Splintered Sight

Shattered World

by W.R. Gingell

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...

Genres: Urban Fantasy

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 25, 2025

About the author

W.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.

Reviews

[W.R. Gingell]

I 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!

[Tara Grayce · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Suzannah Rowntree]

After 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!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Rebekah Isert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t mind me, I’ll be over here hyperventilating in a corner until the next book comes out.

Five stars.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book and I want to know all of the things!! But I will wait (mostly) patiently for the next installment.

[Martha Braebuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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...)

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.’

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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? :)

[Amelia Crider · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. :)

[Cari Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good. Waiting for the next book is going to be very difficult.

[Katie King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of the series so far, and I’m incredibly excited for more!