Sunchaser

by Emily Barlow

Glorya is a sunchaser, someone born with the ability to bend the weather to their will. She has spent the last five years of her life training, honing her body, her ability, and her mind in an attempt to become the most effective weatherworker the world has ever seen--but will it be enough? Or will the raw power of nature defeat her before she has a chance to prove herself?

Sunchaser follows Glorya as she struggles against the vagaries of both nature and humanity in her quest for independence. Traveling from port to port, she pays for her passage by ensuring smooth sailing on the journey, but her skill is tested time and again as she faces ever-greater natural threats. Her insular upbringing on a small, inland farm has left her with little exposure to the world at large--a world full of new experiences that she now must navigate entirely on her own.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2022

Reviews

[Jeremy Schwab · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I will start by stating that I picked this journey up as part of the judging for the 2025 SFINC3 competition, and this is a review for the reworked version from the author.**

Sunchaser by Emily Barlow was nothing short of an elegant,breathtakingly, (slightly) magical compilation of three separate, but tied together journeys. Following our MC Glorya "Sunchaser", and what reads as a women's journey of finding herself and creating her own path, fresh off her studies and thrown into the wide unknown world... only to garner respect, loyalty and admiration in her craft and personal growth. I was immediately taken with how smooth and eloquently Barlow manages this voyage and instantly wisks us into Glorya's story, with almost no imagination needed! Difficult enough to accomplish in the short span of a Novella, but Barlow showed no signs of creative problems with this...quick but vividly detailed world building paints the epic and unique scenes, and vast territories we visit and navigate. What a surprisingly deep amount of information and emotion we are blessed with. 👏

So very different from the "High Fantasy" and "Grim Dark" Epics I tend to gravitate to, I am still shocked at how well this sat with me, and soooo glad I gave it a go! Polar opposite of the torment and turmoil that our MC's usually have to overcome... multiple times throughout each individual story, I expected to experience just that. We start with our young and timid female main embarking on a sea journey, assisting a large crew of men with their trade shipment, by helping safely navigate the waters and the tumultuous weather that can pop up at any time. With Glorya having the ability to manipulate the weather, she is quickly and eagerly welcomed aboard...on what will be MANY weeks at sea. We know how these settings tend to go, especially for female leads...well, this is what kept catching me off guard, and quite refreshingly enjoying! We follow Glorya and her day to day throughout this adventure, and just when we typically see the dark side to men and their tendencies... admiration and respect shine through, time and time again! Yes, we all need this from time to time and boy did it resonate with the authors selected tone. All three entries paint different paths, with a multitude of new roadblocks and shortcomings...while all blending seamlessly together into this beautiful journey, showcasing the resilience and determination of our MC, along with the talent of our author and her ability to breathe new life and light into us all! 📚

5⭐ for this quick but satisfying jaunt through the waves! This will absolutely resonate with many readers and the obstacles we all face throughout life...trust in yourself and your ability to overcome and grow! Settle in and meet any storm head on...the ability to manipulate our paths exists in every one of us! 🍻

This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down!

Ms. Barlow takes us on an adventure, discovering this universe through Glorya’s eyes. High seas intrigue, international relations and fantastic powers wind together to hold you captive. This is a great escape and hopefully the first of many in this world!

[Kit Scarlott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Adventures on the high seas with interesting characters in a unique world full of discoveries and experiences

[KiraoftheWind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novella for SFINCS3 and am leaving an honest review voluntarily
You ever feel like a book was written specifically for you? Like it has all the niche little elements that you thought nobody liked except for you? And you felt all alone in this world full of books because authors are constantly told "your books have to be about XYZ" but XYZ are things you personally never cared for? In fact, you wish MORE books would be about YOUR favorite bookish elements? This was that book for me.
Sunchaser consists of three sequential short stories—three episodic tales of a young woman's adventure around the world she lives in. Glorya is a Sunchaser, a person with the power to soothe winds and calm storms, and she is on a journey, earning her keep while putting her powers to good use.
The set-up reminds me of those classic anime I watched as a kid where the protagonist was on a journey and each episode was its own miniature tale of fantasy adventure, heroism, and flashy action. Visually, I was even picturing it as a Ghibli anime as I read. The world is beautiful and full of hope. While there is plenty to fear, both in the form of storms and pirates, the forces of good are ultimately more powerful. If this world has sexism, racism, queerphobia, or any other bigotry, it is not on display here and Glorya never showed any indication that she was worried about it. The potential is there: in the first story, she boards a sailing vessel full of sailors. I feared the worst, knowing that sailors in our reality have a stereotype for committing some of the most heinous deeds to women imaginable, but this thought never so much as entered Glorya's conscious. This is not a fault of the story, but an element of the culture Barlow wants the reader to enjoy: this is not a world full of lascivious men. The second story reinforced this by introducing us to a culture where people wear minimal clothing. Although Glorya is initially embarrassed to wear such attire, she quickly adjusts, even finding joy in sleeping nude. And once again, she never fears harassment because that sort of thing simply does not happen in this world. If you want to read a fun fantasy adventure, but you don't want to see the worst of humanity, this is a good place to go.
One of the elements emphasized to a great deal is the worldbuilding. Every time Glorya goes to a new place, she learns about the culture: their language, their customs, their manners. The books feels like a travelogue in how it explores these fantasy cultures. This is something I enjoy a *lot* as a fantasy worldbuilder and aficionado, and why I fell in love with this novella. Worldbuilding is one of those things that authors are told not to emphasize, and it drives me nuts. It's a breath of fresh air when I, a writer and reader who despises the commonly-held notions of what a book 'should' be, gets a chance to read a book that actually caters to *my* taste. I especially enjoyed the magic on display here. There's an element of science to it; in order for Glorya to calm a storm, she has to reach out with her senses, detect the flow of air currents, and strip winds from them bit by bit. If they're too strong for her, she can erect a protective barrier around them. Once again, this felt catered to me so strongly it was like the book was written for me. I've always felt a connection to wind-based magic and I was pleased to see her work it so deftly and with such care for the environment and agriculture.
This is a prequel novella to a larger series which, at the time of my writing of this review, has one book out. For the sake of the SFINCS contest, I can only judge this book on its own merit, not on my assumptions about what may come. As such, my one bit of criticism may be resolved in the novel series:
That being I wish we had gotten to know more about Glorya herself. Despite being our MC and us seeing everything through her perspective, we know very little about her background or her values as a person. She's very likeable; in fact, every character she meets seems to adore her, if not immediately then after she uses her Sunchaser abilities to save them. But I want to know more about what makes her tick, and I feel like some of the space in this novella dedicated to quiet worldbuilding moments could have been given to her, to flesh her out and give her some interiority.
Regardless, this was a fantastic novella and I'm eager to read the rest of the series, where perhaps my questions will be answered.

[Darin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorya of Farmer’s Bend has just finished five years’ worth of study at university and is prepared to make her way in a world that is largely mysterious and unknown. Her material possessions are few, and she travels only with what she can carry. Her most valuable asset is a gift from birth. She is a Sunchaser, and she has been trained to use her skill to tame storms, keeping merchant ships safe as they carry goods from port to port. Glorya’s formidable reputation grows as she takes assignments that will carry her farther and farther from home. She’s a quick study—in fact, she graduated at the head of her class—and she rapidly adapts to the different cultures, customs, and languages she encounters.

Barlow completely immerses you in a world of her own creation from the opening pages. Her concept is intriguing, her writing is precise and visceral, and you can’t help but feel Glorya’s confidence grow as her reputation to dismantle these deadly storms becomes almost a thing of legend. Set in a world without much in the way of technology, the story unfolds almost like a lesson in social studies with a strong female protagonist who is really nothing short of a superhero without the ridiculous cosplay.

The story is broken into three distinct voyages, and therein lies my only real complaint. This is the ONLY division within the book, making each each voyage a marathon read, even for a relatively short book. As I am prone to read as I am able, the lack of chapters or sections made it difficult to find a good breaking point when I needed one. Nevertheless, the story has stayed with me for days after finishing the book, absorbing the multiple layers of detail and care with which Barlow delivered her narrative. For me, that’s a hallmark of successful storytelling, and I’ll definitely read more of Barlow’s work.

[M Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel is actually three short stories so I was gifted with windows into several points in Glorya's early career as a Sunchaser. Truthfully, I was expecting a different style of story - more action and magic - but I found I thoroughly enjoyed the humanistic narrative. Despite the brevity forced on the author by the limited pages available to her, I was quickly pulled into this story because it was crafted expertly and the characters were unique.

I liked the medieval feel of the world. The harshness of living on sailing ships dependent on good weather for survival really pared the story back to essentials and let me see how sound the author's writing was. While Glorya's magic was not broken down into basics, the author gave enough detail for it to feel substantial, and in her case, effective and creatively used. The scenes where Glorya diffused the storms were mesmerizing; I'd happily read more of those.

A big stand out for me was Glorya's total lack of prejudice. Despite her young age, this open-mindedness made her feel mature and very likeable.
I took a little while to settle into the narrator's style. What initially felt like detachment and low energy quickly translated into the quiet strength and resilience that, to me, were Glorya's defining qualities. The narrator's voice actually strengthened her appeal and made it easy to understand why she was popular with workmates, superiors, students and friends.

Sunchaser is a magnetic and adventurous story. I loved the strength of the FMC, in particular, and am looking forward to sharing further travels and excitement with her in the next book. If you're looking for a twist on the chosen one trope with some elemental magic thrown in, I highly recommend this book.

[Sarah Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glorya is a young woman who has just "graduated" school learning to use her powers as a Sunchaser. She can help affect the weather and in turn help others, such as helping ships make safe passage in the seas. Without any experience, she begins her journey hoping to get a job at a port she walks into. She is given a job on a ship and excels at her first time on the sea. From there on, she travels from port to port taking jobs on different ships and proving herself time and again, despite tough conditions and even sabotage. She also learns that there is more to weather working than just traveling by water and that when things get tough, she has what it takes.
This is a prequel so it's shorter and we don't get the full view of who Glorya is, aside from how determined and capable she is. She doesn't let anything get in the way of what she knows she is capable of. She throws herself into her journey whole heartedly and not just the weather working side. She learns new languages and customs as well.
There are a few journeys we are taken on with her and they all have their share of high stakes action. Since this is a shorter book, we get less about the trip and more of just the "harrowing" adventure parts. I definitely would love to hear a longer version of one or more of these trips and maybe that will be the case with the rest of the series. The narrator also does a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life.

[Greg Neyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A travelog through a unique world that feels at the cusp of the age of discovery and the awe of present magic. Glorya sees a world lush with vibrant world-building and wields magic that feels very workaday, even though she personally excels at it. This is a much-needed palate cleanser from the chosen one / save the world trope. She meets peoples that challenge her way of thinking, but she rises to it, and just like her weather-working, learns to create new harmony from potentially tempestuous interactions. Her discovery of the outside world is simultaneously mirrored in her exploration of herself, her skill, and her limits. She is propelled by her desire to actualize her potential and steered by a firm moral compass, traits that will resonate with modern readers despite the antiquated feel of the setting. A bite sized treat that leaves me longing for more in this world and from this character.

[Steve Grobschmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunchaser is such a unique experience. It's almost more of a travelogue than a traditional story with a central villain or some overarching objective. And that's part of what makes it refreshing.

Glorya, the main character, is immediately likable and inspiring. We don't get huge glimpses into her past or motivations, but we get enough to see she's hard-working, strong, and persistent. She's out to make a living for herself and make a difference, and she doesn't stop yearning.

The fictional world this is set in is very unique as well -- it harkens to a seafaring age of exploration but with the twist of having fantasy elements weaved in. Add to that fascinating cultures that Glorya encounters and has to understand.

Glorya is the ultimate wanderer, and it's a lot of fun following her on this journey. I hope we haven't seen the end of her adventures, because I'm on board to see what happens next for her.

[Travis Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Sunchaser and I am highly impressed. It keeps you engaged through the entire book and keeps you wanting more.

I enjoyed reading the development of Glorya's character and seeing her skill level go from novice to master throughout the course of the story. Each of her experiences was something different and relatable in some way to the burdens we all carry in life.

Even the supporting characters were given so much life and offered insight into aspects of their own lives and cultures, rather than focusing on Glorya and having them be in the background. Sunchaser shows the hardships of being in an unfamiliar place and having to adapt and learn quickly in order to survive.

I look forward to the next book!

[Carrie O’Leary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and narrator for gifting me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the story, but I would have loved to read about Gloria’s experiences with her training before diving straight into the story. A little backstory would have been very interesting.

The story is very fast moving, Gloria gets to meet a lot of interesting people over a period of around two years, but again, I would have loved to know more. It could easily be written as a book rather than a novella, I feel it is very short for fantasy fiction, which would be fine if it was a filler between longer books.

The narration was excellent, even at the 1.7 speed I like to listen on! I will be listening to the next story in the series.

[Peter Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly engaging and full of delicious detail!

I enjoyed this immensely, clearly a huge amount of detail on the nautical terminology but without overdoing it, which really made it come to life for me. I loved the relatively straightforward plot, it felt gentle and easy to read, achieved with great economy without being simplistic.

The dialogue was well done, particularly the introduction of new languages into the flow of the story along with the new cultures.

Though relatively short, I think the series of interlinking stories worked very well, nicely rounded out and felt complete.

I will definitely be reading more by Emily in the future. An easy 5 stars.

[Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun adventure on the high seas

I picked this book up recently. It felt very different than what I usually read, but the world drew me in.

The author has created a very fun and magical world. The characters were so vivid and creative, I continued wanting to read every day.

I do wish the story had been developed a little more as some plots seemed to quick and not as impactful as they could have been.

That said, I loved reading this book and couldn’t put it down, even though boats and the high seas are not my typical interest.

[Ajay Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoyable

The book has potential and some enjoyable aspects. Emily’s creativity in crafting the fantasy world was clear and made for an enjoyable reading experience. The lead character was creative and likable, and their journey captivated my attention. However, my main critique is that the book could benefit from more action and less dialogue. Despite the well-written dialogue, I felt the need for more action and excitement.

[Robyn Hartling - Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want to put this down, although I had to so I could sleep! I fell in love with Glorya within the first few pages. She is an absolutely inspiring character; strong, hard-working, determined, compassionate, and worldly! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I could tell right from the start that I HAD to read this book. Fantasy mixed with seafaring and a dash of culture. Absolute perfection!

[Alexander Ashwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to begin? The name of this book was what caught my eye originally, but the story inside is just amazing. It’s well constructed, gives the detail needed to picture everything easily without overwhelming you. Glorya is a force and I felt like I was watching her discover herself first hand! I could definitely do with some more about her and how she evolves.

[Alisa Gann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorya is kick a$$. I love seeing her development and how she grows and transforms others with her knowledge. Definitely some good, solid marine and boating research. I learned a thing or two that's probably common knowledge to people who have grown up in a seafaring lifestyle. I look forward to following Glorya further by reading Stormkindler as well.

[Lydia Lovett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these stories! Once I sat down and started I had to finish through the adventure. Vivid descriptions of fun adventures kept the pages turning. My only complaint is that there aren’t more to read! Hope to see more of Glorya’s adventures in the future.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very quick read

Although this book is shorter than most others I read, it definitely told a complete story. The writing kept me engaged and turning pages rather quickly. I believe this is Emily Barlows first book but I can’t wait to read more.

[Dominique Kilgore-Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept was great, but if the book had been a bit longer the main character could’ve been given more life and the story could’ve been given a clear plot.