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Noss Saga #3

Relinquished Realms

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Treasures and treachery abound in this action-packed adventure.

Noss has awakened.

The planet has tasked the wayfarers with recovering long-lost memories from before the Downfall. To complete this quest, they will need to open all sixteen domes.

As the party splits, seafaring battles leave Lago-Sterjall stranded in a desert. Deceit breeds beneath the blue sands, and grave dangers threaten to take away all that the wolf holds dear, including his newfound lover, the caracal prince. The dome of the marsupial clade is now within their reach, but even more realms await their arrival—domains where the limits of Sterjall’s moral convictions will be tested.

Journeying toward the opposite end of the continent, Jiara-Kitjári recruits Banook and his bears to infiltrate the domes ransacked by the Negian Empire. While traversing frozen mountains and forsaken ruins filled with riches, Kitjári’s heart makes room for a more valuable treasure, but the woman she loves does not seem to share the same sentiment.

All the while, the Red Stag’s army advances, now threatening to enslave the behemoths of the Archstone Dome. If the warmongering elk manages to rein in the giants, the Negian Empire will be ready to carry out its final strike.

Relinquished Realms is the third installment of the Noss Saga, an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy series.

642 pages, ebook

Published February 11, 2025

16 people are currently reading
45 people want to read

About the author

Joaquín Baldwin

10 books71 followers
Joaquín Baldwin writes epic fantasy with a queer touch. As a multidisciplinary artist, he’s been recognized for his work in cinematography, photography, 3D design, and illustration, and his animated shorts have won over 100 awards. He unadvisedly decided that writing novels was the next thing on his list. While at Disney, he worked on films such as Zootopia, Encanto, Frozen and Moana. He spends an inordinate amount of time crafting the complex world of the Noss Saga. Visit him at joaquinbaldwin.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Blaise.
472 reviews154 followers
February 6, 2025
And done! What an ending! An excellent continuation of The Noss Saga which is quickly making its mark on the epic fantasy genre. It sure what else needs to be said about this series besides READ IT!!!!!
Profile Image for KaevonWrites.
3 reviews
February 8, 2025
I received an advanced copy of Relinquished Realms (RR) after having read the first two books in the Noss Saga. I’m a big fan, and I was VERY excited to read book three. After having to resist the excitement and take the book slowly, I found the next chapter in the saga to be just as thrilling, fantastic, and suspenseful as the first two. So many fantasy books struggle to make realistic and human characters, and ironically enough? Baldwin takes a colorful crew of anthropomorphized characters and makes them vulnerable, human, realistic, and relatable in a way I never see. It’s a strength of his writing, and the character’s personalities get more complex and interesting with every chapter. You learn so much about them throughout this literal epic with the story picking up immediately after the end of Masks of the Miscam. I will say that with the book starting after a very emotional end of book two, RR takes some time to find its groove. It’s unavoidable in a multi-book series where the characters are exploring a vast world of cultures, ideals, ethics. But I got the impression that this book is setting up some big emotional hits later in the series, and frankly? That terrifies me in a VERY exciting way.

But even with taking its time to get started - everything written in RR was engaging and helped further unravel the many mysteries of Noss. Once Baldwin lays all the pieces out on the table, everything falls into place in a magical and sometimes heart wrenching way. There were a lot of moments in the story where I had to put the book down and recollect my thoughts for how emotional and raw it made me feel. But keeping this review spoiler-free, I will say that each of those moments added to the already rich mosaic of the adventure. And as if I wasn’t already feeling emotional enough, RR takes inclusivity and representation to a whole new level. It’s effortless. There are no moments where it feels like a character’s gender, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, race, etc. are disingenuous, but rather a thoughtful and genuine way to show true diversity in a world of fantasy. Even with a big draw being the anthropomorphized animal people? Baldwin doesn’t shy away from expertly tackling the nuance behind the societies he’s built.

There’s something for everyone in this book. Ethics, morality, true meaning of good vs evil, gender exploration, shame, religion…Baldwin’s ability to tie in so many deep thoughts and concepts into RR is astounding. And even greater than that is with so many themes and concepts to choose from? Every. Single. Detail. Fits perfectly in these books. It’s impossible to stop reading once the book hooks you in, and it keeps you guessing at what’s coming next.The last ten or so chapters were impossible to interrupt, and I stayed up late multiple nights because I NEEDED to know what came next. If you enjoyed the first two books, the third will not disappoint. Was it my favorite of the three? No. Was it another masterfully written part of an already enchanting universe? Yes! Baldwin has a talent for worldbuilding that is an honor to experience. Relinquished Realms was wonderful, and Baldwin truly has created a brilliant saga that continues to deliver.
4 reviews
February 7, 2025
“Black sails billowed… through the salty sea, weaving among the dragon-like vines…” thus beginning Noss Saga: Relinquished Realms, the 3rd installment of Joaquin Baldwin’s epic series. As with the second book of the series, Masks of the Miscam, the action picks up right where the last one left off. Only now, our group has separated into two, with each having the shared goal of saving Noss from the ravages of The Red Stag, and now others hungry for power too. We see so much more of Noss, her peoples, animals, cultures, beliefs, politics, and more. More allies present themselves, but with them come new challenges, even more enemies, and a growing sense that time is not on our hero’s side in this epic saga.



With I and II of Noss Saga, the stage was set and our heroes started on their quest. Now with Relinquished Realms, as the group separates, their quest takes different paths for the same goal, the saving of Noss. Joaquin Baldwin has created a beautifully sprawling epic that combines the deep and rich storytelling of Robert Jordan, the sensible details of Phillip Pullman, and fanciful nature of J.R.R. Tolkien. The story that unfolds makes this evident. The world-building, the storytelling, the character design, even the included artwork. It all draws the reader in and leaves them with the desire to read more, see more, know more. Baldwin has done a phenomenal job with all of these facets of the story, and even more. Noss Saga is nothing short of wonderful thus far, and I cannot wait for what lies in store for our heroes and for Noss itself.
2 reviews
February 8, 2025
The review for this book is simple. If you enjoyed the past two books for their worldbuilding, artwork, or characters, then you will get a lot out of this story. If you’re reading this and haven’t finished the first two books, then know that the series only gets better. There is more development to the world of Noss than I’ve seen in many other modern fantasy novels, and there is definite vision that has so far underlied these three books. While there is incredible attention given to the world, the author also knows when, and how, to set aside time for characters to have more personal moments. This is a saga which spans an entire world, but it also develops and makes the reader care for the people who live in that world.




Profile Image for Kent Anderson-Brettell.
3 reviews
February 9, 2025
When the world keeps throwing punches at you, how can you manage to remain kind?

That's a question that I keep asking both myself and protagonist Lago-Sterjall every single time I read one of the Noss Saga books. Relinquished Realms is no different in that regard, throwing punches at Lago and every member of his party with every chance it gets.

Relinquished Realms starts off right where Masks of the Miscam ended, with the party splitting up and heading their own directions: Lago, Kulak, Alaia, and Sunu heading towards the Azurean Dome, Kitjari and Nalaniri returning to begin Banook's journey south, and the Red Stag on his path of destruction across the world.

Just like the previous books, Baldwin does great work at expanding the world and answering questions about how various cultures and artifacts work. Even when you are meant to dislike a group due to their actions, there are always bits and pieces that leave you questioning if that dislike is truly the right emotion to feel.

If I had one complaint, (spoilers ahead)

Whatever my minor complaints may be, this third entry in the Noss Saga is as compelling as the rest, and leaves me deeply craving the release of the fourth.
Profile Image for Ryan Tye.
3 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2025
Joaquín Baldwin's Noss Saga continues to impress with Relinquished Realms, a pivotal third installment that deepens the world and intensifies the stakes. From the opening pages, readers are once again immersed in the rich world of the Noss, with its ancient Domes and intricate magic system. Baldwin's writing continues to evoke a sense of wonder, balancing the grand scope of the world-building with the intimate struggles of its characters.

Relinquished Realms shines in its character development. The complex relationships between the characters, a hallmark of the series, are further explored here, adding layers of emotional depth to the narrative.

The plot of Relinquished Realms takes the epic narrative of the Noss Saga to new heights. The looming threat of (leaving this redacted, for spoilers) becomes more immediate in this installment, driving the characters towards a conclusion that promises to be epic. Baldwin skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The world-building continues to be a highlight of the Noss Saga. Relinquished Realms expands upon the established lore. Baldwin has created a world that feels both familiar and fantastical, inviting readers to delve deeper into its mysteries.

Relinquished Realms is a significant step forward in the Noss Saga. It's a testament to Joaquín Baldwin's skill as a storyteller, showcasing his ability to craft compelling characters, intricate plots, and a richly imagined world. Fans of epic fantasy, coming-of-age stories, and magical realism will find much to enjoy in this installment. I eagerly await the conclusion of this captivating series.
Profile Image for binaryfox.
2 reviews
February 10, 2025
Joaquín Baldwin continues to expand his universe of Noss in the 3rd installment of this series. It is very much a “middle book” so don’t expect any grand conclusions. There is still so much to be revealed and this novel does not disappoint. After the 2nd book ended with the tale of the Downfall now it’s time to get down to business and save the world. He’s split the party and the novel weaves together multiple storylines, giving much more time to explore the breadth of his cast of characters than in previous books that mostly focused on Lago.

As the adventure continues and we meet more Miscam tribes and post-Downfall civilizations the complexity of the world is revealed and the characters are faced with some harsh choices. Each civilization we meet has over a thousand years of history that shaped them into who they are now. Yet still, even when the stakes are high and we aren’t sure if the heroes will make it through the next challenge it can still be a romp as each character gets their time to shine in battle.

This is an authentically furry novel and I hope that that doesn’t scare away the wider queer and fantasy audiences. I think what makes this novel particularly approachable is that characters like Lago-Sterjall and Jiara-Kitjári are still learning to appreciate the new qualia they can experience through the masks. As a furry reader it feels comforting to see my experience of coming to understand the non-human part of myself reflected in a novel. I hope it helps others explore a new perspective.

Disclosure: I received an early review copy of this book.
Profile Image for TyeGeek.
1 review1 follower
February 11, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It's the third in the Noss Saga, and it just keeps getting better and better (which is hard to believe because the first two were so good). The author, Joaquín, has created such a rich and imaginative world, and I'm completely hooked on Sterjall adventures and continued development. There's so much action, romance, and masterful WORLDBUILDING that it provided a much needed distraction from the crazy times we're in.

One of the things I love most about this series is how diverse the characters are. There are all sorts of different races and cultures, and the author does a great job of representing them all in a respectful and interesting way. The characters are also all very well-developed, and I found myself really caring about what happened to them, even when they were making questionable choices. Sterjall is such an amazing character and I'm totally invested in his journey as he learns more about himself and the world around him. And let's be honest... he's also incredibly hot. 😉

The author's writing is perfect. The descriptions are so vivid and evocative, and the dialogue is sharp and engaging. I love the way the author uses original language (miscamish) to draw you in more and make you feel part of the world. The action sequences are also really well-written at times heart-wrenching during some of the seriously intense situations.

Overall, I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who loves fantasy novels. It's a masterpiece of storytelling/worldbuilding that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
3 reviews
February 10, 2025
Relinquished Realms is the third book in the Noss Saga, and if you've been a fan of the previous two you are in for a treat here. The epic nature of the cover art sets the tone well for this volume. The main plot of the series is in full swing and so much happens. Its quite the roller coaster of emotions as the characters go through their triumphs and setbacks. I enjoy the fact the characters are well written and it makes you care about what happens to them. This tends to have a "one more chapter" effect and I spent every spare moment I had reading until I was finished. As in previous volumes, several key moments in the story are accompanied by great illustrations.

This volume contains some surprises, and as much as I'd love to go into them here I'd rather give everyone the experience of coming across them unspoiled. One happens fairly early on. Also, the domes continue to show the interesting ways things inside developed in their unique, closed ecosystems.

Relinquished Realms has been an exciting and simultaneously, somehow, relaxing read. The characters have their ups and downs and Noss is a world with its own problems, but its a good journey and I found myself coming away from it feeling charged rather than emotionally drained. In a real world with problems, I think that books that can give you a mental vacation of sorts are important.
3 reviews
February 10, 2025
I devoured Relinquished Realms in just four days—a feat I haven’t accomplished in years. The book starts off slow, but once it picks up, it never relents, delivering a pace that kept me hooked until the very end.

This new entry has more of everything: more romance, more action, and more suspense. The world-building continues to impress, with each new detail adding depth and intrigue to the setting. I especially love the introduction of a certain new plot point that raises fascinating possibilities for the future. I'm very eager to see where they lead.

One of the standout aspects of this installment is also the introduction of new subplots as the adventuring party splits in two. It’s refreshing to see the author shift focus from Lago Sterjall and give more attention to the side characters, fleshing them out in meaningful ways and creating completely different party dynamics. I’d love to see even more of the supporting cast get this treatment in future books.

Unfortunately, the book ends on a cliffhanger, which left me both thrilled and (jokingly) annoyed. Now I have to wait for the next installment to get my next fix of Noss!
1 review
February 8, 2025
(Disclosure: received an advance copy for review)
The third installment in the Noss Saga continues the epic journey of Lago and his friends as they cross the world to complete their missions to seek new allies and liberate the remaining domes. The books feature incredible world building and this is no exception. Everything feels so meticulously planned out and detailed. It's clear that the author is passionate about world building, even creating a new language and writing system for the novels. The locales are all beautiful in their own ways as our heroes travel across the world of Noss. Not to mention the unique situations inside each of the domes. The characters all feel unique and have their own motivations. I enjoy seeing the characters grow and discover new aspects of themselves as well. The focus on being an LGBTQIA+ focused series will resonate with readers from those walks of life, as well as furries and therians, due to the animal transformation aspects featured prominently in the books. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for Azimuth.
2 reviews
February 8, 2025
Much like with the previous two books, I couldn't keep myself away. Every single page captivated me, and I couldn't do anything but let it happen. I spent all my free time nose-deep in this book, loving every new development, every new and old thread of the story being drawn and woven together, and sharing every heartfelt, joyous, and sad, and funny moment experienced by the characters through this stage of their journey.

As a queer person myself, there's so much that's important to me and my life experiences which is distilled in these novels, and this one just continues that trend. It makes you care so much for the world and the characters taking part in the story, and shows how we can truly explore and find ourselves no matter what challenges we must deal with in life. And upon reaching the end, all I can say is I'm heartbroken that I'll have to wait longer for more.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Absolute 5/5, and I wait for book 4 with bated breath! 💙
2 reviews
February 10, 2025
Relinquished Realms, as the third book in the Noss Saga, continues the skyrocketing upward trend of intrigue and wonder. The stakes remain high, the cast grows in charm (for the protagonists) and disgust (for the antagonists) in equal measure, but the complexity of both expands the readers' understanding of their motivations. None of the main recurring characters feel like cardboard cutouts, but parts of an actual living world with a history as rich and diverse as the cultures that inhabit it.

Joaquin's descriptive prowess jumpstarts the imagination with imagery of all sorts. I frequently found myself salivating over passages about food, staring into the distance hoping to catch a glimpse of a landscape, or crying at the most emotional chapters.

The world of Noss expands in all ways in a truly wonderful celebration of life and its abundance of experiences. Readers will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Indi Latrani.
6 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2025
I’ve read all three of these books within the last three months, and it’s just about the deepest I can ever remember being sucked into a fantasy series. The story continues to broaden in scope and deepen in complexity. It brought in some new characters I really enjoyed, especially a really fun pair in the last part of the book who explore a new facet of the book’s core themes of inter-relationship. The physical places it explores are as always a joy: sometimes it feels like nature writing as much as a fantasy novel, which really helps me get a feel for living in the world. And all of this is not to mention the plot, which contains some truly gripping fights and escapes, as well as twists that have me already desperate to read book 4.
7 reviews
February 10, 2025
First and foremost, BEAR.

This book expands the Noss universe, going deeper in to the characters' powers and relationships. As the party splits, we get to see more of the world, meeting an even more diverse cast of supporting fauna I never thought would appear in a book. Thylacines. Elasmotheriums. Anisodons. Truly a delight for all the nerds.

We also see complications develop in the antagonist faction as the book gives them more screen time. While some of them show a little bit of their emphatetic side, some of them double down on their villainy, making me want to punch them in the face. Overall, this book gives the antagonists very strong and convincing development to match the protagonist party.

Bonus: wholesome grandma character.
3 reviews
February 10, 2025
If you’re familiar with Joaquin Baldwin’s work, this is going to be more of the fantastic world building, character development, and overall writing that he’s shown in the previous two books. This book continues to follow the exploits of Lago/Stirjall, Jiara/Kitjári and the rest of the group as they try to thwart the advances of the Red Stag, and contact the rest of the tribes still sealed inside the other domes. Can they succeed before the Red Stag does?
If you were a fan of the first two books, this one won’t disappoint. If you haven’t read the first too books, “The Wolf of Withervale” and “Masks of the Miscam” I highly suggest grabbing those too and reading them before this book. The whole series has been really fun so far!
Profile Image for Aurora.
3 reviews
February 9, 2025
Reading Relinquished Realms has been an absolutely fantastic journey so far! I've spent many late nights reading far longer than I should be considering my morning classes, but I've yet to have a little lost sleep not be worth it! About halfway through currently, and will edit my review later once I am finished, but I look forward to my reading time before bed each and every day. I am so excited to finish Relinquished Realms, and even more excited to see what comes next from Joaquín Baldwin.
Profile Image for Dale E Lybarger.
4 reviews
February 10, 2025
This was a great continuation of the series and I look forward to other books by this author. This book continues the story from the first two books and expands on a rich world. They author does an excellent job detailing the world and the events therin. It was a welcome read of the continuing adventures of Sterjall, Kitjari and Banook as well as the other characters. Some interesting new characters were also introduced and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for them as well.

This is a must read for fans of the series so far.
3 reviews
May 4, 2025
Relinquished Realms was a joy to read! This series is very quickly becoming one of my favourite fantasy stories! The continued development of the world, characters and conflict had me turning page after page. I particularly loved, as always, how unafraid this series is to cast aside fantasy novel tropes and allow its characters to be unashamedly human. This is to say, no truly good character exists and every protagonist has their flaw. Inversely, every antagonist's motive and action can be somewhat understood or even sympathised with. I cannot wait for this story to continue!
Profile Image for Matthew Dillon.
7 reviews
February 11, 2025
Joaquín Baldwin's Relinquished Realms masterfully continues the dynamic coming-of-age journey of Lago as he strives to restore the fractured mind of Noss. Each dome that is opened unveils new allies, and occasionally, new enemies. As alliances shift and form, the struggle between morality and purpose intensifies. With every step of the journey, the narrative deepens, enriching the experience and leaving us better for the ride.
Profile Image for Professor_Jefe.
16 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2025
Joaquin keeps delivering the good stuff with this continuation of his epic saga, and I am really looking forward to reading the next book! The characters are all unique individuals with flaws and strengths... and combined with the interesting twist in his world-building, this story doesn't disappoint.

Keep 'em coming, Mr. Baldwin!
3 reviews
February 11, 2025
Riding off the discovery and excitement of the previous entry, Joaquín Baldwin's Relinquished Realms (RR) takes us to places both new and familiar as our characters venture forth on their quests. RR maintains an excellent caliber of world building and character development that leaves the reader yearning for more.
Profile Image for J.F.R. Coates.
Author 23 books56 followers
June 6, 2025
Another really great entry into this series. The worldbuilding continues to be magnificent, with so much thought put into everything. The diversity of the characters is really engaging too.

Sometimes the plot threatened to get a bit repetitive (go to dome, solve issue inside, open dome), but I still felt like this was different enough each time that it remained engaging.
2 reviews
February 10, 2025
An absolutely phenomenal read that had me glued to the pages from start to end, this is the next great instalment in an amazing LGBTQIA+ fantasy saga. If you've read the previous Noss Saga books, then it is absolutely worth getting this page-gripping instalment in the series.
Profile Image for Stormy Wolf.
1 review
February 9, 2025
Once again blown away by these books and following each of the characters in their journey
Profile Image for Leven_Revlis.
2 reviews
June 24, 2025
Really great continuation from the previous books and the lore keeps getting deeper. Also all the cats!
Profile Image for emily curtis.
1,139 reviews3 followers
July 25, 2025
Enjoyable story that is well written with likeable characters and good world building. The narration is very good as well.
Profile Image for Sheppard Wolfeyes.
21 reviews
December 6, 2025
It's hard to put in words just how good this series has been so far. I would highly recommend the series. There are knots and ties in book 3.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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