Genres: NA Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy | Release Date: 13 September 2022 | Series: The Glacian Trilogy | Series Book: #1 | Pages: 370 | Publisher: Angry Robot | Review
“Perhaps there are worse things than death.”
Stacey McEwan
Overview:
I’m just saying this straight away, for me Ledge by Stacey McEwan falls within the NA fantasy genre. I think some bookworms have categorised it as YA fantasy, but there are some scenes which I personally would feel uncomfortable recommending to someone younger. But having said all of that, I did enjoy this tale! I picked up a copy because I apparently have no self-control with pretty books, and I’m so glad I did…
Within Ledge, Dawsyn lives on the side of an icy mountain, just trying to eke out an existence amongst the trapped community. Every so often a Glacian (a winged humanoid) will drop some rations on the Ledge, but there’s always a cost: every year a human sacrifice is taken. When Dawsyn is chosen, she has no idea what is about to happen. But it turns out, there’s one chance of escape. Just one. She must race down the mountain from the Glacian kingdom, outrunning those with wings. Can Dawsyn escape? Is Ryon, a half-Glacian, someone she can trust to help her? Can anyone stop this cycle of madness?
Jack Frost by Dirty Paws Australia thoroughly approved of the setting!
Happiness Boost:
I’m going to sound incredibly heartless, but I love when our heroine has known awful struggles. Dawsyn’s been through so much, including the loss of her family. And that makes her the perfect conundrum: brittle, yet resilient. Stacey has given us bookworms a complicated character to love, and they always make for the best stories!
There’s quite a few surprises tucked away within the pages of Ledge. And a story which can give us multiple reveals and yet *still* have more for the rest of the series? Sign me up for this entire trilogy! I won’t lie, some of the moments caused quite a bit of chaos in my heart. But it had to be a happiness boost, because this NA fantasy just kept giving me more: more to love, more to grieve, more to feel. Who wouldn’t be happy about that?
Banter! We all love some good banter, right? I know I do, so it has to be a happiness boost! Dawsyn and Ryon are constantly trying to outdo each other with banter and it made for a very entertaining read. Ledge makes us care for these characters and this story so much, and all the while Stacey holds their fate in the palm of her hands. It is nerve wracking! And that’s brilliant! If the characters weren’t so well developed, I wouldn’t care. But they are and I do. And it hurt to come to the end.
Downside:
Truthfully, if I were Dawsyn I would’ve been tempted to push Ryon into a river at times. Continually calling her ‘girl’ was something which jarred with me. He seems like he should be better than that, and it felt a bit demeaning. But overall I really enjoyed the story, so please don’t let that dissuade you from giving it a go!
Final Thoughts:
Ledge by Stacey McEwan was a fast paced NA fantasy read, brimming with heartache, betrayal and vengeance. While it takes a little while to get used to the workings of this new realm, I can promise that by the end you’ll be left hanging onto the edge of your seat! I’m so glad I picked this book up when I spotted the cover, taking the leap to read this debut fantasy. Ledge is such an absorbing read and I loved every minute of it. If you think this book sounds like it’s just right for you? You can find it via any of the links below! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can order Ledge via these links:
