This morning, I have ayoung adult fantasy romance novel in our book review spotlight! Check out Kingdomless, learn about The Evamore Series and author Michelle Garyfalakis, read my thoughts on the book & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.
Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 422 pages
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release date: January 2022
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: There is a scene where our main character is held at knife point and her attacker grabs her breasts without consent. The word 'nipple' is used in this situation. This is the reason for the added "M" in the rating.
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The remnants of the United Kingdom of Garth, once ruled by the legendary Dynasty of Evamores are in the throes of conflict. Ten years ago, King Wren of the West discovered Raelle washed up on the shores of the Balour Sea, with no memory of the first nine years of her life. She was brought back to the castle and dutifully cared for and cherished by the king and his three older sons. On her nineteenth birthday, the Western Kingdom's adoptive princess is secretly sent away by her stepmother to marry King Veras as a token of peace between the kingdoms. But, the Northern King has other plans.
As Raelle's amnesia melts away with the help of a northern storyteller, she discovers more about the Kingdom of Garth, magic, the lovetie connection of the Evamores, and her role in the grand scheme of things. She is confused, angry, and curiously comfortable in the North.
A dark shadow overcasts all of the kingdoms, and the threatening influence of the fallen god Kellar seems to spread among the people,
inciting disorder and violence. While the fate of the kingdoms may rest on Raelle's shoulders, she can't help but feel kingdomless. Betrayal is everywhere, from her own adoptive family to her newfound friends. Fearless, observant, witty, and determined, she is town between her attraction to King Veras' good nature and the unexplained pull to the Tracker Calak. The challenge that she faces is not simple. As the old gods, laws and magic awaken, so does her own sense of self. There is a choice to be made, step into the role expected of her, or dive into the unknown and make her own destiny.
This YA fantasy novel asks the readers important coming of age questions, captures the attention with witty dialogue, relatable
characters, and a world that is reawakening its forgotten magic. The readers will be entranced and hungry for more (and perhaps a piece of chocolate cake).
Readers May Need Some Time to Settle Into the Story. It took me some time to settle into Raelle's story and feel a lot of connection to her character and plights. There is an air of mystery as Raelle's coming of age story uncovers her past, and she begins to find her place in her present. The pieces were a little slow to fall into place for me--but once they did, I enjoyed the plot twists and character development, and interactions that created the world for this fantasy series opener.
Kingdomless Launches the Series--and Leaves Loose Ends for the Next Book. Once the story and the characters came together--the storyline flowed well with a nice blend of the predictable and the unexpected. While there is a bit of resolution, readers will definitely need to wait for the second book to tie up some of the loose ends. While I didn't immediately love Raelle as a character--I think she won me over halfway through the novel.
Would I Recommend Kingdomless by Michelle Garyfalakis? If you enjoy a blend of coming of age, young adult romance with some magic and fantasy elements, this novel is an entertaining read that will catch your interest and pull you toward the next book of the series. The story is undoubtedly written to appeal to its young adult target audience as it blends the historical time with modernized characters and dialogue. I would recommend it to older teens and young adults who enjoy a solid female character navigating a fantasy world and finding her place.
MICHELLE GARYFALAKIS was born and raised throughout Ontario, Canada. She currently lives just outside of Hamilton, Ontario with her husband, four kids and Snowy (their friendly Samoyed-Border Collie). When she isn't obsessively typing out new stories on her computer, you can find her drinking coffee with a friend, snacking on some guacamole or binge watching Outlander (again). Michelle loves finding creative ways to communicate with people, and her passion for storytelling is the newest addition to that list.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ twitter ~ bookbub ~ tiktok ~ goodreads
KINGDOMLESS by Michelle Garyfalakis Book Tour Giveaway
Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteGreat trailer, Kindomless is a book that my granddaughter will enjoy! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a terrific day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your gret review, Book Corner News and Review, Have a terrific day!
ReplyDelete