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The Drowning Daze of Astraea
A burst of coolness hit her for the second she was aware of being pulled forward, and then, everything went dark.
When fifteen-year-old Astraea Windsor blacks out, she wakes to find herself in another world. The last thing she remembers is her grandmother died, plans were made to send her to an orphanage, there was a rippling violet ring in the air, and then—nothing.
Astraea discovers this world, Voncord, is a striking place divided into states inhabited by ‘Signs’ who wield multiplex elemental energies—and her true home. Born to a family of high governing status, she was sent away as a child when a worldwide war broke out over her existence. Now that Astraea has returned to the Air State, she must get a grip on her signature power and find her place.
But Voncord is a world in turmoil. States are blaming each other for seismic tremors detected in the ocean deep, sparking bloody brawls. Guides, the beings who can open gateways in timespace, are calling for equal governing power to Signs. Girls from her school—The University of Voncordia—are vanishing, including newfound friends.
And Astraea finds she alone has the key to solve all of it.
When she starts having unexplainable dreams of a dark, ice fortress that leaves her shaking and dazed, Astraea makes chilling connections between various crises. But with her warnings ignored by governing leadership, Astraea realizes she must dive into the madness herself by teaming up with an enemy and following the threads in her dreams if she is to save the missing students and keep her world from sinking.
She only has to hope she doesn’t drown in the process.
Furyborn meets Curious Tides with a dash of Sailor Moon in this magical, dark fantasy debut.
When fifteen-year-old Astraea Windsor blacks out, she wakes to find herself in another world. The last thing she remembers is her grandmother died, plans were made to send her to an orphanage, there was a rippling violet ring in the air, and then—nothing.
Astraea discovers this world, Voncord, is a striking place divided into states inhabited by ‘Signs’ who wield multiplex elemental energies—and her true home. Born to a family of high governing status, she was sent away as a child when a worldwide war broke out over her existence. Now that Astraea has returned to the Air State, she must get a grip on her signature power and find her place.
But Voncord is a world in turmoil. States are blaming each other for seismic tremors detected in the ocean deep, sparking bloody brawls. Guides, the beings who can open gateways in timespace, are calling for equal governing power to Signs. Girls from her school—The University of Voncordia—are vanishing, including newfound friends.
And Astraea finds she alone has the key to solve all of it.
When she starts having unexplainable dreams of a dark, ice fortress that leaves her shaking and dazed, Astraea makes chilling connections between various crises. But with her warnings ignored by governing leadership, Astraea realizes she must dive into the madness herself by teaming up with an enemy and following the threads in her dreams if she is to save the missing students and keep her world from sinking.
She only has to hope she doesn’t drown in the process.
Furyborn meets Curious Tides with a dash of Sailor Moon in this magical, dark fantasy debut.
382 pages, Hardcover
Published September 2, 2025
8 people are currently reading
3918 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Mathias Root
1 book25 followersAshley Mathias Root is a Young Adult Fantasy author and high school teacher with degrees in English, Educational Leadership, and Communications—though her heart has always been rooted in creative writing. A midwestern lady with a southern twist, she resides in the northeast along the beautiful New England coast in the United States with her family. A lover of all things 90s nostalgia, her brand is a mixture of dark and colorful, with a dash of glitter.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 16, 2025
The cover and the description of this book immediately intrigued me, I could not wait to get started, and once I picked this book up I simply could not put it down!
We go on a journey with Astraea who returns to the Voncord after a devastating loss, and realises maybe the reason she constantly felt out of place in the world where she grew up was because she had this home she never knew existed. Her introduction to this newfound world, and the magic that comes along, is anything but straightforward; mysteries unravel, questions arise, fragile familial bonds, and friendships form.
The author did an incredible job at pacing this story, and mixing the action of the storyline with depth of the characters. It was so captivating! I honestly just adored every part of this story, but my favourite part must be the development of friendship between the girls of The Valor! In the midst of chaos, disruption, and vanishings- they found each other, and I would love to read more about them!
The magic system, as well as the writing style itself, were delightful! You could truly see how much care and thought went into this book. I love stories where we learn more about the magical system alongside of the main character, and this one was no exception.
If you love YA fantasy novels, with strong and lovely characters, mysteries to uncover, and unique magical systems; you should pick this one up, when you do, welcome to the club!
I received this book as an ARC, and leave this review voluntarily. Many thanks to BookSirens and the author!
We go on a journey with Astraea who returns to the Voncord after a devastating loss, and realises maybe the reason she constantly felt out of place in the world where she grew up was because she had this home she never knew existed. Her introduction to this newfound world, and the magic that comes along, is anything but straightforward; mysteries unravel, questions arise, fragile familial bonds, and friendships form.
The author did an incredible job at pacing this story, and mixing the action of the storyline with depth of the characters. It was so captivating! I honestly just adored every part of this story, but my favourite part must be the development of friendship between the girls of The Valor! In the midst of chaos, disruption, and vanishings- they found each other, and I would love to read more about them!
The magic system, as well as the writing style itself, were delightful! You could truly see how much care and thought went into this book. I love stories where we learn more about the magical system alongside of the main character, and this one was no exception.
If you love YA fantasy novels, with strong and lovely characters, mysteries to uncover, and unique magical systems; you should pick this one up, when you do, welcome to the club!
I received this book as an ARC, and leave this review voluntarily. Many thanks to BookSirens and the author!
August 31, 2025
From experiencing loss, forming friendships, finding courage to face your fears, figuring out where you fit in, and so much more - this book has it all! It is a wonderfully created world, perfect for YA fantasy, that will leave you feeling good and intrigued for what’s to come. Dive in to this new series!
August 28, 2025
Wow! So good. I didn’t know what I would think about a young adult fantasy novel. I was hooked from the beginning, immediately invested in the characters and their relationships. I want to read more about this world and all its inhabitants. It kept me up late reading more than once, especially for the ending. The descriptions were so vivid and easy to imagine, yet never felt forced or distracted from the plot. The characters are believable and have depth without being complicated. Such a fun book that I want to share with everyone who loves to read.
I received a free advanced copy which did not affect my review.
I received a free advanced copy which did not affect my review.
July 11, 2025
I received an ARC of this book, which does not affect my review. Thank you to the author and Booksirens for the chance to read this book.
I was absolutely entranced by this cover and then the story itself. From the way the book is presented to the writing and the story it is all part of a perfect package. I immediately loved Astraea’s relationship with Andromeda, and how her grandmother is always there to console her when Astraea is made fun of. Which of course makes what happens even more devastating for Astraea, who already feels very out of place in her world. So when she finds herself in Voncord with people who look like her she is full of conflicting emotions! However, her introduction to Voncord is nothing more than panicking. I was ensnared by the beginning of this book, the balance of action and enough time to breathe and understand the characters.
When I consider the age range this book is for, around the age of Astraea, it is even better. Although I already had a very good time with it and usually I find myself relating more to characters in new adult books, not young adult! Astraea encounters plenty of fantastical things from magical trials to an otherworldly city to fantasy creatures. Some points reminded me a little of the Harry Potter series, where a child who is notable is send “out” of the magic world, and then must return as a teen to learn what they previously had no clue existed. So a bit of the book made me nostalgic in that way, but it didn’t feel too similar to Harry Potter to be bad. There is a quite different storyline and the magic is different too, but the same whimsicalness of mystery remains.
Yet even though the book is for teenagers in my eyes, the world building does not feel scant. There is lots of things to know with the type of magic, the different groups, and their history. There is obvious tension between the groups that Astraea is thrust into with very little knowledge. That is my favorite type of fantasy, in part because I get to discover a new world alongside the character. I loved reading about Grand Central and imagining the city. I loved the author’s descriptions and felt they heavily pulled me in. There was a more urban feeling to Voncord and it worked very well for the story and the setting. I was also very excited and could not stop reading when Astraea attended University of Voncordia for the first time. It was a really good way to not only start introducing some cultural aspects of Voncord but also to dive into the rules of magic. I love it when a good fantasy book cares about its magic system, when it actually spends time answering questions the reader might have rather than skirting over them in favor of constant thrills. I find that the most well-crafted fantasy books invest as much time into their magic system as they do the world, the characters, and of course the plot, which is another reason why I loved this book. The elemental magic system was very fun to learn about and also how it ties into each group and the history of sign purity and old flawed beliefs about it. Which I felt was a very interesting and realistic add on!
This book also did a great job of keeping my interest the entire time. Even in the quieter moments, or moments where Astraea is learning, I was fully hooked. Then, but the last part of the book, I just could not stop reading. When Astraea and Gunther worked together to find the missing girls, there was no keeping me away from the story and how it would turn out. I also loved the villain reveal. In a way I was kind of thinking that it would be a twist as to who the real villain was, but I was not sure who it would be, so I was in for a good shock! I also loved the ending, how it hinted at something more and could be continued, but also felt wrapped up. I would however love to read more if this was continued and I think it should be!
For a book for teens and even some adults, as well as a first book, this is truly exceptional. I love Astraea and her team (I am so happy that Florance, Temeya, Vectoria, and Coralin are on her side as The Valor) and I would so very excited to see where the group goes. Welcome to the club, indeed! What a fun, heart-racing, mysterious, and fantastic story.
I was absolutely entranced by this cover and then the story itself. From the way the book is presented to the writing and the story it is all part of a perfect package. I immediately loved Astraea’s relationship with Andromeda, and how her grandmother is always there to console her when Astraea is made fun of. Which of course makes what happens even more devastating for Astraea, who already feels very out of place in her world. So when she finds herself in Voncord with people who look like her she is full of conflicting emotions! However, her introduction to Voncord is nothing more than panicking. I was ensnared by the beginning of this book, the balance of action and enough time to breathe and understand the characters.
When I consider the age range this book is for, around the age of Astraea, it is even better. Although I already had a very good time with it and usually I find myself relating more to characters in new adult books, not young adult! Astraea encounters plenty of fantastical things from magical trials to an otherworldly city to fantasy creatures. Some points reminded me a little of the Harry Potter series, where a child who is notable is send “out” of the magic world, and then must return as a teen to learn what they previously had no clue existed. So a bit of the book made me nostalgic in that way, but it didn’t feel too similar to Harry Potter to be bad. There is a quite different storyline and the magic is different too, but the same whimsicalness of mystery remains.
Yet even though the book is for teenagers in my eyes, the world building does not feel scant. There is lots of things to know with the type of magic, the different groups, and their history. There is obvious tension between the groups that Astraea is thrust into with very little knowledge. That is my favorite type of fantasy, in part because I get to discover a new world alongside the character. I loved reading about Grand Central and imagining the city. I loved the author’s descriptions and felt they heavily pulled me in. There was a more urban feeling to Voncord and it worked very well for the story and the setting. I was also very excited and could not stop reading when Astraea attended University of Voncordia for the first time. It was a really good way to not only start introducing some cultural aspects of Voncord but also to dive into the rules of magic. I love it when a good fantasy book cares about its magic system, when it actually spends time answering questions the reader might have rather than skirting over them in favor of constant thrills. I find that the most well-crafted fantasy books invest as much time into their magic system as they do the world, the characters, and of course the plot, which is another reason why I loved this book. The elemental magic system was very fun to learn about and also how it ties into each group and the history of sign purity and old flawed beliefs about it. Which I felt was a very interesting and realistic add on!
This book also did a great job of keeping my interest the entire time. Even in the quieter moments, or moments where Astraea is learning, I was fully hooked. Then, but the last part of the book, I just could not stop reading. When Astraea and Gunther worked together to find the missing girls, there was no keeping me away from the story and how it would turn out. I also loved the villain reveal. In a way I was kind of thinking that it would be a twist as to who the real villain was, but I was not sure who it would be, so I was in for a good shock! I also loved the ending, how it hinted at something more and could be continued, but also felt wrapped up. I would however love to read more if this was continued and I think it should be!
For a book for teens and even some adults, as well as a first book, this is truly exceptional. I love Astraea and her team (I am so happy that Florance, Temeya, Vectoria, and Coralin are on her side as The Valor) and I would so very excited to see where the group goes. Welcome to the club, indeed! What a fun, heart-racing, mysterious, and fantastic story.
September 2, 2025
4.5/5
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the magic system/lore and the world-building was great. If anything, that is the one thing that stopped this book from being a 5 star read for me - there seemed to be a bit of a lull/too much detail almost in setting the stage at the start of the book. I found that I wasn't compelled to pick it up regularly whilst I was in this section of the book.
By the second half though, I was hooked and I couldn't put it down. I loved the way the relationships with the characters were written, and it was a great balance of action, tension, character development and relationship building. I was invested in finding out what happened and how the characters fates would end up.
Please note, this is a YA book and is very much written this way - however I still really enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading the next one!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the magic system/lore and the world-building was great. If anything, that is the one thing that stopped this book from being a 5 star read for me - there seemed to be a bit of a lull/too much detail almost in setting the stage at the start of the book. I found that I wasn't compelled to pick it up regularly whilst I was in this section of the book.
By the second half though, I was hooked and I couldn't put it down. I loved the way the relationships with the characters were written, and it was a great balance of action, tension, character development and relationship building. I was invested in finding out what happened and how the characters fates would end up.
Please note, this is a YA book and is very much written this way - however I still really enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading the next one!
September 3, 2025
I am incredibly grateful to Ashley Mathias Root and Conquest Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC of this captivating book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored The Drowning Daze of Astraea. From the very first chapter, titled The Spiral Storm, I was completely hooked, which made it incredibly easy to devour the entire book in just one sitting. The pacing was impeccable, the world-building was richly detailed, and the magic was enchanting; all elements that are essential in a YA fantasy novel. As the story unfolds, it seamlessly transitions into a mystery novel, adding an intriguing layer when Astraea’s friends from school begin to mysteriously disappear. Although there were a few sections in the middle that felt a bit slow, they were undoubtedly worth the read and contributed to the overall depth and complexity of the narrative.
August 28, 2025
It was the cover that first caught my eye, it truly is one of the most beautiful, and the blurb was so intriguing and I knew I needed to read it.
And I wasn’t disappointed. This book is the perfect package.
The relationship between main character Astraea and her grandmother was a beautiful one and you could see the love between them.And witnessing her grandmother’s death was really heartbreaking.
But then her world truly changes.
We are taken on an action packed fast paced adventure where the reader is not sure who to trust. And that twist towards the end I didn’t see coming.
And what a magical world the author has created, it has everything, and I really wished I lived there. The creatures the author created were unique and I loved there was new magic in this book.
And the characters were plotted well and even the supporting cast were important. And I loved the very slow burning romance between Astraea and Gunther.
This is definitely for the YA audience but adults will also love it.
The author did a great job in keeping me interested and as soon as I got to the end I realised that this is book 1 in the series. I only hope book 2 isn’t too long coming.
And I wasn’t disappointed. This book is the perfect package.
The relationship between main character Astraea and her grandmother was a beautiful one and you could see the love between them.And witnessing her grandmother’s death was really heartbreaking.
But then her world truly changes.
We are taken on an action packed fast paced adventure where the reader is not sure who to trust. And that twist towards the end I didn’t see coming.
And what a magical world the author has created, it has everything, and I really wished I lived there. The creatures the author created were unique and I loved there was new magic in this book.
And the characters were plotted well and even the supporting cast were important. And I loved the very slow burning romance between Astraea and Gunther.
This is definitely for the YA audience but adults will also love it.
The author did a great job in keeping me interested and as soon as I got to the end I realised that this is book 1 in the series. I only hope book 2 isn’t too long coming.
September 1, 2025
This book was wonderfully emotional and exciting. There were so many moments where I was on the edge of my seat- it was so hard to put the book down. I loved Astraea's journey and the world of Voncord and can't wait for book two so I can go back!
August 8, 2025
I originally wanted to read this book as it advertised girl gang/sailor moon/spice girl and I wasn’t disappointed! This is a YA book about our young heroine Astraea whose parents sent her through a portal to a different world with her grandmother to ensure she grew up safe and sound. But when her grandma dies, she’s thrown back into a portal into a world that she has no idea about and has to try to get to know her father while mastering her magic. She gets sent to a magic school where she meets good friends. But students are going missing and no one knows why. This is an action packed book from start to finish!
July 16, 2025
I was hooked from the cover and description and so glad I was able to read this book. The overall concept worked with the dark fantasy concept that I wanted and enjoyed in this type of book. I enjoyed going on this journey with Astraea and the rest of the characters in this world. Ashley Mathias Root was able to weave a strong storyline and was invested in what was going on. It uses the magical element that I was wanting and thought the two worlds were so well done and had that unique feel for both of them. It left me wanting to read the next book in the series and from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 20, 2025
I loved this book. I am a 40 year old high school English teacher who truthfully doesn't read a lot of fantasy (I usually read literary fiction, memoirs, or realistic fiction), and I totally found myself lost in this book of memorable characters and a well-constructed other world. It was a wonderful escape during this crazy political climate that we are currently in. The book was both charming and adventurous. It is reminiscent of Harry Potter but more modern and fresh. I love that the book focuses on a female protagonist, Astraea, who is so likeable and admirable as she navigates many relatable challenges (it is perfect for adolescent readers--both middle and high schoolers). My 12 year old daughter is also currently reading this book, and it's been a great experience to share with her. I think this book may have just turned me into a fantasy reader! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
September 4, 2025
The seed of this story was planted over twenty years ago when a younger, struggling teenage version of myself decided to create my own magical girl gang. Since then it's become so. much. more.
It's a fun, vibrant epic of glittering girl-power, forging friendships, and forbidden first love, but it's also a haunting mystery steeped in loss and grief and the scars of generational trauma. I often turned to this story during the darkest periods of my life, where I took my pain and dreams and shaped them into a story that could heal me. It saved me in innumerable ways, and now it belongs to the world. I hope it finds its way to readers who might need it too.
Please check the content warnings at the beginning of the text, and thank you so much to all who read and review this book.
💙 Ashley Mathias Root
It's a fun, vibrant epic of glittering girl-power, forging friendships, and forbidden first love, but it's also a haunting mystery steeped in loss and grief and the scars of generational trauma. I often turned to this story during the darkest periods of my life, where I took my pain and dreams and shaped them into a story that could heal me. It saved me in innumerable ways, and now it belongs to the world. I hope it finds its way to readers who might need it too.
Please check the content warnings at the beginning of the text, and thank you so much to all who read and review this book.
💙 Ashley Mathias Root
September 14, 2025
The Drowning Daze of Astraea is a fantastic 4.5 star, YA Fantasy by @Ashley Mathias Root and the First in the Voncord Volumes! This book will be great for YA lovers, Fantasy lovers AND lovers of great stories! It has Elemental Magic, Wonderful World Building that doesn’t suffocate the story, Mental Health Representation and still has depth of characters! We follow Astraea from a harrowing beginning to her life when she is transported to a different world with her Grandmother navigating being different to then being abruptly transported back to her own world learning about her family and Magic! We’ve got a Magic School, warring factions, grasps for power and kidnapped classmates! I highly recommend this book and CANNOT WAIT for the rest of the series! It’s both dark and sweet, ugly and beautiful! I would never imagine this is a DEBUT!
October 9, 2025
Astraea has lived with her Grandmother, Andromeda, for as long as she can remember. Her parents died when she was young, but Andromeda has filled her life with love, games and paintings from her dreamscapes. When Andromeda unexpectedly dies, Astraea realizes how truly alone she is, until she finds herself transported into the world of her Grandmother’s dreams.
This was a fun and colorful book, with vibrant characters and creative geography that spark the imagination. Astraea is a smart, resilient 15-year-old girl with a strong moral compass and a backbone to match. Strong friendships are forged and tough choices are made, making this a wonderful YA read.
My review is based on a free advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Many thanks to BooksSirens for providing the ARC and to Ashley for the opportunity to review this kaleidoscope mystery.
This was a fun and colorful book, with vibrant characters and creative geography that spark the imagination. Astraea is a smart, resilient 15-year-old girl with a strong moral compass and a backbone to match. Strong friendships are forged and tough choices are made, making this a wonderful YA read.
My review is based on a free advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Many thanks to BooksSirens for providing the ARC and to Ashley for the opportunity to review this kaleidoscope mystery.
September 16, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this series starter! It was a very unique take on the dystopian/magic filled worlds that are popular right now which was very refreshing. It was a little slow at the start but that was understandably due to having to set a whole world and the main character does feel a bit shallow but there’s so much room for growth! And who doesn’t salivate over a slow-burn romance?? I can’t wait for the following volumes and will absolutely be pre-ordering them as soon as they are available!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 16, 2025
I knew I'd love it the moment I cracked it open, as any book that includes a handy guide for readers and a map has my heart! The Drowning Daze of Astraea has all the elements a reader could want in a fantasy - interesting magical system, found-family friendships, intriguing love interest, political upheaval, plus a huge twist at the end. Bring on the next books, can't wait!
October 18, 2025
If you’re a fan of YA fantasy, this book is for you! It has something for everyone and I fell in love with the world the author created. Some of the themes are so perfectly parallel to history, and present day, and I REALLY loved that, because I could place myself in the story! So hoping this story continues!
November 6, 2025
If you like fourth wing, Harry Potter, ACOTAR then pick up this book. Yes it’s young adult so not as romantsy but it’s still so good. The author creates a perfect world with great characters and a story that will have you hooked. Go read this and support a new author!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews