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The Ashen Levels #5
Paragon
A weary peace may have descended, but not for long. The askaba’s machinations are coming to fruition and the ashen are as divided as ever. Balagir has but a short time to rally their numbers, unearth the truth of their distant past and stop an ancient threat from fulfilling its plan. Old allies and enemies alike come into play as the endgame commences.
- GenresFantasy
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2018
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
C.F. Welburn
12 books141 followersCraig Farndale Welburn is an award-winning author for his series: The Ashen Levels.
He was born in the year of Star Wars, in the birth town of Charles Darwin, and caught the fantasy bug as a child at the top of a faraway tree, in a hole in the ground and through a snowy wardrobe.
He left Shropshire to study literature, travel the lands and seek his fortune. (He’s still seeking…)
He lives in Madrid with his wife Jessica and son Otis.
He was born in the year of Star Wars, in the birth town of Charles Darwin, and caught the fantasy bug as a child at the top of a faraway tree, in a hole in the ground and through a snowy wardrobe.
He left Shropshire to study literature, travel the lands and seek his fortune. (He’s still seeking…)
He lives in Madrid with his wife Jessica and son Otis.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 10, 2019
Paragon by C.F. Welburn is the final installment in The Ashen Levels Saga. We follow Balagir on his final journey for questions to be answered.
I loved this series so much and am not liking that it is over. Balagir is one of my favorite characters of all time from a new author, no less. The writing is superb, and the characters are very well fleshed out. The ending threw me for a loop, though. I definitely wasn't expecting this ending, but Welburn tied up everything, albeit a bit too tidy for me. I would have liked one more book (just one more, please?) added to this saga, but overall, it was a great way to end this series. I most definitely recommend this series. It has races that I have never heard of, which was a treat, and I can't say enough about Welburn's writing style.
I'm giving this book 4.5 stars because of the too tidy an ending, for me personally. Goodreads doesn't have the option of half stars, so I'm rounding up to a 5.
I'm looking forward to more stories from C.F. Welburn.
I loved this series so much and am not liking that it is over. Balagir is one of my favorite characters of all time from a new author, no less. The writing is superb, and the characters are very well fleshed out. The ending threw me for a loop, though. I definitely wasn't expecting this ending, but Welburn tied up everything, albeit a bit too tidy for me. I would have liked one more book (just one more, please?) added to this saga, but overall, it was a great way to end this series. I most definitely recommend this series. It has races that I have never heard of, which was a treat, and I can't say enough about Welburn's writing style.
I'm giving this book 4.5 stars because of the too tidy an ending, for me personally. Goodreads doesn't have the option of half stars, so I'm rounding up to a 5.
I'm looking forward to more stories from C.F. Welburn.
February 19, 2021
The final book of The Ashen Levels brings Balagir's quest to a close and the author does a great job of tying the threads together here, in what's been a really interesting mystery.
I found this one to be more like reading Epic Fantasy, with lots of travelling, bad guys to face (sort of), battles and such, than previous titles in the series - I think it is longer, too.
The quality of writing, worldbuilding and plot holds up all the way through. As I may have mentioned in a previous review, it is perhaps the characters that are less memorable, but that's almost the point, since the Ashen are not really sure who they are themselves. There are plenty of ashen introduced and reintroduced here, but while so many of these characters sounded interesting, many remained as a name and a physical description/race rather than an individual I had got to know. Balagir quests with a wide variety of colleagues over the series but there were few secondary characters there long enough for me to get invested in.
This issue aside, Welburn has completed a complex, unique dark tale here and I tip my hat to his achievement.
I found this one to be more like reading Epic Fantasy, with lots of travelling, bad guys to face (sort of), battles and such, than previous titles in the series - I think it is longer, too.
The quality of writing, worldbuilding and plot holds up all the way through. As I may have mentioned in a previous review, it is perhaps the characters that are less memorable, but that's almost the point, since the Ashen are not really sure who they are themselves. There are plenty of ashen introduced and reintroduced here, but while so many of these characters sounded interesting, many remained as a name and a physical description/race rather than an individual I had got to know. Balagir quests with a wide variety of colleagues over the series but there were few secondary characters there long enough for me to get invested in.
This issue aside, Welburn has completed a complex, unique dark tale here and I tip my hat to his achievement.
November 24, 2019
In the wake of a war manufactured by the wicked askaba, the ashen, while victorious and somewhat accepted, now have more questions than answers about their origins. This last book in the series tells of their driving quest through a labyrinth of plots, secrets, lost history and fragments shadowed by a diabolical entity whom Balagir and his companions unwittingly set free and soon discover will destroy them all.
As the ashen begin to find answers, they race time in hopes of changing a bleak and inevitable demise. This gives the story a sad, haunted feel, until a series of unexpected events reveals to Balagir his final act and one which will finally bring him home. The ending is beautiful, like the sun coming out.
All in all, this is a unique, fantastic series and one of my new favorites.
As the ashen begin to find answers, they race time in hopes of changing a bleak and inevitable demise. This gives the story a sad, haunted feel, until a series of unexpected events reveals to Balagir his final act and one which will finally bring him home. The ending is beautiful, like the sun coming out.
All in all, this is a unique, fantastic series and one of my new favorites.
August 30, 2021
When the ash falls, what will be left of the Ashen?
This is the final battle, but it's fought on several fronts. Balagir has many clues to unravel, people to see, and places to be, but many places are no longer safe, and the Ashen are more despised than ever.
All our questions get answered in Book 5. It's quite an epic tale. I felt sorry for Balagir and his closest companions, including the entity called Arrow. The ending is more satisfying than I thought it would be in light of all that goes wrong.
My only complaint with the final book is that too much was left at the end to wrap up. A few of the reveals could have been shared in earlier books.
I highly recommend listening to The Ashen Levels: Omnibus Version on Audible. Jez Jamison does a brilliant job narrating these books.
This is the final battle, but it's fought on several fronts. Balagir has many clues to unravel, people to see, and places to be, but many places are no longer safe, and the Ashen are more despised than ever.
All our questions get answered in Book 5. It's quite an epic tale. I felt sorry for Balagir and his closest companions, including the entity called Arrow. The ending is more satisfying than I thought it would be in light of all that goes wrong.
My only complaint with the final book is that too much was left at the end to wrap up. A few of the reveals could have been shared in earlier books.
I highly recommend listening to The Ashen Levels: Omnibus Version on Audible. Jez Jamison does a brilliant job narrating these books.
August 12, 2021
Fantastic final book in the series wraps up everything from the other four books and gives the final reveal payoff I was after. Definitely recommend - full review to come
July 30, 2021
The life of an Ashen, from the glory of the fire to the taste of the smoke and to return to ash, a black eye who feels no hunger for but the craving for the knowledge of their origin, the final installment of The Ashen Levels brings an end to the journey of Balagir's quest with his fellow Ashen, an old adversary and Nemesis Finster has joined up with them, a conniving and devious smoke junkie always looking for his next fix, The Askaba a religious cult have been busy, after bringing about the last war, their hatred for the Ashen will stop at no bounds to bring them to an end, Balagir the hero must bandy all the Ashen together if they're to have any chance to stop their machinations from putting the fires out for good, finally they will uncover the truth of their pasts, absolutley fantastic end to the series finished with a flourish of awesomeness , C.F.Welburn has brought us something special, cracking writing, Dark, Grim and a series you can immerse yourself and get lost in, Jez Jameson gives it all in his final preformence and brings this master piece to a conclusion, highly recommended....😁
October 19, 2020
The final book of the Ashen Levels takes Balagir to the very bottom of the Ashen mythos. He manages to unearth long lost things that were perhaps better off left alone. In the end, the Good Company prevails, though at heartbreaking costs to all involved. I loved the way so many things from early in the series were brought back around, loose ends tied, and comeuppances had. The ending was both bitter-sweet and very satisfying. I loved the titles of the 5 book sequence, and though they all fit perfectly with Balagir’s journey, start to finish. Balagir and the Good Company will stay in my heart for a very long while. Thank you CF Welburn for a wonderful tale, I truly enjoyed the whole of it.
August 6, 2024
What a satisfying ending to an otherwise great series! The threads weaved throughout this story are flawless, and how it all comes together at the end is expertly done. I loved the conclusion!
I cannot recommend this enough, for I've absolutely devoured this series listening to the audiobooks! I feel empty now, knowing Balagir won't be joining me in my day-to-day life. The narration done by Jez Jameson leaves me wanting for more on its own, let alone the fabulous story CF Welburn has penned here!
Fantastic world-building, great characters, superbly merged GameLit elements, intriguing mysteries, and great action! I cannot stress enough how great this series is. Just buy it already!
I cannot recommend this enough, for I've absolutely devoured this series listening to the audiobooks! I feel empty now, knowing Balagir won't be joining me in my day-to-day life. The narration done by Jez Jameson leaves me wanting for more on its own, let alone the fabulous story CF Welburn has penned here!
Fantastic world-building, great characters, superbly merged GameLit elements, intriguing mysteries, and great action! I cannot stress enough how great this series is. Just buy it already!
August 13, 2022
Allow a full day for this concluding episode of the quest of Balagir. I had an ARC via Bookfunnel and this is my voluntary review
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews