Lichgates

Book One of the Grimoire Saga

By: S.M. Boyce

Narrated by: Kara Kovacich Stewart

When Kara Magari uncovers a secret door in the middle of the forest, she discovers (and trips through) a portal to a hidden world full of terrifying things: Ourea. She just wants to go home, but the natives have other plans for her. She clashes with immortal shapeshifters, is carried off by a dragon, nearly dies on several occasions, and somehow becomes the master of an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire. Every time she thinks she's safe, her new "friends" show their true colors.

Kara needs an ally, or she might not survive Ourea's monsters. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn't know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.

For 12 years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this stranded girl, there's something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

©2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Sarah Michelle Montee (P)2015 Sarah Michelle Montee

Great start to the series!

I decided to buy this first book again and do a re-read before listening to the second book. I did still think that the pacing in some parts of this book were a little slow, but overall I loved it, and I thought that Kara Kovacich Stewart did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life.

Here's my original review (from my first reading of the book - I think all of this still holds true upon a second "read"):

When Kara finds and opens a mysterious book, she doesn't realize that she has just become the Vagabond - fated to bring peace to the strange land of Ourea (or die trying). She suddenly finds herself thrown into a war between Ourean races that has been brewing for centuries - and not everyone wants her to live long enough to bring peace. Many of those who do, see her as a pawn who is to be used in their game of politics and revenge. Ourea is a frightening place and Kara would not be able to survive on her own. Luckily, she has Braeden to help her. But Braeden has his own reasons for wanting to protect Kara - he needs the Grimoire to escape his ties to the savage race that he is Heir to and to escape the father who has embraced that savagery.

The negatives:

Slightly slow start.
While there was plenty of action, even at the beginning of the book, for some reason it took me a little while to engage completely with the story. Ironically, I think that this may have been because of Boyce's rich story-telling style (which is actually a positive listed below). While her lush descriptions paint vivid pictures of the world she has created, it sometimes made the book feel just a little bit slow, especially at the beginning. Once I really got into some of the mysteries of Ourea, though, I was definitely engrossed.

What I Loved:
Unique characters and creatures.
Ourea is filled with a tremendous array of interesting characters and creatures. Each race of the people of Ourea (called the yakona) is very different and unique - the frightening gray-skinned, smoke-producing Stelian; the web-footed, blue skinned Lossians; the winged, silver-skinned, beautiful Ayavelians; and the human-looking Hillsidians. Then there are the soul-stealing isen and the shape-shifting Muses, along with creatures like gryphons, giant two-headed wolves... I could go on and on. Ourea is an amazingly unique fantasy world!

Vivid Descriptions.
Boyce describes her characters and landscapes in vivid detail. Sights, smells, textures - they're all described. As you read, you can really imagine yourself in Ourea!
Witty dialogue. I loved the witty banter, especially between Kara and Braeden. Several lines made me laugh out loud. Here's a favorite passage that's both witty and insightful and gives you an idea of Kara's personality:
"Look, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Dangerous, I'm already in as deep as a stranger can go. I've met royalty--sorry, Bloods--and I was chased by an army. I saw dragons. There's a vicious isen thing trying to kill me. My dad--" She stopped short, her breath hitching.
"Basically, you don't scare me," she went on. "You've got a troubled past, well so do I. Most people do. We do things we're not proud of, things we wish we could take back, but what's done is done and all you can do is try to redeem yourself in the present. So, cut the crap. I'm just trying to help you out."

Kara.
Kara is a great, strong female character who doesn't let anyone tell her what to do or how to feel. Even though she has been thrown into an impossible situation that she knows almost nothing about, she doesn't panic (well, not much). That doesn't mean she's not terrified - she is! Kara has some pretty significant issues haunting her from her past that she has to work through throughout the book, but that just makes her all the more interesting!

Braeden.
Braeden is an intriguing and complex leading man. He has spent his life fighting against his Stelian nature, trying to find a way to escape the blood ties that control him. Braeden originally wants to use Kara for her power over the Grimoire, but he eventually realizes that his feelings for her are stronger than his desire to protect his own interests. The problem is that he doesn't know that he will ever be able to control his darker side - and this side of him just might put Kara in even greater danger! I ached for Braeden and I so hope he finds his way to redemption. Meanwhile, I'm just enjoying his journey! The romance between Kara and Braeden is slow to develop - there's no insta-love here - which makes it much more layered and realistic.

I highly recommend Lichgates to fantasy lovers. This book is highly imaginative and full of magic and excitement! I'm now kicking myself for not requesting to review all three books in the series, since I'm dying to know what happens to Kara and Braeden next! 4.5/5 stars.

Simply excellent

Amazing fantasy world! My first read by a new (to me) author, it won't be my last read by this author.
Well written with well-developed characters, Boyce takes the time to develop her fantasy world in a manner that makes you want to read the next book. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

I have had this for sometime

Something about this cover just never drew me in. How wrong was I? The narrator did an excellent job! I can't wait to read/ listen to the rest of this series!!! A great read on a Grimoire!

Wow wow wow!

I received this copy free in exchange for an honest review. Here it is. What an amazing story! Not only does this book captivate you, but the narration is absolutely mesmerizing! Every character and sceneries in the book are brought to life in the most beautifully descriptive way. The narration was like watching the story and all the characters step out of the book! Each one true to their personality. Loved it! Must read/listen.

A great fantasy

I loved this book. There was a good mix of possible romance and fantasy action. When Kara stumbled into the Lichgate her whole world forever changed. Wanting to just be able to go home in the beginning but as the danger escalates she realizes she is needed there to unite Ourea. She also realizes she is in love with Braeden an Ourean. She doesn't want to leave him. I can't wait to continue her adventures.

A great beginning

I won a signed copy during a Facebook event but because I didn't want to ruin it I bought an ecopy and upgraded it to audio. My experience is based on the audio.

First I have to say that I was super excited to win a signed copy. There has been buzz around the internet about this series and I was thrilled to give it a go. I was listening to it at work and in the beginning things got a little confusing. I had to restart and go through the beginning and decided that I needed to listen to it at home. Once I got home and could completely concentrate it was a really good story. The narrator did a fantastic job and brought much emotion to the words. The writing was smooth and strong. I enjoyed the characters and the world building. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Immersive world & characters you really care for!

Would you listen to Lichgates again? Why?

Absolutely. As the journey into Ourea begins, all the tension - both fearsome & promising - builds deliciously. The sense that you're only glimpsing the first layers of this complex new set of interconnected peoples leaves little doubt that you'll find something you missed on your next read- or listen-through.

What other book might you compare Lichgates to and why?

That's tough, but perhaps a bit of The Wheel of Time. An exceptionally unique power is placed within a noble heart, someone that must learn what it can do, what it is for, who is enemy & who is friend...splendiferously :)

Have you listened to any of Kara Kovacich Stewart’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I had not heard this reader perform an audiobook before. She has a gentle quality to her voice which is pleasant to listen to without detracting from scenes of high action & adventure.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were times that were definitely poignant & funny! I did find my eyes misty on a couple of occasions, smiling for certain, rooting on my choices of romantic pairing/s (no spoilers!), & maybe even chuckling out loud.

Any additional comments?

I've read many works by S.M. Boyce & have found myself following each series with great anticipation of the next book to come. In fact, I've already got the Grimoire Series #2 Treason & #3 Heritage; #4 Illusion will be soon to follow their ranks into my audiobook library!

Saga of the kingdoms

Very good book set in another world. A young woman embarks upon an adventure filled with secrets and magic that she had never experienced before.

Review: Lichgates, by S.M. Boyce

Lichgates is the first book in The Grimoire Saga. In this first book the author, S.M. Boyce, throws Kara (the main character) and the reader into an entirely new work called Ourea. To get to this world, Lichgates are necessary. They are portals linking our world to the dangerous, yet beautiful, kingdoms of Ourea. They are scattered all over both worlds and it is through one of them in the Rocky Mountains that Kara stumbles.

Upon falling into an underground library, Kara finds waiting for her an old red leather book. The book is very magical. On it is a necklace with a pendant that looks like four crescent moons configured in the shape of a four-leaf clover. This book is so magical that there are blank pages throughout, but when asked the right questions the pages flip to sections and words appear with an answer.

This book is one of Kara’s only defenses against what lies in wait for her in Ourea. Upon opening the book, she has become the center of every kingdom’s focus; she is the Vagabond. Her purpose in this strange world is to reunite the four kingdoms in peace, fulfilling the goal of the first Vagabond who died a thousand years before.

This concept really caught me from the beginning. Like I said I was hooked from reading the first chapter alone. It takes a lot to do that with most books. Part of what kept me reading was the fact that this book doesn’t wait to get the reader into the action. There is no lead in chapters, no foreshadowing, no mercy. Kara is hiking one minute and in Ourea fighting for her life the next. Every time throughout the book it seems that there will be some time to relax (for the characters and readers alike) something happens. It’s almost impossible to put this book down. Lucky for me I was able to force the book down, which allowed me to savor every experience it held; there are many.

I loved many elements of this book. First off, the setting made me want to visit Ourea. I know this is impossible (not only because it’s not a real place) because if I went there, I’d most likely die (more on that soon.) Ourea is like the worlds of most fantastical stories. It has its beautiful landscapes, luxurious castles, and even a dreary kingdom no one wants to acknowledge. Its landscapes include forests, a kingdom nestled on top of a vertigo inducing multi mile high cliff, and even a kingdom found in a magical dome on the bottom of an ocean guarded by sharks. And it’s not just the places themselves that I fell in love with, it’s the way Boyce’s words describe them. I can’t do it justice in my own words, you’ll have to take my word for it or read the book. Her words paint a picture of every aspect allowing the reader to soak in the images.

The setting wasn’t the only exciting part of the book. There are also the various creatures of the land. To mention a few there are griffins, dragons, something Kara says is similar to a squirrel, and one of my favorites a flaer named Rowthe. I liked him a lot because he’s a huge dog like creature. Of course he has a unique ability, but I’m going to let you find that one out, it’s just really cool.

The characters Kara encounters are very hard to figure out. This helps the story be what it is more than anything else. The Grimoire from the beginning warns Kara that she can’t trust anyone in Ourea. A lot of the times it seems like the characters can be figured out and trusted, but then there’s either a subtle or drastic hint to the contrary. As a reader I was always jumping to conclusions about a character only to change my opinion soon after. I’m still waiting for a character to make a turn for the worse, but we’ll see if that happens.

Kara’s journey takes the reader all over Ourea and she meets a variety of good and evil. She even has encounters with the evil King, Blood Carden. He is the father of Kara’s companion Braeden. I guess I should have mentioned him by now. Carden is the ruler of the Stele, the banished kingdom who reeks havoc on Ourea even through a banishment. Braeden, his son, escaped from his father’s kingdom twelve years earlier and has been hiding elsewhere ever since. But the ever present question in my mind was whether or not he was one to be trusted. When would the evil in his blood consume him, if at all? For most of the book I kept liking and trusting him, but wanted to keep an eye on him for Kara’s sake (not that I could have helped here, that’s just silly she’s in a book.) There is also a growing connection between Kara and the mysterious Braeden which leads to some complications in the relationship of him as protector and one of her few friends.

To wrap this up, Lichgates is on my top five favorite books I have read in recent years. I loved the story, I loved the setting, I loved everything about this book.

Wonderful voice acting! Engaging story!

I completely enjoyed listening to Lichgates. The story was original and engaging with plenty of action to boot. I am looking forward very much to the sequels. The voice acting by Kara Kovacich Stewart was terrific. Her ability to do other characters voices is some of the best I have heard, and I listen to a lot of audiobooks. Well done author and narrator!! Kudos!!