A. C. Gaughen

With powerful magic that manipulates the natural world, dangerously cunning royalty, and heart-stopping romance, this new sweeping fantasy series is perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir.

Reign the Earth

Hanna Rybchynska

Jasmine Neville

There are quite a few triggers for this book so I recommend checking those out before you pick this up but I still enjoyed this book especially with the magic system that it had

Sheila Goicea

See my FULL review of this book on my blog along with others at: shesgoingbookcrazy.com



All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.



Content Warning: Arranged Marriage, Abuse (physical and emotional), Graphic Violence (including torture), Cheating, Pregnancy almost leading to a forced Miscarriage
”A wedding is not about lust. It’s about partnership. Alliance. Faith and faithfulness.”
It’s so ironic that this book started out with such a strong sense of pure intentions and girlish hopes then turned out the way it did. I’m not sure what it is with tough books like this, but they completely draw me in. I’ll start out by saying that this book will not be for everyone, and will either be loved or hated for the topics it discusses. It is a hard read, and not the typical happy-go-lucky fantasy novel. Sometimes, a book is worthy of praise simply for the realness that it captures in its characters, and the trials they go through, comfortable or not. The characters here are real, raw, and rememberable.


  World Building


The world in  Reign the Earth is vast and diverse. No matter where the reader is taken, however, there is an aridness about the atmosphere, even if by the sea or in lusher regions. I believe the world itself aided in setting the tone of the entire book--the aridness it portrayed not only mirrored the relationship between Shalia and Calix, but also emphasized the harsh realities that were taking place on all fronts. 

The religious system was an interesting one. The "god" position was shared by Calix, Galen, and Danae of the Bone Lands. Each sibling had their own role to play. 
”My father said the Three-Faced God had told him that his three children were the God Made Human. That we would be the most powerful rulers the Bone Lands had ever seen.” She held out her hands in a triangle, pointing one of the ends at me. “With three faces, you can only ever see two, at the very most,” she told me. “The third will always be hidden. Calix, he is the face of truth and justice. Galen is the face of honor and strength. And I am the hidden face, the piece that separates honor and truth, and also binds them together always.”
While I’m not sure if it was supposed to reflect either positively or negatively (or if at all) on the Holy Trinity in the Bible, I personally feel that it stood apart from it. The fact that a man declared his children the god-made-flesh was a ploy for power. None of the three had actual powers, they were simply powerful in specific characteristics. 


  Pacing & Readability


The pacing of this book is consistently moderate and increases the closer it gets to the end. Due to the nature of its content, I could see how it could affect its overall readability, as the tone is dark and heavy at times. Personally, that aspect did not bring me pause and actually made me more eager to know what would happen next. The beautiful writing and description also made this read very enjoyable.


  Point-Of-View & Characters


Shalia serves as the main character and protagonist, and the story is told from her perspective. Shalia's character is rather complex--so complex in fact, that it was aggravating at some periods. While she starts out with the mentality of a young girl, her maturity rapidly shows, as she learns through difficult situations how to handle herself, and to make the right decisions. In order to do so, Shalia's character goes through immense stages of change.
"You're a daughter of the desert, Shalia. You have always had the ability to pierce and sting."
The biggest struggle Shalia faces is standing up for herself. For the majority of the story, she seems rather passive, especially in regards to her husband's character. She does try to influence Calix by her meekness, but in the end, it simply isn't enough to turn his focus inward on the parts in himself that he needed to address.
"My hands rested over my stomach. I couldn't feel her in there yet, but I knew in that moment she would never be raised by Calix." 
The biggest event which took place that changed Shalia's perspective and tactics was when she discovered that she was pregnant. During this time, Calix became more erratic and abusive towards her. 
"I went from being a sister and a daughter to a wife, a guarded queen. I have little idea what my life will be like if I'm free from Calix, but I don't want to be something you protect. I won't teach my daughter that her only choice is to be sheltered by the men around her. I want to stand beside you...I want to learn to fight with you."
I think Shalia's character is an unusual one in YA today. Instead of being the "all guns blazing" superwoman trope, her meekness is what made her stand out to me. Her words and actions spoke louder than her physical capabilities. While she did have bouts of passiveness, she took action when necessary, and when she was able. 

Calix is a piece of work. He is the manipulative and power-hungry antagonist, who thinks he is superior to all. I'm not sure if I can blame him entirely for his character, seeing how he was conditioned his entire life to believe himself to be above others. But it doesn't excuse his actions and reactions towards Shalia and the other people he torments.
"Your heart is soft, and that is good and right, wife. But mine cannot be. More important than love, than grief, more important than anything is power."
Discussing his relationship with Shalia in particular, he is one of the worst types of villains. He uses emotional manipulation to get what he wants and damages Shalia tremendously in doing so. 

Galen, Calix's brother remains quite a mystery. While small chunks of his personality are revealed, I never got a good sense of him or is true nature. I wasn't a fan of the way his and Shalia's relationship played out in the end. (view spoiler)[ I'm not a fan of cheating, no matter the circumstances. (hide spoiler)] Despite that fact, I'd like to know more about him in the sequel(s) to come. 

Danae, Calix's sister, also serves as a partial antagonist. While her character is the least-developed of the three siblings, she becomes an encourager to Shalia during though periods in her marriage to Calix. Without the sisterly love of Danae, I think Shalia really would have struggled. 

There are many other characters throughout this book, but I thought these were the main ones to discuss in more detail.


  Major Themes


⇒ Face-value vs. Reality

In the opening of this story, when Shalia is on her way to meet her husband for the first time, she inwardly hopes that he is attractive. Despite the vanity of the thought, she gets what she hopes for, only to realize that beauty on the outside doesn’t mean beauty exists within. It's a valuable theme to focus on as beauty is monotonized on in today's culture. It teaches everyone that beauty is better, and the internal parts of ourselves can be covered up and ignored if beauty is present externally.

⇒ Steadfastness

Represented specifically by Shalia, steadfastness is a key quality in her character. While she was seemingly passive at times when she could have stepped forward, I think she actually made the more difficult choice with not stopping what was going on (specifically with Calix). She tried so very hard and sacrificed everything to keep the peace between the clansmen and her husband’s people. However, it costs her. This is the ugly truth about sacrifice sometimes--it’s painful, and it doesn’t always end in the way we hope or envision. But it’s necessary in order to try and make a situation better for others. This was what made me appreciate Shalia’s character so much. Too often are characters met with “challenges” that aren’t really challenges. They have simple solutions and take little effort to overcome. Shalia's situation reflects what many people go through in real life, and I think she could be an encouraging figure to have in this genre. 

⇒ Power

Power was a massive theme. It existed on multiple fronts; men over women (no matter the connection), leader over civilian, a people group over another. It is this desire for power on Calix's part that transforms him into a being capable of doing anything to another person in order to get what he wants.
”Ruling cannot be about emotion, my sweet. It has to be about power and control. Always.” 
“True power does not force others to make themselves smaller,”I told him. Anger simmered in his eyes.
“No, wife. You’re wrong.”
This theme is represented well, as it shows how dangerous and degenerative seeking power can be.

⇒ Abuse

While it's not a nice topic to discuss, abuse is very real. Several forms of abuse are represented throughout  Reign the Earth and show how terrible of a thing it is.


  Overall Feelings


Things that I liked:

⇒ Shalia’s depth of character, especially her steadfastness. 
⇒ The world building, and how well it reflected everything else developing throughout the story.
⇒ The use of elementals. 

Things that I didn’t like:

⇒ Calix. Pure and simple. He was a "perfect" antagonist. 
⇒ The pacing towards the middle slowed down a bit, but I didn’t notice it too much. The beginning and end made up for this deviation in my opinion.
⇒ I felt that the Trifectate needed a lot more explanation surrounding it. While the general idea was explained, I wanted to dig deeper into their role in society.
⇒ The fantasy element of this book takes a backseat to the main story. I would have liked to see more representation of the elementals throughout.

Due to the nature of this book, I would definitely caution young adult readers before picking it up. I personally believe this to be better suited for the New Adult genre, as the topics discussed don't really reflect that of the life of an average teen. Overall, I believe this book has a lot to offer the reader. It's real, it's emotionally charged, it's challenging, and it's beautifully written. I'm thoroughly looking forward to the next installment in this series. 

Vulgarity: 26 words total (based on the eARC I read - this may differ from the published book.)
Sexual content: Moderate to a lot. While nothing is graphically explained, there are a lot of “bedroom scenes.” This also was an area where a lot of content could trigger some uncomfortable feelings for the reader.
Violence: Moderate to quite a bit. There are scenes of torture and some graphic material here and there.

My Rating: ★★★★★

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Paige Green

Rating: 4/5

Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual violence and rape, infant/child/fetus death, abuse)

Pages: 448

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Amazon

I received a free copy of this arc in exchange for promotion and review from Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing. Thank you so much for allowing me to participate in this endeavor.

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for an end to the violence that has claimed so many of their loved ones. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bone Lands, a country where magic is outlawed and the Elementae--those that can control earth, air, fire and water--are traitors, subject to torture . . . or worse.
Before she is even crowned, Shalia discovers that she can bend the earth to her will. Trapped between her husband's irrational hatred of the Elementae and a dangerous rebellion led by her own brother, Shalia must harness her power and make an impossible choice: save her family, save the Elementae, or save herself. – Amazon.com


Welcome to the new year and with a new year comes a new book review! My first book review of 2018 will be this book which for the most part I absolutely loved. I thought this book was a very high action book and also a very emotionally taxing book. The book did very well with character development (for the most part) and the plot and pacing kept the book interesting and moving well. I also want to appluad the book for showing a realistic view of what an abusive relationship looks like. I studied this area and I volunteered at a rape crisis center and I can tell you that there is a cycle of violence with abuse. Relationships will start off great and then slowly there will be little things that will annoy one of the partners. Eventually there is a break in which violence will occur. Afterwards, the offending partner will make amends with the victim and the victim will more than likely take them back. Then the cycle starts again. This is why it is so hard for abuse victims to leave their situations, because there is a honeymoon period in which things are amazing and great and the offending partner sometimes goes above and beyond in giving the victim what they truly desire, but it’s all a psychological game. If you condition a person to live in a certain element, they will do it. And that’s what an abuser does, they condition their victims to live in a certain way and to accept less than what they deserve. This is what this book does really well in my opinion. It will really show young girls what an abusive realtionship looks like and give you a character that while is strong can still fall into this cycle of violence.

However, I did feel like this book had a very awkward beginning and ending. The mechanics of the magic and the world are not very well established in the beginning which makes for a trying read. The whole of the magic really isn’t explained until towards the end and even then I’m still left confused by the book. I also had issues with the ending as it just kind of ended. It’s hard to explain, but it didn’t feel like a natural ending. I also though there were some character development issues, especially with the main’s family, and there were some plot issues in the book that will hopefully be resolved in the next one.

Verdict: This is an amazingly powerful and moving read and I greatly enjoyed the book. I felt like it could have been a bit more polished in places, but overall I enjoyed the world presented in this book. If you’re looking for a good 2018 release, this one comes out on 1/30! Go check it out!

Corrie White 

And there are moments when he's kind to me, or thoughtful, and I feel something like hope - but I hate those moments more than anything, because they mean that I am beginning to mistake the absence of cruelty for love"

Holy shit where do I even begin. I fucking loved this novel. I definitely had a few issues with it, and will preface this with a huge trigger warning for non-consensual sex/touch, mental/physical abuse and(view spoiler)[ a pregnancy that results from said non-con that leads to an at the time believed miscarriage and all the emotion that follows that (hide spoiler)]. I loved the main character, the side characters, and absolutely HATED the villain (kudos to the author for making an absolutely malicious vile man believable and all the more terrifying). The forbidden romance was amazing (and is one of my favourite tropes), and I liked how the governmental system forced certain characters to do things they didn't want to in order to keep the peace. Overall I gave this book 4.5 stars.

Pros.

Main Character. I am absolutely in love with this stunning main character. Shalia was so strong in the face of such adversity and hardship. What she was willing to give up in herself to protect her family and her friends. She was strong, but also vulnerable. Forgiving but also menacing. To take such experiences and learn from them, to find her voice, and her womanhood, was absolutely amazing to watch. What a lovely diverse female main character that I cannot wait to read more from in the next book.

Side Characters. Could there be a better ensemble cast in a book? No. I didn't think so. Kata was just a pleasure to read about, and her strong friendship with Shalia warmed my heart. We don't see enough female/female friendships in novels without misrepresenting what a true friendship looks like. In fact, Shalia's experiences with Iona, Adria, Danae, and others were just lovely to read about. Zeph. Just, what a loveable ferocious teddy bear. Theron was absolutely fantastic too. Their protection and love of a new Queen was awesome. (view spoiler)[ Actually one of the issues I did have with the novel surrounded Theron's characterization. We are given absolutely no reason why he would turn on Shalia and Zeph to fight along side Calix. He always seemed to be more protective of her, especially when Calix would become violent.  (hide spoiler)] Galen. Oh my god what a precious human being. It takes a lot for me to fangirl over new potential book love but he stole my heart from the second he accidentally removed Shalia's veil. An absolute treasure in what is arguably an extremely dark novel with very little reprieve from violence and death. I am also in love with Shalia's family. Rian and Kairos in particular. Their brotherly affection is so genuine, I could feel the love through the pages.

Calix. I have nothing to say about this motherfucker. Just... fuck you.

Forbidden Romance. This romance, mixed in with the plot twists in this novel. Just. *heart eyes*.

Cons.

The Elementae. For a novel about an intricate magic system, I felt disappointed we didn't get much in terms of an explanation about these powers. I understand a lot of that information died when Kata's family and the Islanders themselves were eradicated, but we don't see much or understand why Shalia has these powers, why they existed in the first place. It almost existed as a plot device only and not as a necessary thread tying the novel together. I am assuming, and hoping, we get much more detail in the next book.

Repetitive Writing. *she took a breath* *She hugged her knees* *he kissed her head*. After a while this started to get really irritating and I could pick it up multiple times on a page. There have got to be other ways of briefly showing affection.

LGBT Issues. When the reader is told about a situation involving two females, I did enjoy that Shalia's home recognized and accepted the union. But when you find out that the Trifectorate does not, we do not hear anything else about it. If you're going to explore LGBT issues in an oppressed society it should not be done just to tick off a YA trope box. With the way Gaughen explored other issues so well (the not romanticizing abuse), this could have been done better.

Lysh (She/Her)

DNF at 21%. Not enjoying the writing style. Not emotionally connected to the MC. The MC is BIPOC and author is not, which is really obvious in the representation. The main love interest is physically and emotionally abusive. There are no trigger warnings for this.

I'm really hoping the rest of the series fixes these confronting issues, but I'm not planning to stick around and find out. Overall, not for me.

Ashlee

4.25 stars - View review at my blog, Library in the Country

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reign the Earth is a dark, gritty, story of perseverance and taking control of your own destiny.


  "I was not poor. I was not alone, or broken, or hungry.
Their blessings had carried me through every challenge and horror I had faced; in truth, I had never left the desert at all ..."


I'd like to start this review by mentioning that this book has received some negative attention for its representation of intense and possibly triggering themes, such as arranged marriage, unwanted physical advances, emotional and physical abuse, and more. The author does NOT romanticize these subplots. However, if these are themes you are uncomfortable reading about, this may not be the book for you. That said, I had read other reviews before going into this and expected this book to be an extreme emotional rollercoaster. Instead, I came out feeling empowered by Shalia's story and am looking forward to what happens next. It is all a matter of opinion, but I did not feel as though the themes in this book were as graphic or inciting as others have felt. Again, a matter of opinion! I'm glad I chose to look past the reviews and give this book a shot. It's hard to talk about this book without giving some information on what happens, so the next few paragraphs may read a bit like a book report while I touch on some of the important aspects of this story.

This story follows Shalia, daughter of a desert clan threatened by war with the mighty Trifectate empire. Shalia is no stranger to misery. Having already lost family to this bloody battle and fearful more of her family will side with the rebellion, she is desperate to find a way to broker peace between the factions at play. Shalia agrees to an arranged marriage with Calix, King of the Trifectate. Immediately, I was impressed by Shalia's choice. Let me clarify: Shalia is not FORCED into arranged marriage. Instead, she chooses to offer her hand in exchange for a deal between the desert and the empire.

From the start, it is clear that the most important thing in Shalia's life is her family and she has a loving one at that. However, upon her somewhat untraditional marriage to Calix, Shalia is whisked away to the Tri City, seemingly alone, if not for the wits of her brother, Kairos, who finds a way to accompany her to her new home. I really loved Shalia's brothers that we got to know, Kairos and Rian are both fierce in their love for the desert, it's traditions and Shalia. I mean, who wouldn't want big brothers like these two?

In her new home, Shalia tries to find her place in her new role as Queen - who will she be to the people, to the political factions, to her husband? As they spend time together, Shalia tries to uncover the person Calix is, what his motivations are, if he truly cares for her and if she can come to care for him. On the other hand, Shalia comes to find herself caring for Galen, Calix's younger brother. After a faux pas during her marriage ceremony with Calix, Shalia feels herself inexplicably tethered to Galen in ways she cannot explain.

To make matters worse, Shalia believes she may be harboring the very magic her husband is fighting to destroy. Unwilling to run from the deal she made to establish stability in the region, Shalia attempts to control her new abilities while also hiding it from the prying eyes around her. For if she is discovered, it won't just guarantee her own death, but also forfeit the lives of her family and war will continue to rage.

This story is the type to bring you to your knees while simultaneously raising you from the ashes. There is mystery and intrigue. There is violence and tragedy. However, there is also love and lighthearted, humorous moments that bridged those gaps well. I really enjoyed some of the banter Kairos, Zeph and Theron brought to the table. Their characters constantly left me smiling. Every exchange Shalia has with Galen and Danae left me hopeful that loyalties can change. Every time Shalia voiced her opinion or stood against Calix left me feeling encouraged that she would endure, even in the darkest of times. And every time Shalia remembered the desert made me want to feel the sand between my toes.

I could continue to talk at length about this book - but then you'd get bored and I'd probably spoil it for you. Overall, it had good world building, believable character development and EARTH MAGIC! The elemental magic system is interesting, though not unique, but the focus on earth magic being most rare and coveted was a welcome development. The action really picks up in the second half and the atmosphere becomes increasingly foreboding as the threat of something to come looms near. I felt pretty pleased with where this ends. There is a pretty major plot twist near the end that made me very happy and I kind of scoffed at myself that I hadn't considered its possibility, but its so good and gives me hope for the future of this story! This is one I certainly plan to continue and definitely recommend it.

madie anne 

Macy Johnson

With powerful magic that manipulates the natural world, dangerously cunning royalty, and heart-stopping romance, this new sweeping fantasy series is perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir. "Another fantasy romance in the vein of books by Sabaa Tahir, Renee Ahdieh. . . . Shalia matures from a frightened girl in a foreign land to a woman unwilling to allow her destiny or desires to be controlled by the men around her." - School Library Journal "I will be thinking about Shalia's strength and fearlessness (and swooning over the slow-burn romance) as I anxiously await book two!" - Erin Bowman, author of Vengeance Road Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for an end to the violence that has claimed so many of their loved ones. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bone Lands, a country where magic is outlawed and the Elementae--those that can control earth, air, fire and water--are traitors, subject to torture . . . or worse. Before she is even crowned, Shalia discovers that she can bend the earth to her will. Trapped between her husband's irrational hatred of the Elementae and a dangerous rebellion led by her own brother, Shalia must harness her power and make an impossible choice: save her family, save the Elementae, or save herself.

Reign the Earth

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