What do you think?
Rate this book
Year 1: Forging Destiny
"In a world divided by war, Damara’s whole life has been set clearly before she will attend Acyala Academy, embrace her fate as a Divine, and assist her twin sister in her duties as queen. That is, until she attends the Academy and learns that the Caco, her sworn enemies, aren’t all that she thought them to be. When she encounters strange creatures that seem to talk to her, she begins to think that maybe her life isn’t what she always thought.
Now she must navigate this new world, encompassing love, friendship, and fate—all while deciding to accept her place among her family as Divine or join the enemy ranks of the Caco."TRIGGER Violence- Death- Trauma- Attempted Sexual Assault
Now she must navigate this new world, encompassing love, friendship, and fate—all while deciding to accept her place among her family as Divine or join the enemy ranks of the Caco."TRIGGER Violence- Death- Trauma- Attempted Sexual Assault
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2022
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 12, 2022
An epic coming of age tale filled with magic and chaos
5 dragons out of 5
Forging Destiny Year 1 by Lorna House is an epic coming of age tale for Damara Aravanan, second princess to the Sundsvall Kingdom. Damara is born onto a wartorn land, a divided continent which is split between the Sundsvall and Droskyn kingdoms who have waged war for centuries over differences in how to use magic and for control of the lands. Damara was raised as a sheltered princess, cut off from the outside world and the true history of her world. After her 18th birthday, she and her twin Alvara journey to Acyala Academy to study for three years where they will learn about their own magic but also the truth behind the divided people of Malacodin and the legendary people of Ryn.
The book has hints of romance but the focus is on Damara's journey learning who she really is. Damara is naive and trusting at the beginning of her time at Acyala. She struggles to accept her heritage and what that means for her life. She not only faces her personal struggles, but she finds her sheltered upbringing leaves her at a disadvantage and vulnerable to those who know how to use magic. The book ends with the conclusion of classes for the first year with many questions left open.
Some warnings for the book:
There is attempted SA of the main character but it is stopped and avenged.
There is violence and death in the book though not terribly graphic- the series is set in a wartorn country so violence and war is expected.
I was offered an ARC for my honest opinion. I also downloaded it on my Kindle because I was enjoying it so much.
5 dragons out of 5
Forging Destiny Year 1 by Lorna House is an epic coming of age tale for Damara Aravanan, second princess to the Sundsvall Kingdom. Damara is born onto a wartorn land, a divided continent which is split between the Sundsvall and Droskyn kingdoms who have waged war for centuries over differences in how to use magic and for control of the lands. Damara was raised as a sheltered princess, cut off from the outside world and the true history of her world. After her 18th birthday, she and her twin Alvara journey to Acyala Academy to study for three years where they will learn about their own magic but also the truth behind the divided people of Malacodin and the legendary people of Ryn.
The book has hints of romance but the focus is on Damara's journey learning who she really is. Damara is naive and trusting at the beginning of her time at Acyala. She struggles to accept her heritage and what that means for her life. She not only faces her personal struggles, but she finds her sheltered upbringing leaves her at a disadvantage and vulnerable to those who know how to use magic. The book ends with the conclusion of classes for the first year with many questions left open.
Some warnings for the book:
There is attempted SA of the main character but it is stopped and avenged.
There is violence and death in the book though not terribly graphic- the series is set in a wartorn country so violence and war is expected.
I was offered an ARC for my honest opinion. I also downloaded it on my Kindle because I was enjoying it so much.
January 18, 2023
I found this book in my suggested for you section of my KU. I finally had the chance to take the time to read it not knowing what to expect (I'm not one to really read reviews on books). At first I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. I would read a chapter or half, put the book down and then pick it back up a little while later to continue in. To be fair, it took me about 8 chapters to fully start to fall into the story. I felt as of there was a lot of story and background information to cover as well as character introductions. I feel slightly unfulfilled and frustrated having finished the story with not a whole lot of information regarding what the secrets the MC has to learn about. I guess series books can do that. I do hope that the author does actually answer EVERYTHING they have tossed into the story in the future. I hate when there are thing just completely unanswered. Even so....I did start finding a groove to the book and found myself enjoying it more and more. Interesting story concept and one I am looking forward to following in future books.
December 22, 2022
Spoiler Free - Synopsis
Damara Aravanan is the second of twins born to the king of the Divine. Both she and her sister are celebrating their 18th birthday and preparing to go to Acyala Academy, a school where students learn about various kinds of magic. At the end of their three years, they must determine if they will return to the land of their birth to defend the throne or choose to live and fight beside their sworn enemies, the Caco.
**The information below contains SPOILERS**
Initial Thoughts
What initially drew me to this book was the advertisement of a slow-burn fantasy that focused more on platonic friendships than romantic relationships. This sparked my interest as it is hard to find many fantasy books that do not have a sole focus on smut. Also, it was from an author that I had never heard of before and I love finding hidden gems.
Highlights - Things I enjoyed about this book
I liked the pacing of the book. As Damara was learning about the ways of the Caco and even about the magic of the Divine, we as readers were able to learn as well. At points, I felt like the pacing was a bit too slow but then had to reconsider this; remembering that this was Book 1 of a trilogy. I appreciated the author taking the time to explain the complex magic system.
I appreciated the character development. We were able to get to know many of the characters over time and though they had a myriad of secrets, we still got a good understanding of what their quirks were. For example, the jealousy that was displayed between Alvara and Lillian was understandable due to one being Damara’s twin and the other her new friend and roommate.
This story was told in first-person and we are solely seeing things from Damara’s point of view. I did like Damara; I enjoyed the fact that she was a bookworm and was open to learning about the Caco as she got to know them. She was a very likable main character and it was easy to root for her.
As I stated above, it is hard finding fantasy books that do not focus so much on smut or has a romance that takes over the plot. I found that this story focused more on Damara learning about who she was and about the people that she was now connected to. You can tell she was having crushes on men that she met but none of it was “love at first sight” or insta-love. She build respect for people as she got to know them and acknowledged when she thought they were attractive. It’s not clear cut who her love interest will be in the end and I really enjoyed that.
I loved the aspect of a magic school. I personally never read Harry Potter. I only watched the movies so I missed the train on that. I enjoyed the relationships that the students were building with the teachers as well as the fact we were only introduced to a few teachers at a time.
The Low Down - Things I did not enjoy
I did not care for the repetition of some of the words and phrases used. There were certain moments when we were in Damara’s head which had passages that could have been cut out. For example, while I appreciated how devoted she was to her twin and future queen, there were times when I felt like it was a bit overdone.
I understand that Ryn is a place that no one, Divine or Caco, knows much about but there were some plot holes that I felt should have been addressed. Such as, how the students from Ryn were able to attend the Academy when all Rogues were assumed to be extinct and the Prostatis along with them. I’m hoping that this is explained more in the forthcoming books but I would have liked to see it in this book since we are being introduced to the world and getting background on how the magic systems work.
As I mentioned earlier, I did enjoy the pacing of the book until the end. The ramp up to the big fight seemed rushed. Nolan was captured but we did not have any insight on how he was captured and why. Yes, Crimzan found out they were Prostatis but it did not explain how he got there. Again, this might be something that will be explained in the next book but I felt like having more detail regarding this would have been helpful. I did like that Damara didn’t have this huge battle scene where she took everyone down right away. That would have been a bit hard to believe.
Overall rating & why I gave it
I’m going to give this book a 3.5 star rating, rounding up to 4 stars. While the book was not perfect, I did enjoy the aspects of found family, the magic school and the background the author provided on the world as well as the characters.
I’m invested enough in the characters to read more books in the series and find out how they all end up.
Trigger/Content Warnings:
- Violence
- Death
- Trauma
- Attempted Sexual Assault
Damara Aravanan is the second of twins born to the king of the Divine. Both she and her sister are celebrating their 18th birthday and preparing to go to Acyala Academy, a school where students learn about various kinds of magic. At the end of their three years, they must determine if they will return to the land of their birth to defend the throne or choose to live and fight beside their sworn enemies, the Caco.
**The information below contains SPOILERS**
Initial Thoughts
What initially drew me to this book was the advertisement of a slow-burn fantasy that focused more on platonic friendships than romantic relationships. This sparked my interest as it is hard to find many fantasy books that do not have a sole focus on smut. Also, it was from an author that I had never heard of before and I love finding hidden gems.
Highlights - Things I enjoyed about this book
I liked the pacing of the book. As Damara was learning about the ways of the Caco and even about the magic of the Divine, we as readers were able to learn as well. At points, I felt like the pacing was a bit too slow but then had to reconsider this; remembering that this was Book 1 of a trilogy. I appreciated the author taking the time to explain the complex magic system.
I appreciated the character development. We were able to get to know many of the characters over time and though they had a myriad of secrets, we still got a good understanding of what their quirks were. For example, the jealousy that was displayed between Alvara and Lillian was understandable due to one being Damara’s twin and the other her new friend and roommate.
This story was told in first-person and we are solely seeing things from Damara’s point of view. I did like Damara; I enjoyed the fact that she was a bookworm and was open to learning about the Caco as she got to know them. She was a very likable main character and it was easy to root for her.
As I stated above, it is hard finding fantasy books that do not focus so much on smut or has a romance that takes over the plot. I found that this story focused more on Damara learning about who she was and about the people that she was now connected to. You can tell she was having crushes on men that she met but none of it was “love at first sight” or insta-love. She build respect for people as she got to know them and acknowledged when she thought they were attractive. It’s not clear cut who her love interest will be in the end and I really enjoyed that.
I loved the aspect of a magic school. I personally never read Harry Potter. I only watched the movies so I missed the train on that. I enjoyed the relationships that the students were building with the teachers as well as the fact we were only introduced to a few teachers at a time.
The Low Down - Things I did not enjoy
I did not care for the repetition of some of the words and phrases used. There were certain moments when we were in Damara’s head which had passages that could have been cut out. For example, while I appreciated how devoted she was to her twin and future queen, there were times when I felt like it was a bit overdone.
I understand that Ryn is a place that no one, Divine or Caco, knows much about but there were some plot holes that I felt should have been addressed. Such as, how the students from Ryn were able to attend the Academy when all Rogues were assumed to be extinct and the Prostatis along with them. I’m hoping that this is explained more in the forthcoming books but I would have liked to see it in this book since we are being introduced to the world and getting background on how the magic systems work.
As I mentioned earlier, I did enjoy the pacing of the book until the end. The ramp up to the big fight seemed rushed. Nolan was captured but we did not have any insight on how he was captured and why. Yes, Crimzan found out they were Prostatis but it did not explain how he got there. Again, this might be something that will be explained in the next book but I felt like having more detail regarding this would have been helpful. I did like that Damara didn’t have this huge battle scene where she took everyone down right away. That would have been a bit hard to believe.
Overall rating & why I gave it
I’m going to give this book a 3.5 star rating, rounding up to 4 stars. While the book was not perfect, I did enjoy the aspects of found family, the magic school and the background the author provided on the world as well as the characters.
I’m invested enough in the characters to read more books in the series and find out how they all end up.
Trigger/Content Warnings:
- Violence
- Death
- Trauma
- Attempted Sexual Assault
December 28, 2022
I was offered an ARC for my honest opinion on this book which was described as Harry Potter meets frozen with morally grey characters, slow burn and fantasy.
DNF at 82%
This sounded like something I would love, and I agree the base idea is there and could be something wonderful but unfortunately for me it just fell short of the mark.
* The initial set up of the characters in the first 25% of the book was great with a good amount of insight however after this mark both the characters stopped developing and relationships were evolving out of nowhere (people becoming enemies after one insignificant interaction, obsession over characters that have barely appeared to interact even from a gazing across the room perspective - we’re talking no interaction)
* the plot while it has so much potential felt lacking. We are constantly being told (even then barely anything!) not shown and there is very little development and detail and when it is there it feels out of place and not relevant to the overall story line - I’m not talking questions to be answered I’m on about the tenth time we read the same sentence in a slightly different iteration about how Damara is going on runs but has no time to do anything or see anyone but is always seeing her sister 🤔
There were so many aspects I felt deserved attention and detail like when Damara was first finding out about Rogues and why she could hear them but it was over in a breeze with little to no information provided to the reader - I was more confused than before an explanation was given.
* I had very little feel for what the world was actually like as with the above there was very little detailed description and time given to it. One of the things many people love about HP is that it feels like home, the reader can imagine being there at breakfast in the great hall and going to class and getting lost in the old corridors but this sense of total immersion (even for the mundane aspect of it) was sadly missing for me.
With more detail but also concise explanations being given I believe this could be a wonderful book but unfortunately it was just not for me
DNF at 82%
This sounded like something I would love, and I agree the base idea is there and could be something wonderful but unfortunately for me it just fell short of the mark.
* The initial set up of the characters in the first 25% of the book was great with a good amount of insight however after this mark both the characters stopped developing and relationships were evolving out of nowhere (people becoming enemies after one insignificant interaction, obsession over characters that have barely appeared to interact even from a gazing across the room perspective - we’re talking no interaction)
* the plot while it has so much potential felt lacking. We are constantly being told (even then barely anything!) not shown and there is very little development and detail and when it is there it feels out of place and not relevant to the overall story line - I’m not talking questions to be answered I’m on about the tenth time we read the same sentence in a slightly different iteration about how Damara is going on runs but has no time to do anything or see anyone but is always seeing her sister 🤔
There were so many aspects I felt deserved attention and detail like when Damara was first finding out about Rogues and why she could hear them but it was over in a breeze with little to no information provided to the reader - I was more confused than before an explanation was given.
* I had very little feel for what the world was actually like as with the above there was very little detailed description and time given to it. One of the things many people love about HP is that it feels like home, the reader can imagine being there at breakfast in the great hall and going to class and getting lost in the old corridors but this sense of total immersion (even for the mundane aspect of it) was sadly missing for me.
With more detail but also concise explanations being given I believe this could be a wonderful book but unfortunately it was just not for me
December 13, 2022
I just completed my ARC read of Forging Destiny Year 1. I saw it described as Harry Potter meets Frozen, and I can only partially agree. Yes, the story is full of magical creatures and a hodgepodge teaching staff trying to guide 1st years, 2nd years and 3rd years through academy and on a safe transition into what awaits them after completion of their education. The Frozen aspect, besides the main characters being sisters, didn’t quite click for me. I loved Frozen, but this story will most certainly eventually be more tragic. One sister who is the elder twin is destined to sit on the throne while the other is destined to live in her majesty’s shadow. They also seem to be choosing two separate life paths. One sister, is never straying from a duty that she has always been tied to while the other sister realizes that her future lead her on a path away from the familiarity of family and into enemy territory. I foresee much heartache in the future for the sisters, and difficult decisions that will need to be made. I don’t think anyone is going to get a Disney ending by the conclusion of the Forging Destiny series. I’m ready however, bracing for the worst. I’m just hoping against hope that all my favorite magical beasts from Year 1 make it to graduation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2023
I found this really interesting. We follow Damara as she and her twin sister navigate their first year at a school that helps them harness their magic and, in turn, pick a side in a war raging across their country. The school itself is neutral territory and a rite of passage despite which territory they come from. The students are supposed to be neutral in their stay, but not all of them are, creating lots of conflict. Add in an emerging secret race that comes with big choices and things get really interesting. There’s a unique magic system and a found family trope (two of my favorite things in a story).
I actually liked the plot. There is a lot of building, honest gave me some slight Harry Potter vibes. I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange to provide a fair review.
I actually liked the plot. There is a lot of building, honest gave me some slight Harry Potter vibes. I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange to provide a fair review.
January 11, 2023
A great YA Novel.
Whilst the story itself is reminiscent of popular books about witchcraft and Wizardry, Forging Destiny provides a new take on a magical academy.
With interesting characters and plots it was hard to put down.
I really enjoyed this but could have used more scenery and description, but that is is just my preference.
There is little to no romance in the novel but that did not deter me from finishing the book.
Please check trigger warnings before beginning this book.
Whilst the story itself is reminiscent of popular books about witchcraft and Wizardry, Forging Destiny provides a new take on a magical academy.
With interesting characters and plots it was hard to put down.
I really enjoyed this but could have used more scenery and description, but that is is just my preference.
There is little to no romance in the novel but that did not deter me from finishing the book.
Please check trigger warnings before beginning this book.
June 16, 2023
Absolutely wonderful book
I really did like this book. I wish I could give half star ratings, because to me this is a solid 4.5 stars. It did take a bit for me to get in to, this it not being a complete 5, but once I was in it, things were great.
I really enjoy the world building in this, and the magic system is quite unique. The characters are great, and there were times I really liked certain ones, then was annoyed with them, then liked again. Which to me keeps me on my toes!
I really did like this book. I wish I could give half star ratings, because to me this is a solid 4.5 stars. It did take a bit for me to get in to, this it not being a complete 5, but once I was in it, things were great.
I really enjoy the world building in this, and the magic system is quite unique. The characters are great, and there were times I really liked certain ones, then was annoyed with them, then liked again. Which to me keeps me on my toes!
April 18, 2023
A great dark academia story with mythical creatures and interesting friendships between characters. Loved the relationship between Damara and her twin sister, and her new friendship with Lillian and Nolan. If you love fantasy books in a school setting with risk of death and danger, check this one out. 😊
June 17, 2023
What a fun way to set up a series
I went into this with no explanation on what the book was going to be about. I was pleasantly surprised. I loved it. The characters are fun and growing on me. Towards the end we meet some interesting ones so I'm actually starting book 2. Now.
I went into this with no explanation on what the book was going to be about. I was pleasantly surprised. I loved it. The characters are fun and growing on me. Towards the end we meet some interesting ones so I'm actually starting book 2. Now.
July 3, 2023
Excellent book! I literally finished this book in less then 24 hours! It gave me grown up Harry Potter vibes with a lot of twists and turns. The world building was wonderfully done and I’m in love with the characters. I have so many questions so in to Year 2.
August 16, 2024
Love how the magic system is working so far and the internal struggle of the main character. Can't wait to see where her decisions lead.
November 1, 2024
So GOOD
This book was so good. I loved the world building and it drew me into the story quick. If your questioning it, DO IT❣️
This book was so good. I loved the world building and it drew me into the story quick. If your questioning it, DO IT❣️
January 4, 2023
Amazing series! Truly!
January 23, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! I could not put it down! It has great world building and characters you will love!!! There are so many secrets that were uncovered and still more we do not have the answers to! I cannot wait to find out what some of those secrets are in book 2!!!
May 31, 2023
Two warring nations send their children to a school. During their time at the school they get to decide if they want to stay in their nation or switch sides. If that's not enough of a decision to have to make, Damara finds out that she may have another destiny waiting for her.
Year One is a fun spice free YA novel. Two sides who have been taught to hate each other send their children to the same school and force them to live and work together. Throw in not only elemental magic, but also alchemy and fun and chaos ensues.
Damara is a great main character who starts out stubborn and won't believe in her changing destiny, but then comes to find out it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.
I would recommend this book and I look forward to reading the next one.
Year One is a fun spice free YA novel. Two sides who have been taught to hate each other send their children to the same school and force them to live and work together. Throw in not only elemental magic, but also alchemy and fun and chaos ensues.
Damara is a great main character who starts out stubborn and won't believe in her changing destiny, but then comes to find out it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.
I would recommend this book and I look forward to reading the next one.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews