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The Inkweaver Archive #4

The Unleashed Storm

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Warrior. General. Queen.

Arya Stormrider has claimed her name and her heritage, only to be betrayed by one of her closest friends. Locked inside Blackstone Prison with no access to Elendryl or her magic, Arya has to fight for her very survival. Blackstone houses the most dangerous prisoners, and deep inside its dark walls, Arya learns of the terrible fractures that divide the people of Andahar.

Meanwhile, war rages in Dunidaen as the Nightstalker’s army batters the Dunidae forces. Arya’s Sky Lord cairdre are scattered, hunted and unwilling to be unified into a weapon to strike at the Nightstalker.

There’s no more time for hiding or planning. Arya needs to break out of a place no prisoner has ever escaped from so she can get back to those she loves and fulfil her destiny. To unseat the most powerful Sky Lord that ever existed and defeat his army, Arya is going to have to achieve the impossible.

Unite her cairdre. Unite her people.

And destroy Lucius Nightstalker.

475 pages, Paperback

Published May 25, 2025

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20 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Cassidy

18 books256 followers
Lisa is a fantasy author by day and book nerd in every other spare moment she has. She’s a self-confessed coffee snob (don’t try coming near her with any of that instant coffee rubbish) but is willing to accept all other hot drink aficionados, even tea drinkers.

She lives in Australia’s capital city, Canberra, and like all Australians, is pretty much in constant danger from highly poisonous spiders, crocodiles, sharks, and drop bears, to name a few. As you can see, she is also pro-Oxford comma.

A 2019 SPFBO finalist, and a finalist for the 2020 ACT Writers Fiction award, Lisa is the author of the young adult fantasy series The Mage Chronicles, and epic fantasy series A Tale of Stars and Shadow. She recently completed the final book in her latest series, The Inkweaver Archive, and is currently working on a secret New Thing.

Lisa has also partnered up with One Girl, an Australian charity working to build a world where all girls have access to quality education. A world where all girls — no matter where they are born or how much money they have — enjoy the same rights and opportunities as boys. A percentage of all Lisa’s royalties go to One Girl.

Lisa loves to chat to her readers! Check out her website for free bonus content, details on her street team, and info on her reader forum, the Inkweavers (lisacassidyauthor).

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley Hobsonreads.
179 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2025
Arya Stormrider has been betrayed by one of her closest friends just as she’s claimed her name and heritage. Thrown into Blackstone Prison without access to her Wyvern or magic, she will be tested to her limits as she attempts to survive the dangerous prisoners and eventually escape.

Meanwhile, the Nightstalker’s army batters the Dunidaen forces and the other kingdoms as he attempts to conquer all and find the rest of her scattered cairdre.

Will Arya be able to break free, unseat the most powerful Sky Lord that has ever existed and also unite the deeply divided kingdom she is heir to? Only time will tell.

This was a FANTASTIC last book to the series. Arya is a formidable strategic genius who is a kick ass fighter. All the things you want in an FMC and so bloody inspiring. You can see where the story is trying to go but Lisa still bloody surprises you with how it gets there. She gives you just enough of a hint to keep you interested then throws plot twists at you to keep you on your toes. There’s a bitter sweetness to the ending but it definitely feels like it was the perfect fit. I almost feel bereft that there isn’t another in the series to read but I will definitely be investigating more of this brilliant author’s works!
Profile Image for Theresa Sandifer.
107 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2025
I have waited to review this series until I finished the whole thing because I kept hoping I would get to like the main character, Arya. By the end I could tolerate her but I still didn't like her. She was always angry, often mean, and super cranky. This in no way detracted from my love for the books and for pretty much anything Lisa Cassidy writes, but it was definitely a new feeling for me while reading one of her books.
I often dislike characters— rarely would I stick with a book where I dislike the main character—but the story, setting, characters, and world were engaging and wonderful, so I never even thought of stopping reading. One of the reasons that I cannot read Sarah J Maas is because I dislike her main characters and she inevitably kills off the characters I do like.
Back to The Inkweaver Archive, I found that Lisa still writes some of the most compelling fantasy that I have ever read. Her characters are really well developed, her worlds are completely thought out, and the plots and twists are captivating. Her work doesn't suffer from the two plagues that many multi-book series do; using the middle books to develop the world and explain the things that didn't make sense before, and sending characters on side quests (for no good reason) to different locations because that is where they have to be for the last book ; and getting to the last book with no idea how this is going to end and just writing until something seems like a good place to stop.
Thank you Lisa for knowing your story before you write it and for writing it so well.
3 reviews
August 28, 2025
Disclaimer: I read this series after completing the Malazan Book of the Fallen (Witness!), The Wheel of Time, and the Stormlight Archive (what is released). Which, more than likely influenced, clouded, and some may argue, contaminated, my thoughts about Inkweaver.

I read all four books, with The Unleashed Storm being the final of the series. I won't be writing my thoughts for each book, however, I will write some thoughts on the series as a whole, which emphasizes the fourth book.

Arya being a street orphan who stumbled into military life: caught my attention. This is a foundation for an interesting character. However, in spite of climbing through the ranks, this character is plagued by anxiety and doubt by the final book. Moreover, Arya becomes important (i.e. plot critical) because she inherits magical powers from her ancestry; which takes away from her initial character development of overcoming obstacles which show up in front of her. On a side note (and spoiler): I understand Arya's concern for her child - but the constant reminder was distracting enough I stopped caring. Based on how Arya developed in the story - I expected refined rage rather than sporadic panic. Unleash the Storm! Not tears.

The other dragon riders, while unique in personality, were not as developed as I would have preferred. I was starting to see some growth by the fourth and final book. (A more pronounced acknowledgment of the romance between Essa and a certain assassin would have been lovely.) However, I the roles each character filled were familiar and comfortable for a routine fantasy reader.

The "magic system" caught my attention: magically connected dragon riders. This gave me "Eragon" vibes. Yet the dragons were more feral and less sophisticated, which I appreciated. I would have enjoyed learning more about how Arya et al. learned about their magical properties from their own experiences rather than being taught by an obscure and secluded academic. (If you have read the book you know who this is...if not, you'll find out.)

The fragmented factions/nations as a theme was duplicated for Arya's home and the Nightstalkers' subjugated people. I was hoping for more variety.

Overall, I was under the impression the book series evolved into a "coming of age" journey.

I did not write this to be critical or pejorative of the story. But to express my frustration with being hooked into a story without having the expected reward. I wanted more, which is why I continued to read the story. The ending felt too quick. The characters a little less polished than ideal.

If anything, I wanted more depth. More of the Storm! Miss Cassidy if you ever read this, or stumble across these words...don't take them as discouraging. I implore you to delve deeper into your stories. If anything, I plead your efforts evolve from the young adult genre to adult genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
77 reviews
May 24, 2025
An exciting and satisfying end to the Inkweaver Archive, probably the second-best series finale Cassidy has written, after the final book of the Mage Chronicles.

This is a bit of the black sheep among Lisa Cassidy's four series. There's a huge and sprawling cast of characters, and a very rough start that eventually develops into a great story in books 2 and 3. The disorganization of the beginning of the series starts to rear its head a little in this one, where imperfect threads eventually have to be tied up. Still, there are three crazy plot twists, two of which I did not see coming at all, which are so good that they kind of let this book work despite a lot of moving parts and long military strategy scenes.

There are a lot of things to like about this series. The direction Arya's character takes throughout the series, and especially in this book, is both at odds with Cassidy's previous books and with many female protagonists in epic fantasy. While there are too many characters, the various iconic names and callbacks to previous books have a lot of charm. When even the main supporting characters don't really feel like their relationships are justified sometimes, some of these end up being for good reason and used very effectively as plot points. One thing I complained about in my review of the first book ended up being turned around quite brilliantly. In some ways, it takes until the end of the series to really realize the degree of the unreliability of Arya's third-person narration.

I enjoyed this series and continue to be a huge fan of Lisa Cassidy. I'd recommend the Inkweaver Archive to people who are fans of Lisa's other works, but probably not as a first step into her writing. It's a bit of a mishmash of individuality, which is lovely, but hard to market unless people are already fans of her writing and settings. I am looking forward to the possible ATOSAS sequel that keeps getting dangled, which should get more people back into reading her.
Profile Image for Rosie Rizk.
488 reviews10 followers
June 15, 2025
Stuck in an inescapable prison while her country is at war, Arya has a long way to go before she can kill her nemesis and win a war. That makes her goals simple: first, escape a prison that steals her magic and where no one has ever escaped alive from before, and then save her country & destroy the Nightstalker. Very simple.

This book concluded the series, and it brought together all the skills and people that Arya worked with before. The one thing that sets Arya aside from the average soldier is her ability to strategize, even in the darkest situations. With all facts pointing to the impossibility of beating the Nightstalker, it will take a strategizing miracle for her to win.

I like how the Arya had to work through her emotions throughout this book - desperation to win, fear for her family's & friends' lives, loss, despair... But at the same time, this is Arya in her element, with her self confidence regained, taking control & being the commander she always dreamed of becoming. 

This book was set during a war, so the action is often quick paced. The plot moves around different battles and events, so we're not left reading about each swing of the sword. Arya and her friends also get to unleash some good powerful magic scenes.

Overall, this series was Arya's journey from a young raider, learning under a talented general & warlord, gaining friends, finding family, and working through trust issues with both her friends and enemies. It was a lifelong journey, not just the typical battle that's over in a year or two, and her character growth reflected that.

The more Arya learns about the country she means to rule, the more unlikely it seems they will accept her claim even if she does defeat the Nightstalker. From an infamous Inescapable prison to fighting an enemy who is always steps ahead of her, outnumbers her, and magically overpowers her, Arya will need to rely on all her allies, unite enemies, and perform the impossible to win & survive.
261 reviews2 followers
December 18, 2025
The Unleashed Storm is a thrilling and emotionally charged continuation of The Inkweaver Archive, delivering epic fantasy at its most intense and character-driven. This fourth installment thrusts Arya Stormrider into her darkest trial yet betrayed, imprisoned, stripped of her magic, and forced to survive within the brutal walls of Blackstone Prison.

Cassidy excels at raising both the emotional and political stakes. Arya’s imprisonment is not merely physical but symbolic, exposing the deep fractures within Andahar and challenging her understanding of leadership, loyalty, and power. Deprived of Elendryl and cut off from her cairdre, Arya’s resilience, ingenuity, and moral strength take center stage, making her evolution as warrior, general, and queen profoundly compelling.

Beyond the prison walls, the narrative expands into large-scale conflict as Lucius Nightstalker’s forces press relentlessly against Dunidaen. The scattered Sky Lord cairdre, once a source of overwhelming strength, now reflect the consequences of division and fear. Cassidy masterfully balances intimate character struggle with sweeping military conflict, ensuring the story remains grounded even as the stakes escalate toward destiny-shaping confrontation.

Rich world-building, relentless pacing, and a fierce, determined protagonist make The Unleashed Storm a standout entry in epic fantasy. Fans of high-stakes rebellion, powerful female leads, and stories of unity forged through hardship will find this novel both gripping and deeply satisfying.
43 reviews
April 29, 2025
This book is the perfect ending to the Inkweaver Archives. It is paced extremely well and has a good balance of dialogue, action, and description. Essa continues to be my favourite character in this series and her special power is really unique - it's so nice to still see creativity when it comes to dreaming up magical abilities. The development of the other characters in this book is also good, particularly Leanir (who I was finding a bit one-dimensionally grouchy until this book).

There are several heartstopping moments in this book, similar to past novels in this series, and you will not like the author for some of them! I will admit I correctly guessed one of the 'reveals', missed another one, and only partially guessed the one near the end involving all the Sky Lords (I was close though!), so it was still nice to be surprised by what the author had in store. I think final books can either make or break a series (similar to TV shows - just look at the final season of Game of Thrones, or Dexter) and this book definitely brings home the whole series for me.

Overall, this final novel is a fitting end and I think brings the series to a good close.

I received this as part of the ARC group in exchange for an honest review.
6 reviews
May 25, 2025
This is the 4th and final book in the Inkweaver Archive series and overall, it did not disappoint! It was fast-paced with lots of action as Arya and her various allies work to destroy the Nightstalker, the Nazals and the Nightblades. I found myself a little lost a few times (but that may have been because I was reading so fast so I could see what happened in the end) but I enjoyed the changing relationship between Arya and Leanir and I always love time with the wyverns! There were twists and turns, as there always are in Lisa's books. One I feel I saw coming, one surprised me and one I may never forgive Lisa for! Without giving anything else away, Cassidy fans will enjoy this finish to Arya's story!
27 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2025
The Unleashed Storm is the thrilling conclusion to the Inkweaver Archives.
Arya faces many battles in her quest to confront - and hopefully defeat - the evil Nightstalker, beginning with escaping from a supposedly inescapable prison.
Arya's success relies on her ability to forge relationships and build trust with people who don't easily trust others.
Her Cairdre is crucial to her plans and trust and openness is vital.
The Unleashed Storm features non-stop action, as Arya and her friends face grief and betrayal as they fight to overcome the obstacles in their path to freedom
Profile Image for little 📚 birdee.
9 reviews
April 21, 2025
🍂…thank you Lisa for this arc: oh my, yet another heart stopper from start to finish!… …Lisa just gets better with every new book she releases!… as this is an arc review, of course it won’t have any spoilers ~ i am just going to say this author is simply amazing ~ i would highly recommend reading this book along with all the others in this series ~ guaranteed that you’ll be extremely inspired by her writing and world building skills and hungering for more!!!…💭
12 reviews
June 15, 2025
This series does not disappoint! I was already attached to the characters from the previous books so loved how they have developed and had to devour the book to see what happens to them (no spoilers here). Cassidy has always written amazing fight scenes and took it to battle-level! Kudos to Cassidy for being such a generous storyteller book after book. I hear another series is in the works - can't wait!
Profile Image for Rosie.
70 reviews
June 19, 2025
An epic ending to the whole Inkweaver Archive series. I thoroughly enjoyed every battle, every challenge and never knowing what would happen next.

The way the storyline played out, it was perfect for how the main character, Arya, grew in each book.

Totally my favourite series of all Lisa Cassidy's books.



13 reviews
July 12, 2025
Awesome. The story of the Sky Lords and how their magic intertwines is fascinating. The strategic mind and clever plotting of Arya in her fight to defeat the night stalker keeps you on the edge of your seat. Another fantastic series finish from a great author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Debra .
7 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2025
Best book of the series - plenty of twists and turns and heartfelt moments. Certainly not formulaic and a real page turner.
22 reviews1 follower
July 20, 2025
Fantastic

I read all four books, one after the other. Couldn't put them down. Even read late into the night with one eye closed.
Would recommend Lisa Cassidy to every reader.
Profile Image for Kym's Open Books.
1,067 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2025
A deep betrayal leads Arya to be thrown into an impenetrable prison where the worst criminals reside. She cannot use her magic or Wyvern and is desperate to claim her place as queen. She still needs to fix her broken caidre and unite people where prejudices run deep. If she could only find a way to break out.
Not only was the book exciting from the start, it kept up the pace throughout. With fighting, betrayal and never ending powers, the story flew off the pages and I worried for Arya and her people. I could not see how the end was going to play out in time but Cassidy once again was able to surprise me and end this fabulous series on a high note. I’ll always love the worlds and characters Cassidy weaves into her books and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

The book is out now, you won’t want to miss this series! Thank you again to Lisa Cassidy for always trusting me with her writing!



CW:
F words= 2
Deaths (throat slit, beaten, small blood details, knife stab, wyvern eating person, battle with few details, grief)
Captivity (prison)
Physical violence (multiple fist fights, broken bones, battle with little fighting and blood details)
Intimacy (1x m/f closed door scene)
Alcohol
Previous child abuse (few details)
Prejudices
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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