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The End Unseen
From the author of the viral, bestselling #bestofbooktok sensation "Under Your Scars" comes one more tragic tale.
The Angel of Foresight, blind where it mattered.
Val-Theris Angelicus, the Angel-king of Seraveth is burdened with the curse of foresight. Haunted by visions of his own death and the fall of his kingdom, he is torn between crown and prophecy. Val-Theris has led his people into an age of prosperity as Oros the Bloodletter, the king of the neighboring kingdom of Korvath, seeks to conquer all.
In the midst of a war, Val-Theris takes in refugees from the small, neutral land of Lunareth, which has been invaded by Korvath as Oros and his army march toward Seraveth. One such refugee, Jesenia, is a weary, proud, and determined young woman who cares greatly for her people. After warning Val-Theris of an impending political assassination attempt, she slowly captures the heart of the benevolent Angel-king.
What begins as stolen glances and whispered conversations turns into love too dangerous to exist, and Val-Theris learns that the visions he’s plagued with were both prophecy and warning he was too blind to see.
This is a story of yearning and defiance, where a young woman tries to save the last of her people in a city that doesn't want them there, and where even angels cannot escape tragedy.
The Angel of Foresight, blind where it mattered.
Val-Theris Angelicus, the Angel-king of Seraveth is burdened with the curse of foresight. Haunted by visions of his own death and the fall of his kingdom, he is torn between crown and prophecy. Val-Theris has led his people into an age of prosperity as Oros the Bloodletter, the king of the neighboring kingdom of Korvath, seeks to conquer all.
In the midst of a war, Val-Theris takes in refugees from the small, neutral land of Lunareth, which has been invaded by Korvath as Oros and his army march toward Seraveth. One such refugee, Jesenia, is a weary, proud, and determined young woman who cares greatly for her people. After warning Val-Theris of an impending political assassination attempt, she slowly captures the heart of the benevolent Angel-king.
What begins as stolen glances and whispered conversations turns into love too dangerous to exist, and Val-Theris learns that the visions he’s plagued with were both prophecy and warning he was too blind to see.
This is a story of yearning and defiance, where a young woman tries to save the last of her people in a city that doesn't want them there, and where even angels cannot escape tragedy.
254 pages, Paperback
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Ariel N. Anderson
8 books3,005 followersAriel Anderson is a native Texan enjoying a simple life with her husband, her cats, and her dog. Ariel graduated from the University of North Texas with a Criminal Justice degree. When she is not putting her characters through soul-crushing trauma, Ariel enjoys playing video games and drinking an unhealthy amount of Mountain Dew.
email: author@arielandersonauthor.com
Agent: Nikki Groom @ SBR Media
email: author@arielandersonauthor.com
Agent: Nikki Groom @ SBR Media
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April 16, 2026Biased Author Review Incoming.
*****& SPOILERS BELOW because I have a lot to say!*****
I haven’t really done an in-depth review of one of my own books since UYS, but I felt like with this one being an entirely different direction from my other books it warranted it.
Firstly, I wanted to say that the romance in this book is secondary to the larger plot, which is why it has always been advertised as a political fantasy first, romantic tragedy second. It’s really a story of corrupt politicians, spineless leaders, and the suffering of innocents FIRST, and a romance second. If you go into it expecting romance first or something romance-forward, you will probably be disappointed--but I also totally understand because I'm literally a romance author! If this confused anyone, I'm sorry.
Why did I choose to make the romance secondary? Well the answer is simply that I thought the heavier themes of the novel deserved the forefront, especially as I watched world conflicts develop in real time as I was writing it. It seemed…inappropriate to leave those themes in the background. I really wanted to focus on how Jesenia and her strength was the real star of the book.
And for those wondering, the reason why I didn’t include any graphic sexual content in this book was because I don’t really like writing smut (if you’ve been around for a while you know that) and because again, it would feel inappropriate given the setting and the true focus of the story.
I also think it’s important to note that another major theme of the novel is the spinelessness of Val-Theris in his attempts to do literally anything to end the suffering of anyone else in the novel. I don’t think Val-Theris is a bad person by any means, but at some point he needed to put his foot down. The fact that I made sure he didn’t was intentional, and one of his defining and most frustrating flaws. Trust me, I get it. A spineless god? He frustrated me too, crafting him. But in truth, his character needed to be that way to get the point across that ACTION is the only way to prove sincerity in his position. Think about how much better the world would have been if he grew a pair???? I also think the fact that Jesenia had to be the one to take on that mental and emotional load while he played king was reflective of the female condition, in how many of us can relate to having to shoulder the burden of everything in life to make everyone else feel better.
Also a side note, as the author, I wrote this book in 3rd person for a particular reason, and that is mainly because I imagine it’s sort of a loose retelling of the fall of Seraveth from Rohannes’ POV. I’m not sure if anyone picked up those vibes, but I’ve noticed I have a tendency to make side characters really loveable so, that’s my shoutout to you, Rohannes. (Yes, his name is inspired by Rohan from Lord of The Rings, and yes, Solmiris is inspired by Minas Tirith, and YES, Sunspire is inspired by Osgiliath.)
Second side note: Val-Theris’ character was heavily inspired by the primarch Sanguinius (RIP my king) from Warhammer 40k with a little dash of Aragorn and Anakin for that yearning we all love.
But in all seriousness, this book was really a love letter to anyone in a losing battle against powers greater than themselves. Whether that’s a small, internal war, or a devastating external war, I hope anyone experiencing those things felt like their struggles were heard and recognized.
And lastly, I hear your concerns about the writing being clunky. But alas, I am just a girl too fond of the comma who only realized she was REALLY too fond of the comma upon listening to the audiobook master files.
That’s all from me, happy reading!
*****& SPOILERS BELOW because I have a lot to say!*****
I haven’t really done an in-depth review of one of my own books since UYS, but I felt like with this one being an entirely different direction from my other books it warranted it.
Firstly, I wanted to say that the romance in this book is secondary to the larger plot, which is why it has always been advertised as a political fantasy first, romantic tragedy second. It’s really a story of corrupt politicians, spineless leaders, and the suffering of innocents FIRST, and a romance second. If you go into it expecting romance first or something romance-forward, you will probably be disappointed--but I also totally understand because I'm literally a romance author! If this confused anyone, I'm sorry.
Why did I choose to make the romance secondary? Well the answer is simply that I thought the heavier themes of the novel deserved the forefront, especially as I watched world conflicts develop in real time as I was writing it. It seemed…inappropriate to leave those themes in the background. I really wanted to focus on how Jesenia and her strength was the real star of the book.
And for those wondering, the reason why I didn’t include any graphic sexual content in this book was because I don’t really like writing smut (if you’ve been around for a while you know that) and because again, it would feel inappropriate given the setting and the true focus of the story.
I also think it’s important to note that another major theme of the novel is the spinelessness of Val-Theris in his attempts to do literally anything to end the suffering of anyone else in the novel. I don’t think Val-Theris is a bad person by any means, but at some point he needed to put his foot down. The fact that I made sure he didn’t was intentional, and one of his defining and most frustrating flaws. Trust me, I get it. A spineless god? He frustrated me too, crafting him. But in truth, his character needed to be that way to get the point across that ACTION is the only way to prove sincerity in his position. Think about how much better the world would have been if he grew a pair???? I also think the fact that Jesenia had to be the one to take on that mental and emotional load while he played king was reflective of the female condition, in how many of us can relate to having to shoulder the burden of everything in life to make everyone else feel better.
Also a side note, as the author, I wrote this book in 3rd person for a particular reason, and that is mainly because I imagine it’s sort of a loose retelling of the fall of Seraveth from Rohannes’ POV. I’m not sure if anyone picked up those vibes, but I’ve noticed I have a tendency to make side characters really loveable so, that’s my shoutout to you, Rohannes. (Yes, his name is inspired by Rohan from Lord of The Rings, and yes, Solmiris is inspired by Minas Tirith, and YES, Sunspire is inspired by Osgiliath.)
Second side note: Val-Theris’ character was heavily inspired by the primarch Sanguinius (RIP my king) from Warhammer 40k with a little dash of Aragorn and Anakin for that yearning we all love.
But in all seriousness, this book was really a love letter to anyone in a losing battle against powers greater than themselves. Whether that’s a small, internal war, or a devastating external war, I hope anyone experiencing those things felt like their struggles were heard and recognized.
And lastly, I hear your concerns about the writing being clunky. But alas, I am just a girl too fond of the comma who only realized she was REALLY too fond of the comma upon listening to the audiobook master files.
That’s all from me, happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok so I just heard who is going to narrate this book and I CAN'T WAIT! :D
Update:
Thank you for giving me the chance to read this book in advance! ARC Review:
First of all, this novel is bound to become a bestseller, especially thanks to the LADS community (if you know, you know 😉). With Sylus birthday today, I thought it was the perfect time to read it 😂
That said, you might want to have tissues ready when reading an Ariel N. Anderson novel. She has a talent for putting her readers through emotional turmoil, so consider this your warning: this story is quite dark and has no HEA.
Overall, it was a quick read, especially because I couldn’t stop reading until I finished. The story, even though it is fictional, reflects some problems we’re facing in the real world, therefore making it feel all the more realistic. And the way Val-Theris cares for Jesenia is so adorable! The only aspect I am not too fond of is that the story’s politics and its world-building are a little drawn out at times. However, I can‘t really deduct a star for that because I feel like it was necessary for the plot. Also, I got a little emotional toward the end because… read the book and find out yourselves, haha! I can‘t stop thinking about the story after finishing it and I‘m looking forward to listening to the audiobook when it releases in just over a week. Now I know what‘s coming and I can mentally prepare for my heart to be shattered. This time… by Sylus himself 🤌😂
Update:
Thank you for giving me the chance to read this book in advance! ARC Review:
First of all, this novel is bound to become a bestseller, especially thanks to the LADS community (if you know, you know 😉). With Sylus birthday today, I thought it was the perfect time to read it 😂
That said, you might want to have tissues ready when reading an Ariel N. Anderson novel. She has a talent for putting her readers through emotional turmoil, so consider this your warning: this story is quite dark and has no HEA.
Overall, it was a quick read, especially because I couldn’t stop reading until I finished. The story, even though it is fictional, reflects some problems we’re facing in the real world, therefore making it feel all the more realistic. And the way Val-Theris cares for Jesenia is so adorable! The only aspect I am not too fond of is that the story’s politics and its world-building are a little drawn out at times. However, I can‘t really deduct a star for that because I feel like it was necessary for the plot. Also, I got a little emotional toward the end because… read the book and find out yourselves, haha! I can‘t stop thinking about the story after finishing it and I‘m looking forward to listening to the audiobook when it releases in just over a week. Now I know what‘s coming and I can mentally prepare for my heart to be shattered. This time… by Sylus himself 🤌😂
April 25, 2026
ARC Review: Thank you so much to Ariel N Anderson and her team for sending me this ARC. I really enjoyed the book but I feel like it had some flaws. It felt that the pacing of the book was off, there were some parts that were really slow where I feel like the ending was kind of rushed. I really liked the story and the plot though so 4/5 ⭐️
May 20, 2026
Read: ⭐️⭐️ It’s fast phased. Don’t really get to be invested in any of the characters. It was ”meh“.
‼️Pre-read "review": This book will attract LADs fans because of the english narrator for the book. We are excited! Do not mix this book with the game character. It is not fair to the author.
‼️Pre-read "review": This book will attract LADs fans because of the english narrator for the book. We are excited! Do not mix this book with the game character. It is not fair to the author.
April 30, 2026
I received an e-ARC copy of this book from the author.
I went into this book excepting a political fantasy, but it was 90% political with hardly any fantasy elements. The romance was very unbelievable to me. The girl was basically a perfect saint with no flaws, and the guy love interest had pretty much all flaws. The main plot point was just that the mythical city hates refugees, and there was no real conflict other than that. I would have loved to see some actual action and change in the main characters!
I went into this book excepting a political fantasy, but it was 90% political with hardly any fantasy elements. The romance was very unbelievable to me. The girl was basically a perfect saint with no flaws, and the guy love interest had pretty much all flaws. The main plot point was just that the mythical city hates refugees, and there was no real conflict other than that. I would have loved to see some actual action and change in the main characters!
May 8, 2026
Disappointed is an understatement.
April 29, 2026
I was so excited to listen to the audiobook because my fave VA was going to narrate the book. However, not even his voice could make this book good. I am only giving it 2 stars because of the narrator but other than that, this book was not it. Characters were annoying, the romance felt force and it was all yapping, no action. I'm honestly disappointed because this book had so much potential to be something. At page 160, i was ready to DNF.
May 10, 2026
Things this political romantasy did not have….politics, romance and fantasy. Things it does have every chapter over and over and over and over….FMC crying, quivering and getting into stupid trouble….MMC bat boy wannabe swooping in to rescue his wittle princess and soothe her by a nice under the shirt, over the bra squeeze. Sick.
April 29, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on April 28th called, The End Unseen. This is about Jesenia, she is living in poverty when her village is attacked and destroyed. Jesenia and those who survived travel to the nearest kingdom to seek refuge. When they get there the king, Val-Theris, allows them in and as soon as he sees Jesenia he knows she is the woman from his vision. Val-Theris is no ordinary king, he is an angel with the gift of visions. His kingdom is at war with his brother's kingdom and Jesenia's village was collateral damage. But Jesenia and her people are not hateful or bitter, they are kind and appreciative of anything Val-Theris' kingdom can spare for them, even though the people of his kingdom are less than welcoming. When Jesenia earns the king's trust and respect, he starts requesting her presence at the palace but that just further divides their people. Jesenia's selfless nature and kind soul easily capture the king's heart. And despite the different worlds they come from and their people at odds, they can't deny what they feel for each other. But with the king's looming vision of his future, the war with his brother's kingdom, and the people trying to keep them apart... Not everyone always gets a happily ever after.
This was such a beautifully written romantic tragedy. The world building and storytelling of this political fantasy pulled me right in and took me on a journey I won't soon forget. Jesenia is so strong, fearless, and good-hearted. She was always caring for everyone else above herself, even when no one is watching. Val-Theris wasn't bad but he needed her to help him be a better man. Ultimately they were trying to do their best by their people while also wanting to follow their hearts, and sometimes mistakes were made. This was a slow burn tragic love story but the romance is secondary to some heavier topics. I really enjoyed the journey this book took me on. I don't think anyone writes romantic tragedies like Ariel does. I've read every one of her books, if she writes it I will read it. I just love her writing! 🤍📚
Thank you to the author and her team for this ARC of The End Unseen, in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a beautifully written romantic tragedy. The world building and storytelling of this political fantasy pulled me right in and took me on a journey I won't soon forget. Jesenia is so strong, fearless, and good-hearted. She was always caring for everyone else above herself, even when no one is watching. Val-Theris wasn't bad but he needed her to help him be a better man. Ultimately they were trying to do their best by their people while also wanting to follow their hearts, and sometimes mistakes were made. This was a slow burn tragic love story but the romance is secondary to some heavier topics. I really enjoyed the journey this book took me on. I don't think anyone writes romantic tragedies like Ariel does. I've read every one of her books, if she writes it I will read it. I just love her writing! 🤍📚
Thank you to the author and her team for this ARC of The End Unseen, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review 🤍
First of all, thank you so much to Ariel for allowing me to be part of the first to read this book!
"You are not responsible for my goodness,” he said gently. “You are the proof that goodness still exists in this world, despite it trying so hard to steal it from you.”
Ariel N. Anderson is my “if she wrote it, I’m reading it” author when it comes to romantic tragedies and once again, she didn’t disappoint.
If you’re in the mood to get your heart broken in the best way, with a fast-paced political fantasy, a closed-door romance, and lots of good yearning, you need to read this! Just know it’s a romantic tragedy, so there’s no HEA.
Set in a war-torn world where everything feels like it’s already been written, the story follows Val-Theris, a cursed king who’s forced to watch everything he loves slowly fall apart, and Jesenia, a selfless refugee who keeps putting her people first even when she has nothing left for herself. When their lives cross, they form this forbidden, really emotional bond full of yearning, knowing right from the start that their story is meant to break them.
This book made me feel powerless. It shows you the reality of the world, with its injustice, the suffering of others, and how unfair everything can be.
Even when I knew this story wasn’t going to have a happy ending, I kept convincing myself that everything would somehow be okay just to ease my mind… but I still ended up with my heart completely broken 🥲💔
Tropes:
- Romantic tragedy
- Forbidden romance (king x refugee)
- Yearning
- Strong FMC
- Deeply flawed MMC
- Political fantasy
- No HEA
First of all, thank you so much to Ariel for allowing me to be part of the first to read this book!
"You are not responsible for my goodness,” he said gently. “You are the proof that goodness still exists in this world, despite it trying so hard to steal it from you.”
Ariel N. Anderson is my “if she wrote it, I’m reading it” author when it comes to romantic tragedies and once again, she didn’t disappoint.
If you’re in the mood to get your heart broken in the best way, with a fast-paced political fantasy, a closed-door romance, and lots of good yearning, you need to read this! Just know it’s a romantic tragedy, so there’s no HEA.
Set in a war-torn world where everything feels like it’s already been written, the story follows Val-Theris, a cursed king who’s forced to watch everything he loves slowly fall apart, and Jesenia, a selfless refugee who keeps putting her people first even when she has nothing left for herself. When their lives cross, they form this forbidden, really emotional bond full of yearning, knowing right from the start that their story is meant to break them.
This book made me feel powerless. It shows you the reality of the world, with its injustice, the suffering of others, and how unfair everything can be.
Even when I knew this story wasn’t going to have a happy ending, I kept convincing myself that everything would somehow be okay just to ease my mind… but I still ended up with my heart completely broken 🥲💔
Tropes:
- Romantic tragedy
- Forbidden romance (king x refugee)
- Yearning
- Strong FMC
- Deeply flawed MMC
- Political fantasy
- No HEA
May 5, 2026
Devastated. Absolutely fucking DEVASTATED. I knew what this was going into it
However I was still not prepared. What the actual FUCK
I fear I will never be the same again. This was so short and I desperately needed more. The book warns you of the ending but you spend 200 pages with the wrong assumption and then when the ending is revealed, you're left hollow and aching. You were prepared for one thing but not for the truth. Ariel N Anderson never fails to rip my heart out and slam it on the ground repeatedly until it's just a pile of broken flesh. I will still willingly read everything she writes and thank her for the emotional devastation.
However I was still not prepared. What the actual FUCK
I fear I will never be the same again. This was so short and I desperately needed more. The book warns you of the ending but you spend 200 pages with the wrong assumption and then when the ending is revealed, you're left hollow and aching. You were prepared for one thing but not for the truth. Ariel N Anderson never fails to rip my heart out and slam it on the ground repeatedly until it's just a pile of broken flesh. I will still willingly read everything she writes and thank her for the emotional devastation.
April 19, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
This romantic, political, tragedy was initially filled with intrigue and potential, but severely underdelivered. The plot moved far too quickly to establish any connection or attachment to the characters, which resulted in an underwhelming reaction when tragedy struck. I got so frustrated with the lack of substance and repetitive political scenes that this eventually turned into a rage read to get to the end.
This romantic, political, tragedy was initially filled with intrigue and potential, but severely underdelivered. The plot moved far too quickly to establish any connection or attachment to the characters, which resulted in an underwhelming reaction when tragedy struck. I got so frustrated with the lack of substance and repetitive political scenes that this eventually turned into a rage read to get to the end.
May 21, 2026
I received this book as an e-ARC in exchange for a review!
I really wish I could say that I liked this book more. I got all the way through, but at around 60%, I was starting to skim through and just reading dialogue and any descriptors that looked like they might be important. My complaint was less with the plot and more with the writing style. I will expand on this more in a sec, but I am fully convinced AI touched this book in some way. And if I’m wrong, then books like this have been used to train AI, and I’m not a fan of the writing style either way.
This book has the bones for a decent, albeit short, tragedy. The execution fails spectacularly. We remain in a third person omniscient narration, which keeps all the characters at arms’ length and does the disservice of making them two dimensional. Jesenia is reduced to a classic Mother Teresa figure who has no flaws (even given the title “Mother of Mercy” by the end) and no other attributes other than she takes care of the sick and wants to have a bunch of kids. Val-Theris, on the other hand, is all flaws and his characterization can be boiled down to “broody angel” figure, and the only thing he ever talks about is the weight of his crown and his familial conflicts of not knowing his father and having an ass of a brother. He’s a terrible leader, begging the question of why people haven’t revolted until now. It doesn’t seem like he ever does anything even before the whole refugee situation, so his descent into bad decisions doesn’t feel impactful at all because we’ve never seen him actually be a good leader.
There are a lot of good themes set up about refugees, forever wars, and pacifism, but they are never expanded upon or developed with the nuance they deserve. It’s all essentially used as cheap plot devices to advance some kind of interpersonal conflict between Val-Theris and Jesenia, which never ends up seeming proportional to the actual stakes. They have a lil argument and then they go back to kissing. Really, it just seems like the author tried to write a fantasy-political-romance-tragedy but doesn’t actually understand politics enough to write an impactful plot to accompany a romance or make the tragedy emotional. There’s a council that can just be boiled down to “racist” with no nuance, the worldbuilding is lackluster with no explanation of the governmental system of Solmiris, and Korvath can be boiled down to just straight up comically evil.
The ending was confusing in that it seemed like the author tried to have so many moving pieces and didn’t know how to resolve it that she tried to simplify the fraction at the expense of any realistic depiction of war, battle, and rioting. The end battle is literally
Lastly, the AI usage. There is absolutely no way AI didn’t touch this. The amount of redundancy and repetition within the descriptors is a dead giveaway to me. The only way anything is ever described is “a quiet gravity” “a quiet resolve” etc. There are similes and metaphors sprinkled everywhere, sometimes every few paragraphs, that don’t make sense. The wording throughout is flowery prose that is trying to sound sophisticated but isn’t actually saying anything. Randomly flipping through and picking sentences that I think are AI:
“He did not approach like a king or a god. He approached like a man who had already broken something precious and was trying not to shatter was remained.”
“I find myself wishing you were here, because you understand grief without turning it into spectacle […] Something I can give them when duty feels like too much to ask.”
“Behind him, the Hastati stood rigid, watching not as soldiers awaiting command, but as witnesses to the fall of something sacred.”
Obviously I have no proof, just a gut feeling. But again, not a fan of this type of writing whether it’s generated by AI or what is used to train AI. I think it’s a screen to hide shoddy writing behind flowery prose. I’d be curious to compare this to the author’s other more popular works and see if the writing style has changed recently.
AI usage or not, I do not think this story was well written even though it has the bones to be decent. It was incredibly hard to get through and I didn’t care for the characters or world at all. Wish I could be more positive about it.
I really wish I could say that I liked this book more. I got all the way through, but at around 60%, I was starting to skim through and just reading dialogue and any descriptors that looked like they might be important. My complaint was less with the plot and more with the writing style. I will expand on this more in a sec, but I am fully convinced AI touched this book in some way. And if I’m wrong, then books like this have been used to train AI, and I’m not a fan of the writing style either way.
This book has the bones for a decent, albeit short, tragedy. The execution fails spectacularly. We remain in a third person omniscient narration, which keeps all the characters at arms’ length and does the disservice of making them two dimensional. Jesenia is reduced to a classic Mother Teresa figure who has no flaws (even given the title “Mother of Mercy” by the end) and no other attributes other than she takes care of the sick and wants to have a bunch of kids. Val-Theris, on the other hand, is all flaws and his characterization can be boiled down to “broody angel” figure, and the only thing he ever talks about is the weight of his crown and his familial conflicts of not knowing his father and having an ass of a brother. He’s a terrible leader, begging the question of why people haven’t revolted until now. It doesn’t seem like he ever does anything even before the whole refugee situation, so his descent into bad decisions doesn’t feel impactful at all because we’ve never seen him actually be a good leader.
There are a lot of good themes set up about refugees, forever wars, and pacifism, but they are never expanded upon or developed with the nuance they deserve. It’s all essentially used as cheap plot devices to advance some kind of interpersonal conflict between Val-Theris and Jesenia, which never ends up seeming proportional to the actual stakes. They have a lil argument and then they go back to kissing. Really, it just seems like the author tried to write a fantasy-political-romance-tragedy but doesn’t actually understand politics enough to write an impactful plot to accompany a romance or make the tragedy emotional. There’s a council that can just be boiled down to “racist” with no nuance, the worldbuilding is lackluster with no explanation of the governmental system of Solmiris, and Korvath can be boiled down to just straight up comically evil.
The ending was confusing in that it seemed like the author tried to have so many moving pieces and didn’t know how to resolve it that she tried to simplify the fraction at the expense of any realistic depiction of war, battle, and rioting. The end battle is literally
Lastly, the AI usage. There is absolutely no way AI didn’t touch this. The amount of redundancy and repetition within the descriptors is a dead giveaway to me. The only way anything is ever described is “a quiet gravity” “a quiet resolve” etc. There are similes and metaphors sprinkled everywhere, sometimes every few paragraphs, that don’t make sense. The wording throughout is flowery prose that is trying to sound sophisticated but isn’t actually saying anything. Randomly flipping through and picking sentences that I think are AI:
“He did not approach like a king or a god. He approached like a man who had already broken something precious and was trying not to shatter was remained.”
“I find myself wishing you were here, because you understand grief without turning it into spectacle […] Something I can give them when duty feels like too much to ask.”
“Behind him, the Hastati stood rigid, watching not as soldiers awaiting command, but as witnesses to the fall of something sacred.”
Obviously I have no proof, just a gut feeling. But again, not a fan of this type of writing whether it’s generated by AI or what is used to train AI. I think it’s a screen to hide shoddy writing behind flowery prose. I’d be curious to compare this to the author’s other more popular works and see if the writing style has changed recently.
AI usage or not, I do not think this story was well written even though it has the bones to be decent. It was incredibly hard to get through and I didn’t care for the characters or world at all. Wish I could be more positive about it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Anticipating crying my eyes out to a 5 star read…. Ariel does not disappoint.
**********************UPDATE***********************************
This story was so different from Ariel's usual work. I loved how the romance was there but was not the main plot; the political take of Val-Theris was so frustrating. He wanted so much good and change but did nothing to make it happen in fear of becoming just like his brother. His counsel walked all over him and had no respect for him. It truly was infuriating.
Jesenia is such a strong FMC; I loved her. Ariel did so well in showing strength through her. She is the true definition of mercy. Jesenia to me showed the strengths of women; who love unconditionally. The ones that are always there and take on the fights of others above themselves.
Watching a city who was blessed to have the "right" brother lead them become too high and mighty to show grace to others was so sad, and what is even sadder is how relatable it is to our real world.
The lack of smut was also different, if you know Ariel you know she always talks about how she hates writing it, so it was not a complete surprise. I think it was very tasteful due to the plot of the book and the way the storyline flows. The love they have for each other was more than the sexual chemistry.
The ending while expecting a tragedy still took me by surprise. In the end he did predict his life was over but like real life it did not come the way he thought it would and that so was the saddest thing. I did want to know what happens after, maybe one day.
Again ariel, you did SUCH an amazing job. It was an honor to be able to receive an eARC and provide my honest review.
**********************UPDATE***********************************
This story was so different from Ariel's usual work. I loved how the romance was there but was not the main plot; the political take of Val-Theris was so frustrating. He wanted so much good and change but did nothing to make it happen in fear of becoming just like his brother. His counsel walked all over him and had no respect for him. It truly was infuriating.
Jesenia is such a strong FMC; I loved her. Ariel did so well in showing strength through her. She is the true definition of mercy. Jesenia to me showed the strengths of women; who love unconditionally. The ones that are always there and take on the fights of others above themselves.
Watching a city who was blessed to have the "right" brother lead them become too high and mighty to show grace to others was so sad, and what is even sadder is how relatable it is to our real world.
The lack of smut was also different, if you know Ariel you know she always talks about how she hates writing it, so it was not a complete surprise. I think it was very tasteful due to the plot of the book and the way the storyline flows. The love they have for each other was more than the sexual chemistry.
The ending while expecting a tragedy still took me by surprise. In the end he did predict his life was over but like real life it did not come the way he thought it would and that so was the saddest thing. I did want to know what happens after, maybe one day.
Again ariel, you did SUCH an amazing job. It was an honor to be able to receive an eARC and provide my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2026
Review of an eARC from the Author, Ariel Anderson
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to read this eARC
ARC Review: 3 ⭐️
First, I love Ariel Anderson and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to read this ahead of time. If you don't know her, she is the queen of tragic endings and this book did not escape that. With that being said, please do not come into this and expect a HEA because you will not find it.
Anyways here's my two cents...
I enjoyed the book and I believe it has potential. It is in 3rd person POV and it switches back and forth - gives me the vibe of someone with ADHD retelling a story from their experience. Because it seems like I'm jumping from one scene to another. Like the chapters want to flow together but they just don't.
While I enjoyed reading the book and I think it has a lot of potentials, I found myself wishing this book is longer mainly because I found it lacking of world and character building. The story seemed slow with the storyline focused heavily on the same scenarios - meetings, FMC not wanting to be involved, MMC not knowing what to do and wanting to stay neutral but also wanting to protect the FMC.
Also, this book is categorized as political fantasy first and romance tragedy second. So, there is not a lot of romance involved - which is totally fine. However, I did not get the connection that the two main characters are supposed to have. There were too little interactions between the MCs before the MMC decided he can no longer stop how he feels or he did not want to avoid it anymore. Like, is the chemistry in the room with us? Did I miss a big interaction when and where they fell madly in love with each other? Their love story just feels out of place for me. Like I was thrown a curveball from the left field.
I would say though that the tragedy of this story did tug the strings of my black heart. It made me sad and frustrated. It left me hoping that the MCs get to have their HEA but I think that's just the hopeless romantic in me.
Overall, I wish there are more characters and world building in this story rather than feeling rushed and underdeveloped; also less repetition. Maybe it is just me but I want more details. An in-depth world building, back story, and plot.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to read this eARC
ARC Review: 3 ⭐️
First, I love Ariel Anderson and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to read this ahead of time. If you don't know her, she is the queen of tragic endings and this book did not escape that. With that being said, please do not come into this and expect a HEA because you will not find it.
Anyways here's my two cents...
I enjoyed the book and I believe it has potential. It is in 3rd person POV and it switches back and forth - gives me the vibe of someone with ADHD retelling a story from their experience. Because it seems like I'm jumping from one scene to another. Like the chapters want to flow together but they just don't.
While I enjoyed reading the book and I think it has a lot of potentials, I found myself wishing this book is longer mainly because I found it lacking of world and character building. The story seemed slow with the storyline focused heavily on the same scenarios - meetings, FMC not wanting to be involved, MMC not knowing what to do and wanting to stay neutral but also wanting to protect the FMC.
Also, this book is categorized as political fantasy first and romance tragedy second. So, there is not a lot of romance involved - which is totally fine. However, I did not get the connection that the two main characters are supposed to have. There were too little interactions between the MCs before the MMC decided he can no longer stop how he feels or he did not want to avoid it anymore. Like, is the chemistry in the room with us? Did I miss a big interaction when and where they fell madly in love with each other? Their love story just feels out of place for me. Like I was thrown a curveball from the left field.
I would say though that the tragedy of this story did tug the strings of my black heart. It made me sad and frustrated. It left me hoping that the MCs get to have their HEA but I think that's just the hopeless romantic in me.
Overall, I wish there are more characters and world building in this story rather than feeling rushed and underdeveloped; also less repetition. Maybe it is just me but I want more details. An in-depth world building, back story, and plot.
March 31, 2026
ARC reader review:
First off if you don’t know this author, she is the BEST at writing romantic tragedy books. That being said she absolutely nailed it with this one!
The End Unseen is a political fantasy which focuses on subjects like rich vs poor, outsider prejudice, and a strict tradition oriented culture.
Jesenia is so kind, caring and selfless, you can’t help but fall in love with her. Val-Theris however is rough around the edges but also has good morals. Jesenia is very patient with him while she tries to get him to become more open minded and see everyone as an equal even though they are from different social classes.
The plot keeps you engaged and interested until the very end!
Tropes:
*forbidden/ tragic love
*political separation
*intense angst
*love vs duty
*secret marriage
First off if you don’t know this author, she is the BEST at writing romantic tragedy books. That being said she absolutely nailed it with this one!
The End Unseen is a political fantasy which focuses on subjects like rich vs poor, outsider prejudice, and a strict tradition oriented culture.
Jesenia is so kind, caring and selfless, you can’t help but fall in love with her. Val-Theris however is rough around the edges but also has good morals. Jesenia is very patient with him while she tries to get him to become more open minded and see everyone as an equal even though they are from different social classes.
The plot keeps you engaged and interested until the very end!
Tropes:
*forbidden/ tragic love
*political separation
*intense angst
*love vs duty
*secret marriage
May 19, 2026
I finished this while I was on the treadmill and I was about to end it all right there. I still don't feel sane enough to make reasonable arguments about this book but anyways ranting is what I do.
The whole premise wasn't bad, it's your classic case of divine guy versus brave mortal girl couple; however, they start off "perfect" and stay that way throughout the book. The female lead is just saint-incarnate and at some point you start to resent her being so passionate about peace and human lives. A soft spoken angel with nothing to offer but her pretty words. I mean nothing necessarily happens for her to grow, so, understandable. The male lead however was unexpectedly more palatable at the beginning, but at some point he was just there. A perfect gentleman sharing the same values as the female lead but they never dream to change their situation. Yes, this was the whole problem with the book. You may argue that their communication was sweet and adequate but I don't think so. They never conversed about what's important or needed to be done. Their people were at odds, but the person who's in charge did nothing to ease their worries. What's a king with no mouth? He stayed silent and waited for her people to figure everything out; that was his worst decision. So I kind of understand why people refused to follow his lead at the end. A political intrigue with no politics, just pure stupidity of the counsel. The whole counsel is just pure gossipers who genuinely hate their king, a group of people only working for their own benefit. Simply, nothing happens in the book. Literally. The male lead does something slightly 'bad' and the female lead cries over it. That's the whole book. It hits you in the face with the fact that knowing future would change nothing. So nothing changes.
I'd maybe think differently of it if we were to read Lunareth trying to gain their own independence back, or rather see their inner struggle with not being able to fight back as they're depicted as these little peacemakers. I'd even love to see the Angel King trying to help them co-exist by creating new policies, or opportunities; supporting his people in securing more food etc. Just seeing them doing something useful would calm my heart but none of them happened.
Still, I enjoyed listening to the voice actors. They were incredible.
The whole premise wasn't bad, it's your classic case of divine guy versus brave mortal girl couple; however, they start off "perfect" and stay that way throughout the book. The female lead is just saint-incarnate and at some point you start to resent her being so passionate about peace and human lives. A soft spoken angel with nothing to offer but her pretty words. I mean nothing necessarily happens for her to grow, so, understandable. The male lead however was unexpectedly more palatable at the beginning, but at some point he was just there. A perfect gentleman sharing the same values as the female lead but they never dream to change their situation. Yes, this was the whole problem with the book. You may argue that their communication was sweet and adequate but I don't think so. They never conversed about what's important or needed to be done. Their people were at odds, but the person who's in charge did nothing to ease their worries. What's a king with no mouth? He stayed silent and waited for her people to figure everything out; that was his worst decision. So I kind of understand why people refused to follow his lead at the end. A political intrigue with no politics, just pure stupidity of the counsel. The whole counsel is just pure gossipers who genuinely hate their king, a group of people only working for their own benefit. Simply, nothing happens in the book. Literally. The male lead does something slightly 'bad' and the female lead cries over it. That's the whole book. It hits you in the face with the fact that knowing future would change nothing. So nothing changes.
I'd maybe think differently of it if we were to read Lunareth trying to gain their own independence back, or rather see their inner struggle with not being able to fight back as they're depicted as these little peacemakers. I'd even love to see the Angel King trying to help them co-exist by creating new policies, or opportunities; supporting his people in securing more food etc. Just seeing them doing something useful would calm my heart but none of them happened.
Still, I enjoyed listening to the voice actors. They were incredible.
April 29, 2026
Firstly I want to thank Ariel and her team for giving me the opportunity to get my hands on an ARC edition. I have personally read 2 of Ariel's other works (Under Your Scars, and Delilah) and if you've read her works you know she is incredible at non-HEA (Happily Ever After) stories 🥞 (she's actually been my introduction to the devastatingly beautiful world of non-HEA).
Secondly I wanted to say I am incredibly excited to listen to the audio book! Once I found out who the narrators were going to be, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I'm sure it will expose Ariel to a whole new Fandom (if you know you know).
Like the previously mentioned works, The End Unseen is a non-HEA which I think is ended beautifully despite the tragedy.
The story follows both Jesenia – a refugee from a pacifist village who takes on a sort of leadership role within her remaining people after the destruction of war, and Val-Theris – an Angel King who's powers of foresight leave him open to the vulnerability of misinterpretation that becomes even more dangerous as he finds himself locked in a power struggle with his counsel, finding out just how much he can help the outsiders without effecting the loyalty of his own people.
I personally would have loved for this book to have been longer, I would have really liked to see things like a little more background into characters involved such as Val-Theris's right hand man Rohannes.
Secondly I wanted to say I am incredibly excited to listen to the audio book! Once I found out who the narrators were going to be, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I'm sure it will expose Ariel to a whole new Fandom (if you know you know).
Like the previously mentioned works, The End Unseen is a non-HEA which I think is ended beautifully despite the tragedy.
The story follows both Jesenia – a refugee from a pacifist village who takes on a sort of leadership role within her remaining people after the destruction of war, and Val-Theris – an Angel King who's powers of foresight leave him open to the vulnerability of misinterpretation that becomes even more dangerous as he finds himself locked in a power struggle with his counsel, finding out just how much he can help the outsiders without effecting the loyalty of his own people.
I personally would have loved for this book to have been longer, I would have really liked to see things like a little more background into characters involved such as Val-Theris's right hand man Rohannes.
May 18, 2026
I swear I had my review all written out in my head by about 90%, but then that ending happened and Im a little shell shocked and out of words. This is more on the lines of a romance with fantasy elements; Jesenia and Val's story was a tragic love; she was pure of heart and he is only wanting to do his best for his people; but humans being humans chose darkness over light.
April 25, 2026
ARC Review:
First off, this was my first of Ariel’s work that I have read, and after reading The End Unseen, I will definitely be reading her other novels.
The ability that Ariel Anderson has to make her readers feel as if they are right next to the main characters watching the plot unfold, is something that I look to experience when I read. Val-Theris and Jesenia are not like other characters I am used to. Although there is chaos ensuing around them at all times and extreme struggle within the kingdom, they both have an innocence around them that is so refreshing. The development of their romance was so pure, and it was the opposite of chaos in my opinion. The slow burn was worth the wait, and the yearning of Val-Theris was admirable because, as a person in power, he had to be patient for Jesenia’s attention. However, even though I was prepared for a tragic ending, I was very caught off guard. I think the buildup of the story line will have other readers taken aback in the best (or worst) way possible.
I loved the easy flow of the novel, and I highly recommend it to readers that enjoy fantasy romance or those that are just beginning to read fantasy. I honestly want there to be a second book about life after the ending.
First off, this was my first of Ariel’s work that I have read, and after reading The End Unseen, I will definitely be reading her other novels.
The ability that Ariel Anderson has to make her readers feel as if they are right next to the main characters watching the plot unfold, is something that I look to experience when I read. Val-Theris and Jesenia are not like other characters I am used to. Although there is chaos ensuing around them at all times and extreme struggle within the kingdom, they both have an innocence around them that is so refreshing. The development of their romance was so pure, and it was the opposite of chaos in my opinion. The slow burn was worth the wait, and the yearning of Val-Theris was admirable because, as a person in power, he had to be patient for Jesenia’s attention. However, even though I was prepared for a tragic ending, I was very caught off guard. I think the buildup of the story line will have other readers taken aback in the best (or worst) way possible.
I loved the easy flow of the novel, and I highly recommend it to readers that enjoy fantasy romance or those that are just beginning to read fantasy. I honestly want there to be a second book about life after the ending.
April 28, 2026
ARC REVIEWWW
I want to start off by first thanking the author and her team for giving me the chance to arc read this book!! This is a fairly short story on two brothers and one human girl. Our two brothers Val-Theris and Val-Oros are both God rulers one good one evil with one human girl looking for someplace to live with her family after their town got burned down. It is important to know our author Ariel loves writing a good non HEA and that’s what this is!! So with that being said I can’t wait till everyone else gets to experience this!!
I want to start off by first thanking the author and her team for giving me the chance to arc read this book!! This is a fairly short story on two brothers and one human girl. Our two brothers Val-Theris and Val-Oros are both God rulers one good one evil with one human girl looking for someplace to live with her family after their town got burned down. It is important to know our author Ariel loves writing a good non HEA and that’s what this is!! So with that being said I can’t wait till everyone else gets to experience this!!
May 7, 2026
My ARC Review: Thank you so much to Ariel N Anderson & her team for sending me this ARC!
I really enjoyed this book & i'm upset that it took me this long to write a review only because I was so busy for the month of April! I am giving this book 4/5 stars only because I felt that this story felt a bit rushed & I think it could have been paced just a tiny bit better. This story was tragically beautiful & I throughly enjoyed Val-Theris’ yearning throughout the book 😮💨 Also Jesenia has such a wonderful heart & I know people who are like her & who would gladly put someone else in front of themselves. I also needed some time to process this book since Ariel decided to break my heart again just like UYS 🥲 Happy reading & happy release day! 🫶🏼
”But I can promise you this: I will never again ask you to sacrifice your heart for my war.”
I really enjoyed this book & i'm upset that it took me this long to write a review only because I was so busy for the month of April! I am giving this book 4/5 stars only because I felt that this story felt a bit rushed & I think it could have been paced just a tiny bit better. This story was tragically beautiful & I throughly enjoyed Val-Theris’ yearning throughout the book 😮💨 Also Jesenia has such a wonderful heart & I know people who are like her & who would gladly put someone else in front of themselves. I also needed some time to process this book since Ariel decided to break my heart again just like UYS 🥲 Happy reading & happy release day! 🫶🏼
”But I can promise you this: I will never again ask you to sacrifice your heart for my war.”
May 15, 2026
gave an extra star because the male narrator in the audiobook was amazing. The pacing of the book is all over the place. The plot started off great but then fell off a cliff
April 9, 2026
ARC Review:
This is a no HEA romantic tragedy but if you know this author, that’s what she does best! 🥞
We need more Jesenia’s in our world. She is so caring, kind and selfless, taking care of others before herself. When a war they are not a part of takes out their home, they seek out the help of Val-Theris, and they’re met with a lot of hate from his people. But he has a solution, or does he? To know more, read this as soon as it is available on 04/28/26! This was beautifully written, thank you for the chance to read this early!
This is a no HEA romantic tragedy but if you know this author, that’s what she does best! 🥞
We need more Jesenia’s in our world. She is so caring, kind and selfless, taking care of others before herself. When a war they are not a part of takes out their home, they seek out the help of Val-Theris, and they’re met with a lot of hate from his people. But he has a solution, or does he? To know more, read this as soon as it is available on 04/28/26! This was beautifully written, thank you for the chance to read this early!
April 12, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ ARC REVIEW
This one had so much potential for me. The world and characters pulled me in quickly, and I found myself really invested—especially in Jesenia.
One of my favorite elements was the dynamic between the brothers. Being shaped by completely different traits—mercy vs. wrath—created such an interesting contrast in leadership and added a strong layer to the political tension throughout the story.
That said, the ending didn’t fully land for me.
I’m someone who really needs character growth to feel earned by the end, and I kept waiting for certain choices and developments that never quite came. Because of that, the payoff felt more heavy than satisfying for me personally.
At the same time, I can’t ignore how real it felt. The politics, the hesitation, the weight of leadership—it all mirrors real-world dynamics in a way that feels very intentional, even if it wasn’t what I wanted emotionally.
So while it didn’t give me the ending I hoped for, I can absolutely respect what it was trying to do.
If you enjoy morally complex characters, layered political tension, and more bittersweet/realistic outcomes, this might really work for you.
This one had so much potential for me. The world and characters pulled me in quickly, and I found myself really invested—especially in Jesenia.
One of my favorite elements was the dynamic between the brothers. Being shaped by completely different traits—mercy vs. wrath—created such an interesting contrast in leadership and added a strong layer to the political tension throughout the story.
That said, the ending didn’t fully land for me.
I’m someone who really needs character growth to feel earned by the end, and I kept waiting for certain choices and developments that never quite came. Because of that, the payoff felt more heavy than satisfying for me personally.
At the same time, I can’t ignore how real it felt. The politics, the hesitation, the weight of leadership—it all mirrors real-world dynamics in a way that feels very intentional, even if it wasn’t what I wanted emotionally.
So while it didn’t give me the ending I hoped for, I can absolutely respect what it was trying to do.
If you enjoy morally complex characters, layered political tension, and more bittersweet/realistic outcomes, this might really work for you.
May 11, 2026
Is it fucked up of me to say that the only reason I gave this book a two star rating was because of the male narrator? Maybe but I feel like that was me still being generous at the end of the day.
I’ll try to keep this brief. I really could not tell you if there was anything that I liked about this book not because I hated it but because I just don’t think that there is anything from this book to grasp that had enough substance for me to say that I liked it in particular. Unfortunately, it felt very lackluster world building wise, character wise, and I just did not think that there was enough in either of these categories to warrant being anything more than just an okay read.
And it was just okay up until I hit the two hour mark via audiobook and then it went from being okay to don’t piss me off territory to now you’re just fucking with me. I won’t go into egregious detail about it other than almost nothing the MMC suggested to the FMC was good enough the first time. Which wouldn’t have been a problem if the FMC ever made any suggestions of her own other than, “but why can’t you?”
At no point did I feel like these two characters ever work together to find a solution about anything that did not involve just the two of them which is a problem considering this book wanted to focus so heavily on refugees, the displacement of their homes, them not being treated like people and other issues pertaining to that… I got very frustrated towards the end of the book to the point where I had to increase the listening speed just to get over with it quickly. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it definitely missed the mark. It just was not an enjoyable read for me, it lacked a lot of personality and even the male narrator couldn’t save it unfortunately.
I’ll try to keep this brief. I really could not tell you if there was anything that I liked about this book not because I hated it but because I just don’t think that there is anything from this book to grasp that had enough substance for me to say that I liked it in particular. Unfortunately, it felt very lackluster world building wise, character wise, and I just did not think that there was enough in either of these categories to warrant being anything more than just an okay read.
And it was just okay up until I hit the two hour mark via audiobook and then it went from being okay to don’t piss me off territory to now you’re just fucking with me. I won’t go into egregious detail about it other than almost nothing the MMC suggested to the FMC was good enough the first time. Which wouldn’t have been a problem if the FMC ever made any suggestions of her own other than, “but why can’t you?”
At no point did I feel like these two characters ever work together to find a solution about anything that did not involve just the two of them which is a problem considering this book wanted to focus so heavily on refugees, the displacement of their homes, them not being treated like people and other issues pertaining to that… I got very frustrated towards the end of the book to the point where I had to increase the listening speed just to get over with it quickly. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it definitely missed the mark. It just was not an enjoyable read for me, it lacked a lot of personality and even the male narrator couldn’t save it unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
4.5✨
first off, i want to say thank you to ariel for letting me read this as an ARC!
wowowowowow okay so ariel truly knows how to write tragic romance because what do you mean i cried at the end of ANOTHER one of her books?!!!!
i was painfully waiting for jesenia and val-theris to GET OVER IT AND BE IN LOVE like god DAMN, but i loveeeee slow burns. BUT THEN SLOW BURNS WITH TRAGEDY?! 😫😫😫 just rip my heart out and stomp on it a few more times why dont you?!
screw the people from EVERY OTHER city but lunareth!!! they were all horrible people who treated lunarethians like absolute trash, like why dont you go and see how the korvathians are living?!!! the people of seraveth were LUCKY, idk how val-theris rarely ever yelled or got violent with his people…like PUT YOUR DAMN FOOT DOWN😤😤stop letting your people be pretty much xenophobic SIR!!
anywayyyyy😂this is my first fantasy book with angels/gods to this degree but i loved the idea that there were two sons born from one god to help balance the earth but in reality created a major imbalance. the scene with val-or i just found to be so cool and different!
my only qualm was that i felt there was some repetition throughout the book but for me that isn’t a HUGE issue!
first off, i want to say thank you to ariel for letting me read this as an ARC!
wowowowowow okay so ariel truly knows how to write tragic romance because what do you mean i cried at the end of ANOTHER one of her books?!!!!
i was painfully waiting for jesenia and val-theris to GET OVER IT AND BE IN LOVE like god DAMN, but i loveeeee slow burns. BUT THEN SLOW BURNS WITH TRAGEDY?! 😫😫😫 just rip my heart out and stomp on it a few more times why dont you?!
screw the people from EVERY OTHER city but lunareth!!! they were all horrible people who treated lunarethians like absolute trash, like why dont you go and see how the korvathians are living?!!! the people of seraveth were LUCKY, idk how val-theris rarely ever yelled or got violent with his people…like PUT YOUR DAMN FOOT DOWN😤😤stop letting your people be pretty much xenophobic SIR!!
anywayyyyy😂this is my first fantasy book with angels/gods to this degree but i loved the idea that there were two sons born from one god to help balance the earth but in reality created a major imbalance. the scene with val-or i just found to be so cool and different!
my only qualm was that i felt there was some repetition throughout the book but for me that isn’t a HUGE issue!
April 30, 2026
| rating: 4 ★
I read this primarily for the male narrator, but I am in awe at how beautiful and tragic 250 pages can be. I definitely would recommend listening to the audiobook because both actors do such a fantastic job at conveying the powerful emotions that their characters go through.
This book isn't just a tragic love story, it is also an exploration of humanity. Our female lead Jesenia is displaced from her home due to the violent actions of a god, but she experiences perhaps far harsher cruelty from the human beings around her—politicians who see her and her people as burdens, soldiers who treat them like they are sub-humans. I found that it's also a pretty apt mirror to how first world countries see/treat refugees from countries being torn apart by war. I love how Jesenia continued to stay kind and empathetic, even despite how everyone treated her, and I loved how she stood by her morals, even if it meant briefly losing Val-Theris.
Val-Theris. Wow. I have no words. The audiobook is such an experience because the male narrator is SO GOOD. I am a bit biased, but even I was unprepared for the performance that he gave me. The way he perfectly conveys Val-Theris' anger and his despair and his desperation. Perhaps my favorite scene was when
I read this primarily for the male narrator, but I am in awe at how beautiful and tragic 250 pages can be. I definitely would recommend listening to the audiobook because both actors do such a fantastic job at conveying the powerful emotions that their characters go through.
This book isn't just a tragic love story, it is also an exploration of humanity. Our female lead Jesenia is displaced from her home due to the violent actions of a god, but she experiences perhaps far harsher cruelty from the human beings around her—politicians who see her and her people as burdens, soldiers who treat them like they are sub-humans. I found that it's also a pretty apt mirror to how first world countries see/treat refugees from countries being torn apart by war. I love how Jesenia continued to stay kind and empathetic, even despite how everyone treated her, and I loved how she stood by her morals, even if it meant briefly losing Val-Theris.
Val-Theris. Wow. I have no words. The audiobook is such an experience because the male narrator is SO GOOD. I am a bit biased, but even I was unprepared for the performance that he gave me. The way he perfectly conveys Val-Theris' anger and his despair and his desperation. Perhaps my favorite scene was when
April 21, 2026
Val-Theris and Jesenia: This is a good vs evil, immortal god x human girl, third person POV, multiple POV, political unrest, angel king x refugee, nation in war, forbidden love, fantasy romance.
This book was definitely a very interesting story. Yes this story is about Valerie-Therus and Jesenia but it is more than that. This story is also about two groups of people that have been forced together due to war and the ripple effects that come with it. The political unrest, racism, classism, discrimination, displacement, and all wrong in the world and how people choose to live their lives, either molded by it all or in spite of it.
This story had so many layers and was done really well but I did wish the characters had more dimension and complexity. It’s not that I didn’t like them, I just wanted more.
The narration was done so very well, so much emotion from the voice actors and really brought the story to life. I usually like reading book over audiobooks but I would say this is one of the few books I would prefer as an audiobook.
This book was definitely a very interesting story. Yes this story is about Valerie-Therus and Jesenia but it is more than that. This story is also about two groups of people that have been forced together due to war and the ripple effects that come with it. The political unrest, racism, classism, discrimination, displacement, and all wrong in the world and how people choose to live their lives, either molded by it all or in spite of it.
This story had so many layers and was done really well but I did wish the characters had more dimension and complexity. It’s not that I didn’t like them, I just wanted more.
The narration was done so very well, so much emotion from the voice actors and really brought the story to life. I usually like reading book over audiobooks but I would say this is one of the few books I would prefer as an audiobook.
May 3, 2026
This right here is why I love Ariel Anderson so much. After reading ‘Under Your Scars’ it quickly became my favorite book of all time and nothing has come close to surpassing it. But this…this book is a close 2nd.
Ariel Anderson is the Queen of Tragedy. The way that she can make a tragic story and turn it into a beautiful masterpiece is absolutely incredible. She can open my heart to the characters and storyline and then break it into pieces leaving me speechless and in tears but in the best way. Life doesn’t always have a happy ending and it’s refreshing to see that in fiction novels when it’s executed so perfectly
I found it especially amazing that she was able to pack all that emotion into a considerably shorter novel without sacrificing the personal connection or storyline. I flew through this book and loved every minute of it
Ariel Anderson is the Queen of Tragedy. The way that she can make a tragic story and turn it into a beautiful masterpiece is absolutely incredible. She can open my heart to the characters and storyline and then break it into pieces leaving me speechless and in tears but in the best way. Life doesn’t always have a happy ending and it’s refreshing to see that in fiction novels when it’s executed so perfectly
I found it especially amazing that she was able to pack all that emotion into a considerably shorter novel without sacrificing the personal connection or storyline. I flew through this book and loved every minute of it
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