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Incipience
Incipience is the debut novel from L. Gourley and first in the Incipience series. This fantasy novel explores the concept of fighting your inner darkness, and how alluring it can be, when trying to fight fate to determine who you are.
After the angels and the humans came God's final creation: the seraphs. The last attempt at a perfect being. The cause of Lucifer's rebellion.
Excommunicated from Heaven alongside him to prevent further provocation of war the seraphs were left to deal with the aftermath of his fury, endlessly battling the demons created from his malice.
Raised a warrior, Kali thought she knew the people that raised her, until she discovers a terrible family secret. When dark forces come to destroy everything she loves, she must fight to save her world. But will it be so easy when some of that darkness lives within her?
After the angels and the humans came God's final creation: the seraphs. The last attempt at a perfect being. The cause of Lucifer's rebellion.
Excommunicated from Heaven alongside him to prevent further provocation of war the seraphs were left to deal with the aftermath of his fury, endlessly battling the demons created from his malice.
Raised a warrior, Kali thought she knew the people that raised her, until she discovers a terrible family secret. When dark forces come to destroy everything she loves, she must fight to save her world. But will it be so easy when some of that darkness lives within her?
474 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2021
3 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 18, 2023
2.5 for better than OK. Kindle Unlimited.
September 11, 2021
This fantasy novel tells the tale of the seraphs, Gods last attempt to create a perfect creation, and their battle against demons. More than that though this is a book about family, identity, responsibility and a battle between the dark and light within ourselves. This book has strong female characters and LGTBQ representation. The plot line was gripping and the ending you will not see coming. I am already excited for book two.
September 29, 2021
Now I just want to say that Fantasy isn’t my usual genre. I don’t read a lot of Fantasy and when I do, it’s often very much mixed in with other genres which kinda obscures the fact that it’s Fantasy. For that reason, I was a little apprehensive going into this, especially as it’s written by someone that I speak to online.
But to me, this was a friendly Fantasy. By that I mean everything was set out and explained to cater for the not-into-Fantasy reader. It was actually very clever so bravo to L. Gourley for getting this non-Fantasy reader to read an entire Fantasy book – and love it!
The storyline of the book itself is really intriguing and the first chapter, which explains how to Seraphs came about was absolutely stunning to read. I adored that chapter and it instantly drew me in.
Getting into the story, we meet the main character Kali, who unbeknownst to herself at the start of the novel, possesses demonic darkness within her. Kali is a great character, who goes through so much in such a short space of time and is clearly struggling with her identity, her power and her place in the world.
William, Kali’s brother, was another main factor in the book and William and Kali’s relationship was great because it wasn’t sugar-coated nor was it played up or down for the sake of excitement. It seemed to me, like a very normal brother and sister relationship. They loved each other deeply but when they clashed, everyone knew about it.
There was a great mix of tension, action, excitement and chill within this book. Kali, William and their friends are under threat for a lot of (well basically all of) this book but it’s not a boring game of cat and mouse by any means. There are some lovely in-between moments with Kali, her friends and her brother with his partner Amerial. It was nice to see LGBTQ+ representation in the book too.
Incipience draws on the authors own experiences with mental illness and although if you didn’t know that, it wouldn’t be totally obvious, what is obvious is that Kali is in a constant state of conflict with her own mind. If you’ve been reading my blog for long enough, you’ll know that I’ve suffered from mental illness too and some things Kali comes out with made me go, “oooh snap”.
One more thing before we wrap up and that’s the ending. Oh boy, the ending. The ending to me was like a climatic ending that just left you hanging right in the middle of an orgasm. It’s like “erm… what?!” I know this book is the first in a series, so it’s understandable why it ended like this but dammmmn.
Okay for my first book review in half a decade, I don’t think I’ve done too bad. I really, thoroughly enjoyed Incipience and I’ll definitely be wanting to read the sequel when it’s out to see how Kali, William and their friend’s fate plays out. I loved the dark aspects of the book and the fact that they resided mostly within the characters, rather than external forces.
L. Gourley did an amazing job with Incipience and I’m so proud of them for releasing this book after being so fucked over by this publisher who will remain nameless. It’s a real page-turner, a Fantasy for the non-Fantasy readers (huge achievement!), high tension and intricately woven themes throughout. Loved it!
But to me, this was a friendly Fantasy. By that I mean everything was set out and explained to cater for the not-into-Fantasy reader. It was actually very clever so bravo to L. Gourley for getting this non-Fantasy reader to read an entire Fantasy book – and love it!
The storyline of the book itself is really intriguing and the first chapter, which explains how to Seraphs came about was absolutely stunning to read. I adored that chapter and it instantly drew me in.
Getting into the story, we meet the main character Kali, who unbeknownst to herself at the start of the novel, possesses demonic darkness within her. Kali is a great character, who goes through so much in such a short space of time and is clearly struggling with her identity, her power and her place in the world.
William, Kali’s brother, was another main factor in the book and William and Kali’s relationship was great because it wasn’t sugar-coated nor was it played up or down for the sake of excitement. It seemed to me, like a very normal brother and sister relationship. They loved each other deeply but when they clashed, everyone knew about it.
There was a great mix of tension, action, excitement and chill within this book. Kali, William and their friends are under threat for a lot of (well basically all of) this book but it’s not a boring game of cat and mouse by any means. There are some lovely in-between moments with Kali, her friends and her brother with his partner Amerial. It was nice to see LGBTQ+ representation in the book too.
Incipience draws on the authors own experiences with mental illness and although if you didn’t know that, it wouldn’t be totally obvious, what is obvious is that Kali is in a constant state of conflict with her own mind. If you’ve been reading my blog for long enough, you’ll know that I’ve suffered from mental illness too and some things Kali comes out with made me go, “oooh snap”.
One more thing before we wrap up and that’s the ending. Oh boy, the ending. The ending to me was like a climatic ending that just left you hanging right in the middle of an orgasm. It’s like “erm… what?!” I know this book is the first in a series, so it’s understandable why it ended like this but dammmmn.
Okay for my first book review in half a decade, I don’t think I’ve done too bad. I really, thoroughly enjoyed Incipience and I’ll definitely be wanting to read the sequel when it’s out to see how Kali, William and their friend’s fate plays out. I loved the dark aspects of the book and the fact that they resided mostly within the characters, rather than external forces.
L. Gourley did an amazing job with Incipience and I’m so proud of them for releasing this book after being so fucked over by this publisher who will remain nameless. It’s a real page-turner, a Fantasy for the non-Fantasy readers (huge achievement!), high tension and intricately woven themes throughout. Loved it!
January 9, 2022
This is an absolute page-turner by the wonderful L who published this amazing little fantasy number about the world of Seraphs - God's last attempt at perfect creation after Angels and Humans. It focuses on Kali, and her discovery that she harbours a secret that could have massive implications for not just the Seprahic world, but the world as a whole.
I won't give anything away, but I absolute devoured this book - it was simply wonderful. L did an incredible job of crafting a world, characters and story that sucks you right in and wanting more. I know it's her first part of a larger series but when I got to the end I wanted to know what happened next right now!
If you want to support indie authors, and novels with LGBTQ+ characters, then don't hesitate to pick up Incipience. It's a stunning debut by L and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
I won't give anything away, but I absolute devoured this book - it was simply wonderful. L did an incredible job of crafting a world, characters and story that sucks you right in and wanting more. I know it's her first part of a larger series but when I got to the end I wanted to know what happened next right now!
If you want to support indie authors, and novels with LGBTQ+ characters, then don't hesitate to pick up Incipience. It's a stunning debut by L and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
July 30, 2021
This is a brilliant book! A super engaging, fast-paced and action-packed read with a plot line that had me hooked from the beginning. The characters are expertly written, well-rounded with the mix of strengths and flaws we all have. The analogy of mental health works perfectly and creates an emotionally arresting insight into the reality of living with mental illness.
Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next one!
Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next one!
July 8, 2025
If you’re thinking about getting into the fantasy genre, this is a great book to read. Fantasy can be quite daunting. Especially if you’re reading a multi book series. There’s a lot of world building to try and wrap your head around. You won’t have that problem with this book. It’s all set up to be easily digested for the non-fantasy reader.
We start off by learning about God's last attempt at the perfect creation, the seraphs and how they are tasked with protecting the world from demons.
This book is about so much more than this though. It’s about family, life, and the responsibilities along the way. It’s about the struggle between light and darkness, right and wrong.
We meet Kali and her family. kali’s whole life has been about training to defeat the darkness in the world. Along the way, we discover her father and brothers have been keeping a dark family secret from her her whole life. The family dynamic is something we can all relate to. A father and 2 older brothers who will do anything to protect their daughter/ sister from their family’s darkest secret.
There is a constant battle going on, whether it’s physically or mentally/ emotionally, you will not be bored by any part of this book.
Let’s not forget the ending. I’M SORRY, WHAT?! I’m not so patiently awaiting the second installment of this series.
We start off by learning about God's last attempt at the perfect creation, the seraphs and how they are tasked with protecting the world from demons.
This book is about so much more than this though. It’s about family, life, and the responsibilities along the way. It’s about the struggle between light and darkness, right and wrong.
We meet Kali and her family. kali’s whole life has been about training to defeat the darkness in the world. Along the way, we discover her father and brothers have been keeping a dark family secret from her her whole life. The family dynamic is something we can all relate to. A father and 2 older brothers who will do anything to protect their daughter/ sister from their family’s darkest secret.
There is a constant battle going on, whether it’s physically or mentally/ emotionally, you will not be bored by any part of this book.
Let’s not forget the ending. I’M SORRY, WHAT?! I’m not so patiently awaiting the second installment of this series.
July 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It is very well written & keeps you hooked from the very start. There are key themes that really stand out throughout the book, which have been skillfully intertwined into each of the character's storylines, particularly with the main protagonist, Kali, whose battles with the demons mirrors that of her own battle with the darkness inside her, appearing to be a metaphor for mental illness, so I found myself really relating to this particular character. However, all the characters have been meticulously developed, so you feel as though you know them on a personal level & are on their journey with them (the author has even created Spotify playlists to accompany each of the roles!) The plotlines are well thought-out & expertly constructed, leading to a massive cliffhanger at the end, that will make you want to get your hands on her next book immediately! Really recommend this book & can't wait for the sequels to this series!
August 29, 2021
Excellent book with an engaging storyline. The book is well written and has an interesting plot that kept me hooked till the very end. It kept me on the edge of my seat because I never knew what’s going to happen next. The characters are all very different and each bring something else into the story. I feel like the author did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life as I was able to visualise the scenes and conversations happening in my head.
I really liked how the author explored mental illness through the concept of fighting your inner darkness. Such a good read, I really recommend. It’s a book I’ll definitely be reading again. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
I really liked how the author explored mental illness through the concept of fighting your inner darkness. Such a good read, I really recommend. It’s a book I’ll definitely be reading again. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
August 27, 2023
Incipience was fantastic. The book was well-written and the chapters were a good length. The prologue gave a great introduction to the story, and the book kept a good pace throughout. Fans of fantasy books involving wars and magic will definitely enjoy it. I'm looking forward to any future installments!
June 15, 2022
Ahhhhh! THAT ENDING!!!!
OK, with that out of the way real quick, I can continue!
I'm a sucker for angels and demons — Supernatural is one of my favourite shows! So seeing a book about the Seraphs — God's final creation, and the real reason Lucifer defected — I knew I'd have to give it a read. Raised as warriors, the Seraphs are fighting and endless battle against demons.
We very quickly learn that our MC, Kali, has a dark secret of her own — one that could get her killed not only by demons, but also by her own people.
Kali goes through so much during the time that passes in this book, losing a great deal. She's strong, but she's suffering, and still trying desperately to stay on the right path despite all the odds stacked against her. I loved the way Gourley portrayed her, loved the inner battles she goes through.
The ending, just... ahhhh!! I expected it, I think it was the only way it could have gone in the end, and it was exactly what I wanted! I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens in book two. The tides have definitely turned and I'm here for the journey!
There were a few too many instances of "several months later" / "several weeks passed" etc, where I often found myself thinking "and they've not been found/ they've heard no news?" But honestly, that was my very small issue with the book as a whole, because otherwise it was very, good, action packed and engaging!
CW/ TW very helpfully and extensively provided via a link at the beginning of the book!
OK, with that out of the way real quick, I can continue!
I'm a sucker for angels and demons — Supernatural is one of my favourite shows! So seeing a book about the Seraphs — God's final creation, and the real reason Lucifer defected — I knew I'd have to give it a read. Raised as warriors, the Seraphs are fighting and endless battle against demons.
We very quickly learn that our MC, Kali, has a dark secret of her own — one that could get her killed not only by demons, but also by her own people.
Kali goes through so much during the time that passes in this book, losing a great deal. She's strong, but she's suffering, and still trying desperately to stay on the right path despite all the odds stacked against her. I loved the way Gourley portrayed her, loved the inner battles she goes through.
The ending, just... ahhhh!! I expected it, I think it was the only way it could have gone in the end, and it was exactly what I wanted! I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens in book two. The tides have definitely turned and I'm here for the journey!
There were a few too many instances of "several months later" / "several weeks passed" etc, where I often found myself thinking "and they've not been found/ they've heard no news?" But honestly, that was my very small issue with the book as a whole, because otherwise it was very, good, action packed and engaging!
CW/ TW very helpfully and extensively provided via a link at the beginning of the book!
July 10, 2025
Fun and sad and exciting, loved it
Enjoyable from the first page, I absolutely want to know what happens next!
Characters that come to life, or perhaps death, you will have to find out for yourself.
Enjoyable from the first page, I absolutely want to know what happens next!
Characters that come to life, or perhaps death, you will have to find out for yourself.
October 17, 2023
Incredibly dull.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews