What do you think?
Rate this book
Abandoned Crown #1
Inhibited
“The Darkness Is Coming.”
All her life Christa has hidden her powers from the world.
Blending into a human city has kept her family safe so far, but she fears their luck is running out.
The man ruling the regions built his kingdom and his reputation on the annihilation of Christa’s people… And now he’s heading to her sanctuary.
Mind and body shattered by the sadistic General’s unceasing torture, Alice longs for freedom. Helped by a man of uncertain loyalties, Alice escapes and seeks shelter under Christa’s roof, but trouble follows her. Christa knows if she gives Alice safety under her roof, The General will be close behind.
With her visions and powers flaring, Christa’s options are few: turn away the only person to survive The General, or reveal herself and reignite a war long dead?
All her life Christa has hidden her powers from the world.
Blending into a human city has kept her family safe so far, but she fears their luck is running out.
The man ruling the regions built his kingdom and his reputation on the annihilation of Christa’s people… And now he’s heading to her sanctuary.
Mind and body shattered by the sadistic General’s unceasing torture, Alice longs for freedom. Helped by a man of uncertain loyalties, Alice escapes and seeks shelter under Christa’s roof, but trouble follows her. Christa knows if she gives Alice safety under her roof, The General will be close behind.
With her visions and powers flaring, Christa’s options are few: turn away the only person to survive The General, or reveal herself and reignite a war long dead?
- GenresFantasy
522 pages, ebook
Published April 5, 2017
18 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 14, 2017
This is my first encounter with this storyteller and I must tell you that the complexity of the story, the unexpected and thrilling plotline, the backstory (intricately woven and not just given, but shown in pain, sorrow, and tragedy), the depth of the characters, it had me from page one. The magic, the powers, the dystopian-style world that Cerryn has created is awe-inspiring. The fantasy, suspense and mystery in this novel are not common and are something I have never seen before. The tragic story of this young woman named Alice breaks my heart and her losses were felt by me very strongly. I can't imagine going through a life such as hers, full of people who may or may not be trustworthy. Surprises and a killer ending. Bring it on. Book TWO??? Oh, and if you love a variety of points of view, this is right up your alley!
December 26, 2023
“The Darkness Is Coming”
Her whole life Christa has had to keep her powers hidden from everyone, including her family. Blending in and living in a human city has kept her and her family safe so far, but Christa knows that eventually all good things come to an end. The man who rules the regions known as The General, has built his name and his kingdom on the torture and annihilation of people just like Christa, and now he is headed for the place she and her family call home.
Alice has long suffered at the hands of the General. He has sought to break her mind, body, and spirit by means of sadistic and unending forms of torture. All she wants is her freedom. Aided by a man whose loyalties still remain in question, Alice finds her way to Christa’s home where she seeks shelter. Christa knows that if she harbors Alice for too long, she will lead The General right to her doorstep.
With the arrival of these two strangers, Christa’s powers and her visions of the past and future begin running wild. Time is running out and she only has two options: does she turn away the only person who has ever survived The General’s wrath, or does she let her stay and reveal who she really is is and reignite a long dead war?
I will admit, that when I first started this book, I found some parts a bit hard to follow and I was getting confused as to who the characters were and if we were in the present or the past. But that changed quickly when I realized what was going on and when the twists started coming! There was a lot of detail and description to make sure that the reader could grasp the workings of this particular fantasy world and the relationship the characters all had with one another.
This is a dark fantasy book, there is a lot of magic and each realm or territory inside the kingdom is known for a specific item and holds the monopoly and trades with said item….things like ice and coal. There are different types of Araids which are like different types of witches or fae, they all have magic, but each type has a different aspect or speciality they are known for. The General does not like the Araid, and he thinks that he has wiped them all from existence, they are just in hiding pretending to be normal people, unless they have the unfortunate luck to run into any of The General’s Raks, basically like his evil henchmen who do most of the dirty work for him.
Both of our main characters have previously and continue to suffer unimaginable losses and trauma and heartbreak at the hands of The General. And while they both sometimes let it momentarily get the best of them, they ultimately persevere and hold their heads high and continue to fight on.
Ultimately, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thrilling fantasy story with twists, and great world building and story-telling, and strong character leads. If dark stories are not your thing, I would urge you to check out potential trigger warnings, because this book had several themes that might not sit well with everyone: sexual assault, miscarriages, torture, some graphic violence. If you are fine with those things, I urge you to check out this book, while I check out the rest of the series and see what will happen to the characters from book 1.
Her whole life Christa has had to keep her powers hidden from everyone, including her family. Blending in and living in a human city has kept her and her family safe so far, but Christa knows that eventually all good things come to an end. The man who rules the regions known as The General, has built his name and his kingdom on the torture and annihilation of people just like Christa, and now he is headed for the place she and her family call home.
Alice has long suffered at the hands of the General. He has sought to break her mind, body, and spirit by means of sadistic and unending forms of torture. All she wants is her freedom. Aided by a man whose loyalties still remain in question, Alice finds her way to Christa’s home where she seeks shelter. Christa knows that if she harbors Alice for too long, she will lead The General right to her doorstep.
With the arrival of these two strangers, Christa’s powers and her visions of the past and future begin running wild. Time is running out and she only has two options: does she turn away the only person who has ever survived The General’s wrath, or does she let her stay and reveal who she really is is and reignite a long dead war?
I will admit, that when I first started this book, I found some parts a bit hard to follow and I was getting confused as to who the characters were and if we were in the present or the past. But that changed quickly when I realized what was going on and when the twists started coming! There was a lot of detail and description to make sure that the reader could grasp the workings of this particular fantasy world and the relationship the characters all had with one another.
This is a dark fantasy book, there is a lot of magic and each realm or territory inside the kingdom is known for a specific item and holds the monopoly and trades with said item….things like ice and coal. There are different types of Araids which are like different types of witches or fae, they all have magic, but each type has a different aspect or speciality they are known for. The General does not like the Araid, and he thinks that he has wiped them all from existence, they are just in hiding pretending to be normal people, unless they have the unfortunate luck to run into any of The General’s Raks, basically like his evil henchmen who do most of the dirty work for him.
Both of our main characters have previously and continue to suffer unimaginable losses and trauma and heartbreak at the hands of The General. And while they both sometimes let it momentarily get the best of them, they ultimately persevere and hold their heads high and continue to fight on.
Ultimately, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thrilling fantasy story with twists, and great world building and story-telling, and strong character leads. If dark stories are not your thing, I would urge you to check out potential trigger warnings, because this book had several themes that might not sit well with everyone: sexual assault, miscarriages, torture, some graphic violence. If you are fine with those things, I urge you to check out this book, while I check out the rest of the series and see what will happen to the characters from book 1.
February 1, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well, it's not often I'm rendered speechless. Ask anyone who knows me. Yet, here I am, not long after finishing this book, and I don't know how to feel. And I say that in the best possible way.
So, this book has a lot going on. I was utterly lost for the majority of it but in a way that had me flipping pages at lightning speed so I could find the answers. Once I hit about the third chapter I was done for. It took over my life and I read it in about a day.
The world presented in this book is complex and intriguing. It's a very interesting concept and in the realm of fantasy, it's not easy to have a completely novel idea. This, in multiple ways, was unique. I feel like this could have a whole book dedicated only to lore (and I would eat it up).
After finishing this, I feel like I'm still missing a whole lot of information, which of course means I went and got the next book because I need to know everything. I love the gradual immersion into the world building, so while I was desperate for answers, I knew they'd present themselves as I continued.
Characters? Oh my god. I had a love hate relationship with all of them in their own way. They all had flaws and the author made you feel their pain along with them. I was really unsure how to feel about one and I still am, but I want to see what else happens with him. Which is weird because I'm still mad at him for many things. I don't know. We'll, see how it plays out.
The way this was written was really fitting for the book. I found it easy to follow along and I felt like I was right there with the characters. It had the perfect amount of detail. The author somehow managed to make me feel something for all of these characters. My heart broke a few times. Christa's whole character progression was orchestrated flawlessly and I felt like I was spiraling with her at times. I just want the best for everyone but judging by this first book, I'm certain I'm going to be ruined in the next book as well.
Bring it on. I'm ready to be hurt again.
Well, it's not often I'm rendered speechless. Ask anyone who knows me. Yet, here I am, not long after finishing this book, and I don't know how to feel. And I say that in the best possible way.
So, this book has a lot going on. I was utterly lost for the majority of it but in a way that had me flipping pages at lightning speed so I could find the answers. Once I hit about the third chapter I was done for. It took over my life and I read it in about a day.
The world presented in this book is complex and intriguing. It's a very interesting concept and in the realm of fantasy, it's not easy to have a completely novel idea. This, in multiple ways, was unique. I feel like this could have a whole book dedicated only to lore (and I would eat it up).
After finishing this, I feel like I'm still missing a whole lot of information, which of course means I went and got the next book because I need to know everything. I love the gradual immersion into the world building, so while I was desperate for answers, I knew they'd present themselves as I continued.
Characters? Oh my god. I had a love hate relationship with all of them in their own way. They all had flaws and the author made you feel their pain along with them. I was really unsure how to feel about one and I still am, but I want to see what else happens with him. Which is weird because I'm still mad at him for many things. I don't know. We'll, see how it plays out.
The way this was written was really fitting for the book. I found it easy to follow along and I felt like I was right there with the characters. It had the perfect amount of detail. The author somehow managed to make me feel something for all of these characters. My heart broke a few times. Christa's whole character progression was orchestrated flawlessly and I felt like I was spiraling with her at times. I just want the best for everyone but judging by this first book, I'm certain I'm going to be ruined in the next book as well.
Bring it on. I'm ready to be hurt again.
April 22, 2022
I have been looking for a dark fantasy book for awhile now and this one has finally delivered. The characters in the book are all morally gray, which I loved. I thought the way the plot/setting/magic was slowly introduced worked well for the book and I enjoyed this. It is more dialogue driven than what I am used to, but it worked well for this story. I’m looking forward to reading more of the series! Definitely check for trigger warnings if you have any.
April 16, 2022
4.5 ⭐
Inhibited by Cerynn McCain is a dark, twisted fantasy tale- not for the faint of heart.
Right from page one, you are sucked into this world; and the action and suspense keep you hooked until the very last page.
Highly recommend. I am excited to read what happens next.
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read your book.
⚠️ Trigger warnings: self harm, SA, child loss
Inhibited by Cerynn McCain is a dark, twisted fantasy tale- not for the faint of heart.
Right from page one, you are sucked into this world; and the action and suspense keep you hooked until the very last page.
Highly recommend. I am excited to read what happens next.
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read your book.
⚠️ Trigger warnings: self harm, SA, child loss
February 4, 2024
This book had me hooked from page one of the prologue! Definitely a real page turner, and be prepared to lose sleep to find out what is happening! Looking forward to book 2!
May 18, 2022
10/10!
I absolutely loved this dark and twisted tale. Fantasy, all grown up. Magic, war, and royalty combine to create something truly unique and intriguing. **Not for the faint hearted. There are some very dark themes within the book, no topic is off limits.** I couldn't put it down and have already started reading the sequel.
I absolutely loved this dark and twisted tale. Fantasy, all grown up. Magic, war, and royalty combine to create something truly unique and intriguing. **Not for the faint hearted. There are some very dark themes within the book, no topic is off limits.** I couldn't put it down and have already started reading the sequel.
May 11, 2022
Find out how messed up being hunted by a dark overlord can ruin a family and bring it to pieces.
So this is an audio book that I listened to. It’s over 13 hours long, but let me tell you 😱 it’s soooooooo worth it!
This is the first fantasy I’ve read/listened to since I was probably in high school. It made me want to read them all especially the rest of this series!
At times it could be confusing due to the number of characters and the multiple view points of some of the character, but once you figure out how they’re all intertwined together, it makes it a lot easier to understand and makes the book that much better. There were twists in this book that I did not see coming at all! The ending was the best part 😭
If you’re into fantasy, okay with a longer read/listen, this is the book/audio for you.
So this is an audio book that I listened to. It’s over 13 hours long, but let me tell you 😱 it’s soooooooo worth it!
This is the first fantasy I’ve read/listened to since I was probably in high school. It made me want to read them all especially the rest of this series!
At times it could be confusing due to the number of characters and the multiple view points of some of the character, but once you figure out how they’re all intertwined together, it makes it a lot easier to understand and makes the book that much better. There were twists in this book that I did not see coming at all! The ending was the best part 😭
If you’re into fantasy, okay with a longer read/listen, this is the book/audio for you.
May 6, 2022
First of all I would like to tell you guys that Cerryn is one of the best authors who writes beautifully with multiple POVs. I've never read a book with so many POVs. So if you are looking for something dark, tragic, fantasy, magical with multiple point of views, this is the right place to start. I promise that you'll not be disappointed. This was my first encounter with her and I must tell you that she blew my mind. The unexpected and thrilling plotline, the backstory which was so intricately woven and not just given away like that. It had me going. The tragic story of this young woman named Alice breaks my heart. How can someone so young go through so much. And the ending just ruined me. It's just not fair what happens with her. I won't give any spoilers, but be ready to be destroyed when you reach the ending.
May 1, 2022
At first I was a little unsure about this book. Very well written. I love the different perspectives. Usually once I had a mental question it was answered very quickly. I am definitely invested and can't wait to read the next book!
April 16, 2022
Loved this book. I could not put it down. The characters are amazing and suck you right it. Already downloaded book 2
January 16, 2023
One thing I noticed when reading was all the pov. I loved it. There are definitely some triggers, though they did not trigger me. I found the book hard to put down, characters I loved, and hated (at first).
The General is hunting for what’s left of the Araid, and he has his sights set on two in particular (Christa, and Alice). Though Christa has built a place apart from the rest of the world for protection, will it be enough to keep them safe? Or will her world be turned upside down? Can they keep hiding from the evil sadistic General?
This book is so exciting, heartbreaking, magical and everything in between. Definitely recommend!
The General is hunting for what’s left of the Araid, and he has his sights set on two in particular (Christa, and Alice). Though Christa has built a place apart from the rest of the world for protection, will it be enough to keep them safe? Or will her world be turned upside down? Can they keep hiding from the evil sadistic General?
This book is so exciting, heartbreaking, magical and everything in between. Definitely recommend!
April 22, 2021
Insanely dark and twisted fantasy that had me gripped from page 1. And oh my god do these characters suffer! Poor alice and christa!
The magic and fantasy element is captivating and allows your imagination to go where it hasn’t gone before. The twists were brilliant and well thought out as well. Would definitely recommend xxx
TW: mentions/descriptions of self harm
The magic and fantasy element is captivating and allows your imagination to go where it hasn’t gone before. The twists were brilliant and well thought out as well. Would definitely recommend xxx
TW: mentions/descriptions of self harm
November 18, 2019
Loved this book. So many perspectives of compelling characters. Great fantasy world. I especially loved the twist at the end. Had me freaking out for days.
July 29, 2021
Inhibited follows the story of Christa McCain and Alice Avens-Tallante, two Araid (Fae-like) women who are hunted by the General (a dark overlord/demon who controls the realm). As they struggle to escape the General and his minions, Alice and Christa must find a way to maintain their sanity as the raw force of their powers--and memories--threatens to tear them apart.
Overall, I found Inhibited to be a very enjoyable read. It's a character-driven story that relies heavily on the internal struggles of the leading ladies, so plot definitely takes a back seat to characterization. However, it's important to note that this is the first book in the series, so it serves as more of an Act I/set-up than a full story. In other words, Inhibited provides us with the necessary backstory for a much longer tale, and the plot ball doesn't really start to roll until the end of the book.
The setting takes place between Coaltree and Nalaise, two territories within a much larger kingdom. The world seems to be divided by magical resources (For example, ice comes from one country, coal comes from another.) and the inhabitants of those territories abide by a specific dress code which makes them identifiable. I would have liked to see a little bit more world-building in the everyday lives of the characters. There's a children's story that serves as a great source of background information, but it would have been valuable to see how the inhabitants of the world live their daily lives. I was never completely clear on what characters were wearing (i.e. long dresses, pants, suits, etc.) but it seemed like there might be a bit of a crossover vibe from our own modern fashion industry and a more rustic/fantasy look.
The dialogue was well-written, and it was easy to distinguish the characters based on how they spoke. Plus, there's a fun language in the works for the Araid, complete with its own characters/runes and a glossary in the back.
Speaking of a glossary/map, I would definitely recommend a physical copy of the book over an electronic copy as it allows readers to flip back and forth and better orient themselves in the world. Plus, the author has cool black pages at the beginning of each chapter! (Got to love unique formatting!)
Oh, and the story definitely has some grit/blood and gore. Personally, I didn't find it to be uncomfortable or excessive, but some readers might.
Overall, Inhibited gets a 4.5 from me, so I'm going to split the stars across Goodreads (4 stars) and Amazon (5 stars).
Definitely looking forward to reading Unforgotten!
Overall, I found Inhibited to be a very enjoyable read. It's a character-driven story that relies heavily on the internal struggles of the leading ladies, so plot definitely takes a back seat to characterization. However, it's important to note that this is the first book in the series, so it serves as more of an Act I/set-up than a full story. In other words, Inhibited provides us with the necessary backstory for a much longer tale, and the plot ball doesn't really start to roll until the end of the book.
The setting takes place between Coaltree and Nalaise, two territories within a much larger kingdom. The world seems to be divided by magical resources (For example, ice comes from one country, coal comes from another.) and the inhabitants of those territories abide by a specific dress code which makes them identifiable. I would have liked to see a little bit more world-building in the everyday lives of the characters. There's a children's story that serves as a great source of background information, but it would have been valuable to see how the inhabitants of the world live their daily lives. I was never completely clear on what characters were wearing (i.e. long dresses, pants, suits, etc.) but it seemed like there might be a bit of a crossover vibe from our own modern fashion industry and a more rustic/fantasy look.
The dialogue was well-written, and it was easy to distinguish the characters based on how they spoke. Plus, there's a fun language in the works for the Araid, complete with its own characters/runes and a glossary in the back.
Speaking of a glossary/map, I would definitely recommend a physical copy of the book over an electronic copy as it allows readers to flip back and forth and better orient themselves in the world. Plus, the author has cool black pages at the beginning of each chapter! (Got to love unique formatting!)
Oh, and the story definitely has some grit/blood and gore. Personally, I didn't find it to be uncomfortable or excessive, but some readers might.
Overall, Inhibited gets a 4.5 from me, so I'm going to split the stars across Goodreads (4 stars) and Amazon (5 stars).
Definitely looking forward to reading Unforgotten!
September 18, 2022
3.85 ⭐
This is a dark, intense fantasy. NOT for the faint-hearted.
I was very impressed with the level of world building and the complexity of the story coming from a debut novel.
I will say that I was a tad confused for the first little while of the book. I really felt dropped into the story with not as much information as I would like. And every single chapter had a different narrator for the first five chapters. The main issue was that sometimes in the chapter the narrator has multiple different timeline sections.
It all completely makes sense and is easier to read once you get further through the book. But it is very intense with a lot to wrap your head around right from page one. YOU WILL NOT BE BORED READING THIS BOOK.
I loved when we got to learn more about the Àraid people, their created history was so fantastic! I actually think I would have liked to hear more about their origins earlier in the novel, maybe even right at the beginning instead of mid-way through.
The General. What a villain. No morally grey villains in this novel. ALL DARK BLACK EVIL. I would be very interested to see some more chapters from his perspective in future books.
There were a few scenes that I think would have been more compelling from The General's perspective than through the older teen children. I wasn't a massive fan of their perspective, it may be an age thing, but it also could be that it sometimes felt like there were a tad too many captains at the helm of this book.
Speaking of Captains.... THE CAPTAIN. What a character. Be ready for some major bombshells and crazy sh*t to go down when he is around.
Personally, I not a massive fan of the cover (sorry!). I felt it does not do the story of this book justice. It's so intense, it's a dark, high fantasy and I would love to see a different cover on this book reflect that.
I read this book in one sitting, and it was a large portion of my Sunday. Once I got about a third of the way through, I knew I would not be putting this bad boy down until I knew what the HECK was going on.
If you like dark fantasy, worlds with deep lore, and you like a bit of shock factor in your books, you can't go wrong with this one!
*Please, please, please, check trigger warnings before reading this book*.
This is a dark, intense fantasy. NOT for the faint-hearted.
I was very impressed with the level of world building and the complexity of the story coming from a debut novel.
I will say that I was a tad confused for the first little while of the book. I really felt dropped into the story with not as much information as I would like. And every single chapter had a different narrator for the first five chapters. The main issue was that sometimes in the chapter the narrator has multiple different timeline sections.
It all completely makes sense and is easier to read once you get further through the book. But it is very intense with a lot to wrap your head around right from page one. YOU WILL NOT BE BORED READING THIS BOOK.
I loved when we got to learn more about the Àraid people, their created history was so fantastic! I actually think I would have liked to hear more about their origins earlier in the novel, maybe even right at the beginning instead of mid-way through.
The General. What a villain. No morally grey villains in this novel. ALL DARK BLACK EVIL. I would be very interested to see some more chapters from his perspective in future books.
There were a few scenes that I think would have been more compelling from The General's perspective than through the older teen children. I wasn't a massive fan of their perspective, it may be an age thing, but it also could be that it sometimes felt like there were a tad too many captains at the helm of this book.
Speaking of Captains.... THE CAPTAIN. What a character. Be ready for some major bombshells and crazy sh*t to go down when he is around.
Personally, I not a massive fan of the cover (sorry!). I felt it does not do the story of this book justice. It's so intense, it's a dark, high fantasy and I would love to see a different cover on this book reflect that.
I read this book in one sitting, and it was a large portion of my Sunday. Once I got about a third of the way through, I knew I would not be putting this bad boy down until I knew what the HECK was going on.
If you like dark fantasy, worlds with deep lore, and you like a bit of shock factor in your books, you can't go wrong with this one!
*Please, please, please, check trigger warnings before reading this book*.
May 30, 2022
✒️ Favorite Quote: “She never built those walls to shut you out, or to shut anyone out. She built them simply to see who cared enough to climb over them.”
⏲ One Sentence Take: A dark fantasy about a vanishing race and the family fighting to keep not only themselves together, but also their race from disappearing.
💭 My Thoughts: I don’t even know where to begin. I can tell you that after that ending I am absolutely NOT OKAY. These characters were so relatable, even if they were from a fantasy race. They each deal with so much pain and trauma. They are stubborn, headstrong, but also desperate to help others.
It is EXTREMELY RARE for me to cry while reading, even though I’m incredibly empathetic and take on real-life emotions like they are my own, even when they’re not. 🤦🏻♀️ But this book had me reaching for my Kleenex often. I found things to relate to in each character.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story was written. The thing that kept me turning the pages so rapidly is that every time I would get to a point where I was getting ready to close it for that reading session, there would be a new plot twist or turn I didn’t see coming and I would HAVE to keep reading!
I will say that there are a lot of mature moments that aren’t for all readers. There are several scenes in which there is bloodletting, rape, physical violence, suicidal actions/ideation, self-mutilation, miscarriage, and death (those are the ones I can remember right now).
As for the negatives, I did find myself occasionally lost, but the author would eventually pull me back in and it would make sense. This is largely due to some areas where a character has memory flashbacks, which are in italics to easily see that it is a past memory, but there were a few spots where it jumped back and forth so often that I was beginning to lose the story point. The other negative-ish is that absolutely no character is safe. I don’t dislike that too much as it keeps me, as a reader, on my toes! But, it definitely made me sad to see a few characters meet their end.
⏲ One Sentence Take: A dark fantasy about a vanishing race and the family fighting to keep not only themselves together, but also their race from disappearing.
💭 My Thoughts: I don’t even know where to begin. I can tell you that after that ending I am absolutely NOT OKAY. These characters were so relatable, even if they were from a fantasy race. They each deal with so much pain and trauma. They are stubborn, headstrong, but also desperate to help others.
It is EXTREMELY RARE for me to cry while reading, even though I’m incredibly empathetic and take on real-life emotions like they are my own, even when they’re not. 🤦🏻♀️ But this book had me reaching for my Kleenex often. I found things to relate to in each character.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story was written. The thing that kept me turning the pages so rapidly is that every time I would get to a point where I was getting ready to close it for that reading session, there would be a new plot twist or turn I didn’t see coming and I would HAVE to keep reading!
I will say that there are a lot of mature moments that aren’t for all readers. There are several scenes in which there is bloodletting, rape, physical violence, suicidal actions/ideation, self-mutilation, miscarriage, and death (those are the ones I can remember right now).
As for the negatives, I did find myself occasionally lost, but the author would eventually pull me back in and it would make sense. This is largely due to some areas where a character has memory flashbacks, which are in italics to easily see that it is a past memory, but there were a few spots where it jumped back and forth so often that I was beginning to lose the story point. The other negative-ish is that absolutely no character is safe. I don’t dislike that too much as it keeps me, as a reader, on my toes! But, it definitely made me sad to see a few characters meet their end.
January 19, 2024
This book is an exceptionally dark fantasy with a plethora of trigger warnings. The general plot and world building are clever and done well, however there are multiple disturbing chapters going into graphic details of extremely sensitive topics. I found this took away from the overall story and made this book very hard to get through. Whilst I understand that difficult subjects can be important to building characters backstories and contribute to their actions, I found the repetition of two triggering topics throughout the book did not add to the plot or the characters arcs. I also struggled to find any qualities that I liked in the characters, finding most to be very self absorbed and focusing solely on their own needs, neglecting those around them. Christa in particular is extremely unlikeable and with the book featuring her predominantly, made this book very hard to follow. Whilst I understand that she has experienced many harrowing ordeals, I found her coping mechanisms and reactions to those around her to be hard to stomach and with her as the MFC, found I could not root for her success. However, Cerynn’s writing and language creation were well thought out and I enjoyed the language created for the Araid. The twist at the end was clever, giving a new depth to a certain character who stood within a grey area throughout the book. Overall, Inhibited was well written, however I at times felt confused as to what was going on due to the frequent POV changes. This book would suit someone who has no trigger warnings and enjoys dark fantasies in which most characters views and motives are explored.
November 16, 2023
So, from the warning from the author, I knew this book would be dark and holy smokes was it.
I'm a fan of dark fantasy so I knew what I was getting in to with it. Thrown straight in to the story, I wasn't really sure what was going on and who was who. Suffice to say, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the info.
Something else to keep in mind is that I generally don't like multiple POV's and this book had quite a few of them.
From what I've said so far, you'd expect me to continue with it being that I didn't like the book.
However, I found that after a little while, that I actually understood what was happening and was getting to know all of the different characters and was seriously rooting for things to go better for them and wondering what was going to happen next.
I loved that the characters were older, I'm nearly 32 so it was great reading a book were the characters aren't all under 20!
The names/language were difficult to get around, even with the help given at the back of the book but you do get a better grasp of it as you read more so I wouldn't let that put you off reading the book.
I think it was very well written with surprisingly complex characters and I found the lore really interesting. Some twists and turns that you keep you on the edge of your seat. I look forward to reading more from Cerynn
I'm a fan of dark fantasy so I knew what I was getting in to with it. Thrown straight in to the story, I wasn't really sure what was going on and who was who. Suffice to say, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the info.
Something else to keep in mind is that I generally don't like multiple POV's and this book had quite a few of them.
From what I've said so far, you'd expect me to continue with it being that I didn't like the book.
However, I found that after a little while, that I actually understood what was happening and was getting to know all of the different characters and was seriously rooting for things to go better for them and wondering what was going to happen next.
I loved that the characters were older, I'm nearly 32 so it was great reading a book were the characters aren't all under 20!
The names/language were difficult to get around, even with the help given at the back of the book but you do get a better grasp of it as you read more so I wouldn't let that put you off reading the book.
I think it was very well written with surprisingly complex characters and I found the lore really interesting. Some twists and turns that you keep you on the edge of your seat. I look forward to reading more from Cerynn
May 15, 2023
I started this book a month ago, but had to label it DNF as I was struggling to make sense of the book and it required my full attention. I restarted this and found it much easier to read.
There is a very good story line, lots of plot twists and shocks. Each chapter is from a different characters perspective which I enjoyed, but did find a little confusing at times.
I loved Alice’s character, but unfortunately didn’t get as much of an emotional connection to the characters as I would like to have done. There is a lot that happens in this book, and I did get a little confused during time and perspective changes, but managed to get back on track after a page or so. I do think this was a personal issue, nothing that was wrong with the book.
The book is very dark, but not overly. It’s also quite a long book, taking me 5.5hrs to read. It felt the perfect length, but left on a huge cliffhanger. (I need to find out what happens!)
I’ll definitely read the rest of the series as this is a very good start. I think that the book would have got 10/10 but unfortunately I just didn’t have that connection, I’m sure that if I was to re-read it again in the future I would have that. Recommend to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy.
There is a very good story line, lots of plot twists and shocks. Each chapter is from a different characters perspective which I enjoyed, but did find a little confusing at times.
I loved Alice’s character, but unfortunately didn’t get as much of an emotional connection to the characters as I would like to have done. There is a lot that happens in this book, and I did get a little confused during time and perspective changes, but managed to get back on track after a page or so. I do think this was a personal issue, nothing that was wrong with the book.
The book is very dark, but not overly. It’s also quite a long book, taking me 5.5hrs to read. It felt the perfect length, but left on a huge cliffhanger. (I need to find out what happens!)
I’ll definitely read the rest of the series as this is a very good start. I think that the book would have got 10/10 but unfortunately I just didn’t have that connection, I’m sure that if I was to re-read it again in the future I would have that. Recommend to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy.
August 29, 2022
Ugh what a great epic fantasy!!
Ending has me in tears and absolutely ready for book 2.
Trigger warnings:
Contains extreme violence including torture, rape, murder, possession, coercion, self harm, attempted suicide. (Nothing was described explicitly or graphicly but was disturbing nonetheless)
Contains disturbing scenes including harm to children, talk of dedicated corpses, stillborn babies used in science experiments, and magic involving wounds.
Pros:
•Great great villain. I love how the characters are all a little good and a little evil and super complex.
•THE PLOT TWISTS OMG. Fantastic foreshadowing which helped me guess the plot twists but they still hit with such force it was perfect.
•Definitely a dark and gritty read and not for the faint of heart whatsoever but that only enhanced the book 100%
•I liked the different POVs for the story and was extremely happy that the povs were used to further the plot and connect characters while also revealing true personalities instead of just personas other characters placed upon them.
•The world is HUGE! I love how complex the worldbuilding is and the depth of the history and magic.
Cons:
•Some of the worldbuilding was a little hard to follow but the more I read the more I think I understand.
•At times it felt like the book was a little underedited when it came to clearer wording and descriptions.
•Sometimes it felt like the characters were judt going through the same redemption then corruption to forgiveness and then hate and then continuing that cycle over and over again without the plot actually moving forward. Though that made it drag for a little in the middle it didn't last long and was still engaging enough to continue reading without issue.
10/10 would recommend to a fellow epic fantasy fan.
Will be reading book 2 asap
Ending has me in tears and absolutely ready for book 2.
Trigger warnings:
Contains extreme violence including torture, rape, murder, possession, coercion, self harm, attempted suicide. (Nothing was described explicitly or graphicly but was disturbing nonetheless)
Contains disturbing scenes including harm to children, talk of dedicated corpses, stillborn babies used in science experiments, and magic involving wounds.
Pros:
•Great great villain. I love how the characters are all a little good and a little evil and super complex.
•THE PLOT TWISTS OMG. Fantastic foreshadowing which helped me guess the plot twists but they still hit with such force it was perfect.
•Definitely a dark and gritty read and not for the faint of heart whatsoever but that only enhanced the book 100%
•I liked the different POVs for the story and was extremely happy that the povs were used to further the plot and connect characters while also revealing true personalities instead of just personas other characters placed upon them.
•The world is HUGE! I love how complex the worldbuilding is and the depth of the history and magic.
Cons:
•Some of the worldbuilding was a little hard to follow but the more I read the more I think I understand.
•At times it felt like the book was a little underedited when it came to clearer wording and descriptions.
•Sometimes it felt like the characters were judt going through the same redemption then corruption to forgiveness and then hate and then continuing that cycle over and over again without the plot actually moving forward. Though that made it drag for a little in the middle it didn't last long and was still engaging enough to continue reading without issue.
10/10 would recommend to a fellow epic fantasy fan.
Will be reading book 2 asap
April 24, 2022
A wild ride from start to finish, this book reveals a dark fantasy world with a solid plot line and a fully imagined backstory. Each character is well fleshed out and it wasn't hard as a reader to celebrate their achievements and mourn their tragedies. There were many twists and turns, and a big reveal at the end, which if the reader is paying attention isn't super hard to figure out in advance. I'm not mad about it though, because there was that feeling of vindication (I got it right, woo hoo!)
Content warnings for child loss, sexual abuse, self harm, gaslighting, and probably some other things that I can't remember at the moment. Regardless, very much worth a read if your stomach can handle it. Personally, I am looking forward to book two as the ending is a cliffhanger and I need to know where the story goes next.
I wish Goodreads allowed half stars because this would be a solid 4.5.
Content warnings for child loss, sexual abuse, self harm, gaslighting, and probably some other things that I can't remember at the moment. Regardless, very much worth a read if your stomach can handle it. Personally, I am looking forward to book two as the ending is a cliffhanger and I need to know where the story goes next.
I wish Goodreads allowed half stars because this would be a solid 4.5.
October 6, 2024
Inhibited is the opening book in the Abandoned Crown saga. As such, there is a lot of scene setting and world building. Even though the subject matter is often heavy (mind your trigger warnings), that world building never feels heavy because you are immediately pulled into concern for the characters. It is a bit confusing at first while things are laid out, but once they click into place, the action and adventure flies. The way that the stories of Alice and Christa are interwoven into the backstory of the kingdom is flawless and while the story is painful, there's also a resilience and hopefulness that comes through too. They are flawed, definitely, and at different points I wondered about them, but eventually you come to understand why they act and react the way that they do. I'm still not completely certain whether I trust Alice, Christa and a few of the side characters, but I'm willing to read more of their story!
June 9, 2022
I've never really been a fan of fantasy but the world the author creates? It's just breathtaking. The characters are complex and not always likable, the magic is unique and well-thought out, and the plotline is thrilling. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, as well, although I'm not used to having more than 2.
But the best part of this novel is the writing. It's poetic, emotional, and rife with figurative language (my favorite). The dialogue really drives the story, and while I don't usually like a lot of dialogue, it worked wonders for this story.
I also really liked how the author didn't shy away from the darkness a war brings. There are many trigger warnings in this books, such as forced and natural miscarriages, child abuse, sexual assault and rape, gore and violence.
Overall, terrific book that deserves more recognition!
But the best part of this novel is the writing. It's poetic, emotional, and rife with figurative language (my favorite). The dialogue really drives the story, and while I don't usually like a lot of dialogue, it worked wonders for this story.
I also really liked how the author didn't shy away from the darkness a war brings. There are many trigger warnings in this books, such as forced and natural miscarriages, child abuse, sexual assault and rape, gore and violence.
Overall, terrific book that deserves more recognition!
February 3, 2024
The story is very complex, filled with many characters and various different storylines and plots. The genre is fantasy, dystopian, and dark fiction. Heavy in dialogue in some places and very detailed throughout. The world-building is complex but the writing is clear with intriguing prose and imagery. Characters are well fleshed out. Good hooks at the end of the chapters with unexpected twists towards the end of the book.
There are scenes of violence and abuse, which are part of a few character's lives, so for those who this might be triggering, be aware.
All in all a good read that requires time to absorb all the details and see how they come together.
If you like Magic, war, and fantasy all intertwined in many twists and plots, then you will love Inhibited by Cerynn McCain.
There are scenes of violence and abuse, which are part of a few character's lives, so for those who this might be triggering, be aware.
All in all a good read that requires time to absorb all the details and see how they come together.
If you like Magic, war, and fantasy all intertwined in many twists and plots, then you will love Inhibited by Cerynn McCain.
October 11, 2022
The multiple POVs (more than two) were new for me. I was lost at times but it also helped me stay glued to the story as well. I really like that the author used that element in telling this complex story - for a debut book and my first from this author. I was very intrigued by the heavy topics that are normally glossed over. But McCain dove in head first and left hardly anything to the imagination.
I felt all the characters' emotions and want for better lives. They strived for that in the entire book.
The ending was definitely a twist for me. I didn't see the reveal coming which I loved. I was also like woah this is the ending to the entire book?!?
Definitely looking into more from this author in the future!
I felt all the characters' emotions and want for better lives. They strived for that in the entire book.
The ending was definitely a twist for me. I didn't see the reveal coming which I loved. I was also like woah this is the ending to the entire book?!?
Definitely looking into more from this author in the future!
September 9, 2023
This is a new author for me which I enjoyed reading. Their writing skills are such that they use details to bring life to the story which makes it hard to put down. This is a story about Christa who has been hiding her powers on top of hiding from The General. What happens when one stranger shows up at her door and her powers go out of control? This is a great story that is entertaining and easy to read. The characters are connectable and engaging. I enjoyed watching the growth for the characters as well as the plot throughout the story. This is a fast paced, engaging story that you don't want to miss. I enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it.
February 10, 2024
I enjoyed the narration of Billie Bryant
Christa has hidden her powers from everyone, including her family. This has kept her and her family safe. The General, rule the region and has built his name on the torture. He is headed to where Christa home.
Alice has suffered at the hands of the General, by means of sadistic and unending forms of torture. All she wants is her freedom. Helped by a man, Alice finds her way to Christa where she seeks shelter.
The arrival of these two strangers, make Christa’s powers increase. Should she stay and face the wrath of General's. If she stays a old war could be reignited.
Christa has hidden her powers from everyone, including her family. This has kept her and her family safe. The General, rule the region and has built his name on the torture. He is headed to where Christa home.
Alice has suffered at the hands of the General, by means of sadistic and unending forms of torture. All she wants is her freedom. Helped by a man, Alice finds her way to Christa where she seeks shelter.
The arrival of these two strangers, make Christa’s powers increase. Should she stay and face the wrath of General's. If she stays a old war could be reignited.
March 7, 2024
So I’ve had time to process and digest what I’ve read and I’m still left trying to understand what I feel? Lol
It took me a minute to grasp what I was reading but that was no fault of the story…it was my own visualization and imagination of what I was reading. It was honestly so vividly written that I just couldn’t move past my thoughts 😅.
This is book one in a series and the overall concept is fresh and very unique. The world building is intense (in a good way). The characters are well written and developed that you will like one, some, all, and none at any given time 🤣yeah I know.
Definitely give it a chance, I promise you will be saying “what?” a few times.
It took me a minute to grasp what I was reading but that was no fault of the story…it was my own visualization and imagination of what I was reading. It was honestly so vividly written that I just couldn’t move past my thoughts 😅.
This is book one in a series and the overall concept is fresh and very unique. The world building is intense (in a good way). The characters are well written and developed that you will like one, some, all, and none at any given time 🤣yeah I know.
Definitely give it a chance, I promise you will be saying “what?” a few times.
April 6, 2024
Christa has been running and hiding from the general for many cycles now. She is always on edge but feels her family is currently safe. Then Alice shows up confirming she has also escaped from the general. Will she lead the general right to Christ and her family?
This audiobook sucked me right in from the start. I enjoyed the slight magical powers the main characters have but not too heavy on the fantasy/magic descriptions. There were points that I had to back up a little bit to figure out if I missed something or if the timeline was jumping around. It was a mix of both. I think this was a little confusing because the titles are only the characters name for pov but no timeframe given
This audiobook sucked me right in from the start. I enjoyed the slight magical powers the main characters have but not too heavy on the fantasy/magic descriptions. There were points that I had to back up a little bit to figure out if I missed something or if the timeline was jumping around. It was a mix of both. I think this was a little confusing because the titles are only the characters name for pov but no timeframe given
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews