Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts)

4.5/5 Stars This book was so remarkable! It drew me right in and wouldn't let me go. I was really impressed with the composition of the story. The premise of the story is very compelling and it really makes a statement to the reader. Broadbent's writing style really spoke to me and had a very smooth arrangement that kept me engrossed in the story. I enjoyed the world-building for the most part but felt that the magic of the world wasn't covered very well. I went back a few times to see if I had missed something crucial to the story but it just seemed to be something that wasn't developed well enough. The story was still enjoyable even with only a vague understanding of the world's magic but I still felt confused on more than one occasion due to the lack of details. The characters were excellent. Both Tisaanah and Maxantarius were fleshed out really well and the reader couldn't help but love them. We dive right into Tisaanah's past right away and it really sets the tone for the story. I loved getting glimpses of Max's past as the story progressed. I admit, some of the side characters really blended together at first in the beginning. Once I got a grasp on things it was easier to distinguish them apart though. There was a surprising character that I am very eager to learn more about in the next book! The romance in this book was a slow-burn one that was so worth it. The way that Tisaanah and Max come together and come to care about each other is so full of feels. I loved the gradual change from Max's outright refusal to train her, to his reluctant help, to their friendship, to more. They shared bits and pieces of themselves with each other and developed a strong bond. I really loved how Max admired Tisaanah for wanting to help the slaves from her homeland. It's hard not to fall for someone that cares so deeply and is so selfless. I also loved how Tisaanah brought Max out of his funk and out of his loneliness. He had been secluding himself for so long and she sort of brought him out of his shell. Overall, I was wholly impressed with this story. There is definitely an awe-inspiring message under the surface. If not for the sparsely developed magic in the story this would certainly have been a five-star read for me. I am eager to read the second book and see what happens to these memorable characters.

I have read some of Carissa's other books and really enjoy her writing style and world building. This is one of the most fleshed out worlds I've read in a while, the plot was engaging, and the MCs were very likable, imo. However, one of the characters (a woman) made one of the most sexist comments I've ever seen in literature. For that, I removed a star. "You know," Via went on, returning to the closet, "women always come in here looking at the pretty silver bows or the little dainty daggers and those kinds of [boring] things. But I thought...well. She seemed interesting." I'm hesitant to throw out the NLOG accusations, because people overuse it now and apply it to any woman who dares to have masculine hobbies, or god forbid, think they are short. However, this is a really blatant example of demeaning an entire group of people to uplift a single person as superior. All women are boring and uninteresting, apparently! I love you Carissa, but you need to examine the internalized misogyny that led to this line. Unless you intended to make this character sexist, in which case you did a bang up job!

I rate books primarily based on vibes and how they make me feel, so keep that in mind. I also strive to keep my reviews spoiler-free! Plot: 4/5 Spice: 1/5 Tropes: Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Grumpy/Sunshine (kind of), Teacher/Apprentice, Tragic Backstory Audiobook: Two narrators (introduced after Part 2) A quick side note: I did a tandem read, switching between the book and the audiobook. The audiobook introduces a second narrator in Chapter 39, who voices the MMC and his POV. Now, on to the review: The plot is mainly fantasy, with a minor subplot of romance and political intrigue. This first book follows the FMC, Tisaanah Vytezic, who has a tragic backstory. Her people were slaughtered, and she was taken as a slave in Threll at a very young age. The author does a fantastic job addressing these harsh subjects while handling them with grace and sensitivity. In this world, there's an island called Ara, home to a group of magic wielders known as the Orders. The Orders are divided into two factions: the Valtains and the Solaries. The magic system is unique, but it's written in a way that's easy to follow and understand. Tisaanah is considered an outcast, or "fragmented," because she doesn’t fit into any specific magic group. With mismatched eyes, patchy skin, and multicolored hair, she feels like she doesn’t belong. It’s fascinating to watch her growth throughout the book as she struggles with her identity and learns to navigate her internal conflicts. Tisaanah eventually gains her freedom and flees Threll, heading to Ara to join the Orders and help her friends back in Threll. There, she faces numerous challenges, including a language barrier and the struggle to harness her magic. We also meet the MMC, Maxantarius Farlione (Max for short), a grumpy member of the Orders who becomes her new teacher. As the story unfolds, we learn about Max's tragic past and the reasons behind his demeanor. Together, they navigate the challenges presented by the Orders while working toward their personal goals. The story introduces some complex characters, such as Reshaye, and I'm excited to see how this character will evolve throughout the series. In conclusion, I LOVED THIS BOOK. The story is a powerful one, filled with themes of revenge, heartbreak, devastation, justice, and hope for a better world. Since this is just the first book, I can’t wait to see the trials Tisaanah will face as she strives to save her friends and loved ones. Carissa writes with such emotion, immersing me in the story every time.

Eu estou impactada. Não esperava que iria gostar tanto dessa obra prima, mas cá estou eu! Confesso que no começo foi difícil para eu engatar na leitura, mas depois, só foi sucesso e surto e gritaria. Eu amei muito como a história foi construída, como os personagens foram se relacionando e confiando um no outro. Tisaanah é perfeita! A força, a determinação e a lealdade dessa mulher me deixou sem palavras. Vê-la se libertando de todas as suas amarras, confiando no Max e o ajudando a se curar também, aí aí aí, era só surto. Eu amo um casal! Max é tudo de bom! A metade da nossa mocinha/anti-heroina. Eles se completam de uma maneira gritante e intensa. Ele sempre a faz enxergar que ela é muita mais e meu Deus, é só tiro e porrada e bomba quando ela cai em si. Ai, vale muito a pena ler esse livro! Estou obcecada e já vou para o próximo! 💖

Absolutely loved this book. The story follows our main character Tissanah who loses her family and was sold when she was young to work as a slave and in order to gain freedom not only for herself but also for other enslaved people, she goes on this journey to the order, the most powerful of magic wielders in the world to ask for their help but in order to get what she wants she might need to agree on something that will change everything for better or worse. This book made feel lot of emotions and this whole series is just so beautiful and characters are just so amazing that they will leave an imprint on you atleast for me they did. From characters to their journey throughout this whole series that motivates them to fight for their people and the pain, the struggle that they went through everything was so beautifully done. Highly recommend.

I’m aware that the author now has a publishing contract - just bought her first hardback published by Bramble (The Songbird and the Heart of Stone) - but when I bought this book (and its sequels) they were self published. Bearing that in mind, the quality of this book is both impressive and remarkable - and I have a new favourite author! I did feel in the first couple of chapters that the author was maybe finding her feet a little, but that’s not really a criticism just an observation. As the story developed, I noted the wonderful world building, the elegant character development, and the beautiful writing. And the plot twists? I did not see them coming and, to be honest, I almost always do - so that’s high praise from me. This author has incredible skill and this book is an incredible read. It’s been a long time since I waxed so lyrical about a story but this one is just genius. A realistic universe, a genuinely viable magical system, an original premise, and some brilliant storytelling. The romance is beautifully evoked and the characters are complex - with compassion for even the unlikeliest of them gently drawn out of the reader. I absolutely loved this and have stopped to write this review before picking up book two. From now on, if Carissa Broadbent writes it, I’m going to be reading it. Faultlessly executed; brava!

I saw so much fanart about this book that I decided to read it, and I'm glad I did. It was a 5-star read and I can't wait to continue this series.

This was amazing. Heartbreakingly beautiful, I loved it, couldn’t put it down and I cried soooooooooo much. The character developlment was so amazing