Legacy of Ash
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4.5 • 67 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
Legacy of Ash is an unmissable fantasy debut--an epic tale of intrigue and revolution, soldiers and assassins, ancient magic and the eternal clash of empires. A shadow has fallen over the Tressian Republic. Ruling families -- once protectors of justice and democracy -- now plot against one another with sharp words and sharper knives. Blinded by ambition, they remain heedless of the threat posed by the invading armies of the Hadari Empire. Yet as Tressia falls, heroes rise. Viktor Akadra is the Republic's champion. A warrior without equal, he hides a secret that would see him burned as a heretic. Josiri Trelan is Viktor's sworn enemy. A political prisoner, he dreams of reigniting his mother's failed rebellion. And yet Calenne Trelan, Josiri's sister, seeks only to break free of their tarnished legacy; to escape the expectation and prejudice that haunts the family name. As war spreads across the Republic, these three must set aside their differences in order to save their home. Yet decades of bad blood are not easily set aside. And victory -- if it comes at all -- will demand a darker price than any of them could have imagined.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This doorstopper of a debut, the first in a sword and sorcery trilogy, introduces an appealing cast caught up in wonderfully complicated political conflict. On the surface, the struggle is between the Tressian Republic, championed by heroic Viktor Akadra, and the rebellious Southshires, whose heirs, Josiri Trelan and his younger sister, Calenne, are Tressian state prisoners. The strife between these ruling families is complicated by supernatural forces, some of which, like Josiri's beloved demon Anastacia, are widely known, but some remain hidden, like the dark shadow lurking within Viktor. Meanwhile, the nearby Hadari Empire prepares to invade Tressian Republic even as Hadari Princess Melanna struggles with the restrictions placed on her as a woman and contemplates joining the lunassera, handmaidens to the Goddess of Light. In fact, underpinning all of the human machinations are the schemes of the capricious gods, who have been at work for generations to influence their followers toward either Darkness or Light. Ward's experience as a tabletop game designer is apparent in his expansive universe and tight plotting. Expertly interspersing vivid action sequences with quiet, introspective stretches, Ward guides readers and characters alike through this winding, well-crafted saga. The result is an impressive series opener that satisfyingly remixes genre staples.
