... mysterious and wonderful ... Even from the very first page, I was hooked for one reason: the initial premise here is simple, full of tension and immediately engaging. Even as the central goal of not opening the door plays out, Caruso builds a vivid universe around it, filling the pages with personality and depth. Like a good mystery, Tower slowly feeds the reader with more and more clues, never fully revealing everything at once. Caruso builds and releases tension deftly on both large and small scales. Even short conversations Ryx has with scheming foreign nobles expand and contract as political and personal issues are explored ... This book has moments of real pain and longing that have nothing to do with magic or towers ... At the time of this writing, I’m restricted to my house as a global sickness isolates nearly everyone from each other. I can’t help but think that, on a smaller scale, Ryx’s isolation is something many readers can imagine first hand.
... an action-packed adventure ... Caruso effectively captures the struggles of balancing responsibilities with youthful insecurities and new friendships.
... [a] no-holds-barred epic fantasy ... The intricate, colorful world is vividly described and anchored by the raw emotions of the diverse cast. Caruso’s new series is off to a promising start.
