Read All About It: Ashes to Fire

Emily B. Martin’s excellent fantasy series Creatures of Light continues with book two, Ashes to Fire.

This book was exactly what I wanted in a sequel. Admittedly, it’s been a while since I reviewed Woodwalker (that was back in June), I finally got around to it! And I am happy to report that Ashes to Fire was an excellent novel. A harrowing combination of fate, diplomacy, and dubious skills outside the norm, this book pulled me in right at the beginning with tense peace talks and a fiery disruption, before it dragged me right alongside Mona, our new narrator, on a path borne of desperation.

We left this series with Mae at the head, having succeeded in her quest to return home to her country. In Ashes to Fire, her ally Queen Mona takes the lead. Right at the start, Mona is confronting her country’s previous oppressor: the country of Alcoro, with King Celeno at its head. Mona’s attempt at diplomacy ends in fire, and a sudden and unexpected journey through the swamps of the neighboring country of Cyprien may be the thing that saves her country. But first, Mona must look inside herself and face her changed perspective of herself, and her country.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of queens getting stuff done. Mona is a great character, and I was ecstatic when I realized that this book was written from her perspective. Mona’s inner struggles are splayed across the page, and even as she fights to retain her purpose and masks, we follow along as her very foundations are challenged. And despite the limitations that Mona is laboring under, she still manages to maintain most of her regal bearing.

This wouldn’t be possible without Martin’s skill as an exceptionally talented point-of-view author. We view everything through Mona’s eyes, especially her perception of other characters and how it affects her decisions, and Mona’s perspective showcases how well Martin writes. Mona is a fully developed woman who is forced to reconsider how she has seen herself for her entire life, and that internal struggle pulls at the heartstrings. Having been queen since a young age, Mona’s struggle has high stakes that are clearly evident to the reader, and those stakes only get higher as we get further into the novel. There is a consistent theme of personal growth throughout this novel, and it shows even in Martin’s secondary characters, who are fascinating additions to the narrative and to Mona’s personal journey.

Martin is able to string us along with an adventure through a bayou, filled with fire and secret rebellions, while disguising the real stakes and shocking us with a plot twist that I certainly did not see coming.

Another exceptional aspect of Martin’s novels: her fantasy world stretches the boundaries. Her worldbuilding is top-notch. Every aspect is clearly outlined somewhere in Martin’s head, and we see distinct cultures that are exceedingly well-developed and rich. Ashes to Fire also introduces us to the technological advances that are just beginning to take hold across the countries, which will hopefully make more of an impact in the final book.

I cannot recommend this series highly enough. I love the characters, the world, Martin’s style, and each and every detail. If I could, I’d forget about these books, so I could go back and read them fresh, and experience each adventure from the beginning.

I look forward to the next book nonetheless! You can read my review of the final book, Creatures of Light, on The Skiffy and Fanty Show in February! I’ll post an updated link when it’s published. Creatures of Light is set to be released just a few days from now, on January 23rd!

Edit:

Follow this link to read my review of Creatures of Light!

Until then, keep an eye out for rakish men who like to play with fire. They just might be the path to your greatest adventure.