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The Shattered Lands
18 years after her disappearance, the princess has returned. But what is left of her kingdom?
Sapphire finds herself in Eriobis with a crown, a castle and too many handmaidens to count. And so her life begins as the heir to the throne of a country she doesn't understand - a country ruled by magic and secrets.
That's before she meets Ashes. A dark witch with the power to destroy Sapphire's life and kingdom. But Ashes also happens to be the only person that can help her discover the truth.
And the answers might unravel the very world she's come to know.
Sapphire finds herself in Eriobis with a crown, a castle and too many handmaidens to count. And so her life begins as the heir to the throne of a country she doesn't understand - a country ruled by magic and secrets.
That's before she meets Ashes. A dark witch with the power to destroy Sapphire's life and kingdom. But Ashes also happens to be the only person that can help her discover the truth.
And the answers might unravel the very world she's come to know.
432 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2023
173 people are currently reading
11740 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews
June 23, 2023
✨ Well that was… certainly something✨
Let me start by saying I’ve followed the author as she wrote this on TT and really had high hopes.
On the surface it’s everything I wanted from a sapphic YA book. The quotes shared seemed well written as did the general tone of the story.
I really hate to say that I wanted to DNF this by page 10, and only finished it so that I could share my thoughts.
✖️I’ll start with grammar and wording then move on to problematic content (racism & kink content) and likenesses to existing works.✖️
Grammar & Language
The book reads like a ROUGH first draft.
Everything felt entirely haphazard. I’m surprised this is a finished copy. This was not minor issues: there was repetition on almost every page. Things were constantly phrased in threes eg ‘A reminder. A statement. A promise.’ ‘Run. Run. Run.’ It got to the point where I physically threw the book (and I never so much as break a spine on a book.)
On top of that there was so many examples of paragraphs where every last sentence started with the same word. (To the point I had 10 She’s in a row on numerous pages.)
Entire scenes were repeated (such as her bicep being grabbed and her saying ‘you’re hurting me’ happened at least 2 times within the first maybe 40 pages. Then more later on.)
The language used was more suited to middle grade than YA - everything was big or small, red, blue, green etc you get the idea.
I’m not joking when I say it is unreadable for many because it is so poorly written.
Problematic Content
However, perhaps the biggest issue I had was the black character rep through the book.
I was tired by page 100. The second half did get somewhat better (but saying that in that half we have a scene where the white character is worriedly joking the black MC is going to take her to be whipped by her royal guards.)
The monarchy (who from as far as I can tell were only described as Black, not White) are shown to be hoarding wealth and land and leave the witches on the outside (who for the most part are only described as White/silver skinned with red hair.) The witches are only allowed on castle grounds when brought in to serve and are treated poorly by the monarchy.
The ending left me honestly confused. I was left feeling underwhelmed and irked.
I’m also not comfortable about so much obvious kink content in a lower YA book (14+). Whilst there’s no overly explicit scenes there’s constant uses of ‘good girl’ etc. This includes scenes with throat pinning etc. Theres scenes with knife play, begging, and brat like scenes. There’s also innuendos which were fine but only added to it (like sapphire liking her wet.) And a clear sub/dom vibe. This is also FREQUENT.
I know this was originally written to be spicy and adult (going by Brenna’s prior TikToks) and was edited for a younger audience so this content should have been removed.
Likeness to Existing Works
The plot is also very similar to Shadow & Bone season one Alina’s whole story, to the point that I was considerably shocked.
This was not one plot point, it was so many to the point that I knew how the book would end and I didn’t realise why until I realised it’s literally Alina season 1.
I would also like to mention my review on tiktok of this was falsely reported and pulled 2 days after posting. I had to appeal to get it back. My GoodReads & amazon reviews were also reported the same day this week so I’m starting to side eye because REALLY.
Update: coincidentally every single time I talk about this book on my page I get a spout of (the same) false reports on my top viewed videos. It’s tiring as a reviewer to deal with certain folk who feel it okay to put our platform & income at risk.
Ty to penguin books for providing me with a copy. I believe the copy I have is a finished copy which is why I have brought up the grammar/repetition as an issue.
I’ll list TW’s I noted below.
Tw//CW// tame but obvious kink content (knife play, choking, praise kink, Princess stuff, sub dom themes and more) orphanage, starvation, poverty, some reverse racism tropes, imprisonment, wealth divide, fire and burns, mentions of book burning, gaslighting, minor gore and threats, mentions of whipping ‘lashings’, monarchy systems, witches and anti witch rhetoric, near drowning, kissing and hints of more.
Let me start by saying I’ve followed the author as she wrote this on TT and really had high hopes.
On the surface it’s everything I wanted from a sapphic YA book. The quotes shared seemed well written as did the general tone of the story.
I really hate to say that I wanted to DNF this by page 10, and only finished it so that I could share my thoughts.
✖️I’ll start with grammar and wording then move on to problematic content (racism & kink content) and likenesses to existing works.✖️
Grammar & Language
The book reads like a ROUGH first draft.
Everything felt entirely haphazard. I’m surprised this is a finished copy. This was not minor issues: there was repetition on almost every page. Things were constantly phrased in threes eg ‘A reminder. A statement. A promise.’ ‘Run. Run. Run.’ It got to the point where I physically threw the book (and I never so much as break a spine on a book.)
On top of that there was so many examples of paragraphs where every last sentence started with the same word. (To the point I had 10 She’s in a row on numerous pages.)
Entire scenes were repeated (such as her bicep being grabbed and her saying ‘you’re hurting me’ happened at least 2 times within the first maybe 40 pages. Then more later on.)
The language used was more suited to middle grade than YA - everything was big or small, red, blue, green etc you get the idea.
I’m not joking when I say it is unreadable for many because it is so poorly written.
Problematic Content
However, perhaps the biggest issue I had was the black character rep through the book.
I was tired by page 100. The second half did get somewhat better (but saying that in that half we have a scene where the white character is worriedly joking the black MC is going to take her to be whipped by her royal guards.)
The monarchy (who from as far as I can tell were only described as Black, not White) are shown to be hoarding wealth and land and leave the witches on the outside (who for the most part are only described as White/silver skinned with red hair.) The witches are only allowed on castle grounds when brought in to serve and are treated poorly by the monarchy.
The ending left me honestly confused. I was left feeling underwhelmed and irked.
I’m also not comfortable about so much obvious kink content in a lower YA book (14+). Whilst there’s no overly explicit scenes there’s constant uses of ‘good girl’ etc. This includes scenes with throat pinning etc. Theres scenes with knife play, begging, and brat like scenes. There’s also innuendos which were fine but only added to it (like sapphire liking her wet.) And a clear sub/dom vibe. This is also FREQUENT.
I know this was originally written to be spicy and adult (going by Brenna’s prior TikToks) and was edited for a younger audience so this content should have been removed.
Likeness to Existing Works
The plot is also very similar to Shadow & Bone season one Alina’s whole story, to the point that I was considerably shocked.
This was not one plot point, it was so many to the point that I knew how the book would end and I didn’t realise why until I realised it’s literally Alina season 1.
I would also like to mention my review on tiktok of this was falsely reported and pulled 2 days after posting. I had to appeal to get it back. My GoodReads & amazon reviews were also reported the same day this week so I’m starting to side eye because REALLY.
Update: coincidentally every single time I talk about this book on my page I get a spout of (the same) false reports on my top viewed videos. It’s tiring as a reviewer to deal with certain folk who feel it okay to put our platform & income at risk.
Ty to penguin books for providing me with a copy. I believe the copy I have is a finished copy which is why I have brought up the grammar/repetition as an issue.
I’ll list TW’s I noted below.
Tw//CW// tame but obvious kink content (knife play, choking, praise kink, Princess stuff, sub dom themes and more) orphanage, starvation, poverty, some reverse racism tropes, imprisonment, wealth divide, fire and burns, mentions of book burning, gaslighting, minor gore and threats, mentions of whipping ‘lashings’, monarchy systems, witches and anti witch rhetoric, near drowning, kissing and hints of more.
March 17, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ugh I reallyyyyyyy wanted to love this... but I just couldn't. The writing was not well finished and felt very repetitive, from the words used to scenes - there were SO many scenes of the main character swimming to the forest. The plot was pretty confusing too - there's almost no buildup to her being transported to the kingdom, and it feels incredibly jarring to read. It all just felt very sloppy and needed some serious finetuning.
It was a struggle to connect to the characters, even the main character, as there was not much needed for character motivations to change on a whim, so you never knew what the intentions of a character were or if they were good or bad. This also meant that the ending was pretty confusing and I still don't really understand how the book ended.
I also think it's important to point out that there's a bit of a reverse racism plot going on here. The royalty are Black, and the witches, whose history has been destroyed and who are discriminated against, are white, and there's a few moments where this is brought up in regards to "lashings" etc, and it all just felt pretty iffy.
The biggest feeling I got from this book was boredom, and that is really disappointing because the cover is so gorgeous and I was so excited to read this.
Ugh I reallyyyyyyy wanted to love this... but I just couldn't. The writing was not well finished and felt very repetitive, from the words used to scenes - there were SO many scenes of the main character swimming to the forest. The plot was pretty confusing too - there's almost no buildup to her being transported to the kingdom, and it feels incredibly jarring to read. It all just felt very sloppy and needed some serious finetuning.
It was a struggle to connect to the characters, even the main character, as there was not much needed for character motivations to change on a whim, so you never knew what the intentions of a character were or if they were good or bad. This also meant that the ending was pretty confusing and I still don't really understand how the book ended.
I also think it's important to point out that there's a bit of a reverse racism plot going on here. The royalty are Black, and the witches, whose history has been destroyed and who are discriminated against, are white, and there's a few moments where this is brought up in regards to "lashings" etc, and it all just felt pretty iffy.
The biggest feeling I got from this book was boredom, and that is really disappointing because the cover is so gorgeous and I was so excited to read this.
February 17, 2023
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.
"A plethora of little moments shape us, mould us into who we are. That’s why that power, that force, is unique to each person. Discovering that truth – understanding that deepest part of you that forces your limbs to move, your lungs to fill, forces you to live, it’s – it’s a rite of passage all of us must face. Never easy, of course,’ she said with a soft chuckle. ‘There is no power, no true power at least, without introspection. But mastering it is what separates the mavens from the acolytes."
At the stroke of midnight on her eighteenth Birthday, Sapphire is transported away from her orphanage home to a kingdom she has never before ventured to and parents she never knew she had. They sit upon the throne and promise her all the love and lavish lifestyle she has ever longed for. But can their intentions be believed? She begins to doubt it when the magical powers and opposing forces also abundant in these lands begin to reveal themselves to her, too.
I really bonded with these characters and I thought the author did a stellar job of introducing the reader to them all and making us consider their plight, despite them often opposing the struggles of others. I could consider all angles of this story and it made the good/bad binaries never clear, luring me into dually bonding with and questioning them all. The stakes were never lowered due to this.
I was less sold on the romance at the centre of this story, however. It was very obvious, which I did not dislike, and very sweet, which warmed by heart, but it sometimes felt a little surface-level. I never felt I truly knew where their hearts lay as they kept their true emotions secret from each other and the reader. I wanted to see them soften even more towards each other and reveal even more of their loveable characters.
The political conflicts and magical intrigue were more fascinating and ensured I will continue on with this series to see what occurs after that explosive finale. I could see it coming but was devastated to having been proven correct!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Brenna Nation, and the publisher, Penguin Random House, for this opportunity.
"A plethora of little moments shape us, mould us into who we are. That’s why that power, that force, is unique to each person. Discovering that truth – understanding that deepest part of you that forces your limbs to move, your lungs to fill, forces you to live, it’s – it’s a rite of passage all of us must face. Never easy, of course,’ she said with a soft chuckle. ‘There is no power, no true power at least, without introspection. But mastering it is what separates the mavens from the acolytes."
At the stroke of midnight on her eighteenth Birthday, Sapphire is transported away from her orphanage home to a kingdom she has never before ventured to and parents she never knew she had. They sit upon the throne and promise her all the love and lavish lifestyle she has ever longed for. But can their intentions be believed? She begins to doubt it when the magical powers and opposing forces also abundant in these lands begin to reveal themselves to her, too.
I really bonded with these characters and I thought the author did a stellar job of introducing the reader to them all and making us consider their plight, despite them often opposing the struggles of others. I could consider all angles of this story and it made the good/bad binaries never clear, luring me into dually bonding with and questioning them all. The stakes were never lowered due to this.
I was less sold on the romance at the centre of this story, however. It was very obvious, which I did not dislike, and very sweet, which warmed by heart, but it sometimes felt a little surface-level. I never felt I truly knew where their hearts lay as they kept their true emotions secret from each other and the reader. I wanted to see them soften even more towards each other and reveal even more of their loveable characters.
The political conflicts and magical intrigue were more fascinating and ensured I will continue on with this series to see what occurs after that explosive finale. I could see it coming but was devastated to having been proven correct!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Brenna Nation, and the publisher, Penguin Random House, for this opportunity.
May 14, 2023
THAT ENDING OMG. I feel betrayed.
I was a bit afraid of reading this book because it had a lot of hype, so I had in mind that it could not live up to all those expectations, but IT DOES.
It's such an amazing book, the worldbuilding is pretty good despite some critics and the romance between the two main characters is *chef kiss*.
The plot twists are well dispersed throughout the book and that's something I appreciate because I hate when everything pops out at the ending and you are left wondering what the hell is going on. Instead, in this book, everything goes unwrapping little by little.
It's a great book and it surprised me for good.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was a bit afraid of reading this book because it had a lot of hype, so I had in mind that it could not live up to all those expectations, but IT DOES.
It's such an amazing book, the worldbuilding is pretty good despite some critics and the romance between the two main characters is *chef kiss*.
The plot twists are well dispersed throughout the book and that's something I appreciate because I hate when everything pops out at the ending and you are left wondering what the hell is going on. Instead, in this book, everything goes unwrapping little by little.
It's a great book and it surprised me for good.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read
February 18, 2023RTC BUT FOR NOW JUST SCREAMING
May 9, 2023
2.5* (5/10)
If you liked Alina's arc in Shadow and Bone and the end of Tangled, this book has lots of elements you'll enjoy.
For me, I think this boils down to: the book is fine and wasn't for me. Nothing much about it felt exciting except for the sapphic romance, and I just didn't feel the chemistry there. Their interactions came off as a bit forced/constructed. For example, there's a knife on the throat scene that felt very 'this is the knife on the throat scene readers will love!' In that sense, I felt the author's presence throughout.
What I did like:
- The quick & clear setup. I would've actually liked more time to see Sapphire in her life before.
- The duelling scene. I got really into it.
- The magic.
What I didn't like:
- Too much passive voice, which led to a lot of telling and not showing.
- Lack of character thoughts.
- Lots of describing of what voices sound like. In the first 2 chapters there are at least 10 examples of that.
- The writing style - lots of intended repetition (e.g. "A warning. A warning that sounded with every step she took." & "She would not fail. Not now. Not in front of her.") that would've been okay if used sparsely - but these were on the same page.
- Variations of "like a child" to describe how Sapphire feels she's reacting to something came up at least 14 times. Sometimes it was used twice in a chapter. I get that maybe it's meant to show that she's barely not a child but the author could've done that in a way that shows us such.
- There's obviously a praise kink going on here, which would be fine if this book were spicier/for NA instead of YA perhaps. But when I discovered that the book was originally meant to be spicier, it made sense. Maybe it should've been removed. I wonder if this is part of the trend where women-identifying authors are pushed to make their fantasy novels YA?
- Ashes' flirting felt purposely constructed... so it came off as cringe. I would've loved Ashes as a character if that had been better handled.
- The reverse racism. In this world, royalty (who hoard wealth and land and make the witches servants) are all described as dark-skinned. The Shadow Witches, the 'antagonists', are mostly white (if not all white) and have had their history stripped from them. I don't believe the author would've done this deliberately, but that doesn't change the fact that it's there.
- The ending.
I'm so disappointed because the cover is gorgeous and the plot sounded amazing.
Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me access to this book for an honest review.
If you liked Alina's arc in Shadow and Bone and the end of Tangled, this book has lots of elements you'll enjoy.
For me, I think this boils down to: the book is fine and wasn't for me. Nothing much about it felt exciting except for the sapphic romance, and I just didn't feel the chemistry there. Their interactions came off as a bit forced/constructed. For example, there's a knife on the throat scene that felt very 'this is the knife on the throat scene readers will love!' In that sense, I felt the author's presence throughout.
What I did like:
- The quick & clear setup. I would've actually liked more time to see Sapphire in her life before.
- The duelling scene. I got really into it.
- The magic.
What I didn't like:
- Too much passive voice, which led to a lot of telling and not showing.
- Lack of character thoughts.
- Lots of describing of what voices sound like. In the first 2 chapters there are at least 10 examples of that.
- The writing style - lots of intended repetition (e.g. "A warning. A warning that sounded with every step she took." & "She would not fail. Not now. Not in front of her.") that would've been okay if used sparsely - but these were on the same page.
- Variations of "like a child" to describe how Sapphire feels she's reacting to something came up at least 14 times. Sometimes it was used twice in a chapter. I get that maybe it's meant to show that she's barely not a child but the author could've done that in a way that shows us such.
- There's obviously a praise kink going on here, which would be fine if this book were spicier/for NA instead of YA perhaps. But when I discovered that the book was originally meant to be spicier, it made sense. Maybe it should've been removed. I wonder if this is part of the trend where women-identifying authors are pushed to make their fantasy novels YA?
- Ashes' flirting felt purposely constructed... so it came off as cringe. I would've loved Ashes as a character if that had been better handled.
- The reverse racism. In this world, royalty (who hoard wealth and land and make the witches servants) are all described as dark-skinned. The Shadow Witches, the 'antagonists', are mostly white (if not all white) and have had their history stripped from them. I don't believe the author would've done this deliberately, but that doesn't change the fact that it's there.
- The ending.
I'm so disappointed because the cover is gorgeous and the plot sounded amazing.
Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me access to this book for an honest review.
February 19, 2023
The plot and romance of this book had so much potential.
Unfortunately the world building and writing ended up feeling rushed and sloppy. Details were overlooked and it seemed like many character choices were made to further the plot, then them making sense for the context and how the character was developed.
The writing read like a movie script and lacked the character inner thoughts and world detail to draw me in. The handful of times we got that the story drew me in. Those were few and far between. Almost all of the dialogue was accented by face choreography, which can be helpful, but ended with me wishing for better choices.
My biggest issue with this book is that each character motivation seemed very flimsy based on what we knew about them. Many of the motives felt author led, instead of organic.
This felt like a third draft and I wish Nation had more time to polish and tighten. Overall, I found myself constantly questioning the characters’s motivations and catalysts. It all felt very forced.
Unfortunately the world building and writing ended up feeling rushed and sloppy. Details were overlooked and it seemed like many character choices were made to further the plot, then them making sense for the context and how the character was developed.
The writing read like a movie script and lacked the character inner thoughts and world detail to draw me in. The handful of times we got that the story drew me in. Those were few and far between. Almost all of the dialogue was accented by face choreography, which can be helpful, but ended with me wishing for better choices.
My biggest issue with this book is that each character motivation seemed very flimsy based on what we knew about them. Many of the motives felt author led, instead of organic.
This felt like a third draft and I wish Nation had more time to polish and tighten. Overall, I found myself constantly questioning the characters’s motivations and catalysts. It all felt very forced.
March 20, 2023
Listen. I'm always ready to read a sapphic enemies-to-lovers fantasy story, but this just... wasn't for me.
The story starts with the MC in a world in which she's crucial to a bunch of girls' survival. Then, she gets transported to another world, and... that's it. She mentions the girls a few times (mostly to complain about how wrong it feels to now be a princess (yes.) with lots of jewelry and food while her girls are starving), but that's it. She doesn't really panic, and she gets used to her new life pretty quickly. She's not desperate to go back, there's no urgency. That mindset would've been great if it had explored how she's struggled for her whole life and now she's tired and wants to appreciate the life she's just been given, but that's not what the book went for.
Also, the romance. Okay, yeah, I love sapphics, but the romance wasn't worked on. The MC falls for the love interest the second they meet, and the LI doesn't have a personality beyond "mysterious shady sexy witch". I understand there's an important part of the plot that resolves on LI being mysterious, so her character can't be too open or reveals a lot about herself, but the way she was written felt very bland and boring. The banter between the two girls never really hit, I didn't particularly ship them.
The ending was okay, a bit fast, but not as predictable as the rest of the book, so there's that. I'll read the sequel for the plot, and maybe giving the main ship a second chance (especially now that the LI can afford to reveal herself a bit more) will make me see what all these five stars reviews saw!
The story starts with the MC in a world in which she's crucial to a bunch of girls' survival. Then, she gets transported to another world, and... that's it. She mentions the girls a few times (mostly to complain about how wrong it feels to now be a princess (yes.) with lots of jewelry and food while her girls are starving), but that's it. She doesn't really panic, and she gets used to her new life pretty quickly. She's not desperate to go back, there's no urgency. That mindset would've been great if it had explored how she's struggled for her whole life and now she's tired and wants to appreciate the life she's just been given, but that's not what the book went for.
Also, the romance. Okay, yeah, I love sapphics, but the romance wasn't worked on. The MC falls for the love interest the second they meet, and the LI doesn't have a personality beyond "mysterious shady sexy witch". I understand there's an important part of the plot that resolves on LI being mysterious, so her character can't be too open or reveals a lot about herself, but the way she was written felt very bland and boring. The banter between the two girls never really hit, I didn't particularly ship them.
The ending was okay, a bit fast, but not as predictable as the rest of the book, so there's that. I'll read the sequel for the plot, and maybe giving the main ship a second chance (especially now that the LI can afford to reveal herself a bit more) will make me see what all these five stars reviews saw!
April 6, 2023
This really needed an edit, and I can’t get down with a reverse racism storyline sorry
February 22, 2023
Wowww! This book is everything I want in a YA romantasy. Sorry for the ramblings but I need to squeal.
Sapphire has visions before her 18th birthday that transport her to a new world. She quickly learns she is the long lost daughter and heir to the kingdom who must adapt to learn her away around a magical land, understand her special powers and her past.
She’s strong willed, impulsive, curious and loyal. What I loved about Sapphire are her questions and anxieties match the readers as the story unfolds, I didn’t find her naïveté annoying or frustrating like I often do with FMC’s blind to their situation. She’s anxious but there is depth and realness to her emotions that felt believable to me. Appropriately so, Sapphire doesn’t trust everything she’s told and there are lots of twists and turns in Eriobis.
Luckily, she quickly finds her people and I loved reading about her friendship with Evera and Kaian. They’re the perfect balance, offering her guidance and questioning her when she’s ornery. The unfolding relationship with Araxia is written beautifully and covers tough feelings of belonging and family.
Ashes, the Shadow witch that Sapphire can’t stop thinking about, has her own agenda and coven to think about, but that doesn’t stop her from encountering the princess in the woods on many occasions. Their banter and flirtations had me *sweating*
This book questions ruling legacies and the where the stories we are told come from. There is plenty of political conflict and intrigue, a cast of side characters that really round out the story, and an enemies to lovers romance to *die* for.
Read this for:
🗡️The chosen one navigating a new magical world
🗡️Magic powers and training
🗡️Lesbian romance
🗡️A tall, mysterious, red haired witch with “I’ll kill you vibes”
🗡️A blonde boy who gives off alternative universe Malfoy vibes
🗡️”Good girl”
🗡️Burn it all down FMC energy
🗡️”If they touch you, they die”
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and my thoughts are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this one early!
Sapphire has visions before her 18th birthday that transport her to a new world. She quickly learns she is the long lost daughter and heir to the kingdom who must adapt to learn her away around a magical land, understand her special powers and her past.
She’s strong willed, impulsive, curious and loyal. What I loved about Sapphire are her questions and anxieties match the readers as the story unfolds, I didn’t find her naïveté annoying or frustrating like I often do with FMC’s blind to their situation. She’s anxious but there is depth and realness to her emotions that felt believable to me. Appropriately so, Sapphire doesn’t trust everything she’s told and there are lots of twists and turns in Eriobis.
Luckily, she quickly finds her people and I loved reading about her friendship with Evera and Kaian. They’re the perfect balance, offering her guidance and questioning her when she’s ornery. The unfolding relationship with Araxia is written beautifully and covers tough feelings of belonging and family.
Ashes, the Shadow witch that Sapphire can’t stop thinking about, has her own agenda and coven to think about, but that doesn’t stop her from encountering the princess in the woods on many occasions. Their banter and flirtations had me *sweating*
This book questions ruling legacies and the where the stories we are told come from. There is plenty of political conflict and intrigue, a cast of side characters that really round out the story, and an enemies to lovers romance to *die* for.
Read this for:
🗡️The chosen one navigating a new magical world
🗡️Magic powers and training
🗡️Lesbian romance
🗡️A tall, mysterious, red haired witch with “I’ll kill you vibes”
🗡️A blonde boy who gives off alternative universe Malfoy vibes
🗡️”Good girl”
🗡️Burn it all down FMC energy
🗡️”If they touch you, they die”
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and my thoughts are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this one early!
February 3, 2024
Początek był trochę nudny i praktycznie niewiele się działo, ale wątek miłosny bardzo mi się podobał. Zakończenie mnie zmiażdżyło i wciąż nic nie mogę zrozumieć, jakby dlaczego?
February 14, 2023
this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and by god it did not disappoint.
the premise of this book is one of my favourites: princess x witch enemies to lovers, and while in this book the romance is definitely not the focal point of the story, the parts with the romance absolutely shine.
Sapphire is an absolute ray of sunshine (with a darker side) and her character arc throughout this book constantly had me on the edge of my seat. i regularly found myself going “just one more chapter”. she is the perfect character to follow on the journey in this book because much like the reader, she hasn’t got a clue what is going on. this meant that when information was revealed I was having the same reactions as Sapphire. I absolutely adore her and the way she is written means it’s absolutely impossible for you to not fall in love with her.
As for Ashes, where does one start? there’s a tension between the two main characters straight away, but after the initial meeting it takes a while before we see Ashes again. But once her character gets going, wow. It’s hard to talk about her without spoiling the book. But the way she’s written is incredibly. her motivations and her inner workings are phenomenal, and by the time you reach the last chapter your jaw will drop and you will be so overcome with so many conflicting emotions. i cannot wait to talk about Ashes and that ending with people once this book is out. also, i would have killed for an Ashes POV but the fact that this book is only told from one perspective does not detract from how good the book is at all.
the side characters also hold a special place in my heart. Evera is the best friend we all need. Kaian is brilliant. he exceeded my expectations because i thoroughly doubted him at every twist and turn yet he did not falter. Sapphire’s mother was another character i fell in love with she is the ultimate book mother and i cannot wait to see more of her in the next book.
The one error i have made when reading this book is reading it now. i don’t think i can wait an undecided amount of time for book two with that ending. i’m going to be ripping my hair follicles out by the time it is released. i cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
And a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc so that i could read this one early!
the premise of this book is one of my favourites: princess x witch enemies to lovers, and while in this book the romance is definitely not the focal point of the story, the parts with the romance absolutely shine.
Sapphire is an absolute ray of sunshine (with a darker side) and her character arc throughout this book constantly had me on the edge of my seat. i regularly found myself going “just one more chapter”. she is the perfect character to follow on the journey in this book because much like the reader, she hasn’t got a clue what is going on. this meant that when information was revealed I was having the same reactions as Sapphire. I absolutely adore her and the way she is written means it’s absolutely impossible for you to not fall in love with her.
As for Ashes, where does one start? there’s a tension between the two main characters straight away, but after the initial meeting it takes a while before we see Ashes again. But once her character gets going, wow. It’s hard to talk about her without spoiling the book. But the way she’s written is incredibly. her motivations and her inner workings are phenomenal, and by the time you reach the last chapter your jaw will drop and you will be so overcome with so many conflicting emotions. i cannot wait to talk about Ashes and that ending with people once this book is out. also, i would have killed for an Ashes POV but the fact that this book is only told from one perspective does not detract from how good the book is at all.
the side characters also hold a special place in my heart. Evera is the best friend we all need. Kaian is brilliant. he exceeded my expectations because i thoroughly doubted him at every twist and turn yet he did not falter. Sapphire’s mother was another character i fell in love with she is the ultimate book mother and i cannot wait to see more of her in the next book.
The one error i have made when reading this book is reading it now. i don’t think i can wait an undecided amount of time for book two with that ending. i’m going to be ripping my hair follicles out by the time it is released. i cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
And a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc so that i could read this one early!
June 10, 2023
So this book did take me Ten days to read which isn't too bad. I don't think this book is a bad book, but I also don't think it's the best.
I've read some of the reviews, and I don't believe it is as bad as it is being made out to be. But again, everyone has different experiences and enjoys different types of books.
I do believe there will be a second book, as the ending was left on a cliffhanger.
There were parts that were a bit repetitive and boring, but there were also good parts that kept me reading. If a second book were to come out, I definitely will read it, as I want to see how the ending plays out.
The book Is not as spicy as it was made out to be, but I can understand as I feel it was made out to a younger audience; however, there we a lot of kinks.
One good thing is that you easily connect and understand the characters and bond with them. There's not much more to say about the book.
I recommend the books to people who enjoy sapphic fantasy wlw books that feature witches and royals.
Trigger Warnings:
Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, War, Confinement, Genocide and Vomit.
Rating:
3/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've read some of the reviews, and I don't believe it is as bad as it is being made out to be. But again, everyone has different experiences and enjoys different types of books.
I do believe there will be a second book, as the ending was left on a cliffhanger.
There were parts that were a bit repetitive and boring, but there were also good parts that kept me reading. If a second book were to come out, I definitely will read it, as I want to see how the ending plays out.
The book Is not as spicy as it was made out to be, but I can understand as I feel it was made out to a younger audience; however, there we a lot of kinks.
One good thing is that you easily connect and understand the characters and bond with them. There's not much more to say about the book.
I recommend the books to people who enjoy sapphic fantasy wlw books that feature witches and royals.
Trigger Warnings:
Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, War, Confinement, Genocide and Vomit.
Rating:
3/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 14, 2023
I just had the privilege to read this extraordinary book. The Shattered Lands by Brenna Nation has been a book I have been patiently waiting for since I first saw her tiktok several several months ago. I can say with absolute certainty that this book is 5/5 stars.
Sapphire is moments away from her 18th birthday. Despite all the joy that should be surrounding such an important birthday, she cannot help but to feel anxious for her visions to return that night. This time, however, instead of waking up in her bed, she is found in a completely new world. Once dragged to the king and queen, she learns she is their long lost daughter and the heir to the kingdom. Overwhelmed with all the changes and conflicted about the young girls she left behind, Sapphire dove right in to learning as much about this new world as she could. While learning how to be a princess, how to control her new found magic, and faced with doubts around every turn, Sapphire finds a safe haven in the last place she expected.
Ashes, a young, redheaded Shadow Witch, finds the new princess constantly in her shadows. While being unable to reveal the answers to Sapphire’s questions, she tries to guide the young princess in any way she can. The ultimate question reminds, did she do it for her own gain or does she really have feelings for the long lost princess.
I absolutely love the depth of the relationship between Sapphire and the characters she’s around. Her friendship with Evera is beautiful. The flirting and teasing between Ashes and herself continues to evolve as their relationship evolves. The depth of Sapphire’s emotions and the things she goes through has this realistic tone to it. The author does a beautiful job with descriptions. Overall I am just very impressed with this book.
Sapphire is moments away from her 18th birthday. Despite all the joy that should be surrounding such an important birthday, she cannot help but to feel anxious for her visions to return that night. This time, however, instead of waking up in her bed, she is found in a completely new world. Once dragged to the king and queen, she learns she is their long lost daughter and the heir to the kingdom. Overwhelmed with all the changes and conflicted about the young girls she left behind, Sapphire dove right in to learning as much about this new world as she could. While learning how to be a princess, how to control her new found magic, and faced with doubts around every turn, Sapphire finds a safe haven in the last place she expected.
Ashes, a young, redheaded Shadow Witch, finds the new princess constantly in her shadows. While being unable to reveal the answers to Sapphire’s questions, she tries to guide the young princess in any way she can. The ultimate question reminds, did she do it for her own gain or does she really have feelings for the long lost princess.
I absolutely love the depth of the relationship between Sapphire and the characters she’s around. Her friendship with Evera is beautiful. The flirting and teasing between Ashes and herself continues to evolve as their relationship evolves. The depth of Sapphire’s emotions and the things she goes through has this realistic tone to it. The author does a beautiful job with descriptions. Overall I am just very impressed with this book.
March 12, 2023
I was super excited to read this sapphic fantasy romance, but really it just fell flat for me. The dialogue between the MC and love interest was pretty bland and sparse, and consequently the romance itself developed seemingly out of nowhere. This wouldn’t be a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but as the major climax of the book happens as a result of the MC’s feelings for the love interest, the ending felt silly and unrealistic. My biggest complaint, though, is with the MC herself. She is the typical heroine who spends her childhood living in a barren and monster-filled world as the sole provider for those she lives with. When one day she wakes up in a foreign land where magic exists and she is the long-lost princess, it seems any development or grit or survivalist quality she may have grown in her past life she must have left behind. She embodies the spoiled princess role effortlessly and to me was completely unlikeable. Overall, this wasn’t the worst debut fantasy novel I’ve read and it had a lot of potential, but I just can’t see myself having any desire to follow through with the series.
Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for this ARC ❤️
Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for this ARC ❤️
April 4, 2023
I had this book on my tbr for so long as the premise sounded really good when I first heard about it on TikTok and from what I gathered it was meant to be a sapphic fantasy adult story. However, you can tell the story was very quickly changed for a different, younger, audience (which is also confusing as a praise kink was clearly left in). There was no build-up in any aspect, whether the world-building or the romance. The writing was extremely simplistic and the descriptive language was basically non-existent. Futhermore, it was filled with problematic undertones and was just, overall, not very good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2024
Przed przeczytaniem byłam pewna, że jest to jednotomówka, ale po tym zakończeniu bardzo dużo straci w moich oczach, jeśli nie będzie kontynuacji.
May 7, 2023
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Thank you Penguin Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
I was soo close to DNF’ing this one, except I have this stupid thing where I have to finish what I start. So, regardless of how much I didn’t enjoy this book and want to throw it out the window – I had to finish it.
The one thing that I was unable to look past was that this didn’t feel as though it was a finished product, it read like a rough draft. There was an alarming amount of repetition, to the point of it almost being on every page. Characters were also consistently repeating themselves, verbally and physically. I mean if I got a dollar for every time her ‘bicep was grabbed’ – I’d have a library full of new books by now. And before you ask, it wasn’t an ARC – it was a finished copy of the book – which is even more surprising.
Grammar aside, the characters were basic, there wasn’t a lot of depth to their personalities nor their actions in the book. The world building … might have gone a long way if it was taken into consideration. And the plot of the book – wasn’t anything new. It’s been done before.
Overall, I know this is pushed as a YA but it reads as a middle grade read and it wasn’t something I enjoyed.
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Website
Thank you Penguin Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
I was soo close to DNF’ing this one, except I have this stupid thing where I have to finish what I start. So, regardless of how much I didn’t enjoy this book and want to throw it out the window – I had to finish it.
The one thing that I was unable to look past was that this didn’t feel as though it was a finished product, it read like a rough draft. There was an alarming amount of repetition, to the point of it almost being on every page. Characters were also consistently repeating themselves, verbally and physically. I mean if I got a dollar for every time her ‘bicep was grabbed’ – I’d have a library full of new books by now. And before you ask, it wasn’t an ARC – it was a finished copy of the book – which is even more surprising.
Grammar aside, the characters were basic, there wasn’t a lot of depth to their personalities nor their actions in the book. The world building … might have gone a long way if it was taken into consideration. And the plot of the book – wasn’t anything new. It’s been done before.
Overall, I know this is pushed as a YA but it reads as a middle grade read and it wasn’t something I enjoyed.
February 11, 2023
The Shattered Lands by Brenna Nation.
18 years after her disappearance, the princess has returned. But what is left of her kingdom?Sapphire finds herself in Eriobis with a crown, a castle and too many handmaidens to count. And so her life begins as the heir to the throne of a country she doesn't understand - a country ruled by magic and secrets.That's before she meets Ashes. A dark witch with the power to destroy Sapphire's life and kingdom. But Ashes also happens to be the only person that can help her discover the truth.And the answers might unravel the very world she's come to know.
Omg. A brilliant read. I did like Sapphire and Kaian and Evera and Claye. I loved the cover. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
18 years after her disappearance, the princess has returned. But what is left of her kingdom?Sapphire finds herself in Eriobis with a crown, a castle and too many handmaidens to count. And so her life begins as the heir to the throne of a country she doesn't understand - a country ruled by magic and secrets.That's before she meets Ashes. A dark witch with the power to destroy Sapphire's life and kingdom. But Ashes also happens to be the only person that can help her discover the truth.And the answers might unravel the very world she's come to know.
Omg. A brilliant read. I did like Sapphire and Kaian and Evera and Claye. I loved the cover. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
April 22, 2023
The author referred to a little finger as a ‘pinkie’ (idk why but it just gives me the ick), and there was a whole scene where the main character - who is 18 - had to pluck up the courage to ask her parents if she could have a ‘sleep over’ and proceeded to ‘run out of the room with glee’, then two chapters later she was learning about her hot witchy girlfriends knife kink and grinding on her thigh …..
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April 13, 2023It pains me that nothing I have to say about this book is a good thing. But it should have never been marketed as lower YA. Knife kink and various (very obvious) sexual innuendos don’t belong in books for 14 year old children.
Want to read
March 20, 2022So excited!
April 1, 2023
i think it was better in theory cause the actual execution was…questionable
December 3, 2023
i love lesbians and still wanted them dead
October 8, 2023
«Zagubienie niczym na bezkresnym oceanie, niemal drżąca pod stopami, napięta i oczekująca tego, co nadchodzi, ziemia... i to palące pragnienie, by w końcu poznać prawdę. „Uroczysko” niesie je wszystkie ze sobą zwiastując porządny huragan w umyśle czytelnika. »
Zawsze, kiedy zaczynam czytać książkę, biorę pod uwagę, czy jest debiutem, czy też nie, podchodzę do takich książek trochę inaczej. W przypadku „Uroczyska”, moją uwagę przykuł ogrom emocji, które we mnie wywołało - od niepokoju, przez to buzujące w żyłach oczekiwanie, aż po momenty, w których uśmiechałam się do telefonu, z którego odczytywałam tekst.
Gdybym miała tę książkę do czegoś porównać, musiałabym się rozpisać. Na pewno jej początek przypominał mi trochę początek „Igrzysk śmierci”, zaraz później przeradzał się jednak w wizję tego, czym byłoby zakończenie „Zaplątanych”, gdyby Roszpunka wykazała o wiele mniejszą dozę zaufania i charakteryzowała się przede wszystkim nieufnością i pewnym zagubieniem w sytuacji, w której się znalazła. A potem przeradza się w coś więcej, co nawet nie wiem, do czego przyrównać.
„Uroczysko” mnie wciągnęło, trzymało praktycznie od początku do samego końca. Zakończenie kompletnie zbiło mnie z tropu, chociaż trochę się spodziewałam, że skończy się tak, a nie inaczej... ale to wcale nie sprawia, że pragnę następnej części, by poznać dalsze losy, chociaż odrobinę mniej...
Zawsze, kiedy zaczynam czytać książkę, biorę pod uwagę, czy jest debiutem, czy też nie, podchodzę do takich książek trochę inaczej. W przypadku „Uroczyska”, moją uwagę przykuł ogrom emocji, które we mnie wywołało - od niepokoju, przez to buzujące w żyłach oczekiwanie, aż po momenty, w których uśmiechałam się do telefonu, z którego odczytywałam tekst.
Gdybym miała tę książkę do czegoś porównać, musiałabym się rozpisać. Na pewno jej początek przypominał mi trochę początek „Igrzysk śmierci”, zaraz później przeradzał się jednak w wizję tego, czym byłoby zakończenie „Zaplątanych”, gdyby Roszpunka wykazała o wiele mniejszą dozę zaufania i charakteryzowała się przede wszystkim nieufnością i pewnym zagubieniem w sytuacji, w której się znalazła. A potem przeradza się w coś więcej, co nawet nie wiem, do czego przyrównać.
„Uroczysko” mnie wciągnęło, trzymało praktycznie od początku do samego końca. Zakończenie kompletnie zbiło mnie z tropu, chociaż trochę się spodziewałam, że skończy się tak, a nie inaczej... ale to wcale nie sprawia, że pragnę następnej części, by poznać dalsze losy, chociaż odrobinę mniej...
October 25, 2023
Sapphire wychowywała się w sierocińcu, w ogarniętej wojną krainie. Dziewczynę dręczą tajemnicze wizje, a w dniu swoich osiemnastych urodzin, budzi się w całkiem innym świecie. Tam dowiaduje się, że jest księżniczką z linii błogosławionych królowych i musi stawić czoła swojemu dziedzictwu. Aby zrozumieć swoje miejsce w obcym, pełnym magii świecie, musi poznać historię swojego rodu, jednak odpowiedzi na niektóre pytania okryte są tajemnicą.
Sapphire poznaje piękną lecz okrutną wiedźmę Ashes. Księżniczka jest nią zaintrygowana, chociaż każdy w królestwie wie, że nigdy nie wolno ufać wiedźmie cienia.
Opis brzmiał intrygująco; mroczne królestwo, magia no i oczywiście wiedźmy, czyli moje ulubione motywy w fantastyce. Jednak szybko okazało się, że ta książka ma kilka problemów. Tempo akcji jest bardzo szybkie, kosztem nieuzasadnionych przeskoków czasowych, trochę tak jakby autorka napisała kilka scen, ale nie miała pomysłu, jak wypełnić czas pomiędzy nimi, więc po prostu przeskakiwała po kilka dni czy nawet miesięcy w przód.
Bohaterowie, byli papierowi, a ich zachowania niekonsekwentne, co szczególnie uderza w przypadku Sapphire, która wyrwana z domu dziecka, na początku martwi się o swoje przyjaciółki (w końcu one zostały w środku wojny) ale nie robi nic, aby im w jakikolwiek sposób pomóc.
Styl pisania jest dość infantylny, przez co wątek romantyczny wypada dość osobliwie, tak jakby autorka nie mogła się zdecydować do jakich czytelników kieruje tą książkę.
Niestety, dla mnie to zmarnowany potencjał.
Sapphire poznaje piękną lecz okrutną wiedźmę Ashes. Księżniczka jest nią zaintrygowana, chociaż każdy w królestwie wie, że nigdy nie wolno ufać wiedźmie cienia.
Opis brzmiał intrygująco; mroczne królestwo, magia no i oczywiście wiedźmy, czyli moje ulubione motywy w fantastyce. Jednak szybko okazało się, że ta książka ma kilka problemów. Tempo akcji jest bardzo szybkie, kosztem nieuzasadnionych przeskoków czasowych, trochę tak jakby autorka napisała kilka scen, ale nie miała pomysłu, jak wypełnić czas pomiędzy nimi, więc po prostu przeskakiwała po kilka dni czy nawet miesięcy w przód.
Bohaterowie, byli papierowi, a ich zachowania niekonsekwentne, co szczególnie uderza w przypadku Sapphire, która wyrwana z domu dziecka, na początku martwi się o swoje przyjaciółki (w końcu one zostały w środku wojny) ale nie robi nic, aby im w jakikolwiek sposób pomóc.
Styl pisania jest dość infantylny, przez co wątek romantyczny wypada dość osobliwie, tak jakby autorka nie mogła się zdecydować do jakich czytelników kieruje tą książkę.
Niestety, dla mnie to zmarnowany potencjał.
February 23, 2025
3.5⭐️ De hoofdlijn van het verhaal was goed, 2 meiden waarvan een enorme krachten heeft en die alles wil opgeven om de ander te redden en gelijkheid en vrede te brengen naar het land. Alleen wat me irriteerde was dat alles plaats vond bij dezelfde 2 plaatsen. We gingen continu van het kasteel van het watergebied, naar het bos van het aardegebied en daar bleef het bij. Geen uitstapjes naar de marktjes van het watergebied, of andere dingen en in het luchtgebied zijn we überhaupt nooit geweest. Overal miste ik gewoon een beetje de details. De hoofdpersoon kwam pas op haar 18e erachter dat ze krachte had en toen werd er wel verteld dat andere al vanaf jonge leeftijd trainde maar hoe die training verliepen werd niet verteld.
September 15, 2024
2,5/5
Trochę się zawiodłam, oczekiwałam czegoś lepszego. Ta książka miała potencjał, a wyszła średniawka. Świat nie był dokładnie wykreowany, a postacie mnie irytowały (jedynie Evera była spoko). Plot twist był ciekawy, ale nie mam ochoty na kontynuację.
Trochę się zawiodłam, oczekiwałam czegoś lepszego. Ta książka miała potencjał, a wyszła średniawka. Świat nie był dokładnie wykreowany, a postacie mnie irytowały (jedynie Evera była spoko). Plot twist był ciekawy, ale nie mam ochoty na kontynuację.
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September 17, 2023Go lesbians 💪🏻
May 3, 2023
3.5⭐️
I bought this book because I was following the progress the author made on tiktok and it seemed like this would be a great book.
The beginning of this story was not interesting at all, I was wondering if I even want to finish it. I decided I'll give it a chance and I didn't regret it. The world was very well explained and quite interesting, and there were some twists that I did not expect. The main couple was amazing an I enjoyed reading about how it started and also how it ended, and I do wish that they will be together again in the sequel, if there will be one. I don't regret buying this book and if there ever is a sequel I'll definetly buy it.
I bought this book because I was following the progress the author made on tiktok and it seemed like this would be a great book.
The beginning of this story was not interesting at all, I was wondering if I even want to finish it. I decided I'll give it a chance and I didn't regret it. The world was very well explained and quite interesting, and there were some twists that I did not expect. The main couple was amazing an I enjoyed reading about how it started and also how it ended, and I do wish that they will be together again in the sequel, if there will be one. I don't regret buying this book and if there ever is a sequel I'll definetly buy it.
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