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Shattered World
Splintered Sight
Viv has been living alongside behindkind and fae in the Historic Renner Tea House in Melbourne for nearly a month now. In that time, she's been almost killed by friends and enemies alike, discovered that the human world is not the only world on the edges of her reality, and become a glorified babysitter for Luca, an unstable assassin of otherworldly creatures who has nightmares that are a bit too...real. She has uncovered mysteries and murderers—and discovered just a bit too much about herself into the bargain.
Now a small selkie has turned up on her windowsill, while a nightmare has begun stalking the floors of the Tea House, and Viv is certain the two things are connected. The selkie's human sponsor has disappeared, as has his pelt, and there's no help to be had from the selkies, who won't interfere with a traditional sojourn of one of their own on solid land.
Between her boss Jasper's dislike of doing anything he doesn't get paid for, and Luca's disinclination to do anything to help behindkind rather than humans, Viv is finding it hard to get to the bottom of the disappearance. But if she doesn't, the nightmare that has infiltrated the Tea House might burgeon into daylight reality, and the little selkie won't get his pelt back. And without his pelt, it's just a matter of time before Kyma crumbles away into dust...
Now a small selkie has turned up on her windowsill, while a nightmare has begun stalking the floors of the Tea House, and Viv is certain the two things are connected. The selkie's human sponsor has disappeared, as has his pelt, and there's no help to be had from the selkies, who won't interfere with a traditional sojourn of one of their own on solid land.
Between her boss Jasper's dislike of doing anything he doesn't get paid for, and Luca's disinclination to do anything to help behindkind rather than humans, Viv is finding it hard to get to the bottom of the disappearance. But if she doesn't, the nightmare that has infiltrated the Tea House might burgeon into daylight reality, and the little selkie won't get his pelt back. And without his pelt, it's just a matter of time before Kyma crumbles away into dust...
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2025
23 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
W.R. Gingell
45 books1,078 followersW.R. Gingell is a Tasmanian author of urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and madcap science fiction who doesn’t seem to be able to write a book without a body suddenly turning up. She solemnly swears that all such bodies are strictly fictional in nature.
W.R. spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and slouching in front of the fire to write. Like Peter Pan, she never really grew up, and is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
W.R. spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and slouching in front of the fire to write. Like Peter Pan, she never really grew up, and is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
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September 13, 2025I READ THIS BOOK AND NOW I HAVE A RASH HELP
(i am the author and the two things are not connected but both were and are extremely inconvenient. please preorder and ameliorate my distress)
Splintered Sight Preorder
Kickstarter Peeps now have their copy of Splintered Sight: only just a bit over a month (Oct 29th) until general release edition hits kindles!
(i am the author and the two things are not connected but both were and are extremely inconvenient. please preorder and ameliorate my distress)
Splintered Sight Preorder
Kickstarter Peeps now have their copy of Splintered Sight: only just a bit over a month (Oct 29th) until general release edition hits kindles!
October 2, 2025
Another excellent book by this author! Each book in this series just keeps getting better and better! Viv and Luca are SUCH a fun pair, although that ending...argh! I NEED the next book!
Highly recommend this series!
Highly recommend this series!
Read
September 1, 2025After Chapter 12 I messaged the author "Merry Christmas to ME" because my ship is SAILING.
SPLINTERED SIGHT is the third book in the Shattered World series and while all three have been REALLY good so far, I think this one might be my favourite as Viv's off-kilter and testy relationship with manic pixie madman Luca starts coming to the boil. Meanwhile, a Nightmare is stalking the Tea House, Jasper's past is coming to find him, and Viv is discovering that the her mysterious Voice is just one of many opportunities to abuse the power she wields.
I love the way this new series picks up on themes from the City Between series but runs in a different direction with them. My brain is mush right now so I won't say more, but I'm REALLY looking forward to the next book!
SPLINTERED SIGHT is the third book in the Shattered World series and while all three have been REALLY good so far, I think this one might be my favourite as Viv's off-kilter and testy relationship with manic pixie madman Luca starts coming to the boil. Meanwhile, a Nightmare is stalking the Tea House, Jasper's past is coming to find him, and Viv is discovering that the her mysterious Voice is just one of many opportunities to abuse the power she wields.
I love the way this new series picks up on themes from the City Between series but runs in a different direction with them. My brain is mush right now so I won't say more, but I'm REALLY looking forward to the next book!
September 15, 2025
Viv and Luca remain my favorite dynamic duo and Kyma is my ittybitty beanie baby boy and I had a great time. Agog to see what the next installment brings to the denizens of the Tea House!
September 13, 2025
This is one of my favorite parts of a series: where secrets are starting to come out, suspicions are raised, and unexpected things occur.
an all around delight! I have my own suspicions about a particular reveal, but I suppose we'll see!
an all around delight! I have my own suspicions about a particular reveal, but I suppose we'll see!
September 19, 2025
Don’t mind me, I’ll be over here hyperventilating in a corner until the next book comes out.
Five stars.
Five stars.
November 3, 2025
This is my favourite book of this series so far, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the other two. I felt the mystery/action plot in this book was less involved and layered (but still living up to Gingell's twistiness) and that gave an excellent balance to the increasingly involved and layered emotional and relational growth of the different characters.
It's true that there are power imbalances in the relationships developing but given the fact that Viv is Very Uncomfortably Aware of these, and the fact it's book three where you really want things to be reaching a point of HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK, and given the final events in this book, I suspect the book series is well on its way to Dealing With Things in the nuanced and satisfying way that Gingell achieves so well.
I just love the Australianess of it all too, from street names, to habits and cultural responses - it's all fun 😊 Will it also make you hungry for croissants and reflective about the unreliability of being able to get a good chai latte? Yes and yes.
It's true that there are power imbalances in the relationships developing but given the fact that Viv is Very Uncomfortably Aware of these, and the fact it's book three where you really want things to be reaching a point of HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK, and given the final events in this book, I suspect the book series is well on its way to Dealing With Things in the nuanced and satisfying way that Gingell achieves so well.
I just love the Australianess of it all too, from street names, to habits and cultural responses - it's all fun 😊 Will it also make you hungry for croissants and reflective about the unreliability of being able to get a good chai latte? Yes and yes.
September 24, 2025
This book was soooooo good! The storyline, characters, tone, and language style all combined to make an incredibly thrilling and enjoyable read! I loved how Viv and Luca's relationship developed as she began trusting him a little more and I really loved Luca's madness and he is just so unhinged - it's quite sweet! He is one of my favourite characters and I was so happy when he finally kissed Viv! I was waiting for that for ages!!! This book, like all of WR Gingell's, did not disappoint in terms of mystery and investigations. I was turning the pages to figure out the ending. Kyma was so adorable and I loved how he and Soo Ah enjoyed playing with each other. I'm also thrilled that Viv is discovering more about her Voice! I could not BELIEVE the ending. I NEED the next book. Just...wow. I've already said so much, and I definitely do not want to spoil the story, but it's so hard when there's just so much I want to say 😆! I 100% recommend this book. Really. It will NOT disappoint.
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
November 5, 2025
This is my favorite yet of the Viv books (Kyma <3), and I like the Viv books better than the Athelas books. Gingell is at her best writing small-scale-but-high-stakes stories with puzzle plots and keen moral awareness. They are unique and just good, reminscient of the first 5 City Between books in the best way.
(I think that when the plots get super large-scale and morality comes to the forefront of the plot there’s a slight tendency to let clear-cut moral opinions of the author’s—which I mostly even agree with—overtake the actual organic storytelling. It’s not a huge problem, and I’d certainly take that far over and above the many, many stories that lack any moral framework or thoughtful exploration thereof—it’s one of my favorite aspects of Gingell’s work, right up there with the creativity and the humor, and I appreciate it deeply, and I recognize that no author can do everything perfectly all the time—but I think the Athelas books and the end of City Between do lose a little as a result of it. The small puzzle-plots force the two things to be better integrated. Splintered Sight is, I would almost venture to say, a perfect book. Maybe just as tight as Between Floors, previous contender for my favorite spot of just absolute utter technical excellence.)
(also very tickled how Viv learning to use her Voice straight up just sounds like someone trying to teach someone to access their full singer’s breath/singer’s voice)
(I think that when the plots get super large-scale and morality comes to the forefront of the plot there’s a slight tendency to let clear-cut moral opinions of the author’s—which I mostly even agree with—overtake the actual organic storytelling. It’s not a huge problem, and I’d certainly take that far over and above the many, many stories that lack any moral framework or thoughtful exploration thereof—it’s one of my favorite aspects of Gingell’s work, right up there with the creativity and the humor, and I appreciate it deeply, and I recognize that no author can do everything perfectly all the time—but I think the Athelas books and the end of City Between do lose a little as a result of it. The small puzzle-plots force the two things to be better integrated. Splintered Sight is, I would almost venture to say, a perfect book. Maybe just as tight as Between Floors, previous contender for my favorite spot of just absolute utter technical excellence.)
(also very tickled how Viv learning to use her Voice straight up just sounds like someone trying to teach someone to access their full singer’s breath/singer’s voice)
October 28, 2025
amazing. Viv is one of my fave heroines ever. She's so honorable towards Luca, it cracked me up. love this series.
in tumblr words, viv and luca are my otp
in tumblr words, viv and luca are my otp
September 20, 2025
Just finished this book and I want to know all of the things!! But I will wait (mostly) patiently for the next installment.
October 10, 2025
I am loving this series! Splintered Sight was another fantastic installment—but that ending wrecked me. When is book #4 coming out?!
As someone with chronic illness, I find Viv such a refreshing and relatable main character (you know, if I also worked for a supernatural tea house and had a magical voice). Luca continues to steal every scene—his lines are gold, and he’s completely unhinged in the best way. Half the time he gives total creeper vibes, and the other half he’s so adorable I’m basically one big heart-eyed emoji.
I can’t wait to see where this series goes next. Until then, I’ll just be sitting here waiting impatiently for the next book. :)
As someone with chronic illness, I find Viv such a refreshing and relatable main character (you know, if I also worked for a supernatural tea house and had a magical voice). Luca continues to steal every scene—his lines are gold, and he’s completely unhinged in the best way. Half the time he gives total creeper vibes, and the other half he’s so adorable I’m basically one big heart-eyed emoji.
I can’t wait to see where this series goes next. Until then, I’ll just be sitting here waiting impatiently for the next book. :)
October 4, 2025
A young Selkie's pelt is missing, along with the person supposed to be keeping it safe. Of course Viv can't resist the kid's plea for help. And so the twisty, corkscrew, maddeningly elliptic storytelling continues. The cast of not quite human characters bounce off each other in increasingly eyebrow raising ways. And a curiously intelligent nightmare stalks the halls of the Tea House.
Less body count, more family revelations than the previous outing. And Luna Park Between is just a genius idea, even as a brief scene.
This would be so good adapted as Manga. One can dream. (Up until the nightmare comes, anyway...)
Less body count, more family revelations than the previous outing. And Luna Park Between is just a genius idea, even as a brief scene.
This would be so good adapted as Manga. One can dream. (Up until the nightmare comes, anyway...)
September 16, 2025
There are very few authors whose books I enjoy so much that I am willing to read them as they are published, rather than wait for the series to be complete so that I can binge (my preferred reading method). Gingell is one such author. I contribute to the Kickstarters for her books as soon as they are posted, so that I can get them as quickly as possible, and then I devour them. Which is what I did with Splintered Sight.
I love Viv and Luca as a duo. I like all the sundry side characters and get a little thrill when there is a bit of crossover from Gingell's other related series. I'm invested in the secrets that are slowly being revealed, and I like the bit of mystery each book presents. And I adore Gingell's sense of humor and writing style. All in all, I was thrilled with this book and am now back on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one.
I love Viv and Luca as a duo. I like all the sundry side characters and get a little thrill when there is a bit of crossover from Gingell's other related series. I'm invested in the secrets that are slowly being revealed, and I like the bit of mystery each book presents. And I adore Gingell's sense of humor and writing style. All in all, I was thrilled with this book and am now back on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one.
October 31, 2025
In some ways this felt slower to me than its predecessor, but I think that may have actually been everything going on in my life coupled with the other books I was reading at the same time as this one. But this is also still a book building toward something, I think. Deepening characters, deepening relationships - both trusting ones and distrustful ones. Deepening mystery and deepening understanding of self and world for the main character. And I loved the end. I guess it’s a cliffhanger, but it’s the sort of cliffhanger that simply doesn’t bother me much - mostly just makes me excited for the next book, but in a way that’s fun to speculate over, meaning I don’t mind the wait because the speculation aspect is enjoyable. Looking forward to whatever comes next.
October 26, 2025
Got this right after it released lol. I've got conflicting feelings about this series. I love most of the characters and I'm a big fan of all the relationships so far, but some parts I just do not like at all. Mostly Renner and everything Viv does for her job (excluding the stuff with Kyma). Watching Viv and Luca interact with each other while they're working? Awesome. The way her job adds to the plot? Hate it. I have no idea why.
On another note,
On another note,
September 15, 2025
Just finished and my first thought is how can I be expected to wait for the next one. I want it now. I love all the confusing stuff about voices and who can use them. I think I may be deceived by red herrings and I’m concerned that potentially some characters have done bad things and I want them to be innocent. The little selkie was incredibly endearing and a great addition to the cast of characters, love the additions to selkie law . Sojourn reminded me of the Amish Rumspringa but possibly only because my knowledge of the Amish is so limited. Loved the book and will be reading the next one.’
September 29, 2025
This was another excellent installment in the series. We got to see a little more of The Chollima and we learned a bit more about Viv's past. We also got to see some of her internal struggles where Luca is concerned. I love that Viv is a decent person, struggling with moral questions in the midst of an entirely unfamiliar world while living with chronic pain. I think most of us can find something to relate to in her character. Luca is just the most likeable sociopath. Their interactions are always interesting. That ending though. The next book comes out when? :)
November 9, 2025
Splintered Sight was amazing! Luca is as intriguing as always, and Viv really showed her power, and her innate kindness showed through. The plot itself was good, but the best part was the progression of Luca and Viv’s relationship (spoiler: something happens close to the end of the book; it’s small, but so satisfying) and learning more about Viv’s heritage with her. I just wish she had learned more. I can’t wait until the next book comes out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
They're getting better and more complex
I'm not going to give you specific spoilers. They'll be in the majority of the reviews. Lucas is starting to grow on me like a psychotic psychedelic fungus. Viv is becoming more her own person in this book, but it's got consequences she's unsettled by. It's good to see her being stretched and strengthened by her talent and experiences. Can't wait for the next one. Maybe ill have to go back to Today and Pet
I'm not going to give you specific spoilers. They'll be in the majority of the reviews. Lucas is starting to grow on me like a psychotic psychedelic fungus. Viv is becoming more her own person in this book, but it's got consequences she's unsettled by. It's good to see her being stretched and strengthened by her talent and experiences. Can't wait for the next one. Maybe ill have to go back to Today and Pet
October 28, 2025
As always, a great read
This book was much more philosophical than her others have been--lots of conversation, insight, and relationship exploration. Not as much action, though of course there was plenty. As a woman in my 30s, I enjoyed the new balance. If I were younger, I might've felt impatient at times.
This book was much more philosophical than her others have been--lots of conversation, insight, and relationship exploration. Not as much action, though of course there was plenty. As a woman in my 30s, I enjoyed the new balance. If I were younger, I might've felt impatient at times.
November 19, 2025
Love me some crazy characters and story where I just vibe along for the plot with having so little concept of what’s happening. I hate reading with active thought - bonus that I never see any twists coming!
September 26, 2025
So, so good. Waiting for the next book is going to be very difficult.
October 27, 2025
Unique and original
Thoroughly enjoy Gingell's amazing imagination and plot lines. Keeps me guessing and engaged all the way. Always eager for the next book!
Thoroughly enjoy Gingell's amazing imagination and plot lines. Keeps me guessing and engaged all the way. Always eager for the next book!
October 30, 2025
Wonderful story! I'm so proud of Viv! I'm getting a kick out of Viv and Luca's relationship.
November 3, 2025
loved it!
But had to take a star off for the cliffhanger. That was really rude. Please tell me the next book is coming really soon?
But had to take a star off for the cliffhanger. That was really rude. Please tell me the next book is coming really soon?
September 22, 2025
This is my favorite book of the series so far, and I’m incredibly excited for more!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews