The Owl and the High Wielders

by Edith I. Everly

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Edith Everly writes Literary Gothic FANTASY with a focus on helping biracial readers feel seen
in the kingdoms she creates. She holds a
master’s degree in clinical mental health
and is a wife and proud cat mom.

Be the first to know about upcoming projects, exclusive content, and more by signing up for Edith’s newsletter at edithieverly.com. Signed books are also available on her website.

Reviews

[Tabytha Boozenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a fast paced, action packed from the beginning high fantasy. But the build up is completely necessary for the ending that leaves you needing the rest of the story. I enjoyed Aliona's story and can't wait for more.

[Stacy 🍂 looseleafinthelibrary 🍂 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read, riveting from the beginning. It isn’t filled with action or romance but the anticipation of continuously trying to understand decisions characters are making creates a lot of tension and anticipation that makes this feel addicting.

There was an underlying theme of indoctrination and the way this was slowly peeled back layer by layer was so well paced. I loved the premise of the main character essentially liberating herself from this regime by seeking out truths about the world, the history and the teachings she had previously been shielded from. I loved (although sometimes I was so frustrated) seeing her create her own convictions especially as she grapples with right and wrong.

This was a poignant representation of deconstruction that resonated deeply with me, and I think would appeal to many!

The characters were so well written you will quickly develop strong feelings towards all of them!

I would recommend to anyone who loves character driven narratives focused on growth and escaping from oppression.

[Destiney Ellerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Edith for the ARC copy of this release, all opinions are my own.

Edith had reached out to me and asked if I would eb interested in being and ARC reader for this release and I almost didn't say yes because I was so swamped with ARC's but I am so glad I did! This was such an amazing read. I will fully admit I picked this one up at the wrong time as I am a mood reader so I struggled with it at first so I decided to put it down and come back to it a few days later and I am so glad I did that because the next time I picked it up I devoured it that same day.

This is a high fantasy read with lots of world building and a really interesting magic system. The beginning of the story follow Ailona and her wanting to journey outside of the castle, the only home she has ever known. Eventually she journeys to a new magic school, although her betrothed is reluctant to let her go. There are many twists and turns and many points where you feel as if you aren't getting the full story and tat s very much intentional and interictal to the plot and nothing is as it seems on the surface.

By the end of this story i was FULLY invested and I was not ready for the cliff hanger at the end. 🤐 If you aren't a fan of major cliff hangers than I recommend waiting until Edith releases news about the next book but if you don't mind them then get ready for some emotional damage and dive into this one asap.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read the ARC for The Owl and the Heigh Wielders by Edith Everly and I really enjoyed this book! This book has political control and manipulation, lost and found family, friends in unforeseen places, moments where you want to slap certain characters and ask them why they are doing certain things, yearning, magic, war and more.

Our FMC, Aliona, has always felt impure based off of the doctrines that her Highwielders have told her to live by. If she voices how she feels, she is immediately punished mentally and physically to keep her in place and under control. What I love about this story is although Aliona seems weak, she is so strong and starts to step outside of this worldview and starts to question everything, despite the consequences. Especially when a Diety starts to haunt her dreams and a strange man enters her life and changes everything.
As she starts to reveal more of her past, she begins to stand up for herself and demand answers. She starts to make new allies and meets mysterious people from her past.

This book has political control and manipulation, lost and found family, friends in unforeseen places, moments where you want to slap certain characters and ask them why they are doing certain things, yearning, magic, war and more.

All is not as it seems and I cannot wait to see how she continues to grow. I cannot wait for the next book to come out!

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantasy that doesn't feel like your usual fantasy & that's what makes it so good. I fell in love with this story along with the characters, the world, & everything so quickly. Aliona's life with the Royals is very prim & proper, but her world is full of deities & secrets she hasn't been exposed to. She is also an incredibly timid individual who is slowly gaining back her ability to think for herself. Demmose consistently challenges her to push against what she thinks she knows or understands to gain a better view of the world & her position in it. I love the growth between Aliona & Demmose & I especially love Deity Silva & her relationship with them both. I would love to explore more of the deities in the next book since some of them are still willing to connect with the High Weilders. There is also an appendix for the deities but it isn't overwhelming.

I would like to add that it is not only the religious & political aspects that readers may relate to. The personal devastation of realizing that there is genuinely nothing good in a person, especially someone that has conditioned you for so long is very difficult. To not only feel obligation because of your beliefs but also towards somebody you want to trust. Having that manipulation & cruelty exposed is incredibly intense & painful on every level.

This isn't a fast paced story but it isn't slow. There isn't useless filler or repetitiveness or anything where you feel like the story has stalled. You are continuously progressing forward as Aliona unravels her thoughts, her memories, her past, her purpose, her true beliefs, etc. That is not a quick & easy process. This book is incredibly good for a debut novel & for anyone who genuinely loves a character driven story & loves to see their growth. Honestly, this is a refreshing read that gives you something new while still keeping the fantasy elements that you love.
-P.S. I also loved the Bronte quotes throughout the story 💕

-Huge thanks to the author for an early copy of this book

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not some epic fantasy filled with nonstop action, traveling to foreign lands, and an epic quest. And you know what? It doesn't need to be.

That does not mean this book isn't a page turner. I had a very hard time putting it down.

This is very much a character driven story, and the characters are, of course, flawed. They are trying to do the right thing and sometimes failing miserably. They make mistakes, they have to pick themselves back up, and they are learning how to move forward and try to do better. And the way this story manages to portray all of that is beautiful.

We have gods who care and gods who apparently don't. We have Aliona, a girl taken at a young age because of her father's treachery. And then we have Demmose, a self-righteous pain who challenges everything Aliona was taught to believe.

The dynamic between these two is amazing. I really want to say more about them, but honestly, anything else would start wandering into spoiler territory, and I am not going there.

The world-building was terrific and actually plays an important role in the story. This is a world the gods have abandoned... kind of. A world that is dying in some places while thriving in others. I really enjoyed how the world itself felt connected to what was happening in the story instead of just being there in the background.

And then there is that ending.

Ugh.

Needless to say, I can't wait for book two.

[Irma *Irma The Book Whisperer* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fascinating debut. Edith I. Everly's storytelling completely pulled me in. It felt like sinking into a cloud while reading, which sounds almost too soft for a story carrying so much fear, anxiety, and melancholy. There is something eerie about this book, and that contrast worked incredibly well for me.

Aliona has spent twelve years confined to a castle, believing that obedience is safety and that her emotions make her impure. But when a mysterious Deity begins haunting her dreams with visions of her past, everything she thought she knew starts to crack. Desperate for answers, she comes up with a clever plan to convince the royal family to let her leave the castle and secretly seek them.

Once she gets the chance, she doesn't hesitate. What begins as a search for answers becomes one of my favourite parts of the story. The more she uncovers, the more important the truth becomes. It isn't only about solving the mystery, but about questioning everything she has been taught, forming her own convictions, and learning to trust herself.

And the truth? Life-altering.

Of course, her path is anything but easy. Goethiel and the King make sure of that. The more we learn about how they lied to her, manipulated her, undermined her, and treated her like a burden, the angrier I became. Their behaviour is calculated and cruel, and they made me want to reach through the pages more than once.

Quite witty at times and incredibly powerful. I can't wait for book two.

[Renee Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredible fantasy story. While it’s not an epic fantasy, it’s riveting, well-written, intricately thought out and character driven. It delves into how our mind can be conditioned to accept a certain belief and how difficult it is to try to step away from said beliefs. It’s a story about finding the truth and what happens afterward.

The characters are real, raw and flawed. They struggle. I found myself cheering them on and sometimes wanting to push or shove Aliona in the correct direction. The journey is real. Healing and accepting a truth she never knew about takes time. It’s joyful one moment, painful the next and rewarding. I was invested and highly anticipating what would happen next. The mix of characters is great - some you cheer for and others not so much. I loved the sign language!

The world building is amazing and I could easily picture the setting. It’s an essential part of the story and was skillfully and beautifully written.

The ending. Wow. I was left feeling so many emotions. I am looking forward to the next part of the journey in book two.

[Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Edith I. Everly for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book, releasing September 29, 2026!

Triggers:
Manipulation
Kidnapping
Forced Marriage
Political/Religious Control

Tropes:
Deities
Magic System
Enemies to Lovers
Chosen One
Slow Burn

Spice:
0.5/5

Holy emotional rollercoaster. While this book didn't start off super fast-paced, it grabbed me in and wouldn't let me go. The world that Aliona lives in sounds absolutely rough, especially since she was manipulated for many years of her life by the Royal Wielders. I love how Aliona eventually understands the truth, the REAL truth, even though she still wanted to believe that the Royal family could be saved and change. Her journey of growth and realization was amazing.

The slow burn was more like a tiny candle that Demmose was trying so hard not to light, but ultimately found he REALLY, REALLY needed that light. It was good. I just hated that Demmose took his dislike for Aliona out on her just because he thought his whole life was crap because of her. I understand why, but dang man, it wasn't her fault!

THE ENDING THOUGH. I need more. I need book 2 NOW.