The worldbuilding is wonderful, and I liked the basic concept of the novel, but unfortunately the characters and most of the situations they found themselves in felt like stock templates from a role-playing game. So, even though the concept was unique and the redemption arc compelling, it still felt predictable and formulaic.
Altogether, I thought this was a decent first novel, and I think the author will be one to watch once she's grown into her own more unique style.

Orpheus created the machines his best friend used to take over the world. When that gets him exiled, & he sees the damage he’s wrought, he chooses to do what he can to repair the world.

There was a lot I liked about this. It was a fascinating mix of post apocalyptic, science fiction, & fantasy! There’s some really great world building, & some really interesting characters that loved.

But everything ended up feeling really rushed, especially the romance. I didn’t feel like I got enough time to want to root for Orpheus and Fenrir getting together. And the ending was way too abrupt. I’d definitely be interested in reading a follow up, especially if we get to really spend some time with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press for this arc!

I believe this is a debut book, and wow what a promising start for a fantasy author. Orpheus is a dark magician who does everything he can to help his one friend to take over the world. When he is cast out and left to his own devices, he starts to realize that he may not want to be the villain any longer. With him at every step I. The journey, Fenrir is his one time rival and the one person who seems to get beyond Orpheus’s shields. I thought the world building was so interesting. It is a mix of dystopian and fantasy the felt very believable and the characters are all really well developed. I am excited to see what this author writes next. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

the fact that this is a debut is pretty impressive cause i found the setting, magic and story itself to be decently fleshed out, especially considering that the book is more character driven than anything. i guess in a sense we are following the “villain” of the story in Orpheus who’s dark magic was used to basically destroy the world. it was interesting seeing Orpheus struggle with feeling responsible for all the wreckage he had caused, battling both guilt and this unwavering need to be useful— whether the person on the opposite end had good intentions for him or not.

the main draw for me was the gradual relationship between Orpheus and Fenrir, who is a guard of sorts to the current leader of this broken world. their banter was top tier and i love when one character thinks the other has hated them all this time, only to find out that couldn’t have been further from truth. the way Fenrir opened up Orpheus’ eyes to all that was really going on and how he could help make a change was really endearing. i felt their connection from the start and couldn’t wait for the moment where they’d finally share how they felt. im just glad i got to witness their journey to restoring what was broken, discovering the happiness they could have as the people they chose to be instead of what they could offer, all while falling in love with one another and the special kind of power that comes from having someone who loves you for you.

Excellent book, love it! Looking forward to more from this author! This was right up my alley! I'll be following this author from now on (on socials not IRL 😅)

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did not really enjoy this book, my problem was that I thought this was going to have a completely different plot. I expected a villain as MC, but he totally wasn’t. This felt more like a cozy fantasy. Majority of the book had a static plot, we got more action only in the end, but by then I wasn’t really interested in it. Overall this was not a great pick for me.

[I received a digital ARC for an honest review]

You can see I gave this a 5-star rating, so I will try and keep my gushing to a minimum and get down to the brass tacks.

What is this book about (in my own words): A grumpy, cursed sorcerer is kicked out of his home in order to find a 'cure' for his curse, with only his adorably happy rival to assist him.

What I LOVED about this book:
- The Characters
There wasn't a single character that I didn't enjoy reading about, including the side characters. All of them felt fully imagined, with their own personalities and backstories. Orpheus and Fenrir are both adorable in completely different ways, and their dynamic was just... too good.
- The World-building/Magic System
I would gladly read an entire series set in this world. Without spoiling anything, it was a fascinating take on magic, both in the system itself and in the way it is rolled out throughout the story.
- The Romance
The Banter. The quiet longing, but without too much angst. It was such a satisfying balance.

What I didn't love:
- Some may find Orpheus just a tad too emotional at the end. If just a few of the less impactful emotional scenes had been cut, I feel like it would have increased the potency of the scenes that were kept in.
-This is going to be a strange piece of feedback, but the word 'anathema' was used too many times. It started to jar me out of the story a little bit. I wish a handful of times this word was used was exchanged with other synonyms.

Overall, I had a GREAT time with this book. It is my understanding that this is a standalone, and it reads well as such, but I also would read any potential sequels or spin-offs that could come out. It pulled on my heartstrings, but not so much as to become overwhelming. I will be keeping an eye out for a special edition physical copy to come out, and if it does I will be buying it right up.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything blends a post apocalyptic dystopia with fantasy and steampunk elements. We follow Orpheus a dark wizard who accidentally cursed himself helping Lore, his childhood friend, come into power by unleashing an army of hell beasts. When his curse becomes a burden to Lore’s rule he’s banished from the only home he’s ever known. His once rival the charming Fenrir much to his annoyance decides to follow along acting as a guide and protector. Orpheus must confront the consequences of his actions outside the palace and reluctantly embarks on a heroes journey.

I love a villain redemption arc and found the world this takes place in so interesting with its blend of fantasy and magic and leftover technology from a catastrophic event. The characters are complex and lovable and the growth Orpheus undergoes is heartfelt and emotional. It left me wanting more, more of the world, more of the characters and the people they encounter. The ending was high stakes, heart wrenching, yet satisfying and heading into the climax I wasn’t able to put it down.

Weaker elements included some tonal shifts and pacing elements. I also found myself wishing for more about the character of Lore. But these are minor complaints and overall I was really invested and look forward to its continuation. And while it is the beginning of a series, it wrapped up in a satisfying way and feels complete on its own.

I would recommend for readers interested in a unique fantasy setting, with lovable characters, adventure, and a bit of romance.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost, it’s absolutely astounding that this is a debut novel. Not many debut authors can accomplish feats of such phenomenal world building, character growth and plot development.

The real winner here was the characters, they all had so much heart, no matter their actions. They were all so well thought out and worked incredibly within the story. Orpheus’s arc within the story was just something I adored, he’s such a compelling character and I love him.

Overall it’s a fantastic queer story. Orpheus and Fenrir are so adorable I just want to smush them together. The grumpy x sunshine trope was done so well, the banter, the nicknames? Ugh so good.

Give it a go if you love cosy fantasies with great world building and even better characters. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

I want to thank the author and netgalley for this ARC.
Loved the flashbacks and the pace of the story. It was fascinating. I enjoyed it very much.

Many thanks to Tiny Fox Press for a complimentary eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Netherflame mage Orpheus has got it all: potent magical power beyond compare, a childhood friend whom he has helped conquer the world, and a library with every book he could possibly want. So when he finds himself banished from the Gilded Palace where he has spent his entire life, it comes as something of a shock. More surprisingly, he is escorted on his exile by an annoyingly handsome, irritatingly muscular rival. In this postapocalyptic and barren world, Orpheus's feelings for his companion grow while his revelations of the world beyond the palace shakes the firmament of everything he has believed.

Fiona Fenn has written a cracking good novel. At first, I was overwhelmed by the rules of the world but Fiona helped introduce it organically in a way that supported the narrative without pausing it for explication. This is no small feat in the world of fantasy! I did not initially find myself relating to or even liking Orpheus -- his motivations seemed very opaque to me -- but I came to understand him through the many flashback sequences and through his relationships with other characters. Fenrir is a dashing, handsome, and charismatic foil to Orpheus's self-doubting and morally ambiguous character. Fenrir may seem flat to some but I appreciate that we are seeing him wholly through Orpheus's perspective. That doesn't mean I didn't want to know more about Fenrir and his own demons though. The world was truly fantastical and I can only hope for more detail about the magi-technological world that has been constructed. The cast of supporting characters, while few, are great and the antagonist is sufficiently terrifying (though I want to know more about them!). The story is ultimately one of redemption, love, and sacrifice.

The pacing of the novel was somewhat tricky. While the flashbacks helpfully convey important details about Orpheus's past and his character, they interrupt the flow of the ongoing narrative and do not always feel as though they serve to heighten the story. It was nice to have these scenes fully fleshed out, of course, especially since Orpheus mentions many of these in passing to Fenrir, but I can't help but feel there could have been a better way to convey this to the reader.

I really enjoyed The Tarot Sequence series by K.D. Edwards and found some of that joy in The Crack at the Heart of Everything too. I'm thankful for complex stories about flawed characters who find love in unexpected places. I'm surprised to learn that this was Fiona Fenn's debut novel because it shows a maturity and sophistication I would expect of a more established writer. I'd eagerly read more books set in this world and I can only imagine future books will be even better.

Post-apocalyptic future fantasy romance. Lately I’ve been really into characters who are vicious, emotionally guarded, and morally grey at best. The blurb made it sound like this book had an evil main character so I jumped on it when I saw the ARC on NetGalley. The MC Orpheus is actually a good person who was manipulated into doing bad things, he’s also very vulnerable and weepy. Those aren’t bad things but they’re the exact opposite of what I wanted or expected from this book. The relationship between Orpheus and Fenrir changed from hostility to love in an instant which never works for me. The actual antagonist of this book was the evil empress Lor, I would’ve loved a book about her.

This is definitely more of a me problem than a problem with the book and I imagine this book is going to work for a lot of people looking for a fantasy romance with rivals to lovers, anxiety rep, and a touch-starved MC.

CWs: animal death, gore, self-harm, human experimentation, child neglect, toxic friendship

A post-apocalyptic fantasy with violet-colored dark magic, where Hell beasts have taken over the world and survival is a literal fight, this book has all the awesome!

Our hero isn't a hero at all; in fact, Orpheus is The Dark Wizard who'd built an army (of dark magitech and skeletons) that'd just conquered most of what remained of the world for his only friend, the dark empress. The empress, a malignant narcissist to boot, is more than happy to exile him the moment the inconvenience of his presence outweighs the usefulness of his magic.

I loved Orpheus because he pushes people away rather than let them see him as human, because every chink in his armor has been used against him. Seeing how he opens up to Fenrir's love (even though the man has to fight him tooth and nail for it) in a full-fledged character arc that doesn't pull punches is nothing short of cathartic.

This book is so full of ideas that it keeps up an incredible pace while also taking time for profound character moments, centering around a redemption arc for a person whose actions should have put him well beyond saving but his deep feelings and deeper insecurities make you want to hug him tight until he accepts his worth. (Which is exactly what Fenrir does.)

I absolutely recommend this book and I'll be getting a copy for my shelf for sure.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC! I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

I really liked the premise of this book and I liked the main character. However, I think there are some issues with the structure and pacing that led to it falling rather flat. I also think that some aspects of the story, which could have been interesting to explore, such as Orpheus’ naïveté to the real world, were skimmed over.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything is dark, mysterious, heartfelt (even heartbreaking at times), and even a little romantic. It pulled me in from the start with its snarky, incredibly lonely dark mage—called Orpheus (perfectly). In a post-apocalyptic meets high fantasy setting, ‘Everything’ asks, how much would we give up to give others a future? There are no easy answers or uncomplicated heroes, but it’s a dramatic yet hopeful fantasy, and I enjoyed it.

Thank you Tiny Fox Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I love a good redemption story. I also love seeing the POV of the villain. This takes the bad guy of the story and combines it with a cozy queer slow burn. I love seeing people change and make themselves better, so this was great! You fall in love with them and want to see them succeed. I also love a good fantasy with magic and dragons. This is a beautiful love story I can’t wait for everyone to read!

Overall, this was not a bad book, it just wasn't for me. The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn had quite a few structural issues that made enjoying a plot a little difficult. The tone of the writing did not match the circumstances of some scenes, and the pacing was rough, to say the least. Plus, it was trope-y and a little stereotypical. The writing wasn't bad despite those issues, and the characters were somewhat memorable. I would consider picking up other things by this author if they interest me, but for now I'll be skipping the rest of this series.

For me, getting into a fantasy novel means trying to get my brain to wrap around new concepts, world-building, and names that I might not be able to pronounce. I'm pleased to say that "The Crack at the Heart of Everything" was easy to understand from the get-go, and thus added to the overall pleasant experience I had while reading this book. Fiona Fenn does a wonderful job of setting her novel in a post-apocalyptic Earth, 300 years in the future after an 'incident' has occurred, leaving a massive rift through the core of the planet that leads directly to hell.

As someone who was once an avid lover of World of Warcraft, I felt as though I'd been rocketed back to the height of my playing days with the talk of Netherflame, archanics, and Hell's creatures. Add to it a grumpy mage and a sunshine knight, and suddenly I have everything I need. I connected quite easily with Orpheus, finding that I could resonate with his desire to be left alone, and his shame over his past. These characters were dimensional and easy to envision as I read, and each time Fenrir smiled, I could feel the warmth of it.

Though there is a romantic subplot, it is just that -- the story is at the heart of everything; the engine, if you will, while love seems to be the fuel. As a bonus for anyone averse to 'spicy' scenes, there aren't any!

I'd recommend adding this to your tbr pile immediately!

With a mix of dystopian settings and magical lore, this book blended into a fantastic world that is full of mythological creatures, technology, and intriguing concepts. I loved how it then permitted the author to use both magic and its creatures simultaneously as electricity, cars and planes - which in the end made for such an interesting world-building. There were references to many things from our present day, as well as ancient myths and names inspired by them.
Orpheus, the main character of the story, was such a fresh breath of air, and I don't say that lightly. He knows very well that he is not a good person, his creations were followed by consequences - one of them being a curse he accidentally placed on himself while conjuring up an army for his best friend-turned-the Empress. The conflict he had with this - knowing that there's not long before he succumbs to the curse, the way he feels about himself and his position at Lore's side, and how these two things are even more intense because of his traumatic past - was an extremely well written inner monologue. He doesn't make excuses for himself, and that's something I found to be such an important part of this book. Orpheus is hard on himself, but he also works, after seeing the world after Lore's conquer, to make things better. Even though he has a part in the destroyed reality, Orpheus, deep in his heart, knows that the Lore he knew as a child changed, and he has to overcome the fact that she is, in fact, wrong.
I feel like this book made me think a lot about the way Orpheus evolved as a person during his journey, but at the same time, stayed true to himself. He was afraid to face the truth at first, blaming himself for trusting Lore and then Fenrir. And it was cool to watch his solo journey.
I liked that the romance was a secondary aspect of the book, but still prominent enough to allow Orpheus to go through the highs and lows of realizing his feelings. His rivalry, at times intense, at times not so much, with Fenrir at the side of the Empress, was funny to watch. They really disliked each other at first, and their interactions really showed off Orpheus' feelings about Fenrir. This is something that I enjoyed a lot, because sometimes in rivals-to-lovers stories, the rivalry is rather bland. But not this time, thankfully! And as Orpheus spent more and more time with Fenrir, their interactions stopped being so stingy but still kept being interesting to read.

The premise of the story is brilliant and executed as promised, the characters are memorable, and I do want to read more books by Fiona Fenn after this debut in the hopes they will grow and develop more as a writer. There was a lot in this story that I appreciated.

However, this was one of least enjoyable novels I've finished this year. At first I thought the elements I didn't enjoy could simply be due to reading an ARC copy granted to me by NetGalley. I assumed it just needed a few editing passes before print. However, as I progressed through the book, I discovered that there were structural issues with the story that made it difficult for me to enjoy. I found that tone, pacing, and Lore were my three major issues with the novel.

The tone of the book is difficult to grasp. The story is told through Orpheus’ limited third person point of view, so everything is filtered through his perception of the world. It is an interesting angle: he was raised in an isolated environment and spends a great deal of time reading, so he gives many things labels from old tales (i.e. a bunker is a “palace”, an engineer is a “wizard”, etc), but there is dramatic irony when it clashes with the world as it actually is -- a dystopian, war-torn land 300 years after modern society collapsed. I think if more was done to play with this cognitive dissonance, I would have enjoyed this immensely, but the tone is all over the place. Dialogue is sometimes formal and sometimes modern (as if 300 years had not changed the language at all), there are horrific hell demons that appear and then are forgotten for several chapters as a cozy small town romance seeps in, to then be an action adventure punctuated by comedic fourth-wall breaking moments when Orpheus opines on what a hero or villain should be in this story.

The pacing was painful and I found that this was mainly due to the Intermissions. I understand how intermissions can add to a tale -- much like when reading East of Eden, for example. However, these intermissions would be flashbacks to Orpheus’ past that are scattered throughout the book and add nothing to the story since Orpheus often reveals these experiences to Fenrir in the main plot, so chapters dedicated to him experiencing those past moments felt pointless. It didn’t help that the intermission often broke up the rising action in the story -- just as something was getting interesting, an intermission chapter would appear. It made me want to DNF every time I encountered one of these chapters. Worst of all, the flashbacks did not build on the long relationship that Orpheus and Fenrir shared even though their relationship is a central part of the story. If flashbacks were necessary, I would have appreciated more about Orpheus and Fenrir's relationship before the start of the book. There is one chapter that does flashback to the two of them and that is in the epilogue -- slapped on at the end like a story extra, like saying “the intermissions could have been bits like this but instead were focused on something else entirely.” It felt exhausting even though the intermissions weren’t that long. There were other pacing issues (especially as they kept speeding from place to place towards the end), but that was the most egregious difficulty I had.

And lastly, there’s Lore. Not story lore (which already has more questions than answers as to how this world exists and functions), but Lore the character who has very few appearances and lines of dialogue for the first 90% of the book even though she is a constant looming antagonist over Orpheus’ thoughts and feelings. There is no depth to her character -- she is exactly who people say she is and only Orpheus ascribes more to her where there is none. The Intermissions, which are mainly centered on Orpheus and Lore, only repeat this, so I felt nothing for her as a character. I understood what the story was trying to do: have Orpheus overcome his deeply instilled trauma in his feelings toward Lore, but I felt it didn’t have a deep impact because Lore was not a particularly interesting character. This was frustrating.

I am hopeful that there are great stories written by Fiona Fenn in the future and I will try this author's works again if the premise looks just as good as this one, but ultimately this particular story did not work for me due to how it was executed.