Like another reviewer, I spent a few minutes staring into space, wondering what exactly I had just read—and really—WHAT had I just read???

I feel like I need to sandwich this review, so let’s start with the good: The poetic cadence and eloquent descriptive ability of this author is an incredibly powerful tool. The way she writes is nothing short of beautiful. She truly had me wondering what a fourth primary color would look like, and imagining the thousands of combinations it would create is exactly why I say books are the closest thing humans have to magic.

Now for the frustration: The repetitive storytelling had me agreeing with Tye by the end—if I had to hear about Willow one more time, I might have actually been relieved at the ending. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a sister, let alone a twin, but living entirely for someone who is gone is never healthy. At one point, a chapter opened with “I thought I had gotten over Willow’s death,” and I nearly threw my phone. No, because are you really that delusional? Her name is on every other page for 75% of the book. It was maddening to hear how much Willow loved life, yet watch Roe live entirely in the sorrow of her death instead of honoring her life.

The constant miscommunication was another sticking point. At 93% through the book, we were still going in circles: Bryn would be incredibly honest and vulnerable, Rowan would “trust him completely,” they’d almost get intimate, then something would interrupt them. Immediately after, the plot or Tye would drop a truth bomb proving Bryn had been lying, Rowan would storm away, Bryn would stop her and say something heartfelt, and the cycle would repeat. Over and over. These characters never learned a lesson in their lives. They could live in our world or a far-off realm and still refuse to grow as people. If they hadn’t been so beautifully written—if their love hadn’t been so tragic—I would have DNFed at any point. Honestly, I could have walked away at 95% and not looked back.

That said, I truly hope this author gets a phenomenal editor and writes a million books. Her voice is powerful without being overbearing, and she respects her readers’ intelligence. Her FMC is flawed in a way that makes me want to tell the author she is worthy of love—not because of what she does for others, but because of who she is.

I’ll be keeping an eye out for her future works because I believe this journey is just the beginning.

I came for the cover and the title but sadly this just wasn’t for me. Not my cup of tea I shall say because if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all! Right? Right. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book.

I’ll start with the positives - the vision gifted to us through words, of Ruhaven, is quite something. Kayla paints a picture of a landscape in a way that’s immersive. The story itself and the adventure is great. Ruhaven gives strong avatar vibes so if that’s the kind of fantasy you’re into then this story is perfect.

The last 10-15% of the book somehow saved the story itself. I actually really enjoyed the end, and found that I did hold space for Bryn (fine, I fell for him) and indeed Bryn and Rowan’s relationship. The last chapters were beautiful and moving in an unexpected way.

I LOVED this quote - ‘I always find you, Bryn repeated, over and over against my temple, waves inside a seashell’. Stunning.

Now for the negatives. It took me until at least 40% of the book to be convinced to continue. I was fighting my desire to DNF up until this point. I think this delay contributed to my overall negative view of the story, which is a shame really.

Let me be clear I HATED this book up until the 40% mark. Even the immersive world painting wasn’t enough to interest me.

A few things for me to elaborate on:
- I didn’t bond with a single character (until 90% when I decided I did like Bryn). They’re all frustrating (annoying) in their own unique way. Specifically let me talk to you about Rowan who has imposter syndrome beyond anything I’ve ever experienced in my life and is GAGGING for therapy. I think my own therapy experience prevented me from enjoying her character to be honest.
- I have not had a twin, so I cannot comment on this but Rowan is OBSESSED with her dead twin. But not necessarily because of their relationship but more because Willow was ‘so amazing’ (for reasons unclear other than being a piano prodigy) and their parents preferred her. We get no deep dive into the sisterly bond which might have helped to explain Rowan’s anguish, her refusal to accept that she was deserving of anything and her refusal to see her life as anything other than a slap in the face to Willow (this was all very repetitive).
- Everyone is a serial liar/ manipulator and withholder of the truth. When someone lies to Rowan, she proceeds to have a breakdown, following which we get some sort of plot advancement. By take 2 of this I was bored of the repetition.
- Rowan- wake tf up my love. How are you SO oblivious to everything going on around you? Now I note this was purposeful, to be fair, as it was noticed by other characters but it didn’t stop me from being infuriated by her blindness (and often willing blindness may I add).
- The arguments were infuriating for the most part (particularly, I nod at chapter 34).
- The dialogue… for a start there’s too much of it. A personal pet peeve of mine is dialogue alongside internal monologue- pick a lane please. It makes a book unnecessarily longer.
- I don’t need to ‘read’ everyone’s accent. I also couldn’t stand Bryn’s prim and proper talk versus Tye’s Montana versus James’ Irish.
- There are a few holes in the backstory to Ruhaven, in my opinion.

I was dithering between 2 stars and 3 stars but when I compare with some books I’ve read that I’ve given 3 stars to, I’m afraid I have to stick it at 2. It feels painful to do this because there are some great elements to the book but it just wasn’t enough to redeem it for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I did love the last 15% and I would recommend this to someone who maybe enjoys a slow burn and flowery language more than I do.

Wow, what a read! "Minor Fall" by Kayla M. Martell is one of those books that just sticks with you long after you've finished the last page. As an ESL literature teacher, I'm always on the lookout for books that are not only engaging but also accessible for my students, and this one hits all the right notes.
The story is so beautifully written, and Martell has a real talent for creating characters that feel incredibly real. You'll find yourself laughing with them, crying with them, and cheering them on every step of the way. It's a fantastic book for teenagers because it deals with some big, important themes—like friendship, family, and finding your place in the world—in a way that feels honest and relatable.
I'm definitely adding this to my classroom library. The language is clear but rich, making it a great tool for discussing literary devices and new vocabulary without feeling like a chore. My students are going to love the story, and I know it will spark some amazing discussions. "Minor Fall" is a true gem, and I can't wait to recommend it to everyone I know!

Came for the cover, stayed for the incredible story!

I really enjoyed the characters and the setting. The writing was so well done that I was able to picture the atmosphere better

I’m excited I found this author and I’m excited to read more from them! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

While initially I was super excited to read the minor fall, I did not connect with the characters. The pacing extremely slow. It made it feel like a chore. However the prose in this book is fantastic and the plot as well. If the pacing had been faster and more info about willow I would have enjoyed it a ton more.

I'm going to start by stating it appears I am not the biggest fan of romance/romantasy books - so if you love this genre, just skip me. Also, all books have their readers and there are nice elements of this book. Unfortunately for me, I'm not this book's intended reader.

There are three main reasons I wasn't a fan of this book. BUT - I do want to start on a positive note that the writing was lovely in description and detail. I also like the overall premise of the story.

However, I really didn't like that plot and mystery seemed to only progress through Roe having melodramatic meltdowns by finding out someone (once again) lied about, manipulated, or hid information from her. This was nearly always the way the plot progressed or mystery was unveiled. I don't mind if this happens occasionally, but not when it happens every time. Also after the third time, why was Roe not demanding answers?? She only seemed to gain some agency in this regard whenever the plot had to get to its next argument.

The characters are all morally AWFUL people. Initially, I had great sympathies for Roe and how she was manipulated into going to Ireland. In the first 20-30% we have nearly the entire cast getting incredibly angry at Roe for being upset for being used and not wanting to "do her duty" towards something none of them have properly explained, why she's necessary, or offered a semblance of understanding. Kaz is the worst. This book could really do without her. Then you find out they're all sacrificing souls and at the end of the book the ethics are "why is it fair Tye wants to live - isn't that unfair to MAYBE your dead sister?". No actually - ethically, you don't get to choose to kill someone to save someone else. You don't have moral rights over someone else's body. Is Tye's group right for killing people. No. But the Ruhaven bunch are awful "human" sacrificing bastards and Roe becomes one of them in the end.

The last thing that irked me is really very specific and wouldn't affect most readers. But I'm very much for internal logic in fantasy and sci-fi. I believe that stating Tallah was a tidally-locked planet was so unnecessary, and the fact that it was described as such really ruined the world. Tidally locked planets are uninhabitable. One side is hundreds of degrees Celsius and the other is so freezing that neither can hold life. But ok - if we accept "adaption to temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees" - then they are UNABLE to survive the extreme temperature change of travelling to the other side of the planet without technology mitigating the hundreds of degree temperature change (Kepler-b for example has a 1700+ difference between dark and light sides of the planet).

And if we ALSO accept that as "magic fantasy logic" - the one thing that cannot be accepted is that nightfall is described at least twice in Ruhaven. You CANNOT have nightfall on a planet that ALWAYS faces the sun! Night is literally the planet turning away from the giant ball of light it's facing. This shouldn't upset me and it doesn't affect the story. But it's such a simple, google-able fact to check - not high level astrophysics - that I couldn't get over it as I questioned why such an unnecessary detail was added when literally no research was done to make it effective worldbuilding.

Again - the space things is super specific to me. But the fact it was so terribly inaccurate and unnecessary to the plot just upset me.

Thank you to Kaya Martell and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I believe this book could be a really good pick for someone, but unfortunately that person was not me. The beginning of this book had such strong world-building that I did not get a grasp of any of the characters' personality or form an early connection to them. I felt like the overly descriptive and flowery writing caused me to lose the plot and reread sentences over and over again until I understood what was happening. I did not find myself reaching for this book, and it took me a lot longer to finish than usual.

I disliked Roe as a character and thought she was indecisive, stubborn, had low self esteem, and seemed to take pity on herself in comparison to her twin a lot. The romance was a SLOW burn, and I wasn't connected with either of the love interests enough to care where the relationship ended. Tye and James' dialect was really hard to read, and again, I didn't grow any connection to them. I soft DNF'd this book at 40%.

The Minor Fall, in my opinion, did not pick up until the 25% mark and I think a strong edit would sharpen it up for a reader who loves world-building fantastical worlds.

The Minor Fall is a beautifully written romantasy filled with emotion, mystery, and lyrical prose. Roe, grieving the loss of her twin, moves to Ireland and discovers a magical realm, Ruhaven, tied to her sister’s death. The fantasy world is unique, and the slow-burn romance with Bryn adds emotional depth.

I loved the Irish setting and the themes of fate, grief, and soul connection. At times, the pacing felt slow, but the rich descriptions made it worthwhile. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories and poetic writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to love The Minor Fall. The concept had me hooked—a moody Irish setting, memory magic, a twin mystery, and a cursed romance? Yes, please. The reviews were glowing, and I went in with high hopes. But unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

Right away, the overly descriptive writing made it hard to stay grounded in the story. The worldbuilding felt like it was constantly shifting, and instead of pulling me in, it pushed me out. I understood the plot on a surface level, but emotionally, I couldn’t connect—especially not with Roe.

Roe's entire arc felt like a shadow of her twin, Willow. She starts off wanting answers about Willow’s death, but every memory dive turns into a sex scene, followed by her embarrassment, rinse and repeat. By the end, Roe didn’t seem to grow into her own person at all—she was still making every decision for someone else, either Bryn or Willow, never for herself. Honestly, the villain's frustration with her? I shared it.

As for Bryn... if I had a coin for every time they argued and then immediately jumped into sexual tension, I’d have more plot consistency than the book gave me. His redemption arc started too late for me to care. Their relationship felt more reactive than earned.

The big twist and final reveal also felt underwhelming. Roe needed the villain to spell it out for her, and even then, it didn't feel like it changed her. By the end, I actually sympathized more with the so-called villain than the leads.

This might just not have been the right book for me, or the right time. I’m glad others enjoyed it, but I was left feeling frustrated, disconnected, and kind of exhausted.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

The Minor Fall is a slow burn fantasy and the author takes time to build and describe in beautiful detail. I enjoyed the author’s use of language, but unfortunately just couldn’t quite connect with the main character, Roe.

I will definitely look for future works by Kayla Martell as she clearly takes time to lovingly build the world she creates.

I really wanted to love this one and honestly, it’s a good book. The story itself is unique and refreshing, and I appreciated how different it felt from the usual reads in the genre. The characters had depth, and the emotional arc was strong.

That said, I did struggle with the pacing. It felt a bit too long, and there were quite a few minor details that seemed unnecessary and slowed down the momentum. At times, I found myself wishing the story would move along a little quicker.

Overall, I’m glad I read it, but I think I would’ve enjoyed it more with a tighter edit. Still, a solid read with a fresh voice!

An intense and powerful story that took me by surprise. I struggled a little bit in the beginning but quickly became absorbed in the story. I had some trouble with the ending, but that’s a me problem. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers who enjoys reading a little bit predictable story, but still one hell of a story.

✨Arc Review✨

Thank you to the author Kayla M Martell And netgallery for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A quietly powerful journey through grief, memory, and the fragile threads of identity

The Minor Fall is the kind of story that lingers. It doesn’t shout for your attention—instead, it draws you in with atmosphere, emotion, and a sense of mystery that slowly unfolds. Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Ireland’s west coast, this is a tale of grief, of memory, and of a love story quietly blooming in the shadows of loss.

Roe is a deeply human protagonist. Still reeling from the death of her twin sister, she seeks refuge in the quiet corners of County Kerry—only to discover that the silence holds more than sorrow. The Ledger and the memories of Ruhaven open up not just a fantastical past, but a new dimension of pain, possibility, and self-discovery. Her journey is one of resilience and quiet bravery, and watching her come to terms with both who she is and who she was is genuinely moving.

Bryn Stornoway is equally compelling—a man shaped by exile, guilt, and duty. His connection to Roe is complicated by the rules of a world long forgotten, and their slow-burn bond is handled with restraint and tension that feels earned. Martell doesn’t rush the romance, allowing space for vulnerability and fear to coexist with longing.

The prose is vivid, at times poetic, and the world building—though not overwhelming—is emotionally charged. Ruhaven itself is less about spectacle and more about what it represents: memory, trauma, legacy. There’s a quiet magic to it that reminded me of The Magicians or early Narnia, not in plot but in feeling—a longing for a world that might not want you back.

What keeps this from being a full five stars for me is pacing. The story leans into its slow-burn nature—sometimes a little too much. There are moments where I wished the revelations came a beat sooner, or that certain emotional beats were pushed a little deeper. But honestly, that speaks more to how invested I was than to any real flaw.

The Minor Fall is a thoughtful and bittersweet read, perfect for those who enjoy introspective fantasy, character-driven plots, and stories that understand that healing is rarely linear. If you’re drawn to themes of identity, found memories, and quiet strength, you’ll find something deeply rewarding here.

I’m so glad I got the chance to read this wonderful book. I genuinely need more. a sequel asap, or another book/world by martell.

everything was perfect and I literally couldn’t have asked for a better book. the prose was so on point. the dialogue was *chefs kiss*. the characters, world building, lore, everything.

I struggled in the initial few pages due to the slow pacing and because there was so much to take in, but once things got moving along, I was fully invested. I couldn’t put the book down, and when I did, all I could think about was when I was going to pick it up again.

the idea behind ruhaven is a really cool. it’s truly a mystical/magical place. I loved that there was so much backstory and a lot to learn. I preferred the contemporary timeline over the ruhaven one, simply because I was hard out rooting for the romance.

I don’t know if it was the authors intention or not, but I was so frustrated at the romance towards the end of the book. I was screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY 😭😭”. I was so obsessed with it and couldn’t get enough of the characters. (when I say frustrated I mean that in a good way).

I have no idea how to round off this review, but please: if you’re considering reading this book, do it. you won’t have any regrets.

(and now I need to find my own bryn irl)

📖 Book Review: The Minor Fall by Kayla M. Martell
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, The Minor Fall didn’t quite resonate with me — and while every story finds its readers, this one may just not have been the right fit for me.

I found the protagonist weighed down by low self-esteem, and while her kindness was highlighted, it felt like the only trait emphasized — leaving her character underdeveloped. The relationships, especially the sudden shift in her feelings toward Bryn, struck me as more convenient than earned, and the romance overall felt more gratuitous than organic.

The narrative itself had promise, but it struggled under a poetic style that often distracted from the story rather than enhancing it. The pacing was slow, and the plot twists sometimes felt like retcons, particularly when the character suddenly no longer needed to be at the gate to Fall — which seemed less like a breakthrough and more like a patch.

Mystery elements were present, but repetition and shifting details led to confusion rather than intrigue. While I appreciate the ambition and lyrical voice, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

⭐️⭐️

NetGalley #BookReview #TheMinorFall #KaylaMMartell #HonestReads #ReadingLife #NotForMeButMightBeForYou

tl;dr 5 stars, I absolutely recommend this book if you are interested in a romantasy that doesn't follow the all of the standard plot tropes or worldbuilding trends. This book forces you to work, to think, to reflect. It's an existential experience and is completely unlike anything I've read before. If you're willing to stick with it, to put in the work as a reader to wonder and question, then it is an amazingly rewarding experience.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Kayla Martell for allowing me to read this as an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion. I'm going to put more of my critiques below, but the above blurb is to quickly get my point across.

This book was marketed as a Narnia facsimile which I think is a decent comparison. Ruhaven is another magical world where there are gears in the sky and the beaches are purple. Unlike Narnia, it isn't just walking through a magical wardrobe, but rather entering a sort of soulbonded dream state in the mountains of Ireland. I felt the worldbuilding, in Ireland, Canada, and Ruhaven to be very lush. The cold felt so cold, the wet, very wet. And apparently, Ireland is an extremely wet place. I loved the quirks of Naruka and how the hotel seemed to mimic the quirky charm of those who occupied it.

This book is not a quick burn. In fact, it's one of the slower burns I've read in a long time. That is my favourite form of romantic expose, but I can understand it being frustrating to others. Know what you're getting into.

The main character, Roe (short for Rowan) was quick likeable at the beginning. I really rooted for her and her mission for the first maybe 300-400 pages. There came a tipping point, however, when I, like many of the characters in the book, grew tired of her obsession. I found it funny when other characters would also remark on how seemingly intentionally obtuse she was as well. So intent on not seeing the obvious until it literally beat her face in.

The majority of the "effort" as far as the reader is concerned takes place in the last 200 pages. The first 400 are an atmospheric, magical exploration of both what it means to be alive and the strength of love across time and space. I felt this was the strongest part of the book, but that's basically comparing my two favourite pizzas. I love them both.

Because this world and its rules are extremely complex, a lot of the expose is handled in big data dumps via conversations. I do like this, because I don't see any other way Rowan would have gotten the information. But they can become a bit onerous. I reread several scenes to make sure I understood. Also dealing with unreliable players further complicates this. I did fully enjoy this work, however. It had been a long time, maybe since I read Babel by R.F. Kuang, that I really got to work as a reader. So much fantasy is very handheld nowadays which can be a nice break. But I really enjoyed coming to a story that really required me to think and also made me unsure of what I wanted each of the characters to do. By the end, I wasn't sure what I wanted to happen or who I agreed with. There wasn't a bad guy, per se, but more a conflict of ideals.

I was told by Kayla that the Minor Fall is a prequel, and knowing that made the ending feel right. It ended on a period, ready for the next sentence to start.

This book is not sexy, rippling abbed fae, it's not a war against the ultimate evil to save the world. This story, for how deeply I felt each emotion it presented, is a quiet adventure to another world and a softly spoken question of what we would give up for love.

Also, I would encourage Rowan to fix the locks on the doors at Naruka for heaven's sake.

Unfortunately I just didn’t get this book. I felt that the writing jumped around a lot, and it was too wordy. I tried to persevere and skimmed through chunks of it but it didn’t capture me at all. I also struggled with reading all of the Irish accents, they felt very contrived to me. None of the characters were interesting and I didn’t understand their motivations. I’m sorry to write such a harsh review, but am glad to see that others really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Kayla Martell for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

On the west coast of Ireland, strangers united by their shared memories of a forgotten realm struggle to reconcile the lives they’ve known here with who they once were. But for those who can witness their memories, their past identities may be a secret worth killing for. After the sudden death of her twin, Roe is desperate for a fresh start in Ireland. But when she begins work at a hotel in the foothills of County Kerry, a centuries-old ledger reveals she’s one of the few who can relive the memories of Ruhaven—a forgotten world with a deadly history. As the first twin ever born in the Ledger, what killed Roe’s sister is now hunting her too—and her only hope is the one man who’s survived Ruhaven’s curse. Exiled from Ruhaven and determined to conceal his past, Bryn Stornoway’s redemption depends on ensuring Roe’s survival—even if the brewing attraction between them violates Ruhaven’s laws. As danger closes in, Roe and Bryn must confront the secrets of their intertwined pasts to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death. Before it finds them.

This one is unfortunately a DNF at 9% for me. Martell’s writing is beautifully lyrical and can easily sweep a person away, but I just found everything too wordy. It is almost certainly more a reflection on myself and current headspace as opposed to how this book is. I enviously look at the 5 star reviews this book has and wish I could have gotten further. This is definitely a book I hope to return to in the future but now just isn’t the right time for me - and that’s okay.

Overall, The Minor Fall is a book that holds a lot of promise but isn’t the best fit for me at this time.

Thank you again to Kayla Martell for a copy of this book. Due to the DNF, this review will not be going on my blog. However, it is available now on Goodreads.

When I started The Minor Fall I was instantly invested. What with every fantasy book out there we know how hard and overwhelming it can be to start a new fantasy book. New characters and complicated worlds often confuse me but this book had great pacing where I felt that I could follow without getting confused when it came to getting to know both the characters and the world.

The characters are somewhat complex and depending on who’s point of view you think from you might find that you either understand their motives or their choices might really piss you off (or both in my case).

I liked the little twist on soulmates and although the slow burn romance felt reaaally slow at times it didn’t feel misplaced. The slow burn was there for a good reason.

This book reflects on grief and how different people handle it. How it can affect relationships and how hard it can be to let go of someone that has passed away. And also the cost of living in the past.

I give this book 4.5 ⭐️. A great read for those that love fantasy but want something a little bit different in comparison with other fantasy books out there today.

Thank you NetGalley and Kayla Martell for this advance reader copy. All thought and opinions are my own honest ones.