What a fun read! I like that I was never quite sure where they were going with the story and feeling the MCs unsureness about what the right course of action was. Will definitely look forward to reading book 2!

Louisa has spent her entire life getting into trouble, while her twin brother, Oliver, has always been the level-headed one. Their uncle has been their guardian since their mother passed when they were little. The time has come for the annual conscription ceremony, in which the eldest child is assigned to a military unit and sent off to serve the kingdom for three years. Louisa is the eldest and must leave everything she knows behind to accept her fate. During her training, she uncovers truths that turn her world—and her reality—upside down. To make matters worse, her brother goes missing, and she must do everything in her power to bring him back, even if it means venturing into enemy territory. Time is running out, and Louisa must gain the trust of those around her to find the location of the one thing that might save her brother. With everything in chaos, it becomes difficult to know who will have her back at the end of the day—and who will stab it.

Fast-paced, brand-new debut, set to give the breath of life back to dystopian.

*Received an ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Impossible to put this novel down, once you turn the first page, it is a real battle to close the book at all. Fabulous writing style, especially from a new author, which grips the reader and thrusts you into the novel so much so you cannot help but consume the entire story at once.

Louisa is a loveably stubborn and determined protagonist and drives the plot instead of just being a passenger in her own story.

Would have liked some more details about the world at large, including what kind of era it's set in, showers and canteens, but no guns or cars? It's not a negative aspect, but I do believe it would really help the story by explaining more about the further world.

Loved it, cannot wait for the sequel!

From the start, you are drawn into Louisa's world - a world where war means she must be trained for a specific role and expected to fulfill it for three years. You can sense her trepidation over leaving all she knows and her beloved twin brother behind. Then you walk alongside her as she struggles to make it through Phantom training to become a spy for her country. As you make it through the story, you soon learn that her uncle and a few others know all about her heritage and finally pull it out to manipulate her into doing their bidding.

While on her mission, she not only meets her father - she also realizes that much of what was taught about the Black Hills and their king was propaganda. Also, she soon determines her uncle doesn't always have her best interest at heart. With saving her brother her main concern, she has to make choices that will have great repercussions.

Dystopian is a genre I tend to enjoy and Where No One Can Follow did not disappoint. I found the pacing to be good along with the world-building. The one downside is that I now have to wait for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Grace Quincy, and G&G Publishing for the advance reader. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, G&G Publishing, and Grace Quincy for giving me the opportunity to ARC read Where No One Can Follow, in exchange for my honest review.

I thought the book was nicely done. I enjoyed the concept and thought the story flowed well, even if it was a little fast for my taste. There were instances where I felt needed more time to develop. For example, the training sessions underground should have had more time to build. I wanted to see more character growth, not only from our main character, Louisa, but from everyone. The first few chapters really set the tone for the rest of the book, and caught my attention immediately; therefore, that extra time in military training would have really sold me that Louisa was ready for what’s to come.

Louisa is such a brat, but her feelings are absolutely valid. She is a teenager after all. But with the twists and turns that came her way, it’s understandable why she reacts the way she does. That’s another thing, I really enjoyed the twists that the author, Grace, implemented throughout, I felt the same confusion and frustrations Louisa felt. There were times where I thought I knew where the story was going, but I completely missed.

I also really loved how any romance between anyone was not the main focus. It’s great to read a fantasy book that’s not all romance but actual change and conflict. If I could give Grace a standing ovation I would.

It’s a fast-paced story, but it’s done so well. The clear beginning, middle, climax and end are evident and made the story enjoyable. It is certainly at the top of my list for my favorite 4 star read of 2025.

An incredibly done fast paced book. Smart writing and well thought out characters that will pull you into their world war.

I’m newish to the dystopian universe genre of reading. I was intrigued by this story and it kept me glued to the page I have so many questions and I need the book to be longer, I need some more detail on a few of the scenes. While the book was paced perfectly and I did wish it was longer, I think it was setting up for the second book which will definitely be filled with a lot of tension and hopefully a few more answers.

Great book. Build up slowly creating a great set of characters. The book then takes many twists and turns keeping you on your toes. The speed of the book slowly begins to pick up. The ending feels very abrupt but leaves you on a good cliffhanger wanting to know what happens next.

This was an interesting premise with a lackluster execution. The idea that spy training lasts just a few weeks with no espionage skills taught outside of three "tests" was irritating. The idea that a government is going to trust an untrained teenager on such an important mission when she is obviously not suited to it is nuts. But overall it was an interesting story and I'm curious what happens to Louisa in a sequel. The romance is expected. What I really want to know is the history between Louisa's parents and her Uncle. Overall an OK read.

Interesting premise but the world building seemed a bit all over the place. Louisa's world was fun to dive into, though filled with classic dystopian YA tropes. "girl can fight" "girl has mysterious connection to the enemy" "girl falls for the worst person for them". It all felt a bit like something i'd read before had just put on a new hat.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

4.25 ⭐️
oh my gosh where do I begin?? I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the concept, plot & characters. I love a good dystopian book and this delivered on that front all while having a captivating storyline that didn’t seem reused. I was intrigued from the start of the book and couldn’t put it down once I reached halfway! I was so excited to see where this was going & can’t wait to see what happens in book two!! I will 100% be reading and can’t wait!
I really loved all the characters and didn’t feel like I was drowning trying to remember anyone nor did I feel lost trying to follow along ever! I like Louisa a lot, I resonate with her rage a lot and can’t wait to see how her character develops! <3 also love Patrick, he is a funny little cutie & I smiled anytime he spoke. He needs to be protected at all costs!! Oh my goodness… JACK... I was immediately DRAWN to him, he literally didn’t do anything and he had me obsessed as soon as he was introduced. I LOVE HIM. need more of him right away ! 🤭😚😚😚😚
I am so excited for the second book & can’t wait to see where the story goes!! UGH my heart was breaking at the end and I need to know what happens to everyone IMMEDIATELY!!
I will be posting on my bookstagram (@izabelsreads) & booktok (@izabelreads) about this, review & to tell people to read!! I loved it so much. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it advanced. I know the book is now released, and I wish I were able to read it sooner, but life got in the way and I simply couldn’t! But once I started reading yesterday, I couldn’t stop! Loved it. Very excited to order this myself and for book two!

This was a fast paced engaging book throughout, but it was on the shorter side. You get thrown right into the world which is at war and you never really figure out why they are at such odds. I loved the snarky, pit bull of a main character, Louisa. She doesn’t quite know who to believe or trust, but her number one person is her twin brother, Oliver. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read book #2. Thank you to NetGalley and G&G Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

I could not stop reading this! It was so good. I think the only thing I was upset about was that I couldn't continue to the next book. I cannot wait to find out what happens in every aspect. I am loving the slow burn of the FMC and "enemy". There were so many twists and unexpected turns, I found myself gasping and ranting a fair few times. Please continue this series, I want them all!

The first chapter was sp engaging, and really sets the reader up for this sci-fantasy world.
I did find our protagonists a little young and naive, but that is a me problem, they are perfect for the YA target audience.
I think this is the perfect YA equivalent of Fourth Wing.
Easy to read, great original storyline, and an interesting magic system.

This was everything that I was hoping for from this type of book, I was invested in what was happening and enjoyed the feel of the world and characters in this. I was hooked from the first page and had that element that I wanted and enjoyed getting to read this. Grace Quincy wrote this well and was glad everything worked with the genre.

I’ll admit this book drew me in faster than I expected. Even with the first couple chapters of world building, the story hits the ground running. The description intrigued me enough to give it a chance though I initially felt a bit skeptical as to whether I would connect with the main character based solely off the synopsis.

Louisa is described as having a temper and being strong-willed but I liked that this didn’t truly define her (or at least not for long). Her character development from “rebellious teen” to learning to channel her rage into something she can actually use to protect what she cares about progresses in a believable way.

I found her to be very relatable as she’s faced with a multitude of difficult choices, many of which force her to examine, define and redefine her own morality and where it stacks up in her shifting priorities. She wants to be brave but is afraid to die the meaningless death her harsh environment constantly threatens. Louisa doubts herself at times yet really steps up and finds her courage when it comes to things that matter most to her. Although it’s true she can be brash at times, frequently throughout the book she struggles to navigate the complexities of love, loyalty and the cost of both in the unforgiving, militant world she lives in.

Sometimes, books with similar settings/plot, the characters tend to become larger than life which can make for a good story but always kind of pulls me out of the MCs head to where I don’t really feel level with them or connected anymore, becoming more of an observer. I liked that I was able to maintain that feeling of connection with Louisa. Especially in the way she always retained a healthy level of fear regarding the weight of reality behind her decisions…and the consequences if she failed. Not everything goes to plan, not everything is easy. She’s the main character in the story but not the hero.

I have mixed feelings on the other characters in the book and that seems to be the intent in how they are portrayed. There aren’t really any “good guys” which really kept me guessing who she could trust and where the story would go next. The fast paced plot and political intrigue definitely kept the pages turning.

If you enjoy reading strong (but relatable) FMCs in a dystopian setting with political intrigue and a splash of romance I definitely recommend checking this out.


Even with work and multiple things claiming my attention I finished this book in under a week.

Thank you NetGalley for the DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Grace Quincy for providing me with an ARC of Where No One Can Follow in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the more I read, the better it got! The ending, specifically, was really great and I know I will be picking up the next book when it is available. To start off, I loved the world itself and how the system and the kingdom are divided and how that really contributed to the character arcs. I really enjoyed reading about the characters, but I feel like I had a stronger connection to the characters in the second half rather than the first half. The plot twists were very nice, and I did not expect them to be what they were, but there was some subtle foreshadowing that I really appreciated! The book was well wrote all around, and the plot was well fleshed out leading up to the climax. The only other addition I would have is that at many points it felt like we were being told what was happening rather than being showed.

There were a few things I found unsatisfactory, personally. I had a hard time really getting into this book up until 55% of the way in, but once I hit that mark, I could not put it down. The pacing of the plot in the first half seemed rushed to me, and I feel like it could have either been spread out so we could spend some more time getting to know the main character and her internal conflicts (which could have had more layers), or it could have been condensed. Personally, I would have preferred to read more about her journey while she was training, as that would have allowed me to have a deeper connection to her character. Louisa's character seemed a bit inconsistent and contradictory at points, and compared to how she was raised and the situations she went through in the book I would have expected her personality to be different than how it was portrayed toward the middle of the book. Lastly, I would have loved to see more world building in terms of politics of the kingdom and the council. I feel like the political system was skimmed over but not explained in depth, and I feel like it would add more to the plot and characters if we really knew what was happening behind the scenes.

“Even when I win, I somehow always manage to lose. Unfortunately.”

I really liked this book. On a very personal note the synopsis was misleading for me, but what I found was even better.
Let's start from Louisa, the FMC, she’s fiery and bold, sure, but also full of doubts and fears, which makes her feel so real (this is so refreshing for me, I wanted a break from the classic hothead 'I don't fear anything and don't give a sh*t about nothing).
Even though she gets pulled into things against her will, she's always analysing, assessing, understanding.

The story itself is super engaging, and the writing style is really easy to get into. The pacing is great for the most part, though there were a few moments that felt a bit rushed (most of all the relationships). Still, it’s hard to put the book down once you start.
One thing I really appreciated is that there’s no unnecessary drama—no misunderstandings or silly problems just to add conflict. It all feels natural and focused on the bigger picture.

Overall, I really enjoyed it! The plot and characters are solid, and I can’t wait to see what happens in book two.

"Where No One Can Follow" is the first book in a new series. It is set in a dystopian world that's intense and full of danger. I found the main character Louisa really interesting. She has a tough life, and her fate is decided for her from the start.

What made this book special was the worldbuilding. The Black Hills were grim and creepy, and the military rules Louisa had to follow were strict. Every little detail made the story greater.
Louisa's journey in the Phantom Division, an elite spy group, was thrilling and inspiring.

Quincy's writing style was smooth and kept me hooked. She mixed action with character development in a way that made me care about both the plot and the characters. Louisa's personal struggles and growth added a lot of emotional depth to the story.

One of the best things about this story is how it deals with themes like loyalty, courage, and identity. Louisa's journey isn't just about surviving physically, it is also about figuring out who she really is.

Overall, "Where No One Can Follow" was a fantastic reading experience, and I highly recommend it if you, like me, miss the early 2000 dystopian novels. Grace Quincy has created a memorable world and a heroine who stayed with you long after you finished the book.