Stacy McEwan's first book in the Glacian Trilogy, Ledge had me all excited because the premise sounds delightful. We've got ourselves what sounds like a strong, independent female lead, who seemingly through sheer determination and no-nonsense attitude must overcome an adversity that has led to many a death before. No one has scaled the Ledge, and now Dawsyn, with the help of Ryon, decides that she will not, in fact, die as she gets to the other side of the cliff.

While it seemed extremely appealing at first, the plot fizzles out as the narrative progresses - and this is mainly because the lack of depth plagues the storyline, the characters, the villainy - all of it! It desperately needs more thought put into it to not read like a pitch to what could be a good story. The world-building too could use some work - especially in building the mythos of the story's universe - how does the magic system work, what is the primary religion and how does it align with the magic etc etc. And the dialogue too, could use a bit more complexity than characters simply saying, 'Damn' or 'Fucking hell'

Dawsyn, although I did like her in the beginning, loses her likability because later on, she just comes across as a 2 dimensional mean girl that can wield an ax.

Overall, as far as a YA fantasy is concerned, this one is strictly okay and giving it a miss wouldn't cause any regrets. I give it a 2.5 stars rounded down because it just doesn't warrant 3 stars.

I received a sampler of this book from Netgalley. There's been quite a bit of hype about this book and I can understand why. I cannot wait for this to come out!!

Thank you netgalley for providing an exclusive sample of Ledge!
After reading the two chapters available to me, I am so intrigued to see what happens next! The wintery, harsh world Dawsyn calls home is unlike anything I’ve read before and can’t wait to read this book fully and see how her story unfolds. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and how this sample provides a glimpse of Dawsyn’s resilience and fears.

I only had access to the first two chapters but boy were they the most beautifully written two chapters. I have to wait a little while to be able to continue the story but I cannot wait.

That was a hell of an introduction. Even in only two chapters, I found myself extremely invested. I love Dawsyn so far, and I look forward to continuing reading about her.

To be honest, I wasn't planning on reading this book, but after reading this sample I am now intrigued!

Great start to a captivating new series by Stacey McEwan!

I was drawn to Ledge immediately when I saw the gorgeous cover and my excitement only grew when I read the description. I was a huge fan of The Hunger Games trilogy when I was younger, so I knew I’d like this sampler because of the similarities. I was also excited about this type of dystopian fantasy book being aimed at an adult audience.

Ledge follows Dawsyn, a girl in her mid-twenties who is trapped along with many others in a place they refer to as The Ledge. Since no one can escape without falling to their death, food and supplies are running low and the people who reside there must race each other to acquire the things that are necessary for survival when packages drop. These are dropped by flying creatures called Glacians, who do this in exchange for a human sacrifice twice a year. No one knows what happens to these people once they are taken. Dawsyn’s been lucky so far - even though she has no family to stand in front of during the selection, she hasn’t been taken yet - but that’s about to change.

From the first page, I was immediately encompassed in the icy atmosphere of The Ledge. I was immediately rooting for Dawsyn to get the supplies. I was immediately wondering what happened to Dawsyn’s friend Hector’s father after he was taken by the Glacians. And I immediately wondered what who the Glacians were going to take over the chasm as the next sacrifice!

This sampler wasn’t enough and I’ll definitely be purchasing this book to find out what happens next.

Thank you so much for NetGalley and Stacy McEwan for providing this these first couple chapters, and I can’t wait to read the rest!

At first I thought this was going to be a horror story. I actually never read what the book was about when i bought it 😂

But what a wonderful surprise to find a great fantasy story.

Humans fighting winged creatures called glacians for survival on the ledge.
A small frozen village with a small civilisation trapped by a vast chasm and sheer mountain face.

Dawson managed to escape the ledge and survive with the help of a half breed glacian.
But even if she is free she needs to avenge her family and the ones she left on the ledge. With help from Ryon, they will take down the king and his pure glacians ones and for al.

Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read the first two chapters! I was hooked from the very first sentence. The cold may not be alive, but Stacey Mcewan’s words will definitely keep you alive, questioning, and wanting to learn more about this mysterious and dangerous place. The main character Dawsyn is strong and I can tell she is about to go on a JOURNEY! The first chapters are very reminiscent of ACOTAR and there’s some immediate spiciness in this story as well. I am excited to read more of this book and see where the story goes!

Thank you to Stacey McEwan and NetGalley for providing me with a free preview of the first two chapters of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have since read the full book.

"Ledge" by Stacey McEwan is an exhilarating and immersive dark fantasy novel that captivated me from the very first page. Set in a frozen wasteland called the Ledge, where a trapped civilization must face the menacing Glacians in exchange for survival, the story follows Dawsyn, a fierce and resilient ax wielder. When she is chosen for the annual sacrifice, Dawsyn's world is turned upside down. However, hope arises in the form of Ryon, a half-Glacian who offers to help her escape. The slow-burning romance and high-stakes plot kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. McEwan's world-building is masterfully crafted, transporting readers into a unique and chilling universe. The author's descriptive prose and character introspection drew me deeper into the story, making it difficult to put the book down. With unanswered questions and a sense of urgency, "Ledge" left me eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Glacian Trilogy. Overall, Stacey McEwan delivers an enthralling debut that will transport you to a mesmerizing and dangerous world, leaving you craving for more.

This book is 100% giving me hunger games vibes and I am HERE FOR IT!! I definitely need the whole book now I need to know what happens after chapter 2!! Thank you NetGalley and Stacey McEwan for letting me preview this book!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to the sampler copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an intriguing first two chapters Ledge that had me hooked and wanting more!! I definitely felt the Hunger Games vibes, Now I need to read Ledge and Chasm!!

I really love this debut novel by Stacey McEwan. The world building is really interesting and unique. I love the story of the ledge and wish we got to see the different people on there a bit more.

There were twists and turns all through the novel and I read the whole book within a day or 2. I can’t wait for book 2 and really recommend this book.

The first few chapters of this book are so cold. This is a perfect winter read! I really liked what i got to read and need more right now!

I had been considering purchasing this when I found the sampler/excerpt and thought it was a great opportunity to discover whether I would enjoy it as much as I felt I might before taking the plunge. Therefore, I downloaded it immediately. The two chapters that are featured give just enough flavour to whet your appetite unlike some as often I have found excerpts to be far too short, but this was pretty on the money. The language and worldbuilding and the introduction of characters were done nicely, and I found myself compelled to keep reading which gave me the answer I was seeking all along. I only hope the sequel is as exciting and richly portrayed.

This was a taster of the first two chapters for ledge I was able to access for free through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book starts as a massive wow! I can't wait to go buy and finish reading this. It's a dark fantasy in a dystopianesque world where cold is an evil they all must face. Humans have been overtaken as the apex predator. Friends are hard to come by and love along-lost ideal.

The writing style is typical of fantasy and makes it very easy to get lost in but also question name pronunciations 😉

The plot in just the first two chapters alone is intriguing. The scene setting and world building are done beautifully with a large part of it done through character introspection rather than telling us about the world.

It feels like the kind of dark fantasy where you will get lost in it and come out several hours later feeling like you have travelled across a different world for several days.

I will provide a full updated review once I have completed the full book.

I didn't realize this was only two chapters but I did enjoy them! The first two chapters definitely pull you into the story and I can't wait to one day read the rest.

I love Stacey’s work so much! I can’t wait for the next book to come out! I will definitely be buying it!

Stacey McEwan's "Ledge" offers a compelling start to the Glacian Trilogy. Set in a unique, ice-bound universe, the book introduces readers to Dawsyn, a strong and persistent protagonist wielding an ax and bearing a tremendous burden.

In just the first two chapters, McEwan's world-building is exceptional, painting a chilling picture of a society trapped in a harsh frozen landscape known as the Ledge, constantly fearing the mystical and fearsome Glacians.

Numerous unanswered questions presented in these initial pages amplify the reader's curiosity. How did the Ledge come into being? Is this community the last bastion of humanity or simply a secluded society?
I'm so glad "Ledge" is already out because I've added it to the top of my reading pile.

Thanks to NetGalley and Stacey McEwan' for the two chapter sample in exchange for an honest review.

So glad for the sneak peek! Cant wait to read more by McEwan! The first few characters really draw you in and make me so hyped to see more.