Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Sunderlands (World of Aureum, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Sunderlands (World of Aureum, #1)

Anastasia K. King (Goodreads Author),

Micaela Alcaino (Illustrator),

Chloe Szentpeteri (Editor)

4.03 · Rating details · 38 ratings · 24 reviews

A Kingdom of Men is pushing the Elven clans of the Sunderlands over the brink of extinction. The mortal counterpart to the God of Death, Keres has the power to stem the tide of bloodshed. As brutal civil war threatens to tear her homeland asunder, she struggles to control her gift without succumbing to a curse of unslakable blood-lust.
When her people are attacked, she A Kingdom of Men is pushing the Elven clans of the Sunderlands over the brink of extinction. The mortal counterpart to the God of Death, Keres has the power to stem the tide of bloodshed. As brutal civil war threatens to tear her homeland asunder, she struggles to control her gift without succumbing to a curse of unslakable blood-lust.
When her people are attacked, she can no longer hold back. The beast within awakens. Gods know there will be no redemption on the other side of her revenge. Wading deeper into the darkness plaguing her land, unraveling the secrets of her heritage, Keres faces a greater challenge: finding her place in this world or being broken by it.
Many seek to tame her and use her as a divine weapon.Including a Knight desiring to claim her body and spirit. As the war between Man and Elf stains the Sunderlands with innocent blood, Keres must make a choice: save her people and damn her cursed soul, or forsake the Gods and her homeland to gain freedom.

Note: This story is not suitable for persons under the age of 18.

"This book is packed with action nonstop from the very beginning. Once you get trapped in this world, you'll be so invested in the characters. When I received this book as an ARC, I was interested to see how death itself could be a character without getting boring. Well, this book did Death justice. I was hooked immediately." - Michelle

"Must read now. Thrilling new novel on death possession. Yes, you read that right. Death has captured a princess and has a use for her! This book has a lot of emotional struggles, will tear at your heartstrings, and keep you guessing. What you think you know... you really have no idea." - Nicole

"What the bloody hell?! What an amazing find! Excellent start to a debut series. Great spin on fantasy, great action & lusty moments. I can't wait to see what happens next!" - Emily
"This was a dark and edgy read. Plot twists were on point. I was literally glued to the screen, rooting for Death to take the wheel!" - Elizabeth

"Fantastic read! Keres is the type of heroine who makes you cheer her on for her next kill. So many twists and turns, brilliant world building. I couldn't put this book down!!" - Vanessa
...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 461 pages

Published September 15th 2019 by Anastasia King Books, L.L.C.

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Sunderlands, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about The Sunderlands

Lists with This Book

The Exercise Of Vital Powers by Ian Gregoire

High Fantasy with Female Leads (just the first books of a series)

26 books — 27 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.03 ·

Rating details

· 38 ratings · 24 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Sunderlands (World of Aureum, #1)

Oct 15, 2019 Chloe Hodge rated it really liked it

A fantastic start to an enthralling series! This book has action, romance, mystery, and dark intrigue, and I cannot wait to read more from the author.

King has a way with words that draws you in and begs for the pages to keep on turning. Her effortless descriptions give you a real taste for what the protagonist is feeling as she embarks on her quest.

Keep an eye on this author— she’s got talent!

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 28, 2019 Joanna Freire rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm excited to be finally writing this review! It might be a long one, so be prepared(:

This book was incredibly easy to get into once I sat down to read. Chapters would fly and then I'd look at the time and ask myself, can I fit in one more chapter? The answer was always yes, and I still don't regret the late nights reading this. I was enthralled.
In that regard, this book helped me get out of a reading slump. Sometimes I just need to unwind and read something I enjoy, which this book was for me. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2020 MLB (back from Webtoonland) rated it it was amazing

Loved this little devil of a book! Can't wait to see what's next! ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2020 ♣Bel♣ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Sunderlands

4 stars

The dominant thought in my mind while reading ‘The Sunderlands’ was “this would make a phenomenal movie”. I rarely say this about books because I can’t envision the scenes playing out so visually in my head as well as I did for this one. And that is because, Anastasia’s writing really brings scenes to life so vividly. She’s a phenomenal writer and it was visible in every single sentence. Her action scenes literally gave me chills, I can still see them as if I was watching ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 30, 2020 A.damn.good.book rated it liked it

❄️ The Sunderland - Anastasia King (Strong Sex Scenes)... This book was a turning point for me in my bookstagram world, It’s the book that made me decide to do away with star ratings. I was torn about what rating to give this one, but there is so much value to this book that I realized I also need to process my emotions before jumping in and writing a review. There is no doubt to me that King is a very good writer, her writing will intrigue those who like wordy, lyrical almost poetic scenes that ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2019 lorraine liehe rated it it was amazing

Brilliance

This story is crafted to lure you into a world like no other. Anastasia writes with a vividness that makes you feel like you’ve never actually seen the world in all its glorious colors and grandeur. I read this book slowly partly because I didn’t want to miss any fine detail (there are many).

Her analogies and comparisons in every detail of part one builds a world so enthralling that wrapping my brain around its concept had me reeling with delight at her pure genius of word play.

Keres ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2020 Courtney rated it really liked it

I knew I was going to enjoy this book as soon as I saw @pagesoverpeople raving about it and that’s why I immediately picked it up and (almost) immediately started reading it!
So I found myself struggling in the beginning because there was a lot of world building and I did find myself a bit confused at times but once I hit about 100 pages in I was hooked ( I blame me being impatient from a previous book putting me in a slump lol). I loved the fact that this was a world surrounding elves, it was ve ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 20, 2019 Sierra Noe rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book. Keres is super badass along with many of the other characters in this book. I killed it in one sitting & I'm already anxious for the next. For this to be a first from the author I'm shocked & excited to know it only gets better from here. Fans of Laura thalassa & Amelia Hutchins will love this book! ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2020 Zoe L. added it

This book was a slow burn romance between me and the story. I went into it seeing it being rated a New Adult and expected to devour it, but it turned out that there was so much more to the story than I was expecting! So, I wound up REALLY taking my time reading it. Which is something of a rare occurrence for me, as I am typically a binge reader. BUT, there are some books that just deserve your time and consideration.

Ok, but honestly, all I really have to say after finishing this book is: What th This book was a slow burn romance between me and the story. I went into it seeing it being rated a New Adult and expected to devour it, but it turned out that there was so much more to the story than I was expecting! So, I wound up REALLY taking my time reading it. Which is something of a rare occurrence for me, as I am typically a binge reader. BUT, there are some books that just deserve your time and consideration.

Ok, but honestly, all I really have to say after finishing this book is: What the h*ll? Seriously, have you ever had a lucid dream where you wake up and can’t tell up from down? That’s what finishing this story is like. It’s an amazing feel, but also, I like seriously need the second book twenty minutes ago. THIS is why I hate reading series before every book is out. I am destroyed and distraught by this ending! AHHHHHH!!!

But on a more serious note, this book is good. The first 2/3 of the book is really focused on world building. And, if you have read any of my other reviews, you know that’s basically what I fantasize about in my dreams. I salivate when I hear there’s some amazing world building in a book. What can I say? I was raised on Tolkien. But, this book NEEDED to spend all that time setting the scene, as some may say. There is a LOT in this book and even with that much focus on world building, I still don’t know everything about this world, or even honestly some of what I read! Which is fantastic, because that means there’s going to be even more foundation laid in the upcoming book.

So, imagine you’re going on this lovely but Wonderland inspired stroll through the park. That’s what the first 2/3 of the books feels like. There’s so much happening, but it still feels like hardly anything is happening all at the same time. Lucid fever dream, I’m telling you. Then you get to the last third of the book. And phew, child, I… I have no words. I literally couldn’t put the book down. Asides from the couple of (ignored, RUDE) messages to my friend who I read this with of me asking her: WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING?! I mean, it’s just wild. Like holy heck, just wow.

But now that I’ve ranted on and on about my feelings (ew, who wants to talk about those?), I should probably give a little info about the book? Maybe? So, take a little bit of ACOTAR and a pinch of Throne of Glass, throw in some elves, a dash of “Off with their heads!” and you have The Sunderlands. First off, I’m loving that this is a book about elves. While I love the fae, elves need their limelight too! Plus these are smexy warrior elves, so, I mean, what’s not to love? My girl Keres is a total babe. She is in essence a vessel on earth for the God of Death, which is honestly pretty cool. I really loved learning about how the Gods worked in this world, and I am particularly intrigued to learn more about this harbinger of Death. Then you have the two main hulking elven men vying for Keres’ attention (’nuff said). BUT, who I am most intrigued to learn more about is Keres’ sister, Liriene. Read it and find out why (because spoilers and secrets).

But yeah, that’s it. I should stop pouring out all of my feelings over needing the second book yesterday (see how my time is going further and further back?) because you could have started reading this book in the time that it took you to read this review! Oh! And before I leave I forgot to mention how ecstatic I was to see a book filled with characters that didn't shy away from swearing! The inner sailor in me was ecstatic!

You can view my full review on my blog! I post a wide range of reviews!

Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/ ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2020 Niah Delamotte rated it liked it

I read my first independently published novel this year, by Anastasia King. I came across her book through bookstagram, and found her content on the writing process fascinating and insightful. When I heard that her book was free on Kindle Unlimited, I immediately signed up for a free trial and started devouring it!

This high-fantasy revenge story felt right up my alley, and the worldbuilding did not disappoint. The pantheon of Gods was full of intrigue, and I would love to see them explored even I read my first independently published novel this year, by Anastasia King. I came across her book through bookstagram, and found her content on the writing process fascinating and insightful. When I heard that her book was free on Kindle Unlimited, I immediately signed up for a free trial and started devouring it!

This high-fantasy revenge story felt right up my alley, and the worldbuilding did not disappoint. The pantheon of Gods was full of intrigue, and I would love to see them explored even further in the following book in the series. Seeing Keres be chosen to have her powers is a concept that I loved, as it meant she would believe in that god and decide whether or not to listen. This dynamic has great potential for tension and conflict, which is explored throughout the story. The magic was a part of the story that I enjoyed so much, and the monsters were amazing too! Monsters and their designs are always one of my favourite parts, and I will be so excited if more are encountered in the second book.

One part of the world-building that could be improved is the history of the kingdom, concerning the previously reigning king, queen and princesses, alongside other regions of the world. I love expanding on the immediate world of the plot, however the times these were mentioned were, sometimes, pretty expositional, often expressed through dialogue-heavy sections. This made it a bit hard to absorb at times. However, trying to communicate complex monarchies, families and locations can be difficult, and there are limited ways to convey this kind of information. The inclusion of the Gryphon King I also wish could have been incorporated into the story more.

The themes of obligation and duty, which turned out to be super interesting and topical. It is explored through multiple levels, such as through Keres’ relationship with the God of death, the man she is supposed to marry, and the Oracle child who must perform her duties to the Queen. Additionally, it also traverses the sobering stages of grief and war. These parts of ‘The Sunderlands’ provides a great foundation for conflict throughout the plot. The plot also included plenty of suspense and reveals that I was not expect, providing an unpredictable narrative that keep you turning the pages. The romance was not too overbearing, which I appreciated since the book centres in on a valuable lesson of finding yourself and your purpose, and too much reliance on a love interest would have intruded on Keres’ journey. If you do not enjoy graphic sexual content, I would recommend you sit this one out, though.

Keres, the main character, is amazing, and exhibits development throughout her character arc. However, the character who took the cake as my favourite was none other than a young girl, who was recently chosen by the Gods to be the next Oracle, Osira. She definitely called to me, as she had to acclimate to her new role, and adapt to her new life. Another is the Queen Hero, who is both dangerous and makes you question her motives repeatedly throughout the book. She is highly unpredictable and made me tense every time she entered a scene.

Thank you Anastasia, for pointing me in the direction of your book! Your passion for writing is beautiful, and I'm looking forward to seeing your next piece of writing.
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 25, 2020 Ossiris Gutierrez rated it it was amazing

You know when you realize a book is good ?
When it inspires you to write something. When it leaves you craving more and when you have to take 2 cold shower because you’re in bed sweating from the tension.

My absolute favorite part about this book wasn’t the tension or the angst, the romance or the political intrigue . Although they all played part, my ABSOLUTE favorite part of this book was Keres. She is fierce and loyal. She is herself throughout the whole book. Since the first page you learn ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 12, 2020 Manon rated it really liked it

This was really enjoyable. At the beginning, I wasn't sure about this book at all, and I had a hard time getting into it. But once I did and the story picked up pace, I found myself really invested. I especially loved the world-building; it left an amazing impression on me. I couldn't fully connect to the main character and her motives, though, but it didn't bother me much overall to lower my rating. A great read all in all. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 22, 2019 Anastasia King rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

As the author, I'm just feeling blessed that my debut novel has been received with so much love. THANK YOU to anyone who leaves an honest review here on Goodreads and on Amazon. It's the HIGHEST form of support you can show any author. Reviews help authors create more magic. So, you're a wizard if you write one ;)

My priority is getting my story out to readers, and I even personally GIVE AWAY free copies to those who ask. Wanna know how you can get one? Keep reading.

You can see The Sunderlands fe ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 25, 2019 Michelle rated it it was amazing

5 glorious stars! I read this book in one day!!!!!! It was so good, I loved every aspect of this world. Keres is a fierce warrior and is used by the god of Death. You could really feel all the inner turmoil she goes through during the story. All the feels. ❤️ It is a mystery adventure read with the juicy bits of sex. I don’t think I’d call it a RH or love triangle but at this point there are a few love interests, I can’t freaking wait to learn who she’ll end up with. If you love pnr or fantasy, ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2020 Hannah rated it it was amazing

We meet our main character Keres as she is doing her calling tending to the dead. She is a ‘midwife of dying souls’ as they leave this world for the next she helps them on their way.

As we learn more about Keres we learn her connections to the gods and their histories. She feels such guilt for the fact that she lived whilst her hunting group died, it is her job to do their rites.

We also are given an insight into Ivaias past and her connection to the Queen, they are such strong and powerful wome ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 21, 2020 M.C. Beeler rated it it was amazing

Great entry to a new adult fantasy series!!

I received a copy from the author for an honest review and what can I say, I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were real and fleshed out. I never felt there was a dull moment in this story or never found myself skipping paragraphs—every word, every action packed scene was worthwhile. I also really enjoyed the romance (😍) and mystery that unfolded throughout the plot. No spoilers, but overall this is a great first entry into the series and I can ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 23, 2020 Jules rated it it was amazing

LOVED THIS BOOK!!! 👏🏻👏🏻 Characters like Keres are my favorite, blood thirsty and rash. I flew through this book, completely entertained from start to finish, and I cannot wait for book 2!!!

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 20, 2020 is-a-bele ღ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

4.5 / 5 stars

i love this book so much it hurts

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 17, 2020 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Wow this book became one of my favourite books from the first day i started reading it from day one cant wait to read the next book KERES U R UNBELIEVABLE! Anastasia created an amazing character and so much more if u havent read it yet GET READING ALREADY!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 20, 2019 Adrianna States rated it it was amazing

This book was so thought out and beautifully written! I enjoyed this book so much, I left off on page ten and once I returned to read it, I stayed up all night reading it! I love how Anastasia took a lot of time with her world building and gave a lot of very important information about the Gods in Elven culture.
Some parts I felt like were random, but the more I read on, those parts were quickly redeemed as very important.
The romance screams ACOTAR to me. I don’t know why, but it does and I’m t ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 28, 2019 Emily rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 13, 2020 Jason Powell rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fantasy is not my genre. That being said, I won't be able to give a detailed review as to how this book stands in comparison to other books like it. Nevertheless, I will say this about it: Whoa!

Whoa! ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2019 Breanna S rated it it was amazing

A promising start to a series! At first, I thought I sensed a love triangle, but by the end of it, I'm getting more reverse harem vibes! Excited for book two. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 12, 2019 Peachy.Milk rated it did not like it

300 pages of... Nothing. Couldn't keep up/be even bothered with the plot. Poor worldbuilding. The romance just seemed too forced.

Perfect book if you just want to waste your time on something you won't even remembr. ...more

flag Like · see review

Kylie rated it it was amazing
Apr 18, 2020

Jo rated it liked it
Nov 01, 2019

Karenrob rated it really liked it
Jan 06, 2020

Andy Miller rated it did not like it
Nov 02, 2020

Hillary rated it it was amazing
Nov 03, 2019

Clare rated it really liked it
Feb 25, 2020

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
All the Tea!	1	3	Mar 10, 2020 05:39PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Fantasy

6 users

See top shelves…

About Anastasia K. King

Anastasia K. King

30 followers

My Goodreads probably says I'm reading like three books, but that really just means three books are sitting on my nightstand. Too much writing to do.

What's Up! I'm Anastasia King. Obsession with cute animals & avocados aside, I promise I'm not your average millennial, Italian girl from Brooklyn.

What started as my best-kept secret turned into a full-blown writing career. After 15 years of hiding m ...more

Books by Anastasia K. King

Kings of Stone and Shadows (World of Aureum, #2)

More…

The Most Anticipated Books of 2021

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 will be long remembered as a Dumpster fire of a year. But the nice thing about time is that it...

Trivia About The Sunderlands (...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Sunderlands

“...You can study doctrine , title your beliefs, live by a system of commands, and never truly grasp the simplicity of faith. When we believe the God's promises to us, that is faith. Religion is a matter of lifestyle . Faith is a matter of living.” — 0 likes

“...You can study doctrine, title your beliefs, live by a system of commands, and never truly grasp the simplicity of faith.
...Religion is a matter of lifestyle. Faith is a matter of living.” — 0 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — The Sunderlands by Anastasia K. King

The Sunderlands (World of Aureum, #1)

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Anastasia K. King

Books by Anastasia K. King

Related Articles

Trivia About The Sunderlands (...

Quotes from The Sunderlands

See a Problem?

Preview — The Sunderlands by Anastasia K. King

The Sunderlands (World of Aureum, #1)

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Anastasia K. King

Books by Anastasia K. King

Related Articles

Trivia About The Sunderlands (...

Quotes from The Sunderlands

new topic
Discuss This Book