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Kingdom of Voices #1
Voice of Darkness
*THIS BOOK IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. For an updated, BETTER version of this book, please see Song of Sleeping Dragons by the same author!*
Dragonborn powers. A blood-thirsty sorceress. A kingdom on the brink of destruction.
Eryane’s powers as a Voiced One grow stronger every day, but the consequences of breaking the Queen’s laws against magic are becoming deadlier than ever. She yearns to show her best friend Abbott who she really is, even though it could mean her death.
Princess Caryse has had one job her entire life: protect her brother and see him take his throne on his eighteenth birthday. But she’s growing increasingly suspicious of her stepmother, and worries if Queen Arabella will let her brother have his throne at all.
Jerra’s sudden dragonborn powers are worthless to her, a farm girl with no interest in saving the world. The infuriatingly charming Commander Everson wants her to hear out the Queen‘s plea. But when the evil she’s supposed to stop strikes too close to home, she’ll have to decide if these powers are worth dying for.
Each of these women will be tested by magic... but which of them will become the Voice of Darkness?
If you love the worlds of Brandon Sanderson, the biting excitement of Tahereh Mafi, and the twisting, entangled characters of Jennifer L. Armentrout, then you won’t get enough of A.G. Houser’s mythical, breathtaking series!
Dragonborn powers. A blood-thirsty sorceress. A kingdom on the brink of destruction.
Eryane’s powers as a Voiced One grow stronger every day, but the consequences of breaking the Queen’s laws against magic are becoming deadlier than ever. She yearns to show her best friend Abbott who she really is, even though it could mean her death.
Princess Caryse has had one job her entire life: protect her brother and see him take his throne on his eighteenth birthday. But she’s growing increasingly suspicious of her stepmother, and worries if Queen Arabella will let her brother have his throne at all.
Jerra’s sudden dragonborn powers are worthless to her, a farm girl with no interest in saving the world. The infuriatingly charming Commander Everson wants her to hear out the Queen‘s plea. But when the evil she’s supposed to stop strikes too close to home, she’ll have to decide if these powers are worth dying for.
Each of these women will be tested by magic... but which of them will become the Voice of Darkness?
If you love the worlds of Brandon Sanderson, the biting excitement of Tahereh Mafi, and the twisting, entangled characters of Jennifer L. Armentrout, then you won’t get enough of A.G. Houser’s mythical, breathtaking series!
- GenresFantasy
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2021
24 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Houser
4 books4 followersA.G. Houser writes epic romantic fantasy for readers who love magic, dragons, intrigue, and slow-burn romance. She is married to her best friend, and they live in Oklahoma with their two fur children. When not writing, she spends her time creating bookish art, inhaling romantasy books, and re-watching Doctor Who for the three-hundredth time. She believes in advocating for mental health, in telling the truth even if your voice shakes, and that pineapple is the best pizza topping. If you like her books, she recommends checking out Brandon Sanderson, Carissa Broadbent, Penn Cole, Holly Black, and Jennifer L. Armentrout!
For all the latest news on releases and to see frequent pictures of her adorable fur children, subscribe to A.G. Houser's email newsletter at www.aghouserbooks.com or hop over to her Instagram at @aghouserbooks!
For all the latest news on releases and to see frequent pictures of her adorable fur children, subscribe to A.G. Houser's email newsletter at www.aghouserbooks.com or hop over to her Instagram at @aghouserbooks!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 22, 2021
Awesome Start to the Series . . .
A young girl, Eryane, comes into her powers as a Voiced One which was a surprise since this is the first in over 100 years. Then another, Jerra, also becomes a Voiced One. Princess Caryse is hoping to keep her brother alive long enough to ascend the throne, but her stepmother, Queen Arabella, seems to be up to something in all these situations. Will she keep the throne for herself? Will she force the Voiced Ones to become Voices of Darkness? Is there anyone to stop her from her evil plans?
A young girl, Eryane, comes into her powers as a Voiced One which was a surprise since this is the first in over 100 years. Then another, Jerra, also becomes a Voiced One. Princess Caryse is hoping to keep her brother alive long enough to ascend the throne, but her stepmother, Queen Arabella, seems to be up to something in all these situations. Will she keep the throne for herself? Will she force the Voiced Ones to become Voices of Darkness? Is there anyone to stop her from her evil plans?
June 12, 2021
An amazing start to another great series. Eryane’s powers grow stronger every day. Unfortunately she’s in a Kingdom that’s against magic. How can she help I was entranced from the start. Don’t miss out once it’s released.
June 2, 2022
This is A fantastic YA fantasy start to this series! Well paced in this we meet three incredible woman all from different backgrounds all with a part to play in this amazing world that the author has created. It’s intriguing, it’s enthralling, it’s full of twists and turns and as the three story’s come together you will have a story that will grab you and have you on the edge of your seat.
July 20, 2021
I don't like leaving bad reviews, but I agreed to leave an honest review for receiving an ARC of this book, so here goes.
I think there's potential in this book and author. That being said, I really had to force myself to finish this book. I think the premise of the story has promise, but the execution was lacking.
*Possible spoilers*
1) Characters make leaps of logic without any in story clues provided by the author. Why is one of the main characters so suspicious of the queen? There's nothing in the story to make her suspicious - she just is.
2) The character relationships seem too easy. Everyone is too reasonable, even when they've been angry or upset with each other. Erayne accepts Nan's explanations calmly, even when receiving earth-shattering news. It didn't feel realistic.
3) Everyone smirks constantly on this book. I've seen very few people actually smirk in real life, but in this book all the characters smirk regularly, even when the storyline wouldn't call for smirking. The smirking happened so often and so regularly and so noticeably that it proved a disconnect for me with the story. I kept getting "kicked out" of the story because the smirking was so bothersome.
4) There were continuity issues within the book. These weren't huge, but big enough to make me flip back and forth in my Kindle edition. For instance, when Everson comes to get Jerra, it says there are a total of 10 soldiers. Several paragraphs later, it says Everson only has 3 men with him (and that remains true the rest of the book). When we first meet Jerra's parents (at the same point as the above example), we are told her father is Malone and her mother is Tamsin. That is immediately switched, and from there on out, Tamsin is her father's name and Malone her mother's. These are small, bit big enough to throw me out of reading enjoyment as I looked back and forth.
5) The story leaps around in, for me at least, a disjointed fashion. This is a normal tactic in fantasy stories, but I felt like it was rather poorly done here, leading to some choppy storytelling.
6) This is somewhat subjective, but the author's word choice was often poor, in my opinion.
Will I read book #2? Probably not. While I think the story has promise, there was too much that distracted me from the actual story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I think there's potential in this book and author. That being said, I really had to force myself to finish this book. I think the premise of the story has promise, but the execution was lacking.
*Possible spoilers*
1) Characters make leaps of logic without any in story clues provided by the author. Why is one of the main characters so suspicious of the queen? There's nothing in the story to make her suspicious - she just is.
2) The character relationships seem too easy. Everyone is too reasonable, even when they've been angry or upset with each other. Erayne accepts Nan's explanations calmly, even when receiving earth-shattering news. It didn't feel realistic.
3) Everyone smirks constantly on this book. I've seen very few people actually smirk in real life, but in this book all the characters smirk regularly, even when the storyline wouldn't call for smirking. The smirking happened so often and so regularly and so noticeably that it proved a disconnect for me with the story. I kept getting "kicked out" of the story because the smirking was so bothersome.
4) There were continuity issues within the book. These weren't huge, but big enough to make me flip back and forth in my Kindle edition. For instance, when Everson comes to get Jerra, it says there are a total of 10 soldiers. Several paragraphs later, it says Everson only has 3 men with him (and that remains true the rest of the book). When we first meet Jerra's parents (at the same point as the above example), we are told her father is Malone and her mother is Tamsin. That is immediately switched, and from there on out, Tamsin is her father's name and Malone her mother's. These are small, bit big enough to throw me out of reading enjoyment as I looked back and forth.
5) The story leaps around in, for me at least, a disjointed fashion. This is a normal tactic in fantasy stories, but I felt like it was rather poorly done here, leading to some choppy storytelling.
6) This is somewhat subjective, but the author's word choice was often poor, in my opinion.
Will I read book #2? Probably not. While I think the story has promise, there was too much that distracted me from the actual story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2021
Voice of Darkness is the first book in A.G. Houser’s Kingdom of Voices series and the author weaves an interesting tale of a twisted queen and a tragic history that must not be repeated.
Voice of Darkness is a YA fantasy novel that introduces readers to a variety of characters. Caryse is mourning the loss of her father, the king, but it seems that her stepmother has already moved on from grieving the “love of her life.” Caryse knows that there is something wrong, but finding someone else to believe her...it’s a task in and of itself. Jerra is a simple farm girl, but her life is about to be turned upside down when she manifests powers she never knew she had inside her. Eryane is concealing her own secrets of being a Voice One while living in the city, but it seems that someone close to her is hiding their own secrets as well.
This book has a slow to moderate pace, but it’s an enjoyable story. The characters push the storyline but be sure to brace yourself for some intense moments. I enjoy each of the girls equally as the story progresses. Caryse tries so hard to be a good big sister and watch out for her brother. I like that she keeps her eyes open to things that are going on. Eryane is interesting and I like that she knows how to fight and pretty much take care of herself. I had thought that in one chapter of the book that she would go further, but it would seem that the author has other plans for her. Now, I wasn’t too thrilled when she gets disrespectful with Nan, but it’s not a constant in the story so I can’t complain.
I don’t have much to complain about concerning this story. I will say, and try not to drop any spoilers when I say this, but I’m disappointed with one particular scene with Jerra. She’s a farm girl, and she should know how quickly that blood clots. I understand that her reaction is very much in the moment, but I’m hoping that she’ll come to her senses/get some sense in the next book. It probably won’t happen, but I’ll still hope. This story closes on a series of sad notes, but I’m holding on to hope for the array of characters that I have come to know.
I’m choosing to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The story is well written and the author does a good job keeping me engaged. As I said, the pace is slow/moderate, but it works as the author develops the story a piece at a time. I look forward to reading the next book when it comes.
Voice of Darkness is a YA fantasy novel that introduces readers to a variety of characters. Caryse is mourning the loss of her father, the king, but it seems that her stepmother has already moved on from grieving the “love of her life.” Caryse knows that there is something wrong, but finding someone else to believe her...it’s a task in and of itself. Jerra is a simple farm girl, but her life is about to be turned upside down when she manifests powers she never knew she had inside her. Eryane is concealing her own secrets of being a Voice One while living in the city, but it seems that someone close to her is hiding their own secrets as well.
This book has a slow to moderate pace, but it’s an enjoyable story. The characters push the storyline but be sure to brace yourself for some intense moments. I enjoy each of the girls equally as the story progresses. Caryse tries so hard to be a good big sister and watch out for her brother. I like that she keeps her eyes open to things that are going on. Eryane is interesting and I like that she knows how to fight and pretty much take care of herself. I had thought that in one chapter of the book that she would go further, but it would seem that the author has other plans for her. Now, I wasn’t too thrilled when she gets disrespectful with Nan, but it’s not a constant in the story so I can’t complain.
I don’t have much to complain about concerning this story. I will say, and try not to drop any spoilers when I say this, but I’m disappointed with one particular scene with Jerra. She’s a farm girl, and she should know how quickly that blood clots. I understand that her reaction is very much in the moment, but I’m hoping that she’ll come to her senses/get some sense in the next book. It probably won’t happen, but I’ll still hope. This story closes on a series of sad notes, but I’m holding on to hope for the array of characters that I have come to know.
I’m choosing to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The story is well written and the author does a good job keeping me engaged. As I said, the pace is slow/moderate, but it works as the author develops the story a piece at a time. I look forward to reading the next book when it comes.
June 18, 2021
This first installment in the Kingdom of Voices series by A.G. Houser is told from the third person perspective of three women. The first is Eryane, a Voiced One in hiding who’s struggling to contain her growing powers. The second is a farm girl named Jerra, who discovers that she is also a Voiced One during a horrible situation that escalated out of control. Finally, there is Caryse, a princess who’s trying to keep her brother alive long enough to ascend the throne. Caryse’s stepmother, Queen Arabella, is claiming that an evil sorceress named Vaseema is causing all the problems in their kingdom, but Caryse suspects that the queen herself is behind it. These storylines all merge together to create one brilliant, action packed story. I admired all three of these women, though I think Ery was my favorite. This book is perfect for fantasy fans that value complex plot lines and long for a little adventure in their lives. I 100% recommend this novel!!
June 14, 2021
Where do I start? So, I really had to make myself read the first 50% of this book. With that being said, I still gave this book a rating of 4 stars. I highly enjoyed the characters and their POV. It was a little confusing in the beginning chapters to understand who everyone was.
Another note to add is that I’m a HUGE sucker for romance. This book unforgivably lacked any spark in the romance department. I hope keeping my fingers crossed that the next book will give more romance.
Another note to add (part 2) is that I feel like the nail biting chapters were too quick. Maybe more detail & suspense would give this book a perfect 5 star rating.
This book did leave off at a cliff hanger and I’m looking forward to reading what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another note to add is that I’m a HUGE sucker for romance. This book unforgivably lacked any spark in the romance department. I hope keeping my fingers crossed that the next book will give more romance.
Another note to add (part 2) is that I feel like the nail biting chapters were too quick. Maybe more detail & suspense would give this book a perfect 5 star rating.
This book did leave off at a cliff hanger and I’m looking forward to reading what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 10, 2021
Oh my! This is a new twist on dragons and their abilities. The main characters are a handful so I won't name them. A young girl comes into her powers as a voiced one when she saves the life of her sister. There hasn't been a voiced one in over 100 years as far as anyone knows. She is asked to come to the Queen because she has an offer for her. Meanwhile another voiced one in hiding has to come to her to prevent her from becoming the Voice of Darkness instead of light. The Queen is trying to keep the throne and prevent the rightful heir to ascend. This book is the first in the series and is most definitely a must read by A. G. Houser
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 3, 2021
I was excited about this work and enjoyed it at first, but there were a few problematic things that detracted from the story. Some characters reached conclusions without much evidence and it didn't feel realistic at all. The word choice used also detracted from the story - one example was that everyone smirked about everything, even when no one would smirk in that situation. There wasn't a lot of conflict in this work - relationships were simple, straightforward, and easy, and characters didn't have realistic reactions (e.g. Erayne gets some news that should be world-altering for her, and instead just shrugs it off). Overall, it was an okay read but I probably won't be reading any more of the series.
June 13, 2021
I really liked this story and beginning of an epic quest to come. This book really introduces the characters so we get to know them well as their upcoming quest is set up. The story was fun, interesting, and just a bit mysterious and suspenseful with just a hint of tension to get me guessing what might happen next. I liked the world building as it was just enough to set the story up but not bog the story down. I was glued to the end and read it in one sitting to see what would happen next. Was sad it ended as I need to know what comes next. Just a good story.
June 24, 2021
This title is simply the introduction to an epic tale. It opens rather slowly. The first three chapters apparently introduce three significant characters (Eryane, Jerra, and Caryse) along with a bit of the environment. The story continues to expand until the villain is finally revealed along with the quest. The title ends as the race between competing forces set out from the kingdom.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
June 28, 2021
This book is the first I’ve read from this author and it didn’t disappoint. The book was excellent. It was well written and the characters and story were both well developed. I loved the individual character personalities and seeing their dynamics change and evolve through the book. The story was action packed and full of twists and turns. It followed the story of three main characters. There was suspense, intrigue and emotion. I look forward to the next booking the series!! I’d highly recommend this book!!
I received an arc for a voluntary review.
I received an arc for a voluntary review.
July 10, 2021
This was a wonderful story of a voiced one that is unusual especially as there hasn’t been one in a 100 years. She has to use her power to save her sister and this brings her to the attention of the queen. The Queen calls her to the palace but not for good as sage wants to change her and use her to help keep the throne as she’s not the true queen. But their is another voiced one in hiding and they have to help save her from the queen.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2021
The Queen Arabella wishes to take over the kingdom. She had outlawed magic in the kingdom but is searching for a Voiced One the offspring of a dragon and a fae, it has very strong magic. She finds Jerra to she convinc-es her to help her. Eryane is Jerra's sister and has to stop her from helping the Queen. Caryse the Queen step-daughter must be killed to get rid of all the heirs to the kingdom. Eryane and her friend Abbott promised to pro-tect Caryse. This is a well-written book held from the viewpoint of the three girls and I highly recommend...
June 11, 2021
Great book! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This book has strong, well developed characters, an interesting story line full of suspense, danger, action, mystery, unexpected twists, passion and an ending that left me wanting to read the next book in the series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 25, 2021
I was given a arc of this amazing story and it was hard to put down.
“If you love the worlds of Brandon Sanderson, the biting excitement of Tahereh Mafi, and the twisting, entangled characters of Jennifer L. Armentrout, then you won’t get enough of A.G. Houser’s mythical, breathtaking series!”
This is so true. The author paints a vivid world that just sucks you in. I can not wait for the next book in the series.
“If you love the worlds of Brandon Sanderson, the biting excitement of Tahereh Mafi, and the twisting, entangled characters of Jennifer L. Armentrout, then you won’t get enough of A.G. Houser’s mythical, breathtaking series!”
This is so true. The author paints a vivid world that just sucks you in. I can not wait for the next book in the series.
July 3, 2021
I will admit that I struggled with the first few chapters in this book. I adored the characters, however the lack of romance was a surprise. I was expecting to have something, but there was a lacking. I am ready for the next book to arrive, as the ending was a total cliff hanger. However it was a good solid read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 27, 2021
This book is the first I’ve read from this author and it didn’t disappoint.
I really liked this story and the beginning of an epic quest to come. It started a bit slow, but if you stick with it you end up with a fantastic story which will leave you wanting more.
This book has strong, well-developed characters, an interesting storyline full of suspense, danger, action, mystery, unexpected twists, passion and an ending that will make you want the next book right away!
I really liked this story and the beginning of an epic quest to come. It started a bit slow, but if you stick with it you end up with a fantastic story which will leave you wanting more.
This book has strong, well-developed characters, an interesting storyline full of suspense, danger, action, mystery, unexpected twists, passion and an ending that will make you want the next book right away!
June 21, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It’s a unique spin on a classic medieval fantasy, with strong female leads and a plot line that really pulls you in. I hate books that are too predictable - this one had just enough twists and turns to keep me guessing (and reading!). I highly recommend this book! Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 9, 2021
This adventure was an enjoyable read with exciting plot twists as the story unfolds. The characters are familiar and yet interesting, with potential for growth as the series continues. I can’t wait for the next installment!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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July 14, 2021I'm excited to see where this new world of Nathrynn goes and what new surprises our characters find with coming books. I would enjoy a bit more development of the main characters to connect to, but overall a good read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2021
This a nice little fantasy story with interesting magic, intriguing events and fun characters! You will follow the characters on a journey and some of it will be expected but there may be a surprise or two along the way. The only way to know is to read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
July 15, 2021It started a bit slow, but I'm so glad I stuck with it! The story is engaging and the characters are people I want to know better.
An exciting plot set in world with depth that I can tell has so much more to reveal in future books!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An exciting plot set in world with depth that I can tell has so much more to reveal in future books!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 9, 2021
This book has it all amazing characters and incredible world building!!
The switching back and forth from one character to another sometimes made the book a little hard to follow.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The switching back and forth from one character to another sometimes made the book a little hard to follow.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 25, 2021
A gripping fantasy adventure that kept me reading late into the night. It's a must read for any fan of the fantasy genre! The way that A.G Houser sets up the magic system is impeccable. My only complaint is the time spent waiting for a sequel!
July 7, 2021
Im not good at analyzing writing styles and plotlines, but I know whether or not I like books. This one, I really liked and am excited to see where this goes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 9, 2021
This book is a perfect blend of fantasy and adventure. Loved the three female lead characters! Enjoyed how the story came together throughout the book. Can’t wait for the next book in the series! Hoping for a little more romance and more history on the dragons!
July 14, 2021
This is not a book you can read in short spells. This is a book that will grab hold of you from the beginning and will keep you on the edge of your seat through the last page. This was my first book from A.G. Houser. I am very excited to see how this series develops.
July 14, 2021
A solids fantasy book with a strong female voice. Occasionally felt like there were too many POVs. Generally it was easy to read and had an interesting magic system.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 16, 2021
An exciting story with paranormal aspects which heightened the drama and gave it a wonderful intensity. I enjoyed reading this book and hope to read more books in this series.
I requested a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I requested a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews