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Majesty of Stone
The divine order is beginning to crack.
Long ago, a divine being known as the Ever-Seer saved four nations from the world-ending Devastation of the Vynn, sealing humanity behind impenetrable walls and binding civilization to four decrees. War between nations became a schedule. Disobedience became death. Then, twenty years ago, the Ever-Seer vanished—leaving the nations isolated and the future uncertain.
For generations, the Ember Nation has been divided in two. Now, two sisters anticipate coronations that they believe will finally reunite the kingdoms. Siphelle Amair possesses almost none of the magical ember that powers the Ember Nation, and clings to the hope that a divine gift during the coronation ceremony will finally make her worthy. Fiametta Ducrow wields a legendary reservoir of ember, but a lifetime of praise has left her unprepared to rule. As the coronation nears, the princesses are forced to confront how little they truly understand about the traditions shaping their world—and the cost of obeying them.
Beyond Ember’s borders, Dyre Nation commander Colton Levoux serves at the massive Barricade, the most feared military structure in the world. But when a weapons failure during a decisive battle with the Ember Nation exposes secrets buried deep within Dyre’s war machines, his pursuit of advancement pulls him into a perilous web of politics and power.
In a land where the sky is eternally gray and shadows do not move, the answers to long-buried questions demand sacrifice. And the world the Ever-Seer saved may not be what it seems.
Long ago, a divine being known as the Ever-Seer saved four nations from the world-ending Devastation of the Vynn, sealing humanity behind impenetrable walls and binding civilization to four decrees. War between nations became a schedule. Disobedience became death. Then, twenty years ago, the Ever-Seer vanished—leaving the nations isolated and the future uncertain.
For generations, the Ember Nation has been divided in two. Now, two sisters anticipate coronations that they believe will finally reunite the kingdoms. Siphelle Amair possesses almost none of the magical ember that powers the Ember Nation, and clings to the hope that a divine gift during the coronation ceremony will finally make her worthy. Fiametta Ducrow wields a legendary reservoir of ember, but a lifetime of praise has left her unprepared to rule. As the coronation nears, the princesses are forced to confront how little they truly understand about the traditions shaping their world—and the cost of obeying them.
Beyond Ember’s borders, Dyre Nation commander Colton Levoux serves at the massive Barricade, the most feared military structure in the world. But when a weapons failure during a decisive battle with the Ember Nation exposes secrets buried deep within Dyre’s war machines, his pursuit of advancement pulls him into a perilous web of politics and power.
In a land where the sky is eternally gray and shadows do not move, the answers to long-buried questions demand sacrifice. And the world the Ever-Seer saved may not be what it seems.
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
470 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2026
About the author
Christopher Kolven
1 book7 followersChristopher Kolven was born just outside of Tampa, Florida, a region known for its frequent lightning and heavy rains. He spent the second half of his childhood in Baja California Sur, Mexico, a place known for its lack of rainfall. He now lives in New York with his wife, Dria, and the two of them share a love for winter—unlike most New Yorkers. Christopher spent years waiting tables, painting houses, and writing daily to produce his debut novel, Majesty of Stone, with the hope of turning it into a full-time writing career. To follow the journey and get behind-the-scenes information, visit christopherkolven.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 13, 2026
This was such a unique fantasy read and one that I think has a LOT of potential. From the very beginning, I was intrigued by the world Kolven has created. Four nations - Ember, Dyre, Aloria and Telmeer - living behind enormous walls after the devastating Vynn, all under the strict decrees of the mysterious Ever-Seer? There was so much about this world that made me want to understand how everything worked and, more importantly, what had really happened in the past.
The world-building was definitely one of my favourite parts. I loved that each nation has developed its own cultures, systems and forms of magic and technology, particularly Ember and its relationship with ember, the magical energy that powers the nation. There’s also something so fascinating about the combination of fantasy and more futuristic/science-fiction elements. The world feels like it has a much bigger history than what we’re shown in this first book, and I’m really hoping the later books explore more of it.
I also really enjoyed the characters, particularly Siphelle and Fia. Their relationship is such an interesting part of the story. They’re sisters who have been separated by the division of Ember, yet are now expected to come together and potentially reunite their kingdoms. I liked seeing how differently they approached the idea of becoming queen - Siphelle desperately wanting to prove herself despite having very little ember, while Fia has an incredible amount of ember but has never really wanted the responsibility that comes with ruling.
Then there’s Colton Levoux, whose storyline brings a completely different flavour to the book. His position as a commander at the Barricade and his investigation into the mysterious weapons failure added a great element of intrigue and mystery. I particularly enjoyed watching him uncover things that seemed to challenge what he thought he knew about his world.
The plot itself kept me curious, especially with all the questions surrounding the Ever-Seer, the Vynn, the walls and why the four nations are forced to live and fight the way they do. There’s a definite feeling that we’re only scratching the surface of what is really happening, and I think that’s what made me so interested in the story.
That said, I did feel like some things were held back a little too much. There are SO many intriguing questions, but because this is the first book, we don’t necessarily get all the answers. Normally I love a good mystery, but there were moments where I found myself wanting just a little more explanation or connection between the different pieces of the story.
I also think the book has room to grow when it comes to bringing the different storylines together. Siphelle and Fia’s story and Colton’s storyline are both interesting in their own right, but at times they felt quite separate. I’m hoping that’s something the next book will build upon because I can see the potential for these threads to come together in a really exciting way.
Overall, Majesty of Stone was an ambitious and refreshing fantasy debut. I really enjoyed the characters, the world-building and the overall premise, and I loved how it blends traditional fantasy elements with technology and science-fiction influences. It definitely feels like the beginning of something much bigger.
There are things I think could have been stronger, but I was left with far more curiosity than frustration. I want to know more about the Ever-Seer. I want to know what’s really beyond those walls. I want to understand the Vynn. And, most importantly, I want to see where Siphelle, Fia and Colton go from here.
For me, Majesty of Stone is a book with a genuinely unique foundation and a huge amount of potential, and I’m very interested to see how the Everlight series develops from here.
The world-building was definitely one of my favourite parts. I loved that each nation has developed its own cultures, systems and forms of magic and technology, particularly Ember and its relationship with ember, the magical energy that powers the nation. There’s also something so fascinating about the combination of fantasy and more futuristic/science-fiction elements. The world feels like it has a much bigger history than what we’re shown in this first book, and I’m really hoping the later books explore more of it.
I also really enjoyed the characters, particularly Siphelle and Fia. Their relationship is such an interesting part of the story. They’re sisters who have been separated by the division of Ember, yet are now expected to come together and potentially reunite their kingdoms. I liked seeing how differently they approached the idea of becoming queen - Siphelle desperately wanting to prove herself despite having very little ember, while Fia has an incredible amount of ember but has never really wanted the responsibility that comes with ruling.
Then there’s Colton Levoux, whose storyline brings a completely different flavour to the book. His position as a commander at the Barricade and his investigation into the mysterious weapons failure added a great element of intrigue and mystery. I particularly enjoyed watching him uncover things that seemed to challenge what he thought he knew about his world.
The plot itself kept me curious, especially with all the questions surrounding the Ever-Seer, the Vynn, the walls and why the four nations are forced to live and fight the way they do. There’s a definite feeling that we’re only scratching the surface of what is really happening, and I think that’s what made me so interested in the story.
That said, I did feel like some things were held back a little too much. There are SO many intriguing questions, but because this is the first book, we don’t necessarily get all the answers. Normally I love a good mystery, but there were moments where I found myself wanting just a little more explanation or connection between the different pieces of the story.
I also think the book has room to grow when it comes to bringing the different storylines together. Siphelle and Fia’s story and Colton’s storyline are both interesting in their own right, but at times they felt quite separate. I’m hoping that’s something the next book will build upon because I can see the potential for these threads to come together in a really exciting way.
Overall, Majesty of Stone was an ambitious and refreshing fantasy debut. I really enjoyed the characters, the world-building and the overall premise, and I loved how it blends traditional fantasy elements with technology and science-fiction influences. It definitely feels like the beginning of something much bigger.
There are things I think could have been stronger, but I was left with far more curiosity than frustration. I want to know more about the Ever-Seer. I want to know what’s really beyond those walls. I want to understand the Vynn. And, most importantly, I want to see where Siphelle, Fia and Colton go from here.
For me, Majesty of Stone is a book with a genuinely unique foundation and a huge amount of potential, and I’m very interested to see how the Everlight series develops from here.
July 23, 2026
4.5⭐️
I am honestly blown away. This is incredible. And it’s a debut! I am currently feeling anxiety because I so desperately want the next book.
I saw the cover and a breakdown of this book on Instagram and when an opportunity to get my hands on an ARC was presented I pounced because it sounded and looked like something I would love. By god, I absolutely did love it. This is very much its own thing and is unique but I do feel some Sanderson inspiration also the split kingdom reminded me of this obscure album that I’m sure no one else who reads this would know about called Razias Shadow
The world building was handled so well and it is such a fascinating world with so much mystery, there’s so much more I want to know! The main characters are all extremely well written and the story lines kept me engaged the whole time. I especially loved the relationship between the sisters Siphelle and Fia. Both are complex characters with complicated relationships with each other and their parents. Also the blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi was excellent and well balanced! I am so ready for more of this world and these characters. I sensed a lot of foreshadowing and it feels like there is so much left on the table to explore and I will be so excited to continue the journey with book two!
I am honestly blown away. This is incredible. And it’s a debut! I am currently feeling anxiety because I so desperately want the next book.
I saw the cover and a breakdown of this book on Instagram and when an opportunity to get my hands on an ARC was presented I pounced because it sounded and looked like something I would love. By god, I absolutely did love it. This is very much its own thing and is unique but I do feel some Sanderson inspiration also the split kingdom reminded me of this obscure album that I’m sure no one else who reads this would know about called Razias Shadow
The world building was handled so well and it is such a fascinating world with so much mystery, there’s so much more I want to know! The main characters are all extremely well written and the story lines kept me engaged the whole time. I especially loved the relationship between the sisters Siphelle and Fia. Both are complex characters with complicated relationships with each other and their parents. Also the blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi was excellent and well balanced! I am so ready for more of this world and these characters. I sensed a lot of foreshadowing and it feels like there is so much left on the table to explore and I will be so excited to continue the journey with book two!
May 19, 2026
Thanks Chris for the arc. I loved this story! What an opening to an epic fantasy series! It has gods, enclosed world, lore of a dangerous outside threat, sisterly rivalry, a downtrodden character looking to make it, modern warfare mixed with magic, gods, and parental trauma. The character work is incredibly emotionally engaging and the individual stories are excellently paced and exciting. I was looking for more of what the central conflict would be in this series, and there are some hints. However, this book sets up the world and main characters. I am thrilled to look for the next installment and dig down into this world!
Review of advance copy
Read this review and more on Page Chewing
This ARC review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
Rating: 2.5/5 (Rounded to 3/5)
Majesty of Stone is the debut offering of author Christopher Kolven, kicking off the Everlight series. A stylistic blend that can be described as science-fantasy, Majesty of Stone tells a tale of rivalry between nations, between technologies, and most importantly, between people bound by blood and purpose!
The first thing that will leap out the reader picking up Majesty of Stone is the unique world in which Kolven sets his debut. Under the oversight of the “Ever Seer”, four nations are separated by impregnable barriers. Each nation has evolved into its own culture, magic system, and technologies in adaptation of their own strengths and the gifts bestowed upon them by the Ever Seer. These nations are bound by strict decrees under pain of death, or worse, the nation’s annihilation.
The rivalries are not limited to those between the divided nations. Within the Ember Nation, one of the four warring factions, preceding events have split the nation into two sub-kingdoms, each vying for dominance of the Ember nation. To present a united front against the other nations, two sisters, each with entirely different upbringings, must contest to become the new queen of the Ember nation. Princess Siphelle Amair is brought up to rule, the queendom her blooded birthright. But a lack of ember (the core material of the Ember Nation’s elemental magic) holds Siphelle back from overcoming her sister. In contrast, Princess Fiametta Ducrow, from the darker side of the Ember Nation has plenty of ember to fuel her elemental training, but she has never much cared to be queen, yet is thrust to compete against Siphelle, wholly unprepared for the rigors of ruling a nation in perpetual conflict, both internally and against the other nations.
Along with Siphelle and Fia, the third POV character anchoring the narrative in Majesty of Stone is Commander Colton Levoux. A plucky-but-down-on-his-luck commander in the militarized Dyre Nation, he is embroiled in some good ol’ fashioned military techno-espionage when he stumbles upon a plot to weaken the Dyre Nation against the invading Ember Nation.
Majesty of Stone brings rivalry and contest front and center in most of its setpieces. Whether its Siphelle and Fia’s inheritance struggles, their individual relationships with their regal parents, estranged from each other after the subdivision of the Ember Nation, or the international rivalries in service to the Ever-Seer. The deity who has all but disappeared for an age still compels nations to bow to their decree via divine servants, the Ever-Seer shows darker inclinations, belying the title of Everlight.
While I enjoyed the freshness of Kolven’s worldbuilding and the discrete cultures developing their own systems to buff their own strengths and combat the strengths of the other nations, I felt that the core narrative in Majesty of Stone struggled to keep me hooked. It is clear that the author wants his readers to be emotionally invested in Siphelle and Fia’s story, devoting two-thirds of the POV content to their conflict, but the push and pull of sibling rivalry and imperial duty veered too much into shallow YA territory, with familiar tropes and lackluster character sketches for each of the sisters and the supporting cast in their chapters. The magic system centering around “ember” also felt extremely worn out and trite, especially when the author doesn’t dig into the workings of the magic system and leaves it almost as a placeholder magic macguffin.
Instead, I rather enjoyed Colton’s sections and looked forward to his portions of Majesty of Stone. I am a sucker for good ol’ intrigue and sleuthing in my fantasy, and Kolven was setting up the pieces for a juicy story of military techno-espionage relying on Colton’s smarts and daring to get to the crux of the matter. Unfortunately, Colton’s story treads back into familiar fantasy tropes. Even so, I enjoyed Kolven’s big action setpieces. His ability to weave in and out of large battle scenes while still focusing on Colton’s narrow perspective goes beyond Kolven’s newbie author status.
In the interest in developing the sibling conflict, Kolven used up precious wordcount which could have been useful to develop the other nations and their role in the overarching conflict. With only a few nods and clues, perhaps he will delve into broader impacts and dive deeper into the worldbuilding in later sequels. I wish we got more Colton and more worldbuilding in Majesty of Stone.
With a strong premise and a solid core tenet, Majesty of Stone had a firm foundation to build a great story. However, uneven pacing, shallow systems and predictable character arcs hold the first entry in the Everlight series from truly reaching new heights.
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to BookSirens
This ARC review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
Rating: 2.5/5 (Rounded to 3/5)
Majesty of Stone is the debut offering of author Christopher Kolven, kicking off the Everlight series. A stylistic blend that can be described as science-fantasy, Majesty of Stone tells a tale of rivalry between nations, between technologies, and most importantly, between people bound by blood and purpose!
The first thing that will leap out the reader picking up Majesty of Stone is the unique world in which Kolven sets his debut. Under the oversight of the “Ever Seer”, four nations are separated by impregnable barriers. Each nation has evolved into its own culture, magic system, and technologies in adaptation of their own strengths and the gifts bestowed upon them by the Ever Seer. These nations are bound by strict decrees under pain of death, or worse, the nation’s annihilation.
The rivalries are not limited to those between the divided nations. Within the Ember Nation, one of the four warring factions, preceding events have split the nation into two sub-kingdoms, each vying for dominance of the Ember nation. To present a united front against the other nations, two sisters, each with entirely different upbringings, must contest to become the new queen of the Ember nation. Princess Siphelle Amair is brought up to rule, the queendom her blooded birthright. But a lack of ember (the core material of the Ember Nation’s elemental magic) holds Siphelle back from overcoming her sister. In contrast, Princess Fiametta Ducrow, from the darker side of the Ember Nation has plenty of ember to fuel her elemental training, but she has never much cared to be queen, yet is thrust to compete against Siphelle, wholly unprepared for the rigors of ruling a nation in perpetual conflict, both internally and against the other nations.
Along with Siphelle and Fia, the third POV character anchoring the narrative in Majesty of Stone is Commander Colton Levoux. A plucky-but-down-on-his-luck commander in the militarized Dyre Nation, he is embroiled in some good ol’ fashioned military techno-espionage when he stumbles upon a plot to weaken the Dyre Nation against the invading Ember Nation.
Majesty of Stone brings rivalry and contest front and center in most of its setpieces. Whether its Siphelle and Fia’s inheritance struggles, their individual relationships with their regal parents, estranged from each other after the subdivision of the Ember Nation, or the international rivalries in service to the Ever-Seer. The deity who has all but disappeared for an age still compels nations to bow to their decree via divine servants, the Ever-Seer shows darker inclinations, belying the title of Everlight.
While I enjoyed the freshness of Kolven’s worldbuilding and the discrete cultures developing their own systems to buff their own strengths and combat the strengths of the other nations, I felt that the core narrative in Majesty of Stone struggled to keep me hooked. It is clear that the author wants his readers to be emotionally invested in Siphelle and Fia’s story, devoting two-thirds of the POV content to their conflict, but the push and pull of sibling rivalry and imperial duty veered too much into shallow YA territory, with familiar tropes and lackluster character sketches for each of the sisters and the supporting cast in their chapters. The magic system centering around “ember” also felt extremely worn out and trite, especially when the author doesn’t dig into the workings of the magic system and leaves it almost as a placeholder magic macguffin.
Instead, I rather enjoyed Colton’s sections and looked forward to his portions of Majesty of Stone. I am a sucker for good ol’ intrigue and sleuthing in my fantasy, and Kolven was setting up the pieces for a juicy story of military techno-espionage relying on Colton’s smarts and daring to get to the crux of the matter. Unfortunately, Colton’s story treads back into familiar fantasy tropes. Even so, I enjoyed Kolven’s big action setpieces. His ability to weave in and out of large battle scenes while still focusing on Colton’s narrow perspective goes beyond Kolven’s newbie author status.
In the interest in developing the sibling conflict, Kolven used up precious wordcount which could have been useful to develop the other nations and their role in the overarching conflict. With only a few nods and clues, perhaps he will delve into broader impacts and dive deeper into the worldbuilding in later sequels. I wish we got more Colton and more worldbuilding in Majesty of Stone.
With a strong premise and a solid core tenet, Majesty of Stone had a firm foundation to build a great story. However, uneven pacing, shallow systems and predictable character arcs hold the first entry in the Everlight series from truly reaching new heights.
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to BookSirens
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Majesty of Stone By Christopher Kolven
This review is made possible by NetGalley.
TLDR: Buy this book!
Majesty of Stone follows the story of two estranged sisters recently reunited and both in line to ascend the thrones of their respective kingdoms and a low born soldier trying to climb the ranks of his own nations army.
The world of Majesty of Stone is a very interesting one. A people who have been walled off from the rest of the world to protect them from the horrors that lie beyond. By decree of the Ever Seer each nation within the wall must war intermittently to help prepare them for the future. The story follows two estranged sisters of a divided nation recently reunited and both in line to ascend the thrones of their respective kingdoms and a low born soldier trying to climb the ranks of his own nations army. Filled with psychological trauma, political intrigue and pulled together with a fascinating magic system as well as deep, rich world building has delivered an highly enjoyable debut novel from Christopher Kolven.
The good:
This debut novel is loaded to the brim with deep and rich world building that I would come to expect of a seasoned author the world feels alive as you come to experience each area the characters visit. While it doesn’t have flowery prose it’s descriptors are top tier for me. It is hard to go into too much detail here as I try to keep my reviews spoiler free.
You can really feel that the sisters Fia and Sephelle have been lovingly crafted over what I can only assume is years of work. The development throughout the story of each of them becomes deeper and more intricate as you progress. I will note I felt like Colton’s story did not reach it’s full potential but I will touch on that later.
The magic. Loved it. I am not going to say anything else on this and risk any spoilers.
The Bad (to me these are not actually bad more needs some polish):
I am going to preface this with I didn’t find anything truly bad in this book, more the general issues often found with debut authors which is to be expected.
The dialogue while not terrible felt like it didn’t know if it wanted to be more modern language or more classical in nature. This pulled me out of the emersion I would find myself sinking into when reading this book (which is great) but I find this is often the case with new authors and while a bit frustrating at times it is very manageable.
Colton. I really liked Colton’s character. The contrast from royalty to a soldier of common descent is very well done. Unfortunately, at times he feels like an afterthought. His arc while very good in places I feel was not as fleshed out as the sisters and would have loved to have had more of him in this book. I also found the pacing off between the main arcs heavily leaning towards the sisters which often left me mildly disappointed having short chapters for Colton followed by much longer chapter for the sisters. While this could be considered a negative I feel it is also a positive. Christopher wrote a character that I just wanted to know so much more about which is great but I feel it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
Finally the third act while really really good I felt a little lacking in places (see above). I think parts could have used some extra work and polish to bring it up to the same level as the rest of the third act.
Overall
Overall I really enjoyed this book and the story makes up for any issues which are largely due to a first time author. The world building took me off guard as I was not expecting this level from a debut novel. I see a very bright future for ahead Christopher Kolven and I am excited to see how he develops as a writer and I can’t wait see where the next instalment takes me. This book is well worth your time and money!
This review is made possible by NetGalley.
TLDR: Buy this book!
Majesty of Stone follows the story of two estranged sisters recently reunited and both in line to ascend the thrones of their respective kingdoms and a low born soldier trying to climb the ranks of his own nations army.
The world of Majesty of Stone is a very interesting one. A people who have been walled off from the rest of the world to protect them from the horrors that lie beyond. By decree of the Ever Seer each nation within the wall must war intermittently to help prepare them for the future. The story follows two estranged sisters of a divided nation recently reunited and both in line to ascend the thrones of their respective kingdoms and a low born soldier trying to climb the ranks of his own nations army. Filled with psychological trauma, political intrigue and pulled together with a fascinating magic system as well as deep, rich world building has delivered an highly enjoyable debut novel from Christopher Kolven.
The good:
This debut novel is loaded to the brim with deep and rich world building that I would come to expect of a seasoned author the world feels alive as you come to experience each area the characters visit. While it doesn’t have flowery prose it’s descriptors are top tier for me. It is hard to go into too much detail here as I try to keep my reviews spoiler free.
You can really feel that the sisters Fia and Sephelle have been lovingly crafted over what I can only assume is years of work. The development throughout the story of each of them becomes deeper and more intricate as you progress. I will note I felt like Colton’s story did not reach it’s full potential but I will touch on that later.
The magic. Loved it. I am not going to say anything else on this and risk any spoilers.
The Bad (to me these are not actually bad more needs some polish):
I am going to preface this with I didn’t find anything truly bad in this book, more the general issues often found with debut authors which is to be expected.
The dialogue while not terrible felt like it didn’t know if it wanted to be more modern language or more classical in nature. This pulled me out of the emersion I would find myself sinking into when reading this book (which is great) but I find this is often the case with new authors and while a bit frustrating at times it is very manageable.
Colton. I really liked Colton’s character. The contrast from royalty to a soldier of common descent is very well done. Unfortunately, at times he feels like an afterthought. His arc while very good in places I feel was not as fleshed out as the sisters and would have loved to have had more of him in this book. I also found the pacing off between the main arcs heavily leaning towards the sisters which often left me mildly disappointed having short chapters for Colton followed by much longer chapter for the sisters. While this could be considered a negative I feel it is also a positive. Christopher wrote a character that I just wanted to know so much more about which is great but I feel it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
Finally the third act while really really good I felt a little lacking in places (see above). I think parts could have used some extra work and polish to bring it up to the same level as the rest of the third act.
Overall
Overall I really enjoyed this book and the story makes up for any issues which are largely due to a first time author. The world building took me off guard as I was not expecting this level from a debut novel. I see a very bright future for ahead Christopher Kolven and I am excited to see how he develops as a writer and I can’t wait see where the next instalment takes me. This book is well worth your time and money!
Review of advance copy
***Thank you to BookSirens and Christopher Kolven for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own.***
The Everlight series is off to an incredible, memorable start. A perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy, it left me guessing until the very end.
Majesty of Stone is packed full of epic battles, mysteries, and heart-wrenching moments. Dropped into a lore-rich world, I never wanted to leave. Kolven’s mastery of character and world development is apparent from the very first page, creating a dystopian society where battles are waged against neighboring countries every two months by order of the Ever-Seer under pain of death.
We follow three characters through Majesty of Stone: sisters Siphelle and Fia, future queens of the Ember Nation and the Depths respectively, and Colton, an orphan trying to climb the ranks of the military and faced with the threat of incompetent bureaucracy at every turn.
Raised to be a tool instead of a person, Siphelle’s character explores the various facets of grief while trying to survive an abusive familial relationship. Out of the three main characters, she became my favorite. Siphelle reminded me of Ender from Ender’s Game, pushing herself to the absolute limits for everyone else’s benefit. Her entire story is heartbreaking from beginning to end, a complicated amalgamation of the past that shaped her and who she became among the wreckage of her soul.
The typical cocky character who was sheltered throughout her entire life, Fia proves to be a both a loose cannon and the character who shows the most potential for growth. She is the perfect foil to Siphelle and her pain, providing a stark contrast from how they were raised and where they grew up. I am intrigued to see what happens in the next book and how she grows and changes as a person. Her “beg for forgiveness instead of ask for permission” attitude will get her into future trouble.
Commander Colton’s chapters proved to be a nice break from the world-building and politics of Siphelle and Fia’s lives, allowing the reader time to collect themselves and compose their thoughts on the sisters taking over a warring kingdom. In Colton’s storyline, we find more questions than answers, making the reader hungry for more.
Hopefully in the next novel we learn more about the other two countries in the world. The glimpses that we see in Majesty of Stone were enough to create an insatiable appetite for the world, its characters, and its history. I cannot wait to see what comes next for the Everlight series. Well done to Christopher Kolven for this magnificent epic fantasy!
The Everlight series is off to an incredible, memorable start. A perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy, it left me guessing until the very end.
Majesty of Stone is packed full of epic battles, mysteries, and heart-wrenching moments. Dropped into a lore-rich world, I never wanted to leave. Kolven’s mastery of character and world development is apparent from the very first page, creating a dystopian society where battles are waged against neighboring countries every two months by order of the Ever-Seer under pain of death.
We follow three characters through Majesty of Stone: sisters Siphelle and Fia, future queens of the Ember Nation and the Depths respectively, and Colton, an orphan trying to climb the ranks of the military and faced with the threat of incompetent bureaucracy at every turn.
Raised to be a tool instead of a person, Siphelle’s character explores the various facets of grief while trying to survive an abusive familial relationship. Out of the three main characters, she became my favorite. Siphelle reminded me of Ender from Ender’s Game, pushing herself to the absolute limits for everyone else’s benefit. Her entire story is heartbreaking from beginning to end, a complicated amalgamation of the past that shaped her and who she became among the wreckage of her soul.
The typical cocky character who was sheltered throughout her entire life, Fia proves to be a both a loose cannon and the character who shows the most potential for growth. She is the perfect foil to Siphelle and her pain, providing a stark contrast from how they were raised and where they grew up. I am intrigued to see what happens in the next book and how she grows and changes as a person. Her “beg for forgiveness instead of ask for permission” attitude will get her into future trouble.
Commander Colton’s chapters proved to be a nice break from the world-building and politics of Siphelle and Fia’s lives, allowing the reader time to collect themselves and compose their thoughts on the sisters taking over a warring kingdom. In Colton’s storyline, we find more questions than answers, making the reader hungry for more.
Hopefully in the next novel we learn more about the other two countries in the world. The glimpses that we see in Majesty of Stone were enough to create an insatiable appetite for the world, its characters, and its history. I cannot wait to see what comes next for the Everlight series. Well done to Christopher Kolven for this magnificent epic fantasy!
August 12, 2026
From the get-go, Majesty of Stone caught my attention from the get, and it HELD it! My initial thoughts were that it reminded me of Avatar (The Last Airbender) in that the initial magic to which we are introduced - Ember - reminded me of the fire-nation, especially since in MoS 4 kingdoms are warring, but it is SO MUCH MORE!!!! And Ember is not at all fire, but its own wholly captivating and unique magic, unlike any other I can think of.
This story centers around two of the four kingdoms, one fractured, with two sisters approaching queendom, the second with an ambitious military commander. The walled-in world in which they all live is ruled by decrees set forth by an absentee god, the Ever-Seer, and it is full of both political and magical intrigue, as well as SO MANY SECRETS.
Siphelle, raised without love, trained to be Queen, fully prepared for it in all ways, wise & knowledgeable, but she doesn’t want it. She, though kind & diplomatic, through her upbringing and cruel circumstances, begins to become consumed by a rage she’d unknowingly surpassed for years. Her manipulative mother capitalizes on that. Her absentee father unconsciously aids in it. And her relationship with her sister - whom she loves and wants to trust - as well as the future of their country, hang in the balance.
Her sister Fia, older & far more powerful, raised as a princess by a doting father, desiring queendom with her whole heart … but woe-fully naive and ill-prepared. What happens in the tower they must ascend during their coronation uses each girls hopes, dreams, fears, strengths && weaknesses against them. And at the end, the best & the worst outcomes occur, leaving a MASSIVE cliffhanger.
As for Colton, the military commander in an entirely separate kingdom, he faces challenges galore, risks his neck to seek out secrets meant to be kept hidden, and manages to both rise and fall in rank in the process. When things finally seem to be looking up for him, additional unforeseen complications arise, and his story ends with SO many questions.
AND THE EPILOGUE. Holy WOW. Not only does each individual story end with everything up in the air, but the epilogue leaves us with an epic cliffhanger pertaining to the entire world. There are SO many things yet to learn about this world and its characters, and I absolutely cannot wait to discover them. It’s hard to believe this is a debut, because this world is so incredibly well thought out and intricately constructed, and the characters within match the intensity while capturing your heart.
This story centers around two of the four kingdoms, one fractured, with two sisters approaching queendom, the second with an ambitious military commander. The walled-in world in which they all live is ruled by decrees set forth by an absentee god, the Ever-Seer, and it is full of both political and magical intrigue, as well as SO MANY SECRETS.
Siphelle, raised without love, trained to be Queen, fully prepared for it in all ways, wise & knowledgeable, but she doesn’t want it. She, though kind & diplomatic, through her upbringing and cruel circumstances, begins to become consumed by a rage she’d unknowingly surpassed for years. Her manipulative mother capitalizes on that. Her absentee father unconsciously aids in it. And her relationship with her sister - whom she loves and wants to trust - as well as the future of their country, hang in the balance.
Her sister Fia, older & far more powerful, raised as a princess by a doting father, desiring queendom with her whole heart … but woe-fully naive and ill-prepared. What happens in the tower they must ascend during their coronation uses each girls hopes, dreams, fears, strengths && weaknesses against them. And at the end, the best & the worst outcomes occur, leaving a MASSIVE cliffhanger.
As for Colton, the military commander in an entirely separate kingdom, he faces challenges galore, risks his neck to seek out secrets meant to be kept hidden, and manages to both rise and fall in rank in the process. When things finally seem to be looking up for him, additional unforeseen complications arise, and his story ends with SO many questions.
AND THE EPILOGUE. Holy WOW. Not only does each individual story end with everything up in the air, but the epilogue leaves us with an epic cliffhanger pertaining to the entire world. There are SO many things yet to learn about this world and its characters, and I absolutely cannot wait to discover them. It’s hard to believe this is a debut, because this world is so incredibly well thought out and intricately constructed, and the characters within match the intensity while capturing your heart.
August 27, 2026
Majesty of Stone by Christopher Kolven is an incredibly ambitious fantasy debut that immediately grabbed my attention with its unique combination of political fantasy, magic, warfare, and science-fiction elements. This is the kind of book that makes you realize there is a much larger story hiding behind what you're currently reading, and by the end, I was left with far more questions than answers—in the best possible way.
From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the world Kolven created. The four nations each have their own cultures, systems, technologies, and relationships with magic, and I especially enjoyed Ember and its connection to ember, the magical energy that powers the nation. There is also a really interesting combination of futuristic technology and traditional fantasy elements, particularly when it comes to warfare. It gives the world a distinctive identity instead of feeling like another familiar fantasy setting.
The worldbuilding is easily one of my favorite parts of the book. Even though this is only the first installment, the world already feels like it has thousands of years of history behind it. There are the Ever-Seer, the Vynn, the walls surrounding civilization, the mysterious decrees, and the unanswered questions about what actually exists beyond the known world. I constantly found myself wanting to know more. What happened to the Ever-Seer? What exactly are the Vynn? What is really beyond those walls? And why does the world operate the way it does?
I also really enjoyed the political side of the story. There is plenty of tension, but the book isn't dependent on constant fighting to keep things interesting. A lot of the conflict comes from trying to understand the world, figuring out who can be trusted, and discovering how much these characters don't actually know about the systems they've been raised to follow. That made the story feel more like a mystery unfolding within a fantasy world than a straightforward war story.
The writing style worked particularly well for me. The prose isn't overly flowery, but the descriptions are incredibly effective. The world feels alive as the characters travel through different locations, and I appreciated the inner monologues and occasional moments of comic relief. And the map was absolutely a bonus for me—it made following the different locations and nations much easier.
And then there is that ending.
I genuinely did not see that coming. Looking back, the foreshadowing is definitely there, but somehow Kolven managed to completely catch me off guard. That ending took everything I thought I understood about the story and threw it out the window. Now I desperately want to know what happens next and how all of these different pieces are going to connect.
From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the world Kolven created. The four nations each have their own cultures, systems, technologies, and relationships with magic, and I especially enjoyed Ember and its connection to ember, the magical energy that powers the nation. There is also a really interesting combination of futuristic technology and traditional fantasy elements, particularly when it comes to warfare. It gives the world a distinctive identity instead of feeling like another familiar fantasy setting.
The worldbuilding is easily one of my favorite parts of the book. Even though this is only the first installment, the world already feels like it has thousands of years of history behind it. There are the Ever-Seer, the Vynn, the walls surrounding civilization, the mysterious decrees, and the unanswered questions about what actually exists beyond the known world. I constantly found myself wanting to know more. What happened to the Ever-Seer? What exactly are the Vynn? What is really beyond those walls? And why does the world operate the way it does?
I also really enjoyed the political side of the story. There is plenty of tension, but the book isn't dependent on constant fighting to keep things interesting. A lot of the conflict comes from trying to understand the world, figuring out who can be trusted, and discovering how much these characters don't actually know about the systems they've been raised to follow. That made the story feel more like a mystery unfolding within a fantasy world than a straightforward war story.
The writing style worked particularly well for me. The prose isn't overly flowery, but the descriptions are incredibly effective. The world feels alive as the characters travel through different locations, and I appreciated the inner monologues and occasional moments of comic relief. And the map was absolutely a bonus for me—it made following the different locations and nations much easier.
And then there is that ending.
I genuinely did not see that coming. Looking back, the foreshadowing is definitely there, but somehow Kolven managed to completely catch me off guard. That ending took everything I thought I understood about the story and threw it out the window. Now I desperately want to know what happens next and how all of these different pieces are going to connect.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Majesty of Stone by Christopher Kolven is the story of a fantastical world that is both at war with itself and not at war with itself. a world drenched in everlight is split into four nations by the omnipotent Ever-Seer after banishing the monstrous Vynn. she leaves these nations four decrees: 1) battle each other every two months to keep up practice for when the time comes to finally fight the Vynn one last time, 2) artifacts of unknown origin are to he destroyed, 3) no national mixing, and the figh club rule 4) encounters with the Ever-Seer or her servants are not to be discussed. breaking any one of these results in your death and destruction of your nation. throughout the book we follow sisters Fia and Siphelle of the Ember nation, who is split into Fia's Kingdom of the Depths and Siphelle's Ember Kingdom, they are waiting out the weeks for them to ascend their respective thrones and work together to finally bring their two kingdoms together. after the coronation goes an unexpecre way, Fia must figure out what to do to rule a kingdom when she is so unprepared. We also follow Commander Colton Levoux of Dyre, one of the other nations that Ember is scheduled to attack at the beginning. he discovers a problem with the main power station during said battle. after Dyre barely wins the battle, he is forced to try and figure out what went wrong to get back his rank. after the next scheduled battle, Telmeer turns it into an actual full out battle and Colton is left wondering what the Field Marshal wants from him and what happened to him as a young child.
I really enjoyed this first book. it kinda felt like last two books of the matched trilogy by ally condie, if you strip away the romance and dystopia and turn it into an epic fantasy, but "shit hits the fan over forced belief in an all powerful being who's disappeared/all powerful government" still stands. it felt like a lot of exposition, but with plot, which was really nice bc it kept me from being bored. the author markets it as "for those who like Brandon Sanderson, Brian McLellan, and Robin Hobb" having never read those authors, I have no idea how true that is, but if political intrigue and military fantasy is your fancy, this is it
I really enjoyed this first book. it kinda felt like last two books of the matched trilogy by ally condie, if you strip away the romance and dystopia and turn it into an epic fantasy, but "shit hits the fan over forced belief in an all powerful being who's disappeared/all powerful government" still stands. it felt like a lot of exposition, but with plot, which was really nice bc it kept me from being bored. the author markets it as "for those who like Brandon Sanderson, Brian McLellan, and Robin Hobb" having never read those authors, I have no idea how true that is, but if political intrigue and military fantasy is your fancy, this is it
August 8, 2026
There was a lot I enjoyed about Majesty of Stone, and I think this story has so much potential! I gave this book 3 stars.
The world-building in this book was incredibly detailed and you can tell a lot of thought has gone into creating this world. At times, though, I did find myself getting a little lost in just how much detail there was, and I think the book could benefit from a little more polish and tightening overall.
The pacing was probably my biggest struggle. It felt quite back and forth for me, with some sections moving quickly and others feeling much longer. Usually I’m the one asking for battle scenes to be longer, but surprisingly, this time I actually found some of them a little drawn out.
I really enjoyed the sisters and their overall arc, but I did find some of the conflict between them became repetitive. Their differences and the way they were raised are obviously such an important part of their relationship, but I think some of these conversations and conflicts could have been condensed without losing their impact.
I was also expecting there to be a stronger connection between Colton and the sister's Arcs, particularly as the story progressed, so I was surprised that this didn’t come together in quite the way I expected. Maybe there’s something here that I missed, or perhaps it’s something that will become more important later in the series!
The ending was such a good twist, and such a great way to finish the book. It opens up so many possibilities for where the next book could go. It definitely left me curious to see what happens next.
Overall, I enjoyed Majesty of Stone. There are definitely areas I think could be tightened up, particularly around the pacing and repetition, but the foundations of the story, world and characters are really interesting.
Thank you so much to Christopher Kolven for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
The world-building in this book was incredibly detailed and you can tell a lot of thought has gone into creating this world. At times, though, I did find myself getting a little lost in just how much detail there was, and I think the book could benefit from a little more polish and tightening overall.
The pacing was probably my biggest struggle. It felt quite back and forth for me, with some sections moving quickly and others feeling much longer. Usually I’m the one asking for battle scenes to be longer, but surprisingly, this time I actually found some of them a little drawn out.
I really enjoyed the sisters and their overall arc, but I did find some of the conflict between them became repetitive. Their differences and the way they were raised are obviously such an important part of their relationship, but I think some of these conversations and conflicts could have been condensed without losing their impact.
I was also expecting there to be a stronger connection between Colton and the sister's Arcs, particularly as the story progressed, so I was surprised that this didn’t come together in quite the way I expected. Maybe there’s something here that I missed, or perhaps it’s something that will become more important later in the series!
The ending was such a good twist, and such a great way to finish the book. It opens up so many possibilities for where the next book could go. It definitely left me curious to see what happens next.
Overall, I enjoyed Majesty of Stone. There are definitely areas I think could be tightened up, particularly around the pacing and repetition, but the foundations of the story, world and characters are really interesting.
Thank you so much to Christopher Kolven for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Majesty of Stone, the first book in Christopher Kolven's Everlight series, is an ambitious epic fantasy that combines political intrigue, divine mysteries, military conflict, and strong character development. Set in a world governed by the long-absent Ever-Seer, the story follows two princesses preparing for a coronation and a military commander uncovering dangerous secrets that challenge everything his society believes.
Kolven's greatest strength is his worldbuilding. The history, religious structure, political tensions, and unique magic system feel carefully constructed and deeply interconnected. The setting continually reveals new layers, creating a sense of mystery that keeps the story engaging throughout its substantial page count.
The character work is equally impressive. Siphelle and Fiametta are compelling protagonists with distinct struggles, flaws, and motivations. Their relationship adds emotional weight to the larger political and supernatural conflicts. Colton's storyline provides a different perspective and helps broaden the scope of the narrative.
The reason this lands at four stars rather than five is pacing. At nearly 500 pages, parts of the novel move slowly, particularly during the early worldbuilding and setup. While the payoff is rewarding, some readers may find the middle sections a bit dense before the larger mysteries begin coming together.
Overall, Majesty of Stone is a strong debut that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy detailed fantasy worlds, layered politics, and character-driven storytelling. The ending leaves plenty of intrigue for future installments and makes the series one worth following.
Rating: 4/5 stars. A richly imagined fantasy with excellent worldbuilding and memorable characters, held back only slightly by its deliberate pacing.
Kolven's greatest strength is his worldbuilding. The history, religious structure, political tensions, and unique magic system feel carefully constructed and deeply interconnected. The setting continually reveals new layers, creating a sense of mystery that keeps the story engaging throughout its substantial page count.
The character work is equally impressive. Siphelle and Fiametta are compelling protagonists with distinct struggles, flaws, and motivations. Their relationship adds emotional weight to the larger political and supernatural conflicts. Colton's storyline provides a different perspective and helps broaden the scope of the narrative.
The reason this lands at four stars rather than five is pacing. At nearly 500 pages, parts of the novel move slowly, particularly during the early worldbuilding and setup. While the payoff is rewarding, some readers may find the middle sections a bit dense before the larger mysteries begin coming together.
Overall, Majesty of Stone is a strong debut that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy detailed fantasy worlds, layered politics, and character-driven storytelling. The ending leaves plenty of intrigue for future installments and makes the series one worth following.
Rating: 4/5 stars. A richly imagined fantasy with excellent worldbuilding and memorable characters, held back only slightly by its deliberate pacing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've read fantasy and sci-fi for quite some time now and have enjoyed keeping up with the trends and most hyped books, this however is my first ARC. Much thanks to Christopher for sending me a copy for my honest review.
This novel impressed me right off the bat with the interesting worldbuilding. We get a region isolated from the world by a mysterious and towering wall. Within this isolated area there exist four nations, each forbidden from mingling with its neighbors and required by decree to war at scheduled intervals.
That bring us to our next point, the mysterious Ever Seer—a goddess or some such divine entity who has built the wall trapping the nations like her very own little science experiment. The Ever Seer very much enjoys poking and prodding her little guinea pigs and enforces a series of decrees by which they must adhere. Twenty years prior to the beginning of this book she up and vanishes.
What's the common thread here? Well, Kolven is very skilled at weaving these mysteries together into a quilt that kept me interested and turning the pages. We get a taste of all four nations—each distinct, likely a result of the decree—however we primarily get POVs within two of them. Now I very much wish to learn about the rest and the world beyond the walls.
When I started the book I felt the interiority of the POV characters was possibly a bit too lengthy, perhaps slowing down the plot a touch, but by the end I was invested in each of them. Do yourself a solid and read this book! If you don't, it's quite possible the Ever Seer will trap you somewhere truly dreadful(the DMV??) with giant walls!
This novel impressed me right off the bat with the interesting worldbuilding. We get a region isolated from the world by a mysterious and towering wall. Within this isolated area there exist four nations, each forbidden from mingling with its neighbors and required by decree to war at scheduled intervals.
That bring us to our next point, the mysterious Ever Seer—a goddess or some such divine entity who has built the wall trapping the nations like her very own little science experiment. The Ever Seer very much enjoys poking and prodding her little guinea pigs and enforces a series of decrees by which they must adhere. Twenty years prior to the beginning of this book she up and vanishes.
What's the common thread here? Well, Kolven is very skilled at weaving these mysteries together into a quilt that kept me interested and turning the pages. We get a taste of all four nations—each distinct, likely a result of the decree—however we primarily get POVs within two of them. Now I very much wish to learn about the rest and the world beyond the walls.
When I started the book I felt the interiority of the POV characters was possibly a bit too lengthy, perhaps slowing down the plot a touch, but by the end I was invested in each of them. Do yourself a solid and read this book! If you don't, it's quite possible the Ever Seer will trap you somewhere truly dreadful(the DMV??) with giant walls!
Review of advance copy
Overall, I was pleased with Christopher Kolven’s Majesty of Stone. I’ve stopped reading a Sci-Fi for the most part, but this novel’s mix between Sci-Fi and fantasy feels fresh and fun, with concepts I hadn’t read before.
What I liked: Kolven’s unique worldbuilding is reminiscent of Maze Runner and Ender’s Game, but fresh enough I was engaged by the mythos almost immediately. I liked our characters for the most part, though I related to Colton more—perhaps I felt connected because of my age. The political mystery and the plethora of unknowns kept me hooked, and I felt our characters moved often; we weren’t stuck in a castle or the same battlements the entire time, which meant we got to understand the different nations through action, rather than exposition.
What I thought could use work: pacing, and a lack of balance. I felt that Siphelle and Fia’s story moved much, much slower than Colton’s. We kept bringing up the same problems (the political divide, how differently they were raised, the same anxieties) over and over, which slowed their arcs. I felt the first half of the book felt redundant when we got to their chapters, and often I wanted to skip forward to Colton’s POV. I think some more editing could have fixed the problem.
Majesty of Stone is a fun addition to genre-bending Sci-Fi/Fantasy space, asking the same questions—what do we do when faith is used for fear, the danger of nepotism, and the devastation of family secrets—but in a fresh way. I’m excited to continue the series despite my gripes.
Thank you Christopher Kolven and BookSirens for the opportunity to review.
What I liked: Kolven’s unique worldbuilding is reminiscent of Maze Runner and Ender’s Game, but fresh enough I was engaged by the mythos almost immediately. I liked our characters for the most part, though I related to Colton more—perhaps I felt connected because of my age. The political mystery and the plethora of unknowns kept me hooked, and I felt our characters moved often; we weren’t stuck in a castle or the same battlements the entire time, which meant we got to understand the different nations through action, rather than exposition.
What I thought could use work: pacing, and a lack of balance. I felt that Siphelle and Fia’s story moved much, much slower than Colton’s. We kept bringing up the same problems (the political divide, how differently they were raised, the same anxieties) over and over, which slowed their arcs. I felt the first half of the book felt redundant when we got to their chapters, and often I wanted to skip forward to Colton’s POV. I think some more editing could have fixed the problem.
Majesty of Stone is a fun addition to genre-bending Sci-Fi/Fantasy space, asking the same questions—what do we do when faith is used for fear, the danger of nepotism, and the devastation of family secrets—but in a fresh way. I’m excited to continue the series despite my gripes.
Thank you Christopher Kolven and BookSirens for the opportunity to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed Majesty of Stone. It had a very unique world and magic system, with the world encased in walls and divided between four nations that are required to constantly fulfill a battle quota against one another, a tradition passed down by their deity, the Ever-Seer. I thought this was a really interesting premise, and I enjoyed gradually learning more about the world, its history, and the rules that governed it.
Colton was probably my favorite character to follow. I really enjoyed the government conspiracy he was investigating and the questions it raised about the world and the systems the characters have been taught to accept. His chapters consistently kept me interested and wanting to find out what he would uncover next.
I did think the pacing could use some work, particularly when it came to Siphelle and Fia's storyline. Their chapters felt much slower moving, and I had a harder time staying engaged with their portion of the story. I found myself gravitating much more toward Colton's chapters and looking forward to getting back to his perspective. I think a little more momentum in the other storylines would have made the book feel more consistently engaging overall.
That said, I thought Majesty of Stone had a creative premise and some genuinely interesting ideas, especially when it came to the world-building and its unusual magic system. I'm curious to see how the world and its mysteries continue to develop!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kolven Press for the ARC!
Colton was probably my favorite character to follow. I really enjoyed the government conspiracy he was investigating and the questions it raised about the world and the systems the characters have been taught to accept. His chapters consistently kept me interested and wanting to find out what he would uncover next.
I did think the pacing could use some work, particularly when it came to Siphelle and Fia's storyline. Their chapters felt much slower moving, and I had a harder time staying engaged with their portion of the story. I found myself gravitating much more toward Colton's chapters and looking forward to getting back to his perspective. I think a little more momentum in the other storylines would have made the book feel more consistently engaging overall.
That said, I thought Majesty of Stone had a creative premise and some genuinely interesting ideas, especially when it came to the world-building and its unusual magic system. I'm curious to see how the world and its mysteries continue to develop!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kolven Press for the ARC!
August 4, 2026
**Full disclosure: I was offered a chance to get an ARC of Majesty of Stone, this is my honest review of Book 1**
I loved it! Kolven's first book is incredibly strong, I'm truly looking forward to book 2 already. He's already got a strong command of what makes a character compelling. I know who I loved, I know who I couldn't stand, and that's not because they were flat characters but because they were just done so right.
If the first few chapters feels a little too action sci-fi for you, push a little farther. By about a third of the way in you really feel the setting starting to flesh out, and it's a fantastic one. Yes it's Four Nations inside a Wall, but it's not The Last Airbender and it's DEFINITELY not Attack on Titan. I can sense some Brandon Sanderson inspiration, but this is so far from a clone. It really is it's own thing.
The two nations we really get to know in Book 1 feel real and fully formed. Everything makes sense in all the right ways, and is confusing in all the right ways too. Without getting deep into spoiler territory, I'll just say the gaps in the setting are a feature and not a bug. And when the finale peaks you'll say "ooohhhh... that's why they did that", right before throwing your book at a wall (out of a good frustration, not a bad one).
My vote: Read it!
I loved it! Kolven's first book is incredibly strong, I'm truly looking forward to book 2 already. He's already got a strong command of what makes a character compelling. I know who I loved, I know who I couldn't stand, and that's not because they were flat characters but because they were just done so right.
If the first few chapters feels a little too action sci-fi for you, push a little farther. By about a third of the way in you really feel the setting starting to flesh out, and it's a fantastic one. Yes it's Four Nations inside a Wall, but it's not The Last Airbender and it's DEFINITELY not Attack on Titan. I can sense some Brandon Sanderson inspiration, but this is so far from a clone. It really is it's own thing.
The two nations we really get to know in Book 1 feel real and fully formed. Everything makes sense in all the right ways, and is confusing in all the right ways too. Without getting deep into spoiler territory, I'll just say the gaps in the setting are a feature and not a bug. And when the finale peaks you'll say "ooohhhh... that's why they did that", right before throwing your book at a wall (out of a good frustration, not a bad one).
My vote: Read it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've read a fair bit of fantasy and I think Majesty of Stone has one of the most unique worlds I've seen: the world is composed of four nations encapsulated inside an infinitely high (and deep) wall and the sun never moves, leaving areas in either perpetual shadow or darkness, or perpetual daylight.
Additionally, each of those nations have very specific attributes. Some are magic users, some are magic deficient but tech-heavy, but due to an "on-high" decree each nation's attributes or specific skillset are not supposed to be shared with the others.
The first book in a series usually has a fair amount of world-building to achieve, and to a degree you get that here, but it's not so dense that it detracts from the story and as we primarily follow three characters from two of those nations, there is plenty still to come.
Speaking of those characters - what a whirlwind! When starting out Colton feels like the he has the most potential, but as you get further in Siphelle and Fia's stories really shine. Their personalities slowly come alive and you can easily imagine them coming straight out of a Hobb book - yep, there is emotional devastation afoot. So much so, that whenever I got to a Colton chapter, I just felt like I wanted to get past it and back to the Siphelle and Fia story.
That's not to say that Colton's story is bad. It's not. It's just that Siphelle and Fia's characters evolve more, and it feels like the climax of their story hits far, far harder than that of Colton. I guess as a Hobb fan, this is the type of stuff I'm looking for - that moment when you sit in stunned silence wondering what on earth has just transpired. So good.
Many thanks to the author and BookSirens for arranging access to an early review copy.
Additionally, each of those nations have very specific attributes. Some are magic users, some are magic deficient but tech-heavy, but due to an "on-high" decree each nation's attributes or specific skillset are not supposed to be shared with the others.
The first book in a series usually has a fair amount of world-building to achieve, and to a degree you get that here, but it's not so dense that it detracts from the story and as we primarily follow three characters from two of those nations, there is plenty still to come.
Speaking of those characters - what a whirlwind! When starting out Colton feels like the he has the most potential, but as you get further in Siphelle and Fia's stories really shine. Their personalities slowly come alive and you can easily imagine them coming straight out of a Hobb book - yep, there is emotional devastation afoot. So much so, that whenever I got to a Colton chapter, I just felt like I wanted to get past it and back to the Siphelle and Fia story.
That's not to say that Colton's story is bad. It's not. It's just that Siphelle and Fia's characters evolve more, and it feels like the climax of their story hits far, far harder than that of Colton. I guess as a Hobb fan, this is the type of stuff I'm looking for - that moment when you sit in stunned silence wondering what on earth has just transpired. So good.
Many thanks to the author and BookSirens for arranging access to an early review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a unique world! The setting is quite modern, with phones and power. Yet it's different as everything is based on ember, provided by the regent. So while there are modern elementsy it still feels different and there is a lot to explore.
The POVs are well chosen. They are on different sides of a conflict, that is only happening because the divine want it so.
The two sisters and their very different abilities and conflicts show one kingdom, while the commander is on the other side of the barricade. I did enjoy the storyline of the sisters way more, but think a lot of ground stones in the other one were layed and I am excited to learn how it continue. Also all my theories why the sisters were to different turned out to be wrong.
The storytelling is superb. We are thrown tight into the story and slowly and carefully layer after layer is peeled back and we learn more about the backstories, history, politics and world.
That ending was amazing. I cannot wait to see how the series continues.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC copy of the book.
The POVs are well chosen. They are on different sides of a conflict, that is only happening because the divine want it so.
The two sisters and their very different abilities and conflicts show one kingdom, while the commander is on the other side of the barricade. I did enjoy the storyline of the sisters way more, but think a lot of ground stones in the other one were layed and I am excited to learn how it continue. Also all my theories why the sisters were to different turned out to be wrong.
The storytelling is superb. We are thrown tight into the story and slowly and carefully layer after layer is peeled back and we learn more about the backstories, history, politics and world.
That ending was amazing. I cannot wait to see how the series continues.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC copy of the book.
August 30, 2026
In Majesty of Stone, I enjoyed the premise and found the concept entertaining. The main characters were a highlight for me. They felt believable, had distinct personalities, and shared enjoyable relationships. The writing was clear and strong for this type of story.
However, much of the story fell short of its potential for me. While I typically enjoy slow-burn fantasy, in this novel, I felt like there was too much repetition of information and too many questions introduced without enough revelations, causing the story to drag. While there was an appropriate amount of detail, descriptions did seem lacking in moments of high emotional impact. I also wished for more meaningful side characters because the limited number of characters made the world feel underdeveloped.
By the time I reached the ending, I found myself more bored than invested. Overall, I enjoyed the concept and characters, but for the length of the story, I expected more depth and development. While this book ultimately wasn't for me, I would still recommend it to readers looking for a slow-burn fantasy with a small cast and plenty of lingering mysteries.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Majesty of Stone in exchange for an honest review.
(I was not happy with my original review, so this is an updated version.)
However, much of the story fell short of its potential for me. While I typically enjoy slow-burn fantasy, in this novel, I felt like there was too much repetition of information and too many questions introduced without enough revelations, causing the story to drag. While there was an appropriate amount of detail, descriptions did seem lacking in moments of high emotional impact. I also wished for more meaningful side characters because the limited number of characters made the world feel underdeveloped.
By the time I reached the ending, I found myself more bored than invested. Overall, I enjoyed the concept and characters, but for the length of the story, I expected more depth and development. While this book ultimately wasn't for me, I would still recommend it to readers looking for a slow-burn fantasy with a small cast and plenty of lingering mysteries.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Majesty of Stone in exchange for an honest review.
(I was not happy with my original review, so this is an updated version.)
August 11, 2026
I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Christopher Kolven!
First, let me say, this is not a book that you can read in just a few hours; this is a long, well-crafted world and magic system and I DEVOURED it - LOVED every second of reading. The character building felt similar to Robin Hobb but the plot and the magic system are so different and unique to anything I have ever read before.
Our MC's live in nations governed by the rules of the Ever-Seer, a being who hasn't been seen in decades, where warring with each other is a decree. Siphelle and Fia are sisters awaiting their ascension to the throne and Colton is a military commander hoping to rise in the ranks. As to story progresses, we follow these individuals through battles, training, hardships, and decision-making all culminating in an ending that is heartbreaking and shocking. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series - I absolutely have to know what is going to happen to this group as their lives converge and more comes to light on the Ever-Seer's plans. Easy 5 star read!
First, let me say, this is not a book that you can read in just a few hours; this is a long, well-crafted world and magic system and I DEVOURED it - LOVED every second of reading. The character building felt similar to Robin Hobb but the plot and the magic system are so different and unique to anything I have ever read before.
Our MC's live in nations governed by the rules of the Ever-Seer, a being who hasn't been seen in decades, where warring with each other is a decree. Siphelle and Fia are sisters awaiting their ascension to the throne and Colton is a military commander hoping to rise in the ranks. As to story progresses, we follow these individuals through battles, training, hardships, and decision-making all culminating in an ending that is heartbreaking and shocking. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series - I absolutely have to know what is going to happen to this group as their lives converge and more comes to light on the Ever-Seer's plans. Easy 5 star read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Majesty of Stone (Everlight: Book 1) by Christopher Kolven is an ambitious start to a new fantasy series that blends classic epic elements with fresh twists. The story unfolds in a world where the divine order is beginning to fracture, centuries after the Ever-Seer saved four nations from apocalyptic destruction. I was immediately drawn in by the rich lore and the sense that nothing is quite as it seems.
Kolven excels at building tension through political intrigue and sisterly rivalry, which adds emotional depth to the larger cosmic stakes. The magic system feels distinctive, with subtle hints of sci-fi woven into the fantasy framework that kept me guessing. The prose is engaging and the pacing moves well, though a few sections in the middle felt a touch dense as the worldbuilding unfolded.
Character development is strong overall, especially the complex relationships driving the plot. While not perfect (some plot threads could have been tightened), this is a very promising debut that left me eager for the next installment. Fantasy fans looking for something new with depth and mystery should definitely check it out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kolven excels at building tension through political intrigue and sisterly rivalry, which adds emotional depth to the larger cosmic stakes. The magic system feels distinctive, with subtle hints of sci-fi woven into the fantasy framework that kept me guessing. The prose is engaging and the pacing moves well, though a few sections in the middle felt a touch dense as the worldbuilding unfolded.
Character development is strong overall, especially the complex relationships driving the plot. While not perfect (some plot threads could have been tightened), this is a very promising debut that left me eager for the next installment. Fantasy fans looking for something new with depth and mystery should definitely check it out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
When I started Majesty of Stone, I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I ended up enjoying it. The worldbuilding is definitely the biggest highlight. It mixes fantasy and science fiction in a way that feels unique, and I found myself wanting to learn more about how everything fits together.
I also liked the characters. They each have their own motivations, and their relationships made the story feel more grounded. There were a few moments where I was genuinely curious to see what would happen next.
The pacing is a bit of a slow burn, especially in the first half, because the book spends a lot of time setting up the world and the overall scope of the story. Not every mystery gets answered, but it left me interested enough to see where the series goes next.
Overall, I thought Majesty of Stone was a strong first book. It’s the kind of story that rewards readers who enjoy detailed worldbuilding and don’t mind a slower build. I’m definitely curious to see what happens in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I also liked the characters. They each have their own motivations, and their relationships made the story feel more grounded. There were a few moments where I was genuinely curious to see what would happen next.
The pacing is a bit of a slow burn, especially in the first half, because the book spends a lot of time setting up the world and the overall scope of the story. Not every mystery gets answered, but it left me interested enough to see where the series goes next.
Overall, I thought Majesty of Stone was a strong first book. It’s the kind of story that rewards readers who enjoy detailed worldbuilding and don’t mind a slower build. I’m definitely curious to see what happens in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 8, 2026
Christopher Kolven brings us a fantasy novel worthy of a series. Majesty of Stone tells us the tale of two sisters Fia and Siphelle competing for the crown and each others affection. One being raised by their nurturing father the King, the other being raised by their ambitious cold mother the Queen. Both sisters have different gifts and power, both have different questions for the Seer. In the midst of their personal battles the girls are expected to win the battles over many kingdoms. Fighting side by side they are both expected to triumph. Christopher adds an additional character and storyline in through these battles. Here we meet Colton, a solider that hile excellent in warfare is failing in life. intertwining both story lines to watch worlds fall and change. This fantastical journey will leave you wanting more. If you love fantasy novels definitely grab a copy of this one, you will not regret it. 5 out of 5 Most definitely worth the read.
August 12, 2026
This is such an amazing epic fantasy read that was the perfect scratch to my itch! The Ember nation is split into two, and the princesses hope they can reunite them both. But things are far more complicated than they could have anticipated.
This is the best kind of fantasy for me, it's vivid and wonderful to read though and makes you need more. (next book pls)
I think the world building was written very well and didn't leave me rolling my eyes at the info dump, or wanting more because there wasn't ENOUGH. But there's still things out there we might not have the information for, and that's exciting to know.
This is the best kind of fantasy for me, it's vivid and wonderful to read though and makes you need more. (next book pls)
I think the world building was written very well and didn't leave me rolling my eyes at the info dump, or wanting more because there wasn't ENOUGH. But there's still things out there we might not have the information for, and that's exciting to know.
Review of advance copy
Two stories for the price of one. The narrative is split between three points of view: Siphelle, Fia, and Colton. Except for a brief point early in the novel Colton's story never intersects with the other plot. Other than being set in the same world there is no connection. This lack of interconnection made it hard to invest in both halves equally. I enjoyed the mysteries of Siphelle and Fia's story. This is the book for those who want a deep fantasy world with many mysteries to explore. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 23, 2026
ARC Review: Majesty of Stone by Christopher Kolven is worth much more than five stars, and I am recommending it to as many people as I can.
In Kolven’s writing we find a unique world that has been controlled by the Ever-Seer. It is divided into four nations all surrounded by an impossibly high wall, where each one is scheduled to go to war with the other.
The development of the rivalry between Princesses Siphelle and Fiametta was engrossing and their changing dynamics in their relationship was unpredictable, but understandable. I found myself constantly trying to guess which route they would go with their decisions. The strain from their parent’s separation lends to the mounting trepidation as to how they will divide power after their coronations.
We also are given Colton’s story and followed him as his tactical attempts to climb up the military ladder were continually met with frustrating setbacks. I am anxious to see what happens next for him.
The final chapter in this book was icing on the cake. I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series. This was a clean read. No cursing, no spice. Focused on character development and world-building.
*The twists in this book will not disappoint.
In Kolven’s writing we find a unique world that has been controlled by the Ever-Seer. It is divided into four nations all surrounded by an impossibly high wall, where each one is scheduled to go to war with the other.
The development of the rivalry between Princesses Siphelle and Fiametta was engrossing and their changing dynamics in their relationship was unpredictable, but understandable. I found myself constantly trying to guess which route they would go with their decisions. The strain from their parent’s separation lends to the mounting trepidation as to how they will divide power after their coronations.
We also are given Colton’s story and followed him as his tactical attempts to climb up the military ladder were continually met with frustrating setbacks. I am anxious to see what happens next for him.
The final chapter in this book was icing on the cake. I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series. This was a clean read. No cursing, no spice. Focused on character development and world-building.
*The twists in this book will not disappoint.
August 19, 2026
I loved the world-building in this! The story reminded me of Divergent series with the 4 nations living behind walls. The book has huge potential especially if it will be part of a series. I felt the story line and the character descriptions could have been a little better, but I was genuinely curious to keep reading. I’m interested in finding out what is beyond the walls, and what actually happened with the Vynn.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed this book, the character development was spot on and the blend of warfare, mysticism and goddesses hit all the right notes.
A few areas dragged but overall this is one of the better reads I have had this year and I really enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens!
A few areas dragged but overall this is one of the better reads I have had this year and I really enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens!
August 25, 2026
I feel so privileged to have received this book from Christopher! I was kept engaged from page one of this book and loved reading it. I loved the in depth politics and the war-filled drama of the world. It was exciting and intense to read and I felt very immersed in the world descriptions. I hope to do a reread so I can understand it even deeper! Definitely a great debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an intriguing world that is being built here. I really enjoyed the blend of fantasy and science fiction. To me, it was a refreshing read with the plot being unique and unlike anything I have read before. Definitely recommend reading it and look forward to the next book.
August 2, 2026
Wow wow wow wow wow. Just a fantastic read!
The world building left me speechless. The writing style felt totally original. Even the story line, it fit into the style of book I love while still maintaining complete originality. Absolutely brilliant. Cant wait for the next one!
The world building left me speechless. The writing style felt totally original. Even the story line, it fit into the style of book I love while still maintaining complete originality. Absolutely brilliant. Cant wait for the next one!
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