Child of Shivay

Two hundred years ago, when mortals hunted the fea toward extinction, the Ancients sundered the veils of Terr, fracturing their world into five realms. A war treaty between the feyn and the La’tarians was eventually signed, but by then Shivaria’s hometown had already been reduced to burning wreckage. She was only a child. When the La’tarian troops arrived at her village, she was found by Leanna, who took her in, clothed and fed her, and became her mentor. After the war and the feyn’s departure across the sea, a creeping blight began to spread. Forests withered. Rivers receded. Over time, the land grew barren and could no longer sustain its people. From the day she was taken in, Shivaria was trained to become a Drakai – a flawless elite assassin of the crown of La’tari, also known as the Fea Dien: beautiful death. By raising and training her, Leanna gives Shivaria the chance to avenge everything that was taken from her. Though she is trained to be a demure lady of the court, Shivaria secretly hones her combat skills under the guidance of an old war general who slowly molds her into a deadly weapon. Leanna disapproves, but it’s the only way Shivaria knows how to fight her demons and quiet the night terrors that often send her waking in a wild frenzy. With feyn blood running through her veins, she stands out among the perfectly golden-haired La’tarians, but her skill quickly surpasses that of the other Fea Dien. When she meets Vakesh, the Master of Shadows, her abilities are sharpened even further, and an unexpected friendship begins to form. At twenty-four, Shivaria receives her first mission from the La’tarian king. She knows many Fea Dien never return from their first assignment. Worse, she is sent to A’kori – the homeland of the feyn – to assassinate their ancient and powerful king. The last of the Reavers. A man gifted with the rare ability to invade minds and warp the will of others. If the ruling line ends, the treaty places the La’tarian king on A’koris throne, promising peace for the continents. One life to save thousands. I want to start by saying this is already one of my favorite reads of 2026. This story is carefully crafted and complex. You have to pay attention – every detail matters and adds another piece to what feels like one enormous puzzle. The narrative is intricately woven, revealing just enough to deepen the world and characters without exposing the full picture too soon. There’s real artistry in Cathers’ storytelling. The world is immersive and magical, filled with emotionally rich characters. I was completely lost in its beauty. Cathers’ writing is deeply emotive, and I loved that she created her own terminology. The swear words made me laugh, and the terms of endearment were beautiful. The dual timeline – past and present - works wonderfully. While the present drives the plot forward, the past chapters add depth and context, enriching the emotional weight of the story. And the characters? Incredible. Especially the sprites. My god. I loved them with my whole heart. They absolutely stole the show. Shivaria is intelligent, brave, and fiercely capable, strong as hell, yet vulnerable in ways that feel achingly real. She absorbs the blows, recalibrates, and keeps going. She’s softness wrapped around steel. Tender without fragility. Dangerous when she needs to be. She’s isn’t just a heroine you cheer for – she’s one you’d bow to and I have a feeling that she’ll grow even more in the next installment. There were moments I wanted to shake her, to beg her to be braver and take the leap… but I always understood why she chose the path she did. After all this is just the beginning of her story. And then there’s Xeyvian — our grumpy, dark, battle-worn general with a hidden heart of gold and a whole lot of touch-her-and-die energy. Their dynamic had the perfect mix of tension, trust, and slow-burn longing. Every interaction felt earned. The banter? Immaculate. The push and pull between them? Delicious. “I’ve already told you that I am yours. Now let me show you what it means to be mine.” The longing. The yearning. The slow burn. Absolutely fantastic. I was genuinely amazed at how the author managed to write explicit scenes that were both squeal-worthy and tasteful, using language that felt fresh rather than crass. She truly has a beautiful way with words. The pacing isn’t flawless, but I devoured this book in two days anyway. I was deeply invested and emotionally connected to the characters. The worldbuilding is phenomenal — such an incredible mix of creatures and lore. You learn so much, yet so much remains shrouded in mystery. It has strong found-family vibes, palpable tension, and emotions you can practically feel vibrating off the page. I had so many theories, and in the end none them were correct — and I loved that. Don’t miss the bonus chapter on the author’s website. I read it twice because the first time completely rattled me. Afterwards I was even more intrigued by what will happen next, and it’s almost painful that I have to wait months before I can learn how the story continues. Mark my words: J.R. Cathers is a rising star in this genre. This is a fantastic debut, and I can’t wait to read more from her. I’m sure she’ll be on my auto-buy list very soon. A massive thanks to my trusted book girlies for recommending this one to me. Story: 5 ⭐️ Spice: 2.5