Legacy of Ash: Book One of the Legacy Trilogy

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Second, Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward could have benefited from a glossary or appendix of some sort. Ward drops his readers into a story with little explanation. There’s no steady build-up. No defining some of his imaginary vocabulary. He expects those experiencing the novel to…figure things out according to context, which can be very difficult. And at times, to be honest, I’d forget what things meant, and I had no easy way to remind myself of their definitions. Calenne descended the stairs, expression still heavy with distrust. Katya stooped to embrace her daughter. She hoped Calenne’s thin body stiffened at the cold and wet, and not revulsion for a woman she barely knew. From the first, Katya had thought it necessary to send Calenne away, to live shielded from the Council’s sight. So many years lost. All for nothing. Lips parted in something not entirely a smile. “You will stand before the Council and submit to judgement.” Denied support by her adoptive mother, the Goddess Ashana, Melanna found encouragement with Ashana’s Huntsman, who gifted her a sword that blazed with alabaster flame. Initially dismissed by the men in the Hadari army – including her father – Melanna proved herself by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at Charren Gorge, and thereafter fought at Davenwood as a full heir, fit to inherit her father’s throne.

This is a story about an old darkness left untended and growing once more, in a world where gods are not the infallible beings they might seem, and magic can be a double-edged sword. It’s a story about the increasing desperation of a nation’s rulers who have spent too long squabbling over power and not paid close enough attention to what’s happening beyond their sight, and characters with little love for each other being asked to put aside their differences and stand together in time to face off against their common enemies. As darkness grows and Tressia is beset from all sides, we see battles both large and small, twisted political machinations, and friends and families set at each other’s throats. Questions arise of spirituality, history and tradition, old grudges and wounded pride, as morally grey characters face impossible decisions and have to choose lesser evils. Thunder roared, its fury echoing through the hole where Josiri’s heart should have been. He’d failed. Perhaps he’d never had a chance. We’re just a few weeks out from the release of Legacy of Steel and I know some of you are thinking ‘I loved Legacy of Ash, but there was a lot going on. How do I get caught up in time? What is the story so far? 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. Alas, the Hadari army was defeated at Davenwood. Both Melanna and her father were captured, only to be set free by Josiri Trelan. With Kai’s chief rival slain elsewhere, he was now free to return to the Empire and claim his throne. However Melanna, urged on by Ashana, lingered in the Southshires with Malatriant’s Dark overtook it. Joining forces with Josiri Trelan and Roslava Orova, she rescued Viktor Akadra and became instrumental in Malatriant’s defeat.Feel free to invite some friends to join our Round Table community!http://www.goodreads.com/group/invite_members/26989-goodreads-authors-readers

Akadra’s hand, so lately extended in conciliation, wrenched the sluggish blade from her grasp. He let his own fall alongside. Tugged off balance, Katya fell to her hands and knees. Defenceless. Helpless.Satisfied, Katya clambered into her saddle and spurred west along the broad cobbles of Highgate. They’d expect her to take refuge in Branghall Manor, or at least strip it of anything valuable ahead of the inevitable looting. But the western gateway might still be clear. I’ll start by saying Legacy of Ash is the very embodiment of an epic fantasy. There is a quest for freedom, there are legendary knights, characters who can wield magic, ethereal beings, and there is the age-old war between light and dark, although this book does give a somewhat fresh perspective on that! I know this book has been compared to Game of Thrones (what fantasy book hasn’t these days?) but I find this misleading. This is not a dark and gritty book, and if I had to compare it to any other series, I would say it’s more akin to The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne.

Thank you so much to Angela Man from Orbit for the opportunity to read an e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. On the other hand, Legacy of Ash is a big old book, and it’s a bit of an ask to re-read the whole thing, so I’m delighted to present an overview of the story so far. The battle cry fed Josiri’s resolve. The widening of the nearest wayfarer’s eyes gave him more. They were as afraid of him as he of them. Maybe more, for was his mother not the Phoenix of prophecy? Desperate to find Calenne, Viktor left Tressia ahead of the gathering army, and arrived in a Southshires drowning in primordial darkness. Assailed by Malatriant’s thralls, he was rescued by Calenne and resolved to confront the Tyrant Queen face to face.

The tremor beneath his tone revealed the truth. His horse was already weary. What stamina remained would not long serve two riders, let alone three.