3.5

Shalia is a daughter of the desert and after years of war she has agreed to marry Calix, the King of the Bone Lands, in order to broker peace for her people. What she learns after the marriage is that Calix, due to a personal vendetta, is bent on destroying any and all Elementae—people with power over the elements—of which Shalia is an Earth elemental.

Still hoping for peace and to quell rumors of a rebellion, Shy works hard to keep her powers hidden all while trying to convince her husband that violence is not the answer. As Shy learns just how deep and twisted her husband’s machinations run, she’ll find respite in her deepening friendship with the Commander of the King’s army—also known as the King’s brother.

When I started Reign the Earth I felt like I had missed a prologue or a novella somewhere. The initial set-up was a bit disjointed for me. The idea of a marriage of convenience—or in this case of marriage for peace—is pretty straightforward. It’s the background on why there needs to be peace in the first place that left me a little baffled at times. I would have indeed loved to have that novella and/or prologue to give me all the details ahead of time. Not only would this have helped in understanding where all the characters were coming from, but it would have made the introduction of the Elementae clearer as well.

I think background information gets a bit muddled because it’s clear from the onset that Reign the Earth is an introduction to Shy and her strengths and struggles, and oh, the struggles. Those who have read A.C. Gaughen’s debut series, Scarlett, will be all too familiar with the hellish trials and tribulations of our main heroine.

Shy’s kind heart and her strength of character in the most devastating of circumstances is what this book really showcases. There’s clear care taken in addressing abuse; especially coercion, abuse of power, and abuse within a consensual relationship. Right now these are topics that are seemingly everywhere in the media which makes Reign the Earth’s publication seems rather timely, and A.C. Gaughen pulls this off, dare I say beautifully. From the onset Shy can see what’s her husband is, even if she doesn’t know all that he’s capable of just yet or she can’t yet fully admit it to herself that he’s a monster. It’s almost unfortunate that I felt like Calix was presented more as a caricature of what a monster should be. As though many of his actions and reactions were purposefully exaggerated to hit home this very idea, when that was completely unnecessary. The most chilling scenes come when least expected, and I think sometimes the over-the-top, maniacal motions took away from those more subtly crafted manipulations.

Reign the Earth could have benefitted more, in my opinion, from omitting the romance. Or have the romance as more of a slow-burn to extend into future books. I wanted Shy to be able to stand on her own a little without being besotted by the King’s brother. Instead, I would have gladly welcomed more emphasis on familial bonds as they are a strong thread throughout the book, especially for Shy. It’s these secondary familial characters and how Shy opens her heart to fit them in her life that really stood out the most for me and what I look forward to continuing the most in the next book.

Despite its darker tone, Reign the Earth gives us a great new strong heroine to root for this year. While the vagueness surrounding the history was irksome, I’m hoping it will become more comprehensible as the series progresses.

This book was exactly the book I needed to help distract me from life. I dove in head first and came out the other side a little less stressed and a little dying for the next book already.

Yes, there were some darker themes than I was prepared for (definite themes of emotional and physical abuse) but man...this is a story about someone who is an overcomer. Someone who didn't let the crap in her life drag her down and did whatever she could to make the world a better place. There was heartache and pain along the way, but man...I loved this story. I loved watching the main characters grow (and my hatred towards Calix knew no bounds). I found myself very attached to them and to their story.

There's a reason AC Gaughen is one of my favorite authors. Man...she can write a book

A fantastic fantasy! This is one spellbinding read. This book has it all; desert magic, elemental power, romance, danger, one incredibly tough heroine, and a shocking twist I never saw coming. This book was worth it's long awaited release. I'm long been a fan of Gaughen's, but I think this may be her best book yet! That's saying something, because her other books are fantastic.

I'm still trying to process this story. Gaughen wrote such a mesmerizing, complex story. Her writing is richly detailed, and easily springs to life on the pages of this book. With it's rich history, memorizing elemental magic, lore, mixed with incredibly world building and characters I absolutely loved getting to know, it wasn't hard to not get sucked into this story. There's definitely a few twists, and a shocking reveal I didn't even except. I loved it. Not to mention there's a villain who is so easy to despise.

The characters are one of my favorite elements of this book. All of them are incredibly detailed and in-depth characters I emotionally felt connected to (except the villain, Calix). I loved Shalia. She is a character my heart broke for, as well as easily cheered on. She is an incredible heroine, and a character I greatly admired. She's fierce, loyal, independent, smart, as well as broken. She's a leader as well as a survivor. I admired her strength and her hope. Even in the situations when all seems lost, she doesn't give up.

To match Shalia's resilience, are some characters I absolutely loved getting to know. Including her friends, her brothers, and Galen. I loved that every character had a purpose in this story. There are some characters who are so easy to love, and some that are so easy to despise. Galen was such a fantastic surprise! He's light to his brother, Calix's darkness.

Talk about a villain who doesn't spare anyone when it comes to his abuse, and his evil reign. Shalia endures much, as does the people she comes to love when it comes to Calix. He is a cringe worthy villain who is probably one of the best written villains I've read in a long time. I do want to mention there are darker themes in this book, including that of emotional abuse. Calix is a ruthless villain, and no-one is spared when it comes to his abuse of power, and evil ways, including Shalia, his siblings, and those he rules over.

This story really does have it all. I felt like the elemental part of this story as well as the setting were such important parts of the story. Instead of just telling the reader about them, Gaughen makes you feel as though you're in the story, witnessing the power of those that wield the elemental power. The setting is so vivid. It's beauty, and hardness all rolled up into one.

Just, WOW! Gaughen has really out done herself with this richly layered story. This book was everything I could have hoped this story would be and so much more. My word, I'm tempted to re-read it again after writing my review. I can not wait to read the next book in this series.

Reign the Earth is the first installment in author A.C. Gaughen's The Elementae series. 17-year old Shalia is a daughter of the desert from the clan known as D'Dragyn. To ensure her families future, she agrees to an arranged marriage to Calix, the king of a neighboring country called Bonelands to keep the peace between the factions. Calix has made it his mission in life to hunt and kill Elementae (people with elemental magic) like Shalia's best friend Kata.

Even though Shalia is warned by her best friend Kata that she herself is an Elementae, the warning is ignored for much of the story. Bad idea. Once her powers which are triggered by her emotions finally do appear, she will have no choice but to accept that her abilities are incredibly powerful. Now, Shalia must walk a delicate balance of deception and hope that she isn't betrayed by anyone which would lead to her death. At the same time, Shalia urges changes in the way things are done from her new husband.

Speaking of whom. Calix is truly the monster made from the myths of the most villainous bad guys ever. One can hate a villain and still love the overall story. This is that story. He truly believes that there is a prophecy that says an
Elementae will one day end his life. The lengths Calix goes to snuff out every single Elementae might be a bit much for younger audiences. The lengths he treats Shalia, at times, is also a bit on the dark side. One can have thoughts and emotions on what Calix puts Shalia through, but facts are this is a different world where men don't see women as their partners but property to be misused and tossed away.

On the other side of the story, there's Shalia's own family for whom she would sacrifice everything to save. Her brother Rain is a member of a rebel faction that continues
to fight against Calix. We don't get a whole lot of Rian; just enough to give you an idea about who he is and who else belongs to the resistance. Thankfully, there are others who do stand by Shalia. I already mentioned Kata who has a command over water and can heal. She is also responsible for a whole lot more which I won't spoil.

The other important secondary character is Shalia's brother Kairos who travels to the Bonelands to help keep her safe. Kairos is a chippy character who I actually liked a whole lot. There's no one going to get in his way of protecting his younger sister. He has no safety net when it comes to how hard he pushes Calix's buttons. Finally, there is Galen, Calix's brother and the commander of his army. Galen will become an important figure when all is said and done. I won't speak a whole lot about Galen. There are some good things, and some things that happen that lead to a seriously twisted cliffhanger ending.

This book may not be for the feint of heart so I am warning you up front. There are unexpectedly dark situations that may not be suitable for younger audiences. There are situations with emotional abuse, physical abuse, torture, violence, and shocking deaths. I often refrain from trigger warnings because they are subliminal ways to shut down freedom of expression. So, here is your only warning. Reader beware.

Enjoyed this book. It was kind of your typical young adult fantasy, and reminded me slightly of The Wrath and the Dawn, but that could just be because the setting was similar. I felt like it was a plot I'd seen before, but I still enjoyed it.

Obligatory Statement: I received an e-arc of this from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Just wow. How can such a pretty book be so dark? Not to steal Reign of the Fallen's  thunder but Reign the Earth takes the cake for a pretty and dark book. (Side note: both of these books are fantastic and feminist and you need to read them!) The synopsis does not do this book justice, as it makes it seem like there is this cute little love triangle and Oh, no she has powers! what is she going to do?! When in reality, it is a book about loving yourself and your family, holding on to your beliefs even when you are told they are wrong, and most importantly never giving up hope.

I am also putting out there a trigger warning for verbal and physical abuse. And these are deep themes within the book and Gaughen writes them with grace but there were some points that it was hard to read. There is also rape in a marriage which I feel is an important topic to discuss in the era of #metoo because even though she kind of consented the first time it was not an enthusiastic yes but more of an "I am only doing this because I know that it is my duty" yes and the other times, her husband, Calix, never really asked for consent as he thought that he could take whatever he desired.

The main antagonist Calix, any of you who if you follow me on my bookstagram will instantly recognize him as the guy I wanted to be trampled by his horse, is one of the worst characters that I have ever read about. He took Umbridge's spot as the second worst character and if you have ever heard me talk about Umbridge then you know that there are no words to describe how much I detest her. He is a cold dictator who needs to understand the difference between love and submission because he has no idea. Gaughen wrote him so well that, like Shalia, even though I knew that he was cruel I was still hoping for him to change and to be better. And then there are his misogynist, homophobic, sexist, racist views as to the world that in turn fuel his narcissist and abusive tendencies. For example, we have this lovely gem:

"What is the Erudium?" [Shalia] asked.

"A temple of learning," [Calix] told me. "Where our young men are educated and our young women are groomed."

"Groomed," [Shalia] repeated.

"Yes," [Calix] said. "Taught in the arts that will serve as wives and mothers. Sewing, how to fix their hair, that sort of thing. We've seen the dangers of overeducating women in other countries - we do make such mistakes in the Trifectate." -pg. 152-153

To which I was like, I am going to throw up.

When you ignore half of the population, you are crippling your country, not making it better. And this was not just one isolated incident, Calix made a variety of comments about how women are lesser and only exist to serve their husbands and to have children. Calix learns that women are not delicate flowers when Shalia proposes that the women work in the grain mill because there are not enough men since they are serving Calix in the army. But that only slightly changes his opinion on women.

Now Shalia on the other hand- she is a fantastic character. In the beginning, I will admit, I questioned if she did, in fact, have a backbone but I continued reading I saw her transform into a queen. Gaughen did a great job with Shalia's power; she can control the Earth which almost unseen in fiction. Now my favorite part is how Gaughen had Shalia use love, instead of the trope I must be angry to use my power, and I think that speaks about Shalia so well. From agreeing to an arranged marriage for peace to trying to change Calix, she did it all out of love. And that made her stronger, which is fantastic because we need more love in this world.

Gaughen manages to create characters I cannot help but either love or hate. This is what marks a great author. Yet, she manages to take it a step further to the point where even her secondary characters are notable and memorable. It is not just Shalia and Calix that make me care; no, there is also Kairos- Shaila’s brother, who is always kind and only wants her to do what is best for her. Or Galen, who is the exact opposite of his brother. He truly cares about Shalia and their people.

One of my complaints about the story was the beginning was confusing as there were a lot of names, like of her family and places, being thrown at me at once and I was getting very confused. It also was not capturing my attention the way that I hoped.  I was thinking about DNF'ing but I managed to find my bearing and I am glad that I pushed through as this was an amazing read.

I received and e-book ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Trigger warning - domestic violence & general violence

Brief Synopsis: Shalia grew up in the desert surrounded by a loving family and wholesome traditions. When war threatens their way of life, Shalia is married to King Calix of the Bone Lands with the promise of peace between the two nations. However, once married Shalia discovers that she has Elementae magic flowing through her veins - the very magic her husband fears & hates. Shalia must learn to overcome her fears and challenge her beliefs, even if this means betraying her husband in the process.

My thoughts: 5/5⭐️
This book was EXCELLENT! It is so well written and has a beautiful balance of taking darker themes and weaving them with messages of hope and love. It is not only a story about family, but of finding your path, challenging your beliefs, and making the best decisions in the worst of situations.
I thought the world and the magic system was unique, complex, and mystical. The author had fantastic descriptions, making me envision the desert and the Bone Lands as if I were there. I thought the setting was believable and aided to the overall plot.
The characters were so thought out and described like actual human beings I know and love in real life. Shalia was a beautiful soul. I loved how realistic she was, despite being set in a fantasy world. Shalia had weaknesses - weaknesses that were not easily overcome and that she still needed to work on by the end of the book. I can't appreciate that bit enough because so often in YA female characters are made to be "strong and independent" and that makes them sometimes unrelatable (as great as it is to see females kicking butt on the reg). I thought Shalia's character arc was well done - she needed to grow in some ways, but still had to jump some hurdles before her story is over. I thought her compassion for others was endearing - she may have struggled accepting her own fate, but she did everything in her power to make others happy and comfortable - and that is an admirable trait. The author also had a way of making me feel every emotion Shalia felt as though I was experiencing them myself. Aside from Shalia, I really loved all of the characters and how deep they were. Despite Calix's hatred and self-righteous attitude, there were times where I truly hoped he would change and get over the past. Even though he was not much of a redeemable character, I enjoyed watching his character on the pages. Galen, Danea, Kairos, and Kata were amazing - i mean, #squadgoals ? I just honestly can't get over how every character we met, even the insignificant side characters, had such an impact on me and on the overall story.
The story also takes a look into politics, the treatment of women, and how power can corrupt those around us. As I have said, A.C. Gaughen has a beautiful way of weaving these darker themes into the book,. It added a depth that some YA books skim over or ignore altogether. Gaughen took a risk, and the result was this complex book with a lot to say about the world we live in today - whether she meant to or not. I personally believe we need more YA books like Reign the Earth - our YA population is smarter than many give them credit for and they're ready for books with deeper meanings.
Overall, I do believe this book has something for everyone, whether you are a teenager, a middle-aged mom, or a 26-year-old (like me ;]).

Shalia is part of a community desperate for a war to be over. In order to ensure her family is safe she becomes Queen of the Bonelands. She realizes her husband Calix is set to destroy all those that can weild the elements. On top of that Shalia begins to have feelings for her husband's brother and holds a power inside her that could get her killed.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is INTENSE. So I feel a *TRIGGER WARNING* is necessary for this story. Abuse and unconsented is a part of this story so I would not recommend if these issues could be difficult for you to read.

You have to give props to Shalia for being an extremely strong lead. She is the definition of badass and hero. The author paints an intense fantasy. Those that can handle dark reads, give this one a go!

4.5 stars. What a wild and brutal ride! This was an excellent start to a fantasy series, and I was immediately drawn into this fantastic world by the gorgeous descriptions. The action is non-stop, and I have strong feelings about so many characters. Some are endearing and others I loathe above all. An arranged marriage for political peace seems like a pretty good start until you understand who the husband and wife really are. The husband is a brutal dictator and the wife is secretly harboring elemental powers. There is tons of political maneuvering and backstabbing.

I have two tiny things that kept this from being a full five stars. First, there are so many deaths that heavily impact the characters but didn’t evoke strong feelings from me. Some of that may be because the plot is carrying things forward and the characters don’t even have time to deal with their grief. Second, the relationship formed towards the end just seems too instant and easy. However, don’t let those things keep you from reading this book. If you like fast-paced, plot-driven stories with tons of political intrigue, then you want to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of “Reign the Earth” by A.C. Gaughen. I loved this book! It was dark and twisted but entirely fantastic. The writing is superb. I was immediately drawn in. The main character is relatable and surprising all at the same time. I plan to buy a copy for the high school library where I work the day the book is published. Those who love romance and fantasy with an edge should add this to their TBR.

On this day, January 18th, 2018, I may be jumping the gun here but I think this may be one of the best, if not THE best, books of 2018. I was kind of iffy with it after reading many other reviews from other bloggers that I follow but I am so glad that I did read this. I think this may be one of my favorites novels of all time. I am not exaggerating. Reading Reign the Earth really sets my standards extremely high for the rest of the year.

There are themes in this novel that I feel should come with a little warning label. The main character, Shalia, is physically and emotionally abused by her husband. One thing that I did not see in others reviews, which in no way makes this right, is that we are in another land. This isn't 21st century this is a different time and place. Once again, that in no way makes it right. Shalia recognizes that she does not deserve to be treated that way. I will leave it at that.

I think Shalia is one of my favorite female leads I have read about in a long time. As I mentioned above, she recognizes she doesn't deserve to be treated the way she is being treated. I would say the author uses implements actions and traits into Shalia that we see in situations similar to hers which is what makes this story so real and emotional. Throughout reading my heart would just ache for the characters and in my opinion, it takes an amazing author to make you feel for your characters.

I definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for a stellar new release in 2018. It will not let you down!

Originally posted on http://fictionistmag.com/

A spoiler-free review:

Before I get into my review, here's a quick and dirty summary: Shalia, who has lived in the desert her whole life, marries a foreigner to foster peace between their countries. Her husband may be handsome, but there is more to him than meets the eye. She travels with him to the capital of the Bone Lands, leaving her precious desert far behind, and tries to make a life for herself while her husband works toward a genocide of all Elementae -- those who can control the elements. Which is even more upsetting when she comes to terms with the fact that she, herself, is a very untrained and unstable Elementae.

Okay, so obviously the cover of this book is gorgeous and the summary piqued my interest. I've been wanting to read this ever since I was sent a copy on NetGalley, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. I read a few chapters here and there at first, but last night I was about 20% done with the book... and by 5:00 a.m., I was 100% done, because I literally could not put the book down until I finished it. That's how good it was.

This book was skillfully and thoughtfully plotted; it had enough action in the first half to keep you invested, but the climax (let's call it the Big Thing, since I'm doing a spoiler-free review) was still near the end. The middle wasn't just a bunch of fluff added in before the Big Thing; Shalia really needed to experience everything in this book in order to grow as a character. To be who she is and do what she does after the Big Thing happens. If she hadn't witnessed and experienced everything in the first 70% or so of the book, she wouldn't be the same character -- and that's important. A lot of YA books shy away from traumatic experiences, shy away from deep-seated character growth, so that their main character can remain basically the same. Or they include trauma, but don't really weave it into their character. While Shalia is fundamentally the same person, with the same ideals, she goes through a lot in Reign the Earth. She changes, grows, and learns.

This isn't a book about a naive girl who manages to hold onto her naiveté; it's a book about an arguably naive girl who is forced to grow and change, to find a way to keep fighting for peace while accepting that those around her may not be as fundamentally good as she wants them to be. It's also a story of a girl who tries to keep her head in the sand, but ultimately has to wake up.

A lot of online reviewers lowered their ratings because of the darker aspects of this book. I get that; it could emotionally exhausting at best and very triggering at worst. I'm diagnosed with PTSD, but I'm far enough along in my recovery process that reading this book wasn't an issue for me (don't get me wrong, it was an emotional ride at times, but it didn't send me into a tailspin). Honestly, the fact that this book could get such a visceral reaction from so many people should be a testament to how well-written it is. But, for those who are curious or worried, I'll include a list of Content Warnings at the end of this review. Be warned, if you read the content warnings you may be able to puzzle out some of the plot! Skip the CW list at the end of the review if you prefer not to know. Also, a note: Don't be scared off by the CWs! If you feel strong enough to handle reading this book, I strongly recommend it. I loved it, dark parts and all, and Gaughen never normalizes any of the triggering subjects, which is important.

As a co-host of Fiction Forward, I also feel like I should talk about the fact that Shalia is a  POC character, and she marries into a "pale" family, whose country is described as being colder than her desert home -- I can pretty much assume this is a country of white people, and she is their new POC queen (did I mention she marries a king?). This could have been written really badly in so many ways, but Gaughen stays away from race relations in this book. All of the hate and prejudice is toward the Elementae's magical abilities, and those abilities are found in every country. The hatred is mostly from Shalia's new husband, not from every character we meet.

Shalia's skin color is only mentioned a few times: At one point, Shalia's brother wants to punch someone, and he tells her she'll be surprised at how colorful bruises can be on their pale skin (as opposed to how they look on Shalia and her brother's brown skin). The punch is called for, by the way, and doesn't make her brother seem over-aggressive. In another part of the book, it's mentioned that some of the people of the Bone Lands stared at her because of her darker skin while she walked through the city. It's never mentioned whether the stares were angry, awe-struck, or any other kind of emotion, and Shalia makes several very public appearances after this in the book with no mention of her skin tone from anyone, so it seems the people got used to it. Her husband and siblings-in-law never mention it, either, which I appreciated. No one fetishized her, no one made jokes or insulted her, and no one made any snide remarks. Overall, I was really pleased that the author made the effort to make it obvious to the reader that Shalia is a POC character, but didn't feel the need to say much else about it or bring real-world politics into her fantasy novel -- especially since, from what I can see online, it seems like A.C. Gaughen isn't a POC writer.

:: Content Warning: Emotional and briefly physical abuse, gaslighting, arranged marriage, implied r*pe, torture (not very detailed), some gore, miscarriage ::

You can buy Reign the Earth on Book Depository and get free worldwide shipping!

<i>Reign the Earth is about a girl from the desert who agrees to an arranged marriage to a king and god incarnate with the hope of saving her people and bringing peace to both their lands. But her hope for peace is shattered when she begins to see the true character of her husband and his hatred for the Elementae, those people who can command elements. Along the way she discovers her own strength and finds her voice in a world that does not want to hear. Her peace will come with a price and the world she knew will shatter.</i>

I want to start out with a content warning for this book. There is heavy abuse, both physical, verbal, and emotional. Sex that verges on rape. Death. Violence. Loss of pregnancy. If anyone is concerned I'd be happy to explain the scenes, but the author doesn't go into graphic detail about any of it.

My review will contain spoilers.

I started out really liking this book. Shalia is from the desert and her and her family are poc which interested me even more in the story. Right from the start there is a very tangible family bond between her sibling and parents and herself that is like my lifeblood. There were several things that interested me about their culture and learning the difference between the desert people and the Bonelands. Unfortunately that was very under used. I would have loved to have things a bit more jarring. The story only takes place over a couple of months so I would have appreciated a contrast between their people while also learning about each culture in an interesting way.

The pace started off good and I genuinely liked the characters, Kairos especially. I can't help seeing Galen as a young Alan Rickman. There were lots of little references to Shalia's family and past, it made it feel really fresh. But as things went on I got less and less invested in the story and looking back now I can see several reasons that contributed to that.

The overall tone of the story is at odds with the dark themes that are present throughout. The writing was often light and because Shalia was willing to see the best in people and give them multiple chances as well as this seemingly oblivious naivety, it made it difficult to really take these intense dark moments seriously. Or as seriously as they should have been. On top of that no one else seems to think anything is wrong with most of these dark themes until Calix hits Shalia.

Another thing that weighed down the story for me was bad dialogue. It wasn't constant throughout the story, but often times characters said things that just felt strange and like a monologue. Especially near the end where Galen's big reveal happened. It was a lot of expository writing rather than something that felt organic. Word choice also threw me off at times with words like 'sure'. It was such a small thing to ask "Are you sure?" but it bothered me when "Are you certain?" gives it an older feel of a world not quite ours.

While I thought the pacing was good, there was always something happening, something for the reader to want to find out, I found myself stopping and blinking trying to figure out sudden scene shifts or moodswings that would flip the whole setting. And I don't mean Calix suddenly snapping at someone. There was just very odd moodswings from Shalia and Galen and Rian and Adria. And oh gosh I'll talk about Theron in a minute.

What bothered me most is that the things that interested me, that I thought made this world unique were swept under the rug or forgotten about. The political aspect was almost nonexistent and when it was remembered it felt strangely abrupt. If Shalia didn't say it enough I would forget she was from the desert because things stopped being strange for her. The biggest things were that she was cold, she didn't like fish, and she liked to walk. Reading this I kept hoping for more world building, things to excite me. Because as fun as element control is, this isn't something that hasn't been done before so I felt the setting would elevated the idea. What really drew my curiosity was that Calix and his siblings were gods, but that felt very underused and more as a way for Calix to justify his choices rather than that idea being expanded on. What does it mean to each sibling, to the common people, to Shalia. I wanted more.

The thing that brings me down most in a story is lack of consistency. I reallyreally want to be an editor so I keep my eye on that sort of thing and I understand what I read was an ARC but even still there are somethings I feel should have been fixed sooner. For starters when Shalia first is getting a hold on her power she asks Kata if it feels like threads (this calls back to her culture I think and yet she never solidifies the concept) to which Kata says it could but hers doesn't. Then Rian is talking to Shalia and says Kata told him it felt like threads. This could just be that he meant Shalia's power, but even still it wasn't very clear. Like the explosion, we're only told her family is there, but then her and Rian say they are the last of their clan. The Elementae are suddenly called sorcerers. The name the Bonelands fades out of existence. There is a scene Shalia rides through a crowd of people excited to see and touch her, but then when she is carried back moments (an hour if?) later it is deserted. They constantly talk about secret things passionately and in public spaces. It's kind of confusing and contradictory. Also the ishru (sp?) people had no weight in the story which I really looking forward to. At the end when Calix has Shalia by the neck she lifts a rock behind his back to hit him with and none of his men say a word...

Shalia's handling of Calix confused me as well. She would call him out in one scene and cower in another. I understand he was abusive, but it made the time when she Decided to stand up to him for real feel less impactful because she had called him out on several occasions before that. And I suppose this is as good a place to bring up Theron as any. He lied to Calix for Shalia, but sided against her in the end for seemingly no reason. Zeph is great, I love him, both of them. But he never risked his life the same way Theron did to save Shalia and then lie to the king's face. That was one of my favorite scenes. And then he sides against her and Zeph, to me it made no sense and should have been both of them that defended her. Because they were always defending her. It seemed a cheap way to try for an emotional response to have Theron against Shalia and Zeph.

Now! Onto the romance aspect. If anyone knows me, they know I'm not a fan. Going in I knew that would be a part of this story, but here's my problem with it. When the romance <i>happened</i> happened it felt like Galen was no longer Galen, but rather Romantic Male Lead. There was so much descriptions and care put into writing those scenes between him and Shalia that it felt like the whole story had been written for That Part. It was awkward and out of character to me. Not that Galen can't act that way but his dialogue was just so... scripted. He didn't feel real at that point. It didn't help that he was described as 'leaping into action' when he decided to undress. I really loved Shalia and Galen's relationship up until that point. And I'm sorry but new couple kissing in front of siblings/public is really awkward and uncomfortable.

And then we have Kata and Rian. Like okay. They're a couple. Suddenly. That's fine. I guess. But I feel like that shouldn't have come out of nowhere, it just felt like 'Okay time to pair up couples before the story is over'. And like I really appreciated same sex couples being a thing in the desert and that Daenae is a lesbian, but like???? it didn't come up again, Calix made no mention at the end with her which seemed like a big deal between them. I honestly thought Kata and Shalia would be a thing from their behavior at the start. But no, just straight couples. Okay.

I want to address one last thing, Galen being the leader of the Resistance. Now I don't think that was a bad choice, but to me it would have been more impactful if he made a choice over the course of the story and stood against Calix rather than being like 'oh yeah he was always doing that'. Or even more hints dropped, like at the start where he is substituting bodies for the men Calix told him to kill. It would have been a more engaging character arc to see him become more vocal and his own person.

I did enjoy the story and I think a lot of other people will too, it has all the makings of a fun read and there were times I didn't want to set it down. But I take issue with the construction and am left wishing there was more of the things that I liked. My two star rating means it was an okay read. The thing I loved most about this book was the platonic love between the characters and the depth of their bonds. I haven't decided if I'll read the rest of the series yet, but it a good story.

4 stars

After years of devastating war with the adjacent kingdom, Shalia’s people are desperate for peace. To achieve this, Shalia marries Calix, the King of the Bonelands to establish peace between their peoples and ensure the safety of her family. Yet Calix is motivated by his desire to exterminate the Elementae, mystical magic-holders, and Shalia holds a dark secret.

She is one.

Hiding her own powers and her feelings for the king’s brother prove dangerous enough, but with the addition of rebellion in the Bonelands from her brothers, the peace Shalia worked hard to establish may very well shatter.

This book is a lot darker than you might expect, and this lies between two words. Domestic abuse.

You might be misled by this novel’s typical fantasy cover and its description, but it’s definitely very important to be aware that there are strong domestic abuse themes within this story and Shalia and Calix’s relationship.

I was fortunately aware of this when going into this novel, but I know others weren’t as aware, and it definitely took some people by surprise.

But I really enjoyed this part of the novel, although it was unexpected.

I honestly think it was one of the strongest points–the portrayal of abusive relationships.

Shalia was an okay character. In the beginning, I was feeling more of a solid 3 stars for this book because Shalia was so…bland. She didn’t have very much personal thought except “Let me marry this guy to get peace.” I wanted more from her–overall, she didn’t have very many unique thoughts or personal character.

I feel like Shalia could have been built with more finesse because she was somewhat bland, although she got better as the book progressed.

I really enjoyed the other characters though, such as her brother Kai and even King Calix and his brother Galen. I felt like even though some of these people were terrible people *cough*Calix*cough* but I felt like they were developed much better than Shalia.

Kai, her brother, was very complex and I feel like there is much more to him than Gaughen let on in this book. He’s got quite a lot of potential and his motivations and complexities made him a very interesting character.

Calix, although I hated him with a burning passion, did a very good job of portraying the abuser in an abusive relationship and showing why people keep returning to these types of relationships despite misdoings. He was cruel and domineering a lot of the time, yet switched to make grand gestures and try to keep Shalia within his hold. I got the chills from him and didn’t like him, but I thought he was written very well.

Galen was definitely an interesting character, although I had mixed feelings about him and how he was involved with the plotline.

I felt like Shalia’s romance with Galen wasn’t very necessary and I feel like it detracted from the story a bit. It was a good juxtaposition when the reader compares Galen and Shalia’s relationship vs. Shalia and Calix’s, but I think it took away from the severity of what was happening between Shalia and Calix.

A lot of the time, women who suffer from these types of situations don’t normally get the chance to interact as closely as Shalia did with anyone, and I feel like it kind of hinted at the idea that falling in love with someone else would pull you out of an abusive relationship, which is not always the case.

I feel like Shalia definitely wouldn’t have had as much of an inclination to leave Calix if Galen wasn’t there. This is a very niche abusive relationship because many times, it’s very hard for women to leave these relationships or reach out to someone to help them leave a circumstance like this.

This didn’t really affect my perception of the story very much, but I was considerably more irritated that Galen “triggers” Shalia’s powers and I felt like this was an unnecessary detail to the story.

But other than this, I really enjoyed the plotline. It was engaging and entertaining and paced well and filled with all sorts of delicious darkness and conflict. There were some amazing themes about persecution as the Elementae are persecuted for their “unholy” powers and this was another interesting theme to the story.

I think Reign the Earth is a very impactful novel that handles lots of important, relevant themes skillfully in a fantasy setting. I would definitely recommend this to readers who like any genre who are looking for a more meaningful read about important, relevant topics.

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OMG! This book was both intense and beautiful. I loved the family aspect of it and how the author tackled issues like abuse (which was a big part of this book). I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers, just make sure you know that there are triggers for abuse in this book which everyone should be aware of. No, she does not glorify abuse. She shows it but makes sure to tell everyone that it is wrong. I loved this book a lot!

4.25 stars
This book starts my 2018 reading on a great note! I was really interested in the premise of this story upon seeing it here on NetGalley. This is a great book showing Shalia's strength and growth as she adjusts to not only her earth powers, but learning how to be a queen, love and be strong admist some serious circumstances. While this is a more emotional book, it's not beating you over the head with it. If you love books like The Girl of Fire and Thorns or The Forbidden Wish and the Wonder Woman film, pick this up when it comes out! I only had a couple small cons, but a great 2018 book!

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.

As much as I was looking forward to this book, and as curious as I was about the elemental aspect of this book, the dark nature and topics were just too much for me. However, I have no doubt that a lot of people will love this book, it just wasn’t for me.

Shalia knows she must marry to give her people peace, but she is hoping the man who unveils her will also become the love of her life. The people of the desert have been at war for many years with the kingdom next door and this wedding is their last chance to earn peace without additional bloodshed. Unfortunately, Shalia learns too quickly that her new husband, Calix, is only interested in finding and killing the last of the Elementae. What he doesn’t know is that Shalia has recently learned she has her own Elementae powers and if he ever learned this truth he would not hesitate to kill her too. Can Shalia bring peace to these two kingdoms? Will she be able to stop Calix from exterminating the Elementae?

Reign the Earth is the first book in The Elementae series. Although the story takes place in a different world with foreign habits and actions, the world building is so integrated into the narrative that readers will quickly fall into the storyline. Gaughen has created a cast of characters that are easy to love (and hate) and readers may find that they can’t put the book down until they know what happens next. It is not a short and quick read, but I found myself thinking about the characters as I was doing activities that pulled me away from the novel. A great read for all booklovers who enjoy an escape into a realm different than their own.

Reign the Earth has interesting world building and an engaging story, but Shaila was the reason I kept turning the pages. Her journey through this book was not an easy one but her ideals and unfailing hope made her a character to root for.