The Wayfinder's Apprentice

by K Dezendorf

Rose knows the magical world of the Umbra exists. She’s been there before, and she longs to return to the land of fantasy and start a happier life. Stuck on Earth with only her trickster guardian and a displaced gang of elven siblings for company; Rose has a fateful run-in with a rogue wild elf and meets a Wayfinder, a gatekeeper of the portals between realms. However, Rose is horrified to discover the Umbra has changed since her first visit, finding herself caught up in unexpected conflicts, from warring god-like beings to dealings with demons. With many grueling choices ahead of her, Rose finds the dream she yearns for comes with a cost.

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2021

About the author

For me, there was never a wrong time to enjoy a good novel, not even in the middle of school lectures, much to my teachers’ chagrin.

I began writing in earnest at age 14, often horrifying my parents with internet searches, all of which I assured was strictly for research purposes. When I’m not reading or writing, I enjoy watching anime, playing video games, and practicing my digital art.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wayfinder’s Apprentice is an enthralling modern day Young Adult Fantasy fairie tale where the fae/elves exist in a world parallel to the human world. I was immediately drawn in by K Dezendorf’s characters, from Rose, the human girl from an abusive home who finds friendship and a fledgling romance with a complicated family of elves living in secret in the human world. There’s a large, interesting cast that I really found myself drawn into, and as the story grows, we learn more about each one. Rose rescues an elf she finds on her way to school, Edward, which sets off a chain of events (and some cute chicken salad bonding scenes). I was impressed by both the storytelling and the detail of the worldbuilding, with various magic users, shapeshifters, and other paranormal beings all having a role in the story. I also thought the way the author incorporated the influence of family, for good or bad, found family and family of origin, was nicely done. Recommended for fans of Holly Black and Maggie Stiefvater!

[Rosalyn Briar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Wayfinder's Apprentince! It was filled with so much magic and whimsy! I enjoyed going on the journey with Rose, who was such a deep and interesting character. She was really someone I was rooting for the entire time.

The writing was great and I could visualize the many different settings with ease. I can't wait to see more from this author!

[Michele Quirke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed The Wayfinder's Apprentice! With incredible characters, many surprises, plenty of adventure, and lots of magic, it's bound to be a favorite of many fantasy lovers!

The world-building is fantastic and super creative, but what I loved most about this book was the protagonist, Rose. She's determined to be the best she can be and even though she makes mistakes, she admits them and learns from them. She was so easy to root for! She and Kyan were my favorite characters. I specifically loved Kyan's practical jokes!

I also enjoyed Dezendorf's writing style. The love she has for her characters and story came through on every page and I look forward to many more books by her. Although the ending of The Wayfinder's Apprentice was wrapped up nicely, there is plenty of room for a sequel and I'm already looking forward to it!

[Abbi Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting, unique portal fantasy with quite a diverse cast and great blending between a fantasy world and our own.


I really appreciated the fresh take on a "spunky red-headed female protagonist" - Rose is still that, though breaks the mold wonderfully in her own way. I love how she sketches and her connection with the other protagonist is wonderfully illustrated (pun mostly intended).
I like the romance angle, but there's a lot of spoilers there, so I'm not going to say much except that I hope to see more of the love-interest in upcoming books. The relationships - romantic and not - all seemed authentic and I enjoyed reading them.


I love the world-building in this story, though it feels like we've only just touched the tip of the ice burg exploration-wise. I'm excited to see more of the Umbra in up-coming books! The creatures were all amazing - I loved how they interacted with Rose and each other, and the magic system was fascinating to read about, as well as logical and believable.


The Paragon concept is well-done, and I enjoyed it, though I feel some aspects might've been lacking so as not to come across as preachy since it seems to touch on Christianity.


I'm so curious to know more about Rose and what happens next - in both worlds! - but I thought this installment had a satisfying ending, definitely good for the first book in a series! I had expected a bit more action during the course of the story, since there's some fighting during the first parts, but I wasn't disappointed to find that a nice portion is spent on Rose's training and her relationships with the other characters, exploring the world. It's got a good pace, and I bet the rest of the series will as well.


An ending note: the humor was great throughout. I like books that make me laugh out loud :)

[M.A. Vice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really reminded me of a lot of the fantasy reads of my childhood - but with a fresh spin that really drew me in. The characters feel lifelike and well realized, and the plot, while sometimes a bit slow, provides enough intrigue to keep the story moving ahead. I especially loved the relationships Rose forms over the course of the book - we learn a lot about her as a character from the way she interacts with the world and people around her.

All in all a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more from this author!

[Cat Bowser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have had interactions with the author on Twitter—very pleasant!—and was surprised they were having trouble getting the word out about their book. So, I thought I’d give it a try. Leaving this review voluntarily.

I really think this is a fun and unique spin on the fantasy genre. It threw me for a lot at the beginning because I’m not used to seeing elves and ghosts in a modern day setting. But the writer does an excellent job at selling this as the norm. I became accustomed very quickly!

The main character is likable enough. There’s not anything particular that stood out to me about her, especially in comparison to the other characters but I did care about her and wanted to see her succeed. I think there was perhaps a wee bit more telling from her than showing which may have had an empact.

All in all though, this is a fun adventure with likable characters in a unique setting. I definitely will read it again and I hope that I can enjoy visiting the world the author created in the future!

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and intriguing fantasy adventure

This was a fun read. The beginning really grabbed me, and I found myself particularly enjoying the relationship between Rose and her poltergeist, Kyan. It had a very love/hate sibling feel to it. Characters such as Mackless, Edward, and Billy also earned a place in my heart, and the ending definitely has me interested to see what happens next. Would recommend if you're into magic / magical training with *very light* romance.

[Samuel Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of really nice things about this book. It was well written and the characters were clearly defined. The motivations were real and it was easy to fall into this story. Still, I didn’t leave the experience as fulfilled as I thought I would.

Firstly I liked how Rose’s relationship with abuse was handled. There’s something very powerful and lingering about it being described through her physical and emotional actions towards the people that she meets. It lets the reader really feel the possible lifelong damage that has been done to her and also connect with how she is also possibly healing from it.

Edward is great. Like awesome sauce *swoons* I found him the most relatable as his story unfolds and you find out the one thing he wanted was taken from him and that decision has shaped his entire attitude through the novel. Also faults and all, he’s the type of hero that doesn’t get all wielded out by doing the right thing. In war people die. He manages to understand that and still be there to comfort Rose when she needs it.

As I said the plot was easy to understand and the characters, side ones included, were interesting. But that’s where it sort of ends. For me, the importance, weight of the story didn’t lift. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t bother me but the limited view, first-person, of the story through Rose’s eyes made it hard to connect with this story.

With such a large cast of good characters, not knowing what is going on, what deals are being made. Who’s dying and who is on whose side made it difficult to reach beyond Rose’s journey and dive into the complexities of what the author created. Like I loved the training in the middle but also got bored with it because I knew all this stuff was going on beyond her part in the story and never got the chance to feel the weight of that. Be involved in it.

The story reads like it wants to be about the big picture while taking the route of doing this through Rose’s singular lens and since most of that happens when she isn’t there it’s hard to take the ‘war’ seriously, or the characters around her and their roll in it because we never get to see them actively involved. Unless they are saving her and then they always spirit her away and tell her, with limited details, what happened after they rescued her. This means the gritty details of what is actually happening with the plot happen beyond both her’s and the reader’s lens, so even then we still don’t really get to feel what’s going on because Rose doesn’t.

I guess what I’m saying is this story was possibly too good, and way too grand for it to only be told from Rose’s perspective. Even if all the perspectives were also in first person. That would still be okay as it isn’t the type of POV in this instance but the amount of them that limits the story and my ability to really dig into it.

Plotwise, and this might be a spoiler, is the broken heart bit. When Rose finds out things about her friends, she is devastated. The story, however, holds out for one singular heartbreak. This felt like a missed opportunity to express how heartache has a variety of forms. Every sentence I read was like ‘how can she nor the other characters recognise how deep her pain lies?’ It didn’t stop there. Edward’s pain towards the Lore is also a very immense situation of heartache and betrayal that also gets glossed over. Considering teens and adults will read this it definitely feels like a chance to explore the breadth of heartache beyond the stereotypical romance type was missed. I was hoping so bad Rose would come to the same conclusion or at the very least the adults around her would point this out having more life experience, that she had already suffered devastating heartache. Neither happened.

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. It checks all the boxes for a decent YA novel. Romance, angst, action, war, no real loss seeing as everybody lives but the feeling of loss was prevalent for a good length of the novel. There isn’t much not to like here. Unfortunately, as an epic journey, it read like a fair bit of missed opportunity by not delving into such a fun and exciting world by expanding the character universe. Even though I thought this was a major flaw, based on the target audience, fairly decent pacing, and enjoyable characters it’s still a solid four stars. There’s no denying it’s a well-crafted novel. I was left with an unfinished feeling especially with the ending simply saying this book’s bad guy was dealt with and that’s all we as readers got. I definitely needed more but I honestly feel most readers won’t. And that’s just fine. I’m sure this will be an interesting and fun series for whoever decides to give it a try, which they most definitely should.

Read Full Review Here:
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[Fatima Tanveer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wayfinder's Apprentice
When I started reading the novel, I was expecting a generic fantasy story, but The Wayfinder's Apprentice went above and beyond all my expectations! This is the story of a girl Rose, who yearns to leave the earth as she finds herself caught in the middle of elves, magic, and a world of mysteries. The author masterfully unfolds the story, introducing new characters and expanding the narrative as we delve deeper into the magical reality of Umbra.
The author did a wonderful job of developing Rose's backstory, and by the end of the novel, I could feel her anger and frustration myself! Rose's experience living on earth is truly miserable. She doesn't know her father, her mother hates her, and her mother's prick of a boyfriend Chad treats her worse than any teenager deserves to be treated. She is beaten, abused, and ignored until she finally finds herself surrounded by a pack of elves that got lost on earth, and they became her hope for escape! The novel has many twists and turns that follow, and it would be hard to talk about it without spoiling this wonderful novel.
The story has many layers, and it tackles more than one dimension at a time, which makes it especially appealing for the reader. I love the initial scenes of Rose surrounded by the elves and her quiet romance with Macklass. I also love how casually the author introduced Kyan as Rose's poltergeist and how she has come to terms with this unusual arrangement! The story then becomes more and more complex as Rose finds Edward, and follows him to his world, Umbra.
The novel beautifully plays out Rose's journey into the world of Umbra, and I love how vividly the author has laid out this magical land. Once in Umbra, Rose's quest to become a Wayfinder begins, and what follows is a truly engaging story with many twists and turns that I did not expect! From her struggle with learning magic to the introduction of Paragons, every character evolved through the story, and the character development was marvelous.
The novel has a fast pace that keeps you engaged throughout, and the author closes the story at a great conclusion. I was so hooked on the book that I finished it in two days without putting it down! If there is a sequel, I would surely pick up a copy!

[K2 Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wayfinder’s Apprentice is a tour-de-force for this indie author. Packed with fantastical worlds filled with magic and intrigue, K. brings to life the perspective of teenager Rose, stuck in an abusive family and longing to escape into a magical parallel universe. But as Rose soon learns, even magical worlds can be filled with danger. This young adult novel is brimming with character development as Rose learns to navigate a more grown-up world, one that is even more dangerous than the life she left behind. As she begins to blossom into her newfound opportunities, so do her friends around her. Even her spineless rube of a boyfriend, Macklass, matures and changes in ways that Rose can’t control.

This book models a strong young woman who perseveres through difficult and unexpected challenges. Rose is a force to be reckoned with, even as she discovers that those whom she thought friendly have dark pasts beyond her understanding. The forces of good battle with the forces of evil as Rose bounces back and forth between worlds, learning of the struggles of her new friends. But good and evil aren’t always so easy to distinguish, and she must decide how to stay true to herself. Follow along with Rose on her fantastical journey as she draws her line in the sand and follows her heart into her new life.

[Maxime Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, despite not being my typical genre to read, was delightful. Packed with adventure, magic and deep emotions, it kept me captivated to the end. Discovering the worlds, the various forms of magic was in itself an adventure. Rose is a strong character who has a lot more to offer than a mere human, evolving in a world rich of characters who all have their places in the story.
I am looking forward to Book 2!

[Ben Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wayfinder's Apprentice by K Dezendorf provides an example of an excellent effort for an inaugural first book by an up-and-coming indie author. The characters are rich and exciting. Dezendorf weaves the fascinating tale of Rose, a human girl with plenty of troubles in her life and a penchant for adventure. With a desire to become a Wayfinder in the mystical realm of Umbra, the relationship she has with a poltergeist familiar, an elven boyfriend with a complex family, and her troubled human relationships make Rose an interesting protagonist with a great story. An excellent read, I give this 4.5 stars on a scale of 1 to 5 only because sometimes lengthy descriptions or retellings of the back story in narration could drag a little on the flow of the story. Dezendorf does make up for it with the vibrancy of her characters and the story itself being a good one. I will be watching for other stories from this talented new author!

[Suzie Klimt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Should be Made into a Movie!
From the very first page, I was drawn into the world of Rose and her journey into the Umbra, a magical place that she desperately wants to call home. She yearns to be accepted in a place few humans have been to. She convinces the rulers of the realm that she should be trained as a Wayfinder but the only problem is that she has no powers! She will have to learn magic if she wants to survive those seeking to destroy her. It was an absolutely riveting read and I found myself unable to put it down! This well-written book is packed with adventure, action, fantasy, and magic! I can't wait to read the next one!!!!

[Denise Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read filled with things I enjoyed and others that I believe just weren't for me, so keep that in mind as I see many love this book and give it a five-star rating, but I'm going for a four.

I really loved the setting and world-building. There are differences between the worlds the Wayfinder's go between and the darkness is shown in them both, though one is our world and one has magic and fantastical occurrences that are well constructed and intriguing. The magic system is well thought out and leaves a lot of room for many types of spells and just as many characters who use them.

I did feel I didn't get enough on a lot of characters that were brought up, and especially in the start, it was really difficult to keep track of all the names that were dropped. There were some scenes that cut short as soon as I thought they were going to show some of these characters or improve on some things I was struggling with, so it may have been cut for pacing.

I really enjoyed the characters of Edward and Rose's super stylish prankster of a guardian. I would have liked more on Macklass and some other characters in his group as well, but our main focus is Rose throughout. Rose is complex and has a wonderfully laid out journey of accepting and overcoming trauma to find her own way forward in life. The character herself is a great way to explore some complex themes this book goes into about toxic families and abuse, but it didn't jive with me well how she seems to end up brutally injured so incredibly frequently through the book it began to feel like everyone in both worlds, friend, foe, or creature, was out to kill her. That would probably be my main reason for docking to four stars.

Overall, the book has a great message and tantalizing magic with characters that can grow so much in future installments. This was an entertaining read, and I feel like you should give it a shot if you like somewhat gritty fantasy.

[Sam II · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pandora’s Box Without the Lid.

The Wayfinder’s Apprentice (Shadows of the Umbra Book 1) by K Dezendorf, is the story of Rose, a teenager with a penchant for jumping between two realities, non-magical Earth and magical Umbra. Rose’s attitude toward all things Earthly is generally bad. She doesn’t know her father, her mother ignores her and her mother’s boyfriend abuses her. As a result, Rose yearns for magical Umbra and joins a group of elves who supposedly became abandoned on Earth when their Wayfinder elf brother was captured by sinister unnamed Earth people. Rose has a guardian poltergeist named Kyan who protects her but enjoys annoying her with pranks. Add into the mix a dour elf named Edward and a weird love interest in elf, Macklass, and you get a Pandora’s Box of trouble.

After a brief preamble describing Rose’s life on Earth, Author Dezendorf jumps into multiple character introductions. It is practically impossible to describe the true nature of the characters without giving away story spoilers. Every character has an agenda. Paragons (powerful magicians in Umbra who are tantamount to gods) guide the development of the story, but Rose seems to be the key figure everyone focuses upon. It is quite obvious there is more to Rose than being just a curious teenager.

The story flows to a satisfying conclusion with no doubt a sequel has to be coming. It is well edited, held my interest and was a pleasant read. I wish Author Dezendorf gave more information about Rose’s family. Her father remains unknown. It’s as if he is completely unimportant to Rose’s existence. I don’t believe Rose’s abilities came from nowhere, and someone had to bind poltergeist Kyan to her. There is no reason given for her mother’s disinterest, and once Rose leaves home with Edward, she never returns or even mentions home again. Rose appears to have deep feelings and can experience heartbreak, but she can discard relations almost as easily as turning off a light switch.

I rate the book, The Wayfinder’s Apprentice (Shadows of the Umbra Book 1), as an overall 4 out of 5.

[Casie Aufenthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wayfinder’s Apprentice by K Dezendorf is an incredibly creative and well-crafted tale of magic, friendship, and adventure. In this superb debut, the author manages an impressive feat of imagination in developing a detailed new world named Umbra. With incredible creatures and a well thought out magical system, the fantasy aspects of the story captivate and intrigue, answering questions and posing new ones at every turn.

At the start of the story, the amount of information and characters does overwhelm, and it takes a bit of time to gain traction (as is almost always the case in the first book of a fantasy or science fiction series). However, once the pieces fall into place, it becomes a page-turner that’s hard to put down.

This is, in large part, thanks to the protagonist, Rose. Instead of the standard YA heroes that are either obnoxiously perfect or terribly whiny, Rose is a wonderful breath of fresh air. While she makes mistakes, she owns them, and when bad things happen, she digs in and fights harder, determined to learn and grow. Despite suffering terrible abuse and betrayal in her life, she is resilient and thoughtful, and you can’t help but root for her.

While having a satisfying conclusion to the events presented in this tale, there are still many mysteries regarding Rose and her friends that promise to make future installments every bit as exciting. I know I can’t wait to learn more about Dezendorf’s world and characters, and I highly recommend The Wayfinder’s Apprentice to anyone who wants a fun fantasy.

[T.M. Kohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whirlwind of magic and mystery

When I began reading this book, I thought I had an idea where it was going, but the author continually surprised me. I ventured deeper and deeper into a magical world called Umbra, a world very different from our own and also dangerous. I enjoyed learning about the different races and how they interacted in this world, as well as how Umbra interacted with Earth. The characters were all enjoyable, and I especially enjoyed some of the side characters like Vikhail and Granger. Though I felt the plot meandered a bit at times, I kept wanting to know what would happen next, only to turn the page and a new surprise would come about!

Something that really struck me about this book was the main character’s struggle with abuse and belonging. The author did a great job portraying the horrors of abuse and how it affects the mind of a young child. Some particular moments brought me to tears as they were quite moving.

Kudos to the author for doing a great job on her debut novel. If you enjoy portal fantasies, add this one to the list!

[Jane Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review has been written by Jane Taylor.
Although some of my favourite books were written for children, I don’t usually read fiction for young adults and so I didn’t know what to expect but I was engaged by this story from the very start and it held my attention throughout.
Although there are regular twists and turns that had me struggling to keep up, I was not put off too much because I was keen to know what fascinating creatures I was going to meet next.
The heroine Rose, now in her late teens, has been neglected and abused since childhood and the journey she embarks upon, switching between Earth and the magical world of Umbra, takes her through a series of life-affirming situations in which pain and death are overcome and many aspects of love and companionship are revealed to her. Some of the characters are horrifically brutal, one or two are adorable and there are all sorts in between.
It is good to know that there are two more novels to come in this series by K. Dezendorf.

[Marie Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really look forward to and enjoy how fantasy writers will approach the basics to the genre like magic, fantasy creatures, people, and locations. The Wayfinder's Apprentice doesn't disappoint. The world building is great and extensive without being too much of an exposition or block of text. There are multiple subplots happening but all make sense to be happening. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and seeing how Dezendorf created their unique world and lore.

The only reason I give this a four star rating is because the beginning seemed predictable and a bit slow for me. The mysterious character seemed too distant for the amount of times they helped the protag and their supernatural dream connection was a bit vague and sudden to realization. I wouldn't liked to dig deeper into that even from the limited MC's perspective because the author did such an amazing job explaining everything else.

[Nosakhare Sylva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one book that I kept reading all day long, eager to know what's next. It's a beautifully written friction by Author K. Dezendorf that unveils the life of a teenage girl named Rose, who is lost between two worlds, earth, and Umbra. Rose has had the worst kind of experience on earth. She never knew her father. The mother despises her, and so does chad, who was the mother's boyfriend.

She was abused, beaten, and broken because she never was loved, but it all changed when she saw herself surrounded by a pack of elves from Umbra who had lost their Wayfinder. It's one lovely story that unfolds other characters and creatures bit by bit. In my opinion, this author did an outstanding job on this book.

It's a twist of drama, romance, and hate that all blends right in to make this lovely book. Don't miss it for anything.

[Tom Leverett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose is thoroughly done with Earth and ready to learn magic and set up a new life in Umbra. Much to her chagrin friends in each world go to war with each other and she's caught between. This is a well-written fantasy novel; the elves, the fantasy and the fast-moving plot will easily move you along as you follow Rose in her journey.

[Jo Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always like to indulge in fantasy and adventure novels when I need a break from stress in the real world, and given the way things have been lately, this book was just what I needed! It has it all and the plot is so believably written that, as a reader, you are completely immersed and captivated from start to finish. Once I started reading, I didn't want this book to end. It was well written and flowed well. It also had evidence of good editing. The pace of the book was fluid. It was easy to get started and hard to leave once you were in the story. Overall, it was an excellent work of fiction. Well deserving of 5 stars!

[Phillip Johsnon]

I really liked the book, kind of surprised by it. Not much of a fan of the drama romance stuff but the action really drowned it out. The Wayfinder's Apprentice has something for everyone and suggest you give it a try, you will be pleasantly surprised.

[Matt Adcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new and funky kind of magic!

Hang on to your magic hats muggles and meet Rose – your standard plucky teenage heroine, she’s going through a lot, for example, she knows the magical world of the Umbra exists – because she’s been there. Getting back? That’s the trick…

The Wayfinders Apprentice is new fantasy-em-up that features elves, all sorts of magic, demons and monsters. It’s a journey into adulthood in many ways, there is growth, hardship, and an exploration of relationships, plus some battles and lots of lessons being learnt along the way – all combined into a magically charged adventure.

If it all sounds a bit like a teenage version of Narnia with real-world elf action kinda like the film Bright – plus some bonus Dungeons and Dragons… You’re definitely in the right magical ballpark. Yes there’s romance and unexpected conflicts – don’t worry it’s not twee like Twilight – Dezendorf writes with a very immediate and engaging style.

This is a great start to the mooted further shadows of Umbra books and one that I’d have little hesitation in recommending to any YA fantasy fans – bonus points for the strong a ‘real’ lead character in Rose. It’s a hard trick to blend fantasy and real-world effectively and without it feeling trite but Wayfinders Apprentice manages to stay on the right side of the believability chasm.

From the wild elf Edward’s talking sword and his mannerisms that will make you smile through to the training Rose undergoes to try and become a ‘wayfinder’. This is trip worth taking and I look forward to the next installment.

[Meag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful read!

[Kanika Luthra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't miss it!

Gripping and hard to put down! I was transported to the world of fantasy and magic. It is after a long time that my poetic mind was mesmerized with mystery and adventure. I strongly recommend this book for young adults.

[Francesca Quarto · Rating 4 out of 5]

One lifetime of Magic fills this book!

K Dezendorf has managed to spin a tale of a young girls passage from pain and rejection into a story of courage and the true meaning of love in its many forms. Best of all, it's all achieved with Magic! The characters in this story have all touched the innocent young woman Rose in ways that help her grow into her own Magical strengths and personhood. A good adventure that young adults would relate with on many levels!

[Azalea Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up. I wanted to like this. I did like this, but it got increasingly harder to read. I got around 39% before I got bored and gave up/DNF. Maybe YA just isn't my jam anymore. It has interesting themes, but the magic training scene felt so unnecessarily long and unimportant, and that's what did me in. I might come back to this to finish it one day, but not anytime soon.

Rose has a hard life in the modern world--an absent mother and abusive step-dad/father figure--when she can, she spends most of her time in some rundown building with a ragtag group of elf siblings from another realm. But the elves don't really seem to like her that much--one of them is her boyfriend and even his attention is meh at best. She has a spirit guardian as well, who's always pranking Rose, but comes to the rescue when necessary. Turns out this other realm is more important than she realizes, and all she wants is to get there.

That's when she meets the Wayfinder.

It's frustrating because the idea of a Wayfinder as I saw it sounded so interesting. As I said, I might come back to this, but it's already been, like, six months since I DNF'd it.

[Jessica Goeken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the worldbuilding in this book. Dezendorf's imagination is fantastic. Her worlds and characters are vibrant and alive, well-developed and well-described. I want to visit all the places in the Umbra that Rose gets to visit.

The main drawback this book had for me was Rose's absence during all the action. The plotlines are complex and interwoven, with a lot of moving parts, but Rose doesn't get to experience the bulk of them. Big things are happening in her world(s), but she only gets to hear about them after they've already happened. This is only book one of this series, so I hope in future books that she gets to be more involved.

This book is full of magic and magical races, danger and complex relationships, so if you like those elements in a story then you'll enjoy this one.

[K Dezendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a story of magic and discovery. It's a story of exploring personal relationships, be they romantic or platonic. It's a story of learning to come to terms with one's demons, both internal and external. It's a story I am proud to have written and happy to share with the world. To those who were willing to give my book a chance, thank you.