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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.
586 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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
beta read this and loved it! I loved the worldbuilding and character interactions - I'll leave a more detailed review once I've read my arc!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews