I received this book in exchange for an honest review - for a full review check out my YouTube or Goodreads account

Briony is the youngest daughter of an old and noble family, House Tenebrae, in the kingdom of Tiralaen. When she’s just a little girl, the old king dies, apparently murdered using magic by his oldest son and heir, Prince Elyan. Because Elyan is a mage, he’s exiled from Tiralaen in an execution-style ceremony to another plane and an ancient prison for mages from which none ever return: Asperfell.

This event kicks off a change in Tiralaen. Where before mage and non-mage had lived alongside one another, now the new king, Elyan’s younger brother Keric, kindles fear and hatred of those who can use magic. As the years pass, King Keric’s reign becomes more and more fascist.

Briony, growing up away from court, is determined that one day soon she’ll join the secret rebellion against the king alongside her father and her friend Cyprias. Briony does eventually become embroiled in the fight against King Keric, but in a way she never expected.

I can’t talk any more about Asperfell without spoiling at least some of the surprises—although surprise might be too generous, given the title of the book. Of course Briony is herself a mage, her magic bound as a child to keep her safe from Keric’s regime and she herself never told of it. Of course it all goes wrong and Briony is captured by the king’s men. And, of course, Briony does end up at Asperfell about a third of the way into the book.

So far, so tropey. Jamie Thomas leans into the elements most western fantasy readers will be familiar with. The setting is your standard imaginary medieval Europe with added magic. Briony herself is a very typical innocent but determined ingenue sort of heroine, constantly shocked—shocked!—at everything from horrific injustice to a social snub. Prince Elyan, when we meet him, is tall, dark, and brooding, slowly opening up to Briony over her time at Asperfell to reveal a heart of gold.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good trope well deployed. The well-worn fantasy Europe-that-never-was is a fun playground to mess around in. For the most part I enjoyed the familiarity of it—except for the rampant sexism and classism all through this book.

Asperfell is a book about prejudice. From the very beginning, Briony Tenebrae’s life is made claustrophobic by sexism. She’s constrained at every turn. She’s a wild kid, fascinated by tales of blood and gore, always hungry, always untidy, and desperate for magic. But she’s put in a dress and taught to curtsey and to embroider, and that’s that.

Keric’s crusade against mages whips the people of Tiralaen into a xenophobic froth, and they inform on their neighbours, daub mage’s doors with graffiti, and beat up immigrants to Tiralaen from other nations where magery is prized instead of hated.

When Briony gets to Asperfell, it’s the class system that’s thrown into stark relief. Even in this other world, where there are no rules, where wealth can’t help you and magical power is the only real defining factor, nobles still care about finery and dances while the lower class inmates work the garden and clean the castle. Briony, assigned to the garden despite her status, explicitly thinks to herself it’s ridiculous to care about the way things were in Tiralaen now they’re in Asperfell.

And woven throughout the story, cropping up like an unpleasant smell every now and again, is rather a lot of sexual assault of women. In such a tame fantasy world, this jarred me whenever it happened—and it doesn’t trigger me the way it could do for others. If you’re planning on reading Asperfell and this is a thing for you, beware.

Tiralaen, and by extension Asperfell, is riven with inequality and injustice, and Briony’s eyes are opened to it over the course of the book. Mostly. For some reason, though Briony can see the unfairness in how mages and the poor are treated, the sexism goes uncommented on.

Thomas’ world is populated with characters so odd and extreme they might be caricatures—from the toad-like Walfrey, a low class woman whose depiction I actually didn’t enjoy at all, to Mistress Philomena, the sour, schoolmarm-ish quartermaster of Asperfell. Her settings too are fantastical: Orwynd, the Tenebraes’ ancient estate, surrounded by the dark and haunted Morwood, and Asperfell itself, the treacherous castle ringed by animate statues, with a great black oak at its heart. It all reminded me of a Tim Burton creation, or a toned-down Gormenghast.

Personally, I found Asperfell difficult to get through. The prose was fussy and mannered, not to mention badly in need of a proofread which I hope it got before its release. Briony was frustratingly short-sighted at times. The romance with Prince Elyan was predictable—not necessarily a bad thing—but somehow also inexplicable.

Elyan spends much of his time with Briony being a patronising, bullying dickhead to her, a woman who just lost everything she ever knew and everyone she ever loved. Banter is one thing, but this was not it. I know other romance readers are into love interests who are mean and angry all the time. But I am not one of those people.

The hardest part for me was being in Briony’s shoes. (This isn’t necessarily a criticism.) All her life, Briony is patronised, condescended to, and kept in the dark about things that shape her existence. Even when she gets to Asperfell, she’s treated like a child: because she has no experience with her own magic, she has to be escorted about, taught basic magic lessons like a ten year old, and gets laughed at and threatened. She even has a page of erotic poetry whisked away from her as if she were a naughty schoolchild instead of a 20 year old woman.

I desperately wanted Briony to explode, shedding her chains and rising like a phoenix in the height of her power. But Briony has one gear, and that is earnest determination. I can’t remember if she ever gets angry. She does get her badass moment, but for me she didn’t rise up so much as get dragged along.

Asperfell is the beginning of a series, and Briony’s story isn’t over. But I won’t be picking up whatever comes next. I was relieved to escape Asperfell and get out of Briony’s head, and I don’t fancy going back.

I think this book was a miss for me.
It was full of fantasy and interesting, but i did not like the character much and it then was just meh.

What an utterly charming and engrossing debut.

“Whispers in the dark.
The dead keep the secrets of the living.

Asperfell was a pretty surprising and enchanting tale, and made even more so by the flawless writing. Jamie Thomas took a risk with her prose. With its classic sophistication, it could have come across as pompous or out of fashion. But instead, it felt surprisingly fresh and suitable to the atmosphere (in the first half rather regency-inspired and then bordering on gothic in the second half). The writing flew seamlessly and elegantly and retained a classic charm with no trace of the dullness or prolixity that makes some classics so unapproachable or difficult to read.

Elegant writing and exquisitely written dialogues aside, I very much enjoyed the story Thomas weaved in this first installment of her debut series. This is a book I could equally recommend to YA (despite some dark themes but none pushed to a deep or shocking level) or adult fantasy readers. However, grimdark readers or readers who prefer very complex plots might find it a bit soft or youngish for their tests.

The story starts with 8year-old Briony overhearing the news of the king's murder. Soon after, she witnesses the exile of the culprit: the king’s own son and heir to the throne, to the mysterious prison of Asperfell. Criminal and rogue magicians are sentenced to life in Asperfell and once they cross the portal, they can never come back. As she grows, Briony finds herself buffeted by political and mystic storms despite her family's best efforts to both shelter her and tame her adventurous, curious soul.

<“Have courage. And no matter how dark the world seems and how much you’d like to darken with it, find whatever light you can wherever you can, and help it grow.”

I liked Briony and her determination, except when said determination turned into nosiness or bordered on selfishness. She was a mischievous little thing when she was a kid (reminding me of Arya Stark in the beginning of GoT) and never lost her humor and her spark growing up, despite the multiple ordeals she had to face and the various nets that tried to ensnare her. Most of the supporting characters were also well fleshed out and gained depth as the story progressed and their interactions with Briony gave them spotlight.

The worldbuilding and lore were pretty simple, with the exception of the prison of Asperfell, which stole the limelight and was one of my favorite things about this book. I couldn’t help but compare it to Hogwarts. Or a version of Hogwarts for grown-ups. No wait, that still isn’t it. Okay, a darker version of Hogwarts where you replace magic newbies with stars in their eyes and lives full of potential before them with criminal sorcerers who will never get their lives back is more like it! It even had its own versions of Dumbledore and professor McGonagall!

“People will always fear that which they do not understand, and magic is particularly difficult to puzzle out for those who have never felt it deep within them, never used it.”

I felt like Asperfell drew its inspiration from many amazing sources in the Fantasy genre but it never felt derivative to me. It had a unique flavor and a unique atmosphere. I also loved discovering how magic worked, even though I had to wait until the 2nd half to learn about its intricacies. My only qualms were that there were some lulls in Briony’s day-to-day life in the various locations she visited or called home (however every part was eventually necessary no matter how lengthy or seemingly random). And the ending. There was a consensus from the reviews I read beforehand, that the ending lacked the complexity that the meticulously constructed story required. The ending was indeed weaker than the rest of the story and would have benefited from more detailed explanation. Some threads have also been tied conveniently. But it was still enjoyable and didn’t alter the satisfaction and coziness I felt upon finishing this excellent debut.

this was an enjoyable read, I enjoyed that it kinda had a fairy tale element to it along with the scifi. I liked the characters and really enjoyed the plot. I look forward to more from the author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher!
The cover drew me in.

I feel like the world that's created here has a well-established history, and the aspect that is most important to the story (the history of magic in the kingdom) is explained well. I came to realize that I much prefer books that tell me the brief history (and workings of the magic system, if there is one to talk about) of their setting in the beginning of the book. I have trouble keeping up interest when I’m met with an in medias res situation, following a character I don’t know at all, in a place I don’t know at all.

**Thank you Netgalley and publisher for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Before I knew it I was halfway through this book! The world building and magic system seemed realistic and reading through Briony's childhood was great. I can't wait for book two, I'm so in love with this world.

Author #Jamie Thomas is a wonderful inventive fantasy writer.Only the darkest and most dangerous of Mages are sentenced to pass through the gate to Asperfell. Not one has ever returned.Never did Briony dream she might set foot in the otherworldly prison of Asperfell.
This fantasy story is just wonderful.And if you like books that have magic this will be the book for you.I really enjoyed it.
Thank you,
#Netgalley,#Jamie Thomas and #Uproar Books

I loved the imagery in this! It was definitely a slower read than I'm used to, but it was worth the investment.

I went in to Asperfell not really sure what to expect and it turned out to be so much more than I had hoped it would be. It’s a fantastic fantasy, full of well developed characters. The story is fast paced but flows well. Overall a very well written story. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book!

Considering that this is a debut novel, I was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed it.

Briony is a headstrong spunky female lead, with the burning desire to gleam knowledge whenever she can. She's compassionate and determined, and i just loved her for our main character.

The magic system in this was very well done. We have our Mages, but all with different types of magic, such as Siphons, Blood Mages, Animalists, Naturalists, Necromancers, Orares, etc etc. The different strengths of each magic system was amazing.

I loved the worldbuilding of Asperfell and the concept of it. A prison designed specifically for criminal Mages? And they can never return?? Sounds intense!

I genuinely enjoyed this more than I thought I would it; it was engaging and fun, and I really liked reading about Briony's activities in Asperfell before sh*t hit the fan lol. The romance was meh, I didn't care too muvh for it, but then again I am a reader who prefers NO romance in her fantasies. However, this one was pretty subtle and didn't take away from the plot of the book.

The ending itself was done well and I love the idea of a sequel coming.

*I received this Arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest revie*

Asperfell by Jamie Thomas is a fantasy novel, set in another world, where people can have different types of magic.  Some of these are more feared than others, like blood magic.  All is fine until the Crown Prince kills the King with his magic, and he is banished through the gate (a magic portal) to Asperfell from where no one has returned.


Briony is our protagonist, and starts the story as a young girl, with her father as an advisor to the King.  She witnesses the Crown Prince being sent through the gate, and is sent away to the country when the Crown Prince's younger brother inherits the throne, and magic users start to be hunted.

I very much enjoyed this book.  It explored the world, both the world and Asperfell. It showed us different types of magic, which I enjoyed seeing how they would affect the world around them. 

The story moves at a good pace, and I wanted to find out what would happen next.  This is the first book in a trilogy, so don't expect a complete ending!

Asperfell was published on 18th February 2020, and is available on  Amazon .   I've found a  link  to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Jamie Thomas on  Twitter , or through her website .

If you're interested in fantasy books, then here's a  link  to others I've reviewed!

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Uproar books  (the publishers) for this book.

This book was really fantastic it is a great fantasy story! I went into this not really sure what to expect it seemed old worldly from the description but I was still interested to see what it had to offer. This book was so much more than I hoped for!! The characters and world are very well developed and had a rich natural progression to both.

It was entertaining fast paced and flowed well. The writing is excellent and I highly recommend it!!
I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

I received this book from NetGalley for an Honest review.
#NetGalley
#Asperfell

I didn't really have anything expectations when I started but overall I enjoyed it.

This quote from the book is probably the best I've read so far

“Have courage. And no matter how dark the world seems and how much you’d like to darken with it, find whatever light you can wherever you can, and help it grow.”

“Help it grow, For that is the only way we can defeat the darkness.”

An interesting little fantasy story! I went into this expecting a more traditional style medieval-inspired fantasy, and while it had those elements, it gave me more than I expected! It was paced well, and everything about the relationships occurred at an appropriate pace and felt really natural. The magic was well developed and interesting. Everything about this worked really well together, and I would highly recommend!

With strong world-building and just as realistic characters, Jamie Thomas created a novel you will fall in love with. I was a bit sceptical about the ending because of the slow-burn plot and thought there would be no time for a suitable ending, but after that ending, I am sure there will be a sequel; otherwise there would be little reason for such a cliffhanger.
I loved how well-crafted this universe is, how simple it is in some matters and complex in others. The author knew when to let herself get carried away with passion and emotion, and I felt it just as I suppose Jamie Thomas felt when writing this thought-provoking story.

Full review to be published in my blog (March 18): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2020/03/resena-review-asperfell.html

Title: Asperfell
By: Jamie Thomas
Genre: New Adult, SciFi & Fantasy
Published by: Uproar Books
Published on: 18 Feb 2020
Review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3045039199

Asperfell is a story about Briony and how her life shifts when the king of her province is murdered. Her father is the Kings adviser, this suddenly means Briony must attend the royal court and will witness her first execution.

Briony has grown up knowing there are those in Tiralaen who have and use magic so it is a shock when slowly it becomes outlawed. People who were once safe are now in the greatest of danger but can Briony help to save them all?

As a natural rebellious young woman who is not afraid to get her petty coats muddy, Briony is not scared of public opinion, even so that is a lot to ask of a twenty-year-old non magic human.

Could her father’s friends be about to put her on the track to become a saviour or have they doomed her all together.

It is clear from the beginning that this is a book about persecution of those deemed “Different” and those perceived as a “Threat’’ to the current way of life.

The civil war erupting in Tiralaen and the possible spread to a world war is indicative of our history. It could be drawn on as the American Civil war which was about race, the Irish civil war which was about Rule and to a degree religion.

Of course there are many other civil wars which could be drawn on.

I also feel there is a feminist under tone. Why should woman be told what to do or where to go.

I found the characters well-rounded not completely nice nor completely evil, for the most part at least.

The magic and world building were incredibly interesting and not overly intricate or difficult to follow.

It did muddy the moral compass a bit as those who were in Asperfell because they had committed murder were allowed to walk Asperfell freely and were only committed to the dungeons if they killed once inside Asperfell. There for they had killed both in Tiralaen and Asperfell.

Those only guilty of having magic and had committed no other crime were expected to live among them. So while Asperfell is full of guilty and innocent mages it is only those who reoffend that are punished. Which fails to protect the truly innocent.

Though over all I liked the character of Prince Enoch I was distressed at the victim blaming in the part where he helped Briony escape her attacker.

He implied that she would not have needed any help from him or the umbra if she could cast a protection shield. Victim blaming does happen in real life but I feel that it was something that would have changed Briony’s feelings for him and didn’t. This read a little false. I wouldn’t thing Briony the kind of Character to fall for someone who blamed her for nearly being raped.

Over all I enjoyed the story and found the style of writing, old English, really suited the story. I am looking forward to the second in the trilogy.

In a world where magic is newly outlawed, mages get sent to Asperfell, a prison in another world in which there is no return. Briony finds herself here when it is revealed that she is a mage herself.
In Asperfell she meets Elyan, the rightful king of the land, banished to Asperfell for killing his father, although he is innocent.
Briony discovers her aptitude is being able to speak to magic, and tries to find a way home.

This book has a very slow start, the first 100 pages have little action that affects the plot. I enjoyed the last 3/4 though.
The characters were good, I liked Briony although she's a little annoying. She's a bit of a princess character, in that she expects someone else to help her at every turn, while violently adament that she's independent. The plot was good, it just needed to get started a bit quicker.
I would read the sequel which is always a good sign!
Thanks to net galley for giving me an ARC.

I devoured this book. The story itself was similar to other books I have read but that did not deter from how much I enjoyed it.
The plot intrigued me. Breaking into a prison to save a prince who was banished there. That is all I needed to know. This book has a bit of everything; magic, love, deception, and court politics.
I did find some parts predicable but overall I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy with a strong heroine trying to save the day.

4 out of 5 Stars

Asperfell is the kind of book that you start reading, and you fall into fairly easily, even while your mind goes, I know exactly where this is going. And it goes in those exact. same. places. without deviating. But it doesn't stop you from devouring it anyway.

It pings every single YA trope there is, which may be what makes it (5 stars woot!), but also what breaks it (3 stars eh, I saw that from a mile away). Briony is the feisty, untrained but unquenchable female protagonist who blunders into everything--not quite blindly, at least, but with more faith and hope than her skill and talent warrants. And obviously, she has the one rare magical aptitude that is needed for this time... Then there is the broody, irritable, and unlikeable male protagonist, traitor prince Elyan, who holds deep, dark secrets he can't share with anyone--and is not so bad when he finally smiles.

Add in the classic enemies to lovers and a slight tinge of coming-of-age (or at least growing into responsibility), the semi-medieval setting, court intrigue, and there you have it. Only, Elyan and Briony are actually of legal age (at 28 and 20-ish?), so it's basically aged-up YA. Other than an attempted rape and backstories of abuse, neither of which go into graphic details, it's a very clean read.

Predictability aside, Asperfell is a fun magical romp, with deftly executed twists and tragically crafted backstories that add to the depth of the characters, even if they don't bring anything fresh to the plot. It unfortunately ends on a cliffhanger, because trilogy. So... book 2?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Uproar Books via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.