The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn

Book Fort Rating: 5 Stars

Is it building the Book Fort? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes...

Guys. Guys. Have you ever read a debut from start to finish... and not realised it was a debut? Because that's exactly what happened to me while reading The Crack at the Heart of Everything. I don't know where Fiona Fenn has been hiding all of her life, but boy-howdy, am I glad she's finally found her way into the published author sphere. This book is something else — already a well-polished gem with a thoughtful plot, believable (and complex) characters, complex and dynamic worldbuilding, and writing with an effortless flow.

Frankly, this story is something really special, so I implore you all to pick this book up if you're even slightly drawn to its premise. Be curious. You will be rewarded for your curiosity.

The story follows Orpheus, a dark mage with a complicated grip on morality, as he tries to navigate the world post-war after he is expelled from the only home he's ever known. This premise sounds so simple, and yet... I have never read another book like The Crack at the Heart of Everything. Fiona Fenn's execution of this theme is exceptional, and she provides a narrative that carefully and sensitively explores mental health.

The flashback scenes were genuinely impressive and filled with raw emotion, and I found myself reflecting on my own personal life experiences with someone reminiscent of Lore. When it comes to relationships and our place within the world at large, things aren't always black and white, and Fiona Fenn knows how to sit comfortably in this grey space in-between.

No further notes necessary. Please pick it up. I am so excited to see where Fiona Fenn's next story leads me, and you should be too. Happy reading, folks! 

Thank you to Netgalley, Tiny Fox Press, and Fiona Fenn for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.