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The Revenant of Surolifia
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26In the vein of The Traitor Baru Cormorant and The Unbroken, The Revenant of Surolifia is a gripping political fantasy of empire, identity, and impossible choices, where rebellion blazes in the streets, loyalty is a double-edged sword, and the price of peace may be too steep to pay.
Secrets are often liabilities, but sometimes they are power.
Lucas Rhine has seen enough violence. When the Empire of Colours slaughters 17,000 of his silver-eyed kin, Lucas buries his hatred, hides his eyes behind coloured lenses, and vows to become the imperial gendarmerie’s commander. He will liberate his annexed island home through a diplomatic secession.
Usurped prince Faye Phlorik wants his throne back. When violent revolutionaries help him escape from prison, he joins them. They need a silver-eyed champion to rally the people, and he needs their resources to defeat the gendarmerie protecting the usurper.
When Faye’s escape costs Lucas his promotion, Lucas adds revenge to his list of reasons to stop the bloody revolution. While the two hunt each other across the country, the Empire's warships are landing in two weeks to exterminate everyone with silver eyes. If Lucas and Faye can't unite their forces against the imperial fleet, there will soon be nothing left of the people they're both trying to liberate.
Secrets are often liabilities, but sometimes they are power.
Lucas Rhine has seen enough violence. When the Empire of Colours slaughters 17,000 of his silver-eyed kin, Lucas buries his hatred, hides his eyes behind coloured lenses, and vows to become the imperial gendarmerie’s commander. He will liberate his annexed island home through a diplomatic secession.
Usurped prince Faye Phlorik wants his throne back. When violent revolutionaries help him escape from prison, he joins them. They need a silver-eyed champion to rally the people, and he needs their resources to defeat the gendarmerie protecting the usurper.
When Faye’s escape costs Lucas his promotion, Lucas adds revenge to his list of reasons to stop the bloody revolution. While the two hunt each other across the country, the Empire's warships are landing in two weeks to exterminate everyone with silver eyes. If Lucas and Faye can't unite their forces against the imperial fleet, there will soon be nothing left of the people they're both trying to liberate.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Florence Chien
1 book18 followersFlorence Chien is a Canadian writer of fantasy and historical fiction. Her debut political fantasy, The Revenant of Surolifia, is forthcoming July 2026. She is also a co-host of #SmallPitch, a pitch event centered around connecting authors with independent publishers. Outside of writing, she is also a practicing lawyer, a connoisseur of coffee, and a fountain pen aficionado.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
The more I think about it, the more issues I seem to find that bothered me about Florence Chien's political fantasy debut. But to rate it any lower would be an unfair disservice, so 'tis what it is. Keeping this review spoiler-free—and short—will be difficult, but I'll do what I can. 💪🏻
When I began reading, I felt like I was missing a portion of the story, for so much of the plot was centered on background events. 😵💫 But as it progressed and intentions were revealed, I slowly began piecing together the history and the motives of the many forces vying to claim Al Senia's sovereignty. However, I felt there were too many reminders of past years. It felt distracting and confusing, especially when there were also a lot of characters to keep track of, too. A timeline, maybe, could've helped?
“His path was the long and lonesome journey of a lethal poison toward the heart of a behemoth.”
The arcane system of the Silvers—phenomancy and noumenmancy—was limited—deliberately so, and explained as it was displayed and understood by me, in the like. ✨ For as it was readily addressed, I was able to slowly familiarize myself with the scope of its power. It had some interesting facets to it that made the stakes higher - in the figurative sense, too.
Some of the internal musings were a bit repetitive, attempting to convey a single thought in every possible way. Two major reveals were a welcome surprise, but many of the other twists weren't as impactful. The dialogue and danger were evenly balanced, with some meaningful relationships, but I wish there had been more of Faye and Lucas. Even if not as a team, but somehow, crossing each other's paths more. 🥺
“Calculate all variables before every action and accept all consequences without regret.”
The blurb gave me the impression that Faye and Lucas's power play of duty and loyalty would be the focal point of the plot. But aside from their perspectives, there was another POV, a female one. A FMC that - to me—took away screen-time that could have allowed Faye's character to develop into a more compelling one. I felt he was underutilized. It sounds so anti-feminist when I say it like that, and I'm not.
But what always makes me cautiously hesitant when reading V.E. Schwab's books are that her FMCs tend to dominate the narrative with their presence. I felt that also became the case here; and that left me with a bitter aftertaste. 😒 The blurb felt like a purposeful misdirection - to me; I expected more of their dynamic, rather than a third party influencing much of the final outcome. 😮💨
“Sometimes, choices would drive a person to a precipice where there were no more choices.”
The ending was unexpected but hastily resolved and rather unfulfilling - usurped even of its true potential. 😐 Maybe that is the harsh truth of warfare, but I didn't feel like it was enough—not to celebrate, but to feel. Not all characters had their moment to shine, which was a shame as something still felt missing. I kept thinking we would even get a face-off between Faye and his first love, with how often it was mentioned, but it never came to fruition. 🤷🏻♀️
The author's Acknowledgements were well-intended and worth addressing. I liked Alex and Faye's short-lived dynamic, and I wish it had been explored more. The writing was very much like an anime—the emotions and actions felt like I was watching one. That first meeting between Faye and Lucas—loved it! 🤩 If only we had gotten more of Faye being a proactive prince rather than a passive one - even if I know, circumstances prevented him from being so; maybe I would feel less frustrated as to how I'm feeling now. 🙁
“We all have dreams, and we do what we must to realize them.”
The more I think about it, the more issues I seem to find that bothered me about Florence Chien's political fantasy debut. But to rate it any lower would be an unfair disservice, so 'tis what it is. Keeping this review spoiler-free—and short—will be difficult, but I'll do what I can. 💪🏻
When I began reading, I felt like I was missing a portion of the story, for so much of the plot was centered on background events. 😵💫 But as it progressed and intentions were revealed, I slowly began piecing together the history and the motives of the many forces vying to claim Al Senia's sovereignty. However, I felt there were too many reminders of past years. It felt distracting and confusing, especially when there were also a lot of characters to keep track of, too. A timeline, maybe, could've helped?
“His path was the long and lonesome journey of a lethal poison toward the heart of a behemoth.”
The arcane system of the Silvers—phenomancy and noumenmancy—was limited—deliberately so, and explained as it was displayed and understood by me, in the like. ✨ For as it was readily addressed, I was able to slowly familiarize myself with the scope of its power. It had some interesting facets to it that made the stakes higher - in the figurative sense, too.
Some of the internal musings were a bit repetitive, attempting to convey a single thought in every possible way. Two major reveals were a welcome surprise, but many of the other twists weren't as impactful. The dialogue and danger were evenly balanced, with some meaningful relationships, but I wish there had been more of Faye and Lucas. Even if not as a team, but somehow, crossing each other's paths more. 🥺
“Calculate all variables before every action and accept all consequences without regret.”
The blurb gave me the impression that Faye and Lucas's power play of duty and loyalty would be the focal point of the plot. But aside from their perspectives, there was another POV, a female one. A FMC that - to me—took away screen-time that could have allowed Faye's character to develop into a more compelling one. I felt he was underutilized. It sounds so anti-feminist when I say it like that, and I'm not.
But what always makes me cautiously hesitant when reading V.E. Schwab's books are that her FMCs tend to dominate the narrative with their presence. I felt that also became the case here; and that left me with a bitter aftertaste. 😒 The blurb felt like a purposeful misdirection - to me; I expected more of their dynamic, rather than a third party influencing much of the final outcome. 😮💨
“Sometimes, choices would drive a person to a precipice where there were no more choices.”
The ending was unexpected but hastily resolved and rather unfulfilling - usurped even of its true potential. 😐 Maybe that is the harsh truth of warfare, but I didn't feel like it was enough—not to celebrate, but to feel. Not all characters had their moment to shine, which was a shame as something still felt missing. I kept thinking we would even get a face-off between Faye and his first love, with how often it was mentioned, but it never came to fruition. 🤷🏻♀️
The author's Acknowledgements were well-intended and worth addressing. I liked Alex and Faye's short-lived dynamic, and I wish it had been explored more. The writing was very much like an anime—the emotions and actions felt like I was watching one. That first meeting between Faye and Lucas—loved it! 🤩 If only we had gotten more of Faye being a proactive prince rather than a passive one - even if I know, circumstances prevented him from being so; maybe I would feel less frustrated as to how I'm feeling now. 🙁
March 5, 2026
It was SO GOOD. Lucas is the GOAT and I will not hear any disagreement. That's it. That's the review.
December 1, 2025
"He was an omen, a curse, the harbinger of misfortune."
Sarah beat me to being the first review, but I agree completely with how utterly amazing this book is! As a lover of intricate stories, Revenant has one of the most meticulously detailed magic systems I've encountered in a while with a complex plot weaving in genuinely unexpected ways, and a fully realized world stretching far beyond the pages that left me hungering for more!
TRoS is a dream book that feels like it was written just for me; for hardcore political fantasy fans; and for anyone looking to spend hours lost in a story that challenges its reader. It is intelligent and lovingly crafted with an ending that will sit in your stomach. Forget ASoIaF: THIS is how you do political intrigue that fucks severely.
I'm happy my master plan of getting to know Florence to read an early copy worked (← this is a joke, Florence is just a really kind person and fantastic writer)
If you liked Paprika, Superliminal, or Catch Me If You Can I really think you'll love this! Personally, I need a movie adaptation beamed into my eyeballs as soon as possible!!
Meme ratings of character I found most notable, from the absolute favourites those on extremely thin ice:
- Elsa: Surrounded by mid men at all times. Please call me, let's get you out of there so you can take a break in the Republic
- Alex: Fruity, smart, AND ? you could have had it all
- Lucas: Shadowboxing paranoid phantoms while Faye dances rent free through his mind. Not sold on him at first until
- Faye: A little confused but he got the spirit. Trying his best but can't escape the failguy allegations. Pookiebear <3
- Connery: An earnest Guy whose eventual dynamic with is really sweet
- Bromont: There is something wrong with this man. I need to study him under a microscope, for science reasons
- Hayden: Love a child and help heal his grief or be super cryptic and give him a massive hero-slash-survivor's guilt complex that traumatizes him even further?
- Rio: Gets the bombastic side eye. On the list ONLY because he cares for Elsa. Your dad is the worst by the way
Sarah beat me to being the first review, but I agree completely with how utterly amazing this book is! As a lover of intricate stories, Revenant has one of the most meticulously detailed magic systems I've encountered in a while with a complex plot weaving in genuinely unexpected ways, and a fully realized world stretching far beyond the pages that left me hungering for more!
TRoS is a dream book that feels like it was written just for me; for hardcore political fantasy fans; and for anyone looking to spend hours lost in a story that challenges its reader. It is intelligent and lovingly crafted with an ending that will sit in your stomach. Forget ASoIaF: THIS is how you do political intrigue that fucks severely.
I'm happy my master plan of getting to know Florence to read an early copy worked (← this is a joke, Florence is just a really kind person and fantastic writer)
If you liked Paprika, Superliminal, or Catch Me If You Can I really think you'll love this! Personally, I need a movie adaptation beamed into my eyeballs as soon as possible!!
Meme ratings of character I found most notable, from the absolute favourites those on extremely thin ice:
- Elsa: Surrounded by mid men at all times. Please call me, let's get you out of there so you can take a break in the Republic
- Alex: Fruity, smart, AND ? you could have had it all
- Lucas: Shadowboxing paranoid phantoms while Faye dances rent free through his mind. Not sold on him at first until
- Faye: A little confused but he got the spirit. Trying his best but can't escape the failguy allegations. Pookiebear <3
- Connery: An earnest Guy whose eventual dynamic with is really sweet
- Bromont: There is something wrong with this man. I need to study him under a microscope, for science reasons
- Hayden: Love a child and help heal his grief or be super cryptic and give him a massive hero-slash-survivor's guilt complex that traumatizes him even further?
- Rio: Gets the bombastic side eye. On the list ONLY because he cares for Elsa. Your dad is the worst by the way
Read
January 5, 2026A big thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of the book!
THE REVENANT OF SUROLIFIA is clever and intricate, a complex web of political intrigue driven by strategy, revolution, sacrifice, loyalty and deception. Chien elegantly explores the struggle for change and a better future, the collision of solutions and beliefs, and what it means to be a good leader.
THE REVENANT OF SUROLIFIA is clever and intricate, a complex web of political intrigue driven by strategy, revolution, sacrifice, loyalty and deception. Chien elegantly explores the struggle for change and a better future, the collision of solutions and beliefs, and what it means to be a good leader.
Want to Read
March 13, 2026this sounds SO GOOD
Want to Read
March 24, 2026🌌✨ The Revenant of Surolifia ✨🌌
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date. But I absolutely loved this!
🖤 What to Expect
• ⚔️ Political fantasy
• 👁️ Hidden identity
• 🏛️ Empire oppression
• 🔥 Revolution vs diplomacy
• 🖤 Morally gray characters
• ⏳ Race against time
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 7, 2026
📝 Thank you to Rising Action Publishing Co. and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date. But I absolutely loved this!
🖤 What to Expect
• ⚔️ Political fantasy
• 👁️ Hidden identity
• 🏛️ Empire oppression
• 🔥 Revolution vs diplomacy
• 🖤 Morally gray characters
• ⏳ Race against time
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 7, 2026
📝 Thank you to Rising Action Publishing Co. and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
May 19, 2026
Review of advance reader copy received from Author.
If you like your fantasy to be politically complex, full of unexpected twists and gritty realism, then The Revenant of Surolifia is the book for you! A thoroughly captivating page-turner, especially through the last act, as the various characters collide and come together to change the destiny of their divided nation.
With the overabundance of medieval fantasy on bookshelves, I think we’re long overdue the full arrival of the revolutionary/gaslamp fantasy era — and Chien has established herself as an exemplar of the subgenre with this debut. From a military double-agent to a revolution-funding banker to an industrial heiress-turned academic, the characters in this story do a great job of exploring the untapped potential of this era.
Fair warning: you do get tossed right into the action. I found it took me a few chapters to orient myself with the different characters, tumultuous relationships, history/politics of the world, and the dual magic system of noumenmancy/phenomancy. But I recommend sticking with it because there’s so much richness once you get settled into the story.
A few favourite elements were the Lucian-Elsa relationship , and
But the themes explored are also a big part of what made this story shine for me: how the persecution faced by Silvers was coupled with a genuine danger they posed to others, how the author exploring the struggle between doing one’s duty and doing what was right… I could go on, but just read the book and enjoy it for yourself!
If you like your fantasy to be politically complex, full of unexpected twists and gritty realism, then The Revenant of Surolifia is the book for you! A thoroughly captivating page-turner, especially through the last act, as the various characters collide and come together to change the destiny of their divided nation.
With the overabundance of medieval fantasy on bookshelves, I think we’re long overdue the full arrival of the revolutionary/gaslamp fantasy era — and Chien has established herself as an exemplar of the subgenre with this debut. From a military double-agent to a revolution-funding banker to an industrial heiress-turned academic, the characters in this story do a great job of exploring the untapped potential of this era.
Fair warning: you do get tossed right into the action. I found it took me a few chapters to orient myself with the different characters, tumultuous relationships, history/politics of the world, and the dual magic system of noumenmancy/phenomancy. But I recommend sticking with it because there’s so much richness once you get settled into the story.
A few favourite elements were the Lucian-Elsa relationship , and
But the themes explored are also a big part of what made this story shine for me: how the persecution faced by Silvers was coupled with a genuine danger they posed to others, how the author exploring the struggle between doing one’s duty and doing what was right… I could go on, but just read the book and enjoy it for yourself!
Review of advance copy
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Booksirens and the publishers.
[Overview]
✍️ Writing Style: 3.5/5
📖 Plot / Storyline: 3/5
🌙 Character Depth: 2.5/5
🔥Character Interactions: 2.5/5
If you expect a big focus on the MM pairing than this book is not for you. However, if you like a unique fantasy world and an interesting female POV alongside the intriguing male characters, than this book could be for you! I can't stress this enough, this is not a romance story, to be fair it's not tagged as one but I think people could get the expectation that there will be romance. That's what I expected (lol my bad) but it's not, Lucas and Faye only interact at the beginning and the end and they weren't even romantically into each other (unfortunately). So in short: This is a political stand-alone fantasy book.
I will also give a trigger warning for mention of child trafficking, I feel like this is important to note and I will elaborate on it in the spoiler section.
[Spoiler-free Section]
I'll be real, Elsa and the unique world carried this book hard for me. If it weren't for those two I would rate it a little lower, so I think 3 stars is a good compromise.
This author is very promising, I would say. The writing is smooth, though I feel like there could be more emotion. The ideas are great and even though I struggle with political fantasies I think this book does it well for the most part. But the pacing needs some work, it feels a little slow and like nothing much is happening, as if we are stuck somewhere. Technically things are happening but it feels like very little is contributing to the overall plot. As others have mentioned before, Elsa's presence should've been mentioned in the blurb as she is more of a protagonist than Faye. And I love Elsa! I think she's the best character, but from the blurb you get the feeling it's about Lucas and Faye and it's not. At least not about them TOGETHER. It's about these three on their own, only slightly interwoven.
Noumenmancy is so damn interesting, I really love this. Just in general I love dreams/memories. This is not simple mind-reading, Lucas is getting into Faye's subconcious through dreamlogic and it's written beautifully. Big, big props to the author for such an interesting concept. That's what I'm looking for in fantasy books.
I appreciate that this book, despite it's vast and interesting worldbuilding, doesn't bombard us with it like other fantasy books do. There is no major exposition-dumping. However, and that could just be my taste and not objective, I feel like the pace of the story leans towards slow.
It's also a little confusing to be dropped into the story while everyone already has established relationships. Since the relationships are already formed there is no need to tell us what happened before as it's not relevant for the characters in the world, but it's relevant as a reader to be informed of this. It's unfortunate, because I think the characters are quite interesting and their connections are intriguing, especially Elsa is slowly becoming my favourite as she interacts with so many people, but I'm just left wanting more, wondering how these relationships even formed in the first place. Coupled with the writing that isn't very emotional, you are just kinda… left confused and wanting more of the characters. And I can't stress this enough: The characters are intriguing as hell! I just wish we had better interactions between them, I wanted to get to know them on an emotional level, but this is more about the plot than them.
I'll be real with you the ending was shocking, but also… abrupt? Like, what even happened, what was the endgame here? It feels like nothing was achieved. It felt like we were meandering around for the whole time and suddenly we jumped off a cliff. It's so unfortunate, there was so much potential here and I think if this was a series, or if the pacing was different, than this could've been much better.
So all in all I did enjoy the concept, but the execution fell a little flat for me. It was not easy to get through this book and I'll be honest that could also just be on me. I think my criticism is fair but I will also admit that maybe political plot heavy fantasies aren't for me and I may have misunderstood something, because I thought there would also be a focus on the characters as people not just the plot.
[Spoiler Section]
[Overview]
✍️ Writing Style: 3.5/5
📖 Plot / Storyline: 3/5
🌙 Character Depth: 2.5/5
🔥Character Interactions: 2.5/5
If you expect a big focus on the MM pairing than this book is not for you. However, if you like a unique fantasy world and an interesting female POV alongside the intriguing male characters, than this book could be for you! I can't stress this enough, this is not a romance story, to be fair it's not tagged as one but I think people could get the expectation that there will be romance. That's what I expected (lol my bad) but it's not, Lucas and Faye only interact at the beginning and the end and they weren't even romantically into each other (unfortunately). So in short: This is a political stand-alone fantasy book.
I will also give a trigger warning for mention of child trafficking, I feel like this is important to note and I will elaborate on it in the spoiler section.
[Spoiler-free Section]
I'll be real, Elsa and the unique world carried this book hard for me. If it weren't for those two I would rate it a little lower, so I think 3 stars is a good compromise.
This author is very promising, I would say. The writing is smooth, though I feel like there could be more emotion. The ideas are great and even though I struggle with political fantasies I think this book does it well for the most part. But the pacing needs some work, it feels a little slow and like nothing much is happening, as if we are stuck somewhere. Technically things are happening but it feels like very little is contributing to the overall plot. As others have mentioned before, Elsa's presence should've been mentioned in the blurb as she is more of a protagonist than Faye. And I love Elsa! I think she's the best character, but from the blurb you get the feeling it's about Lucas and Faye and it's not. At least not about them TOGETHER. It's about these three on their own, only slightly interwoven.
Noumenmancy is so damn interesting, I really love this. Just in general I love dreams/memories. This is not simple mind-reading, Lucas is getting into Faye's subconcious through dreamlogic and it's written beautifully. Big, big props to the author for such an interesting concept. That's what I'm looking for in fantasy books.
I appreciate that this book, despite it's vast and interesting worldbuilding, doesn't bombard us with it like other fantasy books do. There is no major exposition-dumping. However, and that could just be my taste and not objective, I feel like the pace of the story leans towards slow.
It's also a little confusing to be dropped into the story while everyone already has established relationships. Since the relationships are already formed there is no need to tell us what happened before as it's not relevant for the characters in the world, but it's relevant as a reader to be informed of this. It's unfortunate, because I think the characters are quite interesting and their connections are intriguing, especially Elsa is slowly becoming my favourite as she interacts with so many people, but I'm just left wanting more, wondering how these relationships even formed in the first place. Coupled with the writing that isn't very emotional, you are just kinda… left confused and wanting more of the characters. And I can't stress this enough: The characters are intriguing as hell! I just wish we had better interactions between them, I wanted to get to know them on an emotional level, but this is more about the plot than them.
I'll be real with you the ending was shocking, but also… abrupt? Like, what even happened, what was the endgame here? It feels like nothing was achieved. It felt like we were meandering around for the whole time and suddenly we jumped off a cliff. It's so unfortunate, there was so much potential here and I think if this was a series, or if the pacing was different, than this could've been much better.
So all in all I did enjoy the concept, but the execution fell a little flat for me. It was not easy to get through this book and I'll be honest that could also just be on me. I think my criticism is fair but I will also admit that maybe political plot heavy fantasies aren't for me and I may have misunderstood something, because I thought there would also be a focus on the characters as people not just the plot.
[Spoiler Section]
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Florence Chien (author, friend, enabler of my impending derangement) for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
To the tune of that one TikTok sound, “there’ll be a day when Florence Chien agrees to let you have an arc of her book, it’s very important you ignore her.”
Honestly don’t read this book, it will devastate you.
Okay yes I’ve given it five stars. I’m a sadist I’ve never pretended otherwise.
I came to the author with the offer of internal organs for an early copy, she was generous and didn’t accept so much as a gallbladder. I could have given her every organ I and my ex boyfriends possess, and honestly I’d still feel undercharged.
There is so damn much to scream about with this book that I'm having trouble quantifying it for short-form review purposes. aka given a forest-worth of paper and a decade to type, I'd still not have enough room to describe just how much I loved this.
For a very sprawling fantasy with so many historic elements, The Revenant of Surolifia is impressively intimate. This gives a narrow view of a world in building chaos, imagine being in one specific trench during WWII, and lets you attach yourself to characters like a limpet, and you can't not love them. Bombs are going off at every corner, bullets are flying and you feel and fear every piece of wayward shrapnel.
This book has a strong and varied cast, focusing on Faye (my baby), Lucas (my secondborn) two men fighting towards ultimately the same goal, if with very different ways of getting there [and usually getting in each other's ways while they do.] They are a deposed prince and a living legend haunted by past mistakes. When I say the historical elements of this story, I mean this book drips with the past and the impact it left on the current. It feels less fantastical more biographical in just how much depth Chien gives to motive and fear of every character.
No stone goes unturned here, yet never does the plot lag. The author sets a brutal, racing pace which can be best described the way of only the best symphonies. I felt my heart racing with every step closer to one of the most fantastic climaxes I think I've ever read. This was one of the most intriguing political fantasies I've read in ages and I loved that we saw it from all angles. From the (de-pedestalled) very high to the very low. The impact could be felt on the richtor scale, it's inescapable as a driver to plot and character. Entirely addictive.
This is a headhopping book which is usually a pet-peeve of mine, but I found no perspective boring or uncompelling. I wanted to see the bloodshed from every single angle, because Chien has a fantastic way of painting detail in so many different voices. No two characters sound the same and they each, particularly Faye and Scarlett, have something spectacular to add to the plot.
My only real problem was, Jesus H Christ the PROPER NOUNS. There's no "that person brought me a drink," "the senator raised his hand in agreement." Everything had a name and a title and honestly, especially a bit early on I got a bit overwhelmed. Everyone important to the plot is well-established, I had no issues remembering them, and don't generally mind some world-fleshing out with a few extra faces. But I don't need to know the uncle's cat's name (an exaggeration but not a massive one.) Chop those in half and you'd probably lose twenty pages.
Actually I didn't want this any shorter so ignore that complaint. I wanted it waaaaaaaaaaay longer.
Okay yeah scratch what I said at first, absolutely read this book it was incredible. I will never heal, but it was beyond incredible.
Ms Chien had better lock her goddamn doors though. I’m bringing snacks and emotional damages.
To the tune of that one TikTok sound, “there’ll be a day when Florence Chien agrees to let you have an arc of her book, it’s very important you ignore her.”
Honestly don’t read this book, it will devastate you.
Okay yes I’ve given it five stars. I’m a sadist I’ve never pretended otherwise.
I came to the author with the offer of internal organs for an early copy, she was generous and didn’t accept so much as a gallbladder. I could have given her every organ I and my ex boyfriends possess, and honestly I’d still feel undercharged.
There is so damn much to scream about with this book that I'm having trouble quantifying it for short-form review purposes. aka given a forest-worth of paper and a decade to type, I'd still not have enough room to describe just how much I loved this.
For a very sprawling fantasy with so many historic elements, The Revenant of Surolifia is impressively intimate. This gives a narrow view of a world in building chaos, imagine being in one specific trench during WWII, and lets you attach yourself to characters like a limpet, and you can't not love them. Bombs are going off at every corner, bullets are flying and you feel and fear every piece of wayward shrapnel.
This book has a strong and varied cast, focusing on Faye (my baby), Lucas (my secondborn) two men fighting towards ultimately the same goal, if with very different ways of getting there [and usually getting in each other's ways while they do.] They are a deposed prince and a living legend haunted by past mistakes. When I say the historical elements of this story, I mean this book drips with the past and the impact it left on the current. It feels less fantastical more biographical in just how much depth Chien gives to motive and fear of every character.
No stone goes unturned here, yet never does the plot lag. The author sets a brutal, racing pace which can be best described the way of only the best symphonies. I felt my heart racing with every step closer to one of the most fantastic climaxes I think I've ever read. This was one of the most intriguing political fantasies I've read in ages and I loved that we saw it from all angles. From the (de-pedestalled) very high to the very low. The impact could be felt on the richtor scale, it's inescapable as a driver to plot and character. Entirely addictive.
This is a headhopping book which is usually a pet-peeve of mine, but I found no perspective boring or uncompelling. I wanted to see the bloodshed from every single angle, because Chien has a fantastic way of painting detail in so many different voices. No two characters sound the same and they each, particularly Faye and Scarlett, have something spectacular to add to the plot.
My only real problem was, Jesus H Christ the PROPER NOUNS. There's no "that person brought me a drink," "the senator raised his hand in agreement." Everything had a name and a title and honestly, especially a bit early on I got a bit overwhelmed. Everyone important to the plot is well-established, I had no issues remembering them, and don't generally mind some world-fleshing out with a few extra faces. But I don't need to know the uncle's cat's name (an exaggeration but not a massive one.) Chop those in half and you'd probably lose twenty pages.
Actually I didn't want this any shorter so ignore that complaint. I wanted it waaaaaaaaaaay longer.
Okay yeah scratch what I said at first, absolutely read this book it was incredible. I will never heal, but it was beyond incredible.
Ms Chien had better lock her goddamn doors though. I’m bringing snacks and emotional damages.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW okay I just finished reading this and I am gutted. The ending pulled no punches and really stuck to the themes of war being a destructive force that cares little who it harms. There is violence and there is death, no one is safe and anyone who survives does so with tremendous guilt and sorrow but the hope of a better future.
The set up for the conflict in this book is based on an event in the past known as the Fall of Surolifia, we come to find out the details of this event over time which led to a great mystery element while reading the book That was also great because there were no long expository paragraphs.. The kingdom of Surolifia and their leaders, The Vesparins were overthrown by Frederique Sullivan of The Empire killing thousands in the process. Surolifia was targeted because they had and could harness Etherite, a mineral that grants the power of Noumenmancy to its users, bleaching their hair and eye color and turning them into Silvers. Etherite and Noumenmancy were outlawed after the fall and silvers became second rate citizens in their own lands, mistreated and always looked at with disdain and suspicion. For this reason many silvers use contact lenses and hair dye to pass as non silvers in every day life. Rebels led by Lucian Vesparin, the surviving son, is fighting for freedom against the empire albeit in a very violent way. The empire vs rebel fight is central to the story, with our main characters Elsa, Lucas, and Faye all thrust into the middle of things for various reasons. This story starts with a prologue that gets us directly into the action and things continue at an intense pace the entire novel. I did not find the plot lagging at all and was constantly engaged. There are many action scenes and they are very well done. The magic system contributes to the action as well and is quite unique - there are Pheonancers who manipulate material and Noumenmancers who manipulate minds.
Lucas & Faye are excellent and my main complaint is that they have very limited interactions throughout the story even though they have a great dynamic that I wanted more of. Based on the blurb, I was expecting more of a focus on their pairing but a third female character Elsa is introduced early on and becomes very central to the story. I do wish her character had been included in the blurb somewhere as she at certain points overshadowed the 2 male leads and I did not expect that going into things. Regardless, Elsa is a great character as well so I did her enjoy her despite being surprised at how central she was to the story. Also shoutout to some great side characters - Rio, Hayden, Martha, and Connery, who made the story even better. There were also some great side villains who added obstacles for our characters outside of the main threat of the empire.
Thank you Florence Chien, Rising Action Publishing, and NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!
#TheRevenantofSurolifa
The set up for the conflict in this book is based on an event in the past known as the Fall of Surolifia, we come to find out the details of this event over time which led to a great mystery element while reading the book That was also great because there were no long expository paragraphs.. The kingdom of Surolifia and their leaders, The Vesparins were overthrown by Frederique Sullivan of The Empire killing thousands in the process. Surolifia was targeted because they had and could harness Etherite, a mineral that grants the power of Noumenmancy to its users, bleaching their hair and eye color and turning them into Silvers. Etherite and Noumenmancy were outlawed after the fall and silvers became second rate citizens in their own lands, mistreated and always looked at with disdain and suspicion. For this reason many silvers use contact lenses and hair dye to pass as non silvers in every day life. Rebels led by Lucian Vesparin, the surviving son, is fighting for freedom against the empire albeit in a very violent way. The empire vs rebel fight is central to the story, with our main characters Elsa, Lucas, and Faye all thrust into the middle of things for various reasons. This story starts with a prologue that gets us directly into the action and things continue at an intense pace the entire novel. I did not find the plot lagging at all and was constantly engaged. There are many action scenes and they are very well done. The magic system contributes to the action as well and is quite unique - there are Pheonancers who manipulate material and Noumenmancers who manipulate minds.
Lucas & Faye are excellent and my main complaint is that they have very limited interactions throughout the story even though they have a great dynamic that I wanted more of. Based on the blurb, I was expecting more of a focus on their pairing but a third female character Elsa is introduced early on and becomes very central to the story. I do wish her character had been included in the blurb somewhere as she at certain points overshadowed the 2 male leads and I did not expect that going into things. Regardless, Elsa is a great character as well so I did her enjoy her despite being surprised at how central she was to the story. Also shoutout to some great side characters - Rio, Hayden, Martha, and Connery, who made the story even better. There were also some great side villains who added obstacles for our characters outside of the main threat of the empire.
Thank you Florence Chien, Rising Action Publishing, and NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!
#TheRevenantofSurolifa
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book Review: The Revenant of Surolifia by Florence Chien
Lucas Rhine, loyal imperial officer and professional “I can fix this from the inside” guy, decides the best way to stop a genocide is to climb the ranks of the people doing it. This mostly involves lying, scheming, and slowly realizing the system is not broken, it’s working exactly as designed. Meanwhile, every clever compromise buys him time but also makes him complicit, so his moral high ground quietly dissolves while he insists he still has one.
On the other side, Faye Phlorik, exiled prince turned revolutionary, is busy proving that burning the system down also has consequences when innocent people keep getting caught in the flames. He and Lucas form a tense “we should work together but also maybe kill each other” alliance, which goes about as well as expected. By the end, their grand plans collide, the genocide is only partially stopped, the empire is only partially wrecked, and everyone is left carrying the emotional equivalent of “so that didn’t go how I imagined.”
I really liked the premise here. The central conflict between reform and rebellion is strong, and it gives the story a solid thematic foundation. There are moments where the political tension and moral trade-offs feel genuinely sharp, and you can see how much thought went into the world and the larger ideas.
That said, the pacing dragged for me. The political maneuvering is dense, but not always engaging, and it sometimes feels like the story is spinning its wheels instead of moving forward. I appreciated what it was trying to do, but I didn’t always feel fully invested in the characters or their choices. Overall, I liked the concept more than the execution.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Lucas Rhine, loyal imperial officer and professional “I can fix this from the inside” guy, decides the best way to stop a genocide is to climb the ranks of the people doing it. This mostly involves lying, scheming, and slowly realizing the system is not broken, it’s working exactly as designed. Meanwhile, every clever compromise buys him time but also makes him complicit, so his moral high ground quietly dissolves while he insists he still has one.
On the other side, Faye Phlorik, exiled prince turned revolutionary, is busy proving that burning the system down also has consequences when innocent people keep getting caught in the flames. He and Lucas form a tense “we should work together but also maybe kill each other” alliance, which goes about as well as expected. By the end, their grand plans collide, the genocide is only partially stopped, the empire is only partially wrecked, and everyone is left carrying the emotional equivalent of “so that didn’t go how I imagined.”
I really liked the premise here. The central conflict between reform and rebellion is strong, and it gives the story a solid thematic foundation. There are moments where the political tension and moral trade-offs feel genuinely sharp, and you can see how much thought went into the world and the larger ideas.
That said, the pacing dragged for me. The political maneuvering is dense, but not always engaging, and it sometimes feels like the story is spinning its wheels instead of moving forward. I appreciated what it was trying to do, but I didn’t always feel fully invested in the characters or their choices. Overall, I liked the concept more than the execution.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review Details?
-no spoilers!
-ebook (ARC)
-4.00 (out of 5)
Fanta-SciFi-ness?
-this book takes place in a medieval fantasy setting--we got swords, we got ships, we got magic. the world of Al Senia is interesting and engaging.
-the magic here is interesting, and it leans toward a soft system (we learn some rules but not much more). there are two general forms of magic: the manipulation of physical/material objects (phenomancy) and the manipulation of mental/psychological objects (noumenmancy). the latter plays a massive role in this world, as those who wield such power are hunted and feared. how the magic plays out in the book is fun.
-the world is embroiled in chaos and political intrigue from the jump, and the tension does not slow down at any point.
-dungeons and/or dragons: definitely a dungeon crawl at one point!
Complexity?
-we (mostly) follow the three POVs of Lucas, Faye, and Elsa, though I would argue that Lucas is *the* central protagonist. their plot threads are interconnected, and the story is easy to follow.
-one thing I like about this book--but that another reader might not--is that the world simply exists. we get quite a bit of backstory, but not everything. the world simply exists, and it is not over-explained.
-the magic is absolutely easy to follow here.
-the main characters are likable but flawed, and their conflicting goals help to hold up the book.
Keep it Coming?
-overall, I wanted to keep going to see how the book would end. that said, that enthusiasm waned at some points in the book (such as at some points when character motivations/thoughts were over-explained).
-no spoilers!
-ebook (ARC)
-4.00 (out of 5)
Fanta-SciFi-ness?
-this book takes place in a medieval fantasy setting--we got swords, we got ships, we got magic. the world of Al Senia is interesting and engaging.
-the magic here is interesting, and it leans toward a soft system (we learn some rules but not much more). there are two general forms of magic: the manipulation of physical/material objects (phenomancy) and the manipulation of mental/psychological objects (noumenmancy). the latter plays a massive role in this world, as those who wield such power are hunted and feared. how the magic plays out in the book is fun.
-the world is embroiled in chaos and political intrigue from the jump, and the tension does not slow down at any point.
-dungeons and/or dragons: definitely a dungeon crawl at one point!
Complexity?
-we (mostly) follow the three POVs of Lucas, Faye, and Elsa, though I would argue that Lucas is *the* central protagonist. their plot threads are interconnected, and the story is easy to follow.
-one thing I like about this book--but that another reader might not--is that the world simply exists. we get quite a bit of backstory, but not everything. the world simply exists, and it is not over-explained.
-the magic is absolutely easy to follow here.
-the main characters are likable but flawed, and their conflicting goals help to hold up the book.
Keep it Coming?
-overall, I wanted to keep going to see how the book would end. that said, that enthusiasm waned at some points in the book (such as at some points when character motivations/thoughts were over-explained).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Revenant of Surolifia is a political fantasy novel set fourteen years after the Empire of Colours annexed the polity of Al Senia, establishing a brutal prohibition against its Silver noumenmancers, practitioners of mind-magic fuelled by etherite crystal which drains the colour from its users’ hair and eyes.
To take my issues with the book in one gulp: the writing tends towards straightforward repetitive prose; its metaphors are simplistic, there are more than a few seemingly unintentional tense switches. Typographical errors can be excused in an ARC, but the spelling errors (often homophones) are jarring, and common enough to be noticeable. At 400 pages, this book is neither desperately spare nor so long it overstays its welcome, yet the pacing feels wonky. Something rather important (to my eye) is revealed in the final ~20 pages which turns the idea of Al Senia’s weapon supremacy (e.g. etherite) on its head, and then defused in a matter of lines. Loose ends are dealt with in the next few pages in summary form. For once, maybe this should have been a series - or, alternatively, had fifty pages trimmed out.
With that said, the story itself is interesting and well-layered, and the magic is novel without being overbearing. The skeleton of the thing holds together. If the characters aren’t particularly three-dimensional, they at least cohere. All in all, this book feels like an early draft. There’s a solid piece of political fantasy buried under what seems like a lack of copyedits and a shying away from the more effective prose styling the writer occasionally proves herself perfectly capable of. What happened?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
To take my issues with the book in one gulp: the writing tends towards straightforward repetitive prose; its metaphors are simplistic, there are more than a few seemingly unintentional tense switches. Typographical errors can be excused in an ARC, but the spelling errors (often homophones) are jarring, and common enough to be noticeable. At 400 pages, this book is neither desperately spare nor so long it overstays its welcome, yet the pacing feels wonky. Something rather important (to my eye) is revealed in the final ~20 pages which turns the idea of Al Senia’s weapon supremacy (e.g. etherite) on its head, and then defused in a matter of lines. Loose ends are dealt with in the next few pages in summary form. For once, maybe this should have been a series - or, alternatively, had fifty pages trimmed out.
With that said, the story itself is interesting and well-layered, and the magic is novel without being overbearing. The skeleton of the thing holds together. If the characters aren’t particularly three-dimensional, they at least cohere. All in all, this book feels like an early draft. There’s a solid piece of political fantasy buried under what seems like a lack of copyedits and a shying away from the more effective prose styling the writer occasionally proves herself perfectly capable of. What happened?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Revenant of Surolifia by Florence Chien is a political fantasy about revolution, identity, and the difficult choices people make when trying to change the world.
The story follows two men fighting for the freedom of their people in completely different ways: Lucas Rhine, who joins the imperial gendarmerie hoping to change the system from within, and Faye Phlorik, AKA the Pickpocket Prince who joins the revolutionaries to take back his throne. Throughout the story, we see their paths collide while both believe they’re doing the right thing.
What I loved most about this book were the characters. They feel very human, flawed, stubborn, and shaped by the choices they’ve made. Lucas in particular who is a survivor of the massacre of his silver-eyed people who hides his identity and colors while serving the empire that destroyed them.
The book also doesn’t shy away from the consequences of war and rebellion. The author isn’t afraid to kill characters, and the story constantly reminds you that revolutions come with a real cost.
The worldbuilding is detailed and and clearly very thought-out. The political structures, councils, military ranks, and cultural tensions made the world feel very real. However, this is also where my one small struggle with the book came in. Many characters, places, and titles are introduced with very formal names, and at times it felt a bit overwhelming to keep track of everyone early on.
Despite that, this was an incredibly gripping read. The pacing constantly pushes forward with intrigue, betrayals, political maneuvering, and the looming threat of warships that could annihilate the silver-eyed people entirely.
The story follows two men fighting for the freedom of their people in completely different ways: Lucas Rhine, who joins the imperial gendarmerie hoping to change the system from within, and Faye Phlorik, AKA the Pickpocket Prince who joins the revolutionaries to take back his throne. Throughout the story, we see their paths collide while both believe they’re doing the right thing.
What I loved most about this book were the characters. They feel very human, flawed, stubborn, and shaped by the choices they’ve made. Lucas in particular who is a survivor of the massacre of his silver-eyed people who hides his identity and colors while serving the empire that destroyed them.
The book also doesn’t shy away from the consequences of war and rebellion. The author isn’t afraid to kill characters, and the story constantly reminds you that revolutions come with a real cost.
The worldbuilding is detailed and and clearly very thought-out. The political structures, councils, military ranks, and cultural tensions made the world feel very real. However, this is also where my one small struggle with the book came in. Many characters, places, and titles are introduced with very formal names, and at times it felt a bit overwhelming to keep track of everyone early on.
Despite that, this was an incredibly gripping read. The pacing constantly pushes forward with intrigue, betrayals, political maneuvering, and the looming threat of warships that could annihilate the silver-eyed people entirely.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC ahead of this review! The following feedback is my own opinion.
THE REVENANT OF SUROLIFIA is an adult political fantasy following Lucas Rhine’s mission to liberate his annexed island home through a diplomatic secession before usurped prince Faye Phlorik and violent revolutionaries seize control by force. A gripping tale of identity, empire, and freedom, THE REVENANT OF SUROLIFIA weaves an elegant web of betrayal through a Belle Époque aesthetic.
The cover caught my eye from the beginning, as it complements the novel’s sharp commentary on imperialism and intended setting aesthetic. I’m always an avid supporter of books written by Asian authors, and this one did not disappoint! Chien presents sophisticated dialogue, a carefully thought-out and interesting magic system with limitations, and raw emotions through well-rounded characters. Every word has been chosen so masterfully, making it an extremely compelling read. Lucas Rhine and Faye Phlorik are two sides of the same coin, offering valid reasons for the sides they’ve chosen and are perfect embodiments of diplomacy and revolution, respectively.
Once readers pick this book up, it'll be hard to put down. This is by far one of my top reads of 2026 and maybe of all time. I look forward to purchasing the physical edition when it releases so I can rediscover the amazement I felt during my first read-through.
THE REVENANT OF SUROLIFIA is an adult political fantasy following Lucas Rhine’s mission to liberate his annexed island home through a diplomatic secession before usurped prince Faye Phlorik and violent revolutionaries seize control by force. A gripping tale of identity, empire, and freedom, THE REVENANT OF SUROLIFIA weaves an elegant web of betrayal through a Belle Époque aesthetic.
The cover caught my eye from the beginning, as it complements the novel’s sharp commentary on imperialism and intended setting aesthetic. I’m always an avid supporter of books written by Asian authors, and this one did not disappoint! Chien presents sophisticated dialogue, a carefully thought-out and interesting magic system with limitations, and raw emotions through well-rounded characters. Every word has been chosen so masterfully, making it an extremely compelling read. Lucas Rhine and Faye Phlorik are two sides of the same coin, offering valid reasons for the sides they’ve chosen and are perfect embodiments of diplomacy and revolution, respectively.
Once readers pick this book up, it'll be hard to put down. This is by far one of my top reads of 2026 and maybe of all time. I look forward to purchasing the physical edition when it releases so I can rediscover the amazement I felt during my first read-through.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Rising Action Publishing Co., Rising Action, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review!
Lucas Rhine is haunted by the 17,000 Silvers who were slaughtered fifteen years ago. Determined to liberate his people through moving up the ranks with as little bloodshed as possible, he vehemently opposes the revolution. And he will stop at nothing to achieve his lofty goals.
The aforementioned slaughter lost prince Faye Phlorik his throne, forcing him into the shadows to become the "pickpocket prince." After capture by Lucas, the rebels help Faye escape, and task him with killing Lucas. But as the empire draws near, these two enemies will have to rally their troops to point their swords against the true enemy if any of them are to be saved.
This ambitious debut had all the angst, scheming, and mind bending magic that you could ever want! The brilliant execution of this political fantasy left me with ALL THE FEELS. Seriously, the mind magic mixed with the well-developed, morally gray characters on the brink of war will have your heart pounding (and breaking) as they struggle and grow.
Lucas Rhine is haunted by the 17,000 Silvers who were slaughtered fifteen years ago. Determined to liberate his people through moving up the ranks with as little bloodshed as possible, he vehemently opposes the revolution. And he will stop at nothing to achieve his lofty goals.
The aforementioned slaughter lost prince Faye Phlorik his throne, forcing him into the shadows to become the "pickpocket prince." After capture by Lucas, the rebels help Faye escape, and task him with killing Lucas. But as the empire draws near, these two enemies will have to rally their troops to point their swords against the true enemy if any of them are to be saved.
This ambitious debut had all the angst, scheming, and mind bending magic that you could ever want! The brilliant execution of this political fantasy left me with ALL THE FEELS. Seriously, the mind magic mixed with the well-developed, morally gray characters on the brink of war will have your heart pounding (and breaking) as they struggle and grow.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Revenant of Surolifia is a wild ride of a book. Expect to get immersed quickly in a country on the brink of revolution AND invasion. It’s a story that makes you think about what it means to be under the thumb of an oppressive power that hunts a particular type of people—in this case, “Silvers”—and how the oppressed will seek to subvert their oppressors in many different ways.
I loved the flashy fights and fascinating magic. Some of the descriptions in this book are downright gorgeous, especially when it comes to setting details and the scenes within people’s minds. You can tell that the author knows a great deal about real world law because the political jargon feels expert level. The disability representation in this, especially the chronic migraine rep, was really nice. The main POV characters were interesting, Lucas being by far my favorite, and the minor characters added a nice depth to the story. Also, Faye is the champion of breaking windows. IYKYK.
I would recommend this book to people who love intricate political fantasy, intriguing magic, and devastating emotional damage.
I loved the flashy fights and fascinating magic. Some of the descriptions in this book are downright gorgeous, especially when it comes to setting details and the scenes within people’s minds. You can tell that the author knows a great deal about real world law because the political jargon feels expert level. The disability representation in this, especially the chronic migraine rep, was really nice. The main POV characters were interesting, Lucas being by far my favorite, and the minor characters added a nice depth to the story. Also, Faye is the champion of breaking windows. IYKYK.
I would recommend this book to people who love intricate political fantasy, intriguing magic, and devastating emotional damage.
October 27, 2025
I can't believe I'm getting the honor of posting the first review here somehow- there's so much goodness to highlight, but let's start with the razor-sharp wit and prose! Chien's writing is so accessible yet also beautifully illustrates the world she's crafted in great detail. From every face to place to weapon's edge, I was completely transported. And on that note, if you're a fan of immersive new worlds, look no further than this book! Then of course there's Faye and Lucas and that great third character in between them--their seething opposition despite ultimately seeking the same goal for their people--which is expertly rendered. The TENSION! It gives me life. (Also, I absolutely loved the use of chapter titles, let's keep bringing them back!). I think the complex motives of every character in this book are what make it shine the brightest though, and that's what will stick with me for a long time to come.
In short: Sweeping political fantasy at its finest!
In short: Sweeping political fantasy at its finest!
April 26, 2026
- political intrigue fantasy
- dark, oppressive world
- interesting magic system with mind magic
- messy queers
- complex worldbuilding
- espionage, conspiracies and rebellion
There were some pacing issues and rough around the corners writing style, which seems common for debuts esp. from small presses, nonetheless the book was very imaginative and not following typical tropey setup I'm seeing everywhere, so I'll give it props for that. The characters were messy, flawed, made mistakes, were often guided by emotions, prejudice or misbelief. A welcome departure from cozy saccharine queer joy that I mostly see in MM fantasy.
Would be interested to see what this author writes next.
- dark, oppressive world
- interesting magic system with mind magic
- messy queers
- complex worldbuilding
- espionage, conspiracies and rebellion
There were some pacing issues and rough around the corners writing style, which seems common for debuts esp. from small presses, nonetheless the book was very imaginative and not following typical tropey setup I'm seeing everywhere, so I'll give it props for that. The characters were messy, flawed, made mistakes, were often guided by emotions, prejudice or misbelief. A welcome departure from cozy saccharine queer joy that I mostly see in MM fantasy.
Would be interested to see what this author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF'ed at 16%
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. The dialogue felt extremely stilted, the pacing was very uneven, and I could not fully get into the world. The opening chapter was exciting, but the shifts from character to character was abrupt and the formatting of the ARC being not complete and not marking chapter changes properly was not helping. I wanted to keep going just based on the summary, but the characters just didn't feel real to me, and I was having to force myself to keep going. Perhaps it gets better, but for me, for such a long book, this needs some editing at least.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. The dialogue felt extremely stilted, the pacing was very uneven, and I could not fully get into the world. The opening chapter was exciting, but the shifts from character to character was abrupt and the formatting of the ARC being not complete and not marking chapter changes properly was not helping. I wanted to keep going just based on the summary, but the characters just didn't feel real to me, and I was having to force myself to keep going. Perhaps it gets better, but for me, for such a long book, this needs some editing at least.
December 5, 2025
With a lush cast of morally-tangled characters and a magic system that spins silver through your mind, it's the politcal chessboard that keeps The Revenant of Surolifia's pages turning. In a world where the war has already been lost, what does rebellion look like when the wounds of would-be allies divide rather than unite? Florence Chien doesn't pose an answer but rather paints a picture of where each choice may lead to, no matter how noble—or heartbreaking—the consequences.
I am so honored to have been able to read this book ahead of release. Y'all are in for a freaking TREAT 💜
I am so honored to have been able to read this book ahead of release. Y'all are in for a freaking TREAT 💜
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF at 16%.
I struggled to get into this one, to be honest.
The worldbuilding was difficult to appreciate (and not for lack of trying!) and I found myself a decent way into the book, unsure of what I was meant to be thinking of the characters that had been discussed at-length for the preceding pages.
Whilst it wasn't for me, it may be for you. The premise of the book and the blurb certainly attracted me, but once reading it was not one I was willing to stick with for much longer.
I struggled to get into this one, to be honest.
The worldbuilding was difficult to appreciate (and not for lack of trying!) and I found myself a decent way into the book, unsure of what I was meant to be thinking of the characters that had been discussed at-length for the preceding pages.
Whilst it wasn't for me, it may be for you. The premise of the book and the blurb certainly attracted me, but once reading it was not one I was willing to stick with for much longer.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full review to come nearer release, but this is how you do political fantasy—there’s more double crossings, twists, intrigue and scheming here than a series of Traitors. It’s a wildly fun and unapologetically complex look at the different ways to save the world and their brutal cost—with a finale that goes straight for your throat. An audaciously clever, barnstorming debut.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a whirlwind of a read! The magic system was so unique and well thought out. The story was dense, complicated, layered and full of political intrigue. I loved the concepts of Pheonancy and Noumenmancy, as well as the story of how silvers came to be. I found it very original and unlike any other story I've read.
The writing was also excellent - I found the dialogue between characters particularly impressive. The historical-type speech was really well written, and overall I found the writing really well done. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for the author's future works for sure!
The writing was also excellent - I found the dialogue between characters particularly impressive. The historical-type speech was really well written, and overall I found the writing really well done. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for the author's future works for sure!
December 17, 2025
In a colonised country where the conquering Empire persecutes and mutilates the silver-eyed population for their innate magical abilities, two men fight for freedom using drastically different methods. Faye Phlorik is a deposed prince whose fatal mistake provoked the invasion. Forced to survive as a thief, he joins the revolutionaries who want to rise against the invaders and give him back his throne. But to rally the people, they need the silver-eyed champion, the mythical Revenant of Surolifia.
Lucas Rhine, a silver-eyed heir who survived the Empire's massacre of his kin, has a different plan. Hiding his heritage and forsaking his true name, he rises through the ranks of the imperial gendarmerie in the hope that he will change the system from the inside. But just as he sets his plans in motion, the revolutionaries threaten to destroy everything he's built and push the country into another bloody war.
Florence Chien wrote a full-blooded political fantasy, twistier than a bucket of eels. As the flawed, heartbreakingly human characters chase each other across the country while the imperial warships sail towards them to burn everything down, Chien forces us to examine the price of war, of loyalty, of the wish to change the world for the better. There's no such thing as a bloodless revolution, we learn, as we're hurled through conflict, intrigue and betrayal towards the inevitably tragic finale.
A superb read.
Lucas Rhine, a silver-eyed heir who survived the Empire's massacre of his kin, has a different plan. Hiding his heritage and forsaking his true name, he rises through the ranks of the imperial gendarmerie in the hope that he will change the system from the inside. But just as he sets his plans in motion, the revolutionaries threaten to destroy everything he's built and push the country into another bloody war.
Florence Chien wrote a full-blooded political fantasy, twistier than a bucket of eels. As the flawed, heartbreakingly human characters chase each other across the country while the imperial warships sail towards them to burn everything down, Chien forces us to examine the price of war, of loyalty, of the wish to change the world for the better. There's no such thing as a bloodless revolution, we learn, as we're hurled through conflict, intrigue and betrayal towards the inevitably tragic finale.
A superb read.
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