Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen

And the first Book Hangover of 2018 goes to … Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen.

Okay, technically I read this book in December 2017 – but STILL. You get the point. This is the book I began 2018 buzzing about, and I’m not near yet ready to stop. In fact, I’m eager to reread it already, then tackle the author and demand she pull the sequels from her brain and give them to me directly.

Er. Okay. Yeah, that … came out wrong.

But I think you get the point. The point is this …

Prepare. To. Be. Dazzled.

Reign the Earth is a seductive, tantalizing fantasy with middle eastern vibes — filled with lush details and world-building, a captivating mythology, and intoxicating romance. And while the book is wholly satisfying, it will leave you wanting more – because it’s just THAT good. Luckily, more books are on the way. I believe it’s meant to be a four-book series at the moment, and all I can say is GIMME.

In fact, Reign the Earth left me with such a book hangover that I immediately ordered Gaughen’s previous Scarlet trilogy and binged all three books over about five days. (The Scarlet trilogy is a retelling of the Robin Hood myth with a feisty lady protagonist, and is quite different from Reign the Earth, but I still wholeheartedly recommend it.)  If you’re looking for a more accurate comparison, Reign the Earth was reminiscent in tone and feel to Renee Ahdieh’s The Wrath & the Dawn (though plot-wise, they are far different).

I’m just so eager for more people to fall in love with this fantasy, so we can obsess over it together. The book has action and romance and intrigue and magic and friendship, and every element is done so well.

So if you’re ready to get on this hype train with me, check out Reign the Earth in stores January 30th. Here is the official synopsis:

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands.

But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire. Even more unsettling are Shalia’s feelings for her husband’s brother, which unleash a power over the earth she never knew she possessed—a power that could get her killed. As rumors of a rebellion against Calix spread, Shalia must choose between the last chance for peace and her own future as an Elementae.

This intense, richly drawn high-fantasy by the author of Scarlet will hold readers spellbound.