One of the pleasures of fantasy is discovering worlds that feel both extraordinary and emotionally familiar. The best fantasy novels don’t simply transport us somewhere new. They remind us that courage, loss, hope, and love exist no matter the world in which a story unfolds.
That balance is one of the strengths of Shattered Energy: A Memory in Time by Athena Plencner.
Ariyana appears to have an ordinary life. She is raising twin boys, trying to hold together a strained marriage, and struggling to understand the vivid dream that has haunted her since childhood. Night after night, she relives the same devastating memory, watching her dragon-like companion, Glacin, perish at the hands of terrifying insect-like creatures. She wakes each morning with the lingering certainty that somehow it all feels real.
On her 30th birthday, she discovers that it is.
As the boundaries between dream and reality collapse, Ariyana learns that the visions she has carried for decades are actually fragments of a forgotten past. Suddenly, she finds herself hunted by powerful enemies while racing to uncover the truth about who she really is before the people she loves are placed in danger.
Although the novel offers imaginative creatures, exciting action, and an expansive fantasy world, its greatest strength lies in its emotional core. At its heart, Shattered Energy is a story about identity, memory, family, and the choices we make when the past refuses to remain buried. Readers uncover each revelation alongside Ariyana, making every discovery feel personal.
The novel has already earned praise from reviewers. Kirkus Reviews noted, “There’s action aplenty in Plencner’s novel,” while Midwest Book Review described it as “a cut above many McCaffrey stories,” praising its ability to entertain while remaining thought-provoking.
Athena Plencner grew up on the East Coast before making Southern California her home. When she isn’t writing fantasy, she’s often exploring the outdoors, finding inspiration on hiking trails and long runs. That sense of exploration carries naturally into her fiction, where imaginative worlds are grounded by believable characters and genuine emotional stakes. Shattered Energy: A Memory in Time is her debut novel, introducing readers to a new fantasy series that promises adventure while never losing sight of the people at its center.
If you enjoy fantasy that combines mystery, memorable characters, emotional depth, and imaginative world-building, Shattered Energy: A Memory in Time is well worth adding to your reading list.
