The Shattering of the Spirit-Sword Part I

Brackish #1

by Sam Farren

Princess Castelle is the last of her bloodline.

Kept safe by the spirits bound to the forest surrounding her, Castelle devotes herself to studying all a future Queen needs to know, waiting for the day she can wield Brackish. The spirit-sword is her birthright. Only those worthy of ruling the archipelago can temper Brackish’s ancient rage without succumbing to it.

After half a lifetime spent waiting to reclaim her mother’s throne, Castelle’s frustration gets the better of her. After yet another assassination attempt, her disenchantment with her exile forces her to act. Castelle wanders into the forest, crossing the lines that have kept her safe.

If you're looking for a character-driven, slow-burn lesbian romance set in a rich fantasy world, this might just be the novel for you.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, LGBT, Adult, Queer, High Fantasy, Royalty

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2019

About the author

Sam Farren started writing the way many young authors do: they really, really wanted to post some fanfiction. After dabbling in both transformative and original works for many years, they developed a passion for representing queer women of all sorts in fantasy worlds. Their debut novel, Dragonoak: The Complete History of Kastelir, is the first instalment in a fully-written trilogy, spanning both years and continents.
Born and raised in the south-east of England, Sam currently resides in Oxford, with a charming pile of royal pythons, Tofu, Twix and Toffee. They are currently living the much coveted life of a poor student, and deeply appreciates any and all support via her published works.

Reviews

[Jos]

DNF 45%

The synopsis sounded incredibly intriguing but at 45% of the way in there has been some bits of action but lots of talking and educating a person who has received an alternate perspective of history. I just do not have it in me to read about Castelle undoing all of her misinformation via talking. Every time Castelle regresses in her personal thoughts for a couple paragraphs I just want to sigh.

It wasn't for me but it might still be for you. I suspect the character growth for Castelle throughout the series will be quite significant, but the pacing of this growth was just a little too slow for me. Certainly give it a try if you like queer fantasy and want queer villians alongside queer protagonists.

[Cld5367 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to love this story.

I think there are a few key things that really bothered me throughout the novel.
- Queer representation =/= a world where literally almost everyone and their mothers/fathers are gay or trans (I’m queer and bought this book because I wanted a book with queer characters...but the romantic relationships really just fall flat/are of little consequence and are blatantly pointed out over and over without having much of a point or impact) There is more to queer representation than simply having characters who identify as queer.
- Lack of variety in setting. Everything looks the same, every city is the same, nothing is described in detail.
- Inclusion of modern concepts (doing coke, cat-sitting, etc.) feel out of place in a fantasy world. Tanen’s character in particular feels out of place and jarring.
- Overall, slow pacing. I think a lot of the book is fluff that could be cut in favor of fleshing out more impactful sections in greater detail.

But there were also bright parts that kept me reading.
- Svir’s character is possibly the most interesting in the entire book. She really jumps off the page where many other characters fall flat.
- I liked that as Castelle discovers the world and uncovers the lies told to her, we discover it with her. We’re left with just as many questions as she is, and that is very well done.

I’m still not sure if it’s enough to get me to pick up the sequel.

[Ayesha · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I'm sorry, I just couldn't get past the writing on this one. I felt like the author expected us to feel the emotions that the MC was feeling without having given us much reason to evoke that emotion. We were TOLD that things were shocking, that this journey and knowledge was difficult for the princess, but it just fell flat. Instead, I was constantly frustrated with the MC's tantrums. I wanted to like this book. I really did.

[XR · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the heck does Part II come out?!???

[Flowerscat · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Things I loved about the book:**
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❣ Loved the diversity of the cast and how easily queer representation was woven into the story (the other book that does this as seamlessly is Lucky 7)
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❣The mystery/story and the world-building is interesting, and kept me going when I didn’t immediately fall in love with the characters
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❣There are some really interesting secondary characters, who I hope will make an appearance in future books
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❣The pace of the book is slow, but that gives time for character development
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❣The covers, especially book 2 - so beautifully rendered!
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**Things I did not love so much (some of it down to personal preference): **

⧱Part I ends in a cliffhanger - just, why?

⧱ Kidnapper/kidnapee falling for each other is not a theme I particularly enjoy, even though this was a slow-burn romance - I can never quite get myself to believe in the authenticity of such relationships.

⧱ It took me a while to warm up to Castelle. At the start, she really comes across as someone who is used to being told what to do, instead of thinking things through for herself. Her character however, does develop a backbone as the story progresses.

⧱The ending was a bit flat, not what I expected after investing in the story for two books.
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[Martina Weiß · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars
I don't even know where to start, but ... I loved it and I'm so happy I read it.

I remember picking this up, because of two reasons. The first one being, that I was promised slow burn romance and the other being that the cover looked just stunning.
Well, let's just say, I got what I wanted and more.

I can't tell you much about the story, because we'd dive head deep into spoiler territory, but boy, let me tell you: It's great. This IS a more character driven story, but that doesn't mean I was't confronted with heart pounding plot twists, turns and exitement. I wasn't even 30% in, before the story went places. I remember writing my best friend, screaming about what the book was doing to me.

The worldbuilding is interesting, and - for once - not your typical 0815 copy paste setting. Which was refreshing. The magic system was simpel, but effective and the charactes.
Oh boy the characters. They were and are the heart of the story.
I LOVED them. I loved all of them. I don't think there is a single character I hated, because the author manages to humanize every one. Yes, some of them did oh so terrible things, but that doesn't take away the happy memorys, the kindness they could show, the warmness they too were capable off. Nothing is just black and white. Humans are complicated and everything has - to quote Shrek - layers. That's why it's really hard to point fingers. For a long time, you were free to decide who's side you were on, because both had valid points. Because in a way, neither truth was ultimate, and every truth was incomplete.

I don't want to spoil the relationship aspect, but can I just say, I love Eos. She is such a great character. All of them are. Like I said, they make the story worth reading. And they are the reason, why I already started book 2.
Also on the slow burn front, expect this: Realism. It really is a slow burn and it made me feel like I was REALLY experiencing a start of a connection, that was more than simpel attraction. If you asked me, If I believed that the two really cared for each other? If you asked me if I really believed that they loved each other? I would say: Yes. Without. A. Doubt.

Oh, and if you came for the Diversity, then, yes. Just yes ;)


In conclusion: An amazing book.

[Antanas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shattering of the Spirit Sword Brackish by Sam Farren is an epic fantasy novel about how other people might not always tell the truth. Farren’s book is set in the fictional continent of Fenroe where spirits exist, and a tyrannical family rules the past. This book shows how just believing what others tell you is not a good way to get information. Farren’s novel illustrates how someone’s convincing lies for their own benefit could affect your entire life. I think that The Shattering of the Spirit Sword Brackish succeeds in getting its main point across with characters and conflicts that are relatable, despite the fantasy setting.
The Shattering of the Spirit Sword Brackish is centered around Castelle Greyser, the last of the Greyser bloodline in the continent of Fenroe, which is a dangerous position to be in. Her predecessors were more interested in their gain than their peoples, and their subjects rose in rebellion and killed all of the royal family except Castelle and her cousin Layla, who’s from her father’s side of the family and is not of Greyser blood. All Castelle is left with is Laister temple, a handful of nobles and servants who were hired anew or escaped the destruction of the rebellion, Father Ira and his husband, Father Damir, her stand-in parents after her own were killed, a life built on lies, and her family’s heirloom, Brackish, a sword that Ava Greyser supposedly trapped a spirit that was haunting the archipelago.
The story starts when a new guard at the temple kidnaps Castelle and drags her out of the temple. Castelle fights against the guard for a time, until they get to a city. Determined to escape, Castelle runs to the nearest person the first chance she gets, and when she tries to say who she is, she is told about how the people of the continent of Fenroe saw her family and starts to realize how much she was lied to. Eos, the guard, and Castelle travel for a time more, but as they are crossing through a forest, Castelle’s leg gets caught in a bear trap and they are waylaid for months as she heals, and it is revealed that Castelle’s cousin Layla is the one that sent for her. After Castelle’s leg heals and they are traveling again, they get attacked by one of Eos’s old friends, Svir. Svir knocks out Eos and kidnaps Castelle before dragging her away to be sold to the highest bidder. On the way, Svir gets shot with an arrow and Castelle helps her get to her home. There, Castelle convinces Svir with a little help from Svir’s wife, Niamh, and friend, Tanen, Eos, and a necklace Eos stole from Laister temple, that she should be freed. From there, Eos and Castelle start traveling again, but instead of heading to Layla, they are convinced by the spirit within Brackish to go to Torshval to get answers about who Brackish was. Once they get there, Brackish leads them to a place where there are lots of spirits, and the spirits help Brackish replay a scene from the past, where Brackish and Ava Greyser, the first Greyser in Fenronian history, are arguing about imposing rules on Fenroe, but Brackish has no form in this memory, and her name is blotted out. Brackish then asserts that she wants to go to Yarrin. When they get to the new spot, a different memory plays out, this time with Ava and Brackish arguing over what should be done about the death of their friend. Brackish wants to let the native people on the island take care of it, which infuriates Ava. Behind Brackish’s back, Ava pulls out a sword and says “I’m so sorry Ava. I’ve only ever tried to help you.” before stabbing her in the back. Except, the sword goes through the memory of Brackish, who appears to be the real Ava Greyser, and through Eos. Luckily, it isn’t fatal, and Castelle helps Eos hobble the rest of the way to Layla’s temple, where the book ends.
While Farren’s book takes place in a fictional world with fantasy assets, such as spirits, they do a great job at giving realistic conflicts. For example, Ava Greyser supposedly led them to Fenroe from Nor, a country with a strict government, but the newcomers are trying to impose their way of life on the people who are already there. This reminds me of people coming to America from England to escape the British empire and mistreating those that were in their new land. In most fantasy books, the conflicts aren’t really things that readers can relate to, such as dragon’s kidnapping princesses, vampires making people disappear in the dead of night, or people with mysterious magic powers sweeping in and cursing someone, or blessing them, or using their magic to somehow create magical conflict. It is harder to find books that have elements of fantasy that aren’t centered around that fantasy.
A drawback to The Shattering of the Spirit Sword Brackish is that there isn’t much imagery. There is a general sense of the surroundings, but without the details, it is harder to picture what is happening. There is very little use of other senses as well. Most of the imagery is basic, such as using the word “dull” to describe the smell of a soup. While the writing is good, there just isn’t much description that appeals to the senses.
The plot of Farren’s book is very interesting, with quite the plot twist at the end! The plot had the advantage of being simple to keep track of, but it wasn’t boring either. It had enough twists, such as the bear trap and finding out that Castelle’s thought-to-be-dead cousin Layla was still alive and wanted to see Castelle, to keep the reader on their toes, and the climax was extremely unpredictable. For the climax, one might have expected that some bounty hunter or mob of anti-royalists would have attacked them, or even them getting to the temple where Layla is, but getting stabbed by Brackish’s memory was not expected! Also, who would have guessed that the spirit within Brackish was actually the real Ava Greyser? The simplicity of the plot and not having too many things going on at once also kept it so that if you were to set down the book for a little while, one could just pick up where they left off.
Another thing that is enthralling about this book is the characters. In the dedication, Farren wrote “For many people, especially those who rarely see themselves reflected in fiction…” which I interpret to mean that they meant for their characters to be relatable and easy to see yourself in at least one aspect of one of the characters. Castelle is so well-meaning, yet she has been led astray by her “Fathers” and doesn’t want to believe the truth. Her view of the rebels is shaped by the day when they broke into her family’s dining room and slaughtered her family, forcing her mother to watch as they tortured her five-year-old son, and Castelle was forced to hide behind the cabinet to survive. Some may find that Eos is more relateable, quietly watching and listening, wandering where her heart takes her, yet despite the unassuming personality, has a dark past and is in exile from her home continent. She is scorned because she is a Yrincian, and because of the scars coating her face, yet she seems content to a life where her only friends are the ones who can look past her exterior and accept her past. Then there is Svir, the kind hearted soul who does her best to be heartless, bounty hunting to support her home for misfits, or Tanen, the kid who ran in all the wrong circles until Eos came and pulled them out of a bad job and gave them some security, or Niamh, the secret bastard daughter of a noble from the past, and one of the few survivors who knows what it’s like to be on the wrong side of the rebellion. There are so many interesting characters with deep histories that it would be impossible to not stumble across one that interests you or you find relatable.
The Shattering of the Spirit Sword Brackish is a fascinating book that brushes across realistic conflicts, interesting characters and plot, and a frustrating lack of detailed description. It starts with the life of a princess led by lies, and ends with a kind person helping her friend get the treatment she needs after a spirit’s identity is returned to her. All in all, this was a good book with only a few drawbacks.

[Dr. T · Rating 4 out of 5]

It got better and better as I read it. Such an interesting story with lots of exciting new plots unfolding throughout. The story could have easily been set before the rebellion/overthrough of the monarchy, but instead we get to read the aftermath. Following Castelles discovery of a world that's been kept from her and how she needs to deal with the lies from her family was really original.
Points for a diverse world, I really appreciate having lgbt and minority characters so easily weaved into a story - shows how easy it is!
The spirit world was really kept to a minimum though and I would have liked to understand more about them. I also thought Eos and Castelles friendship lacked depth, Eos is a mystery but almost too much so. Im excited to get to know her better in part 2.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating. Very few fantasy novels that start with a princess in exile go on to dismantle the entire conceit of princesses, monarchies, and destiny, but this one does. It’s a heartwarming picaresque set against a history of personal violence and loss. Ultimately it’s a love story about healing - people, communities, spirits.

I’m reading this in 2020, at a time where I badly need stories about empathy and compassion. This novel - parts 1 and 2 - delivers beautifully, without sugarcoating the traumas experienced by dispossessed and colonized peoples.

I should note that this is an LGBTQ story with queer relationships and characters - and it’s also completely devoid of sexual violence and homophobia. Again, a good read for 2020 (and beyond).

[polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good fantasy stories build a world which slowly reveal its layers as the story and characters unfold. Sam Farren does a superb job of building Fenroe, the kingdom in which the story occurs. The world is described through the eyes of the Princess who has been sheltered and isolated for fourteen years by her two pseudo-fathers. The story is about the growing friendship and trust between the two main characters -- Castelle (the princess) and Eos (her kidnapper) as they travel and uncover the mystery of the sword. Know that the story ends in a cliffhanger. Wait until part 2 is released (which should be soon) if you have no patience for unsolved mysteries, loose ends and drama.

[Renee Is A Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I would dislike it. But I didnt. I end up liking the story for a
all the reasons I thought that I would dislike it. My reasons for liking it was because 1) skin color didn't matter. It was not ignored but skin color did not equate to socioeconomic status. 2) it was LGBTQ friendly. 3) not set in medieval Britain, France, or Italy like so many other fantasy novels. 4) The characters were multi dimensional.

[Kiley]

So I am not going to rate this because I did not finish it. I got 54% through and could not push myself to read any more. Quite frankly, I was bored and didn't look forward to picking it up. I'm ok with slow paced books, but this was just too slow for me. I found myself skipping paragraphs of world building bc I did not care. Even the dialogue felt tedious at times. Just wasn't for me. You win some, you lose some!

[Aki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book- Sam has a true talent for making characters loveable! The highlight of Brackish is most definitely the many wonderful characters and their unique quirks that make them relatable even within a fantasy setting. And the LGBT+ representation? Wow- no one does it better! It is so refreshing to be emersed in a world written specifically for the LGBT+ community to feel at home.

I can't help but compare Brackish to the Dragonoak series (which I adored) and when the two are placed side-by-side, the world of Brackish does feel a bit flat and repetitive compared to the vast world and numerous intriguing locations we explored in Dragonoak. There is also a lot less magick and fewer fantasy elements, which comes as a slight personal disappointment after how much I loved Dragonoak.

Definitely worth a read- the characters are sure to steal your heart! Looking forward to getting my hands on part two.

[Joharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Que cover tan hermoso! Seguimos la historia de una princesa reclusa que está harta de esperar y decide retomar su trono... Solo para darse cuenta que ha estado viviendo una mentira creada por sus 2 papás. Es una historia de crecimiento personal y de como ella está tratando de acostumbrarse a éste mundo que siguió girando sin ella. También tiene una romance pero es bien slow burn y ya quiero leer la segunda vez para ver como se van enamorando!

Mis problemas son con el hecho de que la historia fue... Relativamente sencilla, sentí que su viaje fue bastante sencillo y sin tantos obstáculos. También con el hecho de que nunca conecté con los personajes, aún así me agradaron tho!

Lo recomiendo y ya quiero leer la segunda parte


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[Elo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, I'm a simple worm. I see Sam Farren, I squeal excitedly and read immediately. I just saw the sequel was out, so picked up this one, and its SO GOOD. IT'S. SO. GOOD. Like, as usual!! The only problem is the major cliffhanger, so make sure you pick up book 2 at the same time.
Complex characters with complex relationships, rich inner lives, fascinating and amazing world building, character growth, good wholesome stuff but also fun law ducking! Wahhhh I just. I just love Sam Farren. And I can't wait to pick up the sequel in a few days and devour that too.

[Sabriel Mastin]

DNF. When others mentioned that this is a slow burn, they meant it.

I was able to make it to just over half complete and I'm bored, which is sad because I do like the two MCs. It's so slow that just now, when something finally interesting happened, I just don't care.

Much of the first half of the book is the princess asking her kidnapper a question, and the kidnapper just shrugging or giving non-answers or half-answers -- over and over and over again. GIVE ME SOMETHING, ANYTHING, PLEASE.

Premise cool, characters are neat, story feels stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far and away one of my favorite novels of all time. A masterful deconstruction of classic fantasy tropes regarding monarchy, through the lens of Revolutionary politics. Incredibly sweet. Painfully raw. Unapologetically queer. This book feels like it was written for me personally. I can't recommend this one enough! My only criticism is that it has ruined all "royalty in exile" stories for me forever, but frankly, it was MORE than a fair exchange!

[platyrhyco · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars +

This is very slow to go and focuses more on character relationships.
The stakes in the plot are not yet too high but that seems to be saved for the following book.

I personally like that the stakes were so "low" because then we could focus on the characters.

Very interesting premise - I liked it a lot.

[Vervada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I expected, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Castelle's journey both physically and psychologically was so good that the slower pace of the story didn't bother me at all. Eos was such a mysterious character; I couldn't wait to learn more about her. And that ending! It's a good thing I already have the second book and I don't have to wait impatiently for it.

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ride

This was quite the ride. I got through it in a single sitting. I loved the chemistry and snarkiness between the two mains, plus there was a lot of action and tension. I didn't feel like this slowed down at all. It did end pretty much on a cliff hanger, so now I have to run off and get part two.

[Clarke Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine

I actually really liked the writing style and the characters. But the story was surprisingly dull. I can't say I much care to go on to part 2.

[Julia Bicca Goulart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fucking amazing, the universe building is incredible, as it was said the romance is very slow burn but it's so worth it can't wait to read part two

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. I don't think I'll read part II.

[wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

beeg sword go whooooosh

[Grace]

DNF @ 49%

[AlrightOkay]

3.75/5

[Stateria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing I have to say about this book is just WOW. I loved it, the story is amazing and it is so interesting how the author touches base on the main character's mental states. I bought the second book and will binge read it.

[Jovi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Loved the writing. Loved the story. I'm very much looking forward to part two. If you like fantasy, this is the book for you.