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Into the Luminous Storm: Book 1 of the Foxglove Chronicles
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26***This is a re-write of my debut novel, Mark of the Fallen***
Nothing has been the same in the Kingdom of Trilithia since the Royal Family fell from a plague 17 years ago.
A mage named Aeron seized his opportunity to take over, utilizing his nefarious Shadow Guard to keep the citizens in check.
In Cass's village of Everloom though, things were even better than fine. She had her Ma, her two little brothers, her best friend, and her mentor. But one day, the Shadow Guard show up at her village and her world comes crashing down. Will she be able to overthrow Aeron and take back the Kingdom for its people?
Nothing has been the same in the Kingdom of Trilithia since the Royal Family fell from a plague 17 years ago.
A mage named Aeron seized his opportunity to take over, utilizing his nefarious Shadow Guard to keep the citizens in check.
In Cass's village of Everloom though, things were even better than fine. She had her Ma, her two little brothers, her best friend, and her mentor. But one day, the Shadow Guard show up at her village and her world comes crashing down. Will she be able to overthrow Aeron and take back the Kingdom for its people?
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I HAVE THOUGHTS. SO MANY THOUGHTS 😭
this book had me going from "okay, let's see where this goes" to EXCUSE ME????? approximately every five chapters!! 😭🖐🏼
first of all, Cass. I LOVE HER. she's brave, stubborn, impulsive, constantly throwing herself into situations where im genuinely questioning her survival instincts 😭 but somehow that just made me root for her harder. and the whole journey from trying to find her brothers to discovering that there is SO MUCH MORE going on with her?? i was SAT 🧎🏻♀️❤️
the found family/rebellion aspect??? YES. the friendships??? YES. the magic??? YES. the whole mystery surrounding the elemental warriors, the visions, the mark, Cass's mother and WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON WITH HER??? I NEED ANSWERS 🫡😭
and Falcon.🌚
FALCON.
that is all im saying because i refuse to spoil anything but SIR????? 😭🤚🏻😏
also Ayla!!! THE LITTLE FOX!!! 🥹💕 every time she appeared i was immediately happier. i did not expect to get emotionally attached to a magical fox but here we are 🤭🙂↕️
there were definitely moments where i wanted to grab Cass by the shoulders and scream "PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS FOR TWO SECONDS" but honestly… that's part of the fun 😂 the story kept throwing revelations at me, and every time i thought i had something figured out, it was like "oh you thought you knew? cute 💀"
and that ending???
THAT. ENDING.
i actually just stared at the page like:
🧍🏻♀️
🧍🏻♀️
🧍🏻♀️
EXCUSE ME?????
this book is very much giving okay, that was only the beginning, and now i need the next book because o have approximately 47 questions and absolutely no patience 😔🙏🏻
if you like fantasy with magic, rebellion, secrets, found family, slow-burn romance vibes, mysterious powers and protagonists who apparently have no concept of self-preservation, you NEED to pick this one up.
now excuse me while i go scream about that ending somewhere else 🫡🥲🤚🏻
this book had me going from "okay, let's see where this goes" to EXCUSE ME????? approximately every five chapters!! 😭🖐🏼
first of all, Cass. I LOVE HER. she's brave, stubborn, impulsive, constantly throwing herself into situations where im genuinely questioning her survival instincts 😭 but somehow that just made me root for her harder. and the whole journey from trying to find her brothers to discovering that there is SO MUCH MORE going on with her?? i was SAT 🧎🏻♀️❤️
the found family/rebellion aspect??? YES. the friendships??? YES. the magic??? YES. the whole mystery surrounding the elemental warriors, the visions, the mark, Cass's mother and WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON WITH HER??? I NEED ANSWERS 🫡😭
and Falcon.🌚
FALCON.
that is all im saying because i refuse to spoil anything but SIR????? 😭🤚🏻😏
also Ayla!!! THE LITTLE FOX!!! 🥹💕 every time she appeared i was immediately happier. i did not expect to get emotionally attached to a magical fox but here we are 🤭🙂↕️
there were definitely moments where i wanted to grab Cass by the shoulders and scream "PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS FOR TWO SECONDS" but honestly… that's part of the fun 😂 the story kept throwing revelations at me, and every time i thought i had something figured out, it was like "oh you thought you knew? cute 💀"
and that ending???
THAT. ENDING.
i actually just stared at the page like:
🧍🏻♀️
🧍🏻♀️
🧍🏻♀️
EXCUSE ME?????
this book is very much giving okay, that was only the beginning, and now i need the next book because o have approximately 47 questions and absolutely no patience 😔🙏🏻
if you like fantasy with magic, rebellion, secrets, found family, slow-burn romance vibes, mysterious powers and protagonists who apparently have no concept of self-preservation, you NEED to pick this one up.
now excuse me while i go scream about that ending somewhere else 🫡🥲🤚🏻
August 8, 2026
I. WAS. NOT. Expecting that! So, I applied for an ARC because the synopsis definitely sounded like it was up my alley for sure. Shortly after starting it, I saw posts by Jessi the author about the book being inspired by Legend of Zelda and I feel like I’ve seen that claim before and had never read anything that truly felt like LoZ. I have even personally started jotting ideas down for a book heavily inspired by LoZ that I may or may not get around to doing something with. Anyway! I hadn’t ever read something like LoZ until this very moment.
I was about half way through when (based on the knowledge of the inspiration) the story -the pathway- became very clear and clicked into place. At first I was like “Yea, Cass is very Zelda coded with some Link mixed in” but then I was like oh snap I can see to the heart of this! So I threw on some LoZ ambient music and binged the last half of the book.
This book absolutely has the soul of the Legend of Zelda and I may be a bit biased when it comes to that specific IP but damn if this book didn’t deliver on that claim of inspiration and I appreciated every page of it.
I was about half way through when (based on the knowledge of the inspiration) the story -the pathway- became very clear and clicked into place. At first I was like “Yea, Cass is very Zelda coded with some Link mixed in” but then I was like oh snap I can see to the heart of this! So I threw on some LoZ ambient music and binged the last half of the book.
This book absolutely has the soul of the Legend of Zelda and I may be a bit biased when it comes to that specific IP but damn if this book didn’t deliver on that claim of inspiration and I appreciated every page of it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
From the first few chapters into this book, it hooked me. I love a strong sassy FMC and the banter/humor despite Cassie seeming to lose everything and everyone who matters to her early on, lights a fire in her that leads to her and her best friend Liam, into joining the rebellion against an evil Mage that has taken a lot from the people in this world. Cass grows a lot as time passes by and she is in for the ride of her life fighting with this Luminous Storm rebellion. There's a power that emerges and an adorable black fox who follows our heroes as they quest for the only weapon that can defeat this evil. Said to be inspired by the Legend of Zelda, this story will grip you and won't let go... even with that ending I'm already pinning for more! I got this ARC direct from the author and all opinions here are my own. Thank you @literaryloft.pr and @jesswrites1993 for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible book. I cannot wait for book 2! This book releases on September 1st 2026!
#Intotheluminousstorm #LiteraryLoftPRTour #literaryloftprinfluencer
#Intotheluminousstorm #LiteraryLoftPRTour #literaryloftprinfluencer
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was the first time I have ever felt compelled to read a book based solely on personality of the Author. I met Jessi a couple years ago when the original title/book Mark of the Fallen had come out. The way in which Jessi spoke of The Fox Glove Chronicles drew me in. Her excitement and love for the story pours into the words she writes.
Cass is the heroine we’ve all dreamed of. Full of raw emotion and unapologetically herself.
"In these current conditions, Foxglove is
an extremely dangerous flower."
Just when I didn’t think this book could get any better Jessi came out with new approach, the story line is the same but with extra twists and turns. Endless details captivating you from the very beginning.
Diving in to love, heartbreak, and adventure. Giving a voice to not just the heroine of the story but a different perspective from other characters.
If you love all things fantasy, The Foxglove Chronicles are for you. Be prepared to be so immersed in this world that you won’t want to put the book down. This book leaves you wanting more by the last letter.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I sat down this morning planning to read a few chapters before tackling my chore list. A few chapters became several… which became all… which became me at the final page whisper‑screaming, no, absolutely not, where is book two.
Cass Brightwood is the kind of FMC who talks back, fights hard, and earns every ounce of your respect. When she joins Luminous Storm and the Commander calls her into the sparring ring, she hits him with, “I don’t need to be a man to beat one, Sir.” I nearly stood up and applauded.
The multiple POVs, the found family dynamic, and Ayla the fox (my new emotional support creature) made this world feel instantly addictive. And now I’m dying to see how Cass evolves—and whether she chooses Liam or Falcon, because both men are serving premium fantasy‑hero energy.
And listen… if someone murmured, “Foxglove is deceivingly beautiful. It comes in a variety of colors—red being my favorite,” I would fold like a lawn chair. Utter swoon.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Cass Brightwood is the kind of FMC who talks back, fights hard, and earns every ounce of your respect. When she joins Luminous Storm and the Commander calls her into the sparring ring, she hits him with, “I don’t need to be a man to beat one, Sir.” I nearly stood up and applauded.
The multiple POVs, the found family dynamic, and Ayla the fox (my new emotional support creature) made this world feel instantly addictive. And now I’m dying to see how Cass evolves—and whether she chooses Liam or Falcon, because both men are serving premium fantasy‑hero energy.
And listen… if someone murmured, “Foxglove is deceivingly beautiful. It comes in a variety of colors—red being my favorite,” I would fold like a lawn chair. Utter swoon.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW: Author Jessi Chaulk’s book, Into the Luminous Storm was a very fun read. The title and book cover were well chosen and make it easy to want to peak inside and see what the contents are. Once you do, be sure you have a seat nearby because it will be tough to put the book down. Chaulk's writing style was fast-paced and very engaging throughout the entire story. It made it difficult for me to tear myself away from seeing what scrape Cass would get into next. The banter between each character was clever, believable and oftentimes genuinely funny. The pacing was perfect throughout each event that unfolded and always left me wanting to know what would happen next. I thought the worldbuilding was solid and little glimpses of older magic will lead into more depth in the books that come out later.
My only qualm was Falcon. I did not feel that his character had realistic reactions that stayed true to who he was as a commander. To me his behavior oftentimes seemed like he was more suited for a lesser rank in that regard. There were some other characters that I felt really needed to be fleshed out more - sequels are the solution for that and we will get them 😊. I loved everything else about Chaulk’s writing, however, and I am looking forward to the second book!
This was a clean read. No curse words, no spice. A few scenes with fighting and resulting wounds
My only qualm was Falcon. I did not feel that his character had realistic reactions that stayed true to who he was as a commander. To me his behavior oftentimes seemed like he was more suited for a lesser rank in that regard. There were some other characters that I felt really needed to be fleshed out more - sequels are the solution for that and we will get them 😊. I loved everything else about Chaulk’s writing, however, and I am looking forward to the second book!
This was a clean read. No curse words, no spice. A few scenes with fighting and resulting wounds
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an engaging quest fantasy with a no-spice slow-burn romance and a very likeable heroine.
After the entire royal family dies from a mysterious plague, the evil Aeron (a truly nasty piece of work) takes over and sends his Shadow Guard to kidnap every child in the kingdom, because it is prophesied that one with a Mark will be able to overthrow him.
After her brothers are kidnapped, young Cass (a/k/a Foxglove) and her best friend Liam join up with General Ren and his rebellion (the titular Luminous Storm), where she meets the stern but frustratingly attractive commander Falcon, mage Callum, and a fox named Ayla.
I’m not usually one for the Chosen One trope, but it works very well here, because the characters are so engaging (although I wish my fave Callum got more page time – perhaps in the sequels?) and the mysteries deepen as the story progresses. Just a heads’up, though, the ending is a literal To Be Continued.
My thanks to the author for a copy of her book to read and review!
After the entire royal family dies from a mysterious plague, the evil Aeron (a truly nasty piece of work) takes over and sends his Shadow Guard to kidnap every child in the kingdom, because it is prophesied that one with a Mark will be able to overthrow him.
After her brothers are kidnapped, young Cass (a/k/a Foxglove) and her best friend Liam join up with General Ren and his rebellion (the titular Luminous Storm), where she meets the stern but frustratingly attractive commander Falcon, mage Callum, and a fox named Ayla.
I’m not usually one for the Chosen One trope, but it works very well here, because the characters are so engaging (although I wish my fave Callum got more page time – perhaps in the sequels?) and the mysteries deepen as the story progresses. Just a heads’up, though, the ending is a literal To Be Continued.
My thanks to the author for a copy of her book to read and review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cass Brightwood had me from page one — fierce, funny, and grieving under all that snark, even as she throws herself headfirst into a fight bigger than herself. She’s surrounded by a cast of characters I fell for just as hard, each with their own pull on her loyalty and her heart.
I also loved how much this book keeps you guessing. There’s a real sense of mystery woven through everything, and I had a blast trying to piece things together as I went.
The found-family crew Cass builds along the way is easily one of my favorite parts — messy, loyal, and exactly what she needs. And that ending? Did not see it coming. I need book two immediately.
If you’re into morally gray politics, heroines who get to be soft and lethal, and slow-burn tension that pays off, this one’s worth your time.
I also loved how much this book keeps you guessing. There’s a real sense of mystery woven through everything, and I had a blast trying to piece things together as I went.
The found-family crew Cass builds along the way is easily one of my favorite parts — messy, loyal, and exactly what she needs. And that ending? Did not see it coming. I need book two immediately.
If you’re into morally gray politics, heroines who get to be soft and lethal, and slow-burn tension that pays off, this one’s worth your time.
Review of advance copy
This book is phenomenal!! I read the first version of the book, “mark of the fallen” about two years ago and I loved it. This revision of the story makes it even better and more immersive for the reader. If you love fantasy but love romantic banter even more, this book is definitely for you! I love that this is the type of YA book where you don’t lose any of the storytelling just because it’s clean, making it a great read for any age. I wholeheartedly recommend that all fantasy romance lovers read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review: 3.5 stars
An absolutely gorgeous fantasy with interesting world-building and complex characters. I had the privilege to be part of Chaulk's ARC team, and I had a lot of fun reading this book! Cass is a great FMC by being strong and funny, and Falcon has been added to my book boyfriend list.
The ending had such an insane cliffhanger that I was genuinely pissed, which only makes me need the next book the moment it's finished. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm honored to be given the opportunity to review it!
An absolutely gorgeous fantasy with interesting world-building and complex characters. I had the privilege to be part of Chaulk's ARC team, and I had a lot of fun reading this book! Cass is a great FMC by being strong and funny, and Falcon has been added to my book boyfriend list.
The ending had such an insane cliffhanger that I was genuinely pissed, which only makes me need the next book the moment it's finished. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm honored to be given the opportunity to review it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Into the Luminous Storm is a fast-paced exciting read. The dialog is full of banter, and Cass the female lead is one to easily root for as her spunk flows nicely throughout the book. The action scenes were full of thrills and the world-building sets the perfect base for this as well as future stories.
Jessi did a wonderful job creating this highly entertaining story, I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Jessi did a wonderful job creating this highly entertaining story, I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews