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Mystgate: Guardian Saga Volume One
Step into a world where magic, danger, and ancient secrets intertwine in Mystgate, the first book of the exhilarating Guardians Saga by Sandra Salas.
A human detective, a powerful witch, and a band of fierce Fae warriors unite on a perilous journey that will test their loyalty, their strength, and their very lives.
Join the battle. Unravel the mysteries of Tarrin. Discover the truth in this pulse-pounding adventure that will leave you breathless.
Perfect for fans of epic fantasy, intricate world-building, and non-stop action!
Hidden deep within the mist-covered groves and forests of the Appalachian Mountains, the capital of Tarrin radiantly shines. Home to Fae warriors of the Citadel Alliance who stand as protectors of the earthly realm. A beacon of an ancient civilization that has remained veiled from human eyes for a thousand years.
For these long years, peace has reigned—until now.
A dark force is rising, shattering the fragile stability that has kept the realms in balance. Creatures from beyond the gates are slipping through, and a string of gruesome, suspicious murders threatens to destroy everything the Alliance has fought to protect. The loss of trusted comrades leads to the formation of an unlikely team—each one determined to uncover the truth and seek justice for the fallen.
As they dig deeper into the mystery, they discover a chilling a rebellion is brewing, a movement hell-bent on opening the gates between realms and unleashing untold darkness upon the world.
In the heart of this turmoil, a young woman emerges, displaying an ancient power. Some believe she holds the key to closing the gates forever, while others fear she might be the one to shatter them wide open.
Time is running out. Loyalties will be tested, alliances strained, and the fate of our realm hangs in the balance.
A human detective, a powerful witch, and a band of fierce Fae warriors unite on a perilous journey that will test their loyalty, their strength, and their very lives.
Join the battle. Unravel the mysteries of Tarrin. Discover the truth in this pulse-pounding adventure that will leave you breathless.
Perfect for fans of epic fantasy, intricate world-building, and non-stop action!
Hidden deep within the mist-covered groves and forests of the Appalachian Mountains, the capital of Tarrin radiantly shines. Home to Fae warriors of the Citadel Alliance who stand as protectors of the earthly realm. A beacon of an ancient civilization that has remained veiled from human eyes for a thousand years.
For these long years, peace has reigned—until now.
A dark force is rising, shattering the fragile stability that has kept the realms in balance. Creatures from beyond the gates are slipping through, and a string of gruesome, suspicious murders threatens to destroy everything the Alliance has fought to protect. The loss of trusted comrades leads to the formation of an unlikely team—each one determined to uncover the truth and seek justice for the fallen.
As they dig deeper into the mystery, they discover a chilling a rebellion is brewing, a movement hell-bent on opening the gates between realms and unleashing untold darkness upon the world.
In the heart of this turmoil, a young woman emerges, displaying an ancient power. Some believe she holds the key to closing the gates forever, while others fear she might be the one to shatter them wide open.
Time is running out. Loyalties will be tested, alliances strained, and the fate of our realm hangs in the balance.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Salas
1 book14 followersWhen Sandra Salas is not writing, she can be found either exploring the nearby nature trails with her family or curled up with a good book. Born in California, now settled in Central Texas Hill Country, Sandra draws inspiration from the wild and rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape. Mystgate is her first novel, and she hopes to have the privilege of writing many more. If you are a fellow reader or would enjoy seeing the writing journey, Sandra can be found on both TikTok and Instagram @sandrsalaswrites. Check out her website https://www.sandrasalas.com/ or email at author@sandrasalas.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 11, 2025
First and foremost, this book has a lot of potential. There could be some interesting characters if each are given their own time to shine before coming together. The premise—humans and fae working together in an amalgamated world—is an interesting one. There are tons of opportunity for world building and expansion if the author so chooses.
TLDR;
- Lacking world building
- Flat, shallow characters
- Slow story
- Changing POV, some chapters being less than 3 pages
- Hard to stay engaged
With all of that said. . . this book feels like a first draft. It's clear there was an editing process at some point; but the farther I read the more it seemed like that process was only to edit typos and misspells.
There is a LOT of overuse of clutch words. A lot of words in the same sentence and a lot of synonyms that just don't make sense—all of which can be edited out with proper process and patience.
In the first chapter we see a lot of generic verbiage when describing the world. (I.e creatures, comrades, artifacts, etc) Which in of itself isn't inherently bad, but it doesn't draw the reader in. The world falls flat with no explanation on what these artifacts are specifically, what these "Creatures" are (I assume they're some kind of shadow demon? But then, it doesn't say.) It didn't leave me wondering, but left me confused and bitter. I felt as though I was reading a summary rather than something to be immersed in.
As aforementioned, despite clearly going through some editing process (yay! we love editing!) there simply wasn't enough to keep these chapters engaging. The story starts off very, very slow. Each chapter is a different point of view in a different scene/setting entirely—I was ripped from one space to the next with no "climax" in each chapter. It was a lot of nothing and I couldn't find it in myself to care about any of these characters, no matter how much their "curves in the right places" (an actual line!) are.
I. . . also got some ick, admittedly, early on. One of the characters, Sophia, ends up at her cabin with a random spear in tow (no hint what this spear may do, only that its an artifact of great power and joins the others in her house). There she meets her brother where she then crosses her arms under her chest and, for some reason, makes mention that his "broad shoulders take up half the room."
I wanted desperately to enjoy this book because it seems right up my alley of fantasy mixed with sprinkles of an adventurous crew, but there is a lot of rewriting that needs to happen before its launch. I implore the author to please, please please hire a professional editor—or maybe even a novice one. This book has an amazing premise, but it needs a lot more than "she gets into her car and sets down her prada bag." It needs more than using the word camera 3 times in the same sentence, or repeating words every other line. It has potential, it just needs a set of eyes on it to help the author explore what that potential looks like.
Take my review with a grain of salt. I got to chapter 10 before I could handle no more, but I feel as though this review (it may be hard to read, Sandra, and I deeply apologize) is necessary to turn this book into a great one.
TLDR;
- Lacking world building
- Flat, shallow characters
- Slow story
- Changing POV, some chapters being less than 3 pages
- Hard to stay engaged
With all of that said. . . this book feels like a first draft. It's clear there was an editing process at some point; but the farther I read the more it seemed like that process was only to edit typos and misspells.
There is a LOT of overuse of clutch words. A lot of words in the same sentence and a lot of synonyms that just don't make sense—all of which can be edited out with proper process and patience.
In the first chapter we see a lot of generic verbiage when describing the world. (I.e creatures, comrades, artifacts, etc) Which in of itself isn't inherently bad, but it doesn't draw the reader in. The world falls flat with no explanation on what these artifacts are specifically, what these "Creatures" are (I assume they're some kind of shadow demon? But then, it doesn't say.) It didn't leave me wondering, but left me confused and bitter. I felt as though I was reading a summary rather than something to be immersed in.
As aforementioned, despite clearly going through some editing process (yay! we love editing!) there simply wasn't enough to keep these chapters engaging. The story starts off very, very slow. Each chapter is a different point of view in a different scene/setting entirely—I was ripped from one space to the next with no "climax" in each chapter. It was a lot of nothing and I couldn't find it in myself to care about any of these characters, no matter how much their "curves in the right places" (an actual line!) are.
I. . . also got some ick, admittedly, early on. One of the characters, Sophia, ends up at her cabin with a random spear in tow (no hint what this spear may do, only that its an artifact of great power and joins the others in her house). There she meets her brother where she then crosses her arms under her chest and, for some reason, makes mention that his "broad shoulders take up half the room."
I wanted desperately to enjoy this book because it seems right up my alley of fantasy mixed with sprinkles of an adventurous crew, but there is a lot of rewriting that needs to happen before its launch. I implore the author to please, please please hire a professional editor—or maybe even a novice one. This book has an amazing premise, but it needs a lot more than "she gets into her car and sets down her prada bag." It needs more than using the word camera 3 times in the same sentence, or repeating words every other line. It has potential, it just needs a set of eyes on it to help the author explore what that potential looks like.
Take my review with a grain of salt. I got to chapter 10 before I could handle no more, but I feel as though this review (it may be hard to read, Sandra, and I deeply apologize) is necessary to turn this book into a great one.
August 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
If you're looking for an action-packed urban fantasy, this is it! This was an amazing book. The author did an exceptional job at building and detailing the world of Tarrin. Not only that, this book was written in multiple 1st person POV. Sandra made each POV fit together seamlessly. I really enjoyed so many elements of this book. Between the special ops, mysterious murders, dark creatures, and magical battles, I was kept entertained from the very first page to the last. I fell in love with the characters, the world, and the story. I especially enjoyed Ryker!
I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series!
If you're looking for an action-packed urban fantasy, this is it! This was an amazing book. The author did an exceptional job at building and detailing the world of Tarrin. Not only that, this book was written in multiple 1st person POV. Sandra made each POV fit together seamlessly. I really enjoyed so many elements of this book. Between the special ops, mysterious murders, dark creatures, and magical battles, I was kept entertained from the very first page to the last. I fell in love with the characters, the world, and the story. I especially enjoyed Ryker!
I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series!
June 21, 2025
I really enjoyed how this book surprised me with characters. Also, the twists throughout the storyline made it difficult to put the book down. The addition of dragons really pushed me into another level of wanting to read. I could go on and on, about all the things I loved about the book!!! Overall, I really love the story development and cannot wait for the next book!
August 3, 2025
Sandra Salas come to the front of the class please and explain yourself because what did I just read?!?! MIND BLOWN. I am so glad I was able to be apart of this ARC team because what I just experienced was nothing short of amazing. This book helped to pull me out of a months long reading slump.The world building of Mysgate is magical, I can see every sight and smell every scent. I can very clearly see Tarrin in my mind and am instantly transported there. I really appreciated how the chapters switched between characters because it allowed for different perspectives and a chance to get to know each character more intimately and I think it just adds so much to the already rich story telling. The last quarter of the book does move quickly with lots of action and heart-stopping moments. I was left on the edge of my seat and I immediately want more. I can't wait to dive in to more. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
August 1, 2025
4.75 ⭐️(ARC READER)
WOW! The way this book surprised me is insane. I loved this from start to end. 🤍
I love me some fantasy, but Sandra Salas really did an excellent job building the world and putting different POVs of the characters. I thought i wouldn't love it as much as i did, but she really built the characters with their own personality, making all of them lovable and fun to read.
Of course my girl Sophia is my favorite, but i enjoyed the whole group, they had an easy going dynamic to read. And I must say, I LOVE HOW SHE INCORPORATED DRAGONS. I LOVED RYKER SO MUCH😭🤍
I can't wait for the second book and this hasn't been out yet.
I'm really looking forward for whatever Sandra Salas comes up next🤍
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
WOW! The way this book surprised me is insane. I loved this from start to end. 🤍
I love me some fantasy, but Sandra Salas really did an excellent job building the world and putting different POVs of the characters. I thought i wouldn't love it as much as i did, but she really built the characters with their own personality, making all of them lovable and fun to read.
Of course my girl Sophia is my favorite, but i enjoyed the whole group, they had an easy going dynamic to read. And I must say, I LOVE HOW SHE INCORPORATED DRAGONS. I LOVED RYKER SO MUCH😭🤍
I can't wait for the second book and this hasn't been out yet.
I'm really looking forward for whatever Sandra Salas comes up next🤍
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 20, 2025
This was an enjoyable read with numerous strengths. While I noticed a few minor grammatical slips, the overall editing was solid. The plot stayed strong from beginning to end, and the characters all had distinct, engaging voices. I especially appreciated the pacing—the concise chapters kept the story moving at a steady, page-turning rhythm that drew me in from one chapter to the next.
That said, there were several elements that didn’t personally resonate with me (mostly to do with all things Fae). However, I recognize that these are common tropes within the genre, and for the right audience, they will likely be exactly what makes this story shine.
That said, there were several elements that didn’t personally resonate with me (mostly to do with all things Fae). However, I recognize that these are common tropes within the genre, and for the right audience, they will likely be exactly what makes this story shine.
September 3, 2025
Mystgate is a story of a group of people coming together to avenge the deaths of their loved ones at the hands of an evil cult that will stop at nothing to unleash an army of so-called dark creatures.
This book suffers, in my opinion, from two major problems: pacing and a lack of character development. Pacing-wise, almost nothing happens in this book until the 50% mark. Everything before is build-up for different characters told in chapters so short that it hinders engagement. Once you reach that 50% mark, however, it has the opposite problem; everything is happening too fast. The major ending event in this book is started and handled in the last 5% of the book. Major conflicts are resolved in maybe three pages.
You might think that characters are getting truly developed in that first half of the book with all that extra time, but honestly, they aren't. There's not a lot of distinction between personalities and even the POVs characters are quite bland. Add in just how many characters are added throughout the entire book and there's not a lot of time to care about any of them at all. And the romance aspects are so random and insta-lusty it was annoying and detracting to read.
Overall, I think there are some good plot elements and ideas in Mystgate, but there's just too much being thrown at the reader at once in this first book.
*Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This book suffers, in my opinion, from two major problems: pacing and a lack of character development. Pacing-wise, almost nothing happens in this book until the 50% mark. Everything before is build-up for different characters told in chapters so short that it hinders engagement. Once you reach that 50% mark, however, it has the opposite problem; everything is happening too fast. The major ending event in this book is started and handled in the last 5% of the book. Major conflicts are resolved in maybe three pages.
You might think that characters are getting truly developed in that first half of the book with all that extra time, but honestly, they aren't. There's not a lot of distinction between personalities and even the POVs characters are quite bland. Add in just how many characters are added throughout the entire book and there's not a lot of time to care about any of them at all. And the romance aspects are so random and insta-lusty it was annoying and detracting to read.
Overall, I think there are some good plot elements and ideas in Mystgate, but there's just too much being thrown at the reader at once in this first book.
*Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review.
September 19, 2025
Mystgate was a really fun read and I loved how it mixed fantasy with the modern world. All the different types of magic and species blended together in a way that felt cool and unique. The world itself kept me interested and I want to see where the story goes next.
My only issue was the amount of characters. There were so many introduced early on that it was hard to keep track, and I didn’t feel like most of them got enough depth.
Even with that, the world-building stood out and I’d recommend it if you like fae fantasy with a bit of a dystopian edge.
My only issue was the amount of characters. There were so many introduced early on that it was hard to keep track, and I didn’t feel like most of them got enough depth.
Even with that, the world-building stood out and I’d recommend it if you like fae fantasy with a bit of a dystopian edge.
July 22, 2025
“The Cherokee called these mountains “shaconage”, which means “land of blue smoke”. I visit the Great Smoky Mountains every year, so it was SO easy for me to visualize the landscape. I ate this book up! I feel like there was so much going on (so many moving parts), and the author did such a wonderful job developing the characters and creating such an awesome storyline. I could not get enough of Mystgate, and I am so ready for book 2.
August 24, 2025
I really enjoyed Mystgate. It gave me LOTR vibes with the group of "people" (magical and human) that come together to save their world. I loved the world building and the magical aspects. . especially the dragon. I was initially worried about the large cast of characters but the story flows smoothly and I had no problem keeping up with the different characters, story lines and POV. I can't wait to read the next story in this saga.
July 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The writer creates vivid imagary so you feel like you are actually in this incredible place, watching everything that is happening. There are strong characters and a lot of action. I read it cover to cover & could not put it down. I can't wait for the next book by this author!
Read
July 27, 2025The world building? the Characters? the magic? yes yes yes to it all! you will not be disappointed in this one! Ioved it so much I read it in one day! Trust me you want to get lost in this one! you won't regret it!
July 29, 2025
What a wonderful book. From beginning to end.
Magic, fairies, dragons. The way the author has brought each character to life, is stunning. Tarrin, what a mystical place. I did not want the adventure to end. I look so forward to more and even more.
Magic, fairies, dragons. The way the author has brought each character to life, is stunning. Tarrin, what a mystical place. I did not want the adventure to end. I look so forward to more and even more.
July 11, 2025
OMG this is such a great book! I read this I like 3 days and am ADDICTED!!
The characters.. the plot.. the cover! All impeccable and unique!
The characters.. the plot.. the cover! All impeccable and unique!
October 12, 2025
seriously? Did I just find one of my new favorite authors?
Mystgate completely pulled me in from the very first page. The world Sandra Salas created is so vivid and unique, and the characters feel real and unforgettable. It’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down, and when you finish, you can’t stop thinking about it.
I loved how easy it was to get lost in the story and every chapter kept me wanting just one more. The writing flows so well, and it feels fresh and different from anything I’ve read lately. Honestly, it gave me that rare “book hangover” in the best way possible. If you’re looking for your next great read, this is it!
Thank you Netgalley to the ARC team for giving me an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
Mystgate completely pulled me in from the very first page. The world Sandra Salas created is so vivid and unique, and the characters feel real and unforgettable. It’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down, and when you finish, you can’t stop thinking about it.
I loved how easy it was to get lost in the story and every chapter kept me wanting just one more. The writing flows so well, and it feels fresh and different from anything I’ve read lately. Honestly, it gave me that rare “book hangover” in the best way possible. If you’re looking for your next great read, this is it!
Thank you Netgalley to the ARC team for giving me an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
September 23, 2025
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I left this on my TBR list for awhile before I was able to get to it, and wish I'd read through it sooner to provide this feedback and allow the author more time to consider edits before the publishing date.
The storyline starts off a little slow with each chapter from a different POV. I like multiple POV books and seeing how each character's personality develops. I figured I'd give it some time to see how these storylines intersect. They do start to come together, but the characters never gain much depth. By the time they are starting to overlap each other, I'm anticipating that there should be a turning point in the book, but all the characters are pretty unremarkable. It was more distracting that I was mentally editing the book the entire time. My first thought was that this was an early draft, but I see in the credits on Goodreads that there is an editor acknowledgement. Girl, I hope you did not pay him because he did an awful job!
There are many instances where the author seems to struggle with homonyms (and even a mediocre editor could have helped here)- precedes/proceeds, manor/manner, parishes/perishes, warn/worn, ally/alley, bridals/bridles... I took notes, I can go on, and on, and on. Then there are character names. First, this guy starts as Larken, but a few sentences later, morphs into Larkin. And Conor... becomes Conner... and finally, Collin! This isn't really a spoiler because the character is insignificant and adds absolutely zero to the storyline, but is still a distraction as it adds to the inconsistencies.
The thesauras was not a beloved tool in the writing process. Everything is massive. Not big, giant, enormous, just massive. Usually three times in a sentence. Even when it's not necessary, like describing a bathroom.
Weapons were constantly being re-sheathed. It's unclear why they couldn't just be sheathed, especially if they hadn't recently been pulled out and put right back, then maybe I could see re-sheathing. Daggers and axes were occasionally holstered, which is typically a reference for firearms.
There was consistency in the sentence structure throughout the novel, but it wasn't good. My initial thought was to give it some grace, that maybe English isn't the author's first language. The adjective order was always out of whack, and within a sentence, verbs would vacillate between past and present tense.
The land the Fae came from was called Faerie. Wouldn't that be like calling Earth "Human"? The other place names were also as inconsistently spelled as character names. Dragon Lands/Dragonlands, Dragon Keep/Dragonkeep.
My favorite was when there are dire wolves attacking and my first thought is "when they heck did they show up?!" so I go back a few pages and realize that in the description of the beasts, their "feline features were revealed..." Fact check, wolves -> dogs = canine.
The overall storyline was just underwhelming. I was snared with the book description- magic, danger, ancient secrets... a human detective, a powerful witch, and a band of fierce Fae warriors. I'm there for all those things. The Fae have a latent power and a main power, I liked this idea. But magic just... was. There was hardly any description of how powers developed, how these warriors were taught to use them, having magic just existed. I have no idea what the ancient secret was. The most memorable trait about the human detective was how he pines after the witch. The witch seemed to have one of the better developed character arcs. And fierce Fae warriors... I guess they are fierce because they are constantly re-sheathing their weapons.
The majority of the action happens in the last 5% of the book. While it leaves an opening for a sequel, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger that will leave you in anticipation until... well, ever. It didn't resolve the parentage of the firewielder, but in the end, I didn't feel all that torn up about not knowing.
This book truly needed an editor. So many redundancies, punctuation errors, wrong words, missing words, or just nonsense statements ("see the red and white sirens" or "the male aggression tension"), it left me puzzling out the word salad instead of consuming the story.
The storyline starts off a little slow with each chapter from a different POV. I like multiple POV books and seeing how each character's personality develops. I figured I'd give it some time to see how these storylines intersect. They do start to come together, but the characters never gain much depth. By the time they are starting to overlap each other, I'm anticipating that there should be a turning point in the book, but all the characters are pretty unremarkable. It was more distracting that I was mentally editing the book the entire time. My first thought was that this was an early draft, but I see in the credits on Goodreads that there is an editor acknowledgement. Girl, I hope you did not pay him because he did an awful job!
There are many instances where the author seems to struggle with homonyms (and even a mediocre editor could have helped here)- precedes/proceeds, manor/manner, parishes/perishes, warn/worn, ally/alley, bridals/bridles... I took notes, I can go on, and on, and on. Then there are character names. First, this guy starts as Larken, but a few sentences later, morphs into Larkin. And Conor... becomes Conner... and finally, Collin! This isn't really a spoiler because the character is insignificant and adds absolutely zero to the storyline, but is still a distraction as it adds to the inconsistencies.
The thesauras was not a beloved tool in the writing process. Everything is massive. Not big, giant, enormous, just massive. Usually three times in a sentence. Even when it's not necessary, like describing a bathroom.
Weapons were constantly being re-sheathed. It's unclear why they couldn't just be sheathed, especially if they hadn't recently been pulled out and put right back, then maybe I could see re-sheathing. Daggers and axes were occasionally holstered, which is typically a reference for firearms.
There was consistency in the sentence structure throughout the novel, but it wasn't good. My initial thought was to give it some grace, that maybe English isn't the author's first language. The adjective order was always out of whack, and within a sentence, verbs would vacillate between past and present tense.
The land the Fae came from was called Faerie. Wouldn't that be like calling Earth "Human"? The other place names were also as inconsistently spelled as character names. Dragon Lands/Dragonlands, Dragon Keep/Dragonkeep.
My favorite was when there are dire wolves attacking and my first thought is "when they heck did they show up?!" so I go back a few pages and realize that in the description of the beasts, their "feline features were revealed..." Fact check, wolves -> dogs = canine.
The overall storyline was just underwhelming. I was snared with the book description- magic, danger, ancient secrets... a human detective, a powerful witch, and a band of fierce Fae warriors. I'm there for all those things. The Fae have a latent power and a main power, I liked this idea. But magic just... was. There was hardly any description of how powers developed, how these warriors were taught to use them, having magic just existed. I have no idea what the ancient secret was. The most memorable trait about the human detective was how he pines after the witch. The witch seemed to have one of the better developed character arcs. And fierce Fae warriors... I guess they are fierce because they are constantly re-sheathing their weapons.
The majority of the action happens in the last 5% of the book. While it leaves an opening for a sequel, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger that will leave you in anticipation until... well, ever. It didn't resolve the parentage of the firewielder, but in the end, I didn't feel all that torn up about not knowing.
This book truly needed an editor. So many redundancies, punctuation errors, wrong words, missing words, or just nonsense statements ("see the red and white sirens" or "the male aggression tension"), it left me puzzling out the word salad instead of consuming the story.
July 25, 2025
Mystgate by Sandra Salas is the first in the Guardian’s Saga series. The gates to the world of Fairie were sealed to protect the world from dark creatures ages ago. The refugees from there started the new country of Tarrin that is parallel to the world we know on earth. The gates have started to weaken and now there have been several murders that looked like accidents. A special team with including fae, humans, witches, and dragons has been assembled to find out more.
This was an enjoyable read, although it started out a little slowly. It’s always difficult in the first book to world-build in a seamless way. The author was great at painting a vivid picture but sometimes the delivery went on a bit too long or was a little clunky. Personality-wise, the characters were well defined, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Even though their looks were all described well, they seemed a little interchangeable. Pretty much everyone is tall, well-built and attractive. Nice but a bit boring. One other thing that bothered me is that information would be delivered to one character, who would then deliver it to the next character, etc. The repetitiveness of this always takes me out of a story; trust that I can remember what happened a couple of chapters ago or find a way to describe that the information has been conveyed without repeating the same speech again. Aside from those few things, the ideas are there. The content is engaging, and I am curious about some of the subplots that are developing, particularly the political situation in Tarrin. The ending was satisfying with a couple of surprises.
I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
Thank you to BookSirens and JSJ Family Holdings for the eARC.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
This was an enjoyable read, although it started out a little slowly. It’s always difficult in the first book to world-build in a seamless way. The author was great at painting a vivid picture but sometimes the delivery went on a bit too long or was a little clunky. Personality-wise, the characters were well defined, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Even though their looks were all described well, they seemed a little interchangeable. Pretty much everyone is tall, well-built and attractive. Nice but a bit boring. One other thing that bothered me is that information would be delivered to one character, who would then deliver it to the next character, etc. The repetitiveness of this always takes me out of a story; trust that I can remember what happened a couple of chapters ago or find a way to describe that the information has been conveyed without repeating the same speech again. Aside from those few things, the ideas are there. The content is engaging, and I am curious about some of the subplots that are developing, particularly the political situation in Tarrin. The ending was satisfying with a couple of surprises.
I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
Thank you to BookSirens and JSJ Family Holdings for the eARC.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
September 27, 2025
I was immediately pulled into this world, and did not let go for a second. The world-building was rich and detailed, full of little touches that made everything feel alive, yet it still left just enough mystery hanging in the air to keep me curious and wanting more. It struck that perfect balance of giving me enough to be immersed while holding back just enough to make me eager for the next reveal. And the characters? Every single one that stepped onto the page had depth and charm, and I found myself genuinely invested in all of them, which made the journey even more fun and engaging.
One of the elements that stood out most to me was the way the fantasy aspects were intertwined with an urban setting. It felt seamless and fresh, giving the story a unique twist that set it apart from other fantasy books I’ve read. That blend of magical and modern made the world feel both familiar and brand new at the same time, which I absolutely loved.
I also can’t forget the multiple points of view, which ended up being one of my favorite parts of the storytelling. Not only did they keep the pacing quick and engaging, but they gave me different angles on the story, helping me feel like I was part of a whole team rather than just following a single character. It created such a strong sense of camaraderie and made each character’s voice stand out in their own way.
And then there’s the ending. Yes, it had a small cliffhanger, but it was the best kind—the kind that makes you immediately check when the next book is coming out because you need to know what happens next. It wrapped up just enough to feel satisfying while still leaving me desperate for more!
One of the elements that stood out most to me was the way the fantasy aspects were intertwined with an urban setting. It felt seamless and fresh, giving the story a unique twist that set it apart from other fantasy books I’ve read. That blend of magical and modern made the world feel both familiar and brand new at the same time, which I absolutely loved.
I also can’t forget the multiple points of view, which ended up being one of my favorite parts of the storytelling. Not only did they keep the pacing quick and engaging, but they gave me different angles on the story, helping me feel like I was part of a whole team rather than just following a single character. It created such a strong sense of camaraderie and made each character’s voice stand out in their own way.
And then there’s the ending. Yes, it had a small cliffhanger, but it was the best kind—the kind that makes you immediately check when the next book is coming out because you need to know what happens next. It wrapped up just enough to feel satisfying while still leaving me desperate for more!
September 30, 2025
4.25⭐️ 1🌶️
Mystgate is a unique urban fantasy that takes place in a fae society called Tarrin that’s hidden from humans in the Appalachian Mountains. Hundreds of years ago, these fae got separated from their war torn world and trapped on Earth behind the gates. Now, dark forces are coming through cracks in the gate and threatening to destroy their hard fought peace. A series of suspicious deaths lead to a task force being assembled to investigate. It’s an unlikely team- a human detective, a powerful witch, and a couple of fae warriors, each having their own unique power. Their shared goal? Uncovering the truth and seeking justice for their lost loved ones. Meanwhile, a young warrior in training grapples with the discovery of a rare power that could change everything.
This book had short chapters, and multiple POVs that switched often throughout the book. At first, it could be a bit confusing to follow. Once I got used to it, I felt that it made the story more enjoyable as it gave more insight into this cast of interesting characters. I loved the blend of humans, witches, fae, and dragons. There were a few budding romances that we saw snippets of, and I’m hoping that those continue to grow in book 2! The investigation plot line was something I really enjoyed, and when a loyal animal companion was added in, I was all set! The ending of the book was very action packed, and had me on the edge of my seat. It set the stage well for book 2, without having a massive cliffhanger that will keep you up at night. Overall it was a great debut novel and I will be keeping my eye out for the next book. Huge thank you to Sandra Salas for the physical ARC copy!
Mystgate is a unique urban fantasy that takes place in a fae society called Tarrin that’s hidden from humans in the Appalachian Mountains. Hundreds of years ago, these fae got separated from their war torn world and trapped on Earth behind the gates. Now, dark forces are coming through cracks in the gate and threatening to destroy their hard fought peace. A series of suspicious deaths lead to a task force being assembled to investigate. It’s an unlikely team- a human detective, a powerful witch, and a couple of fae warriors, each having their own unique power. Their shared goal? Uncovering the truth and seeking justice for their lost loved ones. Meanwhile, a young warrior in training grapples with the discovery of a rare power that could change everything.
This book had short chapters, and multiple POVs that switched often throughout the book. At first, it could be a bit confusing to follow. Once I got used to it, I felt that it made the story more enjoyable as it gave more insight into this cast of interesting characters. I loved the blend of humans, witches, fae, and dragons. There were a few budding romances that we saw snippets of, and I’m hoping that those continue to grow in book 2! The investigation plot line was something I really enjoyed, and when a loyal animal companion was added in, I was all set! The ending of the book was very action packed, and had me on the edge of my seat. It set the stage well for book 2, without having a massive cliffhanger that will keep you up at night. Overall it was a great debut novel and I will be keeping my eye out for the next book. Huge thank you to Sandra Salas for the physical ARC copy!
July 20, 2025
The fae people were evacuated to earth when they lost the war for their home world centuries before the story starts. The gates were sealed. But now a shadow faction wants to reopen them. Dark things are slipping through and attacking fae outposts in Tarrin. Sophie, a Fae with powers to warp time, her brother, who can teleport, a human detective named Caleb, and a young firewielder, Gael, are among the heroes trying to keep Tarrin safe from the darkness that waits beyond Mystgate.
Tarrin is a beautifully described secondary world, depicted on a map included at the front of the book. The area is warded so humans can’t stumble into it, but it is located within our known world. There are scenes at the start of the book that are set at recognisable locations in the US.
The story is told in 1st person, present tense. There are many point-of-view characters, and each chapter title marks clearly whose head readers are in.
The prose is smooth and straightforward, a little repetitive in places, but not outrageously often. The story reads like a mix of detective novel, epic fae war saga, with a sprinkling of magic academy and dragon bonding as well. Mystgate has little to no romance. The plot is complex and mysterious, and the book is well edited.
I’m not the exact target audience for this novel, but I reckon a lot of people will really like it.
I received an ARC from Netgalley. Thank you.
Tarrin is a beautifully described secondary world, depicted on a map included at the front of the book. The area is warded so humans can’t stumble into it, but it is located within our known world. There are scenes at the start of the book that are set at recognisable locations in the US.
The story is told in 1st person, present tense. There are many point-of-view characters, and each chapter title marks clearly whose head readers are in.
The prose is smooth and straightforward, a little repetitive in places, but not outrageously often. The story reads like a mix of detective novel, epic fae war saga, with a sprinkling of magic academy and dragon bonding as well. Mystgate has little to no romance. The plot is complex and mysterious, and the book is well edited.
I’m not the exact target audience for this novel, but I reckon a lot of people will really like it.
I received an ARC from Netgalley. Thank you.
September 15, 2025
Mystgate was, overall, an enjoyable read with a lot of potential. That said, I had mixed feelings along the way.
On the weaker side, the beginning felt unnecessarily crowded with too many characters being introduced at once. Despite this, I found that most of them lacked deeper development throughout the story, remaining somewhat surface-level from start to finish. The only one I could truly picture vividly was Sophie. Another drawback was the pacing: the first half of the book was extremely slow, and then suddenly it felt as if the ending had been rushed to tie everything up quickly.
On the positive side, the world-building was phenomenal. It gave me strong Hunger Games vibes (which I loved, obviously), especially in the way it balances dystopian elements with the Faerie world and parallels to Earth as we know it. The plot itself was creative and intriguing, with moments that kept me hooked and made me curious about where the series will go next.
All in all, I enjoyed Mystgate and definitely want to continue with the series. I would recommend it to readers who love fae-centered fantasy with a touch of dystopia—it’s a promising blend that delivers on atmosphere and imagination.
I want to thank to BookSirens and Sandra Salas for the eARC.
On the weaker side, the beginning felt unnecessarily crowded with too many characters being introduced at once. Despite this, I found that most of them lacked deeper development throughout the story, remaining somewhat surface-level from start to finish. The only one I could truly picture vividly was Sophie. Another drawback was the pacing: the first half of the book was extremely slow, and then suddenly it felt as if the ending had been rushed to tie everything up quickly.
On the positive side, the world-building was phenomenal. It gave me strong Hunger Games vibes (which I loved, obviously), especially in the way it balances dystopian elements with the Faerie world and parallels to Earth as we know it. The plot itself was creative and intriguing, with moments that kept me hooked and made me curious about where the series will go next.
All in all, I enjoyed Mystgate and definitely want to continue with the series. I would recommend it to readers who love fae-centered fantasy with a touch of dystopia—it’s a promising blend that delivers on atmosphere and imagination.
I want to thank to BookSirens and Sandra Salas for the eARC.
September 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! Mystgate pulled me in from the very first page and never let go. The story is told through multiple POVs, and each character’s voice feels distinct and fully fleshed out. I never found myself confused or wishing to skip ahead—every perspective added something important and exciting to the overall story.
Set in a modern world woven with fae, witches, humans, and dragons, the mix of magic and reality felt seamless and immersive. The three main FMCs were standouts: Gael, a fiery and passionate firewielder; Sophia, a fierce warrior with the incredible ability to freeze time; and Noreen, a witch whose strength and wisdom grounded the story. I also loved following Caleb, the human MMC, on his quest to uncover who murdered his friend—his storyline gave a strong mystery element that balanced the magic perfectly.
Sandra Salas does an amazing job at balancing action, character development, and worldbuilding. Every chapter made me want to keep turning the page, and now I’m counting down the days until book two!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A fantastic start to what I’m sure will be an unforgettable series.
Set in a modern world woven with fae, witches, humans, and dragons, the mix of magic and reality felt seamless and immersive. The three main FMCs were standouts: Gael, a fiery and passionate firewielder; Sophia, a fierce warrior with the incredible ability to freeze time; and Noreen, a witch whose strength and wisdom grounded the story. I also loved following Caleb, the human MMC, on his quest to uncover who murdered his friend—his storyline gave a strong mystery element that balanced the magic perfectly.
Sandra Salas does an amazing job at balancing action, character development, and worldbuilding. Every chapter made me want to keep turning the page, and now I’m counting down the days until book two!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A fantastic start to what I’m sure will be an unforgettable series.
October 5, 2025
Someone is tampering with the sealed gates of Tarrin, letting dark creatures slip through and threatening to rip the realms wide open. It’s a dangerous plot leaving bodies in its wake…
Enter an unlikely trio: a human detective, a powerful witch, and a fae warrior who join forces to uncover who’s behind it all.
The characters are layered, complex, and full of heart. I loved the strong female characters, especially Sophia and Noreen. And I did love Orian and Ryker too.
The worldbuilding is so rich and immersive – I was absolutely captivated and didn't want to leave. Oh, and there are dragons!
There are quite a few POVs, which took a moment to settle into, but once I did, it added depth and connection to the overall story.
The pacing is steady – enough time to sink into the magic but never dragging. By the final pages, I was desperate for more.
Honestly, the only thing I didn’t like? That I have to wait for volume 2 😂 This feels like the beginning of an epic journey!
If you love urban fantasy, rich characters, and a story that blends mystery, magic, and danger – this one’s for you.
Enter an unlikely trio: a human detective, a powerful witch, and a fae warrior who join forces to uncover who’s behind it all.
The characters are layered, complex, and full of heart. I loved the strong female characters, especially Sophia and Noreen. And I did love Orian and Ryker too.
The worldbuilding is so rich and immersive – I was absolutely captivated and didn't want to leave. Oh, and there are dragons!
There are quite a few POVs, which took a moment to settle into, but once I did, it added depth and connection to the overall story.
The pacing is steady – enough time to sink into the magic but never dragging. By the final pages, I was desperate for more.
Honestly, the only thing I didn’t like? That I have to wait for volume 2 😂 This feels like the beginning of an epic journey!
If you love urban fantasy, rich characters, and a story that blends mystery, magic, and danger – this one’s for you.
July 6, 2025
La historia sigue a Sophia Beaumont, una poderosa Fae que ha pasado el último año ocultándose del dolor de una pérdida devastadora y huyendo de su pasado como guerrera de élite. Su aparente retiro llega a su fin cuando una cadena de muertes misteriosas la obliga a regresar a Tarrin, su tierra natal oculta, para enfrentar una creciente amenaza.
En paralelo, Caleb, un investigador humano y viejo amigo de un soldado caído, comienza a desentrañar una conspiración que involucra criaturas oscuras, magia ancestral y una organización secreta conocida como la Facción, que está utilizando a estas bestias con fines desconocidos.
La historia entrelaza los destinos de Sophia, Caleb, y otros personajes como Gael, una joven Fae que aspira a ser guerrera, mientras enfrentan secretos del pasado, luchan por proteger lo que queda del equilibrio mágico y descubren que las antiguas barreras que separaban los mundos están a punto de romperse.
----
No puedo esperar al siguiente libro.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest
En paralelo, Caleb, un investigador humano y viejo amigo de un soldado caído, comienza a desentrañar una conspiración que involucra criaturas oscuras, magia ancestral y una organización secreta conocida como la Facción, que está utilizando a estas bestias con fines desconocidos.
La historia entrelaza los destinos de Sophia, Caleb, y otros personajes como Gael, una joven Fae que aspira a ser guerrera, mientras enfrentan secretos del pasado, luchan por proteger lo que queda del equilibrio mágico y descubren que las antiguas barreras que separaban los mundos están a punto de romperse.
----
No puedo esperar al siguiente libro.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest
October 16, 2025
2 1/2 stars. Overall, not a bad book but it does suffer from uneven pacing: slow in the beginning and too fast at the end. The multiple pov gives an insight to characters and a necessary introduction to some vital people that wouldn't be possible if just told from one or two pov but it also prevents some character growth. One particular story line on a character who has a mind power to influence others is not developed as much as it should be because there is a lot of potential there and lots of backlash if people knew what the character has done, particularly when it comes to sexual encounters. But this comes to an abrupt end without it really being developed. Also the build up to a big showdown is over too quickly in my opinion.
There is potential here. It will be interesting to see how it develops in future books. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
There is potential here. It will be interesting to see how it develops in future books. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
August 18, 2025
“Mystgate” is a fun, fast-paced fantasy that grabbed my attention right away. With several main characters each offering their own POV, the story stays fresh and engaging from beginning to end. It’s packed with surprises, action, and an overall sense of excitement that makes it hard to put down.
This book delivers everything I look for in epic fantasy: rich world-building, nonstop momentum, layered characters, and a magic system that feels both ancient and alive. The Appalachian Mountain setting is so vivid I could practically smell the mist and hear the forest’s whispers. Tarrin is a world I didn’t want to leave—and I can’t wait to return in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book delivers everything I look for in epic fantasy: rich world-building, nonstop momentum, layered characters, and a magic system that feels both ancient and alive. The Appalachian Mountain setting is so vivid I could practically smell the mist and hear the forest’s whispers. Tarrin is a world I didn’t want to leave—and I can’t wait to return in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐ Welcome to your next urban fantasy read! I was drawn in immediately about the investigation over a special op gone bad. The concern about cracks in the gates to the land of the Fae and the need to stop dark creatures from getting into the world upped the ante. I really enjoyed the multiple first person POVs to allow you to understand each main character's motivations, backgrounds, and unique skills in the special team and its mission. I really enjoyed how Sandra Salas put together people with different levels of magic and combination of human and/or Fae blood to work together, each getting to understand how they all could compliment one another and work as a team. By the end, I felt like we had a Fellowship of the Rings type group with a difficult mission to complete in the face of opposition that was stronger than they expected.
Gael and her friends taking on the challenge to defend Tarrin and then exploring for items revealed in her dreams was a fun nod to other skills based elimination challenges in fantasy books. I enjoyed seeing how the younger Fae were joining the cause of protecting the world too. I especially loved the addition of Ryker and want more of him in book 2.
Overall, I am eager to read the next installment!
Gael and her friends taking on the challenge to defend Tarrin and then exploring for items revealed in her dreams was a fun nod to other skills based elimination challenges in fantasy books. I enjoyed seeing how the younger Fae were joining the cause of protecting the world too. I especially loved the addition of Ryker and want more of him in book 2.
Overall, I am eager to read the next installment!
September 25, 2025
Masterpiece. Loved it. This book gripped me within the first few chapters, eager to learn everything about this world Sandra has created. So much attention and thought has gone into this world, it's history and all the characters. You need your brain working as there's quite a lot of characters to keep up with, but its so worth it. This book was parts of my favourite films/tv all blended into one, so it was honestly perfect for me. Though I would have liked a little Spice from a certain few people. I was sad to get to the end as I need to know what happens next. I can't thank Sandra enough for choosing me to receive this ARC in a pr box. If you like any kind of fantasy book, then this is for you.
June 21, 2025
Since starting this book, I was hooked, and I kept reading and kept reading and didn’t want to put it down. I wanted to learn more about it. I loved the mark and the bonding ritual. I also liked learning about the queen and the dragons!!! I can’t wait to read the next one in the series to find out more!! It was action packed and I wanted to keep going to know what was going to happen. I love how the book was written and bounced around for the different characters. This and kept me interested. Sophia‘s character was my favorite - she’s a bad ass and levelheaded - perfect combo!!
September 18, 2025
I have to say great I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the 3 POV. I consider this book to me was all about the world building and building the suspense for the follow up books. You could tell who the villain was in this book right off the bat but I knew he was not the master mind. It kept me engaged and I didn’t out it down unless I was sleeping or working. Devoured this book within 24 hours of when I started reading. To me this was a unique style of writing I enjoyed. So it’s did its job.
Great read.
Great read.
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