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Forestborn #1
Forestborn
TO BE BORN OF THE FOREST IS A GIFT AND A CURSE.
Rora is a shifter, as magical as all those born in the wilderness--and as feared. She uses her abilities to spy for the king, traveling under different guises and listening for signs of trouble.
When a magical illness surfaces across the kingdom, Rora uncovers a devastating truth: Finley, the young prince and her best friend, has caught it, too. His only hope is stardust, the rarest of magical elements, found deep in the wilderness where Rora grew up--and to which she swore never to return.
But for her only friend, Rora will face her past and brave the dark, magical wood, journeying with her brother and the obstinate, older prince who insists on coming. Together, they must survive sentient forests and creatures unknown, battling an ever-changing landscape while escaping human pursuers who want them dead. With illness gripping the kingdom and war on the horizon, Finley's is not the only life that hangs in the balance.
Rora is a shifter, as magical as all those born in the wilderness--and as feared. She uses her abilities to spy for the king, traveling under different guises and listening for signs of trouble.
When a magical illness surfaces across the kingdom, Rora uncovers a devastating truth: Finley, the young prince and her best friend, has caught it, too. His only hope is stardust, the rarest of magical elements, found deep in the wilderness where Rora grew up--and to which she swore never to return.
But for her only friend, Rora will face her past and brave the dark, magical wood, journeying with her brother and the obstinate, older prince who insists on coming. Together, they must survive sentient forests and creatures unknown, battling an ever-changing landscape while escaping human pursuers who want them dead. With illness gripping the kingdom and war on the horizon, Finley's is not the only life that hangs in the balance.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 2021
127 people are currently reading
15514 people want to read
About the author
Elayne Audrey Becker
3 books179 followersELAYNE AUDREY BECKER is a storyteller with a passion for history, myth, mountains, and magic. She holds a BA from Vassar College and an MSc from the University of Aberdeen and has worked as an editor at a New York publisher. Born and raised in Georgia, she grew up with a lake and woods as her backyard, spending long days outside and visiting national parks with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 381 reviews
May 14, 2021
Forestborn is a work of art. I am absolutely enamoured with this book. The characters are so painfully human, it is easy to root for, cry and fall in love with them. The settings are lush, the prose stunning, and let's not forget just how completely amazing this cover is. I will never stop singing praises. This book should be on everyone's lists.
May 18, 2021
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I'm kind of conflicted on how to feel about this one. It's not a bad book, by any means. There were actually quite a few aspects I really enjoyed, such as the magical forest and the discussion of selfish vs selfless not always being a black and white thing.
However, I really didn't enjoy it? I'm not sure if the fault lies with me or the book itself, but reading this felt like trudging through quicksand. And try as I might, I can't entirely figure out why. From a completely logical perspective, this book was well-written with pretty good pacing and an easy to follow plot, and yet I felt completely and totally disconnected the entire time I read.
So. Yeah. Not much of a coherent review this time, more of me questioning why I didn't enjoy this more than I did. I will say, it reminded me a bit of Defiance and Onyx and Ivory so if you enjoyed either of those, definitely give it a try!!
I'm kind of conflicted on how to feel about this one. It's not a bad book, by any means. There were actually quite a few aspects I really enjoyed, such as the magical forest and the discussion of selfish vs selfless not always being a black and white thing.
However, I really didn't enjoy it? I'm not sure if the fault lies with me or the book itself, but reading this felt like trudging through quicksand. And try as I might, I can't entirely figure out why. From a completely logical perspective, this book was well-written with pretty good pacing and an easy to follow plot, and yet I felt completely and totally disconnected the entire time I read.
So. Yeah. Not much of a coherent review this time, more of me questioning why I didn't enjoy this more than I did. I will say, it reminded me a bit of Defiance and Onyx and Ivory so if you enjoyed either of those, definitely give it a try!!
August 31, 2021
Forestborn is the first instalment in the eponymous epic fantasy duology and a compelling and deeply ambitious debut from Becker. Rora and her brother Helos are shapeshifters, but only olive-skinned Rora is welcome in the Telyan court after they both fled their home in the Western Vale. She can morph into a goshawk, a mouse and a lynx but also has the ability to disguise herself using another person’s face. She uses her spectacular abilities to spy on behalf of the royal court of King Gerar whilst Helos is employed as a healer. Tensions are high between those with magic and those without, with the Eradain king up north proposing ultimatums to surrounding kingdoms about their allowance of magic and a magic sickness known as the Follow Throes seemingly sweeping over nonmagical people.
When the youngest crown prince of Telyan and Rora’s closest queer friend, Finley, begins to show symptoms, Rora, Helos and older prince Weslyn are sent to the Vale, the dangerous, magic-infused forest Rora and Helos left as children, to barter for stardust to heal the ill. Between Weslyn’s seeming hatred and mistrust of the shifters, childhood traumas resurfacing and the presence of magical and human threats, the three may be forever changed. It's a mission fraught with danger and they soon discover that one of Telyan’s neighbouring autocratic kingdoms is threatening war in a disturbing attempt to exterminate all forestborn magical entities. Will they make it out alive? This is a truly bewitching and exquisite fantasy that is filled with a nature-centred fantasy aesthetic, emotional arcs centred on processing trauma, an enchanted forest, engaging sibling bonds, royalty, interesting shapeshifters, a slow-burn enemies to lovers scenario and an overall adventure saga in which the clocks are ticking to save their magical kind.
The worldbuilding is intricate and in the Forestborn world, one tradition spans the 3 realms—an annual Prediction reading offering guidance or warnings for the year ahead; this is the one day each year Rora dreads above the rest. The characters are complex, diverse and Rora and Helos are determined to succeed despite their traumatic pasts; the whole story is a potent blend of self-reflection, grim realities, dark atmospherics and a series of challenges with personal growth and much-needed hope. I see many of my favourite fantasy elements collected in one—danger and action, friendship and romance, high stakes and magic. A slow-burning, enthralling and entertaining tale both of survival and self-discovery. Highly recommended.
When the youngest crown prince of Telyan and Rora’s closest queer friend, Finley, begins to show symptoms, Rora, Helos and older prince Weslyn are sent to the Vale, the dangerous, magic-infused forest Rora and Helos left as children, to barter for stardust to heal the ill. Between Weslyn’s seeming hatred and mistrust of the shifters, childhood traumas resurfacing and the presence of magical and human threats, the three may be forever changed. It's a mission fraught with danger and they soon discover that one of Telyan’s neighbouring autocratic kingdoms is threatening war in a disturbing attempt to exterminate all forestborn magical entities. Will they make it out alive? This is a truly bewitching and exquisite fantasy that is filled with a nature-centred fantasy aesthetic, emotional arcs centred on processing trauma, an enchanted forest, engaging sibling bonds, royalty, interesting shapeshifters, a slow-burn enemies to lovers scenario and an overall adventure saga in which the clocks are ticking to save their magical kind.
The worldbuilding is intricate and in the Forestborn world, one tradition spans the 3 realms—an annual Prediction reading offering guidance or warnings for the year ahead; this is the one day each year Rora dreads above the rest. The characters are complex, diverse and Rora and Helos are determined to succeed despite their traumatic pasts; the whole story is a potent blend of self-reflection, grim realities, dark atmospherics and a series of challenges with personal growth and much-needed hope. I see many of my favourite fantasy elements collected in one—danger and action, friendship and romance, high stakes and magic. A slow-burning, enthralling and entertaining tale both of survival and self-discovery. Highly recommended.
September 27, 2021
This book ended up being subpar for me in terms of my YA fantasy standards. It has been two weeks since I finished it and I can now say that the reason why this didn't work for me is because the plot was too slow and it wasn't fleshed out enough.
I really enjoyed the magic system, learning about the different magical creatures, and the political intrigue. Rora, our main character, was my favourite character of the novel. I adored her shifter magic! It was so much fun to learn about and it was really intriguing to see how she functioned differently to humans and how her upbringing shaped her. She also had so much personality, and she was well fleshed out. That being said, a lot of the other characters didn't feel nearly as developed, which let the story down.
I enjoyed the plot twist/reveal at the end of the book-but it did feel like it came out of nowhere. There was a lot going on in this novel and it seemed like nothing was ever fully fleshed out. There is romance but it is extremely, extremely slow-burn and a subplot - which meant that it wasn't developed enough.
There is potential for this author in the future, but it is clear that this is a debut. I am unsure if I will continue on.
I really enjoyed the magic system, learning about the different magical creatures, and the political intrigue. Rora, our main character, was my favourite character of the novel. I adored her shifter magic! It was so much fun to learn about and it was really intriguing to see how she functioned differently to humans and how her upbringing shaped her. She also had so much personality, and she was well fleshed out. That being said, a lot of the other characters didn't feel nearly as developed, which let the story down.
I enjoyed the plot twist/reveal at the end of the book-but it did feel like it came out of nowhere. There was a lot going on in this novel and it seemed like nothing was ever fully fleshed out. There is romance but it is extremely, extremely slow-burn and a subplot - which meant that it wasn't developed enough.
There is potential for this author in the future, but it is clear that this is a debut. I am unsure if I will continue on.
December 4, 2020
I am MAD that this is a duology because I want more IMMEDIATELY 😭 Wow wow wow wow wow I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, and I wasn’t sure what I would think of it at the beginning but ASDFGHJKL. Throughout reading, it kind of reminded me of The Queen of the Tearling but I also feel like this book is well above and beyond.
I tore through this book because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, and I can’t wait to read it again.
I really loved all of the magic and the shifters, and thought that Helos and Rora’s sibling bond was so special. Their journey with Weslyn felt very Princess Bride-y with all that they encountered, the mists and the giants etc.
The plot twist with Rora’s mother was one I didn’t see coming, and with the neighboring kingdom whose name I can’t remember, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out in Book 2!
I tore through this book because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, and I can’t wait to read it again.
I really loved all of the magic and the shifters, and thought that Helos and Rora’s sibling bond was so special. Their journey with Weslyn felt very Princess Bride-y with all that they encountered, the mists and the giants etc.
The plot twist with Rora’s mother was one I didn’t see coming, and with the neighboring kingdom whose name I can’t remember, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out in Book 2!
December 17, 2022
DNF at 53%
Mediocre.
I was actually going to give this one a two star rating, because I did force myself to read half of it.
It was not unreadable or infuriatingly bad... but the writing style was not that good and the characters are very basic. So if this is your first foray into "soft" fantasy, you might even enjoy it.
The first page was actually intriguing ( if you ignore the fact that you may have to re-read it for a few times, so that you can actually process the writing style), but then it went downhill into trope...land.
As for me, this is why I can't finish a GR's challenge: I spend way too much time on books that aren't working out for me :/
For a decent shifter book I instead recommend reading Cypess's Mistwood
Mediocre.
I was actually going to give this one a two star rating, because I did force myself to read half of it.
It was not unreadable or infuriatingly bad... but the writing style was not that good and the characters are very basic. So if this is your first foray into "soft" fantasy, you might even enjoy it.
The first page was actually intriguing ( if you ignore the fact that you may have to re-read it for a few times, so that you can actually process the writing style), but then it went downhill into trope...land.
As for me, this is why I can't finish a GR's challenge: I spend way too much time on books that aren't working out for me :/
For a decent shifter book I instead recommend reading Cypess's Mistwood
June 22, 2022
Forestborn is a delightful and atmospheric young adult fantasy that balances the power of friendship, traversing political schemes and traps, and slow burn romance well.
Readers will be treated to an interesting magic system, well developed world building and political maps, and craftful storytelling.
Looking forward to the next!
Readers will be treated to an interesting magic system, well developed world building and political maps, and craftful storytelling.
Looking forward to the next!
August 28, 2021
Rora is a shifter who lives among humans who distrust any kind of magic or supernatural ability. A spy for the king, Rora and her brother Helios were taken in by the royal family, and they have become particularly close with the youngest son, Finley. When Finley contracts a deadly disease that is running rampant through the kingdom, the king sends Rora to the magical wilderness she came from to obtain stardust, which should heal the sick. Helios and Finley’s older broth Weslyn accompany Rora on the quest. Throughout the story, the trio must learn how to trust each other, even though they are not close. Their complicated relationships are put to the test as they encounter ever-increasing danger and fight to save their kingdom and people.
I loved this story! The fantasy elements are unique and interesting, as is the world-building, and the author’s writing brings this world to life and creates an immersive and engrossing story. Though the plot has elements of the typical young adult quest story, it feels refreshingly unique. The animals, the magic, the terrain, and the other beings Rora, Wes, and Helios encounter are original, surprising, and unpredictable, which makes for an entertaining and suspenseful read.
Rora is a fascinating character and is a young woman who never quite feels like she fits in. She, and the rest of the characters, suffer through some very intense situations, including returning to the place where her father was brutally murdered. She shows such strength, intelligence, and bravery, and I love how capable she is even when she is afraid and everything seems hopeless. Rora is also vulnerable and insecure, and she doesn’t feel entirely comfortable in her own skin. I enjoyed all of the layers to her character and was totally invested in her story.
I also love the sibling relationship. Rora and Helios have their ups and downs, and they don’t always agree, but their love is unbreakable. They have been through so much together, and they are very committed to protecting each other and staying together. I love the messages about family and the bonds of love. These messages are also shown with the prince and his family. They are all so different, but there is nothing they won’t do for each other, and it is clear that there is a lot of love in his family.
There’s a ton of action, political intrigue, a deadly illness, a desperate search through dangerous wilds for a cure, and the uncovering of other shocking happenings during their journey. Loyalties are tested, and the characters have to make many difficult decisions that change the trajectory of their journey and their relationships. I found these aspects of the story really interesting.
There’s a wonderful enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance that I very much enjoyed. Rora and her love interest appear to dislike each other, but miscommunication and misunderstandings are what led to their strained relationship. As the pair gets to know and understand each other better, they develop strong feelings for each other. However, their relationship is riddled with complications, and I’m curious to see how they handle them as the series progresses. Another relationship is hinted at, and I’m curious to learn more about them and what prompted their separation. Hopefully, we will see more of this pair and their relationship in the next book.
Forestborn is a great young adult fantasy, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who like YA quest stories with fantastic world-building and characters. Thanks so much to Tor Teen, Elayne Audrey Becker, and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this story! The fantasy elements are unique and interesting, as is the world-building, and the author’s writing brings this world to life and creates an immersive and engrossing story. Though the plot has elements of the typical young adult quest story, it feels refreshingly unique. The animals, the magic, the terrain, and the other beings Rora, Wes, and Helios encounter are original, surprising, and unpredictable, which makes for an entertaining and suspenseful read.
Rora is a fascinating character and is a young woman who never quite feels like she fits in. She, and the rest of the characters, suffer through some very intense situations, including returning to the place where her father was brutally murdered. She shows such strength, intelligence, and bravery, and I love how capable she is even when she is afraid and everything seems hopeless. Rora is also vulnerable and insecure, and she doesn’t feel entirely comfortable in her own skin. I enjoyed all of the layers to her character and was totally invested in her story.
I also love the sibling relationship. Rora and Helios have their ups and downs, and they don’t always agree, but their love is unbreakable. They have been through so much together, and they are very committed to protecting each other and staying together. I love the messages about family and the bonds of love. These messages are also shown with the prince and his family. They are all so different, but there is nothing they won’t do for each other, and it is clear that there is a lot of love in his family.
There’s a ton of action, political intrigue, a deadly illness, a desperate search through dangerous wilds for a cure, and the uncovering of other shocking happenings during their journey. Loyalties are tested, and the characters have to make many difficult decisions that change the trajectory of their journey and their relationships. I found these aspects of the story really interesting.
There’s a wonderful enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance that I very much enjoyed. Rora and her love interest appear to dislike each other, but miscommunication and misunderstandings are what led to their strained relationship. As the pair gets to know and understand each other better, they develop strong feelings for each other. However, their relationship is riddled with complications, and I’m curious to see how they handle them as the series progresses. Another relationship is hinted at, and I’m curious to learn more about them and what prompted their separation. Hopefully, we will see more of this pair and their relationship in the next book.
Forestborn is a great young adult fantasy, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who like YA quest stories with fantastic world-building and characters. Thanks so much to Tor Teen, Elayne Audrey Becker, and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 14, 2023
This is actually excellent.
The prose is lovely (like, immaculate), the characters all incredibly complex and compelling. The only pitfall, in my opinion, was a slowish middle— Forestborn is a bit of a “journey” story, but it is done really really well, and there are plenty of obstacles and twists to make it interesting.
The ending is very strong, especially where it leaves all the characters and their relationships. I can’t wait to read the next one!
The prose is lovely (like, immaculate), the characters all incredibly complex and compelling. The only pitfall, in my opinion, was a slowish middle— Forestborn is a bit of a “journey” story, but it is done really really well, and there are plenty of obstacles and twists to make it interesting.
The ending is very strong, especially where it leaves all the characters and their relationships. I can’t wait to read the next one!
August 22, 2022
Second Read: 5 Stars
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book which the author had annotated throughout. So for my second read, I read this copy and WOW am I feeling so lucky right now! To not only read this amazing story again but to read extra insights into the characters, plot and ideas from Elayne was priceless.
I cannot wait to read the next book as I could not love this story and the characters more. Plus I have ZERO idea of what is going to happen which generally isn't the case.
I could not recommend this book more!
First read: 5 Stars
WOW - what a book! I received this ARC and wasn't sure what it would be like but I certainly didn't expect this incredible book!
Forestborn is about a girl named Rora who is a shapeshifter (can shift into any human they have seen plus 3 animals) from lands with magic who along with her shapeshifter brother Helos had to flee as orphans and ended up in a land of humans who are wary of those with magic. Rora becomes a sort of spy for the King and her brother is a healer in the town. They are best friends with Prince Finley who comes down with a magical disease killing many humans. Rora along with her brother and the eldest prince called Weslyn set off on a dangerous journey to the magical lands to see the Giants and collect stardust to heal those affected by the illness. The story is FILLED with magic, magical creatures, danger, twists and turns and some very slow growing romance.
The lead characters are utterly brilliant. Rora is a fierce female! She is so brave and strong yet also shows incredible vulnerability. I adored her straight away and loved seeing how she attacked each obstacle. It was so interesting hearing her point of view when she had shifted in her animal forms (mouse, hawk and lynx). Weslyn is such a mystery and I found him really interesting. I loved how he adapted to his new environments and put his all into everything.
The romance (I won't ruin it and say who!) is a slow burn and I loved it! It was realistic and not over the top, it took a backstep to the actual story. I cannot wait for the next book to see how it continues!
The writing is incredible. Usually when I am loving a book, I race through it but there was SO much detail and depth in this story that I just had to take my time so I took in all of the story. The imagination behind the magic, creatures, landscape and general storyline is phenomenal. I read a lot of fantasy and yet it's not every day I read something so refreshing and imaginative.
I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers! As you can see by my rave review, I was blown away by the imagination in this book and loved every second of it. I really recommend preordering this book and supporting this debut author!
Out 31st August
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book which the author had annotated throughout. So for my second read, I read this copy and WOW am I feeling so lucky right now! To not only read this amazing story again but to read extra insights into the characters, plot and ideas from Elayne was priceless.
I cannot wait to read the next book as I could not love this story and the characters more. Plus I have ZERO idea of what is going to happen which generally isn't the case.
I could not recommend this book more!
First read: 5 Stars
WOW - what a book! I received this ARC and wasn't sure what it would be like but I certainly didn't expect this incredible book!
Forestborn is about a girl named Rora who is a shapeshifter (can shift into any human they have seen plus 3 animals) from lands with magic who along with her shapeshifter brother Helos had to flee as orphans and ended up in a land of humans who are wary of those with magic. Rora becomes a sort of spy for the King and her brother is a healer in the town. They are best friends with Prince Finley who comes down with a magical disease killing many humans. Rora along with her brother and the eldest prince called Weslyn set off on a dangerous journey to the magical lands to see the Giants and collect stardust to heal those affected by the illness. The story is FILLED with magic, magical creatures, danger, twists and turns and some very slow growing romance.
The lead characters are utterly brilliant. Rora is a fierce female! She is so brave and strong yet also shows incredible vulnerability. I adored her straight away and loved seeing how she attacked each obstacle. It was so interesting hearing her point of view when she had shifted in her animal forms (mouse, hawk and lynx). Weslyn is such a mystery and I found him really interesting. I loved how he adapted to his new environments and put his all into everything.
The romance (I won't ruin it and say who!) is a slow burn and I loved it! It was realistic and not over the top, it took a backstep to the actual story. I cannot wait for the next book to see how it continues!
The writing is incredible. Usually when I am loving a book, I race through it but there was SO much detail and depth in this story that I just had to take my time so I took in all of the story. The imagination behind the magic, creatures, landscape and general storyline is phenomenal. I read a lot of fantasy and yet it's not every day I read something so refreshing and imaginative.
I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers! As you can see by my rave review, I was blown away by the imagination in this book and loved every second of it. I really recommend preordering this book and supporting this debut author!
Out 31st August
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2022
Wow I am so glad I received this ARC because I am in love with this book. I have a lot to say so buckle up!
First things first, I am disappointed that I cannot yet see the map of Alemara that Elayne Audrey Becker herself says is stunning in the Acknowledgements, so I just have to take her word for it until the book is officially released.
Okay now on to the actual book.
The writing drew me in immediately. Becker's word choice and tone is so captivating and simultaneously haunting and beautiful. Her writing is just so strong, every word seems to hold so much weight I'd find myself holding my breath for no reason. She's very descriptive and detail oriented, but it doesn't drag out the story in any way. The world building in this book is vital to the plot, and Becker does an incredible job. Every setting is described so that you can picture the entire scene in your head. And the settings are GORGEOUS. All of her characters are very well-written as well. Even characters who don't play an important role leave an impression on you and I was sorry to see some of them go sometimes because I found myself wanting to know more about them. I was especially pleased with the main character, Rora. Many female protagonists in YA novels are not likeable and/or relatable, but I thought Rora was perfect.
There is also great relationship representation in this book, including sibling bonds, platonic m/f friendships, romantic m/f and m/m relationships, and parental love. And if you like slow burn angsty romance with a hint of enemies to lovers thrown in, this is 100% for you. Which then brings me to the character of Weslyn. I won't say much because I don't want to include any spoilers (the real reason is because I could talk about him forever and I don't have that kind of time) but I will say the way Becker wrote him was i m m a c u l a t e *chef's kiss* He is my favorite kind of character. Think Mr. Darcy meets Annabeth Chase. I think that speaks for itself. But now I also need to briefly mention Finley, who happens to be Weslyn's brother, because he instantly stole my heart. He immediately gave off Nikolai Lantsov vibes, but closer to sobachka than korol rezni. Helos, Rora's brother, also deserves a mention. However, he was mostly characterized in reference to his relationship with either Rora or Finley, which made sense for the plot, but in the second book I would love to see more of his natural personality. Speaking of, I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK! There's so much that still has to happen, and I am impatient. :(
Anyway, I could go on about all my favorite super specific tropes included in this story, but I'll spare you.
Long story short, 10/10 highly recommend if you like pain :)
First things first, I am disappointed that I cannot yet see the map of Alemara that Elayne Audrey Becker herself says is stunning in the Acknowledgements, so I just have to take her word for it until the book is officially released.
Okay now on to the actual book.
The writing drew me in immediately. Becker's word choice and tone is so captivating and simultaneously haunting and beautiful. Her writing is just so strong, every word seems to hold so much weight I'd find myself holding my breath for no reason. She's very descriptive and detail oriented, but it doesn't drag out the story in any way. The world building in this book is vital to the plot, and Becker does an incredible job. Every setting is described so that you can picture the entire scene in your head. And the settings are GORGEOUS. All of her characters are very well-written as well. Even characters who don't play an important role leave an impression on you and I was sorry to see some of them go sometimes because I found myself wanting to know more about them. I was especially pleased with the main character, Rora. Many female protagonists in YA novels are not likeable and/or relatable, but I thought Rora was perfect.
There is also great relationship representation in this book, including sibling bonds, platonic m/f friendships, romantic m/f and m/m relationships, and parental love. And if you like slow burn angsty romance with a hint of enemies to lovers thrown in, this is 100% for you. Which then brings me to the character of Weslyn. I won't say much because I don't want to include any spoilers (the real reason is because I could talk about him forever and I don't have that kind of time) but I will say the way Becker wrote him was i m m a c u l a t e *chef's kiss* He is my favorite kind of character. Think Mr. Darcy meets Annabeth Chase. I think that speaks for itself. But now I also need to briefly mention Finley, who happens to be Weslyn's brother, because he instantly stole my heart. He immediately gave off Nikolai Lantsov vibes, but closer to sobachka than korol rezni. Helos, Rora's brother, also deserves a mention. However, he was mostly characterized in reference to his relationship with either Rora or Finley, which made sense for the plot, but in the second book I would love to see more of his natural personality. Speaking of, I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK! There's so much that still has to happen, and I am impatient. :(
Anyway, I could go on about all my favorite super specific tropes included in this story, but I'll spare you.
Long story short, 10/10 highly recommend if you like pain :)
July 20, 2022
Upon rereading: agree wholeheartedly with my first review, so excited for second book
This book is a 4.5 star for me, I LOVED it!
I did get an arc from Edelweiss and the publisher, thank you ☺️☺️.
Honestly would highly recommend this book, the writing pulled me in right away and I read through it so quickly. Every chapter I finished I was literally dying to know what happened next and I could not put it down.
Great fantasy story, the magic was worked in so well and I was obsessed with a lot of the scenes in the forest, they felt so cool and creative and well written. I was rereading bits of the book bc I enjoyed it and wanted to experience it again.
I loved the characters too, they felt so fleshed out and real to me. They all had great arcs start to finish. Rora was an amazing protagonist and her relationship with her brother was so well written.
Rora went through some major growth in this too and I was so happy for her!
Honestly could not recommend this enough I am so happy I got to read this (and low key sad bc I have to wait extra long for the sequel ☹️). Cannot recommend enough please read this!!!
This book is a 4.5 star for me, I LOVED it!
I did get an arc from Edelweiss and the publisher, thank you ☺️☺️.
Honestly would highly recommend this book, the writing pulled me in right away and I read through it so quickly. Every chapter I finished I was literally dying to know what happened next and I could not put it down.
Great fantasy story, the magic was worked in so well and I was obsessed with a lot of the scenes in the forest, they felt so cool and creative and well written. I was rereading bits of the book bc I enjoyed it and wanted to experience it again.
I loved the characters too, they felt so fleshed out and real to me. They all had great arcs start to finish. Rora was an amazing protagonist and her relationship with her brother was so well written.
Rora went through some major growth in this too and I was so happy for her!
Honestly could not recommend this enough I am so happy I got to read this (and low key sad bc I have to wait extra long for the sequel ☹️). Cannot recommend enough please read this!!!
September 16, 2021
Currently in the biggest reading slump ever. I hate school.
January 19, 2025
✨️Forestborn takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through a richly crafted world, with its lush forest environment serving as more than just a backdrop; it becomes an integral part of the story.
Elayne Audry Becker's descriptive language paints vivid images of towering trees and intricate foliage, transporting us to a place that feels both enchanted and alive.
The characters are engaging and relatable, each with their unique struggles.
Becker captures the rawness of loss, love, and understanding, making each moment resonate deeply.
While the pacing may lag in parts, the overall journey through Forestborn is undeniably captivating.
🌳🦌🦅🩸🏞
Elayne Audry Becker's descriptive language paints vivid images of towering trees and intricate foliage, transporting us to a place that feels both enchanted and alive.
The characters are engaging and relatable, each with their unique struggles.
Becker captures the rawness of loss, love, and understanding, making each moment resonate deeply.
While the pacing may lag in parts, the overall journey through Forestborn is undeniably captivating.
🌳🦌🦅🩸🏞
June 25, 2021
I don’t read fantasy novels all that often, but when I do I usually adore them. Forestborn was no different. It is an incredible quest novel. Our three main characters must travel together through perilous terrain, facing the things that haunt them and the pain from their past to find the rarest of magical powers to save the people they love. There is royalty, magic, very cool unique magical creatures, haters-to-lovers romance and a fantastic twist that I just didn’t see coming.
The magic in this book is unique, which I liked, as were the many magical creatures that pop up throughout the story. Rora is a shifter. As is her brother. Over time, Rora has shifted into her three different animal forms, mouse, hawk and lynx. Her brother has yet to shift into his third form. After their parents were killed along with all the other shifters in their village, the two siblings survived on their own in the magical forest, before finally finding refuge in Teylan. Now, Rora works for the king, but she and her brother have never really been accepted by the humans that surround them. When a magical plague that is killing humans gets worse and Rora’s best friend Prince Findley falls ill, Rora, her brother and the elder Prince Weslyn journey into the magical forest to find stardust in the hope it will cure the disease.
What begins as a simple but dangerous quest morphs into a much bigger plot, with a nice twist. War looms and there are biggest politics and more at stake than we readers and the characters realise at the start of the book.
I really enjoyed the romance. While there is little time on their journey for much aside for survival, it does allow Rora to see and learn about another side to the usually standoffish Weslyn. She finally discovers there is more to how he acts and that he doesn’t hate her or her kind, as she once thought. They have to work together to survive. There isn’t a lot that goes their way and we readers are going to have to wait for the sequel to see if their relationship that has only just started can withstand so much loss, grief and distance. There is also the promise of a second romance, should Helos and Finley reunite and work out their differences.
Forestborn is well written and genuinely easy to read. It was lovely to return to the magical world that felt a little nostalgic (kind of like Narnia in Prince Caspian) but also entirely unique. I can’t wait for the second book.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
The magic in this book is unique, which I liked, as were the many magical creatures that pop up throughout the story. Rora is a shifter. As is her brother. Over time, Rora has shifted into her three different animal forms, mouse, hawk and lynx. Her brother has yet to shift into his third form. After their parents were killed along with all the other shifters in their village, the two siblings survived on their own in the magical forest, before finally finding refuge in Teylan. Now, Rora works for the king, but she and her brother have never really been accepted by the humans that surround them. When a magical plague that is killing humans gets worse and Rora’s best friend Prince Findley falls ill, Rora, her brother and the elder Prince Weslyn journey into the magical forest to find stardust in the hope it will cure the disease.
What begins as a simple but dangerous quest morphs into a much bigger plot, with a nice twist. War looms and there are biggest politics and more at stake than we readers and the characters realise at the start of the book.
I really enjoyed the romance. While there is little time on their journey for much aside for survival, it does allow Rora to see and learn about another side to the usually standoffish Weslyn. She finally discovers there is more to how he acts and that he doesn’t hate her or her kind, as she once thought. They have to work together to survive. There isn’t a lot that goes their way and we readers are going to have to wait for the sequel to see if their relationship that has only just started can withstand so much loss, grief and distance. There is also the promise of a second romance, should Helos and Finley reunite and work out their differences.
Forestborn is well written and genuinely easy to read. It was lovely to return to the magical world that felt a little nostalgic (kind of like Narnia in Prince Caspian) but also entirely unique. I can’t wait for the second book.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
May 4, 2021
What an incredible ride this has been. It evokes all the feels of fantastic films like The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story (I'm specifically naming the films because the book versions are something else entirely). Our heroine Rora is a shifter who lives among humans who distrust magic and fear it. Still she and her brother Helios make a life for themselves in King Gerar's court. She is particularly close to the King's younger son, Finley. When Finley contracts a deathly plague that is sweeping the land she and her brother volunteer to track through a magical wilderness in search stardust – a rare, magical substance, that might serve as a cure. They are accompanied by Weslyn, Finley's enigmatic older brother. As they traverse through the dangers of the wilderness Rora and Weslyn slowly bond and develop feelings for each other.
I loved everything about this book from the magic system and worldbuilding to the careful character development the relationships' portrayal as well as the pacing and the plot twists. It was all executed superbly.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. #Forestborn #NetGalley
I loved everything about this book from the magic system and worldbuilding to the careful character development the relationships' portrayal as well as the pacing and the plot twists. It was all executed superbly.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. #Forestborn #NetGalley
October 31, 2021
Tried three chapters but I just wasn't feeling it. Maybe I'm just not in the mood for ya fantasy. May try again later.
April 18, 2024
It’s good but I struggled to connect to the characters and narrative, and I didn’t feel that compelled to keep reading as the story progressed.
November 27, 2021
A medieval fantasy full of warring kingdoms, magical forest creatures, and magic. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
October 3, 2021
Huge thank you to Tor Teen for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
The potential was there, I nearly loved it, but alas, I did not.
Quick thoughts
It is with a tragic heart that I report that this wasn't my cup of tea. I loved the concept of this book and thought the world and the magic sounded so awesome! But ultimately a lot of things just didn't quite work for me.
What was good
This is a world where magic is forbidden and our main characters are magical - they are shapeshifters. The cool thing about this was that a shifter can take on three forms, other than human, in their life. And so various events will trigger them to sort of unlock one of their forms. Both Rora and Helos have all three or their forms at the beginning of this story.
We have a magical sickness sweeping through the world and Rora is sent on a mission to find the solution to ending it. So we've got great motivations, an epic quest and some tense political settings.
We also have giant, sentient trees which was definitely a bonus point for any LOTR fans out there.
What didn't work for me
I think the main thing that I struggled with was the pacing. I was fundamentally bored for a lot of this book.
It felt like a real effort to push through, despite me really wanting to know how things were going to go down.
This pacing made it hard to become immersed in the story and I also felt it meant some scenes were rushed. There were some challenges that also felt a bit too easy for the characters to resolve, so that wasn't super satisfying.
There were a few times when I had this feeling that I just didn't quite buy what was going on. There's a lot of internal diagloue and it took away from the character's actually doing things and resolving issues. It meant that I didn't really back the romance, that felt a bit forced to me, and the queer rep in this could have been explored so much more.
Again, another example of this is the fact that both Rora and Helos have all of their forms. It would've been so cool if we got to discover even just one of them in the book. I just wish more of these things could've happened in-story rather than being like a footnote to say, oh this happened.
Final thoughts
I don't think I'll be continuing this series but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for reviews of book two in case things take an upward turn! This is a cool world and a great idea, but it unfortunately did not cut the mustard for me.
The potential was there, I nearly loved it, but alas, I did not.
Quick thoughts
It is with a tragic heart that I report that this wasn't my cup of tea. I loved the concept of this book and thought the world and the magic sounded so awesome! But ultimately a lot of things just didn't quite work for me.
What was good
This is a world where magic is forbidden and our main characters are magical - they are shapeshifters. The cool thing about this was that a shifter can take on three forms, other than human, in their life. And so various events will trigger them to sort of unlock one of their forms. Both Rora and Helos have all three or their forms at the beginning of this story.
We have a magical sickness sweeping through the world and Rora is sent on a mission to find the solution to ending it. So we've got great motivations, an epic quest and some tense political settings.
We also have giant, sentient trees which was definitely a bonus point for any LOTR fans out there.
What didn't work for me
I think the main thing that I struggled with was the pacing. I was fundamentally bored for a lot of this book.
It felt like a real effort to push through, despite me really wanting to know how things were going to go down.
This pacing made it hard to become immersed in the story and I also felt it meant some scenes were rushed. There were some challenges that also felt a bit too easy for the characters to resolve, so that wasn't super satisfying.
There were a few times when I had this feeling that I just didn't quite buy what was going on. There's a lot of internal diagloue and it took away from the character's actually doing things and resolving issues. It meant that I didn't really back the romance, that felt a bit forced to me, and the queer rep in this could have been explored so much more.
Again, another example of this is the fact that both Rora and Helos have all of their forms. It would've been so cool if we got to discover even just one of them in the book. I just wish more of these things could've happened in-story rather than being like a footnote to say, oh this happened.
Final thoughts
I don't think I'll be continuing this series but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for reviews of book two in case things take an upward turn! This is a cool world and a great idea, but it unfortunately did not cut the mustard for me.
December 21, 2021
4.5*
Omg this book had such a dark turn towards the ending!!! O.O
I really loved the characters of this story. They all have their own unique personality, traits and goals! I also loved the built-up between Wes and Rora. In the beginning they really were just cold towards each other, but it was not that irritating fake enemy wannabies like: "He's so irritatingly handsome, I hate him!" but really genuine coldness that slowly turned to warmth throughout the journey. It had very good showing instead of telling. I really appreaciated that!
The magic was also very interesting, with shifting as the main characters magic. It is often used with side characters, cause it can be convenient for the plot or something I guess. But in this book the shapeshifting magic also had clear boundaries.
The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is cause I felt like it tried too hard in the beginning. It kept repeating scenarios wherein magical people were treated bad, that at some point I was rolling my eyes like: Okay I'm getting the message! It took me quite a while to get through the first 100 pages. Probably also because the big thing that sets the characters into motion already happens in chapter 1, but then it takes about 100 pages for the next action to happen. The language in the beginning also required some getting used to, it used a lot of sophisticated words and adjectives and the sentence structure felt a little off. But once I finally got invested in the story, I didn't have a problem with the writing anymore.
I think the set-up of the world politics was also really good, cause I hadn't expected it to play such a big role. This also caused the plottwist to really take me by surprise. And I can't wait for book 2 to come out!
Omg this book had such a dark turn towards the ending!!! O.O
I really loved the characters of this story. They all have their own unique personality, traits and goals! I also loved the built-up between Wes and Rora. In the beginning they really were just cold towards each other, but it was not that irritating fake enemy wannabies like: "He's so irritatingly handsome, I hate him!" but really genuine coldness that slowly turned to warmth throughout the journey. It had very good showing instead of telling. I really appreaciated that!
The magic was also very interesting, with shifting as the main characters magic. It is often used with side characters, cause it can be convenient for the plot or something I guess. But in this book the shapeshifting magic also had clear boundaries.
The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is cause I felt like it tried too hard in the beginning. It kept repeating scenarios wherein magical people were treated bad, that at some point I was rolling my eyes like: Okay I'm getting the message! It took me quite a while to get through the first 100 pages. Probably also because the big thing that sets the characters into motion already happens in chapter 1, but then it takes about 100 pages for the next action to happen. The language in the beginning also required some getting used to, it used a lot of sophisticated words and adjectives and the sentence structure felt a little off. But once I finally got invested in the story, I didn't have a problem with the writing anymore.
I think the set-up of the world politics was also really good, cause I hadn't expected it to play such a big role. This also caused the plottwist to really take me by surprise. And I can't wait for book 2 to come out!
September 18, 2024
September 2024: I’ve been telling myself I’d reread this book at some point and decided to dive in on a business trip. I love how much happens in this book about an epic quest. There’s political intrigue, hidden identities, magical beings, and an enchanted forest. Plus, not one, but two romantic subplots. Beautifully written!!!
January 2023: I waited a week to write this review, so these are settle thoughts. I really enjoyed this book. It was very detailed and the while there are many action scenes, the pace didn't feel harried or rushed. The main characters were well-developed and even though I didn't really like Wes at first, I liked where this book took him and liked him in the end.
The main plot is big and has several layers. Along the way, we get secondary plots that feed into the main. I have to imagine this author was meticulous in planning this all out.
I am not a fan of cliffhangers in series, so I loved that this ending was settled, but left the door open enough that I was eager to jump into the sequel.
The world built here is fascinating and the magical people/animals were interesting, too.
January 2023: I waited a week to write this review, so these are settle thoughts. I really enjoyed this book. It was very detailed and the while there are many action scenes, the pace didn't feel harried or rushed. The main characters were well-developed and even though I didn't really like Wes at first, I liked where this book took him and liked him in the end.
The main plot is big and has several layers. Along the way, we get secondary plots that feed into the main. I have to imagine this author was meticulous in planning this all out.
I am not a fan of cliffhangers in series, so I loved that this ending was settled, but left the door open enough that I was eager to jump into the sequel.
The world built here is fascinating and the magical people/animals were interesting, too.
to-be-released-new-releases
August 13, 2021DNF
The premise of the story really intrigued me but I just didn’t end up enjoying the writing or the pacing of the story. I just found it going by too slow and I wasn’t having a great time whenever I did pick it up.
If you’re looking for a young adult fantasy with interesting magic, shifters, royal princes and a dangerous quest, do check this one out! It wasn’t the book for me but it could be your next favourite!
The premise of the story really intrigued me but I just didn’t end up enjoying the writing or the pacing of the story. I just found it going by too slow and I wasn’t having a great time whenever I did pick it up.
If you’re looking for a young adult fantasy with interesting magic, shifters, royal princes and a dangerous quest, do check this one out! It wasn’t the book for me but it could be your next favourite!
May 11, 2024
Representation: It's complicated.
Trigger warnings: Death and murder of people, blood depiction, physical assault and injury, near-death experience, pandemic
Score: Six out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
This one was alright. I had the sequel to Forestborn, Elayne Audrey Becker's debut, Wildbound, on my TBR, until I took it off after realising I would read out of order. I put this one off for months until I had to transfer it to my library, but after I got it from my library and when I closed the final page, it was okay.
It starts with Rora living her life in a magical land entirely different from ours, as she can shift from a human to up to three animals, and impersonate faces. How powerful is that? Unfortunately, the pacing is slow for a book lasting 350 pages, and it continues to be this way until the second half, where it picks up steam. I wouldn't say Forestborn is disappointing, though. Rora meets another character, Wesley, and starts to develop a relationship, but not before going to another part of the world. Let me explain. There are two parts to the realm seen in Forestborn: The Forestborn part, where people with magic live, and the human part, where the humans live. The only problem is this leaves behind some unanswered questions, like where did the magic people come from? Did they come first and humans evolved from them or the other way around, where humans came first and magic people came afterward? How can they shift?
Anyway. There is a magical pandemic all over the land, and the only cure is stardust, which one can find in the Forestborn part, the last place Rora wants to be, but she has to go there to save her best friend and prince, Finley. I appreciated the writing style, which allowed me to immerse myself in the settings, both natural and human-made. I also like the concluding pages with some battle scenes resulting in a heartstopping finish and the murder of the king, but I only knew him for a few pages, so I didn't care much about that. I wonder what Wildbound is like, though, but I hope it's better than Forestborn.
Trigger warnings: Death and murder of people, blood depiction, physical assault and injury, near-death experience, pandemic
Score: Six out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
This one was alright. I had the sequel to Forestborn, Elayne Audrey Becker's debut, Wildbound, on my TBR, until I took it off after realising I would read out of order. I put this one off for months until I had to transfer it to my library, but after I got it from my library and when I closed the final page, it was okay.
It starts with Rora living her life in a magical land entirely different from ours, as she can shift from a human to up to three animals, and impersonate faces. How powerful is that? Unfortunately, the pacing is slow for a book lasting 350 pages, and it continues to be this way until the second half, where it picks up steam. I wouldn't say Forestborn is disappointing, though. Rora meets another character, Wesley, and starts to develop a relationship, but not before going to another part of the world. Let me explain. There are two parts to the realm seen in Forestborn: The Forestborn part, where people with magic live, and the human part, where the humans live. The only problem is this leaves behind some unanswered questions, like where did the magic people come from? Did they come first and humans evolved from them or the other way around, where humans came first and magic people came afterward? How can they shift?
Anyway. There is a magical pandemic all over the land, and the only cure is stardust, which one can find in the Forestborn part, the last place Rora wants to be, but she has to go there to save her best friend and prince, Finley. I appreciated the writing style, which allowed me to immerse myself in the settings, both natural and human-made. I also like the concluding pages with some battle scenes resulting in a heartstopping finish and the murder of the king, but I only knew him for a few pages, so I didn't care much about that. I wonder what Wildbound is like, though, but I hope it's better than Forestborn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2021
See this review and more on my blog, The Scribe Owl!
Thank you to Tor Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4/5 stars
Forestborn surprised me! I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, so that's a bonus, but the story was also different than I expected. It isn't dark, per se, but it is a little bit...gloomier than I expected. That said, I really did enjoy this read.
Forestborn served up some moral conflicts with the characters. There was a lot of talk about selfish vs. selfless and how it's not always a black and white concept. The characters themselves were great! Rora was an interesting character, to say the least, and Wes was adorable. Not quite sure what I think about Helos, but I'm sure we'll get some of that later.
The writing was fantastic. It set the tone of the story perfectly and had just the right amount of figurative language. The writing style is one thing that never really changes over time for an author, so this is definitely a good sign for this debut author!
The one element that really tripped me up was the pacing. For the first quarter or so, it was slow goings. I didn't really like the book yet, and I was barely getting through it. But then that second quarter was nonstop action. Stay-up-until-the-night-becomes-the-morning-to-read action. And then we went back to a lot of walking. It was just a little all over the place, but it's not unfixable for later books.
I'm still riding the weird wave of emotions from the end of the book, so please excuse the weird tone of this whole review! It really was a good book, and I can't wait to read the second!
Thank you to Tor Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4/5 stars
Forestborn surprised me! I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, so that's a bonus, but the story was also different than I expected. It isn't dark, per se, but it is a little bit...gloomier than I expected. That said, I really did enjoy this read.
Forestborn served up some moral conflicts with the characters. There was a lot of talk about selfish vs. selfless and how it's not always a black and white concept. The characters themselves were great! Rora was an interesting character, to say the least, and Wes was adorable. Not quite sure what I think about Helos, but I'm sure we'll get some of that later.
The writing was fantastic. It set the tone of the story perfectly and had just the right amount of figurative language. The writing style is one thing that never really changes over time for an author, so this is definitely a good sign for this debut author!
The one element that really tripped me up was the pacing. For the first quarter or so, it was slow goings. I didn't really like the book yet, and I was barely getting through it. But then that second quarter was nonstop action. Stay-up-until-the-night-becomes-the-morning-to-read action. And then we went back to a lot of walking. It was just a little all over the place, but it's not unfixable for later books.
I'm still riding the weird wave of emotions from the end of the book, so please excuse the weird tone of this whole review! It really was a good book, and I can't wait to read the second!
January 16, 2022
As shapeshifters in a largely non-magical kingdom, teenage siblings Rora and Helos have had a rough go of it. Weird, bad magical things are happening and it's definitely not improving their public image, which was already hurting due to an Alarming Prophecy that seems to refer to them. Then the king sends Rora on a mission that will mean facing her past and also her potential future with a handsome glowery prince and, why not, probably the fate of the whole world and all magical creatures.
If you've read any of my reviews, it's not a secret that young adult novels aren't usually my cup of tea. I don't have anything against the genre, but so many authors seem to just take the color-by-numbers approach, throwing together a lot of proven tropes and hoping that will be enough to sell the story. And because YA audiences are so forgiving, it often is.
For the first quarter of the book, I had Forestborn pegged as this sort: a dash of wish fulfillment here, a sprinkling of brooding love interest there, and a pinch of discrimination against magical folks for good measure. But the later parts of the book surprised me. Instead of relying on tried and true tropes, Becker leans hard into her characters and respects them enough to explore their shades of gray. Trauma is treated sensitively and realistically instead of being glossed over. The plot and worldbuilding are much better-developed than they seem at first, shaping the plot instead of just propping it up.
Don't get me wrong, this is not on the same level as, say, N.K. Jemisin. But in a market where authors can and do get away with much less, Ms. Becker wrote a book that is much better than it had to be, and I'm excited to pass my copy on to my younger sister--who, for the record, will absolutely prefer it to Jemisin.
(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)
If you've read any of my reviews, it's not a secret that young adult novels aren't usually my cup of tea. I don't have anything against the genre, but so many authors seem to just take the color-by-numbers approach, throwing together a lot of proven tropes and hoping that will be enough to sell the story. And because YA audiences are so forgiving, it often is.
For the first quarter of the book, I had Forestborn pegged as this sort: a dash of wish fulfillment here, a sprinkling of brooding love interest there, and a pinch of discrimination against magical folks for good measure. But the later parts of the book surprised me. Instead of relying on tried and true tropes, Becker leans hard into her characters and respects them enough to explore their shades of gray. Trauma is treated sensitively and realistically instead of being glossed over. The plot and worldbuilding are much better-developed than they seem at first, shaping the plot instead of just propping it up.
Don't get me wrong, this is not on the same level as, say, N.K. Jemisin. But in a market where authors can and do get away with much less, Ms. Becker wrote a book that is much better than it had to be, and I'm excited to pass my copy on to my younger sister--who, for the record, will absolutely prefer it to Jemisin.
(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)
August 31, 2021
I enjoyed this YA Fantasy. It picks up very quickly which dives you into the story and keeps on dragging you in. I liked the world building and can't wait to see more of it in book two.
Rora was a great MC. She's fierce and no nonsense but she also knows she's not perfect. I liked learning about her magic and seeing her shapeshift when she needed to. The relationship between Rora and her brother Helos was my favorite. I think it's important to showcase sibling relationships because so many people can relate to them. It's not always about romantic relationships and I'm glad that wasn't the focus of Rora's journey.
Weslyn is such a serious personality. He is opposite of Rora and I think that's why she doesn't understand him in the beginning. It's a classic enemies to lovers slow burn romance for sure. You can tell they grow on each other throughout their journey but it isn't the forefront of the story either which made it more intriguing. I'm curious to see where their relationship goes in book two because there's definitely something there.
So much happens in this book and we see so many parts of the world, along with some interesting creatures, but the ending I will warn you is on the sad side. I'm curious to see where the journey takes these three characters next.
definitely recommend this to anyone looking for their next YA Fantasy and the bonus of it only being a duology. The wait for book two may be long but at least we know we'll get the answers we're looking for!
Rora was a great MC. She's fierce and no nonsense but she also knows she's not perfect. I liked learning about her magic and seeing her shapeshift when she needed to. The relationship between Rora and her brother Helos was my favorite. I think it's important to showcase sibling relationships because so many people can relate to them. It's not always about romantic relationships and I'm glad that wasn't the focus of Rora's journey.
Weslyn is such a serious personality. He is opposite of Rora and I think that's why she doesn't understand him in the beginning. It's a classic enemies to lovers slow burn romance for sure. You can tell they grow on each other throughout their journey but it isn't the forefront of the story either which made it more intriguing. I'm curious to see where their relationship goes in book two because there's definitely something there.
So much happens in this book and we see so many parts of the world, along with some interesting creatures, but the ending I will warn you is on the sad side. I'm curious to see where the journey takes these three characters next.
definitely recommend this to anyone looking for their next YA Fantasy and the bonus of it only being a duology. The wait for book two may be long but at least we know we'll get the answers we're looking for!
August 31, 2021
This book jumps right into the plot and keeps on going. I love when stories just go and you learn what you need to know along the way, it prevents info dumps and slow parts. The main character Rora is a good narrator, she knows she has flaws but loves her brother and friend and will do anything for them. We learn early on that the magic in the world has been receding but there's a strange affliction in it's place that's killing regular humans. When Rora's best friend Prince Finley gets sick, she goes on a search for the cure with her brother Helos and Finley's brother Weslyn.
The journey to the western land, filled with magic and dangerous creatures, was my favorite part. The trio avoid scary creatures, deadly plants, and water that causes hallucinations. I enjoy survival type stories and I hope that we learn more about shifters, forest walkers, and the other magical people in the sequel.
There's a slow burn romance that is really well done. It's there in the background, but not the biggest part of the plot. I appreciated the enemies to lovers relationship, even if it's more of an intense dislike than outright hatred. Weslyn comes across as rude and aloof, but he carries a large burden and seeing Rora realize that was sweet.
I already can't wait for the sequel! There are so many open threads to be tied up and I think we'll get to see a war before the end.
The journey to the western land, filled with magic and dangerous creatures, was my favorite part. The trio avoid scary creatures, deadly plants, and water that causes hallucinations. I enjoy survival type stories and I hope that we learn more about shifters, forest walkers, and the other magical people in the sequel.
There's a slow burn romance that is really well done. It's there in the background, but not the biggest part of the plot. I appreciated the enemies to lovers relationship, even if it's more of an intense dislike than outright hatred. Weslyn comes across as rude and aloof, but he carries a large burden and seeing Rora realize that was sweet.
I already can't wait for the sequel! There are so many open threads to be tied up and I think we'll get to see a war before the end.
November 7, 2021
Rounding up because this was way better than a three.
I liked the unique shifter lore in this one: they get three animal forms (they can’t choose which, their magic decides what they get in a time of great need) and can turn into any person they’ve ever seen. Magic is an unstable element in the world, very much in the everything-will-kill-you scale of fantasy. It wasn't one that pulled me in and kept me there, but I did like the characters. It's quite down and depressing in parts, there's a lot of racism and politics and genocide involved, so it's dealing with hard hitting topics. The MC is always questioning her worth, and she had such great growth in how she not only saw herself, but other people.
I think the reason this one wasn't a five star for me was that the plot twists were all very tried and true ones, and not particularly surprising. Loved the three MCs though, they were really well written and had so many dimensions to them.
I liked the unique shifter lore in this one: they get three animal forms (they can’t choose which, their magic decides what they get in a time of great need) and can turn into any person they’ve ever seen. Magic is an unstable element in the world, very much in the everything-will-kill-you scale of fantasy. It wasn't one that pulled me in and kept me there, but I did like the characters. It's quite down and depressing in parts, there's a lot of racism and politics and genocide involved, so it's dealing with hard hitting topics. The MC is always questioning her worth, and she had such great growth in how she not only saw herself, but other people.
I think the reason this one wasn't a five star for me was that the plot twists were all very tried and true ones, and not particularly surprising. Loved the three MCs though, they were really well written and had so many dimensions to them.
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