What a refreshingly different, intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable read!

Ms Johansen’s creative and descriptive writing brought the Tearling and its characters to life. She planted vivid images in my mind of the rich landscapes and I became involved in lives of the many colourful, unforgettable characters: Kelsea, Pen, Mace, Lily and Father Tyler to name a few favourites.

I was a little confused at first when Lily suddenly appeared in the storyline, but as the tale unfolded, the connection between Lily and Kelsea became obvious. It added a new, engrossing dimension to the story and cleverly entwined the past with the present.

I loved learning about Tearling’s rich history and discovering the secret pasts of some of the characters. Ms Johansen revealed just enough to keep me satisfied yet there are enough unknowns to keep me intrigued and guessing

The story is dark, sometimes violent and covers serious issues such as rape and torture, and therefore not recommended for younger readers.

I am loving this series so far and cannot wait for the next book to come out.