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The Valmenessian Chronicles #1
Liars and Light
What if everything you thought you believed was a lie? Would you blame the person who told you those lies, or would the fault be all your own? After all, you were the one who chose to believe…
Nora is an Elementum but unlike the majority of her race, she can wield fire, water, and air magic with equal power. Having been sold to the king as a child, she is now bound to him by the shackle tattoos encircling her wrists, marking her as an Alta—a secret soldier. Commanded to find an Anima who disappeared with barely a trace, Nora works to solve the mystery, and finds herself in a city rife with rebellion. Desperate to serve her king, she delves into the lives of the faction, eager to uncover any information that would lead her to find the Anima.
Lys Alv. Healer. Sister. Daughter. Friend. Everything Evelyn has worked for is finally falling into place, but an uneasiness sits in her stomach. Two strangers come hurtling into her path and Evelyn begins to question what she truly wants from life. After an offer to join a rebellion against the king arises, she will have to choose whether to continue following the path laid out before her or start her own adventure.
In a magical world where unethical laws are shrouded in speeches of justice and safety, the king moves to gain more control of the people he promised to protect. A divide is forming, lines are being drawn, and two women find themselves at a crossroads.
With lingering grief and a rising threat, Evelyn must decide where her fate lies.
And Nora, first she needs the power to choose.
Liars and Light is an adult fantasy novel. It contains cursing, sexual references, violence, physical assault, and other adult themes. Visit the author's website for a list of content warnings.
Nora is an Elementum but unlike the majority of her race, she can wield fire, water, and air magic with equal power. Having been sold to the king as a child, she is now bound to him by the shackle tattoos encircling her wrists, marking her as an Alta—a secret soldier. Commanded to find an Anima who disappeared with barely a trace, Nora works to solve the mystery, and finds herself in a city rife with rebellion. Desperate to serve her king, she delves into the lives of the faction, eager to uncover any information that would lead her to find the Anima.
Lys Alv. Healer. Sister. Daughter. Friend. Everything Evelyn has worked for is finally falling into place, but an uneasiness sits in her stomach. Two strangers come hurtling into her path and Evelyn begins to question what she truly wants from life. After an offer to join a rebellion against the king arises, she will have to choose whether to continue following the path laid out before her or start her own adventure.
In a magical world where unethical laws are shrouded in speeches of justice and safety, the king moves to gain more control of the people he promised to protect. A divide is forming, lines are being drawn, and two women find themselves at a crossroads.
With lingering grief and a rising threat, Evelyn must decide where her fate lies.
And Nora, first she needs the power to choose.
Liars and Light is an adult fantasy novel. It contains cursing, sexual references, violence, physical assault, and other adult themes. Visit the author's website for a list of content warnings.
Paperback
First published June 2, 2022
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About the author
Rebecca Camm
10 books71 followersRebecca Camm is a Melbourne writer who loves reading and all things magical.
She strongly believes in the power stories have in changing lives. Just like her, Rebecca’s characters are flawed, yet they are continually learning. Unlike her, they are confident, witty, and just generally more exciting.
When her children allow her free time, she is either writing or attempting to conquer her ever growing tbr pile.
She strongly believes in the power stories have in changing lives. Just like her, Rebecca’s characters are flawed, yet they are continually learning. Unlike her, they are confident, witty, and just generally more exciting.
When her children allow her free time, she is either writing or attempting to conquer her ever growing tbr pile.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 3, 2023
RTC maybe later!... I'm not really in the right mind set to write one so I'll just say a few highlights. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 (𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.) 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥. Plus it has great character that makes this book worth the read.
March 10, 2022
I was very, very lucky to have received an e-ARC of 'Liars and Light' and it has left a lasting impression on me...
We follow two characters in particular: Nora and Evelyn. One works for the King, magically tethered to his commands by the tattoo shackles around her wrists, which signify her as an Alta (magic users who cannot stray from the King's demands). The other, a Lys Alv who can heal someone by taking on their injuries and then healing herself. Both are strong heroines and I admire them for their convictions and the strength it takes to follow the paths set before them.
This fantasy began with Nora and her partner, August, setting out to find a missing Alta. But what follows is anything but an ordinary quest. And when there are factions rumbling in the quiet corners of the realm, ready to begin a desperate fight against the King? Can anyone be truly safe? And what happens when both Nora and Evelyn's worlds are shattered? Can they recover from what follows?
I had moments where I needed to step back for a few minutes and absorb all the feelings this story provoked. This debut fantasy is a staggeringly good one, with brave, sarcastic, beautifully written characters whom I couldn't bear to let go when the final page was finished. Thankfully this is only the first book in the 'Valmenessian Chronicles', so it's not the ultimate goodbye just yet.
If you love fantasy, determined (and sometimes foolhardy) heroines, a story containing cloak and dagger suspense that only gets higher and higher, put this book on your TBR list. 'Liars and Light' will be released 2 June 2022 and I *highly* recommend you preorder this beauty.
We follow two characters in particular: Nora and Evelyn. One works for the King, magically tethered to his commands by the tattoo shackles around her wrists, which signify her as an Alta (magic users who cannot stray from the King's demands). The other, a Lys Alv who can heal someone by taking on their injuries and then healing herself. Both are strong heroines and I admire them for their convictions and the strength it takes to follow the paths set before them.
This fantasy began with Nora and her partner, August, setting out to find a missing Alta. But what follows is anything but an ordinary quest. And when there are factions rumbling in the quiet corners of the realm, ready to begin a desperate fight against the King? Can anyone be truly safe? And what happens when both Nora and Evelyn's worlds are shattered? Can they recover from what follows?
I had moments where I needed to step back for a few minutes and absorb all the feelings this story provoked. This debut fantasy is a staggeringly good one, with brave, sarcastic, beautifully written characters whom I couldn't bear to let go when the final page was finished. Thankfully this is only the first book in the 'Valmenessian Chronicles', so it's not the ultimate goodbye just yet.
If you love fantasy, determined (and sometimes foolhardy) heroines, a story containing cloak and dagger suspense that only gets higher and higher, put this book on your TBR list. 'Liars and Light' will be released 2 June 2022 and I *highly* recommend you preorder this beauty.
May 7, 2022
O livro de estreia de Rebecca Camm e que bela estreia.
Entramos num mundo de fantasia muito bem construído. As personagens são nos introduzidas pouco a pouco e vamos acabando por criar empatia e afeição por elas.
Gostei imenso da dupla August e Nora, estou muito curiosa com o que o futuro lhes reserva.
Adorei a Nora. Uma personagem forte, segura de si e que diz tudo o que pensa. Aquele plot twist final foi incrível e não estava de todo à espera.
Senti que no meio, a ação perdeu um pouco o ritmo com a introdução de novas personagens. Tudo isto culminou num final incrível. Preciso imenso de ler o segundo.
!! Foi-me cedida uma cópia avançada deste livro em troca de uma opinião honesta.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdQ_XOAsb...
Entramos num mundo de fantasia muito bem construído. As personagens são nos introduzidas pouco a pouco e vamos acabando por criar empatia e afeição por elas.
Gostei imenso da dupla August e Nora, estou muito curiosa com o que o futuro lhes reserva.
Adorei a Nora. Uma personagem forte, segura de si e que diz tudo o que pensa. Aquele plot twist final foi incrível e não estava de todo à espera.
Senti que no meio, a ação perdeu um pouco o ritmo com a introdução de novas personagens. Tudo isto culminou num final incrível. Preciso imenso de ler o segundo.
!! Foi-me cedida uma cópia avançada deste livro em troca de uma opinião honesta.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdQ_XOAsb...
March 18, 2022
Welcome to Valmenessia! Where Nora is our sassy heroine, quick to violence and a loyal Alta. Nora’s partner in crime and fellow Alta, August is starting to question his purpose. August lives underneath his cloak, drawing stares and frightening those in his path. Sweet, sweet Evelyn is our healer. She quickly becomes entwined with the friends and reveals a whole new side to the kingdom. Follow the three on their quest for answers while facing hardships, tough choices and personal growth.
I really enjoyed reading Rebecca’s debut novel! She writes so beautifully without losing the thread of the plot. You can envision every characters appearance and personality quirks, the settings are unique and carefully thought out. This novel takes you on a wonderful journey across Valmenessia, with mystery and suspense around every corner. Every time I thought I knew what was about to happen, I was completely wrong! Like most fantasy, the action is in the second half of the book and will have you questioning everything you thought you knew. If you are a fan of high fantasy with a side of suspense, this is the book for you!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange of my honest review.
I really enjoyed reading Rebecca’s debut novel! She writes so beautifully without losing the thread of the plot. You can envision every characters appearance and personality quirks, the settings are unique and carefully thought out. This novel takes you on a wonderful journey across Valmenessia, with mystery and suspense around every corner. Every time I thought I knew what was about to happen, I was completely wrong! Like most fantasy, the action is in the second half of the book and will have you questioning everything you thought you knew. If you are a fan of high fantasy with a side of suspense, this is the book for you!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange of my honest review.
February 19, 2022
I’m so excited about reading this! Can’t wait for it to be released
March 13, 2022
A solid FOUR stars for a brand new series!
Liars and Light follows the story of Nora and Evelyn, one who is in Alta working for the king and the other who is a Lys Alv skilled in healing. Both heroines have strong convictions and embrace the destinies set out before them.
The book begins when Nora and her partner, August, set out to find a missing Alta, Felix. August and Nora have known each other since childhood and are some of the only Altas who have been under the king’s thumb from a young age. As the king begins to target different races, unrest begins to spread and people begin to rise up to defeat the king.
I look forward to the next book in the series and what awaits Nora and Evelyn next on their journeys.
I received an ARC of this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Liars and Light follows the story of Nora and Evelyn, one who is in Alta working for the king and the other who is a Lys Alv skilled in healing. Both heroines have strong convictions and embrace the destinies set out before them.
The book begins when Nora and her partner, August, set out to find a missing Alta, Felix. August and Nora have known each other since childhood and are some of the only Altas who have been under the king’s thumb from a young age. As the king begins to target different races, unrest begins to spread and people begin to rise up to defeat the king.
I look forward to the next book in the series and what awaits Nora and Evelyn next on their journeys.
I received an ARC of this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2024
DNF @55%
I found this book for free on a stuff your kindle event and was hopeful stepping into this one. But unfortunately I’ve left this unfinished for a really long time and have officially decided to not finish. I really don’t like Nora as a character (even though I love the other main characters) and when reading in her pov it kept putting me off. By midway through, it felt like it was dragging along, I was getting confused on where the storyline was going, and just wasn’t interested anymore. I do feel like there was a lot of potential for a unique storyline but ultimately fell flat.
I found this book for free on a stuff your kindle event and was hopeful stepping into this one. But unfortunately I’ve left this unfinished for a really long time and have officially decided to not finish. I really don’t like Nora as a character (even though I love the other main characters) and when reading in her pov it kept putting me off. By midway through, it felt like it was dragging along, I was getting confused on where the storyline was going, and just wasn’t interested anymore. I do feel like there was a lot of potential for a unique storyline but ultimately fell flat.
March 9, 2022
this was a great fantasy novel, it worked greatly in the genre and was a well done read. The characters were interesting and I look forward to more from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2025
I got this book during the one of the Stuff Your Kindle Days, and this cover and blurb sounded interested. I tried my hardest to get into this book, but something just wasn’t clicking with me.
This book is based on Nora. She is an Elementum but unlike most of her race, she can wield fire, water, and air magic with equal power. Having been sold to the king as a child, she is now bound to him by the shackle tattoos encircling her wrists, marking her as an Alta – a secret soldier. Commanded to find an Anima who disappeared with barely a trace, Nora works to solve the mystery and finds herself in a city rife with rebellion. Desperate to serve her king, she delves into the lives of the faction, eager to uncover any information that would lead her to find the Anima. In the town, she meets Evelyn. Evelyn is a Lys Alv, healer, sister, daughter and friend. Everything Evelyn has worked for is finally falling into place, but an uneasiness sits in her stomach. Two strangers come hurtling into her path and Evelyn begins to question what she truly wants from life. After an offer to join a rebellion against the king arises, she will have to choose whether to continue following the path laid out before her or start her own adventure. In a magical world where unethical laws are shrouded in speeches of justice and safety, the king moves to gain more control of the people he promised to protect. A divide is forming, lines are being drawn, and two women find themselves at a crossroads. With lingering grief and a rising threat, Evelyn must decide where her fates lie. And Nora, first she needs the power to choose.
I liked the characters and felt like they all had their own voices and their own reason for doing what they did and how they did it. I liked Nova and August’s relationship and how they are like brother and sister and wind each other but would die for each other. I liked the aspect of a forbidden love between August and Evelyn, and I am so rooting for them. I liked the dual POV, but I would have killed to have the POV to include August especially when the rebellion started, and we knew he was working on the inside and what his plans were with Nova.
Towards the end of the book, I felt like it went a little haywire, I was sort of losing the plot considering the original plot of fighting Felix seems shot to hell and it was all to do with Evelyn and her journey with grief and the secrets that had been revealed. I felt like as the book went on, the pace got slower and slower when I wanted it to speed up. I felt like the building of the world and the magically powers were a bit hit and miss, sometimes it was described beautifully and slowly and other times it was an info dump to move on to the bigger issue. I feel like King Dominic isn’t a scary or villainous enough for a bad guy, I want to know more. Why is he doing this? Surely, he has spies keeping an eye out of Nora and August?
For a debut, it was enjoyable, it just went haywire a bit and hopefully the problems will be fixed by the next book.
This book is based on Nora. She is an Elementum but unlike most of her race, she can wield fire, water, and air magic with equal power. Having been sold to the king as a child, she is now bound to him by the shackle tattoos encircling her wrists, marking her as an Alta – a secret soldier. Commanded to find an Anima who disappeared with barely a trace, Nora works to solve the mystery and finds herself in a city rife with rebellion. Desperate to serve her king, she delves into the lives of the faction, eager to uncover any information that would lead her to find the Anima. In the town, she meets Evelyn. Evelyn is a Lys Alv, healer, sister, daughter and friend. Everything Evelyn has worked for is finally falling into place, but an uneasiness sits in her stomach. Two strangers come hurtling into her path and Evelyn begins to question what she truly wants from life. After an offer to join a rebellion against the king arises, she will have to choose whether to continue following the path laid out before her or start her own adventure. In a magical world where unethical laws are shrouded in speeches of justice and safety, the king moves to gain more control of the people he promised to protect. A divide is forming, lines are being drawn, and two women find themselves at a crossroads. With lingering grief and a rising threat, Evelyn must decide where her fates lie. And Nora, first she needs the power to choose.
I liked the characters and felt like they all had their own voices and their own reason for doing what they did and how they did it. I liked Nova and August’s relationship and how they are like brother and sister and wind each other but would die for each other. I liked the aspect of a forbidden love between August and Evelyn, and I am so rooting for them. I liked the dual POV, but I would have killed to have the POV to include August especially when the rebellion started, and we knew he was working on the inside and what his plans were with Nova.
Towards the end of the book, I felt like it went a little haywire, I was sort of losing the plot considering the original plot of fighting Felix seems shot to hell and it was all to do with Evelyn and her journey with grief and the secrets that had been revealed. I felt like as the book went on, the pace got slower and slower when I wanted it to speed up. I felt like the building of the world and the magically powers were a bit hit and miss, sometimes it was described beautifully and slowly and other times it was an info dump to move on to the bigger issue. I feel like King Dominic isn’t a scary or villainous enough for a bad guy, I want to know more. Why is he doing this? Surely, he has spies keeping an eye out of Nora and August?
For a debut, it was enjoyable, it just went haywire a bit and hopefully the problems will be fixed by the next book.
April 11, 2022
I have received an ARC copy from the author for an honest review.
If I want to be completely honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. There were elements that I liked and even the core plot of the story was interesting, but my biggest problem was that the plot points were very loosely connected and worked through.
The characters are great, they all have their differing voices and motives and views of the world and they do have the potential to be top-notch MCs but something in their development gets lost and they fall a bit flat in the end.
Liars and Light follows the traditional, adventure fantasy pacing, which is on the slower side and everything comes together as the character experiences them, but at the same time, it had a hint of mystery sprinkled in there. Again, my main complaint is that the threads are there and they make sense, but they’re very loose. And to be fair, I spent the whole book wondering who the fuck Felix is. Why is he important at all, why do they need to chase a ghost through the whole country? I had some theories as the story progressed but even after the epilogue, I’m still not sure if it makes sense. Same is true for the last 6 or so chapters, they felt a little rushed with everything coming together only there.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed this book, especially the Romeo and Juliet aspect of August and Evelyn’s story, that was a nice touch. I think I will pick up the next book too, because I’m curious to see if Nora will work through her issues and come together with Sage, also what August is up to now after that epilogue.
If I want to be completely honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. There were elements that I liked and even the core plot of the story was interesting, but my biggest problem was that the plot points were very loosely connected and worked through.
The characters are great, they all have their differing voices and motives and views of the world and they do have the potential to be top-notch MCs but something in their development gets lost and they fall a bit flat in the end.
Liars and Light follows the traditional, adventure fantasy pacing, which is on the slower side and everything comes together as the character experiences them, but at the same time, it had a hint of mystery sprinkled in there. Again, my main complaint is that the threads are there and they make sense, but they’re very loose. And to be fair, I spent the whole book wondering who the fuck Felix is. Why is he important at all, why do they need to chase a ghost through the whole country? I had some theories as the story progressed but even after the epilogue, I’m still not sure if it makes sense. Same is true for the last 6 or so chapters, they felt a little rushed with everything coming together only there.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed this book, especially the Romeo and Juliet aspect of August and Evelyn’s story, that was a nice touch. I think I will pick up the next book too, because I’m curious to see if Nora will work through her issues and come together with Sage, also what August is up to now after that epilogue.
March 26, 2022
Liars and Light
(The Valmenessian Chronicles #1)
Rebecca Camm
New Adult, Fantasy Adventure
⭐️⭐️
I don't particularly like giving low ratings and it's a shame that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would but I just could not persevere any more and had to DNF at 52%.
I personally thought there was a lot of filler, for example, the way a horse was saddled and there was almost too much description which is odd considering that I felt like not a lot was actually happening.
At 52% there wasn't much progression with the plot line other than a fight or two and the discovery of a symbol being the most important elements and combined with the slow pace, for me, it just wasn't enough to keep reading.
I'm disappointed that I couldn't stay engaged and interested enough to finish reading because the premise sounded great.
I'm sure other readers would find this interesting but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
*Thank you to @BookSirens for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
(The Valmenessian Chronicles #1)
Rebecca Camm
New Adult, Fantasy Adventure
⭐️⭐️
I don't particularly like giving low ratings and it's a shame that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would but I just could not persevere any more and had to DNF at 52%.
I personally thought there was a lot of filler, for example, the way a horse was saddled and there was almost too much description which is odd considering that I felt like not a lot was actually happening.
At 52% there wasn't much progression with the plot line other than a fight or two and the discovery of a symbol being the most important elements and combined with the slow pace, for me, it just wasn't enough to keep reading.
I'm disappointed that I couldn't stay engaged and interested enough to finish reading because the premise sounded great.
I'm sure other readers would find this interesting but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
*Thank you to @BookSirens for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
June 2, 2022
I've received an ARC via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Liars and Light is the first book in an all-new, new adult high-fantasy series called The Valmenessian Chronicles. This book had me hooked from page one and I just couldn't get enough of it.
The worldbuilding is so amazingly written and kinda scattered throughout the whole book that I had no trouble imagining everything pretty vividly. The worldbuilding was not the only thing that impressed me in this book. The plot of this book follows not one but two main characters, whose stories soon become intertwined with one another. Both Nora and Evelyn are strong heroines. While Nora works for the king, Evelyn is a healer.
I loved seeing the kingdom from different perspectives and the writer's words had a nice flow to them. There were twists and turns throughout the whole book that just keep you wanting more.
I can't wait to see what's in store for these characters next.
Liars and Light is the first book in an all-new, new adult high-fantasy series called The Valmenessian Chronicles. This book had me hooked from page one and I just couldn't get enough of it.
The worldbuilding is so amazingly written and kinda scattered throughout the whole book that I had no trouble imagining everything pretty vividly. The worldbuilding was not the only thing that impressed me in this book. The plot of this book follows not one but two main characters, whose stories soon become intertwined with one another. Both Nora and Evelyn are strong heroines. While Nora works for the king, Evelyn is a healer.
I loved seeing the kingdom from different perspectives and the writer's words had a nice flow to them. There were twists and turns throughout the whole book that just keep you wanting more.
I can't wait to see what's in store for these characters next.
May 22, 2022
Liars and Light is filled with a cast of compelling characters, beautifully flowing writing style, and just the right amount of world building scattered throughout.
Camm has a fantastic way with words. Easily draws the reader into the story and presents the world building in a way that allowed me to truly visualise these places she has created.
The best element that I found in Liars and Light is the very differing female MC’s. Both are total opposites, and it was so interesting to read such contrasting characters at once. It really kept me enthralled the whole time because I knew with each different character I was getting a completely different mindset and it allowed me to differentiate between the two. This meant nothing blurred together and made the overall plot easier to follow.
A great fantasy read – I can’t wait to see what else Camm has to bring.
Camm has a fantastic way with words. Easily draws the reader into the story and presents the world building in a way that allowed me to truly visualise these places she has created.
The best element that I found in Liars and Light is the very differing female MC’s. Both are total opposites, and it was so interesting to read such contrasting characters at once. It really kept me enthralled the whole time because I knew with each different character I was getting a completely different mindset and it allowed me to differentiate between the two. This meant nothing blurred together and made the overall plot easier to follow.
A great fantasy read – I can’t wait to see what else Camm has to bring.
April 18, 2022
I received an arc copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great start to Rebecca’s first series. It’s so beautifully written! The first chapter had me hooked! However it was rather slow from then on until about 60% where it then started getting exciting. I loved August and Evelyn’s story the best. Evelyn is so sweet and caring whereas August is dark and dangerous, made me smile whenever they were together 😍
Looking forward to the next book in the series I need to know what happens 😀
This was a great start to Rebecca’s first series. It’s so beautifully written! The first chapter had me hooked! However it was rather slow from then on until about 60% where it then started getting exciting. I loved August and Evelyn’s story the best. Evelyn is so sweet and caring whereas August is dark and dangerous, made me smile whenever they were together 😍
Looking forward to the next book in the series I need to know what happens 😀
May 12, 2022
I received an arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Nora is an Alta, bound to the king and forced to follow his commands, she travels wit her best friend August, who is her only family in a world of restlessness. Evelyn is a healer trying to find her place in the world, whether that be that path set out for her from birth, or something new she is yet to decide.
I really loved this book. The characters were amazing, I liked Nora from the start, had some reservations throughout the middle of the book but her character was just amazingly written! She was arrogant, sassy and I just loved her attitude in every situation. I loved her dynamic with Sage and August, but do wish we saw more of Sage at the end of the book.
August was a good character, but we didn't really get too much insight into his character. I did like how August and Nora were best friends and didn't develop a romantic interest with each other.
At first I didn't like Evelyn and I can't say that she is now my favourite character, but her perspectives were not that exciting to read for me, and I found myself trying to get to Nora's chapters most of the time.
The world the author created was pretty big, but we didn't see too much of the world apart from the places that Nora and August went so I had a bit of trouble figuring out where the places were in relation to each others. That being said, I did love the magic system and all the different races. I thought they were all pretty unique and really enjoyed reading about them.
The plot itself was a little confusing and there was always a lot happening, but the book itself was pretty slow paced. I was confused some of the time, but the characters kept me reading and I was not disappointed. All book have their short comings for some readers, and I for one enjoyed this book! The characters and the magic system/races really made this book, and were the aspects that I thought were written the best.
So give this book ago because it is definitely worth a read and I know that I will be eagerly awaiting the next book!
~ Abby
Nora is an Alta, bound to the king and forced to follow his commands, she travels wit her best friend August, who is her only family in a world of restlessness. Evelyn is a healer trying to find her place in the world, whether that be that path set out for her from birth, or something new she is yet to decide.
I really loved this book. The characters were amazing, I liked Nora from the start, had some reservations throughout the middle of the book but her character was just amazingly written! She was arrogant, sassy and I just loved her attitude in every situation. I loved her dynamic with Sage and August, but do wish we saw more of Sage at the end of the book.
August was a good character, but we didn't really get too much insight into his character. I did like how August and Nora were best friends and didn't develop a romantic interest with each other.
At first I didn't like Evelyn and I can't say that she is now my favourite character, but her perspectives were not that exciting to read for me, and I found myself trying to get to Nora's chapters most of the time.
The world the author created was pretty big, but we didn't see too much of the world apart from the places that Nora and August went so I had a bit of trouble figuring out where the places were in relation to each others. That being said, I did love the magic system and all the different races. I thought they were all pretty unique and really enjoyed reading about them.
The plot itself was a little confusing and there was always a lot happening, but the book itself was pretty slow paced. I was confused some of the time, but the characters kept me reading and I was not disappointed. All book have their short comings for some readers, and I for one enjoyed this book! The characters and the magic system/races really made this book, and were the aspects that I thought were written the best.
So give this book ago because it is definitely worth a read and I know that I will be eagerly awaiting the next book!
~ Abby
April 5, 2024
4.25⭐️ Two strong women, both bound to their roles of service and both with the potential to affect change in a world which has been corrupted by a violently, manipulative ruler.
One man, misunderstood and hunted for his race yet his desire for a better world sees him planting the seed of change as he stands by both of these important women.
This story threw me into a world with five distinct races, all with unique magical gifts.
The world was built slowly but in great detail, every page offering important aspects of this world as it once was, what it had become and the dream for the future.
I adore a story which meets my need for details, without dumping it all in one big word vomit. The more I learnt about this world the more connected I felt, leading up to me being completely invested by the end of this first book.
As we met our first two characters, Nora and August, their cheeky banter and deep love and loyalty for one another just filled my heart. It felt like I had made new friends and when I wasn’t reading their story I was thinking about them.
The character development of August throughout the whole story absolutely captivated me. This was a perfect connection point for the two strong women characters who were written to maintain this inner strength and complete awareness of who they were.
I am so grateful to have been gifted this ARC from the author as I absolutely loved this book. Although, the wait for the journey to continue is already killing me!.
**I received an ARC from the Author and willingly offer my honest review**
One man, misunderstood and hunted for his race yet his desire for a better world sees him planting the seed of change as he stands by both of these important women.
This story threw me into a world with five distinct races, all with unique magical gifts.
The world was built slowly but in great detail, every page offering important aspects of this world as it once was, what it had become and the dream for the future.
I adore a story which meets my need for details, without dumping it all in one big word vomit. The more I learnt about this world the more connected I felt, leading up to me being completely invested by the end of this first book.
As we met our first two characters, Nora and August, their cheeky banter and deep love and loyalty for one another just filled my heart. It felt like I had made new friends and when I wasn’t reading their story I was thinking about them.
The character development of August throughout the whole story absolutely captivated me. This was a perfect connection point for the two strong women characters who were written to maintain this inner strength and complete awareness of who they were.
I am so grateful to have been gifted this ARC from the author as I absolutely loved this book. Although, the wait for the journey to continue is already killing me!.
**I received an ARC from the Author and willingly offer my honest review**
May 12, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an advanced digital copy!
My rating started as 3 stars, but changed to 4 taking into account that this is a debut author and the fact that despite some of my problems with it, I did enjoy reading this novel. The strength of this story is the world building and the plot. The author builds a world I can imagine so clearly. The characters were also well made (save one who I will discuss shortly). These two strengths proved very useful considering a weakness I personally found. The writing. This is by no means a badly written book, and as I said the plot and characters were so well made. Its only line by line that I found it a little lacking. The dialogue tag "she pouted" was used a little too often for me, but that may be a personal preference. While the descriptions and fight scene were well described, I found the dialogue unnatural sounding at time.
Another note about plot, I genuinely thought the idea was so good and well executed, the plot twists really got me!
Now for what I dreaded writing but I feel I need to do it. Before I do, I would like to say that this is nothing against the author and others may disagree with me, this is purely my opinion which is strongly influenced by personal preference. Okay here it goes; I did not like Nora.I'm not really sure why, but I know I did find her inconsistent. I understand the personal struggle but when we are in her thoughts, sometimes she's for it but then admits she's against (no spoilers) and it did not sell the internal struggle for me and made her come off as just flaky instead of the deep internal struggle she should be having. I could just never get behind her character, she acted so different with everyone and was not as interesting for me. I would love to learn more about the minor characters, who I found heaps more interesting than Nora (more Will and Florence please!)
I did like August and Evelyn a lot, nothing much to say, I just really liked them and they were so easy to imagine in my mind.
The romance with Nora and character I have not named yet, was cute at first but when the thing happened (wow it's hard not to spoil) and knowing how she felt from the beginning, I did not find it as believable, not sure why. Maybe my almost inexplicable dislike of Nora?
Points for brief ace rep! Minus points for Nora being like "Welp I can't imagine how that feels so let's change the subject" (a paraphrase) like geez Nora it's not all about you.
Anyway, I know I had lots of comments and criticism but I honestly enjoyed the story and I'm really looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My rating started as 3 stars, but changed to 4 taking into account that this is a debut author and the fact that despite some of my problems with it, I did enjoy reading this novel. The strength of this story is the world building and the plot. The author builds a world I can imagine so clearly. The characters were also well made (save one who I will discuss shortly). These two strengths proved very useful considering a weakness I personally found. The writing. This is by no means a badly written book, and as I said the plot and characters were so well made. Its only line by line that I found it a little lacking. The dialogue tag "she pouted" was used a little too often for me, but that may be a personal preference. While the descriptions and fight scene were well described, I found the dialogue unnatural sounding at time.
Another note about plot, I genuinely thought the idea was so good and well executed, the plot twists really got me!
Now for what I dreaded writing but I feel I need to do it. Before I do, I would like to say that this is nothing against the author and others may disagree with me, this is purely my opinion which is strongly influenced by personal preference. Okay here it goes; I did not like Nora.I'm not really sure why, but I know I did find her inconsistent. I understand the personal struggle but when we are in her thoughts, sometimes she's for it but then admits she's against (no spoilers) and it did not sell the internal struggle for me and made her come off as just flaky instead of the deep internal struggle she should be having. I could just never get behind her character, she acted so different with everyone and was not as interesting for me. I would love to learn more about the minor characters, who I found heaps more interesting than Nora (more Will and Florence please!)
I did like August and Evelyn a lot, nothing much to say, I just really liked them and they were so easy to imagine in my mind.
The romance with Nora and character I have not named yet, was cute at first but when the thing happened (wow it's hard not to spoil) and knowing how she felt from the beginning, I did not find it as believable, not sure why. Maybe my almost inexplicable dislike of Nora?
Points for brief ace rep! Minus points for Nora being like "Welp I can't imagine how that feels so let's change the subject" (a paraphrase) like geez Nora it's not all about you.
Anyway, I know I had lots of comments and criticism but I honestly enjoyed the story and I'm really looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 12, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an advanced digital copy!
My rating started as 3 stars, but changed to 4 taking into account that this is a debut author and the fact that despite some of my problems with it, I did enjoy reading this novel. The strength of this story is the world building and the plot. The author builds a world I can imagine so clearly. The characters were also well made (save one who I will discuss shortly). These two strengths proved very useful considering a weakness I personally found. The writing. This is by no means a badly written book, and as I said the plot and characters were so well made. Its only line by line that I found it a little lacking. The dialogue tag "she pouted" was used a little too often for me, but that may be a personal preference. While the descriptions and fight scene were well described, I found the dialogue unnatural sounding at time.
Another note about plot, I genuinely thought the idea was so good and well executed, the plot twists really got me!
Now for what I dreaded writing but I feel I need to do it. Before I do, I would like to say that this is nothing against the author and others may disagree with me, this is purely my opinion which is strongly influenced by personal preference. Okay here it goes; I did not like Nora.I'm not really sure why, but I know I did find her inconsistent. I understand the personal struggle but when we are in her thoughts, sometimes she's for it but then admits she's against (no spoilers) and it did not sell the internal struggle for me and made her come off as just flaky instead of the deep internal struggle she should be having. I could just never get behind her character, she acted so different with everyone and was not as interesting for me. I would love to learn more about the minor characters, who I found heaps more interesting than Nora (more Will and Florence please!)
I did like August and Evelyn a lot, nothing much to say, I just really liked them and they were so easy to imagine in my mind.
The romance with Nora and character I have not named yet, was cute at first but when the thing happened (wow it's hard not to spoil) and knowing how she felt from the beginning, I did not find it as believable, not sure why. Maybe my almost inexplicable dislike of Nora?
Points for brief ace rep! Minus points for Nora being like "Welp I can't imagine how that feels so let's change the subject" (a paraphrase) like geez Nora it's not all about you.
Anyway, I know I had lots of comments and criticism but I honestly enjoyed the story and I'm really looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My rating started as 3 stars, but changed to 4 taking into account that this is a debut author and the fact that despite some of my problems with it, I did enjoy reading this novel. The strength of this story is the world building and the plot. The author builds a world I can imagine so clearly. The characters were also well made (save one who I will discuss shortly). These two strengths proved very useful considering a weakness I personally found. The writing. This is by no means a badly written book, and as I said the plot and characters were so well made. Its only line by line that I found it a little lacking. The dialogue tag "she pouted" was used a little too often for me, but that may be a personal preference. While the descriptions and fight scene were well described, I found the dialogue unnatural sounding at time.
Another note about plot, I genuinely thought the idea was so good and well executed, the plot twists really got me!
Now for what I dreaded writing but I feel I need to do it. Before I do, I would like to say that this is nothing against the author and others may disagree with me, this is purely my opinion which is strongly influenced by personal preference. Okay here it goes; I did not like Nora.I'm not really sure why, but I know I did find her inconsistent. I understand the personal struggle but when we are in her thoughts, sometimes she's for it but then admits she's against (no spoilers) and it did not sell the internal struggle for me and made her come off as just flaky instead of the deep internal struggle she should be having. I could just never get behind her character, she acted so different with everyone and was not as interesting for me. I would love to learn more about the minor characters, who I found heaps more interesting than Nora (more Will and Florence please!)
I did like August and Evelyn a lot, nothing much to say, I just really liked them and they were so easy to imagine in my mind.
The romance with Nora and character I have not named yet, was cute at first but when the thing happened (wow it's hard not to spoil) and knowing how she felt from the beginning, I did not find it as believable, not sure why. Maybe my almost inexplicable dislike of Nora?
Points for brief ace rep! Minus points for Nora being like "Welp I can't imagine how that feels so let's change the subject" (a paraphrase) like geez Nora it's not all about you.
Anyway, I know I had lots of comments and criticism but I honestly enjoyed the story and I'm really looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 13, 2022
Thank you Rebecca for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars
Liars and Light follows two protagonists - Nora and Evelyn - as they each set out to achieve their goals and find that everything is not as it seems in Valmanessia.
Nora is sarcastic, sassy and a grade A grump Elementium who is locked in servitude under King Dominic. Her whole life, she has lived to enact his will as an Alta, who are a group of secret assassins that maintain the King’s rule throughout the kingdom. When she and August, her Alta partner and best friend are assigned to find a missing fellow Alta, Nora begins to uncover a plot against the King that she has sworn her loyalty too. Unfortunately, this may mean going against those she thought she could trust for a cause that she is starting to learn might not be what it seems.
Evelyn on the other hand is the beloved healer in training of Forest Edge. She is good at her job and good at hiding the pain it causes her to heal. One day, she heals a badly injured travelled seeking sanctuary against the King’s Guild, which sets of a chain of events that thrust her in the middle of rebellion against the King, with no clue whether she can trust those around her.
I found the world building and the characters all to be fascinating. None of them are perfect, but all of them have their distinct personalities that make them powerful in their own right. Both Nora & Evelyn have very strong motivations behind their actions and i really enjoyed reading about their journeys and the secrets and schemes unveiled along the way.
I did wish that I knew more about King Dominic. Who is he? What is his motivation? Why is he targeting certain races in the kingdom? Why does he have a secret group of soldiers? What are his plans? He’s a complete mystery, and yet he has Nora’s unswerving loyalty. Why? Hopefully in the next book, we learn more about Nora’s relationship with the King and why it was all consuming.
All in all, an intriguing debut that I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read. If you like to read about a kingdom on the brink of war, rebellions, secrets and fascinating magic, then this is the book for you!
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars
Liars and Light follows two protagonists - Nora and Evelyn - as they each set out to achieve their goals and find that everything is not as it seems in Valmanessia.
Nora is sarcastic, sassy and a grade A grump Elementium who is locked in servitude under King Dominic. Her whole life, she has lived to enact his will as an Alta, who are a group of secret assassins that maintain the King’s rule throughout the kingdom. When she and August, her Alta partner and best friend are assigned to find a missing fellow Alta, Nora begins to uncover a plot against the King that she has sworn her loyalty too. Unfortunately, this may mean going against those she thought she could trust for a cause that she is starting to learn might not be what it seems.
Evelyn on the other hand is the beloved healer in training of Forest Edge. She is good at her job and good at hiding the pain it causes her to heal. One day, she heals a badly injured travelled seeking sanctuary against the King’s Guild, which sets of a chain of events that thrust her in the middle of rebellion against the King, with no clue whether she can trust those around her.
I found the world building and the characters all to be fascinating. None of them are perfect, but all of them have their distinct personalities that make them powerful in their own right. Both Nora & Evelyn have very strong motivations behind their actions and i really enjoyed reading about their journeys and the secrets and schemes unveiled along the way.
I did wish that I knew more about King Dominic. Who is he? What is his motivation? Why is he targeting certain races in the kingdom? Why does he have a secret group of soldiers? What are his plans? He’s a complete mystery, and yet he has Nora’s unswerving loyalty. Why? Hopefully in the next book, we learn more about Nora’s relationship with the King and why it was all consuming.
All in all, an intriguing debut that I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read. If you like to read about a kingdom on the brink of war, rebellions, secrets and fascinating magic, then this is the book for you!
June 1, 2022
This book lady’s, gentlemen and humans of all kinds, is a fantastical read. Nothing else needs to be said, however I shall say it.
Rebecca Macc was able to create this amazing world building that you learnt along the way without info dumps that just kept you knowing exactly what you needed to know but also keep the mystery of the world itself, it was just so smooth and effortless learning about it. The concept behind the world itself is intricate, amazingly thought out and original. There are 5 Gods from which stem 5 races; Human, Elementum, Anima, Mors Alv and Lys Alvs. Each has their own characteristics, powers and lore behind them. Watching the intricately drawn picture of the world unravel was an absolutely delightful and surprising experience.
Now the characters. I fell in love with Nora in just a few lines, she’s just hilarious to read from, describing herself as a ‘sarcastic antagonising asshole’ and she’s not wrong. Also may I mention she’s a trained assassin with elemental magic! Her badassery was so fun to read about. Her lines and interactions with everyone around her left me laughing for so long I had to sometimes close the book to recover. Her character isn’t just one dimensional arrogant ass, she has deeper sides that get explored as the book progresses, same with all the characters they all have deeper sides that come about. There were so many characters that are just absolutely loveable, and the way everyone interacts was very natural and the writing of interactions was perfection.
On the topic of writing, it flowed effortlessly, an easy read. The pacing was too very even, and no parts felt too rushed or too slow, each section working well.
My only slight critique that some may find annoying is parts did feel quite predictable, in the sense that it felt some twists felt handed on a platter. However not all and even with my guessing I was still very surprised throughout.
This amazing book is a gripping start to a hopefully successful new fantasy series!!
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
Rebecca Macc was able to create this amazing world building that you learnt along the way without info dumps that just kept you knowing exactly what you needed to know but also keep the mystery of the world itself, it was just so smooth and effortless learning about it. The concept behind the world itself is intricate, amazingly thought out and original. There are 5 Gods from which stem 5 races; Human, Elementum, Anima, Mors Alv and Lys Alvs. Each has their own characteristics, powers and lore behind them. Watching the intricately drawn picture of the world unravel was an absolutely delightful and surprising experience.
Now the characters. I fell in love with Nora in just a few lines, she’s just hilarious to read from, describing herself as a ‘sarcastic antagonising asshole’ and she’s not wrong. Also may I mention she’s a trained assassin with elemental magic! Her badassery was so fun to read about. Her lines and interactions with everyone around her left me laughing for so long I had to sometimes close the book to recover. Her character isn’t just one dimensional arrogant ass, she has deeper sides that get explored as the book progresses, same with all the characters they all have deeper sides that come about. There were so many characters that are just absolutely loveable, and the way everyone interacts was very natural and the writing of interactions was perfection.
On the topic of writing, it flowed effortlessly, an easy read. The pacing was too very even, and no parts felt too rushed or too slow, each section working well.
My only slight critique that some may find annoying is parts did feel quite predictable, in the sense that it felt some twists felt handed on a platter. However not all and even with my guessing I was still very surprised throughout.
This amazing book is a gripping start to a hopefully successful new fantasy series!!
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
May 19, 2022
This was a DNF me for at around 55%. I hate not finishing books but it just didn’t hold my attention. I would go weeks between reading it without ever thinking ‘oh I need to pick that back up’. Mostly I think this is because I just didn’t like the main characters. Nora kills without thought or remorse. She really is so brutal without the author really giving us any reasoning behind that choice.
Here was my note that I made “- 25% through and Nora has killed a few guards who were doing their jobs, the man she just slept with, two other random people and a boy! It’s making it difficult to like her.”
And try as I might I just did not care about Evelyn. I think this might be because she’s introduced to the story too late. When there are multiple POV’s I think it’s important to introduce your reader to each character whose head we will be in early on. It takes about 10 chapters for us to meet Evelyn which means that I found it hard to care about her story, especially when I couldn’t understand how it linked with Nora’s.
A couple of other issues. The editing and the sentence structure weren’t great. It could have used another look over by the editor. It made it hard to stay engrossed in the story unfortunately.
Some things I did like. The healing magic was unique and intriguing and the different magical races were great!
Please remember that just because I didn’t enjoy this book doesn’t mean you won’t! I absolutely think you should still give it a try when it’s released.
Thank you to the author for the E-ARC I received.
Here was my note that I made “- 25% through and Nora has killed a few guards who were doing their jobs, the man she just slept with, two other random people and a boy! It’s making it difficult to like her.”
And try as I might I just did not care about Evelyn. I think this might be because she’s introduced to the story too late. When there are multiple POV’s I think it’s important to introduce your reader to each character whose head we will be in early on. It takes about 10 chapters for us to meet Evelyn which means that I found it hard to care about her story, especially when I couldn’t understand how it linked with Nora’s.
A couple of other issues. The editing and the sentence structure weren’t great. It could have used another look over by the editor. It made it hard to stay engrossed in the story unfortunately.
Some things I did like. The healing magic was unique and intriguing and the different magical races were great!
Please remember that just because I didn’t enjoy this book doesn’t mean you won’t! I absolutely think you should still give it a try when it’s released.
Thank you to the author for the E-ARC I received.
August 23, 2022
Liars and Light follows two main characters, Nora and Evelyn, as they both try to prove themselves and find their place in the world.
Nora is an Elementum, with an ability to wield fire, water and air magic. She was sold to the King as a child, then trained to become an Alta, a secret soldier forced to do the King's will by the shackle tattoos on her wrist. If she even so much as thinks of straying from the King's wishes, she experiences pain that escalates until she gets back on the course he set for her. The shackle tattoos also cause her to follow and worship the King without complaint, something that Nora is quite happy to do.
Evelyn is a Lys Alv, and has just passed her test to be a qualified Healer. As a healer, she has the ability to remove injuries and pain from others, by taking them on herself.
Both Nora and Evelyn's lives intertwine as Nora attempts to complete a mission set to her by the King, but ends up finding more than she bargained for. Uncovering a resistance against the King, she must work with members of the resistance to learn more and eventually take it down.
I loved Liars and Light, it is a great debut novel by Rebecca Camm. The pacing is excellent, and I enjoyed the hints we got about August's true nature. The way the story unfolds and we learn more was exciting, and I was surprised by the turn that the book took towards the end.
Book one has set the scene for an exciting trilogy, and I am very eager to see what comes next!
Huge thank you to MTMC Tours for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Nora is an Elementum, with an ability to wield fire, water and air magic. She was sold to the King as a child, then trained to become an Alta, a secret soldier forced to do the King's will by the shackle tattoos on her wrist. If she even so much as thinks of straying from the King's wishes, she experiences pain that escalates until she gets back on the course he set for her. The shackle tattoos also cause her to follow and worship the King without complaint, something that Nora is quite happy to do.
Evelyn is a Lys Alv, and has just passed her test to be a qualified Healer. As a healer, she has the ability to remove injuries and pain from others, by taking them on herself.
Both Nora and Evelyn's lives intertwine as Nora attempts to complete a mission set to her by the King, but ends up finding more than she bargained for. Uncovering a resistance against the King, she must work with members of the resistance to learn more and eventually take it down.
I loved Liars and Light, it is a great debut novel by Rebecca Camm. The pacing is excellent, and I enjoyed the hints we got about August's true nature. The way the story unfolds and we learn more was exciting, and I was surprised by the turn that the book took towards the end.
Book one has set the scene for an exciting trilogy, and I am very eager to see what comes next!
Huge thank you to MTMC Tours for providing me with a copy to read and review.
April 25, 2022
2.5 ⭐️
Thank you to BookSirens for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately this one just wasn’t my cup of tea. I went into this thinking I wild really enjoy it but yeah that didn’t quite happen…
To begin with I was very interested, it started off great. I really liked both Nora and August, and I actually very much liked how they were just friends. Very good friends as well, and nothing romantic between the two of them.
It was around 40/50% where I started to struggle and it was hard for me to pick the book up. I nearly DNF’d quite a few times but I decided to push through
I got so confused with what was happening with the plot, I felt like it just kept straying and I just had no idea what was going on. There were so many characters that I just kept forgetting who was who.
And honestly I felt like Evelyn’s POV was kinda pointless…? Idk maybe it’s just that she annoyed me
Speaking of annoying…. I liked Nora at the beginning but then she just kept getting so stubborn. And August…. boi why you keep getting so aggressive for no reason? Not a good look
I also found this book to be very slow paced. And for some reason, it always felt like so much was going on at once while also not much was happening. CONFUSING OK
In the end I’m sad that this book just wasn’t for me, I really was looking forward to it, especially with such a gorgeous cover. I’m still definitely sure there are plenty of others out there who would enjoy this one.
Thank you to BookSirens for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately this one just wasn’t my cup of tea. I went into this thinking I wild really enjoy it but yeah that didn’t quite happen…
To begin with I was very interested, it started off great. I really liked both Nora and August, and I actually very much liked how they were just friends. Very good friends as well, and nothing romantic between the two of them.
It was around 40/50% where I started to struggle and it was hard for me to pick the book up. I nearly DNF’d quite a few times but I decided to push through
I got so confused with what was happening with the plot, I felt like it just kept straying and I just had no idea what was going on. There were so many characters that I just kept forgetting who was who.
And honestly I felt like Evelyn’s POV was kinda pointless…? Idk maybe it’s just that she annoyed me
Speaking of annoying…. I liked Nora at the beginning but then she just kept getting so stubborn. And August…. boi why you keep getting so aggressive for no reason? Not a good look
I also found this book to be very slow paced. And for some reason, it always felt like so much was going on at once while also not much was happening. CONFUSING OK
In the end I’m sad that this book just wasn’t for me, I really was looking forward to it, especially with such a gorgeous cover. I’m still definitely sure there are plenty of others out there who would enjoy this one.
March 19, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Liars and Light was a very enjoyable read. It follows strong characters, namely Nora, August and Evelyn through their journeys in a kingdom rules by a questionable king. The writing style is easy to read, whilst being intriguing and detailed. The magic system and kingdom details are well thought out and laid out well in the story.
I also noticed some feminist undertones; strong female leads, female guards as part of the royal guard. These were subtle undertones, but I love to see it in a book and ts great that Rebecca Camm was able to weave these into her story.
My only criticism of this book is that it was lacking a little oomph. I would have liked a little more action based off the blurb, but it kept me intrigued throughout and the last few chapters built up well, suggesting there are big things to come in the second installment.
Overall, I was impressed with this book and would recommend to those interested in fantasy books with magic, strong characters and interesting themes.
Liars and Light was a very enjoyable read. It follows strong characters, namely Nora, August and Evelyn through their journeys in a kingdom rules by a questionable king. The writing style is easy to read, whilst being intriguing and detailed. The magic system and kingdom details are well thought out and laid out well in the story.
I also noticed some feminist undertones; strong female leads, female guards as part of the royal guard. These were subtle undertones, but I love to see it in a book and ts great that Rebecca Camm was able to weave these into her story.
My only criticism of this book is that it was lacking a little oomph. I would have liked a little more action based off the blurb, but it kept me intrigued throughout and the last few chapters built up well, suggesting there are big things to come in the second installment.
Overall, I was impressed with this book and would recommend to those interested in fantasy books with magic, strong characters and interesting themes.
May 17, 2022
Thank you so much to BookSirens for sharing an advanced copy of Liars and Light with me.
I had such a fun time reading this book and cannot wait for the second book. It was definitely a light read, in fact, I finished it over the course of a day. It had fun fantasy elements and I'm eager to learn more about the world they are living in.
I loved Nora and her partner/friend August. I am very intrigued to see where their relationship goes in the series as there is definitely something bubbling under the surface. Although they may not know it yet!
I adored Nora, she was such a fun and outgoing heroine to follow. And it was a joy to read about her journey. Although sometimes I did want to smack her!
I did wish that the pacing was a bit better. By the time I had gotten to the 100th page I thought that I had read the entire book. It certainly dragged in the middle and had a solid ending. But I feel like it could have been a bit tighter in this way.
I had such a fun time reading this book and cannot wait for the second book. It was definitely a light read, in fact, I finished it over the course of a day. It had fun fantasy elements and I'm eager to learn more about the world they are living in.
I loved Nora and her partner/friend August. I am very intrigued to see where their relationship goes in the series as there is definitely something bubbling under the surface. Although they may not know it yet!
I adored Nora, she was such a fun and outgoing heroine to follow. And it was a joy to read about her journey. Although sometimes I did want to smack her!
I did wish that the pacing was a bit better. By the time I had gotten to the 100th page I thought that I had read the entire book. It certainly dragged in the middle and had a solid ending. But I feel like it could have been a bit tighter in this way.
August 24, 2022
I received this book for free from Author, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Welcome to The Valmenessian Chronicles, in a world divided by different magical races, obeying the king is of the outmost importance… or is it? Well, at least that is what Nora is lead to believe, though her allegiance to the King as an Alta (bound by magical tattoos) is constantly questioned by her best friend, August. Liars & Lights has a wonderful friendship dynamic between these two & it was one of my favorite aspects! It’s also a story told in multiple POVs & we get to meet Evelyn as well, a healer with a heart of gold. All in all, I found myself quickly invested in this new Adult fantasy series, which is beautifully written, mysterious and action-packed with an excellent cast of characters!
Welcome to The Valmenessian Chronicles, in a world divided by different magical races, obeying the king is of the outmost importance… or is it? Well, at least that is what Nora is lead to believe, though her allegiance to the King as an Alta (bound by magical tattoos) is constantly questioned by her best friend, August. Liars & Lights has a wonderful friendship dynamic between these two & it was one of my favorite aspects! It’s also a story told in multiple POVs & we get to meet Evelyn as well, a healer with a heart of gold. All in all, I found myself quickly invested in this new Adult fantasy series, which is beautifully written, mysterious and action-packed with an excellent cast of characters!
March 27, 2022
I was very intrigued by this world after I read the prequel novella that comes before this book. I really liked the idea of the King's elite assassins/soldiers, the Alta.
The world building is great and I enjoyed learning about the different groups that each individual was a part of. Nora was sassy and a bit of a bad ass but I also like Evelyn, who is a healer. Their lives intertwined and I can see it becoming even more so in the future. The friendship between Nora and August (her childhood friend) was lovely and I liked their banter.
The plot was a little more slow moving but I found the the last 15-20% really picked up and I can see that the next book will have a lot more complications for all the characters. I do look forward to seeing what will happen next.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The world building is great and I enjoyed learning about the different groups that each individual was a part of. Nora was sassy and a bit of a bad ass but I also like Evelyn, who is a healer. Their lives intertwined and I can see it becoming even more so in the future. The friendship between Nora and August (her childhood friend) was lovely and I liked their banter.
The plot was a little more slow moving but I found the the last 15-20% really picked up and I can see that the next book will have a lot more complications for all the characters. I do look forward to seeing what will happen next.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2022
What an awesome debut from Rebecca! A solid 4.5 stars from me!
I am so captivated by the characters and races in this world she has created and can't wait to learn more in the books to come.
Our female MCs, Nora and Evelyn, are polar opposites. Nora is a bit of a savage, a bit naive and has a cheeky mouth that can often get herself into trouble. Our sweet Evelyn is selfless and kind. Both strong heroines in their own rights.
I connected with many themes throughout this book but particularly with Evelyn's lingering grief. The way Rebecca portrayed these feelings felt like opening a doorway to my own soul and Evelyn helped heal me a little too.
And let's not forget about August, what a mysterious dude...I need more August immediately! There's so much I want to know not only about him but his race as a whole.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next installment!
I am so captivated by the characters and races in this world she has created and can't wait to learn more in the books to come.
Our female MCs, Nora and Evelyn, are polar opposites. Nora is a bit of a savage, a bit naive and has a cheeky mouth that can often get herself into trouble. Our sweet Evelyn is selfless and kind. Both strong heroines in their own rights.
I connected with many themes throughout this book but particularly with Evelyn's lingering grief. The way Rebecca portrayed these feelings felt like opening a doorway to my own soul and Evelyn helped heal me a little too.
And let's not forget about August, what a mysterious dude...I need more August immediately! There's so much I want to know not only about him but his race as a whole.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next installment!
May 17, 2022
I received an ARC from BookSirens for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Meeting August and Nora and the rest of the crew was a delight. I think this is a really great debut for the series and I am excited to see where the next adventure takes us.
I loved the new magic system brought to life within the book as well as the different races. It was certainly a fresh perspective in my opinion. I felt like it was easy to follow and I understood what was being described.
At times I felt the pacing of things was a bit rushed. Certain scenes felt choppy or disjointed going from one into the next. Because of that, I felt like things were a little predictable. I definitely think this book could have benefited by more detail and length.
Overall, a solid fantasy read and really interesting characters!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Meeting August and Nora and the rest of the crew was a delight. I think this is a really great debut for the series and I am excited to see where the next adventure takes us.
I loved the new magic system brought to life within the book as well as the different races. It was certainly a fresh perspective in my opinion. I felt like it was easy to follow and I understood what was being described.
At times I felt the pacing of things was a bit rushed. Certain scenes felt choppy or disjointed going from one into the next. Because of that, I felt like things were a little predictable. I definitely think this book could have benefited by more detail and length.
Overall, a solid fantasy read and really interesting characters!
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