Ashes of Time

After Cilmeri #7

by Sarah Woodbury

November 1291. Meg and Llywelyn gather their family at Rhuddlan Castle to celebrate their seventh anniversary and David's twenty-third birthday. But the joyful reunion goes grievously awry when an old enemy raises the banner of rebellion, followed immediately by an even more catastrophic betrayal by an old friend.Meanwhile, facing war at every turn and still haunted by his decision to leave Cassie and Callum in the modern world, David chooses a dangerous path forward, one that will either change the course of the future forever--or burn his world to ashes.Complete Series reading Daughter of Time, Footsteps in Time, Winds of Time, Prince of Time, Crossroads in Time, Children of Time, Exiles in Time, Castaways in Time, Ashes of Time, Warden of Time, Guardians of Time, Masters of Time, Outpost in Time, Shades of Time, Champions of Time, Refuge in Time. Also, This Small Corner of The After Cilmeri Series Companion.

Genres: Time Travel, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Romance, Fiction, Historical

343 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2014

About the author

With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.

Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).


She makes her home in Oregon.

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within the first few pages, I came upon the idea that David wanted to create a 'United States of Britain'. Now, as I'm a Brit, this so appalled me, that I nearly ditched the book. I would by far have preferred it to be referred to as the United Kingdom, however, I suppressed the urge to dump it and continued reading. And I'm glad I did, the United States bit faded to a different phrase, and the book was gripping in both time settings. The audacious bit towards the end made me laugh. No, I won't tell you what happened, you'll have to read it.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story! I got a kick out of the double decker bus!

2023 reread - Just as good as the first time! I wonder what will happen to Mike and the other malcontents!

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really? A double-decker bus? Of all things? Couldnt they have just walked next to the buildings when they collapsed? I cant take this serious.
10/10 its just another half attempt to get more modern people mad at them, so they can get kidnapped into the future again, to have another overused storyline for the next book. Oh and ofcourse another rebellion.

Lots of info dumps. & another thing that annoys me, is when characters use modern day phrases, they have to explain what it means. Woodbury is aware we know exactly what is means right?

Also incredibly selfish that they keep the stranded people hostage. It would take them all but a day to jump of a cliff and return. We have to believe that the time travel doesn't always work? You know what the problem is with Woodbury's concept? That it only works when she wants it too. Lazy writing.

The 'Avalon' excuse is getting old as well, if you want to use cars and busses to get your character back into the past, atleast try to sell it. Shes taking us and her historical characters for damn fools.
This series really doesn't deserve the ratings it gets. Outlander has similar ratings and is a much better time travel series.

I would like to say that I am making a stand here and stopped reading but I know myself well enough, I cant really leave a series unfinished.

[Michelle Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still fun but needs less unnecessary historical context

I'm still enjoying these books but there are a few things I wish could be better. The first is the amount of historical info dump. I understand there's a fine line between background information, information the author needs to know but doesn't need to impart with the reader, and info dump. In this, there's a bit too much of the latter.

Now I like history, even have a degree in the subject with a focus on England in the high Middle Ages. So this period is right up your alley. But when I start skimming it's a problem.

I will say Cassie is much improved over her previous appearances. And I really did not see the ending coming. That being said, I wish more time was spent with these characters considering the later books.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just something about this series that keeps drawing me in. I love the fact that they can change history for the better in their parallel version of Wales/England. I also love the little trips to "Avalon". I always find it interesting to read about modern people ending up in medieval times. Every person reacts differently to their changed circumstances so it really makes for an interesting story. I can't wait to read the next book and see how these new people transition.

[Richard Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. There may be trouble ahead - in the modern and medieval worlds, and it will be interesting to see how this pans out in future books. Taking 40 unwitting moderns to another dimension is a recipe for betrayal of one sort or another. Interesting medieval world building by the kings and queens.

[Chris Heisel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the best of this excellent series

Woodbury has built an engaging world with interesting characters and a clever, original approach to the "time travel" methodology. Most series get dry over time, but Woodbury seems to improve in both her story-telling and her character development.

[Jo Anne Greenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series!

I just love the characters in this series! The intrigue, the dialog between medieval and current time is really fun. I enjoy anything medieval: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

[Heidi M. Loiodice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome historical fiction series.

[Linda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this entire series.

[Paula B. Kaufman-Dajani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put it down.

I have read one book after the other and I am quite sleep deprived. A great read. I am on to book 10!

[Belinda Begger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anxious for the next book

Enjoying the series. They are fun to read. Recommend them to others. Keeps your attention while you are reading the story.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book

Enjoying this series of books.
More war, education and scheming to help Wales become stronger.
I think David should stay in Wales.

[Shawna Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

******3.75 Stars*****

[Ramona Fryer]

N/A

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting series. fun read with a duel timeline.

[Volpot · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Good continuation.

[Molly Engle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love time travel books...

[Patricia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashes of Time
After Cilmeri, Book 7
Sarah Woodbury, author

Another adventurous time travel to the 21st century. This time on the heels of King Llywelyn and Queen Meg of Wales's 7th anniversary. It also aligns with David's 23rd birthday. But to the 21st century, they travel. Unfortunately, two of the clan members, who were originally from the 21st century must be left behind there. Cassie and Callum had to be sacrificed in order for David to return safely to the 13th century. Will they remain in the 21st century forever or will they be able to return to the time they have become to love and with the people they have become to love?

I recommend this enchanting storyline. I've come to love the characters and I enjoy reading about each new adventure they ensue together. I recommend listening to the audiobook, as I did. The narrator does an excellent job of telling the story. I borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my library.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just recently started reading the After Cilmeri Series and I LOVE everything about it. I read all 12 books in 2 weeks and can't wait for the next one to arrive on my kindle next month.

[Judy Lavik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible epic tale!

I would not be at all surprised to discover that this author is a time-traveler and has ventured between this world and medieval Wales many times. Although I am not a history buff (nor a native of medieval Wales), her books are so full of detail that you feel as if you are actually experiencing it right along with them.

Up until this book, the stories have had a bit of romance in them, but they are primarily time-travel/medieval history/action-adventure books. That being said, I read the first book because it was presented as a romance, which is my favorite genre. I was not disappointed and have read each of them, loving them all. My only disappointment is that the series is coming to an end soon, but really, isn't that why a person keeps reading all of the books in a series, to see how it all turns out?

[Jilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really not sure what this series is doing. I was really enjoying it but it seems to be losing some of its passion. I have been wanting Anna to get more of a story but being in the future which is just a big pile of government mess is less interesting than David and his father putting down yet another rebellion.

For Llywelln's time period the constant betrayals seem completely relevant and most of the time are interesting. I do appreciate the time travel aspect but feel it just becomes a mess when the story of Ieuan and David going back way in the beginning was more interesting than the government agents in hot pursuit.

[Sandra Pulliam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so annoyed with this book that I may have to be done with the series! There was finally more time travel but the way it went down was so stupid! I could not believe any of it from the moment they got there until the time they took an entire bus of people back with them. It is horrible that Meg can time travel when she pretty much pleases but take people away from their families and she won't return them? She will fight to get back to her loved ones and she will travel to save her husband but hell no will she travel to save anyone else who is ripped from their families. Selfish and stupid! I hear the next book doesn't even have any time travel so I think I will move on.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s November 1291 and everyone is gathered to celebrate Meg and Llewelyn’s anniversary and David’s birthday. Then Marty shows up and holds Anna at knife point to force Meg to take him back to the twenty-first century. It doesn’t work out as planned, and only Meg and Anna end up in the twenty-first century - in Oregon. Lucky for them, Callum and Cassie are visiting Cassie’s family for Thanksgiving. Thus begins the next adventure for the time traveling world shifters. Meanwhile back in the Middle Ages, Llewelyn is facing a revolt Deon a couple of his subjects, so he and David prepare to go to war.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed a little pessimistic about this timeline's near future, but I'm glad the gang's all together again, and I hope the busload of newbies doesn't continue to cause problems later on! If/when there are more books in this series, I'll definitely read them, but this is a reasonably satisfactory place to stop, at least. I'm not really left hanging, at least!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin, the pilot who flew with Meg to the Middle Ages, wants to go home. He takes Anna hostage and forces her and Meg up to the castle walls so they can jump him to the future. Meg and Anna make it, but Martin doesn’t. While Meg and Anna are gone to Avalon, Llewelyn and David have to fight to put down some rebellious Welsh lords.

[Wicca Dreamers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series took a weird turn in this book. I finished this book, but decided to take a break from the series, as the characters are getting stale, that might be my own fault and not that of the author, and so I am leaving this series for a bit, to return later...

[Bigbear Woolliscroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another instalment in the Cilmeri saga and while again a great read, you get the feeling that the series is shifting gear away from an alternative history to something else...

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad Anna got more time in this book. My only wish is that all the books in this series were longer.

[Susan Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just love it out they back to the 21st century and trying to stay unnoticed there & trying to get back home.