This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Perfect for the seasoned epic fantasy readers.

My thanks to Orbit Books,and the Author Matthew Ward.
Epic fantasy - political intrigue- magical secrets - incoming invasion...

Legacy of Ash is the first instalment in the aptly titled Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward. A epic proportional vast book, at almost 764 pages. This ambitious fantasy is one you need to be prepared for going into. A book that is not for the faint of heart but, it’s perfect for the seasoned epic fantasy fiction reader.
This impression opening to what looks to be an exceptional series, with multiple well fleshed out POV’s. Along with expansion world building, strife and struggles between ruling families, all tided into complicated political issues.
I loved this book and sprawling scale of battles is incredible and amazing. You are front and center through the authors exceptional narration. Ok let’s talk about the
exceptionally magical system, that you know will be more developed as the story progresses in the upcoming books that will be released. But I did really enjoy the Goddess of Moon and Sun ....Warring giant golems etc.

Well I am impatiently waiting on the next installment, who else is?

{ I am named after the Welsh Goddess Of The Moon, Gwendalyn }

Seriously this was a non stop read for. One with great pacing and three dimensional characters, I was completely vested with the characters and the vying parties and stellar political elements.
You can tell this extraordinary full scale epic fantasy, is heavily influenced by the authors experience as a tabletop game designer.

#LegacyofAsh by #MatthewWard ... out 4/7/20 from @orbitbooks_us



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This book was absolutely stunning. It just had that feeling that makes a good epic. It’s the kind of book that I love to curl up in and read for weeks (hah, I rarely get that opportunity when I read on a schedule), but it is one that I recommended almost immediately to the hubby—who is a notoriously picky reader.

The characters really did it for me, they seemed well-rounded, real, and wonderfully flawed. And all the schemes, it was like there are all these strings and they’re everywhere and oh shit, shit’s gonna hit the fan and as it was all coming together, I didn’t want to stop reading. Absolutely fantastic, and a brilliant handling of dozens of subplots.

Not only was everything brilliantly set up, the writing itself was gorgeous and easy to get lost in. I was so invested right from the beginning—not an easy feat for a nearly 800 page book. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book (holy shit, what a way to end the opening to a trilogy!) and am thrilled to see what else Ward has for us in the coming years.

I fully recommend this book to anyone who loves a dense and thick epic fantasy to get lost and immersed in. It’s definitely been a while since I got this pulled into a book.

(This review will go live on my website on March 24, 2020)

Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy of definitely epic proportions. At around 800 pages, it is truly a huge read. As someone who reads a lot, this definitely is an excellent opening to a fantasy series.

The characters of the novel are wonderfully developed and given space to show both their talents and their foibles. The multiple perspectives allow for the full development of the action and a complete immersive effect into the political intrigue. One of the greatest aspects of such a long book is that while there are a lot of characters, it is easy to keep them all straight in your mind as they are well developed and have their own personality traits and intrigues that make it easy to follow their place in the story.

If you are a fan of Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin or similar authors, you will love this.

Aaaaand, finished!
800 pages! Woowee! When I requested this on @netgalley I had no idea how long it was! Truly though, I don't regret it at all! Yes, it took some time to get through, but an entire world was built and I am so excited to see how the series progresses! So many things are up in the air that I might end up with a book hangover from this one. The possibilities are endless for these characters and I am itching to find out how things conclude for them!

As a whole, I found the book engaging. However, I found it a bit slow for my taste. It takes so long to get to the point where action occurs. For my personal reading tastes, just not my type of fantasy novel. I wanted to enjoy the book, but I just couldn't get into it.

Wow! I loved this, firstly I'm thankful for the long length. Such developed characters and world building without being tedious. Simply cannot wait until book two, thanks Netgalley

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Legacy of Ash is an impressive opening to an epic fantasy series. There are multiple POVs, and all of them add to the plot of the book and move it forward. The magic system is interesting, as it feels very soft because we aren't really given a ton of information on exactly what it is, but is still very interesting.

The politics of the world are extremely interesting, with a number of parties vying to be the top dog. I think that my favorite political idea from the book showed the people at the top using their influence to suggest moves to those in the lower classes.

Our main characters have varying levels of importance to the realm, and are all trying to do what they think is best for the people they love.

Ward does a great job of building characters in a way that is not overbearing, but seems very rational.

I am excited to get into the next one when it comes out.

First of thank you for this ARC
This book was amazing. I loved the plot and large cast of Characters. In epic fantasy my favorite thing other than the story is the characters. I also loved the politics and magic. The story started a tad slow but once you really immerse yourself in the story, prepare yourself for a hell of a ride.If you love epic fantasy then this book is for you.

This book is truly epic in proportion. Weighing in at around 800 pages, it is a feat to finish it. I managed to get through most of it, but it was just too long by the end. Here is what I liked, and what I didn't:

(1) I liked that, despite the large cast, I found it easy to keep the characters straight;
(2) I liked the complexity of the characters and the story;
(3) And I thought that the story was interesting.
(4) I appreciated that the story was complete, but that it left open a sequel.

Here is what I didn't like:
(1) I found the magic/religion aspect to be really complicated. I just got lost by the end.
(2) It was just too long. Sorry!

While the story was interesting and well-written, I am not sure (despite my love of epic stories) that i can continue, Thanks netgalley & publishers for the e-arc.

I really enjoyed this book! I had heard so much hype before starting it (comparisons to A Song of Ice and Fire?!) so I had high hopes, and I wasn’t disappointed. To start off, the world-building was so fantastical and stunning. I feel more and more in love with the world as the book progressed. There was a lot of interesting political intrigue, which I very much enjoy. I get where the Game of Thrones comparisons come from! My only qualm with the book is that the first half was a little slow-paced. I loved getting to know the characters during these chapters, but there were some parts that felt like a slog to get through. However, after that first half, things really took off, and I was thoroughly entranced by all of the action and intrigue and plot twists that took place. I would highly recommend this book to other fantasy fans, and I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free arc. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I ended up dnfing it, so I’m giving it a standard 3 stars. There was just so much at the beginning. So much going on. So many people. So much detail. It was more confusing than anything, and it didn’t capture my attention.

With a large cast and nice plot crescendo and a well-crafted tale, this is a solid bet. There are many reviews (some quite detailed) by way smarter people, so I'll just recommend this to epic fantasy fans.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward, a well written and easy to read book. I did feel it was tad slow at times, building on certain events but not quite explaining circumstances behind it. Overall though well done.

ARC from NetGalley

4.5

A bit slow to start. It's understandable though. There are a lot of threads woven together, and it takes a bit to get everyone in the right position before you start the weaving proper. Oftentimes books will say they are for fans of "yada yada." In this case, it was Game of Thrones, and I thought this to myself at some point, without having read the same before starting. The description says the book is about 3 people. This is a lie. This book is about many, many people.

Legacy of Ash is for you if you like epic fantasy, excellent world building, and a lot of pages (I happen to love a lot of pages, so long as they are interesting pages, which they are). There are swords and wars and blood. Magic, politics, intrigue. The guts of the story are held within the bones of its pantheon, which is quite interesting. I am intrigued to see where it goes.

It was constructed incredibly well. To take all of these different stories and weave them together, one over the other, now under, then a new thread comes into the mix. It's almost musical. It's a dance. Matthew Ward is a composer of words. This is how it reminds me of Game of Thrones, how all these little bits start off alone in the aether and then coalesce.

There were a few places where a comma would have benefited us all, or at least me and my easily confused brain, but there weren't many. I personally would have liked a bit more depth to the romance, a little more tugging at my heartstrings, but it doesn't affect my rating. The ending was a bit 'eh' for me. Things were mostly tidied up well, but I didn't get that rush of satisfaction. I am interested to see where the next book takes Victor, and I hope it's somewhere my heart will follow. Don't rob me of this, Ward.

My thanks to Orbit Books, Netgalley and the Author Matthew Ward.
I have a love for Epic Fantasy and Grimdark. Because I love it so hard, I don't read too much of it, and when I do I'm exceedingly picky! This was Epic Fantasy at its finest. I'm truly amazed by now much I loved this first book. It had a large cast of characters, but not so many that you end up wondering who is who. I loved the characters, "mostly." I especially loved the magics? Both dark and light, and am looking forward to seeing more. Also, this first book of the trilogy had a solid ending. I was satisfied, and can't wait for the next 2 books. I could wish my life away with all the wishing I do! Right now? I'm wishing it was November, 2020! That's when book 2 is published😍

Fantasy doesn't get any more legendary or epic than Ward's "Legacy of Ash." You want ancient kingdoms doing battle. You got it. You want heroes and heroines in rebellion against the boot of the oppressors. Here it is. You want magical powers so dark, so mysterious, so twisted. You can barely comprehend its limits. You found it.

The payoff in terms of a satisfying epic adventure is magnificent. However, patience must be counseled on the treacherous journey. The cinder block, referred to as a novel, is near eight hundred pages. And it is filled with so many characters and subplots and twists that it's hard to keep the players straight without a scorecard. Think of it as the lengthy setup on the chessboard before all the action starts. Bear with it because it will all make sense eventually and you'll be thunderstruck at how quickly the pages turn and how little sleep you'll get.

In terms of worldbuilding, Legacy of Ash dies a great job without ever fully spelling out the past histories of either the Republic or the Empire or the rebellious provinces. Even more mysterious is all the magic, both dark and light magic, and how fully the purveyors of magic are twisted and bent to the darkness. Who controls whom and how ancient are the powers?

The characters are not only numerous, but are complex, with ever changing motives and loyalties. Don't think you know how all the forces are arrayed and to whom loyalty is owed on the everchanging chessboard.

A good book in need of an editor. The story is good but the delivery needs a wise editor to shorten it. The length of the book is simply not justified. It was exhausting. I hope the author allows an editor to give a thorough review to the next book in the series.

Rating: ★★★★★-

Synopsis

In this action-packed epic fantasy debut, three heroes scarred by old hatreds must find a way to overcome their pasts if they are to have any chance of saving their crumbling Republic from complete destruction. Perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Brent Weeks, and Brandon Sanderson.

A shadow has fallen over the Tressian Republic.

While the armies of the Hadari Empire invade the borderlands, the Republic’s noble families plot against each other, divided by personal ambition.

But as Tressia falls, heroes rise.

Viktor Akadra is the Republic’s champion and conqueror of the rebellious south. A warrior without equal, he also hides a secret that would see him burned as a heretic.

Josiri Trelan would gladly see Viktor condemned to the flames – vengeance for a rebellion crushed and a mother slain. And while Josiri plots fresh insurrection, his sister, Calenne, is determined to escape their tarnished legacy and break the shackles of the past.

As dark days beckon, these three must overcome their differences to save the Republic. Yet decades of bad blood are not easily set aside. Victory – if it comes at all – will command a higher price than they could have imagined.

Review

Thanks to Hachette Audio, Libro.fm, the author, and the narrator for an advance listening copy of Legacy of Ash (Legacy Trilogy #1) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ALC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.

George R. R. Who? A sprawling epic filled with multi-dimensional characters, political intrigue, intense magic, and large-scale battles, Legacy of Ash is sure to be at the top of many “Best of” lists in 2020. A perfect blend of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom. If you enjoy epic fantasy in any capacity whatsoever, make sure this one is on your wish-list.

Now, before you ask, Legacy definitely deserves a 5-star rating, but I had to dock it down to a 4.5+ due to a few things at the beginning and throughout the novel. First off, while I can recommend the audiobook as Suzannah Hampton does a phenomenal job with the narration (even with a heavy dose of male characters), you may be better off grabbing a physical or digital copy and reading along (if you can afford to do so). Main reasons I say that are thus (and they are actually the same issues I had when first attempting Adrian Selby’s Snakewood): there is a large cast of characters given to you in a short period of time AND you are thrust directly into the action from the get-go. Names alone, at least for me, need time to gel before I can really get rolling in a novel. With the way this book consistently ramps up in pace, it can become a chore remembering who is whose daughter, son, mother, father, etc. when you do not have a list handy. The action thrusting wasn’t a huge deal, honestly, but I did need to give myself a couple of run-throughs with the prequel chapter as I may have just not been in the right mindset.

Having said all of that, every single character that Ward has written into this hefty tome has significant importance to how the story plays out. Much like GOT, even the minor characters deal a hand or two into the game in order to shake things up a bit. While we play around in the POVs of several major players, I did feel that we could have been given more insight into their true thoughts and motivations; but when you are at such a rigid pace for 784 pages, I can see why that may have taken a back seat (at least for part 1 of a trilogy).

What really shines in this novel, aside from the political machinations and characters, is the magic system. Giant war golems, assassins disguised as massive tangles of blackbirds, goddesses of the sun and moon, etc. Magic is used heavily throughout the story and every bit is bigger and more explosive than the last. There is also one VERY important magical aspect that I’ll let you see for yourself.

I urge you not to hesitate giving Legacy of Ash a go. I know that large tomes, especially debuts, can be a little harrowing, but I waited on Brian Lee Durfee’s The Forgetting Moon for what seemed like forever and loved the heck out of it. Sometimes, all it takes is a recommendation from one person you trust and you’ll be glad you joined the bandwagon. Also, if you wanted to read A Song of Ice and Fire, but didn’t care for all of the explicit material, Legacy of Ash is a no-brainer.