I received a free ARC copy through NetGalley and am leaving a review voluntarily.

I find myself conflicted by this story. On the one hand, all the elements are here to a beautiful fantasy story. All the typical fantasy creatures and settings. The magic, the quest, the monologing villain.

The world here is outstanding. It’s wonderfully crafted with such in depth detailing. We have songs, legends, colloquial phrases and all kinds of individual settings that interact wonderfully.

I find the issue lies with the characters. Yet, I can’t identify why. They have well thought out backgrounds, clear motivations, and interact believably with all the elements of the story. Yet, I found I couldn’t connect with them. I couldn’t emphasize them. This may well be simply be a “me thing.”

I enjoyed aspects of this book but I don't think it was for me. I couldn't really get into it and I'm not really sure why.

Prepare to break free from the confines of reality and enter a world of boundless imagination…

This epic fantasy takes readers on an extraordinary journey alongside Cor, a young protagonist who inadvertently discovers a way out of his isolated village. As he ventures beyond the boundaries, he uncovers a world in decay, plagued by violence and decline. The author weaves a tale of immense scope and high stakes, as Cor learns about the fragmented state of the entire world and the draining of life from the Elements. With each page, readers are immersed in a world of danger, adventure, and the unraveling of ancient mysteries.

An enthralling epic fantasy that captivates from the first page. The author masterfully builds a world filled with invisible boundaries, isolating Cor's village for centuries. However, when Cor accidentally discovers a way out, the narrative takes a thrilling turn. The blighted and violent world that unfolds outside the boundaries is richly depicted, drawing readers deeper into the story. As Cor learns about the fragmented state of the entire world and the draining of life from the Elements, the stakes are raised to epic proportions.

While this was a decent book personally I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought i would,
I think I enjoyed the concept of it more than I enjoyed the yawning gaps story itself.

To the right audience, this could be amazing

I think C.V.Vobh has a hit here if they right target audience gets a hold of it