What do you think?
Rate this book
For Liv Brodbeck, magic has changed everything.
Cel, the ancestral word of power inherited from her father, now slumbers in the back of her mind. After years of study, the ancient magic of the Old Gods is hers to wield, from brutal, cutting shards of ice, to frozen, immovable walls. No longer a mere scullion, she is now an apprentice of the Watchful Guild of Magim, under her teacher, Master Grenfell.
Her peaceful days of training are cut short by the Day of Blood, when monstrous, living orbs of viscera slaughter innocent people across the Kingdom of Lucania. The king calls a great council, and Liv must accompany Baron Summerset and his family to the capital of Freeport. Overwhelmed by the bustle of the city, she, the bastard daughter of a castle cook, is thrust into the schemes and machinations of the royal court.
But while Liv fights to prove herself amidst the intrigue of Lucania, across the sea, on the western continent of Varuna, another foe builds their power. Ractia, the resurrected Lady of Blood, is gathering her forces, which will make the chaos of the Day of Blood only the first taste of the goddess's return.
For in the wake of the Lady of Blood's coming, rifts across the world erupt more frequently than ever before...
Cel, the ancestral word of power inherited from her father, now slumbers in the back of her mind. After years of study, the ancient magic of the Old Gods is hers to wield, from brutal, cutting shards of ice, to frozen, immovable walls. No longer a mere scullion, she is now an apprentice of the Watchful Guild of Magim, under her teacher, Master Grenfell.
Her peaceful days of training are cut short by the Day of Blood, when monstrous, living orbs of viscera slaughter innocent people across the Kingdom of Lucania. The king calls a great council, and Liv must accompany Baron Summerset and his family to the capital of Freeport. Overwhelmed by the bustle of the city, she, the bastard daughter of a castle cook, is thrust into the schemes and machinations of the royal court.
But while Liv fights to prove herself amidst the intrigue of Lucania, across the sea, on the western continent of Varuna, another foe builds their power. Ractia, the resurrected Lady of Blood, is gathering her forces, which will make the chaos of the Day of Blood only the first taste of the goddess's return.
For in the wake of the Lady of Blood's coming, rifts across the world erupt more frequently than ever before...
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2025
About the author
David Niemitz
12 books39 followersDave Niemitz is a writer and teacher; he lives with his wife, son, a black cat named Charlie, and a Pug named Duncan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 28, 2026
Finally some good fucking food
April 18, 2026
Excellent continuation of the story; this series is hitting all the right notes for me. Mostly slice-of-life with little adventures, and we see the overarching storyline take shape. The family reunion was heart-warming, and I loved that her father's reaction was so normal and relatable.
Diving into the next one immediately.
Diving into the next one immediately.
December 26, 2025
Excellent!
VERY well written fantasy; the characters are well fleshed out and believable. A very nice variant of the ugly duckling story.
VERY well written fantasy; the characters are well fleshed out and believable. A very nice variant of the ugly duckling story.
March 15, 2026
still
Still moving at SoL pace, though there are some mild time skips. A few big events in cut scenes, but the narrative continues to remain focused.
Going to buy 3 now.
Still moving at SoL pace, though there are some mild time skips. A few big events in cut scenes, but the narrative continues to remain focused.
Going to buy 3 now.
February 28, 2026
4⭐️
This series is just getting better. I was worried the momentum built up from the last book would be lost but this one was as fast paced and still had elements of slice of life too. There was more angst and action in this book as Liv is growing up and learning her magic and also learning about the world around her. I am loving the build up towards the conflict that is coming. The pace might seem slow but it isn't for me. What with Liv growing up so slowly, the major arc is also progressing at that rate. I am looking forward to seeing Liv at Coral Bay to see what is in store for her next and also to see the havoc she will bring to the people there as trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes.
This series is just getting better. I was worried the momentum built up from the last book would be lost but this one was as fast paced and still had elements of slice of life too. There was more angst and action in this book as Liv is growing up and learning her magic and also learning about the world around her. I am loving the build up towards the conflict that is coming. The pace might seem slow but it isn't for me. What with Liv growing up so slowly, the major arc is also progressing at that rate. I am looking forward to seeing Liv at Coral Bay to see what is in store for her next and also to see the havoc she will bring to the people there as trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes.
May 17, 2026
mountain girl in the big city
A fast moving speed run through the intrigue of the crown, made more difficult thanks to a wicked stepmother.
Then onto a reawakened goddess (where is the Trinity?), some learning and manabeasts and always feeling one step in two worlds, neither human nor eld.
There’s a theme of dying magic: humans are hundreds of generations removed from the gods, and forget much of the deeper secrets. Eld are longer lived but each child is rare and precious. Liv is the first grandchild of her family in twelve hundred years.
Will Liv settle down and spawn a crowd of children? Considering the difficulty Lady Julienne had with Matthew, can healing magic help childbirth? Is it her duty to the future to keep magic alive?
A fast moving speed run through the intrigue of the crown, made more difficult thanks to a wicked stepmother.
Then onto a reawakened goddess (where is the Trinity?), some learning and manabeasts and always feeling one step in two worlds, neither human nor eld.
There’s a theme of dying magic: humans are hundreds of generations removed from the gods, and forget much of the deeper secrets. Eld are longer lived but each child is rare and precious. Liv is the first grandchild of her family in twelve hundred years.
Will Liv settle down and spawn a crowd of children? Considering the difficulty Lady Julienne had with Matthew, can healing magic help childbirth? Is it her duty to the future to keep magic alive?
August 5, 2026
High fantasy world with two main races, humans and (thinly reskinned) elves. The MC is a half elf child of a castle cook, and some people are mean to her, as she slowly grows to adulthood.
Well sketched characters, great world building, and descriptive writing.
Three issues: 1. for both the first book and this one, everything moves at the speed of snail. 2. the main character is overpowered, even as a 28 year old in what would be the body and mind of a 14 year old human. and 3. to counteract her overpower status, the author will have her freeze or do stupid things to drive tension or excitement.
Well sketched characters, great world building, and descriptive writing.
Three issues: 1. for both the first book and this one, everything moves at the speed of snail. 2. the main character is overpowered, even as a 28 year old in what would be the body and mind of a 14 year old human. and 3. to counteract her overpower status, the author will have her freeze or do stupid things to drive tension or excitement.
October 27, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyable!
A nice follow up to book 1, with plenty of emotional moments for our MC, and also some interesting hints for the future. Also I was a bit worried about how long things would take to get to the mage college, but there are several well done time skips that happen to make things progress nicely. Also the background world building and consequences for actions are rather unique in the progression fantasy style genre and I've very much enjoyed them..
A nice follow up to book 1, with plenty of emotional moments for our MC, and also some interesting hints for the future. Also I was a bit worried about how long things would take to get to the mage college, but there are several well done time skips that happen to make things progress nicely. Also the background world building and consequences for actions are rather unique in the progression fantasy style genre and I've very much enjoyed them..
December 19, 2025
An excellent story that pulls you into the characters' lives
It is interesting to see the challenges Livara faces as a half human half Elden, as she's physically aging at about half the rate of humans. She'll finally get to college in the next book! The flip side, of course, being that most people she knows are getting older.
Aside from that, there were a lot of challenges in this book and we're introduced to some new threats. There are also several bright points as well. :)
It is interesting to see the challenges Livara faces as a half human half Elden, as she's physically aging at about half the rate of humans. She'll finally get to college in the next book! The flip side, of course, being that most people she knows are getting older.
Aside from that, there were a lot of challenges in this book and we're introduced to some new threats. There are also several bright points as well. :)
February 8, 2026
Great sequel
Livara continues learning magic , she accompanies the Baron and his family to the capital for a meeting of the great council , a rare event, her time in the capital is hectic between duels and murder attempts he meets her birth father for the first time and makes a few friends. Excellent second book.
Livara continues learning magic , she accompanies the Baron and his family to the capital for a meeting of the great council , a rare event, her time in the capital is hectic between duels and murder attempts he meets her birth father for the first time and makes a few friends. Excellent second book.
June 24, 2026
Solid continuation. Keeps me invested in the characters while leaning towards the next plot. Broadens the world without collapsing the previous one. The magic of this world is super interesting and I can feel the pantheon of gods becoming more impactful!
July 28, 2026
Another great book in this very charismatic series. You can say that it is an slow burn one, but is very cool to follow the political intrigue in it, the marriage plot and relationship between characters. Until an all out battle in the end, as we learn how Liv is or she can be. Let's continue it.
October 21, 2025
love it
A great continuation. More world building as the main character moves beyond her home to the bigger world. I highly recommend
A great continuation. More world building as the main character moves beyond her home to the bigger world. I highly recommend
October 30, 2025
a bit slow, but very fun. almost like a slice of life but with more story
November 7, 2025
Good mix of SoL, politics and action.
January 28, 2026
Phenomenal writing.
February 6, 2026
I'm reading this on RR, but will likely transition over to adding it to my KU list instead at some point (very likely starting with #5).
February 11, 2026
Pacing was inconsistent. There was an extended section in the middle with no conflict aimed at the protagonist. Without that tension, my interest waned.
February 19, 2026
Fantastic read
Great follow up, can’t wait to read the next book. The only thing I’m afraid of is that I’ll read through it too fast!
Great follow up, can’t wait to read the next book. The only thing I’m afraid of is that I’ll read through it too fast!
February 21, 2026
Very similar in quality to the first book. Still a bit slow paced, but it is always going somewhere.
April 1, 2026
enjoying this series so far.
April 27, 2026
This one went on for quite some time and sometimes I didn't realize how much time had passed. Still good tho
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews