Let me start off by saying that I requested all three arcs as they came out for this trilogy! I live and breathe this series👀

The audiobook was done so well! I needed something to listen to while running and I couldn’t think of a better choice!

Title: Compass Point
Author: Jillian Witt
Rating: ⭐4.5/5

Review:
I went into Compass Point expecting a familiar fantasy formula—magic, fae, a slow-burning romance—and while those beloved elements were there, this book surprised me in the best way. It delivered all the things I love about fantasy, but with a depth and nuance that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

The plot does a brilliant job of teasing just enough information to make you feel like you’re piecing things together, only to reveal there’s more beneath the surface. I found myself chasing every crumb the author dropped, desperate to see the full picture. It’s an addictive kind of storytelling—clever, immersive, and so well-paced.

The balance between the overarching plot (a deadly mist plague and its continent-wide threat) and the romance between Rose and Luc was executed perfectly. Neither element overshadows the other. Instead, they complement one another, weaving together character development, emotional stakes, and world-saving tension in a way that feels cohesive and compelling.

Rose is the kind of heroine I love—wounded but strong, with a quiet resilience that draws you in. And Luc? Dangerous, mysterious, and the perfect foil to Rose’s guarded nature. Their dynamic is chef’s kiss.

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. If you enjoy magical weapon-making, deadly fae, a slow-burn romance, and fantasy stories that keep you guessing, Compass Point is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutly loved the humor of this book, with Ari being my favourite character. The story is well written though the innitial purpose of saving Rose's friend kind of got forgotten - at least for this volume, maybe it will be remembered again in the next.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5


This has all the potential to the start of a really great series!
Good world building without being overwhelming, a solid plot and good conflict.

Rose is a strong and confident FMC
Luc is a golden retriever of a MMC with the “who did this to you” and “touch her and die” vibes

I am totally here for all of this. I love that he falls first and that there isn’t a back and forth, once Rose realizes she can trust him and spills all her secrets to him they finally give into their obvious attraction.


I love the magic system so far. The four fae courts being made by Gods and named after the four points in a compass. I will definitely be reading the following book/s when they release!

I also enjoyed the fact that this was read in duet. It really helps to get a feel for the characters and how they interact with each other.

Oh and who doesn’t love a talking shapeshifting animal sidekick!


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion

290 page new adult romantasy set in a world inspired by the United States National Parks (according to author)

Tropes:
💙 Who hurt you
🐾Slow burn
💙 Gods
🐾Elemental magic
💙 hidden identity
⚔️Single PoV
💙 grumpy/sunshine
🐾Dual timeline
💙 Rivals to Lovers
⚔️One bed
💙 Sassy shapeshifting sidekick
🐾Secret lineage
💙 fake dating
💙 Banter
💙 forced proximity
🌶️ Kissing scene(s) and an open-door spice scene with soft, vague sexual language

I loved listening to Kari Hollowell read this. She totally throws herself into each character, she was enjoyable to listen to and captured the emotions and voices of side characters well.

This is my first fae fantasy with fake dating as a trope, and I get it now...

“𝘐 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺.”

Compass Points is a deeply charming adventure filled with sassy banter, delicious tension, and whimsical elements to keep you captivated!
I loved the high stakes yet cozy fantasy vibes of this book!

A quick, easy to read and understand fantasy. There was enough world building to justify a short fantasy but with just enough intrigue to make me want to pick up book two. I am almost sad because it could have been a thrilling fantasy with great depth and tension because the author is clearly good enough to create that and yet its been turned into a cozy read. I really hope we dive into more of the magic system and the world building in the next one. Slow to start with an interesting plot idea but like another reviewer said- you could have a drinking game around every time you hear the title! The pacing was on the quicker side once you were half way through but I felt it was well paced overall and suited the type of story it is.

Compass Lake is the home of the four Compass Points, each group of fae worships a different God and each has their own magic.


My favorite character seems to be the same as everyone else's... the sassy animal sidekick Arie, who is the comic relief, voice of logic and agent of mischief

The story is full of fae court intrigue, I found the banter & angsty build of the MMC &FMC relationship really enjoyable. I also enjoyed how we were showed the histories and secrets rather than being told about them, and, the flashbacks were very well written and helped divulge our heroine’s back story without the info dump!

Final Thoughts
Some of my favorite tropes here; fake dating, secret identities, angsty romance, witty banter. Wrapped up with battling a mysterious mist, gods and goddesses, fae court politics and an amazing animal shifter sidekick, you get a great story with a very satisfying ending. I’m eagerly ready to start book number two!

Thank you Jillian Witt via Netgalley for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.

Compass Points by Jillian Witt is a fast-paced, dual-timeline fantasy that blends elemental magic, fae politics, and a creeping mist-bound mystery. The story follows Rose, a secret weapons master with the rare ability to forge metal with magic. Twenty years ago, she trained alongside Aiden, her childhood best friend and son of the Nordin Point. Now, as the mist plague threatens, she is forced to confront her past, her powers, and a fae emissary named Luke.

The romance is well-balanced and avoids the cheesiness that often plagues fantasy romances (looking at you, ACOTAR). While the worldbuilding could have been more fleshed out early on, the plot grips you immediately and keeps moving. The audiobook’s narrator does a fantastic job, bringing distinct voices to each character. Though the ending felt a bit abrupt, this was an engaging fantasy adventure and I would look out for the next installment although would be hoping for more in depth worldbuilding and a more evenly paced plot. 3.5 rounded up.

3.5 stars! This was a cute and fun book overall. Very much a fluffy fantasy romance with easily digestible world building and an interesting magic system. I think this would be a great palate cleanser if you've been reading heavy/epic fantasy books. The writing is very straight forward and the chapters are pretty short, which I like. Rose and Luc fall for each other fairly quick but they make a great couple🌶. There's also an animal companion, Ari, who talks to our FMC Rose and that is one of my personal favorite fantasy elements. The narrator has great inflection of her voice, but she does over-annunciate a lot of words that start/end with T and D, just FYI. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantasy, fae, and magic!

Unfortunately I decided to DNF this book at 70%. There wasn’t anything in particular that caused me to make this decision. I tried to push through several times the story line just didn’t pull me in and I felt like I was forcing myself through the book. I didn’t love the narrator at first, I did have to speed it up to enjoy listening to it.

Compass Points by Jillian Witt is a compelling start to the Compass Points series, blending mystery, magic, and romance into an engaging story. Rose is on the run from her past, but it isn’t long before it catches up to her. As her secrets gradually unfold, she crosses paths with Luc—one of the Fae leaders she was determined to avoid. Their chemistry builds as they work together to combat the plague mist, a dangerous phenomenon caused by the imbalance of the Compass Points.

The unique magical system stood out, adding depth to the world-building without slowing the pace. The story moves at a steady rhythm, keeping me hooked as the pieces of the mystery fell into place. Kasi Hollowell's narration was excellent, bringing the characters and tension to life.

A strong first book in the series—I’m excited to see where it goes next!

Compass Points - Jillian Witt

I don’t know why I waited so long. I don’t know why I don’t have the next two installments. I think I need to get with the program.

Rose ran from the fae court and never expected to go back but when the Mist and Luc arrive in her town at the same time, it's become clear that her weapons are the only hope they have of surviving. Now she has to return to a place that she never had any intention of thinking of again.

Rose and Luc are amazing! I love their banter, I love their connection. The plot is amazing! The writing is superb! I have sooo many questions I’m hoping are answered in book 2! The world building was captivatingly beautiful and I am so glad I got the audiobook of this book. I loved the narration, I felt like I was truly there. Ari is my favorite character though. He is such a stinker I loved it.

You need to grab this series TODAY. Don’t be a dough head like me and wait… NOW! RUNNNN don’t WALK! :)

5 stars

This was so fast paced and fun. It had enough original elements to make it stand out but it still felt like such a classic fantasy. The stakes were not low, yet it still gave me a cozy feeling.

I feel like it's been so long since the last time I came across a male love interest I actually liked. Both him, the main character and the animal companion we're following throughout the whole novel are super likable and that made it easy to care. It also helped to have a less than 300 page space to tell this full first installment in the story, to avoid ever losing interest in the actual plot. It moved enough to keep things interesting.
I also want to point out that the past-timeline was really well used; it felt like every bit we got, we got at the right time.

The actual audiobook was great; I loved the narrator and what she did with the other character's voices.

I will be getting the sequel soon.

Absolutely! Here's a 5-star review for "Compass Points":

"Compass Points" is an absolute gem in the fantasy romance genre! From the very first page, I was captivated by the enchanting world-building and the elemental magic that brought this story to life. The protagonist is strong, relatable, and her journey had me cheering for her every step of the way. The fake dating trope was executed flawlessly, adding layers of tension and chemistry that kept me hooked until the last page. This book is a delightful blend of magic, romance, and adventure. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an engaging and heartwarming read!"

Rose is a master at creating weapons that are special, but when Luc comes asking for her help to defeat the mist that is spreading everywhere hurting everyone it comes in contact with. Rose declines even if Luc knows a little more than he should about her weapons. When the mist comes which has destroyed everything in its path including someone Rose cares or deeply while with Luc Rose agree's to help and see's her weapons may be the answer.

Luc convinces Rose to come with him and hide while pretending to be his love interest. Coming to Luc's home seems like the answer to keep Rose safe but it may actually put Rose in danger. Working together soon seems like the only answer to saving everyone but while there hidden secrets of who Rose truly is come to light when someone from Rose's past comes back into Rose's life and it's soon revealed he isn't who he's told Rose he is.

This book was a fun read, I liked the world building that happens in this book and the twists of who Rose truly is as well as who the villain is was really good. This ends with a lot of questions and some important stories started in this book/series. I really liked Rose and Luc we see a lot of their back story and I loved the connection thats revealed between the two. I really liked the start of this series we get so much storewide in this book that we need answers to. This is the first book i've read from this author but I really enjoyed her writing style and what she creates in this book. I am really excited to see what happens next. This is one of those books that is just fun, on you just enjoy your time while reading.

Wow, I cannot believe it took me as long as it did to read/listen to this one! It was really, really good and I loved the world building! I can’t wait for the next!

A delightful fantasy world.

This book was just the dose of magic I needed into my life.

The story follows Rose—a weapons master, Ari—her wonderful almost always feathered companion, and the feared Suden Point—Luc.
Their world is on the brink of falling into a dark mist as Luc finds our heroine and almost kidnaps her—that's if she hadn't gone willingly with him. In the attempt of saving every human and fae from the threat hanging at their city borders, Rose finds herself more and more attracted to this deadly, yet charming, fae Suden Point.

I really enjoyed being submerged in this mystical world where humans coexist under the guise of peace provided by fae.
Rose's horrific past catches up with her and the story kept me enthralled as pieces of the past weaved with the present.

I look forward to the next books as this is a series.

The narration was good, although, when voicing the men's parts, I couldn't tell which character was talking. The dialogue tag helped, though. Rose's pain and desire was audible and it kept me in the story.

Compass Points is a delightful romantasy story. Jillian Witt's world-building is fantastic, and I love how it draws inspiration from the National Parks in the U.S. One of my favorite parts is the elemental magic system. On the romance side, it includes some favorite tropes like fake dating, enemies to lovers, and the classic one bed scenario. The main female character, Rose, is a total badass with impressive magical skills, while the male lead, Luc, seems mysterious and calculating but has a sweet side. Plus, Rose’s animal sidekick, Arie, has a witty sense of humor and his own secret motives in the plot.

3.75 ⭐️
1 🌶️

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me a copy of this audiobook to review!

At first I had a hard time getting used to the narrator's pace, but once I got into it, I was hooked. I really enjoyed the different voices she used for each character to fit their personalities.
The story itself was intriguing. I loved the fresh take on fae courts and elemental magic! I also really enjoyed how the FMC's backstory came in flashbacks throughout the book to slowly piece together. All the secrets and surprises had me captivated and kept me guessing. I enjoyed the way the author wrapped up the final events that occurred and completely cleared up any lingering questions or thoughts I had. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. All thoughts are my own

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy fantasy romance! The world and magic system Jillian created is easy to follow but also unique and intriguing which I so appreciated! The audiobook was fantastic and I highly recommend!
The FMC, Rose, is a weapons master with a special power for imbuing magic into her creations, but there's more than meets the eye. She has a mysterious past that we start to unravel throughout this first book in the series! She has a shapeshifting companion, Arie, who is funny and sassy and always shows up at the right moments and I absolutely loved him!
We quickly run into Luc, the MMC, when he finds her at a market and requests she make him some custom weapons. Rose isn't so sure about him and declines his offer, but he won't take no for an answer. While on the surface Luca appears grumpy and cold we soon find out there's many layers to him, his true identity and his past.
The major plot device is a mist plague that has been ravaging the lands and putting all the townsfolk into a suspended sleep and surrounding towns one by one in an impenetrable wall of mist. Rose and Luc happen to get caught up in the mist and fight it together and realize that they might be able to find the answers needed to take down the mist and save the lands.
As they go on this adventure to find answers their relationship blossoms! I loved the romance here and the way the slow burn sizzled as they fought their feelings, external circumstances and preconceived notions.
I am so looking forward to continuing on with this series!

Compass points follows Rose, a clever, powerful girl, in a world burdenen by mistake enchanting the villages it attacks to an endless sleep. When she meets Luc, the Suden point, she must face her past in order to secure the future of human and get alike.

This was a fun, fast paced story with witty banter and a great protagonist, love interest and shape shifting sidekick. I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout the book.

I will say, that world building was a little messy. Though intriguing, I didn’t really see the purpose of having both humans and get in the world. There was a line about half-fey being able to make magic weapons, but honestly, this couldn’t just as easily have been made in a world of all fey with high and low fey, or humans and magicians. In fact the fey did feel sort of just like magicians with a fancy name.

The plot is pretty predictable, but it is executed well, and the three main characters are great to follow. I would have liked a little more interaction with the normal people in this universe - it kind of seemed like Luc and Rose and the other compass points with powers at their level were the only type of people, some background characters that were more than faceless silhuets would have been nice, although the lack there off doesn’t exactly take anything from the story.

That said, I had a great time, and rooted for Rose, and felt for her as well. I liked how the romance developed and how the story progressed. All in all 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

My review will be on Goodreads and Storygraph today (March 18th, 2025)

"Compass Points" by Jillian Witt is an intriguing start to the Compass Points series. Narrated by Kasi Hollowell, the audiobook brings the story to life with a captivating performance that keeps you engaged throughout. The plot is fresh, with a unique blend of mystery and adventure, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the series goes from here. It’s a promising first installment with room for growth in both the storyline and character development.

If you're looking for an immersive audiobook experience with potential for a thrilling series, this one is worth checking out!

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