Rating: 4.5⭐️
I find Casey Blair to be a wildly imaginative writer. She’s incredibly inventive in her ability to craft a variety of detailed magical systems and then have her fantasy characters use those systems their magic. In beautifully plotted scenarios that capture our own imagination and connect us to the universe she’s building.
Liris, the main character and sole voice of the story, is a brilliant desperate woman. She’s been essentially “locked” away for her entire life, trapped into training that’s a literal dead end.
This is the story of her escape. How, by the force of her courage, desperation and self control, moves to change the world. And her magical power.
The other characters, especially the important spellcaster Lord Vhannor, is still a bit of a mystery here. I do wish this had been a two person POV instead. I think that extra character detail and depth of vision would have made this even better.
But there’s so much exploration to lay out and depth of world building to achieve that I could see that a single person perspective would be a good way to achieve that.
The relationship between Liris and Vhannor is fairly quick and straightforward (an example of where the 2-person POV would be helpful) but given Liris’ personality understandable. Also this is a “spicy” book, more so than some of the author’s other works. Yes, there’s sex scenes.
The second story belongs to another character from this book. So this seems to conclude their main romance.
I’m highly recommending this, great plot, fantastic storytelling and a strong woman character.
However, the magical system is a rich mixture of elements that takes time to build up throughout the story and with each character. It’s highly effective but not an aspect that’s rushed.
Looking forward to the next book.
Cover art by Kateryna Vitkovska, 2023.
Cover design by Miblart, 2024.
Hardcase design by Liz Heaven of Raven Pages Design, 2024
Buy link:
Blurb
Liris has always been too dangerous to be allowed freedom.
Now she’s the universe’s only hope.
Liris has been trapped training as an elite spy her whole life. But when her elders try to sacrifice her to further their own interests, she escapes through a secret portal—only to land right in the hands of Lord Vhannor, the most dangerous spellcaster in the universe.
Vhannor has dedicated his life to defending the universe from world-devouring demons, and Liris, with her unique knowledge of an ancient spell language, jeopardizes his mission. But when she uses it to help him close a demonic portal before it can destroy all life in that dimension, he’s forced to acknowledge he needs her by his side.
As they race between dimensions to fight their mutual enemies, they discover a plot that will leave every remaining realm in the universe at the mercy of demons. But to stop it, Liris will have to rely on the man whose icy gaze sees right through her… and when even her own people betrayed her, how can she trust Vhannor to stand by her when she risks the whole universe?
The Sundered Realms is a steamy romantic epic fantasy in a world where being a huge nerd about language makes you incredibly epic at magic. This is an action-packed story about an interdimensional combat ambassador heroine and the most dangerous man in the universe devoting all his attention to making her unstoppable.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 