This is a coming of age fantasy set in two disparate worlds with enough page content to explore its themes against a much larger background of ethnicity, religion/zealotry, magic, xenophobia, propaganda, politics, and philosophy. If that seems like a very large (overwhelming) list, it is, and the characters do tend to get a little lost in the tumult.
The writing is nearly flawless. The scenes are technically well put together with a number of interwoven plot threads which are intertwining more and more as the book progresses toward a richly drawn central plot theme. The world building is exceptionally detailed with the almost Brigadoon-like Vylari being literally veiled magically from the Lamorians on the other side of the barrier.
The story is told from the two alternating storyline PoVs of the main characters whose lives take very different paths when they leave Vylaria and enter Lamoria. About 30% of the first book is used to segue into the second (and further) books. The plot is all about the long game. For fans of strictly battle based epic fantasy, this one might not fit the bill. There are no chapter-long war descriptions or campaigns as such, at least not in this first book.
Four stars. I was impressed with the plotting and writing. I'm looking forward to the next book(s) to find out what comes next.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
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