4/5 ⭐

This is a well written book with amazing world building and lovable characters.

It gets confusing in places - I felt that sometimes I need to follow too many characters being a twins they were like the amount was double. There are some parts of the world that were not explained well, or were not on purpose shown in details.

Maybe if you read all the Twinfinity books the uncertainties will be cleared, but who knows.

Anyway, I enjoyed this one and would recommend if you want to read semi-epic fantasy.


Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this book. The review above is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Twinfinity: The Forbidden is an epic adventure brimming with imagination and immersive storytelling. The novel explores the classic battle of good versus evil in a richly crafted magical world. The twins at the heart of the story are complex and their growth is compelling, with raw emotions that make their struggles deeply relatable. The detailed world-building offers a vivid, front-row view of their universe, enhancing the overall reading experience.

I loved the character building in this book. Every character is described in such detail and you can see the changes that take place throughout the book. Excellent plot with a rather unexpected twist.

I've marked this as three stars but it's really 3.5 - it was almost a 4 star read for me but as I'll detail below, it isn't quite there at the moment and I feel like it would benefit from further editing.
This is a high fantasy book which revolves around twins Jo-Lai'arna and Jo-Vanna and their (initially reluctant) attempt to overthrow the empire.
I'll start with the issues I had with this book. There are too many characters that aren't developed enough so they're just more names in a long list. All the Prim are twins so it's like there are twice as many characters to keep track of andyou've also got to remember which are sisters! The Prim also all have the Jo- format names which can get even more confusing.
Related to this, with many of the twins it felt like the "conscience" twins weren't treated like people in their own right.
The author has built a detailed world but at times I felt like I wasn't being permitted full access to it or the author had forgotten to tell me things. I had so many questions throughout the book that weren't really answered. I had to double check this was the first in a series as the level of background information was more like I was several books into a series. There's an interesting world where this all takes place but I often only got random snippets that were rarely expanded on and lots of terms are used without explanation. There are various species of humanoids but there are only the odd allusions to their features/traits, such as bark on one species' skin, so you don't get to build up a good picture of any of them.
Now, for what I did like. As mentioned, the author has built a detailed work and there are some great and unique ideas. I particularly loved that all the Prim are women.
I think I'd enjoy the book a lot more if I had a glossary/encylopedia to refer to! You definitely need to have patience to read this book as it takes a while for the action to really kick off.
I would like to read the sequel to this book but I do feel I'd have to be in the right mindset as it feels like a lot of work - not a relaxing read at all!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book.

The worldbuilding was excellent! Following two twins with their complex and different personalities was a nice twist as well. Especially seeing how they had to navigate The Forbidden while they were forced to protect a young conjurer.

"Twinfinity" by Chris Podhola is an epic and immersive YA fantasy novel that transports readers to the prehistoric world of Bolimar, where a fierce battle between good and evil is about to unfold.

At the heart of the story is Jolene, a Bai'aran Dok Toi, who finds herself caught in the midst of a secret uprising against the ruthless emperor, Isolem Treff. With her strong warrior spirit and connection to The Grey, Jolene must navigate treacherous landscapes filled with dinosaur predators and human adversaries to protect her people from extinction.

Joined by her twin sister, Jo-Vanna, Jolene faces impossible odds as she struggles to unite the clans and forge a rebellion against Treff's oppressive regime. As the forces of good and evil collide, Jolene must confront her own inner conflicts and make difficult choices that will determine the fate of her people.

Podhola's storytelling is richly imaginative and filled with vivid descriptions that bring the world of Bolimar to life. The novel is propelled forward by a compelling narrative that blends elements of magic, adventure, and intrigue. With its strong female characters and themes of resilience and perseverance, "Twinfinity" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of YA fantasy.

Overall, "Twinfinity" is an enthralling first volume in a promising series that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its gripping plot and well-developed characters, this novel is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It wasn't as though I disliked this book. I think maybe it just wasn't what I wanted to read at the moment, but with the ARC timeline coming to a close, I knew I needed to jump in head first and see where it went.

Overall, it was a decent read. The worldbuilding was very detailed, and I liked that the twins had their own personalities. They stood out on their own with their thoughts and needs throughout the book.

Honestly, I love worldbuilding. It's one of my favorite things. So seeing how deep authors can go is really exciting for me, but I think my brain just wanted something simpler and so it felt like a lot sometimes. And that definitely isn't the book's fault at all!

I do think I'd like to come back to it another day and give it another go, because it did have a lot of potential that I know (if I were in the right headspace) I would really love.

Great world building and I really enjoyed the premise. For me, it was a little hard to follow, but I definitely loved the concept.

This is the first in a new series and I cannot wait for the follow-ups. What strong female characters in the world of fantasy war! This is a strong new addition to the genre and I recommend!

"Twinfinity" presents a gripping tale of rebellion and survival in a world torn by conflict. Jolene, a Bai'aran Dok Toi with the blood of a mighty Prim warrior, finds herself at the heart of a dangerous uprising against the ruthless Emperor Isolem Treff. As she grapples with her role in uniting the clans and standing against oppression, Jolene's connection to The Grey and their elemental magic becomes her best hope for survival.

The dynamic between Jolene and her twin sister, Jo-Vanna, adds layers of complexity to the narrative, as Jo-Vanna struggles to sway Jolene toward accepting a young conjurer into their rebellion. Against the backdrop of prehistoric Bolimar, filled with dinosaur predators and formidable adversaries, the stakes are high for Jolene and her people.

This first volume of the YA Fantasy series excels in its portrayal of strong female characters and the age-old battle of good versus evil. Readers are drawn into a world where courage, magic, and the will to fight for freedom collide in an epic struggle. "Twinfinity" promises an immersive journey filled with intrigue, danger, and the hope of a brighter future for Jolene's people.

I like the dynamic between the twin sisters, Jolene and Jo-Vanna, and the richly imagined world of prehistoric Bolimar. The blend of elemental magic, fierce battles, and the fight against oppression creates a compelling narrative that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

This had everything that I was hoping for from the description. It had a great overall story and the characters felt like they belonged in this world. I enjoyed the overall feel of the story and how the twins were used in this story. It left me wanting to read more in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and author Sarah Ready for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Jolene’s mission is impossible, yet the fate of the Forbidden and the clans rests on her shoulders. She must either best Jo-Vi’el or surrender to the annihilation of her people.

Forced to protect a young conjurer from a feline predator, Jolene and Jo-Vanna find themselves in the middle of The Forbidden, a rogue faction with its sights set on overthrowing Isolem Treff’s tyrannical empire.

Now that the boy has used magick, Jolene knows the emperor will send his Legion Commander, Jo-Vi’el, to thwart this potential uprising and annihilate anyone who opposes his rule.

Sarai’a is a pledge in the Prim Guard, chosen for her skills as an investigator. After noticing suspicious movements within the Prim Guard, she solicits the help of a fellow pledge, Hasai’ana, known for acting on her beliefs, even when her choices aren’t popular.

The destinies of the twin warriors, the Forbidden, and the forces aligned with Jo-Vi’el are about to clash as Urah, their sun, casts the shadows of their twin moons over Bolimar.

The Clash of Blood and Stone will darken the empire's shadow, but who will be left standing when the dust settles?"

I enjoy reading this book.