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Uncertain Sanctuary #1
The House That Walked Between Worlds
A tornado of chaos is tearing through Reality and in its path is the newest House, a bleak and forbidding fortress built of magic and grief by the most unlikely of sorcerers, a human.
A reckless act of compassion costs Dr. Kira Aist her family and her future on Earth. To escape her enemies, she calls on her heritage as a descendant of Baba Yaga and walks between worlds.
As Kira roams the paths of Reality, strangers are drawn to her House. Some seek refuge, some seek power, and one just wants kitty treats.
With the fate of multiple worlds hanging in the balance, Kira must discover what it means to be a sorcerer and the keeper of a House.
The House That Walked Between Worlds is a compelling and original fantasy novel of multiple worlds and beguiling mystery in the tradition of Ursula Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones.
A reckless act of compassion costs Dr. Kira Aist her family and her future on Earth. To escape her enemies, she calls on her heritage as a descendant of Baba Yaga and walks between worlds.
As Kira roams the paths of Reality, strangers are drawn to her House. Some seek refuge, some seek power, and one just wants kitty treats.
With the fate of multiple worlds hanging in the balance, Kira must discover what it means to be a sorcerer and the keeper of a House.
The House That Walked Between Worlds is a compelling and original fantasy novel of multiple worlds and beguiling mystery in the tradition of Ursula Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones.
ebook
First published June 25, 2020
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About the author
Jenny Schwartz
110 books569 followersAustralian science fiction and fantasy author.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
June 17, 2024
I'm continuing to blitz through this author's backlist, and moved away from space opera into fantasy. This is a fun one - the FMC grew up being told not to use her magic, because people would come after her. She does use it, as a doctor in residential training, to save a child... and terrible things happen. She's forced to flee, and this kicks off her journey of discovering what it means to be a sorcerer.
August 4, 2021
I was intrigued by the premise of a descendent of Baba Yaga summoning the house that walks and embarking on adventures, but there were far too many issues.
First, “sand colored skin” is NOT a definitive trait of being human. The protagonist uses her caucasian skin, more than once throughout the story, to “prove” she is human. My god.
Also, hacking one story into bits does not create a series. A series has an overarching plot line, to be sure, but each installment within that series must have its own, complete, minor plot that is resolved within that book. This author doesn’t bother, so be aware that the book just ends without anything being resolved.
Using incoherent sentences combined with incomplete sentences that trail off does not at all achieve what the author hoped it would.
I apologize for sounding harsh, but there is no way to review this book honestly without pointing out the issues, and prospective readers deserve to know what they are getting into.
First, “sand colored skin” is NOT a definitive trait of being human. The protagonist uses her caucasian skin, more than once throughout the story, to “prove” she is human. My god.
Also, hacking one story into bits does not create a series. A series has an overarching plot line, to be sure, but each installment within that series must have its own, complete, minor plot that is resolved within that book. This author doesn’t bother, so be aware that the book just ends without anything being resolved.
Using incoherent sentences combined with incomplete sentences that trail off does not at all achieve what the author hoped it would.
I apologize for sounding harsh, but there is no way to review this book honestly without pointing out the issues, and prospective readers deserve to know what they are getting into.
October 30, 2021
I liked this book enough. Didn't wow me, but was a pleasant diversion. I think this is a trilogy. This first book is the heroine, a sorceress, creating a haven and escape vessel (a walking, sentient house, Baby Yaga style) after an off-screen tragedy, and then fumbling her way through other planets in other dimensions, building her family of choice, searching for a direction. Her familiar is a very large cat, hence the cover art on the kindle version that I read. I liked the alien cultures, but wasn't impressed with the plot. The characters were good enough, though not as fleshed out as I prefer.
August 17, 2023
I LOVED this book. From start to finish it was an excellent read.
I don't know how to write this review without turning it into a sales pitch.
It had a lot of the same vibes as The Innkeeper Chronicles. You have a magical house, it's not an inn, but it does seem the size of a decent castle. And while the inn seem to be able to send feelings to their innkeeper, the House cannot. It clear it is intelligent, but communication is on the door-slamming variety.
Unlike the Innkeeper chronicles, this house travel TO the magical and weird places and planets, and doesn't get visitors from them. Tho Kira does invite quite a slew of people to reside in her House throughout the books.
Another difference is that the Inn is supposed to be neutral grounds. Kira and her House isn't, and Kira has to decide herself just what she's going to do with her power as a Sorcerer. Which seems to be at the top of the magic ranking pole.
This was a whimsical read, which whimsical no-restriction kind of magic, and creatures from elves and goblins to nagas and cyborg to dinosaurs and birdpeople
This was so good I went and downloaded the second book right away.
I don't know how to write this review without turning it into a sales pitch.
It had a lot of the same vibes as The Innkeeper Chronicles. You have a magical house, it's not an inn, but it does seem the size of a decent castle. And while the inn seem to be able to send feelings to their innkeeper, the House cannot. It clear it is intelligent, but communication is on the door-slamming variety.
Unlike the Innkeeper chronicles, this house travel TO the magical and weird places and planets, and doesn't get visitors from them. Tho Kira does invite quite a slew of people to reside in her House throughout the books.
Another difference is that the Inn is supposed to be neutral grounds. Kira and her House isn't, and Kira has to decide herself just what she's going to do with her power as a Sorcerer. Which seems to be at the top of the magic ranking pole.
This was a whimsical read, which whimsical no-restriction kind of magic, and creatures from elves and goblins to nagas and cyborg to dinosaurs and birdpeople
This was so good I went and downloaded the second book right away.
October 2, 2025
I think I have just discovered my very first cozy futuristic fantasy! And I really enjoyed it.
There are a couple of things one should know, however, in order to make the reading more understandable and enjoyable.
1. This book is one of three in a serialized story. That means we don’t get an ending. I don’t even mean the cliffhanger type. There is no tying up threads, no big climax etc. etc. The story just quietly walks of the page. We are reading about our characters, turn the page and…. Nothing. SO, if you start this book, do so knowing you will be reading three installments to even get the end of one or any story.
2. This first book spends a lot of time setting up the world as it also acquaints us with the main character. It is delightfully fun watching Kira (FMC) come to terms with her new life and its challenges, as well as the secondary characters that are starting to emerge, but those things come with a good dose of technical stuff, as well.
Overall, however, I loved what looks to be an engaging three part series!
There are a couple of things one should know, however, in order to make the reading more understandable and enjoyable.
1. This book is one of three in a serialized story. That means we don’t get an ending. I don’t even mean the cliffhanger type. There is no tying up threads, no big climax etc. etc. The story just quietly walks of the page. We are reading about our characters, turn the page and…. Nothing. SO, if you start this book, do so knowing you will be reading three installments to even get the end of one or any story.
2. This first book spends a lot of time setting up the world as it also acquaints us with the main character. It is delightfully fun watching Kira (FMC) come to terms with her new life and its challenges, as well as the secondary characters that are starting to emerge, but those things come with a good dose of technical stuff, as well.
Overall, however, I loved what looks to be an engaging three part series!
February 2, 2021
Light, entertaining, the beginnings of a strong found family . . . and then BOOM! A sudden, cliffhanger ending.
August 2, 2021
5 Stars
A dynamite book that is well written, fabulous plot line, and engaging characters. While this book definitely continues the story in the next book it does not leave you hanging as if the next chapters were left out. A series I will be continuing and also placing on my keeper shelf!!
A dynamite book that is well written, fabulous plot line, and engaging characters. While this book definitely continues the story in the next book it does not leave you hanging as if the next chapters were left out. A series I will be continuing and also placing on my keeper shelf!!
June 27, 2020
Delightful Saga!
If you like adventures with a colorful cast of characters led by a novice sorcerer with unlimited powers and a good heart, this book is for you.
I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy.
If you like adventures with a colorful cast of characters led by a novice sorcerer with unlimited powers and a good heart, this book is for you.
I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy.
September 16, 2025
Reread 9/16/25: I enjoyed this wonderful novel just as much the second time around, and I agree completely with my 5-star review below.
Review 10/23/24:
Act 1 of a 3-part, serialized, SF-fantasy novel, with Acts 1 & 2 ending on a cliffhanger
For the past 20 years, since she was seven years old, physician, Dr. Kira Aist, was strongly urged by her Russian-American babushkas (grandmothers) to conceal her magical abilities. She first learned about her magic during a visit from the only known sorcerer on Earth, her 500-year-old, great-great-etc-grandmother, Baba Yaga. Against the express wishes of Kira's babushkas, Baba Yaga showed young Kira how to create a magical House that has the ability to walk between worlds, a lesson Kira never forgot.
The inciting incident of Kira's adventures occurs when, in the midst of her internship at a hospital, she cannot resist magically healing a dying child. Soon after, the child is kidnapped by unknown villains. Henchmen of these same villains chase down her parents, who are driving on a highway, and cause their deaths in a car crash. Using her magic, Kira tracks down the kidnapped child, but is too late to save her. The child has been murdered by an evil doctor, who is in the midst of dissecting the body when Kira arrives. Kira exacts retribution on the doctor and two burly, armed guards by killing them with her magic. She then further utilizes her magic to lead her to a site in New Zealand where the bones of world-walking birds are buried, which she employs, utilizing her vast sorcerer magic, to power the ritual that Baba Yaga taught her to create a world-walking House. She then immediately flies away from Earth via the House, arriving in an interstellar realm called Reality.
Since the three books of this trilogy are actually Acts 1, 2, and 3 of a serialized novel, I am writing my opinion of the whole series in this review. As is typical in this genre, the entire series is narrated from the single, first-person POV of Kira, as the FMC.
The author classifies this series as SF-fantasy, which is an accurate designation. Speaking as someone who does not typically read SF, for what it is worth, I personally found the world-building in this series to be excellently done. I especially loved Kira 's relationship with her House. It is a sentient being, but throughout this trilogy it refuses to talk to her in words. It uses other quite entertaining means to communicate with her.
I would also classify this series as a type of superhero story, because Kira is what I personally call a Positive Warrior. At all times, she deploys the enormous range of her magic to protect and serve sentient beings who are being persecuted, either by individual power brokers or the destructive policies of an interplanetary political system. In addition, one of my favorite tropes in a superhero story is when the superhero is first getting in touch with their power, how to use it and what the range of it is. This is very much the case early in this first book when Kira and her House are getting acquainted with each other.
I would also classify this series as paranormal romance, because, very early in this first novel, Kira encounters and rescues her love interest, a human-appearing, tall, ripped, cyborg-enhanced elf named Evander, who has blue skin, blue hair, and pointy ears. On the same day that Kira rescues Evander, she adopts a "scytha," a large cat type predator, whom she names Madra, and whom Evander cares for and trains. Both Evander and Madra constantly live in Kira's House throughout this series, creating one of my favorite romance tropes, "forced proximity." Evander is also a Positive Warrior, who is both a mighty, magical fighter as well as a total Cinnamon Roll in his personal relationship with Kira. They form an extremely solid and supportive friendship before they move into a G-rated, slowburn romance. While there is plenty of sensual and emotional chemistry between them, their outward physical expression never moves beyond comforting hugs and tame kisses. And the kissing only occurs after a permanent commitment is made at the end of the third book, which contains the expected romance-genre HEA. This couple also appear in the two stand-alone novels, beyond this trilogy, that the author has written which are set in this same magical world. Their cameo appearances in those novels provide a lovely epilogue to their HEA in this series.
This novel also includes the process of Kira's assembling a "family of affiliation," a trope that I very much enjoy in character-focused, popular fiction, of all genres, but especially for the romance genre. Finding a home and acceptance is a major theme throughout this series. Kira's found family consists of aliens from different worlds, who don't look alike and have varied, significant skills and talents. They come together not only as close friends but as a hugely effective rescue team during several exciting missions.
This book is barely PG in terms of the action-adventure parts, because all of the violence is bloodless. As mentioned, there is no sex, and there is no cussing and no drunkenness. As a result, though this series is targeted at adults, it could safely be read even by young teens.
I own both the Kindle and audiobook versions of the three books in this series. The female voice talent, Tess Irondale, does an excellent job with the audiobook narration.
Review 10/23/24:
Act 1 of a 3-part, serialized, SF-fantasy novel, with Acts 1 & 2 ending on a cliffhanger
For the past 20 years, since she was seven years old, physician, Dr. Kira Aist, was strongly urged by her Russian-American babushkas (grandmothers) to conceal her magical abilities. She first learned about her magic during a visit from the only known sorcerer on Earth, her 500-year-old, great-great-etc-grandmother, Baba Yaga. Against the express wishes of Kira's babushkas, Baba Yaga showed young Kira how to create a magical House that has the ability to walk between worlds, a lesson Kira never forgot.
The inciting incident of Kira's adventures occurs when, in the midst of her internship at a hospital, she cannot resist magically healing a dying child. Soon after, the child is kidnapped by unknown villains. Henchmen of these same villains chase down her parents, who are driving on a highway, and cause their deaths in a car crash. Using her magic, Kira tracks down the kidnapped child, but is too late to save her. The child has been murdered by an evil doctor, who is in the midst of dissecting the body when Kira arrives. Kira exacts retribution on the doctor and two burly, armed guards by killing them with her magic. She then further utilizes her magic to lead her to a site in New Zealand where the bones of world-walking birds are buried, which she employs, utilizing her vast sorcerer magic, to power the ritual that Baba Yaga taught her to create a world-walking House. She then immediately flies away from Earth via the House, arriving in an interstellar realm called Reality.
Since the three books of this trilogy are actually Acts 1, 2, and 3 of a serialized novel, I am writing my opinion of the whole series in this review. As is typical in this genre, the entire series is narrated from the single, first-person POV of Kira, as the FMC.
The author classifies this series as SF-fantasy, which is an accurate designation. Speaking as someone who does not typically read SF, for what it is worth, I personally found the world-building in this series to be excellently done. I especially loved Kira 's relationship with her House. It is a sentient being, but throughout this trilogy it refuses to talk to her in words. It uses other quite entertaining means to communicate with her.
I would also classify this series as a type of superhero story, because Kira is what I personally call a Positive Warrior. At all times, she deploys the enormous range of her magic to protect and serve sentient beings who are being persecuted, either by individual power brokers or the destructive policies of an interplanetary political system. In addition, one of my favorite tropes in a superhero story is when the superhero is first getting in touch with their power, how to use it and what the range of it is. This is very much the case early in this first book when Kira and her House are getting acquainted with each other.
I would also classify this series as paranormal romance, because, very early in this first novel, Kira encounters and rescues her love interest, a human-appearing, tall, ripped, cyborg-enhanced elf named Evander, who has blue skin, blue hair, and pointy ears. On the same day that Kira rescues Evander, she adopts a "scytha," a large cat type predator, whom she names Madra, and whom Evander cares for and trains. Both Evander and Madra constantly live in Kira's House throughout this series, creating one of my favorite romance tropes, "forced proximity." Evander is also a Positive Warrior, who is both a mighty, magical fighter as well as a total Cinnamon Roll in his personal relationship with Kira. They form an extremely solid and supportive friendship before they move into a G-rated, slowburn romance. While there is plenty of sensual and emotional chemistry between them, their outward physical expression never moves beyond comforting hugs and tame kisses. And the kissing only occurs after a permanent commitment is made at the end of the third book, which contains the expected romance-genre HEA. This couple also appear in the two stand-alone novels, beyond this trilogy, that the author has written which are set in this same magical world. Their cameo appearances in those novels provide a lovely epilogue to their HEA in this series.
This novel also includes the process of Kira's assembling a "family of affiliation," a trope that I very much enjoy in character-focused, popular fiction, of all genres, but especially for the romance genre. Finding a home and acceptance is a major theme throughout this series. Kira's found family consists of aliens from different worlds, who don't look alike and have varied, significant skills and talents. They come together not only as close friends but as a hugely effective rescue team during several exciting missions.
This book is barely PG in terms of the action-adventure parts, because all of the violence is bloodless. As mentioned, there is no sex, and there is no cussing and no drunkenness. As a result, though this series is targeted at adults, it could safely be read even by young teens.
I own both the Kindle and audiobook versions of the three books in this series. The female voice talent, Tess Irondale, does an excellent job with the audiobook narration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2022
Good read but I thought sadness permeates the book due to Kira's backstory.
November 4, 2025
A big part of my attraction to this book was the walking house. Who doesn't like sentient, traveling houses? As I read, though, I also very much appreciated the fact that Kira is smart and competent. She's made mistakes--I think she's making one very big one that will affect later books--but they are not stupid mistakes. They are "don't have enough information" mistakes, and she's working on that. She finds people who can help her in areas she needs. And, she's not the typical reluctant heroine: Once she finds out that she is a powerful sorceress, she immediately realizes that a) She has a lot of power and b) She's going to have to figure out how and where to use it.
I adore the fact that one of the first people Kira hires is a PR specialist. Schwartz earns bonus points here because said specialist is a colorfully dressed Kobold.
Also she acquires, albeit slightly by accident, someone to take care of security, and she trusts him to do his job.
Also, the sentient house is very caring toward its occupants and definitely has opinions. I adore opinionated housing.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
I adore the fact that one of the first people Kira hires is a PR specialist. Schwartz earns bonus points here because said specialist is a colorfully dressed Kobold.
Also she acquires, albeit slightly by accident, someone to take care of security, and she trusts him to do his job.
Also, the sentient house is very caring toward its occupants and definitely has opinions. I adore opinionated housing.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
December 11, 2020
Bad Cliffhanger Ending
This was a cute story but I absolutely cannot stand when books, even trilogy books, end in cliffhangers. Not even when the whole trilogy is free on Kindle Unlimited. It infuriates me. It’s like the story just cuts off right in the middle. That is not how you work a trilogy arc. You have a big story arc that covers the whole trilogy, and a small story arc that ends at the end of the book. Then you do it again for the second book, and then you finish the main arc for the end of the trilogy. You don’t just take one book and hack it into pieces.
The premise was wonderful. The world was complex although perhaps a bit confusing (I think some diagrams would help here, honestly). It’s very plot driven and could use a bit more depth of character, but that might happen in the later books. I am mad enough I am debating whether or not I even want to read the next two, bc I’ll bet money the author did the same stupid move at the end of book two and I’m going to be mad all over again.
And I don’t read cute fantasy stories just to raise my blood pressure.
This was a cute story but I absolutely cannot stand when books, even trilogy books, end in cliffhangers. Not even when the whole trilogy is free on Kindle Unlimited. It infuriates me. It’s like the story just cuts off right in the middle. That is not how you work a trilogy arc. You have a big story arc that covers the whole trilogy, and a small story arc that ends at the end of the book. Then you do it again for the second book, and then you finish the main arc for the end of the trilogy. You don’t just take one book and hack it into pieces.
The premise was wonderful. The world was complex although perhaps a bit confusing (I think some diagrams would help here, honestly). It’s very plot driven and could use a bit more depth of character, but that might happen in the later books. I am mad enough I am debating whether or not I even want to read the next two, bc I’ll bet money the author did the same stupid move at the end of book two and I’m going to be mad all over again.
And I don’t read cute fantasy stories just to raise my blood pressure.
April 22, 2024
This book was a very quick read, but started off a little bit confusing for me. By the end, I was hooked. I love the group that is being brought together as Kira is in the search for healing and maybe even revenge. If you like fantasy, give this one a go. Be prepared for a cliffhanger though!
June 25, 2020
Interesting. Read on Kindle Unlimited. Whether I’ll reread it will depend on the rest of the series, since I don’t have my own copy yet.
August 18, 2020
Very Different Take on Magic
I am enjoying this story very much. It's lots of fun. I look forward to more of Kira Aist's adventures.
I am enjoying this story very much. It's lots of fun. I look forward to more of Kira Aist's adventures.
August 11, 2021
This was actually pretty good! I didn't like the beginning at all, but once it got going I really liked it. I'll probably read the next one.
February 9, 2023
For the trilogy overall, 4 stars. Definitely recommended.
September 9, 2021
This is trilogy is one book sold as 3- I ‘get’ that sometimes has to happen for publishing reasons when the book is extra long but not in this case
Otherwise enjoyed enough to finish- love interest seemed flat, and it was mostly about the mental journey
Otherwise enjoyed enough to finish- love interest seemed flat, and it was mostly about the mental journey
April 10, 2024
gathering a crew
Great characters meandering with no limits. No plot or magic mechanics. This is really just an intro. Feels like a Vella serial.
Great characters meandering with no limits. No plot or magic mechanics. This is really just an intro. Feels like a Vella serial.
February 14, 2021
Difficult
I find navigating or trying to grasp the story difficult. The interelationship between characters, the descriptions of places they travel. Empty. They don't have context or interest. Like for instance the description of the market town. Was of only store types, you said the bar was welcoming but in what way I don't see. All interactions, with restaurant shops that apparently the character bought food from and how she reached a familiarity at the bar were all missing. So the picture of the culture the setting the plants, temperature, sounds, how people related to each other wasn't there. Same is true for every place except a general sense of place at the house. How she relates to the other characters is so limited and lacking context. Im not understanding what is going on. Very isolated. The sense of common purpose, loyality trust worthyness and how they might work together to solve a problem, find answers work together. There is a good relationship built with evander and kitty is sweet. I do hope when they deal with his parents, I'm on book 2, hanging in, that it's done with some depth and resolved well. I'm interested in that and the missing magic. And hope there is more working together discovery and commitment to each other and the purpose of all, not just her exploring her issues. If they don't relate to the others it's kind of meaningless. Ok good idea for they story
I find navigating or trying to grasp the story difficult. The interelationship between characters, the descriptions of places they travel. Empty. They don't have context or interest. Like for instance the description of the market town. Was of only store types, you said the bar was welcoming but in what way I don't see. All interactions, with restaurant shops that apparently the character bought food from and how she reached a familiarity at the bar were all missing. So the picture of the culture the setting the plants, temperature, sounds, how people related to each other wasn't there. Same is true for every place except a general sense of place at the house. How she relates to the other characters is so limited and lacking context. Im not understanding what is going on. Very isolated. The sense of common purpose, loyality trust worthyness and how they might work together to solve a problem, find answers work together. There is a good relationship built with evander and kitty is sweet. I do hope when they deal with his parents, I'm on book 2, hanging in, that it's done with some depth and resolved well. I'm interested in that and the missing magic. And hope there is more working together discovery and commitment to each other and the purpose of all, not just her exploring her issues. If they don't relate to the others it's kind of meaningless. Ok good idea for they story
June 26, 2021
A Voyage to Nowhere
I loved the concept of this book - a descendant of the Russian witch Baba Yaga discovers that she is a sorcerer and creates a house that can move between worlds - but I was disappointed by the actual novel. Sorcerer Kira has been given such a grim (and implausible) back story that it casts a gloom over what could have been an entertaining adventure. There is little of the sparkling humour and none of the inventive plot twists which make the Diana Wynne Jones classic `Howl's Moving Castle' so enjoyable.
Having a central character with the power to do anything she likes is always going to cause plot problems and `The House That Walked Between Worlds' never develops a strong storyline. The worlds Kira's house moves between lack orginality and their inhabitants are poorly described. The characters have very little depth and even the goblin-cat seemed more like a dog. I expect that things improve in Volumes Two and Three of the trilogy but I'm not engaged enough to continue reading.
I loved the concept of this book - a descendant of the Russian witch Baba Yaga discovers that she is a sorcerer and creates a house that can move between worlds - but I was disappointed by the actual novel. Sorcerer Kira has been given such a grim (and implausible) back story that it casts a gloom over what could have been an entertaining adventure. There is little of the sparkling humour and none of the inventive plot twists which make the Diana Wynne Jones classic `Howl's Moving Castle' so enjoyable.
Having a central character with the power to do anything she likes is always going to cause plot problems and `The House That Walked Between Worlds' never develops a strong storyline. The worlds Kira's house moves between lack orginality and their inhabitants are poorly described. The characters have very little depth and even the goblin-cat seemed more like a dog. I expect that things improve in Volumes Two and Three of the trilogy but I'm not engaged enough to continue reading.
August 11, 2020
Interesting setup with magic. Not a clear explanation yet how it works, but that's fine for 1st in a series. Moves along at a nice pace always seems to be something happening, but not so frantically that you need a break. I like the introduction of real world names like Gondwanaland and others in the worlds of the saurians. The gradual creation of ships/houses crew from various societies outcasts is entertaining. And introduction of Baba Yaga mythology is also cute. But introduction of aspects of the Cthulhu mythos is weird, really interested to see how that works out.
Will be following this series.
It also reminds me a lot of The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews If you like that series, this one is worthwhile having a look at.
Will be following this series.
It also reminds me a lot of The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews If you like that series, this one is worthwhile having a look at.
September 2, 2021
I read this a bit ago (if you saw my reading pile there are a lot of finished titles between then and now), and was surprised that I only gave it 4 stars. I am surprised because the IDEA of the book facinates me. I try not to give everyone 5 stars, as that is not very telling. So okay, I'm going to have to reread it now. I do remember that it set itself up for the next book in the series. So maybe I was tired of meeting new characters/friends?
September 2, 2021
No, No, No
This book started out with what promised to be a REALLY interesting tale, but went off the rails almost immediately. There really isn’t a story here other than a “new” sorcerer running from herself across the universe and picking up strays along the way. The only saving grace is that other than the main one, the characters are fairly well crafted. The story has no ending and forces you to purchase the next volume - I won’t.
This book started out with what promised to be a REALLY interesting tale, but went off the rails almost immediately. There really isn’t a story here other than a “new” sorcerer running from herself across the universe and picking up strays along the way. The only saving grace is that other than the main one, the characters are fairly well crafted. The story has no ending and forces you to purchase the next volume - I won’t.
September 3, 2021
This is NOT a novel! This is a serial installment on a three-book series. It has no conclusion, and does not stand on it's own.
It's a good story, well told. A little bit YA, but still enjoyable as an adult tale.
Still, when one is expecting a novel in a trilogy, it's a bit disappointing to be left with a short cliff-hanger.
It's a good story, well told. A little bit YA, but still enjoyable as an adult tale.
Still, when one is expecting a novel in a trilogy, it's a bit disappointing to be left with a short cliff-hanger.
November 24, 2020
Positive reviews should not be beliewed. .
Boring plot, cardboard characters, uninspired writing. Below average fanfic level. And there is no plot advancement in the whole book, it just stops abruptly.
Boring plot, cardboard characters, uninspired writing. Below average fanfic level. And there is no plot advancement in the whole book, it just stops abruptly.
November 28, 2021
Interesting. But….This book has an intriguing plot description and started off interestingly….but, it has cliffhanger ending and literally leaves you hanging. It also has a racist tinge to it…she’s human because she has sandy colored skin?? I think not!
July 16, 2023
It took a long time to be certain but ultimately I sadly have to report that this book is just pretending to be decent.
In the end, it turns out that the world-building that initially seems complex and well-thought-out is just a well-disguised pile of stuff the author makes up on the spot. And she doesn't stop with this throughout the story. She arbitrarily invents rules and limitations and later just as arbitrarily discards them as soon as they get in the way. She just has a talent for hiding this strategy behind vagueness and pretends she is just going into more detail when, in reality, she just makes up stuff. Well, of course she is making stuff up, she is writing science fiction after all. But you get my point. The stuff just doesn't fit logically in the same internally consistent universe (or reality).
The second let-down came much sooner which is also why I initially thought the world-building holds water even though it really doesn't.
The book is so preoccupied with bombarding the reader with world-building and exposition that there is barely any time left for on-page relationship-building. Friendships as well as romantic.
The characters spend enough time together to develop these relationships but the reader is not privy to 95% of that so it nonetheless feels like these characters very suddenly develop unnaturally deep attachments to each other. The main romantic relationship is not insta-love precisely but even considering these caveats it comes close. And it is honestly terribly written as well. I can't remember when I last read a less believable relationship.
This kind of thing is much more common with male authors. They invent this incredibly intricate and well-thought-out universe which they are so preoccupied with presenting that they forget about the characters. But the strange thing, in this case, is that neither the characters nor the world-building holds water.
It takes until the third book for our protagonists to reach a point where they actually start to be able to make informed decisions. At least in theory. In practice, it turns out they are all more or less tstl.
The books continually attempt to market superficially profound nonsense as some sort of wisdom about various topics. However, they rarely deliver any genuine insight. Instead, these theories and advice are just as fictitious as the world-building.
The reasoning the characters follow initially seemed like it was surprisingly nuanced and deep but apparently, this was just a smoke-screen as well because as soon as actual logical reasoning is required to guide any kind of decision all of their brains seem to have simultaneously short-circuited or something.
This entire series is just smoke and mirrors trying to imitate a decent sci-fi story and it all falls apart in the third book.
In the end, it turns out that the world-building that initially seems complex and well-thought-out is just a well-disguised pile of stuff the author makes up on the spot. And she doesn't stop with this throughout the story. She arbitrarily invents rules and limitations and later just as arbitrarily discards them as soon as they get in the way. She just has a talent for hiding this strategy behind vagueness and pretends she is just going into more detail when, in reality, she just makes up stuff. Well, of course she is making stuff up, she is writing science fiction after all. But you get my point. The stuff just doesn't fit logically in the same internally consistent universe (or reality).
The second let-down came much sooner which is also why I initially thought the world-building holds water even though it really doesn't.
The book is so preoccupied with bombarding the reader with world-building and exposition that there is barely any time left for on-page relationship-building. Friendships as well as romantic.
The characters spend enough time together to develop these relationships but the reader is not privy to 95% of that so it nonetheless feels like these characters very suddenly develop unnaturally deep attachments to each other. The main romantic relationship is not insta-love precisely but even considering these caveats it comes close. And it is honestly terribly written as well. I can't remember when I last read a less believable relationship.
This kind of thing is much more common with male authors. They invent this incredibly intricate and well-thought-out universe which they are so preoccupied with presenting that they forget about the characters. But the strange thing, in this case, is that neither the characters nor the world-building holds water.
It takes until the third book for our protagonists to reach a point where they actually start to be able to make informed decisions. At least in theory. In practice, it turns out they are all more or less tstl.
The books continually attempt to market superficially profound nonsense as some sort of wisdom about various topics. However, they rarely deliver any genuine insight. Instead, these theories and advice are just as fictitious as the world-building.
The reasoning the characters follow initially seemed like it was surprisingly nuanced and deep but apparently, this was just a smoke-screen as well because as soon as actual logical reasoning is required to guide any kind of decision all of their brains seem to have simultaneously short-circuited or something.
This entire series is just smoke and mirrors trying to imitate a decent sci-fi story and it all falls apart in the third book.
December 15, 2022
definitely an odd story that i have no idea how to describe. it has a sort of urban fantasy feel to me, with some pretty people and a bunch of fantasy races, i guess you could say. but i don't read much urban fantasy, so i could be way off.
i knew before starting that it has an abrupt ending (it does) and the trilogy reads more like a series split into three novellas (that's probably right too), so i knew it would be...abrupt, as i said. it's not necessarily a cliffhanger even though A Big Thing does happen on the very last page.
basically, we're following kira (who is dealing with fairly recent trauma - death of her parents, and another death, both of which she blames herself for). she's apparently a sorcerer, and baba yaga previously explained to her how to create a sort of yaga house when she was a kid. instead of walking around on chicken legs, it's more of a large castle on dragon legs, which is awesome. it also travels in space (Reality, capital R). world building is very info dumpy, but kira literally sits in the library and researches the world she's just entered, and we're learning it the same way she is - so, literal info dumps.
the whole novella is just kira and the house traveling around picking up strays, essentially, and trying to figure out her magic and her trauma. aside from her few mentions of being of russian ancestry and some memories of baba yaga, it's definitely not heavy on the folklore. it's just a weird little sff romp with some characters who are..if not likeable, then fine. they're fine. i'm attached to madra (obviously) but no one else, really.
i do want to mention kira's view of other people she encounters as...if not outright racist, then a bit problematic. i know you can't necessarily control your immediate reaction to something (or the prejudices you might unknowingly harbor), but her outward reaction isn't always great. i might be reading into it too much - just something i wanted to mention. maybe other reviewers picked up on more than me, or more specific things than my nebulous discomfort.
it was an easy, fun read, though! interesting to discover whatever new place the crew will end up visiting next and what/who they will encounter. kira's magic is currently limitless - she just thinks of a thing and it happens. so if you're looking for a hard magic system, this definitely isn't it. i kind of do want to continue, but i have so many other books to read ahhhhhh maybe eventually?
i knew before starting that it has an abrupt ending (it does) and the trilogy reads more like a series split into three novellas (that's probably right too), so i knew it would be...abrupt, as i said. it's not necessarily a cliffhanger even though A Big Thing does happen on the very last page.
basically, we're following kira (who is dealing with fairly recent trauma - death of her parents, and another death, both of which she blames herself for). she's apparently a sorcerer, and baba yaga previously explained to her how to create a sort of yaga house when she was a kid. instead of walking around on chicken legs, it's more of a large castle on dragon legs, which is awesome. it also travels in space (Reality, capital R). world building is very info dumpy, but kira literally sits in the library and researches the world she's just entered, and we're learning it the same way she is - so, literal info dumps.
the whole novella is just kira and the house traveling around picking up strays, essentially, and trying to figure out her magic and her trauma. aside from her few mentions of being of russian ancestry and some memories of baba yaga, it's definitely not heavy on the folklore. it's just a weird little sff romp with some characters who are..if not likeable, then fine. they're fine. i'm attached to madra (obviously) but no one else, really.
i do want to mention kira's view of other people she encounters as...if not outright racist, then a bit problematic. i know you can't necessarily control your immediate reaction to something (or the prejudices you might unknowingly harbor), but her outward reaction isn't always great. i might be reading into it too much - just something i wanted to mention. maybe other reviewers picked up on more than me, or more specific things than my nebulous discomfort.
it was an easy, fun read, though! interesting to discover whatever new place the crew will end up visiting next and what/who they will encounter. kira's magic is currently limitless - she just thinks of a thing and it happens. so if you're looking for a hard magic system, this definitely isn't it. i kind of do want to continue, but i have so many other books to read ahhhhhh maybe eventually?
June 17, 2021
I like the ideas and characters, the general story and the combination of various mythologies, history and stories into something different. The concept is interesting and the writing is technically good (re. spelling, grammar etc). The pace isn't bad, although most of the book seems to consist of travelling interspersed with random encounters.
I would have liked a bit more atmosphere in the description of the various beings and places to spark the imagination, a bit more interaction.
A lot of the attention seems to be dedicated to describing the House and Madra, both great characters in their own right, but I want to know more about the others, their relationships and conversations, how they develop trust and companionship. Considering how they always seem to be on the look out for threats, and given their pasts, they seem to trust strangers a bit too easily.
Hopefully these will be more fleshed out in the next book?
Kira keeps talking about how little she knows, but we don't really get to see a lot of her reactions or learn the details of her new existence along with her, it's more mentioned briefly afterwards or as an aside. The explanation of magic and Reality were a bit sparse and confusing at first and what magical system there is seems to be various levels of witch/mage and then the all-powerful sorcerers just wishing things to happen. I would have liked more description of how magic feels and works and the experiments and mishaps of teaching herself to use it, some rules, limitations or examples of how it is supposedly tricky. What are the costs?
Also includes a pet hate: the cliffhanger, where the story just dead ends. Sigh.
Otherwise not bad and will read the next.
I would have liked a bit more atmosphere in the description of the various beings and places to spark the imagination, a bit more interaction.
A lot of the attention seems to be dedicated to describing the House and Madra, both great characters in their own right, but I want to know more about the others, their relationships and conversations, how they develop trust and companionship. Considering how they always seem to be on the look out for threats, and given their pasts, they seem to trust strangers a bit too easily.
Hopefully these will be more fleshed out in the next book?
Kira keeps talking about how little she knows, but we don't really get to see a lot of her reactions or learn the details of her new existence along with her, it's more mentioned briefly afterwards or as an aside. The explanation of magic and Reality were a bit sparse and confusing at first and what magical system there is seems to be various levels of witch/mage and then the all-powerful sorcerers just wishing things to happen. I would have liked more description of how magic feels and works and the experiments and mishaps of teaching herself to use it, some rules, limitations or examples of how it is supposedly tricky. What are the costs?
Also includes a pet hate: the cliffhanger, where the story just dead ends. Sigh.
Otherwise not bad and will read the next.
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