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Eden's Rise: The Empire Under the Mountains
Not yet published
Expected 12 Sep 26Eden was rescued. And has been paying for it ever since. An orphan raised in the dwarven empire beneath the mountains, he is human and second-class, forever indebted, barely tolerated. A gifted mapmaker, Eden intends to blend in with the dwarves, to earn his place.
When a black dragon descends on his hometown, his closest friend Anya is hauled into an unjust trial. And Eden, Anya, and their elven companion Faras are forced to run, fleeing toward the imperial capital, ever deeper into the mountains. There they hope to disappear.
But the empire is not what it seems. Armies are marching. Dark creatures are stirring. And in the shadows, a secret eighty years old, the wrath of a dragon rider, is waiting to rewrite everything about their world.
Eden's Rise is a story of growing up in an oppressive world, of friendship and rebellion, and of the forces, real and magical, that shape the choices we make.
When a black dragon descends on his hometown, his closest friend Anya is hauled into an unjust trial. And Eden, Anya, and their elven companion Faras are forced to run, fleeing toward the imperial capital, ever deeper into the mountains. There they hope to disappear.
But the empire is not what it seems. Armies are marching. Dark creatures are stirring. And in the shadows, a secret eighty years old, the wrath of a dragon rider, is waiting to rewrite everything about their world.
Eden's Rise is a story of growing up in an oppressive world, of friendship and rebellion, and of the forces, real and magical, that shape the choices we make.
- GenresFantasy
14 pages, Audiobook
Expected publication September 12, 2026
About the author
O.E. Bruening
1 book8 followersO.E. Bruening was born on the wrong side of a divided Germany and spent his early years growing up under communist oppression before his family emigrated in the mid-1980s. Settling in West Germany brought new freedoms, but not quite belonging. It was in the fantastical worlds of Tolkien, Asimov, and Hohlbein where he found his escape.
He eventually made his way to Boston for college and San Francisco for work, where he further fed his creative passions at the San Francisco Studio School.
Eden's Rise is his debut novel and the first book in a planned series. Bruening lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
He eventually made his way to Boston for college and San Francisco for work, where he further fed his creative passions at the San Francisco Studio School.
Eden's Rise is his debut novel and the first book in a planned series. Bruening lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 14, 2026
Eden’s Rise: The Empire under the Mountains by O.E. Bruening is an ambitious indie debut that initially drew me in with its distinct The Hobbit atmosphere. Dwarves, dragons, and a sprawling underground empire naturally invite comparisons to Tolkien’s classic, but Bruening ultimately tells a very different story that firmly stands on its own.
Eden is a human orphan living in a dwarven empire where outsiders are treated as second-class citizens. Determined to keep his head down and secure his future, his plans unravel when a dragon attack and a wrongful accusation force him to flee alongside his friends Anya and Faras. As they journey toward the imperial capital, they uncover secrets that could change everything they thought they knew about their world.
While I expected Tolkien-inspired adventure, the first part of the book actually reminded me more of my time playing Dragon Age: Origins, which I absolutely loved. Experiencing dwarven society through the eyes of outsiders made for an intriguing perspective. I did find myself wishing for more dwarf-specific lore and worldbuilding, especially considering how central the setting is to the story.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the friendship at its core. I became invested in Eden, Anya, and Faras very quickly, and the injustices they faced were easy to empathize with. I especially appreciated that, despite caring deeply for one another, they held conflicting worldviews. The discussions between optimism and pessimism felt thoughtful and surprisingly timeless. There is a significant difference between losing hope yourself and actively discouraging others from pursuing theirs, and the book explored that idea effectively.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the novel and the group’s journey together. Around the midpoint, however, a time jump shifted the story’s direction. After that, I felt somewhat disconnected from the characters and their individual paths. Interestingly, every time the original group reunited for another adventure, my enjoyment immediately returned.
The introduction of a new point of view character unfortunately did not work for me. I struggled to understand her role within the society she belonged to, particularly because she repeatedly disregarded its rules without facing meaningful consequences. I also found her difficult to connect with due to a lack of redeeming qualities.
The world itself often felt relentlessly bleak for outsiders. While I understood the point Bruening was making about systemic injustice, I felt the message occasionally lacked nuance and became repetitive. There were also a few moments where the internal logic of the world did not quite hold together for me. The dragons sometimes seemed surprisingly gullible, and law enforcement across the various societies appeared inconsistent. Certain influential figures could simply disappear without much resistance, yet the protagonists often escaped scrutiny in ways that raised questions.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. Both are outstanding narrators whose work I have enjoyed in many other productions, and their performances here were excellent as well. However, in this particular young adult story, I felt that their portrayals of the younger characters did not fully capture the voices of teenagers and young adults. A younger narrator duo might have been a better fit.
Overall, Eden’s Rise starts exceptionally strong, delivering an engaging adventure built on friendship, prejudice, and survival. While the second half reaches for larger ideas and broader scope, it occasionally feels as though it is trying to do both too much and too little at the same time. The middle section meanders, and the later developments feel somewhat rushed. Even so, the strength of the central friendships gives the book a strong core.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ironthale Press LLC, and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing me with an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Eden is a human orphan living in a dwarven empire where outsiders are treated as second-class citizens. Determined to keep his head down and secure his future, his plans unravel when a dragon attack and a wrongful accusation force him to flee alongside his friends Anya and Faras. As they journey toward the imperial capital, they uncover secrets that could change everything they thought they knew about their world.
While I expected Tolkien-inspired adventure, the first part of the book actually reminded me more of my time playing Dragon Age: Origins, which I absolutely loved. Experiencing dwarven society through the eyes of outsiders made for an intriguing perspective. I did find myself wishing for more dwarf-specific lore and worldbuilding, especially considering how central the setting is to the story.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the friendship at its core. I became invested in Eden, Anya, and Faras very quickly, and the injustices they faced were easy to empathize with. I especially appreciated that, despite caring deeply for one another, they held conflicting worldviews. The discussions between optimism and pessimism felt thoughtful and surprisingly timeless. There is a significant difference between losing hope yourself and actively discouraging others from pursuing theirs, and the book explored that idea effectively.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the novel and the group’s journey together. Around the midpoint, however, a time jump shifted the story’s direction. After that, I felt somewhat disconnected from the characters and their individual paths. Interestingly, every time the original group reunited for another adventure, my enjoyment immediately returned.
The introduction of a new point of view character unfortunately did not work for me. I struggled to understand her role within the society she belonged to, particularly because she repeatedly disregarded its rules without facing meaningful consequences. I also found her difficult to connect with due to a lack of redeeming qualities.
The world itself often felt relentlessly bleak for outsiders. While I understood the point Bruening was making about systemic injustice, I felt the message occasionally lacked nuance and became repetitive. There were also a few moments where the internal logic of the world did not quite hold together for me. The dragons sometimes seemed surprisingly gullible, and law enforcement across the various societies appeared inconsistent. Certain influential figures could simply disappear without much resistance, yet the protagonists often escaped scrutiny in ways that raised questions.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. Both are outstanding narrators whose work I have enjoyed in many other productions, and their performances here were excellent as well. However, in this particular young adult story, I felt that their portrayals of the younger characters did not fully capture the voices of teenagers and young adults. A younger narrator duo might have been a better fit.
Overall, Eden’s Rise starts exceptionally strong, delivering an engaging adventure built on friendship, prejudice, and survival. While the second half reaches for larger ideas and broader scope, it occasionally feels as though it is trying to do both too much and too little at the same time. The middle section meanders, and the later developments feel somewhat rushed. Even so, the strength of the central friendships gives the book a strong core.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ironthale Press LLC, and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing me with an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
16/6/26: finally finished! 3 stars, RTC.
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5/6/26: started the ARC of the audiobook yesterday! hoping i love this one.
....................
5/6/26: started the ARC of the audiobook yesterday! hoping i love this one.
June 30, 2026
I wanted to love this book but it just didn’t hit the way I hoped it would. It had all the makings of a book I would love: magic, dragons, dwarves, elves, magical creatures, action, adventure, found family, friendship, political intrigue, mystery, twists, reveals. The pacing was great and there was truly never a dull moment. However I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if I had read it with my eyes. I had a very hard time with the audiobook. I did not enjoy the narrators and while I can understand why others would, I found the drastic changes in voices distracting and it kept pulling me out of the story. I also found the time jumps confusing and I couldn’t figure out where I was in the story, which is more of a “me” problem. I am very curious to see if I have a better experience if I read with my eyes so I will try again at some point
Thank you to NetGalley, Ironthale Press LLC, and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing me with an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley, Ironthale Press LLC, and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing me with an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 14, 2026
4.5⭐️
I was able to listen to this audio book thanks to Netgalley.
I enjoyed the first book in the Empire Under the Mountains series. This was my first time listening to a book narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading and I think they did a good job of bringing the characters to life. The Epic Fantasy subgenre is slowly beginning to become one of my favorites. I selected this book because of the dragon on the cover. I love a book with dragons! I enjoyed the growth and changes of Eden, Faras, and Anya as the story progressed. Are they allies or are they enemies? Will their friendships ever be the same? I look forward to seeing where their decisions lead them in the next book.
I was able to listen to this audio book thanks to Netgalley.
I enjoyed the first book in the Empire Under the Mountains series. This was my first time listening to a book narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading and I think they did a good job of bringing the characters to life. The Epic Fantasy subgenre is slowly beginning to become one of my favorites. I selected this book because of the dragon on the cover. I love a book with dragons! I enjoyed the growth and changes of Eden, Faras, and Anya as the story progressed. Are they allies or are they enemies? Will their friendships ever be the same? I look forward to seeing where their decisions lead them in the next book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Review copy courtesy of Ironthale Press LLC, O.E. Bruening, and NetGalley.)
4⭐
I’ve been thinking lately about the social commentary at the heart of fantasy. It would be difficult to write about different races, cultures, classes, and political systems existing in close proximity without saying something about the real world. That commentary has always been there, but I’ve become more conscious of it in recent years, and sometimes I feel like I can see the seams.
O.E. Bruening has thoughts about the world, and Eden’s Rise gives those thoughts plenty of room. The messages are important and worthwhile, but they’re occasionally delivered more directly than I prefer. Thankfully, the ideas themselves are thoughtful enough that the heavy hand doesn’t outpace the story’s strengths.
The novel has a somewhat labored beginning. It was probably only the first 30 minutes to an hour of the audiobook, but I struggled to connect with the story or characters to the extent that I briefly wondered how long I would give it before calling a DNF.
I’m SO glad I stuck with it.
The trial is the clear dividing line. Before that, we’re in familiar YA fantasy territory: people oppressed by systems designed to keep them down, standing on the edge of becoming something more. (Even with a dragon, the set-up failed to keep my attention.) Then the trial begins, and it feels like the entire story wakes up and my interest was PIQUED.
Mad shout-out to the dwarves! How often are dwarves actually the focus of a fantasy novel? Included, sure. But pushed to the side? Constantly. Here, Bruening pulls them to the forefront and lets us spend meaningful time inside a dwarven civilization. It felt fresh, detailed, and genuinely exciting.
The romance (if that is what it was) also had a different flavor than I’m used to. Eden and Anya don’t fall neatly into either “desperately in love with my childhood best friend” or “absolutely platonic because she’s basically my sister.” They clearly care about each other, but there are question marks on both sides. That uncertainty felt authentic to their age while leaving room for the relationship to develop in several directions.
Oh, and I loved the magical and political elements in this book! There are mysteries surrounding the nature of magic, the manipulation of history, propaganda, and secrets buried within the world. Once the story began pulling on those threads, it became difficult to put down.
I was less satisfied with Faris’s arc and the cult situation he ends up in. He disappears fairly early, and after a time skip, he returns deeply indoctrinated. I understand that this is the beginning of a series and his story will likely continue, but because he was introduced as a major character, his long absence made that thread feel underdeveloped within this volume.
That said, there is just so much to enjoy in this book. I’ll definitely be continuing the series and checking out the next book when it’s released!
Audio-Specific 🎧: 13 hours, 17 minutes. Narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. Oh my GOD. They are so genuinely talented and bring an incredible amount of color and life to any project. I mean, they’re my favorite narrator duo for a reason! I was pretty pumped when I saw they were narrating this one, although their involvement always makes it difficult to tell how much a story succeeds entirely on its own and how much it’s elevated by the pair.
Their vocal performances? Perfection. No notes. Every character felt distinct, and they gave the world a sense of weight and history that made it easy to sink into once the story found its momentum. I listened at 1.5x, as is my usual speed, with no audio issues. Great recording!
📌 TL;DR: An imperfect YA fantasy with a slow start and some heavy-handed themes that ultimately finds its footing, delivering fresh ideas and an exciting narrative. Kramer and Reading’s audio performances only make it better.
4⭐
I’ve been thinking lately about the social commentary at the heart of fantasy. It would be difficult to write about different races, cultures, classes, and political systems existing in close proximity without saying something about the real world. That commentary has always been there, but I’ve become more conscious of it in recent years, and sometimes I feel like I can see the seams.
O.E. Bruening has thoughts about the world, and Eden’s Rise gives those thoughts plenty of room. The messages are important and worthwhile, but they’re occasionally delivered more directly than I prefer. Thankfully, the ideas themselves are thoughtful enough that the heavy hand doesn’t outpace the story’s strengths.
The novel has a somewhat labored beginning. It was probably only the first 30 minutes to an hour of the audiobook, but I struggled to connect with the story or characters to the extent that I briefly wondered how long I would give it before calling a DNF.
I’m SO glad I stuck with it.
The trial is the clear dividing line. Before that, we’re in familiar YA fantasy territory: people oppressed by systems designed to keep them down, standing on the edge of becoming something more. (Even with a dragon, the set-up failed to keep my attention.) Then the trial begins, and it feels like the entire story wakes up and my interest was PIQUED.
Mad shout-out to the dwarves! How often are dwarves actually the focus of a fantasy novel? Included, sure. But pushed to the side? Constantly. Here, Bruening pulls them to the forefront and lets us spend meaningful time inside a dwarven civilization. It felt fresh, detailed, and genuinely exciting.
The romance (if that is what it was) also had a different flavor than I’m used to. Eden and Anya don’t fall neatly into either “desperately in love with my childhood best friend” or “absolutely platonic because she’s basically my sister.” They clearly care about each other, but there are question marks on both sides. That uncertainty felt authentic to their age while leaving room for the relationship to develop in several directions.
Oh, and I loved the magical and political elements in this book! There are mysteries surrounding the nature of magic, the manipulation of history, propaganda, and secrets buried within the world. Once the story began pulling on those threads, it became difficult to put down.
I was less satisfied with Faris’s arc and the cult situation he ends up in. He disappears fairly early, and after a time skip, he returns deeply indoctrinated. I understand that this is the beginning of a series and his story will likely continue, but because he was introduced as a major character, his long absence made that thread feel underdeveloped within this volume.
That said, there is just so much to enjoy in this book. I’ll definitely be continuing the series and checking out the next book when it’s released!
Audio-Specific 🎧: 13 hours, 17 minutes. Narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. Oh my GOD. They are so genuinely talented and bring an incredible amount of color and life to any project. I mean, they’re my favorite narrator duo for a reason! I was pretty pumped when I saw they were narrating this one, although their involvement always makes it difficult to tell how much a story succeeds entirely on its own and how much it’s elevated by the pair.
Their vocal performances? Perfection. No notes. Every character felt distinct, and they gave the world a sense of weight and history that made it easy to sink into once the story found its momentum. I listened at 1.5x, as is my usual speed, with no audio issues. Great recording!
📌 TL;DR: An imperfect YA fantasy with a slow start and some heavy-handed themes that ultimately finds its footing, delivering fresh ideas and an exciting narrative. Kramer and Reading’s audio performances only make it better.
July 13, 2026
ARC of the audiobook received on NetGalley.
Eden's Rise is a fun book that feels right for classic fantasy lovers. One thing I really enjoyed was getting lots of time in the underground dwarven city setting. Often in fantasy books, these locations are just a quick stop along the journey, but doing a deeper dive into that way of life was refreshing. Some of the character development happens a little too quickly for my taste, but we have a fun story, lots of magic/monsters and the promise of an epic conflict to come in future books.
I would recommend checking out Eden's Rise. The audiobook was also excellent quality which is a bonus!
Eden's Rise is a fun book that feels right for classic fantasy lovers. One thing I really enjoyed was getting lots of time in the underground dwarven city setting. Often in fantasy books, these locations are just a quick stop along the journey, but doing a deeper dive into that way of life was refreshing. Some of the character development happens a little too quickly for my taste, but we have a fun story, lots of magic/monsters and the promise of an epic conflict to come in future books.
I would recommend checking out Eden's Rise. The audiobook was also excellent quality which is a bonus!
June 22, 2026
This would be the perfect intro into epic fantasy for teens and young adults! With humans and magical creatures living together, war, and dragons what more could you want! Though at times I was confused as to what was happening now and what had already happened especially with Aleena. The online chronological timeline helped a lot but would not recommend its use until after reading. I’m really excited for this one and the series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eden’s Rise is Tolkien-esque fantasy with an emphasis on the dwarves. While not exactly original, the book works because of its open-armed embrace of familiar fantasy tropes. The book never tries to pretend to be something that it’s not. As someone who reads a lot of fantasy, I enjoyed it, even if it didn’t do anything to reinvent the genre.
There were quite a few reasons I kept listening to the audiobook of Eden’s Rise. I liked how the women in the book were complicated people who didn’t feel one-dimensional or grossly sexualized. The emphasis on friendships was really nice, not just with our main trio but also with other characters. An interesting concept introduced in the book is that the dragons have a sort of curse on them that builds up and makes them “rage,” which means they become ultra destructive until they can release that pent up energy. There are also some fantasy creatures introduced in the novel that are a bit rarer in modern fantasy (at least in books), so I enjoyed seeing those and enjoyed how they came into the plot. There was a small spin on the wise old mentor trope that was interesting even if not wholly satisfying. Anya, the dark fairy, and the dwarven general are my favorite characters, though I’m admittedly still thinking about the angry dragon rider.
While most of the book was well-written, I did find the writing style was somewhat repetitive at times in the sense that something was said and then said again by rephrasing it, and then sometimes said again by rephrasing it a third time. I found this to be distracting from the narrative, a craft issue that I hope is addressed when it comes to the novels that are forthcoming in the series. In addition to this, there were a few times that cliches were used, and these instances awkwardly stood out in the prose, though this happened only occasionally throughout the course of the narrative.
Small craft issues aside, I think Eden’s Rise is a solid addition to the Tolkien-like fantasy books out there, and I believe many readers will enjoy it.
Thank you to O.E. Bruening and Netgalley for the advance reader’s copy of Eden’s Rise.
There were quite a few reasons I kept listening to the audiobook of Eden’s Rise. I liked how the women in the book were complicated people who didn’t feel one-dimensional or grossly sexualized. The emphasis on friendships was really nice, not just with our main trio but also with other characters. An interesting concept introduced in the book is that the dragons have a sort of curse on them that builds up and makes them “rage,” which means they become ultra destructive until they can release that pent up energy. There are also some fantasy creatures introduced in the novel that are a bit rarer in modern fantasy (at least in books), so I enjoyed seeing those and enjoyed how they came into the plot. There was a small spin on the wise old mentor trope that was interesting even if not wholly satisfying. Anya, the dark fairy, and the dwarven general are my favorite characters, though I’m admittedly still thinking about the angry dragon rider.
While most of the book was well-written, I did find the writing style was somewhat repetitive at times in the sense that something was said and then said again by rephrasing it, and then sometimes said again by rephrasing it a third time. I found this to be distracting from the narrative, a craft issue that I hope is addressed when it comes to the novels that are forthcoming in the series. In addition to this, there were a few times that cliches were used, and these instances awkwardly stood out in the prose, though this happened only occasionally throughout the course of the narrative.
Small craft issues aside, I think Eden’s Rise is a solid addition to the Tolkien-like fantasy books out there, and I believe many readers will enjoy it.
Thank you to O.E. Bruening and Netgalley for the advance reader’s copy of Eden’s Rise.
July 22, 2026
Eden’s Rise has an intriguing fantasy world filled with dwarves, humans, elves, dragons that pulled me in off the bat. I really enjoyed the world’s lore especially the concepts around their magic, special stones, and the historical battles .
One of my favorite concepts was the “rage” magic system, which felt unique and added an interesting layer to both the action and the mythology in the world.
That said, some of the flashback sequences were difficult to follow at first, and I sometimes wished the timeline was a bit clearer though I got it by the end. There were also a few plot points that felt too serendipitous at times. Just that the important discoveries and connections coming together a little too neat or the twists were telegraphed. That said they were still enjoyable and I was entertained!
Michael Kramer and Kate Reading narrations were awesome. As always, they brought personality to every character. Their performances helped carry me through some of the sections where I had questions about the worldbuilding. I think the pacing for the story and the different characters was also enjoyable in how the story is portrayed and how they narrated it
The story def has a slightly YA feel. Just in the way between some character interactions and how some plot points are revealed. That said, the fantasy elements are engaging, and I had a good time with the story.
One theme I appreciated was history and perspective for the world. The victors shape the historical narrative is a consistent fantasy trope. The different races are taught to remember the same events in different ways depending on where they are located/who raised them. It’s one of those themes that still resonates with me in the everyday world.
Overall, Eden’s Rise isn’t the perfect fantasy novel, but it’s an entertaining one! It has the elements I like in a fantasy world, and I’m interested to see where the series goes next.
A 4/5 stars and I’ll look forward to the next audiobook!
Thank you to O.E. Bruening for the book and Michael Kramer and Kate Reading for another fantastic audiobook performance. Also thanks to Ironthale Press LLC and NetGalley for providing the audiobook!
One of my favorite concepts was the “rage” magic system, which felt unique and added an interesting layer to both the action and the mythology in the world.
That said, some of the flashback sequences were difficult to follow at first, and I sometimes wished the timeline was a bit clearer though I got it by the end. There were also a few plot points that felt too serendipitous at times. Just that the important discoveries and connections coming together a little too neat or the twists were telegraphed. That said they were still enjoyable and I was entertained!
Michael Kramer and Kate Reading narrations were awesome. As always, they brought personality to every character. Their performances helped carry me through some of the sections where I had questions about the worldbuilding. I think the pacing for the story and the different characters was also enjoyable in how the story is portrayed and how they narrated it
The story def has a slightly YA feel. Just in the way between some character interactions and how some plot points are revealed. That said, the fantasy elements are engaging, and I had a good time with the story.
One theme I appreciated was history and perspective for the world. The victors shape the historical narrative is a consistent fantasy trope. The different races are taught to remember the same events in different ways depending on where they are located/who raised them. It’s one of those themes that still resonates with me in the everyday world.
Overall, Eden’s Rise isn’t the perfect fantasy novel, but it’s an entertaining one! It has the elements I like in a fantasy world, and I’m interested to see where the series goes next.
A 4/5 stars and I’ll look forward to the next audiobook!
Thank you to O.E. Bruening for the book and Michael Kramer and Kate Reading for another fantastic audiobook performance. Also thanks to Ironthale Press LLC and NetGalley for providing the audiobook!
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June 27, 2026Thank you netgalley for the e-ARC!
Eden's Rise grabbed me early.
The world feels familiar in a Tolkien way but the political constructs are genuinely the author's own, and the friendship between Eden, Anya, and Faras in those first chapters had me truly invested in our main characters. I was very much in.
And then the middle happened. What I thought was supposed to be a tense, high-stakes journey becomes something that felt more mundane. A time skip I didn't clock properly left me disoriented (easily my fault), and by the time the characters reunited the dynamic had shifted in ways the book doesn't fully account for. I wanted so much more from our characters. The why, the what, the how... I needed that to continue rooting for them. And somehow Eden, whose name is literally the title, ends up feeling like a supporting character in his own story. I was loving his perspective most; how brilliant his map making skills were... It all faded away like it was just a quirky little ability of his and never to be talked about again.
The ending has some genuinely exciting reveals and wraps up cleanly enough. But it didn't make me desperate for book two, which for a series opener is a bit of a problem.
Strong bones. I just wish the middle had matched the promise of the opening.
Eden's Rise grabbed me early.
The world feels familiar in a Tolkien way but the political constructs are genuinely the author's own, and the friendship between Eden, Anya, and Faras in those first chapters had me truly invested in our main characters. I was very much in.
And then the middle happened. What I thought was supposed to be a tense, high-stakes journey becomes something that felt more mundane. A time skip I didn't clock properly left me disoriented (easily my fault), and by the time the characters reunited the dynamic had shifted in ways the book doesn't fully account for. I wanted so much more from our characters. The why, the what, the how... I needed that to continue rooting for them. And somehow Eden, whose name is literally the title, ends up feeling like a supporting character in his own story. I was loving his perspective most; how brilliant his map making skills were... It all faded away like it was just a quirky little ability of his and never to be talked about again.
The ending has some genuinely exciting reveals and wraps up cleanly enough. But it didn't make me desperate for book two, which for a series opener is a bit of a problem.
Strong bones. I just wish the middle had matched the promise of the opening.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think this book just reignited my love for classic fantasy.
The setting is entirely unlike anything I've read before. Most of the story takes place beneath the mountains, hence the subtitle, and I thought that was a really cool concept! I especially loved the descriptions of the architecture and how the dwarves had built an entire freaking Empire underground. The world felt vast and wonderfully lived in.
While the setting is unique, the story is familiar in a way that the best classic fantasies often are. We get all the beloved fantasy staples: dwarves, dragons (!!), trolls, elves, and sorcerers, and it reminded me all over again why I fell in love with this genre in the first place.
The pacing was fantastic. It started off a little slow at first, but I quickly became invested once Part II rolled around, and Part III was just perfect. Most of it was action-packed, fast-paced, and exactly what I want from a high fantasy.
I'm a freaking sucker for rebellion plotlines, and I think this book did a fantastic job portraying the injustices faced by both the humans and the elves. It's certainly not a brand-new concept, but I thought having that additional nuance in the worldbuilding made the world feel richer. (Though I will say that, at times, the messaging felt a little heavy-handed. Yes, we get it—systemic injustice exists.)
While we're on the subject, I also really appreciated the commentary on propaganda and how easily history can be rewritten to benefit those in power. I feel like that is especially relevant today with how easy misinformation can spread online, and it was probably one of my favourite aspects of the novel's themes.
The central trio... well, wasn't really a trio. It felt much more like Eden and Anya as a duo, with Faras frequently off doing his own thing. That was honestly a little disappointing because I loved the dynamic whenever all three of them shared the page. Their personalities bounced off one another so well, and I wanted more of that.
That said, I really enjoyed their individual character arcs. I found Eden and Anya's character arcs to be very satisfying, while Faras' development felt a bit jarring. I know this is only the first book in the series, and perhaps Bruening plans to expand on Faras' arc in the sequel, but I think that context would've strengthened his arc here.
One relationship I especially loved was the friendship between Eden and Anya. They didn't always agree, and they often had different ambitions, but they consistently found ways to support one another while respecting those differences.
The writing leans a little YA (almost middle grade at times), but that felt appropriate given the age of the protagonists. It also made the story very approachable without taking away from the epic scope of the world.
There were also several plot twists and reveals throughout the novel. Some I managed to predict fairly early on, while others genuinely caught me off guard. Overall, it was much less predictable than I'd expected, which is always a huge plus for me.
The narrator duo was phenomenal! Their performances probably elevated my enjoyment of this book tenfold. Every character had such a distinct voice and cadence that I never once struggled to tell who was speaking, and it's easily one of my favourite audiobook experiences to date.
I also HAVE to talk about all the extra content in the e-ARC. I absolutely adored the illustrations. (My favourites had to be The Battle of Dyiundur and Second City). The deleted scenes, while not all essential to the story, provided some really interesting additional context. I do wish Faras' scene hadn't remained deleted, but I understood why the others were cut. The chronology was also a fantastic addition for anyone who found the timeline a little confusing (though I'd definitely recommend reading it after finishing the book because there are some major spoilers). I also loved the discussion questions at the end, which raised some genuinely interesting topics and would make for fantastic book club conversations.
The ending wrapped up several major plotlines in a really satisfying way while still leaving plenty to anticipate in the sequel. I especially loved seeing how Aleena's POV tied into the overarching plot. I genuinely can't wait to see where Bruening takes this story next.
(P.S. I genuinely hadn't realised this was a DEBUT??? This is incredible. I was convinced the author already had at least one completed series under their belt. 😂)
Thank you Ironthale Press LLC and O.E. Bruening for providing the book and audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The setting is entirely unlike anything I've read before. Most of the story takes place beneath the mountains, hence the subtitle, and I thought that was a really cool concept! I especially loved the descriptions of the architecture and how the dwarves had built an entire freaking Empire underground. The world felt vast and wonderfully lived in.
While the setting is unique, the story is familiar in a way that the best classic fantasies often are. We get all the beloved fantasy staples: dwarves, dragons (!!), trolls, elves, and sorcerers, and it reminded me all over again why I fell in love with this genre in the first place.
The pacing was fantastic. It started off a little slow at first, but I quickly became invested once Part II rolled around, and Part III was just perfect. Most of it was action-packed, fast-paced, and exactly what I want from a high fantasy.
I'm a freaking sucker for rebellion plotlines, and I think this book did a fantastic job portraying the injustices faced by both the humans and the elves. It's certainly not a brand-new concept, but I thought having that additional nuance in the worldbuilding made the world feel richer. (Though I will say that, at times, the messaging felt a little heavy-handed. Yes, we get it—systemic injustice exists.)
While we're on the subject, I also really appreciated the commentary on propaganda and how easily history can be rewritten to benefit those in power. I feel like that is especially relevant today with how easy misinformation can spread online, and it was probably one of my favourite aspects of the novel's themes.
The central trio... well, wasn't really a trio. It felt much more like Eden and Anya as a duo, with Faras frequently off doing his own thing. That was honestly a little disappointing because I loved the dynamic whenever all three of them shared the page. Their personalities bounced off one another so well, and I wanted more of that.
That said, I really enjoyed their individual character arcs. I found Eden and Anya's character arcs to be very satisfying, while Faras' development felt a bit jarring. I know this is only the first book in the series, and perhaps Bruening plans to expand on Faras' arc in the sequel, but I think that context would've strengthened his arc here.
One relationship I especially loved was the friendship between Eden and Anya. They didn't always agree, and they often had different ambitions, but they consistently found ways to support one another while respecting those differences.
The writing leans a little YA (almost middle grade at times), but that felt appropriate given the age of the protagonists. It also made the story very approachable without taking away from the epic scope of the world.
There were also several plot twists and reveals throughout the novel. Some I managed to predict fairly early on, while others genuinely caught me off guard. Overall, it was much less predictable than I'd expected, which is always a huge plus for me.
The narrator duo was phenomenal! Their performances probably elevated my enjoyment of this book tenfold. Every character had such a distinct voice and cadence that I never once struggled to tell who was speaking, and it's easily one of my favourite audiobook experiences to date.
I also HAVE to talk about all the extra content in the e-ARC. I absolutely adored the illustrations. (My favourites had to be The Battle of Dyiundur and Second City). The deleted scenes, while not all essential to the story, provided some really interesting additional context. I do wish Faras' scene hadn't remained deleted, but I understood why the others were cut. The chronology was also a fantastic addition for anyone who found the timeline a little confusing (though I'd definitely recommend reading it after finishing the book because there are some major spoilers). I also loved the discussion questions at the end, which raised some genuinely interesting topics and would make for fantastic book club conversations.
The ending wrapped up several major plotlines in a really satisfying way while still leaving plenty to anticipate in the sequel. I especially loved seeing how Aleena's POV tied into the overarching plot. I genuinely can't wait to see where Bruening takes this story next.
(P.S. I genuinely hadn't realised this was a DEBUT??? This is incredible. I was convinced the author already had at least one completed series under their belt. 😂)
Thank you Ironthale Press LLC and O.E. Bruening for providing the book and audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honest review of an audiobook ARC received from Netgalley, many thanks to them and Inronthale Press!
4.5⭐️
I picked this from the “listen now” category on Netgalley, it was just added there, no reviews on Goodreads, no nothing. So yeah, my expectations for this book were almost to none, I did like the synopsis though.
Eden's rise is set in a world where humans are oppressed by dwarves. Which is definitely a concept I never saw before. Eden and his friends, Anya and Faras, get themselves in an (unfair) trouble, and they have to escape and go to the imperial capital. From there we follow them trying to survive their new reality. And they learn, among other things, the world isn't as it seems.
The writing was lovely and really easy to follow. I loved the world the author created in this book. It reminded me of Mines of Moria from LOTR, and I always thought that would be an interesting story, set underground. And here we have it! The author definitely made it his own though, and I really appreciate that.
This book has multiple POVs, which I always love. And as the title would suggest, yes, there are even dragons! And who doesn't like dragons? For real, point them out to me. And also as the title would suggest there is a character called Eden, and we mostly follow his storyline. But I feel like Anya was equally a main character as Eden. Faras kinda gets lost a bit at some point, and I was sad about that, because he was the most humorous of the three and I liked the dynamics between the three of them. Some of the comments even made me laugh. And I wouldn't mind seeing him more in book 2. But I did like Eden and Anya both together and separately. I do think their character development was quite captivating, and there is definitely room for more in the next book.
The only reason this isn't a clean 5 star read for me is because it's a bit too YA for me, and a bit too low stakey. Don't get me wrong, there is some horrible stuff going down in this book, but I'm used to even more drama. But as an epic fantasy, this really has it all. Politics and intrigue,a hint of magic, did I say DRAGONS and other magical creatures, a cute companion, danger and fight sequences, a really cool fantastical world, and so much more.
Overall I really really enjoyed this book. It got me hooked from page one, or minute one considering I was listening to an audiobook. The pacing is just the way I like it. Fast, but not hard to follow. It was easy for me to get connected to the characters, and that is one of the most important things if you ask me. The ending was satisfying, but it left a few questions unanswered and it makes me excited about the next book already. And this one isn't even out. Amazing debut, and I'm looking forward to more work from this author.
Narrators were Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, they also narrated Stormlight Archives and hearing them here was like a warm hug! I also recommend you check out the book's website (you can find it linked on the author's profile) for more content, such as deleted scenes and artwork. I loved seeing the art of the cities and of Echo, so freaking cute.
4.5⭐️
I picked this from the “listen now” category on Netgalley, it was just added there, no reviews on Goodreads, no nothing. So yeah, my expectations for this book were almost to none, I did like the synopsis though.
Eden's rise is set in a world where humans are oppressed by dwarves. Which is definitely a concept I never saw before. Eden and his friends, Anya and Faras, get themselves in an (unfair) trouble, and they have to escape and go to the imperial capital. From there we follow them trying to survive their new reality. And they learn, among other things, the world isn't as it seems.
The writing was lovely and really easy to follow. I loved the world the author created in this book. It reminded me of Mines of Moria from LOTR, and I always thought that would be an interesting story, set underground. And here we have it! The author definitely made it his own though, and I really appreciate that.
This book has multiple POVs, which I always love. And as the title would suggest, yes, there are even dragons! And who doesn't like dragons? For real, point them out to me. And also as the title would suggest there is a character called Eden, and we mostly follow his storyline. But I feel like Anya was equally a main character as Eden. Faras kinda gets lost a bit at some point, and I was sad about that, because he was the most humorous of the three and I liked the dynamics between the three of them. Some of the comments even made me laugh. And I wouldn't mind seeing him more in book 2. But I did like Eden and Anya both together and separately. I do think their character development was quite captivating, and there is definitely room for more in the next book.
The only reason this isn't a clean 5 star read for me is because it's a bit too YA for me, and a bit too low stakey. Don't get me wrong, there is some horrible stuff going down in this book, but I'm used to even more drama. But as an epic fantasy, this really has it all. Politics and intrigue,a hint of magic, did I say DRAGONS and other magical creatures, a cute companion, danger and fight sequences, a really cool fantastical world, and so much more.
Overall I really really enjoyed this book. It got me hooked from page one, or minute one considering I was listening to an audiobook. The pacing is just the way I like it. Fast, but not hard to follow. It was easy for me to get connected to the characters, and that is one of the most important things if you ask me. The ending was satisfying, but it left a few questions unanswered and it makes me excited about the next book already. And this one isn't even out. Amazing debut, and I'm looking forward to more work from this author.
Narrators were Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, they also narrated Stormlight Archives and hearing them here was like a warm hug! I also recommend you check out the book's website (you can find it linked on the author's profile) for more content, such as deleted scenes and artwork. I loved seeing the art of the cities and of Echo, so freaking cute.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I highly enjoyed the audiobook ARC of Eden’s rise. It is a great example of a young adult high fantasy with fantastic world-building and lore, complex characters and an interesting hierarchical system. It has magic, mystery, bloodlines and secrets. I loved the diversity of races and creatures in this, featuring well-known classics and some new inventions that tie in perfectly.
I could happily recommend this to adults and young adults alike; while the characters themselves are teenagers and act their age; the writing is not childish but would be easy enough to digest for younger readers and I feel it would give (and certainly gave me) a sense of nostalgia to older readers. It features the classic trio of friends dynamic including three rescues (orphans) who only want to find a safe place to live in peace and instead find themselves on an increasingly mysterious journey to save their friends and fight against tyranny.
In this world, dwarves are held in the highest esteem with elves and humans below, humans basically as no more than servants. In this society’s lore, a long history of fighting against dragons has resulted in the opinion that elves are cowardly and humans are traitorous, but are the histories true? Is the dwarven emperor truly looking out for his people? What of hints of a secret rebellion fighting for equality?
This plot is so rich that I absolutely inhaled this audiobook in no time. It’s so refreshing to read a fantasy these days with key elements of older fantasies such as dwarves, elves, dark fairies, mages, sorcerers and dragons, let alone one with dwarves as the predominant culture. This book is very reminiscent of Eragon and The Dark Crystal with quality, content and pacing if not the specifics but it made me feel as though I was back in the older days of trusting the author to take me in an amazing journey rather than being outright told everything the author wished for me to know in every aspect.
This book sets up very well for the series; it has great pacing which allowed for events to unfold in a manner that didn’t feel rushed at all and was easy to follow. Having a trio, each with their own journeys and abilities is such a good way to add substance to the story and this has been so well done in Eden’s Rise. I can’t wait to see what happens to Eden, Anya and Faras next!
Kate Reading and Michael Kramer did an amazing job with the audio, my only qualm being the rather long pauses between chapters. I’m definitely struggling to decide whether I’d go with audio or physical for the next book!
The only thing I don’t particularly love about this book is the cover. I would love to see something with a bit more detail for a book that seems to be setting up for an epic fantasy.
I could happily recommend this to adults and young adults alike; while the characters themselves are teenagers and act their age; the writing is not childish but would be easy enough to digest for younger readers and I feel it would give (and certainly gave me) a sense of nostalgia to older readers. It features the classic trio of friends dynamic including three rescues (orphans) who only want to find a safe place to live in peace and instead find themselves on an increasingly mysterious journey to save their friends and fight against tyranny.
In this world, dwarves are held in the highest esteem with elves and humans below, humans basically as no more than servants. In this society’s lore, a long history of fighting against dragons has resulted in the opinion that elves are cowardly and humans are traitorous, but are the histories true? Is the dwarven emperor truly looking out for his people? What of hints of a secret rebellion fighting for equality?
This plot is so rich that I absolutely inhaled this audiobook in no time. It’s so refreshing to read a fantasy these days with key elements of older fantasies such as dwarves, elves, dark fairies, mages, sorcerers and dragons, let alone one with dwarves as the predominant culture. This book is very reminiscent of Eragon and The Dark Crystal with quality, content and pacing if not the specifics but it made me feel as though I was back in the older days of trusting the author to take me in an amazing journey rather than being outright told everything the author wished for me to know in every aspect.
This book sets up very well for the series; it has great pacing which allowed for events to unfold in a manner that didn’t feel rushed at all and was easy to follow. Having a trio, each with their own journeys and abilities is such a good way to add substance to the story and this has been so well done in Eden’s Rise. I can’t wait to see what happens to Eden, Anya and Faras next!
Kate Reading and Michael Kramer did an amazing job with the audio, my only qualm being the rather long pauses between chapters. I’m definitely struggling to decide whether I’d go with audio or physical for the next book!
The only thing I don’t particularly love about this book is the cover. I would love to see something with a bit more detail for a book that seems to be setting up for an epic fantasy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Full disclosure: I went into this audiobook more than a little skeptical because of the cover art. But let me just say, with my whole chest—
Wow.
If you enjoy epic fantasy, dragons, and all the magical beings, you will not be disappointed. This book gave me shades of Tolkien with some (clean!) Game of Thrones energy, and I was hooked from beginning to end.
How do you even begin to describe a debut novel this ambitious?
First, I absolutely SQUEALED when I started the audiobook and realized it was narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. What an incredible surprise. Their voices instantly transported me back to my many enjoyable hours spent in the Cosmere, and I knew I was in for exceptional storytelling.
At first, I wondered whether I was falling in love with the narration or the story itself. After reflecting on it, I’m happy to say the story absolutely stands on its own. The narrators elevated an already excellent book rather than carrying it.
I loved getting to know the young protagonists—or at least the characters who seem to be protagonists, because I’m still not entirely convinced about one of them. Eden, Anya, and Faras are engaging, funny, and genuinely heartfelt. Their journeys are often brutal, and they’re forced to endure circumstances that are far beyond unfair. Aleena’s storyline is interwoven throughout the larger narrative, and I just know we are being set up for greatness (and probably heartache) there.
The supporting cast is equally impressive. Every major character feels layered and dynamic, with relationships that evolve in believable and sometimes surprising ways. There’s a tremendous amount of world-building and magic to establish, but Bruening delivers it in a way that feels natural and engaging, often balancing moments of humor with some genuinely dark and emotional scenes.
While this book does not end on a traditional cliffhanger, it does set you up for the next “chapter” of the story and I’m ready for it. I will be preordering the second audiobook the moment it’s available.
This was one of my biggest surprise reads of the year, and I’m incredibly grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to experience the audiobook before its release.
.
Wow.
If you enjoy epic fantasy, dragons, and all the magical beings, you will not be disappointed. This book gave me shades of Tolkien with some (clean!) Game of Thrones energy, and I was hooked from beginning to end.
How do you even begin to describe a debut novel this ambitious?
First, I absolutely SQUEALED when I started the audiobook and realized it was narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. What an incredible surprise. Their voices instantly transported me back to my many enjoyable hours spent in the Cosmere, and I knew I was in for exceptional storytelling.
At first, I wondered whether I was falling in love with the narration or the story itself. After reflecting on it, I’m happy to say the story absolutely stands on its own. The narrators elevated an already excellent book rather than carrying it.
I loved getting to know the young protagonists—or at least the characters who seem to be protagonists, because I’m still not entirely convinced about one of them. Eden, Anya, and Faras are engaging, funny, and genuinely heartfelt. Their journeys are often brutal, and they’re forced to endure circumstances that are far beyond unfair. Aleena’s storyline is interwoven throughout the larger narrative, and I just know we are being set up for greatness (and probably heartache) there.
The supporting cast is equally impressive. Every major character feels layered and dynamic, with relationships that evolve in believable and sometimes surprising ways. There’s a tremendous amount of world-building and magic to establish, but Bruening delivers it in a way that feels natural and engaging, often balancing moments of humor with some genuinely dark and emotional scenes.
While this book does not end on a traditional cliffhanger, it does set you up for the next “chapter” of the story and I’m ready for it. I will be preordering the second audiobook the moment it’s available.
This was one of my biggest surprise reads of the year, and I’m incredibly grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to experience the audiobook before its release.
.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is set in a dwarven empire where the lowest of the low are the Rescues. Whilst claimed to be saved, these orphans are raised as lowly and unworthy, forever indebted to the society.
The main protagonist, Eden, a human rescue and gifted mapmaker, whilst naturally humble, still wants to do well. He is keen to immerse himself to be accepted and valued. But when a black dragon attacks and his friend Anya faces an unjust trial, Eden, Anya, and their elven companion Faras are forced to flee. There is nowhere else for them to go other than the imperial capital. The story follows their quest as they learn about how corrupt the city is, become aware of the political shenanigans and face brutal prejudice. The dwarves seek power and control, but the dragons have learnt of their betrayal and they no longer accept an agreement to keep the peace between the 2 species.
This is steeped in politics and the behaviour of the Emperor. Eden and his friends, each have their own skill set and by default embark on a quest. The imperial capital is led by a corrupt emperor and his army. They experience more injustice, prejudice and threats to their lives. Despite this their friendship remains tight even when they get separated. There is a world of tunnels under the empire, which hold many unknowns that they have to navigate.
I listened to the audio book, which has more than one narrator. The pace, tone and intonation was good. The main narration is in an American accent, with an older voice. This worked well for some characters and perhaps less so for some of the younger characters. Intended as Young Adult book, it did feel like there were missed opportunities for the characters to develop more fully. Some characters did not particularly develop. It was very political, which dominated the story. I think it would have been better balanced with more about the dwarves or magic to enhance the story. It moved steadily but never felt particularly perilous or tense. The time jumping wasn’t the easiest to follow, an approach I usually quite enjoy. Whilst it’s not a bad read, despite the good premise, there was something lacking from it and it didn’t quite deliver. I think this will miss the mark for YA readers in particular but was a reasonable read.
The main protagonist, Eden, a human rescue and gifted mapmaker, whilst naturally humble, still wants to do well. He is keen to immerse himself to be accepted and valued. But when a black dragon attacks and his friend Anya faces an unjust trial, Eden, Anya, and their elven companion Faras are forced to flee. There is nowhere else for them to go other than the imperial capital. The story follows their quest as they learn about how corrupt the city is, become aware of the political shenanigans and face brutal prejudice. The dwarves seek power and control, but the dragons have learnt of their betrayal and they no longer accept an agreement to keep the peace between the 2 species.
This is steeped in politics and the behaviour of the Emperor. Eden and his friends, each have their own skill set and by default embark on a quest. The imperial capital is led by a corrupt emperor and his army. They experience more injustice, prejudice and threats to their lives. Despite this their friendship remains tight even when they get separated. There is a world of tunnels under the empire, which hold many unknowns that they have to navigate.
I listened to the audio book, which has more than one narrator. The pace, tone and intonation was good. The main narration is in an American accent, with an older voice. This worked well for some characters and perhaps less so for some of the younger characters. Intended as Young Adult book, it did feel like there were missed opportunities for the characters to develop more fully. Some characters did not particularly develop. It was very political, which dominated the story. I think it would have been better balanced with more about the dwarves or magic to enhance the story. It moved steadily but never felt particularly perilous or tense. The time jumping wasn’t the easiest to follow, an approach I usually quite enjoy. Whilst it’s not a bad read, despite the good premise, there was something lacking from it and it didn’t quite deliver. I think this will miss the mark for YA readers in particular but was a reasonable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HOLY SHIT. This book was sooooooooooooooo fucking good. This was a read and listen now from NetGalley and I am so thankful that I grabbed it. I'm doing a Justice for Indie Summer and was looking for indie books to read in June and July, and boy do I feel like I hit the jackpot.
There are so many things I love about this story. We get dwarves, we get elves, we get humans who have been oppressed, we get magic, we get dragons and dragon riders, we get political intrigue, we get friendship and found family, we get an animal companion, we get betrayal, we get incredible worldbuilding, we get monsters, we get action and adventure, we get plot twists... I could go on and on. This is everything you could ever want in a fantasy. It even had me shedding tears at the end.
Also I have to praise the technical aspects of this book. The writing is gorgeous! Just the right amount of detailed description without getting flowery. The dialogue is sooooooo good and natural. The pacing is chef's kiss. It is multi-POV with some time skips, which I absolutely loved. The main characters were also super likable and well-developed. There's nothing that ruins a good story more than an unlikable main character, so I was also so glad that I enjoyed all of the main characters (even when they were doing stupid stuff).
Genuinely, I can't think of any complaints I have with this book other than the fact that I am reading this months before it even publishes with no hope of book 2 any time soon. I will probably never shut up about this book, and I hope with all my heart it blows up because then I can brag that I was early to the hype hahaha
Oh btw the audiobook narrators also narrated the Cosmere books. Say less.
If you're looking for an indie book that will knock your socks off, please give this a try!! 5 glorious stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ironthale Press for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
There are so many things I love about this story. We get dwarves, we get elves, we get humans who have been oppressed, we get magic, we get dragons and dragon riders, we get political intrigue, we get friendship and found family, we get an animal companion, we get betrayal, we get incredible worldbuilding, we get monsters, we get action and adventure, we get plot twists... I could go on and on. This is everything you could ever want in a fantasy. It even had me shedding tears at the end.
Also I have to praise the technical aspects of this book. The writing is gorgeous! Just the right amount of detailed description without getting flowery. The dialogue is sooooooo good and natural. The pacing is chef's kiss. It is multi-POV with some time skips, which I absolutely loved. The main characters were also super likable and well-developed. There's nothing that ruins a good story more than an unlikable main character, so I was also so glad that I enjoyed all of the main characters (even when they were doing stupid stuff).
Genuinely, I can't think of any complaints I have with this book other than the fact that I am reading this months before it even publishes with no hope of book 2 any time soon. I will probably never shut up about this book, and I hope with all my heart it blows up because then I can brag that I was early to the hype hahaha
Oh btw the audiobook narrators also narrated the Cosmere books. Say less.
If you're looking for an indie book that will knock your socks off, please give this a try!! 5 glorious stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ironthale Press for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Ironthale Press for the ARC and ALC copies. All thoughts here are my own.
In Eden's Rise: The Empire Under the Mountains by O.E. Bruening, Eden, Anya and Faras are two humans and an elf respectively, and they are on the run from the dwarven community they were indentured to due to a cowardly boss's ambition. They travel to the Emperor's city but quickly find themselves caught up in the middle of deep-seeded civil unrest. To hopefully survive as outsiders (and second-class citizens), they must rely on each other and their own wits to navigate all that is thrown at them.
Thoughts on the Story
There's so much to love here. Each of the characters are interesting, and many have way more to them than meets the eye. I'm excited to learn more about each of them when the story continues. The plot was well-paced and intriguing. The systemic racism and classism of the dwarves brings to mind our own societal struggles in uncomfortable ways (which is a good thing here... great art holds a mirror to real life, no matter the medium). This is not surprising, considering the author partially grew up in East Germany (prior to the wall collapse).
Thoughts on the Narration
I'm a big fan of Michael Kramer's work on Islington's The Licanius Trilogy, so I was stoked to hear his voice for this. Kate Reading, whom I was a bit unfamiliar with until now, was also excellent. Each of their chapters were expertly narrated, and I hope they continue throughout the series.
Overall
For a debut indie novel, this one is a banger. Actually scratch that. It's just a banger period, regardless if this was O.E. Bruening's first or tenth book. He has a promising future as a novelist, and I personally am glad to have been able to read his first work so early.
In Eden's Rise: The Empire Under the Mountains by O.E. Bruening, Eden, Anya and Faras are two humans and an elf respectively, and they are on the run from the dwarven community they were indentured to due to a cowardly boss's ambition. They travel to the Emperor's city but quickly find themselves caught up in the middle of deep-seeded civil unrest. To hopefully survive as outsiders (and second-class citizens), they must rely on each other and their own wits to navigate all that is thrown at them.
Thoughts on the Story
There's so much to love here. Each of the characters are interesting, and many have way more to them than meets the eye. I'm excited to learn more about each of them when the story continues. The plot was well-paced and intriguing. The systemic racism and classism of the dwarves brings to mind our own societal struggles in uncomfortable ways (which is a good thing here... great art holds a mirror to real life, no matter the medium). This is not surprising, considering the author partially grew up in East Germany (prior to the wall collapse).
Thoughts on the Narration
I'm a big fan of Michael Kramer's work on Islington's The Licanius Trilogy, so I was stoked to hear his voice for this. Kate Reading, whom I was a bit unfamiliar with until now, was also excellent. Each of their chapters were expertly narrated, and I hope they continue throughout the series.
Overall
For a debut indie novel, this one is a banger. Actually scratch that. It's just a banger period, regardless if this was O.E. Bruening's first or tenth book. He has a promising future as a novelist, and I personally am glad to have been able to read his first work so early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun take on classical fantasy featuring the standard Humans, elves and dwarves but set in an empire controlled by the dwarves where our human and elven protagonists are the minority and not particularly well liked.
I really enjoyed the world building, the descriptions of vast cities under the mountains and the processes required to maintain and expand them. Along with some truly terrifying creatures hiding in the dark.
I adored the main characters of Eden and Anya with their strong friendship and devotion to always making sure that they supported each other in any way possible, I was particularly happy that their bond remained one of friendship and didn’t become romantic through the course of the book.
While I enjoyed both the start and the end of the book I felt the middle where they are in empire city seemed to drag on as very little progress seemed to be happening and for much of the time Eden and Anya were doing things separately so I found myself missing their interaction, this is also where Faras became less of a focus and it would have been interesting to see what he was up to.
I initially struggled with the sections in the alternate timeline as I struggled to workout how they placed in with the wider story but appreciated towards the end when it became clearer how things were connected.
The audio book is narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading who many readers will be familiar with and make a very strong team which made for a fun listening experience.
Overall this is a great debut that will appeal to those who have enjoy the feel of classic fantasy or younger readers starting to find their way in more classical fantasy. I am very curious to see where this goes next as there are a mysteries left unexplored.
Thank You to Netgalley and the author for an ALC of this book.
I really enjoyed the world building, the descriptions of vast cities under the mountains and the processes required to maintain and expand them. Along with some truly terrifying creatures hiding in the dark.
I adored the main characters of Eden and Anya with their strong friendship and devotion to always making sure that they supported each other in any way possible, I was particularly happy that their bond remained one of friendship and didn’t become romantic through the course of the book.
While I enjoyed both the start and the end of the book I felt the middle where they are in empire city seemed to drag on as very little progress seemed to be happening and for much of the time Eden and Anya were doing things separately so I found myself missing their interaction, this is also where Faras became less of a focus and it would have been interesting to see what he was up to.
I initially struggled with the sections in the alternate timeline as I struggled to workout how they placed in with the wider story but appreciated towards the end when it became clearer how things were connected.
The audio book is narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading who many readers will be familiar with and make a very strong team which made for a fun listening experience.
Overall this is a great debut that will appeal to those who have enjoy the feel of classic fantasy or younger readers starting to find their way in more classical fantasy. I am very curious to see where this goes next as there are a mysteries left unexplored.
Thank You to Netgalley and the author for an ALC of this book.
July 20, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Ironthale Press LLC for the ALC of this book!
I liked this book but I didn’t love it and I think it’s really a me problem. Other reviews rave about this book and I can understand why. It feels and sounds like a traditional epic fantasy, in part because of the narrator duo Kate Reading and Michael Kramer (who’ve read for Brandon Sanderson, SJM, Rebecca Yarros to name a few). I haven’t read any Tolkien (I know, I know) but I’ve watched all to the LOTR and Hobbit movies several times over and it does have that vibe. That being said, because it reads like a classic, it also has the passing of a classic. On top of that, because of the style, written in third person, the characters felt more detached, making it hard to connect or empathize with three different characters. There were points where there’s a significant time jump and you the sense like this is more a story passed down for generations about actual events rather than you’re experiencing them at the same time as the characters. While some might love that, it wasn’t my favorite and makes me feel like I’m learning more than being transported. I also thought there would be more dragons seeing as there’s one on the cover. It’s mostly them talking about them, although maybe that’s me being used to Yarros and having dragons on every page lol
It was a fun read though it dragged at times, the audiobook was done well, Reading and Kramer always do well, although I hate hearing a MFC dialogue in a man’s voice it just irks me for some reason. Again a lot to this isn’t really a criticism just my preference, I think a lot of fans of the classics will really enjoy this!
I liked this book but I didn’t love it and I think it’s really a me problem. Other reviews rave about this book and I can understand why. It feels and sounds like a traditional epic fantasy, in part because of the narrator duo Kate Reading and Michael Kramer (who’ve read for Brandon Sanderson, SJM, Rebecca Yarros to name a few). I haven’t read any Tolkien (I know, I know) but I’ve watched all to the LOTR and Hobbit movies several times over and it does have that vibe. That being said, because it reads like a classic, it also has the passing of a classic. On top of that, because of the style, written in third person, the characters felt more detached, making it hard to connect or empathize with three different characters. There were points where there’s a significant time jump and you the sense like this is more a story passed down for generations about actual events rather than you’re experiencing them at the same time as the characters. While some might love that, it wasn’t my favorite and makes me feel like I’m learning more than being transported. I also thought there would be more dragons seeing as there’s one on the cover. It’s mostly them talking about them, although maybe that’s me being used to Yarros and having dragons on every page lol
It was a fun read though it dragged at times, the audiobook was done well, Reading and Kramer always do well, although I hate hearing a MFC dialogue in a man’s voice it just irks me for some reason. Again a lot to this isn’t really a criticism just my preference, I think a lot of fans of the classics will really enjoy this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Classic fantasy at its finest🐉⚔️🧝♂️
Rating - 4.5⭐
[Note: It's an ARC review, I want to thank the author and the publisher for providing me an eARC and ALC]
tl;dr - Classic fantasy at it's finest, we have dragons, dwarves, elves and many more dangerous monsters. There are war, politicking, back-stabbing, cults, but above all it's journey of 3 friends.
It's a must read for fans of classic fantasy!!
Review - We follow the journey of three friends from their days of being nobody to becoming some of the important characters of this world.
It's a dwarf-led world, where humans and elves are considered lesser in their society. The three friends, Eden, Anya, and Faras, Faras being the elf and the other two human, start out as Rescues. They are orphans and live at the mercy of the dwarves. And suddenly a dragon attacks their village, due to a chain of events, the three friends are forced to leave their village and journey to the capital city in search of a better life. And how this decision changes their lives is the main plot of the story.
I like the setting of the book; it involves all the tropes we are familiar with in classic fantasy but through a different lens. There is some betrayal and backstabbing which increased my intrigue level to a high. It's quite action-packed and fast-paced.
But the fast-paced nature of the book sometimes works against it. A few of the parts seem a bit rushed; some moments which were supposed to be impactful felt underdeveloped.
Besides that you are in for a wild ride in this book, I highly recommend give it a try.
I will surely be waiting for the upcoming books in this series.
Rating - 4.5⭐
[Note: It's an ARC review, I want to thank the author and the publisher for providing me an eARC and ALC]
tl;dr - Classic fantasy at it's finest, we have dragons, dwarves, elves and many more dangerous monsters. There are war, politicking, back-stabbing, cults, but above all it's journey of 3 friends.
It's a must read for fans of classic fantasy!!
Review - We follow the journey of three friends from their days of being nobody to becoming some of the important characters of this world.
It's a dwarf-led world, where humans and elves are considered lesser in their society. The three friends, Eden, Anya, and Faras, Faras being the elf and the other two human, start out as Rescues. They are orphans and live at the mercy of the dwarves. And suddenly a dragon attacks their village, due to a chain of events, the three friends are forced to leave their village and journey to the capital city in search of a better life. And how this decision changes their lives is the main plot of the story.
I like the setting of the book; it involves all the tropes we are familiar with in classic fantasy but through a different lens. There is some betrayal and backstabbing which increased my intrigue level to a high. It's quite action-packed and fast-paced.
But the fast-paced nature of the book sometimes works against it. A few of the parts seem a bit rushed; some moments which were supposed to be impactful felt underdeveloped.
Besides that you are in for a wild ride in this book, I highly recommend give it a try.
I will surely be waiting for the upcoming books in this series.
July 16, 2026
A Sweeping Fantasy Epic Worth Getting Lost In
Read this book if you love falling into a fully realized classic fantasy style world of high adventure, conflicted heroes, and great battles in the tradition of Tolkien. Bruening has crafted something ambitious and immersive, and the story feels new.
Eden's Rise by O.E. Bruening is an epic tale told through multiple viewpoints, pulling you straight into a richly imagined world. Here, dwarves rule a great empire built on a rigid class system—one that places humans firmly at the bottom. Eden and his close friends, Anya and Faras are coming of age together at the bottom of the caste system until they are forced to flee their small dwarve town for the capital city within the mountain. They uncover secrets that change their paths and ultimately reveal glimpses of each of their future greatnesses.
The setting is a marvel: much of this sweeping action unfolds in tunnels deep inside a mountain—an inspired backdrop that gives the whole story a claustrophobic grandeur you won't soon forget! It's a world brought to life with dwarves, elves, dragons, and sorcerers, and magic creatures as well.
Best of all, this is only the beginning. Eden's Rise is the first book in a series, and it lays a foundation rich with possibility. Bruening has built a world and a set of conflicts with plenty of room to grow, and it's exciting to imagine where the story goes from here. If this opening installment is any indication, the books to come promise even higher stakes and deeper adventures—I’m looking forward to the journey.
Read this book if you love falling into a fully realized classic fantasy style world of high adventure, conflicted heroes, and great battles in the tradition of Tolkien. Bruening has crafted something ambitious and immersive, and the story feels new.
Eden's Rise by O.E. Bruening is an epic tale told through multiple viewpoints, pulling you straight into a richly imagined world. Here, dwarves rule a great empire built on a rigid class system—one that places humans firmly at the bottom. Eden and his close friends, Anya and Faras are coming of age together at the bottom of the caste system until they are forced to flee their small dwarve town for the capital city within the mountain. They uncover secrets that change their paths and ultimately reveal glimpses of each of their future greatnesses.
The setting is a marvel: much of this sweeping action unfolds in tunnels deep inside a mountain—an inspired backdrop that gives the whole story a claustrophobic grandeur you won't soon forget! It's a world brought to life with dwarves, elves, dragons, and sorcerers, and magic creatures as well.
Best of all, this is only the beginning. Eden's Rise is the first book in a series, and it lays a foundation rich with possibility. Bruening has built a world and a set of conflicts with plenty of room to grow, and it's exciting to imagine where the story goes from here. If this opening installment is any indication, the books to come promise even higher stakes and deeper adventures—I’m looking forward to the journey.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eden's Rise is a fantasy book that mostly takes place underground but is set up to have subsequent books above and below ground. It is a coming-of-age book for three friends who are minority groups in a primarily dwarven society and as such are considered inferior by many in the society.
There is a substantial amount of emphasis on hard work paying off after a lot of hard work mentality. However, the author does focus on the difficulty of that being enough if you are an outcast or second-class citizen. The friendships seem a little forced as the characters seem to have almost nothing in common except being pushed down by the society that they are a part of.
There is some difficulty following the story at about the midpoint as this is fast forwarded to just hit the highlights. I also ran into a disconnect when the 3rd occupied settlement is found by the main characters as it seemed to be unbelievable where it was located and how it was supplied and built.
The magic system is interesting but not really fleshed out in this book but is a set up for a series and advancement over time.
Narration by the husband-and-wife duo Michael Kramer and Kate Reading was fantastic as always. I have listened to most of their co-narrated books and consistently enjoy them. This is what brought me to this book. Optimal reading speed is between 1.25x and 1.5x for me.
Writing 3.5/5
Narration 5/5
Overall 4.25/5
There is a substantial amount of emphasis on hard work paying off after a lot of hard work mentality. However, the author does focus on the difficulty of that being enough if you are an outcast or second-class citizen. The friendships seem a little forced as the characters seem to have almost nothing in common except being pushed down by the society that they are a part of.
There is some difficulty following the story at about the midpoint as this is fast forwarded to just hit the highlights. I also ran into a disconnect when the 3rd occupied settlement is found by the main characters as it seemed to be unbelievable where it was located and how it was supplied and built.
The magic system is interesting but not really fleshed out in this book but is a set up for a series and advancement over time.
Narration by the husband-and-wife duo Michael Kramer and Kate Reading was fantastic as always. I have listened to most of their co-narrated books and consistently enjoy them. This is what brought me to this book. Optimal reading speed is between 1.25x and 1.5x for me.
Writing 3.5/5
Narration 5/5
Overall 4.25/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eden’s Rise begins with Eden trying to do something ordinary in a world that has never treated him as an equal. He is a human orphan known as a Rescue, raised inside a dwarven empire where he remains indebted and barely tolerated. His plans to pass his exams and build a quiet life collapse when a black dragon attacks, his friend Anya faces an unjust trial, and Eden, Anya, and their elven companion Faras are forced to flee through the underground empire.
I enjoyed the scale of the world and the way Eden’s personal struggle connects to larger questions about class, power, and the stories an empire tells about itself. The mystery surrounding events from eighty years earlier also gave the story more depth than a straightforward escape adventure. The audiobook uses Michael Kramer for Eden’s main timeline and Kate Reading for Aleena’s earlier story and Anya’s chapters, which made the shifts between perspectives easy to follow and gave the characters distinct identities.
The worldbuilding occasionally slowed the pace, but I remained interested in Eden, his friendships, and the secrets buried beneath the mountains. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance listening copy.
I enjoyed the scale of the world and the way Eden’s personal struggle connects to larger questions about class, power, and the stories an empire tells about itself. The mystery surrounding events from eighty years earlier also gave the story more depth than a straightforward escape adventure. The audiobook uses Michael Kramer for Eden’s main timeline and Kate Reading for Aleena’s earlier story and Anya’s chapters, which made the shifts between perspectives easy to follow and gave the characters distinct identities.
The worldbuilding occasionally slowed the pace, but I remained interested in Eden, his friendships, and the secrets buried beneath the mountains. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance listening copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is high fantasy told in third person, which is usually my very least favorite kind of story.
However, after a slow start, it really captured my interest. I listened to the audio via netgalley and I think the narrators were amazing. I usually hate the third person narrators because they sound robotic, but this guy was perfect.
To summarize, this is story about oppressed humans and elves trying to survive in a tyrannical dwarf empire. The main character is a human named Eden, basically a civil engineer (lol), and his friends who have to flee because their one friend Anya is unfairly accused of a crime and her small victory in court has repercussions.
They all flee to an underground world for a better life and discover ancient secrets, hidden lineages, historical fallacies, and a war brewing. It was all very YA and closer to middle grade fiction, and although Eden's story was a little "meh", I really enjoyed Anya's story and will likely continue the series because of it.
However, after a slow start, it really captured my interest. I listened to the audio via netgalley and I think the narrators were amazing. I usually hate the third person narrators because they sound robotic, but this guy was perfect.
To summarize, this is story about oppressed humans and elves trying to survive in a tyrannical dwarf empire. The main character is a human named Eden, basically a civil engineer (lol), and his friends who have to flee because their one friend Anya is unfairly accused of a crime and her small victory in court has repercussions.
They all flee to an underground world for a better life and discover ancient secrets, hidden lineages, historical fallacies, and a war brewing. It was all very YA and closer to middle grade fiction, and although Eden's story was a little "meh", I really enjoyed Anya's story and will likely continue the series because of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to like this one since it has all the ingredients for an epic fantasy that I usually enjoy. Dragons, dwarves, elves, magical creatures, it sounded like exactly my kind of book. Unfortunately, this wasn't my cup of tea.
I don't know if it's because this is YA and I'm more used to mature, more complex fantasy, but I never really connected with the story or the characters. They all felt a bit too shallow for me, so I never became invested in what was happening to them.
The pacing also felt really off. It was slow for most of the book, and after the time jump, once the group split up, it completely lost my interest. I had a hard time picking it back up, even though I did eventually finish it.
One thing I genuinely enjoyed was the audiobook narration. The narrators did a great job, although I don't think the voices quite matched such young characters.
Sadly, this one just didn't click with me, even though it had so much potential.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I don't know if it's because this is YA and I'm more used to mature, more complex fantasy, but I never really connected with the story or the characters. They all felt a bit too shallow for me, so I never became invested in what was happening to them.
The pacing also felt really off. It was slow for most of the book, and after the time jump, once the group split up, it completely lost my interest. I had a hard time picking it back up, even though I did eventually finish it.
One thing I genuinely enjoyed was the audiobook narration. The narrators did a great job, although I don't think the voices quite matched such young characters.
Sadly, this one just didn't click with me, even though it had so much potential.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Ironthale Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
I don't usually read YA/Teens but this one surprised me! its original while still having a lot of nods to classic high fantasy. It reminded me of when i used to read The Edge Chronicles and Eragon back when I was a wee lass. Other fantasy titles don't tend to focus so much on Dwarves so I really enjoyed this "fresh" take on their society.
While some parts of the story felt rushed or like some information was missing, I want to believe it may be revealed in later installments. It feels like its setting up for more books while still being a self contained story. The messaging was a bit heavy-handed, like we were being clubbed over the head with "there is injustice in the world (we get it! thanks!)" but I understand its like that for a lot of younger-audience fantasy, it's just part of the genre.
It's not fully my jam (im a bit too old for this now) I can see how someone getting into the habit of reading would enjoy this a lot.
I don't usually read YA/Teens but this one surprised me! its original while still having a lot of nods to classic high fantasy. It reminded me of when i used to read The Edge Chronicles and Eragon back when I was a wee lass. Other fantasy titles don't tend to focus so much on Dwarves so I really enjoyed this "fresh" take on their society.
While some parts of the story felt rushed or like some information was missing, I want to believe it may be revealed in later installments. It feels like its setting up for more books while still being a self contained story. The messaging was a bit heavy-handed, like we were being clubbed over the head with "there is injustice in the world (we get it! thanks!)" but I understand its like that for a lot of younger-audience fantasy, it's just part of the genre.
It's not fully my jam (im a bit too old for this now) I can see how someone getting into the habit of reading would enjoy this a lot.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An amazing first installment of a new planned epic fantasy series where the few remaining humans live under the iron rule of dwarves who took those refugees in after a massive conflict between them and dragons. The two younger POVs believably convey the frustrating life under the oppression of the only kingdom that would take them in, with their quest of finding a new home and uncovering the history buried by the rewritten bias of the victors of the setting compelling as the larger conflict for the series. And though the third POV set way back in the past was also equally compelling (albeit more grimdark and tragic) and showing the more mythical and brutal pieces of the instigating conflict, the massive time hopping between her chapters can be quite jarring and the bookend where her POV caught up to the present was to mostly set up one of the more tertiary background character instead. The worldbuilding and historical aspects of the setting was deeply thought out, helped by the amazing illustrations by various artists to illustrate the immense depth of the world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost I want to give a huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me this audiobook ARC. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book from friends, and decided to give it a try.
What captured me most was the feeling of age in the writing style; I would swear by the writing style alone that this book was written decades ago and I just now discovered it. There's so much fantasy lore that I'm familiar with, but everything has this gritty dark side and eerie undertones underneath. It was an exploration of a lot of the uglier sides of things, corruption within establishments, trauma, rage, hatred, extremism. The only thing I wished for was a bit of balance on the light side, and more dragons, more dragons is always great. The world building is epic and immersive, the prose is beautiful, and the narrators for the audiobook are out of this world. For a debut novel this one certainly packs a punch.
What captured me most was the feeling of age in the writing style; I would swear by the writing style alone that this book was written decades ago and I just now discovered it. There's so much fantasy lore that I'm familiar with, but everything has this gritty dark side and eerie undertones underneath. It was an exploration of a lot of the uglier sides of things, corruption within establishments, trauma, rage, hatred, extremism. The only thing I wished for was a bit of balance on the light side, and more dragons, more dragons is always great. The world building is epic and immersive, the prose is beautiful, and the narrators for the audiobook are out of this world. For a debut novel this one certainly packs a punch.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Ironthale Press LLC for the advanced copy of the audiobook. This was a really engaging fantasy read with strong worldbuilding, memorable characters, and a plot that kept moving. I especially liked the sense of being pulled deeper into a world where the characters are constantly trying to survive, adapt, and find a place to belong. The narrators were great, too. Their voices were pleasant to listen to, and each character felt distinct, which made the audiobook especially enjoyable. What stood out most to me was how the book handled the friendships and the tension around being outsiders in a harsh system. The characters felt easy to care about, and their struggles gave the story a lot of emotional weight. I did think the writing was juvenile at times, but not enough to take away from the experience. Overall, it was a great story and one I’m glad I gave it a try.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's been a while since 'classical' fantasy managed to hook me. The cover made me curious because who doesn't love a book about dragons, but what drew me in was the role that dwarves play here, as oppressors with their politics and greed. Every faction feels wronged, which prolongs the war by another generation, and in the middle of this you find our protagonists, who get heavily influenced by the things they have to endure and watch.
From the very beginning, every detailed description makes it clear just how incredibly powerful the dragons are in terms of size and strength, and I love the detail about their rage, which turns them into absolute weapons of destruction.
The explanations of worldbuilding aren't overwhelming and I love the fact that the book includes artwork to actually show the scenes and their beauty, it's clear that the author has put a lot of love into this story.
From the very beginning, every detailed description makes it clear just how incredibly powerful the dragons are in terms of size and strength, and I love the detail about their rage, which turns them into absolute weapons of destruction.
The explanations of worldbuilding aren't overwhelming and I love the fact that the book includes artwork to actually show the scenes and their beauty, it's clear that the author has put a lot of love into this story.
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