Review: Lichgates by S.M. Boyce

A single choice can change your life forever...

When Kara Magari uncovers an ancient book of dark and deadly magic, she realizes she’s the only one who can read its enchanted pages… and overnight, she becomes the most coveted magical creature in not just one, but two worlds.

Now hunted by every living creature under the sun, she discovers a new world full of beautiful and terrifying things: Ourea. Out here, everyone wants something from her, and there’s no one she can trust.

Kings and queens are drawn to her, assassins and demons seek her out, but it’s the charming soldier with a protective streak and a dark secret that may just be her undoing.

Before this is over, Kara will have to make the ultimate choice… either she surrenders to this dangerous book of magic, heart and soul, or it will be the death of her.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

Buckle in & experience the beginning of a timeless epic fantasy adventure with this first installment of the Grimoire Saga. If you enjoy Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, or Eragon, you’ll love this breathtaking epic fantasy adventure with a modern twist and a slow burn romance.

NEW 5th EDITION with never-before-read scenes and chapters from your favorite bad guys. Completely re-edited and revised for a smoother, more vivid reading experience.

Warning: this story contains adventure, action, and mild cussing.

One of my favourite self published books just got a makeover. S.M. Boyce released a new and updated version of Lichgates, the first book in the Grimoire Saga. She’s reworked the whole book and added a few new scenes. I haven’t bought the new edition yet, but I want to share my review from the old edition, a review I didn’t publish before.

I’ve read this one before, so this review is actually of my second time reading it. I loved it the first time, and the second time still enchanted me. Kara’s story still pops up now and again when I’m daydreaming. That’s why I think Lichgates deserves to be highlighted. The world Ourea fascinating and the main characters, Kara and Braeden, have real growth. It’s a perfect portal fantasy to read under a blanket and a hot beverage.

Kara, the newly turned Vagabond after she found the Grimoire, is the only known human in Ourea. Braeden is the Heir and prince of the Stele, the evil race in Ourea. But Braeden turned away from his blood and hopes to find a way to resign his position. With his ability to change appearances he’s been hiding in Hillside for over a decade. The relationship between the two is fun to watch. They’re very different characters with a shared purpose. The one thing Kara has working for her is that she knows nothing about the world. A clean slate benefits the Stele prince as well. He’s able to earn her trust now. If she had known the nature of the Stele, that might not have been the case.

Ourea is another world in a pocket within the Earth. I’d say it’s a different dimension connected to Earth with lichgates, since it has its own time cycle. It’s a world filled with dangerous, a place you’d rather not be, except that it’s also beautiful. The yakona, the civilised species that live in Ourea, are very different from humans, but mostly in looks. Boyce has done a wonderful job creating this world and making it feel so real. The story lends itself to show the world in pieces and let you experience its culture, wonders and dangers one at the time.

Even after rereading this book four years later, I’d still recommend this book to any fantasy lover and readers who love getting lost in new worlds. Lichgates receives 4,5 stars.