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The Raymara Chronicles #1
Of Liars and Thieves
Raymara has known nothing but peace for one thousand years, mandated by the laws of the Goddesses after war laid waste to the Seven Kingdoms. None in the realm question their safety until one fateful night when a mysterious force unleashes five dangerous beasts of myth and legend, striking fear into the hearts of many.
Summoned from ink and paper, the beasts disperse into Raymara, trailing destruction in their wake. As stories spread across the realm of the beasts and their creator, fate brings together five unlikely companions, each hailing from a different magical race. Drawn by different circumstances, they embark on a quest to retrieve the beasts and their maker, hoping to restore peace and balance to Raymara.
Though their quest proves treacherous, the companions find clues to a larger threat at hand, one that could plunge their realm into death and destruction. As they journey across Raymara, navigating friendship, love, and betrayal, it becomes clear to them that what they believed to be a simple quest is a dangerous game of secrets and lies.
Forced to travel down an increasingly deadly road, the companions have only one choice - join the fight against evil or watch their world fall into chaos.
Summoned from ink and paper, the beasts disperse into Raymara, trailing destruction in their wake. As stories spread across the realm of the beasts and their creator, fate brings together five unlikely companions, each hailing from a different magical race. Drawn by different circumstances, they embark on a quest to retrieve the beasts and their maker, hoping to restore peace and balance to Raymara.
Though their quest proves treacherous, the companions find clues to a larger threat at hand, one that could plunge their realm into death and destruction. As they journey across Raymara, navigating friendship, love, and betrayal, it becomes clear to them that what they believed to be a simple quest is a dangerous game of secrets and lies.
Forced to travel down an increasingly deadly road, the companions have only one choice - join the fight against evil or watch their world fall into chaos.
- GenresFantasy
Unknown Binding
6 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Gabriela Lavarello
10 books30 followersGabriela has been writing and telling stories since she was a young girl. Perhaps it was inevitable that she would call grappling with words and making writing-related videos on YouTube a career—and love every moment.
When not writing or filming, you can find Gabriela reading, cuddling her dog Raven (better known as "Raisin", dubbed by her doggy grandparents), or riding and training horses.
Get in touch through Gabriela's social media to discover more about her work, writing process, and future endeavors.
When not writing or filming, you can find Gabriela reading, cuddling her dog Raven (better known as "Raisin", dubbed by her doggy grandparents), or riding and training horses.
Get in touch through Gabriela's social media to discover more about her work, writing process, and future endeavors.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 27, 2022
When a mysterious force unleashes five dangerous beasts on the peaceful kingdom of Raymara, destruction follows in their wake. Five companions, all heralding from different races and with different reasons for being part of this quest, vow to restore peace to the land.
I love a found family story with a ragtag bunch of misfits, and Of Liars and Thieves does an excellent job of developing each of these characters. I really enjoyed their interactions and discovering more about their pasts, as the connections that weave them together become clearer. Lorian and Finriel were particular favourites of mine.
There are betrayals and battles, beautiful descriptions to bring the world of Raymara to life, and, above all, the promise of love and acceptance if you fight for it. I would recommend Of Liars and Thieves to fans of epic fantasy, especially those who enjoy a good quest in the vein of Lord of the Rings.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ARC. These opinions are my own.
I love a found family story with a ragtag bunch of misfits, and Of Liars and Thieves does an excellent job of developing each of these characters. I really enjoyed their interactions and discovering more about their pasts, as the connections that weave them together become clearer. Lorian and Finriel were particular favourites of mine.
There are betrayals and battles, beautiful descriptions to bring the world of Raymara to life, and, above all, the promise of love and acceptance if you fight for it. I would recommend Of Liars and Thieves to fans of epic fantasy, especially those who enjoy a good quest in the vein of Lord of the Rings.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ARC. These opinions are my own.
September 7, 2021
“𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩
𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙪𝙨. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚
𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣
𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣.”
𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒂 𝑳𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚!
If I had read this book a few months back when I had enjoyed the fantasy genre more than I do now, I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more. Nowadays, I find myself gravitating towards Realistic Fiction, and sometimes light sci fi and fantasy every now and then so I was curious to see what I would think of Of Liars and Thieves.
Gabriela Lavarello weaves together a whimsical tale of magic, witches, kingdoms, curses, dragons, stories, and legends. This book is packed with so much action and adventure, betrayal, love, lies, and the unraveling of the truth and of a prophecy.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐬. 𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book. The beginning had such a nice build up to the inciting incident and introduction to the problem and characters, giving you hints and being secretive about their pasts, wanting you, as the reader, to know more and keep reading. It got straight into it, and really set the tone for the story. It had the essence of the Chronicles of Narnia and some other fantastical stories, which I enjoyed. The descriptions of meadows and fields, forests and castles, were so vivid and the imagery was incredible. I loved the way the author built up on the atmosphere with the writing, giving sufficient details for the reader to be able to get a clear, full picture of what is happening in their minds, not missing out on anything.
The writing style itself was both a hit and miss for me, at times unbearable and over-descriptive, and other times captured my attention fully with its witty dialogues and banter between the characters, as well as some heart-stopping action scenes. The plot and pacing was hard to get a grasp of, as it had a go, stop, go, stop flow in the narrative. At times, it felt like the writing lacked any kind of emotion whatsoever and failed to get an emotional response from me, as the reader. It also felt quite repetitive at times and I found myself getting bored of the same events happening over and over again to the characters. At one point, I was even planning on putting the book down. But I powered through it and eventually reached the ending that made the whole reading experience worth it.
I also had a hard time with the characters. The writing felt like a barrier between me and them, so it was hard to really get connected with their personalities. My favorite character by far was Finriel, and the rest felt pretty flat to me. I wasn't a fan of the romance either, and found myself skimming a bit during those moments. The characters didn't feel fully developed or that they truly warmed up to each other. Sometimes their interactions felt stiff and awkward. However, in some parts of the novel, there was so much witty, playful, and even humorous moments and chemisty between the cast of characters that I loved.
The pacing also felt a bit off to me, as it would get really fast with the action scenes and heart-throbbing moments, and then go back to slow and meandering traveling moments, which isn't really a problem if you like slow-moving journey type books. I definitely enjoyed it a bit but it just came to the point of repetitiveness and being harder to read through. The world building also was a bit confusing, and some of the information about the world and the Seven Kingdoms went way over my head, not really registering what the book was telling me.
I did love some of the quotes in this book, and found myself highlighting full chapters from time to time.
The ending played out so well, tying everything that the whole plot had led to together and bringing it full circle. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel, whenever it comes out, but I am definitely intrigued to read more from Gabriela Lavarello and I think she did an awesome, splendid job! I'm surprised that this is her debut novel and I look forward to reading more of her work.
As a final note, I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasy, especially political fantasy, and adventure books with an unlikely cast of characters going on a quest to achieve a common goal, as well as found family. Filled with lies, romance, betrayal, and delicious, vivid descriptions of nature, fairies, and other mystical creatures, this book will have you stunned in awe.
𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙪𝙨. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚
𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣
𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣.”
𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒂 𝑳𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚!
If I had read this book a few months back when I had enjoyed the fantasy genre more than I do now, I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more. Nowadays, I find myself gravitating towards Realistic Fiction, and sometimes light sci fi and fantasy every now and then so I was curious to see what I would think of Of Liars and Thieves.
Gabriela Lavarello weaves together a whimsical tale of magic, witches, kingdoms, curses, dragons, stories, and legends. This book is packed with so much action and adventure, betrayal, love, lies, and the unraveling of the truth and of a prophecy.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐬. 𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book. The beginning had such a nice build up to the inciting incident and introduction to the problem and characters, giving you hints and being secretive about their pasts, wanting you, as the reader, to know more and keep reading. It got straight into it, and really set the tone for the story. It had the essence of the Chronicles of Narnia and some other fantastical stories, which I enjoyed. The descriptions of meadows and fields, forests and castles, were so vivid and the imagery was incredible. I loved the way the author built up on the atmosphere with the writing, giving sufficient details for the reader to be able to get a clear, full picture of what is happening in their minds, not missing out on anything.
The writing style itself was both a hit and miss for me, at times unbearable and over-descriptive, and other times captured my attention fully with its witty dialogues and banter between the characters, as well as some heart-stopping action scenes. The plot and pacing was hard to get a grasp of, as it had a go, stop, go, stop flow in the narrative. At times, it felt like the writing lacked any kind of emotion whatsoever and failed to get an emotional response from me, as the reader. It also felt quite repetitive at times and I found myself getting bored of the same events happening over and over again to the characters. At one point, I was even planning on putting the book down. But I powered through it and eventually reached the ending that made the whole reading experience worth it.
I also had a hard time with the characters. The writing felt like a barrier between me and them, so it was hard to really get connected with their personalities. My favorite character by far was Finriel, and the rest felt pretty flat to me. I wasn't a fan of the romance either, and found myself skimming a bit during those moments. The characters didn't feel fully developed or that they truly warmed up to each other. Sometimes their interactions felt stiff and awkward. However, in some parts of the novel, there was so much witty, playful, and even humorous moments and chemisty between the cast of characters that I loved.
The pacing also felt a bit off to me, as it would get really fast with the action scenes and heart-throbbing moments, and then go back to slow and meandering traveling moments, which isn't really a problem if you like slow-moving journey type books. I definitely enjoyed it a bit but it just came to the point of repetitiveness and being harder to read through. The world building also was a bit confusing, and some of the information about the world and the Seven Kingdoms went way over my head, not really registering what the book was telling me.
I did love some of the quotes in this book, and found myself highlighting full chapters from time to time.
The ending played out so well, tying everything that the whole plot had led to together and bringing it full circle. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel, whenever it comes out, but I am definitely intrigued to read more from Gabriela Lavarello and I think she did an awesome, splendid job! I'm surprised that this is her debut novel and I look forward to reading more of her work.
As a final note, I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasy, especially political fantasy, and adventure books with an unlikely cast of characters going on a quest to achieve a common goal, as well as found family. Filled with lies, romance, betrayal, and delicious, vivid descriptions of nature, fairies, and other mystical creatures, this book will have you stunned in awe.
September 6, 2021
3.75 stars
Thank you Gabriela for sending me a free ARC to read!
A group of misfits is forced to team up to hunt down fearsome beasts terrorizing the realm, but what was supposed to be a straightforward quest soon becomes something very different. This is a solid adventure story. The characters were well-written, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between them. The world-building was also handled really well—this book does not have a lot of info-dumping! The mood of this book was also refreshing. It wasn't so dark that it was depressing, and there was so much humor and warmth written in that I found myself smiling quite a lot.
This is a debut novel; it is not without its flaws. But the heart in this story, the depth of its characters, and the refreshing take on worn-out tropes make it something worth reading. It was fun and mysterious. It's full of colorful descriptions and fun fantasy places with fun fantasy names. And it got me out of my reading slump, which is a good sign!
Thank you Gabriela for sending me a free ARC to read!
A group of misfits is forced to team up to hunt down fearsome beasts terrorizing the realm, but what was supposed to be a straightforward quest soon becomes something very different. This is a solid adventure story. The characters were well-written, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between them. The world-building was also handled really well—this book does not have a lot of info-dumping! The mood of this book was also refreshing. It wasn't so dark that it was depressing, and there was so much humor and warmth written in that I found myself smiling quite a lot.
This is a debut novel; it is not without its flaws. But the heart in this story, the depth of its characters, and the refreshing take on worn-out tropes make it something worth reading. It was fun and mysterious. It's full of colorful descriptions and fun fantasy places with fun fantasy names. And it got me out of my reading slump, which is a good sign!
September 14, 2021
#141 - 2021
Genre: Fantasy
Genre: Fantasy
January 16, 2023
A quick and interesting read! All the characters are fascinating and I really enjoyed the story!
June 21, 2023
My husband picked it out for me after we met the author at a Barnes and Noble and I am so happy he did!! I loved this book and can not wait to read #2!
July 20, 2025
Title: Of Liars And Thieves
Author: Gabriela Lavarello
I found this author through her social media and I wanted to read her books but I had to search for two months to eventually find it, because I didn’t want to buy it off Amazon.
It’s a fantasy adventure novel about a group of five unlikely companions sent on a quest by their respective kings to stop five mythical beasts wreaking havoc on Raymara, and return them to the pages from which they came.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun, light adventure story. I gave it an overall rating 4.25 because the pacing was off and I felt like, for a character-based book, the characters could have had more depth. I rounded it up to 5 for the review because I want to support the author who I think has a lot of potential. I’m excited for the second book and to watch the writing and editing improve.
More in depth review:
Main Characters:
Lorian: I liked Lorian’s character A LOT. But more than the character himself I especially loved how his relationships with the other characters grew. I loved how dynamic his connections with Tedric and Finriel in particular. Lorian himself was actually one of my favorite characters, not because of his personality but because he was one of the most developed characters. I loved the different sides to him, and how they contradicted each other, and you can see many layers of his priorities. The author did a very good job with Lorian.
Finriel: Finriel was just okay. I never really got a grasp of who she was as a character. I understood who she was to Lorian, but her motivations never really mattered that much, like she joined the whole mission to eventually meet her mother but it didn’t feel like it was a strong pull keeping her on the plot, or moreover, that her actions and her personality. One of the most important things about a character in a book is thinking about how this specific character changes what happens in the story. Like how does their motive, their personality, and their actions change the plot. And what I felt about Finriel is that she could be any character and it wouldn’t change the book. That’s why she felt empty. Because she didn’t affect anything or anyone (other than Lorian) that much. But I feel like she’ll probably be developed more in the second book because she was a good set up for more conflict and interest right now.
Tedric: He made me disappointed. He had so much potential. I love a Lawful Good character with a strong moral compass that evolves as more information about the leader that they unquestioningly follow is revealed. But the author really missed the opportunity with Tedric. Honestly, I’m so disappointed that I don’t have much more to say. The author just didn’t succeed at this character. Which sucks because he was setting up to be my favorite.
Aedan: I LOVED Aedan’s character!! It was so complex, the motives made sense, her personality was a result of her past, her surroundings, and she grew. It was round and dynamic and AMAZING. I loved her relationships with Krete and Tedric.
Krete: I also really liked Krete. I mean, he didn’t have a lot of focus, and he was static
(meaning he didn’t change throughout the book). But he had a solid personality and intertwined motives and connections. I liked him. He was an adequately good character. If he was an emoji, he’d be the thumbs up.
Plot:
As I said before, it was a nice and light adventure. I do have a weakness for quest books, but this was one of the better ones I’ve read.
What I didn’t like:
Pacing: the pacing was like walking through a museum, very stop and start. Now that I think about it, it’s not the stop and start that bothers me, more that it felt like the scenes we saw were not the important scenes he needed to. Obviously not always, but it really stunted other places in the book, like the romance or just interpersonal character relationships in general. It made it harder for the characters to grow closer and for the romance to flow naturally.
Romance: there are two romances in this book. One is a soulmate, whirlwind romance. The other is a second chance, rivals-to-lovers, slow burn romance. I actually didn’t hate the whirlwind romance, but the slow burn really didn’t hit. For a slow burn, their feelings for each other were too explicit. A slow burn has to be more of a subplot to work better and this one was too main stage. It was just not subtle enough, and the yearning was just off. It wasn’t growing naturally.
Finally, just annoying things:
Some of the dialogue is SO unnatural and forced.
THE CONSTANT WINKING AND SHRUGGING!! How did the editor miss this?!? WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS WINKING AND SHRUGGING?!!
Anyway:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Edit: realized I forgot to talk about the world building but there wasn’t that much to say. The world building was quite good. Very immersive and consistent.
Author: Gabriela Lavarello
I found this author through her social media and I wanted to read her books but I had to search for two months to eventually find it, because I didn’t want to buy it off Amazon.
It’s a fantasy adventure novel about a group of five unlikely companions sent on a quest by their respective kings to stop five mythical beasts wreaking havoc on Raymara, and return them to the pages from which they came.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun, light adventure story. I gave it an overall rating 4.25 because the pacing was off and I felt like, for a character-based book, the characters could have had more depth. I rounded it up to 5 for the review because I want to support the author who I think has a lot of potential. I’m excited for the second book and to watch the writing and editing improve.
More in depth review:
Main Characters:
Lorian: I liked Lorian’s character A LOT. But more than the character himself I especially loved how his relationships with the other characters grew. I loved how dynamic his connections with Tedric and Finriel in particular. Lorian himself was actually one of my favorite characters, not because of his personality but because he was one of the most developed characters. I loved the different sides to him, and how they contradicted each other, and you can see many layers of his priorities. The author did a very good job with Lorian.
Finriel: Finriel was just okay. I never really got a grasp of who she was as a character. I understood who she was to Lorian, but her motivations never really mattered that much, like she joined the whole mission to eventually meet her mother but it didn’t feel like it was a strong pull keeping her on the plot, or moreover, that her actions and her personality. One of the most important things about a character in a book is thinking about how this specific character changes what happens in the story. Like how does their motive, their personality, and their actions change the plot. And what I felt about Finriel is that she could be any character and it wouldn’t change the book. That’s why she felt empty. Because she didn’t affect anything or anyone (other than Lorian) that much. But I feel like she’ll probably be developed more in the second book because she was a good set up for more conflict and interest right now.
Tedric: He made me disappointed. He had so much potential. I love a Lawful Good character with a strong moral compass that evolves as more information about the leader that they unquestioningly follow is revealed. But the author really missed the opportunity with Tedric. Honestly, I’m so disappointed that I don’t have much more to say. The author just didn’t succeed at this character. Which sucks because he was setting up to be my favorite.
Aedan: I LOVED Aedan’s character!! It was so complex, the motives made sense, her personality was a result of her past, her surroundings, and she grew. It was round and dynamic and AMAZING. I loved her relationships with Krete and Tedric.
Krete: I also really liked Krete. I mean, he didn’t have a lot of focus, and he was static
(meaning he didn’t change throughout the book). But he had a solid personality and intertwined motives and connections. I liked him. He was an adequately good character. If he was an emoji, he’d be the thumbs up.
Plot:
As I said before, it was a nice and light adventure. I do have a weakness for quest books, but this was one of the better ones I’ve read.
What I didn’t like:
Pacing: the pacing was like walking through a museum, very stop and start. Now that I think about it, it’s not the stop and start that bothers me, more that it felt like the scenes we saw were not the important scenes he needed to. Obviously not always, but it really stunted other places in the book, like the romance or just interpersonal character relationships in general. It made it harder for the characters to grow closer and for the romance to flow naturally.
Romance: there are two romances in this book. One is a soulmate, whirlwind romance. The other is a second chance, rivals-to-lovers, slow burn romance. I actually didn’t hate the whirlwind romance, but the slow burn really didn’t hit. For a slow burn, their feelings for each other were too explicit. A slow burn has to be more of a subplot to work better and this one was too main stage. It was just not subtle enough, and the yearning was just off. It wasn’t growing naturally.
Finally, just annoying things:
Some of the dialogue is SO unnatural and forced.
THE CONSTANT WINKING AND SHRUGGING!! How did the editor miss this?!? WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS WINKING AND SHRUGGING?!!
Anyway:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Edit: realized I forgot to talk about the world building but there wasn’t that much to say. The world building was quite good. Very immersive and consistent.
September 7, 2021
To start, thank you so much Gabriela for sending me an ARC of this book and allowing me to see it before it was released into the world!
Now what to say about this book?
So. Many. Things.
First, it has a classic fantasy atmosphere to it, that will make any fantasy lover, be immediately sucked into the world. For me, it gave off a very Narnia like feel to it, what with the different kingdoms, portal travel, and different creatures. However, despite being classic fantasy, it still had a creative and unique storyline that not only kept me as the reader engaged in the story, but made me ask questions and wonder at what would happen next.
Which brings me to my second point. It is rare for me to not figure out what twists are coming, and while I expected some plot points with the romances, and might (and I mean very vaguely) have wondered at who the big baddie really was, the ending of this book caught me by surprise, and I LOVED it. It had the perfect melody of betrayal, heartache, and hope that left me wanting more. And that goes for the entire book, not just the ending.
Following the main five characters, well six if counting our beloved Nora (which, how could I not!), left me with a grin on my face as I watched heartfelt, funny, and difficult interactions between every single one of them, that grew strangers into friends and family (and perhaps something more).
While one romance story happened a little too quickly and abruptly for me, the other was an organic telling of friends, turned to strangers, turned to anger and guilt, turned to a hopeful blooming of something new that made my heart all squishy. It was a real, raw, and honest telling that satisfied all my wishes for romance.
As for the world building, the further I got into this book, the more I was able to settle into the world and feel grounded. The creatures, lands, magic, courts, and characters Gabriela came up with, are new, interesting, layered, and mysterious. I loved picturing the different kingdoms in my mind’s eye and my own opinion was greatly influenced by the clear thoughts each and every character felt about them.
Each different perspective written in this story provided a unique view of Raymara, and offered different beliefs, emotions, personalities, and loyalties that was very intriguing and refreshing. Not to mention, each character had their own backstory, struggle, and goal that gave an honest telling of how people see and interact with the world they live, which reflects how our own world functions.
This story is one of forgiveness and trust, betrayal that breaks two hearts instead of just one, twists and turns, and a quest that brings an unlikely group together. It transports you into a realm that glitters with wonder, magic, and tension.
If you love found family, quests, enemies to lovers, slow burn, magical creatures, and a plot that keeps you guessing, you absolutely have to pick up this book. NOW.
Go buy it.
Best,
Annika Lauren
Insta - @annikalauren.writer
Now what to say about this book?
So. Many. Things.
First, it has a classic fantasy atmosphere to it, that will make any fantasy lover, be immediately sucked into the world. For me, it gave off a very Narnia like feel to it, what with the different kingdoms, portal travel, and different creatures. However, despite being classic fantasy, it still had a creative and unique storyline that not only kept me as the reader engaged in the story, but made me ask questions and wonder at what would happen next.
Which brings me to my second point. It is rare for me to not figure out what twists are coming, and while I expected some plot points with the romances, and might (and I mean very vaguely) have wondered at who the big baddie really was, the ending of this book caught me by surprise, and I LOVED it. It had the perfect melody of betrayal, heartache, and hope that left me wanting more. And that goes for the entire book, not just the ending.
Following the main five characters, well six if counting our beloved Nora (which, how could I not!), left me with a grin on my face as I watched heartfelt, funny, and difficult interactions between every single one of them, that grew strangers into friends and family (and perhaps something more).
While one romance story happened a little too quickly and abruptly for me, the other was an organic telling of friends, turned to strangers, turned to anger and guilt, turned to a hopeful blooming of something new that made my heart all squishy. It was a real, raw, and honest telling that satisfied all my wishes for romance.
As for the world building, the further I got into this book, the more I was able to settle into the world and feel grounded. The creatures, lands, magic, courts, and characters Gabriela came up with, are new, interesting, layered, and mysterious. I loved picturing the different kingdoms in my mind’s eye and my own opinion was greatly influenced by the clear thoughts each and every character felt about them.
Each different perspective written in this story provided a unique view of Raymara, and offered different beliefs, emotions, personalities, and loyalties that was very intriguing and refreshing. Not to mention, each character had their own backstory, struggle, and goal that gave an honest telling of how people see and interact with the world they live, which reflects how our own world functions.
This story is one of forgiveness and trust, betrayal that breaks two hearts instead of just one, twists and turns, and a quest that brings an unlikely group together. It transports you into a realm that glitters with wonder, magic, and tension.
If you love found family, quests, enemies to lovers, slow burn, magical creatures, and a plot that keeps you guessing, you absolutely have to pick up this book. NOW.
Go buy it.
Best,
Annika Lauren
Insta - @annikalauren.writer
March 1, 2022
Quick Review - Great read for quest lovers (especially those who appreciate worldbuilding)
They say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but that is exactly what I did with Of Liars and Thieves. In my defense, the cover is gorgeous. I was ready to buy it without even reading the description, but then I read the description, and I wanted to read it more. Long story short, Of Liars and Thieves immediately flew to the top of my TBR and made its way to the ‘read’ shelf in about a week (I’m getting slow).
Before we get into the actual review, we must address one thing. THIS BOOK HAS A PRONUNCIATION GUIDE IN THE BACK! This may just be a me thing, but I get happy when fantasy books actually teach you how to pronounce the characters’ names.
-Found family trope
-Enemies to lovers
-Friends to enemies to lovers
-Plot twists
-Slowburns
-DRAGONS!
-A pretty cover and a pretty map
-So many mythical creatures
This was one of the few books when I was genuinely hooked by the plot. I usually go all-in on the characters and forget 90% of what actually happens. However, I’m a sucker for quests, and this one took you all across the magical land of Raymara and straight into the teeth of assorted beasts.
When I started, I expected Lorian and Finriel to be my #1 ship. Boy, was I wrong. To be clear, I love them together, but Tedric and Aeden stole the show for me. Full disclosure, Aeden stole every part of the show for me. I couldn’t wait to figure out what she was hiding
Book one may have ended, but there is clearly a lot more to come. I eagerly await the next book. In the meantime, I’ll be here theorizing about what will happen next (AKA worrying about the future of Aeden/Tedric) and trying to knock out the rest of the unread books on my shelf (But let’s face it, that will literally never happen).
They say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but that is exactly what I did with Of Liars and Thieves. In my defense, the cover is gorgeous. I was ready to buy it without even reading the description, but then I read the description, and I wanted to read it more. Long story short, Of Liars and Thieves immediately flew to the top of my TBR and made its way to the ‘read’ shelf in about a week (I’m getting slow).
Before we get into the actual review, we must address one thing. THIS BOOK HAS A PRONUNCIATION GUIDE IN THE BACK! This may just be a me thing, but I get happy when fantasy books actually teach you how to pronounce the characters’ names.
Okay, now onto the review.Of Liars and Thieves, by Gabriella Lavarello, is an exciting quest that brings together an unconventional band of individuals and tasks them with saving the land of Raymara from dangerous beasts created by the mysterious storyteller.
There's a lot to like about Of Liars and Thieves, including:
-Found family trope
-Enemies to lovers
-Friends to enemies to lovers
-Plot twists
-Slowburns
-DRAGONS!
-A pretty cover and a pretty map
-So many mythical creatures
The worldbuilding was incredible; I never questioned it for a second. It had plenty of “casual magic” (magic that adds to the world’s realism, not just the plot), which I absolutely love. Likewise, I loved how many fantasy creatures were included. From mermaids to pack of brownies, Of Liars and Thieves had, like, everything. There were even dragons (yay!).
This was one of the few books when I was genuinely hooked by the plot. I usually go all-in on the characters and forget 90% of what actually happens. However, I’m a sucker for quests, and this one took you all across the magical land of Raymara and straight into the teeth of assorted beasts.
When I started, I expected Lorian and Finriel to be my #1 ship. Boy, was I wrong. To be clear, I love them together, but Tedric and Aeden stole the show for me. Full disclosure, Aeden stole every part of the show for me. I couldn’t wait to figure out what she was hiding
Book one may have ended, but there is clearly a lot more to come. I eagerly await the next book. In the meantime, I’ll be here theorizing about what will happen next (AKA worrying about the future of Aeden/Tedric) and trying to knock out the rest of the unread books on my shelf (But let’s face it, that will literally never happen).
September 6, 2021
[I received an ARC copy of Of Liars and Thieves in exchange for my honest review.]
What was supposed to be a straightforward (albeit trying) quest to restore peace to the realm of Raymara was not at all what it seemed. In Of Liars and Thieves, Gabriela takes a trope we all know―dangerous monsters throw the world into peril, and it’s up to our beloved leads to stop them―and flips it on its head, creating a refreshing new spin that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat, eager to read what happens next.
Our protagonists consist of five distinctive characters whose personalities play particularly well off of one another (some of their banter earned a genuine laugh from me, which I can never get enough of), fulfilling the found family trope in a way that was satisfying to experience.
Some of the concepts made me especially giddy with how unique and clever they were. I absolutely adored the idea of the storytellers and how their powers worked (they’re so cool!), and each territory our band of misfits visited has its own starkly different feel to it that I loved (just to name a few).
If you’re looking for a wonderfully detailed high fantasy world to get lost in, Gabriela did not disappoint. Her world of Raymara is one I can’t get enough of, and I’m so excited to see where this series goes.
What was supposed to be a straightforward (albeit trying) quest to restore peace to the realm of Raymara was not at all what it seemed. In Of Liars and Thieves, Gabriela takes a trope we all know―dangerous monsters throw the world into peril, and it’s up to our beloved leads to stop them―and flips it on its head, creating a refreshing new spin that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat, eager to read what happens next.
Our protagonists consist of five distinctive characters whose personalities play particularly well off of one another (some of their banter earned a genuine laugh from me, which I can never get enough of), fulfilling the found family trope in a way that was satisfying to experience.
Some of the concepts made me especially giddy with how unique and clever they were. I absolutely adored the idea of the storytellers and how their powers worked (they’re so cool!), and each territory our band of misfits visited has its own starkly different feel to it that I loved (just to name a few).
If you’re looking for a wonderfully detailed high fantasy world to get lost in, Gabriela did not disappoint. Her world of Raymara is one I can’t get enough of, and I’m so excited to see where this series goes.
March 9, 2022
This YA high fantasy tells the story of a land where peace has been disrupted by five strange creatures born from the pages of a mysterious Storyteller. A team representing three kingdoms are commanded to hunt these creatures down and return them to their pages before it’s too late.
I first came upon Gabriela and her work on Instagram and was drawn to the cover and the release date. The release date, you ask? Why yes, Inquisitive One, her book released the exact same day as mine. 😂 I knew it was fate so I quickly bought a copy and I’m glad I did!
Overall, I enjoyed the characters, their backstories, and one particularly hot thief who I have a crush on. I will fight Finriel to the death if I must. 😂 ⚔️
The world building was solid and gave me nostalgic vibes. Like, if Narnia and Middle Earth had a baby, Raymara is it. 😉
The pacing was great and kept me hooked on wanting to learn more about why our fabulous five were sent on the quest in the first place. And that twist at the end? Delicious.
All in all, I’m looking forward to the next one! ✨
Go support this awesome indie author if you haven’t already! ✍️
I first came upon Gabriela and her work on Instagram and was drawn to the cover and the release date. The release date, you ask? Why yes, Inquisitive One, her book released the exact same day as mine. 😂 I knew it was fate so I quickly bought a copy and I’m glad I did!
Overall, I enjoyed the characters, their backstories, and one particularly hot thief who I have a crush on. I will fight Finriel to the death if I must. 😂 ⚔️
The world building was solid and gave me nostalgic vibes. Like, if Narnia and Middle Earth had a baby, Raymara is it. 😉
The pacing was great and kept me hooked on wanting to learn more about why our fabulous five were sent on the quest in the first place. And that twist at the end? Delicious.
All in all, I’m looking forward to the next one! ✨
Go support this awesome indie author if you haven’t already! ✍️
September 7, 2021
I had the honour of ARC reading Of Liar’s and Thieves.
From the first page you are taken deep into the action and the adventure goes on from there in a fast paced rollercoaster. If you love stories with epic quests, romantic tension, secrets to uncover and twisty turning moments, this is the book for you.
At 370 pages and 5 amazing main characters, you’ll get a lovely taste of everything this story has to offer, right up till the last page where you are met with an ending that is both sweet and satisfying enough to put down the book with a pleased sigh, but also leaves many questions open to keep book two in this series highly anticipated.
I look forward to re-reading it in the future and picking up on the things I missed along the way and I’ll be impatiently waiting for book two.
No pressure, Gabriela. <3
p.s. Tedric is my main man forever.
From the first page you are taken deep into the action and the adventure goes on from there in a fast paced rollercoaster. If you love stories with epic quests, romantic tension, secrets to uncover and twisty turning moments, this is the book for you.
At 370 pages and 5 amazing main characters, you’ll get a lovely taste of everything this story has to offer, right up till the last page where you are met with an ending that is both sweet and satisfying enough to put down the book with a pleased sigh, but also leaves many questions open to keep book two in this series highly anticipated.
I look forward to re-reading it in the future and picking up on the things I missed along the way and I’ll be impatiently waiting for book two.
No pressure, Gabriela. <3
p.s. Tedric is my main man forever.
May 22, 2022
Overall not a bad book, but I feel some key elements were missing. The major thing being conflict. The capturing of the five beasts was literally a cake walk and the only hard things they ran into were a fairy creature, mermaids, and the final battle. They didn’t have to fight for their quest at all.
The ending also felt very open but I’m not sure if there’s a sequel intended.
Aeden and Tedric as a couple was good, but there was no lead up to it. There was also very little exploration of the relationships I felt. Some past things and romances were touched on and dealt with, but they were expected.
The ending also felt very open but I’m not sure if there’s a sequel intended.
Aeden and Tedric as a couple was good, but there was no lead up to it. There was also very little exploration of the relationships I felt. Some past things and romances were touched on and dealt with, but they were expected.
October 30, 2024
A great fantasy adventure, full of endearing, well-fleshed-out characters, creative monsters, a well-imagined world, and cutting dialogue. Feels a little like a novelised D&D adventure in some ways, different races of creatures thrown together into a party to complete a mission across different kingdoms. The story develops very naturally with some exciting twists, and leaves me keen to read the next instalment. Definitely deserves a lot more attention than it's got! (Highly recommend the audiobook narrator too)
June 6, 2022
I was instantly transported into a fascinating world. Great storytelling, funny at times, gut wrenching at others, and gripping from start to a finish. Many plot twists. Highly recommend this book. Can’t wait for the sequel!
July 6, 2024
Was so very East to figure out who was going to betray, where everything was heading. To easy to get ahead of the book, that is was not that enjoyable.
Narrator does a very good job with what he had to work with.
Narrator does a very good job with what he had to work with.
Want to read
September 7, 2021I HEARD THE WORDS ROMANCE FANTASY AND I CAME AS FAST AS I COULD
March 9, 2022
This was one of my favorite books i read in 2021! I cant wait for the next one!
July 15, 2023
Well damn... This book was just too good.
Even though I saw a few things coming, that twist just had me blindsided.
Now I need more!!
Even though I saw a few things coming, that twist just had me blindsided.
Now I need more!!
March 3, 2024
This novel begins the tale of three unlikely companions thrown together on an epic quest to stop ultimate destruction. It brings all of the elements of a fantasy novel that we all have come to love: magic, mystery, a rich world with lore stretching back through the ages. The three main characters are entertaining and even had me laughing to myself at times.
Where the novel falls off is in it's "freshness". The fantasy genre is very saturated with novels and to stand out, one must bring something new to the table. Unfortunately, this novel did not do so for me.
At the end of the day, we all like to escape into new worlds and forget our own for a spell. Gabriela Lavarello offers a good escape and an enjoyable fantasy novel, just not one that stands out in a crowd.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Where the novel falls off is in it's "freshness". The fantasy genre is very saturated with novels and to stand out, one must bring something new to the table. Unfortunately, this novel did not do so for me.
At the end of the day, we all like to escape into new worlds and forget our own for a spell. Gabriela Lavarello offers a good escape and an enjoyable fantasy novel, just not one that stands out in a crowd.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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