The Yawning Gap by C.V. Vobh is the first book in the fantasy The Wanderers Cycle, which follows Cor, Celeste, and their companions as they embark on a perilous mission to save their world. Cor, who discovers a way out of his isolated village, learns that the entire world is fragmented by invisible boundaries, draining life from the godlike Elements. Joined by fellow wanderers, they must find a way to restore the Elements and confront the menacing Warlock, who poses a grave threat. In an epic showdown, the Archanimist makes a transformation and heralds a new era, followed by chaos and the unleashing of skeletal orks. In an experience of completely distorted perception, Celeste receives a cryptic message, a more fervent sense of urgency, and a mysterious connection to an enigmatic figure.

The Yawning Gap by C.V. Vobh is a classic fantasy quest that has all the most important hallmarks of a promising series. The premise of saving the Elements and restoring balance to the fragmented world is unique and that makes this first book extremely special. Vobh anchors it with an epic hero's journey. Cor overcomes obstacles that feel insurmountable while facing creatures that practically leap off of the page. Ferret-boar beasts? Orks? A fierce battle against Lothar and his monstrous allies? Check, check, check. Along the way, we see extreme growth among all, particularly Cor and Celeste. They acquire and hone new skills, and Core forges a bond with Brayleigh and then puts his neck on the line to save Celeste. The novel is a beast in size but the pacing is fast and driven by high stakes and huge consequences. Failure means death and success could very well still mean death for the group. The ending is a cliffhanger but not a frustrating one with loads of loose ends, and I believe Vobh has a fantasy series starter with an abundance of potential.

Before Cor's mother died seventeen years ago, she said he was important. Now, he is left with no clue about why he is important, and staying in a village excluded from the rest of the world is certainly not helping. However, he dreams of being a Beldrian warrior since the older Annals knew them as wielders of swords and slayers of orks. Cor leaves his village and learns the Elements that produce life are being drained dry as the centuries pass. He must find a way to put an end to it. Will Cor and his companions succeed in saving the world? The Yawning Gap: The Wanderers Cycle Book 1, by C.V. Vobh, portrays a world on the brink of destruction and a group of wanderers' perilous and adventure-packed mission to save it.

The story has various themes and elements that will appeal to fantasy fans. Its world-building is intricate, apparent from the start to the finish. It was quite exciting to read intriguing details of this world such as trolls being "offspring of the orks themselves, bred to exaggerate the orks’ basest traits." The book's length and intricacy made it hard to predict how things end up, which I loved. However, this also means a considerable part of the novel focuses on complex details. C.V. Vobh's lyrical, profound fantasy mirrors real-life problems and reminds us to stop our reckless exploitation of Earth's resources. Like Cor and the wanderers, we mustn't stand by and watch. The Yawning Gap has several more truth and wisdom nuggets that are worth digging for.

The Yawning Gap (Book One of the Wanderer’s Cycle) by C. V. Vobh is an epic fantasy that will keep you enthralled until the end. Cor Volucre is a young, ambitious swordsman who grows up in the quaint and pastoral town of Beldria. Although life in Beldria is very peaceful, Cor longs to become a warrior and to know what lies outside the magical Boundary that separates the town from the rest of the world. One day, Cor discovers a weakness in the Boundary and crosses to the other side. Here, his adventure and quest begin. As he attempts to outrun several unfamiliar creatures, Cor discovers a mysterious cave where he encounters the powerful being and Element, Dievas. The Element charges Cor with saving the rest of his kind and the realm. Cor accepts this mission and sets out on his journey. He is soon joined by a few other valiant souls – the most notable being Brayleigh of Fernstead, Deliad, the Knight Lord of Norvester, and Celeste, the Merchant’s orator. Together, they join forces to find what is left of the Elements.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Vobh’s The Yawning Gap. The world-building in this book is crafted meticulously, as it grips the reader from the moment that they are introduced to Beldria, the Boundaries, and the Fragments. The protagonist, Cor, accepts his call as the chosen one, and we learn about everything through his eyes. We encounter the Peugs, the Orks, and the toxic rule of the Merchant, Lothar, alongside him. We watch as he fights his first battles and wins – even when the odds are against him. This first-person perspective enables you to accompany the characters, which makes you feel like you are part of their team. I also appreciated the wit and writing in the novel. There is a unique oscillation between period jargon and contemporary references to fist bumps and phrases, such as “Yikes.” I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a thirst for the unknown and enjoys a good old-fashioned adventure.

In The Yawning Gap (The Wanderers Cycle Book 1) by C.V. Vobh, Cor, a young distillery worker, meets a mystical being named Dievas who gives him a mission to save the Elements. Celeste, a leader's ally, is working on issues like famine and food for Labor Day. Cor's journey is filled with strange beasts and special stones that guide his path. Celeste, noticing her leader's cruel rule, saves a woman and questions her own loyalties. Both Cor and Celeste fight to restore order in their world with betrayals, rescue missions, and battles against unnatural beings. With their friends, they venture to save the Elements and their world, fighting against the dark Warlock and other perils, learning about the power of friendship, loyalty, and bravery along the way.

The Yawning Gap (The Wanderers Cycle Book 1) by C.V. Vobh sets itself apart with key attributes that lie in its capacity to present a unified narrative and a satisfactory first book conclusion while keeping the overarching journey at the forefront. It successfully avoids the episodic nature typically found in other works that are intended to span a whole saga. It was really easy to get to know the characters right away and from there they develop organically. Cor goes from a distillery worker to an elemental warrior and captures the spirit of a commoner rising to a paladin's call of duty, and Celeste subtly and bravely undermines the oppressive regime she's been part of. Vobh takes time developing the world and its locations and they're illustrated fully, from Cor navigating the Boundaries using a Passagestone to the Academy and its floating airship, the Sojourner. Danger and adventure marry cohesively and Vobh's symphony of trials gives the genre a new first-rate fantasy. Very highly recommended.