I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Worlds collide as friends and new allies band together to face a common enemy in author Yona Katz’s “The Era of Penumbra.”

The Synopsis

Finding herself facing unthinkable trials, Asha struggles to reconcile her beliefs and the decisions she must make. Confusion dominates her thoughts. The enemy is closer than ever. Thankfully, Yusra’s love, devotion, and unwavering support are Asha’s cornerstones in these turbulent times.

Grappling with the deep sense of Ranan’s betrayal, Kadmiel’s mind is filled with turmoil. Feelings of loss and abandonment haunt him. Kadmiel’s carefully created world seems to crumble around him. What once was his source of stability is no more. He feels alone and lost.

Determined to locate the fallen Star, Hosheh is on the hunt for Asha. However, even the Dark Star’s intricate mind could not predict the mind-blowing turn of events. The Stars’ arch-enemy is caught off guard by the unexpected news. Hosheh’s exposed secrets uncover his weakness and vulnerability.

Asha, Yusra, Kadmiel, Ranan, and Hosheh undergo a painful process of transformation. Vital notions like love, trust, commitment, and forgiveness are being re-evaluated. Will they find happiness and inner peace despite being put through unsurmountable challenges?

The Era of Penumbra is the third book in the series The Rise of Penumbra.

This is a YA/NA fantasy adventure with no explicit content.

The Review 

This was a truly compelling and engaging entry in this fantastical, gripping YA-meets-epic-fantasy read! The world-building not only matches the level we’ve seen in the series thus far, but also exceeds expectations as the story moves into grand adventure, larger scales, and more personal, in-depth character-driven narratives. The underlying queer aspects of these characters and their stories helped readers connect with them even more and feel the depth of their connections. The way the uneasy alliance between Asha and her friends and Kadmiel and his movement coalesces, and the transformation they undergo as friends, is so compelling to see come to life on the page.

The heart of this narrative lies in the complex and emotional character dynamics at work. Familiar themes of broken trust, friendship, and the ways people connect through shared trauma, along with hopeful elements, help elevate these characters in their struggles as the story progresses. This balance is between the rich fantasy world-building and the dynamic action and adventure, which the author builds on from previous entries in the series.

The Verdict 

Thrilling, entertaining, and wildly adventurous, author Yona Katz’s “The Era of Penumbra” is a must-read and compelling sci-fi meets fantasy YA adventure novel. The twist and turns the story takes, in the heartfelt, an emotional character development that grounds the narrative enough to balance out the more fantasy driven elements of the story, and the way the author is able to build up upon the mythos surrounding the star people in the compelling secrets that are revealed will keep readers invested in this exhilarating third entry in the series. If you haven’t yet, please go and grab a copy of this fantastic book today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

A citizen of the universe, Yona Katz is a financial director during the day. But as soon as night falls, numbers and reports are chased away by the stories that live in the stars. One day, Yona decided that she was brave enough to share these stories with the world. Yona loves exploring the themes of diversity and inclusivity. She wants to reach young adult readers to show them that love is universal, that even heroes are flawed, and that everyone has the right to make mistakes. Yona is Canadian but Antigua and Barbuda is her current home.

Yona Katz