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Ascension #1
Eldmoor: Origins of Blaze
The day twenty-seven-year-old Clara is chosen to take part in the Ascension Games is the day death knocks on her door.
For many, the Ascension Games is the one and only chance for a better life in the underground city of Eldmoor. A prize worth fighting for… a life worth dying for.
The Games are two teams, eight players, and one flag. Sounds easy, if the contestants can survive the dragons seeking revenge for humanity's betrayal many centuries ago.
The death race has already begun. Will Clara reach the finish line alive?
For many, the Ascension Games is the one and only chance for a better life in the underground city of Eldmoor. A prize worth fighting for… a life worth dying for.
The Games are two teams, eight players, and one flag. Sounds easy, if the contestants can survive the dragons seeking revenge for humanity's betrayal many centuries ago.
The death race has already begun. Will Clara reach the finish line alive?
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2024
739 people are currently reading
6160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
August 4, 2024
I wanted to like this book so much. The idea of it was amazing. The plot line could have been great. The writing however, left a lot to be desired.
First of all, it's extremely stiff. None of the interactions between characters felt natural at all.
Secondly, there was so much bouncing around that I spent half the time wondering what the heck was going on. We'd see hours or days pass in a single sentence, but it happened all the time.
Thirdly, a lot of stuff never really made sense. The people all live underground but yet they can really easily access above ground? They had strict rules about who lived where but they just waived those away sometimes? I was left feeling very confused almost all the time.
Props to the author for finishing a book, that's a huge accomplishment. Sadly, for me it was a confusing and jumbled, and I found myself struggling to finish.
First of all, it's extremely stiff. None of the interactions between characters felt natural at all.
Secondly, there was so much bouncing around that I spent half the time wondering what the heck was going on. We'd see hours or days pass in a single sentence, but it happened all the time.
Thirdly, a lot of stuff never really made sense. The people all live underground but yet they can really easily access above ground? They had strict rules about who lived where but they just waived those away sometimes? I was left feeling very confused almost all the time.
Props to the author for finishing a book, that's a huge accomplishment. Sadly, for me it was a confusing and jumbled, and I found myself struggling to finish.
May 16, 2024
If The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing had a love child, it would definitely be this book.
I received an ARC copy of this book. I genuinely enjoyed this story and the main character Clara! The story was very fast paced and kept me wanting more right from chapter one. I have a special place in my heart for “shadow daddies” (as BookTok likes to call them) and this author delivered with Desmond’s character.
My only complaints would be that a few areas of the plot line felt rushed and could leave me feeling slightly confused as a result, but not to the point that I couldn’t continue on.
Be prepared for a major cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see what adventure the next book takes us on!
I received an ARC copy of this book. I genuinely enjoyed this story and the main character Clara! The story was very fast paced and kept me wanting more right from chapter one. I have a special place in my heart for “shadow daddies” (as BookTok likes to call them) and this author delivered with Desmond’s character.
My only complaints would be that a few areas of the plot line felt rushed and could leave me feeling slightly confused as a result, but not to the point that I couldn’t continue on.
Be prepared for a major cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see what adventure the next book takes us on!
June 11, 2024
Clara is tired of being at the bottom of the totem pole. Olin has dreams of earning a higher position in life through competing in the Ascension Games but the participants are chosen by those much higher up than they are. What are the odds of him being chosen? Apparently very high. When Olin's name is called Clara fears for her friend but soon realizes he isn't alone in his fate. She will be right beside him training to go to the surface where dragons kill and maim any humans they come into contact with. Or is that just what the ruler of Eldmoor wants everyone to believe. Dragons lived peacefully with humans until 20 years ago. They were betrayed. They were wronged. They turned on humans. But what's the real story here? Who is the true enemy? Dragons or humans?
I really really wanted to like this book. I love the idea of it, it just was not done well. The writing is terrible... it seems like it was completely unedited. The characters do not seem like they are in their late twenties and the stream of consciousness is super difficult to follow. A lot of things just pop up randomly and it's never really explained. Maybe too much going on I don't know but it just was not super enjoyable for me.
I really really wanted to like this book. I love the idea of it, it just was not done well. The writing is terrible... it seems like it was completely unedited. The characters do not seem like they are in their late twenties and the stream of consciousness is super difficult to follow. A lot of things just pop up randomly and it's never really explained. Maybe too much going on I don't know but it just was not super enjoyable for me.
September 10, 2024
1.5
The concept of the book was good…but the execution of it was not. There were a bunch of grammatical errors, names would get mixed up, concept of time was all wonky, and often I was feeling all around confused. The author also had a habit of ending chapters with incomplete sentences as if attempting to end on little cliffhangers but instead of feeling like a cliffhanger, they just felt annoying.
I don’t know how much time the author spent writing this book but they should have taken more time to plan it all out and make sure that there was enough background on the characters and the overall story.
Note: there are no trigger warnings when there absolutely should be.
(ARC received in exchange for an honest review)
The concept of the book was good…but the execution of it was not. There were a bunch of grammatical errors, names would get mixed up, concept of time was all wonky, and often I was feeling all around confused. The author also had a habit of ending chapters with incomplete sentences as if attempting to end on little cliffhangers but instead of feeling like a cliffhanger, they just felt annoying.
I don’t know how much time the author spent writing this book but they should have taken more time to plan it all out and make sure that there was enough background on the characters and the overall story.
Note: there are no trigger warnings when there absolutely should be.
(ARC received in exchange for an honest review)
June 13, 2024
I nearly DNF’d this. It was a close call.
I love the story and think that this has some really great potential.
However, it is extremely slow getting to the main story plot, the author gets names mixed up at one point, and there are a lot of issues with grammar that were tough to get past.
While this has mostly few triggers, please be aware that there is nearly r@pe, g0re, and mentions of unaliving.
I hope that the author makes some changes with this as I’d love to see if become better.
I love the story and think that this has some really great potential.
However, it is extremely slow getting to the main story plot, the author gets names mixed up at one point, and there are a lot of issues with grammar that were tough to get past.
While this has mostly few triggers, please be aware that there is nearly r@pe, g0re, and mentions of unaliving.
I hope that the author makes some changes with this as I’d love to see if become better.
May 13, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and then when I reached the end I was bummed bc I really am invested in what happens next at this point.
It’s a great book for anyone looking for something like the Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing.
There were some issues with the book where things needed to be fleshed out more to really take it to the next level and a lot of the magic fight scenes tend to have the same things described, which was what brought it to 4 stars. If it had been able to be longer and a little more detailed, I think it would have been able to get to 5.
It’s a great book for anyone looking for something like the Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing.
There were some issues with the book where things needed to be fleshed out more to really take it to the next level and a lot of the magic fight scenes tend to have the same things described, which was what brought it to 4 stars. If it had been able to be longer and a little more detailed, I think it would have been able to get to 5.
May 17, 2024
˗ˋˏ eldmoor ˎˊ-
☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑ Author: J.P. Feather ☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑
₊˚⊹♡ Rating: 5 / 5 Stars ₊˚⊹♡
⋆˚✿˖° Review:
finished this book in a little over 24 hours, i couldn't put it down! such a good book. the tropes and plot is one of my favorites so i was super excited to arc review and it did not let me down! the characters are extremely loveable, story is very intriguing, and there are several
aspects of mysteriousness so the reader never knows what to expect. the writing style and thought put into each character is great. One of my favorite reads of 2024 so far. everything about it was soooo good
𓇢𓆸 Favorite Quote:
"in every hurtful action there is a black lesson that will show the stars" 𓇢𓆸
♡ What I Loved:
- enemies to lovers
- world building & character building
- character develooment and back stories
- mmc is v enticing i love him
- plot building & pacing was percect
- literally everything
.ᐟ What I Didn't Like:
- the only single thing i did not like, which is very minor compared to the amazing story, is very minor & few grammar errors.
જ⁀➴ Spice Level: 0/5, no spice but lots of world and character building to setup the series so i expect the next book will have some!
— ୨୧₊˚ Would I Recommend It?:
YES! anyone who loves the dragon, divided society with survival games will LOVE this! i will definitely be recommending to anyone who enjoy fourth wing, serpant and the wings of night, & similar books. soooo good, def put on your TBR!
₊˚⊹♡ Conclusion:
overall i really loved this book. i found it hard to find anything i didn't like. it is written so well with an appropriate amount of detail. i never felt confused or overwhelmed, it was really such a great read and now i can't wait for the next! ₊˚⊹♡
☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑ Author: J.P. Feather ☆˙୨ৎ⭒๋࣭⭑
₊˚⊹♡ Rating: 5 / 5 Stars ₊˚⊹♡
⋆˚✿˖° Review:
finished this book in a little over 24 hours, i couldn't put it down! such a good book. the tropes and plot is one of my favorites so i was super excited to arc review and it did not let me down! the characters are extremely loveable, story is very intriguing, and there are several
aspects of mysteriousness so the reader never knows what to expect. the writing style and thought put into each character is great. One of my favorite reads of 2024 so far. everything about it was soooo good
𓇢𓆸 Favorite Quote:
"in every hurtful action there is a black lesson that will show the stars" 𓇢𓆸
♡ What I Loved:
- enemies to lovers
- world building & character building
- character develooment and back stories
- mmc is v enticing i love him
- plot building & pacing was percect
- literally everything
.ᐟ What I Didn't Like:
- the only single thing i did not like, which is very minor compared to the amazing story, is very minor & few grammar errors.
જ⁀➴ Spice Level: 0/5, no spice but lots of world and character building to setup the series so i expect the next book will have some!
— ୨୧₊˚ Would I Recommend It?:
YES! anyone who loves the dragon, divided society with survival games will LOVE this! i will definitely be recommending to anyone who enjoy fourth wing, serpant and the wings of night, & similar books. soooo good, def put on your TBR!
₊˚⊹♡ Conclusion:
overall i really loved this book. i found it hard to find anything i didn't like. it is written so well with an appropriate amount of detail. i never felt confused or overwhelmed, it was really such a great read and now i can't wait for the next! ₊˚⊹♡
May 28, 2024
this book has SO MUCH potential. however, i had a hard time connecting to any characters and i wish there were more descriptions throughout the story. i felt as if this story should have been 500 pages with so much more detail. i loved the idea of the book, but i do wish that the author had me build more of a connection to the characters. i also wish that there was more information on where the protagonist was from. more explanation as to how she grew up and how horrible it was. i need more background on everyone and everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
Amazing story line! Didn't want to put it down at all with all the twists and turns it keeps you on your toes. A huge cliff hanger! Love dragons? Love danger and suspense? This book is definitely 5 stars and should be read! Being chose as a e ARC was amazing! All of j.p feather's books never disappoint and keep you attached until the very end!
July 31, 2024
So I love the story and do plan on reading the next book but omg there were so many grammatical errors. I’m not really uptight about it if it’s just 2 or 3 or even maybe 5 (but that’s pushing it). But damn I found at least 20 or more, I started noting them after the first 3 or 4. And then there were a few transitions that were really rough and I had to reread. My first thought was if maybe the author is not American or English speaking and the book had to be translated so I looked her up but not much on her. She’s a young author from Europe. I think she just needs to get a better editor or publisher or whoever proofreads these books and helps her put it together. I don’t know how that all works but she needs a better team or they just need to do better. It was hard to finish bc of all the errors and then I’m still confused about some things. Like there was a lot left unexplained. I’ll read the next book but if it’s the same experience as this one, I don’t think I’ll be reading more from this author. Or maybe give her a few years maybe 5 or 10 to master her craft. Great story but it just was really hard to read through for me. Like I’m so upset I had to write a review and I never do unless I absolutely loooove the book lol
July 3, 2024
A great story but so slow and predictable :( Hunger Games x Fourth Wing which is a super exciting idea! Book 2 seems like it will be even more interesting but I don’t know if I’ll read it. I couldn’t form any connections with the characters either sadly.
May 13, 2024
If you are looking for a story that is similar to Hunger Games with dragons and more conspiracy, Eldmoor:Origins of Blaze by J.P. Feather is the book for you. This has enemies to caring for each other. There is such a touch her and die moment that at one point the main male character amputates another man’s leg off for insulting the main female character.
Clara and her mother live in the lower levels of Eldmoor along with all of the others who haven’t participated in the Ascension Games. Those who survive the games are allowed fortune and to move to the higher and more luxurious levels. Her and her best friend Olin are chosen with others to participate in this year’s game. Clara not only has to battle and become stronger to survive this deadly game, but to survive the torment the other players give her as her family is ones who are accused as the ones who turned humanity upside down and brought a war with the dragons. Clara has a mentor of Desmond. Desmond’s father runs Eldmoor and is an abusive narcist. Desmond has shadow magic and uses it to protect himself and his friends. Clara and Desmond develop a sort of friendship, sort of relationship feelings and still hate each other due to all the past. During the games, Clara is trying to find out the past involvement of her father and dragons and get revenge for her father. This story ends in a major cliffhanger.
My favorite thing about this book is the writing. It sucks you into the story and you can’t get enough. I am intrigued by the character development and the world building. I love the description of magic and the use of swords. The cliffhanger felt so abrupt because I was so involved in the story. I can’t wait for the next book.
My least favorite thing about this was Clara and Desmond’s relationship. I felt that the feelings part towards each other was rushed a bit due to the time crunch of the games with the dramatic kiss. I do hope to see the relationship grow in the next book so it can be developed more. But I absolutely loved “I take what’s mine” quote.
I gave this book a five out of five. The characters grow. The story is intriguing and pulled me in and along the whole plot. I am so excited to have found J.P. Feather and can’t wait to read more!
Clara and her mother live in the lower levels of Eldmoor along with all of the others who haven’t participated in the Ascension Games. Those who survive the games are allowed fortune and to move to the higher and more luxurious levels. Her and her best friend Olin are chosen with others to participate in this year’s game. Clara not only has to battle and become stronger to survive this deadly game, but to survive the torment the other players give her as her family is ones who are accused as the ones who turned humanity upside down and brought a war with the dragons. Clara has a mentor of Desmond. Desmond’s father runs Eldmoor and is an abusive narcist. Desmond has shadow magic and uses it to protect himself and his friends. Clara and Desmond develop a sort of friendship, sort of relationship feelings and still hate each other due to all the past. During the games, Clara is trying to find out the past involvement of her father and dragons and get revenge for her father. This story ends in a major cliffhanger.
My favorite thing about this book is the writing. It sucks you into the story and you can’t get enough. I am intrigued by the character development and the world building. I love the description of magic and the use of swords. The cliffhanger felt so abrupt because I was so involved in the story. I can’t wait for the next book.
My least favorite thing about this was Clara and Desmond’s relationship. I felt that the feelings part towards each other was rushed a bit due to the time crunch of the games with the dramatic kiss. I do hope to see the relationship grow in the next book so it can be developed more. But I absolutely loved “I take what’s mine” quote.
I gave this book a five out of five. The characters grow. The story is intriguing and pulled me in and along the whole plot. I am so excited to have found J.P. Feather and can’t wait to read more!
September 11, 2024
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Hunger Games + Dragons meets Catching the flag 🙌🏻
I loved this!!!!
Some spoilers will be on this review.
I like how it wasn't that predictable but you can still foresee what would happen.
When she was 7 years old she watched her world turned upside down, her father was "eaten" by the dragon's leader. So all she ever wanted was to avenge his death.
Clara's family name was tarnished when the dragons started a war with the humans. She has been bullied and blamed for her father traitorous actions. But she has stuck to the believes that her father was not the person these people say he was.
20 years later ole girl is called to join the Ascension Games were she'll get the opportunity to rise up the totem pole or die trying.
She was selected to trained with one of the cruelest coaches Desmond and let's just say the banter between these two is to die for 🫠
What she doesn't know at first is that Desmond is the son of their "leader" Lazarus and when she finds out things between them gets more intense.
Overall I like how Eldmoor wasn't mainly focus on romance but more on world building.
There's no spice in book one but with everything happening in the underground city you won't even notice.
I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait to see what book 2 has in store for Clara
Hunger Games + Dragons meets Catching the flag 🙌🏻
I loved this!!!!
Some spoilers will be on this review.
I like how it wasn't that predictable but you can still foresee what would happen.
When she was 7 years old she watched her world turned upside down, her father was "eaten" by the dragon's leader. So all she ever wanted was to avenge his death.
Clara's family name was tarnished when the dragons started a war with the humans. She has been bullied and blamed for her father traitorous actions. But she has stuck to the believes that her father was not the person these people say he was.
20 years later ole girl is called to join the Ascension Games were she'll get the opportunity to rise up the totem pole or die trying.
She was selected to trained with one of the cruelest coaches Desmond and let's just say the banter between these two is to die for 🫠
What she doesn't know at first is that Desmond is the son of their "leader" Lazarus and when she finds out things between them gets more intense.
Overall I like how Eldmoor wasn't mainly focus on romance but more on world building.
There's no spice in book one but with everything happening in the underground city you won't even notice.
I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait to see what book 2 has in store for Clara
November 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eldmoor
This book had me locked in from the first page . The world building was soooo good but chaotic!
Underground cities, dragons, betrayal, politics, revenge, this whole thing is just stacked and still easy to follow.
Clara is such a fierce FMC and I loved how determined and stubborn she is. Desmond 😮💨 dark, confusing, untrustworthy, annoying and yet absolutely magnetic. Their tension is sharp and layered without being overdone, and I liked watching their dynamic shift as the Games got darker.
The Ascension Games were my favourite part. They are dangerous, brutal and unpredictable. I was actually stressed.
The dragons, the hierarchy and the survival challenges blends together so well and creates this high stakes fantasy that keeps moving.
There’s no spice, but honestly it didn’t need it. The plot carries everything.
Tropes
🐉 deadly survival competition
🗡️ reluctant allies
💀 dark secrets
🥰 morally grey MMC
🔥 dragons x underground rebellion vibes
I really enjoyed this and I’m definitely continuing the series. I need answers immediately.
Eldmoor
This book had me locked in from the first page . The world building was soooo good but chaotic!
Underground cities, dragons, betrayal, politics, revenge, this whole thing is just stacked and still easy to follow.
Clara is such a fierce FMC and I loved how determined and stubborn she is. Desmond 😮💨 dark, confusing, untrustworthy, annoying and yet absolutely magnetic. Their tension is sharp and layered without being overdone, and I liked watching their dynamic shift as the Games got darker.
The Ascension Games were my favourite part. They are dangerous, brutal and unpredictable. I was actually stressed.
The dragons, the hierarchy and the survival challenges blends together so well and creates this high stakes fantasy that keeps moving.
There’s no spice, but honestly it didn’t need it. The plot carries everything.
Tropes
🐉 deadly survival competition
🗡️ reluctant allies
💀 dark secrets
🥰 morally grey MMC
🔥 dragons x underground rebellion vibes
I really enjoyed this and I’m definitely continuing the series. I need answers immediately.
May 14, 2024
Great first book to the series. Set in a dystopian era with Hunger Games vibes, humans against dragons where only the strong survive. There’s magic, conspiracy, a strong and fierce MFC and a broody, dark and brutal MMC.
The story was very interesting and sucks you right in. There are so many diverse characters from the big brother like, protective BFF to the conniving players who will do anything to win.
Loved Clara’s character, she’s hated by mostly everyone as the rumours state her father is the cause of the world’s tragic state. Despite everything stacked against her, she is fierce in defending herself and pushing through every obstacle to make sure she survives.
Desmond is the cold and brutal head coach that hands out all punishments to the rule breakers. He ends up becoming Clara’s trainer, mostly to anger his father, but as they continue to work together you see him begin to let her in and even retaliates against another player on her behalf. I love a dark and broody, touch her and I’ll maim you MMC.
Book ends in a shocking cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
The story was very interesting and sucks you right in. There are so many diverse characters from the big brother like, protective BFF to the conniving players who will do anything to win.
Loved Clara’s character, she’s hated by mostly everyone as the rumours state her father is the cause of the world’s tragic state. Despite everything stacked against her, she is fierce in defending herself and pushing through every obstacle to make sure she survives.
Desmond is the cold and brutal head coach that hands out all punishments to the rule breakers. He ends up becoming Clara’s trainer, mostly to anger his father, but as they continue to work together you see him begin to let her in and even retaliates against another player on her behalf. I love a dark and broody, touch her and I’ll maim you MMC.
Book ends in a shocking cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
May 15, 2024
A huge thank you to the Author J.P Feather for this arc !
I was hooked from the beginning. The world building was done great! This book has a strong FMC & a strong but dark MMC. I enjoyed all the aspects of this book, it has a strong intriguing plot with dragons and swords, the character’s development in this was amazingly done.
It definitely gives off hunger game vibes with the dragons and game and I ate it all up! The ending was shocking and I can not wait for the next book to see what will happen!
This book will definitely get you out of a reading slump as it did to me ! I truly recommend this book , the author did an exceptional job ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was hooked from the beginning. The world building was done great! This book has a strong FMC & a strong but dark MMC. I enjoyed all the aspects of this book, it has a strong intriguing plot with dragons and swords, the character’s development in this was amazingly done.
It definitely gives off hunger game vibes with the dragons and game and I ate it all up! The ending was shocking and I can not wait for the next book to see what will happen!
This book will definitely get you out of a reading slump as it did to me ! I truly recommend this book , the author did an exceptional job ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 29, 2024
This book is like if Hunger Games had dragons. It was an enjoyable read. But I wanted more. More world building, more character development, more details. The plot was great but I just wanted more. I’m interested to see what happens next in the story in book 2.
Note: I did receive a copy of this ARC from the author.
Note: I did receive a copy of this ARC from the author.
September 13, 2024
Unexpectedly Great
This book grabbed a hold of my attention and never let go. The author did an amazing job of telling the story while making sure to capture your attention. I loved how this was a unique fantasy book and I can’t wait to find out what happened next. Highly recommend!!!
This book grabbed a hold of my attention and never let go. The author did an amazing job of telling the story while making sure to capture your attention. I loved how this was a unique fantasy book and I can’t wait to find out what happened next. Highly recommend!!!
May 22, 2024
Great
This was great there are so many things I want answers to and I need the answers then the ending was a cliffhanger. Not going to give to much but WTH I think I'm already in love with Damerson. This was deep and I think there is going to be more to come and suprises too.
This was great there are so many things I want answers to and I need the answers then the ending was a cliffhanger. Not going to give to much but WTH I think I'm already in love with Damerson. This was deep and I think there is going to be more to come and suprises too.
September 8, 2024
Strong mfc, dragons, ascension games, corrupt leaders, etc.
This book was so good and I will be started book 2, asap.
It is like a cross between Hunger Games games and Percy Jackson, along with a little Divergent all rolled into one. Exciting from beginning to end.
This book was so good and I will be started book 2, asap.
It is like a cross between Hunger Games games and Percy Jackson, along with a little Divergent all rolled into one. Exciting from beginning to end.
October 8, 2024
It was like hunger games but with dragons. It was a bit of a slow start and I wish the book was longer for more of a plot line to develop but it got good towards the end and ready for the next one.
February 28, 2025
definitely hunger games y fourth wing combined
October 26, 2024
I actually struggled with this one. While the idea behind it shows great promise, I found the execution to be... lacking. So many of the conversations sound so formal and rehearsed, it's almost like they're giving speeches every 3 seconds (they're not) and then you turn the page and their communication sounds juvenile. I find there's no substance or body to a pending relationship that comes out of left field halfway through the book. All of a sudden, he's flirting and she's confused about her feelings? Where did that come from? The synopsis states Clara's 27 and then you come across a line where she states, "in my 19 years of life..." and can we unpack the trauma that is Lazarus and his consistent childish tantrums? Every single scene he's in, he's throwing a tantrum of some description. If it wasn't for my strong disposition to finish every book I pick up, this one would have been a solid DNF for me. I also recommend looking into a new proofreader/editor because the amount of grammar and punctuation errors makes me hope you're not paying them. I wish the author luck in your future works, but I won't be continuing with this story.
September 17, 2024
I absolutely LOVED this book. I devoured it and didn’t want to put it down. JP done a phenomenal job, it was a quick and fantastic read. If you enjoy banter, magic, dragons and games this is definitely the read for you!
October 19, 2024
What the fuck. Okay, so first, I really enjoyed this story line, but unfortunately I wish another author wrote it. It just had WAY too many grammar issues and just straight up holes in the story. There were times where I felt like the character was talking WAY too much, like the author wanted to cram as many words in as possible. It just didn’t seem natural for the dialogue to be that long. There were also NO breaks in any of the chapters when there should have been. It’d be hours later or even the next day, but since there’s no chapter breaks, you don’t pick up on it until you keep reading. The story line was AMAZING though. It’s like Fourth Wing meets Hunger Games. It’s just really hard to enjoy the story with so many issues.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
These are the points and issues that I had throughout the story.
- The prologue VERY CLEARLY stated the dragon is WHITE. But later we find out that dragon was Teirac and suddenly he’s red throughout the rest of the book. Did the author forget she made him white?? Did we miss the explanation that dragons change colors for whatever reason??
- Clara’s first day was QUICK asf. She literally started training at 5am and then after she fell (it’s written like she lost her balance but Clara is insistent it was on purpose by Morgana), went to breakfast then slept and BOOM day 2. It look me a second to realize her day was already over.
- Training with Desmond, I think this was the second day, she put the armor on in his office, then they got in some fight about Olin, so she stormed out, and suddenly didn’t have the armor on anymore.
- That was the worst description of a dress that I have ever read. I literally had to read this part to my husband to see if he could visual it. It says “the black material” like we were told what color it was beforehand.
- There was NO build up to the kiss between Desmond and Clara. Honestly felt disappointed with that. There was just no obvious tension. Yes, you could tell they were warming up to one another, but definitely not enough for a fucking kiss. Almost 180
- Her obsession with finding the truth and needing to go to the mountain because of a bracelet was really annoying. Then she just HAPPENS to come across a stone like looks different so she decided to break it and suddenly find a book? No.
- She dislocated her shoulder when she fell down the mountain, and then after running into the other team, her shoulder was never mentioned again and it never said she set it. It’s like her shoulder magically healed
- She’s climbing up the tower to get the flag and mentioned multiple times about the holes in the wall and how she can’t go forward and going around would take too long. Then a dragon flies around and two paragraphs later, she’s continuing her climb like the hole was never there. This happened twice.
- It said a dragon came through the tower right in front of Cecily and Cole but they still lived? How’d Cole get behind Clara right before he died? Where’d Morgana go? She just randomly reappeared when Cole got chucked
- When she passed out after Teirac arrived, she apparently fell unconscious and was out for a full day. But without the break in chapter, it literally seemed like a few minutes
- That last fight with Teirac was SO fucking confusing. Why was his jaws right next to her, allowing her to stab him in the throat, if he’s supposedly suppose to be killing her? And wtf is up with her suddenly remembering what her dad did for a living mid fight and magically wakes up to find out her dad’s alive.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
These are the points and issues that I had throughout the story.
- The prologue VERY CLEARLY stated the dragon is WHITE. But later we find out that dragon was Teirac and suddenly he’s red throughout the rest of the book. Did the author forget she made him white?? Did we miss the explanation that dragons change colors for whatever reason??
- Clara’s first day was QUICK asf. She literally started training at 5am and then after she fell (it’s written like she lost her balance but Clara is insistent it was on purpose by Morgana), went to breakfast then slept and BOOM day 2. It look me a second to realize her day was already over.
- Training with Desmond, I think this was the second day, she put the armor on in his office, then they got in some fight about Olin, so she stormed out, and suddenly didn’t have the armor on anymore.
- That was the worst description of a dress that I have ever read. I literally had to read this part to my husband to see if he could visual it. It says “the black material” like we were told what color it was beforehand.
- There was NO build up to the kiss between Desmond and Clara. Honestly felt disappointed with that. There was just no obvious tension. Yes, you could tell they were warming up to one another, but definitely not enough for a fucking kiss. Almost 180
- Her obsession with finding the truth and needing to go to the mountain because of a bracelet was really annoying. Then she just HAPPENS to come across a stone like looks different so she decided to break it and suddenly find a book? No.
- She dislocated her shoulder when she fell down the mountain, and then after running into the other team, her shoulder was never mentioned again and it never said she set it. It’s like her shoulder magically healed
- She’s climbing up the tower to get the flag and mentioned multiple times about the holes in the wall and how she can’t go forward and going around would take too long. Then a dragon flies around and two paragraphs later, she’s continuing her climb like the hole was never there. This happened twice.
- It said a dragon came through the tower right in front of Cecily and Cole but they still lived? How’d Cole get behind Clara right before he died? Where’d Morgana go? She just randomly reappeared when Cole got chucked
- When she passed out after Teirac arrived, she apparently fell unconscious and was out for a full day. But without the break in chapter, it literally seemed like a few minutes
- That last fight with Teirac was SO fucking confusing. Why was his jaws right next to her, allowing her to stab him in the throat, if he’s supposedly suppose to be killing her? And wtf is up with her suddenly remembering what her dad did for a living mid fight and magically wakes up to find out her dad’s alive.
September 18, 2024
I have no idea what I just read! Feels like it needed a lot of editing.
To start the story is told to me, where some things could be fluffed out and shown to me in the writing and some more explanations for better understanding of what is going on needs to happen!
The whole book I felt confused and even after finishing it I’m not sure what happened. There was way too much jumping around in the chapters, and the flow of ideas is messy. Each chapter should focus on one element cause the story is moving too quickly and I feel very lost.
The romance in this book is like 0. I couldn’t even tell if Desmond liked Clara and then all of a sudden they kiss and she’s still hating on him when she’s in the games. There’s enemies to lovers and then there’s just confusing and this relationship is just confusing. And Desmond’s character just goes from one extreme to another, does hate her, like her or just tolerate her?
What exactly is the point of the games, fame and glory? Why are they on teams if there’s only one winner, people saying this is like the hunger games, how? There’s 2 teams going on this long ass journey to play capture the flag.
What is the point of mentioning a detail, like the founder symbol, and then not mentioning it again till many chapters later, makes the details seem irrelevant and pointless and then just randomly brought back up like it’s relevant again.
The timing in this story makes no sense, one sentence it’s morning and the next the days gone and it’s time for bed. During the ascension games made no sense at all, at one point it’d been a couple days and the next it was a whole week that’d gone by. Also what’s with the teleporting, one second you’re in a hallway and next you’re in a room with no knowledge or explanation of how you got there.
Clara’s thought patterns change too much in her internal monologue and have little to do with the story and the you have some of the plot points contradicting one another.
When Desmond is talking with the dragon is also weird and kind of makes it seem like the author is trying to be more like Eragon and fourth wing then necessary, I would have enjoyed it more had the dragons just been dragons trying to kill you.
Overall, the story has potential it just needed a lot more editing and planning out of chapters, like one chapter equals one point. But I feel like I read something a child wrote. And this big cliff hanger that people were raving about… where was it? I just feel like the book suddenly ended in the middle of Clara hallucinating.
To start the story is told to me, where some things could be fluffed out and shown to me in the writing and some more explanations for better understanding of what is going on needs to happen!
The whole book I felt confused and even after finishing it I’m not sure what happened. There was way too much jumping around in the chapters, and the flow of ideas is messy. Each chapter should focus on one element cause the story is moving too quickly and I feel very lost.
The romance in this book is like 0. I couldn’t even tell if Desmond liked Clara and then all of a sudden they kiss and she’s still hating on him when she’s in the games. There’s enemies to lovers and then there’s just confusing and this relationship is just confusing. And Desmond’s character just goes from one extreme to another, does hate her, like her or just tolerate her?
What exactly is the point of the games, fame and glory? Why are they on teams if there’s only one winner, people saying this is like the hunger games, how? There’s 2 teams going on this long ass journey to play capture the flag.
What is the point of mentioning a detail, like the founder symbol, and then not mentioning it again till many chapters later, makes the details seem irrelevant and pointless and then just randomly brought back up like it’s relevant again.
The timing in this story makes no sense, one sentence it’s morning and the next the days gone and it’s time for bed. During the ascension games made no sense at all, at one point it’d been a couple days and the next it was a whole week that’d gone by. Also what’s with the teleporting, one second you’re in a hallway and next you’re in a room with no knowledge or explanation of how you got there.
Clara’s thought patterns change too much in her internal monologue and have little to do with the story and the you have some of the plot points contradicting one another.
When Desmond is talking with the dragon is also weird and kind of makes it seem like the author is trying to be more like Eragon and fourth wing then necessary, I would have enjoyed it more had the dragons just been dragons trying to kill you.
Overall, the story has potential it just needed a lot more editing and planning out of chapters, like one chapter equals one point. But I feel like I read something a child wrote. And this big cliff hanger that people were raving about… where was it? I just feel like the book suddenly ended in the middle of Clara hallucinating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2024
Eldmoor: Origins of Blaze is the first book in the Ascension Series. It's a dynamic fantasy set in a dystopian world where dragons and magic collide with societal collapse. Clara Merkins, the protagonist, stands out as headstrong and determined, refusing to let the prejudices of others weigh her down. Alongside her best friend, Olin, she is thrust into the Ascension Games—their only chance at climbing the rigid social hierarchy after the world’s collapse at the hands of the dragons who destroyed life as they knew it. There is abundant mystery surrounding the attack that destroyed their society all those years ago.
The story is fast-paced and action-packed. There are hints of The Hunger Games in the overall structure, especially with the idea of survival competitions determining one's future. However, the pacing leads to heavy infodumping on the reader. Rather than letting it naturally unfold through the narrative, a lot of the worldbuilding and character development is delivered in large chunks, which can be overwhelming at times. Along with scenes that felt disconnected and dialogue that at times felt like it didn't flow smoothly. Everyone deals with trauma differently, but nothing got to Clara at all. I would have liked to have seen more of the development of her character through the trauma that she endured during this book.
The relationships between characters also feel underdeveloped. While we're told that there are deep connections, it often feels like we're missing the emotional depth and interaction that would bring these relationships to life. I found myself wanting to see more genuine moments between the characters to truly understand their bonds. We were supposed to feel the strong building of an enemies to lovers' relationship between Clara and Desmond, but the attraction between the two seemed to come from thin air rather than being a gradual pull towards each other. I look forward to seeing where their relationship can go in the next installment of this series.
Overall, this series has some good moments and some great potential with the growing mystery surrounding Desmond's connection with the dragons and the mystery of what or who truly caused the collapse of their society all those years ago. Give it a try if you're into: An immersive dystopia setting with dashes of magical elements, dragons, enemies to lovers, and a dark and scarred love interest.
✨I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
The story is fast-paced and action-packed. There are hints of The Hunger Games in the overall structure, especially with the idea of survival competitions determining one's future. However, the pacing leads to heavy infodumping on the reader. Rather than letting it naturally unfold through the narrative, a lot of the worldbuilding and character development is delivered in large chunks, which can be overwhelming at times. Along with scenes that felt disconnected and dialogue that at times felt like it didn't flow smoothly. Everyone deals with trauma differently, but nothing got to Clara at all. I would have liked to have seen more of the development of her character through the trauma that she endured during this book.
The relationships between characters also feel underdeveloped. While we're told that there are deep connections, it often feels like we're missing the emotional depth and interaction that would bring these relationships to life. I found myself wanting to see more genuine moments between the characters to truly understand their bonds. We were supposed to feel the strong building of an enemies to lovers' relationship between Clara and Desmond, but the attraction between the two seemed to come from thin air rather than being a gradual pull towards each other. I look forward to seeing where their relationship can go in the next installment of this series.
Overall, this series has some good moments and some great potential with the growing mystery surrounding Desmond's connection with the dragons and the mystery of what or who truly caused the collapse of their society all those years ago. Give it a try if you're into: An immersive dystopia setting with dashes of magical elements, dragons, enemies to lovers, and a dark and scarred love interest.
✨I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
May 6, 2025
This is a book about a society that is a man vs man conflict because they are going against each other but are also in a war with the dragons. Before the war they were at odds with the dragons and no one knows why the dragons decided to attack them. In this book we follow the main character who is a girl who watched her father get killed by a dragon when the war started and everyone believes that he started the war. She doesn't believe that her dad died and she has a friend who she met when they all went to an underground city to get away from the dragon. As the book goes on you see that she and the man who is supposed to be her enamony start to fall in love but neither of them want to admit it. So as she does to be part of the game she is chosen to try and get out of the lowest level of the city. She starts to become friends with some of the people who wanted her dead in the beginning. As she is in the game the boy that she likes is going through a dragon becoming part of his mind and is trying to find out about who started the war and trying to get a thing that the person who started it stole from the dragons back to them. In the end the girl is fighting a dragon and at the very last part we learn that she ends up living and that her father is alive.
In this book I connect it to 2 other books that I have read and they are Divergent and Hungergames. I think of these books while reading this because they are talking about who there are different levels of society like in HUngergames. It also is like Divergent because it is talking about who there is corruption in the people who lead the society and the main characters end up falling in love with someone that they are supposed to hate.
There are some things that I like about this book and some things that I dislike. Some of the things that I like is how the book keeps having different turns when you don't expect it so there is always something going on. Another thing that I like is how there is character growth with the male love interest. Some of the things that I don't like about it is how the author chose to leave us where we just found out her dad is alive and then ended it. I get that she did this to make sure we read the next one but it's not my favorite thing. ANother thing that I don't like is how the character both like eachother but won't admit it and don't end up falling in love during this book.
In this book I connect it to 2 other books that I have read and they are Divergent and Hungergames. I think of these books while reading this because they are talking about who there are different levels of society like in HUngergames. It also is like Divergent because it is talking about who there is corruption in the people who lead the society and the main characters end up falling in love with someone that they are supposed to hate.
There are some things that I like about this book and some things that I dislike. Some of the things that I like is how the book keeps having different turns when you don't expect it so there is always something going on. Another thing that I like is how there is character growth with the male love interest. Some of the things that I don't like about it is how the author chose to leave us where we just found out her dad is alive and then ended it. I get that she did this to make sure we read the next one but it's not my favorite thing. ANother thing that I don't like is how the character both like eachother but won't admit it and don't end up falling in love during this book.
August 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this. I would have rated this higher if not for a handful of choices the author made, and also its strong similarities to The Hunger Games.
Eldmoor is basically The Hunger Games with dragons. After the dragons began killing humans out of nowhere, humans escaped to Eldmoor, a city built mostly underground but with a few higher levels for the rich and powerful. Most citizens are "rescued" from towns where dragons have destroyed everything, and then forced to the lowest level of Eldmoor to slave away. The only way out is to be a part of the Ascension Games where groups of people go out to the surface and find a flag in some dragon infested city then return home. Whoever does this earns the right to move up in society.
There are multiple scenes directly representing those of The Hunger Games. The players are dressed up and paraded in front of the rich for them to place bets on. There's a mysterious man who gives the main character Clara a bracelet from her dead father, then gets immediately murdered by guards in a very Cinna-like fashion. There is a training period before the games where everyone has a chance to practice and measure each other up.
Let me talk about the attempted rape in the beginning of this book. Clara is literally held down by two of her male competitors, beaten, clothes stripped, and forcefully fingered, before she manages to escape her room and scream for help. Because she used magic to escape, she gets punished for it by having her leg sliced open by her trainer, Desmond. Desmond then becomes her love interest. It's kind of insane. And no, the two boys do not get punished for it.
I didn't find the writing as bad as others say it is, but there's a surprising amount of grammatical errors that threw me off. Words missing from sentences, quotation marks being left out, no space after punctuation... I'm surprised this had an editor. Teirac, the main dragon villain, is represented as white in the prologue. Then the whole rest of the book he's....crimson? I thought I was going insane lol.
Despite these things, I really enjoyed the story and found it quite entertaining. The characters are multidimensional. The action is exciting. The truth Clara and Desmond recover about the history of men and dragons is interesting. This could have been a 4-4.5 star book if that stupid rape didn't happen and maybe the plot was a tad more original. Also Clara and Desmond are both decent characters in their own right, but the romance between them sucks ass.
Eldmoor is basically The Hunger Games with dragons. After the dragons began killing humans out of nowhere, humans escaped to Eldmoor, a city built mostly underground but with a few higher levels for the rich and powerful. Most citizens are "rescued" from towns where dragons have destroyed everything, and then forced to the lowest level of Eldmoor to slave away. The only way out is to be a part of the Ascension Games where groups of people go out to the surface and find a flag in some dragon infested city then return home. Whoever does this earns the right to move up in society.
There are multiple scenes directly representing those of The Hunger Games. The players are dressed up and paraded in front of the rich for them to place bets on. There's a mysterious man who gives the main character Clara a bracelet from her dead father, then gets immediately murdered by guards in a very Cinna-like fashion. There is a training period before the games where everyone has a chance to practice and measure each other up.
Let me talk about the attempted rape in the beginning of this book. Clara is literally held down by two of her male competitors, beaten, clothes stripped, and forcefully fingered, before she manages to escape her room and scream for help. Because she used magic to escape, she gets punished for it by having her leg sliced open by her trainer, Desmond. Desmond then becomes her love interest. It's kind of insane. And no, the two boys do not get punished for it.
I didn't find the writing as bad as others say it is, but there's a surprising amount of grammatical errors that threw me off. Words missing from sentences, quotation marks being left out, no space after punctuation... I'm surprised this had an editor. Teirac, the main dragon villain, is represented as white in the prologue. Then the whole rest of the book he's....crimson? I thought I was going insane lol.
Despite these things, I really enjoyed the story and found it quite entertaining. The characters are multidimensional. The action is exciting. The truth Clara and Desmond recover about the history of men and dragons is interesting. This could have been a 4-4.5 star book if that stupid rape didn't happen and maybe the plot was a tad more original. Also Clara and Desmond are both decent characters in their own right, but the romance between them sucks ass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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