Favors within Ashes
Sins of Starlight Collapse
by John D. Escu
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Pub Date Nov 15 2024 | Archive Date Nov 09 2024
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Description
Favors within Ashes submerges you under the pain of squinting eyes and clenching teeth.
Blood and obedience rules over the holy lands of Canoria, where the kiss of whips unleash orders and sharpened steel cuts the flesh of those who pretend not to have heard the snap!
Man created sin.
The completion of the largest temple ever to be raised in the continent of Dautrinias approaches. King Kristoff Lodort promises songs of celebration, gathering the purest of maidens, the mightiest kings, and the most beloved queens in Radiant Star for a festivity deemed to please the gods.
While the final brick is laid, Marco Doran is confined in between the Crown’s merciless rebirth knights and his struggle to prove his worth.
Unrest and tragedy surround the capital while the cold talons of heretics spread their poison over all that is holy.
Highborn and lowborn, none are truly safe, as the seed of deception and doubt sprouts from within the Lodort kingship.
There is only one way, through the pain.
A Note From the Publisher
Trigger Warning: Scenes depicting death, violence, suicide and sexual assault. Explicit language.
The book also contains:
High detailed maps, designed by the author.
Character and animal Illustrations, hand drawn by the author.
A Glossary with information regarding characters, animals, healing and chronological terms. It is located at the end.
Advance Praise
ARC Reviews:
"John Escu's Favors within Ashes is captivating story, filled with complex characters, emotion, suspense and fantastic world building.
It's violent and gritty world, which the author doesn't shy away from and instead leans into it, making it all the more graphic and paints a picture that really stays with you. ..." - Danni
"John D. Escu does a fantastic job of world building and painting vivid stories for the characters. The art of writing phonetically to show the accents of the characters is something I personally really like, as it feels personal and like you’re hearing the characters.
The maps, drawing of characters and other “Key” features of the book is a beautiful touch, especially knowing they’ve been drawn by the author himself. ..." - Sarah
"I usually don’t read books like this but honestly I genuinely thought this was an AMAZING book! It is very detailed within the side of world and character building, which i did struggle a little with at first but as i got into it, it was absolutely awesome!
I absolutely LOVED the medieval environment with the social standing element which we even still see today! It was VERY well written!😊
I also loved how all of the stories tied into one another throughout as you could see the story unfolding but also leaving you just enough to know whats happening but making you want to read even MORE, a very amazing start to what i’m sure will be an amazing series! Very excited to read more and i will certainly will be re-reading it again on release to relive the world again!🙌🏻
I also LOVED the maps and illustrations within the book, it made the imagination even stronger within the story, it was wonderful!It’s a long book (700+ pages) so it’s a big commitment and ends on a cliffhanger, so you’ll obviously need to pick up the next book, too! ..." - Emma B.
"Fantastic book that should be on anyone who's into dark fantasy, I look forward to reading more from them!"John Escu’s Favors Within Ashes is a captivating book that masterfully blends suspense, emotion, and interesting character dynamics. The story takes place in a beautifully constructed world where every single detail feels purposeful. Escu has the ability to bring characters to life and make them feel incredibly real with their struggles. ..." - Jordan C.
"The author does a great job of building up the world and characters, giving you enough information to understand what’s going on, whilst also holding enough back it keeps you wanting to read more to get the full picture. There are also lots of highly populated maps showing the various areas described in the story which can be helpful to understand where the characters are and where their journey takes them. ..." - Amy P.
"A Kafkaesque version of Game of Thrones - but in a good way! ..." - Svetlana P.
"After ARC-reading this manuscript “Favors within Ashes”, I'm thrilled to conclude that it is a highly entertaining and action-packed journey through a richly imagined world. The story unfolds with a sense of grandeur and excitement that captured my imagination from the outset, making it a truly engaging read. One of the most remarkable aspects of your manuscript is its vast cast of characters and the diversity of locations that serve as the backdrop for their intertwining stories. ..." - Maddy D.
"This book is a must-read for all the fantasy lovers out there. It is giving Game of Thrones a strong run for its money, as the author managed to keep me enticed and on the edge of my seat throughout the entire journey. The world he created is unique in not only the settings but also in the characters. Prepare for a highly emotional, shocking, horror and action-filled trip in a fantastical world like none other. Keen on reading the next book in the series! ..." - Chantelle.
"I find myself truly taken by the way you craft your scenes with such detailed descriptions and striking imagery. It`s this aspect that does wonders for the creation of your world and sets the perfect backdrop. ..." - Enrico B.
"Your approach to character development, particularly how you delve into their inner thoughts and reflections, really stands out to me. It's through these passages that I've come to understand the deep motivations and fears driving characters. ..." - Enrico B.
"The dark, medieval fantasy setting is as intricate as it is engaging. Through my journey with this narrative, I've grown to admire your skill in interlacing themes of rebellion, sacrifice, and the search for justice into the story's very essence. These themes don't just add depth to the plot; they create a resonant commentary on the fight for societal change and the resilience of the human spirit. ..." - Enrico B.
"Favors within Ashes offers a striking, immersive journey that exemplifies the impact of meticulous literary craftsmanship within the dark fantasy genre. ..." - Literaryar.
Marketing Plan
About the Author:
"John D. Escu is a Romanian-born tattoo artist and musician living in Germany.
Raised in a military family, John was fascinated as a child with his parents’ stories regarding events occurring throughout Medieval Europe, WW1, WW2 and the Romanian Revolution of 1989.
Where his father would focus on warfare and military conquests, his mother would terrify him and his sister with tales and legends of Romanian folklore. Vampires and Strigois rising from their graves, roaming the streets under the full moon, gave them both sleepless nights, as they both feared what could be lurking outside their windows.
Fascinated with comic books, Saturday morning cartoons, and early ’90s anime, John began drawing and developing his own stories at an early age, creating characters, places, and events that later on could only be presented through the form of novels.
When he is not writing, tattooing, recording music or drawing, John can be found mountain biking in the wilderness of Franconia in Germany."
Featured Reviews
Robin T, Reviewer
Filled with colorful characters, politics, and a dark, gritty fantasy world, Favors within Ashes accompanies readers with carefully crafted worldbuilding and beautiful illustrations drawn by the author.
The book opens with a strong prologue, and afterwards dives into the bleak world that welcomes you with with giant birds, people eating stones to survive, and old temples filled with danger.
We follow various POV's in this story. My favorite has been Marco's. I love stories of trying to get out of a violent and dirty life. The story is best experienced by yourself. This is not an easy read, not only does the book feature detailed descriptions of the world, there is also quite a bit of violence of all kinds, though it is not overwhelming.
This is a very strong debut that does not read like an author's first work to me. Writing a 700 page debut is not an easy task. The writing was easy to understand, character development was great, and it's clear the author put love into it.
To the author:
I am looking forward to the sequel. I do hope you can manage to tighten the sequel a bit more, while I loved the first book, it was long, and at times started to drag, before picking up the pace again. Nonetheless, I am glad to have found your work, and wish you success with this series. And thank you for the illustrations, I always love art in books!
