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The Tales of Remnas #1
Flower Among the Ashes
Elves and ogres don’t belong together. This was the Elven Kingdom’s most ironclad rule. They are about to defy that law.
When her parents cast her out for possessing a power they could not understand, Arshé learned the world was cruel. When her lover betrayed her, it taught her happy endings were a lie. On the run with a bounty on her head, the elven oracle vows never to let anyone exploit her ability to see the future—or her heart—ever again.
As her enemies close in, Arshé finds an unlikely ally in Rekki, an ogre mercenary on a mission to retrieve a priceless treasure stolen by the elven king. Offering protection in return for her aid, Arshé has no choice but to accompany the handsome warrior on his perilous quest.
But Rekki has no intention of parting ways with her when the treasure is back in ogre hands. For he was born under a prophecy foretelling he will become king of the ogres and unite his people’s fractured clans. When Rekki looks at Arshé, he sees the queen destined to rule at his side. If he cannot teach her reluctant heart to trust again, they will not survive the dangers ahead.
When her parents cast her out for possessing a power they could not understand, Arshé learned the world was cruel. When her lover betrayed her, it taught her happy endings were a lie. On the run with a bounty on her head, the elven oracle vows never to let anyone exploit her ability to see the future—or her heart—ever again.
As her enemies close in, Arshé finds an unlikely ally in Rekki, an ogre mercenary on a mission to retrieve a priceless treasure stolen by the elven king. Offering protection in return for her aid, Arshé has no choice but to accompany the handsome warrior on his perilous quest.
But Rekki has no intention of parting ways with her when the treasure is back in ogre hands. For he was born under a prophecy foretelling he will become king of the ogres and unite his people’s fractured clans. When Rekki looks at Arshé, he sees the queen destined to rule at his side. If he cannot teach her reluctant heart to trust again, they will not survive the dangers ahead.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2020
152 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 18, 2020
Really interesting concept- I'll probably do a review about the backstory later.
But for now I'm kinda exhausted bc the main h's actions and thought processes were so frustrating to read at times. If there was ever a character I wanted to shake and say "Get your shit together!" it would probably be her.
Also, by the time the H came around I was so over anything male in this book. Even though he was charming at times, at that point I didn't even want to give him a chance. Seriously, every single guy in this book (even the H at first) was not my cup of tea.
Oh man- I'll think on this one and hopefully give it a fair review later-- RTC
But for now I'm kinda exhausted bc the main h's actions and thought processes were so frustrating to read at times. If there was ever a character I wanted to shake and say "Get your shit together!" it would probably be her.
Also, by the time the H came around I was so over anything male in this book. Even though he was charming at times, at that point I didn't even want to give him a chance. Seriously, every single guy in this book (even the H at first) was not my cup of tea.
Oh man- I'll think on this one and hopefully give it a fair review later-- RTC
February 22, 2017
I am so happy to have stumbled across this little treasure. This is Fantasy and Romance all wrapped up in a wonderful little package – and the heat level in this book is through the roof! Genevieve’s descriptive writing flows beautifully without making you feel bogged down and there is some wonderful world building.
Some spoilers ahead…
Arshe (The Lesser Twin Lenarsh) began life as a sheltered girl with a strict tutor who was to teach her to be the perfect lady so she could impress her people and become the rightful daughter to her parents, the King and Queen of the Elvenfolk. From the moment she returns home and is reunited with her parents and her twin – who was separated from her around birth – Arshe suffers misfortune after misfortune. She is not as outspoken compared to her twin, but it’s her gift of sight that turns people against her – even those she considered friends. I really felt sorry for her, and even more so when the one I thought might stick by her side, left it as well.
Fast forward to Ravik…I seriously wondered for a while if the author put the wrong name in the blurb. I couldn’t stand this man/ogre. He’s abusive, manipulative, and uses her as tool beneath the cover of pretending to care for her. He uses tough love, and while I hated what he forced her to do, it made her stronger. The last straw was when she went into season. This is a state in which her body is fertile for two years since it’s her first time.
Refusing to get her with child, Ravik then seeks to sate himself with other women. He makes no secret of taking them to bed, and he does so for two years – two years! – and Arshe holds out for him. This is when she truly irritated me. I understand she felt gratitude and felt some happiness with Ravik, but she held onto the hope of returning to his side once her season was over, even after knowing he sought others…AND turned her away when they met Rana, who clearly replaced her. I won’t give too much away, but ugh…this bothered me.
I was SO happy when she finally met Rekki - the one mentioned in the blurb! It took her far too long to give over to him, especially since she was holding out because of Ravik (Grr!)
“Deed not word, Snowflower.”
"If you are without foundation, build your life with me. If you are without family, start one with me. if you are without a homeland, know that the Thundercloud Clan will accept you as one of their own. My father will be delighted when I present a mate to him. Then I will take you to my bed in my home and love you until you scream."
I think I fell in love with him myself. How can you not? Rekki is a wonderful hero. He is self-sacrificing, stands up for what he believes in, and treats Arshe as though she is the most treasured creature/thing in the world. There are many things he says that just makes your heart melt.
As far as I know, Flower Among the Ashes is the author’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to read her work to come. I high recommend this book if you are a lover of fantasy romance.
Some spoilers ahead…
Arshe (The Lesser Twin Lenarsh) began life as a sheltered girl with a strict tutor who was to teach her to be the perfect lady so she could impress her people and become the rightful daughter to her parents, the King and Queen of the Elvenfolk. From the moment she returns home and is reunited with her parents and her twin – who was separated from her around birth – Arshe suffers misfortune after misfortune. She is not as outspoken compared to her twin, but it’s her gift of sight that turns people against her – even those she considered friends. I really felt sorry for her, and even more so when the one I thought might stick by her side, left it as well.
Fast forward to Ravik…I seriously wondered for a while if the author put the wrong name in the blurb. I couldn’t stand this man/ogre. He’s abusive, manipulative, and uses her as tool beneath the cover of pretending to care for her. He uses tough love, and while I hated what he forced her to do, it made her stronger. The last straw was when she went into season. This is a state in which her body is fertile for two years since it’s her first time.
Refusing to get her with child, Ravik then seeks to sate himself with other women. He makes no secret of taking them to bed, and he does so for two years – two years! – and Arshe holds out for him. This is when she truly irritated me. I understand she felt gratitude and felt some happiness with Ravik, but she held onto the hope of returning to his side once her season was over, even after knowing he sought others…AND turned her away when they met Rana, who clearly replaced her. I won’t give too much away, but ugh…this bothered me.
I was SO happy when she finally met Rekki - the one mentioned in the blurb! It took her far too long to give over to him, especially since she was holding out because of Ravik (Grr!)
“Deed not word, Snowflower.”
"If you are without foundation, build your life with me. If you are without family, start one with me. if you are without a homeland, know that the Thundercloud Clan will accept you as one of their own. My father will be delighted when I present a mate to him. Then I will take you to my bed in my home and love you until you scream."
I think I fell in love with him myself. How can you not? Rekki is a wonderful hero. He is self-sacrificing, stands up for what he believes in, and treats Arshe as though she is the most treasured creature/thing in the world. There are many things he says that just makes your heart melt.
As far as I know, Flower Among the Ashes is the author’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to read her work to come. I high recommend this book if you are a lover of fantasy romance.
October 14, 2017
First in series..first read by this author.
What a great book. Fantastic and gripping from the start.
This feels like a set of stories set in one book. Which adds to the feel of time passing.
The first part is how as the lesser twin arshe/lesharne is cast out of the summerisle.. she has the gift of foresight of destruction, is painfully shy, doesn't know how to be surrounded by others ( due to a strict governess ). Her twin sister also lesharne has foresight ( births/marriages/future matches ) has been groomed for courtly socialising and is liked.
The second part is about arshe's struggles once she has been put into exhale and how she rises to become a leuitenant of her ogre lover ravic. Blinded by her love for him she fails to see him for what he is, a using abusive asshole...and throws herself into his rebellion and aiding him to overthrow two local bully boys who run the city. When she comes into her two year long fertile period she is cast aside by her lover and enventually following an ambush she flees the city.
The final part of this book is just brilliant and my favourite. Arshe meets rekki and v...two others on a mission tracking down ogre relics ( tyrant kings skin turned into armour ) rekki, given six tasks and a prophecy since birth...must carry out this journey if he is to unite the ogre clans and become king.
He loves arshe from the moment he sees her and she drawn to him but bruised in her heart by her past by ravic's betrayal is scared to consider a future for them. ( rekki was beautifully written and I will admit I hard swooned byhim on more than one occasion )
Action packed, beautifully written, filled with lovable and loathable charachters this book is a fantastic combination of fanstasy, romance and a saga all rolled into one. Even better there are sequels so I'm off to read those too!
What a great book. Fantastic and gripping from the start.
This feels like a set of stories set in one book. Which adds to the feel of time passing.
The first part is how as the lesser twin arshe/lesharne is cast out of the summerisle.. she has the gift of foresight of destruction, is painfully shy, doesn't know how to be surrounded by others ( due to a strict governess ). Her twin sister also lesharne has foresight ( births/marriages/future matches ) has been groomed for courtly socialising and is liked.
The second part is about arshe's struggles once she has been put into exhale and how she rises to become a leuitenant of her ogre lover ravic. Blinded by her love for him she fails to see him for what he is, a using abusive asshole...and throws herself into his rebellion and aiding him to overthrow two local bully boys who run the city. When she comes into her two year long fertile period she is cast aside by her lover and enventually following an ambush she flees the city.
The final part of this book is just brilliant and my favourite. Arshe meets rekki and v...two others on a mission tracking down ogre relics ( tyrant kings skin turned into armour ) rekki, given six tasks and a prophecy since birth...must carry out this journey if he is to unite the ogre clans and become king.
He loves arshe from the moment he sees her and she drawn to him but bruised in her heart by her past by ravic's betrayal is scared to consider a future for them. ( rekki was beautifully written and I will admit I hard swooned byhim on more than one occasion )
Action packed, beautifully written, filled with lovable and loathable charachters this book is a fantastic combination of fanstasy, romance and a saga all rolled into one. Even better there are sequels so I'm off to read those too!
Want to read
August 17, 2020💝 FREE on Amazon today (4/5/2018)!💝
April 12, 2021
On Feb 5th I posted this update:
I'm 73% done with Flower Among the Ashes: So, I was initially jazzed by this book. However, now not quite as much. Is it bad that I think there is too much sex and not enough character growth? From not even meeting our H at 41% to now being in love and smashing at 73%. I like there to be a little more tension and romantic growth in my stories. Slower moving with a bigger payoff. Maybe that's just setting the bar too high.
and haven't picked the book up since. I'm calling it for the moment. Maybe I'll come back to it at some point to finish, but I honestly just lost interest.
I'm 73% done with Flower Among the Ashes: So, I was initially jazzed by this book. However, now not quite as much. Is it bad that I think there is too much sex and not enough character growth? From not even meeting our H at 41% to now being in love and smashing at 73%. I like there to be a little more tension and romantic growth in my stories. Slower moving with a bigger payoff. Maybe that's just setting the bar too high.
and haven't picked the book up since. I'm calling it for the moment. Maybe I'll come back to it at some point to finish, but I honestly just lost interest.
September 11, 2020
Hm
I honestly didn't like 50%+ of this book, but then thought after that was pretty decent. Which hasn't ever really happened.. Such a stark contrast.
I'd like to say it was because I felt like the main character grew.. Which she kind of did, but not much. She also had lost her sad sack of a first boyfriend. So that was good.
I liked the ideas on the different types of races, but some of the descriptions and setting the scene moments in the beginning were so boring. I don't want to hear about a bunch of house names that I won't even remember a chapter from then. The names were also unique enough that I wasn't going to easily remember them anyway with no "first hand" experience with them in the book.
The writing style was decent. The read was still decently fast, although I kind of had to fight my way through the first part.
I honestly didn't like 50%+ of this book, but then thought after that was pretty decent. Which hasn't ever really happened.. Such a stark contrast.
I'd like to say it was because I felt like the main character grew.. Which she kind of did, but not much. She also had lost her sad sack of a first boyfriend. So that was good.
I liked the ideas on the different types of races, but some of the descriptions and setting the scene moments in the beginning were so boring. I don't want to hear about a bunch of house names that I won't even remember a chapter from then. The names were also unique enough that I wasn't going to easily remember them anyway with no "first hand" experience with them in the book.
The writing style was decent. The read was still decently fast, although I kind of had to fight my way through the first part.
February 20, 2021
Dark fantasy that should have been great. In this culture twins are not tolerated and the heroine is outcast. She learns to survive but once again she is betrayed by those she trusted. She didn't learn either as she went on to make ore poor decisions. I wanted to like this but thought she relied too much on others, and they all used her. I didn't like the plot or characters to continue this series.
October 17, 2017
Lenarsh is raised without the love of family, the comfort of friends, or connections of people. At the age of sixteen, she is returned to her parents to be judged against her twin sister, also referred to as Lenarsh. Only one twin can remain, and whoever is judged as The Lesser Twin must face exile in the lands of the Ironbloods. The quiet, awkward Lenarsh has the ability to foresee disaster, but stands no chance against her popular sister who foresees blessings.
Deemed as The Lesser Twin, Lenarsh is stripped of everything she owns, even her name, and is exiled. The ill-liked girl who avoids confrontation is put to a test of wills as she struggles to survive in a land where the people, language, and culture, are unlike her own. But even if she manages to avoid death, how can the harbinger of disaster ever expect love or good tidings to come her way?
Flower Among the Ashes is a dark fantasy/romance in a world full of history and ripe with danger. St-Yves creates strong characters and situations that will have you turning the pages until the very end. This books if chock full of steamy scenes, ranging from light to intense.
Deemed as The Lesser Twin, Lenarsh is stripped of everything she owns, even her name, and is exiled. The ill-liked girl who avoids confrontation is put to a test of wills as she struggles to survive in a land where the people, language, and culture, are unlike her own. But even if she manages to avoid death, how can the harbinger of disaster ever expect love or good tidings to come her way?
Flower Among the Ashes is a dark fantasy/romance in a world full of history and ripe with danger. St-Yves creates strong characters and situations that will have you turning the pages until the very end. This books if chock full of steamy scenes, ranging from light to intense.
August 21, 2020
Very interesting fantasy story
Arshe’s story as the lesser twin is a dark fantasy/ romance.
She has the power to foresee destruction. Naturally, she is not as liked as her twin sister who can foresee blessings. Arshe is stripped of her position and exiled. Unfortunately there she sees Ravik, who is far from a perfect man. After her heartbreak with Ravik, with many twists and turns, she meets Rekki. Arshe’s romance with Rekki is adorable and was enjoyable to read. How Arshe and Rekki work together to fulfill a prophecy to unite the ogre clans is the crux of the story.
The world building in the story and the characters were awesome. Every single one of the characters – the good and the bad were well etched. Enjoyable mix of fantasy/ romance and action. Liked it.
Arshe’s story as the lesser twin is a dark fantasy/ romance.
She has the power to foresee destruction. Naturally, she is not as liked as her twin sister who can foresee blessings. Arshe is stripped of her position and exiled. Unfortunately there she sees Ravik, who is far from a perfect man. After her heartbreak with Ravik, with many twists and turns, she meets Rekki. Arshe’s romance with Rekki is adorable and was enjoyable to read. How Arshe and Rekki work together to fulfill a prophecy to unite the ogre clans is the crux of the story.
The world building in the story and the characters were awesome. Every single one of the characters – the good and the bad were well etched. Enjoyable mix of fantasy/ romance and action. Liked it.
Read
June 15, 2021Not rating cause I dnf'd too early to warrant one. Reason for dnf -The blurb sounded great and raised my expectations. I wanted the story to start there with the meeting between Arshe and Rekki not have to tediously following each step of how Arshe got there with her. I was bored with the whole Great twin/lesser twin competition especially as there is never any suspense about how it will turn out so I read reviews and found out we dont even met the H til about half way through - and have suffer through her putting up with a manipulative abusive ex for most of that - not for me. It seemed like this would have been better as the back story, fed to us at a latter point through glimpses of her memory of events.
December 29, 2020
Graphic DNF
I stopped reading at the 35% mark. The characters are vulgar and the people are strange. The main character is absolutely hated, and I hated how shallow people were. I stopped reading when I came across the SIXTEEN PAGE sex scene (16 pages on my phone). Why do authors feel the need to write that? It adds nothing to the story. It’s just fluff. There were little tidbits of graphic scenes before that point, but nothing that was hard to skip over. Mediocre story (I don’t know what bothered me the most, the writing or the characters), and graphic to boot.
I stopped reading at the 35% mark. The characters are vulgar and the people are strange. The main character is absolutely hated, and I hated how shallow people were. I stopped reading when I came across the SIXTEEN PAGE sex scene (16 pages on my phone). Why do authors feel the need to write that? It adds nothing to the story. It’s just fluff. There were little tidbits of graphic scenes before that point, but nothing that was hard to skip over. Mediocre story (I don’t know what bothered me the most, the writing or the characters), and graphic to boot.
April 2, 2023
Wow! This was such a powerful story. After learning how cruel and sadistic Arshe' was treated by her family, I almost put this book down for good. The Elven folk might have been beautiful to look at, but beneath the surface, they were vile, heartless, and corrupt. Arshe's amazing strength, adaptability, and resilience set her apart from the rest of the Summerland residence. I enjoyed watching her grow physically and emotionally as she conquered each hardship, betrayal, and heartache. Great Read!!!!!
September 6, 2017
I downloaded Flower Among the Ashes as a free book from Amazon. I had only meant to read a chapter or so to determine where to place this in my TBR (of over 1000 books to read), and got sucked right in. Thankfully, I bought book two at the same time for only 99c. I loved this read. An interesting fantasy world and two very intriguing protagonists. Non-stop action, and good writing. This is a series worth reading.
August 27, 2020
Took a while to get interesting
The first half(ish) of this story just pissed me off--child abuse, courtly fuckery, and petty gangland bullshit. This was our heroine and her true love?
Then it started to get good and the rest just flew.
Some bad editing failures but a satisfying end after all.
The first half(ish) of this story just pissed me off--child abuse, courtly fuckery, and petty gangland bullshit. This was our heroine and her true love?
Then it started to get good and the rest just flew.
Some bad editing failures but a satisfying end after all.
September 24, 2020
Fantastic world, motley characters, history, action, romance, emotions, adventure, intrigue... This is a great story and i am impressed.
One thing though. It sticks to a single POV for most of the book, and i hate that so much. IT'S WELL DONE! But i hate that.
Still, definitely putting the rest of this series on my TBR pile, with the hope that we get more POVs.
One thing though. It sticks to a single POV for most of the book, and i hate that so much. IT'S WELL DONE! But i hate that.
Still, definitely putting the rest of this series on my TBR pile, with the hope that we get more POVs.
December 31, 2023
The fantasy series that is not like the others. Seriously, this is the best one I've read in the genre. Entertaining and deep, great world building, believable and really fleshed out characters you can connect with, enough adventure not to be boring and not too much to take over the story or suspend believability, this author has great talent and I consider myself lucky to have found this gem.
August 25, 2020
Great story
What a great start for a new series. Well worth the time to read this book. The book had a little bit of something for all. Mystery,romance and history. Highly recommend.
What a great start for a new series. Well worth the time to read this book. The book had a little bit of something for all. Mystery,romance and history. Highly recommend.
April 4, 2021
79%... i honestly don't wanna finish reading it right now and idk if i will get back to it in the future. It's interesting... but there isn't a lot of emotion? There is situations that tug on my emotion but I'm not feeling the chemistry in any of the relationships between characters.
August 7, 2018
Fantasy lover's dream!
This has everything for people that love this genre. Not my usual reading but found things about it that were entertaining.
This has everything for people that love this genre. Not my usual reading but found things about it that were entertaining.
October 10, 2018
Very very much not my thing and the characters neither likeable nor interesting.
September 23, 2020
Heart-wrenching page turner!
Loved it! The story was twisting and full of surprises and you felt each blow dealt to Arshe. I could not put it down.
Loved it! The story was twisting and full of surprises and you felt each blow dealt to Arshe. I could not put it down.
October 13, 2020
It feels condescending to say surprisingly good, but...surprisingly good.
Read
December 30, 2020Survival only happens in the very difficult locations.
March 3, 2017
This journey was awesome cant wait to read the next one!
I thoroughly enjoyed this journey. I did start to dislike arshe but I realized she was still growing still learning.
I look forward to reading the next chapter in arshe and rekki's story
I thoroughly enjoyed this journey. I did start to dislike arshe but I realized she was still growing still learning.
I look forward to reading the next chapter in arshe and rekki's story
September 2, 2024
I liked it
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews