What do you think?
Rate this book
The Edge of the Sword #5
The Princess of Everywhere
Princess Bashalis has chosen to go into exile with her brother, the deposed king of Cerecia. They are required by the new monarch to travel with a handler who will keep an eye on them and prevent Chysh from undermining the current regime from afar. Their former servant, Hatch, volunteers for the job. It is soon apparent that he is more than just a lowly retainer. Who is he really, and where do his true loyalties lie?
Bashalis' musical ability and easy-going manners recommend her to everyone's affections wherever she goes. Her talents are in high demand, and more than one man becomes enamored by her charms. Her family's murderous background held no examples of marital bliss for her to use as a standard. Will she recognize true love when she finds it?
Chysh is plagued by depression and hopelessness as all he has ever striven for is lost to him. He alternates between wallowing in despair or lashing out in anger. Can he and his sister find a home where they feel welcome and content? What purpose can a man have who has lost everything? Follow them on their journey to discover true peace and belonging.
Bashalis' musical ability and easy-going manners recommend her to everyone's affections wherever she goes. Her talents are in high demand, and more than one man becomes enamored by her charms. Her family's murderous background held no examples of marital bliss for her to use as a standard. Will she recognize true love when she finds it?
Chysh is plagued by depression and hopelessness as all he has ever striven for is lost to him. He alternates between wallowing in despair or lashing out in anger. Can he and his sister find a home where they feel welcome and content? What purpose can a man have who has lost everything? Follow them on their journey to discover true peace and belonging.
359 pages, ebook
Published September 15, 2019
4 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Amber Gabriel
20 books79 followersEver since I was a little girl, I have loved to read. One of the first books I remember reading was a Wonder Book version of Cinderella. It was in the reading station in my kindergarten class, and I loved the illustrations. I would pick that book out every time, so my teacher finally removed it from the shelf to force me to expand my horizons. Now I have my own copy.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 12, 2023
The Princess of Everywhere is another delightful instalment in The Edge of the Sword series. The books thus far have slowly increased in scope and complexity, reaching something of a climax in The Throne of Cerecia, as a long-brewing conflict boiled over, tensions peaked, and we received a strong resolution to a number of plot points that had spanned two if not three novels.
In The Princess of Everywhere, we see the fall out of The Throne of Cerecia in a story that strikes me as a wonderfully contemplative tale, whilst still delivering the excellent characters, conflicts, and world for which I’ve come to know Amber Gabriel. I won’t go into the plot to avoid spoilers, but like I’ve alluded to, The Princess of Everywhere feels like a natural continuation of the story of The Edge of the Sword. The novel picks up where The Throne of Cerecia leaves off, and centres around Princess Bashalis, her brother Chysh, and their companion Hatch, as they deal with the consequences of the preceding novels and set off on a journey which proves to not only be of a physical nature.
Bashalis
We were introduced to Bashalis earlier in the series, but it wasn’t until The Throne of Cerecia when she took on a larger role. But this is Bashalis’ story. We join her as she struggles to deal with her brother, Chysh, in the aftermath of the previous book. This is certainly not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, but Bashalis is by no means a weakling. I’d argue she’s one of the strongest characters in the whole series.
In fact, Bashalis’ inner strength is a real joy in this novel as she interacts with a wide variety of people, many of whom, it should be noted, would take great joy in murdering her brother. She tears down walls with people and, when that is not possible, still seeks to understand them while maintaining a representation of calm that belies any fear or panic – even though she may feel it!
Her interactions with everyone from women sharing a boat journey to the leader of a desert-roaming mercenary society, demonstrate her strength of character and her gentle soul. Gabriel weaves these various situations and tensions together brilliantly to show off not only her broad world, but also Bashalis’ ability to navigate such diverse situations with grace.
Chysh
Chysh is basically the worst brother ever. He’s selfish, self-pitying, angry, dismissive, and many, many other words. We’re not meant to like him, per se, but wow, Gabriel does an incredible job of demonstrating there is so, so much more under the surface of this cruel, sullen, broken man. It would be incredibly easy for this character to come across as a one-dimensional villain (especially knowing his deeds from prior books), but Gabriel crafts him into a complex and unique character who, you realise throughout the book, is not entirely without hope for redemption or renewal. Perhaps his chief redeeming factor is his genuine love (albeit buried beneath a twisted and broken character) for Bashalis.
Hatch
I don’t think there’s anything not to like about Hatch. He too we have seen before, but this is where he truly shines. Embarking on this tale as a kind of caretaker for the siblings, it’s easy to see there’s more to this mysterious character than meets the eye.
Dedicated, protective, and intelligent, Hatch is always doing his best to watch over Bashalis and Chysh whilst pursuing his own ends. His chivalry and concern is utterly heart-warming, and his interactions with Chysh provide excellent fodder for some strong interpersonal conflict.
On another note, the chemistry between Hatch and Bashalis is an absolute delight. As a bit of a romantic myself (though I don’t read straight romances), I so adored seeing these two characters get to know one another, fall for each other, and still have to navigate their circumstances to be true to their own commitments, values, and responsibilities – ahead of any desire for a potential relationship. That tension – knowing there are important reasons they cannot be together (at first at least…?) – just ups the ante, because those reasons are so legitimate, and to put them aside would be to betray, at least in part, who they are. At first, we don’t know what those reasons are, but as they are revealed it makes so much sense and just increases respect for these characters.
Eemya and Darius
I always enjoy getting a peek in at characters I know and love. Though they were only really present for one section of the novel, it was great to see how Eemya and Darius adjusted to the new status quo.
Themes
Before I end, there are a couple of other points I wanted to mention. The book, especially towards the end, has an important focus on the role of meditation. This stood out for me and even challenged me personally to not be afraid to look at the uncomfortable parts of myself, or to examine what ‘walls’ I had built in my own life. This is really big praise because I genuinely believe one of the most powerful parts of stories is their ability to change us, challenge us, and make us think. The story also has themes of dealing with mental heal, stigma (Bashalis’ albinism was an important part of the tale), and inner peace.
Overall, The Princess of Everywhere was the perfect next story in The Edge of the Sword. It brought the tale back to what seems, on the surface, like a more contained narrative following a single plot line of characters on a quest. But beyond that simple description there is so much richness in the characters and struggles and themes. The more contemplative nature of the story leaves you thinking, while still taking you one a wonderful ride.
In The Princess of Everywhere, we see the fall out of The Throne of Cerecia in a story that strikes me as a wonderfully contemplative tale, whilst still delivering the excellent characters, conflicts, and world for which I’ve come to know Amber Gabriel. I won’t go into the plot to avoid spoilers, but like I’ve alluded to, The Princess of Everywhere feels like a natural continuation of the story of The Edge of the Sword. The novel picks up where The Throne of Cerecia leaves off, and centres around Princess Bashalis, her brother Chysh, and their companion Hatch, as they deal with the consequences of the preceding novels and set off on a journey which proves to not only be of a physical nature.
Bashalis
We were introduced to Bashalis earlier in the series, but it wasn’t until The Throne of Cerecia when she took on a larger role. But this is Bashalis’ story. We join her as she struggles to deal with her brother, Chysh, in the aftermath of the previous book. This is certainly not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, but Bashalis is by no means a weakling. I’d argue she’s one of the strongest characters in the whole series.
In fact, Bashalis’ inner strength is a real joy in this novel as she interacts with a wide variety of people, many of whom, it should be noted, would take great joy in murdering her brother. She tears down walls with people and, when that is not possible, still seeks to understand them while maintaining a representation of calm that belies any fear or panic – even though she may feel it!
Her interactions with everyone from women sharing a boat journey to the leader of a desert-roaming mercenary society, demonstrate her strength of character and her gentle soul. Gabriel weaves these various situations and tensions together brilliantly to show off not only her broad world, but also Bashalis’ ability to navigate such diverse situations with grace.
Chysh
Chysh is basically the worst brother ever. He’s selfish, self-pitying, angry, dismissive, and many, many other words. We’re not meant to like him, per se, but wow, Gabriel does an incredible job of demonstrating there is so, so much more under the surface of this cruel, sullen, broken man. It would be incredibly easy for this character to come across as a one-dimensional villain (especially knowing his deeds from prior books), but Gabriel crafts him into a complex and unique character who, you realise throughout the book, is not entirely without hope for redemption or renewal. Perhaps his chief redeeming factor is his genuine love (albeit buried beneath a twisted and broken character) for Bashalis.
Hatch
I don’t think there’s anything not to like about Hatch. He too we have seen before, but this is where he truly shines. Embarking on this tale as a kind of caretaker for the siblings, it’s easy to see there’s more to this mysterious character than meets the eye.
Dedicated, protective, and intelligent, Hatch is always doing his best to watch over Bashalis and Chysh whilst pursuing his own ends. His chivalry and concern is utterly heart-warming, and his interactions with Chysh provide excellent fodder for some strong interpersonal conflict.
On another note, the chemistry between Hatch and Bashalis is an absolute delight. As a bit of a romantic myself (though I don’t read straight romances), I so adored seeing these two characters get to know one another, fall for each other, and still have to navigate their circumstances to be true to their own commitments, values, and responsibilities – ahead of any desire for a potential relationship. That tension – knowing there are important reasons they cannot be together (at first at least…?) – just ups the ante, because those reasons are so legitimate, and to put them aside would be to betray, at least in part, who they are. At first, we don’t know what those reasons are, but as they are revealed it makes so much sense and just increases respect for these characters.
Eemya and Darius
I always enjoy getting a peek in at characters I know and love. Though they were only really present for one section of the novel, it was great to see how Eemya and Darius adjusted to the new status quo.
Themes
Before I end, there are a couple of other points I wanted to mention. The book, especially towards the end, has an important focus on the role of meditation. This stood out for me and even challenged me personally to not be afraid to look at the uncomfortable parts of myself, or to examine what ‘walls’ I had built in my own life. This is really big praise because I genuinely believe one of the most powerful parts of stories is their ability to change us, challenge us, and make us think. The story also has themes of dealing with mental heal, stigma (Bashalis’ albinism was an important part of the tale), and inner peace.
Overall, The Princess of Everywhere was the perfect next story in The Edge of the Sword. It brought the tale back to what seems, on the surface, like a more contained narrative following a single plot line of characters on a quest. But beyond that simple description there is so much richness in the characters and struggles and themes. The more contemplative nature of the story leaves you thinking, while still taking you one a wonderful ride.
September 16, 2025
I loved this continuation of Bashalis's and Chysh's stories! As always Amber Gabriel inspired big emotions in us over her characters. Chysh in most ways is a deplorable character. He is selfish, arrogant, and a fool. Even his relationship with his sister is a mixed bag, but I love how we start to see his tender side towards Bashalis in this story. They way he starts to become protective of her and use his childhood nickname for her is endearing.
Bashalis' relationship with Hatch is intriguing all the way through. Her shy attraction towards him is endearing and relatable. His desire to be with her is undeniable all the way through, but it isn't until almost the end that we truly see the depths of the reasons why he is hesitant to pursue a romantic relationship with her. He is truly a noble character. Even when all he wants is to love her deeply and fully, he sacrifices his desires for what is best for Bashalis.
Hatch is further shown to be a noble character in his ever patient interactions with Chysh who would drive a lesser man to rash action. Even when provoked, Hatch responds to Chysh with patient self-sacrifice.
The plot is engaging and intriguing from the very beginning unto the satisfactory ending. I love how little by little we are drawn into loving Bashalis, Hatch, and even Chysh. The settings are beautiful. The pacing is perfect! I highly recommend this book!
Bashalis' relationship with Hatch is intriguing all the way through. Her shy attraction towards him is endearing and relatable. His desire to be with her is undeniable all the way through, but it isn't until almost the end that we truly see the depths of the reasons why he is hesitant to pursue a romantic relationship with her. He is truly a noble character. Even when all he wants is to love her deeply and fully, he sacrifices his desires for what is best for Bashalis.
Hatch is further shown to be a noble character in his ever patient interactions with Chysh who would drive a lesser man to rash action. Even when provoked, Hatch responds to Chysh with patient self-sacrifice.
The plot is engaging and intriguing from the very beginning unto the satisfactory ending. I love how little by little we are drawn into loving Bashalis, Hatch, and even Chysh. The settings are beautiful. The pacing is perfect! I highly recommend this book!
October 6, 2021
Each characters life experience to challenges are put to the test as they struggle with inner and outer perceptions and beliefs of themselves. Gabriel weaves a story of drama and adventure. The map is extended to new geographical areas that we can travel with the characters. I love how Gabriel establishes the use of behavioral skills in coping with life difficulties and traumas. What a fulfilling novel! A feeling of peace and satisfaction at the end.
March 4, 2023
I have enjoyed every book in the Edge of the Sword Series, but The Princess of Everywhere is my absolute favorite so far! Princess Bashalis is a unique young lady that has a rough upbringing by losing her parents and dealing with an angry brother.
In this story we find them traveling because they were exiled due to Chysh (former King of Cerecia) and his wickedness.
Their former servant, Hatch, was their guide and guard basically. He is mysterious and interesting and kind of caught the eye of the former Princess.
So much happens in this story and I highly recommend to read or listen to the story! I listened to The Princess of Everywhere narrated by Peter Kenyon (he is an amazing narrator).
In this story we find them traveling because they were exiled due to Chysh (former King of Cerecia) and his wickedness.
Their former servant, Hatch, was their guide and guard basically. He is mysterious and interesting and kind of caught the eye of the former Princess.
So much happens in this story and I highly recommend to read or listen to the story! I listened to The Princess of Everywhere narrated by Peter Kenyon (he is an amazing narrator).
January 15, 2024
A great book for mature reading (depicts some topics that may trigger or concern younger or less mature readers). I loved this book, and the entire series, for the relatable, lovable characters who must learn to cope with difficult life struggles. This is a good book and series for parents to read through with their older children and discuss the subject matter. If you want good meaty fiction written with a good story flow and intriguing characters and setting, coupled with hopeful inspiration to help you with your life, this series is for you.
Disclaimer: Amber Gabriel is my cousin.
Disclaimer: Amber Gabriel is my cousin.
October 31, 2022
I really enjoyed the plucky heroine of this story, and I loved, once again, learning while I read! In this book, the princess has albinism, and Gabriel's portrayal of her and the challenges she faces is, as usual, unflinching, exploratory, and fascinating. I love where she ends up, and I love that her brother is a main character in the next one!
May 10, 2024
I loved every moment of this incredible novel. This one continues on from the previous one with the points of view of Princess Bashalis, Prince Chysh, and their servant "Hatch". As always, Gabriel's focus on overcoming trauma and interpersonal relationships is spot on and brings so much to the story.
Bashalis has always been a very interesting character, and she really comes into her own in this novel. It was a wonderful experience to see her overcoming all her hardships and at last find her brand of peace. Truly uplifting and empowering. I was also really impressed with how much the author used the character's albinism to show up cultural variations in how this condition is viewed in different societies. There were some wonderful plot points derived from this that made the story quite intense.
When I finished The Throne of Cerecia I didn't think Chysh would be redeemable as a character, but I stand corrected. In The Princess of Everywhere Gabriel looks at the possibility of redemption when an individual is taken out of the situation where they abused power, have all power except their own agency taken from them, and find a way to seek out purpose despite "losing everything" they considered important before. It's a powerful message about the right conditions being a great way to propel people away from evil and towards their true purpose.
I really appreciate the messages this author has woven through the entire series and how they keep recurring in a gentle ebb and flow throughout these interconnected stories. Although the first three books can be read as standalones, I feel In Search of Magic Fire, The Throne of Cerecia and The Princess of Everywhere are all part of the same story and should be viewed as a trilogy.
I absolutely love this series, especially how unexpected a lot of the psychological explorations are, and highly recommend this to anyone who'd like something deeper and more profound than most reads.
Bashalis has always been a very interesting character, and she really comes into her own in this novel. It was a wonderful experience to see her overcoming all her hardships and at last find her brand of peace. Truly uplifting and empowering. I was also really impressed with how much the author used the character's albinism to show up cultural variations in how this condition is viewed in different societies. There were some wonderful plot points derived from this that made the story quite intense.
When I finished The Throne of Cerecia I didn't think Chysh would be redeemable as a character, but I stand corrected. In The Princess of Everywhere Gabriel looks at the possibility of redemption when an individual is taken out of the situation where they abused power, have all power except their own agency taken from them, and find a way to seek out purpose despite "losing everything" they considered important before. It's a powerful message about the right conditions being a great way to propel people away from evil and towards their true purpose.
I really appreciate the messages this author has woven through the entire series and how they keep recurring in a gentle ebb and flow throughout these interconnected stories. Although the first three books can be read as standalones, I feel In Search of Magic Fire, The Throne of Cerecia and The Princess of Everywhere are all part of the same story and should be viewed as a trilogy.
I absolutely love this series, especially how unexpected a lot of the psychological explorations are, and highly recommend this to anyone who'd like something deeper and more profound than most reads.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews