And So The Breaking Begins: Mindbreaker Duet, Book 1 (An Age of War and Prophecy 3)
Lacey Lehotzky
4.2
The Upper World: Book One (Worlds of the Valley 1)
by Erica Jean
About this book
Fated to love but raised to be heartless, Mena is a prisoner in the dystopian Underground of Erth. Forced by the tyrannical Bishop to commit unforgivable sins, she clings to fragments of a past life and the unwavering bond of her team. She is a girl built for vengeance, trapped in a loveless system designed to crush her spirit.
Everything changes when Azrael, the Angel of Death, arrives from the Upper World with orders to neutralize her. Instead of a monster, he finds a stolen soul he is desperate to protect. This gripping paranormal romance masterfully weaves together high-stakes urban fantasy with the tension of an enemies-to-lovers dynamic, as the lawman and the rebel are forced to confront their conflicting destinies.
As their paths entwine, Azrael discovers that the fate of two worlds rests on an impossible task: Mena must heal the enemy who destroyed her, rather than destroy him. With immersive world-building and a divine, forbidden connection that defies the heavens themselves, this story explores whether two broken souls can find a future in the wreckage of their pasts. Perfect for fans of celestial lore and slow-burn intensity, it is a journey into the heart of rebellion.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0GFTL9QFM
Reader Reviews
March 27, 2026
\"Valley above, you are everything,\" he said, grabbing her neck and pulling her down to him, to an all-embracing kiss she thought she might not ever get again. To a kiss she wished might never end. Angels, Rebellion, Found family, some of the things I loved most out of this dystopian romance. The found family being what I found the most enjoyable and one of my favorite parts of the story. Just the overall dynamic between them all, and the depth of the relationships. Who doesn't love a \"he...
March 30, 2026
Some themes that always appeal to me include: a dystopian setting, angels and divine realms, forbidden love. So while I truly appreciate the idea of this story, there are also some elements that kept me from feeling immersed and engaged. Mena is a slave to her Underground โcreatorโ Bishop, who frequently sends her off on missions to kill and destroy people and towns. She and her team are rescued by Azrael, an Angel from the Upper World, who reveals that she is not only an angel as well, but...
March 31, 2026
The Upper World is an immersive journey, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The highlights (for me): - unique, immersive lore and magic (holy hell this world is so well developed and I can't wait to dip my toe into more of it.) - I absolutely loved this take on angels, it felt like nothing I'd read before - this deals with heavy topics (I mean, it is dystopian) but a few moments had me laughing - slow-burn romance !!! and page-one yearning = my favorite combo - other magical creatures which (I...
March 26, 2026
I was so excited to read this story! The dystopian setting pulled me in. Erica did a great job of world building. This book jumps right into the action. Iโm always a sucker for the found family trope. I loved all the side characters. The Angels and their powers is definitely unique and not common in a lot of Romantasy books. I loved watching Mena the FMC grow and understand her powers throughout the story! Azreal the MMC and his yearning for Mena ๐ The twists in the story had me questioning...
March 26, 2026
โ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ . . . ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐โ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ง๐ช๐๐ฃ๐๐.โ The Upper World by Erica Jean 3โ Itโs a magical, dystopian backdrop with human, fae, angels, witches, and shapeshifters. Thereโs underground operatives, military training, and missions with real stakes. Thereโs a sprinkle of found family with ride-or-die friendships that I immediately invested in. Butโฆthe plot took a few detours without a map. I got hit with time jumps, quick-fire backstory, and a...
