Have you ever picked up a book that didn’t grab you at first─but you’re swept into a world full of rich worldbuilding, enjoyable characters, and a satisfying ending? That was my experience with Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent.
A few weeks ago when listening to this book on audible, I expected a good story.
What I got?
A tale that held me spelbound from start to finish.
Sure, some of the secular terms threw me─but that didn’t take from the story’s heart or its craftsmanship.
That said, let’s dig into the review. I’ll keep spoilers to a minimum.
Worldbuilding
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent weaves an epic tale that feels grounded and alive.
A layered political system, whimsical magic, diverse factions, and majestic cities drew me in fast.
Tension was strong with the deep immersion, and the lore on the gods was fascinating, as was the magical system.
As a writer and worldbuilder myself, I appreciated every detail in the story.
Characters
The main characters were compelling, each with unique quirks and abilities.
Tisaanah reminded me of Pepper Slyhart from my upcoming novel, Blade of Dragons: strong heroines with a message.
Both struggle with terrible power from within. This raises the stakes and adds depth, vividly illustrating the Hero’s Journey.
Max was good with his mysterious past and dark personality. He did drop more f-bombs than I preferred, but I still admired his grit and no-nonsense attitude.
The way he sacrificed for Tisaanah.
Unfortunately, the first half of the story dragged at times, focusing heavily on the relationship between Tisaanah and Max.
While it deepened their bond, I felt it slowed the pace.
The supporting cast were wholesome and well-rounded, adding richness to the world.
Reading about them gave me fresh insight into writing my cast for Blade of Dragons.
Themes
Although a secular book with dark themes, Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent protrayed inspiring bits that I could connect with.
The first was the inner struggle. Tisaanah’s fight to control her dangerous magic mirrors Pepper’s control of the Dragynsoul.
It’s also reflects the internal struggles we all face in our Hero’s Journeys─and even the temptation of Christ in the desert.
Another theme was a light shining in dark places. Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent explores dark themes reflecting human nature and sin.
Even amid the vice and brokenness, the story highlights virtues like courage, compassion, self-sacrifice, and friendship.
Virtues I also weave into Blade of Dragons.
Finally, I appreciated the grace of flawed characters in Carissa’s story.
No one is perfect. Tisaanah and Max stumbled and erred, but they persevered and redeemed themselves.
As Christians, we know God works through our imperfections to weave masterpieces.
Summary
- Characterization
- Worldbuilding
- Themes
- Overall
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent was an enjoyable story, with excellent worldbuilding, rich characters, and meaningful themes that I resonate with.
Although some themes felt distasteful and the pacing draggeda bit in the first half, the second half was satisfying and exciting.
I’ll look forward to the sequels.