Member Reviews
Da-aang! This book pretty much has it all. There are terrific characters, a unique plot, and a fascinating setting.
First, the main characters, who come from three different groups--Adrian, the Longhand who is entering the Races to incite his people to revolt against the domineering Ashlords, Imelda, the Dividian who wants the chance to win but is a longshot because of how disadvantaged her people are, and Pippa, the Ashlord daughter of two former Race champions who is the easy favorite to win. Adrian is a strong, confident character, and it's easy to want to cheer for him as he fights the oppression of the Ashlords, while Imelda is such an underdog that I really found myself pulling for her. While Pippa's privileged life could make her an easy character to dislike, the way the story plays out and the things she starts to learn along the way make her a really interesting character, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how things play out for her in the rest of the series.
Next, the plot. As other reviewers have mentioned, this is kind of like Hunger Games meets The Scorpio Races--but it totally holds its own. I really liked seeing the different strategies that each rider had and how they faced the challenges of the race and the other competitors. Interweaving that with the unrest and brewing revolution made this an action-packed, fast-moving thrill of a read. There were some pretty awesome twists in the plot, too.
Finally, the setting. It took me a little bit to get a grasp on this fantasy world, but once I did, I found it to be really cool. The idea of phoenixes regenerating each day--and the ability of the riders to give them certain characteristics by their use of alchemy--is awesome. The society with the ruling Ashlords, rebel Longhands, and oppressed Dividians was really compelling.
This was a terrific start to a new series, and I can't wait for the next book!
4.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I was so excited for this book, and it did not disappoint! I could hardly put this one down! Scott Reintgen has a fantastic ability to make me care for even the most unlikable of characters. This one was told through the point of view of three wildly different characters - something I've actually not seen before. It worked beautifully, and I'm not even sure who I should be rooting for! The race was enthralling, and with each change in POV I found myself sympathizing with someone else's plight. I highly recommend this book, and I'm very much looking forward to future installments.
In Ashlords we meet three characters from very different cultures, and they are all competing against each other in a horse race of a lifetime. One is an Ashlord golden girl, born into a position of power and fame, one is a revolutionary's son who bears the fate of his people’s freedom on his shoulders, and one is a determined alchemist protégé who hopes to show the Ashlords her people are done bowing to them.
When I got the chance to read and review Ashlords I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve read several books from Scott Reintgen and I’ve truly loved all of them. As I stared reading Ashlords, I had no idea what this book was about. I hadn’t read a single thing about it, nor did I read the blurb, all I did was begin at page one.
The first thing I noticed was how unusual this world was, and I really fell in love with the whole concept of riding horses that had died and burned to ashes every night and had to be revived at sunrise. It was so fascinating to see the alchemy and what could be done with it, and the girl we got to know in the first chapter was so lovable that I couldn’t stop reading. And before I knew it, the book was over, and I had finished all of it. That’s how much I enjoyed it.
What I loved about the book the most was the horses and how the characters used alchemy and different components to give their horses different abilities each time. It was so interesting and unusal, and I think Reintgen did an amazing job at explaining all of it in a way that made it feel so natural and normal. It was as if I was there with the character and I understood what they were doing and why. The world was never confusing despite all the details and all the information the reader had to learn, and confusing is exactly what a complicated system like this could’ve easily been.
I also liked the characters for the most part, even though I had different issues with each one of the three.
Imelda, the poor alchemist protégé who was never meant to stand a chance at winning the race because she’s not an Ashlord, was an instant love for me. I wanted to hear her story, and when her chapters ended, I couldn’t wait to get back to her. That is until the race began. Not only did she get a little lost there and her chapters all of a sudden stopped coming. I didn’t like where the story brought her, and I didn’t like how we didn’t get to follow her anymore. She was the character at the beginning, she was the one I fell in love with and what made me want to read the story, so it makes little sense for me that she should take the back seat after half the story has been told.
Adrian, the revolutionary's son who’s supposed to win so his father can start the revolution that will give their people the freedom and revenge they’ve longed for, was a tough start for me. I didn’t care for him at all in the beginning, and I found his POV to be boring and unnecessary. But as the race began, something happened to Adrian and he was interesting and fun to follow. I have a feeling it was because at that point we saw Adrian and not his father working to put ideas into Adrian’s head. So, as the story progressed, Adrian grew on me to the point I was rooting for him. I wanted him to make it.
Then we have Pippa, the Ashlord “princess” who was born to win the race. Her POV is written in 2nd person, which honestly threw me off so much at first. Every sentence I read just sounded wrong to me, and I had a really hard time getting into. Then, all of a sudden, I realize that I’ve read a whole chapter with Pippa without even noticing all of those “you”. I had become her. Pippa and I were the same person and from that moment on, I enjoyed her POV so much. There are not many books out there with a POV written in 2nd person, and I applaud Scott Reintgen for daring to try it here. It works, even if it took a while to get into it.
To stop a long review from getting any longer, I’m just going to jump straight for the only thing that I really didn’t like with this book. It was like reading Hunger Games all over again. I liked Hunger Games, and I also liked reading Nyxia (also by Reintgen). But now this is the second book I’ve read from Scott Reintgen that’s basically a new take on the Hunger Games. And Ashlords didn’t have to be Hunger Games all over again, it was so unique that it broke the illusion for me when I got the Hunger Games plot all over again. I just…it didn’t have to be that way, and it would have been so much better if there hadn’t been such a clear resemblance to Hunger Games.
Still, I read this book in one day and I really enjoyed it, and I’m still going to give this five stars because you all need to read it. This is the best book I’ve read in a long time and I’m so thankful that I got the opportunity to read it.
Thank you to Crown Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a big fan of the Phoenix mythology, so when I saw this book combining that with horses? It's a fascinating concept that I absolutely wanted to dive into. Although the story absolutely gives off those "Hunger Games" vibes as anticipated, the book had a slow start for me and the characters felt flat.
Not the writing for my taste.
For everyone who loves the Hunger Games, Divergent or the Maze Runner, YOU NEED TO READ THE NYXIA TRILOGY. And after you are hooked, just as I am, immediately pick the first book in his new YA duology - «Ashlords»!
Scott Reintgen has done it again! The competitions he sets up in his books are the most exciting, dangerous and exhilarating reading experiences, and I just want to re-read them over and over again, as the adrenaline pumps in my veins, worrying about the fate of the main characters.
There is nothing better than a fantasy story with a lot of political intrigue, scheming and thirst for freedom, power or both! The «Ashlords» has it all:
- The vast, battered with history world;
- Different power groups and their political schemes;
- Bloodthirsty competetors;
- The invaders. The oppressors and the rebellion forces.
- Three different nations forced to live under the same Empire:
My intentions were to read it as slowly as possible, because I wanted to prolong my enjoyment. But I couldn't resist and read it in a day!
Full review will be up on my blog closer to the publication date.
Scott Reintgen’s ASHLORDS is a literary powerhouse of imagination! Race along the elite riders in an annual race on phoenix horses that die each sunset, only to be reborn with alchemy the next sunrise. Deceit, treachery, and the need to win at any cost will test three riders from three different walks of life. Who will keep their honor and integrity? Who will fall to the lowest of lows?
A brilliantly told tale that invites readers to ride alongside, peek into the characters’ minds and thrill at every step of the way! Scott Reintgen holds nothing back as he fires off a tale that will grab the attention of all readers, while targeting young adults with something they can sink their hearts, souls and minds into!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Crown Books for Young Readers! This is my honest and voluntary review.
A great and fun read done in one sitting. I haven't finished a book in a while (rather than just being in the middle of 20) and Ashlords was my breakthrough. I was hooked from the beginning in Imelda's point of view and a slight twist in a conqueror's tale. Coming from oppressed peoples, Imelda's dream is to ride with the Ashlords on her phoenix-horse, created from specific combinations of ashes. Pippa, as an Ashlord princess favored to win the races, knows, without a doubt she'll win. Adrian the Longhand has been bred to win the races and cause a war. Told from each person's point of view in a new world of magic and ashes, I found Ashloards to be an engaging and interesting read that leaves me hoping for a sequel.
I loved it! Phoenix horses rising from their ashes. Conspiracies. Races. Betrayals. Gods. War. Alchemy. Multiple point of views. There really wasn't anything I didn't love. Even the weird way Pippa's chapters were written didn't annoyed me as much as I thought they were going to.
The story is told from three different povs, each from a different fraction of how the world is built. Imelda, the dividian, alchemist extraordinaire; Adrian, the Longhand, the big buff boy raised to lead; Pippa, the ashlord, the pampered daughter of two race champions who trained all her life to prove she is worth everything. Each chapter showed a different perspective, how different they've all been raised, the position of heriarchy, what they most valued. Getting to know each of them, it might seem hard to choose a side. And so far, I haven't really made mind between two sides. I need to sequel to understand who I'm cheering for.
I love Reintgen's writing. It captures you immediately. I finished chapter after chapter without noticing how fast I was going. I was really invested in the story. In how alchemy played an important part in the rebirths of the horses. How each component added to the ashes could make a different horse with different abilities. It was truly fascinating. The world building was similar to the ones I've come to love of Robert Jackson Bennett. Similar because of the Gods that have proxies in the real world. How religion mixes directly and intervenes in the lives of the inhabitants of the world of the powerful citizens of Furia. Have I already said I was fascinated? Because I was. I still am.
Can't wait to read more about this world and what's going to happen now. I'm crossing all my fingers to be considered again between the lucky ones to read the sequel in advance!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's Publishing for letting me read and review this fantastic book.
I've read The Nyxia Triad by Scott Reintgen and knew from reading that series that he was a great writer with wonderful stories. I am so excited I got to read this book and can't wait for the next book after this one because I have questions that need answers.
I'm super curious about some things after reading Ashlords with the characters and their stories, what's going to happen to them and with everything, but I'm also super curious to know about some side stories and characters like Quinn for example.
This is pitched as Red Rising meets The Scorpio Races and while I don't know about Red Rising because I haven't read that yet, I can see the similarities with The Scorpio Races. What I kept thinking and being reminded of when I was reading this are The Scorpio Races as mentioned and The Hunger Games. I kept having lots of memories and flashbacks to things/ideas from The Hunger Games.
It's about three phoenix horse riders - yes phoenix horses! and the riders are skilled in alchemy, which you have to be to know how to create the best horse for riding in The Races. In The Races, you have to defend the ashes of your horse at night, but you aren't allowed to kill only maim, injure or poison the ashes of the horse. There are 11 riders in The Races, but only a few that have something to gain or lose.
The Ashlords follows these few characters and what happens with them during The Races. There's Pippa who is a favorite, one they expect to win and her parents were winners in previous years of The Races, The guy she wants to be with, Bravos, who's all about winning. Then there are the others who I was more interested in, Adrian, the Longhand, from one of the other groups/races of people there that are ruled over by the Ashlords and Imelda Beru, the Alchemist, who's the one who gets in on scholarship and is part of one of the other races that's ruled over by the Ashlords as well so these two characters have more to lose.
It's an emotional and intense ride through the book with the characters and you get to understand a lot by the end of this book that sets it up well and leaves you hanging with wanting to know what will happen next. This is one you need to have on your radar and make sure to read!
I absolutely loved this.
The separate points of view completely made this book for me. PIPPA IS A BOSS. I don't know why I instantly connected to her and love her with my whole heart. Getting to read all the differences in where they place in the race was awesome. It felt like I was there. My only reason for even docking a star is because I am a sucker for backstory. I needed more about the overall logistics of this world and it just didn't feel like there was enough. I know plenty about the race itself, but not enough on the history of it, if that makes sense. I just felt like I needed more.
But isn't that a good-ish thing, because I still want MORE.
With comp titles like Red Rising and The Scorpio Races, combined with a stunning cover and intriguing description, I jumped at the invitation to read and review Ashlords. Being a fan of Reintgen's Nyxia Triad series, I anticipated an exciting read, but this? Completely above and beyond my expectations.
Phoenix horses - what an outstanding concept. Toss in alchemy, a Hunger Games-ish race, gods, spirits, a brewing war, and you've got an addictive read. I have to admit, the world-building overwhelmed me a bit at first, but I settled in by the second chapter.
And the characters! Three POVs: Imelda - a talented alchemist and underdog, Adrian - probably the biggest threat to the Ashlords and the face of the rebellion, and Pippa - the daughter of two champions and favorite to win. Pippa's POV is in second person, something I haven't come across in YA fiction. You may start out rooting for one, but will likely change your mind more than once before it's over. Don't underestimate any of them.
There's more than the race going on in this novel. With war, rebellion, and unrest stirring, the next book in this duology promises to be just as compelling. From nearly the first page, this action-packed, intense plot races (almost literally) to the finish. I can't wait for the next book - bring on the next rebirth!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
What a creative and original author. I started as a Nyxia fan and was in awe of Saving Fable and Ashlords is just another amazing addition to all the books Scott Reintgen has written!
As usual, this world he created is amazing! With Ashlords and Dividians and phoenix horses, I could not stop reading. His books have finally drawn me out of a reading slump!
Besides the amazing setting this novel is placed in, the three main characters are crafted so skillfully and help bring unique perspectives on what could have been too narrow of a view.
As someone who loves a good romance, there wasn’t much in this novel, but you won’t even miss it with all the action going on. (This is pretty hard for me to enjoy a romance-less novel so trust me when I say it’s quite the page-turner.)
They had me at Phoenix horses! What! Omg!
I quite enjoyed Scott's book Nyxia, still need to read the other two, but this one was so much better! I mean I did mention phoenix horses.....
Anyhoo, this is told in three POV's, although there are other characters.
I can see where some of the Red Rising would come into play and for sure The Scorpio Races. I want my own freaking Phoenix Horse! Just in case anyone is giving them away!
Ashlords is a fantastic edition to the fantasy world and has plenty of magic, schemes, etc involved.
I'm super stoked for the next books and I would recommend to anyone that likes ya fantasy with mythological elements!
**Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review!**
Happy Reading!
Mel ♥
Note to self, read anything and everything that has Scott Reintgen's name on it.
If you told me that a book about phoenix horses will exist in the near future, I would be pumped to read it. If you then told me that book was written by the author of the NYXIA triad, I would do almost anything to get my hands on it. In this story we follow three characters, all from different backgrounds, as they try to become the next winner of The Races - an Iditarod style trek across unforgiving territory on the back of a phoenix horse. Each contestant must be a master rider, fighter and alchemist, for only someone who possesses all three skills will prevail. After the horses burn out at sunset, the riders must protect their ashes from contamination from the other contenders.
This is a high stakes, high stress but high reward type of story. The world building is clear, distinct, and vibrant. No time is wasted in info-dump style description and I can seriously appreciate that. The characters are well developed, interesting and diverse - something I have come to associate with Reintgen's writing. As we follow the characters along their journey's, we discover different motivations with highs and lows they each have to negotiate. The writing is immediately captivating and never lets up. I love how the story begins in the competition setting with hints of political intrigue and leads into a full blown uprising, another similarity to the Nyxia books. The set up for the rest of the series is perfection and I honestly can't wait for what comes next.
Like I said before, I will forever read anything that Reintgen writes. He has quickly become an auto buy author for me. I've been shouting my love for the Nyxia triad from the rooftops for a while now and Ashlords has been added to my crusade. This was amazing, heart pounding, intense and frankly unputdownable (a new word used only to describe this type of exquisite sci fi/fantasy). Do yourself a favor and put this book on your radar ASAP, you won't regret it.
Wow! This was a super fun, fast-paced ride that I couldn’t get enough of!
Now, I’ve never read The Scorpio Races, but based upon the description, this book feels like a mix of that story and The Hunger Games. Toss in some gods and you’ve got a pretty cool mix and a kick ass story.
It’s told from several points of view. And at first, I chose Imelda as a favorite. I loved her voice, her character, her being the underdog and oppressed. Then, I started shifting towards Adrian. The rebel, the other underdog, but also the biggest threat to the Ashlord empire. But, by the 3/4 mark, I loved Pippa. Yeah, she was the favorite. Sure, she could seem arrogant. But as the race went on, she changed.
The plot is easy to follow. The world-building is well done and easy to understand. And so damn cool! Seriously, can I get a Phoenix? Plus the mix of alchemy/magic is an added cool factor. However, I loved that it’s a book about a race, but interwoven with war and rebellion. Schemes and plots. I love that some of our characters planned their races in one way and things didn’t go accordingly. Even though it’s expected, it’s still fantastic to read and uncover.
I knew things wouldn’t fully wrap up at the end. There was a lot of story left to go, but it’s a brilliant start. I loved his Nyxia series, but I have a feeling I’m going to love this one 10 times more! I cannot wait for the next installment...and it’s a long time coming!