Daughter of No Worlds is the first in a new series from Carissa Broadbent, well known for her sweeping romantasy epics. While this novel maintains the style she’s known for, it presents a new world and strong and interesting new characters.
Tisaanah was sold into slavery as a child and has not just survived, but earned enough to buy her freedom. However, when she tries to fulfill that goal, she barely escapes with her life. Half dead, she fights to reach the Orders, the most powerful organisations of magic wielders in her world.
Here, Tisaanah discovers that in order to gain the help she needs to rescue the friend she left behind, she needs first to complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius.
Max doesn’t initially seem likely to help her much. He’s reclusive and bad-tempered, he despises the Orders, he wields a different kind of magic than Tisaanah, and quite a lot of authority figures seem to have problems with him. But Tisaanah isn’t going to let go of her dream to rescue other slaves, and she badgers him incessantly to teach her.
And as Max relents and teaches her, both of them discover unexpected things in themselves, including a growing attraction between them.
Quite a few of Broadbent’s novels contain these themes: a fight for a people’s freedom, reluctant pairings, and romantic relationships. Slaying the Vampire Conqueror, set in the world of Nyaxia, is an example of another of her novels that includes all these themes.
The early signs are that this is her most mature series yet. I found the slowly growing relationship between Max and Tisaanah one of the most believable I’ve seen her write. Both characters are strong and empathetic, and it’s easy to believe in the relationship, both the mutual attraction and the hesitations and good reasons to resist.
At the same time, there is a compelling bigger picture here: the conflicts between nations, some of which are still deliberately shadowy at the end of this novel. There are clearly plots and plans and issues yet to be revealed to us.
And then there are the ordinary people caught up in this scheming: the people ripped from their beds and made slaves, the people accused or executed unjustly, the people manipulated into doing things they really don’t want to.
All of this is against the background of a vivid and well-developed world which will interest most readers.
This is a well-written and engaging novel. As the first in a series, not everything is resolved – but a great deal does happen, both in terms of plot and character.
If you enjoy romantasy, this is definitely a series for you. Or, if you are new to the genre, this is a good starting point.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and I love sharing that joy.
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, across all genres. There’s not much I won’t at least try. I’ve been an enthusiastic book reviewer for years. I particularly enjoy discovering writers new to me, and sharing good writing with others.
My career has included time spent writing and editing technical documents, but it’s fiction that really moves me. I’ve reviewed for a number of different outlets over the years, and have been a judge in literary competitions.
I’m now raising little bookworms of my own, which brings a whole new kind of joy to sharing books.
More of my reviews can be found on my review blog www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog .