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The Broken Edge of the World
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26Their love is destined, but can it survive her compulsion for beauty? Haunting and steamy, this spellbinding fantasy romance will enthrall you with its alluring concoction of traditional Grimm's and modern thrills.
Sylvie has taken a summer job at a remote and alluring prairie preserve in the middle of the Great Plains. It’s a much-needed escape—from her sadness, from her cruelly distant father, and maybe even from She longs to be free of the intrusive, obsessive thoughts that are her constant burden.
Soon, she finds herself drawn to a stunning shepherd boy and can’t stop herself from going to him at night, even though she’s been warned to keep away. During the day, though, she begins to develop a friendship with another boy, a strange-looking and strangely gentle coworker named Jack . . . and gradually to uncover the mysteries of this place that feels more like home than anyplace has before it.
But those mysteries include a powerful curse, and when she uncovers the truth of it, she becomes recklessly determined to break it—to free the one trapped in its spell. She fails to consider the possibility that her actions could break much more than just the curse, and that some burdens demand to be borne.
Sylvie has taken a summer job at a remote and alluring prairie preserve in the middle of the Great Plains. It’s a much-needed escape—from her sadness, from her cruelly distant father, and maybe even from She longs to be free of the intrusive, obsessive thoughts that are her constant burden.
Soon, she finds herself drawn to a stunning shepherd boy and can’t stop herself from going to him at night, even though she’s been warned to keep away. During the day, though, she begins to develop a friendship with another boy, a strange-looking and strangely gentle coworker named Jack . . . and gradually to uncover the mysteries of this place that feels more like home than anyplace has before it.
But those mysteries include a powerful curse, and when she uncovers the truth of it, she becomes recklessly determined to break it—to free the one trapped in its spell. She fails to consider the possibility that her actions could break much more than just the curse, and that some burdens demand to be borne.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 14, 2026
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October 23, 2025hedgehog.....romance......?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!~~
2.5/5 stars rounded down.
This one was kinda rough for me.
I wanted to like this. I really did. But I just couldn't.
The biggest grievance for me was the romance, or the "love triangle." The "twist" about the two boys is so glaringly obvious, but it barely even occurs for Sylvie until over half way through the book. It's even blatantly said at least a couple times to her face, but it goes straight over her head. Then once she does, the romance becomes instantly physical and sexual.
The degree of showing sex in YA is something I consider depending on the story, the age of its characters, and the portrayal. While I do appreciate how Sylvie's sexuality is tied to her self image, her skewed perception of beauty, and her attempting to rectify the emotional negligence she's endured all her life, I just didn't vibe with some of the more explicit scenes. Some other characters find out about it and meanly joke that it's , and I really didn't like that. Plus, there's also the whole "it's true love" portion. There was a point where Sylvie messes up with the love interest, and I was starting to believe romance isn't the fix-it for all her problems, but, sadly, that wasn't the case. It's barely been a whole summer, and the story and other side characters confirming the romance was "true love" wasn't believable for me, whatsoever.
I don't have OCD, but I could tell Bruzas put her all into portraying faithfully to her experience. I just wish the story didn't become a full romance by the end. Sylvie finding her friends and community, as well as learning about her mom's past and family (Which was sorta neglected and not explained all that well. Every piece of meaningful info was dumped on us in the last four chapters when it should've been more spread across the board), should have been focused on more. In my opinion, anyway.
2.5/5 stars rounded down.
This one was kinda rough for me.
I wanted to like this. I really did. But I just couldn't.
The biggest grievance for me was the romance, or the "love triangle." The "twist" about the two boys is so glaringly obvious, but it barely even occurs for Sylvie until over half way through the book. It's even blatantly said at least a couple times to her face, but it goes straight over her head. Then once she does, the romance becomes instantly physical and sexual.
The degree of showing sex in YA is something I consider depending on the story, the age of its characters, and the portrayal. While I do appreciate how Sylvie's sexuality is tied to her self image, her skewed perception of beauty, and her attempting to rectify the emotional negligence she's endured all her life, I just didn't vibe with some of the more explicit scenes. Some other characters find out about it and meanly joke that it's , and I really didn't like that. Plus, there's also the whole "it's true love" portion. There was a point where Sylvie messes up with the love interest, and I was starting to believe romance isn't the fix-it for all her problems, but, sadly, that wasn't the case. It's barely been a whole summer, and the story and other side characters confirming the romance was "true love" wasn't believable for me, whatsoever.
I don't have OCD, but I could tell Bruzas put her all into portraying faithfully to her experience. I just wish the story didn't become a full romance by the end. Sylvie finding her friends and community, as well as learning about her mom's past and family (Which was sorta neglected and not explained all that well. Every piece of meaningful info was dumped on us in the last four chapters when it should've been more spread across the board), should have been focused on more. In my opinion, anyway.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I let myself be charmed by both the cover and the premise... and maybe by the fact that it was listed as "read now" title for a short time and I was in some strong mood for ya when I grabbed it.
Unfortunately, it didn't really deliver for me, despite I wanted it to, because the idea was something that screamed to me from the very start.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the way OCD was portrayed in the book, it felt real (and I'm sure one of the reasons is because the author herself has it, as we learn at the end of the book, in the note). It was refreshing, especially after all the book I read, where someone with OCD got reduced to a person who's just very obsessed with numbers, making sure things are aligned perfectly and their small rituals. Hardly anyone seems to remember/realize, that there's also the intrusive thoughts part (or maybe some people just mess it up with OCPD? I guess we will never know) and that's how we usually have it reduced to "clean freak". Ugly term I heard being used a few times back in high-school (and unfortunately later in adult life in such many different scenarios), when a girl suffering from OCD came to my school. I'm just glad to see a book that finally gave it some justice and that itself is enough for me to raise my rating a bit.
Now, onto the things I didn't really enjoy.
Sylvie was so clueless for most of the book, that it hurt me. Some parts of the plot became so obvious at one point, that even after they were practically spoken right into her face, she still couldn't really connect the dots while we just sat there, waiting to see how it turns out.
The thing I liked the least was probably Sylvie's compulsion for beauty (as the blurb put it nicely). It was happening for a major part of the book and it wore me out.
Another part that I didn't like was just a tiny blink in the story that appeared as a single sentence (and then Sylvie brought it up again in her mind some time later) and it was a joke about , yes, you read that right. It left a sour taste in my mouth, especially knowing that it's a YA book and... yeah, I think you get what I mean.
Lastly, I feel like the plot was all over the place. I read the first 40% of the book before going to bed and I decided to call it a day, because I felt like nothing was happening and the fact that I was getting tired wasn't helping either. I came back to it as soon as I woke up and while things did started to pick up, by that time I was just confused and lost, not in the good way. Almost all of the most important informations that we were waiting for all that time? We got it almost at the very end of the book, just one after another, as if to simply close the plot before the story finally wraps up.
I let myself be charmed by both the cover and the premise... and maybe by the fact that it was listed as "read now" title for a short time and I was in some strong mood for ya when I grabbed it.
Unfortunately, it didn't really deliver for me, despite I wanted it to, because the idea was something that screamed to me from the very start.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the way OCD was portrayed in the book, it felt real (and I'm sure one of the reasons is because the author herself has it, as we learn at the end of the book, in the note). It was refreshing, especially after all the book I read, where someone with OCD got reduced to a person who's just very obsessed with numbers, making sure things are aligned perfectly and their small rituals. Hardly anyone seems to remember/realize, that there's also the intrusive thoughts part (or maybe some people just mess it up with OCPD? I guess we will never know) and that's how we usually have it reduced to "clean freak". Ugly term I heard being used a few times back in high-school (and unfortunately later in adult life in such many different scenarios), when a girl suffering from OCD came to my school. I'm just glad to see a book that finally gave it some justice and that itself is enough for me to raise my rating a bit.
Now, onto the things I didn't really enjoy.
Sylvie was so clueless for most of the book, that it hurt me. Some parts of the plot became so obvious at one point, that even after they were practically spoken right into her face, she still couldn't really connect the dots while we just sat there, waiting to see how it turns out.
The thing I liked the least was probably Sylvie's compulsion for beauty (as the blurb put it nicely). It was happening for a major part of the book and it wore me out.
Another part that I didn't like was just a tiny blink in the story that appeared as a single sentence (and then Sylvie brought it up again in her mind some time later) and it was a joke about , yes, you read that right. It left a sour taste in my mouth, especially knowing that it's a YA book and... yeah, I think you get what I mean.
Lastly, I feel like the plot was all over the place. I read the first 40% of the book before going to bed and I decided to call it a day, because I felt like nothing was happening and the fact that I was getting tired wasn't helping either. I came back to it as soon as I woke up and while things did started to pick up, by that time I was just confused and lost, not in the good way. Almost all of the most important informations that we were waiting for all that time? We got it almost at the very end of the book, just one after another, as if to simply close the plot before the story finally wraps up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC received through the Penguin TBR program.
Short Blurb:
In The Broken Edge of the World, the reader is thrust into a heady, dreamlike summer along with main character Sylvie as she discovers parts of herself and her past that she never knew existed. Sylvie's narrative voice is strong and gives readers an insight into the day-to-day thoughts of someone with OCD that feels authentic. With the atmosphere and magical aspects, the book reads like a modern-day fairy tale, and the mystery and romance will entice older teens as well as adults.
Further thoughts:
The writing of this story was beautiful, and it created such a vivid atmosphere, both in terms of the prairie setting, as well as the feeling of being a teenager on the verge of adulthood, trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life. You are truly dropped right in the story, to the point that for the first couple of chapters it almost felt like I was missing something, but it didn't take long after that to get completely sucked into the story. With Sylvie being suddenly in a brand new situation along with her constantly busy thought patterns, it takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it feels perfect for the character. The people around Sylvie all feel well-developed with distinct personalities, creating fun and quirky dialogue, while remaining authentic-feeling. Without giving too much away, the romance in the book was lovely and really did feel fairy tale-like.
Short Blurb:
In The Broken Edge of the World, the reader is thrust into a heady, dreamlike summer along with main character Sylvie as she discovers parts of herself and her past that she never knew existed. Sylvie's narrative voice is strong and gives readers an insight into the day-to-day thoughts of someone with OCD that feels authentic. With the atmosphere and magical aspects, the book reads like a modern-day fairy tale, and the mystery and romance will entice older teens as well as adults.
Further thoughts:
The writing of this story was beautiful, and it created such a vivid atmosphere, both in terms of the prairie setting, as well as the feeling of being a teenager on the verge of adulthood, trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life. You are truly dropped right in the story, to the point that for the first couple of chapters it almost felt like I was missing something, but it didn't take long after that to get completely sucked into the story. With Sylvie being suddenly in a brand new situation along with her constantly busy thought patterns, it takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it feels perfect for the character. The people around Sylvie all feel well-developed with distinct personalities, creating fun and quirky dialogue, while remaining authentic-feeling. Without giving too much away, the romance in the book was lovely and really did feel fairy tale-like.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded so interesting and I was quite excited about it. However, the story did not grab me like I hoped it would.
First of all, the setting was very cool. It had mystical and cosy vibes and the descriptions reflected those very well. Also, I loved how plants and food had a major part in the story.
It was nice to see OCD representation in the story, though I cannot comment on how good or accurate it is since I have no experience on the subject.
Now on to what did not work for me...
It felt a bit like the book was full of good ideas but the execution fell short. I didn't love the tone. I am not sure if it was done on purpose to represent the stuggle in the FMC's head but the constant short and blunt sentences took the out of the story quite often. I felt like I was detachedly observing the story instead of living through it. This style also made the tone feel a lot younger even though the plot was older YA. I was a bit conflicted about that.
I had a bit of a problem connecting to or sympathizing with any of the characters. The only one I truly liked was Jack. Also, I would have loved to explore the side characters a bit more. Maybe a little epilogue to glimpse into their futures.
All in all, this was not a bad book but I just did not click with it like I expected to based on the premise.
Thanks a lot to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC!
First of all, the setting was very cool. It had mystical and cosy vibes and the descriptions reflected those very well. Also, I loved how plants and food had a major part in the story.
It was nice to see OCD representation in the story, though I cannot comment on how good or accurate it is since I have no experience on the subject.
Now on to what did not work for me...
It felt a bit like the book was full of good ideas but the execution fell short. I didn't love the tone. I am not sure if it was done on purpose to represent the stuggle in the FMC's head but the constant short and blunt sentences took the out of the story quite often. I felt like I was detachedly observing the story instead of living through it. This style also made the tone feel a lot younger even though the plot was older YA. I was a bit conflicted about that.
I had a bit of a problem connecting to or sympathizing with any of the characters. The only one I truly liked was Jack. Also, I would have loved to explore the side characters a bit more. Maybe a little epilogue to glimpse into their futures.
All in all, this was not a bad book but I just did not click with it like I expected to based on the premise.
Thanks a lot to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Broken Edge of the World follows Sylvie as she arrives at a remote prairie preserve for a summer job. She finds herself drawn to the shepherd boy even as she’s warned away. When strange things occur, she begins to question what’s truly going on.
The concept of this one sounded amazing and I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I wasn’t fond of the writing style or plot. I wanted more from it. The book felt a bit too surface-level for me in many ways. However, the authors depiction of OCD in Sylvie was really well done. I thought it was explored well and it felt very relatable. There was also some open door sex scenes although it wasn’t too detailed aside from the main character talking about orgasms.
I think younger people will be able to enjoy this more than me. I think part of it is just I might be too old to enjoy this as much as I once might have. The characters would definitely be relatable to teens. The romance was cute, although a bit insta-lovey. I did appreciate the growth of Sylvie judging people by their looks and how things ended.
If you enjoy YA romances with a fantasy element, you may enjoy this one!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc!
The concept of this one sounded amazing and I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I wasn’t fond of the writing style or plot. I wanted more from it. The book felt a bit too surface-level for me in many ways. However, the authors depiction of OCD in Sylvie was really well done. I thought it was explored well and it felt very relatable. There was also some open door sex scenes although it wasn’t too detailed aside from the main character talking about orgasms.
I think younger people will be able to enjoy this more than me. I think part of it is just I might be too old to enjoy this as much as I once might have. The characters would definitely be relatable to teens. The romance was cute, although a bit insta-lovey. I did appreciate the growth of Sylvie judging people by their looks and how things ended.
If you enjoy YA romances with a fantasy element, you may enjoy this one!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such an interesting read!
Sylvia was a very compelling character to follow, as she discovers more about herself and her past. The narrative voice is strong, and I really appreciate getting to read from the perspective of a character with OCD. I haven’t read many books with characters that have her thought patterns before, so while it took some getting used to, it worked well for her character. And overall, this book read like a modern-day fairytale, which I enjoyed a lot.
One aspect I didn’t love was that we were dropped right into the story at the beginning, so I spent the opening chapters trying to get my bearings, and for a while it felt like I was missing something. Once I settled into the story, however, it was an engaging read.
Thank you so much to Penguin and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a mixed feelings kind of read for me. I really appreciate the depiction of OCD through the main character Sylvie. Her inner turmoil and thought process was insightful and beautifully executed. I also loved the atmosphere! The descriptions of the prairie and the lodge brought a whimsical vibe to the story.
However, I wish there had been more depth to the story. It was almost as if we got shown glimpses of the whole. A bunch of fragmented pieces that were hard to put together into a cohesive whole. Sylvies’s narration was very strongly focused on her own conflicting thoughts most of the time which made it hard to fall in love with the relationships she built.
I think there is a great story somewhere in here but the style of writing was not for me.
Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC
However, I wish there had been more depth to the story. It was almost as if we got shown glimpses of the whole. A bunch of fragmented pieces that were hard to put together into a cohesive whole. Sylvies’s narration was very strongly focused on her own conflicting thoughts most of the time which made it hard to fall in love with the relationships she built.
I think there is a great story somewhere in here but the style of writing was not for me.
Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked how Sylvie’s OCD was explained and utilized in the story. The focus on her intrusive thoughts and compulsions, instead of the ritual behavior that so often is used to portray OCD. I also enjoyed Sylvie’s curiosity and desire to know more about the world around her at a deeper level.
The magic/monster element was good. I did become a bit annoyed at how much was being hidden from Sylvie; though if it had been revealed sooner, it likely would have meant a shorter story. I also didn’t like that while Sylvie could see the beauty in Jack in his daytime form, she also couldn’t get past the idea that he needed to be “fixed.” Granted, her recognizing the inappropriateness and cost of those thoughts, and the actions she took in response, are a crucial aspect of the story.
The magic/monster element was good. I did become a bit annoyed at how much was being hidden from Sylvie; though if it had been revealed sooner, it likely would have meant a shorter story. I also didn’t like that while Sylvie could see the beauty in Jack in his daytime form, she also couldn’t get past the idea that he needed to be “fixed.” Granted, her recognizing the inappropriateness and cost of those thoughts, and the actions she took in response, are a crucial aspect of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I liked how the character's OCD was portrayed, that's about all I liked about this book.
None of the characters were great. I also had a problem where I think we were supposed to feel rah-rah sisterhood over the female witchy bloodline but none of the current female interactions supported that. For example, there is a party scene where there are more than the main two young women around and the main character "feels sorry" for the other young women in their "Target clothes" and she says something else belittling. And in that same moment the main character gets jealous and possessive of her boyfriend when the other young women did nothing to provoke the main character. Don't tell me they're supposed to be strong women but then show me how easily threatened they feel by others.
None of the characters were great. I also had a problem where I think we were supposed to feel rah-rah sisterhood over the female witchy bloodline but none of the current female interactions supported that. For example, there is a party scene where there are more than the main two young women around and the main character "feels sorry" for the other young women in their "Target clothes" and she says something else belittling. And in that same moment the main character gets jealous and possessive of her boyfriend when the other young women did nothing to provoke the main character. Don't tell me they're supposed to be strong women but then show me how easily threatened they feel by others.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ok listen, YES this was weird as hell, but it was my exact brand of weird. It's the first book in ages I've devoured within a single day, and I'll be dreaming about it for much longer.
Alena Bruzas has the kind of writing that gets under your skin and flowers there. It's so vividly atmospheric & lyrical, I felt like I was right there on the Nebraska prairie. It's a heady, surreal, feverdream of a fairy tale, with some of the best OCD/eating disorder representation I've seen in recent fiction.
Did it always make sense? Lol no. Do I care? Absolutely not. I was on board 100%. It's romantic and strange and full of yearning and witchiness and GAH. I will read whatever this author writes.
Alena Bruzas has the kind of writing that gets under your skin and flowers there. It's so vividly atmospheric & lyrical, I felt like I was right there on the Nebraska prairie. It's a heady, surreal, feverdream of a fairy tale, with some of the best OCD/eating disorder representation I've seen in recent fiction.
Did it always make sense? Lol no. Do I care? Absolutely not. I was on board 100%. It's romantic and strange and full of yearning and witchiness and GAH. I will read whatever this author writes.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Here are my honest thoughts.
This story was a great tightrope walk of reality and fantasy; fairy tale and daydream. Unsettling and creepy in some parts, but yet light and airy in others. All of the secrets slowly being unveiled was keeping me on the hook. I had to keep reading and couldn’t stop until the story was finished once a certain part with fire happened. In the start though, I kept wondering which fairytale was going to be the prominent focal point! I really enjoyed this fantastical universe.
This story was a great tightrope walk of reality and fantasy; fairy tale and daydream. Unsettling and creepy in some parts, but yet light and airy in others. All of the secrets slowly being unveiled was keeping me on the hook. I had to keep reading and couldn’t stop until the story was finished once a certain part with fire happened. In the start though, I kept wondering which fairytale was going to be the prominent focal point! I really enjoyed this fantastical universe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another gorgeous book by Alena Bruzas. The yearning is strong, poetic, and resonant. She has a way of manifesting real-life struggles and pain in a way that sparkles and haunts. I loved the magical realist setting of the prairie and the folk magic that develops into fairy tale magic and the layers of symbolism behind it all.
March 7, 2026
Sorry but what a strange book
January 2, 2026
I just finished reading an arc of The Broken Edge of the World, and if you are a fan of how realistically Alena Bruzas depicts mental health issues, as well as a bit of magical realism and fantasy, this is the book for you.
I don't typically read books outside of realistic fiction, but this was such a beautiful and gripping story that had me turning the pages and reading it all in basically one sitting!
Of course, my favourite aspect was the realistic depiction of a FMC with OCD but also the raw, all encompassing feelings of first love.
Pick this one up!
I don't typically read books outside of realistic fiction, but this was such a beautiful and gripping story that had me turning the pages and reading it all in basically one sitting!
Of course, my favourite aspect was the realistic depiction of a FMC with OCD but also the raw, all encompassing feelings of first love.
Pick this one up!
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