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Sands of Achten Tan #1
Speechless in Achten Tan
Mila hasn't spoken in the five years since she became an Onra, a first level Everfall witch. After failing the test to reclaim her voice and control her magic, her mentor sends eighteen-year-old Mila to Achten Tan – City of Dust – a dangerous desert town, built in the massive ribcage of an extinct leviathan. To reclaim her power, Mila must steal a magical staff capable of releasing it, from Bone Master Opu Haku's sky-high lair. Her only resources are the magical luminous elixirs of the cursed caverns where she grew up, and a band of unlikely allies; a quirky inventor, a giant-ant rider, a healer, a librarian's assistant, a Tar-tule rider and the chief's playboy son. But in the City of Bones, enemies & friends are not who they seem and trusting the wrong person can be deadly. If Mila fails, she will never speak again and her bones may be added to the desert.
This book includes a kick-ass female protagonist covered in tattoos, giant ants, first-person present-tense narration, magic, banter, lots of innuendoes, and cute boys kissing.
This book includes a kick-ass female protagonist covered in tattoos, giant ants, first-person present-tense narration, magic, banter, lots of innuendoes, and cute boys kissing.
425 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2022
22 people are currently reading
924 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 29, 2022
THIS BOOK.
Speechless is an exciting, quirky story set in a world that feels fresh and unique. It’s near impossible to find another fantasy book similar, both in tone and plot.
Mila is a badass protagonist who leaps off the page despite not talking at all during the book. Her central romance was built over time, making it believable and rewarding!! i was rooting for Mila from page one.
The VOICE sucks you in immediately, and I was unable to put down the book once I started. I tore through the whole thing in hours.
Achten Tan was a setting that was strange and twisted in the best ways, with plenty of unusual enemies that haven’t been explored in fantasy.
GIANT ANTS.
CITY IN A RIBCAGE.
The magic system uses tattoos. TATTOOS! It was all impossibly cool.
Not to mention, the emotions and tension ran high from page one, so all the exciting action was based in heart wrenching character moments.
Ok, I’m done.
Go read Speechless in Achten Tan! The book was a breath of fresh air and I wasn’t ready:)
Speechless is an exciting, quirky story set in a world that feels fresh and unique. It’s near impossible to find another fantasy book similar, both in tone and plot.
Mila is a badass protagonist who leaps off the page despite not talking at all during the book. Her central romance was built over time, making it believable and rewarding!! i was rooting for Mila from page one.
The VOICE sucks you in immediately, and I was unable to put down the book once I started. I tore through the whole thing in hours.
Achten Tan was a setting that was strange and twisted in the best ways, with plenty of unusual enemies that haven’t been explored in fantasy.
GIANT ANTS.
CITY IN A RIBCAGE.
The magic system uses tattoos. TATTOOS! It was all impossibly cool.
Not to mention, the emotions and tension ran high from page one, so all the exciting action was based in heart wrenching character moments.
Ok, I’m done.
Go read Speechless in Achten Tan! The book was a breath of fresh air and I wasn’t ready:)
January 14, 2023
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the writing is really quite good. The characters are likable. The world is interesting. There’s some fun diversity in the characters. It concludes (no cliffie), and I see lots of room for expansion in future books. Plus, we have gnomes as the main characters without it being all cutsie-cutsie! So, on that one hand, I really enjoyed it.
On the other hand, however, there seems to be a disconnect between the tone of the book and the actual events of the plot. The book feels like an older teen high school drama, of the ‘who’s going to win the big team rivalry,’ or ‘take down the school bully’ sort. (I mean, I literally started to visualize Geb in a letterman jacket every time he slung his arm over Mila’s shoulder or waist.) But the things happening in the story are literally life and death. This left the tension…not lacking, exactly, but discordant. Plus, every near-death felt jarringly out of place.
I liked the book enough to read the sample of book two at the end (something I don’t usually bother with) and am interested in continuing the series. I liked Kaii a lot, as a character, and am interested to see what happens to him.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the writing is really quite good. The characters are likable. The world is interesting. There’s some fun diversity in the characters. It concludes (no cliffie), and I see lots of room for expansion in future books. Plus, we have gnomes as the main characters without it being all cutsie-cutsie! So, on that one hand, I really enjoyed it.
On the other hand, however, there seems to be a disconnect between the tone of the book and the actual events of the plot. The book feels like an older teen high school drama, of the ‘who’s going to win the big team rivalry,’ or ‘take down the school bully’ sort. (I mean, I literally started to visualize Geb in a letterman jacket every time he slung his arm over Mila’s shoulder or waist.) But the things happening in the story are literally life and death. This left the tension…not lacking, exactly, but discordant. Plus, every near-death felt jarringly out of place.
I liked the book enough to read the sample of book two at the end (something I don’t usually bother with) and am interested in continuing the series. I liked Kaii a lot, as a character, and am interested to see what happens to him.
January 16, 2023
This book was everything I could have wanted from a YA fantasy! Relationship drama, magic, female empowerment, a city set in a skeleton. What more could you ask for?
I know that the setting of Achten Tan was originally created by a collective of authors, but Iancu-Haddad really makes the world her own by adding wonderful flavor to the people and the location. Every new detail introduced felt so unique and vibrant, really giving me a good incentive to keep going. Not only that, but the characters were all very well-rounded and had their own goals and purposes. I also loved the inclusion of sign language and unique ways to communicate for a character who could not speak.
Overall, a completely unique reading experience. I cannot wait to read the next one!
I know that the setting of Achten Tan was originally created by a collective of authors, but Iancu-Haddad really makes the world her own by adding wonderful flavor to the people and the location. Every new detail introduced felt so unique and vibrant, really giving me a good incentive to keep going. Not only that, but the characters were all very well-rounded and had their own goals and purposes. I also loved the inclusion of sign language and unique ways to communicate for a character who could not speak.
Overall, a completely unique reading experience. I cannot wait to read the next one!
March 2, 2022
I picked this book up because I enjoyed the short story collection Achten Tan: Land of Dust and Bone and was excited to see a full-length work set in the same world.
I think I am probably not the target audience for this book, so some of it did not quite work for me, but I still enjoyed much of it. I can see a YA reader really loving it. Funny enough I actually think the target reader demographic for this probably does not overlap all that much with Achten Tan: Land of Dust and Bone! But that is not a bad thing, as it might mean a wider group of people can discover this world.
Some things I really liked:
The world is very well realized, as you would expect because it has a lot of world to work with from the previous book. But that book had lots of different interpretations, so there was not one consistent vision of what the place looks like. In Speechless in Achten Tan there is only one vision of the world, and I felt like I really got to know where everything in the city is in relation to each other, which is quite impressive.
I very much enjoyed seeing the interpretations of the characters. I thought the main characters were distinctive, which is good because by the end there were quite a few of them. And I think this story's version of Opu Haku is brilliant and terrifying.
Things I am not so sure on:
Firstly, of course, I am not the target reader, so take that with a grain of salt and know that if you enjoy YA books this will probably work for you better than it did for me.
I really thought Mila had a much better developed relationship with a character other than the one she ends up in a romantic relationship with. I don't want to spoil too much, but I think it is before the halfway point that she forms an official couple with X. I didn't think X had as much of a personality as Y, and the book seemed to spend more time developing Y and his relationship with Mila, so I thought they would have made a much better pairing. Even after getting with X there is a lot of teasing of a Mila/Y pair, so the book seemed to want me to root for Mila and Y, but didn't pull the trigger. (Or of course they could have become a polycule which would have solved their love triangle problems.)
And the other thing is that I am not sure how I feel about Mila's journey being so dependent on speech. I am autistic and selectively non-speaking, and I would have loved to see a story where a non-verbal character learns to be their full self and have their full power without needing to speak at all. That would have been really empowering and positive. However, I do not think this is a harmful portrayal because it is always clear that Mila doesn't speak because of a temporary magical restriction, not because she is disabled herself. So I think it is a slight missed opportunity but not a huge problem.
I think this book will appeal very much to a YA reader looking for something a bit different, or possibly even a reader of weird fantasy who would like to see a slightly more 'mainstream' take on that genre. I would recommend trying it and seeing if it is for you - I think you will still find things to enjoy even if it isn't 100% to your taste.
I think I am probably not the target audience for this book, so some of it did not quite work for me, but I still enjoyed much of it. I can see a YA reader really loving it. Funny enough I actually think the target reader demographic for this probably does not overlap all that much with Achten Tan: Land of Dust and Bone! But that is not a bad thing, as it might mean a wider group of people can discover this world.
Some things I really liked:
The world is very well realized, as you would expect because it has a lot of world to work with from the previous book. But that book had lots of different interpretations, so there was not one consistent vision of what the place looks like. In Speechless in Achten Tan there is only one vision of the world, and I felt like I really got to know where everything in the city is in relation to each other, which is quite impressive.
I very much enjoyed seeing the interpretations of the characters. I thought the main characters were distinctive, which is good because by the end there were quite a few of them. And I think this story's version of Opu Haku is brilliant and terrifying.
Things I am not so sure on:
Firstly, of course, I am not the target reader, so take that with a grain of salt and know that if you enjoy YA books this will probably work for you better than it did for me.
I really thought Mila had a much better developed relationship with a character other than the one she ends up in a romantic relationship with. I don't want to spoil too much, but I think it is before the halfway point that she forms an official couple with X. I didn't think X had as much of a personality as Y, and the book seemed to spend more time developing Y and his relationship with Mila, so I thought they would have made a much better pairing. Even after getting with X there is a lot of teasing of a Mila/Y pair, so the book seemed to want me to root for Mila and Y, but didn't pull the trigger. (Or of course they could have become a polycule which would have solved their love triangle problems.)
And the other thing is that I am not sure how I feel about Mila's journey being so dependent on speech. I am autistic and selectively non-speaking, and I would have loved to see a story where a non-verbal character learns to be their full self and have their full power without needing to speak at all. That would have been really empowering and positive. However, I do not think this is a harmful portrayal because it is always clear that Mila doesn't speak because of a temporary magical restriction, not because she is disabled herself. So I think it is a slight missed opportunity but not a huge problem.
I think this book will appeal very much to a YA reader looking for something a bit different, or possibly even a reader of weird fantasy who would like to see a slightly more 'mainstream' take on that genre. I would recommend trying it and seeing if it is for you - I think you will still find things to enjoy even if it isn't 100% to your taste.
March 29, 2023
3.5 stars
Disclaimer: I read this book as a judge for the Indie Ink Awards 2022 and this is my personal rating. It does not reflect the scoring for the contest.
Lately I have realised that YA is a genre that works less and less for me. Because, at my age, I get a bit frustrated when too much teenage angst and drama seeps from the page and characters are doing recklessly stupid stuff on the spur of the moment, just because that's just how teenagers behave as a rule. And this book here has all of it in full, which is also part of the reason for my rating. So please keep that in mind while reading my review.
Speechless in Achten Tan is a well written YA fantasy, fast paced and captivating.
The wordbuilding is fascinatingly creative and complex, the plot is solid, the magic intriguing, while the characters are likeable, with strong distinctive voices.
But on the other hand, the romance lacked chemistry as far as I'm concerned, and the action/tension/impact correlation fell a little short.
And despite the fact I appreciated the diversity in characters, I didn't quite regard the disability angle as a disability per se. Mila could clearly not speak because of a temporary condition caused by magic and her entire quest was centred on regaining her ability to speak, alongside her magic powers. Something that the author makes perfectly clear.
All in all, this first book in the Sands of Achten Tan series is a lovely tale of magic and adventure, self-discovery and friendship, found family and love, that any young fantasy reader out there might love.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a judge for the Indie Ink Awards 2022 and this is my personal rating. It does not reflect the scoring for the contest.
Lately I have realised that YA is a genre that works less and less for me. Because, at my age, I get a bit frustrated when too much teenage angst and drama seeps from the page and characters are doing recklessly stupid stuff on the spur of the moment, just because that's just how teenagers behave as a rule. And this book here has all of it in full, which is also part of the reason for my rating. So please keep that in mind while reading my review.
Speechless in Achten Tan is a well written YA fantasy, fast paced and captivating.
The wordbuilding is fascinatingly creative and complex, the plot is solid, the magic intriguing, while the characters are likeable, with strong distinctive voices.
But on the other hand, the romance lacked chemistry as far as I'm concerned, and the action/tension/impact correlation fell a little short.
And despite the fact I appreciated the diversity in characters, I didn't quite regard the disability angle as a disability per se. Mila could clearly not speak because of a temporary condition caused by magic and her entire quest was centred on regaining her ability to speak, alongside her magic powers. Something that the author makes perfectly clear.
All in all, this first book in the Sands of Achten Tan series is a lovely tale of magic and adventure, self-discovery and friendship, found family and love, that any young fantasy reader out there might love.
May 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The author did a lovely job of building a fantastic fantasy world. I was instantly pulled into this magical world. The fact that Mila could not speak added a unique element to her as a character. I had a friend when I was a young girl who was deaf. I learned sign language to communication with her. So the fact that Mila could only communicate through sign language was intriguing. In addition, that we need more unique heroines that all types of readers can relate to.
The relationship between Mila and Geb was great. I felt the love they shared with one another. The rest of the characters brought something different to the story with their talents. To be honest, I can't pick a favorite as I did like them all.
As I was so caught up in the story and the characters, I found myself reading multiple characters at a time. Fantasy readers will want to pick up a copy of this book for themselves.
The relationship between Mila and Geb was great. I felt the love they shared with one another. The rest of the characters brought something different to the story with their talents. To be honest, I can't pick a favorite as I did like them all.
As I was so caught up in the story and the characters, I found myself reading multiple characters at a time. Fantasy readers will want to pick up a copy of this book for themselves.
April 25, 2022
A main character who cannot speak, yet can communicate effectively with a combination of carefully selected tattoos and her mastery of pointed looks directed at certain persons who are definitely asking for it. I loved the characters and the dynamics that develop between them as this story progressed. This is a rich fantasy world, in which characters from different backgrounds find acceptance in their relationships, and band together to aid Mila in her struggle to unlock her magical powers and regain her voice. This is an entertaining story that pulled me in right the way through, and included some exchanges between characters which had me laughing out loud. I look forward to spending more time with Mila, Kai, Geb and co. in book 2.
July 17, 2022
This is a coming-of-age fantasy novel, filled with magic, adventure, and teenage love. We follow Mila, a Cavern Gnome witch, who has just failed her fourth right of passage test, by being unable to use her magic to full effect, leaving her an Onra, and still unable to speak. To make matters worse, her best friend, Geb, a fellow Cavern Gnome and healer, has volunteered (and has been chosen) for a dangerous task far from home. Mila hasn't much time to sulk and mourn, as she herself is being sent to AchtenTan, The City of Bones, to learn how to unleash her full powers. Mila will have to be cautious, alert and tough, as many dangers lie in the way of a young witch who has barely any magic and cannot speak.
Mila comes to live under the patronage of Gerwyn, an ancient witch, in the hope that Gerwyn can release Mila's powers and return her speech- but can she handle Gerwyn's teaching methods, who are not for the faint of heart (to say the very least)? Along the way, Mila encounters an assortment of characters- From Opu Haku, Achten Tan's mighty yet ruthless ruler, and his charming playboy son, Kaii, to a young love-sick rider of giant ants, who bears an enigmatic resemblance to Mila. Of those she befriends, who can Mila truly trust? To top it all off, Mila's path unexpectedly crosses Geb's- and now that they are together, will Mila allow herself to be more than just his friend?
On a personal level, I have enjoyed reading this book, and it fills me with national (and local) pride to know that an Israeli author wrote such a top-notch fantasy novel in English. Thank you, Debbie!
Mila comes to live under the patronage of Gerwyn, an ancient witch, in the hope that Gerwyn can release Mila's powers and return her speech- but can she handle Gerwyn's teaching methods, who are not for the faint of heart (to say the very least)? Along the way, Mila encounters an assortment of characters- From Opu Haku, Achten Tan's mighty yet ruthless ruler, and his charming playboy son, Kaii, to a young love-sick rider of giant ants, who bears an enigmatic resemblance to Mila. Of those she befriends, who can Mila truly trust? To top it all off, Mila's path unexpectedly crosses Geb's- and now that they are together, will Mila allow herself to be more than just his friend?
On a personal level, I have enjoyed reading this book, and it fills me with national (and local) pride to know that an Israeli author wrote such a top-notch fantasy novel in English. Thank you, Debbie!
January 31, 2022
Epic read!
Venture into a beautiful world with massive turtles, ants, and magic! Loved every page! Follow the journey of a mute and struggling magic wielder as she tries to unlock her powers, find her best friend, and recover from the loss of her brother.
Definitely worth it! I can't wait for the author's next book!
Venture into a beautiful world with massive turtles, ants, and magic! Loved every page! Follow the journey of a mute and struggling magic wielder as she tries to unlock her powers, find her best friend, and recover from the loss of her brother.
Definitely worth it! I can't wait for the author's next book!
May 9, 2022
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!
Speechless in Achten Tan by Debbie Iancu-Haddad is quirky and exciting. I loved the premise of the story and it is so well written. I’m thoroughly impressed and cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Mila is such a fantastic character. She can’t speak, but she’s an incredibly effective communicator. She is do well developed and I love her character growth from beginning to end. I also loved the dynamics between Mila and the rest of the cast of characters. This is so richly character driven and I loved it.
The world building is phenomenal. From the first few pages, I understood the magic system and felt I could see the world around the characters. And it just got better from there. Fantastic!
If you couldn’t tell, this is a five star read for m
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Speechless in Achten Tan by Debbie Iancu-Haddad is quirky and exciting. I loved the premise of the story and it is so well written. I’m thoroughly impressed and cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Mila is such a fantastic character. She can’t speak, but she’s an incredibly effective communicator. She is do well developed and I love her character growth from beginning to end. I also loved the dynamics between Mila and the rest of the cast of characters. This is so richly character driven and I loved it.
The world building is phenomenal. From the first few pages, I understood the magic system and felt I could see the world around the characters. And it just got better from there. Fantastic!
If you couldn’t tell, this is a five star read for m
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
March 25, 2022
I was given a free copy of this book from the author through voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED this book! It is definitely worth buying you will not be sorry! The main character is a strong girl who is unable to talk but her personality and spunk come across no problem. She’s loving and a wonderful person and I loved following her journey. All of the characters are done well and have great attributes and personalities. The story itself is amazing and something I’ve never read before, it’s very different in such a good way. The author has a wonderful talent with writing, I loved how the book read and the events in it. There’s adventure, loss, love, action and most importantly family. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would! I plan on buying all books by this author in the future!
February 25, 2022
I recently had the opportunity to read Speechless in Achten Tan by Debbie Iancu-Haddad, the latest fantasy novel published by Skullgate Media. I read it not once, but twice. Once as a beta-reader in its early stages and then again as a final production. What I really enjoyed about this book was not only the robust characters but the amount of detail the author uses to create her fabulous settings. This book was a revisit back to Achten Tan. Skullgate Media published their first anthology, Achten Tan: Land of Dust & Bone, in the summer of 2020. It was a creative backdrop filled with stories of dwarves, elves, and humans living together in a desert like setting in the city of Achten Tan. The city itself is in the bones of once living enormous animal, the ribs of the animal used as housing and shops for residents. The creativity doesn’t just stop there; it continues with An’chers, guardsmen who patrol the city on their tame but fierce giant ants that they ride much like one would a horse. There are also turtle riders who cross rivers of tar on oversized gentle beasts. This book not only takes us back to Achten Tan, but it fully immerses us into its culture and it does so brilliantly. (First, if you haven’t read Achten Tan, you should. It’s a fantastic mix of authors in a world created together by all the authors—24 of them. Second, you don’t need to read the first one to get the full sense of Speechless—the author does a fantastic job of creating the world for you.)
Speechless focuses on the magic of a young woman named Mila. She can’t fully access her magic and goes to Achten Tan to work with a witch who is supposed to help her not only learn to fully wield her magic, but also to help her find her voice. Mila can’t speak. She uses a mix of sign language and tattoos to communicate. Mila is a tough, fiery girl with an attitude very fitting. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and it’s her strength that really drew me to her. I love her retorts and the way she uses her tattoos to tell someone off. I feel like Mila and I would be friends in real life. When Mila goes to Achten Tan, she meets a well-blended cast of characters that not only befriend her but also help her in her quest to steal the magical staff of the leader, Opu Haku, including his son, Kaii. Mila believes this staff is the key to releasing her power. I don’t want to give away too much, but the way the author leads up to this is a fantastic ride. The character arcs of Mila, Kaii, and others are believable, well-thought out, and satisfying. The action and adventure were page-turning and at points, I couldn’t put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen next.
I love the way the author kept me on the edge of my seat, and I yearned for more when it was over. I’m happy to say, she’s written a sequel and I will be the first to purchase a copy of that book, too! I love the way bad-boy Kaii realizes he’s worth something, though his father thinks he’s worthless. The author does a phenomenal job in bringing out the emotions in her characters. And for those of us who appreciate a little romance in their action and adventure fantasy novels, she’s got that covered too. With both Mila’s relationship with her long-time hometown sweetheart, Geb (though truth be told, I was rooting for Mila and Kaii to be an item… maybe next time?) and a budding LGBTQ romance between her brother and the adorable Tortuga rider, D’Or.
Looking for a fun, creative, magical fantasy that transports you to a land unknown? Then look no further than Debbie Iancu-Haddad’s Speechless in Achten Tan. It’s a must read for fantasy lovers because sometimes, magic leaves you speechless.
Speechless focuses on the magic of a young woman named Mila. She can’t fully access her magic and goes to Achten Tan to work with a witch who is supposed to help her not only learn to fully wield her magic, but also to help her find her voice. Mila can’t speak. She uses a mix of sign language and tattoos to communicate. Mila is a tough, fiery girl with an attitude very fitting. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and it’s her strength that really drew me to her. I love her retorts and the way she uses her tattoos to tell someone off. I feel like Mila and I would be friends in real life. When Mila goes to Achten Tan, she meets a well-blended cast of characters that not only befriend her but also help her in her quest to steal the magical staff of the leader, Opu Haku, including his son, Kaii. Mila believes this staff is the key to releasing her power. I don’t want to give away too much, but the way the author leads up to this is a fantastic ride. The character arcs of Mila, Kaii, and others are believable, well-thought out, and satisfying. The action and adventure were page-turning and at points, I couldn’t put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen next.
I love the way the author kept me on the edge of my seat, and I yearned for more when it was over. I’m happy to say, she’s written a sequel and I will be the first to purchase a copy of that book, too! I love the way bad-boy Kaii realizes he’s worth something, though his father thinks he’s worthless. The author does a phenomenal job in bringing out the emotions in her characters. And for those of us who appreciate a little romance in their action and adventure fantasy novels, she’s got that covered too. With both Mila’s relationship with her long-time hometown sweetheart, Geb (though truth be told, I was rooting for Mila and Kaii to be an item… maybe next time?) and a budding LGBTQ romance between her brother and the adorable Tortuga rider, D’Or.
Looking for a fun, creative, magical fantasy that transports you to a land unknown? Then look no further than Debbie Iancu-Haddad’s Speechless in Achten Tan. It’s a must read for fantasy lovers because sometimes, magic leaves you speechless.
July 12, 2022
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
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Mila has been unable to speak for 5 years since she became an Onra, a first-level Everfall Witch, and can only communicate through sign language and with tattooed words on her body. The loss of her brother Turosh when they were small still haunts Mila now at 18. This is part of the reason she has failed the test to regain her voice and control her magic 4 times, which is unprecedented and left her feeling shame. Her mentor sends her to Achten Tan, the City of Bones, to Gerwyn who may help Mila release her powers.
After arriving in Achten Tan, Mila finds her lifelong friend Geb who had gone missing. Their once platonic friendship quickly blossoms into romance. Along with Geb, Mila strikes up an unusual friendship with Kaii, the mercurial son of the powerful and terrifying Bone Master, Chief Opu Haku and an assortment of unlikely allies including Kamal, a young Giant-Ant Rider who she connects with instantly, who all choose to help Mila with her dangerous plan. The plan involves stealing Opu Haku's magical staff as it allows her to speak and access her magic. If they are discovered by Opu Haku it could mean torture or death for her and her friends but without it, she may never speak again.
But all her allies are not trustworthy and betrayal at a crucial moment may mean the end for everyone involved.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 A fantastic tale about Mila's journey to discover herself and how her magic works. It also showcased the power of friendship and family and how losing or gaining either can affect our lives. There was a sweet romance and an intriguing love triangle throughout the story and I'm still deciding where my loyalties lie. Portents for the future are teased so I await book 2 for further developments. The world-building was fascinating creative and easy to visualise. The bone magic is unsettling but captivating. The magical abilities, in general, were compelling and even in a world steeped in the supernatural, the characters and story arcs were believable and emotive. Overall an entertaining read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
Mila has been unable to speak for 5 years since she became an Onra, a first-level Everfall Witch, and can only communicate through sign language and with tattooed words on her body. The loss of her brother Turosh when they were small still haunts Mila now at 18. This is part of the reason she has failed the test to regain her voice and control her magic 4 times, which is unprecedented and left her feeling shame. Her mentor sends her to Achten Tan, the City of Bones, to Gerwyn who may help Mila release her powers.
After arriving in Achten Tan, Mila finds her lifelong friend Geb who had gone missing. Their once platonic friendship quickly blossoms into romance. Along with Geb, Mila strikes up an unusual friendship with Kaii, the mercurial son of the powerful and terrifying Bone Master, Chief Opu Haku and an assortment of unlikely allies including Kamal, a young Giant-Ant Rider who she connects with instantly, who all choose to help Mila with her dangerous plan. The plan involves stealing Opu Haku's magical staff as it allows her to speak and access her magic. If they are discovered by Opu Haku it could mean torture or death for her and her friends but without it, she may never speak again.
But all her allies are not trustworthy and betrayal at a crucial moment may mean the end for everyone involved.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 A fantastic tale about Mila's journey to discover herself and how her magic works. It also showcased the power of friendship and family and how losing or gaining either can affect our lives. There was a sweet romance and an intriguing love triangle throughout the story and I'm still deciding where my loyalties lie. Portents for the future are teased so I await book 2 for further developments. The world-building was fascinating creative and easy to visualise. The bone magic is unsettling but captivating. The magical abilities, in general, were compelling and even in a world steeped in the supernatural, the characters and story arcs were believable and emotive. Overall an entertaining read.
February 21, 2022
I read a lot of YA fantasy and of quite a lot of it I can't even understand why it's labelled as such but this book is clearly aimed at older teenagers. There is teenage love and the accompanying angst, slightly dirty innuendo all the time from the boys, characters doing the sort of stupidly dangerous things done by teenagers who, at that age, consider themselves immortal. For an adult it makes them extremely frustrating - but in exactly the same way real teenagers are, proving that the author knows her subject well.
The teenage life is mixed in with the fantasy story of a young lady who can't release her magical powers as she should be able to at her age and her journey to find help. She gets lots of help, but none of it from the people from whom she was expecting it. Who can she trust and who is out for something for themselves?
I also like that the gnomes, elves, humans and orcs are written as different races rather than different species so that they can and do interbreed with the expected racist results. The elves are particularly purist and elitist and nasty but there's not much about them in this story - hoping they will figure more prominently in future tales. A novel that can be read as a stand-alone but with a few loose ends to entice you to read the next one
The teenage life is mixed in with the fantasy story of a young lady who can't release her magical powers as she should be able to at her age and her journey to find help. She gets lots of help, but none of it from the people from whom she was expecting it. Who can she trust and who is out for something for themselves?
I also like that the gnomes, elves, humans and orcs are written as different races rather than different species so that they can and do interbreed with the expected racist results. The elves are particularly purist and elitist and nasty but there's not much about them in this story - hoping they will figure more prominently in future tales. A novel that can be read as a stand-alone but with a few loose ends to entice you to read the next one
July 29, 2022
I was thankful to read this book because of a giveaway :).
First off I would love to say that this book brought me out a bad reading slump. It was so creative and refreshing to see a fantasy book be developed in such a different way. The world building is utterly phenomenal. I also very very thankful that maps were included into the book for extra clarity. The world building and descriptions brought realism to the book. I was able to interpret and imagine without question.
Even the lore of each character was fascinating, every chapter was just an additional bonus. The plot and ending was so worth it truly. The plot twist of her brother I saw somewhat coming due to her and the guy saying they look like siblings twice (which makes that flirting scene earlier kinda awks), but the way it unfolded was *chef kiss*.
Lastly, I feel like a throuple could happen (due to the foreshadowing). I love the Y love interest compared to the X. The X and the heroine sort of lack chemistry for me. He left in the first place to have her realize her feelings for him, and I don’t like that concept. Let alone a love confession 80-90 pages in is yikes especially when she was pushing her feelings aside. But her chemistry with Y was so better and developed 😮💨.
Overall, amazing book! Can’t wait to see what you write next 😇.
First off I would love to say that this book brought me out a bad reading slump. It was so creative and refreshing to see a fantasy book be developed in such a different way. The world building is utterly phenomenal. I also very very thankful that maps were included into the book for extra clarity. The world building and descriptions brought realism to the book. I was able to interpret and imagine without question.
Even the lore of each character was fascinating, every chapter was just an additional bonus. The plot and ending was so worth it truly. The plot twist of her brother I saw somewhat coming due to her and the guy saying they look like siblings twice (which makes that flirting scene earlier kinda awks), but the way it unfolded was *chef kiss*.
Lastly, I feel like a throuple could happen (due to the foreshadowing). I love the Y love interest compared to the X. The X and the heroine sort of lack chemistry for me. He left in the first place to have her realize her feelings for him, and I don’t like that concept. Let alone a love confession 80-90 pages in is yikes especially when she was pushing her feelings aside. But her chemistry with Y was so better and developed 😮💨.
Overall, amazing book! Can’t wait to see what you write next 😇.
January 3, 2023
Speechless in Achten Tan starts out strong, with an immediate high-stakes challenge for the main character Mila to pass that creates an instant sympathy for her from the first page. I enjoyed Mila’s challenging situation of being voiceless and having to communicate through sign language and her tattoos – I thought that was a unique balance of power to the magic system that she’s attempting to harness.
The writing was often compelling, although there are times when the pacing and/or events seemed rushed to get to the next exciting thing or used as a plot device that came out of the blue to help move the characters along. The voice and motivations of the main character are easy to follow, and the worldbuilding felt complex and complete. I also really loved the graphics in the book (something I don’t often mention), so kudos to the artist – they definitely added a nice visual element to the storyline. There’s a bit of hanky panky, but other than some kissing, most of it takes place off the page.
There’s also some teen angst to the characters, and their actions aren’t always thought through, as can be evidenced by the consequences they face as the story progresses. However, none of the consequences seem insurmountable, and the characters often seem to overcome them fairly quickly. At times, there also seemed to be too many characters to keep track of, so I had to remember who was connected to whom and how they featured in the plot. I think my 13-year-old daughter would definitely enjoy this book, and I’d recommend it to YA readers who are looking for a fun magic system, light adventuring, and some romance.
The writing was often compelling, although there are times when the pacing and/or events seemed rushed to get to the next exciting thing or used as a plot device that came out of the blue to help move the characters along. The voice and motivations of the main character are easy to follow, and the worldbuilding felt complex and complete. I also really loved the graphics in the book (something I don’t often mention), so kudos to the artist – they definitely added a nice visual element to the storyline. There’s a bit of hanky panky, but other than some kissing, most of it takes place off the page.
There’s also some teen angst to the characters, and their actions aren’t always thought through, as can be evidenced by the consequences they face as the story progresses. However, none of the consequences seem insurmountable, and the characters often seem to overcome them fairly quickly. At times, there also seemed to be too many characters to keep track of, so I had to remember who was connected to whom and how they featured in the plot. I think my 13-year-old daughter would definitely enjoy this book, and I’d recommend it to YA readers who are looking for a fun magic system, light adventuring, and some romance.
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March 4, 2022This is my first foray into the world of Achten Tan. It seems like a fascinating place - though admittedly, one I probably wouldn't enjoy visiting. Buildings in bones and giant ants are only the start of it.
Mila's story is a fairly uncomplicated quest to find her magical power. We get to see Achten Tan's various cultures along the way. It's a pretty light read, in many senses, and a refreshing contrast to the grimdark stories I keep tripping over.
I think the book will mainly appeal to younger readers. Generally, the rest of the world takes a back seat to Mila's (and her allies') immediate concerns. For my tastes, there's a bit much of teenagers mooning over each other and blushing, and Mila getting tangled up in her feelings about relationships. The narrative is entirely in first person, present tense, and so we get a running commentary on her thoughts and reactions.
Overall, a fun, fast-paced read in a rich fantasy setting.
Mila's story is a fairly uncomplicated quest to find her magical power. We get to see Achten Tan's various cultures along the way. It's a pretty light read, in many senses, and a refreshing contrast to the grimdark stories I keep tripping over.
I think the book will mainly appeal to younger readers. Generally, the rest of the world takes a back seat to Mila's (and her allies') immediate concerns. For my tastes, there's a bit much of teenagers mooning over each other and blushing, and Mila getting tangled up in her feelings about relationships. The narrative is entirely in first person, present tense, and so we get a running commentary on her thoughts and reactions.
Overall, a fun, fast-paced read in a rich fantasy setting.
May 22, 2022
Mila hasn't spoken in five years since she became a first level Everfall witch. She failed the test that would get her voice back and, her mentor sends her to Achten Tan which is a dangerous town to be in. In Achten Tan Mila must steal a magical staff. All she has with her is band of unlikely allies; an inventor, a giant-ant rider, a healer, a librarian's assistant, a Tar-tule rider, and the chief's playboy son. If Mila fails, she will never speak again if she gets out of it alive.
The world building was so detailed in a way that you would be able to picture the world and what is going on. The characters were all interesting and had personality. I loved all the characters because they all had purpose and added to the story. The romance was a letdown The chemistry was just not there in my opinion. This was a great fantasy book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The world building was so detailed in a way that you would be able to picture the world and what is going on. The characters were all interesting and had personality. I loved all the characters because they all had purpose and added to the story. The romance was a letdown The chemistry was just not there in my opinion. This was a great fantasy book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The world of Achten Tan and the characters that live within it feel very unique and intriguing, and I enjoyed learning about them as the story progressed. The world-building never felt in the way, but was woven through the plot extremely well, which is a testament to the high quality writing throughout. I liked the characters a lot, especially Kaii, who subverted the traditional YA 'love triangle' in an interesting way. The mute main character was interesting and was done extremely well, and the magic system feels different to what else I've read in this genre. A couple of the surprises were easy to guess, and some of the motivations of the MC and resulting plot felt a little unbelievable to me, but overall it's a great read and I will be happily continuing the series.
May 12, 2022
This was a fun adventure read! The setting is a desert town built in the skeleton of a giant animal, so that was really cool. It's a high fantasy YA with lots of fun creatures (giant ants!) and magic. It's not too dark, though the MC is scared of heights (and so am I) and I found some of the descriptions of the heights very, very scary! So, well done, but also, be warned.
Personally, I found that the stakes were pretty low throughout, which made it a bit hard for me to get very engaged. It makes it a lighter read. I also get annoyed when the main character is a girl but then almost all the supporting characters are boys.... but that's just a pet peeve of mine!
If you like higher fantasy and teens running around having adventures (and deserts?), you should definitely try this one.
Personally, I found that the stakes were pretty low throughout, which made it a bit hard for me to get very engaged. It makes it a lighter read. I also get annoyed when the main character is a girl but then almost all the supporting characters are boys.... but that's just a pet peeve of mine!
If you like higher fantasy and teens running around having adventures (and deserts?), you should definitely try this one.
January 14, 2023
I really enjoyed the 1st book in the Achten Tan series!
First, the cover and the graphics are really good. So much that I don't understand why the author doesnt sell merch...
The book itself is well written, interesting, with round characters that one can often relate to (and to sometimes scream at the page "don't do that, Mila!"). The Bone magic is cool, and the logic behind it is interesting as well.
I read the second book as well and it only got better. I actually asked the author if more are coming and she approved! Stay tuned 😉🤟
First, the cover and the graphics are really good. So much that I don't understand why the author doesnt sell merch...
The book itself is well written, interesting, with round characters that one can often relate to (and to sometimes scream at the page "don't do that, Mila!"). The Bone magic is cool, and the logic behind it is interesting as well.
I read the second book as well and it only got better. I actually asked the author if more are coming and she approved! Stay tuned 😉🤟
February 19, 2022
What a book!
What an adventure!
Get ready for the journey of your life, because you still haven't met this kind of world. The author managed to build a world from scratch and make me wonder what it is like to live in it. She did it so perfectly that I felt like I was part of the main character's journey throughout the book.
I'm eager to know what the future holds for Mia and Kaii and I'm so excited for the next books in the series.
What an adventure!
Get ready for the journey of your life, because you still haven't met this kind of world. The author managed to build a world from scratch and make me wonder what it is like to live in it. She did it so perfectly that I felt like I was part of the main character's journey throughout the book.
I'm eager to know what the future holds for Mia and Kaii and I'm so excited for the next books in the series.
February 28, 2022
Speechless in Achten Tan is a brilliant read, fast-paced with an addictive and unique fantasy setting. It's a welcome change from the more typical medieval fantasy setting, with interesting new creatures and different kinds of magic peoples. I particularly liked the city of Achten Tan and could picture it so vividly in my head. If you're a fan of unique magic systems and love triangles, you'll like this one!
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February 21, 2022What a book! Clever and engaging - couldn't put it down and now I'm waiting for the next installment.
March 25, 2022
A very fast-paced YA adult fantasy novel with memorable characters and a unique plot. Leaves you breathless and wanting more. Hoping to see book 2 soon!
April 3, 2022
I rate this 3.5 stars.
It was a well-paced story with several interesting characters. I think the intended audience is YA but it was an enjoyable read. Although it is part of a series this is a complete story.
It was a well-paced story with several interesting characters. I think the intended audience is YA but it was an enjoyable read. Although it is part of a series this is a complete story.
March 12, 2025
כתוב מעולה, מאוד נהנתי
July 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this book it had a great story with lots of twists and turns. I really liked Mila and enjoyed joining her on her journey to find her power. I'm a sucker for the found family trope and this one was brilliant whilst I liked all the characters Kaii was definitely my favourite and I can't wait to continue this series especially as Kaii will be the main character in book 2! If you're fan of fantasy, magic and found family I would definitely recommend this book as it was a super fun easy read with amazing characters
August 10, 2022
A world unlike any other
The world building in this novel hooked me right from the start. The character development kept me turning pages. If you’re looking for a fantasy adventure, this is the book you should buy!
The world building in this novel hooked me right from the start. The character development kept me turning pages. If you’re looking for a fantasy adventure, this is the book you should buy!
June 19, 2023
More like 3.5 stars, actually, but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars.
I absolutely loved the concept of this. Magic steals your voice, and you'll only get it back once you've mastered control of your powers. Mila's way of communicating via her tattoos is brilliant (yes, especially that one tattoo beneath her chin), and I could totally relate to her frustration (up to and including the foot-stomping) when people failed to understand her signing. Also, an entire city carved from the bones of some huge, ancient beast - what a wonderful image.
Now, I'm probably thirty years north of the target group, so add a barrel of salt right here: I would have liked a lot less tempo, and a lot more dwelling on the impact certain events leave on people, and the consequences arrising from them. The story moves at the pace of a nut-crazed squirrel, sweeping the characters along, which gives them little chance to think. I get that it's hard to stop and examine your emotions when the world sorta keeps getting torn to pieces around your ears, but just a little sentence here and there would have helped to convey the feeling that the characters care about something other than their own goals and ambitions.
That side, it's a fun and entertaining read, and a wild ride.
I absolutely loved the concept of this. Magic steals your voice, and you'll only get it back once you've mastered control of your powers. Mila's way of communicating via her tattoos is brilliant (yes, especially that one tattoo beneath her chin), and I could totally relate to her frustration (up to and including the foot-stomping) when people failed to understand her signing. Also, an entire city carved from the bones of some huge, ancient beast - what a wonderful image.
Now, I'm probably thirty years north of the target group, so add a barrel of salt right here: I would have liked a lot less tempo, and a lot more dwelling on the impact certain events leave on people, and the consequences arrising from them. The story moves at the pace of a nut-crazed squirrel, sweeping the characters along, which gives them little chance to think. I get that it's hard to stop and examine your emotions when the world sorta keeps getting torn to pieces around your ears, but just a little sentence here and there would have helped to convey the feeling that the characters care about something other than their own goals and ambitions.
That side, it's a fun and entertaining read, and a wild ride.
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