This book has an awesome premise and some really strong bones. The setting—a futuristic post-apocalyptic world that’s drifted back to a fantasy vibe is something I've seen done a few times, and I'm always excited to see it. The problem is you slowly realise this, and as certain things are reveal the language of these changes to modern language, and that is really jarring. The reasoning that the character reads a lot and so knows the names isn't really enough, it would have been better to keep terms like hermit throughout. It sometimes breaks the immersion, but it’s a small hiccup in an otherwise cool world.

Orpheus might be a bit of a crier, but hey, he’s going through some things. I have a preference for the silent type, so take it with a pinch of salt when I say he could suppress the emotions a little bit more, it just seems for a character that's been keeping things in, he spend the whole book letting those emotions out! The steampunk elements are unexpected, and while they feel a little out of place in this book, it opens up a lot of possibilities for a sequel. The world was great, but I don't think we needed everything that was in there to tell the story, because that's what the book should have focused on, telling the story, rather than taking us on a tour of the world they'd created. Because, it was a great world, but you should be given bits of info that serve the journey and the story.

In short: this is a solid 3.5-star read, but I’m rounding down to 3 because because there's just too much going on, and there's some issues with immersion and pacing. However, I am keen to see what this author does next. With a bit of polish, their next book could be amazing!

2.5 stars rounded up. Man I really wanted to like this book and the premise sounded great but it completely fell flat. The world-building was confusing, the setting a bit nonsensical, and it was incredibly hard to follow. I could not relate to either main character - they both felt lacking and two dimensional. In the end this was a total miss for me.

"The two of them stood frozen together as if time itself ticked only for them, the future held at bay as long as they never moved on from this moment."

This book exceeded all of my expectations. I’m drawn to stories with well-crafted redemption arcs, where characters heal and reconcile with their past selves, embracing who they can become despite their flaws. While I thought the build-up to the romance was a bit shallow, the way their relationship blossomed throughout was endearing to read. This was a fantastic debut and cannot wait to read her next book!

The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn aka Orpheus and the mortifying ordeal of being known

I received an ARC of this book-

4.5 stars, because all the things I had a small issue with probably could have been fixed with a little more developmental editing. I have sat on reviewing this book for way longer than I should have because I really was all over the place mentally lately and was struggling to talk about what I love here without giving any spoilers! It’s really hard because the magic of it is really things that I cannot even begin to talk about without ruining that for you all, but I shall endeavor to do so.

At its core, this book is about a man (Orpheus) struggling to reconcile his past and present and his place in the world. He has participated in and wrought horrible things on his world- he literally ripped open a crack to the hells in service of his conqueror best friend, Lore. His magic and his curse become too dangerous, so she sends him away from the palace- which he has never left in his life. And that comes with Fenrir, Lore’s other general and his rival, unexpectedly following him. It is about a man realizing his power, seeing himself clearly for the first time, learning he has greatly miscalculated in his estimations of those around him, basically having to tear himself down and apart and figure out what’s even left of him after you take away Lore.

He cries, he tears at himself, he screams and wallows and sleeps it out. It’s cathartic and at times hard to watch because Orpheus is no surprise hero, in his own estimations. He really has done something horrible to the world, and none of it makes up for what has been done to him. How do you heal yourself when you suddenly find it might be your duty to heal others? How do you even handle falling in love in these circumstances? (spoiler: poorly) He sees himself as a monster incapable of fixing or changing and it's rough.

Anyway I mentioned that Orpheus is so repressed that he’s an unreliable narrator which is pretty much all I can say on the subject. The setting, the magic, the people around him- he covers it all in these layers of abstraction that made me keep gasping as more is revealed and his inner walls get knocked down. Everything is not as it seems and Orpheus as a window into that is a fucking delight beyond measure.

What a debut novel! The characters and worldbuilding! This was a book worth reading! I love seeing and reading new books that represent LGBTQA+. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for a chance to advance read this novel!

The worldbuilding is wonderful, and I liked the basic concept of the novel, but unfortunately the characters and most of the situations they found themselves in felt like stock templates from a role-playing game. So, even though the concept was unique and the redemption arc compelling, it still felt predictable and formulaic.
Altogether, I thought this was a decent first novel, and I think the author will be one to watch once she's grown into her own more unique style.

Orpheus created the machines his best friend used to take over the world. When that gets him exiled, & he sees the damage he’s wrought, he chooses to do what he can to repair the world.

There was a lot I liked about this. It was a fascinating mix of post apocalyptic, science fiction, & fantasy! There’s some really great world building, & some really interesting characters that loved.

But everything ended up feeling really rushed, especially the romance. I didn’t feel like I got enough time to want to root for Orpheus and Fenrir getting together. And the ending was way too abrupt. I’d definitely be interested in reading a follow up, especially if we get to really spend some time with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press for this arc!

I believe this is a debut book, and wow what a promising start for a fantasy author. Orpheus is a dark magician who does everything he can to help his one friend to take over the world. When he is cast out and left to his own devices, he starts to realize that he may not want to be the villain any longer. With him at every step I. The journey, Fenrir is his one time rival and the one person who seems to get beyond Orpheus’s shields. I thought the world building was so interesting. It is a mix of dystopian and fantasy the felt very believable and the characters are all really well developed. I am excited to see what this author writes next. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

the fact that this is a debut is pretty impressive cause i found the setting, magic and story itself to be decently fleshed out, especially considering that the book is more character driven than anything. i guess in a sense we are following the “villain” of the story in Orpheus who’s dark magic was used to basically destroy the world. it was interesting seeing Orpheus struggle with feeling responsible for all the wreckage he had caused, battling both guilt and this unwavering need to be useful— whether the person on the opposite end had good intentions for him or not.

the main draw for me was the gradual relationship between Orpheus and Fenrir, who is a guard of sorts to the current leader of this broken world. their banter was top tier and i love when one character thinks the other has hated them all this time, only to find out that couldn’t have been further from truth. the way Fenrir opened up Orpheus’ eyes to all that was really going on and how he could help make a change was really endearing. i felt their connection from the start and couldn’t wait for the moment where they’d finally share how they felt. im just glad i got to witness their journey to restoring what was broken, discovering the happiness they could have as the people they chose to be instead of what they could offer, all while falling in love with one another and the special kind of power that comes from having someone who loves you for you.

Excellent book, love it! Looking forward to more from this author! This was right up my alley! I'll be following this author from now on (on socials not IRL 😅)

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did not really enjoy this book, my problem was that I thought this was going to have a completely different plot. I expected a villain as MC, but he totally wasn’t. This felt more like a cozy fantasy. Majority of the book had a static plot, we got more action only in the end, but by then I wasn’t really interested in it. Overall this was not a great pick for me.

[I received a digital ARC for an honest review]

You can see I gave this a 5-star rating, so I will try and keep my gushing to a minimum and get down to the brass tacks.

What is this book about (in my own words): A grumpy, cursed sorcerer is kicked out of his home in order to find a 'cure' for his curse, with only his adorably happy rival to assist him.

What I LOVED about this book:
- The Characters
There wasn't a single character that I didn't enjoy reading about, including the side characters. All of them felt fully imagined, with their own personalities and backstories. Orpheus and Fenrir are both adorable in completely different ways, and their dynamic was just... too good.
- The World-building/Magic System
I would gladly read an entire series set in this world. Without spoiling anything, it was a fascinating take on magic, both in the system itself and in the way it is rolled out throughout the story.
- The Romance
The Banter. The quiet longing, but without too much angst. It was such a satisfying balance.

What I didn't love:
- Some may find Orpheus just a tad too emotional at the end. If just a few of the less impactful emotional scenes had been cut, I feel like it would have increased the potency of the scenes that were kept in.
-This is going to be a strange piece of feedback, but the word 'anathema' was used too many times. It started to jar me out of the story a little bit. I wish a handful of times this word was used was exchanged with other synonyms.

Overall, I had a GREAT time with this book. It is my understanding that this is a standalone, and it reads well as such, but I also would read any potential sequels or spin-offs that could come out. It pulled on my heartstrings, but not so much as to become overwhelming. I will be keeping an eye out for a special edition physical copy to come out, and if it does I will be buying it right up.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything blends a post apocalyptic dystopia with fantasy and steampunk elements. We follow Orpheus a dark wizard who accidentally cursed himself helping Lore, his childhood friend, come into power by unleashing an army of hell beasts. When his curse becomes a burden to Lore’s rule he’s banished from the only home he’s ever known. His once rival the charming Fenrir much to his annoyance decides to follow along acting as a guide and protector. Orpheus must confront the consequences of his actions outside the palace and reluctantly embarks on a heroes journey.

I love a villain redemption arc and found the world this takes place in so interesting with its blend of fantasy and magic and leftover technology from a catastrophic event. The characters are complex and lovable and the growth Orpheus undergoes is heartfelt and emotional. It left me wanting more, more of the world, more of the characters and the people they encounter. The ending was high stakes, heart wrenching, yet satisfying and heading into the climax I wasn’t able to put it down.

Weaker elements included some tonal shifts and pacing elements. I also found myself wishing for more about the character of Lore. But these are minor complaints and overall I was really invested and look forward to its continuation. And while it is the beginning of a series, it wrapped up in a satisfying way and feels complete on its own.

I would recommend for readers interested in a unique fantasy setting, with lovable characters, adventure, and a bit of romance.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost, it’s absolutely astounding that this is a debut novel. Not many debut authors can accomplish feats of such phenomenal world building, character growth and plot development.

The real winner here was the characters, they all had so much heart, no matter their actions. They were all so well thought out and worked incredibly within the story. Orpheus’s arc within the story was just something I adored, he’s such a compelling character and I love him.

Overall it’s a fantastic queer story. Orpheus and Fenrir are so adorable I just want to smush them together. The grumpy x sunshine trope was done so well, the banter, the nicknames? Ugh so good.

Give it a go if you love cosy fantasies with great world building and even better characters. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

I want to thank the author and netgalley for this ARC.
Loved the flashbacks and the pace of the story. It was fascinating. I enjoyed it very much.

Many thanks to Tiny Fox Press for a complimentary eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Netherflame mage Orpheus has got it all: potent magical power beyond compare, a childhood friend whom he has helped conquer the world, and a library with every book he could possibly want. So when he finds himself banished from the Gilded Palace where he has spent his entire life, it comes as something of a shock. More surprisingly, he is escorted on his exile by an annoyingly handsome, irritatingly muscular rival. In this postapocalyptic and barren world, Orpheus's feelings for his companion grow while his revelations of the world beyond the palace shakes the firmament of everything he has believed.

Fiona Fenn has written a cracking good novel. At first, I was overwhelmed by the rules of the world but Fiona helped introduce it organically in a way that supported the narrative without pausing it for explication. This is no small feat in the world of fantasy! I did not initially find myself relating to or even liking Orpheus -- his motivations seemed very opaque to me -- but I came to understand him through the many flashback sequences and through his relationships with other characters. Fenrir is a dashing, handsome, and charismatic foil to Orpheus's self-doubting and morally ambiguous character. Fenrir may seem flat to some but I appreciate that we are seeing him wholly through Orpheus's perspective. That doesn't mean I didn't want to know more about Fenrir and his own demons though. The world was truly fantastical and I can only hope for more detail about the magi-technological world that has been constructed. The cast of supporting characters, while few, are great and the antagonist is sufficiently terrifying (though I want to know more about them!). The story is ultimately one of redemption, love, and sacrifice.

The pacing of the novel was somewhat tricky. While the flashbacks helpfully convey important details about Orpheus's past and his character, they interrupt the flow of the ongoing narrative and do not always feel as though they serve to heighten the story. It was nice to have these scenes fully fleshed out, of course, especially since Orpheus mentions many of these in passing to Fenrir, but I can't help but feel there could have been a better way to convey this to the reader.

I really enjoyed The Tarot Sequence series by K.D. Edwards and found some of that joy in The Crack at the Heart of Everything too. I'm thankful for complex stories about flawed characters who find love in unexpected places. I'm surprised to learn that this was Fiona Fenn's debut novel because it shows a maturity and sophistication I would expect of a more established writer. I'd eagerly read more books set in this world and I can only imagine future books will be even better.

Post-apocalyptic future fantasy romance. Lately I’ve been really into characters who are vicious, emotionally guarded, and morally grey at best. The blurb made it sound like this book had an evil main character so I jumped on it when I saw the ARC on NetGalley. The MC Orpheus is actually a good person who was manipulated into doing bad things, he’s also very vulnerable and weepy. Those aren’t bad things but they’re the exact opposite of what I wanted or expected from this book. The relationship between Orpheus and Fenrir changed from hostility to love in an instant which never works for me. The actual antagonist of this book was the evil empress Lor, I would’ve loved a book about her.

This is definitely more of a me problem than a problem with the book and I imagine this book is going to work for a lot of people looking for a fantasy romance with rivals to lovers, anxiety rep, and a touch-starved MC.

CWs: animal death, gore, self-harm, human experimentation, child neglect, toxic friendship

A post-apocalyptic fantasy with violet-colored dark magic, where Hell beasts have taken over the world and survival is a literal fight, this book has all the awesome!

Our hero isn't a hero at all; in fact, Orpheus is The Dark Wizard who'd built an army (of dark magitech and skeletons) that'd just conquered most of what remained of the world for his only friend, the dark empress. The empress, a malignant narcissist to boot, is more than happy to exile him the moment the inconvenience of his presence outweighs the usefulness of his magic.

I loved Orpheus because he pushes people away rather than let them see him as human, because every chink in his armor has been used against him. Seeing how he opens up to Fenrir's love (even though the man has to fight him tooth and nail for it) in a full-fledged character arc that doesn't pull punches is nothing short of cathartic.

This book is so full of ideas that it keeps up an incredible pace while also taking time for profound character moments, centering around a redemption arc for a person whose actions should have put him well beyond saving but his deep feelings and deeper insecurities make you want to hug him tight until he accepts his worth. (Which is exactly what Fenrir does.)

I absolutely recommend this book and I'll be getting a copy for my shelf for sure.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC! I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

I really liked the premise of this book and I liked the main character. However, I think there are some issues with the structure and pacing that led to it falling rather flat. I also think that some aspects of the story, which could have been interesting to explore, such as Orpheus’ naïveté to the real world, were skimmed over.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything is dark, mysterious, heartfelt (even heartbreaking at times), and even a little romantic. It pulled me in from the start with its snarky, incredibly lonely dark mage—called Orpheus (perfectly). In a post-apocalyptic meets high fantasy setting, ‘Everything’ asks, how much would we give up to give others a future? There are no easy answers or uncomplicated heroes, but it’s a dramatic yet hopeful fantasy, and I enjoyed it.

Thank you Tiny Fox Press and NetGalley for the ARC.