These Shattered Truths

by Siri Sandford

Young adult, epic fantasy, with a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that will keep you in suspense until the end.

A book that will keep you " Having a character with amnesia is always super engaging, because at the end of the day, the question always remains as to who you can trust with what they say about you and your past." - 5 star reviewer from GoodReads.

THE HEIRESS — DESTINED TO RULE A REGION FOREVER IN FLAMEAva is used to the dusty air of her parent's dull apartment. She never expects to leave, and she certainly never expects to move on from the grief that coils around her heart like a snake. When her roguish friend Levi convinces her to investigate a voicemail left by her mother before she died, Ava is forced to face her past and search for the memories she lost many months ago. They go to a mysterious library hidden within the bustling city of Grymyr. There she meets a shadow that hides behind the circle window. A shadow that reintroduces her to the sonder and turns Ava's world upside down. While investigating the curious world of the sonder with Levi, Ava falls through the very folds of reality and onto a balcony in the middle of a snowy landscape. At the manor, she finds a figure from her past, a boy with golden eyes, who rekindles the memories she thought she had lost forever. If Ava wants to survive in this ever-changing world, she must find herself, learn to control her powers through the sonder, and save the region she once called home. Otherwise, she will lose everything she has finally come to understand to the enemies that lurk in the shadows of Kanaleigh.

THE SPARROW — A MASTER OF THE SWORD AND MINDRaiden is the sparrow of Wyntryn, a sworn protector of the land. But with his kingdom in tatters and his mentor Alys lost to death, he struggles to find his place in the world. To save the region, Rais must locate the lost talismans of Wyntryn and the heiress to the throne. He travels the continent investigating the talismans and his mentor's death. Until Rais finally comes face to face with his lost love at the Wyntryn Manor, and he abandons his search for the ancient artifacts. He has to find a way to keep the heiress alive and protect his people from the tyrant queen and the mysterious society that threaten their lives. But when Rais has to choose between protecting the heiress or avenging his mentor’s death, he has to make a life-changing decision that may cost him everything he has ever wished for.

With fire and lightning, the heiress and the sparrow fight for the region they call home.

Genres: Fantasy

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2022

About the author

These Treacherous Lies, book two in the Sonder Trilogy is being released October 1st!

Some random facts about me:
- As soon as I can I am getting a Doberman ... because I simply need one in my life.
- My favorite color is yellow, but I would never wear or decorate with it. I just really love that color for some unexplainable reason.
- I have watched The Office from start to finish more than nine times. Why? I have no clue.

Not that this is a surprise to other writers, but my mind has always been buzzing with stories. I cannot remember a time when I didn't have vivid daydreams of characters living epic lives in another world. I think my love of fantasy started long ago when I first discovered anime. That may sound odd, but it's true. I didn't start reading young adult fantasy until two years ago, but somehow anime made me obsessed with fantasy long before then. I began creating characters and crafting worlds for them to live in. Then one day somewhere in 2020 or 2021, it all clicked. All of the worlds I created meshed into one, and thus, the web of the sonderverse was born.

I am a young, self-published author, but that certainly doesn't and won't hold me back. I hope to continue to write books for the rest of my life because I am never happier than when I'm immersed in my own head. (Seriously, it might be an issue.)

Beyond my pursuit of writing, I also value my education. I am currently pursuing my bachelor's in psychology. I think both the mind and the sociology behind people are fascinating. I want to mend my passions together and be able to write accurate depictions of people based on psychology and sociological concepts.

Reviews

[Siri Sandford]

If you have somehow come across my book, welcome to the sonderverse! Since Goodreads is meant for readers, I will not be responding to any reviews here. I am only making this post to give some information that isn't listed anywhere else.

* this is my debut novel: there are typos and some amateur mistakes, if that makes a book unreadable to you, then this may not be the best fit *

This book deals with mental health, grief, and heavy emotional burdens. I would rate it PG-13, but as a precaution, I have listed a few content warnings below.
- Death (shown)
- Violence
- Gore (vivid descriptions)
- Romance (sub-plot; all PG)
- Mild use of profanity
- Parental death and abandonment
- Grief

If you want to know more about me or the sonderverse, you are welcome to check out my website:
www.sirisandford.com

I hope you have a wonderful day!

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Siri, for sending me an ARC of this book!

3.75/5 Stars

This book follows the characters Ava the heiress of Wyntryn and Rais the Sparrow of Wyntryn. As Rais is helping Ava regain her memories and power after a recent accident which left her with a blank past. This book introduces a beautiful world filled with many different regions and a variety of characters. The book is a little slow paced, which I understand is going into setting up the rest of the trilogy. With this there is a lot of descriptive world building, character development, and politics. The only reason I did not give this book four stars is due to my preference of fast paced books. This is an interesting fantasy novel, dealing with lots of the politics between the different regions and its leaders.

The descriptions of the world within the book were so well done I could visually see into the world so vividly. The library and the manor have become places I would give everything to visit in real life. If you are fan of The Cruel Prince, you will enjoy this book as it has many of the same elements. Including a slow burn romance, descriptive world building, and politics. There also is a ballroom scene, giving everything you would want! This kept me on the edge of my toes throughout ending of the book. As there is lots of anticipation, betrayal, friendship, love, war, and power.

I recommend reading These Shattered Truths, I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Sonder trilogy!

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Omg i really enjoyed this book!! Thank you so much to the author for gifting me this book!! I literally can’t wait for the next book to be released!!!

[Kat0pathic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted the second book as an arc. However, I hadn’t read the first so naturally I needed to start at the beginning. Overall I’d give the book a 3.5-4 stars. If you are just getting into fantasy this is an extremely easy read but still has enough descriptive wording to give a clear view of the characters clothing and surroundings without feeling like you’re reading a different language. I found myself easily envisioning the world and characters without feeling overwhelmed. There isn’t much action in the first book which is to be expected as the first book is usually meant for character introductions and world building. But that didn’t stop me from devouring it in a single day. The magic system was very unique to me. Not in the elemental sense but the overall traveling from one place to another through the mind. Which is also not a new concept but the author made it unique with her descriptive wording and you feel like you’re experiencing it with the characters. I love that we are on a journey with the main character to restore her memories. It’s a constant puzzle piece you are begging to find more answers to which in turn makes this an amazing page turner. I’ve already started book two and I cannot wait. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to review these books!

[Heather Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Shattered Truths is perfect for someone who is just starting out in fantasy. It was a little slow to start, but I'm glad I kept going. I was instantly hooked and kept wanting to know and learn more.

These Shattered Truths follows Ava, the heiress of Wyntryn and Rais, the Sparrow of Wyntryn. After a tragic accident, Ava is left with no memories of the past and without her mom. She's struggling every day to get over her grief but with the help of her best friend Levi she might just get there. While reading this book you go on a journey with Ava, learning what characters you can trust and which ones you can't. Can she uncover all her lost memories and become whole again? Can she trust her best friend who she doesn't remember at all? Or trust Rais, someone who feels like home and comfort even though she doesn't remember him?

This book definitely touches a side of you, if you ever experienced grief or even just wishing you could say something/ anything to that special someone who has passed along. We all wish we could talk to our loved ones or even just access those memories one last time.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava is the heiress to Wyntryn, a region abandoned by its people. After an accident that not only stole her mother's life but her memories, Ava is lost. Abandoned in a dull apartment in the bustling city of Grymyr. When she visits a library in search of clues from her past, she rediscovers her powers through the sonder and is forced to face the evils her mother left behind in death.

I could not put this book down. Seriously, once I started reading I just had to know what was going to happen next. Sandford has this knack for world building that is just so impressive. She built the most beautiful backdrop for her story and I would give just about anything to visit the library.

I loved the interactions between the characters, especially Ava and Rais. Rais does such a good job at helping Ava come into her own strength instead of trying to be this hero that she doesn’t need. Ava is strong in her own right and I love her for that.

I would have liked to see more of Levi so that we had more of an idea how deep the betrayal was. Overall this is a great debut novel from Siri Sandford and I can’t wait for the next book!

[Micheala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this work and the authors passion for writing. The writing is excellent and paints a wonderful image of the world the characters are inhabiting. Her writing style brings you into the story and makes you love and sympathize with the characters. Absolutely read this book, I cannot recommend it enough.

[Gabby Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as Part of the ARC for Book 2.

I enjoyed it and can see the potential. The magic system and world building was fantastic 👏 👌

A little slow but I've come to expect that from book 1's in a high fantasy series.

Onto Book 2!!

[Gwen Remington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story from this new writer. I can not wait to see how the story develops!

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best damn motherfuckin book a hoe has eva read. Trash ass hoes that disagree ain’t know shit about true literature. And that’s on PERIODTT

[Carson Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just don’t think this was my type of book, but regardless it had an amazing plot and I 100% would recommend this to anyone that is into fantasy. I will definitely be getting the second book.

[Stephen Sandford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bold new voice bursts onto the scene in These Shattered Truths by Siri Sandford. In this first novel, she introduces a fresh but familiar world, filled with compelling characters, that allows the author to explore critical, relevant themes of human relationships among individuals and within larger societies. Nothing is off limits as she squares off with difficult individual and social issues. Her characters, operating in a wide magical new creation, remind us of our own experiences and ring true enough that the reader is forced to consider how it all relates to their own lives.

Kanaleigh is a brave world, not too different from our own in the most important ways. With continents, seas, and varied realms, it serves both to draw the reader into its reality and as a stage for exploring and illuminating the journeys of its heroes and villains. The author not only conceived this world but also created the map (as well as the illustrations throughout) giving the whole work a continuity not often found. Kanaleigh is itself the source of power for the life that inhabits its many regions, and through the Sonder this power becomes accessible. I am not always a fan of the supernatural but in the hands of Ms. Sandford, the use of extra powers, derived from the universe itself, feels almost natural.

The young woman, Ava, at the heart of the story, is commanding. She comes alive through her vulnerabilities, her struggles, her honesty and resilience. Although she is the heiress to the throne of Wyntryn, her authenticity captures and animates the people in our world in similar circumstances. The Sparrow, Raiden, another protector of Ava's homeland, Wyntryn, has a similar range from superpowers to the normal everyday doubts and fears that each of us face. Other characters, equally important to the story, also breathe life into the author's vision of Kanaleigh.

Ms. Sandford has given us an important new world, complete with its own language, territories, politics, and physics. She writes and illustrates with a unique style, both compact and complete, that stimulates the reader's own experience - allowing other imaginations to contribute to her own. I highly recommend These Shattered Truths for anyone interested in the truth of our own world and life experiences. And I am waiting anxiously for the second book to see how Ava and Raiden each reach their potential as they navigate through the conflicts encountered so far.

[Lyric · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been fun learning about the Sonder and the worldbuilding of Kanaleigh. Having a character with amnesia is always super engaging, because at the end of the day, the question always remains as to who you can trust with what they say about you and your past. No spoilers, but that ending? God that got to me. Amazing job.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was thoroughly enjoyable and an easy read! It’s a great place to start if you’re looking into fantasy and it’s chock-full of emotion. I finished this one in a day after an awful reading slump. Safe to say I have ended my reading slump and cannot wait to start on the second one!