth from her to accept that she is just as imperfect as her old friends and flames.
This was a rougher read for me which is so disappointing because again I really wanted to sink into such a different point of view and character arch and it seems like I’ll just have to hope it finds me again at a different time.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“A Realm Undone” forces Alia to return to Court where she must face justice for the crimes of her past and all she left behind when her daughter is in desperate need of a healer. A prisoner in the place she once called home she tries to navigate her powers of Undoing and ensure her daughter’s safety as darkness closes in threatening to take all that she loves from her for good.
I was so excited when I got this book and it has taken me so long to get through it. It’s rare, for me at least, to have a fantasy novel center around an older woman who is also a mother. Adding that relationship creates a complexity where not only is she navigating loyalty and danger to protect herself but also to protect her daughter Lena. They have this back and forth where it both are willing to run head first into danger of it means saving the other or just because it is in their nature and that tug of war between responsibility to your nature and your king vs to your role in a family would be more impactful if it didn’t feel like the same fight happening ever chapter. There’s a lot of fade to black to move the plot along and I got lost on which character was which and if they were good or not and if I’m honest the magic system was a bit muddy too it just seemed like a lot of ideas crammed together so you didn’t forget them later when maybe it would have worked better.
Having Alia return to the palace where she has to answer for her hasty exit and where she’s been the whole time was one of the more fun parts because again it broke the usual formula of first introductions to those relationships and romantic interests. There is love stories here and deep deep wounds and I wish we really felt that more because despite Alia feeling like she was above it all she really wasn’t and we don’t get a lot of growth from her to accept that she is just as imperfect as her old friends and flames.
This was a rougher read for me which is so disappointing because again I really wanted to sink into such a different point of view and character arch and it seems like I’ll just have to hope it finds me again at a different time.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
September 29, 2025
It was foolish to mourn flowers, something that bloomed only to die.
DNF @ 43%. This book wasn't bad but I did get bored. I tried pushing through but my heart just wasn't in it.
The goods:
- Unmade Mages wield destruction magic. This is honestly kinda fascinating...they can detect old injuries and re-inflict them. This is especially potent when the...veil monsters? Monsters from the other side of the veil? Discordant monsters? Immortal creatures of terror? that apparently nobody else can kill start terrorizing the countryside.
- Unmade Mages are created, not born and it is through extremely traumatic circumstances that they are.
- Alia and Lena's relationship...this is literally a thirties mom with a teen daughter and the equal parts love and exasperation is real.
- Flickering is super cool - it's teleportation! Easy peasy!
- Flora is a goddamn delight.
The mehs:
- I'm almost halfway through and she's just now forced into killing monsters so not a lot has really happened other than her getting imprisoned for daring to return to the palace to save her daughter, magic lessons for her daughter, and now monster unmaking (but the battles don't feel super charged to me)
- Romance option is hinted at with the Master Mage and I don't really feel like Alia and Dorian even have a connection
- Relationships in general (outside of Alia and Lena) don't feel like they have any real connection...I'm not getting the emotion behind them
The bads:
- Alia sleeping with her sister's husband (her old lover) leaves an awful taste in my mouth...I don't care that their magical pairing supposedly never severed. I do not like reading adultry, especially for someone with whom I'm supposed to be rooting for.
I think those that like slower-paced fantasy might enjoy this better than me.
Major thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC. Please note the quotation shown above may be altered or removed in the final version of the book.
September 23, 2025
“Undoing Mages aren’t born, they are made”
A treacherous society she once sought to rule, the king who formerly held her heart, a ruthless court entrenched with former allies, unexpected foreign enemies and a magic so powerful it threatens to consume her.
Alia Meador returns to it all in an effort to save the most important person in her life, her daughter.
A Realm Undone is a fast paced, magic-entrenched tale. It exposes brutal and raw emotions while balancing redemption and healing. I throughly enjoyed this story and felt so deeply for its many layered characters. The worldbuilding weaves folklore with traditional high fantasy.
Alia, the FMC, being older and a mother brought a fresh tone to the book. Her wisdom was not gained peacefully and the journey to discover this adds an element lacking in many current fantasy novels.
Our author sets up a second and hopefully third book with purposeful but well done cliffhangers and loose threads. Action, romance, found family, yearning, betrayal, death, monstrous creatures, dark magic and more. This book packs a punch but balances action with a hard look at emotion and the crooked path to healing.
I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of this novel. Please note the quotation shown above may be altered or removed in the final version of the book.
A treacherous society she once sought to rule, the king who formerly held her heart, a ruthless court entrenched with former allies, unexpected foreign enemies and a magic so powerful it threatens to consume her.
Alia Meador returns to it all in an effort to save the most important person in her life, her daughter.
A Realm Undone is a fast paced, magic-entrenched tale. It exposes brutal and raw emotions while balancing redemption and healing. I throughly enjoyed this story and felt so deeply for its many layered characters. The worldbuilding weaves folklore with traditional high fantasy.
Alia, the FMC, being older and a mother brought a fresh tone to the book. Her wisdom was not gained peacefully and the journey to discover this adds an element lacking in many current fantasy novels.
Our author sets up a second and hopefully third book with purposeful but well done cliffhangers and loose threads. Action, romance, found family, yearning, betrayal, death, monstrous creatures, dark magic and more. This book packs a punch but balances action with a hard look at emotion and the crooked path to healing.
I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of this novel. Please note the quotation shown above may be altered or removed in the final version of the book.
December 6, 2025
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did, and part of that is on me. As I’ve said before, I’m a very character-forward reader. I enjoy a book most when I can get a sense of the characters. Don’t get me wrong, Alia is an interesting character, full of anger and grim resolve, but she’s also so very flat. When her friend Flora comes to talk to her, there’s no reaction from Alia; at least not an emotional one.
I can put together a list of Alia’s actions and interactions, but when it comes to her as a character, how she feels about people, what she thinks of them … I’ve got almost nothing. I’m told she loves her daughter and hates her parents, and to the author’s credit I do get the sense that Alia doesn’t like these comical, two dimensional villains twirling their mustaches in her direction, and that she obediently cares for her daughter the way the plot tells her to. But it’s so very rarely shown, and when it is it’s so brief and shallow and then back to the telling.
While I appreciate the idea of starting the book in the middle — with Alia coming home with a grown daughter to face a court of friends, enemies, and allies, I was left feeling like this was book three or four in a series, and everything was taken for granted. The book saw no need to build up tension or relationships because it could just tell me they were old friends, that they knew each other 20 years ago and everyone was hunky dory in picking up right where they’d left off.
No one cared where Alia had been in those past years, and Alia didn’t really care about what had happened to these people when she was gone. Instead everyone was focused on the immediate actions of magic training and monster killing. Again, that’s fine; the plot is solid and the writing is perfectly adequate. But Alia is a two dimensional character in a world of stand-ins who recite lines but have no personalities of their own.
Except Dorian. His is a more subtle personality, soft and yielding against Alia’s harsh determination. He is gentle — but don’t mistake gentle for kind — and the rapport between them almost works for me. In her scenes with Dorian Alia has more character, becomes more interesting, but with the focus of the book being primarily on action and dialogue, their moments don’t make up for the rest of the book.
The magic system is well done, the world building and plotting are sold and interesting. I just … I just wish there were a little more to the characters, and a lot more to their interactions. All that said, I will still be grabbing book two when it comes out.
Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
October 5, 2025
The Realm Undone introduces readers to Alia, a mage on the run from her past who chooses to confront it to save her teenage daughter. Her journey forces her to stop avoiding her trauma and the broken relationships she left behind when she escaped, all while leading her to find herself, make new healing connections, and discover her true strength even as her country tips toward a war that could expose her realm to the cruelties of immortals and monsters.
This book was a love letter to those who’ve suffered childhood trauma, who've felt broken because of it. In addition to some really phenomenal world building that creates a compelling, magical story, the main character’s arc is intriguing, satisfying, and powerful.
Things I loved:
From the first pages, there were many excellent curiosity seeds that drew me in. JL Lienhardt is skilled at weaving in small bits of backstory that made me hunger to know more about Alia and kept me turning pages. The reveals were well-spaced, making it feel like the reader got to know Alia and understand her past at the same rate as she confronted it, which was well done. It was also fun to meet characters via old resentments, pain, and anger instead of via standard first impressions.
The world building was one of my favorite parts. I felt like I had a great understanding of the Mandal society very early, and enjoyed watching Alia navigate — and push back against— the political maze of the Mandal court. There was great tension throughout, and the author subverted my expectations at multiple points in surprising-- yet satisfying-- ways, which speaks to the organic and consistent nature of the story and characters. Each of Alia's friends and family were flawed in ways that made them beautifully human. I also loved the relationship between Alia and her teen daughter. It was refreshing to read a fantasy novel where the main character is a powerful, middle-aged mom who, despite the ability to rip monsters to shreds, flinches when her daughter's disappointed in her and is still trying to figure it all out. More of this, please!! I also need more of the Tiarcons and their brutal, magical world.
Elements to love:
- feminine rage
- super-cool magic and monsters
- trauma recovery
- redemption
- slow burn
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and need the next one ASAP! I want to return to this world and need to know how this story ends.
Thank you to JL Lienhardt, Rising Action Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a love letter to those who’ve suffered childhood trauma, who've felt broken because of it. In addition to some really phenomenal world building that creates a compelling, magical story, the main character’s arc is intriguing, satisfying, and powerful.
Things I loved:
From the first pages, there were many excellent curiosity seeds that drew me in. JL Lienhardt is skilled at weaving in small bits of backstory that made me hunger to know more about Alia and kept me turning pages. The reveals were well-spaced, making it feel like the reader got to know Alia and understand her past at the same rate as she confronted it, which was well done. It was also fun to meet characters via old resentments, pain, and anger instead of via standard first impressions.
The world building was one of my favorite parts. I felt like I had a great understanding of the Mandal society very early, and enjoyed watching Alia navigate — and push back against— the political maze of the Mandal court. There was great tension throughout, and the author subverted my expectations at multiple points in surprising-- yet satisfying-- ways, which speaks to the organic and consistent nature of the story and characters. Each of Alia's friends and family were flawed in ways that made them beautifully human. I also loved the relationship between Alia and her teen daughter. It was refreshing to read a fantasy novel where the main character is a powerful, middle-aged mom who, despite the ability to rip monsters to shreds, flinches when her daughter's disappointed in her and is still trying to figure it all out. More of this, please!! I also need more of the Tiarcons and their brutal, magical world.
Elements to love:
- feminine rage
- super-cool magic and monsters
- trauma recovery
- redemption
- slow burn
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and need the next one ASAP! I want to return to this world and need to know how this story ends.
Thank you to JL Lienhardt, Rising Action Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2025
I read the new fantasy romance by debut author JL Lienhardt and gotta say- this book IS A HIT. I could NOT put it down, and the characters felt so alive I'm still thinking about them. Read this if you’re looking for a grown-up ACOTAR, beautiful world building, entertaining and complex characters that you’ll invest in, a touching love story, smart and emotional dialogue, and a screamingly gripping and fast-moving plot. What more could you ask for?!
You can tell the author is a fan of the genre and has thoughtfully and reverently built a series in which readers fall in love with a world that feels familiar and yet avoids the too-worn tropes and tired sexism of other fantasy novels. The dialogue in this book!!! So smart, the one-liners will surprise you and make you laugh, and the exploration of trauma and family betrayal is heartbreaking and compassionate.
This book follows a 30-something mother Alia and her teenaged daughter Lena who return to Alia’s kingdom of origin - despite Alia swearing she would never return - to seek healing for Lena's magical ailment that seems to be killing her. You’re immediately thrust into the kingdom with its charms, gossip, and evils, watching Alia rediscover relationships she loved alongside memories of great trauma. Her power grows, they are all in grave danger, and the reader is along for a wild ride.
It's so refreshing to have a strong woman MC who is not a teen, but a mom who actually acts her age. She is deeply flawed, but you know her bad decisions come from a real and relatable place. Between Alias relationship with Lena (they fight like a mom and teen daughter often do), her relationship with her heartwarming group of old friends, a former lover and a new sexy and mysterious Master Mage (the sexual tension!!! You will ship these two), and the larger existential battle between the moral realm and the immortal one- I was hooked from chapter 1.
Alia is the best kind of powerful (and a little mean) but never annoying heroine that you root for as she wades through her past to understand the power she wields in the present. Will she use that power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her??? You’ll have to see!!! Take a chance on this new author and you won’t be disappointed. JL Lienhardt really knows what she’s doing. Can’t wait for Book 2!!!!! I need to know what happens!!!!!!
You can tell the author is a fan of the genre and has thoughtfully and reverently built a series in which readers fall in love with a world that feels familiar and yet avoids the too-worn tropes and tired sexism of other fantasy novels. The dialogue in this book!!! So smart, the one-liners will surprise you and make you laugh, and the exploration of trauma and family betrayal is heartbreaking and compassionate.
This book follows a 30-something mother Alia and her teenaged daughter Lena who return to Alia’s kingdom of origin - despite Alia swearing she would never return - to seek healing for Lena's magical ailment that seems to be killing her. You’re immediately thrust into the kingdom with its charms, gossip, and evils, watching Alia rediscover relationships she loved alongside memories of great trauma. Her power grows, they are all in grave danger, and the reader is along for a wild ride.
It's so refreshing to have a strong woman MC who is not a teen, but a mom who actually acts her age. She is deeply flawed, but you know her bad decisions come from a real and relatable place. Between Alias relationship with Lena (they fight like a mom and teen daughter often do), her relationship with her heartwarming group of old friends, a former lover and a new sexy and mysterious Master Mage (the sexual tension!!! You will ship these two), and the larger existential battle between the moral realm and the immortal one- I was hooked from chapter 1.
Alia is the best kind of powerful (and a little mean) but never annoying heroine that you root for as she wades through her past to understand the power she wields in the present. Will she use that power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her??? You’ll have to see!!! Take a chance on this new author and you won’t be disappointed. JL Lienhardt really knows what she’s doing. Can’t wait for Book 2!!!!! I need to know what happens!!!!!!
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October 9, 2025I was so excited to dive into A Realm Undone, and while it took me a bit longer to get through than expected, it was definitely worth the journey. It’s rare to find a fantasy novel centered around an older woman who is also a mother, and this dynamic adds a compelling layer of complexity to the story. Lia’s fierce loyalty and sense of duty stretch beyond just herself—she’s constantly balancing the danger she faces with protecting her daughter Lena. Their relationship, full of tension and fierce protectiveness, drives much of the emotional weight of the book.
That said, the central conflict between loyalty to family, nature, and kingdom does feel repetitive at times, almost like the same fight rehashes itself each chapter. The story also relies on a lot of “fade to black” moments to move the plot forward, which occasionally made it tricky to keep track of who was who, their motivations, and even their allegiance. The magic system felt a little muddy too—there were many ideas introduced but not always fully developed, which made it harder to stay grounded in how it worked.
Despite these minor flaws, A Realm Undone is a fast-paced, magic-rich tale full of raw emotions, redemption, and healing. I thoroughly enjoyed the layered characters and the way the worldbuilding mixes folklore with traditional high fantasy elements. Lia is the kind of heroine who’s powerful and a little bit mean—but never annoying—and she’s someone you can’t help rooting for as she wrestles with her past and the immense power she holds.
Will she use her power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her? You’ll have to read to find out! JL Lienhardt is a promising new author who clearly knows her craft. I can’t wait for Book 2—I need to know what happens next!
That said, the central conflict between loyalty to family, nature, and kingdom does feel repetitive at times, almost like the same fight rehashes itself each chapter. The story also relies on a lot of “fade to black” moments to move the plot forward, which occasionally made it tricky to keep track of who was who, their motivations, and even their allegiance. The magic system felt a little muddy too—there were many ideas introduced but not always fully developed, which made it harder to stay grounded in how it worked.
Despite these minor flaws, A Realm Undone is a fast-paced, magic-rich tale full of raw emotions, redemption, and healing. I thoroughly enjoyed the layered characters and the way the worldbuilding mixes folklore with traditional high fantasy elements. Lia is the kind of heroine who’s powerful and a little bit mean—but never annoying—and she’s someone you can’t help rooting for as she wrestles with her past and the immense power she holds.
Will she use her power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her? You’ll have to read to find out! JL Lienhardt is a promising new author who clearly knows her craft. I can’t wait for Book 2—I need to know what happens next!
October 16, 2025
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I have to say, I have mixed feelings about this one. The premise immediately caught my attention—a mature protagonist, a world divided between mortals and immortals, and a mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the story. I really appreciated that Alia wasn’t the typical young heroine we often see in fantasy; her perspective as an older woman and a mother added emotional depth and a refreshing dynamic that I don’t often find in this genre. The worldbuilding was also intriguing, with its layered history and the tension between realms—it had all the ingredients for an epic, emotional story.
However, I struggled a bit with the writing style. Although the plot and characters interested me, the prose made it difficult for me to stay fully engaged, and I found my attention wandering more than I would have liked. There were moments of brilliance, but overall, it felt like the flow of the story didn’t quite pull me in as deeply as I hoped. Still, I think the concept and characters have a lot of potential, and readers who enjoy rich, slow-paced fantasy with complex relationships will probably connect with it more than I did. For me, it’s a solid 4 stars for creativity, depth, and ambition, even if the execution didn’t completely work for me.
However, I struggled a bit with the writing style. Although the plot and characters interested me, the prose made it difficult for me to stay fully engaged, and I found my attention wandering more than I would have liked. There were moments of brilliance, but overall, it felt like the flow of the story didn’t quite pull me in as deeply as I hoped. Still, I think the concept and characters have a lot of potential, and readers who enjoy rich, slow-paced fantasy with complex relationships will probably connect with it more than I did. For me, it’s a solid 4 stars for creativity, depth, and ambition, even if the execution didn’t completely work for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all, I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
From the synopsis, I was captivated by the book's premise, mainly because of what I could see of the world-building and the mother-daughter dynamic. It was refreshing to see a protagonist who wasn't a nearly teenage girl with extraordinary powers, but a mother with a depth that extended to how she used her powers. Initially, I thought I had guessed the entire plot of the book, which happens constantly since I work with books and edit them, especially in the fantasy genre... but I was warmly surprised, and it was wonderful. As the story unfolded, everything fell into place, especially Alia's complex and revealing journey. I didn't expect to become so attached to her, Lena, and Dorian. I really cared more and more about these people, as if they were part of my circle of friends, and I was genuinely afraid for them. And I still am.
I believe that, for me, the best parts of the book were the world-building and the truth about Alia and Lena, and I strongly suggest that everyone read it to draw their own conclusions. The writing is also beautiful, at times poetic and reflective. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
From the synopsis, I was captivated by the book's premise, mainly because of what I could see of the world-building and the mother-daughter dynamic. It was refreshing to see a protagonist who wasn't a nearly teenage girl with extraordinary powers, but a mother with a depth that extended to how she used her powers. Initially, I thought I had guessed the entire plot of the book, which happens constantly since I work with books and edit them, especially in the fantasy genre... but I was warmly surprised, and it was wonderful. As the story unfolded, everything fell into place, especially Alia's complex and revealing journey. I didn't expect to become so attached to her, Lena, and Dorian. I really cared more and more about these people, as if they were part of my circle of friends, and I was genuinely afraid for them. And I still am.
I believe that, for me, the best parts of the book were the world-building and the truth about Alia and Lena, and I strongly suggest that everyone read it to draw their own conclusions. The writing is also beautiful, at times poetic and reflective. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
A mother-daughter duo must grapple with both the horrors of invasion and courtly politics in this fantasy novel. Magic can be both a blessing and a curse, a fact Alia knows all too well. Tackling abuse and trauma, as well as, the desires to make the world a safer place for her child we witness a world that must change or be destroyed entirely.
I enjoyed the premise and building blocks set in place for this world, however the actual magic system and world-building fell flat. This felt more like a late-stage draft rather than a finished work ready to print. I couldn't care less about a single member of the cast, and while I know all too well that trauma causes the brain to react in rash ways when things go awry the protagonist felt at times far too young and naïve to be a middle-aged mother.
Bummer this one didn't hit home for me, as I love death magic and playing around with courtly politicking...
A mother-daughter duo must grapple with both the horrors of invasion and courtly politics in this fantasy novel. Magic can be both a blessing and a curse, a fact Alia knows all too well. Tackling abuse and trauma, as well as, the desires to make the world a safer place for her child we witness a world that must change or be destroyed entirely.
I enjoyed the premise and building blocks set in place for this world, however the actual magic system and world-building fell flat. This felt more like a late-stage draft rather than a finished work ready to print. I couldn't care less about a single member of the cast, and while I know all too well that trauma causes the brain to react in rash ways when things go awry the protagonist felt at times far too young and naïve to be a middle-aged mother.
Bummer this one didn't hit home for me, as I love death magic and playing around with courtly politicking...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars rounded up!
I really loved the unique ideas and the politics in a realm undone. JL Lienhardt has done a great job of building up a complex world, magic system and believable characters.
I like a morally grey heroine and Alia is one who is very grey, she makes some questionable choices but I still found myself rooting for her. The thing I liked most about this book was the unique choice of bringing the reader in as Alia is returning to the palace, its rare in a fantasy novel that the reader feels like an outsider, usually our POV character has given us all the info that we need but I felt like everyone knew exactly what to expect except me (and maybe Lena). I kind of enjoyed the confusion and trying to figure out where everyone fit in.
This book did a slower pace and some of the dialogue felt stilted but I think that was the result of a debut writer finding her feet. I’m definitely invested enough to continue with the trilogy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I really loved the unique ideas and the politics in a realm undone. JL Lienhardt has done a great job of building up a complex world, magic system and believable characters.
I like a morally grey heroine and Alia is one who is very grey, she makes some questionable choices but I still found myself rooting for her. The thing I liked most about this book was the unique choice of bringing the reader in as Alia is returning to the palace, its rare in a fantasy novel that the reader feels like an outsider, usually our POV character has given us all the info that we need but I felt like everyone knew exactly what to expect except me (and maybe Lena). I kind of enjoyed the confusion and trying to figure out where everyone fit in.
This book did a slower pace and some of the dialogue felt stilted but I think that was the result of a debut writer finding her feet. I’m definitely invested enough to continue with the trilogy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
December 20, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. For the first 20% to 25% I was a bit skeptical and unsure how I felt about the story - I didn't love the characters and I was confused by the plot - but the author really turned it around. As the plot picked up I found myself unable to put the book down. I also ended up loving the characters and just wanting what was best for them. Alia was such a strong MC and her growth throughout this book was so great to see unfold. Lena was a headstrong young woman and her journey to discover her own power and strength was so fun and different to other fantasy novels. I also adored Dorian, our resident Master Mage. He intrigued me from the start. I absolutely cannot wait to find out what the next installment of the series has in store for him, especially after that cliff-hanger. This is 100% a book/series that I would recommend. Thank you Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the eARC of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
An endearing and well written story full of complex women I was rooting for. Grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher.
A Realm Undone feels like a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, complete with a strong, atypical, FMC and interesting foes. Fans of the Witcher games will adore this book’s world building and lore.
I so appreciated Alia’s journey to reconcile with her dark past, and relatable struggles growing into womanhood. While pacing sometimes felt slow, the character building and anticipation kept me hooked. A fantastic read with a rewarding ending. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.
#ARealmUndone #SeveredEra
An endearing and well written story full of complex women I was rooting for. Grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher.
A Realm Undone feels like a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, complete with a strong, atypical, FMC and interesting foes. Fans of the Witcher games will adore this book’s world building and lore.
I so appreciated Alia’s journey to reconcile with her dark past, and relatable struggles growing into womanhood. While pacing sometimes felt slow, the character building and anticipation kept me hooked. A fantastic read with a rewarding ending. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.
#ARealmUndone #SeveredEra
November 7, 2025
A debut novel by an author that is just amazing. I love a good book that has amazing dialogue - and this book delivers that in loads!! I found myself laughing out loud. And the characters? Well, lets say that it is refreshing to have a mother as the MC instead of a teenager. And, though having her own struggles the theme of redemption rings through the entire story. She is the right kind of powerful, the kind that resonates with women in general.
The story is great, fast paced and hard to put down. This author has moved to the top of my list with this book.
The story is great, fast paced and hard to put down. This author has moved to the top of my list with this book.
September 18, 2025
The Realm Undone is an amazing book filled with engaging characters with complicated relationships. You will have questions answered as the book unfolds itself, revealing love, betrayal, friendships, and evil. The book is filled with action and suspense, strong emotions, painful insights, and intriguing motivations. it is a story of love, friendship, and of pushing yourself to the brink for what you hold dear in your heart. I can't wait to see what else needs to be done to save the realm!
July 1, 2025
I read the new fantasy romance by debut author JL Lienhardt and gotta say- this book IS A HIT. I could NOT put it down, and the characters felt so alive I'm still thinking about them. Read this if you’re looking for a grown-up ACOTAR, beautiful world building, entertaining and complex characters that you’ll invest in, a touching love story, smart and emotional dialogue, and a screamingly gripping and fast-moving plot. What more could you ask for?!
You can tell the author is a fan of the genre and has thoughtfully and reverently built a series in which readers fall in love with a world that feels familiar and yet avoids the too-worn tropes and tired sexism of other fantasy novels. The dialogue in this book!!! So smart, the one-liners will surprise you and make you laugh, and the exploration of trauma and family betrayal is heartbreaking and compassionate.
This book follows a 30-something mother Alia and her teenaged daughter Lena who return to Alia’s kingdom of origin - despite Alia swearing she would never return - to seek healing for Lena's magical ailment that seems to be killing her. You’re immediately thrust into the kingdom with its charms, gossip, and evils, watching Alia rediscover relationships she loved alongside memories of great trauma. Her power grows, they are all in grave danger, and the reader is along for a wild ride.
It's so refreshing to have a strong woman MC who is not a teen, but a mom who actually acts her age. She is deeply flawed, but you know her bad decisions come from a real and relatable place. Between Alias relationship with Lena (they fight like a mom and teen daughter often do), her relationship with her heartwarming group of old friends, a former lover and a new sexy and mysterious Master Mage (the sexual tension!!! You will ship these two), and the larger existential battle between the moral realm and the immortal one- I was hooked from chapter 1.
Alia is the best kind of powerful (and a little mean) but never annoying heroine that you root for as she wades through her past to understand the power she wields in the present. Will she use that power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her??? You’ll have to see!!! Take a chance on this new author and you won’t be disappointed. JL Lienhardt really knows what she’s doing. Can’t wait for Book 2!!!!! I need to know what happens!!!!!!
You can tell the author is a fan of the genre and has thoughtfully and reverently built a series in which readers fall in love with a world that feels familiar and yet avoids the too-worn tropes and tired sexism of other fantasy novels. The dialogue in this book!!! So smart, the one-liners will surprise you and make you laugh, and the exploration of trauma and family betrayal is heartbreaking and compassionate.
This book follows a 30-something mother Alia and her teenaged daughter Lena who return to Alia’s kingdom of origin - despite Alia swearing she would never return - to seek healing for Lena's magical ailment that seems to be killing her. You’re immediately thrust into the kingdom with its charms, gossip, and evils, watching Alia rediscover relationships she loved alongside memories of great trauma. Her power grows, they are all in grave danger, and the reader is along for a wild ride.
It's so refreshing to have a strong woman MC who is not a teen, but a mom who actually acts her age. She is deeply flawed, but you know her bad decisions come from a real and relatable place. Between Alias relationship with Lena (they fight like a mom and teen daughter often do), her relationship with her heartwarming group of old friends, a former lover and a new sexy and mysterious Master Mage (the sexual tension!!! You will ship these two), and the larger existential battle between the moral realm and the immortal one- I was hooked from chapter 1.
Alia is the best kind of powerful (and a little mean) but never annoying heroine that you root for as she wades through her past to understand the power she wields in the present. Will she use that power to save the mortal realm that turned its back on her??? You’ll have to see!!! Take a chance on this new author and you won’t be disappointed. JL Lienhardt really knows what she’s doing. Can’t wait for Book 2!!!!! I need to know what happens!!!!!!
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