An exceptional series opener with memorable characters and simple but enticing worldbuilding.
In this debut fantasy, humans and other beings try to prevent the release of an imprisoned god who could destroy the world.
Young blacksmith Thornton Woods works with his father, Olson, in the village of Highglade. While traveling to the town of Lusk, Thornton and his friend (and possible romantic interest) Miera Mi’An face a trio of assailants. There’s another attack on the way home, but this time, the two receive assistance from Kethras and his sister, Ynara, who are Kienari—stealthy, catlike creatures. The attackers are Khyth, capable of Breaking, which consists of manipulating energy. They’ve unmistakably targeted Miera, and the others cannot prevent her eventual capture. As Ynara goes after Miera, Thornton and Kethras track the now-missing Olson and his apparent abductors. It’s soon evident the Khyth are determined to liberate the Breaker, a world creator imprisoned in the enigmatic Otherworld. Thornton and the others hope to stop the Khyth, as the Breaker’s release would be catastrophic, and fortunately, they’re not alone in their fight. The Khyth’s mortal enemies are the Athrani, who received the gift of Shaping from the Shaper of Ages, one of the goddesses who chained the Breaker in the Otherworld. Jennings writes in a plain language that benefits his epic series opener. For example, atypical fantasy creatures, like the Kienari or the Gwarái, a beast that feeds on the blood of Shapers, are well defined. And notwithstanding the plethora of characters, motivations are distinct and consistent (for example, the Khyth are fixated on freeing the Breaker). The drawback to the story’s hefty cast is the ever shifting narrative perspectives. There is no discernible protagonist, as every character’s role, including Thornton’s and Miera’s, seems to be a supporting one. Regardless, the steady action entails an exhilarating battle, a glimpse of the Otherworld, and a clear setup for the sequel.
An exceptional series opener with memorable characters and simple but enticing worldbuilding.Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-948080-72-9
Page Count: 458
Publisher: Indigo River Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Although the melodrama sometimes is a bit much, the superb worldbuilding and intricate plotline make this a must-read.
Using mystery and romance elements in a nonlinear narrative, SenLinYu’s debut is a doorstopper of a fantasy that follows a woman with missing memories as she navigates through a war-torn realm in search of herself.
Helena Marino is a talented young healer living in Paladia—the “Shining City”—who has been thrust into a brutal war against an all-powerful necromancer and his army of Undying, loyal henchmen with immortal bodies, and necrothralls, reanimated automatons. When Helena is awakened from stasis, a prisoner of the necromancer’s forces, she has no idea how long she has been incarcerated—or the status of the war. She soon finds herself a personal prisoner of Kaine Ferron, the High Necromancer’s “monster” psychopath who has sadistically killed hundreds for his master. Ordered to recover Helena’s buried memories by any means necessary, the two polar opposites—Helena and Kaine, healer and killer—end up discovering much more as they begin to understand each other through shared trauma. While necromancy is an oft-trod subject in fantasy novels, the author gives it a fresh feel—in large part because of their superb worldbuilding coupled with unforgettable imagery throughout: “[The necromancer] lay reclined upon a throne of bodies. Necrothralls, contorted and twisted together, their limbs transmuted and fused into a chair, moving in synchrony, rising and falling as they breathed in tandem, squeezing and releasing around him…[He] extended his decrepit right hand, overlarge with fingers jointed like spider legs.” Another noteworthy element is the complex dynamic between Helena and Kaine. To say that these two characters shared the gamut of intense emotions would be a vast understatement. Readers will come for the fantasy and stay for the romance.
Although the melodrama sometimes is a bit much, the superb worldbuilding and intricate plotline make this a must-read.Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9780593972700
Page Count: 1040
Publisher: Del Rey
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
A delightful, genre-defying debut.
Historical horror? Dark fantasy? Queer romance? All of the above!
“I was hundreds of years old before I ever met him, but that day we were both young.” While visiting his Florence offices in 2013, attorney Sebastian Grave unearths a bloodstained lambskin glove that belonged to a past lover—a man he’d met in the 18th century. Nestled within this frame narrative is a tale of desire, werewolves, and the French Revolution. In telling his story, Sebastian introduces Sarmodel, the demon with whom he shares a body, and a succubus named Livia contributes chapters in which Joan of Arc, her notorious ally Gilles de Rais, and the archangel Michael all make appearances. First-time novelist Sullivan wields the tools of multiple genres deftly, but what really makes this book special is its central character. Sebastian has powerful magic at his disposal, but he’s also human enough to fall hard for a hot young nobleman. When Sebastian goes hunting for the Beast of Gévaudan, he’s not looking for adventure. The first time, it’s because he can’t resist Antoine Avenel d’Ocerne. The second time, it’s because he dreams of a reunion with his love—even though he knows this is a hopeless wish against the advice of Sarmodel. Using Sebastian as a narrator keeps things light, in part because he has a droll, contemporary voice and in part because it makes the worldbuilding feel natural. There are footnotes, but there are no infodumps. The fact that Sebastian doesn’t know exactly what he is sets the tone for storytelling that leaves a great deal unexplained while providing enough detail to keep the reader engaged. Deploying Sarmodel as a sort of alter ego and allowing Livia to offer her own perspective on Sebastian also adds both depth and charm.
A delightful, genre-defying debut.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9781250362766
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
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