Elyaris: A Mountain Made of Ash

by Hannah M. Hargraves

19-year-old Evany Hale had followed the rules all her life.
Inside the walls of Elyaris, rebellion means punishment and fear keeps peace. Being the daughter of a Council memeber she knows what happens to people who question the system. Her own brother was an example of that.
But when Voss tightens his grip on the city on the city and forces Evany into an arranged marriage, her world begins to unravel. Drawn in by whispers of a rebellion, dangerous secrets, and a mysterious stranger, Evany begins to question everything she believes and realizes she cannot stay silent anymore. As Elyaris nears collapse, Evany must decide who she truly is before the flames consume everything she loves.

243 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2026

Reviews

[Nospicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good debut by the author. It was a fast paced story, with some good twists. I appreciated that the fmc stuck to her convictions throughout the story and didn't stop believing in what was right. She may have been intimidated at times but ultimately she chose to act on behalf of the greater good and for those she cared about.
Some of the character development felt a little rush but with the book being on the shorter side it makes sense. I do wish we got to know some of the side characters a little better but i suspect we will learn more in the next book.
The world building had some classic dystopian elements but also some of its own uniqueness which was appreciated. It felt like some things were glossed over, but ultimately things were described well it wasn't hard to follow.
Overall I do think it is a good first novel and do reccomend giving it a try!
Thank you to the author for the arc copy!

[TrulyBookReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Hannah M. Hargraves for providing me with an ARC! This review was left voluntarily.

I was super excited to read this book because I love a good dystopian!! Parts of this reminded me of Divergent, so if you enjoyed that series you may really like this!

I enjoyed seeing the family dynamic and close friendships, they were so sweet! And oh boy is the villain VILLAINOUS. Hate that guy.

The book was super fast paced, I found myself wishing it slowed down a little and allowed us to see more of the daily life in the inner circle and the compound. And I did feel like the romance came out of nowhere, hopefully we get to see more of their relationship in the next book.

Language: none
Spice: mild kisses
Content warnings: abuse of power, violence, death, manipulation, non graphic torture

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was needing a break from fantasy for a minute so I was eager to pick this one up! This story was fast paced, tons of action, and was a quick and easy read. I really enjoyed this authors writing style and found myself glued to my phone for this one! I thought the setting of the world was unique with the “Inner Ring” and “Outer Ring” divisions. I love a good dystopian and this one was fun! However, I do wish that we got to know the characters a little bit more in this one. With it being more of a fast paced read, I feel like we didn’t get as much time to know each character and understand who they are. Along with the plot moving very quickly and not getting much in between time of what’s going on before the next big event. This book was around 200 pages, so everything went pretty quick. Other than that, I enjoyed this one and am grateful for the opportunity to have read it early!🤍

[Caroline Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy
4.5 Stars!!
This book was very fast paced and exciting! I read it in just a few days. I do feel like a few of the characters could have developed more (like I want to know more about Elias and Voss! I’d love to hear more of both their backstories and I feel as if the main character’s personally wasn’t as developed as she should have been she took a big jump and I feel like she could have eased into more especially when her father was killed and she didn’t grieve very much I feel like that was a bit out of character for her) but other than that this book was amazing! Anyone who loves Dystopian books will enjoy this!!

[maybetati · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced read for dystopian lovers! I’m thankful to have received an ARC copy from the author. I grew up reading dystopian books, so I was excited to give this one a go. It’s a little on the shorter side, which is new for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Perfect if you love books like Divergent and Maze Runner. One thing about me is that I love a TRUE villain…and this one delivers!

I do wish we were able to slow down at parts to really absorb the environment and get to know the characters and their relationships more. But overall, I enjoyed reading this and look forward to more of the author’s work!

[Karson A]

ARC

This was my first dystopian book and it did not disappoint! i was hooked from the beginning! I absolutely loved it! Even though i haven't read dystopian books i do like dystopian movies but honestly i liked this better than any of the movies i have watched in this sub genre. The twist and turn keeps you reading! The FMC in this book was amazing! I cannot wait to read more of this series and more by this author!


Dystopian book fans this ones for you!! 10/10 RECOMMEND

[Shawnee Souders · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 chapters in and it’s a decent read! To me it’s a faster paced book. It’s not exactly my type of book but it’s definitely good. I feel like it’s missing some events or details. I also feel like the book is missing development of characters. I do like the characters evany, alora and Elias. It is still a great book and I enjoyed reading it!

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy

I loved this book! I read it within a few days and just could not put it down. It's fast-paced, exciting and the stakes are super high. For anyone who loves dystopian novels this is a perfect one. The characters were great and I absolutely love Evany.

Can't wait for the next book!!

[Ellie Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really connected with Evany's character. Seeing her journey from being quiet, soft, and compliant to standing up for herself was so powerful. I felt like I knew her personally.
For a debut novel, this is really good and I look forward to reading more from this author. I wish it was longer cause I wanted more!
Looking forward to book two!

[Laura Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a cool, fast-paced dystopian book! The twists and the turns were insane and that ending is killing me! I want more!
If you enjoy constant action and high-stakes you'll love this book!
So glad I got to read it early!

[Martelize Schütte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Evany remains true to herself and does not switch her convictions. She grows from a silent girl to a fighter, and I love that! The story is a bit fast-paced, but I still love it. 💖

[CB Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

Elyaris, a debut novel by Hanna M. Hargraves, paints an imaginative world that blends dystopian fiction, medieval-inspired culture, science-fiction technology, and fantasy into something that feels distinct from many YA novels. The author layers the elements of the world so they remain intentionally mysterious, though I occasionally found myself wanting more explanation. Beneath the adventure, the novel explores authoritarian control, privilege, bodily autonomy, and finding the courage to question the system. If you enjoy Matched, Shatter Me, and Shadow and Bone, Elyaris offers an intriguing blend of dystopian control, fantasy, and rebellion.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I devoured this book. Elyaris: A Mountain Made of Ash pulls you into a world split between the people who are barely surviving and the people who get to pretend everything’s fine, and it does it without ever feeling like a lecture, you just feel it through Evany.

Evany herself is the reason I kept turning pages. She’s not a chosen-one type, she’s someone backed into a corner who has to actually figure out what she believes when believing the “right” things stops keeping her safe. Watching her hold onto the people she loves while everything around her is rigged against that is honestly devastating in the best way.

The world has that slow-reveal quality where you think you understand how things work, and then the floor drops out from under you. There’s tension, there’s a romance that builds instead of being handed to you, and there’s enough going on under the surface that I’m still thinking about it. By the time I hit the last page I actually said “no” out loud. I need book 2 NOW!