What do you think?
Rate this book
Discovery: Book One of The Natural Trilogy
“Definition is not earned. It’s merely acceptance.”
Paris King Santiago knows nothing—he is a broken boy in a broken world. After waking on a ship with no memories, no past, and no identity, all he wants is to go home
. . . but amnesiacs have no home to return to.
Worse, his amnesia isn’t medical; it’s magical. Someone took his memories with Dark Magic’s twisted claws.
Determined to discover his identity, Paris agrees to find his only an ancient artifact deep within the Lost Lands. Paris has to embark on a perilous quest before he loses himself . . . for good. With the help of his companions, they slowly uncover the broken past and perhaps a more ruined future. Is there any hope of success?
Or is Paris making a grave mistake?
Paris King Santiago knows nothing—he is a broken boy in a broken world. After waking on a ship with no memories, no past, and no identity, all he wants is to go home
. . . but amnesiacs have no home to return to.
Worse, his amnesia isn’t medical; it’s magical. Someone took his memories with Dark Magic’s twisted claws.
Determined to discover his identity, Paris agrees to find his only an ancient artifact deep within the Lost Lands. Paris has to embark on a perilous quest before he loses himself . . . for good. With the help of his companions, they slowly uncover the broken past and perhaps a more ruined future. Is there any hope of success?
Or is Paris making a grave mistake?
566 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2025
About the author
Madelyn Pierce
3 books16 followersMadelyn Pierce is a 19-year-old author. She has been creating her entire life. What started as a passion for art, designing characters and worlds in her mind and on paper, turned into spilling stories through words. She fell in love with writing at the age of twelve—admittedly through fan fiction—and has not stopped since. Madelyn has written multiple books and has worked nonstop to publish Discovery. She is excited for the rest of her books—in this trilogy and in others—to be shared with the world. When Madelyn isn’t writing, she’s often reading, drawing, or playing a game, usually The Legend of Zelda. You can follow her for updates on her Insta, @author.madelyn.pierce
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 25, 2025
i was given the lovely opportunity to ARC read Discovery, in exchange for my honest review, and thats exactly what i’m going to do 😉
gosh, where do i start?
i’ve known mady for a long, long while and i’ve gotten the absolute privilege of beta-reading the entirety of this trilogy and the trilogy that comes after this one, and i can promise you all one singular thing: her writing and everything that comes with it is the epitome of phenomenal. the characters, the plot, the themes, the things hidden in between—they’re all just so bafflingly amazing that i can’t even BEGIN to describe them.
i suppose i should focus primarily on this one, though, shouldn’t i?
discovery holds a plethora of emotions, ranging from bittersweet to heartbreaking and then back to something comforting and overflowing with happiness. it explores the ideas of family and how its not limited to those just by blood. the found family in discovery is one of those that just makes your heart feel so freakishly warm and fuzzy that its like woah i was NOT aware i could feel those emotions hello
the main character, paris, is extraordinary in his own, refreshing way. you don’t see many characters like him— let alone MALE—in YA media very much these days. ever since the genre blew up in the way it did, authors preferred to lean more towards the typical “morally grey MMC”, for whatever reason. but paris is raw, in his own sweet way. he struggles with self worth, as well as absolutely forgetting everything he knows. he has fears and wants and goals, but he also has a mind—one that’s not always entirely in his favour.
he’s relatable in his own, special way, and it connects you to the story more than anything else. he’s emotional, too—doesn’t bottle up everything that makes him, well, HIM. as someone within his general age group, he’s incredibly accurate and relatable, and i don’t say that very often about characters who happen to land within my peer group.
battling with that internal struggle of having absolutely no idea of who he is, he comes across this group of kids who welcome him with open arms. sort of. i suppose anyone would be suspicious of some random dude who apparently has no recollection of who he is. nevertheless, they grow to accept him as their own.
the cast in discovery is so thoroughly thought out in a way that makes you feel like you could literally be walking around your town or city or whatever and run into these guys on the sidewalk or in the streets. they feel so ordinarily real in a way where you feel like yeah these kids could go to my school. i could know these people. they FEEL like people.
their development is absolutely scrumptious, as i like to say, and while there are occasions where i do feel the want to beat some of them up (🥊🥊🥊), thats a natural feeling i suppose.
okay okay so i am an absolute SUCKER for worldbuilding and woah. the world in discovery is just beautiful. genuinely i would adore to live there and also i want a kyle. like pretty please. he’s such a cutie patootie oml.
i’ve found that with most fantasy novels, the author bases their world strictly off of the medieval period of european countries, which is totally fine! i adore that period as well, but at the same time it’s always so much fun to find novels that explore the different cultures of other areas, like asian or latino or hispanic countries and spin them into fantasy-like areas, and discovery has something exactly like that. while paris and his goombahs are on their mission to find his memories, they travel to several cities and towns where they’re more than jusy the stereotypical european culture that makes the community up to what it is.
the climax was so lovely and tasty and i genuinely could not stop reading unless i was forced to 💔 i especially loved the fact that it addressed the entire meaning behind what the antagonists were doing and how, maybe—just maybe—they weren’t all that bad.
not that i’m admitting that. those guys better watch out im in their walls 😡
this book had darker topics and elements mentioned in it, but those were also softened up by the humour and goofiness of the characters.
most books with teenaged casts don’t always make them act like kids their age, which is confusing to me, bc if youre gonna write abt kids, then let them be just that. but rhese guys acted their age—some more mature than others based on their backstory, but they were still clearly kids.
moral of the story is: discovery is definitely something you should read at some point. it’s raw and meaningful, but it will definitely give you a good laugh. theres something about it which js so pure that you can’t really think of any other book quite like it in that regard. five out of five stars, for sure. i loved every moment i spent reading this book, no doubt, and i can’t wait to read the other installments at some point :)
gosh, where do i start?
i’ve known mady for a long, long while and i’ve gotten the absolute privilege of beta-reading the entirety of this trilogy and the trilogy that comes after this one, and i can promise you all one singular thing: her writing and everything that comes with it is the epitome of phenomenal. the characters, the plot, the themes, the things hidden in between—they’re all just so bafflingly amazing that i can’t even BEGIN to describe them.
i suppose i should focus primarily on this one, though, shouldn’t i?
discovery holds a plethora of emotions, ranging from bittersweet to heartbreaking and then back to something comforting and overflowing with happiness. it explores the ideas of family and how its not limited to those just by blood. the found family in discovery is one of those that just makes your heart feel so freakishly warm and fuzzy that its like woah i was NOT aware i could feel those emotions hello
the main character, paris, is extraordinary in his own, refreshing way. you don’t see many characters like him— let alone MALE—in YA media very much these days. ever since the genre blew up in the way it did, authors preferred to lean more towards the typical “morally grey MMC”, for whatever reason. but paris is raw, in his own sweet way. he struggles with self worth, as well as absolutely forgetting everything he knows. he has fears and wants and goals, but he also has a mind—one that’s not always entirely in his favour.
he’s relatable in his own, special way, and it connects you to the story more than anything else. he’s emotional, too—doesn’t bottle up everything that makes him, well, HIM. as someone within his general age group, he’s incredibly accurate and relatable, and i don’t say that very often about characters who happen to land within my peer group.
battling with that internal struggle of having absolutely no idea of who he is, he comes across this group of kids who welcome him with open arms. sort of. i suppose anyone would be suspicious of some random dude who apparently has no recollection of who he is. nevertheless, they grow to accept him as their own.
the cast in discovery is so thoroughly thought out in a way that makes you feel like you could literally be walking around your town or city or whatever and run into these guys on the sidewalk or in the streets. they feel so ordinarily real in a way where you feel like yeah these kids could go to my school. i could know these people. they FEEL like people.
their development is absolutely scrumptious, as i like to say, and while there are occasions where i do feel the want to beat some of them up (🥊🥊🥊), thats a natural feeling i suppose.
okay okay so i am an absolute SUCKER for worldbuilding and woah. the world in discovery is just beautiful. genuinely i would adore to live there and also i want a kyle. like pretty please. he’s such a cutie patootie oml.
i’ve found that with most fantasy novels, the author bases their world strictly off of the medieval period of european countries, which is totally fine! i adore that period as well, but at the same time it’s always so much fun to find novels that explore the different cultures of other areas, like asian or latino or hispanic countries and spin them into fantasy-like areas, and discovery has something exactly like that. while paris and his goombahs are on their mission to find his memories, they travel to several cities and towns where they’re more than jusy the stereotypical european culture that makes the community up to what it is.
the climax was so lovely and tasty and i genuinely could not stop reading unless i was forced to 💔 i especially loved the fact that it addressed the entire meaning behind what the antagonists were doing and how, maybe—just maybe—they weren’t all that bad.
not that i’m admitting that. those guys better watch out im in their walls 😡
this book had darker topics and elements mentioned in it, but those were also softened up by the humour and goofiness of the characters.
most books with teenaged casts don’t always make them act like kids their age, which is confusing to me, bc if youre gonna write abt kids, then let them be just that. but rhese guys acted their age—some more mature than others based on their backstory, but they were still clearly kids.
moral of the story is: discovery is definitely something you should read at some point. it’s raw and meaningful, but it will definitely give you a good laugh. theres something about it which js so pure that you can’t really think of any other book quite like it in that regard. five out of five stars, for sure. i loved every moment i spent reading this book, no doubt, and i can’t wait to read the other installments at some point :)
May 26, 2025
I was so lucky to be an ARC reader for this amazing book 🥹 and when I say amazing, I really do mean that. I’ve known the author for a while now and she is genuinely such an incredible writer and person, with so much passion and thought put into her stories. Discovery was 100% a reflection of that. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it definitely did not disappoint. It had everything I could ever want in a book, from magical worldbuilding, compelling plot, to characters to fall in love with. I fell in love with the entire book, actually—for so many reasons, but here are just a few.
1) The worldbuilding. Oh my gosh, I could go on forever about the world because it was just so amazing. It was so intricate and felt so real yet magical at the same time. I absolutely loved the magic system and the history of the world, not to mention the settings themselves were absolutely gorgeous. The entire time I was reading, I basically had a movie playing in my head. It completely immersed me and made it difficult to leave. I loved that it included real-world cultural aspects, as well as fantasy elements that gave it a completely new and original feel. The Divided World has definitely become one of my favorite fictional universes, and I already know I’m going to be back whenever I need an escape :)
2) The characters. AGHH they might just be my favorite ever 😭🫶 I’m going to focus on Paris first (because he’s the main protagonist). Let me just say, if you’re worried about another flat MC like the ones unfortunately becoming common in literature, no need, because Paris was definitely not that. My heart went out to him the entirety of the book, and I wanted to give him a hug so badly ☹️🫂 His growth from the fearful, broken boy at the beginning to someone who knows his worth was so powerful. He is a reflection of self-discovery, and his journey was a symbol of that. He’s just so precious omg. Paris was one of my favorite characters in the book—though I absolutely loved them all. He was the center of it, but Discovery wasn’t just his story. I felt connected to every single character; they were all so real and individual. From Brook’s compassion to Sapphire’s loyalty to Nolan’s humor, each of them had a distinct personality that added so much to the book. Even the side characters (like Fairah) were so well developed, and the found family dynamic has made a permanent place in my heart. The relationships were just so sweet. I also loved the representation within the cast and their individual quirks. All readers will definitely see some part of themselves within these pages, and the message that it’s okay to be who you are. These characters went through so much and they all had their struggles. What I loved was the way it was presented. That it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay not to be okay—it doesn’t make you less, but it is possible to become more. It is possible to find hope and heal. The mental health rep was done perfectly and it was so powerful to see. We definitely need more of these messages in the literary world 🩵
3) The writing itself. If you’ve been following Mady already, you’ll know what I mean, but if you haven’t, I’m here to tell you that her writing is INCREDIBLE. She writes from the heart and it shows. There’s just something about the way she puts her words together that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Her writing is so welcoming, and in this book it made me smile, laugh, and cry. Every page was filled with imagery—the descriptions were beautiful and so vivid. The dialogues between characters felt completely genuine. Plus, the way she weaves together multiple plot lines and interludes is just amazing. It was so complex yet all fit together perfectly, and I’m just in awe of how she managed to come up with all of this. And as a teenager! Mady is definitely a “natural” talent in the writing world (pun intended) and I can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy and any future books she publishes 🩵
Mady if you’re reading this, I am so so proud of you. I can’t wait to see your success in the future—because trust me girl, you are going places. And to anyone else, please do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It was my favorite read of the year by far, pulling me out of a months-long reading slump singlehandedly. I promise you won’t regret it <3
1) The worldbuilding. Oh my gosh, I could go on forever about the world because it was just so amazing. It was so intricate and felt so real yet magical at the same time. I absolutely loved the magic system and the history of the world, not to mention the settings themselves were absolutely gorgeous. The entire time I was reading, I basically had a movie playing in my head. It completely immersed me and made it difficult to leave. I loved that it included real-world cultural aspects, as well as fantasy elements that gave it a completely new and original feel. The Divided World has definitely become one of my favorite fictional universes, and I already know I’m going to be back whenever I need an escape :)
2) The characters. AGHH they might just be my favorite ever 😭🫶 I’m going to focus on Paris first (because he’s the main protagonist). Let me just say, if you’re worried about another flat MC like the ones unfortunately becoming common in literature, no need, because Paris was definitely not that. My heart went out to him the entirety of the book, and I wanted to give him a hug so badly ☹️🫂 His growth from the fearful, broken boy at the beginning to someone who knows his worth was so powerful. He is a reflection of self-discovery, and his journey was a symbol of that. He’s just so precious omg. Paris was one of my favorite characters in the book—though I absolutely loved them all. He was the center of it, but Discovery wasn’t just his story. I felt connected to every single character; they were all so real and individual. From Brook’s compassion to Sapphire’s loyalty to Nolan’s humor, each of them had a distinct personality that added so much to the book. Even the side characters (like Fairah) were so well developed, and the found family dynamic has made a permanent place in my heart. The relationships were just so sweet. I also loved the representation within the cast and their individual quirks. All readers will definitely see some part of themselves within these pages, and the message that it’s okay to be who you are. These characters went through so much and they all had their struggles. What I loved was the way it was presented. That it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay not to be okay—it doesn’t make you less, but it is possible to become more. It is possible to find hope and heal. The mental health rep was done perfectly and it was so powerful to see. We definitely need more of these messages in the literary world 🩵
3) The writing itself. If you’ve been following Mady already, you’ll know what I mean, but if you haven’t, I’m here to tell you that her writing is INCREDIBLE. She writes from the heart and it shows. There’s just something about the way she puts her words together that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Her writing is so welcoming, and in this book it made me smile, laugh, and cry. Every page was filled with imagery—the descriptions were beautiful and so vivid. The dialogues between characters felt completely genuine. Plus, the way she weaves together multiple plot lines and interludes is just amazing. It was so complex yet all fit together perfectly, and I’m just in awe of how she managed to come up with all of this. And as a teenager! Mady is definitely a “natural” talent in the writing world (pun intended) and I can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy and any future books she publishes 🩵
Mady if you’re reading this, I am so so proud of you. I can’t wait to see your success in the future—because trust me girl, you are going places. And to anyone else, please do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It was my favorite read of the year by far, pulling me out of a months-long reading slump singlehandedly. I promise you won’t regret it <3
August 16, 2025
*Preface by saying that I am friends with the author, and I am doing my best to rate this objectively.*
BUT OH. EM. GEE.
This has got to be my best read of 2025 yet. There are SOOOOO many things that deserves praise.
For the sake of neutrality, the only things I could find consistently as a possible critique were the occasional overabundance of nicknames and a few typos, BUT they’re being worked on by the author!
NOW ONTO THE PRAISES:
1. Characters. I am a sucker for character-driven stories, and this book is an AMAZING example of that. All of the characters felt so TANGIBLE and REAL in their motivations and reactions. Sure, I don’t exactly ship the only canon ship, but neither does the author LMAO even then, their relationship still feels so in character. They’re all so distinct in their personalities, you never mix up who is who, and they’re all so LIVELY. (Fiore, Sapphire and Nolan were tied for my favorite characters, but Fiore ended up on top.)
2. On a similar note, the character ARCS. Particularly the ones experienced by Paris and Fiore (MY BOYS), you see the mix of positive AND negative character development. The best part? They happen AT THE SAME TIME. You’re rooting so hard for these characters to make it out, and you get to watch them grow, and you are CHEERING. I’m someone who usually judges the “omg he finally smiled” trope but this one had me EXCITED.
3. Worldbuilding. Discovery takes place in a future world (like thousands of years in the future) that still has remnants of the current world laced into it, and now there’s magic! Seeing that blend of elements was initially a tad confusing, but it didn’t take super long for you to figure out how the world worked. Bonus: the way they explained it felt super natural in the story! A lot of fantasy books struggle with feeling like they’re talking to the readers instead of the information coming naturally, but there was NOOO talking to the reader.
4. The writing itself. I ASPIRE to write third person, and Pierce does it SO WELL. You can still differentiate between each character’s perspective (as it’s multiple POV), and the FORMATTING?? SCRUMPTIOUS. If you’re a fan of unconventional formatting moments for the narration, THIS STORY IS FOR YOU.
I have SOOOO many praises for this book, and I cannot talk about it enough. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know and awaiting anxiously for the next book. Congrats to Pierce!!
BUT OH. EM. GEE.
This has got to be my best read of 2025 yet. There are SOOOOO many things that deserves praise.
For the sake of neutrality, the only things I could find consistently as a possible critique were the occasional overabundance of nicknames and a few typos, BUT they’re being worked on by the author!
NOW ONTO THE PRAISES:
1. Characters. I am a sucker for character-driven stories, and this book is an AMAZING example of that. All of the characters felt so TANGIBLE and REAL in their motivations and reactions. Sure, I don’t exactly ship the only canon ship, but neither does the author LMAO even then, their relationship still feels so in character. They’re all so distinct in their personalities, you never mix up who is who, and they’re all so LIVELY. (Fiore, Sapphire and Nolan were tied for my favorite characters, but Fiore ended up on top.)
2. On a similar note, the character ARCS. Particularly the ones experienced by Paris and Fiore (MY BOYS), you see the mix of positive AND negative character development. The best part? They happen AT THE SAME TIME. You’re rooting so hard for these characters to make it out, and you get to watch them grow, and you are CHEERING. I’m someone who usually judges the “omg he finally smiled” trope but this one had me EXCITED.
3. Worldbuilding. Discovery takes place in a future world (like thousands of years in the future) that still has remnants of the current world laced into it, and now there’s magic! Seeing that blend of elements was initially a tad confusing, but it didn’t take super long for you to figure out how the world worked. Bonus: the way they explained it felt super natural in the story! A lot of fantasy books struggle with feeling like they’re talking to the readers instead of the information coming naturally, but there was NOOO talking to the reader.
4. The writing itself. I ASPIRE to write third person, and Pierce does it SO WELL. You can still differentiate between each character’s perspective (as it’s multiple POV), and the FORMATTING?? SCRUMPTIOUS. If you’re a fan of unconventional formatting moments for the narration, THIS STORY IS FOR YOU.
I have SOOOO many praises for this book, and I cannot talk about it enough. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know and awaiting anxiously for the next book. Congrats to Pierce!!
February 6, 2026
Pretty good book. Not my usual genre but I genuinely enjoyed it. Some really good world building that is super interesting and complex. The dictionary was also a nice touch (even tho I didn’t follow it, I will still be pronouncing everything how I seem fit). Also the artwork is cool. I loved all the characters and their complexities. I’m looking forward to reading the next book and the rest of the books in this universe.
October 20, 2025
I really enjoyed the book and the whole plot and everything. It was fun read and I definitely will reread the book again.
The whole world is very interesting and all the characters are unique.
The whole world is very interesting and all the characters are unique.
May 20, 2026
This was such a delightful and adventurous read, filled with a skillful balance of whimsy and serious. There's both praises to sing and weak spots that pull it down, and so I shall do what I usually do and ramble in a review!
I'll start with Paris, whose arc was just FANTASTIC. It doesn't stand out much in the beginning and middle, but when he gets his memories back, HE TAKES THE FRONT SEAT AND GETS SO COMPELLING. The climax of his arc was so damn impactful, well-written and emotional. Really freaking well done. I was so sat for the chapter where he first got his memories back. That was truly a MOMENT. The only thing I wish was different was that the final pivotal moment in his internal arc would've happened with someone we spent the whole book with rather than a character who'd only appeared in a couple of scenes before.
On the topic of character arcs, Sapphire's was real damn good too. Her trauma surrounding promises — especially her counting her broken promises — was extremely well-written and powerful. I felt that shit every time it came up.
Something I sadly didn't find as compelling about characterization was the showing vs telling about Fiore. It was said several times by multiple different characters that he's this cold-hearted and sour man, yet he never hesitated to help or comfort anyone. He even tried to go out of his way to help the others. What we were told and what we actually saw were two different people.
Another kind of unsatisfactory thing was the relationship conflict between a few of them, but the one that stood out the most was Brook and Nolan. I thought they were a classic case of "oblivious idiots in love who are just scared to admit it," but somewhere around the middle of the book, we find out that Brook's apparently already told Nolan that they're better off as friends. What we don't find out is why she said this — other than the weak reasoning, "It's just better that way." This conflict is then resolved a chapter or two later, making the whole thing feel kind of unnecessary.
While we're on the topic of the side characters and their conflicts and relationships, we reach one of my two biggest gripes with this book: Most of the side characters in general.
Almost all of their reasons for going with Paris on this quest were so weak that it severely hurt their characters. In the same chapter near the beginning, two different characters gave their reason for coming as, "It's not like I have anything better to do." This is a life-threatening quest we're talking about. No one's gonna come on that just because they're bored, don't have anything else to do, or because their friends went (because said friends were bored or didn't have anything better to do). It made most of the cast feel like they were there just for the heck of it, which hurt their believability as people quite a lot. When someone comes along on a protagonist's quest because why not, it makes it feel like they don't have lives outside of the story and outside of the main character. Paris had personal stakes in going, seeing as he's lost his memory and going is the only way to get them back. But what's Brook's personal stakes? Fiore's? Penelope's? Sapphire's?
In an early chapter, we do get a hint that the Penelope and Sapphire have some reason for going, and in the very last chapter, their mom explains why they wanted to go. While we definitely don't need a full explanation right off the bat, we do need something to hint at their personal reasons for coming. When we do find out, it's far too late to start caring, aaaaand unfortunately the reason just made Saranie look like a horrible mother to me.
Another side character gripe I had was that none of them presented any personal or internal conflict to Paris. All we got was, "We want you here! We care about you!" But why? What does he specifically and personally do for their internal conflict, and vice versa? They felt more like accessories than parts of a story.
Overall, the side characters were fun (and don't get me wrong, they were VERY fun), but their reasons for being in the story were far too lackluster. Still, their scenes often made me smile, and their surface level dynamics were very entertaining and well-written. I would love to see them in a low-stakes situation, like a little fantasy sitcom.
Onto my other biggest gripe with the book. Christianity.
Christianity in this story felt forced and unnecessary at best, and confusing and messy for the world building at worst.
The story is set in the future of our world, where geography has changed, there are new countries and cities, and they call months "cycles," and so on. Yet they still have the same Christian god. That is strange for many reasons.
Early on in the story, Paris "just knows" he's a Christian when he's asked about it. At the same time, he doesn't even know what types of magic users there are, or who historical figures are. He shouldn't know what a Christian is, or who God is. Every time God or Christianity was brought up, it shattered the immersion of this magical fantasy world, taking me straight back to the regular world. It could've been interesting if explained better — ESPECIALLY if the relationships and differences between the Christian god and the literal factually existing deities in this book was explained at all.
Then there was also some blind irony... The characters constantly questioned and talked down on Celestiance (in-story religion), but Christianity was never questioned or doubted. Of course, this is a side effect of the author being a Christian herself, but to someone who's never been a Christian, it just looked odd. And that's not to mention the quote, "People make up religious figures to assert dominance," straight from this book where Christianity it never doubted... It annoys me a little that religion and Christianity could've been so well done if the author had just tried a little harder and dared to challenge her own lifestyle.
Now for something I loved! World building delivered through characters talking about how it personally mattered to them and their pasts. Whenever Pierce used this method to deliver world building, it was so immersive and interesting. The characters had me hooked to the page. Lacing what is technically info dumps with reasons it matters to the characters was a genius move. I wish it had been done more frequently. When the information had nothing to do with backstory and conflict, it was delivered in a very tell-not-show way. The characters would tell each other things that they both already knew, making it evident that the dialogue was just there for the reader. Overall, the dialogue was kind of up and down. Sometimes, it was super engaging, funny and realistic, but other times, it was cartoonishly cheesy (especially for the villains, when they showed up). Pierce clearly can write great, realistic, funny and engaging dialogue, as showed by the personally mattering world building dumps and the dynamic-rich group conversations. That bodes very well for the future, so I suspect future books will see this issue fade.
THE PROSE THOUGH! MAN, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL! Truly a natural gift for writing prose. It was really alive, it was creative, it was immersive. The prose pulled me into the story more than anything else, because it was just so damn good. Pierce's descriptions truly painted with words. The internal conflict in prose hit me in the feels. In one simple word, the prose was art.
While we're on the topic, I have to shout out the returning motif: Most spilled blood is innocent. Thematic perfection and a chilling truth about the world, wrapped up in a hard-hitting sentence that really makes you think. This one's gonna stick with me.
To wrap this up, I'll say that my favorite parts were the interludes with Elidys and Ish, and Eleanor and Mateo's short section at the end. The internal conflict and descent into darkness in the interludes was freaking gripping, and I wish we could've seen more of it. And Eleanor and Mateo's relationship conflict... ough... that shit hit hard. The different things they wanted, the different methods they had of reaching them, the different values they had, and how it all clashed and ended in tragedy was MASTERFUL. Absolutely loved it.
Overall, Discovery has flaws that might mess with immersion and care for the characters, but its adventure makes the read worth it, and its prose makes it even more worth it.
I'll start with Paris, whose arc was just FANTASTIC. It doesn't stand out much in the beginning and middle, but when he gets his memories back, HE TAKES THE FRONT SEAT AND GETS SO COMPELLING. The climax of his arc was so damn impactful, well-written and emotional. Really freaking well done. I was so sat for the chapter where he first got his memories back. That was truly a MOMENT. The only thing I wish was different was that the final pivotal moment in his internal arc would've happened with someone we spent the whole book with rather than a character who'd only appeared in a couple of scenes before.
On the topic of character arcs, Sapphire's was real damn good too. Her trauma surrounding promises — especially her counting her broken promises — was extremely well-written and powerful. I felt that shit every time it came up.
Something I sadly didn't find as compelling about characterization was the showing vs telling about Fiore. It was said several times by multiple different characters that he's this cold-hearted and sour man, yet he never hesitated to help or comfort anyone. He even tried to go out of his way to help the others. What we were told and what we actually saw were two different people.
Another kind of unsatisfactory thing was the relationship conflict between a few of them, but the one that stood out the most was Brook and Nolan. I thought they were a classic case of "oblivious idiots in love who are just scared to admit it," but somewhere around the middle of the book, we find out that Brook's apparently already told Nolan that they're better off as friends. What we don't find out is why she said this — other than the weak reasoning, "It's just better that way." This conflict is then resolved a chapter or two later, making the whole thing feel kind of unnecessary.
While we're on the topic of the side characters and their conflicts and relationships, we reach one of my two biggest gripes with this book: Most of the side characters in general.
Almost all of their reasons for going with Paris on this quest were so weak that it severely hurt their characters. In the same chapter near the beginning, two different characters gave their reason for coming as, "It's not like I have anything better to do." This is a life-threatening quest we're talking about. No one's gonna come on that just because they're bored, don't have anything else to do, or because their friends went (because said friends were bored or didn't have anything better to do). It made most of the cast feel like they were there just for the heck of it, which hurt their believability as people quite a lot. When someone comes along on a protagonist's quest because why not, it makes it feel like they don't have lives outside of the story and outside of the main character. Paris had personal stakes in going, seeing as he's lost his memory and going is the only way to get them back. But what's Brook's personal stakes? Fiore's? Penelope's? Sapphire's?
In an early chapter, we do get a hint that the Penelope and Sapphire have some reason for going, and in the very last chapter, their mom explains why they wanted to go. While we definitely don't need a full explanation right off the bat, we do need something to hint at their personal reasons for coming. When we do find out, it's far too late to start caring, aaaaand unfortunately the reason just made Saranie look like a horrible mother to me.
Another side character gripe I had was that none of them presented any personal or internal conflict to Paris. All we got was, "We want you here! We care about you!" But why? What does he specifically and personally do for their internal conflict, and vice versa? They felt more like accessories than parts of a story.
Overall, the side characters were fun (and don't get me wrong, they were VERY fun), but their reasons for being in the story were far too lackluster. Still, their scenes often made me smile, and their surface level dynamics were very entertaining and well-written. I would love to see them in a low-stakes situation, like a little fantasy sitcom.
Onto my other biggest gripe with the book. Christianity.
Christianity in this story felt forced and unnecessary at best, and confusing and messy for the world building at worst.
The story is set in the future of our world, where geography has changed, there are new countries and cities, and they call months "cycles," and so on. Yet they still have the same Christian god. That is strange for many reasons.
Early on in the story, Paris "just knows" he's a Christian when he's asked about it. At the same time, he doesn't even know what types of magic users there are, or who historical figures are. He shouldn't know what a Christian is, or who God is. Every time God or Christianity was brought up, it shattered the immersion of this magical fantasy world, taking me straight back to the regular world. It could've been interesting if explained better — ESPECIALLY if the relationships and differences between the Christian god and the literal factually existing deities in this book was explained at all.
Then there was also some blind irony... The characters constantly questioned and talked down on Celestiance (in-story religion), but Christianity was never questioned or doubted. Of course, this is a side effect of the author being a Christian herself, but to someone who's never been a Christian, it just looked odd. And that's not to mention the quote, "People make up religious figures to assert dominance," straight from this book where Christianity it never doubted... It annoys me a little that religion and Christianity could've been so well done if the author had just tried a little harder and dared to challenge her own lifestyle.
Now for something I loved! World building delivered through characters talking about how it personally mattered to them and their pasts. Whenever Pierce used this method to deliver world building, it was so immersive and interesting. The characters had me hooked to the page. Lacing what is technically info dumps with reasons it matters to the characters was a genius move. I wish it had been done more frequently. When the information had nothing to do with backstory and conflict, it was delivered in a very tell-not-show way. The characters would tell each other things that they both already knew, making it evident that the dialogue was just there for the reader. Overall, the dialogue was kind of up and down. Sometimes, it was super engaging, funny and realistic, but other times, it was cartoonishly cheesy (especially for the villains, when they showed up). Pierce clearly can write great, realistic, funny and engaging dialogue, as showed by the personally mattering world building dumps and the dynamic-rich group conversations. That bodes very well for the future, so I suspect future books will see this issue fade.
THE PROSE THOUGH! MAN, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL! Truly a natural gift for writing prose. It was really alive, it was creative, it was immersive. The prose pulled me into the story more than anything else, because it was just so damn good. Pierce's descriptions truly painted with words. The internal conflict in prose hit me in the feels. In one simple word, the prose was art.
While we're on the topic, I have to shout out the returning motif: Most spilled blood is innocent. Thematic perfection and a chilling truth about the world, wrapped up in a hard-hitting sentence that really makes you think. This one's gonna stick with me.
To wrap this up, I'll say that my favorite parts were the interludes with Elidys and Ish, and Eleanor and Mateo's short section at the end. The internal conflict and descent into darkness in the interludes was freaking gripping, and I wish we could've seen more of it. And Eleanor and Mateo's relationship conflict... ough... that shit hit hard. The different things they wanted, the different methods they had of reaching them, the different values they had, and how it all clashed and ended in tragedy was MASTERFUL. Absolutely loved it.
Overall, Discovery has flaws that might mess with immersion and care for the characters, but its adventure makes the read worth it, and its prose makes it even more worth it.
Read
June 14, 20254.25✨
I was honored to get an arc copy of this book and i wasn’t disappointed 💘🥹
I crossed paths with the author in the last few months and she is such an amazing person. The love, drive, passion and efforts she pours into her writing 100000% show.
It has so many incredible elements: magical world-building, a complex story line and wonderful characters
First off, the writing style. It reminded me of shatter me with the lines and the way some words are formatted which is amazing!! The writing flowed so well. It’s descriptive and enchanting and RICH!!🥰
Also the formatting!!! I loved all the little lettres and ther are so many details that are made POWERFUL through the formatting
Now the characters… Gosh i love them all. Paris? He’s such a nice change in characters with the chosen one prophecy. His struggle with memory loss and putting so much pressure on himself really tugged at my heartstrings. I love him.
If there’s one thing that will stick with me for the years to come with this book it’s the question: “what’s your whatever it takes?” What cause are you willing to fight for until your last beat of your heart, what sets your heart on fire, what will you fight for no matter what?
Also, the side character i loved most was Sapphire. Gosh she was ENDERING AND HAS MY WHOLE HEART. She’s so sweet, kind, has the best sense of humor, she’s resilient, powerful and i just love everything about her. Get behind me girlie i’ll protect you <3
I’m so excited to see where this series go because while i’m hooked HARD here, i had a hard time following the plot. I have a weakness in reading and that’s the fact that i have a hard time getting into new worlds if it isn’t done in a way that fits the way my mind works, which is in NO WAY an author’s fault. I’m just complicated 🤣
So yeah, i had a but of a hard time following the plot because the magic system was unique and complicated, but there’s also such a huge cast of characters that i can have a hard time following and remembering everything.
HOWEVER, i adore this book. The characters have my whole heart and the storyline is compelling & magical. The cast of characters are all complex and unique, with all of them having their own little quirks and personality types. All their unique perspectives and struggles were so healing to read about!
Madelyn, if you're reading my review (which you shouldn't do too much because reviews can get to us authors WAY TOO MUCH!!), i just want to tell you... you made a great call trusting this series because your writing is phenomenal, the plot is unique and the characters are all heartwarming. I'm so proud of you ✨
August 25, 2025
"It's okay to be broken. It's okay to be hurt. It's okay to be weak. It's okay to ask for help. Nobody is perfect, and no one ever will be. You don't have to pretend to be okay when you're really not"
I first found this book on Instagram. I saw a reel with the basic plot summary, and I was immediately drawn in. A character with magical amnesia on a quest to find himself? Yes please. Suffice to say, reading this did not disappoint.
For most of the book you follow Paris, a boy with magical amnesia. He remembers absolutely nothing from his past, and he feels worthless because of that. Because what use is someone with no memories, no family, and no friends?
He eventually finds his way to a small town named Thronth where he discovers the truth behind his amnesia and learns that he must embark on a quest to find an enchanted artifact called Daunturis's Amulet. He and a few of the town folk decide to set off together for the quest to restore Paris's memories, and the story truly begins here.
I have to give Madelyn praise for the character work. This book has a large cast, but all of the characters felt as if they had the same amount of care and attention given to them as the next. All of them are perfectly flawed. And when I say flawed, I mean flawed. There are no Marry Sue's in this story. Their dialogue and the way they bounce off each other and interact has to be one of my favorite parts of this book. (Then again, I am a huge character sucker)
But the characters aren't the only thing this book has going for it. It's themes surrounding mental health are some of the best I've seen. Throughout the book, the questions of "what makes a monster" and "is it possible for anyone to redeem themselves" are repeatedly and are answered in a satisfying way.
"Those scars don't make you a monster. They're reminders of painful events, yes, but they also show that you've healed. That you're human.
Paris along with all the other characters along for the ride learn how to be okay in a world that is broken. I love how this book doesn't give a solution for how to get rid of your traumas because that's not the way the world works. It shows that healing time, and sometimes the best we can do is be okay with being broken. Only when we realize that, and allow others to see and help, can we truly start the healing process.
I truly can not wait to see how this series progresses!
I first found this book on Instagram. I saw a reel with the basic plot summary, and I was immediately drawn in. A character with magical amnesia on a quest to find himself? Yes please. Suffice to say, reading this did not disappoint.
For most of the book you follow Paris, a boy with magical amnesia. He remembers absolutely nothing from his past, and he feels worthless because of that. Because what use is someone with no memories, no family, and no friends?
He eventually finds his way to a small town named Thronth where he discovers the truth behind his amnesia and learns that he must embark on a quest to find an enchanted artifact called Daunturis's Amulet. He and a few of the town folk decide to set off together for the quest to restore Paris's memories, and the story truly begins here.
I have to give Madelyn praise for the character work. This book has a large cast, but all of the characters felt as if they had the same amount of care and attention given to them as the next. All of them are perfectly flawed. And when I say flawed, I mean flawed. There are no Marry Sue's in this story. Their dialogue and the way they bounce off each other and interact has to be one of my favorite parts of this book. (Then again, I am a huge character sucker)
But the characters aren't the only thing this book has going for it. It's themes surrounding mental health are some of the best I've seen. Throughout the book, the questions of "what makes a monster" and "is it possible for anyone to redeem themselves" are repeatedly and are answered in a satisfying way.
"Those scars don't make you a monster. They're reminders of painful events, yes, but they also show that you've healed. That you're human.
Paris along with all the other characters along for the ride learn how to be okay in a world that is broken. I love how this book doesn't give a solution for how to get rid of your traumas because that's not the way the world works. It shows that healing time, and sometimes the best we can do is be okay with being broken. Only when we realize that, and allow others to see and help, can we truly start the healing process.
I truly can not wait to see how this series progresses!
January 3, 2026
This book was an amazing start to an amazing trilogy! I absolutely loved the high fantasy setting, which had such a charming and rustic feel alongside magic, fantastical creatures, bladed weapons, and systems built on magic, as well as the hints at the rest of the worldbuilding and the overall feeling that the world has so many secrets that are yet to be revealed. I loved every single character and the way they interacted with each other, and the friendships and relationships that were developed!
The MC, Paris, has lost his memory and identity and is trying to gain it back. He is introverted, desperate to find answers, and struggles a lot to understand that people care for him, but you can tell that he’s a genuinely kind person! The way the rest of the cast treats him is so wholesome, and since most of them are from the same small town and many already know each other, it creates such a warm and welcoming feeling. The way each character sees each other is constantly changing, and it’s so amazing to watch them each grow as people, work through their individual struggles, and support each other. I really appreciated the themes of mental health, the genuine hope that shows through the whole story, and the journey they go on!
But there were also many tense, exciting, horrifying, and heartbreaking moments too, and I thought they were balanced perfectly with the more lighthearted moments. There were so many plot twists, unexpected challenges the characters had to deal with, terrifying secrets and warnings revealed, and plenty of moments where I feared for a character’s life. It’s also clear how much care and effort the author has put into developing this world as a whole. We get the sense that this story is much, much bigger than these characters or even we know, with so much left to find out. It really fits the title of the book, since each of the characters as well as the reader are all on their own journey of discovery. The whole book felt like such a breath of fresh air, since it’s so unique, fascinating, and touching all at the same time!
I’ve also finished the second book, Unordinary, at the time that I’m writing this review, and all I can say is that I’m so excited for both casts to meet, since I’m sure amazing things will happen!
The MC, Paris, has lost his memory and identity and is trying to gain it back. He is introverted, desperate to find answers, and struggles a lot to understand that people care for him, but you can tell that he’s a genuinely kind person! The way the rest of the cast treats him is so wholesome, and since most of them are from the same small town and many already know each other, it creates such a warm and welcoming feeling. The way each character sees each other is constantly changing, and it’s so amazing to watch them each grow as people, work through their individual struggles, and support each other. I really appreciated the themes of mental health, the genuine hope that shows through the whole story, and the journey they go on!
But there were also many tense, exciting, horrifying, and heartbreaking moments too, and I thought they were balanced perfectly with the more lighthearted moments. There were so many plot twists, unexpected challenges the characters had to deal with, terrifying secrets and warnings revealed, and plenty of moments where I feared for a character’s life. It’s also clear how much care and effort the author has put into developing this world as a whole. We get the sense that this story is much, much bigger than these characters or even we know, with so much left to find out. It really fits the title of the book, since each of the characters as well as the reader are all on their own journey of discovery. The whole book felt like such a breath of fresh air, since it’s so unique, fascinating, and touching all at the same time!
I’ve also finished the second book, Unordinary, at the time that I’m writing this review, and all I can say is that I’m so excited for both casts to meet, since I’m sure amazing things will happen!
March 4, 2026
Goodreads says “read from 1st March to 4th March” but actually that isn’t true. I started this at 6pm yesterday (3/3/26) and finished it at 5:45 today (4/4/26). This book is SO GOOD, I devoured it in less than 24 hours (and it’s 551 pages so that’s saying something). I got the feeling from the very first two chapters (or the prologue and the first interlude, if you will) that this was going to be a five-star read. I don’t know what the author put into this, but I have never been as immediately invested in a character as I was with Elidys—when something went wrong for him in the first interlude, I gasped. I have never started rooting for a character that quickly. Throughout, the book kept making me feel thing, from sadness (the author may have an inbox with some shouty DMs from me) to giggles, so it most definitely has earned its five stars.
April 20, 2026
Reading this book felt as if I had been on sea myself. Every second, there was something that brought that childish magical wonder out of me. This is one of the books that hit me at the right time, not just because of the story and the characters in which I could see myself. The writing style is what hooked me. I don't know what type of witchcraft Madelyn Pierce uses, but once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I'm repeating myself here, but the way she writes is captivating. I felt like a mooth drawn to candlelight. Discovery had become one of my favourite books, and I completely recommend it with all my heart.
July 28, 2025
This book has embedded itself in my soul. This is an incredibly beautiful and unique story, I have never experienced anything like it before. Every character is so layered, and the lore runs so deep . . . I will read it over and over again until I can get my hands on the next book. Mady, be so SO PROUD of yourself, you wrote something truly, truly special and it has touched my heart.
August 23, 2025
5/5 Stars
[review coming soon]
[review coming soon]
August 28, 2025
Probably one of my all time favorite Indie books. Incredible world with deeply relatable characters. This book caused me to actually shed more than one tear, and I'm not even mad about it.
January 1, 2026
Genuinely had so much fun reading this book!! Need books two and three now.
June 9, 2025
This book was absolutely phenomenal. It was by far my most anticipated read of the year, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more!
To start, the cover alone is absolutely stunning. I love it so much, and if I saw it in a bookstore I would grab it immediately, no questions asked. Second, I adored the worldbuilding, and it's take on a fantasy setting, but thousands of years from now on Earth, and how it blended several different cultures into the setting, such as the mexican roots of Thronth and the japanese inspired Yomikiri. I also loved the magic system and it's many layers, as well as the subtle lore on deities and how they shaped the world. I can't wait to see it touched on more in book 2.
I also loved the characters. Every single one of them had some sort of development, even the side characters, and I couldn't help but root for the main character. Poor Paris went through so much, and I loved seeing how he grew and learned to depend on his new friends as he learned more about himself. Brooke was so sweet and kind, and Nolan totally had my heart (he is book boyfriend material trust). The twins were amazing, Penelope's attitude was so funny to me and I could really relate to Sapphire. Fiore was also such a great character, dude did not want to be on this quest at all and for good reason.
And the plot itself was just amazing. It was very character driven, and it wasn't overly complicated, yet left plenty of room to explore more lore and story lines. The plot twists had me at the edge of my seat, I swear I binged the book in two sittings (and it is a BIG book). It had the right amount of magic, action, a touch of romance, worldbuilding, lore, and tons of adventure that will keep you reading for hours.
Discovery was an amazing book! Madelyn Pierce did an incredible job on her debut novel, and book 2 can't come soon enough. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to arc read this, and I can't wait to read more of her work!
To start, the cover alone is absolutely stunning. I love it so much, and if I saw it in a bookstore I would grab it immediately, no questions asked. Second, I adored the worldbuilding, and it's take on a fantasy setting, but thousands of years from now on Earth, and how it blended several different cultures into the setting, such as the mexican roots of Thronth and the japanese inspired Yomikiri. I also loved the magic system and it's many layers, as well as the subtle lore on deities and how they shaped the world. I can't wait to see it touched on more in book 2.
I also loved the characters. Every single one of them had some sort of development, even the side characters, and I couldn't help but root for the main character. Poor Paris went through so much, and I loved seeing how he grew and learned to depend on his new friends as he learned more about himself. Brooke was so sweet and kind, and Nolan totally had my heart (he is book boyfriend material trust). The twins were amazing, Penelope's attitude was so funny to me and I could really relate to Sapphire. Fiore was also such a great character, dude did not want to be on this quest at all and for good reason.
And the plot itself was just amazing. It was very character driven, and it wasn't overly complicated, yet left plenty of room to explore more lore and story lines. The plot twists had me at the edge of my seat, I swear I binged the book in two sittings (and it is a BIG book). It had the right amount of magic, action, a touch of romance, worldbuilding, lore, and tons of adventure that will keep you reading for hours.
Discovery was an amazing book! Madelyn Pierce did an incredible job on her debut novel, and book 2 can't come soon enough. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to arc read this, and I can't wait to read more of her work!
February 11, 2026
I have never wanted to go on an epic quest more in my entire life after reading this book!
Paris King Santiago wakes up in the middle of the sea on a boat in a storm and instantly gets caught up in a quest to get his memories back. Simultaneously, I got thrown into one of the most epic stories I have ever gotten the chance to immerse myself into.
The found family is incredible, the settings are absolutely stunning, the magic system was interesting, and the quest itself develops so naturally.
I loved how it explored the idea of re-finding yourself and excepting all sides of yourself and dealing with the grief and hard times and the joy that comes with finding yourself when you’ve lost yourself for awhile.
I fully, fully, enjoyed reading this book and found myself reading far into the night with no regrets.
I honestly can’t properly express how much of a joy it was for me to experience this story and the playlist, and the character art only amplifies it.
So Please, Please, Please! Go read this book!
Paris King Santiago wakes up in the middle of the sea on a boat in a storm and instantly gets caught up in a quest to get his memories back. Simultaneously, I got thrown into one of the most epic stories I have ever gotten the chance to immerse myself into.
The found family is incredible, the settings are absolutely stunning, the magic system was interesting, and the quest itself develops so naturally.
I loved how it explored the idea of re-finding yourself and excepting all sides of yourself and dealing with the grief and hard times and the joy that comes with finding yourself when you’ve lost yourself for awhile.
I fully, fully, enjoyed reading this book and found myself reading far into the night with no regrets.
I honestly can’t properly express how much of a joy it was for me to experience this story and the playlist, and the character art only amplifies it.
So Please, Please, Please! Go read this book!
May 29, 2025
I will always love ARC reading! AHHH! Pierce does such an amazing job throughout this entire story on keeping you wondering. I’ll admit I found the beginning a little slow, but once it got going, I was HOOKED.
I absolutely love the characters in this book. Paris is so cute. I just adopted another fictional character. AND FIORE??? I claim him too, he needs to be protected at all costs. All the characters are fun and diverse too. None feel too alike another.
When I tell you I was STRESSING towards the end though, I’m not even kind of kidding. Things are just falling into place and you just know, you just KNOW that things have to fall apart. It was scary! And thrilling! I’m so excited for the rest of the DEU, as Pierce refers to it as.
I absolutely love the characters in this book. Paris is so cute. I just adopted another fictional character. AND FIORE??? I claim him too, he needs to be protected at all costs. All the characters are fun and diverse too. None feel too alike another.
When I tell you I was STRESSING towards the end though, I’m not even kind of kidding. Things are just falling into place and you just know, you just KNOW that things have to fall apart. It was scary! And thrilling! I’m so excited for the rest of the DEU, as Pierce refers to it as.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews