Even with great power at Talise’s fingertips, this rescue might still be impossible.
As she and her friends head toward enemy territory, new obstacles meet them at every turn. Her army is running out of supplies. The nearby citizens won’t help if they’re already working for the enemy. Even worse, Talise doesn’t even have a map of the base she needs to infiltrate.
In desperation, she turns to the man who has the power to give them everything they need. Unfortunately, that man is the emperor, who also has the power to imprison her once it’s all over.
But Talise is determined to do whatever must be done. With the life of her best friend’s brother on the line, she’ll either rescue the prisoners… or die trying.
Kay L. Moody is the YA fantasy author of COURT OF BITTER THORN and THE ELEMENTS OF THE CROWN. Her books feature rich world building, slow burn romance, mythical creatures, and twisty plots.
As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody
Ah, we are getting there, we are reaching the end. 4 stars because we found the spark again. I really really hope that the last one will get five stars.
Talise and her followers are ready to take action against the Kessoku, but first, they need to rescue those that are being held prisoner. This rescue mission is personal since Wendy’s older brother Cyrus is one of the prisoners. Winter approaches as Talise and her army head toward Kessoku’s main base, and they are slowly running out of supplies and food.
Talise sends word to the Emperor for assistance, even though it means her probable imprisonment. She’ll do whatever it takes to save her best friend’s brother and the other prisoners before she fights to end the Kessoku forever.
In Ember Gate, Talise demonstrates yet again why she is quickly becoming my favorite protagonist. She is an exceptional teacher, friend, and leader, and her self-reflective and honorable character proves wise beyond her eighteen years. I like that Talise constantly questions and considers the ramifications of her actions before acting. She truly wants the best for Kamdaria.
I also love the way that she involves her people in the decision-making. By putting her trust in them, she proves that she is a worthy leader. The stakes grow ever-higher for Talise, and the EPIC motivational rise-and-fight-for-me speech shows just how far Talise has come. I’ve enjoyed watching her grow into a strong and admirable person that people want to follow, and she is the progressive leader that could bring change and unity to her kingdom.
As the series progresses, the story becomes more intense and suspenseful, and the nail-biting, gasp-out-loud events in Ember Gate suggest that we’re nearing a big battle against the Kessoku. However, I have a feeling Kay L. Moody will throw a few twists and turns in first. She sure did in this book!
Just when I thought I had The Elements of Kamdaria series all figured out, Kay L. Moody throws a wicked twist that I did not see coming!! I won’t give anything away, but holy cow! I am not okay…but I kind of am? I need to know more about this unexpected happening and the motivations behind it.
It seems the more that is revealed, the more complex things become for Talise. There are several shocking moments in Ember Gate that contradict Talise’s beliefs and shake her to the core. Knowing how smart and determined she is, and how hard on herself she is, Talise is sure to struggle with what she learned and how to progress. I can’t wait to see where her journey leads her next!
Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Kay L Moody continues the amazing journey with book eight of The Elements of Kamdaria series, Ember Gate. In this book, Talise and crew set out to rescue the prisoners held by Kessoku, including Cyrus, Wendy’s brother.
Ember Gate was skillfully written. The story is full of surprises and deceit. I appreciated the outcome with Aaden and Claye. My heart went out to Talise and everything she has endured.
I have said it before in previous reviews of this series, but I am going to say it again. The Elements of Kamdaria would make an incredible television or movie series. It would be visually appealing and thrilling. I cannot wait for the next book. I recommend The Elements of Kamdaria to people that enjoy magical fantasies. I also recommend reading the books in order. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Even with great power at Talise’s fingertips, this rescue might still be impossible. As she and her friends head toward enemy territory, new obstacles meet them at every turn. Her army is running out of supplies. The nearby citizens won’t help if they’re already working for the enemy. Even worse, Talise doesn’t even have a map of the base she needs to infiltrate. In desperation, she turns to the man who has the power to give them everything they need. Unfortunately, that man is the emperor, who also has the power to imprison her once it’s all over. But Talise is determined to do whatever must be done. With the life of her best friend’s brother on the line, she’ll either rescue the prisoners… or die trying.
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series! Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story. Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read more of these. Recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Oh my goodness!!!!! This book is an absolutely brilliant instalment in the series.
You jump right into the action and you do not stop! The plan is to sneak in and get the prisoners out. The Emperor has agreed to help-with some conditions obviously, and the team seem ready.
And that is all I can say! I refuse to let anything more out for fear of spoiling the book.
My favourite in the series thus far, the twists in this book will have you gasping out loud for sure!
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The end is in sight! Ember Gate by Kay L. Moody is the eighth installment of the novella series The Elements of Kamdaria, and picks up a few weeks after the events of Vine Gate. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, there may be minor spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk! Talise and her friends are close to the Kessouku main base, ready to rescue the soldiers who were taken from the Crown. Among those prisoners is Wendy’s brother. Talise is determined to do whatever it takes to save her people, but her own soldiers are running out of supplies as winter closes in. She has to do something she doesn’t want to do: ask the emperor for help. Ember Gate is full of action and deception from those you don’t expect.
Talise is ready to move forward. She has come to terms with Aaden’s betrayal, and she is ready to take Kessouku down. However she is still confused. She believes in what Kessouku originally fought for: equality in the empire. It’s how they are going about achieving it that she disagrees with. While reconciling her beliefs for her people, there is also the matter of her heart. She isn’t fully over her feelings for Aaden, but Claye is there. He is kind and loves her. And he gives her butterflies, that has to be good right?
The plot revolves around Talise and her soldiers planning an attack on the Kessouku base. As they plan, Talise begins suspecting that there is a spy in their camp. She trusts her friends implicitly, and this trust could be her downfall. I like how the author interweaves the action and suspense. Talise and her closest friends enter the base undercover while her soldiers draw Kessouku out for a battle. This creates wonderful tension as Talise, Wendy, and Claye enter the base with a few others. They have to move quickly and a lot rides on it.
Overall I enjoyed Ember Gate. However it felt like a filler book. Not much happens until the end and then EVERYTHING happens. It’s a slow read up to that point. I’m curious and excited to see how the events of this book affect Talise going forward. A big twist leaves you with a not so happy ending. If you enjoy fantasy, I highly recommend this novella series.
Talise, her friends, and her soldiers are on the run from both the emperor and the Kessoku, and their resources are running out. Winter has come and they need blankets in addition to food in order to survive. In order to save her soldiers, Talise makes a deal with the emperor. The deal includes her returning home to what may be equal to her own captivity but will allow her to rescue Wendy's brother Cyrus and the other prisoners first and possibly even defeat the Kessoku for good. Time is running out. An unforeseen betrayal changes everything. Help doesn't arrive when expected, but unexpected help comes just in time. And Talise is faced once again with the choice of trusting her friends or, like her father, trusting no one.
Talise's nobility and concern for her people are again highlighted as she teaches those at Ember Gate how to defend themselves in preparation for the upcoming war. She is also forced to consider that while many of the Kessoku are out to kill her and her family, others simply want to restore unity to the land and that all of the Kessoku are part of Kamdaria - her people. But who is truly on her side?
I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
Once again, this series does not fail to surprise! If you read the blurb you know that Talise has found herself and her army in a bit of a desperate situation driving her to make plans and alliances that are completely out of character. I just wanted to scream at her to slow down and look for other options because what she was doing was wrong and inevitably was going to blow up in her face. But time was of the essence. And it did blow up, but not at all the way I anticipated. This is the end of the Gate arc, moving into Storm so certain parts of this book were inevitable, but how they happened still managed to be unexpected.
For the #TeamAaden vs #TeamClaye people......WOW! yeah, that situation really blows up. Some sweet moments, more betrayal, and yet more reveals - not necessarily in that order.
Another incredible, fast read. This is book 8 in the series, read them in order as this is a story that really grows as the writing progresses.
I almost wanted to rate this as 4 stars instead of 5 because I was upset lol. But she definitely made the reader feel something. Like, all of the somethings. I was about in tears at one point. Kay does not mess around in this book! As upset as I am as a reader, I am very impressed with what she was able to accomplish in this book. It does take skill to leave a reader in such turmoil, to be sure! 6 star out of 5 stars there!
Kay is very skilled and I recommend this entire series to everyone, but with a warning to prepare your emotions for the rollercoaster that follows! Things aren't easy for main characters in any book, but gosh dang, things are ridiculously IMPOSSIBLE for Talise in this series! As the romance element grows, it only gets worse.
If you like books where the main character is up against insurmountable odds, I don't know that you'll find much better than these books!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I am shocked! This book left me speechless. I did not expect for any of this to happen whatsoever, and I’m not okay. I was glad to see more of an appearance from Aaden. And now we know which side he’s on too, so it clears a lot of things up. But I was not ready for that twist! It broke my heart, just like it broke Talise’s! And while I was expecting something like this to happen in the third or fourth book. I was not expecting it after everything we’d been through! I was not okay. I hope we can get a little bit more closure on the situation too! I feel like it’s been left very open right now! Water Storm is sure to bring even more crazy twists and turns, and I’m excited to see what happens!
A great continuation in the Elements of Kamdaria series. Talise and her friends have some more obstacles they must deal with in this installment. There is a double twist that you can partially see coming but also not see coming which is over half way through in the book, so I wont be giving more info on that.
I have loved all these book in the series, and have been very glad to be able to read them. I hate when they are over cause I want to read more and see what is going to be happening next, which is the makings of a good book series.
I was given this as an ARC to read and post an honest review of my thoughts.
Ember Gate is the eighth book in the Elements of Kamdaria series. In this book, Talise tries to rescue the prisoners of Kessoku, including Cyrus, Wendy's brother. But in order to do so, she needs help. Life in the gate is difficult for Talise and her soldiers. Supplies are running out and winter is coming. The only option is to ask for the help of the emperor. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. There were many twists and turns, one of which was huge and emotional. I really didn't see it coming. I can't wait to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was the best one I've read for awhile! We finally get to know some big juicy details where everything adds up. Just when I think some part of the plot doesn't make sense, it all becomes clear again. I was reading well into the night and way past my bedtime just to finish the end of this book! Things are ramping up so much I'm not sure my heart can take it anymore. Talise just has so much on her plate right now that she deserves the world's biggest vacation after (LOL). I'm looking forward to reading the next book and hopefully not speed too quickly through it like this one!
Exciting installment of Elements of Kandaria - betrayal and revelations
This novella deals with Talise and her company trying to rescue the prisoners from the Kessuko main base. The story takes a few twists and turns as things do not quite work out as expected: there's betrayal and revelations to lead us to the next stage in this YA saga. The book is certainly engaging but unsatisfying as I'd like to just get on with it. It seems that there are another 4 installments. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading this book, I wanted to write and post this review to share my honest experiences toward the story.
Wow, what an amazing continuation! I just love reading more of Talise’s adventure, and how she handles these difficult situations. This installment brings some difficult situations for our heroine to handle, including leading an army, and dealing with a traitor in her midst. It is truly incredible to be able to weave such a thorough story in so few pages compared to other novels. I honestly cannot wait to see how the series will continue after this!
Action, drama, bitter betrayal! I can't get enough of this series. Talise is trying to rescue the prisoners and she is met with resistance every step of the way. Her friends and soldiers are loyal to her but she doesn't want to start a war they will not win. Time is running out for them all and they need to stay one step ahead at all times. This book has twists and turns that you never saw coming and a huge betrayal is devastating. I highly recommend this book and series.
Received as an ARC copy, this is an honest review. As the weather turns frigid, the time seems no better than to rescue those taken by Kessoku. Entering enemy territory, Talise fights to convince the those living there that there is worth being a part of Kamdaria. With a desperate rescue plan and little hope of being back by the emperor... Talise must go forward and challenge their enemy, sacrificing everything in the process. Highly recommended.
Ember Gate is the eighth book in the Elements of Kamdaria Series by Kay L Moody and I loved is as much as the books before! This time Talise and her friends are at Ember Gate, near Kessokus main base and they plan to take it over and end Kessoku for good. They even ask the emperor for help. But as always things don't go as planned... Ember Gate is super suspenseful and full of action and emotions. I really enjoyed reading it and I'm excited for the series to continue!
Omg there is so much happening and none of it was expected. Poor Talise. I said to before and I’ll say again I juts want her to win. She is really going through it right now y’all. This pace of this book was awesome. There was a lot of action and finally a few revelations that I’ve been waiting for. The author did a wonderful job of giving me all the feels. Somehow she balances heartbreak and hope expertly. By the end you’re dying for more pages. Love it so much.
This is just the best one so far in the serie! The big fight to rescue the prisoners is here and odds are all stacked against Talise. The ending is awesome and even though we could had see it coming before, just like Talise, we though the worst had already passed. We were wrong and I can't wait for the next book. If you haven't read this serie do it now, by order. This is the next epic story of our generation! Don't miss out!
I absolutely LOVE this series. With each book the characters grow so much. I love the way the author, K.L. Moody captures your attention from page one to the last page. She brings the reader into the world of Kamdaria and makes you not want to leave.
If you like magic, strong females, growing friendships, a bit of romance. Then I highly suggest this series! It’s an incredible journey!!
A fantastic read, And A fantastic Series. This read has scenes that are written epically. It grabbed me right from the beginning to the end of the read. It had me on the edge of my seat. The world building is fantastic as well as the Characters and there personalites. I definitely recommend. Shauna Joesten
Oh, my heart! Seriously this series is amazing! So many surprises, action, great friendships. I love Talise's heart. She's strong, courageous, determined. I can't wait for the next episode! Thankfully Moody doesn't make us wait too long between releases 😁
This was pretty good. I didn't see that certain twist coming (I'm hurt by it--but it is what it is). Looking forward to the next book as usual. I have a feeling it's going to be greater than this one, considering how things are shaken up now.
I just can’t with this boom series - like I am seriously in love. Characters, world-building, twists, foreshadowing, politics, romance, magic✨ The books are a bit short but since there are so many of them, I don’t really mind it...
In this book, Talise tries to free the prisoners from sekkoku. And she was betrayed by claye. He single handedly thwarted all of her plans. Her hesitation of using the talisman is not needed. Atleast she have aeden back.
I am so frustrated that I didn’t see the twist coming! And just when I got over Aeden Kay does this?!?! Seriously!??? Aaaahhhhhhgggg I NEED the next part!