Thank you netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book. Unfortunately this book was a DNF for me, I'm not saying it was a terrible book I did like what I read but maybe I just wasn't in the mood or just not ready to read it. I would definitely give it another go in the future but like I said it wasn't bad, I did enjoy what I read just maybe a different time and place and I will actually read it all

This book reminds me of Alice and wonderland,
This book reminds me of Wizard of Oz.
This book has Harry Potter vibes,
This author might read Neil Gaiman.
Ooh, that reminds me of Eragon.

These are the thoughts I had while read this beautiful tale full of magic and adventure. My conclusion is that this story is strong enough to stand alone. Apart from any possible influences. A strong YA fantasy book. Thank you to the publisher and net gallery for letting me read this enchanting tale.

I was very excited by the premise of this book, and excited to dive into it. As I started reading I got less and less interested. The main character, Elle, felt so flat an unrealistic even within the bounds of a fantasy novel. There were definitely parts I enjoyed, but mostly I just wanted to reach into the book, like Elle does the painting and grab her out of there. The mentor-mentee relationship left a sour taste in my mouth and I didn't even want to finish the book.

The concept of this book was absolutely fascinating and I was drawn in by the idea of Elle falling from the sky, the loss of her memory and the way magic was used - including soul magic and a magical painting the characters could enter - piqued my interest. Unfortunately the world and the magic system was never explained. It felt almost like the world was unfolding as the characters moved through it. You didn't know dragons existed until they appeared. Same with places or kinds of peoples. And despite the story being about a quest, the narrative didn't move the characters through so much as telling you the characters moved from place to place, not allowing the reader to spend time with and connect with the characters. The story had so much potential, but in the end I didn't connect with it.

"Like the whole point of being alive was to either run into the sun or clear the way for someone else to do the same."

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was wavering between four and four ½ stars, but that plot twist and ending really solidified it for me. Four ½ stars it is!

The worldbuilding and magic system: 4.5/5
I would’ve liked to see more context of the wider world (what is the world called? What are the different countries and leaders?) but I understand that maybe it wasn't relevant. Seeing as this is a series, I’d certainly like to see more of Elle’s adventures around this world later on. But the real star of this story was the magic system. It was clearly very well thought out. The imagery and descriptions were fantastic, and the way the author handled the magic was quite unique.

The characters: 4/5
I understand why Adair and Leslie were the way they were, but that didn’t help my feelings of irritation towards them. However, it wasn’t so much that I couldn’t look past it. Elle was a great main character, and her character development was enjoyable to read. My favourite characters were probably Cypress (even with his limited time in the story lol) and Honeycutt. Overall, the characters were all interesting and had their own sort of mystery that kept me attached.

The plot: 4/5
This story has so many things I love - demons, and curses, and gods, and even dragons! Did I mention that I read this in two days? It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I stayed up way too late reading till the end. It was perfectly fast-paced, other than maybe the beginning which did seem to throw the reader a little too quickly into the action.
I knew there was going to be a major plot twist from the beginning, but boy was my guess wrong. The plot twist at the end was great, and it added such an interesting twist to the story. Everything adds up so much better once you’ve read to the end. I will say that it did open some unanswered questions, but I’m assuming they will be answered in the next installment. Overall, this was an unique and interesting read, and it was particularly commendable for being a debut book.

This was a very fast-paced YA fantasy, with a touch of magic and mystery (I was a bit confused in the beginning until I found my way in the story.) It's simple writing, which is just a product of the genre and aimed demographic, so it makes sense. I did feel like it was more character-driven than world-driven which is sometimes something I struggle with in fantasy because I enjoy the world-building this genre is known for. I think because of this lacking element, it kept a good book from becoming a great book.

Overall, the ending was pretty awesome and rounded off the book as a whole for me.

Tropes:
Found family
Willful female protagonist
Interesting villain(s)

I would recommend to readers.

I have so many mixed feelings about this book. First of all it's queer AF and I love it for that. Unfortunately, some of the style precluded me from a) a smooth reading experience and b) becoming fully immersed int the story. The idea that Elle fell from the sky is mentioned ad nauseum. Yes, it's the central premise of the book, but I feel like I read it over and over and over again. She fell from the sky. We get it.

Secondly, the book is written with a bit of a lilt in it whether it be Irish or Scottish. Unfortunately, there were enough parts of the conversation to note a lilt or a dialect, but it was not pervasive enough throughout the book to give it a sense of place. Instead I wondered why certain people were speaking a certain way.

I wanted to like this book more than I did.

This debut YA novel is such a creative and fun exploration of the lengths one would take for love. It took me a bit of time to really get into the story and mesh with the characters.

This book is not what I expected. We follow Elle on an epic adventure with such a unique magic system. When she falls from the house in the sky, where she has been stuck for the last decade, she has to figure out who she is and where she came from. What feels like a straightforward journey turns into a mystery as Elle tries to reclaim her memories and re-discover who she is. And while the beginning of the story is confusing, it makes sense because even the main character does not know what is going on. One of my favorite things about this book was the magic system in this book, and there is so much I would love to read more about. The impossible markets are such an incredible concept! It’s really unlike any other fantasy story.

I loved the world-building and all the characters. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Salem's Where the Lightning Goes is a wonderful hero's journey with a twist. Elle's adventure from beginning to end is filled with emotion, desire, and a dash of confusion which pulls you through at a comfortable pace.
The supporting characters are usually more interesting than Elle, but there's plenty of reason for that. The story weaves a complex tale using multiple POVs to seamlessly combine the perspectives into one that feels like you're right there beside Elle.
I look forward to more from Salem.

This debut YA novel is such a creative and fun exploration of the lengths one would take for love. It took me a bit of time to really get into the story and mesh with the characters. Parts felt disjointed and rushed while others were perfect for that point in the story. I love the creativity in the character development and relationship between each, the growth that each experiences until that pivotal moment.

If you’re looking for a good starter fantasy novel that doesn’t have too much complex world building but will still bring enough joy of magic, this is one is a strong recommend!

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ARC!

There was so much mystery in this book. So many twists and turns that kept me turning the pages for more and it also kinda gave me Studio Ghibli vibes which I’m a huge fan of. ! I definitely recommend this book!
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣

So the real hero of the hour is that fact this book exists and you are going to read it against so you don’t have any spoilers. All I’ll say is that the concepts found in this boom make it entertaining and grounded but imaginative at the same time.

This book is not what I expected. We follow Elle on an epic adventure with such a unique magic system. When she falls from the house in the sky, where she has been stuck for the last decade, she has to figure out who she is and where she came from. What feels like a straightforward journey turns into a mystery as Elle tries to reclaim her memories and re-discover who she is. And while the beginning of the story is confusing, it makes sense because even the main character does not know what is going on. One of my favorite things about this book was the magic system in this book, and there is so much I would love to read more about. The impossible markets are such an incredible concept! It’s really unlike any other fantasy story.

This book is driven by the characters and how they relate to one another, and I found the relationship between Adaire and Leslie so interesting because they are two halves of the same person. Wanting to literally cut out your emotions so you don’t have to deal with your problems is incredibly relatable. And the fact that Leslie cries over the smallest of inconveniences is also super relatable. I am looking forward to reading more books in this universe!

Where the Lightening Goes is one of my new favorite books! It was a really exciting and engaging and I absolutely loved the world building. I can’t wait to read more from Salem and I hope we see more from Elle’s story in the future!

I loved this so much, this is so unique and interesting, the world building is incredibly well written and I love how more of the world is revealed slowly as the mystery unravels too I felt this added to the sense of adventure and it truly feels like you're going on this journey with Elle. Also the characters are so diverse and none they all have un-reedeming qualities yet they're so likeable anyway. The mystery is incredible intriguing and I really can't wait to read the next book and learn more about this world and demons. I also love that although Elle is your typical protagonist who is super strong it's not thrown in your face and she actually puts a lot of effort into learning her magic, which is described beautifully, and she seems like a very raw, real person. Overall it was an amazing fantasy and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGallery, the author and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange to my honest opinion. This one was quite enjoyable but to be true it wasn’t my cup of tea but I still enjoyed very much and I can’t wait for the next one if there is one I liked the ending as well!

This story was whimsical and weaved together with relatability, flaws, and fantasy. There are wizards, dragons, magic, and an amazing backdrop for the story to unfold. I had a hard time putting the story down, so I didn't! It captured me and held me tight until the last page!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this story in exchange for a honest review.

Where the Lightening Goes by Jackary Salem is a wonderful fantasy novel with spunky characters and a descriptive world. The story tells of Elle, who falls out of the sky and goes on an adventure to find her memories and her magic. Elle is a spitfire of a character who is determined and resourceful. She meets a wizard Adair, who she challenges to teach her magic. Along the way, they discover their pasts and the truth about each other.
I loved this story. The characters are unique and original. The plot is unlike any I've read before. It is full of magic, demons, gods, dwarves, and the tethers that bind them all. It is also about friendship, guilt, grief, and the emotions and desires that make one human. It has adventure and romance and mystery, all interwoven in a fantasy story. I highly recommend this novel, especially if you like fantasy stories. I am eagerly awaiting the second book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

Where the Lightning Goes is a story about Elle, a girl who has absolutely no memory of her life before falling out of the sky. Desperate to get her memory back, Elle is determined to do whatever it takes no matter the cost. In many cases during the book as you trudge through marketplaces and down roads with Elle and her companions, that you can almost visualize exactly where they're going through the author's use of words and descriptors! One thing that I loved about this novel is that Elle is a character that you want to root for, which not all authors achieve. What I had trouble with - was the ending. Without giving anything away, I do wish that the ending had been a little more drawn out and delved into on a deeper level.

Yes! A YA fantasy that has so many twists and turns you will be on your toes until the very end. Great, clear writing., Good character development, excellent story line.

Clean read for YA