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Erafeen #1
The Jestivan
An alternate cover for this isbn can be found here.
When birthed into the world as the son of the great Mendac LeAnce, miraculous feats are expected. Mendac was the Fifth of Five, making him the final hero in the Of Five—a five-part series of fairy tales that stretches over 1,500 years.
Bryson, unfortunately, was given the impossible task of following in his dead father's footsteps. And after sixteen years of mediocrity, the only time people notice him is to ridicule his existence. The world has given up on Mendac's son.
But there are two people on Bryson's side: a stone-faced, lifelong best friend who's never expressed an emotion in her life, and a secret-riddled man who has taken care of Bryson since his father's death. They're his rocks. He has learned to appreciate and lean on their friendship, regardless of their more mysterious side … even if those mysteries put Bryson's life in jeopardy.
Things are looking up for the young LeAnce as the new school year at Phesaw begins. He receives a letter informing him of his induction into the recreation of the Jestivan, an elite group of students that had only existed once in the school's history. Its formation presents the opportunity of new friends for Bryson. But when ten highly talented students come together, there is bound to be conflict.
Warring personalities and competitive attitudes are minor hurdles, however; considering the fact that warring kingdoms are more pressing. A 1,500-year war boils over as a traitor turns his back on his realm, threats of a dangerous king rising from the ashes begin to surface, one of the Jestivan goes missing, and someone close to Bryson is hiding something with more regard for the thing being protected than Bryson’s life.
The Jestivan must develop camaraderie, and do it fast. Otherwise, they’re going to have to force it. And that can end in devastation.
When birthed into the world as the son of the great Mendac LeAnce, miraculous feats are expected. Mendac was the Fifth of Five, making him the final hero in the Of Five—a five-part series of fairy tales that stretches over 1,500 years.
Bryson, unfortunately, was given the impossible task of following in his dead father's footsteps. And after sixteen years of mediocrity, the only time people notice him is to ridicule his existence. The world has given up on Mendac's son.
But there are two people on Bryson's side: a stone-faced, lifelong best friend who's never expressed an emotion in her life, and a secret-riddled man who has taken care of Bryson since his father's death. They're his rocks. He has learned to appreciate and lean on their friendship, regardless of their more mysterious side … even if those mysteries put Bryson's life in jeopardy.
Things are looking up for the young LeAnce as the new school year at Phesaw begins. He receives a letter informing him of his induction into the recreation of the Jestivan, an elite group of students that had only existed once in the school's history. Its formation presents the opportunity of new friends for Bryson. But when ten highly talented students come together, there is bound to be conflict.
Warring personalities and competitive attitudes are minor hurdles, however; considering the fact that warring kingdoms are more pressing. A 1,500-year war boils over as a traitor turns his back on his realm, threats of a dangerous king rising from the ashes begin to surface, one of the Jestivan goes missing, and someone close to Bryson is hiding something with more regard for the thing being protected than Bryson’s life.
The Jestivan must develop camaraderie, and do it fast. Otherwise, they’re going to have to force it. And that can end in devastation.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2016
143 people are currently reading
1605 people want to read
About the author
David F. Farris
7 books62 followersDavid F. Farris was that kid who spent all of his birthday money on Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon cards. They started his love of storytelling. He’d create his own Pokemon, draw them, give them a biography, physical measurements, attacks, etc. As he grew older—into a bigger kid—he began to draw cartoons through the same process, except in more detail this time. He even drew a block-by-block detailed map of an imaginary city across eight sheets of graph paper. He’d dabble in writing short stories because of his love of Harry Potter, but his specialty was drawing.
Creative writing didn’t become a strong passion until 12th grade, when he wrote a mock epic; The Pokemon Master … Surprise, surprise. But still, he elected to attend Emory University in hopes of bettering his future with something more practical: Organic Chemistry. It took no more than three years for David to realize his mistake and bail.
He became lost after that, as he submerged himself into the depths of competitive gaming. This included double-digit hours of sitting on a chair entirely too close to a monitor with a bottle of Mountain Dew and a box of Nerds by his side at all times. And when he wasn’t doing that, he was working in retail.
Thankfully, he met a friend while gaming. And this friend introduced him to anime. And anime reintroduced him to his passion to build worlds and tell stories. The likes of One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, and Fairy Tail and their massive worlds inspired him to create something just as big. And when he read The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, it solidified his desire.
That’s how the epic fantasy series, Erafeen, came to be. 7 years of development and writing has gone into the story. The Jestivan was published on January 9th, 2016. The 2nd book will be published sometime in early 2018..
Creative writing didn’t become a strong passion until 12th grade, when he wrote a mock epic; The Pokemon Master … Surprise, surprise. But still, he elected to attend Emory University in hopes of bettering his future with something more practical: Organic Chemistry. It took no more than three years for David to realize his mistake and bail.
He became lost after that, as he submerged himself into the depths of competitive gaming. This included double-digit hours of sitting on a chair entirely too close to a monitor with a bottle of Mountain Dew and a box of Nerds by his side at all times. And when he wasn’t doing that, he was working in retail.
Thankfully, he met a friend while gaming. And this friend introduced him to anime. And anime reintroduced him to his passion to build worlds and tell stories. The likes of One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, and Fairy Tail and their massive worlds inspired him to create something just as big. And when he read The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, it solidified his desire.
That’s how the epic fantasy series, Erafeen, came to be. 7 years of development and writing has gone into the story. The Jestivan was published on January 9th, 2016. The 2nd book will be published sometime in early 2018..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 11, 2016
Just finished reading “The Jestivan (Erafeen Book One)” debut novel by David F. Farris. This is the beginning of what in my opinion is going to be a fabulous series. When I first started reading this book I thought it might be a little too “young” for my liking. However, once I started getting into the meat of the story I found myself so thoroughly engrossed in the wonderful world and characters that this young writer conjured up. I hate to make comparisons, but if I were to, I would say this book is somewhere between “Harry Potter” and “Game of Thrones” with an Asian (Anime) touch to it. Take a journey you’ll not soon forget to the world of Kuki Sphaira with all its kingdoms and realms, where you will find characters who use special abilities and powers in the time know as K.H., as in 1400 K.H. (Known History). Keep your eyes and ears open for this exciting new artist of words, and the future books in this Epic Fantasy Series, and whatever else he may bring to us. Well done David...
Synopsis: A rich story of epic proportions. A massive school at the heart of the Light Realm with over 30,000 students, a world with its own lore that stretches back 1,500 years, and ten kingdoms caught in political strife as traitors arise inside of royal families. Erafeen is idea for lovers of magical fantasies entwined with dark political strife.
His dead father: a legend.
His father-figure: an icon.
Sinister truths are buried within the powers that raised Bryson. And as these secrets begin to shake his faith in those great men, disaster shakes the world around him.
Several of Kuki Sphaira's ten kingdoms are in shambles from mass bloodshed, royal assassinations, and rekindled ancient wars. And it will take more than political, military, or even magical power to solve such problems.
The Jestivan--a band of ten elite students, including Bryson--become the unlikely heroes when one of their own goes missing. Now they must infiltrate foreign lands and track down kings, bringing them face-to-face with secrets better left unknown.
Most drown in their demons. Some try to escape. The Jestivan are the rare few who will do anything just to find them …
And they are the ones who learn the highest rule of power:
To build trust, one must lie.
Synopsis: A rich story of epic proportions. A massive school at the heart of the Light Realm with over 30,000 students, a world with its own lore that stretches back 1,500 years, and ten kingdoms caught in political strife as traitors arise inside of royal families. Erafeen is idea for lovers of magical fantasies entwined with dark political strife.
His dead father: a legend.
His father-figure: an icon.
Sinister truths are buried within the powers that raised Bryson. And as these secrets begin to shake his faith in those great men, disaster shakes the world around him.
Several of Kuki Sphaira's ten kingdoms are in shambles from mass bloodshed, royal assassinations, and rekindled ancient wars. And it will take more than political, military, or even magical power to solve such problems.
The Jestivan--a band of ten elite students, including Bryson--become the unlikely heroes when one of their own goes missing. Now they must infiltrate foreign lands and track down kings, bringing them face-to-face with secrets better left unknown.
Most drown in their demons. Some try to escape. The Jestivan are the rare few who will do anything just to find them …
And they are the ones who learn the highest rule of power:
To build trust, one must lie.
April 18, 2019
5 stars, but should you really trust me? /creepysmile
But seriously, enjoy the book. Adventures await.
But seriously, enjoy the book. Adventures await.
October 14, 2016
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
As far as YA dystopian fiction goes, this was pretty alright. I did find the dialogue to be a little awkward and unnatural, and I wish that the reader was able to get to know the characters through their actions throughout the book, rather than having to read character introductions. That being said, once I settled into the rhythm of the narrative, I began to enjoy the story and appreciate the span of the world David F. Farris has created.
As far as YA dystopian fiction goes, this was pretty alright. I did find the dialogue to be a little awkward and unnatural, and I wish that the reader was able to get to know the characters through their actions throughout the book, rather than having to read character introductions. That being said, once I settled into the rhythm of the narrative, I began to enjoy the story and appreciate the span of the world David F. Farris has created.
January 10, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I had been putting it off since I got it for free from Facebook. However, it was quite a read! (And I'm a picky reader.)
The element that I truly loved about this book was that it was like an anime novel. I can totally and completely fuck with that. I vividly pictured all the scenes throughout this book as an anime in my head. The elements of the kingdoms, the personalities, the abilities, the fight scenes = ANIME NOVEL! This would not for once be out of place as an epic, and sometimes goofy, anime show. And Meow Meow!! Just a little cherry on top (pun intended ... the on top part).
I wish I had a little more background on Phesaw and the mechanics of school life. I had a lot of questions left unanswered. Where, actually is the school? Why do students from all the kingdoms of the Light Realm attend this school? What do they actually do at this school?? Does everyone from the kingdoms attend this school? Who the heck is Simon? Did I miss something? (And--if I may be nit-picky--Olivia and Bryson are from 2 different kingdoms, so how did they both use the same teleplatform to get to Phesaw?)
We're kind of thrown into this world blind--which is fine, I'm cool with that--but a lot of things are left unexplained and unexplored. Whether it's intentional, I do not know. Maybe we are expected to take it as it is. Maybe all the explanation required would just create an extra layer of fat around the current setting of these 10 (10 I was very hesitant with so many characters introduced so fast, but it worked out) students becoming Jestivan and basically separated from the other students from the beginning of the year. They weren't experiencing the school the same as all the other students at this point. But also, I don't know anything about this school except... that's where they are and they are Jestivan now.
Some of the names threw me off a bit, but hey, what can you do? It's fantasy. All you can do is roll with it and roll with it I shall. This series, I can tell, will be revealed as layers of the onion are being peeled away. The ending was enough for me to immediately purchase book 2 and pre-order book 3!
The element that I truly loved about this book was that it was like an anime novel. I can totally and completely fuck with that. I vividly pictured all the scenes throughout this book as an anime in my head. The elements of the kingdoms, the personalities, the abilities, the fight scenes = ANIME NOVEL! This would not for once be out of place as an epic, and sometimes goofy, anime show. And Meow Meow!! Just a little cherry on top (pun intended ... the on top part).
I wish I had a little more background on Phesaw and the mechanics of school life. I had a lot of questions left unanswered. Where, actually is the school? Why do students from all the kingdoms of the Light Realm attend this school? What do they actually do at this school?? Does everyone from the kingdoms attend this school? Who the heck is Simon? Did I miss something? (And--if I may be nit-picky--Olivia and Bryson are from 2 different kingdoms, so how did they both use the same teleplatform to get to Phesaw?)
We're kind of thrown into this world blind--which is fine, I'm cool with that--but a lot of things are left unexplained and unexplored. Whether it's intentional, I do not know. Maybe we are expected to take it as it is. Maybe all the explanation required would just create an extra layer of fat around the current setting of these 10 (10 I was very hesitant with so many characters introduced so fast, but it worked out) students becoming Jestivan and basically separated from the other students from the beginning of the year. They weren't experiencing the school the same as all the other students at this point. But also, I don't know anything about this school except... that's where they are and they are Jestivan now.
Some of the names threw me off a bit, but hey, what can you do? It's fantasy. All you can do is roll with it and roll with it I shall. This series, I can tell, will be revealed as layers of the onion are being peeled away. The ending was enough for me to immediately purchase book 2 and pre-order book 3!
March 19, 2016
I received a free copy of this book through a goodreads first reads giveaway.
(The texts on the map pages was so tiny and faint the information was useless, I could barely read most of it)
Pretty much from the first page this book had an anime/manga vibe to it which just grew stronger throughout. It was different and I didn't care for it that much but I did roll my eyes by time I got to the description of the passion director and at the behavior of Jilly. All I could think of was drooling anime characters.
A lot of scenes (confronations mainly with parents) felt super out of place. Like deleted scenes that wouldn't make a collector's edition of a film. Just mehhhh.
The external conflict felt very vague, as did the internal conflicts between realms. But at least both were present to some degree.
If you've ever wondered what would happen if someone binge watched anime before writing a book, this just might be it (yes there are even cherry blossoms). As much as I enjoy anime now and then this just wasn't for me.
(The texts on the map pages was so tiny and faint the information was useless, I could barely read most of it)
Pretty much from the first page this book had an anime/manga vibe to it which just grew stronger throughout. It was different and I didn't care for it that much but I did roll my eyes by time I got to the description of the passion director and at the behavior of Jilly. All I could think of was drooling anime characters.
A lot of scenes (confronations mainly with parents) felt super out of place. Like deleted scenes that wouldn't make a collector's edition of a film. Just mehhhh.
The external conflict felt very vague, as did the internal conflicts between realms. But at least both were present to some degree.
If you've ever wondered what would happen if someone binge watched anime before writing a book, this just might be it (yes there are even cherry blossoms). As much as I enjoy anime now and then this just wasn't for me.
November 3, 2016
This has been the most amazing book I have read in a couple of years. I have read many books, but a few books/series have made it to my favorites. This book has gone beyond my expectations and has been a different kind of story, but a good different. Read the story of Bryson and his friends as they begin a new chapter in their lives. If you liked Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Runaway Prince, and the likes of those, you will love this book!
January 28, 2021
New: 4.4 stars in my insane rating system. There is so much to say about the characters and how great they are, but this book is just a solid start to an amazing series.(new)
I rated this 4.5 stars. It was great, just not the most exciting story. I recommend this. Obviously my notes and highlights have spoilers.(old)
I rated this 4.5 stars. It was great, just not the most exciting story. I recommend this. Obviously my notes and highlights have spoilers.(old)
July 14, 2021
This book/series contains an extremely unique world with its own unique magic system. Overall, I thought this series was fantastic. The world building, characters’ appearances, and personalities do have a very manga/anime type feel to them, but I personally enjoyed that aspect. There are some grammatical errors through this book and the series in general, as well as some instances where the incorrect word is used, but honestly it didn’t bother me much considering this is a self-released book. If you can look past the small errors, and are okay with the manga vibe, this is really a great series full of wonderful world building, plot twists, and some heartbreaking moments. I have read the first 5 books twice now (and the 6th book just once) and it was just as good the second time around as it was the first. Definitely highly recommend this book, and considering that every book in the series is free with kindle unlimited, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a chance!
April 19, 2019
Different worlds
wow, I love reading books like this but I sure wonder where it comes from. Is this in the past or the future? Why do several people die to save one and what will the future bring? I highly recommend this book
wow, I love reading books like this but I sure wonder where it comes from. Is this in the past or the future? Why do several people die to save one and what will the future bring? I highly recommend this book
May 25, 2016
Goodreads Win Copy
Bryson dead father was a legend and the person who raised him is considered an icon. But behind it all there are secrets that will change how Bryson see things.
In the kingdom of ten where the fight for power and blood is easilyt shed it will not be easy to solve their problems. The Jestivan is formed as a band of ten elite students, including Bryson. As they-become heroes when one of their own goes missing. Now they find themselves infiltrate foreign lands and track down kings and bringing them face-to-face with secrets better left unknown.
Nothing is what it is seems and at to lie. An interesting adventure story.
Bryson dead father was a legend and the person who raised him is considered an icon. But behind it all there are secrets that will change how Bryson see things.
In the kingdom of ten where the fight for power and blood is easilyt shed it will not be easy to solve their problems. The Jestivan is formed as a band of ten elite students, including Bryson. As they-become heroes when one of their own goes missing. Now they find themselves infiltrate foreign lands and track down kings and bringing them face-to-face with secrets better left unknown.
Nothing is what it is seems and at to lie. An interesting adventure story.
November 11, 2017
I received a free copy of this through the author on Facebook. I had a hard time getting into this one at first but once the story starts moving it was really good. I'm super curious about Bryson's parentage I have a hunch and would be interested to see if it's correct. This book was unique and a lot of fun to read.
November 21, 2018
What an adventure! Adventure might not be the right word, maybe mission would be better. However you label it, it was a very exciting tale! There was great characters and many twists and turns in this interesting world.
To me this is a mix of the movie Sky High (a high school for kids of super heroes), Harry Potter (a school to learn & hone your magic), and X-Men (a powerful strike team made up of extraordinary beings).
The Jestivan are a team of ten made up of 2 teenagers from each of the 5 kingdoms that each have their own unique talent. They are to be protectors of sort of the Light Realm against threats from the Dark Realm.
I really liked this book!! Each character was intruiging and the world built here is very interesting.
I look forward to reading more books in this series because there are still so many questions to be answered and so many secrets to reveal! I'm excited for the next challenges the Jestivan will face.
The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars was that some of the characters' names were similar and some had nicknames that sorta confused me for a sec. It was like a little speed bump for me to sort it out sometimes. But that's just my issue that most likely isn't a common problem.
(Thanks to Hidden Gems for a complimentary copy of this book)
To me this is a mix of the movie Sky High (a high school for kids of super heroes), Harry Potter (a school to learn & hone your magic), and X-Men (a powerful strike team made up of extraordinary beings).
The Jestivan are a team of ten made up of 2 teenagers from each of the 5 kingdoms that each have their own unique talent. They are to be protectors of sort of the Light Realm against threats from the Dark Realm.
I really liked this book!! Each character was intruiging and the world built here is very interesting.
I look forward to reading more books in this series because there are still so many questions to be answered and so many secrets to reveal! I'm excited for the next challenges the Jestivan will face.
The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars was that some of the characters' names were similar and some had nicknames that sorta confused me for a sec. It was like a little speed bump for me to sort it out sometimes. But that's just my issue that most likely isn't a common problem.
(Thanks to Hidden Gems for a complimentary copy of this book)
May 14, 2019
This book and author had been popping up on my Facebook feed for quite a while and the books sounded really interesting. So I started following the author, after book 4 was released was when I decided that I really needed to add this book to my to be read list. And finally I’ve got round to reading it, but sadly I was in my reading slump so it took me longer than usual.
The actual storyline of this book is totally unique, and I’ve never actually come across something like this before. Basically there is a group of young adults/ teenagers from different realms that are learning to develop their powers and abilities. But this year they have decided to bring back the jestivans tradition which is the strongest male and female students from each realm. They are then split into groups to train and bring out the best in each and develop in their characters.
Within this book we face many problems with these jestivan and their past lives are mentioned and we come face to face with some of their past fears and bad consequences happen. It is quite nice to get a background of the majority of the characters and seeing where they came from. It is also really nice to see that several of the characters have a close relationship already and seeing others relationships develop is quite sweet. We also have a hint of a romantic relationship within these main characters which I love and I really hope that they get together in later books.
There is quite a lot of action, adventure and twists within this book too which makes it more interesting and enticing. It is a reasonable paced book that is well written. It is not a usual style of writing for a young adult book, but it is really good. I think this is what makes this book even more unique and special.
I really like the different characters personalities, there is a mixture of shy, out going, classy and sassy. Which makes this book funny at times just with the actions and words that are associated with the characters. While reading this book you don’t get lost with which characters point of view you are in because they are distinctive which is really good as most young adult books point of views are really similar.
The whole plot and background of this book is just pure perfection and amazing. I think the only reason why I rated it 4 stars was because I was in a reading slump and it was taking me a long time to read it because it wasn’t as fast paced as I am used to and like. But that may have just been purely down to my reading slump, so I’d definitely recommend this book if you are wanting so,etching unique and special that enhances your reading experience.
The actual storyline of this book is totally unique, and I’ve never actually come across something like this before. Basically there is a group of young adults/ teenagers from different realms that are learning to develop their powers and abilities. But this year they have decided to bring back the jestivans tradition which is the strongest male and female students from each realm. They are then split into groups to train and bring out the best in each and develop in their characters.
Within this book we face many problems with these jestivan and their past lives are mentioned and we come face to face with some of their past fears and bad consequences happen. It is quite nice to get a background of the majority of the characters and seeing where they came from. It is also really nice to see that several of the characters have a close relationship already and seeing others relationships develop is quite sweet. We also have a hint of a romantic relationship within these main characters which I love and I really hope that they get together in later books.
There is quite a lot of action, adventure and twists within this book too which makes it more interesting and enticing. It is a reasonable paced book that is well written. It is not a usual style of writing for a young adult book, but it is really good. I think this is what makes this book even more unique and special.
I really like the different characters personalities, there is a mixture of shy, out going, classy and sassy. Which makes this book funny at times just with the actions and words that are associated with the characters. While reading this book you don’t get lost with which characters point of view you are in because they are distinctive which is really good as most young adult books point of views are really similar.
The whole plot and background of this book is just pure perfection and amazing. I think the only reason why I rated it 4 stars was because I was in a reading slump and it was taking me a long time to read it because it wasn’t as fast paced as I am used to and like. But that may have just been purely down to my reading slump, so I’d definitely recommend this book if you are wanting so,etching unique and special that enhances your reading experience.
August 23, 2017
The Jestivan is a must read book! I feel like this is just the beginning of what will turn out to be an epic series. David Ferris successfully combined magic, comedy and heartbreak (which is hard to find sometimes). I felt the world building lacked detail but those holes were filled with the universe as a whole as well as the characters and the storyline. This book made me laugh, held me on the edge of my seat and made me cry. Sometimes the humor was a little over the top but it didn't turn me away from this book. I love sarcasm and humor. I was also impressed with the fight scenes. I've read other highly recommended books with action but the fighting always seemed forced and not humanly possible. The Jestivan didn't feel forced. Everything flowed nicely together. I loved this book and cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in the series!
December 21, 2017
I got this book free on Facebook. It was somewhat hard to get into at first but overall a pretty enjoyable read. The book had pretty strong anime vibes which at first was kind of weird but after awhile grew on me. It was, quite honestly, very easy to picture the characters, kingdoms, action sequences, etc while thinking of it in the context of an anime.
The storytelling is pretty good, although world-building could maybe use some work? A bit more information about the kingdoms and how they fit together might have been nice (although there are more books in the series so maybe I'm just not there yet).
Overall, I enjoyed it and since I like to support those less well-known authors with good work, I will at least be buying The Untenable.
The storytelling is pretty good, although world-building could maybe use some work? A bit more information about the kingdoms and how they fit together might have been nice (although there are more books in the series so maybe I'm just not there yet).
Overall, I enjoyed it and since I like to support those less well-known authors with good work, I will at least be buying The Untenable.
January 9, 2019
I'm struggling with this series, because it has some really great elements in terms of story and worldbuilding, but it can also be really confusing. A new mystery is introduced every few chapters, and it's not really believable that a young person knows nothing about his parents. It's like the backstory is only being addressed as it affects the main story, but all the characters have a complicated backstory that even they ignore until it comes up. It's kind of like, "And by the way, here are five major facts that should be shocking, but as they don't relate to where the author wants to go, we're going to gloss them over and plow through..."
I'm intrigued enough to read the sequel, but if I'm still feeling like the story doesn't flesh out, I'll probably stop there.
I'm intrigued enough to read the sequel, but if I'm still feeling like the story doesn't flesh out, I'll probably stop there.
November 8, 2018
*Received a free ARC from Hidden Gens in exchange for an honest review*
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book except fantasy. I very nearly gave up after the first chapters but I'm pleased I didn’t. To be honest, I’m still not quite sure what to make of this book but it is very good and seemed to be a cross between science-fiction and fantasy. I would be very interested in reading the rest of the series.
For those interested, there is a hint at LGBT+ romance which I'm sure will be developed later in the series.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book except fantasy. I very nearly gave up after the first chapters but I'm pleased I didn’t. To be honest, I’m still not quite sure what to make of this book but it is very good and seemed to be a cross between science-fiction and fantasy. I would be very interested in reading the rest of the series.
For those interested, there is a hint at LGBT+ romance which I'm sure will be developed later in the series.
did-not-finish
September 21, 2019DNF 16%
The narrative felt scattered, possibly omni, but I had a really hard time keeping track of who was speaking, as other people's thoughts or actions interrupted someone else's dialogue. Once everyone got together, it devolved quickly into smirks, snarky retorts, and whatever else someone thinks people want to read about instead of letting us in on the story. Also, there were PARAGRAPHS on PARAGRAPHS of talking exposition / info dump that bored me to tears.
The narrative felt scattered, possibly omni, but I had a really hard time keeping track of who was speaking, as other people's thoughts or actions interrupted someone else's dialogue. Once everyone got together, it devolved quickly into smirks, snarky retorts, and whatever else someone thinks people want to read about instead of letting us in on the story. Also, there were PARAGRAPHS on PARAGRAPHS of talking exposition / info dump that bored me to tears.
February 10, 2021
This is my second read through of this series before reading the recently released book 6, the empires.
This series is honestly one of my favorites that I have ever read. I love everything about this book. The main characters, the story, the intricate world building, etc.
I look forward to reading through this series again and picking up all the foreshadowing.
I highly recommend anyone who is a fan of good fantasy and storytelling to read this book. You will be thoroughly entertained.
This series is honestly one of my favorites that I have ever read. I love everything about this book. The main characters, the story, the intricate world building, etc.
I look forward to reading through this series again and picking up all the foreshadowing.
I highly recommend anyone who is a fan of good fantasy and storytelling to read this book. You will be thoroughly entertained.
April 30, 2018
I found this book to be a good one. At first the dialogue felt slightly awkward but after a time, it became easier to read and the characters also became more identifiable. I think that, while it may not be for everyone, anyone willing to read this book from cover to cover will be rewarded with a story that they'd enjoy, how much will depend on the reader.
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
December 14, 2018
Ok so I have a very hard time reading ebooks and unfortunately it took me over a month to finish this book. Overall, this book was amazing and I enjoyed every chapter. I love the Jestivan. I've never read anything so graphic before this. It was very detailed and not hard to picture at all. I can't wait to get into the rest of the series.
January 8, 2019
Overall I really like the core story here however the execution was a little flat. There needs to be more descriptive and in depth world building - I want to be able to see in my mind where the story is taking place. Pacing is a tad slow as well. Overall this is a good story with tons of potential
July 6, 2017
A book of strange powers and political maneuvering.
July 18, 2017
Sometimes all the different names were a bit confusing to keep track of but overall it was a decent book. Goodreads win review.
July 19, 2017
brilliant. full of action. compelling from the word go.
August 12, 2017
Couldn't put it down.
Loved the actin and small crushes. Seems to leave you wanting the next book to continue and see what direction the love stories go.
Loved the actin and small crushes. Seems to leave you wanting the next book to continue and see what direction the love stories go.
August 25, 2017
*I received this book as part of a goodreads giveaway*
August 31, 2017
loved this book good mix of both magics ,plenty of action
December 30, 2018
Once I got in the groove of the writing it was great! Good story.
March 30, 2019
Good adventure story. Moved a little slow at times, but overall was a good read. Things really sped up in the last third of the book. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
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