Beyond the Gloaming Pass

by Rebecca Holmes

Life in the gas-lit city of Tunswick has never been easy for best friends Rubriel and Molindra.

An unlicensed mage, Molindra struggles to contain her innate magical abilities, while Rubriel bounces from one job to the next after industrialization left her skillset redundant. When a contract from a wealthy merchant offers a hefty payout for a dangerous mission in a mysterious land, Molindra seizes the opportunity for a better life.

Cold, barren and brutally efficient, the Gloaming Mountains conceal a powerful nation, where the sun never rises and the dead watch tirelessly - a nation determined to claim Bantria’s abundant natural resources for themselves. In the heart of Langlythe, Molindra receives the mage training she so desperately desires. In return, she must retrieve an ancient artifact buried deep in the frozen north. Fears for her safety at odds with festering resentment, Rubriel chases Molindra through inhospitable territory. The pair soon find themselves swept onto opposite sides of a bitter conflict that spirals rapidly out of control.

Separated and pushed to the limits of endurance, their journey will put the bonds of friendship to the ultimate test and challenge their perception of the world to its very core. Will they reunite and save Bantria from the growing threat, or become unwitting agents of its destruction?

Beyond the Gloaming Pass is a down-to-earth high fantasy adventure that weaves together themes of friendship, resilience, and the search for truth. With its strong female leads, profound emotional depth, and heart-wrenching conclusion, this book will keep readers enchanted until the very last page.

433 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2023

About the author

I love vibrant worlds, rich cultures and multilayered characters. I write the kind of books I like to read, generally for a mature audience, aiming to explore deeper topics through authentically realized emotions and drawing parallels with the real world.

Literary Titan Book Award Winner

I'm an avid fantasy reader and PC gamer, fascinated by history, lore and biology. ARK: Survival Evolved, Lord of the Rings Online and Neverwinter Nights are among my favourite games of all time. Gaming has had a huge influence on my writing and how I think about fantasy.

I devour as many fantasy books as I can get my hands on, with the occasional diversion into science fiction or purely historical fiction. Genre-bending, trope-smashing and upside down perspectives are always welcome. I seek novelty and aim to create it in my own work. If I like a book, I make an effort to leave a review. My reviews aren't long, but I aim to write insightful comments for other readers. If I don't like a book, I prefer not to review it than to post a negative one on a public forum, especially if the total review count on the book is low.

Reviews

[Liz Otter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for a free copy of Beyond The Gloaming Pass for an honest review.
Was good to see two females living together for so long and looking out for each other but not in a sexual relationship(this wasn't clear for ages though). Both Molindra and Rubriel wanted more than their hum drum existence. Molindra was always getting into scrapes and Rubriel sorting it all out. It was only when Mol left that either of them realised what they meant to each other. A lot of world building in this book but needed. Would like to have read more about Mol,s mage training as that felt skipped over. Got to the end and had to reread the start then the ending again, I want expecting that 😩. I so wanted there to be a sequel and when got to the end was good to see that 'Under an Emerald Sky" is following on.

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Beyond the Gloaming Pass,” penned by the promising author Rebecca Holmes, elegantly interweaves a grand narrative tapestry that is both imaginative and captivating. Set against the backdrop of the fantastical land of Tunswick, we follow the journey of our central characters – Molindra, an aspirant mage, and her close companion Rubriel, a humble laborer. As they venture forth from their humble beginnings in pursuit of greater ambitions, their destination is the daunting and austere landscape of the Gloaming Mountains. The narrative is further augmented by the impending threat over their homeland, Bantria, pushing our protagonists into the uncharted territories of courage and sacrifice.

Holmes expertly balances opulent world-building, reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, and Ursula K. Le Guin, with astute attention to character development. While the influences of these authors can be discerned, Holmes’ work never resorts to being a mere emulation. She has conjured a unique literary creation that possesses its own distinctive charm. The narrative is replete with hidden gems, ensuring a continuously unfolding sense of discovery for the reader.

The core theme of “Beyond the Gloaming Pass” finds resonance with classic narratives such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Wheel of Time” series. It grapples with the timeless question – can the bonds of friendship withstand the assault of external forces that seem insistent on rending them apart?

A distinguishing feature that sets “Beyond the Gloaming Pass” apart from comparable works in the genre is its focus away from the romantic aspect. This characteristic is not to be misconstrued as a deficiency. Rather, the protagonists, Molindra and Rubriel, manifest an intriguing independence and focus on their purpose, which is perhaps reflective of author Rebecca Holmes’ desire to navigate away from traditional romantic subplots. In an interesting divergence, it appears that our protagonists are primarily, if not exclusively, occupied with their mission, with little inclination towards seeking romantic or casual companionship. This introduces a fresh perspective and a distinct narrative path that is both commendable and intriguing.

With an engaging plot, meticulously crafted characters, and a compelling theme, Holmes’ novel provides an absorbing read that is sure to entertain. Anticipating further narratives set in the intriguing realm of Bantria from this author’s creative arsenal is not just a hope but an eagerly awaited pleasure.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Gloaming Pass by Rebecca Holmes is a beautifully written high fantasy story that mixes adventure, magic, and friendship in a rich and original world. The main characters are Molindra, a young woman who wants to become a mage, and Rubriel, her loyal friend and longtime companion. They leave their home in Bantria, a country under threat, and head to the mysterious Gloaming Mountains, facing many dangers and challenges, meet many new friends, allies, and enemies in a vivid and immersive world that draws inspiration from some of the most popular fantasy writers in modern times.

Holmes creates a unique world with a rich setting and plot arcs. Also, her storytelling skills shine through in the masterful, rich character development-- even with the minor characters. In fact, one of my favorite minor characters in the book is Scoe, whom Rubriel meets along her journey to find Molindra in her adventures in the Gloaming Mountains. Scoe is such a well-written character that I’d love to see a future installment in the series all about Scoe and his backstory or perhaps his future in this rich world.

Beyond the Gloaming Pass is a captivating and immersive read that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Holmes creates a rich, complex world with vivid descriptions and fascinating lore. The characters are realistic and relatable, each with flaws and strengths. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, with plenty of action and emotion. The book also explores themes of family, friendship, loyalty, identity, and destiny.

If you're a fan of high fantasy, then you won't want to miss Beyond the Gloaming Pass by Rebecca Holmes. It's a thrilling and heart-wrenching adventure that will leave you wanting more.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nation of dark things beneath a false sky. Spirits, artifacts, mages. A deal with one devil, then a worse one.

One sister cursed with fire, one sister left with none. There's a few friends and a few enemies; but at its heart, this book is the sisters, their journeys to find their places in the world, and their struggles to find each other.

Not your run-of-the-mill fantasy, though not lacking of the fantastic. The stakes are high - the fate of a nation, maybe two - but not so large that the sisters and their companions are dwarfed by plot. Moments of action, of discover, of heartfelt triumph and loss. A solid read for those looking for a down-to-earth tale in a world not our own.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dystopian, a genre which I wasn't expecting from the blurb, and which I dislike.

In the pre-publication copy I had from Netgalley, I found most of the usual mechanical issues: missing past perfect tense, "may" where it should be "might," a few punctuation issues, and some quite basic vocabulary errors. These may (or, more probably, may not) be fixed by the time of publication. The larger issue, though, was that the limited third-person point of view was periodically violated, with the narrative including information that the point-of-view character couldn't have known. The worst example, just before I stopped at 34%, is that a character who has not yet introduced himself to the viewpoint character is referred to in the narrative by his name.

That character is one of a series of fortunately helpful strangers that the protagonists keep encountering, reducing both tension and their agency, and he appears in the role of a deus ex machina, rescuing one of the protagonists in the middle of nowhere from a situation she couldn't have escaped by herself.

The two protags are separated from an early point, which means their relationship isn't able to have the importance it otherwise could. I did wonder at one point if they were going to turn out to be a couple, but they are just friends - which I did like; it seems that (under the influence of fanfiction, perhaps) it's rare these days for two characters to be friends with no romantic connection, and I do like to see a good friendship. However, as I mentioned, the fact that they're geographically separated and not interacting does undermine that aspect. As far as I'd read, there doesn't seem to be such a thing as romance in this world, in fact; none of the male strangers that help the two women do anything remotely approaching hitting on them, and neither of them, having reached early middle age, appear to have had any romantic involvement at any time in their lives. That's not necessarily a negative, as such, but I did find it a significant and unexplained absence.

The blurb claims that this is:

"A gripping fantasy novel that weaves together themes of friendship, resilience, and the search for truth. With its vivid world-building, profound emotional depth, and heart-wrenching conclusion, this book will keep readers enchanted until the very last page.

If you liked... Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, you’ll love the immersive world and strong female main characters of Beyond the Gloaming Pass."

Unfortunately, I can report that from my perspective, none of this is true (except possibly the heart-wrenching conclusion, because I didn't get that far, thanks to being neither gripped nor enchanted). I found it rather dull, in fact, and both the general execution and the worldbuilding struck me as mediocre; the descriptions often failed to convey a clear image to me, too. The characters weren't unusually strong, and I either hadn't reached the emotional depth part yet at 34% or else that, too, is false advertising. I should know better by now than to believe the praise a book's blurb gives it, or the old "if you liked [popular book] you'll also love this" line, which is almost without exception untrue, so the joke's on me for being fooled.

[Sarah P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

''Beyond the Gloaming Pass'' is an emotional fantasy novel that portrays the relentless bond between two friends, Molindra and Rubriel. Even though they both have different personas, they equally value their friendship with each other. Molindra is an unlicensed mage who is cast aside by her family because of her uncontrollable magical powers. Rubriel, her ever faithful friend, invites Molindra to stay with her. But times are hard, so Molindra and Rubriel decide to leave their homeland, Celessil, and journey into Bantria hoping to create a better life for themselves.

But surviving turns out to be more challenging than they expected. Prompted by a poster on a notice board, Molindra is tempted into entering the dangerous land of Langlythe and claiming a bountiful reward after accomplishing a task there. Rubriel warns her friend not to go. After all, there's a reason why Langlythe is considered a dangerous place. The two argue and as a result Molindra heads to Langlythe, determinded to collect the much-needed reward.

Fearing for Molindra's safety, Rubriel goes in search of her friend. But shortly after, both Molindra and Rubriel find themselves at odds with each other, and are locked in a fierce dispute that gets out of hand. Unknown to Molindra and Rubriel, a sinister evil awaits them both in Langlythe. Will these two friends completely sacrifice their frienship in the end, or will they be able to resolve their disagreement and join forces to confront the evil that awaits them both?

This epic fantasy novel takes us on a thrilling journey filled with danger, intrigue, heart-stopping action, and a friendship that is better described as a kinship. Rebecca Holmes adeptly weaves a complex web of alliances, betrayals, and unexpected twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The world-building is flawless and immerses us in a realm filled with menacing secrets, dangerous plots, power and magic. Holmes’s attention to detail is astounding. She paints a clear, realistic landscape and crafts an intricate storyline that tests the friendship of these two powerful female characters, while adding richness and depth to their tale.

Molindra and Rubriel are both challenged to confront their insecurities and shortcomings in the end. This is a novel that speaks of courage, tenacity, overcoming personal obstacles and forgiveness. I loved reading Molindra and Rubriel's amazing tale. In total, I give it a five star rating, and I enthusiastically recommend it to fantasy lovers everywhere. If you're a fan of books like ''Harry Potter'' and ''The Lord of the Rings'' then this novel is undoubtedly worth the read.

[Kcaroth1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Gloaming Pass by Rebecca Holmes is a steampunkish adventure that takes readers on journeys with Molindra and Rubriel. As roommates and friends, they cross various countries, battling ghosts and border keepers, and confronting their personal demons and past mistakes.
The characters are portrayed as strong, both physically and mentally, yet they lack significant power. They often find themselves at the mercy of men, who dictate their actions and occasionally come to their rescue. Hopefully in future installments, they will see more gains in agency—there were some hints to this toward the end.
One thing that I particularly liked about the characters is their age. Unlike typical main characters in their early twenties, Molindra and Rubriel are mature women with a wealth of life experience to draw on. The absence of a romantic subplot with the main companion is a nice change, allowing the focus to remain on the adventure at hand.
The author is good at world-building, crafting an intriguing mythology centered around dark and light stones. However, the narrative falls short in providing a comprehensive background for the big bad. The dichotomy of good and evil, represented by the light and dark stones, raises questions about the moral alignment of the characters. If the antagonist is purely evil due to the influence of the dark stone, why aren’t those associated with the light stone paragons of virtue?
Beyond the Gloaming Pass is a decent read with some intriguing moments. Despite some minor shortcomings, I enjoyed the adventure.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Gloaming Pass is a richly imagined high fantasy that balances immersive world building with an emotionally grounded narrative. Rebecca Holmes crafts a setting shaped by industrial change, political ambition, and moral ambiguity, creating a world that feels both fantastical and strikingly relevant.

At the heart of the novel is the bond between Rubriel and Molindra two women navigating displacement, power, and personal limitation in very different ways. Their friendship anchors the story, giving emotional weight to every decision and consequence. Holmes allows their relationship to evolve naturally under pressure, resulting in a portrayal that feels authentic, strained, and deeply human.

The Gloaming Mountains and the nation hidden within them are rendered with chilling efficiency. The concept of a land without sunrise, watched over by tireless dead, is both unsettling and original, reinforcing the novel’s recurring themes of control, sacrifice, and the cost of progress. Rather than presenting clear heroes and villains, the narrative thrives in moral complexity.

What truly distinguishes Beyond the Gloaming Pass is its emotional restraint. The prose does not rush to dramatize; instead, it allows tension to build through character choices and irreversible consequences. The result is a powerful, resonant conclusion that lingers well after the final page.

This novel will strongly appeal to readers who value character-driven fantasy, strong female leads, and stories that challenge traditional genre expectations while delivering genuine emotional impact.

[David Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling new take on the fantasy genre.

Beyond the Gloaming Pass is a well-written fantasy novel by Canadian author Rebecca Holmes. Set in a world that has echoes of 1900s northern America, we meet the two female protagonists in Tunswick, at the Solstice celebrations. The start of the first year of the new century, sees the two close friends, Molindra and Rubriel, at a crisis point. Molindra has magical powers, but because she is untrained, people shun her. She has to control these powers by regularly taking the herbal tonic damper, and Rubriel struggles to support them both. Molindra heads off alone on a mission to explore beyond the Gloaming Pass into Langlythe. When she returns, she has been promised funds to pay for her training by the merchant guildmaster, Vesner.

Beyond the Gloaming Pass is a new take on the fantasy genre, and Rebecca Holmes writes a compelling and enjoyable narrative. Full of magic and adventure, the book is not rushed and Holmes’ world-building is detailed and authentic. Will Molindra be successful? Can Rubriel become reunited with her friend? Can they save Bantria? The only way to discover this is to read the first book of the series.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Holmes brings us a powerful and intriguing novel about friendship set in a lush and engrossing fantasy world with Beyond the Gloaming Pass! Searching for a better life, young mage Molindra and her friend Rubriel find themselves in a cold unrelenting land searching for a mysterious artifact. But things start to heat up as political intrigue and a rising undead menace force two friends onto opposite sides of a growing power struggle. Holmes captures everything I love about fantasy, the fascinating locales, the monsters, the climactic conflicts, while managing to keep the characters at the heart of it all! I couldn’t help but feel for Molindra and Rubriel’s struggles and root for their tattered friendship to mend and stay true. This is a wonderful first foray into a world that I hope expands soon! If you love fantasy, steampunk, or adventures that emphasize characters and friendship, definitely come see what’s Beyond the Gloaming Pass!

[Ruth Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canadian author Rebecca Holmes knows how to spin a fantasy tale. In her book Beyond the Gloaming Pass, we are introduced to two heroic women, Rubriel and Molindra, who scrape along through life until they are launched into an epic adventure filled with strife and evil. Molindra is an untrained Mage, whose rampant energy often gets her into trouble. Rubriel is her foil, stable, consistent, talented, and well-trained with a sword.

Holmes’ writing style is crisp and full-bodied—descriptively captivating—as she builds a dark world filled with evil and never-ending challenges for the two women, who spend much of the story separated, but who ultimately join forces in the end. From beginning to end, we are left gritting our teeth in anticipation of what will happen next. This is truly a great read for lovers of the fantasy genre. I highly recommend!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, well-written, and moving. Highly recommended.

In this excellent and emotionally moving high fantasy novel, Ms. Holmes tells the story of Rubriel and Molindra, who are unfulfilled and dissatisfied with their lives in Tunswick. She explores the deep emotional intensity of the relationship between these two friends whose lives are torn apart by industrialization, prejudice, and misogyny.

Wanting to be accepted by the citizens of Tunswick, Molindra (who is an unlicensed and untrained mage) must take medicine to restrict her ability to use her Elementalist skills. Deciding to improve her life she leaves Tunswick and takes up a challenge made by a wealthy guildmaster—to search for information about the region of Langlythe in return for a large sum of money. Her training completed she must now use her magic to bring back an ancient artifact from the frozen north.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author writes a powerful story about the lengths friends will go to help each other. Ms. Holmes weaves a tale of magic, danger, excitement, and manipulation as the women struggle to survive and achieve goals while being watched by those who inhabit the savage, unwelcoming Gloaming Mountains. Molindra achieves her goal of becoming a mage but the cost to herself and the citizens of Bantria is high. Readers will enjoy this novel about physical and emotional endurance, friendship, and magic.

Beyond the Gloaming Pass: An Emotional High Fantasy Adventure (Equilibria Book 1)by Rebecca Holmes is a unique and captivating read and comes highly recommended

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!
I really liked the world building in the story and the attention on character development. There are few unexpected twists and turns which kept me excited from beginning to end! The "clash" between sisters resonated quite a lot with me because I have very close connection with my sister, so this "sisterly" main story line is something that primary captured my attention, even though I am no longer as interested in leading female characters as I used to be. Still the story will definitely leave you wanting to read more!

[Stephanie Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not usually my style of book, but I gave it a try. A little slow to get going, but then I found I couldn't put it down. The latter half of the book was riveting and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. Good strong female lead character, plenty of action, vivid landscape descriptions all contribute to this very good read from a new author.
Highly recommended.

[Parkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and compelling story!

The mix of spell craft and swordplay makes for a captivating read, with twist and turns to keep you hooked until the end. Holmes draws upon her extensive vocabulary painting a masterpiece with her words. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. A recommended read!

[Mary Reeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This high fantasy is one of the best I have read in 2023. Filled with emotion adventure and the most amazing characters and storyline. I recommend this book to all readers of any of these popular genres. It will keep you glued to the pages.

[Amal Hamami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book …it gave me exciting Harry Potter vibes …definitely recommend it !!

[LiLi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc of this book.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this adult fantasy novel. The world was lush and interesting, and I loved exploring the different cultures.
Unfortunately I started to lose interest around the halfway point. The plot was going in a direction I didn't care for, and the way it was paced made it feel disjointed.
Lastly, it was really cool to see female main characters in a fantasy book that were in their 40s who weren't mothers. The absence of a romantic plotline was also refreshing.