After being ‘saved’ by Queen Alieta of Ardour, Elowen finds herself trapped behind enemy lines. Struggling with the supposed loss of Lilja. Elowen has resolved herself to find the cause and the cure for the Blight. Even if that means completing the mission alone.
Elowen knows she won’t be able to find the cause of the blight if she doesn’t get close to Alieta. Both behind the walls she keeps up for “work” and personal.
Every single person she meets in Alieta’s kingdom could be a part of the grand scheme of knocking Valdis off the map. Elowen can’t trust anyone. Elowen can only hope she has the strength to push through the loneliness in the court of Ardour.
Will Lilja and the rest of the team resurface? Or is Elowen doomed to finish this adventure alone?
Olken Ridge by is book 2 in the Alwyn series and it’s a yes from me.
If you don’t want to be lost you definitely need to read book 1, The Mountains of Ebbon. Book 1 really lays the ground work with world building and relationships that lead into book 2.
In book 2 we continue to follow Elowen’s story which we love but we also get the POV’s of various other characters. And to me the side characters in the series are one of the best parts. We see the struggles and inner turmoil Elowen faces but we also see her fierce loyalty. Exactly why we adore her.
if you like:
🏹Sapphic Fantasy 🏹Found Family 🏹Elven Realms 🏹Adventure 🏹Plus Size FMC 🏹Mental Health Rep 🏹Magic
ARC Review ❤️ Considering I usually read psychological thrillers and contemporary romance, this sapphic fantasy was SUCH a good read that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you enjoy love triangle tropes, that was probably my favorite part throughout the novel. My two favorite characters are by far Elowen and Aidan. Elowen faces an impossible choice: remain in enemy territory, or flee and secure the salvation of her beloved’s kingdom (even though doing so may cost her everything). For now, she lives in comfort, surrounded by fine gowns and a dream library, but the illusion of safety can’t quiet the weight of the decision before her.
“Her anger was pushing her away from me. Little did she know, I was willing to let the world burn for her.”
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for Olken Ridge. I enjoyed this book. Im really into fantasy and this was something new for me. I rarely get the opportunity to read about Elves so being immersed in a book based in an Elven realm was something new and interesting. It was a very well written book, and Elowen is a FMC i really enjoyed. Plus the plot twist kept you wanting more! I definitely recommend reading book one, The Mountains of Ebbon before reading this book.
In Olken Ridge, we find Elowen trapped behind enemy lines where she has to decide to either adapt and survive or break free and continue on her mission to find the cause and cure of the blight. I enjoyed Elowen so much. She's such a strong character, never giving up no matter what happens to her. She continues to push forward. I also enjoyed the multiple povs in this book. I think it helped flesh out the story and see things from different perspectives. The side characters are just gold. I love them so much. The writing is so beautiful and transports you to the elven realm, so realistically I felt like I was on the journey with Elowen. And the ending. Wow, what a twist !
Thank you to the author for the ARC all opinions are my own.
ARC Review!! OMG loved this book!!! I love the way the Author followed book 1 in to this book. It kept me wanting to know what happens next. The flow of the story and the different POVs were amazing. The way the characters interacted with each other made ya feel like they were more than just friends but a family that have each other’s backs. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
If you haven’t read book 1 I would recommend ya do it now so you are ready to jump in to book 2.
I absolutely loved Olken Ridge! The story beautifully blends themes of found family, resilience, and hope amid darkness. Watching the characters fight to overcome the Blight while forming unbreakable bonds felt both heart-wrenching and inspiring.
The world-building was immersive, the tension kept me turning pages, and the emotional moments hit perfectly. If you enjoy fantasy with strong character dynamics and the reminder that family isn’t always who you’re born with—it’s who stands beside you when everything falls apart—this is one you’ll want on your shelf.
I absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed how it brings more travel and lore to get a grasp of the entire elven world in this series. Full of adventure, friendship, true strength, and plot twists I didn’t see coming! It’s definitely a book that leaves you wanting more!
- Elowen’s story made me genuinely happy to read. I love a good underdog arc, and hers had so many of the “rise above and beyond” moments that always pull me in emotionally.
- I did struggle a bit to fully connect with the characters. For my personal taste, some of the dialogue and emotional beats felt a little too “on the nose.” I tend to prefer when themes and relationships develop in a more subtle, layered way rather than being spelled out directly, and since I’m a character-over-plot girly through and through, that did impact my rating.
- What REALLLY shines in this series is the representation. Sapphic romance, plus-size rep, themes of abuse/mistreatment - these are things I gravitate toward, and I loved seeing them handled in a way that felt intentional and meaningful. Diverse characters and inclusive storytelling matter so much, and I appreciate when authors prioritize that.
- Story/plot-wise, this book takes you on a journey. Book one definitely sets the stage for book two to take off running - something I honestly love in fantasy series. Let the first book walk so the rest can fly! The pacing was strong, with plenty happening to keep me engaged, and I enjoyed the creativity behind the “fated” storyline. It wasn’t just about romantic fate, but a broader idea of being fated to redeem and save, which I appreciated.
Read if you like ✨ - Diverse representation (and if you don’t… well… try harder 😅) - Plot-driven books - Underdog arcs with “rise above and conquer” vibes - Supporting cool and talented indie authors!!
Starting off December with another enjoyable ARC: “Olken Ridge” by Bethany Witte-Krantz. Book two of the Alwyn Series picks up right where book one left off.
Sapphic Fantasy ✔️ Found Family ✔️ Plus Size FMC ✔️ Mental Health Rep ✔️ Magic ✔️ Diverse Representation ✔️
“After being ‘saved’ by Queen Alieta of Ardour, Elowen finds herself trapped behind enemy lines. Struggling with the supposed loss of Lilja. Elowen has resolved herself to find the cause and the cure for the Blight. Even if that means completing the mission alone.
Elowen knows she won’t be able to find the cause of the blight if she doesn’t get close to Alieta. Both behind the walls she keeps up for “work” and personal.
Every single person she meets in Alieta’s kingdom could be a part of the grand scheme of knocking Valdis off the map. Elowen can’t trust anyone. Elowen can only hope she has the strength to push through the loneliness in the court of Ardour.
Will Lilja and the rest of the team resurface? Or is Elowen doomed to finish this adventure alone?”
Happy Release Day to “Olken Ridge!” Thank you, Bethany, for allowing me to be part of this adventure!
This story picks up where The Mountains of Ebbon left off! You get to see new sides of different characters while also depending the lore and world building! When Elowen is trapped behind enemy lines will Elowen finish this mission alone? Or will Lijia and the rest of the team come back and join her?
This story draws you in and keeps you hooked start to finish! I loved The Mountain’s of Ebbon and this read really throws you back into the story! There is adventures, plot twists and turns, true friendship, strength, and so much more wound into one novel!
You will feel the need to binge this book I fear it is hard to put it down even for a moment! I love this world and going back was amazing! There are new challenges, new missions, and a whole lot of questions in this one!
I devoured this book! I thought it was paced well, and the storytelling kept me engaged. I felt an emotional connection to Elowen, and I definitely cried more than once.
The plot has kept me guessing, and I'm heavily invested in how the story ends. I absolutely love the found family and banter, and a bonus love triangle added some intrigue.
Book 1 in the series, The Mountains of Ebbon, really set the stage for the series, and moved a little slower for that reason. The story really starts to unfold in this book.
This is low on the spice, and heavier on the plot. I don't judge either way, but I wanted to share for readers wondering what to expect. Overall, this is shaping up to be a wonderful debut series for this author, and I'm already impatient to see what happens in the next book!
I’m so happy I got an ARC version of this book, because I couldn’t WAIT to see how the story continued after the end of the first book.
I think I liked this sequel better than the first one- which never happens with me. It was an adventure from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put it down.