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Vevin Song #1
Vevin Song
Years have passed since hostile creatures flew down from the sky and forced humanity to fight or flee. Now, the surviving humans live in underwater cocoons, knowing that the world above does not belong to them anymore.
Marla Hightower is just getting by with a job she loathes in a cocoon, longing for something more fulfilling after a rough start to life. But things change as she begins to develop unusual abilities not unlike the winged creatures who invaded her world.
Knowing that being discovered will result in her being experimented on and placed in confinement, Marla plans to escape from the cocoon and launch up to the surface, beginning her dangerous journey to uncover not only her origins, but those of humanity's enemies.
Marla Hightower is just getting by with a job she loathes in a cocoon, longing for something more fulfilling after a rough start to life. But things change as she begins to develop unusual abilities not unlike the winged creatures who invaded her world.
Knowing that being discovered will result in her being experimented on and placed in confinement, Marla plans to escape from the cocoon and launch up to the surface, beginning her dangerous journey to uncover not only her origins, but those of humanity's enemies.
462 pages, ebook
First published February 7, 2023
5 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Neves Mayers
3 books21 followersJonathan Neves Mayers was born in London to a British mother and a Bajan father. As a child, he would spend many evenings engrossed in fantasy and science fiction books, which inspired him to write.
Growing up, he became more interested in music, playing the flute at a music school for several years which gave him opportunities to perform at a number of venues in London and abroad. He took a Music degree at Cardiff University, writing his dissertation on Radiohead, and then played bass guitar and keyboard in a few bands in London. The passion for reading made a return, and eventually he decided to give writing a proper go.
Jonathan still lives just outside of London with his beautiful wife Cláudia, their miracle of a daughter Megan and their wonderful, never-troublesome dog Suki. When not writing, he can usually be found trying to learn Portuguese, trying to play the guitar or trying to chase Suki.
Growing up, he became more interested in music, playing the flute at a music school for several years which gave him opportunities to perform at a number of venues in London and abroad. He took a Music degree at Cardiff University, writing his dissertation on Radiohead, and then played bass guitar and keyboard in a few bands in London. The passion for reading made a return, and eventually he decided to give writing a proper go.
Jonathan still lives just outside of London with his beautiful wife Cláudia, their miracle of a daughter Megan and their wonderful, never-troublesome dog Suki. When not writing, he can usually be found trying to learn Portuguese, trying to play the guitar or trying to chase Suki.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 29, 2023
The author kindly sent me an eARC in return for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this more than I did. I gave it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
We’re introduced to a post-apocalyptic world where humans have lost the war against Lightbirds. All surviving humans are fleeing to cocoons that exist below the water. Since water is deadly to a Lightbird, this is the only place for humans that’s safe. Then we skip to 20 years later and we meet Marla, the main character of this story. She, like all in her generation, has only ever known the cocoon. She has heard stories of the world before it was invaded by Lightbirds and is idealizing the Goldgills that are the only ones allowed on the surface, and she dreams of becoming one of them.
This plot driven fantasy sci-fi combo sees plenty of action, several POV characters and the pacing is well done. The ending was also good, with a cliffhanger for the next book. I will say that this also works as a standalone if you’re not up for reading a longer series. And if you like a Chosen One story, with the Found Family trope, then this book might be for you. I love it when an author is not afraid to kill off his characters, and that is very much the case here . It means that the stakes were high and it did get bloody towards the end.
He has created a new world, divided in two. The cocoons below water and the island above. We only get enough worldbuilding to keep the story going, both in the cocoon and on land. So if you enjoy great and elaborate worldbuilding, this is probably not for you. But it sets the scene and the society that exists within them. In the cocoon the most interesting part is the Goldgills. They are supposed to be the cream of the crop, and their purpose is to go on shore to scout and scavenge for the cocoon. They are also used as security for members on the council. They do come across as a group of undisciplined young adults who have the huge responsibility of going up to the surface to scavenge in what is essentially a war zone, but their competency rises as we get further into the story.
We also get to see some of the island, where Lightbirds have taken over. They live in small scattered groups and we don’t see that many of them. But we do get explained many things about them, their history, culture, where they come from and so on. And this part was both interesting because we learned their motivations and reasons for invading, but the author also managed to lose me a bit. It became confusing to keep track of all the details that were explained, even though I understood the gist of it. I do prefer a story that does “show, not tell”, but that is just my personal preference.
What I did like was his use of how communication can give us knowledge, so that we can move away from fear of the unknown into understanding someone for who they are, and empathize with them. And that is exactly what happened. This part of the story I quite enjoyed and it allowed us to see the war from both perspectives. And we learn, as with most things, it’s not as black and white as you first expect.
My main issue was the characters. Unfortunately, as a reader I wasn’t captivated by them. I can see what the author was trying to do, where he wanted to make them complex and nuanced, but unfortunately he never manages to get deep enough or give them enough space to develop. I loved that he wanted to be ambitious, and I think with time and more experience he will get there. The same issue can be said for the romantic relationship between Marla and Erin. I never really felt the connection, but there wasn't a lot of space used on this relationship either in the book.
As for Marla, it was a very rough start. She comes across as ungrateful, uninterested and full of issues from her childhood. Her attitude gets better as the story progresses, but I didn’t feel a deep connection to her and her character development is not as strong as I would have liked. There are some Aha moments that do justify her issues a bit, but overall I didn’t really like her.
When it comes to the villains, they are easy to hate because they are abusive towards their families and others. So be warned, there is abuse happening in this story.
Overall, I think this is a good start to a writing career! I’m hoping that the author will continue to be ambitious and that we’ll get to see more from this world, and to be part of Marla’s continued story.
I really wanted to love this more than I did. I gave it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
We’re introduced to a post-apocalyptic world where humans have lost the war against Lightbirds. All surviving humans are fleeing to cocoons that exist below the water. Since water is deadly to a Lightbird, this is the only place for humans that’s safe. Then we skip to 20 years later and we meet Marla, the main character of this story. She, like all in her generation, has only ever known the cocoon. She has heard stories of the world before it was invaded by Lightbirds and is idealizing the Goldgills that are the only ones allowed on the surface, and she dreams of becoming one of them.
This plot driven fantasy sci-fi combo sees plenty of action, several POV characters and the pacing is well done. The ending was also good, with a cliffhanger for the next book. I will say that this also works as a standalone if you’re not up for reading a longer series. And if you like a Chosen One story, with the Found Family trope, then this book might be for you. I love it when an author is not afraid to kill off his characters, and that is very much the case here . It means that the stakes were high and it did get bloody towards the end.
He has created a new world, divided in two. The cocoons below water and the island above. We only get enough worldbuilding to keep the story going, both in the cocoon and on land. So if you enjoy great and elaborate worldbuilding, this is probably not for you. But it sets the scene and the society that exists within them. In the cocoon the most interesting part is the Goldgills. They are supposed to be the cream of the crop, and their purpose is to go on shore to scout and scavenge for the cocoon. They are also used as security for members on the council. They do come across as a group of undisciplined young adults who have the huge responsibility of going up to the surface to scavenge in what is essentially a war zone, but their competency rises as we get further into the story.
We also get to see some of the island, where Lightbirds have taken over. They live in small scattered groups and we don’t see that many of them. But we do get explained many things about them, their history, culture, where they come from and so on. And this part was both interesting because we learned their motivations and reasons for invading, but the author also managed to lose me a bit. It became confusing to keep track of all the details that were explained, even though I understood the gist of it. I do prefer a story that does “show, not tell”, but that is just my personal preference.
What I did like was his use of how communication can give us knowledge, so that we can move away from fear of the unknown into understanding someone for who they are, and empathize with them. And that is exactly what happened. This part of the story I quite enjoyed and it allowed us to see the war from both perspectives. And we learn, as with most things, it’s not as black and white as you first expect.
My main issue was the characters. Unfortunately, as a reader I wasn’t captivated by them. I can see what the author was trying to do, where he wanted to make them complex and nuanced, but unfortunately he never manages to get deep enough or give them enough space to develop. I loved that he wanted to be ambitious, and I think with time and more experience he will get there. The same issue can be said for the romantic relationship between Marla and Erin. I never really felt the connection, but there wasn't a lot of space used on this relationship either in the book.
As for Marla, it was a very rough start. She comes across as ungrateful, uninterested and full of issues from her childhood. Her attitude gets better as the story progresses, but I didn’t feel a deep connection to her and her character development is not as strong as I would have liked. There are some Aha moments that do justify her issues a bit, but overall I didn’t really like her.
When it comes to the villains, they are easy to hate because they are abusive towards their families and others. So be warned, there is abuse happening in this story.
Overall, I think this is a good start to a writing career! I’m hoping that the author will continue to be ambitious and that we’ll get to see more from this world, and to be part of Marla’s continued story.
April 21, 2024
Vevin Song is the dystopian sci-fantasy story that I didn’t know I needed. This is the perfect read if you are looking for Red Rising-level action, Faithful and the Fallen-level found family vibes, Greenbone saga-level character work and Sanderson-level world building. Honestly, what’s not to love?!
From the very first page, I was completely hooked by this story. After the explosive prologue, in which we read about the Lightbird invasion that forced humans to escape to living in underwater cocoons, the pacing slows down for a couple of chapters and we really get the time to get to know our characters and the world they are living in. Marla quickly proved to be a wonderful protagonist and I latched onto her immediately. I personally really liked this relatively slower start, because once things started to escalate, I was really emotionally invested in the characters and their lives and that raised the stakes immensely.
Talking about characters, they were the absolute highlight of this story for me. Even though this book has an extremely engaging plot and plenty of action, I think it is more character-driven than anything else. These characters’ personal journeys and their complex dynamics are at the forefront of the story, which gave this book a more intimate and personal feel than you might have expected.
The main conflict between the Lightbird/Vevin invaders and the humans feels so high stakes, because we focus so heavily on how it directly affects our characters’ lives and their relationships.
Family, mental health, grief and loss are important themes in this story, which added a lot of depth and emotional weight to every scene. Normally I struggle with fast-paced and action-packed stories, but because the character work was so compelling here, I was on the edge of my seat the entire way through and I loved that. The stakes are personal, but they are SO high. If you like emotional turmoil and bittersweet moments, then you are in the right place here!
The inventive and intriguing world building also had me glued to the page, I was so fascinated by the Lightbird/Vevin culture. The author isn’t afraid to just drop us into the story without much explanation, but it was so satisfying and rewarding to see all the puzzle pieces fall into place as our characters discover hidden truths about their world and themselves.
I also loved how the conflict between the Lightbird/Vevin invaders was depicted, because this could so easily have been a generic ‘good vs. evil’ story, but it ended up being so much more complex and nuanced than that. As the two opposing civilizations come in contact with each other, they quickly learn that they may have to reassess their long-held beliefs and worldviews. On the one hand, there is indeed a major culture clash between the two groups, but on the other hand they are more alike than they could ever have expected.
We get to experience this conflict from both sides and I quickly found myself sympathising with some characters who were ‘supposed’ to be the antagonists, which made for such a compelling reading experience. I also loved seeing some unlikely bonds and friendships start to develop and bloom over the course of the story, the character development was just incredible and the found family vibes were off the charts!
My only minor quibble with this story would be that there were some moments that felt a bit too dense in terms of world building. The Vevin culture and history is extremely well-developed and complex, but it was also a lot to take in. For the most part, everything is delivered in a pretty organic and smooth way, but there was the occasional info-dump that left me feeling overwhelmed. Interestingly enough, our characters seemed to adapt rather quickly to their new situations and acquired new skills quite easily, which required a fair bit of suspension of disbelief on my part. Still, that didn’t end up hindering my enjoyment all too much, because I was just having such a great time with this story overall.
All in all, this is an incredibly exciting and promising debut novel that completely absorbed me from page one. The ending of this book is satisfying, if a bit bittersweet, but now I am just left hungering for more! This story already has a lot of great pay-off and we get some super interesting answers, but there are still so many things left to uncover and I desperately want to see what’s to come next! Mayers definitely succeeded in hooking me in for this series and I can’t wait to return to this world and these characters in the future.
Highly recommend this one if you are looking for a fast-paced sci-fantasy with compelling characters, alien invasion, culture clashes, other worlds, found family, pulse-pounding action, brutal betrayals, mental health exploration, queer love and lots of emotional gut punches. I had a blast!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the very first page, I was completely hooked by this story. After the explosive prologue, in which we read about the Lightbird invasion that forced humans to escape to living in underwater cocoons, the pacing slows down for a couple of chapters and we really get the time to get to know our characters and the world they are living in. Marla quickly proved to be a wonderful protagonist and I latched onto her immediately. I personally really liked this relatively slower start, because once things started to escalate, I was really emotionally invested in the characters and their lives and that raised the stakes immensely.
Talking about characters, they were the absolute highlight of this story for me. Even though this book has an extremely engaging plot and plenty of action, I think it is more character-driven than anything else. These characters’ personal journeys and their complex dynamics are at the forefront of the story, which gave this book a more intimate and personal feel than you might have expected.
The main conflict between the Lightbird/Vevin invaders and the humans feels so high stakes, because we focus so heavily on how it directly affects our characters’ lives and their relationships.
Family, mental health, grief and loss are important themes in this story, which added a lot of depth and emotional weight to every scene. Normally I struggle with fast-paced and action-packed stories, but because the character work was so compelling here, I was on the edge of my seat the entire way through and I loved that. The stakes are personal, but they are SO high. If you like emotional turmoil and bittersweet moments, then you are in the right place here!
The inventive and intriguing world building also had me glued to the page, I was so fascinated by the Lightbird/Vevin culture. The author isn’t afraid to just drop us into the story without much explanation, but it was so satisfying and rewarding to see all the puzzle pieces fall into place as our characters discover hidden truths about their world and themselves.
I also loved how the conflict between the Lightbird/Vevin invaders was depicted, because this could so easily have been a generic ‘good vs. evil’ story, but it ended up being so much more complex and nuanced than that. As the two opposing civilizations come in contact with each other, they quickly learn that they may have to reassess their long-held beliefs and worldviews. On the one hand, there is indeed a major culture clash between the two groups, but on the other hand they are more alike than they could ever have expected.
We get to experience this conflict from both sides and I quickly found myself sympathising with some characters who were ‘supposed’ to be the antagonists, which made for such a compelling reading experience. I also loved seeing some unlikely bonds and friendships start to develop and bloom over the course of the story, the character development was just incredible and the found family vibes were off the charts!
My only minor quibble with this story would be that there were some moments that felt a bit too dense in terms of world building. The Vevin culture and history is extremely well-developed and complex, but it was also a lot to take in. For the most part, everything is delivered in a pretty organic and smooth way, but there was the occasional info-dump that left me feeling overwhelmed. Interestingly enough, our characters seemed to adapt rather quickly to their new situations and acquired new skills quite easily, which required a fair bit of suspension of disbelief on my part. Still, that didn’t end up hindering my enjoyment all too much, because I was just having such a great time with this story overall.
All in all, this is an incredibly exciting and promising debut novel that completely absorbed me from page one. The ending of this book is satisfying, if a bit bittersweet, but now I am just left hungering for more! This story already has a lot of great pay-off and we get some super interesting answers, but there are still so many things left to uncover and I desperately want to see what’s to come next! Mayers definitely succeeded in hooking me in for this series and I can’t wait to return to this world and these characters in the future.
Highly recommend this one if you are looking for a fast-paced sci-fantasy with compelling characters, alien invasion, culture clashes, other worlds, found family, pulse-pounding action, brutal betrayals, mental health exploration, queer love and lots of emotional gut punches. I had a blast!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 5, 2023
‘𝑃𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝘩𝑎𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝘩𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝘩𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡. 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝘩𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑦 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑝 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠.’
Rating — ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
A little while ago I was asked to read an arc of Jonathan Neves Mayers’ debut novel ‘Vevin Song’. The dystopian fantasy follows Marla, after 20 years have passed since hostile creatures invaded and forced humans to either fight or flee, Marla starts experiencing some weird changes which launch her into a whole new dangerous journey. I have always been a massive fan of dystopian books and the same with the fantasy genre, so the idea of reading a hybrid of the two was so exciting to me.
Now, if you know me, you know I tend to struggle with world building, but as soon as I got into the plot of Vevin Song I was already hooked and the pacing was done so brilliantly. From the start, I loved the idea of this new bleak existence for humans where they’re assigned certain jobs in this underwater cocoon they now have to live in due to their island being invaded. The way people are forced into jobs they never would’ve chosen for themselves and how only a select few people are chosen to go up to the island for their job.
As Marla starts experiencing these changes that closely link her to these creatures called ‘Lightbirds’ that invaded the island, it really kicked off the plot and from that point on, I couldn’t put this book down! Marla is one of the most complex, yet completely relatable main character’s I’ve come across in a while. She knows how to stand for what she believes in, but she still does that with humility and the realism of being fearful.
The whole myth and discovery of these ‘Lightbirds’ throughout the book was another big part of why I loved this book so much. Slowly learning more and more about the world and these creatures throughout the book definitely makes you want to read more about them. I genuinely can’t wait for another book in this world after finishing this one, the world, the characters and the creatures will definitely stick with me for a long time!
Rating — ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
A little while ago I was asked to read an arc of Jonathan Neves Mayers’ debut novel ‘Vevin Song’. The dystopian fantasy follows Marla, after 20 years have passed since hostile creatures invaded and forced humans to either fight or flee, Marla starts experiencing some weird changes which launch her into a whole new dangerous journey. I have always been a massive fan of dystopian books and the same with the fantasy genre, so the idea of reading a hybrid of the two was so exciting to me.
Now, if you know me, you know I tend to struggle with world building, but as soon as I got into the plot of Vevin Song I was already hooked and the pacing was done so brilliantly. From the start, I loved the idea of this new bleak existence for humans where they’re assigned certain jobs in this underwater cocoon they now have to live in due to their island being invaded. The way people are forced into jobs they never would’ve chosen for themselves and how only a select few people are chosen to go up to the island for their job.
As Marla starts experiencing these changes that closely link her to these creatures called ‘Lightbirds’ that invaded the island, it really kicked off the plot and from that point on, I couldn’t put this book down! Marla is one of the most complex, yet completely relatable main character’s I’ve come across in a while. She knows how to stand for what she believes in, but she still does that with humility and the realism of being fearful.
The whole myth and discovery of these ‘Lightbirds’ throughout the book was another big part of why I loved this book so much. Slowly learning more and more about the world and these creatures throughout the book definitely makes you want to read more about them. I genuinely can’t wait for another book in this world after finishing this one, the world, the characters and the creatures will definitely stick with me for a long time!
June 25, 2023
I'm not a big fan of dystopia but this book might've open my mind to the whole genre.
This book has a post-apocalyptic scenario after the humans had their home invaded by what they call the Lighbirds and had been forced to live underwater in cocoons. Our main character, Marla, has only ever known life on the cocoon, but after experiencing some weird changes, she's forced to go to the surface and is met with life-changing discoveries.
My favorite part of this book was definitely the characters. From their complexity, of both human and vevin, to their dynamics and the exploration of the concept of "humanity".
Another thing I loved about this book was the communication. Even though our main character is young, she's still quit mature and actually tries to communicate and learn before jumping to conclusions and taking rash stands. With this, the author also managed to explain the world-building through dialogue. Not making it confusing, but making us part of the journey, learning everything along with Marla.
One thing that should be better developed in my opinion, is how the romantic relationship of the main character came to be. It felt very forced to me. Our main character had no feelings towards the LI until she found out that the LI actually liked her.
I can't wait to see what else the author comes up with in the sequel!
This book has a post-apocalyptic scenario after the humans had their home invaded by what they call the Lighbirds and had been forced to live underwater in cocoons. Our main character, Marla, has only ever known life on the cocoon, but after experiencing some weird changes, she's forced to go to the surface and is met with life-changing discoveries.
My favorite part of this book was definitely the characters. From their complexity, of both human and vevin, to their dynamics and the exploration of the concept of "humanity".
Another thing I loved about this book was the communication. Even though our main character is young, she's still quit mature and actually tries to communicate and learn before jumping to conclusions and taking rash stands. With this, the author also managed to explain the world-building through dialogue. Not making it confusing, but making us part of the journey, learning everything along with Marla.
One thing that should be better developed in my opinion, is how the romantic relationship of the main character came to be. It felt very forced to me. Our main character had no feelings towards the LI until she found out that the LI actually liked her.
I can't wait to see what else the author comes up with in the sequel!
March 30, 2023
I hadn't heard anything regarding Vevin Song until the author Jonathan Neves Mayers reached out to me via Twitter and asked if I'd be interested in giving it a read for a honest review. I knew I had a solid couple of months booked up at that time but I accepted with the understanding I might not get to it for a couple of months. As time went on I booked this for April. However, I did get about a week between finished my last March book before the April reads began so I slotted it in a bit early. I'm so glad that I did!
From the information I read on Goodreads all I knew this was a dystopian world where creatures had flow down from the skies forcing humanity to flee toward underwater dwellings to escape these creatures. Other than that I didn't know what to expect. The cover art was intriguing but really didn't pull me in. I'm not sure I would have picked this up on the cover alone without someone I trusted already providing their take on it.
This turned into such a great read as I began tearing through page after page. I will admit that I wouldn't consider this grimdark by any stretch of the imagination. With that being said though, this is a lot of grim parts to it. Lots of death and destruction throughout the book. It's difficult at times to keep our hope alive after each tragedy we as readers go through. But it does hold on and the world and characters really open up into a story I found myself loving.
The pacing of Vevin Song was very smooth. I liked Jonathan's writing style. There weren't any difficult words or phrases that tripped me up and there is plenty of action to balance out what may seem a bit slower at times in the story or character development along the way. I though the author did a great job in describing the world around us which made it easy for me to lose myself in this book.
That brings us to the world building. This was certainly different than most things I've read. I don't really have anything I can think of off the top of my head to compare it to at least. As the book goes on we learn more and more about the world or characters have found themselves in underwater but eventually find out more about the surface their families left behind in the past to bring things to the current time. By the end of the book we even start to learn of some other realms of existence including where the creatures from the sky came from and their history as well.
Lastly, we have the character development. It didn't take me long to begin to connect with many of our characters. They were all so drastically different from each other. We have plenty of characters to love, not trust and out right dislike! We find out so much about so many characters throughout this book.
I'm so happy that I had a chance to read this one and thank Jonathan for approaching me to give his book a try. I'm really looking forward to seeing what is next for Marla and the survivors from this point!
I'd recommend this book to any readers of fantasy looking for a solid dystopian story about survivors with a good mix of the fantastical and magic sprinkled in. I feel there is enough both from plot and character driven readers to enjoy this one!
From the information I read on Goodreads all I knew this was a dystopian world where creatures had flow down from the skies forcing humanity to flee toward underwater dwellings to escape these creatures. Other than that I didn't know what to expect. The cover art was intriguing but really didn't pull me in. I'm not sure I would have picked this up on the cover alone without someone I trusted already providing their take on it.
This turned into such a great read as I began tearing through page after page. I will admit that I wouldn't consider this grimdark by any stretch of the imagination. With that being said though, this is a lot of grim parts to it. Lots of death and destruction throughout the book. It's difficult at times to keep our hope alive after each tragedy we as readers go through. But it does hold on and the world and characters really open up into a story I found myself loving.
The pacing of Vevin Song was very smooth. I liked Jonathan's writing style. There weren't any difficult words or phrases that tripped me up and there is plenty of action to balance out what may seem a bit slower at times in the story or character development along the way. I though the author did a great job in describing the world around us which made it easy for me to lose myself in this book.
That brings us to the world building. This was certainly different than most things I've read. I don't really have anything I can think of off the top of my head to compare it to at least. As the book goes on we learn more and more about the world or characters have found themselves in underwater but eventually find out more about the surface their families left behind in the past to bring things to the current time. By the end of the book we even start to learn of some other realms of existence including where the creatures from the sky came from and their history as well.
Lastly, we have the character development. It didn't take me long to begin to connect with many of our characters. They were all so drastically different from each other. We have plenty of characters to love, not trust and out right dislike! We find out so much about so many characters throughout this book.
I'm so happy that I had a chance to read this one and thank Jonathan for approaching me to give his book a try. I'm really looking forward to seeing what is next for Marla and the survivors from this point!
I'd recommend this book to any readers of fantasy looking for a solid dystopian story about survivors with a good mix of the fantastical and magic sprinkled in. I feel there is enough both from plot and character driven readers to enjoy this one!
February 26, 2025
There’s something special about a book that fully immerses you in a three-dimensional world, the kind that leaves your brain buzzing with what ifs long after you’ve turned the last page. Vevin Song does exactly that. The world-building is next-level—deep, unsettling, and eerily believable—with humanity clinging to life underwater while something strange and unknowable reigns above. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and the lore surrounding the Lightbirds adds a layer of mystery that really elevated the story.
At the heart of it all is a protagonist who refuses to just exist. Freaking loved her. Marla's journey is a slow-burn unraveling of everything she’s ever known, and watching her wrestle with identity, survival, and some frankly terrifying revelations is just as compelling as the action-packed moments. The pacing is tight, the stakes are real, and every chapter left me craving more.
This genre mash-up's got teeth. It digs into transformation, what it really means to be human, and the terrifying beauty of change. It’s immersive, thought-provoking, and honestly, I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. If you love SFF that feels like something new while still delivering on all the tension, heart, and high-stakes storytelling these genres do best, you need this on your shelf. I eagerly look forward to diving into the novella and whatever Mayers writes next.
At the heart of it all is a protagonist who refuses to just exist. Freaking loved her. Marla's journey is a slow-burn unraveling of everything she’s ever known, and watching her wrestle with identity, survival, and some frankly terrifying revelations is just as compelling as the action-packed moments. The pacing is tight, the stakes are real, and every chapter left me craving more.
This genre mash-up's got teeth. It digs into transformation, what it really means to be human, and the terrifying beauty of change. It’s immersive, thought-provoking, and honestly, I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. If you love SFF that feels like something new while still delivering on all the tension, heart, and high-stakes storytelling these genres do best, you need this on your shelf. I eagerly look forward to diving into the novella and whatever Mayers writes next.
December 21, 2022
Growing up reading in the 2010's YA dystopian era has given me lifelong nostalgia for dystopian novels, I love a good dystopian story. Humanity trying to work out if there is more to life than simply surviving, just gets me every time.
Vevin Song is a fantasy, dystopian story based on the premise that 'Lightbirds' have flew down from the sky and taken over the Island on which the humans live on. The humans have escaped to live underwater in cocoons, whilst the Lightbirds control the Island above. Marla, the main character, lives in the cocoons trying to pursue a normal life until she starts to develop some strange abilities. This threatens everything; the tenuous peaceful life that the humans have created in the cocoons, the way that they have learned to survive around the Lightbirds and Marla's life.
This was a really well executed story. I found the pacing to be great, even from the first chapter I was drawn into what was happening in the story and intrigued. The characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed witnessing the relationships evolving between characters. The overall plot was really interesting and there were definitely some twists towards the end that I loved.
Overall I would give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars and thought it was a fantastic debut novel and self-pub. Looking forward to what comes next for this author.
Vevin Song is a fantasy, dystopian story based on the premise that 'Lightbirds' have flew down from the sky and taken over the Island on which the humans live on. The humans have escaped to live underwater in cocoons, whilst the Lightbirds control the Island above. Marla, the main character, lives in the cocoons trying to pursue a normal life until she starts to develop some strange abilities. This threatens everything; the tenuous peaceful life that the humans have created in the cocoons, the way that they have learned to survive around the Lightbirds and Marla's life.
This was a really well executed story. I found the pacing to be great, even from the first chapter I was drawn into what was happening in the story and intrigued. The characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed witnessing the relationships evolving between characters. The overall plot was really interesting and there were definitely some twists towards the end that I loved.
Overall I would give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars and thought it was a fantastic debut novel and self-pub. Looking forward to what comes next for this author.
February 5, 2023
**A huge thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
*4.5 Rounded up*
Vevin Song was an utterly captivating dystopian novel full of violent action packed sequences, an untrusting found family that has to learn to work together and some complex, yet mesmerising worldbuilding.
Humanity is fleeing under the safety of rainfall. The Lightbirds have taken over and they are killing everyone and everything humanity holds dear.
Marla was just a child when she was saved from a cave, nothing but a cry heard by chance when Rowan and his family were running to the pods to be shuffled to the underwater cocoons the human population would now have to live in for the remainder of their days.
But Marla is unsatisfied, she hates her teaching job more than anything and wants to be on the surface world. She has so many unanswered questions but no one wants to take the time to listen, until she sprouts wings of her own, not unlike the creatures they fled twenty years ago.
With options of be experimented on for life or get the hell of out the cocoon, she chooses the later and flees back to the island, in hopes of finding out exactly where the hell she came from. Marla learns more than she bargained for and is being hunted by the Lightbirds (or Vevin’s) as well as her human counterparts. She will have to think on her feet if she is going to get her answers.
Vevin Song, was truly something special. I can already see this one being on my favourites list of 2023.
Full review to come over on EPICINDIE.net and the Channel in the coming weeks!
*4.5 Rounded up*
Vevin Song was an utterly captivating dystopian novel full of violent action packed sequences, an untrusting found family that has to learn to work together and some complex, yet mesmerising worldbuilding.
Humanity is fleeing under the safety of rainfall. The Lightbirds have taken over and they are killing everyone and everything humanity holds dear.
Marla was just a child when she was saved from a cave, nothing but a cry heard by chance when Rowan and his family were running to the pods to be shuffled to the underwater cocoons the human population would now have to live in for the remainder of their days.
But Marla is unsatisfied, she hates her teaching job more than anything and wants to be on the surface world. She has so many unanswered questions but no one wants to take the time to listen, until she sprouts wings of her own, not unlike the creatures they fled twenty years ago.
With options of be experimented on for life or get the hell of out the cocoon, she chooses the later and flees back to the island, in hopes of finding out exactly where the hell she came from. Marla learns more than she bargained for and is being hunted by the Lightbirds (or Vevin’s) as well as her human counterparts. She will have to think on her feet if she is going to get her answers.
Vevin Song, was truly something special. I can already see this one being on my favourites list of 2023.
Full review to come over on EPICINDIE.net and the Channel in the coming weeks!
January 3, 2023
Really damn good! Can't believe this is this author's first novel! Finally getting the time to sit down and give this book the positive review it deserves.
I started this a few weeks before Christmas, thinking it might be slow-going and I would have it to read at night, after working through the craziness of Christmas prep during the day. Much to my surprise, it hooked me right away-- I found myself reading while eating, while at the bus stop and in between chores. The setting was the star of the show--at least at the beginning of the book- and I couldn't get enough!
This book is a fantasy novel centered around Marla, who lives a bleak existence in a world where humans have migrated underwater to live in cocoons. Marla has spent almost her entire life in the cocoons, but the world as her parents knew it was similar to ours. When she was a baby, 'Lightbirds-' a terrifying winged species- descended on that world and threatened the existence of mankind, forcing the humans to find another way to survive.
The world inside the cocoons fascinated me. Humans are assigned specific work duties in exchange for meals. Life as we know it doesn't exist- no restaurants, no shopping, little entertainment. "Bars" are erected in the small dorm-style housing families call home, offering one of the only ways to socialize. Many humans cannot survive life in the cocoons and become "cocoon sick," without the sunlight. It is depressing, with seemingly no hope for an alternate solution.
When Marla unexpectedly finds herself exhibiting characteristics of the Lightbirds themselves, she has a choice to make. She can stay in the cocoons, trapped by scientists with sinister intentions, who plan to experiment on her body and hold her hostage- or she can try and escape back to the former human world and attempt to survive, not knowing what awaited her.
At this point in the story, I was really expecting an "end of life as we know it" type-battle-- good vs evil-- rooting for the humans, of course. But, as with all well-written tales, things are not as cut and dry as they seem, and instead, I found myself drawn into a world of found family in very unexpected places- and it was so touching, so heartwarming.
I was getting some very "Avatar" vibes from this book from here on out--and I mean that in the best way possible. There are two sides to every story, and as the Lightbirds themselves become creatures you root for, understand, and come to respect, the whole dynamic shifts and Marla's goals become blurry. Who should she attempt to help? What is the right move for humanity-- but really, what is humanity-- is it all species, including those who have attempted to murder us?
The backstory and "legend--" the fantasy behind the Lightbirds and how they came to be in the human world in the first place- was so well-written. I was fascinated by their species-- how they "speak/sing," the mating rituals, the history behind their lineage. I do not want this review to be spoiler-filled, so I will leave it there-- but I found the backstory to be one of my favorite parts of Vevin Song in total.
If you are looking for epic battles, they are here- and this author isn't afraid to unalive characters you care about, so be warned- you will be choked up, but to be honest, I love when I feel like this while I'm reading, because it means the author has done a really good job developing those characters so that I really care and am invested.
There is a romance flitting just below the radar in this story, too- and I loved the idea of it, and the backstory there- I really wanted MORE of that romance- could have used some fleshing out in that arena, because the beginning of it- what was on the surface- was really intriguing.
This was such a great read- exciting, filled with adventure-- I was hooked from the beginning. I can't wait to see what else this author comes up with in the future!
I started this a few weeks before Christmas, thinking it might be slow-going and I would have it to read at night, after working through the craziness of Christmas prep during the day. Much to my surprise, it hooked me right away-- I found myself reading while eating, while at the bus stop and in between chores. The setting was the star of the show--at least at the beginning of the book- and I couldn't get enough!
This book is a fantasy novel centered around Marla, who lives a bleak existence in a world where humans have migrated underwater to live in cocoons. Marla has spent almost her entire life in the cocoons, but the world as her parents knew it was similar to ours. When she was a baby, 'Lightbirds-' a terrifying winged species- descended on that world and threatened the existence of mankind, forcing the humans to find another way to survive.
The world inside the cocoons fascinated me. Humans are assigned specific work duties in exchange for meals. Life as we know it doesn't exist- no restaurants, no shopping, little entertainment. "Bars" are erected in the small dorm-style housing families call home, offering one of the only ways to socialize. Many humans cannot survive life in the cocoons and become "cocoon sick," without the sunlight. It is depressing, with seemingly no hope for an alternate solution.
When Marla unexpectedly finds herself exhibiting characteristics of the Lightbirds themselves, she has a choice to make. She can stay in the cocoons, trapped by scientists with sinister intentions, who plan to experiment on her body and hold her hostage- or she can try and escape back to the former human world and attempt to survive, not knowing what awaited her.
At this point in the story, I was really expecting an "end of life as we know it" type-battle-- good vs evil-- rooting for the humans, of course. But, as with all well-written tales, things are not as cut and dry as they seem, and instead, I found myself drawn into a world of found family in very unexpected places- and it was so touching, so heartwarming.
I was getting some very "Avatar" vibes from this book from here on out--and I mean that in the best way possible. There are two sides to every story, and as the Lightbirds themselves become creatures you root for, understand, and come to respect, the whole dynamic shifts and Marla's goals become blurry. Who should she attempt to help? What is the right move for humanity-- but really, what is humanity-- is it all species, including those who have attempted to murder us?
The backstory and "legend--" the fantasy behind the Lightbirds and how they came to be in the human world in the first place- was so well-written. I was fascinated by their species-- how they "speak/sing," the mating rituals, the history behind their lineage. I do not want this review to be spoiler-filled, so I will leave it there-- but I found the backstory to be one of my favorite parts of Vevin Song in total.
If you are looking for epic battles, they are here- and this author isn't afraid to unalive characters you care about, so be warned- you will be choked up, but to be honest, I love when I feel like this while I'm reading, because it means the author has done a really good job developing those characters so that I really care and am invested.
There is a romance flitting just below the radar in this story, too- and I loved the idea of it, and the backstory there- I really wanted MORE of that romance- could have used some fleshing out in that arena, because the beginning of it- what was on the surface- was really intriguing.
This was such a great read- exciting, filled with adventure-- I was hooked from the beginning. I can't wait to see what else this author comes up with in the future!
January 13, 2023
“But when I’m with you, the last thing I want to feel is alone.” AHHH please. I loved every second of this book.
Dystopian novels give me so much nostalgia from reading them growing up. Add some fantasy and bam great novel.
It kept me hooked the entire way through, I loved the characters the action & the world building. I would love to see an adaption of this one day.
Read this & thank me later!!!
Dystopian novels give me so much nostalgia from reading them growing up. Add some fantasy and bam great novel.
It kept me hooked the entire way through, I loved the characters the action & the world building. I would love to see an adaption of this one day.
Read this & thank me later!!!
April 26, 2023
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with a digital copy of the book through the author in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, body horror, murder, death, animal death, child death, death of parent, terminal illness, vomit, physical abuse, child abuse, confinement, alcoholism, grief
--
Such a great debut novel, if you’re on the lookout for more self-published titles to add to your tbr then check this one out! Especially if you’re a sci-fi fantasy lover like myself!
Vevin Song is set in a post- apocalyptic world where humans have been made to live in underwater cocoons ever since winged creatures known as Lightbirds invaded their island. The Lightbirds’ affliction to water means that the liquid is humanity’s greatest protection and greatest weapon.
Our main protagonist Marla Hightower, is renowned for being the baby that was saved from a Lightbird cave on the day that humanity moved to the cocoons. Years on, Marla’s monotonous life changes forever when she develops strange abilities and she must choose between a life of confinement and experimentation or escaping back to the island and taking her chances against the winged creatures that have caused so much destruction.
This did take a couple of chapters for me to fully get into but when the action kicked in I was absolutely hooked! Mayers has imagined a fascinating world and captured the atmosphere of both a claustrophobic underwater community and the unfamiliar and treacherous terrain of the island setting spectacularly. The overall vibe of the story sort of reminded me of the Penryn and the End of Days series but whilst this book did have slight old school YA dystopia tone to it there are elements that are very much not for younger readers. Predominantly the amount of gore and violence involved.
The overall story is well-rounded and well-paced and the characters too were all brilliantly written and developed. There are quite a few to keep a track of once the story really gets going but I never found myself getting too confused. Marla wasn’t the most likeable protagonists at first and I will admit that I had a bit of an issue with how lengthy her internal monologues were at times but her journey throughout the story was admirable.
I was fascinated by the Lightbirds/Vevin and all the mythology and culture surrounding them. At times it did feel like the story branched off into two parts because there was a lot of detail put in about their history which felt more on the fantasy side of things, running alongside the main plot which had the more dystopian/action feel to it. I was thoroughly engaged by it all though and Mayers pieced it all together perfectly.
Highlight the value of communication in all its forms, the story conveys the key message of how we must be willing to open ourselves up to learning and understanding that not everything is set in stone.
The ending was one of those that is both satisfying because it feels complete as it is but also leaves the door slightly ajar for more. If you’re a fan of the chosen one trope as well as found family themes then I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
Looking forward to seeing what Mayers puts out next!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
**I was provided with a digital copy of the book through the author in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, body horror, murder, death, animal death, child death, death of parent, terminal illness, vomit, physical abuse, child abuse, confinement, alcoholism, grief
--
Such a great debut novel, if you’re on the lookout for more self-published titles to add to your tbr then check this one out! Especially if you’re a sci-fi fantasy lover like myself!
Vevin Song is set in a post- apocalyptic world where humans have been made to live in underwater cocoons ever since winged creatures known as Lightbirds invaded their island. The Lightbirds’ affliction to water means that the liquid is humanity’s greatest protection and greatest weapon.
Our main protagonist Marla Hightower, is renowned for being the baby that was saved from a Lightbird cave on the day that humanity moved to the cocoons. Years on, Marla’s monotonous life changes forever when she develops strange abilities and she must choose between a life of confinement and experimentation or escaping back to the island and taking her chances against the winged creatures that have caused so much destruction.
This did take a couple of chapters for me to fully get into but when the action kicked in I was absolutely hooked! Mayers has imagined a fascinating world and captured the atmosphere of both a claustrophobic underwater community and the unfamiliar and treacherous terrain of the island setting spectacularly. The overall vibe of the story sort of reminded me of the Penryn and the End of Days series but whilst this book did have slight old school YA dystopia tone to it there are elements that are very much not for younger readers. Predominantly the amount of gore and violence involved.
The overall story is well-rounded and well-paced and the characters too were all brilliantly written and developed. There are quite a few to keep a track of once the story really gets going but I never found myself getting too confused. Marla wasn’t the most likeable protagonists at first and I will admit that I had a bit of an issue with how lengthy her internal monologues were at times but her journey throughout the story was admirable.
I was fascinated by the Lightbirds/Vevin and all the mythology and culture surrounding them. At times it did feel like the story branched off into two parts because there was a lot of detail put in about their history which felt more on the fantasy side of things, running alongside the main plot which had the more dystopian/action feel to it. I was thoroughly engaged by it all though and Mayers pieced it all together perfectly.
Highlight the value of communication in all its forms, the story conveys the key message of how we must be willing to open ourselves up to learning and understanding that not everything is set in stone.
The ending was one of those that is both satisfying because it feels complete as it is but also leaves the door slightly ajar for more. If you’re a fan of the chosen one trope as well as found family themes then I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
Looking forward to seeing what Mayers puts out next!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
January 7, 2023
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book.
Given that I read this bad boy in a day, it should not be a surprise that I was really pleasantly surprised by the story.
I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible but the world was easy to slide into.
It hooked me in very early on although the FMC worried me at first. I was worried that about how she would be written given that the author is a male but my concerns were not needed and she was a stable narrator for our journey.
It is not a smut buster so those that are looking for spice should look elsewhere. The romance element is barely there but feels natural in context with the stakes of the novel.
The Vevins were a little bit harder and I still have a hard time picturing their bodies and the way the move in comparison to humans but I do also expect that when I read a book in a day. The alien lore was easily provided, maybe too easily handed over, but I can definitely see the stage being set for a larger series. Some authors could have stopped half way through this story for one book but I am glad that this book gave you so much action in the first book, rather than making you hang in for book two.
I did see some of the twists coming but it was not unpleasant.
There was a lot of vomit. Like a lot of vomit. But the gore and deaths were justified.
I might post more later but all in all this book was a really enjoyable new take on a post apocalyptic world. It would be an enjoyable read for those that like Christopher Paolini, along with Amie Kaufman/Jay Kristoffs collaborations.
Given that I read this bad boy in a day, it should not be a surprise that I was really pleasantly surprised by the story.
I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible but the world was easy to slide into.
It hooked me in very early on although the FMC worried me at first. I was worried that about how she would be written given that the author is a male but my concerns were not needed and she was a stable narrator for our journey.
It is not a smut buster so those that are looking for spice should look elsewhere. The romance element is barely there but feels natural in context with the stakes of the novel.
The Vevins were a little bit harder and I still have a hard time picturing their bodies and the way the move in comparison to humans but I do also expect that when I read a book in a day. The alien lore was easily provided, maybe too easily handed over, but I can definitely see the stage being set for a larger series. Some authors could have stopped half way through this story for one book but I am glad that this book gave you so much action in the first book, rather than making you hang in for book two.
I did see some of the twists coming but it was not unpleasant.
There was a lot of vomit. Like a lot of vomit. But the gore and deaths were justified.
I might post more later but all in all this book was a really enjoyable new take on a post apocalyptic world. It would be an enjoyable read for those that like Christopher Paolini, along with Amie Kaufman/Jay Kristoffs collaborations.
February 24, 2024
I accepted a digital copy of this book from the author in consideration of a review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
When I read the book description for VEVIN SONG, my curiosity was immediately piqued by humanity being forced to live in underwater cocoons after "hostile creatures" flew down from the sky, forcing the flight or fight response.
As someone who won't put one single toe in water she can't clearly see to the bottom of, I found the aspect of surviving a mile underwater in steel containers terrifying. The descriptions of the cocoon triggered my claustrophobia, no lie. I was relieved when the plot carried our story back to the surface, on the island.
I was intrigued by the Vevin, the flying creatures, and hung on to every word about their language, culture, history, abilities, familial makeup and societal rankings. In fact, it was my favorite part of the whole book and 100% of the reason I kept flipping those pages.
I was lukewarm on the human characters. Perhaps the alien Vevin were so interesting and different that it made the humans feel lackluster and predictable to me.
The world building was a thing of beauty in this book. When I read about the underwater cocoon, I swear I could feel the pressure of the ocean on all sides. The terror it made me feel imagining it was a very real thing, which made me uncomfortable, but really added an element of enjoyment to the experience. Even so, I breathed a sigh of relief when we make it back to the surface and begin exploring the island, to see what changes occurred in the 20 years since the humans sought refuge underwater.
I did find the main plotline quite easy to ferret out - I blame the book description for that. As soon as I read the first chapter, I instantly knew where we were going in this first in the series, so I wish I hadn't read the synopsis. Even though I'd sussed out the majority of the ending, I still really enjoyed the journey to get there.
Readers who enjoy fast-paced, action packed science fiction/fantasy with a side of the found family trope and intriguing world building for dessert - this one is for you!
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Amanda L., Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
When I read the book description for VEVIN SONG, my curiosity was immediately piqued by humanity being forced to live in underwater cocoons after "hostile creatures" flew down from the sky, forcing the flight or fight response.
As someone who won't put one single toe in water she can't clearly see to the bottom of, I found the aspect of surviving a mile underwater in steel containers terrifying. The descriptions of the cocoon triggered my claustrophobia, no lie. I was relieved when the plot carried our story back to the surface, on the island.
I was intrigued by the Vevin, the flying creatures, and hung on to every word about their language, culture, history, abilities, familial makeup and societal rankings. In fact, it was my favorite part of the whole book and 100% of the reason I kept flipping those pages.
I was lukewarm on the human characters. Perhaps the alien Vevin were so interesting and different that it made the humans feel lackluster and predictable to me.
The world building was a thing of beauty in this book. When I read about the underwater cocoon, I swear I could feel the pressure of the ocean on all sides. The terror it made me feel imagining it was a very real thing, which made me uncomfortable, but really added an element of enjoyment to the experience. Even so, I breathed a sigh of relief when we make it back to the surface and begin exploring the island, to see what changes occurred in the 20 years since the humans sought refuge underwater.
I did find the main plotline quite easy to ferret out - I blame the book description for that. As soon as I read the first chapter, I instantly knew where we were going in this first in the series, so I wish I hadn't read the synopsis. Even though I'd sussed out the majority of the ending, I still really enjoyed the journey to get there.
Readers who enjoy fast-paced, action packed science fiction/fantasy with a side of the found family trope and intriguing world building for dessert - this one is for you!
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Amanda L., Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
February 7, 2023
Picture this: Winged creatures from above descend on planet Earth forcing humanity to live out its existence in underwater cocoons. Terrifying, right? Now say, twenty years pass and living in a cocoon is all you’ve ever known. You’re a restless, impulsive spirit, working at a job you loathe. You’d much rather be a Goldgill (a specialized diver, trained to venture to the surface to gather supplies).
𝘉𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘢 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.
Her peers used to tease her because of her trapped thoughts…words stuck in her head that she can’t seem to force out of her mouth. Now, trapped thoughts are the least of her worries. Her body is changing and she’s faced with two choices…commit her body to science or…take her chances with the Lightbirds back on land.
Vevin Song is the first of four books in a new fantasy series by debut author Jonathan Neves Mayers. He was kind enough to provide me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
My mind is still reeling a bit after finishing Vevin Song this morning. There is SO MUCH packed into these 462 Kindle pages. So much action, so much back story. I’m hopeful that the next book will be a little easier to take in, now that we’ve been introduced to the characters and are familiar with the history.
As a reader, it was obvious that this story was a labor of love and I definitely want to do my part to acknowledge and honor that.
If you are a fan of Susan Ee’s 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭, I definitely think you would enjoy Vevin Song.
Vevin Song releases today (February 7, 2023) and is available in ebook and paperback formats!
#bookchara #bookreview #vevinsong #jonathannevesmayers #fantasybooks #dystopianbooks #angelfall
𝘉𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘢 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.
Her peers used to tease her because of her trapped thoughts…words stuck in her head that she can’t seem to force out of her mouth. Now, trapped thoughts are the least of her worries. Her body is changing and she’s faced with two choices…commit her body to science or…take her chances with the Lightbirds back on land.
Vevin Song is the first of four books in a new fantasy series by debut author Jonathan Neves Mayers. He was kind enough to provide me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
My mind is still reeling a bit after finishing Vevin Song this morning. There is SO MUCH packed into these 462 Kindle pages. So much action, so much back story. I’m hopeful that the next book will be a little easier to take in, now that we’ve been introduced to the characters and are familiar with the history.
As a reader, it was obvious that this story was a labor of love and I definitely want to do my part to acknowledge and honor that.
If you are a fan of Susan Ee’s 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭, I definitely think you would enjoy Vevin Song.
Vevin Song releases today (February 7, 2023) and is available in ebook and paperback formats!
#bookchara #bookreview #vevinsong #jonathannevesmayers #fantasybooks #dystopianbooks #angelfall
February 10, 2023
I would like to thank the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🦇🦇🦇
Wow! What can I say? I was IMPRESSED by the quality of this ARC to say the least. It did not read as a first time author. The story was rich in details without feeling heavy. Although, I would not recommend reading it if you're tired as you might miss out on some important information. 😅
The plot was so interesting that I I completely forgot what was surrounding me and almost missed my stop a couple times on my commute to work.
Vevin Song tells the story of a group of creatures cursed from their world and catapulted into the human realm. Humans, afraid of the unknown, reacted with violence but ended up isolating themselves underwater creating all sorts of problems for survival of the species.
Marla experienced several physical problems throughout her life and wishes to experience life on earth. She knows her place is not underwater with the others. Her body is changing in a weird way and some people want to experiment on her. She only has one choice: to escape.
But, when she finally reaches the island she is faced with two problems: the creatures attacking her and the humans trying to take her back in the cocoon.
🦇🦇🦇
Wow! What can I say? I was IMPRESSED by the quality of this ARC to say the least. It did not read as a first time author. The story was rich in details without feeling heavy. Although, I would not recommend reading it if you're tired as you might miss out on some important information. 😅
The plot was so interesting that I I completely forgot what was surrounding me and almost missed my stop a couple times on my commute to work.
Vevin Song tells the story of a group of creatures cursed from their world and catapulted into the human realm. Humans, afraid of the unknown, reacted with violence but ended up isolating themselves underwater creating all sorts of problems for survival of the species.
Marla experienced several physical problems throughout her life and wishes to experience life on earth. She knows her place is not underwater with the others. Her body is changing in a weird way and some people want to experiment on her. She only has one choice: to escape.
But, when she finally reaches the island she is faced with two problems: the creatures attacking her and the humans trying to take her back in the cocoon.
January 29, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed this one! I’m so impressed with the complex and intricate world the author developed. I enjoyed the world building (excited for more of that!). I really liked the message that there’s two-sides to every story and felt like it was weaved in strongly throughout. I appreciated the social dynamics and struggle between the humans (Graves) and the Lightbirds (Vevin). That being said, I found the intra-species conflict to be the most intriguing aspect of this book.
Things I didn’t like as much:
•I found it really hard to picture the Vevins- I think all the descriptions were fantastic, but I struggled to picture them interacting with people
•I could’ve done with a lot less vomit. The blood and gore was understandable, but I felt like the amount of vomiting was just un-proportional *I also am very grossed out by vomit so that’s definitely a factor
All in all, this was an enjoyable post-apocalyptic adventure.
If you like these elements, you’ll probably enjoy this book:
-fantasy/ sci-fi books
-indie authors
-adventure filled books
-complex, unique worlds
-post-apocalyptic/ dystopia reads
-plot-driven books
-sapphic stories
-found family
Things I didn’t like as much:
•I found it really hard to picture the Vevins- I think all the descriptions were fantastic, but I struggled to picture them interacting with people
•I could’ve done with a lot less vomit. The blood and gore was understandable, but I felt like the amount of vomiting was just un-proportional *I also am very grossed out by vomit so that’s definitely a factor
All in all, this was an enjoyable post-apocalyptic adventure.
If you like these elements, you’ll probably enjoy this book:
-fantasy/ sci-fi books
-indie authors
-adventure filled books
-complex, unique worlds
-post-apocalyptic/ dystopia reads
-plot-driven books
-sapphic stories
-found family
January 9, 2023
Vevin Song is a very interesting mix of science fiction and fantasy.
It starts of feeling very much like a science fiction story. Humanity has fled to underwater cocoons after an invasion of aliens. In that cocoon we find Marla, the main character of the book, who rather unhappily lives her life as a teacher (not the job she would chosen but everyone must do what is best for the cocoon). I really liked Marla, she is a strong character but also definitely has her flaws. The cocoon is an ingenious way to keep humans save from the aliens (who do not respond well to water), and technology has been developed to send some people to the surface for supplies and to try and fight the aliens with marbles of water of sedation. Overall, however, cocoon life is rather bleak, as people are left with little choice in life and some end up cocoon sick, which was a really interesting concept.
And then something changes in Marla and she ends up on the surface. Here she comes into contact with the aliens; Lightbirds as humanity calls them or Vevin as they call themselves. There is a varied cast of Vevin, and I did at some point get a little lost in who was who, and who was on which side. Here the fantasy aspect really comes into play as we learn more about the Vevin and their culture, history, and politics. There are unseen realms, psychic means of communication, and actual curses to break.
The world-building was well-done and interesting. The plot starts out looking like it might be rather black and white but there is a lot of nuance, good and bad folks on either side. The author does not hold back on the violence, there is quite a bit of gore and fighting. I do appreciate it when main characters do not feel ‘safe’ from the plot. I did see some of the twists coming before they happened but the ending was satisfying and in line with the story.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and think it is a really promising debut novel!
[I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review]
It starts of feeling very much like a science fiction story. Humanity has fled to underwater cocoons after an invasion of aliens. In that cocoon we find Marla, the main character of the book, who rather unhappily lives her life as a teacher (not the job she would chosen but everyone must do what is best for the cocoon). I really liked Marla, she is a strong character but also definitely has her flaws. The cocoon is an ingenious way to keep humans save from the aliens (who do not respond well to water), and technology has been developed to send some people to the surface for supplies and to try and fight the aliens with marbles of water of sedation. Overall, however, cocoon life is rather bleak, as people are left with little choice in life and some end up cocoon sick, which was a really interesting concept.
And then something changes in Marla and she ends up on the surface. Here she comes into contact with the aliens; Lightbirds as humanity calls them or Vevin as they call themselves. There is a varied cast of Vevin, and I did at some point get a little lost in who was who, and who was on which side. Here the fantasy aspect really comes into play as we learn more about the Vevin and their culture, history, and politics. There are unseen realms, psychic means of communication, and actual curses to break.
The world-building was well-done and interesting. The plot starts out looking like it might be rather black and white but there is a lot of nuance, good and bad folks on either side. The author does not hold back on the violence, there is quite a bit of gore and fighting. I do appreciate it when main characters do not feel ‘safe’ from the plot. I did see some of the twists coming before they happened but the ending was satisfying and in line with the story.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and think it is a really promising debut novel!
[I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review]
February 4, 2023
Re-posting review from my bookstagram (the.looted.library):
I was delighted to be offered a chance to read a huge dystopian fantasy novel like this, especially after being told it has a queer MC. That usually sells a book to me pretty quick. 😂 Vevin Song was so much more expansive than I expected, which can have lots of ups and downs, but I will summarize.
What I loved:
One of my favorite parts of the book was the beginning quarter when we learn about how people are living under the ocean and learn about how things are done there. This whole segment actually really reminded me of the tv show 'The 100', which I loved. I honestly wanted even more of that element. I also really enjoyed the world-building and the lore behind the creatures (Lightbirds/Vevin). You can tell that a lot of thought and creativity went into structuring such an immersive past and world. I also love to see a strong female lead, and Marla was no exception. She was tough and did what she needed to do but did a lot of things with kindness and empathy.
What I struggled with:
As with any high fantasy, the lore can be hard to understand and follow. This is something I personally have issues with, but I did find myself not following some of the more deep-rooted history that is discussed when it comes to the Vevin. Again, could be a me thing. I also struggled with visualization in some parts of the book. I wasn't able to fully grasp the surroundings or what the creatures looked like. I like to be able to picture things in my head but just couldn't find the right image for the Vevin. I would love to see some concept art if any creative folk dive into that after reading.
Overall though, I highly recommend this if you are into dystopian/sci-fi/fantasy and looking for something new. It's a very impressive debut.
Thank you to the author for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I was delighted to be offered a chance to read a huge dystopian fantasy novel like this, especially after being told it has a queer MC. That usually sells a book to me pretty quick. 😂 Vevin Song was so much more expansive than I expected, which can have lots of ups and downs, but I will summarize.
What I loved:
One of my favorite parts of the book was the beginning quarter when we learn about how people are living under the ocean and learn about how things are done there. This whole segment actually really reminded me of the tv show 'The 100', which I loved. I honestly wanted even more of that element. I also really enjoyed the world-building and the lore behind the creatures (Lightbirds/Vevin). You can tell that a lot of thought and creativity went into structuring such an immersive past and world. I also love to see a strong female lead, and Marla was no exception. She was tough and did what she needed to do but did a lot of things with kindness and empathy.
What I struggled with:
As with any high fantasy, the lore can be hard to understand and follow. This is something I personally have issues with, but I did find myself not following some of the more deep-rooted history that is discussed when it comes to the Vevin. Again, could be a me thing. I also struggled with visualization in some parts of the book. I wasn't able to fully grasp the surroundings or what the creatures looked like. I like to be able to picture things in my head but just couldn't find the right image for the Vevin. I would love to see some concept art if any creative folk dive into that after reading.
Overall though, I highly recommend this if you are into dystopian/sci-fi/fantasy and looking for something new. It's a very impressive debut.
Thank you to the author for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
January 13, 2023
I was asked by the author to read an ARC of this book.
This book kinda took me by surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect from it, I just knew it was a post-apocalyptic story, which I generally enjoy!
In this dytopian story we follow Marla, years after these alien-like creatures (lightbirds) have taken over the island where humans live on, and have forced the humans to flee to this underwater cocoon.
At the start of the book we see Marla going through some changes, which forces her to go on some ‘adventures’ (lack of a better word haha)
Marla is the main POV of this book, but we do read from other perspectives, which really helped with understanding the world and learning our characters better!
I really liked the setting of this book, we start of in the underwater cocoon where the humans have escaped to. But we also get to see out world after the invasion of the lightbirds, which was interesting to see. It was also really interesting to get to learn these lightbirds, and their dynamics.
I do have to admit that things at the ending were getting a bit more complicated, and sometimes I couldn’t fully wrap my mind around them.
The pacing of this book was done really well, it gave you time to understand things without it feeling like the book was dragging.
The first half of this book I was loving, but for some reason the book was slowly losing my attention near the end. I’m not 100% sure why, but I think it was mainly because the lightbird part of the book was getting bigger and bigger (which was definitely interesting!). And since I wasn’t fully understanding this part, I think it was getting a bit more difficult to pick up this book. But this was definitely on me haha!
I still read this book really quickly, since I did really want to know where the book was going!
This book kinda took me by surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect from it, I just knew it was a post-apocalyptic story, which I generally enjoy!
In this dytopian story we follow Marla, years after these alien-like creatures (lightbirds) have taken over the island where humans live on, and have forced the humans to flee to this underwater cocoon.
At the start of the book we see Marla going through some changes, which forces her to go on some ‘adventures’ (lack of a better word haha)
Marla is the main POV of this book, but we do read from other perspectives, which really helped with understanding the world and learning our characters better!
I really liked the setting of this book, we start of in the underwater cocoon where the humans have escaped to. But we also get to see out world after the invasion of the lightbirds, which was interesting to see. It was also really interesting to get to learn these lightbirds, and their dynamics.
I do have to admit that things at the ending were getting a bit more complicated, and sometimes I couldn’t fully wrap my mind around them.
The pacing of this book was done really well, it gave you time to understand things without it feeling like the book was dragging.
The first half of this book I was loving, but for some reason the book was slowly losing my attention near the end. I’m not 100% sure why, but I think it was mainly because the lightbird part of the book was getting bigger and bigger (which was definitely interesting!). And since I wasn’t fully understanding this part, I think it was getting a bit more difficult to pick up this book. But this was definitely on me haha!
I still read this book really quickly, since I did really want to know where the book was going!
February 7, 2023
This review was originally published on thefantasyreviews.com.
After finishing Vevin Song all I could think was, why don’t we have more fun adult dystopian stories like this? Seriously, so many of us went through (or still enjoy!) dystopian YA novels and nothing in the adult world gives me that same feeling. Well, I am more than happy to say that Vevin Song definitely scratches that itch while ratcheting up the drama in manifold ways.
To put it quite bluntly, if you like both high fantasy and monster invasion movies, Vevin Song is the perfect marriage between those two things. Heck, even if you just like one of those things you will find a lot to love here.
As we start the book, two humans, Rowan and Jason, are exploring an island invaded by the mysterious and dangerous Lightbirds when they hear the cries of a human baby. They save the baby, but Jason tragically dies in the process. Years later, the baby is now an adult, and she is about to find out that everything she knew about how the new world works is wrong.
Meyers creates a dystopian world that scratches some of the tropey itches readers have for the genre while also making it feel fresh and new. Humans are forced to live in these underwater pods because the Lightbirds are weak against water, and much of the human society acts as any dystopian society would. There is strict food rationing, assigned work-roles based on skill rather than interest, and the uneasy contradiction of a socialist yet totalitarian government to ensure humanity’s survival. All of this is old hat in dystopian sci-fi/fantasy, but Meyers brings some fun new elements. For example, because humanity is living underwater, they need resources from land. So there is a special corps of people who put on specialized suits and are pretty much rocket launched onto land. It is the little changes like this that make the world feel different than your traditional dystopia.
It also helps the book stand out that we don’t actually spend much time in the underwater pod world. One thing about fiction with cool monsters and alien creatures is that we never really care about the human stuff! Instead, Meyers takes little time to get to the good stuff, and much of the action takes place on the island nearby the pods where the humans gain their resources. This ensures plenty of drama as the Lightbirds are always around….
Ok, ok, so the book is not THAT mysterious when it comes to the Lightbirds. When I first started the book, I thought we would have a “monster-movie” story on our hands, where the Lightbirds remain this distanced and rarely seen predator. It isn’t anything like that. The Lightbirds, or as they call themselves, the Vevin, are not the creatures you expect them to be. I don’t want to get into too much detail here due to spoilers, but the Vevin, their culture, and their history is much more complex than it first appears. Meyers instills the Vevin creatures with so much detail that they feel like fully realized and three dimensional people, rather than just things that go bump in the night.
This does take me to my one (and really only) big criticism of the book. About 50% of the way through the book we learn a lot about the Vevin. And let me tell you, it is complicated. There are a bunch of names, groups, places, rules, religions, etc. that are thrown at the reader in a fairly few number of pages. I was lost and confused through most of it. I reread passages and still didn’t quite get everything. If you are going to read this book, here is my advice – just vibe with the Vevin backstory and get as much as you can and then move on. Only the broadest strokes are necessary to understand the second half of the book, so don’t stress about it! And for those of you who enjoy good deep lore, you will have so much to unpack.
Other than this small hiccup in the middle, the plot moves like a runaway train. The rest of the book is perfectly paced and I didn’t even realize how quickly I was just tearing through it. I honestly don’t even know if I breathed once during the last 20% of the book. The end of the book is one exciting scene after another, with some admirably horrifying results. Meyers really knows how to write an action scene and turn up the intensity. Content warnings a are bit necessary here; Nevins doesn’t hold back on the violence, blood, and a bit of gore. Characters are brutally killed in pretty much every part of the book, so if you don’t like that in your books stay away! For those who do like a little blood and gore in your speculative fiction, Meyer’s scenes are so vivid and cinematic that by the end you feel like you are watching a movie like Alien or Predator.
On the whole, Meyers populates this island with fascinating characters. The main protagonist, Marla, is particularly well-developed. She is navigating a complex positionality in an increasingly complex world. Meyers nicely explores that contradiction that is her life, desires, and actions. In addition, some of the other human characters (namely Marla’s brother Conrad and her ex Erin) are equally complex and morally grey (in a realistic and not edge-lordy kind of way), and some of the Vevin, like Astas and Trudill, are characters I definitely would read more about (particularly the latter, who in my mind was kind of like the “Sam” – whether of the Gamgee or Tarley variety – of the Vevin universe). Sometimes the total number of characters becomes a touch overwhelming, especially when a bunch of new Vevin characters are introduced all at once. I couldn’t keep most of them straight, and there seemed to be redundant characters that could have been condensed down (there a two masculine Vevin in particular who would have worked better as one character). The human antagonists (like Murph) are also a bit underdeveloped and one-dimensional (although how much I hated Murph was probably the point, so Meyers was probably successful in building that character!).
The author mentions in his Author’s note that there is more to come. So while I was pleased that this book wrapped up the major plot and character arcs in a satisfying way, I cannot wait to spend more time in this world.
Concluding Thoughts: An action-packed dystopian science fantasy that still wallops quite the emotional punch. Some of the deep lore is a bit overdone and confusing, but this doesn’t detract from the rest of this intense page-turning novel. Fans of action, dystopias, and invading magical creatures will find a lot to love here.
After finishing Vevin Song all I could think was, why don’t we have more fun adult dystopian stories like this? Seriously, so many of us went through (or still enjoy!) dystopian YA novels and nothing in the adult world gives me that same feeling. Well, I am more than happy to say that Vevin Song definitely scratches that itch while ratcheting up the drama in manifold ways.
To put it quite bluntly, if you like both high fantasy and monster invasion movies, Vevin Song is the perfect marriage between those two things. Heck, even if you just like one of those things you will find a lot to love here.
As we start the book, two humans, Rowan and Jason, are exploring an island invaded by the mysterious and dangerous Lightbirds when they hear the cries of a human baby. They save the baby, but Jason tragically dies in the process. Years later, the baby is now an adult, and she is about to find out that everything she knew about how the new world works is wrong.
Meyers creates a dystopian world that scratches some of the tropey itches readers have for the genre while also making it feel fresh and new. Humans are forced to live in these underwater pods because the Lightbirds are weak against water, and much of the human society acts as any dystopian society would. There is strict food rationing, assigned work-roles based on skill rather than interest, and the uneasy contradiction of a socialist yet totalitarian government to ensure humanity’s survival. All of this is old hat in dystopian sci-fi/fantasy, but Meyers brings some fun new elements. For example, because humanity is living underwater, they need resources from land. So there is a special corps of people who put on specialized suits and are pretty much rocket launched onto land. It is the little changes like this that make the world feel different than your traditional dystopia.
It also helps the book stand out that we don’t actually spend much time in the underwater pod world. One thing about fiction with cool monsters and alien creatures is that we never really care about the human stuff! Instead, Meyers takes little time to get to the good stuff, and much of the action takes place on the island nearby the pods where the humans gain their resources. This ensures plenty of drama as the Lightbirds are always around….
Ok, ok, so the book is not THAT mysterious when it comes to the Lightbirds. When I first started the book, I thought we would have a “monster-movie” story on our hands, where the Lightbirds remain this distanced and rarely seen predator. It isn’t anything like that. The Lightbirds, or as they call themselves, the Vevin, are not the creatures you expect them to be. I don’t want to get into too much detail here due to spoilers, but the Vevin, their culture, and their history is much more complex than it first appears. Meyers instills the Vevin creatures with so much detail that they feel like fully realized and three dimensional people, rather than just things that go bump in the night.
This does take me to my one (and really only) big criticism of the book. About 50% of the way through the book we learn a lot about the Vevin. And let me tell you, it is complicated. There are a bunch of names, groups, places, rules, religions, etc. that are thrown at the reader in a fairly few number of pages. I was lost and confused through most of it. I reread passages and still didn’t quite get everything. If you are going to read this book, here is my advice – just vibe with the Vevin backstory and get as much as you can and then move on. Only the broadest strokes are necessary to understand the second half of the book, so don’t stress about it! And for those of you who enjoy good deep lore, you will have so much to unpack.
Other than this small hiccup in the middle, the plot moves like a runaway train. The rest of the book is perfectly paced and I didn’t even realize how quickly I was just tearing through it. I honestly don’t even know if I breathed once during the last 20% of the book. The end of the book is one exciting scene after another, with some admirably horrifying results. Meyers really knows how to write an action scene and turn up the intensity. Content warnings a are bit necessary here; Nevins doesn’t hold back on the violence, blood, and a bit of gore. Characters are brutally killed in pretty much every part of the book, so if you don’t like that in your books stay away! For those who do like a little blood and gore in your speculative fiction, Meyer’s scenes are so vivid and cinematic that by the end you feel like you are watching a movie like Alien or Predator.
On the whole, Meyers populates this island with fascinating characters. The main protagonist, Marla, is particularly well-developed. She is navigating a complex positionality in an increasingly complex world. Meyers nicely explores that contradiction that is her life, desires, and actions. In addition, some of the other human characters (namely Marla’s brother Conrad and her ex Erin) are equally complex and morally grey (in a realistic and not edge-lordy kind of way), and some of the Vevin, like Astas and Trudill, are characters I definitely would read more about (particularly the latter, who in my mind was kind of like the “Sam” – whether of the Gamgee or Tarley variety – of the Vevin universe). Sometimes the total number of characters becomes a touch overwhelming, especially when a bunch of new Vevin characters are introduced all at once. I couldn’t keep most of them straight, and there seemed to be redundant characters that could have been condensed down (there a two masculine Vevin in particular who would have worked better as one character). The human antagonists (like Murph) are also a bit underdeveloped and one-dimensional (although how much I hated Murph was probably the point, so Meyers was probably successful in building that character!).
The author mentions in his Author’s note that there is more to come. So while I was pleased that this book wrapped up the major plot and character arcs in a satisfying way, I cannot wait to spend more time in this world.
Concluding Thoughts: An action-packed dystopian science fantasy that still wallops quite the emotional punch. Some of the deep lore is a bit overdone and confusing, but this doesn’t detract from the rest of this intense page-turning novel. Fans of action, dystopias, and invading magical creatures will find a lot to love here.
January 27, 2023
If you don't like the thought of living in a stationary submarine environment, this may freak you out just a little. People having to resort to living in cities under the sea is not a totally new idea, I am sure I watched movies or tv shows about this idea, but it doesn't seem to be as much fun as Sandy from Spongebob.
Overall this story was a very different idea. The Lightbirds/Vevin were unique as was their way of communicating. They used song, but through the mind and not through auditory means. It was a very different concept and the author was very diligent in his adherence to the idea. Speech was referred to as “he sang” or “she sang”. This did take a little getting used to, but when I did, it became a normal part of reading the book.
This idea that the humans and Vevin couldn't communicate was also interesting in both it's idea and then how the characters were able to interact with each other. It was also a tool to illustrate how misunderstandings due to non-communication can occur. With these two, not too different species, the idea that they can not live in harmony stems from their not understanding the others situation and ideologies. In this regard this was a very thought provoking story.
In this it also showed how different members of the same species can be. There are good and bad in every one. The idea that if you are different you are some how dangerous and feared comes through as a strong theme. Invaders verses refugees is another idea that is presented very well through this story. One side sees the other in a certain way, but doesn't understand the circumstances that have created the situation. This is a story very much about understanding, communication and trust.
Characters – there are a lot of characters in this story and at times it was quite overwhelming, especially the Vevin. The MC, Marla comes off at first a little whingey and “woe is me” but as the story evolves, so does she. In the end I found her more of an admirable character and became invested in her journey. In both the human and Vevin, there were the characters you loved and those you love to hate. Once again reinforcing how similar the two species really were.
World building – this is a very complex fantasy world. There is the human underwater world of the Cocoon, the world of the Vevin on the Island that used to be inhabited by humans and the world where the Vevin originated. The explanation of how the Vevin came to the human realm is also complex and was difficult to get my head around to begin with. Though this didn't detract from the story in any way. It did show that the author had put much thought into the world his characters evolved from.
I think this may be my only criticism, sometimes there was a little too much information and it got too complex. I think the author wanted to explain everything so that the reader knew how and why everything was happening.
The plot was action-packed and mostly fast-paced. At times it was violent and gory. It did flow well and never presented any dull moments, but kept moving forward with twists and revelations at just the right moments to keep me invested.
Overall this was a unique and thought provoking story. It was well thought out and presented some very meaningful ideas.
Overall this story was a very different idea. The Lightbirds/Vevin were unique as was their way of communicating. They used song, but through the mind and not through auditory means. It was a very different concept and the author was very diligent in his adherence to the idea. Speech was referred to as “he sang” or “she sang”. This did take a little getting used to, but when I did, it became a normal part of reading the book.
This idea that the humans and Vevin couldn't communicate was also interesting in both it's idea and then how the characters were able to interact with each other. It was also a tool to illustrate how misunderstandings due to non-communication can occur. With these two, not too different species, the idea that they can not live in harmony stems from their not understanding the others situation and ideologies. In this regard this was a very thought provoking story.
In this it also showed how different members of the same species can be. There are good and bad in every one. The idea that if you are different you are some how dangerous and feared comes through as a strong theme. Invaders verses refugees is another idea that is presented very well through this story. One side sees the other in a certain way, but doesn't understand the circumstances that have created the situation. This is a story very much about understanding, communication and trust.
Characters – there are a lot of characters in this story and at times it was quite overwhelming, especially the Vevin. The MC, Marla comes off at first a little whingey and “woe is me” but as the story evolves, so does she. In the end I found her more of an admirable character and became invested in her journey. In both the human and Vevin, there were the characters you loved and those you love to hate. Once again reinforcing how similar the two species really were.
World building – this is a very complex fantasy world. There is the human underwater world of the Cocoon, the world of the Vevin on the Island that used to be inhabited by humans and the world where the Vevin originated. The explanation of how the Vevin came to the human realm is also complex and was difficult to get my head around to begin with. Though this didn't detract from the story in any way. It did show that the author had put much thought into the world his characters evolved from.
I think this may be my only criticism, sometimes there was a little too much information and it got too complex. I think the author wanted to explain everything so that the reader knew how and why everything was happening.
The plot was action-packed and mostly fast-paced. At times it was violent and gory. It did flow well and never presented any dull moments, but kept moving forward with twists and revelations at just the right moments to keep me invested.
Overall this was a unique and thought provoking story. It was well thought out and presented some very meaningful ideas.
January 21, 2023
“Too much thinking is never a good thing.”
If life as we know it came to an abrupt end, what would you be willing to endure to survive? In Vevin Song, humanity is threatened when a physically superior alien species invades the planet. Humans are forced to evacuate to underwater pods in an attempt to save themselves from the more immediate threat on land. Communities take shape and seek to establish a new normal but life in the pods is left wanting. Unsatisfied with her lot, our main character, Marla, wishes for something different. But be careful what you wish for… When Marla suddenly develops features resembling the invaders, her wish comes true as she is thrust into chaos and does what she must to save herself… by returning to the surface.
Pros:
-Pacing
Starting in chapter 14, the story picks up and continues to move along nicely until the end of the book. The first 13 chapters are not bad by any means… They are setting up the dominoes for the rest of the story by introducing us to Marla’s life in the underwater pod. Once the characters are introduced and the dilemma takes shape, Mayers launches us into an intense and dangerous world filled with powerful enemies, unexpected allies, and crushing betrayals.
-Creature lore
In Vevin Song, the invading alien species are known as Vevin and they remind me of the Na’vi of Avatar and the Parshendi of Stormlight Archive. They telepathically communicate in what they call the Song and they can summon blades like the Knights Radiant in Stormlight Archive. We learn more about them when Marla escapes the underwater pod to seek a sort of refuge on the surface where she quickly encounters an unexpected ally, Kimra.
-End-of-story battle
I love an end-of-story battle and Mayers delivers an epic one! The intensity, drama, and fear envelope you as you attempt to read as fast as possible to figure out what happens. Who will survive? Read and find out.
Cons:
-Learning curve
As Marla discovers the full extent of her Vevin abilities, her learning curve is a tad too quick for me. Considering her job in the pod and the timeline of the story, her ability to use the Song and her fighting prowess develop at a fairly rapid pace with little explanation as to how or why.
-Plot convenience
There are a few moments in the story that are just too convenient. A character found someone a tad too easily. An enemy waits around a bit too long. Without giving away any spoilers, it felt like certain situations or characters didn’t progress as you would expect in order to allow for a particular interaction or moment.
Overall…
I was thoroughly impressed with Vevin Song - especially when you consider that it is Mayers’s debut novel! The storyline captured my interest, I was attached to the characters, and the creature lore was fascinating. I look forward to reading the sequel.
If life as we know it came to an abrupt end, what would you be willing to endure to survive? In Vevin Song, humanity is threatened when a physically superior alien species invades the planet. Humans are forced to evacuate to underwater pods in an attempt to save themselves from the more immediate threat on land. Communities take shape and seek to establish a new normal but life in the pods is left wanting. Unsatisfied with her lot, our main character, Marla, wishes for something different. But be careful what you wish for… When Marla suddenly develops features resembling the invaders, her wish comes true as she is thrust into chaos and does what she must to save herself… by returning to the surface.
Pros:
-Pacing
Starting in chapter 14, the story picks up and continues to move along nicely until the end of the book. The first 13 chapters are not bad by any means… They are setting up the dominoes for the rest of the story by introducing us to Marla’s life in the underwater pod. Once the characters are introduced and the dilemma takes shape, Mayers launches us into an intense and dangerous world filled with powerful enemies, unexpected allies, and crushing betrayals.
-Creature lore
In Vevin Song, the invading alien species are known as Vevin and they remind me of the Na’vi of Avatar and the Parshendi of Stormlight Archive. They telepathically communicate in what they call the Song and they can summon blades like the Knights Radiant in Stormlight Archive. We learn more about them when Marla escapes the underwater pod to seek a sort of refuge on the surface where she quickly encounters an unexpected ally, Kimra.
-End-of-story battle
I love an end-of-story battle and Mayers delivers an epic one! The intensity, drama, and fear envelope you as you attempt to read as fast as possible to figure out what happens. Who will survive? Read and find out.
Cons:
-Learning curve
As Marla discovers the full extent of her Vevin abilities, her learning curve is a tad too quick for me. Considering her job in the pod and the timeline of the story, her ability to use the Song and her fighting prowess develop at a fairly rapid pace with little explanation as to how or why.
-Plot convenience
There are a few moments in the story that are just too convenient. A character found someone a tad too easily. An enemy waits around a bit too long. Without giving away any spoilers, it felt like certain situations or characters didn’t progress as you would expect in order to allow for a particular interaction or moment.
Overall…
I was thoroughly impressed with Vevin Song - especially when you consider that it is Mayers’s debut novel! The storyline captured my interest, I was attached to the characters, and the creature lore was fascinating. I look forward to reading the sequel.
February 5, 2023
The book definitely starts off running. Pretty much literally. The description and first chapter give you a sense of the desperation humanity was facing. I was excited to see the dystopian novel unfold. As a fan of world building I went in knowing there might not be as much with its setting and quick time period (only 20 years since invasion happened).
After the first chapter the pacing did take a bit of a dive. Our main character did dislike her job so her outlook that we were seeing at that point was accurate. The book was also showing us how humanity was surviving after the invasion at this point. After the breaking point for our character she was in survival mode for the rest of the book so there was mostly a feeling of more constant movement.
The main character of the novel is Marla. She is know as the baby from the cave to everyone in her cocoon. This is because she was found and rescued by her family while they were fleeing to the vessels taking humanity underwater. She has lived a mostly normal life the past twenty years. Only now as an adult is she changing. Many times in the book the issue of selfishness comes up. I do think that Marla is somewhat of a selfish person but at the same time when others were calling her out it was for the wrong reasons. She does learn to put more thought before action finally though.
Other than Marla we are also given the chance to see through the enemies eyes. This gave the story another layer that I feel was already coming to light. It was also a counter point that the character we saw had such a different childhood than Marla. While she was living with a loving family in hiding sure our other character was in constant stress from a crazy parent.
The story did have a good conclusion point while leaving it open to expand upon. There is more that could be told about the events. This book delved into aspects of what it means to be a person. We see how people deal with loss and survival. There is found family and personal growth. Several times there were instances of no why would that happen sadness. Overall it came together to show a tale of humanity.
After the first chapter the pacing did take a bit of a dive. Our main character did dislike her job so her outlook that we were seeing at that point was accurate. The book was also showing us how humanity was surviving after the invasion at this point. After the breaking point for our character she was in survival mode for the rest of the book so there was mostly a feeling of more constant movement.
The main character of the novel is Marla. She is know as the baby from the cave to everyone in her cocoon. This is because she was found and rescued by her family while they were fleeing to the vessels taking humanity underwater. She has lived a mostly normal life the past twenty years. Only now as an adult is she changing. Many times in the book the issue of selfishness comes up. I do think that Marla is somewhat of a selfish person but at the same time when others were calling her out it was for the wrong reasons. She does learn to put more thought before action finally though.
Other than Marla we are also given the chance to see through the enemies eyes. This gave the story another layer that I feel was already coming to light. It was also a counter point that the character we saw had such a different childhood than Marla. While she was living with a loving family in hiding sure our other character was in constant stress from a crazy parent.
The story did have a good conclusion point while leaving it open to expand upon. There is more that could be told about the events. This book delved into aspects of what it means to be a person. We see how people deal with loss and survival. There is found family and personal growth. Several times there were instances of no why would that happen sadness. Overall it came together to show a tale of humanity.
February 7, 2023
I would say this is around 3.75 for me.
An invasion from above has forced humanity to abandon their homes and lands and flee into an underwater world of cocoons.
Marla has only known the confines of the cocoon. Assigned a job she hates, and the monotony of her life, she is resigned to accept her circumstances. Until Marla starts developing unique abilities not unlike those of the creatures who invaded so many years ago...
This book was a really interesting blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres. My dystopian loving heart really enjoyed the premise of the underwater cocoons with monsters roaming, and controlling the land above.
The world building was extensive and really well written. I was impressed with how effortless it felt for majority of the story. It did take me a while to really envision how the Roots worked but we got there eventually 😂
The Vevin history is pretty complex, this was the only part that really lost me. So be prepared to really pay attention to the Locklines and history.
To be fair I was reading this part late into the night and had to revisit the history lesson again the next day. I found this particular section a bit dense and wish it had been spread out a bit more to help the reader digest the info, but overall I really enjoyed it.
A great debut. I think it would be enjoyable for lovers of:
high fantasy
alien/monster invasions
action/adventure
dystopian/post apocalyptic worlds
found family
An invasion from above has forced humanity to abandon their homes and lands and flee into an underwater world of cocoons.
Marla has only known the confines of the cocoon. Assigned a job she hates, and the monotony of her life, she is resigned to accept her circumstances. Until Marla starts developing unique abilities not unlike those of the creatures who invaded so many years ago...
This book was a really interesting blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres. My dystopian loving heart really enjoyed the premise of the underwater cocoons with monsters roaming, and controlling the land above.
The world building was extensive and really well written. I was impressed with how effortless it felt for majority of the story. It did take me a while to really envision how the Roots worked but we got there eventually 😂
The Vevin history is pretty complex, this was the only part that really lost me. So be prepared to really pay attention to the Locklines and history.
To be fair I was reading this part late into the night and had to revisit the history lesson again the next day. I found this particular section a bit dense and wish it had been spread out a bit more to help the reader digest the info, but overall I really enjoyed it.
A great debut. I think it would be enjoyable for lovers of:
high fantasy
alien/monster invasions
action/adventure
dystopian/post apocalyptic worlds
found family
February 15, 2023
Jonathan Neves Myers’ debut novel Vevin Song is best described as dystopian fantasy. The scene is set right from the start with a dramatic evacuation, which very much feels like a race for survival. People are fleeing their island after the invasion of a superior race, the lightbirds (Vevin), to take up residence in underwater cocoons, which provide a safe habitat because water is deadly to Vevin.
Cocoon life is presented as very spartan, and people find themselves filling roles they are assigned without much choice. Marla, the female lead character, is stuck in a career of teaching, a chore she completes in order to obtain food rations.
When events lead to Marla returning to the island, we find that life above water has also been difficult, both for the Vevin and the humans who stayed behind. The two races remain in conflict when they clash, and it takes a while for Marla to learn more about the Vevin race.
“People don’t understand that just because something is unknown doesn’t mean it’s a threat. The irony is that they end up being monsters themselves.”
The book contains a lot of fighting, so be prepared for gore, vomit, and the deaths of characters you’ve grown attached to. I enjoyed the novel and its message of hope. There were a few plot twists that I predicted, but which didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the world Jonathan Neves Myers created. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this author in the future.
Cocoon life is presented as very spartan, and people find themselves filling roles they are assigned without much choice. Marla, the female lead character, is stuck in a career of teaching, a chore she completes in order to obtain food rations.
When events lead to Marla returning to the island, we find that life above water has also been difficult, both for the Vevin and the humans who stayed behind. The two races remain in conflict when they clash, and it takes a while for Marla to learn more about the Vevin race.
“People don’t understand that just because something is unknown doesn’t mean it’s a threat. The irony is that they end up being monsters themselves.”
The book contains a lot of fighting, so be prepared for gore, vomit, and the deaths of characters you’ve grown attached to. I enjoyed the novel and its message of hope. There were a few plot twists that I predicted, but which didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the world Jonathan Neves Myers created. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this author in the future.
January 23, 2023
𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.
4.5/5
Vevin Song introduces us to a dystopian world invaded by ‘Lightbirds’, terrifying creatures who descended from the skies and forced humanity into underwater cocoons to survive. Our protagonist Marla Hightower begins to develop abilities more Lightbird than human, and must return to the surface to escape the fear and distrust of her fellows.
I loved this book! I’ve always been a fan of dystopian fantasy, and this story felt really unique. At first I thought it was going to be a classic good vs. evil story, as the introduction of the Lightbirds felt so menacing. It was unsettling to read about just how quickly they were able to overrun the world and force humanity out, and how humans became relegated to pure survival. However, as we learn more about both sides, it becomes much less black and white.
I really enjoyed Marla as a main character - my favourite types of characters are those that are unlikeable yet relatable. Sometimes I just wanted to shake her, but she showed so much character growth over the course of the book. A theme of this book which I thought was done particularly well was generational trauma and breaking the cycle of abuse. Mayers represented different family dynamics in a really nuanced way, and this wound together with the plot to form a really complex and interesting story.
I think the pacing was really good, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down because I was genuinely excited about what would happen next. The lore is quite complex, and I found myself getting a little confused on some points towards the end, but I’m really excited to see what happens in the next book.
Vevin Song was a very impressive debut novel, and I look forward to seeing more. Thank you to the author for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5
Vevin Song introduces us to a dystopian world invaded by ‘Lightbirds’, terrifying creatures who descended from the skies and forced humanity into underwater cocoons to survive. Our protagonist Marla Hightower begins to develop abilities more Lightbird than human, and must return to the surface to escape the fear and distrust of her fellows.
I loved this book! I’ve always been a fan of dystopian fantasy, and this story felt really unique. At first I thought it was going to be a classic good vs. evil story, as the introduction of the Lightbirds felt so menacing. It was unsettling to read about just how quickly they were able to overrun the world and force humanity out, and how humans became relegated to pure survival. However, as we learn more about both sides, it becomes much less black and white.
I really enjoyed Marla as a main character - my favourite types of characters are those that are unlikeable yet relatable. Sometimes I just wanted to shake her, but she showed so much character growth over the course of the book. A theme of this book which I thought was done particularly well was generational trauma and breaking the cycle of abuse. Mayers represented different family dynamics in a really nuanced way, and this wound together with the plot to form a really complex and interesting story.
I think the pacing was really good, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down because I was genuinely excited about what would happen next. The lore is quite complex, and I found myself getting a little confused on some points towards the end, but I’m really excited to see what happens in the next book.
Vevin Song was a very impressive debut novel, and I look forward to seeing more. Thank you to the author for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2023
I was sent an eARC of this in exchange for a review, and I really enjoyed reading it!
‘Vevin Song’ is set after an invasion of otherworldly “Lightbirds” (aka Vevin) on Earth, forcing humanity to move into underwater colonies called “cocoons” as their only measure for survival. The book follows Marla, a desolate young schoolteacher, as the primary narrator. After discovering strange new abilities, Marla is forced to flee her cocoon and venture into the land above, with both human authorities and hostlie Lightbirds coming after her.
For a debut novel, Vevin Song left me pretty impressed! With the accessible writing style, all the little details of the lore and world-building were easy to take in. The underwater cocoon system of humans was an interesting concept to read about, but the standout point for me would have to be the Lightbirds/Vevin. Although I struggled a bit with visualizing their appearance, learning about their origin and way of life was so fascinating!
The pacing was also consistent and I’d often not realize how many chapters I’m going through when I’d sit down to read, since it never got sluggish. While I did find the plot exciting all throughout, there were a few times something would happen that felt just a bit *too* convenient, such as the main character being able to quickly adapt to having new abilities. This isn’t a major dealbreaker though.
There’s a load of likable characters, and even if the overarching theme in the book is the classic good vs. bad, gray morality was still put into good use; there were some antagonists who I could not fully dislike, and even felt sympathy for. I also want to highlight the little bit of romance in the story — while this took a backseat in the plot since it isn’t a driving force, it was still nicely done. Queer relationships are totally normalized too, and I really appreciate that.
Giving this 4/5 stars. What a great debut novel! Do check it out once it’s released next week, February 7th 🤩
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Vevin Song’ is set after an invasion of otherworldly “Lightbirds” (aka Vevin) on Earth, forcing humanity to move into underwater colonies called “cocoons” as their only measure for survival. The book follows Marla, a desolate young schoolteacher, as the primary narrator. After discovering strange new abilities, Marla is forced to flee her cocoon and venture into the land above, with both human authorities and hostlie Lightbirds coming after her.
For a debut novel, Vevin Song left me pretty impressed! With the accessible writing style, all the little details of the lore and world-building were easy to take in. The underwater cocoon system of humans was an interesting concept to read about, but the standout point for me would have to be the Lightbirds/Vevin. Although I struggled a bit with visualizing their appearance, learning about their origin and way of life was so fascinating!
The pacing was also consistent and I’d often not realize how many chapters I’m going through when I’d sit down to read, since it never got sluggish. While I did find the plot exciting all throughout, there were a few times something would happen that felt just a bit *too* convenient, such as the main character being able to quickly adapt to having new abilities. This isn’t a major dealbreaker though.
There’s a load of likable characters, and even if the overarching theme in the book is the classic good vs. bad, gray morality was still put into good use; there were some antagonists who I could not fully dislike, and even felt sympathy for. I also want to highlight the little bit of romance in the story — while this took a backseat in the plot since it isn’t a driving force, it was still nicely done. Queer relationships are totally normalized too, and I really appreciate that.
Giving this 4/5 stars. What a great debut novel! Do check it out once it’s released next week, February 7th 🤩
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 27, 2023
A dystopian sci-fi fantasy novel is the best way I can describe this. The story starts when people flee from their island to a cocoon at the bottom of the ocean, after their world has been attacked by a race of creatures they call Lightbirds. We follow the life of one of the characters, having lived in the cocoon for 20 years and when changes start to happen, a lot of adventures ensue.
Life in the cocoon is bleak but when we return to the island, things become clear that life there isn't much better, either for the humans who decided to stay behind or for the Lightbirds themselves. And when we get to know the Lightbirds, Vevin, better, they turn out not to be that different from humans.
There are a lot of struggles and fighting, there is a lot of death (and I mean a LOT) but even though at times I was nearly shouting out 'Come on!' when another liked character died, it all seemed so justified. Because that's just what war is when you are in the middle of it. People die, other people do bad things and yet others just want to be the best person they can be.
I liked the culture behind the Vevin and their way of communicating. It was novel and a lot of fun to discover. I have to say I was a bit confused at times due to the amount of names mentioned from the history of the Vevin but I blame it on my bad memory, rather than the author. I was left with some questions though at the end, so I really hope that the author will find it in himself to write a sequel. I want to know what happens next and what happens to some characters who left before the end of the book.
Life in the cocoon is bleak but when we return to the island, things become clear that life there isn't much better, either for the humans who decided to stay behind or for the Lightbirds themselves. And when we get to know the Lightbirds, Vevin, better, they turn out not to be that different from humans.
There are a lot of struggles and fighting, there is a lot of death (and I mean a LOT) but even though at times I was nearly shouting out 'Come on!' when another liked character died, it all seemed so justified. Because that's just what war is when you are in the middle of it. People die, other people do bad things and yet others just want to be the best person they can be.
I liked the culture behind the Vevin and their way of communicating. It was novel and a lot of fun to discover. I have to say I was a bit confused at times due to the amount of names mentioned from the history of the Vevin but I blame it on my bad memory, rather than the author. I was left with some questions though at the end, so I really hope that the author will find it in himself to write a sequel. I want to know what happens next and what happens to some characters who left before the end of the book.
January 29, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book, thank you.
For a debut novel I think this is pretty good! If you're a fan of fun, fast paced fantasy and/or dystopia novels I'd say this should tick your boxes for sure.
I thought the story was quite a unique concept, and I enjoyed it. I read it quickly, and it definitely kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Some of the plot could be relatively easily predicted, but actually if you want an easy read it's perfect, and there were certainly some twists that I didn't forsee.
The writing isn't perfect, there were some points that seemed a little rushed that required me to reread to understand what was happening, however considering it's a debut novel I have very high expectations for any future work, the foundations are definitely there for some excellent stuff. I'll be keeping an eye on this author.
For a debut novel I think this is pretty good! If you're a fan of fun, fast paced fantasy and/or dystopia novels I'd say this should tick your boxes for sure.
I thought the story was quite a unique concept, and I enjoyed it. I read it quickly, and it definitely kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Some of the plot could be relatively easily predicted, but actually if you want an easy read it's perfect, and there were certainly some twists that I didn't forsee.
The writing isn't perfect, there were some points that seemed a little rushed that required me to reread to understand what was happening, however considering it's a debut novel I have very high expectations for any future work, the foundations are definitely there for some excellent stuff. I'll be keeping an eye on this author.
February 3, 2023
This self pub Fantasy book is released on February 7, 2023 - I received an eARC from the author in return for an honest review.
I truly enjoyed this book - learning about the Vevin/Lightbirds and their song and journey. This story was told incredibly well, with detail and care and love. I'm always amazed by fantasy writers who can create whole new worlds, languages, myths, and creatures. In this book, we learned about Marla and Erin, Conrad and Rowan, Astas and Trudhill, and all their friends and family. Love and hatred, forgiveness and bitter grudges. It was a beautiful story.
I rated it 4 and not 5 stars for two reasons. 1) I'd have liked more emotion - it was hard for me to really get into the head of the MC Marla because while I could tell she was a caring individual and had emotions, it was hard for me to feel them because she closed herself off to others around her so much. And 2) it's always so hard for me to picture fantasy creatures. While I got glimpses of what they should look like, I personally was never really able to 100% imagine them in my head and so that was a bit of a takeaway.
BUT nonetheless, a beautiful story! Highly recommend.
I truly enjoyed this book - learning about the Vevin/Lightbirds and their song and journey. This story was told incredibly well, with detail and care and love. I'm always amazed by fantasy writers who can create whole new worlds, languages, myths, and creatures. In this book, we learned about Marla and Erin, Conrad and Rowan, Astas and Trudhill, and all their friends and family. Love and hatred, forgiveness and bitter grudges. It was a beautiful story.
I rated it 4 and not 5 stars for two reasons. 1) I'd have liked more emotion - it was hard for me to really get into the head of the MC Marla because while I could tell she was a caring individual and had emotions, it was hard for me to feel them because she closed herself off to others around her so much. And 2) it's always so hard for me to picture fantasy creatures. While I got glimpses of what they should look like, I personally was never really able to 100% imagine them in my head and so that was a bit of a takeaway.
BUT nonetheless, a beautiful story! Highly recommend.
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