🌶️
Slow to start with an interesting plot idea but the audio version could have a drinking game around every time you hear the title, and you probably wouldn't make it to the end of the book. My favorite character is probably the animal sidekick Arie, who is the comic relief, voice of logic and agent of chaos. The FMC Rose is a weapon smith which is cool and adds to her badass points. The banter between her and Luc was cute. I enjoyed how the different courts worshiped different gods. It was unique. I enjoyed the second half more than the first. If you enjoy fae court intrigue, this is for you. Kasi Hollowell was the narrator, and she added at least half a star. She was enjoyable to listen to and captured the emotions and voices of side characters well.

⚔️Fake dating
🐾Slow burn
⚔️Enemies to lovers
🐾Elemental magic
⚔️Single PoV
🐾Dual timeline
⚔️One bed
🐾Secret lineage

Thank you Jillian Witt via Netgalley for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.

I was absolutely enchanted by Compass Points and am already looking forward to continuing the series. This was such a tight romantic fantasy with a unique magic system, great world building and solid cast of characters. I can't believe this series doesn't have more hype!

While working at her market booth as a weapons master, Rose meets Luc who is pushes hard trying to get Rose to make her a custom, enchanted weapon. She blows him off - but the two end up reconnecting to fight off the mysterious mist plague that has been pushing towns into a sleeping sickness. Along with Rose's companion, Ari, they head to the seat of the fae power, Compass Lake, to try and save their world from further devastation from the mist.

I really enjoyed this - there was a fake dating element, which I'm a big sucker for. But most of all, I really appreciated that we're not dealing with a young woman trying to come into her power - Rose knows who she is and knows she’s powerful. Luc is also an excellent MMC, he doesn't talk down to her, respects her expertise and her past. I listened to this as an audiobook, which is narrated by Kasi Hollowell, and I just adore her narration. I first came to know her from The Bonds that Tie series, and she does such a fantastic job of bringing this book to life.

Overall, I definitely recommend and can't wait to read the next books! Thanks so much to NetGalley and to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy.

This was a low spice, sweet romantic fantasy.
I loved how brave and strong Rose was despite all the things she had to endure. Her drive to protect those that couldn't protect themselves was endearing.
Luc was so understanding and In loved how he didn't even flinch as she let him into her life.
The fake dating turned real so quickly. They were destined for each other.
The narrator had the perfect voice to bring Rose's story to life.
It was cost with a dash of intrigue and I am excited to see what happens next

2-stars

Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!

The premise of this story was a fun, unique take on fae courts and elemental magic. I really liked the idea of the compass points for the structure and organization of magical beings. The story felt a little rushed and was very tropey, but would be an enjoyable read for someone getting back into fantasy books.

The audiobook was easy to listen to, but the voices the narrator chose to use for some characters was distracting to me.

I’ve had this sitting in my kindle for a while, so when I saw the audio arc pop up I jumped on it! Boy am I glad I did! This was such a good book! I enjoyed the characters and world building, the magic system & the love interest. Unique and never a dull moment. I’m certainly looking forward to reading the rest of this series!

This is a lovely light romantasy with a unique world that isn't overly complicated to understand. It's the kind of romantasy you can understand immediately without need to pour over a map or dictionary.

There are some fantastic tropes in this book, slow burn, hidden identity (Rose), 'enemies' to lovers, (although Luc's initial introduction is a little fighty, they're not true enemies), only one bed, fake dating and redemption.

The narrator Kasi Hollowell is fantastic at bringing the different characters to life, it's easy to distinguish the different characters through the narration.

I loved the premise of the story, Rose is an interesting multi-faceted character, we initially find out that Rose is a weapons master, she's got some magic, but we don't find out what until around 25% in the book. Rose has a shape shifting sidekick Ari, he's a fantastic addition to the story and has mystery of his own for us to learn.
Luc is a compass point, he's looking for a weapon to overcome the deadly mist that's plaguing their world. He seeks out Rose and asks her to join him to return to his home at the Compass lake to forge a weapon to fight with. Rose has secrets that she's eager to hide, but as she begins to trust Luc, she shares more and more about herself which is so lovely to read. Luc and Rose are so open with each other, it's refreshing to see a romantasy where the (would-be) couple actually communicate (!!!) and support each other with their endeavors.

The ending left me wanting more and wondering what will happen next, which left me diving straight into book 2 on Kindle Unlimited!

This was such a fun read! I loved how purely romantasy this book felt but still had a unique plot and main character. The world building quickly roped me in without being overly complicated and I wanted more and more. With old gods, elemental magic, fae, and more, it had so many pieces that the author fit together so well.

I truly enjoyed the main character Rose so much. Her wit and confidence were fun to read and I loved the element of her being a weapons master. I would’ve loved to see even more of her working in the forge and all the details of her craft. Luc was a cute love interest and I enjoyed how quickly he accepted Rose being a girl boss who could keep him on his toes. My one complaint might be that I wish he would’ve had to work a little harder to earn her feelings toward him BUT I loved how much he respected her power and abilities. Definitely hope to see more of his powers and possessiveness in the next book!

I can’t wait to continue this series and see where it goes! I became attached to the world, the plot, and the characters and need more of them. Would definitely recommend this one to any romantasy fan!

Surprised to see that this is a DEBUT NOVEL for this delightful author!

#CompassPoints by #JillianWitt is a magical realism, fantasy, Fae, kind-of-romance novel that will knock your socks off!

Rose is a weapons master who sells her goods at a local market. She gets by, but as you get to know her and her history you realize WHY she is doing this at all...
She also has her secrets!

When Luc, a Fae leader, comes to see her to purchase a weapon, she spots that he is something special right away. And although she is very reluctant to even TALK to him, she realizes that the best shot of them getting through what lies ahead, is together...

🛑 That’s all I’m giving you!! 🛑 I’m afraid if I delve too far into this, I will give too much away...and it is definitely something that you want to discover for yourself!

Beautiful world/kingdom building. Beautiful mastery of Fae language and points....
Sad history/past for the main character, but hopeful at the same time!

Also, this is book #1 of the series! So, if you enjoy this, there are more to look forward to!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #VictoryEditingNMetGalleyCoop for an ARC of the audiobook which was recently released, and I was lucky enough to get a copy of in exchange for an honest review! Look 👀 for it on shelves now!!

4 big, bright, misty ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

#CompassPoints (Book #1 in the Compass Points Universe) by #JillianWitt and narrated nicely by #KasiHollowell.

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I did have a bit of an issue getting into this one. The audiobook really propelled me through it thankfully. It was a light fantasy romance, not big on world building but I like the characters and the concept. Interested to read more in this series and see if it grows a bit.

I received this title as an ARC and I attest that I am leaving my review honestly and voluntarily.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher, and Jillian Witt for the audiobook for Compass Points!

This floated between a 3.5-4 star for me, so a very solid start to the series! I really enjoyed the magic system and the world building. This was very quick to understand, while still having the lore explained naturally as we navigated through the story.

I really enjoyed the complexities of our FMC, Rose. She clearly had a lot in her past that we unearthed through her trusting Luc (MMC) and through her nightmares. And her having an animal companion will always be a bonus for me, especially with everything we discover.

The romance was a little too quick for my personal preferences, but I still enjoyed. Luc is adorable and someone I also would love to commit petty theft with. 😉

I’m very intrigued by where we leave off and where the story will go with the remaining books!

A quick, easy to understand, intriguing fantasy with a good fake dating trope! I really really enjoyed this. There was enough world building to justify a short fantasy but with just enough intrigue to make me want to pick up book two. I really hope we dive into more of the magic system and the world building in the next one. The pacing was on the quicker side but I felt it was well paced overall. I'm really invested in Rose and Luc and I'm excited to see where the next book takes them!

Thank you so much Jillian for sending me a copy of your book and I'm so sorry it took me so long to get to it!

This is a cute, fluffy read that pairs fake dating and a national-parks-based fae setting. The idea of each fae court being set along one compass point of a lake was charming, and I enjoyed the whimsical magic of this world. The shapeshifting animal companion was a highlight.

The main character was a great spin on the “typical” romantasy FMC. Yes, she was independent and had some trauma in her past, but she didn’t slip into the trope of being too headstrong for her own good and being recklessly combative with everyone she met. I appreciated her approach. I also love that she’s a sword master! We love a girl with muscles. I was hoping to see more of that side of her throughout the story, but maybe that’ll come up in later books.

The romance was well balanced, with a reluctant allies to fake dating vibe. The book itself is short and moves quick, so I don’t think there’s enough time for a slow burn, but their relationship doesn’t feel too rushed or forced.

Let’s talk about the love interest. He wasn’t really a dangerous or edgy fae lord as we typically see, so I think the blurb is a little misleading there. He’s a little grumpy and stiff at first, but he’s overall pretty sweet and charming. I typically prefer my fae with a bit more moral ambiguity and political savvy, but I think this dynamic worked well in the context of this softer cozier story.

“Cozy vibes and higher stakes” are promised in the blurb, but the conflict didn’t feel as pressing as the story tells us it is. Supposedly big reveals felt lackluster. The foundation for a solid plot are there, but I don’t think there was enough time to flesh that out, especially since there was more focus on the romance.

Compass Points will be perfect for readers looking for a cozier fantasy romance story with medium stakes, likable characters, and fake dating. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for my personal tastes, I enjoyed it and I think it did what it set out to do. It’s the kind of book that’s perfect for when you need a feel-good escape.

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for providing me with a copy of this audiobook for an honest review.

If you enjoy cozy romantic fantasy that is well-written with unique, but not too complicated, world-building, then this book is for you!

Featured tropes: hidden identity, enemies to lovers, only one bed, fake dating, elemental magic, slow burn romance

Similar to: Elsie Kova, Emily Wilde, Jennifer L. Armentrout

Audiobook: The audiobook is 8.5 hours and narrated by Kasi Hollowell, who does a wonderful job voicing all of the characters.

Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. Rose is a weapons master and Luc is seeking a weapon built by her. The two, who are both hiding secrets, get stuck together fighting a deadly mist plague and have to work together to stop it. Arie is Rose’s shapeshifting sidekick, who is also hiding secrets of his own. The tension and chemistry between Rose and Luc was amazing, and I enjoyed the humor Arie added to the story. The world-building was done well and was unique enough to set it apart from other fae books in the romantic fantasy genre. The ending left me wanting more and wondering what will happen in the next book, which I can’t wait to read!

Thank you to Victory, Jillian Witt, and NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook. All reviews are opinions are honest and my own.

Compass Points begins with Rosie, an armorer, being approached by a man named Luc looking for help with weapons to use against a mist that is destroying town after town. She initially does not want to help due to a history we are not privy to. She is eventually drawn in and through her growing relationship with Luc and flashbacks we get as a reader, we begin to understand her past and role in this world.

Despite the overall conflict going on, there isn't a super dramatic third act that readers are pulled through. I felt like it was set up really well as a book one in a series, where obviously more drama is to come. The magic system is very interesting, and leaders are tied to compass points, and each has different abilities. I also enjoyed Rosie's relationships with Luc and Arie. Shout out to a shifter animal sidekick who can speak in her mind. The page count is also fairly low for a romantasy, without feeling like we miss plot beats. I'll gladly continue on in this series!

I read Compass Points and was excited to see that an audiobook was being released. The narrator spoke clearly, which allowed for easy speeding up. She also did a great job at changing her voice to distinguish the different characters. Overall, the production was very good and would be a great way to access this story!

Thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.

This audiobook was my first dabble in fantasy after a recommendation from a book bestie,
i was a little apprehensive but I shouldn't of been because I absolutely loved this novel, I loved the characters, the cosy vibe and especially arie ❤️ but who wouldn't love an animal sidekick that can turn into any other animal and protect you as you go through your journey? The romance was just that, romantic, sweet not overly smutty which I also enjoyed.

I took me 3 sittings to complete and I already have
the second one lined up and ready to go. Safe to say this may of been the beginning of my fantasy journey but it definitely won't be the end.

Compass Points by Jillian Witt is an engaging fantasy novel that offers a delightful adventure, though it has its shortcomings. The story follows Rose, a weapons maker with a troubled past, who must confront her fears and the mysterious plague of mist threatening her village. The adventure aspect is well-executed, providing moments of excitement and tension as Rose navigates her journey alongside Luc, a fae with whom she shares a compelling dynamic.
While the initial setup is intriguing, the magical system feels underdeveloped and could benefit from deeper exploration. This lack of depth makes some parts of the story feel flat, particularly in the middle sections where pacing suffers. However, the narrative picks up significantly towards the end, leaving readers eager for more.
Overall, I would rate Compass Points 3 stars. It’s a fun read with potential, but it leaves room for improvement in world-building and character development.

I read Compass Points in it's initial release, but was so excited to experience it again as an audio ARC. I already enjoyed this fantasy romance featuring so much of nature and the outdoors, but it's truly elevated by the narration in the audiobook.

On my first read, I enjoyed the character Rose, but honestly spent more time adoring Ari. However, with the narrator's expert pacing of Rose's speech and her intonation, she's actually become a beloved character in my all time favorites list! I'm so grateful for a chance to revisit Jillian Witt's work!

Fantasy audiobook. Goes quickly from hate you you bumptious arrogant man, to you have some merit, to you are maybe the one. Rose ran from a major problem and has kept running. But some years later finds herself back in the viper’s nest right back where she started. But life has taught her much, and now she may have found the perfect partner in Luc, if politics and Gods don’t get in the way. Book one, was fun. I look forward to listening to the other books in this series. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Compass Points
Compass Points Book 1
By Jillian Witt
Narrated by Kasi Hollowell
5 ⭐️

This is exactly what I like in a lighter (as opposed to dark fantasy/romantasy) themed Fae based romantasy. This story is creative and it has me very invested in needing to know what happens next. This is a series; book 1 doesn’t have an intense cliffhanger. I love the MCs: Rose, Luc, and I’m including the sassy familiar-like sidesick Arie in that list. Their banter was delightful throughout. There is a bit of spice but nothing too crazy imo.

The audiobook delivered for me. I zipped through this is in a day - I couldn’t turn it off. Hollowell gives a great performance.