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Beyond The Maples : The Dusted Crown Series: Book One
In a crumbling world where nothing grows naturally, Maple Treow struggles to care for her younger siblings amidst escalating government oppression. Desperate to secure medication for her ailing sister Willow, she resorts to dangerous methods to keep them afloat. When the government triples the cost of Willow’s medication, Maple enlists in the army, risking her life for her family’s survival. As she navigates the challenges of training, she grapples with loyalty, friendship and the haunting history of her world. Alongside new friends, she uncovers a dark truth about the government, her family’s past and the true nature of their society. As tensions rise, Maple faces betrayal from those she’s trusted most. Now Maple must decide whether to flee or fight, and who she can trust along the way.
- GenresDystopia
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2025
11 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 24, 2025
4.5⭐️
"To anyone who’s ever lost themselves in loving other people, this one’s for you."
I loveddddd this book.
Because honestly
Not just the romance
But the story, the writing, the friendships, the plot, the world. I LOVEEEE it all.
From the starting till the end, the world felt so diverse and different.
I would highly recommend not going in expecting too much of romance. You just get crumps and pieces (and while I think and hope book 2 has more romance, this one felt like dystopian with a sub-plot of romance).
If you like Fourth wing, this one will definitely speak to you (just to be clear, there are no dragons)
The found family in this book was so wholesome and painful in the end, ifykyk.
The romance? While it wasn't the main point of the book, like I said. But the scenes that we do get? I ate them up. So good. They had me swooning and giggling and screaming in delight. The tension, the slow burn was just 🥵
'I swear to all the Gods, past and present, if he had anything to do with this... I'll kill him myself.'
Now that's the type of romance I love🤭.
Also, her nickname him 'Sunshine' is sooo hilarious while him naming her 'little menace' is sooo hot.
I can't say much because I would really recommend going in as blindly as possible but in short, I NEED BOOK 2. NOW.
"To anyone who’s ever lost themselves in loving other people, this one’s for you."
I loveddddd this book.
Because honestly
Not just the romance
But the story, the writing, the friendships, the plot, the world. I LOVEEEE it all.
From the starting till the end, the world felt so diverse and different.
I would highly recommend not going in expecting too much of romance. You just get crumps and pieces (and while I think and hope book 2 has more romance, this one felt like dystopian with a sub-plot of romance).
If you like Fourth wing, this one will definitely speak to you (just to be clear, there are no dragons)
The found family in this book was so wholesome and painful in the end, ifykyk.
The romance? While it wasn't the main point of the book, like I said. But the scenes that we do get? I ate them up. So good. They had me swooning and giggling and screaming in delight. The tension, the slow burn was just 🥵
'I swear to all the Gods, past and present, if he had anything to do with this... I'll kill him myself.'
Now that's the type of romance I love🤭.
Also, her nickname him 'Sunshine' is sooo hilarious while him naming her 'little menace' is sooo hot.
I can't say much because I would really recommend going in as blindly as possible but in short, I NEED BOOK 2. NOW.
October 11, 2025
let me preface this by saying this is the first official review of a book i’ve posted on my Good Reads-this novel not only deserves my praise but the author herself is fantastic!
Beyond The Maples is by far one of my top 5 books, battling with other top fantasy novels such as Fourth Wing and ACOTAR. This book is brilliantly written, the character development and growth throughout the novel is astounding. the chemistry between the FMC and MMC is so delicious, my ideal idea of slow burn filled with TENSION so thick you could cut it! i’m already giddy for book 2!
Not only are the characters beautifully crafted, the world itself is mind blowing. From the map, to the world, to the creatures that roam the world, I don't know which is my favourite. This world reminded me so much of Mad Max, I think that’s what drew me in to begin with.
I am forever grateful for Kae allowing me to be an ARC reader for this series. i’m so happy to have been able to support a Canadian author! This book is amazing, and i can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Maple and her ever growing family.
P.S leo gives total Ridoc vibes and I LOVE KT
Beyond The Maples is by far one of my top 5 books, battling with other top fantasy novels such as Fourth Wing and ACOTAR. This book is brilliantly written, the character development and growth throughout the novel is astounding. the chemistry between the FMC and MMC is so delicious, my ideal idea of slow burn filled with TENSION so thick you could cut it! i’m already giddy for book 2!
Not only are the characters beautifully crafted, the world itself is mind blowing. From the map, to the world, to the creatures that roam the world, I don't know which is my favourite. This world reminded me so much of Mad Max, I think that’s what drew me in to begin with.
I am forever grateful for Kae allowing me to be an ARC reader for this series. i’m so happy to have been able to support a Canadian author! This book is amazing, and i can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Maple and her ever growing family.
P.S leo gives total Ridoc vibes and I LOVE KT
November 6, 2025
"A little menace, Maple. You are an insufferable, chaotic, infinitely distracting little menace."
As an eldest daughter , this gave me all the feels. Maple(MFC) is left to care for her two younger siblings in a desolate and crumbling world. (IT'S A DYSTOPIAN PEOPLE). She is forced to make hard decisions after her father disappears and joins the military to ensure she can take care of her siblings. Maple just wants to keep her head down, serve her time, and provide for her family.
*Que The Music! Then enters Tane (MMC), a broody officer with devistaningly green eyes who can't seem to stay away from Maple.
We have a one pod trope, and so begins the slow burn. *squeals
No one is who they say they are, the government can't be trusted (suprise surpise), and Maple is left shattered and confused.
The author said to buckle up in the acknowledgments, so I am strapped in and ready for book 2!
This book gave me so much nostalgia of reading dystopian for the first time. I don't know what it is about this genre I love so much because I know wholeheartedly that I would never survive, but this author wrote such a devastating rich world and layered intersteting characters with so much heart.
As an eldest daughter , this gave me all the feels. Maple(MFC) is left to care for her two younger siblings in a desolate and crumbling world. (IT'S A DYSTOPIAN PEOPLE). She is forced to make hard decisions after her father disappears and joins the military to ensure she can take care of her siblings. Maple just wants to keep her head down, serve her time, and provide for her family.
*Que The Music! Then enters Tane (MMC), a broody officer with devistaningly green eyes who can't seem to stay away from Maple.
We have a one pod trope, and so begins the slow burn. *squeals
No one is who they say they are, the government can't be trusted (suprise surpise), and Maple is left shattered and confused.
The author said to buckle up in the acknowledgments, so I am strapped in and ready for book 2!
This book gave me so much nostalgia of reading dystopian for the first time. I don't know what it is about this genre I love so much because I know wholeheartedly that I would never survive, but this author wrote such a devastating rich world and layered intersteting characters with so much heart.
October 25, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
You get:
-Dystipian setting
-Found Family
-Betrayals
-A VERY slow burn
-Twists
I am going to start by letting everyone know, I will not be shutting up about this book, EVER. This is one of the best dystopian books I have read in a long time. It basically felt like living in the Mandela Effect.
Maple lives in a city of basically dust taking care of her little brother and sick sister. Her dad disappeared years ago and her mom died when she was a child. When her sister’s medications are going to triple in cost, Maple takes the only solution she can find and joins the military.
I adored every single character in this book (excluding one, I will give no names). The found family is everything and Leo gave so much comedic relief when needed. The tension in this book between Maple and the MMC is insane and the slowest of slow burns and I loved every moment of them together.
The twists in this book had me gasping and of course tears were shed. I am so excited for book two.
You get:
-Dystipian setting
-Found Family
-Betrayals
-A VERY slow burn
-Twists
I am going to start by letting everyone know, I will not be shutting up about this book, EVER. This is one of the best dystopian books I have read in a long time. It basically felt like living in the Mandela Effect.
Maple lives in a city of basically dust taking care of her little brother and sick sister. Her dad disappeared years ago and her mom died when she was a child. When her sister’s medications are going to triple in cost, Maple takes the only solution she can find and joins the military.
I adored every single character in this book (excluding one, I will give no names). The found family is everything and Leo gave so much comedic relief when needed. The tension in this book between Maple and the MMC is insane and the slowest of slow burns and I loved every moment of them together.
The twists in this book had me gasping and of course tears were shed. I am so excited for book two.
November 14, 2025
Excellent story! I loved the progression and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
November 5, 2025
I was so thrilled to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review of Beyond The Maples by Kae Peach.
I don’t often give out 5 stars, but this book was an easy winner, and I’m excited to have a physical copy for my 5 star shelf! It’s surprising to me that a first-time author could write something at this level; Peach writes like a seasoned veteran.
It’s starts off a little slowly compared to the rest of the book, which was a great pace to learn about Maple’s world and the characters in it. It’s not long before the action starts, and you just can’t put the book down! I loved the main characters, and I adored the found family in this one.
I love that there’s a bit of spice and a lot of tension between the FMC and MMC. I’m not a fan of books where spice outweighs plot, but this was perfectly balanced.
Maple is such a strong FMC, and so easy to identify with. It was impossible not to love her. I’ve never seen caregiver burnout portrayed in such a real and heart-wrenching way. I especially loved the female friendship. It is SO well-written, and SO real- the author really captured what it’s like to have a true best friend.
The action during the chapter in the desert made my smartwatch notify me that my heart rate was too high, so read with caution if you have a heart condition! 😂
This is my favorite fantasy-romantasy that I’ve read this year. Silver Elite and Quicksilver just didn’t come up to the standard that Beyond The Maples sets.
This is one of those books that sticks with you long after you have finished, and you just can’t stop thinking about it, even weeks later. (What Sibs says near the end of the book haunts me.) I highly HIGHLY recommend this book, and I’ll be getting copies for all my reader friends for Christmas! I can’t wait for #2!
I don’t often give out 5 stars, but this book was an easy winner, and I’m excited to have a physical copy for my 5 star shelf! It’s surprising to me that a first-time author could write something at this level; Peach writes like a seasoned veteran.
It’s starts off a little slowly compared to the rest of the book, which was a great pace to learn about Maple’s world and the characters in it. It’s not long before the action starts, and you just can’t put the book down! I loved the main characters, and I adored the found family in this one.
I love that there’s a bit of spice and a lot of tension between the FMC and MMC. I’m not a fan of books where spice outweighs plot, but this was perfectly balanced.
Maple is such a strong FMC, and so easy to identify with. It was impossible not to love her. I’ve never seen caregiver burnout portrayed in such a real and heart-wrenching way. I especially loved the female friendship. It is SO well-written, and SO real- the author really captured what it’s like to have a true best friend.
The action during the chapter in the desert made my smartwatch notify me that my heart rate was too high, so read with caution if you have a heart condition! 😂
This is my favorite fantasy-romantasy that I’ve read this year. Silver Elite and Quicksilver just didn’t come up to the standard that Beyond The Maples sets.
This is one of those books that sticks with you long after you have finished, and you just can’t stop thinking about it, even weeks later. (What Sibs says near the end of the book haunts me.) I highly HIGHLY recommend this book, and I’ll be getting copies for all my reader friends for Christmas! I can’t wait for #2!
November 6, 2025
✨️ARC Review✨️
The concept for this book was something I was really looking forward to, however, this book fell quite flat for me.
I felt like there was too much going on in any one scene which made it hard to keep my focus on what I was reading. The dialogue felt too modern for the setting, like the language didn't suit the characters or their situation. Ive seen the plot being described as dystopian with low stakes, but im sorry, dystopian settings should have stakes and this book has none until it was literally shoehorned in. I often found myself guessing certain plot points which unfortunately became true. The whole first half of the book almost felt pointless and it took a lot to just keep pressing through. During the second half, it felt like the book finally felt like it got to the point it was trying to tell but i had already lost interest. Tane as a love interest was....confusing to me, and I think it's because I was expecting enemies-lovers....oh boy was this not it. It felt very insta love to me (from his side) and a lot of the main character misreading every situation, and one of the end scenes with Tane....was cringe as hell.
To give a positive, the author can certainly build a romantic tension within a scene and sadly these were the only times I was invested, and I'm a plot over romance girlie. The main character, Maple, was a competent individual who didn't annoy me but she did borderline becoming a Mary Sue.
Sadly I will not be continuing the series.
The concept for this book was something I was really looking forward to, however, this book fell quite flat for me.
I felt like there was too much going on in any one scene which made it hard to keep my focus on what I was reading. The dialogue felt too modern for the setting, like the language didn't suit the characters or their situation. Ive seen the plot being described as dystopian with low stakes, but im sorry, dystopian settings should have stakes and this book has none until it was literally shoehorned in. I often found myself guessing certain plot points which unfortunately became true. The whole first half of the book almost felt pointless and it took a lot to just keep pressing through. During the second half, it felt like the book finally felt like it got to the point it was trying to tell but i had already lost interest. Tane as a love interest was....confusing to me, and I think it's because I was expecting enemies-lovers....oh boy was this not it. It felt very insta love to me (from his side) and a lot of the main character misreading every situation, and one of the end scenes with Tane....was cringe as hell.
To give a positive, the author can certainly build a romantic tension within a scene and sadly these were the only times I was invested, and I'm a plot over romance girlie. The main character, Maple, was a competent individual who didn't annoy me but she did borderline becoming a Mary Sue.
Sadly I will not be continuing the series.
November 6, 2025
"That which is truly resilient always finds a way."
Combining themes of indoctrination, "following orders", political uprising, and complete government control, this book is a blend of dystopian, eco-thriller, and coming-of-age themes. For fans of Orwell's 1984 and Miller's Mad Max, Collins' The Hunger Games and Atwood's Maddaddam triology
Beyond the Maples is a slow-burn dystopian novel about a world different from ours, with essence of magic, gods that have been wronged, and the remenants of a world trying to survive. Well, the average citizen is simply trying to survive, unaware of what is really going on, as they are not told everything. They are fed lies about most everything.
Maple is a character who will do anything to protect her siblings. Always a strong point in any novel, and Peach does such a great job of pulling at the reader's heartstrings. This love for her siblings allows Maple to do the unthinkable, attain things she never thought possible, and take risks solely for their best interest.
The supporting characters are independent of one another, Farra and Leo are fantastic and compliment each other (and perhaps annoy the hell out of each other). But my favourite supporting characters were the twins, Briggs and Mack. I need more of them, they were amazing additions whom I am eager to see more of.
I'm excited as this book has solidly set up a world that has fallen to pieces, and yet there is hope on the other side, beyond the maples if you may. The slow burn of this book will nicely ease readers into what I'm certain will be the high stakes of the sequels.
"I'm reminded again of the bittersweet price of loving people."
Combining themes of indoctrination, "following orders", political uprising, and complete government control, this book is a blend of dystopian, eco-thriller, and coming-of-age themes. For fans of Orwell's 1984 and Miller's Mad Max, Collins' The Hunger Games and Atwood's Maddaddam triology
Beyond the Maples is a slow-burn dystopian novel about a world different from ours, with essence of magic, gods that have been wronged, and the remenants of a world trying to survive. Well, the average citizen is simply trying to survive, unaware of what is really going on, as they are not told everything. They are fed lies about most everything.
Maple is a character who will do anything to protect her siblings. Always a strong point in any novel, and Peach does such a great job of pulling at the reader's heartstrings. This love for her siblings allows Maple to do the unthinkable, attain things she never thought possible, and take risks solely for their best interest.
The supporting characters are independent of one another, Farra and Leo are fantastic and compliment each other (and perhaps annoy the hell out of each other). But my favourite supporting characters were the twins, Briggs and Mack. I need more of them, they were amazing additions whom I am eager to see more of.
I'm excited as this book has solidly set up a world that has fallen to pieces, and yet there is hope on the other side, beyond the maples if you may. The slow burn of this book will nicely ease readers into what I'm certain will be the high stakes of the sequels.
"I'm reminded again of the bittersweet price of loving people."
October 26, 2025
Huge thank you to Kae and to twisted tales for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review! Giving this book a 4.5 star rating!
Beyond The Maples is the first book in the dusted crown dystopian series by Kae Peach. This book follows the Maple Treow as she struggles to care for her younger siblings admist escalating government oppression. When the cost of her sister’s medicine triples in price, Maple has no choice but to enlist in the army in hopes to ensure her family’s survival. Through training, she soon uncovers the dark truth about the government, the past and the society. As tensions arise, Maple is forced to make a decision: does she run..or does she fight? No matter her choice, maple also has to determine who is trustworthy. (Blurb for the story!)
Overall, I felt like this book was really well done. Dystopian genre is something I haven’t read too much about so I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this but I’m so happy I went into this blindly. Maple is very family oriented so I found her truly relatable and knowing she wouldn’t go to such extremes unless physically necessary made me love her as a character so much more. The love she has for her siblings and her friends was so pure that you can’t help but understand why she was willing to risk her life for them. She reminded me of the book “Divergent” in the sense of her being able to have her own thoughts and sense of what’s right and wrong. Seeing her find like minded people and watching the found family trope form so organically made me love it even more.
Other parts of this book included betrayals, lies, training and a very slow burn! I did enjoy the tension between our two MCs whenever we got little moments between them, however I do love that the plot is more up front while the romance takes a step back. It kept everything flowing so smoothly and added just the right amount of reprieve during the most intense parts of the book. Since this is only book one, of course we are left wanting to know more at the end of this one, but Kae did such an amazing job that I cannot wait to see what else she will bring to the table!
Beyond The Maples is the first book in the dusted crown dystopian series by Kae Peach. This book follows the Maple Treow as she struggles to care for her younger siblings admist escalating government oppression. When the cost of her sister’s medicine triples in price, Maple has no choice but to enlist in the army in hopes to ensure her family’s survival. Through training, she soon uncovers the dark truth about the government, the past and the society. As tensions arise, Maple is forced to make a decision: does she run..or does she fight? No matter her choice, maple also has to determine who is trustworthy. (Blurb for the story!)
Overall, I felt like this book was really well done. Dystopian genre is something I haven’t read too much about so I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this but I’m so happy I went into this blindly. Maple is very family oriented so I found her truly relatable and knowing she wouldn’t go to such extremes unless physically necessary made me love her as a character so much more. The love she has for her siblings and her friends was so pure that you can’t help but understand why she was willing to risk her life for them. She reminded me of the book “Divergent” in the sense of her being able to have her own thoughts and sense of what’s right and wrong. Seeing her find like minded people and watching the found family trope form so organically made me love it even more.
Other parts of this book included betrayals, lies, training and a very slow burn! I did enjoy the tension between our two MCs whenever we got little moments between them, however I do love that the plot is more up front while the romance takes a step back. It kept everything flowing so smoothly and added just the right amount of reprieve during the most intense parts of the book. Since this is only book one, of course we are left wanting to know more at the end of this one, but Kae did such an amazing job that I cannot wait to see what else she will bring to the table!
October 30, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! It was so easy to get wrapped up in the story because I loved all the characters and was rooting for them.
Maple was a great fmc! She did everything to protect her family and friends. She wasn’t afraid to dish out some sass or bust a nose. She’s gives up a lot and I was so happy when she started receiving that back from the friends she makes.
I loved setting and vibes of the world being like a wasteland. It was really different from what I’ve read. It was making me think of Hunger Games with the corrupt government and how they control everything. Instead of the games, she goes into the army to make sure her family is protected and getting what they need to survive since most things are very hard to get.
There were so many little foreshadowing hints dropped leading up to the end that made the story so perfect and satisfying when it all came together! The last 50 pages of this book put me through it. I’m so excited to continue this series! I need more Tane ASAP!
Maple was a great fmc! She did everything to protect her family and friends. She wasn’t afraid to dish out some sass or bust a nose. She’s gives up a lot and I was so happy when she started receiving that back from the friends she makes.
I loved setting and vibes of the world being like a wasteland. It was really different from what I’ve read. It was making me think of Hunger Games with the corrupt government and how they control everything. Instead of the games, she goes into the army to make sure her family is protected and getting what they need to survive since most things are very hard to get.
There were so many little foreshadowing hints dropped leading up to the end that made the story so perfect and satisfying when it all came together! The last 50 pages of this book put me through it. I’m so excited to continue this series! I need more Tane ASAP!
October 22, 2025
i’ve always loved dystopian romance. it has its ebbs and flows but it’s a genre i always come back to... and i’m always glad when i do. if you’re into slow slow burn fantasy romance set in a dystopian world with a hint of magic, i really enjoyed this one.
thank you to Kae Peach for this arc! 🫶🏽
ARC REVIEW: Beyond the Maples by Kae Peach
Release Date: November 6, 2025
𝔸𝕚𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕤𝕥.
𝔾𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘.
ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖.
𝔸 𝕘𝕚𝕣𝕝 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜.
this one’s quieter than your usual dystopian. no constant explosions or chaos-for-the-sake-of-chaos. it sort of unfolds slowly, like a story you have to sit with for a bit.
maple’s twenty-three, raising her siblings in a world that’s basically gone to dust. nothing grows, food’s scarce, and every breath feels like ash. when her sister’s meds triple in price, she does the one thing she prob shouldn't... she enlists in the army. the same one that’s been bleeding their people dry.
i loved the training academy vibe in this one.. definitely a little silver elite / fourth wing coded. maple’s such a menace (in the best way). practical, stubborn af, exhausted, sometimes explosive, but she doesn’t quit. and i really appreciated how kae peach wove in mental health and neurodivergence through her characters so naturally.
and then there’s tane valo. oh, tane. big, muscled, dark green eyes, scars with stories, commanding officer energy. 🫠 the tension between him and maple is slow, simmering, so good.
by the end, we’re left with more questions than answers, but in a good, gotta-know-more kind of way. i’ll absolutely be picking up book two.
thank you to Kae Peach for this arc! 🫶🏽
ARC REVIEW: Beyond the Maples by Kae Peach
Release Date: November 6, 2025
𝔸𝕚𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕤𝕥.
𝔾𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘.
ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖.
𝔸 𝕘𝕚𝕣𝕝 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜.
this one’s quieter than your usual dystopian. no constant explosions or chaos-for-the-sake-of-chaos. it sort of unfolds slowly, like a story you have to sit with for a bit.
maple’s twenty-three, raising her siblings in a world that’s basically gone to dust. nothing grows, food’s scarce, and every breath feels like ash. when her sister’s meds triple in price, she does the one thing she prob shouldn't... she enlists in the army. the same one that’s been bleeding their people dry.
i loved the training academy vibe in this one.. definitely a little silver elite / fourth wing coded. maple’s such a menace (in the best way). practical, stubborn af, exhausted, sometimes explosive, but she doesn’t quit. and i really appreciated how kae peach wove in mental health and neurodivergence through her characters so naturally.
and then there’s tane valo. oh, tane. big, muscled, dark green eyes, scars with stories, commanding officer energy. 🫠 the tension between him and maple is slow, simmering, so good.
by the end, we’re left with more questions than answers, but in a good, gotta-know-more kind of way. i’ll absolutely be picking up book two.
October 31, 2025
thank you to the author and her team for allowing me to review this as an ARC xx
3.75
The story was obviously different from what I usually read, but I liked the plot; the characters were all so different but ended up getting along well together, and I liked how family oriented Maple was.
Uncovering secrets and going through training was really cool, especially because these characters weren’t perfect and we were rooting for them to succeed.
I didn’t love the romance aspect of it even though i know i signed up for an enemies to lovers deal. her romantic moments didn’t sit right with me but they might with other people!
3.75
The story was obviously different from what I usually read, but I liked the plot; the characters were all so different but ended up getting along well together, and I liked how family oriented Maple was.
Uncovering secrets and going through training was really cool, especially because these characters weren’t perfect and we were rooting for them to succeed.
I didn’t love the romance aspect of it even though i know i signed up for an enemies to lovers deal. her romantic moments didn’t sit right with me but they might with other people!
October 29, 2025
What a ride! This series ooooooo I cannot wait to see where this one goes! A perfect opener to a world, to characters, the struggles, the politics, the magic systems, it has literally everything! This book is one I think is going to loom over me, the characters are so endearing I want to know what happens with each and every one of them.
- found family
- forced proximity
- slow burn (!!!)
- banter & sharp wit
and my favorite mini trope training together!
.
Gave me mad max, dystopian, hunger games type vibes. Loved all of it! Thank you Kae for letting me see your amazing world, gimme more!
- found family
- forced proximity
- slow burn (!!!)
- banter & sharp wit
and my favorite mini trope training together!
.
Gave me mad max, dystopian, hunger games type vibes. Loved all of it! Thank you Kae for letting me see your amazing world, gimme more!
October 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
Part of the following summary is taken directly from the book description.
“In a crumbling world where nothing grows naturally, Maple Treow struggles to care for her younger siblings amidst escalating government oppression. Desperate to secure medication for her ailing sister Willow, she resorts to dangerous methods to keep them afloat. When the government triples the cost of Willow’s medication, Maple enlists in the army, risking her life for her family’s survival. As she navigates the challenges of training, she grapples with loyalty, friendship, and the haunting history of her world. Alongside new friends, she uncovers a dark truth about the government, her family’s past, and the true nature of their society. As tensions rise, Maple faces betrayal from those she’s trusted most. Now Maple must decide whether to flee or fight, and who she can trust along the way.”
My thoughts:
I loved this book. Maple Treow is a brilliant FMC, and I particularly appreciated the neurodivergent representation in her character and others. Her sense of justice and her journey to learning to accept help from those who care about her really resonated with me.
Her new friends in the military quickly become her found family, and together they start to uncover long-buried truths about their world and the ways the government has rewritten history to control them.
The emerging magic elements are fascinating (can’t say more without spoilers!) and the enemies-to-lovers thread is just beginning. Tane is a complex character, and I have a feeling there’s so much more to discover about him in the next book.
And that ending? Classic cliffhanger in the best way and I’m desperate for book two already.
Huge thanks to the author for sharing an ARC with me 💚
Part of the following summary is taken directly from the book description.
“In a crumbling world where nothing grows naturally, Maple Treow struggles to care for her younger siblings amidst escalating government oppression. Desperate to secure medication for her ailing sister Willow, she resorts to dangerous methods to keep them afloat. When the government triples the cost of Willow’s medication, Maple enlists in the army, risking her life for her family’s survival. As she navigates the challenges of training, she grapples with loyalty, friendship, and the haunting history of her world. Alongside new friends, she uncovers a dark truth about the government, her family’s past, and the true nature of their society. As tensions rise, Maple faces betrayal from those she’s trusted most. Now Maple must decide whether to flee or fight, and who she can trust along the way.”
My thoughts:
I loved this book. Maple Treow is a brilliant FMC, and I particularly appreciated the neurodivergent representation in her character and others. Her sense of justice and her journey to learning to accept help from those who care about her really resonated with me.
Her new friends in the military quickly become her found family, and together they start to uncover long-buried truths about their world and the ways the government has rewritten history to control them.
The emerging magic elements are fascinating (can’t say more without spoilers!) and the enemies-to-lovers thread is just beginning. Tane is a complex character, and I have a feeling there’s so much more to discover about him in the next book.
And that ending? Classic cliffhanger in the best way and I’m desperate for book two already.
Huge thanks to the author for sharing an ARC with me 💚
November 1, 2025
This book was AMAZING!!! I really connected to maple shes independent, strong willed, and puts others before herself (even when she shouldn't). I loved seeing her growth throughout the book and the found family aspect really hit hard. I was NOT prepared for the little twist or the last few chapters 😭. All in can say is im ready for book 2!
October 17, 2025
I can not begin to tell you how amazing this book is! You want a book that will have you in every way this is top tier. The characters are all memorable our mains are loveable the villains are villainous. Character growth is fabulous. I’m reeling. The whole read I couldn’t put it down (who needs sleep anyway). This needs to be on your TBR if you are looking for a dystopian slowburn romantasy. Just wow!
November 6, 2025
I’m privileged to have been able to read an ARC of this excellent future dystopian first novel. The (female) main character is well-written, believable and sympathetic. The supporting cast is introduced at a nice rate, so the reader isn’t overwhelmed, and has a chance to know each of them before more characters appear.
The pace of the story is extremely well-crafted (especially for a first-time author); it starts slowly over the first couple of chapters, but by Chapter Six it’s off and running and VERY hard to put down.
The author’s writing matures - along with the FMC’s persona - as the story unfolds.
The pace tightens to the final word, on the final page; the author keeps her foot on the throttle all the way. She draws the novel to a riveting end scene, and “SNIPS” the thread of the story, leaving me breathless for her second act.
The pace of the story is extremely well-crafted (especially for a first-time author); it starts slowly over the first couple of chapters, but by Chapter Six it’s off and running and VERY hard to put down.
The author’s writing matures - along with the FMC’s persona - as the story unfolds.
The pace tightens to the final word, on the final page; the author keeps her foot on the throttle all the way. She draws the novel to a riveting end scene, and “SNIPS” the thread of the story, leaving me breathless for her second act.
October 7, 2025
Content warnings: violence, coarse language, starvation, and open-door intimacy.
This is book one in “The Dusted Crown” series.
I want to thank the author (Kae Peach) and Twisted Tales for an ARC copy of this book.
If you liked the “Divergent” series by Veronica Roth or the Netflix series “Arcane” you will love this book! The main character (Maple) is the guardian of her two younger siblings and does whatever she can to take care of them. One of them is sick and the medication becomes impossibly expensive. Maple must enlist to ensure that her siblings are taken care of. While she is a cadet, she gradually learns just how corrupt their government truly is and does everything in her power to keep her new family safe, even if her own wellbeing is not considered.
I absolutely LOVED this book! I was sucked in from the beginning and spent many evenings struggling to stay awake, telling myself “Just one more chapter.” I just could not put it down! Even though it was a new book, it had a very heavy nostalgic vibe to it. The characters were all unique and the world building was amazing. I felt like I was right there with them in the story and had a vivid movie playing in my head the whole time. The moment that I can buy a physical copy I will be, and I literally cannot wait for book two!
Also, Kae Peach is Canadian!! So that is just another reason for me to promote and recommend this book to everyone that I know who loves to read!
This is book one in “The Dusted Crown” series.
I want to thank the author (Kae Peach) and Twisted Tales for an ARC copy of this book.
If you liked the “Divergent” series by Veronica Roth or the Netflix series “Arcane” you will love this book! The main character (Maple) is the guardian of her two younger siblings and does whatever she can to take care of them. One of them is sick and the medication becomes impossibly expensive. Maple must enlist to ensure that her siblings are taken care of. While she is a cadet, she gradually learns just how corrupt their government truly is and does everything in her power to keep her new family safe, even if her own wellbeing is not considered.
I absolutely LOVED this book! I was sucked in from the beginning and spent many evenings struggling to stay awake, telling myself “Just one more chapter.” I just could not put it down! Even though it was a new book, it had a very heavy nostalgic vibe to it. The characters were all unique and the world building was amazing. I felt like I was right there with them in the story and had a vivid movie playing in my head the whole time. The moment that I can buy a physical copy I will be, and I literally cannot wait for book two!
Also, Kae Peach is Canadian!! So that is just another reason for me to promote and recommend this book to everyone that I know who loves to read!
November 6, 2025
ARC review ❤️
The first part of the book, before Maple gets to the training facility, didn't hook me. There were many parts where I was taken out of the story to try to figure out what exactly was going on. It feels less refined than the rest, like it was added in afterwards just to offer some explanation for things that happen later. It just didn't feel as contingent and smooth as the rest of the story, which I found very captivating.
Once she got to the training facility, I was hooked. I got so into the story line and the characters. They are complicated and funny. I don't love them all, but that makes them feel even more real to me. The slow burn romance also has me hooked. I am a sucker for any and all yearning.
The dystopian world was written well. The social structure and oppression are interestingly portrayed and believable. I loved the way the story unfolded with the explanations following well placed foreshadowing. I felt I had as much information and understanding as Maple for many of the developments. It was (mostly) not a book where I wanted to shake the FMC so she could see what was right in front of her. I had as much of an inkling as she did most of the time.
I am very interested to see where this story and the characters go in the next book. I know I will be thinking about this one for a while.
The first part of the book, before Maple gets to the training facility, didn't hook me. There were many parts where I was taken out of the story to try to figure out what exactly was going on. It feels less refined than the rest, like it was added in afterwards just to offer some explanation for things that happen later. It just didn't feel as contingent and smooth as the rest of the story, which I found very captivating.
Once she got to the training facility, I was hooked. I got so into the story line and the characters. They are complicated and funny. I don't love them all, but that makes them feel even more real to me. The slow burn romance also has me hooked. I am a sucker for any and all yearning.
The dystopian world was written well. The social structure and oppression are interestingly portrayed and believable. I loved the way the story unfolded with the explanations following well placed foreshadowing. I felt I had as much information and understanding as Maple for many of the developments. It was (mostly) not a book where I wanted to shake the FMC so she could see what was right in front of her. I had as much of an inkling as she did most of the time.
I am very interested to see where this story and the characters go in the next book. I know I will be thinking about this one for a while.
November 7, 2025
I got to read this ARC and I’m pleased to say I really enjoyed it. The story is about a young woman named Maple who is surviving in a dystopian world where food no longer grows, government controls and rules with an iron fist, and magic, once abundant in their world has seemingly vanished. Her mother died from illness and her father disappeared and she is left responsible for her two younger siblings, one of whom has the same illness their mother had and requires regular medication. With the government raising prices on and making it more difficult to get medication, Maple is forced to enlist in the military so her family can have better benefits and access. While training, she becomes extremely close with her unit and learns a lot more about what is hidden from them and how corrupt leadership really is.
What I loved about this book: the story and buildup. I felt each character was well done and I grew to truly care for them. We get to see how close Maple is with her siblings and how much she misses them. The friendships she makes and those characters and their individual motivations are well thought out. There is an air of mystery and I can tell not all is being revealed and I enjoy that element. The romance was a slow and believable burn for me, I am very excited to see how this plays out. This book gave me silver elite vibes, but delivered in all the ways I felt that one didn’t. It gave me interstellar vibes with the dust bowls and state of the world. And it gave divergent vibes with government corruption, military training, and dystopian setting.
What I didn’t love about this book: while the buildup and information delivery seems very fitting for a first book, I only sometimes felt like it was a little slow. But I truly think it was necessary and that was my gripe with silver elite was the lack of info and development for a flashier plot. So I can’t fault it too much!
Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series!
What I loved about this book: the story and buildup. I felt each character was well done and I grew to truly care for them. We get to see how close Maple is with her siblings and how much she misses them. The friendships she makes and those characters and their individual motivations are well thought out. There is an air of mystery and I can tell not all is being revealed and I enjoy that element. The romance was a slow and believable burn for me, I am very excited to see how this plays out. This book gave me silver elite vibes, but delivered in all the ways I felt that one didn’t. It gave me interstellar vibes with the dust bowls and state of the world. And it gave divergent vibes with government corruption, military training, and dystopian setting.
What I didn’t love about this book: while the buildup and information delivery seems very fitting for a first book, I only sometimes felt like it was a little slow. But I truly think it was necessary and that was my gripe with silver elite was the lack of info and development for a flashier plot. So I can’t fault it too much!
Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series!
November 9, 2025
•• “𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘦”
Well, hello there Kae Peach! What a debut this was. It’s no secret I’ve been loving dystopian lately, and this only made me obsess even more. The slow uncovering of secrets mixed with amazing character growth, and complimented with a loveable found family - Beyond the Maples left me beyond impressed.
This is a brutal but secretive world and I really enjoyed uncovering truths right alongside our fmc. The breadcrumbs are there and keep the plot moving along nicely, while also leaving plenty to speculate on. A lot of seemingly small moments build up to some monumental ones and I was really happy with the direction this ended up going in.
The romance is secondary, and is very much a slow burn but don’t fear, the groundwork has been laid and the next installment is going to be electric in that department. We do get a lot of great relationships in this though, and I found myself fully invested in this cast of characters.
•• “𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘦𝘥”
This ends with quite a bang but isn’t a painful cliffhanger, thankfully! Things may feel overwhelming for our characters but we’re left with an overall hopeful feeling that has me very excited for more of this story.
What you can expect:
•𝗗𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱
•𝗟𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀
•𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘄𝘄 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻
•𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
•𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
•𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰
•𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆
•𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀
Well, hello there Kae Peach! What a debut this was. It’s no secret I’ve been loving dystopian lately, and this only made me obsess even more. The slow uncovering of secrets mixed with amazing character growth, and complimented with a loveable found family - Beyond the Maples left me beyond impressed.
This is a brutal but secretive world and I really enjoyed uncovering truths right alongside our fmc. The breadcrumbs are there and keep the plot moving along nicely, while also leaving plenty to speculate on. A lot of seemingly small moments build up to some monumental ones and I was really happy with the direction this ended up going in.
The romance is secondary, and is very much a slow burn but don’t fear, the groundwork has been laid and the next installment is going to be electric in that department. We do get a lot of great relationships in this though, and I found myself fully invested in this cast of characters.
•• “𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘦𝘥”
This ends with quite a bang but isn’t a painful cliffhanger, thankfully! Things may feel overwhelming for our characters but we’re left with an overall hopeful feeling that has me very excited for more of this story.
What you can expect:
•𝗗𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱
•𝗟𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀
•𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘄𝘄 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻
•𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
•𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
•𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰
•𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆
•𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀
November 6, 2025
✨In a crumbling world, where nothing grows anymore and dust storms permanently fill the air, what will you do to survive? And what will you sacrifice for the ones you love?
Beyond the Maples is a dystopian story with a touch of fantasy and magic, where despair and the desperate struggle for survival are the main challenges faced by the people of New Providence.
I truly enjoyed reading this book!! From the very first page, I was absolutely hooked. And THAT.LAST.LINE!! What’s next?? I NEED to know!
I especially loved the siblings’ names: Willow, Linden, and Maple. That was such a beautiful and thoughtful detail.
Maple is a truly lovable character, she's resilient and strong, and I loved her relationship with her siblings and friends.
All the secrets, half-truths, and betrayals were so intriguing to read. I didn’t know so many things until the very end.. and now I have even more questions!
Thank you Kae Peach for this advance copy, I absolutely recommend this book! And I have to say, the cover is truly stunning! Cover artist: Jay Aheer ❣️
These are the Amazing Tropes of this Story:
✨Dystopian Fantasy
✨Magical Elements
✨Morally Corrupt World
✨Found Family
✨Military Academy
✨Secrets & Half-truths
✨Loss & Trauma
✨Forbidden Romance
✨ADHD Representation
Beyond the Maples is a dystopian story with a touch of fantasy and magic, where despair and the desperate struggle for survival are the main challenges faced by the people of New Providence.
I truly enjoyed reading this book!! From the very first page, I was absolutely hooked. And THAT.LAST.LINE!! What’s next?? I NEED to know!
I especially loved the siblings’ names: Willow, Linden, and Maple. That was such a beautiful and thoughtful detail.
Maple is a truly lovable character, she's resilient and strong, and I loved her relationship with her siblings and friends.
All the secrets, half-truths, and betrayals were so intriguing to read. I didn’t know so many things until the very end.. and now I have even more questions!
Thank you Kae Peach for this advance copy, I absolutely recommend this book! And I have to say, the cover is truly stunning! Cover artist: Jay Aheer ❣️
These are the Amazing Tropes of this Story:
✨Dystopian Fantasy
✨Magical Elements
✨Morally Corrupt World
✨Found Family
✨Military Academy
✨Secrets & Half-truths
✨Loss & Trauma
✨Forbidden Romance
✨ADHD Representation
November 5, 2025
“You are an insufferable, chaotic, infinitely distracting little menace.”
4.25 ⭐️
This was a really great debut—BTM is set in a dystopian world with abandoned magic, forsaken gods, and corrupt government. FMC Maple will absolutely hit every eldest daughter right in their feels as she did to me 🥹 I enjoyed a lot of the side characters, and really fell for certain ones towards the end. Things started to really unravel the last 30%—the plot twists are twistin’, secrets are revealed, you get a certain characters POV…😋😋😋😋😋 I’m excited to see where this story goes!
4.25 ⭐️
This was a really great debut—BTM is set in a dystopian world with abandoned magic, forsaken gods, and corrupt government. FMC Maple will absolutely hit every eldest daughter right in their feels as she did to me 🥹 I enjoyed a lot of the side characters, and really fell for certain ones towards the end. Things started to really unravel the last 30%—the plot twists are twistin’, secrets are revealed, you get a certain characters POV…😋😋😋😋😋 I’m excited to see where this story goes!
November 10, 2025
Thank you to the author for the arc. All thoughts are my own.
Beyond the Maples is a dystopian book where all the magic in the world is gone. There’s very little technology and people are starving. This leads the main character Maple to enlist so she can help her little sister get her medication too. The dystopian vibes weren’t really there for me because there wasn’t much at stake other than the low technology and lack of resources. Normally I prefer my dystopian books to have another element that adds stress on the characters. The magic and god plot point also has a lot of potential and I’m going to be holding out for that in book two for sure.
My favorite parts of this book have to be the characters. This book is very character driven and I really enjoyed Maple. She’s the eldest daughter and just honestly so likable. She has a lot of great friends and I especially loved Farra and Leo. The people all have this connection whether you want to call that trauma bond or not. I do think that the dialogue was a bit cheerful at times given the circumstances. The romance in this book was advertised as enemies to lovers, but that is not the case here. They’re never really enemies at all. But I do think they could have a really beautiful relationship later on.
I definitely think this series has a lot of potential and I did enjoy the friend group the most. I will be reading book two!
Beyond the Maples is a dystopian book where all the magic in the world is gone. There’s very little technology and people are starving. This leads the main character Maple to enlist so she can help her little sister get her medication too. The dystopian vibes weren’t really there for me because there wasn’t much at stake other than the low technology and lack of resources. Normally I prefer my dystopian books to have another element that adds stress on the characters. The magic and god plot point also has a lot of potential and I’m going to be holding out for that in book two for sure.
My favorite parts of this book have to be the characters. This book is very character driven and I really enjoyed Maple. She’s the eldest daughter and just honestly so likable. She has a lot of great friends and I especially loved Farra and Leo. The people all have this connection whether you want to call that trauma bond or not. I do think that the dialogue was a bit cheerful at times given the circumstances. The romance in this book was advertised as enemies to lovers, but that is not the case here. They’re never really enemies at all. But I do think they could have a really beautiful relationship later on.
I definitely think this series has a lot of potential and I did enjoy the friend group the most. I will be reading book two!
November 30, 2025
I loved this book!! Great story, great world building, great character development, a little action, a little suspense, a little romance, a lot of humor, and a plot twist I didn't see coming. Oh, and the hardcover book itself — absolutely stunning! Such an all-around gorgeous book. Amazing work, Kae! I'm so proud of you and so impressed with your first novel. Can't wait for book two!!
November 12, 2025
Thank you so much to Kae for sending me a PR package. The book is so to pretty to read, so she was kind enough to send me the e- copy.
I was hooked from the beginning and honestly couldn't put it down. The world, the characters I loved it all
Dystopian novels give me so much nostalgia. I am so ready for book 2.
I was hooked from the beginning and honestly couldn't put it down. The world, the characters I loved it all
Dystopian novels give me so much nostalgia. I am so ready for book 2.
October 23, 2025
I quickly fell in love with the characters and by a few chapters in, I couldn’t put the book down. Highly recommend and cannot wait for the next one!
December 31, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
It is rare that I find a debut novel as well written as this, and I am so grateful that Kae reached out to me to read this book!
We get a nice little misto of some fun romantasy sub-genres/tropes: dystopian future, magic & gods are things of the past, and military school/encampment. On top of this we have some beautiful found family, some real family which our FMC is trying to save, and a delicious love triangle (which I’m aaaaalways going to dig). This book packed a punch in the length department, leading to the story having all of these different aspects smushed into the book in a nice and cohesive way. It truly is books like these that make me love magic in a story, and also make me REALLY want to join their training regime so I too can learn how to fight! 😂🤭 I fell in love with our characters and their various plights, and I’m absolutely dying at the cliffy with which we were left!
I will be keeping an eye on this series, because I simply must know what’s next.
2/5🌶️
It is rare that I find a debut novel as well written as this, and I am so grateful that Kae reached out to me to read this book!
We get a nice little misto of some fun romantasy sub-genres/tropes: dystopian future, magic & gods are things of the past, and military school/encampment. On top of this we have some beautiful found family, some real family which our FMC is trying to save, and a delicious love triangle (which I’m aaaaalways going to dig). This book packed a punch in the length department, leading to the story having all of these different aspects smushed into the book in a nice and cohesive way. It truly is books like these that make me love magic in a story, and also make me REALLY want to join their training regime so I too can learn how to fight! 😂🤭 I fell in love with our characters and their various plights, and I’m absolutely dying at the cliffy with which we were left!
I will be keeping an eye on this series, because I simply must know what’s next.
November 26, 2025
What happens when you combine elemental magic, the military, and a world heading straight for ruin? You get Beyond The Maples, a dystopian fantasy novel chalk full of lore, worldbuilding, characters, and intrigue.
I have to admit, I was first drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover art. I was scared to touch the pages for fear of ruining the beautiful exterior, but after seeing reviews and reading the summary, I was hooked.
Kae Peach is evidently a family person, because Maple’s relationship with her siblings, and even her crew in the base, ooze the familiar emotions, conversations, and situations that happen with people you are bound to by both blood and choice. Willow and Linden are both well developed, with voices that are clearly their own. One of Kae’s talents within this book is the characters themselves. Each one of them has a story, and as we get introduced we learn about their motivations and weaknesses through prose and dialogue – the best way to get to know them!
The romance between Deacon and Maple felt a little forced to me in the beginning, but I think that might have been on purpose, seeming as how the ending of the book gives away why Deacon is such a huge part of Maple’s life (spoiler!). Tane, however, is the brooding bad guy that Maple begins to fall for, and I have to appreciate that Kae has taken time to develop their relationship, instead of jumping into ‘I love yous’ right away. However, I do think their physical relationship did go a bit fast, seeming as they had limited interactions before their first make out sesh. I’m interested to see where their story goes.
My only critique is the copy edit and proof read, as there were quite a few copy-editing errors throughout the book. As much as this didn’t contribute to my overall enjoyment, it was a little distracting at times to come across an error. I want to clarify, however, that the story didn’t lose its rhythm and intrigue because of this, but rather it was a only a slight distraction within the text.
The plot felt smooth and error free, with key foreshadowing moments that hinted towards plot twists that were incoming, but surprising. The balance between sci fi, fantasy/magic and dystopian was well done, with a heavy emphasis on the fantasy side towards the end of the book – I suspect there will be more magic in the future!
Overall, this book is a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and I will be continuing the series as it comes out!!
I have to admit, I was first drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover art. I was scared to touch the pages for fear of ruining the beautiful exterior, but after seeing reviews and reading the summary, I was hooked.
Kae Peach is evidently a family person, because Maple’s relationship with her siblings, and even her crew in the base, ooze the familiar emotions, conversations, and situations that happen with people you are bound to by both blood and choice. Willow and Linden are both well developed, with voices that are clearly their own. One of Kae’s talents within this book is the characters themselves. Each one of them has a story, and as we get introduced we learn about their motivations and weaknesses through prose and dialogue – the best way to get to know them!
The romance between Deacon and Maple felt a little forced to me in the beginning, but I think that might have been on purpose, seeming as how the ending of the book gives away why Deacon is such a huge part of Maple’s life (spoiler!). Tane, however, is the brooding bad guy that Maple begins to fall for, and I have to appreciate that Kae has taken time to develop their relationship, instead of jumping into ‘I love yous’ right away. However, I do think their physical relationship did go a bit fast, seeming as they had limited interactions before their first make out sesh. I’m interested to see where their story goes.
My only critique is the copy edit and proof read, as there were quite a few copy-editing errors throughout the book. As much as this didn’t contribute to my overall enjoyment, it was a little distracting at times to come across an error. I want to clarify, however, that the story didn’t lose its rhythm and intrigue because of this, but rather it was a only a slight distraction within the text.
The plot felt smooth and error free, with key foreshadowing moments that hinted towards plot twists that were incoming, but surprising. The balance between sci fi, fantasy/magic and dystopian was well done, with a heavy emphasis on the fantasy side towards the end of the book – I suspect there will be more magic in the future!
Overall, this book is a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and I will be continuing the series as it comes out!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up!
Tropes:
Dystopian
Found family
Slow burn
Twists
I enjoyed the first 30% of this book, and the last 25% of this book! I think this book sets up for a really good series! I expect that people will be saying “Book 1 was good, but OMG book 2 was amazing!”
I was hooked pretty early on. I like Maple. I like how much she loves her family, and I like ALL of the supporting characters. I truly like this group of friends and I’m excited to see their journey.
Some of the training and time at the training facility felt a bit repetitive. I feel like there were a ton of filler scenes around the middle of the book, which is why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the beginning and the end! I think there could have been more missions to build some tension danger wise and relationship wise between Maple and her love interest. It would have allowed for more “hints” to the big twists too.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and Kae Peach for the eARC! I really did enjoy the book AS A WHOLE, and will be reading book 2 when it comes out!
Tropes:
Dystopian
Found family
Slow burn
Twists
I enjoyed the first 30% of this book, and the last 25% of this book! I think this book sets up for a really good series! I expect that people will be saying “Book 1 was good, but OMG book 2 was amazing!”
I was hooked pretty early on. I like Maple. I like how much she loves her family, and I like ALL of the supporting characters. I truly like this group of friends and I’m excited to see their journey.
Some of the training and time at the training facility felt a bit repetitive. I feel like there were a ton of filler scenes around the middle of the book, which is why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the beginning and the end! I think there could have been more missions to build some tension danger wise and relationship wise between Maple and her love interest. It would have allowed for more “hints” to the big twists too.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and Kae Peach for the eARC! I really did enjoy the book AS A WHOLE, and will be reading book 2 when it comes out!
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