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Fate and the Wheel #1
A Time of Ashes
A quest through a thousand worlds. An aeons-old foe. Not even the gods can help. It’s killing them, too.
IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE CORRUPTION CAME, Murrin Kentle lived in a world where the largest island could be walked across in a day, and humans traded and fished in bladeships made from the bones of the gigantic and bizarre sea monsters patrolling its stormy, bottomless oceans. As a truthkeep of the Brotherhood of the First Mind, it’s been his duty to fight the decay of knowledge with religious fervour. A fervour he has increasingly struggled to maintain.
Before the Corruption came, Sheehan hahe Seeheeli was a carefree countess of the Shi’iin. Amphibious and fiercely matriarchal, her people have maintained an uneasy coexistence with the human scholars dominating the islands. Then an emissary of the gods brings news of an impending catastrophe. Now, she and Murrin must embark on a desperate voyage in the hope of salvation, although both the subject of their search and the path they must take remain stubbornly obscure.
Before the Corruption came, a wild young man named Coll grew up in a desert town, consumed by rage over what was done to his mother. His thirst for retribution will set in motion a train of events not even the gods could fully have foretold.
NOW THE CORRUPTION IS HERE, and nothing in Murrin's world, nor any of the worlds of the Sundered Realm, will ever be the same.
IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE CORRUPTION CAME, Murrin Kentle lived in a world where the largest island could be walked across in a day, and humans traded and fished in bladeships made from the bones of the gigantic and bizarre sea monsters patrolling its stormy, bottomless oceans. As a truthkeep of the Brotherhood of the First Mind, it’s been his duty to fight the decay of knowledge with religious fervour. A fervour he has increasingly struggled to maintain.
Before the Corruption came, Sheehan hahe Seeheeli was a carefree countess of the Shi’iin. Amphibious and fiercely matriarchal, her people have maintained an uneasy coexistence with the human scholars dominating the islands. Then an emissary of the gods brings news of an impending catastrophe. Now, she and Murrin must embark on a desperate voyage in the hope of salvation, although both the subject of their search and the path they must take remain stubbornly obscure.
Before the Corruption came, a wild young man named Coll grew up in a desert town, consumed by rage over what was done to his mother. His thirst for retribution will set in motion a train of events not even the gods could fully have foretold.
NOW THE CORRUPTION IS HERE, and nothing in Murrin's world, nor any of the worlds of the Sundered Realm, will ever be the same.
543 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2018
6 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Ru Pringle
6 books6 followers'Ru Pringle is one of the most interesting and exciting new writers to emerge north of the border since Iain Banks' - Gary Gibson, award-nominated author of Angel Stations, Against Gravity and Stealing Light.
'Rudy Rucker on drugs' - BestSF
Ru Pringle has written for a living since his late teens, beginning with regular features in numerous magazines and newspapers. His critically acclaimed early short fiction was published in Interzone. After several years as a touring musician, he his first two books were published in the summer of 2018: A Time of Ashes and Hunting Gods, the first parts of the fantasy / sf epic Fate and the Wheel. A dark near-future thriller, October Song, followed in October 2018. He is currently editing the centuries-spanning two-part space opera Sanctuary for publishing in Spring 2019.
He lives in the southwest Highlands of Scotland.
'Rudy Rucker on drugs' - BestSF
Ru Pringle has written for a living since his late teens, beginning with regular features in numerous magazines and newspapers. His critically acclaimed early short fiction was published in Interzone. After several years as a touring musician, he his first two books were published in the summer of 2018: A Time of Ashes and Hunting Gods, the first parts of the fantasy / sf epic Fate and the Wheel. A dark near-future thriller, October Song, followed in October 2018. He is currently editing the centuries-spanning two-part space opera Sanctuary for publishing in Spring 2019.
He lives in the southwest Highlands of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 1, 2021
A Time of Ashes is one of the most complex and unique fantasy books I have read, and it was absolutely amazing. The book straddles the line of a few genres; epic fantasy, grimdark and even science fiction. I settled on including it in grimdark due to some of the graphic, violent, and dark scenes in the book. The scenes are integral to the story and in no way gratuitous.
The story follows the arc of several characters, most notably Murrin Kentle, Chet, Sheehan hahe Seeheeli, and Coll as they embark through dangerous worlds to find the Construct and stop the Corruption. The Corruption will destroy all worlds in all realms. The complexity of this book is astounding and it highlights the need for indie authors must have their stories told. This book is on par with the best of fantasy writers. Mr. Pringle is incredibly skilled at the development of all his characters, and there are numerous ones besides those I mentioned. I felt their happiness, fear, pain, exhaustion and sorrow as they leap off the pages. He is brilliant at world building, or should I say worlds building. I lost count of the realms that these characters went to. Each one was fully developed, from a desert, to barren lifeless islands, to empires ruled by despots, and worlds with endless seas, these places were brought to life for the reader. It was never confusing, as chapters would focus on a different character and the worlds they encountered. It is writing that leaves the reader in suspense for the next time you encounter the characters and how they are faring in the world they find themselves in and how, and if, they will ever find their way home. Mr. Pringle’s world building is perfect and his characters are first-rate. A Time of Ashes is one of the finest fantasy novels I have read and I highly recommend it.
The Characters
There are plentiful characters in this book. Again, besides the main protagonists, many characters are encountered in the various realms our main protagonists find themselves in. Some of these characters are good, some are quite evil. They all have diverse personalities. It is astounding how many there are, and each one has a complete story arc.
Murrin is a Truthkeeper and is the one who led the expedition into the other realms to find the Construct. He knows the Corruption has started and time is running out. Murrin is level-headed, despite the harsh conditions he faces.
Murrin is the first to meet Coll, who lives in one of the realms. He lives alone and has honed his fighting skills since the horrible death of his mother. He joins Murrin on his quest, not really knowing the outcome or where they are headed.
Chet winds up alone on the boat with the captain and crew after a storm separates them all. He is a student of Murrins. As the ship traverses’ dangerous waters over many realms, it is Chet that often saves them from near death.
Sheehan hahe Seeheeli is, as noted in the book summary, amphibious. Out of the water, she appears human and has human characteristics. In the water, she transforms to her aquatic form. I liked the fact that she did not turn into a mermaid. Her form seemed dolphin-like, as she did have to come to the surface to breath. Sheehan often underestimates those she encounters in other realms. She at first seems arrogant, as she is a countess in her aquatic world. Over the course of the book, she learns that her title means nothing in the other realm.
World Building
The world building in A Time of Ashes is second to none. It is simply brilliant. Each world is unique in its characteristics, with some terrifying, and some benign. Others are seemingly endless, barren worlds devoid of all life. In those worlds, our protagonists search for ways to stay alive and the struggle is real. In realms with evil despots, the gritty, grim reality rears its ugly head. They face danger and brutality, leaving the reader hoping they will be able to escape the horrors that await them. These worlds are constructed with precise thought and detail. The people and organisms they encounter make sense for each world. One example is Homollon, the creature that Coll “keeps”. He can read Homollon’s thoughts and speak to each other. Homollon is described as a large plated animals that has wheels. They are not wheels in the traditional sense. They are symbiotic organisms that form the structures propel Homollon. If they are damaged, they can be replaced. As an Environmental Scientist, the attention to these details are absolutely fascinating. It would have been easy to make an organism with wheels, but to have them be symbiotic organisms with Homollon adds to the richness of the world building. That is just one example.
Overall Thoughts
A Time of Ashes is astounding and should rank among the finest in fantasy novels. The large number characters that are diverse in personality keep the reader engaged in the story. Mr. Pringle’s world building is spectacular. Bringing to life the number of worlds he has in this book remarkable. The book runs the gamut of emotions, and the reader feels them all. At times there is frustration with the characters and the choices they make, the relief when they overcome an obstacle, the fear of survival, and the dread of danger they encounter. Mr. Pringle holds nothing back. A Time of Ashes can be hard to read at times because it is dark and brutal. As I mentioned, they are not there simply to be gratuitous and shock to the reader. They are integral to the world the protagonists find themselves in. How they make it through keeps the reader engaged and wanting them to succeed. A Time of Ashes is a fantasy that I highly recommend, and if you are a fan of the genre, a book that you should add to your collection.
The review is on my website at: https://bookandnatureprofessor.com/20...
The story follows the arc of several characters, most notably Murrin Kentle, Chet, Sheehan hahe Seeheeli, and Coll as they embark through dangerous worlds to find the Construct and stop the Corruption. The Corruption will destroy all worlds in all realms. The complexity of this book is astounding and it highlights the need for indie authors must have their stories told. This book is on par with the best of fantasy writers. Mr. Pringle is incredibly skilled at the development of all his characters, and there are numerous ones besides those I mentioned. I felt their happiness, fear, pain, exhaustion and sorrow as they leap off the pages. He is brilliant at world building, or should I say worlds building. I lost count of the realms that these characters went to. Each one was fully developed, from a desert, to barren lifeless islands, to empires ruled by despots, and worlds with endless seas, these places were brought to life for the reader. It was never confusing, as chapters would focus on a different character and the worlds they encountered. It is writing that leaves the reader in suspense for the next time you encounter the characters and how they are faring in the world they find themselves in and how, and if, they will ever find their way home. Mr. Pringle’s world building is perfect and his characters are first-rate. A Time of Ashes is one of the finest fantasy novels I have read and I highly recommend it.
The Characters
There are plentiful characters in this book. Again, besides the main protagonists, many characters are encountered in the various realms our main protagonists find themselves in. Some of these characters are good, some are quite evil. They all have diverse personalities. It is astounding how many there are, and each one has a complete story arc.
Murrin is a Truthkeeper and is the one who led the expedition into the other realms to find the Construct. He knows the Corruption has started and time is running out. Murrin is level-headed, despite the harsh conditions he faces.
Murrin is the first to meet Coll, who lives in one of the realms. He lives alone and has honed his fighting skills since the horrible death of his mother. He joins Murrin on his quest, not really knowing the outcome or where they are headed.
Chet winds up alone on the boat with the captain and crew after a storm separates them all. He is a student of Murrins. As the ship traverses’ dangerous waters over many realms, it is Chet that often saves them from near death.
Sheehan hahe Seeheeli is, as noted in the book summary, amphibious. Out of the water, she appears human and has human characteristics. In the water, she transforms to her aquatic form. I liked the fact that she did not turn into a mermaid. Her form seemed dolphin-like, as she did have to come to the surface to breath. Sheehan often underestimates those she encounters in other realms. She at first seems arrogant, as she is a countess in her aquatic world. Over the course of the book, she learns that her title means nothing in the other realm.
World Building
The world building in A Time of Ashes is second to none. It is simply brilliant. Each world is unique in its characteristics, with some terrifying, and some benign. Others are seemingly endless, barren worlds devoid of all life. In those worlds, our protagonists search for ways to stay alive and the struggle is real. In realms with evil despots, the gritty, grim reality rears its ugly head. They face danger and brutality, leaving the reader hoping they will be able to escape the horrors that await them. These worlds are constructed with precise thought and detail. The people and organisms they encounter make sense for each world. One example is Homollon, the creature that Coll “keeps”. He can read Homollon’s thoughts and speak to each other. Homollon is described as a large plated animals that has wheels. They are not wheels in the traditional sense. They are symbiotic organisms that form the structures propel Homollon. If they are damaged, they can be replaced. As an Environmental Scientist, the attention to these details are absolutely fascinating. It would have been easy to make an organism with wheels, but to have them be symbiotic organisms with Homollon adds to the richness of the world building. That is just one example.
Overall Thoughts
A Time of Ashes is astounding and should rank among the finest in fantasy novels. The large number characters that are diverse in personality keep the reader engaged in the story. Mr. Pringle’s world building is spectacular. Bringing to life the number of worlds he has in this book remarkable. The book runs the gamut of emotions, and the reader feels them all. At times there is frustration with the characters and the choices they make, the relief when they overcome an obstacle, the fear of survival, and the dread of danger they encounter. Mr. Pringle holds nothing back. A Time of Ashes can be hard to read at times because it is dark and brutal. As I mentioned, they are not there simply to be gratuitous and shock to the reader. They are integral to the world the protagonists find themselves in. How they make it through keeps the reader engaged and wanting them to succeed. A Time of Ashes is a fantasy that I highly recommend, and if you are a fan of the genre, a book that you should add to your collection.
The review is on my website at: https://bookandnatureprofessor.com/20...
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June 28, 2021 I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with A Time of Ashes, as both the cover and the blurb promise quite a lot – especially the blurb which hints at the scale of this world. And I have somewhat mixed feelings about this one having finished it, although I must say from the start that I really enjoyed it – particularly in the latter part of the book.
One aspect, that I really did love about this book was the worldbuilding, and it was there that I felt the real strength of A Time of Ashes lay and where the scope indicated in the blurb really shines through, and I would return to this series for the world alone. Here, we also see another aspect hinted at with the cover – that this book meanders the boundary between fantasy and sci-fi. I would argue that it is more fantasy-dominated, but there were definitely moments and elements where that boundary became a bit more blurred – which is by no means a complaint as science-fantasy was my gateway to SFF. Even as this boundary blurred, the world-building itself was realised with a fantastic level of detail, and some truly brilliant descriptions that brought the strangeness to life. The different peoples and cultures were well-written and developed, and it also does something I always like with worldbuilding in that it left me with the feeling that there was still more to discover, and wanting to read on because of that.
Another strong point for this book was the characters. Fair warning, there is quite a large cast, but each of them was well-developed in their own right, and Pringle does a good job of playing with character archetypes without becoming trapped by them, giving his characters well-rounded development and personalities. Each had a strong, unique voice, and I don’t think there was a single one that I didn’t enjoy spending time with. Oliént in particular I found a fascinating take on a villain – he’s not likeable, but there was something about him that caught my attention, and there’s a lot of potential in him I think. I think Murrin and Coll are probably tied at the moment for my favourite, although I think Coll and his outlook on life might just take the edge, I also loved Sheehan, and it’s always nice to have a book where characters on both sides of the divide are so well-written and captivating.
As I mentioned above, there are some brilliant descriptions in this book – for some reason I was really taken with the eel-wood (hence my quote of choice), I just loved the imagery. There was certainly nothing lacking in that aspect, and it was paired with a flowing, enjoyable writing style. What I did struggle a little with was the pacing, particularly towards the beginning where a lot was being introduced – necessary with the scope of the worldbuilding and storyline, and the number of characters -and there were a few places where it felt a little heavy-handed. This did smooth out as the book found its stride, and it did help me find my feet in this detailed world, but I felt the execution could have perhaps been approached differently. The ending was one I liked the more I thought about it, and certainly sets the scene for the story to continue.
This is definitely a world I want to return to, and I think A Time of Ashes will appeal to anyone who likes a book with that epic scope while meandering the boundaries between SFF. This was an enjoyable read, and overall it did an excellent job of establishing the world and characters and setting the foundation for the rest of the series, and I am interested to see where Pringle takes it in future books.
One aspect, that I really did love about this book was the worldbuilding, and it was there that I felt the real strength of A Time of Ashes lay and where the scope indicated in the blurb really shines through, and I would return to this series for the world alone. Here, we also see another aspect hinted at with the cover – that this book meanders the boundary between fantasy and sci-fi. I would argue that it is more fantasy-dominated, but there were definitely moments and elements where that boundary became a bit more blurred – which is by no means a complaint as science-fantasy was my gateway to SFF. Even as this boundary blurred, the world-building itself was realised with a fantastic level of detail, and some truly brilliant descriptions that brought the strangeness to life. The different peoples and cultures were well-written and developed, and it also does something I always like with worldbuilding in that it left me with the feeling that there was still more to discover, and wanting to read on because of that.
Another strong point for this book was the characters. Fair warning, there is quite a large cast, but each of them was well-developed in their own right, and Pringle does a good job of playing with character archetypes without becoming trapped by them, giving his characters well-rounded development and personalities. Each had a strong, unique voice, and I don’t think there was a single one that I didn’t enjoy spending time with. Oliént in particular I found a fascinating take on a villain – he’s not likeable, but there was something about him that caught my attention, and there’s a lot of potential in him I think. I think Murrin and Coll are probably tied at the moment for my favourite, although I think Coll and his outlook on life might just take the edge, I also loved Sheehan, and it’s always nice to have a book where characters on both sides of the divide are so well-written and captivating.
As I mentioned above, there are some brilliant descriptions in this book – for some reason I was really taken with the eel-wood (hence my quote of choice), I just loved the imagery. There was certainly nothing lacking in that aspect, and it was paired with a flowing, enjoyable writing style. What I did struggle a little with was the pacing, particularly towards the beginning where a lot was being introduced – necessary with the scope of the worldbuilding and storyline, and the number of characters -and there were a few places where it felt a little heavy-handed. This did smooth out as the book found its stride, and it did help me find my feet in this detailed world, but I felt the execution could have perhaps been approached differently. The ending was one I liked the more I thought about it, and certainly sets the scene for the story to continue.
This is definitely a world I want to return to, and I think A Time of Ashes will appeal to anyone who likes a book with that epic scope while meandering the boundaries between SFF. This was an enjoyable read, and overall it did an excellent job of establishing the world and characters and setting the foundation for the rest of the series, and I am interested to see where Pringle takes it in future books.
July 17, 2018
I loved this. It's extremely well written in a very visual style – almost cinematographic – and the characterisation is fantastic. The individuals may be flawed but they're all very relatable. I quickly got very invested in their story.
It makes me think of Jason and The Argonauts crossed with The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. It seems like a classic quest story but although it's a page-turner there's a depth to it which hints than there's a lot more to the story than meets the eye.
I had a couple of very late nights as I got pretty obsessed with it (I found some bits disturbing though - I'm not into violence and gore - but it wasn't gratuitous and the story drew me along) and I was really glad that book 2 was available when I got to the end!
Plenty of spills and thrills and cliffhangers as well as considered, thoughtful detail. I'd definitely recommend it.
It makes me think of Jason and The Argonauts crossed with The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. It seems like a classic quest story but although it's a page-turner there's a depth to it which hints than there's a lot more to the story than meets the eye.
I had a couple of very late nights as I got pretty obsessed with it (I found some bits disturbing though - I'm not into violence and gore - but it wasn't gratuitous and the story drew me along) and I was really glad that book 2 was available when I got to the end!
Plenty of spills and thrills and cliffhangers as well as considered, thoughtful detail. I'd definitely recommend it.
June 27, 2021
This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed this fast paced, action packed fantasy.
I don't know what to say about the world building and writing style! It's simply amazing and I was able to visualise the scenes as I was reading. I was captivated from the start to finish. Such a brilliant page turner and I was able to finish reading it in two nights. Definitely an epic fantasy novel.
I don't know what to say about the world building and writing style! It's simply amazing and I was able to visualise the scenes as I was reading. I was captivated from the start to finish. Such a brilliant page turner and I was able to finish reading it in two nights. Definitely an epic fantasy novel.
February 22, 2019
To read a longer version of this review, please visit my blog, I also review and recommend other books, and talk about trends I notice in other people's writing, and my own.
NOTE- After I originally published this review, the author contacted me about both letting me review book 2 in the series and some changes he had made to A Time of Ashes that actually fix my only true complaint about the book. For transparency, I’m including the complaint from my original review at the end of the review, but it is no longer included in the book, and as such no longer an issue. My review of the updated sections of the book are now included in the body of the review.
Okay, review time now, I promise!
The worlds-building (not a typo, hopefully not a spoiler either) in this novel was incredible. Homollon’s species (with a long complicated name my brain always skips over) and the Shi’iin were fully realised, and I enjoyed the way the different senses and capabilities of the Shi’in were never forgotten about. A myriad of cultures was presented, and the way the threat driving the plot was explored while world-building and revealing character motivation and backstory was very impressive. It reminded me of classic Anne McCaffrey, with hints of Scott Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastards series.
Characterisation is another strength of A Time of Ashes; archetypes are definitely present, but done right. Characters are enriched by their similarity to universal figures, rather than reduced to them. Murrin could easily have been a mentor/wiseman, but instead he’s a flawed, three dimensional character that you don’t always agree with, but usually have sympathy for.
Coll was by far my favourite character in the book, his typical hero’s backstory and anything-but-typical response to it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the novel for me (and his partnership with Homollon is something I hope will be explored in greater depth in further books). Oliént cannot be overlooked when we’re discussing characterisation. The man undoubtedly has the potential to be a marvellous and epic villain, and his characterisation and storyline (complete with an amoral, hyper-competent advisor) remind me a little of the God-king Brent Weeks’ Way of Shadows series, and even a little of Vetinari from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (those comparisons are both very much a compliment).
Seeli was another amazing character, and her sister provides a nice foil that manages to neatly solve the issue I have with a lot of science fiction—making an alien species homogenous to a ridiculous extent. That is not an issue here, Seele and Sheehan have a realistic sisterly relationship (still a rarity in fiction, somehow), and both standalone as complete characters while also beeing distinctly Shi’in.
The character list in this book is large, there’s no getting around that. A number of interesting characters left before my interest in them had diminished (I liked Tolin, and Nirite deserved more page time! I want to know more about both her and the Sisterhood!), but given the already lengthy nature of the book, I understand why. Other characters (like Oliént) were introduced at an unusually late stage of the story, though this may have been why he immediately captured my interest. No one insignificant is getting introduced two thirds of the way through a novel.
Now that you know why I liked the book, lets discuss the parts of it that I didn’t. My only criticism is that the book seems a little rough around the edges. This doesn’t effect readability, I absolutely want to read the next book in the series—but overall it seems like the focus was more on writing a good beginning to a series than writing a good book in its own right. That seems harsh, but all of my complaints are minor ones that I doubt the average reader would notice or care about. If I weren’t writing this review immediately after reading the book, I doubt I’d remember any of them.
The beginning of the book feels a tiny bit spoon fed, the characters are told what’s happening and what to do, relationships are explained in as many words, and plot hasn’t had enough time to catch up with the world-building. A lot of characters and concepts are introduced, without much context about why the reader should care. Readers of high fantasy or classic sci fi will know to power through, but it could be enough to make a more casual fan of the genre/s lose interest. Don’t!
There are actually a few moments where the book seems more like connected scenes than a unified story—Coll joining forces with Soren off-page being the most jarring of these. A Time of Ashes also seems to repeat plot devices. That’s fine, most authors have preferred ways of exploring or resolving conflict. In this book, though, the incidents occur too closely to seem truly meaningful, and it makes the action (which is well written and engrossing) seem predictable. For example: a group of characters is in a seemingly hopeless situation, it drags on, uncertainty creeps in, and then—a glimmer of hope in the darkness! A slim opportunity for safety is glimpsed, the characters strive for it, everyone thinks they’re going to die, but by the skin of their teeth, they manage to survive.
A standard situation in fiction, granted, but when it happens to three separate groups of characters back to back, it seems trite. Again, the writing was great, all three scenarios were compelling writing—their placement so close together in the novel is what made the action seem played out.
While I’m on the topic of pacing and other very vague complaints, I'm not a huge fan of the cover. It's nice, and well-made, but it seems a little generic for my tastes. This could be the cover for one of any fifty fantasy novels that I've read, I don't think it does the complexity of A Time of Ashes justice.
I also think the ending of the book could have been stronger. The ‘scary’ reveal (presumably a hook to make sure you read the next book) was hinted at so heavily earlier on, that the impact it should have had was lost. The preceding section of the book, with the almost-cliff-hanger ending about the safety of a main character would make a far more suitable ending.
Overall, A Time of Ashes was an engrossing read that I’d recommend for any fans of classic sci fi or fantasy. The world-building is on par with the best I’ve read, and the characters are familiar without being any less compelling. If any of the above review interested you and you’re looking for an amazing read that will make you want to get the next book as soon as possible, look no further.
NO LONGER RELEVANT COMPLAINT
All minor criticisms aside, my only real complaint about A Time of Ashes is the way a character who was explicitly stated to be the equivalent of a fifteen-year-old girl was repeatedly put in sexual situations. It’s creepy, I didn’t like it, and it could so easily have been avoided. Make her older! She could still be young and foolishly bold without also being ‘jailbait’. The whole situation was off-putting, and is probably one of the reasons I took so long to get invested in the book. I appreciated that the character herself discusses her behaviour and has believable, age-appropriate motivations for doing so, but the situation is still one I wish hadn't been included in the book.
NOTE- After I originally published this review, the author contacted me about both letting me review book 2 in the series and some changes he had made to A Time of Ashes that actually fix my only true complaint about the book. For transparency, I’m including the complaint from my original review at the end of the review, but it is no longer included in the book, and as such no longer an issue. My review of the updated sections of the book are now included in the body of the review.
Okay, review time now, I promise!
The worlds-building (not a typo, hopefully not a spoiler either) in this novel was incredible. Homollon’s species (with a long complicated name my brain always skips over) and the Shi’iin were fully realised, and I enjoyed the way the different senses and capabilities of the Shi’in were never forgotten about. A myriad of cultures was presented, and the way the threat driving the plot was explored while world-building and revealing character motivation and backstory was very impressive. It reminded me of classic Anne McCaffrey, with hints of Scott Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastards series.
Characterisation is another strength of A Time of Ashes; archetypes are definitely present, but done right. Characters are enriched by their similarity to universal figures, rather than reduced to them. Murrin could easily have been a mentor/wiseman, but instead he’s a flawed, three dimensional character that you don’t always agree with, but usually have sympathy for.
Coll was by far my favourite character in the book, his typical hero’s backstory and anything-but-typical response to it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the novel for me (and his partnership with Homollon is something I hope will be explored in greater depth in further books). Oliént cannot be overlooked when we’re discussing characterisation. The man undoubtedly has the potential to be a marvellous and epic villain, and his characterisation and storyline (complete with an amoral, hyper-competent advisor) remind me a little of the God-king Brent Weeks’ Way of Shadows series, and even a little of Vetinari from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (those comparisons are both very much a compliment).
Seeli was another amazing character, and her sister provides a nice foil that manages to neatly solve the issue I have with a lot of science fiction—making an alien species homogenous to a ridiculous extent. That is not an issue here, Seele and Sheehan have a realistic sisterly relationship (still a rarity in fiction, somehow), and both standalone as complete characters while also beeing distinctly Shi’in.
The character list in this book is large, there’s no getting around that. A number of interesting characters left before my interest in them had diminished (I liked Tolin, and Nirite deserved more page time! I want to know more about both her and the Sisterhood!), but given the already lengthy nature of the book, I understand why. Other characters (like Oliént) were introduced at an unusually late stage of the story, though this may have been why he immediately captured my interest. No one insignificant is getting introduced two thirds of the way through a novel.
Now that you know why I liked the book, lets discuss the parts of it that I didn’t. My only criticism is that the book seems a little rough around the edges. This doesn’t effect readability, I absolutely want to read the next book in the series—but overall it seems like the focus was more on writing a good beginning to a series than writing a good book in its own right. That seems harsh, but all of my complaints are minor ones that I doubt the average reader would notice or care about. If I weren’t writing this review immediately after reading the book, I doubt I’d remember any of them.
The beginning of the book feels a tiny bit spoon fed, the characters are told what’s happening and what to do, relationships are explained in as many words, and plot hasn’t had enough time to catch up with the world-building. A lot of characters and concepts are introduced, without much context about why the reader should care. Readers of high fantasy or classic sci fi will know to power through, but it could be enough to make a more casual fan of the genre/s lose interest. Don’t!
There are actually a few moments where the book seems more like connected scenes than a unified story—Coll joining forces with Soren off-page being the most jarring of these. A Time of Ashes also seems to repeat plot devices. That’s fine, most authors have preferred ways of exploring or resolving conflict. In this book, though, the incidents occur too closely to seem truly meaningful, and it makes the action (which is well written and engrossing) seem predictable. For example: a group of characters is in a seemingly hopeless situation, it drags on, uncertainty creeps in, and then—a glimmer of hope in the darkness! A slim opportunity for safety is glimpsed, the characters strive for it, everyone thinks they’re going to die, but by the skin of their teeth, they manage to survive.
A standard situation in fiction, granted, but when it happens to three separate groups of characters back to back, it seems trite. Again, the writing was great, all three scenarios were compelling writing—their placement so close together in the novel is what made the action seem played out.
While I’m on the topic of pacing and other very vague complaints, I'm not a huge fan of the cover. It's nice, and well-made, but it seems a little generic for my tastes. This could be the cover for one of any fifty fantasy novels that I've read, I don't think it does the complexity of A Time of Ashes justice.
I also think the ending of the book could have been stronger. The ‘scary’ reveal (presumably a hook to make sure you read the next book) was hinted at so heavily earlier on, that the impact it should have had was lost. The preceding section of the book, with the almost-cliff-hanger ending about the safety of a main character would make a far more suitable ending.
Overall, A Time of Ashes was an engrossing read that I’d recommend for any fans of classic sci fi or fantasy. The world-building is on par with the best I’ve read, and the characters are familiar without being any less compelling. If any of the above review interested you and you’re looking for an amazing read that will make you want to get the next book as soon as possible, look no further.
NO LONGER RELEVANT COMPLAINT
All minor criticisms aside, my only real complaint about A Time of Ashes is the way a character who was explicitly stated to be the equivalent of a fifteen-year-old girl was repeatedly put in sexual situations. It’s creepy, I didn’t like it, and it could so easily have been avoided. Make her older! She could still be young and foolishly bold without also being ‘jailbait’. The whole situation was off-putting, and is probably one of the reasons I took so long to get invested in the book. I appreciated that the character herself discusses her behaviour and has believable, age-appropriate motivations for doing so, but the situation is still one I wish hadn't been included in the book.
May 22, 2019
A Time of Ashes #1 – I discovered this writer through his book October Song, which I enjoyed reading. It took me time to read this lengthy book. I had to start over and over again before I finally got into the groove and started enjoying the story; not too much into gods. I ended up liking the book and chain read the second book Hunting Gods.
The storylines are interesting and move at a good pace, and the author’s ability to paint clear descriptions introduce the reader to a interesting new world. The characters run the gamut and their variety further hold the reader in the pages. The author included a list of the principle characters at the back of the book. The ending is gruesome.
There is an overview, which I appreciated since I like to know what a book is about before I read it. I contacted the author to review Hunting Gods.
Hunting Gods #2 – Another lengthy, but interesting, book that has the pages fly by at a good pace. This book begins with a glimpse of Kentle’s past as a child. It would be so easy to write a book report on this series. The storylines, again, keep the interest of the reader while the vivid descriptions bring out the locations and the characters as if watching a movie.
The characters demand the reader’s attention as the pages melt into the next. Although it took me awhile to get into the first book, my taste preferences, I found a fascinating, intriguing new world with an interesting variety of characters. I’ve read three books by this author and liked all three. I contacted the author to review Hunting after reading October Song. 5*
The storylines are interesting and move at a good pace, and the author’s ability to paint clear descriptions introduce the reader to a interesting new world. The characters run the gamut and their variety further hold the reader in the pages. The author included a list of the principle characters at the back of the book. The ending is gruesome.
There is an overview, which I appreciated since I like to know what a book is about before I read it. I contacted the author to review Hunting Gods.
Hunting Gods #2 – Another lengthy, but interesting, book that has the pages fly by at a good pace. This book begins with a glimpse of Kentle’s past as a child. It would be so easy to write a book report on this series. The storylines, again, keep the interest of the reader while the vivid descriptions bring out the locations and the characters as if watching a movie.
The characters demand the reader’s attention as the pages melt into the next. Although it took me awhile to get into the first book, my taste preferences, I found a fascinating, intriguing new world with an interesting variety of characters. I’ve read three books by this author and liked all three. I contacted the author to review Hunting after reading October Song. 5*
August 31, 2019
Hooked from the first page - couldn’t put it down!
Wow, what a book! I’m not normally much of a sci-fi fan, but I was hooked from the first chapter, and so chuffed that this is only book one of a series. It continued to enthrall me, and I’m totally invested in the characters (I especially like Sheehan and Coll!)... I need to know what happens next!!! Off to buy book 2...
Wow, what a book! I’m not normally much of a sci-fi fan, but I was hooked from the first chapter, and so chuffed that this is only book one of a series. It continued to enthrall me, and I’m totally invested in the characters (I especially like Sheehan and Coll!)... I need to know what happens next!!! Off to buy book 2...
June 30, 2020
Things were good until the Corruption came. Three people find theirs lives are turned upside down and now they need to find a way to survive the new reality. How are they going to do that? Will their paths cross? Can they help.each other? See how and if they can
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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