Publisher: Caffeinated Books Publishing
Pages: 336
Source & Format: downloaded for free on Kindle, as the author very kindly offers the first book in this series for free
Synopsis from Goodreads: Fans of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Eragon will enjoy this contemporary remix of the classic epic fantasy genre.
—————-Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things—Ourea.
Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With no way out, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power. Discovered by Ourea’s royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict—a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.
For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.
Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive
When Kara Magari discovers a previously unknown path while hiking one day, she could never being to imagine that it will change her life. Where this path leads her is a world she has never heard of and certainly never imagined. Is Kara going to be able to step up to her new role in the terrifying world of Ourea?
Before I even begin talking about this book, I feel I must warn you. I will not be reviewing, but rather GUSHING over the awesomeness that is Lichgates. This is a fantasy highly reminiscent of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, but definitely of its own merit. The similarity comes from the manner in which the fantasy plays out so spectacularly. I can’t even being to imagine what it would be like to enter Boyce’s imagination, because clearly it is filled with wonder. You can tell that she has really thought out her imagined world, which is very important in a fantasy. The reader needs to be able to suspend any disbelief and fully immerse themselves in the story, and this is my make-it-or-break it rule whenever I read these types of novels.
I also love well-written characters. The worst thing that can happen to a book is when the reader can’t have someone to root for or relate to. That’s not a problem in Lichgates. All the characters are equally engaging. I really enjoyed reading from Kara’s point of view, and I also thought that the scenes dealing with her grief were incredibly brilliant. As someone who has lost a parent, I found those parts very accurate and emotional. I can place myself in Kara’s shoes, and it made the reading experience even better for me.
“Though it may sometimes seem as if life is decided for us, remember that in all actions before this, you made the choices which brought you here. You alone decide where to go next. There is always choice.”
“You’ve got a troubled past, well so do I. Most people do. We do things we’re not proud of, things we wish we could take back, but what’s done is done and all you can do is try to redeem yourself in the present.”
“To keep the dead in this life is selfish. You must believe that they are in a better place, no matter how soon they were called there. Those who are strong will live with the memory of their loved ones until they too may join them some distant day. Death is part of the ultimate balance. It’s to be left to nature’s command. Remember that grief is a necessary pain. It’s your only way to heal. To starve it will destroy you.”
This was a book I am so happy I stumbled across. I will be buying the rest of the series, because I NEED to know what is going to happen. I need to go back to Ourea. I hope that everyone who reads this review will decide to give it a chance. You will not regret it one bit.
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