This was a fantastic concept for a dark fantasy novel, I was hooked from the first page and thought the overall feel worked in the world that was set and how the characters were used to tell the story. The characters were everything that I was looking for and had that fantasy vibe that I was looking for. Deva Fagan was able to weave a strong storyline and made characters that I cared about during my read. I was glad I was able to read this and hope there is more from Deva Fagan.

This book checked all the boxes for me. The world-building and plot were so interesting and well done and the magic system was uniquely crafted. I could really connect with all the characters, their backgrounds were so different, yet they fit together so well.
I really liked the ending, it was probably my favorite part of the book

I loved reading this book and could not put it down, finding all sorts of odd minutes throughout my day to pick it up again.

The world-building in Harrowmark is effortlessly rich, immersing you right from the start in a realm full of wonder, tension, and tangible atmosphere.
Deva Fagan has crafted an exceptionally immersive world with lore that feels deep, mysterious, and beautifully realized.
If you love vast, intricate worlds where every location feels steeped in history and magic, Harrowmark delivers in spades.
For fans who love the portal-crossing scales of The Wheel of Time and the power-infused action of Mistborn, Harrowmark captures that exact high-stakes magic.
The heart of this story lies in its fellowship—a group of strangers, each carrying their own heavy pasts, who must learn to rely on one another.
The dynamic between these broken 'misfits' is incredible; watching them overcome their personal flaws to unite against a common enemy is wildly satisfying.
An absolute standout read for early 2027 that will leave fantasy lovers eagerly begging for book two - I can't wait!

What a phenomenal book!! I cannot possibly be more impressed by this author! The writing is so engaging and the characters so vivid. We are introduced to a cast of characters, each with their own flaws and histories. Each one is involved deeply with the fate of this world and only through their collaboration are they able to discover the ultimate secret.
Ezeyre, the scholar, is so brilliant it hurts and many times she ends up disregarding the feelings of others to prioritize her research. Throughout this book she is able to discover more about herself and is the brilliant mind that puts so many pieces together. She is such a delight to read and reminds me heavily of the fmcs in "The Raven Scholar' and 'Blood Over Bright Haven'.
Sennia is a princess whose true wish is to give back to her people and be helpful. She is constantly trying to be of service to others and is truly selfless. She, too, has glaring flaws and I find that really refreshing in a 'heroic' character.
Jaskin is one of my favorite characters. He is destined to be drained of his powers for his brother and will not stand by and let this happen. So, he escapes and is able to obtain the power he needs to escape his fate, but at what cost?
These are the POVS we follow throughout the book but we interact with so many other beloved characters - Rhode, Rax, Tiecelin, Wyelle, Valan, Cypria, and Flymark. Each person has such a vivid personality and I'm so impressed with how each one has their own strengths and weaknesses but it doesn't make me vehemently despise anyone - just understand them more.
This book covers so many plot points and uncovers so much research, and I cannot overstate just how incredible it is that this author is able to fit such a spanning plot in just one book and make the pacing just right. I cannot recommend this book enough!!

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, I didn't expect to get this emotionally invested in Harrowmark, but here we are.

This is the kind of dark fantasy I absolutely love—an eerie, broken world, dangerous magic, secrets hiding behind supposedly noble institutions, and characters who are far more complicated than they first appear.

The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts. The magical portals, wraiths, and the Vespers created this unsettling atmosphere where you never quite know what is waiting around the corner. I also loved the questions the story raises about good and evil, faith, power, and what people are willing to sacrifice for what they believe is right.

But the characters really made this book for me. Sennia, Ezerye, and Jaskin each come from completely different places, and watching their paths come together was fantastic. Their personalities and motivations felt distinct, and the growing found-family dynamic gave the story so much heart.

There are twists, moral gray areas, dark magic, a little horror, romance, humor, and plenty of moments where I genuinely wasn't sure who I could trust.

And that found family? YES. Give me a group of complicated misfits trying to survive a terrifying world together and I'm in.

Harrowmark felt like the kind of fantasy adventure that completely pulls you into its world and makes you care about the people fighting to survive it.

Dark, imaginative, emotional, and wonderfully strange. Five stars from me. 🖤✨

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW Books for providing me with this ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.

When I first applied for an ARC of Harrowmark on NetGalley, it was by random selection. I didn’t know who Deva Fagan was, and I didn’t bother to understand the description of the book. All I’d thought was, “woah, pretty cover. I like.” It was only after I’d picked up the approved ARC that I realized I’d just hit the jackpot.

Miss Fagan, I was unaware that I was in the presence of greatness. I apologize for my initial insouciance toward your book.

Harrowmark is a PHENOMENAL fantasy set in a broken world absolutely dripping with lore. This is exactly the kind of story I love, featuring otherworldly wraiths that could strike at any minute, the Vespers who are tasked to handle them, and an intricate system that connects them to paint a picture suggesting a far darker truth. This story raises questions about good and evil, faith and power, and what people are willing to sacrifice for what they believe is right.

The book follows the perspectives of three main characters — Ezerye, a disgraced Schola; Sennia, a princess-turned-knight; and Jaskin, a mage on the run. Though they came from completely different places, their stories were intertwined long before they got to meet each other as newly-turned Vespers. Watching their paths slowly converge was incredible!

We also get to interact with so many other memorable characters—Rax, Flymark, Cypria, Valan, Wyelle, Rhode and Tiecelin. Every one of them has a unique personality, with varying strengths, weaknesses and flaws that, even if it could be annoying or illogical given the circumstances, I couldn’t bring myself to hate them for. I was impressed by how the author managed to make them so clearly distinct in their dialogue and mannerisms. Their relationship gives this story so much heart, and I can’t wait to meet them again.

Plot-wise, Harrowmark is filled with twists, morally gray situations, a few dark elements, and just a dash of swoon-worthy romance. As the story progressed, I was sometimes unsure who I could trust. Every character is multifaceted, and every choice is made with deliberate caution. The story also covers significant amounts of substantial lore about the world it’s set in, that somehow, the author manages to fit into one book—without making the pacing feel rushed or sluggish.

By the end of it, Harrowmark had completely caught me in its grasp. It’s imaginative, passionate and wonderfully extraordinary. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I wouldn’t be forgetting these characters anytime soon.

I wish all the best for this book, and sincerely hope it gains enough traction for loads of amazing fanworks and special editions. I cannot wait to see how the characters are interpreted by artists!

For anyone looking for a great read that masterfully blends the found-family dynamics of Leigh Bardugo, the worldbuilding of Brandon Sanderson, and the storytelling of Ava Reid, this is most definitely the book for you.