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The Aspect #1
The Soul's Aspect
A healer forced to become a killer for an empire that would grind his country to dust.
Kehlem, the sickly son of a widowed physician, has devoted his life to learning his father’s craft. Wanting to finally step out of his father’s shadow, he embarks on a project of his own, seeking out the help of Themia, the town's newly arrived Alchemist and a rare wielder of magic.
But Themia has secrets of her own, secrets carried from the heart of the empire itself, secrets that would steal Kehlem away from his home and into the empire’s Academy for magic users.
The Isale Academy beckons, but can Kehlem survive the academy and its brutal regime? And if so, what would he have to become?
Kehlem, the sickly son of a widowed physician, has devoted his life to learning his father’s craft. Wanting to finally step out of his father’s shadow, he embarks on a project of his own, seeking out the help of Themia, the town's newly arrived Alchemist and a rare wielder of magic.
But Themia has secrets of her own, secrets carried from the heart of the empire itself, secrets that would steal Kehlem away from his home and into the empire’s Academy for magic users.
The Isale Academy beckons, but can Kehlem survive the academy and its brutal regime? And if so, what would he have to become?
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2021
22 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 16, 2022
* I reviewed this title for SPFBO8, you can find my full video review here: https://youtu.be/3yL8046nGoE *
The tagline of this book is “A healer turned killer,” which I thought was an interesting prospect, but realistically, this book is telling the story of how this came to be. It’s not an assassin story, or a tale of war, but more a coming-of-age story where a young man learns who he really is and what he is capable of.
It’s a story of three parts, and the start of each new part comes with a bang that heralds a change in the pace and intensity of the book.
The first introduces us to Kehlem, who is the son of the town’s healer. He’s been living a pretty sheltered life but his horizons are broadened with the arrival of a new alchemist who is also an Aspector, which means she can access and manipulate the threads of the magic of this world.
The second is where Kehlem goes to the Isale Academy to learn about Aspecting. Naturally, Kehlem meets a bunch of new people here and there’s some good, even wholesome, moments between the new friends.
The book starts to take a darker turn here as well, with various degrees of bullying and some pretty nasty moments too. None of these felt misplaced in the story, and even if one moment was unexpected, it does serve as a catalyst for the overall story, and is quite well handled in both tone and reaction.
I really liked the third part of the book, which nicely sets up the continuation of the story, bringing back some elements from the first part while also introducing some interesting new ones.
I really like how this doesn’t just feel like a typical magic school story. We spend a good portion of the book there, but the focus is more on the relationships and growing the characters, rather than the academic side of it.
I still felt that the magic was well-described though, and I like how it works, and also how the questioning nature of Kehlem brings us more information on it, as well as setting him on his way down a path of destruction.
Probably the main down point for me here was that it took a while to get going. I wasn’t really invested in the story, or even the characters, until the second phase of the book, and up to that point, it really is just Kehlem, as the other characters are largely inconsequential to the story, despite the impact they have on Kehlem himself.
Overall though, I thought this was a pretty good opening to a series, the writing was good, the characters were solid, and everything felt sort of natural within the world—there was nothing that really felt out of place.
I also like the concept as a whole. The story didn’t necessarily go in the direction I thought it would, but I think that’s a good thing considering the path it opens up for book two.
I’m definitely interested to see where the story goes and there’s a couple of elements in here that I think could make the second book really stand out. If you like books with a magic school setting, but maybe with a slightly darker undertone, this is a definite recommendation, but if, like me, that trope is not a favourite, it’s not a deal breaker here because of the way it’s covered and everything else you get around it.
The tagline of this book is “A healer turned killer,” which I thought was an interesting prospect, but realistically, this book is telling the story of how this came to be. It’s not an assassin story, or a tale of war, but more a coming-of-age story where a young man learns who he really is and what he is capable of.
It’s a story of three parts, and the start of each new part comes with a bang that heralds a change in the pace and intensity of the book.
The first introduces us to Kehlem, who is the son of the town’s healer. He’s been living a pretty sheltered life but his horizons are broadened with the arrival of a new alchemist who is also an Aspector, which means she can access and manipulate the threads of the magic of this world.
The second is where Kehlem goes to the Isale Academy to learn about Aspecting. Naturally, Kehlem meets a bunch of new people here and there’s some good, even wholesome, moments between the new friends.
The book starts to take a darker turn here as well, with various degrees of bullying and some pretty nasty moments too. None of these felt misplaced in the story, and even if one moment was unexpected, it does serve as a catalyst for the overall story, and is quite well handled in both tone and reaction.
I really liked the third part of the book, which nicely sets up the continuation of the story, bringing back some elements from the first part while also introducing some interesting new ones.
I really like how this doesn’t just feel like a typical magic school story. We spend a good portion of the book there, but the focus is more on the relationships and growing the characters, rather than the academic side of it.
I still felt that the magic was well-described though, and I like how it works, and also how the questioning nature of Kehlem brings us more information on it, as well as setting him on his way down a path of destruction.
Probably the main down point for me here was that it took a while to get going. I wasn’t really invested in the story, or even the characters, until the second phase of the book, and up to that point, it really is just Kehlem, as the other characters are largely inconsequential to the story, despite the impact they have on Kehlem himself.
Overall though, I thought this was a pretty good opening to a series, the writing was good, the characters were solid, and everything felt sort of natural within the world—there was nothing that really felt out of place.
I also like the concept as a whole. The story didn’t necessarily go in the direction I thought it would, but I think that’s a good thing considering the path it opens up for book two.
I’m definitely interested to see where the story goes and there’s a couple of elements in here that I think could make the second book really stand out. If you like books with a magic school setting, but maybe with a slightly darker undertone, this is a definite recommendation, but if, like me, that trope is not a favourite, it’s not a deal breaker here because of the way it’s covered and everything else you get around it.
August 19, 2025
This is book 1 of The Aspect series and book 2 is just about to release in May! I grabbed this digitally while it was on sale to buddy read with Tom Dumbrell, and weirdly we did not discuss the book a single time (I’m really bad at buddy reads). I wish we had, because I really enjoyed this!
This novel is like a more-adult version of a coming of age story, with all the typical nostalgia you’d want to feel from one. It still gives you new romance, and the prospect of love and growing up, but to me the heartbreak and death just rang as more real than some others.
This novel’s best feature is the characters. The author pens some of the most realistic, and heartwarming (and heart-wrenching), friendships I think I’ve ever read. I’m particularly impressed with the fact that the author didn’t shy away from tender male friendships. I feel like this is often something authors shy away from.
This first book kind of reads like it could be its own prequel to a revenge series, and one of the things I like the most about it is that the villains are not clear practically the entire time. There are outside factors that hinder the reader from making the call on who is and isn’t bad. There’s your standard school bullying as well, but that doesn’t always make someone the villain. Then, the author even makes the main character multilayered, no one is innocent. This novel is first person, so of course you root for Kehlem, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have some bad in him too.
This book is a crazy, gut-punching ride. Do themselves a favor and pick this book up. Like now. Order the sequel too, you’ll want it anyway. Absolutely worth your time, effort, or money to read.
This novel is like a more-adult version of a coming of age story, with all the typical nostalgia you’d want to feel from one. It still gives you new romance, and the prospect of love and growing up, but to me the heartbreak and death just rang as more real than some others.
This novel’s best feature is the characters. The author pens some of the most realistic, and heartwarming (and heart-wrenching), friendships I think I’ve ever read. I’m particularly impressed with the fact that the author didn’t shy away from tender male friendships. I feel like this is often something authors shy away from.
This first book kind of reads like it could be its own prequel to a revenge series, and one of the things I like the most about it is that the villains are not clear practically the entire time. There are outside factors that hinder the reader from making the call on who is and isn’t bad. There’s your standard school bullying as well, but that doesn’t always make someone the villain. Then, the author even makes the main character multilayered, no one is innocent. This novel is first person, so of course you root for Kehlem, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have some bad in him too.
This book is a crazy, gut-punching ride. Do themselves a favor and pick this book up. Like now. Order the sequel too, you’ll want it anyway. Absolutely worth your time, effort, or money to read.
September 25, 2022
Surprising and emotionally driven! Souls aspect will delight and amaze!
I am going to struggle to articulate just how much I loved this book. If you liked Mark Lawrence's Book of the Ancestor and Justin T Calls Master of Sorrows then you are in for a treat. The twists caught me off guard and the characters pull you and make you care.
I was invested and at times absolutely speechless with how the story unfolds. With an interesting magic/ religion hybrid with hints of a more profound world mystery, Mark Has written a book that has left me flabbergasted with its conclusion.
I thought I knew how this story was gonna go. I thought I’d been there done that. I was wrong. There is a clever use of found family and battle school tropes in here that while I found familiar is given a fresh coat of paint and does not disappoint.
The darker aspects of the books get dark but they blend well and do not feel out of place with the overall feel of the book.
All I can say is READ THIS BOOK!!!
I am going to struggle to articulate just how much I loved this book. If you liked Mark Lawrence's Book of the Ancestor and Justin T Calls Master of Sorrows then you are in for a treat. The twists caught me off guard and the characters pull you and make you care.
I was invested and at times absolutely speechless with how the story unfolds. With an interesting magic/ religion hybrid with hints of a more profound world mystery, Mark Has written a book that has left me flabbergasted with its conclusion.
I thought I knew how this story was gonna go. I thought I’d been there done that. I was wrong. There is a clever use of found family and battle school tropes in here that while I found familiar is given a fresh coat of paint and does not disappoint.
The darker aspects of the books get dark but they blend well and do not feel out of place with the overall feel of the book.
All I can say is READ THIS BOOK!!!
October 24, 2024
A light-hearted coming of age, academy novel which takes a DARK twist.
Kehlem is the son of Barrowheld's physician, working on his journeyman project and spending time with his best friend Evans before she leaves for a city apprenticeship. However, his father becomes cagey when they must play host to a Vin Irudur Aspector, a type of sorcerer who trains at the Academy, run by the enemy who won the war and occupies their country.
Secrets come out in an explosive display and Kehlem finds himself forced to enrol at Isale academy.
Emotions are messy, complicated things, no more so than when you're on the bridge between child and adulthood.
The last 20% got intense and dark very quickly. It turned from a coming of age to a grimdark, painful revelation. The complete change in tone and pace was startling in the most heart-racing way!
A main theme of this is finding people to be your home. Kehlem and his roommates are the only non-empire students and they are hated and picked on by everyone in the academy - from the students to the staff. Their close-knit group is accepting and reminiscent of the Hogwarts Golden trio.
When someone so close to you betrays you, it doesn't break the relationship. It's a creeping vine that reaches back into all of your happy memories and despoils them, perverts them until they're ashes in your mouth.
The writing is accessible and the magic system is explained well. Especially as there is a cost to pay for accessing the power, paying energy for power.
I was not a fan of the revelation of why Kehlem’s connection with the Aspect was superior to others. However, I think it sets up a larger scale for the next book.
Strong three stars, almoooost four!🌟
Bookstagram
Kehlem is the son of Barrowheld's physician, working on his journeyman project and spending time with his best friend Evans before she leaves for a city apprenticeship. However, his father becomes cagey when they must play host to a Vin Irudur Aspector, a type of sorcerer who trains at the Academy, run by the enemy who won the war and occupies their country.
Secrets come out in an explosive display and Kehlem finds himself forced to enrol at Isale academy.
Emotions are messy, complicated things, no more so than when you're on the bridge between child and adulthood.
The last 20% got intense and dark very quickly. It turned from a coming of age to a grimdark, painful revelation. The complete change in tone and pace was startling in the most heart-racing way!
A main theme of this is finding people to be your home. Kehlem and his roommates are the only non-empire students and they are hated and picked on by everyone in the academy - from the students to the staff. Their close-knit group is accepting and reminiscent of the Hogwarts Golden trio.
When someone so close to you betrays you, it doesn't break the relationship. It's a creeping vine that reaches back into all of your happy memories and despoils them, perverts them until they're ashes in your mouth.
The writing is accessible and the magic system is explained well. Especially as there is a cost to pay for accessing the power, paying energy for power.
I was not a fan of the revelation of why Kehlem’s connection with the Aspect was superior to others. However, I think it sets up a larger scale for the next book.
Strong three stars, almoooost four!🌟
Bookstagram
September 28, 2023
The tagline “A healer turned killer”, should have given me a sign of what to expect, holy smokes, was I not prepared for the twists and turns in this story. Equal parts heart-warming and heart-wrenching, The Soul’s Aspect is the gripping dark fantasy you didn't know you needed.
We follow the journey of Kehlem, a young boy training to follow his father into becoming a healer. When we first meet him, he is an innocent teenager living a simple and sheltered life. However, things escalate quickly when an Aspector comes to his town and secrets about his curious and crippling medical condition are revealed.
I was personally immediately drawn in by Kehlem’s story, which he is narrating to us himself. First person perspective can be hit or miss for me, but I think it worked beautifully here. Not only did it add a level of maturity to the story, but it also created a sense of nostalgia for a past and an innocence that is lost.
The first part of this book has a relatively slow pacing and feels more like a wholesome slice-of-life narrative, which allowed the author to really establish the characters and their relationships. And I think that was an excellent choice, because when things started to hit the fan, I was completely invested in these characters’ fates. Also, because we start out with such a cosy and wholesome vibe, it hits all the harder when the story takes a darker turn later on. And let me tell you, this story gets very dark very quickly by the end.
Now, while there are multiple familiar tropes in this story, I think they were all executed brilliantly and in an exciting way. The magical school setting at Isale Academy had me hooked and I loved seeing Kehlem’s world open up there. While we definitely start learning more about the magic, the focus remains mostly on the development of the characters and their relationships, which was perfect for me as a character-driven reader.
Holloway truly excels at writing realistic, believable and complex interpersonal relationships, be they friendships, rivalries or (queer) romances. These characters have some of the most touching and heartfelt interactions, and I just couldn’t help but fall in love with all of them.
I also really like that Kehlem has such an inquisitive nature, because it created a natural and smooth way of trickling in world building details. Plus, it added a strong sense of anticipatory dread, as his discoveries soon prove to do him more harm than good and inadvertently start leading him down a dark and harrowing path.
My only minor quibble with the world building and the magic system was that I felt like there were some passages that felt a bit exposition-heavy to me, but at the same time I had a hard time wrapping my head around the concepts of the Aspecting magic. That said, I feel like we have only barely scratched the surface here and I get the sense that we’re supposed to still be a bit in the dark, just as Kehlem is. There’s lots of potential for further exploration of the magic and the wider world in later instalments, so I am very excited for that.
Overall, I was just completely swept away by this story and I ended up having a blast. I really love how it felt familiar and comforting, but still managed to take me completely by surprise. The ending of this first instalment opened up some very intriguing paths for the continuation of this story, so I can't wait to continue on with the series asap!
If you are looking for an emotionally-driven story which will keep you on your toes the entire way through, then this is the book for you. Excellent character work, intriguing magic, strong and complex relationships, a magical school setting, captivating prose, lots of satisfying reveals and a whole lot of emotional turmoil, The Soul’s Aspect has got it all. Highly recommend!
We follow the journey of Kehlem, a young boy training to follow his father into becoming a healer. When we first meet him, he is an innocent teenager living a simple and sheltered life. However, things escalate quickly when an Aspector comes to his town and secrets about his curious and crippling medical condition are revealed.
I was personally immediately drawn in by Kehlem’s story, which he is narrating to us himself. First person perspective can be hit or miss for me, but I think it worked beautifully here. Not only did it add a level of maturity to the story, but it also created a sense of nostalgia for a past and an innocence that is lost.
The first part of this book has a relatively slow pacing and feels more like a wholesome slice-of-life narrative, which allowed the author to really establish the characters and their relationships. And I think that was an excellent choice, because when things started to hit the fan, I was completely invested in these characters’ fates. Also, because we start out with such a cosy and wholesome vibe, it hits all the harder when the story takes a darker turn later on. And let me tell you, this story gets very dark very quickly by the end.
Now, while there are multiple familiar tropes in this story, I think they were all executed brilliantly and in an exciting way. The magical school setting at Isale Academy had me hooked and I loved seeing Kehlem’s world open up there. While we definitely start learning more about the magic, the focus remains mostly on the development of the characters and their relationships, which was perfect for me as a character-driven reader.
Holloway truly excels at writing realistic, believable and complex interpersonal relationships, be they friendships, rivalries or (queer) romances. These characters have some of the most touching and heartfelt interactions, and I just couldn’t help but fall in love with all of them.
I also really like that Kehlem has such an inquisitive nature, because it created a natural and smooth way of trickling in world building details. Plus, it added a strong sense of anticipatory dread, as his discoveries soon prove to do him more harm than good and inadvertently start leading him down a dark and harrowing path.
My only minor quibble with the world building and the magic system was that I felt like there were some passages that felt a bit exposition-heavy to me, but at the same time I had a hard time wrapping my head around the concepts of the Aspecting magic. That said, I feel like we have only barely scratched the surface here and I get the sense that we’re supposed to still be a bit in the dark, just as Kehlem is. There’s lots of potential for further exploration of the magic and the wider world in later instalments, so I am very excited for that.
Overall, I was just completely swept away by this story and I ended up having a blast. I really love how it felt familiar and comforting, but still managed to take me completely by surprise. The ending of this first instalment opened up some very intriguing paths for the continuation of this story, so I can't wait to continue on with the series asap!
If you are looking for an emotionally-driven story which will keep you on your toes the entire way through, then this is the book for you. Excellent character work, intriguing magic, strong and complex relationships, a magical school setting, captivating prose, lots of satisfying reveals and a whole lot of emotional turmoil, The Soul’s Aspect has got it all. Highly recommend!
June 11, 2023
5 ⭐️
The Soul’s Aspect is an indie fantasy written by Mark Holloway. I had initially seen a lot of love and high praise from a couple of bookstagram accounts I follow, which prompted me to buy this last year. After putting it off long enough, I finally dived in and I was met with easily one of the best fantasy books I have read in recent times.
The Soul’s Aspect is honestly superb, there’s no two ways about it. It is a story that weaves together some of the very best fantasy elements. A mish mash of Harry Potter and Name of the Wind, with elements of Farseer and Eye of the World; as well as a magic system that wouldn’t feel out of out of place in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe - Holloway’s debut entry of his The Aspect series feels like a true love letter to some of the greats of fantasy, whilst having its own identity.
You are instantly drawn to the main protagonist Kehlem. As a character, you endear to him right off the bat and that connection only grows stronger over the course of the book, as he grows up, matures and comes to learn about this expansive world that was once all just stories to him. Situated predominantly in a magical academy setting, supported by a touching camaraderie between Kehlem and his new found friendships reminiscent of that seen in the Wheel of Time and NotW, and some truly odious antagonists - Soul’s is a book that drastically improves with each chapter.
Mark has created this brilliantly unique tone of story which starts off incredibly wholesome and pays homage to classic YA tropes that we loved when growing up, only to turn things on their head massively with a radical shift in tone and stakes that compliments the story and character development trajectory perfectly. Holloway’s ability to to gradually evolve the tone of story from warm and innocent into ominous trepidation and eventually a living nightmare; and how that reflects in Kehlem growing up and his character growth is nothing short of masterful.
I cannot begin to rave about and recommend this book enough, it is excellent. The Soul’s Aspect, and Mark, further exemplifying why people should not be sleeping on Indie published fantasy books. They truly are some of the best stories out there, up there with some of the very best traditionally published, sometimes even eclipsing them. The Soul’s Aspect is a shining beacon of that.
The Soul’s Aspect is an indie fantasy written by Mark Holloway. I had initially seen a lot of love and high praise from a couple of bookstagram accounts I follow, which prompted me to buy this last year. After putting it off long enough, I finally dived in and I was met with easily one of the best fantasy books I have read in recent times.
The Soul’s Aspect is honestly superb, there’s no two ways about it. It is a story that weaves together some of the very best fantasy elements. A mish mash of Harry Potter and Name of the Wind, with elements of Farseer and Eye of the World; as well as a magic system that wouldn’t feel out of out of place in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe - Holloway’s debut entry of his The Aspect series feels like a true love letter to some of the greats of fantasy, whilst having its own identity.
You are instantly drawn to the main protagonist Kehlem. As a character, you endear to him right off the bat and that connection only grows stronger over the course of the book, as he grows up, matures and comes to learn about this expansive world that was once all just stories to him. Situated predominantly in a magical academy setting, supported by a touching camaraderie between Kehlem and his new found friendships reminiscent of that seen in the Wheel of Time and NotW, and some truly odious antagonists - Soul’s is a book that drastically improves with each chapter.
Mark has created this brilliantly unique tone of story which starts off incredibly wholesome and pays homage to classic YA tropes that we loved when growing up, only to turn things on their head massively with a radical shift in tone and stakes that compliments the story and character development trajectory perfectly. Holloway’s ability to to gradually evolve the tone of story from warm and innocent into ominous trepidation and eventually a living nightmare; and how that reflects in Kehlem growing up and his character growth is nothing short of masterful.
I cannot begin to rave about and recommend this book enough, it is excellent. The Soul’s Aspect, and Mark, further exemplifying why people should not be sleeping on Indie published fantasy books. They truly are some of the best stories out there, up there with some of the very best traditionally published, sometimes even eclipsing them. The Soul’s Aspect is a shining beacon of that.
February 9, 2023
4/5 Stars
A compelling start to The Aspect Series that will pull at your heart. The story of a young boy who discovers there is more to his life and the countries history than he realizes.
Kehlem is a sickly boy who has devoted his life to learning the skills of a physician at his fathers side. Living in a small town where the losses of a past war are still felt by the older generations, Kehlem finally has a chance to move beyond his father’s shadow. Through a project of his own, he aims to gain an apprenticeship that will be the start of his own life. The Isale Academy calls, but not everything is as it seems.
The tagline “A Healer turned killer” is what caught my attention. I personally love physicians in fantasy settings. There are a variety of ways they can be portrayed alongside possible magic systems that create intriguing characters, and this was no exception.
As Kehlem is in his early teen years, this is a coming-of-age story that gives readers an insight into how the healer became a killer. Ultimately creating a captivating character arc within the first book of the series.
Speaking of characters, I found the side cast was built quickly but effectively. What does that mean? Well, the characters we meet and the relationships they build felt fast paced. However, it was done in a way that still gives the characters depth and meaningful relationships. This made it easy to connect with them, leaving me with both loveable and detestable characters.
The worldbuilding and magic system were interesting and are explored with the character’s own learning. Including aspects that were reminiscent of Dragon Mage by ML Spencer and yet vastly different in others. Such as the “magic school” trope. Though it felt like we only scratched the surface of the worldbuilding, it seems like there lots of opportunity for more exploration in the next books within the series.
We also see LGBTQ representation, young love, found family, grim dark elements, tension between countries and religious differences. There are also wholesome moments and others that will break your heart. Not to mention the twists and turns that pull you into this emotional story.
This is a coming-of-age story that will only get bloodier from here and I can’t wait to see what will happen next.
An accessible self-published fantasy and a great read for fans of Dragon Mage by ML Spencer.
A compelling start to The Aspect Series that will pull at your heart. The story of a young boy who discovers there is more to his life and the countries history than he realizes.
Kehlem is a sickly boy who has devoted his life to learning the skills of a physician at his fathers side. Living in a small town where the losses of a past war are still felt by the older generations, Kehlem finally has a chance to move beyond his father’s shadow. Through a project of his own, he aims to gain an apprenticeship that will be the start of his own life. The Isale Academy calls, but not everything is as it seems.
The tagline “A Healer turned killer” is what caught my attention. I personally love physicians in fantasy settings. There are a variety of ways they can be portrayed alongside possible magic systems that create intriguing characters, and this was no exception.
As Kehlem is in his early teen years, this is a coming-of-age story that gives readers an insight into how the healer became a killer. Ultimately creating a captivating character arc within the first book of the series.
Speaking of characters, I found the side cast was built quickly but effectively. What does that mean? Well, the characters we meet and the relationships they build felt fast paced. However, it was done in a way that still gives the characters depth and meaningful relationships. This made it easy to connect with them, leaving me with both loveable and detestable characters.
The worldbuilding and magic system were interesting and are explored with the character’s own learning. Including aspects that were reminiscent of Dragon Mage by ML Spencer and yet vastly different in others. Such as the “magic school” trope. Though it felt like we only scratched the surface of the worldbuilding, it seems like there lots of opportunity for more exploration in the next books within the series.
We also see LGBTQ representation, young love, found family, grim dark elements, tension between countries and religious differences. There are also wholesome moments and others that will break your heart. Not to mention the twists and turns that pull you into this emotional story.
This is a coming-of-age story that will only get bloodier from here and I can’t wait to see what will happen next.
An accessible self-published fantasy and a great read for fans of Dragon Mage by ML Spencer.
February 3, 2022
Ok wow. This was traumatizing. I like it I want more.
And following the salesman-trying-to-get-you-to-read-her-favorite-book tradition:
You’ve got a magic school, a healer training to be a killer, found family trope, and you’ll hate me and the author when you read it😃
Also thanks for the book, Mark! My threats will stop when the trilogy is completed!
(Honestly I shouldn’t be surprised that the book became dark all of a sudden because I’ve read the author’s short story Lasagna -and forced my friend to read it- and dark is an understatement)
And following the salesman-trying-to-get-you-to-read-her-favorite-book tradition:
You’ve got a magic school, a healer training to be a killer, found family trope, and you’ll hate me and the author when you read it😃
Also thanks for the book, Mark! My threats will stop when the trilogy is completed!
(Honestly I shouldn’t be surprised that the book became dark all of a sudden because I’ve read the author’s short story Lasagna -and forced my friend to read it- and dark is an understatement)
April 27, 2022
“The only person who can give you confidence is yourself. If you don’t back yourself, no one else will.”
*minor spoilers I try to keep everything as vague as possible*
I will never stop recommending this book to anyone who listens. If you are looking for a cosy coming of age story filled with purity and innocence that will also rip your heart out and damage you emotionally, then read this book.
As innocent as this book is if you are triggered easily I would recommend looking more into the trigger warnings. it does get very dark at points. TW: parent death, drugging, attempted murder, murder (which is dark to say the least) and torutre.
The story starts in a small town where we are introduced to Kehlem our main protagonist and a small cast of supporting characters, the story reads from his POV in first person. The first person POV was an excellent choice here, we really get an insight into Kehlem’s mind and experience his teenage innocence. We also get a great look into the relationships he’s building with people though-out the story and this get’s the reader invested in a good portion of the of the characters.
The characters are brilliant, very loveable and well fleshed out. You can’t help but like them and they are so very relatable that I really was hoping for the best for most of them. There are some people who I don’t care for and now was I meant to, they are not good people.
The way the plot played out was different to most of what I have read before, for around the first 70% ish this is such a heartwarming book, and to be honest there were points I did think this isn’t really matching up to the synopsis. Something must be coming right? Then chaos. The last 30% of this book is a rollercoaster and I urge anyone who may have be slightly confused like I was in the first part to keep reading, the hard work done there really pays off here, and my heart was destroyed to the point where I actually messaged the author and just asked “why”?
We have a magic system in this world and I thought it was very interesting how it worked, it’s actually up there as one of my faves. I don’t want to go into too much detail because the way the magic develops and how we discover more about it is very well done and I don’t want to ruin that for anyone.
The way we are given information though-out the book on not just the magic system but the world building, the history is perfectly done. No big info dumps, we learn as Kehlem learn’s and we have all these threads that keep tying together though-out the book until at the end it all make sense. The journey of learning feel very natural and information isn’t just thrown in for the sake of it, everything is relevant.
At just over 300 pages this is a great read for any fantasy fan, I’d even recommend this to people looking to get into fantasy. I was lucky enough to have book 2 sent to me as an ARC which was brilliant because I wanted to drive straight back into this world and see what happened to this characters because I love them so much.
*minor spoilers I try to keep everything as vague as possible*
I will never stop recommending this book to anyone who listens. If you are looking for a cosy coming of age story filled with purity and innocence that will also rip your heart out and damage you emotionally, then read this book.
As innocent as this book is if you are triggered easily I would recommend looking more into the trigger warnings. it does get very dark at points. TW: parent death, drugging, attempted murder, murder (which is dark to say the least) and torutre.
The story starts in a small town where we are introduced to Kehlem our main protagonist and a small cast of supporting characters, the story reads from his POV in first person. The first person POV was an excellent choice here, we really get an insight into Kehlem’s mind and experience his teenage innocence. We also get a great look into the relationships he’s building with people though-out the story and this get’s the reader invested in a good portion of the of the characters.
The characters are brilliant, very loveable and well fleshed out. You can’t help but like them and they are so very relatable that I really was hoping for the best for most of them. There are some people who I don’t care for and now was I meant to, they are not good people.
The way the plot played out was different to most of what I have read before, for around the first 70% ish this is such a heartwarming book, and to be honest there were points I did think this isn’t really matching up to the synopsis. Something must be coming right? Then chaos. The last 30% of this book is a rollercoaster and I urge anyone who may have be slightly confused like I was in the first part to keep reading, the hard work done there really pays off here, and my heart was destroyed to the point where I actually messaged the author and just asked “why”?
We have a magic system in this world and I thought it was very interesting how it worked, it’s actually up there as one of my faves. I don’t want to go into too much detail because the way the magic develops and how we discover more about it is very well done and I don’t want to ruin that for anyone.
The way we are given information though-out the book on not just the magic system but the world building, the history is perfectly done. No big info dumps, we learn as Kehlem learn’s and we have all these threads that keep tying together though-out the book until at the end it all make sense. The journey of learning feel very natural and information isn’t just thrown in for the sake of it, everything is relevant.
At just over 300 pages this is a great read for any fantasy fan, I’d even recommend this to people looking to get into fantasy. I was lucky enough to have book 2 sent to me as an ARC which was brilliant because I wanted to drive straight back into this world and see what happened to this characters because I love them so much.
August 12, 2023
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
This debut novel by Mark Holloway basically swept me off of my feet from the very first chapter. A coming of age story based around the magic of the world known as The Aspect. A book that does have the traditional POV who has hidden powers and goes to a school to learn his talents to realize who he is destined to become. The problem is that the pathed before him has so many dark turns and surprises that this series will be anything but a repeat of the books you have read before. Grim and dark tidings are ahead of you in this one when a local town healer will turns into a killer. That phrase is on the front cover so you shouldn’t consider that a spoiler, but now on to the the main event.
Kehlem is the son of the town physician Tema and assists him with healing the local citizens and providing medical care. Kehlem also suffers seizures from the time he was a child but takes medicine to reduce the symptoms. On his quest to become a journeyman, Kehlem decides to do some experiments on medicine with his friend Eva. Kehlem and Eva have been friends for as long as they can remember and there is definitely something more to discover if Kehlem can get the courage to tell Eva how he feels. When an Aspect Alchemist from the Vin Empire named Themia comes to town Kehlem and his experiment immediately catch her eye and she decides to help. Themia however has her own agenda as she finds that Kehlem is a untrained magic user of the Aspect and will whisk him off to the Empire to be trained. Once there Kehlem will learn the truth behind the Aspect, politics in the Empire, and what sacrifices have been made in more than one faction in this strange new world he lives in.
The Soul’s Aspect is a first person POV novel told strictly through Kehlems eyes. I love this type of storytelling six days a week and twice on Sunday. Kehlems studies at the academy were fun to read especially his interactions with the students and the teachers who despise him simply because of where he was born. This will become more important the further you get in the book. I don’t want to get to much into the magic system but basically think of the Aspect as the Force in Star Wars. It is all around you and the energy can be used to create and destroy things. However, if you take something from the Aspect it will take that same energy back in return. There are also several different types of fields students can learn such as healing, fabrications, and destruction. While Kehlem thought he would be a shoe in for healing he shows incredible abilities for destruction and that is the field he must learn. I will leave the review here but let me tell you that the last 20% of this book shook me to my core.
I came into this book with blinders on and no idea what on Earth I was in for. I literally read the last 150 pages in one sitting waking up on a beautiful Saturday morning as the story sunk its claws in me and would not relent. The final book in this trilogy was just recently released and count me in as someone who will be jumping onto the next book in very short order. It was been a long time since I read a novel this quickly which is the highest honor I can give a debut novel. Get your copy today.
Cheers!
This debut novel by Mark Holloway basically swept me off of my feet from the very first chapter. A coming of age story based around the magic of the world known as The Aspect. A book that does have the traditional POV who has hidden powers and goes to a school to learn his talents to realize who he is destined to become. The problem is that the pathed before him has so many dark turns and surprises that this series will be anything but a repeat of the books you have read before. Grim and dark tidings are ahead of you in this one when a local town healer will turns into a killer. That phrase is on the front cover so you shouldn’t consider that a spoiler, but now on to the the main event.
Kehlem is the son of the town physician Tema and assists him with healing the local citizens and providing medical care. Kehlem also suffers seizures from the time he was a child but takes medicine to reduce the symptoms. On his quest to become a journeyman, Kehlem decides to do some experiments on medicine with his friend Eva. Kehlem and Eva have been friends for as long as they can remember and there is definitely something more to discover if Kehlem can get the courage to tell Eva how he feels. When an Aspect Alchemist from the Vin Empire named Themia comes to town Kehlem and his experiment immediately catch her eye and she decides to help. Themia however has her own agenda as she finds that Kehlem is a untrained magic user of the Aspect and will whisk him off to the Empire to be trained. Once there Kehlem will learn the truth behind the Aspect, politics in the Empire, and what sacrifices have been made in more than one faction in this strange new world he lives in.
The Soul’s Aspect is a first person POV novel told strictly through Kehlems eyes. I love this type of storytelling six days a week and twice on Sunday. Kehlems studies at the academy were fun to read especially his interactions with the students and the teachers who despise him simply because of where he was born. This will become more important the further you get in the book. I don’t want to get to much into the magic system but basically think of the Aspect as the Force in Star Wars. It is all around you and the energy can be used to create and destroy things. However, if you take something from the Aspect it will take that same energy back in return. There are also several different types of fields students can learn such as healing, fabrications, and destruction. While Kehlem thought he would be a shoe in for healing he shows incredible abilities for destruction and that is the field he must learn. I will leave the review here but let me tell you that the last 20% of this book shook me to my core.
I came into this book with blinders on and no idea what on Earth I was in for. I literally read the last 150 pages in one sitting waking up on a beautiful Saturday morning as the story sunk its claws in me and would not relent. The final book in this trilogy was just recently released and count me in as someone who will be jumping onto the next book in very short order. It was been a long time since I read a novel this quickly which is the highest honor I can give a debut novel. Get your copy today.
Cheers!
November 27, 2024
This was an old school coming of age fantasy series. Feels like the first one I’ve read in ages and, happily, it was a good one! It was traditional epic fantasy but also surprisingly dark in tone and content while still getting that balance right between the hope and despair to stop the story tipping into the sort of ultra-nihilistic grimdark nonsense that plagues so much of the genre today.
The story and world had a familiar feel to hardened readers of the genre but both were crafted well enough to engage me and eventually fully suck me in as the tale seemed to get better and better as it progressed.
This was a single POV fantasy story. We followed a young small town healer, Kehlem, as his life took a bunch of interesting and unexpected turns. It was a tale of three parts. The first was our introduction to Kehlem and gave us a glimpse into his life living with his father and learning the family trade of healing. We also learned that Kehlem had an illness of his own he was living with. Things took a turn when an Aspector (a mage) turned up in his village and took an interest in him much to his father’s horror. This phase of the story was a tad slow but did give us a great glimpse into Kehlem’s life and personality.
The second part of the story saw the setting shift from Kehlem’s small town in Casserea to a mage school in Vin. It was there we learned all about Aspecting and about some truths about the nature of Kehlem’s kingdom. As a Casserian Kehlem was not particularly welcome in the prestigious mage school thanks to the fact that Vin had conquered Cassera a generation previously. There was racism and the like to be dealt with. It quite enjoyed this phase of the story. There was plenty of fun stuff happening and we got to meet a few fun support characters who became like found family to Kehlem. The standouts were Broch, Thain, and Kit. There was plenty of typical mage school hijinks but always hints that some darker stuff was going on under the surface that Kehlem and most of his friends were a little too naive to fully grasp.
The third phase of the story was full of dark twists and turns as the true nature of both the magic academy and Kehlem himself got revealed in an intense sequence of absolutely shocking revelations and happenings. It made for addictive reading!
The world building was solid in this book. As the story progresses we learned of the uneasy rule of the Vin over the conquered Casserans. The magic was also pretty cool.
I loved the mix of hope and despair in this book. It was a dark fantasy world where bad things definitely happened but it was not all bleakness and nihilism as Kehlem and his friends were likeable enough characters that were easy to root for even if they could be a little naive at times.
All in all I felt this old school coming of age fantasy tale recovered from a sluggish start to become an engaging and exciting read. It was a pretty short tale and I’ll definitely be pressing straight onto the sequel as this is the first old school traditional fantasy book I’ve read in what feels years that has actually fully engaged me!
Rating: 4.5 stars. I’ll round down to reflect the sluggish start but it was definitely pushing towards 5 star level in the later stages when. Things got crazy!
Audio Note: This was narrated by Joel Jackson. He did OK with the audio but sounded a little lispy for my liking.
The story and world had a familiar feel to hardened readers of the genre but both were crafted well enough to engage me and eventually fully suck me in as the tale seemed to get better and better as it progressed.
This was a single POV fantasy story. We followed a young small town healer, Kehlem, as his life took a bunch of interesting and unexpected turns. It was a tale of three parts. The first was our introduction to Kehlem and gave us a glimpse into his life living with his father and learning the family trade of healing. We also learned that Kehlem had an illness of his own he was living with. Things took a turn when an Aspector (a mage) turned up in his village and took an interest in him much to his father’s horror. This phase of the story was a tad slow but did give us a great glimpse into Kehlem’s life and personality.
The second part of the story saw the setting shift from Kehlem’s small town in Casserea to a mage school in Vin. It was there we learned all about Aspecting and about some truths about the nature of Kehlem’s kingdom. As a Casserian Kehlem was not particularly welcome in the prestigious mage school thanks to the fact that Vin had conquered Cassera a generation previously. There was racism and the like to be dealt with. It quite enjoyed this phase of the story. There was plenty of fun stuff happening and we got to meet a few fun support characters who became like found family to Kehlem. The standouts were Broch, Thain, and Kit. There was plenty of typical mage school hijinks but always hints that some darker stuff was going on under the surface that Kehlem and most of his friends were a little too naive to fully grasp.
The third phase of the story was full of dark twists and turns as the true nature of both the magic academy and Kehlem himself got revealed in an intense sequence of absolutely shocking revelations and happenings. It made for addictive reading!
The world building was solid in this book. As the story progresses we learned of the uneasy rule of the Vin over the conquered Casserans. The magic was also pretty cool.
I loved the mix of hope and despair in this book. It was a dark fantasy world where bad things definitely happened but it was not all bleakness and nihilism as Kehlem and his friends were likeable enough characters that were easy to root for even if they could be a little naive at times.
All in all I felt this old school coming of age fantasy tale recovered from a sluggish start to become an engaging and exciting read. It was a pretty short tale and I’ll definitely be pressing straight onto the sequel as this is the first old school traditional fantasy book I’ve read in what feels years that has actually fully engaged me!
Rating: 4.5 stars. I’ll round down to reflect the sluggish start but it was definitely pushing towards 5 star level in the later stages when. Things got crazy!
Audio Note: This was narrated by Joel Jackson. He did OK with the audio but sounded a little lispy for my liking.
February 13, 2023
“Once more I’d been thrust into a divot, that stretches out before me, the walls of each side too tall to surmount. The only way is forward to follow the design that has been carved out for me. The choice taken straight from my hands. I didn’t want this.”
The Soul’s Aspect is a brilliant coming-of age fantasy story and a great start to a series. It is a book that took me by surprise, with shocking twists as the story progresses, and it will undoubtedly be on my list of favourite reads of the year. I read this book in a day.
The tagline of “a healer turned killer” can be somewhat misleading, as the book takes a darker turn particularly in the last quarter, with the last 15-20% being such a crazy rollercoaster that had me on the edge of my seat. Up until this point, our protagonist does go through some difficult things, but there is an abundance of heart-warming moments too.
Any description of the plot would be an oversimplification of the intricate story that Mark Holloway has weaved, but I will attempt to give a brief spoiler-free overview. The Soul’s Aspect follows Kehlem, who is an apprentice healer under his father. His dreams are to one day maybe move out of his small town, set up his own practice as a healer and be with his childhood friend who he is now developing feelings for. However, this all changes when an Aspector, a wielder of magic, comes to town. Soon enough, Kehlem finds himself at Isale Academy where he makes friends and enemies and learns more about the Aspect.
I enjoyed Kehlem as a protagonist and his interaction with those around him. His relationship with his childhood friend and love interest, Eva, was very sweet and felt very natural. While it took me some time to care about Kehlem’s friends at school, Thain and Broch, I grew to love the friendship they shared and really enjoyed how wholesome and caring Thain was. There was a particular moment when Thain came to comfort Kehlem that really warmed my heart.
However, as mentioned above, the story does get darker. When it does, it gets pretty damn dark. There were scenes that made me uncomfortable with how graphic they were, things I did not see coming, and by the end of the book, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I dove straight into the extra chapter that Mark Holloway has available, which was so beautifully done and had me tearing up. Warning, this book really will make you suffer.
This book is an amazing indie read and book three comes out this year, so it is definitely one to check out. The only reason I docked 0.5 stars is that at times I was having difficulty grasping the intricacies of the magic and it took me a while to care for the secondary characters. Other than this, there were some minor things that I think editing could have improved.
Rating – 4.5 stars
The Soul’s Aspect is a brilliant coming-of age fantasy story and a great start to a series. It is a book that took me by surprise, with shocking twists as the story progresses, and it will undoubtedly be on my list of favourite reads of the year. I read this book in a day.
The tagline of “a healer turned killer” can be somewhat misleading, as the book takes a darker turn particularly in the last quarter, with the last 15-20% being such a crazy rollercoaster that had me on the edge of my seat. Up until this point, our protagonist does go through some difficult things, but there is an abundance of heart-warming moments too.
Any description of the plot would be an oversimplification of the intricate story that Mark Holloway has weaved, but I will attempt to give a brief spoiler-free overview. The Soul’s Aspect follows Kehlem, who is an apprentice healer under his father. His dreams are to one day maybe move out of his small town, set up his own practice as a healer and be with his childhood friend who he is now developing feelings for. However, this all changes when an Aspector, a wielder of magic, comes to town. Soon enough, Kehlem finds himself at Isale Academy where he makes friends and enemies and learns more about the Aspect.
“If this is the path I must take, if all choice has been taken from me, then I won’t do it for them. I’ll do it for my friends.”
I enjoyed Kehlem as a protagonist and his interaction with those around him. His relationship with his childhood friend and love interest, Eva, was very sweet and felt very natural. While it took me some time to care about Kehlem’s friends at school, Thain and Broch, I grew to love the friendship they shared and really enjoyed how wholesome and caring Thain was. There was a particular moment when Thain came to comfort Kehlem that really warmed my heart.
However, as mentioned above, the story does get darker. When it does, it gets pretty damn dark. There were scenes that made me uncomfortable with how graphic they were, things I did not see coming, and by the end of the book, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I dove straight into the extra chapter that Mark Holloway has available, which was so beautifully done and had me tearing up. Warning, this book really will make you suffer.
This book is an amazing indie read and book three comes out this year, so it is definitely one to check out. The only reason I docked 0.5 stars is that at times I was having difficulty grasping the intricacies of the magic and it took me a while to care for the secondary characters. Other than this, there were some minor things that I think editing could have improved.
Rating – 4.5 stars
January 7, 2023
I loved The Soul's Aspect and I have the feeling that I'll become obsessed with this series! It's a very unique take on the dark fantasy, even though it starts with a well-known fantasy tropes but then the author creates something totally different in an engaging way.
It's little bit difficult to talk about the story without spoilers, so I just mention that it's set in magical academy where they teach their students what the Aspect is and how to use their magical power.
The story is written in such an enchanting style. The world with the academy setting had a very whimsical and magical atmosphere that got me hooked almost immediately. It's told from Kehlem's perspective and I liked how we're learning about everything together with him. This way the worldbuilding is explained by showing us than only telling us. Apart from a solid worldbuilding, other strong aspect of the book are relationships between characters. Friendships were realistically written and it made me root for them so much. I also got attached to them very quickly too and I loved reading about their experiences together.
Even though the story felt very magical and even hopeful at times, it's still categorized as a dark fantasy for a good reason. The first half of the book we're getting introduced to the world and characters, and the second half is when the dark, cruel twists and shocking events happen. I'm very eager to see how Kehlem's story continues and what other revelations of secrets are going to be.
It's little bit difficult to talk about the story without spoilers, so I just mention that it's set in magical academy where they teach their students what the Aspect is and how to use their magical power.
The story is written in such an enchanting style. The world with the academy setting had a very whimsical and magical atmosphere that got me hooked almost immediately. It's told from Kehlem's perspective and I liked how we're learning about everything together with him. This way the worldbuilding is explained by showing us than only telling us. Apart from a solid worldbuilding, other strong aspect of the book are relationships between characters. Friendships were realistically written and it made me root for them so much. I also got attached to them very quickly too and I loved reading about their experiences together.
Even though the story felt very magical and even hopeful at times, it's still categorized as a dark fantasy for a good reason. The first half of the book we're getting introduced to the world and characters, and the second half is when the dark, cruel twists and shocking events happen. I'm very eager to see how Kehlem's story continues and what other revelations of secrets are going to be.
August 25, 2022
This one was on my radar for a while, and despite that I still went in fairly blind. I had a few buddies on here that raved about this book, and I am glad to say that after reading this book I will be joining that club. This book is awesome!
We follow Kehlem: a teenager training to be a healer (like his dear ol’ dad) and suffering from quite a crippling medical condition. His life turns out to be more than what it seems when an Aspector comes to their village.
I loved the characters in this one, and Kehlem instantly drew me in as a great protagonist. This book is a somewhat coming-of-age story, but a more adult version of one. Even though Kelhem is a teenager I didn’t get the intense teenage vibe from the story. There is a bit of romance, a whole lot of self discovery, a magical school; the tropes are all there, but none of it is tired or overdone. Rather it is a balance of a great writing style, memorable characters and a fun setting, all with this air of inspiration from other works that comes in every now and then to add a layer of heart-warming fondness.
The magic system of ‘the aspect’ was one I really loved and as we learn about it alongside Kehlem it just gets more and more interesting.
I did have the feeling that the beginning of the story was a bit too cosy and comfortable. People were a bit too nice and I was waiting to really dive under the surface to see what was going on a bit deeper. The later act of the book certainly delivers on this front with quite a drastic shift in tone. It’s well done and I loved how the author brought everything together.
The pacing of this story is spot on. The characters all stole my heart, and the direction the story seems to be going in for book two is one I am super excited for. In retrospect, this story could be read as a prequel to the real tale that is still to come. And I am so here for it!
We follow Kehlem: a teenager training to be a healer (like his dear ol’ dad) and suffering from quite a crippling medical condition. His life turns out to be more than what it seems when an Aspector comes to their village.
I loved the characters in this one, and Kehlem instantly drew me in as a great protagonist. This book is a somewhat coming-of-age story, but a more adult version of one. Even though Kelhem is a teenager I didn’t get the intense teenage vibe from the story. There is a bit of romance, a whole lot of self discovery, a magical school; the tropes are all there, but none of it is tired or overdone. Rather it is a balance of a great writing style, memorable characters and a fun setting, all with this air of inspiration from other works that comes in every now and then to add a layer of heart-warming fondness.
The magic system of ‘the aspect’ was one I really loved and as we learn about it alongside Kehlem it just gets more and more interesting.
I did have the feeling that the beginning of the story was a bit too cosy and comfortable. People were a bit too nice and I was waiting to really dive under the surface to see what was going on a bit deeper. The later act of the book certainly delivers on this front with quite a drastic shift in tone. It’s well done and I loved how the author brought everything together.
The pacing of this story is spot on. The characters all stole my heart, and the direction the story seems to be going in for book two is one I am super excited for. In retrospect, this story could be read as a prequel to the real tale that is still to come. And I am so here for it!
May 20, 2022
This enchanting tale got me hooked from the start with a gripping, fast paced intro and from there I was 'tethered' to the book and couldn't put it down. I was genuinely interested in the characters and could vividly place myself in all of the scenes. The world building is immense, the magic system is well thought out and it was such a joy to read. I desperately need to know what happens next. For some context, I finished this book in 3 days whereas the book I read before took me 4 months to finish! I want this to be the next big series and honestly believe that this author will go from strength to strength 👌🤟🧙🏻♂️🦔🌵
March 14, 2022
At just over 300 pages, this book is relatively short compared to other epic fantasies currently on the market, and perhaps that is what initially drew me in *takes a long look at my incredibly intimidating TBR pile and sighs apprehensively* . Knowing very little about this, I decided a shorter story could be a nice break between the tomes on my shelves.
The story follows Kehlem, a boy with a crippling disability, who has lived a relatively sheltered life under the watchful eye of his caring father. However, everything changes when we discover Kehlem is an Aspector: one who is able to access energies from the Aspect. Following this discovery, Kehlem is packed up and sent to the Academy to learn the craft.
The plot is heavy with tropes, but rather than feeling tired or copycat, I could feel the inspiration from other popular novels and I found it incredibly comforting and nostalgic.
Without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite thing about this story was the Academy setting. Perhaps magic schools have been done to death, and I admit I do get tired of them at times, but the areas of this school were done so well I’ve packed my bags to go! We are treated to cosy common rooms, waterfalls surrounding the school, a giant lake, a mysterious forest to get lost in, libraries that go on forever with small reading nooks and taverns to play card games over tankards of ale in. If you are thinking it sounds rather familiar, then perhaps you’ll also feel the nostalgic similarities to those-books-who-must-not-be-named. The world-building isn’t enormous in this story, with most of it residing at the Academy, but it was done so well, I will be sad to leave when it comes to it!
I also really enjoyed the simple but effective magic system. The Aspect is a spiritual world that overlaps with energy that can be found in everything and everyone. An Aspector is able to reach into this realm to harness the energy and, by drawing patterns, can convert it. You may notice some similarities here with the concept of Dust from His Dark Materials, and it also followed some similar themes of religion from the childhood favourites.
I loved the references to religion throughout this story, (even if it did lead to pretty intense and deep discussions between me and my partner at midnight when we needed to go to sleep!) It was really interesting exploring how science and spirituality can overlap to create a new religion and was especially thought-provoking to my inner agnostic.
For a relatively short story I enjoyed the characters Holloway created, particularly the friendships created at the Academy. I think Thain with his wholesome, innocence and openness was perhaps my favourite, but I also adored his relationship with Broch, who was another fun character to add into the found-family dynamic.
I would say that this is a story in 3-parts: the first being the opening, with Kehlem and his family in his village. This wasn’t my favourite as I found the character dynamics to be too friendly which I felt was borderline cheesy, but reflected the sheltered life of Kehlem, and gave a nice contrast as his character grew. This leads on to part-2 at the Academy, which whilst is still cosy, definitely grew with the character arc, before finally leading on to part-3 where the tone shifts drastically sending the reader on an unexpected emotional rollercoaster.
I absolutely loved this book and it has been my favourite read this year so far. If you are looking for something completely original, then I’m not sure this book is for you. However if you are looking for a comforting read* reminiscent of childhood favourites, then I think you might enjoy this.
I’m really excited for the release of book #2 later this year, particularly as I think there are a lot of directions where the story could go. I would love to see the segregation between Vins and Cassereans explored more, and I also can’t wait to read more about Kehlem’s love interest and what she has been busy with whilst they were separated.
*Whilst this is a comforting read for the most part, there are some particularly graphic scenes to be aware of prior to going in.
The story follows Kehlem, a boy with a crippling disability, who has lived a relatively sheltered life under the watchful eye of his caring father. However, everything changes when we discover Kehlem is an Aspector: one who is able to access energies from the Aspect. Following this discovery, Kehlem is packed up and sent to the Academy to learn the craft.
The plot is heavy with tropes, but rather than feeling tired or copycat, I could feel the inspiration from other popular novels and I found it incredibly comforting and nostalgic.
Without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite thing about this story was the Academy setting. Perhaps magic schools have been done to death, and I admit I do get tired of them at times, but the areas of this school were done so well I’ve packed my bags to go! We are treated to cosy common rooms, waterfalls surrounding the school, a giant lake, a mysterious forest to get lost in, libraries that go on forever with small reading nooks and taverns to play card games over tankards of ale in. If you are thinking it sounds rather familiar, then perhaps you’ll also feel the nostalgic similarities to those-books-who-must-not-be-named. The world-building isn’t enormous in this story, with most of it residing at the Academy, but it was done so well, I will be sad to leave when it comes to it!
I also really enjoyed the simple but effective magic system. The Aspect is a spiritual world that overlaps with energy that can be found in everything and everyone. An Aspector is able to reach into this realm to harness the energy and, by drawing patterns, can convert it. You may notice some similarities here with the concept of Dust from His Dark Materials, and it also followed some similar themes of religion from the childhood favourites.
I loved the references to religion throughout this story, (even if it did lead to pretty intense and deep discussions between me and my partner at midnight when we needed to go to sleep!) It was really interesting exploring how science and spirituality can overlap to create a new religion and was especially thought-provoking to my inner agnostic.
For a relatively short story I enjoyed the characters Holloway created, particularly the friendships created at the Academy. I think Thain with his wholesome, innocence and openness was perhaps my favourite, but I also adored his relationship with Broch, who was another fun character to add into the found-family dynamic.
I would say that this is a story in 3-parts: the first being the opening, with Kehlem and his family in his village. This wasn’t my favourite as I found the character dynamics to be too friendly which I felt was borderline cheesy, but reflected the sheltered life of Kehlem, and gave a nice contrast as his character grew. This leads on to part-2 at the Academy, which whilst is still cosy, definitely grew with the character arc, before finally leading on to part-3 where the tone shifts drastically sending the reader on an unexpected emotional rollercoaster.
I absolutely loved this book and it has been my favourite read this year so far. If you are looking for something completely original, then I’m not sure this book is for you. However if you are looking for a comforting read* reminiscent of childhood favourites, then I think you might enjoy this.
I’m really excited for the release of book #2 later this year, particularly as I think there are a lot of directions where the story could go. I would love to see the segregation between Vins and Cassereans explored more, and I also can’t wait to read more about Kehlem’s love interest and what she has been busy with whilst they were separated.
*Whilst this is a comforting read for the most part, there are some particularly graphic scenes to be aware of prior to going in.
February 6, 2025
Damn this was good. A coming of age fantasy story set in an academy, had me so interested at the start I just kept going and didn’t want to stop reading.
To me, this book felt incredibly fast paced and definitely dives right into the important stuff leaving out some details which makes you question some things. I honestly expected I could guess where this book would go but… yeah… I did not. The end is an absolute wild ride making you instantly want to pick up the next one.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking to pick up an easy fantasy read!
Time to start book 2
To me, this book felt incredibly fast paced and definitely dives right into the important stuff leaving out some details which makes you question some things. I honestly expected I could guess where this book would go but… yeah… I did not. The end is an absolute wild ride making you instantly want to pick up the next one.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking to pick up an easy fantasy read!
Time to start book 2
October 24, 2023
This story is an new take on the magical school trope which was a breath of fresh air for me. It had all of the stereotypes we get in a magical school setting like a MC who is the chosen one , his best friends and the school bully, etc. but the author succeeded in weaving the plot in an unique way that really took me by surprise. I will admit that the first 25% of the book was slow for me but after that the story picked up pace and the last quarter of the book was a rollercoaster ride of excitement, suspense and dread. I really enjoyed reading about the magic system. It is truly fascinating and I hope we will learn more about Aspecting in the next installment.
I loved the accessible writing style so much. To be completely honest I didn't like Kehlam at first but he slowly grew on me as he journeyed from a naïve, hopeful and too trusting teen to a matured emotionally broken man who had to realize that the world is out to get you and even friends can turn into enemies in the blink of an eye. Being someone who has had her naivete dashed by the greed and jealousy of so called friends I completely related to him and it made me so emotional during the ending scene.
Will definitely continue with this series. One of the best self published fantasy books I've ever read.
I loved the accessible writing style so much. To be completely honest I didn't like Kehlam at first but he slowly grew on me as he journeyed from a naïve, hopeful and too trusting teen to a matured emotionally broken man who had to realize that the world is out to get you and even friends can turn into enemies in the blink of an eye. Being someone who has had her naivete dashed by the greed and jealousy of so called friends I completely related to him and it made me so emotional during the ending scene.
Will definitely continue with this series. One of the best self published fantasy books I've ever read.
August 18, 2021
note: i was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this book, so my review is based off of that draft and not the published version. but honestly? if nothing changed from what i read, it would be an absolutely incredible book.
rating: 4.5/5 stars (but goodreads still doesn't allow half stars)
first off: one of the best books i've read in a long time. holloway is never afraid to put kehlem and the rest of the characters through the absolute wringer, and those are the authors i really admire -- the ones who have the nerve to make their characters face the consequences of their actions. also, the queer rep? chef's kiss, because it's not actually about how they're queer! it's just about some people in love! how revolutionary is that. the plot is absolutely banana bonkers in the best possible way, and the pacing remind me of a sanderson book: a slow simmer until everything just explodes in the last 25%. also, saying a fantasy reminds me of a sanderson book is probably the best praise i can offer. what stopped it from being a full 5 stars: the big reveal felt a little deus ex machina, and i sometimes wanted the world-building to be a bit more specific, but those critiques in no way prevented this book from taking me on a whole adventure. highly recommended, and i'm personally badgering mark into writing the sequel.
rating: 4.5/5 stars (but goodreads still doesn't allow half stars)
first off: one of the best books i've read in a long time. holloway is never afraid to put kehlem and the rest of the characters through the absolute wringer, and those are the authors i really admire -- the ones who have the nerve to make their characters face the consequences of their actions. also, the queer rep? chef's kiss, because it's not actually about how they're queer! it's just about some people in love! how revolutionary is that. the plot is absolutely banana bonkers in the best possible way, and the pacing remind me of a sanderson book: a slow simmer until everything just explodes in the last 25%. also, saying a fantasy reminds me of a sanderson book is probably the best praise i can offer. what stopped it from being a full 5 stars: the big reveal felt a little deus ex machina, and i sometimes wanted the world-building to be a bit more specific, but those critiques in no way prevented this book from taking me on a whole adventure. highly recommended, and i'm personally badgering mark into writing the sequel.
January 1, 2023
An epic coming of age fantasy!
I couldn’t put it down, loved the characters, the twists and turns! Just loved it!
Parts read like a cozy fantasy but the next thing you know your heart is being ripped out!
A must read for anyone into fantasy!
I couldn’t put it down, loved the characters, the twists and turns! Just loved it!
Parts read like a cozy fantasy but the next thing you know your heart is being ripped out!
A must read for anyone into fantasy!
May 10, 2022
“Martyr bless that cat.”
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5
On its face, this book could have had a lot of the tropes we are all too familiar with: an unassuming young man discovers a great secret about himself and attends an academy for magic. However, so much of this was unexpected, and I had no idea where this was going for much of the story. I was so surprised by the twists and turns by the end and it became unputdownable.
Kehlem, our main character, and his close friends, are truly very likable, and the world-building was great as well. I loved the magic system and can’t wait to learn more about it in book two, along with some of the political issues between the nations. Although our protagonist is a teenager this did not have YA vibes, if that is a concern for you (as it is for me).
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5
On its face, this book could have had a lot of the tropes we are all too familiar with: an unassuming young man discovers a great secret about himself and attends an academy for magic. However, so much of this was unexpected, and I had no idea where this was going for much of the story. I was so surprised by the twists and turns by the end and it became unputdownable.
Kehlem, our main character, and his close friends, are truly very likable, and the world-building was great as well. I loved the magic system and can’t wait to learn more about it in book two, along with some of the political issues between the nations. Although our protagonist is a teenager this did not have YA vibes, if that is a concern for you (as it is for me).
October 17, 2022
Prior to this, I had never read a "magic academy" book, partly from my own experience that they're often done poorly.
But hell was I proven wrong here.
The Soul's Aspect is a book of friendship, betrayal, hope and discovery. The Aspect is conceptually fascinating, and the developing themes and implications of it are fantastically done. Holloway does not shy away from the dark and sinister elements too, especially in the finale that left me exhaling in shock more than I was expecting. Overall, I loved Kehlem as our protagonist for his sheer humanity and belief, and I was thoroughly impressed with this book as a whole.
Onto the sequel!
But hell was I proven wrong here.
The Soul's Aspect is a book of friendship, betrayal, hope and discovery. The Aspect is conceptually fascinating, and the developing themes and implications of it are fantastically done. Holloway does not shy away from the dark and sinister elements too, especially in the finale that left me exhaling in shock more than I was expecting. Overall, I loved Kehlem as our protagonist for his sheer humanity and belief, and I was thoroughly impressed with this book as a whole.
Onto the sequel!
June 1, 2022
A newly arrived Alchemist brings about change to a physicians apprentice. The Academy & the mysteries of the Aspect will forever alter his life ahead. Brings both fantastic vivid friendships & a harrowing journey. Great read!
June 27, 2024
A very good start to a series. Really enjoyed this one.
August 10, 2022
At face value, this book is your typical coming of age chosen one fantasy story that happens to have a magic school. These are tropes I am personally sick of, minus magic schools, but I found the execution to be great.
It's hard to talk about the plot without really getting into spoilers, but I loved the premise if this book. From the world and the characters within, to the magic system, and the twists the book offers near the end, I found there was a lot to like.
The magic system was quite fun. For me personally, it did feel quite unique. It is energy based, with an "other world" aspect, but the actual way of using the magic I found very interesting. The process of aspecting I found to be intriguing, and once again, the author does a great job fleshing out this magic system without simply telling us about it.
One thing I think Holloway did well in this book is that he was able to keep everything concise while still creating a great story. I find that new releases seem to be trending in the wordy direction, with many debuts in the 500+ page mark. With other debut reads, I felt a more stringent editing process would have been beneficial to help trim down the story a bit. That is not the case with this one, and despite a slower start, every part of the book did feel well rounded.
I also really enjoyed the writing style. Clear, concise, and yet still full of depth and detail. This book is one that I would recommend to someone new to the genre, as the writing is very accessible, while not being basic. The prose is this happy medium between clear matter of fact writing and the overly descriptive time of writing that some authors employ.
Many aspects (hah) reminded of Name of the Wind, and what I loved most was Holloway's ability to builld some really realistic friendships in this book. Reading through the middle of the book was a blast, as the friend group that our MC was able to form just felt so real. There was banter, stress, emotion, and unfortunately, betrayal and it made this friend group feel all too real.
If I am being picky, I would give this book a 4.5, since it did take me a long time to get invested in the story. For the majority of the book, I simply didn't care for Kehlem, and as a result, I just wasn't all that engrossed in this book until the end. I found the ending of this book to be very, very strong, and while I was enjoying the story up until the end, Kehlem was frustrating to read for me. Be it his relationships with his father or his romantic interest, or his friendships later on, I just found him so passive. I just wanted Kehlem to show initiative so many times, and he just never did (until the end). My indifference towards our main character just made it difficult for me to truly immerse myself into this story at first.
Overall, this is a great debut novel, and I am looking forward to seeing where the story takes us in future installments.
It's hard to talk about the plot without really getting into spoilers, but I loved the premise if this book. From the world and the characters within, to the magic system, and the twists the book offers near the end, I found there was a lot to like.
The magic system was quite fun. For me personally, it did feel quite unique. It is energy based, with an "other world" aspect, but the actual way of using the magic I found very interesting. The process of aspecting I found to be intriguing, and once again, the author does a great job fleshing out this magic system without simply telling us about it.
One thing I think Holloway did well in this book is that he was able to keep everything concise while still creating a great story. I find that new releases seem to be trending in the wordy direction, with many debuts in the 500+ page mark. With other debut reads, I felt a more stringent editing process would have been beneficial to help trim down the story a bit. That is not the case with this one, and despite a slower start, every part of the book did feel well rounded.
I also really enjoyed the writing style. Clear, concise, and yet still full of depth and detail. This book is one that I would recommend to someone new to the genre, as the writing is very accessible, while not being basic. The prose is this happy medium between clear matter of fact writing and the overly descriptive time of writing that some authors employ.
Many aspects (hah) reminded of Name of the Wind, and what I loved most was Holloway's ability to builld some really realistic friendships in this book. Reading through the middle of the book was a blast, as the friend group that our MC was able to form just felt so real. There was banter, stress, emotion, and unfortunately, betrayal and it made this friend group feel all too real.
If I am being picky, I would give this book a 4.5, since it did take me a long time to get invested in the story. For the majority of the book, I simply didn't care for Kehlem, and as a result, I just wasn't all that engrossed in this book until the end. I found the ending of this book to be very, very strong, and while I was enjoying the story up until the end, Kehlem was frustrating to read for me. Be it his relationships with his father or his romantic interest, or his friendships later on, I just found him so passive. I just wanted Kehlem to show initiative so many times, and he just never did (until the end). My indifference towards our main character just made it difficult for me to truly immerse myself into this story at first.
Overall, this is a great debut novel, and I am looking forward to seeing where the story takes us in future installments.
February 28, 2023
Review edited on 28th February 2023
The Soul's Aspect is Mark Holloway's debut indie novel and the first book in the Aspect series.
Reading The Soul's Aspect was a unique experience and it was a challenge to distil my thoughts and emotions about this book. The Soul's Aspect is an intriguing, complex, thought-provoking medium-paced coming-of-age fantasy. It is simultaneously subtle and filled to the brim with a richness of emotion. With his distinctive writing style, Mark steadily and subtly crafts an interesting story with fantastic characters in which he weaves themes of identity, friendship, consequences of one's actions and (although I'm hesitant to apply this 19th-century concept to a fantasy book) even (radical) nationalism.
As I've already mentioned, all of the above is masterfully written and subtly woven into the story. The reader is aware, but not overwhelmed until the author (and the plot) decide that the time has come for those themes to step to the forefront. This whole process feels organic, a natural progression of plot and character development and as a result, has a tremendous and emotionally devastating (in a good way) impact on the reader.
The Soul's Aspect was a 5 ⭐ read for me and I cannot praise this book and the author enough. It was an immensely enjoyable and extremely well-written read and at times a fascinating emotional roller-coaster. I wholeheartedly recommend it and encourage you to check out the rest of the Aspect series. I hear that the 2nd book is another exquisitely written emotional devastation and I am here for it!
The Soul's Aspect is Mark Holloway's debut indie novel and the first book in the Aspect series.
Reading The Soul's Aspect was a unique experience and it was a challenge to distil my thoughts and emotions about this book. The Soul's Aspect is an intriguing, complex, thought-provoking medium-paced coming-of-age fantasy. It is simultaneously subtle and filled to the brim with a richness of emotion. With his distinctive writing style, Mark steadily and subtly crafts an interesting story with fantastic characters in which he weaves themes of identity, friendship, consequences of one's actions and (although I'm hesitant to apply this 19th-century concept to a fantasy book) even (radical) nationalism.
As I've already mentioned, all of the above is masterfully written and subtly woven into the story. The reader is aware, but not overwhelmed until the author (and the plot) decide that the time has come for those themes to step to the forefront. This whole process feels organic, a natural progression of plot and character development and as a result, has a tremendous and emotionally devastating (in a good way) impact on the reader.
The Soul's Aspect was a 5 ⭐ read for me and I cannot praise this book and the author enough. It was an immensely enjoyable and extremely well-written read and at times a fascinating emotional roller-coaster. I wholeheartedly recommend it and encourage you to check out the rest of the Aspect series. I hear that the 2nd book is another exquisitely written emotional devastation and I am here for it!
February 28, 2022
The Souls Aspect - Mark Holloway
16 year old Kehlem lives a simple life, apprenticing for his father in the art of healing. Wanting to learn more about his craft he starts asking questions, of healing and more importantly of the Aspect.
His father tries to deter him away from the topic of the Aspecters; those who can read, feel and manipulate the in between world of energy known as the Aspect. In doing so, his father only makes him more curious. An aspecter comes to town and offers to help with a project he is working on, in doing so uncovers the truth.
Kehlem is whisked away to the empires academy for magic users, looked down upon for his age and his race, will he survive the teachings and make it to the other side?
This was a decent coming of age story touching on love, friendships and realizing our parents are just like us. Human (well for the most part). I really liked the friendship dynamic in this first installment, it felt authentic and had me smiling along when the band of brothers worked something out or were mucking around. I also think the author did a good job of keeping the reader on their toes at the end gripping me to want to read book two (sooner rather than later).
I’ll admit I spent a lot of this book thinking that the main protagonist was too “nice” and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to become a cold blooded killer. On more than one occasion “come on Kehlem, have a backbone”, but I had to remind myself this was a young, relatively sheltered lad who was raised to be a lover, not a fighter. We see him grow through the academy and become the man I hope to see in the next installment.
16 year old Kehlem lives a simple life, apprenticing for his father in the art of healing. Wanting to learn more about his craft he starts asking questions, of healing and more importantly of the Aspect.
His father tries to deter him away from the topic of the Aspecters; those who can read, feel and manipulate the in between world of energy known as the Aspect. In doing so, his father only makes him more curious. An aspecter comes to town and offers to help with a project he is working on, in doing so uncovers the truth.
Kehlem is whisked away to the empires academy for magic users, looked down upon for his age and his race, will he survive the teachings and make it to the other side?
This was a decent coming of age story touching on love, friendships and realizing our parents are just like us. Human (well for the most part). I really liked the friendship dynamic in this first installment, it felt authentic and had me smiling along when the band of brothers worked something out or were mucking around. I also think the author did a good job of keeping the reader on their toes at the end gripping me to want to read book two (sooner rather than later).
I’ll admit I spent a lot of this book thinking that the main protagonist was too “nice” and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to become a cold blooded killer. On more than one occasion “come on Kehlem, have a backbone”, but I had to remind myself this was a young, relatively sheltered lad who was raised to be a lover, not a fighter. We see him grow through the academy and become the man I hope to see in the next installment.
November 10, 2022
The Souls Aspect
📚 Book Review 📚
Entering this book I had no exceptions, I hadn’t read any reviews or seen anything about it. I had skimmed the blurb and found myself intrigued. This is the perfect way to read this book, knowing nothing and letting yourself get swooped up on the rollercoaster.
Based within a post war city your introduced straight away to a unique take on the farm boy troupe. This sets the theme for the book, modern twists on the classic troupes we all love, found family, academia, and a slight sprinkle of chosen one just for good measure. A unique magic system is the glue that hold everything together and elevates the enjoyment of the book ten fold.
With characters that jump out of the page and grab your heart strings you get invested from the first page. Following Kelhem on his journey and seeing his growth through the book is a strength of Mark Holloway’s writing. Each and every character gripped your attention and made you feel as if you were part of the gang.
Red herrings galore the climax had me clawing at the walls for the release of book 2. After being slogged down by some dense fantasy recently having a quick read fast paced fantasy was very welcomed.
5 ⭐️’s all round for this solid debut novel!
📚 Book Review 📚
Entering this book I had no exceptions, I hadn’t read any reviews or seen anything about it. I had skimmed the blurb and found myself intrigued. This is the perfect way to read this book, knowing nothing and letting yourself get swooped up on the rollercoaster.
Based within a post war city your introduced straight away to a unique take on the farm boy troupe. This sets the theme for the book, modern twists on the classic troupes we all love, found family, academia, and a slight sprinkle of chosen one just for good measure. A unique magic system is the glue that hold everything together and elevates the enjoyment of the book ten fold.
With characters that jump out of the page and grab your heart strings you get invested from the first page. Following Kelhem on his journey and seeing his growth through the book is a strength of Mark Holloway’s writing. Each and every character gripped your attention and made you feel as if you were part of the gang.
Red herrings galore the climax had me clawing at the walls for the release of book 2. After being slogged down by some dense fantasy recently having a quick read fast paced fantasy was very welcomed.
5 ⭐️’s all round for this solid debut novel!
October 15, 2024
The Soul's Aspect follows Kehlem—a physician's son from a small village—and the path he has to take after the sequence of events that follows the arrival of one of the empire's Aspectors leaves him questioning everything he thought he knew about magic, the empire, and even his own family...
If you enjoy books featuring magic schools/training, found family and luscious descriptions of forests, libraries and mountainside landscapes. Not to mention a super interesting magic system then definitely check this one out!
The real highlight of the book though for me was the friendship between the main boys.
The platonic love Kehlem has and isn't afraid to show for his friends was everything! It was so lovely to see young boys get to hug & tell each other I love you and have that be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
And can we talk about the ending please??
I remember getting around three quarters of the way in and thinking hmm I wonder when its going to make good on its promise of 'healer turned killer' like the tagline says on the cover? Am I even going to get that at all?
Spoke too soon didn't I because then we did 😳
....and whoo boy I loved every minute of it!
I cannot wait to continue on the series with The Soul's Instruments!
If you enjoy books featuring magic schools/training, found family and luscious descriptions of forests, libraries and mountainside landscapes. Not to mention a super interesting magic system then definitely check this one out!
The real highlight of the book though for me was the friendship between the main boys.
The platonic love Kehlem has and isn't afraid to show for his friends was everything! It was so lovely to see young boys get to hug & tell each other I love you and have that be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
And can we talk about the ending please??
I remember getting around three quarters of the way in and thinking hmm I wonder when its going to make good on its promise of 'healer turned killer' like the tagline says on the cover? Am I even going to get that at all?
Spoke too soon didn't I because then we did 😳
....and whoo boy I loved every minute of it!
I cannot wait to continue on the series with The Soul's Instruments!
March 29, 2022
I don't like to give much away about the story because I prefer to go in mostly blind. So I'll just give some key points.
🕯The relationships built in this story are everything!! They feel realistic and well paced. No miscommunication trope here.
🕯Magical academy setting. Need I say more? 😏
🕯Unique and well thought out hard magic system. I was always interested in finding out more on the different ways it could be used.
🕯Heavy at times. This story doesn't feel light hearted exactly but closer to that than grim dark. However, when something big happens the author doesn't stray away from hitting hard.
All of this is to say I loved this book and will be anxiously awaiting book 2!!! So do yourself a favor and add this indie book to your TBR ☺️
🕯The relationships built in this story are everything!! They feel realistic and well paced. No miscommunication trope here.
🕯Magical academy setting. Need I say more? 😏
🕯Unique and well thought out hard magic system. I was always interested in finding out more on the different ways it could be used.
🕯Heavy at times. This story doesn't feel light hearted exactly but closer to that than grim dark. However, when something big happens the author doesn't stray away from hitting hard.
All of this is to say I loved this book and will be anxiously awaiting book 2!!! So do yourself a favor and add this indie book to your TBR ☺️
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