51526706._sy475_From the moment the first settler dug a well and struck a lode of shine, the world changed. Now, everything revolves around that magical oil.

What began as a simple scouting expedition becomes a life-changing ordeal for Arlen Esco. The son of a powerful mogul, Arlen is kidnapped and forced to confront uncomfortable truths his father has kept hidden. In his hands lies a decision that will determine the fate of everyone he loves—and impact the lives of every person in Shine Territory.

The daughter of an infamous saboteur and outlaw, Cassandra has her own dangerous secrets to protect. When the lives of those she loves are threatened, she realizes that she is uniquely placed to change the balance of power in Shine Territory once and for all.

Secrets breed more secrets. Somehow, Arlen and Cassandra must find their own truths in the middle of a garden of lies.

Source Format Pages Publisher Genre Publication Date
Amazon ebook 247 indie Fantasy April 28th, 2020

Read any review for this book and what stands out to you most is that in each and every one Sarah’s writing gets an honorable mention. I second each word of praise for this author’s writing because it works blessed miracles.

The prologue is often that which readers particularly do not like all that much. Personally, I don’t mind them but often they feel like you could also do fine without them. OHAW has one of those prologues that actually does what prologues are meant to do – you’re caught in a web of intrigue straight away. And, straight away that writing of Sarah’s starts to set up the scene wonderfully.

This was love, this burning. It was not as sweet as honey; rather, it was a wild thing. A tempest. A raging forest fire. It was hungry, and it demanded. For what would a father not do for his child?

Want to know what else happens straight away? You’ll feel a pinch in your insides… because this book will start to hit you right in the feels before you can utter ‘hang on, let me brace my fragile heart‘. Too late, get the box of tissues at the ready!

The story is … eh… hard to explain. In a nutshell it’s simple and yet again, it’s not. It’s complicated and complex as hell… just like humanity in its entirety… and it’s painful but also wonderful! It feels like one of many-layered types, and yet at the heart of it all, I think, is the one bittersweet beauty of love, and how love doesn’t vanquish hate, it doesn’t vanquish prejudice and it doesn’t really vanquish evil. I think this is the crux of OHAW – for me anyway – the inner strengths, the finding of one’s inner strength, the sacrifices, the heartaches, the simply having to deal and all because there is a spark of love for something or someone. Sarah basically weaves a whole lot of emotion into the story… the plot is pretty much, I feel, secondary. Don’t get me wrong – the book has a great plot, but Sarah Chorn simply sings emotional turmoil off each page, like a freaking siren! And she does it well.

Furthermore, moments of foreboding and surprising revelations keep the story progression solid and firmly in the ‘this is going to give me a coronary‘ category. And, again, the beauty here is the fact that the brawl and the “necessary” evil and heartbreak is balanced out with these incredible moments of tenderness, caring and love. Sarah writes an amazing scene full of emotion which made me feel like time was standing still.

See? I can’t simply get past the fact that this book is, whilst a really good story with solid characters, a masterpiece foremost due to the writing style. It’s unforgettable.

And, I kind of refuse to go into the detail of the story… From the blurb you can read there is a place called Shine Territory and there is something that is called ‘magic oil’ – that is all you need to know. Let the small, amazing details reveal themselves to you as you devour this book. I know I was taken unawares and was pleasantly surprised by the imaginative world Sarah has weaved in with the historical yet somehow modern feel. It’s a quirky mix for a setting but it totally works.

I do not think it is in my nature to know peace. Some people are born with a fight in their bones. I was a rock thrown into a still pond. Already, the ripples were spreading. My very existence was a conflict.

The characters are intriguing. Through 3 main POVs – Cassandra, Ianthe, Arlen Esco – you’ll find it hard to not feel sympathy and love for the MCs and you will be caught by surprise how much you become to care. And you will care because Sarah manages to show you the character’s hearts, bare their souls, their innermost wishes and dreams and hurts and heartaches… You are being handed a beating heart on the palm of a hand, and you cannot look away. Especially as it is a cruel world the 3 have to navigate. There are so many life altering decisions made on behalf of them and by themselves that it really can make you wonder- how on earth will this all resolve itself? In tragedy and turmoil? Or in victory after a bloody battle? Or a happily ever after? Ohhhh, which will it be… I hope you’re itching to find out for yourself.

Folks, this book will leave you in a state of silent contemplation, and with somewhat of a hiraeth. Because I have hardly mentioned the skill of the author’s writing ( 😛 ) I must simply tell you that Sarah Chorn managed to make me yearn for things the characters were yearning, managed to make me miss what and who the characters were missing… and I simply need to know where the story goes from here. Luckily, I have pre-ordered Glass Rhapsody and I don’t have to wait for too long. I have chocolate, my feels and, just in case, a few tissues at the ready!