Splintered Path

Shattered World #4

by W.R. Gingell

Viv thought that her life was gaining some sort of equilibrium.

Yeah, there’s something dodgy in her family tree, and yeah, she’s living in a magic Tea House in Melbourne that has fae residents and feathered-and-or-tentacled visitors; but at least she’s starting to get the hang of it. She’s been keeping an eye on her not-quite-sane and perennially murderous co-worker Luca (while convincing him not to kill quite everyone who looked at him sideways), getting closer to her mysterious and probably-fae-royalty boss Jasper, and catching humans and behindkind causing trouble between the worlds.

But now one of her house-mates has kissed her—and she may have accidentally kissed him back. Romance wasn’t meant to be a part of Viv’s new life at the Tea she’s still just trying to figure out how her mother connected with the world in which Viv now lives, and making sure she doesn’t get killed either outside or inside the Tea House. She would also settle for just figuring out what her father is hiding from her and why he has what he has in his safe at home. She doesn’t have the bandwidth for romance as well.

Meanwhile, outside the Tea House, the “men” from Forex have begun to take a closer interest in her…

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Adult, Paranormal

Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2026

About the author

W.R. Gingell is an Australian author of urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and madcap science fiction who doesn't seem to be able to write a book without a body suddenly turning up. She solemnly swears that all such bodies are strictly fictional in nature.

She lives in a refurbished 1970s Bedford Bus in the south of Tasmania, where she spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and raising spinach, strawberries, and one small, fluffy dog. Like Peter Pan, W.R. never really grew up, and despite the inconveniences of chronically ill life, is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.

You can sign up to the The WR(ite) Newsletter by following the link!

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Reviews

[W.R. Gingell]

look, the only thing more fun than writing a kissing scene (apart from a fighting scene) is writing scenes where one character is absolutely refusing to admit that it happened and another is hell-bent on making sure to mention it at every opportunity

and with that, i leave you to wait until the book comes out

[Christina Baehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire book on a Saturday morning, so I think's it fair to say it was gripping. This series has occasionally been a hard read for me, because I suffer from an REM parasomnia which...basically manifests itself in night-time experiences that feel pretty identical to the magical system of dreams and nightmares Gingell has created here. Fun.

My sleep has been a bit better lately (I've had insomnia instead--yay!), so I've been able to catch up on the series. I particularly enjoyed the twists and ethical questions posed in this one. There's a gothic mansion (a trope that's almost impossible for me not to enjoy!) and we get to know Jasper a lot better.

There's more romantic tension in this one, the 4th book in the series, as well as the most merciless handling of the one bed trope I've ever seen, knowingly dispatched in a single dry paragraph. There is also body horror of a forensic/procedural crime type--not a favourite element of mine!--but it is fully justified by the themes.

One thing I enjoyed about the crafting of this series is that though the main character, Viv, arguably/possibly as of this instalment has two highly traumatised morally-gray men expressing a personal interest in her, their trauma isn't treated as sexy.

For example, I read a few YA books recently where it seemed like the only reason for the love interest to have a traumatic backstory was to a) make him emotionally unavailable enough to keep the tension high, b) give him an opportunity to treat the fmc with unhealthy disdain/possessiveness/obsessiveness, c) exploit the fmc's empathy and let him off the hook for his appalling behaviour.

Refreshingly, Viv is not having a bar of any of this. (She asks a brooding guy during a tense emotional confrontation, "Who spat in your cornflakes?" and I pretty much spat in my own cornflakes at that point.) In fact, she's particularly committed to NOT pursuing a relationship with the guy she likes precisely because his trauma might be pushing him to bond with her, the only kind woman he's had the opportunity to know.

Anyway, I would binge the next book if it was out.

Note: This series is near to complete. The first books are on KU and the rest are coming soon via Kickstarters, where I've been getting early-release paperbacks.

If you like the sound of cozydark murder mysteries in a magical, gothic Melbourne with loads of Aussie banter and a no-nonsense fmc who investigates crime for faefolk with a manic pixie madman offsider while dealing with her own real-world migraines and sciatica and hypochondriac dad...this is the series for you and you should go check it out on Kickstarter!

[Eve (were)-Baehr]

Amazing

I really like the depth given to Luca. Manic pixie dream characters hardly ever get more of a role in media then to be the main characters happy go lucky friend, whom the mc comes to in times of need. Seeing this type of character given actual backstory and growth throughout the story, and also as someone with power (that they definitely don’t always use for good) Is so much fun, and such a breath of fresh air.
Also the chronic pain/illness rep continues to be just as realistic, and relatable
And the height difference continues to delight me, why aren’t there more short mmc’s in literature, not every man is six feet tall!!!!!!
I shall not elaborate further, except to say that he brought her flowers!!!!!!!!!

[Suzannah Rowntree]

Look, I'm the Marie Kondo of fiction: I'm just here for the Mess.

SPLINTERED PATH, the fourth instalment in Gingell's SHATTERED WORLD urban fantasy series set in a gothic, fae-infested Melbourne, sees our sensible human protagonist Viv investigating yet another murder. But this one seems to have been carried out - even if it wasn't ordered - by the manic pixie madman who's her current crush. Worse, her scheming boss is resorting to increasingly devious strategems for keeping the inhuman Forex investigators off his back - strategems that seem to involve Viv in the worst possible ways.

Mess enough to satisfy even the most demanding of readers. But also: a twist that made me yell. Nightmares, but also some breathtakingly beautiful imagery from Melbourne Between. Dismantling the patriarchy one selfish and immature paterfamilias at a time. An empowered heroine doing her best to keep her power from being abused. And a male lead whose trauma is treated with dignity and respect despite his affinity for very nice three-piece suits.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to know SO many things and this book teased entirely too much but it was all very enjoyable and now I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next and penultimate book

[Claire]

I was missing my boi Luca during a lot of this book but THE LAST CHAPTER MADE UP FOR IT 🥰

[Nancy Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good!

WR Gingell has the most interesting and fun characters. She’s has become one of my most favorite authors. I’m so happy to have these books and people to spend time with. This story is moving toward Viv having more knowledge about The Tea House and her connection with Luca, which rather Viv wants to admit it or not, is surely love. The Shattered World is a not to be missed series. Cannot wait for book 5 and I hope that there are many more books about Viv and Luca and the inhabitants of the Tea House.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book which like the rest of the series remains twisty. Just as i think i understand something i find i missed a whole lot of other stuff. Viv, Viv’s Dad, Luca, Jasper and the rest of the cast remain interesting and fun to spend time with. I look forward to the next in the series.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Great continuation to series, but ended on a major cliff hanger. So, be warned.

(Also, as per usual, we have hints to longstanding questions being answered, but no answers yet.) We will just have to wait for book 5...

[Sarah Seele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this series while reading The Chronicles of Prydain for the first time is an Experience, because Luca and Eilonwy are constantly reminding me wildly of each other.

Love the deeper look into Jasper in this book and the previous one; love how well Gingell writes the all-encompassing strangeness of a non-human world. Love how well she knows her teas: rooibos IS INDEED the friend comfort tea!

[Roslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

One of the delights of the series is that you simply can't predict how things will unfold. There were a couple of places where the prose and/or the plot got a bit too convoluted, but there's something about Gingell's style that keeps me totally engrossed. These books do follow chronologically, so it's important to read them in order. The two final books are apparently coming out this year, and I honestly can't wait.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been enjoying this series soooo much, and this new addition is not exception! The worldbuilding is so interesting and has puzzles within puzzles and layers upon layers that continue to fascinate and surprise me. Just like Viv, you just don't know who can truly be trusted,mostly because the characters are so not human and therefore, you just aren't sure about the way they think, or their motivations.

Viv, the main character, who in the first book was essentially thrust unexpectedly into a job in what turned out to be a supernatural agency without much direction or explanation. Instead she was left floundering to figure things out by herself, along with the reader, all while her mysterious boss Jasper, put her in charge of an emtionally damaged serial killer of what she learns are Behindkind... those that live in the world of the supernatural. Over the course of the books, we, along with Viv, began to learn more about the Tea House and about the various characters and about Viv herself, who is surprised to learn she has some unusual powers of her own having to do with her voice.

What I really like about this series is how much it teeters on the edge of urban fantasy and horror. There's a mysterious, meancing vibe at times that really hammers home how dangerous some of the people that are involved in this strange world really are, even the ones without their own magic. You feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up reading those parts, as terrified as Viv is, not knowing what may happen next. It keeps you totally off balance and I love how much it often surprises me, swinging from moments where it's terrifying to a bit of humour and then back again when you look at it all more closely.

For instance, one small instance in the book is when Viv receives a bouquet of flowers from Luca, aforementioned somewhat unhinged serial killer. He tells her he picked them especially for her, and then warns her not to keep them in her bedroom when she sleeps. She later learns they grow only on graves in the Fae world and can be quite deadly. You are left, like Viv, wondering if Luca truly cares for her, or if he even knows how or what that means.

There are some amusing parts with various unique characters that reside in the Tea House with Viv, who has her own room there as well. A little half-Fae girl who is always angry, and runs around in pink tutus with a glittering wand and eats too many sweets, who likes to sleep in Viv's bed and sees her as a sort of mother/comfort figure and yet this little girl is also extremely dangerous and ferociously demanding. There's a kind of invisible octopus named Sephy that sort of exists in a parallel space but shows up to share Viv's biscuits at tea time, and at other crucial times to help Viv, and even save her life. There are people who can walk through walls and ceilings and drag her through with them, and the entire place sort of works for an oversight agency called Forex that is full of strange used-to-be-humans who have lost most of their humanity in order to extend their lives, and wear skin suits that don't really fit, and sort of have a hive mind. No one likes them, and everyone kind of fears them.

All in all, it's a wild ride that gets better and better as the books go along and you become more immersed in the characters and their worlds and activities,. Highly recommended! Can't wait for the next install

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book (like the preceding ones) handles in a delightful and often poignant way how to heal from past unhealthy relationships and build healthy relationships with found family.

I know it was just a side characters scene, but both my husband and I loved the snippet from Cora telling about her and her husband's united front in face of a meddling mother-in-law. I also love how Viv gives Jasper a needed talking to, as well as comfort.

And that is just one element of the book. The mystery kept me guessing and the surprise reveal at the end was well earned!

Luca was a chaotic delight as always. And the treehouse--I want to visit that treehouse.

I obtained my copy through the Kickstarter campaign.

[Chrissy Garwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of the eBook when I backed the Kickstarter project. I read the story quickly, confident that I would be able to catch all the sneaky little clues when the paperback version of the book is released. I continue to be delighted with the characters and the way W.R.Gingell writes such twisty little mysteries while moving the general story along. I was also delighted that I missed a couple of big hints and acknowledged that I’d wondered about a couple of strange situations that turned out to be perfect answers later on.

I’m not going to leave any spoilers. When I get the paperback, I’ll come back and write a “proper” review…

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I enjoyed this new installment of the Shattered World series. I laughed frequently at Gingell's (and the characters') dry delivery of lines, enjoyed the small cameo-like references to characters from other books/series, and was caught up in the mystery. However, there was significantly less interaction between the main characters and less forward progression on the larger series-level plot arc than I might have liked. I suppose I could describe my complaint as the whole thing just feeling very middle-book; something to get through to get forward. All in all, I didn't love it as much as previous books, but I still very much enjoyed it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better. I received this on a Friday, which was wonderful as I had only one commitment on Saturday and was able to spend the rest of the day reading. As usual the mystery introduced in this book was resolved in this book. The other, series long mysteries and questions are getting deeper and more complicated still rather than resolving. I found I was fully engaged in all aspects of the book, so that even if I was excited to know something that wasn’t revealed for multiple chapters, it didn’t matter because I was equally interested in whatever was happening in those multiple chapters. Looking forward to chatting with some fellow readers about Jasper.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Behindkind are tricksy. The narrative plays with one's head, but quite enjoyably. Who to trust? Everyone is playing games - but what game and why?

Also Luca and Viv's relationship proceeds in crooked lines. That's all I will say about that.

I also have a big soft spot for Jasper, for all that he remains an enigma most of the time.

[Rebekah Isert · Rating 5 out of 5]

*INHALE*

*begins to talk at quadruple speed, pulling in diagrams, papers, photos, and speaking about theories, parts that were literally screeched at, and everything in between*

*INHALE*

I loved it. A LOT. I CANNOT wait for the next one! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[Catherine Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful adventure in this whacky and whimsical universe. I eagerly await the next book. I can't wait to find out how her relationships with Luca, Jasper, and her dad resolve.

I obtained my copy through the Kickstarter campaign.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 continuation of the series, featuring Jasper being confusing, Viv taking even more initiative (and drawing some lines and learning some things about her past), BoRa giving us some insights into herself, and Luca being Luca.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the strongest instalments of the series. Absolutely loved the variety and depth of characters we got to see in this book. I’ve always been a big fan of Gingell but this really cements my love of her series’s

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another zinger!

I particularly enjoyed visualising the treehouse. I'm not sure I fully understood the plot, but enjoyed the book anyway. Please make the next one a teensy bit simpler!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspence is hotting up.

It's a slow burn, there's still so many questions. I've just read this in one sitting and now I've got to wait ages for book 5. If you're this far in then you must like it as much as I do.

[Chava Nechama · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good read as always

A book for thinkers. It has romance and adventure but you need to take your time getting into it. But if you do it’s well worth your time. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Katie King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better!

[Merili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. Absolutely fantastic. Luca and Viv never fail to deliver absurdity and hilarity (and ✨ romance??✨), usually in the same paragraph. Can’t wait for the next installment.

[Ellen Sheffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot thickens! What is Dad hiding? What has Viv forgotten? Oh my. Luckily we don't have to wait very long until the next book!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again the only downside of reading this book is having to wait 4-6 months for the next!

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Viv and Luca together! Good story!

[Shanrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite in the series to date! I’m looking forward to the next one!