Lichgates

Disclaimer: I received a ePub ARC through netgalley.com

Lichgates, the title alone made me think about Dungeons and Dragons and battling the evil lich. Turns out this story is farther from the cookie-cutting world that many RPG in. Boyce does an amazing job at creating a world filled with magic, wonder, and fantasy that is set in a small pocket of our own planet, Earth. Our protagonist Kara sets out on a hike that will forever change her. On her walk, she finds herself wandering through a magical gate, called a lichgate, that takes her from our world into the realm of Ourea, and fulfilling the role of Vagabond.

Kara then meets strange peoples, both helpful and harmful, as she learns what it means to be a Vegabond. She also learns how to let go of hurtful things in her past and how to overcome adversity. She grows, falls in love, and does whatever is asked of her in the hopes that good may triumph.

The story intrigued me. But the world of Ourea kept me going. Boyce created a well rounded and extensive world to place Kara and her friends in. The idea of using a grimoire as teacher and companion was well done and makes me wish I had one of my own. The story, kept me reading and I'm already looking forward to reading book two of this series.