This was so expertly woven together that I could not step away. I was so invested in Audra figuring out what felt off, and was rooting for her from page one. No one knows why, but the Storycrafter magic no longer works to give stories their endings, and has caused devastation for the people. Crops no longer flourish, goods no longer sail across the oceans with safety and experience, and mistakes are far worse than ever before, resulting in death and destruction.
When Audra meets Jaik and is finally able to finish a story, she doesn't know what to do, except that she absolutely needs to escape the town she's on, and she MUST take him with her. Of course, he thinks she's a creep and refuses...but she has her ways. Now they're on the run from the soldiers inevitably send by the Sha to capture them, and realize that they will need to work together much better if they're going to outrun word of her finished story and get to safety.
With a plan on place, Audra and Jaik face the wilds and travel towards the coast where Jaik knows someone who can sail them to where they need to go. Along they way they're plagued by a mysterious soldier who seems to know them, but while Jaik vaguely knows him, Audra has no memory of him at all. Something is very wrong, and she will stop at nothing to find out what.
Audra and Jaik grow undeniably closer on their quest to find answers, and the truth that is revealed is bigger than they ever thought possible, yet drawn down to a single Master Storyteller. It's been clear that information has been missing in weird ways, but they never expected everything to change upon their meeting in a Tavern the night she was able to finish a story, all because of Jaik's presence in the room.
This was a long one, but it was riveting and compelling and kept me coming back for more. The emotion of the characters was so real, and I felt the agony and pain over the decisions to be made; the love they had for each other, and the impossible sacrifices they must make. The ending absolutely destroyed me and I had to finish it with tears!