My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a fantastic start to this series! The Talismans of Teregrin has all the elements of an engaging, adventurous fantasy with grounded characters and a touch of romance.

I love stories set on islands because the geography of the island becomes part of the story. There’s also a growing sense of tension with all of the action and mystery contained in one location. So I was excited to read this book because of the island premise with mysterious experiments.

Katy Metzger immediately pulls us into the lab with the main characters, Gemma and Oliver, and their confusion and desire for escape. I enjoyed the uneasiness of the characters as they broke free of their surroundings, only to be trapped on an island full of secrets.

I loved how the MCs escaped after the other Experiments because they’re immediately thrust into an island social hierarchy that’s been developed in their captivity. There’s so much here to dig into with the different groups and their dynamics, the known and unknown of the Experiments and the Morphers. Metzger perfectly balances giving the reader a rich and satisfying plot for this first book in the series while hinting at other mysteries still to be unraveled within and between these groups.

I adored Oliver with his wild power and humor. Gemma has an underlying steel that’s tempered by her emotional empathy and gentleness. There were a number of side characters introduced. Metzger does a remarkably good job with balancing a large cast and not overwhelming the reader.

This book has some great Divergent vibes with lovable, accessible characters and a well-plotted story. I genuinely enjoyed The Talismans of Teregin and am so excited to read this next in the series. I’m hooked!


View all my reviews