Quinn entered the Ethodine for her brother. Now she has to survive it.
Quinn has never felt so out of control. Stripped of her precious daggers, she's thrust into the privileged world of the potion-making Sylphs and their floating sky city. While preparing for the first dangerous trial, she plots to retrieve her weapons from Moon Face at any cost.
But neither task is as easy as she hopes. She doesn’t expect foreboding visions of her brother to start haunting her dreams or the stakes of the Ethodine to be so high. Besides the flirty Nymph prince who can’t seem to leave her alone, she now faces the Sylph queen and three other powerful competitors: a half-blind artist, a mute beast tamer, and a pompous princess.
Just when everything starts falling apart, an unlikely ally offers a deal to get everything she’s always wanted. But trust is fragile. It will take more than promises to survive the perils of the Ethodine.
Palace of Potions is the second Episode in the On Wings of Ash and Dust serial series. Full of mystery and royal intrigue, this YA fantasy adventure is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and The Cruel Prince.
Brittany Wang is the author of the young adult fantasy serial series, On Wings of Ash and Dust.
She is also a YouTuber and Author Website Designer who is passionate about helping writers finish their novels, find writing community, & build a platform that grows their readership.
If you loved episode one then you’re guaranteed to love episode two. I read it all in one sitting and now I’m dying to move onto to the next one to see what happens next!
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Spoilers for episode 1 ahead!
Entering the trials is one thing; surviving them is another. Weaponless and completely unprepared, Quinn is left very vulnerable. Meeting the other competitors only makes her realize how difficult these trials will be for her. Nightmares haunt her sleep, strange allies appear, and secrets abound. It doesn't take long for Quinn to realize that it might take all she has just to survive.
This second episode was amazing! Since this book centers around the Sylph trial, we learn a lot of information in this episode. But the information wasn't just given in info dumps--Brittany cleverly weaves world-building facts into the story. I'm already fascinated by this world and we still have the rest of the trials to get through!
The other competitors are also intriguing. We still don't know too much about any of them, and I'm looking forward to seeing more interactions with them! Each one seems to have their own secrets and their own motives...
There's not a lot of action in this episode, but that doesn't take away from it at all! The trial had me on the edge of my seat! I have a feeling things are going to get even crazier from here! I have so many questions! I wasn't expecting to get through this episode as fast as I did, but it was hard to put it down! Once again, the last page has me desperate for the next episode! Bring on the second trial!
I definitely recommend this serial! If you're looking for an entertaining adventure with an intense competition, royal intrigue, possibly some romance, and a dash of magic, this is something you should read!
Episode 2, Palace of Potions, takes us even further into the world of Faylan. We learn the history of the world and the clans, some of which may or may not be truthful. Lots of mysteries and theories are posed. We're introduced to the other competitors, and start having more questions than answers. Like, what did Alys glean from Quinn? What's Aeron's end game? Should we fear for Hickory passing his own clan test? What's with THE BOOK? The Queen was an interesting twist. I'm curious to see how this plan unfolds. This episode is more set-up than action as Quinn figures out the lay of the land and works on the Sylph Trial while also trying to get her daggers back. I feel like Brittany put a lot of cogs in motion in this book (as well as the first book), and I can't wait to find out the answers. The nightmare she keeps having is an intriguing one as well.... Seriously...SO.MANY.QUESTIONS!! haha.
I can't wait for the next installment in Aeron's domain!
The second part of the On Wings of Ash and Dust serial by Brittany Wang, Palace of Potions starts the competition proper. We get to know the remaining three competitors as well as explore the Sylph lands a bit, and expand on the world building that begun in Wings of Betrayal that had me on my toes throughout.
Besides Quinn, she’s competing with Vale of the Sylph, Aeron of the Nymphs, Hickory of the Kobolds, and Alys of the Dryads. While we don’t spend too much time with them so far, they all feel fleshed out with motivations and goals, and I can’t wait to find out more about them as the competition continues. It’s tough to pick a favorite, but each have an interesting setup and I’m sure any one of these five could be someone’s favorite competitor, which I like.
We get an expansion of world building, with some lore from the past, which was interesting to find out. Besides the competition (which was really tension filled and exciting for what it was), Quinn is trying to get her weapons back. I really like the twists and turns this installment has, and starts a few interesting story threads that I’m excited to see continue.
Looking forward to episode 3 very soon!
*I received an ERC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
“I’d stop hanging out with Vale, though, if I were you,” he adds, turning to leave. “Aeron too, if you know what’s good for you.”
One of the many great things about reading a serial, which is comparable to a TV show, is the following book aka episode actually picked up exactly or as close to it where the previous book ended. Because if anything is one of my pet peeves in book series is when there’s a three or four 🙄 month gap and the pieces of what happened are slowly or never really filled in.
But good news that is not the case! And if that isn’t enticing enough this one was definitely as equally action packed as the first. I never find myself saying ‘I just have to get through this part to get to the good stuff.’ All of it is the good stuff! And I absolutely adored getting introduced to all of Quinn’s fellow competitors in this book. They are gonna make for some interesting 🤨 interactions and trials down the road 😂
This trial was the Sylph trial which was all about Knowledge because that’s what they do best and if there one thing for sure Quinn doesn’t it’s knowledge so it made for some interesting tactics, but what the queen for now asks of Quinn definitely has me with questions!
A standout character in this episode was Vale. She was one of those characters I couldn’t help but love. Quinn and her are developing and intriguing relationship and I can’t wait to see it progress. And if I do say so myself those last two pages will leave you pleading for more! I see what you did there Britt. Next stop Nymph trial!
I received an arc from the author. All opinions are my own.
An excellent continuation from Wings of Betrayal. We finally get to meet all of Quinn's competitors, who all have different personalities and each seem to have secrets of their own. Compared to this first episode, this one did feel a lot more set up than action heavy, but readers will get a lot of interesting nuggets that will intrigue them and make them super excited to continue. I'm also enjoying the dynamics between all of the different characters, especially the fun rivalry between Vale and Quinn. We also get a lot more background about the world, and I can't wait to see how everything fits together. Overall, another good, quick read that made me ready for the next installment!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With each episode, the world building gets more immersive. Brittany clearly put a lot of work into this series and I’m very intrigued. It seems like you could have a myriad of endless adventures in Faylan.
This was a fun episode. I really enjoyed seeing the sky city, especially the library. It’s only 4 stars instead of five because I wish the trial itself had lasted longer. The build up was fantastic but the trail itself was a bit short imho. That said though, I’m excited to read the next episode. Especially because of the dragon tamer Dryad. She is so intriguing to me
This episode of this story brings a great display of imagination into the world of the Sylphs. There was less action and adventure in this episode but it played perfectly into the overall arch of the serial. Learning more about each faerie clan and their homes is a necessity for digging deep into the story and understanding who these characters are. Learning about their backgrounds and what they’ve been through helps a reader to empathize with their plights. I definitely cannot wait to read the next episode.
The second episode of On Wings of Ash and Dust has me dying to know what happens next with Quinn’s adventure. All the main characters have distinct and unique personalities. I’m loving learning more about each of them through their interactions with each other (especially Alys). The writing is well paced and interesting to the point where I don’t want to put the book down. I was so sad when I got to the end because I wanted to keep reading! Can’t wait to read episode three.
The 2nd episode dives deeper into the lore and into the action with the start of the Ethodine! The competition for the faerie crown is exciting and fresh. I love that we get to meet all the other competitors in this episode, and how well Brittany fleshed out each of these characters is one of my favorite things about this serial. She knows just how to pull you in with the thickening plot, political intrigue, budding rivalries and romances, and so much more!
Author Brittany Wang has done it again with Palace of Potions!!! I was continually on the edge of my seat. The action, twists, plot surprises, and the moments of laughter all work together beautifully!! I literally just read the last page and am already wanting to get my hands on episode three!! I can't speak highly enough of this serial!
This book was amazing. I love the interaction Quinn has with all the other competitors. The princess is really something else. Aeron and Quinn is super cute. I really want them to be together and I want to learn more about who Aeron is and Hickory as well. I can't wait for the next book.
I absolutely loved Palace of Potions! I couldn't stop reading it! I can't wait to see what happens in the next episode! You should definitely check out this serial if you haven't yet!
Well she did it again. Faylan world is so well thought out I can clearly picture it! I’m fighting for and also yelling at Quinn through this second episode! Aeron is such an intrigue for me, I want to know more! Again leaving me with quite the cliff hanger I can only speculate what will happen until episode 3 comes out! I’d definitely recommend this book for any young or new… or older adult who loves to dive into a new world with faeries and magic.
Needless to say, as shown by the 5 stars I'm leaving this book, I enjoyed it just as much (if not more) than the first one.
If you've never read a serialized novel, you should know that it's a reading experience that is like no other. Usually, the books are shorter - often somewhere between 5 and 12 chapters - so they are fast released like a tv show. It keeps you, the reader, pushing forward very quickly until you reach the end. There's something spectacular about how fast paced serial novels are and it's something I greatly enjoy.
All of that being said, On Wings of Ash and Dust is one of the best serial novels I've ever read - and I feel confident in saying that even though I've only just finished the 2nd episode, Palace of Potions. Brittany has built this world up so beautifully and in this book, she's thrown us into yet another new setting. Every page contains a new piece of information and it's like putting a puzzle together, each new piece forming the whole picture. I'm so excited to see what the rest of Faylan (the faerie world of this book) looks like with each new book.
Also in this episode, we were introduced to the rest of Quinn's competitors. Each is spunky and creative in their own way. And it seems like each one holds secrets of their own. While we don't jump into other POVs in this story, it's so fun to get bits of each character's story through Quinn's perspective. And if you liked how snarky and feisty Quinn was in Wings of Betrayal, you'll be very glad to know that continues in this book too.
Lastly, Brittany has left us with even more secrets to discover. This book doesn't end on a major cliffhanger, but there are questions you are gonna want to have answered. New parts of Quinn's past get called into question and she's still struggling with learning who she is as she's given yet another choice and challenge to consider.
If you're into pirates (because I have a feeling Quinn will always feel connections to her pirate roots), dragons, faeries, and a lot of mystery and intrigue along with vibrant fantasy worlds, this series is absolutely 100% for you. As an ARC reader, I find myself lucky enough to get to tell you to go buy this book early. All of my opinions are completely my own, and I want you to know that this story is worth you time!
I enjoyed that we get to explore the world and characters a bit more in this story. Here we dive deeper into how Faylan is created and a bit of the royal political intrigues. I like how the history of The Vine and how the clans came to exist and told in an easy to understand and story-like way.
Each of the 5 character competitors including Quinn is easy to envision, however, I did notice a slight divide between the types of characters. Two characters have physical disabilities which I think is great to include but they seemed to be minor or support characters. That leads me to the other 3 which, I haven't seen any disabilities other than some narcissism because they are royals but they happen to show a possibility of a love triangle. I like love triangles but for some reason the romance for me is a bit difficult for me to believe. I like and want to root for their love but I feel like there isn't enough development for me to believe these two could be together right now. I hope that it continues to grow and develop later. For me, the other two characters are more interesting but they don't get as much screen/book time as I'd like but maybe it'll change in the future. I don't think there's much character development with Quinn but she does learn a lot more information which I like.
I enjoyed the trial but I struggled with thinking that it's too easy? Maybe I like my characters to struggle more to overcome the obstacle. It also seemed too short and I wanted a bit more of a climax. We also didn't get to see as much magic as I'd like in the trial but we do get glimpses during the book. I did love the little reveal of information at the end and made me want to read more about what its purpose it and why it might be significant.
3.3 out of 5 rating for me!
(This is an ARC review. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any other way.)
I could say soooo many wonderful things about this installment in Brittany Wang’s serial, On Wings of Ash and Dust, but alas, I only have so much time, haha. I’ll stick to what stood out most to me.
For this episode, the new characters introduced really shined. We finally got to meet the other competitors, and immediately, I was drawn to different aspects of each of them. Each felt like their own distinct character even though we were introduced to several at once, which can be a difficult obstacle for any author, let me tell ya. I also appreciated the fact that we got little hints about their history together as a group just by their interactions. If you like rag-tag crews, you’ll enjoy this episode for sure! And without going into spoilers, I particularly enjoyed the rivalry between Quinn and one of her fellow competitors. It kind of gave me Harry Potter and Draco Malloy vibes, which is perfect, of course.
Like I mentioned in the last review, the world building is done so well, and in this episode, we’re taken deeper into the world—particularly we learn more about the lore, which I have a feeling will set up for future issues Quinn has to face.
Well done, Brittany! I’m excited to get my hands on the next episode!
I enjoyed this book. It kept my attention and I finished it in a few hours. I don't think this is considered spoilers, but proceed with caution. I thought that the actual Sylph trial did not get enough page time and seemed a little anti-climatic. The trial seemed almost too easy. There was a lot of set up and the trial was over fairly quickly.
PLOT HOLE? I'm not sure if I missed it or not, but how did Alys complete the trial if she is mute? Didn't they have to answer the questions out loud? Did they let her write it down? Not sure how when they had to answer so quickly.
Also, how does Quinn imitate other Faeries when they have different wing types? Were her wings covered? When she imitated the guards, they were Sylph guards right? How did she do that if she doesn't have Sylph wings?
I enjoyed the writing and the characters but I wanted a little more from the plot, if that makes sense. I gave it 3 stars because I was not overly thrilled with the story as a whole. It wasn't bad by any means, but I still wanted more.
Brittany Wang brings the story forward as we see Quinn interact with people she's not used to dealing with. The world of the Sylph clan is beautiful and full of nerdy fun, danger, and life. We learn more about the other competitors that are introduced. These competitors are spunky, unique, and certainly fit their clans.
Quinn grows as the story progresses. We learn more about how she is who she is. I wonder if one of her competitors has Quinn figured out...Perhaps, but I doubt it.
The Sylph Trial itself still lingers in my mind. I am amazed at how simple yet intricate the trial truly is. Don't think for a second I forgot how dangerous the trial is either. I could picture this trial in my head.
Although, if I'm honest, this book pulls you in. You're not just reading the words on the page. You're right next to Quinn, watching the story unfold. It truly is fantastic!
Palace of Potions took everything I adored about the first episode and upped it several notches. Every single subplot that had begun in the first one was revisited at some point, interspersed with the thrilling competition. It all flowed so smoothly together and I cannot wait to see these subplots continue to develop in the next episode. Probably my favourite thing about episode one, though, was the creativity of the fairy clans and the setting. This continued to be my favourite thing during Palace of Potions. We got to meet several new amazing characters and although I wouldn’t necessarily be friends with all of them in real life, I love them all! Brittany Wang created such lifelike characters, with such complex personalities and backstories (some of which I’m sure there is a lot more to learn about).
Simply stated, I loved this even more than Wings of Betrayal and I am feverishly anticipating the next part after that ending!!
It's a fast-paced thrilling episode with exciting characters.
We dive a little more into the fae world. We see the fae history and also possibly a bigger threat lurking around. The entire time I was on the edge of my seat. The chapters are engaging and now that the Ethodine competition has started stakes have risen.
Quinn has to be careful while making friends and navigating into the royal life again. The Fae crown is on stakes. You can trust no one here.
After a long time, I found a YA book that I enjoy so much. With deadly competition for crown, an ex-pirate as an MC, a new distinct world and some romance this is a perfect read for fantasy lovers.
Angst and Faeries - YA Fantasy with Pirates and Competition
The second episode in this series was full of angst and careful arrangements.
This episode was exciting and full of action but also got into some of the world lore a bit more (not surprising given the fact it focused on the Sylph Trial). You also learned about the rest of the contestants, the heirs from the other clans. The dynamics and differences between them were fun and different.
The feeling in this episode was definitely still pretty YA, still on the younger side. The main character, Quinn still has a lot of learning to do but I think we started to see the start of her growth!
Excellent second installment! We get to meet even more fun and intriguing characters in this episode with the first part of the competition. You can feel the danger like you're there. Brittany's humour still shines through and her imagination with fae lore is such fun to read.
There might be a couple of characters I'm shipping ;) And I need to know more about the magic! I have a lot of questions that I can't wait to have answered!!!
Another fab story from Brittany - I highly recommend it!
This first test Quinn must face is a knowledge. She makes a deal with the queen to help her daughter in these games because her daughter doesn't have the strengths. Her daughter does have the intelligence so her daughter trains her with the books and she's supposed to help her with the fighting part she takes a potion that helps her retain knowledge but it does wear off during the match l. She must rely on herself. She also was starting to experience flames coming out of her hands and also falling from one of the guys in the competition as well
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Brittany blew me away again with Palace of Potions, the second book in the On Wings of Ash and Dust serial! I just love how Quinn is an active rather than passive character. She feels so real, along with the other characters (both those on her side and those against her) ;) Let the competition continue!
Another short and easy read. I really enjoy the fact that most of this is character, relationship, and world development and that so much less time is spent on the actual trial. As for the relationships, I really thought this was going to focus on a relationship between Quinn and Aeron, so the fact that it looks like it is going to be developing all of the heirs was a pleasant surprise.