This book was everything
Strong proud fierce sapphic women, a plot twist I saw coming but a couple of others that hit me like a brick wall
I’ve been waiting for this book since I first stumbled across Brenna on Tiktok and it was worth every minute of waiting
I can’t wait to see what comes next for them
Also that cliffhanger was brutal and I’m never going to be okay with it

4⭐️

This was a good debut! I read an ARC thanks to Netgalley and there was definitely some repetition that I hope will be corrected before the final book is released. However, I thought this was interesting and twisty and I feel like this would have done especially well about ten years ago in the massive YA boom.

It definitely needed a more thorough copy edit and it took me a while to get into Sapphire’s character but tbh I’m still not sure I liked her (or any of the characters come to think of it). There was two ‘twists’ at the end and one of which I predicted and the other I didn’t, but that’s because I think there was genuinely no clues or foreshadowing. The only other thing that threw me off was that this is YA & everything in it is very squeaky clean except for commentary between Ashes & Sapphire—it felt like it couldn’t decide if it was a spicy fantasy romance or not and definitely reads like it was confused and modified for a YA audience. It’s a shame that the publisher/author decided to cram this book into a shape that fits the YA box instead of just letting it run as an adult or new adult book.

If you liked Kat Delacortes’ Fire In Their Blood, Throne of Glass, or A Fate of Wrath and Flame, then you’ll enjoy this book!

2.5* (5/10)

If you liked Alina's arc in Shadow and Bone and the end of Tangled, this book has lots of elements you'll enjoy.

For me, I think this boils down to: the book is fine and wasn't for me. Nothing much about it felt exciting except for the sapphic romance, and I just didn't feel the chemistry there. Their interactions came off as a bit forced/constructed. For example, there's a knife on the throat scene that felt very 'this is the knife on the throat scene readers will love!' In that sense, I felt the author's presence throughout.

What I did like:
- The quick & clear setup. I would've actually liked more time to see Sapphire in her life before.
- The duelling scene. I got really into it.
- The magic.

What I didn't like:
- Too much passive voice, which led to a lot of telling and not showing.
- Lack of character thoughts.
- Lots of describing of what voices sound like. In the first 2 chapters there are at least 10 examples of that.
- The writing style - lots of intended repetition (e.g. "A warning. A warning that sounded with every step she took." & "She would not fail. Not now. Not in front of her.") that would've been okay if used sparsely - but these were on the same page.
- Variations of "like a child" to describe how Sapphire feels she's reacting to something came up at least 14 times. Sometimes it was used twice in a chapter. I get that maybe it's meant to show that she's barely not a child but the author could've done that in a way that shows us such.
- There's obviously a praise kink going on here, which would be fine if this book were spicier/for NA instead of YA perhaps. But when I discovered that the book was originally meant to be spicier, it made sense. Maybe it should've been removed.
- Ashes' flirting felt purposely constructed... so it came off as cringe. I would've loved Ashes as a character if that had been better handled.
- The ending.

I'm so disappointed because the cover is gorgeous and the plot sounded amazing.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me access to this book for an honest review.

Sapphire is a lost Princess, who meets and falls for a witch when she is reinstated on the throne. What follows is a dark, magical story of forbidden love and secrets.

This was a good, easy read with a creepy atmosphere that kept me guessing right to the end. Loved Sapphire and Ashes, and their growing relationship. Can't wait for the next book!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A huge thank you to Brenna Nation, Penguin Random House Childrens UK, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The Shattered Lands comes out March 16, 2023

Sapphire has spent 18 years in Witrotean, a waste land that was ravaged by beasts and famine, and expects to spend the rest of her maybe short life there. That is until one night during what she thinks is a dream she is transported to Eriobis, a land full of magic and secrets. Not only was she born in this new lands, but she is the lost princess they have been looking for. While searching for answers to the history of Eriobis and the war that split the kingdom 1000 years ago, she meets Ashes, a Shadow Witch. Shadow witches are rumored to be monsters that control the shadow beasts, they were the side of the war that lost those many years ago. Though they are enemies, Sapphire and Ashes cannot ignore the buring attraction between themselves. They will have to question wiether or not the truth that is revealed will start the end of a kingdom.

I am going to be completely honest I almost stopped reading this book 30% in, there was alot of world building and alot of Sapphire getting used to her new position. I cannot even tell you how happy I was that I stuck to it, because the last 50% of the book was amazing. Full of revealed secrets, blooming powers and scorching attraction. Be warned this is the first book of a series, so it leaves off on a pretty big cliff hanger. But before that cliffhanger you start to see Sapphires confidence and curiosity grow. you really started to getr a feel of the world and magic, plus throughout the book new things come to light that build its complexity. This is Brenna Nation's first book and I can't wait to read the next book and really see not only the story but also her skill develop. If you are looking for a saphic fantasy full of enimies-to-lovers, and knife to throat goodness, The Shattered Lands is for you!

Calling all Romantasy lovers. This book is a great mix of political intrigue, who do I trust, lost princess/chosen one, and some rocking enemies to lovers between a princess and a witch.

I had some issues with our main character at times because of her immaturity and naïveté. It does serve a purpose in the book but it infuriated me at times. She appeared also very easily accept her new fate. Maybe that’s because of the life she was leaving behind was one of war and famine.

Ashes and Sapphire is a super well written enemies to lovers and “touch her and I’ll hurt you” type vibe.

I loved her friendships with Evers and Kaian. They balanced out each other and helped the MC with some of her impulsivity.

I loved that throughout the story it is encouraged to question history because “those writing history know the dead won’t come back to correct them”. It’s often the “victor” that gets the write and more accurately rewrite history.

I thought some of the world building wasn’t fully fleshed out but this is the first book in a series so I’m sure a lot will continue to unfold! I for one want to see how the story progresses.

A really great YA romance and fantasy!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me for an ARC!

Review posted on Jensatt.shelves instagram coming this week.

Full of promise, but ultimately fell flat for me. Certain elements, such as character names, felt juvenile, and I found myself struggling to find the motivation to continue reading. I simply wasn't invested enough in learning more about this world or characters. This will be a huge hit for some readers, but overall it just wasn't for me.

THIS BOOK IS DARN ADDICTIVE. Once I started it I just couldn’t put it down, it’s filled with secrets and betrayal, an enemies to lovers romance where our MC would BURN THE WORLD FOR HER and elemental magic.

BUT MY do I need book two immediately. I AM INVESTED.

This sapphic YA fantasy is honestly just PERFECT. And my heart, the enemies to lovers/ forbidden romance in this honestly on another level, the way Sapphire would honestly break the world for Ashes is just ARGHHH. It perfectly captures what the things we will do for love.

At the stroke of midnight on Sapphire’s 18th, she is pulled from the orphanage to a kingdom she doesn’t know, finding parents she never knew she had. Oh and they happen to be the King and Queen of this magical land, who have been searching for her since she was taken moments after she was born. But can she truly believe them? In a land ruled by magic and secrets where will she stand?

A truly interesting sapphic fantasy. I've been eyeing this book for a while, so I was very happy to get an e-arc.

I enjoyed the characters and the world building. I liked looking into the history of the world and look forward to reading more of that.

But I also wasn't as invested as I wanted to be. That was definitely a me-problem though. I picked it up when I wasn't in the mood for fantasy.

I did like it though and will definitely be rereading once it comes out.

4.5 stars

The Shattered Lands fell onto my tbr purely by chance. The plot intrigued me enough that I requested the ARC and after having finished it, I can say I am so glad that I read this. Out of the recent YA fantasies that I have read, this is definitely one of my favourites. I loved everything about it, from the worldbuilding to the characters, and of course, the incredible sapphic romance.
Sapphire, the lost princess who has returned, and Ashes, the (very) tall, mean witch...you gotta love this dynamic. Though I kind of guessed what was gonna happen in the ending, it was still such a fun read and I really hope there's gonna be a sequel.

DNF at 25%

There isn't anything wrong with this book, but it left much to be desired. I stopped reading a quarter of the way through because at almost a hundred pages in I realized I wasn't actually interested in learning what happened next. The worldbuilding was uninteresting and none of the characters had formed meaningful connections. It doesn't help that a book about a purple-eyed girl named Sapphire (whose love interest is named Ashes) seems juvenile. It's a shame because the cover and description made it seem like this book would be perfect for me.

‘The Shattered Lands’ was a book I couldn’t put down. I craved more, turning page after page wanting to know what happened next. Brenna Nation will be the next new author to look out for.

As soon as I saw the cover for this book I was intrigued. A sapphic fantasy with witches and elemental magic.. I was sold! And this books didn’t disappoint. I loved the characters, but never quite knew who to trust. Or which side was the right side to root for. I can’t wait for the sequel to this book!

This was such an addictive book! I have been looking forward to reading this for so long, and was so excited when I got approved on NetGalley. This is an enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance surrounded by political intrigue and an elemental magic system.

On her eighteenth birthday Sapphire is transported to a different world where they tell her that she is the lost princess, who disappeared eighteen years prior. Sapphire is thrown right into the kingdom that seems to be full of secrets that nobody is talking about. While trying to discover more about the kingdom that she will one day inherit, Sapphire keeps running into the alluringly beautiful but dangerous witch Ashes. Sapphire and Ashes are at the centre of a history of secrets, political intrigue and a teetering power balance between the dark witches and elementals.

This is everything I wanted to read as a queer teen looking for YA fantasy. While I think the setting and relationships could definitely be more developed (hopefully in book two), it was such an exciting and addictive read. The author just knows how to build up so much tension between Sapphire and Ashes, I was pretty much bursting by the end. On top of that, the magic system was interesting and I can see it going so much further in a sequel as our characters get to know their power.

The characters were engaging, deeply flawed but loveable, and had such amazing chemistry it’s unbelievable. I can’t wait to read more of these characters and more from this author.

Wowww! This book is everything I want in a YA romantasy. Sorry for the ramblings but I need to squeal.

Sapphire has visions before her 18th birthday that transport her to a new world. She quickly learns she is the long lost daughter and heir to the kingdom who must adapt to learn her away around a magical land, understand her special powers and her past.

She’s strong willed, impulsive, curious and loyal. What I loved about Sapphire are her questions and anxieties match the readers as the story unfolds, I didn’t find her naïveté annoying or frustrating like I often do with FMC’s blind to their situation. She’s anxious but there is depth and realness to her emotions that felt believable to me. Appropriately so, Sapphire doesn’t trust everything she’s told and there are lots of twists and turns in Eriobis.

Luckily, she quickly finds her people and I loved reading about her friendship with Evera and Kaian. They’re the perfect balance, offering her guidance and questioning her when she’s ornery. The unfolding relationship with Araxia is written beautifully and covers tough feelings of belonging and family.

Ashes, the Shadow witch that Sapphire can’t stop thinking about, has her own agenda and coven to think about, but that doesn’t stop her from encountering the princess in the woods on many occasions. Their banter and flirtations had me *sweating*

This book questions ruling legacies and the where the stories we are told come from. There is plenty of political conflict and intrigue, a cast of side characters that really round out the story, and an enemies to lovers romance to *die* for.

Read this for:
🗡️The chosen one navigating a new magical world
🗡️Magic powers and training
🗡️Lesbian romance
🗡️A tall, mysterious, red haired witch with “I’ll kill you vibes”
🗡️A blonde boy who gives off alternative universe Malfoy vibes
🗡️”Good girl”
🗡️Burn it all down FMC energy
🗡️”If they touch you, they die”

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and my thoughts are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this one early!

Sapphic YA fantasy with elemental magic, witches, and delicious, delicious betrayal

I loved this one. It has ruined me and I need more now.

This is a debut and the world building, characters, magic, and intricate plot read like a seasoned writer.

It was incredible.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to read this as soon as I heard about it and it didn’t disappoint! The cover is beautiful and the premise sounded really interesting to me (sapphic enemies to lovers hello??)

The plot was engaging and I couldn’t wait to find out what would be revealed next (the plot twist at the end totally got me).
I really enjoyed the chemistry between Sapphire and Ashes, however I wish Ashes was a bit more fleshed out as a character as at times she felt a little one dimensional.
I felt that the world building was good and the history and politics was interesting.
I’d like to see the friendship between Sapphire and Evera evolve and become closer also.

Overall I enjoyed this book and am excited for the sequel. 4/5⭐️

I can see why this would appeal so much - especially to a teenage audience. This book has all the makings of being another trending read.

The plot and romance of this book had so much potential.

Unfortunately the world building and writing ended up feeling rushed and sloppy. Details were overlooked and it seemed like many character choices were made to further the plot, then them making sense for the context and how the character was developed.

The writing read like a movie script and lacked the character inner thoughts and world detail to draw me in. The handful of times we got that the story drew me in. Those were few and far between. Almost all of the dialogue was accented by face choreography, which can be helpful, but ended with me wishing for better choices.

My biggest issue with this book is that each character motivation seemed very flimsy based on what we knew about them. Many of the motives felt author led, instead of organic.

This felt like a third draft and I wish Nation had more time to polish and tighten. Overall, I found myself constantly questioning the characters’s motivations and catalysts. It all felt very forced.

Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.

"A plethora of little moments shape us, mould us into who we are. That’s why that power, that force, is unique to each person. Discovering that truth – understanding that deepest part of you that forces your limbs to move, your lungs to fill, forces you to live, it’s – it’s a rite of passage all of us must face. Never easy, of course,’ she said with a soft chuckle. ‘There is no power, no true power at least, without introspection. But mastering it is what separates the mavens from the acolytes."

At the stroke of midnight on her eighteenth Birthday, Sapphire is transported away from her orphanage home to a kingdom she has never before ventured to and parents she never knew she had. They sit upon the throne and promise her all the love and lavish lifestyle she has ever longed for. But can their intentions be believed? She begins to doubt it when the magical powers and opposing forces also abundant in these lands begin to reveal themselves to her, too.

I really bonded with these characters and I thought the author did a stellar job of introducing the reader to them all and making us consider their plight, despite them often opposing the struggles of others. I could consider all angles of this story and it made the good/bad binaries never clear, luring me into dually bonding with and questioning them all. The stakes were never lowered due to this.

I was less sold on the romance at the centre of this story, however. It was very obvious, which I did not dislike, and very sweet, which warmed by heart, but it sometimes felt a little surface-level. I never felt I truly knew where their hearts lay as they kept their true emotions secret from each other and the reader. I wanted to see them soften even more towards each other and reveal even more of their loveable characters.

The political conflicts and magical intrigue were more fascinating and ensured I will continue on with this series to see what occurs after that explosive finale. I could see it coming but was devastated to having been proven correct!