“It takes faith to believe there’s no purpose to things, just as it takes faith to believe there is.”
-Hayley Gabrielle, Essence
Abbey Shrader is unsure of what she wants to do with her life; meeting with a career counselor didn’t really help with direction. When she’s transported to Ethra, new paths open up for her. In Ethra, human qualities roam free in what are called Essences. As Abbey journeys further into Ethra, her future gets more and more tangled, and no amount of counseling or studying can translate to this fantastical world.
Hayley Gabrielle sent me an ebook copy of this book for review, and I was super excited to dive in! I’ve been super into reading YA fantasy lately (I just finished the Falling Kingoms series by Morgan Rhodes, and now I’m diving into Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas), and this seemed like just the thing to fit the reading mood I’ve been in. Plus, as someone also quite unsure about her future, I instantly related to Abbey right from the beginning.
Gabrielle has certainly created a unique world in Ethra, and we’re introduced to characters that are mostly not human, but certainly help in bringing out Abbey’s own humanity. I loved the concept behind Ethra, even if I still don’t fully understand it. But never fear! This looks like it’s going to be the first book in a series, so we’ll have plenty of time to better understand Essences and what they’re all about.
My only critique of this novel is the world building, especially right at the beginning. While we’re thrust into Ethra almost immediately, like Abbey is, a bit more background would have helped make the transition smoother. Maybe a character explains a bit to Abbey, maybe she reads something, but it’s always hard for me to just jump right into a new world with no rules or foundation. I have faith, though, that more will be explained as the series goes on.
At the core, Hayley Gabrielle has a beautiful YA fantasy debut that adds something that the genre might be missing. If you like unique worlds and thought-provoking conversations about good vs. evil, definitely check out Essence!
4/5 stars