Hidden Memory: A Hidden Series Novel of Elaria

by Tiffany Shearn

A woman wakes, broken and bloody, to find herself lost, terrified, and alone. Stripped of everything – no possessions, no memory – she must face the dangers of a war-torn world to find out who, and what, she is.

Larron of the Derou elves must deliver an urgent message to his kin in the east. They are losing the war, and his people will not survive alone. Along the way, his party discovers someone who should not exist. Her race has been extinct for thousands of years. Yet there is no denying the proof before him. In a realm of legend and magic, where good and evil fight for dominion, this encounter may be their only chance to survive long enough to find what they both need.

Hidden Memory is the debut novel from Tiffany Shearn and kicks off the exciting Hidden Series. This is the first book in a four-part epic fantasy saga set in the realm of Elaria, where elves and fairy battle for their very existence against forces seeking to destroy them all. If you enjoy traditional epic fantasy with a great cast of characters, this series is for you!

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2021

About the author

Tiffany Shearn is a writer and author of the Hidden Series set in her Realm of Elaria. While working by day in business finance, Tiffany has spent the last two decades bringing her fantasy realm and characters to life. She is currently working on Hidden Strength, the fourth and final book in the Hidden series.

Tiffany is a lifelong reader with a passion for the fantasy genre. She began writing in college when the stories in her head were vivid enough to distract her from lectures, and she has continued to refine her writing style. Tiffany lives just south of Seattle, Washington with her husband, Big Cat, and Little Cat.

Reviews

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the adventure! A young girl is found writhing in pain, bleeding and totally naked on a street, with no memory of who she is or how she came to be there. 16 years later, the young girl has put herself through college and has taken up marshal arts. During an important presentation for the company she works for, she is once again beset with agonising pain in her back and blacks out. When she comes to, she is in a strange forest, naked and bleeding and once again has no recollection of who she is. What she does however discover, is that she has wings. She knows she needs to try find civilisation, whilst trying to remember something, anything, to no avail. With no food, no water and no visible signs of civilisation, she sets off in hopes of finding help. She encounters creatures that attack her and she fights them off, astonishing herself at her prowess. One such encounter had her surrounded and she fears her time has come to an end. Luckily, there are a few Elves nearby, who save her and so starts another adventure with them. An evil has emerged, seeking to subjugate all the people under his rule, not only the humans but the Elves and all species. His cruelty knows no bounds. I liked the descriptive storytelling, the confusion of Annalla, the genuine friendship she forges with them on their perilous journey to seek aid in fighting the evil. This book deals with Annalla and her companions mostly, with hints of what they are up against, which I'm sure will be dealt with in subsequent books. I'm very interested in finding out who Annalla actually is, I know there's a bombshell waiting to happen! Will she find out and will she acknowledge her feelings for Larron? This book leaves you with just the right amount of anticipation!

[Christina Morley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about survival where the monsters and terrain are deadly. What makes it intriguing is that the heroine doesn't know who or what she is. As she makes it from one day to the next, she discovers skills and knowledge that aren't lost even if other memories are gone. It definitely reminds me of Bourne, but with a female lead in a fantasy world. I love how much grit she has, how wounds aren't downplayed, and the characters she meets along the way. There is also a hint of a romance. The book leaves loose ends to be explored in future books in the series.

The story held my attention and I read it in three days while spending time with family over the holidays. I would definitely like to read more. This book came recommended and I'm so glad that I managed to snag an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Richard Gormley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to a series

I bought the first 2 book a in this series last year at the Washington Midsummer Ren Faire where I met the author at her booth there. As a book a day reader I enjoyed these Annie I ran into her again at the faire this year and she mentioned leaving a review. Go read these and enjoy

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Things I Love

Picked up this series at a local Ren Faire from a local author and am so happy to have stumbled upon it! Beautiful world and culture building,. Character and relationship building is deep and meaningful, and a plot with enough unknowns to keep things interesting.

[Tiffany Shearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Editorial Review: Reviewed By Delene Vrey for Readers’ Favorite

A little girl lost in an urban jungle, carving out a life without any memory of who she is or where she belongs. A woman falling naked and hurt into a harsh and unforgiving landscape. She has no memory of who she is and only instinct and muscle memory to aid her in a fight for her life. A messenger party of Elves traveling through the same landscape, heading for allies for aid and news of the rest of their world suffering in a war. When they find the woman, broken and bleeding in the clutches of insect-like predators, they are shocked to discover that she is more than an Elf. Traveling through rough, unforgiving landscapes and fighting predators and enemies, the band of Elves under the command of Larron of Derou adopt the woman as one of their own. Together, in an attempt to reach their allies in the Palonian Woodland, they suffer hardships and personal loss. With a cruel dictator intent on enslaving the entire world, can a small nation of Elves stand their ground and come out victorious? Hidden Memory by Tiffany Shearn is a wonderful fantasy that promises to become a series to add to your to-be-read list.

Hidden Memory, Hidden Series of Elaria Book 1, by Tiffany Shearn, is an epic fantasy set in a world that, through its landscapes, echoes the effect that Kahnlair’s war has had on the world and its people. Ms. Shearn writes an action-packed quest fantasy and has vivid descriptions of fights and struggles with nature. Her narration effectively reflects the individual characteristics of each character, even the animals. I enjoyed reading this book as it offers what any fantasy should: escape from the here and now into a world where you can experience another life with the characters. The author creates such strong bonds between the characters and the reader that when tragedy visits the group, you feel the loss and pain the characters have to deal with and have a mental idea of the physical hardships the characters have to endure. As a series starter, it promises much more adventure to come. Something to look forward to.

[Anya Josephs]

This book wasn't really for me, alas! I had a hard time getting into it--the plot gets off to rather a slow start. The parts taking place in our world and Elaria also felt a little too disconnected to me, and the fantasy elements weren't developed enough for my taste.

Annalla was a very well-developed protagonist, and her moments of transformation and confusion were very well-depicted. I wish the adventure had slowed down to create time for us to see more of her reactions to the challenges she faces along the way. Her backstory was so interesting, and I would have loved to see more of her human life! Also, more editorial support could have been helpful, as there were a number of run-on sentences that made it difficult for me to become absorbed in the story.

I can tell that the author's heart went into this book, and I hope other readers will connect with it! I loved the concept, the execution just didn't work for me.

I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own!

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Memory starts you on the journey into the world of Elaria. An enjoyable read with suspenseful moments that leaves you ready for the next book. Subtle worldbuilding leaves you curious for more without feeling like you jumped in a lake of exposition.

The novel, written from a two-person perspective, provides each main character with a distinct inner voice. The supporting cast of characters feels distinctly nuanced, and I found myself warming to them quickly.

Standard fantasy tropes (elves, fairies) are changed but kept adjacent enough to feel different instead of foreign. Adding new or underused elements (insectoids, snake people) helps shape Elaria into a unique world.

My only quibble is that the book feels prequel-like in its setup, only hinting at the dark clouds on the horizon. Being the first book in a series, this is given a pass with the expectation that the next book explores that in greater detail.

[Hailey Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Memory by Tiffany Shearn is a fantastic addition to the realm of fantasy novels. The author skillfully creates an imaginative world filled with creatures and magic that captivates the reader's attention from the very first page. The plot is well-crafted, and the action and adventure never stop, keeping the reader engaged throughout the book. The characters are well-developed, with unique personalities that make them relatable and endearing. The book seamlessly blends elements of magic, myth, and lore to create an intricate and fascinating world. Overall, Hidden Memory is a highly enjoyable read for anyone who loves a good fantasy novel with an engaging story, memorable characters, and a richly imagined world.

[LooseBoots · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me a little longer to read than I anticipated but it was well worth it. This is a new author for me and as I’ve said before, you’re never sure how you are going to like it. But I’m pleased to say that there was plenty to hold my attention.
Did I feel entertained, yes. Did I feel the world building was sufficient, yes. Would I want to read the next in the series and did I warm to the characters. A definite YES to both.
I don’t give spoilers or war and peace in a review, o simply give an honest review. It may seem simple to some BUT I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would not hesitate to read this author again, so they must be doing something right.

10 out of 10.

[Erinn Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging story and well-written after the first few chapters. I have read a few first books by various authors and this definitely reads better than most! I get the impression that the first few chapters were written first, in haste, or unwillingly b/c they have a completely different style that is a little rough. But work through those and you are rewarded with a thoughtful and fun story, I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters, Shearn put a lot of thoughtful crafting into their interactions and instead of making them unrealistically stoic, made them real, emotionally-involved characters.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is One hell of an action-packed Fantasy adventure that once started I just couldn’t put it down! It’s a well written, captivating read that draws you in with beautiful and descriptive world building and a fascinating storyline. The characters are strong, likeable and well developed and their adventures are action packed and bound with magic and myth and i have to say, I cannot wait to read book two!

[Neil · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry to say there's really no story to this book, 300+ pages of traveling from point A to point B. I wanted to stop reading so many times and should have but I pushed thru. If you're looking for any kind of climax, outcome, or ending your not going to get one in this book. I have read hundreds of fiction fantasy novels and I think this is the worst one I've come across.

[Suzannah V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great good v. evil balance-seeking fantasy. Really enjoying this series. The characters develop well, the storylines are intricate without becoming confusing. There’s enough romance to be invested, but it’s not the focus of the story.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than anticipated, all said and done! Clearly we HAVE to finish the series now.

[Amy Potts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book but at least for the first novel it moves really slow I hope the others are a little more action packed

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book. It starts very slow, and very confusing. It was not holding my attention at all but , then, we got introduced to a great party of characters. The book had me laughing out laugh by myself a couple of times (I did love the sarcastic sense of humor that was brought here). I ended up really liking the book, REALLY liking the characters, and LOVING another character. I'm very glad I had the patience (and gave this book a chance) because it was worth it. Looking forwards to the following one to see where things are going and how... things will develop.

[Mason Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hidden Memory has some interesting ideas and the writing is above-average, but unfortunately the book as a whole is mediocre.

Tiffany Shearn writes well, a lot more clearly and smoothly than many fantasy writers I have read. She doesn't use too many made-up words, unlike writers like C.J. Cherryh and the names of places and characters work well for the world. She also has a good understanding of how to structure a story. The tale was interesting enough to keep me reading right to the end of the novel and I wanted to know more about the world and the characters. In these respects, the book is good.

However, the book has some major flaws as well. Primarily, the book is very, very slow. The entire first half of the book feels like a prologue to the actual story. A heavy edit could have cut out 25% of the book without removing too much material. On top of this, though the book is marketed as epic fantasy, it instead reads more like a fantasy drama. There was nothing in the book that felt epic in the way that Tolkien or Brandon Sanderson feel epic. My third issue is that the characters feel very human. Instead of reading about elves, fairies, and snake-people, I felt like I was reading about humans with pointy-ears, wings, and/or scales. Save for a single scene, this novel would work as historical fiction.

I was excited going into this book, but disappointed by the time I finished. I want more of the fantastic in my fantasy, and this novel just delivers historical drama with some fantasy fluff. All this taken together means the novel is simply mediocre. 3/5

I was provided this book for free in return for an honest review.

[Traslan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was intriguing and interesting, but the rest was, unfortunately, very predictable.

It's mainly a loooong journey through a forest, some rock formation, and some swamps/marshland.

The author kills some of the horses, *giving the author the evil eye*, but most of the good guys stay alive.

Even though they move a lot, there's not much movement in the actual storyline, and it gets a bit boring after a while.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rating This book is a journey and sometimes a lagged a little. I do like the main character a fairy believed to be extinct for thousand of years. The next book should be better, we have finally ended the journey and are meeting a whole kingdom of characters

[Caitlin Dutrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging characters to truly fall in love with. A story that begs for more!