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Homeward: Volume 1
HOMEWARD follows the beginning of banished princess Vienna's journey to reclaim her rightful place on the Aargon throne. After being framed for the murder of the prince, her infant brother, Vienna embarks on a rich journey in an epic fantasy full of wonder, powerful warriors, lovable comrades, and dark figures lurking in the shadows.
If Queen Mariell had not begged King Tarman not to kill their daughter, Princess Vienna would have been dead.
Instead, Vienna was banished, cast out into the world cold and alone. Previously the heir to the Aargon throne, she was now Aargon’s most hated exile, declared guilty for the murder of the prince. Riddled with grief and despair, Vienna conceals her identity and seeks safety in the south, where she meets a loyal gang of young sailors to live among and forget her past.
Vienna’s twin sister, Princess Vaunell, remains safely behind castle walls, reveling in her victory.
Her malicious nature undetected, Vaunell manipulates and bends the world to her will in efforts to hunt and kill Vienna. Vaunell discovers dark secrets within the proud Aargon kingdom while her boiling hatred urges her to seize the throne sooner rather than later. As King Tarman and Queen Mariell crumble, Vienna realizes she be the only one who can save the Aargon people from a future of horrors.
Tropes: found family, reluctant hero, evil queen, banished princess, epic quest, assassins, dark secrets, slow burn romance
Trigger Warnings: Mild violence, profanity, physical/domestic abuse, mentions of sexual violence
Suggested Reader Age: 16+
If Queen Mariell had not begged King Tarman not to kill their daughter, Princess Vienna would have been dead.
Instead, Vienna was banished, cast out into the world cold and alone. Previously the heir to the Aargon throne, she was now Aargon’s most hated exile, declared guilty for the murder of the prince. Riddled with grief and despair, Vienna conceals her identity and seeks safety in the south, where she meets a loyal gang of young sailors to live among and forget her past.
Vienna’s twin sister, Princess Vaunell, remains safely behind castle walls, reveling in her victory.
Her malicious nature undetected, Vaunell manipulates and bends the world to her will in efforts to hunt and kill Vienna. Vaunell discovers dark secrets within the proud Aargon kingdom while her boiling hatred urges her to seize the throne sooner rather than later. As King Tarman and Queen Mariell crumble, Vienna realizes she be the only one who can save the Aargon people from a future of horrors.
Tropes: found family, reluctant hero, evil queen, banished princess, epic quest, assassins, dark secrets, slow burn romance
Trigger Warnings: Mild violence, profanity, physical/domestic abuse, mentions of sexual violence
Suggested Reader Age: 16+
- GenresYoung Adult
403 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Nina K. Zhao
1 book13 followersNina K. Zhao is an energetic night-owl who always dreamed of becoming an author. Nina grew up in a small town in Ohio, writing fiction stories since she was eight years old. Nina went to college with no plans of becoming published, but completed drafts of two books during undergrad. When Nina graduated with a BA in Psychology in 2024, she was finally ready to self-publish her first book: HOMEWARD Vol. 1.
When Nina is not working on writing fantasy, she enjoys watching movies and TV, drawing, singing, spending time with friends, and making pasta. Nina loves to travel, and her favorite place in the world is Bergen, Norway. Some of Nina's favorite books are: The Ranger's Apprentice series, the Graceling books, and The Lies of Locke Lamora.
When Nina is not working on writing fantasy, she enjoys watching movies and TV, drawing, singing, spending time with friends, and making pasta. Nina loves to travel, and her favorite place in the world is Bergen, Norway. Some of Nina's favorite books are: The Ranger's Apprentice series, the Graceling books, and The Lies of Locke Lamora.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 26, 2024
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
~~~~
5/5 GLORIOUS stars
True courage is embracing everything you fear and fighting on.
Nina K. Zhao put her whole zhAHUSSY into this. The rich, colorful world left me in AWE. THIS IS HOW YOU DO WORLD-BUILDING PEOPLE!!! I actually can’t even believe this is a debut novel, it’s givinggggg NYT bestseller. I sincerely hope it goes viral. Let’s break it down, shall we?
✅ The book is written in 3rd person narrative, but mostly follows twin Princesses Vienna and Vaunell. Going from the “🥰🧚☺️🔆” of Vienna’s personality to “🔪👹❌🤬” of Vaunell’s never failed to make me laugh (and give me whiplash).
✅ A fantasy world that’s fun, vibrant, wholesome (think Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End vibes). I LOVED THE COZY FANTASY FEELING. I can go on and on about the world, every area they traveled to felt distinct. The difference between Aargon and the Constellations was night and day, and even the time spent in the Sun Valley had a different vibe. The way Kovmalan was written was my FAVORITE. That was when this book went from 4.5 to 5 stars for me.
✅ A FL that I WILL PROTECT WITH MY LIFE. Vienna deserves everything good in this world. THAT’S MY DAUGHTER FR, she didn’t want to be great but had greatness thrust upon her! That’s the makings of a true hero. I can’t wait to watch her grow even more in future books. I honestly had a minor gripe with her in the first half because I wanted her to be more confident in herself stand up against her sister wayyy earlier, but at the same time, watching her grow into such a strong leader is SO rewarding.
✅ A villain writtEN SO WELL THAT I HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS ENDS LIKE GENUINELY I AM SCARED FOR THEM. At the same time, Vaunell is one of the most pragmatic and intelligent characters I’ve ever seen. She’s ruthless and cunning. She had a “logical” (or, what SHE thought is justifiable) reason for each and every one of her actions. She almost convinced me at times but I had to pull back and remember she’s crazy😭 The scariest villains are the ones that THINK THEY’RE GOOD. Or that they’re morally correct in their intentions. Her dedication to her cause is unmatched which is why I can’t wait to see how our FL handles this. Normally, I’m not a fan of the “evil twin” trope, but this one is an exception!
✅ The slow burn was SO CUTE but I have to mention that this is not a romance heavy fantasy at all! However, even for a heavy romantasy fan like me, TRUST ME it really did NOT matter. The characters (especially the found family aspect), world, and plot progression heavily carried this story and I forgot I wasn’t reading a romance! Even the non-romantic character interactions are fulfilling and heal something in me 😭 I care about them ALL so much.
✅ The only thing I’ll say about the plot is you go from a cozy low-stakes fantasy in the beginning (with Vienna getting to know everyone/Vaunell’s evil planning in the meantime) to high stakes, darker themes, and fast-paced action by the end. It’s well worth the wait, but I found myself missing the slower cozy vibes from the beginning even though there was virtually no plot-progression there and it was mostly character building. Obviously it couldn’t stay that way because the plot needs to progress, but dammit I just want these kids to be happy😭 I love that little found family. In my opinion, the book is definitely more character driven than plot driven in the first half, but that’s okay because I loved it!
We are blind in a dark world sometimes, but you must go on. Because the world needs you to.
WELL DONE. BUT WITH THAT ENDING? I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW!!
~~~~
5/5 GLORIOUS stars
True courage is embracing everything you fear and fighting on.
Nina K. Zhao put her whole zhAHUSSY into this. The rich, colorful world left me in AWE. THIS IS HOW YOU DO WORLD-BUILDING PEOPLE!!! I actually can’t even believe this is a debut novel, it’s givinggggg NYT bestseller. I sincerely hope it goes viral. Let’s break it down, shall we?
✅ The book is written in 3rd person narrative, but mostly follows twin Princesses Vienna and Vaunell. Going from the “🥰🧚☺️🔆” of Vienna’s personality to “🔪👹❌🤬” of Vaunell’s never failed to make me laugh (and give me whiplash).
✅ A fantasy world that’s fun, vibrant, wholesome (think Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End vibes). I LOVED THE COZY FANTASY FEELING. I can go on and on about the world, every area they traveled to felt distinct. The difference between Aargon and the Constellations was night and day, and even the time spent in the Sun Valley had a different vibe. The way Kovmalan was written was my FAVORITE. That was when this book went from 4.5 to 5 stars for me.
✅ A FL that I WILL PROTECT WITH MY LIFE. Vienna deserves everything good in this world. THAT’S MY DAUGHTER FR, she didn’t want to be great but had greatness thrust upon her! That’s the makings of a true hero. I can’t wait to watch her grow even more in future books. I honestly had a minor gripe with her in the first half because I wanted her to be more confident in herself stand up against her sister wayyy earlier, but at the same time, watching her grow into such a strong leader is SO rewarding.
✅ A villain writtEN SO WELL THAT I HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS ENDS LIKE GENUINELY I AM SCARED FOR THEM. At the same time, Vaunell is one of the most pragmatic and intelligent characters I’ve ever seen. She’s ruthless and cunning. She had a “logical” (or, what SHE thought is justifiable) reason for each and every one of her actions. She almost convinced me at times but I had to pull back and remember she’s crazy😭 The scariest villains are the ones that THINK THEY’RE GOOD. Or that they’re morally correct in their intentions. Her dedication to her cause is unmatched which is why I can’t wait to see how our FL handles this. Normally, I’m not a fan of the “evil twin” trope, but this one is an exception!
✅ The slow burn was SO CUTE but I have to mention that this is not a romance heavy fantasy at all! However, even for a heavy romantasy fan like me, TRUST ME it really did NOT matter. The characters (especially the found family aspect), world, and plot progression heavily carried this story and I forgot I wasn’t reading a romance! Even the non-romantic character interactions are fulfilling and heal something in me 😭 I care about them ALL so much.
✅ The only thing I’ll say about the plot is you go from a cozy low-stakes fantasy in the beginning (with Vienna getting to know everyone/Vaunell’s evil planning in the meantime) to high stakes, darker themes, and fast-paced action by the end. It’s well worth the wait, but I found myself missing the slower cozy vibes from the beginning even though there was virtually no plot-progression there and it was mostly character building. Obviously it couldn’t stay that way because the plot needs to progress, but dammit I just want these kids to be happy😭 I love that little found family. In my opinion, the book is definitely more character driven than plot driven in the first half, but that’s okay because I loved it!
We are blind in a dark world sometimes, but you must go on. Because the world needs you to.
WELL DONE. BUT WITH THAT ENDING? I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW!!
May 27, 2024
This book is phenomenal. I read this book twice over the course of three weeks just to soak it all in again. If you like fantasy, read this!! In case you need more convincing, here is my full review:
There are quite literally no plotholes. The plot progresses so naturally. The beginning starts off steady, as with many fantasies– you get a feel of the world, the main character, and what we're working with. There's a dark truth the reader knows going into the book, but the reasons and the details behind it get explained over time throughout the book in a gripping way. Once you know the full truth, the consequences of this are already underway and being developed (mainly through the actions of the villian). This is done masterfully and leaves you mindblown.
And the villian of this story is just incredible. This book gives readers a unique experience in that we see both the protagonist and antagonist age throughout the story from young teenagers. You get to see the villian interact with her family and the world around them. The villian isn’t just some “dark entity” the protagonist will face in the future— She is an intricate character and seeing her grow is absolutely horrifying. She is ruthless and cunning. She is smart, and powerful, and manipulative. Truly terrifying. The villian is so well-planned I truly fear for our protagonist— the ending is unpredictable. I have no idea if it’ll be a happy or horrible ending (HOMEWARD is Volume 1 of the journey).
The fight scenes are just perfection. They are so vivid and detailed, but not too hard to follow. There are some gripping scenes that left me wide-eyed and covering my mouth in shock. This story just left me on the edge of my seat. There is also another “villian” in this story that the main antagonist utilizes to her advantage. And this character is horrifying as well. I genuinely fear for the characters.
This book walks the balance beam of having all the wonderful tropes we love and not being too predictable. I love the slow burn romance in this book. The found-family trope is perfection. The action and battle is riveting. The heartwarming moments are beautiful, and the darkness is eerie and unnerving. This book has some very real psychological themes as well (grief, trauma, SA, domestic violence), and they melt perfectly into this fantasy world that the author has created.
The writing is beautiful. Every chapter aids to the plot, world-building or the development of characters and their relationships. This book ends with a bang for sure. You truly learn that no one is safe. What’s even more, is that the end of the book leaves the door open for some character conflict and development in the second, which I am thrilled for.
I am blown away. This book took me back to when I was younger–-growing up on the Harry Potter series. I felt like I was growing up with the charcaters again, while still getting to read the darker adult themes that I want in my reading. HOMEWARD is a masterpiece, and I CANNOT wait to read the rest of this series. Give this book a chance. You will not regret it.
There are quite literally no plotholes. The plot progresses so naturally. The beginning starts off steady, as with many fantasies– you get a feel of the world, the main character, and what we're working with. There's a dark truth the reader knows going into the book, but the reasons and the details behind it get explained over time throughout the book in a gripping way. Once you know the full truth, the consequences of this are already underway and being developed (mainly through the actions of the villian). This is done masterfully and leaves you mindblown.
And the villian of this story is just incredible. This book gives readers a unique experience in that we see both the protagonist and antagonist age throughout the story from young teenagers. You get to see the villian interact with her family and the world around them. The villian isn’t just some “dark entity” the protagonist will face in the future— She is an intricate character and seeing her grow is absolutely horrifying. She is ruthless and cunning. She is smart, and powerful, and manipulative. Truly terrifying. The villian is so well-planned I truly fear for our protagonist— the ending is unpredictable. I have no idea if it’ll be a happy or horrible ending (HOMEWARD is Volume 1 of the journey).
The fight scenes are just perfection. They are so vivid and detailed, but not too hard to follow. There are some gripping scenes that left me wide-eyed and covering my mouth in shock. This story just left me on the edge of my seat. There is also another “villian” in this story that the main antagonist utilizes to her advantage. And this character is horrifying as well. I genuinely fear for the characters.
This book walks the balance beam of having all the wonderful tropes we love and not being too predictable. I love the slow burn romance in this book. The found-family trope is perfection. The action and battle is riveting. The heartwarming moments are beautiful, and the darkness is eerie and unnerving. This book has some very real psychological themes as well (grief, trauma, SA, domestic violence), and they melt perfectly into this fantasy world that the author has created.
The writing is beautiful. Every chapter aids to the plot, world-building or the development of characters and their relationships. This book ends with a bang for sure. You truly learn that no one is safe. What’s even more, is that the end of the book leaves the door open for some character conflict and development in the second, which I am thrilled for.
I am blown away. This book took me back to when I was younger–-growing up on the Harry Potter series. I felt like I was growing up with the charcaters again, while still getting to read the darker adult themes that I want in my reading. HOMEWARD is a masterpiece, and I CANNOT wait to read the rest of this series. Give this book a chance. You will not regret it.
July 25, 2024
THIS BOOK!!! I waited so long to put this review out after finishing this book because I’m struggling so much to put my thoughts into words. This book is AMAZING. It’s the first book I’ve EVER given five stars too. I’m so stingy with my star ratings, and I’ve never ever given a book 5/5, but this book did it for me.
First of all the WRITING! It’s so immersive and addictive. I found myself staying up for three extra hours at night when I had work in the morning — just so I could keep reading this story.
The characters in this book are so like.. engaging? Like I can feel myself wanting to be apart of their group and wanting to be able to talk to these characters about life and shit 😭
Also, the timeline and pacing of this story is something I’ve never read before in a book, but I love it? The story jumps in time, like months at a time, and at first I was like “woah wtf” but as I kept reading the timeline made more and more sense and I was excited to learn the change that had happened in the past couple months of the story without all the dragging details about months of nothing but farming and meditation (although I’m convinced Zhao would’ve been able to make that entertaining too).
The number one reason I love this book though, is the villain. She is so wicked and twisted, and throughout the entire book you get to see this seed of darkness manifest throughout her life. You see the growth of the villain instead of just the end result like in most stories. You get to read the first hand experience of Vaunell as she develops her sick mind, her risk taking for the thrill, her developing ability to manipulate everyone around her, her growing obsession with the infamous cannibal that’s roaming the kingdoms hunting women. I am so obsessed with watching her evilness develop in all the worst ways possible and I am so excited for more.
Homeward has everything you could want in it, slow burn romance, good/evil twins, framing of murder, life on the sea, found family, reluctant hero and concealed identity, and as of all that isn’t enough there’s a villain that I promise you will love to hate. What more could a reader want in all honesty!
This book is one I will never truly move on from, i seriously cannot wait for book two to come out, and honestly I’ve been recommending this to anyone who asks for the past two weeks, and a long time to go.
Everyone go pre-order the book!!
First of all the WRITING! It’s so immersive and addictive. I found myself staying up for three extra hours at night when I had work in the morning — just so I could keep reading this story.
The characters in this book are so like.. engaging? Like I can feel myself wanting to be apart of their group and wanting to be able to talk to these characters about life and shit 😭
Also, the timeline and pacing of this story is something I’ve never read before in a book, but I love it? The story jumps in time, like months at a time, and at first I was like “woah wtf” but as I kept reading the timeline made more and more sense and I was excited to learn the change that had happened in the past couple months of the story without all the dragging details about months of nothing but farming and meditation (although I’m convinced Zhao would’ve been able to make that entertaining too).
The number one reason I love this book though, is the villain. She is so wicked and twisted, and throughout the entire book you get to see this seed of darkness manifest throughout her life. You see the growth of the villain instead of just the end result like in most stories. You get to read the first hand experience of Vaunell as she develops her sick mind, her risk taking for the thrill, her developing ability to manipulate everyone around her, her growing obsession with the infamous cannibal that’s roaming the kingdoms hunting women. I am so obsessed with watching her evilness develop in all the worst ways possible and I am so excited for more.
Homeward has everything you could want in it, slow burn romance, good/evil twins, framing of murder, life on the sea, found family, reluctant hero and concealed identity, and as of all that isn’t enough there’s a villain that I promise you will love to hate. What more could a reader want in all honesty!
This book is one I will never truly move on from, i seriously cannot wait for book two to come out, and honestly I’ve been recommending this to anyone who asks for the past two weeks, and a long time to go.
Everyone go pre-order the book!!
July 14, 2024
This was an amazingly vivid and expansive debut fantasy tale of found family and the strength that we can find within ourselves. For a debut novel this story was very impressive.
Vienna is the banished princess of a royal family that has been thrown into turmoil over her allegedly murder of the youngest family member, prince Benley. Vienna is sent on a journey of self discovery as she struggles to find a place in the world away from her home and coming to terms with the betrayal and lies that she is trying to escape. Opposite to her is Vaunell, her wicked twin sister who is the actual perpetrator of the murder. Vaunell will stop at nothing to claim her place on the throne of the kingdom, including finishing off the rest of her family.
This story is strongest when it explores themes of family and the strength that can come from letting people care about us. Vienna is a fascinating character to travel along with. She’s a naturally reserved and emotionless character who has been made even more quiet and reluctant by the fact that she is effectively an outcast with no home. While other characters laugh, cheer and celebrate she stays on the sidelines taking it in, but not showing much feelings herself. Over time she begins to know, love and trust her new family which allows her to become more expressive. This character development was done really naturally in my opinion and was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It was almost comical in the first half of the book bouncing in between Vienna, who is bopping around on the beach learning to sail and having a light hearted time and then Vaunell, who is scheming 100% of the time and is the definition of cold and ruthless. There are a lot of emotionally charged moments scattered throughout the story that are done very well and I felt very attached to Vienna and all of her friends. There are small hints of a romance brewing between Vienna and one of her friends, but it’s definitely a slow burn and the moments are few and far between which is totally fine to me because I prefer when relationships take forever to truly start.
While my overall experience with this book was really enjoyable and I am definitely going to continue reading the story and recommend the book to other fantasy enjoyers, there is room for the writing and the story telling to mature. There are certain character interactions and character relationships that felt underdeveloped and raised questions in my mind. Some parts of the story, mainly the explanations of the settings and history of the world, can get repetitive, but beyond the beginning of the book this problem gradually goes away. Overall though, for this being a debut novel my complaints are very few and easily forgiven by the many positive aspects of this story!
Definitely recommend this story to anyone who likes a fantasy story that is a mostly light hearted story of found family and a journey to self discovery with a reluctant hero that sometimes has intense battle scenes and an underlying epic quest line.
I can’t wait to see this book get published and read the rest of Vienna’s story.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy of this book. All thoughts in this review are my own and are given voluntarily.
Vienna is the banished princess of a royal family that has been thrown into turmoil over her allegedly murder of the youngest family member, prince Benley. Vienna is sent on a journey of self discovery as she struggles to find a place in the world away from her home and coming to terms with the betrayal and lies that she is trying to escape. Opposite to her is Vaunell, her wicked twin sister who is the actual perpetrator of the murder. Vaunell will stop at nothing to claim her place on the throne of the kingdom, including finishing off the rest of her family.
This story is strongest when it explores themes of family and the strength that can come from letting people care about us. Vienna is a fascinating character to travel along with. She’s a naturally reserved and emotionless character who has been made even more quiet and reluctant by the fact that she is effectively an outcast with no home. While other characters laugh, cheer and celebrate she stays on the sidelines taking it in, but not showing much feelings herself. Over time she begins to know, love and trust her new family which allows her to become more expressive. This character development was done really naturally in my opinion and was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It was almost comical in the first half of the book bouncing in between Vienna, who is bopping around on the beach learning to sail and having a light hearted time and then Vaunell, who is scheming 100% of the time and is the definition of cold and ruthless. There are a lot of emotionally charged moments scattered throughout the story that are done very well and I felt very attached to Vienna and all of her friends. There are small hints of a romance brewing between Vienna and one of her friends, but it’s definitely a slow burn and the moments are few and far between which is totally fine to me because I prefer when relationships take forever to truly start.
While my overall experience with this book was really enjoyable and I am definitely going to continue reading the story and recommend the book to other fantasy enjoyers, there is room for the writing and the story telling to mature. There are certain character interactions and character relationships that felt underdeveloped and raised questions in my mind. Some parts of the story, mainly the explanations of the settings and history of the world, can get repetitive, but beyond the beginning of the book this problem gradually goes away. Overall though, for this being a debut novel my complaints are very few and easily forgiven by the many positive aspects of this story!
Definitely recommend this story to anyone who likes a fantasy story that is a mostly light hearted story of found family and a journey to self discovery with a reluctant hero that sometimes has intense battle scenes and an underlying epic quest line.
I can’t wait to see this book get published and read the rest of Vienna’s story.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy of this book. All thoughts in this review are my own and are given voluntarily.
July 22, 2024
Holy. Freaking. Cow. First of all, this book is phenomenal, like I need volume 2 in my hands right now this second. This book is written in the 3rd person and follows two twin princess sisters: Vienna and Vaunell. I loved following both of their stories, Viennas story was full of more wholesome moments with found family and a slight romance which was adorable whereas Vaunell is actually insane… like 🔪 insane. This story had such a wholesome feeling to it, I absolutely fell in love with Viennas found family, I felt super connected and got attached to all of the characters. I want Vaunell to be put in her place, like she’s actually EVIL!!! Vienna deserves the world and deserves happiness!!!! I need book 2, I want everything to work itself out 😭 The story ended on such a good note which was satisfying but still leaves you wanting more. I loved that there was romance but the romance wasn’t the plot, the slow burn was so cute and I loved it!! Also, sometimes in books I find the villain is like underwhelming, like the heroine is clearly going to defeat them, however Zhao really wrote an incredible villain like Vaunell is truly evil, she’s nuts, and she is so smart though like she is so dedicated to her plan (I won’t spoil) and just when you think she’s insane… she gets worse. This was a 5 star read. I am OBSESSED!! I love every single one of the characters (even miss crazy twin)! Homeward comes out on July 31st and I believe is available for preorder on kindle!! Definitely add this to your TBR! I loved the adventure it took me on and can’t wait for the next book in 2025.
July 31, 2024
I truly believe this book has what it takes to be up there with ACOTAR and Harry Potter! This was just so good and I am counting down the days until book 2..
Let’s talk about why this was so amazing.
For starters, the writing was just too good! It made it so hard to hate a single character when they are written that well. It was emotional right from the start, and Everytime I tried to guess what was going to happen, something even better happened!
For being a YA book the backstory is pretty crazy.. I was SHOCKED at the beginning of chapter 9. It was so detailed and all that crazy shi happening was literally insane it made the book so much more emotional and all the characters so much more flawed but also real.
Finally this book Has so many of everyone’s favorite tropes , rival siblings, found family, friends to lovers, cannibalism !
You definitely should give this book a chance:).
Let’s talk about why this was so amazing.
For starters, the writing was just too good! It made it so hard to hate a single character when they are written that well. It was emotional right from the start, and Everytime I tried to guess what was going to happen, something even better happened!
For being a YA book the backstory is pretty crazy.. I was SHOCKED at the beginning of chapter 9. It was so detailed and all that crazy shi happening was literally insane it made the book so much more emotional and all the characters so much more flawed but also real.
Finally this book Has so many of everyone’s favorite tropes , rival siblings, found family, friends to lovers, cannibalism !
You definitely should give this book a chance:).
July 6, 2024
I have literally never felt so immersed in a book before. Every second I had to know what happened next. Every character was so complex and intricate and I fell in love so quickly. I genuinely have not enjoyed a book this much in the last year. Vienna was relatable and enjoyable. She was easy to understand and empathize with. I literally enjoyed everything about this book except for the fact that it ended.
I will never stop recommending this book. Ever.
I will never stop recommending this book. Ever.
July 31, 2024
Alright. This just might be the next big thing in fantasy. When I tell you that I am blown away, I am BLOWN away. HOMEWARD marks the beginning of an *intoxicating* series. This book will have you yelling "what the fuck" in the best way.
There is something in this book for EVERYONE to enjoy. There are warm, wholesome moments of found family and slow burn romance, and there are dark, twisted scenes for those who love high-stakes violent drama, and the adrenaline-rushing battles. This book EARNED my stars. I read this book twice before reviewing to really gather my thoughts.
One of the things that not many of the reviews have mentioned is the reward of investment. Throughout the book, there are small details and characters introduced that you may think are insignificant, but later on they are mentioned in a way that ties them to other things. This makes the story indescribably rich. Nina K. Zhao really thought out her world, and you can tell.
I've seen some people say that things start off a little slow, but so many legendary series must begin gradually. The world building is just flawless, and getting a feel for what exists and what is to come is rewarding and immersive. I wasn't bored during one moment throughout this entire novel. As the book continues, you begin to understand more and more what is at stake. This book forces you to slowly realize the gravity of its stakes, and every moment of this journey is gripping.
Vienna's character development is amazing. The character interactions and depth is wonderful. The book is filled with moments that will make you cry from joy and grin with warmth. Our main character has heroism thrust upon her, and she will have to fight to the bloody end just to have a *chance* at defeating the villian.
And the villian is truly horrifying. (The villian is what makes this book a 6/5 star read). HOMEWARD's villian is like Azula (from Avatar the Last Airbender). Imagine that Azula was the main villian instead of Firelord Ozai. She is calling the shots-and with the 16+ suggested reader age, the villian is *allowed* to show us how dark she is. There are things shockingly wicked in this book-the kind of wicked that will leave your jaw on the floor and begging for the next scenes. The "darkness" in this book is unique-a twisted darkness that is gut wrenching yet rewarding, and woven perfectly into the story.
This book will lure you in with promises of wholesome adventure, and then grab you by the throat and drag you into a world of wonder and danger. And you will love every second of it.
Nina K. Zhao has created nothing but a masterpiece. Bravo, Zhao. Bravo.
There is something in this book for EVERYONE to enjoy. There are warm, wholesome moments of found family and slow burn romance, and there are dark, twisted scenes for those who love high-stakes violent drama, and the adrenaline-rushing battles. This book EARNED my stars. I read this book twice before reviewing to really gather my thoughts.
One of the things that not many of the reviews have mentioned is the reward of investment. Throughout the book, there are small details and characters introduced that you may think are insignificant, but later on they are mentioned in a way that ties them to other things. This makes the story indescribably rich. Nina K. Zhao really thought out her world, and you can tell.
I've seen some people say that things start off a little slow, but so many legendary series must begin gradually. The world building is just flawless, and getting a feel for what exists and what is to come is rewarding and immersive. I wasn't bored during one moment throughout this entire novel. As the book continues, you begin to understand more and more what is at stake. This book forces you to slowly realize the gravity of its stakes, and every moment of this journey is gripping.
Vienna's character development is amazing. The character interactions and depth is wonderful. The book is filled with moments that will make you cry from joy and grin with warmth. Our main character has heroism thrust upon her, and she will have to fight to the bloody end just to have a *chance* at defeating the villian.
And the villian is truly horrifying. (The villian is what makes this book a 6/5 star read). HOMEWARD's villian is like Azula (from Avatar the Last Airbender). Imagine that Azula was the main villian instead of Firelord Ozai. She is calling the shots-and with the 16+ suggested reader age, the villian is *allowed* to show us how dark she is. There are things shockingly wicked in this book-the kind of wicked that will leave your jaw on the floor and begging for the next scenes. The "darkness" in this book is unique-a twisted darkness that is gut wrenching yet rewarding, and woven perfectly into the story.
This book will lure you in with promises of wholesome adventure, and then grab you by the throat and drag you into a world of wonder and danger. And you will love every second of it.
Nina K. Zhao has created nothing but a masterpiece. Bravo, Zhao. Bravo.
July 16, 2024
**Edit of my previous review to be longer and more specific.
*I was asked to be an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review, this has in no way shaped my opinion.
Coming from another author, Homeward: Vol 1 was incredible! To start, if you are a fan of YA, low to high-stakes, found family tropes, complex relationships and driven character development, slow-burn romance without focusing on the romance, and a FMC that actually works towards being the "chosen one" without automatically being amazing, this book is for you!
This novel follows our characters in 3rd POV, which admittedly, I am not a huge fan of but the author wrote it in such a way that made the characters feel more intimate than I'd expected. Nina describes the world in great but not too much detail to leave your brain lagging and she really pulls you into the characters full force.
It starts with the focus being on the MC, Vienna, and her journey after exile. It begins as a cozy, upbeat story that focuses on the world and relationships--albeit a little slow at times-- but soon jumps head-first into the world of high fantasy and political intrigue. I found myself rooting for Vi more than I did any other character because we got to see her form into this astounding character who, quite literally, started at and with nothing. I kept finding myself hunched over the pages to read more about her. Loved her, wholeheartedly!
Then we get to Vaunell, the "evil twin." I am not a massive fan of the whole "evil twin" trope but this story did it amazingly well. Vaun is that complex, horrifyingly intelligent character in the sense that she had a justification for everything she did that even makes YOU feel like she's in the right. I will say, the story does flip-flip between a more cozier, wholesome side from Vi to a more grungy, dark side with Vaun.
As always, check trigger warnings because this novel does go into some sensitive subjects but overall, this book is worth the read! Amazingly done, Nina! Bravo!! <3
*I was asked to be an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review, this has in no way shaped my opinion.
Coming from another author, Homeward: Vol 1 was incredible! To start, if you are a fan of YA, low to high-stakes, found family tropes, complex relationships and driven character development, slow-burn romance without focusing on the romance, and a FMC that actually works towards being the "chosen one" without automatically being amazing, this book is for you!
This novel follows our characters in 3rd POV, which admittedly, I am not a huge fan of but the author wrote it in such a way that made the characters feel more intimate than I'd expected. Nina describes the world in great but not too much detail to leave your brain lagging and she really pulls you into the characters full force.
It starts with the focus being on the MC, Vienna, and her journey after exile. It begins as a cozy, upbeat story that focuses on the world and relationships--albeit a little slow at times-- but soon jumps head-first into the world of high fantasy and political intrigue. I found myself rooting for Vi more than I did any other character because we got to see her form into this astounding character who, quite literally, started at and with nothing. I kept finding myself hunched over the pages to read more about her. Loved her, wholeheartedly!
Then we get to Vaunell, the "evil twin." I am not a massive fan of the whole "evil twin" trope but this story did it amazingly well. Vaun is that complex, horrifyingly intelligent character in the sense that she had a justification for everything she did that even makes YOU feel like she's in the right. I will say, the story does flip-flip between a more cozier, wholesome side from Vi to a more grungy, dark side with Vaun.
As always, check trigger warnings because this novel does go into some sensitive subjects but overall, this book is worth the read! Amazingly done, Nina! Bravo!! <3
July 31, 2024
I'm on here for Nina and Nina alone to do this review of an amazing debut novel that pulls at your heart and plays with your emotions.
Nina picked me as one to read this book and I am so glad she did. Homeward is filled with anger, confusion, hope, found family, adventure, and so much more. You follow Vienna through her struggles after banishment and each step in her journey either makes you happy to see her finding joy, or you scream and cry from the dips that happen. I rooted for her throughout the book, and I still am rooting for her when the second book comes out too! She's a strong female character who has her faults. She grows and learns as the story spans numerous years, so you see the long journey and all the fun adventures.
But in the shadows of her home... Vanuel is also growing...
Vanuel is a great villain in the story and even tricks you as the reader sometimes. You're always wondering what the next step in her evil plan is and what she will do. What sacrifices will she make herself to gain more power? Why is she so evil and hungry for power? Her actions and choices throughout this novel caused me, the reader, conflict myself. I was frustrated at Vanuel as I read her internal monologue. She is a contrast to Vienna and the perfect villain to match her twin hero sister.
Not only are the two main characters crafted so well to challenge one another, BUT the relationships in this story also make you love every character involved. If i had to pick a favorite support character, it's Cricket. She's so sweet and adorable!
Again, this was a wonderful first novel from Nina! I'm excited for the next in the series!
Nina picked me as one to read this book and I am so glad she did. Homeward is filled with anger, confusion, hope, found family, adventure, and so much more. You follow Vienna through her struggles after banishment and each step in her journey either makes you happy to see her finding joy, or you scream and cry from the dips that happen. I rooted for her throughout the book, and I still am rooting for her when the second book comes out too! She's a strong female character who has her faults. She grows and learns as the story spans numerous years, so you see the long journey and all the fun adventures.
But in the shadows of her home... Vanuel is also growing...
Vanuel is a great villain in the story and even tricks you as the reader sometimes. You're always wondering what the next step in her evil plan is and what she will do. What sacrifices will she make herself to gain more power? Why is she so evil and hungry for power? Her actions and choices throughout this novel caused me, the reader, conflict myself. I was frustrated at Vanuel as I read her internal monologue. She is a contrast to Vienna and the perfect villain to match her twin hero sister.
Not only are the two main characters crafted so well to challenge one another, BUT the relationships in this story also make you love every character involved. If i had to pick a favorite support character, it's Cricket. She's so sweet and adorable!
Again, this was a wonderful first novel from Nina! I'm excited for the next in the series!
August 3, 2024
Review of Homeward by Nina K. Zhao
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Nina K. Zhao’s debut novel took me on an emotional epic journey of self-discovery, found family, action-packed battles, a sprinkle of romance, and an ending that left me eagerly anticipating more! This book will forever sit rent-free in my mind.
As a newcomer to the fantasy genre, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Zhao surpassed any expectations I had for a first-time author. The story begins with 14-year-old Princess Vienna, who is framed by her twin sister, Princess Vaunell, for the murder of their baby brother. Banished from her kingdom with nothing but the clothes on her back, Vienna must navigate a world she’s never known, all on her own. Along her journey, she forms an incredible bond with a group of friends that feels like family.
Vienna’s ultimate dilemma—to return home and confront her family or to continue the new life she’s been forced into—kept me hooked. Although the book had a bit of a slow start, it quickly picked up pace and delivered a compelling narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed Homeward and can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Nina K. Zhao’s debut novel took me on an emotional epic journey of self-discovery, found family, action-packed battles, a sprinkle of romance, and an ending that left me eagerly anticipating more! This book will forever sit rent-free in my mind.
As a newcomer to the fantasy genre, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Zhao surpassed any expectations I had for a first-time author. The story begins with 14-year-old Princess Vienna, who is framed by her twin sister, Princess Vaunell, for the murder of their baby brother. Banished from her kingdom with nothing but the clothes on her back, Vienna must navigate a world she’s never known, all on her own. Along her journey, she forms an incredible bond with a group of friends that feels like family.
Vienna’s ultimate dilemma—to return home and confront her family or to continue the new life she’s been forced into—kept me hooked. Although the book had a bit of a slow start, it quickly picked up pace and delivered a compelling narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed Homeward and can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
July 31, 2024
When I started reading this book I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not because it sounded like the tone would be to juvenile. (And I was not feeling that at the time) But I kept reading and I ended up enjoying the story. The story is multi POV and has found family vibes, evil plots, action scenes and unpleasantry as well. (Check the trigger warnings) The story is easy to follow and you get a sense of where the story is going but not too predictably. Vienna is a relatable MC and you can really feel for her after she’s banished from her homeland. Her twin sister, Vaunell, is so evil that I’m just impressed at how she plots her way through everything in this story for a child so young. She’s so scary to me that I was kinda frustrated at Vienna at not stepping up sooner to take down her sister. However, I did appreciate the growth that Vienna displays once she accepts what needs to be done. The book ends well but definitely left me wanting more! I’m excited for what the author will come out with next.
Nina Zhao has potential as she’s still rough around the edges but I feel like she will get even better with time. Definitely give this book a shot! Nina is an author to watch.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Nina Zhao has potential as she’s still rough around the edges but I feel like she will get even better with time. Definitely give this book a shot! Nina is an author to watch.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2024
An incredibly impressive debut novel! Homeward is a rich, beautifully written high fantasy with colorful characters to root for and against. This book truly evokes so much emotion, especially when Vienna is at the temples. The story gives you so much insight to the characters’ (protagonists and villian) motivations. I am rarely this invested in the outcome of a series.
The only minor complaint is that I get Vienna and Vaunell mixed up from time to time. But. They are twins, so I suppose this is understandable and perhaps intentional?
Thank you for allowing me to be one of your first readers!
The only minor complaint is that I get Vienna and Vaunell mixed up from time to time. But. They are twins, so I suppose this is understandable and perhaps intentional?
Thank you for allowing me to be one of your first readers!
July 31, 2024
HomeWard was definitely hard for me to get into at first. The slow moving from one place to another.
I am used to more of a fast paced story line, but there was a point where everything kind of just clicked for me.
The character development was amazing. The depth Nina went to for each character was astounding.
The details she had for each town, country and area was mind picturing perfect. I could visualize every detail as if I was there.
This is a great debut novel, and.is hard to believe this is Nina's first.
This is a great adventure! Don't be afraid to take it up and join the journey
I am used to more of a fast paced story line, but there was a point where everything kind of just clicked for me.
The character development was amazing. The depth Nina went to for each character was astounding.
The details she had for each town, country and area was mind picturing perfect. I could visualize every detail as if I was there.
This is a great debut novel, and.is hard to believe this is Nina's first.
This is a great adventure! Don't be afraid to take it up and join the journey
July 31, 2024
This book was part of my want of not having sooo much smut and mainstream books thrown into my feed. The beginning was hard to get into, but I chalk that up to me being a dialogue girly. That is just a me thing, but if you are also someone who wants more dialogue, it's not in the beginning. Nina was doing all the right things for world building, trying to make sure the time didn't drown on, and I always count it as a good thing when I'm not editing the book in my head.
Another thing, I LOVE reading a female villain. It was a beautiful treat to see her twin sister manipulate the rest of the kingdom for her own ambitions.
Another thing, I LOVE reading a female villain. It was a beautiful treat to see her twin sister manipulate the rest of the kingdom for her own ambitions.
July 31, 2024
ARC COPY RECEIVED THANK YOU🥹
Within this epic fantasy you’ll find a plot that sucks you in before you know it…
Initially, I found this hard to get into (mainly because of the third person which I don’t prefer and the fact that I read a fantasy book before this one without a nice palette cleanser imo)
but the world building was IMMENSE and the places on the map like the constellations or Aargon and how these places were described was unique and brought you into another world.
Personally I haven’t read anything like this before and I cannot wait to see how this expands in the second book WOOH
Within this epic fantasy you’ll find a plot that sucks you in before you know it…
Initially, I found this hard to get into (mainly because of the third person which I don’t prefer and the fact that I read a fantasy book before this one without a nice palette cleanser imo)
but the world building was IMMENSE and the places on the map like the constellations or Aargon and how these places were described was unique and brought you into another world.
Personally I haven’t read anything like this before and I cannot wait to see how this expands in the second book WOOH
June 21, 2024
This book was a beautiful representation of loss, and found family, and a great hero in the making. The world-building and story was so magnificent and wondrous that I could hardly put the book down. How the characters were described allowed me to envision them with perfect clarity. I particularly loved how the story took place over the course of a few years, so you got to see the characters change and grow closer to who they are meant to be in that world. This book left me in tears, and I look forward to the next book! As a debut novel, this was a masterpiece in my eyes.
August 1, 2024
Wow!! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year and is absolutely phenomenal for a debut book 🌟🌟
Everyone loves a good fantasy-slow burn-found family book and this gives what you’d expect and MORE!
This book started with some great world building that immediately captured my attention— I mean hello, a banished princess? A Crazy (with a capital “C”) villain? And it was paced so well that I never felt the itch to start skimming 🙈
2025 can’t come fast enough!!!
Thank you to Nina for an eARC of this book!
Everyone loves a good fantasy-slow burn-found family book and this gives what you’d expect and MORE!
This book started with some great world building that immediately captured my attention— I mean hello, a banished princess? A Crazy (with a capital “C”) villain? And it was paced so well that I never felt the itch to start skimming 🙈
2025 can’t come fast enough!!!
Thank you to Nina for an eARC of this book!
August 1, 2024
I enjoyed reading this story about a banished princess’s journey! It’s filled with adventure, warriors, and something in the shadows. She’s hiding because someone framed her for the murder of her brother, she not only lost him but she lost her entire family. All this for a throne , she’s hunted, exiled and has no one. What happens to our lovely princess, you’ll have to read it to find out! I’m telling you it’s absolutely worth it!
Tropes:
Found family
Quest/Adventure
Reluctant hero
Princess
Slow burn romance
Dark secrets
Tropes:
Found family
Quest/Adventure
Reluctant hero
Princess
Slow burn romance
Dark secrets
May 24, 2024
I loved this book. The world building was incredible and beautifully woven into the story. The main character’s journey is painful but bittersweet at the same time. There were wild, jaw-dropping scenes where everything is coming together and all the dark truths made sense. The villian is terrifying. The sprinkle of slow burn romance makes perfect sense in this story. All in all, this book left left me in tears and CLAWING to get my hands on the next book.
May 24, 2024
Vienna is a GREAT protagonist, but Vaunel is my FAVORITE villian. I was blown away by the character development and the darkness in this story (it can get very dark). My only complaint (and it’s not really a complaint) is that the prologue talks about things that the story doesn’t mention? But maybe it will be important later? This book didn’t really have any plotholes so I feel like the prologue is important for the future… The EPILOGUE is great though (READ IT)!
May 24, 2024
ACTUALLY SCREAMING?!?! A TRUE EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER. FIRST there isn’t alot of romance, but the book was so good I DIDN’T EVEN CARE?? Also, the beginning doesn’t start off w/ a crazy hook (which I NEED for my short attention span) BUT IT’S JUST SO WELL WRITTEN I DIDN’T PUT IT DOWN UNTIL I WAS DONE??? The best part of t his book are the character interactions—- when any characters are talking, IT MATTERS. GIVE ME BOOK 2!!!
July 24, 2024
This was a great start to a series and from a debut author.
We are thrown right in and the world is explained as the story progresses, which I appreciated. There were some time jumps that seemed a bit abrupt at times, but I can see why the author wanted to shift ahead in the story.
There are some darker themes in this story as well as a found family. There was hope, but also heartbreak. I’m really excited to see how this all plays out.
We are thrown right in and the world is explained as the story progresses, which I appreciated. There were some time jumps that seemed a bit abrupt at times, but I can see why the author wanted to shift ahead in the story.
There are some darker themes in this story as well as a found family. There was hope, but also heartbreak. I’m really excited to see how this all plays out.
July 31, 2024
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a refreshing change of fantasy. I have been recommended the same 5 novels over and over so upon hearing about this book I was excited because it is something different.
Princess Vienna is framed by her twin sister for the murder of their brother and is on the run. Her travel companion, Bram, was brief and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
Vaunelle is probably the most realistic villain I have ever read and it's kinda scary. The more I read her thought process the more I was worried for our mc. (She is giving Azula vibes from atla)
There is a sub plot of a slow burn romance. It isn't the main story, but nice to have between some of the heavier topics.
I forgot that this was the first book in a series so I was upset in realizing it ended on a cliff hanger 😂 I can't wait for the second book to see what happens to Vienna and her gang.
My only con is a me problem. I did struggle to get into this book, however I believe it is my ADHD ADHDing. Once I got to more of the action I was sucked in. I did feel like it took a long time to get things really going, but I also have a short attention span. I also thoroughly enjoyed it and it deserves all 5 ⭐'s.
Trigger warnings- violence, language (if you need a squeaky clean book this isn't for you, there is cursing), cannibalism, and talk of sa/r@pe.
This is a refreshing change of fantasy. I have been recommended the same 5 novels over and over so upon hearing about this book I was excited because it is something different.
Princess Vienna is framed by her twin sister for the murder of their brother and is on the run. Her travel companion, Bram, was brief and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
Vaunelle is probably the most realistic villain I have ever read and it's kinda scary. The more I read her thought process the more I was worried for our mc. (She is giving Azula vibes from atla)
There is a sub plot of a slow burn romance. It isn't the main story, but nice to have between some of the heavier topics.
I forgot that this was the first book in a series so I was upset in realizing it ended on a cliff hanger 😂 I can't wait for the second book to see what happens to Vienna and her gang.
My only con is a me problem. I did struggle to get into this book, however I believe it is my ADHD ADHDing. Once I got to more of the action I was sucked in. I did feel like it took a long time to get things really going, but I also have a short attention span. I also thoroughly enjoyed it and it deserves all 5 ⭐'s.
Trigger warnings- violence, language (if you need a squeaky clean book this isn't for you, there is cursing), cannibalism, and talk of sa/r@pe.
May 24, 2024
Homeward was literally bone chilling and heartwarming all in one— I thought it might be predictable in some moments, but it really shocked me. The ending was gut wrenching and really sets it up for the next book I feel. Well worth the read!
July 31, 2024
Super solid debut from a budding new talent on the fantasy scene. Homeward Vol. 1 has the feel of a classic fairytale, but with plenty of unique takes and twists that keep you engaged all the way through
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4/5 stars- this one’s a vibe
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4/5 stars- this one’s a vibe
May 24, 2024
A masterful mix of light and dark elements. And some of the best fight scenes I’ve ever read in fantasy. Great work. Can’t wait for the next volume.
May 25, 2024
One of the best books I've read in a long time. A relatively simple concept of "banished princess", but so unique, original, and poetic. Breathtaking work.
July 27, 2024
I was given an arc for an honest review
I really enjoyed this and the adventures that they go though and the mystery for more. I can’t wait for the next in the series
Thank you for the arc
I really enjoyed this and the adventures that they go though and the mystery for more. I can’t wait for the next in the series
Thank you for the arc
July 31, 2024
Full Review To Come but an excellent read! Can’t wait to read more from this author!
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