Thornfruit

The Gardener's Hand #1

by Felicia Davin

There were two secrets in Varenx House, and Alizhan was one of them. Alizhan can’t see faces, but she can read minds. Her mysterious ability leaves her unable to touch or be touched without excruciating pain. Rescued from abandonment and raised by the wealthy and beautiful Iriyat ha-Varensi, Alizhan has grown up in isolation, using her gift to steal secrets from Iriyat’s rivals, the ruling class of Laalvur. But Iriyat keeps secrets of her own. When Alizhan discovers that she isn’t the only one of her kind, and that a deadly plot threatens everyone like her, there’s only one person she can trust. Ev liked having a secret. None of the other girls in the village had a thief-friend. Evreyet Umarsad—“Ev” to her parents and her one friend—longs to be the kind of hero she reads about in books. But the rest of the world feels impossibly far away from her life on a farm outside Laalvur. Ev will never lay eyes on the underground city of Adappyr, the stars of the Nightward Coast, or the venomous medusas that glow in the dark depths of the sea. At least on her weekly trip to the market, Ev gets to see her thief—the strange young woman who slips by her cart and playfully steals a handful of thornfruit. When the thief needs help, Ev doesn’t hesitate. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that draws them all over Laalvur and beyond. Thornfruit is the first book in The Gardener's Hand trilogy.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Queer, Romance, Lesbian, Fiction, Young Adult

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2018

About the author

When not writing and reading fiction, Felicia Davin (she/they) can be found teaching or translating French. She loves linguistics, singing, and baking. She is bisexual, but not ambidextrous.

Originally from Kentucky, she currently lives in Massachusetts with her partner and their cat.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

as a gay, i find it really difficult to enjoy lgbt-themed books. usually they're too sad, or hit too close to home, or too clearly written by a straight person. but on a weak-willed, mildly drunk night after an office party filled with too many heterosexuals, i caved and signed up to receive free copies of a bunch of lgbt books (and i re-downloaded tinder, but that's a whole different horror story), including this one.

i'm sure y'all can read, so i won't recap the summary, but i will say that the worldbuilding was a large part of what actually convinced me to read the book once i sobered up. the premise of thornfruit isn't particularly wild (and i mean this as a positive - there's no point in the book where i said, "this is off the fucking rails and i can't believe you expect me to just go with it," which is a trap i feel a lot of fantasy books fall into), and it all progresses very logically and easily. it's an easy book to read, which is certainly helped by the author's writing style - very clean and concise, not a lot of unnecessary detail. the author clearly has fleshed out this world, but doesn't dump in unnecessary facts just for the sake of it, and trusts her readers to read between the lines a little.

i enjoyed the characters, as well. neither of the main characters are caricatures or cliches, and both have interesting three-dimensional personality traits.

as for my usual warnings: there is a little internalized homophobia, and the implication of societal homophobia, but as the romance isn't resolved in this book (spoilers? but it's a series so idk what you expected), that wasn't focused on. however, if you're also gay and looking for a completely sexuality-based-drama-free reading experience, i would say that 99% of thornfruit avoids that.

all in all, i enjoyed reading it and i'll definitely try to read the sequel.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews because I feel like an inarticulate mess but this book deserves a review.
At the beginning I was kind of doubtful because I didn't know in what direction it was going and if I'd end up slowly making my way through exposition after exposition and a plot that is completely overpowered by it (which is something that, in my experience, tends to happen often in the fantasy genre).

But I was positively surprised and, truth be told, what I most feared in the beginning ended up being one of my favourite aspects of the story:
Namely the world building.
The world created in Thornfruit brings something refreshingly new to what I've come to expect from fantasy novels and while it admittedly can be quite confusing, I was intrigued by it and wanted to learn more.
The language in the story helped too, whether it was just the names or the subtle hints of other languages that exist in the universe, it made the world much more real to me than I'd have expected.

And I won't really get into plot or characters, here, I enjoyed both, but that's not why I loved reading this so much.
I am also not the most critical reader so someone else might be bothered by things I didn't even notice.
But I was captivated and, personally speaking, that's all I really need from a book.

So, my final words?
Just read it. (If you want to.)

[Felix · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been writing too many bad reviews lately, but this book hardly seems to have any bad reviews, despite the fact it was extremely problematic. So a bad review it's going to get.

The writing is overall good, the worldbuilding creative if a bit poorly executed, I loved Iriyat, I liked the magic system, and the characters are vegetarian. It would have been rated much higher if it weren't for. . . .

1. When you have a price on your head and you need to get out of the city quick, don't stand around with aphobic gossip.
These fools of protagonists, instead of escaping the city, have to discuss "hey did you know this woman isn't interested in sex?" "Golly gee, what a weird idea. Are you sure? OMG, I've never heard anything so weird. I wonder what's wrong with her." (Okay, that's not exactly what they said, but that's the gist of it.)

2. Why is the whole plot hinging upon Alizhan rescuing a guy who tried to kill her?

3. Ev is a Mary Sue
Her only trait to speak of is that she is "good hearted".

4. The worldbuilding is poorly executed.
The author did not put enough thought into her world. Does it even rain? I never did get that question answered.

5. The romance is stupid.
About two hours after they meet properly, Alizhan has to inform Ev that "we can't be together", a refrain that has to be repeated roughly every two or three chapters.

6. The worldbuilding has shockingly traditional gender roles.
In a world with interesting physical attributes and religions, everyone sure puts up a fuss about a girl having short hair or wearing pants. Also, everyone is cisgender.

So, I think that about sums the book up.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

With just a little bit of reworking and some better world-building, this could have been a great read, but I spent most of it waiting for it to pull me in and become what it promised to be, only it never did. I liked the characters, but there was just something keeping them from feeling real. And the ending was just a little too neat and tidy, especially with Alizhan's ability to read minds and tell if people were sincere or not in wanting to help. Even with the antagonist's ability to wipe memories, Alizhan can still look inside and see if they've been compromised. Kind of took away any potential for tension.

I did eventually figure out what a triad was, which was a day, I'm assuming because it consists of three shifts. I still don't know how many hours are in a shift, or how many days in a month, etc. Was I supposed to be assuming a 24-hour day? Why were the shifts called what they are? What's the significance of the honeycreeper shift, for instance? There were some hints dropped here and there about how the sun and not-sun parts of the world work that started to solidify how this world worked, but it wasn't nearly enough. And the way that element was introduced was a bit clunky.

Editing overall was good, though one thing should have been moved and that was the first flashback chapter. So chapter A ended with Ev and Alizhan touching by accident, and given Alizhan's powers, that knocked them both out cold. The next chapter, B, was a 1st-person POV chapter for an as yet unnamed POV character. Then the next chapter, C, started by going back in time prior to the start of A until it eventually caught up to where A ended and both girls woke up. At that point Ev said she was able to see Alizhan's memories. So, were both B and the first half of C those memories? Well, no. Only the first half of C were, but it's not immediately clear what was happening or why. B really should have been moved to after C since it only created confusion and it literally didn't matter to the main narrative at all where that chapter was placed.

I really wanted to like this more, but I ended up feeling overall indifferent about what was going on.

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thornfruit is the first book in a trilogy, so be prepared not to get all the answers by the time you turn the last page. Be prepared to want to keep reading, too.

Ev and Alizhan first meet as kids, at the market where Ev is helping her father. Alizhan looks lost and hungry and Ev gives her a handful of thornfruit, and over the years, as they meet again and again at the same market, some sort of friendship grows even as the mystery of who Alizhan is remains. Ten years later, when she comes to Ev for help, the young woman doesn’t hesitate.

The worldbuilding is amazing. There are so many ideas and tiny details that make it what it is, it’s at once disorienting (a sun that never sets, a world in which magic is everywhere despite being fought…) and self-evident, it quickly feels as familiar as it is to the characters while being full of surprises.

So is the story. The people of Laalvur think they know what’s happening in their lives and don’t realize their memories may not be accurate. Those who seem to be on the right side may not be and there may be more to the villains than meets the eye. Even Alizhan’s ability to read minds isn’t foolproof. The journey she and Ev embark on is fraught with dangers from all sides.

There’s so much I’m not saying that makes this story really exciting and engrossing but part of the enjoyment is discovering all these things (Alizhan’s powers and curse, for example) and I won’t spoil that for you. All I’ll add is that there’s a very slow-burn romance arc, that I like the cover of this book and the following two very much, and that I’ll keep reading so keep an eye out for reviews of Nightvine and Shadebloom.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars

[Para (wanderer) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 37% - I started this one when I wasn't sure what to read next and honestly...while the concept of a world lacking day/night is interesting, and I got the book for the f/f subplot, the writing is not the best. All the characters sounded very very young somehow and while that made sense in the first chapters where they are actual children, it sounded weird later on when the main plot kicks in and they're adults. Plus it's just very mediocre. Meh.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

Loved this story. Epic Fantasy, with a lovely and intriguing use of "magical" or paranormal abilitries. It works well. Look out for lacemaking, I think this is a brilliant idea.
There are very few errors, which is excellent, and the story is well written and engaging. I like the two main characters and the romantic element is so well woven into their interactions that it slips into the story without diminishing the main story line.
This is not a romance so some might be disappointed, but as I said, the romantic element is there, and I will hope that at some point they will see a way over the obstacles placed before them.

If there is any flaw it is that sometimes (and not often) I just wanted the story to move a little faster, it veered towards a little repetition in the plot. But then it veered away again and all was well in the world.
As is often the case, some issues could have been overcome if characters talked to each other, but in many ways this was a part of the charm of the character. So although I wanted to say come on, just spill, another part of me thought no, these characters wouldn't do that, yet.

This is the first book in a series, so I have already bought the next book. There is a great deal of world building in book one, and it is all good, but I expect the action to speed up in book two now that we are aware of how the world works.

HIghly recommended.

[Haden · Rating 5 out of 5]

[kicks down door] SMART BISEXUAL FANTASY WORLDBUILDING WITH KIDS I’D DIE FOR

[Cinnia Literary Raccoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars (remind me I need to write a more in-depth review in the summer of 2019)

"I love this book and here is why" nonspoilery review below

I’ve probably recommended this book to all of you at some point in the past 6 months because The Gardener’s Hand trilogy was bar none, the best series I got into last year and I simply can’t shut up about it because I’m basically propping up the fandom by word of mouth and text post memes. (Please, y’all, it’s lonely in here. The tumbleweeds are gaining sentience.)

Reasons Why I Highly Recommend This Book
- The prose is memorably descriptive but also very funny and snappy at times, e.g. “ALIZHAN WAS A FIERY FUCKING reckless fool, and Ev was the twice-burned dope who kept following her into trouble.”
- The worldbuilding works really well and in a unique way: The story takes place in a world that is tidally locked and it affects the culture and political dynamics immensely. They think a world like ours is quite strange.
- Alizhan and Ev are really wonderful wlw characters, there’s wonderful bi rep, and imho, they’re great examples of women of color who are casual protagonists in fantasy fiction without any fuss raised about it. Alizhan is funny, inquisitive, and reckless and Ev is kind and brave and wise and they complement each other well.
- The story is fast-paced and very fun and very hard to put down once it picks up speed and magic comes into play. It turns very much into a Roadrunner vs Coyote situation but with more political intrigue. From the moment Alizhan and Ev grasp each other’s hands and run away, the story grabs your hand and takes you along for the ride.
- Also the side characters and backstory are fascinating in terms of the mysterious political intrigue Alizhan and Ev are slowly discovering. (Tell me you don’t want parents like Ev’s, I dare you.)
- Personal favorite part of the book: The medusas aka creepy magical jellyfish. I love and cherish them. Also the way the books appreciate plants/botany warms my bio nerd heart.

Reasons Why I Highly Recommend The Entire Series
- The books only pick up in pace and intensity over time and it’s very hard to not want to find out what happens at the end of the third book because our heroines just keep running and running towards that finish line (with some chapters of respite). Fair warning that the second book, Nightvine, ends on a slight cliffhanger.
- The next two books introduce yet another bisexual character of color (aka bisexuals are the protagonists, folks) and this character is easily one of my favorite characters of all time, in addition to Ev and Alizhan. They’re extremely biconic.
- As the series progresses, you learn even more cool stuff about the creepy jellyfish and magic system and plants. The worldbuilding unfolds like a flower, bit by bit, as the gals are chased from place to place.
- There’s a truly excellent segment in the third book (Shadebloom) that calls out colonialism and it is amazing.
- I’m hoping more people will read it so I can hear what they say about all of the rep (more than what I’m focusing on here) and so that they can comment on a part of the third book focusing on disability and how the characters deal with that since I can’t really speak on that particular disability per se. If you get through that part of the series, please @ me so we can talk, y’all!
- Even though I was kinda getting a hang of where the story was going by the end of the second book, the third still managed to surprise me in a good way. And no one is killed for pointless shock value.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

hm… the book had a really promising first half, bur there was no final showdown? And there could have been so much more emotions, more despair, more love, more pining, more adventure… I wished the author kept the first part und rewrote the second 🙈

[Vigasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars but I rounded it up, because I think that the worldbuilding here is really interesting.

I am surprised that this novel isn't widely known. It reminded me in some aspects of Ten Thousand Doors of January - a novel that came out this year. The story itself was different, but the concept of a story within the story and the keeper of the main character who may or may not be a main villain was what made me think about those two books.

I really liked this book, the worldbuilding is great and characters are complex and really ineteresting. Iriyat story was what hooked me the most and though she isn't a main character, her behaviour and motives were the main mystery and I think that there'e still more to her than we know. Alizhan and Ev are both likeable and their relationship is a nice addition. Still there is so much more to discover in this world and characters we met (both main and sides). I am glad that the second installmnent is already out so I can dive in it in a few days.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

THORNFRUIT was such an interesting fantasy read and the world that Felicia Davin has created is really unique. There's such a mix of varying cultures, religious and political practices, and differing acceptances of magical abilities. While THORNFRUIT only takes place on Laalvur we get lots of hints at the other cities and countries across the sea and I can't wait to see more in the rest of the series. My only complaint about world-building is that I struggled a bit to figure out all the timekeeping references but for the most part I got the gist. The beginning was a bit slow in pace but the second half really picks up and I read it all in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

I really enjoyed Ev as a lead; she's smart, tough, and levelheaded which is a nice contrast to Alizhan's more reckless, jump in feet first attitude. Ev has always felt a bit disconnected from other people and she's always wanted to see her father's homeland of Adappyr. She yearns to travel and explore but she's also cautious by nature. Alizhan pretty much crashes into Ev's life and they find themselves caught up in politics and machinations much deeper and dangerous than either expected. I enjoyed Alizhan as a lead as well but she does come across more naive and younger than she actually is. She's been very isolated most of her life and this has led to a lack in social skills which is where I think a lot of that immaturity comes from. But it was nice to see her learning and trying to grow personally. She wants to be better for Ev and her confusion over that is actually really sweet.

In addition to a unique fantasy world, we also get the beginnings of a romance between Ev and Alizhan though it's rocky at first because Alizhan's touch causes extreme pain. There's something endearingly awkward about Ev and Alizhan trying to work out their feelings and how they can be together and I'm looking forward to seeing their development.

I'll be the first to admit that some of the events that happen are pretty convenient in advancing Ev and Alizhan's purpose and there are a few characters who go from being the enemy to an ally really quickly, but overall I really liked the plot. A large part of the story is not resolved by the end of the book so you'll want to have the next one on hand.


Content Warning: References to abuse, torture, and forced abortion of a secondary character

[Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things I wish I had known about this series before picking it up:

• this is not just a sapphic romance, it is a queer romance.
• the author is far more wrathful than the reader.

What it's about: Ev meets Alizhan when she is 13 years old. Alizhan is a street urchin, hiding from a lady dressed in beautiful clothes. Ev's seen other girls and boys before, but she notices Alizhan, and the two form a bond.

What I thought: this is a wonderful series. Book one starts of slow with lots of infodumps and POV changes. Getting through the first 25% requires commitment. After that, the narrative picks up and doesn't let go. I read the whole trilogy in 24 hours because I was hooked.

The characters. There are three mains: Ev, who exudes strong baby-butch vibes and is struggling with bi-panic; Alizhan, whose touch can hurt people; and Iriyat, whose determination is worthy of three books. A fourth main is introduced in Book 2, and I loved them.

Representation. While our leads are casually BIPOC & bi, this isn't the focus of the series - neurodivergence (as expressed through the magic system) very much is. Alizhan can't see faces so she navigates the world by reading other people's thoughts. The world wasn't designed for this and people don't appreciate it. When Alizhan meets Ev, she has to find a way to respect Ev's boundaries while still remaining true to herself.

Romance. As a sapphic, I shipped these MCs all the way through the trilogy. I have criticisms of the final volume, but they do not relate to the romance. I do think there is a lack of foreshadowing in book 1 that impacts the ratings for book 3, so I'll be explicit here: this is not your traditional sapphic romance. If you need it to be, don't read this series.

TL;DR: another reviewer calls this series biconic and I agree. If you love fantasy and are 'twice blessed' in terms of your sexual orientation, then you owe it to yourself to give this a go.

[Cornelia Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read. This. Book! I've been following Davin for a while now and was really excited to read her debut novel. It did not disappoint me. Thornfruit showcases everything I've loved about her writing, from her incredibly nuanced grasp of character - all the characters and their relationships felt real and carefully examined, and I never once felt like Davin took any shortcuts - to her phenomenal pacing - it reads like a page-turner and Davin never wastes words, giving you the descriptions (often beautiful ones) that you need and then moving forward. I'd recommend this book to anyone, but especially anyone who loves stories about queer characters, unique magic, and strong female protagonists. (Note: I use "strong" here in the sense that the characters are well-written and compelling, not to imply they're superheroes.) I'd also recommend it to those who like science fantasy. While the setting is largely fantasy, the world is set on a planet that's tidally locked, which is unusual and well done here.

I think the only part I found slow was at the very beginning, and that's not really a fault of the writing/plot - I understand completely why Davin did it, as it sets up a few key relationships - as much as it's my personal preference, as I tend not to enjoy prose with a child narrator. I mention this only to say that if you feel the same, KEEP READING! It's only one chapter from that POV and the rest is written from mature POVs.

Finally, one last note: I got a hard copy ARC and ordered the ebook. I would really recommend getting the hard copy if you like that kind of thing, as it's gorgeous.

[Elizabeth Addison · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot to love about this book. The world-building is incredible, from the different ways time is told to the various countries and islands discussed within. The characters are also fantastic: Ev may be one of my favorites of all time (she's peak fantasy aesthetic for me), and everyone feels fleshed out and real. I think my only beef with this book is that the plot could have been a little tighter. There's a lot of buildup (GREAT buildup) for a somewhat less-than-satisfying conclusion. Towards the end it just seems like a lot of convenience getting the characters from place to place rather than action that felt true to the characters and the story. There's a little too much expository info dumping as well, both at the beginning and the end.

That being said, I am absolutely DYING for the next book. I'm so interested in where the story is going and I'm obviously deeply tied up in Ev and Alizhan's relationship. All-in-all, this is a really lovely, interesting book and I would recommend it to pretty much everyone.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was really good. The world-building was so well thought-through, but the reader can figure it out without being handed a big "here's how it all works!" chapter-or-more of explanation. The characters were well-developed, and it felt like I was reading a lost Tamora Pierce novel from her secret sci-fi days, but the only sci-fi element is the world itself, which underpins everything but never makes the reader uneasy, because it never makes the characters uneasy. All the unease comes from character interactions and secret motivations. I can't wait for the next one.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully lush worldbuilding with evocative descriptions of places and atmosphere. Fascinated by the separation of night and day by space rather than by time and loved how naturally it wove into this world. The intercalated letters lent to the intrigue and gave weight to the ongoing story. Loved the characters and can't wait to see what lies ahead in the next book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it, but it lacked a certain something to really make it shine.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars; kind of slow, but I really liked the world building.

[row row]

DNF @ 23%, but not through any particular fault of the book - I just realized I don’t think I’m in the mood to be reading it right now, so I’m gonna abandon it and try to come back to it another time. I feel a bit of slump coming on and this wasn’t the right book to get me out of it.

[Jos]

DNF 15%

The writing was good, but I was not feeling it. The way the lore was presented made me concerned there would be a lot of tell instead of show.

The worldbuilding was a little different in this one. Certainly give it a try yourself if you can.

[Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such excellent tenderness towards the characters and the world. There's some different, new stuff here and it's all awesome.

[Victoria (Eve's Alexandria) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Siavahda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes there are books that are hyped for months, that you hear about the moment the publishing contract is signed and anticipate for years before they're finally in your hands. And more often than not, in my experience, those books tend to be a let-down. (In fairness, it's hard not to be. Nothing can live up to that much hype.)

And sometimes there are quiet books, that seem to enter the world without a ripple, that you stumble upon by complete accident, that open up into jewels as you turn the pages.

Thornfruit is one of these latter books: I didn't hear about it before it was published, I wasn't anxiously waiting for its release - I didn't even have it recommended to me by a friend or one of the few book blogs I actually trust. I just happened upon it, with its beautifully elegant cover and its attention-grabbing blurb - and it was queer, too? Clearly something I had to check out.

And I'm so glad I did, because it's wonderful.

I don't want to spoil too much, so I won't talk about the plot. But Davin creates amazing characters - with an authentically diverse cast, which I was so grateful for (facial blindness! Ace rep! Non-white characters! And Alizhan reads as someone with autism or Asperger's to me, you can't convince me she's not on the spectrum, nope) - complicated, realistic, strong, clever, driven by very different and very human motivations. There were awkward moments! Do you have any idea how rare it is to see an awkward moment in fiction? It's as though writers forget that real people say or do the wrong thing sometimes, that conversations don't always flow as if scripted - but Davin absolutely doesn't forget. Not that these characters are constantly mis-stepping or anything like that - but they feel real enough to walk off the page.

And the world-building! It's intricate and interesting and so cool, and Davin never needs to info-dump the reader, just weaving in details of geography and culture so deftly you hardly realise you're absorbing them, until suddenly it feels as though not only could Alizhan and Ev walk off the page, but that you could walk in, too, if you wanted.

Look, what can I tell you? This is an absolute gem of a book, a hidden treasure I'm so glad I found, and I'm writing this because DAMN IT MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK, but I'm in a rush because I have to go grab the rest of the trilogy RIGHT NOW. Davin works magic with words, and if you have any interest at all in fantastic world-building and morally grey characters and fascinating magic, if you want your girls fab and bold and brilliant, if you want a story with a queer romance that isn't about queerness but is instead about adventure, and truths, and doing the right thing no matter how much it hurts - then go buy this book already.

Seriously, what are you still doing here? Go!

[Nichole David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evidently my goal for the new year is reading books that have been on my to-read list, but I was too emotionally invested in liking to actually read them.

I loved this book so much. I fell in love with every character. I am ready to recommend it to everyone!

I'm looking forward to finishing the series as soon as possible.

[Snail-Paced Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun and lovely read. The world building is interesting and the characters endearing. I particularly liked the mystery created by the inclusion of the first person chapters. I would bump up the rating but the plot felt a little too much like a 'part one' for me, without a particularly climatic ending.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Engaging enough that I skimmed the second half instead of just quitting. I loved the representation in the characters, but it wasn’t enough to anchor the book for me.

There just wasn’t enough for me to care about. I found myself forcing myself to read it. I needed a faster pace or a goal to care about. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The plot was a one-thing-after-another plot, which was to say the characters get swept up in events, but never seem to gain too much agency. One character, Alizahn, is neuroatypical, and that’s kind of her characterization. The other, Ev, is strong and does what’s right. Not much conflict based in character can come out of this.

The world was well-described, if in some ways simple. A hot place where people live underground, a medium where it’s hot but shade is valued, and a cold place. It’s kind of cool that there is constant sun. I would have expected to hear more about how people feel about sun vs shade there.

If you like buddy books where people hang and make friends and have adventures, you might enjoy this. It bears some similarity to Sarah J Maas in this respect.

The cover art is gorgeous though.

[ThatReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can I express how impressed I was with this book? Straight from the start I was lured into this story, this world, these characters. The author does one superb job where it comes to worldbuilding, the details are pristine, never jarring, it flows easily and organic, believable and relatable. The MCs are delightful, the civilisation, the cultures, the backstory, everything in this book entertwines as if a carefully put together tapestry of extreme beauty. The villain is so relatable, so mesmerising, so spellbinding they became my favourite character from the start. If you're into imaginative, out of the box, extraordinary fantasy, I urge you to read this book. So far, this has been my top read of 2020, and I serioulsy doubt it will be topped, such is the way this book touched me and made me dream. I seriously could not wait until I was back in that world, with those characters, following their story along. And now I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.
Well done, Miss Davin, this is one extraordinary work.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended this book as "Tamora Pierce but queer" and was NOT disappointed. I haven't been this captivated by a story in a long, long time. I immediately bought the second book, which I'm halfway through. If you like high-seas hijinks, queer relationships (romantic, platonic, and otherwise), magic, and well-meaning but corrupt female antagonists, this is the book for you.

[Cleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing, original fantasy with a bi heroine. The world building is unusual and excellent. The plot is a little more typical, with a hero’s journey quest. I found myself a bit impatient with the way our two heroines collected helpers who appeared just when they were needed.

I'm mad about the cliff hanger ending but not mad enough to not read the next one.

Ripped bodice 2020 summer book bingo: psychics/telekinesis