Fifth Fjord

by Isabel Marie

“The dragons are waiting. Go and get one.”

In Norchar, dragon mages are the elite. They are the one who bond with dragons and hone powers untouchable to any normal man. But to become a mage, one must sacrifice everything.

Enter the school where only the strongest survive.

At the deadly academy for dragon mages known as the Fifth Fjord, eighteen-year-old Fiora Volar is sent to spy, lie, and or die. With her brother’s life hanging in a balance, Fiora enters the place where her enemies are forged- even though she knows the dragons will kill her. Just as they killed her parents.

And that won’t be the only danger.

If they find out she’s a spy, she’ll be executed. One wrong move could spark a war, cost her brother’s life, and doom her soul.

And still, the hardest battle may not be for her life, not for her mind– but for her own heart.

Fifth Fjord is a searing dark academia fantasy debut full of magic, betrayal, espionage, and a slow-burning enemies romance, perfect for readers craving to hit the spot of a lush, darker fantasy with dragons.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Dragons, Young Adult, Romance, Dark Academia, Slow Burn

497 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia]]

so it’s like fourth wing but norse??

(and spice free 🤫)

[Emily ✞ || [fallon's vrs]]

thank you @Evelyn (Ev’s Novel Delights) for recommending this to me!!! this sounds JUST like my cup of tea!

[Honora Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to buy this book ASAP.

(Disclaimer: I received an ARC, and am giving an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine. 😉)

To preface this review, I don't like e-books, I don't like fantasy, and I don't like dragons. So why on earth did I rate this book 5 stars?

The story started off slower (Have I mentioned I don't love fantasy? Worldbuilding is rough to get through), but as I started to understand the characters more - especially Fi - I realized how much I wanted to keep reading. The concept in itself is fascinating (A girl going into a death-filled school to spy in order to save her brother from her evil aunt), but the execution was phenomenal.

Oh, and have I mentioned that Fi's character is fantastic? It's so rare to see a smart but weaker FMC, and that's exactly who Fiora is. I've been wanting a story with a FMC who doesn't go around beating people up physically but uses her wits to destroy people.

Truly I haven't read an original not-super-cliched fantasy that I enjoyed in a long time, but this was one. The plot was fantastic, and as it picked up, it was a page-turner for sure.

There were quite a few typos throughout the story, so that put me off a little bit, but I understand that this is an ARC and there might be changes before the release date. Other than that, though, I adored this story, and I need need need book 2 ASAP.

I'd highly recommend this story to anyone looking for an intriguing romantasy with epic enemies-to-lovers, an undercover spy, and fascinating worldbuilding.

[Jaiden Lashei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely incredible! Fantasy is not one of my go-to genres, but every once in a while I come across a story so immersive that it makes me want to dive into every fantasy book I can find (at least if they’re anything like this one). Fifth Fjord was absolutely one of those books. The world-building, the storyline, the characters—I loved it all. Every. Single. Thing. I was completely hooked from start to finish, and now I’m devastated that I have to wait for the next book of the series. I can honestly say I’m obsessed! I would’ve never guessed this was the author’s debut novel. It reads with the skill and depth of a seasoned author. Absolutely amazing!

[Evelyn (Ev’s Novel Delights) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HAVE NO WORDS
IM OBSESSED
IM SPEECHLESS

This was such a beautiful, heart wrenching, and amazing story. 😍🫶🏼🫶🏼
That cliffhanger though… Could you please, dear author, write the next book soon??!! I can’t bare to wait so long 🥺🥺

6 STARS.. No wait. 100 stars!!! I don’t think I’ve ever given a book six stars but this one DESERVES it!

RTC

[Brooklyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where… to even begin? Six stars. Seven. Eleven! All of them!!
I don’t read spicy books or books with a lot of foul language, which as a big reader is super hard. There are so many popular books I want to read but can’t because of this kind of content.
This book… took every amazing thing I’ve heard about Fourth Wing, took out all the spice and language, added the tension and banter I ADORED from Powerless, with all of the action I LIVE for in a fantasy book and with the most AMAZING slow burn I have probably ever read! I was giggling and blushing and I wish I had the physical copy to annotate and highlight!
And… um, excuse me, what was that ending?? Isabel? Where. Is. The. Second. Book?! I need it!! You cannot leave me with that utterly devastating cliffhanger!!
I was fortunate enough to be an ARC reader for this book, but my only regret is that it’s not actually published yet, so books 2 and 3 aren’t even close!
I will wait with anticipation, in agony and eagerness for the next ones.

[Rachel Dando]

The cover is so pretty I literally cannot wait to read this 🥹🥹

[Melissa Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️ - rounded up for this review
Spice: 🫑

First off, I think the bones of this story were really good and story has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it was in desperate need of editing. I felt that metaphors and adjectives were excessively overused to the detriment of the reading experience. The story was good by itself so it didn’t always need all that extra stuff. There were parts of the plot that didn’t flow. The storyline would feel as if it just abruptly ended and then moved on to something or somewhere else. I think the magic could’ve had more explanation as well. I thought the magic and sigils were interesting but found myself confused with how exactly they worked. The relationship between the humans and dragons was a bit odd/confusing to me as well. Although they are bonded, they only seem to interact when riding. Despite their lives being tethered I didn’t feel the strength of that bond being special or significant to the FMC (that’s the only POV we have).

This book will likely appeal to younger readers looking for a story similar to Fourth Wing but without spice. The characters are predictable with a weak FMC and a mean and taunting MMC. I would consider it a true enemies to lovers plot line.

[Norah Case · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are purely my own.

I have waited SO LONG to find a book that was similar to Fourth Wing but lacking the spice. Fifth Fjord satisfied my craving for this kind of story in the best way! Perfect for fans of Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, and yes, Fourth Wing, Fifth Fjord explores the idea of courage and asks the question of what true fearlessness looks like.

I LOVED the worldbuilding in this story; the combination of Norse mythology, a school setting, and dragons was a fascinating blend. I also thoroughly enjoyed Fi’s character arc; I appreciate getting to watch characters grow from victim to victor, yet still retain their humanity. Also, the twists? I was on the edge of my seat, mistrusting everyone along with Fi.

Isabel Marie is going to be an author to watch! Can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

[Iza's Book Tower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought you were all exaggerating a little, praising this book so much, but oh boy, how happy I was to be wrong! 😍
.
🌶️ Clean story, emphasis on the emotions, kisses only
💬 Mild, in-world curses like "What in Hel"
❗ Death, violence, blood, physical/verbal abuse, bullying, magic used for good and evil, drinking, mythology, grief
.
My thoughts:
This. Was. So. GOOD! I got completely lost in this world and devoured this book in just a little more than a week! All while betraying my posting schedule if I even still have one 😂 I loved everything: the story, the characters, the setting! Ahhh, it was all so great! I haven't read a dark academia book in a while and this one was a perfect autumn read. And despite being a 'dark' academia it still had a little bit of those heartwarming vibes I love so much - like the love Fiora shares with her brother or a certain character's redemption arc... 👀😍 This book had a perfect amount of magic and dragons, too! If you hadn't wanted to have your own dragon after watching HTTYD, you definitely will after reading this book! 🖤 Obviously I'll be buying a physical copy, I need to have Fifth Fjord on my shelf!
.
The paperback and e-book are available on Amazon and there's a hardcover coming in January 2026! 😍

[Kim Dorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a good time with book. I loved the dark academia vibes and slow burn. This was my first romantasy without any spice and I didn’t miss it all. I highly recommend this book if your looking for a no spice, enemies to lovers, with a dragon academy and hidden identity.


Thank you to Isabel Marie for the ARC copy and I can’t wait for book 2 with that cliffhanger.

[B.G. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is literally INCREDIBLE. Like, seriously. I think this is now one of my favorite books! If you're looking for a new binge-worthy series that's a combination of Harry Potter/How to Train Your Dragon/Fourth Wing/Hunger Games -- look no further!

**Full, Spoiler-Free Review Below! (will be posting on Instagram on Friday @guardian.trilogy)**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

📍Initial Thoughts
When I discovered Isabel's page on Instagram, I was immediately hooked by her aesthetic reels and promotion for this book. So you can imagine how excited and honored I was when I got to be apart of the ARC team!! [That means this review entirely consists of own honest thoughts and opinions].
Fifth Fjord did not disappoint. And for a debut novel?? So good.
I was hooked from page one -- the writing and vivid description, character chemistry, stakes, plot, and world-building. It was completely captivating and I throughly enjoyed it! (Until the end with the *spoiler warning* crazy plot twist and cliffhanger!!!) I definitely recommend and can't WAIT for book 2!

📚The Cover
Yes, yes. Don't judge a book by it's cover but -- WOW. The cover is actually so pretty!! I think it really stands out from your average romantasy and gives those vibes of dark fantasy and high stakes the book offers. Looking forward to seeing it on my shelf!! <3

✍🏼 The Writing/Pacing
Okay, can we just talk about the vocabulary of Miss Isabel?? She weaves words so beautifully and I think that was the first thing that really hooked me. (Ya'll I literally had to look up definitions of words while reading this. I loved it. 🤣) It's so different from the prose of most books that are so middle grade feeling -- even for supposedly YA books. That's what made this book stand out. The description paints such a ✨v i v i d✨ picture and I could imagine the sensations of being at the Fifth Fjord the WHOLE book, like I was watching an immersive movie. It was fantastic.
The pacing I think was really great as well. There's no part that really stands out that felt different from the rest of the book. It all flowed very nicely.
I will say sometimes the dialogue felt a little awkward. Maybe a little stiff and poetic for some of the characters, but other than that I think the character voice was done very well. Kudos to you, Miss Isabel!

🏔The World-Building
Wow. I think this was one of the strongest parts of the book for sure. The whole world of Norchar and the opposition they have against each other because of their differing religions and gods was really neat. I didn't realize a lot of it was actually based on real Norse mythology and I think that was such a neat and unique twist to this world. I loved the vibes and aesthetics.
The whole school of the Fifth Fjord was so fun to read about as well -- the dragon lore and how the magic connects to the dragon's class and powers, etc. (I really appreciated the charts in the back, btw!!) It might be morbid of me to say this, but I honestly wanted to go to the Fifth Fjord while reading this. If it wasn't so scary and everyone died, that is. 🤣

⚔️ Plot
Though I love a good complex plot, Fifth Fjord was refreshingly straightforward -- a girl sent to spy at a dangerous school while wrestling with her feelings of fear and what she would do for those she loves. It's a story that slowly unfolds, the stakes and intrigue keeping you moving. It's one of those books that you genuinely have no idea what's going to happen next and you keep gasping out loud at every turn! (No, seriously. There were moments I literally said, "WHAT?" out loud.) I am mad about that cliffhanger, but it also makes me excited for the next two books and what the stories will bring!

👤The Characters
The characters were great. Fiora was so relatable and I'd probably scream as much as her if I was forced into the Fifth Fjord, lol. I loved her relationship with her brother and how he becomes her reason for staying and carrying out what she's been tasked to do. It might just be me, but I feel like so many FMCs come across as annoying, especially when they try to act all tough. But Fiora was not like that. She's forced to be tough because if she's not, she'll die. There's a reason behind her facade. She doesn't want to be a killer, she doesn't want to lie or deceive. Because behind it all is her real emotions -- fear, horror, what it's like to witness a death -- and it will make her look weak in a place only the strongest survive.
And love. She's afraid of love and what it does to her.
These are real emotions that I could relate to and understand in her situation and I think added a depth that is rare in a lot of fictional characters nowadays.
The whole themes of "Fear" and "Fearless" btw, were SO GOOD. Great symbolism and it gave me chills seeing how Fiora learns to overcome these nicknames and really live out what it means to be "fearless." It played so well into her character arc and was such a unique twist. (Reminded me of The Hunger Games, actually!!)

I also loved the side characters and students! I loved getting to see their backstories and their own personal traumas. You could really see how all these adults were really just broken kids in the bodies of people trying to make names for themselves and prove their worth. So sad, but so good.
The villains were great too and very unlikable (in a good way!) I'm interested to see how it all plays out in the end.

As for Atlas, I have some mixed feelings about him lol, but I thought he was great character overall.

💕 The Romance
Enemies-to-lovers. Slow burn. Forced proximity.
I love a good romance -- especially in a fantasy book! The romance in Fifth Fjord I think played out well between the two main characters -- (*spoiler alert*) Fiora and Atlas. I think it was really sweet when you see the reasons behind their motivations in the end.
But I am going to be entirely honest. I wasn't so sure about the romance at first. I thought I was missing something when I saw how Atlas was hating on Fiora and I didn't fully understand why. Other than the fact that the other guys in Foring were doing the same. And it felt abrupt to me the way Atlas started being somewhat kind to her while still threatening to kill her and then saying he loved her at the same time?? I don't read enemies-to-lovers a lot, so it could just be me. 😂
In the end, I think everything made much more sense when I could understand the characters' intentions and where they were coming from. 😍👏🏻

🌟Favorite Quotes:
UGH. There's so many good ones, but here's a few that really stood out to me that I highlighted in my kindle:

"I was discovering how fear was a limit. And if I was Fearless, the limit vanished. There would be little I couldn't do. I would be limitless. Infinite. Dangerous."

"What was one lie? It didn't seem like much. Not until I've told one lie a thousand times and suddenly nothing was true."

"Fear tried to control me. The name tried to control me. Courage was not something that can be tamed. Which is why fear hates it so bitterly."

"He doesn't cry, but his heart does."

"Because grief is just love that doesn't leave us, love we can't express. Grief is love being angry. I found out with this love called grief that love isn't necessary to survival. But love makes survival feel necessary."

⚠️Content/Trigger Warnings
Fifth Fjord is definitely YA (so about 14+) and can get a little dark, so I just wanted to cover a section for potential readers who might want to be aware of the following.

🌶 Spice: No s*xual scenes, but there is passionate kissing, yearning, physical touch, a few suggestive references, and at least one scene that felt a little steamy and slightly uncomfortable for me personally, but it was short

🗡Violence: Lots of violence, battles, combat, blood, bullying/physical assault, torture, brutal deaths and injuries that can sometimes be described in detail (this doesn't bother me, but some sensitive readers might not like it)

🤬 Language: None, though characters often use curses and exclamations using the names of their gods. Couple of scenes mentioning someone making a "rude gesture" with a hand or finger

❗️Other Content: alcohol consumption, drunkenness, getting tattoos, physical abuse, threats of violence, characters dealing with trauma and PTSD etc. The students of the school endure lots of hardships and often resort to means that help them forget their misery

✨ In Summary:
I love this book!! A great piece of writing and one of the best books I've read all year. Highly recommend!!
Isabel is an amazing writer and is inspiring to me in many ways. Thank you for letting me ARC read this and can't wait to see where this will take you! <3

[Kortnee - The Closed Door Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overview:

Language 🤐: Clean (Made up swears)

Romance ❤️‍🔥: Kisses only (not overly descriptive)

Violence ⚔️: Fantasy and frequent, this is a school where only the few survive to become dragon mages there's also mention of war and such I'd say it's in the PG-13 range definitely could be disturbing to some so be aware. People do get eaten by the dragon I think you'll know within the first chapter if you'd be comfortable reading this book or not

⚠️Abusive family members, Manipulations, threat to life, bullying, drunkenness, smoking, talks of suicidal thoughts, betrayal ⚠️

Tropes/Micro tropes
- School to gain dragon
- All the banter
- Espionage
- Slow burn
- Hidden Identities
- Survival of the fittest
- Love/bond of siblings
- Delightful Side Characters
- Defying the odds
- Deadly test and tournaments
- Different Divisons you're sorted into
- Different levels of dragon that grants different abilities (magical powers)
- Mostly single POV but a few chapter of the POV

My Thoughts:

AHHH!!! I NEED THE SECOND BOOK RIGHT NOW!!! -chucks kindle across the room-

Ok but seriously what an amazing debut and world and story I am ready for the next book and can not wait for it to come!!

There is just so much in this book to absolutely rave about! It had me hooked in right there with Fiora feeling all the struggles she was having to deal with as she tired to hold back while thrown behind enemy lines. I felt her battle against fear, her love for her brother, her will to survive for One more day!

Isabel has such a wonderful way of painting emotions in this book and diving deep into the feeling of these amazing characters that paints so vividly the struggle that our character is feeling. She did a wonderful job of painting the grief that Fiora and others are facing through the pressure thrust on them to preform and succeed even though they must put their very life on the line.

We have a wonderful cast of character here from witty and wonderful friends, along with characters that you love to absolutely hate and are ready to watch our main character overcome the impossible situations she has been placed in.

The thrill of not knowing what is going to be next and how Fiora is going to handle the next challenge thrown at her along with her progression and growth through the book is such a thrill to witness. Let us not forget the swoon worthy slow burn build up in the background that pushes Fiora more fully into a corner (seriously some amazing lines and moments there)

And the DRAGONS! Let us not forget the Dragons. The banter between Fiora and her dragon is -Chef Kiss- I am so excited to see more and learn more about these dragons in the future!

There's so much more to be discovered in this world and I am 100% here for it! This is for you if you love the underdog pushed into impossible situations who is still grasping in humanity through impossible choices, if you love fantasy, slow burn, a book that does not shy away from grief and pain. DRAGONS of course! This is such a great adventure and I can't wait to get lost more fully in this world with that semi cliffhanger give me more yesterday!

Thanks so much to the Author for the ARC all thoughts and opinions are my own!

[Kami Topf · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:
WOW WOW WOW I have so many thoughts on this book!
This is low-key the first dragon fantasy book I've read, and it did not let me down. I am blown away by the world, the different countries, the different religions, the fifth fjord school in and of itself, and just how in-depth the author went into creating this story. 🫶🏼😍

Not only is the plot, the world building, the characters, and the overall story absolutely awe-inspiring, but the writing as well. The author has a way of writing that is so poetic and verbose. Her metaphors and similes aren't cheap or mediocre, they're deep, introspective, and so GOOD. I could go on and on about how much I loved the prose of this book, but you should just read it yourself to know what I mean. 😉

🗡️🖤✨I love the dark academia vibe of this book so much, and Fifth Fjord is a twisted, ruthless place where only the best mages survive. The four different factions of mages, and how they're each focused on a different aspect of being a mage was super interesting. Their different powers, how they harness them, how they bonded with their dragons (or didn't 😬) was so well thought and written.

The main character, Fiora, starts out as a terrified, weak girl, forced to spy for her aunt or else her brother will die. Going to this school, she's the weakest one there, the most fearful and she doesn't think she'll last at all. But despite all the odds, she does. She turns her fear into courage and does what she must. She's such a strong character, I love her, her character arc is magnificent and written so well.
Her last, her trauma, the things that haunt her, the things that keep her going, the things that make her HER were so real.

Even the side characters were ones that I connected with and was rooting for. And even her dragon had such a funny and amazing personality ☺️

The enemies to lovers was written so well. Legit started out wanting (and trying) to kill each other.🗡️ Love is not so far off from hate, though, and they learn that (though not till like 80%) 😂 🫶🏼 the banter was bantering for real though. OBSESSED.

I felt so many emotions reading this ARC, my heart was literally wrenched. I squealed, I laughed out loud, I did one of those tea-kettle screams, I threw my phone across the room, and I LOVED this book. 🫶🏼😍🖤

If you even remotely like fantasy and high-stakes and enemies to lovers (or even if you don't) PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.

I will be buying the hard copy when it's released 🖤🥰

[caroline dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of Fifth Fjord in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.)

I loved this book!! It pulled me in more and more as I read, and by the end I was so sad it was over. I loved that it managed to be exciting and emotional without relying on the spice or language that a lot of popular books include. That made it such a refreshing read for me!

The world was fascinating, the story had great pacing, and the characters felt real and easy to root for. It was one of those books I just couldn’t put down !

I’d recommend Fifth Fjord to anyone who loves fantasy, adventure, and great storytelling that will hook you until the end. Especially if you’re looking for something more wholesome but still full of chemistry and emotion.

Thank you Isabel Marie for the ARC copy! 💛

[Brooklea Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an absolute ride, a little cheesy at times (which I personally love), but packed with charm and heart. Imagine if Hogwarts only graduated the worthy and involved dragon bonding. It definitely gave Harry Potter vibes with a dash of Fourth Wing, minus the spice, which I appreciate.

The writing style completely drew me in. It was immersive, fast-paced, and emotionally engaging. That said, there were a few typos and grammatical hiccups throughout, but since I read the ARC, I expected that.

What really stood out to me was the love triangle and the dragon bonding. Both had me giggling and grinning like a kid! Despite the cliffhanger ending leaving me desperate for book two, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Kinsey B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this a 3 star for now, but I think the final copy could move the book into a 4 star read for me. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review. Thank you Isabel for allowing me the opportunity to read your book. I think you will continue to write great stories!

This book had moments I absolutely loved and moments where I felt it was a bit slow and I didn't connect as well with the story as I wanted to. I loved the enemies to lovers with Atlas and Fiora, but I wanted more tension. Fi and Nyx seemed to have a lot more tension than Atlas and Fi. I want the training moments to have that delicious enemies to lovers feel, but it was just missing for me.

I did love how Nyx felt romantically (in some way) toward Fi, but she didn't return his affection and the scene with where this encounter played out was very interesting. I loved how her rejection really twisted Nyx's character and how he betrayed her.

I loved the evil aunt and how Fi's brother was used against her throughout the book, but I wanted more rebellion from her against her aunt's control. I think this is coming later because the sets up so well for Fi to grow into a more fierce FMC as she loses some of her naivety and innocence at the end of book one. I also loved how bad of a spy she was, but she was still successful. She was almost caught every time she was describing as spying.

The book was a bit of a slow start for me, but her parent's death was so gruesome and epic. I cannot wait to find out more about how they fit in the backstory that is still undiscovered.

I did not like the ghost aspect and how Fi kept talking to Frode when he wasn't there. This was very paranormal vibes for me and I don't do haunting/ghost books. I liked the mismatched beliefs between the two opposing sides and how Fi struggled with both.

Overall, this book had some aspects that just didn't hit right for me, but I still enjoyed the book and I think there are many fantasy readers out there that will love it.

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers to enemies?
Dark Academia
Dragon Riders
Espionage
Betrayals everywhere
Transforming fear to courage

Quotes:
"The weakest tend to fight the hardest."
"Every woman should have a weapon that reminds men what we are. Pretty, sharp, and dangerous."
"Let me try," I beg. "Let me explain-" "I will. But I gave you every part of me, and you broke it."

[Mandee Joy Nuce · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I was given an arc in exchange for an honest review***

This book was quite good! The plot line was fairly unique and the world building was good as well. The characters all had their own personalities, something that authors sometimes don’t do as well. The trauma is this book is actually crazy. The MMCs were great, and I am looking forward to seeing more of them in book 2. Also the plot twist at the end was very dramatic, which left me on the edge of my seat. I am definitely looking forward to book 2😁

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I wanna Thank Isabel for letting me be one of her ARC readers.

this book reminds me of how to train your Dragon that meets fourth wing. Do you feel like this book would be more appropriate for someone who wants to dip their toes into the fantasy world.
Do you feel like there is some parts of the story that does need to be edited I feel like the beginning, quite grab the intentions of the readers in my opinion but all in all it's a really good story.

[Shiloh Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished book review
ISABEL MARIE

HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME WITH THAT CLIFFHANGER

😭 🥀 💔

I AM EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY UNWELL

BUT OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER

FAVORITE FANTASY BOOK BY FAR

I NEED YOU TO WRITE THE SEQUEL AND THE THIRD BOOK LITERALLY THIS INSTANT

i'm gonna go back later and find all of the beautiful quotes because my GOSH your writing style is beautiful <33333
(okay i'll regain my sanity now and stop typing in all caps)
i honestly don't know where to start with this review because there's so much i want to say and so many things i loved about this book...... and the little story graphics at the end??? PERFECTION

as i already said, the writing style and quality is absolutely gorgeous <3 the descriptions of the forest had me more engaged than most books i've ever read, as did Snera and the Fifth Fjord. i'll often get lost in fantasy worldbuilding but Isabel's worldbuilding is so immersive and well-thought out and INTRIGUING, it's not some boring jumble of details that leave no impression on you

mind you i remembered a lot of the plot twists from reading the first draft, but the plot twists were plot twisting 🤯 especially with Nyx??? and THAT ENDING!?!?!?!?!?!

onto le characters

fiora is such an amazing main character, her struggles and inner thoughts are so relatable and from the first page it's so obvious how much this girl loves her little brother 🥰 i loved her character development and her end of year test????? the metaphor was so beautiful 😭💕 I loved that scene

THYRAAAAAAAAAAAA
i said this when i read the first initial draft, but i don't think i've ever loved a fictional creature more in my life 😂 thyra's voice and commentary is the most hilarious thing EVER and i loved all of her interactions with Fiora (also can i just say, how cool is it that fiora can hear the dragons and talk to them!?!?!)

aunt sigrid... i don't think i could find the words to fully encapsulate my hatred for this woman 😭😑 i did love her POV chapters because i could UNDERSTAND her, but do i like her? no. i don't think anything could make me like aunt sigrid (which makes her a wonderful complex villain)

and then of course we have atlas...... oh my precious book husband atlas 😍 NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I WANTED TO MARRY A BOOK CHARACTER MORE THAN I WANT TO MARRY YOU
LIKE FR SOMEONE COME SHIP ME AN ATLAS TO MY HOUSE RN
slow burn has never slow burned like this before 😫 every interaction they would have had me PACING AROUND MY HOUSE AND SLAMMING MY LAPTOP SHUT BECAUSE

AHFLAJHRKKFJAKLJFKRJKFJAELJR

i will be sure to come back and include some of atlas' beautiful quotes because THIS MAN IS THE STANDARD FR

move over Kai Azer, Atlas Bowbender is here to replace you ☺️ 😌 (i swear if he doesn't become the latest iconic fantasy book boyfriend then i will RIOT IN THE STREETS)

(i refuse to give my thoughts on nyx because i'm just about to slap him.... i just... yeah i can't do it, no more talking or thinking about nyx)

but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put this book on your TBR if you're trying to get into fantasy, or if you're a longtime fan of fantasy/romantasy <3 i promise you Isabel will blow your highest expectations out of the water with Fifth Fjord (and i'd recommend starting this book with a blanket and a snack because i physically couldn't put it down unless i absolutely HAD to do something else for a second... and even then I was still thinking and inwardly screaming about the characters and the plot)

*I received an ARC copy of this book on August 10 in exchange for an honest review*
update as of 8/10 --
i'm only about to finish the first chapter.... but this is seriously my favorite fantasy book EVER like I can't understand how I survived not having this on my shelf for THIS LONG since I read the first draft<3
the writing? GORGEOUS
the antagonist? NEVER HATED A VILLAIN MORE IN MY LIFE
the sibling dynamics? PERFECTION
the setting? CHEF'S KISS

[Amara · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩‧₊˚𝐼𝓉'𝓈 𝓊𝓃𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓇, 𝒾𝓈𝓃'𝓉 𝒾𝓉, 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓃'𝓉 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓊𝓁𝓉, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝑒'𝓇𝑒 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓁."✩‧₊˚

This book was really good!! I was a little hesitant at first because it seemed very similar to fourth wing with the title, cover and concept, but I really enjoyed it!!
There were some similar elements, such as the dragon war college setting, bonding with dragons and sigils, but that’s kinda where the similarities end.

The characters were unique, I loved all of them! The side characters were funny and added some good depth to the story.
Fiola was such a good character and I loved her character development and motives.
And Atlas, oh what a man 😭 the romance was so good!!! Had me giggling and kicking my feet. It’s a true enemies to lovers (which is rare nowadays). He is such a poet, and he’s definitely being added to my book boyfriend list 😂

I also really enjoyed the author’s writing style!! Super flowery, descriptive and full of beautiful analogies.

My only complaints about this book (why I’m not rating it 5 stars) are:
1. the spelling/grammatical errors. This didn’t bother me too much because this is not the final draft of the book, it was sent to me as an e-arc. I expect there will be some final edits before being released!!!

2. I didn’t really connect with the characters too much, that’s not the author’s fault though. I just have trouble getting emotional over characters and feeling for them.

3. The plot twists were pretty predictable.

But overall, this was such a fun read, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!!! This book is perfect for people who want fourth wing without spice or language. This book had absolutely NONE of either which was so great and refreshing.

Overall, such a great debut! Thank you so much to the author for sending me this to review :)

Spice: 0/5
Language: none

[C. L. Mullikin · Rating 4 out of 5]

*𝔇𝔦𝔰𝔠𝔩𝔞𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔯, ℑ 𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔢𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔄ℜℭ 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔞𝔲𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔯 𝔦𝔫 𝔢𝔵𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔪𝔶 𝔥𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔱 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴*

Rated: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒆𝒔,” 𝑨𝒕𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔. “𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabel Marie’s debut Fifth Fjord is a fantasy lush with both atmosphere and emotion, woven together with a stunning writing style. This novel perfectly fits on the same shelf with books like Harry Potter and Hunger Games, but takes an interesting approach when it comes to the main character, Fiora Valor. I truly enjoyed watching the themes of courage and fearlessness unravel along with a romance that read like poetry.

The worldbuilding in this is truly immersive and carefully revealed by immersing the readers without drowning them. The writing style is what drowned me, so many sentences were so beautifully curated it felt like walking through a garden of prose. Too often I see YA authors barely skim the surface of good writing, not Marie, she gave us a meditative style with a punchy plot that keeps pages flipping (and tears dripping.)

There were a few moments in the book that I felt could have used a little more fleshing out, especially the ending. At first I wasn’t satisfied with the romance and was a little confused at the ‘love triangle’ going on, but the MMC won me over at the end. My only other quibble is that occasionally the characters acted a little immature and overly angsty (but definitely nothing out of the ordinary for YA.)

The execution of the premise however, was out of the ordinary for YA, and its absence of language and spice. Overall I adored this book and am already feeling my heartstrings tugging without knowing what happens next for these characters <3

If magic-school fantasy and dragons are your cup of tea, Isabel Marie is one to keep tabs on.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Isabel Marie for this ARC!
•
This book was intense. Fifth Fjord lives up to its reputation of being the school where only the strongest survive. I loved the sibling love in this book. Fiora does everything for her younger brother, Frode. It's the thought of him that keeps her getting out of bed every morning at the school that could take her life at any moment. Having a younger brother myself, their relationship was particularly special to me. Fiora's relationships with the other students are complex enough being that every student at the school are competing with each other, but her being an enemy spy adds an extra element. But there is no relationship as complex as the one she has with her enemy. From the moment she arrived at the school, he has made it abundantly clear that he would like to see her dead, even more so he would like to be the one who causes it. With multiple attempts to kill each other and how slow the burn is, this book feels like a true enemies to lovers. I loved the tension and banter between them. The bond between mages and their dragons is very cool and I liked how they got their dragons. Fifth Fjord explores themes of survival, betrayal, and how far you would go for the people you love. After that cliffhanger ending, I can't wait for the sequel!

[lauren kindl3w0rm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what can I say!!! First of all, thank you Isabel for contacting me and asking if I'd like to arc read your amazing book because this was everything and more!
If you loved Fourth Wing then this book is for you. It's a mix of Fourth Wing with a Harry Potter vibe to it too. I just loved it and really didn't want the book to end. But I'm telling you one thing, I need the second book like yesterday 😭

I love a fantasy book but as you all know I need simple, I am not a high fantasy girly and this was just that. Isabel's writing is amazing and the world building in this book was incredible. Straight to the point and I got the hang of characters and different places very quickly.

Thank you again Isabel for reaching out to me, the book was great, you're great & I can't wait for more 🪄🩷

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to write an appropriate review for this book but words are escaping me at the moment. I loved this book, it's filled a gap for me, a fantasy that didn't depend on spice. This story had so much going for it, heart break, determination, fear, love, strength, disappointment, hope, secrets, dragons, powers. Next book, absolutely yes please bring it on.

[LeeEllen Belcher (Caw) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark academia fantasy had everything a reader would want. A true enemies to lovers, a slow burn romance with no spice, high stakes, action, banter (even from dragons), and secrets. The world building was phenomenal, I felt like I was in the book, sitting with the characters, my heart hammering with each action packed scene and stealth mission. If you're worried it'll be like Fourth Wing, I can assure you dragons and academy setting are the only similarities.
Fiona's aunt tells her she has to be a spy at their enemy's dangerous and deadly academy, or her brother dies. She decides that sacrificing herself is better than his life. With no espionage or combat skills she tells herself that she will become fearless in the face of danger, for Frode. As each lie becomes easier to tell, she starts losing herself. Will she survive the ruthless dragons, bullies, and tests that the school throws her way? Will she be able to keep up the facade when she starts to see assets as friends? And when she's drawn to her enemy, will she be able to save him from the mistakes she's made?

I received an ARC with no expectation of a review.
All opinions are my own.

[Brooklynn Yost · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOODNESS THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!

There are so many amazing elements to this novel! The characters, the plot, and the vibe!!!!! 😱 I was immedietly hooked from the first few chapters and admit that I stayed up late into the night to find out what happened next many times. One of my favorite books now for sure! Isabel Marie is such a gifted author, I can't wait to see what else she publishes!

[Litery Exhale - Azeneth · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first arc review.

Format: eARC
Genre: Fantasy | YA
Personal rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you to the author, Isabel Marie, for sharing their ARC of Fifth Fjord with me in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the beautiful artwork on the cover of this e-arc and the fact that it promised a story with dragons! There is something really special and exciting about new authors putting their work out there, experimenting with their voice and their imagination.

This story had such an intriguing concept — a blend of Norse mythology, magical academia, and high-stakes adventure. This was giving Fourth Wing meets Harry Potter vibes.

I could feel the author’s passion for writing with all the poetic descriptions and the world building but it pulled away from the story and characters, making the pacing of scenes and dialogue difficult to follow.

With that said, there’s potential here. The creative vision is vivid, drawing inspiration from popular works by the likes of Rowling and Yarros, a bit much on the nose, but with some refinement and focus, I think this author could craft something special in the future. I’m always in awe of anyone who writes with heart and courage because its something I aspire to do as well.

This releases October 7th for anyone who wants to support an aspiring author.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a wild ride! Harry Potter meets Hunger Games with all the twists and turns. Enemies to lovers. Intense, exciting, emotional + Dragons! Beautifully descriptive. Mind your triggers - violence, bullying, and abuse by a guardian. 🚫🤬🚫🌶️ What a debut!

[S.R. Plett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am incredibly grateful to have received and ARC of this book , all thoughts are my own.

First off, for being a Debut novel I thought this was very well done. Isabel has a very almost poetic way of writing and it's beautiful to read.

The world building was great and easy to follow. I was super fascinated with the Norns, and the mix of Norse mythology. I do wish there was more backstory or talk about those controlling the school and such ( maybe in book 2?)

I mean what's not to love about sticking kids into a magic building and letting them get their own dragons!

Over all I did love this book and would for sure rate it a solid 4 stars.

My only hangups with this book for not giving it a fulll 5 stars.

I felt the dialogue and conversation between characters was to short, characters would barely get to talking and then that scene would just end. I felt this a lot with Fiora and Atlas and bit with Nyx and Fiora as well. Which made getting them to be lovers harder to believe.
Second-
Fiora and Atlas are enemies in the school and it just felt that there was a switch between them wanting to kill each other all the time to Atlas suddenly being in love with her, when they hardly gotten a chance to even have proper conversation. ( but maybe I read it all wrong?)

I would have loved to read a bit more stolen glances, gentle touches and more tension- ( The only tension I felt was that of Fiora hating Atlas she wants to stab him all the time)- between the two before they were confessing their love.

Writing a book is a crazy big thing to be proud of and Isabel should be insanely proud of this book. I would definitely recommend it if you love dragons, get Harry Potter vibes and love deadly trials.