Blurb:

A catastrophe a thousand years ago divided the world into isolated Fragments, eventually driving most of humanity back to a premodern lifestyle. Since then, an unexplained blight has been spreading, and strange and monstrous creatures have arisen in its midst.

Cor, the son of a whisky distiller, doesn't know about any of this. His peaceful little village has been isolated for hundreds of years—until he finds a way out, wandering into another Fragment. It's rather less peaceful. But with the help of Brayleigh—a spritely redhead teen he soon befriends, who is a bit wiser to the ways of the world—maybe our sheltered whisky stillman can survive and, in time, make his way back home.

Celeste has not been so sheltered. Her family was murdered by orks at age 8; she left the Academy at 18 to travel with a merchant caravan; and now, she's the orator for the new leader of the People's Commonwealth. Everything she's dreamt of is finally in reach ... so why does it feel farther away than ever?

Deliad, the Knight-Lord of Norvester—the former kingdom replaced by the Commonwealth—would like nothing better than to confront those responsible with the edge of his halberd, Celeste included. But, with his small band of former knights stuck hiding in remote hills and half-starving, it's looking increasingly unlikely he'll ever get the chance.

Nothing could be further from their minds than the workings of a Warlock a thousand miles away, and his obsessive decade-long pursuit of vengeance. Yet as fragmented as this world is, it's also a small one. Will the hand of vengeance reach them across a thousand miles? ... Or will they, perhaps, reach him first?

* Gold Medalist, Global eBook Awards
* Silver Medalist, Global Book Awards
* Selected for BlueInk Review's Best Books of 2023
* Five-star reviews by Manhattan Book Review and Readers' Favorite
* Selected by IndieReader as IR-Approved book

Review:

SOLID AND CLASSIC

My last review for the #SPFBO10 is for The Yawning Gap by C.V. Vobh. This book takes a solid, classic approach to high fantasy, which I found refreshing in today’s landscape where fantasy often veers into experimental territories. Don't get me wrong—I'm all for fresh voices and different cultural inspirations, but there’s something comforting about returning to the roots of epic fantasy, and Vobh really leans into that while also adding a few unique twists.

What drew me in was how accessible the story was. It’s a straightforward read, easy to follow, and anchored by a protagonist who is just a genuinely good guy. These days, we see a lot of morally gray or dark, brooding heroes in fantasy, which are fascinating, but sometimes you just want someone you can root for. The main character in The Yawning Gap felt like that—a person you could trust, someone you'd want to follow into battle. It reminded me of the same pure-heartedness I felt when reading Stone and Sky by Z.S. Diamanti. You don’t see that kind of protagonist often anymore, and it was a nice throwback to the more traditional fantasy heroes we’ve grown up with.

HARD DIVIDES

That said, the worldbuilding in The Yawning Gap is where Vobh does something original. The concept of hard divides between different lands and cultures that start to crumble as the plot moves forward is intriguing. You can tell early on that this collapse is setting the stage for a much larger conflict, which adds a real sense of urgency to the story.

I think C.V. Vobh strikes a solid balance between descriptive worldbuilding and keeping the pace moving. The descriptions are vivid without bogging down the reader in excessive detail, which is refreshing in a genre that often gets lost in sprawling descriptions. Vobh manages to paint a clear picture of the world, its landscapes, and characters, while still allowing the story to flow naturally.

The pacing is steady throughout, maintaining a rhythm that keeps you engaged. Whether it's action scenes or more reflective moments, the story doesn’t drag; a successful balancing act that makes the book easy to read without sacrificing depth, making it accessible to both seasoned fantasy readers and those newer to the genre.

CONNECTIVE TISSUE

The book isn't without its hiccups, though. Early on, there are a few key plot points that feel rushed, almost like they happen for the sake of pushing the story forward. At times, I found myself questioning the logic behind certain characters' decisions, which weren’t always foreshadowed or explained well. It gives off a bit of a "plot convenience" vibe, and while that can be frustrating, the book’s overall lighthearted tone lets you forgive it pretty easily. However, I couldn’t help but feel that more "connective tissue" between these moments, particularly deeper character interactions and worldbuilding in the beginning, would have made for a more satisfying and cohesive story.

For example, spending more time fleshing out the relationships between the characters early on would not only make their later decisions feel more natural, but it would also deepen the emotional impact of key scenes. Similarly, giving the reader more insight into the world’s inner workings at the start would help ground the fantastical elements and create a richer, more immersive experience. While the lighthearted tone and funny dialogue help smooth over these rough patches, a stronger foundation of character development and context early in the story could have elevated the entire narrative to another level.

SOMETHING BIGGER

Despite its flaws, I’m pretty hopeful that the downsides of the story could very well be resolved in the next book. There’s a lot of potential here, and now that the foundation has been laid, the author has room to dive deeper into character development, worldbuilding, and more nuanced interactions. The first book feels like it’s just scratching the surface of what could be a much larger, more complex story, and I’m optimistic that the pacing and some of the plot conveniences will smooth out as the series progresses. There’s a strong sense that the story is building towards something bigger, and I’m excited to see how it evolves.

So, while The Yawning Gap has its flaws—especially in how quickly some big moments unfold—it’s still a fun, enjoyable read with heartwarming characters. If you’re a fan of classic fantasy and you’ve been missing that vibe, I definitely recommend giving it a try.