Blackthorn and Beyond – The Sorcerer's Redemption

Martin Murray - 12 Sep, 2024

ARC Review - - - No Spoilers ---

Title - Blackthorn and Beyond - The Sorcerer's Redemption
Author - Ellie Tilley
Rating - 4⭐

Summary - There are secrets buried beneath the roots of Blackthorn Forest.

Luna Redlock is no stranger to the trees. However, when Isaac Brewer and his nephew, Tristan, return to the cobbled streets, a darkness descends upon the sleepy village. Their presence sets in motion a catastrophic series of events.

Luna’s story is just one of many in Blackthorn’s mysterious history, but there is one thing tying them all together: potions, portals, and above all... power.

Can Isaac right his wrongs from centuries ago before all is lost to a wicked ruler?

Review - I was lucky enough to receive a pre-release copy of this book from the author and first of all want to thank Ellie Tilley for the opportunity to read this. This is a fantastic debut novel that is full of atmosphere, suspense and of course fantasy elements. I'll eagerly be looking forward to more from this author in the future.

The first thing that should be noted for any potential reader is that this book has multiple POV's which some readers may not enjoy but are a personal favourite for me. The way the author weaves all of these characters and their stories throughout is very well done and keeps the suspense high for the reader while also giving each character and their ‘story’ its own unique voice which keeps them in your mind moving forward.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and one which I'd recommend to any fantasy fan looking for something new and unique. A great debut novel and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author moving forward.

Melissa Gomez - 03 Sep, 2024

A story that will immerse you with every line.

The most notable to mention is that there's many different points of view, and it can feel like you're actually reading different books set in the same world. This is not good nor bad, as I believe that completely depends on the reader. Personally, I'm not a big fan of having different point of views, specially more than two. However, I do have to commend the way that it's been done in this book. Each story is engaging, with nicely developed characters and beautifully written. It can be confusing and a bit difficult to connect everything, but I didn't feel like that took away from enjoying this book as much as I did.

Every bit of the book has character and belongs. There was no point in which I felt the story was dragging, or that something was there just because. The pace was perfect for the stories, not too rushed and not slowed down.

The world is lively. To me, it sort of felt as though the world itself was a character of its own. One to discover with every paragraph.

I am already looking forward to more great things to come from this author!

R.G. Wesley - 03 Sep, 2024

Blackthorn and Beyond: The Sorcerer’s Redemption is a spooky, atmospheric read that centers on a series of strange happenings in Blackthorn Forest. We follow the lives of five characters as they try to plumb the secrets that hide amongst the trees and a not-so-sleepy village.

The author does a great job of giving each character a unique voice that captivates the reader. I was on the edge of my seat wondering where each storyline was going to take us, as there were lots of clues dropped but quite a wait to get answers.

With a blend of light romance, mystery, and magic, Blackthorn and Beyond was hard to put down. It’s a perfect book to add to your TBR for the Halloween season.

Christian Frank - 24 Aug, 2024

I had the pleasure of reading a pre-release copy of this book: what a fantastic first novel from Ellie Tilley. By skilfully blending a series of distinct voices as the point of view shifts around various characters in the Blackthorn setting, she immersed me into this truly original and fascinating fantasy realm.

Multiple shifting POVs can be challenging to follow, but the way in which the characters have their own carefully crafted timelines and personalities shines through in the writing and ensures that each character is distinct and vibrant in their own right. There was no risk of the different stories becoming muddled and the mystery unfolds in a really engaging manner: I struggled to put this down. The different storylines weave together wonderfully and all bring the world to life with great detail - if anything, my only criticism is that I would love to hear more about the storylines which don't end up being the main focus of the climax of Blackthorn's story!

This is a genuinely engaging story which showcases some wonderful twists and original concepts which ensure you feel a true connection to the vividly constructed realm of Blackthorn. I'd highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what Ellie comes up with next.

Chloeey - 20 Aug, 2024

This book is over 5 stars, I loved this one so much!
The author does a lovely job with her characters and imagination for writing a story, I highly recommend this wonderful book!

In a world where magic can be a curse it also can control their life in the worst possible way. Once Joanna finds out there are more secrets hiding in the house the more curious she gets to finding answers.
But curiosity can be life changing but not in the nicest way, after Joanna finds the secret to her powers she must a way to destroy earths magic so everyone can be free to live and normal like beyond the veil of magic.

Hannah Neighbors - 24 Jul, 2024

I've had the absolute honor to review Blackthorn and Beyond by @etilley.author

Blackthorn and Beyond is a light fairytale fantasy! Told from the perspective of 5 different POV's in past and present, spanning 150 years in a little village next to a dark forest. Some common themes in this read are witches, magic portals, and an alternate world with a dash of romance in between, which adds to the plot of this read!

Personally, I LOVED this read! Once I fell in love with the plot, this was one of those books I couldn't put down! Typically, I can not stand multiple POV's, but Ellie did an amazing job drawing me in with the uniqueness of these characters!

If you love light fairytale fantasy with witches and magic portals with a dash of romance, Blackthorn and Beyond might be a read to add to your TBR (release date: October 28th, 2024) !

Jaisha - 20 Jul, 2024

A mythical tale, ‘Blackthorn and Beyond’ spans 150 years and seamlessly weaves the lives of several characters to result in a story of magic, intrigue, love and hope.

I raced through ‘Blackthorn and Beyond’ and could not put it down. Each twist in the story and new character provided an extra layer of complexity to the story and the worlds and characters which Ellie has created are compelling and magical.

Ellie’s vivid descriptions in this story provide the reader with a sense of the darkness and fear surrounding some of these worlds and made me feel that I really was in the story seeing the world as the characters were.

Ellie has written an absolutely magnificent story which is masterfully written and unlike any other fantasy book that I have read. I was disappointed when the story finished and am eagerly awaiting Ellie’s future work!