Somewhere Down the Ley Line is here

Wishing a Happy Publication Day to the fantabulous fantasy adventure by Emilie Baz, I just have to say how much I enjoyed this book and fell in love with the enthusiastic to learn, shy, good-natured Isolde and fun, sarcastic, with a not-so-hidden kind heart Felix. You can read my 4-star review below:

At her announcement ball, a leyline seemingly explodes and Isolde, a scholarly noblewoman, becomes leytouched. Now considered cursed and a danger, the only way she will not be put to the sword is if she travels to the temple of Nexus, where they can perform a ritual that might cure her. Felix, a sharp-tongued mercenary and the only one to help her after the 'accident', will accompany her. Luckily, they travel with a few unlikely allies, for along the way they are pursued and the journey is perilous. As Isolde starts to learn the truth about her magic, she must decide if she actually wants to rid herself of it or save it.

The story enveloped me immediately in comfy accompaniment, making me feel glad to be part of Isolde's journey. You will smirk at Felix's snarky, many times honest to a fault, remarks about the state of things, which fail to hide a kind heart. The dual POV serves this tale well. The author has a wonderful way of conveying what is happening, precise and intimate, with attention-stealing and heart-pounding details that make the scene jump off the page. Embellishments of descriptive, even just two-word sentences that make all the difference.

I enjoyed how approachable this narrative was, unheavy and unconvoluted. We do encounter though, a beautiful depth of emotion that tingles your heart. Through the continuous storytelling, we learn about the mythology of the magic and makings of this world as the author utilizes her companionable language. The book is so reader-friendly, you will gobble through pages upon pages without realizing.

I love fantasies with quests where they have to travel far away. Those I affectionately call road movie books. Full of warm, witty humor, the butting of heads and banter of this motley crew is all the money. You will quickly be enamored with the more than likeable characters. We discover the magic alongside them and the vivid imagining of its power is brilliantly done.

Two people neglected by either their family & people or life, trapped in their circumstances, find each other. Their interactions are a joy to read. With her being inherently good-natured and basically shy, though she tries to befriend others, and him being outspoken & sarcastic and not considered very nice, even if he can't help but want to be kind to her. And he is so much fun. I also love the fact that he is an axe-wielder. Their blooming romance gifts you with the warm & fuzzies, then swoon vibes, then they better end up together or else...

My one issue was a story thread that was picked up at about 2/3rds of the book that not only did I not really like, but was done, in my opinion, in an insufficient manner. The character is just too obvious a plot device and means to give, I will admit, fundamental & gasp-worthy info, but they should have been introduced differently. The impact would have been powerful from the get-go. But the character did their best to grow on me.

Fear of the unknown and how we deal with it is a theme here. It is about being persecuted for being different and breaking free of the status quo. And champions standing up on your own and stepping into your power.

Can a fantasy be simultaneously cozy and exhilarating? Yes, when Emilie Baz is doing the fantabulous writing. Gifting us with laugh-out-loud moments to cherish and soul-squeezing ones to ponder and advocate for our protagonists, this is a fantastical adventure I couldn't get enough of.