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Shattered Legacy #1
Crystal Awakening
A team of adventurers enters an epic trial of wits, magic, and monsters in this thrilling new fantasy series set within the Arcane Ascension universe.
Parties attempting to claim the treasures of the Tortoise Spire of Dalenos are usually composed of six professional climbers. But following a near-disastrous climb, Team Guiding Star Legacy finds itself two challengers short. With Nieve as the frontline fighter, Sage as the strategist, Lani as the healer, and Emiko as the spellcaster, they need a couple powerful allies to round out the squad.
The first new recruit, Hane, is a fighting and stealth specialist, while the second, Aldis, has quite the talent for teleportation magic. Though their individual reasons for scaling the spire vary—wealth, fame, favor—the team’s shared goal is thus: fight, win, ascend, and repeat. All in the hopes of one day making it to the top, where the goddess awaits to grant them the objects of their deepest desires.
To achieve this goal, they must master escalating levels of fire and ice, dangerous creatures, and confounding illusions. Whether facing a threat to their bodies, their magic, or their minds, each of the climbers accepts the risks. And bending the rules is part of the challenge. Some call this cheating; others call it winning.
But no test is ever straightforward. Because Guiding Star Legacy is being judged, and their next contest is one they aren’t meant to survive. Ascend or fall, the quest is only just beginning.
Parties attempting to claim the treasures of the Tortoise Spire of Dalenos are usually composed of six professional climbers. But following a near-disastrous climb, Team Guiding Star Legacy finds itself two challengers short. With Nieve as the frontline fighter, Sage as the strategist, Lani as the healer, and Emiko as the spellcaster, they need a couple powerful allies to round out the squad.
The first new recruit, Hane, is a fighting and stealth specialist, while the second, Aldis, has quite the talent for teleportation magic. Though their individual reasons for scaling the spire vary—wealth, fame, favor—the team’s shared goal is thus: fight, win, ascend, and repeat. All in the hopes of one day making it to the top, where the goddess awaits to grant them the objects of their deepest desires.
To achieve this goal, they must master escalating levels of fire and ice, dangerous creatures, and confounding illusions. Whether facing a threat to their bodies, their magic, or their minds, each of the climbers accepts the risks. And bending the rules is part of the challenge. Some call this cheating; others call it winning.
But no test is ever straightforward. Because Guiding Star Legacy is being judged, and their next contest is one they aren’t meant to survive. Ascend or fall, the quest is only just beginning.
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2022
324 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
December 27, 2022
I have no idea how these people were able to make it to the 19th floor. They are constantly idiots and you kind of start routing for them to die. The characters are mostly unlikeable and often selfish even through they claim not to be. I hope these characters don't bleed over into the other books in this universe. Those books are really good. This one was a big fail in my opinion
January 4, 2023
Some stories lend themselves to visual media over the written word, and I think this would have been one of them.
Most of this book was just battle, and a bit boring. I never really got to the point where I cared about the characters. Not much plot, just battle…
That being said, towards the end it got very interesting- it was like 3/4 of the book was exposition for the series. It would have been more fun if the plot-hook part was earlier, and they dealt with the fallout throughout the rest of the book.
Most of this book was just battle, and a bit boring. I never really got to the point where I cared about the characters. Not much plot, just battle…
That being said, towards the end it got very interesting- it was like 3/4 of the book was exposition for the series. It would have been more fun if the plot-hook part was earlier, and they dealt with the fallout throughout the rest of the book.
December 8, 2022
Needs a rewrite, poorly written
This book is written third person, filled with "on the nose" descriptions, prefers to tell rather than show and substitutes character building with brief back story paragraphs between dialogue. Really frustrating compared to previous well written first person books in the Rowe series. Nicol needs a real editor to show them basic elements of good writing. I couldnt get past 9% of the book. Basically unreadable.
This book is written third person, filled with "on the nose" descriptions, prefers to tell rather than show and substitutes character building with brief back story paragraphs between dialogue. Really frustrating compared to previous well written first person books in the Rowe series. Nicol needs a real editor to show them basic elements of good writing. I couldnt get past 9% of the book. Basically unreadable.
December 2, 2022
It's 90% battles and battle planning and whatnot, which is fine but got pretty boring at parts.
I'm not sure what the point of the ending was for this being the beginning of a series, it was certainly a bold choice. But hopefully it's setting up something other than "expect more endings like this throughout the series."
Overall I enjoyed it and don't have a whole lot bad to say, but it was pretty much "eh, it was ok" and I could have lived with more character growth and less shooty-shooty stabby-stabby.
I'm not sure what the point of the ending was for this being the beginning of a series, it was certainly a bold choice. But hopefully it's setting up something other than "expect more endings like this throughout the series."
Overall I enjoyed it and don't have a whole lot bad to say, but it was pretty much "eh, it was ok" and I could have lived with more character growth and less shooty-shooty stabby-stabby.
October 17, 2023
A great addition
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that while it was part of a shared universe that it really stood out on its own merits. The characters were complex, and flawed, and I liked seeing each one of them from both thier own perspective, and the perspective of the others. The plot was fast paced, and interesting, and the ending packed quite the punch. I am really looking forward to reading more.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that while it was part of a shared universe that it really stood out on its own merits. The characters were complex, and flawed, and I liked seeing each one of them from both thier own perspective, and the perspective of the others. The plot was fast paced, and interesting, and the ending packed quite the punch. I am really looking forward to reading more.
December 17, 2022
If you are familiar with Arcane Ascension, this book is about climbing spires. The scenarios/rooms drag out for way too long. It felt like half the book was one scenario that just dragged on for way too long. While I found some of the characters interesting, there wasn't enough here that I found terribly entertaining. I hope the next book in this new series will be better.
December 12, 2022
Unfortunately this one was not for me. I felt that it lacked style and needed to have better fleshed out characters and plot.
December 24, 2022
Somehow too slow and too fast
Would give it a 2.5 stars. Ambivalent about continuing the series as I never got to actually caring about any characters.
Would give it a 2.5 stars. Ambivalent about continuing the series as I never got to actually caring about any characters.
January 22, 2023
I throughly enjoyed Hane. Not anyone else though and I couldn't bring myself to care about the rest of the team or adventures. There was no set up, not back story told in engaging ways, nothing to draw me in. A fun adventure, but would've been better with more memorable characters who had done more to dig their way into my heart. Still enjoyed the world and setting snd seeing the tower though too.
April 10, 2023
As a huge fan of Andrew Rowe, I had higher expectations for this series. This series could have easily been better in the perspective of Sage but changed multiple times over the course of the book. The other issue I had was there was no point in having two narrators, it's confusing bouncing between the two and should have just used Travis Baldree for the entire book.
As for the story, I think it was weak, the quest towards the end of the book is better than their original goals.
Overall this isn't an original Andrew Rowe series that people should expect. The characters are generic and uninteresting as are their goals and this book. Damn that's harsh but I'm just being honest, this book was really hard to get through.
As for the story, I think it was weak, the quest towards the end of the book is better than their original goals.
Overall this isn't an original Andrew Rowe series that people should expect. The characters are generic and uninteresting as are their goals and this book. Damn that's harsh but I'm just being honest, this book was really hard to get through.
January 30, 2023
The main battle didn't feel true to the world for me. I feel like it was pigeon holed into the book to suit the author's purpose instead of staying true to the world she was already creating in. I think the problem with Chime should have happened much sooner in the book and would have enjoyed it more if it had been the main focus of the book.
December 2, 2022
The prose are good. The story is good. The characters are good as well. Even the overarching premise promises what could be a pretty great series. With all of this I cannot give this first book more than a solid 3 stars.
I’ve had some trouble in the past with books that have multiple POVs (at least when they are all in the same place and frame). I found the author did a wonderful job handling this. Many times an author will change POVs just to show the same sequence from bother perspective, which can work but usually only if the reader is truly invested in the characters. Here the author changes POV right from where things left off previously and I appreciated that.
The action sequences were well done I thought. I could always keep track of who was where and why so I would say these were some of the highlights of the book for me.
The story pacing works well but can be bogged down a bit by having all the characters give their opinions on just about every single small action that is taken.
The characters are supposedly in their mid twenties and are hardened veteran climbers used to life or death situations. In my opinion they came off as a bit immature. They talk about having experienced many dangers but when dangerous situations come up they often panic or make rash decisions. It didn’t seem to fit with how I thought the author was initially trying to portray the characters.
The characterization was a bit ham-fisted. The feelings each character has to or for the others is repeated ad nauseum. Might have been better to have these feelings and attitudes conveyed with more actions than repeated inner monologue.
All in all a decent book and start to what could be great series.
I’ve had some trouble in the past with books that have multiple POVs (at least when they are all in the same place and frame). I found the author did a wonderful job handling this. Many times an author will change POVs just to show the same sequence from bother perspective, which can work but usually only if the reader is truly invested in the characters. Here the author changes POV right from where things left off previously and I appreciated that.
The action sequences were well done I thought. I could always keep track of who was where and why so I would say these were some of the highlights of the book for me.
The story pacing works well but can be bogged down a bit by having all the characters give their opinions on just about every single small action that is taken.
The characters are supposedly in their mid twenties and are hardened veteran climbers used to life or death situations. In my opinion they came off as a bit immature. They talk about having experienced many dangers but when dangerous situations come up they often panic or make rash decisions. It didn’t seem to fit with how I thought the author was initially trying to portray the characters.
The characterization was a bit ham-fisted. The feelings each character has to or for the others is repeated ad nauseum. Might have been better to have these feelings and attitudes conveyed with more actions than repeated inner monologue.
All in all a decent book and start to what could be great series.
November 14, 2022
This was such a fun, well written fantasy book. I really enjoyed the story and characters in this one. It took me a bit to fully understand the magic system, but the intro explains it pretty well. Overall this was a great read that fantasy lovers should enjoy 😊
January 19, 2023
Had a hard time reading it
It's well written. I can't really say why I had a hard time reading it. I was annoyed with the characters threw out the book. Loved the other Arcane Ascension books, By Andrew Rowe. Could hardly stand this one.
It's well written. I can't really say why I had a hard time reading it. I was annoyed with the characters threw out the book. Loved the other Arcane Ascension books, By Andrew Rowe. Could hardly stand this one.
August 26, 2023
I like the world this book is set in, and I like the characters. I can't help but feel that, on occasion, they have the motivations that the authors think will best advance the plot as opposed to flowing naturally from their own behaviour, but this is a quibble.
What is NOT a quibble is that there is a woman narrator called Emily Lawrence in the audio book version who is bloody appalling. When things get exciting, the incredible hiss of her indrawn breath is deeply distracting. It would be better if she read in a boring monotone. It is as if she were making fun of asthmatics everywhere.
Also, like every Amerikunt I have heard, she cannot pronounce names that are not of Amerikuntic origin. Where she reads "Hane" she pronounces the first syllable to rhyme with -gone- and the final syllable to rhyme with -hay-. It is the work of a couple of minutes to find out how to pronounce this name, the obvious hint being in the vaguely Japanese style of the material. I guess it indicates the depths of laziness with which this so-called professional approaches her work.
So, my advice is to read this book, do not get the audio book unless it is voiced by someone better than this Emily Lawrence. I look forward to a change in narrator over the rest of the series.
What is NOT a quibble is that there is a woman narrator called Emily Lawrence in the audio book version who is bloody appalling. When things get exciting, the incredible hiss of her indrawn breath is deeply distracting. It would be better if she read in a boring monotone. It is as if she were making fun of asthmatics everywhere.
Also, like every Amerikunt I have heard, she cannot pronounce names that are not of Amerikuntic origin. Where she reads "Hane" she pronounces the first syllable to rhyme with -gone- and the final syllable to rhyme with -hay-. It is the work of a couple of minutes to find out how to pronounce this name, the obvious hint being in the vaguely Japanese style of the material. I guess it indicates the depths of laziness with which this so-called professional approaches her work.
So, my advice is to read this book, do not get the audio book unless it is voiced by someone better than this Emily Lawrence. I look forward to a change in narrator over the rest of the series.
August 29, 2023
Sadly kind of meh.
The plot didn't really begin until the second half of the book. With so many viewpoints, the character building didn't really take off until then either, but relied on some stereotypes.
The plot didn't really begin until the second half of the book. With so many viewpoints, the character building didn't really take off until then either, but relied on some stereotypes.
December 19, 2022
Fun adventure! Didn’t like some of the plot twists but overall enjoyed the book. Looking forward to the next one.
November 30, 2025
4.5/5. I really like this author. This was a new series. This book was a sad read. Will listen to next book in series.
December 28, 2023
I found this book after finishing the Arcane Ascension series that Rowe authored. I really enjoyed that series and was excited to get a bigger taste of that world and was secretly hoping for some crossover context between series. Aside from the subject matter of spire climbing it feels nothing like the other series. I find none of the characters appealing and it is hard to get behind any of them. The team acts like they are friends but all act selfishly without thinking of the team and there is a constant turmoil in the group. I am seeing a 2nd author on this book and that may be the reason for the changes I am not liking. This entire book felt like a wasteful setup for another book, which makes it not a fun read. I bought the 2nd book of this series before reading the first. For that reason alone currently I will read it but I am honestly not expecting much.
November 19, 2023
An Intense Read
There's a lot of fantasy stories that have difficult dungeon grinds or laborious monster slaying as part of their premise. But it's hard to deliver on that experience as part of a greater narrative. In most fantasy stories like this, as the protagonist is reaching the really brutal part of the difficulty curve where the threat isn't just inexperience but the genuinely overwhelming nature of the challenges, the protagonist has already developed whatever skills and abilities set them apart. The story is more about what makes the protagonist special and it's difficult to write that grind, the oppressive weight of more and more difficult challenges, in a standard fantasy power progression story.
But by building off the setting of Andrew Rowe's world, Kayleigh Nicol has managed to do exactly that. This is an absolutely masterful portrayal of what it might look like to hit that wall of creeping difficulty, what adventurers might do to overcome it, and what they find waiting on the other side.
And oh the adventurers! Kayleigh Nicol is a fantastic character writer. All six of the cast are fascinating people. They each feel like they have full and complex lives before the story, a fascinating web of interactions within it, and whole lives I wanted to see past the end of this book. They're incredibly human, and their messes of flaws and virtues and areas where they're growing feel incredibly organic. Watching them work together feels like ... well, it feels like the process of getting along with any coworker. Organic, complicated at times and simple at others, with much more depth than simply two character archetypes slotted together.
This is a fantastic book, and I dearly hope there's a sequel so I can follow these characters further.
There's a lot of fantasy stories that have difficult dungeon grinds or laborious monster slaying as part of their premise. But it's hard to deliver on that experience as part of a greater narrative. In most fantasy stories like this, as the protagonist is reaching the really brutal part of the difficulty curve where the threat isn't just inexperience but the genuinely overwhelming nature of the challenges, the protagonist has already developed whatever skills and abilities set them apart. The story is more about what makes the protagonist special and it's difficult to write that grind, the oppressive weight of more and more difficult challenges, in a standard fantasy power progression story.
But by building off the setting of Andrew Rowe's world, Kayleigh Nicol has managed to do exactly that. This is an absolutely masterful portrayal of what it might look like to hit that wall of creeping difficulty, what adventurers might do to overcome it, and what they find waiting on the other side.
And oh the adventurers! Kayleigh Nicol is a fantastic character writer. All six of the cast are fascinating people. They each feel like they have full and complex lives before the story, a fascinating web of interactions within it, and whole lives I wanted to see past the end of this book. They're incredibly human, and their messes of flaws and virtues and areas where they're growing feel incredibly organic. Watching them work together feels like ... well, it feels like the process of getting along with any coworker. Organic, complicated at times and simple at others, with much more depth than simply two character archetypes slotted together.
This is a fantastic book, and I dearly hope there's a sequel so I can follow these characters further.
November 22, 2023
I wasn't sure how to feel about another author writing a book in Andrew Rowe's universe. Especially some one with so little material of thier own to check on. After listening to this book though, I am ready to go pick up her books. The characters are believable and in the way I would expect a team with new outsiders joining them to be. The biggest thing was I was not ready for the end. Firstly it felt like it came to soon, just as everyone was getting into their groove then Boom. TPK. Honestly I have to applaud the author for being willing to kill off their main characters even if it wasn't a full TPK. I'd like to talk more about it but anything further would be spoilers.
Edit: After taking a few months off of this universe and coming back I have a few additions. Firstly this book does a great job in its own right. The system was well laid out in this book and all of the characters do a great job showing and/or explaining the ability of these new attunements.
Edit: After taking a few months off of this universe and coming back I have a few additions. Firstly this book does a great job in its own right. The system was well laid out in this book and all of the characters do a great job showing and/or explaining the ability of these new attunements.
December 23, 2022
As a fan of Rowe's series in this world, I absolutely loved this. It was nice to meet new characters with new types of abilities. I liked seeing the same world from the view of people not related to the other series. Even the unlikeable characters grew on me and I would love to know more about them. I think that it may be easier to read and follow if you have read the other books by Rowe, even though it is not the same story.
The end was rough and I find it kind of insane to do something so drastic when this feels like the first of a series. I will be looking for it to continue and can't wait to read more.
The end was rough and I find it kind of insane to do something so drastic when this feels like the first of a series. I will be looking for it to continue and can't wait to read more.
December 7, 2022
Having read all books in the Arcane Ascension universe by Andrew, I was looking forward to read this new series written by Kayleigh. It was great to see new characters and ideas as well as reading an entire book about tower climbing.
There were 6 POVs (for each of the members in the climbing team). Writing was good and just a few chapters were enough to get a feel for these 6 characters. Challenges, action and the banter scenes were cool.
However, I just couldn't handle the climax. If I had known it would be so dark, I wouldn't have read this.
There were 6 POVs (for each of the members in the climbing team). Writing was good and just a few chapters were enough to get a feel for these 6 characters. Challenges, action and the banter scenes were cool.
However, I just couldn't handle the climax. If I had known it would be so dark, I wouldn't have read this.
January 8, 2023
A solid entry into the Arcane Ascension world, even though it has a completely different vibe. This follows a team of climbers as the ascend a Spire. Essentially the whole book was them doing a floor (an upper one so harder) but the pacing was constant fighting/action with only little bits of downtime. Didn't have the same immersive experience as a typical Arcane Ascension book, likely because the long periods at school doing training and magical exploration help to immerse you into the world. This didn't have that. Still well written and entertaining
January 13, 2023
Decent book, but annoying review request
I am reviewing this because the book ends the last chapter with a call to action to review it.
Considering the somberness of the ending of the book, it feels quite jarring and like bad form. I would've rated this 4 or 5/5, but I am annoyed now, and hope a 3 star review will catch the authors' notice.
Unfortunately, at this time I have neither the time nor the inclination to further review things, but I am looking forward to the continuance of this series.
I am reviewing this because the book ends the last chapter with a call to action to review it.
Considering the somberness of the ending of the book, it feels quite jarring and like bad form. I would've rated this 4 or 5/5, but I am annoyed now, and hope a 3 star review will catch the authors' notice.
Unfortunately, at this time I have neither the time nor the inclination to further review things, but I am looking forward to the continuance of this series.
January 18, 2023
I was very excited when I heard about more content from Kaldwyn, it's one of my favorite worlds.
Book's decent, felt kinda short, probably due to constant action.
I will, however, be cutting a star for the constant nagging of hearing one(singular) person be referred by using plural pronouns and
I'm still looking forward to the next books because of the worldbuilding, but I am really struggling to care about anything else.
Book's decent, felt kinda short, probably due to constant action.
I will, however, be cutting a star for the constant nagging of hearing one(singular) person be referred by using plural pronouns and
I'm still looking forward to the next books because of the worldbuilding, but I am really struggling to care about anything else.
September 11, 2023
It’s alright. Way too much time was spent on the first “room” and it’s hard to care about any of the characters. For half of the characters apparently being friends since they were kids, they all seem to kind of hate each other. And one of the characters acts so much like a toddler that there’s no way she should be on a climbing team. Hane is the only character who did not annoy me. But the story does have potential. Hopefully in the next book, we get more fleshed out characters that actually seem like people and not just robots.
November 20, 2025
4.5 stars
While Andrew Rowe is credited as an author on the book, the primary author is Kayleigh Nicol, who has an entirely different writing style from Rowe, which matches the tone of this type of story (the team fighting its way up a spire). The multiple POV characters are each written in a different tone, showing off what makes them special. While the story is a little bit weaker than some others, the people pull you in.
While Andrew Rowe is credited as an author on the book, the primary author is Kayleigh Nicol, who has an entirely different writing style from Rowe, which matches the tone of this type of story (the team fighting its way up a spire). The multiple POV characters are each written in a different tone, showing off what makes them special. While the story is a little bit weaker than some others, the people pull you in.
January 18, 2023
The first segment of the book went on for way too long in my opinion. I was bored. But then it got more interesting when that bit ended and then it got AMAZING! I loved the last 15% of the book. So tense and shocking. I’m really interested in the wider story and the next book. I assumed it would be a standalone book at the start.
I thought the writing seemed just like the main AA books and it fit into the world really well.
I thought the writing seemed just like the main AA books and it fit into the world really well.
February 19, 2023
I normally really like Andrew Rowe, but this book was not that exciting and just seemed to set up an insurmountable challenge that would take like 10 more books to get through at least based on how he usually paces his books. I was debating giving this 2 stars even but while I don't think I will continue with this particular series in the future, it wasn't that bad, just some parts were frustrating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews