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Idolfire
An epic sapphic fantasy roadtrip inspired by the fall of Rome, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Frontier and Floating Hotel
On one side of the world, Aleya Ana-Ulai is desperate for a chance. Her family have written her off as a mistake, but she's determined to prove every last one of them wrong.
On the other, Kirby of Wall's End is searching for redemption. An ancient curse tore her life apart, but to fix it, she'll have to leave everything behind.
Fate sets them both on the path to Nivela, a city once poised to conquer the world with the power of a thousand stolen gods. Now the gates are closed and the old magic slumbers. Dead � or waiting for a spark to light it anew�
A character-driven science-fantasy road trip book with sword fights and a slowburn romance, Idolfire delves into the vastness of history and the terrifying power of organized faith.
On one side of the world, Aleya Ana-Ulai is desperate for a chance. Her family have written her off as a mistake, but she's determined to prove every last one of them wrong.
On the other, Kirby of Wall's End is searching for redemption. An ancient curse tore her life apart, but to fix it, she'll have to leave everything behind.
Fate sets them both on the path to Nivela, a city once poised to conquer the world with the power of a thousand stolen gods. Now the gates are closed and the old magic slumbers. Dead � or waiting for a spark to light it anew�
A character-driven science-fantasy road trip book with sword fights and a slowburn romance, Idolfire delves into the vastness of history and the terrifying power of organized faith.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2025
39 people are currently reading
6,289 people want to read
About the author
Grace Curtis
3Ìýbooks241ÌýfollowersAuthor of FRONTIER & FLOATING HOTEL. Up next: IDOLFIRE.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 6, 2025
I do like traveling in fantasy books, but I also like it when characters eventually reach their destination. This book is about the journey, and I'm not sure if that was enough to fill the pages. The story follows two, later three, main characters coming from very different places in the same world, setting out for a journey to the once greatest city in existence. Kirby (not a fan of that name in a fantasy setting) is leaving her dying village in the middle of nowhere to find her lost Goddess, and Aleya is following her Calling so that she might finally take her previously denied place with the royal family. I really liked the way how these two characters were set up in the beginning of the story, although the pacing was a little weird with the time jumps from childhood to adulthood. But then they began their journey � first alone and later together � and I don't know what it was, but it just didn't work for me. They go from place to place and meet a whole variety of characters along the way, but I never felt like we were making progress in the story. The different places didn't serve a greater purpose and felt mostly random. And I say that even though I actually liked the worldbuilding. It wasn't super detailed, but many interesting ideas were presented. The world is full of great cities that once conquered the world but are now only ruins, of stolen and lost Gods and Goddesses, of magic that is powered through faith and prayers. Still, I wasn't invested in the story itself. From the cover, I expected it to be more on the cozy side and while it did feel calm, it was also full of attacks and fights, even death. It wasn't graphic or anything, but the vibes just didn't match at times. There were also things I didn't like altogether, like the somewhat pointless second person / you-are-the-city POV, or the messy ending. It wasn't an unpleasant reading experience, but also not an exciting one. The story basically went by without ever really catching my attention and that's unfortunate for a book that had a good beginning.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2024
What a journey. And that ending�!
NYLOPHON OF CARTH, SON OF DAXXIES, [redacted]!
NYLOPHON OF CARTH, SON OF DAXXIES, [redacted]!
February 28, 2025
"Mostly camping" -- editor.
Playlist here!
Playlist here!
March 31, 2025
As a reader who wants to get back into reading some more fantasy novels again, Idolfire seemed like a good choice - a sapphic road-trip, taking inspiration from the fall of Rome.
It’s a story which heavily focuses on the journey, more-so that the destination. The Sapphic romance between the two main characters is slow-burning too.
I think I would have liked this story even more if it had been told from the two female main characters� perspectives. I felt a bit disconnected from them, which felt strange considering the book is so focused on them.
The fantasy world is built up, and described, strongly. If it wasn’t for this, along with the Queer romance and gory fight-scenes, I feel as though my rating for the story overall would have been lower. The ending was really beautifully written too, quite philosophical in nature.
Thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 Stars
It’s a story which heavily focuses on the journey, more-so that the destination. The Sapphic romance between the two main characters is slow-burning too.
I think I would have liked this story even more if it had been told from the two female main characters� perspectives. I felt a bit disconnected from them, which felt strange considering the book is so focused on them.
The fantasy world is built up, and described, strongly. If it wasn’t for this, along with the Queer romance and gory fight-scenes, I feel as though my rating for the story overall would have been lower. The ending was really beautifully written too, quite philosophical in nature.
Thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 Stars
December 1, 2024
I had such a hard time rating this. It would have gotten 4 stars had the love story ended in a HEA. But I was expecting a sapphic romance full of slow-burn yearning, not a sad, realistic ending where the road-weary travelers part because of the gulf between their lives and only meet again as friends when they're old. I was gut punched by that ending.
I also wasn't sure how I felt about the tone. It was humorous with lots of casual banter, and the humor was the cringe kind that I hate. There was also a random chapter in second-person voice that really threw me off at first but I wanted more of that character as I read more from that perspective. But I loved the camping fantasy adventure aspect of the quest and Kirby and Aleya together. They were almost too slow burn though, without enough sexual tension for my taste. The focus was on the fantasy adventure, friendship, and found family, and not their love story, but they flirted enough that I was rooting for them to end up together despite their difficulties. They brought out the best in each other. I would have preferred them to stay friends throughout the whole book rather than the tease of a love story.
I loved two sapphics going camping together, one a scrappy innocent from Wall's End and the other a haughty princess from Ash. I loved how the villain in the story, the Carthic boy soldier, unexpectedly became part of their trio. All three had a lot to prove to themselves and each other. This is a very character-driven, adventure fantasy and the character development was the strongest part of the book. I felt like I really knew all the characters, understood their motivations and connected with them emotionally. The ending just wasn't cozy to me even though the rest of their adventure was fairly cozy.
I am okay with sad, realistic endings if my expectations are in line, like if it's litfic, for example; but I was expecting a HEA with that casual, breezy tone and I was disappointed ultimately by the pacing and narrative structure and lack of a HEA (happily ever after ending). The world is sad and realistic enough, so I want my romances to have HEAs even if they're unbelievable. I've read romances between princesses and commoners that had HEAs that worked for me so it can be done.
I also wasn't sure how I felt about the tone. It was humorous with lots of casual banter, and the humor was the cringe kind that I hate. There was also a random chapter in second-person voice that really threw me off at first but I wanted more of that character as I read more from that perspective. But I loved the camping fantasy adventure aspect of the quest and Kirby and Aleya together. They were almost too slow burn though, without enough sexual tension for my taste. The focus was on the fantasy adventure, friendship, and found family, and not their love story, but they flirted enough that I was rooting for them to end up together despite their difficulties. They brought out the best in each other. I would have preferred them to stay friends throughout the whole book rather than the tease of a love story.
I loved two sapphics going camping together, one a scrappy innocent from Wall's End and the other a haughty princess from Ash. I loved how the villain in the story, the Carthic boy soldier, unexpectedly became part of their trio. All three had a lot to prove to themselves and each other. This is a very character-driven, adventure fantasy and the character development was the strongest part of the book. I felt like I really knew all the characters, understood their motivations and connected with them emotionally. The ending just wasn't cozy to me even though the rest of their adventure was fairly cozy.
I am okay with sad, realistic endings if my expectations are in line, like if it's litfic, for example; but I was expecting a HEA with that casual, breezy tone and I was disappointed ultimately by the pacing and narrative structure and lack of a HEA (happily ever after ending). The world is sad and realistic enough, so I want my romances to have HEAs even if they're unbelievable. I've read romances between princesses and commoners that had HEAs that worked for me so it can be done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2025
Idolfire is a sapphic roadtrip fantasy novel, written by Grace Curtis and published by DAW Books. A quest adventure with two characters from really different backgrounds with a slowburn romance that suits perfectly into a vibrant world inspired by the Fall of Rome, with very different cultures and with some bold craft choices, such as the second person used for certain POV.
On the one side of the world, Kirby from Wall's End, is searching for redemption, starting a journey leaving all behind to find what has been of their goddess, trying to fix the curse that tore her life apart; on the other, Aleya, written as a mistake by her family, has been given an opportunity to prove her worth and ascend to the throne. Both are set in the path to Nivela, a city that once had the power of conquering the world; fate has a strange way to act, and for both, the journey will change their lives, even if they initially resist to travel together.
Kirby was probably my favourite character in the book: intelligent, and a bit mad, but also with the determination to learn and persevere; in our pair, she's the golden heart. In comparison, Aleya is colder, really stubborn, but she grows so much across the journey, accepting that sometimes she's not sure of everything, and that asking is not weakness. The sapphic romance between our characters is the classic definition of a slowburn, but in this particular book, it fits super well, as it is so natural, especially with all the edges and small fights between them.
There's a third character that deserves a mention, Nylophon: the prototypical Spartan coded soldier. A character that is always ready for fighting, who doesn't see any other kind of life for him; however, Curtis paints an excellent character arc, even giving him an adequate ending that is also one of the highlights of the book.
The world itself is another aspect I would like to talk a bit: as we are travelling across it, we have the opportunity to immerse ourselves, the richness in the cultures, and how each place has developed in different ways, all coded into their rituals and lifestyle. The magic system is partly a cautionary tale and also a great narrative vehicle, as it points to how dangerous worshiping can become, but it plays well into the story; kudos for the originality.
The pacing lands on the slower side of the coin, but it suits well with the kind of epic roadtrip that our story is; and it allows us to enjoy a bit of the journey.
Idolfire is an excellent fantasy novel, perfect if you are looking for a story that takes its sweet time in favour of working on its characters, with a slowburn sapphic romance in the center of all and an incredible worldbuilding. Can't wait to read the next Grace Curtis' book!
December 5, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the arc! This book was okay, but any enjoyment I had could be balanced with my frustrations. Here are some thoughts I had while and after reading:
I loved the formatting and second person� until I started to look closer. Simply, there’s no point to doing this. It didn’t add anything, it didn’t serve a purpose. Second person perspective is my favorite, but only because it usually adds something (typically emotional impact) to the story. In The Spear Cuts Through Water, it allows us to experience the book almost as if it’s a oral fable to be passed down. In Harrow the Ninth, the narrator is [REDACTED], which made me want to kill myself. In here, it’s functionally useless. It adds absolutely nothing. It’s like the author is ignorant to why second person is typically used. As a second person snob, I am vexed, peeved even.
I was not connected to the characters; I felt distant to them all. I grew to like Aleya, but seemingly everyone else drew nothing but apathy from me. I couldn’t give a shit nor a fart. As such, the romance was unconvincing and boring. Kirby and Aleya had absolutely naur chemistry.
This book was confusing in a muddled way. The confusion comes from a lack of explanations and some gaps in world building. Some things just happened just because? Many instances of dues ex machina -things coming straight out of buttfuck nowhere
The world lord is not mystifying and mysterious enough as a character despite the author trying to make her so. Instead, I was apathetic towards her the entire time. I wish we got to spend some more time with her, her psyche, and her past. We just needed much more time with her in general.
Elements to this story are just not fleshed out at all. It’s like if this book wants to be a literary epic fantasy, but doesn’t have a purpose, isn’t too memorable, is middling, and is too muddled and stretched thin to be epic.
Descriptions were nice though. Also some fun plot points like ocean tunnel and Viking village.
Some aspects of the world building I found interesting. I love the idea of idols, and how they were used in the story. Idolfire itself is also very badass.
Overall, the book was okay, if weak. I liked it. It had some good moments. I was engaged enough to not skim. That being said it’s held back by things mentioned. I do think Curtis writes decently and has some ideas that will continue to have me watching out for what they publish. Unfortunately, this has a lot of cool factors, but left me wanting and unsatisfied. -3.25 stars
I loved the formatting and second person� until I started to look closer. Simply, there’s no point to doing this. It didn’t add anything, it didn’t serve a purpose. Second person perspective is my favorite, but only because it usually adds something (typically emotional impact) to the story. In The Spear Cuts Through Water, it allows us to experience the book almost as if it’s a oral fable to be passed down. In Harrow the Ninth, the narrator is [REDACTED], which made me want to kill myself. In here, it’s functionally useless. It adds absolutely nothing. It’s like the author is ignorant to why second person is typically used. As a second person snob, I am vexed, peeved even.
I was not connected to the characters; I felt distant to them all. I grew to like Aleya, but seemingly everyone else drew nothing but apathy from me. I couldn’t give a shit nor a fart. As such, the romance was unconvincing and boring. Kirby and Aleya had absolutely naur chemistry.
This book was confusing in a muddled way. The confusion comes from a lack of explanations and some gaps in world building. Some things just happened just because? Many instances of dues ex machina -things coming straight out of buttfuck nowhere
The world lord is not mystifying and mysterious enough as a character despite the author trying to make her so. Instead, I was apathetic towards her the entire time. I wish we got to spend some more time with her, her psyche, and her past. We just needed much more time with her in general.
Elements to this story are just not fleshed out at all. It’s like if this book wants to be a literary epic fantasy, but doesn’t have a purpose, isn’t too memorable, is middling, and is too muddled and stretched thin to be epic.
Descriptions were nice though. Also some fun plot points like ocean tunnel and Viking village.
Some aspects of the world building I found interesting. I love the idea of idols, and how they were used in the story. Idolfire itself is also very badass.
Overall, the book was okay, if weak. I liked it. It had some good moments. I was engaged enough to not skim. That being said it’s held back by things mentioned. I do think Curtis writes decently and has some ideas that will continue to have me watching out for what they publish. Unfortunately, this has a lot of cool factors, but left me wanting and unsatisfied. -3.25 stars
March 5, 2025
Firstly; I love a good quest! And this book delivers with plenty of high jinks, escapades, and impulsive moments. There’s so much packed into this book, particularly the very different cultures from each location and the characters that live in them. Creating a fantasy world, inspired by the fall of the Roman Empire is an amazing idea, and this certainly delivered.
Kirby was a particular favourite of mine. Emotionally intelligent, and slightly mad, I loved her determination and willingness to learn. She always had the funniest thoughts and side adventures, but with a real heart of gold; I was drawn to her from the start. Aleya’s driven nature and stubbornness was also a joy to read, but I especially loved the growth in maturity that she undergoes. Together, Kirby and Aleya were two well-balanced and hilarious partners.
There is another character that in a surprise twist, I completely became obsessed with. Nylophon, the crazy Spartan-coded man-boy. I can’t say much but I was utterly obsessed with the whole character arc.
In all seriousness, this book cleverly takes the idea of ‘what happened after the fall of an empire�, and shows how utterly absurd it must be to have autonomy after so long under role. It cleverly depicts the passage of time, through the often megalithic remains of history. It left me with many questions, and I’m excited to get some answers in the next book!
Thank you to the publisher for my arc. All thoughts are my own.
Publishes; 13th March
Kirby was a particular favourite of mine. Emotionally intelligent, and slightly mad, I loved her determination and willingness to learn. She always had the funniest thoughts and side adventures, but with a real heart of gold; I was drawn to her from the start. Aleya’s driven nature and stubbornness was also a joy to read, but I especially loved the growth in maturity that she undergoes. Together, Kirby and Aleya were two well-balanced and hilarious partners.
There is another character that in a surprise twist, I completely became obsessed with. Nylophon, the crazy Spartan-coded man-boy. I can’t say much but I was utterly obsessed with the whole character arc.
In all seriousness, this book cleverly takes the idea of ‘what happened after the fall of an empire�, and shows how utterly absurd it must be to have autonomy after so long under role. It cleverly depicts the passage of time, through the often megalithic remains of history. It left me with many questions, and I’m excited to get some answers in the next book!
Thank you to the publisher for my arc. All thoughts are my own.
Publishes; 13th March
January 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Oh my god. I am so overwhelmed with how much I loved this. I laughed out loud as I read and by the end I was full on ugly crying. Snot and all.
THIS is what fantasy should be!! But also maybe I’ve reached the pinnacle of fantasy and I’m ruined for all other books.
Also:
Nylophon of Carthe, son of Daxxies, lover of Nachi 🥹ðŸ˜ðŸ¥ºðŸ¥¹ðŸ«¶ðŸ«¶
Oh my god. I am so overwhelmed with how much I loved this. I laughed out loud as I read and by the end I was full on ugly crying. Snot and all.
THIS is what fantasy should be!! But also maybe I’ve reached the pinnacle of fantasy and I’m ruined for all other books.
Also:
Nylophon of Carthe, son of Daxxies, lover of Nachi 🥹ðŸ˜ðŸ¥ºðŸ¥¹ðŸ«¶ðŸ«¶
March 31, 2025
Oh boy, I wanted to love this one. I really really did. I loved Frontier by this author and thought that this would bring similar joy. Friends, it did not.
Firstly, this book needs a trigger warning for infertility and miscarriage. Secondly, I thought this would be a portal fantasy and it was not. Kirby of Wall’s End (see? I thought Kirby was a modern girl dragged into a fantasy land, alas no) leaves her village which is plagued with a kind of spreading infertility which means the babies are dying and no one can get pregnant. In a bid to save her village, Kirby leaves to try and find the goddess Iona (or maybe a statue of her?) which can be found at the lost city of Nivela.
Our other heroine, Aleya, is a bastard princess, fighting for her right to the crown. She too is tasked with going to Nivela for a relic of a missing deity. They have a chance meeting on the way and end up travelling together.
Okay, so here’s another issue for me. This book was both long and jumped about wildly� the majority of the book is a backpack fantasy, with lots of travels and different cities, all with their own convoluted histories. What I loved about Frontier was how pacy it was� this felt slow, even though they seemed to jump about from city to city� I regularly struggled with where we were in the world and why. Some of the journey was described in long, painstaking detail for no reason, and some of it we literally jumped from city to city with nothing in between?!
And Idolfire? Genuinely thought it was going to play a waaaay bigger role than it did frankly. Sort of felt like a bit of an afterthought� it’s a tricksy magic that is created through faith. But only some people can create it and use it and Aleya is one of them� and she uses this ability like 3 times throughout the book? Idk, seems like a lost opportunity there to me.
Now onto my biggest disappointment and by far the biggest spoiler, so stop now of you are thinking about actually giving this book a go. There are three (four??) main characters in this book. Kirby, Aleya, Nylo and you. Yes, you. Because chunks of this book were in second person and the book is talking to you, the reader, as if you were the Worldlord and founder of Nivela, Scoria. Who, confusingly, we do actually meet in the book and she is described in third person� so are we Scoria, or aren’t we? I just didn’t get that stylistic choice at all.
Nylo was another upset - he’s a stray who Aleya and Kirby pick up on the way, a solider who stumbled his way into being a general, was unceremoniously beaten in front of all his soldiers by Aleya, then started stalking her because he wants to bring her back to his city because she can use magic. He’s also suffering a ton of trauma because the boy he loved, a fellow solider, died in front of him in battle and he’s dealing with it in a very toxic masculinity kind of way� by ignoring it. Kirby takes pity on him and he joins their rag-tag team. And I loved him. Broken gay lad who desperately just wants a friend but has been raised to be nothing but a killing machine decides to follow these two lassies like a puppy. Oh and then dies FOR NO BLOODY REASON in the last few pages. Told you there’d be spoilers.
Now finally to my biggest gripe. So I have seen this book INCORRECTLY marketed as a Sapphic Romance. It’s not. Because a romance needs an HEA and Kirby and Aleya do not end up together!!! They are lovers on the journey, but once the journey is over they part ways and Aleya becomes queen and lives her life in her city and Kirby, now cured of infertility, goes home to Wall’s End, gets a husband and has a load of kids. They meet up again in the epilogue when they are both elderly and Aleya is on her deathbed. So yeah, not a romance I’d argue, merely a sapphic fling. Which is fine, but not what I signed up for.
Two stars because I loved Nylo, the battle scenes and there were some great places that they visited, and it was gonna be three stars until that ending, Nylo dying and Kirby and Aleya not even having an HEA together� yeah. This book was not the one, for me at least. I’m gonna read Frontier over and over but if I never see this book again in my life I’d be thankful.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. I don’t blame you in the slightest.
Firstly, this book needs a trigger warning for infertility and miscarriage. Secondly, I thought this would be a portal fantasy and it was not. Kirby of Wall’s End (see? I thought Kirby was a modern girl dragged into a fantasy land, alas no) leaves her village which is plagued with a kind of spreading infertility which means the babies are dying and no one can get pregnant. In a bid to save her village, Kirby leaves to try and find the goddess Iona (or maybe a statue of her?) which can be found at the lost city of Nivela.
Our other heroine, Aleya, is a bastard princess, fighting for her right to the crown. She too is tasked with going to Nivela for a relic of a missing deity. They have a chance meeting on the way and end up travelling together.
Okay, so here’s another issue for me. This book was both long and jumped about wildly� the majority of the book is a backpack fantasy, with lots of travels and different cities, all with their own convoluted histories. What I loved about Frontier was how pacy it was� this felt slow, even though they seemed to jump about from city to city� I regularly struggled with where we were in the world and why. Some of the journey was described in long, painstaking detail for no reason, and some of it we literally jumped from city to city with nothing in between?!
And Idolfire? Genuinely thought it was going to play a waaaay bigger role than it did frankly. Sort of felt like a bit of an afterthought� it’s a tricksy magic that is created through faith. But only some people can create it and use it and Aleya is one of them� and she uses this ability like 3 times throughout the book? Idk, seems like a lost opportunity there to me.
Now onto my biggest disappointment and by far the biggest spoiler, so stop now of you are thinking about actually giving this book a go. There are three (four??) main characters in this book. Kirby, Aleya, Nylo and you. Yes, you. Because chunks of this book were in second person and the book is talking to you, the reader, as if you were the Worldlord and founder of Nivela, Scoria. Who, confusingly, we do actually meet in the book and she is described in third person� so are we Scoria, or aren’t we? I just didn’t get that stylistic choice at all.
Nylo was another upset - he’s a stray who Aleya and Kirby pick up on the way, a solider who stumbled his way into being a general, was unceremoniously beaten in front of all his soldiers by Aleya, then started stalking her because he wants to bring her back to his city because she can use magic. He’s also suffering a ton of trauma because the boy he loved, a fellow solider, died in front of him in battle and he’s dealing with it in a very toxic masculinity kind of way� by ignoring it. Kirby takes pity on him and he joins their rag-tag team. And I loved him. Broken gay lad who desperately just wants a friend but has been raised to be nothing but a killing machine decides to follow these two lassies like a puppy. Oh and then dies FOR NO BLOODY REASON in the last few pages. Told you there’d be spoilers.
Now finally to my biggest gripe. So I have seen this book INCORRECTLY marketed as a Sapphic Romance. It’s not. Because a romance needs an HEA and Kirby and Aleya do not end up together!!! They are lovers on the journey, but once the journey is over they part ways and Aleya becomes queen and lives her life in her city and Kirby, now cured of infertility, goes home to Wall’s End, gets a husband and has a load of kids. They meet up again in the epilogue when they are both elderly and Aleya is on her deathbed. So yeah, not a romance I’d argue, merely a sapphic fling. Which is fine, but not what I signed up for.
Two stars because I loved Nylo, the battle scenes and there were some great places that they visited, and it was gonna be three stars until that ending, Nylo dying and Kirby and Aleya not even having an HEA together� yeah. This book was not the one, for me at least. I’m gonna read Frontier over and over but if I never see this book again in my life I’d be thankful.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. I don’t blame you in the slightest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2025
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
Apparently, the third time really is the charm because while I enjoyed Grace’s Frontier and The Floating Hotel, I absolutely adored Idolfire. I loved it!
This is a fantasy inspired by the Fall of Rome, but you don't need to know that going in and, quite frankly, the story stands well on its own without knowing any of that. It was fun to try and decipher what was loosely based on reality and what was entirely fictional, but it also wasn’t distracting in any way. And if you aren’t a fan of Rome, if I had to choose a culture that this book was focused on, it’s not Rome at all, but the outlying civilizations that survived after it. In fact, Rome is sort of made fun of in this book a bit, which I thought was refreshing.
My favourite aspect of the book is tied to the world-building, as it’s a quest narrative, and my favourite kind of quest: where the characters aren’t in a super rush to get home. They have a mission and a goal but it’s not a three-day adventure; it’s months. And they go to so many cool and interesting places, both in the cultures and odd magic they encounter. The different countries/places are described really well, with lush descriptions that aren’t afraid to take their time unfolding. I found it really immersive.
And the magic system is subtle to being almost rare, but when it does come up, it’s so fascinating.
The part with . The book also has ancient ruins, a trope I love.
The book follows two main perspectives with a third coming in later. The two women, Aleya and Kirby are vastly different in temperament, skill, knowledge, and social position. They are pretty much as opposite as they could be, but they work well together and you get to witness their reluctant alliance and then relationship blossom over time. I will say, the only critique I have of the novel is that the “yearning� aspects of the slow-burn romance weren’t very intense. I know there’s a whole subset of readers who don’t want sex in their fantasy, thinking it should be reserved for romantasy, but as someone who can’t stand most romantasy tropes, I like romance and sex in my regular fantasy, because I’m not going to read a romantasy. I’m not even asking for a sex scene, just, in the case of this book, a bit more sexual tension would have worked nicely for me.
That being said, Curtis� skill at characterization really shines in this novel because she’s able to make you care about the most officious little prick of a character, one that you really wish would get a comeuppance ... but then she humanizes them, and you like, "damn you made me like this person." That was fun. It also showed how most of the time, we’re assholes because of how we’re raised or where we live, which felt relevant to today in a lot of ways.
The action scenes are terse, exciting, and very fun. Kirby can’t fight, but Aleya definitely can, though she’s not infallible. She has had years of training, but she also is quick-witted. Kirby helps as best she can, and while she does come off as a bit “country bumpkin� at times, she’s endearing and cute. It is very much a grumpy sunshine story. And then a third chaos element to mix things up the last third.
The ending is one of the most interesting ones I’ve read and it was bittersweet and realistic. It’s also not a “save the world� story - it’s about two women doing what they need to do both for themselves and their communities. There’s a wider world that exists around them, and the book is great at showing how the world doesn’t revolve around them as main characters. I might be reading into it a bit much, but the book also seems to include the physical manifestations of the effects of colonialism or, perhaps the theft of cultural artifacts.
Overall, I loved this one. The length was perfect, the story didn’t follow a straight trajectory but also wasn’t meandering, the characters were excellent, and the worldbuilding and action scenes were top-notch. Highly recommended.
Apparently, the third time really is the charm because while I enjoyed Grace’s Frontier and The Floating Hotel, I absolutely adored Idolfire. I loved it!
This is a fantasy inspired by the Fall of Rome, but you don't need to know that going in and, quite frankly, the story stands well on its own without knowing any of that. It was fun to try and decipher what was loosely based on reality and what was entirely fictional, but it also wasn’t distracting in any way. And if you aren’t a fan of Rome, if I had to choose a culture that this book was focused on, it’s not Rome at all, but the outlying civilizations that survived after it. In fact, Rome is sort of made fun of in this book a bit, which I thought was refreshing.
My favourite aspect of the book is tied to the world-building, as it’s a quest narrative, and my favourite kind of quest: where the characters aren’t in a super rush to get home. They have a mission and a goal but it’s not a three-day adventure; it’s months. And they go to so many cool and interesting places, both in the cultures and odd magic they encounter. The different countries/places are described really well, with lush descriptions that aren’t afraid to take their time unfolding. I found it really immersive.
And the magic system is subtle to being almost rare, but when it does come up, it’s so fascinating.
The part with . The book also has ancient ruins, a trope I love.
The book follows two main perspectives with a third coming in later. The two women, Aleya and Kirby are vastly different in temperament, skill, knowledge, and social position. They are pretty much as opposite as they could be, but they work well together and you get to witness their reluctant alliance and then relationship blossom over time. I will say, the only critique I have of the novel is that the “yearning� aspects of the slow-burn romance weren’t very intense. I know there’s a whole subset of readers who don’t want sex in their fantasy, thinking it should be reserved for romantasy, but as someone who can’t stand most romantasy tropes, I like romance and sex in my regular fantasy, because I’m not going to read a romantasy. I’m not even asking for a sex scene, just, in the case of this book, a bit more sexual tension would have worked nicely for me.
That being said, Curtis� skill at characterization really shines in this novel because she’s able to make you care about the most officious little prick of a character, one that you really wish would get a comeuppance ... but then she humanizes them, and you like, "damn you made me like this person." That was fun. It also showed how most of the time, we’re assholes because of how we’re raised or where we live, which felt relevant to today in a lot of ways.
The action scenes are terse, exciting, and very fun. Kirby can’t fight, but Aleya definitely can, though she’s not infallible. She has had years of training, but she also is quick-witted. Kirby helps as best she can, and while she does come off as a bit “country bumpkin� at times, she’s endearing and cute. It is very much a grumpy sunshine story. And then a third chaos element to mix things up the last third.
The ending is one of the most interesting ones I’ve read and it was bittersweet and realistic. It’s also not a “save the world� story - it’s about two women doing what they need to do both for themselves and their communities. There’s a wider world that exists around them, and the book is great at showing how the world doesn’t revolve around them as main characters. I might be reading into it a bit much, but the book also seems to include the physical manifestations of the effects of colonialism or, perhaps the theft of cultural artifacts.
Overall, I loved this one. The length was perfect, the story didn’t follow a straight trajectory but also wasn’t meandering, the characters were excellent, and the worldbuilding and action scenes were top-notch. Highly recommended.
March 8, 2025
4,5/5 stars, rounded up.
Idolfire is a classic hero's journey� type of story, but told in a fresh way. To start we have two female sapphic protagonists, and they both simply want the opportunity to change their little corner of the world. Aleya is sent out on her quest because she is hated by almost everyone around her. This assignment will either result in her death or her victory and either way the issue of her heritage is solved. Kirby's friends and family don't really want her to leave, but understand her determination to lift the curse upon their town. This is only part of the reason why she wants to go save a god she knows exist, but doesn't worship.
Grace Curtis could have written this story like any hero's journey, but she put her own flair of the unexpected to it. I've already fallen in love with her writing style from reading her debut book Frontier, and this book has cemented that love. It's actually because of Frontier that I really wanted to read this ARC, to see how well Curtis could transition from Sci Fi to Fantasy and if her unique way of storytelling would keep translating well on the page.
The good:
- These two women never lose what made them strong in the first place, even though others might have viewed it as weakness. I really admire that their growth shows an extension of the personalities that they start out with, but isn't a complete reversal.
- The writing style is just excellent. It kept me engaged throughout and I loved the second person chapters adding mystery and a whole new layer to the story.
- They dangers they face on the road are portrayed very realistically, but never venturing in a type of torture porn. They come across good people and bad, and the way they resolve their problems doesn't veer into a place that feels like I have to suspend my disbelief. It's a story with high stakes, but not unnecessary or over the top drama for drama's sake.
- I even started to like the third character I'm not going to spoil, despite all their mistakes. I'm not sure many writers could have evoked the same emotion out of me.
- Again, the characters! I cannot emphasize enough: I loved them so much! I have a slight preference for Aleya and her chapters, but there were no POVs I was dreading.
- The ending was really the only realistic one, but I still thought it was a brave choice of the author to end it like it did.
The Could be better:
- There were a couple of scenes that were kind of confusing to me and I either had to reread a couple of times or it didn't become clear until later. It took me out of the story for a bit.
- There were a few meetings with characters that feel to me like deus ex machina moments: the chance of them happening didn't seem that realistic to me. But the result of these meetings did not bother me.
The Bad:
- No notes, can't think of anything bad about this book.
Is this book a new obsession of mine? No, but it quietely burrowed itself into my heart. Not gonna lie: I'm crying while writing up this review. Now admittedly, I do cry easily... but it should be a good indication of how the story touched me.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this ARC. All opionions are my own.
Idolfire is a classic hero's journey� type of story, but told in a fresh way. To start we have two female sapphic protagonists, and they both simply want the opportunity to change their little corner of the world. Aleya is sent out on her quest because she is hated by almost everyone around her. This assignment will either result in her death or her victory and either way the issue of her heritage is solved. Kirby's friends and family don't really want her to leave, but understand her determination to lift the curse upon their town. This is only part of the reason why she wants to go save a god she knows exist, but doesn't worship.
Grace Curtis could have written this story like any hero's journey, but she put her own flair of the unexpected to it. I've already fallen in love with her writing style from reading her debut book Frontier, and this book has cemented that love. It's actually because of Frontier that I really wanted to read this ARC, to see how well Curtis could transition from Sci Fi to Fantasy and if her unique way of storytelling would keep translating well on the page.
The good:
- These two women never lose what made them strong in the first place, even though others might have viewed it as weakness. I really admire that their growth shows an extension of the personalities that they start out with, but isn't a complete reversal.
- The writing style is just excellent. It kept me engaged throughout and I loved the second person chapters adding mystery and a whole new layer to the story.
- They dangers they face on the road are portrayed very realistically, but never venturing in a type of torture porn. They come across good people and bad, and the way they resolve their problems doesn't veer into a place that feels like I have to suspend my disbelief. It's a story with high stakes, but not unnecessary or over the top drama for drama's sake.
- I even started to like the third character I'm not going to spoil, despite all their mistakes. I'm not sure many writers could have evoked the same emotion out of me.
- Again, the characters! I cannot emphasize enough: I loved them so much! I have a slight preference for Aleya and her chapters, but there were no POVs I was dreading.
- The ending was really the only realistic one, but I still thought it was a brave choice of the author to end it like it did.
The Could be better:
- There were a couple of scenes that were kind of confusing to me and I either had to reread a couple of times or it didn't become clear until later. It took me out of the story for a bit.
- There were a few meetings with characters that feel to me like deus ex machina moments: the chance of them happening didn't seem that realistic to me. But the result of these meetings did not bother me.
The Bad:
- No notes, can't think of anything bad about this book.
Is this book a new obsession of mine? No, but it quietely burrowed itself into my heart. Not gonna lie: I'm crying while writing up this review. Now admittedly, I do cry easily... but it should be a good indication of how the story touched me.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this ARC. All opionions are my own.
March 19, 2025
This book was deeply unsatisfying, in part because it had so much potential.
The characters started in one place in their lives and ended in the same places, having changed very little . What change was wrought happened apropos of nothing, and any big character moments at the end felt undeserved. I don't know if it was the multiple POVs or the road trip time jump of it all, but I never cared about any of the characters - and every character felt like the same character but in a different font. This led to the dialogue feeling fake, the supporting characters feeling like NPCs, and any relationships feeling sudden and undeveloped.
The world also felt one dimensional, which is wild because there's so much of it. I think the road trip vibe detracted from the ability to view each place as a Place. When we zip by town after town and spend so little page-time on each destination, none of them stand out.
And then the ending?
This all feels harsh to write out, but I finished this book at all because the story was interesting and I wanted to see where it went. The concept of many gods, and the idea of the creation of gods, and the ways that magic can be performed were all intriguing. And the initial character concepts were good! Who doesn't love a discarded heir who's a bitter combat prodigy, or a reluctant adventurer hoping to return to a simple life, or a soldier who only soldiers because ~they know naught else~? But when it ends and nothing much changes, it's kind of like...what was the point?
tl;dr -- I think I could have loved this book but it fell so flat for me. I should give it a bonus star for making me think about it so much, but I shan't.
The characters started in one place in their lives and ended in the same places, having changed very little . What change was wrought happened apropos of nothing, and any big character moments at the end felt undeserved. I don't know if it was the multiple POVs or the road trip time jump of it all, but I never cared about any of the characters - and every character felt like the same character but in a different font. This led to the dialogue feeling fake, the supporting characters feeling like NPCs, and any relationships feeling sudden and undeveloped.
The world also felt one dimensional, which is wild because there's so much of it. I think the road trip vibe detracted from the ability to view each place as a Place. When we zip by town after town and spend so little page-time on each destination, none of them stand out.
And then the ending?
This all feels harsh to write out, but I finished this book at all because the story was interesting and I wanted to see where it went. The concept of many gods, and the idea of the creation of gods, and the ways that magic can be performed were all intriguing. And the initial character concepts were good! Who doesn't love a discarded heir who's a bitter combat prodigy, or a reluctant adventurer hoping to return to a simple life, or a soldier who only soldiers because ~they know naught else~? But when it ends and nothing much changes, it's kind of like...what was the point?
tl;dr -- I think I could have loved this book but it fell so flat for me. I should give it a bonus star for making me think about it so much, but I shan't.
February 24, 2025
In theory I enjoyed this but unfortunately it fell a bit short in a few ways.
It reminded me a bit of the spear cuts through water in that it’s a hero’s journey with queer lovers that plays around with structure and tense of storytelling.
The titular magic is an interesting concept but it kind of fell apart for me the more I tried to get my head around it. And after about the halfway mark, it’s not actually used by the protagonist again at all which is kind of disappointing.
Similarly, there was a big deal made about Kirby lugging this massive sword halfway across the world including dragging it out of the bottom of the sea, but its actual utilisation fell short compared to the expectations that had been built up for me.
I appreciated the worldbuilding, a strength of the book was the description of all the places and cities they visited, and how Nivela left its mark as a stain across the landscape through their conquest. However, if I’m reading about an empire, it feels a bit like a cop-out to have it implode by the choice of a singular woman. I want to read about resistance and rot, not that the conquest just...stopped one day when she decided she’d had enough. Like even with Rome, which inspired this story, the downfall is just as interesting as its rise.
I also kinda didn’t like Nylophon like why was he there? Didn’t really add much for me. There were some other bits that felt a bit weak, like I don’t really understand why her uncle was randomly there one day?
Overall a cosy sapphic fantasy, which I feel like will appeal to a lot of people but ultimately wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
It reminded me a bit of the spear cuts through water in that it’s a hero’s journey with queer lovers that plays around with structure and tense of storytelling.
The titular magic is an interesting concept but it kind of fell apart for me the more I tried to get my head around it. And after about the halfway mark, it’s not actually used by the protagonist again at all which is kind of disappointing.
Similarly, there was a big deal made about Kirby lugging this massive sword halfway across the world including dragging it out of the bottom of the sea, but its actual utilisation fell short compared to the expectations that had been built up for me.
I appreciated the worldbuilding, a strength of the book was the description of all the places and cities they visited, and how Nivela left its mark as a stain across the landscape through their conquest. However, if I’m reading about an empire, it feels a bit like a cop-out to have it implode by the choice of a singular woman. I want to read about resistance and rot, not that the conquest just...stopped one day when she decided she’d had enough. Like even with Rome, which inspired this story, the downfall is just as interesting as its rise.
I also kinda didn’t like Nylophon like why was he there? Didn’t really add much for me. There were some other bits that felt a bit weak, like I don’t really understand why her uncle was randomly there one day?
Overall a cosy sapphic fantasy, which I feel like will appeal to a lot of people but ultimately wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
March 11, 2025
In the world left behind centuries after the fall of a world-spanning empire, history has fallen into myth and legend on its far-flung fringes. Kirby of Wall’s End and Aleya Ana-Ulai might as well be from entirely separate worlds � because they are.
When the Empire of Nivela fell, or died, or imploded, or all of the above, the places that either resisted them or were conquered by them � or both � were left to struggle on without all the things and people the Empire stole at the height of their reach.
Including, in the case of Wall’s End, their god. And in the case of the Kingdom of Ash, one of their most important relics. Wall’s End NEEDS their god back, because their land is dying without the renewing power of Iona, the Goddess of Spring. And the people are dying with it, withering generation after generation.
Ash just wants their relic back, as they believe that no one should have the power of Idolfire, the power to consume the accumulated worship vested in a deity, except for their own royal house.
Then again, Wall’s End is the last remnant of a kingdom that Nivela thoroughly conquered, while Ash successfully resisted the might of the Nivelan Empire until that Empire fell. Of its own weight � or its own ‘Worldlord’s� hubris.
Or both.
The story of Idolfire is a quest. It’s two quests. Kirby sets out for the ruins of fabled Nivela to get her village’s god back. Not because she’s a hero � but because she feels guilty that what was left of the god listened when she cursed her brother and not only killed him but blocked the water for the entire village.
Aleya, the reviled, disregarded, bastard princess of Ash, is sent by her Aunt the Queen on an actual, sanctioned quest to the ruins of Nivela to retrieve the other half of their sacred relic. Aleya knows she’s not expected to succeed, that she’s expected to either give up or die trying. But if she does succeed, she’ll be able to follow her Aunt as Queen, and make the reforms needed to save her city from dying from the weight of its own corruption and hubris � much like Nivela did.
The story is their journey, separately and together, over the whole of what was once the great Nivelan Empire. Along the way, they face death and danger and corruption and old gods and new kingdoms and desperate people and deranged leaders. They turn an enemy into a fast friend.
They find redemption for the sins they left behind. And they fall in love, even as they know that, as much as failure will doom them, success can only be bittersweet.
Escape Rating B: If you’re expecting something like the author’s previous work, Floating Hotel, you might want to check out some reviews (obv. Including this one) before continuing. Because Idolfire is not at all like Floating Hotel, and not just because that was SF and this is definitely fantasy.
Because I really did enjoy Idolfire, I’m trying to set expectations a bit better than either a quick reference to Floating Hotel or the bolded opening line of the book’s blurb. OTOH, that description, “Idolfire is an epic sapphic fantasy inspired by the fall of Rome from the author of the Frontier and Floating Hotel.� is 100 percent true.
But the emphasis isn’t quite in the same places in the blurb as they are in the book � leading back around to potentially disappointed expectations.
The emphasis in the story is on the epic fantasy parts of the description. It’s a quest story. Actually, it’s two quest stories combined with two heroines� journeys that begin at literally opposite ends of the world as they know it. Those two heroines do eventually meet and there is a slowburn sapphic romance but the romance isn’t the driving force in the story.
Their separate quests drive the story, quests that begin as far apart as possible � as Kirby and Aleya themselves do � but have the same center point in more ways than one.
Which is where that reference to the fall of Rome comes in. The fall, the reasons for that fall, and what the world looks like at the fringes of what was once the empire so long after that fall that history has fallen into myth and legend.
The historical underpinnings of this story may remind readers of the way that Guy Gavriel Kay works history into fantasy. Because yes, Nivela is Rome � more or less � but it is also biblical Nineveh. Ash is Assyria and Wall’s End is post-Roman-occupation Britain. But their enemy-turned-companion Nylo is from someplace like the ancient Greek city-states, and these places did not all exist at the same time.
The romance between Kirby and Aleya is VERY slow burn. They do come to love each other, but it takes them a lot of time � and miles, definitely miles! � to get there. They are both aware that the BEST ending they can possibly get is that they each return to their opposite ends of the world. It’s realistic but it’s ultimately sad. The reader wants them to have an HEA and they both want it and KNOW they can’t have it.
As much as I loved their journey and enjoyed their long and winding tour of this quasi-ancient, slightly magical, somewhat historical world, theirs is not the only perspective on their quests. Someone is moving events behind the scenes, looking on from above � or underneath � or both, watching as history unfolds. And it has shades of the secret at the heart of the city of Kithamar in Daniel Abraham’s Age of Ash series. It’s something I’m not sure worked in either epic, but it’s left me thinking I’ll go back to Age of Ash and see.
Nevertheless, that extra perspective is one that kinda works and kinda doesn’t and your reading mileage may definitely vary. My enjoyment of and fascination with Aleya’s and Kirby’s world, their epic journey through it and their relationship within it was MORE than enough to carry me through this fascinating tale.
Originally published at
When the Empire of Nivela fell, or died, or imploded, or all of the above, the places that either resisted them or were conquered by them � or both � were left to struggle on without all the things and people the Empire stole at the height of their reach.
Including, in the case of Wall’s End, their god. And in the case of the Kingdom of Ash, one of their most important relics. Wall’s End NEEDS their god back, because their land is dying without the renewing power of Iona, the Goddess of Spring. And the people are dying with it, withering generation after generation.
Ash just wants their relic back, as they believe that no one should have the power of Idolfire, the power to consume the accumulated worship vested in a deity, except for their own royal house.
Then again, Wall’s End is the last remnant of a kingdom that Nivela thoroughly conquered, while Ash successfully resisted the might of the Nivelan Empire until that Empire fell. Of its own weight � or its own ‘Worldlord’s� hubris.
Or both.
The story of Idolfire is a quest. It’s two quests. Kirby sets out for the ruins of fabled Nivela to get her village’s god back. Not because she’s a hero � but because she feels guilty that what was left of the god listened when she cursed her brother and not only killed him but blocked the water for the entire village.
Aleya, the reviled, disregarded, bastard princess of Ash, is sent by her Aunt the Queen on an actual, sanctioned quest to the ruins of Nivela to retrieve the other half of their sacred relic. Aleya knows she’s not expected to succeed, that she’s expected to either give up or die trying. But if she does succeed, she’ll be able to follow her Aunt as Queen, and make the reforms needed to save her city from dying from the weight of its own corruption and hubris � much like Nivela did.
The story is their journey, separately and together, over the whole of what was once the great Nivelan Empire. Along the way, they face death and danger and corruption and old gods and new kingdoms and desperate people and deranged leaders. They turn an enemy into a fast friend.
They find redemption for the sins they left behind. And they fall in love, even as they know that, as much as failure will doom them, success can only be bittersweet.
Escape Rating B: If you’re expecting something like the author’s previous work, Floating Hotel, you might want to check out some reviews (obv. Including this one) before continuing. Because Idolfire is not at all like Floating Hotel, and not just because that was SF and this is definitely fantasy.
Because I really did enjoy Idolfire, I’m trying to set expectations a bit better than either a quick reference to Floating Hotel or the bolded opening line of the book’s blurb. OTOH, that description, “Idolfire is an epic sapphic fantasy inspired by the fall of Rome from the author of the Frontier and Floating Hotel.� is 100 percent true.
But the emphasis isn’t quite in the same places in the blurb as they are in the book � leading back around to potentially disappointed expectations.
The emphasis in the story is on the epic fantasy parts of the description. It’s a quest story. Actually, it’s two quest stories combined with two heroines� journeys that begin at literally opposite ends of the world as they know it. Those two heroines do eventually meet and there is a slowburn sapphic romance but the romance isn’t the driving force in the story.
Their separate quests drive the story, quests that begin as far apart as possible � as Kirby and Aleya themselves do � but have the same center point in more ways than one.
Which is where that reference to the fall of Rome comes in. The fall, the reasons for that fall, and what the world looks like at the fringes of what was once the empire so long after that fall that history has fallen into myth and legend.
The historical underpinnings of this story may remind readers of the way that Guy Gavriel Kay works history into fantasy. Because yes, Nivela is Rome � more or less � but it is also biblical Nineveh. Ash is Assyria and Wall’s End is post-Roman-occupation Britain. But their enemy-turned-companion Nylo is from someplace like the ancient Greek city-states, and these places did not all exist at the same time.
The romance between Kirby and Aleya is VERY slow burn. They do come to love each other, but it takes them a lot of time � and miles, definitely miles! � to get there. They are both aware that the BEST ending they can possibly get is that they each return to their opposite ends of the world. It’s realistic but it’s ultimately sad. The reader wants them to have an HEA and they both want it and KNOW they can’t have it.
As much as I loved their journey and enjoyed their long and winding tour of this quasi-ancient, slightly magical, somewhat historical world, theirs is not the only perspective on their quests. Someone is moving events behind the scenes, looking on from above � or underneath � or both, watching as history unfolds. And it has shades of the secret at the heart of the city of Kithamar in Daniel Abraham’s Age of Ash series. It’s something I’m not sure worked in either epic, but it’s left me thinking I’ll go back to Age of Ash and see.
Nevertheless, that extra perspective is one that kinda works and kinda doesn’t and your reading mileage may definitely vary. My enjoyment of and fascination with Aleya’s and Kirby’s world, their epic journey through it and their relationship within it was MORE than enough to carry me through this fascinating tale.
Originally published at
Currently reading
October 8, 2024IT'S ON NG UK
"A character-driven science-fantasy road trip novel with sword fights and a slowburn romance that delves into the vastness of history and the terrifying power of organized faith"
Floating Hotel was SO GOOD, I am READY
"A character-driven science-fantasy road trip novel with sword fights and a slowburn romance that delves into the vastness of history and the terrifying power of organized faith"
Floating Hotel was SO GOOD, I am READY
March 11, 2025
(eARC) Thank you to Netgalley, the author & publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
The premise of this book really excited me: A sapphic slow burn romance on a fantasy filled adventure? I’m hooked! But unfortunately everything just fell a little bit flat for me.
Although I did find reading this book enjoyable, I found myself putting it down often and struggling to pick it back up. The plot just wasn’t as gripping as I was hoping and expecting. It felt a bit like reading a walking-simulator video game.
There wasn’t really any immediate threat to the characters at all. The low stakes and slow, monotonous pace of the book left it slightly boring. It could be argued that the slow pace was a metaphor itself; replicating the seemingly never ending walk the characters went on.
However I will say that the world building was really beautiful and was my favourite part of the whole book. Because the characters walked so far, we were granted a look at a vast and highly detailed world full of different cultures and cities. I definitely felt immersed in the environment of the journey.
The slow burn was also a bit of a disappointment for me. It seemed to come out of nowhere. I think there was only one or two personal mentions of feelings by each character before they fell in love. With it being a multiple pov read, I was expecting a lot more insight to the personal feelings of each of them. It definitely needed some more yearning and building of emotions and tension.
The magic system was very interesting, and I wish it had been used more by our main character. The final destination of our traveler’s journey was also extremely unique and I finally saw a glimpse of that high stakes fantasy I was hoping for throughout the whole book. If only it had been like this the whole way through!!
Lastly, I think the lyrical and flowery writing negatively affected the story in the same way it did in WTMH. Sometimes it was difficult to truly understand what was going on because everything was trying to be said as a metaphor. I got mixed up a few times with the literal facts and the flouncy analogies, leaving me confused at important parts of the story, thereby losing their critical impact.
Overall, I think this book is a nice little stand alone if you’re looking for an easy, low stakes read and don’t mind a slow pace. I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I didn’t go into it with expectations as I did, so, try to keep an open mind!
The premise of this book really excited me: A sapphic slow burn romance on a fantasy filled adventure? I’m hooked! But unfortunately everything just fell a little bit flat for me.
Although I did find reading this book enjoyable, I found myself putting it down often and struggling to pick it back up. The plot just wasn’t as gripping as I was hoping and expecting. It felt a bit like reading a walking-simulator video game.
There wasn’t really any immediate threat to the characters at all. The low stakes and slow, monotonous pace of the book left it slightly boring. It could be argued that the slow pace was a metaphor itself; replicating the seemingly never ending walk the characters went on.
However I will say that the world building was really beautiful and was my favourite part of the whole book. Because the characters walked so far, we were granted a look at a vast and highly detailed world full of different cultures and cities. I definitely felt immersed in the environment of the journey.
The slow burn was also a bit of a disappointment for me. It seemed to come out of nowhere. I think there was only one or two personal mentions of feelings by each character before they fell in love. With it being a multiple pov read, I was expecting a lot more insight to the personal feelings of each of them. It definitely needed some more yearning and building of emotions and tension.
The magic system was very interesting, and I wish it had been used more by our main character. The final destination of our traveler’s journey was also extremely unique and I finally saw a glimpse of that high stakes fantasy I was hoping for throughout the whole book. If only it had been like this the whole way through!!
Lastly, I think the lyrical and flowery writing negatively affected the story in the same way it did in WTMH. Sometimes it was difficult to truly understand what was going on because everything was trying to be said as a metaphor. I got mixed up a few times with the literal facts and the flouncy analogies, leaving me confused at important parts of the story, thereby losing their critical impact.
Overall, I think this book is a nice little stand alone if you’re looking for an easy, low stakes read and don’t mind a slow pace. I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I didn’t go into it with expectations as I did, so, try to keep an open mind!
April 21, 2025
I feel this struggled to pick a lane between cosy and epic fantasy, and as a result it felt kind of underdeveloped and lacklustre :(
At first it reminded me a bit of or in terms of a quest in a land once dominated by gods, but then the time skips at the beginning lost me and made me feel like I didn't really know anything about our protagonists apart from the very basics. And then the third perspective came in which I think had a lot of promise, but sadly fell victim to the same fate.
I would be interested to try the author's shorter works, but I feel like this just needed a bit more tightening to be great. The plot felt like a lot of side quests that didn't really go anywhere, but then you didn't get any great character moments to justify their existence. I'm not really a cosy fantasy girlie but I feel like this almost tried to do it with the humour and modern language, but then didn't fully commit so kind of fell flat on all fronts. I objectively understood the point of their quest but didn't get much of an impression of what it meant in the scheme of the world or even really for the characters. It felt like things were just kind of happening to happen, and it lacked that central drive to keep the momentum going.
Maybe fans of may enjoy this, especially if you are looking for a gentle entry to the fantasy genre. I did respect that it did something a bit different with the ending, but again a time skip that I think loses a lot of the meaning the final moment could otherwise have had. Overall a bit disappointing for me but would be interested in giving the author another go.
At first it reminded me a bit of or in terms of a quest in a land once dominated by gods, but then the time skips at the beginning lost me and made me feel like I didn't really know anything about our protagonists apart from the very basics. And then the third perspective came in which I think had a lot of promise, but sadly fell victim to the same fate.
I would be interested to try the author's shorter works, but I feel like this just needed a bit more tightening to be great. The plot felt like a lot of side quests that didn't really go anywhere, but then you didn't get any great character moments to justify their existence. I'm not really a cosy fantasy girlie but I feel like this almost tried to do it with the humour and modern language, but then didn't fully commit so kind of fell flat on all fronts. I objectively understood the point of their quest but didn't get much of an impression of what it meant in the scheme of the world or even really for the characters. It felt like things were just kind of happening to happen, and it lacked that central drive to keep the momentum going.
Maybe fans of may enjoy this, especially if you are looking for a gentle entry to the fantasy genre. I did respect that it did something a bit different with the ending, but again a time skip that I think loses a lot of the meaning the final moment could otherwise have had. Overall a bit disappointing for me but would be interested in giving the author another go.
March 3, 2025
I had read both of Grace Curtis’s previous novels and while they both had faults, they were still original and interesting enough with a lot of potential that intrigued me enough to be excited for this third upcoming novel.
To say I was disappointed would be a severe understatement.
Initially it was compelling enough, especially Kirby’s (hate that name in this kind of fantasy setting but that’s the least of the book’s problems) part, and Aleya’s beginning story also had just enough mystery to have kept me reading. The “You� chapters in second person were irritating and ultimately completely unnecessary to the plot but they were few and far between enough that I could ignore them. And then halfway through the story we get the Nylophon POV, which had potential that was squandered for a convenient plot resolution.
I cannot stress just how exhausting Idolfire was to read all the way through. At a certain point, the only thing that kept me going was pure rage at the audacity that a fantasy book can be this unoriginal and just simply bad.
The worldbuilding had great building blocks but they were just left there without being built into anything. The magic that’s apparently so important in this world was brought up like twice, also only as convenient plot point resolutions.
The two main characters were fine at the beginning, as I mentioned earlier. Interesting even, especially with the anticipation of their character development. To my utter dismay, however, there was exactly zero character development or growth of any kind. Kirby remained simple and naively kind with exactly two personality traits throughout the entire story, rendering her flatter than an ironing board. Aleya wasn’t any better. She started out as an arrogant privileged selfish bully and stayed that way until the very last page.
With this unfortunate combo, the “romance� was incredibly lifeless and felt like someone mashing two cardboard cutouts together to make them kiss. Zero chemistry, yes, but at some points it even started to feel a bit icky with the way Aleya was treating Kirby and Kirby letting her because she didn’t know any better. And it was clearly intended to be seen as “banter� and “romantic.� The way their relationship anticlimactically ended after their adventure was also such an annoying attempt at being edgy, and even though I didn’t want them together at any point in the first place, it still felt like the author put me through all that for no payoff of any kind.
I’m not even going to start on the whole Scoria part of the plot because it’s simply not worth it.
Overall this just felt like a collection of all the things this author can’t do well without any of the things she has done well in the past. Incredibly disappointing but it is what it is, I guess.
Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for the eARC.
To say I was disappointed would be a severe understatement.
Initially it was compelling enough, especially Kirby’s (hate that name in this kind of fantasy setting but that’s the least of the book’s problems) part, and Aleya’s beginning story also had just enough mystery to have kept me reading. The “You� chapters in second person were irritating and ultimately completely unnecessary to the plot but they were few and far between enough that I could ignore them. And then halfway through the story we get the Nylophon POV, which had potential that was squandered for a convenient plot resolution.
I cannot stress just how exhausting Idolfire was to read all the way through. At a certain point, the only thing that kept me going was pure rage at the audacity that a fantasy book can be this unoriginal and just simply bad.
The worldbuilding had great building blocks but they were just left there without being built into anything. The magic that’s apparently so important in this world was brought up like twice, also only as convenient plot point resolutions.
The two main characters were fine at the beginning, as I mentioned earlier. Interesting even, especially with the anticipation of their character development. To my utter dismay, however, there was exactly zero character development or growth of any kind. Kirby remained simple and naively kind with exactly two personality traits throughout the entire story, rendering her flatter than an ironing board. Aleya wasn’t any better. She started out as an arrogant privileged selfish bully and stayed that way until the very last page.
With this unfortunate combo, the “romance� was incredibly lifeless and felt like someone mashing two cardboard cutouts together to make them kiss. Zero chemistry, yes, but at some points it even started to feel a bit icky with the way Aleya was treating Kirby and Kirby letting her because she didn’t know any better. And it was clearly intended to be seen as “banter� and “romantic.� The way their relationship anticlimactically ended after their adventure was also such an annoying attempt at being edgy, and even though I didn’t want them together at any point in the first place, it still felt like the author put me through all that for no payoff of any kind.
I’m not even going to start on the whole Scoria part of the plot because it’s simply not worth it.
Overall this just felt like a collection of all the things this author can’t do well without any of the things she has done well in the past. Incredibly disappointing but it is what it is, I guess.
Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for the eARC.
March 11, 2025
Two women, two quests, one destination (and one soldier with a grudge)
Kirby leaves her dying village, she's on a quest to retrieve their stolen goddess in the hope it will lift the curse that is causing illness and infertility. Meanwhile Aleya must complete a challenge given to her to gain her place as part of the ruling family of her city.
They meet on the way, having both been captured by a weird cult, and realise that they are both heading to the same place- the city of Nivela. Along the way they meet Nylophon, a young commander of a warrior people with extremely misogynistic views. He develops a grudge and dogs their steps for many miles.
Along the way, they travel through many lands, meeting a variety of cultures that feel like ancient Mediterranean civilizations. In some places they receive help, in others they face danger. And, Aleya and Kirby's partnership, which starts out of necessity, develops into something more.
I really enjoyed the setting and the mix of different cultures. And I generally enjoy journey stories, so this appealed to me immediately. But although I liked the story, I didn't feel especially gripped or emotionally invested in it. It is quite long and, I think, maybe it would work better split into a duology. Everything felt a bit too convenient (yes, possibly explained later but if so, a bit more foreshadowing would have been nice) and some of magic/myth surrounding everything was occasionally unclear. Kirby and Aleya are perfectly fine protagonists, but I didn't feel that their characters developed much and their relationship didn't move me. The best character in the end was Nylophon, who got a more satisfying character arc. I think with a bit more time, some of the flatter aspects could have been fleshed out.
Anyway, despite a few criticisms, I did like the story and look forward to reading more from Grace Curtis.
Thanks to Hodderscape for providing a netgalley arc for review
Kirby leaves her dying village, she's on a quest to retrieve their stolen goddess in the hope it will lift the curse that is causing illness and infertility. Meanwhile Aleya must complete a challenge given to her to gain her place as part of the ruling family of her city.
They meet on the way, having both been captured by a weird cult, and realise that they are both heading to the same place- the city of Nivela. Along the way they meet Nylophon, a young commander of a warrior people with extremely misogynistic views. He develops a grudge and dogs their steps for many miles.
Along the way, they travel through many lands, meeting a variety of cultures that feel like ancient Mediterranean civilizations. In some places they receive help, in others they face danger. And, Aleya and Kirby's partnership, which starts out of necessity, develops into something more.
I really enjoyed the setting and the mix of different cultures. And I generally enjoy journey stories, so this appealed to me immediately. But although I liked the story, I didn't feel especially gripped or emotionally invested in it. It is quite long and, I think, maybe it would work better split into a duology. Everything felt a bit too convenient (yes, possibly explained later but if so, a bit more foreshadowing would have been nice) and some of magic/myth surrounding everything was occasionally unclear. Kirby and Aleya are perfectly fine protagonists, but I didn't feel that their characters developed much and their relationship didn't move me. The best character in the end was Nylophon, who got a more satisfying character arc. I think with a bit more time, some of the flatter aspects could have been fleshed out.
Anyway, despite a few criticisms, I did like the story and look forward to reading more from Grace Curtis.
Thanks to Hodderscape for providing a netgalley arc for review
November 22, 2024
4.5 stars
When I first started reading Idolfire, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Structurally, I think this is a unique take on the hero's journey - in this book's case, the journeys of both Aleya and Kirby, coming together - on their quest to find the city of Nivella. But pretty much by chapter three, I found myself falling in love with the characters and this story. And the world-building...let me tell you, it was simply incredible. As Aleya and Kirby follow the trail of the lost city, they find themselves in many places marked by the Nivellans. The city is very much imbedded into the core of everyone who resides in the world - it is marked by symbols, road markers, mythical stories and more.
The story feels very character-driven. By centering Aleya and Kirby (and eventually Nylophon), Idolfire paints a wondrous picture of three different perspectives, each coming from very different lands, undertaking the same journey. Aleya, the headstrong princess with aspirations to rule, fighting against the machinations of an arrogant council (and her uncle). Kirby from the World's End, a small village much further than anything you can think of, going on this journey for her brother. Nylophon of Cartha, a deadly mercenary soldier with a sad past. The three characters feel very distinct and that, for me, really cemented this book.
Oddly enough, I would say, even enjoying the worldbuilding as it is, I would have loved it even more if we had gotten more of that mysterious second person POV (no spoilers but when you read it, you will know what it is). I think it adds a certain charm to the book and I would have read chapters more from that perspective, especially if they were narrating the history of the world.
But all in all, Idolfire was a pretty good adventure fantasy and I am glad that I got to read it this early. I will definitely be getting a physical copy when it releases!
Thank you Hodderscape for the e-ARC through NetGalley!
When I first started reading Idolfire, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Structurally, I think this is a unique take on the hero's journey - in this book's case, the journeys of both Aleya and Kirby, coming together - on their quest to find the city of Nivella. But pretty much by chapter three, I found myself falling in love with the characters and this story. And the world-building...let me tell you, it was simply incredible. As Aleya and Kirby follow the trail of the lost city, they find themselves in many places marked by the Nivellans. The city is very much imbedded into the core of everyone who resides in the world - it is marked by symbols, road markers, mythical stories and more.
The story feels very character-driven. By centering Aleya and Kirby (and eventually Nylophon), Idolfire paints a wondrous picture of three different perspectives, each coming from very different lands, undertaking the same journey. Aleya, the headstrong princess with aspirations to rule, fighting against the machinations of an arrogant council (and her uncle). Kirby from the World's End, a small village much further than anything you can think of, going on this journey for her brother. Nylophon of Cartha, a deadly mercenary soldier with a sad past. The three characters feel very distinct and that, for me, really cemented this book.
Oddly enough, I would say, even enjoying the worldbuilding as it is, I would have loved it even more if we had gotten more of that mysterious second person POV (no spoilers but when you read it, you will know what it is). I think it adds a certain charm to the book and I would have read chapters more from that perspective, especially if they were narrating the history of the world.
But all in all, Idolfire was a pretty good adventure fantasy and I am glad that I got to read it this early. I will definitely be getting a physical copy when it releases!
Thank you Hodderscape for the e-ARC through NetGalley!
April 12, 2025
3.5 stars
This was a fun read!
Perhaps controversial but I loved the interludes of chapters in second person. Addressing the reader as the Worldlord?? So rad. It was such a unique and smooth way to convey important expository information in a lowkey very sinister way without it feeling forced. What an awesome device, to put the reader directly into the shoes of the antagonist.
The last 100 pages of this book especially were so good. Everything from when they arrive in Nivela to the very end had me hooked! I was 15 minutes late to rehearsal because I was so engrossed in it (whoops). Absolutely heartbroken that Aleya and Kirby didn't get to grow old together, but it makes complete sense that they would go off and complete their own journeys. Another example of some lovely interpersonal realism in quite a starkly fantasy book, I love to see it. Heartmended at the epilogue although I cried through the entire thing.
My only major complaint is that my copy had 2 or 3 dozen typos in it that really distracted me throughout. I didn't keep an exact count, but it was enough to flag as a problem in my head. Unsure how that happens but I assume it has something to do with it being the first edition? Whatever the reason, I'll let it slide because this book was so awesome.
In short, Idolfire made me feel like I was kid discovering fantasy again. I love a super dark, gritty fantasy just as much as, if not more than, the next lesbian, but something about the vibrance of this narrative reawakened that childlike feeling of reading about magic and swordfights. Books are allowed to be fun guys!
This was a fun read!
Perhaps controversial but I loved the interludes of chapters in second person. Addressing the reader as the Worldlord?? So rad. It was such a unique and smooth way to convey important expository information in a lowkey very sinister way without it feeling forced. What an awesome device, to put the reader directly into the shoes of the antagonist.
The last 100 pages of this book especially were so good. Everything from when they arrive in Nivela to the very end had me hooked! I was 15 minutes late to rehearsal because I was so engrossed in it (whoops). Absolutely heartbroken that Aleya and Kirby didn't get to grow old together, but it makes complete sense that they would go off and complete their own journeys. Another example of some lovely interpersonal realism in quite a starkly fantasy book, I love to see it. Heartmended at the epilogue although I cried through the entire thing.
My only major complaint is that my copy had 2 or 3 dozen typos in it that really distracted me throughout. I didn't keep an exact count, but it was enough to flag as a problem in my head. Unsure how that happens but I assume it has something to do with it being the first edition? Whatever the reason, I'll let it slide because this book was so awesome.
In short, Idolfire made me feel like I was kid discovering fantasy again. I love a super dark, gritty fantasy just as much as, if not more than, the next lesbian, but something about the vibrance of this narrative reawakened that childlike feeling of reading about magic and swordfights. Books are allowed to be fun guys!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2025
This was an utter delight! I’m so excited to read Curtis� previous work!
Aside from the beginning being a little slow, I can’t think of anything bad to say about this book. The prose was lovely, Aleya and Kirby’s relationship was so real and sweet, the meditation on empire was thoughtful, and the ENDING!! I was almost crying in Itsu.
What really makes this book stand out to me is the pacing and the characters. The journey takes up most of the book, but it doesn’t feel padded or too short. It feels a lot like Katherine Addison’s writing in that way, though the road trip gives it a little more of a plot structure than Addison’s work tends to have. The main three characters, Aleya, Kirby, and Nylophon, are relatively simple, but they feel so lively and real. I loved all three of them. I think Curtis could have done a little more to differentiate their point of view, because sometimes I did lose track of whose point of view it was (particularly between Kirby and Aleya towards the end), but it wasn't a huge problem.
I've been doing a lot of repeating "people lived meaningful lives during the fall of the Roman empire" to myself as of late, and it was nice to read a book that was mostly about that. Just a wonderful book.
I received this book from Net Galley.
Aside from the beginning being a little slow, I can’t think of anything bad to say about this book. The prose was lovely, Aleya and Kirby’s relationship was so real and sweet, the meditation on empire was thoughtful, and the ENDING!! I was almost crying in Itsu.
What really makes this book stand out to me is the pacing and the characters. The journey takes up most of the book, but it doesn’t feel padded or too short. It feels a lot like Katherine Addison’s writing in that way, though the road trip gives it a little more of a plot structure than Addison’s work tends to have. The main three characters, Aleya, Kirby, and Nylophon, are relatively simple, but they feel so lively and real. I loved all three of them. I think Curtis could have done a little more to differentiate their point of view, because sometimes I did lose track of whose point of view it was (particularly between Kirby and Aleya towards the end), but it wasn't a huge problem.
I've been doing a lot of repeating "people lived meaningful lives during the fall of the Roman empire" to myself as of late, and it was nice to read a book that was mostly about that. Just a wonderful book.
I received this book from Net Galley.
March 13, 2025
Idolfire is the perfect blend of an epic hero journey and a character driven story.
In a tale inspired by the fall of Rome, we follow two epic women from literal opposite ends of the world who meet on the old road and journey to a city called Nivela. Kirby is a total sweetheart whose village is plagued by a curse and brash Aleya is the black sheep of her family. Both leave their towns for very different reasons and end up uniting for a common purpose. They are joined by a third character who I won't spoil but who did end up becoming a favourite of mine.
This is very much a story that's about the journey rather than the destination and I was all for it. With epic world-building and a subtle magic system, I very much enjoyed Curtis's venture into fantasy. For you romance fans, there's even a little bit of sapphic romance but it's definitely not at the forefront of the story.
I think my favourite part of the book was the direction in which Curtis went with the ending. A bold and unexpected, but wholly welcome, choice! Not one a reader would expect and that really surprised me.
Thanks so much to hodderscape for the ARC and the chance to read this gorgeous book early.
In a tale inspired by the fall of Rome, we follow two epic women from literal opposite ends of the world who meet on the old road and journey to a city called Nivela. Kirby is a total sweetheart whose village is plagued by a curse and brash Aleya is the black sheep of her family. Both leave their towns for very different reasons and end up uniting for a common purpose. They are joined by a third character who I won't spoil but who did end up becoming a favourite of mine.
This is very much a story that's about the journey rather than the destination and I was all for it. With epic world-building and a subtle magic system, I very much enjoyed Curtis's venture into fantasy. For you romance fans, there's even a little bit of sapphic romance but it's definitely not at the forefront of the story.
I think my favourite part of the book was the direction in which Curtis went with the ending. A bold and unexpected, but wholly welcome, choice! Not one a reader would expect and that really surprised me.
Thanks so much to hodderscape for the ARC and the chance to read this gorgeous book early.
February 20, 2025
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
Grace Curtis� writing has such a distinctive quality. There is always a perfect balance between high stakes and the gentle, steady pace, but what stands out most is the sheer warmth and heart in every word. Her prose is beautifully rich and immersive, especially when describing the landscapes her characters traverse. (The Ocean Road? That will be haunting my dreams.)
Having read and loved both of Curtis� previous sci-fi novels, I was eager to see what she would bring to the fantasy genre. And she absolutely delivered. The world building, (centered around Idolfire and its deities,) felt intricate and engaging, detailed enough to fully draw me in without ever becoming overwhelming.
But, as with her previous books, it’s the characters who truly shine:
- Aleya, a royal from the city of Ash, journeying to Nivela to prove herself worthy to her people.
- Kirby, from the remote village of Wall’s End, making the same journey in search of the lost goddess’s idol.
- Nylophon, a mercenary who loses everything along the way, forcing him to question his very purpose. (I love him dearly!)
These three couldn’t be more different, and their clashing personalities, tense interactions, and gradual growth made for a fantastic dynamic. They challenge each other, nearly kill each other more than once, and yet their journey together feels very rewarding.
This book has officially solidified Grace Curtis as an auto-buy author for me. I can’t wait to see what she does next!
Grace Curtis� writing has such a distinctive quality. There is always a perfect balance between high stakes and the gentle, steady pace, but what stands out most is the sheer warmth and heart in every word. Her prose is beautifully rich and immersive, especially when describing the landscapes her characters traverse. (The Ocean Road? That will be haunting my dreams.)
Having read and loved both of Curtis� previous sci-fi novels, I was eager to see what she would bring to the fantasy genre. And she absolutely delivered. The world building, (centered around Idolfire and its deities,) felt intricate and engaging, detailed enough to fully draw me in without ever becoming overwhelming.
But, as with her previous books, it’s the characters who truly shine:
- Aleya, a royal from the city of Ash, journeying to Nivela to prove herself worthy to her people.
- Kirby, from the remote village of Wall’s End, making the same journey in search of the lost goddess’s idol.
- Nylophon, a mercenary who loses everything along the way, forcing him to question his very purpose. (I love him dearly!)
These three couldn’t be more different, and their clashing personalities, tense interactions, and gradual growth made for a fantastic dynamic. They challenge each other, nearly kill each other more than once, and yet their journey together feels very rewarding.
This book has officially solidified Grace Curtis as an auto-buy author for me. I can’t wait to see what she does next!
March 13, 2025
This was such an incredible book! It took me a couple of chapters to get into it with the different POVs but then I couldn’t put it down! It had everything you could want from an epic fantasy: strong, complex characters, amazing world building and a quest getting everyone together!
Kirby, Aleya and Nylophon were all such interesting characters and I loved following them on their quest and through different countries and cultures.
The world building was rich, new and interesting. I really enjoyed the way faith and magic were intertwined and how we discovered everything alongside our main characters.
I would absolutely recommend this book and will definitely be picking up Grace Curtis’s other books. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy and enjoyed books like Godkiller by Hannah Kaner or Realm Braker by Victoria Aveyard, please do yourself a favour and pick up this book!
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for letting me review this e-ARC.
Kirby, Aleya and Nylophon were all such interesting characters and I loved following them on their quest and through different countries and cultures.
The world building was rich, new and interesting. I really enjoyed the way faith and magic were intertwined and how we discovered everything alongside our main characters.
I would absolutely recommend this book and will definitely be picking up Grace Curtis’s other books. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy and enjoyed books like Godkiller by Hannah Kaner or Realm Braker by Victoria Aveyard, please do yourself a favour and pick up this book!
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for letting me review this e-ARC.
March 14, 2025
This was a fun, quest style fantasy inspired by Roman history apparently? I know literally nothing about the Romans, so can't comment on that. What I can say is that l loved the characters, Kirby and Aleya were well rounded and likable, and Nylo (eventually) grew on me after appearing somewhat late in the story.
I enjoyed the variety of lands they visited, each with their own mythology and creatures/perils. As the characters themselves didn't seem to know too much about the world or it's history, neither did we. I feel we could have benefited from a little bit more explicitness about what had gone wrong with the world though. The underwater scenes will stay in my memory for a while, what a concept. Equally eerie and magical.
The journey was definitely more satisfying than the ending imo, but maybe that was the point.
Thanks to Netgalley and Houder and Stoughten for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the variety of lands they visited, each with their own mythology and creatures/perils. As the characters themselves didn't seem to know too much about the world or it's history, neither did we. I feel we could have benefited from a little bit more explicitness about what had gone wrong with the world though. The underwater scenes will stay in my memory for a while, what a concept. Equally eerie and magical.
The journey was definitely more satisfying than the ending imo, but maybe that was the point.
Thanks to Netgalley and Houder and Stoughten for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the preview. All opinions are my own.
3.5 stars?
Journey before destination. Never have words applied to a book more. This is a slow paced, character driven quest story, with all the focus on the journey. Two characters find themselves on the same road to the same destination and pair up (initially much to Aleya’s chagrin). Later, a third character joins them. They all experience much character growth along the way, along with their at times harrowing journey.
The world was interesting, and I appreciated the author’s note at the end explaining her inspiration. But I just never connected with our characters. I didn’t FEEL things. And the end is an absolute fever dream, with a bittersweet epilogue. But I just feel kind of cold about it all.
3.5 stars?
Journey before destination. Never have words applied to a book more. This is a slow paced, character driven quest story, with all the focus on the journey. Two characters find themselves on the same road to the same destination and pair up (initially much to Aleya’s chagrin). Later, a third character joins them. They all experience much character growth along the way, along with their at times harrowing journey.
The world was interesting, and I appreciated the author’s note at the end explaining her inspiration. But I just never connected with our characters. I didn’t FEEL things. And the end is an absolute fever dream, with a bittersweet epilogue. But I just feel kind of cold about it all.
December 2, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It mixes gods, religion and fantasy very well.
Kirby is all heart and brings such a warmth to this story, while Aleya comes across sharp and a little arrogant, but it’s her past and quest that has shaped her this way. The true surprise was the 3rd somewhat main character who I really ended up adoring, I hope despite what happens that they show up in a book 2.
Kirby is all heart and brings such a warmth to this story, while Aleya comes across sharp and a little arrogant, but it’s her past and quest that has shaped her this way. The true surprise was the 3rd somewhat main character who I really ended up adoring, I hope despite what happens that they show up in a book 2.
April 4, 2025
I loved this book. I really like Grace Curtis' writing and plotting. The two main characters are both on separate journeys and manage to come together to try and complete their quests. I found both characters to be individual, I liked the way that they came together and how they interact. I really liked the world and how large it felt and well described. I did find the odd chapters that are directed at the reader a little jarring but it made sense as I got to the end.
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