This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

Today is pub day! (12.10.19)

Just look at this gorgeous cover!

I have never read any of this author's previous books. I was pleased to find that this book works as a standalone. In the series, it is listed as Book 3.5, but it is an origin story, taking place many generations before the other books. The epilogue provides information that explains why this book follows the first three rather than preceding them. It is also important to know that this is a full-length novel and not a novella.

I was immediately captivated by the prologue. The author's writing is vivid, beautiful, and even a bit quirky. I knew from the beginning that this book would be bursting with imaginative world-building and characters full of depth. I accepted this ARC several weeks ago and did not begin reading it until the other day. I did not read the synopsis again prior to reading, and I suggest that you do not either. So many beautiful surprises are in store, and it is so much better of an experience if you let the book reveal them to you!

My only issue with the book, besides some spelling and grammar errors (which may have been corrected in the final release) was the first chapter. I felt that 6 year old Deona was speaking far too formally for a child of that age, while the narrative in that chapter was overly simplistic. The dichotomy was jarring. Thankfully, there was only one chapter written this way.

Based on this novel, I will definitely be reading the other books in The Balance Bringer Chronicles. After the epilogue, the author announced her upcoming book Igniting: The Balance Bringer (Book 4), so I hope to get caught up on the series before it is released!

I would like to thank Booksprout and the author for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.