Ashes of Gold

Wings of Ebony #2

by J. Elle

In the “thrilling…masterful” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) conclusion to the Wings of Ebony duology, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicole Yoon calls “bold, inventive, big-hearted, and deeply perceptive,” Rue makes her final stand to reclaim her people’s stolen magic.Rue has no memory of how she ended up locked in a basement prison without her magic or her allies. But she’s a girl from East Row. And girls from East Row don’t give up. Girls from East Row pick themselves back up when they fall. Girls from East Row break themselves out. But getting free and finding her friends is only half the battle. Rue vows that when she reunites with them, she will find a way to return the magic that the Chancellor has stolen from her father’s people. Yet even on Yiyo Peak, Rue is a misfit; with half a foot back in Houston and a heart that is half human, half god, she’s not sure she’s the right person to lead the fight to reclaim a glorious past. When a betrayal sends her into a tailspin, Rue must decide who to trust and how to be the leader that her people deserve, because if she doesn’t, it isn’t just Yiyo that will be destroyed—it will be Rue herself.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook

413 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2022

About the author

J. ELLE is the New York Times bestselling author of young adult and middle-grade fantasy fiction and a 2022 NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth and Teens. Her work has been translated into three languages. The former educator credits her nomadic lifestyle and humble inner-city beginnings as inspiration for her novels. When she’s not writing, Elle can be found on the hunt for new desserts sans Chocolat, looking for literally any excuse to get dressed up, and road-tripping her way across the country with her two dogs in tow.

Follow me on BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-elle

Reviews

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love Ashes of Gold because I did enjoy Wing of Ebony but I felt like I was reading a completely different story rather than the continuation of one I already knew. Rue was more insecure in this story as she takes on this new role as the chosen one. And I wasn't a fan of the chosen one narrative. This is a girl who grew up as an outsider having been raised in an entirely different world. She's learning the history, language, and customs of these people who've only accepted her because of her father. But they also now have to accept her friend who is from the group of outsiders who stole their magic. And they are expected to blindly trust her to lead their people. Not the elders of the community. Which it felt like they disappeared the entire book. Where were they?

I understand wanting to incorporate a love triangle and I liked that it was two Black boys but that was the only thing I liked about it. I didn't care if Rue ended up with Julius or Jhamal. She had no chemistry with Jhamal and every time Julius and Rue went down memory lane it disrupted the momentum of the story.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Wings of Ebony and Ashes of Gold was one of my most anticipated releases this year for that reason. I was expecting to love it just as much, but sadly that wasn't the case.

The book just dragged on and on, the whole vibe of it was so different from the first one and it didn't quite work for me.

The beginning really set back Rue's character development and it was my least favourite part of the book. After that she spent a lot of time doubting herself which is understandable considering what happened, I just didn't like it.

And the betrayal trope? NO WHY? WHYYYYYYY??? The character that, shall we say, executed that trope did not deserve it at all. It should've been someone else.

The love triangle got an ending too. Somewhat satisfying because she does chose one of them, eventually, BUT SHE CHOSE THE WRONG ONE!!! I will stand by this, I don't care, argue with a wall.

My final rating is 2.5 which hurts me, but it is what it is.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable read but I didn't quite enjoy the second as much as the first. Might be because it's a been a while since I read the first. 3.5 stars

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

2023 reads: 382/350

in this sequel to wings of ebony, rue sets out to reclaim the magic stolen from her father’s people. while book one didn’t blow me away, i still enjoyed it and was interested in knowing how the story concluded. while i’m glad i read this, i did like it a little less than book one. however, i liked the overarching theme of the story, which is reclaiming one’s heritage from colonizers. i would be interested in reading more from this author.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Books Forward and Netgalley for the chance to review this title!

Reasons to read a tenacious heroine, superb world-building, and a compelling B cast.

Personal rating: have I met a better duology? Nope.

Wings of Ebony was one of the more unique books I'd read in 2021 ( a weird year, but great for books!) Part contemporary and part fantasy, it solidified itself as one of my favorites. Rue returns in Ashes of Gold with the fierce tenacity we left her within book one. This time around, she's getting betrayed left and right and left trusting nobody and feeling lost and alone, WHICH IS HOW THE BAD GUYS WANT HER!. GAH

ASHES OF GOLD felt a bit more fleshed out if that makes any sense. I felt the descriptive paragraphs were more robust and the characters were given more space to express their emotions. The journey Elle takes her characters through to "gather tools" (yay Save the Cat Writes a Novel. I knew something would stick) is a big shift from book one and gives the book the tension and time clock it needs.

It's not often I find a sequel-never-mind the last in a two-book series-to be equal or better than its predecessor, but this one certainly takes the prize. ASHES OF GOLD shines. I'm sad to see the story end, but I know the author is just getting started.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

Described as “The Hate You Give” meets “Wonder Woman” in a “Black Panther” world, Ashes of Gold is an epic conclusion to the Wings of Ebony duology! Filled with action, intrigue, betrayal, and so much heart, Rue’s journey continues as she works to reclaim the magic that was stolen, and I enjoyed every heart-pounding minute of it.

The world-building throughout this duology is incredible! It’s detailed, vivid, and immersive, and I found each new setting easy to visualize. Though very different from our world, Ghizon is also quite similar. For example, throughout her journey, Rue sees the detrimental effects of corruption, racism, war, social inequities, and the consuming thirst for power. This adds to her already fierce determination to bring balance back and bring the right people to justice. I found many of the non-magical issues presented to be very relatable and relevant.

Rue is a fantastic protagonist! Tenacious and determined, she fights for what she believes in and proves that you can be both fierce and vulnerable. Rue is loyal and courageous, and she has a huge heart. I love how she learns from her mistakes and always tries to do and be better while still staying true to herself. Rue is quite hard on herself, and her failures weigh heavily on her. Self-doubt, fear, insecurity, and guilt prove difficult obstacles for Rue to face as Rue learns more about the world of Ghizon, its magic, its connection to her home, and her connection to it all.

The secondary characters in the story are intriguing and dynamically developed as well. From potential love interests to friends to Rue’s younger sister and more, the supporting characters are compelling and layered. Rue learns a lot from the people in her life, both good and bad, and they definitely influence her feelings and actions. I like the introduction of some new characters and how they affect the dynamics already in place. Rue quickly realizes that there are only a few people she can implicitly trust, as secrets, lies, and betrayal are brought to the surface.

The story also highlights the power of strong women and the bonds of sisterhood, which is fantastic! Rue is surrounded by strong, independent women in both Ghizon and her home, and I think she learns a lot from the women in her life. And oh my word, the twists and turns! This story is intense! There were a few shocks that I totally didn’t see coming, and, I admit, a couple of them broke my heart. Luckily, other parts of the story are heart-warming and hopeful, which made for a well-balanced and well-paced read.

If you enjoyed Wings of Ebony, you are going to love Ashes of Gold. It’s an intense and engrossing conclusion to the duology with amazing characters, unique magic, and strong messages about racism, community, family, friendship, and what it means to be a good leader. Special thanks to Books Forward, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Merged review:

Described as “The Hate You Give” meets “Wonder Woman” in a “Black Panther” world, Ashes of Gold is an epic conclusion to the Wings of Ebony duology! Filled with action, intrigue, betrayal, and so much heart, Rue’s journey continues as she works to reclaim the magic that was stolen, and I enjoyed every heart-pounding minute of it.

The world-building throughout this duology is incredible! It’s detailed, vivid, and immersive, and I found each new setting easy to visualize. Though very different from our world, Ghizon is also quite similar. For example, throughout her journey, Rue sees the detrimental effects of corruption, racism, war, social inequities, and the consuming thirst for power. This adds to her already fierce determination to bring balance back and bring the right people to justice. I found many of the non-magical issues presented to be very relatable and relevant.

Rue is a fantastic protagonist! Tenacious and determined, she fights for what she believes in and proves that you can be both fierce and vulnerable. Rue is loyal and courageous, and she has a huge heart. I love how she learns from her mistakes and always tries to do and be better while still staying true to herself. Rue is quite hard on herself, and her failures weigh heavily on her. Self-doubt, fear, insecurity, and guilt prove difficult obstacles for Rue to face as Rue learns more about the world of Ghizon, its magic, its connection to her home, and her connection to it all.

The secondary characters in the story are intriguing and dynamically developed as well. From potential love interests to friends to Rue’s younger sister and more, the supporting characters are compelling and layered. Rue learns a lot from the people in her life, both good and bad, and they definitely influence her feelings and actions. I like the introduction of some new characters and how they affect the dynamics already in place. Rue quickly realizes that there are only a few people she can implicitly trust, as secrets, lies, and betrayal are brought to the surface.

The story also highlights the power of strong women and the bonds of sisterhood, which is fantastic! Rue is surrounded by strong, independent women in both Ghizon and her home, and I think she learns a lot from the women in her life. And oh my word, the twists and turns! This story is intense! There were a few shocks that I totally didn’t see coming, and, I admit, a couple of them broke my heart. Luckily, other parts of the story are heart-warming and hopeful, which made for a well-balanced and well-paced read.

If you enjoyed Wings of Ebony, you are going to love Ashes of Gold. It’s an intense and engrossing conclusion to the duology with amazing characters, unique magic, and strong messages about racism, community, family, friendship, and what it means to be a good leader. Special thanks to Millner Books, Books Forward, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Tameka Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the first book, I was interested to see how J Elle would complete this duology. While I did not like that the first book chose to address racism in an unoriginal way, I'm glad she left that plot out of the second book.
The story starts with Rue and her friends trapped in the basement of a prison in Ghizon. She thinks they need a spell to restore their magic and escape. Then they realize they need to call upon the dead to restore their magic. This quest sees Rue experience betrayal, build friendships, form alliances, gain confidence, be a good, big sister, etc.
I was satisfied with how everything resolved in the end. Some people compare this to Black Panther but I would disagree and oddly enough, compare it to Coming To America--especially the ending. If I had two critiques to give, it would be that the political plot could have been developed more and Rue should have gotten her confidence from realizing her own abilities not because a boy told her of them.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and would say it can be read as a stand alone.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic read, loved spending time with Rue again, though I was a bit confused as to how they went from the ending of the first book to the beginning of this one!

[Faith Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sequel! Ashes of Gold is action-packed, encouraging, heartwarming, and funny in all the right moments. I loved continuing Rue's story and getting to know a lot more about Ghizon and the history of her magical side. We meet many new awesome characters in this sequel, as well as getting more of the characters we love from book 1. I especially loved seeing more of Bri, who still has a lot to learn but at the end of the day is a real "ride or death" friend. Ashes of Gold is a book about love – loving ourselves, others, and where we come from – as well as learning to trust yourself. Rue's story is one that I know will encourage many Black kids who need the reminder that they don't need to be anyone but themselves to be loved and worthy. If you loved Wings of Ebony, you'll love the strong finale to this duology.

[mads · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Mercy isn't a weakness. Like stubbornness, you just have to know when to wield it.”

TW: blood, colonization, death of a loved one, genocide, murder, racism, torture, violence.

I was extremely hopeful about this book because I really enjoyed Wings of Ebony, but this almost felt like an entirely different story.

We start the book with Rue's memory loss, which always makes it a bit hard to get into a story; then the rest of the book deals with Rue being put in situations she should never have been put in if anyone around her was competent and a complete lack of leadership from any of the actual elders in the story.

This also read quite a bit younger than I remember Wings of Ebony being, with there being sentiments repeated so many times that I was starting to feel like I had already read the chapter several times over. It ended up feeling pretty tedious to read, and I was genuinely struggling to pick it up.

I will say, the overall message of the duology and Rue as a character were still extremely well-done aspects. This just fell flat for me.

[Brandie Bridges-Sells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on my toes. I loved this book so much! As I was traveling back into this world Of Ghizon I did not know what to expect. I didn't know if Rue was going to get back together with Julius to pursue something new with Jhamal or what the Chancellor was going to do next. This book is filled with wonder and adventure and a lot of twists that I did not see coming. Now I will say that I am #TeamJulius all the way so I am a little bias, but Jhamal got on my nerves and I was always rooting for Julius. But at the same time I appreciate Jhamal when it comes to him in this story he helped Rue along her pursuit of realizing she is worthy of being more than just Rue. Yes she made some mistakes along the way, but who doesn't make mistakes. Mistakes are the key to us finding a better path and solution and Rue left me speechless on how she embraced herself on who she was and where she comes from. This is an essential read because yes it does have black girl magic in this book its so much more than that. It's also about finding yourself and knowing that you are worthy regardless what people think or say about you. I am definitely going to miss Rue, Julius, Ms. Leola, and Bati. The world of Ghizon is so beautiful, which this book did a fantastic job sharing with us the wonders of the Ghizoni people and finally having their magic restored.

[D.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my new favorite duologies. I loved this series so wholly. Ashes of Gold explores so many things (heavy callings, pressure when people are counting on you, losing faith in yourself, mistakes, the weight of our ancestry, how who tells history can create lies and propaganda, prejudice, PTSD, daddy issues, etc) yet manages not to be a mediocre mishmash.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. There are a few plot elements that are obvious and you can tell where things are heading, but the journey to getting there was excellent. Also, the twists to each revelation kept things exciting. I liked the fast pacing. There was never a dull moment.

And Jhamal! I’ve never known a J(h)amal I didn’t like, fictional or real. Some of his lines, man. Just so lovely and sweet! Like, he poured honey on top of the page.

Definitely read this! J.Elle’s one of my new favorite authors. <3

[Alex Nonymous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Ashes of Gold in exchange for an honest review.

I thought it was impossible to tell Wings of Ebony was a debut well reading it but I was wrong. Somehow J. Elle takes already really strong world building and narration skills and refines them een further here with an even more organized, well paced plot and gripping storytelling. I do think I enjoyed the first book a tad more simply due to the added benefit of it introducing me to these worlds, characters, and metaphors, but this was an incredibly strong sequel.

[Kate (Feathered Turtle Press Reviews)]

this series is getting some of the best covers ever

[Capri’sBookIsland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in the series and we follow Rue trying to balance her new life, new discoveries and learning to work through ptsd/traumas of decisions she made that ultimately didn’t go so well. Honestly the first book was a pleasant surprise. I’m not someone who usually enjoys books heavily faced with black trauma or police brutality as racism being tied in but this author did such a good job setting up that story and helping us get to know Rue and her choices, friends, and difficulties surrounding her that it didn’t feel unnecessary or overdone. There also was so much magic tied it into it it had a perfect balance in a way. But I honestly think this second book wasn’t needed. The first one could’ve been wrapped up and closed or we could’ve went a different route with this second one… it felt like never ending pages of her struggling mentally and predictable villains.. I appreciate the dialogues surrounding her doubt as a leader but in a way the new characters didn’t mesh well with the story. Rue felt like a different person who barely got back to who she was. Romance was also tied in here.. and it didn’t feel needed. The friendships lacked the spark they had in the first book. Idk it just didn’t feel the same. It was just okay

[Nic Ojo (bujos_n_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was amazing! I may have enjoyed this one more than WoE. Learning so much about the tribes and culture in Ghizon was reminiscent of what Africa may have been like had it not been colonized. This page-turning story had me guessing until the end. Black girl magic is definitely on display. As the story came to an end I was reminded of the closing scene in the Black Panther Movie.

Congratulations to J. Elle for this epic conclusion to the duology. Would love to see this story on the big screen or streaming platform.

[Ella W · Rating 1 out of 5]

giving one star pre-release because I find street teams unethical and this author runs one (that's why the book has a 4,49 rating at the time of writing). for those who don't know these are organised groups on slack who promote each other's books on social media and leave five stars on goodreads. it's all marketing and skews the rating.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book since the first one came out, and let me tell you, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! It was also nothing like I expected, I was kept guessing every which way. It was beautifully written, and I loved the new characters just as much as I loved the original characters. I will recommending this series to everyone until I die.

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ashes of gold started with rue losing her memory after losing a fight with the chancellor. locked up in a prison with jhamal, rue fights against the haziness. when rue reunites with her people, she realised a flaw: her inability to rule as queen. as the ancestor chosen, the weight of responsibility and her own insecurities made things worse for rue. one thing’s for sure: she’s determined to return the magic stolen from her people back to them. if you’re wondering about the love triangle, it gets settled in this finale. i’m not too invested in the romantic relationships.

rue’s concerns of not being good enough was raw and genuine. she had made mistakes that had costed lives and she wasn’t sure if whatever she had done will be enough. but with time and through the interactions with others, rue opened her eyes and started to work with the guilt that weighed on her. rue’s an extremely strong individual. she has been through multiple ordeals and experienced betrayals but always strived for the betterment of everyone. rue learns to trust herself.

overall, it’s a solid debut duology!

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on Audible......I really dont want to give it a 3, but 🤷🏾‍♀️ I enjoyed the first part much more. Okayyyy, Rue got on my nerves throughout the book. In the first book, she had more confidence and had grown into herself and her power!! This book went backwards. She lost much of her confidence to me. She had too many moments of doubt, which I'm not saying weren't warranted, but girlllll, let it go!! She did redeem herself by the end!!

[Profile Profile Profile · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up
This was slower than the first book.
It was well done but I really felt the slower pace.

[Bookish*nurse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of twists occurring over a long drawn out journey to defeat the Chancellor once and for all. A decent fantastical journey but nothing to make it stand out above the rest like it.

[Emma Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoooooooa, was this a RIDE. I felt as though we left the last book in a pretty nice place, and this one just blew the roof off. Everything was going wrong for Rue and she finds her home turning into a war zone. I could never figure who to trust and there were some TWISTY TWISTS that I didn't see coming. It got chaotic in a good way, though there could've been one less subplot without taking away much from the book. Get ready for Ghizon y'all, because damn.

*Thank you to Denene Millner and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

[Ricky · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. Elle debuted last year with a pretty kickass YA fantasy recommended by Sabaa Tahir herself, and this year she concludes the story with another action-packed and highly relevant thriller. With her mission to save Ghizon and take her rightful place in society, Rue's got her work cut out for her every step of the way - but mercifully, she also has some of the strongest allies a girl could hope for. Elle wraps up the storyline pretty neatly, but I still would love to see some more adventures in Ghizon, whichever character they may follow as they spring from Elle's fertile imagination...

[Arie]

Ooooh, that cover!

[Jenn [everythingshereads] · Rating 1 out of 5]

I choose silence.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will post my proper review once I've gotten over my heartbreak. Jess, my love, you owe me compensation!

[Dragonness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that East Row is safe from the General’s drug ring, Rue has to return to Ghizon to save her other family. When she wakes up in a cell with Jhamal and the memory of a lost battle, her self-confidence is shaken. After an indeterminate time trapped underground, Jhamal, Rue, and Brie are rescued and taken to join the other survivors, and Rue is horrified to discover that their numbers have been halved. What’s worse, Central Ghizon is tearing itself apart, those loyal to the Chancelor setting fire to the homes and buildings of the various neighborhoods. Determined to fix her mistakes, Rue sets out to raise the ancestors to have them restore her people’s magic, but when a seer predicts that someone will betray her--already has betrayed her--Rue begins to doubt more than just herself. She doubts everyone around her.

Book one was better in my opinion. For one thing, the Ghizoni had minor magic that they could use, but it was very weak. In book two, however, Rue is the only one able to use magic without being bound to an onyx. She is the ancestor’s glowing exception. I have no idea how the other Ghizoni lost their magic, even small as it was, leaving Rue to be the ONLY one to be able to use magic. Then her being in the cell felt very handwaved. She recovers her memories, but I don’t think it was ever explained how she was captured. Jhamal’s whole arc was very predictable, but I did like how people reminded Rue to be patient with Brie, who was actively trying to improve. I don’t like the friendship between Rue and Brie, because Brie literally sacrifices everything (home, family, magic) for Rue, but Rue still accuses Brie of being the traitor, and calls her selfish and a know-it-all to her face. Yet Brie lets it all slide off her back and keeps trying to be better. Still, the ending was solid. The final battle and resolutions were all good--though I didn’t like how hung up Rue was on the REAL traitor, romanticizing him and keeping Julian at arm’s length. It didn’t feel right, like she kept treating everyone who hurt her better than those who remained loyal to her. It was the only disappointment in the ending.

[Deidra (ShadeTreeReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 of 5 stars
I never recovered from the whiplash and disorientating pacing in the prologue and 1st chapters. I kept waiting to get the information we needed to make Rue's new attitude and passion make sense. It eventually came but waaaay too late for me. Overall, I liked the story, themes and writing okay. It's just that it felt so different from book 1 for at least 70% of the time. With so many fight scenes and such, I still got bored. And I think that that's because we, the readers, didn't get to experience Rue's moment of "truth" along with her. Instead, we reunite with her after she's been in the trenches with her people for a minute gaining an understanding of who they are and what her parents died trying to ensure she knew about. That created a disconnect for me. All that said, I'm hype for Elle's middle grade and I'd likely read another book in this Wings of Ebony series if she put one out. I had hoped to like this one a lot more than I did but it was still a good read for Black SFFathon 2022!