This was such a fun story. It took off pretty quickly and I enjoyed the fae world the author created. It's the first book in a new series so we're introduced to the main characters and have world building, but it doesn't weigh down the plot and does a great job of showing instead of just telling.

Ora is brave and a bit reckless, she's so eager to prove herself as a hunter like her brother that she ignores her mother's warnings and ends up a slave to fae. After, she's humbled a bit but keeps plotting her escape and makes some allies along the way. I enjoyed seeing her learn magic and realize that she may be more than human. I also liked her friendship with Renna, the head of the kitchen. It was nice that there wasn't any romance and we just focused on the main plot. Maybe in future books we'll see Ora crush on someone, but it wasn't necessary for this one.

The pacing is great and this flew by. I liked that we bounced between Ora and Tyg, it showed us what was happening in the fae lands and the political intrigue. Tyg is merciless and will do anything to rule and even though she's the villain, it was cool being in her head.

I'm so glad I was given a copy of this and excited for the sequel!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

full review 10/2/2020

This story was an interesting way of telling a new tale with well-known elements. The world-building was actually quite fun and never felt boring. Day explains the different types of fae and magical creatures in a way that feels natural and less like being taught a history lesson. 

The characters as a whole, however, did not feel to particularly have any depth. I often forgot that Ora was 17, mistaking her for a much younger character regularly. Tyg is evil, and that's as deep as her depth seemed to go- she had one goal, and nothing would get in her way.  I think that there was room for more character development as the story moved along. 

This felt similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, except for a younger more PG audience.

Wow. What an amazing read. I loved the characters and the writing really surprised me.I highly recommend this one.

Thank you so much, Sarah Day and Netgalley, for providing a free copy of Ora and the Old God in return for an honest review!
Ora and the Old God is a Spirited Away-esque story about a girl whose brother is turned into a pig before she’s whisked away to the world of the fey, where she’s at the mercy of the ruthless fey magus, Tyg.
Let’s get this out of the way first: I really liked this book. It has so much going for it. The main problem is the category. This was first listed as YA, but was then changed the category to MG/YA and I have problems with putting this in the Middle Grade category. This is mainly a problem due to the pacing: while this book is certainly intriguing, it’s also quite slow in many places, with a lot of political intrigue that I believe few in the MG age group would properly enjoy. The second is that this is also a bit too intense for MG. There’s a point in the book where a body part is cut off, and it doesn’t skimp on the detail.
It works great as a YA novel, though. The main character, Ora, is a fun character to get to know. She’s stubborn, playful, wild, and curious. Seeing through her eyes is always a great experience, even when she’s suffering through the more unpleasant scenes of the book, simply because she feels so real. There are other POV chapters from Tyg, and those are equally stunning but further cement my opinion that this is not an MG novel.
Day’s worldbuilding is faultless. The plot of someone in a new world isn’t used often enough, in my humble opinion. Not just because stories about change make the most intriguing plots, but because worldbuilding is so much more beautiful and natural when done through the eyes of someone unfamiliar to it. We fit into Ora’s shoes well because neither of us know the world at all, so we get to know the fey at the same pace as her. The fey themselves are the old, traditional kind. They work in bargains and true names. Logic means nothing, and words craft unbreakable bindings. Day uses a combination of old lore and details crafted from her own mind.
The ending it leads to is quiet, but something wilder is promised on the horizon as human and fey worlds threaten to clash.

Wow, this was truly amazing! 
Ora and the Old God is Sarah Day’s debut novel and her writing style wonderful! Her descriptive prose shines through each passage of this beautifully written novel. 
The story is well developed and it flowed with ease.  Day managed to paint a complex fae world and introduce an amazing cast of characters you simply love regardless of whether they are good or bad. For some of them, I still can’t decide, and I love them all the same, which only speaks more on the brilliance of Day’s writing.
I’m sure we can expect great works from her in the future, and I’m honored I had the chance to read her first novel before it was published. I can’t wait for the sequel!
Also, considering that the main protagonist, Ora, is a 17-year-old girl, the complete absence of romance was delightfully refreshing. Although I must admit, I did imagine Ora to be a bit younger than 17, but that did not change the feeling I had while reading in the least bit. This review would not be complete without mentioning the main antagonist Tyg. Hats of to Day for managing to write this cold and ruthless villain's POV so good that her hatred and anger were almost palpable.
I loved it!
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wish the fantastical world and the characters were represented better and in a new light even if it's supposed to represent their darkest sides and the politics of the fae/dren world they got involved in.

I wanted more plot in-depth and more character development.

The storyline is good but somehow the writing seems to lack progress and the characters didn't do much except big talk and lots of sneering and cursing. 

I wish the characters were more interesting and focused. 

I wish the ending had a surprise element.

Even though the book is short, I had to struggle a bit to actually complete it.

Overall, a new perspective of the dark fae world and their magic system, their wars and their weaknesses and strengths. Glad that more female character representation is there as the premise promised.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Ora and the Old God told an interesting story of the fae and the world they live in.  Ora, a young girl who dreams of adventure gets her wish when she goes into the woods on a hunt with her brother.  This book had a wonderful cast of characters and a fantastical creation of a fae realm that I think anyone would want to get lost in.  I'm excited to see where the series takes us.

I guess I have to agree to the other reviewers about the tone of the book being more in the middlegrade zone rather than in the youngadult section.
That is not a negative thing but it can mislead some potential readers.

The worldbuilding is rich and imaginative and it has a nice bunch of characters, but they ended up being flat and one dimensional. The plot, too, was predictable and nothing was pretty new.
The book seems to take inspiration from some recent YA fae books such as The cruel prince or An enchantment of ravens.

On the other hand, Ora and the Old God offers nice elements of magic, politics and conflict, in adition to the prose and numerous layers and although it's kinda lenghty, it shows it had careful planning ahead into the world and the overall story, so that's nice, too.
I look forward to see the future books of this series will have the bumpy elements of the first book and end up giving us a much more elaborated story, because it has such potential.

I liked the sound of Ora and the Old God, from the description and the cover image, so downloaded the ARC from Netgalley. Whilst this book is a YA novel and I’ve read plenty of YA authors such as Garth Nix, I’m not quite sure of the particular age range for this book.

The first chapter feels slightly clunky, to be honest, but does provide a clear picture of Ora’s world, her frustrations and gave us some foreshadowing. I did feel some of this stuck to known tropes but that didn’t actually play out, which was refreshing. The paragraph about the sailor’s book felt a little ‘head hoppy’ but was otherwise a good introduction. I put the book down at that point and when I picked it up again, I did read the rest of it in one sitting.

There are a lot of different characters introduced, with various races and as expected in a complex world, tensions. The explanations are vivid and the antagonist, Tyg Marigen, is well-explained in her motives. The title “and the Old God” does imply a different story from what’s there and I wonder whether a different title would be better in this instance as the series is called, ‘Of Ether and Silver’

I did feel the character cast was slightly complex for the story. My biggest complaint is the beginning spent a lot of detail explaining different relationships but the ending had no such space in which to do that. Everything was a build-up to the next book with too little resolution for the first story. Yes, there was resolution, but I don’t feel there was enough for my taste.

I don’t know that I’d read the other book(s) in the series in case they also don’t resolve well enough for me. I wouldn’t want to be disappointed.

Thank you Net Galley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This was a delightful read but not anything remarkably new. The main character is listed as being 17 but she comes across more as a older child ( I'm thinking 12, maybe?) She is unhappy but not whiny or bratty about it, which in my experience is not easy for an author to accomplish. I enjoyed the characters and the world building. It was not a particularly long book and therefore there's not much time to really flesh out the characters. The book is listed as a YA/Adult Fantasy, however it felt significantly younger to me and I think it's better suited to a younger audience.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 
I found this story very captivating and I was eager to follow Ora throughout her adventure! This book was easy to read and I definitely hope to get to read more about Ora and what is to happen next for her.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

Ora and the Old God began with a lot of potential for multi layered elements and an expansive world with magic, politics and conflict. Ora, proclaimed 17 years old at the beginning of the novel, is thrown into a confusing and dangerous world of the fae after having her name "bound", which enables the fae control over a human. As she tries to find out a way back to her brother, who was turned into a pig by magic, she finds herself unwittingly involved in the complex politics of the fae realm, and under the careful watch of one of the most powerful members at court, who happens to also hate humans. 

There were a lot of elements of this story that I was interested by, and a few great standouts that kept me reading. The prose was extremely well done, and makes me excited to read more of Day's future works. The world had continuous layers of elements that we were introduced to, and although it suffered in length (more on that later), it felt like the author had put a lot of careful planning into her world and story. 

There were two main issues I had with this novel, the first being it's classification as YA. I feel as if Ora's age was changed towards the end of the creation of this novel, because all of her words and actions read as if they're coming from a 14 year old. She's quite juvenile, plucky, easy to rile, and displays no real creative thinking to get herself out of certain situations. Not that any of these traits are limited to age, and I think it would have been interesting to see in an "older" character, I truly forgot that Ora was 17 multiple times in the novel, until it was brought up again. 

The second is that of the length. Goodreads puts the novel at 230 pages, which is apt to say that it was quite short in comparison to the average YA novel. Although this story is the first in a series (of an unknown amount of parts), there are so many things that could have benefited from more explanation, different scenarios, or longer examples. Simply put, I think this novel could have easily doubled in size, and kept its easy-to-read flow thanks to Day's writing, while elaborating on a lot of the elements that didn't get much time or explanation. Certain events are too easily passed over, and the worldbuilding takes a nose dive as most of the names, places and details are swept up in the pacing, leaving me as a reader confused about who was who multiple times. 

I have faith that the future novels in this series will keep the great pace and writing of the first, though I hope that they elaborate on the details that I felt were missed in Ora and the Old God. Though I'm quite looking forward to see what else Day has in store in the future, I think that Ora and the Old God has a hard time holding itself up on its own, and will rely a lot on the future entries to the series to flush out the short, but compelling story in its pages.

The writing for this novel was great. The pages flew by, and I read this with ease. The voice seemed younger than the typical YA novel, but maybe that’s because most YA these days has an adult voice, whereas this is how an actual young adult would sound. Whatever the reason, the book feels younger than a lot of YA fantasy. 

In some respects, the story is typical YA, and in other respects it’s not. We start with the plucky heroine who wants to go on a hunt with her brother, only to be kidnapped by the fae, but of course she discovers she’s more special than she realizes. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the different types of fae. 

Ora wasn’t the most complex protagonist, but that was okay. I admired that she had goals and tried to play smart (mostly), and she wasn’t a doormat. She was written with a bit of the “I’m not like other girls” vibe that we really need to move past. While I agree about pockets (skirts and dresses need them), I’m a little tired of women characters who scoff at those who do enjoy dresses or “domestic” activities. Can we please let women be whatever they want to be without insulting one group over another? Or make a woman character "better" than the other women around her because she’s not like them? I did like Ora’s embracing of magic, and her development there. 

I loved that we read both Ora and Tyg’s perspectives. I wish Tyg’s plotline (at least in this book) had gone in a more unexpected way. I knew what would happen to Callum from his and Tyg’s first interaction. While there are hints of complexity that might be explored, Tyg was too standard villainous in this book, although her villainy was fun to read. Hopefully, she and Ora will both become more multidimensional eventually. 

FYI, there is no romance. For some that will be a breath of fresh air. For others, that may be a sticking point and take away from their enjoyment of the story. 

Overall, I think this is a solid, enjoyable story that has the potential to become more, but it will depend on where the next book goes.

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I was so surprise by how much fast pace the story goes. There are times when scenes in between left me hanging and thinking that maybe the author can add another scene or at least elaborate on the narrative of the character/scene. Nonetheless, the story is very intriguing considering most of the scenes are from the land of the fae/Tirnan-royal city of Mysanhal. I understand this is the author's debut novel, but I'm also looking for character building in terms of their back story or origin like Uncle Lupin. I wish there are more narratives on Hy Borea's history. I really enjoyed Ora's character, I sometimes compared myself to her. Magic system was okay for me, I wish there are more explanation on how the magic system works in the story or at least a little history. I hope the next series will answer all my concern on the first book. Can't wait for Ora's next adventure and hopefully to see more of Eiko and their adventure together.

A really fun and interesting read. I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!

Ora is a young girl, coming of age in the small town of Fel. She is waiting for her seventeenth birthday, that is soon, as she will be able to go on the annual Tabas hunt with her brother. Her mother does not want her to go, and there are some hints that things in Ora’s world are not as she believes. She discovers that the Fae and magic are real, and that some stories are true. On the hunt, Ora and her brother meet a race of powerful Fae who don’t like  humans, and some of these magical Fae, known as Dren really, really hate humans. Ora is taken by the Dren, and her brother is enchanted into a brush pig, for the crime of hunting with weapons made of silver weapons. I think. From here, Ora has to find her way through the world of the Dren and back home again to rescue her brother before he is hunted himself. To rescue them both on her heroes journey, she has to learn as much as she can, and deal with the politics and prejudices of this world. Ora, too, is not the mere human that she appears to be! She learns that she can do magic, but she must learn how. 

I do love world-building novels and the world that Day built in this series is engaging and interesting and the characters within it are pretty good. Most are hiding something, but that’s okay. Some are helpful, but every one is on their own side. Ora knows better than to trust anyone, and the antagonist, Tyg, hates everyone. She is especially cruel and controlling. Some chapters are told from her point of view so that makes things interesting. 

There is more to this story, and I eagerly wait for the rest of Ora’s journey in later books in this series.

I enjoyed the forest setting and the animals that were both a part of the legend and the real world. I hadn’t heard of the series before and it was the cover graphic of the young girl and the large wolf that attracted me initially. 

I liked the way that Ora handled herself. She was strong and able, and although the world was new to her, she caught on quickly and did what needed to be done to save herself. She had help, but that is okay. I also liked that so far it’s just Ora, and so far, the story is not a romance. There is no love interest for her. That may happen in the future, but, right now, she has other issues that need dealing with. 

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book #OraandtheOldGod

A wonderful middle grade fantasy read with potential to become a successful fantasy series! 

In the small town of Fel Ora lives a quiet life with her family awaiting her birthday and the opportunity to join a ritualistic hunt with her brother Hademar. On the night of the hunt however, Ora discovers that the myths of Fae and magic are more than just stories. Trapped in the Fae lands of Hy Borea and seeing her brother enchanted into a brush pig, Ora needs to find a way back to Himil, the human realm, while navigating her way through the schemes of Fae politics and secrets about herself that threaten to change her view of the world.

'Ora and the Old God' is an imaginative fantasy novel that strays away from the romanticized version of Fae and magic in a manner more digestible for younger readers. Nevertheless, the magic system and world building of the novel is quite advanced and descriptive allowing for an immersive read that can be enjoyed by all ages.

This was just an okay book, the story and plot line are kinda weirdly paced, in places that should go faster it lags and the other way around. I enjoyed the book but is not memorable, nor the characters. They felt flat and underdeveloped. Is a valiant effort but I probably wouldnt compare it to other fae books like Holly Blacks or SJM

Ora and the Old God is a story of a young girl overly sheltered by her mother. On the day of her 17th birthday, her brother takes her on the Tabas Hunt. However, during the hunt, they run into trouble. Ora is taken to Tirnan by the menacing Tyg and her husband Callum. As Ora's held in Tirnan against her will, she refuses to conform in the hopes of finding her brother. 

During her captivity, Ora learns about the differences in magic within the fae realm. It is during this that Ora gets swept into the magic and her ability to wield it. 

This book was delightful, especially with the world-building. The fae world introduced has vastly different magical creatures. Each of these creatures has a hierarchy. The first of these hierarchies to be presented is within the royal city of Mysanhal. It is confusing with all of these different creatures, and I hope there will be more explanation in the second book. 

The main protagonist, Ora, is not that complex of a character. Whereas the antagonist, Tyg is villainous and downright delusional in her actions to defend her people. Ora’s motivation and goal are pretty simplistic in this book: returning home and finding her brother. But with Tyg, there seems to be a more complex storyline that hopefully will be fleshed out in the second book. 

Overall, the book is fascinating, and I can not wait for the second book. There are so many questions regarding Ora and her lineage and Tyg and her desire to destroy the sylv and “lesser” creatures. These questions will likely be answered during the second book, or perhaps small tidbits of information will be given, leaving the reader eager for more. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this ARC.

I received a copy though NetGalley for review.

So overall I actually enjoyed this one.
The writing hovers somewhere between middle grade and YA.
If you have been looking for something romance free- here it is. There so far is absolutely no romance for the MC. Which feels refreshing. That's right a 17 year old girl who isn't looking for a husband! Feels like a miracle.

Ora is hurled into the world of Fae- the majority ruler is of a sect call the Dren. 
From what I can gather in this world, different fae have different magical abilities. Some have power within, others are elemental, some alchemical. And there are some things that are very, very old, and seem to like to meddle with their own. 

The Queen knows Ora is not what she seems, and hands Ora to the household of leaders of her guard . 
Tyg Marigen known as the Magis (the most power combat mage) and her husband the leader known as Valor of the Yewolyns.
Tyg is power hungry and vicious. Threatening anyone who challenges her, and will kill and maim without hesitation. 
Ora does her best to blend in, while she looks for a way to escape. Her only thoughts are how to get away and transform her brother back into a human. Before he can be hunted as a brush pig.

She makes some interesting allies along the way. And the discovery of her powers, she has a lot of potential if she can harness it properly.

This book felt somewhere between a novella and a prequel. And I'm looking forward to see where this heads next. As the ending was somewhat surprising. There's a big clash coming up!
It was a fun read.