I really enjoyed The Sundered Realms and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series. I also think that the core element of this that I loved is going to throw some readers off. At it’s heart, The Sundered Realms is about self determination, and there is a lot of conversation and thinking about what the freedom to choose looks like. As in The Sorceress Transcendent, Casey Blair is Throws two people into a world altering adventure and then spends a great deal of the story concerned with the gentle dynamics of their partnership. I love it. There are battles and political maneuverings, but equally important are the sharing of dumplings and the frequent check-ins to make sure Liris is acting of her own accord and not misplaced obligation.
The Sundered Realms is equal parts epic fantasy and steamy romance in a world where being a huge nerd about language makes you incredibly epic at magic. This is an action-packed story about an interdimensional combat ambassador heroine and the most dangerous man in the universe devoting all his attention to making her unstoppable.
The world Liris is born into was once one connected piece, but in a magical event it was blown apart with magic portals, or gates, connecting the sundered territories. Some territories have more gates than others and this has fueled inequalities among and within the realms. Liris was born into one of the more isolated realms and raised to be an ambassador (or spy), but her teachers have held her back in further isolation because they don’t trust her. Liris, being a very good student, has passed the time learning obscure and dead languages. Which is very convenient, because language and writing is how spells are cast. The action kicks off with Liris’ instructors compelling her to teach a spell caster who works with demons a complex dead language. Liris starts her instruction, and then is able to escape through a secret gate to another realm. Her language nerdery makes her an asset and a target in fighting demons. It’s clear to the reader, even if it isn’t to Liris, that Vhannor falls hard for her quickly. he wants to give her the world and every choice she has been denied. Liris and Vhannor are wonderful adventure nerds in love. They over think everything and have such a hard time believing the other is really offering them everything. It’s a slow burn with some excellent “we might not live through tomorrow” steam.
I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.