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The Arisen Worlds #1
The Girl Who Fell Into Myth
Fall into the magic land of the Mythos along with its brave and forgotten daughter.
Yevliesza has been caring for her ailing father when she is summoned home to a world she has never seen. Using a hidden portal, she enters the realm of Numinat, a myth world arisen from legend. Although she is the daughter of witches, she was raised in the modern age with little knowledge of their customs and none of their magic.
For the last leg of her journey, she flies on the back of a dragon. When a storm splits open the sky, Yevliesza is caught in its blinding light. She arrives at the medieval city-palace severely damaged, forever marked as an outsider.
In this kingdom of deep powers, she is devoid of magic. Determined to claim her place, she must counter dangerous court intrigues and a sorceress who intends to see this foreigner cast from the great Tower.
Yevliesza may find protection with a powerful lord if her heart can bear the penalty of his conditions. In the end, however, she must find her own path if she is to survive. But what she discovers is a perilous magic that, once revealed, may make her a permanent outcast.
A high fantasy from acclaimed science fiction and fantasy world-builder, Kay Kenyon.
Yevliesza has been caring for her ailing father when she is summoned home to a world she has never seen. Using a hidden portal, she enters the realm of Numinat, a myth world arisen from legend. Although she is the daughter of witches, she was raised in the modern age with little knowledge of their customs and none of their magic.
For the last leg of her journey, she flies on the back of a dragon. When a storm splits open the sky, Yevliesza is caught in its blinding light. She arrives at the medieval city-palace severely damaged, forever marked as an outsider.
In this kingdom of deep powers, she is devoid of magic. Determined to claim her place, she must counter dangerous court intrigues and a sorceress who intends to see this foreigner cast from the great Tower.
Yevliesza may find protection with a powerful lord if her heart can bear the penalty of his conditions. In the end, however, she must find her own path if she is to survive. But what she discovers is a perilous magic that, once revealed, may make her a permanent outcast.
A high fantasy from acclaimed science fiction and fantasy world-builder, Kay Kenyon.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2023
185 people are currently reading
3030 people want to read
About the author
Kay Kenyon
43 books254 followersKay Kenyon is a fantasy and science fiction author. She is now working on her 21st novel, a fantasy. She has been a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award and several others and recently had a trilogy optioned for film, The Dark Talents: At the Table of Wolves.
Her newest fantasy series is The Arisen Worlds quartet. Book 1, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm, Book 3, Servant of the Lost Power and Book 4, Keeper of the Mythos Gate. "A story of powers and magic on a grand scale.” —Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches.
Her acclaimed 4-book series, The Entire and The Rose, has been reissued with new covers: Bright of the Sky. Called "a splendid fantasy quest" by The Washington Post.
She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at http://www.kaykenyon.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Her newest fantasy series is The Arisen Worlds quartet. Book 1, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm, Book 3, Servant of the Lost Power and Book 4, Keeper of the Mythos Gate. "A story of powers and magic on a grand scale.” —Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches.
Her acclaimed 4-book series, The Entire and The Rose, has been reissued with new covers: Bright of the Sky. Called "a splendid fantasy quest" by The Washington Post.
She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at http://www.kaykenyon.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 9, 2024
So this book pulled me right in and I was up late reading it. I got to about 70% and then it took me a couple of days to return to it because I think my brain had caught up with me.
I have not read Kay Kenyon before, but the book was recommended by authors I like. The book did not turn out to be the book I thought it was going to be. I am sad that such stuff is being published in 2023.
I have not read Kay Kenyon before, but the book was recommended by authors I like. The book did not turn out to be the book I thought it was going to be. I am sad that such stuff is being published in 2023.
December 18, 2022
If you've been hanging around here for a while, then you know I'm a fan of Kay Kenyon's excellent The Entire and the Rose and the Dark Talents series. Sometimes, it feels as though Kenyon somehow remained one of speculative fiction best-kept secrets over the years. If you haven't read these series yet, I highly recommended that you do so as soon as the chance presents itself.
I wasn't aware that she was working on something new, and I was pleasantly surprised when she emailed me to inquire if I'd be interested in an ARC of her upcoming The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, the first installment in a four-book sequence titled The Arisen Worlds. Needless to say, she didn't have to twist my arm for me to take her up on her offer. I didn't check the pub date, so I didn't know that the novel would only be published next March. Had I known, I would have arranged to read it closer to its release.
But in the end, it doesn't really matter, for The Girl Who Fell Into Myth turned out to be the weakest Kay Kenyon work I've read thus far. And given the fact that it's meant to entice readers to invest in a four-volume story, it makes for a somewhat inauspicious beginning. . .
Here's the blurb:
Yevliesza, raised in isolation in the modern world, is the daughter of witches, but lacks any magic powers. When she is summoned home to the hidden realm of her ancestors, she cannot—for reasons of honor—refuse, and finds herself in a myth world arisen from legend.
This medieval kingdom is part of the Mythos, where real worlds have emerged from myths after being driven out of earth. Yevliesza fights to find a place for herself amid traitorous allies and lovers, brutal politics, and the growing threat of war between the realms.
Yevliesza may find protection with a powerful lord if her heart can bear the penalty of his conditions. In the end, however, she must find her birthright power if she is to survive. But what she discovers is a perilous magic that, once revealed, may make her a permanent outcast.
A high fantasy from acclaimed science fiction and fantasy world-builder, Kay Kenyon.
The worldbuilding, an aspect at which Kenyon habitually excels at, was surprisingly minimalist in its approach. I must say that it was the whole Mythos backdrop, where real worlds have emerged from myths after being driven out of Earth, that made me want to read the book in the first place. Such a premise offered countless possibilities. It may yet be so in the forthcoming sequels, and truth be told the author upped her game in the second portion of the novel, but overall I felt that Kenyon played her cards way too close to her chest. As is usually her wont, Kenyon creates an arresting imagery that makes the tale come alive as you read. Alas, we learn too little to truly become invested in the plot and the characters. I understand that The Girl Who Fell Into Myth is meant to be an introduction that sets the stage for a bigger and more ambitious tale. And yet, as self-contained as it is, the novel doesn't offer that much storywise and may not tempt readers to buy the next installment, Stranger in the Twisted Realm. Which is uncharacteristic of the author, whose first volumes usually draw you in and capture your imagination.
Characterization is also an issue. Kenyon's protagonists and their supporting casts are usually well-drawn and compelling, yet both the main and secondary characters featured in this one lack depth. And that's what, ultimately, made The Girl Who Fell Into Myth somewhat of a failure to launch. Yevliesza takes center stage throughout the novel, but we never truly get to know her. We see her react and try to adapt to her predicament as best she can, but we rarely get any insight as to exactly what sort of person she is deep down inside. She spent two decades in our world. Those years should have shaped her childhood and adolescence, and made her the young adult she is at the start of the book. The death of her mother and living with a father who's gradually losing his mind also played an enormous role on the person she became, but throughout this novel it's as if nothing else ever mattered. As if the girl's entire existence up until she traveled to this magical world barely existed at all. Also, too often Yevliesza, who's in her early twenties, acts like she's fourteen or so. There are definite YA vibes, even though this is an adult fantasy series. Fleshing out her character would likely have helped me feel for her and get invested in her storyline a lot more than I did. Sadly, 361 pages later, I haven't learned that much about Yevliesza and she remains somewhat of a stranger to me. Not necessarily a good thing when she's the main character of this series. The same can be said of the protagonists and antagonists comprising the supporting cast. Lord Valenty, Dreiza, Anastyna, Nashavety, and the rest all had the makings of more memorable characters. But there was always something missing. Not enough meat around the bone, so to speak. Which, in the end, left a lot to be desired.
The whole political intrigue felt rather simplistic. The different factions/players' motivations don't always seem to make sense, and everything appears contrived to go against poor Yevliesza. Kay Kenyon has accustomed us to multilayered and complex plotlines, and in that regard The Girl Who Fell Into Myth is nowhere near on par with its predecessors. Perhaps The Arisen Worlds would have worked better as a trilogy? There is simply not enough material to make this first first volume a gripping read. Things do pick up in the second part of the novel, but it's a case of too little, too late and it can't really save this one.
It probably comes as no surprise if I say that this book suffers from pacing issues. Kenyon is not known for balls-to-the-wall works, so I wasn't expecting a fast-moving book. Having said that, I wasn't expecting the plot to move at a snail's pace, either. It's odd, because the opening scene totally hooked me up. Perhaps spending an extra chapter or two in our world to flesh out Yevliesza and her father a little more before she is taken to the Mythos would have been beneficial to the story? It's what comes after, as Yevliesza tries to cope and make sense of her new life in the land of her ancestors and tries to understand her gift/talent, that slows the book's rhythm to a crawl. Things start to look up a little as we move into the endgame, yet whatever payoff or resolution one gets from the finale is not enough to elevate this novel to another level.
As the opening chapter in a four-book cycle, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth introduces lots of concepts and ideas and leaves the door open for lots of possibilities. But the question remains: Based on a subpar effort, will readers give Kay Kenyon a chance by purchasing the second volume and the subsequent sequels? Time will tell.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
I wasn't aware that she was working on something new, and I was pleasantly surprised when she emailed me to inquire if I'd be interested in an ARC of her upcoming The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, the first installment in a four-book sequence titled The Arisen Worlds. Needless to say, she didn't have to twist my arm for me to take her up on her offer. I didn't check the pub date, so I didn't know that the novel would only be published next March. Had I known, I would have arranged to read it closer to its release.
But in the end, it doesn't really matter, for The Girl Who Fell Into Myth turned out to be the weakest Kay Kenyon work I've read thus far. And given the fact that it's meant to entice readers to invest in a four-volume story, it makes for a somewhat inauspicious beginning. . .
Here's the blurb:
Yevliesza, raised in isolation in the modern world, is the daughter of witches, but lacks any magic powers. When she is summoned home to the hidden realm of her ancestors, she cannot—for reasons of honor—refuse, and finds herself in a myth world arisen from legend.
This medieval kingdom is part of the Mythos, where real worlds have emerged from myths after being driven out of earth. Yevliesza fights to find a place for herself amid traitorous allies and lovers, brutal politics, and the growing threat of war between the realms.
Yevliesza may find protection with a powerful lord if her heart can bear the penalty of his conditions. In the end, however, she must find her birthright power if she is to survive. But what she discovers is a perilous magic that, once revealed, may make her a permanent outcast.
A high fantasy from acclaimed science fiction and fantasy world-builder, Kay Kenyon.
The worldbuilding, an aspect at which Kenyon habitually excels at, was surprisingly minimalist in its approach. I must say that it was the whole Mythos backdrop, where real worlds have emerged from myths after being driven out of Earth, that made me want to read the book in the first place. Such a premise offered countless possibilities. It may yet be so in the forthcoming sequels, and truth be told the author upped her game in the second portion of the novel, but overall I felt that Kenyon played her cards way too close to her chest. As is usually her wont, Kenyon creates an arresting imagery that makes the tale come alive as you read. Alas, we learn too little to truly become invested in the plot and the characters. I understand that The Girl Who Fell Into Myth is meant to be an introduction that sets the stage for a bigger and more ambitious tale. And yet, as self-contained as it is, the novel doesn't offer that much storywise and may not tempt readers to buy the next installment, Stranger in the Twisted Realm. Which is uncharacteristic of the author, whose first volumes usually draw you in and capture your imagination.
Characterization is also an issue. Kenyon's protagonists and their supporting casts are usually well-drawn and compelling, yet both the main and secondary characters featured in this one lack depth. And that's what, ultimately, made The Girl Who Fell Into Myth somewhat of a failure to launch. Yevliesza takes center stage throughout the novel, but we never truly get to know her. We see her react and try to adapt to her predicament as best she can, but we rarely get any insight as to exactly what sort of person she is deep down inside. She spent two decades in our world. Those years should have shaped her childhood and adolescence, and made her the young adult she is at the start of the book. The death of her mother and living with a father who's gradually losing his mind also played an enormous role on the person she became, but throughout this novel it's as if nothing else ever mattered. As if the girl's entire existence up until she traveled to this magical world barely existed at all. Also, too often Yevliesza, who's in her early twenties, acts like she's fourteen or so. There are definite YA vibes, even though this is an adult fantasy series. Fleshing out her character would likely have helped me feel for her and get invested in her storyline a lot more than I did. Sadly, 361 pages later, I haven't learned that much about Yevliesza and she remains somewhat of a stranger to me. Not necessarily a good thing when she's the main character of this series. The same can be said of the protagonists and antagonists comprising the supporting cast. Lord Valenty, Dreiza, Anastyna, Nashavety, and the rest all had the makings of more memorable characters. But there was always something missing. Not enough meat around the bone, so to speak. Which, in the end, left a lot to be desired.
The whole political intrigue felt rather simplistic. The different factions/players' motivations don't always seem to make sense, and everything appears contrived to go against poor Yevliesza. Kay Kenyon has accustomed us to multilayered and complex plotlines, and in that regard The Girl Who Fell Into Myth is nowhere near on par with its predecessors. Perhaps The Arisen Worlds would have worked better as a trilogy? There is simply not enough material to make this first first volume a gripping read. Things do pick up in the second part of the novel, but it's a case of too little, too late and it can't really save this one.
It probably comes as no surprise if I say that this book suffers from pacing issues. Kenyon is not known for balls-to-the-wall works, so I wasn't expecting a fast-moving book. Having said that, I wasn't expecting the plot to move at a snail's pace, either. It's odd, because the opening scene totally hooked me up. Perhaps spending an extra chapter or two in our world to flesh out Yevliesza and her father a little more before she is taken to the Mythos would have been beneficial to the story? It's what comes after, as Yevliesza tries to cope and make sense of her new life in the land of her ancestors and tries to understand her gift/talent, that slows the book's rhythm to a crawl. Things start to look up a little as we move into the endgame, yet whatever payoff or resolution one gets from the finale is not enough to elevate this novel to another level.
As the opening chapter in a four-book cycle, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth introduces lots of concepts and ideas and leaves the door open for lots of possibilities. But the question remains: Based on a subpar effort, will readers give Kay Kenyon a chance by purchasing the second volume and the subsequent sequels? Time will tell.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
Read
March 15, 2023Book 1 of a new fantasy series, with Book 2 now on preorder
"A story of powers and magic on a grand scale. This will be a series to treasure." —Louisa Morgan, author of The Great Witch of Brittany
I'm so pleased to introduce my latest book, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth! This is the first book in a four-book series, and Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm will be out in early September.
In the book you’ll discover:
-what happens when a 21st century woman finds herself in a medieval culture
-where witches went when they were driven from Earth by fear and prejudice
-how the alter-worlds of the Mythos are connected with each other
-an elderly woman who is best friends with a dragon
-how a lightning strike changes Everything
-what the worst myth in the world is and the havoc it’s going to cause
-a castle on a towering hill where foreigners are unwelcome, but where a foreigner is just what they need
In eBook, paperback, and hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
Signed copies: info@abookforallseasons.com
"A story of powers and magic on a grand scale. This will be a series to treasure." —Louisa Morgan, author of The Great Witch of Brittany
I'm so pleased to introduce my latest book, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth! This is the first book in a four-book series, and Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm will be out in early September.
In the book you’ll discover:
-what happens when a 21st century woman finds herself in a medieval culture
-where witches went when they were driven from Earth by fear and prejudice
-how the alter-worlds of the Mythos are connected with each other
-an elderly woman who is best friends with a dragon
-how a lightning strike changes Everything
-what the worst myth in the world is and the havoc it’s going to cause
-a castle on a towering hill where foreigners are unwelcome, but where a foreigner is just what they need
In eBook, paperback, and hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
Signed copies: info@abookforallseasons.com
March 2, 2023
I read a lot of fantasy and really rejoice when I find something that hits the mark on multiple levels. I love the main character in this novel—smart yet naïve—and her struggles to figure out not only what she is capable of but who she is as a person, all the while leaving one realm of existence to enter another realm where politics and war, jealousy and loyalty, have to be sorted out. This book provides intrigue, magic, and the struggles of growing up with a twisting plot line and revelations on nearly every page. I highly recommend this book. Kenyon has complete control of the high-quality writing in this book.
September 21, 2024
The girl who fell into Myth
A fantastic book where the main protagonist overcomes a lot and still displays compassion.
I've just purchased the next three in the series.
The only negative criticism would be that the character names often stop the flow of reading as my brain tries to pronounce them.
A fantastic book where the main protagonist overcomes a lot and still displays compassion.
I've just purchased the next three in the series.
The only negative criticism would be that the character names often stop the flow of reading as my brain tries to pronounce them.
May 25, 2023
Though it is slowly paced, it was exciting to get to the end. In a great way! I can't wait to read the second one. You won't believe who she winds up with, but it isn't the sappy romance that most "Romance" novels have, and for that...I'm extremely grateful. I get really tired of the mushy gushy stuff when the main character is a strong independent woman that doesn't need a man. And in this book...the MC does NOT need one. :D
December 28, 2022
The Girl Who Fell Into Myth is a book that stuck with me weeks after reading. From the opening scene in Oklahoma, the world-building had me hooked. Kay Kenyon is my favorite sci-fi/fantasy author and if you haven't read the Entire & The Rose quartet you're missing out on a masterpiece. This series, at the time of this review, has not been fully written yet but I'm counting the days until the next book comes out. I've read the first two books (ARC) and I can say this is one that pays dividends for sticking with it. It's more of a slow burn, but this is no doubt by design of a master storyteller. You might have some difficulties if your attention span has grown accustomed to wham-bam rapid paced action scenes but this was written as Act I of IV and does a great job at setting up characters you care about and carefully building a house of cards that will surely fall in a spectacular way. That's not to say nothing happens...because *gulp* the last two chapters are a roller coaster that only feel so powerful because of the time spent building up the events beforehand.
Yevliesza (Liesa) is a 20 year old girl that is suddenly thrust into the world of the Mythos, an ever-expanding land of myth and magic. She was born a part of that world, but was kept away until now. She's an outsider forced into medieval customs at an age deemed too old to learn her magic powers (if indeed she has them) in a world that seems to be against her.
What I love about this book is what I love about Kay's other books; you've got a fish out of water that has to quickly get up to speed and become a leader in an unfamiliar world. It's an underdog story set in a fantastical land with backstabbing politics, sorcery, love and loss, and a brewing war with the ultimate bad guys. Trust me, stick with the world building of book 1 if you are a true fantasy book lover that is in it for the realism, characters, and longform story.
Yevliesza (Liesa) is a 20 year old girl that is suddenly thrust into the world of the Mythos, an ever-expanding land of myth and magic. She was born a part of that world, but was kept away until now. She's an outsider forced into medieval customs at an age deemed too old to learn her magic powers (if indeed she has them) in a world that seems to be against her.
What I love about this book is what I love about Kay's other books; you've got a fish out of water that has to quickly get up to speed and become a leader in an unfamiliar world. It's an underdog story set in a fantastical land with backstabbing politics, sorcery, love and loss, and a brewing war with the ultimate bad guys. Trust me, stick with the world building of book 1 if you are a true fantasy book lover that is in it for the realism, characters, and longform story.
March 1, 2023
Kenyon is touted as one of the better world-builders writing currently -- "Myth" is no exception to that reputation. She creates a fascinating world and peoples it with believable characters and an interesting and exciting story. This was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
June 22, 2024
This is a well done high fantasy book, the start of a series. A young woman in peril, thrown between worlds, who may have special powers. The 'Arisen Worlds' concept has enough range to offer some imaginative options for future books.
September 18, 2024
2.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Liesa, living in the Midwest with her father, knows he's an envoy to the ordinary world from the worlds of myth that are derived from it. But, as his health and mind deteriorate, she suddenly finds herself ordered back to a homeworld she knows nothing about, and where her status is uncertain at best.
Review
I’ve read one of Kay Kenyon’s other books, Bright of the Sky , which also kicks of a tetralogy. I wasn’t a fan, but when I saw this for free, I thought I’d give it a try. I’m sorry to say that, while I like it better than the other, I don’t actually like it.
The book has a rocky start. It wants to plunge into the action, but somehow takes its time to do so, doesn’t really build much rapport with the characters, and almost immediately runs into the book’s largest problem – credibility. I just never really believed that the characters would do what they’re required to do by the plot. That last sentence encapsulates much of the issue – that characters act for plot purposes rather than organically.
While the story warms up a bit between, say, pages 50 and 150, after that it loses its way again. For one thing, it can’t seem to decide whether it’s a straight fantasy or a romance, and fails at both. There’s very little attempt to create circumstances where characters fall for each other – they just do, because … they’re primary characters, I guess. Throughout, characters act in ways I just couldn’t swallow – going so far as to write ‘ridiculous’ in the margin at one point. To take just one major example: Romantically, the protagonist can’t seem to decide whom she’s attracted to and why, but not in a tension-building, ‘will they, won’t they way’. She just seems flaky.
Kenyon’s done some interesting foundation laying for her world, but I just couldn’t get over how little sense and logic there was to so many of the events. And unfortunately, several of the details of the worldbuilding (such as what exactly an arcana is, how aligns work, etc.) felt both opaque and underdeveloped. The hero, on, as far as I can tell, no basis at all, makes some pretty startling guesses as to her own power. I just found it all illogical. Maybe if you go in expecting a Harlequin romance rather than serious fantasy, it works better.
Overall, I just didn’t find this satisfying.
Summary
Liesa, living in the Midwest with her father, knows he's an envoy to the ordinary world from the worlds of myth that are derived from it. But, as his health and mind deteriorate, she suddenly finds herself ordered back to a homeworld she knows nothing about, and where her status is uncertain at best.
Review
I’ve read one of Kay Kenyon’s other books, Bright of the Sky , which also kicks of a tetralogy. I wasn’t a fan, but when I saw this for free, I thought I’d give it a try. I’m sorry to say that, while I like it better than the other, I don’t actually like it.
The book has a rocky start. It wants to plunge into the action, but somehow takes its time to do so, doesn’t really build much rapport with the characters, and almost immediately runs into the book’s largest problem – credibility. I just never really believed that the characters would do what they’re required to do by the plot. That last sentence encapsulates much of the issue – that characters act for plot purposes rather than organically.
While the story warms up a bit between, say, pages 50 and 150, after that it loses its way again. For one thing, it can’t seem to decide whether it’s a straight fantasy or a romance, and fails at both. There’s very little attempt to create circumstances where characters fall for each other – they just do, because … they’re primary characters, I guess. Throughout, characters act in ways I just couldn’t swallow – going so far as to write ‘ridiculous’ in the margin at one point. To take just one major example: Romantically, the protagonist can’t seem to decide whom she’s attracted to and why, but not in a tension-building, ‘will they, won’t they way’. She just seems flaky.
Kenyon’s done some interesting foundation laying for her world, but I just couldn’t get over how little sense and logic there was to so many of the events. And unfortunately, several of the details of the worldbuilding (such as what exactly an arcana is, how aligns work, etc.) felt both opaque and underdeveloped. The hero, on, as far as I can tell, no basis at all, makes some pretty startling guesses as to her own power. I just found it all illogical. Maybe if you go in expecting a Harlequin romance rather than serious fantasy, it works better.
Overall, I just didn’t find this satisfying.
February 21, 2024
Book 1 of the "Arisen Worlds" quartet.
Liesa has known all her life that her parents were from an otherworld called Numinat. Being that her father, Ansyl, is a diplomat (her mother is, well, dead), this makes her Numinasi. Then, when she is twenty-one, a Numenasi officer arrives at their home in Barlow County, OK (itself imaginary, but let that pass). It turns out that her parents never notified their homeworld that a child had been born. The officer agrees to take Liesa "home" first and come back a few days for Ansyl, allowing him that time to get his papers in order. (It's a good thing for her that she's been raised bilingual in the Numinasi language...)
The trip to Numinat takes Liesa through the Crossings, a rootlike network of tunnels that connect the Mundat -- our world -- and the worlds of the Mythos to one another in complicated ways. When they arrive in Numinat, she finds that the entries to Numinat from the Crossings are more heavily guarded than she expected from her father's stories of home. There is a new world in the Mythos, and its people, the Volkish, are showing expansionistic tendencies.
The officer hustles her onto a "dactyl," a dragonlike creature the Numinasi have tamed to carry them over long distances. On the way to the capital castle of Osta Kiya, the dactyl is struck by lightning and Liesa is badly burned.
Awakening in Osta Kiya, Liesa finds that her back and neck have been badly burned by the lightning. She is informed by the ruling Princip that her name will now be Yevliesza, a proper Numinasi name; and that she is to be housed with a minor noble who is assigned to see that she learns the ways and customs of Numinat. Yevliesza is not happy with this arrangement and rebels in small, and occasionallly large, ways against these ways and customs.
As time goes by she makes friends and enemies in Osta Kiya, and it's not always clear to her who is friend and who enemy. And not everyone there is a Numinasi. One important figure she meets is the Ambassador from Alfan Sie, a forest-world with people much like European elves.
Anyway, that is a _very_ bare summary of perhaps the first fifteen percent of the book. Lots more happens in that fifteen percent, and (of course) in the remaining eighty-five.
Liesa/Yevliesza is a well-drawn character, fun to spend a few hundred pages with, and, although the "multiple worlds of faerie"-type scenario is not, in itself, terribly original, her adventures have enough novelty to keep this from descending into Generic Extruded Fantasy Product. Kenyon writes in a good clean style that this reader, at least, found inviting.
I'm not sure that I will seek out the next book of this series -- but I'm far from certain that I won't.
Liesa has known all her life that her parents were from an otherworld called Numinat. Being that her father, Ansyl, is a diplomat (her mother is, well, dead), this makes her Numinasi. Then, when she is twenty-one, a Numenasi officer arrives at their home in Barlow County, OK (itself imaginary, but let that pass). It turns out that her parents never notified their homeworld that a child had been born. The officer agrees to take Liesa "home" first and come back a few days for Ansyl, allowing him that time to get his papers in order. (It's a good thing for her that she's been raised bilingual in the Numinasi language...)
The trip to Numinat takes Liesa through the Crossings, a rootlike network of tunnels that connect the Mundat -- our world -- and the worlds of the Mythos to one another in complicated ways. When they arrive in Numinat, she finds that the entries to Numinat from the Crossings are more heavily guarded than she expected from her father's stories of home. There is a new world in the Mythos, and its people, the Volkish, are showing expansionistic tendencies.
The officer hustles her onto a "dactyl," a dragonlike creature the Numinasi have tamed to carry them over long distances. On the way to the capital castle of Osta Kiya, the dactyl is struck by lightning and Liesa is badly burned.
Awakening in Osta Kiya, Liesa finds that her back and neck have been badly burned by the lightning. She is informed by the ruling Princip that her name will now be Yevliesza, a proper Numinasi name; and that she is to be housed with a minor noble who is assigned to see that she learns the ways and customs of Numinat. Yevliesza is not happy with this arrangement and rebels in small, and occasionallly large, ways against these ways and customs.
As time goes by she makes friends and enemies in Osta Kiya, and it's not always clear to her who is friend and who enemy. And not everyone there is a Numinasi. One important figure she meets is the Ambassador from Alfan Sie, a forest-world with people much like European elves.
Anyway, that is a _very_ bare summary of perhaps the first fifteen percent of the book. Lots more happens in that fifteen percent, and (of course) in the remaining eighty-five.
Liesa/Yevliesza is a well-drawn character, fun to spend a few hundred pages with, and, although the "multiple worlds of faerie"-type scenario is not, in itself, terribly original, her adventures have enough novelty to keep this from descending into Generic Extruded Fantasy Product. Kenyon writes in a good clean style that this reader, at least, found inviting.
I'm not sure that I will seek out the next book of this series -- but I'm far from certain that I won't.
June 15, 2025
Yevliesza (Liesa) has always known she was different. When a stranger comes to take her and her father to the world her father was born in, she’s forced to come to terms with the truth about her family. Taken to this new world, she must learn customs, rules, and manners that are medieval compared to her life in Oklahoma. She also has enemies who loathe her independent nature and don’t think she belongs in their world, After all, Yevliesza was supposed to find her magical power in childhood, but as an adult they’ve written her off. As tensions rise, Yevliesza finds herself in a dire situation that could cost her life.
This is a unique story with great characters and world-building. The laws of magic and the many rules in Osta Kiya provide plenty of tension and potential conflict for Yevliesza. Beyond that is the greater threat of invasion and war from a particularly aggressive kingdom. I like the way the author handled the ending. It resolves the central issue about how Yevliesza adjusts to her new life. Since this is only the first installment, it would be interesting to see how she manages going forward in what I’m sure is an entertaining series.
This is a unique story with great characters and world-building. The laws of magic and the many rules in Osta Kiya provide plenty of tension and potential conflict for Yevliesza. Beyond that is the greater threat of invasion and war from a particularly aggressive kingdom. I like the way the author handled the ending. It resolves the central issue about how Yevliesza adjusts to her new life. Since this is only the first installment, it would be interesting to see how she manages going forward in what I’m sure is an entertaining series.
October 23, 2024
lovely
The author has created a terrific new world, immaginative, yet with ties to the real world that make it all the more compelling. The protagonist has to find her bearings in a hostile world, full of intrigue and enemies, and she does so in a believable way. Best of all, while the story continues on in new books, the ending resolves so that you don’t feel as though this was just a series of chapters designed to force you to buy book 2. ( although buying book 2 is a definite possibility…)
The author has created a terrific new world, immaginative, yet with ties to the real world that make it all the more compelling. The protagonist has to find her bearings in a hostile world, full of intrigue and enemies, and she does so in a believable way. Best of all, while the story continues on in new books, the ending resolves so that you don’t feel as though this was just a series of chapters designed to force you to buy book 2. ( although buying book 2 is a definite possibility…)
September 28, 2023
Although, I don’t read as much in the high fantasy genre, I make an exception for Kay Kenyon. I read her books for the sheer joy of putting myself in the hands of a master storyteller. In this the first of the series, she dips into the rich traditions of fey myth but then weaves in eerie echoes of real world horrors. The protagonist is a richly drawn and a complex character who seems equally at home driving a Celica Supra as riding on a dragon.
April 30, 2025
Beautifully written and imagined, this fantasy novel takes the reader into an alternate world of myth and magic based on medieval earth. With intricate politics and well-developed characters, the story flows quickly to its rather startling conclusion. The magic is rather soft, without much explanation of each power, but is so natural a part of the story that it’s not a detraction. Fairly satisfying romance though a bit weird. A great read!
September 1, 2024
I enjoyed this book because it feels like a hybrid of several other books I’ve been obsessed with. It’s great escapism, I love the premise of being taken away to a world of myth. Some passers were a bit corny, but never enough that I felt too distracted. Great entertainment, great read for unwinding after stressy days.
October 8, 2024
I'm not quite sure where the Arisen world exists but the story is good with all the requisite characters, a mean person and some good ones plus a heroine with developing powers winning against all the odds.
Want to read
December 10, 2022This I need right now!
September 5, 2024
Didn’t finish. The vibe was overall a little more drama/anger than I look for. That said, BEAUTIFULLY written. A super unique voice and a unique world and idea. Good for fans of darker fantasy.
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