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Vale Born #1
Vale Born
Desperate to find her missing best friend Josie, Lily Brennanfalk's hope is renewed when she picks up Josie's trail in the mystical world of Alternis. What at first is a magical escape to an unknown land and a chance meeting with a charming Umorfae, soon turns to a fight for survival as Lily finds herself embroiled in a battle between the warring Fae tribes.
Using her newly discovered magical ability, she makes a deal with a lethally attractive male that could save them both as she tracks down her friend...if it's not too late.
She must grow past her trauma and learn what it means to be Vale Born, if she is going to survive the treacherous perils of Alternis.
A sexy and thrilling New Adult Fantasy series. Set in an immerisve world featuring a compelling female MC, Lily Brennanfalk becomes as powerful as she is witty. She weaves through an enchanted realm populated with diverse beings, tangible threats, and tempting intrigues as she discovers who—and what—she is.
Using her newly discovered magical ability, she makes a deal with a lethally attractive male that could save them both as she tracks down her friend...if it's not too late.
She must grow past her trauma and learn what it means to be Vale Born, if she is going to survive the treacherous perils of Alternis.
A sexy and thrilling New Adult Fantasy series. Set in an immerisve world featuring a compelling female MC, Lily Brennanfalk becomes as powerful as she is witty. She weaves through an enchanted realm populated with diverse beings, tangible threats, and tempting intrigues as she discovers who—and what—she is.
346 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2021
20 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Lorin Petrazilka
14 books19 followersClick here and join the author's newsletter to find out about upcoming releases and giveaways
Raised in a rural town called Elfin Forest, magic and inspiration surrounded Lorin throughout her childhood. Fantastical stories permeated her existence, and eventually she started writing her own. An award-winning fantasy and science fiction author, Lorin loves weaving epic tales that retain human-relatable experiences with a kernel of truth. She believes the vastness of the human spirit can be explored through fiction, and through character-driven fantasy we can discover more about ourselves. Lorin can always be found with a book nearby, absorbing stories or crafting words of her own. She lives in Southern California with her husband and three kids, loves the outdoors, and is always doing something creative.
Raised in a rural town called Elfin Forest, magic and inspiration surrounded Lorin throughout her childhood. Fantastical stories permeated her existence, and eventually she started writing her own. An award-winning fantasy and science fiction author, Lorin loves weaving epic tales that retain human-relatable experiences with a kernel of truth. She believes the vastness of the human spirit can be explored through fiction, and through character-driven fantasy we can discover more about ourselves. Lorin can always be found with a book nearby, absorbing stories or crafting words of her own. She lives in Southern California with her husband and three kids, loves the outdoors, and is always doing something creative.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 24, 2021
I loved this book. I really liked the world building. The fae were unique. The descriptions of the different fae and their communities were beautiful written. I can’t wait to read the next book!
July 10, 2021
Readers of romantic fantasy adventure will lose themselves in Lorin Petrazilka’s fanciful realm of daydream landscapes and delectable romance.
Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 25, 2021
I've read several novels where the protagonist is transported into a fantastical world (beginning with THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE), but this one is an amazing work that I hope finds a wide adult audience (as it contains some instances of adult content). Lorin Petrazilka transports the reader to the world of Alternis complete with vivid sensory descriptions, an array of races and creatures, and a compelling plot that finds Lily Brennanfalk struggling to get her bearing, discover who she can trust, and coming up against a seemingly insurmountable foe. While reading, I found myself not only rooting for Lily, but deeply identifying with another character and their struggle to weigh the scales of dreams and duty. In the end, VALE BORN fantastic escape read for adults who love the fantasy genre!
March 1, 2021
This is a great portal fantasy read with romance and a female protagonist who is proactive. Definitely read it!
January 5, 2022
This was an entertaining read. It had the feel of a Young Adult book, though there was some mature content so I would not recommend for teenage/younger readers. Due to that, my standards were a bit higher I suppose if the main audience is adult readers. As I received this as a freebie from Voracious Readers where you are asked to give an honest review, here goes...
The biggest strengths are definitely the world building, the diversity, and the attention to detail. Lorin is very skilled at painting a picture in your mind, particularly of characters, creatures, and costumes. Her writing of action scenes is strong and captivating. The way she almost immediately created a world that had different beings, locations, history, and its own form of magic in such an effortless way was astounding. It really drew me into the world quickly.
I felt it a little difficult to connect to some of the characters on an emotional level which had me skim-reading at times; mainly I found that with the main character. I didn't feel a very solid sense of who she was as a person, other than that she was innately skilled at many things, had a tragic past, and easily fell for attractive men (okay, with how handsome and alluring they were described, maybe that's fair LOL). But I would have liked to develop a little more connection with the character first to feel more invested in what was happening to her. She felt a little inconsistent in personality to me, but that may be a character choice too. I also found it difficult to feel badly about (trying to avoid spoilers) the change in relationships as I didn't feel enough had happened to create a sense of betrayal.
The beginning felt a bit rushed, and I think overall, some parts could have been expanded on and other parts could have been trimmed a little. For the amount of depth and the world that she built, I would have loved to see the entire book be a bit longer though. There was a lot of fast paced action-romance-action-romance, but I think a high fantasy story like this could definitely expand a lot more. As a quick read romance novel, it would work fine, but I think it is so much more than that (though those can be fun too).
One small thing I found a little confusing was the frequent use of the invented language - it felt unnecessary to me and I had to keep checking back on a few of the words for meaning (especially when used outside of other characters' dialogue), or even the ones where it was more obvious in meaning, it just broke my flow of reading at times.
That said, I think Vale Born has great potential as a series and I would absolutely be willing to read more of her books. I really want to know more about the world and the beings in it.
The biggest strengths are definitely the world building, the diversity, and the attention to detail. Lorin is very skilled at painting a picture in your mind, particularly of characters, creatures, and costumes. Her writing of action scenes is strong and captivating. The way she almost immediately created a world that had different beings, locations, history, and its own form of magic in such an effortless way was astounding. It really drew me into the world quickly.
I felt it a little difficult to connect to some of the characters on an emotional level which had me skim-reading at times; mainly I found that with the main character. I didn't feel a very solid sense of who she was as a person, other than that she was innately skilled at many things, had a tragic past, and easily fell for attractive men (okay, with how handsome and alluring they were described, maybe that's fair LOL). But I would have liked to develop a little more connection with the character first to feel more invested in what was happening to her. She felt a little inconsistent in personality to me, but that may be a character choice too. I also found it difficult to feel badly about (trying to avoid spoilers) the change in relationships as I didn't feel enough had happened to create a sense of betrayal.
The beginning felt a bit rushed, and I think overall, some parts could have been expanded on and other parts could have been trimmed a little. For the amount of depth and the world that she built, I would have loved to see the entire book be a bit longer though. There was a lot of fast paced action-romance-action-romance, but I think a high fantasy story like this could definitely expand a lot more. As a quick read romance novel, it would work fine, but I think it is so much more than that (though those can be fun too).
One small thing I found a little confusing was the frequent use of the invented language - it felt unnecessary to me and I had to keep checking back on a few of the words for meaning (especially when used outside of other characters' dialogue), or even the ones where it was more obvious in meaning, it just broke my flow of reading at times.
That said, I think Vale Born has great potential as a series and I would absolutely be willing to read more of her books. I really want to know more about the world and the beings in it.
November 13, 2021
I absolutely love finding a new author and Lorin Petrazilka was an amazing find. Thank you Voracious Readers for the introduction in return for a non biased review.
It’s no secret that fantasy romance is my absolute favourite genre and I ate this one up.
While out looking for her missing friend, Lily stubbles into the magical land of Alternis. Only she is not herself anymore her physical appearance has changed and she is discovering she has new magical abilities!
On arriving she meets a handsome man or should I say Fae, who informs her she is a Vale born which is a human and Fae Hybrid. He is handsome and charming but a bit too slick and untrustworthy but unable to return home she places her trust in him.
Before she knows it she has been captured by rebel Fae and finds out each race has the ability to control one of the elements but finds she can control both Fire and Water.
These rebels seem kind and more forthcoming so now she has no idea who to trust. Their children are being held by an even bigger enemy and it seems only she can help.
Kind hearted Lily chooses to follow her heart and do the right thing no matter what.
The world building is fantastic and the writing is so descriptive, you can really imagine what Lily is seeing. This is a fast paced epic high fantasy romance that can’t be missed. I highly recommend for fantasy romance readers that like to lean more on the adult side of new adult. It gets top marks from me a solid 5/5 stars.
It’s no secret that fantasy romance is my absolute favourite genre and I ate this one up.
While out looking for her missing friend, Lily stubbles into the magical land of Alternis. Only she is not herself anymore her physical appearance has changed and she is discovering she has new magical abilities!
On arriving she meets a handsome man or should I say Fae, who informs her she is a Vale born which is a human and Fae Hybrid. He is handsome and charming but a bit too slick and untrustworthy but unable to return home she places her trust in him.
Before she knows it she has been captured by rebel Fae and finds out each race has the ability to control one of the elements but finds she can control both Fire and Water.
These rebels seem kind and more forthcoming so now she has no idea who to trust. Their children are being held by an even bigger enemy and it seems only she can help.
Kind hearted Lily chooses to follow her heart and do the right thing no matter what.
The world building is fantastic and the writing is so descriptive, you can really imagine what Lily is seeing. This is a fast paced epic high fantasy romance that can’t be missed. I highly recommend for fantasy romance readers that like to lean more on the adult side of new adult. It gets top marks from me a solid 5/5 stars.
April 3, 2022
Part adventure, part adult fantasy romance, but so much more.
Author Lorin Petrazilka reinvents some traditional magical creatures, while introducing many more of her own. I loved her take on elves, their mode of travel, and method of battle. She paints a vivid picture of an enchanting world that isn't as perfect as it appears on the surface.
Lily, our heroine, is searching for her best friend who went missing in the human world. Her search leads her into another realm. By the story's end, we are left wondering which reality does Lily really belong to? The characters are well developed and relatable.
I enjoyed the way Lily discovers her gifts and learns how to use them while struggling to overcome her fears from past trauma. Her internal battles intersect with the very real dangers of her new surroundings.
Digging a little deeper, we see that political agendas do not necessarily define all people represented under one banner or another — sometimes it takes a little while to discover the truth.
The story reminds us that who we are is not merely a function of physical form, special abilities, magical powers, or circumstance. It's about our personal integrity and the willingness to do the right thing whether we perceive ourselves as powerful or weak — to protect the innocent at risk to our own lives.
An entertaining and thought provoking read.
Author Lorin Petrazilka reinvents some traditional magical creatures, while introducing many more of her own. I loved her take on elves, their mode of travel, and method of battle. She paints a vivid picture of an enchanting world that isn't as perfect as it appears on the surface.
Lily, our heroine, is searching for her best friend who went missing in the human world. Her search leads her into another realm. By the story's end, we are left wondering which reality does Lily really belong to? The characters are well developed and relatable.
I enjoyed the way Lily discovers her gifts and learns how to use them while struggling to overcome her fears from past trauma. Her internal battles intersect with the very real dangers of her new surroundings.
Digging a little deeper, we see that political agendas do not necessarily define all people represented under one banner or another — sometimes it takes a little while to discover the truth.
The story reminds us that who we are is not merely a function of physical form, special abilities, magical powers, or circumstance. It's about our personal integrity and the willingness to do the right thing whether we perceive ourselves as powerful or weak — to protect the innocent at risk to our own lives.
An entertaining and thought provoking read.
Read
July 5, 2023I'm the author of Vale Born. This is my first series, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I put all of what I love to read in romantasy books into this series: Adventure, magic, a sizzling romance, self discovery...when someone asks what it's about, I say EVERYTHING. It's a fantasy, it's the story of a young woman ion a magical land. It's a very fish out of water portal story, but that's not what it's about. It's about the human condition regardless of where we are, what we have to do to figure who we are and what our place is in the world (or worlds). It's about what happens to us as people when something forks our path and we have to figure out what to do with our lives after we've been drastically changed by that event.
The last book in the series (save for two planned spin-offs) will be released Fall 2023!
Reading order:
Vale Born
Plight of the Syrenni (this is a prequel novella but it's meant to be read after book 1)
Pull of the Vale
Coming soon! Yoke of the Vale
Get all of my latest updates, as well as periodic giveaways and exclusive insider info with my monthly newsletter. Sign up at www.lorinpetrazilka.com
The last book in the series (save for two planned spin-offs) will be released Fall 2023!
Reading order:
Vale Born
Plight of the Syrenni (this is a prequel novella but it's meant to be read after book 1)
Pull of the Vale
Coming soon! Yoke of the Vale
Get all of my latest updates, as well as periodic giveaways and exclusive insider info with my monthly newsletter. Sign up at www.lorinpetrazilka.com
November 26, 2025
I went into Vale Born really excited for a fast-paced fantasy adventure, and while it definitely delivered on action, magic, and danger, it didn’t completely win me over. The world of Alternis is vivid and imaginative, and Lily’s quest to find her missing best friend hooked me from the start. There’s a lot of mystery, high-stakes conflict between fae factions, and a brooding, dangerously attractive male who adds a nice layer of tension.
That said, some parts felt a bit uneven. The pacing lagged in places, and I occasionally found myself wishing for deeper character development or smoother transitions. Still, the overall plot is intriguing enough to keep you turning pages, especially if you enjoy fae politics, hidden powers, and a heroine thrown into a world she’s barely prepared for.
I listened to the audiobook, and narrator Gina Melchiorri did a good job bringing the story and its characters to life. Her performance helped pull me through the slower sections.
All in all, Vale Born is a solid read with great potential. Not perfect, but worth checking out if you enjoy portal fantasy and don’t mind a few bumps along the way.
That said, some parts felt a bit uneven. The pacing lagged in places, and I occasionally found myself wishing for deeper character development or smoother transitions. Still, the overall plot is intriguing enough to keep you turning pages, especially if you enjoy fae politics, hidden powers, and a heroine thrown into a world she’s barely prepared for.
I listened to the audiobook, and narrator Gina Melchiorri did a good job bringing the story and its characters to life. Her performance helped pull me through the slower sections.
All in all, Vale Born is a solid read with great potential. Not perfect, but worth checking out if you enjoy portal fantasy and don’t mind a few bumps along the way.
November 22, 2021
I received my copy free from Voracious Readers Only
Awesome book. Well worth the read, especially for fans of the 'Throne of Glass' series.
From the first page you are quickly thrown head first, along with the main character, Lily, into a whole new world. Lily is on a mission to find her missing best friend, but Lily also has a past.
Step by step you get to meet and learn about the characters, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations, as well as races with their own customs, clothing, and home settings. Little by little the reader discovers Lily's past, while learning about her new surroundings as she discovers more and more.
The end was great, but its also a sneaky cliffhanger. At first you might think it is ended nice and neatly, with room fir future books. Upon further thought however you will find yourself realizing things are more up in the air then they seem.
Personally, I look forward to reading the next book and discovering the answers to all the questions I realized I still have!
Awesome book. Well worth the read, especially for fans of the 'Throne of Glass' series.
From the first page you are quickly thrown head first, along with the main character, Lily, into a whole new world. Lily is on a mission to find her missing best friend, but Lily also has a past.
Step by step you get to meet and learn about the characters, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations, as well as races with their own customs, clothing, and home settings. Little by little the reader discovers Lily's past, while learning about her new surroundings as she discovers more and more.
The end was great, but its also a sneaky cliffhanger. At first you might think it is ended nice and neatly, with room fir future books. Upon further thought however you will find yourself realizing things are more up in the air then they seem.
Personally, I look forward to reading the next book and discovering the answers to all the questions I realized I still have!
December 31, 2022
What makes "Vale Born" shine most for me is how the high fantasy elements get contoured through the lens of our reality by the at-her-core human protagonist, Lily. I learned things I never expected to find in a fantasy novel (like shared lived experience of what it can be like to be a horse vet!) and also got to introspect and learn about myself. The world is creative and fun to be in, all highlighted by Lily's practical-and-passionate narration. It was also so refreshing for me to connect with a protagonist who wasn't strong because of subverting her femininity with machismo, but because of her perseverance and character, including but not limited to her strength as a woman. I'm a very slow reader and often have trouble getting myself to read. But I looked forward to reading this every night until I finished. Right after finishing reading, I ordered the second book, and am excited to read it when it arrives :)
July 31, 2023
This fantasy series starter introduced Lily and the world of Alternis.
Lily's search for her missing friend takes her to another world filled with a variety of Fae creatures and beings where she uncovers secrets about herself and some new abilities. The creative world building and vivid descriptions make everything and everyone easy to imagine. The story is full of magic, action, romance, intrigue, secrets, and adventures that keep the pages turning.
Gina Melchiorri performed the audio version of the story. She did a great job giving voice to Lily and bringing the world of Alternis to life.
Lily's search for her missing friend takes her to another world filled with a variety of Fae creatures and beings where she uncovers secrets about herself and some new abilities. The creative world building and vivid descriptions make everything and everyone easy to imagine. The story is full of magic, action, romance, intrigue, secrets, and adventures that keep the pages turning.
Gina Melchiorri performed the audio version of the story. She did a great job giving voice to Lily and bringing the world of Alternis to life.
March 8, 2022
I absolutely loved these two! A fantastic story that flowed effortlessly and engaging and mysterious, and full of possibilities of what could be...This is a brilliant read! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well-developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this novel and would read more novels by this author.
July 18, 2023
Awesome story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself sucked into the world of Alternis. It is an enjoyable read, and step into an alternative world. Good world building and character development. Oh, to be Vale born, and find you have magical abilities! Romance was sweet. The narration was excellent. I am definitely interested in more works by this author.
I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving my review.
August 25, 2023
Oh what a treat! I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked right from the start. The author did an amazing job at building this world in a way that the reader could follow and envision. Makes me wish I was vale born, and would someday find myself landing in this world. The narrator for the audiobook version was so soothing to listen to, and her voice really reminded me of a popular actress which was fun.
March 8, 2024
"Lorin Petrazilka's 'Vale Born,' narrated by Gina Melchiorri, sweeps listeners into a thrilling odyssey where peril and passion collide effortlessly. Melchiorri's narration brings Petrazilka's vivid world to life, ensuring an enchanting experience from start to finish. With its dynamic characters and richly crafted setting, 'Vale Born' is a delightful treat for fantasy aficionados seeking a spellbinding adventure."
May 29, 2023
Lorin Petrazilka does a great job in creating a unique fantasy world, it had great characters that worked in this universe. I was glad I got to read this as I really enjoyed this. It left me wanting to read more in this world and from the author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 10, 2022
In this fantasy novel, Lily searches for her missing best friend Josie. I don’t want to give away any of the story. This is an intriguing novel with the main female character seen as an intricate, adventurous lady. I recommend this book if you like fantasy, female heroines, a fast moving story.
March 4, 2023
Sweet
This is the sweetest fantasy book I’ve ever read. It was full of tension, action, romance, and characters with a sweet aura of innocence. If you need a break from “silky steel” and the “molten apex” and just want a good story… give this a read!
This is the sweetest fantasy book I’ve ever read. It was full of tension, action, romance, and characters with a sweet aura of innocence. If you need a break from “silky steel” and the “molten apex” and just want a good story… give this a read!
April 2, 2023
Lily is one of the most relatable characters I’ve come across in a long time; the battle of finding one’s path while the past leaks into the present. The world building is truly magical and fascinating. And the saucy scenes, were just saucy enough!
April 3, 2025
The book was a wonderful blend of romance, fantasy, and action. I really enjoyed it and finished it in less than 2 days. My favorite part is thr fact that the fae have elemental affinities and gives me Avatar feels. Loved it!
December 24, 2021
Loved it! Funny, entertaining and unique.
January 2, 2022
Was ok.
March 20, 2022
An ending that leaves you waiting for more. This book had a bit of a slow start but a lot of good character development, sexual tension and humor! I’d definitely recommend it.
Want to read
July 21, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/21/2022)! 🎁
July 13, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. Great pace, and the world building is excellent. I liked the characters too - including the baddies.
August 15, 2023
not for me
Its one thing to have a great world building and have fun and new adventures but what got me was the unrealistic use of her magic that made this a not so likable story.
Its one thing to have a great world building and have fun and new adventures but what got me was the unrealistic use of her magic that made this a not so likable story.
October 15, 2024
I love the book! It’s very good and easy to read will continue to read her books!
March 11, 2022
Read this book!! Anyone who enjoys romantic fantasy will absolutely love this book!! The world building was amazing and sets the mood and just sucks you in. I read it in one sitting lol I couldn’t stop.
January 5, 2022
A definite adventure worth reading! Once I started I couldn’t put it down. Superb world building, action packed scenes and likable characters. Lorin kept me immersed in Valeborn and I’m emerging from its conclusion on Christmas morning 😁
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews