"Flawed, real characters flesh out a fantasy novel that delves below battles and politics to the power of bonds both familial and chosen." - Lisbeth Ivies
A descendent of the demon Lilith, Captain Reign Lilim has one duty – protecting her kingdom’s monarch from the demons devastating their land. For the safety of their princess, Reign’s troop has spent three years isolated from society, but as hell’s crumbling gates begin allowing the damned further access to their world, they’re recalled to base. When Reign’s mother, the Queen’s second, begins unloading a lifetime’s worth of secrets, Reign’s left clambering for a way to save humanity from extinction.
Elliot holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University.
Their debut novel, Children of Lilith, received many glowing reviews and is available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover. Their published poetry and short stories can be found in the digital magazine The Dope Fiend. They actively contribute to the LGBTQ+ community by creating more inclusive works in the fantasy genre, specifically for those on the bi-spectrum and genderqueer individuals such as themselves.
As a descendant of the demon Lilith, Captain Reign Lilim has one responsibility: to defend the monarch of her kingdom from the demons who are wreaking havoc on their world. Reign's troops have spent the last three years hiding away from the rest of civilization to ensure the protection of their princess. However, as hell's failing gates begin to give the damned more access to their planet, they have been summoned back to their base of operations. When Reign's mother, the Queen's second, starts divulging long-kept secrets, Reign is left frantically searching for a solution to prevent the destruction of all humankind.
As you've probably already garnered from the above summary, the scope of Reign by Elliot Foree is majestic, brimming with detail and ideas and teeming with characters, languages, and perspectives. Elliot Foree deftly navigates her way through a thorny and twisted tale of morality, anguish, and trauma—taking elements of fantasy, her experience, and her own imagination and pasting them into a beautifully rendered fantastical collage that has representation in sorely needed ways.
All the characters in this novel are so intricately crafted, and their layers, as well as their motives, are masterfully unveiled, bit by bit, and even though the plot slowly unfolds at times, these characters will manage to keep you moving forward. Reign and Dane have a friendship forged in the heat of the situation, which later engenders a feverish mutual respect. This book deserves praise for the remarkable quality of sapphic material it contains.
Elliot Foree gives us a character that can bring light into us while reading this because of what she overcame and what she achieved. Reign Lilim is a character who did not allow herself to be let down, held down by anyone. But she found herself valuable, in herself and in others. Reign was able to make a difference in her life and in others'. She was a different kind of character, and everything that she did was beyond beautiful, as if she was the one painting her world for you to see it for what it really is.
This was such a strong debut by Elliot Foree. Her writing is gorgeous and teleported me straight into the world of Reign. There is so much to like here—an empowering central female character, great political intrigue, a huge female cast with strong potential, and thematic issues which, while tough to read at times, are dealt with so powerfully and carefully. Reign’s story takes some time to build up in the beginning, since her motivations and goals as a character aren’t quite clear yet. But once that drive was initiated and the plot got moving, it was so easy to get into the book and be swept up in this unforgettably brutal yet beautiful story.
With all that aside, there are many aspects of the book that I think demand deeper examination. Elliot Foree weaves in powerful themes of self-empowerment and self-love, identity and self-discovery, while fervently denouncing the objectification of women. The author does a great job of creating impressive female characters. They are all fascinating, diverse, and very different in both background and attitude to their circumstances.
All told, Reign by Elliot Foree was a good book. The author kept me invested in the story, and the writing style was easy to read. The ending was pretty interesting, and I’m very curious about what will happen in the next book in the Cambion Series. If you’re a fantasy reader who enjoys high fantasy and beautifully done queer rep, I absolutely recommend picking up a copy of Reign: The Cambion Series, Volume I.
Elliot Foree's Reign is a fascinating fantasy story that deals with some thought-provoking themes, such as emotional intimacy, endurance, loneliness, bravery, and discrimination. The work is certainly in a league of its own when it comes to the sheer thematic weight it conveys, making reading it a genuine experience that is unlike any other.
Elliot Foree's writing is an absolute delight, brimming with zinger dialogue and bone-dry humor. Reign is a fantastic main character because she is rebellious, unstoppable, and charming. Her relationship with Dane is wonderfully depicted. Author Elliot leads us on this beautiful adventure, where twists occur so seamlessly that you can’t help but feel completely enthralled. The writing is beautiful, and the way the entire story is told is so very transportive!
The story starts off a little slow but picks up steam steadily, becoming increasingly multi-layered and compelling as it propels the reader toward an intense, heart-pounding ending. Fortunately, this is the first book in The Cambion Series, and I can't wait to see what happens in the follow-up book! Highly recommended.
Reign is a debut fantasy novel by Elliot Foree . It’s queer, it borders on grimdark, it’s full of political intrigue, and it’s painful. It combines unique worldbuilding, some fascinating twists and turns in the plot, intriguing and unique main characters, and an engaging writing style.
Reign as a main character had my attention from start to finish. There are layers and layers to the emotional and political conflicts she navigates, and honestly, she doesn’t always make sensible or healthy decisions. Given Reign’s massive amount of trauma, the life or death situations she finds herself in, and the complicated political alliances she’s navigating while extraordinarily out of her depth, I think her flaws and messiness are believable and part of what makes her a compelling main character.
In this novel, Elliot Foree created a queer normative world, and the sexuality of characters are not used as plot points. The plot contains a slow burn sapphic romance. In conclusion this was a strong start to The Cambion Series. Overall, The Unbroken is the kind of fantasy book that will draw readers in and possibly polarize them in the process. Highly recommended for those who are looking for fantasy that really pushes boundaries.
In Reign, Elliot Foree created a dense and complex world, and with a little patience, absolutely fascinating. This surely has a detailed and unique fantasies written.
Elliot masterfully displays the effects of war on people’s identity, hopes and culture. Furthermore, the reader is reminded of our past's realities and how it affects people to this day. She also focuses on the complexity of faith and how our experiences can weaken our faith. These themes make Reign a compelling and important read, and Elliot Foree deserves credit for dealing with these issues in such a powerful manner.
Moreover, Reign is terrific character with depth and complex interests and motivations. She struggles with her identity and her experiences. In conclusion, The Reign by Elliot Foree is a unique fantasy book that deals with some important issues.