*ARC received from Netgalley - all opinions are my own*

TLDR: The magic and lore are vague but interesting, and the story is well written but incredibly slow until 40ish%. Kylene is the most interesting POV but Lovelace gets more chapters. Think most will like or thoroughly enjoy this book but I don't think it’s worth continuing with for me as the conclusion is very anticlimactic and the overarching story is a bit lacklustre.

The best point of When Shadows Grow Tall is Voss’ use of descriptives and has a great talent for writing a scene and helping you to imagine everything without needing to go overboard. Despite having finished the book over a week ago, I can still clearly picture multiple scenes from the book.

This is a dual POV book, with Lovelace and Kylene being our two main characters. Lovelace has the majority of page time which, in my opinion, really makes the book drag and some of his chapters just feel neverending. Kylene, on the other hand, is a much more interesting character to read about and I don't know if it’s just due to her being younger or the fact that we are following her through such a tumultuous time where she’s experiencing a lot of things for the first time but her chapters really helped me get through this novel. I will say that Lovelace does get more likeable as the story progresses, just not massively.

The first 40% or so are an absolute drag to get through and I would have likely DNF’d if this wasn’t for review. It really gets going around the 50-60% mark and I finished it pretty quickly after that. The story is interesting and I enjoyed the rough magic system and lore that we have and while we don’t get loads of details, I didn’t feel like I needed things to be more in depth than they were for the most part. The ending “big fight bit” with Cora was the only part where it was so ridiculously vague as to how her powers worked and the whole situation unfolded. It just felt really unrealistic (yes, I know we’re talking about fantasy here).

Overall, it’s a perfectly fine book that I feel most will like, if not really enjoy. However, while I liked the When Shadows Grow Tall, I will not be continuing the series.

Maressa Voss's debut novel is a compelling addition to the world of fantasy travel. When Shadows Grow Tall alternates between the dual perspectives of Lovelace and Gunner, two rangers of the Dactyli and Kylene, a daughter in search of her father. The dactyli face an inside threat in the name of Alev who threatens to overthrow the current order. The dactyli are connected to nature's four elements through their magic. The two rangers travel to distant lands and encounter Cora, a young woman who changes everything they know about the ways of the Dactyli. The Grasp is also under the oppressive rule of the exploitative Osbert, and Kylene's father is one of the printers who silently rebels against the new regulations imposed. Kylene's father soon leaves the family and Kylene embarks to find her father.

The initial six chapters set the premise and explain the lay of the Grasp to the reader. The first six chapters were a little slow and felt too long. I would have preferred a fast-paced novel with some explanation of the critical terms. The characters, Lovelace and Gunner, with their contrasting personalities and banter refresh the audience from the monotone of the world-building. All the characters have a well-defined role in the novel and are refreshing to the reader. The story grips the reader in the seventh chapter as both narrators undertake a journey of discovery, learning and magic. Voss introduces further elements of the Grasp building as the characters encounter new locations. While the main plot revolves around the journey, the past and the present intertwine through memories. The novel is predictable and unpredictable at the same time. There was a moment when I thought I figured it out but then was proved wrong and later schooled with the proper perspective.

The prose is at times complex but poetic with its terms which threw me off quite a few times. The work includes several universal truths as quotes. 'You must never stop asking questions, darling. If you don't go about asking questions, no one has to worry about the answers they're giving you.' As a literarian, I loved another quote which was a homage to Alfred Tennyson's The Brook. The novel also slightly delves into human psychology and anthropocentrism with instances in the novel pointing out the current predicament of humanity. I liked how Voss intertwined the power of nature and the above concepts with the novel. The novel ends with the premise set up for its successor.

3.5/5

'Even if you journey through the stars, you still need the kernel of Earth'

I adored this tale, it's a slow burn DEBUT fantasy that has all the makings of greatness, from its characters to its world building. Despite its slower pace, I never once wanted to put down this book and honestly, I just want book 2 immediately. Its lyrical and its storylines merge beautifully in a way that feels right, bringing together our characters in a way thats super satisfying.

This was a truly engaging debut. The world building was fantastic - I feel like we got a good grasp without being info dumped on and it really set the stage for the series to follow. The pacing was good for the length of the book and the characters felt realistic with their motivations. I enjoyed the elemental fantasy aspect.

ARC copy from
Net gallery. Was a slow read for me but still good. Liked the concept just a little slow going for my liking. Story was good needed something more for me

"When Shadows Grow Tall" was a rollercoaster. Voss nails the pace and world-building, creating a gripping read. Sure, there might be a bit of wordy writing and info overload, but don't worry - this book packs a punch with epic magic showdowns in a rough-and-tumble world that will have you totally hooked!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!

This was a really fast paced read.following to separate storylines,1 of magic users being hunted risking the entire existence of the order.the other of a girls hunt to unravel the secrets her father kept forcing him to escape to avoid persecution by a wicked and tyrannical government of zealot sycophants. Both storylines contain stellar world building and character development. Such an immersive read with plenty of suspense and twists and turns that keep you obsessively turning the pages to know what could possibly happen next! A fantastic read with a clean cliffhanger that leaves you unbelievably excited that there's going to be more to come! I loved this book.

I actually didn't finish this one... The formatting made it hard to understand where the chapters started and ended - which I know shouldn't be a contributing factor, but it was for me. I got about 30% of the way through and didn't understand the plot. This one was not for me.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. When Shadows Grow Tall is a gorgeously written, captivating and adventurous read. I loved the Grimm vibes in this. I hope there is a sequel or follow up in this universe.

3.5 ⭐️

Firstly, I want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. I received it on NetGalley.

I was really into this book in the first maybe 30%.
I was more into the fmc’s storyline than the mmc’s within that time frame.
After that 30% it kind of dropped off for me and started to drag. It was still an interesting read with great concepts and character dialogue but it fell flat for me unfortunately.

This is a beautifully written, immersive fantasy, and I found that I genuinely cared about the main characters. As the first in a series, the book is heavy on world building and slow on plot. The plot itself was a bit convoluted - many different names, places and groups to keep track of. Unlike many fantasy books, this is not heavy on action. Much of the story is related through conversations, internal thoughts, or background exposition. I will continue with the series to see where the journey leads. Rounding up from 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to Maressa Voss and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!

When Shadows Grow Tall follows Lovelace and Gunnar as they search their lands for young boys who’ve revealed their elemental magic, finding them and recruiting them to their order before they’re rival, if for no other reason than to keep them alive. We also follow Kylene, a young girl whose world is turned upside down when she discovers her father is not the man he seems. Both storyline’s play out to build the world around them, showing their battles with the villains, history and secrets.

I really quite enjoyed this book. It took me a little to get into as it was a little slow at the start. But really picked up its pacing and action in the last third or so of the book. I really enjoyed these characters. Kylene had some serious growing up thrust upon her as she learned who to trust and what life outside the family home was really like. Lovelace and Gunnar on the other hand had a really great dynamic that I found interesting, they were not besties by any means, they were partners and had to work together to survive. There was a bit of Yin and Yang with their personalities, very different people but had each other’s backs. Kylene‘s and Lovelace and Gunnar’s stories evolve separately.

The writing style was sufficient and it was well enough written with some good world building. For me it took too long get a feel for the world this story was set in. There was some details I think intentionally that were left out about the elemental magic system because there are characters in the story learning the magic, and the main characters discover unknown elements of the natural magic of this world, so the characters understanding is evolving as well.

I gave this book a 3.5 stars and look forward to the next instalment.

Complex magic systems, beautiful and humorous writing, dual POVs, witty heroes and a tyrannical leader made for a great read! The pace is very slow in the beginning as you wrap your head around the magic, the world and its inhabitants but the payoff is so worth it- I was rooting hard for the protagonists and found myself more invested in them than I’d expected! The writing is beautiful and descriptive and I am eager to see where this story leads. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Two rangers, Lovelace and Gunnar, seek those that have the gift within the Grasp to grow up in the dying ancient brotherhood of the dactyli. A rogue dactyli named Alev creates his own army of the Burned Ones and seeks out the same, but murdering many in search of the white flare. Lovelace and Gunnar are in a race to thwart Alev and find the white flare themselves when they come across Cora, a feral woman who has the gift. Meanwhile, a young woman named Kylene is suddenly on the run after her father, a printmaker, is sought for sedition and leaves her family behind. Trying to figure out his secrets, she picks up where he left off and seeks out a tribe within the mountains he was working with. As their paths intertwine, they have to deal with tyranny, the threat of a mad dactyli and realizing their world may not be what it seems.

My initial reaction to starting this book was what is going on?! Like all great fantasy books, you are thrust into the middle of a story into a world where you are trying to grasp names and language and it can be confusing. And yet, I was intrigued and found this world fascinating. Lovelace is a strong willed and skilled character whose compassion really made me like him. While fearless, strong and smart, he still cares for the victims of the powerful. I even like Gunnar, a great curmudgeon secondary character. Kylene’s story drew me in immediately. I kept wanting to know more of her story and her journey to find answers. Her strength is incredible.

I will say, thought there would be more with the Alev after the buildup to meeting him, but I truly enjoyed this world and this story.

I’m not sure if there will be more in the future, but if so I will definitely be ready to jump back into this world and what the future holds for everyone.

Considering the elemental gifts and the white flare, it gave me Avatar the Last Airbender vibes so if you have an interest in that story, I think you will love this book!

Thank you to Maressa Voss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 star rating for this amazing book. Loved everything about it. But it's not 5 stars for me because it isn't perfect like I thought It was.

Atmospheric fantasy with a superb world-building and elemental magical system. Interesting characters and storyline. The writing is very eloquent with a lot of similies and metaphors beautifully woven in creating a very poetic story with great descriptions allowing the reader to visualize.

The feel of the book is close to The Witcher and LOTR/Hobbit.

Lovelace and Gunnar are Dactyli (those born with magic) and a true yin and yang duo that are rangers hunting for Dactyli children, hoping to create a bigger force to fight the growing evil of Osbert and Alev. While doing their duties they're notified by the Brotherhood that there's a massive white "flare" indicating a child with unheard-of powers.

Along with Lovelace and Gunnar's story, you have Kylene whose father is a bellringer (a person who opposes Osbert's rule) who has gone on the run leaving Kylene to find his secrets and eventually creating an explosive arc in the storyline when her path crosses with Gunnar and Lovelace.

A great debut book for Maressa Voss and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

I really wanted to like this, I was drawn in by the synopsis saying it had elemental magic and a dual pov but this just fell flat for me. I loved the first few chapters, but there is little to no world building and I felt like there were some key things that just weren’t explained so I had a hard time keeping track of what everybody was doing and where they were at. Pif was definitely my favorite character, and I enjoyed Lovelace’s pov the most but ultimately had a difficult time connecting with any of the characters. I do feel like this was well written, I think my main issue came down to a lack of world building that I just couldn’t get over because thats my favorite part of reading! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this!

What a great read! The narrative is masterfully crafted, keeping a brisk tempo while intricately fleshing out the characters. The construction of the setting is exceptional, offering a plethora of captivating adventures to embark upon. Kylene is a delightful companion throughout the journey, and her clever banter consistent throughout. The magic system is nuanced and plausible, grounded in elemental forces.

Highly recommend!

When shadows grow tall is interesting to read for me. It has a good beginning for a fantasy series and I can’t wait for more books to come out. The book follows two storylines that later on merges together. It shows how the characters actions leads to the stories coming together. The characters I found ti be very likeable and made me feel a bit of connection to them by the end of it.

The author presents the story with a lot of action from the prologue, which is in itself heartbreaking. From then on we discover the characters and each of their paths, each one more interesting than the other. The story is not gentle but engulfs the reader in the violence of its world with every word.
The worldbuilding is exquisite and the magic system is very original and interesting. The details provided when describing a sequence or a landscape make you feel part of the book and forget that you are reading.
The two stories are very different but equally interesting. And the moment when it all comes together and culminates was a big surprise for me that I still can't get it out of my head.
Kaylene struck me as very real and human, her growth throughout the book is impressive and clear.
On the other hand I found Lovelace and Gunnar to be the most dynamic, their chapters are full of tension and action and they were my favourite of the story.
I definitely want to know how this story that gripped me so much and that I found so original continues.
It's a completely amazing start.