PILLAR OF ASH brings this quartet to a close, the world coming close to being unmade as threads woven through the series conclude.

This is a book about a healer and a pacifist trying to keep those she loves alive in a violent world where not taking up weapons is frowned upon. I liked having a less martially inclined protagonist, one who values healing and nature over brute force. Yske isn't naïve about the world, but determined not to let it force onto her ideals she doesn't want.

This is the book where the series title (new since BARROW OF WINTER), The Four Pillars, really makes sense. I liked seeing the hints dropped come together - and the pillars themselves play a role in the book (though the focus is very much on Yske.) Like BARROW OF WINTER, this book has a new protagonist to follow. The other two protagonists, Hessa and Thray, show up without taking the focus off Yske, which was a nice thread of continuity.

I've enjoyed how each book explores a new part of the ever expanding world. This time, the book heads east to the very edges of the world. There are some pretty unnerving creatures out here (the revenants, *shudders*) which were fun in a creepy way.

I am sad to say goodbye to this series, but it ended in an epic way, bringing together the many characters of the books.

Pillar of Ash is the fourth and final book in The Four Pillars series. I read the third book last year and since then I read the first two books. This book is an amazing conclusion. I enjoyed the detailed worldbuilding. Although the books can be read as standalone, I would highly recommend reading the first book before reading Pillar of Ash to better understand this fantastic world. Also, we get to catch up with the other characters from previous books too. Overall, I enjoyed this series and look forward to reading more from H.M. Long.

Pillar of Ash H. M. Long was a very enjoyable adventure.
I thought the writing was atmospheric and she really sucked me in almost immediately.
The world building and character development was wonderfully done.
The descriptions were often cinematic and very compelling. The author writes with a beautiful almost lyrical style that’s add so much beauty to the story.

Thank You NetGalley and Titan Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This was an exciting and good conclusion to a fantastic series. I loved going back to all the characters, and the superb storyline. 4 stars.

What an ending for an amazing series!

I've loved this world since Hall of Smoke, and even though sometimes I forgot the finer points of the mythology, the fact that these are all stand alones - and truly stand alones, which is no mean feat! - means I didn't need to remember. Yske was an excellent protagonist; I understood her drive to protect her brother even when he was being an ass, and I loved the light romance with her an Isik.

I also loved catching up with characters I knew from earlier in the series (and let me reiterate: it's not necessary to know it to follow the story, it's just fun if you do). Ardune and Thray were particular standouts. :)

Thanks HM Long for the wild ride! I'm already looking forward to going back and re-reading them all again.

Pillar of Ash by H.M. Long is an excellent end for a trilogy that has kept me excited for the better part of three years now.

I have been completely captured by the characters and mythology of this world and can't wait to see what this author will create next. I only wish more of their stories were available in a hardcover version as the store I work for doesn't tend to pull in paperbacks.

"Pillar of Ash" by H. M. Long is the enthralling conclusion to the "Hall of Smoke" saga. This epic fantasy saga is perfect for fans of mythical and emotional storytelling, with echoes of Ragnarök and resonances with authors like Claire LeGrand, Margaret Owen, V. E. Schwab, and Melissa Caruso.

The story follows Yske, a healer and the daughter of the legendary warrior priestess Hessa. Yske has dedicated her life to medicine and pacifism in service to Aita, the Great Healer. However, when her twin brother Berin, driven by a hunger for glory, assembles a party to investigate strange sightings in the Unmade – shadows in the darkness at the end of the world – Yske joins the mission to protect him.

Their journey takes them through primal forests, ancient paths, and the shadowy realms where gods once warred and powerful beasts were defeated and bound. As they approach the Unmade, they encounter strange and terrible things – corruptions in nature, monstrous creatures of moss and bone, and the echoes of an ancient conflict.

Yske must navigate this perilous journey, earning the respect of her brother and his warriors while upholding her commitment to mercy and healing. The narrative is woven with elements of survival, ambushes, brutal sieges, and the final war with the gods. The fate of creation hangs in the balance, set against the backdrop of a vast and ancient tree.

"Pillar of Ash" promises to be a thrilling and immersive experience, offering readers a rich and complex fantasy world with a compelling mix of action, mythology, and emotional depth.

The one at the end of the world. I've loved the Four Pillars series since @sifaelizabethreads made me read the first book way back in February 2021. I have loved reading this series following Hessa, Thray, and now Yske on their adventures. Pillar of Ash deftly pulls the threads carefully placed over the last 3 books leading to a stunning ending. Yske is a brilliant lead and very different to the warrior women who raised her. Her healing abilities are what get her dragged off on her brother's quest to the far distant east and monsters and the unknown.
I loved watching the development of her character, her complex relationship with her travelling companions and her friend Isik. Sweet, wonderful, well meaning Isik. I like Isik.

Honestly this is such a great adventure and end to the series and I loved how each of the main and major characters from throughout the series all got an ending that made sense given their arc, the incredible world building remains a character of its own I could really feel myself in each of the locations. The uncomfortable and damp trek through the forest, the eerie location at the end of the world, and the sudden shifts in tension as they travelled putting me on the edge of my seat.

Honestly, as devastated as I am that it's over, it was a joy to read and I can't wait for Black Tide Son. I'd probably read @hmlongbooks' shopping lists at this point xD. A massive thank you to @titanbooks for approving my @netgalley request!

Yske, a healer and daughter of the warrior priestess Hessa, holds the balance of power in a world-shattering war of the gods, in this thrilling, mythical, and emotional epic fantasy saga.

H.M. Long is one of the best fantasy authors out there and this book is no exception. Yske is a great protagonist and this world feels more real with every book.