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Gardens of War & Wasteland #1
The Ruptured Sky
Princess Amikharlia likes a fight.
Abandoning her homeland, she travels across the ruins of Whyt’hallen to take up the hunt against the mutated remnants of a magical war that killed the gods and tore the sky asunder.
But these vicious beasts are not the darkest shadow hanging over Amika's life—it's the forbidden magic she’s hidden since childhood … and what would happen if it were discovered.
On the trail of a dangerous mark, Amika uncovers a madman who is more than what he seems. He claims her unnatural gifts are prophesied to restore the goddess to her throne, protecting Whyt’hallen from those who seek to rule in her stead.
In return for her help, he offers her training—training that will allow her to control her powers before they control her. But following the prophecy means Amika must relinquish her hard-won liberty … and destroy the world in the process.
With a dark power rising in the east, threatening to enslave her people, Amika’s options grow ever slimmer. She must confront her unwillingness to walk the path of destiny’s design—or risk the rise of a malevolent new god.
But can she devastate Whyt’hallen in order to save it?
---
The Ruptured Sky is the gritty first installment of the dark fantasy quartet, Gardens of War & Wasteland—an epic adventure that blurs the lines between good and evil with a diverse cast of morally grey characters, perfect for fans of Anna Stephens, RF Kuang and Robin Hobb.
Abandoning her homeland, she travels across the ruins of Whyt’hallen to take up the hunt against the mutated remnants of a magical war that killed the gods and tore the sky asunder.
But these vicious beasts are not the darkest shadow hanging over Amika's life—it's the forbidden magic she’s hidden since childhood … and what would happen if it were discovered.
On the trail of a dangerous mark, Amika uncovers a madman who is more than what he seems. He claims her unnatural gifts are prophesied to restore the goddess to her throne, protecting Whyt’hallen from those who seek to rule in her stead.
In return for her help, he offers her training—training that will allow her to control her powers before they control her. But following the prophecy means Amika must relinquish her hard-won liberty … and destroy the world in the process.
With a dark power rising in the east, threatening to enslave her people, Amika’s options grow ever slimmer. She must confront her unwillingness to walk the path of destiny’s design—or risk the rise of a malevolent new god.
But can she devastate Whyt’hallen in order to save it?
---
The Ruptured Sky is the gritty first installment of the dark fantasy quartet, Gardens of War & Wasteland—an epic adventure that blurs the lines between good and evil with a diverse cast of morally grey characters, perfect for fans of Anna Stephens, RF Kuang and Robin Hobb.
366 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2023
25 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Jessica A. McMinn
7 books44 followersJessica A. McMinn is a dark fantasy author based in regional Australia with a passion for dark fantasy, dark coffee and cats (which, let’s face it, are all dark inside).
Since graduating from the University of Wollongong with Distinction in BCA (Creative Writing) and BA (Japanese), Jessica spent five years in Japan teaching English while refining her writing craft.
She now works as a freelance writer and offers editing and coaching services to authors. When she is not writing (which is more often than you’d think), Jessica can be found raising her two beautiful children or immersed in an audiobook while drawing, crafting or playing video games.
Her debut novel, The Ruptured Sky, is the first installment in the gritty dark fantasy quartet, Gardens of War & Wasteland, and is perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, Anna Stephens and R F Kuang.
Two prequel novellas are currently available for free on her website, jessicaamcminn.com
Since graduating from the University of Wollongong with Distinction in BCA (Creative Writing) and BA (Japanese), Jessica spent five years in Japan teaching English while refining her writing craft.
She now works as a freelance writer and offers editing and coaching services to authors. When she is not writing (which is more often than you’d think), Jessica can be found raising her two beautiful children or immersed in an audiobook while drawing, crafting or playing video games.
Her debut novel, The Ruptured Sky, is the first installment in the gritty dark fantasy quartet, Gardens of War & Wasteland, and is perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, Anna Stephens and R F Kuang.
Two prequel novellas are currently available for free on her website, jessicaamcminn.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 29, 2024
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
Filled with morally grey characters, rich yet mystifying lore, and thrilling action sequences, Jessica A. McMinn delivers everything you could ever wish for from a dark and gritty multi-POV epic fantasy in her brilliant debut The Ruptured Sky.
Runaway princess turned demon hunter Amikharlia has been hiding her mysterious magical powers for years, and all she wants in life is control over her own fate. Yet that wish quickly gets crushed when she somehow finds herself at the centre of a madman’s prophecy concerning the revival of a dead goddess and the looming threat of the ruptured sky above them. Now it’s up to Amika to decide if she’s willing to give up her fight against destiny’s chains in order to save all of civilization, even if that means potentially destroying the entire world in the process.
Now, while Amika was absolutely the kick-ass female lead of my dreams, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she was only one of the four utterly compelling POV characters that we follow in The Ruptured Sky. Every single one of these characters is just wonderfully realised and has an intriguingly mystifying backstory, which made all their different perspectives so compelling. Rei-Hai immediately captured my heart with his witty, cynical and darkly dry humour, and I desperately want to know more about him.
Slowly but surely, all of their separate storylines start to interweave in The Ruptured Sky, and I really loved seeing all kinds of complex interpersonal relationships develop and bloom along the way. Every single interaction among these characters just worked, and there were multiple scenes that hit me right in the feels because I had become so invested in these messy characters. Can someone just give all of them (but especially Kio) a hug, please?
Not only does McMinn deliver some stellar character work in The Ruptured Sky, but she simultaneously establishes an incredibly immersive world with rich and intriguing lore. The Ruptured Sky is set in a world of truly epic proportions, yet everything unfolds in the most organic way possible. It was so fun to explore these lands, the tense political landscape, and the magic system through the eyes of our diverse cast of characters, and I loved how the author very cleverly played around with in-world history and completely shattered characters’ worldviews to create some truly shocking twists and revelations.
It doesn’t take long for you to realise that this world is harsh, filled with morally ambiguous characters who are crumbling under their emotional baggage. While McMinn is absolutely not afraid to torture and traumatize her characters, I deeply appreciated that this grimdark story features zero sexual violence. Moreover, The Ruptured Sky is set in a casually queer-normative word, which allowed for some realistically messy yet beautifully authentic representations of queer love that I absolutely adored.
With this book, McMinn simply proves that a talented author doesn’t need a 500+ page chunker to tell an utterly compelling and immersive epic fantasy story. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that it’s the most groundbreaking epic fantasy out there, but it does exactly what it promises, and it does so absolutely brilliantly at that. There were admittedly a couple of plot beats that felt a bit rushed or predictable, but I was so immersed in the story that I could very easily forgive that.
In many ways, The Ruptured Sky reminded me of H.C. Newell’s Fallen Light series: both of these stories have that deliciously bingeable pacing and emotionally engaging character work that I personally often associate with YA/New Adult fantasy, yet they are extremely mature and adult in their themes. Everything about this story was just so perfectly balanced to me, and the constant looming sense of dread kept me glued to the page.
With this only being the start of an epic fantasy quartet, I am truly beyond excited to see where this series goes next. And if the insane quality of this debut novel is anything to go by, then I have a feeling McMinn is going to be an author to watch! If you’re looking for a character-driven grimdark epic fantasy with a diverse cast of morally grey yet loveable characters, rich world building, an inventive take on prophecy, and page-turning action and suspense, then The Ruptured Sky is the book for you.
***********************************************
First read 2023: SPFBO9 semi-finalist score 8.5/10
Second read 2024: 4 stars
Filled with morally grey characters, rich yet mystifying lore, and thrilling action sequences, Jessica A. McMinn delivers everything you could ever wish for from a dark and gritty multi-POV epic fantasy in her brilliant debut The Ruptured Sky.
Runaway princess turned demon hunter Amikharlia has been hiding her mysterious magical powers for years, and all she wants in life is control over her own fate. Yet that wish quickly gets crushed when she somehow finds herself at the centre of a madman’s prophecy concerning the revival of a dead goddess and the looming threat of the ruptured sky above them. Now it’s up to Amika to decide if she’s willing to give up her fight against destiny’s chains in order to save all of civilization, even if that means potentially destroying the entire world in the process.
Now, while Amika was absolutely the kick-ass female lead of my dreams, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she was only one of the four utterly compelling POV characters that we follow in The Ruptured Sky. Every single one of these characters is just wonderfully realised and has an intriguingly mystifying backstory, which made all their different perspectives so compelling. Rei-Hai immediately captured my heart with his witty, cynical and darkly dry humour, and I desperately want to know more about him.
Slowly but surely, all of their separate storylines start to interweave in The Ruptured Sky, and I really loved seeing all kinds of complex interpersonal relationships develop and bloom along the way. Every single interaction among these characters just worked, and there were multiple scenes that hit me right in the feels because I had become so invested in these messy characters. Can someone just give all of them (but especially Kio) a hug, please?
Not only does McMinn deliver some stellar character work in The Ruptured Sky, but she simultaneously establishes an incredibly immersive world with rich and intriguing lore. The Ruptured Sky is set in a world of truly epic proportions, yet everything unfolds in the most organic way possible. It was so fun to explore these lands, the tense political landscape, and the magic system through the eyes of our diverse cast of characters, and I loved how the author very cleverly played around with in-world history and completely shattered characters’ worldviews to create some truly shocking twists and revelations.
It doesn’t take long for you to realise that this world is harsh, filled with morally ambiguous characters who are crumbling under their emotional baggage. While McMinn is absolutely not afraid to torture and traumatize her characters, I deeply appreciated that this grimdark story features zero sexual violence. Moreover, The Ruptured Sky is set in a casually queer-normative word, which allowed for some realistically messy yet beautifully authentic representations of queer love that I absolutely adored.
With this book, McMinn simply proves that a talented author doesn’t need a 500+ page chunker to tell an utterly compelling and immersive epic fantasy story. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that it’s the most groundbreaking epic fantasy out there, but it does exactly what it promises, and it does so absolutely brilliantly at that. There were admittedly a couple of plot beats that felt a bit rushed or predictable, but I was so immersed in the story that I could very easily forgive that.
In many ways, The Ruptured Sky reminded me of H.C. Newell’s Fallen Light series: both of these stories have that deliciously bingeable pacing and emotionally engaging character work that I personally often associate with YA/New Adult fantasy, yet they are extremely mature and adult in their themes. Everything about this story was just so perfectly balanced to me, and the constant looming sense of dread kept me glued to the page.
With this only being the start of an epic fantasy quartet, I am truly beyond excited to see where this series goes next. And if the insane quality of this debut novel is anything to go by, then I have a feeling McMinn is going to be an author to watch! If you’re looking for a character-driven grimdark epic fantasy with a diverse cast of morally grey yet loveable characters, rich world building, an inventive take on prophecy, and page-turning action and suspense, then The Ruptured Sky is the book for you.
***********************************************
First read 2023: SPFBO9 semi-finalist score 8.5/10
Second read 2024: 4 stars
July 15, 2023
I loved the opening chapters of "The Ruptured Sky." They were dark and compelling. I hoped for an exciting, high-stakes story with a dark tone. While the plot remained intriguing and well-paced, the tone changed and the characters fell short for me. It's a solid book, but not one I'll remember or eagerly await the sequel to.
February 16, 2024
This book was a grower for me.
It took me some time to get into the story, but from about a third in, it just kept getting better
The author excelled with the character work. We have believable characters who's actions felt real and desperate . The sheer rawness and emotions that we got to see from everyone pushed the story up a level
I really liked the magic in the story and how we learnt more as the MC learnt.
The final 20 percent was impossible to put down. I am looking forward to book two
It took me some time to get into the story, but from about a third in, it just kept getting better
The author excelled with the character work. We have believable characters who's actions felt real and desperate . The sheer rawness and emotions that we got to see from everyone pushed the story up a level
I really liked the magic in the story and how we learnt more as the MC learnt.
The final 20 percent was impossible to put down. I am looking forward to book two
July 10, 2023
The Raptured Sky by Jessica A. McMinn is an epic fantasy debut with a lot of promise!
There's 4 main characters:
* A princess gone rogue and working as a sort of monster hunter
* Her brother who has to deal with the political ramifications of his sister running away right before her arranged marriage
* Their childhood friend and now assassin, who's also more than just a friend to the prince
* A naive young man who has been sheltered away in the wild by his rather weird and mysterious grandfather
I enjoyed how this story was all about the fantasy, the magic, the politics and the world, and not the princess' love life. As I don't like romance, I'm always wary of books where women run from an arranged marriage, as very often these stories are about them finding romance instead.
This is not such a book. Not even a bit! Said princess is happy to be away from the niceties, but also golden cage of the court. She's quite happy barely making a living and having her freedom. She's too busy fighting, figuring out her powers, staying alive and dealing with what life throws at her to even think about romance!
It took me a good deal to warm up to her brother, who is a pampered spoiled prince a lot of the time. He does try to do good at times but I also wanted to shake some sense into him every so often. I did however like the LGBT side of his arc.
One star missing for the pacing being a bit rough around the edges here and there, the villain being to bog standard bad and some of the story being a bit predictable if you have read lots of fantasy before.
The good guys were nicely flawed and well rounded, but the bad ones could have used a little bit more flashing out in my personal opinion.
The ending had a nice twists, though I can't say I really "got" all that's going on in this story, some bits of the world building are still a bit cryptic. I guess this will be explained more in later books.
Overall this was a really good story that I quickly devoured!
There's 4 main characters:
* A princess gone rogue and working as a sort of monster hunter
* Her brother who has to deal with the political ramifications of his sister running away right before her arranged marriage
* Their childhood friend and now assassin, who's also more than just a friend to the prince
* A naive young man who has been sheltered away in the wild by his rather weird and mysterious grandfather
I enjoyed how this story was all about the fantasy, the magic, the politics and the world, and not the princess' love life. As I don't like romance, I'm always wary of books where women run from an arranged marriage, as very often these stories are about them finding romance instead.
This is not such a book. Not even a bit! Said princess is happy to be away from the niceties, but also golden cage of the court. She's quite happy barely making a living and having her freedom. She's too busy fighting, figuring out her powers, staying alive and dealing with what life throws at her to even think about romance!
It took me a good deal to warm up to her brother, who is a pampered spoiled prince a lot of the time. He does try to do good at times but I also wanted to shake some sense into him every so often. I did however like the LGBT side of his arc.
One star missing for the pacing being a bit rough around the edges here and there, the villain being to bog standard bad and some of the story being a bit predictable if you have read lots of fantasy before.
The good guys were nicely flawed and well rounded, but the bad ones could have used a little bit more flashing out in my personal opinion.
The ending had a nice twists, though I can't say I really "got" all that's going on in this story, some bits of the world building are still a bit cryptic. I guess this will be explained more in later books.
Overall this was a really good story that I quickly devoured!
March 11, 2023
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Holy heck this was a fun fantasy romp! It’s been a long time since I’ve finished a book in 3 days, I’ve actively taken my work breaks to read and stayed up late to get to the next chapter. This book had me doing all of those things.
If you like a multi POV dripping in rich characters that have plenty of backstory to uncover, found family, a queer normative world and god like magic. This is your next pre-order!
Princess Amikharlia has fled the castle on the eve of her wedding. She only wants one thing in life, control of her own fate. For years following that night she has lived under the radar, as a demon hunter and a good one at that, keeping quite the magic that has been with her since childhood. A secret that is about to blow her world wide open.
Amika is sought out to retrieve some precious stones, stones which could shift the balance of power, but while under threat, releases an attack on a demon too big for their party ripping both man and beast to shreds. Shunned and wounded she has nowhere to turn, until she falls into a madman’s prophecy.
Amika has two choices, become a pawn in a game of the Gods, or fight her destiny. As the powers around her begin to rise, she must make her choice. Either way, the world as she knows it, will be laid to waste.
I really liked a lot of The Ruptured Sky, from the multi POV characters interwove into the plot beautifully, the pacing was superb and the queer normativity in the world was refreshing.
Full review to be posted over on EPICINDIE.net and my YT channel!
Holy heck this was a fun fantasy romp! It’s been a long time since I’ve finished a book in 3 days, I’ve actively taken my work breaks to read and stayed up late to get to the next chapter. This book had me doing all of those things.
If you like a multi POV dripping in rich characters that have plenty of backstory to uncover, found family, a queer normative world and god like magic. This is your next pre-order!
Princess Amikharlia has fled the castle on the eve of her wedding. She only wants one thing in life, control of her own fate. For years following that night she has lived under the radar, as a demon hunter and a good one at that, keeping quite the magic that has been with her since childhood. A secret that is about to blow her world wide open.
Amika is sought out to retrieve some precious stones, stones which could shift the balance of power, but while under threat, releases an attack on a demon too big for their party ripping both man and beast to shreds. Shunned and wounded she has nowhere to turn, until she falls into a madman’s prophecy.
Amika has two choices, become a pawn in a game of the Gods, or fight her destiny. As the powers around her begin to rise, she must make her choice. Either way, the world as she knows it, will be laid to waste.
I really liked a lot of The Ruptured Sky, from the multi POV characters interwove into the plot beautifully, the pacing was superb and the queer normativity in the world was refreshing.
Full review to be posted over on EPICINDIE.net and my YT channel!
October 3, 2024
I had so much fun with this. After a slightly confusing start and a bit of a time jump, we settled into a story of danger, dark magic, treachery and royalty that got stronger and more compelling the further through the story we got.
The characters are brilliantly drawn and complex, the stakes are huge, and the action well plotted.
An impressive debut novel and the start of a very good series.
The characters are brilliantly drawn and complex, the stakes are huge, and the action well plotted.
An impressive debut novel and the start of a very good series.
July 8, 2023
4.5
Are you looking for a book with the classic beats of epic fantasy but with a fresh twist? Are you looking for something with the excitement of YA fantasy but with the depth of adult fantasy? Then look no further. The Ruptured Sky is all that, if not more.
A multi pov powerhouse of a story, The Ruptured Sky hits the ground running and never stops. It will leave you breathless and wanting for more.
Full review at FanFiAddict blog
Are you looking for a book with the classic beats of epic fantasy but with a fresh twist? Are you looking for something with the excitement of YA fantasy but with the depth of adult fantasy? Then look no further. The Ruptured Sky is all that, if not more.
A multi pov powerhouse of a story, The Ruptured Sky hits the ground running and never stops. It will leave you breathless and wanting for more.
Full review at FanFiAddict blog
July 17, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
The Ruptured Sky is a grimdark (or dark fantasy novel, depending on who you ask) fantasy novel, one of the SPFBO9 entrants (at the time I'm writing this lines semifinalist), and the first book on the Gardens of War and Wasteland quartet, written by the Aussie author Jessica A. McMinn. A complex multi-POV adventure, with a unique setting and badass characters, are some of the elements that made this book so enjoyable for me.
Amikharlia is a runaway princess turned into a rogue demon hunter, who has been hiding magical power for most of her life. She's just looking to gain more control over her life; but when a catastrophic expedition puts her in the middle of an ancient prophecy, which implies the resurrection of an ancient goddess that might end the world, she will be forced to choose between accepting her destiny (and learning to control her powers with the help of a mysterious and manipulative man), or continue her fight for freedom.
But Amika is only one of the POVs we will be following during this book, as the Tower is trying to capture her, sending behind her one of its acolytes, Rei. But Rei was also one of the childhood friends of Amika, making his task even more difficult, and at some point, he will be between the sword and the wall, having to decide what he values more: his friend or his life tied to the Tower.
Prince Kiokharen is struggling with his life, practically devoid of any motivation; he's mostly drinking and spending time without doing anything productive. Probably a character that felt a little bit flat during the first half of the book for me, but he gets a big narrative weight once his kingdom gets invaded and he has to assume the burden of power.
Accompanying this cast of characters, we will have an additional POV, Kriah, the grandson of Greish'tal, the First Son that is trying to tie the rest of the people to the prophecy. While he's more of a supporting character for a big part of the story, it plays an important role to make it advance.
In general, characters are rather grey-morale, despite I found myself trying to justify many of their decisions at a point. The story is gritty and dark, with plenty of action scenes that make this book really fast to read (I binged it for two days). Despite the age of the characters, don't fool yourselves into thinking this might be YA/NA, as the author is not shy in portraying the darkest aspects of humanity.
It is incredible the amount of worldbuilding McMinn has included in this book without any kind of info dumping; we get to know a big part of Whyt'hallen while at the same time, small details get explored. It is true that I would have loved to know more about the different gods, but I hope it gets expanded in the following books.
The Ruptured Sky is an excellent debut, a novel that will be loved by all the grimdark aficionados. McMinn not only introduces a big world, but a captivating story that I can't wait to see how it evolves in the following books!
The Ruptured Sky is a grimdark (or dark fantasy novel, depending on who you ask) fantasy novel, one of the SPFBO9 entrants (at the time I'm writing this lines semifinalist), and the first book on the Gardens of War and Wasteland quartet, written by the Aussie author Jessica A. McMinn. A complex multi-POV adventure, with a unique setting and badass characters, are some of the elements that made this book so enjoyable for me.
Amikharlia is a runaway princess turned into a rogue demon hunter, who has been hiding magical power for most of her life. She's just looking to gain more control over her life; but when a catastrophic expedition puts her in the middle of an ancient prophecy, which implies the resurrection of an ancient goddess that might end the world, she will be forced to choose between accepting her destiny (and learning to control her powers with the help of a mysterious and manipulative man), or continue her fight for freedom.
But Amika is only one of the POVs we will be following during this book, as the Tower is trying to capture her, sending behind her one of its acolytes, Rei. But Rei was also one of the childhood friends of Amika, making his task even more difficult, and at some point, he will be between the sword and the wall, having to decide what he values more: his friend or his life tied to the Tower.
Prince Kiokharen is struggling with his life, practically devoid of any motivation; he's mostly drinking and spending time without doing anything productive. Probably a character that felt a little bit flat during the first half of the book for me, but he gets a big narrative weight once his kingdom gets invaded and he has to assume the burden of power.
Accompanying this cast of characters, we will have an additional POV, Kriah, the grandson of Greish'tal, the First Son that is trying to tie the rest of the people to the prophecy. While he's more of a supporting character for a big part of the story, it plays an important role to make it advance.
In general, characters are rather grey-morale, despite I found myself trying to justify many of their decisions at a point. The story is gritty and dark, with plenty of action scenes that make this book really fast to read (I binged it for two days). Despite the age of the characters, don't fool yourselves into thinking this might be YA/NA, as the author is not shy in portraying the darkest aspects of humanity.
It is incredible the amount of worldbuilding McMinn has included in this book without any kind of info dumping; we get to know a big part of Whyt'hallen while at the same time, small details get explored. It is true that I would have loved to know more about the different gods, but I hope it gets expanded in the following books.
The Ruptured Sky is an excellent debut, a novel that will be loved by all the grimdark aficionados. McMinn not only introduces a big world, but a captivating story that I can't wait to see how it evolves in the following books!
February 16, 2023
What a captivating debut!
The first thing you need to know is Amika. She is my girl! Like, a female Witcher? Yes, please. Anyway, onto the meat of the book.
First, I absolutely loved the characters of this story. There are four POVs, and I connected with every single one of them. Their storylines were all fleshed out, and even though I'd classify 3/4 as morally grey, I found myself constantly making excuses for what they did because I understood where they were coming from.
Second, the book is filled with action and makes for a fast-paced read. It kept me up page turning night after night, and that's saying a lot as a sleep-deprived mom of a baby and toddler. Great monsters, epic magic duels, and lots of sass--looking at you, Rei-Hai.
Finally, the plot was pretty unique, and all the big reveals were handled so well. The world building was fantastic, I loved the map at the beginning of the book, and so many of the characters were memorable, even when they only had a little bit of page time.
I am looking forward to the next installment in this series! If you are into dark, epic fantasy, with morally grey characters, please give this book a read!
The first thing you need to know is Amika. She is my girl! Like, a female Witcher? Yes, please. Anyway, onto the meat of the book.
First, I absolutely loved the characters of this story. There are four POVs, and I connected with every single one of them. Their storylines were all fleshed out, and even though I'd classify 3/4 as morally grey, I found myself constantly making excuses for what they did because I understood where they were coming from.
Second, the book is filled with action and makes for a fast-paced read. It kept me up page turning night after night, and that's saying a lot as a sleep-deprived mom of a baby and toddler. Great monsters, epic magic duels, and lots of sass--looking at you, Rei-Hai.
Finally, the plot was pretty unique, and all the big reveals were handled so well. The world building was fantastic, I loved the map at the beginning of the book, and so many of the characters were memorable, even when they only had a little bit of page time.
I am looking forward to the next installment in this series! If you are into dark, epic fantasy, with morally grey characters, please give this book a read!
February 25, 2023
This book was a great read, with fascinating characters and enough mystery that gripped me from the beginning. The satisfyingly complex world was slowly revealed as the plot developed and I learned - along with the main characters - exactly what’s at stake.
Add in a few unexpected twists and revelations, and by the end of the book, I was thoroughly engrossed.
My only real complaint is that I now have to wait for Book 2!
I received a free copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.
Add in a few unexpected twists and revelations, and by the end of the book, I was thoroughly engrossed.
My only real complaint is that I now have to wait for Book 2!
I received a free copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.
March 26, 2024
An epic fantasy adventure embroiled with magic, prophecies, betrayals, secrets and kingdom conflicts.
Following 4 POV, this story is an amalgamation of merging quests and intertwined destinies and relationships.
Loved the character development and magic systems, and the plot of the kick ass FMC that's a runaway princess turned rogue hired huntress that has magical abilities and is far from being a damsel in distress.
Filled with action, morally grey characters, political intrigue, hidden identities, and battles for power, with a sprinkling of romance.
Excited to see the next installment in this dark epic fantasy quartet.
Following 4 POV, this story is an amalgamation of merging quests and intertwined destinies and relationships.
Loved the character development and magic systems, and the plot of the kick ass FMC that's a runaway princess turned rogue hired huntress that has magical abilities and is far from being a damsel in distress.
Filled with action, morally grey characters, political intrigue, hidden identities, and battles for power, with a sprinkling of romance.
Excited to see the next installment in this dark epic fantasy quartet.
May 27, 2024
For some reason Goodreads decided to erase my review when I finished my reread. Reposting.
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Ruptured Sky
Thank you to Jessica A. McMinn for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
From a young age, Princess Amikharlia knew she was different. When she sneaks out with her friends and saves their lives with magic the whispers begin. Even her own father calls her unnatural. And when it comes time to marry a cruel prince, she leaves the royal family to hunt demonic creatures plaguing the land. Little does she know, her fate is entwined with those who would bring the goddess back into the world. And her magic is one of the keys.
The Ruptured Sky is a dark and action-packed journey. Told through the eyes of multiple characters, the reader will experience a range of emotions. As they venture deeper into the lore and world-building, they will be swept up in the story. The characters you come to know and cheer for in the beginning, are nowhere near the same by the end of the novel due to the hardships they face.
Jessica A McMinn created such a manipulative and controlling character in Grey. Obsessed with the prophecy of The Chosen, he’s done everything he can to ensure its success. Including betraying those who love him and gaslighting his own family members. Built to be a despicable character he will entice readers into learning the fate of those he’s exploited. Everyone who comes into contact with him will have their lines irrevocably changed forever.
The characters in The Ruptured Sky are a wonderful mix of personalities and ambition. Their combined goals and ambitions pull them apart as much as they force them together. As the story progresses, readers will be stunned at the revelations from long harbored secrets. Jessica A. McMinn isn’t afraid to challenge her characters, even if it means breaking them in the process. Readers will be entranced by the character arcs and development unfolding across the pages.
With how book one ended, I can’t wait to see where the next one begins. I need to know the fate of the characters and what else is in store for them. If you are a reader who enjoys dark fantasy, give this book a try!
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Ruptured Sky
Thank you to Jessica A. McMinn for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
From a young age, Princess Amikharlia knew she was different. When she sneaks out with her friends and saves their lives with magic the whispers begin. Even her own father calls her unnatural. And when it comes time to marry a cruel prince, she leaves the royal family to hunt demonic creatures plaguing the land. Little does she know, her fate is entwined with those who would bring the goddess back into the world. And her magic is one of the keys.
The Ruptured Sky is a dark and action-packed journey. Told through the eyes of multiple characters, the reader will experience a range of emotions. As they venture deeper into the lore and world-building, they will be swept up in the story. The characters you come to know and cheer for in the beginning, are nowhere near the same by the end of the novel due to the hardships they face.
Jessica A McMinn created such a manipulative and controlling character in Grey. Obsessed with the prophecy of The Chosen, he’s done everything he can to ensure its success. Including betraying those who love him and gaslighting his own family members. Built to be a despicable character he will entice readers into learning the fate of those he’s exploited. Everyone who comes into contact with him will have their lines irrevocably changed forever.
The characters in The Ruptured Sky are a wonderful mix of personalities and ambition. Their combined goals and ambitions pull them apart as much as they force them together. As the story progresses, readers will be stunned at the revelations from long harbored secrets. Jessica A. McMinn isn’t afraid to challenge her characters, even if it means breaking them in the process. Readers will be entranced by the character arcs and development unfolding across the pages.
With how book one ended, I can’t wait to see where the next one begins. I need to know the fate of the characters and what else is in store for them. If you are a reader who enjoys dark fantasy, give this book a try!
March 6, 2023
I’m *so* grateful to Jessica A. McMinn for letting me read an e-ARC of her debut dark fantasy, The Ruptured Sky! This incredible tale is such an exciting read, featuring a slow build of suspense which soon becomes an array of fireworks halfway through. And let me tell you, from that point on I was kept on the very edge of my seat!
Princess Amikharlia left her homeland behind years ago, in a bid to escape the restrictions of her royal life. Desperate to escape an arranged marriage, Amika didn’t care where she went. But years later, when she’s recruited as a demon huntress to go into Li’Nea Wood? Amika’s freedom of choice comes crashing down once again. Because there’s a prophecy about a dead goddess & the broken sky above their realm… And it involves Amika. Will the princess be forced to go on a deadly quest, to bring back this deity? What happens if the world can’t withstand the ensuing magic? Is Amika really ready to sacrifice everything she holds dear?
Jessica has layered this world with such an amazing plot & history for the key characters. But more than that, we meet new monsters within the pages of this dark fantasy which are truly vicious. So it’s a bit of a shock when a secret about them is revealed later on! Seriously, The Ruptured Sky delivers on one of the biggest surprises you’ll ever read. How could that not be a happiness boost?!
I think if you’ve loved books by David Eddings, Raymond E. Feist, or even Anna K. Moss’ The Worthy? You will *need* to read this! Because The Ruptured Sky stands right alongside them in terms of plot, world building & heart. With the added bonus of a ragtag crew & found family, I was completely in my element! It is the perfect way to start my March goals, because this is a 5 star read...
* You can read my full review on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/the-r... *
Princess Amikharlia left her homeland behind years ago, in a bid to escape the restrictions of her royal life. Desperate to escape an arranged marriage, Amika didn’t care where she went. But years later, when she’s recruited as a demon huntress to go into Li’Nea Wood? Amika’s freedom of choice comes crashing down once again. Because there’s a prophecy about a dead goddess & the broken sky above their realm… And it involves Amika. Will the princess be forced to go on a deadly quest, to bring back this deity? What happens if the world can’t withstand the ensuing magic? Is Amika really ready to sacrifice everything she holds dear?
Jessica has layered this world with such an amazing plot & history for the key characters. But more than that, we meet new monsters within the pages of this dark fantasy which are truly vicious. So it’s a bit of a shock when a secret about them is revealed later on! Seriously, The Ruptured Sky delivers on one of the biggest surprises you’ll ever read. How could that not be a happiness boost?!
I think if you’ve loved books by David Eddings, Raymond E. Feist, or even Anna K. Moss’ The Worthy? You will *need* to read this! Because The Ruptured Sky stands right alongside them in terms of plot, world building & heart. With the added bonus of a ragtag crew & found family, I was completely in my element! It is the perfect way to start my March goals, because this is a 5 star read...
* You can read my full review on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/the-r... *
March 19, 2024
I saw this book being hyped all over social media so in the end, I caved in and decided to give it a go, convinced I was gonna find an outstanding, jaw-dropping fantasy tale. Unfortunately, it didn't happen quite like that for me.
Don't get me wrong, this was an entertaining read, and had I come across it in my teens, I would have really liked it. Old woman me sadly wanted more - she is no longer satisfied by something merely entertaining. I'm a character driven reader, and even if the writing is somewhat subpar, as long as the characters grab me by the gut, I'm done for, I will LOVE the book. In this novel, that didn't happen because for me the characters felt very flat, like they were there only to serve a series of unfortunate events that just kept on rolling, meant to propel the story onwards and the action forward, meant perhaps to break those very characters and the reader themselves? It didn't happen that way for me, the characters felt accessory to what seemed to be the only thing that mattered: that stuff happened on the exact right spots that experts determine should exist in every novel. It made everything predictable, expectable, with no surprises happening, no WTF! moments taking place, it was all just 'according to the plan'. And that for me, doesn't work beyond the scope of something being entertaining. This was your common variety of epic fantasy, and I wanted something groundbreaking, earth-shattering, inovative. Didn't find it here, as it was merely okay.
I do have a number of pet peeves where it comes to fantasy books that are set in a world other than ours, where the worldbuilding is extense and detailed, which was the case in this novel (applause for the worldbuilding because 99% of it was really very well done): I get really annoyed at the use of 'okay'. Don't ask me why, it's just something that happens, and I can't explain. Another thing that kept dragging me out of the book and making it very hard to re-immerse myself fully into it again - and this was right at the start - was the constant throwing of wine cast names around. Mind, I love me a good Merlot and a well-rounded Cabernet (not so keen on those Sauvignons, tho) but in a book that is set in another world, where the author has created even an entire religion and different races and alternative names for certain professions, can they not come the hell up with wine cast names? For me, this was really annoying and kept jarring me at every mention of it, making all that wonderful worldbuilding crumple before my eyes for that one single tiny details - but then again, that is where the devil is. If not for those two particular little bumps, the worldbuilding would have been really great. As it is, it was still the best thing about this novel.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves epic fantasy that reads fast and entertains, anyone wanting something easy and fast-paced where thinking too hard and too deep isn't required, anyone in search of an adventurous, relaxing read. But if you're looking for something groundbreaking in the realms of the fantasy genre, this isn't it.
Don't get me wrong, this was an entertaining read, and had I come across it in my teens, I would have really liked it. Old woman me sadly wanted more - she is no longer satisfied by something merely entertaining. I'm a character driven reader, and even if the writing is somewhat subpar, as long as the characters grab me by the gut, I'm done for, I will LOVE the book. In this novel, that didn't happen because for me the characters felt very flat, like they were there only to serve a series of unfortunate events that just kept on rolling, meant to propel the story onwards and the action forward, meant perhaps to break those very characters and the reader themselves? It didn't happen that way for me, the characters felt accessory to what seemed to be the only thing that mattered: that stuff happened on the exact right spots that experts determine should exist in every novel. It made everything predictable, expectable, with no surprises happening, no WTF! moments taking place, it was all just 'according to the plan'. And that for me, doesn't work beyond the scope of something being entertaining. This was your common variety of epic fantasy, and I wanted something groundbreaking, earth-shattering, inovative. Didn't find it here, as it was merely okay.
I do have a number of pet peeves where it comes to fantasy books that are set in a world other than ours, where the worldbuilding is extense and detailed, which was the case in this novel (applause for the worldbuilding because 99% of it was really very well done): I get really annoyed at the use of 'okay'. Don't ask me why, it's just something that happens, and I can't explain. Another thing that kept dragging me out of the book and making it very hard to re-immerse myself fully into it again - and this was right at the start - was the constant throwing of wine cast names around. Mind, I love me a good Merlot and a well-rounded Cabernet (not so keen on those Sauvignons, tho) but in a book that is set in another world, where the author has created even an entire religion and different races and alternative names for certain professions, can they not come the hell up with wine cast names? For me, this was really annoying and kept jarring me at every mention of it, making all that wonderful worldbuilding crumple before my eyes for that one single tiny details - but then again, that is where the devil is. If not for those two particular little bumps, the worldbuilding would have been really great. As it is, it was still the best thing about this novel.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves epic fantasy that reads fast and entertains, anyone wanting something easy and fast-paced where thinking too hard and too deep isn't required, anyone in search of an adventurous, relaxing read. But if you're looking for something groundbreaking in the realms of the fantasy genre, this isn't it.
Read
September 4, 2023SPFBO9 semifinalists - group RTC
Want to read
March 11, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A celestial event gives a princess special powers, but with them she must leave her life behind. Now a monster hunter, her life of privilege is little more than a memory.
The prose here is clear and direct and handles it’s multiple characters well. They are largely revealed through dialogue, and the dialogue is a real strength of this story.
I think both the prologue and start of ch1 were effective in their way, but ch1 seems like a better entry point to the story because it feels more grounded to me.
The prologue, though it establishes something of the MC’s life before everything changes, spends very little time on its inciting/critical incident that changes our MC’s life forever.
There’s a celestial event, some kind of monster appears (do our youths know about these things?), and then she somehow kills the thing, I guess? It goes by in a mighty rush, whereas ch1 is taking its time.
There are more details at the start of ch.1 too. The name and description of the monster our MC has successfully hunted, some good expositional dialogue, where we are. The POV also feels clearer. It’s clear who our MC is.
I think this is just one of the dangers of writing a prologue. The ideas are all good, but we don’t want our prologues to take up too much space. Like a film’s cold open, we want it to show the audience a lot in a short space.
But, as I said, ch1 feels well grounded. The idea of a female MC who has gone from a life of privilege to the rough and tumble life of monster hunting is rife with possible conflict and feels like a metaphor fit for fantasy.
Sometimes things happen to us through no fault of our own that change everything, and we live in the shadow of that trauma until we can get out from under it, if we ever can.
I’m eager to see where this goes. It is a spfbo semi-finalist, & that gives me hope it will continue to have the strong voice I’m finding in ch1. The narrative isn’t dumping its setting over my head. I feel like I’m living it out with the MC. I’m in.
A celestial event gives a princess special powers, but with them she must leave her life behind. Now a monster hunter, her life of privilege is little more than a memory.
The prose here is clear and direct and handles it’s multiple characters well. They are largely revealed through dialogue, and the dialogue is a real strength of this story.
I think both the prologue and start of ch1 were effective in their way, but ch1 seems like a better entry point to the story because it feels more grounded to me.
The prologue, though it establishes something of the MC’s life before everything changes, spends very little time on its inciting/critical incident that changes our MC’s life forever.
There’s a celestial event, some kind of monster appears (do our youths know about these things?), and then she somehow kills the thing, I guess? It goes by in a mighty rush, whereas ch1 is taking its time.
There are more details at the start of ch.1 too. The name and description of the monster our MC has successfully hunted, some good expositional dialogue, where we are. The POV also feels clearer. It’s clear who our MC is.
I think this is just one of the dangers of writing a prologue. The ideas are all good, but we don’t want our prologues to take up too much space. Like a film’s cold open, we want it to show the audience a lot in a short space.
But, as I said, ch1 feels well grounded. The idea of a female MC who has gone from a life of privilege to the rough and tumble life of monster hunting is rife with possible conflict and feels like a metaphor fit for fantasy.
Sometimes things happen to us through no fault of our own that change everything, and we live in the shadow of that trauma until we can get out from under it, if we ever can.
I’m eager to see where this goes. It is a spfbo semi-finalist, & that gives me hope it will continue to have the strong voice I’m finding in ch1. The narrative isn’t dumping its setting over my head. I feel like I’m living it out with the MC. I’m in.
April 4, 2023
I want to shove this book into every fantasy lovers hands!
I have been lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Ruptured Sky by Jessica A. McMinn. It's a multi-POV fantasy with a diverse cast of characters who all happen to fall under the morally grey umbrella. Amika, Kio, Kriah, and Rei-Hei are all indelible, wonderfully realised characters that I was invested in each of their stories. McMinn really fleshes out their storylines throughout the book, making even the minor characters memorable. Although I do think Kio is my favourite. He goes through it in this book, and I just wanted to wrap him in a hug!
This is one of my favourite types of fantasy books because it's fast-paced, dark, and gritty, filled with action and adventure. There's magic and monsters aplenty, epic world building, and a unique plot where once it hits its stride, you better hold on because the story ramps up and doesn't let go. I was deeply in its grip, on the edge of my seat, for most of this book, and what is an epic fantasy without ending on a fantastic cliffhanger? You'll definitely be screaming for book two asap.
I have been lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Ruptured Sky by Jessica A. McMinn. It's a multi-POV fantasy with a diverse cast of characters who all happen to fall under the morally grey umbrella. Amika, Kio, Kriah, and Rei-Hei are all indelible, wonderfully realised characters that I was invested in each of their stories. McMinn really fleshes out their storylines throughout the book, making even the minor characters memorable. Although I do think Kio is my favourite. He goes through it in this book, and I just wanted to wrap him in a hug!
This is one of my favourite types of fantasy books because it's fast-paced, dark, and gritty, filled with action and adventure. There's magic and monsters aplenty, epic world building, and a unique plot where once it hits its stride, you better hold on because the story ramps up and doesn't let go. I was deeply in its grip, on the edge of my seat, for most of this book, and what is an epic fantasy without ending on a fantastic cliffhanger? You'll definitely be screaming for book two asap.
May 6, 2024
Don’t you just love when a book starts off seemingly simple, and then gets real complex in the blink of an eye? Me too, honestly. And I don’t even mean that sarcastically. Like genuinely, the more I read the more entangled I became in the lore, and the wildly fast progression.
I fully appreciated the less-than perfect cast of characters. There was no sugarcoating their pasts, nor was there any lack of conflict both internal and external. The grittiness of the emotions and arguments made this fantasy feel more realistic than most books in this genre that I have read. The character development was outstanding to say the least, and it’s only the first book!!
You know that if a map is at the beginning of the book you’re in for a real treat, and this was absolutely no exception. The world-building was top-notch and felt incredibly immersive with every chapter. Each new location was uniquely described, which made the travel feel like actual travel and not just a few hours away. McMinn also went out of her way to show the vastly different groups of races and cultures that resided in each location and intermingled with one another.
This magic system was extremely unique and created a whole new layer to the story. I appreciated the sheer detail that put into the origins of the magic system, instead of just being thrown into the world without any backstory. (which sidenote- is a major pet peeve of mine).
Normally I am very on the fence about multiple POV’s, but this was so incredibly seamless to read. I actually really enjoyed it, especially since there were a few different storylines happening in different locations. It also really helped to see the group’s emotional innerworkings and more the political aspect of the story.
When I tell you there are layers upon layers in this story, I mean it. It was a super refreshing, fast-paced story that (of course) ends on an amazing cliffhanger, but not to worry!!!! The sequel will be coming out soon. I am so incredibly excited to watch how things progress further for the group!!
I fully appreciated the less-than perfect cast of characters. There was no sugarcoating their pasts, nor was there any lack of conflict both internal and external. The grittiness of the emotions and arguments made this fantasy feel more realistic than most books in this genre that I have read. The character development was outstanding to say the least, and it’s only the first book!!
You know that if a map is at the beginning of the book you’re in for a real treat, and this was absolutely no exception. The world-building was top-notch and felt incredibly immersive with every chapter. Each new location was uniquely described, which made the travel feel like actual travel and not just a few hours away. McMinn also went out of her way to show the vastly different groups of races and cultures that resided in each location and intermingled with one another.
This magic system was extremely unique and created a whole new layer to the story. I appreciated the sheer detail that put into the origins of the magic system, instead of just being thrown into the world without any backstory. (which sidenote- is a major pet peeve of mine).
Normally I am very on the fence about multiple POV’s, but this was so incredibly seamless to read. I actually really enjoyed it, especially since there were a few different storylines happening in different locations. It also really helped to see the group’s emotional innerworkings and more the political aspect of the story.
When I tell you there are layers upon layers in this story, I mean it. It was a super refreshing, fast-paced story that (of course) ends on an amazing cliffhanger, but not to worry!!!! The sequel will be coming out soon. I am so incredibly excited to watch how things progress further for the group!!
April 9, 2024
The tl;dr: A dark fantasy seeped in prophecy and monsters, The Ruptured Sky is an exciting, gritty, and fast-paced series starter that all epic fantasy fans should have on their radar. McMinn introduces readers to four complicated and morally grey POV characters without ever feeling like “edge-lords” and is able to find time for quiet characters moments, queer representation, and more in a 350ish page books that covers a lot of ground. If you enjoy VE Schwab, HC Newell, or Ed McDonald, give The Ruptured Sky a look.
My full review:
VE Schwab’s “Shades of Magic Series” meets the dark, epic stylings of HC Newell, LL Macrae, and Ed MacDonald in this fast-paced, magic-filled, and gritty fantasy debut. Fans of big, multi-POV fantasies without the bloated page counts will absolutely devour this book and be left wanting more.
Across the 350ish pages of The Ruptured Sky we are introduced to four POV characters – a runaway princess turned monster hunter, her princeling brother who now deals with the fallout of her actions, her childhood best friend turned mercenary, and a mysterious magic user. Together these four characters find themselves enmeshed in a dark and potent prophecy with world-shattering implications.
While I used to find myself reading fantasy for the worldbuilding, more and more my enjoyment of a book lives and dies by its characters – and luckily McMinn has given us a multitude of thoughtful, complicated, and diverse people to discover, love, loathe, and get frustrated by! McMinn has a real knack for identifying the core of a person and illustrating that to the reader. We get to feel like we “know” these characters quite quickly, even if we still realize that there are layers and layers to their personalities, identities, and histories left to be uncovered.
McMinn also doesn’t shy away from pushing her character’s backs up against moral corners, forcing them to decide between their personal motivations and the greater good. Our runaway princess-turned-monster hunter was reclaiming her agency in a patriarchal world, but in doing so put her nation in grave international danger. A man wants to rescue his great love, but in doing so could disrupt a magical prophecy. An old man has grand machinations to save the world, but is willing to sacrifice anyone to make it happen. McMinn doesn’t glorify wading around the muck, but she never gives her characters the easy choices. And don’t worry – the pacing is so fast and breezy that the morally grey darkness of McMinn’s storytelling never feels relentlessly bleak.
I’ll talk about some of my concerns about McMinn’s fast pacing in a moment, but one thing I did love is how McMinn found some for the characters to sit and ruminate with their actions. These young people (they are mostly in their twenties, so this is not a teenage “coming of age” story) go through hell and back in just this first book (and I’ve heard the second book is darker – HOW??), and McMinn allows them to reflect on the horrifying things they witness and experience. These people are changed by these experiences as individuals, not just in a plot-based “the world is saved*” kind of way.
*Not a spoiler. The world is not saved by the end of this book since there are three more books and a couple of novellas to go!
While talking about the characters, I also must celebrate McMinn’s depiction of her gay male characters in this book. Queer characters in fantasy have been on the rise over the past few years (yay!!), but gay men specifically are still vastly underrepresented – especially outside of the romantasy/fantasy romance subgenres. Of course there is nothing wrong with fantasy romance, but there is something so effortless and inclusive about the way McMinn treats the gay romance(s) in this book as just another element of the story. Non-heterosexual romances have been excluded for so long in fantasy that I understand the desire to make queer romances the focal point of their narratives, but I loved how McMinn treated these gay men like any other relationship in the story. I made the comparison to VE Schwab earlier, and both authors are brilliant at delicately navigating gay relationships.
The pacing of The Ruptured Sky is almost relentless in how this book just moves through the plot. McMinn keeps readers engaged, locked, and loaded as she careens from place to place, POV character to POV character. This leaves the reader breathless and enthralled in how wrapped up in the story you are because McMinn doesn’t take any second to just stare at a tree. Like with HC Newell’s books, I binged through this one in less than two days because McMinn never let me go to come up for air as I was immersed in the journeys of these four broken characters trying their best to navigate a morally grey world. Readers looking for that old school epic fantasy feeling without the page commitment should look no further!
The fast pace and short page count does have some drawbacks, particularly for readers who are used to the more methodical pacing of fantasy’ more lengthy tomes. This does lead to some slightly underdeveloped worldbuilding, as McMinn only has the time to focus on elements that are of immediate concern to her characters and plot. If you are a plot reader, you won’t core, but worldbuilding readers may notice that places all kind of feel the same and not quite as “lived in” as in other books. McMinn’s world feels like many other dark fantasy worlds as she sacrifices place-making for character and plot. I see all fantasy books as a trade-off between the myriad elements that go into producing one, so again this will really come down to what kind of reader you are!
For me, the fast pacing only became a detriment to the story in the way that McMinn deployed her twists and turns. A mystery would be presented on one page, and we would find out the answer to that mystery just a few pages later. At times it kind of felt like McMinn didn’t even need to set up the mystery in the first place because we readers didn’t get to sit, ruminate, and wonder about the answers before they were revealed to us. In these very few instances the fast pace of the story hindered some of the mystery of the book.
Having said all of that, whether you are into gritty, dark fantasies, monster hunters, queer representation, prophecies, fast-paced epics, or (like me) a combination of all of those things, than The Ruptured Sky belongs on your list. The sequel and two(!!) companion novellas have already been released, so now is the ideal time to jump into this series!
My full review:
VE Schwab’s “Shades of Magic Series” meets the dark, epic stylings of HC Newell, LL Macrae, and Ed MacDonald in this fast-paced, magic-filled, and gritty fantasy debut. Fans of big, multi-POV fantasies without the bloated page counts will absolutely devour this book and be left wanting more.
Across the 350ish pages of The Ruptured Sky we are introduced to four POV characters – a runaway princess turned monster hunter, her princeling brother who now deals with the fallout of her actions, her childhood best friend turned mercenary, and a mysterious magic user. Together these four characters find themselves enmeshed in a dark and potent prophecy with world-shattering implications.
While I used to find myself reading fantasy for the worldbuilding, more and more my enjoyment of a book lives and dies by its characters – and luckily McMinn has given us a multitude of thoughtful, complicated, and diverse people to discover, love, loathe, and get frustrated by! McMinn has a real knack for identifying the core of a person and illustrating that to the reader. We get to feel like we “know” these characters quite quickly, even if we still realize that there are layers and layers to their personalities, identities, and histories left to be uncovered.
McMinn also doesn’t shy away from pushing her character’s backs up against moral corners, forcing them to decide between their personal motivations and the greater good. Our runaway princess-turned-monster hunter was reclaiming her agency in a patriarchal world, but in doing so put her nation in grave international danger. A man wants to rescue his great love, but in doing so could disrupt a magical prophecy. An old man has grand machinations to save the world, but is willing to sacrifice anyone to make it happen. McMinn doesn’t glorify wading around the muck, but she never gives her characters the easy choices. And don’t worry – the pacing is so fast and breezy that the morally grey darkness of McMinn’s storytelling never feels relentlessly bleak.
I’ll talk about some of my concerns about McMinn’s fast pacing in a moment, but one thing I did love is how McMinn found some for the characters to sit and ruminate with their actions. These young people (they are mostly in their twenties, so this is not a teenage “coming of age” story) go through hell and back in just this first book (and I’ve heard the second book is darker – HOW??), and McMinn allows them to reflect on the horrifying things they witness and experience. These people are changed by these experiences as individuals, not just in a plot-based “the world is saved*” kind of way.
*Not a spoiler. The world is not saved by the end of this book since there are three more books and a couple of novellas to go!
While talking about the characters, I also must celebrate McMinn’s depiction of her gay male characters in this book. Queer characters in fantasy have been on the rise over the past few years (yay!!), but gay men specifically are still vastly underrepresented – especially outside of the romantasy/fantasy romance subgenres. Of course there is nothing wrong with fantasy romance, but there is something so effortless and inclusive about the way McMinn treats the gay romance(s) in this book as just another element of the story. Non-heterosexual romances have been excluded for so long in fantasy that I understand the desire to make queer romances the focal point of their narratives, but I loved how McMinn treated these gay men like any other relationship in the story. I made the comparison to VE Schwab earlier, and both authors are brilliant at delicately navigating gay relationships.
The pacing of The Ruptured Sky is almost relentless in how this book just moves through the plot. McMinn keeps readers engaged, locked, and loaded as she careens from place to place, POV character to POV character. This leaves the reader breathless and enthralled in how wrapped up in the story you are because McMinn doesn’t take any second to just stare at a tree. Like with HC Newell’s books, I binged through this one in less than two days because McMinn never let me go to come up for air as I was immersed in the journeys of these four broken characters trying their best to navigate a morally grey world. Readers looking for that old school epic fantasy feeling without the page commitment should look no further!
The fast pace and short page count does have some drawbacks, particularly for readers who are used to the more methodical pacing of fantasy’ more lengthy tomes. This does lead to some slightly underdeveloped worldbuilding, as McMinn only has the time to focus on elements that are of immediate concern to her characters and plot. If you are a plot reader, you won’t core, but worldbuilding readers may notice that places all kind of feel the same and not quite as “lived in” as in other books. McMinn’s world feels like many other dark fantasy worlds as she sacrifices place-making for character and plot. I see all fantasy books as a trade-off between the myriad elements that go into producing one, so again this will really come down to what kind of reader you are!
For me, the fast pacing only became a detriment to the story in the way that McMinn deployed her twists and turns. A mystery would be presented on one page, and we would find out the answer to that mystery just a few pages later. At times it kind of felt like McMinn didn’t even need to set up the mystery in the first place because we readers didn’t get to sit, ruminate, and wonder about the answers before they were revealed to us. In these very few instances the fast pace of the story hindered some of the mystery of the book.
Having said all of that, whether you are into gritty, dark fantasies, monster hunters, queer representation, prophecies, fast-paced epics, or (like me) a combination of all of those things, than The Ruptured Sky belongs on your list. The sequel and two(!!) companion novellas have already been released, so now is the ideal time to jump into this series!
March 11, 2023
Many thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC.
Despite the fact that it’s billed as ‘grimdark’ – and don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty within the pages both dark and grim – there’s a certain warmth to The Ruptured Sky that one might not expect whilst plumbing the depths of say, George R. R. Martin’s work. Yes, as with Martin, plenty of things go horribly wrong for McMinn’s charismatic ensemble. At the same time, I can’t help but be reminded of the epic fantasy series I read as a teen, such as The Belgariad by David Eddings.
Maybe it’s the scope of the story - the four POV characters cover a lot of the richly conceived land of Whyt’hallen as their stories intersect - or perhaps it’s because there’s so much humour. Despite their questionable morals, the characters are easy to become attached to due to their sharp tongues and dry observations. One can’t help but root for them, even if doing so sometimes feels like a fool’s errand (how much pain can one alcoholic prince be subjected to?) Rei is sure to be a favourite of many, despite being the most ethically compromised - I suppose that’s just good drama.
Another real draw of The Ruptured Sky is representation – there are strong hints that one character may be asexual and there’s even a tragic gay romance that somehow manages to avoid falling into the problematic “kill your gays” trope. Perhaps in decades to come, that won’t be so surprising, but for now this book deserves credit for subverting expectations that LGBTQIA+ people have unfortunately been conditioned to have for far too long.
Squeamish readers beware – there may be a few moments that skirt close torture porn, but I don’t believe McMinn ever quite crosses the line. All of the suffering these characters go through feeds their development and fuels the pacy plot. Others may disagree with me, so a trigger warning certainly stands for anyone wanting to avoid violence of a physical, psychological or sexual nature.
If that’s not a deal breaker, then you’re in for a good time. Based on my own enjoyment, this book is a real winner. I just hope McMinn doesn’t follow in Martin’s footsteps when it comes to time between instalments - bring on Book 2! Thank the Goddess, there’s already a free prequel novella available to whet our appetites and another one coming soon. For now, they’ll just have to be enough!
Despite the fact that it’s billed as ‘grimdark’ – and don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty within the pages both dark and grim – there’s a certain warmth to The Ruptured Sky that one might not expect whilst plumbing the depths of say, George R. R. Martin’s work. Yes, as with Martin, plenty of things go horribly wrong for McMinn’s charismatic ensemble. At the same time, I can’t help but be reminded of the epic fantasy series I read as a teen, such as The Belgariad by David Eddings.
Maybe it’s the scope of the story - the four POV characters cover a lot of the richly conceived land of Whyt’hallen as their stories intersect - or perhaps it’s because there’s so much humour. Despite their questionable morals, the characters are easy to become attached to due to their sharp tongues and dry observations. One can’t help but root for them, even if doing so sometimes feels like a fool’s errand (how much pain can one alcoholic prince be subjected to?) Rei is sure to be a favourite of many, despite being the most ethically compromised - I suppose that’s just good drama.
Another real draw of The Ruptured Sky is representation – there are strong hints that one character may be asexual and there’s even a tragic gay romance that somehow manages to avoid falling into the problematic “kill your gays” trope. Perhaps in decades to come, that won’t be so surprising, but for now this book deserves credit for subverting expectations that LGBTQIA+ people have unfortunately been conditioned to have for far too long.
Squeamish readers beware – there may be a few moments that skirt close torture porn, but I don’t believe McMinn ever quite crosses the line. All of the suffering these characters go through feeds their development and fuels the pacy plot. Others may disagree with me, so a trigger warning certainly stands for anyone wanting to avoid violence of a physical, psychological or sexual nature.
If that’s not a deal breaker, then you’re in for a good time. Based on my own enjoyment, this book is a real winner. I just hope McMinn doesn’t follow in Martin’s footsteps when it comes to time between instalments - bring on Book 2! Thank the Goddess, there’s already a free prequel novella available to whet our appetites and another one coming soon. For now, they’ll just have to be enough!
September 14, 2023
Jessica A Mcminn's debut novel, The Ruptured Sky, is nothing short of mindblowing.
The cover is stunning. The image, the colours, the hint of what is inside - they combine to grab and hold your attention. Then there is the beautiful black and white map, with it's expected geographical features but also miniatures of the major cities and their fantastical architecture. Yes, I'm a map nerd and was in seventh heaven with this as an introduction.
The use of multiple POV's gives a deeper insight into character motivation and political intrigue, while ensuring the reader doesn't miss significant events occurring in story arcs running parallel to each other. And there is a lot happening in this story! The author keeps her characters well coralled though, so you never feel lost in convoluted plots.
The world building is subtle but incredibly thorough and gets off to a great start with the brief prologue which ties us to the core group and teases us about the magic of this world. And what a unique magic system it is! We have practitioners at all levels (and consequence) of use, manipulating each other and exerting influence on the mundane population. There is a lethal but nebulous threat here, and of course, the approaches to resolving it range from zealous extremism to random stabs in the dark. The characters are flawed, fully fleshed out and stubborn with moments of considered or rash daring. An elegant ConLang pops up throughout the narrative, to keep the reader immersed in a fantasy frame of mind.
There is so much to enjoy about this book but I'll end by saying I pre-ordered book 2 immediately upon finishing this one, and I recommend it to all.
The cover is stunning. The image, the colours, the hint of what is inside - they combine to grab and hold your attention. Then there is the beautiful black and white map, with it's expected geographical features but also miniatures of the major cities and their fantastical architecture. Yes, I'm a map nerd and was in seventh heaven with this as an introduction.
The use of multiple POV's gives a deeper insight into character motivation and political intrigue, while ensuring the reader doesn't miss significant events occurring in story arcs running parallel to each other. And there is a lot happening in this story! The author keeps her characters well coralled though, so you never feel lost in convoluted plots.
The world building is subtle but incredibly thorough and gets off to a great start with the brief prologue which ties us to the core group and teases us about the magic of this world. And what a unique magic system it is! We have practitioners at all levels (and consequence) of use, manipulating each other and exerting influence on the mundane population. There is a lethal but nebulous threat here, and of course, the approaches to resolving it range from zealous extremism to random stabs in the dark. The characters are flawed, fully fleshed out and stubborn with moments of considered or rash daring. An elegant ConLang pops up throughout the narrative, to keep the reader immersed in a fantasy frame of mind.
There is so much to enjoy about this book but I'll end by saying I pre-ordered book 2 immediately upon finishing this one, and I recommend it to all.
April 7, 2023
The Ruptured Sky is a great fantasy read! It did take me a little bit to get into it as I was in a book slump when I started it, but it definitely captured my interest about 1/3 of the way through! There were parts I loved and parts I didn’t (quite a bit of death of innocents). Check trigger warnings!
The story follows four characters. Amika is a princess that ran from home to escape a marriage she didn’t want. She became a huntress and is an amazing FMC! Kio is Amika’s brother that had to deal with the fallout of his sister’s abandonment. He tries his best even with everything working against him. Rei Hai is an assassin that was childhood friends with Amika and Kio. He is tasked with finding Amika and returning her to The Tower, the people he works for. Last, there’a Kirah. He grew up isolated from everyone, hidden away by his grandfather. His grandfather is trying to help fulfill a prophecy. One that all four MCs play a role in.
The book did end on a cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to see where it continues and what will happen to our four MCs! Thank you Jessica A. McMinn for a great debut novel in this series!
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own*
The story follows four characters. Amika is a princess that ran from home to escape a marriage she didn’t want. She became a huntress and is an amazing FMC! Kio is Amika’s brother that had to deal with the fallout of his sister’s abandonment. He tries his best even with everything working against him. Rei Hai is an assassin that was childhood friends with Amika and Kio. He is tasked with finding Amika and returning her to The Tower, the people he works for. Last, there’a Kirah. He grew up isolated from everyone, hidden away by his grandfather. His grandfather is trying to help fulfill a prophecy. One that all four MCs play a role in.
The book did end on a cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to see where it continues and what will happen to our four MCs! Thank you Jessica A. McMinn for a great debut novel in this series!
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own*
May 15, 2023
I was not planning on putting a full-fledged review up this late on Mother’s Day but WOWOWOWOW! This book!!
This grimdark fantasy is a mixture of Game of Thrones and The Poppy War. There’s untamed magic, there’s brutal murder, there’s a quest for something we as a reader don’t know if it’s for the good of the people or not!!
I loved how dark this book is—what I loved about it more than The Poppy War is how close it brings you to hope & happiness JUST TO TAKE IT AWAY 🥲🥲🥲, whereas TPW literally leaves zero room for hope.
I loved that the world within this book is polytheistic, full of culture (I was getting Polynesian vibes but I could be way off there), but also uses the beloved medieval spirit and scenery. The writing is direct, but also artfully expresses character development. The lgtbq+ character rep in this story is beautifully done and one of my favorite fictional relationships to date.
My only (very minor complaint) of this book—I honestly could have used about 200 more pages!! 200 more pages to explore more of this world and more of these character relationships, but I am hopeful we will get both in Book 2.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This grimdark fantasy is a mixture of Game of Thrones and The Poppy War. There’s untamed magic, there’s brutal murder, there’s a quest for something we as a reader don’t know if it’s for the good of the people or not!!
I loved how dark this book is—what I loved about it more than The Poppy War is how close it brings you to hope & happiness JUST TO TAKE IT AWAY 🥲🥲🥲, whereas TPW literally leaves zero room for hope.
I loved that the world within this book is polytheistic, full of culture (I was getting Polynesian vibes but I could be way off there), but also uses the beloved medieval spirit and scenery. The writing is direct, but also artfully expresses character development. The lgtbq+ character rep in this story is beautifully done and one of my favorite fictional relationships to date.
My only (very minor complaint) of this book—I honestly could have used about 200 more pages!! 200 more pages to explore more of this world and more of these character relationships, but I am hopeful we will get both in Book 2.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 6, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a thrilling read by indie author @jessicaamcminn : this book is the definition of grimdark! The characters come to life quickly, and her succinct writing style keeps the plot moving swiftly without sacrificing on emotional impact and character depth.
I've said this already about the last book I reviewed (Forest Mage, Robin Hobb), but there are strong similarities with R.H. Kuang in this book: Kio's story, Kriah's backstory and the final fifth of the novel in general all deliver the same shocking impact of the various hard-hitting elements of Rin's story.
All in all, it's a fantastic read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Many thanks to Jessica for the ARC! The Ruptured Sky is due for release on 4th April!
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#books #fantasy #fantasyseries #grimdarkfantasy #bookreviewer #bookreviews #fivestarreviews #arcreviewer #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #indieauthor #therupturedsky
This was a thrilling read by indie author @jessicaamcminn : this book is the definition of grimdark! The characters come to life quickly, and her succinct writing style keeps the plot moving swiftly without sacrificing on emotional impact and character depth.
I've said this already about the last book I reviewed (Forest Mage, Robin Hobb), but there are strong similarities with R.H. Kuang in this book: Kio's story, Kriah's backstory and the final fifth of the novel in general all deliver the same shocking impact of the various hard-hitting elements of Rin's story.
All in all, it's a fantastic read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Many thanks to Jessica for the ARC! The Ruptured Sky is due for release on 4th April!
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#books #fantasy #fantasyseries #grimdarkfantasy #bookreviewer #bookreviews #fivestarreviews #arcreviewer #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #indieauthor #therupturedsky
April 14, 2023
The Ruptured Sky
The Ruptured Sky focuses on four semi morally grey people, Amika and Kio, Rei and Kriah. Amika flees on the night of wedding, wanting to be the one in control of her destiny. While she may find some small amount of control of her life, she finds herself in the middle of a crazed man's plot, and could become a pawn yet again in someone else's scheme.
This was a fun and entertaining fantasy read. The world building was fantastic and immersive. The character building was also great, and watching Amika and Koi specifically grow and become their own people. Koi and Rei definitely became my favorites with Koi being so shy and sweet, and Rei being the childhood best friend that you just connect to.
The book did take a little getting into. I wasn't hooked in the beginning and the story didn't really pick up until about a quarter way in. The plot itself was interesting, but the beginning just didn't quite pull you in.
Overall rating
4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Ruptured Sky focuses on four semi morally grey people, Amika and Kio, Rei and Kriah. Amika flees on the night of wedding, wanting to be the one in control of her destiny. While she may find some small amount of control of her life, she finds herself in the middle of a crazed man's plot, and could become a pawn yet again in someone else's scheme.
This was a fun and entertaining fantasy read. The world building was fantastic and immersive. The character building was also great, and watching Amika and Koi specifically grow and become their own people. Koi and Rei definitely became my favorites with Koi being so shy and sweet, and Rei being the childhood best friend that you just connect to.
The book did take a little getting into. I wasn't hooked in the beginning and the story didn't really pick up until about a quarter way in. The plot itself was interesting, but the beginning just didn't quite pull you in.
Overall rating
4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
April 7, 2023
The Ruptured Sky is a new fantasy series set by Jessica McMinn that revolves around four morally grey characters, Amika, Kio, Rei, and Kriah. Amika and Kio are royal siblings whose heritage seems more of a curse to them. Rei is their childhood companion with dark secrets. Kio is sheltered to say the least and has only known his unloving grandfather and his destiny as a Chosen to fulfill a long lost prophecy. The complexity of these characters is well written and we get to see chapters from each of their POVs throughout the story. This gives the story so much more depth and along the way, we get to unravel the mysterious backgrounds of all four of them. The world building was incredible and you can't help but get immersed in this book. It is quick paced, dark, and fantastic! It does end on a cliffhanger and now I am patiently awaiting the release of book 2!!!!
April 25, 2023
4,5 stars 🌟
This book is multiple pov. Something I sometimes like and sometimes hate. In this case I liked it! Especially since I liked all the characters and their story lines.
The story is in a really interesting world which was a lot of fun learning about. I really liked all their story's coming together and getting to know the characters.
You can really see the characters grow and find their selves in different ways. At the end the story is far from finished and I think that there is a lot of interesting things that will happen in the next book!
The only thing I struggled with, something I'm never good at, is the names. I have never heard any of the names in the books which made me have to really pay attention to connecting the right person to the right name. But this is just something personal.
This book is multiple pov. Something I sometimes like and sometimes hate. In this case I liked it! Especially since I liked all the characters and their story lines.
The story is in a really interesting world which was a lot of fun learning about. I really liked all their story's coming together and getting to know the characters.
You can really see the characters grow and find their selves in different ways. At the end the story is far from finished and I think that there is a lot of interesting things that will happen in the next book!
The only thing I struggled with, something I'm never good at, is the names. I have never heard any of the names in the books which made me have to really pay attention to connecting the right person to the right name. But this is just something personal.
April 29, 2023
Princess Amika flees her homeland the night before her wedding searching for answers about her magical abilities. She makes a living by hunting demons.
She finds herself in danger and is rescued by a young man who is around Amika's age, or so she thinks. She ends up entangled in his grandfathers prophecy, searching for things that may or may not exist.
Will Amika follow the prophecy to her supposed destiny, or will she make her own path?
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Initially this is a very slow burn, but it picks up around 50%.
The characters are well-developed and there's a mystery as to if some are really trustworthy.
The world-building is great and most of the reason the first half is slow. There's a good bit of gruesome death (beheading) and torture as well.
I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
She finds herself in danger and is rescued by a young man who is around Amika's age, or so she thinks. She ends up entangled in his grandfathers prophecy, searching for things that may or may not exist.
Will Amika follow the prophecy to her supposed destiny, or will she make her own path?
----
Initially this is a very slow burn, but it picks up around 50%.
The characters are well-developed and there's a mystery as to if some are really trustworthy.
The world-building is great and most of the reason the first half is slow. There's a good bit of gruesome death (beheading) and torture as well.
I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
July 7, 2023
This is an excellent, well-written, and interesting dark fantasy novel.
The characters are complex, and their various motivations play well together within the plot. Minn's writing style is a testament to her skill as a storyteller. Her prose flows smoothly, allowing us as readers to become fully engrossed in the narrative without confusion or bordeom. She creates a balance between descriptive passages, dialogue, and action scenes. The dialogue feels authentic, and the interactions between characters are natural.
The pacing is superb, combining moments of heart-pounding action with quieter, introspective scenes that deepen the emotions of the story. The magic systems that are introduced are open to development in later books, and I feel that we have only scratched their surface.
I look forward to more from this author.
The characters are complex, and their various motivations play well together within the plot. Minn's writing style is a testament to her skill as a storyteller. Her prose flows smoothly, allowing us as readers to become fully engrossed in the narrative without confusion or bordeom. She creates a balance between descriptive passages, dialogue, and action scenes. The dialogue feels authentic, and the interactions between characters are natural.
The pacing is superb, combining moments of heart-pounding action with quieter, introspective scenes that deepen the emotions of the story. The magic systems that are introduced are open to development in later books, and I feel that we have only scratched their surface.
I look forward to more from this author.
February 14, 2024
We begin with a very divided royal family and love lost and the story unfolds from there. A prophecy foretold brings characters together and the adventure, heartache, trials and tribulations go from there. There are demonspawn, "First Born", and "Second Born". (We would fall into the second born category) The world and character building are great. The names are very unique and the female MC is a badass for many reasons. I could not put this book down and it is highly recommended for so many reasons!! Sign up for the authors email list and get prequel stories for two of the main characters! I need the next book now!!
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