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The Sezna Seer #1
Amethyst in Ashes
A reluctant teenage Seer, an evil sorceress, and a quest for power that will change everything
Fifteen-year-old Talullah Bridgestone dreams of escaping her town’s suffocating protection spell and adventuring in the outside world—until soldiers from a neighboring kingdom break through the magic and kidnap her younger sisters while looking for…her.
Now, Talullah must choose: continue ignoring the cloudy visions that have plagued her for the last eight years or swallow her reservations, learn to use her powers, and save her sisters from the sorceress Renevelda’s sinister plans.
The missing amethyst from her heirloom necklace will help clarify and control her visions. To find it, she must survive the dark forest rumored to steal souls, journey to a realm of the dead, and, maybe most difficult of all, face the ghosts of her past.
Her enemy has a spy. Her allies have secrets. And her dream of getting out has just become her worst nightmare.
If she fails to master the power she never wanted, the sorceress will rewrite history…and stain it with Talullah’s sisters’ blood.
Fans of Shadow & Bone, Caraval, and Fable will love this fast-paced, magical adventure.
Fifteen-year-old Talullah Bridgestone dreams of escaping her town’s suffocating protection spell and adventuring in the outside world—until soldiers from a neighboring kingdom break through the magic and kidnap her younger sisters while looking for…her.
Now, Talullah must choose: continue ignoring the cloudy visions that have plagued her for the last eight years or swallow her reservations, learn to use her powers, and save her sisters from the sorceress Renevelda’s sinister plans.
The missing amethyst from her heirloom necklace will help clarify and control her visions. To find it, she must survive the dark forest rumored to steal souls, journey to a realm of the dead, and, maybe most difficult of all, face the ghosts of her past.
Her enemy has a spy. Her allies have secrets. And her dream of getting out has just become her worst nightmare.
If she fails to master the power she never wanted, the sorceress will rewrite history…and stain it with Talullah’s sisters’ blood.
Fans of Shadow & Bone, Caraval, and Fable will love this fast-paced, magical adventure.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
308 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2019
About the author
Kiersten Lillis
6 books13 followersKiersten Lillis writes fast-paced, no spice, mythology-inspired fantasy for teens and young adults. A pinch of mystery and something ghost-shaped always seem to work their way into her stories, whether or not she plans for them. Before publishing books, Kiersten edited wedding and event videos, spending hours crying alone at her computer while trying to bribe the author muse. When not writing, she can be found improvising silly songs and bedtime stories for her kids, singing off-key to Taylor Swift, and sipping sweet tea while hiding from the Colorado sunshine.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 6, 2024
This is a new author for me..
Amethyst in ashes is book 1 in the *Sezna Seer series*by kiersten lillis.
It's a YA high fantasy series.
With an amazing build of the main character Tallulah a young girl who of no fault of her own gets thrown into the world of magic and has to fight her way through each adventure, trying to save her sisters and father. I've enjoyed the little twists and and how she's never afraid to fight for what sge believes. And it's cute how she's falling in love with her best friend without eve realizing it.
I really can't wait to see what kiersten brings to the table in book 2. Will Tallulah save her sisters and embrace becoming the chosen one. If you love fantasy novels this is really a serious to get into. You won't be sorry. For all ages.
Amethyst in ashes is book 1 in the *Sezna Seer series*by kiersten lillis.
It's a YA high fantasy series.
With an amazing build of the main character Tallulah a young girl who of no fault of her own gets thrown into the world of magic and has to fight her way through each adventure, trying to save her sisters and father. I've enjoyed the little twists and and how she's never afraid to fight for what sge believes. And it's cute how she's falling in love with her best friend without eve realizing it.
I really can't wait to see what kiersten brings to the table in book 2. Will Tallulah save her sisters and embrace becoming the chosen one. If you love fantasy novels this is really a serious to get into. You won't be sorry. For all ages.
May 18, 2023
If you're looking for a YA high fantasy with fantastic worldbuilding and edge-of-your-seat action, you've found it. I would have easily read Amethyst in Ashes in a single day if it hadn't been for work. From the first pages, I was intrigued, but it was the immersive world and creative use of magic that really sucked me in.
Living in a village shrouded by magic with her father and two sisters, Tallulah has her peaceful life shattered when castle soldiers storm the village, kidnapping her whole family. But she learned to rely on herself from a young age, having been abandoned by her mother. Determined to get them back, she sets off into an enchanted wood in pursuit of the soldiers.
She'll have to face portals to new worlds, magic mazes, dangerous beings, and her own destiny as a Seer and manipulator at time if she wants to rescue her sisters. But along the way, she'll discover that she's already entangled in a fateful plan years in the making.
The story never let up for a moment, keeping me glued to the page, and there was a major twist in the third quarter that really took me by surprise. Tallulah herself is brave and resorceful, an easy heroine to root for. I actually loved that she had to struggle so hard and fail several times on her path toward becoming the Chosen One.
That said, if you come in expecting a fantasy romance, you might be disappointed. Though Tallulah has great chemistry with her snarky best friend (and there seems to be a slow-burn romance developing), the main focus of the story is its epic plot, a rich magic system, and the plight of its characters. And on those fronts, it absolutely delivers.
Do yourself a favor, and get lost in the Four Worlds. I, for one, am already itching to dive into the next book.
Living in a village shrouded by magic with her father and two sisters, Tallulah has her peaceful life shattered when castle soldiers storm the village, kidnapping her whole family. But she learned to rely on herself from a young age, having been abandoned by her mother. Determined to get them back, she sets off into an enchanted wood in pursuit of the soldiers.
She'll have to face portals to new worlds, magic mazes, dangerous beings, and her own destiny as a Seer and manipulator at time if she wants to rescue her sisters. But along the way, she'll discover that she's already entangled in a fateful plan years in the making.
The story never let up for a moment, keeping me glued to the page, and there was a major twist in the third quarter that really took me by surprise. Tallulah herself is brave and resorceful, an easy heroine to root for. I actually loved that she had to struggle so hard and fail several times on her path toward becoming the Chosen One.
That said, if you come in expecting a fantasy romance, you might be disappointed. Though Tallulah has great chemistry with her snarky best friend (and there seems to be a slow-burn romance developing), the main focus of the story is its epic plot, a rich magic system, and the plight of its characters. And on those fronts, it absolutely delivers.
Do yourself a favor, and get lost in the Four Worlds. I, for one, am already itching to dive into the next book.
May 21, 2026
“Without your input, Talullah would still be a cardboard cutout with no direction.”
She still is. She’s painfully predictable. The Chosen One trope is already exhausted, but this book somehow managed to make it even more boring. Honestly, I almost want to give it five stars for accomplishing that.
Look at this:
Mirella’s eyes filled with tears, her lip curling into a quivering half-smile. Before Talullah could say anything else, her great-aunt wrapped her into tight hug. Talullah returned the hug, surprised at the wetness rolling down her own cheeks. Though she hadn’t seen her aunt in years, unconditional love warmed their embrace. She wanted to tell Mirella how much she’d missed her, how glad she was to see her, to be with family again. But overwhelm paralyzed her vocal cords. If she opened her mouth now, she’d only sob.
How did this make it past editing?
And whoever started the writing advice that readers should only follow and emotionally connect to the protagonist needs to be launched directly into the sun. That advice produces mediocre-ass storytelling.
Then there’s this:
Talullah’s throat tightened and her mouth went dry. It had been years since they’d seen each other, but she would have recognized this woman anywhere. “Hello, dear. I thought I’d be seeing you soon.” The woman’s voice was just as she remembered. Soft and sweet. And those eyes. Though the rest of her had changed with age, those golden eyes still shone bright and clear. The words felt foreign on Talullah’s tongue, like a language she’d once spoken fluently but now stumbled over, out of practice. “Hello, Aunt Mirella.”
I do not care. At all. The writing never made me care, so these emotional beats land with the force of a wet paper towel.
The best parts of the book were with Captain Caprico because at least those scenes had interaction, movement, and personality. Every time it switched back to Talullah, I was annoyed.
And this chapter ending?
A sour taste coated Talullah’s tongue. No. They couldn’t have. But Zeri held the evidence in her arms. Talullah’s baby sisters had stolen from the most powerful sorceress in the world.
Horrible. Completely tell-heavy and dramatically flat. It doesn’t compel me to keep reading. It compels me to close the book and go make a sandwich.
I am begging authors to stop copying recycled fantasy templates and start thinking originally.
She still is. She’s painfully predictable. The Chosen One trope is already exhausted, but this book somehow managed to make it even more boring. Honestly, I almost want to give it five stars for accomplishing that.
Look at this:
Mirella’s eyes filled with tears, her lip curling into a quivering half-smile. Before Talullah could say anything else, her great-aunt wrapped her into tight hug. Talullah returned the hug, surprised at the wetness rolling down her own cheeks. Though she hadn’t seen her aunt in years, unconditional love warmed their embrace. She wanted to tell Mirella how much she’d missed her, how glad she was to see her, to be with family again. But overwhelm paralyzed her vocal cords. If she opened her mouth now, she’d only sob.
How did this make it past editing?
And whoever started the writing advice that readers should only follow and emotionally connect to the protagonist needs to be launched directly into the sun. That advice produces mediocre-ass storytelling.
Then there’s this:
Talullah’s throat tightened and her mouth went dry. It had been years since they’d seen each other, but she would have recognized this woman anywhere. “Hello, dear. I thought I’d be seeing you soon.” The woman’s voice was just as she remembered. Soft and sweet. And those eyes. Though the rest of her had changed with age, those golden eyes still shone bright and clear. The words felt foreign on Talullah’s tongue, like a language she’d once spoken fluently but now stumbled over, out of practice. “Hello, Aunt Mirella.”
I do not care. At all. The writing never made me care, so these emotional beats land with the force of a wet paper towel.
The best parts of the book were with Captain Caprico because at least those scenes had interaction, movement, and personality. Every time it switched back to Talullah, I was annoyed.
And this chapter ending?
A sour taste coated Talullah’s tongue. No. They couldn’t have. But Zeri held the evidence in her arms. Talullah’s baby sisters had stolen from the most powerful sorceress in the world.
Horrible. Completely tell-heavy and dramatically flat. It doesn’t compel me to keep reading. It compels me to close the book and go make a sandwich.
I am begging authors to stop copying recycled fantasy templates and start thinking originally.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2019
This book takes the reader deep into a magical world. It's filled with all my fantasy favorites - cloaking spells, old women hawking magical wares, faeries, the underworld, a scary forest, secret mazes, and much more.
Tallulah is easy to relate to in her quest to save her sisters and reunite her family. Her grief and anger over her mother's disappearance (and subsequent fear of losing the rest of her family) is the thread that seems to drive her story.
This book has left me wanting to read more about Tallulah and the Senza Seers, and I look forward to her next three adventures and seeing how the finding of stones for Dunami's eye expands her powers.
Tallulah is easy to relate to in her quest to save her sisters and reunite her family. Her grief and anger over her mother's disappearance (and subsequent fear of losing the rest of her family) is the thread that seems to drive her story.
This book has left me wanting to read more about Tallulah and the Senza Seers, and I look forward to her next three adventures and seeing how the finding of stones for Dunami's eye expands her powers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2023
this was a great first start to the Sezna Seer series, it had everything that I was looking for in this type of book. I loved the idea of this book and had created a unique world. The characters were wonderfully done and it left me wanting more in this universe. I enjoyed the way Kiersten Lillis wrote this and can't wait for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2023
The plot of this story isn't bad, but I found the main character incredibly frustrating. She seems to constantly alternate between getting swept up in magic and completely forgetting her responsibilities and blaming everyone she knows for the bad things that have happened. The plot and writing outside of the main character is good, but I had no desire to stick around to see her growth over the sequels.
May 3, 2024
Just finished up "Amethyst in Ashes" by Kiersten Lillis! This was a fun YA high fantasy set in an intricate world. Tallulah, the FMC shows great resilience and power and she follows this rollercoaster of an adventure as she embraces her role as a Seer. The world building was great, and the magic system was well crafted. I'm excited to continue this series in the future!
July 6, 2024
I got this book for free on Kindle and really enjoyed it. The characters are great and I truly enjoyed the storyline. There was magic and excitement throughout with mystery strewn through as well. I've already downloaded book 2! :)
July 10, 2019
Really easy read with a fun story line!
Can't wait to read the next one :)
Can't wait to read the next one :)
December 30, 2025
All you expect
This is a really great book. It is truly all you expect from a good fantasy novel. Can't wait to read book 2
This is a really great book. It is truly all you expect from a good fantasy novel. Can't wait to read book 2
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews