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Taste of Bravery
Dori Livingston has returned to Balfour, Texas, but she is far from the home she loves. Princess Primrose stole her token to the Otherworld, and she is stranded in the Mortalworld without her gift of kindness and her fiancé, Prince Garret. Dori will stop at nothing to return to her magical life and the man she loves.
After a chance encounter with a mysterious ally, Dori discovers the world she left is darker than before. Not only is her prince missing, but gift magic is dying, and a secret faction of rebels is vying for monarchical control. Dori must take a perilous journey, facing giants, dragons, mermaids, and more to find her prince and to restore the balance of both magic and power.
Through her travels, Dori learns she is more than her gift of kindness and that she was born for far greater things than living a normal life in Texas. She overcomes trials and heartaches, but will she be able to outrun her fate?
After a chance encounter with a mysterious ally, Dori discovers the world she left is darker than before. Not only is her prince missing, but gift magic is dying, and a secret faction of rebels is vying for monarchical control. Dori must take a perilous journey, facing giants, dragons, mermaids, and more to find her prince and to restore the balance of both magic and power.
Through her travels, Dori learns she is more than her gift of kindness and that she was born for far greater things than living a normal life in Texas. She overcomes trials and heartaches, but will she be able to outrun her fate?
346 pages, Unknown Binding
Published September 30, 2025
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
R. Loomis
3 books28 followersRebecca Loomis writes young adult fiction with a focus on fantasy, dystopian, and science fiction, with a hint of romance. She lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with her husband Greg and her Goldendoodle Treble. Loomis holds a degree in music education and teaches in Edmond, writing books in her free time. Most Saturdays you can catch her drinking hot tea with six packets of honey and writing while listening to video game soundtracks and modern classical hits on loop.
“I write when the words won’t go away—like a hammering in my mind begging to be let out. For every dream, there’s a story waiting to be written, a world to be created.”
“I write when the words won’t go away—like a hammering in my mind begging to be let out. For every dream, there’s a story waiting to be written, a world to be created.”
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 14, 2025
Taste of Bravery by R. Loomis is the second book in The Otherworld Trilogy that begins with one of the best openers I’ve read. There is nothing ordinary about it, but there are no descriptions of sweeping landscapes, either. Readers are pulled right into an official case file written by Officer Jenkins, the officer who was dispatched to the scene.
It almost reads like a documentary as I read the case file and learned that Dan Hobbert was walking his dog when he heard screams coming from the graveyard. He found Dori Livingston digging frantically into the dirt. By the time Officer Jenkins gets there, he takes note of her saying that she needed to “go back.” This line is the one that planted the seed in my mind that some unease was about to bloom. It’s an eerie statement to make, and I think it will be the kicker that makes readers lean in looking for answers.
From the case file, the story moves forward and introduces us to more details about Dori’s life. She is caught between her mortal life in Texas and her life as a princess in Everencia, a world she left behind. In Texas, she’s living a very ordinary life with her mom and her friends. But she struggles with her desire to go back to the world where she had a magical gift and was betrothed to a prince. Her determination to return to a world where she felt more at home turns into a much bigger mission to save the gift of magic and Prince Garret.
Loomis did such a great job with developing the characters that they shape this story. For example, Dori’s character is complex; she’s stubborn but also vulnerable, brave but also torn between loyalty and heartache. Above all, she is not perfect, and that makes her even more relatable. Then there is her best friend, Rory, who balances her out. Readers get to see her pain and her humor. They also get to see that she’s a survivor, especially after her ordeal with her abusive father.
There are so many supporting characters that each carries their weight, but a few that stand out are Yrvis, with his stiffness, yet he surprises us with his tenderness. There’s Queen Ceclia, who is regal, but she is also quietly wise if that makes sense. Their personalities still feel real even in a fantasy world. Then there’s Garret, whom I found myself aching for right along with Dori and anticipating their reunion.
I enjoyed being able to see through Loomis’s writing style, a journey unfolding. There’s Dori’s journey that mirrors the mixture of dread and hope, humor and heartbreak throughout the story. The pacing is sharp at moments, but done appropriately with reflections sprinkled in, such as things like the pinky promise and the journal gifted as a wedding present. These are balanced very well with the action scenes, such as the grim bargains with witches, betrayals within the palace, and the shocking revelations about Garret. This is a beautifully written narrative that kept me invested and wanting to know more. It doesn’t linger too long on any of the emotional registers.
I am a huge fan of contrast. For example, Loomis took a great deal of care to show the contrasts between appearances versus realities. In the Otherworld, Dori looks like a princess, but she feels powerless. Then you have this elaborate palace that looks like all is perfect and gleaming on the surface, but there is grime and rot underneath in terms of smiling faces and hidden betrayals. The witch, Aida, warned Dori about this, by the way, as she helped her and Rory transport back to the Otherworld.
Readers who will appreciate a book like this the most are those who are fans of Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series. They will recognize the similar blend of politics, romance, and magical stakes. Those who enjoyed Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely will also appreciate the way Loomis merges real-world grit with fantastical elements. At the same time, Taste of Bravery stands out in its own way with Loomis’s knack for creating raw scenes that are both personal and epic.
If there is one critique that I have, it is the story’s focus on rebellions, politics, magical unraveling, and palace betrayals that tend to become overwhelming. Dori’s personal stakes risk getting overshadowed by these complex plots. In my opinion, maybe leaving some breathing room in certain places will allow readers to sit with Dori’s emotions more before transitioning to the next twist.
But this still does not detract from how well R. Loomis has written Taste of Bravery. Loomis has written something that is expansive and gripping. Readers will want to devour it and, like me, eagerly await the next installment.
It almost reads like a documentary as I read the case file and learned that Dan Hobbert was walking his dog when he heard screams coming from the graveyard. He found Dori Livingston digging frantically into the dirt. By the time Officer Jenkins gets there, he takes note of her saying that she needed to “go back.” This line is the one that planted the seed in my mind that some unease was about to bloom. It’s an eerie statement to make, and I think it will be the kicker that makes readers lean in looking for answers.
From the case file, the story moves forward and introduces us to more details about Dori’s life. She is caught between her mortal life in Texas and her life as a princess in Everencia, a world she left behind. In Texas, she’s living a very ordinary life with her mom and her friends. But she struggles with her desire to go back to the world where she had a magical gift and was betrothed to a prince. Her determination to return to a world where she felt more at home turns into a much bigger mission to save the gift of magic and Prince Garret.
Loomis did such a great job with developing the characters that they shape this story. For example, Dori’s character is complex; she’s stubborn but also vulnerable, brave but also torn between loyalty and heartache. Above all, she is not perfect, and that makes her even more relatable. Then there is her best friend, Rory, who balances her out. Readers get to see her pain and her humor. They also get to see that she’s a survivor, especially after her ordeal with her abusive father.
There are so many supporting characters that each carries their weight, but a few that stand out are Yrvis, with his stiffness, yet he surprises us with his tenderness. There’s Queen Ceclia, who is regal, but she is also quietly wise if that makes sense. Their personalities still feel real even in a fantasy world. Then there’s Garret, whom I found myself aching for right along with Dori and anticipating their reunion.
I enjoyed being able to see through Loomis’s writing style, a journey unfolding. There’s Dori’s journey that mirrors the mixture of dread and hope, humor and heartbreak throughout the story. The pacing is sharp at moments, but done appropriately with reflections sprinkled in, such as things like the pinky promise and the journal gifted as a wedding present. These are balanced very well with the action scenes, such as the grim bargains with witches, betrayals within the palace, and the shocking revelations about Garret. This is a beautifully written narrative that kept me invested and wanting to know more. It doesn’t linger too long on any of the emotional registers.
I am a huge fan of contrast. For example, Loomis took a great deal of care to show the contrasts between appearances versus realities. In the Otherworld, Dori looks like a princess, but she feels powerless. Then you have this elaborate palace that looks like all is perfect and gleaming on the surface, but there is grime and rot underneath in terms of smiling faces and hidden betrayals. The witch, Aida, warned Dori about this, by the way, as she helped her and Rory transport back to the Otherworld.
Readers who will appreciate a book like this the most are those who are fans of Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series. They will recognize the similar blend of politics, romance, and magical stakes. Those who enjoyed Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely will also appreciate the way Loomis merges real-world grit with fantastical elements. At the same time, Taste of Bravery stands out in its own way with Loomis’s knack for creating raw scenes that are both personal and epic.
If there is one critique that I have, it is the story’s focus on rebellions, politics, magical unraveling, and palace betrayals that tend to become overwhelming. Dori’s personal stakes risk getting overshadowed by these complex plots. In my opinion, maybe leaving some breathing room in certain places will allow readers to sit with Dori’s emotions more before transitioning to the next twist.
But this still does not detract from how well R. Loomis has written Taste of Bravery. Loomis has written something that is expansive and gripping. Readers will want to devour it and, like me, eagerly await the next installment.
October 4, 2025
Love this series!! I cant wait to see what happens next!
Read
October 1, 2025I haven’t quite finished the book yet, but here are my thoughts so far.
1. I like the voice. Dori has her own voice, and the story is written like a professional.
2. I’m still not entirely sure about how I feel about certain characters, particularly Garett and Yrvis. We’ll see how it goes.
3. Of course, the world is fun. I’m enjoying Dori’s quest to save it.
Thank you so much for the ARC.
1. I like the voice. Dori has her own voice, and the story is written like a professional.
2. I’m still not entirely sure about how I feel about certain characters, particularly Garett and Yrvis. We’ll see how it goes.
3. Of course, the world is fun. I’m enjoying Dori’s quest to save it.
Thank you so much for the ARC.
Read
December 30, 2025This is such a fun, well-written story that YA readers will love.
A Taste of Bravery is the second book in the Otherworld Trilogy by Rebecca Loomis and I loved it. I did not read A Touch of Kindness, the first book in the series, because I wanted to dive into the pirate content in TofB. This did not hinder my understanding of the characters or the plot because Loomis does a great job of weaving updates and clues from the first book into the second.
Dorie—the smart, fun, and adventuresome main character who has a streak of rebelliousness and independence—is back on earth dealing with real-world problems like explaining to her mother and friends where and why she has been gone for several days. All she really wants to do is get back to the magical Otherworld to reunite with her fiancé, the prince. Yes, prince. Yes, engaged. Yes, a lot happened in the first book!
Dorie eventually finds a travel witch who transports her and one of her friends to the Otherworld. When she arrives, fair is foul and foul is fair. What was once beautiful and thriving is now struggling to survive. Moreover, the prince is “traveling” on his honeymoon—a story that Dorie does not believe. The queen asks her to do what she intended to do anyway. Find the prince, and that’s when Dorie’s new adventure begins.
Along the way she joins a pirate crew to guide her travels from island to island, where she meets giants, dragons and mermaids. Throughout her adventures, Dorie picks up hints of the underlying struggle for power in this world. Leaders are vying for power by controlling magic and isolating diverse creatures from each other.
Dorie sees the injustices playing out and embraces her own magical talents, using her touch of kindness to resolve conflicts, save her from danger, and lead her onto her next venture. She reunites with her prince and uncovers the lie that he had married someone else.
The author’s tone throughout is light and positive. As a reader, I was never concerned that Dorie wouldn’t make it, but I was certainly interested in reading how she was going to do it.
This is an entertaining story for anyone, but it will resonate best with teenage girls / YA readers who are looking for a strong-willed, justice-seeking FMC who helps readers vicariously get their own taste of bravery. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
A Taste of Bravery is the second book in the Otherworld Trilogy by Rebecca Loomis and I loved it. I did not read A Touch of Kindness, the first book in the series, because I wanted to dive into the pirate content in TofB. This did not hinder my understanding of the characters or the plot because Loomis does a great job of weaving updates and clues from the first book into the second.
Dorie—the smart, fun, and adventuresome main character who has a streak of rebelliousness and independence—is back on earth dealing with real-world problems like explaining to her mother and friends where and why she has been gone for several days. All she really wants to do is get back to the magical Otherworld to reunite with her fiancé, the prince. Yes, prince. Yes, engaged. Yes, a lot happened in the first book!
Dorie eventually finds a travel witch who transports her and one of her friends to the Otherworld. When she arrives, fair is foul and foul is fair. What was once beautiful and thriving is now struggling to survive. Moreover, the prince is “traveling” on his honeymoon—a story that Dorie does not believe. The queen asks her to do what she intended to do anyway. Find the prince, and that’s when Dorie’s new adventure begins.
Along the way she joins a pirate crew to guide her travels from island to island, where she meets giants, dragons and mermaids. Throughout her adventures, Dorie picks up hints of the underlying struggle for power in this world. Leaders are vying for power by controlling magic and isolating diverse creatures from each other.
Dorie sees the injustices playing out and embraces her own magical talents, using her touch of kindness to resolve conflicts, save her from danger, and lead her onto her next venture. She reunites with her prince and uncovers the lie that he had married someone else.
The author’s tone throughout is light and positive. As a reader, I was never concerned that Dorie wouldn’t make it, but I was certainly interested in reading how she was going to do it.
This is an entertaining story for anyone, but it will resonate best with teenage girls / YA readers who are looking for a strong-willed, justice-seeking FMC who helps readers vicariously get their own taste of bravery. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
Read
October 9, 2025R. Loomis has really outdone herself here. I like “Touch of Kindness”, but “Taste of Bravery” is an improvement to its predecessor on nearly every front. Better sense of adventure, better prose, better world-building, better pacing, better characterization, and more mature and YA-leaning than the first entry in the series.
I hope that R. Loomis creates her own ensemble of original fantastical creatures at some point, but there’s no denying that the Otherworld—alongside her utilization of familiar fantastical creatures residing within it (dragons, giants, mermaids, unicorns, witches, etc.)—is genuinely exciting to explore. The Otherworld books are all plot and no filler, but frankly, I enjoy this world so much that I’d even read them if they were packed in with extra side-quests. One could make the argument that Dori’s visit with the giants and subsequent journey to Drogoor is a sort of side-quest, but that assessment wouldn’t be entirely accurate considering what is revealed within those visits; the Crown’s mistreatment/banishment of both species provides clarity to the Blood Rose’s motives, and will undoubtedly play a vital role in which side Dori chooses to ally with down the line. I can’t wait to find out how Dori’s story concludes, and with the way Loomis’s sophomore novel wraps up, the trilogy’s finale is all but guaranteed to be an addictive and action-packed ride.
I hope that R. Loomis creates her own ensemble of original fantastical creatures at some point, but there’s no denying that the Otherworld—alongside her utilization of familiar fantastical creatures residing within it (dragons, giants, mermaids, unicorns, witches, etc.)—is genuinely exciting to explore. The Otherworld books are all plot and no filler, but frankly, I enjoy this world so much that I’d even read them if they were packed in with extra side-quests. One could make the argument that Dori’s visit with the giants and subsequent journey to Drogoor is a sort of side-quest, but that assessment wouldn’t be entirely accurate considering what is revealed within those visits; the Crown’s mistreatment/banishment of both species provides clarity to the Blood Rose’s motives, and will undoubtedly play a vital role in which side Dori chooses to ally with down the line. I can’t wait to find out how Dori’s story concludes, and with the way Loomis’s sophomore novel wraps up, the trilogy’s finale is all but guaranteed to be an addictive and action-packed ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
I waited forever for this book—and it did not disappoint!
It’s packed with adventure, dragons, and giants—need I say more?
I loved getting to know Rory better. She’s amazing, but wow, that girl has terrible taste in men. Hopefully, she’ll realize soon just how crazy the man she thinks she loves really is. Poor thing—she’s been through enough already!
I’ll admit, I hated Liam at first. But dang it, that handsome pirate won me over.
And ending in Yrvis’s POV? Brilliant choice—even though it didn’t make me like him any more. I never trusted that sneaky jerk from the start!
Book one was good, but book two had me on the edge of my seat. I literally couldn’t put it down. I stayed up all night reading—so thanks for that, haha!
And can we talk about Dori? I absolutely adore her. She’s smart, brave, and has a heart of gold. That girl never gives up. LOVE her!
The character development and world-building were a work of art. Every scene was so vivid I could see it—and sometimes even smell it (especially that latrine scene… pee-ew!).
Now I’ll just be here, impatiently waiting for book three!
It’s packed with adventure, dragons, and giants—need I say more?
I loved getting to know Rory better. She’s amazing, but wow, that girl has terrible taste in men. Hopefully, she’ll realize soon just how crazy the man she thinks she loves really is. Poor thing—she’s been through enough already!
I’ll admit, I hated Liam at first. But dang it, that handsome pirate won me over.
And ending in Yrvis’s POV? Brilliant choice—even though it didn’t make me like him any more. I never trusted that sneaky jerk from the start!
Book one was good, but book two had me on the edge of my seat. I literally couldn’t put it down. I stayed up all night reading—so thanks for that, haha!
And can we talk about Dori? I absolutely adore her. She’s smart, brave, and has a heart of gold. That girl never gives up. LOVE her!
The character development and world-building were a work of art. Every scene was so vivid I could see it—and sometimes even smell it (especially that latrine scene… pee-ew!).
Now I’ll just be here, impatiently waiting for book three!
October 2, 2025
The vibes were vibing (:
4.5/5
Okay, for starters, I would like to thank the author for sending me an Arc in exchange for an honest review! And the following review contains my own thoughts and opinions.
。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。 Review time 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.
I really enjoyed the second instalment in The Otherworld Trilogy! I can see how the author has given the characters depth throughout the story. Every character feels like they have a purpose in engaging the main story. One thing I enjoy is that Dori is allowed to make mistakes. I like this because she is still a teenager, and I myself, as a teen, have made many mistakes as well. Some books fail to remember that the character they are writing needs to make mistakes as well, because no one's "perfect" in the sense that they never made a bad decision.
👑🗡🐉🦄🧜🌊🫧💔😯 ✨ Book vibes✨🗡🐉🦄🧜🌊🫧💔😯👑
(in emojis)
Age rating: 13-14 years old
Content/trigger warnings:
- SA incinuendoes
- Betrayal (you may or may not throw the book across the room)
- Murder (blood)
- You may forget that it's a book
4.5/5
Okay, for starters, I would like to thank the author for sending me an Arc in exchange for an honest review! And the following review contains my own thoughts and opinions.
。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。 Review time 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.
I really enjoyed the second instalment in The Otherworld Trilogy! I can see how the author has given the characters depth throughout the story. Every character feels like they have a purpose in engaging the main story. One thing I enjoy is that Dori is allowed to make mistakes. I like this because she is still a teenager, and I myself, as a teen, have made many mistakes as well. Some books fail to remember that the character they are writing needs to make mistakes as well, because no one's "perfect" in the sense that they never made a bad decision.
👑🗡🐉🦄🧜🌊🫧💔😯 ✨ Book vibes✨🗡🐉🦄🧜🌊🫧💔😯👑
(in emojis)
Age rating: 13-14 years old
Content/trigger warnings:
- SA incinuendoes
- Betrayal (you may or may not throw the book across the room)
- Murder (blood)
- You may forget that it's a book
October 4, 2025
10/10 As a teen this book was really really good. I loved all of the characters and the world building. Absolutely recommend reading it, but I would first read Touch of Kindness so you have a much better idea on what is going on.
October 26, 2025
Read this in a day because I was so excited and needed more of the world! Loved it and wish the series would last forever. I am concerned over how Dori will get herself to the end of the series!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews