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Gryphon Insurrection #2
Ashen Weald
A world on fire. A gryphon army. A mysterious sickness.
For years, Satra rotted in the dungeon depths while her kin were forced to wage wars to keep her safe. Now the eyrie is ash and she controls the largest army the continent has ever seen. As her opinicus enemies plot and scheme, she sets her sights on the Crackling Sea, where the last of her kin are held hostage.
The snowy taiga gryphon Younce is one step away from being banished. Sent to investigate the frozen catacombs on the southern coast, he discovers dead gryphons, violent wildlife, and a hidden camp.
After an infected gryphon leads him to a city of rafts and sea monsters, he begins to suspect that something more may be going on. Something bigger than just the taiga and coast. Something with terrible implications.
While Satra squares off against treacherous taiga gryphons, vicious peafowl opinici, and mad scientists to save her kin before they’re executed, Younce uncovers a plot that goes far beyond sick gryphons. Will his warning reach Satra in time, or is it already too late?
For years, Satra rotted in the dungeon depths while her kin were forced to wage wars to keep her safe. Now the eyrie is ash and she controls the largest army the continent has ever seen. As her opinicus enemies plot and scheme, she sets her sights on the Crackling Sea, where the last of her kin are held hostage.
The snowy taiga gryphon Younce is one step away from being banished. Sent to investigate the frozen catacombs on the southern coast, he discovers dead gryphons, violent wildlife, and a hidden camp.
After an infected gryphon leads him to a city of rafts and sea monsters, he begins to suspect that something more may be going on. Something bigger than just the taiga and coast. Something with terrible implications.
While Satra squares off against treacherous taiga gryphons, vicious peafowl opinici, and mad scientists to save her kin before they’re executed, Younce uncovers a plot that goes far beyond sick gryphons. Will his warning reach Satra in time, or is it already too late?
- GenresFantasy
Audiobook
Published April 8, 2022
11 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
K. Vale Nagle
12 books52 followersK. Vale Nagle is alarmingly hard to kill.
After surviving several pulmonary embolisms and multiple organ failure, Vale kicked their writing into high gear and saw their first short story and novel publications. When they're not writing creature fantasy or fighting for their life, they enjoys reading, archery, and exploring the Rocky Mountains with a tabby cat by their side.
After surviving several pulmonary embolisms and multiple organ failure, Vale kicked their writing into high gear and saw their first short story and novel publications. When they're not writing creature fantasy or fighting for their life, they enjoys reading, archery, and exploring the Rocky Mountains with a tabby cat by their side.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 14, 2024
It's strange to go back and read this after having read so much more of the series. I can see a bunch of plot coupons that were set up and paid off. I can see an item or two where I think the author changed her mind. One of the characters is made of foreshadowing, and I'm left wondering how much of it was planned out, vs how much of it was genius discovery writing. Another of the characters comes into her stride in this novel, and then never leaves it in later novels. I can't write a spy as good as the one in this book.
The characters fight, but they don't lose themselves. They kill when they need to, but most of them keep trying to do the right thing. Some of them wonder about the killing. This is a war novel, but it's not a pro-war novel.
The characters fight, but they don't lose themselves. They kill when they need to, but most of them keep trying to do the right thing. Some of them wonder about the killing. This is a war novel, but it's not a pro-war novel.
November 7, 2019
The world grows ... as do the dangers that both familiar and new characters face in this sequel. Yet, even as the cast grows, it never becomes overwhelming, everyone (or should I say every gryphon hehe) sidling in as if there was an empty space already waiting for them, we just didn't realize it.
September 3, 2025
Disclaimer: I don't really like to give numerical ratings and normally I don't review things at all, but I want to support these books because the author deserves it. The five stars aren't because this is a pure masterpiece but just a symbol of how I feel about it at the time.
I was critical of this story in my review on Eyrie, but here is where I really fell in love with this series. I suppose I could step back and apply /some/ of the same critiques, namely that there's quite a lot of characters that the story jumps between, but really it feels a lot better here because the story is over twice the length, and everyone gets a lot more room to breathe. The only way I'd ever say Eyrie is better is that I like the climactic setpiece in that one a bit more, but considering all the improvements that Ashen Weald brings it's a worthy trade off (and the ending of this one ain't too shabby either).
The plot feels incredibly epic, spanning a whole fourth of a continent and following multiple different characters and their journeys. The story really opens up, showing us what Vale can really do in this world. Characters introduced such as Younce and Ninox really come into their own, and the world is developed so much more between the struggles at the Taiga, Sandpiper's Dune and the Crackling Sea. Though this is Sattra's story more than anything else, there's so much going on here and almost all of it is done really well. The setpieces are all incredible, from the invasion of Crackling Sea to the fight on the raft city, and even the (relatively) smaller drama such as the tensions between Vosk and Younce and basically everything with Ninox kept me coming back for more.
I almost don't really have it in me to give a full critique of this because I more just feel like rambling. I could probably pick it apart for more flaws but I don't really care to. I just really liked this one; I don't get a lot of time in the day to read but when I did for this I was really, really invested. Great job Vale, and I can't wait to see where this goes.
I was critical of this story in my review on Eyrie, but here is where I really fell in love with this series. I suppose I could step back and apply /some/ of the same critiques, namely that there's quite a lot of characters that the story jumps between, but really it feels a lot better here because the story is over twice the length, and everyone gets a lot more room to breathe. The only way I'd ever say Eyrie is better is that I like the climactic setpiece in that one a bit more, but considering all the improvements that Ashen Weald brings it's a worthy trade off (and the ending of this one ain't too shabby either).
The plot feels incredibly epic, spanning a whole fourth of a continent and following multiple different characters and their journeys. The story really opens up, showing us what Vale can really do in this world. Characters introduced such as Younce and Ninox really come into their own, and the world is developed so much more between the struggles at the Taiga, Sandpiper's Dune and the Crackling Sea. Though this is Sattra's story more than anything else, there's so much going on here and almost all of it is done really well. The setpieces are all incredible, from the invasion of Crackling Sea to the fight on the raft city, and even the (relatively) smaller drama such as the tensions between Vosk and Younce and basically everything with Ninox kept me coming back for more.
I almost don't really have it in me to give a full critique of this because I more just feel like rambling. I could probably pick it apart for more flaws but I don't really care to. I just really liked this one; I don't get a lot of time in the day to read but when I did for this I was really, really invested. Great job Vale, and I can't wait to see where this goes.
September 9, 2022
Ashen Weald took all there was to love about Eyrie- nonstop action, well-crafted characters in a well-crafted world, and of course many, many gryphons- and made it even better! This book is significantly longer than the first, which was wonderful for me, as I wanted to enter and stay in the world of these lovable gryphons for as long as possible.
While it was great to see some of the beloved characters from Eyrie, the new characters really took charge in this book and were a joy to read about. Younce's storyline, which took up about a third of the book, endeared me even more to his character and did an excellent job of introducing the taiga pride. The fisherfolk storyline, which was largely focused on the first portion of the book, gave further insight to the remaining Eyrie-fisherfolk-wingtorn drama, and introduced more great characters. Ninox' storyline, while minor, offered lots of opportunities for future plots in future books (can we just talk about the ending?!)
But the star of the show was undoubtedly Satra. Her character grew and accomplished so much that I can't help but want to join the Ashen Weald myself.
I also loved Foultner; I think the scrappy poacher-turned-conqueror might be one of my favorites of the whole series so far.
Overall, wonderful gryphons, a wonderful world, and a wonderful plot. I definitely can't get enough of this series!
While it was great to see some of the beloved characters from Eyrie, the new characters really took charge in this book and were a joy to read about. Younce's storyline, which took up about a third of the book, endeared me even more to his character and did an excellent job of introducing the taiga pride. The fisherfolk storyline, which was largely focused on the first portion of the book, gave further insight to the remaining Eyrie-fisherfolk-wingtorn drama, and introduced more great characters. Ninox' storyline, while minor, offered lots of opportunities for future plots in future books (can we just talk about the ending?!)
But the star of the show was undoubtedly Satra. Her character grew and accomplished so much that I can't help but want to join the Ashen Weald myself.
I also loved Foultner; I think the scrappy poacher-turned-conqueror might be one of my favorites of the whole series so far.
Overall, wonderful gryphons, a wonderful world, and a wonderful plot. I definitely can't get enough of this series!
April 18, 2022
Ashen Weald continues what Eyrie set up in expanding and exploring more of the world and characters. The action is also kicked up a notch. This, paired with some mystery and intrigue, makes it difficult to put down. (A trend which continues throughout the series.)
How I Use the Rating System
1: There is no 0 on the provided scale, so I use this as a 0. I find no redeeming qualities and would not suggest the title to anyone for any reason.
2: I hated the work and regret wasting my time reading it, but find or understand that it has some value.
3: Average. I don’t regret having read it, but what I received as an experience was nominal.
4: I enjoyed or found value in the title, but it’s not something I would recommend to everyone, or I would not consider rereading it, or there was a significant flaw that prevented it from being a 5.
5: I enjoyed it so thoroughly I would reread it and recommend it to just about anyone. Or I found it so valuable that I felt it deserved such a rating.
How I Use the Rating System
1: There is no 0 on the provided scale, so I use this as a 0. I find no redeeming qualities and would not suggest the title to anyone for any reason.
2: I hated the work and regret wasting my time reading it, but find or understand that it has some value.
3: Average. I don’t regret having read it, but what I received as an experience was nominal.
4: I enjoyed or found value in the title, but it’s not something I would recommend to everyone, or I would not consider rereading it, or there was a significant flaw that prevented it from being a 5.
5: I enjoyed it so thoroughly I would reread it and recommend it to just about anyone. Or I found it so valuable that I felt it deserved such a rating.
October 25, 2022
A really interesting read, with lots of action packed throughout. Occasionally the large cast of characters does get a bit confusing, and it can take a while to work out who is who and what their motivations are, but they do all feel distinct from each other, so that doesn't take too long to resolve.
January 2, 2024
A very good book, but it's driving me insane. Do seagull gryphons actually exist? I need to know!
February 26, 2024
Ashen Weald is a much needed boost after Eyrie. If you're looking for a great gryphon book, this is the one you will want to read!
Pros:
- Younce really stood out in this book. His struggles were easily relatable and
- Satra's arc was very noticeable in this book and it was nice to see her overcoming her past demons!
- Foultner was a great addition and I loved seeing her as a spy!
Cons:
- I remember there was a scene where the prides outside of the Ashen Weald were almost forced into joining and I'm glad that they stood up for themselves and said no. Satra is nice and all, but she needs to take the hint sometimes. I remember this happening in Reevesbane as well, so I might expand on this when I reread the series.
- Ninox. She's one of the biggest issues for me in this series. Why? Why is she necessary? All of the owl gryphons seem pointless if I'm being honest. Her "chemistry" with Cherine was so forced in this book and it honestly felt awful. I know that there's more of her in Reevesbane *groan*, but can we just try not to make her the centre of everything for once?
Overall, a great read and a fantastic step up from Eyrie!
Pros:
- Younce really stood out in this book. His struggles were easily relatable and
- Satra's arc was very noticeable in this book and it was nice to see her overcoming her past demons!
- Foultner was a great addition and I loved seeing her as a spy!
Cons:
- I remember there was a scene where the prides outside of the Ashen Weald were almost forced into joining and I'm glad that they stood up for themselves and said no. Satra is nice and all, but she needs to take the hint sometimes. I remember this happening in Reevesbane as well, so I might expand on this when I reread the series.
- Ninox. She's one of the biggest issues for me in this series. Why? Why is she necessary? All of the owl gryphons seem pointless if I'm being honest. Her "chemistry" with Cherine was so forced in this book and it honestly felt awful. I know that there's more of her in Reevesbane *groan*, but can we just try not to make her the centre of everything for once?
Overall, a great read and a fantastic step up from Eyrie!
July 18, 2022
The Gryphon Insurrection series of novels by K. Vale Nagle is a spectacularly written and highly addictive series that is sure to please fans of fantasy and adventure. The story follows the young gryphon, Rook, as he is thrust into a world of politics and intrigue, and must navigate his way through dangerous allies and deadly enemies in order to save his people from a terrible fate. The characters are rich and well-developed, the world-building is fascinating, and the action is non-stop. I could not put these books down, and I can't wait to see what happens next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews