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Storm of Chaos and Shadows #1
Storm of Chaos and Shadows
Only the strong survive among the fae. Only the cruel.
Elara’s instincts have kept her alive despite the growing viciousness of the fae realm. Since the enchanted storm decimated her family seven years ago and forced her to care for her younger siblings, Elara craves an escape from the ghosts of her past.
When the charming general of the last human stronghold offers her the chance to act as a spy, Elara discovers a trail of embers and ash, along with her own awakening darkness. As the mystery of their enemy unravels, her yearning for revenge ignites. Elara must control her inner shadows and uncover the foe destroying their world or watch as the remaining cinders of humanity are extinguished forever.
Elara’s instincts have kept her alive despite the growing viciousness of the fae realm. Since the enchanted storm decimated her family seven years ago and forced her to care for her younger siblings, Elara craves an escape from the ghosts of her past.
When the charming general of the last human stronghold offers her the chance to act as a spy, Elara discovers a trail of embers and ash, along with her own awakening darkness. As the mystery of their enemy unravels, her yearning for revenge ignites. Elara must control her inner shadows and uncover the foe destroying their world or watch as the remaining cinders of humanity are extinguished forever.
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First published March 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
October 28, 2021
Ever read one of those books that just leaves you sitting there staring off into space after you’ve finished it? That was exactly how I felt after I finished this book, and I mean that in every good way you can imagine!!
I’m hooked. Chalk this story up as another “must read” for all of you fae lovers. There’s a certain someone in this book that gave me all the feels and I know, I just KNOW, without a doubt that he’ll be my next book hubby. ;) *wink wink, nudge nudge* I won’t go into any more details other than I desperately NEED the second book in my hands. You could say he gave me all the “Commander Rip” vibes from The Plated Prisoner series.
I adore the main heroine, Elara, in this!! It’s so refreshing to see a sisterly bond that’s wholesome whereas most sisters in books are constantly at each other’s throats nowadays. Don’t get me wrong, I love those that have a found family. It’s just nice to see a wholesome, blood-related family every once in a while without jealousy or something petty tarnishing their love for each other. Her little brother is adorable too. I’m anxious to see the role he’ll play in this as the story progresses.
I can’t wait for everyone to read and enjoy this unique story about the fae; the dark fae, in particular. And the variety classes of fae which are typically portrayed as “the good guys” in books. But are they really part of the heroes in this one? Time will only tell…In the mean time I’ll be doing lots of rereading!
I’m hooked. Chalk this story up as another “must read” for all of you fae lovers. There’s a certain someone in this book that gave me all the feels and I know, I just KNOW, without a doubt that he’ll be my next book hubby. ;) *wink wink, nudge nudge* I won’t go into any more details other than I desperately NEED the second book in my hands. You could say he gave me all the “Commander Rip” vibes from The Plated Prisoner series.
I adore the main heroine, Elara, in this!! It’s so refreshing to see a sisterly bond that’s wholesome whereas most sisters in books are constantly at each other’s throats nowadays. Don’t get me wrong, I love those that have a found family. It’s just nice to see a wholesome, blood-related family every once in a while without jealousy or something petty tarnishing their love for each other. Her little brother is adorable too. I’m anxious to see the role he’ll play in this as the story progresses.
I can’t wait for everyone to read and enjoy this unique story about the fae; the dark fae, in particular. And the variety classes of fae which are typically portrayed as “the good guys” in books. But are they really part of the heroes in this one? Time will only tell…In the mean time I’ll be doing lots of rereading!
March 11, 2022
Not sure what happened to that, but, full rtc. Or you can just check it out on my blog and see some thoughts plus a music playlist for the characters!
https://onereadingnurse.com/2022/03/1...
https://onereadingnurse.com/2022/03/1...
June 7, 2022
It was okay, nothing I haven't read before. But FUCK, the amount of typos in this one?? Satan have mercy on me
August 26, 2023
A richly imagined story with a unique plot & world that will leaving you wanting more. This book ensnared me from the first chapter and is perfect for the fans of ACOTAR.
Storm of Chaos and Shadows is filled with amazing banter, family who would do anything for each other, mystery and intrigue, spying, plot twists, a beautiful romance, and spice.
I loved the strong bond between Elara and her siblings and how they fight for eachother. The slowburn romance between Elara and Alarik was so well written, and with spice!
Storm of Chaos and Shadows had a unique magic system with light and dark Fae and magic like you haven’t read about before. I really enjoyed the world building in this book, it was very well written and I am excited to explore more of the world in the next book. The ending was amazing and there were so many revelations that I need book two now!!!
You would like this book if you like
✨Fae
✨Warring kingdoms & plotting
✨Family who would do anything for eachother
✨Strong female lead
✨Only one bed trope but make it “there’s only a small tent” instead
✨Slowburn romance
I would recommend this to anyone, especially fans of ACOTAR, it is amazing!
Storm of Chaos and Shadows is filled with amazing banter, family who would do anything for each other, mystery and intrigue, spying, plot twists, a beautiful romance, and spice.
I loved the strong bond between Elara and her siblings and how they fight for eachother. The slowburn romance between Elara and Alarik was so well written, and with spice!
Storm of Chaos and Shadows had a unique magic system with light and dark Fae and magic like you haven’t read about before. I really enjoyed the world building in this book, it was very well written and I am excited to explore more of the world in the next book. The ending was amazing and there were so many revelations that I need book two now!!!
You would like this book if you like
✨Fae
✨Warring kingdoms & plotting
✨Family who would do anything for eachother
✨Strong female lead
✨Only one bed trope but make it “there’s only a small tent” instead
✨Slowburn romance
I would recommend this to anyone, especially fans of ACOTAR, it is amazing!
July 31, 2024
~ 4.25
This had so many ACOTAR vibes and I was honestly just enjoying myself reading this! Although sometimes I was confused by the plot🤭
This had so many ACOTAR vibes and I was honestly just enjoying myself reading this! Although sometimes I was confused by the plot🤭
April 25, 2025
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
Light spoilers ahead!
This book was REALLY GOOD. I have been in a sort of book slump lately, but this book made me want to pick it up and keep reading. I know it is early, but I really think that this could be a favorite series of mine. I am that excited about this first book and where I can see it going!
Here's what I loved about it:
-The connection between the sisters, Greer, Lannie, and Elara
-The BANTER
-Spicy scenes ;) there were 2-3 explicit scenes!
-The worldbuilding-- I am so intrigued about the Dark Fae in particular!
-Elara's ability to fight, even against fully grown men
I am beyond intrigued with the world that this book set up and I desperately want to read the next books!! I am DYING to know what happens next with the brewing war, Elara's and the rest of her family's potential magic, her relationship with Alarik, her place in this prophecy, what the heck her mom was up to??! So many things I want to know and explore. And that dark fae at the end!!! Holy hell I NEED to know what he is all about-- especially since I am not sold on Alarik LOL I want this dark fae man in the picture so my amazing, brave, and fierce Elara can get some confidence back and realize she's not a monster for wanting to fight!
Seriously, read it.
Light spoilers ahead!
This book was REALLY GOOD. I have been in a sort of book slump lately, but this book made me want to pick it up and keep reading. I know it is early, but I really think that this could be a favorite series of mine. I am that excited about this first book and where I can see it going!
Here's what I loved about it:
-The connection between the sisters, Greer, Lannie, and Elara
-The BANTER
-Spicy scenes ;) there were 2-3 explicit scenes!
-The worldbuilding-- I am so intrigued about the Dark Fae in particular!
-Elara's ability to fight, even against fully grown men
I am beyond intrigued with the world that this book set up and I desperately want to read the next books!! I am DYING to know what happens next with the brewing war, Elara's and the rest of her family's potential magic, her relationship with Alarik, her place in this prophecy, what the heck her mom was up to??! So many things I want to know and explore. And that dark fae at the end!!! Holy hell I NEED to know what he is all about-- especially since I am not sold on Alarik LOL I want this dark fae man in the picture so my amazing, brave, and fierce Elara can get some confidence back and realize she's not a monster for wanting to fight!
Seriously, read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: Fantasy series (book 1)
𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩: Physical book
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 4.19
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
“I am the bringer, bearer and executioner of my own fate. Unlike some, I do not expect the gods to hold my hand through life. They have far more important things to do.”
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙:
Human and fae characters
Strong, somewhat morally gray female MC
One bed trope (or one small tent!)
Moderate spice
Left me with many theories for the next book!
𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
You’ll love this book if you are looking for a book with humans and fae, warring kingdoms, a little bit of spicy romance, and a strong female MC who’s certainly on a morally gray path. I found the romance to be SO frustrating at times, but both of the characters are going through so much individually that I actually think it fit the story really well. I love the characters that were introduced towards the end of the book, and it’s left me with lots of theories for where this story will go next 🤔
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: Fantasy series (book 1)
𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩: Physical book
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 4.19
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
“I am the bringer, bearer and executioner of my own fate. Unlike some, I do not expect the gods to hold my hand through life. They have far more important things to do.”
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙:
Human and fae characters
Strong, somewhat morally gray female MC
One bed trope (or one small tent!)
Moderate spice
Left me with many theories for the next book!
𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
You’ll love this book if you are looking for a book with humans and fae, warring kingdoms, a little bit of spicy romance, and a strong female MC who’s certainly on a morally gray path. I found the romance to be SO frustrating at times, but both of the characters are going through so much individually that I actually think it fit the story really well. I love the characters that were introduced towards the end of the book, and it’s left me with lots of theories for where this story will go next 🤔
April 14, 2022
This book had so much potentially and then just dropped the ball.
The first 100 pages kind of draws you in and you see a major turn in things. Then the next 400 pages is training and building the romance. Then 50 pages of action. Then 75 of just… nothing. So much of this book was unrelated to the overarching problem that just nothing happened.
And the relationship with Alarik felt annoying. He’s instantly just overprotective and Elara just lets him. Even when she’s proved she can fight and has trained. It was just frustrating.
There were also two scenes where there’s actual curses used and it didn’t fit the story it felt like. They’re not used anywhere else then suddenly 20 in one scene.
The development of the magic and fae were also severely lacking.
The first 100 pages kind of draws you in and you see a major turn in things. Then the next 400 pages is training and building the romance. Then 50 pages of action. Then 75 of just… nothing. So much of this book was unrelated to the overarching problem that just nothing happened.
And the relationship with Alarik felt annoying. He’s instantly just overprotective and Elara just lets him. Even when she’s proved she can fight and has trained. It was just frustrating.
There were also two scenes where there’s actual curses used and it didn’t fit the story it felt like. They’re not used anywhere else then suddenly 20 in one scene.
The development of the magic and fae were also severely lacking.
July 20, 2023
DNF at almost 40% in.
The pace was really slow.. and I just couldn’t handle some of the writing choices. The world is presented as a magical non-earth… and yet they have zippers and showers?? The (what I’m assuming) love interest calling the FMC “little one” was also SUCH an ick. Most of the world building is tell not show “you know how this goes right?… yeah it’s *world building dump*”
The pace was really slow.. and I just couldn’t handle some of the writing choices. The world is presented as a magical non-earth… and yet they have zippers and showers?? The (what I’m assuming) love interest calling the FMC “little one” was also SUCH an ick. Most of the world building is tell not show “you know how this goes right?… yeah it’s *world building dump*”
August 22, 2022
Rating:⭐⭐⭐
Spice Scale: .5 🌶️
Heat Scale: 🔥
As much as I tend to complain, I think it was a solid first book in the series. Nothing I didn’t see before and it’s rather formulaic with the characters and their dynamics together, but I’ve seen worse takes on them.
My main problem was Elara though. Poor girl is lukewarm in her best moments. We get a lot of internal monologues about a darkness in her and how it is like a waking kitten, stretching out inside her and all we actually see is a white cloth being washed one too many times that it gets tainted grayish. She really is not as bad as she guilt trips herself in the second half.
Her romance with Alarik is just a walking red flag from the start and I couldn’t believe a second of it. Mostly because you can tell it was intentionally badly written. And as that, it takes up the majority of this book with no real reason other than ditching his ass later for the perfect one. Even when they finally settle with what I’d call a friends-with-benefits kinda situation, Elara is already half way out. Her emotional attachment seems to come from the pressure of her sisters and the fact that the guy is stringing her along. They’re not good for each other, they never really have the intention to stick around, yet Elara projects this great love at one second and the next she’s like “yeah, I have no heart, nevermind”... It’s just… egioaengklaenk
On the other hand I loooooooved the take on the fae and the world building and I was hoping to see more of it rather than the dead end “romance”. I really hope to delve deeper into it in the next book because it really has potential. The fae always makes everything more interesting, so here’s to hoping we get to hang out more around them and this human hubris will be out of the way to get the party going.
Spice Scale: .5 🌶️
Heat Scale: 🔥
As much as I tend to complain, I think it was a solid first book in the series. Nothing I didn’t see before and it’s rather formulaic with the characters and their dynamics together, but I’ve seen worse takes on them.
My main problem was Elara though. Poor girl is lukewarm in her best moments. We get a lot of internal monologues about a darkness in her and how it is like a waking kitten, stretching out inside her and all we actually see is a white cloth being washed one too many times that it gets tainted grayish. She really is not as bad as she guilt trips herself in the second half.
Her romance with Alarik is just a walking red flag from the start and I couldn’t believe a second of it. Mostly because you can tell it was intentionally badly written. And as that, it takes up the majority of this book with no real reason other than ditching his ass later for the perfect one. Even when they finally settle with what I’d call a friends-with-benefits kinda situation, Elara is already half way out. Her emotional attachment seems to come from the pressure of her sisters and the fact that the guy is stringing her along. They’re not good for each other, they never really have the intention to stick around, yet Elara projects this great love at one second and the next she’s like “yeah, I have no heart, nevermind”... It’s just… egioaengklaenk
On the other hand I loooooooved the take on the fae and the world building and I was hoping to see more of it rather than the dead end “romance”. I really hope to delve deeper into it in the next book because it really has potential. The fae always makes everything more interesting, so here’s to hoping we get to hang out more around them and this human hubris will be out of the way to get the party going.
March 13, 2022
Okay first off, this is Briar’s debut novel, and it was amazing. I was so immersed in this book and the fictional world I didn’t realize where the day went while I was reading. Also, can we talk about how gorgeous the cover is??
This story follows Elara, a strong female character who in the face of adversity keeps on fighting. Her fierce and selfless nature made her such a memorable character.
The world-building was truly phenomenal, and the writing was captivating. The plot, magic system, and history of this world were really interesting. The twists and turns kept me guessing as to what direction the story would take, and I was pleasantly surprised.
I’m really looking forward to book two after that ending!
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Elara, a strong female character who in the face of adversity keeps on fighting. Her fierce and selfless nature made her such a memorable character.
The world-building was truly phenomenal, and the writing was captivating. The plot, magic system, and history of this world were really interesting. The twists and turns kept me guessing as to what direction the story would take, and I was pleasantly surprised.
I’m really looking forward to book two after that ending!
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 9, 2022
Thank you to Literary Bound Tours and the author for sending me an advanced copy of this book!
This story was so much fun to read! It follows Elara, a young huntress along with her three younger siblings as they try to survive after a devastating storm destroyed so many people's lives.
The themes were so interesting throughout, and the world building was phenomenal! Elara as a character was super cool to follow, and I can't wait for the rest of this series to see how she develops. The main man, Alarik, was a bit annoying at times, so I definitely have a love/hate relationship with him, but I can for sure see some development going for him too!
It was a tad repetitive at times, but that's really not the end of the world. It was also a little confusing at the beginning, but I believe that most, if not all, of the problems will get filled out completely with the coming books. That's really the only thing I was iffy about, but other than that, this was such an awesome book! This book is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Lexi Ryan's These Hollow Vows!!
This story was so much fun to read! It follows Elara, a young huntress along with her three younger siblings as they try to survive after a devastating storm destroyed so many people's lives.
The themes were so interesting throughout, and the world building was phenomenal! Elara as a character was super cool to follow, and I can't wait for the rest of this series to see how she develops. The main man, Alarik, was a bit annoying at times, so I definitely have a love/hate relationship with him, but I can for sure see some development going for him too!
It was a tad repetitive at times, but that's really not the end of the world. It was also a little confusing at the beginning, but I believe that most, if not all, of the problems will get filled out completely with the coming books. That's really the only thing I was iffy about, but other than that, this was such an awesome book! This book is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Lexi Ryan's These Hollow Vows!!
March 10, 2022
Ohh WOW!!! I did not expect this debut to pull me in the way it did. Life, family, work ceased to exist once I started reading. It was all I could think about!! I read it in one sitting kind of fantastic!!
"I am the bringer, bearer, and executioner of my own fate." Sometimes you're fortunate enough to meet a character that just resonates with your soul. That's what El did to me! I love strong female characters that face the darkness and keep surviving. The broken ones that keep fighting back - that just can't stop. The ones that will step into the darkness if it means saving family and friends. I just love the selflessness and grit! They just pull at my heartstrings and resonate so deeply and I know El is one of those characters that's gonna stick with me for a long time.
"I had thought we were meant to be sculptures, ones that had been chipped and poorly glued back together, but maybe we weren't broken. Maybe we were a mosaic, our exterior grey shells meant to be shattered, the pieces gathered and flipped to expose the bright, colorful coating within." C.L. definitely has a way with words. I just couldn't get enough. Her writing is beautiful!
The fantasy and world building is epic. There's a lot to learn but written in a way that wasn't like trying to drink from a fire hose or confusing. It's very well done. I'm impressed with the fae and magic systems and how everything comes together. The romance is steamy and well done! I love El's relationships with her siblings! They're everything to each other and I adore each of them!! I can NOT wait for the next book!!!! Literally, I could not recommend this book more!!
"I am the bringer, bearer, and executioner of my own fate." Sometimes you're fortunate enough to meet a character that just resonates with your soul. That's what El did to me! I love strong female characters that face the darkness and keep surviving. The broken ones that keep fighting back - that just can't stop. The ones that will step into the darkness if it means saving family and friends. I just love the selflessness and grit! They just pull at my heartstrings and resonate so deeply and I know El is one of those characters that's gonna stick with me for a long time.
"I had thought we were meant to be sculptures, ones that had been chipped and poorly glued back together, but maybe we weren't broken. Maybe we were a mosaic, our exterior grey shells meant to be shattered, the pieces gathered and flipped to expose the bright, colorful coating within." C.L. definitely has a way with words. I just couldn't get enough. Her writing is beautiful!
The fantasy and world building is epic. There's a lot to learn but written in a way that wasn't like trying to drink from a fire hose or confusing. It's very well done. I'm impressed with the fae and magic systems and how everything comes together. The romance is steamy and well done! I love El's relationships with her siblings! They're everything to each other and I adore each of them!! I can NOT wait for the next book!!!! Literally, I could not recommend this book more!!
August 19, 2022
I guess the title should have tipped me off, but I wanted to look past it. This has all of the elements of a juicy novel I would love, but the writing is so stilted and the tropes are so tired that I can’t get immersed in the world no matter how hard I try. The relationships feel as forced as the language, and I found myself cringing at almost every interaction between the two main characters. There are a few tempting plot points but not enough to carry the story. DNF 50%
July 8, 2022
From the first chapter I was entranced and couldn't get my head out of this book. The female main character was everything you look for, strong and determined while fighting demons inside from past trauma. She had doubts and fears but pushed through, keeping her loved ones her vocal point to never give up.
Alarick was my everything and a new book boyfriend to add to my list.
Alarick was my everything and a new book boyfriend to add to my list.
November 18, 2021
It's an incredible story to read, I’m just worried about my heart because it is a 5 book series, and book one is so good in itself, it is going to be a long wait for the story to complete. It’s a story with fae & humans having different kingdoms and a severe threat is looming on the horizon. Humans are already on the dying verge due to a storm that plagued more than 50% of the population, humans & fae alike. We can see the light fae and dark fae, as the name suggests you can figure out the traits but sometimes looks can be deceptive, not everything is as it looks.
The main character Elara is a strong female, taking care of the family she’s left with after the storm. Humans are attacked and towns are wiped clean of existence which brings human General Alarik in contact will Elara. There’s so much chemistry from the moment they meet that it swells my heart for the emotions and sufferings of the past. Humans being a weaker section has to take the burn for all the happenings, they are an abomination for the fae to consider. All fae are not bad but nonetheless, everything suffers.
All the characters are loved even the ones i hated at the start, make way on the good side. Seeing all the glimpse of the past, strengthens the base of the story and gives us a vast aspect for the future story.
The main character Elara is a strong female, taking care of the family she’s left with after the storm. Humans are attacked and towns are wiped clean of existence which brings human General Alarik in contact will Elara. There’s so much chemistry from the moment they meet that it swells my heart for the emotions and sufferings of the past. Humans being a weaker section has to take the burn for all the happenings, they are an abomination for the fae to consider. All fae are not bad but nonetheless, everything suffers.
All the characters are loved even the ones i hated at the start, make way on the good side. Seeing all the glimpse of the past, strengthens the base of the story and gives us a vast aspect for the future story.
January 12, 2022
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read this ARC!
I think this is a solid start to a new fantasy series!
The story follows Elara navigating survival with her family when she stumbles upon a General who is more than he seems. A deal is made, situations start happening, and the world as she knows it is flipped upside down.
Elara's fierceness is to be admired but I did find her to be too much at some points. Since it was her POV, you could see the moments where she was being too stupid or too arrogant and it cost her. I found her to be annoying at times. I really appreciated the relationship she has with her family and the bond they shared. General Alarik was fine as a character, I do love me a general. I think Elara and Alarik had chemistry from the beginning and it slowly evolved. The world-building and background of the story with its history were interesting but again, I do think that the writing style might not be for me.
Like I said, solid start to the series! If you're a fantasy lover and looking for a new adventure, this is one you can check out! It ends on a hopeful note so you know what that means...pain is to follow haha.
I think this is a solid start to a new fantasy series!
The story follows Elara navigating survival with her family when she stumbles upon a General who is more than he seems. A deal is made, situations start happening, and the world as she knows it is flipped upside down.
Elara's fierceness is to be admired but I did find her to be too much at some points. Since it was her POV, you could see the moments where she was being too stupid or too arrogant and it cost her. I found her to be annoying at times. I really appreciated the relationship she has with her family and the bond they shared. General Alarik was fine as a character, I do love me a general. I think Elara and Alarik had chemistry from the beginning and it slowly evolved. The world-building and background of the story with its history were interesting but again, I do think that the writing style might not be for me.
Like I said, solid start to the series! If you're a fantasy lover and looking for a new adventure, this is one you can check out! It ends on a hopeful note so you know what that means...pain is to follow haha.
November 5, 2021
This book had me so hooked from the beginning. It's one of those books that left me reeling and I couldn't stop thinking about it when I finished.
I love a good fae story and sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the stories but I can feel this story is building up to be absolutely epic and I can't wait to get completely immersed in the world. There are light and dark fae as well as humans and not everything is as it seems.
The writing is great with wonderful world building (I love good world building in a fantasy story) with characters that I love and root for. Elara is the main heroine and I loved her! She is such a strong character with a darkness about her that made her even more intriguing. One of my favourite things to read was the relationship with her sisters. I really enjoyed reading about sisters that truly love and support it each other. Her little brother is adorable and I feel he will play a major part in the rest of the series.
I'm clowning a bit with the love interest (?) and I have many thoughts :p
This book had me making up theories (many that stayed as theories) but I look forward to reading book 2. I know I will need to reread it a few times to help tide me over!
I love a good fae story and sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the stories but I can feel this story is building up to be absolutely epic and I can't wait to get completely immersed in the world. There are light and dark fae as well as humans and not everything is as it seems.
The writing is great with wonderful world building (I love good world building in a fantasy story) with characters that I love and root for. Elara is the main heroine and I loved her! She is such a strong character with a darkness about her that made her even more intriguing. One of my favourite things to read was the relationship with her sisters. I really enjoyed reading about sisters that truly love and support it each other. Her little brother is adorable and I feel he will play a major part in the rest of the series.
I'm clowning a bit with the love interest (?) and I have many thoughts :p
This book had me making up theories (many that stayed as theories) but I look forward to reading book 2. I know I will need to reread it a few times to help tide me over!
February 13, 2022
This is a hot new fantasy that is book one in a series. And boy did it start off the series well.
First we have Elara, who is a strong heroine with some past trauma and an overwhelming love for her family. Then we have Alarik, who is the hot new commanding general at the nearest base, and who has a very traumatic past as well.
My favorite scenes were the ones between El and Alarik, since their chemistry is off the charts and most of their character development happens when they are together. I was intrigued by the story between the different fae and human classes and how we are always trying to guess who the bad guys really are.
With a new threat in the horizon, are group of human soldiers (Elara included) go on a few “recon only” missions to gather information. But it turns out, their skills with weapons and fighting come in handy since not everything is as it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in this book, both our MC and our secondary characters (mostly being Elara’s family and their fellow soldiers on base). And I was invested in every experience they went through, both in the past and in the present.
First we have Elara, who is a strong heroine with some past trauma and an overwhelming love for her family. Then we have Alarik, who is the hot new commanding general at the nearest base, and who has a very traumatic past as well.
My favorite scenes were the ones between El and Alarik, since their chemistry is off the charts and most of their character development happens when they are together. I was intrigued by the story between the different fae and human classes and how we are always trying to guess who the bad guys really are.
With a new threat in the horizon, are group of human soldiers (Elara included) go on a few “recon only” missions to gather information. But it turns out, their skills with weapons and fighting come in handy since not everything is as it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in this book, both our MC and our secondary characters (mostly being Elara’s family and their fellow soldiers on base). And I was invested in every experience they went through, both in the past and in the present.
January 22, 2024
This was my second fantasy book, 1st fae fantasy book ever. I kinda had a hard time imagining through this story I’d recommend not starting with this book as a first ever fantasy book.
I loved the fact that it was not only Elara being the strong female character, but also her little sisters!! Also her tragic family history intrigued me. Her little brother just bound the entire family together, he was adorable.
Her romantic interest in the beginning, was okay, nothing exciting due to the fact it was a human-but when you’re reading a fantasy book and the love story is human-human it’s sort of boring. Towards the end he started acting like Adam freaking Kent and that annoyed me, luckily we got another (dark) romantic interest for that in place and I am so excited to read about him in the next book in the series!
I loved the fact that it was not only Elara being the strong female character, but also her little sisters!! Also her tragic family history intrigued me. Her little brother just bound the entire family together, he was adorable.
Her romantic interest in the beginning, was okay, nothing exciting due to the fact it was a human-but when you’re reading a fantasy book and the love story is human-human it’s sort of boring. Towards the end he started acting like Adam freaking Kent and that annoyed me, luckily we got another (dark) romantic interest for that in place and I am so excited to read about him in the next book in the series!
March 8, 2022
immediately off the bat, the title hooked me. the word "chaos" grabs me every time 😂 but in all honesty, this book is incredibly captivating!!! briar's world building is literal perfection, and i loved every minute of it. the emphasis on family in this book meant a lot to me, and though they struggled, they gave elara the strength to fight every day.
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elara is a badass of a heroine. she's strong and incredibly fun to read, which made the story easy to follow, and that’s HUGE for fantasy books. her interactions with her family and the different members were my favorite parts.
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if you’re looking for a new fantasy book to read with fascinating magic, family, swords, and a plot that takes you on a literal ride, pleeeease look no further and pick it up now!! you seriously will not regret it.
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elara is a badass of a heroine. she's strong and incredibly fun to read, which made the story easy to follow, and that’s HUGE for fantasy books. her interactions with her family and the different members were my favorite parts.
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if you’re looking for a new fantasy book to read with fascinating magic, family, swords, and a plot that takes you on a literal ride, pleeeease look no further and pick it up now!! you seriously will not regret it.
January 25, 2022
It was an eventful, fast paced ride. I love the world building and the overall story. My fav character is Zelos! I love Elara's interaction with her fam. Alarik needs a lot of hug, poor guy has been through a lot. Curious about Zaeth tho! There is soulmates mentioned hmmm anyway excited for book 2! 💕
Read
February 22, 2025It was like a poorly written (literally, so many grammatical errors) ACOTAR, but if the sisters loved and supported each other instead. I've been trying to figure out if it's a spinoff but it's not. If I wasn't looking for some quick reads, and if the 2nd book was more than $4 Id probably just stop reading and be ok with it which is unlike me!
September 18, 2022
A great beginning to a fantasy series! There was a lot going on here-- mysterious fae magic, spying, the heroine training to become a warrior, and lots of romance sprinkled throughout. I always love when stories feature a great cast of side characters, especially when the heroine's family is included. This book felt like just the stepping stone to a much bigger world and I'm excited to see where the series goes! It's comparable to Poison Study or The kiss of deception, both series that I love.
Read
July 21, 2024DNF at 14 pages
April 29, 2022
An overall ok fantasy book. My expectations were unfortunately a bit too high after reading a few reviews.
January 18, 2022
Thank you @c.l.briar for trusting me with this amazing ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Among the far, only the most cruel individuals survive. Luckily, Elara's instincts have been sufficent in keeping her alive, despite how crueler the fae realm gets.
All Elara wants is to escape from the ghosts of the past, whe a storm killed her family seven years ago and made her her younger siblings' caregiver.
When the charming general of the last human stronghold offers her the chance to act as a spy, Elara discovers a great mystery and pearhaps the way to defeat her enemies, as well as her own desire for vengeance. She must control her darkness and defeat the foe destroying their world or watch as the remaining cinders of humanity are extinguished forever.
I loved this story!
The story was very exciting and it kept me glued to the book!
The characters were great and their growth is amazing! Their relationships and intentions felt very realistic and I love that!
The worldbuilding was also incredible!
If you love fae adventures books, then you should read this one!
Trigger warnings:
-Violence
-Sexual content
-Homophobia
Among the far, only the most cruel individuals survive. Luckily, Elara's instincts have been sufficent in keeping her alive, despite how crueler the fae realm gets.
All Elara wants is to escape from the ghosts of the past, whe a storm killed her family seven years ago and made her her younger siblings' caregiver.
When the charming general of the last human stronghold offers her the chance to act as a spy, Elara discovers a great mystery and pearhaps the way to defeat her enemies, as well as her own desire for vengeance. She must control her darkness and defeat the foe destroying their world or watch as the remaining cinders of humanity are extinguished forever.
I loved this story!
The story was very exciting and it kept me glued to the book!
The characters were great and their growth is amazing! Their relationships and intentions felt very realistic and I love that!
The worldbuilding was also incredible!
If you love fae adventures books, then you should read this one!
Trigger warnings:
-Violence
-Sexual content
-Homophobia
January 19, 2022
I have just finished reading my first ever ARC book and I am so glad it was this one!! (thank you C.L Briar!!!)
I won't post any spoilers other than it does end with so many unanswered questions and I will be eagerly anticipating the next installment of the series.
The world building was incredible. I could almost see what was being described and it felt like a second home (almost as though I have been there before) and the character development within the story and how they each deal with trauma and their own inner demons. You genuinely feel for them and all the characters are so beautifully written you can't help but root for them all (I am particularly intrigued by the dark and brooding fae over the love interest with Alarik but I think that says more about me...)
The story is so well written and I'll admit I thought I knew the direction, but I was pleasantly surprised with the twists and turns this takes the reader on.
Please go read this book- you will not be disappointed.
I won't post any spoilers other than it does end with so many unanswered questions and I will be eagerly anticipating the next installment of the series.
The world building was incredible. I could almost see what was being described and it felt like a second home (almost as though I have been there before) and the character development within the story and how they each deal with trauma and their own inner demons. You genuinely feel for them and all the characters are so beautifully written you can't help but root for them all (I am particularly intrigued by the dark and brooding fae over the love interest with Alarik but I think that says more about me...)
The story is so well written and I'll admit I thought I knew the direction, but I was pleasantly surprised with the twists and turns this takes the reader on.
Please go read this book- you will not be disappointed.
May 29, 2025
Hmm. A case of interesting potential that could use some editing and focus.
Elara lost half of her family to the unnatural storm that raged over the land seven years ago. Now the other half struggles to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. They aren't alone; the human population of Pax has suffered from the storm and mysterious subsequent attacks. The fae have remained largely untouched in their elemental kingdoms. After a chance encounter with the top general of the human military, Elara is recruited as a spy and scout. Her feelings for the general—and more pointedly, his feelings for her—clash with her desire to fight on the front lines.
Much of the problem is in what I can't explain to you. For example: if the fae have elemental kingdoms according to their type, where do the humans live? What government do they answer to? Who is funding and/or directing the human military, and how did we get one? What level of technology exists here? What can magic do? I do not know. There was worldbuilding; the narrative was happy to present information about the types of fae and various legends and history. But very little of it helped me get a logistical grasp on the setting. I feel like these answers are in the author's brain. I just didn't get them.
The rest of the problem is with Elara's central struggle with her own inner darkness. She's a killer who delights in violence, a loner who can't bring herself to trust anyone, a monster. It's very 'welcome to my twisted mind.' But, well... she isn't any of those things. She's exceedingly normal, especially for having gone through horrible tragedy. She actually has a refreshing amount of living family and friends. It's nice to see a heroine keep up with so many people and care about their impact instead of only ogling the love interest. She squeals when she's excited. She's a weird horse girl. She wants to fight so that she doesn't feel helpless. She wasn't wracked with guilt about killing an undead fae. Her first battle upsets her. Everything is very reasonable. Yet she beats herself up endlessly. It gets old. Worse, the narrative makes such a big deal about the shadows inside her, like her ~desire for vengeance~ truly means something dark.
Outside of her angsting, Elara is enjoyable. She's focused and skilled, but not clever, and she can be stubborn to the point of being a brat. Alarik, the general and love interest, is friendly and annoying in a fun way (cheerfully condescending); but at heart, he takes his responsibilities seriously. The side characters can be kind of silly, but they give events a good sense of context. Humans having an important role in the world was a nice change of pace that I hope the series keeps up. Unfortunately, nearly halfway through, the book seems to lose the thread, and a lot of these fun elements start wavering hard without an immediate goal to keep it all moving.
I think this could still be a fun book to read for someone who is solely in it for the romantasy and ~girl power~. I'm going to pass.
Elara lost half of her family to the unnatural storm that raged over the land seven years ago. Now the other half struggles to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. They aren't alone; the human population of Pax has suffered from the storm and mysterious subsequent attacks. The fae have remained largely untouched in their elemental kingdoms. After a chance encounter with the top general of the human military, Elara is recruited as a spy and scout. Her feelings for the general—and more pointedly, his feelings for her—clash with her desire to fight on the front lines.
Much of the problem is in what I can't explain to you. For example: if the fae have elemental kingdoms according to their type, where do the humans live? What government do they answer to? Who is funding and/or directing the human military, and how did we get one? What level of technology exists here? What can magic do? I do not know. There was worldbuilding; the narrative was happy to present information about the types of fae and various legends and history. But very little of it helped me get a logistical grasp on the setting. I feel like these answers are in the author's brain. I just didn't get them.
The rest of the problem is with Elara's central struggle with her own inner darkness. She's a killer who delights in violence, a loner who can't bring herself to trust anyone, a monster. It's very 'welcome to my twisted mind.' But, well... she isn't any of those things. She's exceedingly normal, especially for having gone through horrible tragedy. She actually has a refreshing amount of living family and friends. It's nice to see a heroine keep up with so many people and care about their impact instead of only ogling the love interest. She squeals when she's excited. She's a weird horse girl. She wants to fight so that she doesn't feel helpless. She wasn't wracked with guilt about killing an undead fae. Her first battle upsets her. Everything is very reasonable. Yet she beats herself up endlessly. It gets old. Worse, the narrative makes such a big deal about the shadows inside her, like her ~desire for vengeance~ truly means something dark.
Outside of her angsting, Elara is enjoyable. She's focused and skilled, but not clever, and she can be stubborn to the point of being a brat. Alarik, the general and love interest, is friendly and annoying in a fun way (cheerfully condescending); but at heart, he takes his responsibilities seriously. The side characters can be kind of silly, but they give events a good sense of context. Humans having an important role in the world was a nice change of pace that I hope the series keeps up. Unfortunately, nearly halfway through, the book seems to lose the thread, and a lot of these fun elements start wavering hard without an immediate goal to keep it all moving.
I think this could still be a fun book to read for someone who is solely in it for the romantasy and ~girl power~. I'm going to pass.
November 4, 2023
Amazing
I was so invested in this story and depth of the characters was amazing. I cannot wait to read the next book! This is a must read for anyone who loves story building and emotion. I could not put this book down. ❤️
I was so invested in this story and depth of the characters was amazing. I cannot wait to read the next book! This is a must read for anyone who loves story building and emotion. I could not put this book down. ❤️
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