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Rise of the Tarnished #1
The Debt Collector
Living in the capital is not for the faint of heart. But there are ways to delay the hunger pains, to fill up your plate, and look beyond the day to day- especially if you are willing to take out a loan to do so. As resources diminish and desperation grows, more and more have found themselves journeying to the building made of mirrors, in that office at the end of the hall, signing away on the dotted line.
The loan terms seem generous enough- a lifetime to repay what was borrowed.
As Adelliah works to collect on those who do not fulfill their obligations, she will find a much deeper debt that the kingdom itself is trying to clear; one that will have her unraveling generations of secrets, and the truth behind their years without war.
The loan terms seem generous enough- a lifetime to repay what was borrowed.
As Adelliah works to collect on those who do not fulfill their obligations, she will find a much deeper debt that the kingdom itself is trying to clear; one that will have her unraveling generations of secrets, and the truth behind their years without war.
386 pages, Paperback
Published December 21, 2022
94 people are currently reading
717 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 22, 2022
Friends….get ready for your newest fantasy obsession!!! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book by @rachel and I am just honored to have this on my shelf 🥹 I loved everything about it. The world building was easy to follow, the magic system was so so unique, and the story flowed so beautifully!! I fell in love with Adelliah, the badass FMC of our dreams 🫶🏼 ALSO ZYMIR?! We love a silver fox and he was giving MAJORRR rowan whitethorn vibes- I’m a fan 😏 The found family trope is strong here y’all and it was so special 🥹 The book moved at the perfect pace but THE ENDING HAD ME SCREAMINGGGG!!! I was on the edge of my seat and I GASPED when I read the last page. I didn’t see it coming at all, I had to stare off into space and collect my thoughts for a minute 😂 I need book two immediately, like right now because WHAT JUST HAPPENED 🫠
July 19, 2023
FIVE BIG-FAT-STARS
Holy shit. I'm writing this review with my heart in my throat, and a desperate need for book two to be in my hands RIGHT NOW. This is ranking as one of my all-time favorite books I've ever read.
The plot in this was SO amazing. Things take about 20% to really start hitting the wall, but when they do, oh my goodness, it was fantastic. The endless twists and turns, coupled with the creeping nature of the slowly unraveling mysteries, was some serious chefs-kiss greatness.
Do NOT be fooled by this cover. This book is not a soft girly-pop fantasy romance. This was a dark, sinister, epic fantasy debut, in all the most perfect of ways.
Words cannot truly express how wonderful this was. If you want your heart to be trampled all over and be fully immersed in a spooky fantasy girl-boss story: this.
TLDR: Go read this book, right NOW!!!!
Update 07/15/2023:
I needed to come back for an update because I simply could not stop thinking about this. I only have one thing to say; if Adelliah doesn't end up with Zymir as the main love interest, I'm gonna pass away from the injustice. That's all. Thank you.
Holy shit. I'm writing this review with my heart in my throat, and a desperate need for book two to be in my hands RIGHT NOW. This is ranking as one of my all-time favorite books I've ever read.
The plot in this was SO amazing. Things take about 20% to really start hitting the wall, but when they do, oh my goodness, it was fantastic. The endless twists and turns, coupled with the creeping nature of the slowly unraveling mysteries, was some serious chefs-kiss greatness.
Do NOT be fooled by this cover. This book is not a soft girly-pop fantasy romance. This was a dark, sinister, epic fantasy debut, in all the most perfect of ways.
Words cannot truly express how wonderful this was. If you want your heart to be trampled all over and be fully immersed in a spooky fantasy girl-boss story: this.
TLDR: Go read this book, right NOW!!!!
Update 07/15/2023:
I needed to come back for an update because I simply could not stop thinking about this. I only have one thing to say; if Adelliah doesn't end up with Zymir as the main love interest, I'm gonna pass away from the injustice. That's all. Thank you.
October 20, 2024
I’m definitely going to recommend this book to my friends. I was on the edge of my seat during the last few chapters. So glad I read this!
November 19, 2022
“Within the arms of the trees, it felt like secrets were born and nurtured. As if spoken here, they could be absorbed into the leaves and mossy ground, forbidden words soaked up, stored safely away from unwanted ears.”
This book had me gripped from chapter one. Our female lead, Adelliah, is strong and swift but there are times she shows softness and vulnerability making her so relatable. The world Rachel has built is astounding, from the cities to the forest, I could picture myself there with every change in scenery. Not to mention the intricate and complex magic and political systems, she’s truly outdone herself. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and the ending had me questioning everything and everyone. If you enjoy action packed fantasy, I highly recommend picking up The Debt Collector which debuts 12.21.2022!
More of what you can find inside the story:
🗡Strong female lead
🗡Found family
🗡Beautiful world building
🗡Intricate magic and political systems
🗡Childhood friends to… 🖤
This book had me gripped from chapter one. Our female lead, Adelliah, is strong and swift but there are times she shows softness and vulnerability making her so relatable. The world Rachel has built is astounding, from the cities to the forest, I could picture myself there with every change in scenery. Not to mention the intricate and complex magic and political systems, she’s truly outdone herself. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and the ending had me questioning everything and everyone. If you enjoy action packed fantasy, I highly recommend picking up The Debt Collector which debuts 12.21.2022!
More of what you can find inside the story:
🗡Strong female lead
🗡Found family
🗡Beautiful world building
🗡Intricate magic and political systems
🗡Childhood friends to… 🖤
December 6, 2022
Oh my goodness!!!
I was extremely lucky and received this as an eARC and my expectations were blown out of the water. Everything about this world was fleshed out and Rachel did an amazing job not to overwhelm her readers with infodumps or book-related jargon. She explained everything perfectly, and the prose was beautiful. I could easily picture the settings and the characters and it was so easy to get invested in the novel. I work a lot on different things and as someone with little time at night to read, it absolutely killed me having to find a stopping point. I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for the future 🖤
I was extremely lucky and received this as an eARC and my expectations were blown out of the water. Everything about this world was fleshed out and Rachel did an amazing job not to overwhelm her readers with infodumps or book-related jargon. She explained everything perfectly, and the prose was beautiful. I could easily picture the settings and the characters and it was so easy to get invested in the novel. I work a lot on different things and as someone with little time at night to read, it absolutely killed me having to find a stopping point. I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for the future 🖤
November 18, 2022
I love this book!! I cannot wait for the next one. Seriously, a gripping and magical tale. I couldn't get enough!!
December 8, 2022
Book Review 💉
The Debt Collector by Rachel Ann Hubert
I don't want to get too in-depth with this review because I do not want to give anything away! But let me just start by saying PRE-ORDER this book now....because you are definitely going to want to add this book to your TBR ASAP!!
The Debt Collector whisks you away to a darker fantasy world full of magic, friendship, adventure and mystique. It grabbed my attention from the very first page!
If you like:
++++++++
💉 Bada** FMC
💉 Found Family
💉Childhood friends to...something else ( I'm not giving it all away 😏)
💉 Easy to follow world building
💉 Complex magic and a bit of politics
This is the book for you! I honestly cannot stop thinking about this book and NEED to see where the story goes next!!
The Debt Collector by Rachel Ann Hubert
I don't want to get too in-depth with this review because I do not want to give anything away! But let me just start by saying PRE-ORDER this book now....because you are definitely going to want to add this book to your TBR ASAP!!
The Debt Collector whisks you away to a darker fantasy world full of magic, friendship, adventure and mystique. It grabbed my attention from the very first page!
If you like:
++++++++
💉 Bada** FMC
💉 Found Family
💉Childhood friends to...something else ( I'm not giving it all away 😏)
💉 Easy to follow world building
💉 Complex magic and a bit of politics
This is the book for you! I honestly cannot stop thinking about this book and NEED to see where the story goes next!!
November 11, 2024
*3.5* - Because I did get bored throughout a whole chunk of it.
I’d say it starts interesting enough to make you want to know what’s happening. It gets boring, but not enough to dnf. Then past the 60-65% mark it picks up and gets very interesting again.
I think as the first book in a series I’d give it a 3, but considering the story is not finished and I really want to know what’s going on, I’m settling on the 3.5.
I’d say it starts interesting enough to make you want to know what’s happening. It gets boring, but not enough to dnf. Then past the 60-65% mark it picks up and gets very interesting again.
I think as the first book in a series I’d give it a 3, but considering the story is not finished and I really want to know what’s going on, I’m settling on the 3.5.
January 24, 2023
With excellent world-building and an ending that seriously leaves you asking what happens next (so. many. questions.) this is an amazing debut. I loved the vivid descriptions Rachel painted of her characters' surroundings, and I can't think of another novel that takes such care to describe facial expressions to convey emotion.
January 9, 2023
I will avoiding saying too much in summary because some of the beauties of this story are the little secrets learned along the way. I wouldn’t want to spoil anything for potential fans. Here’s what Rachel shares in her synopsis:
Living in the capital is not for the faint of heart. But there are ways to delay the hunger pains, to fill up your plate, and look beyond the day to day- especially if you are willing to take out a loan to do so. As resources diminish and desperation grows, more and more have found themselves journeying to the building made of mirrors, in that office at the end of the hall, signing away on the dotted line.
The loan terms seem generous enough- a lifetime to repay what was borrowed.
As Adelliah works to collect on those who do not fulfill their obligations, she will find a much deeper debt that the kingdom itself is trying to clear; one that will have her unraveling generations of secrets, and the truth behind their years without war.
********************
In this Steampunk Fantasy world we are exploring the secrets behind an authoritarian government, the oppression of the general population, and what it costs to be at “peace”. There are so many beautifully written bits of commentary on greed, and power and the corruption it can reap on those who seek it, as we uncover who the real monsters are. I loved this book so much and I am desperately craving more of this story. (Also the cliffhanger was downright mean. 😂) I believe @rachelann_indieauthor and this series will be very popular in the near future of the Fantasy genre. Well done! 🖤
Living in the capital is not for the faint of heart. But there are ways to delay the hunger pains, to fill up your plate, and look beyond the day to day- especially if you are willing to take out a loan to do so. As resources diminish and desperation grows, more and more have found themselves journeying to the building made of mirrors, in that office at the end of the hall, signing away on the dotted line.
The loan terms seem generous enough- a lifetime to repay what was borrowed.
As Adelliah works to collect on those who do not fulfill their obligations, she will find a much deeper debt that the kingdom itself is trying to clear; one that will have her unraveling generations of secrets, and the truth behind their years without war.
********************
In this Steampunk Fantasy world we are exploring the secrets behind an authoritarian government, the oppression of the general population, and what it costs to be at “peace”. There are so many beautifully written bits of commentary on greed, and power and the corruption it can reap on those who seek it, as we uncover who the real monsters are. I loved this book so much and I am desperately craving more of this story. (Also the cliffhanger was downright mean. 😂) I believe @rachelann_indieauthor and this series will be very popular in the near future of the Fantasy genre. Well done! 🖤
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September 8, 2025Edit: removed
I received an eARC of the book from the author and this represents my honest opinion.
I received an eARC of the book from the author and this represents my honest opinion.
August 21, 2023
Rated super high, which kind of confuses me but this just wasn't for me. Lack luster and I didn't find the appeal or entertainment in the characters or plot.
July 9, 2024
Traveling with others felt different. Not wholly wrong, but not necessarily pleasant either. It was like an added layer of awareness atop every action. I wasn’t just sitting by the fire. I was now conscious of seeing myself sit around the fire, the experiencer and the observer. It made my movements more particular and my words more precise.
The writing in this book is BEAUTIFUL!!! Written in first-person from the debt collector’s (Adelliah’s) POV, it has the perfect mix of internal dialogue and contemplation, and outward dialogue and description. The book had me on my toes the entire time! That’s sort of what I didn’t like about it: almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, compelling me to continue reading the next chapter, even to the end of the night. But that was probably intentional lol. There is a slow-burn romance that I think would be delightful for anyone into that (which I actually ended up liking a lot). And WOW THAT ENDING!!! I’m so glad to have read this for Indie Visible, and I’m hoping that the second book will be written and released soon!
December 4, 2022
💉I had the privilege of receiving an ARC copy of this book from Rachel. Thank you!
📖 I'm still reeling a bit from the cliffhanger this book left off on.
Adelliah is our FMC, and she's tough, gritty, witty, with a soft slice of vulnerability that keeps her relatable.
The world building is wonderfully done. I could always get a clear picture of everywhere Adelliah travelled, from the cities to the forest.
The magic in this story is unique, something that hooked me in right away, along with the nature of the society and politics. You've also got childhood friends, and found family.
This is a well paced, action packed read that I hope you'll love as much as I have.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☕ The Debt Collector makes it's grand debut on December 21 (12.21.22), currently available for preorder on Kindle.
You can follow @rachelann_indieauthor (IG) for more information, updates, and beautiful aesthetic posts.
📖 I'm still reeling a bit from the cliffhanger this book left off on.
Adelliah is our FMC, and she's tough, gritty, witty, with a soft slice of vulnerability that keeps her relatable.
The world building is wonderfully done. I could always get a clear picture of everywhere Adelliah travelled, from the cities to the forest.
The magic in this story is unique, something that hooked me in right away, along with the nature of the society and politics. You've also got childhood friends, and found family.
This is a well paced, action packed read that I hope you'll love as much as I have.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☕ The Debt Collector makes it's grand debut on December 21 (12.21.22), currently available for preorder on Kindle.
You can follow @rachelann_indieauthor (IG) for more information, updates, and beautiful aesthetic posts.
September 8, 2024
The amazing cover art drew me to this story.
So much going on in my life this has been sitting in my the list for several months.
The cover and the blurb attracted me and I looked forward to dipping in once I had some free time. It took me a while to get going and there were some parts that truly caught my attention and then others where I found myself putting the book to one side.
It took me a while to get through and I have mixed emotions. Some of the descriptions are impressive and give great visualisation
"Sleep came to me amidst an orchestra of rain droplets and the swaying wet heaviness of the trees high above."
Worth checking out but be warned the book does end with a cliff hanger.
So much going on in my life this has been sitting in my the list for several months.
The cover and the blurb attracted me and I looked forward to dipping in once I had some free time. It took me a while to get going and there were some parts that truly caught my attention and then others where I found myself putting the book to one side.
It took me a while to get through and I have mixed emotions. Some of the descriptions are impressive and give great visualisation
"Sleep came to me amidst an orchestra of rain droplets and the swaying wet heaviness of the trees high above."
Worth checking out but be warned the book does end with a cliff hanger.
November 3, 2023
I had very high expectations for this book, and to me it delivered wonderfully. This is without a doubt one of my favorite book series so far this year.
A perfect length for me, the hard cover is around 400 pages long; And not a single sentence is wasted.
The plot is fantastic. Character development and use are outstanding. Every character's rationale and moderation are dead on. Every character has something to offer. Writing full of action, adventure, suspense, and tremendous emotion. This could not have been done better! Very excited to see the next in the series, and patiently waiting so.
A perfect length for me, the hard cover is around 400 pages long; And not a single sentence is wasted.
The plot is fantastic. Character development and use are outstanding. Every character's rationale and moderation are dead on. Every character has something to offer. Writing full of action, adventure, suspense, and tremendous emotion. This could not have been done better! Very excited to see the next in the series, and patiently waiting so.
March 9, 2023
An Indie Author's debut that amazed me with how well written and thought-out her story was.
This book had a stunning and unique magic system. The premise of the story hooked me immediately and I had a hard time putting it down. Debt Collector took us across a beautiful world and straight into the hearts of an unlikely group of friends. The relationships and characters felt organic and certain scenes had me giggling like a school-girl!
If you liked Morph from Treasure Planet, then boy are you in for a treat with this story.
I would highly recommend this to a friend.
This book had a stunning and unique magic system. The premise of the story hooked me immediately and I had a hard time putting it down. Debt Collector took us across a beautiful world and straight into the hearts of an unlikely group of friends. The relationships and characters felt organic and certain scenes had me giggling like a school-girl!
If you liked Morph from Treasure Planet, then boy are you in for a treat with this story.
I would highly recommend this to a friend.
November 14, 2025
I was excited for the concept of this book. However after getting into it, I don't know if it was the writing style or if I just didn't understand/wasn't invested in the plot, but I was so lost.
I feel like a lot of little unimportant details like characters eyes or the flora and fauna around the main character were explained but there was no explanation of the magic. You really do not get an explanation until about 70% through the book. And it seems like the magic system is a big part if the plot and it just does not get enough explanation
I feel like a lot of little unimportant details like characters eyes or the flora and fauna around the main character were explained but there was no explanation of the magic. You really do not get an explanation until about 70% through the book. And it seems like the magic system is a big part if the plot and it just does not get enough explanation
November 25, 2022
Thank you for this opportunity to read this ARC, I really enjoyed reading this book. What a fascinating and creative world you have created. The characters were well developed and the story flowed very well. Some of my favorite tropes were in this book ❤️. The ending had me on the edge of my seat, I was not expecting that! I would recommend reading this if you like action packed fantasy books.
February 22, 2023
The Debt Collector is an amazing fantasy read! You are instantly hooked with an inviting first-person perspective and relatable characters. The author keeps you guessing, building more suspense, and answering your questions at the perfect speed. The Found family story ties in magic and adventure effortlessly. I am SO ready for the second book to come out!!
March 23, 2023
Riveting
This book throws you into a world unknown. You find yourself enthralled by characters and a story unfolding that leaves you yearning for the next book in the series. Can't wait! Awesome job, Rachel!
This book throws you into a world unknown. You find yourself enthralled by characters and a story unfolding that leaves you yearning for the next book in the series. Can't wait! Awesome job, Rachel!
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October 12, 2023Just want to remember that I read this one. DNF @17% might come back to it later.
February 6, 2025
Not for me. DNF after few pages into the story.
March 16, 2025
Such an interesting and unique world! By the end of the book all my suspicions were turned on their head and now I cannot wait for the next in the series to come out!
Read
August 4, 2025The debt collector was a good read. I enjoyed it now. I am starting the second book. I have become a Rachel Ann Hubert fan.
January 10, 2026
beautifully written! what a writer!! I’m not so sure about the plot per se though and I did not understand everything tbh
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews