There’s a lot of potential and I like the magic system and the characters but I had some issues starting. The abrupt starting point confused me and had me thinking I had missed something. I like the symbolism used throughout but my biggest issues were that motivations were unclear and there we unnecessary subplots

I really enjoyed "The Prophets Gambit" by Ellie Evaris. The world-building was fantastic and the characters were engaging. The plot was intricate and kept me guessing until the very end. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because at times the pacing felt a bit slow. Overall, a great read and I would recommend it to fans of fantasy and intrigue. 4 stars!

This was a fantastic introductory novel and I adored the fantasy elements to prophecy and paranormal and it was fantastic! I loved these elements. Zthey made a great romantasy series start. looking forward to reading more

Unfortunately I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy this story, I couldn’t connect with the characters at all and i found the writing quite chaotic, so much that I struggled to follow the developing of the story.
I think that using the first person narration might have helped the readers to understand the characters or at least find them interesting and worthy of pushing through the story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free earc, all opinions are my own.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

"The Prophet's Gambit" by Ellie Evaris is a thrilling fantasy novel that follows seventeen-year-old Aris, who finds herself entangled in a world of dreams, prophecies, and hidden realms. Fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Cassandra Clare will appreciate the blend of magic, mystery, and romance that Evaris brings to the table.

Aris is a relatable and compelling protagonist whose obsession with dreams sets the stage for a captivating adventure. Her journey begins when she meets Alek, a mysterious boy with golden eyes and an uncanny ability to avoid injury. Their encounter leads to a tarot reading that propels Aris into a quest to find Krysidia, a hidden realm tied to her destiny.

The book's strength lies in its imaginative plot and rich world-building. Evaris creates a vivid, magical universe that draws readers in, filled with intriguing characters and a sense of mystery. The concept of a hidden realm, Krysidia, and the idea of Aris being the key to unlocking it adds a layer of excitement and urgency to the story.

Alek and his friends, along with the enigmatic Lochlen, add depth to the narrative. The dynamics between Aris and these characters are engaging, especially her complicated relationship with Lochlen. The sense of familiarity and tension between them adds an intriguing layer to the plot, keeping readers invested in their interactions.

However, the novel does have its drawbacks. Some parts of the story feel rushed, and certain plot points could benefit from more development. The backstory of Krysidia and the prophecy is fascinating, but it sometimes feels like the narrative skims over these elements without fully exploring their potential. Additionally, while Aris's internal struggle and growth are well-portrayed, some secondary characters could use more depth to make their motivations and actions more compelling.

The book also tackles themes of loss and self-discovery, particularly as Aris learns the truth about her parents' death and its connection to her quest. These emotional moments add a poignant touch to the adventure, making Aris's journey more than just a magical escapade.

Overall, "The Prophet's Gambit" is a solid three-star read that offers a blend of magic, adventure, and emotional depth. Ellie Evaris crafts a story that will captivate fantasy fans, even if some elements could use further refinement. Aris's quest to find Krysidia and her journey of self-discovery make this an engaging and worthwhile read for those who enjoy a mix of mystery and magic.

First of all I would like to thank netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Going back to the book, It was an entertained read and I Had a good time reading. I didn’t really the pace As I said, I had a good time and dad makes me wanna recommend this book to other people.
I’ve really liked the writing and the blood was developed, The characters were likable, but I didn’t really connect with them. Maybe that was a personal problem but overall, I liked most of them.
There were a few things that I didn’t like that I would not mention here because they will be spoilers and I wanted this to be spoiler free.
To end with, It is a good book and it will recommend it. Once again, thank you netgalley 🫶🏻

Always a fan for love triangles - was a good book, would like more world building and character development to really pull the story together.

Firstly, Thank you to NetGallery and the author Ellie Evaris for providing me with the ARC of The Prophet’s Gambit in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Prophet’s Gambit had me intrigued from the moment I read the blurb, and it mostly delivered on my expectations. While it took a bit of time to find its stride, the story eventually picked up, and the buildup was worth it.

I'm a huge fan of dream-centric plots, and this one had a twist that kept me engaged. The characters, particularly Lochlen and Alek, were captivating, and the love triangle added an extra layer of tension.

Aris, the main character, was fun to follow, and her journey felt realistic, especially in terms of her developing powers. The found family dynamic was heartwarming, and the LGBTQ+ representation was a nice touch.

However, the worldbuilding felt a bit vague, and some relationships seemed rushed. Despite these minor issues, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and eagerly anticipate the sequel.

Overall, The Prophet’s Gambit is a promising start to what looks to be an exciting series, and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishing team for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I tried multiple times to read this book, and I really wanted to love it but I think I would’ve when I was a little younger. I ended up dnfing after multiple tries.

Magical adventure for any age - secrets, action, and wonderful dynamics between characters - I guess could be called a fantasy world coming of age. Great for any fantasy fan.

I actually really enjoyed this one. I felt it was a completely original concept and I loved the way it played out. Highly recommend!!

This was an absolutely wonderful debut novel. I loved the tropes, the characters, the writing. It was a bit slow to begin with but once it ramped up it was so hard to put down! I loved the diverse, but not too populous cast of characters, you could really get a sense of them without being overwhelmed with too many names and storylines.
I'll be looking for the next book asap!

This one had a slow start. I'm not sure if it was because of me and my inability to focus, but nonetheless it took forever to get through in the beginning. To be completely honest, I almost DNF, but I also don't like doing that so I stuck it through and I'm glad I did. I fell in love, slowly, with the characters and felt deeply with their desires. I think this was a great book.

Very enjoyable fantasy romance with beautiful world building, diverse cast, and great character development. The magic system with dreams and tarot is very interesting and the mysterious plot kept me hooked. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel!

Hi

Thank you so much for the opportunity to try this title. Unfortunately, it has not grabbed my attention and I'm DNFing.

Apologies.

The cover is amazing . It's the main reason why I wanted to read the book . This book was good to read . But it didn't fit in my 5 star list . The writing is great . But the story formatting was not meant for me . I think the author did a good job with the writing style .
Fantasy reader should give it a try

This book was very good! Thank you so much to Ellie Evaris and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early!

It was a bit hard to get into at first, as it started off pretty slowly, but it eventually built up!

The “have never met but dream of each other” trope is absolutely amazing btw and I eat it up every time. I’m very excited for the sequel and curious to see where it goes!

Conceptually, this book should have been a wonderful addition to YA fantasy, it was a story that had so much potential with a unique magic system, a hidden world, and teenagers fighting against an unknown evil. Instead the story lacked a cohesive storyline that made it difficult to follow what was going on, who was important to the story, and how their backstories connected to the world around them.

The book started off really strong with an interesting hook set in a dream world and it was easy to get pulled right into the action. Unfortunately, after that chapter, the strong hook disappeared. The dream world and the mystery relationships that were teased in that world were rarely seen again and had little to no bearing on the story. While the need for a strong hook is understandable, it should also be relevant to the story, so my interest quickly waned.

The characters, their powers, and their interactions were stronger than the plotline, but still leaned on the confusing side. The main group of teenagers that made up the majority of the main characters were likable enough and it was nice to see their powers described slowly over time instead of thrown at the reader. The jump from character point of view to character point of view was bumpy and at times hard to follow, but it was also an interesting change to see how the story was developing depending on the opinion of whatever characters was being read at the time.

As likable as the characters were, it would have been nice to see a more cohesive backstory. There were times when the characters would say something about their past that made no sense with the information that had previously been given. That left a feeling of confusion and dissatisfaction that was difficult to overcome.

The ending was a redeeming factor as it left on enough of a cliffhanger to peak interest in where the story will go in the next book in the series.

⅖ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Hidden Grove Books for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I received a copy via NetGalley and Hidden Grove Books.

My Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4) --> interesting plot, characters, and character dynamics, but it felt slow and difficult to get through.

Would I read this again? No, but I would read the next book in the series.

I found this book a bit hard to get through. It was a bit slow and confusing. However, the book is the first in a new fantasy series, so it makes sense that the book may drag a bit as the reader learns about the world, magic system, and overall dynamics. There were also a lot of characters to try and keep track of, so at times it could be a bit confusing. Because it was a bit slow, I would not necessarily read it again, but I was left intrigued, and the cliffhanger left me wanting to read more.

The book centered around Lochlen, Aris, and Alek (I felt like there was a love triangle forming). Since they were children, Aris and Lochlen have been in each other’s dreams. Lochlen remembers Aris, but Aris doesn’t remember him when the dream ends. Lochlen believes that his best friend Alek is going to destroy the world and that it is his job to stop him. In the real world, Aris meets Alek and joins his group of friends, which includes Lochlen.

Aris learns that she, and her new friends are Anathemians (beings who are not quite human and can use their magic abilities through the crystals they wear). While the book does focus on the relationships between Lochlen, Aris, and Alek. The main focus centered around their search for a way to Krysidia. Krysidia is where the anathemians’s ancestors were banished from generations ago and the kids have spent a majority of their lives trying to get back. Throughout the book we see the kids' abilities revealed and how they impact their ultimate goal of finding a way back to Krysidia.

There is also an ongoing storyline were the kids, particularly Aris, try to unravel the mystery of Aris’s parents' deaths several years prior, but this was not fully answered in this book.

I won’t reveal their powers, the identities of all of the characters, or whether or not they ever make find Krysidia. That would ruin the fun.

Would I classify this as YA? Not exactly.
While there is no sexual or excessively violent and graphic material, it does contain heavy swearing (words like Fuck, Shit, goddamn, Dick, etc. are used frequently) and there are a few instances of underage drinking and partying. I consider YA books to be ones that I would recommend to a reader grades 6th-11th and because of those reasons I would not consider this a YA, at least not in my opinion.