Daughters of the Crosslands by Brian Kerr is a fantasy feat. Senya and his twin brother, Raedwin, who gets stuck between life and death.
Is this a dream or something else….., let’s dive in.

“The little lamb must have died in the night. Senya saw no sign of life
as she drew near—no flick of an ear, no tail wag. Only yesterday she’d seen
this same lamb run free.
The first lamb of the season born, and now just the latest one to die.”
Book Review: Daughters of the Crosslands
There is generally a kind of fantasy book which will shake your emotional core to the fullest.
Yes. This is one of those.
Daughters of the Crosslands doesn’t kick the door down screaming DESTINY! Instead, it lives in your mind rent-free.
Let’s start with Senya, who is living a peaceful, minding her own business life. Animals? Yes. People? Absolutely not. Trauma? Oh, plenty—but we don’t talk about that.
Then a mysterious woman came into her life, talks about her twin brother, who is apparently trapped between life and death, & only one person can help. (obv. u know who..)
Which is a big thing in itself, but it came to me as a surprise, Senya does not want to go on this journey. At all. And honestly? Very relatable.
This is so because Raedwin is reckless, and has a past of coming to the door with chaos in his side pockets. So now, the real question is: How far do you go for someone you love…?
The Reading Experience is, it is a slow burn, but in the emotionally investing sense.
- You’ll feel tired with Senya.
- You’ll get annoyed at Raedwin.
“True beauty lay in the perfect union of opposites, of spirit and life, light and darkness.”
Also: Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The atmosphere is moody, misty, and slightly threatening—like something bad is always about to happen, but politely.
The themes are : Identity, obsession, sacrifice, and realizaion.
The prose is slow and quiet which feels beautiful and thoughtful. It doesn’t rush. Now, it’s on reader to grasp it emotionally.
This is not a story about being chosen.
It’s about being tired, loving anyway, when you know the cost might be too high.
Storyline:
Senya lives quietly all alone but happy and peaceful life, taking care of animals and keeping people & painful memories—at far. Life is simple.. Safe.
Then a ghostlike woman informs her that her twin brother, Raedwin, is trapped in the Crosslands… and yes, only Senya can reach him.
Senya doesn’t know, that Raedwin chose the trouble. He got blinded in love for an ancient being named Crassica, he’s been helping her with dangerous rituals which will give her something forbidden: mortal life.
And Senya—she’s part of the plan. Now as she gets deeper into the Crosslands, she begin to experience unknown truths about her own abilities and the cost of mortalising Crassica.
By the time the rituals begin and sacrifices are demanded, the real question arises here is— should she save his brother, and will she be able to move back to her previous life after all this.
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Number of Pages | 418 pages |
| My Rating | 4.5⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | September 11, 2025 |
Read More: The Liar’s Crown Summary by Abigail Owen
What I Loved
- Senya is human: She’s not fearless. She’s cautious, stubborn, kind, and exhausted. A hero? Technically. Willingly? Absolutely not.
- Sibling relationships are handled nicely: from love to guilt—it’s all here & relatable.
- Worldbuilding is also good: The Crosslands, the Vallahnir, unfolds naturally. No info-dumping. No fantasy Wikipedia required.
Quotes:
“She had preferred remote places over cities and towns, places where she could be alone with the animals.”
Also Read: The Malazan Series Ranked
Final Verdict?
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Did it hurt me a little? Also yes. Would I read the next book immediately? Don’t ask obvious questions.
Who should read it:
- If you are into dark, myth-heavy worlds involving life, death etc.
- Appreciate complex sibling relationships that are loving, messy, and painfully real
- If you like not so regular sort of fantasy read.
- If you like to read the story which will cross your mind even after you have finished reading.
Books like Daughters of the Crosslands:
- The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
- The Witch King by Martha Wells
Thank you for reading:)


