I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found this book to be quite slow. It took me a while, at least until halfway through the book, to really get into the story. However, this is only book one in a series, which explains why not much happens, but the writing is very good. There are various plots that connected to each other in some way, which can be a bit confusing.

The characters are compelling although I didn't relate to any of them. Both Jastyn and princess Aurora are strong women who have their own quests all through the book even if they depend on each other at times to be able to get the answers they need. As always, there's romance, but also royal conspiracies and revealed truths. The chemistry between the characters was good too, but I'd have liked to know more. I guess the plot will continue in the following books.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about magic with a dose of romance and some action.

A wonderful representation for the LGBT community and an even better read! Ledel creates a mythical world that brings our real life issues into the light and breaks them down as well as the problems that come with being royal and reigning over a crumbling kingdom.

Great read. Couldn't put it down till I finished it. Can't wait for the for next book to come out. Such a nice and catching story!

I was so not prepared for the end to arrive when it did! It took me a bit longer than usual to get caught in the story but when I did, it was all the way. So when I turned the last page, I was ready for a lot more. I am definitely looking forward to book 2.

Jastyn has lived her whole life on the outskirts of the village, her family shunned because she’s labeled an Odium child – she was born to an unwed mother. Her best friends are an old witch who taught her all sorts of magic and a stable boy who saved her life when she was a nine-year-old thief trying to feed herself and her mother. At twenty-two, she lives with her mother, her stepfather and her stepsister Alana. The thirteen-year old is suffering from some illness the alchemist doesn’t seem to know how to cure. Jastyn decides to ask the Queen, whose knowledge of healing magic is well-known, for help, despite her misgivings towards the royal family. She then meets the Princess, Aurelia. When the kingdom is attacked and the Princess kidnapped, Jastyn is convinced finding Aurelia will lead to a cure for her sister. Yet unforeseen feelings for Aurelia threaten to get in the way.

New Adult fantasy is a new guilty pleasure of mine. It’s full of exciting adventure and the promise of romance. It’s sweet, fresh and hopeful. It takes me back to my teenage years, the good parts of those years at least. I read this in a few hours, only stopped long enough to have lunch. I hope I won’t have to wait too long for the sequel, I have high hopes for Jastyn, Aurelia, their friend Coran, Eegit the hedgewitch and Rigo the elf.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46258757-daughter-of-no-one" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Daughter of No One" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560255257l/46258757._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46258757-daughter-of-no-one">Daughter of No One</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17814119.Sam_Ledel">Sam Ledel</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2942894614">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Start of a fantasy series by the author. An enjoyable tale of romance between Jastyn and Princess Aurelia - throw in faes, witches, royalty, intrigue and magic and let your imagination loose. 3 stars.<br />I rec'd a copy for review from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

Normally, I enjoy the authors presented by this publisher. I just couldn't become involved in this story and characters.

I felt it was slow to build and confusing at times.

I appreciate the opportunity to read the book.

Simoly wasnt for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Daughter of No One is the first book in a new high fantasy trilogy. This is a great start to a series and has all the elements I might want from a fantasy – an alternate world, magic, monsters, non-human peoples – combined with some interesting and vibrant main characters and a promising storyline.
There is a lot to take in in this book, and it is very much a case of setting up the story and putting many pieces into play. The reader shouldn’t be skimming too much as some important context or story element may well be lost. There is a hint of future romance, with the main characters drawn to each other, but it is tentative in this part of the story. Nevertheless, the end of the book appears to leave the readers nicely set for the second part of the trilogy.
I love all types of fantasy and really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This book was extremely slow and just didn't hold my interest.

Had a rough time with this one and that was based on my mood and not really feeling it or connecting to the story like I was hoping to do.

Pretty decent YA/ New Adult fantasy that is a slow build but has some excellent tidbits that can keep people coming back for more. There's a lot of world building that goes on with regards to a lot of the stuff that is happening in this book. Three major plot points drive this first entry into the series: Jastyn Cipher's increasingly desperate attempts to save her sister from a chronic illness, Princess Aurelia and Jastyn's partnership, and the plot to overthrow the peace of the Kingdom of Venostes. They all interconnect in some typical ways, but its done so smoothly that it was hard to tell when and where the author was taking up each individual plot line. Two of the three plot lines had barely even begun when the book ended, and while I usually get frustrated with so many plot points not being resolved, I liked the ending.

So, if anything I thought it was a little slow, with the first half of the book dealing with Jastyn's need to protect her sister and her search for a Macguffin that may or may not be integral to the rest of the story. Her journey does make her come in contact with Aurelia, a bright but sheltered princess who's story begins in earnest after the death of a family member. There are some clever parallels between Jastyn and Aurelia's story; Jastyn is given the key to save her sister by Aurelia and Jastyn is able to save Aurelia from her kidnappers later in the book. And that's where the slow, plodding pace comes in. Stuff does happen, but in between we do get some light exposition that can make the book feel like it drags in spots.

Then there's the way some of the reveals are handled. There's one scene in the book where Aurelia talks to her mother about her encounter with Jastyn but her mother only acknowledges the sickly sister as the daughter of the stablemaster. Later, when Aurelia actually shows Jastyn to her mom, she seems frightened and angry. But we don't know why. At this point the readers are given a little bit of what Jastyn is, but the reason for the ruling family to be afraid of her is vague at best, and doesn't really give that one giant payoff that I was hoping for. The author is playing the long game here, but in that scene, I thought what was meant to be an emotional payoff fell flat because the author is holding a bunch of stuff back.

There's a lot of subtle plot build up behind Jastyn's and Aurelia's budding relationship, and I can't wait for more. There's a lot of really smart fantasy going on here, I just wish that we got a little bit more to work with than what we've got now. Great start to a (hopefully) long running series.

First book in a new series, Daughter of No One is a really good read for those who enjoy the fantasy genre. There aren't a lot of fantasy novels in lesfic and its a pleasure to find one that is written as a fantasy novel as opposed to a romance with a fantasy background. To find one that is written well, has engaging characters, a well paced plot with a good amount of action and peril is even better. I'm sure that there will be romance in the future books, but Ledel has given the characters and world building a chance to grow without having to jam an overt romantic plotline into the story. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next book in the series .

I never read fantasy novels, I just am not interested in all the world building. I feel like the majority of the time you spend so much time of developing that aspect of the book that everything else can end up taking a backseat. As much as this is a fantasy novel, with the elves and the fae, what you also have is an old-fashioned adventure filled with mystery and a slow burn romance.

Jastyn Cipher and her mother were cast out of the village by the royal family. Jastyn's mother had a child with a fae and therefore broke one the kingdom's laws. After spending quite some time in shackles the mother and young child have been shunned by their community for decades. Jastyn despises the royal family. Unfortunately, Jastyn's younger sister has fallen ill and nothing the Alchemist mixes will fix what she ails from. Going to the queen to beg for her healing powers is not something this young woman wants to do but at this point she has no other options.

Princess Aurelia Diarmaid wants more than anything to break out of the castle and experience the world outside of its protective walls. Her parents have kept the princess safe but have also clipped her wings and made her feel trapped and restless.

Our two main characters are a study in contrasts. Jastyn is considered less than a commoner. Her life has been filled with barely meeting basic needs has toughened her and made her a skilled outdoorswoman. Aurelia wants for nothing but as much privilege as she has something is missing.

The world building and fantastic elements are all there. Ledel makes them believable and paints you a picture as the story unfolds. Where I think the book really takes shape and leaps to the next level is the dynamic between our leading ladies. There is an excellent lesfic drama/romance unfolding between the two young women. Everything is stacked against them and that is obvious from their initial meeting. Attraction, longing gazes, a simple touch, it all begins to stoke the fires of a would be romance. You cannot help but love these two brave heroines who are thrust into chaos and an adventure. With Jastyn, I loved all that vulnerability and the crushing hopelessly on someone who is completely above your stature in society. It is just enough angst to keep you rooting for the impossible. With Princess Aurelia, you love that she is nothing like Jastyn thought her to be. Aurelia is capable, smart, compassionate and is absolutely fearless in the face of danger.

Sam Ledel has definitely set up an epic adventure of star-crossed lovers. This book one of a trilogy doesn't leave you with a cliffhanger but you are definitely going to be left ready for the next book. The romance is just blossoming, they are not a couple this is one where we are going to have to work for it a bit. As a non-fantasy lover, I adored this book and am ready to read where Ledel takes us next. This book is quality writing, great pacing, and top-notch characters. You cannot go wrong with this one! 4.25 stars

A fantasy book with MCs in their very early twenties, this book presents a well thought out world of Kingdom of Venostes (shades of The Lord of the Rings here).

Jastyn Cipher is the town outcast since she is an Odium Child, that is, a child born out of wedlock. She has a difficult life just surviving. She adores her step-sister, Alana, who is suffering from an illness that could end her life soon. Jastyn will do anything to save her sister (a kind of throwback on The Hunger Games sibling love here). The Queen is considered the best healer in the kingdom and Jastyn tries to smuggle into the palace hoping to meet the queen and seek her help in healing her sister. Instead of the Queen, Jastyn meets the Princess. Princess Aurelia is a sheltered royal who dreams of going beyond the walls of the kingdom, who dreams of adventure. She is soft and kind, if a little naïve.

We wouldn’t like to discuss more of the story which is rather involved and has quite a lot happening. The pace seems a little slow in the beginning because there is just so much to introduce and familiarise the reader with. But it moves along fairly well.

Though Jastyn is the titular Daughter of No One, she didn’t impress us. All the daring, strength, emotion and character in Book One (this one is the first of a trilogy) belong to Princess Aurelia. Jastyn’s friend, Coran, also impresses with his loyalty. Maybe subsequent book will add more to Jastyn, but at least this first book belongs to the Princess entirely.

This seems like a promising series.

3 and a bit stars

I think I liked this one more than it delivered. I could see that there's more tucked in there but for the moment, it's not all open to us.

Jastyn seems like she's coiled up and ready to pounce with her anger but is kind and soft when it comes to her sister. Occasionally, if you squint, that kindness comes out for (Princess) Aurelia as well. It's kind of difficult because Jastyn is an outcaste but there's a definite connection between them.

I found the start of the book quite slow and wasn't really engaged until halfway through. By the end I was definitely wishing there would be more ... and there will be in book two.

3.50 Stars. I thought this was a pretty good fantasy book. This is the second book I have read by Ledel and I thought it was quite a bit better than her first. This is YA or maybe New Adult is better since both characters are in their early 20’s. This is the first book in a series, and while the main storyline is still open, the book ended in a good spot. It doesn’t leave you with a horrible cliffhanger feeling, you just know that more adventure is to come.

This story follows the lives of two young women. Jastyn, who is an outcast due to being born out of wedlock and the Princess Aurelia. When the princess’ life is in danger, Jastyn’s extensive knowledge of the woods surrounding the Kingdom might just make her the perfect person to find the Princess. After being shunned by the Royals her whole life, can Jastyn put her feeling aside to bring the Princess home?

I thought this fantasy world was very interesting with elves, witches and other mythical creatures along with magic around every corner. I thought the book overall had an interesting premise. However, there was a lot going on with plenty of questions still hanging, I’m used to fantasy books being long and a little slower to start. This book didn’t take very long for the action to start up so while I did appreciate all the excitement, I actually would not have minded a little more world building.

I thought it was a good mix of characters. I liked many of the secondary ones including a witch who is really interesting. The two main characters were well done, but I do feel like I haven’t completely connected to them yet. I’m hopeful that will change after the next installment. There is no romance in this book, but there is some early chemistry that is building with hope for the future.

I’m always so excited to see a new fantasy book out since they are few and far between in lesfic. But because I’m such a huge fantasy fan, I can be a little picky. This is not a fantasy book I can put on my favorites list, but it was a good beginning with plenty of potential. I do think most fantasy fans, especially YA or NA fans, will probably enjoy this. I will be reading book 2 when it comes out.

Set in the Kingdom of Venostes, Jastyn Cipher is an outcast, an Odium Child, because her mother gave birth to her out of wedlock. She’s suffered the disdain and slights of the villagers since she was a child and now in her early twenties she’s developed a strong backbone and walks with pride regardless of what others think. Her mother has married and her step-sister, Alanna, is ill. She asks her friend Coran who works in the royal stables to get her in so that she can attempt to ask the queen to use her healing powers. Instead it’s Princess Aurelia that she meets who tells her that there is trouble brewing in the kingdom and her mother is occupied.

As the first book in ‘The Odium Trilogy’ this is an enjoyable fantasy read, probably aimed at young adults and teens. The language and setting is uncomplicated which makes it easy to read and engage with the story. Jastyn is well-characterised and quite an endearing person. There are a number of interesting plot twists at play and not all of them are brought to a conclusion by the end of the novel.

At this stage it is not a romance although there is a flicker of a spark between Jastyn and Aurelia. I’m looking forward to see where this goes in future instalments.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This great fantasy book.

Aurelia always dream of living a life of adventures and she is set foot on having them.

Jastyn blames the royal family for her family troubles but when her sister falls ill she needs their help.

When they meet the attraction is undeniable but Jastyn just want to ignore it but when fate keeps throwing them together they have to fight if they want to survive.

I like that this book has strong female characters. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

A lovely start to a new fantasy trilogy.

Daughter of No One has the trappings of a classic Hero's Journey. Jastyn Cipher is determined to find a cure for her ailing sister. Princess Aurelia is determined to leave the castle and lead a life of adventure. Ultimately, Fate brings them together and they encounter fae, elves, and leprechauns along the way.

I deeply appreciated the female relationships in this book. Jasytn and Aurelia. Jastyn and her friend/mentor, Eegit. Aurelia and her friend/maiden, Roisin. Aurelia and her mother. Jastyn and her sister. Jastyn and their mother.

Based on my past experience, I've rarely found more than one or two strong female relationships in fantasy novels. Witnessing six female bonds that are well developed and grounded in reality is very satisfying. Depicting women so should be the new template for all media.

I'm eager to see such relationships grow and explore Venostes as the series continues.

Interesting book. I did not know or notice that it's a serious of books. I don't usually- or never. read fictional stories, oddly thought I don't regret this one in fact I really enjoyed it. the chemistry is good between both of them. I'd like to see more emotions thought and slow burn but well see what's the next book holds. well written and has so much potential to end up great
3,99 stars for me