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Declivity
The mission is simple. Infiltrate the Elim stronghold. Ascertain the nature of the weapon being used to counteract the storm weaving that keeps us safe. Destroy it, if necessary.
Why is it always the simple mission that goes awry?
Seren Lyracha has never known life without war. For generations, the Elim have systematically annihilated the species of Lirael. Only the Undine have successfully held them back. Desperate to find a way to end the genocide of his people, Seren infiltrates the Elim stronghold to determine the nature of a new weapon that has obliterated the storms summoned to protect the Undine cities. Captured, he finds hope in the most unlikely of places; the enemy.
Cursed and weary of the aeons spent destroying civilisations, Atalya is discovering, one world at a time, that her people have fallen from grace. Sinking into a depressive fugue, she struggles to embrace her place and find peace among the warmongering Elim Host. The closer they come to eliminating the Undine, the deeper her disconnect.
Forced together in a desperate bid for freedom, Seren must convince Atalya that falling is sometimes the only way up; that good is not necessarily right, and that the evil they seek to destroy is perhaps their last bastion of hope.
It is only from the fathoms that one can rise. And sometimes it is violence that cuts us free from the lies that bind us.
A prince desperate to save his kingdom. An angel ready to fall.
Why is it always the simple mission that goes awry?
Seren Lyracha has never known life without war. For generations, the Elim have systematically annihilated the species of Lirael. Only the Undine have successfully held them back. Desperate to find a way to end the genocide of his people, Seren infiltrates the Elim stronghold to determine the nature of a new weapon that has obliterated the storms summoned to protect the Undine cities. Captured, he finds hope in the most unlikely of places; the enemy.
Cursed and weary of the aeons spent destroying civilisations, Atalya is discovering, one world at a time, that her people have fallen from grace. Sinking into a depressive fugue, she struggles to embrace her place and find peace among the warmongering Elim Host. The closer they come to eliminating the Undine, the deeper her disconnect.
Forced together in a desperate bid for freedom, Seren must convince Atalya that falling is sometimes the only way up; that good is not necessarily right, and that the evil they seek to destroy is perhaps their last bastion of hope.
It is only from the fathoms that one can rise. And sometimes it is violence that cuts us free from the lies that bind us.
A prince desperate to save his kingdom. An angel ready to fall.
620 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 17, 2026
Thank you Seeley Lynde and BookFunnel for this eARC.
If I could use one word to describe my experience of this book, it would be 'authentic'.
If you like stories that feel moody, layered, and just a little bonkers (with a side of swearing), this one is worth picking up.
I loved the dual POVs of Atalya and Seren, and the found family was done so well. The way grief and big emotions were explored actually felt real, which I don’t always get from big fantasy worlds. Death often feels so small in the face of wars and destruction.
The reactions, responses and motivations of the characters felt so innately real, that I was immersed a couple of chapters in.
I know some reads can feel overwhelming when it comes with a glossary of terms and pronunciations, but this is worth that learning curve ten times over.
Oh, and this book is not about whales. It doesn't matter what got you here - it just matters that you stay!
"Do not all things come from darkness? No. Some things are spun from light."
If I could use one word to describe my experience of this book, it would be 'authentic'.
If you like stories that feel moody, layered, and just a little bonkers (with a side of swearing), this one is worth picking up.
I loved the dual POVs of Atalya and Seren, and the found family was done so well. The way grief and big emotions were explored actually felt real, which I don’t always get from big fantasy worlds. Death often feels so small in the face of wars and destruction.
The reactions, responses and motivations of the characters felt so innately real, that I was immersed a couple of chapters in.
I know some reads can feel overwhelming when it comes with a glossary of terms and pronunciations, but this is worth that learning curve ten times over.
Oh, and this book is not about whales. It doesn't matter what got you here - it just matters that you stay!
"Do not all things come from darkness? No. Some things are spun from light."
May 20, 2026
An option to give this book 6 or more stars would be greatly appreciated.
There is something so unique and special about Seeley and her writing. It’s not just the fact she has a heart of gold and took a chance on little me. It’s the depth with which she understands the human psyche, and translates it for the reader in such a way that you can’t help but adore her characters, regardless of perceived flaws.
This book was action packed, right from the start, but also detangled the complexities of belief and thought surrounding the circumstances. Consistently, her characters rise and learn from their experiences, developing eternally into better people. “They are good”
I adored this book more than I can adequately express, please take a chance on it. The found family is exceptional.
Thank you as always to Seeley for the early copy, all thoughts are my own.
There is something so unique and special about Seeley and her writing. It’s not just the fact she has a heart of gold and took a chance on little me. It’s the depth with which she understands the human psyche, and translates it for the reader in such a way that you can’t help but adore her characters, regardless of perceived flaws.
This book was action packed, right from the start, but also detangled the complexities of belief and thought surrounding the circumstances. Consistently, her characters rise and learn from their experiences, developing eternally into better people. “They are good”
I adored this book more than I can adequately express, please take a chance on it. The found family is exceptional.
Thank you as always to Seeley for the early copy, all thoughts are my own.
May 18, 2026
Where do I even start? Declivity is one hell of an epic fantasy. Elim, Hastasi, Undine, underwater creatures, and a raging war collide in a story packed with shifting alliances, betrayal, self-discovery, and so much emotion. I was completely obsessed from start to finish and genuinely could not put it down.
Seeley Lynde’s writing feels sweeping and cinematic, balancing brutal violence with quieter moments filled with grief, hope, and connection. The underwater-inspired atmosphere, combined with themes of faith, survival, and falling from everything you once believed in, gave this story such a unique edge amongst epic fantasy releases. Every twist hit harder because of how emotionally invested I became in these characters.
Seeley Lynde’s writing feels sweeping and cinematic, balancing brutal violence with quieter moments filled with grief, hope, and connection. The underwater-inspired atmosphere, combined with themes of faith, survival, and falling from everything you once believed in, gave this story such a unique edge amongst epic fantasy releases. Every twist hit harder because of how emotionally invested I became in these characters.
April 13, 2026
I had the great pleasure of reading this book early. It was fantastic! The characters felt so real and distinct. The world was so vivid, I felt like I've lived in Lirael. It was brutal and bloody but also there were moments of beauty. The humor hit so well with me. I was laughing out loud so often. The interactions between the Undine reminded me of the banter between the Malazan marines. I had such a great time reading Declivity and can't wait to see what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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✨ Vibes:
🪽 enemies to allies
🌊 water kingdoms & sky realms
⚔️ war, politics, and rebellion
🖤 morally gray characters
👀 slow-burn tension
🫶 found family
📖 dense high fantasy world-building
😮💨 poetic writing mixed with chaotic banter
🩸 torture, betrayal, and emotional damage
🔥 “maybe the enemy isn’t actually the enemy??” vibe
First of all, let me just say this cover is absolutely gorgeous… but I was fully expecting whales and there are, in fact, no whales involved. 😂
Declivity is a dense, epic high fantasy filled with war, political tension, found family, poetic prose, and some incredibly detailed worldbuilding. The story follows Seren, an Undine prince raised in endless war against the Elim, and Atalya, one of the Elim’s highest-ranking warriors who slowly begins questioning everything she’s ever believed. What starts as an infiltration mission quickly spirals into something much bigger as the two are forced together in the middle of a brutal conflict between kingdoms, power, and survival.
The premise of this book was honestly delicious. I loved the idea of an enemy prince infiltrating the opposing side while an exhausted warrior slowly realizes her people may not be the heroes they claim to be. There were so many moments of banter and humor woven throughout the heavier themes that really helped balance the darker parts of the story. I also absolutely adored the found family elements and Atalya’s journey of self-discovery and rebuilding herself after everything she’s endured.
One thing I really appreciated was how immersive the world felt. The mythology, politics, and history were incredibly layered and detailed. That being said, I did personally struggle at times keeping track of all the factions, races, and terminology. I found myself flipping back to the glossary pretty frequently trying to remember who belonged to what group or region. Definitely memorize the glossary before diving in because it helps a lot.
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT — stop reading here if you don’t want spoilers ⚠️
I also had some mixed feelings throughout Atalya’s storyline. Even after enduring horrific torture — including having her wings cut off — it sometimes felt like she still wasn’t fully angry enough at the people responsible, and that disconnect was difficult for me emotionally. I understand where the author ultimately took her arc, and I was glad that shift started happening toward the end, but it still made me uncomfortable watching her remain such a willing participant in some of the violence for so long.
Separate from all of that… maybe this is just the romance reader in me, but there was definitely tension brewing between Seren and Atalya. The longing was THERE. 👀 I’m really hoping we get more development between them in the next book because the chemistry and emotional buildup already has so much potential.
Overall, this was a really solid high fantasy with rich worldbuilding, emotional character arcs, poetic moments mixed with chaotic banter, and a story that feels massive in scope. If you love morally gray conflict, found family, political tension, and emotionally messy characters trying to figure out who they really are, this is absolutely worth picking up.
A huge thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC 🫶🏽
✨ Vibes:
🪽 enemies to allies
🌊 water kingdoms & sky realms
⚔️ war, politics, and rebellion
🖤 morally gray characters
👀 slow-burn tension
🫶 found family
📖 dense high fantasy world-building
😮💨 poetic writing mixed with chaotic banter
🩸 torture, betrayal, and emotional damage
🔥 “maybe the enemy isn’t actually the enemy??” vibe
First of all, let me just say this cover is absolutely gorgeous… but I was fully expecting whales and there are, in fact, no whales involved. 😂
Declivity is a dense, epic high fantasy filled with war, political tension, found family, poetic prose, and some incredibly detailed worldbuilding. The story follows Seren, an Undine prince raised in endless war against the Elim, and Atalya, one of the Elim’s highest-ranking warriors who slowly begins questioning everything she’s ever believed. What starts as an infiltration mission quickly spirals into something much bigger as the two are forced together in the middle of a brutal conflict between kingdoms, power, and survival.
The premise of this book was honestly delicious. I loved the idea of an enemy prince infiltrating the opposing side while an exhausted warrior slowly realizes her people may not be the heroes they claim to be. There were so many moments of banter and humor woven throughout the heavier themes that really helped balance the darker parts of the story. I also absolutely adored the found family elements and Atalya’s journey of self-discovery and rebuilding herself after everything she’s endured.
One thing I really appreciated was how immersive the world felt. The mythology, politics, and history were incredibly layered and detailed. That being said, I did personally struggle at times keeping track of all the factions, races, and terminology. I found myself flipping back to the glossary pretty frequently trying to remember who belonged to what group or region. Definitely memorize the glossary before diving in because it helps a lot.
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT — stop reading here if you don’t want spoilers ⚠️
I also had some mixed feelings throughout Atalya’s storyline. Even after enduring horrific torture — including having her wings cut off — it sometimes felt like she still wasn’t fully angry enough at the people responsible, and that disconnect was difficult for me emotionally. I understand where the author ultimately took her arc, and I was glad that shift started happening toward the end, but it still made me uncomfortable watching her remain such a willing participant in some of the violence for so long.
Separate from all of that… maybe this is just the romance reader in me, but there was definitely tension brewing between Seren and Atalya. The longing was THERE. 👀 I’m really hoping we get more development between them in the next book because the chemistry and emotional buildup already has so much potential.
Overall, this was a really solid high fantasy with rich worldbuilding, emotional character arcs, poetic moments mixed with chaotic banter, and a story that feels massive in scope. If you love morally gray conflict, found family, political tension, and emotionally messy characters trying to figure out who they really are, this is absolutely worth picking up.
A huge thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC 🫶🏽
February 20, 2026
Out 8 April 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Netherwood Press for the eARC.
If you’ve read Seeley Lynde before, you’ll know one thing: you never know what’s coming.
Declivity is epic fantasy with dystopian undertones, sea-soaked myth, and archangels who have fallen a very long way. It’s ambitious, imaginative, and utterly Lynde in scope. I’m a big fan of her Principalities series (which I loved), and once again I’m blown away by how her mind works. How does she come up with these vast, layered, epic adventures?
The premise is simple - which, of course, means it goes spectacularly wrong.
Seren Lyracha, a prince who has never known peace, infiltrates the Elim stronghold to uncover the secret behind a weapon capable of destroying the storm-weaving that protects his people, the Undine. The Elim travel from world to world annihilating civilisations - but why? Captured during his mission, Seren finds unexpected hope in Atalya, an angel weary of endless destruction and quietly questioning everything she’s been taught.
What follows is slow-burn enemies-to-something-more, political tension, impossible moral choices, and a fight for free will itself.
I loved the found family and banter. Lynde excels at making you care deeply about her ragtag crews - and this one is no exception. Add sea monsters, academies, piratish escapades, evil angels, other species, myths that feel as though they might rise from the page and drag you under… and you’ve got something special.
It’s epic fantasy with heart. Written for everyone - women, men, non-binary readers - a timeless story about freedom, identity, and what it means to fall… and rise.
If you enjoy reinventions of sea fae, archangel lore, found family, relentless characters, and villains on a truly epic scale, this is one to watch.
Take this as your sign to try something new. You won’t regret it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Netherwood Press for the eARC.
If you’ve read Seeley Lynde before, you’ll know one thing: you never know what’s coming.
Declivity is epic fantasy with dystopian undertones, sea-soaked myth, and archangels who have fallen a very long way. It’s ambitious, imaginative, and utterly Lynde in scope. I’m a big fan of her Principalities series (which I loved), and once again I’m blown away by how her mind works. How does she come up with these vast, layered, epic adventures?
The premise is simple - which, of course, means it goes spectacularly wrong.
Seren Lyracha, a prince who has never known peace, infiltrates the Elim stronghold to uncover the secret behind a weapon capable of destroying the storm-weaving that protects his people, the Undine. The Elim travel from world to world annihilating civilisations - but why? Captured during his mission, Seren finds unexpected hope in Atalya, an angel weary of endless destruction and quietly questioning everything she’s been taught.
What follows is slow-burn enemies-to-something-more, political tension, impossible moral choices, and a fight for free will itself.
I loved the found family and banter. Lynde excels at making you care deeply about her ragtag crews - and this one is no exception. Add sea monsters, academies, piratish escapades, evil angels, other species, myths that feel as though they might rise from the page and drag you under… and you’ve got something special.
It’s epic fantasy with heart. Written for everyone - women, men, non-binary readers - a timeless story about freedom, identity, and what it means to fall… and rise.
If you enjoy reinventions of sea fae, archangel lore, found family, relentless characters, and villains on a truly epic scale, this is one to watch.
Take this as your sign to try something new. You won’t regret it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don't even know where to start with how incredibly vast and intricate the worldbuilding in this novel is. It's breathtaking in its scope and delivery and Seeley is a voice in fantasy you should sit up and take notice of.
Declivity is one of those stories that encompasses lots of little pieces of lore, then twists it into something brilliant. Deep sea creatures full of magic and the vessels they communicate through, a war that is never ending between two enemy species and the fallen angel trope, which is woven throughout the book, but done in such a fresh and unique way that I couldn't put it down.
Prince Seren and Atalya are on opposite sides of an unending war. But when Seren sneaks into the enemies stronghold to discover their secret weapon, what he finds laying in wait, is not what he expected. Atalya is dissallusioned, unsure what she's even fighting for anymore after centuries of constant bloodshed - but what she sees in the prisoner Seren - might just change the course of her life... and the history for both of their kinds.
Honestly I can't do justice (or fit) how extraordinary the plot is in one small review, but know that your heart will hurt, you'll laugh out loud, at times you will stop reading and look at the ceiling and say - 'no, no, no, noooooo!' but ultimately this book is about found family, fighting against every odd thrown at you, forgiveness and finding who you were born to be.
If you love:
- incredibly detailed worldbuilding
- enemies to friends to...?
- opposites attract
- found family
- he falls first
- battles, death and blood
- sentient creatures of the deep
- so much blood
Then this is one to pick up! I read this prior to official release day.
Declivity is one of those stories that encompasses lots of little pieces of lore, then twists it into something brilliant. Deep sea creatures full of magic and the vessels they communicate through, a war that is never ending between two enemy species and the fallen angel trope, which is woven throughout the book, but done in such a fresh and unique way that I couldn't put it down.
Prince Seren and Atalya are on opposite sides of an unending war. But when Seren sneaks into the enemies stronghold to discover their secret weapon, what he finds laying in wait, is not what he expected. Atalya is dissallusioned, unsure what she's even fighting for anymore after centuries of constant bloodshed - but what she sees in the prisoner Seren - might just change the course of her life... and the history for both of their kinds.
Honestly I can't do justice (or fit) how extraordinary the plot is in one small review, but know that your heart will hurt, you'll laugh out loud, at times you will stop reading and look at the ceiling and say - 'no, no, no, noooooo!' but ultimately this book is about found family, fighting against every odd thrown at you, forgiveness and finding who you were born to be.
If you love:
- incredibly detailed worldbuilding
- enemies to friends to...?
- opposites attract
- found family
- he falls first
- battles, death and blood
- sentient creatures of the deep
- so much blood
Then this is one to pick up! I read this prior to official release day.
April 23, 2026
"When you dream , what do you see?"
The Elim have one mission - Infiltrate and Annihilate worlds. But the Lireal refuse to go down easy. When paths are crossed and beliefs are questioned, can the tides be turned ?
This was my first Seely Lynde book and wow. This is a fully immersive Dystopian fantasy , with beautiful prose and so many twists and turns. This is an epic battle of survival, inner strength and freedom.
You will go through a rollercoaster of emotions, there's some really touching moments , and there's some emotional damage coming (I cried).
Atalya - Firstly, I love an FMC who flips people off. She's on a journey of discovery of self , questioning beliefs and overcoming obstacles and I was so rooting for her.
Seren has that cheeky little brother mentality , smart mouthed, quick to action with little thought on consequence - he gives me Peter Pan vibes.
All the character's are so well crafted - Calder with his insessant stupid questions is my favourite!
The humour in this book was great ,
Seren and his band of merry men are snappy and quick witted. The relationship between the brother's felt very authentic.
There's lots of terminology who h can be a little overwhelming at the beginning , but the pay off is so worth it.If you want to be swept away on an adventure that will test the limits , this is for you.
Thanks to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.
Tropes
- Distopian fantasy
- Found family
- Dual POV
- Elemental Magic
Highlights
- Characters you'll love to hate
- That ending 🤯
Overall 5/5
#thenerdfam #Dystopianfantasy #fantasyreads #foundfamily #bookstagrammer
The Elim have one mission - Infiltrate and Annihilate worlds. But the Lireal refuse to go down easy. When paths are crossed and beliefs are questioned, can the tides be turned ?
This was my first Seely Lynde book and wow. This is a fully immersive Dystopian fantasy , with beautiful prose and so many twists and turns. This is an epic battle of survival, inner strength and freedom.
You will go through a rollercoaster of emotions, there's some really touching moments , and there's some emotional damage coming (I cried).
Atalya - Firstly, I love an FMC who flips people off. She's on a journey of discovery of self , questioning beliefs and overcoming obstacles and I was so rooting for her.
Seren has that cheeky little brother mentality , smart mouthed, quick to action with little thought on consequence - he gives me Peter Pan vibes.
All the character's are so well crafted - Calder with his insessant stupid questions is my favourite!
The humour in this book was great ,
Seren and his band of merry men are snappy and quick witted. The relationship between the brother's felt very authentic.
There's lots of terminology who h can be a little overwhelming at the beginning , but the pay off is so worth it.If you want to be swept away on an adventure that will test the limits , this is for you.
Thanks to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.
Tropes
- Distopian fantasy
- Found family
- Dual POV
- Elemental Magic
Highlights
- Characters you'll love to hate
- That ending 🤯
Overall 5/5
#thenerdfam #Dystopianfantasy #fantasyreads #foundfamily #bookstagrammer
April 5, 2026
Thank you Seeley Lynde for letting me be an ARC reader!
My opinions are all my own and here’s what I thought:
I want to study Lynde’s brain, because how the heck do you come up with something like this?!?!? It is such a unique world, so many unique species, unique ways of life, and oh my god so many unique plot twists!!! I loved the dual POVs our MCs. The found family was heart warming and it was amazingly written in the sense that we, as the readers, could clearly see how Atalya and Seren processed grief and how they coped with so many big feeling that I think don’t usually get properly represented in books.
This book definitely had its fair share of HILARIOUS conversations and moments. Sometimes i would reread the page just because it was so funny.
I think that with this book it’s more of a found family sorta vibe but still were given little nuggets of Atalya and Seren yearning for each other even if they didn’t really understand it. It was such a great, fun, entertaining read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy!
Only thing I didn’t really enjoy is that it took me awhile to understand the world and what each species called each other and what all the unique animals were. It was just confusing but once you got through it, it was so rewarding!
I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
Hopefully it comes soon cause I cannot wait too dive back into this world!!!!!!!
My opinions are all my own and here’s what I thought:
I want to study Lynde’s brain, because how the heck do you come up with something like this?!?!? It is such a unique world, so many unique species, unique ways of life, and oh my god so many unique plot twists!!! I loved the dual POVs our MCs. The found family was heart warming and it was amazingly written in the sense that we, as the readers, could clearly see how Atalya and Seren processed grief and how they coped with so many big feeling that I think don’t usually get properly represented in books.
This book definitely had its fair share of HILARIOUS conversations and moments. Sometimes i would reread the page just because it was so funny.
I think that with this book it’s more of a found family sorta vibe but still were given little nuggets of Atalya and Seren yearning for each other even if they didn’t really understand it. It was such a great, fun, entertaining read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy!
Only thing I didn’t really enjoy is that it took me awhile to understand the world and what each species called each other and what all the unique animals were. It was just confusing but once you got through it, it was so rewarding!
I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
Hopefully it comes soon cause I cannot wait too dive back into this world!!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A huge thank you to Seeley for including me in the ARC team for Declivity.
I absolutely adored the Principalities series so when she was hinting at writing something totally different I was absolutely on board. Declivity is an epic fantasy that is absolutely rich in World building and mythos. This world is so insanely detailed that I found myself totally emersed and when I would read I felt I was right there along with the charcters living this insanely epic tale.
The story follows two main charcters who are on opposite sides of an endless battle. But expands as their worlds are brought together in a moment that will leave them both changed forever. Seren is a prince who has been born and raised in battle. His people, The Undine live in the water and have been fighting the Elim, who rule the skies as murderous archangels with deadly powers. Atalya is one of their highest ranking... but she is so curious about the world outside of what she knows.
Her journey through her own beliefs and self growth was easily my favorite part of this book. Her development as a character being broken completely down and then rediscovering who she is was so well done. I absolutely adored her and her found family.
I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy and stories of friendships that run deeper than most.
I absolutely adored the Principalities series so when she was hinting at writing something totally different I was absolutely on board. Declivity is an epic fantasy that is absolutely rich in World building and mythos. This world is so insanely detailed that I found myself totally emersed and when I would read I felt I was right there along with the charcters living this insanely epic tale.
The story follows two main charcters who are on opposite sides of an endless battle. But expands as their worlds are brought together in a moment that will leave them both changed forever. Seren is a prince who has been born and raised in battle. His people, The Undine live in the water and have been fighting the Elim, who rule the skies as murderous archangels with deadly powers. Atalya is one of their highest ranking... but she is so curious about the world outside of what she knows.
Her journey through her own beliefs and self growth was easily my favorite part of this book. Her development as a character being broken completely down and then rediscovering who she is was so well done. I absolutely adored her and her found family.
I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy and stories of friendships that run deeper than most.
May 20, 2026
Declivity was such an interesting and very different read to what I’m used to and honestly it had me way more invested than I originally thought.
Going in, I knew I was getting fantasy, danger, and a mission-based storyline, but I wasn’t expect the level of tension and mystery woven through this. The whole mission to infiltrate the Elim stronghold immediately gives the story that “something is going to horribly wrong” feeling, and I was hooked trying to piece everything together.
What I really enjoyed is that this felt bigger than just the plot itself. There’s action and higher stakes, but there’s also a lot happening with the characters individually. Watching them all slowly unravel, grow, and make choices under pressure kept me invested because it never felt one-dimensional.
I also loved that constant feeling of uncertainty throughout the story. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were heading, something shifted and had me questioning everything all over again 😭
The world itself was really interesting too. It slowly unfolds instead of dumping everything on you at once, which made it feel more immersive and kept me wanting to know more. It’s mysterious, tense, and keeps you guessing in a way that makes it really hard to stop reading.
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Going in, I knew I was getting fantasy, danger, and a mission-based storyline, but I wasn’t expect the level of tension and mystery woven through this. The whole mission to infiltrate the Elim stronghold immediately gives the story that “something is going to horribly wrong” feeling, and I was hooked trying to piece everything together.
What I really enjoyed is that this felt bigger than just the plot itself. There’s action and higher stakes, but there’s also a lot happening with the characters individually. Watching them all slowly unravel, grow, and make choices under pressure kept me invested because it never felt one-dimensional.
I also loved that constant feeling of uncertainty throughout the story. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were heading, something shifted and had me questioning everything all over again 😭
The world itself was really interesting too. It slowly unfolds instead of dumping everything on you at once, which made it feel more immersive and kept me wanting to know more. It’s mysterious, tense, and keeps you guessing in a way that makes it really hard to stop reading.
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 4, 2026
An epic fantasy with a dystopian vibes, this immersive world full of realistic characters had me hooked from the start.
You follow two main characters, our MMC who is a part of a ruling family of one of the underwater/floating cities that have survived the arrival of superior beings with powers come to takeover their land including the FMC, who’s an even more powerful version. You follow them both as their paths cross and the FMC makes a decision to reject her way of life and not kill the inhabitants of this world like she has for longer than imaginable and instead allows herself to be captured and unfortunately gets her wings cut off by the MMC. You follow them both as she learns to integrate into their society and he deals with the repercussions of his actions and their world falling apart because of her people.
The emotionally deep and complex characters that show true devastation at losses and a bond amongst their found family made me feel for their struggles as they loose control of their world and do anything to hold on. I enjoyed the magic system of elemental type powers and how the different types of magic help with their survival and magical creatures also assist. It painted such an immersive picture of their complex world I felt like I was there too and their society being on the cusp of loosing everything had me on the edge of my seat! Overall my rating 4.6/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow two main characters, our MMC who is a part of a ruling family of one of the underwater/floating cities that have survived the arrival of superior beings with powers come to takeover their land including the FMC, who’s an even more powerful version. You follow them both as their paths cross and the FMC makes a decision to reject her way of life and not kill the inhabitants of this world like she has for longer than imaginable and instead allows herself to be captured and unfortunately gets her wings cut off by the MMC. You follow them both as she learns to integrate into their society and he deals with the repercussions of his actions and their world falling apart because of her people.
The emotionally deep and complex characters that show true devastation at losses and a bond amongst their found family made me feel for their struggles as they loose control of their world and do anything to hold on. I enjoyed the magic system of elemental type powers and how the different types of magic help with their survival and magical creatures also assist. It painted such an immersive picture of their complex world I felt like I was there too and their society being on the cusp of loosing everything had me on the edge of my seat! Overall my rating 4.6/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy
“There has to be something good left in the universe,’ I said, fingers quiet, barely moving. ‘Something beautiful. Something true.”
The Elim are angel-like beings that invade and destroy world until they battle the Undine, merlike sea people who can call storms and manipulate the seas that are like acid to the Elim. The Elim’s elite fighters, the Hestati, have incredibly dangerous powers, able to kill with touch, sight, breath, or voice. Until they fall, they disobey, or they cans alliances.
Atalya, a Hestati, and Seren, an Undine prince, are true enemies to…something more. When he literally captures and tortures her by taking her wings (it’s complicated), Atalya falls and switches sides, becoming more and more disillusioned by her own people. While battles rage, friendships are formed and Seren’s brothers, best friend (Nyx) and Prince Rivern become allies with Atalya as the way to defeat the Elim and save their world.
Weaving magic, nature, mysticism, and battles into an epic masterpiece, Seeley Lynde’s writing is funny, heart wrenching and beautiful. There’s a lot to be said about the message of first people’s v colonizers, but this is so much better than Avatar! It’s so well written that you will feel all the feelings.
Thank you, @Seeley Lynde and @nerdfam for this ARC
The Elim are angel-like beings that invade and destroy world until they battle the Undine, merlike sea people who can call storms and manipulate the seas that are like acid to the Elim. The Elim’s elite fighters, the Hestati, have incredibly dangerous powers, able to kill with touch, sight, breath, or voice. Until they fall, they disobey, or they cans alliances.
Atalya, a Hestati, and Seren, an Undine prince, are true enemies to…something more. When he literally captures and tortures her by taking her wings (it’s complicated), Atalya falls and switches sides, becoming more and more disillusioned by her own people. While battles rage, friendships are formed and Seren’s brothers, best friend (Nyx) and Prince Rivern become allies with Atalya as the way to defeat the Elim and save their world.
Weaving magic, nature, mysticism, and battles into an epic masterpiece, Seeley Lynde’s writing is funny, heart wrenching and beautiful. There’s a lot to be said about the message of first people’s v colonizers, but this is so much better than Avatar! It’s so well written that you will feel all the feelings.
Thank you, @Seeley Lynde and @nerdfam for this ARC
April 16, 2026
Thoughts:
If you're into:
✅ Dual POVs
✅ Dystopian Romance
✅ Found Family
✅ Peaches
Then I think this book is for you!
✨ Characters:
I know that people talk about the world building, but the characters were in my opinion the interesting part of this book. Atalya, Seren, Ezekiel, some others that I want to choke etc., the way they acted and the relationships in this book familial or not it was so... It's hard to describe but I just loved them.
💖 Pacing:
I'd say it's fast paced, it's around 500 pages but I got through it in under 2-3 hours because I just COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. When you start you're just immediately dropped into the action, no time to breathe because nuh uh it's time to run. You feel like you're with the character, and it just felt so immersive. With the way the book was written it was like you were inside the characters heads, heck you could feel like YOU are the character yourself.
🍪 Ending:
The plot twist, the world building, and the words I just couldn't pronounce. I loved it to the very end and I totally wasn't just sitting on the couch for an hour staring up at the ceiling afterwards... Yeah. Can't wait for the next books in this series!
If you're into:
✅ Dual POVs
✅ Dystopian Romance
✅ Found Family
✅ Peaches
Then I think this book is for you!
✨ Characters:
I know that people talk about the world building, but the characters were in my opinion the interesting part of this book. Atalya, Seren, Ezekiel, some others that I want to choke etc., the way they acted and the relationships in this book familial or not it was so... It's hard to describe but I just loved them.
💖 Pacing:
I'd say it's fast paced, it's around 500 pages but I got through it in under 2-3 hours because I just COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. When you start you're just immediately dropped into the action, no time to breathe because nuh uh it's time to run. You feel like you're with the character, and it just felt so immersive. With the way the book was written it was like you were inside the characters heads, heck you could feel like YOU are the character yourself.
🍪 Ending:
The plot twist, the world building, and the words I just couldn't pronounce. I loved it to the very end and I totally wasn't just sitting on the couch for an hour staring up at the ceiling afterwards... Yeah. Can't wait for the next books in this series!
April 22, 2026
When you dream, what do you see?
This month I got the chance to arc read the new @seeleylynde book Declivity 🐋 and wow, this book has had me in a chokehold for the last few days and now I don't know what to do with myself.
The world building was intense to start off with, however the imagery descriptions are something I could only ever dream of writing. The relationships between the characters felt real, and the love and pain they went through, I also felt with every fibre of my being. The relationship between Seren and his brothers was comforting and heartbreaking, and his relationship with Atalya was beautiful. There were so many twists and turns in this book, and I didn't see any of them coming. I laughed so many times, and cried in equal numbers.
I definitely had a soft spot for Nyx during the book (who didn't??) but I loved Atalya. She was strong, feisty, and continually questioned her place until it felt right. (And the descriptions of her looking like she'd taken a bath in a sunset were just dreamy 🌄)
And easy 5 ⭐ read, and one everyone should be adding to their TBR on release day ✨
This month I got the chance to arc read the new @seeleylynde book Declivity 🐋 and wow, this book has had me in a chokehold for the last few days and now I don't know what to do with myself.
The world building was intense to start off with, however the imagery descriptions are something I could only ever dream of writing. The relationships between the characters felt real, and the love and pain they went through, I also felt with every fibre of my being. The relationship between Seren and his brothers was comforting and heartbreaking, and his relationship with Atalya was beautiful. There were so many twists and turns in this book, and I didn't see any of them coming. I laughed so many times, and cried in equal numbers.
I definitely had a soft spot for Nyx during the book (who didn't??) but I loved Atalya. She was strong, feisty, and continually questioned her place until it felt right. (And the descriptions of her looking like she'd taken a bath in a sunset were just dreamy 🌄)
And easy 5 ⭐ read, and one everyone should be adding to their TBR on release day ✨
May 17, 2026
This was a super fun unique dystopian fantasy. Think house of sky & breath vs house of many waters set in a water world type world. Elim (angel like beings with wings and the ability to manipulate fire) are world Enders. They go to planets and essentially exterminate the entire population and then move onto the next planet. The Undine (live in the seas on large floating cities, have the ability to manipulate water and other magics depending on the region they are from) are the first species that have really ever been able to truly fight back the Elim. After Atalya an Elim falls in battle she starts to question who really is the bad guys?
The book has a great sense of found family, i really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. Lots of dry/ dark humor from some of the characters which i enjoyed since overall it was a pretty bleak and violent story. I do think it was a bit unnecessarily long, and could have used some editing down. But overall I enjoyed the action and character dynamics, not much romance at all yet but I’m a fan of a slow burn and this feels like it will deliver that.
The book has a great sense of found family, i really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. Lots of dry/ dark humor from some of the characters which i enjoyed since overall it was a pretty bleak and violent story. I do think it was a bit unnecessarily long, and could have used some editing down. But overall I enjoyed the action and character dynamics, not much romance at all yet but I’m a fan of a slow burn and this feels like it will deliver that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a unique and intriguing read. The world building took a moment to get used to as the layout of territories are all different. I got 'Atlantis' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean' vibes. The magic was spectacular! Every person had abilities that complimented each other with those in the Elim having the ability to destroy worlds. To say I couldn't put the book down is an understatement. The air and the sea are at war, so there is a military academy. I enjoyed the mash-up of academia, found family, war, and the tension. For a book with no romance, I had a blast.
Now for the cons. It might be because I'm reading the advanced copy of the book, but the amount of errors in spelling and grammar was noticeable. Hopefully there won't be any in the final print because this book was really good.
FYI: The book talks about a Him/He a lot in a negative light. It does not imply in the trigger warnings if they are speaking about God, only that it's a leader. Those who are religious may not find the comparison appealing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🫑
Now for the cons. It might be because I'm reading the advanced copy of the book, but the amount of errors in spelling and grammar was noticeable. Hopefully there won't be any in the final print because this book was really good.
FYI: The book talks about a Him/He a lot in a negative light. It does not imply in the trigger warnings if they are speaking about God, only that it's a leader. Those who are religious may not find the comparison appealing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🫑
May 18, 2026
WOW this book is so crazy!🤯
It’s definitely high fantasy and very intricate. It’s definitely a book that doesn’t make sense right away, so just beware of that! It starts off in the middle of a fight scene and it takes awhile to understand the two different species that are fighting and their magic system. Once you understand, it’s very good and has everything you’d want in a fantasy:
✅Found Family
✅Badass FMC
✅Mythical creatures
✅Combat Academy
✅Princes (lots of them😂)
& this is NOT a romantasy! I thought it might be, he definitely has feelings for her but, there is no romance or spice whatsoever❌ Which is ok because we see our FMC just now figuring out what it means to have friends for the first time. She doesn’t need to complicate things further lol.
My only complaint is that towards the end the grammatical errors became more frequent but I try to give indie authors grace with that.
Honestly, if you loved Zodiac Academy & Never Keep, I think you would enjoy this book!
🚨it is open ended! So I’m assuming there will be a book two!?🤞🏼
It’s definitely high fantasy and very intricate. It’s definitely a book that doesn’t make sense right away, so just beware of that! It starts off in the middle of a fight scene and it takes awhile to understand the two different species that are fighting and their magic system. Once you understand, it’s very good and has everything you’d want in a fantasy:
✅Found Family
✅Badass FMC
✅Mythical creatures
✅Combat Academy
✅Princes (lots of them😂)
& this is NOT a romantasy! I thought it might be, he definitely has feelings for her but, there is no romance or spice whatsoever❌ Which is ok because we see our FMC just now figuring out what it means to have friends for the first time. She doesn’t need to complicate things further lol.
My only complaint is that towards the end the grammatical errors became more frequent but I try to give indie authors grace with that.
Honestly, if you loved Zodiac Academy & Never Keep, I think you would enjoy this book!
🚨it is open ended! So I’m assuming there will be a book two!?🤞🏼
May 21, 2026
This book definitely took me surprise - prime example of don’t judge a book by the cover! Solid 4.25-4.5 ⭐️
This was definitely an epic fantasy! Seeley has a way of writing you into the pages - you literally feel like you’re there! From the jump, the action is actioning and you can’t help but get sucked in. The underwater creatures, the war - seriously, just pick it up.
I love, love, love the found family part! It’s one of my favorite tropes (I mention it all the time) and this was no exception. The dual POV made it fun to read - I like getting to see both sides.
The character investment was deep too - you can’t help but feel what they’re feeling. The grief, the hope…there’s so many emotions and depth to them. Their experiences, to a certain extent, were relatable and seeing them navigate the twists…👌🏼 . Atalya and Seren were perfect for the MC rolls in my opinion!
So glad I applied for this one - it was honestly for the cover! I love whale sharks lol but again - so surprised! Highly recommend!! Thank you Seeley and The NerdFam for the early read. All opinions are my own!
This was definitely an epic fantasy! Seeley has a way of writing you into the pages - you literally feel like you’re there! From the jump, the action is actioning and you can’t help but get sucked in. The underwater creatures, the war - seriously, just pick it up.
I love, love, love the found family part! It’s one of my favorite tropes (I mention it all the time) and this was no exception. The dual POV made it fun to read - I like getting to see both sides.
The character investment was deep too - you can’t help but feel what they’re feeling. The grief, the hope…there’s so many emotions and depth to them. Their experiences, to a certain extent, were relatable and seeing them navigate the twists…👌🏼 . Atalya and Seren were perfect for the MC rolls in my opinion!
So glad I applied for this one - it was honestly for the cover! I love whale sharks lol but again - so surprised! Highly recommend!! Thank you Seeley and The NerdFam for the early read. All opinions are my own!
May 20, 2026
4.5 stars.
Declivity is an epic dystopian fantasy and it is a wild adventure! It had me invested right from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down. The world building is written beautifully, and it is so immersive I felt like I was experiencing this dystopian world myself. The story is so unique and refreshing. It is in no way predictable and I enjoyed the experience. The characters are well developed and at first you weren’t sure who to like, but then everything starts to unfold and become connected. The emotion is real and you feel the grief, anger, hurt, and betrayal right alongside them. Overall, this is an amazing read and I was blown away with the immersive and intricate world building.
If you love epic dystopian fantasy, intricate world building, political intrigue, found family, combat academy, mythical creatures, epic battles, and high stakes then I definitely recommend checking this out!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the gifted copy.
Declivity is an epic dystopian fantasy and it is a wild adventure! It had me invested right from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down. The world building is written beautifully, and it is so immersive I felt like I was experiencing this dystopian world myself. The story is so unique and refreshing. It is in no way predictable and I enjoyed the experience. The characters are well developed and at first you weren’t sure who to like, but then everything starts to unfold and become connected. The emotion is real and you feel the grief, anger, hurt, and betrayal right alongside them. Overall, this is an amazing read and I was blown away with the immersive and intricate world building.
If you love epic dystopian fantasy, intricate world building, political intrigue, found family, combat academy, mythical creatures, epic battles, and high stakes then I definitely recommend checking this out!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the gifted copy.
May 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Declivity was such an atmospheric and emotional fantasy read. The worldbuilding felt immersive right from the beginning, and I really enjoyed the darker tone woven throughout the story. The themes of war, morality, hope, and survival added a lot of depth, and I found myself really invested in both Seren and Atalya’s journeys.
One of my favorite parts was the dynamic between the characters and how the story explored the idea that things are not always as simple as “good vs evil.” The writing had a very cinematic feel at times, especially during the more intense moments, while still balancing emotional and reflective scenes beautifully.
If you enjoy darker fantasy with rich lore, emotional character arcs, morally gray themes, and an atmospheric setting, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. 😊
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the Author Seeley Lynne for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
Declivity was such an atmospheric and emotional fantasy read. The worldbuilding felt immersive right from the beginning, and I really enjoyed the darker tone woven throughout the story. The themes of war, morality, hope, and survival added a lot of depth, and I found myself really invested in both Seren and Atalya’s journeys.
One of my favorite parts was the dynamic between the characters and how the story explored the idea that things are not always as simple as “good vs evil.” The writing had a very cinematic feel at times, especially during the more intense moments, while still balancing emotional and reflective scenes beautifully.
If you enjoy darker fantasy with rich lore, emotional character arcs, morally gray themes, and an atmospheric setting, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. 😊
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the Author Seeley Lynne for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
April 21, 2026
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
I gave this a 4 star rating because the names has me confused from the beginning. The storyline is great and unique, so I gave the characters my own name and kept reading. Starts off in the middle of battle between Undine and Elim showing us who has what talent and who is superior to each other. Each character is very distinct and frankly, I’ve had not read about this before. The plot twist took me by surprise I did not expect that I thought I had figure out the story, but the author tricked me with her creative writing skills. The character development is fantastic and aids to the storyline. The way each character reaches their own conclusion motivates the writing and my heart did not take it well when the book ended. As much as I hate cliffhangers, the little bit of epilogue she left had me intrigued and I cannot wait for the second part 💙
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was an amazing read! It had themes of politics, war, religion, friendship, and love. The world that was built was truly beautiful. The people of the sea and sky clash in battle and war that has spanned throughout very many years. The battle scenes were action packed and so well written that it felt like I was watching it happen in front of me. But I would say that my favorite part of this book are the characters. Seeley Lynde did an amazing job with not only the main characters, but all those around them too. I loved that there were moments of humor as much as there were moments of hurt and pain. The ways that the characters connected with each other was truly a masterpiece and these are some of my favorite characters I have read about, especially Seren. I found him randomly hilarious!! I highly recommend getting this book when it comes out!! You will not be disappointed!
Read
April 8, 2026I was lucky enough to receive an arc. This is one chonky book at almost 600 pages! It has a huge scope, full epic fantasy with myths, monsters, politics, the works. In classic fantasy style there are so many new words for things to understand which I did find a little difficult in this one. Some of the titles seemed overly complicated but once I got my head around them it was fine. I would not like to try pronounce them out loud though 🤪
The characters were a big draw for me. Every one felt so real and I loved the banter between them. Very found family vibes with lots of emotion.
This is the first book in a series so there will be more in this world.
I definitely recommend this one for lovers of full epic fantasy worlds.
The characters were a big draw for me. Every one felt so real and I loved the banter between them. Very found family vibes with lots of emotion.
This is the first book in a series so there will be more in this world.
I definitely recommend this one for lovers of full epic fantasy worlds.
March 13, 2026
I read this as an ARC and this is my honest review.
First off - Thank you Seeley for giving me this opportunity to read this amazing book.
This world was amazing, the world building the battles between the Undine and Elim. From cities made from ships then sinking to the bottom of the ocean to hidden cities in the middle of nowhere, to the mythical creatures and the creatures of the sea. This epic fantasy takes you on a tale that you want more of. I am looking forward to rereading this story again and for book 2 to be released.
please note - this is an epic fantasy story. there is no romance in this book.
First off - Thank you Seeley for giving me this opportunity to read this amazing book.
This world was amazing, the world building the battles between the Undine and Elim. From cities made from ships then sinking to the bottom of the ocean to hidden cities in the middle of nowhere, to the mythical creatures and the creatures of the sea. This epic fantasy takes you on a tale that you want more of. I am looking forward to rereading this story again and for book 2 to be released.
please note - this is an epic fantasy story. there is no romance in this book.
March 30, 2026
Declivity is such a standout read. Seeley Lynde builds a world that feels genuinely fresh, and the story goes in directions I didn’t expect in the best way. It’s unique without ever feeling confusing, atmospheric without dragging, and the kind of book that quietly hooks you until you realise you’ve been fully absorbed for hours. I loved how different it felt from anything else I’ve picked up lately. It’s the kind of story that reminds me why I love finding hidden‑gem authors. Truly something special. By the time I finished, I just sat there appreciating how rare it is to find a book this original.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The lore? The character arcs? The betrayal? I cannot get over how well this book was thought out. Every part of this book had such a depth to it that was amazing. I had a feeling like something was going to happen at the end and was so sad that I was correct.
That being said, I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. I really hope we get the next book soon because I need to know what they’re gonna do.
This book is pretty long and took me about a week to get through. That being said, I think it was time well spent. This book was such a vibe and I know I will be thinking about it for a while.
That being said, I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. I really hope we get the next book soon because I need to know what they’re gonna do.
This book is pretty long and took me about a week to get through. That being said, I think it was time well spent. This book was such a vibe and I know I will be thinking about it for a while.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I typically am not a fan of books that drop you off in the middle of a catastrophe, but WOW. This book was amazing! Beautifully written, I loved the characters and the plot. The way the story is told ensnared me. I could not put this book down. I really felt like I was along for the journey. Atalya is an amazing character. I do not want to give the story away, but the plot twists were masterfully done. The battle scenes were superb – not too much and not too little. I will definitely be putting the rest of this author’s works on my TBR! I hope to read the future story of Atalya and see her triumph.
May 12, 2026
I went in for the "simple mission" (spoiler: it wasn't simple) and stayed for the banter. Seeley Lynde managed to write an established family dynamic that actually feels heavy and real, mixed with that "found family" energy we all love.
There’s something about a group of princes on ships, weaving storms and questioning everything their mother told them, that just... works. Also, the brothers? I would protect them with my life. 😭
If you love high-stakes fantasy where the characters actually like each other (and roast each other constantly), put this on your TBR.
Thank you Seeley Lynde and BookFunnel for the opportunity to read this book early.
There’s something about a group of princes on ships, weaving storms and questioning everything their mother told them, that just... works. Also, the brothers? I would protect them with my life. 😭
If you love high-stakes fantasy where the characters actually like each other (and roast each other constantly), put this on your TBR.
Thank you Seeley Lynde and BookFunnel for the opportunity to read this book early.
April 20, 2026
I had such a great time reading this book, it hooked me straight away and I honestly struggled to put it down. I loved the dual POV because it made everything feel deeper getting both sides of the story, and the characters felt really real and easy to connect to. The world was super immersive, and I liked how it balanced darker, more intense moments with bits of humour and lighter interactions. The found family vibes and how it handled bigger emotions like grief were done really well too. Overall, it was such an enjoyable, character-driven read.
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