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Aesymarean Duet #1
The Ascended
Revenge demands the ultimate sacrifice. When twins Thais and Thatcher are thrust into the deadly Trials of Ascension, they'll navigate brutal competitions and forbidden desires, discovering some secrets are worth dying for—and others are worth killing for.
In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight—a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension.
But when a priest's ritual exposes her divine heritage, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods—the father whose divine touch proved fatal to her mother.
To take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything.
Worse still, the selection ceremony binds her to a Xül. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them.
Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm—a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves.
Thais may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but she'll finish them seeking vengeance.
And the cost of godhood is rising.
Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons.
Some stars are meant to fall.
In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight—a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension.
But when a priest's ritual exposes her divine heritage, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods—the father whose divine touch proved fatal to her mother.
To take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything.
Worse still, the selection ceremony binds her to a Xül. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them.
Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm—a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves.
Thais may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but she'll finish them seeking vengeance.
And the cost of godhood is rising.
Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons.
Some stars are meant to fall.
758 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2025
11157 people are currently reading
97974 people want to read
About the author
Bree Grenwich
11 books1,016 followersBree Grenwich and Parker Lennox are two platonic soulmates who have been nearly inseparable since meeting at 19. Their shared love of fantasy, badass heroines, and steamy romances fueled their dream of co-authoring a novel, which they've finally achieved with their debut, Riftborne. When they're not conjuring worlds filled with female empowerment and swoon-worthy relationships, they’re binge-watching reality TV or obsessing over the last Dungeons and Dragons session.
Bree enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, who she claims is indeed a man written by a woman. A true Pisces, Bree finds solace in weekends by the sea or lake, engrossed in a book with music drowning out the world. She also holds a fascination with the paranormal and all things witchy, a love that undeniably creeps into her writing.
Parker, on the other hand, splits her time between the Southern US and the beautiful wine-country of Bordeaux, France, where she visits her boyfriend (living proof that romance novels can mirror reality!). An artist at heart, Parker expresses her creativity through graphic design, photography, and delectable culinary adventures, always with a sourdough starter bubbling away in the background.
Together, they weave addictive Romantasy novels for the New Adult audience.
Bree enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, who she claims is indeed a man written by a woman. A true Pisces, Bree finds solace in weekends by the sea or lake, engrossed in a book with music drowning out the world. She also holds a fascination with the paranormal and all things witchy, a love that undeniably creeps into her writing.
Parker, on the other hand, splits her time between the Southern US and the beautiful wine-country of Bordeaux, France, where she visits her boyfriend (living proof that romance novels can mirror reality!). An artist at heart, Parker expresses her creativity through graphic design, photography, and delectable culinary adventures, always with a sourdough starter bubbling away in the background.
Together, they weave addictive Romantasy novels for the New Adult audience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,037 reviews
October 11, 2025
Goodreads needs an infinity.
This 👏is 👏 what 👏romantic 👏fantasy👏is👏about.
The plot and romance were perfection. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, completely absorbed. The relationship development and character depth were outstanding… feet kicking romance paired with a truly addictive plot. Also possibly my favourite nickname ever (as a self proclaimed nickname hater)… it gives Manon and Dorian (iykyk)
The trials gave me the same rush I had reading Goblet of Fire at fifteen. That level of originality and intensity omggggggg!!!!!! Screaming !!!!!!
The crossover between worlds HOlY F. You can easily read this as a standalone (though fair warning, Riftborne was just okay for me), but if you’ve read the other books first, prepare for your jaw to hit the floor!!!!!!!
This 👏is 👏 what 👏romantic 👏fantasy👏is👏about.
The plot and romance were perfection. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, completely absorbed. The relationship development and character depth were outstanding… feet kicking romance paired with a truly addictive plot. Also possibly my favourite nickname ever (as a self proclaimed nickname hater)… it gives Manon and Dorian (iykyk)
The trials gave me the same rush I had reading Goblet of Fire at fifteen. That level of originality and intensity omggggggg!!!!!! Screaming !!!!!!
The crossover between worlds HOlY F. You can easily read this as a standalone (though fair warning, Riftborne was just okay for me), but if you’ve read the other books first, prepare for your jaw to hit the floor!!!!!!!
October 19, 2025
2 weeks since I finished and I can’t stop thinking & talking about this book. Their best book yet, 5 stars 🌟
Pls read Riftborne & Duskbound before this as this is technically 3rd in the reading order for this universe!!
Pls read Riftborne & Duskbound before this as this is technically 3rd in the reading order for this universe!!
September 3, 2025
6 stars, completely and totally amazing. HOLY SHIT!!!!!
This book is the pinnacle of romantasy. High stakes trials, heart wrenching romance, meddling gods, and EPIC main characters.
Thais the FMC is bad ass and although sometimes she made decisions I wouldn’t, I loved her so much, and because of the writing everything came together as it should. Completely fantastic.
The MMC Xül, omg SWOON. He’s the God of death, and I’m obsessed with him. I loved his growth over this story, too.
Overall this was just a masterpiece, and the ending left me completely slack jawed. Literal perfection.
This book is the pinnacle of romantasy. High stakes trials, heart wrenching romance, meddling gods, and EPIC main characters.
Thais the FMC is bad ass and although sometimes she made decisions I wouldn’t, I loved her so much, and because of the writing everything came together as it should. Completely fantastic.
The MMC Xül, omg SWOON. He’s the God of death, and I’m obsessed with him. I loved his growth over this story, too.
Overall this was just a masterpiece, and the ending left me completely slack jawed. Literal perfection.
December 3, 2025
5⭐️
The best Romantasy of 2025! Well I haven’t read a lot because I have been in such a slump that it was almost impossible for me to enjoy any Romantasy. I found them all very predictable and similar. This one is just “wow”! Let me say I didn’t read the previous books by these authors so if there was any connection to those I missed it.
At the beginning I would say I could see a bit of the Hunger Games but then the plot was so unique and action driven that I was very much enjoying myself and the spice? Just right amount for Romantasy👍👌. Now I will definitely read the previous books!
The best Romantasy of 2025! Well I haven’t read a lot because I have been in such a slump that it was almost impossible for me to enjoy any Romantasy. I found them all very predictable and similar. This one is just “wow”! Let me say I didn’t read the previous books by these authors so if there was any connection to those I missed it.
At the beginning I would say I could see a bit of the Hunger Games but then the plot was so unique and action driven that I was very much enjoying myself and the spice? Just right amount for Romantasy👍👌. Now I will definitely read the previous books!
October 22, 2025
6⭐️♾️
this is romantasy. holy hell. this book really does deserve all the hype surrounding it.
the world + magic in this book are one of favorites✨
the plot had me in a chokehold from chapter 1
i absolutely ate the trials up in this book (they felt so unique and the stakes felt high)
thais and xül🖤✨
the yearning, the tension? to die for!! and that slow burn🥵 their banter🤩🤩 kicking my feet hehe
and thatcher!!🥺 UGHHH my heart
i truly grew attached to all of the side characters and love them all😅🥰
i’m looking forward to the next book and seeing how everything comes together in this duet🌠💫
ALSO THAT ENDING??! 🥺… 😍 … 🤭 screaming
this is romantasy. holy hell. this book really does deserve all the hype surrounding it.
the world + magic in this book are one of favorites✨
the plot had me in a chokehold from chapter 1
i absolutely ate the trials up in this book (they felt so unique and the stakes felt high)
thais and xül🖤✨
the yearning, the tension? to die for!! and that slow burn🥵 their banter🤩🤩 kicking my feet hehe
and thatcher!!🥺 UGHHH my heart
i truly grew attached to all of the side characters and love them all😅🥰
i’m looking forward to the next book and seeing how everything comes together in this duet🌠💫
ALSO THAT ENDING??! 🥺… 😍 … 🤭 screaming
October 14, 2025
After almost giving up on this completely, I decided to give it another chance because of so many positive reviews. This had potential, but the execution ultimately didn’t deliver. I’m still shocked to see so many rave reviews.
The world & magic were cool but neither were fleshed out or explored. I liked the different levels of powers and I really wish we got more of that, or at least expanded on. I’m a sucker for trials, and I will say I did enjoy the way those were done. This book was overall WAY too long though, and it absolutely could have benefitted from more rounds of edits.
I really wanted to love the characters, but I could never fully get behind them. The dialogue and conversations were very bland, and a lot of the time cringy. Both MCs kept secrets from each other, and this was heavy on the miscommunication trope - which is one of my least favorite tropes ever. This made it REALLY hard to root for anyone because things just kept going in circles, which was so frustrating. Both Xül & Thais lacked the banter & chemistry I hoped they would have to really make me care about them. I also feel like neither MC grew at all over the course of the book, and they were very stagnant from start to finish. Thatcher was probably the most interesting character overall, but he wasn’t enough to save this.
The ending was a semi-interesting twist, but I just didn’t care enough about anyone to really feel the shock value. Very undecided on picking up the next one.
The world & magic were cool but neither were fleshed out or explored. I liked the different levels of powers and I really wish we got more of that, or at least expanded on. I’m a sucker for trials, and I will say I did enjoy the way those were done. This book was overall WAY too long though, and it absolutely could have benefitted from more rounds of edits.
I really wanted to love the characters, but I could never fully get behind them. The dialogue and conversations were very bland, and a lot of the time cringy. Both MCs kept secrets from each other, and this was heavy on the miscommunication trope - which is one of my least favorite tropes ever. This made it REALLY hard to root for anyone because things just kept going in circles, which was so frustrating. Both Xül & Thais lacked the banter & chemistry I hoped they would have to really make me care about them. I also feel like neither MC grew at all over the course of the book, and they were very stagnant from start to finish. Thatcher was probably the most interesting character overall, but he wasn’t enough to save this.
The ending was a semi-interesting twist, but I just didn’t care enough about anyone to really feel the shock value. Very undecided on picking up the next one.
October 31, 2025
I am still trying to process what I just read. WOW. The way my brain exploded in the last 10%. ROUND OF APPLAUSE
I am team read Riftborne & Duskbound first. The ultimate pay off at the end is everything as a reader. EVERYTHING 👏
I am still quite speechless but this was magnificent. I literally took notes in excel while reading because it was a BUTTLOAD of information but I do think it all pays off. I have to say, Marx is my favorite. I literally love her with everything.
This is definitely a 5⭐️ read for me, especially when you get to that WOAH moment but my only qualm is that there are so many freaking characters I had to make my own glossary 🫣 At times, it was a bit hard to keep up and I got confused quite a bit so it took me a little longer to read. But, all in all I loved it, the last chapter gave me body chills, and I CANNOT wait for more!!
So so good!!
"I don't need anything from you. I just need you to exist. To be here."
I am team read Riftborne & Duskbound first. The ultimate pay off at the end is everything as a reader. EVERYTHING 👏
I am still quite speechless but this was magnificent. I literally took notes in excel while reading because it was a BUTTLOAD of information but I do think it all pays off. I have to say, Marx is my favorite. I literally love her with everything.
This is definitely a 5⭐️ read for me, especially when you get to that WOAH moment but my only qualm is that there are so many freaking characters I had to make my own glossary 🫣 At times, it was a bit hard to keep up and I got confused quite a bit so it took me a little longer to read. But, all in all I loved it, the last chapter gave me body chills, and I CANNOT wait for more!!
So so good!!
"I don't need anything from you. I just need you to exist. To be here."
August 5, 2025
6 stars. one of the best books I've ever read. the most beautiful writing I think i've ever read and the best world building. the first chapter is the single best first chapter of a book i've ever read. will be updating more here soon but MARK YOUR DANG CALENDARS.
This isn’t just a book. It’s a whole experience!!!!!
Every once in a while, you read a book that shifts something in you. Where the pages feel like they’re written for you - your soul, your mind, your tastes - and it’s impossible to articulate just how good it is without wildly gesturing and begging people to read it. That was The Ascended for me.
I had the absolute honor of b e t a reading this novel, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life.
Let’s break this down:
✨ WRITING & STRUCTURE
The writing in The Ascended is stunning - mature, immersive, emotionally intelligent, and intentional in every line. It’s not just about telling a story; it’s about making you feel it. I stopped multiple times mid-scene just to reread the language, sit with the weight of the moment, and let the nuance land. There were lines of dialogue that made me pause, reread, and highlight immediately. I had 23 highlights from Chapter One alone. Yes, Chapter One.
Oh—and speaking of structure:
The prologue hooks you instantly.
Chapter One is genuinely the best first chapter I’ve ever read.
The trials? They gave me the same high I felt reading The Hunger Games for the first time - but better tbh. Elevated. Fresh. Strategic. Emotional.
800+ pages and not once did I feel fatigued. I never wanted it to end. (which is saying a lot for something with such immersive world building...)
🌍 WORLD-BUILDING
If you're a fantasy reader who craves layered politics, mythology that actually makes sense, and settings that feel lived in - this is your book.
The world of The Ascended is massive and intricate, but the way information is revealed is masterful. You’re never info-dumped. You’re drawn in, one detail at a time. The lore, the systems of power, the roles of magic and morality - they unfold with the kind of craftsmanship that reminds you what fantasy can be at its best.
This is the kind of world where you can feel the history beneath the surface. It’s textured. Lush. Purposeful.
🖤 CHARACTERS (AKA: I’d wage wars for them)
Let’s talk about Thais.
She is everything I’ve wanted in a female lead. She’s strong without being loud about it. Defiant without being childish. She actually communicates like an adult, which sounds like a low bar -but in romantasy? It can be rare. (she is 26 years old!!) Her choices made sense. Her strength was steady. She never felt like a trope. She just was. I haven’t loved a character this quickly and this deeply in a long time.
And then there’s Xul…
The restraint. The layers. The banter. The alignment. Their relationship is smart, slow-burning without the drag, and emotionally gripping. It’s not built on miscommunication or petty drama - it’s built on tension, earned trust, and genuinely brilliant pacing. Every interaction between them felt like watching two people who are meant to collide.
Even beyond the leads, the side characters, sibling dynamics, found family, and relational webs were incredibly well-done. Everyone felt real. Every interaction had meaning. Even the small moments mattered.
🔥 THEMES & TONE
This book has teeth - but it also has a soul.
It wrestles with morality, power, sacrifice, control, and identity in a way that feels fresh and weighty without ever being preachy. There’s a feminism at the root of this story that’s fierce and quiet and clear.
And best of all? It’s not just vibes. It has depth.
You don’t always get both.
⏳ FINAL THOUGHTS
The Ascended is part of a planned duology and set in the extended universe of the Esprithean Trilogy - but this is absolutely its own powerhouse.
If you’re tired of overhyped fantasy with shallow stakes…
If you want banter that doesn’t rely on snark alone…
If you crave smart women, emotionally complex men, and romance that builds instead of burns out…
You need this book.
I already know this will be a reread for me. And I already know it’ll be the book I recommend for the rest of the year.
Do yourself a favor - mark your calendar for October 7th.
The Ascended is going to take over - and it deserves to.
spoiler free tiktok review: https://www.tiktok.com/@suegainz/vide...
This isn’t just a book. It’s a whole experience!!!!!
Every once in a while, you read a book that shifts something in you. Where the pages feel like they’re written for you - your soul, your mind, your tastes - and it’s impossible to articulate just how good it is without wildly gesturing and begging people to read it. That was The Ascended for me.
I had the absolute honor of b e t a reading this novel, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life.
Let’s break this down:
✨ WRITING & STRUCTURE
The writing in The Ascended is stunning - mature, immersive, emotionally intelligent, and intentional in every line. It’s not just about telling a story; it’s about making you feel it. I stopped multiple times mid-scene just to reread the language, sit with the weight of the moment, and let the nuance land. There were lines of dialogue that made me pause, reread, and highlight immediately. I had 23 highlights from Chapter One alone. Yes, Chapter One.
Oh—and speaking of structure:
The prologue hooks you instantly.
Chapter One is genuinely the best first chapter I’ve ever read.
The trials? They gave me the same high I felt reading The Hunger Games for the first time - but better tbh. Elevated. Fresh. Strategic. Emotional.
800+ pages and not once did I feel fatigued. I never wanted it to end. (which is saying a lot for something with such immersive world building...)
🌍 WORLD-BUILDING
If you're a fantasy reader who craves layered politics, mythology that actually makes sense, and settings that feel lived in - this is your book.
The world of The Ascended is massive and intricate, but the way information is revealed is masterful. You’re never info-dumped. You’re drawn in, one detail at a time. The lore, the systems of power, the roles of magic and morality - they unfold with the kind of craftsmanship that reminds you what fantasy can be at its best.
This is the kind of world where you can feel the history beneath the surface. It’s textured. Lush. Purposeful.
🖤 CHARACTERS (AKA: I’d wage wars for them)
Let’s talk about Thais.
She is everything I’ve wanted in a female lead. She’s strong without being loud about it. Defiant without being childish. She actually communicates like an adult, which sounds like a low bar -but in romantasy? It can be rare. (she is 26 years old!!) Her choices made sense. Her strength was steady. She never felt like a trope. She just was. I haven’t loved a character this quickly and this deeply in a long time.
And then there’s Xul…
The restraint. The layers. The banter. The alignment. Their relationship is smart, slow-burning without the drag, and emotionally gripping. It’s not built on miscommunication or petty drama - it’s built on tension, earned trust, and genuinely brilliant pacing. Every interaction between them felt like watching two people who are meant to collide.
Even beyond the leads, the side characters, sibling dynamics, found family, and relational webs were incredibly well-done. Everyone felt real. Every interaction had meaning. Even the small moments mattered.
🔥 THEMES & TONE
This book has teeth - but it also has a soul.
It wrestles with morality, power, sacrifice, control, and identity in a way that feels fresh and weighty without ever being preachy. There’s a feminism at the root of this story that’s fierce and quiet and clear.
And best of all? It’s not just vibes. It has depth.
You don’t always get both.
⏳ FINAL THOUGHTS
The Ascended is part of a planned duology and set in the extended universe of the Esprithean Trilogy - but this is absolutely its own powerhouse.
If you’re tired of overhyped fantasy with shallow stakes…
If you want banter that doesn’t rely on snark alone…
If you crave smart women, emotionally complex men, and romance that builds instead of burns out…
You need this book.
I already know this will be a reread for me. And I already know it’ll be the book I recommend for the rest of the year.
Do yourself a favor - mark your calendar for October 7th.
The Ascended is going to take over - and it deserves to.
spoiler free tiktok review: https://www.tiktok.com/@suegainz/vide...
October 31, 2025
Oh, hell yeah. This ending has me absolutely JACKED for the next book & continuation of this world. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
🚨 BUT I DO THINK you should read Riftborne & Duskbound — books 1 & 2 of the Esprithean trilogy — before reading this. The series are standalone stories, sure, but they exist in the same universe so there are Easter eggs & they wouldn’t hit without the context of the Esprithean trilogy. Things happen that are only SUPER FUCKING COOL because I read Esprithean. So I highly recommend reading those 2 books before this one. 🚨
Now, let’s get into the review.
PLOT
Thais & Thatcher are twins living in hiding; both from the world knowing their father is actually the king of gods & also from the world for finding out Thais is gifted with magic. Because the Gifted get forcibly entered into The Trials. The winners of The Trials get to ascend to godhood, but not without facing 4 rounds of trials created to kill them. Their saviors? Their powers & their mentors, if they care enough to keep them alive. This book has
- deadly trials
- multi POV (but mostly Thais)
- gods, humans, magic, & political maneuvering
- part of the Sundered Realms Universe
- lower spice
- Easter eggs galore
- trainer/trainee
PROS
- Honestly solid characters across the board. Marx is my favorite & I can’t wait for more from her. But Thais is a great FMC & I particularly liked some of the emotional shit we deal with at the end. It was pretty easy to be in her mind for the majority of ~800 pages. She’s tough, snarky, & stubborn without being blind to circumstance & I appreciate that tremendously in an FMC.
- Thatcher is my angel baby. I love him. I loved him from the jump & I will love him forever.
- The trials themselves were super interesting and I loved the concept of each. They were extremely detailed & I just thought they were really well done.
- Marx is just my favorite type of character. A super likeable clever weirdo badass. & her magic was super cool too.
- The evolution of Xül & Thais’s relationship was solid. Some really tense moments. Some real ups & downs. & EXTREMELY interesting next steps.
- Loved the ending & everything that went down in the last 15% or so. But it wasn’t a “this book was mid until the last 10%” situation like, the book was solid all the way through. I just really liked the ending. Not saying it’s a “good” ending or a happy ending, but I liked it a lot.
- Some solid twists! I am super good at predicting plot points & while I definitely got, most of them I’d say, I had some surprises & I LOVE to be surprised &/or wrong.
CONS
- She’s a chonky book & it maybe could have trimmed down some but honestly not by much. So if you don’t like long books, beware because she’s almost 800 pages.
Clearly I will keep reading everything in this world! Can’t wait for book 3 in the Esprithean trilogy!
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No really
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The first note I took was “Thatcher’s magic seems close to Duskbound magic but way more badass” so that came back haha but I told myself they weren’t the same so it couldn’t *be* so I’m super pumped for where this goes. I feel like I want to reread Duskbound now.
- Thatcher’s powers were SO COOL. JUST BLOW ‘EM UP. GIT ‘EM.
- I was heartbroken at the end in the best way. Thais’s grief & emptiness at everything. Xül still having to marry that goddamn woman. I sort of hate his dad now. Maren (name?) finding a new human girl. Thatcher being in the abyss. It all was just such a bummer & you felt the heaviness of it.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
.
.
.
K BYEEER
🚨 BUT I DO THINK you should read Riftborne & Duskbound — books 1 & 2 of the Esprithean trilogy — before reading this. The series are standalone stories, sure, but they exist in the same universe so there are Easter eggs & they wouldn’t hit without the context of the Esprithean trilogy. Things happen that are only SUPER FUCKING COOL because I read Esprithean. So I highly recommend reading those 2 books before this one. 🚨
Now, let’s get into the review.
PLOT
Thais & Thatcher are twins living in hiding; both from the world knowing their father is actually the king of gods & also from the world for finding out Thais is gifted with magic. Because the Gifted get forcibly entered into The Trials. The winners of The Trials get to ascend to godhood, but not without facing 4 rounds of trials created to kill them. Their saviors? Their powers & their mentors, if they care enough to keep them alive. This book has
- deadly trials
- multi POV (but mostly Thais)
- gods, humans, magic, & political maneuvering
- part of the Sundered Realms Universe
- lower spice
- Easter eggs galore
- trainer/trainee
PROS
- Honestly solid characters across the board. Marx is my favorite & I can’t wait for more from her. But Thais is a great FMC & I particularly liked some of the emotional shit we deal with at the end. It was pretty easy to be in her mind for the majority of ~800 pages. She’s tough, snarky, & stubborn without being blind to circumstance & I appreciate that tremendously in an FMC.
- Thatcher is my angel baby. I love him. I loved him from the jump & I will love him forever.
- The trials themselves were super interesting and I loved the concept of each. They were extremely detailed & I just thought they were really well done.
- Marx is just my favorite type of character. A super likeable clever weirdo badass. & her magic was super cool too.
- The evolution of Xül & Thais’s relationship was solid. Some really tense moments. Some real ups & downs. & EXTREMELY interesting next steps.
- Loved the ending & everything that went down in the last 15% or so. But it wasn’t a “this book was mid until the last 10%” situation like, the book was solid all the way through. I just really liked the ending. Not saying it’s a “good” ending or a happy ending, but I liked it a lot.
- Some solid twists! I am super good at predicting plot points & while I definitely got, most of them I’d say, I had some surprises & I LOVE to be surprised &/or wrong.
CONS
- She’s a chonky book & it maybe could have trimmed down some but honestly not by much. So if you don’t like long books, beware because she’s almost 800 pages.
Clearly I will keep reading everything in this world! Can’t wait for book 3 in the Esprithean trilogy!
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No really
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The first note I took was “Thatcher’s magic seems close to Duskbound magic but way more badass” so that came back haha but I told myself they weren’t the same so it couldn’t *be* so I’m super pumped for where this goes. I feel like I want to reread Duskbound now.
- Thatcher’s powers were SO COOL. JUST BLOW ‘EM UP. GIT ‘EM.
- I was heartbroken at the end in the best way. Thais’s grief & emptiness at everything. Xül still having to marry that goddamn woman. I sort of hate his dad now. Maren (name?) finding a new human girl. Thatcher being in the abyss. It all was just such a bummer & you felt the heaviness of it.
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K BYEEER
September 26, 2025
top notch romantasy right there.
♾️ ⭐️
thank you to the authors for an arc
♾️ ⭐️
thank you to the authors for an arc
October 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 agonizing, beautiful, tortuous stars of absolute perfection. I truly don’t know how I’ll recover after reading this. I don’t think a story has made me feel this way since reading The Stormlight Archive. I don’t even know how to gather my thoughts and convey just how immaculately written and interwoven this story was. This story is worth all the hype it’s getting and then some. Truly one of my favorite books of all time and that’s not even a question.
First off, you NEED to read Riftborne & Duskbound before reading this book. It’s not up for debate. The emotional turmoil and beautiful of this story is magnified by reading the previous duology. It takes it from a really good story to an absolutely god tier book of pure magic.
Some tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Mentor x mentee
- Trials
- Gods and primordials
- Yearning
- A little bit spicy
- Sacrifice
- Touch her and die
- Hidden identities and motives
& so many more!
I’m going to make this spoiler free as much as I can even though I want to scream the truths from the roof tops. Thais, our beautiful and strong-willed fmc. She was determined, intelligent, vengeful and flawed. The fmc that closely resembles her to me is Diana from Gods & Monsters series (which iykyk). She possesses power from the stars and commands light and celestial magic. Her story starts out in her little coastal home where she’s hiding her magic with her twin brother Thatcher. But she’s quickly found by the priests that hunt for people with power to enter them into deadly trials competing for godhood. Her twin is dragged with her and from there all manner of hell breaks loose. Thatcher possessing power unknown to him or anyone. Then they’re off to compete in trials and win or die trying.
Xul, prince of death, becomes Thais’ mentor. He is brooding, arrogant, dark, and cruel. He cares for nothing and no one and would rather do anything other than have to train Thais. That is of course, until he becomes completely and totally enamored with her. His story is depressing and dark and learning more about him and why his walls were up was so important to the story. Watching him soften for Thais and share his truths, his family and life with her was beautiful. He is my ultimate mmc and I feel like I would equate him to Rhysand and Cardan combined. I can’t wait to share some quotes from him later on. He is number one book boyfriend now and that is indisputable.
The magic system in this and plot were so unique. In a world of redundant fantasy stories, this one was a breath of fresh air. Completely and totally new. High stakes that made me cry and scream and wish for the second book in my hands immediately. All the powers people possess are unique from what I’ve ever seen and even the structure of the gods and primordials are different from anything I’ve seen. It takes a lot for a book to completely capture my attention and leave me reeling but this book did that.
The ending tore my heart to pieces. Even though I started to call what the ending would be from reading the previous duology, it did nothing to curb the emotional pain and turmoil I was in. I cannot express enough how imperative it is to read the first duology. The final battle, the story interweaving across all three books was masterful and incredibly well done. I will be thinking of that ending for years until we get the next book. I need it more than I need air!
Quotes that left me on my knees:
- “You clean up well, Starling. Though perhaps I preferred you covered in blood and victory after the Hunt.”
- “Oh, I’ve found myself on my knees more than a few times. But I have standards when it comes to those I deem worthy of such devotion.”
- “I didn’t understand then that some people just… break something else when they’re broken.”
- “That woman doesn’t cower behind fatalism, she’s doesn’t hide behind martyrdom. She fights— not because she expects to win, but because surrendering isn’t in her nature.”
- I’m going to burn you alive, Thais. To make up for all the time wasted.”
- “I’d wage wars for you.”
- “I’ll paint this temple with divine blood before I let them touch her.”
- “Because I loved her more than my own freedom. More than any future. More than anything.”
There are so many more quotes I want to share but if you’re even kind of considering reading this, do it. I guarantee it will wound your heart in the most heartbreakingly beautiful way. Now I’m off to go stare at a wall for a few hours… ✨❤️🔥🗡️🩸☠️🫠
First off, you NEED to read Riftborne & Duskbound before reading this book. It’s not up for debate. The emotional turmoil and beautiful of this story is magnified by reading the previous duology. It takes it from a really good story to an absolutely god tier book of pure magic.
Some tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Mentor x mentee
- Trials
- Gods and primordials
- Yearning
- A little bit spicy
- Sacrifice
- Touch her and die
- Hidden identities and motives
& so many more!
I’m going to make this spoiler free as much as I can even though I want to scream the truths from the roof tops. Thais, our beautiful and strong-willed fmc. She was determined, intelligent, vengeful and flawed. The fmc that closely resembles her to me is Diana from Gods & Monsters series (which iykyk). She possesses power from the stars and commands light and celestial magic. Her story starts out in her little coastal home where she’s hiding her magic with her twin brother Thatcher. But she’s quickly found by the priests that hunt for people with power to enter them into deadly trials competing for godhood. Her twin is dragged with her and from there all manner of hell breaks loose. Thatcher possessing power unknown to him or anyone. Then they’re off to compete in trials and win or die trying.
Xul, prince of death, becomes Thais’ mentor. He is brooding, arrogant, dark, and cruel. He cares for nothing and no one and would rather do anything other than have to train Thais. That is of course, until he becomes completely and totally enamored with her. His story is depressing and dark and learning more about him and why his walls were up was so important to the story. Watching him soften for Thais and share his truths, his family and life with her was beautiful. He is my ultimate mmc and I feel like I would equate him to Rhysand and Cardan combined. I can’t wait to share some quotes from him later on. He is number one book boyfriend now and that is indisputable.
The magic system in this and plot were so unique. In a world of redundant fantasy stories, this one was a breath of fresh air. Completely and totally new. High stakes that made me cry and scream and wish for the second book in my hands immediately. All the powers people possess are unique from what I’ve ever seen and even the structure of the gods and primordials are different from anything I’ve seen. It takes a lot for a book to completely capture my attention and leave me reeling but this book did that.
The ending tore my heart to pieces. Even though I started to call what the ending would be from reading the previous duology, it did nothing to curb the emotional pain and turmoil I was in. I cannot express enough how imperative it is to read the first duology. The final battle, the story interweaving across all three books was masterful and incredibly well done. I will be thinking of that ending for years until we get the next book. I need it more than I need air!
Quotes that left me on my knees:
- “You clean up well, Starling. Though perhaps I preferred you covered in blood and victory after the Hunt.”
- “Oh, I’ve found myself on my knees more than a few times. But I have standards when it comes to those I deem worthy of such devotion.”
- “I didn’t understand then that some people just… break something else when they’re broken.”
- “That woman doesn’t cower behind fatalism, she’s doesn’t hide behind martyrdom. She fights— not because she expects to win, but because surrendering isn’t in her nature.”
- I’m going to burn you alive, Thais. To make up for all the time wasted.”
- “I’d wage wars for you.”
- “I’ll paint this temple with divine blood before I let them touch her.”
- “Because I loved her more than my own freedom. More than any future. More than anything.”
There are so many more quotes I want to share but if you’re even kind of considering reading this, do it. I guarantee it will wound your heart in the most heartbreakingly beautiful way. Now I’m off to go stare at a wall for a few hours… ✨❤️🔥🗡️🩸☠️🫠
October 18, 2025
Let my experience with The Ascended serve as a reminder: Books with sky-high ratings that are new releases require a cooling off period before you can really tell if they're any good. It's always professional hypesters who come in early with 5 stars and gushing reviews (Booktok, Amazon, friends of the authors, readers who want to discover the next big thing first, etc.)
This was immensely mediocre. So much was ripped off from other authors and series, most obviously The Hunger Games, and not just because players are fighting to the death at the whims of the elite. No - Thais even has a trio of Cinnas. C'mon now, building a fragile trust with stylists of all things is pretty fucking specific! Plenty of other series serve as uncredited inspiration, too, and even poets aren't safe from these writers. Poor Dylan Thomas wasn't spared:
And then there's the MMC, Xül, pronounced the same as the most recognizable demon dog in cinematic history. Or at least, from 1984.
Before I stop - because I really need to stop before GR puts me on the naughty list - there's this little gem that actually made me laugh.
Yeah, it's a throwback pic, but it's still his best look. They're obv A7x fans, and I can't hate them for that.
Just no. Way too much egregious behavior. COME UP WITH YOUR OWN MATERIAL, PLEASE.
This was immensely mediocre. So much was ripped off from other authors and series, most obviously The Hunger Games, and not just because players are fighting to the death at the whims of the elite. No - Thais even has a trio of Cinnas. C'mon now, building a fragile trust with stylists of all things is pretty fucking specific! Plenty of other series serve as uncredited inspiration, too, and even poets aren't safe from these writers. Poor Dylan Thomas wasn't spared:
My power fought against the nothing, insisting we existed, that we mattered, that we would not go gentle into absolute night.Normally I wouldn't call out one small "borrow" like this, but after 728 pages of similar examples, I just have to rage, rage against such obvious plagiarism.
And then there's the MMC, Xül, pronounced the same as the most recognizable demon dog in cinematic history. Or at least, from 1984.
Before I stop - because I really need to stop before GR puts me on the naughty list - there's this little gem that actually made me laugh.
I spotted Marx immediately—she moved with that sinister gait that had surprisingly become familiar to me now.
Yeah, it's a throwback pic, but it's still his best look. They're obv A7x fans, and I can't hate them for that.
Just no. Way too much egregious behavior. COME UP WITH YOUR OWN MATERIAL, PLEASE.
September 3, 2025
BUCKLE 🆙 This is an ♾️ ⭐️ read. I have so much to say, but I still feel like my brain is being pieced back together after that explosion of an ending. 🤯 It’s 1:30 in the morning. I will come back for a proper review tomorrow after I stitch myself together again. 😮💨 I’m sick. Like this was the best book I’ve read dare I say in my entire life. More to come! 🖤👀💁🏻♀️
Okkkkkk.. whooo 😮💨😮💨😮💨
My Review ✍🏽
How am I supposed to carry on with normal life after this? One name, and everything I thought I knew changed. Words feel too small for a story like this. Masterpiece doesn’t even come close. ✨📖
This book was 828 pages on my Kindle, and I would have devoured another 800 without hesitation. Every single moment felt deliberate, every thread woven with intention. The characters didn’t just exist on the page—they lived, breathed, and carved themselves into my soul. 💔🔥
The tension. The desire. The heartbreak. All of it bound together in a way that left me undone. That ending… my god, the ending. My brain felt like it was shattering into light, and I had to flip back through pages, desperate to piece everything together again. By the time I reached the final line it was 1:30 in the morning, and still I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, my heart trying to stitch itself closed around the wounds this story left behind. 🌙🕰️🧩
Deception. Lies. Love. Truths too heavy to bear. This book didn’t just consume me—it OBLITERATED me. And now, whatever I pick up next won’t even have a fair chance against the brilliance of this one. 🌌💥📚
I’m endlessly grateful to have an opportunity on the street team and to have received this ARC. 💌 The fact that I got to experience this story early still doesn’t feel real. If you haven’t already, mark your calendars—The Ascended releases October 7th, 2025, and you absolutely do not want to miss it. 📅✨
⸻
📖 Summary
Thais Morvaren has spent her life hiding her dangerous gift, the ability to forge weapons from starlight. But when a priest’s ritual exposes her divine heritage, she’s forced into the brutal Trials of Ascension, a deadly competition meant to create gods. Against her will, Thais must fight, deceive, and survive while confronting the truth about her lineage and the father who destroyed her family: Olinthar, King of the Gods.
To defeat a god, she must risk becoming one herself.
Alongside her twin brother, Thatcher, whose powers manifest unexpectedly, and bound to a dangerous mentor, Xül, an arrogant necromancer prince with dark secrets… Thais is pulled deeper into a game of survival, vengeance, and forbidden desire.
Each trial brings her closer to godhood, but also closer to unraveling a darkness that threatens the divine realm itself. And while Thais may have entered the trials seeking survival, she’ll finish them seeking vengeance—no matter the cost.
⸻
✨Tropes & Vibes ✨
🔥 Enemies to lovers tension (sparks with the necromancer mentor Xül)
👥 Twins with hidden power + strong sibling bond
⚔️ Deadly competition / brutal trials
💔 Vengeance-driven heroine
🌌 Secret heritage revealed (divine bloodline, forbidden power)
📚 Mentor–student dynamic with serious tension
👑 Godhood as both curse and temptation
🌑 Ancient darkness lurking behind the trials
⭐ Starlight weapon-forging magic
⚡ High stakes epic fantasy (rebellion, sacrifice, unraveling heavens)
💫 Poetic, destiny-laden vibes (fate, lies, love, sacrifice)
Okkkkkk.. whooo 😮💨😮💨😮💨
My Review ✍🏽
How am I supposed to carry on with normal life after this? One name, and everything I thought I knew changed. Words feel too small for a story like this. Masterpiece doesn’t even come close. ✨📖
This book was 828 pages on my Kindle, and I would have devoured another 800 without hesitation. Every single moment felt deliberate, every thread woven with intention. The characters didn’t just exist on the page—they lived, breathed, and carved themselves into my soul. 💔🔥
The tension. The desire. The heartbreak. All of it bound together in a way that left me undone. That ending… my god, the ending. My brain felt like it was shattering into light, and I had to flip back through pages, desperate to piece everything together again. By the time I reached the final line it was 1:30 in the morning, and still I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, my heart trying to stitch itself closed around the wounds this story left behind. 🌙🕰️🧩
Deception. Lies. Love. Truths too heavy to bear. This book didn’t just consume me—it OBLITERATED me. And now, whatever I pick up next won’t even have a fair chance against the brilliance of this one. 🌌💥📚
I’m endlessly grateful to have an opportunity on the street team and to have received this ARC. 💌 The fact that I got to experience this story early still doesn’t feel real. If you haven’t already, mark your calendars—The Ascended releases October 7th, 2025, and you absolutely do not want to miss it. 📅✨
⸻
📖 Summary
Thais Morvaren has spent her life hiding her dangerous gift, the ability to forge weapons from starlight. But when a priest’s ritual exposes her divine heritage, she’s forced into the brutal Trials of Ascension, a deadly competition meant to create gods. Against her will, Thais must fight, deceive, and survive while confronting the truth about her lineage and the father who destroyed her family: Olinthar, King of the Gods.
To defeat a god, she must risk becoming one herself.
Alongside her twin brother, Thatcher, whose powers manifest unexpectedly, and bound to a dangerous mentor, Xül, an arrogant necromancer prince with dark secrets… Thais is pulled deeper into a game of survival, vengeance, and forbidden desire.
Each trial brings her closer to godhood, but also closer to unraveling a darkness that threatens the divine realm itself. And while Thais may have entered the trials seeking survival, she’ll finish them seeking vengeance—no matter the cost.
⸻
✨Tropes & Vibes ✨
🔥 Enemies to lovers tension (sparks with the necromancer mentor Xül)
👥 Twins with hidden power + strong sibling bond
⚔️ Deadly competition / brutal trials
💔 Vengeance-driven heroine
🌌 Secret heritage revealed (divine bloodline, forbidden power)
📚 Mentor–student dynamic with serious tension
👑 Godhood as both curse and temptation
🌑 Ancient darkness lurking behind the trials
⭐ Starlight weapon-forging magic
⚡ High stakes epic fantasy (rebellion, sacrifice, unraveling heavens)
💫 Poetic, destiny-laden vibes (fate, lies, love, sacrifice)
October 22, 2025
This might be my favorite book I’ve ever read so give me a minute to PROCESS !!!! 🤯🤯😭😭😭
October 8, 2025
Soft DNF’d at 20%
I’m not a literary critic or anything, but this book has me constantly cringing 😭😭😭 The dialogue is so painfully corny. Every time the FMC speaks, it’s like hearing someone say “no more mister nice guy” out loud.
I’ve been trying to push through and give it a fair chance, but I’m struggling. The urge to bash my head against a wall is so real 💀 And it’s such a shame because I was really looking forward to this release. Everyone with ARCs on TikTok was giving it 6 stars, and all the early reviews here are 5s. I guess I’ll have to wait until more regular readers get their hands on it, since it just came out.
I’m not familiar with these authors’ writing styles, but I’ve had Riftborn sitting in my KU library for a while. Not sure if I’m going to read it atp. Can someone please tell me if it’s just me feeling this way? 😭
I’m not a literary critic or anything, but this book has me constantly cringing 😭😭😭 The dialogue is so painfully corny. Every time the FMC speaks, it’s like hearing someone say “no more mister nice guy” out loud.
I’ve been trying to push through and give it a fair chance, but I’m struggling. The urge to bash my head against a wall is so real 💀 And it’s such a shame because I was really looking forward to this release. Everyone with ARCs on TikTok was giving it 6 stars, and all the early reviews here are 5s. I guess I’ll have to wait until more regular readers get their hands on it, since it just came out.
I’m not familiar with these authors’ writing styles, but I’ve had Riftborn sitting in my KU library for a while. Not sure if I’m going to read it atp. Can someone please tell me if it’s just me feeling this way? 😭
October 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
I honestly can’t believe I read the same book as everyone else here! The glowing reviews had me expecting something amazing, but I ended up feeling frustrated most of the time.
I have two main issues with this book. The first is the inconsistency — some phrases and expressions felt way too contemporary for the time period in which the story is supposed to be set. It completely broke the immersion and almost made me DNF. On top of that, a few characters (especially the MMC) seem to develop entirely new personalities by the end of the book, which made the whole thing feel uneven.
My second issue is the FMC. She’s both “too little and too much” at the same time. I love strong female leads, but this 26-year-old character just complains constantly, comes off as rude and entitled, and makes poor decisions while somehow being praised by everyone around her. She’s insufferable — not in a fun, flawed way, but in a please-stop-talking way.
The story and the magic system were the only thing that kept me going; it was very interesting, entertaining and the trials were creative
Overall, I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the writing style, but the story was entertaining enough.
November 6, 2025
God, just rip my heart out, why don’t you?? It might have actually been less painful than that ending 😭 And now I have to wait a year for the second book?? What kind of torture is this.
This was incredible! I’m only taking half a star off because I didn’t 100% vibe with the writing style. There were a couple of scenes I skimmed over because I couldn’t fully immerse myself in them. It didn’t bother me too much, though, and since the story was so incredibly gripping, I can easily look past it.
The ending was so moving. The state that Thais is in at the end is absolutely heartbreaking and so out of character for her. It really drives home how important her connection with her brother is. I loved how that was shown throughout the whole book, even though the twins spent the majority of it apart. Their bond felt so real and believable.
I’m really hoping the storyline with Xül doesn’t carry too far into the second book, because my heart can’t take it.
This was incredible! I’m only taking half a star off because I didn’t 100% vibe with the writing style. There were a couple of scenes I skimmed over because I couldn’t fully immerse myself in them. It didn’t bother me too much, though, and since the story was so incredibly gripping, I can easily look past it.
The ending was so moving. The state that Thais is in at the end is absolutely heartbreaking and so out of character for her. It really drives home how important her connection with her brother is. I loved how that was shown throughout the whole book, even though the twins spent the majority of it apart. Their bond felt so real and believable.
I’m really hoping the storyline with Xül doesn’t carry too far into the second book, because my heart can’t take it.
October 15, 2025
♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️ stars. I don't even have words atm but will come back to review once I do
November 4, 2025
2.5 stars
I'm honestly baffled that there are so many 5 or sorry 6 star reviews here. Did we read the same book?
This was painfully avarage, sometimes not even that. The dialogues were extremely unoriginal and basic. You get the feeling that the authors just collected clichè phrases and put them all together.
The characters were one dimensional, the only relationship that actually worth something was the twin bond. But we got relatively little of that through the book. After the Ascension there were chapters that were worth reading.
Thais and Xül whole relationship felt forced and empty. I honestly couldn't see how it's progressing, the conversations were shallow, the chemistry barely there. Couple of good moments at best, and most of the intimate ones were cringey.
The same with Thais & Marks, I actually liked both characters but when they were talking with each other..it was like the authors looked up their list of "what is the most meaningless, mainstream phrases that fourteen years old girls use" and just wrote them after one another.
There was no depth, no soul in these bonds.
To say some positive things too, they figured out the trials and what's happening around them quiet quickly. There should have been more intrigue, but I liked that they weren't stupid to see obvious things and also catch up on the hidden clues. The world-building wasn't bad per se but nothing more than avarage.
The ending wasn't disappointing at least.. so that's something, I'll see if the second one will worth a try..
I'm honestly baffled that there are so many 5 or sorry 6 star reviews here. Did we read the same book?
This was painfully avarage, sometimes not even that. The dialogues were extremely unoriginal and basic. You get the feeling that the authors just collected clichè phrases and put them all together.
The characters were one dimensional, the only relationship that actually worth something was the twin bond. But we got relatively little of that through the book. After the Ascension there were chapters that were worth reading.
Thais and Xül whole relationship felt forced and empty. I honestly couldn't see how it's progressing, the conversations were shallow, the chemistry barely there. Couple of good moments at best, and most of the intimate ones were cringey.
The same with Thais & Marks, I actually liked both characters but when they were talking with each other..it was like the authors looked up their list of "what is the most meaningless, mainstream phrases that fourteen years old girls use" and just wrote them after one another.
There was no depth, no soul in these bonds.
To say some positive things too, they figured out the trials and what's happening around them quiet quickly. There should have been more intrigue, but I liked that they weren't stupid to see obvious things and also catch up on the hidden clues. The world-building wasn't bad per se but nothing more than avarage.
The ending wasn't disappointing at least.. so that's something, I'll see if the second one will worth a try..
October 8, 2025
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING UNBELIEVABLY INCREDIBLE
this book was EVERYTHING!!!! SIX STARS!!!!
i have CHILLS!! literally left my jaw on the FLOOR and me staring at the wall for 5 whole minutes before i could collect my thoughts 🤸🏽♀️🤸🏽♀️🤸🏽♀️
i just genuinely was NOT expecting this level of AMAZING from this singular book and now i want to reread it a thousand times. the way i didn’t know this book was part of a bigger series and part of a world that was bigger than anything i could’ve ever thought up 🤯🤯🤯🤯
listen, im going to need you to RUN DONT WALK!! read this book immediately, you won’t be dissapointed 🙌🏽🙌🏽
MAKE SURE YOU READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST!!!
that’s all for now, enjoy your reading bookies 💖
this book was EVERYTHING!!!! SIX STARS!!!!
i have CHILLS!! literally left my jaw on the FLOOR and me staring at the wall for 5 whole minutes before i could collect my thoughts 🤸🏽♀️🤸🏽♀️🤸🏽♀️
i just genuinely was NOT expecting this level of AMAZING from this singular book and now i want to reread it a thousand times. the way i didn’t know this book was part of a bigger series and part of a world that was bigger than anything i could’ve ever thought up 🤯🤯🤯🤯
listen, im going to need you to RUN DONT WALK!! read this book immediately, you won’t be dissapointed 🙌🏽🙌🏽
MAKE SURE YOU READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST!!!
that’s all for now, enjoy your reading bookies 💖
August 31, 2025
6☆ SHUT TF UP I HAVEN’T JUMPED UP OUT OF MY SEAT AND SCREAMED WITH MY JAW ON THE FLOOR LIKE THIS SINCE I READ CC2’S ENDING (ifykyk) 🤯
I haven’t been obsessed with a romantasy book like this in a MINUTE. this book truly left stars in my chest and chaos in my heart. the worldbuilding, the writing, the characters, the magic system, the PLOT. this book will be my entire personality for the foreseeable future tysm!
*disclaimer: you MUST read riftborne and duskbound before reading this 😏
huge ty to bree & parker for allowing me to be apart of your street team and for sending me an e-arc!
I haven’t been obsessed with a romantasy book like this in a MINUTE. this book truly left stars in my chest and chaos in my heart. the worldbuilding, the writing, the characters, the magic system, the PLOT. this book will be my entire personality for the foreseeable future tysm!
*disclaimer: you MUST read riftborne and duskbound before reading this 😏
huge ty to bree & parker for allowing me to be apart of your street team and for sending me an e-arc!
November 14, 2025
I am UNWELL after that ending.
I've been sitting in stunned silence since finishing this book. I absolutely loved this world built on primordial evil, godly politics, and deadly trials that reminded me of a darker, more adult mixture of the Hunger Games and the Goblet of Fire. The FMC is a powerful, take-no-shit survivor. The slow burn was impeccably written. THE TENSION? THE GUT WRENCHING YEARNING? My jaw was on the floor.
I already felt like there would be emotional damage towards the end, and I wasn't expecting a shocking ending because the whole "twist" with Olinthar's identity becomes pretty obvious about halfway through the book, but that did absolutely nothing to prepare me for what was actually coming. The last four chapters of this book felt like a punch straight to the gut. I thought I was going to jump right into my silly little reread of Quicksilver this weekend to prepare for the release of Brimstone, and now I'm going to need a solid 24-48 hrs to recover.
I saw the debate about whether to read Riftborne and Duskbound first—I ended up just starting with this book instead— and I do think that reading those books first would make the ending even more mind blowing. I'll be going back and reading them asap to deal with my withdrawals from this gorgeous, brutal world.
I've been sitting in stunned silence since finishing this book. I absolutely loved this world built on primordial evil, godly politics, and deadly trials that reminded me of a darker, more adult mixture of the Hunger Games and the Goblet of Fire. The FMC is a powerful, take-no-shit survivor. The slow burn was impeccably written. THE TENSION? THE GUT WRENCHING YEARNING? My jaw was on the floor.
I already felt like there would be emotional damage towards the end, and I wasn't expecting a shocking ending because the whole "twist" with Olinthar's identity becomes pretty obvious about halfway through the book, but that did absolutely nothing to prepare me for what was actually coming. The last four chapters of this book felt like a punch straight to the gut. I thought I was going to jump right into my silly little reread of Quicksilver this weekend to prepare for the release of Brimstone, and now I'm going to need a solid 24-48 hrs to recover.
I saw the debate about whether to read Riftborne and Duskbound first—I ended up just starting with this book instead— and I do think that reading those books first would make the ending even more mind blowing. I'll be going back and reading them asap to deal with my withdrawals from this gorgeous, brutal world.
October 5, 2025
5 ⭐️ Thank you ONYX Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC!
I am FLOORED!? The ending left me absolutely speechless (iykyk because omf I did not expect that but I am so glad it answered questions!!!) I have truly enjoyed Grenwich & Lennox books thus far and I can say this one did not disappoint!!!! I was so excited to get this arc and it wowed me! The writing was beautiful and the storytelling was amazing. The detail they put into the world was so so good. I was such a fan of the Esprithean Trilogy, and this exceeded any expectation I had.
Thais was such a breath of fresh air for a FMC. She’s strong, intelligent, and doesn’t let anyone get in her way. I loved that she previously understood certain stuff and had a strong build prior to the life changing events. I honestly thought she was very mature given what she had to put up with and what she goes through during the book. Our MMC, Xul, was also great! Did he piss me off at times? Yes … as most MMCs do tbh. I loved the slow burn and I can’t wait to see where their story goes.
I have always been a sucker for trials and this was no different. This story sucks you in completely. Top tier romantasy !!!!! Also my baby Thatcher, if you read this book you’ll understand bc OMG. Highly recommend this to those who love great world building and characters!
I am FLOORED!? The ending left me absolutely speechless (iykyk because omf I did not expect that but I am so glad it answered questions!!!) I have truly enjoyed Grenwich & Lennox books thus far and I can say this one did not disappoint!!!! I was so excited to get this arc and it wowed me! The writing was beautiful and the storytelling was amazing. The detail they put into the world was so so good. I was such a fan of the Esprithean Trilogy, and this exceeded any expectation I had.
Thais was such a breath of fresh air for a FMC. She’s strong, intelligent, and doesn’t let anyone get in her way. I loved that she previously understood certain stuff and had a strong build prior to the life changing events. I honestly thought she was very mature given what she had to put up with and what she goes through during the book. Our MMC, Xul, was also great! Did he piss me off at times? Yes … as most MMCs do tbh. I loved the slow burn and I can’t wait to see where their story goes.
I have always been a sucker for trials and this was no different. This story sucks you in completely. Top tier romantasy !!!!! Also my baby Thatcher, if you read this book you’ll understand bc OMG. Highly recommend this to those who love great world building and characters!
October 20, 2025
I feel like i’m on an episode of Punkd. I feel like I have been betrayed. Lied to. I feel deceived, I feel like I’m gaslighting myself into thinking I am insane because of how I feel about this book.
I’m being over the top, but also I’m serious. What the hell? I cannot tell you how excited I was to read this, it’s been anticipated for months at this point and people I usually agree with on book recs were raving about this. I went in expecting another 5 star read for sure. But, oh I could not have been more wrong!
I am clearly in the minority with this book, it has a super high rating so far on GR and here. Obviously, it just missed the mark for me. I simply didn’t find any of this BELIEVABLE?? The romance was so deeply lacking in chemistry for me from the very beginning, it felt so forced. Thais is giving HEAVY on the i’m not like other girls thing (IMO)! The dialogue was so cringy like 90% of the time. This book felt really juvenile to me, despite the characters being mid twenties at least.
I found the trials to be boring and predictable, the stakes were setup as high but never really felt that way. I honestly preferred Thatcher over Thais, and why in the actual F*** did it feel like they (siblings) had more chemistry than her and Xül? WHAT!!!!! In the beginning I felt disconnected and disinterested and then we got the first big moment and that really piqued my interest and made me think, damn that’s what I’m looking for. And then, that never happened again. The ending could be seen from a mile away.
I don’t know guys. I am so mad, I wanted to love this and I finished it solely for the reason of being able to review it because 1. refused to DNF by the time I was so far into and 2. I don’t rate DNFs, and I HAD to be able to review this. *updating to 1 star cause it’s just not worth 2
I’m being over the top, but also I’m serious. What the hell? I cannot tell you how excited I was to read this, it’s been anticipated for months at this point and people I usually agree with on book recs were raving about this. I went in expecting another 5 star read for sure. But, oh I could not have been more wrong!
I am clearly in the minority with this book, it has a super high rating so far on GR and here. Obviously, it just missed the mark for me. I simply didn’t find any of this BELIEVABLE?? The romance was so deeply lacking in chemistry for me from the very beginning, it felt so forced. Thais is giving HEAVY on the i’m not like other girls thing (IMO)! The dialogue was so cringy like 90% of the time. This book felt really juvenile to me, despite the characters being mid twenties at least.
I found the trials to be boring and predictable, the stakes were setup as high but never really felt that way. I honestly preferred Thatcher over Thais, and why in the actual F*** did it feel like they (siblings) had more chemistry than her and Xül? WHAT!!!!! In the beginning I felt disconnected and disinterested and then we got the first big moment and that really piqued my interest and made me think, damn that’s what I’m looking for. And then, that never happened again. The ending could be seen from a mile away.
I don’t know guys. I am so mad, I wanted to love this and I finished it solely for the reason of being able to review it because 1. refused to DNF by the time I was so far into and 2. I don’t rate DNFs, and I HAD to be able to review this. *updating to 1 star cause it’s just not worth 2
October 26, 2025
BookTok lied, and I fell for it. 800 pages of potential that never showed up.
December 12, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! I savoured it not wanting it to ever end. Very well written and I highly recommend this book!
October 14, 2025
”Tell me to take you back to the ball, and we'll never speak of this again."
I should have. Should have remembered my pride, my purpose, the deadly game of which I was still a part.”
yes girl, you should have, for the sake of my sanity.
anyway, 3 stars for the plot and power system only, the authors clearly tried to create a new world and i was invested in seeing it through. i haven’t read their other series, but the way it all interconnects at the end was definitely an interesting plot twist.
the writing was criminal, if you’re gonna write fantasy then please COMMIT. i’m tired of modern day language seeping into these books…“hate sex, after all, was quite thrilling, or so i’d heard”…why are we referencing a trope in a fantasy novel, don’t piss me off! romance was bland, embarrassing, banter was stale, felt like actors reciting lines, nothing new! i have enemies from 5th grade i hate more than these two “hated” each other.
I should have. Should have remembered my pride, my purpose, the deadly game of which I was still a part.”
yes girl, you should have, for the sake of my sanity.
anyway, 3 stars for the plot and power system only, the authors clearly tried to create a new world and i was invested in seeing it through. i haven’t read their other series, but the way it all interconnects at the end was definitely an interesting plot twist.
the writing was criminal, if you’re gonna write fantasy then please COMMIT. i’m tired of modern day language seeping into these books…“hate sex, after all, was quite thrilling, or so i’d heard”…why are we referencing a trope in a fantasy novel, don’t piss me off! romance was bland, embarrassing, banter was stale, felt like actors reciting lines, nothing new! i have enemies from 5th grade i hate more than these two “hated” each other.
October 16, 2025
♾️☆
Oh my goodness! What an ending! I gasped and then screamed! 😱🤯 Now, I’m left staring at the wall in utter disbelief…
The Ascended by Parker Lennox and Bree Grenwich is undoubtedly my favorite read of the year. I have no idea what these talented authors infused into these pages, but they poured their hearts and souls into this book. It truly surpassed my expectations! They brought the world, characters, hardships, and triumphs to life with remarkable detail. When I say I was deeply invested in this book, I mean it. It had everything I love in a fantasy series.
First and foremost, let’s talk about the plot. As a devoted fan of any series with trials, I must say that the Trials of Ascension was executed flawlessly. The characters didn’t simply advance without effort; they demonstrated genuine growth and development. Known for its perilous nature, the trials were executed with utmost purpose. I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building. While the pacing in the initial stages might be slightly slow, the expansive universe meticulously crafted by these authors kept me hooked. The unique magics, the use of portals to traverse different domains, the intricate divine politics and political intrigue, and most importantly, the characters with depth and complexity, all contributed to the overall enjoyment of the story.
Thais and Thatcher Morvaren, two mortal twins, were absolutely captivated by the unbreakable bond and unwavering commitment of their shared goal. From the very first chapter, I found myself rooting for their success in each trial and their continuous progression.
Xül, the brooding, dark, and mysterious Warden of the Damned/necromancer, has a certain allure that intrigues me. Despite his own secrets, the chemistry between him and Thais was evident. Their banter was playful, and the tension between them was palpable!
Marx, this girl deserves an award for best friend of the year because she embodies the essence of a ride-or-die! I absolutely adore her hilarious, unfiltered, and carefree nature. Her sarcasm and witty remarks are top-notch, and she had me laughing uncontrollably. (Her background story did have me tearing up a bit 😢).
Kyren, I must admit that I was initially wary of him. However, he gradually won me over, and I came to appreciate his valuable contributions to the found family.
Having read Riftborne and Duskbound (The Esprithean trilogy), I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for this book and its ending. When I realized the connections between the events, they all came together seamlessly. I eagerly await the next book in either series; it feels like I need it for survival because that cliffhanger left me hanging on for dear life!
”For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to be the kind of woman someone could love without reservation. One who didn’t carry secrets—who could give her heart freely instead of sharpening it like a weapon.”
”For the quiet aftermath, when the battle ends and we must face what victory has made of us.”
”Perhaps it took more courage to let go than to hold on.”
Oh my goodness! What an ending! I gasped and then screamed! 😱🤯 Now, I’m left staring at the wall in utter disbelief…
The Ascended by Parker Lennox and Bree Grenwich is undoubtedly my favorite read of the year. I have no idea what these talented authors infused into these pages, but they poured their hearts and souls into this book. It truly surpassed my expectations! They brought the world, characters, hardships, and triumphs to life with remarkable detail. When I say I was deeply invested in this book, I mean it. It had everything I love in a fantasy series.
First and foremost, let’s talk about the plot. As a devoted fan of any series with trials, I must say that the Trials of Ascension was executed flawlessly. The characters didn’t simply advance without effort; they demonstrated genuine growth and development. Known for its perilous nature, the trials were executed with utmost purpose. I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building. While the pacing in the initial stages might be slightly slow, the expansive universe meticulously crafted by these authors kept me hooked. The unique magics, the use of portals to traverse different domains, the intricate divine politics and political intrigue, and most importantly, the characters with depth and complexity, all contributed to the overall enjoyment of the story.
Thais and Thatcher Morvaren, two mortal twins, were absolutely captivated by the unbreakable bond and unwavering commitment of their shared goal. From the very first chapter, I found myself rooting for their success in each trial and their continuous progression.
Xül, the brooding, dark, and mysterious Warden of the Damned/necromancer, has a certain allure that intrigues me. Despite his own secrets, the chemistry between him and Thais was evident. Their banter was playful, and the tension between them was palpable!
Marx, this girl deserves an award for best friend of the year because she embodies the essence of a ride-or-die! I absolutely adore her hilarious, unfiltered, and carefree nature. Her sarcasm and witty remarks are top-notch, and she had me laughing uncontrollably. (Her background story did have me tearing up a bit 😢).
Kyren, I must admit that I was initially wary of him. However, he gradually won me over, and I came to appreciate his valuable contributions to the found family.
Having read Riftborne and Duskbound (The Esprithean trilogy), I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for this book and its ending. When I realized the connections between the events, they all came together seamlessly. I eagerly await the next book in either series; it feels like I need it for survival because that cliffhanger left me hanging on for dear life!
”For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to be the kind of woman someone could love without reservation. One who didn’t carry secrets—who could give her heart freely instead of sharpening it like a weapon.”
”For the quiet aftermath, when the battle ends and we must face what victory has made of us.”
”Perhaps it took more courage to let go than to hold on.”
November 4, 2025
This book had me so hopeful at the start. The premise felt fresh — all the talk about power, ascension, and fate — it had that dark, magnetic pull that makes you want to sink into the story and never come out. And for the first few chapters, I really thought I’d found my next obsession. The atmosphere was tense, the magic felt alive, and there was this quiet promise that something huge was about to unfold.
But somewhere around the middle, that spark started to fade. The pacing slowed so much that it almost felt like wading through fog — beautiful writing, yes, but it lost its urgency. I kept waiting for that heart-stopping moment, the kind that makes you sit up and go “oh, there it is.” Instead, it sort of drifted along, teasing emotion but never fully landing the punch.
The characters had potential — especially the main one, who clearly carries pain and power in equal measure — but I couldn’t quite feel them the way I wanted to. I wanted to ache with them, root for them, bleed with them, and instead I just… watched. Detached. It’s the kind of story that has all the right bones but struggles to find its heartbeat.
Still, the ending did something right. It felt like a quiet storm building again, a reminder that this world isn’t done yet — and maybe, just maybe, there’s more to come that will hit the way this one should have.
3.5 stars — haunting and beautifully written, but missing the emotional gravity it promised. I loved what it could have been, even if it didn’t quite become that.
But somewhere around the middle, that spark started to fade. The pacing slowed so much that it almost felt like wading through fog — beautiful writing, yes, but it lost its urgency. I kept waiting for that heart-stopping moment, the kind that makes you sit up and go “oh, there it is.” Instead, it sort of drifted along, teasing emotion but never fully landing the punch.
The characters had potential — especially the main one, who clearly carries pain and power in equal measure — but I couldn’t quite feel them the way I wanted to. I wanted to ache with them, root for them, bleed with them, and instead I just… watched. Detached. It’s the kind of story that has all the right bones but struggles to find its heartbeat.
Still, the ending did something right. It felt like a quiet storm building again, a reminder that this world isn’t done yet — and maybe, just maybe, there’s more to come that will hit the way this one should have.
3.5 stars — haunting and beautifully written, but missing the emotional gravity it promised. I loved what it could have been, even if it didn’t quite become that.
October 12, 2025
The Ascended was an enjoyable read, but I have to be honest—I don’t think it lives up to all the hype. The writing is solid and the world is engaging, but it never quite reached that “wow” moment for me. I kept waiting to be surprised or emotionally blown away, and instead, the story unfolded pretty predictably.
I liked it, but I’ve definitely read stronger, more memorable books this year. The twists were easy to spot, and because of that, the tension and impact didn’t fully land. It’s good—but not groundbreaking.
If you’re already invested in the series or love the trope mix, you’ll probably enjoy it. But if you’re expecting something fresh and unforgettable, temper your expectations.
I liked it, but I’ve definitely read stronger, more memorable books this year. The twists were easy to spot, and because of that, the tension and impact didn’t fully land. It’s good—but not groundbreaking.
If you’re already invested in the series or love the trope mix, you’ll probably enjoy it. But if you’re expecting something fresh and unforgettable, temper your expectations.
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