What do you think?
Rate this book
The Training Grounds: From the Ashes
After suffering devastating losses in the pursuit to destroy the reaper, Millicent, Adelaide, and Oakes try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. As they prepare for another year at the Training Grounds, events unfold that provide hope—and the promise of more bloodshed.
The discovery of an ancient map presents a world of possibilities, along with whisperings of a device that holds the potential to bring Darius back. Millicent and her friends will embark on an epic journey and attempt the impossible—to cheat death. While increasing her control over the elements, a strange voice from beyond reaches out, offering a deadly proposal.
As the three students search for a way to bring Darius back—or decide to finally let him go, Dean Anders joins forces with Bao and Bixia to prepare the Training Grounds for an imminent attack. Not only must Anders juggle the external threats of Belladonna and the Unified Republic, but a new foe emerges, threatening to destroy the school from within.
The stakes are higher as cataclysmic battles bring Merchant Valley to the precipice of annihilation. Will the new weapons Anders creates for his prize students be enough? Can they possibly withstand the inevitable onslaught destined for the school? This time everyone must fight to stay alive—or die trying.
The discovery of an ancient map presents a world of possibilities, along with whisperings of a device that holds the potential to bring Darius back. Millicent and her friends will embark on an epic journey and attempt the impossible—to cheat death. While increasing her control over the elements, a strange voice from beyond reaches out, offering a deadly proposal.
As the three students search for a way to bring Darius back—or decide to finally let him go, Dean Anders joins forces with Bao and Bixia to prepare the Training Grounds for an imminent attack. Not only must Anders juggle the external threats of Belladonna and the Unified Republic, but a new foe emerges, threatening to destroy the school from within.
The stakes are higher as cataclysmic battles bring Merchant Valley to the precipice of annihilation. Will the new weapons Anders creates for his prize students be enough? Can they possibly withstand the inevitable onslaught destined for the school? This time everyone must fight to stay alive—or die trying.
- GenresFantasy
392 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2023
5 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 26, 2023
Yo, this is my favorite book I've written so far.
January 14, 2024
You had me at two hours of battle scenes! Like the first book, I listened to the audiobook which I highly recommend. The narrator is so talented and has so many voices.
This book picks up where the first one left off, but it has a faster pacing and a lot more action. With the deaths of characters in the first book, this book has a darker and more ominous feel to it. It's no longer about training to win the prestige and showing off for rivals. There is an impending battle that they must prepare for. Having already faced Belladonna once, they are under no delusions of what they are up against.
But the problem of how to bring Darius back looms over them. Millicent is having dreams about him that feel far too real to just be a dream. She also begins hearing a new voice, once that promises a dark deal for the thing she wants most.
I love all of the main characters, but Millicent became my favorite in this book. Her magic wielding is so powerful, she is smart, fearless, determined, and so badass! But she's also compassionate, kind, and moral.
The last two hours of the audiobook is a string of epic battle scenes, and that is what pushed my rating over for five stars. I absolutely love long battle sequences in books, and listening to it narrated by this narrator made it all the better. The ending had my jaw on the floor! This author has written a fantastic fantasy series, and I can't wait for the next book!
This book picks up where the first one left off, but it has a faster pacing and a lot more action. With the deaths of characters in the first book, this book has a darker and more ominous feel to it. It's no longer about training to win the prestige and showing off for rivals. There is an impending battle that they must prepare for. Having already faced Belladonna once, they are under no delusions of what they are up against.
But the problem of how to bring Darius back looms over them. Millicent is having dreams about him that feel far too real to just be a dream. She also begins hearing a new voice, once that promises a dark deal for the thing she wants most.
I love all of the main characters, but Millicent became my favorite in this book. Her magic wielding is so powerful, she is smart, fearless, determined, and so badass! But she's also compassionate, kind, and moral.
The last two hours of the audiobook is a string of epic battle scenes, and that is what pushed my rating over for five stars. I absolutely love long battle sequences in books, and listening to it narrated by this narrator made it all the better. The ending had my jaw on the floor! This author has written a fantastic fantasy series, and I can't wait for the next book!
December 18, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏹 🗡️ 🌊 🔥
(To better enjoy this book I suggest first reading The Training Grounds: Mystery of the Immortals).
The Training Grounds 2! I didn’t think it could get better than the first and I’m so glad I was wrong about that. It’s very rare that multiple books in a series get a 5 ⭐️ rating from me but here we are. Other than this book being a combination of all the series you love, this book was fast paced, had action around every corner and definitely made me cry more than once. There were times where I physically stood up and paced while reading this book, times where I punched the air and yelled out “YEEAAHH!” Watching the characters grow and mature since the tragedies in book one was the cherry on top.
Follow Millicent, Adelaide, and Oakes as they enter their second year at The Training Grounds. With a sour taste in their mouths they go forth into this year striving to be better than they were before and trying to find a few precious things that were lost to them in book 1. Nothing is ever easy at The Training Grounds though and they soon find themselves with no other choice but to be pressured into being soldiers to fight the incoming army that aims to destroy Dean Anders, his school, and all life as they know it.
Harry Potter meets The Hunger Games meets The Last Airbender meets The Dark Tower.
You will love this series!
🏹 🗡️ 🌊 🔥
(To better enjoy this book I suggest first reading The Training Grounds: Mystery of the Immortals).
The Training Grounds 2! I didn’t think it could get better than the first and I’m so glad I was wrong about that. It’s very rare that multiple books in a series get a 5 ⭐️ rating from me but here we are. Other than this book being a combination of all the series you love, this book was fast paced, had action around every corner and definitely made me cry more than once. There were times where I physically stood up and paced while reading this book, times where I punched the air and yelled out “YEEAAHH!” Watching the characters grow and mature since the tragedies in book one was the cherry on top.
Follow Millicent, Adelaide, and Oakes as they enter their second year at The Training Grounds. With a sour taste in their mouths they go forth into this year striving to be better than they were before and trying to find a few precious things that were lost to them in book 1. Nothing is ever easy at The Training Grounds though and they soon find themselves with no other choice but to be pressured into being soldiers to fight the incoming army that aims to destroy Dean Anders, his school, and all life as they know it.
Harry Potter meets The Hunger Games meets The Last Airbender meets The Dark Tower.
You will love this series!
April 18, 2024
Fantasy/sci-fi
War school
Multiple pov
Badass FMCs
Morally sound MMCs pushed to the grey
Redemption
I listened to this second in the series as an audiobook again, and it did not disappoint!! The narrator, Jamie Treselyan, is so phenomenal that this almost felt like a graphic novel. The voices curated for each character were perfection!
The story arcs for Millicent and Oaks were my favourite. Both of them going through some moral dilemmas; Millicent with her magic and forcing her will on the elements, and Oaks with forgiving his father for all past wrongs.
A 2 hour battle?! I kid you not. 2 hours. Of battle. So intense and so detailed.. I felt like I was watching it as a movie. So much death and destruction.
I liked the addition of new characters, Jared, and more insight into the people of the New Republic. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for, what’s left of, the training grounds.
War school
Multiple pov
Badass FMCs
Morally sound MMCs pushed to the grey
Redemption
I listened to this second in the series as an audiobook again, and it did not disappoint!! The narrator, Jamie Treselyan, is so phenomenal that this almost felt like a graphic novel. The voices curated for each character were perfection!
The story arcs for Millicent and Oaks were my favourite. Both of them going through some moral dilemmas; Millicent with her magic and forcing her will on the elements, and Oaks with forgiving his father for all past wrongs.
A 2 hour battle?! I kid you not. 2 hours. Of battle. So intense and so detailed.. I felt like I was watching it as a movie. So much death and destruction.
I liked the addition of new characters, Jared, and more insight into the people of the New Republic. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for, what’s left of, the training grounds.
November 6, 2023
I loved the first book and couldn’t wait for this one to come out. Clark delivers again! There are certain aspects of From the Ashes that are even better than the first book. Book one has great mystery and book 2 has some as well. Where book 2 excels however is in character development and action. Everyone had a moment to shine this time. I’d really love to learn even more about the history in book 3. Any time a book keeps me thinking about the world and lore the author has accomplished what they set out to. I finished the second book weeks ago and still can’t stop thinking about it! Looking forward to the next one.
January 7, 2025
Going into this second book I was scared, and rightfully so. No one is safe. I loved the building and getting the spotlight on other characters. It really fills in the gaps getting to see different POV'S. Many of these characters are flawed and some even morally grey but I begin to love and understand them. The fighting is done so well and the ending yet again has left me WOWed. It's fairly unpredictable but everything flows and fits together well. So interesting to see the cross between futuristic weapons & time period in what looks and feels like more of the middle ages. Great series so far!
October 5, 2023
The sequel to The Training Grounds Mystery of the Immortals. Hard to say which I liked better. The first one had more mystery, but this one had more action and was fast paced. The final action sequence is one of the best I've ever read. Jason borrows from a million different things (comics, movies, other books, anime, video games) and somehow blends it all together beautifully. I appreciate that I'm guessing the entire time about what comes next. I didn't think there was a dull moment in this book.
September 10, 2023
Second book better than the first
This is a great series. I can’t wait for the next book. Jason has really outdone himself with this book.
This is a great series. I can’t wait for the next book. Jason has really outdone himself with this book.
November 9, 2023
As a huge fan of fantasy this is truly on the top of my list. It has great action, suspense, and wit. I really enjoyed the first book but this one took it up a notch. I highly recommend this book.
August 13, 2024
This one goes hard
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews