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Seven Lives Saved
Kathka is dead.
Once a powerful king, he is now a soul cursed to remain tethered for eternity to the Wise One, his murderer and the only god left in the world. But the god offers him a deal.
If he saves seven lives, the god will grant him a second life. Kathka accepts the deal, willing to do whatever necessary to obtain a new life and accomplish what he could not in his first - kill the Wise One.
However, the world he returns to has changed. A new empire reigns, presided over by the religious cult of the Bu Chak that searches for those cursed by the gods, including Kathka.
Surrounded by new technology and a culture he does not understand, Kathka flees for his own life while seeking the seven he is tasked to save. As the world continues to crumble, Kathka cannot ignore the rising doubt that he may not be able to save even one.
Once a powerful king, he is now a soul cursed to remain tethered for eternity to the Wise One, his murderer and the only god left in the world. But the god offers him a deal.
If he saves seven lives, the god will grant him a second life. Kathka accepts the deal, willing to do whatever necessary to obtain a new life and accomplish what he could not in his first - kill the Wise One.
However, the world he returns to has changed. A new empire reigns, presided over by the religious cult of the Bu Chak that searches for those cursed by the gods, including Kathka.
Surrounded by new technology and a culture he does not understand, Kathka flees for his own life while seeking the seven he is tasked to save. As the world continues to crumble, Kathka cannot ignore the rising doubt that he may not be able to save even one.
- GenresFantasy
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Lydia MacClaren
4 books20 followersLydia MacClaren has been writing stories since her earliest memories. She lives in rural Pennsylvania with her loving husband and sweet daughter. When she is not chasing around a never-sleeping baby, she writes. When she is not writing, she dreams about her fictional worlds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 8, 2022
So I have mix feelings with this book. I did like that the action happens in the desert and love it the dragons. But the world building of the book is confusing, and we know little about the background of the characters. And the ending seems more like a beginning. Finally why the Wise One, the more interesting and mysterious character, did not have more scenes?
December 23, 2022
This is now one of my favorite fantasy reads😍 the whole book is fast paced and the Kath’s character arc is so good. There is one death that I’m straight up mad about because why??? But no spoilers! If you’re looking for a clean YA read with dragons and mystery and little to no romance, this is your next read! The end of the book definitely hints towards more so I’m hoping for a sequel 🤩
December 31, 2022
I found this book through TikTok and I follow the author there. I originally got a digital ARC way back in July but ended up buying a physical copy when I wasn’t progressing through the ebook very well. (That’s a personal problem, I don’t love digital format and it’s hard for me to get through books because of it.) This is a debut novel from this author, and it definitely shows.
Was it a bad book? No, not really. Was it a good book? Eh, I’m not sure I’d go that far either. What this book excels in is concept. The ideas are great and I very much enjoyed seeing different ideas being introduced. The problem is that those concepts and ideas are not fleshed out or developed. At all.
There is a lot of telling and very little showing in this story. A good example of this is the number of times that guards or a random group of characters are “talking among themselves” and our main character is listening in. Except he’s not really listening. He doesn’t relay any of the words spoken and while not every overheard conversation needs to serve the plot, it should at least build the world. I actually like the eavesdropping trope and I think it can be used really well to flesh out minor characters and build the world. But in this book there are, to my best recall, is not one single overheard conversation that matters. I could be wrong, but I know for sure that there are too many times when we just hear the “murmuring” of people talking. It got annoying after a while because I kept wanting more from the world and that’s a golden opportunity to flesh it out and it was never taken.
There is also a lot of repetition of ideas. If I took a shot every time something was repeated in an overly dramatic way, I would be in the ER before the halfway point. The main character repeats how there’s blood on his hands a million times, there are generic nightmares over and over, and every character is described in basically the same way every time. This leads into a secondary problem, the poetic nature of the story.
I like poetic sentences. I like poetry. Fantasy is especially known for some really strong poetic sentences and descriptions. The problem is that if you let it go too far you end up sacrificing the plot, character development, and world building to sound cool. I think every chapter of this book ends on what is supposed to be a very dramatic line. But a lot of them were similar (repetition again) and if you end every chapter with a dramatic flourish then you eventually cheapen that flourish. Also, poetic description is okay until I cannot understand what is literally happening because the author wants to sound cool. Towards the end, a character is described as “the man who saw visions of rain.” He doesn’t see literal visions. So what does that mean? What the heck is that supposed to tell me about him? I have gained nothing from that line but wow does it sound dramatic. Like I said, I like poetic language. You just have to know when to pull back so that things are still understandable.
I think the biggest problem with this book is very simple: the author bit off more than she could chew. Good for her though! She went for it! The ideas she uses are not used often in fiction. They’re things that a lot of people want to read and rarely have the chance. But there’s a reason that the concepts and ideas are uncommon: they’re difficult to pull off. They’re difficult for ANYONE to pull off, let alone for an author publishing their first novel. There’s no shame in that, I’m not trying to call her out for it at all. Everyone tries things beyond their capabilities and I think that’s awesome.
The author of this novel has a lot of potential. I hope she continues writing and publishing books. I think that over time she’s going to learn a lot and I hope she thrives as a writer. This was just, in my opinion, not the right first novel for her. And of course, all of this is just my opinion. If you enjoy desert books with dragons and a lot of interesting concepts, get a copy of this novel! I will continue following this author and maybe in a few more books I’ll give her another try.
Was it a bad book? No, not really. Was it a good book? Eh, I’m not sure I’d go that far either. What this book excels in is concept. The ideas are great and I very much enjoyed seeing different ideas being introduced. The problem is that those concepts and ideas are not fleshed out or developed. At all.
There is a lot of telling and very little showing in this story. A good example of this is the number of times that guards or a random group of characters are “talking among themselves” and our main character is listening in. Except he’s not really listening. He doesn’t relay any of the words spoken and while not every overheard conversation needs to serve the plot, it should at least build the world. I actually like the eavesdropping trope and I think it can be used really well to flesh out minor characters and build the world. But in this book there are, to my best recall, is not one single overheard conversation that matters. I could be wrong, but I know for sure that there are too many times when we just hear the “murmuring” of people talking. It got annoying after a while because I kept wanting more from the world and that’s a golden opportunity to flesh it out and it was never taken.
There is also a lot of repetition of ideas. If I took a shot every time something was repeated in an overly dramatic way, I would be in the ER before the halfway point. The main character repeats how there’s blood on his hands a million times, there are generic nightmares over and over, and every character is described in basically the same way every time. This leads into a secondary problem, the poetic nature of the story.
I like poetic sentences. I like poetry. Fantasy is especially known for some really strong poetic sentences and descriptions. The problem is that if you let it go too far you end up sacrificing the plot, character development, and world building to sound cool. I think every chapter of this book ends on what is supposed to be a very dramatic line. But a lot of them were similar (repetition again) and if you end every chapter with a dramatic flourish then you eventually cheapen that flourish. Also, poetic description is okay until I cannot understand what is literally happening because the author wants to sound cool. Towards the end, a character is described as “the man who saw visions of rain.” He doesn’t see literal visions. So what does that mean? What the heck is that supposed to tell me about him? I have gained nothing from that line but wow does it sound dramatic. Like I said, I like poetic language. You just have to know when to pull back so that things are still understandable.
I think the biggest problem with this book is very simple: the author bit off more than she could chew. Good for her though! She went for it! The ideas she uses are not used often in fiction. They’re things that a lot of people want to read and rarely have the chance. But there’s a reason that the concepts and ideas are uncommon: they’re difficult to pull off. They’re difficult for ANYONE to pull off, let alone for an author publishing their first novel. There’s no shame in that, I’m not trying to call her out for it at all. Everyone tries things beyond their capabilities and I think that’s awesome.
The author of this novel has a lot of potential. I hope she continues writing and publishing books. I think that over time she’s going to learn a lot and I hope she thrives as a writer. This was just, in my opinion, not the right first novel for her. And of course, all of this is just my opinion. If you enjoy desert books with dragons and a lot of interesting concepts, get a copy of this novel! I will continue following this author and maybe in a few more books I’ll give her another try.
June 4, 2022
*I received this book's ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Why did I choose this book?
I was looking for something different in terms of setting, plot and main character, and this book seemed to fit all my requirements. Plus, I knew there would be dragons! The mere presence of dragons was already a good reason to read it.
I haven't read many books set in the desert, and since I was deeply attracted by the idea of someone making a deal with a god (who's also his murderer) to get a second shot in life. It's not a completely new plot, but it's intriguing nonetheless.
♢ Did I enjoy it?
I didn't completely hate it, that's for sure. The writing style is really smooth and helps you read it pretty quickly. At the same time, I can't really say I loved it either for a series of elements that I'll try to analyse in detail below.
♢ The plot
The plot is pretty linear, while I usually tend more towards readings with several plot twists and conspiracy. There are some action scenes, but they were insufficient to make up for the linearity of the story. However, I still think this type of story might be appreciated by a slightly younger public.
There are a couple points that I still can figure out, and I'm wondering if it's something that could be explained in a potential sequel or not.
♢ Lack of details
It might be due to my love for epic fantasy classics, but all throughout the book I kept having the feeling that there were so many details missing. The worldbuilding felt really basic, and what we get to know about the famous "seven lives" (and even the main character himself) is basically nothing.
Sure, descriptions are risky because they can get boring, but some flashbacks to expand the characters and some more descriptions about the geography/history/traditions of the setting would have probably helped me be more intrigued by the whole story.
♢ The main character
Lastly, a couple words about Kath.
He could have potentially been pretty cool (we're talking about someone who has reincarnated after being killed by a god, after all), but he kept having the same two thoughts for about two thirds of the book:
1) "I want to kill the Wise One"
2) "I don't want to save these people but I have to if I want to stay alive and kill the Wise One"
Due to this it was virtually impossible for me to empathise with him.
Overall, I'd say this is a book that this book could have a better potential if more space were given to all the "background" (both for setting and characters) and if the character development of Kath were less sudden.
Why did I choose this book?
I was looking for something different in terms of setting, plot and main character, and this book seemed to fit all my requirements. Plus, I knew there would be dragons! The mere presence of dragons was already a good reason to read it.
I haven't read many books set in the desert, and since I was deeply attracted by the idea of someone making a deal with a god (who's also his murderer) to get a second shot in life. It's not a completely new plot, but it's intriguing nonetheless.
♢ Did I enjoy it?
I didn't completely hate it, that's for sure. The writing style is really smooth and helps you read it pretty quickly. At the same time, I can't really say I loved it either for a series of elements that I'll try to analyse in detail below.
♢ The plot
The plot is pretty linear, while I usually tend more towards readings with several plot twists and conspiracy. There are some action scenes, but they were insufficient to make up for the linearity of the story. However, I still think this type of story might be appreciated by a slightly younger public.
There are a couple points that I still can figure out, and I'm wondering if it's something that could be explained in a potential sequel or not.
♢ Lack of details
It might be due to my love for epic fantasy classics, but all throughout the book I kept having the feeling that there were so many details missing. The worldbuilding felt really basic, and what we get to know about the famous "seven lives" (and even the main character himself) is basically nothing.
Sure, descriptions are risky because they can get boring, but some flashbacks to expand the characters and some more descriptions about the geography/history/traditions of the setting would have probably helped me be more intrigued by the whole story.
♢ The main character
Lastly, a couple words about Kath.
He could have potentially been pretty cool (we're talking about someone who has reincarnated after being killed by a god, after all), but he kept having the same two thoughts for about two thirds of the book:
1) "I want to kill the Wise One"
2) "I don't want to save these people but I have to if I want to stay alive and kill the Wise One"
Due to this it was virtually impossible for me to empathise with him.
Overall, I'd say this is a book that this book could have a better potential if more space were given to all the "background" (both for setting and characters) and if the character development of Kath were less sudden.
June 6, 2022
OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. I love this book. Love love love. Easily one of the best books I've read this year.
It has dragons. It has a main character redemption arc. It has a grumpy/sunshine romance. This is everything I look for in a fantasy novel.
Plenty of debut fantasy books are very...confusing and rapid-fire. Seven Lives Saved is not that. This book has fantastic lore that is not over-described. It has gods and historical conquerors that have impacted the present. It has floating islands and a world-divided.
I don't even know what to write in this review because I genuinely think this book cannot be improved upon. The characters are lovable and the plot is fantastic. Perhaps the only critique I have is that the climax happened too fast. Though, that is a personal preference of mine, as I prefer slow-paced books.
I have little to say other than every fantasy-lover should read this book. I hope it comes out in print so I can buy it and display it on my shelf. I cannot wait to read more by Lydia MacClaren.
Thank you BookSirens for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
It has dragons. It has a main character redemption arc. It has a grumpy/sunshine romance. This is everything I look for in a fantasy novel.
Plenty of debut fantasy books are very...confusing and rapid-fire. Seven Lives Saved is not that. This book has fantastic lore that is not over-described. It has gods and historical conquerors that have impacted the present. It has floating islands and a world-divided.
I don't even know what to write in this review because I genuinely think this book cannot be improved upon. The characters are lovable and the plot is fantastic. Perhaps the only critique I have is that the climax happened too fast. Though, that is a personal preference of mine, as I prefer slow-paced books.
I have little to say other than every fantasy-lover should read this book. I hope it comes out in print so I can buy it and display it on my shelf. I cannot wait to read more by Lydia MacClaren.
Thank you BookSirens for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 21, 2022
wow just wow! the world building, the characters, the DRAGONS, the plot, grumpy/sunshine romance, redemption arc… i’m in love!!
i don’t want to say too many spoilers in my review because i really believe every fantasy lover should read this. but guys I promise you’ll love it. the whole magic system/lore is so well written and not too in-depth that you have no idea what is going on which i find a lot of fantasy books do, so it’s perfect for those wanting to dip their toe into the fantasy genre!! the characters are amazing and their bond and the way they band together is one of the many reason why i loved reading the book.
the only thing i will say is that the climax of the book happened pretty soon in the story BUT it worked well, as it is a fast paced fantasy but i think that’s just me being a picky reader and probably just because I wanted the book to never end🤣
an amazing debut fantasy novel, thank you @lydiamacclaren for sending me a copy of the eARC, I truly loved every page
i don’t want to say too many spoilers in my review because i really believe every fantasy lover should read this. but guys I promise you’ll love it. the whole magic system/lore is so well written and not too in-depth that you have no idea what is going on which i find a lot of fantasy books do, so it’s perfect for those wanting to dip their toe into the fantasy genre!! the characters are amazing and their bond and the way they band together is one of the many reason why i loved reading the book.
the only thing i will say is that the climax of the book happened pretty soon in the story BUT it worked well, as it is a fast paced fantasy but i think that’s just me being a picky reader and probably just because I wanted the book to never end🤣
an amazing debut fantasy novel, thank you @lydiamacclaren for sending me a copy of the eARC, I truly loved every page
May 27, 2022
This was such a refreshing read — and one that solidified my love of desert-world fantasies!
There was something about the writing style that absorbed me even before the story did; it was simple yet waxed philosophical, and Kath’s voice was mystifying but not withholding. He was a splendidly complex character to follow and his interactions with other characters (namely, Nana & Brat the dragon🥺) were some of my favorite parts!
And then the STORY. The plot was so unique: a long-dead king resurrected with a second chance at life hinging on his ability to save seven lives. The world-building was done delicately and I loved how Kath interpreted the technology that surfaced in his absence. I was NOT expecting the islands to be as they were — I kind of wished there had been more clarification about the whole islanders vs. desert dweller situation, but I did enjoy how it played out as a nice, subtle twist!
Really, really, really enjoyed this one. Thank you so much Lydia for the early review copy! I thought very highly of SLS and can’t wait to snag a physical copy!
There was something about the writing style that absorbed me even before the story did; it was simple yet waxed philosophical, and Kath’s voice was mystifying but not withholding. He was a splendidly complex character to follow and his interactions with other characters (namely, Nana & Brat the dragon🥺) were some of my favorite parts!
And then the STORY. The plot was so unique: a long-dead king resurrected with a second chance at life hinging on his ability to save seven lives. The world-building was done delicately and I loved how Kath interpreted the technology that surfaced in his absence. I was NOT expecting the islands to be as they were — I kind of wished there had been more clarification about the whole islanders vs. desert dweller situation, but I did enjoy how it played out as a nice, subtle twist!
Really, really, really enjoyed this one. Thank you so much Lydia for the early review copy! I thought very highly of SLS and can’t wait to snag a physical copy!
June 7, 2022
I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
One of the things that I greatly appreciated about this book is that it is a relatively clean book without mature content besides some violence. The book also holds a good message and a satisfying character arc. I can see this book being a great option for younger advanced readers as well as enjoyed by older readers who want a cleaner read. The central characters are I would guess in their 20s-30s which may be the most alienating part of this book for younger readers and causing a larger resonance with older audiences. I would recommend this book for ages 13+ based purely on content, and not reading level.
I will admit that it takes a bit to get into the story. The beginning of the novel is a bit slow but it eventually picks up. The characters are unique in their own ways and there are some stereotypes among characters, but there are still surprises throughout the book that are surprising and keep the book interesting. I do feel like the development of the characters throughout was a bit lacking in some respects. Characters developed too quickly in expected ways, and there was a slight lack in my opinion of the internal struggles that come with character development. I also found many of the driving forces behind characters to be shallow, and at times I was confused about why characters acted the way they did.
This book also includes dragons and I am a big fan. The way the dragons connect with humans is also incredibly interesting and I wish there was more exploration of this relationship gone wrong. My biggest complaint about the dragons is that they seem to only come in a single color. I love the world building, placing the novel somewhere between fantasy with some modern world technologies sprinkled in. The lore of the world is interesting and, I want to know more about the gods that inhabit the world. All in all, I believe this is a great debut novel by Lydia MacClaren and, I am excited to see what else she comes up with.
WARNING SPOILERS!!:
Diving a bit deeper into the book comes a few more moments in the book that rubbed me the wrong way. The inclusion of modern technology throughout the book added an interesting level of confusion for Kathka, but I had a hard time understanding why older technologies did not become obsolete with newer technologies. I understand that even though cars are a better way to travel than horses, sometimes horses and camels are preferable in the desert. However, I do not understand why bows are arrows were still used when guns existed or even why swords were used.
I also did not understand why the cursed were kept alive for as long as they were. It seems much simpler to just kill the cursed-on sight. Also, I would be interested in hearing how Nana’s curse works and if it’s only passed down after someone dies, or if everyone in the family posses the same curse. I also would have been interested in how curses varied, and if there were those cursed by different gods than the Wise One. The difference between the cursed desert inhabitants versus the blessed Islanders was never explained. What did it mean to be blessed? And how did being blessed occur?
I feel not a great enough connection was established through the main deaths in the book of Brat and Mell. There needed to be a greater explanation of the emotional turmoil of the lose of these two lives. Brat’s death was more impactful that Mell. I also think that the question of whether Kathka immediately failed his task of saving seven lives after Mell’s death was a little glossed over. The lack of impact of the deaths may have been due to Kathka’s own outlook on death, but with Mell’s death also came that level of failure that I feel the Blood King would not have enjoyed.
There were a few characters that felt depthless. Pashka was really confusing to me. Why did he keep telling Kathka that he was going to be entertainment when this never really played out. I also never understood why they were trying to pass Kathka as an Islander nobel or even what Pashka wanted. Was he after money, or was he just fueled by hate? For a man fueled by hate, he gave Kathka quite the cushy jail cell and even gave him a servant. I also was really confused by Pashka’s whole story and questioning whether it was true. It seemed like Pashka’s only role was “villain” and he was not even that villainous and we never saw like a forgiveness arc or change in the man or learned much about him. I think this paired with the Rain’s character arc which was well done left Pashka feeling like such a strange character that was never really explored or explained. Cyrene also felt very undeveloped. She seemed spoiled and stupid instead of the victim she was supposed to embody.
One plot hole that I noticed was that it was never revealed why Cyrah was trying to take the eggs to the Wise One. We know that she was tasked with keeping the eggs safe from the king, but I do not understand why she was searching for the Wise One. I also had a hard time imagining Cyrene and Cyrah much older than 18. They both acted very young, and I would have liked to have a better estimate of the characters ages.
Despite the issues with the novel I did enjoy the book and recommend others to read the book and create their opinions on the story.
One of the things that I greatly appreciated about this book is that it is a relatively clean book without mature content besides some violence. The book also holds a good message and a satisfying character arc. I can see this book being a great option for younger advanced readers as well as enjoyed by older readers who want a cleaner read. The central characters are I would guess in their 20s-30s which may be the most alienating part of this book for younger readers and causing a larger resonance with older audiences. I would recommend this book for ages 13+ based purely on content, and not reading level.
I will admit that it takes a bit to get into the story. The beginning of the novel is a bit slow but it eventually picks up. The characters are unique in their own ways and there are some stereotypes among characters, but there are still surprises throughout the book that are surprising and keep the book interesting. I do feel like the development of the characters throughout was a bit lacking in some respects. Characters developed too quickly in expected ways, and there was a slight lack in my opinion of the internal struggles that come with character development. I also found many of the driving forces behind characters to be shallow, and at times I was confused about why characters acted the way they did.
This book also includes dragons and I am a big fan. The way the dragons connect with humans is also incredibly interesting and I wish there was more exploration of this relationship gone wrong. My biggest complaint about the dragons is that they seem to only come in a single color. I love the world building, placing the novel somewhere between fantasy with some modern world technologies sprinkled in. The lore of the world is interesting and, I want to know more about the gods that inhabit the world. All in all, I believe this is a great debut novel by Lydia MacClaren and, I am excited to see what else she comes up with.
WARNING SPOILERS!!:
Diving a bit deeper into the book comes a few more moments in the book that rubbed me the wrong way. The inclusion of modern technology throughout the book added an interesting level of confusion for Kathka, but I had a hard time understanding why older technologies did not become obsolete with newer technologies. I understand that even though cars are a better way to travel than horses, sometimes horses and camels are preferable in the desert. However, I do not understand why bows are arrows were still used when guns existed or even why swords were used.
I also did not understand why the cursed were kept alive for as long as they were. It seems much simpler to just kill the cursed-on sight. Also, I would be interested in hearing how Nana’s curse works and if it’s only passed down after someone dies, or if everyone in the family posses the same curse. I also would have been interested in how curses varied, and if there were those cursed by different gods than the Wise One. The difference between the cursed desert inhabitants versus the blessed Islanders was never explained. What did it mean to be blessed? And how did being blessed occur?
I feel not a great enough connection was established through the main deaths in the book of Brat and Mell. There needed to be a greater explanation of the emotional turmoil of the lose of these two lives. Brat’s death was more impactful that Mell. I also think that the question of whether Kathka immediately failed his task of saving seven lives after Mell’s death was a little glossed over. The lack of impact of the deaths may have been due to Kathka’s own outlook on death, but with Mell’s death also came that level of failure that I feel the Blood King would not have enjoyed.
There were a few characters that felt depthless. Pashka was really confusing to me. Why did he keep telling Kathka that he was going to be entertainment when this never really played out. I also never understood why they were trying to pass Kathka as an Islander nobel or even what Pashka wanted. Was he after money, or was he just fueled by hate? For a man fueled by hate, he gave Kathka quite the cushy jail cell and even gave him a servant. I also was really confused by Pashka’s whole story and questioning whether it was true. It seemed like Pashka’s only role was “villain” and he was not even that villainous and we never saw like a forgiveness arc or change in the man or learned much about him. I think this paired with the Rain’s character arc which was well done left Pashka feeling like such a strange character that was never really explored or explained. Cyrene also felt very undeveloped. She seemed spoiled and stupid instead of the victim she was supposed to embody.
One plot hole that I noticed was that it was never revealed why Cyrah was trying to take the eggs to the Wise One. We know that she was tasked with keeping the eggs safe from the king, but I do not understand why she was searching for the Wise One. I also had a hard time imagining Cyrene and Cyrah much older than 18. They both acted very young, and I would have liked to have a better estimate of the characters ages.
Despite the issues with the novel I did enjoy the book and recommend others to read the book and create their opinions on the story.
June 13, 2022
I received a free ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My thoughts on each aspect of Seven Lives Saved can be summed up in five words: Really good, but not enough. To start off with the world, we've got a super cool desert setting, it has dragons AND floating islands (sick!), and it's set in what seems to be a time of industrialization. Seeing new inventions like cars and guns from Kathka's perspective as a person from the past who suddenly finds himself in the future was super interesting. However, it lacked depth; I wanted more world building, more backstory, more insight in the intricacy of the political climate. I think there was potential, but the setting didn't go all the way for me.
As for the plot, the premise is so interesting, with Kathka being cursed to save seven lives in order to receive a second for himself, and the way each of those seven lives are important parts of an overarching intrigue that will be affected in different ways depending on if they live or die was so fascinating. However, it lacked the complexity I would have liked, and felt rushed at times. The plot is very straightforward, there's not a lot of thrill and intrigue, but I still found myself confused as to what was going on because I didn't have enough information and backstory to understand the significance of the major events. The last few chapters, on the other hand, really took me by surprise: I absolutely loved the ending. It was just wrapped up enough to be satisfying, while still leaving some things open, and it fit the story perfectly. That ending alone is having me wanting to read more books by this author in the future, because I really feel like there is a lot of potential there.
Something that also gave me confusion because of lack of information was the side characters. Most of them were very briefly introduced, so that I had no time to get to know them, which made me confused as to who everyone was for the rest of the book. People were suddenly being named right and left with no explanation, and I had no clue what was going on. I also would have liked more depth in Kathka as a main character, he starts off morally gray (or even evil), and has such an interesting redemption arc that I think would have been significantly better with even more focus on his own feelings and inner turmoil. One aspect I really liked is how well MacClaren writes emotion. I didn't care too much for the characters throughout more of the story, simply because I didn't know them particularly well, but by the time I had warmed up to the main few (Kathka, Nana, and Cyrah) I found myself very invested in them, simply because of how much I felt their emotions. By the end I even cried, even though I wasn't expecting to be so emotionally moved at all.
Overall, I'd say Seven Lives Saved had a lot of potential, but didn't go all the way. There are aspects I really liked, that have still left me with a positive impression, even though there were a number of aspects where I would have liked more complexity and depth. I think it's a strong debut, and I look forward to seeing what Lydia MacClaren puts out in the future!
My thoughts on each aspect of Seven Lives Saved can be summed up in five words: Really good, but not enough. To start off with the world, we've got a super cool desert setting, it has dragons AND floating islands (sick!), and it's set in what seems to be a time of industrialization. Seeing new inventions like cars and guns from Kathka's perspective as a person from the past who suddenly finds himself in the future was super interesting. However, it lacked depth; I wanted more world building, more backstory, more insight in the intricacy of the political climate. I think there was potential, but the setting didn't go all the way for me.
As for the plot, the premise is so interesting, with Kathka being cursed to save seven lives in order to receive a second for himself, and the way each of those seven lives are important parts of an overarching intrigue that will be affected in different ways depending on if they live or die was so fascinating. However, it lacked the complexity I would have liked, and felt rushed at times. The plot is very straightforward, there's not a lot of thrill and intrigue, but I still found myself confused as to what was going on because I didn't have enough information and backstory to understand the significance of the major events. The last few chapters, on the other hand, really took me by surprise: I absolutely loved the ending. It was just wrapped up enough to be satisfying, while still leaving some things open, and it fit the story perfectly. That ending alone is having me wanting to read more books by this author in the future, because I really feel like there is a lot of potential there.
Something that also gave me confusion because of lack of information was the side characters. Most of them were very briefly introduced, so that I had no time to get to know them, which made me confused as to who everyone was for the rest of the book. People were suddenly being named right and left with no explanation, and I had no clue what was going on. I also would have liked more depth in Kathka as a main character, he starts off morally gray (or even evil), and has such an interesting redemption arc that I think would have been significantly better with even more focus on his own feelings and inner turmoil. One aspect I really liked is how well MacClaren writes emotion. I didn't care too much for the characters throughout more of the story, simply because I didn't know them particularly well, but by the time I had warmed up to the main few (Kathka, Nana, and Cyrah) I found myself very invested in them, simply because of how much I felt their emotions. By the end I even cried, even though I wasn't expecting to be so emotionally moved at all.
Overall, I'd say Seven Lives Saved had a lot of potential, but didn't go all the way. There are aspects I really liked, that have still left me with a positive impression, even though there were a number of aspects where I would have liked more complexity and depth. I think it's a strong debut, and I look forward to seeing what Lydia MacClaren puts out in the future!
June 14, 2022
Kathka/Kath has made a deal with the Wise One, a God. He must save seven lives and he will be released from his penance to return to the world of the living. His quest takes him from the desert of his previous life to the magical land of the Islanders. Each step leads him to another life he must save and enemies he must defeat. But his biggest enemy is sometimes himself.
The story begins in the desert, but travels to a fantasy world filled with dragons and magic. From the dry and arid to the lush and mystical.
I recently read the review from @all.you.read.is.love and could literally copy and paste it here. I am in total accordance with you. This was a refreshingly different type of fantasy. The author has written in such a captivating style. I have the feeling of it almost being dream-like. I can hear Kath as a wise Morgan Freeman type voice as he works through his past life and what this new opportunity is teaching him. It is philosophical and explores emotions, motivations and his relationships.
There is plenty of danger, action and stressful situations that get the heart racing. The plot is straightforward, yet complex. He has a quest and moves from one situation to the next in order to find his seven lives, but the relationships and the characters he meets are all complex.
The characters in this story are unique, mystical and compelling. Each character has a fascinating background which the author reveals in fragments and in more detail at the appropriate times. As you read, each one becomes more intriguing.
Kath is an anti-hero. His character has many flaws and his previous life is filled with terrible acts. He is not a character you take to instantly. Reading through, I felt his pain, his determination and came to know him through his reflections and the way in which he fought to try to save seven lives.
The world building is also unique. It is complex with diverse landscapes as well as the histories of the people who inhabit them.
This is a story that undulates with the dunes of the desert. It takes you on a mystical journey through danger, hardship and tragedy. Full of thought and emotion, it will leave you mesmerized and enchanted.
The story begins in the desert, but travels to a fantasy world filled with dragons and magic. From the dry and arid to the lush and mystical.
I recently read the review from @all.you.read.is.love and could literally copy and paste it here. I am in total accordance with you. This was a refreshingly different type of fantasy. The author has written in such a captivating style. I have the feeling of it almost being dream-like. I can hear Kath as a wise Morgan Freeman type voice as he works through his past life and what this new opportunity is teaching him. It is philosophical and explores emotions, motivations and his relationships.
There is plenty of danger, action and stressful situations that get the heart racing. The plot is straightforward, yet complex. He has a quest and moves from one situation to the next in order to find his seven lives, but the relationships and the characters he meets are all complex.
The characters in this story are unique, mystical and compelling. Each character has a fascinating background which the author reveals in fragments and in more detail at the appropriate times. As you read, each one becomes more intriguing.
Kath is an anti-hero. His character has many flaws and his previous life is filled with terrible acts. He is not a character you take to instantly. Reading through, I felt his pain, his determination and came to know him through his reflections and the way in which he fought to try to save seven lives.
The world building is also unique. It is complex with diverse landscapes as well as the histories of the people who inhabit them.
This is a story that undulates with the dunes of the desert. It takes you on a mystical journey through danger, hardship and tragedy. Full of thought and emotion, it will leave you mesmerized and enchanted.
June 13, 2022
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy for an honest review!
This was a fantastic fantasy set in a Dune-like world, with an intriguing premise right from the beginning. Kathka, previously a powerful king, has died. He makes a bargain with a god called the Wise One, which gives him a second chance at life if he saves seven lives. What unfolds is a quest to fulfil this deal, but greater danger awaits under the new reigning Bu Chak empire.
I was immediately hooked from the first chapter, as I had many questions about who Kathka was and how he’d reached the situation he was in. I really liked that these questions weren’t answered straight away, and that all became clear in such a seamless way. The premise was so unique, and made for a really great story structure. It made the stakes high throughout, and I couldn’t help feeling fear for Kathka knowing the precarious position he was in. His backstory was so intriguing, with him previously being incredibly powerful but ending up in a world he felt completely isolated from. You could really feel his sense of loss at the beginning of the story.
There’s a found family group of characters which emerges as he finds lives to save, which I loved as that’s my favourite trope. Kathka’s development alongside them was great to see, where his attitudes towards them change from them being merely part of his bargain, to eventually people he cares about. I loved how his grumpy personality contrasted with the more upbeat characters, it made for some great dynamics and interactions between them.
I absolutely loved the added element of dragons in this story! It was especially great seeing how Kathka becomes involved with one of the dragons, and how this also aided his character arc. I could really visualise the dragons when they were fighting or flying, which was so entertaining. Overall, this was a brilliant fantasy novel perfect for all fantasy fans!
This was a fantastic fantasy set in a Dune-like world, with an intriguing premise right from the beginning. Kathka, previously a powerful king, has died. He makes a bargain with a god called the Wise One, which gives him a second chance at life if he saves seven lives. What unfolds is a quest to fulfil this deal, but greater danger awaits under the new reigning Bu Chak empire.
I was immediately hooked from the first chapter, as I had many questions about who Kathka was and how he’d reached the situation he was in. I really liked that these questions weren’t answered straight away, and that all became clear in such a seamless way. The premise was so unique, and made for a really great story structure. It made the stakes high throughout, and I couldn’t help feeling fear for Kathka knowing the precarious position he was in. His backstory was so intriguing, with him previously being incredibly powerful but ending up in a world he felt completely isolated from. You could really feel his sense of loss at the beginning of the story.
There’s a found family group of characters which emerges as he finds lives to save, which I loved as that’s my favourite trope. Kathka’s development alongside them was great to see, where his attitudes towards them change from them being merely part of his bargain, to eventually people he cares about. I loved how his grumpy personality contrasted with the more upbeat characters, it made for some great dynamics and interactions between them.
I absolutely loved the added element of dragons in this story! It was especially great seeing how Kathka becomes involved with one of the dragons, and how this also aided his character arc. I could really visualise the dragons when they were fighting or flying, which was so entertaining. Overall, this was a brilliant fantasy novel perfect for all fantasy fans!
July 21, 2022
Kathka is dead.
He died a LONG time ago, attempting to kill the sole remaining god on his world 'the Wise One'. But, Kathka is also still alive in a way. His soul tethered to the God he attempted to slay. And now that God is giving him a choice. Save seven lives of the God's choosing and live again.
Needless to say Kathka jumps at the opportunity to live another life and have another chance at killing the Wise One.
But when he wakes up, it's in a different body, a different time and he's adrift in a world he only partly understands.
I really enjoyed this book.
Yes, it's confusing as all get out at times, but that ties into the confusion Kathka's experiencing. I read this during a heat wave which is apt since the story is set in a vast desert. The reader is basically in Kathka's head experiencing the story thru his view point. There ARE dragons! (the dragon is adorable) there were several surprises late in the book. Particularly the islands, where the Dragon riders and Kathka's new body hail from. Unexpected that.
There are issues that other reviews have noted. Mainly the fact the Kath is a 2 note song at the beginning. He HATES. He thrives on his hatred and pain. He longs to kill the Wise One. He is intolerant of others. He is a world of one, himself. This is all he is. But, as the story moves on, he begins to change. Slowly he is drawn to care about others. Other people, healing his fractured world, healing his fractured soul and maybe in the end, Kathka is the main life to be saved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
He died a LONG time ago, attempting to kill the sole remaining god on his world 'the Wise One'. But, Kathka is also still alive in a way. His soul tethered to the God he attempted to slay. And now that God is giving him a choice. Save seven lives of the God's choosing and live again.
Needless to say Kathka jumps at the opportunity to live another life and have another chance at killing the Wise One.
But when he wakes up, it's in a different body, a different time and he's adrift in a world he only partly understands.
I really enjoyed this book.
Yes, it's confusing as all get out at times, but that ties into the confusion Kathka's experiencing. I read this during a heat wave which is apt since the story is set in a vast desert. The reader is basically in Kathka's head experiencing the story thru his view point. There ARE dragons! (the dragon is adorable) there were several surprises late in the book. Particularly the islands, where the Dragon riders and Kathka's new body hail from. Unexpected that.
There are issues that other reviews have noted. Mainly the fact the Kath is a 2 note song at the beginning. He HATES. He thrives on his hatred and pain. He longs to kill the Wise One. He is intolerant of others. He is a world of one, himself. This is all he is. But, as the story moves on, he begins to change. Slowly he is drawn to care about others. Other people, healing his fractured world, healing his fractured soul and maybe in the end, Kathka is the main life to be saved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 18, 2022
This book had an interesting premise, which is why I picked it up. Unfortunately, the beginning was a bit slow and boring. The main character felt hollow, and I wasn't sure why I was supposed to care about him; he was a terrible person.
I kept reading out of obligation, and I'm glad I did because it started getting better around the first quarter mark. I finally felt invested in the protagonist and in his mission. The pace picked up, and the plot became more interesting and surprising. The characters started to feel more real.
The lore of the world was somewhat confusing at times. By the end, I mostly had it figured out, but I still didn't fully understand why any of this was happening in the first place. I also found the odd mix of technology to be weird. They had radios, electricity, guns, and cars, but everything else felt very medieval.
The writing itself could use some improvement as well. It was hard to tell if the POV was supposed to be third-person limited or omniscient. It mostly stayed inside Kathka's head, but then the narration would randomly go outside of him and describe things he either couldn't know or couldn't see. There was a lot of redundancy, such as repetition of words and phrases in consecutive sentences (often adding no discernible authorial effect, which just made it annoying). It also needed another proofread (if it even had one to begin with). The entire manuscript was riddled with distracting comma splices and other errors.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I kept reading out of obligation, and I'm glad I did because it started getting better around the first quarter mark. I finally felt invested in the protagonist and in his mission. The pace picked up, and the plot became more interesting and surprising. The characters started to feel more real.
The lore of the world was somewhat confusing at times. By the end, I mostly had it figured out, but I still didn't fully understand why any of this was happening in the first place. I also found the odd mix of technology to be weird. They had radios, electricity, guns, and cars, but everything else felt very medieval.
The writing itself could use some improvement as well. It was hard to tell if the POV was supposed to be third-person limited or omniscient. It mostly stayed inside Kathka's head, but then the narration would randomly go outside of him and describe things he either couldn't know or couldn't see. There was a lot of redundancy, such as repetition of words and phrases in consecutive sentences (often adding no discernible authorial effect, which just made it annoying). It also needed another proofread (if it even had one to begin with). The entire manuscript was riddled with distracting comma splices and other errors.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2022
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was okay, but I didn’t love it. I really liked the setting of the desert on one hand, and floating mountain islands. I think it would have been more interesting to me if that had been explained earlier on, as the first half of the book was a bit slow. I didn’t realize the islands were floating in the sky, and assumed they were normal islands in the ocean somewhere.
I was also a bit confused at times when Kathka would recall people from his past. It happened in such short snippets that I couldn’t keep the characters straight. I also had a bit of a hard time following the mythology (Scala and Caizin specifically, and how the land came to be cursed).
I couldn’t really relate to Kathka as a main character. I get that he’s an anti-hero, and maybe we’re not supposed to like him, but I dunno. I just wasn’t feeling it.
It had a lot of potential, and the last few chapters were pretty good. I think I just needed more clarification on the mythology and characters for it to make more sense, and to capture my attention earlier on.
It was okay, but I didn’t love it. I really liked the setting of the desert on one hand, and floating mountain islands. I think it would have been more interesting to me if that had been explained earlier on, as the first half of the book was a bit slow. I didn’t realize the islands were floating in the sky, and assumed they were normal islands in the ocean somewhere.
I was also a bit confused at times when Kathka would recall people from his past. It happened in such short snippets that I couldn’t keep the characters straight. I also had a bit of a hard time following the mythology (Scala and Caizin specifically, and how the land came to be cursed).
I couldn’t really relate to Kathka as a main character. I get that he’s an anti-hero, and maybe we’re not supposed to like him, but I dunno. I just wasn’t feeling it.
It had a lot of potential, and the last few chapters were pretty good. I think I just needed more clarification on the mythology and characters for it to make more sense, and to capture my attention earlier on.
June 16, 2022
I liked Seven Lives Saved. Kathka is the perfect anti-hero. The author did a really good job in character building as I started off really hating Kathka and as the story went by, my feelings regarding him became much more complex. Like the character in fact.
Kathka is a man obsessed with the idea of killing the last god of his world. When he fails, he is offered a chance at redemption if he manages to save 7 lives.
And obviously, this won't be an easy task.
The world and the characters developed were really interesting. This is not usually the type of universe that I like but the author wrote a really good story. As a matter of fact, I am rather curious now to what happened to Kathka before the story of the novel itself. I would love to read a prequel now. I don't know if there will be a series but the end of the novel (even though it was a satisfying end) leaves the door open to more development in this world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kathka is a man obsessed with the idea of killing the last god of his world. When he fails, he is offered a chance at redemption if he manages to save 7 lives.
And obviously, this won't be an easy task.
The world and the characters developed were really interesting. This is not usually the type of universe that I like but the author wrote a really good story. As a matter of fact, I am rather curious now to what happened to Kathka before the story of the novel itself. I would love to read a prequel now. I don't know if there will be a series but the end of the novel (even though it was a satisfying end) leaves the door open to more development in this world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2022
Science fantasy redemption tale which grows on you.
The main character in this story is unlikable and guilty of serious crimes. His motivation is to kill the god who bested him in his previous life of power seeking.
Along the way he is changed by the variety of characters he meets and who have a "pull" on him as he has to save them to fulfill his pact with the god who gives him this second chance. There is plenty of ups and downs in his fortunes and some surprises in who is helping and who is hindering. I warmed to him and his quest as he changed with the events and interactions. I was most moved when he was bound with a mythical creature, in a good way.
The ending has a twist and satisfies the plot, yet leaves the door open for a sequel.
Four rather than five stars because some of the sentences were clumsy, some editing errors had slipped through and the pace dropped too much at some stages.
I received a free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character in this story is unlikable and guilty of serious crimes. His motivation is to kill the god who bested him in his previous life of power seeking.
Along the way he is changed by the variety of characters he meets and who have a "pull" on him as he has to save them to fulfill his pact with the god who gives him this second chance. There is plenty of ups and downs in his fortunes and some surprises in who is helping and who is hindering. I warmed to him and his quest as he changed with the events and interactions. I was most moved when he was bound with a mythical creature, in a good way.
The ending has a twist and satisfies the plot, yet leaves the door open for a sequel.
Four rather than five stars because some of the sentences were clumsy, some editing errors had slipped through and the pace dropped too much at some stages.
I received a free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Seven Lives Saved by Lydia MacClaren. This unique story is filled with action and substance. It’s a clean read with fast pacing and an interesting plot. I love the the description in this book. MacClaren writes beautifully and brings the setting to life for the reader. I highly recommend this original story if you’re looking for an adventure!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖Blurb: Kathka is dead.
Once a powerful king, he is now a soul cursed to remain tethered for eternity to the Wise One, his murderer and the only god left in the world. But the god offers him a deal.
If he saves seven lives, the god will grant him a second life. Kathka accepts the deal, willing to do whatever necessary to obtain a new life and accomplish what he could not in his first - kill the Wise One.
🎧Also a reminder that text to speech technology is an excellent way to listen to books that don’t have audio versions. It’s great if you’re busy or injured like myself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖Blurb: Kathka is dead.
Once a powerful king, he is now a soul cursed to remain tethered for eternity to the Wise One, his murderer and the only god left in the world. But the god offers him a deal.
If he saves seven lives, the god will grant him a second life. Kathka accepts the deal, willing to do whatever necessary to obtain a new life and accomplish what he could not in his first - kill the Wise One.
🎧Also a reminder that text to speech technology is an excellent way to listen to books that don’t have audio versions. It’s great if you’re busy or injured like myself.
June 26, 2022
Seven Lives Saved is a unique standalone fantasy novel that features a refreshing anti-hero protagonist. Kathka (Kath) is morally grey, and his journey is all the more intriguing because of it.
The story focuses primarily on the complexities of character growth and how past experiences shape an individual's present, which adds a unique edge to what strikes me as a classic but somewhat modified hero's journey. It's simultaneously old and new, beautiful and tragic.
Seven Lives Saved felt halfway between Megan Bannen's Soul Swift and Paulo Cohelo's The Alchemist in terms of the narrative structure and tone, so if you found either enjoyable, you will probably enjoy this book, too.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story focuses primarily on the complexities of character growth and how past experiences shape an individual's present, which adds a unique edge to what strikes me as a classic but somewhat modified hero's journey. It's simultaneously old and new, beautiful and tragic.
Seven Lives Saved felt halfway between Megan Bannen's Soul Swift and Paulo Cohelo's The Alchemist in terms of the narrative structure and tone, so if you found either enjoyable, you will probably enjoy this book, too.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 22, 2023
I so enjoyed this story, especially the ending. The payoff and character transformation truly touched me and gave such a sense of satisfaction. It's rare that an author can take a character and completely turn them around in the space of one book, but Lydia made me believe that Kath had truly become a different person by the end. The setting was incredibly unique and vivid, and the slow burn romance/close friendship was beautifully done. Loved it!
Give this a read if you want to experience a high-stakes adventure in a fantasy land (with dragons!!) that also makes you think about life and death and love.
Give this a read if you want to experience a high-stakes adventure in a fantasy land (with dragons!!) that also makes you think about life and death and love.
May 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, from the writing style, to the world building, to the bittersweet ending that left me wondering. Sometimes the backstory and all the people I needed to remember got a little confusing, but overall I liked how detailed were were revealed through Kath’s past and present experiences. I also loved the grumpy and sunshine combo between Kath and Nana, and wouldn’t have minded getting to know them just a little more. “Seven Lives Saved” would be a good recommendation for those who love fantasy worlds with god lore, dragons, and a hint of sweet romance.
July 8, 2022
It took me a moment to get into this book. Seven Lives Saved has a fascinating premise: Kathka, our hero, has to save seven lives so that he can get a second chance at life himself. The worldbuilding is a little shallow, though, so I struggled to connect with the story for the first 3/4 of the book. However, I'm super glad that I stuck with it. The ending is extremely poignant and the characterization is beautiful.
July 14, 2022
This book was like stepping through a time machine. It was so beautifully written that you could really feel the sand between your toes and the burning hot sun upon your skin. The characters are very well written and you can truly feel what they feel. Hands down a great read. I’d say a mix between Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones because yes it has DRAGONS but it also has the adventure aspect like in Lord of the Rings.
August 5, 2022
DNF
Unfortunately, I simply could not immerse myself in Seven Lives Saved. I appreciated the various personalities, lore incorporated, and an occasional outstanding line. However, the characters were two dimensional and generally unlovable, the anger spitting when it should’ve been nuanced, and the plot dragging.
I did like Nana though :)
Thank you to BookSirens for an eARC in return for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I simply could not immerse myself in Seven Lives Saved. I appreciated the various personalities, lore incorporated, and an occasional outstanding line. However, the characters were two dimensional and generally unlovable, the anger spitting when it should’ve been nuanced, and the plot dragging.
I did like Nana though :)
Thank you to BookSirens for an eARC in return for an honest review.
September 29, 2022
I adored this book! The characters and story pace overall were perfect, though a few parts were slow it fit with the plot, the writing style was quite captivating and I was amazed with the writers voice. The storyline was fairly unique and fantastical, it was definitely unlike anything I’ve read! Definitely recommend this book if you’ve been in a reading slump and need something to pull you out of it.
May 24, 2022
I was given this book for free by the author to review. This is my honest opinion.
This book was such a good read! I loved the pacing, the characters, the story, it was all so good!!
I loved watching a character from a different part of the book’s history react to things we see in the modern world! Definitely want more!!!
This book was such a good read! I loved the pacing, the characters, the story, it was all so good!!
I loved watching a character from a different part of the book’s history react to things we see in the modern world! Definitely want more!!!
June 12, 2022
This is a stunning debut novel. Lydia MacClaren has such a unique voice that shines through in her well-plotted storyline. I kept watching the percentage rise on my e-book and wondered how in the world she'd tie everything together in the last five percent of the novel. It wasn't how I expected, but felt very satisfied by what she managed to pull off. Very well done!
April 13, 2023
This was a nicely written fantasy adventure tale with some features of time-travel. Although, the book starts off a bit slow, it picks up pace and becomes quite interesting as the story progresses. The main character Kathka, is quite interesting and we get glimpses into his past as the book progresses. I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 4, 2023
This is the first book I've read by Lydia MacClaren but it won't be the last! This book has stayed me with me long after I've finished it. The characters, worldbuilding, and culture are amazing and intriguing. I want to know more. Kath's journey is so subtle and intricate and to me it is so refreshing. I loved Nana and Brat and the lore surrounding the gods. I hope there is a sequel to this book so we can explore this world more.
February 18, 2023
Honestly like no other book I've ever read, not even close. This is like a perfect blend of Percy Jackson mixed with Hunger Game and a splash of Divergent. Absolutely amazing and so fresh.
Highly recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Highly recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 23, 2022
A stunning first book in a world with so much potential. I'm very excited to see what we will see in the future. Highly recommend for those who enjoy dragons, and redemption arcs.
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