To Pierce the Heart

I’ll be honest: I went into *To Pierce the Heart* expecting another ‘plucky heroes find a way home’ adventure, and instead got my teeth kicked in—*in the best way*. Draith’s world is a meat grinder disguised as a fantasy realm, where every ally has an angle and every victory tastes like ashes. The opening act throws you into the deep end after a mid-teleportation cliffhanger, and the story never lets you catch your breath. I loved how the ‘getting home’ plot isn’t the *real* conflict; it’s the excuse for the characters to confront what they’ve become in this world. The magic system, tied to physical and emotional sacrifice, makes every spell cast feel like a deal with the devil. Andrea Emmes’ narration is a masterclass in *controlled chaos*. She nails the dry, dark humor of the protagonist’s internal monologue, but where she really shines is in the action sequences—her delivery turns sword fights into something visceral, almost cinematic. That said, the sheer density of the worldbuilding in the first hour might overwhelm some listeners; Draith trusts you to keep up, and Emmes doesn’t soften the blow. My only critique? The romantic subplot feels undercooked compared to the rest of the stakes—it’s there, but it lacks the same razor-sharp tension as the survival and political threads. Still, the ending (which I won’t spoil) left me gut-punched and immediately checking for the next book. If you’re tired of fantasy that pulls its punches, this one *swings to kill*." "tags": [ "brutal portal fantasy