Nobody’s Quest by Alyssa Day – That’s What I’m Talking About…

Hybrid (audiobook/ebook) review: Nobody’s Quest by Alyssa Day

Soli lost her mother when she was young and subsequently turned over to indentured servitude with no hope of release since she is marked as a Graymind. When the king summons her to join a dangerous quest to save the kingdom, it comes with the prize of freedom, and Soli is quick to volunteer. All she has to do is survive carrying an amulet that burns others to ashes, find two keys, and avoid capture or death at the hands of their enemies. Good thing she’s got a motley crew of skilled warriors and knowledgeable companions, including Kaelen, the handsome Prince of Valourian, who is inexplicably drawn to Soli.

Nobody’s Quest is the first book in a new romantasy series from one of my favorite authors. Day, who openly talks about her struggles with mental health and depression, wanted a story that features a main character with mental health issues. Kudos to Day for showing that a person is still a person, full of life and value, even if they suffer from depression. I liked how Soli is patient and tries to explain what happens during her bouts of Graymind, and I love that her new friends take the time to try and understand. I love how she learns that her Graymind isn’t what she is but a component of her life. 

I enjoyed a lot of the fantasy elements Day creates in this new world. The adventure is exciting and the companions each have interesting backstories. While I wouldn’t classify the book having a cliffhanger ending, it is evident that the journey is not over. 

Unfortunately, I had issues with the story and characters. At first, Soli seemed too innocent and young. Soli is 20, but she comes off younger because she was sheltered and abused her whole life. She’s gained a vast knowledge from reading, but has no practical life experiences and is naive at times. She’s innocent so when she lusts after the prince, who is older and worldly, it felt wrong to me. This changed when I started the audiobook. York is EXCELLENT and gives Soli a spunky attitude fitting of her new-found courage and freedom. 

However, there were times the storytelling felt simplistic or didn’t make sense. For example, Soli is bears a Graymind brand which can lead to her being recaptured. When they are brainstorming ideas to cover it up, nothing comes up. Yet later in the book, an easy solution is offered by one of the questing party, something that could have been done when it first came up. I also was very frustrated with something that happens near the end of the book that left me shaking my head. And don’t get me started about what Soli and Kaelen do when on watch! Finally, Soli tells the reader over and over that Trick is her lifelong best friend, but there is no camaraderie between the pair. 

Narration: York performs with a mature, strong feminine voice. She sounds confident and certain, even when spiraling. York modifies character dialogue based on age, gender, nationality, and race. Some characters sound similar, but narrator does a very good job adjusting for each character. York infuses her performance with a lot of emotion by modulating tone, speed, and volume. 

In the end, despite Nobody’s Quest having issues for me, the Nobody Chronicles holds promise to be an engrossing fantasy series. 

My Ratings
Story: C/C-
Narration: A-

Jen

About the Book:

The goddess needs a nobody. The prince needs a miracle.

Soli Graymind might be both.