The Fabric of Chaos

Real question. How do these books keep getting better?<br /><br />Cyrens, warlocks, and humans. A world at war. Is there any chance to bring them all together before the terror tempests destroy them all? Or is there something even greater at stake?<br /><br />Roh is a cyren, the daughter of a criminal, a girl who has grown up as part of the lowest caste. After winning a dangerous competition, she has been asked to prove herself, setting off on three additional quests with people who hate her as her closest companions. She has faced betrayal from a close friend and now lives with a deadly poison running through her veins. As if that isn’t enough, anyone can challenge her at any time until she completes the impossible tasks the council has given her. But if anyone can beat these odds, it’s Roh.<br /><br />As Roh journeys with her companions beyond the known world, she discovers a secret history that the cyrens were never taught. Who is responsible for keeping them in the dark? And what is there to gain from these secrets? Can Roh trust her companions, her mentor, even her mother?<br /><br />Book three surpassed the first two in the series (which were my favorite books of 2021) in terms of risk, adventure, new allies, unexpected villains, a little romance, and some tremendous sacrifices that brought me to tears. Roh is no longer the conniving girl who once cheated for a chance to win the crown; instead, she has come to understand the consequences of her past actions as well as how much she truly has to lose.<br /><br />The trials in this series reminded me of the Hunger Games and the Goblet of Fire, incredible challenges that take magic, strength of will, and tremendous wit. I recommend the books to anyone who loves a thrilling adventure and a story of redemption.<br /><br />I received an ARC, but the rest of you can read this in a few weeks. Trust me. You need this book!

This was a great book and I enjoyed reading.

Another good book by Helen Scheuerer! <br /><br />I love Roh as a protagonist. I am constantly cheering for her. This is her story, and I love her for it. She deserves the utmost best, and I hope she gets that at the series end. <br /><br />Despite my love for Roh, this book, and the second in the series, does not compare to the first book. I liked the setup and Roh’s relationships more in A Lair of Bones. To me, the relationships in A Fabric of Chaos are lacking.<br /><br />My FAVORITE relationship of Roh’s, is her with Odi. This is because the first book was more about them. It was about their team work, their bonding, their friendship, but then Odi got more sidelined. I understand a lot more is going on, they have a group of found family/raftag crew that needs divided attention, but I’ve found I can’t get as attached to any of the characters like I did with Odi. His more “isolation” with Roh in the first book made their relationship much more meaningful to me. My favorite parts of the story are when they interact, or when Roh thinks of Odi. Their scenes are more intimate to me, and since there weren’t as many, it wasn’t as enjoyable to me. <br /><br />I did want Odi and Roh to be together romantically, but I know it is off the table now with Roh and Finn kissing, and Odi and Harlyn liking each other. It’s funny because in the first and second books, I wanted the relationships flipped. I wanted Harlyn and Finn together. Those two relationships connected to me more. <br /><br />With that said, I want to give probs to Scheuerer for writing ACTUAL slow burn romances, especially with the enemies to lovers. The development spanned books, and I think it’s wonderful. I just wish it had been with Roh and Odi. Honestly, that’s one of the main things that drew me to Roh and Odi in the first place, because there was no romance between them, only the potential for it. I still love them as just friends, and I hope they get more scenes in the next book. Maybe it’s time to retire the ship name #rohdi but I can’t let it go, I think it’s too cute. I’ll keep dreaming of the Queen of Cyrens, her intrinsic love of music, and the Prince of Melodies, who plays just for her.<br /><br />I wish I liked Roh and Finn, they’re textbook what I want in fictional relationships, they’re everything I’d want and more, but for some reason they didn’t do it for me. I think a lot of it is that, while I like Finn and I think he is interesting, I am not connected to him. There is something lacking, and it was evident to me when he died and it didn’t pull much of an emotional response from me. I never saw it coming, and it did make me sad, but it didn’t hurt like I thought something like that would. <br /><br />Overall, Roh is awesome, the relationships are meh (still love #rohdi though) and the world building and the plot are both outstanding. I think the current antagonists (and possibly future ones) make the story even more intriguing. The story outside of the relationships is everything I want and more from a fantasy book. The writing is brilliant. It flows so well. It draws me in and keeps me hooked. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

<strong>Mind-blowingly good!!!</strong><br /><br />After just finishing this, the third book in The Curse of the Cyren Queen series I am left depleted. I have cried, I have literally shouted, I have gasped out loud, I have had GOOSEBUMPS!!!!<br /><br />This series just keeps getting better as it builds. Helen has done an incredible job in stacking layer upon layer of action, despair, love, intrigue and more questions than answers into this book.<br /><br />I am SO excited for the concluding book, I can’t wait to get some answers and see what eventuates.<br /><br />Thank you, thank you Helen! All your worries and doubts were totally worth it. I am SO beyond in love with this series.

This series continues to get better and better with each book, none suffer from middle book syndrome and I appreciate the attention to detail the author includes while examining tough emotional growth such as grief and loss. <br />The twists and bends and backstory revealed in this volume is worth the pain and agony that the author puts the reader through to get to the finale. Any details I would provide at this point will only be spoilers, and I don't want to spoil this for anyone, so just know you have to read to the end of the book. You just have to. Trust me!

*4.5 stars* <br />This book!!!! Holy shit!!! It was a rollercoaster the whole time and the character development between Roh and all her companions was INCREDIBLE!! By far my favorite so far. I honestly thought it would follow the same format as the second book but then the twist happened and then more character development and I cried. And then I mentally was like “I hope this happens” and it did!!!!!! I truly don’t want to finish this series because it’s so good.

Every book gets better and better. I am in awe of Helen’s writing, the riveting plot, amazing character development, the twists and turns. I can’t believe more people don’t know about this series yet. <br />This series needs to be more popular, as it’s a fantastic example for other “popular” authors out there - you don’t need to fill it to the brim with unnecessary filler chapters in order to create an immersive series that completely captivates its readers.<br /><br />The main things I look for in a series are: 1) captivating, original plot, amazing character development and a dash of romance. And this series has it all. <br /><br />Cannot WAIT for the final book. November cannot come quickly enough!

Rohesia of the Bone Cleaners has managed to survive retrieving the first of the Saddorial Birthstones from the deadly pool in Akoris. She even managed to survive the first of the three challenges; not only the battle, but the betrayal from her life long friend, Orson. Now, she must face further trials on the journey to Csilla, retrieve the second Birthstone and face the second challenge.<br /><br />But, Roh has several secret weapons. Her Deathsong has finally poured forth from her very soul, and it is much more powerful than anyone could ever have imagined; even with the poison which is still flowing through her bloodstream. She has her companions – the human ‘Prince of Songs’, Odi; her lifelong friend and fellow bone cleaner, Harlyn. There’s Yrsa and Finn, the stubborn Jaktaran’s and the Water Warlock, Deodan. Not to mention the recently hatched Sea Drake, who is never far from Roh’s breast pocket. She has her father’s crystal dagger and her new skill with the sling and stones. But will her companions and new skills be enough to ensure she survives the cunning Cyren Council who are desperate to never see Roh claim her crown of bones?<br /><br />Helen takes on a journey through the Lower Realm as the sextet travel through dangerous landscapes and endure terrifying trials. Then there’s the mystery surrounding Roh’s birth, her strange power and her link to the Sea Drake Hatchling. It’s not a straightforward journey from Akoris to Csilla; the companions facing tribulations and horrifying decisions as Roh battles for the Birthstone and the right to sit the throne. There’s maddening Cyren’s who exist only to stymie Roh. There’s a battle of epic proportions and choices to be made. But most of all, there’s under currents of loss, grief, chronic pain, suffering and cruelty. There’s a hollowness, which as a reader, you feel acutely. Your heart breaks, it leaps and drops into your stomach in equal measure. It’s a death defying, dizzying, overwhelming read, which had me on the brink of tears in so many places.<br /><br />But more than that; so much more than that.<br /><br />I’ve read all of Helen’s books to date – The Oremere Chronicles is honestly one of my absolute favourite series, and at more than a few points in The Fabric of Chaos, I gasped as I realised I recognised a name, character or place. That sprinkling of Easter Eggs is genius, and it bought out the book geek in me. I revelled in it, grinning from ear to ear that I could place them. Helen has said that the realms are linked, and that if you look closely enough in the two separate series, you can catch someone you might recognise. So far, I’ve found more than a few, even if she won’t confirm or deny one of my theories (I’ve begged her, but in my mind’s eye, she just grins in an evil genius kind of way without revealing a damn thing).<br /><br />If you’ve never read any of Helen Scheuerer’s books, then please, start now. She’s incredible. A fantasy author like no other. Her female leads aren’t just strong. They’re messy, complicated, clumsy and imperfect. They’re relatable, kind, angry and have questionable morals. They’re just like you and I.<br /><br />The Fabric of Chaos is out now on Amazon, to buy and keep or to read on Kindle Unlimited. <br /><br />S. A<br />

**4.5 STARS**<br /><br />Content Warning: Violence, Grief<br /><br />I liked this one so much better than book two and almost gave it 5 stars but the slow burn is way too slow haha.<br /><br />Roh and her group of friends travel to the next location to find the next gem for her crown. They take a harrowing journey to Csilla and encounter so much challenges and danger. When they get to Csilla we learn more about the past between Roh’s mother and the current queen. More secrets are revealed and this time we also get some backstory about the Water Warlocks and what atrocities their people were subjected to.<br /><br />Roh has more character growth especially when it comes to finding her confidence, making the right decisions, and knowing who to trust. I love that the friendship between all of them has grown tighter.<br /><br />As for the romance, finally something happens and my wait has come to an end at least. I do think the slow burn was way too slow and I had to wait for book three to get more action between Finn and Roh but I guess it was worth the wait. Of course then a twist in events once more makes Roh doubt herself. The torture for Roh is never-ending, she goes through a lot of turmoil in this book! I hope she gets a really good ending in the next and final book. But what I love about her is that she grows in each book in the series.<br /><br />I do wish this series was a trilogy but I get with these kinds of series on Amazon that the release dates are a shorter wait than books from bigger publishers. I love that I don’t have to wait too long but also wish the story wouldn’t go on forever.<br /><br /><br />Why you should read it:<br />*to continue the series – great story-telling<br />*slow burn romance, finally we get some action between Roh and Finn<br />*Roh’s character growth, lovable characters<br /><br />Why you might not want to read it:<br />*not into a long series…seems like it’s going to be a 4 books series – you might want to wait for the *last book to be out and binge it<br /><br />My Thoughts:<br /><br />I love this installment to the series! It really had everything: action, danger, friendship, romance, plot twists, back story and it even ends really good! It setts up for an exciting conclusion in the next book I hope. I’ve come to love the characters and am rooting for Roh (queen or not) to make the best decisions and trust the small circle of found family around her. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and more from this author.

In THE FABRIC OF CHAOS, Roh has united her group of companions into a team that work together and like each other, but there are still plenty of enemies out there who want to destroy them.<br /><br />The question is now not whether Harlyn, Finn, Ysra, Odi, and Deodan will support her, but what changes she wants to make (and whether she's willing to make the enemies that will create.) It's a moral dilemma that forces her to face her privilege and see what the wrongs are that she might be able to right.<br /><br />We travel to a new cyren territory, one that is a (welcome) change from the previous. It is in that environment that Roh finally has a chance to sit and dream and gain confidence, seeing what a cyrne society could be like. The section (and location) gives another reason to root for Roh to win, but also depends the reader's understanding of the Terror Tempests, more hints that they are going to be an issue in the final book.<br /><br />The book starts off with a "travel" section which I really enjoyed. It made it feel more "quest-like" to see them on an extended, difficult trip through unfamiliar lands - deadly lands. The pass was horrible, and then they get through and have to do a terrifying zip line?! (I am terrified of heights too, so it felt like insult to injury that they had to do that after a pass that was trying to kill them!)<br /><br />THE FABRIC OF CHAOS is Scheuerer's most romantic book to date. It's still very much a minor subplot, but there are some feelings and sparks etc.<br /><br />One book left to go in this quartet!