Overall enjoyable, but too long relative to the eventual payoff. The side characters’ plot lines don’t really feel resolved by the end and the romantic pairing felt a little forced? (Personally I was rooting for the scholar but could have settled for the childhood friend).

I think Hall did a fantastic job of building a complex sociopolitical structure between the neighboring countries (though I wish we’d gotten that sowed a bit earlier / more consistently) but I found that I didn’t understand the Workings very well by the end - different disciplines, some people have affinities for them, poetry?? - or the “higher beings” beyond the legends.

This book needs a sequel to feel wholly complete

For the audiobook specifically, there was a strange glitch that altered the narrator’s register, dropping their pitch significantly and warping some of the words - this lasted for several chapters and then was randomly fixed in a later chapter.

Classic fantasy, and felt like it was older than it is or was. Pulled you into a new world, and characters that still felt familiar and relatable

Despite having read other fantasy novels in the past, I found ASUNDER to be one of the most intense, inventive, and heart-wrenching novels I have ever read. Throughout the book, I felt extremely attached to the characters and had a great sense of world-building and magic systems. A lot of the focus of the book was on the politics, magic, and world-building of this universe rather than the fast-paced plot itself. This is the first book I’ve read of Hall’s and I plan on looking into her other books. For this to be a standalone and end so open-ended is a travesty. I really hope there will be a second book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and RBmedia for providing the eALC.

Loved the fantasy read. Karys is a death speaker, meaning she can speak to the recently dead. The writer has created a great cast of characters that you grow to care about. I did however find the ending a bit abrupt.

I overall enjoyed the audiobook but there were a few instances of shifting and swallowing noises. The story itself was unique and not something i often read in fantasy. The main characters are likeable but I didn't completely feel engaged with them. It also did feel a bit longwinded at times which slowed the pace of the story.
Thank you for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, narrator did a fantastic job and I would recommend the audiobook, even though I would have appreciated a glossary at the beginning to avoid confusion. I wonder if there's one in the physical copy.
I'm not sure I can recommend the book itself though. The ending is just so abrupt and unsatisfying. 19 and a half hour audiobook and that's it? Terrible. The description says it's a standalone so that's how I'm going to review it. As a standalone I hate it. I also hate when a book is said to be a standalone only for it to have and ending which basically says it's a series.
The dynamic between Karys and Ferain is the highlight of this book for me and the only reason it's not a one star.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.