Review: The Book of Cin by HM Wolfe

The Book of Cin was both heartwarming and heart breaking. A perfect addition to your romantasy collection, and one of the easiest 5 star ratings I’ve given all year. Releasing Sept 14th!

IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE GODS, PRAY NOW. THEIR PROTECTION ENDS HERE.

At Asrai’s Academy for Orphans, Hyacinth stands at a crossroads. Torn between the safety of the only home she has ever known and leaving it all behind for a chance at a new life—for freedom. But when a mysterious messenger appears, whispering rumors of a God among Fae, everything Hyacinth thought she knew about the Realms comes crashing down.

Thrust into a deadly game of power and greed, Hyacinth discovers dormant magic within her that may hold the key to survival—or mark her for death. With her friends beside her, Hyacinth must navigate through murderous realms of vicious creatures, lethal betrayals and prophecies of old.

Secrets unravel, bonds are tested, and romance decays and blossoms amidst the looming promise of war. As alliances shift and enemies close in, her only hope lies in reaching the fabled safe haven of Locdragoon—but reaching it may cost her everything she loves.

“The Book of Cin” is a high fantasy tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of friendship. Embark on an epic adventure where courage meets destiny—and magic, sacrifice, and hope are the threads that bind us.

Purchase: Amazon | B&N

“What are you?”
“A woman to fear.”

We have:
🖤 shadow mommy
✨ he falls first
🖤 “touch her and die”
✨ found family
🖤 feminine rage
✨ magical world + dragons

*Spoiler free review ♡
You guys…. this book was beyond good. I laughed, I cried, I squealed, I cried again. The Book of Cin started off *hot* and jumped right into the action which I loved. Usually in fantasy you have to sludge through a ton of confusing world building in the beginning and wait 50-100 pages to start getting into the story and I did not feel that way with this. What was fun about the story was that our main character Hyacinth was thrust into a unique situation very early on in the story, which allowed the world-building to happen organically as she was learning it for herself. We got to skip a lot of the info-dumping that can sometimes get overwhelming with fantasy.

We were immediately introduced to a cast of characters that have a deep bond, and HM Wolfe did such an amazing job at conveying that to the reader, and I felt connected to them all very quickly. One of my favorite parts of this book was the chosen family aspect, and I loved how hard they rode for each other. Like, literally the definition of ride or die. The women were passionate, feisty, strong-willed, and stood on business. The men were broody, and caring, and held each other accountable. I loved watching the way they all loved each other, and the way they uplifted each other. Like, no one will ever love me the way these characters love each other lol.

The love interest… 🥵🥵🥵 I loved that man downnnnnnn. He’s one of my favorite book boyfriends in a hot minute. He was protective while still respecting Hyacinth’s autonomy, and that was so refreshing to read. Instead of facing her trauma and feeling like he needed to be a fixer, he walked alongside her and encouraged her to find her strength instead of trying to *be* her strength. I’m also a sucker for a “here let me train you” kind of man. Like yes, help make her the best version of herself! Don’t keep her small!

I very rarely, if ever, truly cry while reading books. The Book of Cin had me crying at 9% in…. unheard of, truly. I then continued to cry throughout lol. I have not felt so seen by characters or a story in a long time, if ever. HM Wolfe did a beautiful job describing mental health struggles and abuse. She created an opportunity for her characters to heal in a real way, and to support each other in a way that felt authentic and empowering. Sometimes when dealing with trauma or abuse or depression or grief people are quick to offer platitudes – instead, the characters of The Book of Cin supported and uplifted each other and created a safe space for each other. I found myself highlighting passages just because I wanted to read them again when I was going through a hard time.

This was truly action-packed, and I loved watching Hyacinth grow into her power – magical and emotional power. We had an Assassin’s Blade/Fourth Wing level earth-shattering heartbreak in this which I respected but will never recover from emotionally lol. The ending left me wanting more, and I cannot wait to see where this story takes us. As of now HM Wolfe has said this will be a trilogy for sure, with the potential for more, and I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for book two.

Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“They don’t see a threat when they look at me, they don’t see danger – but they should. That is the beauty of powerful men, they always underestimate the women surrounding them. All the while I’m leaving their minds in tangled webs, stealing their secrets and impregnating their governments – their systems – with distrust.”

“I tell you this because I need you to understand something. I did not take your pain because you were incapable of bearing it. I shouldered your pain, not as a testament to your weakness, but because my own strength crumbled in the face of your suffering.”

“‘You.’ He paused, letting his eyes slide over my mouth before meeting my gaze again. ‘Will bring realms to their knees.'”

“‘You are mine,’ he said the words, not with possession, but in devotion. ‘You do not belong to me, but I… I belong to you.”

About The Author:

My name is Hallah Mikaela Wolfe and I am a writer based in Central Florida.

I am excited to announce that my debut novel, The Book Of Cin, will be released on September 14th, 2024.

When I am not writing, I spend time with my amazing husband and our two furry babies.

All my life I have written stories.

Whether it’s in the form of music, shorts or poetry, I have used writing as a way to express the things I never felt I could say. I have novel after unfinished novel tucked away in the corners of notebooks and hard drives that will never see the light of day.

But then, my sister reintroduced me to fantasy novels and something clicked. I was finally able to put my story onto the page in a way that I felt would do it justice.

My heart and soul are in the characters I write. They hurt, they grow and they heal with me.

My only hope is, when you close my books after that last word-you felt a little magic.