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The Wall
Julia has lived her whole life inside the Wall, the shining fortress her father built. But she dreams of knowing the world, and one day, the world calls to her. She runs away from home with a false name, a magical gift from her ailing mother, and her lion companion. But leaving triggers a curse, and no matter how hard she tries to outrun it, it catches up with her—as curses often do.
Now, with only the help of a mysterious archer she meets along her journey, Julia must confront dark magic, uncover the secrets of her mother’s past and her own abilities, and discover who she is outside of the Wall, if she is ever to survive the curse and build a life of her own.
Fans of Naomi Novik and Laura E. Weymouth will love Sarah Jane Singer’s lyrical, adventurous debut novel.
Now, with only the help of a mysterious archer she meets along her journey, Julia must confront dark magic, uncover the secrets of her mother’s past and her own abilities, and discover who she is outside of the Wall, if she is ever to survive the curse and build a life of her own.
Fans of Naomi Novik and Laura E. Weymouth will love Sarah Jane Singer’s lyrical, adventurous debut novel.
196 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2022
6 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Jane Singer
1 book14 followersSarah Jane Singer grew up in Sarasota, Florida, on a steady diet of Lord of the Rings, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Star Wars. Her favorite holiday is Halloween, and nothing makes her happier than the crunch of dead leaves underfoot. She has been an editor and an educator for all of her adult life, and a writer for much longer.
Sarah has lived in Korea, Germany, Scotland, Germany again, Korea again, and now resides in Syracuse, New York, with her four cats. Her greatest joys in life are comics, coffee, and cupcakes, and not just because they all start with “C.” Sarah is published in a variety of literary magazines. The Wall is her first novel.
Sarah has lived in Korea, Germany, Scotland, Germany again, Korea again, and now resides in Syracuse, New York, with her four cats. Her greatest joys in life are comics, coffee, and cupcakes, and not just because they all start with “C.” Sarah is published in a variety of literary magazines. The Wall is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 16, 2022
dnf this @ 20%
i was expecting something more and im not a fan of instalove etc. plus the dialogue between julia and eytan was boring and they lacked chemistry. i was really looking forward to reading this book but ultimately i was let down :/
i was expecting something more and im not a fan of instalove etc. plus the dialogue between julia and eytan was boring and they lacked chemistry. i was really looking forward to reading this book but ultimately i was let down :/
January 17, 2022
DRC directly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Representation: bisexual white protagonist, Black secondary character, queer tertiary characters, tertiary characters of colour.
Content Warning: mentions of child death, attempted rape, grief, violence, death, misogyny, homophobia.
The Wall by Sarah Jane Singer is a splendidly captivating fantasy novel about self-discovery, freedom, family and love.
Julia has lived her whole life behind the unclimbable Wall her father built, but once he is called away because of his expertise as a navigator, she finally runs away to start a journey of introspection and new experiences, accompanied by her inseparable pet lion.
I really enjoyed reading The Wall as Singer crafted a world full of marvellous imagery and places, which could be the starting point of other fantastic spin-off adventures and I am hoping it will because I can absolutely say I would love to know more about it, its legends and magic and the people who lived and live in it.
The story had a nice pace, the right amount of adventures, love and mysteries to be solved and some very intriguing characters (although the story focuses mainly on two people, the side characters are so fascinating and I reckon they are very deserving of their own stories, especially the twins). I am not a fan of the insta-love and the way the protagonist agrees so easily to let Eytan, the deuteragonist and main love interest, show her all the places she had only thought of before her escape, but nonetheless I still very much liked this novel; it even managed to surprise me a couple of times and I always appreciate surprises in books.
The Wall by Sarah Jane Singer is definitely worthy of a read, particularly if you are looking for a short novel with thrilling adventures and a book that is able to create such beautiful mental images while reading.
Representation: bisexual white protagonist, Black secondary character, queer tertiary characters, tertiary characters of colour.
Content Warning: mentions of child death, attempted rape, grief, violence, death, misogyny, homophobia.
The Wall by Sarah Jane Singer is a splendidly captivating fantasy novel about self-discovery, freedom, family and love.
Julia has lived her whole life behind the unclimbable Wall her father built, but once he is called away because of his expertise as a navigator, she finally runs away to start a journey of introspection and new experiences, accompanied by her inseparable pet lion.
I really enjoyed reading The Wall as Singer crafted a world full of marvellous imagery and places, which could be the starting point of other fantastic spin-off adventures and I am hoping it will because I can absolutely say I would love to know more about it, its legends and magic and the people who lived and live in it.
The story had a nice pace, the right amount of adventures, love and mysteries to be solved and some very intriguing characters (although the story focuses mainly on two people, the side characters are so fascinating and I reckon they are very deserving of their own stories, especially the twins). I am not a fan of the insta-love and the way the protagonist agrees so easily to let Eytan, the deuteragonist and main love interest, show her all the places she had only thought of before her escape, but nonetheless I still very much liked this novel; it even managed to surprise me a couple of times and I always appreciate surprises in books.
The Wall by Sarah Jane Singer is definitely worthy of a read, particularly if you are looking for a short novel with thrilling adventures and a book that is able to create such beautiful mental images while reading.
March 18, 2022
This was such a good book. I had been in such a reading slump and this book took me right out of it. I love the characters and the story. It all together really captivated me. I’m looking forward to more books!
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April 14, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Misogyny
Homophobia
Attempted rape
Death of a child mentioned
Misogyny
Homophobia
Attempted rape
Death of a child mentioned
November 16, 2021
A lyrical fantasy novel with a lovable cast of characters, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik.
March 7, 2022
I just finished The Wall and I can say I’m completely satisfied with the ending and recommending it to all of my friends! If you were ever young and sheltered and went off on your own to see the world and find yourself you will most definitely relate to the main characters as both of them have great character arcs. As a bisexual woman myself it was great to see the representation, not only with the main character, but also with other characters as well. The author is meticulous in not leaving any loose ends or plot holes. It stands alone as a great story which is tough to find in the age of trilogies and sagas. However, there is definitely room for exploration with the world and characters in the future, which I would be very excited for! It’s full of all the YA romantic tropes we know and love mixed in with subversions and unexpected twists. I was definitely captivated by the lyrical writing style and the vivid descriptions make it easy to imagine seeing this story and it’s characters on a screen as a fantasy action movie or perhaps a limited streaming series! Fingers crossed!
April 8, 2022
A thrilling coming of age story about a young girl who has lived a protective life but hungers for adventure. I wish I could go back and experience reading this book for the first time all over again.
The beginning of this book is slow. However, a little less than halfway through, I could not put it down -- I literally finished it in one sitting. There is a little bit of romance, but it never felt forced, it really felt to perfectly suit the main character since she is going through a lot of self-exploration and finding her own identity. Some of the side characters are remarkable, memorable and magical. There is sadness, grief, and darkness sprinkled throughout this story and it broke my heart a few times, but the ending did feel rewarding and worth the ride.
Although the book is relatively short, it's so action-packed that it flew by. The fantasy and magic in this world that Sarah Singer has given us is so intriguing, and I really hope she writes some more in this universe. This book was so hauntingly real to me that a few hours after finishing it, I just started crying out of the overwhelmingly touching yet emotional rollercoaster it put me on.
The beginning of this book is slow. However, a little less than halfway through, I could not put it down -- I literally finished it in one sitting. There is a little bit of romance, but it never felt forced, it really felt to perfectly suit the main character since she is going through a lot of self-exploration and finding her own identity. Some of the side characters are remarkable, memorable and magical. There is sadness, grief, and darkness sprinkled throughout this story and it broke my heart a few times, but the ending did feel rewarding and worth the ride.
Although the book is relatively short, it's so action-packed that it flew by. The fantasy and magic in this world that Sarah Singer has given us is so intriguing, and I really hope she writes some more in this universe. This book was so hauntingly real to me that a few hours after finishing it, I just started crying out of the overwhelmingly touching yet emotional rollercoaster it put me on.
March 1, 2022
This book is half travelog through a richly developed world, half coming of age story, and half magical, mystery plot. Yes, three halves. It's that good. The cloistered girl has little more than a glowing vial and a golden lion when sneaks out of her stifling home to see what lies beyond the Wall. It's a beautifully written and curious tale. Seriously, you won't see it coming. It's great. Can't say more.
March 17, 2022
A warm, witty and moving adventure. 'Lady Julia' and her lion companion learn that life expands in unexpected directions when one brings down one's own walls, as well a those that were built to contain them. Through discovering the curse that plagued her family throughout her childhood, she also discovers herself. This beautiful story shows how one young woman's self-liberation enriched the whole wide world around her.
July 30, 2022
This was a very cute read!! I need more stories with lion companions/pets now to be honest.
One of my favorite scenes has this quote in it;
"I do not feel very brave," I admitted.
"No one who is ever does."
This story felt like the perfect length. I look forward to future work from the author!
One of my favorite scenes has this quote in it;
"I do not feel very brave," I admitted.
"No one who is ever does."
This story felt like the perfect length. I look forward to future work from the author!
November 4, 2022
4.5*.
Predictable, easy story, but I got sucked in. Marked down half star because it's too short!! I did like the shorter length overall, as it moved swiftly and easily through the story and journeys. I wish it'd been another fifty pages or so at least, just for a little more time with Wren and the twins.
Predictable, easy story, but I got sucked in. Marked down half star because it's too short!! I did like the shorter length overall, as it moved swiftly and easily through the story and journeys. I wish it'd been another fifty pages or so at least, just for a little more time with Wren and the twins.
January 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this fantasy full of magic, mystery and family secrets. It has such a dreamy, fairy-tale-like quality!
February 24, 2022
Not fond of stories in the first person, and a little too much blushing and fainting, but a good story that kept me interested right to the end.
February 27, 2022
Loved it!!!
March 18, 2022
A quick and enjoyable queer fantasy novel. The main character is very sweet and innocent and it's a good coming of age story with a bi main character.
August 6, 2023
More of a slow cozy read for me. I liked the old folk tale feel to it. Reading it made me feel like I was listening a legend around a campfire. A breathe of fresh, untouched air.
September 28, 2025
This was a fun short fairytale.
November 17, 2021
This book took years to write and probably took years off of my life. I think it turned out okay. I hope you like it too.
July 28, 2022
I read a pre-publishing version of this book. I cannot express just how much I adored it. It is a beautiful story of a girl who grew up in an isolated fairy tale discovering the world and her place in it.
The voice used perfectly illustrates the character arcs as characters change and grow. Each character has hidden depths and the ultimate unraveling of the mystery is bot.h fascinating and extremely moving.
I loved every second of reading this book and never wanted to put it down.
Will recommend to anyone who wants to hear new kinds of stories in fantasy literature, and unique voices of authors.
Support indie writers!!!!
The voice used perfectly illustrates the character arcs as characters change and grow. Each character has hidden depths and the ultimate unraveling of the mystery is bot.h fascinating and extremely moving.
I loved every second of reading this book and never wanted to put it down.
Will recommend to anyone who wants to hear new kinds of stories in fantasy literature, and unique voices of authors.
Support indie writers!!!!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews