In what is an engrossing read from start to finish, author Maressa Voss not only brings forth a secret society beset by evil, one that is dutifully, and at time magnificently rich in textured prose, that is both engaging and entertaining, but at the very same time it provides an atmospherically tender coming of age tale for the generations. ~ Exclusive Magazine, Full Review - https://annecarlini.com/ex_books.php?id=686

An astonishing debut; an exquisite fantasy novel. A slow-burning, sweeping tale of elemental magic, the search for truth, and the dangers of mankind’s unyielding greed for power, „When Shadows Grow Tall“ is an outstanding fantasy novel. I could not put it down! On the one hand, the book introduces the reader to Lovelace and Gunnar, two dactyli rangers. The dactyli are an age-old order of mystic men with magical powers, and their rangers were historically tasked with gathering the wisdom of the land to bring it back to their archives for safekeeping. Faced with the immediate danger of one of their own going rogue, Lovelace and Gunnar are given a different directive: to undertake a dangerous journey in order to find and protect a newly emerged young dactyli. On the other hand, „When Shadows Grow Tall“ tells the story of a smart and determined sixteen-year-old girl named Kylene desperately searching for her outlawed rebel father, the book weaving back and forth between the two storylines until they eventually merge seamlessly into one. The characters are splendid (young Pif most of all), complex and expertly created; the setting is eery and compelling; and given its first-rate world building and poetic prose, it‘s astonishing that this is, in fact, a debut novel. My only complaint is that the ending mainly set the stage for its sequel - which I am already eagerly anticipating. One of the most exciting new voices in fantasy! ~ Goodreads reviewer Tini Zygmont via Net Galley, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5835163773

Well, this came out of nowhere like a shovel to the face, albeit the shovel is made of delicious cake. Maressa Voss’ epic fantasy debut from Roundfire Books is a wickedly effective combination of old-school fantasy with modern day themes in a world that is part cosy Tolkien-Shire fantasy and part dark magic, power and back-to-nature themes of Le Guin’s Wizard of Earthsea, with a strong dash of Hunger Games-style defeat-the-dystopia thrown in. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but Voss has a secret weapon: her utterly wonderful writing which sucks you in to her brilliantly realised fantasy world. The land of this novel, The Grasp, is a standard fantasy land of magic and late medieval cities but with the twist that it’s on the verge of the enlightenment. In the big cities, the newly invented printing press is pumping out propaganda for the new tyrannical ruler Osbert, who has replaced the old kings and is hunting down all those who oppose his supposed new freedoms. This forms the basis for one of the two POVs, Kylene, whose father must flee when his rebellion is discovered, prompting Kylene to go on a dangerous journey to seek him and his rebels out. But this is also a land of magic. In a secret fortress in the south, sorcerers called the Dactyli wield elemental powers and seek truth from nature. Unfortunately one of their kind, a lethal fire-wielder called Alev, has absconded and formed his own army, and so the second POV of the book is that of one of the Dactyli sorcerer-rangers, Lovelace, who with his partner must find out what Alev and his secret fire army are up to in the mountains. It’s the twinning of these two storylines – the “viva la revolución” with the “there’s a new magic in town, kid” that makes this book so fun. The other secret to this tale is the fascinating magic system. With the Dactyli, Voss has combined some guilty pleasure cliché magic with a totally new system. On the one hand we have elemental magic: earth, wind, water, and air powers. This results in some very fun battles of TAKE THAT! TREE IN THE FACE and OKAY HAVE A WALL OF FIRE IN RETURN that are as fun as you’d expect. But before you unfurl the “cliché” banner in my face, Voss balances out this much worn path with an utterly unique system which you could glibly call “Truth from Trees” (and I am nothing if not glib) but more accurately can be described as the idea that all nature carries memories of what happens around it, and if you can read these memories then you can, in theory, seek the objective truth of the world, and in the case of the Dactyli, store it in stone tablets in a massive library of magic-stored knowledge. It’s a fantastic idea that examines whether there is such a thing of truth, and our relationship with nature. As you can probably tell by now, this is a book of strong nature themes, and it is also has cosy fantasy vibes. In particular there’s a group of nomads hiding in the mountains who lead the ultimate Shire-Hobbit-but-more-hipster life: bathing in warm pools; growing massive fields of bees and plants to go in their breakfast (the plants not the bees); and swinging themselves to sleep in the woods on hammocks. You could almost be lulled into thinking that this is a cosy fantasy at times, but the fast-paced and frequently violent deaths will quickly disabuse you of that notion. It’s a deft balance Voss pulls off, this mix of cosy and dark fantasy, but she does it like a seasoned pro. It’s on the themes, however, that Voss has really struck gold here. This is a book about what happens when secret, privileged knowledge and the hoarding of power comes up against the relentless march of progress and the supposed democratisation of knowledge and power at the expense of violence and tyranny. The peaceful Dactyli seek objective truth, and hoard these truths along with the secrets to their magic. But Alev and his terrifying fire powers, as maniacal as he seems, seeks to offer these powers to the wider population. Even the tyrannical movement under Osbert claims to represent progress, denouncing the Dactyli as the elite, essentially. This lays the ground for a classic fantasy clash of “the stuck-in-their-ways-heroes versus the wrong-but-slightly-have-a-point-villains” but it’s also a wicked parable for today, where popular (and mostly right wing) movements across the globe seek to demonise the elites for hoarding their resources and power. In the enigmatic Kapnobatai (the previously described hammock-swinging nomads) we have a potential solution: magic and wisdom for all but without the violence and tyranny. This clash of potential futures ramps up towards the book, and after one almighty brave and admirably bonkers twist, Voss ends the book right where you want the reader: salivating for the upheaval to come. Overall this is an urgent tale of the dangers of progress versus the complacency of elites in a cosy-but-dangerous land of magic I never wanted to leave. One of the fantasy debuts of the year. ~ Ed Crocker, https://fanfiaddict.com/review-when-shadows-grow-tall-by-maressa-voss-2/

Unlikely heroes abound in Voss’ fantasy novel of magic ... Readers will be swept into an unusual landscape that’s engagingly similar to our own in some ways; in this world, nature has been stripped of its resources and corruption has silenced dissent, though it’s not too late for compassion to prevail. As the story, which features vivid descriptions and intricate history, weaves in elements of mystery, readers will wonder whom the heroes can trust; along the way, they’ll enjoy scenes of fast-paced action and dangerous magic ... the work contains great beauty and a sense of hope, and readers will likely be excited for a sequel. A fun adventure that will keep readers engaged. ~ Kirkus Reviews, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/maressa-voss/when-shadows-grow-tall/

I requested this ARC almost before I finished reading the synopsis. It did not disappoint. It exceeded my expectations! When you review on NetGalley, you will find both books by more established authors and books by debut authors. There’s only so much you can glean from a plot summary…you just have to take a leap of faith and hope the story is as good as it sounds. Folks, I’ve been burned before. I’ve had to slog through some not-so-good debuts. This, however, is not one of those disappointments. It exceeded my expectations! I’m so happy when I take a chance on an unknown author and it pans out! I’m thrilled with this book. The worldbuilding is excellent, and Maressa Voss paints pictures with words. You are transported to the Grasp, with all of its various peoples and climes. You will feel fear and exhaustion with Kylene, as she embarks on an arduous journey. You will learn about the dactyli, and travel along with Lovelace and Gunnar on a quest that has long been foretold. The magic system is intriguing and well-thought-out. This starts with a bang. That opening scene is absolutely gut wrenching. I don’t have the words to adequately express my emotions upon reading it. Just…go get this book when it comes out on August 1st. When Shadows Grow Tall is an amazing debut, and Voss is one to watch. I can’t wait to read her next book! Thank you to NetGalley, Collective Ink Books, Roundfire Books and Maressa Voss for gifting me this wonderful ARC. All opinions are my own. ~ Books_The_Magical_Fruit, Goodreads

As a debut novel, "When Shadows Grow Tall" is absolutely outstanding! Maressa Voss is highly skilled with synonyms and antonyms, without being overbearing. It's like a glassblower creating a vase, you see the shape, but the glassbower breathes life into it, clips and shapes, rolls and expands. This is the best way I can describe the writing style I was absolutely hooked from page one, sucked in and gripped. The worldbuilding is awesome, the world and elemental magic unique and the charatsers relatable. This. Book. Is. Incredible. A powerhouse debut that will knock your socks off and help you put them back on again and give you a cuppa. Fantastic Thank you to NetGalley for the free eARC. I leave this review with a huge smile voluntarily ~ Ink Reads, Goodreads

This was well written, fast paced, and had excellent character development. The world building is great and has a myriad of quests from which to entertain. Kylene is fun to follow around the landscape, never failing to entertain with her sharp wit. The magic is elemental, subtle and believable. The antagonist is perfectly cruel and without humor. I am not sure if this is an authorial debut or not. If it is, just wow. The writing is expansive with intricate scene descriptions that allow the reader to visualize at great depth. This author is and will be a force in the genre. Really well done. Rating: 4.8/5 ~ Viking Jam, Goodreads

If you want to read a great fantasy, with all the hallmarks of an epic, that also has some wonderful world-building then this is the book for you. In a land known as the Grasp, ruled by a tyrant known as Osbert, who keeps his people under strict laws that suppress their freedoms and their knowledge. In this land, a young woman, Kylene, won't stand for half and hidden truths, she wants to know everything. She is forced from her village and goes on a perilous journey that shakes the very fabric of who she is. There are also the dactyli, elemental magic users who guard the histories of the world. Lovelace and Gunnar are part of the order, on the search for others of their kind to be raised in the order. They are fighting evil forces who are killing the young boys they have been sent to find until they are sent on the most important mission of their lives. They are to find the White Flame. The world-building in this book was amazing, with depth and realism that brings you into the story. I did not truly get on with the author's style of writing, but that was just me, and it did not take away from the story unfolding before me. A must-read for fantasy lovers. ~ Louise Page, Goodreads

As I delved into this book, I couldn't shake the sensation reminiscent of "The Name of the Wind." Perhaps it's the eloquent prose reminiscent of classic literature, or maybe it's the immersive ambiance that truly transports you into a magical realm. . Such experiences are rare for me, and this narrative effortlessly whisked me away into its world, ensnaring my attention without ever dulling or tiring my senses. The story itself deftly blends both showing and telling, ensuring that you remain firmly ensconced within its grip. The characters you journey with are undeniably entertaining, though I found the villains to be somewhat clichéd, in my humble opinion. Don't misunderstand; the heroes aren't entirely novel either, but they possess a depth and complexity that the villains seemed to lack. ~ Rajesh Sh, Goodreads

When Shadows Grow Tall is an outstanding addition to the fantasy genre. A truly original voice propels the story along effortlessly. As Le Guin points out in her essay From Elfland to Poughkeepsie, “fantasy is nearer to poetry, to mysticism, and to insanity than naturalistic fiction is.” Voss’ lyrical style supports her world building and narrative without jarring the reader out of the necessary suspension of disbelief. Each character, from the quirky Pip to the mysterious Kylene, has a distinctive voice and personality. I was particularly impressed with the magic system, rooted in nature and the concept of the being-ness of all things, an engaging combination of animism, zen and alchemy. Voss grounds the action in a quest to find a mysterious person emitting a wild magic not recognized by the caretakers of the world’s memories. The suspense is built around a race against time, as the antagonists seek to corrupt or destroy the natural order. The found family that comes together to fight the spreading evil is one of the many joys of the book. A profound moment in the novel describes a vision similar to other matriarchal creation myths but markedly of its own tenor and congruent with the world itself. The attention to names—people, places, things—is indicative of the care given to creating the secondary world. Highly recommended, with one caveat: the cliff hanging ending, with the odds stacked hopelessly against the protagonists, promises further books ahead! ~ John, Goodreads

Showing a confident grasp of character and stunning worldbuilding, Maressa Voss's debut fantasy novel, When Shadows Grow Tall, shows us not only a society beset by evil, but gathers the company who must fight for truth and thus vanquish it. It’s both a tender coming of age and a stirring call to arms, with a wonderfully deft weaving of magic and nature. Highly recommended. ~ Julie E. Czerneda, author of the Night's Edge series from DAW Books