Genres: Dark Fantasy, NA Fantasy, Fantasy | Release Date: 4 April 2023 | Series: Gardens of War & Wasteland | Series Book: #1 | Pages: 359 | Indie Author | Review
“You were born for this, Amikharlia. You cannot run.”
Jessica A. McMinn
Overview:
I’m *so* grateful to Jessica A. McMinn for letting me read an e-ARC of her debut dark fantasy, The Ruptured Sky! This incredible tale is such an exciting read, featuring a slow build of suspense which soon becomes an array of fireworks halfway through. And let me tell you, from that point on I was kept on the very edge of my seat! So what’s this beauty about…
Princess Amikharlia left her homeland behind years ago, in a bid to escape the restrictions of her royal life. Desperate to escape an arranged marriage, Amika didn’t care where she went. But years later, when she’s recruited as a demon huntress to go into Li’Nea Wood? Amika’s freedom of choice comes crashing down once again. Because there’s a prophecy about a dead goddess and the broken sky above their realm… And it involves Amika. Will the princess be forced to go on a deadly quest, to bring back this deity? What happens if the world can’t withstand the ensuing magic? Is Amika really ready to sacrifice everything she holds dear?
Happiness Boost:
Within The Ruptured Sky, we’re given a number of morally grey characters, all of whom have their own agenda. And who knew I’d feel bad for some of them, even when I wanted to shake them at times! Yes, I’m mostly talking about you, Prince Kiokharen. And Rei-Hai, who really is one of the most intriguing characters I’ve ever come across, is another of these. I think he has to be one of the things I’ve loved most about this grimdark tale, but even he has his moments! And you know what? That’s *great*. I like that his story is unravelled as time goes by, that we’re not immediately comfortable with him!
Jessica has layered this world with such an amazing plot and history for the key characters. But more than that, we meet new monsters within the pages of this dark fantasy which are truly vicious. So it’s a bit of a shock when a secret about them is revealed later on! Seriously, The Ruptured Sky delivers on one of the biggest surprises you’ll ever read. How could that not be a happiness boost?!
I think if you’ve loved books by David Eddings, Raymond E. Feist, or even Anna K. Moss’ The Worthy? You will *need* to read this! Because The Ruptured Sky stands right alongside them in terms of plot, world building and heart. With the added bonus of a ragtag crew and found family, I was completely in my element! It is the perfect way to start my March goals, because this is a 5 star read.
Downside:
No downside! My heart was in my throat for the second half of the story, but that’s actually a great thing!
Final Thoughts:
Debut indie author Jessica A. McMinn’s The Ruptured Sky is a mind-blowing NA dark fantasy, featuring the very best of the grimdark subgenre. As soon as I finished this beautiful book, I was ready to go again! There’s so much packed into it, and my heart goes out to Amika. So if you love deadly quests, damning prophecies and the end of the world? This book is for you! If you love the sound of this story from my review? Just click on the link below to pre-order a copy! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can pre-order The Ruptured Sky via this link: Amazon
