Tree of Ash

The Runic Saga #2

by Kayla Ann

When the goddesses of fate pull the strings, survival comes at a cost . . .

With her memories returned, Larissa is expected to lead the rebellion in a war against Empress Shiko based on a prophecy the Norn told her mother decades ago. Only, Larissa was never told the entire prophecy, and the Empress’ War Dog is already hunting her. To save her kingdom and her sister Halla, who’s been captured by slavers, Larissa will answer the Fate’s call. Accompanied by Darien, who has to choose between his kingdom and his heart, and Anara, who must ally with an unlikely enemy, Larissa will do the unthinkable to liberate her people.

Survive or be destroyed by the strangling threads of prophecy and fate in this YA dystopian fantasy.

Genres: Fantasy

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Mackay Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 bc of the emotional damage you did to me kayla. UGGGH this will contain spoilers bc this book doesn't come out for many months. Literally so happy and excited for this book to come out.


Plot:
we are reunited with Larissa (lara), Darien (Dar), and Anara right where book 1 left off. We do learn a week has passed, and we get to see halla as a slave in the camp. After Lara, Dar and Anara convince the giants and Dar's dad (awful dad/person, someone needs to get him a "worst dad ever" mug) to let them go take over perle. We also get introduced to hallas FIRST FRIEND outside of her home 🥳 kai. Suspicious, or flirtatious? We also get to see Veronadi visit anara, dar, lara, halla, and another newcomer masai in their dreams. I do love the addition of seeing this more throughout the first part of the book. I do want to see more of veronadi in book three (especially after that ending) i do think the pacing of this book was better than the first. It wasn't just learning information, it was one chapter its an info dump, the next you're experiencing halla in a slave camp, the next the war is starting, the next its a ballroom scene etc. the prologue and the epilogue DESTROYED me, in the best way. Mentally prepare yourself for this. So happy we got training scenes tho, thats one of my favorite parts of any fantasy book.

Characters:

Lara: after that ending we all know shes about to go i to her revenge era, and it will not be pretty. Im so scared but her development in this book was amazing! Way better than WOD with her trying to accept she is a princess. Her dealing with a ruler's role in war was more interesting to see bc she again is only 17? 18? She sees the world differently than an adult going through war.

Darien: husband material, the "thousand lifetimes" at the end 💔😭 and his "you suit me" quote HAD ME
SQUEALING. I rly want him and aeron to have a redemption arc, it would mean the world to me. Dar can do no wrong sorry, love him

Halla: Ohmygoodness my baby girl are you ok? Are you okay after what kayla put you through in this book? Rip your hair and trust in ppl. I loved halla more, her pov at times was hard to read bc she's 13, but she is more mature than you would think she is. She has this rawness and imagination to how she views the world. I have so many theories on her, i loved seeing her and kai throughout this book. Her learning friendship, love, grief, and her want to be treated like an adult when she is a LITERAL child is insane. She will probably play a bigger role at the end of the series if i get my way.

Anara: ngl, anara, you bothered me with masai at first. While yes he is LEGIT your enemy in your eyes. You always see the world as protecting others and black and white. I loved her growth into relaxing a bit and being more present with her friends, learning how to be more welcoming. I also LOVED her pov's and LOVED how the ending was in her pov. I think she needs to be softened up a bit more towards kai, especially after her and that child at the cabbage farm. It was so sweet. Also TEAM MASAI! After softening up Ishaan for anara, im still team Masai. 💛

Calder: um ya love you sir, keep being an evil aaron warner looking man

Overall thoughts:
I need book three back in march when i read the first draft, and i need it again when i just now read the second draft?! Book three cannot come soon enough

[Rheanna North · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tree of Ash by Kayla Ann

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Also some spoilers below ⚠️

Another 5 star read by this wonderful author! This book continued the journey of Larissa and her growing relationships. Whether it’s sibling bonds, romance, or friendship. Larissa experiences all the turmoil each brings. The Norse mythology in this book was just as brilliant as the last and is even more powerful and remarkable than anything I’ve read. Kayla has a way of bringing reality and mythology to life. It was so well written and the book itself is just utterly gorgeous. I can’t share any of the coloured illustrations throughout the book without giving any spoilers. Just know they are grand!!

“𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏’𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.”

Kayla also does a fantastic job at putting dual POVs to work. I really felt connected to every single character. Even the new ones. I LOVE MASAI!! I can’t wait to see more of him in the next book. I also hope there will be more things for him and Anara… I am getting some strong vibes here! 🫢 I also despise Fenris 😌. The character development within this book was also great and expertly done. I’m looking forward to seeing more about Halla. I feel like she’s got something brewing! Kayla also has a great sense of humour and I can see it within the characters. The sarcastic dry humour is superb.

“𝑰𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.”

AHHH the romance in this book was quality!! This book really makes me feel like you do not need smut or any intimate scenes to prove that you can really feel the love between characters. Anyone who is looking for a YA book. This is it!! It’s so impactful and well done.

“𝑻𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆.”

This book also carries many meaningful lessons which are carried through the story and strength of each character. Consider me content in this region. This author has a way to put what I’m thinking onto paper.

“𝑾𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.”

KAYLAAA! That ending!!! Personally, that ending has left me sobbing!! I did not prepare myself for that heartbreak. I’m very interested in that epilogue too. I need book three nowww! (However, take all the time you need). Your writing is amazing and you are a must read author for me 🩵

“𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔, 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅-𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈.” - A quote that made me giddy (if you read it, you’ll understand. If not it’s also quite a sad and impactful quote)

Overall, I believe everyone should take the time to read this series. Go get it now! Especially if you are a fan of Norse mythology.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read! Kayla Ann took on multiple POVs in her sequel, and she handled each POV masterfully. The standout character in Tree of Ash was definitely Halla, the FMC’s younger sister. Being separated from the group, Halla really came into her own in a way that made me love and appreciate her character more than ever. I can’t wait for the other characters to realize that Halla can handle her own. Maybe we’ll see some of that in book 3. 😜
In the first half of the book, I was definitely missing the romance between Larissa and Darien as they navigated their new roles as leaders for their kingdoms. But it was wonderful to see them slowly find their way back to each other. They are just the sweetest together. 🥹
I’m also digging what’s happening between Anara and Masai, and I’m hoping Masai can help Anara lean into her tender side.
One of the key sections of this novel was when the cast each separated to find out more about how they relate to the prophecy and how they all relate to each other. The friendship within this novel is just SUPERB. Clearly, I’m anxious for book 3 to release.

[*AGatheringOfBooks* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tree of Ash starts from where we were left at the end of Well of Dreams, with Halla being captured by slavers in Perle, while Darien, Larissa and Anara were able to escape to safety amongst the Vidnam rebels. From there, Larissa who has now remembered her true identity as Princess Lovisa and accepted, despite with much difficulty, this part of her, the rebels decide a plan to reconquer the kingdoms of Evropa from the tyranny of Empress Shiko. As bargain for accepting her role as the lost Princess of Perle Lovisa - who was prophesied by the Norn goddesses to be the one to defeat the Empress - and hope for the rebels, Larissa obtains from King Torsten of Safir that Perle will be the first kingdom to be reclaimed since Halla is being held captive there.

While the rebels prepare for the first attack on the city, Halla is first brought amongst kid-slaves, where she meets Juli, who’ll later abandon here during a failed attempt at escaping, and Kai, a mysterious boy whose string of destiny seems to be tightly linked to that of Halla. After spending some time working for the slavers, Kai and Halla are sold to a perlian aristocratic family, where Halla becomes the companion of the daughter of the House. That is until the rebels guided by Princess Lovisa, Prince Darien and Princess Anara successfully infiltrate Perle and open its doors to their army, that in no time is able to reclaim the city thanks also to the death of its regent, murdered by Larissa herself, the first stain in a soul that until then remained pure and innocent.

Once reconquered her lost kingdom and reunited with her sister, Larissa has a new mission to accomplish. Called through her dreams by the Norn themselves, she heads to their hideout to learn about her destiny and the prophecy that surrounds her. Accompanied by her trusted companion Darien and Anara, by Halla and the mysterious Kai who seems to follow the little girl wherever she goes, and guided through the forest of the kingdom of Smaragd by its legitimate heir to to the throne Prince Masai, the six of them reach the Norn’s sanctuary under the yggdrasil tree. Here, each one of them is tested by the three goddesses and only if they pass the test they’ll be able to hear a part of the prophecy surrounding Larissa’s destiny and role as the defeater of Empress Shiko. All of them except for Kai are able to obtain a piece of the prophecy, but when put together they don’t make much sense, the only thing is the ominous words surrounding Darien’s piece of the prophecy, that seem to allude to an imminent death in his bloodline.

There’s no time to think about the prophecy’s ominous words however, even though worry and fear gnaws at Darien and Larissa’s hearts as it seems that their time together, now that they have found each other and their love again, already hindered by their duties toward their respective kingdoms, seems to get shorter and shorter. The Norn have also warned them that if they don’t reach the Safir Kingdom in three days, the battle the rebels are fighting there to reconquer the second kingdom will be in vain. After a detour to Darien’s foster father’s house, the four royalties head toward Safir, while Halla and Kai are left behind under Aegen's protection.

However, the Empress’ War Dog Calder, once Darien’s brother Aeron, who had been following Larissa and the others since their trip to the Norn, kills Aegen and asks Kai to do the same to Halla, revealing thus to her the boy’s true identity: Kai is in fact none other than Empress Shiko’s son and he considers Calder his adoptive brother and would do anything for him. Betrayed and alone, Halla has no choice but to face her death; however Kai, who has genuinely got attached to her, uses his royal powers that revolve around the creation of illusion to make Calder think he indeed killed Halla when in reality he did not. After letting Calder go toward Safit, Kai comes back to Halla to explain what happened. Despite not trusting him at all, Halla has no other choice but to join him toward Safir, in an attempt to warn Darien and Larissa of Calder’s threat.

Too late, though, they arrive. The battle in Safir has ended, the regent is dead and King Torsten and Prince Darien have been re-established on their rightful throne. But Larissa is lured toward Calder, who with a message delivered by a boy asks her to meet him alone if she wants to save Halla. Darien, however, follows her, sealing his destiny. After revealing to a shocked Larissa that he killed both Aegen and Halla, Calder kills Darien too, ultimately breaking Larissa’s already broken heart, who ends up using all her powers to kill him, adding another stain to her already tainted, broken soul.

Desperate to lose Darien now that she has found him again, Larissa calls on the Norns, ready to pay whatever price is needed to save Darien. The child goddess Verdandi answers her call; there are bonds so tight that not even death can tear apart, but while she is able to use her power to preserve his body and the beating of his heart, his soul has already left for Hel’s Kingdom. The only way for Larissa to bring back Darien is to go to Hel and retrieve his soul. But the goddess of death loves her pretty souls, and Darien has a pretty soul despite being broken; it won’t be easy to convince her to give it back to Larissa.

I liked this second book of the Runic Saga. It was interesting to see new characters and new places while following the main plot already started at the end of the previous book. Because of the ending, I'm really curious to read next book!

[Megan Caudill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page-turning fantasy that brings lovable characters, gripping action, and clean, yet swoon worthy romance.

I was afraid to read this after reading Well of Dreams—what if the author doesn’t die the characters justice in the sequel?! Boy, was I happily surprised! Tree of ash is an amazing sequel that not only does justice and makes the original characters grow, it brings in new POVs and side characters that bring their A game! So many side characters are useless in books, but not in this one! They make the main characters question things, challenge them, AND they bring with them their culture and wonderful world building.

What else can I say? The magic is fun, but limited to its never over powerful. The action and romance was gripping but never overdone or too detailed. The pacing, dialog, and descriptions were perfect. The finally was oh so good! And the twists were brilliant. I flew through this book in 2 days…so yeah I enjoyed it lol. Please give this book a chance, you won’t regret it!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a chonker of a book and I loved absolutely every minute of it. How am I supposed to wait for the third book, Kayla Ann?! I got an early ebook because I joined her Kickstarter and I'm so glad I got a chance to read it, but now it's even longer until the third book because the second one hasn't officially released yet.
I loved the development of the characters. I loved that we got to see more of their perspectives. There are four, but that was perfect, because you really needed to see things from all four of their points of view. There is a lot of danger and death and destruction and pain in this book, which is absolutely necessary when you have a full-scale rebellion trying to overthrow a magical tyrant. The way it ended, though! Please! I need to know what happened. Also a certain character is definitely not gone, for sure. I saw the one twist coming but somehow didn't put another crucial fact together and just loved/hated when it was revealed because it was perfect for the story but so sad for the characters. Anyway! If you haven't read these books, go check them out.

[Ashley Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tree of Ash explores the journey of Larissa, Darien and Anara reclaiming their kingdoms and fulfilling the prophecy given by the Norn; it also follows Halla and what she goes through. We see Larissa and Darien accept responsibility for their rightful kingdoms and them grappling with tough choices. It explores the aspects of fate vs free will. The characters experience loss, grief and betrayal; while friendship, found family, and love hold them together. My jaw dropped in shock multiple times while reading this! I would have never seen the ending coming! I can’t wait to read book 3 and continue these characters journey to defeat Shiko. I had a hard time putting this book down during the last half!

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW what a fantastic sequel! While there were parts I found slow, they were necessary to build and set the story. There were some twists and turns that I never saw coming, and the ending left me begging for more! I just know book 3 is going to be epic, and I cannot wait to read what happens next.

[Patricia Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you mean I have to wait for book 3 I need it now so badly I need to know what happens to Darians soul!!

[Amy Rietveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

This book was honestly so incredible. I am astounded at how well this series works. When someone says that a book is a post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy based on Norse mythology, you wouldn't think it works, but it does. And works well!

This book brought so much heart and feeling. The ENDING! OH MY GOSH!

I can't wait to see what happens in book 3!

[El Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kayla Ann is one of the best modern authors I’ve read! She continues to impress me :)

[Danica Stroup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff

[Danielle Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a harrowing adventure! I don't think I've ever read a book with 4 POVs before, so this was a first for me. It was so cool getting each character's story. In WELL OF DREAMS, we get Larissa and Darien's POVs. But in TREE OF ASH, we have Halla and Anara added to the mix!

FIRST OF ALL... HALLA'S POV... OMG!!! This was probably my favorite of the 4. So well done! I craved this POV like breathing air!

There's so much I could say about this book (it's a THICK book), but I will sum it up by saying that Kayla is such a fun storyteller. From the witty banter, to the high stakes, to *the scene* that actually got me to tear up, to the *other scene* that made me DM her in a rage... (you know what scene I'm taking about, KAYLA)... this book has such a unique taste to it.

The strings of fate were intertwining all over the place, and I can't wait to see where this series goes next!

If you enjoy Norse mythology, the unbreakable bonds of friendship, magic, war, learning to love and learning to lose... this is the book for you! It's a GREAT continuation of WELL OF DREAMS. Bravo, Kayla!<3

[V. M. Lyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

YALL!!! This book had me in a chokehold like no other!! The plot had me messaging the author (especially towards the end!) Sleep schedule?? Wrecked. Book slump? Unlocked. Will another book compare to this? No idea but it will be hard to top it! This was my favorite read of 2024 and the year’s not over yet!

This is the perfect balance of YA fantasy and dystopian. No spice but ALL the angst! Darien and Larissa are my new OTP (do people say that anymore?) because of the cabbage patch scene and his whole-hearted pursuit of Larissa 🩵

New POVs were added! Larissa, Darien, and Anara are amazing narrators but Halla’s story stole my heart😭😭😭

If you like Norse mythology, fantasy maps, stabby best friends, golden retriever MMC, manipulative villains, and wholesome humor, then this book is for you 👏