When I first requested this ARC, I assumed from the title—Part One—that it was the beginning of a new series. I didn’t realize there was a book before it (A Land of Shadows and Moss), but once I found out, I went back to read that one first—and I’m so glad I did. I was hooked immediately. Gelpi’s writing, worldbuilding, and characters pulled me in from the very first page, and it made the experience of diving into The Dandelion Tree: Part One even more rewarding.

In this installment, we follow Princess Kharis, who is caught between political manipulation, ancient magic, and the fire demon bound within her. The emotional complexity of her character, her connection with her sister Saya, and the moral and spiritual weight she carries give this story so much depth. Gelpi doesn't just tell a fantasy story—she crafts an emotional journey that lingers long after you put the book down.

The prose is absolutely beautiful—lyrical without being overwrought—and the pacing balances quiet, introspective moments with rising tension. I especially loved how the story explored themes of trauma, control, and healing. Kharis isn’t your typical “chosen one” heroine; she’s a young woman fighting not just for survival, but for the right to choose who she becomes.

I would recommend reading A Land of Shadows and Moss first to fully appreciate the world and characters. But whether you’re new to Gelpi’s work or returning for more, this is a stunning continuation that deepens everything that came before.

⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
The Dandelion Tree — A Slow-Burn Fantasy with Heart, Magic, and Sisterly Bonds 🌿✨

The Dandelion Tree sweeps you into a richly crafted fantasy world where magic is powerful, mysterious, and sometimes heartbreaking. At the center of it all is Kharis, the Djinnshirukh, a vessel for the Akumi king’s spirit. Her powers are immense but come with a heavy price: a bond that isolates her and puts her in constant danger. Her sister Saya, the Sorukhipa, stands by her as protector and companion, their connection the emotional core of the story. Together, they face a fate that’s as beautiful as it is brutal 🌙💔.

One of the standout things about this book is the world-building. The magical system, deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual traditions, feels original and immersive. The way hair magic, ancient kings, and spiritual vessels are woven together adds a fresh layer to the genre’s usual tropes 🧙‍♀️🔮. The atmospheric descriptions of landscapes, rituals, and hidden histories pull you into a world that’s equal parts enchanting and dangerous 🌲🏯.

Kharis is a complex and compelling protagonist — torn between duty and desire, power and vulnerability. You really feel her internal struggle as she tries to navigate a life controlled by forces beyond her control. Saya, her loyal sister, provides warmth and grounding, and their bond feels genuine and heartbreaking all at once 💞🤝. Their relationship is the heart of the novel, giving it emotional depth that’s rare in many fantasy stories.

However, the book isn’t without its flaws. The pacing is uneven and definitely leans toward the slow side — think more simmer than boil ⏳🐢. The first half is heavy on character introspection and world-building, which some readers might appreciate, but others may find a bit too slow or dense. The plot only really starts to pick up in the latter sections, but even then, some key story threads feel left hanging, likely because this is the opening act of a larger series 📖🔮.

The prose itself is poetic and rich, painting vivid pictures and setting a dreamy, mystical tone 🌫️✨. That said, sometimes the lush descriptions and deep dives into the lore slow down the story, making it feel like you’re wading through thick fog instead of moving forward at a brisk pace. This style will charm readers who love immersive fantasy but might frustrate those looking for more action and clearer plot momentum ⚔️🔥.

Overall, The Dandelion Tree is a thoughtful, emotional journey that rewards patience and attention. It’s perfect for readers who want to get lost in a beautifully realized world and experience a sisterly bond that’s as fierce as it is fragile 🌹💫. If you’re hoping for high-octane fantasy battles or fast-moving political intrigue, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you love slow-burn magic, layered relationships, and evocative storytelling, there’s a lot here to admire.

Final Verdict: 3/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆

A heartfelt, atmospheric fantasy that shines brightest in its emotional depth and original magic — but takes its time getting there. It’s a gentle, slow-building read with moments of real beauty and pain, perfect for curling up with on a quiet day 🌿📚. I’m curious to see where the story goes from here, and if the next books bring more action and clarity to match the gorgeous setup.

If you’re into magical realism meets fantasy with sisterhood and soul, give The Dandelion Tree a shot. Just be ready to savor the journey at its own thoughtful pace 🍃✨.

The Dandelion Tree, Part One is a quiet, poetic, and emotionally layered read that took me by surprise. It leans more literary than fantasy, but the way it explores grief, identity, and healing through a slightly surreal lens felt powerful and deeply personal.

A.S.R. Gelpi’s writing is tender and evocative, with characters that feel raw and real. This isn’t a plot-heavy story, it’s introspective and slow-burning, with the kind of prose that lingers in your mind long after you’ve put the book down.

Pros:
•Gorgeously written, lyrical and full of heart without being overly flowery.
•The emotional depth is real. You feel these characters.
•A unique structure and storytelling style that sets it apart from typical genre books.

Cons:
•Definitely slow-paced. If you’re looking for big plot twists or action, this isn’t that.
•The surreal elements may not work for everyone, they felt more metaphorical than literal.
•Some transitions between scenes or perspectives could’ve been smoother.

Overall, this is one of those books that quietly gets under your skin. It’s beautifully introspective and emotionally honest and by the end, I was ready for Part Two. Not your average fantasy, but something deeper.

Although the title is somewhat confusing, this being the second book in the series this amazing epic continues to enthrall me! The writing is so beautiful and captivating, heavy world building throughout but also quite a bit of action along with excellent character growth and development for the main characters. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

"I swore to find you in every timeline and universe - and I did"

- 3.5 stars (rounded to 4)
- Epic fantasy
- Beautiful developed world
- Complex characters
- Multi POV
- Series (second book)

A.S.R Gelpi has created a beautiful world. It is well developed and thought out. It has everything you would want in an epic fantasy, complex characters, multi POV, history, magic and depth. The world is beautifully described, you can immerse yourself into the world while reading the book.

It did take me a while to get into the book, which is why I have given it 3.5 stars. I felt like I had to push through the first nine chapters, and I wasn’t excited to read it. I’m not sure if this is because I haven’t read the first book (A Land of Shadows and Moss), but I will be reading that in the near future. I also wasn't really excited to pick up and read the book, but I did enjoy the story when I sat and got back into it.

I enjoyed the pace of the book, and the quotes at the start of each chapter. I loved the unique story and the beautiful world. I will be reading the next book in the series. I'm excited to see where the story goes and to see the relationships develop between the characters.

Summary:
I would recommend this book to fantasy book lovers. The world is well thought out and you can really enjoy the story.

Thank you to A.S.R. Gelpi, Silver River Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"The Dandelion Tree" is the kind of story that asks a lot of the reader. The characters and the connections are strong but the journey to find the story takes a little while. The relationships are challenging and at times it seems like there are do loops of behaviors. It isn't until about half way through the story that everything came together for me and Kharis took hold of my imagination.

This story is complex fantasy that asks for your total surrender. But as always with stories like this, it's worth the effort.

The way the book is marketed I didn't realize this was a second book when I requested it! So I was pretty confused when I first started. The storyline was okay, probably would have enjoyed it more had a I read the first one.

Utterly compelling, even without having read the first book, I was hooked. It has everything you need in a good fantasy book and was easy to follow (not like some fantasy books where you need to be taking notes on who's who and where's what). Don't skip on this one!

Thank you Netgalley, Silver River Publishing, and A.S.R. Gelpi for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

For some reason my review never got posted, but I really enjoyed this book! It was fantastic in every way.

It's hard to review without spoilers because a crazy amount of stuff happened. The character development was beyond amazing, and I love traveling farther into this stunningly beautiful world.

The dynamic between Kharis and Saya was incredible, and it was a joy to watch them grow more into themselves with each page. There were lots of struggles, but they do their best to overcome them.

This book is deeply immersive, and I think it would be fantastic for an older teen.

This is one I just couldn’t get into. The premise is interesting but I think it suffered from the fact I didn’t realize this is the 2nd in a series not the first and I don’t connect with the characters enough to warrant a deep dive into the first book to fully understand the world and background. I liked the relationship between the sisters but the POVs jumped around so much it made it hard to follow. I DNFd and didn’t make it through.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I want to state up front that I did DNF this book at 20% when I realised I was not the intended audience for it.
I originally requested a copy of this book thinking it was the first book of a series since it stated part 1, but afterwards realised that it is in fact a sequel. Maybe if I had read the first book this one would have made more sense.
Overall I think the writing is good, the plot is intriguing and the relationship between the 2 sisters Kharis and Saya is heartwarming.
There were moments this book really captivated me- the first time we heard the voice, the bouquet, finding out about the Akumi King.
But the good for me was eclipsed by the not so good. I found I never really felt any urgency, and the way the scenes were written I felt like I was being told how to feel vs really feeling the emotions the characters did. This made the similar names 'Aram Zhad' vs 'Arjun Ghad' and others a slog to manoeuvre through because frankly I wasn't invested in any of them and couldn't keep track of who was who.
Overall a lot of potential and an intriguing premise but not for me. I imagine those who read the first book might enjoy this more.
This review is posted on Goodreads.

I came across this novel out of nowhere, not knowing exactly what a sequel would be, and I requested it. And I was in for a big surprise. Obviously, I read it first to understand it, and it was a breath of fresh air, and this sequel is no slouch.

The Dandelion Tree presents greater depth in the relationship between the two sisters and further enhances the universe created in the first installment, strengthening the story and the relationship between the sisters. Highly recommended.

Epic fantasy, magical, deep sisterly bond and a beautiful world. Made by this author.
The worldbuilding has purpose, iis immersive and full of depth, offers political intrigue, ancient secrets, high stakes, and a bit of mystique.
A really good read, kept me wanting more.
Thank you for this ARC read!

Two sisters are tired together by fate, love, and tradition. One sister carries an imprisoned and dangerous being inside her, and the other must protect her from assasins and herself. Yet, questions arise as to what is the truth and what have been lies.

I enjoyed the general plot of the book, the romance, and the two main characters. However, the plot becomes confusing in the second half of the book.

<strong>NetGalley Pre-release</strong>

When I agreed to review this in exchange for an early released copy, I assumed it was the beginning of a series, since it said part 1 in the title, and there was no mention of additional novels being tied to it.

Turned out that was a false assumption on my part. Tracked down Book 1, not Part 1, and read it first. This is definitely not a story to be read out of order. The true Book 1 is over 500+ pages, coming with plenty of "explicit warning,"although they were supposedly closed door scenes. It was through reading Book 1 that I found out this was meant to be a rather larger scale release of 8 books, along with 3 novellas, with "The Dandelion Tree" of over 300 pages, being considered one of the novellas.

Book 1 had an order and flow to it, and the main plot was laid out. Not so much in this one.
From the beginning, this one jumps around from one confusing scene to another and by 10%, chapter 9, out of 72, I was so confused and having trouble focusing on any flow to the content provided.
I started this right after Book 1, so I was even more confused by the sudden transition from a narrative that had a flow, to this that seemed as if it was just random memories being shared to later be sorted out.

I wasn’t too positive on being able to make sense of this and actually make it through to the end, and had to take a break.

I did regain interest and picked it back up to finish. I also began looking further into the other titles. It shows them as once being available on NetGalley, but no longer so. There’s 2 buying sources listed, anut when clicking on the links, these both came back as no longer available.

Very disappointing. I read series for a reason. I wouldn’t have agreed to review or read this one, if I had known the others were no longer available. Maybe the author or the publisher are planning on releasing them all again. I’m not sure. But that doesn’t help my level of feeling invested, and then left high and dry with no clue to the rest.

I finally tracked down the release by going to A.S.R. Gelpi’s webpage, where it list in full the re-releases of the series.
Next one is not due out until December 2025, and the last three has a target date of sometime in 2028.

The tale of the sisters and their story is a very involved one, and incorporates an array of intriguing supporting casts and characters, aa well as the entire world building process.

Because of the confusion, I almost went with a 2 star rating, but because it did hold my interest I bumped it up to a 3

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, I want to state up front that I did DNF this book at 40% after realizing I was not the intended audience for it.

I had a hard time reading to 40.3%. It is described as an epic which typically features a journey, which initially drew my attention, however the journey still had not started. This fantasy is a romance set in a fantasy world, and the love triangle portrayed was not for me. Kharis and the gardener have an intriguing start to their relationship but the rush into infatuation by Kharis was not believable. The scenes with the voice/shadow figure just confused me.

There is action involved in the book, which the author writes well. If there had been movement towards a goal with the action I think the book would have held my attention longer (maybe there is a goal revealed later in the book that I had not picked up on yet.

Overall, this book was not for me however I think people who enjoy a darker romance set in a fantasy world may enjoy it.

The Dandelion Tree: Part One is a captivating continuation of Kharis and Saya’s journey. A.S.R. Gelpi balances sweeping fantasy elements with raw, personal stakes that make each decision feel deeply consequential and inherently relatable.

At the center of the story is the unshakeable bond between two sisters whose paths are defined by magic, fate, and sacrifice. Their relationship is nuanced—supportive yet strained, fierce yet fragile. The writing is engaging without being overly ornate, guiding the reader through a story rich with layered characters and intricate world-building.

This isn’t just a tale of good versus evil—it poses questions of choice, identity, and the weight of legacy. If you crave character-driven storytelling in a richly imagined world, add this book to your reading list.

The author describes this book as perfect for readers who love depth, deep characterization, a thoughtful plot, and a heroine's journey that stays with you. Unfortunately, I felt it missed the mark in these areas. The multiple POVs slowed the pacing and took away from what could have been richer character development. I think focusing on the two sisters, Kharis and Saya, would have made the story more engaging. The frequent POV changes were a bit confusing and disrupted the flow, even though they included important plot details. I struggled to get fully immersed in the story and had to push myself to keep reading. I did enjoy Kharis and Saya and their brief romantic and heartbreaking moments, but their adventures felt slow to start and ultimately anticlimactic. While I understand this is part one of a larger story, I believe each book should have its own unique appeal, which I didn't find in The Dandelion Tree: Part One.

Ooh the writing is so good in this one! The stakes are high and the story is gripping. The world building is great and so immersive and the characters development was great

This is Book 2 of a series! I feel that’s important to make sure everyone knows! Even though the title says “part one” it is book 2 of the series! Now, on to the review!

This book was great from start to finish. The writing is smooth and engaging. At the heart of the story is a beautiful, heartwarming bond between sisters that truly shines—it’s the kind of love that feels real and grounding, no matter how wild the plot gets.

I loved how the women in this story are powerful in their own ways—smart, strong, and unafraid to take charge, whether it’s in magic, politics, or relationships. The banter had me smiling more than once; it’s clever, charming, and never feels forced.

There’s a touch of spice—just enough to keep things interesting—but it never overshadows the emotional connections or the plot. Overall, this is a cozy, empowering, and fun read with just the right hint of romance. Highly recommend for anyone who loves sisterhood, wit, and strong female leads.