In the village of Eludwid, seventeen-year-old Eramane Fahnestock goes about her life, cheerfully disregarding a prophecy made to her parents that she would have a great gift. Not yet wed and beset with boredom, Eramane cannot shake the feeling that something exciting awaits her beyond Eludwid. But when she is invited to picnic with a handsome young suitor, Eramane has no idea that her life will soon change forever. As Eramane prepares for her date, she is suddenly hypnotized by a strange voice that tells her he will be coming for her that night. Unsettled but determined to press forward, Eramane and her suitor, Lebis, head to the woods to enjoy their picnic. As darkness falls on the forest, however, a beast emerges, transforming their beautiful outing into a terrifying scene. Taken captive and carried away to a mountain hideaway, Eramane finds her memories are soon clouded, even as her family frantically searches for her back home. In this gripping fantasy tale, evil is summoned to the mountaintop, forcing a young woman to discover her magical gifts and exact revenge against a beast determined to destroy everything she has ever loved. Frankie Ash holds a BA in English with a minor in mass communications. She resides on the East Coast, where she is currently writing the sequel to Eramane.
Frankie Ash lives in Northern Virginia where she freezes her butt off eight months out of the year. She is pursuing a master's in English and wrote ERAMANE (Archway Publishing) and BLOOD SOAKED ASHES (available online wherever books are sold.)
Connect with Frankie: follow her on Twitter, like her Facebook fanpage , visit her website, follow her on Tumblr become a fan on Goodreads.
is the first book in The Eramane Trilogy. I began writing it over ten years ago, and I'm so stoked that it's finally published! Eramane is a seventeen-year-old girl who seems to have it all: a well-to-do family, a loving older brother, a handsome suitor. Her story, the thread behind the plot, is what kept me writing through the years, when at times I thought the story would stay a forgotten file on my PC. But, during the decade, moments of an undeniable need to write Eramane's story would arise, and I would find myself, many times, working it out at 3 a.m. The reason I believe so strongly in Eramane is because she is fierce, yet fragile. Her motivations are legit and her purpose is irrevocable. I found myself in tears more than a few times at certain points in this first book. It's not a typical happily-ever-after story; Eramane's journey is trecherous, physically and mentally, and I am committed to keeping an authenticity to this trilogy. That said though, Eramane is full of suprises, good and bad, and...you just have to read it to find out! If I were not the author and I were to rate Eramane...well this isn't going to work because I am and I did. Since I've read it's of poor taste to rate your own book, (boooo!) I won't. But before I finish I would just like to say that I love nickels, FIVE dollar bills, FIVE dollar footlongs, FIVE Finger Death Punch, world FIVE of NES Super Mario Bros, FIVE golden rings...you get my point:)
In the village of Eludwid, seventeen-year-old Eramane Fahnestock goes about her life, cheerfully disregarding a prophecy made to her parents that she would have a great gift. Not yet wed and beset with boredom, Eramane cannot shake the feeling that something exciting awaits her beyond Eludwid. But when she is invited to picnic with a handsome young suitor, Eramane has no idea that her life will soon change forever.
As Eramane prepares for her date, she is suddenly hypnotized by a strange voice that tells her he will be coming for her that night. Unsettled but determined to press forward, Eramane and her suitor, Lebis, head to the woods to enjoy their picnic. As darkness falls on the forest, however, a beast emerges, transforming their beautiful outing into a terrifying scene. Taken captive and carried away to a mountain hideaway, Eramane finds her memories are soon clouded, even as her family frantically searches for her back home.
In this gripping fantasy tale, evil is summoned to the mountaintop, forcing a young woman to discover her magical gifts and exact revenge against a beast determined to destroy everything she has ever loved.
So...maybe I just didn't read the synopsis carefully enough before I read it, but this book was NOTHING like I expected. I was expecting your average Fantasy romp with a heroine who has or discovers magic or awesome fighting skills and falls in love with tall, dark and handsome. What I got was something quite different.
Eramane starts out rather terrifying and gets darker as it goes along. This book is different from your average fantasy as it lives in the realm of the antagonist. It lives in darkness. When we turned that corner in the book, this was me:
I was surprised at the actions Eramane took. This is not your normal heroine, sacrificing herself for the good of others. This is a human being (sort of) who has real selfish desires and self preservation instincts. Now, I wanted her to fight back more, to search harder for answers. She seemed a little complacent in the middle.
I liked the split POV between Eramane and Samiah, her brother. Samiah's story reads much more like a high fantasy novel, with a quest taken on horse back, searching for Eramane and taking out enemies along the way. It was nice to have that other piece spread throughout the darkness of Eramane's story.
Part of the reason this book gets 3 stars is because I'm not a huge fan of first person present narration. I don't have a problem with first person (I've written some things in first person), but I do NOT like present tense for fiction. That's totally a subjective thing, a preference that doesn't diminish the quality of the book, only my personal enjoyment.
With an interesting and very different kind of heroine and lots of action, Eramane is a fast-paced and exciting read that will keep the reader engaged for it's very short length. If written in the same way, sequels will be very successful for fans of the first book. Recommended for fans of fantasy, especially if you're looking for something outside of the norm!
REVIEW What’s the story? “We belong to each other now,” the beast declares as
it grabs my limp body and takes me up into the darkness.” ― Frankie Ash, Eramane
***Insert here music of Carl Orff ***
This is the first installment of 3 books that has the Eramane series , If you read my reviews you know that usually in this type of series I think this first book is where you put the cards on the table and you know most of the characters that accompany you on this voyage . Eramane also applies to this rule.Eramane Fahnestock , she is the protagonist of the story , She has the whole kit to be the main character, is cute, good feelings and great desires . Also in the book we find his family , including his brother Samiah , with whom has a very good relation of brothers. Samiah have your partner Mira. Their relationship is very sweet. Eramane parents are very compressive and expect their daughter to have a couple who She wants,with respect , a life partner and in love with each other . In this case appears Lebis , the blacksmith, and as any girl Eramane is interested in him. Their parents the help them to have a date ( something sweet on their part) but hey every parent wants the best for her daughter. Anyway Eramare have your date with Lebis , but here is where everything changes , something happens that changes the life and destiny of Eramane .
Destiny? I think the book presents two key points (well, a few more) important or what is important for me, the beginning of the story where we narrate something that happened before by the time of Eramane and Chapter of date of Eramane and Lebis. I think you should go looking for clues in this book, is good, I love the description of the villa Eludwind, lots of action in the book but still insist I think Frankie Ash put us clues or riddles in because there are so many questions that make, I wish the output of the second part is here! By the way also a character who should check is Limearsy , just put it here without reference because seriously worth it than readers discover this character. He is my favorite.
In the second part I think Eramane as a character is going to undergo a radical change and will surprise us even more. His writing in my opinion is a classic style and have something current that mixes very well, has good descriptions and is one of the things that charm me of the book, another is the unexpected situations, at some point in the table below our feet shakes us and say WHAT HAPPENED HERE?? and elsewhere you expect more. There are some small details that make you see that it is the first book of the author, but the exceeds very well each of them
Without a doubt, I loved, going according to your type of genre and readers. If you have of opportunity read this first book, READ! and Discover what’s behind the story of Eramane Fahnestock. Or if possible add the book on her shelf in Goodreads as a book to read next.
After finishing the book I got in contact with your the author Frankie Ash for an interview . She is very accessible and very friendly, if you have the opportunity to contact your favorite authors, Do it!. Frankie shows us a way cool, funny of as she is, about his book and so fun facts. INTERVIEW HERE --> http://allthingsincloudsweet.wordpres...
I participated in a book blitz for Eramane a while back and I read some excerpts from the book and knew that it was something that I wanted to read. I love the world building that fantasy books can provide. I think it is like an imaginations wonderland in fantasy. I love to see what the author can come up with, and Frankie Ash did not disappoint. The village and the mysterious mountaintop were equally detailed for me. I got a real feeling of the setting in this book. At first we are just dropped into this world, and it can be a little jarring but eventually I got my bearing and from that point forward the story flowed really well for me.
Eramane is fascinating. She is seventeen and has had no suitors yet, which I found really strange since she was described as being very beautiful. But her parents were very protective of her. It was nice to get a chance to see her whole family in the story and to get to know her and her brother. I liked how close they all were. I certainly have some experience with a close family and very protective parents. Eramane is a feisty girl, and you know I like my main characters feisty. She has more than a little snap in her. I think she is going to be such a great character in this trilogy. When she arrived in the mountaintop castle, I really started to like her. In fact, that was the big turning point in the story for me. It was then that I really got interested in the tale.
We get to see things from both Eramane and her brothers perspectives. I personally liked Eramane's more because I connected with her better, but her parts were a little slower than her brothers. But that is probably just because there was lots of action going on in her brothers parts. The book started off a little slow for me, but it really picked up in pacing towards the end. Eramane has piqued my interest enough to want to read the next book in the trilogy.
So it turns out that I know the author (who kindly provided me a free copy in exchange for an honest review), however, I was 90% finished with the book and already formed my conclusions before she revealed that we knew each other. She is a delightful woman who has written a wonderful book. Eramane is full of complex characteristics - being strong one minute and the next being vulnerable.
The sibling love is well done, although there were times when Samiah needed a good shake for being so reckless. I liked the touch of adding that he is a pending father. It made his rashness seem all the more flawed. His pursuit of his sister was endearing and made me like his character even more.
The premise is unique. I am not sure that I have ever read a book where the heroine goes against all her beliefs and does something unforgivable. Eramane does just that in order to survive. I struggle with a bi-polar disorder and have behaved in ways that make me ashamed. I understand doing things that goes against your values, and I feel that Frankie Ash did a great job of showing the conflict and shame that one feels after you have behaved in a way that is unbecoming.
I did want Eramane to demand more answers though. She would just accept the little tidbits that were fed to her by various people and not relentlessly pursue information. But that is just me imposing my personality on the character. I really enjoyed Eramane's journey as she matured, and I look forward to seeing more of her in the rest of the trilogy.
Eramane is the first book in The Eramane Trilogy. I began writing it over ten years ago, and I'm so stoked that it's finally published! Eramane is a seventeen-year-old girl who seems to have it all: a well-to-do family, a loving older brother, a handsome suitor. Her story, the thread behind the plot, is what kept me writing through the years, when at times I thought the story would stay a forgotten file on my PC. But, during the decade, moments of an undeniable need to write Eramane's story would arise, and I would find myself, many times, working it out at 3 a.m. The reason I believe so strongly in Eramane is because she is fierce, yet fragile. Her motivations are legit and her purpose is irrevocable. I found myself in tears more than a few times at certain points in this first book. It's not a typical happily-ever-after story; Eramane's journey is trecherous, physically and mentally, and I am committed to keeping an authenticity to this trilogy. That said though, Eramane is full of suprises, good and bad, and...you just have to read it to find out! If I were not the author and I were to rate Eramane...well this isn't going to work because I am,so I'm not going to star it. But before I finish I would just like to say that I love nickels, FIVE dollar bills, FIVE dollar footlongs, world FIVE of NES Super Mario Bros, FIVE golden rings...you get my point:)
My rating for this one is 3.5 and that’s only because I just could not get into this one. I don’t know why I could not get into it I think it was a little choppy in the start but it did get better. I did enjoy the writing style of Ash. But I have to say I liked the fantasy world this one was set in, Ash really did a great job setting it up and making me feel like I stepped into this one.
Reading both Eramane and her brothers viewpoints helped too because sometimes Erammane was not as interesting as her brother but hey its good see different things happening in a story makes for a more exciting read! Once I get about half way it started to get a little better for me watching Eremmane and her family together and her journey on finding the right suitor and will it be the right one or will things change forever?
I think I was just looking for more in this one and I did not get it, this is a hard review for me because I am really on the fence on how to rate it. I think others might enjoy it WAY more then me and maybe I just was not in the mindset to read. I think a re-read is in the future for me and I WILL be reading book two because I have big hopes for it!!
I got this book four days ago, read it once, and have started it again. It's not a lengthy read (234 pgs.)but it's crammed with lots of action. I like the way it unfolds, once it does (and it does quickly)...it's on. There is romance, but it's not overdone and it doesn't overshadow the story. Since it's the first in a new series, I am hoping that the second book will be a little bit longer.
Guys I tried so hard to enjoy this book. I really did, but there was no coherent thought process at all. Ash uses info dumps, over simplification, and stilted conversation to tell the story. I genuinely want to know what's up with Adikiah, the baby from the beginning, Eramane's future and what it all means...but I just can not continue.
I thought I knew where this story would be going. It's one of those, "I never saw that coming"!! It's gripping, intense, and full of unexpected events. It's a great read!! If the next one is anything like this one..it's going to be a movie.
Overall this book was good but there were some parts that I didn't like. This book was to fast and in the end the fight with Adikiah was just to short. I expected the fight to be longer. However I did like all the characters especially Ermanes brother. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Let's start with the positives. The story was intriguing and held my interest until the end, and the characters were likable and generally interesting, and there of those "too perfect" guys for Eramane to fall for, thank goodness. This isn't a half-bad fantasy, but I did have some troubles with it.
Throughout my reading, I found myself asking the question "why" a lot. It seemed like I was missing information about the world and about the plot in general that left me asking "why is this happening?" all too often. How did Adikiah know about Eramane? Why does everybody seem to know about Eramane? Why isn't the society explained at all? Info-dumping isn't a good thing, but some background information is necessary. And be aware that although this doesn't end on a cliff-hanger, the ending does feel a bit incomplete, even knowing that this is a series.
Eramane herself falls a little flat. I found myself able to relate to the secondary characters much better. Though she's a normal girl who finds herself in incredible and frightening circumstances, she's remarkably calm and accepting of everything. And a tad naive to boot.
Overall, and interesting story that I think could use some work and expansion to make it really good.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
In many ways this book started out great, with wonderful imagery and story telling. However, the further I read into the book, the more the chapters fell into more of an outline of a book, rather than telling a complete story. I wanted the author to explain more, or go more in depth on certain parts. . and so some chapters fell flat. Overall originality won.
I recieved this book through Goodreads giveaways. In no way does this effect my personal review.
Eramane was a good book just not my kind of book. I couldn't fall into it as much as I would have loved to but that may have been because I didn't have enough time in the day to immerse myself in the pages. I wish I could have liked the book more.