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Side Quest: Book One
Genevieve Montague has always put her best friend, Gemma, first, whether it was giving up a dream summer camp to sacrificing her study nights to help Gemma through Harvard to serving as a loyal wing-woman at bars during their post-docs. One night, when she rescues Gemma from a creepy hook-up, their escape leads them into the woods—and through a mysterious portal, where they crash into a world straight out of a Jules Vernian dream.
Taken to a city in the sky, Genevieve finds herself in a land steeped in magic, mechanical dragons, and a war that has raged for years against the sick, haunted people of Neknamyr, their mysterious king, and his dangerous right-hand, the Doctor. Prophecy says the allied kingdoms of Draefyre and Gregoria will emerge victorious with the aid of a Savior, blessed with newfound powers of Light and Stars—Gemma. While her friend learns to harness sparks into holy fire, Genevieve grapples with the fact that she never meant to come through the portal at all. Yet despite not being part of the prophecy, she refuses to be a bystander. Drawing on her background in biochemistry, Genevieve is pulled into Gregoria’s alchemical labs by Prince Noctem, the kingdom’s brilliant and brooding middle son, who leads the charge in developing accelerated healing methods to help win the war.
Through a series of unexpected side quests, Genevieve begins to carve out her own purpose in this unfamiliar world. As she’s drawn deeper into the war’s tangled politics, she finds herself falling for two people: Eilonwyn, the Crown Princess of Draefyre who is engaged to Noctem’s older brother, and Noctem himself. But when Genevieve revives a son of Gregoria from the grips of death, she finds herself rejected by the very alliance that saved her—and everything she thought she knew about Neknamyr and the Doctor turned upside down. Now Genevieve must decide where her allegiance lies: with Gemma and the kingdoms she has faithfully served or the people everyone has defined as the villain.
Arcane: League of Legends meets From Blood and Ash meets Shadow and Bone.
Taken to a city in the sky, Genevieve finds herself in a land steeped in magic, mechanical dragons, and a war that has raged for years against the sick, haunted people of Neknamyr, their mysterious king, and his dangerous right-hand, the Doctor. Prophecy says the allied kingdoms of Draefyre and Gregoria will emerge victorious with the aid of a Savior, blessed with newfound powers of Light and Stars—Gemma. While her friend learns to harness sparks into holy fire, Genevieve grapples with the fact that she never meant to come through the portal at all. Yet despite not being part of the prophecy, she refuses to be a bystander. Drawing on her background in biochemistry, Genevieve is pulled into Gregoria’s alchemical labs by Prince Noctem, the kingdom’s brilliant and brooding middle son, who leads the charge in developing accelerated healing methods to help win the war.
Through a series of unexpected side quests, Genevieve begins to carve out her own purpose in this unfamiliar world. As she’s drawn deeper into the war’s tangled politics, she finds herself falling for two people: Eilonwyn, the Crown Princess of Draefyre who is engaged to Noctem’s older brother, and Noctem himself. But when Genevieve revives a son of Gregoria from the grips of death, she finds herself rejected by the very alliance that saved her—and everything she thought she knew about Neknamyr and the Doctor turned upside down. Now Genevieve must decide where her allegiance lies: with Gemma and the kingdoms she has faithfully served or the people everyone has defined as the villain.
Arcane: League of Legends meets From Blood and Ash meets Shadow and Bone.
475 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2025
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 22, 2025
I greatly appreciated the author’s accurate portrayal of neurodivergence, particularly in a female main character, as well as the regular and recurrent challenges of a disability. Being able to relate to some of these experiences myself, it is greatly appreciated to see them portrayed in a way that’s vivid and relatable, but also accepted even in a world that’s very different from our own. 💕
In an effort to not divulge any spoilers, I will just say that the overall plot was very well developed and nuanced, with engaging characters that had very memorable interactions and relationships with a healthy sprinkle of spice. 👀
In an effort to not divulge any spoilers, I will just say that the overall plot was very well developed and nuanced, with engaging characters that had very memorable interactions and relationships with a healthy sprinkle of spice. 👀
July 28, 2025
This book is such a refreshing twist on the usual fantasy setup. It’s not about the chosen one, it’s about the girl who followed her and ended up in a steampunk world where she was never meant to be and is just trying to figure out where she fits. This story has clever one-liners and great worldbuilding with morally grey politics and characters. Genevieve isn’t the hero, but she still finds ways to help through late nights in the lab, her brain and grit, and the relationships she builds along the way.
It’s a story about friendship, finding purpose, and hard decisions. I’d recommend this to fans of the romantasy genre, or anyone who loves found family, women in STEM, workplace romance, and forbidden romance.
It’s a story about friendship, finding purpose, and hard decisions. I’d recommend this to fans of the romantasy genre, or anyone who loves found family, women in STEM, workplace romance, and forbidden romance.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews