Scalechaser has beautiful world building. It has an intriguing plot line that really held my attention and kept me compelled to read on. I really cared about the charecters and felt for their plights. Overall, Scalechaser has great writing. While it is a YA story, it held my adult attention start to finish and left me wanting more from this rich world. I would highly recommend to any YA reader interested in a well flushed out and artfully built fantasy world.

Reviewed on Good Reads

"Scalechaser" marks the beginning of the Wish Wielder Bonds series, thrusting readers into an action-packed narrative centered around Gage, a wish wielder, and Whitetail, heir of Jacovan and a Solenvian.

The premise of this book is so different to anything I’ve read before! It is filled with action, heartfelt moments, betrayal and a heartwarming love story. The inclusion of a main character with a disability was also a breath of fresh air.

I did however find that the swift introduction of numerous characters initially posed a challenge, but the standout portrayals of Gage, Whitetail, and Hayden brought depth to the story. While the dual point-of-view was enjoyable, clear indications of whose perspective we were following at the start of each chapter would have enhanced the reading experience.

Despite the abundance of action, the book also delves into emotional moments, albeit some felt underdeveloped due to certain characters receiving limited page time. While the narrative held many twists and turns, a pivotal revelation around 70% into the story provided much-needed clarity, albeit after moments of confusion.

However, a desire for deeper worldbuilding lingered throughout. While the basics were comprehensible, fully immersing oneself in the world proved challenging at times. Hopefully this is something that will be built on throughout the series. Understanding the intricate magic system required considerable effort, detracting from the overall enjoyment. I’ve done a short summary below - this doesn’t contain any spoilers to the book.

In this universe, people petition the Jacovan heirs for their wishes. The heirs can only grant one wish in their lifetime, which also allows them to leave Solenvale by crossing Bane’s barrier. If unfulfilled, they face enslavement or council service. As part of the wish granting, the heir and the wishwielder become bonded and a crystal holds a small piece of each of their souls. To keep the wish active, the wishwielders have to drink Rukasai, liquid magic, otherwise the benefits of the wish fade.

Overall, "Scalechaser" offers a good start to the series, with great characters and blending action with emotional depth, albeit hindered by occasional confusion and a longing for more expansive worldbuilding.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a strong start to the Wish Wielder Bonds series, it had everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed the overall concept of this book. The romance element was what I was looking for and felt like a realistic concept perfectly. The characters were everything that I was looking for and thought the world worked well. It left me wanting to read more in this series.

I cannot stop thinking about this story! Gage is an incredible character faced with an insane situation. He's lied to, betrayed, and heartbroken and somehow still manages to push through it. I read this book in less and 2 days. I recommend this to anyone and everyone. I'll be keeping my eye out for the next story in this world of fantasy.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Scalechaser" by A.R. Stonecypher is a very creative fantasy book with a unique magic system, curses, and the enduring quest for redemption and truth. Set in a world where ancient prophecies and mystical forces hold sway, the story follows the journeys of Gage Aymeris and Whitetail as they navigate a landscape fraught with danger and dark secrets. While this book is advertised as a YA fantasy, the writing style does make it more of a younger YA book or even MG, so this book would be perfect for those readers while older YA readers may not engage as much with the material.

Stonecypher's writing is straightforward yet immersive, drawing you into a richly detailed world filled with Solenvian terminology that adds depth to the story. A unique fantasy world requires depth and description when created in order to fully understand the world, and Stonecypher definitely achieved that with the book. I absolutely loved the setting and the atmosphere that Stonecypher created as I felt like I was a part of the world as I was reading. While the plot initially unfolds at a slower pace which can make it a little more difficult to get fully invested in the plot, the gradual buildup of tension keeps you engaged throughout.

The magic system in the story is unique and intriguing, with cursed individuals possessing the ability to grant wishes in exchange for a soul-binding connection. At first, I did find the magic system to be a bit confusing, especially with the terminology that is introduced right from the beginning as well as some info-dumping throughout. Some more reluctant readers might find this difficult to engage with and understand, but the gradual exposition throughout the story serves to enhance the sense of mystery and intrigue, and I did find myself fully understanding the magic system as the plot progressed and I found myself more comfortable in the world that Stonecypher created.

The characters are well-developed and compelling, with Gage and Whitetail's complex relationship driving the story forward. I really enjoyed the character writing in this book, especially with Gage as he navigated the story with his disability. The inclusion of diverse characters adds depth and authenticity to the story. The characters were infused with emotion, personality, and charm, making them relatable and endearing to readers.

Overall, "Scalechaser" is an entertaining and immersive fantasy adventure that promises a richly developed world, compelling characters, and a captivating storyline. Fans of fantasy fiction, mainly younger YA readers or MG readers, will find much to enjoy in Stonecypher’s debut novel.

Let me just say I am giving this one 4 stars because I honestly feel like it deserves it despite the fact that I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it because it’s a ME thing. I was expecting a YA fantasy. This reads more like a children’s fantasy. For a predominant romance reader such as myself, this is a MAJOR difference.

The plot is engaging and really interesting. Gage is blind and becomes a wish wielder in exchange for sight. He is bonded to Whitetail, who granted his wish and who is cursed. Like others have mentioned, you are thrown into the world and bombarded with info for the first half. It’s a bit confusing but it eventually makes sense.

That’s all I’m saying. I feel like I would do this book an injustice because of my preferences. If this were at least a ya fantasy story with a heavier romance, I would’ve loved it. So definitely take a chance on this one if you like little to no romance.

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

Scalechaser is a MPOV following Whitetail and Gage. Whitetail is a magic granter of sorts, but is also holds a monster inside. Gage is known as a wish wielder, someone whom has approached the counsel of magic and had his wish granted - with conditions. On their separate journeys, their paths collide and what once was thought to be truth is discovered to be lies. Now they must work together to finish the dying wish of another.

** Reading further contains spoilers **

I will be honest, I have a lot of issues with this book, but overall, enjoyed it. Looking through my MS/HS students eyes, I think they would enjoy it too. First off, the cover. I thought this was a graphic novel at first. The illustration just lends itself to that, but I knew it was a novel after looking at the tags. Second, I had trouble with some of the world building or magic wielding, you are thrown into the wish wielding counsel without knowing what goes before it. It is cool to "see it" through a blind characters "eyes," but hard to follow how the magic works and what Gage presented to have his wish granted. Then you meet one of the main sisters, who loves and kills her sister, but you never really experience their feelings (or lack there of) with each other that I don't really care nor feel anything for the sister that was killed. Thirdly, Gage's blindness and ability to see is cool, I like it. Yet, there are scenes when there is too much description from "seeing through" a blind mans eyes - especially when he is going through withdrawals from the magic they drink to keep their powers. Fourth, there are so many new creatures that are hard to even imagine. I feel like there should be some torn out pages of Whitetails creature anthology with illustrations to help me visualize it. Lastly, Whitetails and Gage's infatuations morph into something more too quickly - boarding the insta-love, which I am never really a fan of. I think there might be more there, but I will not know until book 2 (which yes I will read!)

**Spoiler over**

Again, I still really enjoyed it! I thought it had a lot of potential, just felt it could have been drawn out a little more in some places to get some more connection with the characters; at times they felt very flat. If I can find a copy for my library in Norway, I will try. Will gladly put it on my reads and share it with my students.

Thank you Netgalley and A. R. Stonecypher for giving me access to this ARC.

"Scalechaser" by A.R. Stonecypher is a spellbinding narrative that intertwines themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Set in a world where curses and ancient prophecies loom large, the story follows the intertwined fates of Gage Aymeris and Whitetail as they navigate treacherous paths fraught with danger and dark secrets.

At the heart of the narrative lies Gage, a young man blinded by fate's cruel hand, who seeks to regain his sight by striking a bargain with the nomads of the south. His soul becomes bound to Whitetail, a fierce and determined woman whose lineage is plagued by a generational curse. Their alliance sets forth a journey rife with challenges and revelations, as they confront the shadows of their pasts and the uncertain future that lies ahead.

Stonecypher masterfully crafts a world filled with palpable tension and intrigue, drawing readers into a landscape where every step is fraught with peril. Whitetail's quest for vengeance against the beast that claimed her sister's life propels her forward, driving her to confront her deepest fears and confront the darkness that threatens to consume her.

As Gage and Whitetail's paths converge, the layers of mystery surrounding their intertwined destinies begin to unravel, revealing startling truths that force Gage to question the very essence of his journey. With each twist and turn, Stonecypher skillfully builds suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they journey alongside Gage and Whitetail.