Back of Book: 

In a time of political unrest and war looming on the horizon, there’s a surge in trauma, pain, and suffering across the country of Sweazn. Eira Karlson and her friends are weighed down on the front lines, working endlessly in therapeutic and investigative roles. They’re all nearly pushed to their limits and some of them, such as Athena Lilar and Tryg Thompson, are the very reason Eira’s staying afloat.

Sweazn is not the only place facing a difficult age. In a world separated from Earth by a thin veil of time and space, a surging plague of darkness is spreading at an alarming pace. Prince Nyx would know better than most about the consequences of catching the all-consuming agony and banishment outside the capital of Rioa.

Through a series of twists and turns and recurring dreams of lost memories, Eira finds herself thrown into the magical realm of souls, Majikaero. New souls, both friends and foe, merge with some of her closest friends as they travel into the unknown. And some of these new friends turn her world upside down– especially Prince Nyx with his heated, crackling eyes and smoky shadows.

She’s told she’s been to Majikaero before and her soul shined bright with healing powers. Yet when she’s faced with the mystery of her origin, coupled with damaged friends and a plague of darkness threatening to destroy the realm, can she find the strength and magic to protect herself and her friends?

Eira must face her greatest inner battles to survive and find the one thing that can save the light within.

Book Number: One

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟

A complicated epic fantasy that delves deep into traumatic experiences by exploring multiple dimensions and past lives. 

Eira and her therapist friends are weighed down by all the political unrest in the country of Sweazn. Due to the many conflicts, Eira finds herself constantly working with patients whose lives have been destroyed. Through a veil and into a parallel universe, the souls in Majikaero face their own turmoil. A dark plague is spreading among the people there and now people’s very souls are being overtaken by demonic beasts. Prince Nyx is trying his hardest to support his people, but it’s difficult when the darkness consumes his essence and his Queen of Light is nowhere to be found. When Eira is brought to Majikaero and she learns that she was once Nyx’s beloved Queen of Light and may be the key to saving everyone, Eira must face her past trauma and embrace the light. 

I was lucky enough to have the chance to ALC read this one, which I very much appreciated due to its length. Carliann Jean is another author who will be attending Midwest Bookish Fest in 2027, so I’m happy to be checking another book off my list. Thank you so much to the author, Carliann Jean, and the narrator, Sara Brodt, for giving me the chance to read this one early. 

This book ended up having a ton going for it, but for me, it took too long for the interesting stuff to actually start happening. By the time Eira finally makes it to Majikaero, I found that I had already zoned out important details, which made this story incredibly confusing to try to follow. There are so many characters to keep track of and a ton going on in all the different realms at all times; it was just too hard for me to figure out what was pivotal to the plot. This really seems like a me problem (maybe I’m just too stupid to listen to an epic fantasy this complex on audio), because many people ate this one up with absolutely no problems. 

Despite being confused, I still thought it was super sweet how close Eira was to her friends. Again, I have a hard time keeping characters straight, but her relationships with Athena and Diya(?) really stood out to me. These girls are going through some tough times, and I thought it was so sweet that they support each other unconditionally. Also, the way that Eira cares for her cat is also super wholesome. It was lucky that her cat was able to travel through dimensions with Eira, otherwise I fear she would have missed her terribly. 

I honestly had a much harder time following Nyx’s narrative. His time in Majikaero is filled with a ton of confusing lore dropping, which had me often zoning out during his perspectives. I do appreciate how he fights for his friends and people, even if he is a bit harsh. I did find his relationship with Eira to be a tad creepy, even if they’ve been soulmates throughout previous lives. 

The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but I don’t feel very obligated to pick up the next installment regardless. Eira seems like an amazing character who is going through so much with all the trauma she’s lived through in all her lives as well as her chronic illness. Unfortunately, a cool FMC I don’t think will be enough to convince me to continue a series that is this long.

Overall, I think that “The Light Within” is an interesting series starter that just wasn’t really for me. I found myself confused by the worldbuilding, the numerous characters, and the constantly rotating PoVs. I do think the story and the universe it is set in has a ton of potential; I just don’t think the pacing was fast enough to keep me interested. I may see what else is in Jean’s catalog, because she is a good writer despite me not loving many things about this book. 

Audiobook Note: Sarah Brodt is the narrator of this. I have listened to Brodt’s work in the past, and I was elated to come across it again. Brodt’s accents are so pretty and soothing that it’s no surprise I love listening to her work. She also does such a good sultry voice for her MMCs. It is always such a joy to listen to her work, so I hope I have the chance to do so many more times in my life.

Back of Book: 

We’re all just monsters wearing different skins.

Devastated by the monstrous attacks in Rioa, Eira, Nyx, and their soul-bonded friends scramble to heal the newly traumatized souls and discover the source of the attacks. The plague of darkness has unleashed new horrors on Majikaero, and the only way the shattered group of souls will find the answers they seek is if they can shine light on their darkest secrets and remove the masks they hide behind.

Meanwhile, on Earth, the last of Eira’s dearest friends fight for their lives as they navigate a post-apocalyptic nightmare. The remaining people of Earth have sheltered underground and formed new societies—some more corrupt and evil than others. After two years of horrific abuse in an underground cult, Astira and Liv escape and reunite with Jace. But the years of trauma have altered the very essence of these friends, and not all is as it seems in their new underground haven. Plagued by strange dreams and skeptical of the leadership in their city, Astira and Liv struggle to begin their healing journeys.

Buried Beneath the Light is book two in the Soul Bound Realms series, a thrilling fantasy romance that begs the question: how much healing can one soul sacrifice before they’re buried beneath the light?

Book Number: Two

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

You can’t burn away a goddess who breathes fire.

Trapped in the dark fortress of Dragyera, Eira is isolated from her soulmates and battling her raging darkness. While she and Daru work with Nyx’s aunt to uncover the truth of Eira’s past, Nyx is imprisoned in the dungeons, tortured and used as bait to lure the Queen of Light into the shadows.

Meanwhile, Hadwin, Ulf, Astira, Liv, Athena, Hauke, and Odin escape to Sayfters, taking refuge with a group of powerful healers. They craft a plan to uncover the true intentions of the Council and their involvement with the Sairn and their ruler in Cudhellen.

But Athena’s spirit is still lost and wandering after succumbing to her darkest thoughts, and Hadwin refuses to leave her side while she lies unconscious and vulnerable. Astira and Liv are still acclimating to their dizzying new reality. Between broody, alluring males, lingering trauma, and unstable new maji, they are only sure of this: They weren’t the last of their friends to escape the Tunnels, and they won’t rest until Lyk and Ruse have been freed, and they’ve reunited with Eira.

In hell on Earth, Lyk knows that if she wants to escape the Tunnels with Ruse and find her twin, she must trust her inner voices and cling to the darkness that gives her strength.

Each lifetime brings Eira and her soul bonds closer to the truth, but what happens when the truth is the path to destruction itself? Will Eira’s soulmates find her before she loses herself entirely to her darkness, or are they fated to repeat history?

Book Number: Three

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: ?