Humanity is in danger. The world of Elohi is under attack. The Ruach has been stolen by the avro leader, Arah. Warriors of the Light, Sairen wolves, are in a war with darkness. Hope of an ancient prophecy that told of a powerful king has faded.
When Lorraine Sapphire's brother is kidnapped by a powerful avro-monsters with the power to turn humans into monsters themselves-she will do whatever it takes to rescue him. As if learning her own power as a white Sairen wolf isn't difficult enough, she now has the added difficulties of determining whether or not to trust the stranger, Kiran, who claims he knows her brother's whereabouts. Saving Lorraine's brother becomes more than a personal matter as the secrets to her brother's kidnapping begin to unravel and the power of the Ruach revealed.
With the fate of the sairen wolf king-and humanity-hanging in the balance, Lorraine must face the darkest parts of herself if she is to play her part in saving the world. But how can one person be strong enough to face down evil itself?
Will the Sairens be able to retrieve the Ruach and restore balance to the world of Elohi? Or will the Sairens fall prey to the avros newfound powers?
I was lucky enough to read Reflection early and lovers of moody, YA fantasy are in for a treat! A regular world turned fantastical with winged warrior wolves and sinister soul-stealing monsters battling it out in a good versus evil war awaits on every page. Readers will love following Lorraine, a flawed and hurting young woman, on her journey to find herself and her place in the world after great tragedy. Her very real and very raw final battle to overcome the heaviness of her grief and fear moved my heart and I'm sure every reader will feel the same! Reflection is laced with wonderful Christian symbolism - did I mention the Aslan-esque wolf king? ;) - that reminds us there is triumph over darkness, no matter how lost the cause may seem. I thoroughly recommend Reflection! It's a solid, clean YA read that takes you on a journey from start to finish and I can't wait to see what happens in the world of Elohi next!
Blurb: The world of Elohi is under attack. The Ruach has been stolen by the Avro leader, Arah. Warriors of the Light, Sairen wolves, are in a war with darkness. Hope of an ancient prophecy that told of a powerful king has faded. With the fate of the sairen wolf king-and humanity-hanging in the balance, Lorraine must face the darkest parts of herself if she is to play her part in saving the world. But how can one person be strong enough to face down evil itself? Will the Sairens be able to retrieve the Ruach and restore balance to the world of Elohi? Or will the Sairens fall prey to the avros newfound powers?
This is Crystal Nicole’s first book and with it she has created a fast paced enjoyable story. This story starts out with a good amount of action and the action keeps coming though the majority of the story, just as I had expected. This is definitely a fast paced high fantasy with extensive world building. Off of the Blurb I knew exactly what I was getting into and I fully enjoyed it. I did notice the physical books on sale on Amazon and have ordered a copy to also read this in physical form eventually. The ending almost took me out, so much happened and so much was set up for book 2.
The narration by Allison Wang was enjoyable, I did notice a few spots where the narration had mistakes but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story. And If I am honest there narrators do way better than I could ever do. I found Allison’s voice calming and interesting especially during the action parts, her voice changes were subtle and flowed nicely for each character. I listened at 1.2x
Reflection is an epic, pulse pounding fantasy that blends prophecy, identity, danger, and destiny with an intensity that keeps you reading far past bedtime. Crystal Nicole delivers a cinematic adventure filled with elemental magic, ancient lore, and the kind of emotional stakes that make you feel every moment.
Lorraine Sapphire is a phenomenal heroine fierce, conflicted, brave, and beautifully human even as she steps into her power as a white Sairen wolf. Her desperation to save her brother becomes the heart of the story, but as she uncovers the truth behind the Ruach, the avros, and her own gifts, that mission evolves into something much bigger: protecting a world on the edge of ruin.
Kiran adds delicious tension mysterious, sharp, maybe trustworthy… maybe not. Their uneasy alliance gives the story sparks of conflict, intrigue, and connection that pull readers deeper into the world of Elohi.
The mythology is rich, the pacing relentless, the battles thrilling, and the emotional journey surprisingly intimate. This is the kind of fantasy that invites readers to lose themselves in ancient prophecies, wolf-warriors, stolen power, and a heroine struggling to embrace the strength she never knew she had.
A vivid, gripping, and imaginative fantasy adventure perfect for fans of supernatural warfare, prophecy driven plots, and stories where one girl’s courage could change everything.
PERSONAL REVIEW This book is amazing. The aesthetic. The characters. The spiritual warfare allegory. Ugh! Loved it. We need more Christian fiction like this! There are both subtle and obvious messages and allegories woven throughout Reflection, building up together to the end where the meaning of the title hits hard. I loved that the protagonist was extremely reckless but that it was recognized as something she needed to overcome. For a relatively short book, the cast of characters was large and they were all unique and very well done. I look forward to seeing more of them in the sequel.
CONTENT REVIEW Sexual content: None Violence: There are bat-winged demon like things who turn humans into monsters like them. The main characters kill several of them in battle before attempts are made to turn them back into humans. A sympathetic minor character is strongly implied to have been killed by the creatures. A flashback shows the main characters parents being killed by them. (None of these descriptions are graphic) Language: None Other: None
I've read a lot of books the past few years, and Crystal has come up with a truly unique story. Her sairen wolves are a fascinating new race, and her monstrous villains aren't your traditional bad guys--their origins in humanity make them complex. I can't wait to see where Crystal takes us in her next book.
Here is a quote I liked: "Hope. The kind of hope that would make one believe anything was possible. Yet, as quickly as it came, it was gone. My skin chilled, and I shook off the feeling. It was a fragile flame that went out at the tiniest puff of breath."
As this is her debut book, I think there are areas for Crystal to continue developing her writing craft that will make her subsequent books even stronger. I'm excited to see how she continues to grow as an author.
I had the privilege of Alpha reading this gem and I can honestly say that it is one of the most original and thought provoking stories I have ever read. Even as a raw manuscript this book was a treasure, with characters that leapt off the pages and into my heart. I loved all the characters, villains and heroes alike and the TWISTS were fantastic! The monsters - the Avros - were distinctly unique, I know I have never read of any creatures like them before and they gave me chills. The Sairens who could transform from human to wolf and back again, with the right amount of concentration, were fascinating and I loved getting to know all of them. Especially Robin! All in all, I loved this book and I hope to see a sequel soon because I am not done with this story! Definitely recommend!
First of all, if you love the Chronicles of Narnia, this is a MUST READ. It's got the same vibes with creative world building and WINGED WOLVES Shapeshifters, but with complex characters. The MC, Lorraine is such a compelling character, I loved seeing her arc and how she jumped off the page. Her emotions portrayed so beautifully it had me tearing up more than once. This is a story of understanding yourself and others, an internal battle of light and dark, with the most awe-inspiring Aslan figure who is the prophesied king. Honestly, it brought back memories of when I was first discovering Narnia. This book has my heart. I can't wait for the sequels!!
This story is a little out of my normal reading, with intimidating monsters and shapeshifting wolves, but the premise is intriguing, and the protagonist's journey is full of discoveries and action. There were a few points where I was a little confused, but not so much that I couldn't enjoy the story, and overall I found it a compelling plot. Lorraine is a complex protagonist, and her growth as a character is enjoyable and believable. She doesn't grow and change overnight. She struggles. She fights. But she learns to hope despite all the hardship she's been through, which I found beautiful.
Reflection is a tightly woven tapestry of haunting scenes, hope, and heartfelt themes. Set in an intriguing yet terrifying world where the people you love can be turned into monsters, Reflection is a gripping battle between light and dark that resonates with messages of redemption, overcoming shame, and forgiveness. If you’re looking for a relatable protagonist, a mysterious king reminiscent of Aslan, and a fascinating world, Reflection is a must-read.
Reflection is full of action, character growth, and serious Narnia vibes. The entire book is filled with beautiful and interesting descriptions you can easily visualize, and there were plenty of twists and turns I never saw coming!
If you like clean ya fantasy with strong family bonds, perseverant heroes fighting evil, and Christian themes, you will love Reflection!
This is a very deeply emotional book in that it deals with feelings of self exploration and grief and loss and fear and self discovery. I resonated with a lot of the emotions portrayed in it. A very relatable book as I have been through many of these different emotions at different points in my life and the ending of the book is just so fitting. This is great wolf shifter adventure & works recommend to those who love deep connections within the story.
Written by a fellow writer mama, it was such an honour to read Crystal's debut novel.
"Forgiveness . . . The most difficult task of bravery."
If you're in search of a clean YA fantasy with light romance, Reflection might be something you'll enjoy. Crystal does a great job keeping the romance a true subplot, so it doesn't overshadow the main plot. With both the general and Christian markets saturated with YA Fantasy romance, it's refreshing to read a story focusing on family relationships, building self-confidence, and cultivating true friendships.
In Reflection, the magical creatures are unique. Avros are monster type creatures who use to be human. Minions of a dark lord who wishes to destroy humanity and rule the world, these creatures have the ability to turn humans into Avros. Although I've read and watched works of fiction with similar creatures, the main twist is Avros can be returned to their human form. I enjoyed how Crystal emphasizes the consequences of being an Avros. Once returned to their human form, the individual doesn't forget the horrible things they've done. This makes the recovery from Avros to human quite painful and traumatizing. The theme of self-forgiveness plays a huge role for many of the characters.
Last, if you enjoy wolf shapeshifter stories, you'll be a fan of Crystal's Sairen wolves. Subtract the usual romantic spice and add some wings, you have Sairen wolves. Personally, I love most YA wolf shapeshifter stories. They are usually tales of strong family bonds, acts of self-sacrifice, and young protagonists finding their place among the various ranks. Reflection does a solid job highlighting my favourite elements in this speculative sub-genre.
Thank you so much to Crystal for sending me an e-arc of Reflection! It's always a privilege to be an early reader. The above opinions are my own. This book releases in a few days, so there's still a short window for pre-orders!
Reflection is a clean shapeshifter fantasy with unique worldbuilding, cool faith allegory and themes, and fast-paced plotting! It was refreshing to see a story that focuses more on family and friendship bonds rather than romance. That is not to say there wasn’t tension between a certain pair, of course. Maybe a hint to something more in the future.
I was gifted an audiobook by the author/publisher and wasn’t required to leave a review. All thoughts are my own.
Looking forward to seeing what happens next in the sequel!
Reflection is a story of determination and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds. The main character, Lorraine, is both relatable and sympathetic in her struggle to overcome growing evil and her own self-doubts. Readers will get a glimpse of Crystal Nicole’s heart for hope in this tale of light in the midst of growing darkness.