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In this high fantasy novel, a young woman discovers that she plays an important role in the war between the forces of good and evil. Mabel, an orphan picking through the remains of her grandmother’s home, feels a mysterious pull from a magical tome. Mabel is surprised to be able to read the book’s strange language, and in doing so, triggers the start of a sweeping battle in an unseen world. Mabel becomes swept into the Unseen, a plane of existence outside of the Seen on Earth, and meets angelic and demonic creatures, each hoping that the world will turn to their side. Whether creation is destroyed or saved depends on whether Mabel’s home kingdom of Linden falls to the evil serpent Lavian or delivers itself to the almighty Jezul.
The text’s descriptions of Linden, the Unseen, and the Seen rival Tolkien’s Middle Earth for worldbuilding, though, at times, these scenes almost come across as history lessons. However, the battles, whether earthly or heavenly, are engaging and suspenseful. The near-biblical tone of many scenes lends the narrative an epic feel, giving more weight to the characters’ actions and adventures. Biblical references abound, which help raise the stakes to make the battle for Linden’s soul as important as the battle between heaven and hell.
The adventures in which Mabel finds herself also display moments of considerable character development, which are the most rewarding parts of the tale. Over the course of the novel, Mabel grows from a lost orphan to a powerful physical and spiritual warrior who builds a family around her. She recognizes her own failings, and with her newfound resolution and faith, she accepts and overcomes her struggles. These human moments help ground a sweeping, epic fantasy.