​On the Island of Kar Atish the lower class must carve out a living for themselves either mining for a substance called zargunine that the upper class, the Landers will pay them for or they can fight against wild creatures from the deep in the pits.  After the death of her parents, Krescent Dune chose to fight in the pits in order to raise money to get off the island faster.  Kress is paying the price for a mistake that her parents made years ago.  Kress has quickly risen as a top fighter in the pits making her a target for her boss.  She receives an offer too good to refuse, protection for a rescue mission in the mines that will pay enough for Kress to get off the island.  However, the mission quickly becomes more than anyone could have thought, Kress' best friend Rivan shows up and becomes poisoned by an unknown beast, the mines reveal a secret history of the island and new and dangerous creatures keep appearing as the mines meet the ocean. 

Somewhere in the Deep is an exciting Young Adult fantasy thriller.  This book is set in the same world as Monsters Born and Made, but you do not need to read the books in any order.  I was brought into the story immediately as Kress fought in the pits under the name Dark Dancer.  Kress is wizened and hardened for her age, but wants desperately to live a simpler life.  Through Kress' eyes the writing brought the island to life. Kar Atish is a harsh landscape that has been colonized and created two distinct classes.  I could imagine the many different animals the Kress came across on the beach as well as the zargunine filled mines that have been carved out long ago.  The pace was kept at a good pace with the many dangers below ground and Kress' impressive fighting skills. More than just fighting, Somewhere in the Deep reveals Kress' true identity, not just the child of the Kinkillers, but a caring person who fiercely protects their own and loves those around her as well as her home. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​Afeclin has grown up as the lone human in the land of elves, Tebelligan.  He was found orphaned after the war with a mysterious glowing blue rock hanging over his head.  Taken in by the Elven King, Afeclin has grown up with privilege, yet has always felt out of place.  Now, Afeclin would like to follow his calling to be a wizard, which means leaving Tebelligan.  Afeclin's best friend, Wolflang would like to come with him; however, that means leaving his love, Lenna behind.  As soon as they hit the road, Afeclin and Wolflang learn that things are very different outside of Tebelligan.  A war is brewing, young women are being taken as slaves and troops are being rounded up.  Afeclin and Wolflang find another group of travelers that help them navigate their new surroundings, but also bring more trouble.  Eventually Afeclin finds the home of the wizard he would like to train under and Wolflang finds a new purpose, but Leena, who refused to be left behind has found herself in a far more dangerous position.  

Journey of Destiny is an epic fantasy about finding your place. I was intrigued from the beginning as Afeclin decided to find out more about his past as the only human in the land of elves.   I was very interested in how Afeclin felt as the only human, his relationship with his father as well as with Wolflang and Leena.  As the first book in the series, there is a lot of description of the many races, the land, the governments and communities that sometimes slows down the pacing.  I enjoyed exploring the different parts of the Land of Marrapassa along with the many different inhabitants.  There were many different storylines to follow and the different character's point of view.  I was most focused on Afeclin's story and gained interest as he became closer to reaching his wizard.  Wolflang's story gained momentum and he became a stronger character as he realized he could affect change within Marrapassa.  Lenna's story weaves in and out, but is potentially the most dangerous and meaningful as she is swept up as a spoil of war.  Journey of Destiny is clearly the beginning of a much bigger story and ends with things being put into place for the next part of this journey. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.