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Wings Unseen
To end a civil war, Lansera's King Turyn relinquished a quarter of his kingdom to create Medua, exiling all who would honor greed over valor to this new realm on the other side of the mountains. The Meduans and Lanserim have maintained an uneasy truce for two generations, but their ways of life are as compatible as oil and water.
When Vesperi, a Meduan noblewoman, kills a Lanserim spy with a lick of her silver flame, she hopes the powerful display of magic will convince her father to name her as his heir. She doesn't know the act will draw the eye of the tyrannical Guj, Medua's leader, or that the spy was the brother of Serrafina Gavenstone, the fiancee of Turyn's grandson, Prince Janto. As Janto sets out for an annual competition on the mysterious island of Braven, Serra accepts an invitation to study with the religious Brotherhood, hoping for somewhere to grieve her brother's murder in peace. What she finds instead is a horror that threatens both countries, devouring all living things and leaving husks of skin in its wake.
To defeat it, Janto and Serra must learn to work together with the only person who possesses the magic that can: the beautiful Vesperi, whom no one knows murdered Serra's brother. An ultimate rejection plunges Vesperi forward toward their shared destiny, with the powerful Guj on her heels and the menacing beating of unseen wings all about.
Readers of all ages will enjoy Wings Unseen, Rebecca Gomez Farrell's first full-length novel. It is a fully-imagined epic fantasy with an unforgettable cast of characters.
When Vesperi, a Meduan noblewoman, kills a Lanserim spy with a lick of her silver flame, she hopes the powerful display of magic will convince her father to name her as his heir. She doesn't know the act will draw the eye of the tyrannical Guj, Medua's leader, or that the spy was the brother of Serrafina Gavenstone, the fiancee of Turyn's grandson, Prince Janto. As Janto sets out for an annual competition on the mysterious island of Braven, Serra accepts an invitation to study with the religious Brotherhood, hoping for somewhere to grieve her brother's murder in peace. What she finds instead is a horror that threatens both countries, devouring all living things and leaving husks of skin in its wake.
To defeat it, Janto and Serra must learn to work together with the only person who possesses the magic that can: the beautiful Vesperi, whom no one knows murdered Serra's brother. An ultimate rejection plunges Vesperi forward toward their shared destiny, with the powerful Guj on her heels and the menacing beating of unseen wings all about.
Readers of all ages will enjoy Wings Unseen, Rebecca Gomez Farrell's first full-length novel. It is a fully-imagined epic fantasy with an unforgettable cast of characters.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2017
9 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Gomez Farrell
21 books32 followersIn all but one career aptitude test Rebecca Gomez Farrell has taken, writer has been the #1 result. But when she tastes the salty air and hears the sea lions bark, she wonders if maybe sea captain was the right choice after all.
Currently marooned in Oakland, CA, Becca is a member of Broad Universe and an associate member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Her epic fantasy novel, Wings Unseen, debuted in August 2017 from Meerkat Press.
Her short stories, which run the gamut of speculative fiction genres, have been published by Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Pulp Literature, and the Future Fire among others.
Maya’s Vacation, her contemporary romance novella, is available from Clean Reads.
Becca also co-leads the East Bay Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Meetup group and runs the San Francisco chapter of the Women Who Submit Writing organization.
Becca’s food, drink, and travel writing, which has appeared in local media in CA and NC, can primarily be found at her blog, the Gourmez. For a list of all her published work, fiction and nonfiction, check out her author website at RebeccaGomezFarrell.com. Social Media Handle: @theGourmez.
Currently marooned in Oakland, CA, Becca is a member of Broad Universe and an associate member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Her epic fantasy novel, Wings Unseen, debuted in August 2017 from Meerkat Press.
Her short stories, which run the gamut of speculative fiction genres, have been published by Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Pulp Literature, and the Future Fire among others.
Maya’s Vacation, her contemporary romance novella, is available from Clean Reads.
Becca also co-leads the East Bay Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Meetup group and runs the San Francisco chapter of the Women Who Submit Writing organization.
Becca’s food, drink, and travel writing, which has appeared in local media in CA and NC, can primarily be found at her blog, the Gourmez. For a list of all her published work, fiction and nonfiction, check out her author website at RebeccaGomezFarrell.com. Social Media Handle: @theGourmez.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 22, 2017
Many thanks to Rebecca Gomez Farrell, Meerkat Press, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Well, I've debated my review for about a week. To say I was underwhelmed may be a bit strident, but I'm still left with a flat feeling. While I'm certainly glad I read Wings, I was never excited about any plot twist. The opening of the book threw me for a loop because it reads like a third chapter. I had no idea about whom I was reading. There was just no preparation. I had to start over three times before I firmly had my bearings. Vesperi was meant to be a despicable creature but came across as grumpy and misunderstood most of the time.
Once I finally got into the groove of the pattern of the chapters there was suddenly a spanner thrown in the works when a fourth cretin of a religious order was introduced and completely threw off my flow. Why did it take half of the book for this evil doer to come along? Shouldn't he have maybe either had a few earlier chapters or at least been integral in the previous storyline? As it is it seems like the author decided just then where the book needed to go and wrote him in. It wasn't a smooth transition.
The book has some good points: the buzzing flesheaters, the squabbling kingdoms of goodness and vice, the "three heads". It was interesting. I just wasn't blown away.
Summer Fantasy Fest read #18
Well, I've debated my review for about a week. To say I was underwhelmed may be a bit strident, but I'm still left with a flat feeling. While I'm certainly glad I read Wings, I was never excited about any plot twist. The opening of the book threw me for a loop because it reads like a third chapter. I had no idea about whom I was reading. There was just no preparation. I had to start over three times before I firmly had my bearings. Vesperi was meant to be a despicable creature but came across as grumpy and misunderstood most of the time.
Once I finally got into the groove of the pattern of the chapters there was suddenly a spanner thrown in the works when a fourth cretin of a religious order was introduced and completely threw off my flow. Why did it take half of the book for this evil doer to come along? Shouldn't he have maybe either had a few earlier chapters or at least been integral in the previous storyline? As it is it seems like the author decided just then where the book needed to go and wrote him in. It wasn't a smooth transition.
The book has some good points: the buzzing flesheaters, the squabbling kingdoms of goodness and vice, the "three heads". It was interesting. I just wasn't blown away.
Summer Fantasy Fest read #18
October 21, 2017
This book really surprised me. I went in expecting a cool fantasy setting (and yes it's as good as the blurb makes it sound), some different magic and a really annoying love triangle. I was partially right, and partially wrong.
The Not-So Love, Love Triangle
So let's deal with the 'three-headed' love triangle first. Is there a love triangle... not really. There are three people who are caught up in each others lives in some unlikely ways and there is some jealousy that happens at some points but it's not like a cat fight over the lead man. Nor is it a caddy fight between the two girls. Instead it's just progression of friendship, possible love and how tough circumstances create unbreakable bonds.
The Overall Feel
The three perspectives (two gals, one guy) are all equal and none of them feels like a more important character than the other. Kudos to Rebecca Gomez Farrell for pulling this off. It's a hard feat to have equal standing characters in the lead. The magic is really cool. I love how sparse and yet how important it is. The 'enemy' is subjective and yet obvious all at the same time. The politics are brilliant and I adore our lead man's father who accepts that while he never wanted to be King it was his duty. This solid political base that the world is built around is part of what gives Wings Unseen it's unique feel.
Of course my favourite character of the three is the morally questionable Vespiri (and she has a snake as her icon!). But don't worry the other two main characters, Jantos and Serra, bring in more than enough sweet, moral, hero traits to make up for any pitfalls Vespiri may have. Additionally they all have real personalities and real faults. Just like real people. I can't emphasis enough how REAL they all felt to me at times. I started wanting to savour this book at the halfway point. Something I rarely do these days.
Now, what's the best part about Wings Unseen?
It's a STAND ALONE fantasy book!
That's not to say that it might have future books; but you can easily read Wings Unseen and have enough closure to feel satisfied. I'd love to see future books (and it's unclear to me if it's going to be a series or not...) but it's also so rare to find stand-alone fantasy novels that I almost want to relish in it's uniqueness this way.
Could I find faults in this novel?
Of course. But honestly I feel this is a stronger debut than Gilded Cage and I really enjoyed it and gave it four stars. Wings Unseen doesn't have the same plot holes or unexplained circumstances the way a lot of my 4 star fantasy books have had this year and so I've given it 5 stars because I'd happily read it again... is tomorrow too soon?!
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
The Not-So Love, Love Triangle
So let's deal with the 'three-headed' love triangle first. Is there a love triangle... not really. There are three people who are caught up in each others lives in some unlikely ways and there is some jealousy that happens at some points but it's not like a cat fight over the lead man. Nor is it a caddy fight between the two girls. Instead it's just progression of friendship, possible love and how tough circumstances create unbreakable bonds.
The Overall Feel
The three perspectives (two gals, one guy) are all equal and none of them feels like a more important character than the other. Kudos to Rebecca Gomez Farrell for pulling this off. It's a hard feat to have equal standing characters in the lead. The magic is really cool. I love how sparse and yet how important it is. The 'enemy' is subjective and yet obvious all at the same time. The politics are brilliant and I adore our lead man's father who accepts that while he never wanted to be King it was his duty. This solid political base that the world is built around is part of what gives Wings Unseen it's unique feel.
Of course my favourite character of the three is the morally questionable Vespiri (and she has a snake as her icon!). But don't worry the other two main characters, Jantos and Serra, bring in more than enough sweet, moral, hero traits to make up for any pitfalls Vespiri may have. Additionally they all have real personalities and real faults. Just like real people. I can't emphasis enough how REAL they all felt to me at times. I started wanting to savour this book at the halfway point. Something I rarely do these days.
Now, what's the best part about Wings Unseen?
It's a STAND ALONE fantasy book!
That's not to say that it might have future books; but you can easily read Wings Unseen and have enough closure to feel satisfied. I'd love to see future books (and it's unclear to me if it's going to be a series or not...) but it's also so rare to find stand-alone fantasy novels that I almost want to relish in it's uniqueness this way.
Could I find faults in this novel?
Of course. But honestly I feel this is a stronger debut than Gilded Cage and I really enjoyed it and gave it four stars. Wings Unseen doesn't have the same plot holes or unexplained circumstances the way a lot of my 4 star fantasy books have had this year and so I've given it 5 stars because I'd happily read it again... is tomorrow too soon?!
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
September 6, 2017
Thank you to Meerkat Press for the ARC! Overall a very strong and ambitious story with a beautiful cover of our three-winged bird!
At the heart of the novel is a land torn apart decades earlier by war and powerful, selfish leaders. This left Lansera and Medua, two areas divided by poverty, culture and religious beliefs where "ways of life were as compatible as oil and water." From these come our three main characters: a young prince of great privilege, Janto, must learn how to put his people first to become a strong leader. His beautiful fiancé Serra has to face the demons of her past and make the toughest decision of any young adult's life. From the impoverished land of Medua, Vesperi is an unpredictable woman, dangerous, and full of courage. Forced to work as a team to save their friends and family proved to be a huge challenge.
The descriptions throughout are vibrant and filled with emotion. Even the minor characters bring life and a bit of humor to the story. This is an epic adventure in a world filled with mysterious creatures and magic! I would definitely be interested in a sequel and recommend this fantasy novel to any fan of Middle Earth! This may only be the beginning...
At the heart of the novel is a land torn apart decades earlier by war and powerful, selfish leaders. This left Lansera and Medua, two areas divided by poverty, culture and religious beliefs where "ways of life were as compatible as oil and water." From these come our three main characters: a young prince of great privilege, Janto, must learn how to put his people first to become a strong leader. His beautiful fiancé Serra has to face the demons of her past and make the toughest decision of any young adult's life. From the impoverished land of Medua, Vesperi is an unpredictable woman, dangerous, and full of courage. Forced to work as a team to save their friends and family proved to be a huge challenge.
The descriptions throughout are vibrant and filled with emotion. Even the minor characters bring life and a bit of humor to the story. This is an epic adventure in a world filled with mysterious creatures and magic! I would definitely be interested in a sequel and recommend this fantasy novel to any fan of Middle Earth! This may only be the beginning...
July 3, 2017
I received a copy from Meerkat Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wings Unseen reminds me so much of Falling Kingdoms. We have around 3 main POVs with a few minor ones that are placed in different points in the 2 feuding kingdoms. Vesperi is the daughter of the estate lord in Medua and secretly harbors magical powers. However, she was not named the heir to the land but instead was bequeathed to her weak sickly brother. Janto, the heir to Lansera has gone on a quest to learn more about ruling his future kingdom. Serra, queen-to-be, follows the Order to find out what she has to do to save her kingdom from ruin.
Things I did not expect:
•The harsh language regarding women. It was very adultlike for a YA book. Words such as "cunt" were frequent in the book.
•A kind king????? I'm genuinely shocked nice kings exist
•It took so long for these characters to overlap. Normally fantasy books with diff POVs overlap quickly but this took over 100 pages. Despite this, it was still good
•Plot centering on individualistic paths
•A POV OF A PIGEON. We're in 2017 Wings Unseen is in 2057.
Each character was unique in their own way and I grew to love them! Vesperi is wild and unruly but it's the perfect balance to Serra's calm and poised. Even with a patriarchal society, Vesperi and Serra managed to overcome it in their own ways. Janto was an unconventional male character, not asserting his masculinity. I couldn't feel him dripping testosterone yet respected him as a character. As the book passed I was more partial to Vesperi and found Serra to be rather annoying. I want this book to be one that doesn't pit women against each other given that the society already has a low view of them. The other problem I had with this book was that my ship was not sailing. Please just give me what I want. No more love triangles, PLEASE.
I enjoyed the writing of Farrell The places were vivid enough that I was able to picture myself there with them. Each action was written to such precision that it felt like a well-directed movie in my head, leaving little for me to fill in. And that's great! For a high fantasy book, the author's ability to describe is essential and Farrell excelled at it.
Wings Unseen reminds me so much of Falling Kingdoms. We have around 3 main POVs with a few minor ones that are placed in different points in the 2 feuding kingdoms. Vesperi is the daughter of the estate lord in Medua and secretly harbors magical powers. However, she was not named the heir to the land but instead was bequeathed to her weak sickly brother. Janto, the heir to Lansera has gone on a quest to learn more about ruling his future kingdom. Serra, queen-to-be, follows the Order to find out what she has to do to save her kingdom from ruin.
Things I did not expect:
•The harsh language regarding women. It was very adultlike for a YA book. Words such as "cunt" were frequent in the book.
•A kind king????? I'm genuinely shocked nice kings exist
•It took so long for these characters to overlap. Normally fantasy books with diff POVs overlap quickly but this took over 100 pages. Despite this, it was still good
•Plot centering on individualistic paths
•A POV OF A PIGEON. We're in 2017 Wings Unseen is in 2057.
Each character was unique in their own way and I grew to love them! Vesperi is wild and unruly but it's the perfect balance to Serra's calm and poised. Even with a patriarchal society, Vesperi and Serra managed to overcome it in their own ways. Janto was an unconventional male character, not asserting his masculinity. I couldn't feel him dripping testosterone yet respected him as a character. As the book passed I was more partial to Vesperi and found Serra to be rather annoying. I want this book to be one that doesn't pit women against each other given that the society already has a low view of them. The other problem I had with this book was that my ship was not sailing. Please just give me what I want. No more love triangles, PLEASE.
I enjoyed the writing of Farrell The places were vivid enough that I was able to picture myself there with them. Each action was written to such precision that it felt like a well-directed movie in my head, leaving little for me to fill in. And that's great! For a high fantasy book, the author's ability to describe is essential and Farrell excelled at it.
October 18, 2017
Wings Unseen by Rebecca Gomez Farrell was excruciatingly slow. It had great potential but it was lost in way too many details and nonsense. The characters were all pretty boring, except Vesperi who had a good overall character evolution. I wouldn’t waste my time for this one. I almost DNF’ed a couple of times.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this free ebook.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this free ebook.
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September 29, 2017#5 on my TBR for #ARCAugust tag.
See this full review along with others on my blog at: shesgoingbookcrazy.com
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
You know when you start a book, and you don't like the characters, and nothing pulls you into the plot to keep your attention--then that it probably isn't the book for you. This is exactly my experience with Wings Unseen.
Being a sucker for great book covers, I naturally picked this up. Seeing a three-headed bird beast, in combination with an alluring title, and an action-packed synopsis, I was ready to be swept away into a new fantasy world.
As we take a step into the world of the warring nations of Medua and Lansera, one thing is immediately apparent: Vesperi is a not a nice person. Detestable, more like. So detestable, in fact, that I couldn't get the bad taste out of my mouth that she left there. Here's why. She'd always resort to sexual manipulation to get what she wanted. It was in her internal and external machinations, and she was downright crude. Here's a few examples:
There were more. But I just...don't want to waste my time taking down quotes from a book that I know I won't be finishing.
I liked the fact that the book worked from different point-of-views. I'm assuming that a three-headed bird will show up somewhere, somehow. The animal-like-creature-human-things referenced in the first chapter were...curious, to say the least. I really wish I could have had an opportunity to go further into this book, but Vesperi made that impossible for me.
Vulgarity: There wasn't any swearing, but derogatory language used specifically towards women.
Sexual Content: I believe I missed the memo where it is suddenly deemed as "OK" to use explicit language in YA books. This book definitely crosses some lines for me (examples provided above), including the word, "cock." This is probably another one of those mislabeled "YA books" that should be NA.
Violence: Minimal.
I will not be assigning a star review as I did not finish reading this book.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
See this full review along with others on my blog at: shesgoingbookcrazy.com
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
You know when you start a book, and you don't like the characters, and nothing pulls you into the plot to keep your attention--then that it probably isn't the book for you. This is exactly my experience with Wings Unseen.
Being a sucker for great book covers, I naturally picked this up. Seeing a three-headed bird beast, in combination with an alluring title, and an action-packed synopsis, I was ready to be swept away into a new fantasy world.
As we take a step into the world of the warring nations of Medua and Lansera, one thing is immediately apparent: Vesperi is a not a nice person. Detestable, more like. So detestable, in fact, that I couldn't get the bad taste out of my mouth that she left there. Here's why. She'd always resort to sexual manipulation to get what she wanted. It was in her internal and external machinations, and she was downright crude. Here's a few examples:
Too old to make bedding him fun but not man enough to beat her badly.
She had more pressing matters to attend to than pondering what advantage untying his breeches might bring.
There were more. But I just...don't want to waste my time taking down quotes from a book that I know I won't be finishing.
I liked the fact that the book worked from different point-of-views. I'm assuming that a three-headed bird will show up somewhere, somehow. The animal-like-creature-human-things referenced in the first chapter were...curious, to say the least. I really wish I could have had an opportunity to go further into this book, but Vesperi made that impossible for me.
Vulgarity: There wasn't any swearing, but derogatory language used specifically towards women.
Sexual Content: I believe I missed the memo where it is suddenly deemed as "OK" to use explicit language in YA books. This book definitely crosses some lines for me (examples provided above), including the word, "cock." This is probably another one of those mislabeled "YA books" that should be NA.
Violence: Minimal.
I will not be assigning a star review as I did not finish reading this book.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
July 14, 2017
Disclaimer: Netgalley gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first few chapters were really a struggle to get through, but once I got about 20% of the way into the book, the strength of the plot and characters won me over. There are some obnoxious things about Wings Unseen -- over-the-top unnecessary details, cliche divisions between (literally) a "good" and an "evil" country -- but the plot is strong and well paced, and once you get past the annoying parts, the book is quite the page turner.
The good: It was good enough that despite what I saw as major flaws, I finished it! And not "slogged to the end because I hate leaving books unfinished" but "read to the end because I wanted to find out what would happen"! I won't give too much away, but once you get past the distractions, there is a really compelling story. The three main characters are well developed, and the supporting characters are interesting in their own right (although there are WAY too many of them). The plot picks up around a third of the way through the book, and it ends up being quite the page turner.
The bad: The worldbuilding was just... over the top. Please, please, please stop making up new words for things if they're not relevant to the plot (kratom wood? tekberries? some sort of bitey fish that might be purple?). The level of detail ended up distracting from the plot, and I honestly almost stopped reading the book in the first few chapters because I found it off putting. BUT... I kept reading. And it was worth it. Also annoying: the idea of a "good" (Lanserre) and an "evil" (Medua) nation is just too cliche. It's not realistic, and it made parts of the plot really flat. I can understand one nation thinking they're good, and the other is bad, but the book plays it as if they actually are. Characters from the "evil" country and cruel and their culture is insane/unsustainable, and even the "good" characters from there have to fight against their nature. I just didn't buy that.
Overall: Honestly, this book would be a 3.5 star rating from me, but since it's not, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and go with 4. I would have loved-loved-loved this book if there had been fewer extraneous details and if some of the overarching themes were less stereotypical, but when it comes down to it -- I finished the book in three days, and if there was a sequel, I'd probably buy it. So, I would recommend it ... just know that the first few chapters are painful.
The first few chapters were really a struggle to get through, but once I got about 20% of the way into the book, the strength of the plot and characters won me over. There are some obnoxious things about Wings Unseen -- over-the-top unnecessary details, cliche divisions between (literally) a "good" and an "evil" country -- but the plot is strong and well paced, and once you get past the annoying parts, the book is quite the page turner.
The good: It was good enough that despite what I saw as major flaws, I finished it! And not "slogged to the end because I hate leaving books unfinished" but "read to the end because I wanted to find out what would happen"! I won't give too much away, but once you get past the distractions, there is a really compelling story. The three main characters are well developed, and the supporting characters are interesting in their own right (although there are WAY too many of them). The plot picks up around a third of the way through the book, and it ends up being quite the page turner.
The bad: The worldbuilding was just... over the top. Please, please, please stop making up new words for things if they're not relevant to the plot (kratom wood? tekberries? some sort of bitey fish that might be purple?). The level of detail ended up distracting from the plot, and I honestly almost stopped reading the book in the first few chapters because I found it off putting. BUT... I kept reading. And it was worth it. Also annoying: the idea of a "good" (Lanserre) and an "evil" (Medua) nation is just too cliche. It's not realistic, and it made parts of the plot really flat. I can understand one nation thinking they're good, and the other is bad, but the book plays it as if they actually are. Characters from the "evil" country and cruel and their culture is insane/unsustainable, and even the "good" characters from there have to fight against their nature. I just didn't buy that.
Overall: Honestly, this book would be a 3.5 star rating from me, but since it's not, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and go with 4. I would have loved-loved-loved this book if there had been fewer extraneous details and if some of the overarching themes were less stereotypical, but when it comes down to it -- I finished the book in three days, and if there was a sequel, I'd probably buy it. So, I would recommend it ... just know that the first few chapters are painful.
August 24, 2017
*3.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
How to summarize this?.........
Welcome to Lansera and Medua. These two places used to be one before they were separated, putting the bad people in Medua and the nice ones in Lansera.
Veseri lives in Medua. She’s the daughter of Lord Sewyll. As a woman in Medua, she has no rights. She basically belongs to her father and should be spending her days in the kitchen with all the other women.
But Vesperi doesn’t like to keep her mouth shut and do what’s expected of her, and her father, to keep her out of his hair gives her “some freedom”. It actually helps that Veseri can reduce someone to ashes with just a wave of her fingers; though no one but her knows it.
In Lansera, the prince, Janto, is about to get married to Serra but first, he has to go do his Murat (some kind of weird ritual thing that make boys grow into men I guess?).
As she waits for her betrothed to come back from his Murat, Serra is asked to go to a convent of sorts, where she finds out she has a weird ass destiny.
Our three characters turn out to be linked in more ways than one and have to find a way to get along to save the world and shit.
I mostly enjoyed this. I had A LOT of trouble getting into it but once I was, I had a great time and flew through the chapters.
The characters were well painted and even if it took me some time to get attached to both Serra and Janto, they grew on me.
At first, I was living for the Vesperi chapters who I immediately fell for. But I found them to be too rare and short.
There were a couple clichés but they didn’t really bother me.
What did bother me was that the romance was central to the story but seemed rushed; like it was just an afterthought. I didn’t really feel what the characters were supposed to feel…
All in all, a classic-ish story set in an interesting but enraging world with loveable characters.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
How to summarize this?.........
Welcome to Lansera and Medua. These two places used to be one before they were separated, putting the bad people in Medua and the nice ones in Lansera.
Veseri lives in Medua. She’s the daughter of Lord Sewyll. As a woman in Medua, she has no rights. She basically belongs to her father and should be spending her days in the kitchen with all the other women.
But Vesperi doesn’t like to keep her mouth shut and do what’s expected of her, and her father, to keep her out of his hair gives her “some freedom”. It actually helps that Veseri can reduce someone to ashes with just a wave of her fingers; though no one but her knows it.
In Lansera, the prince, Janto, is about to get married to Serra but first, he has to go do his Murat (some kind of weird ritual thing that make boys grow into men I guess?).
As she waits for her betrothed to come back from his Murat, Serra is asked to go to a convent of sorts, where she finds out she has a weird ass destiny.
Our three characters turn out to be linked in more ways than one and have to find a way to get along to save the world and shit.
I mostly enjoyed this. I had A LOT of trouble getting into it but once I was, I had a great time and flew through the chapters.
The characters were well painted and even if it took me some time to get attached to both Serra and Janto, they grew on me.
At first, I was living for the Vesperi chapters who I immediately fell for. But I found them to be too rare and short.
There were a couple clichés but they didn’t really bother me.
What did bother me was that the romance was central to the story but seemed rushed; like it was just an afterthought. I didn’t really feel what the characters were supposed to feel…
All in all, a classic-ish story set in an interesting but enraging world with loveable characters.
July 16, 2017
I received an arc copy of Wings Unseen from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 2.5 stars
The first thing that caught my eye about Wings Unseen was the cover. It was beautiful and enchanting. Then I read the description and I was even more drawn in.
Within the first few chapters, I already had a favorite character. Vesperi. I know Vesperi is supposed to be despicable but I loved her from the start. I mean a head strong women trying to make her way in a terrible society but also harbors a secret power? Sign me right up. I loved her POV'S. I was disappointed she didn't have that many POV'S in the beginning. I just wanted more of her and I just got Serra which I hate to say but I didn't like her all that much. She eventually grew on me but never topped Vesperi. Janto was also a great character, he had a lot of potential and wasn't a typical testorone filled male. I enjoyed his sections but Vesperi had my attention.
Overall, Wings Unseen was a good book but, personally, I didn't like it very much. I feel the world building could have been more enhanced especially in the 2nd half. The plot was interesting but I found myself confused and it took a rather long time for me to get my bearings. It feels as if the story starts right off the bat and you have to fill in a lot of blanks. My interest fluctuated constantly throughout. There was a few times where I was riveted but then other times where I was dragging myself to the next part. In general, I think some polishing could be done but Wings Unseen is good.
Rating: 2.5 stars
The first thing that caught my eye about Wings Unseen was the cover. It was beautiful and enchanting. Then I read the description and I was even more drawn in.
Within the first few chapters, I already had a favorite character. Vesperi. I know Vesperi is supposed to be despicable but I loved her from the start. I mean a head strong women trying to make her way in a terrible society but also harbors a secret power? Sign me right up. I loved her POV'S. I was disappointed she didn't have that many POV'S in the beginning. I just wanted more of her and I just got Serra which I hate to say but I didn't like her all that much. She eventually grew on me but never topped Vesperi. Janto was also a great character, he had a lot of potential and wasn't a typical testorone filled male. I enjoyed his sections but Vesperi had my attention.
Overall, Wings Unseen was a good book but, personally, I didn't like it very much. I feel the world building could have been more enhanced especially in the 2nd half. The plot was interesting but I found myself confused and it took a rather long time for me to get my bearings. It feels as if the story starts right off the bat and you have to fill in a lot of blanks. My interest fluctuated constantly throughout. There was a few times where I was riveted but then other times where I was dragging myself to the next part. In general, I think some polishing could be done but Wings Unseen is good.
June 19, 2017
Wings Unseen is an enthralling female-driven fantasy debut. The world, magic system, and terrific characters – with two complex, multi-layered heroines along with the male protagonist – drew me in and kept me rapt. The romantic set-up goes sideways in a delightful way, satisfying me entirely. The characters truly grow and change over the course of their epic quest, including a heroine who begins in a dark place and rises above it. An initially unlikable heroine, Vesperi is deftly handled and won a place as my favorite character. Compelling, entertaining, and enlightening, Wings Unseen is a fantastic read!
July 23, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
This novel is most certainly an adventure, trial/combat, novel that feels very much like a Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones type of story. Right away, you get swept into this world with many characters that are sometimes hard to keep track of. Some have similar names, making it even more difficult to remember who is related to who and who is the enemy, but after awhile it does begin to focus solely on a few main characters. There are a few chapters with what I like to call "Random" characters or stories that could have been left out as I felt there wasn't a good enough reason to introduce a character and tell a chapter from their perspective and then kill them off or never hear from them again. I will say, even though Rebecca switches characters with each chapter, I did like how she added their crest or icon to help remind us who they were or what family they were from.
The world building is not bad in this novel. I had a hard time keeping up with time jumps or lapses as they traveled or how far away places were. I will say, that the author commented on one of my posts about her book and said there would be a map in the final edition, which YAY, that is exactly what it needs to help the reader follow along. Bonus points for that addition to the finalized copy!!
Overall, the story wasn't bad, although I did find myself getting bored at parts and forcing myself to continue waiting for the climax. The ending moved very quickly, too quickly for my liking, and it felt a little unrealistic at how the three were thrown into this prophecy and excelled at it without ever knowing they had those type of skills or abilities? It took one of the main characters the entire novel to understand his role in the whole thing when a majority of the book had been focused on him and his namesake. Just seemed odd he didn't question his role until the very last moment and he had like an "Oh, I see" moment.
I think the whole concept of this story is fantastic. I love the ideas and relationships that were put into the book and intertwined within the cities/towns/kingdoms. I would have liked the epilogue to bring closure to the other two main characters as well instead of only a tidbit of one that I really didn't feel needed to be rounded out in the end. Seeing as one is the prince, it would have been nice to know what happened to him and the other female character. Just a thought.
But, I would still recommend this to someone who enjoys a good adventure novel, especially those who enjoy LOTR and GOT type reads. It was fun story.
(I hope they caught some of the grammatical errors or repetition of phrases on their last round of edits...! I wish I had kept track of exactly where they were because there were many times words would get repeated "I should have should gone with.." kind of things scattered throughout where removing one extra word would have made it flow more smoothly.)
This novel is most certainly an adventure, trial/combat, novel that feels very much like a Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones type of story. Right away, you get swept into this world with many characters that are sometimes hard to keep track of. Some have similar names, making it even more difficult to remember who is related to who and who is the enemy, but after awhile it does begin to focus solely on a few main characters. There are a few chapters with what I like to call "Random" characters or stories that could have been left out as I felt there wasn't a good enough reason to introduce a character and tell a chapter from their perspective and then kill them off or never hear from them again. I will say, even though Rebecca switches characters with each chapter, I did like how she added their crest or icon to help remind us who they were or what family they were from.
The world building is not bad in this novel. I had a hard time keeping up with time jumps or lapses as they traveled or how far away places were. I will say, that the author commented on one of my posts about her book and said there would be a map in the final edition, which YAY, that is exactly what it needs to help the reader follow along. Bonus points for that addition to the finalized copy!!
Overall, the story wasn't bad, although I did find myself getting bored at parts and forcing myself to continue waiting for the climax. The ending moved very quickly, too quickly for my liking, and it felt a little unrealistic at how the three were thrown into this prophecy and excelled at it without ever knowing they had those type of skills or abilities? It took one of the main characters the entire novel to understand his role in the whole thing when a majority of the book had been focused on him and his namesake. Just seemed odd he didn't question his role until the very last moment and he had like an "Oh, I see" moment.
I think the whole concept of this story is fantastic. I love the ideas and relationships that were put into the book and intertwined within the cities/towns/kingdoms. I would have liked the epilogue to bring closure to the other two main characters as well instead of only a tidbit of one that I really didn't feel needed to be rounded out in the end. Seeing as one is the prince, it would have been nice to know what happened to him and the other female character. Just a thought.
But, I would still recommend this to someone who enjoys a good adventure novel, especially those who enjoy LOTR and GOT type reads. It was fun story.
(I hope they caught some of the grammatical errors or repetition of phrases on their last round of edits...! I wish I had kept track of exactly where they were because there were many times words would get repeated "I should have should gone with.." kind of things scattered throughout where removing one extra word would have made it flow more smoothly.)
July 9, 2017
''The Brothers had only known what could be, not what would be" - Rebecca Gomez Farrell
I think this has been one of my favourite books so far, this year. It had such a lovely blend of amazing characters, intriguing world building and a strong plot. It was a dense read, it wasn’t even 400 pages yet it took me over a week but I did enjoy it. I only had the smallest of issues with certain aspects of the books, one of which I am going to start with because it did follow me throughout the rest of the novel.
Please, Rebecca Gomez Farrell, show me a map of this wonderful and diverse world that you have created! Later in the book I did start to understand the general area of some of the major lands but it still would have helped at the beginning when we are being introduced to so many characters from many different and interesting lands. Along this same sort of line, there seemed to be a weird thing in this book where Farrell would write the name of a fantasy creature and then give no explanation or relevance, it just seemed very peculiar and unnecessary.
Right from the beginning of this book I loved all our leading trio; Vesperi, Janto and Serra were all such well-rounded and three-dimensional characters with all had their own arc’s and this was all accomplished while never slowing the pace of the plot. I just loved hanging out with them to be honest and the fact they all had their little worlds before coming together just made me become more attached to them before the climax of the plot. I think this was also because the side characters in this book were incredibly strong too, I’ve looked back and there isn’t one that I haven’t loved, they were all fun and well-rounded and I cared when .
When it came to this triad I enjoyed how equal they all were within the plot, they all needed one another to complete the quest they had set out for. The plot really was one of my favourite aspects. I loved what they were fighting and how they manifested, I thought it was such a great idea and gave some real context as to why the people of Lansera have become like they are. I also liked how the idea of Gods and fate was handled in this book too, although I would have liked more explanation in to the God Wars that was mentioned in the book.
Didn’t like the beginning of the love triangle and I wasn’t a fan of either of the romances that became canon in the end – I’m not a big fan of fate being the defining nature of romances and I just never felt that there was any chemistry between Vesperi and Janto, it was just he had a sexy dream about her and then they were in love? Whereas he and Serra has this long build up friendship and established relationship, I just felt like there didn’t need to be a romance and I really didn’t like that the epilogue chapter, from Serra, was about her getting in Lorne’s pants? Like this whole book has been about friendships and the power of fate and it ends with Serra trying to get her leg over with a man she has just met? No thank you.
Although I’m not usually a fan of fantasy sexism, I saw why it was used in this book because it was, in fact, not seen as the norm by the larger population of the people in this fantasy world and was used by a corrupt religious order to subdue and control his people
So, while I did have little niggles throughout this book it was never even close enough to make me want to stop, I could have lived in this world and with our three main characters and their friends for longer and seen more of their creature killing, ‘I’m taking fate into my own hands’ road trip.
I received my ARC from Rebecca Gomez Farrell, Meerkat Press, and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much.
I think this has been one of my favourite books so far, this year. It had such a lovely blend of amazing characters, intriguing world building and a strong plot. It was a dense read, it wasn’t even 400 pages yet it took me over a week but I did enjoy it. I only had the smallest of issues with certain aspects of the books, one of which I am going to start with because it did follow me throughout the rest of the novel.
Please, Rebecca Gomez Farrell, show me a map of this wonderful and diverse world that you have created! Later in the book I did start to understand the general area of some of the major lands but it still would have helped at the beginning when we are being introduced to so many characters from many different and interesting lands. Along this same sort of line, there seemed to be a weird thing in this book where Farrell would write the name of a fantasy creature and then give no explanation or relevance, it just seemed very peculiar and unnecessary.
Right from the beginning of this book I loved all our leading trio; Vesperi, Janto and Serra were all such well-rounded and three-dimensional characters with all had their own arc’s and this was all accomplished while never slowing the pace of the plot. I just loved hanging out with them to be honest and the fact they all had their little worlds before coming together just made me become more attached to them before the climax of the plot. I think this was also because the side characters in this book were incredibly strong too, I’ve looked back and there isn’t one that I haven’t loved, they were all fun and well-rounded and I cared when .
When it came to this triad I enjoyed how equal they all were within the plot, they all needed one another to complete the quest they had set out for. The plot really was one of my favourite aspects. I loved what they were fighting and how they manifested, I thought it was such a great idea and gave some real context as to why the people of Lansera have become like they are. I also liked how the idea of Gods and fate was handled in this book too, although I would have liked more explanation in to the God Wars that was mentioned in the book.
Didn’t like the beginning of the love triangle and I wasn’t a fan of either of the romances that became canon in the end – I’m not a big fan of fate being the defining nature of romances and I just never felt that there was any chemistry between Vesperi and Janto, it was just he had a sexy dream about her and then they were in love? Whereas he and Serra has this long build up friendship and established relationship, I just felt like there didn’t need to be a romance and I really didn’t like that the epilogue chapter, from Serra, was about her getting in Lorne’s pants? Like this whole book has been about friendships and the power of fate and it ends with Serra trying to get her leg over with a man she has just met? No thank you.
Although I’m not usually a fan of fantasy sexism, I saw why it was used in this book because it was, in fact, not seen as the norm by the larger population of the people in this fantasy world and was used by a corrupt religious order to subdue and control his people
So, while I did have little niggles throughout this book it was never even close enough to make me want to stop, I could have lived in this world and with our three main characters and their friends for longer and seen more of their creature killing, ‘I’m taking fate into my own hands’ road trip.
I received my ARC from Rebecca Gomez Farrell, Meerkat Press, and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much.
June 6, 2017
The description of this book was really intriguing. General plot can be found in description of the book; I don't need to hash it out here.
What I found extremely frustrating was the lack of world building, which stood out more in the first half than the second. Taking a bunch of made-up names for creatures and countries without really giving descriptions of them is confusing and frustrating. Especially to have regular things like butter and apricots thrown in. It's sort of like starting to watch Game of Thrones in Season 3 without having seen the first two seasons, but at least there you have visuals to guide you.
It would help a lot if there were a map.
But, on the plus side, once I started to keep the characters straight, it is a good, compelling story, and it did keep me reading to the end. I appreciate the fact it wasn't a cliffhanger ending very much. The ending may have been a little easy, but the characters went through a lot. I really liked that the characters grew as the book progressed. I'm normally not very interested in religion as an agent of change (although it really could be argued that the religion was really a means of better introspection in the grand scheme of ones place in the world). I was genuinely surprised by one of the characters whose role seemed uncertain. I did like Enjoin and the concept of different "planes" of existence.
The thing that really bothered me the most was the lack of world building, but I think by the second half I just paid attention to the characters and didn't let it get to me as much.
Early Reviewers ARC copy from publisher.
What I found extremely frustrating was the lack of world building, which stood out more in the first half than the second. Taking a bunch of made-up names for creatures and countries without really giving descriptions of them is confusing and frustrating. Especially to have regular things like butter and apricots thrown in. It's sort of like starting to watch Game of Thrones in Season 3 without having seen the first two seasons, but at least there you have visuals to guide you.
It would help a lot if there were a map.
But, on the plus side, once I started to keep the characters straight, it is a good, compelling story, and it did keep me reading to the end. I appreciate the fact it wasn't a cliffhanger ending very much. The ending may have been a little easy, but the characters went through a lot. I really liked that the characters grew as the book progressed. I'm normally not very interested in religion as an agent of change (although it really could be argued that the religion was really a means of better introspection in the grand scheme of ones place in the world). I was genuinely surprised by one of the characters whose role seemed uncertain. I did like Enjoin and the concept of different "planes" of existence.
The thing that really bothered me the most was the lack of world building, but I think by the second half I just paid attention to the characters and didn't let it get to me as much.
Early Reviewers ARC copy from publisher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2017
I decided to get a copy of this book by seeing its book cover and reading the description. I found it to be very intriguing and once I was able to remember the characters I really enjoyed the book. I enjoyed how the characters in this book grew. There is a lot that happens to these characters throughout the book but it was certainly a page turner! I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
February 11, 2026
Early Reviewers, this book is available for instant access on NetGalley thru August! https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
January 1, 2019
This is an ambitious epic fantasy from a promising new writer. It combines many classic elements in interesting ways: a prophecy of three chosen ones with special powers that are needed to save the world, political unrest between their peoples, a growing plague of nasty monsters, mysterious religious cults, and a deliciously evil big bad guy.
I enjoyed the various types of magic and magical monsters. One thing that drives me crazy with magic systems is not being able to tell how it works and what its limitations are. Right away we learn that Vesperi needs to channel the moon's power, that she has to move her fingers to do it, and that she needs more practice if she's going to control it. Plus, it just sounded cool. I especially liked how she and Serra had to work together to both see and destroy the evil bugs. And what great monsters those bugs were! I loved the gruesome, terrifying effect the claren had. Eww! Other magic -- like what happens during the Murat, and with the Brothers -- is more mysterious, but what great special effects it produces.
It's clear that there's a ton of world-building behind this story. Some of it really stood out for me and gave me a sense of place, like how people raise their elbows in greeting and as a sign of respect, and how the alvers sew the bones of their enemies into their robes as a sign of status. Other times, there was just too much tossed in there, and it felt more confusing than illuminating. There were so many names of people and political groups and places and plants and animals, and all those sayings about being "as dark/fast/sharp/etc. as [unknown word]"... whew. It was hard to tell which "foreign" words were important ones I should keep track of, and which were just flavor text, and I ended up forgetting most of them and feeling bogged down.
The three main characters have intriguing backgrounds and are thrust into a dangerous situation filled with conflict and high stakes. I was definitely worried for them and rooting for them! That said, I often felt confused about why they did what they did. This didn't ruin the book for me, but it definitely brought it down a star.
Of the three main characters, Vesperi was the most interesting to me, as she changed the most. Serra and Janto (and their whole country) seemed a little too unrealistically goody-good, while almost all the Meduans were portrayed as one-dimensionally evil. That said, the Guj was my favorite character: he was a terrible tyrant, but boy did he get the best lines!
All in all, this was an enjoyable epic fantasy with a rich setting, cool special effects, and interesting twists. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
I enjoyed the various types of magic and magical monsters. One thing that drives me crazy with magic systems is not being able to tell how it works and what its limitations are. Right away we learn that Vesperi needs to channel the moon's power, that she has to move her fingers to do it, and that she needs more practice if she's going to control it. Plus, it just sounded cool. I especially liked how she and Serra had to work together to both see and destroy the evil bugs. And what great monsters those bugs were! I loved the gruesome, terrifying effect the claren had. Eww! Other magic -- like what happens during the Murat, and with the Brothers -- is more mysterious, but what great special effects it produces.
It's clear that there's a ton of world-building behind this story. Some of it really stood out for me and gave me a sense of place, like how people raise their elbows in greeting and as a sign of respect, and how the alvers sew the bones of their enemies into their robes as a sign of status. Other times, there was just too much tossed in there, and it felt more confusing than illuminating. There were so many names of people and political groups and places and plants and animals, and all those sayings about being "as dark/fast/sharp/etc. as [unknown word]"... whew. It was hard to tell which "foreign" words were important ones I should keep track of, and which were just flavor text, and I ended up forgetting most of them and feeling bogged down.
The three main characters have intriguing backgrounds and are thrust into a dangerous situation filled with conflict and high stakes. I was definitely worried for them and rooting for them! That said, I often felt confused about why they did what they did. This didn't ruin the book for me, but it definitely brought it down a star.
Of the three main characters, Vesperi was the most interesting to me, as she changed the most. Serra and Janto (and their whole country) seemed a little too unrealistically goody-good, while almost all the Meduans were portrayed as one-dimensionally evil. That said, the Guj was my favorite character: he was a terrible tyrant, but boy did he get the best lines!
All in all, this was an enjoyable epic fantasy with a rich setting, cool special effects, and interesting twists. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
December 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I've been in a rut of reading books that have such great potential and then fail in some pretty major ways, but this book was refreshing in the fact that it didn't do that to me. It was a solid story, made even better by the fact that it was a debut and as of right now, a stand alone.
One of my absolute favourite things about this book is the fact that it doesn't end on the last page in the middle of a sentence in order to force you to come back for the second installment, which conveniently, is already written and suspiciously reads exactly like it was all once one story that someone decided to just split up. Because, you know, you make more money with squeals and series these days. With that though, I think this story proves that if you don't force it on people, they will actually want the story to continue. I wouldn't mind at all, if one day I see this world get revisited.
Wings Unseen brings with it a unique world and a unique plight. The characters are unique and actually have some commendable development put into them, a king who didn't want to be a king, yet rules with compassion and understanding, a prince that is actively doing what he can to prepare himself to be just as good of a king as his father one day, a gentle lady who discovers in herself a desire to be more than what she once thought she would be, and my favoutire: A prickly, mistrusting, violent, and difficult woman, who also happens to be born on the enemy side of the mountains from everyone else in the list above.
I don't want to go into the characters of every cast member in this book, but I feel the need when it comes to Vesperi. If you never make it past the first two chapters of this book then you wouldn't understand why I would call this woman my favourite character. Or maybe you would just rule my opinion out as idiotic and just blatantly wrong. But if you make it past the first two chapters then you can see how she develops, and that's probably the best part of the story, and I think, one of the main ideas behind the book. I read one review that just summed Vesperi up as a murderer and kind of left it at that. What they left out is the world that built her to be what she is.
Medua is its own land now, broken away from the rest of Lansera a few generations back. They are similar to Lansera in the idea that they too have a ruler, (though only really in name), priests, and a God. However in this realm the priests actually control everything, and they do it through manipulation, gruesome murder, and fear. There is also a little magic thrown in, but that only adds to the intimidation. Under their leader: the Guj, everyone in Medua is taught to either live in, or rule by, fear. Women only exist as play things to be "taken" at any mans will, and then expected to slip off without complaint to the kitchen, convent, or exile when the man is through with them. If they don't then they are beaten, further raped, and sometimes killed. Some, like Vesperi are born into a "noble" house. This is the only level of society where the reader will see women titled "wife" or "daughter". And yet, those titles mean very little. The wife is nothing more than the means to a legitimate male heir. She is still subject to being beaten, and raped at will. She is just also expected to be grateful that its one man doing the raping and beating, as appose to any random man from the town coming in to do the same.
Vesperi is the product of this environment. She is violent in thought, (and sometimes action) because that is how she has survived without becoming like the broken women that live in the town, or like her broken mother that lives and slaves in the manor kitchen. Shes learned that its not rape if she seduces them first, and if she learns to read them just right they are less likely to swing a fist in her direction. There is actually a place in the book where Vesperi has to consider which male guard she is faced with because some are more likely to beat her more freely than others. The only person in her small world that she wants approval or even just acceptance from is her father. When she finally has to face the fact that he would exile her without a second thought, she runs. This is what throws her into the journey she finds herself on for the rest of the book. This woman, who was broken in her own way, learns to care about other people. Genuinely care. She not only learns to care about people she knows personally, but she cares about people in general. She learns what its like to be safe in the company of other people, especially a man, for the first time in her life. Her character development is huge considering where she starts and where she is by books end.
If I were to fault this book, it would be on one thing. It feels too much like the foundation to a story. It is so good at getting in the minds of the main characters, and even though some of them aren't as interesting as others, I feel that a good effort is made in this regard. However, there is so much examination of the characters and the dynamics of the group that there isn't much story outside that. For a story that brags of a mysterious enemy that this trio and their friends must defeat, its only really in the last few chapters that this side of the story starts to get interesting. In the end, I felt like the whole book could just have been the set up for the real adventure coming.
Overall though, it is a lovely read. The writing is clean and not convoluted. The characters are dimensional and, for the most part, complex, and the world they live in is explained in some depth. I was happy with what I got out of it, and I would come back if a sequel was every presented.
One of my absolute favourite things about this book is the fact that it doesn't end on the last page in the middle of a sentence in order to force you to come back for the second installment, which conveniently, is already written and suspiciously reads exactly like it was all once one story that someone decided to just split up. Because, you know, you make more money with squeals and series these days. With that though, I think this story proves that if you don't force it on people, they will actually want the story to continue. I wouldn't mind at all, if one day I see this world get revisited.
Wings Unseen brings with it a unique world and a unique plight. The characters are unique and actually have some commendable development put into them, a king who didn't want to be a king, yet rules with compassion and understanding, a prince that is actively doing what he can to prepare himself to be just as good of a king as his father one day, a gentle lady who discovers in herself a desire to be more than what she once thought she would be, and my favoutire: A prickly, mistrusting, violent, and difficult woman, who also happens to be born on the enemy side of the mountains from everyone else in the list above.
I don't want to go into the characters of every cast member in this book, but I feel the need when it comes to Vesperi. If you never make it past the first two chapters of this book then you wouldn't understand why I would call this woman my favourite character. Or maybe you would just rule my opinion out as idiotic and just blatantly wrong. But if you make it past the first two chapters then you can see how she develops, and that's probably the best part of the story, and I think, one of the main ideas behind the book. I read one review that just summed Vesperi up as a murderer and kind of left it at that. What they left out is the world that built her to be what she is.
Medua is its own land now, broken away from the rest of Lansera a few generations back. They are similar to Lansera in the idea that they too have a ruler, (though only really in name), priests, and a God. However in this realm the priests actually control everything, and they do it through manipulation, gruesome murder, and fear. There is also a little magic thrown in, but that only adds to the intimidation. Under their leader: the Guj, everyone in Medua is taught to either live in, or rule by, fear. Women only exist as play things to be "taken" at any mans will, and then expected to slip off without complaint to the kitchen, convent, or exile when the man is through with them. If they don't then they are beaten, further raped, and sometimes killed. Some, like Vesperi are born into a "noble" house. This is the only level of society where the reader will see women titled "wife" or "daughter". And yet, those titles mean very little. The wife is nothing more than the means to a legitimate male heir. She is still subject to being beaten, and raped at will. She is just also expected to be grateful that its one man doing the raping and beating, as appose to any random man from the town coming in to do the same.
Vesperi is the product of this environment. She is violent in thought, (and sometimes action) because that is how she has survived without becoming like the broken women that live in the town, or like her broken mother that lives and slaves in the manor kitchen. Shes learned that its not rape if she seduces them first, and if she learns to read them just right they are less likely to swing a fist in her direction. There is actually a place in the book where Vesperi has to consider which male guard she is faced with because some are more likely to beat her more freely than others. The only person in her small world that she wants approval or even just acceptance from is her father. When she finally has to face the fact that he would exile her without a second thought, she runs. This is what throws her into the journey she finds herself on for the rest of the book. This woman, who was broken in her own way, learns to care about other people. Genuinely care. She not only learns to care about people she knows personally, but she cares about people in general. She learns what its like to be safe in the company of other people, especially a man, for the first time in her life. Her character development is huge considering where she starts and where she is by books end.
If I were to fault this book, it would be on one thing. It feels too much like the foundation to a story. It is so good at getting in the minds of the main characters, and even though some of them aren't as interesting as others, I feel that a good effort is made in this regard. However, there is so much examination of the characters and the dynamics of the group that there isn't much story outside that. For a story that brags of a mysterious enemy that this trio and their friends must defeat, its only really in the last few chapters that this side of the story starts to get interesting. In the end, I felt like the whole book could just have been the set up for the real adventure coming.
Overall though, it is a lovely read. The writing is clean and not convoluted. The characters are dimensional and, for the most part, complex, and the world they live in is explained in some depth. I was happy with what I got out of it, and I would come back if a sequel was every presented.
August 21, 2017
Before I start: a huge thank you to Netgalley for providing me this digital ARC!! I am so grateful for the opportunity to be one of the first people to read a book!!!
Sooooo I HATE negative reviews. I hate writing them, even if I do find reading them interesting.
CAN I JUST HIDE BEHIND THAT ROCK INSTEAD OF TELLING THIS AUTHOR ALL THE WAYS THEIR BOOK DID NOT AGREE WITH ME.
KAY BYE.
Um so first of all: the good!!
THAT COVER MAN. Look how pretty and alluring it is. It gives me the feeling of a dark, stabby book and I like me some stabby books that are dark.*
*What else is new.
So poor, unsuspecting me decided to ask for it on Netgalley and YYAY I was so excited to get approved.
Then I started reading.
Since it's an e-ARC, I can show you some of my notes when I first started reading, before I gave up entirely. Be warned that I spent most of this book WTF-ing.
"The writing is bugging me..."
"Too many namessssss"
"Her power has zero explanation or precedence (GENETIC???? OF LEGEND??? WHERE EVEN DID IT COME FROM?!?!?) and seems ridiculous to me"
"I hate that she's calling men who beat women 'real men'"
TRUST ME THERE'S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM. I stopped trying at like 25% because NO but even in that first quarter there are straight up like 30 notes. All about things that bug me.
Thing that bugged me most: The writing. It's trying too hard, and it's all too 'posh'. Like everyone is trying so hard to speak proper and even the commoners are like "Dear me, I cannot fathom that you have so many feathers adorning your cloak, here, let me fetch a pail of water to wash them away"
Okay, that didn't happen but that's pretty much what the writing felt like to me the entire time.
Second most: The world is SO FREAKING SEXIST. I can deal with sexist worlds. But seriously, if I wake up in the middle of the night and there's a man in my bed and I think I'm about to get raped, I am NOT going to start seducing him???!?!??!!??!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?!??!!??!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
W.
T.
F.
I cannot with this. I just cannot.
I felt like there was an entire lack of plot, for way too long and the worldbuilding felt forced and flat and I was just so disappointed and I didn't care about the characters really at all. Vesperi was devoid of feelings and basically all the time she was just having this inner monologue of 'oh if he tries to rape me I'll just seduce him' and 'I must become the heir to my father's house' and Serra just seamed really weak to me. Like. Rubber flailing around weeping and moping and being so very dainty. The only one I liked even a little bit was Janto, but he would see something totally bizarre and out of the ordinary, and once he literally yawned.
W.
T.
F.
Okay so this wasn't as mini as I was intending it to be. But I was just so rubbed the wrong way by this and I hate writing negative reviews but I also feel like I should be able to be honest and share my true feelings about a book. In any other case I probably would have DNF'd at about 20%, but I hate DNFing ARCs so here we are.
Sooooo I HATE negative reviews. I hate writing them, even if I do find reading them interesting.
CAN I JUST HIDE BEHIND THAT ROCK INSTEAD OF TELLING THIS AUTHOR ALL THE WAYS THEIR BOOK DID NOT AGREE WITH ME.
KAY BYE.
Um so first of all: the good!!
THAT COVER MAN. Look how pretty and alluring it is. It gives me the feeling of a dark, stabby book and I like me some stabby books that are dark.*
*What else is new.
So poor, unsuspecting me decided to ask for it on Netgalley and YYAY I was so excited to get approved.
Then I started reading.
Since it's an e-ARC, I can show you some of my notes when I first started reading, before I gave up entirely. Be warned that I spent most of this book WTF-ing.
"The writing is bugging me..."
"Too many namessssss"
"Her power has zero explanation or precedence (GENETIC???? OF LEGEND??? WHERE EVEN DID IT COME FROM?!?!?) and seems ridiculous to me"
"I hate that she's calling men who beat women 'real men'"
TRUST ME THERE'S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM. I stopped trying at like 25% because NO but even in that first quarter there are straight up like 30 notes. All about things that bug me.
Thing that bugged me most: The writing. It's trying too hard, and it's all too 'posh'. Like everyone is trying so hard to speak proper and even the commoners are like "Dear me, I cannot fathom that you have so many feathers adorning your cloak, here, let me fetch a pail of water to wash them away"
Okay, that didn't happen but that's pretty much what the writing felt like to me the entire time.
Second most: The world is SO FREAKING SEXIST. I can deal with sexist worlds. But seriously, if I wake up in the middle of the night and there's a man in my bed and I think I'm about to get raped, I am NOT going to start seducing him???!?!??!!??!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?!??!!??!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
W.
T.
F.
I cannot with this. I just cannot.
I felt like there was an entire lack of plot, for way too long and the worldbuilding felt forced and flat and I was just so disappointed and I didn't care about the characters really at all. Vesperi was devoid of feelings and basically all the time she was just having this inner monologue of 'oh if he tries to rape me I'll just seduce him' and 'I must become the heir to my father's house' and Serra just seamed really weak to me. Like. Rubber flailing around weeping and moping and being so very dainty. The only one I liked even a little bit was Janto, but he would see something totally bizarre and out of the ordinary, and once he literally yawned.
W.
T.
F.
Okay so this wasn't as mini as I was intending it to be. But I was just so rubbed the wrong way by this and I hate writing negative reviews but I also feel like I should be able to be honest and share my true feelings about a book. In any other case I probably would have DNF'd at about 20%, but I hate DNFing ARCs so here we are.
September 9, 2017
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
DNF
I'm not going to lie I really didn't try that hard with this book. But if a book can't even remotely grab me within the first few chapters then it's just not going to happen.
The first chapter was kind of interesting but nothing really attention grabbing. I was basically skimming and that's not a good sign.
Even the attempts at building suspense, making the reader question what is happening failed with me. I didn't really care what Serra's brother did to make him a traitor.
Chapter two the POV was kind of confusing and it wasn't until the end of the chapter that it was clear who's POV the chapter was being written from, yes it says who under the chapter number but a reader should be able to know who's POV it is without that.
Maybe it's my own fault for requesting this arc before I knew more. I mean it's definitely partly at fault at least, but I don't fancy wasting too much time on a book I'm not really interested in.
DNF
I'm not going to lie I really didn't try that hard with this book. But if a book can't even remotely grab me within the first few chapters then it's just not going to happen.
The first chapter was kind of interesting but nothing really attention grabbing. I was basically skimming and that's not a good sign.
Even the attempts at building suspense, making the reader question what is happening failed with me. I didn't really care what Serra's brother did to make him a traitor.
Chapter two the POV was kind of confusing and it wasn't until the end of the chapter that it was clear who's POV the chapter was being written from, yes it says who under the chapter number but a reader should be able to know who's POV it is without that.
Maybe it's my own fault for requesting this arc before I knew more. I mean it's definitely partly at fault at least, but I don't fancy wasting too much time on a book I'm not really interested in.
February 12, 2018
I give the book 4.5/5 wasps.
I got this from Netgalley. I read this about two days before Christmas and only got the time today to write a review. It's been a long time coming. I'm still busier than a bee, which I am so thankful for.
Wings Unseen is a story of three people who are next in line. A prince who is about to inherit the throne. A princess who is to be married to the crown prince. And a daughter of a rich nobleman who have the power of the flame. The first born but was denied being an heir. These three people will cross paths and share a common destiny. Each will discover his/her own strength and would help beat the evil that is wreaking havoc all over the land. A trio of headstrong characters. And in this story, they will discover what they were meant to be. They will find their purpose.
This story is set in a kingdom that has been divided. Lanserim and Medua. Medua is a quarter of Lanserim that was given up where all the greedy and the bad people were exiled to have peace in Lanserim. Prince Janto and her bride-to-be Serra, must go their separate ways before their wedding to learn more of their individual selves. Janto will have to train and pass a test. Serra will need to discover her gift. Vesperi, the girl from Medua will find her place elsewhere. Since her father deemed her unfit to be his heir, then she'd rather be someplace else.
At first, I wasn't sure if I should hate Vesperi or not. At the onset, she seemed to be a misguided person, just like all the other Meduans were. Meduans are greedy and selfish by nature, so it was to be expected that Vesperi is exactly one. She had her own share of misdeeds. She had used her gift of the flame to cause harm but was smart enough to cover her tracks. So, it was a relief to find that she was different from the rest. She proved that she was not like any Meduan. Yes, her speech and her manners are rough and needed a lot of finesse. That would take time to change and soften. But to her surprise also, she liked being this different version of herself. The better version. It wasn't that bad at all. She could actually get used to it. Being good actually felt nice.
Janto, the crown prince. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to rule the kingdom. He wants to do something else. He wished his path was not already carved out for him. He wished he could refuse but there's no one else to inherit the throne, so he has to step up.
This contained a lot of unexpected turns and surprises. The three main characters themselves were often recipients of these unlikely turn of events. The good thing is, these three have proven they are more than what their inheritance were. Janto, was not just a prince, he proved his worth that he can hold his own and he is ready to rule the kingdom. Serra, of the three, I think she had most tragic and heartbreaking experiences. Too much is asked of her in this story. She was asked to accept a lot of things that were just too painful. She asked to forgive which was probably the most difficult thing. In the end, she learned to accept her role and the lot given to her. It wasn't that bad at all. And lastly, Vesperi. She probably had the most amazing transformation of all. I think she made this story very interesting. I admit Janto and Serra's adventures, if we were to call them were interesting in their own. But adding Vesperi to the mix made it even more fascinating. Vesperi is the odd one out here. And how she wormed her way to become part of the trio with Janto and Serra, is the most intriguing part of this story.
This is a well-written tale of adventure, of coming of age and of finding one's self. These three people gave up their personal needs and agendas to help save the kingdom. Vesperi proved all people wrong. Her inner goodness came to the forefront and she can't help but embrace it and forget all together that she's a Meduan who by nature should only think of herself and for herself. I can't wait for the next book. The ending hinted of one.
My favorite part of the story was when Janto joined the Murat. It was a fascinating adventure. I think their adventures and challenges in the Murat could make another story altogether. The enchanted island and the magical creatures living there are enchanting. And to top it all, having a group of boys of different personalities out to prove himself better than the other is very entertaining. In a way, it was like a pissing contest. They first entered the island as boys and they came out as men, ready to be take on the role they were meant to play. Ready to take on the world.
I give the book 4.5/5 wasps. The story is full of twists and turns. Right at the onset I know that Vesperi will be important, I just didn't realize how important she was. Her role started as someone you were likely to hate but as the story unfolds, there was so much more to it. And Serra, I think my heart goes out to her. Yet, she stood tall and took everything in strides and with grace. Her character is probably the most admirable of all. At first, she seemed liked a decorative character. Just put in there for her beauty. Like she was told to jus sit there and look beautiful and do nothing else. But it wasn't. Of the three, I think she took more than her share of the weight that they were to bear. Plus her own personal struggles, doubts and insecurities. In the end, she came out more graceful and beautiful and even powerful. So, cheers to these two strong women in this story. They are two very different people yet they found a common ground to work together and became very formidable together. I can't wait for the next book. Will they eventually vanquished the evil that is destroying the kingdom and will they be able to unite Lanserim and Medua as one again?
I am so tired of being led like a child with a blindfold over my eyes, grasping at feathers I cannot see.
- Rebecca Gomez Farrell, Wings Unseen -
Thank you again, Netgalley for the copy.
I got this from Netgalley. I read this about two days before Christmas and only got the time today to write a review. It's been a long time coming. I'm still busier than a bee, which I am so thankful for.
Wings Unseen is a story of three people who are next in line. A prince who is about to inherit the throne. A princess who is to be married to the crown prince. And a daughter of a rich nobleman who have the power of the flame. The first born but was denied being an heir. These three people will cross paths and share a common destiny. Each will discover his/her own strength and would help beat the evil that is wreaking havoc all over the land. A trio of headstrong characters. And in this story, they will discover what they were meant to be. They will find their purpose.
This story is set in a kingdom that has been divided. Lanserim and Medua. Medua is a quarter of Lanserim that was given up where all the greedy and the bad people were exiled to have peace in Lanserim. Prince Janto and her bride-to-be Serra, must go their separate ways before their wedding to learn more of their individual selves. Janto will have to train and pass a test. Serra will need to discover her gift. Vesperi, the girl from Medua will find her place elsewhere. Since her father deemed her unfit to be his heir, then she'd rather be someplace else.
At first, I wasn't sure if I should hate Vesperi or not. At the onset, she seemed to be a misguided person, just like all the other Meduans were. Meduans are greedy and selfish by nature, so it was to be expected that Vesperi is exactly one. She had her own share of misdeeds. She had used her gift of the flame to cause harm but was smart enough to cover her tracks. So, it was a relief to find that she was different from the rest. She proved that she was not like any Meduan. Yes, her speech and her manners are rough and needed a lot of finesse. That would take time to change and soften. But to her surprise also, she liked being this different version of herself. The better version. It wasn't that bad at all. She could actually get used to it. Being good actually felt nice.
Janto, the crown prince. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to rule the kingdom. He wants to do something else. He wished his path was not already carved out for him. He wished he could refuse but there's no one else to inherit the throne, so he has to step up.
This contained a lot of unexpected turns and surprises. The three main characters themselves were often recipients of these unlikely turn of events. The good thing is, these three have proven they are more than what their inheritance were. Janto, was not just a prince, he proved his worth that he can hold his own and he is ready to rule the kingdom. Serra, of the three, I think she had most tragic and heartbreaking experiences. Too much is asked of her in this story. She was asked to accept a lot of things that were just too painful. She asked to forgive which was probably the most difficult thing. In the end, she learned to accept her role and the lot given to her. It wasn't that bad at all. And lastly, Vesperi. She probably had the most amazing transformation of all. I think she made this story very interesting. I admit Janto and Serra's adventures, if we were to call them were interesting in their own. But adding Vesperi to the mix made it even more fascinating. Vesperi is the odd one out here. And how she wormed her way to become part of the trio with Janto and Serra, is the most intriguing part of this story.
This is a well-written tale of adventure, of coming of age and of finding one's self. These three people gave up their personal needs and agendas to help save the kingdom. Vesperi proved all people wrong. Her inner goodness came to the forefront and she can't help but embrace it and forget all together that she's a Meduan who by nature should only think of herself and for herself. I can't wait for the next book. The ending hinted of one.
My favorite part of the story was when Janto joined the Murat. It was a fascinating adventure. I think their adventures and challenges in the Murat could make another story altogether. The enchanted island and the magical creatures living there are enchanting. And to top it all, having a group of boys of different personalities out to prove himself better than the other is very entertaining. In a way, it was like a pissing contest. They first entered the island as boys and they came out as men, ready to be take on the role they were meant to play. Ready to take on the world.
I give the book 4.5/5 wasps. The story is full of twists and turns. Right at the onset I know that Vesperi will be important, I just didn't realize how important she was. Her role started as someone you were likely to hate but as the story unfolds, there was so much more to it. And Serra, I think my heart goes out to her. Yet, she stood tall and took everything in strides and with grace. Her character is probably the most admirable of all. At first, she seemed liked a decorative character. Just put in there for her beauty. Like she was told to jus sit there and look beautiful and do nothing else. But it wasn't. Of the three, I think she took more than her share of the weight that they were to bear. Plus her own personal struggles, doubts and insecurities. In the end, she came out more graceful and beautiful and even powerful. So, cheers to these two strong women in this story. They are two very different people yet they found a common ground to work together and became very formidable together. I can't wait for the next book. Will they eventually vanquished the evil that is destroying the kingdom and will they be able to unite Lanserim and Medua as one again?
I am so tired of being led like a child with a blindfold over my eyes, grasping at feathers I cannot see.
- Rebecca Gomez Farrell, Wings Unseen -
Thank you again, Netgalley for the copy.
July 4, 2017
This author's exceptional first full length novel boasts epic world building, strong character development, brilliantly complicated plot twists, and rich political commentary about environmental factors influencing people at their human core.
August 10, 2017
Rebecca Gomez Farrell takes us into an imaginative world in Wings Unseen, full of mysticism and adventure, and featuring characters we can follow along the journey. Though aimed at young adult readers, this book (like many YA novels) would have appeal for older readers, as well. This is, of course, one of the beauties of the YA genre.
I would place this book on the shelf next to Anne Aguirre, Veronica Roth, Christopher Paolini, and Ally Condie. Being a former middle grades English teacher, Wings Unseen would have been on my recommendation list and if any of those former students come knocking, I would not hesitate to tell them about Wings Unseen.
What the author does best, from my reading, is bring this book to a swelling apex, and then leave us with just enough to ensure that there can be another entry. This hint at future events does not detract from the book itself in the way that some other titles do. Farrell also proves more than capable of inventing her own place for us to visit and writes in adeptly about these this new place in the way that accomplished science fiction writers can.
If you are looking for something in the avenue of fantasy and young adult literature, with an insatiable readability, I would suggest this book for you.
My review was based on an advance copy.
I would place this book on the shelf next to Anne Aguirre, Veronica Roth, Christopher Paolini, and Ally Condie. Being a former middle grades English teacher, Wings Unseen would have been on my recommendation list and if any of those former students come knocking, I would not hesitate to tell them about Wings Unseen.
What the author does best, from my reading, is bring this book to a swelling apex, and then leave us with just enough to ensure that there can be another entry. This hint at future events does not detract from the book itself in the way that some other titles do. Farrell also proves more than capable of inventing her own place for us to visit and writes in adeptly about these this new place in the way that accomplished science fiction writers can.
If you are looking for something in the avenue of fantasy and young adult literature, with an insatiable readability, I would suggest this book for you.
My review was based on an advance copy.
October 8, 2017
** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**
This was an enjoyable read, but didn't really grab me the way some other YA fantasy I've read lately has. It took a while to get into the story, then moved along ok.
I think this is intended to be a standalone, rather than series, and I felt like the ending wrapped everything up in a satisfying enough way. i'd recommend it for someone looking for a YA fantasy hit without needing to commit to several book in a series.
I'd give this 2.5 stars
This was an enjoyable read, but didn't really grab me the way some other YA fantasy I've read lately has. It took a while to get into the story, then moved along ok.
I think this is intended to be a standalone, rather than series, and I felt like the ending wrapped everything up in a satisfying enough way. i'd recommend it for someone looking for a YA fantasy hit without needing to commit to several book in a series.
I'd give this 2.5 stars
July 20, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wings Unseen drew me in with an interesting blurb and attractive cover (I'm all about the cover love). Warring nations, magic and the promise of some badass characters is a sure fire win for me. But unfortunately I don't think the story quite matched up to the blurb. The first few chapters were really confusing, and I couldn't keep track of all the characters and their names. I think this was down in part because of the chopping between so many characters for each chapter. If we'd stayed with one character for more than one chapter I probably wouldn't have felt so disorientated at the beginning.
I enjoyed the magic, but felt the world building was a bit lacking and again confusing. There was little description describing the politics of the lands and about the different cultures/races. I wanted to know more about the people populating these lands.
Vesperi was my favourite character, but even she came across as a little bit more sullen and bad tempered than badass.
All together, a good concept that falls flat a little in execution.
Wings Unseen drew me in with an interesting blurb and attractive cover (I'm all about the cover love). Warring nations, magic and the promise of some badass characters is a sure fire win for me. But unfortunately I don't think the story quite matched up to the blurb. The first few chapters were really confusing, and I couldn't keep track of all the characters and their names. I think this was down in part because of the chopping between so many characters for each chapter. If we'd stayed with one character for more than one chapter I probably wouldn't have felt so disorientated at the beginning.
I enjoyed the magic, but felt the world building was a bit lacking and again confusing. There was little description describing the politics of the lands and about the different cultures/races. I wanted to know more about the people populating these lands.
Vesperi was my favourite character, but even she came across as a little bit more sullen and bad tempered than badass.
All together, a good concept that falls flat a little in execution.
August 26, 2017
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
In the end, I loved this book and give it high marks. It is very creative and the story was fresh and new. The characters were believable and likeable. It is an epic 'good versus evil' story and would be interesting for both young and adult readers. I would buy this book again. It is in the genre of "The Hunger Games" or "The Maze Runner" or the "Legend" series. But new and different. Anyone who enjoyed those series will really enjoy this book!
My one criticism of the book was that the story did not flow as well in the beginning of the book. I found that the author's idiom of naming every animal and plant a new and exotic name detracted from the book. Once the body of the story started, I no longer had problems with this.
It was a great read and I look forward to reading new books by the author!
In the end, I loved this book and give it high marks. It is very creative and the story was fresh and new. The characters were believable and likeable. It is an epic 'good versus evil' story and would be interesting for both young and adult readers. I would buy this book again. It is in the genre of "The Hunger Games" or "The Maze Runner" or the "Legend" series. But new and different. Anyone who enjoyed those series will really enjoy this book!
My one criticism of the book was that the story did not flow as well in the beginning of the book. I found that the author's idiom of naming every animal and plant a new and exotic name detracted from the book. Once the body of the story started, I no longer had problems with this.
It was a great read and I look forward to reading new books by the author!
July 8, 2017
Free copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a couple of reads to get into the start of the book but once I did the story flowed. I enjoyed the writing of this epic fantasy and the characters, I did find some parts of the book more not YA more new adult but on the whole a fantastic book.
It took me a couple of reads to get into the start of the book but once I did the story flowed. I enjoyed the writing of this epic fantasy and the characters, I did find some parts of the book more not YA more new adult but on the whole a fantastic book.
June 17, 2017
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I believe this is intended for a YA audience and they may have enjoyed certain parts of this book more than I did. There were large parts of this book that I liked and some interesting ideas, like how magic and faith worked in the two different societies. However, there were times when the audience was left to interpret information without enough context. In most Fantasy or Sci Fi books I expect to have to fill in some of the edges for myself, but here the world felt a little thin in places. The character development also felt a little inconsistent at times. I understand that the characters were all developing as people, but there was some pretty abrupt shifts that didn't always feel earned. Not everyone really got the redemption they needed for me to "like" them as the story progressed.
Overall, it is an interesting story and has a specific voice. I can see where this story could easily continue in another installment and I would certainly read that book as well. My only hope at that point would be that we get some more specifics for the world itself.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I believe this is intended for a YA audience and they may have enjoyed certain parts of this book more than I did. There were large parts of this book that I liked and some interesting ideas, like how magic and faith worked in the two different societies. However, there were times when the audience was left to interpret information without enough context. In most Fantasy or Sci Fi books I expect to have to fill in some of the edges for myself, but here the world felt a little thin in places. The character development also felt a little inconsistent at times. I understand that the characters were all developing as people, but there was some pretty abrupt shifts that didn't always feel earned. Not everyone really got the redemption they needed for me to "like" them as the story progressed.
Overall, it is an interesting story and has a specific voice. I can see where this story could easily continue in another installment and I would certainly read that book as well. My only hope at that point would be that we get some more specifics for the world itself.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
October 4, 2017
I was asked to review this by Meercat press.com.
This is a YA fantasy book. I was intrigued by the cover of the book - mystifying.
An area which has been in the throws of war for a long time- fans of Tolkien will enjoy this - there is magic, mystery, creatures and fantasy thrown into the mix.
Some reviews have stated this is a difficult book to get into, or they did not like the characters . I enjoyed both as with all fantasy books, the reader needs to shut themselves off from real life and enjoy the story and the writing.
There are three main characters to this story -Janto a prince, Janto finance Serra - trying to face her past and demons within her, and Vesperi -who is a challenging character both dangerous but brave too.
It is moralistic with good versus evil. Definitely a quest and adventure with some humour thrown into the mix.
If you enjoy the television series Game of Thrones - you will enjoy this.
September 2, 2017
DNF! It was so slow and didn't gather any pace. It just wasn't the book for me :(.
November 18, 2017
The Meduans and Lanserim have maintained an uneasy truce for two generations. As Janto sets out for his Murat, Serra accepts an invitation to study with the religious Brotherhood. What she finds instead is a horror that threatens both countries. To defeat it, Janto and Serra must learn to work together with the only person who possesses the magic that can: Vesperi, whom no one knows murdered Serra's brother. An ultimate rejection plunges Vesperi forward toward their shared destiny, with the powerful Guj on her heels and the menacing beating of unseen wings all about.
We follow the main three characters in POV chapters which helps develop each of them throughout the book. Although these characters grew, evolved and turned out to be better people by the end of the book, the other characters in the book didn't receive the same fate. For example the other men at Janto's Murat were interchangeable in my head. As the main characters were developed so much it flaunted this shortfall.
Although Gomez has worked hard on world building, and the lands sound wonderful when reading, I felt there was too many new names. There were new kingdoms, animals and plants with little to no explanation for some. This made it quite difficult to read because how can I imagine a new animal when I only have its name? I did however enjoy the religion and faith that was created. This was really well thought out and explained on the page.
The prophecy and the focus on individual choices was a really important aspect in the book. Each character had to make the choice to save themselves and those around them and then work hard to achieve it. The Claren were a product of the bad choices of humans within the story which makes it full circle to the good choices of our protagonists.
But I did question how overpowered Vesperi and co were with her magic. I know she has the powers to stop the Claven but there's a lack of push back from there which makes it seem almost too easy. I felt like we were rushing to the end of the plot, had a bit of a problem there but otherwise they could defeat anything.
I received Wings Unseen* by Rebecca Gomez Farrell from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
We follow the main three characters in POV chapters which helps develop each of them throughout the book. Although these characters grew, evolved and turned out to be better people by the end of the book, the other characters in the book didn't receive the same fate. For example the other men at Janto's Murat were interchangeable in my head. As the main characters were developed so much it flaunted this shortfall.
Although Gomez has worked hard on world building, and the lands sound wonderful when reading, I felt there was too many new names. There were new kingdoms, animals and plants with little to no explanation for some. This made it quite difficult to read because how can I imagine a new animal when I only have its name? I did however enjoy the religion and faith that was created. This was really well thought out and explained on the page.
The prophecy and the focus on individual choices was a really important aspect in the book. Each character had to make the choice to save themselves and those around them and then work hard to achieve it. The Claren were a product of the bad choices of humans within the story which makes it full circle to the good choices of our protagonists.
But I did question how overpowered Vesperi and co were with her magic. I know she has the powers to stop the Claven but there's a lack of push back from there which makes it seem almost too easy. I felt like we were rushing to the end of the plot, had a bit of a problem there but otherwise they could defeat anything.
I received Wings Unseen* by Rebecca Gomez Farrell from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
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