The Crash of Worlds by Alisse Lee Goldenberg is the third book of The Children of Colonodona series. It enmeshes us in the lives of Lucas, Audrina, Zayna, Gertrude, and Salazar as they grapple with love, self-identity, acceptance, and survival. We also get to revisit Sitnalta and Navor.
Table of Contents
Review
Penned by Alisse Lee Goldenberg, The Crash of Worlds sweeps us off our feet and takes us on a magical journey of a lifetime.
The third book in The Children of Colonodona series, The Crash of Worlds, enmeshes us in the lives of Lucas, Audrina, Zayna, Gertrude, and Salazar. At the same time, we also get to follow the journeys of Queen Sitnalta, King Navor, and Duke Ipsinki, along with the others.
Lucas is back in Colonodona after his escapade in Coralnoss. He is loved and accepted by his parents, King Navor and Queen Sitnalta. His sister, Princess Audrina, has started to understand him as well. Nevertheless, he does not feel the sense of belonging that he did in Coralnoss. Then, the dreams start. In his dreams, he witnesses the devastation of the island. Rightfully worried for his beloved, Zayna, he tries to reach out to her. In Coralnoss, a natural disaster has ruined everything. As the Council did not pay heed to Marcus’ words, most were lost to the sea. Only a small band of survivors, including Zayna, Marcus’ daughter, Marial, and a blue-haired baby, along with others, remain. Despite being on the verge of extinction, the islanders, who are notoriously distrustful of outsiders, do not consider Zayna’s plan to seek help from outside. With Marial’s counsel, Zayna decides to head out nevertheless. She takes the baby with her on her venture to find Lucas to get help for the island. Surprisingly, she finds herself and the baby in King Parven’s kingdom. Things are not quite all right in Colonodona as well. Princess Audrina’s love for Gertrude has alienated her from her grandfather, King Parven. Her refusal to marry Prince Salazar has made him brand her a deviant, much to the chagrin of her parents. Prince Salazar is also ousted from his kingdom by his parents. Fortunately, King Navor and Queen Sitnalta offer him a home in Colonodona.
Will Zayna be able to bring help to rebuild the island? What role does the blue-haired baby play in their lives? Will Lucas and Zayna reunite? What does King Parven have in store for Zayna and the baby? What about Audrina? Will she be able to let go of her reservations about ruling a kingdom?
In The Crash of Worlds, Alisse Lee Goldenberg beautifully weaves fantasy and magic with realistic themes of self-identity, love, and acceptance. Even though this is the third book of a series, which itself is connected to another series, the novel is easy to follow. We are seamlessly integrated into the world of Colonodona. Goldenberg sneaks in little tidbits from the previous books, without giving away much, so that we can easily follow the story. She does this so masterfully that I found myself wanting to read the other books in the series as soon as I finished this one. The world-building of this series is top-notch. Filled with fantastical elements, it has a realistic vibe to it. It beautifully explores love in all its forms. Audrina’s affection for Gertrude, another girl, is not accepted by Parven. This makes her question the prejudice and constant judgment she might have to face if she decided to be queen. However, her parents’ constant support and acceptance give her strength. Queen Kika’s silent support portrays how some people are apprehensive to come out and speak up for things they do not understand, even when they know them to be right. Kika’s slow realization about Parven and her situation is masterfully executed. Parven’s loss of control and growing insanity is aptly showcased as well. The democratic yet closed-minded nature of Coralnoss is perfectly contrasted with the rigid decorum of monarchies. All this perfectly mirrors reality.
King Navor and Queen Sitnalta are amazing. They truly love and support their children in everything. Their acceptance of Prince Salazar won my heart. We also get a glimpse into their epic love story. Navor’s interactions with his father, Parven, broke my heart. Duke Ipsinki and Gwendolyn are great as well. Prince Salazar is a wonderful friend. I loved to see his bonds with Audrina and Lucas. His pain at being cast out by his parents for not agreeing to a marriage is nicely depicted. Lucas and Zayna have great chemistry. It is evident from the moment they reunite.
Overall, I loved reading The Crash of Worlds by Alisse Lee Goldenberg. I am grateful to have discovered this series. Though I have to say that I was gutted by the ending. It made me want to read the next book at the earliest.
I highly recommend Alisse Lee Goldenberg’s The Crash of Worlds to fans of fantasy, adventure, romance, and coming-of-age.
About the Author
Alisse Lee Goldenberg writes children’s literature, horror, YA paranormal romance, and YA fantasy. She created The Sitnalta Series, The Children of Colonodona, The Dybbuk Scrolls, and The Bath Salts Journals with An Tran. Goldenberg holds degrees in education and fine arts and works as a screenwriter and playwright in Toronto.
Book Details
- Title: The Crash of Worlds
- Author: Alisse Lee Goldenberg
- Genre: Fantasy
- Theme: Love, Acceptance, Survival, LGBTQ, Adventure, Family
- Publication Date: May 18, 2026
- ISBN or ASIN: B0GY65N8BK
- Number of Pages: 282
- Minimum Audience Age: 12
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
- Sexual themes: 1
- Religious themes: 0
- Violence, self-harm, etc.: 1
- Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 1
- Other adult themes: 0
Rating
- Content: 5 stars
- Writing Style: 5 stars
- Appeal to Target Audience: 5 Stars
- Uniqueness: 5 stars
- Editing: 4 stars
- Other factors: 5 stars
- Overall: 4.83 out of 5
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