What do you think?
Rate this book
Shattered World #4
Splintered Path
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…
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…
Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2026
25 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
W.R. Gingell
46 books1,095 followersW.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!
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
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!
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Read
January 5, 2026look, 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
and with that, i leave you to wait until the book comes out
Read
February 9, 2026Amazing
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!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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
February 26, 2026
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.
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.
February 4, 2026
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.
February 25, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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…
I’m not going to leave any spoilers. When I get the paperback, I’ll come back and write a “proper” review…
March 4, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*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! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
*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! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
I obtained my copy through the Kickstarter campaign.
February 23, 2026
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...
(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...
February 25, 2026
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.
February 2, 2026
This series just keeps getting better and better!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
February 24, 2026
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!
February 25, 2026
Once again the only downside of reading this book is having to wait 4-6 months for the next!
February 25, 2026
I love Viv and Luca together! Good story!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews