Neve March has a closely guarded secret. Despite being stained and UNLIT, she can still hear the whispers on the wind. She keeps quiet about her minor magical ability, not wanting to be potentially forced into a life breeding other magic users. Instead, she serves as a soldier with the Nightwatch for Winterborne where she guards against attacks from the flesh-eating Adlin. However, a beacon catches her eye one night while she is on duty, and Neve unexpectedly finds a woman named Saska, a missing witch from one of the ruling houses. Now Neve finds herself deep in conspiracies, ruling and nonruling houses, and ancient foes. She'll have to work with Blacklake Prime Trey Stone if Winterborne and Blacklake have any hope of surviving.

Neve is an intriguing heroine. I love her spunk, especially considering she's considered inferior by many of the ruling class (and some who aren't in the ruling class) because she's stained. Keri Arthur does a great job at tackling this difficult societal issue within the context of UNLIT as we see Neve navigating a world where the color of one's skin can and does affect how she's treated.

And oh, Trey! Who can't help but love a man with his history? I don't want to reveal spoilers but readers will understand clearly why he's such a hero once his past is revealed. And while we learned many of Trey's secrets in UNLIT, Lord Kiro also has secrets I want to know more about as his role within the political structure intrigues me quite a bit.

I've been a fan of Keri Arthur since her first novel and UNLIT is yet another stellar novel from this very talented author. UNLIT is the first book in the Kingdoms of Earth & Air and oh wow, what an amazing start to this new series! I love the depth of world building and character development as I was immediately immersed in this fantasy world. I'm curious to see what direction Keri Arthur will take with future books in the series, as each one is scheduled to be a fantasy standalone set in the same world. I hope Neve's friends, Ava and April, get their own stories even as I want to see more of Neve and Trey.

Book Summary

Winterborne has long been a city divided between those who have magic, and those who do not. Between those who are free, and those who are not…

Though classified as having no magic, Neve March can hear the whispers of the wind and sometimes even control her. But it’s a secret she must hold close if she wishes to continue as Nightwatch—the soldiers who guard Winterborne against those who roam the wastelands and feast on human flesh.

But when Neve investigates a faint SOS signal, she not only unearths a woman close to death, but a plot involving an ancient enemy long thought dead.

In an effort to expose those behind the plot, Neve goes undercover amongst Winterborne’s elite—a dangerous step that could expose her secret and rip away all that she holds dear.

But the trail of treachery leads her from Winterborne’s golden halls to the heart of the enemy’s hive, and it will shake her belief of not only who she is, but what she is.