3.5 ☆

i was able to read the e-arc for this book in exchange for an honest review so here it is.

for the first half of the book, i just found it pleasant. not memorable in any way, but definitely enjoyable.

the 75% mark was a turning point for me: the sudden added tension definitely made it intriguing and the cozy atmosphere suddenly got darker, solving most of the issues i had had with the book previously.

particularly:

1. TIMING: this has been by far the biggest issue for me. though starting in medias res is a narrative technique as old as time, you have to make sure that the reader does not feel like they have been randomly thrown in the middle of the action. i don’t think that was entirely successful here. the characters keep referring to past events and consolidated relationships as if you are supposed to already care about them and know what’s at stake without giving you a reason to care and be concerned until much later. this also kind of influenced how i perceived the relationship between orpheus and fenrir, because they clearly have history of sorts but you just were not there for it, thus making it hard to be invested from the get-go. you still don’t know them as characters and you definitely don’t know their bond. it felt like it was supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers kind of thing but the enemies part had been left out?
2. ⁠LORE: she was just not a compelling character? not even as a villain? not only is she unlikeable (which, by itself, would not be an issue at all), but she is also kinda rude to orpheus from the jump and he does not notice? and ofc i don’t mean the start of the book, i mean the chronological start of the story narrated in the interludes, which are supposed to give you some background and make you understand why he saw her as his best friend? and even when you get the whole context, you understand where everyone’s stance on her comes from EXCEPT for orpheus’ cause she was insufferable towards him as well ???? also, before the ending she only appears in the first handful of chapters (where i’m not even sure she speaks) and in the sporadic interludes so not often enough to make her threatening nor intriguing.
3. ⁠CONFUSING STANDING ON TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT: they have seatbelts, airplanes, and coffee but fight armored, are unsure whether houses have hot water and travel long distances by horse? and they use fahrenheit, which places the story distinctly in the US which, to be fair, are mentioned with details: that’s even more confusing given that any other location (apart from japan for some reason) has made-up fantastical-sounding names.
4. ⁠PROSE: this was only an issue at first tbh, i think the writing style improved as the book went on. some sentences were a little clunky and awkward but it did not hinder the reading experience much. i think that it was a moderately successful attempt at creating an epic fantasy atmosphere.

overall i think this book is worth reading, and most of my complaints could be just personal preference and taste, so definitely give it a chance !

Grade: C

After he is kicked out of the palace by his childhood best friend turned empress because of the death curse following him around, Orpheus, a mage, is left adrift in the empire he helped create. While traveling with the empress' best general, Fenrir, Orpheus starts to suspect that maybe the empress, and the empire, were not such a good thing after all...

My review:
Me and this book did not jive. I had several issues with this book:
- there was absolutely no reason for this book to be labelled adult, and I thought it hurt the book in my opinion, as I expected a world and characters that were more deeply flushed out than what we were given.
- I did not buy into the relationship between Fenrir and Orpheus. Because of the place the book starts, we are just thrown into this dynamic between them and the book was more about Orpheus realizing what that dynamic was, rather than any sort of growth between them. I didn't actually get any sort of chemistry between them, it felt like we were just told they should like each other and we should be into that. "Fifi" as a romantic nickname threw me off from the very beginning, and I felt it was very indicative of the book as a whole - more childish than I was looking for and not as cute or romantic as it thought it was.
- According to my ecopy, Orpheus spent the first 91% of the book crying and/or spiraling, while crying. I am all for a man crying and showing emotions, but it was A LOT. I got bored of it very quickly.
- There was not enough depth to Lore, the empress. She's awful literally from the get-go, and in all of the flashbacks, so I did not form the same emotional attachment to her that Orpheus had like I was supposed to, so his feelings of betrayal and hurt didn't do anything for me.
- Pedantic issue: the epilogue was not an epilogue. It was a deleted scene.

Do you feel like Severus Snape was tragically misunderstood and just needed to be loved? If so, this is probably a great fit for you! Our main character, Orpheus, was just doing what he thought was best for his country and his queen but he kinda summoned an army of undead and ended up with a death curse in the bargain. Since this unfortunate death curse keeps trying to kill him (and sometimes everyone around him) he gets banished from the palace where he's spent his whole life. Himbo/golden retriever Fenrir will accompany him and he can't stop noticing...Fenrir's biceps? And his stupid hair? And his broad chest?

This was a great action/adventurey, road trip romance. It didn't totally hit for me but if you're in the mood for these tropes I think you would love it!

Pros:
-Sad boi Orpheus figuring out that he can in fact feel a feeling
-Quick, witty dialogue
-Interesting world building & magic system

Cons:
-I found it a little hard to follow the story, especially the beginning 25% of the book. You're dropped right in the middle of the action but a touch more explanation of who's who and what's actually going on would have helped me follow the plot better. This made it slow to get into for me and I didn't feel a strong pull to keep picking up the book or turning the pages.
-Orpheus is real sad; there was a lot of internal monologue and various moments of panic attacks/other intense emotional reactions. For me personally it took away from the strengths of the book, which was the rompy adventure bits.
-A few grammatical errors, particularly some run-on sentences

I did not finish the book; stopped around 50%. However, I still give it 3 stars because I think it would be super fun and enjoyable for the right reader.

A cozy fantasy redemption story that I’m sure many will love, though it wasn’t quite for me. The writing was quite dense, with relatively little dialogue to keep the story moving forward. I often found myself confused about how much time had passed and where the characters were. In addition, we have relatively little background into Fenrir’s and Orpheus’s history, so Fenrir’s unshakable faith in Orpheus as a person and long-standing feelings for him were somewhat surprising and unbelievable—I kept wondering if I missed something (and maybe I did!). Nonetheless, this is a very warm story and I’m sure it will find a treasured home on many readers’ shelves, even if not on mine.

This single point of view novel is about Orpheus and how he started from a sad beginning but found love in Fenrir. This is a queer romance and I am here for it! I loved the personalities and the banter that moved the book along quite well. Oh and there are dragons in this book... and magical battles... and a post apocalyptic setting...

Read this!!!

Thank you for allowing me to read this book.
I will keep Orpheus in my heart forever.
At first I was a little confused but as soon as I could place the events it all flown into me. It was like I was there.
So well written it lend to an immersive experience.

After raising an army of hell beasts to support his only friend in her conquest of the realm, Orpheus finds himself cursed and banished. His only companion on this mission the handsome, but terribly irritating, general of his friend’s army, Fenrir. As Orpheus tries not to fall for the charismatic general he also realises all the harm he has caused to the world and grows a guilty conscience as their journey progresses.

This was very much a cosy read, not my favourite type of book in general but I did enjoy myself. If you like “So this is ever after” then this book is for you they have the same vibes. I also particularly enjoyed the pacing, the way the chapters were split up by interludes that gave you some of the backstory was really nice.

The writing was beautiful though slightly too flowery for me at times, I had to reread a few sentences because they were simply not computing for me but there’s a good change that is just a me thing. Although the author did use the word “cockamamie” and I don’t know about people whose first language is English (it’s not mine) but I have never seen or heard this anywhere before.

I do love a good redemption book there's just something so satisfying in seeing a character learn and grow. Despite the interesting theme and setting, I just felt like the characters were quite flat. Their motivations all felt quite surface level, Fenrir was probably the best developed one but he still lacked something I can’t quite pinpoint. Orpheus just felt a bit scattered. I also really wish we were given a little more to go on as to why Orpheus hated Fenrir so much, it was explained technically but I just wasn’t convinced.

Overall, I do think this is a fun, cosy, gay fantasy that I’m sure plenty of people will enjoy.

A fun, magical, fantasy, dystopia palette cleanser! This was a quick read with clever twists that flipped my expectations.

I love how the history and the world are set by the Dark Mage and we learn with them as every truth and lie is revealed or unburied after they are kicked out of their palace shelter.

Loved this queer fantasy! So refreshing to dive into a story unlike the vast array of fantasy offerings about right now. It’s always compelling to see where the story goes when main characters aren’t always the good guy! (Or are they?!) huge appreciation for a story where character ages differ from the fantasy norm of a 20 something. Will be recommending this to all and excited to see what else is to come!

Orpheus, a dark wizard, finds himself exiled by the woman he helped bring to power. Now he must make his way in her land on his own. However, he’s never really alone because the irritating and handsome Fenrir joins him on his journey away from the palace.

This was a fun fantasy story! Orpheus is determined to fix some damage that he caused under Lore’s rule. If you enjoy fantasy, magic, and post-apocalyptic lands, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

So this is a debut novel?? I ate this book up in less than a day, no sleep or breaks required. The witty dialogue and snarky characters are perfection. It really reminded me of a rpg quest game type of narrative - gradual development, love able specialized crew. And some awesome character building moments.

We have our main character Orpheus, a grumpy, angsty, dungeon lurking mage oops dark wizard. He is banished from the castle he helped secure and sent out into a wasted world that he had helped destroy. On his journey, Orpheus learns that the friend he helped set up as ruler is not who she seems, his rival/enemy/pain in the ass soldier Fenrir is not who he seems, and the society outside of the castle is not what he believed it to be.

There is a great cast of secondary characters that I really got to care about. And some really cool monsters and beasts.
I also really enjoyed the world building. It seems to be set up in a futuristic steam punk type post apocalyptic world. But there are references to Earth cities and to some King Arthur lore. So fascinating. Fantasy elements: A+, no complaints, nailed it

Tropes:
redemption arc done well
Grumpy/sunshine
Rivals to lovers
Lovable angsty main characters

Thank you Netgalley and Tiny Fox Press for the e arc. I absolutely enjoyed it. Pub date: 11/12/2024

recieved an eARC for an honest review

the way this book was written is such a breath of fresh air for fantasy books, the writing is funny and serious at the same time. the jokes are at the right moments and orpheus has insanely funny inner dialoge


the story follows orpheus who we quickly learn has a death curse but we dont really know why or how. we follow him on his journey to understand and reverse this curse all while trying to figure out his feelings

overall i would say this books audience is definitely ya and/or beginning fantasy readers. it reads easily without too complicated or long worldbuilding. its only 300ish pages which is perfect if you dont want to commit to a series of 5 books each with 600 pages. if this sounds like something for you i would definitely pick this up when it comes out on november 12th

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is a fantasy book that takes place on earth a few hundred years after "The Incident". It has a romance subplot. The book is written in third-person POV and a standalone.

What I liked:
- The writing was just fantastic. I was pulled into the world and it would not let me go
- The MC was amazing. We go to experience the whole roaler coaster of his emotions, good and bad. We learned about his past and got to understand why he feels the way he feels. Truly hearbreaking at points but very much worth it. His relationships to others were really well portrayed,
- I really liked the balance between present and past events and how well it was intertwined. Especially the epilogue was such a nice touch and really left me finishing the book with a smile on my face.
- The romance was really sweet, it did not consume the plot but was supportive of the story and the MC

What I didnt like:
- I was left with a few questions at the end of the book regarding the magic system and the extense of it. Since its a standalone that does not matter too much I guess.


This book was overall such a joy to read. The cover was what attracted me most but then the story just did not let me go and I found myself thinking about the characters all day. Would totally recommend this book to lovers of fantasy books that like a well fleshed out MC, that goes through all the emotions and has supportive relationships

This was an absolutely amazing debut novel! The worldbuilding was so well established alongside a whole cast of characters, and amazing romance that I can't believe it's a standalone. It had an amazing fantasy adventure with intriguing battles. The character development was so well done. I absolutely adored this book.

Given the beautiful cover and exciting blurb, I couldn't wait to dig into this story, to be swept into a redemption arc set within a fantasy world. I am sad to say that I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. Partly because I wasn't aware that the story is taking place in our world, set in post apocalyptic future. There is nothing wrong with, we still get some sort of magic and a land working with classical fantasy organisations. But I must admit it is not my cup of tea, such settings tend to break my immersion and my sense of discovery and wonder.
Regardless of my own taste, the worldbuilding is great, rather thorough and well thought! It manages to balance classic fantasy structure and feel, while also having that post apocalyptic side, set in our world but with magic and... well, destruction.

I also have to say I didn't really love Orpheus. Don't get me wrong, he is a great character, very lonely, following the person he thinks as his friend and working toward her goal, helping her. He is a bit naive and lost, which, again, isn't a problem but I wasn't expecting such a lost character, not that active in his "villainy", let's say. Since Orpheus didn't actively did wrong, unaware of his impact since he is sheltered, the redemption arc felt a bit lacking in stakes. Sure, Orpheus has to learn about the impact of his actions and his magic, needs to make some sort of peace with himself and to integrate that he has a value and worthy of love and care. But I don't know, I couldn't manage to get that involved in his journey. He is not a badly written character, simply not what I was expecting.

As for Fenrir, he is a little to good for me too. Once again, it's not that he didn't do anything wrong in his life, or that he doesn't struggle. But he such a nice guy, believes in Orpheus despite the constant rejections, works for his own idea of the greater good... I don't, it felt easy, in a way, lacking a bit of nuance and grit. That being said, he is a great partner for Orpheus, to guide and love him through this new era of his life, and their romance is cute, slowly building, with some challenges but quite smooth going.

This review might sound a bit negative, despite my effort to make it so. "The crack at the heart of everything" isn't a dull or bad story at all, it is, in fact, quite a good story, well written and well thought, and I am sure a lot of people will enjoy it! It was simply not to my taste.

For a debut novel, this book is genuinely incredible!

Admittedly, it was not my normal cup of tea, but the action moves quickly and there's a really great amount of character moments. The author is very intentional with their writing - nothing gets missed!

A strangely unique character driven fantasy, "The Crack at the Heart of Everything" is an enthralling, heartwarming, and exciting tale of a mage, striving to find himself as his entire world is thrown upside down. I adored Orpheus and Fenrir! I just wish there was more of their dynamic before Lore kicked out Orpheus and I almost wish the book was longer, with more time to develop their relationship. The reveal of the futuristic fantasy world and gasoline, airplanes, and vehicles being included was such a fun twist I did not see coming! I would love to know more about the world and what exactly happened to make it the way it is. I also really enjoyed the wild ride of an ending.

I look forward to anything else Fiona Fenn writes!

I loved this book, oh, so much. It’s soft and self-indulgent and magic, and I’m just here for all of it.

I just want to preface with the fact that I identify with Orpheus more than I have with any other fictional character before. I, too, am told I’m nicer than I pretend to be, just want someone to pay attention to me, and cry constantly. Orpheus, you’re a mess, and so am I.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything starts right at the end of a great war. Orpheus, mage and advisor to the triumphant conqueror, Lore, finds himself afflicted by a death curse. He raised an army of the dead to help Lore win the war, and in return finds himself banished from the only home he’s ever known. To keep everyone else safe from his death curse, of course.

The novel weaves together a fantastical dystopian landscape with ideas of loss, identity, healing, and love. Fiona Fenn’s writing and the action propels the novel forward. This was a book that I had difficulty putting down once I was into it. Everything happens so quickly that I never had a moment to breathe. I would have loved to see it split into a duology, but maybe that’s just because I want more.

I loved the magic system. It felt new and inventive, intertwining fantasy and dystopian fiction. Fenn takes a fantastical approach to what our world could look like after the bombs eventually drop and leave the Earth a tragic wasteland. Brief mentions are made to New England cities, but Fenn mostly roots the setting through frequent mentions of classical literature, showing a future that could be our own but feels fantastical and foreign at the same time.

With a limited number of characters, each were distinct with their own personalities, motivations, and desires. The book focuses in on two primary characters, Orpheus and Fenrir. After being exiled, Orpheus steps outside the palace for the first time in his life and struggles to find his footing in a world he’s never been in. He becomes the reader’s guide to the world, discovering what exactly lays outside the walls of the palace. Through him, we see the damage wrought on the world because of the Incident and the war and see the people who have been impacted by Lore’s quest for power. In contrast, we have Fenrir who has already seen too much of the world. He’s soft edges and an optimistic personality against Orpheus’ pessimistic outlook. While Orpheus looks for deceptions, Fenrir shows him how to make friends.

Throughout the novel, Orpheus struggles with feelings of self-doubt and isolation. He finds an opportunity to cry in almost every chapter, and I really can’t blame him. At its heart, this novel really follows Orpheus’ journey of self-discovery, and I wish he’d been able to find more of himself outside of who he is with others. Orpheus is constantly defined by how others view him and his purpose to them, but he has little opportunity to just be. To find that he can exist without a purpose, to have desires and motivations of his own outside of fate or destiny. But I can’t blame him for wanting to find connection either.

Then, of course, there’s the romance. Despite their close-proximity, the slow-burn between Orpheus and Fenrir felt natural. Because of their disparate personalities, Orpheus and Fenrir naturally push and pull well. Fenrir is every bit the knight in shining armor who saves Orpheus at every turn, who gives him direction when he’s lost both physically and mentally. I especially love that he never makes any forward overtures with Orpheus until Orpheus starts to realize his own feelings. “I’ve just realized I love you” vs “I’ve loved you since we met” is 100% my favorite romance trope, and The Crack at the Heart of Everything delivers.

I loved this book. I always try to keep a level review, so I’m not sure it encapsulates just how much, but I really, really did. I’ll definitely be purchasing after it releases.

<i>Read this if you like…</i>
- Villain redemption arcs
- Characters learning that they're lovable 🥺
- Black cat/golden retriever dynamics
- Hell beasts and bad magic

<i>This may not be for you if you don't like...</i>
- Yearning, longing, soul-searching
- Tender, rather than steamy, love stories

Rating: 5
<b>Rating Breakdown</b>

Characters: ★★★★★
I loved every character in this book, the good and the bad BECAUSE they were good <i>and</i> bad.
Orpheus' whole story wrecked my heart and Fenrir was pure gold. The only thing I was missing here was a bit more of their story - maybe another interlude or two that showed more of their dynamic prior to the novel's beginning (to build up the tension between them).

Writing: ★★★★★
I am here reading this book because I am a fanfiction junkie and DEVOURED the author's Baldur's Gate 3 writing. I already knew I loved their writing style and I was not disappointed at all. There were so many lines that made me stop and reread them because they hit exactly on target.
One of my many favorites...
<blockquote>
The torch tumbled to the snow, Fenrir descending into Orpheus' darkness like a sun come to set.
</blockquote>

Plot: ★★★★★
YO. Color me gobsmacked because I did not see the world-building twists in this book coming. It worked SO well and each little reveal had me setting the book down and saying "excuse me???" I can't even mention exact things because it will absolutely spoil everything but I will say... <spoiler>I recognized the Keep as soon as it was described and was LIVIN'.</spoiler>

Enjoyment: ★★★★★
Ate this book up in less than 48 hours. Was riding the emotional rollercoaster along with the characters and cried about as often as Fifi. I will never forgive the author for one particular thing that happened in this book but I will read every single thing they put out from here to forever regardless. I can't wait to have a physical copy of this on my shelf to reread fifty times.

e-ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Additional note: This review will not contain spoilers, but may allude to plot points.

I knew I was going to be a goner for this book as soon as the nickname ‘Fifi’ was uttered.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn

To begin, the fact that this is a debut novel is honestly shocking. To achieve a standalone fantasy which is able to provide strong world-building, history, a fully formed cast characters and a strong dash of beautiful romance on book 1?! Incredible stuff.

This book is a fantasy adventure in the truest sense of the world: magic, quests, companions, ‘damsels’, heroes and villains. But from the perspective of the [read with a questioning inflection:] villain?

With the use of ‘interludes’ providing glimpses of the past, the reader follows Orpheus, the Dark Mage whose magic helped to win an Empire. We follow his journey and possible redemption after he’s exiled from the confines of the Palace and starts to truly discover the impact he has had on a nearly-broken world, and the manipulation that had led him to this point.
With the assistance of a begrudged cheery companion, and a number of friends made along the way, watching Orpheus’ grumpy façade being slowly stripped away led to some of the most tender, intimate (and often hilarious) moments.
Consider this a fantasy adventure book with the cosy fantasy feels.

And if I haven’t sold you using the flawless fantasy elements; may I instead tempt you with the teasing, angst, pining, fighting and care that is Orpheus and Fenrir.
This quote provides more insight into their dynamic than I ever could:

<i> “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Fenrir grinned. </i>

This book is available on November 12th, 2024. Romantasy lovers I highly recommend!

Give it a go if you’re in the mood for:
• The grumpiest grump x the smiley-est sunshine
• Fantasy adventure with cosy vibes… and dragons
• World-building, lore (and also Lore), magical x science, a heroic quest and hellish monsters
• Traumatised dark wizards who are secretly just sweet lil babygirls
• A swordsman with a penchant for meals that expired 300 years ago
• Reluctantly appointed nicknames that definitely aren’t endearing
• Plane rides with a pilot who for sure knows how to land…
• Men that cry (and who’s vulnerability is met with nothing but love and acceptance)
• Enthusiastic consent only
• Well-crafted plots, adventurous battles, character development, redemption stories and a lot of pining to top it off