Destiny Seeker: The Messenger

Destiny Seeker #1

by Whitney McGruder, Travis McGruder (Editor)

Ilsi would do just about anything to break the Wall trapping her people, the Ice Chanters. But when she least expects it, Ilsi becomes the first person to pass through the Wall and into a world larger than she’d ever imagined. With the help of Reshma the Fire Weaver, she evades capture from outside enemies who seek to take advantage of the isolated clan.

Now on the run, Ilsi braves the outside world to find allies willing to free her people from isolation. All she has to do is figure out how to break the Wall and end its curse before the cruel Althod and his Yldirim army catches her.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

ebook

Published June 6, 2018

About the author

Whitney McGruder is an author, editor, cosplayer, and self-proclaimed selfie queen. She can’t help but emulate strong female leads. While she’s a bit too obsessed with books, she puts her knowledge and experience to good use. McGruder strives to write, edit, spotlight, and indulge in inclusive stories.

Besides indulging in her fandoms, McGruder enjoys cross stitching, drawing, D&D, MMA practice, watching funny TikTok videos, hosting get-togethers, and making her husband laugh.

McGruder believes that book publishing should be about community—not competition. You can find her advice, books, and editing services over at witandtravesty.com. You can also be friends over on Instagram via @whit2ney.

Reviews

[Kristen Kieffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *

My definition of a 2-star read is not one of distaste, but of an enjoyable narrative that I felt had some room to grow.

DESTINY SEEKER is a wonderfully nostalgic read. It nods its head in the direction of many stories I loved growing up, and love still today — books by Tolkien and Garth Nix, Lewis and even SJ Maas — all without drawing so deeply from others that the story itself feels derived. It's a delightful jaunt through all things fantastical.

I did, however, have trouble making an emotional connection with the characters in this book. We were often told how the characters were feeling, yet I didn't experience that sadness or fear or hope or regret for myself. I felt untethered, even more so at times when the depth (or lack thereof) of the characters' emotions didn't quite match the circumstances they were experiencing.

This lack of connection cut through much of the fear I should have had for our characters and the dangers they faced, making some parts of the book read quite slowly. Additionally, I found the writing style to be a bit meandering for my taste. The prose could have been trimmed, in my opinion, without compromising the story in the slightest.

All that said, don't hesitate to pick up this book if you're a fan of magic-wielding heroines, epic friendships, and nostalgic fantasy reads. I can't wait to see how the author's work evolves as she continues to share new stories!

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fresh take on epic fantasy, Destiny Seeker: The Messenger follows countrywomen and new friends, Ilsi and Reshma as they battle against a tyrant force and try to save their families and homeland. Filled with magical creatures and mesmerizing powers, strong female characters and friendships, and lots of twists and turns. Though, be warned, the story does have a bit of a cliffhanger, so you’ll need to read part two when it’s published!

[Tara Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start off with saying that the storyline is excellent. It pulls you in right from the start and keeps you interested as you go along. I love that there are so many facets to this story. With mermaids, dragons, shapeshifters, intriguing towns, and mystical lands, one is sure to feel captivated by McGruder's imagination. I did find the characters a little bit hard to connect with, but I liked that each of them were very distinct and had their own personalities. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel.
However, I feel that I can only rate it at three stars due to the grammar throughout the book. There were many grammar mistakes that frequently pulled me out of the story, as I often had to reread things to figure out what was meant. Some of the character names were spelled wrong on occasion, and at one point, the name of one of the towns changed spelling, which was confusing. A paragraph was repeated word-for-word (probably as a copying/pasting error). Small articles (i.e. the, a, an, etc.) were often missing, or the wrong word was used. Lastly, the language of the book is generally geared towards a younger crowd, which is totally fine, but then there's an assortment of more mature language (i.e. swearing) sprinkled throughout the novel. Personally, I don't feel that the youth-oriented language of the overall story matches the more mature language choices, but that is just my personal opinion. I think that this novel and series has real potential, but only with an editor that really knows the nitty-gritty ins and outs of English grammar. If subsequent novels were addressed by a skilled editor, then I think that this series could be quite worthwhile, and I would be really interested in continuing the adventure as each book is released. Overall, I would recommend giving this one a read, despite the grammar errors, as it is still an intriguing tale!

[C.K. Sorens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitney has created a cute and challenging world with Destiny Seeker: The Messenger. The name of the mages, Ice Chanters, made me smile. The challenges the main characters tackled were engaging. The characters are described and written well, and the plot of the story takes the reader on an amazing adventure across this fantasy world. The story was enjoyable, though I wish the imagery in places had been built out more. I will be reading the second book in her series because I’ve invested with the characters deeply and need to know what happens next!!

Note: This story ends on a cliffhanger. Thankfully, the second book is available.

[E.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.75 / 5 stars)

Ilsi has always wanted to escape the Wall trapping the Ice Chanters…but she didn’t intend to flee through it. When a group of terrifying warriors known as Yldirim enter her home, she flees through the wall and meets a young Fire Weaver named Yeshma. Together, they set out on a journey to stop the Yldirim and find their family and friends, before their home is decimated.

In a tale with elements from some of the greatest fantasy works, we enter a world filled with Elves, Shapeshifters, Mermaids, Dragons, and with magic beyond our imagination. Ilsi is a relatable protagonist, who’s own courage grows stronger with each trial and tribulation. With her hard-headed and loyal friend Reshma by her side, the two of them seem unstoppable.

I had trouble rating this book. On one hand, I really love the storyline. The idea that the protagonist is not sequestered to fight, but rather to deliver a message and a call to arms, is different…and I really enjoyed that. The world is thought out, magical, and very complex to a degree not always seen in fantasy writing. And that ending? Wow!

My trouble lies in the way the story was told. I feel like something was missing. While this story is already relatively long, it almost needed to be longer or broken up into another book, so we could really experience every part of it. A lot happens in this story, but a lot of the plot happens around Ilsi…and while I love the plot, it made it harder to relate to Ilsi as the protagonist. I would have loved to see her as she learns more about her different powers, her reactions to events, and her full thought process. It would helped to also see the locations more, read their descriptions, and maybe not be rushed out of each place with lines like “after a couple weeks.”

In addition, there seemed to be a lot of events happening with Reshma, Tyk, and others that we don’t get to see. They just pop up again, with an occasional glimpse into their point-of-view, and instead we could have spent much longer in their heads as well.

That being said, it’s quite likely we will find out about Reshma’s story in the sequel, but part of me feels as though it should have been woven in cohesively with Ilsi’s voyage, especially during the second half of the story. This is also partially due to the fact that I prefer stories that take time to fester, rather than race along from point A to point B…which is a personal preference at best.

With that being said, I really enjoyed the story…and that’s why we read in the first place! I was taken away to a magical place under an evil lord’s rule. There is so much different magic in the world, and I think if magic existed, that’s how it would be. Elves in the forest, mermaids in the water, ice chanters in snow, and more! I loved that we got to see this through the eyes of two young women fighting for what is right, both with different personalities that shine through the page. Since I want more of these characters and plot, it only goes to show how much I enjoyed the story!

I cannot wait to find out what happens next with Ilsi, Reshma, Tyk, and the others! I definitely have the sequel on my TBR list!

[Saundra Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitney McGruder is definitely a new young author to watch. Destiny Seeker: The Messenger has the most important quality for a first in series book. It has a storyline that draws one in right away and keeps its promise throughout. I will be waiting for book 2. The glitches in the book are all things that continued experience will likely address. More polish to language and structure, better editing and proofreading, additional features, such as maps, are things all writers develop book by book, just as their character grow. I expect to see great things from Ms. McGruder in the future. The book may not be a solid four star rating, but I believe it deserves a bit more than three and there was no incremental option.

Ilsi, an Ice Chanter, was separated from her mother eight years ago, the day the Wall came down. Since then no one has been able to breach the Wall, a magical, near invisible barrier, keeping her village trapped on their island, and unable to reach the Fire Weaver village that shares the island. Isli's father tried daily to find a way to reach his wife on the other side, as she fought to reach him. Until one morning when he arrived at the Wall, she wasn't there.

At seventeen there are two things Ilsi has from her mother, a secret journal her mother kept, and a secret power her mother cryptically referred to in her journal. Ilsi has told no one of her power, Swift, which lends her feet unimaginable speed. Keeping it to herself gives her few chances to practice, and learn about it.

Yldirim soldiers appear in the village, and attack the village though no outsiders before them have come through the Wall. The Ice Chanters use weapons and their magic to fight back, but the magic of the troops looks to be superior. Using her secret power, trying to escape capture, Ilsi is catapulted through the Wall not knowing the fate of her village.

The heat locked into the Fire Weaver village by the Wall, almost proves too much for Ilsi, as it did for those of her village trapped when the Wall descended. Reshma, a Fire Weaver near Ilsi age, takes her into her home and nurses her to health.

Together the two girls are determined to find a way to bring down the Wall that holds their island captive. Escaping their small island is just the beginning of their adventure, for the friends are swifly caught up in a world of political unrest they could never have imagined.

Pick up Destiny Seeker Messenger to find how saving their island just may save their whole world.

I was gifted a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start off, this was an intriguing concept with a compelling character. The novel just seemed to have a few issues that many debuts have.

The Good
I really liked Ilsi. She's a good character, who is just trying to do what's right. That made her pretty easy to relate to and root for. Reshma was also an excellent character, and she and Ilsi had good banter with each other and a believable friendship. Sometimes it's difficult to find good examples of female friendships.

I also liked the ship arc. The characters there made an impact, especially Wren. I just wish we had been there longer, perhaps having cut out a different arc to spend more time there.

The stakes were also pretty clear and pretty high. Reshma's motivations, especially, stood out and was able to add more depth to what the characters went through.

The Meh
The pacing wasn't as tight as it could've been, and that made the novel confusing at times. Some parts felt like they went too fast while others seemed to go on for longer than they needed to. It's a fairly common thing to happen in debuts so hopefully it will be better in the next book.

I think the biggest drawback for me was that Ilsi kind of just fails despite how hard she tries. Each of the side quests she goes on don't pan out. At least in this book, perhaps in the next they will. For me, I'd like ups and downs, not just downs. It made some of the side quests feel pointless, which is what Ilsi was supposed to feel, but I think that the point could have been made with fewer of them.

I'm also not completely sure I understand why Ilsi's power is so powerful either. I get how it's special but not its power.

The In Between
Personally, I didn't like how much the outfits were described. That's a me problem though since outfit descriptions wind up in other YA novels and sometimes have more of them.

A lot of time passed in this book, and sometimes it was done well and other times I was confused as to why Ilsi and Reshma were still wherever they were.

Overall, if you're looking for an indie fantasy book about female friendships, and you don't mind a bit of bleakness and love musical magic, you'd probably enjoy this one.

[Riley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A curious enough plot that I read the whole thing. But man...what a ride it was. It creates a complex world but it was difficult the figure out where we were in it and what was going on. Kinda like the Justice League movie, all over the places without actually being anywhere. Like the mermaid thing, could have skipped that whole bit and improved the overall story. Same thing with the werewolf subplot, it was unclear why it was there. Numerous typos, the emotional scenes were hollow, and it took rereading pages many times to figure out what was going on and sometimes that didn't solve it. (Althod's daughter was...what? Why? How?, and where did those wildcats at the end come from? And...what even happened at the end?). The number of questions it created and never resolved are astounding, perhaps the sequel covers them. Like the Wall, that first mystery, which is kinda the key to the whole plot, never gets explained. Its unclear after Althod's monologue what he is trying to do. There are Ice chanters and Fire Weavers and Lighting folks...where does the lightening come from? Are they another tribe on the island? Do all people have some innate magical power or just people from the Island? Do they have lighting powers because of the amulets or in spite of them? There is one kingdom being run as a puppet kingdom....but what about the rest of the world? is it part of a kingdom? How come we never hear about it's government? Why does Reuben keep putting people "under arrest"? Is he some kind of constable with legal authority? Why on earth does Tys know what a patent is? What does Fortune do and who is this Wren person who has it but is dead but also not dead? Is it an attribute of Fire Weavers like Swift is an attribute of Ice Chanters? Which mermaid did Althod capture which gave him Understand? Why does Althod's daughter have Swift instead of Entice (or did she have both?). Rings. Where? What? huh? She just picks one up in the forest? That's sure lucky. And they make her into a mermaid but apparently do little else.

I think this needed another draft or two. The bones are solid. It has intriguing characters and a curious plot and an immersive world. But it needed more work.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a valiant first effort from a new author. In Destiny Seeker, you’ll find many elements of your favorite fantasy books compiled in a new, adventurous way. The book is fast paced and action packed as we follow Ilsi, the main character, as she rushes to gather support against Althod and his army of Yldirims, all while trying to evade being captured for her unique magical abilities.

The world McGruder has created is intriguing, unique, and packed with interesting people, places, and magics. I did almost feel like the author was trying to fit too many different elements into the book without bringing them smoothly into one coherent whole. I had a hard time keeping track of all the places Ilsi traveled to and the people she met. And the story moved so quickly that I struggled to feel attached to the characters at first because I felt like I didn’t really get to know them before their adventures took over the story. There were many characters that entered and left the story quickly, leaving me wondering if we’d see them again and how important they were.

I feel like the book would have benefitted from a more thorough explanation or display of the magic system(s) in the story. For example, we are told of 4 magical abilities that are supposed to be superior and give the wielder great power, but we don’t really get very much information about these abilities, how they work, and what exactly makes them so powerful. However, this book is only the first in the series, so perhaps the author has plans to give us more information in the next book.

Despite its flaws, I did find myself drawn into the story, and I’m anxious to see how all the people and elements come together in the next book to battle the forces that threaten their world.

McGruder clearly has potential as a fantasy author, and I’m eager to see what she delivers in the future.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author provided me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

As a girl, Ilsi — an Ice Chanter with a secret power she inherited from her mother — is trapped along with half of her people when a mysterious wall of ice separates them from the rest of the world. Ilsi’s mother and countless others are trapped outside, and those inside are left at the mercy of the ruthless Yldirim army. Ilsi uses her mother’s power to escape the wall in the hopes that she can find a way to bring it down and reunite her people, all while thwarting the leader of the Yldirims, Althod, who seeks to obtain all rare magic, including Ilsi’s gift.

This is a fun, fast-paced fantasy journey that will appeal to fans of Lord of the Rings and The Chanters of Tremaris. It’s got a great build-up to the climax and a great cliffhanger for the next book. I was a bit confused because I thought it was YA, but the language definitely felt more middle reader, though it’s a bit longer than most middle readers would tolerate. The plot is very action-based, which means there’s a lot of movement and magic, but I tend to prefer stories that are more character-driven. Also, there are a lot — and I mean a LOT — of characters. It seems like every few pages Ilsi and Reshma are meeting new people with new names, and then they’ll be gone in 10 pages. Sometimes you’ll never see them again, and other times they’ll show up, but you can’t remember them because there’s no significant characterization to ground them.

Also, I think I would have benefitted from a map since the story is focused around Ilsi’s journey, so it would have been nice to have been able to gauge where things in this world are.

All in all, a quick, easy fantasy.

[Amy Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I've ever read a book with so much adventure before! DESTINY SEEKER starts with a bang and barely gives you time to rest as you follow Ilsi and her friends on a truly thrilling adventure. If there's an element of fantasy/adventure, odds are it's in this book. Elves, magic, kings, pirates, and more. There's a truly large world within this book and it felt like I was right there with the characters, jumping from one location to the next.

If I have any complaints, it's that I wanted to know more! There were certain locations and situations and relationships that I would have liked to explore more, since at times the pacing seemed to be a little too quick and I would have moments where I was like "Wait, what just happened?" But I see the potential of this series and want to see more of it in the future!

The characters are fun, with Ilsi growing to be a very strong young woman. I also enjoyed Reshma's perspective, and would like to see more of it, as she has a lot of unfinished business to account for! I'd also like to know more about Giselle, because I just instantly liked her sass.

There was plenty of action, and a surprisingly small amount of romance. It doesn't detract from the book at all, but it did shock me since there always seems to be the trope of that one lovestruck character. Not seeing it was a nice change for once!

And that ending... hoo boy, I did not see that coming! I won't spoil anything, but suffice to say that I have a lot of questions, that everything will change, and that I truly cannot predict what will happen next! Definitely give this book a read if you're looking for nice long adventure!

[Tyler R Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitney McGruber's Destiny Seeker: The Messenger is the first of her Destiny Seeker series, and it starts off strong with great world building and character connections. The story anchors you in with a strong female lead in Ilsi, an Ice Chanter with a willful spirit and curiosity. Combined with her soon to be companion Reshma, another strong protagonist there to balance out Ilsi's courageous naivete with a well earned cynicism, these two lead readers on an adventure through the elements and a fantasy world cleverly crafted through backstory and subtle (and not so subtle) details throughout.

The story of The Messenger is quick, moving right into the main plot only a few pages in when the Ice Chanters society is attacked by enemies from the other side of "The Wall," a mystical structure trapping Ilsi's society. Soon, Ilsi is out and about, evading capture and trying to formulate a plan on how to save her people. Along the way, characters are introduced, bonds are formed, enemies are made, all done with well thought out character interactions, if not a little lacking in personality outside of the main characters.

In the end, The Messenger is a fantastic first entry in a series that leaves you wanting more time to explore the fantasy world ruled by elemental magic, and inhabited by fun, relatable characters. If you like fantasy, entertaining systems of magic, and great world building, do yourself a favor and give this book a read.

[Shannon Rohrer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Destiny Seeker was an interesting YA Fantasy, chock-full of imagination, characters, and an intriguing plot. However, I did have some problems with it throughout, and found my interest in the story and the characters waning at points.

Things I liked:

Friendships: I like how there was such a strong emphasis on Ilsi’s friendships, both with Tyk and then Reshma. I also liked how there was such a clear difference in her friendships between the two of them.

Imaginative Plot/World: The concept of all these different powers was intriguing, as were the peoples and places mentioned. I get the feeling there’s so much more to the lore surrounding this novel series than we’re seeing, so I’d be most interested to see what new things are presented later on.

An interesting antagonist: I found myself looking forward to pretty much any and all confrontations Ilsi and company had with Reubens. I like me a solid villain, and I felt he fulfilled his role quite well.

Things that didn’t jive with me:

Too much telling, not enough showing: Pretty much everything the characters experienced, we’re told—but we’re given no indication of how those things felt. For example, if a character is attacked with lightning, it wasn’t stated how the lightning felt coursing through their bodies. When we’re told how a character feels, we’re literally told, “So and so felt *insert emotion*”, but given none of the physical tells associated with those feelings. This did seem to get a bit better as the story continued on, though.

Repetition: There were many instances of words being overused in a short span of time, but “Suddenly” was by far the one that caught my attention most, and unfortunately gave off something of a "lazy storytelling” vibe.

Said is apparently dead: Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the occasional synonym or substitute for “said”—I use them myself—but I found there was very little “said” occurring, and a lot more, “grunted”, “shrieked”, and what-have-you.

Continuity Errors: I didn’t find too many of these per se, but there was a point where Reshma was referred to by another name—completely out of the blue—which suggested to me her name had changed between one draft and the next, and the author/editor failed to catch all instances of the previous name.

World-building: I could see so much potential in the world and characters, but in the end, we’re still taught very little about why some of the world’s cultures possess these elemental powers while others don’t, and about what some of these powers actually are and do. Though hopefully some of this will be explained in later installments

Overall, I think it was a fairly well done debut novel, and would be interested in reading the next installment when it comes out.

[K.M. Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Destiny Seeker: The Messenger kicks off with a magical wall appearing and the way such an event changes the lives of those trapped on both sides of it. Most of the story is told from the point of view of IIsi, an Ice Chanter who also possesses a secret ability called Swift. There's lots of magic in this book, some of which isn't completely explained. There's also a lot of characters. IIsi meets old and new friends as she travels, coming across Elves, Mermaids, Werewolves, Shapeshifters, Dragons, and Pirates (just to name a few). Many ideas and plots are crammed into this first book, which could have perhaps been pared back or spread into the next in the series as it's hard to keep track while you're getting to know the characters. There are strong female relationships. Some romance. And you do see IIsi evolve from a meek girl to a warrior women, but the telling-not-showing style of the writing keeps the reader at a distance and makes it hard to really feel for the characters and what they're going through. I did enjoy the world that was created, and can only imagine that as Ms. Mcgruder's writing gets stronger, her books will keep getting better. It's a good debut.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, and an engaging enough narrative, but unfortunately a number of writing flaws nearly ruined it for me. Although the story has potential, the mechanics of the writing (things like grammar, pacing, character development, art of description, etc.) were lacking. The tone was inconsistent with the story most of the time. Serious editing needs to occur with future books (and possibly even for this book for it to become more popular). In addition, while I have hopes that future books will resolve some of the loose ends, there were immense plot holes and frankly confusing meandering side stories that didn't make sense. Finally, this is just a a personal preference, but a first book in a pair, trilogy, or series should have a more resolved conclusion than this one did. I'll admit that this kind of book is not entirely my style, but the story was intriguing enough for me to finish. Unfortunately, there were so many problems (listed above) I'm not certain I'll read the next one, and I nearly didn't finish this one.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The observant reader of this review will note that this author has the same last name as I do; she's my daughter-in-law! This is her debut novel and I read it last week for the first time. I love the characters! The story line is exciting and often enchanting (lots of magical, mystical stuff) and for that reason, I overlooked some errors in editing to stay focused on the story itself. I finished the book in two days because I didn't want to put it down and I'm already anticipating reading the second book...I can't wait to find out what happens next! Lovers of fantasy writing will want read this book, but there are other aspects too. It's about family life, it's about making choices, it's about friendship, it's about finding yourself, it's about trusting yourself, it's about discovering (and appreciating) other cultures, it's about good and evil; it has something to offer virtually all readers.

[Briana Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

As an author and editor, I read a lot of fantasy, especially YA fantasy. This book offered a fresh take on the genre with a compelling, fast-paced plot, a large cast of characters, and a rich story world.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and my only suggestion for improvement would be the characters. With such a large cast, I often had difficulty figuring out who was who, and remembering everyone’s names. I also had a somewhat hard time connecting emotionally to the characters, but I think a lot of that had to do with how many there were.

On the whole, McGruder has crafted a delightful, immersive fantasy setting with a plot that holds readers’ attentions throughout. I definitely look forward to reading more of her work.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about an unlikely set of heroes on the run from an evil army as they try to save their island. There is magic, elves, travel through strange and distant lands, and a lot of great surprises. I thought the concepts were new and interesting and the writing was good. I hit a chunk in the middle of their adventure that I sort of had to slog though and I can’t really put my finger on what was different about the middle compared to the rest of the book. This reminded me a lot of The Lord of the Rings and I had the same issue with that book as well so it might just be me.

I would recommend this to people who liked The Lord of the Rings or those who love YA fantasy with strong female leads.

[Christie Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, epic tale. I loved the female leads--two best friends, who are actual females, not just "strong women" (males in sexy female bodies). The adventure is exciting and there's never a dull moment. I really liked the fantasy world and how it's set up.

I had a little trouble getting into the writing at first. The grammar and spelling are on point, but there are little craft things like shallow POV (using tags like "she thought") and a few POV/head-hopping slips, that could use some work. I also felt that the last quarter or so in particular could use more structure. New plot points come in and end again at a pace I couldn't always keep track of. It's definitely exciting, but I had trouble following along.

Overall it's well worth the read.

[Adrienne Biehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Destiny Seeker and joining Ilsi and Reshma on their adventure! I love books that I can get lost in and feel as if I'm in a different world, and this one definitely provided that for me. It grabbed my attention from the get go and then I couldn't put it down.

I've seen other reviews mention too many characters, but I actually loved that aspect of this story. It was realistic to me because of the journey they were on. If you were on a journey such as theirs you would likely meet lots of different people along the way, and that's what happens for Ilsi and Reshma. I can't wait to see where the rest of the story takes them!

[Ashley Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! I have really enjoyed reading this book. One thing I really liked was the rich characterization of women. There is simply not enough representation of women in literature and I loved how the women shined here. I also like how the author didn't give in to expected stereotypes. For example, I expected Ilsi to be a "strong" female lead, like a Katniss type, and she really wasn't. Reshma was kinda that personality. But that didn't make Ilsi any less the heronie. On the contrary, she took her more feared approach to things and let that push her to new heights.

[S.A. Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I completely loved the world building and the richness of the cultures. It is refreshing to see a strong and thoughtful female lead working with a great assemble cast with well-defined strengths and flaws. I will be watching this author as she grows and gains strength.

Check out a full review on my blog

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this book, it was a good story with great main characters, and I liked the plot. For me it was just a bit fast paced. There’s a lot going on, and so many characters. One of the first new characters in the book, Sebrah, shows up again near the end, but I didn’t recognize her name and couldn’t even remember who she was because so much had happened and I’d completely forgotten her. But overall a good book, I would read it again, and would read any sequels.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time with this author. Needing a good fantasy I would say this author filled the need on this one. Ilsi is the character along with others that delivered on that. When you are following Ilsi you will be giving lots of excitement so hold on tight. Being this is a fantasy it is one of high caliber. It has the ability to keep you engaged so much so that by the time you are at the last page you will be wishing for more but surprised it is finished.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun, exciting fantasy adventure! I really love the author's world and how we get to see all of it through the characters' travels. The characters are all really fun and cool and I loved getting to know them through the book. I also really like the magic system, I think it's really original and interesting. It ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm so excited to find out what happens to the characters! I can't wait for the next book!!

[Sahreth Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always the Adventure!

Every aspect of this book is brilliantly crafted. The characters are well-developed, the world is intriguing, the plot is interesting, and the adventure is never-ending! As well, it all is familiar enough not need grandiose explanations while remaining fresh and unique.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a refreshing fantasy read! I loved the mix of unique magic, strong character arcs, and the layered world. Ilsi, Reshma, and Tyk each had their own compelling journey, and the tension with Althod kept the stakes high. A great debut with heart, action, and depth I’m excited to see what’s next!

[Kat Todd]

DNF at 25%

I picked this up at Comic Con a couple years back and finally got around to reading it the other day. It's an interesting premise but I had a really had time with the dialogue and how the plot moved forward. Unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Longer review to come soon, but the summary is I liked it and am excited to see what else this author will write in the future!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh I loved this!! The characters are so real and I just fell in love with the main character! It's so rare for books to have grown adults having grown adult relationships and Throwaway Queen really delivers. I can't wait for the sequel!!