I absolutely loved this book from start to finish... Lilly is a great character who i found was easy to relate and feel attached to. Storm is such a amazing character I was instantly super interested in her story and what she had/was going through throughout the story. The way this book relates to the state of the world in real life was eye opening and made the story feel really real. I loved the entire concept of this book. And I am so excited to start on the next one
I love the genre magical realism. I found this book quite by chance and I havent wanted to be parted from reading it.
The story is captivating, I was grabbed immediately and taken on a journey of magic, both lost and found, current global climate issues and wonderful characters who you fall in love with. Their own stories and connections joyful to follow.
I especially loved the tender and compassionate way the characters are with non human animals in the story. They too, as important and complex as all the human characters. This, I feel, is testament to the authors deep insight and compassion.
I loved this book, it made me cheer and also well up in emotion. Friendship and connection so powerful.
This would make a brilliant movie.
Thank you for such a wonderful story, I look forward to reading the sequel.
I've just devoured this first book in three days and loved every minute! The characters are so loveable and warm yet their message is scarily real. There's loads of drama and magical twists that keep you on your toes until the very last page. I'd absolutely recommend this to everyone!

Spoiler-free ✨️
When I first read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘌𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭, I shared a quick review with some of my thoughts, but after finishing the next two books and falling even more in love with E.L. Williams’ writing, I realised I hadn't done a proper review. So here it is. 📖
I was already intrigued by the premise lost magic, a secret library, a world on the edge of collapse, but what I didn’t expect was just how deeply I’d connect with these characters and the heart of the story. It’s the kind of book that quietly draws you in, layer by layer, until you realise you’ve been completely swept away.
The world E.L. Williams has created is rich and feels so real, full of mystical elements, but grounded in very human emotions. Beneath the magic, there’s a powerful sense of loss, survival, and hope. Lilly, a super empath nearing the end of her final human life, is ready to let go until she crosses paths with Storm, a once-powerful witch who’s lost her magic. From there, everything changes.
I adored watching their connection grow. Lilly, who felt she never truly belonged, begins to find a sense of home and family for the first time. And Storm… there’s just something about her. That quiet resilience, the vulnerability she rarely shows, and her fierce protectiveness She quickly found her way into my heart.
The story is full of emotion, tension, and the kind of magic that lingers in the background until it suddenly knocks the wind out of you. There’s a race to find the First Ethereal before dark forces get there first, and every chapter pulls you in a little deeper. E.L. Williams adores animals, and they’re woven in beautifully.
I absolutely devoured this book. It’s immersive, moving, and impossible to put down. Having now read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, I can say this series just keeps building in the best possible ways.
If you love found family, layered characters, and the kind of magic that wraps itself around your heart, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘌𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 belongs on your shelf. ✨️