What readers are saying

“This book gave me shades of Tolkien with some (clean!) Game of Thrones energy, and I was hooked from beginning to end.”

— Angie Reads A Lot

“The world building is epic and immersive, the prose is beautiful, and the narrators for the audiobook are out of this world. For a debut novel this one certainly packs a punch.”

— Whitney Grace

“I don’t think I’ve been this engrossed in the twists and turns of the plot for a fantasy novel for years… What an extraordinary debut for an author.”

— Angi

“I think this book just reignited my love for classic fantasy.”

— Le Cy

“A great start to an epic fantasy series! I was intrigued the whole time and couldn’t get enough by the end.”

— Ginna Reads

“I’m addicted and so ecstatic that this is going to be a series.”

— Kristin Richards

“This is a debut novel that I’d recommend to anyone who loves fantasy and a grand world. This is going to be an excellent and epic series.”

— A M “VegasBookDragon”

“It’s been a while since ‘classical’ fantasy managed to hook me… it’s clear that the author has put a lot of love into this story.”

— Nicole

“A Sweeping Fantasy Epic Worth Getting Lost In.”

— Alexandra Carter

“The writing reminded me of the best of Sanderson and JRR Tolkien.”

— Emily (parkedreading)

“Easily my best read of 2026.”

— Lau

“O.E. Bruening’s writing is stunning.”

— Lau

“Classic fantasy at its finest.”

— Prithi

“You are in for a wild ride.”

— Prithi

“Twists that feel earned rather than flashy.”

— Joy W.

“An epic fantasy that pays homage to Tolkien’s work while standing apart and on its own.”

— charles.chapters

“This is a strong opening that works equally well for readers looking for a satisfying standalone experience or those excited to dive into a new series.”

— Molly H

“There’s not much I love more than a group of young friends on an epic adventure… I genuinely think anyone from young teens to adults can enjoy.”

— Annie Bone

“How often are dwarves actually the focus of a fantasy novel?… It felt fresh, detailed, and genuinely exciting.”

— Mariah Hone, Librarian

“This plot is so rich that I absolutely inhaled this audiobook in no time.”

— Megan T-W

“Once I got into it, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen with Eden, Anya and Faras… There is plenty of politics, deceit, secrets, and action through the entire book.”

— Kendra Brown

“This was a really engaging fantasy read with strong worldbuilding, memorable characters, and a plot that kept moving.”

— Emboldened

“The world building felt akin to Tolkien and is fabulous… The allegorical nature of Eden’s Rise was powerful and I found the message convincing.”

— Rachel Kerwick

“The plot has plenty of twists and turns, making for a great epic fantasy with seamless world-building.”

— Alyson Neufeld

“This is a great start to what feels like an enthralling and complex series… I listened to the book within a week not wanting to put it down.”

— Luke Mann

“Overall, the writing was solid, the story was good, the monsters were scary, and the world was interesting. Already looking forward to book 2!”

— Dartanyan Johnson

“This was an incredibly enjoyable read!… I found a surprising amount of joy in the city planning aspects.”

— Ace

“The world feels familiar in a Tolkien way but the political constructs are genuinely the author’s own.”

— Danielle

“This would be the perfect intro into epic fantasy for teens and young adults!”

— Abbie Menier

“Each chapter leaves you wanting to hop straight to the next one.”

— Janet

“Doing what fantasy has ever done excellently, using fictional tales to comment on current attitudes towards immigrants and racism.”

— Janet

“The pacing was great and there was truly never a dull moment.”

— Heather

“I love a book with dragons! I enjoyed the growth and changes of Eden, Faras, and Anya as the story progressed.”

— Tiffany Childers Dardy

“Eden’s Rise has an intriguing fantasy world filled with dwarves, humans, elves, dragons that pulled me in off the bat.”

— J.J.

“I really enjoyed the world building, the descriptions of vast cities under the mountains and the processes required to maintain and expand them.”

— Courtney

“This book blew me away on all fronts!!”

— Kelsey Gilchrist

“One of the book’s greatest strengths is the friendship at its core.”

— MikaReadsFantasy

“Bruening’s writing is strong, and there were several moments that genuinely hooked me.”

— Rachel Rada

“I think a lot of fans of the classics will really enjoy this!”

— Greer

“There are some great political and magical layers as well.”

— Lisa Salyer

“The story though is interesting in its setting. Dealing with immigration, and racism.”

— Peter

“A story that grows more intriguing the deeper you go.”

— Joy W.

“The story wrestles with good characters making ‘bad’ choices, and the effects of this tension on the people around them.”

— Sophie

“I’d recommend this to readers who love epic fantasy and want to be early to a fantastic debut.”

— Chris Quinn

“The worldbuilding and historical aspects of the setting were deeply thought out, helped by the amazing illustrations.”

— DHMC45

“Eden’s personal struggle connects to larger questions about class, power, and the stories an empire tells about itself.”

— Melanie Green

“The women in the book were complicated people who didn’t feel one-dimensional.”

— L.N. Holmes