Devian

The Elemental Union #1

by Shanna Bosarge

Shanna Bosarge’s breakout novel introduces Sterling Rin’Ovana -- a complex, beautiful, and dangerous woman who forges toward a powerful future despite her unknown past.

Resentful of the silver eyes inherited from a mother she never knew, Sterling must learn to put aside the wayward glances and the whispered insults of those who see her as a monster. Silver eyes that also betray her as a Devian, and the hunted quarry of the Severon.

Born in the midst of a battle between her Veillen father and graekull demons and the blood of her dying mother, Sterling is secreted away by Hemi -- a trusted family servant. She grows in peace and safety until the Severon find her, years later. As they destroy the people and the places she grew to love, Sterling battles their constant push to capture her, as well as her own regret over the trail of destruction that follows her escape.

No amount of Hemi’s training could prepare Sterling for the relentless pursuit of the Severon. As she flees, Hemi’s dying words ring in her ears -- urging her to find shelter in the land of Kai’Vari, the place of her birth. While she hopes to find a place to finally call home, she returns to the millennia old battle between man and demon, as well as fear and mistrust from those who should instead protect her.

She also finds -- as her Devian powers emerge -- that she may either be the key to ending the ancient battle, or the catalyst to the world’s destruction.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2018

About the author

Hello everyone, so glad you found my page, and you're curious about the little story that I wrote.

There is not much to say; I have led a relatively simple life that has been filled with love. I grew up in the little town of Mableton, Ga. Mableton is just outside of Atlanta, but I was born in Mobile, Ala. My family moved here when I was three, so I consider myself a Georgian.

When I was in college, I loved to read Romance novels of any sort. Historical, Fantasy, or Contemporary you name it I read it. Nora Roberts and Judy Garwood are a couple I enjoyed the most. I never wanted them to end and would write stories in my head of how the lives of the characters would continue after the last page. After a while, I decided I wanted to write my own Historical Fiction novel, so without much thought, I started creating characters and didn't get much farther because I got hung up on the historical events and places. I spent hours at the library researching everything from clothing to weapons and horses. I got so deep down in the weeds I lost the passion I that had started me down this path, so I gave up. However, there were two things that I never forgot, and that was Brom and Sterling. The two main characters - they've been with me from the very beginning.

Many years later, the writing bug hit me again and dug out all my old research, and Brom and Sterling were waiting for their story to be told. This time, however, I decided to create a world from my imagination. From there The Elemental Union took shape. A medieval fantasy set in a world molded by the Elemental Gods. What I started with is nothing like where it is today - except, of course, Brom and Sterling.

While I'm not writing, I have a full-time job as a Business Consultant for a Global Fintech company. I travel all over the Middle and Eastern U.S visiting small towns and meeting new people. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science (and never want to write another line of code for the rest of my life). I survived endometrial cancer - woohoo, and have never broken any major bones. I tend to fall down stairs - I hate walking downstairs, up doesn't bother me, but going down - watch out below!

I love video games. You can find me playing Diablo, Borderlands (1, 2, and 3), Skyrim, Dragon Age, and a few others. I'm a Playstation fan - my Gamertag is SMB25 if you want to play some Borderlands.

My daughter often calls me a nerd because I love anime. I think I watch more anime than I do real people. I'm not a huge sports fan, but I am obsessed with sports anime - my favorite being Haikyuu (Volleyball). Still, I watch all kinds like Ace of the Diamond, Kuroko's Basketball, Meglao Box, Hinomaruzumou (it's about Sumo!), Baby Steps (Tennis), Yuri on Ice, and who can forget Free! (Swimming and fan service (guy version)). Yes, some of them are over the top and more than a little ridiculous, but they all have one thing in common - The internal and external struggles of the underdog becoming the champion through strife and conflict.

I love more than sports anime, though; I enjoy things like Gundam (Iron blooded orphans is my favorite) along with other main streams like Naruto and My Hero Academia, but also enjoy the darker side of anime with Berserk and Goblin Slayer. My subscriptions on Crunchyroll and Funimation are always full, along with my growing anime T-Shirt Collection. The one I'm most enjoying right now is Vinland Saga. Amazing story and animation.

That is just a little about me. Thanks again for visiting. Drop me a line on Facebook, Instagram, or Patreon.

Reviews

[Katy Vendetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book in a farmer's market in Georgia while visiting family. It's a fantasy with some elemental magic, a girl with a mysterious past, and a robust world. I was in.

I'm not familiar with this author's web series, so I went into this world through this book. I have to say, the beginning was a bit overwhelming, with a lot of unfamiliar places, people, races, dates thrown at me. But I regained my footing around the 50-page mark.

The story is about a girl with silver eyes named Sterling. Her parents die when she was born and she is taken and hidden by a loyal slave named Hemi. On her twenty-first birthday, her origin is revealed to her and she begins an epic journey to find her family. She loses people that she loves along the way, is tortured, and generally shunned by society because those silver eyes mean she is part of an outcasted and hunted race.

There are some typos throughout the book, but they don't take away from the story. The pacing is pretty good. The story, itself, is excellent. I'm going to keep my eye out for the next one to be released because there are a lot of questions left unanswered.

There is profanity in the book, but not much. There is also some sexual content. There is an instant-love story early on, but then the character basically disappears from the rest of the book. There is also a rape scene, which is then alluded to several more rapes that followed. But it's not detailed, however, it may be triggering for some. There is violence, a lot of fighting. There is also torture and hunting. But again, it's not overly detailed.

I think this book is definitely a diamond in the rough. The author loves this world and knows it very well. It definitely comes alive through the story. Interested in the next one!

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devian by Shanna Bosarge is the gritty fantasy tale of Sterling, a young woman with an unknown past. Sterling is constantly being hunted by an evil force, and people are slow to trust her due to her mysterious silver eyes. As the war between demons and humans rages on, Sterling must fight to uncover her past so the world can have a future. Tense, fast paced, and vivid, the mystery of Devian was a really cool read any fantasy fan can enjoy!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading the first book in a new series. DEVIAN, Book 1 in the Elemental Union by Shanna Bosarge. (This was a free copy given by the author for my honest feedback).

This book is really well written. There is a mention of magic, but it isn’t discovered in this first book. We follow Sterling on a journey as she discovers who she is.

Devian was a great start to a series, the character building in this book is fantastic. You become invested. I cannot wait till the next in the story. To find out what comes next.

At the moment i would give this book a 3.5 stars this may change as I continue on with the story. If you like well built character arcs set in a fantasy world this may book might be of interest too you.

[Blue Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book by @shannabosarge
Intense, creative and a must read for fantasy lovers
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You just need to read a page and trust me you won't be able to put it down. The book opens with such beautiful description that it leaves you impressed.
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Get ready to discover a lot of new fantasy adventures. The book is fast paced. So, it's a page turner. You may get a satisfying end but still you wont be able to wait for book 2.
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Looking for strong plot and compelling characters? Well, this is the book for you.
I loved the fact that the writing style of author is sensuous.
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I would give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.
Highly recommended to fantasy lovers.
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p.s. the book has its own map♥️

❤
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[Katia · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING

I enjoyed this story so much and I can not wait until the next one is available! I was pulled in alone by just the names of the "months" that began the chapters. I love the world that has been created, I can see the characters and landscape as the story is told. I felt all the emotions right along with each character, particularly the main character, Sterling! Great read, great story line I will be in line for the 2nd book as soon as it is available!! I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of eragon and the wheel of time series. Shorter read but in my opinion just as intense and captivating! :D

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

No stars. That's the real rating. Rape. Torture. Cruelty. Betrayal. Denial. Murder. Complacency. Nope, don't think so. Y'all can have it. DNF the other 50%.

[Emily Ziaukas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Shanna at her booth in the Marietta Square Artisan market over December and got both books in her break out series as well as some AMAZINGLY detailed ornate maps from the series. She was the sweetest person ever and signed my books for me! I almost passed her because I was just intending to walk around really but something about it just pulled me in. She saw me looking and asked me a question and we started talking about reading and she explained what the books were all about and I was SOLD.

When I got these I was in the middle of The Folk of Aire series so I put them on my shelf for a little bit. Then of course, Onxy Storm came out so all other books came to a halt while I devoured that. Finished Onxy Storm and as I’m sure most romantasy book worms will appreciate, had the BIGGEST book hang over you can possibly have because yay Rebecca Yarros and her soul splitting cliff hangers that we love to hate. lol. Any book worm can also attest that when you’re coming off a book hangover from something as big and wrenching as Fourth Wing / Onyx Storm, It’s incredibly difficult to get into another book or really give the first one you pick up next a fair chance because how could it possibly compare, right?

Boy oh boy was I SHOOK when I realized that I was no longer reeling over Xaden and Onyx Storms ending to the point I wasn’t even THINKING about it because I found myself so enamored with Devian that I was two chapters away from the end of the first book just in my first sitting with it. That is NO small feet to overcome something like the ending of Onyx. And my book hangover was so much more than cured. It was GONE. I mean ZERO offense at all, but usually I wouldn’t expect serious reading ACOTAR for the first time magic out of a book from a break out smaller author. But Ms. Bosarge is COMING for SJM! I LOVE the writing style and having ADHD very much appreciated the shorter chapter style. It made it a lot easier for me to just say okay, one more chapter! And all the sudden you’re at the end of the book. Lol. Can’t say enough about the structuring in that regard.

There was a lot of information coming at us on the first few pages that seemed overwhelming to try and take in all at once, but you quickly find out that it’s okay because all is explained in further detail with repetitive patterns with the mentioning of the places and how they relate etc in the proceeding few chapters to help you mentally build this world in your head. I also greatly appreciated that. I also saw how well Shanna handled and conveyed things like the *ape scene that are very sensitive in such a way that painted the picture and drew the emotions out of you over it, but gently. Cautiously. And respectfully of any victim that may be reading. I loved her so much for that. I also appreciated the fast pace that kept it interesting without dragging it out. The pace and it moving too slowly or too quickly kills a lot of really good books. She stuck to the point with just right right amount of filler. Not so much that the book choked on it. And the story… incredible. Purely incredible and I can’t wait to delve into the next book! I could go on all day about all the small things I noticed and appreciated in this. But I will leave with saying I am smitten with her writing. In love with Sterling and Brom, and cannot wait to see what happens in the next book… but also looking forward to any of her future books!

[Buttercupp77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic beginning to a series, with many strong elements and few weak ones.

The world-building is excellent and immersive. The author skillfully weaves description througout the story, never interfering with the pacing, which is also strong.

There are a number of very strong characters. As the lead, Sterling is a blend of vulnerability, inner strength, and rage. Given her lack of knowledge about her personal history and people, the reader learns of much of it alongside her. While I would have preferred to learn more about her past, I realise that it makes more sense to have her learn more gradually, so I agree with the author's choice in the matter. Brom is also a strong character. Once again, I wish I knew more of his history, but I expect is likely to come up in later installments of the series.

I did feel that the Severon characters were underdeveloped, and came off as one-dimensional. I wish they had been given a richer exploration, both as a culture and individually. They seemed kind of random, with no context as to what the broader picture really was. For me, this, in combination with the lack of mythological/spiritual component of this world, kept this from being a 5-star read.

There were a number of small errors in the novel (a cantor is a specific type of singer - not what a horse does). While they were not overly intrusive, I did feel that there were more of them than I had expected to see.

This is a really great read. The material is a bit difficult owing to the violence and torture, but the author certainly didn't revel in those elements, which I really appreciated. I am very excited to keep reading the series as it is off to a wonderful start, and I have high hopes for it.

I received a copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.

[Mary P.]

(Wow, I didn’t know that I could make a zero-star review.) TRIGGER WARNINGS: R, S/A, C/S/A, Torture, and bad writing. DNF, quit at page 144.

“He couldn’t help himself.”

This book is a terrible world where a girl (a minor) is apparently the object of all men’s desires, to the point of becoming captured and repeatedly Raped and Tortured. Every man that encounters her wants to have sex with her, and she’s 14 or 15.

Also, everything just “happens” to the main character- she has zero control over the coincidence after coincidence that keep putting her in a bad way.

One of the main draws to keep you reading is that we simply haven’t been told details about the main character’s race and title, even though everyone else apparently knows? It’s bogus that these things were not explained to her before the day that, coincidentally, they would not be.

The author skips past major action scenes, relationship-building content, character-building content, and leans heavily on cliches. I read at least two scenes in this book that seemed to be directly written based on scenes from a couple popular movies.

I feel bad for the poor victim that this book could be based on- I think they have internalized misogyny, and even perhaps some unexplored kinks in regards to torture. I can back up this argument based on several moments, but specifically I would focus on chapter 16.

The book spends far too much time bogging the reader down with information about the world in the beginning- far too much information and overwhelming.
The characters are basic, but the story seems like an attempt at building a much larger world than they need.


Man, I hate to be so brutal but rarely does a book frustrate me so. What a shame.

[Ant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the first book in a series, especially a fantasy series, always has the difficult task of setting the stage that allows for scale but in also a manner which doesn't bore the reader while learning about nations, factions, magic systems, etc.

Shanna Bosarge does a reasonable job of this, although the first quarter does feel a bit trope-ish. But let's be honest, there are not many epic fantasy series that don't begin without a young person experiencing tragic loss and/or setting out into the world, usually on a quest, with not a lot of knowledge of their background.

However, once past the world-building and the first romance (that would sit far better in a YA book), the plot and story-telling really opens up and shows it's teeth. The sequence that comes after that "romance" completely blew away any doubts I had about whether this series could go the distance - it absolutely can. No spoilers here - read it for yourself. The further you read, and the more characters that get introduced cements that feeling.

There is a little bit of a "debut novel" feeling about this book, but there is potential here that I hope gets built on in the future.

Many thanks to VRO and Shanna Bosarge for the complementary copy of this book.

[Ricardo Montay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading "Devian" by Shanna Bosarge, thanks to Voracious Readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself eagerly turning the pages to follow Sterling Rin'Ovana's captivating journey. The author's intricate world-building, compelling characters, and fast-paced plot kept me hooked from start to finish. I am looking forward to the next installment of this exciting series.

[Stephanie Elrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devian is the start to a new fantasy world revolving around Sterling, an orphan of unknown importance and abilities. If you enjoy strong tortured females battling a troubling past and dangerous present, then this is the series for you. There are also many supporting characters with their own challenges to fill out this new world. Overall, I enjoyed this complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Sara Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

So I have read the book and my only question is when does book 2 come out? Really great build of characters, and I'm looking forward to Sterling development with time. Can't wait to see what's in store for Kellan and the Sevaran when she overcomes the abuse and betrayal to fully embrace who she is and what she we be capable of.

[Lillian Wakulchyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a review. Just finished this- was a great read! I was hoping for more history on the Devian , but now I guess I need to read the other ones ! There was some gut wrenching scenes but nothing too graphic- the aftermath though might be a bit much for people. All in all a good read !

[K.E. Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the story and the world that was built, there were quite a few punctuations and grammar mistakes that disrupted the story for me. Still, there's a lot of world-building that I enjoyed (although some of it might have needed some more explanations but maybe that will happen in the second book). Overall, it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

[Kelsie Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was nervous about this book at first because I thought it was going to be too heavy into medieval, magical, or mythical beings that I couldn’t follow (listening on audiobook), but it was just the right amount. I found this author through a farmers market stand, and so glad I did! I can’t wait until the next book comes out. I am definitely intrigued!

[Dana Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT book!!

I absolutely loved this book! The characters are finely wrought, the story clear and compelling. This is my favorite genre, and books such as this are rare. I cannot wait for the next installment!

[Mario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book at a fair a few months ago finally took the time out to read it and my gosh what a an adventure!!! Lots of world development opportunities! Sterling’s adventure and struggle will have you continue reading. I loved this book and looking forward to the next one!!!!

[April Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devian was an adventure! From the very beginning, I was hooked. I found myself telling my friends and family updates as I read more of the story as if I were experiencing it for myself. Shanna created a magical world with characters so real, I feel as if I have met them in person!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little slow to start with but the pace picks up and stays there. I really liked Sterling. Relatable and strong a very authentic characters. Finished it off in a mad rush! Have to read the next one!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic Fantasy wherein the hero starts from nothing, abhorred by many around them, then loses their family before starting on a journey of self discovery and making new friends.

[Rachel Cruzado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well built world and story line. I can't wait to see the rest of Sterling's journey!

[Hazel Cabada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down!
Can’t wait to read the 2nd book

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was hard to put down, kept me engaged and wanting to know what happened next. Character development was great, I really felt invested. I can't wait to start book 2!

[Sara Jamieson]

What riveting and compelling book! It's an action packed journey with intrigue and magic that balances pain and bigotry with perseverance and hope. There's still so much left you feel is coming and so many questions unanswered by the end that I can't wait to read the next installment!