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Ascendancy : Fall, #1
For generations, the Kingdom has stretched it's reach farther into the valleys, forests and hills of the frontier. Taxes grow heavier. Winters hungrier. Soldiers march where farmers once walked. Villages vanish beneath decrees written by hands adorned with golden rings. Most endure, too many break. But a few choose to resist.
Elissa never intended to become one of them.
Raised in the quiet village of Crickethollow, she knows the language of herbs, healing and hard winters. Her world is measured in harvest, shared meals, and the unspoken promise that neighbors care for one another. But with the taxes rising and a strange man washing ashore on the Frogsong River Elissa is forced onto a road she never dreamed to travel.
Hunted by the King's forces and pursued by enemies who see people as tools and villages as resources, she's tasked with bringing the stranger to the nearest town. But the natural world has other plans for the young healer. An ancient power stirs beneath the forest, and forgotten paths awaken beneath her feet. Elissa discovers a gift tied to the Wild itself and the old magics. A force woven into each and every animal of the world.
To save those she loves, Elissa must decide what kind of woman she will become. A healer or a fighter. A survivor or a leader. Whether hope is worth carrying when every mile stretches longer and longer.
Set in a world of ancient forests, distant mountains, Wild Gods, and ordinary people standing against impossible odds, this is a story of courage, sacrifice, found family, love, and the enduring belief that kindness remains an act of defiance in dark times.
Where kingdoms are built by power. The future belongs to those who refuse to face winter alone.
Elissa never intended to become one of them.
Raised in the quiet village of Crickethollow, she knows the language of herbs, healing and hard winters. Her world is measured in harvest, shared meals, and the unspoken promise that neighbors care for one another. But with the taxes rising and a strange man washing ashore on the Frogsong River Elissa is forced onto a road she never dreamed to travel.
Hunted by the King's forces and pursued by enemies who see people as tools and villages as resources, she's tasked with bringing the stranger to the nearest town. But the natural world has other plans for the young healer. An ancient power stirs beneath the forest, and forgotten paths awaken beneath her feet. Elissa discovers a gift tied to the Wild itself and the old magics. A force woven into each and every animal of the world.
To save those she loves, Elissa must decide what kind of woman she will become. A healer or a fighter. A survivor or a leader. Whether hope is worth carrying when every mile stretches longer and longer.
Set in a world of ancient forests, distant mountains, Wild Gods, and ordinary people standing against impossible odds, this is a story of courage, sacrifice, found family, love, and the enduring belief that kindness remains an act of defiance in dark times.
Where kingdoms are built by power. The future belongs to those who refuse to face winter alone.
502 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 3, 2026
Hard to put down!
This was such a great read! The characters, even secondary were very well developed. The tale starts slowly with a young woman in a village with knowledge of herb lore, healing and an uncanny ability to help others help themselves. Her whole world and way of life is upended by a young injured soldier that she rescues from a stream.
The story builds from this incident to begin a grand adventure to fight the evil that is destroying the kingdom and its people.
Wonderful storytelling! A fantasy tale with purpose and even a critter to assist our heroine in her quest. Almost in the “ Beastmaster” movie tradition! Wonderful!
This was such a great read! The characters, even secondary were very well developed. The tale starts slowly with a young woman in a village with knowledge of herb lore, healing and an uncanny ability to help others help themselves. Her whole world and way of life is upended by a young injured soldier that she rescues from a stream.
The story builds from this incident to begin a grand adventure to fight the evil that is destroying the kingdom and its people.
Wonderful storytelling! A fantasy tale with purpose and even a critter to assist our heroine in her quest. Almost in the “ Beastmaster” movie tradition! Wonderful!
August 22, 2026
I mean... what can I say? I enjoyed writing it and re-reading it like a million times.
October 11, 2026
Has promise
The story itself is good. But there are mant errors with grammar and editing that make the story difficult to enjoy thoroughly. Hopefully the author will get an editor and proofreader to help fix it up.
The story itself is good. But there are mant errors with grammar and editing that make the story difficult to enjoy thoroughly. Hopefully the author will get an editor and proofreader to help fix it up.
July 19, 2026
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but it ended up pulling me in much more than I thought it would.
The biggest strength is definitely the characters. Elissa feels like a real person. She's kind, uncertain, and slowly grows into someone much stronger without it ever feeling forced. Triston was another standout. He's not the typical fantasy hero. He's thoughtful, carries a lot of guilt, and genuinely cares about the people around him. Watching the relationship between the two develop felt natural and was one of my favorite parts of the story.
The world also feels alive. The villages, forests, and old traditions all have their own personality, and I especially liked how the Wild Gods are woven into the world instead of simply existing in the background. The story spends time showing ordinary people trying to survive, which made everything feel more believable and gave me a reason to care about what happened.
The pacing is slower than a lot of fantasy books, but I actually think that works in its favor. It gives you time to get to know the characters before the bigger events happen. By the time the action picks up, I was already invested in everyone.
If I had one small criticism, it would be that some scenes are very descriptive and could have been a little shorter. That said, the writing is beautiful, and those details help make the world feel real.
If you enjoy character driven fantasy with strong friendships, believable romance, and a story about hope in difficult times, I think this book is worth reading. It feels like the beginning of a much larger journey, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
The biggest strength is definitely the characters. Elissa feels like a real person. She's kind, uncertain, and slowly grows into someone much stronger without it ever feeling forced. Triston was another standout. He's not the typical fantasy hero. He's thoughtful, carries a lot of guilt, and genuinely cares about the people around him. Watching the relationship between the two develop felt natural and was one of my favorite parts of the story.
The world also feels alive. The villages, forests, and old traditions all have their own personality, and I especially liked how the Wild Gods are woven into the world instead of simply existing in the background. The story spends time showing ordinary people trying to survive, which made everything feel more believable and gave me a reason to care about what happened.
The pacing is slower than a lot of fantasy books, but I actually think that works in its favor. It gives you time to get to know the characters before the bigger events happen. By the time the action picks up, I was already invested in everyone.
If I had one small criticism, it would be that some scenes are very descriptive and could have been a little shorter. That said, the writing is beautiful, and those details help make the world feel real.
If you enjoy character driven fantasy with strong friendships, believable romance, and a story about hope in difficult times, I think this book is worth reading. It feels like the beginning of a much larger journey, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
October 20, 2026
3.75. This is one of those books that grew on me and by the end, I felt ,I had read a well developed fantasy story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews