The premise for this sounded real interesting. Wish I liked it more but just could not get into it. The writing style was not for me and I just did not connect with the characters.

The Oracle of Dusk begins with a young historian being told she is fated to face the terrifying flying monstrosity, Drakon, which is set on destroying everything in its path. She then finds herself thrown back thousands of years in time, with no allies, and no idea how to save her world from the brink of destruction.

“Yes, quite the opposite of the wild, wicked life of my dearest friend. Why, I caught you dog-earring a page last year. Wars have been fought over less.”

This is the first epic romantasy novel in the Cycle of Calamity series following the oracle, Aurora, as she awakens her powers of prophecy and time travel. The time shift forced me to leave behind characters I was beginning to grow attached to, making it difficult to adjust. But I suppose that gives you a sense of how the protagonist must have felt, thrown into an unfamiliar time and place full of strangers. Aurora doesn’t know who to trust and where to look for help in preventing the impending disaster. She is rather naïve at times and falls for some schemes the reader may see coming a mile off. However, I’d like to continue with the series to find out if she ever makes it back to her time and see how her romance with the doomed king, Theron, plays out.

The Oracle of Dusk by Elyse Thomson is an epic fantasy romance that had me hooked from the start. Aurora, a historian turned accidental hero, stumbles upon an ancient artifact that catapults her back in time and into the path of King Theron, a ruler with a reputation as dark as his fate.

The world-building is immersive, blending elements of magic, time travel, and political intrigue. Aurora's journey is both thrilling and emotional as she grapples with her unexpected role in a prophecy and her growing attraction to Theron. Their chemistry is palpable, and the slow-burn romance is worth the wait.

Inspired by The Legend of Zelda, this novel offers a fresh take on classic fantasy tropes. The narrative is rich with action, suspense, and a touch of spice that keeps the pages turning. Fans of fated romances and strong heroines will find much to love here.

A book base on the legend of Zelda? I’m sold!

I absolutely love auroras character, she is so well developed .

I love that you could feel the similarities between this book and LoZ, while still being introduced to new and beautifully creative world building.

The end of the book is so fast paced, I LOVED IT SO MUCH. It was an absolute rollercoaster which caused some serious whiplash, but enjoyable whiplash indeed.

Uh WHAT! That cliffhanger hanger had me reeling!

This is a pretty heavy fantasy book that had me hooked, especially towards the end I could not get enough!

Aurora, the FMC, thought that wild magic had escaped her and that she was not chosen for that blessing. Instead she threw herself into study at the temple of knowledge, which she loved. When she uncovered an old artifact, it cascades a series of events that reveal she is so much more than she thought she was! The future depends on her, will she succeed in her mission or just be tricked by love?

This book is for you if you love:
• Fantasy
• Romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Yearning
• Surprises!

I’d say this was a 4 star read for me! It was a bit slow for me in the middle but I was hooked beginning and end!

For readers who are sensitive to depictions of rape, sexual assault, and torture, this will not be the book for you. While it’s never gratuitous, it is present and often explicit.

The book started out stronger than it finished. In the beginning Aurora, a young initiate of the Goddess of Knowledge, is whisked away by an avatar and a group of paladins with her best friend, Princess Phaedra tagging along. We’re told about a great evil threatening the world — as happens every so often — and Aurora and Silvanus have to deal with it. Silvanus and Phaedra bicker and flirt, Aurora puts up with them, and there’s a fair amount of world building and action as the great evil, in the form of a giant dragon, comes chasing after them.

Then Aurora ends up back in time in a palace ruled by an evil queen and flirts with a captive king. It’s mentioned that Aurora has pointed ears, but since no one cares, I can’t help but wonder why it was brought up at all. Chapters go by with Aurora and Theron flirting, Theron being protective, Theron being angry that people have touched Aurora … and these scenes include moments of physical assault as Aurora is beaten, manhandled by guards, forcibly stripped and threatened with rape.

This is one of the few romantasies where there is sexual incompatibility between the couple. Aurora, though willing and eager to have sex with Theron, finds herself uncomfortable and uncertain at the idea of rougher sex than she’s accustomed to, and Theron instantly pulls back and offers her choices: to stop for the night (she’s already come several times with toys and his tongue), to continue slower, or anything else that would make her comfortable. All too often it feels like rough sex is a given with no warm up — and here there is plenty of foreplay and preparation before Theron’s romantasy sized cock is put to use — let alone lube, so it’s nice to see a scene that involves consent, care, and choice.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m moderately curious to see where it goes, to see if Aurora is truly so gullible and so changeable as to accept what she’s told by people she has no reason to trust. But that’ll all have to wait for a sequel.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. The premise sounded promising, and I'm always down for romantic adventure, but it was frustrating to read at times because it felt like the author was trying to make every word count, overexplaining or giving more detail than necessary, 2.5 stars

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing The Oracle of Dusk. As a historian myself, I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of the book. The premise is intriguing and some of the plot is interesting. However, it felt like many of the things that happened in the book happened with very little explanation or reason. The characters were interesting but some of the things that happened to them felt repeptive and I was only about a third of the way into the book. When the main character, Aurora, is thrown back in time it almost feels like you start reading another book. There are new characters to meet and new world-building.

While this book wasn't for me, I'm sure it will find its audience.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I initially really liked the premise of this book and I went into it excited. However my excitement soon died.

The book is separated by an event in which the main character is no longer in the “world “ that she knows. However the build up to and the emotions after the event make it seem like it wasn’t the massive act that it was. It also feels like the before the event and after the event story lines feel like two separate books.

I had issues with the writing as it was a standard case of telling AND showing the author would very blatantly spell out and describe what was happening in a way that felt almost insulting to the reader basically being like:

“You’re a useless and stupid queen,” I insulted her
The gathered crowd gasped because it’s very rude to insult a queen.

And MANY more examples like this.

The book also has a romance element but it felt more like insta lust and I couldn’t not understand the desperation and ties that the characters had because it felt like it came out of nowhere and I never felt the true chemistry between the characters.
I also just couldn’t get past the height difference, she is supposed to be small and petite and he is supposed to be the tallest person she’s ever seen, and it amounts to her barely reaching his elbow.

I'll be the first to admit that I am not at all familiar with The Legend of Zelda, but despite that, I was intrigued. I enjoyed the combination of action, adventure, and time travel, and found it to overall be pretty fast paced, but not really for me. I never really connected with the story or the characters, but otherwise it was ok.

Unfortunately, I am unable to give feedback for this book. I was looking forward to it IMMENSELY I loved the premise and the description I was ready to dive in with two feet. But unfortunately the copy that got downloaded to net galley and then my kindle was unreadable. The background is dark grey making the words blend into the page and the formatting is driving me up a wall. I made it a few pages in before I couldn't take it anymore.

Not being familiar with The Legend of Zelda, I was first drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover and the synopsis that promised an epic fantasy romance featuring the classic *enemies to lovers* trope.

I have to admit, I was a bit confused at the beginning. The first part of the story focuses heavily on the heroine’s relationship with her best friend and another key character—only for both of latest to suddenly vanish from the narrative once the heroine is thrown back in time.

I had grown attached to Phaedra and Silvannus, so seeing them disappear so early on definitely slowed down my reading momentum.

That said, once I picked it back up, I started to really enjoy the magical world the heroine explores and the connection she develops with the man who, like her, finds himself trapped.

The political intrigue is engaging, the magic system is well thought-out, and once the romance is fully in motion, it’s hard not to want more.

One downside, in my opinion: some of the sex scenes felt completely unnecessary. They seemed forced, as if added just to appeal to readers who are really into smut, and didn’t always serve the story.

Even with its ups and downs, the story pulled me in enough that I’ll definitely be checking out the next installment.

This was ultimately a DNF for me. Very dense, very verbose and yet...for what? N9o explanations for what would seem simple enough things to explain, a very flat world, flat characters--desperately needed more personality, more color, more vivid description that breathes life into what a reader can imagine instead of droning on and on and on.

I absolutely loved this! The world building, the characters, the intrigue, the banter & overall plot were so great and refreshing. I love Aurora’s determination even though the fate that she’s been dealt is nothing she could have ever prepared for. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with Theron but his sass and charm drew me in. I was a goner for Theron the first time he called her ‘madam fairy’ 😂
I loved the way this book kicked off the series and I can’t wait to see what else is in store!!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!! 🖤

I had to DNF…I am so sad because this was my first eARC ever so I was really looking forward to reading it and reviewing before the publish date but I simply couldn’t get past 13%. I love the concept and plot don’t get me wrong. But the story started off in what should have been captured in the middle. It lacked a lot of characters development, world building, and explanations as to why the things happening were happening. I was a bit confused just as to why the events were taking place and felt like I entered a book more than a quarter of the way through.

The oracle of dusk
Author Elyse Thomson
Release date 28/05/2025

Rating 4 stars 8 CAWPILE

This book had a really interesting premise, I saw words like acolyte and words that my dnd heart sang because I am in my dnd era again.. like I ever left.

I really liked Aurora as a character and her flaws as all, I am a little mad at her for the last few pages but I think I knew it would be coming eventually.
I cannot wait to see where this story goes because the world is intriguing the romance is intriguing and I feel it calling me to come back into the world. I know that this will be a book that I will be thinking about and when it calls me back when book 2 comes out I will be shouting it for all the people that enjoy a good world and good spice.

Now I will patiently pout and wait for the next book some may say I am at a sword edge for it…
Review to go up Friday9th may

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Two Laurels Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5*

Overall, I loved the concept of this book - I’m a fan of Oracles/Seers and time travel!

The start of the book was slow yet intriguing enough to keep me reading, but the inner monologue of the characters seemed more appropriate to a YA book. The plot picked up much more after the time jump and while the politics and romance was well-balanced in its pacing, I wasn’t a fan of the trope the ending relied on as a way to create a cliffhanger and tension for the next book. It was jarring and felt out of character and out of place considering the events leading up to that moment.

I would still recommend this book to people that enjoy a high-stakes fantasy romance that is fast-paced and fun.

Aurora is a historian and no hopes for magic when she is called upon by the priestess of knowledge to fight the calamity. She realizes that all along she’s suppressed her own magic and as she fights an impossible battle agains the beast she’s thrown back in time where she meets and falls in love with King Theron. But with her insight can she change fate and save the kingdoms.
This one started out a bit slow for me but after the time jump I had an easier time following along and investing in the characters. Overall she pulled me in with the characters and I couldn’t wait to see if she could change their fates and save the people from Drakon.

"The Oracle of Dusk" is the the start of a very captivating story for sure.
Most characters are so deeply flawed in one way or another. And they all still have so much change ahead of them. Though with that ending, I am scared a bit of book two.
This novel hits very different, especially in the way that the plot is constructed. I feel like we definitely needed more POVs and at least one hundred pages more.
The only part for me where I wasn't feeling the story so to say, was around 70% to 80%. I was expecting something bigger, and that swap was a bit too predictable for me. But the ending itself? Especially that last chapter? That was very good!
Other than that, I loved the book very much and really look forward for the next one.

Thank you Netgalley, Elyse Thomson and the publisher for this opportunity ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and Two Laurels Press for providing an eARC. Below is my unbiased and honest review.

Legends of Zelda is not something that I have ever played or looked into so I came into this book with no prior knowledge.

My current rating of this book is going to be 3.75 rounded up to a 4.00. Overall, it was a quick read and I was engaged with the overall storyline, especially once the book was moved into the past. I will pick up the second book when it comes out.

Once Aurora was sent into the past via her time magic, the story seemed to settle more into itself. I was able to get a better understanding of this world and what Aurora was going to have to endure. Reading from Theron & Aurora's point of views allowed me to be invested in both of their fates throughout the book. I enjoyed getting to see their relationship grow and change throughout the story and to understand why they acted the way they did towards each other at times. The ending of the book messed me up and makes me want the sequel as soon as possible. The beginning of the book that was set in the modern timeline was where my main issues regarding the book were. It felt rushed as we were dropped directly into the action and did not get to invest any time into the characters before we had to care if they lived or died. Aurora was a complicated character to read from at that point as she seemed to be very intelligent when it comes to history and such but she could also be naive and quick to action without getting the whole story.

This was a quick fantasy read that would be easy to read for many people even without prior Legend of Zelda knowledge.