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Fire From Ashes
After a near death encounter, a young deserter named Ciran is left with a choice to once again redirect the events of his life. Haunted by the choices of his past he makes the decision to try and run from them, in hopes to find true freedom and liberation on the other side of a mountain.
He never believed the stories of dragons he was told as a child, that was until he found himself standing face to face with one. This chance encounter once again changes the course of his journey, and Ciran finds that there is no escape from the past.
Join Ciran on his adventure as he learns what it means to be the author of your fate and true to your heart in a world that seeks to convince you that these things are outside of your reach.
He never believed the stories of dragons he was told as a child, that was until he found himself standing face to face with one. This chance encounter once again changes the course of his journey, and Ciran finds that there is no escape from the past.
Join Ciran on his adventure as he learns what it means to be the author of your fate and true to your heart in a world that seeks to convince you that these things are outside of your reach.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Barberi
8 books22 followersJessica Barberi is a seasoned novelist, mother, and IT professional who discovered her passion for writing while searching for meaningful stories to share with her children.
As a lifelong lover of fantasy lands and adventure, she set out to create worlds that are both transportive and relatable, weaving tales that show readers a path forward in the face of adversity.
The "Fires of an Empire" saga was born from Jessica's desire to craft stories that would captivate her son and introduce him to the kind of heroes she longed to see more of in fiction.
With richly imagined worlds and themes of perseverance, personal growth, and the triumph of light over darkness, her novels are a testament to her belief in the power of storytelling to inspire and empower.
When not writing or working, Jessica can often be found exploring the great outdoors with her family, seeking new adventures and inspiration in the natural beauty of her home near the Great Lakes.
Having completed five novels exploring the world of Perinthia, Jessica continues to expand her unique vision through her writing, bringing new depth and excitement to her carefully crafted fantasy world.
As a lifelong lover of fantasy lands and adventure, she set out to create worlds that are both transportive and relatable, weaving tales that show readers a path forward in the face of adversity.
The "Fires of an Empire" saga was born from Jessica's desire to craft stories that would captivate her son and introduce him to the kind of heroes she longed to see more of in fiction.
With richly imagined worlds and themes of perseverance, personal growth, and the triumph of light over darkness, her novels are a testament to her belief in the power of storytelling to inspire and empower.
When not writing or working, Jessica can often be found exploring the great outdoors with her family, seeking new adventures and inspiration in the natural beauty of her home near the Great Lakes.
Having completed five novels exploring the world of Perinthia, Jessica continues to expand her unique vision through her writing, bringing new depth and excitement to her carefully crafted fantasy world.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 30, 2024
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm thrilled that I can honestly give this 5 stars.
Ciran is a young, conscripted soldier who just wants to get away from the horrors of war. Turns out, it's much harder to escape than he thought. His country is constantly searching for deserters who run away from the army. It will take all Ciran's skills and knowledge of the wilderness to escape.
But... is escape enough? Can he really turn a blind eye to the atrocities of war? What can one soldier do against an entire empire bent on military conquest?
I really liked this book! I had a great time reading it. It was surprising on many levels and took quite a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting. The author skillfully avoided a lot of tropes or predictable story points, making this a refreshing read. I absolutely LOVED how she handled the heavy themes. Not to mention, such beautiful prose.
That said, it can be quite dark at times. The tone of this story is all about children being forced into a warzone, and how unforgiving that reality can be. There was a cost to war. It's a bold storytelling direction, but one that I believe paid off brilliantly.
I loved Ciran as a protagonist. He slowly changes and grows so naturally. Believable and relatable. The worldbuilding draws from real-world history and explores themes of government control.
The ending of this book is quite open, as it's clearly book 1 of a trilogy. I'm excited to see where things go from here.
Ciran is a young, conscripted soldier who just wants to get away from the horrors of war. Turns out, it's much harder to escape than he thought. His country is constantly searching for deserters who run away from the army. It will take all Ciran's skills and knowledge of the wilderness to escape.
But... is escape enough? Can he really turn a blind eye to the atrocities of war? What can one soldier do against an entire empire bent on military conquest?
I really liked this book! I had a great time reading it. It was surprising on many levels and took quite a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting. The author skillfully avoided a lot of tropes or predictable story points, making this a refreshing read. I absolutely LOVED how she handled the heavy themes. Not to mention, such beautiful prose.
That said, it can be quite dark at times. The tone of this story is all about children being forced into a warzone, and how unforgiving that reality can be. There was a cost to war. It's a bold storytelling direction, but one that I believe paid off brilliantly.
I loved Ciran as a protagonist. He slowly changes and grows so naturally. Believable and relatable. The worldbuilding draws from real-world history and explores themes of government control.
The ending of this book is quite open, as it's clearly book 1 of a trilogy. I'm excited to see where things go from here.
May 18, 2025
Fire From Ashes is a nostalgic young adult fantasy that echoed Eragon for me.
Strength: It's a heartfelt fantasy with strong world-building.
Weakness: I'd say that it has room for tighter pacing.
Barberi excels at creating a detailed, immersive fantasy world that feels both expansive and accessible. Reading Fire From Ashes brought back fond memories of my youth spent engrossed in Eragon and similar fantasy novels.
Like Paolini’s work, Barberi’s novel centers on a young hero navigating a dangerous, magical world, with themes of self-discovery and resilience that resonate deeply with younger readers. However, where Eragon stood out with its intricate magic system and dragon-rider bond, Fire From Ashes leans more on emotional character arcs and world-building, offering a familiar yet distinct flavor of fantasy nostalgia.
Fire From Ashes is great for kids, offering an exciting fantasy adventure with relatable themes of courage and discovery that spark young imaginations. I wish I could share this book with my younger self.
Strength: It's a heartfelt fantasy with strong world-building.
Weakness: I'd say that it has room for tighter pacing.
Barberi excels at creating a detailed, immersive fantasy world that feels both expansive and accessible. Reading Fire From Ashes brought back fond memories of my youth spent engrossed in Eragon and similar fantasy novels.
Like Paolini’s work, Barberi’s novel centers on a young hero navigating a dangerous, magical world, with themes of self-discovery and resilience that resonate deeply with younger readers. However, where Eragon stood out with its intricate magic system and dragon-rider bond, Fire From Ashes leans more on emotional character arcs and world-building, offering a familiar yet distinct flavor of fantasy nostalgia.
Fire From Ashes is great for kids, offering an exciting fantasy adventure with relatable themes of courage and discovery that spark young imaginations. I wish I could share this book with my younger self.
June 8, 2025
Let's get this out of the way first, because it is possibly the very highest consideration on this series as a whole, thus I won't need to mention it again, in all likelihood: Fires of an Empire is the best take on the dragon rider, bar none. The intimate perspective that repurposes the inner monologue from a limited third person voice into a shared one, is a clear indication Barberi put some real thought into this aspect. She was trying to fix a three-pronged problem: How to make your setting feel grounded, have the protagonist establish a close bond with a dragon - without cartoonishly assigning this creature human traits. Well, mission accomplished. I'll spare on describing this in detail, if the concept itself is already catching your attention, stop reading this review and go get this book right now. It's best experienced, not explained.
I'm a patient reader, read a lot of books that required me to embrace the author's vision trustingly. Barberi's style will require this, no doubt. This is a story that works its themes of reverence for what is the true moral path of Man in a ponderous way. Moment to moment, Ciran bears the towering shadow of noble sacrifice in every detailed interaction during his exodus across Perinthia. This isn't a kind world, its peoples are strained by the impositions of an Empire which seeks to change by force that which could provide their subjects an acceptable standard of living. No doubt there are parallels with how our world is descending into similarly inane totalitarian reasonings, so if you needed such commentary, you will find it here. The best way to deliver all this, is to keep a strict hold on Ciran's first hand experiences in his trek, which build the world on the move. It isn't an issue of narrative pacing, unless you are trying to get this man into specific trouble for your own vicarious amusement. Put yourself on his shoes: He is escaping a fate of pointless servitude to a regime which is steadily destroying that which he holds dear. We're talking about an intensely vulnerable protagonist, desperately integrating into every situation to prevent further tragedies while debating the moral imperative of truthfulness and courage. Patience is rewarded here, as this mode of delivery, this intense immersion in the setting, will pay dividends with regards to tension, in the final act of this book. It is a gruelling, excruciating push to freedom and self-determination that feels so viscerally real, that I doubt any person acquainted with their human condition would fail to empathize. What happens here, happens for a reason, which leads me to the final aspect that really pleased me.
Thematically, this story delivers the goods. It is unequivocal in what it speaks to, so the gravitas of the moral arc is unrelenting, throughout. Everyone here is unknowingly building this picture for Ciran that firmly places him in a painful path to wisdom, which threatens to be lonesome and full of loss, only to see it rewarded by the most uncanny and sweet bond imaginable. You will see what it goes into forging a strong man, in both blood and heart. Human storytelling is this and always this: The transference of the unfeeling motions of the Times into the perspective of the one who feels them for us. Thus eliciting those feelings for real, securing the lesson meant to be learned.
In that sense, this story completes its initial arc. There is more, so if this somehow upsets you, your only solution here is to read the sequel - immediately.
This is a perfect example of what the Iron Age of fiction is meant to return to this cynical, vapid Age, which has seen fit to deprive the common person of reflection on what truly matters in Life. That will never be delivered in "bites". Eat the whole thing.
I'm a patient reader, read a lot of books that required me to embrace the author's vision trustingly. Barberi's style will require this, no doubt. This is a story that works its themes of reverence for what is the true moral path of Man in a ponderous way. Moment to moment, Ciran bears the towering shadow of noble sacrifice in every detailed interaction during his exodus across Perinthia. This isn't a kind world, its peoples are strained by the impositions of an Empire which seeks to change by force that which could provide their subjects an acceptable standard of living. No doubt there are parallels with how our world is descending into similarly inane totalitarian reasonings, so if you needed such commentary, you will find it here. The best way to deliver all this, is to keep a strict hold on Ciran's first hand experiences in his trek, which build the world on the move. It isn't an issue of narrative pacing, unless you are trying to get this man into specific trouble for your own vicarious amusement. Put yourself on his shoes: He is escaping a fate of pointless servitude to a regime which is steadily destroying that which he holds dear. We're talking about an intensely vulnerable protagonist, desperately integrating into every situation to prevent further tragedies while debating the moral imperative of truthfulness and courage. Patience is rewarded here, as this mode of delivery, this intense immersion in the setting, will pay dividends with regards to tension, in the final act of this book. It is a gruelling, excruciating push to freedom and self-determination that feels so viscerally real, that I doubt any person acquainted with their human condition would fail to empathize. What happens here, happens for a reason, which leads me to the final aspect that really pleased me.
Thematically, this story delivers the goods. It is unequivocal in what it speaks to, so the gravitas of the moral arc is unrelenting, throughout. Everyone here is unknowingly building this picture for Ciran that firmly places him in a painful path to wisdom, which threatens to be lonesome and full of loss, only to see it rewarded by the most uncanny and sweet bond imaginable. You will see what it goes into forging a strong man, in both blood and heart. Human storytelling is this and always this: The transference of the unfeeling motions of the Times into the perspective of the one who feels them for us. Thus eliciting those feelings for real, securing the lesson meant to be learned.
In that sense, this story completes its initial arc. There is more, so if this somehow upsets you, your only solution here is to read the sequel - immediately.
This is a perfect example of what the Iron Age of fiction is meant to return to this cynical, vapid Age, which has seen fit to deprive the common person of reflection on what truly matters in Life. That will never be delivered in "bites". Eat the whole thing.
November 15, 2024
I couldn't put this book down! It follows Ciran, a soldier who runs away from a cruel empire's army and stumbles into an adventure I never saw coming. Fair warning! This isn't a light read. There are some pretty dark moments that show just how brutal this world can be. But there are also some really funny moments that made me laugh out loud, especially as Ciran learns to trust and work with his new companion.
What I loved most was how real Ciran feels. He messes up, sometimes badly! He also struggles with guilt over his past. But I couldn't help rooting for him, even when he makes questionable choices. He's just trying to do the right thing in a world that makes that really hard.
The author does an amazing job bringing this world to life. From the miserable military camps to the mysterious ancient legends, everything feels believable. The action scenes had me on the edge of my seat, and even the quiet moments kept me wondering what would happen next. While there's friendship and loyalty, don't expect any romance. This story is about surviving and fighting back against evil.
The ending totally caught me off guard and now I'm dying to know what happens in the next book. Will Ciran find the family he's searching for? Will anyone ever stand up to this terrible empire? I can't wait to find out!
What I loved most was how real Ciran feels. He messes up, sometimes badly! He also struggles with guilt over his past. But I couldn't help rooting for him, even when he makes questionable choices. He's just trying to do the right thing in a world that makes that really hard.
The author does an amazing job bringing this world to life. From the miserable military camps to the mysterious ancient legends, everything feels believable. The action scenes had me on the edge of my seat, and even the quiet moments kept me wondering what would happen next. While there's friendship and loyalty, don't expect any romance. This story is about surviving and fighting back against evil.
The ending totally caught me off guard and now I'm dying to know what happens in the next book. Will Ciran find the family he's searching for? Will anyone ever stand up to this terrible empire? I can't wait to find out!
April 17, 2025
This book is well written, the prose flows and the characters are believable and realistic. Unfortunately this is something that is uncommon with many independently published books. Barberi doesn't waste time on world-building and histories and lore which enable the reader to pick up the story with little side trails.
As well, I did feel Barberi avoided the typical cliches and tropes that often plague dragon fantasy books. The narrative does take dark turns rather than play in the comfortable topics giving Cirian a humanistic feel. She stays away from meaningless gore and smut which is a welcome reprieve from many popular fantasy books.
Ultimately I found this to be a solid entry, though I found I did not find myself invested in the plot of the story and a few times had to ask myself "what were the stakes again?" as I felt there should be more meat to the story than what was provided. What was relayed was solid, but this book felt more like a bulid-up to something. I understand this is only book 1, and the next books presumably will continue to build on the story. If the future books maintain the same trajectory they promise to be entertaining reads. But as it sits for me, I put this as a solid book that deserves its place with nothing that turns me off, but also not enough that makes it stand out.
As well, I did feel Barberi avoided the typical cliches and tropes that often plague dragon fantasy books. The narrative does take dark turns rather than play in the comfortable topics giving Cirian a humanistic feel. She stays away from meaningless gore and smut which is a welcome reprieve from many popular fantasy books.
Ultimately I found this to be a solid entry, though I found I did not find myself invested in the plot of the story and a few times had to ask myself "what were the stakes again?" as I felt there should be more meat to the story than what was provided. What was relayed was solid, but this book felt more like a bulid-up to something. I understand this is only book 1, and the next books presumably will continue to build on the story. If the future books maintain the same trajectory they promise to be entertaining reads. But as it sits for me, I put this as a solid book that deserves its place with nothing that turns me off, but also not enough that makes it stand out.
October 20, 2025
A fantasy story that started promising, but offered a lonely and demoralizing impression by the conclusion. The dragon lore was the story's strength, and watching Lorcan perform draconic feats of strength was inspiring. The protagonist's character arc felt disorganized and I got confused a lot on where he was going and what he really wanted. The conclusion didn't leave off on a good hook, as I had difficulty bonding with Cirian. More character depth and plot integrity could have benefits this book. I did enjoy some of the wholesome scenes in certain towns and cities, and the potential to make this series great is still there.
January 31, 2025
Truly enjoyed this book. I received an ARC and was thrilled to dive in.
The story had a good pace and there were some tense moments that had me screaming! Ciran grew a lot as a character through these pages and I'm excited to see what's next!
The story had a good pace and there were some tense moments that had me screaming! Ciran grew a lot as a character through these pages and I'm excited to see what's next!
February 7, 2025
All together, Fire From Ashes is a good high-fantasy that delivers on its core archetype of dragons with some excellent character work and well-plotted writing.
Full review available on my website:https://kozinskibooks.com/fire-from-a...
Full review available on my website:https://kozinskibooks.com/fire-from-a...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews