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Sky of Ancient Fire
And when the ancient fire fell to embers,
The goddesses of old wept at the destruction wrought,
And the price paid for its beautiful terror.
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
And yet, as a dark and ancient foe makes its move across the continent, apothecary and physician Cadwgan stumbles into creating a power that never should have surfaced. His discovery throws him into the dangerous world of the Southern court, fighting to keep up the ruse of being a natural-born mage.
Meanwhile, fearsome fire mage Annowre is trying to keep her charge, the newly coronated young Queen of the North, alive amidist political strife and assassination attempts when she herself is gravely wounded by an attacker's incurable poison. When she wakes up in an infirmary, she finds that her queen has sought the help of the South to save her magical protector's life. But peace between their countries is recent and tenuous, and Annowre will need her full strength again if she is to protect the naive monarch from the re-emerging powers swarming across the horizon.
Now the North and South are thrown together to face a new common enemy, and find out what happens when twisted arts combine to create the uncreatable.
To create magic.
The goddesses of old wept at the destruction wrought,
And the price paid for its beautiful terror.
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
And yet, as a dark and ancient foe makes its move across the continent, apothecary and physician Cadwgan stumbles into creating a power that never should have surfaced. His discovery throws him into the dangerous world of the Southern court, fighting to keep up the ruse of being a natural-born mage.
Meanwhile, fearsome fire mage Annowre is trying to keep her charge, the newly coronated young Queen of the North, alive amidist political strife and assassination attempts when she herself is gravely wounded by an attacker's incurable poison. When she wakes up in an infirmary, she finds that her queen has sought the help of the South to save her magical protector's life. But peace between their countries is recent and tenuous, and Annowre will need her full strength again if she is to protect the naive monarch from the re-emerging powers swarming across the horizon.
Now the North and South are thrown together to face a new common enemy, and find out what happens when twisted arts combine to create the uncreatable.
To create magic.
- GenresFantasyDisability
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2023
6 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 12, 2024
4.5 stars
A top-notch, well-researched, well-crafted fantasy novel inspired by Arthurian legends and lore. Prefect for fans of Mists of Avalon, Merlin, The Once and Future King and Morte d'Arthur.
A truly enjoyable read with some great characters. Annowre is a badass and Cadwgan is an endearing coward and a very reluctant hero.
Read this if you're looking for a story with cool magic, interesting creatures, nail-biting fights and a little romance - it even has pirates!
Can't wait for the sequel!!
A top-notch, well-researched, well-crafted fantasy novel inspired by Arthurian legends and lore. Prefect for fans of Mists of Avalon, Merlin, The Once and Future King and Morte d'Arthur.
A truly enjoyable read with some great characters. Annowre is a badass and Cadwgan is an endearing coward and a very reluctant hero.
Read this if you're looking for a story with cool magic, interesting creatures, nail-biting fights and a little romance - it even has pirates!
Can't wait for the sequel!!
March 29, 2023
"She was fire. She was devastation. She was burning, every fibre of her torn apart with heat and unfathomable pain. She wanted to laugh at how easily her power shredded the sky, how fragile and pathetic the natural world looked from her viewpoint. The firebirds were dust under her feet, and she was absolute."
Sky of Ancient Fire is a dark fantasy novel, steeped in mythology and folklore. And when you are familiar with the most well-known historical and mythical features (for instance King Arthur and the knights of the round table), there will be many moments of recognition while reading this book. I enjoyed finding these references throughout the book, although I’m sure I’ve missed a lot of them since my knowledge of mythology and folklore isn’t that substantial. But readers who are completely unfamiliar with these historic characters can certainly enjoy the book as well.
The story has good pacing and many action-packed scenes. The book does end on a major cliffhanger and while I can understand this ending for its dramatic effect, it did leave the story a bit incomplete for my taste. Book 2 will be published in 2024, so it’s quite a long wait.
The characters are interesting and I am curious to see how these characters will develop during the coming books. Annowre is strong and I think she’s an interesting main character. The idea of opposing sides working together against a common enemy (an ancient king with immensely dark powers) is really compelling.
Thank you, April Showers Publicing and T.C. Emerys for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Sky of Ancient Fire is a dark fantasy novel, steeped in mythology and folklore. And when you are familiar with the most well-known historical and mythical features (for instance King Arthur and the knights of the round table), there will be many moments of recognition while reading this book. I enjoyed finding these references throughout the book, although I’m sure I’ve missed a lot of them since my knowledge of mythology and folklore isn’t that substantial. But readers who are completely unfamiliar with these historic characters can certainly enjoy the book as well.
The story has good pacing and many action-packed scenes. The book does end on a major cliffhanger and while I can understand this ending for its dramatic effect, it did leave the story a bit incomplete for my taste. Book 2 will be published in 2024, so it’s quite a long wait.
The characters are interesting and I am curious to see how these characters will develop during the coming books. Annowre is strong and I think she’s an interesting main character. The idea of opposing sides working together against a common enemy (an ancient king with immensely dark powers) is really compelling.
Thank you, April Showers Publicing and T.C. Emerys for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
March 31, 2023
there are two things I’m a sucker for: Arthurian folklore & a well-researched novel - both of which T.C. Emerys delivered with this debut! The references to natural remedies throughout warmed my witchy heart & I loved the commentary regarding the rise of the “new religion” (Christianity), & the way its spread was impacting women & lgbt folks especially. now is a good time to be reminded that many of the societal norms forced on us today were not always the “only way”, or even the right way…& therefore can be undone.
overall i thought the pacing was perfect. as a personal preference i could’ve gone without quite as many fight scenes (or at least less description) & would’ve liked more mystery/intrigue/suspense in its place. it was hard for me to keep some of the supporting characters & their stories straight - but i think this is partially due to my own lack of experience w/ Old Welsh names. i am invested enough in the story to continue the series as it’s released, & would definitely recommend for fans of fantasy, pagan/natural magic, women-centered stories, & Arthurian legend!
disclaimer: i received an ARC of Sky of Ancient Fire in exchange for my honest review. all opinions are my own
overall i thought the pacing was perfect. as a personal preference i could’ve gone without quite as many fight scenes (or at least less description) & would’ve liked more mystery/intrigue/suspense in its place. it was hard for me to keep some of the supporting characters & their stories straight - but i think this is partially due to my own lack of experience w/ Old Welsh names. i am invested enough in the story to continue the series as it’s released, & would definitely recommend for fans of fantasy, pagan/natural magic, women-centered stories, & Arthurian legend!
disclaimer: i received an ARC of Sky of Ancient Fire in exchange for my honest review. all opinions are my own
December 11, 2023
@tcemerys.writer’s “Sky of Ancient Fire” is a brilliant start to her Albionverse series. The book centers on two mages (one born and one made - that’ll make sense when you read it 😉), Annowre (Ann-or-uh) and Cadwgan (cad-Oo-gun). Notice the Welsh names - T. C. Emerys does include a pronunciation guide and I found it easy to utilize and recall.
Annowre is a badass in her own right, not only a strong 🔥 mage but also trained in physical, nonmagical combat. However, a run-in with a bandit impacts her abilities to protect herself and those she is supposed to.
Cadwgan is a physician by training. He is more timid, but also a little sick of the denizens of his town’s bad attitudes. With his assistant, they start scientific experimentation to improve their professional capabilities, leading to extraordinary results. This gets them hauled off to the southern court to serve the King, whether they want to or not.
This story begins by centering on the war and recovery of the North and South, when a new villain who knows no boundaries appears. He is shrouded in mystery and death, and it seems some may know more than they’re willing to share.
This book is short, clocking in at just over 300-pages (I read the gorgeous @foxandwit hardback), making it a quick read - much of which has to do with the pace of the story. I loved Annowre and found Cadwgan and Co. greatly entertaining! The supporting characters feel like they’ll have more of their stories coming, too. Again, I loved this book - the pacing, adventure, the dual POVs, and the fact that there’s a big feminist take. For example, Annowre has closed 🚪 sex, and it’s just to get off - not centering on a romantic interest; he’s cute and why not? She also has dialogues about the constraints women live with in other regions, and forces characters to think about and consider what that means. This book also includes themes of inequality, authoritarian government, and religion.
I’m ranking this as one of my top, favorite reads of the year. Emerys is an indie author, and the book does have some grammatical errors throughout - not a lot and none distracting from the excellent storytelling. That’s honestly my only criticism. I recommend this for fans of Song of Ice and Fire (GoT) [note it is not as complex], or Silver in the Bone (which is YA). I read this in two days, so again - it’s quick. The next book comes out this spring and I’m 🙏🏻 that #foxandwit do the sequel because the cover art by Johanna Polle is AMAZING. The cliffhanger is great, without leaving me feeling stressed, too!
Annowre is a badass in her own right, not only a strong 🔥 mage but also trained in physical, nonmagical combat. However, a run-in with a bandit impacts her abilities to protect herself and those she is supposed to.
Cadwgan is a physician by training. He is more timid, but also a little sick of the denizens of his town’s bad attitudes. With his assistant, they start scientific experimentation to improve their professional capabilities, leading to extraordinary results. This gets them hauled off to the southern court to serve the King, whether they want to or not.
This story begins by centering on the war and recovery of the North and South, when a new villain who knows no boundaries appears. He is shrouded in mystery and death, and it seems some may know more than they’re willing to share.
This book is short, clocking in at just over 300-pages (I read the gorgeous @foxandwit hardback), making it a quick read - much of which has to do with the pace of the story. I loved Annowre and found Cadwgan and Co. greatly entertaining! The supporting characters feel like they’ll have more of their stories coming, too. Again, I loved this book - the pacing, adventure, the dual POVs, and the fact that there’s a big feminist take. For example, Annowre has closed 🚪 sex, and it’s just to get off - not centering on a romantic interest; he’s cute and why not? She also has dialogues about the constraints women live with in other regions, and forces characters to think about and consider what that means. This book also includes themes of inequality, authoritarian government, and religion.
I’m ranking this as one of my top, favorite reads of the year. Emerys is an indie author, and the book does have some grammatical errors throughout - not a lot and none distracting from the excellent storytelling. That’s honestly my only criticism. I recommend this for fans of Song of Ice and Fire (GoT) [note it is not as complex], or Silver in the Bone (which is YA). I read this in two days, so again - it’s quick. The next book comes out this spring and I’m 🙏🏻 that #foxandwit do the sequel because the cover art by Johanna Polle is AMAZING. The cliffhanger is great, without leaving me feeling stressed, too!
March 19, 2023
The first book in the Albionverse series is very different to what I was expecting: to be fair, that's what intrigued me about it. This is a richly developed dark fantasy drawing heavily on Arthurian and Celtic mythology, the influence of which can clearly be seen in the characters and story, which is replete with conniving and ambitious royals, reawakening dark magics that threaten the stability of the realm, already scarred by war...
I found the plot of the story raced a bit in places, making it a little hard to get attached to certain characters, the main threat feels more like a force of nature than a fleshed out character and the way the story ends leaves you wondering what will happen next, but this is a book that T. C. Emerys has clearly put a great amount of work into, and the main characters, particularly Cadwgan and Annowre in their struggles definitely were compelling enough to make me want to know what will happen to them in the next book...
Disclaimer: I was given an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I found the plot of the story raced a bit in places, making it a little hard to get attached to certain characters, the main threat feels more like a force of nature than a fleshed out character and the way the story ends leaves you wondering what will happen next, but this is a book that T. C. Emerys has clearly put a great amount of work into, and the main characters, particularly Cadwgan and Annowre in their struggles definitely were compelling enough to make me want to know what will happen to them in the next book...
Disclaimer: I was given an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
August 25, 2024
Great page turner
Ohhh romantasy is definitely my favorite genre! The book is engaging and fast-paced and kept me turning the pages. The world-building is great, and the battle scenes can be felt.
I loved the characters as well. They are flawed and relatable, unlike some books where they feel too perfect. Annowre is definitely my favorite! ❤️❤️❤️
That ending blew me away! Making me yearn to go read the next book.
Ohhh romantasy is definitely my favorite genre! The book is engaging and fast-paced and kept me turning the pages. The world-building is great, and the battle scenes can be felt.
I loved the characters as well. They are flawed and relatable, unlike some books where they feel too perfect. Annowre is definitely my favorite! ❤️❤️❤️
That ending blew me away! Making me yearn to go read the next book.
dnf
July 22, 2025DNF at 50%- Characters were meh and didn’t really connect with main protagonist so idk what else to say.
May 19, 2023
Sky Of Ancient Fire- @tcemerys.writer
𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖.
𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟.
𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕗𝕚𝕓𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕟 𝕒𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕦𝕟𝕗𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕡𝕒𝕚𝕟.
A huge thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this Arthurian /Welsh inspired story! The premise of the book really grabbed me and I was eager to read this!
At the start of this book you are given a pronunciation guide, maps and also lineage charts to aid you in understanding who is who and where they come from. In the back of the book is a resources list which tells you where the authors ideas and mythology for each character/place came from.
Please note, there is a trigger warning at the back too which includes things like Chronic illness, torture, burns, sight loss, harm to animals, sexual slavery and r**e.
The story starts following Annowre and Queen Laudine of the North who have just been attacked by "the red stripes". Annowre is a fire mage and has been injured badly from this attack to the point where her magic does not work due to the red stripes using a poison. They are taken to the southern Kings home to heal and rest but the south were once their enemy and although hospitable enough, there is still some tension between the two thrones.
On the other side of the story we see Cadwgan and Howyl, a physician and his apprentice who live in a small town. Howyl tells Cadwgan that he heard magic can be made not just born and they find some flowers near to a river that has magical qualities. After making a potion of sorts, Cadwgan takes it and can wield fire like a mage.
Here on after, Annowre and Cadwgans fates become tangled as they end up on the run with a horde of Royalty who are still at odds from an unknown danger. Cadwgan is trying to keep up the pretense of a mage and Annowre is trying to hide the fact that her magic doesn't work. With fire birds and a green king on their trail, can they both keep up appearances in order to save the groups lives?
The book ends on a huge cliffhanger with alot of promise for the rest of the series!
I cannot wait for the next book!
The only thing that made me give this a 4 star instead of 5 is because I felt the chapters between seeing what Annowre and then Cadwgan were doing seperately were the wrong way around. It felt like instead of carrying on in present time we went backwards in time to catch up to the present we had already seen. After this the rest of the book flowed perfectly but I just felt like some of the chapters should have been edited to be put another way around so that the flow of time was better.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#bookreader #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookishthings #bibliophile #booktok #bookstagram #bookaholic #bookreview #booklover #bookblog #bookstagramuk #bookstack #bookaddict #readmorebooks #booksbooksbooks #booklove #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookishlove #booksyouneedtoread #mustread #topbookstagram #indieauthor #welshmythology #arthurian
𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖.
𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟.
𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕗𝕚𝕓𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕟 𝕒𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕦𝕟𝕗𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕡𝕒𝕚𝕟.
A huge thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this Arthurian /Welsh inspired story! The premise of the book really grabbed me and I was eager to read this!
At the start of this book you are given a pronunciation guide, maps and also lineage charts to aid you in understanding who is who and where they come from. In the back of the book is a resources list which tells you where the authors ideas and mythology for each character/place came from.
Please note, there is a trigger warning at the back too which includes things like Chronic illness, torture, burns, sight loss, harm to animals, sexual slavery and r**e.
The story starts following Annowre and Queen Laudine of the North who have just been attacked by "the red stripes". Annowre is a fire mage and has been injured badly from this attack to the point where her magic does not work due to the red stripes using a poison. They are taken to the southern Kings home to heal and rest but the south were once their enemy and although hospitable enough, there is still some tension between the two thrones.
On the other side of the story we see Cadwgan and Howyl, a physician and his apprentice who live in a small town. Howyl tells Cadwgan that he heard magic can be made not just born and they find some flowers near to a river that has magical qualities. After making a potion of sorts, Cadwgan takes it and can wield fire like a mage.
Here on after, Annowre and Cadwgans fates become tangled as they end up on the run with a horde of Royalty who are still at odds from an unknown danger. Cadwgan is trying to keep up the pretense of a mage and Annowre is trying to hide the fact that her magic doesn't work. With fire birds and a green king on their trail, can they both keep up appearances in order to save the groups lives?
The book ends on a huge cliffhanger with alot of promise for the rest of the series!
I cannot wait for the next book!
The only thing that made me give this a 4 star instead of 5 is because I felt the chapters between seeing what Annowre and then Cadwgan were doing seperately were the wrong way around. It felt like instead of carrying on in present time we went backwards in time to catch up to the present we had already seen. After this the rest of the book flowed perfectly but I just felt like some of the chapters should have been edited to be put another way around so that the flow of time was better.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#bookreader #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookishthings #bibliophile #booktok #bookstagram #bookaholic #bookreview #booklover #bookblog #bookstagramuk #bookstack #bookaddict #readmorebooks #booksbooksbooks #booklove #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookishlove #booksyouneedtoread #mustread #topbookstagram #indieauthor #welshmythology #arthurian
December 27, 2023
* Apothecaries? In heaps!
* LGBTQ+ characters & romances? Yep!
* Royal feuds? Aw yes!
* Creatures from the Otherworld and world changing consequences? Hell yeah!
* Pagan vibes with magic based on the natural world, all set in a Celtic world? And then some!
I really enjoyed TC Emerys’ Sky of Ancient Fire, and all of the things she promises it includes is well and truly present within this book. The story is fast paced and primarily focusses on the two main characters, Cadwgan and Annowre, joining forces to protect their respective lieges (who have a tenuous truce at best) safe from a new common enemy. With each chapter alternating between each character’s point of view, it was interesting to see the tension present between the two factions and how they team together to survive. I particularly found the emphasis on rudimentary medicine interesting and as I live in Wales, I found the old English and Welsh names refreshing. With several exciting and intriguing plot twists along the way, this was a real page turner and an enjoyable read.
As others have commented, the book ends on a cliffhanger, which I wish wasn’t the case, but that being said, I’m excited to read the next instalment, ‘Castle of the Wolf Goddess’ in 2024.
* LGBTQ+ characters & romances? Yep!
* Royal feuds? Aw yes!
* Creatures from the Otherworld and world changing consequences? Hell yeah!
* Pagan vibes with magic based on the natural world, all set in a Celtic world? And then some!
I really enjoyed TC Emerys’ Sky of Ancient Fire, and all of the things she promises it includes is well and truly present within this book. The story is fast paced and primarily focusses on the two main characters, Cadwgan and Annowre, joining forces to protect their respective lieges (who have a tenuous truce at best) safe from a new common enemy. With each chapter alternating between each character’s point of view, it was interesting to see the tension present between the two factions and how they team together to survive. I particularly found the emphasis on rudimentary medicine interesting and as I live in Wales, I found the old English and Welsh names refreshing. With several exciting and intriguing plot twists along the way, this was a real page turner and an enjoyable read.
As others have commented, the book ends on a cliffhanger, which I wish wasn’t the case, but that being said, I’m excited to read the next instalment, ‘Castle of the Wolf Goddess’ in 2024.
October 31, 2023
🔥BOOK REVIEW🔥
Sky of Ancient Fire
Publication Date: Spring 2023
Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
I really love books based on Mythology, so when I saw that this had Arthurian and Welsh folklore I was intrigued.
This story moves across kingdoms and rival courts with fragile alliances. It is well written and I could easily picture the locations.
The FMC Annowre is a fierce fire mage who is trying to keep the newly coronated young Queen of the North alive, but she is attached and injured when they get ambushed. Even though she is injured she tries to remains strong.
MMC Cadwgan is an apothecary and physician in a small town born without magic he tries to make a living doing what he knows best. When his assistant ventures to a dangerous area near a Forrest that no one returns from. He finds a plant that only grows there. They attempt to find out its herbal properties and wind up creating something that they thought impossible...
They come face to face with magic Annowre though long gone.
I enjoyed the battles and fighting along with they're progress and how each character responded to situations.
Can't wait for the next book to come out!
Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings and The Witcher will love the first installment in this dark, epic fantasy from debut author T. C. Emerys.
.
.
@tcemerys.writer @rrbooktours
#rrbooktours #skyofancientfire #darkepicfantasy #darkfantasy #Albionverse #arthurianfantasy #fantasyreaders #fantasywriter #fantasybook
Sky of Ancient Fire
Publication Date: Spring 2023
Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
I really love books based on Mythology, so when I saw that this had Arthurian and Welsh folklore I was intrigued.
This story moves across kingdoms and rival courts with fragile alliances. It is well written and I could easily picture the locations.
The FMC Annowre is a fierce fire mage who is trying to keep the newly coronated young Queen of the North alive, but she is attached and injured when they get ambushed. Even though she is injured she tries to remains strong.
MMC Cadwgan is an apothecary and physician in a small town born without magic he tries to make a living doing what he knows best. When his assistant ventures to a dangerous area near a Forrest that no one returns from. He finds a plant that only grows there. They attempt to find out its herbal properties and wind up creating something that they thought impossible...
They come face to face with magic Annowre though long gone.
I enjoyed the battles and fighting along with they're progress and how each character responded to situations.
Can't wait for the next book to come out!
Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings and The Witcher will love the first installment in this dark, epic fantasy from debut author T. C. Emerys.
.
.
@tcemerys.writer @rrbooktours
#rrbooktours #skyofancientfire #darkepicfantasy #darkfantasy #Albionverse #arthurianfantasy #fantasyreaders #fantasywriter #fantasybook
November 4, 2023
Book review: Sky of Ancient Fire
This book is a dark fantasy novel that is very reminiscent of King Arthur (which is one of my all time favorites!) I’m obsessed with anything that resembles or is the story or a retelling of it. So this book with its heavy lean towards folklore and the Welsh mythology had me from the cover! There is a great overall plot and it’s full of action! If you enjoy LOTR and The Witcher as well then you’ll devour this book! I absolutely loved Annowre really all the characters were amazing and dynamic. I loved the twist of enemies that figure out working together as a whole to go against the king was splendid.
Ugh the cliffhanger you all know how much they destroy me and this book is no different and we all will have to wait for 2024 to arrive before we are saved from the cliff we are hanging from…😭
Ok there are so many wonderful things in this book that I totally loved and identified with but this quote the power she has the mental picture my mind created with this line ahhhhh!!!!
"She was fire. She was devastation. She was burning, every fibre of her torn apart with heat and unfathomable pain. She wanted to laugh at how easily her power shredded the sky, how fragile and pathetic the natural world looked from her viewpoint. The firebirds were dust under her feet, and she was absolute."
Again it really had me at the folklore but it was an exceptionally well written story and the characters are amazing. I definitely recommend you checking this one out it’s magical!
This book is a dark fantasy novel that is very reminiscent of King Arthur (which is one of my all time favorites!) I’m obsessed with anything that resembles or is the story or a retelling of it. So this book with its heavy lean towards folklore and the Welsh mythology had me from the cover! There is a great overall plot and it’s full of action! If you enjoy LOTR and The Witcher as well then you’ll devour this book! I absolutely loved Annowre really all the characters were amazing and dynamic. I loved the twist of enemies that figure out working together as a whole to go against the king was splendid.
Ugh the cliffhanger you all know how much they destroy me and this book is no different and we all will have to wait for 2024 to arrive before we are saved from the cliff we are hanging from…😭
Ok there are so many wonderful things in this book that I totally loved and identified with but this quote the power she has the mental picture my mind created with this line ahhhhh!!!!
"She was fire. She was devastation. She was burning, every fibre of her torn apart with heat and unfathomable pain. She wanted to laugh at how easily her power shredded the sky, how fragile and pathetic the natural world looked from her viewpoint. The firebirds were dust under her feet, and she was absolute."
Again it really had me at the folklore but it was an exceptionally well written story and the characters are amazing. I definitely recommend you checking this one out it’s magical!
May 4, 2023
Have you watched and adored bbc’s Merlin and wished there was more content inspired on that era? Do you love fantasy but the richness of a dark tint is more alluring to you? Are morally gray and lgbtq+ characters just your perfect cup of tea?
This book does not only begins in the best way a fantasy book can (with a map and family trees), but its compelling writing lures your senses and dives you into the story; thanks as well to the detailed descriptions, they make incredibly easy to picture the sceneries and overall ambience.
The first paragraph was so ‘in action’ that introduced us right into the adventure and put you in fight magic mode! Additionay, I love the dialogues and how they talk, each character has a noticeable voice ✨ Maybe I’m a bit more of an enthusiast for historical fantasy than I thought and especially Arthurian (yes, I love Merlin - the show).
The names are certainly a challenge for my adhd brain that has english as a second language, they take a while to get accustomed to but gods know I fell in love with Cadwgan with his first line in ch2 (yes, his name isn’t that hard; and yes, i call him Cad to make things easier).
I wholeheartedly recommend this marvelous epic story to anyone interested in the topics mentioned above and those who are ready for another adventure. Cannot wait for the following books in the series!!! ⚔️
This book does not only begins in the best way a fantasy book can (with a map and family trees), but its compelling writing lures your senses and dives you into the story; thanks as well to the detailed descriptions, they make incredibly easy to picture the sceneries and overall ambience.
The first paragraph was so ‘in action’ that introduced us right into the adventure and put you in fight magic mode! Additionay, I love the dialogues and how they talk, each character has a noticeable voice ✨ Maybe I’m a bit more of an enthusiast for historical fantasy than I thought and especially Arthurian (yes, I love Merlin - the show).
The names are certainly a challenge for my adhd brain that has english as a second language, they take a while to get accustomed to but gods know I fell in love with Cadwgan with his first line in ch2 (yes, his name isn’t that hard; and yes, i call him Cad to make things easier).
I wholeheartedly recommend this marvelous epic story to anyone interested in the topics mentioned above and those who are ready for another adventure. Cannot wait for the following books in the series!!! ⚔️
April 16, 2023
“Sky of Ancient Fire” is the first in series of “The Ancient Fire” by T. C. Emerys. Overall, I thought the world was interesting, and the main characters likable.
⚠️ Possible Spoilers! ⚠️
Set in a Celtic, Welsh, and Arthurian-inspired world, the story opens with an attack on Annowre, a fire mage, and her queen. They are forced to seek help from a rival kingdom, with whom they still share tensions due to a long history of vicious war. They are forced to navigate tender new relationships while dealing with unexpected tragedies.
The author was thorough and thoughtful in providing excellent guides at both the front and back of the book. Because the story is Celtic/Welsh-based, many of the names may be difficult for an English reader to pronounce, and a guide is provided along with a nice map and thorough royal lineages.
At the end is possibly my absolute favorite part: the mythological bases from which Emerys drew inspiration. The author clearly has a passion for history and imagined a fascinating world rich with lore as a result.
I struggled a little bit with really connecting with and understanding the characters; I liked Annowre the most. I perceived many of them to be older or younger than they were (Cadwgan, Laudine) until some of the events later in the book which threw me off, and I was sometimes surprised by how some of the characters behaved. I also had a little trouble understanding how one of the primary antagonists managed to intercept the main characters, as well as following some of the key action scenes smoothly. Some of the writing style (dangling or mismatched modifiers, unusual grammar) also took me out of the story a bit. I thought the last chapter was strong, although it is a cliffhanger so be warned.
3.5/5 ⭐
⚠️ Possible Spoilers! ⚠️
Set in a Celtic, Welsh, and Arthurian-inspired world, the story opens with an attack on Annowre, a fire mage, and her queen. They are forced to seek help from a rival kingdom, with whom they still share tensions due to a long history of vicious war. They are forced to navigate tender new relationships while dealing with unexpected tragedies.
The author was thorough and thoughtful in providing excellent guides at both the front and back of the book. Because the story is Celtic/Welsh-based, many of the names may be difficult for an English reader to pronounce, and a guide is provided along with a nice map and thorough royal lineages.
At the end is possibly my absolute favorite part: the mythological bases from which Emerys drew inspiration. The author clearly has a passion for history and imagined a fascinating world rich with lore as a result.
I struggled a little bit with really connecting with and understanding the characters; I liked Annowre the most. I perceived many of them to be older or younger than they were (Cadwgan, Laudine) until some of the events later in the book which threw me off, and I was sometimes surprised by how some of the characters behaved. I also had a little trouble understanding how one of the primary antagonists managed to intercept the main characters, as well as following some of the key action scenes smoothly. Some of the writing style (dangling or mismatched modifiers, unusual grammar) also took me out of the story a bit. I thought the last chapter was strong, although it is a cliffhanger so be warned.
3.5/5 ⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2023
I get that this is book 1 in a series, but nevertheless, I think it needs to stand up in its own right & have a decent plot and resolution. Instead it's all about setting the scene for the following books - which I didn't appreciate.
I also found the characters a bit dull & difficult to remember who was who - particularly as there are lots of similiar (Welsh sounding) names which I found confusing. I can't really think of any character which stands out as one to empathise with / cheer on. Perhaps they will develop in subsequent books?
This novel follows the standard fantasy model in that a band of characters travel from one end of the kingdom to another - encountering adventures / mishaps etc along the way. Not very original.
I also found the characters a bit dull & difficult to remember who was who - particularly as there are lots of similiar (Welsh sounding) names which I found confusing. I can't really think of any character which stands out as one to empathise with / cheer on. Perhaps they will develop in subsequent books?
This novel follows the standard fantasy model in that a band of characters travel from one end of the kingdom to another - encountering adventures / mishaps etc along the way. Not very original.
April 15, 2023
Any time there’s a book set in an unknown place and time, the author has a lot of world building to do. This book seemed to pull heavily from Welsh and Arthurian mythology , and the author did a good job of providing front matter and appendices to help give the reader context.
I struggled to connect with the characters and at times, there were anachronisms in the writing that were distracting. There were multiple storylines happening that will probably connect as the series continues. The book ends with a cliff hanger that sets the reader up for book 2 in 2024.
I was provided a ARC of this book for my honest opinions, which I have shared here.
I struggled to connect with the characters and at times, there were anachronisms in the writing that were distracting. There were multiple storylines happening that will probably connect as the series continues. The book ends with a cliff hanger that sets the reader up for book 2 in 2024.
I was provided a ARC of this book for my honest opinions, which I have shared here.
May 30, 2023
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: March 2023
Dark Fantasy
✨ Arthurian & Celtic/Welsh Mythology
✨ Brutal battle scenes
✨ Representation of chronic illness
✨ Immersive story
✨ Pagan and ancient rituals/beliefs
✨ Natural medicine
✨ Royal feuds
✨ LGBTQ+ characters
✨ Bad-ass female protagonist
✨ Magic and otherworldly creatures
I love stories based on mythology and when T.C Emerys announced her new series beginning with “Sky of Ancient Fire”, I knew I had to read it. Inspired by Celtic, Welsh and Arthurian mythology, Emerys has created an epic world of magic, adventure and fantastical creatures.
As this is book one of a series, Emerys gives us a richly dark fantasy story that sucks you straight in. There are quite a number of characters to get your head around but in a good way. These characters are all intriguing and I loved how their personalities are brought to life on the pages. My poor Welsh Nana wouldn’t have been too happy about me not being able to pronounce the characters’ names correctly (but the author has included a handy guide to help us out!) so I didn’t feel so bad!
Annowre is my standout character- she’s feisty, concealing her injury that threatens her place as a royal mage. Annowre’s portrayal with a chronic illness is beautifully handled by the author and it’s good to see its representation in a fantasy setting.
Emerys’ knowledge and inclusion of natural remedies was also a very interesting addition to the story and I was fascinated by the detailed sections exploring this aspect.
I love a good battle/fight scene in a fantasy story and Emerys makes sure to keep her readers’ attention with some pretty brutal and vividly described moments throughout.
The story ends on a cliffhanger (be warned!) and I just want to find out what happens next. It’s a series that I’m excited about and hope that the world of Annowre and Cadwgan expands even further in subsequent books.
Sky of Ancient Fire is out now! Thanks to the author for the arc copy of the book which I received in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 2023
Dark Fantasy
✨ Arthurian & Celtic/Welsh Mythology
✨ Brutal battle scenes
✨ Representation of chronic illness
✨ Immersive story
✨ Pagan and ancient rituals/beliefs
✨ Natural medicine
✨ Royal feuds
✨ LGBTQ+ characters
✨ Bad-ass female protagonist
✨ Magic and otherworldly creatures
I love stories based on mythology and when T.C Emerys announced her new series beginning with “Sky of Ancient Fire”, I knew I had to read it. Inspired by Celtic, Welsh and Arthurian mythology, Emerys has created an epic world of magic, adventure and fantastical creatures.
As this is book one of a series, Emerys gives us a richly dark fantasy story that sucks you straight in. There are quite a number of characters to get your head around but in a good way. These characters are all intriguing and I loved how their personalities are brought to life on the pages. My poor Welsh Nana wouldn’t have been too happy about me not being able to pronounce the characters’ names correctly (but the author has included a handy guide to help us out!) so I didn’t feel so bad!
Annowre is my standout character- she’s feisty, concealing her injury that threatens her place as a royal mage. Annowre’s portrayal with a chronic illness is beautifully handled by the author and it’s good to see its representation in a fantasy setting.
Emerys’ knowledge and inclusion of natural remedies was also a very interesting addition to the story and I was fascinated by the detailed sections exploring this aspect.
I love a good battle/fight scene in a fantasy story and Emerys makes sure to keep her readers’ attention with some pretty brutal and vividly described moments throughout.
The story ends on a cliffhanger (be warned!) and I just want to find out what happens next. It’s a series that I’m excited about and hope that the world of Annowre and Cadwgan expands even further in subsequent books.
Sky of Ancient Fire is out now! Thanks to the author for the arc copy of the book which I received in exchange for my honest review.
May 23, 2023
I originally read this story as an arc read.
I’m of two minds with this story. On the one hand, the author’s research and respect shines through. The battle scenes are well executed. It moves at a solid pace, but there are a lot of characters to keep track of in this story. The central story of Annowre and Cadwgan (spelling may be off) makes this one of my favourite modern interpretations of Arthurian legends that are hundreds of years old.
Trigger warnings are listed at the back of the book.
I’m of two minds with this story. On the one hand, the author’s research and respect shines through. The battle scenes are well executed. It moves at a solid pace, but there are a lot of characters to keep track of in this story. The central story of Annowre and Cadwgan (spelling may be off) makes this one of my favourite modern interpretations of Arthurian legends that are hundreds of years old.
Trigger warnings are listed at the back of the book.
September 18, 2023
Sky of Ancient Fire was a page turner for me. My genre preference usually consists of murder mystery, horror, thriller, and some fantasy books mixed in here and there. So, this is not my typical read. However, I am glad that I did read it. I enjoyed the descriptive battle scenes and the contrasting characters. Sometimes I did get lost in the pronunciation, but the author wonderfully puts a page to help with those difficult names and such. It's definitely a good read, and I can't wait for part 2!
August 5, 2023
Gorgeous language and unique characters. A well-researched book with intricate details of its world. This book is for avid fans of Arthurian folklore and Old English, with magic and mystery thrown in. Annowre (what an awesome name!) is a strong female character, respected and even sometimes feared. My kind of character!
Cardwgan is a complex character, the like of which isn't often so prominent in fantasy.
TC Emerys has definitely stamped her own voice on the fantasy genre.
Cardwgan is a complex character, the like of which isn't often so prominent in fantasy.
TC Emerys has definitely stamped her own voice on the fantasy genre.
January 15, 2024
4.5 stars! This is a fantasy book that has notes of Game of Thrones to it, with brutality present in the world that you don’t tend to see in many books. The characters felt raw and real, and so many of them are torn away before you truly get to their hearts. But of the characters that endure, they feel flawed and wild and fascinating. There is truly intricate world building and I look forward to seeing more of the world soon!
April 25, 2024
A fantastical reimagining of Arthurian Legend. The worldbuilding and character development keep you hooked. As a mythology enthusiast, I especially loved all of the Welsh myth and legends intertwined through the tale. Although, I think the pace of the story quickened just a little too much for me in the end. Good stories like this can take a little longer, in my opinion. :) I'm definitely excited to read more.
October 31, 2023
Sky of Ancient Fire is a dark epic fantasy read and is perfect for fantasy readers. I enjoyed reading this one, the plot is strong and gives you a sense of the fantasy and magic we all love! The characters are fully developed and I had so much fun reading about Cadwgan and Annowre. Definitely recommend this book!
December 9, 2023
A fast paced fantasy with a powerful FMC. I loved that she is like fully an adult and a seasoned warrior unlike a lot of fantasy books.
The only thing I have to complain about is the typos. Usually I’m not one to care but there were so many.
Definitely still excited for the second book!
The only thing I have to complain about is the typos. Usually I’m not one to care but there were so many.
Definitely still excited for the second book!
April 27, 2025
A solid 4.5 from me. Loved the lore of King Arthur. Loved the fight they all fought throughout this book. The relationships that were formed and built between warring nations. Loved each character’s story and that it followed everyone on their different paths.
March 23, 2023
This was a solid fantasy read that I ended up enjoying a lot more than I anticipated, and the quality and design of the book completely blew me away. Every character was believable and grounded; relationships were quite literally forged; a number of intriguing theories surrounding the nature of magic kept me enthralled throughout; and the political intrigue and depth of the world was incredibly fleshed-out, while also not feeling overexplained. I give special commendation to the Welsh/Arthurian threads running throughout this book too in names, cultures, people's and religions - it gave something fresh and new to the genre that I really appreciated.
Overall, an easy 5 stars for me, and I highly recommend people give it a go!
Overall, an easy 5 stars for me, and I highly recommend people give it a go!
May 18, 2023
I received an ARC of this from April Showers Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
I have always enjoyed tales based on Arthurian legends so was very excited to receive this! I thought the characters were very interesting, Annowre was definitely my favourite as she is a badass fire mage and I love characters with magical abilities. The story was very descriptive and I felt like it helped immerse me in the locations.
I'm really excited for the next installment although it is going to be a long wait to 2024 especially after the cliffhanger ending!
I have always enjoyed tales based on Arthurian legends so was very excited to receive this! I thought the characters were very interesting, Annowre was definitely my favourite as she is a badass fire mage and I love characters with magical abilities. The story was very descriptive and I felt like it helped immerse me in the locations.
I'm really excited for the next installment although it is going to be a long wait to 2024 especially after the cliffhanger ending!
January 19, 2023
SKY OF ANCIENT FIRE RELEASES 17TH MARCH 2023
And when the ancient fire fell to embers,
The goddesses of old wept at the destruction wrought,
And the price paid for its beautiful terror.
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
And yet, as a dark and ancient foe makes its move across the continent, apothecary and physician Cadwgan stumbles into creating a power that never should have surfaced. His discovery throws him into the dangerous world of the Southern court, fighting to keep up the ruse of being a natural-born mage.
Meanwhile, fearsome fire mage Annowre is trying to keep her charge, the newly coronated young Queen of the North, alive amidist political strife and assassination attempts when she herself is gravely wounded by an attacker's incurable poison. When she wakes up in an infirmary, she finds that her queen has sought the help of the South to save her magical protector's life. But peace between their countries is recent and tenuous, and Annowre will need her full strength again if she is to protect the naive monarch from the re-emerging powers swarming across the horizon.
Now the North and South are thrown together to face a new common enemy, and find out what happens when twisted arts combine to create the uncreatable.
To create magic.
Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings and The Witcher will love the first installment in this dark, epic fantasy quadrology inspired by Arthurian and Welsh mythology from debut author T. C. Emerys.
Merged review:
SKY OF ANCIENT FIRE RELEASES 17TH MARCH 2023
And when the ancient fire fell to embers,
The goddesses of old wept at the destruction wrought,
And the price paid for its beautiful terror.
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
And yet, as a dark and ancient foe makes its move across the continent, apothecary and physician Cadwgan stumbles into creating a power that never should have surfaced. His discovery throws him into the dangerous world of the Southern court, fighting to keep up the ruse of being a natural-born mage.
Meanwhile, fearsome fire mage Annowre is trying to keep her charge, the newly coronated young Queen of the North, alive amidist political strife and assassination attempts when she herself is gravely wounded by an attacker's incurable poison. When she wakes up in an infirmary, she finds that her queen has sought the help of the South to save her magical protector's life. But peace between their countries is recent and tenuous, and Annowre will need her full strength again if she is to protect the naive monarch from the re-emerging powers swarming across the horizon.
Now the North and South are thrown together to face a new common enemy, and find out what happens when twisted arts combine to create the uncreatable.
To create magic.
Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings and The Witcher will love the first installment in this dark, epic fantasy quadrology inspired by Arthurian and Welsh mythology from debut author T. C. Emerys.
And when the ancient fire fell to embers,
The goddesses of old wept at the destruction wrought,
And the price paid for its beautiful terror.
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
And yet, as a dark and ancient foe makes its move across the continent, apothecary and physician Cadwgan stumbles into creating a power that never should have surfaced. His discovery throws him into the dangerous world of the Southern court, fighting to keep up the ruse of being a natural-born mage.
Meanwhile, fearsome fire mage Annowre is trying to keep her charge, the newly coronated young Queen of the North, alive amidist political strife and assassination attempts when she herself is gravely wounded by an attacker's incurable poison. When she wakes up in an infirmary, she finds that her queen has sought the help of the South to save her magical protector's life. But peace between their countries is recent and tenuous, and Annowre will need her full strength again if she is to protect the naive monarch from the re-emerging powers swarming across the horizon.
Now the North and South are thrown together to face a new common enemy, and find out what happens when twisted arts combine to create the uncreatable.
To create magic.
Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings and The Witcher will love the first installment in this dark, epic fantasy quadrology inspired by Arthurian and Welsh mythology from debut author T. C. Emerys.
Merged review:
SKY OF ANCIENT FIRE RELEASES 17TH MARCH 2023
And when the ancient fire fell to embers,
The goddesses of old wept at the destruction wrought,
And the price paid for its beautiful terror.
Magic in Albion is born, not made.
And yet, as a dark and ancient foe makes its move across the continent, apothecary and physician Cadwgan stumbles into creating a power that never should have surfaced. His discovery throws him into the dangerous world of the Southern court, fighting to keep up the ruse of being a natural-born mage.
Meanwhile, fearsome fire mage Annowre is trying to keep her charge, the newly coronated young Queen of the North, alive amidist political strife and assassination attempts when she herself is gravely wounded by an attacker's incurable poison. When she wakes up in an infirmary, she finds that her queen has sought the help of the South to save her magical protector's life. But peace between their countries is recent and tenuous, and Annowre will need her full strength again if she is to protect the naive monarch from the re-emerging powers swarming across the horizon.
Now the North and South are thrown together to face a new common enemy, and find out what happens when twisted arts combine to create the uncreatable.
To create magic.
Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings and The Witcher will love the first installment in this dark, epic fantasy quadrology inspired by Arthurian and Welsh mythology from debut author T. C. Emerys.
February 4, 2024
This is a fast-paced dark fantasy steeped in Welsh/Celtic mythology and folklore. I am a sucker for a story that uses the Arthurian legend. I loved how they integrated Avalon as a place for teaching those born with magic. In a short time, I found myself already invested in the characters. The two characters that you follow most are Annowre and Cadwgans, they are both trying to keep their secrets while protecting a group of mostly at-odds royals. You could tell that this book was highly researched. The portrayal of Pagan and ancient rituals/beliefs and natural medicine was done very well.
My only complaint is in the beginning the chapters that follow Annowre and Cadwgans were not on the same timeline you were watching on as present then switched to the other in the past leading up to the present. I think that if they had just had a couple of chapters in a row from one perspective it would have flowed better since this book takes place in one timeline.
Note: In the back of the book there are trigger warnings for: graphic injury detail, chronic illness/pain, allusion to torture, burns, sight loss, description of physical torture, allusion to human sacrifice, threat of rape and sexual slavery, and explicit description of and animal being harmed and killed.
My only complaint is in the beginning the chapters that follow Annowre and Cadwgans were not on the same timeline you were watching on as present then switched to the other in the past leading up to the present. I think that if they had just had a couple of chapters in a row from one perspective it would have flowed better since this book takes place in one timeline.
Note: In the back of the book there are trigger warnings for: graphic injury detail, chronic illness/pain, allusion to torture, burns, sight loss, description of physical torture, allusion to human sacrifice, threat of rape and sexual slavery, and explicit description of and animal being harmed and killed.
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