The Wreckage of Light

This took me a couple of chapters to really get into but then I was hooked!
I love a duel POV and this did not disappoint, I enjoyed the character & world building and I found myself imagining what it would be like to be there experiencing everything!
I love the family that the ulayu have formed together and am really enjoying seeing Knox come out of the ‘perfect’ persona that she has had to hide behind.
I love seeing crew fighting with his feelings towards Knox and how they both slowly start to open up to each other.
I absolutely loved seeing Knox show everyone that she wasn’t weak and that she could achieve everything they forced upon her.
Took….. what can can I say about Took? I had so much love for his banter and was constantly smiling when reading anything with him in it. I was absolutely heartbroken with what happened at the stables and was so sad that his ending had happened!! I was so happy when he came back, I don’t think the ulayu would be the same without him!
Knox and Crew really needed to get a grip and stop with the back and forth!! It drove me insane! It literally made me so excited when they finally accepted their feelings for each other!
Everyone needs a friend like Mareen in their life, I felt an instant love for her and feel kinda sad that she isn’t an actual person!
I can’t believe the book ended like it did! I have been so obsessed reading this and actually sad that Iv finished it!
Can’t not wait for the next book I hope we don’t have to wait too long for it!

I really enjoyed this Arc (thank you Netgalley!).

I wasn’t too sure that I was going to end up liking The Wreckage of Light as its story is not one that I normally gravitate towards. But I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I was captured by the characters and the story itself. I also enjoyed the tropes including the forbidden romance one.

I will say that this book does end on a minor cliffhanger (to me at least, it’s a minor cliffhanger) that just encourages my excitement to read the second book.

There are so many strong characters, Knox and Crew being two of them that work and live against great odds. Lots of action and reaction. The narrative is filled with multicultural interest - namely the whites vs the Ulayu. Racism is rife and the ensuing hate and brutality that abounds against each other will stop and give you pause. However, the author explains this setting scenario.

Betrayal clatters in and there is some paranormal activity, which adds mystery. It's very believable though but could there be any acceptance from either side of the ethnic divide that may even provide a bridge of understanding?! And what does the 'owl' have to do with it all? Tantalising romance is laced through this bewitching saga. Being left hanging on at the end will likely leave the reader panting for the proposed next book in the series, I believe.

There is a precaution with content that some readers may wish to be aware of and that is all the 'stahl'-ing that happens whenever, wherever, seemingly unabated. You'll have to check out the useful glossary of the Ulayu language provided at book's end for direct translation. Ok, you may be able to guess that to 'stahl' is a very intimate action.

A 4-Star rating from me.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Wreckage of Light by Jos Gordon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was not a book I would normally read, but, I was enchanted by the cover, so I thought I would give it a try. Within the first few chapters, I was so invested in Knox and her story. Knox was great from the start, she’s genuinely kind, smart, funny and very strong. Her journey with the Ulayu warriors was a story I will never forget. Gordon does an amazing job creating a fictional Native American tribe, while also paying respect to those that are real and their beliefs. I absolutely loved Mareen, Night Hawk, Took, their whole unit really, but especially Crew. They had such a great balance of personalities and it made for a very smooth and balanced story. Took actually had me laughing out loud with his comments and antics, and everyone deserves a friend like Mareen! But Crew was obviously my favorite. He was the perfect balance of brooding and encouraging. I loved his encouragement and his constant pushing of Knox to help her break herself out of the “perfect” shell she was forced to live in for so long. I do wish they didn’t fight their relationship for as long as they did, but I understand their reasonings behind it. This book ends on a cliff hanger and I dying to get the next book so I can continue their story! I really loved this one, and was grateful to receive a free copy as an ARC and I’m willingly leaving this honest review.

I really enjoyed this, the Ulayu world was built brilliantly considering they were a total figment of the authors imagination, the layers and depth of the tribe, their traditions and even their games, all fascinating to read.

There is a constant undercurrent of brutality and fear throughout this book, both from the ‘Civs’ and the Ulayu and other tribes, however I still felt an overwhelming protective feeling for the Ulayu, hoping that Knox wouldn’t return to her past and to a Father who was causing so much destruction.

The majority of this book is a love story, the outlying characters all fit in to it in varying ways, but it’s basically Knox and Crews story. It’s frustrating and maddening at times, when revelations come out it’s understandable why Crew is the way he is but you still are desperate for them to give in and admit their feelings,

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read and review this book.