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The Lost Tanith #1
Death's Gift
Andi never dreamed she was anything special, let alone a lost princess gifted with magic. As she grapples with destiny, Andi enters a race for survival against those who hunt her. Left with no choice but to run, Andi entrusts the care of her family to her adopted brother, Wyatt.
To survive, Andi must uncover the truth of
her family’s downfall and master the power
she never knew she possessed… before the crown that should be hers becomes her execution order.
To survive, Andi must uncover the truth of
her family’s downfall and master the power
she never knew she possessed… before the crown that should be hers becomes her execution order.
- GenresFantasy
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2026
About the author
H.S. Elaine
1 book3 followersH.S. Elaine is a fantasy writer based in the Northeast of Scotland. She draws inspiration from the region’s striking landscapes, where even a simple woodland walk can spark a thousand ideas. Alongside her writing, she is a dedicated working mother of four. In her limited free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending quality time with her children, finding creativity and balance in both her family life and her work.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, I received this book as an ARC, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.
Death's Gift follows Andi, a young woman living in a small village with her healer mother, her sister Elana. and adopted brother, Wyatt. Life is simple and happy, especially with her boyfriend, Myles, by her side.
However, everything begins to unravel when a witch speaks of a lost princess with magic. Suddenly, secrets about Andi's past start coming to light, and she finds herself being hunted for who she truly is.
We also follow Wyatt, whose fierce loyalty and protective nature toward his adopted sister lead to him being taken away from his family. As his journey unfolds, he becomes involved with the Unbound, where he discovers hidden talents and secrets of his own.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was the found family element surrounding Wyatt's storyline. The connections he builds throughout his journey felt genuine, and I loved seeing those relationships develop. There was also some fantastic banter between characters that brought moments of humour and warmth to the story, making them even more enjoyable to follow.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. I kept waiting for the moment when everything would change, and when it finally did, it absolutely delivered. The story gradually builds tension before revealing twists that kept me hooked and eager to keep reading.
This is a closed-door fantasy romance, and I had a feeling the dynamic was going to shift as soon as a certain character appeared on the page. Without giving anything away, there is one particular relationship that I'm especially excited to see develop in Book 2—when you read it, you'll know exactly which one I mean!
The ending leaves readers with a cliffhanger and plenty of unanswered questions. I finished the book desperate to know what happens next and can't wait to continue the series.
If you enjoy fantasy stories filled with hidden identities, family secrets, magic, adventure, found family, and a touch of romance, Death's Gift is definitely worth picking up.
What to expected from this book:
- Swords and Sorcery
- Found family
- Secrets and betrayals
- He falls first
- Secret heirs
Favourite quotes:
“You want me to burn this whole fucking world down.” He leans in, his breath brushing my skin. “I’ll do it. For you.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Death’s Gift by H.S. Elaine was such an unexpected surprise for me. Fantasy isn’t usually my go-to genre, but this story completely pulled me in and kept me invested from beginning to end.
At the heart of the novel is Andi, a seemingly ordinary village girl whose life is turned upside down when she discovers a hidden heritage and powerful magic she never knew she possessed. What I loved most was watching her transformation. Her journey from innocent villager to hunted fugitive and reluctant leader felt authentic, emotional, and well-earned.
The magic system is fascinating, especially Andi’s white fire abilities and the life-altering consequences that come with them. The moments when her powers spiral beyond her control are both thrilling and heartbreaking, forcing her to confront difficult questions about who she is and what she’s capable of becoming. Those moral struggles added a depth that elevated the story beyond a typical “chosen one” fantasy.
The stakes remain high throughout the novel. Between oppressive rulers, relentless pursuers, and darker supernatural forces lurking in the background, there is a constant sense of danger and urgency. I also appreciated the complexity of Andi’s relationship with Myles. Their connection isn’t straightforward, and the circumstances surrounding his return add an emotional layer that made their story even more compelling.
While I occasionally wished for a bit more worldbuilding and a slower pace in certain sections, these were minor issues compared to how much I enjoyed the overall experience. The larger political landscape and mythology are intriguing and left me wanting to learn more about the world H.S. Elaine has created.
What impressed me most is that Death’s Gift managed to make me forget that I was reading outside my usual genre preferences. The strong character development, emotional depth, and engaging storytelling kept me turning pages and rooting for Andi every step of the way.
This feels like a promising beginning to a larger story, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with magic, political intrigue, moral complexity, and a touch of darkness, I highly recommend giving Death’s Gift a chance—even if fantasy isn’t normally your thing. I did and while this area isn’t up my alley, the book is still well written and interesting .
At the heart of the novel is Andi, a seemingly ordinary village girl whose life is turned upside down when she discovers a hidden heritage and powerful magic she never knew she possessed. What I loved most was watching her transformation. Her journey from innocent villager to hunted fugitive and reluctant leader felt authentic, emotional, and well-earned.
The magic system is fascinating, especially Andi’s white fire abilities and the life-altering consequences that come with them. The moments when her powers spiral beyond her control are both thrilling and heartbreaking, forcing her to confront difficult questions about who she is and what she’s capable of becoming. Those moral struggles added a depth that elevated the story beyond a typical “chosen one” fantasy.
The stakes remain high throughout the novel. Between oppressive rulers, relentless pursuers, and darker supernatural forces lurking in the background, there is a constant sense of danger and urgency. I also appreciated the complexity of Andi’s relationship with Myles. Their connection isn’t straightforward, and the circumstances surrounding his return add an emotional layer that made their story even more compelling.
While I occasionally wished for a bit more worldbuilding and a slower pace in certain sections, these were minor issues compared to how much I enjoyed the overall experience. The larger political landscape and mythology are intriguing and left me wanting to learn more about the world H.S. Elaine has created.
What impressed me most is that Death’s Gift managed to make me forget that I was reading outside my usual genre preferences. The strong character development, emotional depth, and engaging storytelling kept me turning pages and rooting for Andi every step of the way.
This feels like a promising beginning to a larger story, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with magic, political intrigue, moral complexity, and a touch of darkness, I highly recommend giving Death’s Gift a chance—even if fantasy isn’t normally your thing. I did and while this area isn’t up my alley, the book is still well written and interesting .
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC Copy of this book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am giving it 4 stars. The book deals with hidden identities, found family, magic exploration, all in an exciting world. I would recommend this book!!
There were also a few moments where the dialogue felt a little too modern for the setting. Phrases like calling someone "grade A" attractive and the use of modern curse words (including the f-word) felt a bit out of place. I don't mind cursing at all, but it was a little jarring when it first showed up because it didn't quite match the tone I was expecting. For anyone wondering, there is some profanity throughout the book, but I wouldn't say it's excessive.
The story alternates between Andi and Wyatt's POVs. For the most part I enjoyed both, but there was a stretch in the middle where each of them ended up with new groups of characters. While those side adventures were interesting, they slowed the pacing down for me and felt somewhat disconnected from the main story. I did really enjoy the dual pov and I appreciated getting to see how their adventures played out.
There were two things plot wise that made me question the story. I don’t want to spoil anything but I felt like one character was given a talent all of sudden that felt like an unearned or unexplained ability, and there was something that was explained to be rare but now it seems like it is occurring multiple times. Just some things where I felt a little disappointed.
The ending was good! It was a little abrupt, though not the most abrupt ending I've read, and it definitely leaves off on a cliffhanger.
I genuinely had a good time with this book. The world, magic, and overall story kept me invested, and I'm interested enough to pick up the next book to see where everything goes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am giving it 4 stars. The book deals with hidden identities, found family, magic exploration, all in an exciting world. I would recommend this book!!
There were also a few moments where the dialogue felt a little too modern for the setting. Phrases like calling someone "grade A" attractive and the use of modern curse words (including the f-word) felt a bit out of place. I don't mind cursing at all, but it was a little jarring when it first showed up because it didn't quite match the tone I was expecting. For anyone wondering, there is some profanity throughout the book, but I wouldn't say it's excessive.
The story alternates between Andi and Wyatt's POVs. For the most part I enjoyed both, but there was a stretch in the middle where each of them ended up with new groups of characters. While those side adventures were interesting, they slowed the pacing down for me and felt somewhat disconnected from the main story. I did really enjoy the dual pov and I appreciated getting to see how their adventures played out.
There were two things plot wise that made me question the story. I don’t want to spoil anything but I felt like one character was given a talent all of sudden that felt like an unearned or unexplained ability, and there was something that was explained to be rare but now it seems like it is occurring multiple times. Just some things where I felt a little disappointed.
The ending was good! It was a little abrupt, though not the most abrupt ending I've read, and it definitely leaves off on a cliffhanger.
I genuinely had a good time with this book. The world, magic, and overall story kept me invested, and I'm interested enough to pick up the next book to see where everything goes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This was an easy read, and I enjoyed it overall. The story has a lot of potential, and there were definitely parts that kept me interested.
Things I liked:
1. Wyatt. He was easily my favourite character. Love Wyatt.
2. Ronan. I can see where this is heading and I'm interested to see how his story develops.
3. The concept itself has a lot of potential and I think there's plenty for future books to build on.
I also thought the POVs were done well. They felt like individual characters rather than everyone sounding the same, which is something I always appreciate.
That said, there were a few things that didn't quite work for me.
1. There was a little too much exposition in places. It didn't always read naturally.
2. I struggled to connect with Andi fully, so I never became as invested in her journey as I wanted to.
3. I was a little disappointed with one character's progression. (I don't want to name him because of spoilers) I actually liked him in the beginning - he came across as truly heroic - but I understood where the story was going and that he was never going to be endgame for our FMC.
Overall, a solid read with an interesting premise. Thanks to the author for the copy.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This was an easy read, and I enjoyed it overall. The story has a lot of potential, and there were definitely parts that kept me interested.
Things I liked:
1. Wyatt. He was easily my favourite character. Love Wyatt.
2. Ronan. I can see where this is heading and I'm interested to see how his story develops.
3. The concept itself has a lot of potential and I think there's plenty for future books to build on.
I also thought the POVs were done well. They felt like individual characters rather than everyone sounding the same, which is something I always appreciate.
That said, there were a few things that didn't quite work for me.
1. There was a little too much exposition in places. It didn't always read naturally.
2. I struggled to connect with Andi fully, so I never became as invested in her journey as I wanted to.
3. I was a little disappointed with one character's progression. (I don't want to name him because of spoilers) I actually liked him in the beginning - he came across as truly heroic - but I understood where the story was going and that he was never going to be endgame for our FMC.
Overall, a solid read with an interesting premise. Thanks to the author for the copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
Death Gift follows Andi, a young woman living with her mum, sister and adopted brother Wyatt after losing her father several years earlier.
Before he died, her father gave her a necklace — but Andi has no idea that it has been suppressing something much bigger.
Magic.
Things begin to change during a festival when an old woman makes a strange comment about the necklace. At the same time, Andi is becoming closer to Myles, a blacksmith who seems to realise there is something different about her long before she does.
When Myles suggests that Andi might actually be connected to the murdered royal family, she doesn’t believe him.
Until she takes off the necklace.
And makes things grow.
From there, the story absolutely takes off.
The guards begin searching for her, Andi is forced to flee with Myles, and the family she leaves behind end up on completely different paths of their own. Her mum and sister are imprisoned, Wyatt is taken by the guards, and there are so many twists and turns that I genuinely didn’t know where the story was going next.
I loved the magic, the mystery surrounding Andi’s identity, the romance with Myles and the way the different storylines began splitting apart while still feeling connected.
This was one of those reads where every time I thought I knew what was happening, something else happened.
5⭐ from me — and I absolutely want to know what happens next.
Death Gift follows Andi, a young woman living with her mum, sister and adopted brother Wyatt after losing her father several years earlier.
Before he died, her father gave her a necklace — but Andi has no idea that it has been suppressing something much bigger.
Magic.
Things begin to change during a festival when an old woman makes a strange comment about the necklace. At the same time, Andi is becoming closer to Myles, a blacksmith who seems to realise there is something different about her long before she does.
When Myles suggests that Andi might actually be connected to the murdered royal family, she doesn’t believe him.
Until she takes off the necklace.
And makes things grow.
From there, the story absolutely takes off.
The guards begin searching for her, Andi is forced to flee with Myles, and the family she leaves behind end up on completely different paths of their own. Her mum and sister are imprisoned, Wyatt is taken by the guards, and there are so many twists and turns that I genuinely didn’t know where the story was going next.
I loved the magic, the mystery surrounding Andi’s identity, the romance with Myles and the way the different storylines began splitting apart while still feeling connected.
This was one of those reads where every time I thought I knew what was happening, something else happened.
5⭐ from me — and I absolutely want to know what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2026
I received this as an ARC copy and truly grateful for the opportunity to do so. This is my go to genre and I havent been disappointed. This is a book with twists and turns that makes you want to keep reading.
You can easily start to fall in love with the characters as they develop and grow into who they are and as you explore the world.
This is a story that has you focus on what is happening rather than wanting to skip pages because of so much filler like other books I've read (what I call the fluff pieces) especiallyif you are like me and find some books have chapters on chapters of the stuff before moving on. This book keeps you engaged because of this style of writing.
So far, it is a dual POV and gives a nice switch up as well to the story, especially when certain events are happening at the same time and also allows to show the character development differently here.
The book itself is based on fantasy with a magic based world that has been split throughout different countries, with different races and abilities. Within book 1 we get to meet some of these. I cant wait to see where the journey goes from here with the further expansion of magic, characters that are being introduced, places being explored and purpose for everyone.
You can easily start to fall in love with the characters as they develop and grow into who they are and as you explore the world.
This is a story that has you focus on what is happening rather than wanting to skip pages because of so much filler like other books I've read (what I call the fluff pieces) especiallyif you are like me and find some books have chapters on chapters of the stuff before moving on. This book keeps you engaged because of this style of writing.
So far, it is a dual POV and gives a nice switch up as well to the story, especially when certain events are happening at the same time and also allows to show the character development differently here.
The book itself is based on fantasy with a magic based world that has been split throughout different countries, with different races and abilities. Within book 1 we get to meet some of these. I cant wait to see where the journey goes from here with the further expansion of magic, characters that are being introduced, places being explored and purpose for everyone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have read an advanced reader copy of this book.
Tropes:
Lost princess 👸🏽
Reluctant heroine 🦸🏻♀️
Mythical creatures/monsters 🐲
Training Archs ⚔️
Fated Mates 🖤
Broken Hearts 💔
Elves and Mages 🧝🏽♀️🧙♂️
Found family vibes 👨👩👧👦
Dual POV 👀👀
I enjoyed reading this debut novel. The pacing was good and the authors has blended great action sequences, ominous foreboding, fighting scenes and mystery well throughout. There's some good light hearted banter, twists in relationship dynamics and you're left with questions at the end around Andie's magic and what she will do next. I'll definitely be looking out for the next one.
Tropes:
Lost princess 👸🏽
Reluctant heroine 🦸🏻♀️
Mythical creatures/monsters 🐲
Training Archs ⚔️
Fated Mates 🖤
Broken Hearts 💔
Elves and Mages 🧝🏽♀️🧙♂️
Found family vibes 👨👩👧👦
Dual POV 👀👀
I enjoyed reading this debut novel. The pacing was good and the authors has blended great action sequences, ominous foreboding, fighting scenes and mystery well throughout. There's some good light hearted banter, twists in relationship dynamics and you're left with questions at the end around Andie's magic and what she will do next. I'll definitely be looking out for the next one.
October 27, 2026
I’ve enjoyed reading this book very much. As soon as I spotted this one I knew i had to read it! The covers are absolutely stunning and the blurb sounded great!
The start of the story was a little slow paced for my liking but the world building and character development was absolutely amazing!
The magical adventures of Andi and Waytt are intense, fun and exciting all in one and the writing was so captivating that it had me hooked for the remainder of the story!
And the cliffhanger oh wow! Can’t wait to read what’s next for these amazing characters! Definitely worth a read!
The start of the story was a little slow paced for my liking but the world building and character development was absolutely amazing!
The magical adventures of Andi and Waytt are intense, fun and exciting all in one and the writing was so captivating that it had me hooked for the remainder of the story!
And the cliffhanger oh wow! Can’t wait to read what’s next for these amazing characters! Definitely worth a read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A powerful heroine, hidden truths, and a lost princess storyline…. I was hooked. Andi’s journey from discovering who she truly is to stepping into her power was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The story kept me invested, the fantasy elements were enjoyable, and the pacing made it an easy book to fly through.
The story kept me invested, the fantasy elements were enjoyable, and the pacing made it an easy book to fly through.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely loved this book. The characters are memorable. The story is well written with lots of beautiful descriptions. It is fast paced and loved being left on a cliff hanger to whether a character was good or bad, plus what would happen next. Highly recommend this beautiful tale. Can not wait for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I could not put this book down!! It was thrilling at every turn, I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster and couldn't hold my gasps. I was falling asleep with this in my hands. An epic adventure the whole way thru can't wait to add this to my trophy shelf.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was honored to be an BETA reader last year. I enjoyed it. I had to look threw my messages with the author becuase I can't remember what I thought. I do plan on reading book two becuase of the cliffhanger! I'M SO GLAD THIS BOOK IS FINALLY COMING. hehe.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of this book and absolutely loved it. The story is full of lore and history that I found myself constantly on the back foot with it. More fantasy than romance but I hope we see more of that further in the series 😁
July 22, 2026
This book follows a woman as she learns who she is and who she can really trust. It’s full of magic and will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I am eagerly waiting for book two. You can’t just leave a book ending like that 😱.
August 5, 2026
ARC review!
This was just my type of book, although I did wish for some more in depth world building, i loved the found family element and the story flowed really well
This was just my type of book, although I did wish for some more in depth world building, i loved the found family element and the story flowed really well
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews