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‘A princess on the run? These are dangerous times, Isa. Getting hurt is an inevitability.’
After turning against her brother—her only ally and trusted confidant—Princess Isa flees the palace of Taban Yul. Though she has escaped his claws, many of her followers have died, and she is far from safe.
Exiled to the outskirts of Linaria, Isa must restore her people’s faith in her if she is to overthrow her brother and become queen. But her attempts to persuade others to join her cause are met with defiance and aggression, and Isa is one misstep away from losing everything.
Hunted by her family and hiding among thieves, Isa must do more than stake her claim to the throne—she must try and restore balance to a world corrupted by greed and ancient magic, before it is doomed to burn.
Explore a world where dormant powers reawaken in World of Linaria - Book Four.
After turning against her brother—her only ally and trusted confidant—Princess Isa flees the palace of Taban Yul. Though she has escaped his claws, many of her followers have died, and she is far from safe.
Exiled to the outskirts of Linaria, Isa must restore her people’s faith in her if she is to overthrow her brother and become queen. But her attempts to persuade others to join her cause are met with defiance and aggression, and Isa is one misstep away from losing everything.
Hunted by her family and hiding among thieves, Isa must do more than stake her claim to the throne—she must try and restore balance to a world corrupted by greed and ancient magic, before it is doomed to burn.
Explore a world where dormant powers reawaken in World of Linaria - Book Four.
- GenresFantasy
639 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2022
5 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
L.L. McNeil
16 books326 followersHello fellow book dragon! Thank you for visiting my author page. :)
My name is Lauren, I'm a fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure. My books usually contain dragons, rarely feature romance, and are typically fun and hopeful.
I have a degree in Psychology and a fascination with MBTI (I'm an INFJ!). I'm a petrol head and thalassophile, and adore castles, sunshine, and dragons. I've always lost myself in fantasy worlds, and it's been an incredible achievement to publish my own.
If you send a friend request and we don't have any similar interests or books in common, I'll probably decline. Feel free to follow me, though.
Check out my website for signed paperbacks, bookswag, and to find out more about my writing world!
www.llmacrae.com
I've previously published under the name L.L. McNeil
My name is Lauren, I'm a fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure. My books usually contain dragons, rarely feature romance, and are typically fun and hopeful.
I have a degree in Psychology and a fascination with MBTI (I'm an INFJ!). I'm a petrol head and thalassophile, and adore castles, sunshine, and dragons. I've always lost myself in fantasy worlds, and it's been an incredible achievement to publish my own.
If you send a friend request and we don't have any similar interests or books in common, I'll probably decline. Feel free to follow me, though.
Check out my website for signed paperbacks, bookswag, and to find out more about my writing world!
www.llmacrae.com
I've previously published under the name L.L. McNeil
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 12, 2024
4.5 Stars.
I received an ARC, but I have bought the e-book. (My partner is waiting for the audiobook.)
This is the fourth instalment in the World of Linaria series, and while I think McNeil gets better and better with each book, I do still have a soft spot for the second book, Palom. The way McNeil portrayed a victorious warrior, dealing with depression and PTSD after having lost mates, allies and friends...it's not something I've come across a lot in fantasy.
Usually, the warrior wins and the book ends.
Not here.
For people who've not read any books in this series, please start with Moroda and let me say a few words without any spoilers.
The World of Linaria is epic fantasy with kick-ass female female protagonists (there are sky-pirates and airships!) and plenty of dragons.
It's an easy read with authentic characters and plenty of creative world building.
It's a great introduction to fantasy for someone who does not usually read fantasy and might shy away from the sheer complexity of some of the work out there, but offers enough to satisfy a seasoned fantasy fan.
The different races in Linaria are fresh and well imagined.
Mcneil created compelling characters, most are morally ambiguous and somehow I love them all.
In Isa, we follow a princess. A princess who was mocked her entire life. She's part Varkain and part Ittallan, but instead of shifting into a snake like her brothers and other Varkain, she shifts into a cat.
Always mocked for who and what she is, Isa now tries to take the throne from her brother Sapora who is...not being the smartest man in my humble opinion. I mean there are dangerous artifacts in Linaria. Ancient artifacts. They're buried. YOU'D LEAVE THEM BURIED, RIGHT?
No, not Sapora.
Kohl might finally stop moping, although whether or not that is good for Linaria remains to be seen.
And Morgen...well, Morgen...read and find out. (I almost bought two copies so I could throw one against the wall because of Morgen.)
There's a budding friendship between Amarah and Isa that I consider one of the highlights of this book. In fact, what I enjoy the most about Linaria are the characters and the way they interact with each other.
And of course, there's Leillu, the dragon, a firm favourite in this household
In Isa, McNeil further fleshes out the world, and we learn more about the history of Linaria. The book is also much darker.
All in all, this is a great instalment in the series, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC, but I have bought the e-book. (My partner is waiting for the audiobook.)
This is the fourth instalment in the World of Linaria series, and while I think McNeil gets better and better with each book, I do still have a soft spot for the second book, Palom. The way McNeil portrayed a victorious warrior, dealing with depression and PTSD after having lost mates, allies and friends...it's not something I've come across a lot in fantasy.
Usually, the warrior wins and the book ends.
Not here.
For people who've not read any books in this series, please start with Moroda and let me say a few words without any spoilers.
The World of Linaria is epic fantasy with kick-ass female female protagonists (there are sky-pirates and airships!) and plenty of dragons.
It's an easy read with authentic characters and plenty of creative world building.
It's a great introduction to fantasy for someone who does not usually read fantasy and might shy away from the sheer complexity of some of the work out there, but offers enough to satisfy a seasoned fantasy fan.
The different races in Linaria are fresh and well imagined.
Mcneil created compelling characters, most are morally ambiguous and somehow I love them all.
In Isa, we follow a princess. A princess who was mocked her entire life. She's part Varkain and part Ittallan, but instead of shifting into a snake like her brothers and other Varkain, she shifts into a cat.
Always mocked for who and what she is, Isa now tries to take the throne from her brother Sapora who is...not being the smartest man in my humble opinion. I mean there are dangerous artifacts in Linaria. Ancient artifacts. They're buried. YOU'D LEAVE THEM BURIED, RIGHT?
No, not Sapora.
Kohl might finally stop moping, although whether or not that is good for Linaria remains to be seen.
And Morgen...well, Morgen...read and find out. (I almost bought two copies so I could throw one against the wall because of Morgen.)
There's a budding friendship between Amarah and Isa that I consider one of the highlights of this book. In fact, what I enjoy the most about Linaria are the characters and the way they interact with each other.
And of course, there's Leillu, the dragon, a firm favourite in this household
In Isa, McNeil further fleshes out the world, and we learn more about the history of Linaria. The book is also much darker.
All in all, this is a great instalment in the series, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
October 21, 2023
4.5 - action-packed, multiple POV, epic fantasy. Probably my favourite in the series so far.
August 17, 2020
Isa is the fourth book in the World of Linaria series, and it’s an astounding addition to the series. Before diving into this one, you need to first read Moroda, Palom, and Amarah, ensuring you do so in order. This is an epic fantasy series that builds throughout, with each book moving us deeper into a story that hooks throughout.
After the high of Amarah, I had even higher hopes for Isa. Fortunately, Isa delivers. I thought a lot happened in book three, but this one made it look like the book hardly moved at all. That’s how much happens in Isa – everything is important, each detail moves the story massively. There were some details that played out that confirmed my beliefs from the prior books, there were some details that went in unexpected ways, and there were plenty of details that have me eager to see what comes next. In fact, the details that were added in this one has ensured a lot of great things will come in the rest of the series.
If you’re a fan of epic fantasy, you need to dive into this series. It has everything fans of the genre need, keeping them hooked throughout. Multiple interconnected storylines. Characters that grow with each book. The morally grey. Action. Adventure. A world that continues to grow. Conflict. Basically, this series is just what fans of the genre desire.
Upon finishing, I’m now desperate for book five. I have high hopes for what comes next, and I’m of the belief this series will manage to pull a rare five-star rating from me with the way each book hits harder than the last.
After the high of Amarah, I had even higher hopes for Isa. Fortunately, Isa delivers. I thought a lot happened in book three, but this one made it look like the book hardly moved at all. That’s how much happens in Isa – everything is important, each detail moves the story massively. There were some details that played out that confirmed my beliefs from the prior books, there were some details that went in unexpected ways, and there were plenty of details that have me eager to see what comes next. In fact, the details that were added in this one has ensured a lot of great things will come in the rest of the series.
If you’re a fan of epic fantasy, you need to dive into this series. It has everything fans of the genre need, keeping them hooked throughout. Multiple interconnected storylines. Characters that grow with each book. The morally grey. Action. Adventure. A world that continues to grow. Conflict. Basically, this series is just what fans of the genre desire.
Upon finishing, I’m now desperate for book five. I have high hopes for what comes next, and I’m of the belief this series will manage to pull a rare five-star rating from me with the way each book hits harder than the last.
October 27, 2022
A princess is faced with the reality the king must be overthrown. Brother or not. Her world depends on it. The epic series chock full of airships, pirates, magic & dragons continues to dazzle!
September 24, 2020
Oh wow. Where do I even begin here?
How about amazing! Brilliant! One of my best reads yet! Definitely the highlight of all of 2020! (... Though I acknowledge that last one isn't hard considering what this year has given us, but what I'm trying to say is that this is a very very VERY good book!)
Right off the bat, my favourite character is Isa. Which means, obviously, this book immediately had a leg up as this is HER book and I've been looking forward to this one more than anyone else's. And quite honestly, Isa just continues to be my absolute favourite for every chapter. She is just such a brilliant and deep character, she's conflicted by not just loyalty to her family, but also doubts over whether or not what she's doing is even right by the people she cares for. It really does consider everything and it's such an insightful piece that a lot of books often gloss over in favour of the simplistic action scenes or good vs evil storyline. In this case there is clearly no good or bad side, but rather a dozen different sides, each with their own idea about what is right and what must be done for the best ending.
On that note, this book also did the impossible and even made me feel sorry for Sapora. Now I can't say he's my least favourite character in the series (*cough*Tacio*Cough*), but he certainly is near the bottom of my list at least. And yet this book actually managed to not only make me understand why he was truly doing this, but also sympathise with him for it as well. I can safely say I no longer hope this character dies, haha.
That being said, I'm not quite sure what I hope for in the future...
Which leads me to my next bit of praise. Because there were so many shocking twists and turns in this book that I genuinely did not see coming. Certain characters deaths completely caught me off guard and I had expected them to be around for much longer - but now I'm just intrigued as to how the death will affect everyone else.
And then there are characters like Morgen which, well... No spoilers, but let's say his development over the course of the last two books has been outstandingly jaw dropping. I'm completely hooked and desperate to see what will happen with him next.
I think that is what has me so desperately excited for this series. I cannot predict what will happen next (though I do have a few theories here and there) but nothing that happens seems out of place. It's all written and built up and developed in such a brilliant way that even though it's shocking, I can also still see how it happened. A lot of series often fail in this aspect. Hell, even Hollywood TV shows and movies seem to opt more for the out-of-nowhere twists to catch the audience off guard rather than developing a genuine surprise.
The well written story along with the overall excitement from both the dramatic side and the action side - every page had me losing my mind with enthusiasm for what was to come next. It was near impossible for me to put it down after I had gotten started. And during the times I was able to set it aside, I was almost reluctant to continue because I knew I was so close to the end and I just did NOT want to be finished!
Just like the books before this one, every story and character has me hooked (an impressive feet on its own as often with stories of multiple POV's it's hard to make every one of them as interesting as the others) and I am truly giddy for the next book to be released.
I may have to re-read the whole series again while I wait ;)
All in all, I give it 15/5 stars! (Just because Isa's character alone is worthy of 10 stars!)
How about amazing! Brilliant! One of my best reads yet! Definitely the highlight of all of 2020! (... Though I acknowledge that last one isn't hard considering what this year has given us, but what I'm trying to say is that this is a very very VERY good book!)
Right off the bat, my favourite character is Isa. Which means, obviously, this book immediately had a leg up as this is HER book and I've been looking forward to this one more than anyone else's. And quite honestly, Isa just continues to be my absolute favourite for every chapter. She is just such a brilliant and deep character, she's conflicted by not just loyalty to her family, but also doubts over whether or not what she's doing is even right by the people she cares for. It really does consider everything and it's such an insightful piece that a lot of books often gloss over in favour of the simplistic action scenes or good vs evil storyline. In this case there is clearly no good or bad side, but rather a dozen different sides, each with their own idea about what is right and what must be done for the best ending.
On that note, this book also did the impossible and even made me feel sorry for Sapora. Now I can't say he's my least favourite character in the series (*cough*Tacio*Cough*), but he certainly is near the bottom of my list at least. And yet this book actually managed to not only make me understand why he was truly doing this, but also sympathise with him for it as well. I can safely say I no longer hope this character dies, haha.
That being said, I'm not quite sure what I hope for in the future...
Which leads me to my next bit of praise. Because there were so many shocking twists and turns in this book that I genuinely did not see coming. Certain characters deaths completely caught me off guard and I had expected them to be around for much longer - but now I'm just intrigued as to how the death will affect everyone else.
And then there are characters like Morgen which, well... No spoilers, but let's say his development over the course of the last two books has been outstandingly jaw dropping. I'm completely hooked and desperate to see what will happen with him next.
I think that is what has me so desperately excited for this series. I cannot predict what will happen next (though I do have a few theories here and there) but nothing that happens seems out of place. It's all written and built up and developed in such a brilliant way that even though it's shocking, I can also still see how it happened. A lot of series often fail in this aspect. Hell, even Hollywood TV shows and movies seem to opt more for the out-of-nowhere twists to catch the audience off guard rather than developing a genuine surprise.
The well written story along with the overall excitement from both the dramatic side and the action side - every page had me losing my mind with enthusiasm for what was to come next. It was near impossible for me to put it down after I had gotten started. And during the times I was able to set it aside, I was almost reluctant to continue because I knew I was so close to the end and I just did NOT want to be finished!
Just like the books before this one, every story and character has me hooked (an impressive feet on its own as often with stories of multiple POV's it's hard to make every one of them as interesting as the others) and I am truly giddy for the next book to be released.
I may have to re-read the whole series again while I wait ;)
All in all, I give it 15/5 stars! (Just because Isa's character alone is worthy of 10 stars!)
August 7, 2020
Received this as an eARC from the author.
Do not read this is you have not read the first three books in the series (there will be spoilers!).
What did I just read?!
Firstly, Isa is a great stonking book, slightly bigger than Amarah and rightly so. The amount of action and world moulding in this book is fantastic!
At the end of Amarah book three in the Linaria Series we see our missmatched group of adventurers from the first book separated again and at odds against more than just Arillians and Dragons and Pirates. This time there are Arks and ancient magics to cause havok all across Linaria.
With Aciel still sealed inside the Sevastos stone outside the walls of the city, King Sapora has a lot to deal with, although he has control of a sevastos (an ancient dragon) and has released one of the Arks to follow his command, there is still the strange compulsion sickness leaking out of Aciel's tomb causing his people to go mad and kill themselves. He returns to the palace with thoughts or greatness and protecting his people but discovers that his closest ally and friend, his siter, Princess Isa, has disappeared. Although there is rumour she escaped and was leading a rebellion against him, Sapora does not believe his sister would turn on him in such a way. Perhaps the Sky Pirates had kidnapped her in an attempt to gain money or cause him grief; either way he is determined to get his sister back and discover the truth.
Having fled the palace, Isa hopes to gain her people's trust and backing hoping to return and challenge her brother. She wishes to rule as Queen; let Sapora rule the Varkain in Sereth but he and Tacio will not terrorize her people any longer.
With a huge bounty on her head, thank to King Sapora, Amarah moves quickly. She and Isa make quite a formiddable team throughout Isa. With plenty of aerial combat against pirates, dragons, and arrillian's the pair have a lot to contend with whilst trying to gather more support for Isa's campaign.
Leilou has grown and is becoming more of a dragon than the small winged creature she was in the last book. Palom shows his loyalty to Isa through almost everything he does and illustrates his strength and determination throughout various fights.
Morgen is no longer the same Captain of the guard he was when serving under Sapora. He wants to do what is right and has set his mind to learning all he can to help Moroda and avenge the wrongs that have come about since Aciel first started his rampage across Linaria.
Isa provides more world knowledge and building in Linaria, we learn more about the history and beliefs of the people in the world and how such beliefs came about. Not only do we learn about sevastos and Arks, but the Ice Golems of Oren, and the Goddess Rhea of Berel. There is so much more to Linaria! Isa goes to much darker places than the first three books, there is more fighting and gore and anguish to deal with. This book made me laugh and come close to tears. I read through this in less than 36hrs and now am sad to have to wait another year for the next instalment.
Do not read this is you have not read the first three books in the series (there will be spoilers!).
What did I just read?!
Firstly, Isa is a great stonking book, slightly bigger than Amarah and rightly so. The amount of action and world moulding in this book is fantastic!
At the end of Amarah book three in the Linaria Series we see our missmatched group of adventurers from the first book separated again and at odds against more than just Arillians and Dragons and Pirates. This time there are Arks and ancient magics to cause havok all across Linaria.
With Aciel still sealed inside the Sevastos stone outside the walls of the city, King Sapora has a lot to deal with, although he has control of a sevastos (an ancient dragon) and has released one of the Arks to follow his command, there is still the strange compulsion sickness leaking out of Aciel's tomb causing his people to go mad and kill themselves. He returns to the palace with thoughts or greatness and protecting his people but discovers that his closest ally and friend, his siter, Princess Isa, has disappeared. Although there is rumour she escaped and was leading a rebellion against him, Sapora does not believe his sister would turn on him in such a way. Perhaps the Sky Pirates had kidnapped her in an attempt to gain money or cause him grief; either way he is determined to get his sister back and discover the truth.
Having fled the palace, Isa hopes to gain her people's trust and backing hoping to return and challenge her brother. She wishes to rule as Queen; let Sapora rule the Varkain in Sereth but he and Tacio will not terrorize her people any longer.
With a huge bounty on her head, thank to King Sapora, Amarah moves quickly. She and Isa make quite a formiddable team throughout Isa. With plenty of aerial combat against pirates, dragons, and arrillian's the pair have a lot to contend with whilst trying to gather more support for Isa's campaign.
Leilou has grown and is becoming more of a dragon than the small winged creature she was in the last book. Palom shows his loyalty to Isa through almost everything he does and illustrates his strength and determination throughout various fights.
Morgen is no longer the same Captain of the guard he was when serving under Sapora. He wants to do what is right and has set his mind to learning all he can to help Moroda and avenge the wrongs that have come about since Aciel first started his rampage across Linaria.
Isa provides more world knowledge and building in Linaria, we learn more about the history and beliefs of the people in the world and how such beliefs came about. Not only do we learn about sevastos and Arks, but the Ice Golems of Oren, and the Goddess Rhea of Berel. There is so much more to Linaria! Isa goes to much darker places than the first three books, there is more fighting and gore and anguish to deal with. This book made me laugh and come close to tears. I read through this in less than 36hrs and now am sad to have to wait another year for the next instalment.
July 1, 2024
The World of Linaria will always feel like coming home to me. Coming back to this world after a year of finishing book three was like meeting up with an old friend and feeling like no time had passed.
Isa was by far the darkest and most high staked of the series so far with the wide array of creatures at each others throats more often than not. I loved the complexities of the characters as they were forced to battle against their own inner natures, create unlikely alliances and have to break apart from everything they had once known.
Linaria is on the brink of destruction and our crew all have a part to play. Which side they are on, just may shock you.
A fantastic instalment to a wonderful series! I am eagerly awaiting the next book!
Isa was by far the darkest and most high staked of the series so far with the wide array of creatures at each others throats more often than not. I loved the complexities of the characters as they were forced to battle against their own inner natures, create unlikely alliances and have to break apart from everything they had once known.
Linaria is on the brink of destruction and our crew all have a part to play. Which side they are on, just may shock you.
A fantastic instalment to a wonderful series! I am eagerly awaiting the next book!
January 10, 2021
This book was everything that I wanted it to be and more. I was torn between having to put the book down because of the inte se scenes, to not being able to put it down, needing to know what is going to happen. I love the world of Linaria and will continue to pine for the next book. Thank you L.L.McNeil for creating this amazing work.
August 31, 2020
Another amazing book from the world of Linaria.
This book is full of twists and turns. All of the characters develop through out the book, wether its through struggle or achievement I really felt more connected to them by the end!
100% recommend this to any fantasy lover.
This book is full of twists and turns. All of the characters develop through out the book, wether its through struggle or achievement I really felt more connected to them by the end!
100% recommend this to any fantasy lover.
February 4, 2023
Book 4 in the World of Linaria series contains some of the best scenes from the series so far. This book is named after my favourite character in the series princess Isa and her character arc really progresses in this story. Hoping to see more of her bossing it in the remains novels. Morgan’s character arc also develops in an interesting and unexpected way and fascinated to see where his journey will go in the last 2 books in the series. Looking forward to the release of the final two books in the series as I enjoyed reading the 4 currently released books back to back. This series deserves more attention as it’s a unique series with focus on character growth. In this aspect in reminds me of the Wheel of Time series.
October 14, 2020
The fourth installment in the world of Linaria does not disappoint!
I'd highly recommend for epic fantasy fans, but reading Moroda, Palom and Amarah first is a must. All the ground work laid out in the first three books really starts to pay off in book 4. Without giving too much away, dark forces start to take hold in Linaria, plunging all our faves into peril. The addition of the new foes teased in book 3 really ups the ante here, and you get the real sense that some characters might not walk away from this conflict.
It's great to see some other characters start to rise in prominence, and take some dark, unexpected paths in their character development. After having some of the characters sit on the fence and merely observe the events, I'm really looking forward to seeing how these story lines will play out in book 5.
As ever, I can't wait for the next installment!
I'd highly recommend for epic fantasy fans, but reading Moroda, Palom and Amarah first is a must. All the ground work laid out in the first three books really starts to pay off in book 4. Without giving too much away, dark forces start to take hold in Linaria, plunging all our faves into peril. The addition of the new foes teased in book 3 really ups the ante here, and you get the real sense that some characters might not walk away from this conflict.
It's great to see some other characters start to rise in prominence, and take some dark, unexpected paths in their character development. After having some of the characters sit on the fence and merely observe the events, I'm really looking forward to seeing how these story lines will play out in book 5.
As ever, I can't wait for the next installment!
July 9, 2022
Brilliant. If you've followed the story this far you'll love the latest instalment.
While the story itself is sometimes meandering, and again doesn't have an exact end point, meaning I'm awaiting the next book, it does flesh out the world, history, motives and depth of the characters and world in general.
I loved the 2 major female leads and where their story is heading, and how the infallibility of the dragons and samolen are tested then shattered during this book
While the story itself is sometimes meandering, and again doesn't have an exact end point, meaning I'm awaiting the next book, it does flesh out the world, history, motives and depth of the characters and world in general.
I loved the 2 major female leads and where their story is heading, and how the infallibility of the dragons and samolen are tested then shattered during this book
August 7, 2020
I received a copy of this from the author
If you enjoy a fantasy series with a wide range of characters and a large world (plus dragons and sky pirates!), I’d highly recommend picking this one up!
Before we talk about the new book, I want to say how much I’m really enjoying this series! For me it’s a really good balance of the high fantasy aspects I love (great range of people/species, visiting different places in the world, interesting forms of magic/power), while being totally readable and interesting. At no point in this was a bored!
There really is a wide range of different cultures in this world, and LL McNeil has taken her time to expand details organically through the series. No big info dumps here.
I’ve said this in previous reviews, but I really love the cast of characters in this series. Each has their own complexities, everyone has their morally grey elements. Now I’ve been a long time lover of Amarah, but through the last book I became more and more interested in Isa. I was absolutely thrilled to have her as a big focus here. We’ve seen great character development with her, she’s unrecognisable from the princess we first met. But that development has been done brilliantly over time and we’ve really been able to follow and understand the things that have changed her and the decisions she’s made.
The other big change I felt in this book was from Morgen. He was sort of one of the quieter characters, but over time has been on a big journey himself. I’m really intrigued by where his story is going to go. The final book in the series (book 6) is called Morgen, so I’ll have to be patient!
The final thing that LL McNeil does really well is an ending. Now I obviously won’t spoil it, but I will say with every book in this series the ending has always been fantastic, and Isa is no exception to that!
If you enjoy a fantasy series with a wide range of characters and a large world (plus dragons and sky pirates!), I’d highly recommend picking this one up!
Before we talk about the new book, I want to say how much I’m really enjoying this series! For me it’s a really good balance of the high fantasy aspects I love (great range of people/species, visiting different places in the world, interesting forms of magic/power), while being totally readable and interesting. At no point in this was a bored!
There really is a wide range of different cultures in this world, and LL McNeil has taken her time to expand details organically through the series. No big info dumps here.
I’ve said this in previous reviews, but I really love the cast of characters in this series. Each has their own complexities, everyone has their morally grey elements. Now I’ve been a long time lover of Amarah, but through the last book I became more and more interested in Isa. I was absolutely thrilled to have her as a big focus here. We’ve seen great character development with her, she’s unrecognisable from the princess we first met. But that development has been done brilliantly over time and we’ve really been able to follow and understand the things that have changed her and the decisions she’s made.
The other big change I felt in this book was from Morgen. He was sort of one of the quieter characters, but over time has been on a big journey himself. I’m really intrigued by where his story is going to go. The final book in the series (book 6) is called Morgen, so I’ll have to be patient!
The final thing that LL McNeil does really well is an ending. Now I obviously won’t spoil it, but I will say with every book in this series the ending has always been fantastic, and Isa is no exception to that!
September 6, 2020
A princess on the run? These are dangerous times. Isa. Getting hurt is inevitably.
The fourth book of the linaria series of sky Pirates dragons and magic is just as gripping as the others. Setting up with the kitten princess Isa on the run to save her kind is a gripping twist and turning fansty book. It also follows on the stories of Palom the great tiger. Amarah the sky pirate. Mogern the royal guard. Sapora the snake king and kohl a Lord arillian.
This book has not disappointed being the 4th of the 6 book series full of drama and intense story structure it's hard to put down. You never really know what is around the next chapter. The series is a intense series of magic and war. I would highly recommend the books if you love your fanasty novels.
The fourth book of the linaria series of sky Pirates dragons and magic is just as gripping as the others. Setting up with the kitten princess Isa on the run to save her kind is a gripping twist and turning fansty book. It also follows on the stories of Palom the great tiger. Amarah the sky pirate. Mogern the royal guard. Sapora the snake king and kohl a Lord arillian.
This book has not disappointed being the 4th of the 6 book series full of drama and intense story structure it's hard to put down. You never really know what is around the next chapter. The series is a intense series of magic and war. I would highly recommend the books if you love your fanasty novels.
June 12, 2023
Since Isa is the fourth book in the series, you probably already realize that I've been enjoying this series and know it's clearly planted on my radar. I truly appreciate the fact that the author included a nice brief recap of things up to this point since it has been a couple of months now since I read the last installment.
I wanted to share a highlighted section literally to start the first chapter. Reading this simply slammed me right back into this beautiful world of Linaria.
"In the wetlands of eastern Val Sharis, crisp, cold mornings usually belied rain to follow. Lingering mist often meant a frost that refused to life, which would turn the muddy waters into cold sludge. Today's dawn was still. Calm. Even the ocean waves seemed to lap gently against the shore. As if all of Linaria held its breath, waiting to see what secrets the new day would reveal."
I couldn't help but highlight and pause after reading that. Then shared it to my social media sites.
Once again this story and its characters sent me on a wild ride of adventure. As usual we follow a couple different arcs that do drift together then apart throughout the book. I've come to really like this style of storytelling. One thing I'll say about L.L. MacRae from what I've read to this point, she is NOT afraid to give her characters flaws and many struggles along the way. We’ve seen many of these characters grow on so many levels through four books now. That growth isn't always a happy go lucky kind either. This story isn't for the reader looking for that kind of fairytale throughout. I'm not saying it's always dark and ominous but we have our moments for sure.
I will apologize now for a bit of gushing with my three usual grading topics.
The worldbuilding continues to be top notch. We haven't really been given a lot of new regions in the fourth book. However, we continue to learn more details about those regions, cultures and histories. It makes the world just seem that more real and in depth.
The pacing was smooth. Even though a lot of this book and series in general keeps the reader on edge and perhaps suffering from a bit of anxiety, it just continues to help us feel like we are there experiencing what these characters are while it's happening. I believe this is what helps make this series such a page turner for me. I really devoured the fourth book in just a few days.
Even as high a praise I have for the first two mentioned categories, the character development is where this one really shines. Our characters (Isa, Amarah, Kohl, Palom, Morgen and others) go through so much in the fourth book. We definitely begin to see Isa coming into her own. Rightfully so, since this is her titled book. But Kohl is also going through some eye opening changes in this one. Most of all I believe Morgen may have even stolen the show in this category. I even had a brief chat about him with the author. I can't wait to see what happens with him next.
This story continues to captivate me and I can't wait to see where things go from here. It's starting to look like we may not have heard the last of some characters as we get into the second half of this series now. I've already got the next two books on my watch list waiting for their release. The author also has another series that I already own that I want to give a try and see if it clicks with me just as much as the World of Linaria has. If you haven't heard mention of it yet (Dragon Spirit's) be sure to check it out as well. I've heard great things about it so far.
I will continue to recommend this series to epic fantasy readers. It just seems to have so many of the elements someone would be looking for. Just keep in mind this isn't that happy fairytale story. Be prepared to see our characters struggle. Sure they have their shining victorious moments here and there but I feel those struggles take up far more of our story making those victories all the sweeter.
I wanted to share a highlighted section literally to start the first chapter. Reading this simply slammed me right back into this beautiful world of Linaria.
"In the wetlands of eastern Val Sharis, crisp, cold mornings usually belied rain to follow. Lingering mist often meant a frost that refused to life, which would turn the muddy waters into cold sludge. Today's dawn was still. Calm. Even the ocean waves seemed to lap gently against the shore. As if all of Linaria held its breath, waiting to see what secrets the new day would reveal."
I couldn't help but highlight and pause after reading that. Then shared it to my social media sites.
Once again this story and its characters sent me on a wild ride of adventure. As usual we follow a couple different arcs that do drift together then apart throughout the book. I've come to really like this style of storytelling. One thing I'll say about L.L. MacRae from what I've read to this point, she is NOT afraid to give her characters flaws and many struggles along the way. We’ve seen many of these characters grow on so many levels through four books now. That growth isn't always a happy go lucky kind either. This story isn't for the reader looking for that kind of fairytale throughout. I'm not saying it's always dark and ominous but we have our moments for sure.
I will apologize now for a bit of gushing with my three usual grading topics.
The worldbuilding continues to be top notch. We haven't really been given a lot of new regions in the fourth book. However, we continue to learn more details about those regions, cultures and histories. It makes the world just seem that more real and in depth.
The pacing was smooth. Even though a lot of this book and series in general keeps the reader on edge and perhaps suffering from a bit of anxiety, it just continues to help us feel like we are there experiencing what these characters are while it's happening. I believe this is what helps make this series such a page turner for me. I really devoured the fourth book in just a few days.
Even as high a praise I have for the first two mentioned categories, the character development is where this one really shines. Our characters (Isa, Amarah, Kohl, Palom, Morgen and others) go through so much in the fourth book. We definitely begin to see Isa coming into her own. Rightfully so, since this is her titled book. But Kohl is also going through some eye opening changes in this one. Most of all I believe Morgen may have even stolen the show in this category. I even had a brief chat about him with the author. I can't wait to see what happens with him next.
This story continues to captivate me and I can't wait to see where things go from here. It's starting to look like we may not have heard the last of some characters as we get into the second half of this series now. I've already got the next two books on my watch list waiting for their release. The author also has another series that I already own that I want to give a try and see if it clicks with me just as much as the World of Linaria has. If you haven't heard mention of it yet (Dragon Spirit's) be sure to check it out as well. I've heard great things about it so far.
I will continue to recommend this series to epic fantasy readers. It just seems to have so many of the elements someone would be looking for. Just keep in mind this isn't that happy fairytale story. Be prepared to see our characters struggle. Sure they have their shining victorious moments here and there but I feel those struggles take up far more of our story making those victories all the sweeter.
May 31, 2021
First posted on Uptown Oracle
Isa is the fourth book in McNeil’s World of Linaria season and I love getting lost in the world she’s built up. Isa focuses on the Princess Isa, with other POVs from characters in the previous books like Palom, Amarah and Sapora.
Overall I found Isa to be one of the quickest reads of the series, and that’s because every single chapter has something that adds directly to the plot. With previous books in the series, it’s an epic fantasy, so there’s a lot of world building and character development but some chapters did read slower. I loved that this book picked up the pace and is pushing us towards the end of the series.
Isa’s story arc sees her grow in confidence as her role of Princess as she plans to take over and become Queen for her people. Whilst she does still love her brother she knows that him being king isn’t good for Ittallan, and so she feels conflicted for her personal loyalty and morals. On top of this, she fights her nature of being a predator animal and she shows mature understanding of whether she is good enough to lead others.
One of my favourite parts of Isa was reading Amarah and Isa start to form a friendship and begin to understand each other during their journey. Isa definitely struggles with how people perceive her, and Amarah doesn’t really care what people think so their differing personalities also helped improve each other. Isa became more confident, and I found Amarah to be more amiable at times and she does grow as a person too.
I also loved that we saw more of Palom’s loyalty, and the stark contrast between his morals and those of the pirates. Estoria was a great backdrop for a lot of our characters because unlike Amarah they’ve been treated as more morally good all the time. At the same time, the Ittallan characters do manage to get on with the “bad” pirates and plans are created to continue working together to get mutual benefits.
Sapora’s arc in this story introduces us to more ancient artifacts, including extremely strong Varkain who have been awakened. These varkain make interesting additional antagonists, with the threat of Aciel coming back too. What I love about the Linaria series as a whole is that you do generally get worried about characters dying, and so many scenes had that tension and sense of relief when my favs got out of danger.
We see even more magic in this book through Morgen who’s uncovered some mysteries over in Berel. His story arc throughout the past couple of books has been surprising, and I’m super excited to get Morgen’s own book dedicated I think as the last in the series.
Overall I loved Isa and I’m so excited to see what happens next for these characters. However I’m super sad that we’re now fully over halfway through the series, and I think there’s only a couple of books left.
Positives of Isa
Strong female friendships
Mysterious artefacts and magic
Negatives of Isa
I have to wait for the next book… again!
I received Isa by L.L. McNeil from the author. This is an unbiased and honest review
Isa is the fourth book in McNeil’s World of Linaria season and I love getting lost in the world she’s built up. Isa focuses on the Princess Isa, with other POVs from characters in the previous books like Palom, Amarah and Sapora.
Overall I found Isa to be one of the quickest reads of the series, and that’s because every single chapter has something that adds directly to the plot. With previous books in the series, it’s an epic fantasy, so there’s a lot of world building and character development but some chapters did read slower. I loved that this book picked up the pace and is pushing us towards the end of the series.
Isa’s story arc sees her grow in confidence as her role of Princess as she plans to take over and become Queen for her people. Whilst she does still love her brother she knows that him being king isn’t good for Ittallan, and so she feels conflicted for her personal loyalty and morals. On top of this, she fights her nature of being a predator animal and she shows mature understanding of whether she is good enough to lead others.
One of my favourite parts of Isa was reading Amarah and Isa start to form a friendship and begin to understand each other during their journey. Isa definitely struggles with how people perceive her, and Amarah doesn’t really care what people think so their differing personalities also helped improve each other. Isa became more confident, and I found Amarah to be more amiable at times and she does grow as a person too.
I also loved that we saw more of Palom’s loyalty, and the stark contrast between his morals and those of the pirates. Estoria was a great backdrop for a lot of our characters because unlike Amarah they’ve been treated as more morally good all the time. At the same time, the Ittallan characters do manage to get on with the “bad” pirates and plans are created to continue working together to get mutual benefits.
Sapora’s arc in this story introduces us to more ancient artifacts, including extremely strong Varkain who have been awakened. These varkain make interesting additional antagonists, with the threat of Aciel coming back too. What I love about the Linaria series as a whole is that you do generally get worried about characters dying, and so many scenes had that tension and sense of relief when my favs got out of danger.
We see even more magic in this book through Morgen who’s uncovered some mysteries over in Berel. His story arc throughout the past couple of books has been surprising, and I’m super excited to get Morgen’s own book dedicated I think as the last in the series.
Overall I loved Isa and I’m so excited to see what happens next for these characters. However I’m super sad that we’re now fully over halfway through the series, and I think there’s only a couple of books left.
Positives of Isa
Strong female friendships
Mysterious artefacts and magic
Negatives of Isa
I have to wait for the next book… again!
I received Isa by L.L. McNeil from the author. This is an unbiased and honest review
February 28, 2024
Awesome book.
The first few chapters takes a bit of time to get going but by the end it's worth it. Character arcs are spot on with enough twists to keep you on your toes.
Hopefully there's a 5th book coming, i got to know how the story ends.
The first few chapters takes a bit of time to get going but by the end it's worth it. Character arcs are spot on with enough twists to keep you on your toes.
Hopefully there's a 5th book coming, i got to know how the story ends.
September 10, 2024
As with my reviews of the previous books I had a good time with Isa, a fun read if not a compelling one
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