TL;DR: A dark, gripping read with creepy Void creatures, great character motivations, clever foreshadowing, and an ending that left me stunned and desperate for the sequel.

Just wow! I was definitely excited to get into a darker book and this absolutely delivered.

The plot kept me engaged the entire time—I was always eager to find out what was going to happen next and where all the clues and hints were going to lead. The characters were also really well written, and I felt genuinely connected to them. I was invested in what would happen to them, which doesn’t always happen with side characters. Often they fall to the wayside or exist only to serve the main character’s development, but both Flint and Jade had their own motivations and felt like fully realized characters.

The creatures from the Void were genuinely unsettling. We were given just enough description to form a clear image without over explaining them. Personally, I think creepy creatures are even more disturbing when some details are left to the imagination—our minds tend to fill in the gaps in the worst ways possible—and the author balanced that perfectly.

The only thing I wish we had gotten more of was worldbuilding, especially a deeper look into the history of the Void. That said, I absolutely loved getting pieces of the world through epigraphs. I’m a total sucker for epigraphs when they’re done well, and these added so much flavor and intrigue. Another aspect I really enjoyed was how the book planted small hints leading up to the big reveal later on. I wasn’t completely surprised by it, but the hints didn’t make the twist feel cheap. Instead, they felt natural and organic, and when the reveal finally happened it was satisfying to realize how many clues had been there all along.

But the ending—wow. I finished the book and just sat there for a few minutes processing that it ended there. I really hope we get a sequel sooner rather than later because I have questions. I’m honestly equal parts mad at myself for not seeing that coming and impressed with how well the ending landed. If you’re into darker books with creepy, unsettling creatures and don’t mind some graphic descriptions—especially in a dangerous world beneath the surface—I’d definitely recommend this one.

I want to first express my gratitude for being able to be a part of the arc reading team for this and look forward to sharing my honest review.

This book came into my life at exactly the right time, I am absolutely convinced fate had a hand in this. Our MMC Harkul is struggling and trying to escape his past and finds himself working at an alehouse, meeting some interesting characters who help him on his way into this new life he’s found himself. To be sure it isn’t without its own struggles and challenges, but seeing him navigate all this and see how those characters aid him was just incredibly well done.

The worldbuilding was great, we got a nice snap shot of the town bit by bit, without it getting overwhelming or a large exposition dump, it happened organically as the story needed. I adored the unique characters from the minotaur to dwarves, and especially the goblins (shout out to Josi, my almost-name twin). It wasn’t something that was made a big deal, it’s just a part of who those characters were and added a bit of fantasy flair.

The characters themselves were incredible, hands down my favorite part of this story. I felt like I had just sat down and started watching a movie with how smoothly things went between characters, nothing felt awkward or stiff in the dialogue or interactions. With the characters being so well done it made it so easy to connect with them and find so many aspects of each relatable. The advice some of the characters imparted are going to be kernels of wisdom I save for myself. My favorite thing that got brought up is that, we have seasons in our lives and each season brings something new, new gifts, new challenges, and new opportunities and it’s up to us to decide how we will go into these new seasons, what will we get out of them? As someone who is currently going through a big life change and having some difficult times with adjusting as well as other hiccups along the way, this story gave me some amazing insight and advice.

The story itself was well done, the plot never lagged, it moved along with a steady space with a good amount of breathing room between the higher tension parts. How it all wrapped up was satisfying and I wasn’t left wondering what or why something happened. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see things and how they developed after the main conflict. I feel like not enough cozy stories give us a look into the ‘after’ portion.

Overall this was a wonderful story, though it’s a cozy fantasy it doesn’t fall into the trap of being too slow or too low stakes. The writing is well done and is thoughtful especially when concerning the dialogue and character interactions.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, a fantastic read! I was very invested in our characters, and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. I absolutely need to know more about this world and where Taj and Star will go from here. That ending was heartbreaking, and I was definitely not ready for it.

The characters developed very naturally, and their interactions always felt genuine and organic. The way they reacted to different situations was very well written and was probably the highlight of the book for me. I really enjoyed watching their relationships and personalities develop throughout the story.

The action scenes were also incredibly well done and extremely enjoyable. A lot of the time, action scenes can get muddled or difficult to follow, but these were punchy and exciting. They had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.

The concept of the runics is really interesting, and I can’t wait to see how they evolve and where they go in book two. There’s so much potential here, and I’m excited to see the world and magic system continue to develop.

My one complaint was that I wish we had gotten more insight into the villains’ motivations. That part felt a little shallow and underdeveloped, but hopefully we’ll get more answers in the next book. Either way, I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series!