The plot is great. There are times I get confused with magic and language but there are explanations for it. I love that it wasn't cliche. That it wasn't about Liris have this greatest power in the world that makes her special but because she is a scholar. The romance is also cute. Most fantasy romance books tends to focus more on romance but this book gave a balance between the two genres.

This one was difficult for me - the pacing was off at the beginning and made it heard to get into it. However, I did love the characters and the world/plot. I will be holding out to see the next one in the series.

Received this ARC from Netgalley.

This book opened up to be an epic dark academia fantasy. I loved to see FMCs that are intellectually gifted and academically inclined. Specially with the introduction and inclusion of language into the magic system. The world seemed so interesting and full of promise. I would have loved a map and pronunciation guides because I changed the pronunciation of a side character, Inealuwor, at least three times.

Sometimes the writing did become overly analytical and overly descriptive where I had to go back and re-read pages at least three times. I found myself often just glancing through the words and not really reading them.

Additionally, I didn't feel as connected to Liris as much as I would like nor invested in Vhannor since he fell towards the background. I honestly was intrigued by the side characters but again, they were left in the shadows of Vhann's and Liris' constant back and forth about their power balance. I would love to learn more about Nysia! Additionally, I couldn't even hate the villains because...I still don't fully understand why they are doing the things that they are doing...

The romance was okay for the most part. It felt rushed. Where they just knew each other to then suddenly in love and ready to ride into the sunset. I did like their witty banter. They were just two nerds. It hardly had spice, it was mostly towards the end, and it was a bit awkward. But not horrific.

Overall, this world has so much potential. I feel the author needs to work more on really developing that expansion which includes side characters as well as take her time to really thinking through how to explain certain aspects of it, so it doesn't get overly verbose, which I see a risk of this happening.

I really tried to like this book sadly I just didn't related I think it did everything to be good since it had demons, portals, magic, realms but for me at some point everything just got very confusing

I just want to wrap myself up in this story and squee.

Now, I don't think I would want to live in the world of the Sundered Realms - it's post-magical apocalypse, where the many realms have been sundered into separate dimensions and demons live in the in-between void. But I enjoyed this book from practically the first page.

Our heroine Liris is a compelling blend of beautifully educated and extremely sheltered. She once made the mistake of advocating for change, and as a result has been trapped forever training as an ambassador-spy while her peers and juniors are sent out on assignment. Her superpower is her mind - pattern recognition and language learning - rather than a secret power from mysterious magical heritage. I loved that her training allows her (and by extension, us the reader) to understand the nuances behind every minuscule action and word choice, adding a depth and richness to every interaction.

The hero is a little more enigmatic - Lord Vhannor is rich, powerful, and a perfect complement to Liris. In fact, the book is stuffed with interesting side characters and I'm deeply hopeful that we will get to see more of each of them - even the villain!

Overall, I really enjoyed a story that celebrated scholarship in a fast-paced quest through the realms to stop demons from destroying everything. I'd knock a half-star off for a climax stuffed with magibabble that got a little hard to follow, but I'll definitely be looking out for the next one!

I was very excited to see a new book series started by Casey Blair. I have read her Tea Shop series and completely loved it. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Sundered Realms. My biggest complaint was that it seemed ever chapter had to have a disagreement between our main characters that went "I don't want you to do this because I think you are only doing this because I want you to do it." followed by "But I want to do it because *I* want to do it!" This first three times was fine but every iteration after that made me want to throw the book across the room. I loved the concept of a super obscure language being helpful in spell casting and the underlying idea of the sundered realms, but I did not like the interactions of the characters or the dialog.

3.5/5🌟
Received an eARC from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange of honest review. The opinion here is my own, freely and honestly given.

It was really hards to focus at the beginning on what exactly is going on. Too slow paced. Too much explanations that don’t give any particular insight why certain things are happening- for example why demons are appearing . Or more information on the void. As well the magic system could be a bit better explained.
I was getting lost in the explanations and on many occasions I had to go back and reread what was happening so I am again on track.
The world building is extensive and this book can benefit from a map. It will be much easier to follow Liris and Vhannor around if you can better understand and picture it where exactly they were going.
All in all it is a nice romantasy book and I will be waiting for the next one - maybe there the things left unexplained here will become clearer.

This book was a bit hard to understand at first, but I was so impressed with the magic system. It's quite complex, but that's what makes it so different.

There is a lot of political intrigue and the FMC was educated as an ambassador, but soon she discovers that the world is much more than she learn. And soon the demons will become a problem and she will be faced with many challenges, but there will be help along the way. The romance is quite sweet and not too fast paced.

I don't think this book is for everyone, but it surely deserves a try

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for my opinion

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
🌶️.5 spice

What to Expect:
Unique magic system
Snarky banter
Master x apprentice / teacher x student romance
Forced proximity
FMC with a sheltered past

This series had a delicious level of complexity - I was immediately captivated by the rich world building. The universe was incredibly interesting, the politics were fraught and the magic system was so layered and unique, I haven't come across anything like it before.

Man was I desperado for a map though!! Throw in a pronunciation guide, and even an overview on how the magic system works and you'd be living. Potentially there's a map included in the physical copy of the book and not the ebook, but it honestly would have made a huge difference to the reading experience.

Both main characters were authentic and relatable. I loved that Liris came across somewhat socially awkward, despite clearly being a witty conversationalist and intellectually superior to other characters she interacts with. She's a booksmart recluse, albeit not by choice, and that came across through her abruptness, particularly with Vhann. This might sound crazy given there's no spice until right near the end, but I wish they had more of a slow burn. One minute they're acquaintances and the next they're talking about getting married. The sex conversations were uncomfortable which did kind of make them funny, but weren't all that flirty. I felt weird about it, I don't know how else to put it.

There were some great side characters introduced, I wished there had been more time spent developing both side and main characters in more depth. Vhannor didn't get much of a look in outside of some brief mentions of his family, and although I loved the way he left Liris space to take the lead, he very much blended into the background more than I would have liked for an MMC.

Sometimes it was really hard to figure out what was going on, I had to re-read pages of dialogue or descriptions trying to sort it out but was still left scratching my head. It left me feeling like...is it me? Am I stupid? It wasn't just action scenes, but whole conversations I was trying to get through, trying to read between the lines or reinterpret the tone, but still coming up empty.

I also found it really hard to picture the act of dispelling - was she writing? But also she was dancing? or did she speak to dispell? V confused. Would have loved a very graphic description of what was going on during those scenes, or maybe I missed something altogether. The ending was so hard to decipher, I honestly could not follow it so I couldn't tell you exactly what happened, so it left me feeling somewhat unfulfilled. The demons are super dangerous but then just seem to float around? Either it was all very inconsistent or we just missed that action in favour of focusing on Liris the whole time.

Overall this book had so much potential, but left me wanting more or just a final editing round with some extrapolation in parts so it was cohesive and clearer to follow. I'd still read the rest of the series out of interest for the unique plot and strong characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author and publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book to review.!

This book is an epic fantasy with a romance storyline. I really enjoyed the romance between Liris and Vhannor the way it was written throughout the book worked well for me. The book was a bit slow to start, with a bit too many details of things that didn't necessarily matter as much to get the storyline. The second half of the book is where the story really picked up.

Definitely give this book a read as it is on the shorter end, and I hope you enjoy it as I did.

Unfortunately this one is a DNF for me. The story was structured in a way that made it hard to get into and it felt kind of flat.

Thank you for the opportunity though!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

The Sundered Realms was a very unique read with spellcasters, ambassadors, assassins, demon servants, etc. The characters were likable and the world building and magic system is unique. However, the first 2 chapters were sooooo confusing I kept having to pause to remember what the heck was going on. There was a huge plot jump between chapters 1 and 2 that threw me for a loop but eventually some questions were answered. I think the world building and the whole linguistic aspect was too complicated for me personally to understand but I know others will appreciate it more.

The way Liris and Vhannor's minds work is incredible. Liris, an ambitious genius and also a chronic overthinker/overanalyzer, always thinks everything is a test until she finally learns otherwise. Vhannor is so thoughtful and level-headed and I think him and Liris make an excellent duo. In terms of romance, I wish it was more of a slow burn. It felt too close to insta-love on Liris' part but still enjoyable watching them navigate their budding partnership at first.

Overall, I think it was a good read but it's definitely not for everyone. It definitely takes more brain power to get through this book.

The Sundered Realms by Casey Blair

Oh, wow! I was hooked by this book from page one and stayed up reading the first night until 3 am!

I loved the banter between the two strong willed, flawed but fundamentally good main characters. The world building was unique and built up over time, but there were a lot of worlds and cultures introduced and I would have liked a bit more depth to them.

Laris has studied and trained her whole life sequestered away, never allowed to really use her talents until one day she is called to assist a demon servant who will most likely use her knowledge and abilities to open an invincible portal from the demon world to all the other worlds. Seeing the disaster and injustice her talents might be used for, she determines to resist and she flees.

Lord Vhannor is a master spellcaster and the head of a demon hunting agency in the world where Laris is hiding. He conscripts Laris to help with a mission.

I loved the essential joyful nerdiness of the main characters and their competence. I enjoyed their romance, but there was a touch too much angsty discussion of who’s protecting whom for my taste. However, the epilogue was great and the sneak peek at book 2 has me super excited for that one!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (1.5)

I have to admit, I was quite intrigued by the premise of Casey Blair's "The Sundered Realms" - a unique fantasy world with a compelling magical system and a heroine who is an expert linguist. As someone who loves rich world-building and complex female protagonists, I was eager to dive in. And for the most part, I found the book to be an engaging and well-written adventure.

Blair's prose is undoubtedly strong - she has a real gift for crafting an immersive, evocative atmosphere. The world she's built, with its "Sundered Realms" and the looming threat of demonic forces, is quite fascinating. I was hooked from the very first page. The main character, Liris, is also a compelling protagonist. Her emotional journey, as she grapples with her own detachment and learns to open herself up to connection, was really well-executed.

However, I did find the pacing and world-building to be a bit uneven at times. There were moments where I found myself having to backtrack, trying to remember certain details about the magical system or the political landscape. The world is so rich and complex that I occasionally felt like I was playing catch-up rather than being fully immersed.
The romance between Liris and Vhannor also felt a bit rushed to me. I would have loved to see more of the slow build-up and longing between them before they solidified their relationship. That said, once they did confirm their feelings, the steamy scenes were quite well-done, earning this book a 1.5 on my spice scale.

Overall, "The Sundered Realms" is a solid fantasy debut that left me intrigued to want to continue the series. Fans of complex, character-driven fantasy will likely find a lot to enjoy here, even if the pacing and world-building felt a bit uneven at times. I'm curious to see where Blair takes the story next.

I really enjoyed reading this, it had that feel of fantasy and romance that I was hoping for. The story had a great world-building and did the opening chapter that I wanted. I enjoyed how the action elements were done and that the characters were everything that I was looking for. Casey Blair does a great job in bringing us to this world and can’t wait for more.

I'm having such a hard time with this book, because the other's other books (Sorceress Transcendent & the Tea Princess Chronicles) are some of my all time favorites and I was expecting more of the same and that's not really what this book is. It is far more esoteric - the main character is brilliant and I found myself struggling to make the connections that seemed obvious to Liris. The magic system and world that Blair created is fascinating, but I tend to read more middle/low fantasy (ie I don't really care about the technical aspects of "how it works" I am more here for the plot and characters) so I felt so lost.

These are all personal preferences though and I think someone who love the nitty gritty kind of sci/fi fantasy will love it (I had the same problem with Atlas Six which obviously was not the case for most people). So while this is not my cup of tea, I still await more books from this author in the future.

I think this was a 3 star reading experience, but I am giving it 4 stars for originality/ the unique magic system/ how true the narrative voice stayed to who the main character is supposed to be.

The Sundered Realms was a great first book set up for a new fantasy series and world! The magic system was so unique, and didn't remind me of other fantasies- and that is a good thing! I always get excited for a fantasy (especially a romantic fantasy) that feels fresh and new. I also really appreciated the approach to the power dynamic between Liris (our main character) and the love interest (not saying name to avoid spoilers)- despite there being a huge difference in power difference and experience like most fantasies, the love interest's main priority was getting them on more even footing and making sure Liris was making her own choices. Love that!

Like I said earlier, the narrative voice stayed very true to the main character- a scholar who lived in isolation and studied non stop for most of her life. She is SMART. I love that the narrative felt true to her. HOWEVER, this is where it became a three star reading experience for me- because I felt like a lot of this book went right over my head. I wasn't riding along for the big reveals and working through the problems with Liris (like I think we all prefer in these kinds of books)- I was about 20 steps behind scratching my head, and I had a really hard time picturing the action/ how the magic system work. That was a bit of a bummer for me. I also would have loved a little more chemistry between the main characters and more time spent seeing them get to know each other/ fall in love- and I would also have loved more time spent getting to know the side characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of The Sundered Realms! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed The Sundered Realms and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series. I also think that the core element of this that I loved is going to throw some readers off. At it’s heart, The Sundered Realms is about self determination, and there is a lot of conversation and thinking about what the freedom to choose looks like. As in The Sorceress Transcendent, Casey Blair is Throws two people into a world altering adventure and then spends a great deal of the story concerned with the gentle dynamics of their partnership. I love it. There are battles and political maneuverings, but equally important are the sharing of dumplings and the frequent check-ins to make sure Liris is acting of her own accord and not misplaced obligation.

The Sundered Realms is equal parts epic fantasy and steamy romance in a world where being a huge nerd about language makes you incredibly epic at magic. This is an action-packed story about an interdimensional combat ambassador heroine and the most dangerous man in the universe devoting all his attention to making her unstoppable.

The world Liris is born into was once one connected piece, but in a magical event it was blown apart with magic portals, or gates, connecting the sundered territories. Some territories have more gates than others and this has fueled inequalities among and within the realms. Liris was born into one of the more isolated realms and raised to be an ambassador (or spy), but her teachers have held her back in further isolation because they don’t trust her. Liris, being a very good student, has passed the time learning obscure and dead languages. Which is very convenient, because language and writing is how spells are cast. The action kicks off with Liris’ instructors compelling her to teach a spell caster who works with demons a complex dead language. Liris starts her instruction, and then is able to escape through a secret gate to another realm. Her language nerdery makes her an asset and a target in fighting demons. It’s clear to the reader, even if it isn’t to Liris, that Vhannor falls hard for her quickly. he wants to give her the world and every choice she has been denied. Liris and Vhannor are wonderful adventure nerds in love. They over think everything and have such a hard time believing the other is really offering them everything. It’s a slow burn with some excellent “we might not live through tomorrow” steam.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

With likeable main characters and an interesting world and magic system, this book had great potential. Unfortunately, the pacing and writing style were not for me. While it had some great moments, much of this book was a struggle for me to get through.

Liris has a special, hidden talent that has kept her trapped in her kingdom, where they train elite spies. One day, she is brought in by her Elders to help a mysterious man who seems to be working with the demons and will possibly kill her once she gives him the information he needs. To avoid this, she escapes into a secret portal that leads to another kingdoms. After a year in hiding, she finds herself captive heading to Lord Vhannor. Lord Vhannor is a field castor, who is attempting to dispel demon portals. He finds himself needing Liris’s help since she is able to understand Thyrasel.

As Liris is interested in learning more about spell casting, Vhannor ask if she’ll like to go to the university that he owns. On the way to the university, Vhannor educates her about magic and spells. Even though they only met days before, they seem to trust each other. Once they reach their destination, it decided that Liris will learn to be Vhannor’s partner as a field castor to help figure out what the enemy’s plan involves.

Overall, it’s a good story. Liris is described as a strong, intelligent woman who uses her previous knowledge to become powerful. Vhannor, who is obviously the love interest, worries about her but trusts her enough to let her make her own decisions. I feel like the book was rushed in the beginning and in the end. I hope the next books involves more of the side characters, explanation of the involvement of demons, and would love to see a map of this world.