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Unwinding the Spiral
Heredour. A land where humans wield elemental power, but magic is untouchable.
Wave has escaped Buduwai—the wizard-run program for teens called by the wrong god—but her anger at the world has only grown stronger. Set on becoming Heredour’s most powerful waterkin, Wave’s life implodes when a star crashes to her feet and an ancient curse is reborn.
Jessandra is heir to one of Heredour’s many thrones, but she hasn’t been called by any of the gods. Terrified that something is wrong with her, she escapes the castle and her doomed betrothal.
When Wave and Jessandra meet, they forge an unlikely alliance as they try to stay ahead of their enemies. People from all over the country are drawn into their vortex as the lies underpinning their society begin to unravel. When they try to leave Heredour, Jessandra falls prey to the High King’s wizards.
Angry and afraid, Wave discovers the South Claw—a land lost to the ravages of a legend—and meets the ancient creatures who reveal the true origins of her curse. Wave knows she must finally accept her power and confront the wizards, but can she master her emotions in time to save Jessandra?
*Unwinding the Spiral is the first book in the young adult fantasy trilogy Union. If you enjoy the lush worldbuilding of The Priory of the Orange Tree or the intricate magic of Throne of Glass, you’ll love Unwinding the Spiral.
Wave has escaped Buduwai—the wizard-run program for teens called by the wrong god—but her anger at the world has only grown stronger. Set on becoming Heredour’s most powerful waterkin, Wave’s life implodes when a star crashes to her feet and an ancient curse is reborn.
Jessandra is heir to one of Heredour’s many thrones, but she hasn’t been called by any of the gods. Terrified that something is wrong with her, she escapes the castle and her doomed betrothal.
When Wave and Jessandra meet, they forge an unlikely alliance as they try to stay ahead of their enemies. People from all over the country are drawn into their vortex as the lies underpinning their society begin to unravel. When they try to leave Heredour, Jessandra falls prey to the High King’s wizards.
Angry and afraid, Wave discovers the South Claw—a land lost to the ravages of a legend—and meets the ancient creatures who reveal the true origins of her curse. Wave knows she must finally accept her power and confront the wizards, but can she master her emotions in time to save Jessandra?
*Unwinding the Spiral is the first book in the young adult fantasy trilogy Union. If you enjoy the lush worldbuilding of The Priory of the Orange Tree or the intricate magic of Throne of Glass, you’ll love Unwinding the Spiral.
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Published June 7, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 5, 2025
What an amazing read!
From the first page I was captivated with the world that Peta had built. I found it very clear and easy to follow. This was one of the first books that I found myself referencing the map just so I could follow the characters on there journey through Heredour.
Cannot wait to start the next book in the Union Trilogy.
From the first page I was captivated with the world that Peta had built. I found it very clear and easy to follow. This was one of the first books that I found myself referencing the map just so I could follow the characters on there journey through Heredour.
Cannot wait to start the next book in the Union Trilogy.
July 12, 2022
I really loved the correlating power to the gods. Something else that was also really unique is this is multi POV however the chapters aren’t named after each individual but instead where they’re located in the world which I also really loved. Often with multi pov stories there’s a level of confusion while the characters are developing but this isn’t the case here at all, it’s extremely easy to follow. The Black Cloaks also reminded me of the Nazgûl and Buduwai I was picturing as The Black Gate. My favourite character was Frieda although her time in this novel is short, I hope we get more of a glimpse into her character in future novels!
June 26, 2022
*4,75 stars*
Heredour. A land where humans wield elemental power, but magic is untouchable. Or is it?
Unwinding the Spiral tells the story of Wave, her sisters, their mother Larka, Jessandra a princess and heir to a kingdom, and Mortius the advisor of the high king. At first you get to know each of the characters and a bit of their background whilst still in different corners of the country, but slowly but surely their lives intertwine in ways you don't always see coming, almost like a spiral unwinding and coming together (pun intended xp).
From the start of the story, I was enthralled by Wave, a waterkin girl, who should have been named Kaïaho if not for her mother protecting her. To be named Kaïaho means that you are of lower kin than your parents and will be taken away by the Black Cloaks to a place to be re-educated, or so they say... (honestly, from the start I got shivers thinking about these wizards!)
The story starts to pick up when a star crashes at Wave's feet and Jessandra runs away from the castle to escape a fate of which she's uncertain but scared. When Wave and Jessandra meet for the first time they form an unlikely alliance and bond as they try to stay out of the hands of their enemies. Most of the book follows these 2 as they travel through Heredour to find answers and places long lost.
If you are a bit unsure of the ways of Heredour and are scared you won't understand a bit of it: do not worry! The book perfectly explains the ways of each god, kin, their powers, and their history in an easy, but interesting way throughout the first few chapters. You even have a handy cheat page at the front of the book to go back to if you've forgotten which god had what powers and so forth (which helped me out a lot at the start!)
I'd like to thank the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
PS. Peta, I need that second book. I just must know how Wave managed to unwind the spiral at the end (being extra cryptic as to not spoil things ;))
Heredour. A land where humans wield elemental power, but magic is untouchable. Or is it?
Unwinding the Spiral tells the story of Wave, her sisters, their mother Larka, Jessandra a princess and heir to a kingdom, and Mortius the advisor of the high king. At first you get to know each of the characters and a bit of their background whilst still in different corners of the country, but slowly but surely their lives intertwine in ways you don't always see coming, almost like a spiral unwinding and coming together (pun intended xp).
From the start of the story, I was enthralled by Wave, a waterkin girl, who should have been named Kaïaho if not for her mother protecting her. To be named Kaïaho means that you are of lower kin than your parents and will be taken away by the Black Cloaks to a place to be re-educated, or so they say... (honestly, from the start I got shivers thinking about these wizards!)
The story starts to pick up when a star crashes at Wave's feet and Jessandra runs away from the castle to escape a fate of which she's uncertain but scared. When Wave and Jessandra meet for the first time they form an unlikely alliance and bond as they try to stay out of the hands of their enemies. Most of the book follows these 2 as they travel through Heredour to find answers and places long lost.
If you are a bit unsure of the ways of Heredour and are scared you won't understand a bit of it: do not worry! The book perfectly explains the ways of each god, kin, their powers, and their history in an easy, but interesting way throughout the first few chapters. You even have a handy cheat page at the front of the book to go back to if you've forgotten which god had what powers and so forth (which helped me out a lot at the start!)
I'd like to thank the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
PS. Peta, I need that second book. I just must know how Wave managed to unwind the spiral at the end (being extra cryptic as to not spoil things ;))
July 3, 2022
Wow!! Hawker’s debut novel is a work of art. Her carefully crafted world is one of the most refreshing and exhilarating ones I’ve read yet.
Unwinding the Spiral is a multiple POV that is balanced, full of action and character development from the get go.
It opens with a prologue where the main characters are listening to their mother tell a story about Setora, the star caller, I’m not a fan of prologue but this one? Perfect foreshadowing for what’s to come.
The narrators: Wave, Jessandra, Larka and Mortius are all so very distinct. I had no problem understanding who was who, Hawker has carefully crafted each narrator to sit apart from the other and despite the age differences between them all they are all relatable in their own way. An outcast, a princess, a mother and a father figure. It’s the perfect family for the journey through a country side that is in strife.
The journey of learning the truth about life is one that we can all get around and understand. And watching Wave go from an outcast to understanding what friends are, uncovering secrets and learning that knowledge really is power, was extraordinary to read.
I am a huge fan of this book. Hawker has taken the time to lay out everything a reader needs to know with a finesse that comes from understanding how to craft a great story.
If you love elemental magic, a desire to find the truth, a journey and family, Unwinding the Spiral is the book for you.
I wish I could read this book for the first time again and again.
Unwinding the Spiral is a multiple POV that is balanced, full of action and character development from the get go.
It opens with a prologue where the main characters are listening to their mother tell a story about Setora, the star caller, I’m not a fan of prologue but this one? Perfect foreshadowing for what’s to come.
The narrators: Wave, Jessandra, Larka and Mortius are all so very distinct. I had no problem understanding who was who, Hawker has carefully crafted each narrator to sit apart from the other and despite the age differences between them all they are all relatable in their own way. An outcast, a princess, a mother and a father figure. It’s the perfect family for the journey through a country side that is in strife.
The journey of learning the truth about life is one that we can all get around and understand. And watching Wave go from an outcast to understanding what friends are, uncovering secrets and learning that knowledge really is power, was extraordinary to read.
I am a huge fan of this book. Hawker has taken the time to lay out everything a reader needs to know with a finesse that comes from understanding how to craft a great story.
If you love elemental magic, a desire to find the truth, a journey and family, Unwinding the Spiral is the book for you.
I wish I could read this book for the first time again and again.
October 26, 2024
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up!
Review coming soon 🫶🏻
Review coming soon 🫶🏻
October 30, 2022
Summary: In this beautifully written story inspired by Avatar the Last Airbender, Princess Mononoke, and Priory of the Orange Tree, we follow two perspectives, Wave and Jessandra. Wave, an outcast from others her age, has an unspeakable power. An ancient curse that has previously plagued the land is brought from legend to reality with a star crashing at her feet. Jessandra is heir to a throne but hasn’t received her god-given power and is rebuked by her family. Afraid for her life and well-being, Jessandra escapes the castle and her betrothed. The pair meet and form an unlikely alliance. Together they must find the true origins of the curse and bring an end to its tirade before it is too late.
Review: Unwinding the Spiral was a delightful surprise and was amazingly executed. The story format reminded me strongly of Priory of the Orange Tree. It was a riveting and unique story that never had a boring moment. I often times felt myself asking these questions which drove me to keep reading. What will happen next? Will Jessandra find her power? Will they both bring the curse to an end? And more importantly, where did the mysterious curse come from? Altogether I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend this highly. My rating is a very strong 5/5.
Extended Breakdown:
Story: 5/5
Characters 5/5
Magic System: 5/5
Read more at my blog: https://wvbookwitch.blogspot.com/
Follow me on TikTok: @wvbookwitch
Review: Unwinding the Spiral was a delightful surprise and was amazingly executed. The story format reminded me strongly of Priory of the Orange Tree. It was a riveting and unique story that never had a boring moment. I often times felt myself asking these questions which drove me to keep reading. What will happen next? Will Jessandra find her power? Will they both bring the curse to an end? And more importantly, where did the mysterious curse come from? Altogether I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend this highly. My rating is a very strong 5/5.
Extended Breakdown:
Story: 5/5
Characters 5/5
Magic System: 5/5
Read more at my blog: https://wvbookwitch.blogspot.com/
Follow me on TikTok: @wvbookwitch
August 14, 2022
i was given this ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review. thank you peta for the opportunity to review :)
wren and siska, daughters of larka, grow up together without their exiled father. wren learns to use her waterkin power in a village far from home, and siska serves as lady’s maid to princess jessandra. when wren catches a star, she’s cursed and forced to free, meeting jessandra on the run from her father. after that, the story devolves into a bit of a tour around the land of heredour, while they discover magic and dodge some bad guys in cloaks and have a little love triangle and then maybe save a land. at the same time, the advisor to the high king is trying to depose the monarch and set his long lost son on the throne, and he also does this by touring the country. and then there are dragons out of nowhere, which is one hell of a way to deux ex machina a finale. essentially, this books starts well and isn’t so bad that you stop reading, but unfortunately i don’t know that i’d have finished it had i not been on a three hour flight.
my biggest problem was where to place this story: i didn’t feel that it merited a one-star, because i didn’t DNF it and in fairness it did have lovely moments, especially regarding worldbuilding. in the end i settled on ⭐️ ⭐️, but had this come through tradpub it’d certainly be a single.
to give due credit, the author should be commended on self-publishing, because it definitely isn’t easy to be all the parts of the machine at once. the book is a labour of love and that comes through. something i especially loved was the way she set heredour up: you can tell she built the geography and moved the characters around it, instead of adding bits to suit them, and it serves the story very well.
however, the story would unfortunately have been improved by more sets of eyes. there were several issues that leapt out almost immediately.
from silliest to most serious:
— using kin in that way (and expecting us to be able to read it without a thousand connotations) is very brave and unfortunately took away from the magic system. everytime i read moonkin i had a violent 2014 internet flashback.
— names needed rethinking: wave is a waterkin, and you expect us to believe that’s a coincidence? it was too on the nose. similarly, mortius is just bad. authors need to dodge ‘mort’ names in general: we get it, death, etc. (credit though for siska, that’s a great way to do fantasy without sounding like you’re picking related nouns or gargling with vowels!)
— the system itself is kind of mad. it starts off with the simple elemental thing: everyone kins one element. the author does this more interestingly than most and that’s one of the reasons i bumped the stars up. but then we get magic and it becomes entirely generic and undermines the world itself. if wave’s magic can beat back the black cloaks this easily, then someone should have figured this out and started doing it a whole lot sooner.
— kaiaho needed to be talked through with critical beta readers. essentially, children born outside the level of kin held by their parents are deemed kaiaho and taken away by the black cloaks. at first glance, it’s interesting, but then you think about it critically for a minute and realise it presents serious societal problems if you’re losing that many children. we get no information about whether your kin is hereditary, but from the families we see it seems it’s not. if so, and we assume it’s random, people have a 2/3rd chance of losing their children to the black cloaks. since we know those children don’t come back, heredour is going to have a population problem ASAP. there should be barely any teenagers around, or at least 2/3rds more adults.
anyway, the real problem is that the writing isn’t good enough to support expansive worldbuilding and a semi-predictable plot. for example, the characterisation isn’t sophisticated enough for the world they’re living in. take jessandra, a princess: ‘“No, Pa!” Jessandra screeched,’ is not the way you write a princess speaking to her father.
similarly there’s a lack of awareness of the positions of her characters. think of motivations: a king will not exile his ideal heir in favour of a daughter he hates WITHOUT contingency plans, especially knowing that if both kids are called wrong he’ll need a backup. once the readers realise this, our suspension of disbelief falls away, because there’s no way this is the first time this has happened. you’re telling me sunkin rules are just easily having more sunkin heirs?
we also have an issue with the villains. the first big bad, reuben, is insane, and that’s immediately going to tank the stakes. there’s no victory when you’re battling insanity because there’s no way to truly win beyong incapacitating them. i won’t spoil it blatantly, but this means that immediately we know that one of two things is going to happen to reuben, and there goes your sense of surprise. if you’re going to make the ruler insane, do it gradually. big bad two are the black cloaks, and they’re so overpowered that the author can’t have her characters beat them, so they have to become stupid. we’re told they’re all powerful and can teleport anywhere they’ve been, and yet the main characters outrun them and outmagic them at every turn, except when they need to be captured for the plot. anyway, these guys are kind of aimless for people who are so powerful they can go basically anywhere and do basically anything, until in the third act the author needs them to be good. they show up and do some capturing, so easily that we wonder why they couldn’t have done it earlier, and then wave manages to hold them off with that power she only just found out about, and they go back to being kind of ineffectual. we needed some damage to people we care about to create stakes with these villains, otherwise we don’t worry that they exist.
i hate conclusions so closing out here with a recommendation to read this if you like expansive wordlbuilding, magic systems and can deal with some colloquial languge and lack of differentiation between characters. it’s lovely to see work by an australian author in fantasy and i hope there’ll be some higher stakes in the sequel.
wren and siska, daughters of larka, grow up together without their exiled father. wren learns to use her waterkin power in a village far from home, and siska serves as lady’s maid to princess jessandra. when wren catches a star, she’s cursed and forced to free, meeting jessandra on the run from her father. after that, the story devolves into a bit of a tour around the land of heredour, while they discover magic and dodge some bad guys in cloaks and have a little love triangle and then maybe save a land. at the same time, the advisor to the high king is trying to depose the monarch and set his long lost son on the throne, and he also does this by touring the country. and then there are dragons out of nowhere, which is one hell of a way to deux ex machina a finale. essentially, this books starts well and isn’t so bad that you stop reading, but unfortunately i don’t know that i’d have finished it had i not been on a three hour flight.
my biggest problem was where to place this story: i didn’t feel that it merited a one-star, because i didn’t DNF it and in fairness it did have lovely moments, especially regarding worldbuilding. in the end i settled on ⭐️ ⭐️, but had this come through tradpub it’d certainly be a single.
to give due credit, the author should be commended on self-publishing, because it definitely isn’t easy to be all the parts of the machine at once. the book is a labour of love and that comes through. something i especially loved was the way she set heredour up: you can tell she built the geography and moved the characters around it, instead of adding bits to suit them, and it serves the story very well.
however, the story would unfortunately have been improved by more sets of eyes. there were several issues that leapt out almost immediately.
from silliest to most serious:
— using kin in that way (and expecting us to be able to read it without a thousand connotations) is very brave and unfortunately took away from the magic system. everytime i read moonkin i had a violent 2014 internet flashback.
— names needed rethinking: wave is a waterkin, and you expect us to believe that’s a coincidence? it was too on the nose. similarly, mortius is just bad. authors need to dodge ‘mort’ names in general: we get it, death, etc. (credit though for siska, that’s a great way to do fantasy without sounding like you’re picking related nouns or gargling with vowels!)
— the system itself is kind of mad. it starts off with the simple elemental thing: everyone kins one element. the author does this more interestingly than most and that’s one of the reasons i bumped the stars up. but then we get magic and it becomes entirely generic and undermines the world itself. if wave’s magic can beat back the black cloaks this easily, then someone should have figured this out and started doing it a whole lot sooner.
— kaiaho needed to be talked through with critical beta readers. essentially, children born outside the level of kin held by their parents are deemed kaiaho and taken away by the black cloaks. at first glance, it’s interesting, but then you think about it critically for a minute and realise it presents serious societal problems if you’re losing that many children. we get no information about whether your kin is hereditary, but from the families we see it seems it’s not. if so, and we assume it’s random, people have a 2/3rd chance of losing their children to the black cloaks. since we know those children don’t come back, heredour is going to have a population problem ASAP. there should be barely any teenagers around, or at least 2/3rds more adults.
anyway, the real problem is that the writing isn’t good enough to support expansive worldbuilding and a semi-predictable plot. for example, the characterisation isn’t sophisticated enough for the world they’re living in. take jessandra, a princess: ‘“No, Pa!” Jessandra screeched,’ is not the way you write a princess speaking to her father.
similarly there’s a lack of awareness of the positions of her characters. think of motivations: a king will not exile his ideal heir in favour of a daughter he hates WITHOUT contingency plans, especially knowing that if both kids are called wrong he’ll need a backup. once the readers realise this, our suspension of disbelief falls away, because there’s no way this is the first time this has happened. you’re telling me sunkin rules are just easily having more sunkin heirs?
we also have an issue with the villains. the first big bad, reuben, is insane, and that’s immediately going to tank the stakes. there’s no victory when you’re battling insanity because there’s no way to truly win beyong incapacitating them. i won’t spoil it blatantly, but this means that immediately we know that one of two things is going to happen to reuben, and there goes your sense of surprise. if you’re going to make the ruler insane, do it gradually. big bad two are the black cloaks, and they’re so overpowered that the author can’t have her characters beat them, so they have to become stupid. we’re told they’re all powerful and can teleport anywhere they’ve been, and yet the main characters outrun them and outmagic them at every turn, except when they need to be captured for the plot. anyway, these guys are kind of aimless for people who are so powerful they can go basically anywhere and do basically anything, until in the third act the author needs them to be good. they show up and do some capturing, so easily that we wonder why they couldn’t have done it earlier, and then wave manages to hold them off with that power she only just found out about, and they go back to being kind of ineffectual. we needed some damage to people we care about to create stakes with these villains, otherwise we don’t worry that they exist.
i hate conclusions so closing out here with a recommendation to read this if you like expansive wordlbuilding, magic systems and can deal with some colloquial languge and lack of differentiation between characters. it’s lovely to see work by an australian author in fantasy and i hope there’ll be some higher stakes in the sequel.
December 11, 2023
Overall, it’s 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
This book is marketed as a young adult fantasy, but I found it dancing into new adult fantasy a little bit, and that inconsistency messed with my head a little.
HOWEVER this had the bones of a really good, very well thought out, beautifully built fantasy novel.
It’s giving Avatar: The Last Airbender x Priory of the Orange Tree, and I really enjoyed it.
Writing style was easy to enjoy, and the characters were all interesting and unique to me. Even each culture in the land of Heredour had its own different qualities. You can tell the author has thought this out very well and made sure everything lines up.
The pacing had some dry spells, but not enough that I didn’t read this book at a considerable pace. And unlike most indie authors or books (typically those who don’t learn anything about writing a book before actually doing it), the ending was great. Perfect amount of suspense and release of tension, enough information and everything.
I will be continuing this series as they come along. I need to know what happens.
This book is marketed as a young adult fantasy, but I found it dancing into new adult fantasy a little bit, and that inconsistency messed with my head a little.
HOWEVER this had the bones of a really good, very well thought out, beautifully built fantasy novel.
It’s giving Avatar: The Last Airbender x Priory of the Orange Tree, and I really enjoyed it.
Writing style was easy to enjoy, and the characters were all interesting and unique to me. Even each culture in the land of Heredour had its own different qualities. You can tell the author has thought this out very well and made sure everything lines up.
The pacing had some dry spells, but not enough that I didn’t read this book at a considerable pace. And unlike most indie authors or books (typically those who don’t learn anything about writing a book before actually doing it), the ending was great. Perfect amount of suspense and release of tension, enough information and everything.
I will be continuing this series as they come along. I need to know what happens.
December 31, 2024
Oh my goodness what a beautiful debut!
I had the pleasure of meeting Peta at supernova in Brisbane and couldn’t resist buying her book. Not only was she and Mandi lovely, their stalls were stunning and I couldn’t wait to grab their books.
This is my last read of 2024 and I’m stoked to say that I loved it. Peta has built a beautifully unique world with complex history and layers. The thought and care that has gone into the world building and the slow build up of everything was done exceptionally well.
I loved the array of characters and how we saw them come together, the threads were done so well and I loved watching everything come to a head.
This book not only offers great writing, it has a unique world and magic system, clever gods and political intrigue. It’s filled with romance, adventure, hope and unlikely heroes which I love.
I’ll be sure to grab the sequel and I’m excited to see where this series goes next.
I had the pleasure of meeting Peta at supernova in Brisbane and couldn’t resist buying her book. Not only was she and Mandi lovely, their stalls were stunning and I couldn’t wait to grab their books.
This is my last read of 2024 and I’m stoked to say that I loved it. Peta has built a beautifully unique world with complex history and layers. The thought and care that has gone into the world building and the slow build up of everything was done exceptionally well.
I loved the array of characters and how we saw them come together, the threads were done so well and I loved watching everything come to a head.
This book not only offers great writing, it has a unique world and magic system, clever gods and political intrigue. It’s filled with romance, adventure, hope and unlikely heroes which I love.
I’ll be sure to grab the sequel and I’m excited to see where this series goes next.
May 11, 2025
I'm so totally in love! ❤️
This was such an epic, sweeping adventure! Following the young characters as they discover their powers and the world around them, and fate moves them like pieces on a board. As the story progresses you realise this story actually started with their parents, who are drawn back into the fight alongside their children! I freaking LOVE this concept! I always want stories of the next generation, how the fights and plights of the original struggles shape the future, and this story shows just that! It's beautifully written, and I loved the weaving of the plot.
This world Peta has created is fantastic! I love this story of waning magic in a dying world, discovering the lies that have purposely rewritten history, and discovering not everything has been lost!
I'm so excited to start the next book 😍 Peta Hawker has officially been added to my list of favourite authors!
This was such an epic, sweeping adventure! Following the young characters as they discover their powers and the world around them, and fate moves them like pieces on a board. As the story progresses you realise this story actually started with their parents, who are drawn back into the fight alongside their children! I freaking LOVE this concept! I always want stories of the next generation, how the fights and plights of the original struggles shape the future, and this story shows just that! It's beautifully written, and I loved the weaving of the plot.
This world Peta has created is fantastic! I love this story of waning magic in a dying world, discovering the lies that have purposely rewritten history, and discovering not everything has been lost!
I'm so excited to start the next book 😍 Peta Hawker has officially been added to my list of favourite authors!
August 27, 2024
Unwinding the Spiral by Peta Hawker is the first in her Union trilogy.
The story was fascinating, I loved the way the author wrote the multiple povs using the area so we could know where the character was at any point.
Seemingly unconnected, by the end of the book, the author had woven the story in such unique ways that they were all connected.
I’m learning that I love when a book ends in a way that makes me feel that a lot of questions have been answered, but I still have enough questions that the journey can continue. This book’s ending was that.
The author wrote the story in a way that was complex and understandable at the same time, I don’t know how else to describe it.
I loved this book, I am excited to start the sequel and grateful for the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts.
The story was fascinating, I loved the way the author wrote the multiple povs using the area so we could know where the character was at any point.
Seemingly unconnected, by the end of the book, the author had woven the story in such unique ways that they were all connected.
I’m learning that I love when a book ends in a way that makes me feel that a lot of questions have been answered, but I still have enough questions that the journey can continue. This book’s ending was that.
The author wrote the story in a way that was complex and understandable at the same time, I don’t know how else to describe it.
I loved this book, I am excited to start the sequel and grateful for the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts.
July 21, 2024
This is a beautiful debut novel! The story has great world building and character development throughout the book. The multiple POV is well done giving each character a different feel and voice.
The story starts off with Wave graduating from training and her life taking a drastic turn when a star crashes at her feet. In another part of this well crafted world, Jessandra runs from her betrothal and crosses paths with Wave. Wave and Jess travel together to learn more about the curse behind the star and discover much more than they anticipated.
Overall a great read! The start of the story was a little slow for me, but I felt the pacing improved as the story developed. Looking forward to the second book!
The story starts off with Wave graduating from training and her life taking a drastic turn when a star crashes at her feet. In another part of this well crafted world, Jessandra runs from her betrothal and crosses paths with Wave. Wave and Jess travel together to learn more about the curse behind the star and discover much more than they anticipated.
Overall a great read! The start of the story was a little slow for me, but I felt the pacing improved as the story developed. Looking forward to the second book!
August 4, 2024
This is the start of an exciting YA fantasy adventure! The author does an incredible job building up the story and the characters and the world building is incredible. An intriguing and interesting fantasy read, told with a dual pov, the author weaves their magic and pulls you in with the action, the adventure and an ancient curses, as we follow Wave and Jessandra on their extraordinary journey. It’s it me captivated and hooked and ready for book two.
May 28, 2025
3,5 stars.
I liked the use of common sense and the way the characters trusted their gut feelings. This made for a very satisfying story, where everything came together right when it should. But the whole book felt like an introduction to the second book, and I hope that will live up to my expectations.
I liked the use of common sense and the way the characters trusted their gut feelings. This made for a very satisfying story, where everything came together right when it should. But the whole book felt like an introduction to the second book, and I hope that will live up to my expectations.
April 25, 2024
A wonderful read, I truly love the immersive world and the characters. I connected so well to Wave and Jess's journey. I can't wait for the next book to come out, and I will absolutely read the prequel.
January 22, 2025
Couldn't put it down. love the world the magic. the characters are written in a way you feel like you're with them you feel their anger, their love, their distrust, how they lurn to use their powers.
dnf
March 13, 2024DNF @12%
September 6, 2025
A runaway princess, an exiled prince, hidden hairs to a throne that a mad king sets on while making deals with evil wizards who have twisted their own history and laws for unknown reasons.
Yep this book had me up late reading, but can you blame me, the storys is rich with details and the magic system is akin to avatar the last air bender.
The only thing that I struggle with was all the difference povs, but I also think that the povs are needed and made the book.
I look forward to reading more!
Yep this book had me up late reading, but can you blame me, the storys is rich with details and the magic system is akin to avatar the last air bender.
The only thing that I struggle with was all the difference povs, but I also think that the povs are needed and made the book.
I look forward to reading more!
September 15, 2022
In the interest of full disclosure, I never thought I would like a fantasy novel but this one changed my mind. Full of magical powers and creatures I never expected, (remember...new to this fantasy novel thing) but oh so fun to get lost in a world full of possibilities I would never have anticipated.
Easy to read, great story line, relatable characters, and an adventure that is easy to get addicted to. I loved, loved, loved it!!!
Now to wait for novel 2 of the series...
Easy to read, great story line, relatable characters, and an adventure that is easy to get addicted to. I loved, loved, loved it!!!
Now to wait for novel 2 of the series...
September 15, 2024
The story building of this book is absolutely incredible!! I was in the immersed into an entire world from all different POV from all the characters, and though at some points if I was interrupted I got a bit confused (which is on me not the author) I was instantly pulled back in.
Wave from the start was special. I could feel like her story was going to be complex, and the way her story was intertwined with her sisters and her mother was just incredible. When she meets Jessandra that's where I feel that we saw real progression in the storyline, but the information to get there was absolutely crucial.
Watching Wave grow, was a story just in itself, because she was horrible with people to start with haha. Watching her learnt how to navigate new people, friends, learning to trust. Watching her character blossom was brilliant.
The Black Cloaks and their 're-education' was creepy, and intriguing. Just putting that out there...
I am intrigued to see how the story goes, I will definitely be reading book 2.
Wave from the start was special. I could feel like her story was going to be complex, and the way her story was intertwined with her sisters and her mother was just incredible. When she meets Jessandra that's where I feel that we saw real progression in the storyline, but the information to get there was absolutely crucial.
Watching Wave grow, was a story just in itself, because she was horrible with people to start with haha. Watching her learnt how to navigate new people, friends, learning to trust. Watching her character blossom was brilliant.
The Black Cloaks and their 're-education' was creepy, and intriguing. Just putting that out there...
I am intrigued to see how the story goes, I will definitely be reading book 2.
July 1, 2024
Rating: 4.5
A beautifully written story that reminded me of a particular childhood favourite - Avatar the Last Airbender.
We mostly follow two perspective, Wave and Jessandra, both a sort of outcast from their peers. Wave doesn't fit in with her fellow waterkin, while Jessandra's father grows tired at her lack of power. After an interesting bit of setup at the beginning, the story really begins to pick up after something unthinkable happens to Wave, and it throws her and those around her into a release of truth and confrontation.
I really enjoy the concept of the Gods granting the people their powers, and that some can have a stronger connection and tap into more than others. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, as we learn with Wave and co. as they unravel more and more.
I look forward to reading the sequel, which I currently have an ARC for, to continue this journey. Hoping to see what happens to our beloved characters.
A beautifully written story that reminded me of a particular childhood favourite - Avatar the Last Airbender.
We mostly follow two perspective, Wave and Jessandra, both a sort of outcast from their peers. Wave doesn't fit in with her fellow waterkin, while Jessandra's father grows tired at her lack of power. After an interesting bit of setup at the beginning, the story really begins to pick up after something unthinkable happens to Wave, and it throws her and those around her into a release of truth and confrontation.
I really enjoy the concept of the Gods granting the people their powers, and that some can have a stronger connection and tap into more than others. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, as we learn with Wave and co. as they unravel more and more.
I look forward to reading the sequel, which I currently have an ARC for, to continue this journey. Hoping to see what happens to our beloved characters.
September 22, 2023
I loved this book! The multiple POVs were so intriguing to me and I sometimes struggle reading in more than one POV, but this book? Loved it!
The people we got to follow had such different lives and stories playing out that I just needed to know what was happening with everyone all the time.
I really loved the elemental aspect of this book as well, how everyone is trying to master one of the elements and some have multiple.
The curse aspect of this book was also really interesting to watch unfold and the twists and turns Peta takes the story as we discover more and more about it. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book and I cannot wait to continue this story in book 2 when it's released!
Highly recommend this book
The people we got to follow had such different lives and stories playing out that I just needed to know what was happening with everyone all the time.
I really loved the elemental aspect of this book as well, how everyone is trying to master one of the elements and some have multiple.
The curse aspect of this book was also really interesting to watch unfold and the twists and turns Peta takes the story as we discover more and more about it. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book and I cannot wait to continue this story in book 2 when it's released!
Highly recommend this book
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