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Mist and Divide
Ten Lands Divided. One Shattered Past. A Forbidden Magic on the Brink of Awakening.
In a world torn apart by the catastrophic Quake, Evella Trapper has lived a life of isolation on the northern banks of Corallon. For generations, her family has struggled to survive, relying on hunting and trapping to sustain them—but no matter how much time passes, the sins of her past still haunt her.
Everything changes when Evella meets Arek, a stranger displaced by the quakes, who reveals a shocking the king has sent him to recruit her for a secret army, one that wields a powerful, forbidden magic—Soulmagic.
As the quakes grow stronger and threaten to tear the world apart, Evella embarks on a journey to master her powers. But her Soulmagic only emerges in her sleep, leaving her unable to fight back in the waking world. With the fate of her family, her homeland, and her own future at stake, she must confront her darkest fears—both the ones buried in her past and those that threaten the fragile peace of the present.
Joined by a team of Soulmagi, Evella faces the ghosts of her past, uncovers the deadly truth behind the quakes, and must make an impossible choice. Will she harness her power in time to protect the people she loves and secure the future she desperately wants?
In a world torn apart by the catastrophic Quake, Evella Trapper has lived a life of isolation on the northern banks of Corallon. For generations, her family has struggled to survive, relying on hunting and trapping to sustain them—but no matter how much time passes, the sins of her past still haunt her.
Everything changes when Evella meets Arek, a stranger displaced by the quakes, who reveals a shocking the king has sent him to recruit her for a secret army, one that wields a powerful, forbidden magic—Soulmagic.
As the quakes grow stronger and threaten to tear the world apart, Evella embarks on a journey to master her powers. But her Soulmagic only emerges in her sleep, leaving her unable to fight back in the waking world. With the fate of her family, her homeland, and her own future at stake, she must confront her darkest fears—both the ones buried in her past and those that threaten the fragile peace of the present.
Joined by a team of Soulmagi, Evella faces the ghosts of her past, uncovers the deadly truth behind the quakes, and must make an impossible choice. Will she harness her power in time to protect the people she loves and secure the future she desperately wants?
- GenresFantasy
288 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1514 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 3, 2025
I loved the concept of the world being divided by earthquakes, and secret magic users. The story was filled with adventure, action and intrigue, and it was heartbreaking to see Evella's struggles and learn about her isolation and losses. This definitely tackles deep topics including grief, and focusses on survival, sacrifice and impossible choices.
I liked seeing the group of soulmagi using their abilities, and how Evella helps them all work together.
Arek was a complex character, torn between loyalty to his family, King and his heart, and I liked seeing his bond grow with Evella and the complications of his oath.
The ending was completely unexpected and I loved the twist. It definitely sets the scene for more drama, adventure and tension to come.
I liked seeing the group of soulmagi using their abilities, and how Evella helps them all work together.
Arek was a complex character, torn between loyalty to his family, King and his heart, and I liked seeing his bond grow with Evella and the complications of his oath.
The ending was completely unexpected and I loved the twist. It definitely sets the scene for more drama, adventure and tension to come.
January 3, 2026
M. E. Shotwell (https://maryshotwell.com) is the author of eight novels. Mist and Divide, published early last September, is the first book in her Soulquake series. It is the 94th title I have completed reading in 2025.
I received an ARC of this book for free through https://www.netgalley.com and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Nineteen-year-old Evella Trapper has lived a life of isolation on the northern banks of Corallon. Promised to marry Reil Gathering, she lost him to the catastrophic Quake the year before. For generations, her family has struggled to survive through hunting and trapping, and no matter how much time passes, the weight of past sins continues to haunt Evella.
Everything changes when she meets Arek, a young man who claims to be a displaced survivor driven from his home by the recurring quakes. In truth, he has been sent by King Ronin Aspernath to find her. Evella is a Soulmagi, gifted with forbidden magic, and rumors of her abilities have reached the crown. Nineteen-year-old Arek’s mission is to bring her to the palace, where the king is gathering Soulmagi to confront the Raiders—a seafaring people believed to be responsible for the worsening quakes.
As the tremors intensify and threaten to tear the world apart, Evella embarks on a journey to master her powers. She and six other young Soulmagi are sent to the island of Spokizar to train and refine their abilities into a force capable of stopping the Raiders. For Evella, this is especially difficult: her Soulmagic manifests primarily in her sleep, leaving her uncertain and vulnerable. Burdened by guilt and obligation, she pushes herself relentlessly, determined to help bring the quakes under control—even if it means facing her deepest fears.
The group struggles to make progress, realizing that individually they can accomplish little. It is through Evella’s urging that they begin to function as a true team. While on Spokizar, they encounter Fulric and Alora—Alora being the mist-bound spirit of King Ronin’s sister. Fulric, her former lover, followed her soul to the island after her death.
Fulric reveals a devastating truth: it was Ronin who murdered his father, sister, and brother to seize the throne—and he, not the Raiders, is responsible for the quakes threatening the land. The only hope of survival lies in removing the king from power. Armed with this knowledge, Evella and her fellow Soulmagi must find a way to overthrow Ronin. Will they succeed—or die in the attempt? And how will Evella reconcile her growing attraction to Arek with the truth of his mission?
I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent reading this 326-page fantasy novel. The cover art is well chosen, and the story delivers several engaging plot twists near the end that heighten both tension and emotional stakes. I give Mist and Divide a rating of 3.8 out of 5, rounded up to 4.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book for free through https://www.netgalley.com and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Nineteen-year-old Evella Trapper has lived a life of isolation on the northern banks of Corallon. Promised to marry Reil Gathering, she lost him to the catastrophic Quake the year before. For generations, her family has struggled to survive through hunting and trapping, and no matter how much time passes, the weight of past sins continues to haunt Evella.
Everything changes when she meets Arek, a young man who claims to be a displaced survivor driven from his home by the recurring quakes. In truth, he has been sent by King Ronin Aspernath to find her. Evella is a Soulmagi, gifted with forbidden magic, and rumors of her abilities have reached the crown. Nineteen-year-old Arek’s mission is to bring her to the palace, where the king is gathering Soulmagi to confront the Raiders—a seafaring people believed to be responsible for the worsening quakes.
As the tremors intensify and threaten to tear the world apart, Evella embarks on a journey to master her powers. She and six other young Soulmagi are sent to the island of Spokizar to train and refine their abilities into a force capable of stopping the Raiders. For Evella, this is especially difficult: her Soulmagic manifests primarily in her sleep, leaving her uncertain and vulnerable. Burdened by guilt and obligation, she pushes herself relentlessly, determined to help bring the quakes under control—even if it means facing her deepest fears.
The group struggles to make progress, realizing that individually they can accomplish little. It is through Evella’s urging that they begin to function as a true team. While on Spokizar, they encounter Fulric and Alora—Alora being the mist-bound spirit of King Ronin’s sister. Fulric, her former lover, followed her soul to the island after her death.
Fulric reveals a devastating truth: it was Ronin who murdered his father, sister, and brother to seize the throne—and he, not the Raiders, is responsible for the quakes threatening the land. The only hope of survival lies in removing the king from power. Armed with this knowledge, Evella and her fellow Soulmagi must find a way to overthrow Ronin. Will they succeed—or die in the attempt? And how will Evella reconcile her growing attraction to Arek with the truth of his mission?
I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent reading this 326-page fantasy novel. The cover art is well chosen, and the story delivers several engaging plot twists near the end that heighten both tension and emotional stakes. I give Mist and Divide a rating of 3.8 out of 5, rounded up to 4.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
September 15, 2025
From the very first page, Mist and Divide pulled me in with its atmosphere and depth. Evella is not your typical heroine—she’s raw, haunted, and burdened by a past that won’t let her go. That vulnerability made her so relatable, especially when paired with the harshness of her isolated life. When Arek enters the picture with his shocking revelation, I couldn’t put the book down.
The world-building is rich and layered, with the aftermath of the Quake hanging over every interaction. I loved how the threat wasn’t just in the land itself but also in the secrets, lies, and forbidden magic that shape the Ten Lands. The concept of Soulmagic—emerging only in dreams—was fascinating, and I found myself eager to see how Evella would wrestle with that gift and curse.
This story is emotional, suspenseful, and full of tension. It balances action with introspection in a way that feels both heartbreaking and hopeful. I finished the last page already wanting book two.
If you love fantasy with deep emotional stakes, forbidden magic, and a heroine who feels real in her struggles and triumphs, Mist and Divide is the perfect read.
The world-building is rich and layered, with the aftermath of the Quake hanging over every interaction. I loved how the threat wasn’t just in the land itself but also in the secrets, lies, and forbidden magic that shape the Ten Lands. The concept of Soulmagic—emerging only in dreams—was fascinating, and I found myself eager to see how Evella would wrestle with that gift and curse.
This story is emotional, suspenseful, and full of tension. It balances action with introspection in a way that feels both heartbreaking and hopeful. I finished the last page already wanting book two.
If you love fantasy with deep emotional stakes, forbidden magic, and a heroine who feels real in her struggles and triumphs, Mist and Divide is the perfect read.
January 9, 2026
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. The actual story, plot, and characters were all pretty well done. It was a mostly well written and intriguing story that held my attention. There was adventure, fun characters, budding love, and potential for exciting continuations in future books. The cover is beautiful, the map was helpful, and the prologue was a good hook. Lots of questions popped up throughout that kept me going because I wanted to know the answers. There were many exciting parts and a bit of subtle humor.
My problem though, was what happened about halfway through and how it became a big part of the story at that point. Being brought up multiple times later and sounding like it will be a big part of the next book too. I honestly had a difficult time continuing after I got to that point. I know this kind of thing doesn't bother everyone, but I just wish there would have been some kind of content note or trigger warning page at the start of the book so readers could decide from there if the book was even for them. That being said, I did really enjoy everything else about this book.
My problem though, was what happened about halfway through and how it became a big part of the story at that point. Being brought up multiple times later and sounding like it will be a big part of the next book too. I honestly had a difficult time continuing after I got to that point. I know this kind of thing doesn't bother everyone, but I just wish there would have been some kind of content note or trigger warning page at the start of the book so readers could decide from there if the book was even for them. That being said, I did really enjoy everything else about this book.
August 30, 2025
This was such an enjoyable read!
Evella has gone through so much and is struggling to keep on with life after some pretty heavy stuff. She ends up training for war with Arek and a group of other Soulmagi when they come upon some plot twists that I didn't see coming.
For such a small novel, this really packed a punch and kept me engaged! The romance was very slow blooming. I won't say slow burn, because there wasn't a whole lot of tension in it until the end, BUT WHAT AN ENDING!
I can't wait to see where the next book heads!
Read if you love:
-Hidden powers
-Found family
-Grief and healing
-Plot twists
Thank you to City Owl Press and the author for the gifted copy. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 8/29/25, Release date: 9/9/25
Evella has gone through so much and is struggling to keep on with life after some pretty heavy stuff. She ends up training for war with Arek and a group of other Soulmagi when they come upon some plot twists that I didn't see coming.
For such a small novel, this really packed a punch and kept me engaged! The romance was very slow blooming. I won't say slow burn, because there wasn't a whole lot of tension in it until the end, BUT WHAT AN ENDING!
I can't wait to see where the next book heads!
Read if you love:
-Hidden powers
-Found family
-Grief and healing
-Plot twists
Thank you to City Owl Press and the author for the gifted copy. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 8/29/25, Release date: 9/9/25
September 8, 2025
I just want to say wow 🤩 this is an amazing book!!
It really was such a pleasure to read. The plot is beautifully executed in that it gets straight into it and adds twists and turns along the way. It was written so descriptively too I was really walking and living the story of this novel!
The characters have good depth to them that allows us as readers to want to grown and learn more about them and their stories which I adore 🥰
This is a fab fantasy read providing with all the magic ✨,adventure and mystery. All adding to a great story I couldn’t put down !!!
Now endings make or break a book for me this however, didn’t I really need the next instalment so sign me up for book 2 please !!
It really was such a pleasure to read. The plot is beautifully executed in that it gets straight into it and adds twists and turns along the way. It was written so descriptively too I was really walking and living the story of this novel!
The characters have good depth to them that allows us as readers to want to grown and learn more about them and their stories which I adore 🥰
This is a fab fantasy read providing with all the magic ✨,adventure and mystery. All adding to a great story I couldn’t put down !!!
Now endings make or break a book for me this however, didn’t I really need the next instalment so sign me up for book 2 please !!
August 10, 2025
Mist and Divide is a novel that is set in a fantasy world and it deals with conflict that causes ten different lands to be in a dispute with each other. Our main heroine Evella has lived in isolation in hopes it will solve her problems but alas it has not worked out very well. However things change when she meets a young man wabting to recruit her for a special army.
I found this book to be very interesting. It was different to what I was used to reading but since I made it a goal to try new thinga I figured it was worth a shot. I am super glad I took the chance because I very much enjoyed this book.
I found this book to be very interesting. It was different to what I was used to reading but since I made it a goal to try new thinga I figured it was worth a shot. I am super glad I took the chance because I very much enjoyed this book.
November 10, 2025
From the first page, Mist and Divide pulled me straight into the story alongside its wonderfully developed characters. I found myself questioning everything right along with them. Who could be trusted, and whether all those rumors and family tales were really true. Amid the suspense, a fascinating relationship begins to take shape, adding even more depth and emotion to the experience.
Unlike so many formulaic books where you can guess the ending halfway through, this novel kept me guessing for its entirety. Every twist had me second-guessing my hunches, and I just had to keep reading to see if my instincts were right. And the ending…wow!
Unlike so many formulaic books where you can guess the ending halfway through, this novel kept me guessing for its entirety. Every twist had me second-guessing my hunches, and I just had to keep reading to see if my instincts were right. And the ending…wow!
September 26, 2025
Well if the opening section of the blurb mentions “forbidden magic” of COURSE I’m gonna snatch your hand off for the opportunity to read this book, aren’t I?
Yes, it’s fantasy, no that isn’t my favourite genre by a long stretch but my goodness I was enthralled. The sheer emotion contained in these chapters. As well as the world building and the characterisation obviously. I was hooked and I’m so glad to be in at ground level with book one and genuinely can’t wait for further installments. What a moving, gripping read
Yes, it’s fantasy, no that isn’t my favourite genre by a long stretch but my goodness I was enthralled. The sheer emotion contained in these chapters. As well as the world building and the characterisation obviously. I was hooked and I’m so glad to be in at ground level with book one and genuinely can’t wait for further installments. What a moving, gripping read
September 7, 2025
I was initially worried I wouldn’t be pulled in as the fantasy element didn’t kick in until about 10% of the way through. But once it found it's footing, we were hooked. Evella’s journey was one full of grief, self-growth and strength but M. E. Shotwell’s writing was cleverly done. She navigated the tropes of found family and sacrifice well and you felt connected to Evella and her journey. The ending had us shocked and we can't wait for the next book! It was a twist we didn't see coming.
October 21, 2025
Wow this was so good! This author draws you in with incredible world building and a character that is strong despite her struggles and everything she has been through and a story that is gripping, suspenseful and absolutely fascinating. A journey of powerful and forbidden soul magic that has you hooked and unable to stop reading.
September 6, 2025
the trutha if her darkest nightmares and her brightest dreams collide in an apocalyptic setting.
what price salvation, happiness, crushing loss?
perhaps all of the above.
intense, sublime and devastating.
what price salvation, happiness, crushing loss?
perhaps all of the above.
intense, sublime and devastating.
August 30, 2025
This is a great read, magi, earthquakes, dystopia its fast paced and at first the beginning then year jump didn't make sense to me but eventually it correlated. I'm ready for the he next book though!
October 1, 2025
Won in Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed it pretty well.
September 12, 2025
Omg this was an amzing story! I stayed glued to it having to know what happened!! I need more and am soo excited to have found this author!!
she is an amzing story teller!
5 🌟 Characters
5 🌟 world building
5 🌟 story
No Spice
100% recommend
she is an amzing story teller!
5 🌟 Characters
5 🌟 world building
5 🌟 story
No Spice
100% recommend
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews