The Unchosen Heir

by Averie August

494 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

Averie is software developer by day, and an avid reader of fan fiction by night. She is a lifelong lover of books, who has always dreamed of sharing her own stories with the world. Born and raised in the Midwest, she’s a homebody who enjoys hot coffee, cozy blankets, and watching Gilmore Girls with a cat on her lap.
Her debut novel THE UNCHOSEN HEIR releases May 1, 2026!

Reviews

[Samantha Bucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST-READ FOR ALL FANTASY LOVERS!!!!

Intentional story-telling and intricate details help paint this story and truly bring you into their world. As a “read for the vibes” type of reader, I found myself reading this book multiple times, digging myself deeper into this story each read. Each character and plot-point was written with honesty and emotion, making sure everything connects and is actually important to the story. Even slower scenes had meaning.

No “19 year old, frail and tiny, yet the most powerful person in the universe” type of main characters here. Every character has their strengths, yet prove that they are human. I felt like I knew these people and genuinely cared for them.

Averie absolutely NAILED IT with this book. I’m hanging on at the edge of my seat for the next!!!!

[Izabella Chesney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to preface this by stating that I received an ARC of the book from the author. My review is my own, honest opinion of what I genuinely thought of the book!

This book was so much fun to read!!! It's unique and intriguing. Celia and Aaron’s relationship is so special, and I loved getting to know them and being included in their twin brain energy. There's a lot of groundwork laid in this book, as it's the first in the series. There are times when it feels long or drawn out, but don't let that deter you; it is 100% worth the follow-through to get to the other side.

I loved learning about the world and its characters. Bram (An MMC Golden Retriever who will steal your heart!!!) and Isla (A true bestie and a total ride or die!!!) are such fun characters who do a great job of adding humor and support throughout the story. Callum and even Will had me smiling at times, adding interesting twists to the story. I'm excited to see what role they play in the coming books!

I loved this book, and while it can feel a little long at times, it is worth reading til the end! I can't wait to see what happens in Book Two!!!! I highly recommend adding this to your TBR and getting ready to be lost in this fantasy world! 📚📖

To the author Averie August, how dare you write such an exciting storyline just for me to have to wait for the next book 😭 Thank you for letting me read this prior to release and letting me share my thoughts with others! I can't wait for Book Two!!!!

[Danni Dever · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all LOVED this book! I will say the beginning does go a bit slow, but honestly it’s pretty on par with most fantasy novels in that way as they usually require quite a bit of world building and character exploration. That being said this is an amazing story.

I absolutely love Celia and her take no shit, tell it like it is attitude and her character development is amazing. I loved watching her come into herself and her role as a potential chosen heir and relate to her struggle to find herself and see herself in her true light.

Aaron, Celia’s twin brother and other potential chosen heir, is honestly the brother I think most people with a brother would wish for. He’s strong and powerful but still kind hearted and would do anything for those he loves.

This story delivers everything you crave in a fantasy novel: pulse-pounding action, layered romance, intriguing mystery, and unseen forces that keep you guessing at every turn. I’m already counting down the days until the next installment so I can dive back in with Celia and the crew.

Until then all I can say is, Welcome to Eskos, where nothing is ever quite as it seems.

[Cassidy Andreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review as ARC received from author

I really enjoyed this book! I love that the FMC, Celia, isn’t the typical female lead that is constantly being written about. Celia is one of my favorite FMCs so far. She doesn’t take any shit, but she’s also not rude and disrespectful for no reason and has disadvantages that she has to actually work through herself and figure out how to overcome. I loved her and her twin brothers, Aaron, relationship. They have such a strong bond throughout the book. This was a really fun read and I’m looking forward to the next book of the series! What brought this down to 4 stars for me was the beginning of the book was a little over-descriptive in some areas and I wish we could have gotten more out of Bram in this book.

[Paxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book… first of all, ohhhh my god! 5 star read for sure! I have never read a more relatable princess FMC ever! I love how Averie made the main family still feel like a family and the glimpses into their little lives were so fun but her shifts in tone were wonderful! This book had such good pacing and great world building sprinkled in so I didn’t feel so heavy in the beginning! The twists that you think you see coming.. you might want to think again, cuz I was not prepared for them! Averie even did a phenomenal job pulling us into the side characters to make us fall in love in such a short time and nothing felt forced. Every moment of reading this ARC was amazing and stunning and so rude of you Averie to leave us on this cliff hanger!!! Can’t wait for the next one!

[ashlyn Vincent-layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! It started off kind of slow but definitely worth pushing through! The author did a great job painting us an in-depth picture of everyone’s characters + the world the story takes place in. I never found myself confused or having to re-read multiple times to understand the magic system etc which was amazing :)
If you’re looking to dip your toes into fantasy books this one is a great place to start!
The spice to plot ratio was PERFECT in my opinion. Just enough ;)
I’m not-so-patiently awaiting the second book already!!

[Kody Macaulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review: 3.5/5

This is a really well written book, and I think the author did a fantastic job at building a world to get immersed and lose ourselves in. There were some slow parts that felt a little chunky, but it doesn’t feel unnecessary, it feels like we’ll understand why extra time was spent in certain areas in the next book.

Overall it was a good book with intriguing love interests and a fun twin sibling dynamic. I will definitely be reading any follow on books from the author!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!!!

I was hooked from the very beginning, and I found the characters—especially the main character, Celia—super relatable. The writing was strong, and both the world-building and plot were incredibly intriguing. I’m always a fan of a royal trope with a little spice, and this one really delivered. The ending was my favorite part—it was absolutely immaculate. I can’t wait for book two!

[Samantha Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, yes, yes. More of this, please.

I loved every minute of this read. Averie is such a descriptive, immersive writer. The world building was top tier. The relationships between characters are very relatable and makes you feel like you're in the room with them. I honestly can't say enough about this one. It's definitely worth the read!

[Samantha Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait for the second book to come out!! A great beginner fantasy with just enough spice! I love Celia’s character and her banter with her friends and relatives. The magic is a fun aspect that keeps you guessing and I definitely have theories when it comes to what is to come!

[Erica Bukouricz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! The beginning was a tad slower but was necessary for the reader to understand the world and magic system. I enjoyed that the main character, Celia, was very relatable being a little older (age 25) and wasn’t this insane warrior. She trained and worked hard to learn how to protect herself. I also loved the twin aspect and the magic system. Huge cliffhanger! Can’t wait to read the next book!

[Jenna Waddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've got magic, political games, romance, friendship... what more could you ask for. I loved it! Highly recommend! Fixed my reading slump.
Wishing the next book was out so I could keep going. Adventure awaits!

[SammVanG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I loved this world! I loved these charcters! I loved this magic system! I really enjoyed reading this book it was kind of everyone you wanted in a fantasy book. I loved the mixed of the modern and old. The way things were described, touch, sight, smell taste. I really felt like I was in this world. Celia! Let me say I have never related to a charcter quiet like her the feelings of feeling like nothing but still needing to find who they are. I cannot wait for book two and see where this story takes us.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must-read. I was immediately immersed in the high-stakes fantasy plot. The ending had me crashing out. I am a fan of plot twists, and let me tell you, this book has multiple.

The first quarter of the book felt slow. I feel that several chapters could have been condensed without disrupting the overall flow. However, the slower-paced chapters were necessary for plot and character development. The author maintained a moderate pace for the remainder of the book.

Since this book is the first installment of a series, the author spent extra time painting her canvas from scratch. Averie did an excellent job of intricately piecing together the scenery for the reader. The descriptions were full of appeasing textures and colors, highlighting even the finest lines. I was thoroughly impressed with the author’s writing ability. There were little to no repetitive words.

Are twin-related plots overdone in the romantasy realm? Probably. Do I care? No, it is one of my favorite tropes. The author does a phenomenal job leaving breadcrumbs along the way for the reader to digest. While some aspects of the plot may seem predictable, others are not quite as clear. That said, sometimes things are more complex than they initially seem. I am excited to see how this story develops in book two.