Book Review: Well of Dreams (The Runic Saga #1) by Kayla Ann

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 408 pages
Author: Kayla Ann
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The gods predicted the end, but they never counted on mankind’s will to survive…

After an apocalyptic event that left the world in ruin, the surviving nation of Evrópa returns to the reverence of ancestral magic and mystic runes. Seventeen-year-old Larissa Daldóttir has little time to dwell on such folklore—not with a monthly produce quota to meet and an illegal second-born sister to hide. Enslavement, if not death at the hands of the Empress, awaits her family should Halla be discovered.

When Larissa is mistaken to be in league with the resistance against the Empress, she must flee with Halla. Wounded and hunted by agents of the Empress, Larissa’s survival relies on a mercurial shapeshifter and a mysteriously familiar young man from her forgotten past.

Running from both her past and the Empress, Larissa has no choice but to trust in the tenuous bonds built through heartache and tragedy. In a race to find the resistance before the Empress finds them, Larissa and Halla unintentionally unravel secrets of their history that not only unhinge the stability of the crown but their very lives.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy!

FANTASTIC DEBUT.

This is your sign to take a chance on debut indie authors. I loved this book y’all.

I’m not a big dystopian fan, but this felt different. It was a subtle dystopian vibe mixed with all things Norse mythology and I loved the combination. There’s intense moments, dark creatures and a past that’s trying to find it’s way to the present.

I love the multiple POV’s and how it kept the pace going. There’s a lot of flashbacks that helped build the story and once I started clicking pieces into place I became increasingly invested in knowing the full scope of what happened. I really like all of these characters too and can’t wait to see how the story continues to unfurl.

There’s a romance sub-plot I am absolutely here for. I loved the reveals and the writing was wonderful. The paperback edition I received had gorgeous art throughout too and I loved being able to get a better picture of the cast. I’m genuinely excited to see what’s next!

Overall audience notes: