Gathering of The Four by A. E. Bennett – Blog Tour

I am honoured today to be hosting a review for Gathering of The Four by A. E. Bennett in association with The Write Reads.

Synopsis

“In the Realm, every citizen knows their place.”

Leora of Mae is a young woman orphaned at birth and raised on a remote farm. As a wielder of Xanthcraft, her abilities set her apart from her adoptive family and the other villagers.

Shortly before her twentieth birthday, she learns of her family’s plot to sell her into servitude. Fearing for her life, she flees from the only home she’s ever known—defying societal conventions and breaking the edicts of the Realm.

As she runs, Leora meets Roland Shallowbrook, a traveler on the Thieves’ Road; Lady Aurora Verte, daughter of a powerful member of the gentry; and the White Rider Leopold, a soldier with a secret.

Together, this found family will have to band together to survive.

Set in the distant future during the return of the Hale-Bopp comet, Gathering of the Four is the first book in The Serrulata Saga.

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Dystopia

Length: 503 pages

Published: 2nd April 2021

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08ZJRXBGV

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59084839-gathering-of-the-four

My Thoughts

I love when I discover a book/author through a blog tour that I may not otherwise be drawn towards or that may be out of my comfort zone. Gathering of the Four was such a wonderful, surprising read and I am so glad that I signed up for the tour.

Xanthcraft is a type of magic where everyone who possess it presents in a different way by showing different abilities and powers. Leora possess Xanthcraft but was adopted into a family who do not, and therefore has always been an outsider in her village. To avoid being sold into servitude, she flees her home and meets an eclectic new ‘family’ on her travels.

I loved how contrasting and diverse the group was but how much they bonded and came together. I became quite attached to all of them at various point in the story.

The world building is amazing and despite being set in a very distant, dystopian future, it felt completely real. The little ‘quotes’ at the beginning of chapters really helped to develop a clear picture in my head of the world and to become totally immersed in it. It was fascinating looking at the world as we know it through futuristic eyes and this was a really interesting and unique perspective.

I enjoyed the first instalment of Leora’s adventure and discovery. There was always some danger, something to fight or run from and learning how to survive meant there was never a dull moment in the plot, despite it being a fairly long book (for me).

I am so glad that I joined this tour and I am excited to see where this series goes next.