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A Brands of Taelgir Novel #1
Carved Amidst the Shadows
When the gods shaped the continent into five kingdoms to be ruled by their progeny, they did not account for the greed of men. When they created the Order from their god-blessed followers to mediate between realms, they neglected to plan against the hoarding of power. War between the royalists and the godly was inevitable.
Five centuries later, the borders between kingdoms are impenetrable. No branded-born Marked can cross them without burning to ash, except the Order’s Stewards. But a damaging new war has been prophesied, one that haunts the Order, one that will come to pass if Carved traitors roam free and brandless-born Flawed are left alive.
It starts with one girl that survives the impossible. Kaianne, the Carved. It takes shape through one prince with ambition. Andreiyes, the Marked. It hinges on one grieving Steward that is ready to give up hope. Rau, the Steward. Three people bound by fate – whether they like it or not.
*Please note: This book contains explicit content and dark elements that might be triggering to some. It includes mature scenes of a sexual nature, violence, death including that of an infant, drug references, addiction, childhood trauma, and mentions of suicide.
Five centuries later, the borders between kingdoms are impenetrable. No branded-born Marked can cross them without burning to ash, except the Order’s Stewards. But a damaging new war has been prophesied, one that haunts the Order, one that will come to pass if Carved traitors roam free and brandless-born Flawed are left alive.
It starts with one girl that survives the impossible. Kaianne, the Carved. It takes shape through one prince with ambition. Andreiyes, the Marked. It hinges on one grieving Steward that is ready to give up hope. Rau, the Steward. Three people bound by fate – whether they like it or not.
*Please note: This book contains explicit content and dark elements that might be triggering to some. It includes mature scenes of a sexual nature, violence, death including that of an infant, drug references, addiction, childhood trauma, and mentions of suicide.
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Published August 30, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 28, 2024
Review 1/2024
I have read this book 3 times! IT IS AMAZING! THIS IS EPIC FANTASY AT ITS BEST!
Review 8/2022
Thank you BookSirens for sending me an ARC of this book. This is my own thoughts, opinions and review.
I read 70% of this book in 24 hours. I did not want to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it does deserve ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
It has a great fast pace start with Lady Kainanne with who she is and her role to play. Very quickly her whole world goes up in flames, quite literally. She survives and is forced into the life of a carved. She accepts it and wants this new life of freedom. But she also has a plan she is working in the shadows and when she runs into Andreiyes stretches later she is a bit ruthless to achieve what needs to be done.
There are 3 POV - Kainanne, Prince Andreiyes and Master Rau of the Order.
There is tension between the Royals and the Order and with Rau POV you read what Kainanne's is fight.
I loved Kainanne and Andreiyes as enemies and friends. Their banter is perfect. I enjoyed it so much.
The world building and magic system is very creative. I enjoyed it and the author provides a glossary. I enjoyed reading something different and I think the author did a great job introducing this world
In the middle of the book there is a time jump which I liked the transition of time. I liked the ending, I thought it was interesting way to end it from how it started. Overall I am so happy I read this book. It's everything I love in adult fantasy.
I have read this book 3 times! IT IS AMAZING! THIS IS EPIC FANTASY AT ITS BEST!
Review 8/2022
Thank you BookSirens for sending me an ARC of this book. This is my own thoughts, opinions and review.
I read 70% of this book in 24 hours. I did not want to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it does deserve ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
It has a great fast pace start with Lady Kainanne with who she is and her role to play. Very quickly her whole world goes up in flames, quite literally. She survives and is forced into the life of a carved. She accepts it and wants this new life of freedom. But she also has a plan she is working in the shadows and when she runs into Andreiyes stretches later she is a bit ruthless to achieve what needs to be done.
There are 3 POV - Kainanne, Prince Andreiyes and Master Rau of the Order.
There is tension between the Royals and the Order and with Rau POV you read what Kainanne's is fight.
I loved Kainanne and Andreiyes as enemies and friends. Their banter is perfect. I enjoyed it so much.
The world building and magic system is very creative. I enjoyed it and the author provides a glossary. I enjoyed reading something different and I think the author did a great job introducing this world
In the middle of the book there is a time jump which I liked the transition of time. I liked the ending, I thought it was interesting way to end it from how it started. Overall I am so happy I read this book. It's everything I love in adult fantasy.
August 1, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
blog
➼ four stars
carved amidst the shadow is an incredible epic fantasy and I was completely invested in it.
the whole book was very well written and full of amazing world building and interesting characters. the plot was intriguing and it kept my attention from start to finish. it was impossible not to feel sad for kaianne after everything she went through and the tragedy that struck her whole family, turning her into an orphan.
i loved how she transformed from a spoiled noble girl to a fighter focused on taking revenge for her family. i completely adore her as a character.
this book really does contain the perfect slow burn between kaianne and andreiyes. i just wanted to skip through chapters and read only about them but i remained patient and it was so worth it.
i didn’t enjoy reading some other parts as much. especially those focused on rau because i found them boring but i’m aware that they are significant to the storyline. the counting of time was also super confusing because it wasn’t explained much throughout the book.
such a powerful debut that i really really liked and can't wait for the sequel!
blog
➼ four stars
carved amidst the shadow is an incredible epic fantasy and I was completely invested in it.
the whole book was very well written and full of amazing world building and interesting characters. the plot was intriguing and it kept my attention from start to finish. it was impossible not to feel sad for kaianne after everything she went through and the tragedy that struck her whole family, turning her into an orphan.
i loved how she transformed from a spoiled noble girl to a fighter focused on taking revenge for her family. i completely adore her as a character.
this book really does contain the perfect slow burn between kaianne and andreiyes. i just wanted to skip through chapters and read only about them but i remained patient and it was so worth it.
i didn’t enjoy reading some other parts as much. especially those focused on rau because i found them boring but i’m aware that they are significant to the storyline. the counting of time was also super confusing because it wasn’t explained much throughout the book.
such a powerful debut that i really really liked and can't wait for the sequel!
August 7, 2023
Carved Amidst the Shadows was already on my radar, but then a particular bookish friend who never steers me wrong (hi Kris) kept gushing about it, and I just knew I was going to love it. And heck yes, love it I did!
Rich and immersive world building, deadly political intrigue, riveting tension, dangerous life-force magic, elements of found family, and delicious dashes of slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance; this dark, character-driven, political fantasy has got it all.
At the start of the story we are introduced to the young Kaianne, who, aside from having to reluctantly sign a marriage contract, was living her best life as a pampered Ladyling. That is, until the birth of her Flawed infant brother wrecks her world and causes her entire family to be brutally murdered before her eyes. She’s saved by her brother’s best friend, the haughty and obnoxious Prince Andreiyes, and is forced into the life of a Carved, which kicks off her quest for revenge.
However, the tyrannical Order is tightening its hold on the realm now that a new war has been prophesied; a war that Kaianne may have a key role to play in, whether she likes it or not.
Now, I’ll have to admit that the start of this book threw me off a tiny bit, because I was not expecting to follow a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old as the main protagonists for the first half of the book.
That said, the incredibly gripping and shocking opening sequence did manage to immediately hook me, and after quickly adjusting my expectations, I was fully on-board. Their young age does not make them any less compelling to follow and actually provides an amazing opportunity for them to grow and mature over the course of the story, which I got very excited about as a character-driven reader.
And indeed, the character development in this story proved to be absolutely astounding. There is a very smooth 5-year time jump around the halfway mark, which means that we get to follow these young characters very closely over a significant span of years that start shaping them into the people they will become for the rest of their lives.
Kaianne and Andreiyes aren’t the most likeable people when we first meet them, acting exactly as you’d expect from spoiled, pampered and slightly pompous noble children. Yet, as their lives are turned upside down and their worldviews are shattered, they undergo some of the most satisfying and earned character growth that I have ever experienced.
Kaianne finds companionship amongst the fugitive Carved and morphs herself into a cunning and deadly fighter, while Andreiyes starts questioning everything he ever believed in and decides to become the first noble to train as a warrior. And slowly but surely, they start forging their own paths in life, defying everything that was ever expected of them and becoming true forces of nature.
Also, while I would not describe this as a fantasy romance, the romance subplot that we get here turned out to be one of my favourite aspects of the story, which says a lot considering how much there is to adore in this book.
Enemies-to-lovers is slammed onto nearly every fictional relationship these days, but here we get to see two people who actually deeply despise each other slowly find solace in each other’s company, resulting in a delicious slooooow-burn romance that I was SO here for.
They are actually separated for large parts of the story which allows them to really develop and grow on their own, yet when they do cross paths, the tension just explodes off the page. I loved seeing their slow, reluctant and tentative alliance blossom over the course of the story, and their banter was simply to die for.
And it’s not just the romantic/sexual tension that had me glued to the page, but the intricate political machinations and dangerous drynn (life-force) magic also added heaps of intrigue and suspense.
In the world of Taelgir, no one with a Mark can cross the border between lands except for the Stewards of The Order, who are supposed to keep the peace between the lands. Yet, they are a lot less benevolent than they make themselves out to be, and they will do anything to maintain their seat of power. Anyone without a Mark threatens their rule, so they have made it their mission to hunt down the abominable Flawed and rebellious Carved.
I loved that we got a glimpse into this oppressive Order through Master Rau’s perspective, who I found morbidly fascinating to follow. On the one hand, he is a grief-stricken and world-weary man who you can easily feel sympathy for, yet on the other hand he proves time and time again that there’s a much more ruthless and bigoted man beneath that tender mask.
From early on, you can just sense that it’s almost inevitable that his and Kaianne’s paths are going to crash, yet the way that they get there turned out to be a lot different than I was expecting. The build-up of tension is absolutely riveting and the eventual showdown had my heart rate spiking to unhealthy levels, which I absolutely loved.
All in all, I am incredibly impressed by this complex and captivating debut novel, and now I can’t wait for more. There was a lot of set-up, especially in the first half of the story, but the pay-off is already proving to be so worth it. And with the way this left off, I have a feeling book 2 is going to be even better and absolutely unputdownable from start to finish.
If you like your fantasy dark, character-driven, immersive, tension-filled, and with a dash of slow-burn romance, then you have to pick up Carved Amidst the Shadows.
Rich and immersive world building, deadly political intrigue, riveting tension, dangerous life-force magic, elements of found family, and delicious dashes of slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance; this dark, character-driven, political fantasy has got it all.
At the start of the story we are introduced to the young Kaianne, who, aside from having to reluctantly sign a marriage contract, was living her best life as a pampered Ladyling. That is, until the birth of her Flawed infant brother wrecks her world and causes her entire family to be brutally murdered before her eyes. She’s saved by her brother’s best friend, the haughty and obnoxious Prince Andreiyes, and is forced into the life of a Carved, which kicks off her quest for revenge.
However, the tyrannical Order is tightening its hold on the realm now that a new war has been prophesied; a war that Kaianne may have a key role to play in, whether she likes it or not.
Now, I’ll have to admit that the start of this book threw me off a tiny bit, because I was not expecting to follow a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old as the main protagonists for the first half of the book.
That said, the incredibly gripping and shocking opening sequence did manage to immediately hook me, and after quickly adjusting my expectations, I was fully on-board. Their young age does not make them any less compelling to follow and actually provides an amazing opportunity for them to grow and mature over the course of the story, which I got very excited about as a character-driven reader.
And indeed, the character development in this story proved to be absolutely astounding. There is a very smooth 5-year time jump around the halfway mark, which means that we get to follow these young characters very closely over a significant span of years that start shaping them into the people they will become for the rest of their lives.
Kaianne and Andreiyes aren’t the most likeable people when we first meet them, acting exactly as you’d expect from spoiled, pampered and slightly pompous noble children. Yet, as their lives are turned upside down and their worldviews are shattered, they undergo some of the most satisfying and earned character growth that I have ever experienced.
Kaianne finds companionship amongst the fugitive Carved and morphs herself into a cunning and deadly fighter, while Andreiyes starts questioning everything he ever believed in and decides to become the first noble to train as a warrior. And slowly but surely, they start forging their own paths in life, defying everything that was ever expected of them and becoming true forces of nature.
Also, while I would not describe this as a fantasy romance, the romance subplot that we get here turned out to be one of my favourite aspects of the story, which says a lot considering how much there is to adore in this book.
Enemies-to-lovers is slammed onto nearly every fictional relationship these days, but here we get to see two people who actually deeply despise each other slowly find solace in each other’s company, resulting in a delicious slooooow-burn romance that I was SO here for.
They are actually separated for large parts of the story which allows them to really develop and grow on their own, yet when they do cross paths, the tension just explodes off the page. I loved seeing their slow, reluctant and tentative alliance blossom over the course of the story, and their banter was simply to die for.
And it’s not just the romantic/sexual tension that had me glued to the page, but the intricate political machinations and dangerous drynn (life-force) magic also added heaps of intrigue and suspense.
In the world of Taelgir, no one with a Mark can cross the border between lands except for the Stewards of The Order, who are supposed to keep the peace between the lands. Yet, they are a lot less benevolent than they make themselves out to be, and they will do anything to maintain their seat of power. Anyone without a Mark threatens their rule, so they have made it their mission to hunt down the abominable Flawed and rebellious Carved.
I loved that we got a glimpse into this oppressive Order through Master Rau’s perspective, who I found morbidly fascinating to follow. On the one hand, he is a grief-stricken and world-weary man who you can easily feel sympathy for, yet on the other hand he proves time and time again that there’s a much more ruthless and bigoted man beneath that tender mask.
From early on, you can just sense that it’s almost inevitable that his and Kaianne’s paths are going to crash, yet the way that they get there turned out to be a lot different than I was expecting. The build-up of tension is absolutely riveting and the eventual showdown had my heart rate spiking to unhealthy levels, which I absolutely loved.
All in all, I am incredibly impressed by this complex and captivating debut novel, and now I can’t wait for more. There was a lot of set-up, especially in the first half of the story, but the pay-off is already proving to be so worth it. And with the way this left off, I have a feeling book 2 is going to be even better and absolutely unputdownable from start to finish.
If you like your fantasy dark, character-driven, immersive, tension-filled, and with a dash of slow-burn romance, then you have to pick up Carved Amidst the Shadows.
August 20, 2022
I thank the author and Booksirens for an opportunity to read this book in advance.
Carved Amidst the Shadows is an action paced, adult fantasy romance and first book in the series.
4- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5- 🌶️
~ Slow burn
~ Enemies to lovers
~ Royalty/ Nobles
~ Orphan FMC/ Royal MMC
~ Betrayal, hurts, lies, comfort
~ Sorrow, grief
~ Action paced
~ Revenge/ Vengeance
~ Forced proximity
~ Third person POVs
Kaianne was an orphan at the age of thirteen when her parents and siblings were murdered, all because of her infant brother born flawed. They were murdered at the hands of the betrayer who was ally to the Royal and best friend of Kaianne's father and her future father-in-law. She trained all her life to get revenge on the Royal and the Order with the help of her new found family of Carved.
The Order are those who follow under gods footsteps but going everything against. They kill people, children if born flawed or without mark. They also manipulating the Royalty when the Great war ended to kill flawed. So the flawed aka. Carved formed a rebellion and taking care under those who are carved. They want to punish those are responsible and make a better world together with the Marked and Flawed.
The first half of the story was Kaianne, in her thirteenth age, agrees to marry before everything went chaos, she almost died in the fire, if not for the Prince Andreyeis who saved her at the last minute. He tried his best to save her and took care of her in the woods until she was good enough but he had to leave her when his uncle died and returned to the Castle with the promise that he would visit her soon in the future. Kaianne found a group of rebellious Carved and joined with them.
The second half of the story follows after six years with adult Kaianne and Andreyeis. The fate made them to meet in the circumstances where she kidnapped the Prince and tried to get any information regarding the Order. They both forced to work together to bring down the Order but not with the person who was already living in the Castle, named Master Rau. He's centuries old and killing the flawed with the magic. He wanted to kill Kaianne when she accidentally spied upon him and he almost did. Kaianne and Andreyeis started to fall for each other and they gave in. Soon, when Master Rau chased to kill her again because she saw something she shouldn't so Andreyeis confessed his feelings to her and asked to marry him and she said Yes. They got married on the spot with the witness of the Andreyeis father and sister and Kaianne's maid.
The story has just begun with all the explanations but still lots need to be answered in the upcoming books. The book ends in the cliffhanger, it has three people POVs, different magic system. I admit that it was boring to read Rau POV but need to know what happens with the Order so, i loved Kaianne and Andreyeis. It was slow burn with perfectly written Enemies to lovers trope. It's going to be so much interesting in book 2 cause with all the consequences.
Release date : August 30, 2022.
Carved Amidst the Shadows is an action paced, adult fantasy romance and first book in the series.
4- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5- 🌶️
~ Slow burn
~ Enemies to lovers
~ Royalty/ Nobles
~ Orphan FMC/ Royal MMC
~ Betrayal, hurts, lies, comfort
~ Sorrow, grief
~ Action paced
~ Revenge/ Vengeance
~ Forced proximity
~ Third person POVs
Kaianne was an orphan at the age of thirteen when her parents and siblings were murdered, all because of her infant brother born flawed. They were murdered at the hands of the betrayer who was ally to the Royal and best friend of Kaianne's father and her future father-in-law. She trained all her life to get revenge on the Royal and the Order with the help of her new found family of Carved.
The Order are those who follow under gods footsteps but going everything against. They kill people, children if born flawed or without mark. They also manipulating the Royalty when the Great war ended to kill flawed. So the flawed aka. Carved formed a rebellion and taking care under those who are carved. They want to punish those are responsible and make a better world together with the Marked and Flawed.
The first half of the story was Kaianne, in her thirteenth age, agrees to marry before everything went chaos, she almost died in the fire, if not for the Prince Andreyeis who saved her at the last minute. He tried his best to save her and took care of her in the woods until she was good enough but he had to leave her when his uncle died and returned to the Castle with the promise that he would visit her soon in the future. Kaianne found a group of rebellious Carved and joined with them.
The second half of the story follows after six years with adult Kaianne and Andreyeis. The fate made them to meet in the circumstances where she kidnapped the Prince and tried to get any information regarding the Order. They both forced to work together to bring down the Order but not with the person who was already living in the Castle, named Master Rau. He's centuries old and killing the flawed with the magic. He wanted to kill Kaianne when she accidentally spied upon him and he almost did. Kaianne and Andreyeis started to fall for each other and they gave in. Soon, when Master Rau chased to kill her again because she saw something she shouldn't so Andreyeis confessed his feelings to her and asked to marry him and she said Yes. They got married on the spot with the witness of the Andreyeis father and sister and Kaianne's maid.
The story has just begun with all the explanations but still lots need to be answered in the upcoming books. The book ends in the cliffhanger, it has three people POVs, different magic system. I admit that it was boring to read Rau POV but need to know what happens with the Order so, i loved Kaianne and Andreyeis. It was slow burn with perfectly written Enemies to lovers trope. It's going to be so much interesting in book 2 cause with all the consequences.
Release date : August 30, 2022.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Lovebookstours.
Carved Amidst the Shadows is the first book in an explosive new fantasy series and sets the roots for a fantastic new series to grow from.
We follow Kaianne, whose entire family was murdered all because her infant brother was born 'flawed'. Kaianne then found a group of rebels and has since been training her entire life to get her revenge. I loved the word building in this book and how the author has cleverly written enough to fulfil the story but leave it open to further explanations, plotting, and building. As a debut, this was fantastic, and I can't wait for book two to see where it takes us! This had some of my favourite tropes, too - slow burn romance and enemies to lovers. After that cliffhanger of an ending, I'm hoping book two isn't too far off release!
Carved Amidst the Shadows is the first book in an explosive new fantasy series and sets the roots for a fantastic new series to grow from.
We follow Kaianne, whose entire family was murdered all because her infant brother was born 'flawed'. Kaianne then found a group of rebels and has since been training her entire life to get her revenge. I loved the word building in this book and how the author has cleverly written enough to fulfil the story but leave it open to further explanations, plotting, and building. As a debut, this was fantastic, and I can't wait for book two to see where it takes us! This had some of my favourite tropes, too - slow burn romance and enemies to lovers. After that cliffhanger of an ending, I'm hoping book two isn't too far off release!
June 5, 2023
I just … need a minute
This was potentially my favorite read of the year so far and I was so very honored to receive a copy for review.
I am not a re-reader, I am not a binge reader but if book two were out, I would be starting it this very second. I’ve considered just going back to page one and starting this again.
Intricate politics, dark fantasy, superb character progression. POV’s that intertwine as masters level.
Do I like enemies to lovers now? I don’t know, maybe. I’ll write more cohesive words soon.
M.T. Fontaine can have all the stars. All 👏 of 👏 them 👏
This was potentially my favorite read of the year so far and I was so very honored to receive a copy for review.
I am not a re-reader, I am not a binge reader but if book two were out, I would be starting it this very second. I’ve considered just going back to page one and starting this again.
Intricate politics, dark fantasy, superb character progression. POV’s that intertwine as masters level.
Do I like enemies to lovers now? I don’t know, maybe. I’ll write more cohesive words soon.
M.T. Fontaine can have all the stars. All 👏 of 👏 them 👏
August 30, 2022
This was such a solid fantasy! The world building was so intricate and interesting without info dumping and feeling like too much. The author also still leaves more of the world to be explored and explained in future books of the series, which I appreciate!
I looove the found family trope and childhood friends to lovers, so I was thrilled to find both tropes in Carved Amidst the Shadows. The romance also features grumpy/sunshine and omg I devoured the chapters with those two together!
Definitely looking forward to future books in this series!
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I looove the found family trope and childhood friends to lovers, so I was thrilled to find both tropes in Carved Amidst the Shadows. The romance also features grumpy/sunshine and omg I devoured the chapters with those two together!
Definitely looking forward to future books in this series!
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 21, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
Carved Amidst the Shadows is a dark epic fantasy story, first in the Brands of Taelgir series, written by M.T. Fontaine, one of the SPFBO9 participants. A book that was on my radar after the recommendation of friends whose criteria I trust; and I can say that I enjoyed many elements of this book, such as the intricate political schemes, a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance and the detailed and rich worldbuilding.
The plot starts when Kaianne's life is broken into a million pieces, after her brother is born as a Flawed, bringing the assassination of all of her family; she's only saved due to the help of her brother's best friend, prince Andreiyes. Forced to have the life of a Carved, she starts a quest for revenge against those that ended with her family's life. She was a girl that had everything except for certain obligations, and after these traumatic moments, she will be forced to mature and grow, to adapt to the hard life of an outcast.
With the time, Andreiyes decides to start training as a warrior, to be the first noble doing that. Some revelations from his father, and his own ambition, make him start questioning the beliefs that all people assumed as true, beliefs that give the Order an immense amount of power over the monarchs; he wants to shake off the yoke they have over the different kingdoms of Taelgir. A path that will end intertwining his fate with Kaianne's one, years after their last encounter.
And this second encounter between Kaianne and Andreiyes marks the start of a delicious subplot, a slow burn enemies to lovers which Fontaine inserts super well into the plot, as the natural evolution in the relationship of two people that are condemned to collaborate if they want to overthrow the Order.
Fontaine adds a third character that acts as a counterpoint to the plot, Master Rau, giving us an insight into the Order's politics and rigid control they have over the different kingdoms of Taelgir; they are the few Marked that can travel between kingdoms, and that's the reason they spend so much time looking for Flaweds and Carveds. But even in this kind of character, not everything is black or white, as we can see him trying to protect somebody weaker than him, helping a kid survive; Master Rau can feel things for other people.
Even if this book is a character driven story, we cannot conclude this review without talking about the extensive worldbuilding that Fontaine introduces; Taelgir is a land with history, created by gods who didn't predict the evolution of it. A war is prophesied by the Order, increasing their tyranny over the different monarchs; but common people are also affected by their persecution of Flaweds. There's also some myths introduced by the characters that I would like to see more explored in maybe a prequel novella.
In summary, if you are looking for a dark fantasy, inspired by the medieval world, with some romance and morally grey characters, Carved Amidst the Shadows is a book that you will like. Fontaine has revealed to be really promising, and I can't wait to see how the story of our characters continues!
Carved Amidst the Shadows is a dark epic fantasy story, first in the Brands of Taelgir series, written by M.T. Fontaine, one of the SPFBO9 participants. A book that was on my radar after the recommendation of friends whose criteria I trust; and I can say that I enjoyed many elements of this book, such as the intricate political schemes, a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance and the detailed and rich worldbuilding.
The plot starts when Kaianne's life is broken into a million pieces, after her brother is born as a Flawed, bringing the assassination of all of her family; she's only saved due to the help of her brother's best friend, prince Andreiyes. Forced to have the life of a Carved, she starts a quest for revenge against those that ended with her family's life. She was a girl that had everything except for certain obligations, and after these traumatic moments, she will be forced to mature and grow, to adapt to the hard life of an outcast.
With the time, Andreiyes decides to start training as a warrior, to be the first noble doing that. Some revelations from his father, and his own ambition, make him start questioning the beliefs that all people assumed as true, beliefs that give the Order an immense amount of power over the monarchs; he wants to shake off the yoke they have over the different kingdoms of Taelgir. A path that will end intertwining his fate with Kaianne's one, years after their last encounter.
And this second encounter between Kaianne and Andreiyes marks the start of a delicious subplot, a slow burn enemies to lovers which Fontaine inserts super well into the plot, as the natural evolution in the relationship of two people that are condemned to collaborate if they want to overthrow the Order.
Fontaine adds a third character that acts as a counterpoint to the plot, Master Rau, giving us an insight into the Order's politics and rigid control they have over the different kingdoms of Taelgir; they are the few Marked that can travel between kingdoms, and that's the reason they spend so much time looking for Flaweds and Carveds. But even in this kind of character, not everything is black or white, as we can see him trying to protect somebody weaker than him, helping a kid survive; Master Rau can feel things for other people.
Even if this book is a character driven story, we cannot conclude this review without talking about the extensive worldbuilding that Fontaine introduces; Taelgir is a land with history, created by gods who didn't predict the evolution of it. A war is prophesied by the Order, increasing their tyranny over the different monarchs; but common people are also affected by their persecution of Flaweds. There's also some myths introduced by the characters that I would like to see more explored in maybe a prequel novella.
In summary, if you are looking for a dark fantasy, inspired by the medieval world, with some romance and morally grey characters, Carved Amidst the Shadows is a book that you will like. Fontaine has revealed to be really promising, and I can't wait to see how the story of our characters continues!
August 31, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Only a couple chapters into Carved Amidst the Shadows I had a feeling that this series would become a new favorite. It has everything I love in epic fantasy; expansive worldbuilding, interesting magic, dark secrets, and compelling characters. And while there were some small issues for me with this book, which is normal considering it is a debut novel, I had a fantastic time reading it and I’m still confident the series will become a favorite.
There are 3 POV characters in this book, but our main protagonist is a young noble girl named Kaianne. The book starts out at her family’s manor and is an excellent introduction to the characters and some elements of the worldbuilding. Her mother gives birth to a Flawed child, which means he was born without the Mark of the realm imprinted on his arm. Normally this means the mother and child would be killed, as Flawed are deemed too dangerous to live. However, a brand new royal decree sentences the entire family of any Flawed to death. Kaianne’s family is killed and she is left for dead in her burning home with a mortal wound. Our second POV, Prince Andreiyes, rescues Kaianne and helps her recover from her wounds. However, in order to prevent her from being tracked and killed, he must cut out her Mark from her arm, and make her one of the Carved. The Carved have all removed their Marks, and are branded outlaws and traitors. So in saving her life, Andreiyes has also sentenced Kaianne to a life on the run. Kaianne vows revenge for family, but first she must learn the skills to survive after her pampered upbringing.
Our third POV is Rau, a 500 year old Master of the Order. The Order are the magic wielders of this world and are doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes that is difficult to get into without spoilers, but they are very intriguing and I’m excited to see them be more involved in future books. Suffice it to say that the Order believes in a prophecy that blames the Flawed and Carved for the destruction of the kingdom and as such are devoted to hunting them down. They are also historically at odds with the royals, so from the perspective of Andreiyes and Kaianne he is an antagonist, though he does not consider himself one. The Order are not mustache-twirling villains, they believe that what they are doing is for the benefit of the people and the kingdom. Which makes their zealotry all the more dangerous, and their characters more compelling.
The character development in this novel was very immersive. I found myself drawn into the lives of all of our POV characters and the personal struggles and tension were palpable while reading. There is a 5 year time jump in the middle of the book that feels seamless, and I felt was a great choice. Kaianne and Andreiyes were 13 and 15 respectively at the beginning and the time jump allows us to spend more time with their more mature older selves, while also skipping most of the training montages that would have inevitably ensued. Kaianne especially is very different after the jump, having been forced to adapt or die, and it was fun to see how she had matured while still feeling like the Kaianne we had seen throughout the first half. On the other hand, Master Rau has a sort of devolution that was just as interesting to watch. In the beginning, he is tired and weary from his many centuries of life and was even considering allowing himself to pass on. Something happens around halfway through the book that drastically changes his circumstances and he is invigorated again, and while he is happier, this change also leads to his devolution of character that is fascinating to watch.
And while I greatly enjoyed the characters in this book, they are also my only major complaint. Dialogue, especially for younger characters, sometimes felt strange or out of character. There were also multiple occasions where characters had large mood swings, or felt like they suddenly regressed to old versions of themselves and back again very suddenly. I chalk this up to this being a debut novel and while it was sometimes distracting, I still had a great time overall and very much enjoyed the characters as a whole. The only other thing to note is the romance, while handled extremely well, was a bit over dramatic for me at times. Though this is completely a personal preference and I think most readers will thoroughly enjoy it.
My favorite aspect of this novel was the worldbuilding. It is absolutely exquisite. There is an obvious depth to the world that intrigues me, and so much more to be uncovered that leaves me yearning for more. As we know so far, long ago the gods left the world and divided it between their 5 children. In the hundreds of years since then, their descendants squabbled for power and as a consequence, their are mysterious magical barriers on the borders of each realm that only the Order can cross. If a Marked attempts to cross, they are disintegrated. However, as Kaianne discovers, Carved are also able to cross the borders. Which begs so many questions as to the nature of the Marks, the walls, and the goals of the Order. Andreiyes also discovers as secret about the relationship between the royals and the Order which is a huge twist and one I can’t wait to see develop further.
The novel was definitely a slow-burn. There was some amount of action but a large portion of the book was character development and set up for the world and overall plot of the series. Despite this I never felt bored while reading, and I am very excited to see what the author does with the sequel now that most of the setup is done. I have a feeling it will only get better from here. The ending of the book was not your typical fight scene but it still had me at the edge of my seat and my heart pounding from the tension. Especially with the sequel due out very soon, I recommend this book to all readers of dark and epic fantasy. There is so much to enjoy in this book whether you are a character-driven reader or love immersive worldbuilding.
Only a couple chapters into Carved Amidst the Shadows I had a feeling that this series would become a new favorite. It has everything I love in epic fantasy; expansive worldbuilding, interesting magic, dark secrets, and compelling characters. And while there were some small issues for me with this book, which is normal considering it is a debut novel, I had a fantastic time reading it and I’m still confident the series will become a favorite.
There are 3 POV characters in this book, but our main protagonist is a young noble girl named Kaianne. The book starts out at her family’s manor and is an excellent introduction to the characters and some elements of the worldbuilding. Her mother gives birth to a Flawed child, which means he was born without the Mark of the realm imprinted on his arm. Normally this means the mother and child would be killed, as Flawed are deemed too dangerous to live. However, a brand new royal decree sentences the entire family of any Flawed to death. Kaianne’s family is killed and she is left for dead in her burning home with a mortal wound. Our second POV, Prince Andreiyes, rescues Kaianne and helps her recover from her wounds. However, in order to prevent her from being tracked and killed, he must cut out her Mark from her arm, and make her one of the Carved. The Carved have all removed their Marks, and are branded outlaws and traitors. So in saving her life, Andreiyes has also sentenced Kaianne to a life on the run. Kaianne vows revenge for family, but first she must learn the skills to survive after her pampered upbringing.
Our third POV is Rau, a 500 year old Master of the Order. The Order are the magic wielders of this world and are doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes that is difficult to get into without spoilers, but they are very intriguing and I’m excited to see them be more involved in future books. Suffice it to say that the Order believes in a prophecy that blames the Flawed and Carved for the destruction of the kingdom and as such are devoted to hunting them down. They are also historically at odds with the royals, so from the perspective of Andreiyes and Kaianne he is an antagonist, though he does not consider himself one. The Order are not mustache-twirling villains, they believe that what they are doing is for the benefit of the people and the kingdom. Which makes their zealotry all the more dangerous, and their characters more compelling.
The character development in this novel was very immersive. I found myself drawn into the lives of all of our POV characters and the personal struggles and tension were palpable while reading. There is a 5 year time jump in the middle of the book that feels seamless, and I felt was a great choice. Kaianne and Andreiyes were 13 and 15 respectively at the beginning and the time jump allows us to spend more time with their more mature older selves, while also skipping most of the training montages that would have inevitably ensued. Kaianne especially is very different after the jump, having been forced to adapt or die, and it was fun to see how she had matured while still feeling like the Kaianne we had seen throughout the first half. On the other hand, Master Rau has a sort of devolution that was just as interesting to watch. In the beginning, he is tired and weary from his many centuries of life and was even considering allowing himself to pass on. Something happens around halfway through the book that drastically changes his circumstances and he is invigorated again, and while he is happier, this change also leads to his devolution of character that is fascinating to watch.
And while I greatly enjoyed the characters in this book, they are also my only major complaint. Dialogue, especially for younger characters, sometimes felt strange or out of character. There were also multiple occasions where characters had large mood swings, or felt like they suddenly regressed to old versions of themselves and back again very suddenly. I chalk this up to this being a debut novel and while it was sometimes distracting, I still had a great time overall and very much enjoyed the characters as a whole. The only other thing to note is the romance, while handled extremely well, was a bit over dramatic for me at times. Though this is completely a personal preference and I think most readers will thoroughly enjoy it.
My favorite aspect of this novel was the worldbuilding. It is absolutely exquisite. There is an obvious depth to the world that intrigues me, and so much more to be uncovered that leaves me yearning for more. As we know so far, long ago the gods left the world and divided it between their 5 children. In the hundreds of years since then, their descendants squabbled for power and as a consequence, their are mysterious magical barriers on the borders of each realm that only the Order can cross. If a Marked attempts to cross, they are disintegrated. However, as Kaianne discovers, Carved are also able to cross the borders. Which begs so many questions as to the nature of the Marks, the walls, and the goals of the Order. Andreiyes also discovers as secret about the relationship between the royals and the Order which is a huge twist and one I can’t wait to see develop further.
The novel was definitely a slow-burn. There was some amount of action but a large portion of the book was character development and set up for the world and overall plot of the series. Despite this I never felt bored while reading, and I am very excited to see what the author does with the sequel now that most of the setup is done. I have a feeling it will only get better from here. The ending of the book was not your typical fight scene but it still had me at the edge of my seat and my heart pounding from the tension. Especially with the sequel due out very soon, I recommend this book to all readers of dark and epic fantasy. There is so much to enjoy in this book whether you are a character-driven reader or love immersive worldbuilding.
July 7, 2022
I adored "Carved Amidst the Shadows." I picked up this epic fantasy from BookSirens as an ARC and had no idea what to expect. It was incredible! It's a true second-world epic fantasy, with rich worldbuilding and a lush history, both magical and political. What really captured me, however, was the characters. Kaianne is an incredible heroine. Seeing her grow up and grow in her power and self-assurance (she starts as a sort of Arya Stark type, but eventually blossoms into an even more interesting heroine) was amazing. My one real disappointment was the romance at the end, which I didn't find believable or, frankly, worthy of the character. Nonetheless, the book is outstandingly written, both beautiful and emotionally compelling, and I hope others will check it out when it releases in August!
August 29, 2022
Read this book, and you’ll know why we call it “epic” fantasy.
Wow, what a read! The author does an amazing job at fleshing out the vast intricate world-building—of which I’m excited to learn even more about throughout the series—and the amazing cast of characters. I especially adored our protagonists, Kaianne and Andreiyes. They were done so well and I was rooting for them—both together and apart. I especially enjoyed the development of their romance. True, it does move slowly, and for a big portion of the book there isn’t truly a romance as Kaianne is only twelve, but overall it set a great base for a slow burn romance that had elements of both friends to lovers and enemies to lovers, which are my two favorite romantic tropes!
I couldn’t help the soft spot I developed for Andreiyes. Despite him being a bit of a playboy, I loved his charm and also how fiercely protective he was of the people he loves—particularly Kaianne and his sister Edmira. But Kaianne was also a great character—very resilient and brave—and a fantastic female lead.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Rau’s chapters. While I appreciate the complexity of his character, my excitement waned whenever it was time to read one of his chapters, which I found were slower and heavier than those of Kaianne and Andreiyes. The fact that I was also very much looking forward to see how their romance would progress undoubtedly played a big part in this.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Wow, what a read! The author does an amazing job at fleshing out the vast intricate world-building—of which I’m excited to learn even more about throughout the series—and the amazing cast of characters. I especially adored our protagonists, Kaianne and Andreiyes. They were done so well and I was rooting for them—both together and apart. I especially enjoyed the development of their romance. True, it does move slowly, and for a big portion of the book there isn’t truly a romance as Kaianne is only twelve, but overall it set a great base for a slow burn romance that had elements of both friends to lovers and enemies to lovers, which are my two favorite romantic tropes!
I couldn’t help the soft spot I developed for Andreiyes. Despite him being a bit of a playboy, I loved his charm and also how fiercely protective he was of the people he loves—particularly Kaianne and his sister Edmira. But Kaianne was also a great character—very resilient and brave—and a fantastic female lead.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Rau’s chapters. While I appreciate the complexity of his character, my excitement waned whenever it was time to read one of his chapters, which I found were slower and heavier than those of Kaianne and Andreiyes. The fact that I was also very much looking forward to see how their romance would progress undoubtedly played a big part in this.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
August 29, 2022
CARVED AMIDST THE SHADOWS is a perfect read for fans of epic fantasy rich with action, complex world-building, morally gray characters and a sprinkle of romance to top it all off.
The scope of the world-building in this book is massive, and while I was a little overwhelmed with information at first, it didn’t take long for me to ease into the story alongside the characters. The information on the world was easier to absorb once I was seeing it in action and focusing on the characters, which were by far my favorite part of the book! I immediately felt a connection to them. Kaianne’s story is so heartbreaking, but it led to some incredible dynamics. I loved the found family dynamic between Kaianne and the Carved, especially the father-daughter bond with Ghedi, which were some of my favorite moments of the book. However, the highlight for me was the relationship with Andreiyes. Childhood friends to lovers is one of my weaknesses, but these two also have enemies to lovers and forced proximity in them. The slow burn was magnificent, and the way these two characters—Andreiyes with his sunny personality and Kaianne with her badass grumpiness—was fire! Needless to say, whenever they were apart I was devouring pages hoping I’d get to see them together soon.
I was a little bit more on the fence about Rau’s PoV chapters. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very gray character to follow and his chapters probably offered the most perspective on the structure of the world and the foul mechanisms at play behind the scenes, but they were also the heaviest to read and I can’t say I always agreed with Rau’s reasoning or his controlling behavior.
Overall, this was an incredible first installment! I’m very curious to find out more about the world and to see the developments of the political intrigue in the sequels. Some very interesting dynamics form at the end of the book, and I feel like we’re in for a wild ride!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
The scope of the world-building in this book is massive, and while I was a little overwhelmed with information at first, it didn’t take long for me to ease into the story alongside the characters. The information on the world was easier to absorb once I was seeing it in action and focusing on the characters, which were by far my favorite part of the book! I immediately felt a connection to them. Kaianne’s story is so heartbreaking, but it led to some incredible dynamics. I loved the found family dynamic between Kaianne and the Carved, especially the father-daughter bond with Ghedi, which were some of my favorite moments of the book. However, the highlight for me was the relationship with Andreiyes. Childhood friends to lovers is one of my weaknesses, but these two also have enemies to lovers and forced proximity in them. The slow burn was magnificent, and the way these two characters—Andreiyes with his sunny personality and Kaianne with her badass grumpiness—was fire! Needless to say, whenever they were apart I was devouring pages hoping I’d get to see them together soon.
I was a little bit more on the fence about Rau’s PoV chapters. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very gray character to follow and his chapters probably offered the most perspective on the structure of the world and the foul mechanisms at play behind the scenes, but they were also the heaviest to read and I can’t say I always agreed with Rau’s reasoning or his controlling behavior.
Overall, this was an incredible first installment! I’m very curious to find out more about the world and to see the developments of the political intrigue in the sequels. Some very interesting dynamics form at the end of the book, and I feel like we’re in for a wild ride!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
August 28, 2022
This book was so different from what I expected it to be at the beginning, but I loved every minute of it. It was the perfect blend between the complexity and depth of epic fantasy and the twists and turns of romantasy.
The worldbuilding and the plot was unique and complex, but the characters are the real stars of this show. All 3 POV characters have their strength and individual yet intertwining arcs which was great. I loved seeing them evolve and reveal their depths as the story progressed.
It's a book for those who prefer the romance to be a subplot rather than the main focus of the story, but it still wasn't overshadowed by the politics and magical conflicts. The two was well balanced and created a whole in the end.
I really hope people will show love to this series because if something deserves it, this is it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The worldbuilding and the plot was unique and complex, but the characters are the real stars of this show. All 3 POV characters have their strength and individual yet intertwining arcs which was great. I loved seeing them evolve and reveal their depths as the story progressed.
It's a book for those who prefer the romance to be a subplot rather than the main focus of the story, but it still wasn't overshadowed by the politics and magical conflicts. The two was well balanced and created a whole in the end.
I really hope people will show love to this series because if something deserves it, this is it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2022
I really tried for several days to get into this book but I found that I couldn’t. I can tell that the world building and characters are there but everything felt too sudden and kind of information heavy in the first few chapters that I really could not get into it. It’s unfortunate because this story seemed really interesting!
***Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel***
***Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel***
May 4, 2023
Featuring a new world, new systems, magic, and adventure, this book is a true fantasy. There's a lot of information and characters at the beginning ,but it takes little time for the story to unfold. A true fantasy masterpiece, CARVED AMIDST THE SHADOWS is a must-read for everyone who enjoys fantasy. A complex plot with original characters, strong emotions, and powerful descriptions makes this a compelling read. They have strengths and weaknesses, beliefs, and doubts. Looking forward to Book #2 and wishing the series all the success it deserves.
September 3, 2023
I really enjoyed the start to this epic fantasy series by M.T. Fontaine. It starts a bit slow as it really gets into its world and character building but it picks up the pace and you can appreciate all of the development. The story is told from 3 main perspectives and the individual stories mesh together well when they are all in the same place. It’s an intriguing fantasy that ends in such a way that you can’t wait for the next in the series!
July 15, 2022
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 Stars
"[I] would rather be foolish in love than foolish on the throne."
That cover art!!!
The fact that this is a debut novel absolutely blows my mind! This book gripped me from the first chapter and jumps right in to the story. It blends a revenge tale (which I love ) with a story of found family and a romance of childhood enemies to childhood friends to . Then add in a unique magic system and easy to follow world building and a gripping plot? Yes please. This book honestly pulled me out of a reading slump!
The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star read for me is that the ending felt a bit rushed. This book is definitely not short, but I would have loved to see the last few chapters expanded on. though this fully could be because I am INVESTED in Kainne and Andreiyes and just want more . I thought the units of time (stretches, cycles, etc) were a bit hard to follow, but that is on me for not noticing there was a glossary at the end of the book until I actually reached the end of the book. I also did find Rau's POV chapters to be a bit of a grind at times - I just wanted to speed through to get back to Kainne's or Andreiyes' POVs because I found them to be more compelling.
Rau won my heart back by seeing his
Andreiyes, I adore you.
I mean how can you not!
Swoon. I love to see the showing scars trope.
Like I mentioned above, this book pulled me out of a reading slump. So if you're looking for a fantasy with a solid plot that stands on it's own (but also a dash of romance) I definitely recommend giving Carved Amidst the Shadows a try!
*Disclaimer: I was generously provided with an ARC from the author. However, all viewpoints expressed above are my own!
"[I] would rather be foolish in love than foolish on the throne."
That cover art!!!
The fact that this is a debut novel absolutely blows my mind! This book gripped me from the first chapter and jumps right in to the story. It blends a revenge tale (which I love ) with a story of found family and a romance of childhood enemies to childhood friends to . Then add in a unique magic system and easy to follow world building and a gripping plot? Yes please. This book honestly pulled me out of a reading slump!
The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star read for me is that the ending felt a bit rushed. This book is definitely not short, but I would have loved to see the last few chapters expanded on.
Rau won my heart back by seeing his
Andreiyes, I adore you.
I mean how can you not!
Swoon. I love to see the showing scars trope.
Like I mentioned above, this book pulled me out of a reading slump. So if you're looking for a fantasy with a solid plot that stands on it's own (but also a dash of romance) I definitely recommend giving Carved Amidst the Shadows a try!
*Disclaimer: I was generously provided with an ARC from the author. However, all viewpoints expressed above are my own!
June 5, 2023
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review. What would you do if your whole world was ripped from you in one fell swoop. Everything and everyone you have growth to love taken from you in cold blood and no resources to survive. What if you were not the only one who has suffered injustice? This debut novel is a story of war, cursed magic, family, and the brutal truths surrounding power and how not to loose it. Carved Amidst The Shadows is also an entry of SPBFO 9 so this is an extra special review from me.
Before I begin with the review there is a bit of back history I need to divulge to better understand the stakes our characters are working with. The continent of Talegir was broken up into five realms by the gods each to be ruled by together but they didn’t anticipate the greed of men. To prevent war between realms, The Order of Stewarts were created to keep the five realms of men in check with magic and force. Furthermore, the borders of each realm is unable to be crossed by any human or else they turn to a ash except for the Stewarts. Babies born into this world are birthed with magical tattoos for them to be marked by the order and it also prevents them from leaving their homeland. However, every once in a while a baby is born without a tattoo and is a flawed. Flawed children are hunted and killed by The Order and this is where our story begins.
Rau the Stewart lives in the Order’s Temple of Tenor trying to live his life as peacefully as possible. Stewarts are granted longer than ordinary lives when they drink from the Well of Unity and for many it is considered a high honor but Rau sees it as a curse. Broken with the loss of his family many years in the past and unable to shield his mind from the pain. Rau is tasked with going into Isyldill as there is a rumor that a Flawed has been born. Andreiyes is a marked of a noble house in Isyldill and his family is called upon to execute the task of not only destroying the Flawed but the entire family associated with it. Andreiyes is unaware of this and is crestfallen when he discovers it is indeed the family he was set to marry into. Kaianne ha witnessed her mother give birth to a baby without a tattoo and she will soon come to realize that her world will be crumbling down all around her. Somehow she survives and is left to forge her own path in the world as she starts to build up her strength for the vengeance sure to come. In order to do that, Kaianne will need to remove her mark and become a carved outlaw on the run.
The whole story is not just blood and grit if that is not your thing. There is a fair bit of comic relief in most of the chapters, a lingering romance thread mixed in, and plenty of suspense along the way. The best parts of this debut are the attention to detail in the worldbuilding and the shocking moments of the plot to go along with the characters we follow. At about the halfway point there is a time jump which doesn’t distract from the story at all. It always felt like each chapter ended in a way where I wanted to know what happened next. Don’t sleep on this novel as it will surprise you at every turn.
This was a fantastic debut novel for M.T. Fontaine. Now the book does end on a cliffhanger but the sequel novel is set to be released in August 2023 so you won’t have to wait very long to continue. I’m glad I gave this book a try and by the end of this many of you will be glad as well.
Cheers!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review. What would you do if your whole world was ripped from you in one fell swoop. Everything and everyone you have growth to love taken from you in cold blood and no resources to survive. What if you were not the only one who has suffered injustice? This debut novel is a story of war, cursed magic, family, and the brutal truths surrounding power and how not to loose it. Carved Amidst The Shadows is also an entry of SPBFO 9 so this is an extra special review from me.
Before I begin with the review there is a bit of back history I need to divulge to better understand the stakes our characters are working with. The continent of Talegir was broken up into five realms by the gods each to be ruled by together but they didn’t anticipate the greed of men. To prevent war between realms, The Order of Stewarts were created to keep the five realms of men in check with magic and force. Furthermore, the borders of each realm is unable to be crossed by any human or else they turn to a ash except for the Stewarts. Babies born into this world are birthed with magical tattoos for them to be marked by the order and it also prevents them from leaving their homeland. However, every once in a while a baby is born without a tattoo and is a flawed. Flawed children are hunted and killed by The Order and this is where our story begins.
Rau the Stewart lives in the Order’s Temple of Tenor trying to live his life as peacefully as possible. Stewarts are granted longer than ordinary lives when they drink from the Well of Unity and for many it is considered a high honor but Rau sees it as a curse. Broken with the loss of his family many years in the past and unable to shield his mind from the pain. Rau is tasked with going into Isyldill as there is a rumor that a Flawed has been born. Andreiyes is a marked of a noble house in Isyldill and his family is called upon to execute the task of not only destroying the Flawed but the entire family associated with it. Andreiyes is unaware of this and is crestfallen when he discovers it is indeed the family he was set to marry into. Kaianne ha witnessed her mother give birth to a baby without a tattoo and she will soon come to realize that her world will be crumbling down all around her. Somehow she survives and is left to forge her own path in the world as she starts to build up her strength for the vengeance sure to come. In order to do that, Kaianne will need to remove her mark and become a carved outlaw on the run.
The whole story is not just blood and grit if that is not your thing. There is a fair bit of comic relief in most of the chapters, a lingering romance thread mixed in, and plenty of suspense along the way. The best parts of this debut are the attention to detail in the worldbuilding and the shocking moments of the plot to go along with the characters we follow. At about the halfway point there is a time jump which doesn’t distract from the story at all. It always felt like each chapter ended in a way where I wanted to know what happened next. Don’t sleep on this novel as it will surprise you at every turn.
This was a fantastic debut novel for M.T. Fontaine. Now the book does end on a cliffhanger but the sequel novel is set to be released in August 2023 so you won’t have to wait very long to continue. I’m glad I gave this book a try and by the end of this many of you will be glad as well.
Cheers!
August 15, 2023
This review was originally posted as part of my SPFBO semifinalist reveal on Queen's Book Asylum.
Spoilers follow, as hard as I normally try to avoid them.
Oh, Kaianne, I love you so much.
Sorry, I should first mention that Kaianne is the female protagonist (and that I love her). Her journey is so exciting and brilliant – a scared girl turning into a really badass woman – that I sometimes lost interest in the male MC, Andreiyes, who grows from a tween who thinks with his smaller head into an adult who still thinks with his smaller head, but now has a sword. There is a third point of view – who doesn’t get much space in the first half of the book, but gradually takes over the second, Master Rau, essentially exiled for wanting to avoid massacres in the name of the Gods and all that is good and pure. Rau is written beautifully – is he a villain? Sort of. Is he a good guy? Also, sort of. Talk about shades of grey.
In Carved Amidst the Shadows, children are born with marks, symbolising their lineages – they are the Marked. This is good. Some children are born without marks. Those are called Flawed and must be killed (there is a warning about infanticide in the beginning, you won’t have to wait long) as “aberrations.” Then there are the Carved, born with marks, but deciding to remove them – essentially outlaws. And here is where the entire premise of the book trips over itself.
The Masters (the Order, i.e. clergy with near infinite magical powers), immortal thanks to Well’s Waters they consume, like to keep their finger on the pulse (or stopping that pulse). They can track their flock through the Marks. No wonder they want to get rid of the Flawed before the Flawed find a way to get rid of the Masters instead – the Order fought long and hard to take control. I haven’t noticed the, ah, flaw, until Master Rau received a letter informing that “a Flawed ripple appeared.” But… the Masters can’t detect those without marks. If the letter said “we have been informed,” I would probably have missed it. The Flaw of the baby that dies in the first chapters can’t be hidden, because it has the misfortune of being (briefly) a noble, which means that everyone knows about the missing mark within five minutes. Or bilials. Or sandfalls. Or stretches… The author created their own system of time measurement, which never stopped puzzling me until the end, where I found the explanation. The problem with the explanation being at the end is that it is at the end.
Suspension of disbelief is the willingness to overlook things that can’t possibly happen, with or without magic. Carved Amidst the Shadows requires a lot. While Kaianne’s estate is burning to the ground and her entire family is getting slain (the Masters don’t play), Andreiyes finds her, carries her out of the building, attends to her wounds as well as he can – unnoticed, still within the estate, where nobody else bothers to check for survivors – then carries her out through a secret exit nobody else knows about. He then carves out Kaianne’s mark, cutting “as deep as he dares,” and cauterises it. The result is described as “scars of melted flesh that extended from wrist to past the elbow, along with the indentation of carved tissue along her forearm.” Eleven days after this operation, Kaianne carries around heavy logs of wood. Until then, Andreiyes is “guarded” by a guard he places “on a hill,” from which the guard can’t actually see what Andreiyes is doing (digging a mass grave with his princeling hands and a shovel, which takes him a few days and does not cause as much as a blister, after which he spends his nights sleeping next to Kaianne in the woods). All this happens in the first 15% of the book, leaving me with the feeling that the author fell in love with the premise and the characters [...] Carved Amidst the Shadows is packed with convenient hidden exits and corridors, meetings, unnoticed disappearances, and so on, because the show must go on.
You know what, though? The show is really good.
I feel I should apologise to the author, because all of the above sounds incredibly critical, but the reason for all this nitpicking is that I really enjoyed the book. The pacing is fantastic, the characters well fleshed (except Willik, who isn’t capable of opening his mouth without something nasty falling out of it), and Master Rau’s disobedient secret never failed to make me smile. The magic system is great. Kaianne turning from an irritating girl Andy remembered into a woman who outsmarts him every time he thinks he understands what’s going on is incredibly enjoyable. Master Rau himself is both deeply suffering and very slappable. I would very much like to find out more about Lord Pascual, even though he’s present for about five minutes… until someone says one sentence that makes me WANT TO KNOW. Some of the imagery – two silent masters following Andreiyes’s pregnant sister, which he doesn’t understand, but the reader does – is chilling, some is hilarious, and the proportions are just right. I did not see the ending coming. If Carved Amidst the Shadows was a bad book, or even just average, I wouldn’t bother highlighting the problematic passages (Adam’s apple…) – I would just shrug them off and/or stop reading. But, as Boromir famously said, you don’t just stop reading Carved Amidst the Shadows and, yes, I want to know what happens next.
I recommend it to fans of books that are both character- and plot-based, exciting, fun, and feature amazing female protagonists.
(SPFBO rating: 6.5 rounded down to 3/5 for GR)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader
Spoilers follow, as hard as I normally try to avoid them.
Oh, Kaianne, I love you so much.
Sorry, I should first mention that Kaianne is the female protagonist (and that I love her). Her journey is so exciting and brilliant – a scared girl turning into a really badass woman – that I sometimes lost interest in the male MC, Andreiyes, who grows from a tween who thinks with his smaller head into an adult who still thinks with his smaller head, but now has a sword. There is a third point of view – who doesn’t get much space in the first half of the book, but gradually takes over the second, Master Rau, essentially exiled for wanting to avoid massacres in the name of the Gods and all that is good and pure. Rau is written beautifully – is he a villain? Sort of. Is he a good guy? Also, sort of. Talk about shades of grey.
In Carved Amidst the Shadows, children are born with marks, symbolising their lineages – they are the Marked. This is good. Some children are born without marks. Those are called Flawed and must be killed (there is a warning about infanticide in the beginning, you won’t have to wait long) as “aberrations.” Then there are the Carved, born with marks, but deciding to remove them – essentially outlaws. And here is where the entire premise of the book trips over itself.
The Masters (the Order, i.e. clergy with near infinite magical powers), immortal thanks to Well’s Waters they consume, like to keep their finger on the pulse (or stopping that pulse). They can track their flock through the Marks. No wonder they want to get rid of the Flawed before the Flawed find a way to get rid of the Masters instead – the Order fought long and hard to take control. I haven’t noticed the, ah, flaw, until Master Rau received a letter informing that “a Flawed ripple appeared.” But… the Masters can’t detect those without marks. If the letter said “we have been informed,” I would probably have missed it. The Flaw of the baby that dies in the first chapters can’t be hidden, because it has the misfortune of being (briefly) a noble, which means that everyone knows about the missing mark within five minutes. Or bilials. Or sandfalls. Or stretches… The author created their own system of time measurement, which never stopped puzzling me until the end, where I found the explanation. The problem with the explanation being at the end is that it is at the end.
Suspension of disbelief is the willingness to overlook things that can’t possibly happen, with or without magic. Carved Amidst the Shadows requires a lot. While Kaianne’s estate is burning to the ground and her entire family is getting slain (the Masters don’t play), Andreiyes finds her, carries her out of the building, attends to her wounds as well as he can – unnoticed, still within the estate, where nobody else bothers to check for survivors – then carries her out through a secret exit nobody else knows about. He then carves out Kaianne’s mark, cutting “as deep as he dares,” and cauterises it. The result is described as “scars of melted flesh that extended from wrist to past the elbow, along with the indentation of carved tissue along her forearm.” Eleven days after this operation, Kaianne carries around heavy logs of wood. Until then, Andreiyes is “guarded” by a guard he places “on a hill,” from which the guard can’t actually see what Andreiyes is doing (digging a mass grave with his princeling hands and a shovel, which takes him a few days and does not cause as much as a blister, after which he spends his nights sleeping next to Kaianne in the woods). All this happens in the first 15% of the book, leaving me with the feeling that the author fell in love with the premise and the characters [...] Carved Amidst the Shadows is packed with convenient hidden exits and corridors, meetings, unnoticed disappearances, and so on, because the show must go on.
You know what, though? The show is really good.
I feel I should apologise to the author, because all of the above sounds incredibly critical, but the reason for all this nitpicking is that I really enjoyed the book. The pacing is fantastic, the characters well fleshed (except Willik, who isn’t capable of opening his mouth without something nasty falling out of it), and Master Rau’s disobedient secret never failed to make me smile. The magic system is great. Kaianne turning from an irritating girl Andy remembered into a woman who outsmarts him every time he thinks he understands what’s going on is incredibly enjoyable. Master Rau himself is both deeply suffering and very slappable. I would very much like to find out more about Lord Pascual, even though he’s present for about five minutes… until someone says one sentence that makes me WANT TO KNOW. Some of the imagery – two silent masters following Andreiyes’s pregnant sister, which he doesn’t understand, but the reader does – is chilling, some is hilarious, and the proportions are just right. I did not see the ending coming. If Carved Amidst the Shadows was a bad book, or even just average, I wouldn’t bother highlighting the problematic passages (Adam’s apple…) – I would just shrug them off and/or stop reading. But, as Boromir famously said, you don’t just stop reading Carved Amidst the Shadows and, yes, I want to know what happens next.
I recommend it to fans of books that are both character- and plot-based, exciting, fun, and feature amazing female protagonists.
(SPFBO rating: 6.5 rounded down to 3/5 for GR)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2024
this book had the potential to be great, but ultimately ending up being just okay.
with a sprawling world and epic fantasy feel, this book felt like an investment while reading. i was constantly trying to understand how all the pieces of the magic system and political landscape fit together, and in the best possible way. the first 50% of the novel focused on fleshing out all of the lore via a ten-year backstory, and it was amazing. though after that first half had elasped, and the timeline finally reached present day, things began to fall apart a bit.
the primary factor in that was the romance. shortly after catching up to present day, the author began attempting to push a romance between two of the MCs, kaianne and andreiyes, though it felt sorely out of place when considering the content of the rest of the novel. their relationship read as forced and rushed, taking away from what was otherwise a great tale. kaianne's character also seemed to fall apart in the face of the love-story. what initially began as a strong gritty lead, became a impulsive and reckless damsel.
she risked her people's lives over and over. first by rashly placing her trust in andreiyes when he had given her very little reason to do so, and things only continued to go downhill from there. while staying as an intruder in the palace, she haphazardly murdered someone, underwent target practice every morning in the army's training yard, broke into the armory to use their weapons, let everyone think she was the prince's paramour, and befriended the child of the most dangerous person in the entire book. the stupidity just didn't end. it was like she wanted to draw attention to herself by any and all means possible. it was a super disappointing turn in a character that i had initially really enjoyed.
my favorite part of the book was rau and watching his story unfold, though i felt that we didn't get nearly enough of his POV when compared to kaiannes or andreiyes.
overall the book was fine, though i am sad that that i spent such a considerable amount of time on this only for it to end up so mediocre.
with a sprawling world and epic fantasy feel, this book felt like an investment while reading. i was constantly trying to understand how all the pieces of the magic system and political landscape fit together, and in the best possible way. the first 50% of the novel focused on fleshing out all of the lore via a ten-year backstory, and it was amazing. though after that first half had elasped, and the timeline finally reached present day, things began to fall apart a bit.
the primary factor in that was the romance. shortly after catching up to present day, the author began attempting to push a romance between two of the MCs, kaianne and andreiyes, though it felt sorely out of place when considering the content of the rest of the novel. their relationship read as forced and rushed, taking away from what was otherwise a great tale. kaianne's character also seemed to fall apart in the face of the love-story. what initially began as a strong gritty lead, became a impulsive and reckless damsel.
she risked her people's lives over and over. first by rashly placing her trust in andreiyes when he had given her very little reason to do so, and things only continued to go downhill from there. while staying as an intruder in the palace, she haphazardly murdered someone, underwent target practice every morning in the army's training yard, broke into the armory to use their weapons, let everyone think she was the prince's paramour, and befriended the child of the most dangerous person in the entire book. the stupidity just didn't end. it was like she wanted to draw attention to herself by any and all means possible. it was a super disappointing turn in a character that i had initially really enjoyed.
my favorite part of the book was rau and watching his story unfold, though i felt that we didn't get nearly enough of his POV when compared to kaiannes or andreiyes.
overall the book was fine, though i am sad that that i spent such a considerable amount of time on this only for it to end up so mediocre.
November 17, 2022
An epic fantasy that promises revenge and brings you found family along the way.
+ Slowburn
+ Enemies to Lovers
+ Forced Proximity
+ Betrayal
+ Found Family
I came for the promise of noble turned orphan that gets revenge and stayed for the fantastic world building. Fantasy can come off as info dump heavy, especially in the first book in a series. This managed to be beautiful and build gradually and captured my attention enough to binge it in under a day. There is still enough questions and world to be built and explored that I am excited for the next books in the series.
Andreiyes was a fantastic MMC. I am generally not a fan of the "playboys," but he was charming and loyal to those he cares about. And we all know I love a protective MMC. His love for the people in his life that matter was fierce. Kaianne is very reminiscent of Arya Stark but grows into her own person as the story develops. This is a huge compliment from me as I love Arya as a character.
If you want something romance heavy, this is not it. Romance was a tasteful compliment that was woven into the story and balanced very well.
Thank you to the publisher and author for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
+ Slowburn
+ Enemies to Lovers
+ Forced Proximity
+ Betrayal
+ Found Family
I came for the promise of noble turned orphan that gets revenge and stayed for the fantastic world building. Fantasy can come off as info dump heavy, especially in the first book in a series. This managed to be beautiful and build gradually and captured my attention enough to binge it in under a day. There is still enough questions and world to be built and explored that I am excited for the next books in the series.
Andreiyes was a fantastic MMC. I am generally not a fan of the "playboys," but he was charming and loyal to those he cares about. And we all know I love a protective MMC. His love for the people in his life that matter was fierce. Kaianne is very reminiscent of Arya Stark but grows into her own person as the story develops. This is a huge compliment from me as I love Arya as a character.
If you want something romance heavy, this is not it. Romance was a tasteful compliment that was woven into the story and balanced very well.
Thank you to the publisher and author for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2023
Carved Amidst The Shadows by M.T Fontaine is such a well written read, it’s immersive, fast paced and addictive, I don’t think I could pinpoint anything I didn’t like at all, I did think it was a little slower for the first third or so, but that’s to be expected with the world building in the first book of any fantasy series, but this was no info dump, it was an intelligent and gradual development, I loved the background of the society set up.
The character development is brilliant, our FMC Kaianne is a wonderful, strong lead, I loved the journey I took with her and how natural it felt. I also really liked Andreiyes our MMC, he is charming, loyal and fiercely protective of those he cares for, but I loved Kaianne the most. There is some romance in this, but it isn’t the main focus of the story and it’s slow burn , which I absolutely adore, it’s my favourite.
The story itself was fast paced after the world building set up, it’s full of action, rebellion, revenge and so much tension, I was on the edge of my seat and didn’t leave it until the end. Speaking of the ending, that made me pay attention, now I need more and I want the next book so badly, because I think it’s going to be just as good, if not better than this, which is a fantastic debut to begin with!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The character development is brilliant, our FMC Kaianne is a wonderful, strong lead, I loved the journey I took with her and how natural it felt. I also really liked Andreiyes our MMC, he is charming, loyal and fiercely protective of those he cares for, but I loved Kaianne the most. There is some romance in this, but it isn’t the main focus of the story and it’s slow burn , which I absolutely adore, it’s my favourite.
The story itself was fast paced after the world building set up, it’s full of action, rebellion, revenge and so much tension, I was on the edge of my seat and didn’t leave it until the end. Speaking of the ending, that made me pay attention, now I need more and I want the next book so badly, because I think it’s going to be just as good, if not better than this, which is a fantastic debut to begin with!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2022
Thanks to the generosity of M. T. Fontaine & Book Sirens, I was given an e-arc of this fantastic YA fantasy! It is the first book in the Brands of Taelgir series & in this realm, there are two types of people: the Marked & the Carved. The Marked are loyal to the system, whereas the Carved are traitors. Or so everyone thinks…
When Kaianne’s entire family is murdered simply because her new brother was born without a brand (aka a Flawed), she soon learns that her world’s foundation was never solid to begin with. Joining a rebellious group of Carved, Kaianne plots her revenge... But will her thirst for revenge be enough? And what will Prince Andreiyes decide to do: kill her or join her cause? There are deadly machinations going on, & no one knows what the cost will be when the dust settles…
This world isn’t solely about ‘good’ vs. ‘evil’. Yes, there are some people we can (& do) loathe with a passion, but for the most part? There is a grey area which the rest live in, because as we all know, life is complex. When you’re looking for a story with more than just the stereotypical fantasy characters, this book delivers in spades!
I have loved M. T. Fontaine’s debut YA fantasy, & this book will definitely be one I’ll read again. This beautiful, wonderful story deserves all the stars.
You can read my full review via my blog: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/carve...
When Kaianne’s entire family is murdered simply because her new brother was born without a brand (aka a Flawed), she soon learns that her world’s foundation was never solid to begin with. Joining a rebellious group of Carved, Kaianne plots her revenge... But will her thirst for revenge be enough? And what will Prince Andreiyes decide to do: kill her or join her cause? There are deadly machinations going on, & no one knows what the cost will be when the dust settles…
This world isn’t solely about ‘good’ vs. ‘evil’. Yes, there are some people we can (& do) loathe with a passion, but for the most part? There is a grey area which the rest live in, because as we all know, life is complex. When you’re looking for a story with more than just the stereotypical fantasy characters, this book delivers in spades!
I have loved M. T. Fontaine’s debut YA fantasy, & this book will definitely be one I’ll read again. This beautiful, wonderful story deserves all the stars.
You can read my full review via my blog: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/carve...
August 8, 2022
Carved Amidst the Shadows is an extraordinary, coming of age epic fantasy novel.
What attracted me to this book was the actual blurb:
To Be a Marked means to be loyal and protected
To Be a Carved is to be the vilest of Traitors
Born branded as a Marked, Kaianne trusts the system.
When her brother is born Brandless, her misconceptions come crashing down.
Now an orphan and with only one uneasy ally, she turns to the Carved.
Between the blurb and the characters, Fontaine takes her readers on a journey filled with a magical delights, rich history and tenacious word-building.
I did find myself wanting to skip pages when It got boring, however I was able to refrain. I did see where this information became pertinent,
Thankfully I didn’t skip any pages.
The book overall was fantastic once you got used to the first person narrative and the time jump.
Totally looking forward to the next installment.
BRING ON BOOK 2 PLEASE!!!
GREAT JOB FONTAINE!!!
Thank you NetGalley/M.T. Fontaine/Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op/ For this eARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.
What attracted me to this book was the actual blurb:
To Be a Marked means to be loyal and protected
To Be a Carved is to be the vilest of Traitors
Born branded as a Marked, Kaianne trusts the system.
When her brother is born Brandless, her misconceptions come crashing down.
Now an orphan and with only one uneasy ally, she turns to the Carved.
Between the blurb and the characters, Fontaine takes her readers on a journey filled with a magical delights, rich history and tenacious word-building.
I did find myself wanting to skip pages when It got boring, however I was able to refrain. I did see where this information became pertinent,
Thankfully I didn’t skip any pages.
The book overall was fantastic once you got used to the first person narrative and the time jump.
Totally looking forward to the next installment.
BRING ON BOOK 2 PLEASE!!!
GREAT JOB FONTAINE!!!
Thank you NetGalley/M.T. Fontaine/Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op/ For this eARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.
August 27, 2022
Wow! I really enjoyed this book! It was so well written with beautiful world building and fantastic characters. This one really hooked me from the start. If you are a lover of epic fantasy this one is for you! The story has three POVs (my favorite type of novel!).
In this world their are the Carved who are traitors, and the Marked who are loyal. Kaianne was born branded as a marked, but when her brother is born brandless her entire world changes.
This was an epic, action packed read. I am actually stunned that this is the authors debut! It makes me even more excited to see what is to come from this author! Definitely give this one a read!
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In this world their are the Carved who are traitors, and the Marked who are loyal. Kaianne was born branded as a marked, but when her brother is born brandless her entire world changes.
This was an epic, action packed read. I am actually stunned that this is the authors debut! It makes me even more excited to see what is to come from this author! Definitely give this one a read!
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 13, 2023
The author was able to accomplish a equality between world-building and storytelling. With doing this she was able to create a complex and intricate universe. That keeps you hooked from the beginning. The romance slow to build but its a great friends to lovers. The characters are all great, I personally am not sure about Rau. My absoutley favorite thing about this book is the found family because that's a big part of my life. I overall enjoyed this book and found it keeping at the edge of my seat waiting for what happens next. Excited for the next book.
August 20, 2022
Carved amidst the shadows is the very promising first volume of the series and also the debut novel of the author.
In this fantasy novel, we follow the story of three characters evolving in a world where magic and godhood are mingled. The reigning families are descendants of God and the population is marked according to the gods' attributes. Or are they?
Some people are not marked and obviously, this disturbs the order of things.
I adored the book. It was extremely well-written and the plot showed great development. I admit that I struggled at some times with the new language. A digital edition never helps with the new lexicon (hard to get to the end of the book to actually have explanations). However, the struggle was quite worth it. An entire universe was created and it was endearing, intriguing and vivid. I usually am not fond of multiple points of view in a book. Here we follow three distinct plot lines, but they were all rendered brilliantly and all serve a purpose.
I can't wait to read the next volume as it is a series that I will eagerly follow and purchase.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In this fantasy novel, we follow the story of three characters evolving in a world where magic and godhood are mingled. The reigning families are descendants of God and the population is marked according to the gods' attributes. Or are they?
Some people are not marked and obviously, this disturbs the order of things.
I adored the book. It was extremely well-written and the plot showed great development. I admit that I struggled at some times with the new language. A digital edition never helps with the new lexicon (hard to get to the end of the book to actually have explanations). However, the struggle was quite worth it. An entire universe was created and it was endearing, intriguing and vivid. I usually am not fond of multiple points of view in a book. Here we follow three distinct plot lines, but they were all rendered brilliantly and all serve a purpose.
I can't wait to read the next volume as it is a series that I will eagerly follow and purchase.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 29, 2022
I LOVE a slow burnnnnn! I really loved this book. The best kind of epic fantasy there is!! There were some slow parts that we a bit slow but still a fantastic read! The tragedy and heartbreak really hits hard, but wow the world building and characters!!!
Thank you NetGalley and M.T. Fontaine for access to this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and M.T. Fontaine for access to this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
August 20, 2022
4 STARS
What a fantastic journey, it has a gret world building and interesting charaters.There is action and a slow burn romance to keep you on edge.
"I would rather be foolish in love than foolish on the throne."
What a fantastic journey, it has a gret world building and interesting charaters.There is action and a slow burn romance to keep you on edge.
"I would rather be foolish in love than foolish on the throne."
August 15, 2022
Arc received for review, I really enjoyed the world building in this book, the time skip happened a little later in the book than I was expecting but that let the author get right into the action and politics after without need to explain what had happened during the time skip, I also liked that the three points of view let us see what they think about everything and how between the carved, royals, and the order there was a lot of gray areas in terms of good and evil, I wish the cheat sheet for how their calendar terms worked was at the beginning rather than the end but overall I'm excited to read the next book!
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