See, again - one of my favorite authors (Alix E Harrow) was a comparison and so I didn't do anymore research before requesting it, To be honest I could potentially enjoy this book to some degree, I just don't know if I'll have the time or motivation to anytime soon.

I was pleasantly surprised by this, it’s definitely high fantasy and I felt like it needs another book at least to follow (although think it’s meant to just be a standalone?) as there’s just so much in it that I wasn’t feel was entirely complete in just this book.

It’s heavy on the world building but once in I was in and really enjoyed it! Not at all what I expected but I was not disappointed, it’s a fab debut book so kudos to Maressa!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

My rating: 4.25 / 5⭐
Romance level: 0 / 5❤️

This book was a pleasant surprise, and impressive for a debut novel! Thank you to Roundfire Books/the author via Netgalley for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

I'm not sure why, but I had thought this book was a more standard fantasy with romance going into it. What I got instead was a high fantasy with a relatively well-built-out world and imaginative elemental magic system, plus a pretty intriguing and entertaining cast of characters who form deep, platonic connections.

The writing style reminded me a little of N.K. Jemisin in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, although I wouldn't say it's fully at that caliber yet. I did really enjoy it, though, and would describe it as more lyrical than most. I feel there's something to be said for an author being able to reveal things in an entertaining way just by how the story is narrated and what information you're given at what time.

I liked all the characters, although I'd say Kylene is the only one I felt was given true depth and growth. I did enjoy Lovelace (the lead dactyli ranger) but felt he could've been built out more and had more emotional depth/growth. Some of the other ensemble characters were used really effectively as comic relief and entertainment. Kylene is honestly one of my favorite FMCs I've read recently. She felt so human but also capable and inspiring. Overall, I did care about our main character group and found them to be well-rounded, complimentary, and fun.

The magic system was definitely one of the strongest parts of this book. Elemental magic has been done so many times, but the author gives it a bit of a fresh spin, and connects it back to memory and the natural world. I also kind of liked that even our main dactyli didn't fully understand how the whole system worked, beyond what they had been told. It sets up the story for some interesting developments and opportunities for surprises in the future.

I think the plot and development of the conflict/"villain" characters were a bit lacking, which is why I took .75 off my rating. This story felt mostly like character/world setup - a prequel feel to what I would see as the main conflict and journey, which would happen immediately after what happens in this book - but it's not framed as part of a series, which is strange to me. I don't think nearly enough has happened or the audience finds out nearly enough to end the story here, so I do hope that a sequel is eventually released. If not, I don't think this book fully stands on its own.

Overall, though, this is an impressive fantasy debut with a strong, lyrical voice, interesting world/magic system, and entertaining cast of characters!

**Features:**
- A blend of magical adventure and revolutionary tale centered around the control of knowledge and the pursuit of truth
- Slow burn fantasy
- Enlightenment era world with strong Gaelic inspiration
- Nature and memory based magic system

The magical dactyli order is on the brink of collapse; threatened by both a new political regime seeking to undermine them and a powerful rogue dactyli who is killing off potential new recruits. As two members of the order try to discover the truths behind these threats, a young woman finds herself among outcasts as she follows the trail left for her by her rebel father. As each goes on their journey, only one thing is certain: the winds of change have arrived in The Grasp.

The Grasp is an intriguing world at the edge of enlightenment. Voss welcomes readers into this complicated setting with lovely writing and interesting characters. That being said, this is the first book in a series and definitely feels like it. There is a lot to be learned about this world and this book takes its time teaching you and setting up the complicated conflicts that will likely be explored in future installations. Though slow paced, the book never dragged for me. However, the book ends when it feels like things are just beginning and the villain characters don’t get the same quality development in this particular piece. If you enjoy solid world building and don’t mind a slower pace, this is definitely a book I would recommend!

**Some things familiar, some things new**

Though there are many familiar tropes in this book, they are woven together in a way that feels unique and make space for some of the new elements to be introduced. The magic system is based on the elements, but the way it is tied to both nature and memory gives it a fresh feel and makes it more intimately connected to the world at large. Though it definitely has an ‘old world’ vibe, the choice to set this at the start of a period of enlightenment gives the familiar conflicts unfolding a very different feel and a lot more complexity. These are just a couple of many such details that gives this story a unique identity and I love that the book allows you to discover its intricacies on your own. If Voss can continue to deliver on the promises of this book, the next installments will be even more amazing!

**Setting the stage**

This book moves at a slow pace as it assembles all of the pieces for the central conflict. Though the story never dragged, there is a lot of build up to what feels like the inciting for the rest of the series rather than the climax of this individual book. There are definitely some unexpected twists and intense moments, but the lack of time spent on the ‘villain’ characters and overall conflict makes them feel a little flat in this particular book. However, I think that a lot of this feeling is because the central plot of the series is just starting. That being said, this book doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, but it leaves you with far more questions and plot lines than you start with. Overall, this is very much a ‘first book’ but I am interested to see where this story will go.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book has great potential! I unfortunately DNF'ed this book. I really wanted to enjoy it, but I got pretty far in and was having a hard time understanding the content and the story. The writing was very high level, especially for a debut novel, and I found myself struggling to follow. I liked the characters and the different POV's. The world was very interesting, and I liked the magical element. I wish I was able to keep going and enjoyed the story just a little more!

On paper, this book had a lot of potential. The world was lush, and the premise was very intriguing. I love it when romantasy is done in a non-generic way that actually feels fresh and different. I also tend to gravitate towards more flowery and descriptive writing styles. All that being said, I was really expecting this book to be a hit for me, it sounds like it was created in a lab to be something I joy. However, I found myself having a very hard time getting into it, and eventually decided to DNF at the 25% mark.

Why is that? The entire book is written in purple prose. It's overwritten to the point where it crosses the line between lyrical and beautiful, and overwrought to the point where it feels like you have to decipher what's actually going on.

I may give this one another go in the future, as the plot does sound like a very good one, but no matter I tried I couldn't get the book to hook me in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

The two POVs in this uniquely poetic novel are very intriguing - I loved how the MCs connected and how the story unfolded. Pif was hilarious. This was a relatively serious story so having him there as comedic effect was perfect. I do feel like the story was more slow paced than I prefer, but overall an amazing debut and I will definitely look for more from this author (a sequel to this book preferably!)

As an avid fan of elemental magic systems, the synopsis of this book immediately caught my attention, prompting me to request an e-ARC. Unfortunately, I decided to DNF this book after about 20% due to several issues.

The primary challenge I faced was the overly confusing world-building. The story featured extensive info-dumping without sufficient explanation, leaving me struggling to understand the setting, political dynamics, and social backdrop even after nearly 100 pages. This lack of clarity made it difficult for me to become immersed in the narrative.

Moreover, the characters lacked depth and complexity, which prevented me from forming any emotional connection with them. Their actions and motivations felt shallow, making it hard to care about their journeys or outcomes. The sentence structure also contributed to my difficulties, often being overly long and convoluted, which disrupted the flow and readability of the story.

Despite these drawbacks, it's clear that there is significant creativity and an ability to craft interesting ideas within the book. However, more attention to clear and coherent world-building, streamlined writing, and deeper character development would be necessary to fully realize the book's potential. With these improvements, future works could become much more enjoyable and captivating for readers like me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was well written and had an excellent character development. Really well done, it exceed my expectations!!

As a debut novel this did not disappoint. I really enjoyed venturing into the world within the Grasp.

The small details throughout were EVERYTHING. The world building wasn’t heavy descriptions but subtle moments here and there which allowed more room for visualisation, unlike other fantasy books with large overwhelming descriptive paragraphs. It felt light and the sense of magic felt like it could be real.

I was completely hooked with the double storyline too. Following Kylene on her journey felt so personal, I felt her exhaustion and her fear and her guilt, as if it was my own. Her character development was amazing, she was a strong young personality from the get-go following in her father’s footsteps, but became someone powerful and her own person towards the end.

And I loved Lovelace and Gunnar’s relationship. They spoke without words and I loved learning about the dactyli and their magic. And then when they had Ailwin and Pif, I loved the banter and care they had for one another even though they were mere strangers. I just adored reading about them and Pif’s inquisitive mind.

When the storylines matched up I was overjoyed, it was written so well and even though there was time differences, it worked so so well. With everyone now working towards stopping the oppressive rule of Osbert and bringing down Alev and his army. At the end you find out a bit more of the dynamic between them which left it on a really nice cliffhanger.

As the first book in the series, it was a perfect set up for the next books. Can’t wait to read them too.

WOW. I absolutely loved this book. The fact this is a debut novel for this author is absolutely incredible. Maressa Voss will be a stand-out author in the fantasy genre. With the combination of traditional fantasy with modern-day themes, this story is exciting, fun, and, more importantly, will make you think about power, the control some people have over society, and how we treat the earth. I found myself rooting for the characters, feeling their emotions, laughing at their sass, and pausing to sit and think about quotes and truths that hit me in my soul.
Loveable main characters, an unexpected band of found family, fascinating elemental magic, exciting twists, and easy-to-digest but strong world-building. I devoured this story and cannot wait to see what comes next.

Reviews are posted on GoodReads, storygraph, and Instagram. Review will be posted on Tiktok by 6/28. I will post a review on Amazon when available.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review!!

An astonishing debut; an exquisite fantasy novel.

A slow-burning, sweeping tale of elemental magic, the search for truth, and the dangers of mankind’s unyielding greed for power, „When Shadows Grow Tall“ is an outstanding fantasy novel. I could not put it down!

On the one hand, the book introduces the reader to Lovelace and Gunnar, two dactyli rangers. The dactyli are an age-old order of mystic men with magical powers, and their rangers were historically tasked with gathering the wisdom of the land to bring it back to their archives for safekeeping. Faced with the immediate danger of one of their own going rogue, Lovelace and Gunnar are given a different directive: to undertake a dangerous journey in order to find and protect a newly emerged young dactyli.

On the other hand, „When Shadows Grow Tall“ tells the story of a smart and determined sixteen-year-old girl named Kylene desperately searching for her outlawed rebel father, the book weaving back and forth between the two storylines until they eventually merge seamlessly into one.

The characters are splendid (young Pif most of all), complex and expertly created; the setting is eery and compelling; and given its first-rate world building and poetic prose, it‘s astonishing that this is, in fact, a debut novel.

My only complaint is that the ending mainly set the stage for its sequel - which I am already eagerly anticipating.

One of the most exciting new voices in fantasy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Collective Ink Books / Roundfire Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„When Shadows Grow Tall“ is slated to be released on August 1, 2024.

A new other-world and the first in a series, what a cliff-hanger! For the full review go to https://www.tumblr.com/joebloggshere/752802800979804160/when-shadows-grow-tall-by-maressa-voss-this

This definitely had a slow start but once it got going I did find myself enjoying it! I am a big fan of slow burn fantasy and dual povs so I knew I wanted to check this one out. As with most dual POVs I found myself favoring one characters chapters over the other, but I felt like by the halfway point I was equally interested in both storylines and it was fun watching different pieces connect. I found most of the characters in this to be pretty likable, although I felt like some weren’t fully developed yet. Kylene definitely seemed like the deepest and most intricate character, I didn’t really feel like I knew much about Lovelace and his traveling party and it was hard to tell if that was an intentional choice or not. One of the big negatives for me was I just found this to be suuuuper predictable. What I can only assume was supposed to be a “big reveal” seemed really obvious from the get go. My other issue was that the antagonists really just felt kind of meh to me. Alev was just your stereotypical fire villain with a dark cape and vendetta against the system. I don’t really know what to think about Osbert but the epilogue really didn’t do any favors for either of the villain characters. I’m not sure if I’ll come back to this series. I did find the magic system intriguing, especially the record keeping with the tablets and using the world as a witness, and I did really like Kylene. I thought she was a well written character and I wanted to know more about her. That being said, I don’t know if the overall story/conflict was strong enough for me to want to see it through to resolution. We’ll see.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!

The world that Voss created is so immersive and unique. I LOVED the concept that the earth holds memories that can be accessed. The way the two story lines were woven together was also very clever. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

*ARC received from Netgalley - all opinions are my own*

TLDR: The magic and lore are vague but interesting, and the story is well written but incredibly slow until 40ish%. Kylene is the most interesting POV but Lovelace gets more chapters. Think most will like or thoroughly enjoy this book but I don't think it’s worth continuing with for me as the conclusion is very anticlimactic and the overarching story is a bit lacklustre.

The best point of When Shadows Grow Tall is Voss’ use of descriptives and has a great talent for writing a scene and helping you to imagine everything without needing to go overboard. Despite having finished the book over a week ago, I can still clearly picture multiple scenes from the book.

This is a dual POV book, with Lovelace and Kylene being our two main characters. Lovelace has the majority of page time which, in my opinion, really makes the book drag and some of his chapters just feel neverending. Kylene, on the other hand, is a much more interesting character to read about and I don't know if it’s just due to her being younger or the fact that we are following her through such a tumultuous time where she’s experiencing a lot of things for the first time but her chapters really helped me get through this novel. I will say that Lovelace does get more likeable as the story progresses, just not massively.

The first 40% or so are an absolute drag to get through and I would have likely DNF’d if this wasn’t for review. It really gets going around the 50-60% mark and I finished it pretty quickly after that. The story is interesting and I enjoyed the rough magic system and lore that we have and while we don’t get loads of details, I didn’t feel like I needed things to be more in depth than they were for the most part. The ending “big fight bit” with Cora was the only part where it was so ridiculously vague as to how her powers worked and the whole situation unfolded. It just felt really unrealistic (yes, I know we’re talking about fantasy here).

Overall, it’s a perfectly fine book that I feel most will like, if not really enjoy. However, while I liked the When Shadows Grow Tall, I will not be continuing the series.

Maressa Voss's debut novel is a compelling addition to the world of fantasy travel. When Shadows Grow Tall alternates between the dual perspectives of Lovelace and Gunner, two rangers of the Dactyli and Kylene, a daughter in search of her father. The dactyli face an inside threat in the name of Alev who threatens to overthrow the current order. The dactyli are connected to nature's four elements through their magic. The two rangers travel to distant lands and encounter Cora, a young woman who changes everything they know about the ways of the Dactyli. The Grasp is also under the oppressive rule of the exploitative Osbert, and Kylene's father is one of the printers who silently rebels against the new regulations imposed. Kylene's father soon leaves the family and Kylene embarks to find her father.

The initial six chapters set the premise and explain the lay of the Grasp to the reader. The first six chapters were a little slow and felt too long. I would have preferred a fast-paced novel with some explanation of the critical terms. The characters, Lovelace and Gunner, with their contrasting personalities and banter refresh the audience from the monotone of the world-building. All the characters have a well-defined role in the novel and are refreshing to the reader. The story grips the reader in the seventh chapter as both narrators undertake a journey of discovery, learning and magic. Voss introduces further elements of the Grasp building as the characters encounter new locations. While the main plot revolves around the journey, the past and the present intertwine through memories. The novel is predictable and unpredictable at the same time. There was a moment when I thought I figured it out but then was proved wrong and later schooled with the proper perspective.

The prose is at times complex but poetic with its terms which threw me off quite a few times. The work includes several universal truths as quotes. 'You must never stop asking questions, darling. If you don't go about asking questions, no one has to worry about the answers they're giving you.' As a literarian, I loved another quote which was a homage to Alfred Tennyson's The Brook. The novel also slightly delves into human psychology and anthropocentrism with instances in the novel pointing out the current predicament of humanity. I liked how Voss intertwined the power of nature and the above concepts with the novel. The novel ends with the premise set up for its successor.

3.5/5

'Even if you journey through the stars, you still need the kernel of Earth'

I adored this tale, it's a slow burn DEBUT fantasy that has all the makings of greatness, from its characters to its world building. Despite its slower pace, I never once wanted to put down this book and honestly, I just want book 2 immediately. Its lyrical and its storylines merge beautifully in a way that feels right, bringing together our characters in a way thats super satisfying.

This was a truly engaging debut. The world building was fantastic - I feel like we got a good grasp without being info dumped on and it really set the stage for the series to follow. The pacing was good for the length of the book and the characters felt realistic with their motivations. I enjoyed the elemental fantasy aspect.