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The Shattered Lands #1
Shattered Reflection
Can hope be found for four shattered souls?
Princess Nordica Icerri’s crown will be purchased with blood—her blood. Now the sole heir to the throne, she is determined to be the queen the Snowlands deserve, but that comes with a price: a numbed heart and soul. Only when she meets kidnapped physician Loren Alocer does Nordica allow herself to hope she can become queen without completely losing herself. But not everyone wants what’s best for the Snowlands, and Nordica’s upcoming rule is compromised at every turn. Can the criminal physician—and his faith—thaw Nordica’s heart, or is she destined to be the heartless queen she is being forced to become?
War shattered not only Breac Finson’s heart, but his faith as well. Tired of fighting, Breac only wants to be left alone, but his efforts are for naught when a friend calls in a favor. He soon finds himself in an unexpected alliance with Layree Alocer, a woman determined to find her wrongfully-kidnapped brother at all costs. Can a broken soldier help right a wrong—and find his faith again in the process?
Sides must be chosen and loyalties will be tested as a new war approaches. Can broken lives be mended in time to help save the Snowlands, or is evil already too deeply embedded?
Princess Nordica Icerri’s crown will be purchased with blood—her blood. Now the sole heir to the throne, she is determined to be the queen the Snowlands deserve, but that comes with a price: a numbed heart and soul. Only when she meets kidnapped physician Loren Alocer does Nordica allow herself to hope she can become queen without completely losing herself. But not everyone wants what’s best for the Snowlands, and Nordica’s upcoming rule is compromised at every turn. Can the criminal physician—and his faith—thaw Nordica’s heart, or is she destined to be the heartless queen she is being forced to become?
War shattered not only Breac Finson’s heart, but his faith as well. Tired of fighting, Breac only wants to be left alone, but his efforts are for naught when a friend calls in a favor. He soon finds himself in an unexpected alliance with Layree Alocer, a woman determined to find her wrongfully-kidnapped brother at all costs. Can a broken soldier help right a wrong—and find his faith again in the process?
Sides must be chosen and loyalties will be tested as a new war approaches. Can broken lives be mended in time to help save the Snowlands, or is evil already too deeply embedded?
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2022
23 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Madisyn Carlin
30 books370 followersIf you dislike "preachiness" and a lot of faith content, my books are not for you.
***
Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales where faith and fantasy unite.
Editorial, graphic design, cover design, and website design services offered at Mountain Peak Edits & Design.
Want to connect? https://linktr.ee/madisyncarlin
***
Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales where faith and fantasy unite.
Editorial, graphic design, cover design, and website design services offered at Mountain Peak Edits & Design.
Want to connect? https://linktr.ee/madisyncarlin
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January 2, 2024Title: Shattered Reflection
Series: The Shattered Lands | Book One
Genre: NA Christian Fantasy
Subgenre: Fairytale retelling (The Snow Queen)
POVS: 5
Ages: Appropriate for ages 15+ due to non-graphic violence
Core Themes: Salvation, Loyalty, and Forgiveness
Inspiration Board: https://www.pinterest.com/madisyncarl...
What is Shattered Reflection?
SR1 is a Christian fairytale retelling which incorporates heavy faith elements, numerous action scenes, clean romance, and plenty of evil villains. By "heavy faith elements", I mean heavy. There is an overt salvation scene as well as many prayers, Scripture verses, and so on. Don't like, don't read.
Content Warning:
SR1 contains heavy topics, although none are described in a gratuitous and gory manner. There is also a lot of violence, so I do not recommend this book for anyone younger than fifteen. If you are older than fifteen and are easily bothered by such content, then this probably is not the book for you.
My sister and a sixteen-year-old beta were fine reading this.
SR1 IS NOTHING LIKE "FROZEN". I can't stand that movie.
Quote:
Nothing he faced was too difficult for God, and the Maker of the world already knew how Loren’s story would end.
The thought offered a bit of bittersweet comfort. He didn’t want to die, but at least his future wasn’t haphazard—wasn’t unplanned or unknown to God.
Series: The Shattered Lands | Book One
Genre: NA Christian Fantasy
Subgenre: Fairytale retelling (The Snow Queen)
POVS: 5
Ages: Appropriate for ages 15+ due to non-graphic violence
Core Themes: Salvation, Loyalty, and Forgiveness
Inspiration Board: https://www.pinterest.com/madisyncarl...
What is Shattered Reflection?
SR1 is a Christian fairytale retelling which incorporates heavy faith elements, numerous action scenes, clean romance, and plenty of evil villains. By "heavy faith elements", I mean heavy. There is an overt salvation scene as well as many prayers, Scripture verses, and so on. Don't like, don't read.
Content Warning:
SR1 contains heavy topics, although none are described in a gratuitous and gory manner. There is also a lot of violence, so I do not recommend this book for anyone younger than fifteen. If you are older than fifteen and are easily bothered by such content, then this probably is not the book for you.
My sister and a sixteen-year-old beta were fine reading this.
SR1 IS NOTHING LIKE "FROZEN". I can't stand that movie.
Quote:
Nothing he faced was too difficult for God, and the Maker of the world already knew how Loren’s story would end.
The thought offered a bit of bittersweet comfort. He didn’t want to die, but at least his future wasn’t haphazard—wasn’t unplanned or unknown to God.
December 21, 2023
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). Madisyn Carlin wasn’t joking when she called this a beast of a book. Boy howdy… it’s a beast in size AND story!
The setting was intriguing. I have mentioned before in my reviews of the author’s other books that she is phenomenal at worldbuilding, and she showed it here. I did get confused about what and where everything was—I would have loved a map—but overall I got the gist of it and I never confused one place with another. I applaud her for making it make sense and keep straight! Her writing style, as always, was very clear, with plenty of snark. (*happy dance*) EDIT: Since I have read this book, I have discovered there is a map and it will be released on publication day.
And as always, the characters were the cream on the cake. [After googling that I discovered it’s “my own invention” and a mixture of a French and an English metaphor, and imma leave it. You’re welcome.] I’m starting to learn this author has recurrent types among her characters, and I am so here for it! The strong, broken, brooding, protective type was actually split into two characters this time: Marcus and Breac—but they were completely different and I LOVED it. Nor did I ever confuse them—they were both unique and I would be so happy to see them comrades in some future book. *looks pleadingly at the author* The strong, sweet, slightly snarky female heroine appeared in Layree, and she was such a great counterpart to M & B, as well as to her brother. Loren was the upright, beaten but unbroken fellow, and I respected him so much. (Also, I loved his medic + warrior blend!) Nordica was one of the most unique characters I have ever seen, and Carlin did a great job showing how the ice changed her. Breac’s family was awesomely hilarious (again, very similar but totally un-confusable); Nordica’s maids were epic; and there was a host of minor characters that played their parts delightfully, however short or long they were. And finally, the villains were terrifying and I hated them 110%.
The plot was slow to start—I wondered for a while how all these far-spread people would ever get together—but once it got rolling I was on the edge of my seat, and everything flowed very well. The pacing was excellent, with plenty of ups and downs, climaxes and moments of respite; and all the loose ends were tied up, yet in a way that left one eager for more! The various settings—snowy mountain, silent palace, terrible dungeons + mines—balanced each other out well, and I really enjoyed seeing all the characters carrying out their own arcs that sometimes blended together and sometimes separated. ALSO, I loved the unexpected redemption at the end. ;) ;) IYKYK. And I just have to mention I LOVED the sarcasm. #Epic. And also, the pro-life thread was fire.
There’s no gainsaying this is a heavy, serious book; yet Carlin did a fantastic job pairing humour with horror, joy with grief, and laughter with pain. Topics handled were slavery/human trafficking (nonse*ual); PTSD; torture; and physical + emotional abuse. There was plenty of violence, although never what I consider very graphic; still, the author didn’t whitewash things and showed how sadistically, cleverly cruel man can be. Those scenes, however, were few and far between, never longer than they needed to be to pack the punch they were meant for. Towards the end, one did begin to feel a little of the despair the characters did; but hope was always extended, and Carlin balanced everything very well. She also did splendidly showing redemption tempered with justice, as well as healing, and the truths of God against all these abominations. I particularly loved the reminder that we are not what others say we are, but who He says we are. <3
This was a deep, good, satisfying read, and I am so eager for the next instalment in the series.
A Favourite Quote: “Your aunt and uncle and what they’ve done to you is skewing your perception of who you are. You’re redeemed, Nordica. You’re set free. You’re looking at yourself with a tainted perspective. That mirror…it’s lying. You have to ignore it. You have to ignore the lies it tells you. You’re looking at yourself the way your aunt and uncle viewed you, when you should be seeing yourself through God’s eyes.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “It’s good to see you alive, generally uninjured, and being your usual sunshiny self.” Canon clasped Breac’s forearm and grinned. “You look like you ate a rotten freezeberry.”
“And you look like you’re asking for a mud bath.” Breac hiked a thumb over his shoulder. “Have you seen some of the mud pits out there? They’re perfect for you.”
“I doubt Silci would like me ruining our home with mud, but thank you for that generous, heartfelt offer.” Canon sniffed. “You need a bath.”
“I’ve been traveling for a week and the streams are too cold to even dip a finger in.”
“Aw. Is poor Breac unable to handle the cold?”
Breac snorted and shouldered Canon aside. “Move, Lowlander. I have things to do.”
“And a bath to take.”
“How can Silci handle your mediocre wit?”
Canon puffed up. “I’ll have you know she quite likes it when I put those stuffy councilmen in their place.”
“...I always wonder why Silci chose you.”
“My stunning sense of humor and dazzling good looks, most likely.”
“What do you measure your standards by? A mole-rat?”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
The setting was intriguing. I have mentioned before in my reviews of the author’s other books that she is phenomenal at worldbuilding, and she showed it here. I did get confused about what and where everything was—I would have loved a map—but overall I got the gist of it and I never confused one place with another. I applaud her for making it make sense and keep straight! Her writing style, as always, was very clear, with plenty of snark. (*happy dance*) EDIT: Since I have read this book, I have discovered there is a map and it will be released on publication day.
And as always, the characters were the cream on the cake. [After googling that I discovered it’s “my own invention” and a mixture of a French and an English metaphor, and imma leave it. You’re welcome.] I’m starting to learn this author has recurrent types among her characters, and I am so here for it! The strong, broken, brooding, protective type was actually split into two characters this time: Marcus and Breac—but they were completely different and I LOVED it. Nor did I ever confuse them—they were both unique and I would be so happy to see them comrades in some future book. *looks pleadingly at the author* The strong, sweet, slightly snarky female heroine appeared in Layree, and she was such a great counterpart to M & B, as well as to her brother. Loren was the upright, beaten but unbroken fellow, and I respected him so much. (Also, I loved his medic + warrior blend!) Nordica was one of the most unique characters I have ever seen, and Carlin did a great job showing how the ice changed her. Breac’s family was awesomely hilarious (again, very similar but totally un-confusable); Nordica’s maids were epic; and there was a host of minor characters that played their parts delightfully, however short or long they were. And finally, the villains were terrifying and I hated them 110%.
The plot was slow to start—I wondered for a while how all these far-spread people would ever get together—but once it got rolling I was on the edge of my seat, and everything flowed very well. The pacing was excellent, with plenty of ups and downs, climaxes and moments of respite; and all the loose ends were tied up, yet in a way that left one eager for more! The various settings—snowy mountain, silent palace, terrible dungeons + mines—balanced each other out well, and I really enjoyed seeing all the characters carrying out their own arcs that sometimes blended together and sometimes separated. ALSO, I loved the unexpected redemption at the end. ;) ;) IYKYK. And I just have to mention I LOVED the sarcasm. #Epic. And also, the pro-life thread was fire.
There’s no gainsaying this is a heavy, serious book; yet Carlin did a fantastic job pairing humour with horror, joy with grief, and laughter with pain. Topics handled were slavery/human trafficking (nonse*ual); PTSD; torture; and physical + emotional abuse. There was plenty of violence, although never what I consider very graphic; still, the author didn’t whitewash things and showed how sadistically, cleverly cruel man can be. Those scenes, however, were few and far between, never longer than they needed to be to pack the punch they were meant for. Towards the end, one did begin to feel a little of the despair the characters did; but hope was always extended, and Carlin balanced everything very well. She also did splendidly showing redemption tempered with justice, as well as healing, and the truths of God against all these abominations. I particularly loved the reminder that we are not what others say we are, but who He says we are. <3
This was a deep, good, satisfying read, and I am so eager for the next instalment in the series.
A Favourite Quote: “Your aunt and uncle and what they’ve done to you is skewing your perception of who you are. You’re redeemed, Nordica. You’re set free. You’re looking at yourself with a tainted perspective. That mirror…it’s lying. You have to ignore it. You have to ignore the lies it tells you. You’re looking at yourself the way your aunt and uncle viewed you, when you should be seeing yourself through God’s eyes.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “It’s good to see you alive, generally uninjured, and being your usual sunshiny self.” Canon clasped Breac’s forearm and grinned. “You look like you ate a rotten freezeberry.”
“And you look like you’re asking for a mud bath.” Breac hiked a thumb over his shoulder. “Have you seen some of the mud pits out there? They’re perfect for you.”
“I doubt Silci would like me ruining our home with mud, but thank you for that generous, heartfelt offer.” Canon sniffed. “You need a bath.”
“I’ve been traveling for a week and the streams are too cold to even dip a finger in.”
“Aw. Is poor Breac unable to handle the cold?”
Breac snorted and shouldered Canon aside. “Move, Lowlander. I have things to do.”
“And a bath to take.”
“How can Silci handle your mediocre wit?”
Canon puffed up. “I’ll have you know she quite likes it when I put those stuffy councilmen in their place.”
“...I always wonder why Silci chose you.”
“My stunning sense of humor and dazzling good looks, most likely.”
“What do you measure your standards by? A mole-rat?”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
October 29, 2022
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Loren, Nordica, Breac, Layree, and Marcus were all well-developed, relatable characters. I appreciated how they each had a unique personality, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the future.
Language: Clean.
Plot: Plenty of high stakes, suspenseful moments, action scenes, and great conversations kept me reading right along. I need the second book now!
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Theme: Shattered Reflection contained great themes: salvation, trusting God, doing what's right, and persevering.
Writing: Madisyn Carlin's descriptive yet clear writing worked so well for this novel. I love the humor she includes in her books.
Overall: Shattered Reflection was an exciting read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction, non-magical fantasy, and fairy-tale retellings.
Characters: Loren, Nordica, Breac, Layree, and Marcus were all well-developed, relatable characters. I appreciated how they each had a unique personality, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the future.
Language: Clean.
Plot: Plenty of high stakes, suspenseful moments, action scenes, and great conversations kept me reading right along. I need the second book now!
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Theme: Shattered Reflection contained great themes: salvation, trusting God, doing what's right, and persevering.
Writing: Madisyn Carlin's descriptive yet clear writing worked so well for this novel. I love the humor she includes in her books.
Overall: Shattered Reflection was an exciting read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction, non-magical fantasy, and fairy-tale retellings.
June 15, 2024
Marvellous Book!
Wow! Shattered Reflection was simply wonderful! The highest stars ⭐️ for this giant masterpiece. I spent several nights of reading past reasonable hours I was so engaged in the SR.
The characters became dear and loved. The main characters (also the POVs) Layree, Nordica, Loren, Marcus, and Breac all with such tragic pasts, scars both physically and mentally, yet (most of them) beautifully redeemed by the Lord who’s love immeasurably encompasses when one only asks.
Then add all of the side characters who were just as enjoyed such as Sassy Tandri, Blunt Anthi, and Sweet Zinnia.
The writing style was immersive and catching. I was sceptical about the 5 povs before I started reading. But it totally worked, never had me lost, and showed the heart of 5 main characters opposed to simply 1 or 2 which gave SR such a huge vantage point for the reader which I loved. And I simply love the sense of humour in the writing balancing perfectly with the dark and deep moments of the story.
The fantasy setting with a touch of more advanced medicine and things such as coffee and some foods that I personally love were a great addition as well as the completely fantastical things such as the ice sap and freeze berries.
The themes of love, redemption, forgiveness, and mercy ring loud and clear throughout the book. Each main character struggles- as many do- with past pains, mistakes, and regrets seeing themselves in their reflections as wretched and unworthy. Not forgiving and beating themselves up over the past. But God’s redeeming love and mercy reaches out and change us to see ourselves as He does. As His creation. His children. His beauties made in His own glorious image. Reflections of Him.
I can’t wait for the continuance of this series! I MUST see where Marcus goes. My heart breaks for the man.
Wow! Shattered Reflection was simply wonderful! The highest stars ⭐️ for this giant masterpiece. I spent several nights of reading past reasonable hours I was so engaged in the SR.
The characters became dear and loved. The main characters (also the POVs) Layree, Nordica, Loren, Marcus, and Breac all with such tragic pasts, scars both physically and mentally, yet (most of them) beautifully redeemed by the Lord who’s love immeasurably encompasses when one only asks.
Then add all of the side characters who were just as enjoyed such as Sassy Tandri, Blunt Anthi, and Sweet Zinnia.
The writing style was immersive and catching. I was sceptical about the 5 povs before I started reading. But it totally worked, never had me lost, and showed the heart of 5 main characters opposed to simply 1 or 2 which gave SR such a huge vantage point for the reader which I loved. And I simply love the sense of humour in the writing balancing perfectly with the dark and deep moments of the story.
The fantasy setting with a touch of more advanced medicine and things such as coffee and some foods that I personally love were a great addition as well as the completely fantastical things such as the ice sap and freeze berries.
The themes of love, redemption, forgiveness, and mercy ring loud and clear throughout the book. Each main character struggles- as many do- with past pains, mistakes, and regrets seeing themselves in their reflections as wretched and unworthy. Not forgiving and beating themselves up over the past. But God’s redeeming love and mercy reaches out and change us to see ourselves as He does. As His creation. His children. His beauties made in His own glorious image. Reflections of Him.
I can’t wait for the continuance of this series! I MUST see where Marcus goes. My heart breaks for the man.
January 14, 2023
My HEART!!!!!!
WOW. Shattered Reflection has got to be one of the most emotionally twisting books I have read for a very long time. I don't think it ever brought me to tears running down my cheeks, but it was definitely other emotions towards certain characters. Breach can be such a brat sometimes. 🙄😡
Shattered Reflection contains five POVs. I'm not a multiple POV person, but Madisyn Carlin is super good at making the characters distinct enough that I had no trouble transitioning between them.
Nordica: Oh my very inner being is like reaching for her screaming "no, Nordi, come back! You're not a hopeless case like you think you are! You can make it!" 😭😭😭😭😭 Ehem... Yes, let me recover from that little outbreak- I absolutely adored her personality. It fit so well for her part. And when the criminal comes along and shares with her his faith, that's like AMAZING. Go ******! I'm not sure if that's a spoiler... I don't think it is. Oh goodness gracious. LOREN, YOU GOT THIS!!!!! (Lemme just add that Nordica's maids are the best. 🤣)
Loren: It's only fitting he comes next. He's my favorite besides Marcus. He's not at the top cause he opened the door for Nordi since he's such a gentleman. This guy has so many issues even before the book started, but even through the darkest hours of his life he managed to shine a light for the person who needed it most. Ahhhhhh! He was so amazing, even patching up the people in the mines.😍😍😍 He does his job so well. (-totally didn't read "the ice mines" as "the ice cream mines" once due to a conversation with friends and a very sleep deprived self.😏-)
Breac: 😡😡😡😡😍😍😍😍🙊🙊🙊🙊🙈🙈🙈😝😭💯😳🥺. Yepppppp. That's how I feel about him. I mean, he's a great guy and all, but man can he be a brat sometimes. He would have been my favorite character if he hadn't have done the real life thing and spoiler and made me get all mad at him, plus he has no reason to dislike Marcus but he just does and it's so sad cause it's too realistic for my poor heart! 😭 *Takes deep breath* MADISYN!!!!!!! But the end when he meets his new love's grandmother. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣THAT is hilarious.
Layre: Her devotion to her brother was fabulous. I would have done the exact same thing (except maybe clobber a few people sooner, but that's irrelevant and she was probably wanting to remain on the saner side of things) and her whole background with the Night Guard was amazing. 😍 I haven't even met most of the Night Guards and they have already got me begging for their books. Enough about them. Layre's character was one of the more laid back ones, definitely high stakes, but she could only go so fast at one time. She needed to learn to let go of the past, even though it seemed impossible and totally unethical. *Was totally trying to ship Marcus and Layre the whole time*
Marcus: I saved this big boy for last cause he's so amazing and I didn't want you guys to miss out. He's really the heart grabber here. Feeling so helpless and like a traitor, he just can't get over his guilt. I mean, HE COULDN'T HELP IT GUYS!!!!!* Bawls* it's not fair! And he went through so much and no one realized it. I just wanted to give him massive hugs, kidnap him, drag him to my house, and feed him chilli and cheese for the rest of his life. I could see him sitting with my family in the pews at church and just chillin'. 🥰 Why can't characters be real life??! 😭
For the record: Lord AshI'llmake is a no good, terrible, double crossing toad who doesn't have his head on straight. And I have a few things to say about Aunt Egg, but I'll let you discover what those are when you read the book. ����
Shattered Reflection was absolutely amazing! There was this sword fight at the end that was fabulous! And Nordi got to see her shattered reflection for what it really was, thanks to my favorite guy. 😇😉
I know my siblings will love this book when I let them at it. But alas, that's not for another while yet. 😖 Be sure to check out this amazing Snow Queen retelling! And if you want more options sooner from this author, Madisyn Carlin has published DECEIVED, and will be publishing IRON (a Cinderella/red riding hood retelling). Both are amazing amazing amazing books! 😍😍😍😍😍😍
P. S. Breac is still awesome even though he does have some quirks that he needs to fix. 😉 And his life is certainly in danger when Loren and Marcus start planning his demise when Loren learns that his twin is courting him. 😇🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙊🙊🙊
WOW. Shattered Reflection has got to be one of the most emotionally twisting books I have read for a very long time. I don't think it ever brought me to tears running down my cheeks, but it was definitely other emotions towards certain characters. Breach can be such a brat sometimes. 🙄😡
Shattered Reflection contains five POVs. I'm not a multiple POV person, but Madisyn Carlin is super good at making the characters distinct enough that I had no trouble transitioning between them.
Nordica: Oh my very inner being is like reaching for her screaming "no, Nordi, come back! You're not a hopeless case like you think you are! You can make it!" 😭😭😭😭😭 Ehem... Yes, let me recover from that little outbreak- I absolutely adored her personality. It fit so well for her part. And when the criminal comes along and shares with her his faith, that's like AMAZING. Go ******! I'm not sure if that's a spoiler... I don't think it is. Oh goodness gracious. LOREN, YOU GOT THIS!!!!! (Lemme just add that Nordica's maids are the best. 🤣)
Loren: It's only fitting he comes next. He's my favorite besides Marcus. He's not at the top cause he opened the door for Nordi since he's such a gentleman. This guy has so many issues even before the book started, but even through the darkest hours of his life he managed to shine a light for the person who needed it most. Ahhhhhh! He was so amazing, even patching up the people in the mines.😍😍😍 He does his job so well. (-totally didn't read "the ice mines" as "the ice cream mines" once due to a conversation with friends and a very sleep deprived self.😏-)
Breac: 😡😡😡😡😍😍😍😍🙊🙊🙊🙊🙈🙈🙈😝😭💯😳🥺. Yepppppp. That's how I feel about him. I mean, he's a great guy and all, but man can he be a brat sometimes. He would have been my favorite character if he hadn't have done the real life thing and spoiler and made me get all mad at him, plus he has no reason to dislike Marcus but he just does and it's so sad cause it's too realistic for my poor heart! 😭 *Takes deep breath* MADISYN!!!!!!! But the end when he meets his new love's grandmother. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣THAT is hilarious.
Layre: Her devotion to her brother was fabulous. I would have done the exact same thing (except maybe clobber a few people sooner, but that's irrelevant and she was probably wanting to remain on the saner side of things) and her whole background with the Night Guard was amazing. 😍 I haven't even met most of the Night Guards and they have already got me begging for their books. Enough about them. Layre's character was one of the more laid back ones, definitely high stakes, but she could only go so fast at one time. She needed to learn to let go of the past, even though it seemed impossible and totally unethical. *Was totally trying to ship Marcus and Layre the whole time*
Marcus: I saved this big boy for last cause he's so amazing and I didn't want you guys to miss out. He's really the heart grabber here. Feeling so helpless and like a traitor, he just can't get over his guilt. I mean, HE COULDN'T HELP IT GUYS!!!!!* Bawls* it's not fair! And he went through so much and no one realized it. I just wanted to give him massive hugs, kidnap him, drag him to my house, and feed him chilli and cheese for the rest of his life. I could see him sitting with my family in the pews at church and just chillin'. 🥰 Why can't characters be real life??! 😭
For the record: Lord AshI'llmake is a no good, terrible, double crossing toad who doesn't have his head on straight. And I have a few things to say about Aunt Egg, but I'll let you discover what those are when you read the book. ����
Shattered Reflection was absolutely amazing! There was this sword fight at the end that was fabulous! And Nordi got to see her shattered reflection for what it really was, thanks to my favorite guy. 😇😉
I know my siblings will love this book when I let them at it. But alas, that's not for another while yet. 😖 Be sure to check out this amazing Snow Queen retelling! And if you want more options sooner from this author, Madisyn Carlin has published DECEIVED, and will be publishing IRON (a Cinderella/red riding hood retelling). Both are amazing amazing amazing books! 😍😍😍😍😍😍
P. S. Breac is still awesome even though he does have some quirks that he needs to fix. 😉 And his life is certainly in danger when Loren and Marcus start planning his demise when Loren learns that his twin is courting him. 😇🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙊🙊🙊
July 29, 2024
Carlin never fails to impress!!! Wowzer!!! That was....incredible!!! I loved every moment of the book!!! First off, the reason it took me so long to read this book had nothing to do with the book itself but the fact that I got a ton of ARC books after I started and while reading, so I kept having to pause to read those....lol...or else this book would have finished a while ago!
Characters:
The story has five POVs which I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep up with, but it turned out to be no problem! Besides, one character, Marcus, only has a chapter every eight chapters.
Loren was...a dear! I loved that boy! He was so patient and gentle, but I loved his relationship with his sister Layree and how protective he was!!!!
Layree was so sweet and resilient, and just *hugs* She was a darlin'!!!
Nordica was so conflicted!! Poor girl, but I loved seeing her arc, and Anthi and Zinnia in her chapters were just...I loved the believable sister dynamic because that's pretty much my sisters and me...lol....
Breac!!!!!!!!!!! I wasn't sure I would like him, and then I loved him and couldn't wait for his chapters to come around! His doubts and his faith and his protectiveness and his cousin...lol....and his relationship with his friend Canon!!!! I was laughing so hard it was so good!!!!!
Themes:
My goodness....there is so much that could be unpacked in this book...the value of life, the need to trust God even in the moments we can hardly believe He's still there because of how dark the world seems. The need to stand up for what is right even when we know we ourselves could get hurt from it...trusting God in every aspect, especially in the horribly bad moments when we want to take control...I mean, so much more than that but it was sooooooo good!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
Just a kiss or two mentioned, some forehead and cheek kisses, and hugs...cutest thing when Brea asks if he can hug a certain character!!!!! *fan girling over here, ignore me*
Magic:
N/A, this is a magic-free fantasy!
Overall:
This book is AMAZING!!! Like fantastic!!! Everyone should grab a copy, binge-read, and just...yes!!! I loved this so much and can't wait for book 2!!! This was amazing!!!! There is some violence but nothing is overly detailed. Carlin is always very tasteful in the department....and I just loved this book sooooo much!!!!! Eeep!!!!
Characters:
The story has five POVs which I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep up with, but it turned out to be no problem! Besides, one character, Marcus, only has a chapter every eight chapters.
Loren was...a dear! I loved that boy! He was so patient and gentle, but I loved his relationship with his sister Layree and how protective he was!!!!
Layree was so sweet and resilient, and just *hugs* She was a darlin'!!!
Nordica was so conflicted!! Poor girl, but I loved seeing her arc, and Anthi and Zinnia in her chapters were just...I loved the believable sister dynamic because that's pretty much my sisters and me...lol....
Breac!!!!!!!!!!! I wasn't sure I would like him, and then I loved him and couldn't wait for his chapters to come around! His doubts and his faith and his protectiveness and his cousin...lol....and his relationship with his friend Canon!!!! I was laughing so hard it was so good!!!!!
Themes:
My goodness....there is so much that could be unpacked in this book...the value of life, the need to trust God even in the moments we can hardly believe He's still there because of how dark the world seems. The need to stand up for what is right even when we know we ourselves could get hurt from it...trusting God in every aspect, especially in the horribly bad moments when we want to take control...I mean, so much more than that but it was sooooooo good!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
Just a kiss or two mentioned, some forehead and cheek kisses, and hugs...cutest thing when Brea asks if he can hug a certain character!!!!! *fan girling over here, ignore me*
Magic:
N/A, this is a magic-free fantasy!
Overall:
This book is AMAZING!!! Like fantastic!!! Everyone should grab a copy, binge-read, and just...yes!!! I loved this so much and can't wait for book 2!!! This was amazing!!!! There is some violence but nothing is overly detailed. Carlin is always very tasteful in the department....and I just loved this book sooooo much!!!!! Eeep!!!!
January 14, 2024
Where is the sequel? Does that not that say it all, or must I break a few grammar rules and add a couple more question marks, as well a least four exclamation marks, to the original question?
From the first sentence, Shattered Reflection lived up to the name Carlin has been building. Dark & gloomy characters, fragile yet strong characters, wit, well-told tales, war and hardship, light in the darkness, with threads faith & forgiveness woven through.
Five shattered souls...
Nordica, the Queen-in-training, who's trying to do right by the Snowlands, but as the ice freezes her from the inside out, she's falling prey to her uncle's evil plans.
Loren, the "criminal" physician, captured and taken to the castle for changes unknown.
Layree, his twin sister, who will stop at nothing to rescue him.
Breac, who's never afraid to speak his mind, and who doesn't balk at aiding ladies in certain missions.
Marcus, who's taken the vow to protect Laylee until Loren is again able. Who cannot outrun the past, which will forever haunt him.
There's more to each character then meets the eye. There's more to the story then gleaned at first glance. There's more to everything. Secrets, hidden pasts, lies, evil intents, and ice. Always the ice.
[However, I don't understand why Marcus isn't even mentioned in the blurb--he's one of the five main/viewpoint characters, after all...].
From the first sentence, Shattered Reflection lived up to the name Carlin has been building. Dark & gloomy characters, fragile yet strong characters, wit, well-told tales, war and hardship, light in the darkness, with threads faith & forgiveness woven through.
Five shattered souls...
Nordica, the Queen-in-training, who's trying to do right by the Snowlands, but as the ice freezes her from the inside out, she's falling prey to her uncle's evil plans.
Loren, the "criminal" physician, captured and taken to the castle for changes unknown.
Layree, his twin sister, who will stop at nothing to rescue him.
Breac, who's never afraid to speak his mind, and who doesn't balk at aiding ladies in certain missions.
Marcus, who's taken the vow to protect Laylee until Loren is again able. Who cannot outrun the past, which will forever haunt him.
There's more to each character then meets the eye. There's more to the story then gleaned at first glance. There's more to everything. Secrets, hidden pasts, lies, evil intents, and ice. Always the ice.
[However, I don't understand why Marcus isn't even mentioned in the blurb--he's one of the five main/viewpoint characters, after all...].
March 9, 2023
Loved this ❣️ RTC
February 1, 2023
My initial thoughts upon finishing this book were, "I have to have the next one in the series!"
I have to just say up front that I have not been impressed with fairytale retellings I've read by other authors in the past—mostly because they're either poorly executed or filled with immorality and satanic magical elements. That's a no-go for me. So when I found out that Madisyn Carlin was working on a Snow Queen retelling that was non-magical, I was intrigued to say the least. Something about the snippet I had read of Shattered Reflection interested me.
Let me tell y'all...my heart ain't ever gonna be the same again.
I knew immediately that there was something special about the way Shattered Reflection was written. The first chapter drew me in and enthralled me with it's charm. The world building is absolutely fantastic. It pulls in real elements and mixes them with fictional elements to create a beautifully convincing fictional country and setting. Some fantasy books go so out there with their fictional foods and animals that I just can't even read it because it's not even believable. Miss Carlin does a good job of balancing the real with the fictitious. And the turmoil and wars spoken of in the book is very realistic and intriguing.
Now on to the characters.
They are written with so much care and thought that it makes them jump off the page and capture your heart almost as soon as you meet them. I found myself being able to relate with each of the main characters very well. Something that I noticed in the book was how unique and colorfully each character was painted. From the main characters, all the way to the most obscure side character, each one is unique and filled with quirks specific to them individually.
Marcus—can I just say that his character arch in the book is very well done. He was by far my absolute favorite character. And I don't see that ever changing. He's just the best. My heart bled for him as he struggled with his past.
This book has five POVs. Sometimes books with multiple POVs prove to have one that is more intriguing than the others—leaving the reader wanting to skip other POVs in order to read the exciting one. Shattered Reflection is not that way at all. Each POV offers a unique perspective that holds the reader captive in its own way. I never once found myself wanting to skip a POV just to get to another one.
The plot was enthralling. I don't know what other way to say it. Each chapter adds a new twist to it, and I appreciated the message of hope wound through the book as well as the wonderful message of salvation! Miss Carlin does a wonderful job including Biblical beliefs and concepts in her books.
Shattered Reflection deals with a lot of heavy topics: slavery, PTSD, abuse, incredibly nasty villains, etc. But Miss Carlin does an excellent job of keeping it realistic without it being overly gory.
Also, there is a romance thread throughout the book (it's a fairytale retelling), but it was handled tastefully, and it wasn't just lovey-dovey emotional stupidity.
I do have to say that I use the KJV only, and this book does not. But when there were verses mentioned, I would just read them from my Bible.
Shattered Reflection is a beautiful story that smashes your heart in pieces, then gently pieces it back together again. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Please, Miss Carlin, finish it soon!
I have to just say up front that I have not been impressed with fairytale retellings I've read by other authors in the past—mostly because they're either poorly executed or filled with immorality and satanic magical elements. That's a no-go for me. So when I found out that Madisyn Carlin was working on a Snow Queen retelling that was non-magical, I was intrigued to say the least. Something about the snippet I had read of Shattered Reflection interested me.
Let me tell y'all...my heart ain't ever gonna be the same again.
I knew immediately that there was something special about the way Shattered Reflection was written. The first chapter drew me in and enthralled me with it's charm. The world building is absolutely fantastic. It pulls in real elements and mixes them with fictional elements to create a beautifully convincing fictional country and setting. Some fantasy books go so out there with their fictional foods and animals that I just can't even read it because it's not even believable. Miss Carlin does a good job of balancing the real with the fictitious. And the turmoil and wars spoken of in the book is very realistic and intriguing.
Now on to the characters.
They are written with so much care and thought that it makes them jump off the page and capture your heart almost as soon as you meet them. I found myself being able to relate with each of the main characters very well. Something that I noticed in the book was how unique and colorfully each character was painted. From the main characters, all the way to the most obscure side character, each one is unique and filled with quirks specific to them individually.
Marcus—can I just say that his character arch in the book is very well done. He was by far my absolute favorite character. And I don't see that ever changing. He's just the best. My heart bled for him as he struggled with his past.
This book has five POVs. Sometimes books with multiple POVs prove to have one that is more intriguing than the others—leaving the reader wanting to skip other POVs in order to read the exciting one. Shattered Reflection is not that way at all. Each POV offers a unique perspective that holds the reader captive in its own way. I never once found myself wanting to skip a POV just to get to another one.
The plot was enthralling. I don't know what other way to say it. Each chapter adds a new twist to it, and I appreciated the message of hope wound through the book as well as the wonderful message of salvation! Miss Carlin does a wonderful job including Biblical beliefs and concepts in her books.
Shattered Reflection deals with a lot of heavy topics: slavery, PTSD, abuse, incredibly nasty villains, etc. But Miss Carlin does an excellent job of keeping it realistic without it being overly gory.
Also, there is a romance thread throughout the book (it's a fairytale retelling), but it was handled tastefully, and it wasn't just lovey-dovey emotional stupidity.
I do have to say that I use the KJV only, and this book does not. But when there were verses mentioned, I would just read them from my Bible.
Shattered Reflection is a beautiful story that smashes your heart in pieces, then gently pieces it back together again. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Please, Miss Carlin, finish it soon!
December 19, 2022
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Wow. The author said this book was an epic, and it truly was - both in length and in the scope of the story. Madisyn Carlin is a master of fantasy, and this book was no exception.
Characters: Five POVs is a hard thing to pull off, but when you have amazing characters, it works! Let's start with the ladies, Layree and Nordica. Layree was so brave and determined, yet she wasn't extremely outgoing, wasn't a fiery warrior in the typical sense. She felt more like a normal person with normal struggles who still stood strong under pressure. And then there was Nordica, who was probably one of my favorite characters. She was so broken and had this type of fragility about her, but she fought as hard as she could. Watching her descent into numbness was so heartbreaking! (Also, her name just fit her perfectly.) Then the guys - Breac, Marcus, and Loren. Breac I wasn't completely sold on at first, but he definitely grew on me. His interactions with his family were a nice comedic break - Tandri is such a little spitfire! And Marcus ... wow, that dude. I didn't feel as much for him at the beginning of the book, but by the end, I was inwardly screaming for him. I need the next book now, please, because I must see what happens to Marcus. And then Loren. Loren, taking one of my most beloved character roles - sacrificial doctor - and making it better than ever. His strength under trial, his tireless care of his patients, and his quiet yet dogged determination was beautiful. I loved the guy. Oh, and how can I forget the side characters? There were so many, but Anthi and Zinnia were my favorites. My girls were epic. Their combination of wit and sass and gentleness and kindness was precious. I was afraid at one point that they were going off-scene for the rest of the book, but my fears were unfounded, thankfully!
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: This setting was so intriguing - I don't know a lot about fantasy, but the worldbuilding was wonderful. It's definitely a good book to read with a blanket and tea nearby, because you are going to get cold with all the talk of frozen stuff. The writing style was perfect for this story - so well done and not distracting. And then the plot. Wow. At times, it felt a little bit long to me (probably because I wasn't sure where the plot was going), and the politics also confused me a little bit (because I am not good at following politics in books), but the way it all connected and wrapped up was wonderful. I will say the violence was a bit heavy - not graphic in the least - but if you are sensitive to violent content, just be aware.
Theme: This was beautiful. I loved watching the characters work through trials and doubts as Christians, and I loved seeing a certain character come to know the Lord. None of the characters were perfect people, but in spite of so much pain and suffering, they still held to the Lord. I also really enjoyed the way the characters shared their faith - so incredibly important. This book truly was Christian fiction, and I was encouraged by reading it.
Overall: Even if you don't like fantasy, you should read this book. You won't regret it. And now I need to go bother the author to give me the next book. :)
Wow. The author said this book was an epic, and it truly was - both in length and in the scope of the story. Madisyn Carlin is a master of fantasy, and this book was no exception.
Characters: Five POVs is a hard thing to pull off, but when you have amazing characters, it works! Let's start with the ladies, Layree and Nordica. Layree was so brave and determined, yet she wasn't extremely outgoing, wasn't a fiery warrior in the typical sense. She felt more like a normal person with normal struggles who still stood strong under pressure. And then there was Nordica, who was probably one of my favorite characters. She was so broken and had this type of fragility about her, but she fought as hard as she could. Watching her descent into numbness was so heartbreaking! (Also, her name just fit her perfectly.) Then the guys - Breac, Marcus, and Loren. Breac I wasn't completely sold on at first, but he definitely grew on me. His interactions with his family were a nice comedic break - Tandri is such a little spitfire! And Marcus ... wow, that dude. I didn't feel as much for him at the beginning of the book, but by the end, I was inwardly screaming for him. I need the next book now, please, because I must see what happens to Marcus. And then Loren. Loren, taking one of my most beloved character roles - sacrificial doctor - and making it better than ever. His strength under trial, his tireless care of his patients, and his quiet yet dogged determination was beautiful. I loved the guy. Oh, and how can I forget the side characters? There were so many, but Anthi and Zinnia were my favorites. My girls were epic. Their combination of wit and sass and gentleness and kindness was precious. I was afraid at one point that they were going off-scene for the rest of the book, but my fears were unfounded, thankfully!
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: This setting was so intriguing - I don't know a lot about fantasy, but the worldbuilding was wonderful. It's definitely a good book to read with a blanket and tea nearby, because you are going to get cold with all the talk of frozen stuff. The writing style was perfect for this story - so well done and not distracting. And then the plot. Wow. At times, it felt a little bit long to me (probably because I wasn't sure where the plot was going), and the politics also confused me a little bit (because I am not good at following politics in books), but the way it all connected and wrapped up was wonderful. I will say the violence was a bit heavy - not graphic in the least - but if you are sensitive to violent content, just be aware.
Theme: This was beautiful. I loved watching the characters work through trials and doubts as Christians, and I loved seeing a certain character come to know the Lord. None of the characters were perfect people, but in spite of so much pain and suffering, they still held to the Lord. I also really enjoyed the way the characters shared their faith - so incredibly important. This book truly was Christian fiction, and I was encouraged by reading it.
Overall: Even if you don't like fantasy, you should read this book. You won't regret it. And now I need to go bother the author to give me the next book. :)
October 7, 2023
This was such a beautiful, raw book. I think I was kinda at a loss for words when I first read it, and I'm not even really sure how to describe it now.
These characters will completely suck you in and draw you into their stories. It hit hard. This was one of the few books I've ever read that blew me away so much I had to pause every now and then to emotionally catch my breath. The author did not sugarcoat or falsely lighten what the characters went through in any way, but the light and truth that shone through that darkness in this book was so powerful. The redemption of it all was...so beautiful.
My only warning would be that if you're in a season of life where you're not sure you can handle empathizing with characters in rough places with very raw emotions or you've got a queasy stomach empathizing with (emotional and physical) pain, maybe read with caution, or keep that in mind.
I love this book and these characters so much.
These characters will completely suck you in and draw you into their stories. It hit hard. This was one of the few books I've ever read that blew me away so much I had to pause every now and then to emotionally catch my breath. The author did not sugarcoat or falsely lighten what the characters went through in any way, but the light and truth that shone through that darkness in this book was so powerful. The redemption of it all was...so beautiful.
My only warning would be that if you're in a season of life where you're not sure you can handle empathizing with characters in rough places with very raw emotions or you've got a queasy stomach empathizing with (emotional and physical) pain, maybe read with caution, or keep that in mind.
I love this book and these characters so much.
January 29, 2023
This is a good non magical, Christian fantasy! It has a similar vibe to The Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight and The Blades of Acktar by Tricia Mingerink, so if you like those series but want a fairy tale retelling equivalent you might want to try this one.
The story is well told and flows nicely with characters that are easy to relate to and sympathetic in the horrors they are dragged through. I was also very curious as to how the author was going to make the magic mirror from the original Snow Queen tale non magical—especially since when first mentioned it “appeared” to be magic—but I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by how the non magic element of it was handled. The faith content was also well done and real without ever sounding preachy in any way.
I have a few complaints though two are more my personal taste than anything being wrong with them. The first one though is in the beginning few chapters I felt like we were constantly “jumping” from one scene to another or even places and times with no lead up to moving or anything which made things feel jarring, but this could be easily fixed with a few more rounds of edits to smooth things over. The other two things I had issues with are purely personal taste and both of these elements—the “why does God let bad things happen?” question with a lack of faith in one character and the lack of forgiveness on two characters towards another—were well written, presented, and resolved in a satisfying way, but for some reason they just rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t know if it was just my mood at the time or what, but they’re the reason I docked it a star. Again, nothing wrong with those themes or how they were written, it was purely just me and how I took them.
Despite that I still enjoyed this book and will be trying more from this author in the future!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: forced cutting
Language: whelp
Violence: mentions of a past whipping/branding; a man is knocked unconscious; characters are cut with glass shards that numb them; injuries and blood (not detailed); fighting with weapons (not detailed); mentions of bodies of men and horses on the battlefield (not detailed); a child is killed (not detailed or shown); characters nearly drown in an icy river; women are slapped by men; mentions of blood spattered on walls and pooling in the floor; a character is stabbed in the chest with a shard of glass
Sexual: kisses on the forehead and cheek; kissing (not detailed)
Drug/Alcohol: a fantasy tree sap has a numbing almost severe drugging affect on people
Other: a character is tied up/kidnapped; death and grief; people are made into slaves; prayers to false gods
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own, and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was, I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
The story is well told and flows nicely with characters that are easy to relate to and sympathetic in the horrors they are dragged through. I was also very curious as to how the author was going to make the magic mirror from the original Snow Queen tale non magical—especially since when first mentioned it “appeared” to be magic—but I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by how the non magic element of it was handled. The faith content was also well done and real without ever sounding preachy in any way.
I have a few complaints though two are more my personal taste than anything being wrong with them. The first one though is in the beginning few chapters I felt like we were constantly “jumping” from one scene to another or even places and times with no lead up to moving or anything which made things feel jarring, but this could be easily fixed with a few more rounds of edits to smooth things over. The other two things I had issues with are purely personal taste and both of these elements—the “why does God let bad things happen?” question with a lack of faith in one character and the lack of forgiveness on two characters towards another—were well written, presented, and resolved in a satisfying way, but for some reason they just rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t know if it was just my mood at the time or what, but they’re the reason I docked it a star. Again, nothing wrong with those themes or how they were written, it was purely just me and how I took them.
Despite that I still enjoyed this book and will be trying more from this author in the future!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: forced cutting
Language: whelp
Violence: mentions of a past whipping/branding; a man is knocked unconscious; characters are cut with glass shards that numb them; injuries and blood (not detailed); fighting with weapons (not detailed); mentions of bodies of men and horses on the battlefield (not detailed); a child is killed (not detailed or shown); characters nearly drown in an icy river; women are slapped by men; mentions of blood spattered on walls and pooling in the floor; a character is stabbed in the chest with a shard of glass
Sexual: kisses on the forehead and cheek; kissing (not detailed)
Drug/Alcohol: a fantasy tree sap has a numbing almost severe drugging affect on people
Other: a character is tied up/kidnapped; death and grief; people are made into slaves; prayers to false gods
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own, and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was, I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
July 23, 2023
IT. WAS. EPIC.
Like, couldn't put it down epic. Like my phone screen time lies epic. Like I need to get back to my book NOW epic. EPIC. 😉 I don't think there are acceptable words to write about this book... The quote at the beginning of the book pretty much says it all - "If we look close enough, the fingerprints of God can be found even on the shattered pieces of our hearts, tenderly piecing them back together." - Alyssa Watson.
This is the story of five shattered hearts. So shattered and broken. Madisyn writes raw. That's what I love about her books - they are raw and real and they hold nothing back. The emotion is powerful, heart wrenching and healing all at the same time.
There's action, there's adventure, there's battles. And then there's humor, laughter, and sarcasm. There's raw, honest, painful emotions. And there's faith. So beautifully woven into this story of brokenness.
I fell in love with each of the characters, though I think Loren and Nordica were my favorite. 💗
A few favorite quotes:
"Nothing he faced was too difficult for God, and the Maker of the world already knew how Loren's story would end."
"We serve and belong to the Master Physician. He can mend everything, even the scars you think could never heal."
"Our reflections are two-edged blades. We can look at ourselves and see, with humility, what God has created, or we can look and see ourselves as worthless because we do not live up to others' standards."
What more is there to say? Go read this book!!!
Like, couldn't put it down epic. Like my phone screen time lies epic. Like I need to get back to my book NOW epic. EPIC. 😉 I don't think there are acceptable words to write about this book... The quote at the beginning of the book pretty much says it all - "If we look close enough, the fingerprints of God can be found even on the shattered pieces of our hearts, tenderly piecing them back together." - Alyssa Watson.
This is the story of five shattered hearts. So shattered and broken. Madisyn writes raw. That's what I love about her books - they are raw and real and they hold nothing back. The emotion is powerful, heart wrenching and healing all at the same time.
There's action, there's adventure, there's battles. And then there's humor, laughter, and sarcasm. There's raw, honest, painful emotions. And there's faith. So beautifully woven into this story of brokenness.
I fell in love with each of the characters, though I think Loren and Nordica were my favorite. 💗
A few favorite quotes:
"Nothing he faced was too difficult for God, and the Maker of the world already knew how Loren's story would end."
"We serve and belong to the Master Physician. He can mend everything, even the scars you think could never heal."
"Our reflections are two-edged blades. We can look at ourselves and see, with humility, what God has created, or we can look and see ourselves as worthless because we do not live up to others' standards."
What more is there to say? Go read this book!!!
January 9, 2023
Wow... this book was so good!!!! You know how when you read a good book, you simply have no idea how to go about writing a legible review? That's what I'm feeling. XD
Things I liked:
1. The length! Loved it!
2. THE CHARACTERS!!! I loved them SO MUCH. Marcus. Breac. They were my favorites. But I also loved Nordica And Layree. And how could I forget Loren?!?!?! Ok, so what if I just named off all the MCs? Oh, Torren was a good character as well! XD
3. This is a section just for Marcus, because I need to read more about him asap. Seriously, poor guy!!!! He needs a big hug! ❤️ I wish that Loren and Layree were more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt than they were. Anyone could see how sorry he was, and how much he was hurting. 💔 I feel like his story isn't finished. I hope the next book has more of him!!!
4. The author did such a good job at her descriptions, that I actually almost felt physically cold at some points. But of course, it's winter here too. Whatever.
5. The good guys were so good, and the bad guys were... truly evil.
6. I was worried that 5 POVs would be confusing, but it wasn't.
7. Anthi and Zinnia!! <3
8. The Christian elements woven into the story. It was truly a story of redemption, faith, and learning to trust in God. I loved that she put the gospel in there as well, and that it was a big part of the story. I loved seeing the character grow in their relationship with God, especially Breac and Nordica.
9. Breac and Canon's banter. They made me laugh out loud sometimes. ❤️
10. Loren getting all protective of his sister when . So cute and precious.
Things I didn't like:
1. It took me a bit to get into the story. I think because there were so many POVs, it just took a little bit of extra time to really get to know and love them. It was fine though, and love them I did.
2. I wanted more of Marcus. 😂
I can't wait to read more books by Madisyn Carlin!!💕 I'm super impressed by this book. :D
Things I liked:
1. The length! Loved it!
2. THE CHARACTERS!!! I loved them SO MUCH. Marcus. Breac. They were my favorites. But I also loved Nordica And Layree. And how could I forget Loren?!?!?! Ok, so what if I just named off all the MCs? Oh, Torren was a good character as well! XD
3. This is a section just for Marcus, because I need to read more about him asap. Seriously, poor guy!!!! He needs a big hug! ❤️ I wish that Loren and Layree were more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt than they were. Anyone could see how sorry he was, and how much he was hurting. 💔 I feel like his story isn't finished. I hope the next book has more of him!!!
4. The author did such a good job at her descriptions, that I actually almost felt physically cold at some points. But of course, it's winter here too. Whatever.
5. The good guys were so good, and the bad guys were... truly evil.
6. I was worried that 5 POVs would be confusing, but it wasn't.
7. Anthi and Zinnia!! <3
8. The Christian elements woven into the story. It was truly a story of redemption, faith, and learning to trust in God. I loved that she put the gospel in there as well, and that it was a big part of the story. I loved seeing the character grow in their relationship with God, especially Breac and Nordica.
9. Breac and Canon's banter. They made me laugh out loud sometimes. ❤️
10. Loren getting all protective of his sister when . So cute and precious.
Things I didn't like:
1. It took me a bit to get into the story. I think because there were so many POVs, it just took a little bit of extra time to really get to know and love them. It was fine though, and love them I did.
2. I wanted more of Marcus. 😂
I can't wait to read more books by Madisyn Carlin!!💕 I'm super impressed by this book. :D
June 5, 2023
Okay, wow this book.
It took me a little to get into this book, mainly because I wasn't too sure about the glass shards and what was going on there. But once it got rolling, it didn't stop. (I even told my mom it was a shame I had to eat because it interrupted me reading this book 😂)
THINGS I LIKED:
The characters were so sweet! I especially loved Marcus and Layree. And Breac was awesome too 😉. I also loved the deep respect that , and it was so refreshing to see them being so pure in their intents and interactions with each other. I also loved the snow! And the polar bears. That was soooo cool!
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
. . . . . . . . .
PLOT:
I definitely loved the sibling dynamic in this book. And also the general story. It definitely reminded me of a few different books and movies I've seen before, but it was still super enjoyable, and SO COOL. I could definitely see threads of the fairy tale, and that was just SO COOl to see. 🥰 (Let's see how many times I can use "so cool" in a single sentence 🤣)
CHARACTERS:
Definitely my favorite part of the whole book! All the characters (well, most of them--I still don't like Lord and Lady Alishon 😝) were so amazing! Each one was developed really well and I loved that. BREAC WAS AWESOME, HE IS MINEEEEE. Oh, and Loren. AND MARCUS!!!! 🥰🥰🥰 *sobs* I love them all. *pulls them closer and holds tight*
ROMANCE:
Like I mentioned earlier there was relationship between and they kissed once. There was also that had something going on between them. But is was all SOOOOOOOO beautiful and lovely. (Like, guys, take notes. 🤣)
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Death. Lots of death. There's a battle in the end. Several mentions of people getting done away with. Illegal slavery and beating slaves to death. Children were killed and the bad guy thought it was okay. There was also . There are several times where .
NOTE: Even if it seems like a lot of content, but please try to keep in mind that I have to say it as is, even if the author handled everything in a very tasteful and classy way <3
AGE RANGE:
I definitely wouldn't let my ten-year-old brother read this. But . . . I always hate giving ages because it totally depends on the person. I don't think it would be appropriate for someone very sensitive to death and human trafficking, and it is definitely a New Adult audience. Just, read through the content warnings, and be your own judge :)
All in all, I really loved this book. Like, really, REALLY loved it. I need book two ASAP. <333
It took me a little to get into this book, mainly because I wasn't too sure about the glass shards and what was going on there. But once it got rolling, it didn't stop. (I even told my mom it was a shame I had to eat because it interrupted me reading this book 😂)
THINGS I LIKED:
The characters were so sweet! I especially loved Marcus and Layree. And Breac was awesome too 😉. I also loved the deep respect that , and it was so refreshing to see them being so pure in their intents and interactions with each other. I also loved the snow! And the polar bears. That was soooo cool!
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
. . . . . . . . .
PLOT:
I definitely loved the sibling dynamic in this book. And also the general story. It definitely reminded me of a few different books and movies I've seen before, but it was still super enjoyable, and SO COOL. I could definitely see threads of the fairy tale, and that was just SO COOl to see. 🥰 (Let's see how many times I can use "so cool" in a single sentence 🤣)
CHARACTERS:
Definitely my favorite part of the whole book! All the characters (well, most of them--I still don't like Lord and Lady Alishon 😝) were so amazing! Each one was developed really well and I loved that. BREAC WAS AWESOME, HE IS MINEEEEE. Oh, and Loren. AND MARCUS!!!! 🥰🥰🥰 *sobs* I love them all. *pulls them closer and holds tight*
ROMANCE:
Like I mentioned earlier there was relationship between and they kissed once. There was also that had something going on between them. But is was all SOOOOOOOO beautiful and lovely. (Like, guys, take notes. 🤣)
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Death. Lots of death. There's a battle in the end. Several mentions of people getting done away with. Illegal slavery and beating slaves to death. Children were killed and the bad guy thought it was okay. There was also . There are several times where .
NOTE: Even if it seems like a lot of content, but please try to keep in mind that I have to say it as is, even if the author handled everything in a very tasteful and classy way <3
AGE RANGE:
I definitely wouldn't let my ten-year-old brother read this. But . . . I always hate giving ages because it totally depends on the person. I don't think it would be appropriate for someone very sensitive to death and human trafficking, and it is definitely a New Adult audience. Just, read through the content warnings, and be your own judge :)
All in all, I really loved this book. Like, really, REALLY loved it. I need book two ASAP. <333
December 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this! There were a few moments that I thought could've used a little more polish, but overall, it was a wonderful story.
The non-magical approach was pretty cool (no pun intended). I’m always a little fascinated by non-magical fairytale retellings — I can’t imagine these kinds of stories without magic, and I’m constantly wondering how the authors in question are going to pull it off. In the case of Shattered Reflection, the answer is really, really well. I was impressed by how many elements of the original fairytale Madisyn was able to include even without magical elements. The closest she comes to something magical was the mirror equivalent, and even that was natural, just not something from our world.
I also loved the family emphasis. Madisyn opted to change her Kai and Gerda equivalents from friends to siblings — twins, in fact. So instead of a friend trying to rescue her bestie, we have a sister desperately trying to save her brother, and you know I’m here for that. We also have plenty of other significant family, both blood and found. I loved Breac’s relationship with his whole family, particularly his younger cousin. Plus, there’s the broken former-honorary-brotherhood between Marcus and the twins, which was lovely, though sad.
My prediction about my favorite characters was pretty spot-on, but way too narrow. When I featured this book in my most recent Winter Reads post, I said that I thought Breac would be my favorite character, and I was absolutely correct — he’s straightforward, loyal, and courageous, struggling with old wounds (more to soul than body) but still moving forward, and was altogether a pleasure to read about. That said, I liked quite a few of the other characters as well. Surprisingly, Marcus and Loren ended up tied for my second-favorite character: one man struggling to atone for past mistakes and dealing with the mistrust of those he betrayed in the past, the other laboring under the fallout of that betrayal and trying even now to cling to what’s right. I do feel like a lot of characters spent a lot of time beating themselves up internally . . . but I still enjoyed meeting all of them.
If you were a fan of the Ilyon Chronicles, you’ll probably enjoy this too. And I’m not just saying that because they’re both non-magical fantasy, though that is true. They have similar themes, specifically regarding redemption and holding to faith in the midst of tribulation (although Shattered Reflection deals more with general trials and struggles and less with outright persecution). They both borrow elements of non-medieval time periods to build their worlds. And both books (and authors) have a similar approach to how they present God, Christianity, and Christian themes. (I will note that I kind of wondered how the people in this non-Earth world apparently have the same Bible as Earth does, but I’m assuming that there’s an explanation.) Personally, I liked Shattered Reflection better — mostly because I like how Madisyn handles romance better than how Jaye did — but that’s just me.
This is a somewhat slower-paced book. I don’t say that in a bad way, just in a “this is what it is” way. It was a little frustrating at the beginning, when it took me a few chapters longer than usual to really get attached to the characters or get a feel for the world and conflicts — though that may have also had something to do with the fact that I was super tired when I started the book. That said, I think the pacing suited the story, and it was a nice change from a lot of the other books I read (which move very quickly indeed).
Overall, this is an excellent read that I hope to come back to again in the future.
The non-magical approach was pretty cool (no pun intended). I’m always a little fascinated by non-magical fairytale retellings — I can’t imagine these kinds of stories without magic, and I’m constantly wondering how the authors in question are going to pull it off. In the case of Shattered Reflection, the answer is really, really well. I was impressed by how many elements of the original fairytale Madisyn was able to include even without magical elements. The closest she comes to something magical was the mirror equivalent, and even that was natural, just not something from our world.
I also loved the family emphasis. Madisyn opted to change her Kai and Gerda equivalents from friends to siblings — twins, in fact. So instead of a friend trying to rescue her bestie, we have a sister desperately trying to save her brother, and you know I’m here for that. We also have plenty of other significant family, both blood and found. I loved Breac’s relationship with his whole family, particularly his younger cousin. Plus, there’s the broken former-honorary-brotherhood between Marcus and the twins, which was lovely, though sad.
My prediction about my favorite characters was pretty spot-on, but way too narrow. When I featured this book in my most recent Winter Reads post, I said that I thought Breac would be my favorite character, and I was absolutely correct — he’s straightforward, loyal, and courageous, struggling with old wounds (more to soul than body) but still moving forward, and was altogether a pleasure to read about. That said, I liked quite a few of the other characters as well. Surprisingly, Marcus and Loren ended up tied for my second-favorite character: one man struggling to atone for past mistakes and dealing with the mistrust of those he betrayed in the past, the other laboring under the fallout of that betrayal and trying even now to cling to what’s right. I do feel like a lot of characters spent a lot of time beating themselves up internally . . . but I still enjoyed meeting all of them.
If you were a fan of the Ilyon Chronicles, you’ll probably enjoy this too. And I’m not just saying that because they’re both non-magical fantasy, though that is true. They have similar themes, specifically regarding redemption and holding to faith in the midst of tribulation (although Shattered Reflection deals more with general trials and struggles and less with outright persecution). They both borrow elements of non-medieval time periods to build their worlds. And both books (and authors) have a similar approach to how they present God, Christianity, and Christian themes. (I will note that I kind of wondered how the people in this non-Earth world apparently have the same Bible as Earth does, but I’m assuming that there’s an explanation.) Personally, I liked Shattered Reflection better — mostly because I like how Madisyn handles romance better than how Jaye did — but that’s just me.
This is a somewhat slower-paced book. I don’t say that in a bad way, just in a “this is what it is” way. It was a little frustrating at the beginning, when it took me a few chapters longer than usual to really get attached to the characters or get a feel for the world and conflicts — though that may have also had something to do with the fact that I was super tired when I started the book. That said, I think the pacing suited the story, and it was a nice change from a lot of the other books I read (which move very quickly indeed).
Overall, this is an excellent read that I hope to come back to again in the future.
December 28, 2022
2022 is about to come to a close, and I can honestly say that this was one of the BEST books I have read all year! What a beautifully written story!
I especially appreciated how the gospel message was presented in such an eloquent, relatable way. Though it is filled with the gospel, it’s not preachy and it’s filled with so much action, adventure, and peril, I couldn’t stop reading it!
I cannot wait to read the second book and find out what happens to Marcus and the rest of the Night Guard!
Highly, highly recommend!
Warning: make sure you don’t read this in the middle of winter! I was soooo cold😅
Content advisory: There was quite a bit of violence. This book is not for the faint of heart.
I especially appreciated how the gospel message was presented in such an eloquent, relatable way. Though it is filled with the gospel, it’s not preachy and it’s filled with so much action, adventure, and peril, I couldn’t stop reading it!
I cannot wait to read the second book and find out what happens to Marcus and the rest of the Night Guard!
Highly, highly recommend!
Warning: make sure you don’t read this in the middle of winter! I was soooo cold😅
Content advisory: There was quite a bit of violence. This book is not for the faint of heart.
December 26, 2023
I ADORED THIS BOOK! The plot was amazing, the characters were amazing, and I loved the faith.
I loved how all the characters grew in their faith. As a Christian, reading a novel that has faith woven through it is empowering.
The romance was so cute!
The sibling relationship and love between Loren and Layree was so fantastic!
This has got to be one of my all time favorite books, and will now spend plenty of time recommending it to everyone I know!
Can't wait to read book 2!!
I loved how all the characters grew in their faith. As a Christian, reading a novel that has faith woven through it is empowering.
The romance was so cute!
The sibling relationship and love between Loren and Layree was so fantastic!
This has got to be one of my all time favorite books, and will now spend plenty of time recommending it to everyone I know!
Can't wait to read book 2!!
August 1, 2025
This book was very good, I loved the romance mainly between Loren and princess Nordica. But the story was very beautifully executed and how much God was mentioned made me so happy! I am a little sad that the next book won’t be about Loren and Nordica but I understand why the author is moving forward with different characters as well. 10/10!
January 2, 2023
This book took me a bit to get into, but once I got sucked in I could not put it down! I liked that the author used the actual Bible, referencing scriptures and characters instead of a made up creator for Snowlands. I love how the story left off too, definitely open for future spin off novels with characters that I want to learn more about. I'm looking forward to what comes next!
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
August 23, 2024
Overview: I don’t know too much about Hand Christian Andersen’s classic tale “The Snow Queen,” other than that said Snow Queen is basically the mother of all female villains. I also know that there’s something about shards of glass that corrupt people’s sight. So with that being said, I didn’t know quite what to expect when I jumped into this retelling.
I definitely didn’t expect to enjoy it so very much.
Characters: We have five POV characters in this book, and since it would take too long to go into depth on each of them, I’ll just give the highlights. Layree is sweet yet strong, knowing her faults but not being ruled by them. Loren is equally sweet (though of course in a more masculine way). He’s definitely my favorite! Breac has a fantastic sense of humor, and I definitely appreciate his prowess with a sword. And Nordica… The poor dear! She has such a unique arc, and I loved reading from her perspective.
And then there’s Marcus. Bless him. I can’t say much for fear of spoilers, but… I hope he shows up in the next book!
Content: Two couples emerge by the end of the story. There are a few instances of undetailed kissing (mostly on the forehead). The romances are both super sweet and perfectly clean.
Characters are said to curse, but we don’t hear what they say.
There is a good deal of violence in the story. Two characters are forcibly cut with ice shards on a regular basis. We see these cuttings numerous times, with various degrees of detail. People are enslaved to work in a mine, and many suffer cruel deaths (including children). Characters were branded in the past. While nothing is overly graphic, the violence is unsettling, definitely more suited for mature readers.
Writing: Carlin does a masterful job of weaving this story, juggling multiple POVs with ease. I loved each of the characters, which is a feat! Usually when there’s more than two characters, there’s one whose head I really don’t enjoying being in. Not the case here!
It was sometimes difficult to keep up with the action, though, especially when we would jump several days in the span of a paragraph, or sometimes months between one chapter and the next. I couldn’t quite keep track of where everyone was at a given moment.
And the ending… The ending was too long. The climax happened at about the 75% mark, and the remaining eight or so chapters consisted of a drawn-out resolution. Was it good to see the ends tied up and characters reach some semblance of peace? Absolutely. But could it have been done in a shorter time span? Definitely.
Finally—and this is just a pet peeve of mine that I don’t expect anyone else to share—I found the references to the Bible to be a bit out of place. The characters in this other world have our exact same Bible, with the book of John and the Psalms and Genesis and so forth. It definitely messes with the suspension of disbelief because, like… Does their Bible reference place names? Do these places somehow exist in their world? How long ago was the Bible written in this world? Let me be clear: I loved the Christian message. It’s excellently portrayed, and it definitely belongs in the story. But… maybe have a different name for biblical books? But again, just a pet peeve of mine.
Summary: This book was a pleasant surprise. I quickly fell in love with all the characters (especially Loren), and the ending left me eager for Book 2. I highly recommend this to mature readers aged 16+.
I definitely didn’t expect to enjoy it so very much.
Characters: We have five POV characters in this book, and since it would take too long to go into depth on each of them, I’ll just give the highlights. Layree is sweet yet strong, knowing her faults but not being ruled by them. Loren is equally sweet (though of course in a more masculine way). He’s definitely my favorite! Breac has a fantastic sense of humor, and I definitely appreciate his prowess with a sword. And Nordica… The poor dear! She has such a unique arc, and I loved reading from her perspective.
And then there’s Marcus. Bless him. I can’t say much for fear of spoilers, but… I hope he shows up in the next book!
Content: Two couples emerge by the end of the story. There are a few instances of undetailed kissing (mostly on the forehead). The romances are both super sweet and perfectly clean.
Characters are said to curse, but we don’t hear what they say.
There is a good deal of violence in the story. Two characters are forcibly cut with ice shards on a regular basis. We see these cuttings numerous times, with various degrees of detail. People are enslaved to work in a mine, and many suffer cruel deaths (including children). Characters were branded in the past. While nothing is overly graphic, the violence is unsettling, definitely more suited for mature readers.
Writing: Carlin does a masterful job of weaving this story, juggling multiple POVs with ease. I loved each of the characters, which is a feat! Usually when there’s more than two characters, there’s one whose head I really don’t enjoying being in. Not the case here!
It was sometimes difficult to keep up with the action, though, especially when we would jump several days in the span of a paragraph, or sometimes months between one chapter and the next. I couldn’t quite keep track of where everyone was at a given moment.
And the ending… The ending was too long. The climax happened at about the 75% mark, and the remaining eight or so chapters consisted of a drawn-out resolution. Was it good to see the ends tied up and characters reach some semblance of peace? Absolutely. But could it have been done in a shorter time span? Definitely.
Finally—and this is just a pet peeve of mine that I don’t expect anyone else to share—I found the references to the Bible to be a bit out of place. The characters in this other world have our exact same Bible, with the book of John and the Psalms and Genesis and so forth. It definitely messes with the suspension of disbelief because, like… Does their Bible reference place names? Do these places somehow exist in their world? How long ago was the Bible written in this world? Let me be clear: I loved the Christian message. It’s excellently portrayed, and it definitely belongs in the story. But… maybe have a different name for biblical books? But again, just a pet peeve of mine.
Summary: This book was a pleasant surprise. I quickly fell in love with all the characters (especially Loren), and the ending left me eager for Book 2. I highly recommend this to mature readers aged 16+.
January 14, 2023
W O W.
Like I once said in a previous book review, I’d like to say I have no words but that wouldn’t be helpful for this review, so I’ll try to form my thoughts into intelligible sentences.
Um, this was good. Really, really, really good.
Who am I kidding?
IT WAS AMAZING AND I DESPERATELY NEED MORE AND AHHHH MY POOR HEART HAS BEEN SHATTERED, no pun intended!!! I read the bulk of this epic fantasy story in the span of about three days. And now I need to reread it. To get more into the specifics of what I loved about this book, I’ll start, as always, with the characters.
CHARACTERS
My heart breaks for Loren; for so much of the book he was so exhausted and drained. *sobs* I LOVE HIM! I like how he's not some exceptionally strong warrior, despite his knowledge and brains in terms of medicine as a physician (which was so cool, by the way). He's gentle and sweet, protective, and has a caring heart. His twin sister Layree was so resilient, despite her weakness. It was so heartwarming how deeply she loves her brother so much, to the point where she will risk her life to see him safe. (Of course, he does the exact same for her.)
Nordica is so. very. relatable. Maybe it was her reactions that made me think, this girl is a girl after my own heart. I don't know. But I feel strangely similar to her, especially in how she reacts to things. I love the dear girl. That first chapter in her POV made my poor heart shatter into pieces. I love how, though very reserved and cautious, she takes the initiative in moving the story along. She makes choices, has strong character agency, doesn't only let things happen to her.
The whole deal with Uncle Ronaldo practically banning emotion was heartbreaking and infuriating. We were given emotions for a reason. And like it said for poor Nordica: "Beneath the numbness, everything hurt." We were made to be alive, to feel things, and when numbness sets in, it’s really just masking a depth of pain beneath. Nordica’s character arc was SO powerful, and I love how Loren played such a big role in it. The whole scene with the *coughs* shattered reflection *coughs* gave me chills. Bless his heart.
(Also, Anthi is EPIC. I love her fearlessness, her impertinence. And dear, sweet Zinnia. XD)
Breac. Ahhh, I love the guy!! He's so cute. He’s a lovable mixture of grumpy, witty, impatient, and caring!!! I also love his playful friend Canon, who's just the kind of friend he needs!! (Canon is right, Breac has a delightful personality. *smirks* ) And speaking of Canon, I love how he's just never gonna be a proper gentleman! LOL. Breac's Aunt Gryndie is hilarious. Tandri's adorable and such a lovable spitfire. In fact, Breac’s whole family is just so fun and adventurous and hilarious. Read the book if just for them!
Marcus, I LOVE YOU. We first see him as an antagonistic figure in others' POVs, but I quickly saw glimpses of conflict deep within him, and I knew I would love him. The way he was being so severely accused, the way he put on an emotionless mask, rather than trying in vain to explain…I just developed a deep sympathy for him. At times, I was furious at how Layree and Loren don't give him a second chance for most of the book, when he's in fact been through so much worse than they have.
He believes he's too far gone, that he's only being kept from death to carry out justice, not because the Lord cares for him. But deep down, he has a protector’s heart, regardless of whether or not he sees that. Learning about his awful, heartrending past broke my heart, and made me cry. He thinks he deserves all the pain he's received, but (assuming he’s reading this review) HE DOESN’T. I feel so much for him, especially with how no one trusts him. I guess all I’m saying is, I n e e d his redemption arc. I like that we didn’t get it in this book because, well, it deserves a whole book devoted to it. He needs more time than was afforded in the book. So, I am eagerly - dare I even say impatiently - awaiting Book 2.
The villains are shockingly evil. (Especially Uncle Ronaldo. I despised him.) But you know what? Shocking evil exists in the real world. So for that very reason, I actually like it when authors have purely wicked characters as villains: it rings true. The depth of evil only makes the light and hope shine out all the brighter. A big theme that had to do with this was the question of why God would allow awful things to happen to innocent people, and Carlin answered this as well as it could be expressed, in a Biblical, honest way.
WRITING STYLE
As for how the book was written, INCREDIBLE. Madisyn Carlin starts it off with a bang, raising questions and creating such suspense. There are five POVs yet they're all clearly organized and I never had any trouble following them. Each character is distinct, and I was always left on a little cliffhanger, unable to stop reading. The writing style itself was beautiful; crisp, intentional, vivid, almost cinematic. The moments of humor are priceless. I’m coming to see it's a trademark of Carlin’s stories and I AM HERE FOR IT. She’s a master of clever and sharp and witty insults, and when they’re directed at the villains, I’m in glee. Also, random side note: I appreciate how she realistically portrays the medical conditions of her characters. People don't get healed magically fast.
WORLDBUILDING
Madisyn Carlin is a queen at worldbuilding. She infuses unique cultural elements into each world, creating a rich setting without over-describing anything, and sprinkling in the details I need to feel like I've lived in this world for years. Honestly, it’s AMAZING. (Exampes: freezeberry juice. Elk steak. "Thank the snow.") There were a few things that threw me off a bit, such as the mention of burritos, or certain modern phrases, but those kinds of things don’t bother me much. 😏 😜
PLOT
Super suspenseful and captivating! I both love and hate the royal/political intrigue. There were a few parts, especially in terms of backstory, that seemed delivered so subtly I didn’t fully understand them, but as is often the case, I didn’t slow down to review and comprehend before moving on to the next chapter. *hides* So I usually don’t fault that with the author unless I’ve really tried and failed to understand. XD All in all, I loved the plot and have no complaints.
ROMANCE
BEAUTIFUL. HEART-MELTING. PURE. ADORABLE. I ship Nordica and Loren so flippin hard. How he's unimpressed by her royal status and sees her for herself, how she's drawn by the gentleness in his eyes...just perfectly sets the stage for their lovely romance. (Which is most satisfying! *happy sigh*) Their relationship is absolutely beautiful, so God-honoring and pure. I love how they both strengthen each other, how their faith plays a huge, driving role in their romance. And even though I initially didn’t ship Breac and Layree, they are criminally adorable with each other, I'll give ya that. I was melting into a puddle at their scenes later on in the book. Madisyn Carlin knows how to write a killer romance.
THEMES
Every character had some sort of spiritual arc they had to undergo, and each is so powerful. The messages of truth and grace and redemption just give me chills. I love that the author included explicitly Christian content; having the characters read the Bible and pray to God. That can get tricky in a fantasy world, but this proves that it doesn’t have to be. Forgiveness, God’s sovereignty and man’s free will, redeeming grace, and the innate worth of every human made in God’s image were the biggest themes I caught, the latter being especially impactful.
Note: The thematic content in this book is not fluffy and light. There's pain and suffering and things that make you wince and cringe and cry. But it’s not for shock value: all of it has a purpose.
OVERALL
If you like epic fantasy, cold and snowy aesthetics, unique characters with relatable conflicts, and an unashamed faith content that boldly presents truth to counter lies, well, you’ve found just the book for you. I highly recommend it! ( *whispers* And pro tip: read it during winter for the best experience. 😉)
SOME FAVORITE QUOTES
"Stop running from Him, Breac, and start running to Him."
Here I am. Every cynical, hesitant part of me.
"I am a mortal physician. I can tend to your flesh wounds and nothing more. But we serve and belong to the Master Physician. He can mend everything, even the scars you think could never heal."
Before, he'd scoff at looking like such a lovesick fool but, as he was learning, being lovesick wasn't a thing to be ashamed of and there was nothing foolish involved, either.
DISCLOSURE: I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Like I once said in a previous book review, I’d like to say I have no words but that wouldn’t be helpful for this review, so I’ll try to form my thoughts into intelligible sentences.
Um, this was good. Really, really, really good.
Who am I kidding?
IT WAS AMAZING AND I DESPERATELY NEED MORE AND AHHHH MY POOR HEART HAS BEEN SHATTERED, no pun intended!!! I read the bulk of this epic fantasy story in the span of about three days. And now I need to reread it. To get more into the specifics of what I loved about this book, I’ll start, as always, with the characters.
CHARACTERS
My heart breaks for Loren; for so much of the book he was so exhausted and drained. *sobs* I LOVE HIM! I like how he's not some exceptionally strong warrior, despite his knowledge and brains in terms of medicine as a physician (which was so cool, by the way). He's gentle and sweet, protective, and has a caring heart. His twin sister Layree was so resilient, despite her weakness. It was so heartwarming how deeply she loves her brother so much, to the point where she will risk her life to see him safe. (Of course, he does the exact same for her.)
Nordica is so. very. relatable. Maybe it was her reactions that made me think, this girl is a girl after my own heart. I don't know. But I feel strangely similar to her, especially in how she reacts to things. I love the dear girl. That first chapter in her POV made my poor heart shatter into pieces. I love how, though very reserved and cautious, she takes the initiative in moving the story along. She makes choices, has strong character agency, doesn't only let things happen to her.
The whole deal with Uncle Ronaldo practically banning emotion was heartbreaking and infuriating. We were given emotions for a reason. And like it said for poor Nordica: "Beneath the numbness, everything hurt." We were made to be alive, to feel things, and when numbness sets in, it’s really just masking a depth of pain beneath. Nordica’s character arc was SO powerful, and I love how Loren played such a big role in it. The whole scene with the *coughs* shattered reflection *coughs* gave me chills. Bless his heart.
(Also, Anthi is EPIC. I love her fearlessness, her impertinence. And dear, sweet Zinnia. XD)
Breac. Ahhh, I love the guy!! He's so cute. He’s a lovable mixture of grumpy, witty, impatient, and caring!!! I also love his playful friend Canon, who's just the kind of friend he needs!! (Canon is right, Breac has a delightful personality. *smirks* ) And speaking of Canon, I love how he's just never gonna be a proper gentleman! LOL. Breac's Aunt Gryndie is hilarious. Tandri's adorable and such a lovable spitfire. In fact, Breac’s whole family is just so fun and adventurous and hilarious. Read the book if just for them!
Marcus, I LOVE YOU. We first see him as an antagonistic figure in others' POVs, but I quickly saw glimpses of conflict deep within him, and I knew I would love him. The way he was being so severely accused, the way he put on an emotionless mask, rather than trying in vain to explain…I just developed a deep sympathy for him. At times, I was furious at how Layree and Loren don't give him a second chance for most of the book, when he's in fact been through so much worse than they have.
He believes he's too far gone, that he's only being kept from death to carry out justice, not because the Lord cares for him. But deep down, he has a protector’s heart, regardless of whether or not he sees that. Learning about his awful, heartrending past broke my heart, and made me cry. He thinks he deserves all the pain he's received, but (assuming he’s reading this review) HE DOESN’T. I feel so much for him, especially with how no one trusts him. I guess all I’m saying is, I n e e d his redemption arc. I like that we didn’t get it in this book because, well, it deserves a whole book devoted to it. He needs more time than was afforded in the book. So, I am eagerly - dare I even say impatiently - awaiting Book 2.
The villains are shockingly evil. (Especially Uncle Ronaldo. I despised him.) But you know what? Shocking evil exists in the real world. So for that very reason, I actually like it when authors have purely wicked characters as villains: it rings true. The depth of evil only makes the light and hope shine out all the brighter. A big theme that had to do with this was the question of why God would allow awful things to happen to innocent people, and Carlin answered this as well as it could be expressed, in a Biblical, honest way.
WRITING STYLE
As for how the book was written, INCREDIBLE. Madisyn Carlin starts it off with a bang, raising questions and creating such suspense. There are five POVs yet they're all clearly organized and I never had any trouble following them. Each character is distinct, and I was always left on a little cliffhanger, unable to stop reading. The writing style itself was beautiful; crisp, intentional, vivid, almost cinematic. The moments of humor are priceless. I’m coming to see it's a trademark of Carlin’s stories and I AM HERE FOR IT. She’s a master of clever and sharp and witty insults, and when they’re directed at the villains, I’m in glee. Also, random side note: I appreciate how she realistically portrays the medical conditions of her characters. People don't get healed magically fast.
WORLDBUILDING
Madisyn Carlin is a queen at worldbuilding. She infuses unique cultural elements into each world, creating a rich setting without over-describing anything, and sprinkling in the details I need to feel like I've lived in this world for years. Honestly, it’s AMAZING. (Exampes: freezeberry juice. Elk steak. "Thank the snow.") There were a few things that threw me off a bit, such as the mention of burritos, or certain modern phrases, but those kinds of things don’t bother me much. 😏 😜
PLOT
Super suspenseful and captivating! I both love and hate the royal/political intrigue. There were a few parts, especially in terms of backstory, that seemed delivered so subtly I didn’t fully understand them, but as is often the case, I didn’t slow down to review and comprehend before moving on to the next chapter. *hides* So I usually don’t fault that with the author unless I’ve really tried and failed to understand. XD All in all, I loved the plot and have no complaints.
ROMANCE
BEAUTIFUL. HEART-MELTING. PURE. ADORABLE. I ship Nordica and Loren so flippin hard. How he's unimpressed by her royal status and sees her for herself, how she's drawn by the gentleness in his eyes...just perfectly sets the stage for their lovely romance. (Which is most satisfying! *happy sigh*) Their relationship is absolutely beautiful, so God-honoring and pure. I love how they both strengthen each other, how their faith plays a huge, driving role in their romance. And even though I initially didn’t ship Breac and Layree, they are criminally adorable with each other, I'll give ya that. I was melting into a puddle at their scenes later on in the book. Madisyn Carlin knows how to write a killer romance.
THEMES
Every character had some sort of spiritual arc they had to undergo, and each is so powerful. The messages of truth and grace and redemption just give me chills. I love that the author included explicitly Christian content; having the characters read the Bible and pray to God. That can get tricky in a fantasy world, but this proves that it doesn’t have to be. Forgiveness, God’s sovereignty and man’s free will, redeeming grace, and the innate worth of every human made in God’s image were the biggest themes I caught, the latter being especially impactful.
Note: The thematic content in this book is not fluffy and light. There's pain and suffering and things that make you wince and cringe and cry. But it’s not for shock value: all of it has a purpose.
OVERALL
If you like epic fantasy, cold and snowy aesthetics, unique characters with relatable conflicts, and an unashamed faith content that boldly presents truth to counter lies, well, you’ve found just the book for you. I highly recommend it! ( *whispers* And pro tip: read it during winter for the best experience. 😉)
SOME FAVORITE QUOTES
"Stop running from Him, Breac, and start running to Him."
Here I am. Every cynical, hesitant part of me.
"I am a mortal physician. I can tend to your flesh wounds and nothing more. But we serve and belong to the Master Physician. He can mend everything, even the scars you think could never heal."
Before, he'd scoff at looking like such a lovesick fool but, as he was learning, being lovesick wasn't a thing to be ashamed of and there was nothing foolish involved, either.
DISCLOSURE: I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
January 12, 2023
This is a new author to me. I am in the process of reading all of her books and am thoroughly enjoying them. She is not afraid to include touch subjects and the faith thread is well-written.
February 28, 2024
*I was given a complimentary ARC copy of this book by the author. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.*
After taking a LONG time to finally finish this book (guys, this is a LONG book- but so worth it.), I finally have a review ready!
My Review: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: Loren was my favorite character- hands down. He was such a sweetheart but also very protective of his sister. I loved it!
Layree was such a sweet girl with a wonderful heart for God.
Nordica- I felt pity for her throughout the book and loved seeing her grow.
Breac was such a HILARIOUS character. Such a sweet guy. Absolutely loved him.
Plot: The story was intriguing. I loved the snow queen aspect! I absolutely loved the snow- it made me feel cold while reading it! It did feel a little slow/draggy sometimes, but the story! Guys, this was an AWESOME story.
Theme: I love the Redemption themes Carlin puts in her stories. Absolutely love them. SR1 was no exception. She weaves a wonderful Gospel message into this story while making an amazing adventure novel.
Romance: Yet another clean, heartwarming romance. I'm telling you, you're not going to find very many clean, heartwarming NA romances anymore. There are mentions are courting and marriage, and there are a few forehead kisses (and the like- nothing inappropriate).
Violence: I was given a "warning", or whatever you'd like to call it, before reading this book by Miss Carlin (which I appreciated!), so I figured I would give you one too. In this story, the "bad guy" is cutting his victims with shards of glass. It's not overly detailed, but there are mentions of war, swords, death- typical battle stuff. I had no trouble with it, but I know some readers are a bit more squeamish than others, so the warning is there.
Style: Carlin has such a beautiful writing style; the wit is through the roof. Her characters are absolutely hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud several times.
Overall: This was a... long book XD. Hence it took a while to finish (my apologies to the author). But, WOW, this was a good book. If you're a fan of non-magical, clean romance fantasy, then you should definitely pick up Shattered Reflection. Well done, Madisyn Carlin! You never fail to delight me with your stories.
After taking a LONG time to finally finish this book (guys, this is a LONG book- but so worth it.), I finally have a review ready!
My Review: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: Loren was my favorite character- hands down. He was such a sweetheart but also very protective of his sister. I loved it!
Layree was such a sweet girl with a wonderful heart for God.
Nordica- I felt pity for her throughout the book and loved seeing her grow.
Breac was such a HILARIOUS character. Such a sweet guy. Absolutely loved him.
Plot: The story was intriguing. I loved the snow queen aspect! I absolutely loved the snow- it made me feel cold while reading it! It did feel a little slow/draggy sometimes, but the story! Guys, this was an AWESOME story.
Theme: I love the Redemption themes Carlin puts in her stories. Absolutely love them. SR1 was no exception. She weaves a wonderful Gospel message into this story while making an amazing adventure novel.
Romance: Yet another clean, heartwarming romance. I'm telling you, you're not going to find very many clean, heartwarming NA romances anymore. There are mentions are courting and marriage, and there are a few forehead kisses (and the like- nothing inappropriate).
Violence: I was given a "warning", or whatever you'd like to call it, before reading this book by Miss Carlin (which I appreciated!), so I figured I would give you one too. In this story, the "bad guy" is cutting his victims with shards of glass. It's not overly detailed, but there are mentions of war, swords, death- typical battle stuff. I had no trouble with it, but I know some readers are a bit more squeamish than others, so the warning is there.
Style: Carlin has such a beautiful writing style; the wit is through the roof. Her characters are absolutely hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud several times.
Overall: This was a... long book XD. Hence it took a while to finish (my apologies to the author). But, WOW, this was a good book. If you're a fan of non-magical, clean romance fantasy, then you should definitely pick up Shattered Reflection. Well done, Madisyn Carlin! You never fail to delight me with your stories.
July 29, 2024
Loved this story!!
This was a very well-written tale, and I really
love this book cover!
Trigger Warning: some blood, deaths (adults and a child), many war, battle and torture wounds. Due to these things, I wouldn't recommend this for young readers, but it would be fine for older teens and adults.
I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited and didn't have to write a review. The thoughts above are my own.
This was a very well-written tale, and I really
love this book cover!
Trigger Warning: some blood, deaths (adults and a child), many war, battle and torture wounds. Due to these things, I wouldn't recommend this for young readers, but it would be fine for older teens and adults.
I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited and didn't have to write a review. The thoughts above are my own.
December 24, 2022
For having four narrators, this was excellently balanced; the intrigue and romance were carried out believable, as was the character growth of multiple narrators; the worldbuilding made sense and avoided major infodumping, which is always a plus; and the Christian aspects were woven in well, as were the elements of the Snow Queen fairytale being retold without magic! (I will note I am always a little picky when fantasy worlds have Christianity and the Bible in what seems like the exact terms and form we do, and the ending seemed a little drawn out to tie up the subplots, but other than that it worked for me.) It was nice to slow down and read a longer, more involved fantasy in a new world, and I'm sure Carlin's next book will be even stronger!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own (and I got this out on time! it's a Christmas miracle!).
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own (and I got this out on time! it's a Christmas miracle!).
Read
February 13, 2024DNF at 32%
There were a lot of grammatical errors and typos, and there were some inconsistencies in the plot that made it really confusing. The characters felt very flat and not flushed out. Now I probably will try another one of the authors books, but this one just wasn’t for me. Not that there was anything outright bad or anything but there were just some things I didn’t like.
I talked to a friend and then decided to just DNF. My favorite character wasn’t even a major part of the book 😢
There were a lot of grammatical errors and typos, and there were some inconsistencies in the plot that made it really confusing. The characters felt very flat and not flushed out. Now I probably will try another one of the authors books, but this one just wasn’t for me. Not that there was anything outright bad or anything but there were just some things I didn’t like.
I talked to a friend and then decided to just DNF. My favorite character wasn’t even a major part of the book 😢
January 23, 2023
Shattered Reflections is book one in the Shattered Lands series. This series is written by Madisyn Carlin. This is the first book that O have read by this author and it will not be my last. She transported me into her fictional world within the first few pages. I love the snark that was peppered into the story. It made me laugh.
The author has written some detailed descriptions to ensure that you can close your eyes and see what is unfolding around you. The beginning of the book has a map where it’s helpful to reference to grasp the full story. The story flips back and forth between various characters. Multiple POV in this story had me deeply invested into the lives of our characters. The transition is seamless and I didn’t have any problems following along.
The author has woven in a beautiful fantasy story that has high stakes for those involved. Within that story she has you on a thrilling adventure that will cause you to forget about everything else you’ve got going on so you can keep reading. She also has twists and turns that you will not be expecting. The best part about it is it’s a wholesome Christian fantasy. The theme ties together love, redemption, mercy and most importantly forgiveness.
The characters are well written. The storyline is intriguing. The descriptions and details that the author puts in are magnificent. I can’t wait until the next book on the series.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
The author has written some detailed descriptions to ensure that you can close your eyes and see what is unfolding around you. The beginning of the book has a map where it’s helpful to reference to grasp the full story. The story flips back and forth between various characters. Multiple POV in this story had me deeply invested into the lives of our characters. The transition is seamless and I didn’t have any problems following along.
The author has woven in a beautiful fantasy story that has high stakes for those involved. Within that story she has you on a thrilling adventure that will cause you to forget about everything else you’ve got going on so you can keep reading. She also has twists and turns that you will not be expecting. The best part about it is it’s a wholesome Christian fantasy. The theme ties together love, redemption, mercy and most importantly forgiveness.
The characters are well written. The storyline is intriguing. The descriptions and details that the author puts in are magnificent. I can’t wait until the next book on the series.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
June 27, 2023
I loved this. If I'd had the time (or a greater ability to focus maybe?) I know I'd have torn through this in less than two days, which is saying something because this thing has A Lot of pages. The characters are nice, the romances are sweet, and the main plot is very intriguing. I cannot tell you how HYPE I was to find that the Kindle edition of the sequel has already been released 😬😬
Maybe I'm crazy (I know I am, just be kind for a moment), but Marcus was my absolute favorite character. I got disproportionately excited whenever he got a POV chapter, and I really wanted to know the backstory on his betrayal. I loved everything about the concept of the Nightguard, and I'm really hoping we get to dive into the rest of the team in future books, but with every mention of them and Marcus' betrayal, I just felt like there had to be more to his story. I did love the way Layree and Loren's reaction to him was portrayed, and felt that it was very authentic, but gosh it hurt me every time they turned away from him. Honestly (and this is where the crazy part probably comes in), I really thought he and Layree were going to get together. Braec is lovely, but I just want Marcus to find love 😭😭 More hopes for the sequels, happiness for Marcus please!*
I would have loved to see more from the worldbuilding; it seems to me that a lot of worldbuilding was done, but I felt like we didn't get enough exposition on it. We had tidbits here and there that were really enticing, so I'm hoping we get more in depth information on the cultural differences between the different peoples and countries.
*You underestimate how much I need this, I promise
Maybe I'm crazy (I know I am, just be kind for a moment), but Marcus was my absolute favorite character. I got disproportionately excited whenever he got a POV chapter, and I really wanted to know the backstory on his betrayal. I loved everything about the concept of the Nightguard, and I'm really hoping we get to dive into the rest of the team in future books, but with every mention of them and Marcus' betrayal, I just felt like there had to be more to his story. I did love the way Layree and Loren's reaction to him was portrayed, and felt that it was very authentic, but gosh it hurt me every time they turned away from him. Honestly (and this is where the crazy part probably comes in), I really thought he and Layree were going to get together. Braec is lovely, but I just want Marcus to find love 😭😭 More hopes for the sequels, happiness for Marcus please!*
I would have loved to see more from the worldbuilding; it seems to me that a lot of worldbuilding was done, but I felt like we didn't get enough exposition on it. We had tidbits here and there that were really enticing, so I'm hoping we get more in depth information on the cultural differences between the different peoples and countries.
*You underestimate how much I need this, I promise
December 22, 2022
Shattered Reflection
The Shattered Lands #1
By Madisyn Carlin
The land is on the verge of slipping into yet another war, distrust is taking hold, and the crown is threatened by the very people who are entrusted to protect it. Can those who have been broken by the past hope to restore what was lost? Or will the icy evil that is attempting to steal their hearts and souls prevail?
Layree's brother Loren Alocer has been stolen away by the royal crown guards- a crown that is at the mercy of a cruel and evil hand. Layree is determined to get her brother back no matter what and by any means necessary. And by any means, she will be forced to accept the help of a man she now views as an enemy. But she saw what happened to her brother before he was taken away, and she won't stop until he is freed.
Nordica Icerri is the heir to the crown, but until her aunt and uncle deem her fit to rule, they will act on her behalf. And to be considered fit, she must be purged of any and all emotion. And her uncle is more than happy to help her obtain such coldness of heart. And the methods he is using will surely break her eventually.
Shattered Reflection is an interesting retelling of The Snow Queen. The story is told through the viewpoints of five characters who have different reasons for doing what they are doing, but at their core, caring and wanting to protect others is their motivation. This is excellent reading and a series debut that is not to be missed. The characters and settings are more than a two-dimensional place on the page; there is depth and layers to everything if one is looking.
I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.
The Shattered Lands #1
By Madisyn Carlin
The land is on the verge of slipping into yet another war, distrust is taking hold, and the crown is threatened by the very people who are entrusted to protect it. Can those who have been broken by the past hope to restore what was lost? Or will the icy evil that is attempting to steal their hearts and souls prevail?
Layree's brother Loren Alocer has been stolen away by the royal crown guards- a crown that is at the mercy of a cruel and evil hand. Layree is determined to get her brother back no matter what and by any means necessary. And by any means, she will be forced to accept the help of a man she now views as an enemy. But she saw what happened to her brother before he was taken away, and she won't stop until he is freed.
Nordica Icerri is the heir to the crown, but until her aunt and uncle deem her fit to rule, they will act on her behalf. And to be considered fit, she must be purged of any and all emotion. And her uncle is more than happy to help her obtain such coldness of heart. And the methods he is using will surely break her eventually.
Shattered Reflection is an interesting retelling of The Snow Queen. The story is told through the viewpoints of five characters who have different reasons for doing what they are doing, but at their core, caring and wanting to protect others is their motivation. This is excellent reading and a series debut that is not to be missed. The characters and settings are more than a two-dimensional place on the page; there is depth and layers to everything if one is looking.
I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.
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