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Tidecaller Chronicles #1
Daughter of Flood and Fury
Aletheia Vjolla is a walking heresy: a girl born with a man’s magic, she studies among the city’s revered monks only on the authority of her father, head seer of the temple. Already disliked for her gender and blasphemous magic, things fall apart when her father is deposed and murdered. Searching for answers to his sudden death, Aletheia stays on at the temple only by being the best—and by burying her grief in the quest.
It isn’t enough.
Enemies in her class bring her to the new head seer, who publicly sentences her to death while privately admitting he killed her father. Calling on those few loyal to her father, Aletheia manages to escape, but finds herself alone in a hostile city, unsure how to survive and unable to hide her heritage. Hunted by the temple and darker elements in the city, to vindicate her father she must first learn the lesson he couldn’t teach her: how to find the strength in her heresy.
It isn’t enough.
Enemies in her class bring her to the new head seer, who publicly sentences her to death while privately admitting he killed her father. Calling on those few loyal to her father, Aletheia manages to escape, but finds herself alone in a hostile city, unsure how to survive and unable to hide her heritage. Hunted by the temple and darker elements in the city, to vindicate her father she must first learn the lesson he couldn’t teach her: how to find the strength in her heresy.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2021
256 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Levi Jacobs
18 books63 followersLevi Jacobs was born in North Dakota and grew up in Japan and Uganda, so he was bound to have a speculative take on modern life. Currently marketing his epic fantasy series The Resonant Saga and at work on three more, he runs a small fruit company to pay the bills.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 24, 2021
3.5/5
I had a blast reading this book. Jacobs drops the reader right into the middle of the action and rarely slows down.
Daughter of Flood & Fury follows Aletheia, a girl born with a man’s magic, considered a walking heresy. She survives in the temple because she’s the best at everything (except speaking to people; she prefers to act, often in anger). Early in the story, the killers of her father force her to flee the temple. But she, a chosen-one figure on her coming-of-age arc, won’t stop before she punishes bad guys.
It’s a YA book throughout. It contains loads and loads of angst, hidden vulnerability, characters discovering their identity (and sexuality). Bad guys lack nuance and depth. I found the romantic arc unconvincing (having the author repeating, again and again, that one character loves the other isn’t enough*). Happily, great pacing and intriguing magic make up for these shortcomings and make the book hard to put down. The time for reflection comes later :)
The magic system is gender-based. Monks (men) study and master watersight allowing them to read minds through any kind of water connection, and learn to control their emotions (“ice” them). Women who study bloodwork can gain control over bodies and minds. Both powers have darker sides and are based on limited definitions of gender. Aletheia’s powers pose a threat to the power structure in the temple.
I enjoyed the book and Aletheia’s voice. Despite some shortcomings, it’s fun, intense, and quick o read. I would highly recommend Jacobs’ oeuvre to Sanderson’s fans - they’ll find plenty of thrills here.
* I enjoy Jacobs's writing and find pleasure in his books. That said, his Beggar’s Rebellion series also suffered from unconvincing romance. Repeating that someone loves someone isn't enough to convince me.
I had a blast reading this book. Jacobs drops the reader right into the middle of the action and rarely slows down.
Daughter of Flood & Fury follows Aletheia, a girl born with a man’s magic, considered a walking heresy. She survives in the temple because she’s the best at everything (except speaking to people; she prefers to act, often in anger). Early in the story, the killers of her father force her to flee the temple. But she, a chosen-one figure on her coming-of-age arc, won’t stop before she punishes bad guys.
It’s a YA book throughout. It contains loads and loads of angst, hidden vulnerability, characters discovering their identity (and sexuality). Bad guys lack nuance and depth. I found the romantic arc unconvincing (having the author repeating, again and again, that one character loves the other isn’t enough*). Happily, great pacing and intriguing magic make up for these shortcomings and make the book hard to put down. The time for reflection comes later :)
The magic system is gender-based. Monks (men) study and master watersight allowing them to read minds through any kind of water connection, and learn to control their emotions (“ice” them). Women who study bloodwork can gain control over bodies and minds. Both powers have darker sides and are based on limited definitions of gender. Aletheia’s powers pose a threat to the power structure in the temple.
I enjoyed the book and Aletheia’s voice. Despite some shortcomings, it’s fun, intense, and quick o read. I would highly recommend Jacobs’ oeuvre to Sanderson’s fans - they’ll find plenty of thrills here.
* I enjoy Jacobs's writing and find pleasure in his books. That said, his Beggar’s Rebellion series also suffered from unconvincing romance. Repeating that someone loves someone isn't enough to convince me.
April 29, 2022
While I would have liked a little bit more depth here and there, this was one hell of an entertaining and fast paced book!
I loved the main character who refuses to be labeled and put into a specific mold of society. She does have male magic, but that's not her only bit of uniqueness.
I really enjoyed her spreading her wings and finding her own way, instead of going where she is meant to go.
It definitely is a YA story with all the important bits for that age group, but it had enough other bits and pieces to still make it a very enjoyable read for 35 year old me just as well.
This will definitely not be my last Levi Jacobs book!
I loved the main character who refuses to be labeled and put into a specific mold of society. She does have male magic, but that's not her only bit of uniqueness.
I really enjoyed her spreading her wings and finding her own way, instead of going where she is meant to go.
It definitely is a YA story with all the important bits for that age group, but it had enough other bits and pieces to still make it a very enjoyable read for 35 year old me just as well.
This will definitely not be my last Levi Jacobs book!
January 24, 2023
A fun quick read and right to the action. Not as deep a story as I would have liked but worth a read for action based readers.
March 8, 2023
A temple falls under new leadership after a violent murder. His daughter begins to uncover the circumstances of his demise. A deadly concealment of the gravest truth.
A lot to like here! Dark conspiracy & loaded with action. Unique magic as well. Great stuff.
A lot to like here! Dark conspiracy & loaded with action. Unique magic as well. Great stuff.
May 29, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed it. RTC
January 20, 2021
This is the first book in a series that follows Aletheia - daughter of the head of the male religious order in her city. Theia, in spite of her gender, was trained as an acolyte of the temple. Her gender prevented her from fitting in, and made her a target. Her talent allowed her to remain. After her father's death (Theia suspects murder), she is no longer safe from the traditionalist faction within her order, and must find a way to survive outside the temple, as well as solve the mystery of her father's death.
Overall, I liked this book. I think the basic premise (magical ability along gender lines) is an interesting concept, and there are a lot of ways this could be explored through the series. I thought the pacing was very well executed. Enough information was revealed that I followed what was going on, but it didn't interfere with the plot or the action.
The world-building was also very well done. My personal taste would have been for more details - I have questions - but that's my own curiosity. I think that there was enough revealed in order for the plot to make sense, without bogging things down. There is definitely room for the world to breathe and develop as the series progresses: this novel was set within one city, and there were only a few key areas of the city explored in detail (although there are some "passing through" scenes that convey more in passing).
The character-building was also well handled. Theia is the focus of the story and remains the strongest character. I liked the naivete she exhibited, which made sense with her sheltered upbringing. The one area that I found was a bit inconsistent (and could have been addressed more effectively) was in the way she characterised her relationship with her father. I also found her relationships with her peers stretched my credulity by times. Still, she's an interesting character, and I think there's a lot of potential for her development as she matures. I also really appreciated that there remains ambiguity with some of the other characters - there are elements that Theia would either not know, not understand, or not be able to see through her own biases. I didn't find that I as a reader was privy to information kept from Theia, and I very much appreciate sharing her blinders, as it were.
This is definitely a promising series. I hope the next installments will reveal more about the world (culture, expanded locales) and allow Theia to expand her own knowledge and understanding of the world. I will keep reading this series.
I received an ARC via the author.
Overall, I liked this book. I think the basic premise (magical ability along gender lines) is an interesting concept, and there are a lot of ways this could be explored through the series. I thought the pacing was very well executed. Enough information was revealed that I followed what was going on, but it didn't interfere with the plot or the action.
The world-building was also very well done. My personal taste would have been for more details - I have questions - but that's my own curiosity. I think that there was enough revealed in order for the plot to make sense, without bogging things down. There is definitely room for the world to breathe and develop as the series progresses: this novel was set within one city, and there were only a few key areas of the city explored in detail (although there are some "passing through" scenes that convey more in passing).
The character-building was also well handled. Theia is the focus of the story and remains the strongest character. I liked the naivete she exhibited, which made sense with her sheltered upbringing. The one area that I found was a bit inconsistent (and could have been addressed more effectively) was in the way she characterised her relationship with her father. I also found her relationships with her peers stretched my credulity by times. Still, she's an interesting character, and I think there's a lot of potential for her development as she matures. I also really appreciated that there remains ambiguity with some of the other characters - there are elements that Theia would either not know, not understand, or not be able to see through her own biases. I didn't find that I as a reader was privy to information kept from Theia, and I very much appreciate sharing her blinders, as it were.
This is definitely a promising series. I hope the next installments will reveal more about the world (culture, expanded locales) and allow Theia to expand her own knowledge and understanding of the world. I will keep reading this series.
I received an ARC via the author.
February 4, 2024
okay i
i liked the very beginning
the worldbuilding had me SOLD at first, it was so original and cool, i was immediately swept away
but like that was a great skeleton!! and the rest was kinda lost on me. idk how I'm supposed to believe that two girls who are both supposedly never ever trusting of others immediately trust one another. it was like insta-love but worse, and i already fucking hate insta-love. because of this, the entirety of their relationship to one another felt like it didn't have any legs to stand on. it was shallow and rushed, and it got no real payout whatsoever. it never felt like two whole characters interacting, just pieces of a single one.
that was admittedly the crux of my frustration, considering how much the book quickly hinges on this relationship and their feelings for one another. it was entirely unbelievable and invariably frustrating. mistakes or choices never felt fully explored, consequences for our MC's actions (repeatedly told not to do something by someone who knows better, repeatedly does that thing again and again and again) and betrayals never are seen through. i don't care if she supposedly feels guilty, or that I'm told she supposedly feels guilty when she doesn't act like it. i CARE that these choices were never fucking seen through.
ultimately, i was given nothing that made me want to continue the series--the single worldbuilding element alone wasn't enough. the blood "witches" had um very very weird vibes and wasn't particularly clever like watersight and all that. i wanted so much more. i wanted a story. i didn't feel like i actually got one
i liked the very beginning
the worldbuilding had me SOLD at first, it was so original and cool, i was immediately swept away
but like that was a great skeleton!! and the rest was kinda lost on me. idk how I'm supposed to believe that two girls who are both supposedly never ever trusting of others immediately trust one another. it was like insta-love but worse, and i already fucking hate insta-love. because of this, the entirety of their relationship to one another felt like it didn't have any legs to stand on. it was shallow and rushed, and it got no real payout whatsoever. it never felt like two whole characters interacting, just pieces of a single one.
that was admittedly the crux of my frustration, considering how much the book quickly hinges on this relationship and their feelings for one another. it was entirely unbelievable and invariably frustrating. mistakes or choices never felt fully explored, consequences for our MC's actions (repeatedly told not to do something by someone who knows better, repeatedly does that thing again and again and again) and betrayals never are seen through. i don't care if she supposedly feels guilty, or that I'm told she supposedly feels guilty when she doesn't act like it. i CARE that these choices were never fucking seen through.
ultimately, i was given nothing that made me want to continue the series--the single worldbuilding element alone wasn't enough. the blood "witches" had um very very weird vibes and wasn't particularly clever like watersight and all that. i wanted so much more. i wanted a story. i didn't feel like i actually got one
December 9, 2021
4/5 stars. At the basis this is the story of one girl fighting to change a broken system. A lot of was accomplished in this short book, I'm really looking forward to book 2 now, especially after that ending. I think the magic system was really interesting and am looking forward to unravelling more of the mysteries with it.
April 16, 2023
3.75/5
the plot is pretty simple but the magic system and worldbuilding is interesting. i'm curious about what happens next
the plot is pretty simple but the magic system and worldbuilding is interesting. i'm curious about what happens next
June 4, 2021
3 stars
I liked it, didn’t love it and I feel like it could have done with 100 more pages to allow for more world building and especially for more character development because I never really got attached to Aletheia or in the romance, hopefully more of this will be present in the sequel!
One small note I had, which might be nitpicky (sorry haha) but throughout the entire book she always referred to her father as such, but in one instance she suddenly called him her dad, which felt wrong in the overall feel off the book, because everything is very ‘proper’ in terms of speech and it made if feel more modern in some way (if that makes sense) Definitely not a big issue but just something I noticed:)
I liked it, didn’t love it and I feel like it could have done with 100 more pages to allow for more world building and especially for more character development because I never really got attached to Aletheia or in the romance, hopefully more of this will be present in the sequel!
One small note I had, which might be nitpicky (sorry haha) but throughout the entire book she always referred to her father as such, but in one instance she suddenly called him her dad, which felt wrong in the overall feel off the book, because everything is very ‘proper’ in terms of speech and it made if feel more modern in some way (if that makes sense) Definitely not a big issue but just something I noticed:)
December 6, 2023
I was looking for something that was pure fight and intrigue and fun, not something with romance. It would have still been good without the romance. Also needs a grammar clean up.
For my clean readers: romance-kissing, allusions of sex, and LGBTQ friendly. Violence-fighting, murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping. Language-lots, but no f-bomb.
For my clean readers: romance-kissing, allusions of sex, and LGBTQ friendly. Violence-fighting, murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping. Language-lots, but no f-bomb.
November 1, 2024
3.5 stars.
Solid start to a series. Plenty of pace and action, plus a super clever and unique magic system kept me reading. A bit light on character, particularly around the romance subplot, which felt quite rushed.
Solid start to a series. Plenty of pace and action, plus a super clever and unique magic system kept me reading. A bit light on character, particularly around the romance subplot, which felt quite rushed.
February 1, 2021
I loved this book! Daughter of Flood and Fury is a quick, fun read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to start a new epic fantasy series, especially one with a strong female character.
The book follows the exploits of Aletheia, daughter of the Choosen, as battles against a religious order corrupted by power in order to solve the mystery of her father's death. Along the way, she meets a thief who gives her a reason to keep fighting and a group of witches who practice blood magic.
Great book! I can't wait for the next one in the series.
The book follows the exploits of Aletheia, daughter of the Choosen, as battles against a religious order corrupted by power in order to solve the mystery of her father's death. Along the way, she meets a thief who gives her a reason to keep fighting and a group of witches who practice blood magic.
Great book! I can't wait for the next one in the series.
January 25, 2021
Omg... I could not put this book down.
Aletheia ( not sure of the pronunciation) was born a heresy they said. A girl with a man's magic. She trained along side the monks in the temple while under her father's protection. She became the best of the best even though she was female.
However her father was murdered and as she went looking for the truth she finds there are people who don't want her looking too closely.
As she continues to find proof of who killed her father and why her life becomes indentured.
She has to decide if she wants to stay in the temple, her only home and recant her fathers believes or escape and find the truth.
This book had me at the first paragraph. There is so much intrigue and emotion plus the characters themselves are so colorful that I was swept away with the story. I didn't want to put it down to even go to sleep 🤗
Aletheia ( not sure of the pronunciation) was born a heresy they said. A girl with a man's magic. She trained along side the monks in the temple while under her father's protection. She became the best of the best even though she was female.
However her father was murdered and as she went looking for the truth she finds there are people who don't want her looking too closely.
As she continues to find proof of who killed her father and why her life becomes indentured.
She has to decide if she wants to stay in the temple, her only home and recant her fathers believes or escape and find the truth.
This book had me at the first paragraph. There is so much intrigue and emotion plus the characters themselves are so colorful that I was swept away with the story. I didn't want to put it down to even go to sleep 🤗
April 12, 2021
Daughter of Flood and Fury is the latest new release from my fellow 2019 SPFBO finalist Levi Jacobs. If you enjoy YA epic fantasy, this is definitely a book for you. It has all the good stuff from that genre - a cool and kick-butt MC, a dangerous enemy, intriguing conspiracies, and a hint of romance. I enjoyed this one from beginning to end, and the pacing was great so that I never got bored. I found the two kinds of magic in this world super interesting - the ability to use water and blood in fascinating (and slightly terrifying) ways. I am definitely looking forward to the release of the next book in the series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me
January 29, 2023
There is a saying, "Come for the plot. Stay for the characters." That's not the case with this book. I really just stuck around for the plot and the worldbuilding.
The book features a city caught in political strife over religious orthodoxy which I found interesting. However, what I disliked how predictable all the characters were. All the characters react exactly how you expect them to react. A struggle or don't struggle in all the places that you would expect.
The book features a city caught in political strife over religious orthodoxy which I found interesting. However, what I disliked how predictable all the characters were. All the characters react exactly how you expect them to react. A struggle or don't struggle in all the places that you would expect.
June 29, 2023
Daughter of Flood and Fury is hands-down one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. The writing is impeccable, the characters truly compelling, and the world they inhabit is incredibly unique. As you read this story, you will be swept away in the most delightful way. It’s impossible not to be. Levi Jacobs is an accomplished and talented author, and this is his best story yet! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, and I can’t suggest this one highly enough!
October 3, 2021
A relentless, exhilarating ride full of unexpected twists. Had a blast reading this one.
January 4, 2023
‘Everyone deserves justice…even the guilty’
And if the powers that be don’t take care of it, then it’s up to our heroine to do so. Justice isn’t about revenge so an individual can get closure – it’s also about stopping innocents from getting hurt in the future. The prequel set up the story’s background and atmosphere as well as introduces readers to some of the characters that we find in this book.
While I read many different genres and even various flavors of fantasy, I think that my favorite type of world is a port town with guild conspiracies. So many vested interests vying for power and so many of the “little people” going about underfoot in an attempt to keep some semblance of balance in check. Games of high stakes by those of low morals get thwarted by lowlifes with high standards.
Fave quote:
‘The best power never has to be used.’
Gals gotta stick together. Not only ‘cause it’s a man’s world, but also for the type of companionship we can share. Alethia went from an elite institution to the depths of the underworld within minutes, with no warning let alone time to prepare herself with the appropriate survival skills for her new life. She had been taught one kind of strength at the temple, but will it serve her well enough on the streets?
To find out, we’ll just have to read ‘Witch of Wealth and Ruin’ then ‘Rebel of Riddle and Woe’ (expected later in Jan).
And if the powers that be don’t take care of it, then it’s up to our heroine to do so. Justice isn’t about revenge so an individual can get closure – it’s also about stopping innocents from getting hurt in the future. The prequel set up the story’s background and atmosphere as well as introduces readers to some of the characters that we find in this book.
While I read many different genres and even various flavors of fantasy, I think that my favorite type of world is a port town with guild conspiracies. So many vested interests vying for power and so many of the “little people” going about underfoot in an attempt to keep some semblance of balance in check. Games of high stakes by those of low morals get thwarted by lowlifes with high standards.
Fave quote:
‘The best power never has to be used.’
Gals gotta stick together. Not only ‘cause it’s a man’s world, but also for the type of companionship we can share. Alethia went from an elite institution to the depths of the underworld within minutes, with no warning let alone time to prepare herself with the appropriate survival skills for her new life. She had been taught one kind of strength at the temple, but will it serve her well enough on the streets?
To find out, we’ll just have to read ‘Witch of Wealth and Ruin’ then ‘Rebel of Riddle and Woe’ (expected later in Jan).
April 8, 2023
Short version: It's a coming of age story, which I'm often not overly fond of, and I didn't feel it gave me something new in terms of those, I didn't care much for the characters and felt certain developments came too quickly to feel like a satisfying payoff, and while there were interesting elements of the setting and magic system, it also felt so very familiar.
I just wish it did more than it did, to be honest. It feels so familiar in tropes, story developments, characters, even magic system to an extent, and I just wanted to see them either put together in a new way or a twist to them. If not that, then at least a character I could truly root for, but even there I was disinterested in our main character - and I tend to not find the characters of coming of age stories terribly interesting, historically speaking.
But it was also rather short, meaning developments came quick, revelations came quick, and the revelations were explained through our MC rather quickly, so I could turn off my "hmm I wonder-" part of my brain comfortably and not miss anything.
I do weight story and setting highest, with characters playing second fiddle to those, but unfortunately it just didn't pay off for me as a reader. It feels like a coming of age story in a fantasy world, it paid off on that premise, but it didn't bring anything more than that either.
I just wish it did more than it did, to be honest. It feels so familiar in tropes, story developments, characters, even magic system to an extent, and I just wanted to see them either put together in a new way or a twist to them. If not that, then at least a character I could truly root for, but even there I was disinterested in our main character - and I tend to not find the characters of coming of age stories terribly interesting, historically speaking.
But it was also rather short, meaning developments came quick, revelations came quick, and the revelations were explained through our MC rather quickly, so I could turn off my "hmm I wonder-" part of my brain comfortably and not miss anything.
I do weight story and setting highest, with characters playing second fiddle to those, but unfortunately it just didn't pay off for me as a reader. It feels like a coming of age story in a fantasy world, it paid off on that premise, but it didn't bring anything more than that either.
February 15, 2023
A wonderful coming of age fantasy with a strong female lead character!
The world building and character development in this book is outstanding. This is my first book by author Levi Jacobs and I can honestly say I can't wait to see more in this series as well as checking out his other books. Sometimes the fantasy genre produces books that are so far out there that it's hard to follow, or characters that are flat and uninteresting. In the pages of this book the reader is drawn into a world with characters who are rich and deep and resonate with the reader.
Be prepared to be sucked into an epic adventure that will make it hard to put your book mark in and close the book to get back to the real world. This is one of those books that you pick up at night before bed and say to yourself, "I'll only read one chapter then off to sleep" only to look up at 3am and realize that you will only get 3 hours sleep before having to get up to go to work. And still the struggle will be to put the bookmark in and place it on the nightstand.
Excellent work Levi Jacobs, can't wait to read more!!
The world building and character development in this book is outstanding. This is my first book by author Levi Jacobs and I can honestly say I can't wait to see more in this series as well as checking out his other books. Sometimes the fantasy genre produces books that are so far out there that it's hard to follow, or characters that are flat and uninteresting. In the pages of this book the reader is drawn into a world with characters who are rich and deep and resonate with the reader.
Be prepared to be sucked into an epic adventure that will make it hard to put your book mark in and close the book to get back to the real world. This is one of those books that you pick up at night before bed and say to yourself, "I'll only read one chapter then off to sleep" only to look up at 3am and realize that you will only get 3 hours sleep before having to get up to go to work. And still the struggle will be to put the bookmark in and place it on the nightstand.
Excellent work Levi Jacobs, can't wait to read more!!
June 19, 2022
I loved this book! The world-building was really good; with the religions setting the sexes against each other by forcing the separation in the education and setting up the other as the enemy. With that background, it's no wonder that Alatheia's presence in the temple where only males have been before being the spark that launches the coup against her father, against her, which is what pushed her to rebel against the coup by trying to dig for the truth. And what a truth it is that she finds. So good.
The audiobook was also good for an author-read book. There were some production issues where there were differences in the recording from chapter to chapter that made it sound like a different narrator from one to the next chapter at times. Still, the author's knowledge and passion for his book come through with his narration which makes it a good listen.
With the way this book ends, I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series. I need to find out what happens next.
The audiobook was also good for an author-read book. There were some production issues where there were differences in the recording from chapter to chapter that made it sound like a different narrator from one to the next chapter at times. Still, the author's knowledge and passion for his book come through with his narration which makes it a good listen.
With the way this book ends, I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series. I need to find out what happens next.
May 24, 2022
Fantasy + LGBTQ rep? Perfect combo for me! I enjoyed this story and I’m glad that I requested to read it, but I must admit that I didn’t end up liking it as much as I thought I would. The plot of this story had a lot of promise but I felt that it ended up leaving a lot to be desired. Not in the sense that it was nicely set up for the rest of the series, but rather that important information was just missing. This might just have been my perception, and possibly because I wasn’t able to read the whole story right away, but I wish there had been more to it. I really enjoyed Aletheia and Gaxna and the relationship they developed. Everything about how they were made sense and I'm glad the author didn’t just force a relationship for the sake of having “proper” LGBTQ+ rep. If half stars were an option here, I’d give this story a 3.5/5 stars. I received a free copy of this story from Hidden Gems in an exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2022
Received as an audio review copy from Story, this is an honest review. Narrated beautifully by the author Levi Jacobs, brings to life this poignant and intense epic fantasy adventure. Aletheia Vjolla is a bizarre rarity among the male monk students training at a well revered temple; being a girl blessed with elemental magic though to be only something a man could wield, Aletheia endures continual chaos and abuse by the teachers and fellow students to prove she deserves a place at the temple. Her father's odd death puts her life in further danger and forces Aletheia to flee to the streets, dodging OverSeers and blood witches. Protected and befriended by a thief that teaches Aletheia what it takes to survive as she works to find the clues within peoples memories to finally unravel those behind her father's murder. The truth as Aletheia discovers comes with a tragic sacrifice that will leave echoes on her future. Highly recommended.
January 24, 2021
The world needs more heretics
Interesting magic system. The heroine picked up living on the streets and thievery very quickly considering how sheltered she'd been at the temple. My only complaint was I never did grasp what age she was if it was mentioned I missed it. I liked how the relationship she had with her father was worked, her need for his love and acceptance balanced with her anger and guilt over his abandonment and death. Lots of politics and power struggles. The love interest was kinda predictable but it opens it up for another in the next book. Overall a good read and I will definitely look for the next in the series. I won't write about sentence structure and all the English major stuff because I am not one. For me the book flowed very well I had no problem understanding what was writtern.
Interesting magic system. The heroine picked up living on the streets and thievery very quickly considering how sheltered she'd been at the temple. My only complaint was I never did grasp what age she was if it was mentioned I missed it. I liked how the relationship she had with her father was worked, her need for his love and acceptance balanced with her anger and guilt over his abandonment and death. Lots of politics and power struggles. The love interest was kinda predictable but it opens it up for another in the next book. Overall a good read and I will definitely look for the next in the series. I won't write about sentence structure and all the English major stuff because I am not one. For me the book flowed very well I had no problem understanding what was writtern.
January 13, 2023
I DNF'd this book at 81%. The setting and story had a lot of cool and interesting things. But also, it was just full of dumb inconsistent things that seemed contrivances that contradict established lore, setting, and character drive. One moment, they literally establish how something works and verify it does. And two scenes later, No, oh look the character is surprised because lets ignore how it works for drama. Also the main character is shown as smart until she's not smart. Which doesn't make sense because there's no way she's that lucky or smart in regards to something she's never trained for and for when she's dumb, there's no way she's that dumb in regards to the things she's dumb about given her history and background. The inconsistency just kept on ruining the experience and I gave up because I stopped believing and suspending my disbelief for any part of the story.
November 16, 2022
Daughter of Flood and Fury: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Tidecaller Chronicles Book 1), my first read from author Levi Jacobs, an author I'd wanted to read since acquiring Beggar's Rebellion (Resonant Saga Book 1) back in May of 2019 yet never getting around to it. The perfect start to what looks to be an excellent series with a kick-ass female lead. Enjoyable, well-written Coming of Age Fantasy. I was given an Author's Direct copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Now I need to Witch of Wealth and Ruin: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Tidecaller Chronicles Book 2). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
June 15, 2023
Aletheia practices male magic, hiding at the temple to protect the truth behind the heresy. Now with her father's death, Aletheia needs to continue to stay hidden but she refuses. The plot-driven YA story follows her character arc as Aletheia trains while she searches for the truth of her father's death. The book is written in the present tense so readers read the narrative in real-time. A personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the characters.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems, StoryOrigin, and author.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems, StoryOrigin, and author.
July 5, 2023
I liked the main idea of the book and I'm fairly curious of what happens next. However, the story is way too linear for my taste.
The descriptions are few and far between, and everything seems really rushed. Most of the time the main characters only reacts to situations, created by other people without much planning or thinking. This makes her look kind of stupid.
Having the villain explain himself at the end of the book is never good decision, at least in my opinion. This shows the author didn't have other idea how to reveal important information.
This is only the first book, so I expect considerable improvement in the following tomes.
The descriptions are few and far between, and everything seems really rushed. Most of the time the main characters only reacts to situations, created by other people without much planning or thinking. This makes her look kind of stupid.
Having the villain explain himself at the end of the book is never good decision, at least in my opinion. This shows the author didn't have other idea how to reveal important information.
This is only the first book, so I expect considerable improvement in the following tomes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2021
On one hand, I hate made up swears. On the other, this book feels very genuine (and if it's not, good job to the writer lol) and I generally had fun. On one hand, some of this was a teeeeny bit tedious. On the other, it was no-nonsense and not just sadness porn relying on tragedy and senseless twists. On one hand, I wanted to strangle the main character. On the other, casual bisexual who aren't horrible sluts and both homo and hetero attraction without any kind of show being made out of it 😍
Overall, the three stars are meant in a very positive way.
Overall, the three stars are meant in a very positive way.
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