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The Zora Duology #1
Saving Zora
Spy. Fighter. Zorian.
Can one girl and her comrades bring about the salvation of two kingdoms?
Tanner, the youngest spy on the magical island of Zora, receives orders from the Zorian king to gather information on Viggo, the King of the Outlands—England. However, her team’s espionage plans are violently disrupted by Gordon—a man sworn to kill all Zorians. His determination to avenge his daughter’s death knows no bounds as he rallies Outlanders to his cause and searches the seas for Zora.
Along with Marcel, a stablehand who hints to be more than he claims, and Lagon, leader of the Arander warriors who has a vengeance of his own, Tanner leads a stand against the evil encompassing the land. With armies descending upon the throne of England and a dangerous man sailing toward Zora, time has seemingly run out for Tanner and her friends.
Follow Tanner, Marcel, and their comrades as they journey across lands, charge into battles, uncover shocking news, and find new love in their quest to save England and Zora from the hands of evil in this epic, YA Christian fantasy novel.
Saving Zora is the first book in The Zora Duology. Each book are standalones but are recommended to be read in order.
Can one girl and her comrades bring about the salvation of two kingdoms?
Tanner, the youngest spy on the magical island of Zora, receives orders from the Zorian king to gather information on Viggo, the King of the Outlands—England. However, her team’s espionage plans are violently disrupted by Gordon—a man sworn to kill all Zorians. His determination to avenge his daughter’s death knows no bounds as he rallies Outlanders to his cause and searches the seas for Zora.
Along with Marcel, a stablehand who hints to be more than he claims, and Lagon, leader of the Arander warriors who has a vengeance of his own, Tanner leads a stand against the evil encompassing the land. With armies descending upon the throne of England and a dangerous man sailing toward Zora, time has seemingly run out for Tanner and her friends.
Follow Tanner, Marcel, and their comrades as they journey across lands, charge into battles, uncover shocking news, and find new love in their quest to save England and Zora from the hands of evil in this epic, YA Christian fantasy novel.
Saving Zora is the first book in The Zora Duology. Each book are standalones but are recommended to be read in order.
- GenresFantasy
350 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2021
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Katie Marie
5 books18 followersKatie Marie is a Young Adult Fantasy author who spends her days exploring stories through books she’s reading or writing. You can usually find her cuddling her five cats, even when they’re disrupting her writing, spending time with family and friends, indulging in her love for cookie dough, or reading her latest adventure. Katie has a passion for the fantastical, though she likes to dabble in other genres as well. She published her first book at eighteen and hasn’t stopped pursuing her dream since.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 17, 2021
✨🤍Happy Release Day🤍✨#savingzora
Whooo yayyy! Saving Zora is now out in the world! ✨🌙 🥳
This book is so good! Katie has been my bookstagram friend since almost the very beginning and when she asked me to review her book, I was so excited! 🥰
Saving Zora is so unique and filled with adventure! It transports you to a world of magic, AMAZING friendships (cue the sarcastic and softie friends), faith, and the heart melting romance ❤️
AND THERE IS A PEGASUS!!! Wiiiii! That BREATHES FIRE! ✨ 🔥
Add a secret island 😭❤️....
This book will def grab your attention from page one! 😉 Even tho it was somewhat fast paced at the beginning, it did get better as the story went on ✨
I really appreciate the faith elements of the book and how clean it was despite the war/violence scenes which where handled very good! 🤍
The characters where all unique and had their own distinctive voices. And all the plot twists where just amazing- they kept you guessing and guessing. :)
This debut novel was very well done and I will def be reading book 2✨ Solid 4 stars 🥰
Whooo yayyy! Saving Zora is now out in the world! ✨🌙 🥳
This book is so good! Katie has been my bookstagram friend since almost the very beginning and when she asked me to review her book, I was so excited! 🥰
Saving Zora is so unique and filled with adventure! It transports you to a world of magic, AMAZING friendships (cue the sarcastic and softie friends), faith, and the heart melting romance ❤️
AND THERE IS A PEGASUS!!! Wiiiii! That BREATHES FIRE! ✨ 🔥
Add a secret island 😭❤️....
This book will def grab your attention from page one! 😉 Even tho it was somewhat fast paced at the beginning, it did get better as the story went on ✨
I really appreciate the faith elements of the book and how clean it was despite the war/violence scenes which where handled very good! 🤍
The characters where all unique and had their own distinctive voices. And all the plot twists where just amazing- they kept you guessing and guessing. :)
This debut novel was very well done and I will def be reading book 2✨ Solid 4 stars 🥰
May 30, 2021
*holds up a sword, safe side pointed your way* Read my long review, if you dare! :D Minor spoilers throughout, one major spoiler announced by the SPOILER in caps. :P
Random: The title continuously makes me think of "Finding Dory." Why? I DON'T KNOW XD (But unlike a lot of books, why the title is named this actually did give me feels so that is awesome!)
A huge applaud to the author. Writing is not easy, especially a long, adventure novel with fantasy elements. (I've tried it before and *screams* one day ya'll, one day). Also, I received an e-arc and this is my honest review. ;)
What I liked:
-THE COVER IS SO COOL!!
-People actually died/got hurt. Thank you. When I realized that all of the good characters are Christians I had a fear that there would be unrealistically no violence: (like everyone just gets knocked out instead of sliced, stabbed or killed :/) In war, people die! And in Saving Zora, they did. I would say it was a medium-light gruesome.
-Shadowsmaug is perfection. Can I have him? As a mentor? As a friend? I want his sass and abilities. Besides Lagon, he was my favorite character.
-I appreciate that characters who lost close family/friends actually felt grief and didn't forget them a chapter in a half later. It affected them and stayed the entire book.
-The sister relationship brought out qualities in the characters that I liked. Also, one friendship moment in particular with the prince and Justin was awesome (I believe it was the one where someone was going to make someone else tell someone in particular something *winks in vagueness*)
-I did end up liking the characters in the end. :) Especially Shadowsmaug. :)
-The fight scenes were cool-io
Some major things:
I think this is personal preference, but I do not like purely "evil" villains unless they are done a certain way: they need to actually scare me, otherwise I require my own connection with them and then I suppose they wouldn’t be purely "evil." I don't believe that everyone can be truly despicable. I should be able to empathize with them in some way, even if it is with someone who is making horrible choices. I personally am annoyed with villains that aren't like that, but I have seen on an instagram-post that there are readers who prefer this way instead.
On the topic of villains: there was a character, a semi villain, who acted like a kid bully. Her actions didn't make me feel hurt for the character she was doing it too, or feel like “she is so mean”, I was unfortunately just annoyed and felt like she was petty. The character’s reasoning behind why she acted that way didn't feel like enough to justify her actions.
I could go more in depth with the other villains, but I majorly just wished that the villains had some humanity in them. One of them had the tiniest touch, but I wish they actually did believe/tried to do some good/relatable things or had moral arguments or something.
(SPOILER: I wish the villains didn't die at the end, that some of them lived to try and figure out life and relationships, to also haunt the other characters, but ultimately to make everyone grow. END SPOILER).
Last major thing: there were content parts that felt sort of off. Tell-tale ears that weren’t covered up prior to spy missions when the characters were trying to blend in (could they wear a hat?). Characters that waited a week to tell an important plan/idea to their king. Going back inside a fire (which would have been honorable and everything), but the character knew how important their life was for their people and most likely knew that if they didn’t make it back out, a kid (who needs their guidance) would probably die. How were so many people convinced to fight and be killed?
Minor things:
-This is definitely a personal preference because I know other readers would swoon over the romantic parts and be super happy, but I don't like kissing. XD and especially rubbing ones back/touching an arm. Personally I'm like *cringe* (I love hugs though). But that is just my personal preference. ;)
Also, how (in all romance-ish books, not just this one) do shy boys/quiet girls go from never really having romance or a super great family to look up to suddenly know how to be romantic and call each other pet names and kiss and stuff? Confidently? Without awkwardness? In my lack of experience in that department, who knows, maybe it does come naturally?! XD
-Tanner was a fighter, I agree with that because I saw it and felt it, but I wish I saw her making good spy-actions (especially in the start of the book) in order for me to believe she actually was a spy. A few things kept happening to her that made me think she wasn't really a good spy (I mean, even spies mess up), but because I didn't see her actually being a great spy alone, I was more uncertain.
I rate the first half of the book 3.5 stars and the last half 4.5
Randomness:
The book made me laugh/snort a few times and not all books do. :D
It was cool hearing the characters praying throughout the book. :)
Lagon. I likey.
*deep breath* I hope I wasn’t harsh, because, as I’ve already mentioned, writing a book is SUPER hard ya’ll and it is a huge, huge accomplishment to get to put the words “The End” on a book, like woah! That is an awesome victory!
I’m interested to see what the second book will be about!
Edit: This book is sort of a standalone: the next one features some of the same characters with certain ones in major roles in a different plot. :D
Random: The title continuously makes me think of "Finding Dory." Why? I DON'T KNOW XD (But unlike a lot of books, why the title is named this actually did give me feels so that is awesome!)
A huge applaud to the author. Writing is not easy, especially a long, adventure novel with fantasy elements. (I've tried it before and *screams* one day ya'll, one day). Also, I received an e-arc and this is my honest review. ;)
What I liked:
-THE COVER IS SO COOL!!
-People actually died/got hurt. Thank you. When I realized that all of the good characters are Christians I had a fear that there would be unrealistically no violence: (like everyone just gets knocked out instead of sliced, stabbed or killed :/) In war, people die! And in Saving Zora, they did. I would say it was a medium-light gruesome.
-Shadowsmaug is perfection. Can I have him? As a mentor? As a friend? I want his sass and abilities. Besides Lagon, he was my favorite character.
-I appreciate that characters who lost close family/friends actually felt grief and didn't forget them a chapter in a half later. It affected them and stayed the entire book.
-The sister relationship brought out qualities in the characters that I liked. Also, one friendship moment in particular with the prince and Justin was awesome (I believe it was the one where someone was going to make someone else tell someone in particular something *winks in vagueness*)
-I did end up liking the characters in the end. :) Especially Shadowsmaug. :)
-The fight scenes were cool-io
Some major things:
I think this is personal preference, but I do not like purely "evil" villains unless they are done a certain way: they need to actually scare me, otherwise I require my own connection with them and then I suppose they wouldn’t be purely "evil." I don't believe that everyone can be truly despicable. I should be able to empathize with them in some way, even if it is with someone who is making horrible choices. I personally am annoyed with villains that aren't like that, but I have seen on an instagram-post that there are readers who prefer this way instead.
On the topic of villains: there was a character, a semi villain, who acted like a kid bully. Her actions didn't make me feel hurt for the character she was doing it too, or feel like “she is so mean”, I was unfortunately just annoyed and felt like she was petty. The character’s reasoning behind why she acted that way didn't feel like enough to justify her actions.
I could go more in depth with the other villains, but I majorly just wished that the villains had some humanity in them. One of them had the tiniest touch, but I wish they actually did believe/tried to do some good/relatable things or had moral arguments or something.
(SPOILER: I wish the villains didn't die at the end, that some of them lived to try and figure out life and relationships, to also haunt the other characters, but ultimately to make everyone grow. END SPOILER).
Last major thing: there were content parts that felt sort of off. Tell-tale ears that weren’t covered up prior to spy missions when the characters were trying to blend in (could they wear a hat?). Characters that waited a week to tell an important plan/idea to their king. Going back inside a fire (which would have been honorable and everything), but the character knew how important their life was for their people and most likely knew that if they didn’t make it back out, a kid (who needs their guidance) would probably die. How were so many people convinced to fight and be killed?
Minor things:
-This is definitely a personal preference because I know other readers would swoon over the romantic parts and be super happy, but I don't like kissing. XD and especially rubbing ones back/touching an arm. Personally I'm like *cringe* (I love hugs though). But that is just my personal preference. ;)
Also, how (in all romance-ish books, not just this one) do shy boys/quiet girls go from never really having romance or a super great family to look up to suddenly know how to be romantic and call each other pet names and kiss and stuff? Confidently? Without awkwardness? In my lack of experience in that department, who knows, maybe it does come naturally?! XD
-Tanner was a fighter, I agree with that because I saw it and felt it, but I wish I saw her making good spy-actions (especially in the start of the book) in order for me to believe she actually was a spy. A few things kept happening to her that made me think she wasn't really a good spy (I mean, even spies mess up), but because I didn't see her actually being a great spy alone, I was more uncertain.
I rate the first half of the book 3.5 stars and the last half 4.5
Randomness:
The book made me laugh/snort a few times and not all books do. :D
It was cool hearing the characters praying throughout the book. :)
Lagon. I likey.
*deep breath* I hope I wasn’t harsh, because, as I’ve already mentioned, writing a book is SUPER hard ya’ll and it is a huge, huge accomplishment to get to put the words “The End” on a book, like woah! That is an awesome victory!
I’m interested to see what the second book will be about!
Edit: This book is sort of a standalone: the next one features some of the same characters with certain ones in major roles in a different plot. :D
August 5, 2023
Saving Zora is a low fantasy set in old England with a nearby magical island that sports mind reading Zorains who ride the Pegasus-like Iravians.
Pros:
The premise of this book is very interesting and has a lot of potential. I loved the idea of the Iravians and the Zorians mind capabilites along with the storm that protects their island.
My favorite character was definitely Lagon. He felt the most realistic, relatable and unique and I really wished he had more of a place in the book rather than just a side character.
I think with some extra developmental editing and writing style growth this book could truly shine.
Cons:
The pacing was very strange for this book and many of the plot twists were so shocking (for lack of foreshadowing) that by the time you get to the end of the book, nothing is really surprising anymore.
The romance moved entirely too fast and was instant on both character's part. It felt more like the romance existed just to be there rather than to enhance the story or character developments.
Because of some of the issues the characters were stated to have at the beginning of the book, I was prepared to see some deep character development but never felt it came. Ultimately the characters acted the same at the beginning as they did at the end.
I personally wished the book had more cultural refrence to the time period and location in which it takes place. There's little to no context of the time period itself and the characters even believe in very modern Christianity even though the religion was very different in Old England at the time. I think adding more historical refrence and context would've made this book shine and be much more unique.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants and easy read, especially young Christians since it's clean and has basic Christian morals and references.
Pros:
The premise of this book is very interesting and has a lot of potential. I loved the idea of the Iravians and the Zorians mind capabilites along with the storm that protects their island.
My favorite character was definitely Lagon. He felt the most realistic, relatable and unique and I really wished he had more of a place in the book rather than just a side character.
I think with some extra developmental editing and writing style growth this book could truly shine.
Cons:
The pacing was very strange for this book and many of the plot twists were so shocking (for lack of foreshadowing) that by the time you get to the end of the book, nothing is really surprising anymore.
The romance moved entirely too fast and was instant on both character's part. It felt more like the romance existed just to be there rather than to enhance the story or character developments.
Because of some of the issues the characters were stated to have at the beginning of the book, I was prepared to see some deep character development but never felt it came. Ultimately the characters acted the same at the beginning as they did at the end.
I personally wished the book had more cultural refrence to the time period and location in which it takes place. There's little to no context of the time period itself and the characters even believe in very modern Christianity even though the religion was very different in Old England at the time. I think adding more historical refrence and context would've made this book shine and be much more unique.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants and easy read, especially young Christians since it's clean and has basic Christian morals and references.
June 18, 2021
There are some books that are so wonderful it’s hard to find the words to adequately speak about them...Saving Zora is one of those books!
Katie Marie wrote an epic tale filled with SO MUCH PAIN, battles, fierce female characters, sarcastic friends, soft-yet-strong guys, and truths of how God takes care of and helps us.
Everything was so tastefully written and Katie’s writing style is just *sighs in reader happiness*
The faith aspects felt natural, not forced. It was great to read a book where the characters had a firm trust in Christ the entirety of the book and sought Him!!
I could seriously go on about this book for eons, trying to address every brilliant aspect of Saving Zora! From the characters to the descriptions to ALL THE PLOT TWISTS (😱🤯), Saving Zora quickly became a favorite of mine!
If you love adventures, romance, and any or all of the things I mentioned in this review, go grab a copy of this gorgeous book!!!
I recommend this for readers 16 years and older due to the violence and gore that comes from all the battles. Other than the blood and killing, this book is really clean (no vulgar language and romance going no farther than kissing).
Katie Marie wrote an epic tale filled with SO MUCH PAIN, battles, fierce female characters, sarcastic friends, soft-yet-strong guys, and truths of how God takes care of and helps us.
Everything was so tastefully written and Katie’s writing style is just *sighs in reader happiness*
The faith aspects felt natural, not forced. It was great to read a book where the characters had a firm trust in Christ the entirety of the book and sought Him!!
I could seriously go on about this book for eons, trying to address every brilliant aspect of Saving Zora! From the characters to the descriptions to ALL THE PLOT TWISTS (😱🤯), Saving Zora quickly became a favorite of mine!
If you love adventures, romance, and any or all of the things I mentioned in this review, go grab a copy of this gorgeous book!!!
I recommend this for readers 16 years and older due to the violence and gore that comes from all the battles. Other than the blood and killing, this book is really clean (no vulgar language and romance going no farther than kissing).
September 6, 2021
This book was fantastic! The characters are easy to keep track of (sometimes I struggle with that in fantasy) and there's a subplot or two that is interesting to follow from the beginning, which end up being pretty hugely important later on in the book. That's one thing I LIVE for when I'm reading - a small thread that doesn't seem to be important at the time until you get further along. The author did a pretty good job explaining her fantasy elements as well, making them believable and easy to understand for the reader. While there were a few spots that felt like they sagged a bit, the story overall kept my attention (over a busy weekend to boot) and was very heartfelt. She also weaves some great faith-based themes into the book without feeling too forced or random, which I appreciated deeply. Overall, if you're a fan of Christian fantasy with some pretty intense characters, an interesting plot, and actual flying horses, make sure to check this one out!
June 15, 2021
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were a few plot twists that I didn't see coming. I won't spoil them. 😉 A few scenes had me almost tearing up.
The reason I can't give it five stars is due to several plot issues I noticed and I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style.
But overall, I enjoyed reading it and look forward to what Katie does next!
The reason I can't give it five stars is due to several plot issues I noticed and I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style.
But overall, I enjoyed reading it and look forward to what Katie does next!
October 8, 2021
A clean epic fantasy with epic battles.
Savings Zora is about a girl, Tanner, who is a Zorian spy. Zora is a secret island not far from England, and the Zorian people have some special abilities and and Irravians (kind of like pegasus unicorns). Tanner is the leader of the king's spies, and when the book opens, she and her team are on a mission to discover the plans of two rulers in England. Tanner's team is also on the lookout for Gordon, the Englander/Outlander who wishes to destroy all Zorians.
Positives
I liked the uniqueness of Zora. Katie Marie thought about the weather, how Zora could stay hidden, unique metal and weapons, and much more about the island and the people who live on it. I especially enjoyed the Irravians.
The battle scenes were well balanced. Katie Marie did well with keeping fight descriptions short and exciting while including enough detail for me to imagine the scene.
The description and detail were enough that I could visualize what was happening without it ever being too much.
The plot was interesting.
The book was well written.
Negatives
The romance just went too fast. It was a love-at-first-sight romance that developed into love without much development of the relationship. Also, the characters who fell in love had never been in love and then suddenly seemed used to it.
The characters felt more like scripted characters than real people. They always said and did the right thing and the only flaws I recall were told not shown. (Tanner's friends said she was controlling, but Tanner didn't express trouble with being controlling in her actions.) They seemed like the same characters at the beginning and end as if they had not grown.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Saving Zora by Katie Marie and would recommend it to anyone who likes epic fantasy and romance.
Savings Zora is about a girl, Tanner, who is a Zorian spy. Zora is a secret island not far from England, and the Zorian people have some special abilities and and Irravians (kind of like pegasus unicorns). Tanner is the leader of the king's spies, and when the book opens, she and her team are on a mission to discover the plans of two rulers in England. Tanner's team is also on the lookout for Gordon, the Englander/Outlander who wishes to destroy all Zorians.
Positives
I liked the uniqueness of Zora. Katie Marie thought about the weather, how Zora could stay hidden, unique metal and weapons, and much more about the island and the people who live on it. I especially enjoyed the Irravians.
The battle scenes were well balanced. Katie Marie did well with keeping fight descriptions short and exciting while including enough detail for me to imagine the scene.
The description and detail were enough that I could visualize what was happening without it ever being too much.
The plot was interesting.
The book was well written.
Negatives
The romance just went too fast. It was a love-at-first-sight romance that developed into love without much development of the relationship. Also, the characters who fell in love had never been in love and then suddenly seemed used to it.
The characters felt more like scripted characters than real people. They always said and did the right thing and the only flaws I recall were told not shown. (Tanner's friends said she was controlling, but Tanner didn't express trouble with being controlling in her actions.) They seemed like the same characters at the beginning and end as if they had not grown.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Saving Zora by Katie Marie and would recommend it to anyone who likes epic fantasy and romance.
April 13, 2021
Overall, Saving Zora has a great story line, however the first few chapters are kind of hard to follow, they're very fast paced. A little too fast at times but other than that this is an incredibly well written book with amazing, well thought out characters.
May 17, 2021
Saving Zora has everything you can want in Christian fantasy: an intriguing plot, lovable characters, and of course, magic. Set in England and the fantasy world of Zora, we follow Tanner, the head-strong heroine, as she struggles to save her home. She is joined by multiple other characters, including the sweetheart stable hand Marcel, the rough Drake, and my personal favorite, the hysterical Justin (who I would totally date). Lagon is another great character, who is a wonderful father that struggles with his desire for revenge. Let me not forget Shadowsmaug, Tanner's Irravian (a unicorn/pegasus type of creature) partner whose sass had me laughing multiple times. The characters were really what made this story for me, because of how much I grew to love all of them. I rejoiced with them, hurt with them, and even cried with them. The fight scenes are well written and the romance is sweet without being obnoxious. As a Christian, seeing the strong faith of many of the characters shine through was so refreshing. I also have to say that I loved the pacing. Fantasy books have a tendency to have way too much exposition, but this story wasted no time in getting to the action. Action, magic, romance, and plot twists (one plot twist in particular really caught me off guard in the best way possible!)...what more can you want from a story? It's clear that Katie put a lot of work into blending the multiple worlds of her story together and it paid off.
November 30, 2021
*A few spoilers*
This has a beautiful first novel feel.
I loved the friendships and relationships already in place and made along the way.
I enjoyed the fantastical animals and settings.
I do have a few critiques, but they are all minor and do not take away from the overall enjoyability of the book.
My main criticism would be the number of villains. Three men all so evil and all able to rally armies etc seems like a bit of a stretch to me. (could have done without Lord Denis).
I'm also a big believer in "show, don't tell" and was often not given a chance to make my own assumptions about characters because we were told exactly why they acted as they did.
I loved the incorporation of the faith aspect which seemed natural. I loved that one villain even had a chance to repent.
Overall, this book gets 5 stars because after a bit of a slow start (on my side, I had been in a reading slump, the book actually has a fast pace at the beginning) I hit a point where I was all in, and had to know what happened to each character.
SPOILER IN THIS PARAGRAPH: I had to pause to reflect for a few moments more than once because of the characters and what was happening to them. (AHEM Lagon falling into the abyss AHEM)
This doesn't happen to me often in this genre so I appreciate Katie's ability to make me feel for the characters and evoke strong reactions to their circumstances.
As someone who is working on my first novel I have so much respect for the amount of work and emotion Katie spent on this piece of art and I congratulate her on a beautiful debut novel!
This has a beautiful first novel feel.
I loved the friendships and relationships already in place and made along the way.
I enjoyed the fantastical animals and settings.
I do have a few critiques, but they are all minor and do not take away from the overall enjoyability of the book.
My main criticism would be the number of villains. Three men all so evil and all able to rally armies etc seems like a bit of a stretch to me. (could have done without Lord Denis).
I'm also a big believer in "show, don't tell" and was often not given a chance to make my own assumptions about characters because we were told exactly why they acted as they did.
I loved the incorporation of the faith aspect which seemed natural. I loved that one villain even had a chance to repent.
Overall, this book gets 5 stars because after a bit of a slow start (on my side, I had been in a reading slump, the book actually has a fast pace at the beginning) I hit a point where I was all in, and had to know what happened to each character.
SPOILER IN THIS PARAGRAPH: I had to pause to reflect for a few moments more than once because of the characters and what was happening to them. (AHEM Lagon falling into the abyss AHEM)
This doesn't happen to me often in this genre so I appreciate Katie's ability to make me feel for the characters and evoke strong reactions to their circumstances.
As someone who is working on my first novel I have so much respect for the amount of work and emotion Katie spent on this piece of art and I congratulate her on a beautiful debut novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2021
4.5! This book!
I love how raw and genuine the emotions are in this book! It’s part of what made me fall in love with this novel!
Every character in the crew is unique and well-written. Their strengths and flaws are highlighted so well, and I love their development throughout the book. Which leads me to my next point about this lovely story…the relationships! Although romance plays a part in this story, the friendships are what truly shine. Each character has a specific relationship with the other, and even in friend groups, the dyamics are unique and realistic. I brushed over the romance aspect, so let me return and emphasize how adorable it was! It’s so pure and heartwarming, yet it doesn’t take over the story but flows with the rest of the plot.
Admittedly, there were a few lines that I struggled to find believable because of how movie-like they seemed, but on the whole the dialogue was well-crafted.
Another part I appreciated is how all of the timelines/perspectives tie together so well and converge beautifully.
I love how the setting incorporates medieval England with the prospect of a magical island! It’s such a unique concept, and I can’t wait to find out more about the world!
Christianity is woven into this book so well, and it’s a credit to Christian fiction! The struggles of the characters’ walks with Christ are real and genuine. However, I love how, at the end of the day, their faith shapes them, their decisions, and even their grief.
Does this book have a few flaws? Of course, but every book does. But the worldbuilding, characters, and themes brought it all together. This is her debut novel, so I can’t wait to see what her future works look like!
Full content and personal review at: https://bookishmusings.com/review/sav...
I love how raw and genuine the emotions are in this book! It’s part of what made me fall in love with this novel!
Every character in the crew is unique and well-written. Their strengths and flaws are highlighted so well, and I love their development throughout the book. Which leads me to my next point about this lovely story…the relationships! Although romance plays a part in this story, the friendships are what truly shine. Each character has a specific relationship with the other, and even in friend groups, the dyamics are unique and realistic. I brushed over the romance aspect, so let me return and emphasize how adorable it was! It’s so pure and heartwarming, yet it doesn’t take over the story but flows with the rest of the plot.
Admittedly, there were a few lines that I struggled to find believable because of how movie-like they seemed, but on the whole the dialogue was well-crafted.
Another part I appreciated is how all of the timelines/perspectives tie together so well and converge beautifully.
I love how the setting incorporates medieval England with the prospect of a magical island! It’s such a unique concept, and I can’t wait to find out more about the world!
Christianity is woven into this book so well, and it’s a credit to Christian fiction! The struggles of the characters’ walks with Christ are real and genuine. However, I love how, at the end of the day, their faith shapes them, their decisions, and even their grief.
Does this book have a few flaws? Of course, but every book does. But the worldbuilding, characters, and themes brought it all together. This is her debut novel, so I can’t wait to see what her future works look like!
Full content and personal review at: https://bookishmusings.com/review/sav...
March 22, 2022
I think that the author had a really good story, but it was honestly a bit of a struggle to read this book. While the plot was pretty good, the biggest problem for me was the actual writing. Some things that probably could have been caught in the editing process were missed, such as four sentences in a row starting with the same word, but not for the sake of emphasis. I like the plot after I got into the book but it was bit of a struggle to read. Overall it was a pretty good book though!
January 18, 2022
This book! Ah! 😍 This book has everything you would want. A clean romance, a devastated family, friends to lovers, friends that are more like family, spies, warriors, royalty, diplomacy, and secrets! Three different character perspectives forces this book to have a dynamic like no other.
"Saving Zora" makes me impatient for book two! Not including the fact that Katie's writing will keep you on the edge of your seat!
"Saving Zora" makes me impatient for book two! Not including the fact that Katie's writing will keep you on the edge of your seat!
July 22, 2023
There’s a gem here, although it’s a little buried.
This book reminded me of Janette Oke’s homey, detailed style in Love Comes Softly, with its emphases on overcoming hardship and on love in the little things. It also made me think of Robin McKinley’s Outlaws of Sherwood, also about a group of friends banding together to deal with an oppressive regime. The themes of friendship, kindness and loyalty are clear throughout Saving Zora.
The book has some flaws. The grammar is imperfect; there are pacing issues, frequent proximate repetition of the same word, and typos; the characters make questionable choices, and the occasional loose thread gets dangled or dropped. Yet what kept me reading was the characters—their camaraderie, their dedication to each other and to their kingdom(s), their high moral standards and flawed but faithful attempts to do the right thing.
The world, with its hidden, fantastical island off the coast of real-life, historical England, was fascinating. I loved the different aspects of magic involved, and the way they are tied to the location of Zora. The magical creatures were a fav, as well.
The characters are memorable. Tanner, tall as most men, better with a sword than most men, self-assured and gorgeous, stubborn and bossy and occasionally naive. Marcel, so earnest and sweet with animals and children, unassuming but rock strong. Lagon, vulnerable and persevering in the face of tragedy, a fearless leader who continually sets aside his own pain to inspire his fellows. Justin and Drake, the goof and the grump, whose bond is beyond words.
Although the writing has room for improvement, there is real potential. I did find the extensive (mis)use of the auxiliary verb “shall” distracting; I believe it was intended to be colloquial, although it is linguistically inaccurate. There are also moments when a contextual description comes between two pieces of dialogue where the latter is clearly an immediate reaction to the former, creating an odd disruption in the timing.
Descriptions are sometimes good, sometimes excessive, but never clunky. The narration and dialogue surrounding the romance is often over the top, but undeniably sweet. The rhythm and cadence of the writing is good, and there is the occasional jewel of a sentence that stands out, catching the light.
The storytelling has a few issues with both substance and pacing. Characters continually make choices that require a leap of faith from the reader. (One example of this is a young father trying to get his child and wife to safety. In the heat of the moment, he made decisions that as a parent and spouse myself had me ready to shake him. Yet the author had me really believing in and rooting for this character, and when his story took a tragic turn, I literally cried with him.) The action is good, but sometimes it fizzles, and I feel like I’m being given too much detail in a scene that could be glossed over. When that happens, however, it’s always in a context of showing interactions as people demonstrate kindness and care for one another.
Characters seem to forget their magical abilities at crucial moments. They muscle on through pain, but then turn around take a dramatic amount of time to react to things. (We follow one character through a momentous, life-changing revelation, but it is a couple chapters before we get even a hint of how this might affect her sister, who was right there the whole time.) People battle continuously for hours at a time or push through the pain of truly debilitating injuries in an eyebrow-raising manner. No one seems to be able to deal a death blow without an extended moment of gloating, and no one seems to die without a long-winded emotional speech. And yet, the intense scenes such as the battles are really well played out—the reader is right there in the moment.
Many of the characters are Christian, and not just in historical context. They pray frequently, and they discuss their faith openly with other characters, but it does not come across at all preachy. Their devotion is believable, and they clearly derive genuine strength and clarity from their faith.
Setting flaws (which I’m convinced are merely the inexperience of a young, debut author) aside, the story was an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more by Katie Marie, and I expect that as she gains more experience, she will really start to shine!
This book reminded me of Janette Oke’s homey, detailed style in Love Comes Softly, with its emphases on overcoming hardship and on love in the little things. It also made me think of Robin McKinley’s Outlaws of Sherwood, also about a group of friends banding together to deal with an oppressive regime. The themes of friendship, kindness and loyalty are clear throughout Saving Zora.
The book has some flaws. The grammar is imperfect; there are pacing issues, frequent proximate repetition of the same word, and typos; the characters make questionable choices, and the occasional loose thread gets dangled or dropped. Yet what kept me reading was the characters—their camaraderie, their dedication to each other and to their kingdom(s), their high moral standards and flawed but faithful attempts to do the right thing.
The world, with its hidden, fantastical island off the coast of real-life, historical England, was fascinating. I loved the different aspects of magic involved, and the way they are tied to the location of Zora. The magical creatures were a fav, as well.
The characters are memorable. Tanner, tall as most men, better with a sword than most men, self-assured and gorgeous, stubborn and bossy and occasionally naive. Marcel, so earnest and sweet with animals and children, unassuming but rock strong. Lagon, vulnerable and persevering in the face of tragedy, a fearless leader who continually sets aside his own pain to inspire his fellows. Justin and Drake, the goof and the grump, whose bond is beyond words.
Although the writing has room for improvement, there is real potential. I did find the extensive (mis)use of the auxiliary verb “shall” distracting; I believe it was intended to be colloquial, although it is linguistically inaccurate. There are also moments when a contextual description comes between two pieces of dialogue where the latter is clearly an immediate reaction to the former, creating an odd disruption in the timing.
Descriptions are sometimes good, sometimes excessive, but never clunky. The narration and dialogue surrounding the romance is often over the top, but undeniably sweet. The rhythm and cadence of the writing is good, and there is the occasional jewel of a sentence that stands out, catching the light.
The storytelling has a few issues with both substance and pacing. Characters continually make choices that require a leap of faith from the reader. (One example of this is a young father trying to get his child and wife to safety. In the heat of the moment, he made decisions that as a parent and spouse myself had me ready to shake him. Yet the author had me really believing in and rooting for this character, and when his story took a tragic turn, I literally cried with him.) The action is good, but sometimes it fizzles, and I feel like I’m being given too much detail in a scene that could be glossed over. When that happens, however, it’s always in a context of showing interactions as people demonstrate kindness and care for one another.
Characters seem to forget their magical abilities at crucial moments. They muscle on through pain, but then turn around take a dramatic amount of time to react to things. (We follow one character through a momentous, life-changing revelation, but it is a couple chapters before we get even a hint of how this might affect her sister, who was right there the whole time.) People battle continuously for hours at a time or push through the pain of truly debilitating injuries in an eyebrow-raising manner. No one seems to be able to deal a death blow without an extended moment of gloating, and no one seems to die without a long-winded emotional speech. And yet, the intense scenes such as the battles are really well played out—the reader is right there in the moment.
Many of the characters are Christian, and not just in historical context. They pray frequently, and they discuss their faith openly with other characters, but it does not come across at all preachy. Their devotion is believable, and they clearly derive genuine strength and clarity from their faith.
Setting flaws (which I’m convinced are merely the inexperience of a young, debut author) aside, the story was an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more by Katie Marie, and I expect that as she gains more experience, she will really start to shine!
March 14, 2023
Raised in Zora, a secret, magical island off the west coast of England, Tanner loves her people and works for her king as a spy. The kingdom of Zora is haunted by a foe whose heart is filled with hatred, but who is thankfully bound to England, as he knows not where to find the island. Meanwhile, England has problems of its own with a cruel and greedy king, famine, and an equally evil foe who seeks to steal the throne for himself. It’s up to Tanner of her friends to not only save Zora, as the title suggests, but also to rescue England from the hands of bad rulers. Can they trust God to help them pull it off before one or more of these ominous men let the evil in their hearts reign supreme? Find out in Saving Zora by Katie Marie!
As a lover of fantasy, I can’t help pointing out from the start that Katie’s world-building skills were put to great use in this book. She managed to merge the real world with a fantasy world in a way that almost makes me believe Zora could be a real place! The way she designed Zora itself (and Arander) and how she hid it from outsiders made me think of Greek mythology. The subtle yet definable differences between Zorians and what they call “Outlanders” was believable as well. Overall, Katie very successfully walked the line between fiction and reality with her world-building and I loved being swept away to Zora!
This story has a vibrant cast of characters, ranging from adorable children to fierce young people to truly evil men. I have a habit of falling for villains, but Katie kept the line between good and evil very clear in her story, so it was easy to cheer for the good guys and against the bad ones. My only critique in terms of characters is that there were too many antagonists. Three bad guys in a single book, all off doing their own thing just felt like too much to keep up with. Lord Denis in particular seemed superfluous and did not really add to the story.
Otherwise, the other characters were super lovable and I’ve got a definite soft spot for Justin, Drake, Eryn, and the majestic Shadowsmaug (did I mention Katie made a really cool species of flying horse for this book?!)! Seeing their faith grow over the course of the book was an encouraging bonus, too. I was invested in them all getting a happy ending, and was definitely satisfied with how things turned out for them. There is a cute romance; however, I felt that it was rushed and lacked depth in the beginning. I would have liked to have seen more development and tension in that storyline before having the characters dive right into holding hands and thinking they’re in love.
I do have a slight rant regarding one plot point. The last battle and several deaths could have been completely avoided with one sentence. That one sentence does end the battle, but the character literally could have just said it WAY earlier and prevented the battle altogether. It would’ve resolved one of the antagonists being so hateful and could’ve given a happy ending to more characters. Instead, the character with the knowledge that would save thousands of lives just held it in for no apparent reason until they were on the verge of being killed for like the 15th time.
Aside from that final point, I really did enjoy this story. Katie Marie's debut novel was well-written and is great for those who love adventure fantasy, cool world-building, multiple POVs, and light/romance with sweet reminders of faith throughout!
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Cursing: None
Violence/Gore: 3 out of 5 (Several battle sequences and detailed sword fights and death. Not George R.R. Martin gory, but battle-heavy nevertheless. Also multiple mentions of child abuse.)
Spice: None (Clean romance)
As a lover of fantasy, I can’t help pointing out from the start that Katie’s world-building skills were put to great use in this book. She managed to merge the real world with a fantasy world in a way that almost makes me believe Zora could be a real place! The way she designed Zora itself (and Arander) and how she hid it from outsiders made me think of Greek mythology. The subtle yet definable differences between Zorians and what they call “Outlanders” was believable as well. Overall, Katie very successfully walked the line between fiction and reality with her world-building and I loved being swept away to Zora!
This story has a vibrant cast of characters, ranging from adorable children to fierce young people to truly evil men. I have a habit of falling for villains, but Katie kept the line between good and evil very clear in her story, so it was easy to cheer for the good guys and against the bad ones. My only critique in terms of characters is that there were too many antagonists. Three bad guys in a single book, all off doing their own thing just felt like too much to keep up with. Lord Denis in particular seemed superfluous and did not really add to the story.
Otherwise, the other characters were super lovable and I’ve got a definite soft spot for Justin, Drake, Eryn, and the majestic Shadowsmaug (did I mention Katie made a really cool species of flying horse for this book?!)! Seeing their faith grow over the course of the book was an encouraging bonus, too. I was invested in them all getting a happy ending, and was definitely satisfied with how things turned out for them. There is a cute romance; however, I felt that it was rushed and lacked depth in the beginning. I would have liked to have seen more development and tension in that storyline before having the characters dive right into holding hands and thinking they’re in love.
I do have a slight rant regarding one plot point. The last battle and several deaths could have been completely avoided with one sentence. That one sentence does end the battle, but the character literally could have just said it WAY earlier and prevented the battle altogether. It would’ve resolved one of the antagonists being so hateful and could’ve given a happy ending to more characters. Instead, the character with the knowledge that would save thousands of lives just held it in for no apparent reason until they were on the verge of being killed for like the 15th time.
Aside from that final point, I really did enjoy this story. Katie Marie's debut novel was well-written and is great for those who love adventure fantasy, cool world-building, multiple POVs, and light/romance with sweet reminders of faith throughout!
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Cursing: None
Violence/Gore: 3 out of 5 (Several battle sequences and detailed sword fights and death. Not George R.R. Martin gory, but battle-heavy nevertheless. Also multiple mentions of child abuse.)
Spice: None (Clean romance)
November 11, 2025
I think that for a debut novel, this is pretty solid! It’s an easy read, the characters are nice to follow, and the plot points wrap up nicely despite this being the first of a duology (though, I’m not sure if there’s a second book in the works or not). I will say, though, that this author’s later books are a huge improvement. This book was intriguing in the first half, but it kind of tapered off near the end.
For a Christian fantasy, the Christianity felt kind of shoe-horned in. You’d read about this fantasy race of characters with magic powers, and then it’ll suddenly hit you with mentions of Jesus Christ and God that don’t feel very integrated into the world building. The story could function the same if you took those explicit Christian references out because, as far as I’m aware, it doesn’t do much beyond give the characters a faith to follow. While that’s not a bad thing, it’s a bit jarring because the only references to Christianity are solely to give the characters an impromptu bout of hope that doesn’t feel natural. The world, as far as I know, doesn’t reference Christianity in any other way, be it churches, certain rituals, etc.
The characters are a bit tropey. It was easy to see which categories each character was put into, and therefore, it was easy to predict their outcome. Whether or not they died, or had some revelation, or achieved their goal, or acted a certain way. Character development wasn’t very apparent, and the characters outright tell you their development, which wasn’t something I really enjoyed. The villains’ characterizations were extremely flat, with no complexity to them, which wasn’t something I was into.
I think the depictions of romance were nice, but definitely geared toward people who like reading nice, simple romance. Tanner and Marcel’s relationship was nice to follow, and it didn’t really need to be all that complex, so I’m glad it wasn’t. At the same time, though, the romance was such a side plot to the main plot that it felt like it was a bit too detached from the story itself.
I have a huge gripe with the ending and how the main villain is dealt with. It felt rushed and totally out of character, almost in a bewildering sense. It felt like the author just wanted to end the story in the quickest way possible. There’s a complete flip in personality that just had me going “why wasn’t this an option before?!” While I think having that kind of reaction from the reader is great, it definitely could’ve been executed better.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the pacing. It felt very slow in the beginning, and then you get closer to the climax of the story and everything felt very fast and underdeveloped.
I will say that the author does know how to write this style of spy fiction, at least from what I gather of the first half of the book, and she definitely seemed to have found her genre if her later books are anything to go by. Plot points flow into each other pretty naturally, even if they were somewhat easy to predict.
Overall, it was a nice, easy book to listen to while doing tedious stuff at work lol
For a Christian fantasy, the Christianity felt kind of shoe-horned in. You’d read about this fantasy race of characters with magic powers, and then it’ll suddenly hit you with mentions of Jesus Christ and God that don’t feel very integrated into the world building. The story could function the same if you took those explicit Christian references out because, as far as I’m aware, it doesn’t do much beyond give the characters a faith to follow. While that’s not a bad thing, it’s a bit jarring because the only references to Christianity are solely to give the characters an impromptu bout of hope that doesn’t feel natural. The world, as far as I know, doesn’t reference Christianity in any other way, be it churches, certain rituals, etc.
The characters are a bit tropey. It was easy to see which categories each character was put into, and therefore, it was easy to predict their outcome. Whether or not they died, or had some revelation, or achieved their goal, or acted a certain way. Character development wasn’t very apparent, and the characters outright tell you their development, which wasn’t something I really enjoyed. The villains’ characterizations were extremely flat, with no complexity to them, which wasn’t something I was into.
I think the depictions of romance were nice, but definitely geared toward people who like reading nice, simple romance. Tanner and Marcel’s relationship was nice to follow, and it didn’t really need to be all that complex, so I’m glad it wasn’t. At the same time, though, the romance was such a side plot to the main plot that it felt like it was a bit too detached from the story itself.
I have a huge gripe with the ending and how the main villain is dealt with. It felt rushed and totally out of character, almost in a bewildering sense. It felt like the author just wanted to end the story in the quickest way possible. There’s a complete flip in personality that just had me going “why wasn’t this an option before?!” While I think having that kind of reaction from the reader is great, it definitely could’ve been executed better.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the pacing. It felt very slow in the beginning, and then you get closer to the climax of the story and everything felt very fast and underdeveloped.
I will say that the author does know how to write this style of spy fiction, at least from what I gather of the first half of the book, and she definitely seemed to have found her genre if her later books are anything to go by. Plot points flow into each other pretty naturally, even if they were somewhat easy to predict.
Overall, it was a nice, easy book to listen to while doing tedious stuff at work lol
February 20, 2023
Before I begin, please please go follow the author on Instagram (@author.katiemarie) -- she's such a nice person, and indie authors like her deserve so much support. Seriously, you won't be disappointed!
The first thing I've got to say is that Katie Marie's world is awesome. She includes some very original components to her story (like these blades made of something called sron, which builds energy through use to make themselves more dangerous) and the Irravians (imagine a cross between a pegasus and a unicorn, one of which can breathe fire). The characters were fun and each had a distinct personality, which is a huge bonus. The only reason I give four stars instead of five is because:
1.) The romance moved a little quickly for my taste. HOWEVER, when it did happen, I have to say that the characters behavior was realistic for two people in love. They cared about each other and they were lovingly affectionate, which is something I feel some indie authors struggle with.
2.) I sometimes struggled with the villains and the motives behind some heroes. The villains at times felt a little flat, being evil for evil's sake -- and one in particular felt a little inconsistent.
One of my favorite things were the battle scenes. They were fast paced, and the author does an amazing job of balancing the realities of war and fighting, without turning everything into a blood-and-gore-fest. And what's more, the characters reacted realistically to what was going on around them. They had to battle through forms of PTSD after the fighting was done, and what barely-adult wouldn't? It made them so much more human.
I would love to see more of Tanner (the main-MC) as a spy (her role for the kingdom of Zora). I would love to see that side of her more in a future story. I can't wait to see more about this world she has been building. I'm really looking forward to seeing where all of the characters go and will definitely be picking up Katie's next books in the future, no hesitation.
The first thing I've got to say is that Katie Marie's world is awesome. She includes some very original components to her story (like these blades made of something called sron, which builds energy through use to make themselves more dangerous) and the Irravians (imagine a cross between a pegasus and a unicorn, one of which can breathe fire). The characters were fun and each had a distinct personality, which is a huge bonus. The only reason I give four stars instead of five is because:
1.) The romance moved a little quickly for my taste. HOWEVER, when it did happen, I have to say that the characters behavior was realistic for two people in love. They cared about each other and they were lovingly affectionate, which is something I feel some indie authors struggle with.
2.) I sometimes struggled with the villains and the motives behind some heroes. The villains at times felt a little flat, being evil for evil's sake -- and one in particular felt a little inconsistent.
One of my favorite things were the battle scenes. They were fast paced, and the author does an amazing job of balancing the realities of war and fighting, without turning everything into a blood-and-gore-fest. And what's more, the characters reacted realistically to what was going on around them. They had to battle through forms of PTSD after the fighting was done, and what barely-adult wouldn't? It made them so much more human.
I would love to see more of Tanner (the main-MC) as a spy (her role for the kingdom of Zora). I would love to see that side of her more in a future story. I can't wait to see more about this world she has been building. I'm really looking forward to seeing where all of the characters go and will definitely be picking up Katie's next books in the future, no hesitation.
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