Věže Asperfellu

Asperfell Trilogy #1

by Jamie Thomas

ASPERFELL JE VĚZENÍ PRO MÁGY. JEŠTĚ NIKDO SE ODTAMTUD NEVRÁTIL…

Briony by ani ve snu nenapadlo, že se jednoho dne ocitne v magickém vězení zvaném Asperfell. Koneckonců nebyla ani mág, ani zločinec. Byla dcerou šlechtice, i když s prsty věčně umazanými od inkoustu a zablácenými šaty, protože buď seděla s nosem zabořeným v knize, nebo pobíhala po tajemných lesích jejich rodového sídla.

Jakmile však projde portálem do Asperfellu, všechno je najednou jinak: její rodina, domov i bezpečí jsou pryč. Briony stojí na prahu světa zavržených mágů, šílenců, přízraků, temné magie a záhadných vzkazů pronášených pouze šeptem… Jedině tady ale může najít spásu pro trpící lid Tiralaenu. Z Asperfellu, odkud se ještě nikdo nikdy nevrátil, musí přivést právoplatného dědice královského trůnu. Co když ale zlomený princ o záchranu nestojí?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Magic, Fiction, Adult, Young Adult Fantasy

464 pages, Hardcover

First published February 18, 2020

About the author

Jamie Thomas began crafting stories in the fourth grade with a tale of a brother and sister who accidentally bring the birds on their hotel wallpaper to life. Even though she ended with the cliched “It was all a dream” gimmick, she still won a regional young writers competition that year, thus beginning a lifelong love affair with the written word.

A certified Language Arts teacher in the state of Washington, Jamie holds a Master’s degree in English Education and did her graduate research in the area of gender equality in high school literary curriculum. Jamie is an avid lover of Victorian novels and poetry, Gothic Romanticism, and feminist literature, as well as epic female-led fantasy and historical fiction. Jamie aims to smash the patriarchy one novel at a time, creating characters and worlds that inspire, empower, and elevate women.

Previously, Jamie studied opera and received her formal training at the University of Montana and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and she still enjoys performing occasionally, as well as teaching vocal technique. She lives in Wenatchee, Washington, with her husband, daughter, two enormous dogs, and two mischievous cats.

Reviews

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know what exactly I was expecting from Asperfell, but those expectations were far surpassed. This debut novel is a bit of a slow burn, but it’s incredibly well written. The grammar and formatting are positively immaculate, which speaks highly of Thomas’s professionalism as an author; it’s obvious that she invested a lot of time in editing and perfecting Asperfell before introducing it to the world. And her way with words is impeccable. Actually, I would even say that the setting and writing reminded me the tiniest bit of Guy Gavriel Kay, who is a phenomenally talented craftsman of an author. It also had a Regency tone and flair to it. If Guy Gavriel Kay and Jane Austen teamed up to write a young adult fantasy novel, it would look something like Asperfell.

“Have courage. And no matter how dark the world seems and how much you’d like to darken with it, find whatever light you can wherever you can, and help it grow.”

Though I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis, I feared that Asperfell would feel very young adult, which is a very hit-or-miss genre for me. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. While it did veer more in that direction as the book neared its zenith, it didn’t feel cliche in the slightest. Instead, Asperfell took the elements of YA that I love, like having a plucky heroine who finds herself in over her head but is determined to rise to the occasion anyway, and translated said elements into a story I could truly connect with while delivering a story that felt fresh instead of regurgitating tired and over-used plot points. Thomas employed so many different tropes that I love without any of them seeming weak. And she did so seamlessly. A coming-of-age narrative, political intrigue, mystery, romance, and even a bit of magical schooling all exist harmoniously in this novel. There were also Regency levels of snark and sass, which were incredibly entertaining. There were also some incredibly subtle pop culture references to fandoms I love, like Harry Potter and Doctor Who. So subtle in fact that I’m not quite sure that I didn’t make them up and decide to see things that aren’t actually there.

“Knowledge is the most powerful weapon any of us can possess, and even the smallest of us can wield it.”

Briony is such a remarkable character. She is strong, curious, intelligent, and pure of heart without seeming stuffy or self-righteous. I very much enjoyed being given the opportunity to watch her grow up, and to being allowed to see through her eyes how her kingdom changed radically over the course of her young life. However, as much as I appreciated this introduction, to me the story didn’t start shining until we reached Asperfell itself. Asperfell is such an intriguingly original locale, and I was captivated by each new tidbit of knowledge revealed in its hallways and garden plots.

“There is power in a voice such as you cannot imagine.”

While I very much enjoyed this book, it fell a bit short for me at the end. The villain’s identity was fairly predictable, in my opinion, and the climactic scenes went a little Deus ex Machina, resulting in a finale sequence that felt oddly abrupt. And while the ending was technically an ending, it left me wanting much more resolution. However, even though I was a bit unsatisfied by the ending, I absolutely loved the world building and character development in Asperfell. I dearly hope there will be future installments returning to this world.

[J (Midnight Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You ever find a book and just know it’s a hidden gem right away?

Plot: The best way I can think to describe Asperfell is a game of thrones era setting with a Cruel Prince style romance, and also magic! Which really, is just an awesome combination right there.
Characters: Briony was pretty tough, and reminded me very much of Jude Duarte if she hadn’t been trained to fight growing up–lots of attitude, not a lot of skills. Which makes Elyan the parallel of the sassy, rude, and lovable Cardan. I really loved watching the romance unfold.
Overall: Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was still a little bit predictable. That was the only thing keeping it for a 5 star read, but don’t let it deter you from picking it up! I’ll be eagerly awaiting book 2.
Content warnings: sexual assault, murder


Click here for the full review on my blog!


5/31: only halfway through and I can already tell this is a hidden gem

*ARC received in exchange for honest review

[Sophie ❦]

Great writing, but where is the plot?

DNF at 43%. I don’t understand the point of this book 😤

The first chapter was atmospheric and the writing was really beautiful, but the pacing drove me absolutely crazy 😮‍💨 We spend the first 25-30% of the book just waiting for the story in the blurb to start. I understand needing to see the new king becoming deranged and watching the magic laws change, but did we really need 100+ pages of her childhood? She went from 8 to 10 to 20 years old while the plot just... stood there. By the time she finally reached Asperfell, I was already exhausted.

The biggest issue for me is the total lack of stakes. Briony is supposed to be on a mission to find Elyan and get him out, right? But as soon as she arrives, she starts taking magic lessons, gardening, and going to dances.

It makes no sense because she has zero reaction to the horrible things that just happened to her family before she was forced into Asperfell. Plus, she spent her whole childhood complaining that she wanted to be part of the family schemes and help out, but now that it’s her time to shine, she’s just having a jolly good time?

Where is the urgency? I’m so frustrated with this book. I kept waiting for her to do something to move the plot forward but she gave me nothing!!!

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: Picked this up because the cover is super pretty and the gothic setup sounds really good.

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Haïfa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and the quotes included may have changed in the released copy.

Spoiler-free review. You can find it and more at Novel Notions.

What an utterly charming and engrossing debut.

“Whispers in the dark.
The dead keep the secrets of the living.

Asperfell was a surprising and enchanting tale, and made even more so by the flawless writing. Jamie Thomas took a risk with her prose. With its classic sophistication, it could have come across as pompous or out of fashion. But instead, it felt surprisingly fresh and suitable to the atmosphere (in the first half rather regency-inspired and then bordering on gothic in the second half). The writing flew seamlessly and elegantly and retained a classic charm with no trace of the dullness or prolixity that makes some classics so unapproachable or difficult to read.

Elegant writing and exquisitely written dialogues aside, I very much enjoyed the story Thomas weaved in this first installment of her debut series. This is a book I could equally recommend to YA (despite some dark themes but none pushed to a deep or shocking level) or adult fantasy readers. However, grimdark readers or readers who prefer very complex plots might find it a bit soft or youngish for their tastes.

The story starts with 8year-old Briony overhearing the news of the king's murder. Soon after, she witnesses the exile of the culprit: the king’s own son and heir to the throne, to the mysterious prison of Asperfell. Criminal and rogue magicians are sentenced to life in Asperfell and once they cross the portal, they can never come back. As she grows, Briony finds herself buffeted by political and mystic storms despite her family's best efforts to both shelter her and tame her adventurous, curious soul.

“Have courage. And no matter how dark the world seems and how much you’d like to darken with it, find whatever light you can wherever you can, and help it grow.”

I liked Briony and her determination, except when said determination turned into nosiness or bordered on selfishness. She was a mischievous little thing when she was a kid (reminding me of Arya Stark in the beginning of GoT) and never lost her humor and her spark growing up, despite the multiple ordeals she had to face and the various nets that tried to ensnare her. Most of the supporting characters were also well fleshed out and gained depth as the story progressed and their interactions with Briony gave them spotlight.

The worldbuilding and lore were pretty simple, with the exception of the prison of Asperfell, which stole the limelight and was one of my favorite things about this book. I couldn’t help but compare it to Hogwarts. Or a version of Hogwarts for grown-ups. No wait, that still isn’t it. Okay, a darker version of Hogwarts where you replace magic newbies with stars in their eyes and lives full of potential before them with criminal sorcerers who will never get their lives back is more like it! It even had its own versions of Dumbledore and professor McGonagall!

“People will always fear that which they do not understand, and magic is particularly difficult to puzzle out for those who have never felt it deep within them, never used it.”

I felt like Asperfell drew its inspiration from many amazing sources in the Fantasy genre but it never felt derivative to me. It had a unique flavor and a unique atmosphere. I also loved discovering how magic worked, even though I had to wait until the 2nd half to learn about its intricacies. My only qualms were that there were some lulls in Briony’s day-to-day life in the various locations she visited or called home (however every part was eventually necessary no matter how lengthy or seemingly random). And the ending. There was a consensus from the reviews I read beforehand, that the ending lacked the complexity that the meticulously constructed story required. The ending was indeed weaker than the rest of the story and would have benefited from more detailed explanation. Some threads have also been tied conveniently. But it was still enjoyable and didn’t alter the satisfaction and coziness I felt upon finishing this excellent debut.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 An easy read, fun premise & likeable characters! I genuinely can’t wait to read the next two books!

How does a largely non magical kingdom deal with the rare mage or two who breaks the law? They landed on, open a magical portal to another world, shove the convicted mages through it and let them figure it out themselves. In the hundreds of years since they started doing this, no mage has returned, so as far as the general public is concerned it works for them. It has pretty strong shipping convicts off to Australia vibes.

The first quarter of the book follows Briony as she grows up against the backdrop of a country in political transition. The young king encourages discrimination & violence against mages. At first he’s tossing lots of mages through the portal & then he switches to executing them instead. Briony is accused of being a mage and it’s quickly decided she’ll be executed. At the last minute, she escapes by jumping through the portal to Asperfell. She’s now trapped in a strange world with criminals and she must learn to adapt!

I loved that the author solidly centers Briony as our heroine and the plot as fantasy with a side of romance. We don’t meet her love interest until she is sent to Asperfell well into the book. The love story is a very slow burn, definitely not insta love, and pining doesn’t consume Brionys every waking moment. Elyan is really cranky (who wouldn’t be in prison) but basically a standup guy. By the end, I wanted them to give up on escaping and spend the rest of winter cuddled up reading in bed. Their dynamic is her remorselessly stealing his toast when his back is turned and him laughing about it.

A quibble, as much as I like the focus on events vs emotions there are a few moments where the author takes this to the extreme. At one point, Briony is attacked by another inmate and seems to be completely unaffected which is straight up bizarre.

This book isn’t complicated but it sure is fun! Would be a perfect vacation read for anyone who loves fantasy or romantasy!

[Stefani Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Uproar Books!***

I wanted to like this book. I really really wanted to like this book. It is exactly the type of book that I normally enjoy. A young, spunky female lead character. Magic. Society that seems to be based on a Victorian standard. Mysteries. Prisons. Other planes of existence. But I just couldn’t like it.

The writing is very good and thus why I gave this a two star rating over a one star. The dialogue is engaging, the plot moves at a fairly good pace, and the narrative flows beautifully. The first half of the book seemed a bit on the slow side while the second half was very rushed but that is my only complaint about the writing.

WARNING: From this point on there will be lots of spoilers, consider yourself warned.

This book has never met a young adult trope that it didn’t like….and utilize…..frequently. Let me preface where my opinion is coming from on this novel. The very first sentence, before I even hit the first chapter is that the author wants to “smash the patriarchy one novel at a time!”. Now, I will also explain that I am rather tired of reading militantly feminist literature, it seems to be everywhere these days. Normally I can overlook an author’s personal views or opinions about the book and just take the book for the story it presents. But not when that’s what you open with. The very first thing you told me about your story is that it’s smashing patriarchy with its strong female characters so you need to live up to that. You have now infused that idea into your novel and need to deliver.

This did not deliver. Instead I got the same old tired tropes of the young adult genre that feminist readers complain about constantly. How exactly are you smashing patriarchy? By presenting me tropes that I’ve been reading since I was 13 years old?

Briony is just like every young adult female lead character. She is spunky, sassy, strong willed, and bucks the patriarchal system that she was born into. Her older sister is the perfect lady of the court. This isn’t a new dynamic and it can be a good one when used correctly. I didn’t actually mind this because it set up Briony as a character who is questing to be knowledgeable. Knowledge and wisdom will be her weapon in the fight against what society has said her place is. That’s all well and good. My problems start when Briony gets to Asperfell.

Naturally she instantly dislikes Prince Elyan. He is dour, brooding, and wants nothing to do with her and largely he is exactly what one expects from the young adult male lead. I assumed Briony would be on a mission to find the answer to take him home whether he protested or not. But…..she doesn’t. Within the space of a chapter she seems to have completely forgotten about her mission and just goes along with working in the gardens and learning magic all while throwing a glare at Elyan when he deigns to make an appearance. He, of course, is primarily there to ridicule her efforts before disappearing again.

It wasn’t until about the last forty pages that Briony suddenly remembers that she is supposed to be getting Elyan back to their homeland. And only because someone whacked her across the head with the information that would lead her to that goal. She was far too busy trading gossip, learning magic, gardening, and making sarcastic remarks at Elyan to actually discover the answer on her own.

Another trope, instalove. Authors think that they are avoiding this if their characters start off hating each other. But Briony and Elyan go from coldly tolerating each other to gazing at each other affectionately literally in the space of a single dance. So not quite instalove but maybe 3 1/2 minute love? Microwave love? Be sure to wait for the ding!

Briony was also revealed to not be that strong or much of a feminist either. The most offensive example of this is when another character attempts to sexually assault her. Okay, we kind of have to assume that’s what he’s doing because it doesn’t get very far but I’m fairly confident that’s where this was headed. Briony courageously defends herself. She fights off her attacker and escapes to safety before the situation escalates into anything much worse. I was cheering for her! I was so proud of her for reacting in her own defense so decisively and swiftly. But then she decides to have a whole inner monologue about how she feels shame about the situation. Why exactly? Surely you would be feeling scared but also proud of yourself? She even says to herself that she has nothing to feel ashamed about…..but then concludes that thought with “but I do” and moves on. Is this really an example of a strong woman? Feeling shame about something that you recognize should not be causing you shame and during which you admirably protected yourself? I was highly disappointed.

Next we have the other young adult trope that I despise so much. Briony does something very stupid and reckless. She recognizes internally that it was reckless and stupid. But when Elyan points out that it was reckless and stupid then she yells at him about it. Because, how dare he think that he can control her! He doesn’t own her! She can do what she likes without him! Does anyone actually think that this is the makings of a strong woman? Actual thoughts that she had. No one was trying to control her or prevent her from doing anything on her own. She made a reckless and foolish decision, but because a male confronts her about it then he’s controlling. Then later he, naturally, apologizes for daring to question her reckless, foolish behavior because he was just so scared of losing her. And she gets to walk away feeling smug. Strong women rejoice! Patriarchy smashed!

Finally, the ending. We spent a very long time getting to Asperfell. We spent an equally long time gardening and learning magic in Asperfell. That left about 60 pages for the conclusion. I thought the conclusion was supposed to be the rescue of Elyan from Asperfell and delivering him back home. Except that didn’t happen. The book ends with them in the woods. On their way to a potential way to get home, but they aren’t actually sure it will work yet. And of course, it ends with a kiss. Frankly, it left me wondering what exactly the point was? We couldn’t spare another 30 pages to actually get back to Tiralaen? And then end it once they have successfully left Asperfell? I recognize that we’re setting up a sequel here, but the sequel works just as well starting with the moments after they escape Asperfell as the moments before.

Overall, this story reminded me of every single bad young adult novel I’ve ever read. Exactly the same characters. Exactly the same plot devices. Exactly the same tropes.

Read this and other reviews at: Written Among the Stars

[Roxie Voorhees · Rating 4 out of 5]

My opinion of this one is so conflicted. I loved everything about this story. The world building. The spunky, independent girl (later, woman). Even the flaws.

And then the ending happened. WTF Jamie?!

I understand this is Book 1 of a series, but that ending was more unsatisfying than zero carb bread.

There may be spoilers beyond this point.
The first 25% of this book takes us on the brief journey through the life of young Briony Tenebrae. First we see the world through her 8 year old eyes. The king is dead! His teenage son is responsible! Briony's father takes her to the sentencing of the late king's magical son. The punishment is forever exile in a mysterious realm home to the Mage prison, Asperfell.

At 10, Briony suffers a mysterious illness. Soon after her father sends her far north to her ancestral home. Briony spends 10 years there, away from court, away from her parents and sister. Here she practices the fine art of collecting information, taught well by her father's spy, Cyprias. Three weeks after his last visit, a messenger tells Briony her father has been betrayed and she must disappear.

SURPRISE!
Spoilers!
Briony is a MAGE! WHHHHAAAAATTTT? Cyprias and Master Aeneas (another of dad's friends) open the gate to Asperfell with one objective: get the prince and return.


Ok, so 20 year old Briony, virgin, roughly educated, not magically trained in the slightest, is sent to a magical prison for Mages. What happens is basic. She learns magic, tends the garden, and is stubborn AF. Then she unlocks the mystery of Asperfell with the hopeful reward being a gate back home.

By 50%, Briony is an Orare! A speaker if you will. She speaks to magic. She finds her voice and she uses it. Prince Elyan is misunderstood and the perfect specimen of man-meat. Master Tiberius runs Asperfell and is a pretty cool dude. Phyra is a necromancer that won't use her magic. We have snobby old people, crazy maniacs, the arrogant brute that everyone likes in the end, and of course the mad king.

This story is fast paced with vast vocabulary without being difficult to read. Some dialogue doesn't flow well and there are several spelling errors/typos. This story feels familiar. It is filled with tropes, like all of them, but just a dash of romance.

This YA story sets up the issues Briony will (at least I hope) attack further in the series.
-the "woman's" place
-modesty/prudish ideals of female behavior


Does not have any LGBT+ characters or mentions (neither pro nor con).
⭐⭐⭐for being entertaining
⭐for having me hooked
-.5 🌠for that stupid ending

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy]

Made it 40%. This started out really good and interesting. Then the dialogue got weird. Idk. I’m being petty and extra picky right now. Might come back to it.

[Natalie Jenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

ASPERFELL is a haunting and beautifully written gothic tale, which immediately captured my attention with the measured ease of its prose - an ease all the more impressive in a debut author. Thomas portrays her characters with skill and affection, and the heroine Briony is a particular delight. The slow burn of her romance with the reluctant and imprisoned prince, so doubtful at first of her unique abilities, was a genuine delight. This is a very early foray into fantasy and gothic fiction for me as a reader, but Thomas has delivered interesting characters and a propulsive narrative that would succeed in any genre. As dangerous and ominous a world as Asperfell was, I was not ready to leave it and am thrilled to learn that this book is the first part of a planned trilogy. Like Sarah Kozloff’s debut fantasy novel A QUEEN IN HIDING, ASPERFELL portrays another world in all its cinematic, medieval and bone-chilling glory, with a young female heroine whose journey to discover the full extent of her magical powers will inspire and hearten both adult and young adult readers.

[Ashlee Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there's no substitute for the void that the end of The Folk of the Air series left behind in my heart, this comes pretty close! Consider it the newest YA novel to hold my imagination hostage. To have me bursting at the seams to know more, to untangle the spell of its mysteries and obstacles all the faster...

This book is the first in a medieval-ish fantasy series that features white and dark magic, a prison world, an adversaries-to-allies-to-lovers dynamic, plus a collection of layered and courageous "criminal" characters (aka: Mages) who find themselves trapped - isolated from their families, from their loved ones with no hope of escape - in a place called Asperfell.

Briony Tenebrae, the protagonist, crosses the gate into this prison world at age twenty imbued with powers she neither knew she had nor knows how to use. More that that, she's tasked with an important job. She must find a way to free Elyan, a prince who's been exiled for murdering his father, so as to save her kingdom from the brink of civil war. A war, as luck would have it, that has been started by the brother who now sits on the throne.

Only here's the catch: no Mage who crosses the gate from Tiralaen into Asperfell ever returns.

Ah - the tug of forbidden things!

The richness of the story, in my opinion, comes more from the atmosphere with its mystical stirrings and "whispers in the dark" than it does from the overall plot itself. Secrets dwell beneath each brick, each root of the prison, and it's the sweeping away of cobwebs and the tracing of each living to undead crack that Briony and her band of ragtag companions pursue that gives this a pulse. It's a pulse that ebbs and crosses, spikes and levitates. It haunts your ankles: sometimes snapping, sometimes slithering away like smoke.

There's a feeling of gothic intangibility that bubbles outward, too. It dances along the edges of sparking fingertips as the truth about Asperfell hovers closer, rustling, with ghosts waiting to speak of past things that were swept away into translucence once but demand to be seen again by someone who can hear them. Listen. Help, if need be.

As a reader, it makes it feel like you're being pinched from behind by an invisible hand the entire time. Ushered along. Or as if a gust of air could materialize into something formed and vociferous at your ear, showing you what it looked like, letting you touch all that it wanted or feared.

In other words, magic marries with the gothic here in a way that's shiver-eliciting. Lavishly so!

Slog start aside (too much backstory), it didn't take me long to invest in the characters either. They're a diverse bunch of innocents, criminals, smartmouths, revelers, royals, grouches, and brave survivors alike. They all have their layers, their conflicts, their own agendas to see through to fruition. Some you will adore right away, others you will squint at with suspicion. Then there are those select few who will reveal themselves in increments or knock you backwards off the couch with astonishment. Still, regardless of who they are, they're dynamic and worth meeting.

From Briony to Elyan, from Matster Tiberius to Mistress Philomena, and from Thaniel to Phyra to Arlo to the umbras and many more--I can't say there is a shortage of personalities or temperaments in the bunch. Also, if you're at all a fan of semi-antagonistic bickering like I am, then you'll be happy to know the dialogue SNAPS with it. Among and throughout many different dynamics. You might as well call it formal wit gone wild. ;)

Let's just say I wasn't anything except delighted to be imprisoned in this book, in this world, with these characters for its duration. And I'm chomping at the bit to find out what happens next! Give me more Briony, Elyan, and the ragtag band of five or give me death!

SO HELP ME, I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER REASON TO PINE.

Now excuse me while I go all "Kel loves orange soda" on you, because, if you're asking if I recommend it, then let allow me to clarify: I DO, I DO, I DO-OOO!!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Uproar Books for the ARC.

[Ilhanah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Briony BRIONY honestly this isn't a review it's just me swearing my undying devotion to Briony. Wild, curious, strong, brave. I love her. That's it, read the book and love her too, thanks netgalley.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Randomly enough, I backed myself into a corner to read this because I got approved to read an ARC of The Forest Kingdom without realizing it was a sequel to this book. For a book that I probably wouldn't have given a chance, it wasn't too bad!

The story centers around Briony, whose world as she knows it is falling apart. The young and evil king has slowly moved on from banishing all magical people (and their sympathizers) to suffer in an inescapable magic prison (Asperfell) to now just rounding them up and executing them. In an attempt to stop the genocide, Briony enters Asperfell to find the king's exiled older brother and return him to the throne.

I thought the story was fairly entertaining. The pacing of the book was quick enough at the beginning to truly capture my attention. We did begin to slow down and meander midway through the book, but I was already invested by then. In fact, I kind of prefer that style of pacing to a slow build. I also really enjoyed the dark gothic tone of the book. Some of the vivid imagery was definitely creeping me out. For what I think is a YA book, it felt more mature than I expected (mature meaning dignified, not explicit content).

While the story was of good quality, it didn't necessarily do anything astronomical. The outcomes (yes, even the twist) were pretty predictable. The romance wasn't quite enemies-to-lovers, but it was "dislike-to-lovers" which I felt was elementary and unsurprising. I also thought the book could have found more useful ways to build an interesting world. Pretty much everything was in the form of info dumps directly from other characters or Briony eavesdropping on perfectly timed conversations.

I'm really glad I didn't hate this book because I'm trying to keep a perfect ARC feedback ratio! On to the next one...

TL;DR

5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
▌3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.

[Library_Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a female protagonist who describes a male character as both insufferable and loathsome must kiss him by the end of the book.

This book opens with an author biography in which Jamie Thomas declares her intention to “smash the patriarchy one novel at a time!” I have to assume that she is referring to some future novel, as this one barely so much as flinches in the patriarchy’s direction.

Asperfell is a Young Adult novel which features just about every standard-issue YA fantasy trope possible. From a spunky not-like-other-girls Strong Female Protagonist to a ‘romance’ built entirely upon snarky dialogue and glares, this book has it all. Does the protagonist have special powers? Of course she does! Are her powers even more special than everybody else’s special powers? You betcha! Does she gain access to those powers by being put in a position where she’s about to get raped? ...Unfortunately, yes.

Even the parts of the plot that can’t be described as just plain tropey are painfully predictable. The stated goal of the protagonist is to escape from Asperfell. When she manages to find time between gardening, attending balls, and glaring at Prince Tall, Dark, and Handsome to actually pursue this goal—she gets stuck trying to figure out a cryptic clue. And by cryptic I of course mean so blindingly obvious she probably should have thought to do it before even being given the clue. Aside from the ‘mystery’ being less complex than a bad Scooby-Doo plot, this novel also features: the main character spending over a third of the book agonizing over not having any special powers (mm-hm), a necromancer who has sworn never to use her powers again (sure), and a kind old mentor who turns out to be evil (gasp!).

It actually saddens me to have to bash this book as much as I am. Somewhere, hidden under the non-romance and predictable plot, there is an actually clever concept that I really want to love. Asperfell as a setting is wonderful. I very much enjoyed the parts of the book where we are just shown how society functions in this magic prison colony. We meet several characters along the way who are great quirky little additions to this world. I laughed out loud at the description of the antics of an odd couple of necromancers whose task is to guard the graveyard!

Regrettably, a highly original cool setting and a good number of characters with potential come together in this book only to be buried underneath a never-ending torrent of YA tropes and a plot consisting of a series of completely predictable ‘twists’.


Would recommend this book to people who: read the first half of A Game of Thrones and thought ‘I wish this were more like Twilight’ – are intrigued by the premise ‘magical prison colony’ – like their YA tropes played straight

[Kaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a free review copy from the publisher.)

"For fans of Jane Austen who always wished she'd dabbled in blood magic"? Sign me up.

This is the first time in a long time that I have not wanted a book to end, so immersed was I in the world and so attached to the characters. The writing flows beautifully, I never found the pace lacking, and major turning points are foreshadowed just enough that you can see what is coming next without being disappointed that the characters don't. I laughed, I gasped, and at least once I felt like I was punched in the gut, woo.

Regency isn't quite the right description for the historical-ish setting; it feels more like a Gothic Early Modern fantasy than a Regency novel with magic. (But in spite of its horror elements, grimdark it is NOT, and I couldn't be happier.)

Asperfell - the prison itself - is a fascinating place, and the worldbuilding of its lore and culture are wonderfully executed. What kind of world would these people create for themselves, having been banished from their home world with no hope of escape? Especially when they can all do magic? Asperfell really has it all: politics, supernatural terror, magic lessons, murder mystery, romance.

Speaking of which, the romance is such an understated slow burn and I loved it. I have a hard time getting into most romances, especially in fantasy novels, as they always seem to draw from one or more tropes that don't work for me. I wouldn't think that I'm here for another snarky, tortured love interest and yet wow yep I totally am. I think I like it so much because it feels natural, like something that would realistically be going on in the background of the plot in the front of our protagonist's mind.

The ending sequences do come off somewhat hasty, in my opinion, but I was also reading them at one in the morning (I have a firm 10pm bedtime, people) so it's possible that that was just me. I also think there was a slight Disneyish tendency for attractive people to be good and ugly people to be bad, which is a little out of place in the year of our lord 2020.

It's going to be hard to wait until next year for the next instalment - I am eager to return to this world and our ragtag band of heroes. I hope that the future brings more lore, more curiosities of a foreign world, and more opportunities for friendships between female characters to go along with the excellent relationships Briony has formed with her male allies.

Note: I see a lot of other reviewers calling this YA (and even Ingram has it marked that way), but the author stated that it's an adult title, and I think we should stick with that. There are definitely some elements that could be too dark for younger teen readers, and the characters, thank god, are all adults. It definitely has crossover appeal, though. Maybe another to file under New Adult.

[LAURA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! As I was reaching the penultimate chapters, familiar fear gripped me and I checked to see the availability/price of the sequel(s). What followed was an internet rabbit hole the depths of which I’ve never delved with such desperation.

Book 2 is out of print and 3 is not yet published (expected 2026). Also, she changed her name. She now writes under J. Ann Thomas.

She has a new book on its way out (which looks splendid and is geared toward adults. Asperfell is officially aimed at YA but feels more New Adult) under this new name. And the Asperfell series will be republished!

From what I scraped off the interwebs (and perhaps my soul), the delays and re-releases are, I think, due to Covid and her publishing house folding. The change in name? Mmh, a fresh and pandemmy-free vibe? A rights issue? Or maybe she sensed my impending obsession…

In any case, she’s alive and well, with books wending their way to us slowly but surely. My note to self is to check authors’ Goodreads pages thoroughly before emotionally investing.

[JustYourFriendlyReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start? Did I like this book? Yes. Am I annoyed that it's the first in a series and I can't get the second one yet? Oh, yes.

Well written, with flawed and sympathetic characters, where the main character is allowed to make mistakes, misjudgements, and simply be wrong. She is also allowed to be right, to be couragous, innocent, and to grow. And so are the other charcters. Not a single one is perfect. Simply put, I believed I would like this book, and I stayed up until one in the morning to read it, and was a bit useless at work the following day. But it was worth it.

Advanced copy recieved from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars - rounded up.

(I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Asperfell was a surprising read; the synopsis immediately intrigued me, blending a mystical quest and gothic-inspired themes of dark magic and dangerous criminals held within a magical prison.

We follow the FMC, Briony, starting in her youth as a free-spirited young lady who wants nothing more than to be a mage herself, fascinated with the magical studies and powers they possess, and who constantly rebels against the courtly requirements expected of young ladies with her station. As she matures, the balance between mages and non-mages becomes tumultuous, triggering her to brave the gates of Asperfell, a magical prison, as a non-mage and a non-criminal, in search of the true heir to the throne to help save the Kingdom from civil war.

While this book consists of similar thematic elements commonly found in the fantasy genre such as a free-spirited and brave FMC, a dark and dangerous brooding MMC, civil unrest and class-based discriminations and a quest for the lost heir amongst others, this book does contain some unique elements setting it apart from a typical trope-filled read. For example, Thomas weaves a unique set of magical abilities with a cast of characters all boarder-lining on morally grey in a gothic setting, as much of the story resides in a magical prison for criminals adding an element of mystery. The world-building around the prison adds depth to the characters and Thomas layers the isolation and class system themes in everything from the architectural design to the mistreatment and misjudgment of those different than those in power.

What kept this book from a true four star or greater for me was some of the plot and character elements felt rushed or underdeveloped. For instance, Prince Elyan, a brooding and exiled heir to the throne, managed to quickly resolve years worth of isolation and trauma toward the end of the first installment in his support of Briony. While you could argue their interactions throughout setup a slowburn romantically, I found it odd that Elyan suddenly trusted Briony and vice versa in the short duration of knowing each other. The character interactions between the two were enjoyable but, I would have liked to see more frequent deeper interactions allowing a slower, more-realistic relationship of trust and friendship to build through shared experiences.

Ultimately, this was enjoyable read prompting me to continue to the second installment. I am hoping to see more personal and intertwined growth between the MMC and FMC and a major bada$$ moment from the FMC in Book 2!

[Jen Hoskins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Briony is the youngest daughter of an old and noble family, House Tenebrae, in the kingdom of Tiralaen. When she's just a little girl, the old king dies, apparently murdered using magic by his oldest son and heir, Prince Elyan. Because Elyan is a mage, he's exiled from Tiralaen in an execution-style ceremony to another plane and an ancient prison for mages from which none ever return: Asperfell.

This event kicks off a change in Tiralaen. Where before mage and non-mage had lived alongside one another, now the new king, Elyan's younger brother Keric, kindles fear and hatred of those who can use magic. As the years pass, King Keric's reign becomes more and more fascist.

Briony, growing up away from court, is determined that one day soon she'll join the secret rebellion against the king alongside her father and her friend Cyprias. Briony does eventually become embroiled in the fight against King Keric, but in a way she never expected.

I can't talk any more about Asperfell without spoiling at least some of the surprises—although surprise might be too generous, given the title of the book. Of course Briony is herself a mage, her magic bound as a child to keep her safe from Keric's regime and she herself never told of it. Of course it all goes wrong and Briony is captured by the king's men. And, of course, Briony does end up at Asperfell about a third of the way into the book.

So far, so tropey. Jamie Thomas leans into the elements most western fantasy readers will be familiar with. The setting is your standard imaginary medieval Europe with added magic. Briony herself is a very typical innocent but determined ingenue sort of heroine, constantly shocked—shocked!—at everything from horrific injustice to a social snub. Prince Elyan, when we meet him, is tall, dark, and brooding, slowly opening up to Briony over her time at Asperfell to reveal a heart of gold.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good trope well deployed. The well-worn fantasy Europe-that-never-was is a fun playground to mess around in. For the most part I enjoyed the familiarity of it—except for the rampant sexism and classism all through this book.

Asperfell is a book about prejudice. From the very beginning, Briony Tenebrae's life is made claustrophobic by sexism. She's constrained at every turn. She's a wild kid, fascinated by tales of blood and gore, always hungry, always untidy, and desperate for magic. But she's put in a dress and taught to curtsey and to embroider, and that's that.

Keric's crusade against mages whips the people of Tiralaen into a xenophobic froth, and they inform on their neighbours, daub mage's doors with graffiti, and beat up immigrants to Tiralaen from other nations where magery is prized instead of hated.

When Briony gets to Asperfell, it's the class system that's thrown into stark relief. Even in this other world, where there are no rules, where wealth can't help you and magical power is the only real defining factor, nobles still care about finery and dances while the lower class inmates work the garden and clean the castle. Briony, assigned to the garden despite her status, explicitly thinks to herself it's ridiculous to care about the way things were in Tiralaen now they're in Asperfell.

And woven throughout the story, cropping up like an unpleasant smell every now and again, is rather a lot of sexual assault of women. In such a tame fantasy world, this jarred me whenever it happened—and it doesn't trigger me the way it could do for others. If you're planning on reading Asperfell and this is a thing for you, beware.

Tiralaen, and by extension Asperfell, is riven with inequality and injustice, and Briony's eyes are opened to it over the course of the book. Mostly. For some reason, though Briony can see the unfairness in how mages and the poor are treated, the sexism goes uncommented on.

Thomas' world is populated with characters so odd and extreme they might be caricatures—from the toad-like Walfrey, a low class woman whose depiction I actually didn't enjoy at all, to Mistress Philomena, the sour, schoolmarm-ish quartermaster of Asperfell. Her settings too are fantastical: Orwynd, the Tenebraes' ancient estate, surrounded by the dark and haunted Morwood, and Asperfell itself, the treacherous castle ringed by animate statues, with a great black oak at its heart. It all reminded me of a Tim Burton creation, or a toned-down Gormenghast.

Personally, I found Asperfell difficult to get through. The prose was fussy and mannered, not to mention badly in need of a proofread which I hope it got before its release. Briony was frustratingly short-sighted at times. The romance with Prince Elyan was predictable—not necessarily a bad thing—but somehow also inexplicable.

Elyan spends much of his time with Briony being a patronising, bullying dickhead to her, a woman who just lost everything she ever knew and everyone she ever loved. Banter is one thing, but this was not it. I know other romance readers are into love interests who are mean and angry all the time. But I am not one of those people.

The hardest part for me was being in Briony's shoes. (This isn't necessarily a criticism.) All her life, Briony is patronised, condescended to, and kept in the dark about things that shape her existence. Even when she gets to Asperfell, she's treated like a child: because she has no experience with her own magic, she has to be escorted about, taught basic magic lessons like a ten year old, and gets laughed at and threatened. She even has a page of erotic poetry whisked away from her as if she were a naughty schoolchild instead of a 20 year old woman.

I desperately wanted Briony to explode, shedding her chains and rising like a phoenix in the height of her power. But Briony has one gear, and that is earnest determination. I can't remember if she ever gets angry. She does get her badass moment, but for me she didn't rise up so much as get dragged along.

Asperfell is the beginning of a series, and Briony's story isn't over. But I won't be picking up whatever comes next. I was relieved to escape Asperfell and get out of Briony's head, and I don't fancy going back.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

With strong world-building and just as realistic characters, Jamie Thomas created a novel you will fall in love with. I was a bit sceptical about the ending because of the slow-burn plot and thought there would be no time for a suitable ending, but after that ending, I am sure there will be a sequel; otherwise there would be little reason for such a cliffhanger.
I loved how well-crafted this universe is, how simple it is in some matters and complex in others. The author knew when to let herself get carried away with passion and emotion, and I felt it just as I suppose Jamie Thomas felt when writing this thought-provoking story.

Full review to be published in my blog (March 18): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...

[Yels · Rating 2 out of 5]

TW: Attempted sexual assault and sexual abuse is mentioned via memories

Asperfell follows Briony, the privileged daughter of one of the king's men. It starts off when she overhears that the king is dead and the crown prince is the killer. She along with her family, see the son, Elyan, be banished to Asperfell. Asperfell is a prison that was created for mages who have committed terrible crimes. Once the mages have been banished, they can never come back. Briony is set to the countryside after she falls sick. She is raised with her aunt and nothing really happens until one day, a letter arrives from her father informing her that he has been accused of treason and that she needs to go. Briony is captured by the king's men and is set to be executed. Through a series of events, she escapes to Asperfell. There she meets mages who have been imprisoned, some for many years and Elyan, the exiled crown prince. Asperfell has a dark secret and Briony starts to discover her powers. She hears whispers of unrest and her plan to escape suddenly becomes more desperate.

I had my issues with Asperfell and mainly because I felt as if the story dragged. The first half felt extremely long and I found my attention fading while trying to read. The first person point of view was odd since Briony is 8 years old at the beginning of the book. There was social commentary from an 8 year old that read much older. The book didn't really take off for me until about 75% in. I love world building but in Asperfell I wanted to skip it all. The magic was pretty cool and standard so I dont have an issue with it. The book tries hard to appear gothic but for me, that wasn't achieved until about 75% in. Sure, the old house, spirits, and odd people were all included but didn't have a dark feel to it.

Briony was fine but not memorable. I will say that her magic was pretty cool. Props to the writer for giving Briony the one gift that she requires her voice. The romance between Briony and Elyan was expected but it also fell flat for me. I wish they had had more interactions away from Elyan having something smart to say. Another issue that I had was that I have no idea what the characters look like. I know that Briony has red hair, fair skin, and freckled. Elyan has dark curls and bright blue eyes. Everyone else had maybe one description of their hair or eyes but that is all. WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

As mentioned above, the story have a few attempts of sexual assault. Asperfell is a fantasy book therefore literally anything can be added and taken away. I am tired of women (in books and general) being subject to sexual assault.

Shout out to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I was so excited to read it so thank you Netgalley.

Oh My God. I absolutely loved this book so much! What an amazing debut novel by Jaime Thomas.

I was kind of feeling down after finishing most of my other high fantasy series. This was exactly what I needed!

The book is set in the world of Iluviel. In this world, there are magic users called mages, different classes of mage have different types of magic. Powerful criminal mages are sent through a portal to the prison of Asperfell, never to return. When the heir to the throne supposedly murders his father with his magic, the new king bans magic in the kingdom.

*Spoilers from here*

We follow Briony from the age of 8 up to her twenties. When her family are discovered to be part of a plot against the young king, and Briony discovers she’s a mage, she is sent to Asperfell to find the true heir to the throne.

The medieval-ish writing style was fantastic, it had an authenticity to it that really completed the experience of reading. It really helps to pick up the relatively slow pace of the beginning of the book. Whilst the book is a bit of a slow burner, I loved that it just felt like such a gentle book, but the story was so brilliant.

I loved Elyan, the true heir. He was just such a cool character. I loved his relationship development with Briony. Equally, Thaniel’s character was amazing too! I totally ship him and Briony as a couple 🥰

One of my favourite things for a novel is twists surrounding characters. Asperfell didn’t disappoint, the twist was shocking. I never saw it coming, I totally trusted the character, who will remain nameless.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually did not finish, it was bad and not in a fun way as I hoped. Don't fall for the "if jane austin dabbled in blood magic" review that made me try it.

[Aleena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asperfell is a well written and compelling fantasy with an inventive plotline and strong worldbuilding-- and I enjoyed it quite a bit!

The plot hinges on a Gate that leads to a magical prison called Asperfell, where only criminal Mages are sent. A young woman finds herself tasked with entering the Gate to find the true heir to Tiralaen in order to save the kingdom from civil war-- and Tiralaen Mages from oppression and murder.

There were several inconsistencies even within the first few pages regarding two characters' ages, and perhaps one or two typos throughout the rest of the book-- but nothing grammatically incorrect or distracting (except due to me feeling an unnecessary need to determine whether a character was 12 or 13, or 8 or 10 years old at certain scenes, which really doesn't make any difference to the plot).

Beyond these, I found the book really well done, both in mechanics and plot/characters; Jamie Thomas is certainly a fantastic writer and I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

[Ivysaurus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, I think I would have done this differently. This story has so much potential but in the end it really just fell short of excitement.
Our prince character was fine, just fine. And our lead made so many random promises that she completely forgot about, like what was the point of having her promise these things at all? And worst of all, why include so many plot points if they are just going to go completely unused? What was the point of The Cat? Why didn’t she just talk to the magical sentinels to start?? And I thought they were going to go back and find Cyprias alive which would have been a crazzzy and harsh realization seeing as her memories of him had been erased.

But no. In the end, this adventure went from A to B, from B to C, never touching on previous story points, never using old characters as soon as they were done.

Who described this book as “Pride and Prejudice if Jane Austin dabbled in black magic”? It’s not true. There is no Jane Austin here. But there is black magic, and that part was good. It was fine.

[Jenny Koch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amazon has been recommending this book to me for ages now so maybe it's my fault for hyping it up too much in my mind but I didn't really care for it. I just couldn't get over the fact that the female lead was 20 (I think) and the male lead was older, closer to 30 (if I got all the details right), but everyone acted and sounded like they were 14, maybe 17 tops. Plus, it didn't help that it was supposed to take place in a magical prison but something about it all came off more like a magical high school story. The whole thing felt very YA, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I was expecting something at least somewhat darker and less sugary given it was basically at its core supposed to be about wrongful imprisonment, a tyrannical ruler, and genocide. Honestly, I'm a bit bewildered by this book because there's a surprisingly high kill count dispersed among all the classical sugary YA glaring and sniping between the two leads and I just don't get it.

[Gillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This should have been right up my alley but I couldn't get myself to be engaged with it after about the 150 page mark. The dialogue was stilted, there was no sense of urgency once Briony arrived at Asperfell (she seemed to forget her purpose for being there in the first place). Asperfell the prison itself needed more worldbuilding. The romance felt like it came from nowhere - there is a difference between banter and being a jerk; it could be that none of the characters had much development to speak of. It also severely needed a proofreader or editor of some description because there were some egregious grammar mistakes in here. I know this is the first in a trilogy but I don't see myself picking up the next books.

[Gillian Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC with no stipulations, but chose to leave this review*

Holy amazing Batman! This is my first read of 2020 and I could not be more happy about that. A lead who is a mix of Arya Stark and Meridia from Brave...a supporting male whomis both vulnerable and brooding...a world built with quality, but without excess descriptions. 5 ⭐️ for sure!

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

I really loved reading Asperfell, this book is peculiar and the characters are intriguing and interesting.
Set in a world called Tiralaen, a sort of medioeval one, where magic is real and people who possessed it are called Mages, the story starts when the main character, Briony, is only eight years old. When the king is killed by his heir Elyan, a potent Mage, able to siphon other's magic and use it, he's condemned to walk through the Gate, a passage into another world and to be exiled in the Asperfell prison.
The Asperfell is an ancient prison, created hundreds of years ago, the only one capable to hold the Mages' magic. With the king's death and the new one's growing paranoia about and violence against who possesses magic, the world of Tiralaen is turn upside down and where reigned violence, suspicion and deaths. Briony's life, a young and stubborn daughter from a prestigious and influential family is sheltered and she lived with her family, her sister Livia, parents and uncle in the capital, Iluviel, at the court, her days spent learning how to curtsy, to sew and to do the things women are supposed to learn. When she survived a bad illness, Briony and Livia are are sent away to their aunt. Kept safely away from the capital, where her parents and uncle advised their mad and violent king, Briony's world is changed another time 10 years later, when soldiers accused her to be a Mage, bringing her to the capital and sentencing her to death. Helped to escape into the Asperfell world, Briony promised her friend Cyprias to bring back the only hope for her country: prince Elyan, sentenced there thirteen years ago.
Asperfell is not what she could have ever imagined, though and the prison, full of true criminals and of innocent people alike, is awash with secrets, about itself, Briony and the whole world too.

I loved reading about Briony. She's such a strong and brave main character. Unlike her sister and the women of their time and world, Briony is wild, curious, brilliant and she refused to be a pretty wife or to gossip at court or to learn how to be a housewife, how to sew and so on. I admired her curiosity, her drive to know more about everything, her refusing to be passive and remissive. I liked her friendship with Cyprias', her father's spy and how she kept herself informed while with her aunt. Briony is resilient. When she is saved and pushed in Asperfell her promise to save her kingdom and country is strong and even in a different and peculiar world, surrounded by dangers and criminals, she learned how to adapt and how to discover more about her power and the prison's secrets. It was really interesting reading about all the kind of Mages and their magic, about Briony's power, so peculiar. Her eagerness, her curiosity, her need to learn more about her magic, to compensate and balance from her being untrained collided with the person she's sent to save and free, prince Elyan, who is rude, cynical and a really powerful Mage. I love their interaction, how Briony is not a simpering subject and she stood her own ground against him, pushing him to not giving up hope for their freedom.
Elyan is a peculiar character, not the spoiled royal one could think he is. He's rude and sarcastic and insufferable, irritating Briony with his attitude, but he's a complex character, full of grief, pain and regret and, after being in that prison for so many years, his cynical side was brought forward. Briony's eagerness and her scheming and plans overwhelmed him, crushing his reservations, or, at least, involving him into hoping for more. I really like their relationship, it's really complex and not granted.
This book is full of interesting characters, like the Steward of Asperfell, Philomena and its Master Tiberius, Yralis, Phyra and Thaniel, who become Briony's friends while she adapted and learned to care about her new home. I liked the riddles and mysteries of Asperfell and how some things were connected since the very beginning, with mulpiple twists and magical beings. It was really amazing learning everything about Briony's world's magic through her eyes and to follow her in her quest and journey.
Asperfell itself is an interesting place, where people learned to life, surrendering themselves to this exile, creating relationships and so on. It was peculiar reading about the Melancholy Revels, where past nobility is still grabbing at their illusion of power, even in prison and in exile. It was interesting reading about the power system, fueled by violence and power. I liked reading about Thaniel's knights and the lower levels, too, the Sentinels and basically everything in this book.

In the author's biography she says she wants "to smash the patriarchy one novel at a time, creating characters and worlds that inspire, empower and elevate women" and I have to say she's done it really well with Asperfell. The first book is amazing and Briony is an unconventional heroine, unconventional because as a woman, in her time, she did the opposite the world expected from her and it's amazing and really inspiring.
I can't wait to read more about her, Elyan, Phyra and the others and their journey towards home and country.

[Jennifer deBie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Asperfell in exchange for an honest review. See the full review at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/

Asperfell opens with the assassination of a king and the subsequent punishment of his assassin, as seen through the eyes of our narrator, Briony Tenebrae. What follows is a tightly knit political drama as the royal court of Tiralaen devolves into a viper’s nest of corruption and suspicion, driven there by the unbalanced young king who sits on its throne and his fear of Mages. This fear, in turn, spawns from the old king’s death at the hands of one of Tiralaen’s most promising young Mages, the former heir apparent and new king’s older brother, Prince Elyan. Briony serves as the reader’s eyes and ears to this devolution and through her lens we feel every fresh cruelty of this growing police state.

The titular Asperfell, in turn, is a parallel world to the one Briony and all of Tiralaen inhabit. It is the place where Mages who have broken the kingdom’s laws, or simply existed outside the king’s control, are banished to. In Asperfell, exiled Prince Elyan now rules over the worst and most powerful Mages of Tiralaen, and it is to Asperfell that Briony must venture if she wants to save her home.

If you are looking for a tidy fantasy world full of straight forward character relationships, motivations, and resolutions, look elsewhere. With a deft hand, Thomas weaves her narrative through court intrigue, a child’s wonder, fell magic, and a young woman’s growing understanding of her own, perilous position. Crackling with energy and full of complex, stunningly rendered characters, Asperfell is a knockout of a first novel and a compelling opener for what promises to be a powerful trilogy.

[Pat Pulliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It reminded me of Marion Bradley’s classic The Mists of Avalon. Set in the mystical land of Tiralaen, a land in transition between the religion of the old gods of magic and earth and the new god of salvation.

The novel begins with the murder of the king by his son and heir Elyan, a powerful Mage. Elyan is sent through a magical Gate to the land of Asperfell where Mages who misuse their powers have been imprisoned for 500 years. Briony, an 8 year old girl at the time of the king’s death, is a curious, willful, intelligent child; in other words, a delightful heroine. The new king Keric, Elyan’s younger brother, is a suspicious and cruel king who becomes afraid of magic and the Mages who wield it. He starts with a registration of Mages and then begins executing those whom he cannot control.

As Briony grows up, the king discovers that she is a Mage although her parents had kept that knowledge from her in hopes of protecting her from Keric. As a result, Briony is sentenced to die but with the help of two of her friends escapes through the Gate to Asperfell with the goal of finding a way to return Elyan to Tiralaen to regain his crown.

Asperfell, being populated by Mages is a land of magic, mostly white magic, but also some dark magic. Briony must first learn how to find and use her magical powers with the help of Master Tiberius and Elyan. The development of the relationship between Briony and Elyan is well done as is the description of life at Asperfell.

I look forward to the next installment of this series and hope to learn more of the conflict between the worshippers of the old gods and the New God as well as the further adventures of Briony and Elyan.