"Roots and Fragments" is a story about survival, choice, and feelings that grow where they shouldn't. 🌿

From the very first page, Kalleigh Royn immerses us in a dark world where rules are designed to keep people within limits, and freedom comes at a high price. Nova is a heroine you truly care about. She's not perfect, but it's her strength, courage, sharp wit, and desire to choose her own destiny that make her so vivid and memorable.

I especially loved the dynamic between the characters. There's that "foes to lovers" quality, a slowly building tension and chemistry that's palpable even without explicit scenes. Their relationship develops gradually, allowing mistrust to give way to curiosity, and then to something much deeper. And yes, the nickname "Lamb" is a special one for me. 🥹

A distinct plus is the found family, the morally gray MMC, and the constant feeling that something more lies behind the familiar notions of good and evil. The story, like Nova, makes us question who is really the enemy, who can be trusted, and what price are we willing to pay for the right to be ourselves?

An immersive dystopian romance that pulls you in from the very first page. Nova is a genuinely compelling heroine, imperfect but sharp witted and determined to choose her own path in a world built to keep her confined to one. Her capture behind enemy lines gives the story real tension, and watching her navigate shifting loyalties while relying on her own resourcefulness makes her arc feel earned rather than convenient. The enemies to lovers dynamic between Nova and the commander holding her captive is the real highlight, building slowly and believably from mistrust into something deeper, with chemistry that simmers even in the quieter moments. The found family thread adds warmth alongside the tension, and the morally grey shading throughout keeps you questioning who the real enemy is right alongside Nova. A dark, atmospheric read with a slow burn romance worth the wait, perfect for fans of dystopian worlds where nothing is quite as black and white as it first seems.

I do recommend

Dark dystopian world, survival, action, characters shaped by ruthless and challenging circumstances, and a beginning of a crush. I really liked the book, even though it felt like a somewhat plotless introduction to the political situation of different survivor groups on Earth.

I liked the eye-opening experience we had with FMC Nova. I especially liked that Nova has other survival skills; tracking, plant knowledge other than combat, and weapons skills that other characters have to the point of ruthlessness. I believe that the plot will start to take shape better in the next part and since the sequel has already been published, I bought it right away.

Thank you Victory Editing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this addictive advanced reader copy!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Honestly, this gave me Divergent meets Mad Max vibes and I was here for it. Nova's journey from her old, rule-bound faction into captivity with the Loxosceles kept me turning pages, and I really liked watching her grow more confident and capable as the story went on. Her slow burn thing with Leon hit a nice pace too, not rushed, not dragging. And the crew around them genuinely grew on me by the end. My only real gripes are that I wanted a bit more time with the characters before the action kicks into gear, and the ending felt a little anticlimactic after all that buildup. Still, it's a fun, easy read with a couple I'm rooting for, and that cliffhanger has me curious where Nova and Leon go next.

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book! It has SO many of the elements I love in post-apocalyptic stories: wilderness survival, found family, hidden settlements, factions at war, and characters forced to rely on each other to survive. ❤️

Nova pulled me into this story immediately. She starts out unsure of herself and where she belongs, but she’s determined to prove everyone wrong about what she’s capable of.

She isn’t suddenly amazing at everything she’s supposed to be good at either, which I found really relatable and realistic. Nova lives in a hidden settlement where everyone has an assigned role. She’s expected to become a Scout and help the Hunters, but her real passion is botany and exploring the medicinal uses of plants. Unfortunately, her community values maintaining order over individual passions.

Nova wants to find her own way, and as the story progresses, we get to watch her discover that she’s braver, stronger, and far more capable than she ever realised. She learns fast, she’s defiant, and she refuses to let other people decide her worth. ❤️

Then one trip beyond her settlement’s usual boundaries ends with her being kidnapped by Leon and his crew from a notorious faction... and things get VERY interesting. 👀

Nova lies about where she comes from to protect her people, only to accidentally claim she belongs to a rival faction Leon’s people are on the brink of war with. Oops. 😂

And Leon... 😮‍💨

He’s brooding, guarded, fiercely protective, and technically her enemy. He has that whole I don’t trust you, but I’m still going to make sure nothing happens to you energy that I absolutely eat up. 👀❤️

Despite all the reasons they shouldn’t trust each other, they’re repeatedly forced to rely on and protect one another.

AND WHEN HE CALLS HER “LITTLE LAMB.” 😭❤️

I absolutely LOVE this nickname. The enemies-to-lovers tension between these two was so addictive.

If you love post-apocalyptic stories with wilderness survival, found family, rival settlements, a defiant FMC finding her own strength, and a brooding protective MMC she absolutely should NOT be falling for... put this one on your radar. 👀❤️

Wilderness survival + factions at war + found family + enemies to lovers + “Little Lamb” = you have my attention. 😂❤️