Riven Earth is the first installment in a new duology titled The Book of Astea, and as a debut, the story is quite remarkable with an amazing cover art to boot. My profound thanks goes to the author and BookSirens for the eArc.

Preamble
The prose is reminiscent of the masters in the Epic Fantasy genre while painting emotionally complex characters. The details within and the method of writing, in describing his world, is to be applauded. I would love to read more of this.

But still...I would have wished the world-building to have been more explicit in the sense that when an author is introducing fantastic creatures both sentient and otherwise, leaving the bulk of the necessary explanation trickling through slowly can be a bit taxing. After all, beauty and its comprehension lies in the details. I did notice it got much better after the halfway mark though and the ride was smoother thence.

Synopsis/Plot
Zammar weaves a tale about a harsh world in which humanity has been enslaved and kept at the level of stone age technologies with the aid of powerful magic wielded by fantastically realized creatures called Dryads.

Then King Isaiah comes along and discovers the secret of fire, becoming a literal prometheus to his people, unshackling and freeing humanity from the abhorrent enslavement and worship of the Earth-Mother, Astea. I am drawn to this book. A thousand reports to sign yet my pen once again finds this faded paper.

Years ago, I fancied myself a historian. The True History. Or so I named my vain creation. Now I am shamed such words were ever put to page. And that, by me. For I am too close to the history of things to tell the true tale. My feeble attempt did little more than turn the story of our kingdom into a chronicle of my own pain.

I should burn this book.

And yet, near every day, I find myself reading those words written with a younger man’s memory. I cling to them. For the days pass, and they are all I have left of a life long gone.

I should not be so weak.

- Reflections by King Isaiah
But...The world isn't as it seems and the variables unaccounted for by the savior comes into play destabilizing the fledgling empire.

Thoughts and End Notes
Employing unique magic systems blended with the familiar, and the whole kept as simple as possible, a tale is told about values firstly and perspectives next.

The value of a human life, whether touched by magic or not; the lengths people will go for the love of another or even material trappings. The complexity inherent in a situation when two or more distinct and diverse sociological and cultural values clash and merge...

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book and I think it can only get better from this one. Highly recommended for all Fantasy enthusiasts looking for something unique and new, in a genre filled with tropes. Also, there's a touch of literary fiction around making it feel quite deep and introspective.

Expected publication 11 June 2024favorites-fantasy reviewed-reads54 s4 comments Esmay Rosalyne1,087

This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine

4.5 stars (rounded up)

Nature and humanity clash in Zammar Ahmer’s Riven Earth, a breathtakingly epic yet intimately character-driven grimdark fantasy that will sink its roots into the hearts of everyone who loves a good dose of heavy emotional destruction with their fantastical adventures.

Twelve years ago, the unconquerable dryad empire was brought to ash to make place for the Kingdom of Heartsong. But a kingdom forged in blood will have to pay the price of its brutal creation, and now nature is demanding its due. The earth is trembling, famine razes through the lands, and a mysterious blood sickness is threatening all of humanity. But as treason thrives and war looms ever closer, the most dangerous tempests might just be the ones ravaging everyone’s minds from within.

Now, I challenge you to read the prologue to Riven Earth and try to put the book down after that. Spoiler alert, you won’t be able to. This story is honestly straight-up fire from the very first page (pun intended, iykyk), and Ahmer’s wild imagination and mesmerising prose just continues to amaze and spark wonder all the way through.

We are transported into a world not dissimilar to the one in Mark Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor, where only one strip of land is still somewhat habitable, though not without risk. In a way, the world almost feels a character in its own, which I personally really loved. The entire flora and fauna of this world was just so incredibly imaginative and fascinating, brimming with malicious earthly forces, diverse races and fantastical creatures, dryad and sun-based magic, and a plethora of immersive settings that are brought to life through the most breathtaking descriptions.

Though while Riven Earth shines in many aspects, it was Ahmer’s terrifyingly realistic and intimate character work that captivated me the most. We follow a diverse and dynamic cast of characters who are scattered all across the spectrum of gray morality, and they each just leap off the page with personality, for better or worse. A young king crippled by depression and his desperate yet supportive wife, an advisor burdened by her duties and fed up with everyone’s bullshit, a ruthless politician who is way too conniving and ambitious for his own good, and a grieving, terminally ill soldier who stumbles into becoming a reluctant hero in his final days; each of these characters is established with an Abercromie- skill of characterisation, bringing them to life through their uniquely distinct inner voices and dangerously sharp dialogue.

And not only does this epic and sprawling story remain rooted through the intimate narration of these characters, but the themes and conflicts are also presented with so much nuance and ambiguity through their opposing perspectives. Riven Earth can definitely be a mentally and emotionally challenging read at times, especially when being in the heads of the more prejudiced and depraved characters, but I personally think Ahmer handled the darker and more disturbing content with exceptional skill.

Broader themes of racism, genocide, religious zealotry, corruption, and rewriting of history are beautifully balanced with the more intimately vulnerable themes of mental health (in men), depression, suicidal ideation, grief, and the dangerously thin line between hate and love, which is exactly what makes this story so rich and emotionally impactful. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised to see some powerful women and casually queer people represented here, especially in a world where prejudice runs rampant in other regards.

Every aspect of Riven Earth is just beautifully in harmony with each other, and each new revelation helps build tension as it recontextualizes everything you thought you knew about this world and its characters in the most satisfying way imaginable. I do have to say that the unpredictable inclusion of sudden flashbacks made for a slightly rocky pacing and somewhat unclear chronology of events, but at the same time I loved how those insights into the history of the world and backstory of these characters only made everything feel more fleshed out and complex.

Safe to say, Riven Earth kicks off The Book of Astea duology with an absolute bang, and the brutal yet enticing ending practically demands the reader to come back for the sequel. Which, fortunately for all of us, is already written and is scheduled to be released within a month (July 2024); that’s indie winning the game for you, just saying.

With a debut that is this astonishingly strong, Ahmer immediately proves that he is absolutely an author to be watched. Fans of Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, and Thiago Abdalla will find much to love in this gritty yet emotional grimdark fantasy, though it also offers an altogether more unique reading experience that will surprise and thrill with each new imaginative concept and shocking twist and turn. I simply can’t recommend Riven Earth highly enough, not only because it is a truly exceptional story, but also because I selfishly need more people in my fanclub/emotional support group, thank you very much!

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.2024-releases indie-and-selfpub27 s Zammar AhmerAuthor 1 book11

I love this book, but then, I wrote it.

This story was vaguely inspired by a historical figure from Indian antiquity (Ashoka the Great). I really d the idea of a king haunted by the repercussions of his decisions, and his journey to find redemption for his mistakes.

From that small seed, the rest of the tale sprawled out. I thought of the characters around the young king, and somehow, I built a world for them to live in. They barged their way into my life and soon felt more real than anyone.

Their story was my obsession for a year and a half. I did my best to do it justice.

In so many ways, this book is full of the authors I love. I think it inevitably has a lot of Sanderson in it. Not so much in the magic system, but more so in the plot structure and characterization. It also has a lot of Joe Abercrombie, who is my favourite author. I so admire his powers of character voice, and I tried my best to write with a similarly close narrative.

This is the first book in a duology. If you ask me, book 2 is my favourite of the two. But this is where the story started, and I'll always love Riven Earth for it.16 s3 comments James Harwood-Jones405 25

A kingdom forged through a dark past. Dissension lies beneath newfound direction. The very earth seems turned against them.

Rich prose. Haunting history & filled with emotion. Mesmerizing depictions. Leaves one yearning for the upcoming sequel!

Much thanks to the author for this ARC.9 s2 comments Sahim4

An amazing fantasy story. A really well made world and characters that feel they truly live there. This first part builds an amazing world and better characters with their twists leaving me wanting for the next part.

Thanks to the author for the advanced review copy.4 s The Nerd Book Review233 80

10/10
This one took me a little bit to start because I’ve been so busy and I was reading it as opposed to an audiobook. I started it and read about half last Monday and then read all but the last 10% on Sunday.

This book is Grimdark and it’s honestly been a bit since I’ve really read a true Grimdark because it’s just not been what my mood calls for but this book reminded me what drew me to the genre for so long. Grimdark done well really hits you in the feels and this one definitely hit me in the feels.

We have a kingdom that only a generation before had fought a war for their freedom against the tyranny of the Dryads who controlled their lives. It turns out that freedom has come at a high cost and it’s one that could spell the doom of all of humanity. As the story unfolds we see the backstory of how the world came to be in the position it is and we see how the power brokers of the new kingdom are trying to figure out what to do about it.

This is kind of a terrible review but I just finished and I don’t writing on my phone in my tractor haha. I’ll put together something much better here shortly and I’ll have a YT episode out here shortly before the book is released. 3 s Attila Balázs Warza72 1 follower

This book was a journey… I came back from the verge of DNF-ing it a couple of times when I called upon the mighty ChatGPT to help me in my despair. But let’s kick off this review on a more positive note to show my gratitude towards BookSirens for the EARC and towards the author who actually did a good job, given that this book is his debut novel.

The world created has unique and stunning elements. There are even some interesting characters and storylines with great potential. Probably, if I would delve deeper into this world after a couple of more installments in the series, it might even achieve greatness in my eyes.

Unfortunately, we are not there yet, and I have only the first book available based on which I have to decide whether I it or not. So, let’s see the not-so-nice parts.

The prose: In the eyes of most readers, I guess it would be mentioned among the positive things, but I found it to be too much. It was not as much to make me stop reading, but it certainly was distracting from time to time. Especially in the first 20%, I was struggling a lot. After that, I am not sure if I just got used to it or the style changed, but it got better, less flamboyant. Of course, there were some chapters later on with exuberant descriptions, but in small doses, it was manageable.

POV, timeline, and consistency: From chapter to chapter, the POV changes often/most of the time, even inside a chapter we jump not only POV but also the timeline. I was trying to create a linear thread so that I could follow the characters and events, but it was really difficult. Sometimes I got frustrated because a chapter started out by describing the actions of a character or the POV of a character but in such a way that I had no clue to whom that POV belonged to, only when names were brought up later in the chapter.

Plot holes: There are quite a few, but by far my biggest pet peeve is with the era that the narrative is set in. We start out in the prologue in an era of God worship, stone carving, not even having access to fire (the base of all human civilization). 12 years later we have castles medieval era style, book printing, semi-industrialized construction projects, make-up. Let's say even if there would be some magical artifact or whatnot in the background that provides the world with this kind of leap in culture and civilization, it would still take a couple of generations for humans to be able to handle that kind of change. I didn’t find any explanation for this in the book, so it ruined the whole picture for me.

Conflict/lack of it: In a fantasy novel, usually, there is a warm-up phase, with world-building and getting to know the characters. Then a conflict with a resolution at the end or at least some kind of events that leave us with a cliffhanger. In this novel, we have three timelines: 12 years ago, 1 year ago, and the present. We spend most of the time in the present and get background information on events and on characters from past events, mostly from the 1 year ago timeline. That timeline has a conflict that holds no weight because we already know from the present timeline how things ended up. The present unfortunately has no real conflict, just some build-up that might burst in one of the future installments of the series.

Characters: The villain (of a future book in the series because in this one he didn’t contribute to the plot or to other characters in any way) is being presented as cunning and scheming, ruthless, mastermind, but his actions barely live up to the way he and his actions are described. If he would have been killed off in the middle, GOT style so that someone else could emerge from the shadows, I could have at least given some credit to the author for that.

Raia – starts out great, but right when her character gets some nuance, she gets benched, and her character development and overall role in the plot gets to a complete halt.

Kaido – he has potential, but right when his issues get solved, and I thought that he would start stepping up his game, the author pulls him back down, in order for the plot to catch up to him so that his character could stay on the same level and show the growth only in the next book (maybe). I can’t really explain this part without spoilers.

Otto – I have left the best for last, to leave on a positive note. He is hands down my favorite character in the whole novel and one of the main reasons I pushed myself to finish the book. Unfortunately, his character was left hanging in the air without foreshadowing any future plans for him, but still, he is the main character of this story in my eyes. He is masterfully written, with the perfect amount of grittiness, pain, and hardship. I would easily put him on the same level with Sand dan Glokta (if you know you know).

I could go on, but I think I said enough. The world has potential in my eyes, so has the creative mind behind it in the fantasy genre. Overall, it is a 2.5/5 stars for me.2 s Gregory Jones37 1 follower

I was gifted an ARC of this book and I am grateful to the author Zammar Ahmer for the opportunity to read this book.. possibly spoilers..
The prologue set such a beautiful tone and pace for the story and this book started off with a bang and hooked me in right away. An epic battle raging, things burning, soldiers screaming. That beginning alone was crisp.Ahmers writing was absolutely a 4.5. His ability to hook you in and keep you there was definitely his greatest asset. He set up a world in which nature was the tyrant and the humans were the subservient beings beholden dryads, the rulers of the ‘nature’ realm. One human rose up and discovered an ancient magic that was going to end natures rule, but later discovered at a cost.

More backstory, similar to feast for crows, some action, interesting magic systems ( not discussed enough), a marginalized group of people hated for reasons briefly discussed. I was looking a for a little more cohesion in the back story of Astea and the Sun cursed. I loved the Hecata. The watchers as they are called and enjoyed the brief introductions of this group, but then they were dismissed right after that chapter.. I wanted more.. a little more magic, a little more fighting, a little more backstory. I felt the prologue set the story up for one direction, but the rest of the book went somewhere different.
This book is set to release June 11th 20242 s LambchoP363 115 Want to read

I haven't heard anything about this book or author, but based on the premise and gorgeous cover art I am totally intrigued!2 s1 comment Brian8 4

***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.***

3.5/5 (rounded up to 4 because authoring is hard and noble.)

There is a great deal to about this book, but it is not without flaws.

I thought the author did a really good job creating a good, overall story.

I d many of the characters- go Otto, you poor old man- and I d the general plotline. The story introduces some unique concepts of magic and some unique groups of people.

The devil is in the details.

In a general sense, I had trouble connecting to the world. I firmly believe the author has a fabulously complete world in his mind, but I don't feel as if he expressed it fully enough in words to let the reader see the same vision. The world seemed as if we are on the set of a soap opera; a spot for this scene, a different spot for that scene, but I could never really get a sense of the world itself on a meta-scale. Just disjointed set pieces that allow the story to be told but give no real sense of connection to one another. There were references to east, west, etc., or this town and then that town, but much of the journey different characters were involved with just seemed to be hand-waved in: he left, he arrived here, next scene. She was here, then she was there, next scene. They went here and this thing happened, next scene. a soap opera, the scene is well lit, but the background is dark. And it might be that the setting/world was different enough from the traditional fantasy setting- not a bad thing at all, btw- that I missed some detail whilst puzzling through some of the basics. I'm fully willing to admit this might just be a "me" thing.

I'm also not sure I am completely aware of the religious aspects/figures/deities in the story, and how they played a role in events. Maybe that info is there subtly, and I just didn't get it, but I'm still sitting here wondering, "Okay, which god is the evil one? Who was the good one? Did I miss that part?"

I will use an analogy I heard many years ago on a different topic that sums up my opinion on this book well: it's got all six cans of the 6-Pack, but it lacks the little plastic thing that holds them all together.1 1 comment Irem69 10

Zammar Ahmer's debut fantasy novel, Riven Earth, is a masterclass in world-building, offering readers an intricately detailed and compellingly rich world. From the very first chapters, Ahmer immerses us in a world teetering on the brink of collapse, where the lines between good and evil blur into shades of gray. Ahmer's world-building stands out as a major strength of the novel, presenting a vividly realized setting that is as much a character as the people who inhabit it.

The novel employs multiple points of view, each distinct and deeply flawed. Ahmer does not shy away from portraying the complexities of human nature, and none of the characters can be easily classified as purely good or evil. Except one weasel. I hate that guy I hate Jael and that's saying something. Anyway, this gray morality adds depth and realism to the narrative, as we follow characters who navigate their crumbling world.

Riven Earth tackles an array of significant themes, including the impact of climate change, the fragility of political structures, and the clash of cultural ideologies. The crises depicted are not only external but also internal, reflecting the turmoil within the characters themselves. Ahmer weaves these themes seamlessly into the story, making them integral to both the plot and the characters' development.

Riven Earth is a standout debut that promises much for Zammar Ahmer's future as a fantasy author. Its complex characters, multifaceted crises, and exceptional world-building make it a must-read for fans of the genre. Ahmer's ability to blend beauty with brutality, and hope with despair, creates a compelling narrative that stays with you long after the final page is turned. I can't wait for the second book.2 s Arham Riaz1 review1 follower

A fantastic read. I was gripped by the end of the first chapter and before I knew it my sleep schedule had been upended by my desire to continue reading.

First time authors tend to have an abundance of ideas that they try to cram into their debut, so I was pleasantly surprised to see how focused Ahmer's story was. Ahmer has a clear vision of what he wants his story to be, as we switch between multiple POV's throughout the book that help to canvas the vast world we've been thrust into.

The characters and worldbuilding standout here, as we have a plethora of interesting characters that when thrown into the crucible of this world make it feel lived in with a rich history. My favourites included Raia and Otto, but I can't wait to see how Kaido's character progresses in the sequel.

The geography, animal life and magic system work incredibly well together to breath life into a set of challenges unique to this world - I felt myself completely immersed into the world as I dreaded the characters I had become attached to go through any more anguish.

Riven Earth reads as a book made by an author with great familiarity and love for fantasy - I would gladly recommend it.

5 stars.

1 Yar Gul33 6

For thousands of years, the sun had been static but troubled times and blasphemous ideologies are now taking over the kingdom that was founded by King Isiah. His son Kaido rules the kingdom from the shadows while the words and wisdom of his father is twisted into heresy and is turned into everything his father had fought against.

A rebellion is intensifying led by the exiled master of money Maisades and general Raia is struggling to keep the fragmenting kingdom together with the king refusing to come into the light. But when an adventure calls the young king to the eastern regions, a clock starts ticking in which secrets are revealed, bonds are formed, people manipulated, and the countdown to the end begins.

I'm very picky when it comes to epic fantasies but I was fully immersed in the world of Astea for its wonderful concept of a static sun with sunblessed people having awesome powers. A moon that the wolves follow while the green land of Astea worshipped by the people called Dryads. Dryads ruled the world ruthlessly for millennia but when a nobody among the humans discovered fire, the tables turned. Isiah found the kingdom of Heartstone on the land once ruled by the hated Dryads.


I love how it shifted across multiple point of views effortlessly. The backstory of Isiah told through diary quotes was really interesting to read. I was fully immersed in the narrative of Raia and I really felt for her when she cared for people she loved but is not rewarded properly. I think she was such a strong character. The lone adventures of the young king to find the meaning of what he had done, what he needs to know about his people, and what he needs to do to make it right were great aspects of his arc.

I would recommend it highly to anyone looking to read an epic fantasy adventure having a rebellion, great world building, brilliant characters, and a very unique concept. Preorder it as it will be released on June 11th.adventure epic-fantasy1 Graham262 65

Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC of Riven Earth

Epic fantasy is my favourite genre. It's full of incredible immersion, descriptive landscapes, relatable characters and so much more.
Riven Earth by Zammar Ahmer, and the world of Astea, is no different.

The world has stopped turning.

Burned by a blazing sun. Thrust into eternal winter.

Life survives only in the Sunset Forest.

For untold millennia, mankind lived subservient to the dryads, forced into worship of the Earth-Mother, Astea. Then one man ventured into the Scorched Desert and returned with the secret of fire. His rebellion brought the dryad empire to ash. In its place, he founded the Kingdom of Heartsong.

Twelve years later, the new king is missing. The earth trembles. Famine ravages the land, and a mysterious illness creeps through the capital.

Plots of treason and revenge abound, but as the mistakes of the past bear fruit, men will reap what they have sown.

Open now the Book of Astea and learn what has been forgotten.

The cover art by Maleski Art is as epic as it gets and really compliments this story. For a debut, I was impressed with Ahmers writing and how engrossed I was throughout. Astea is so mysteriously yet openly described and it's amazing how Ahmer has drawn me in and left me wanting more from Astea. I enjoyed how descriptive Ahmers landscapes were and how those details envisioned in my head. Not only do we have the visual aspects of Ahmer, but we have great creatures introduced that fill the world and add to its suspense. Ahmer has created a harsh environment that reads a history book.

The magic system may be a tad familiar, but it is accurate in its simplicity and so interesting to watch it unfold. The characters themselves were written brilliant. Especially when told through different methods such as diary quotes which I thought was a unique touch. Raia is a fantastic addition to fantasy and Ahmer created someone relatable in their actions with such strong resolve. Other POVs have such strong story arcs that make for a page-turning read. Ahmers strongly written complex characters that will stick with you throughout.

This is a duology that has a strong start and I hope this continues in its conclusion. Ahmer has poured their heart and soul into this, used their influences and added their own personal touch to create a brilliant new voice in this genre. This is a unique and enthusiastic epic story and Zammar Ahmer deserves your attention.author-publisher-arcs-copies book-sirens read-20242 s April Pereira5 5

Riven Earth: A Grimdark Debut Worth Exploring

Zammar Ahmer's Riven Earth, the first book in "The Book of Astea" duology, takes readers on a journey through a broken world. The land of Astea is ravaged by a harsh climate, with only the Sunset Forest offering a sliver of life. Humanity exists under the shadow of the dryads, powerful nature beings they once worshipped. But a rebellion fueled by fire has reshaped the power dynamic, leaving a legacy of mistrust and unease.

The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, offering a nuanced look at the various factions vying for control. We meet a king on the verge of collapse, an advisor tempted by power, a revolutionary yearning for change, and a dying soldier with a newfound purpose. Ahmer brings these characters to life with depth and complexity, making it hard to pick clear favorites.

The worldbuilding is another strong point. The harsh beauty of the Sunset Forest and the desolate expanse of the Scorched Desert are vividly described, transporting readers to this fractured land. The lingering influence of the dryads adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to the world's history.

The multiple perspectives, while enriching the narrative, can also lead to pacing issues at times. The story occasionally jumps around, requiring the reader to adjust to different viewpoints. Additionally, the grimdark elements might be too bleak for some readers.

Riven Earth falls squarely into the grimdark fantasy subgenre. Expect a world where survival is a constant struggle, and morality is a shade of gray. Ahmer doesn't shy away from exploring the darker aspects of humanity, with characters wrestling with ambition, revenge, and the burden of past actions. Fans of NK Jemison's Broken Earth Trilogy and SM Stirling's Emberverse Series will ly find themselves right at home here.

Despite some minor drawbacks, Riven Earth is a captivating debut novel. Ahmer's strong worldbuilding, complex characters, and exploration of morally ambiguous themes lay a solid foundation for the duology. If you're looking for a grimdark fantasy with a unique setting and a focus on character development, Riven Earth is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for a wild ride –– fire and all.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. D. HoskinsAuthor 1 book12

Ahmer has done a fantastic job creating a beautiful and captivating world in his novel Riven Earth. In particular, I appreciate how he has filled this world with his own unique flora and fauna, with dangerous Ashfangs based off sabertooth tigers, and horse- Loomers with vines for their mane.

Of course, what good is such wonderful world building without characters to fill it? Ahmer has done a great job here as well. The novel utilizes multiple POVs to give a multitude of perspectives and move the plot forward. As is the case in some novels with multiple POV, I find there is always one POV weaker than the others, and it is a drag when the narration switches to them. That is not the case here, as I enjoyed each POV. He also keeps each individual POV section short before switching, which creates a quick pace and helps move the story along.

I think there are clear Brandon Sanderson influences in this work, however Ahmer still manages to keep his own voice and writing style, while also making those influences clear. If you Sanderson’s work, Ahmer is definitely worth checking out.

The only knock I have against it is that some of the action scenes could have used more suspense, but this is a small issue compared to an otherwise amazing debut. I am very excited for the sequel! Ally1 review

This story takes place in a really unique, fantastic world that feels historic and futuristic at the same time. The main characters are in charge of a new kingdom and are tackling political and social issues, while feeling pressure and disagreement from the previous generation of rulers who founded the kingdom through war. These characters struggle with adapting their society to be more progressive and simultaneously maintaining order and shutting down rebel groups.

I'm not typically a fan of epic fantasy, but this story really drew my attention because of its focus on characters and their honest emotions through strife. Kaido is an unexpected monarch, and although some of his choices frustrated me, it was exciting to watch him grow. My favourite character was Raia who demonstrated such poise and strength throughout the entire book, especially at the very end, and I found myself unable to put the book down when one of her point-of-view chapters came up.

The prose flows smoothly and the setting is described so well that I could picture scenes easily. I highly recommend this book for someone looking for a new fantasy novel!5 s1 comment Adrian1 review

I was a Beta reader for Riven Earth. I had a blast reading this story. The grim world is rich with history and myth. The characters are interesting and have interesting developments. They all have their unique perspectives and Ahmer does a wonderful job of portraying the voices of the POV characters. Fans of Abercrombie will enjoy the setting and characters as well as some of the more twisted story beats.

The story itself was very enjoyable. Each POV character goes on a journey that is fascinating to follow, with their obstacles challenging them in ways that help us to better understand them, as well as for them to start to find their place in this world. The final few chapters of Riven Earth really ramp up the stakes for our characters setting them up for an exciting conclusion in the sequel.
Justin GreerAuthor 2 books6

What a great book.

I was initially intrigued by this book due to the exciting cover and the similarities in worldbuilding to James Rollins’s MoonFall series, which is an absolute favorite of mine.

As it turns out, Riven Earth also has tremendous descriptions of flora and fauna that really have an impact on the story. Beyond that, it’s an inventive, compelling, and powerful exploration of a world teetering on the brink of disaster and the ways in which several flawed, broken characters must handle dire threats. Raia’s my favorite, with Otto a close second - some of these character arcs are truly heart-rending. The action, too, is thrilling.

I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the concluding volume! Justin3 1 follower

4.5/5. Riven Earth starts off with an explosive battle between nature and humanity before weaving a tale that has a perfect blend of magic, world building, action and rebellion. Politics and scheming play a large role in the plot but its written in such an immersive way that it doesn't feel statecraft. The magic systems are unique and while we get a taste of them, they feel superficial and not well flushed out. Where author Zammar Ahmer shines the most is in his prose and suspense, I just couldn't put this book down and that's a rare feat for a new author. This debut novel is a big win for the fantasy genre and I can't wait to read more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. E.K EarleAuthor 1 book3

I had the absolute pleasure of devouring this book as a beta reader when it was still two books! Set in a world where multiple fates have been determined by the actions of a man--more of a messiah to some--these beautiful stories intertwined to save each other and the world around them. While the overarching fantasy world and plot are compelling, it was the humanity of his characters--who were so firmly their own people, with their own destinies--that made Ahmer's writing so compelling. If you're a fan of high fantasy concepts and people who are flawed and messy, but try so hard to overcome their challenges, this duology is for you.2 s Ashair1 review

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