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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Easy read, but main characters lack depth and story lacks speed at times. Difficult to like (and therefore care about) the main character Alys
Kithamar runs on the life blood of its people, all of them from the very wealthy to the very poor, and maybe something more
We follow Alys - emo queen of bad decisions
and Sammish - who is way too tired to be dealing with everything - and by everything I mean Alys' bad decisions.
In the beginning we don’t know much, apart from the hardship the characters see and face everyday from children. They need to make money to buy food and they will do that anyway they can - running cons and cutting purses.
They know as little as we do about magic, riches and crafted daggers. Then something happens that thrusts Alys, and through her Sammish, into a world where the decisions they used to make seem easy and nothing is certain
A great slow paced fantasy willed with morally grey characters, old gods and even older magic.
I really enjoyed this book, though there were at times were I was wishing that the suspense and mystery would give way to action sooner - the descriptions and world building started to drag slightly. But the action when it does come is enrapturing and definitely worth the wait. The plot twists and turns and so do the characters !
(Massive thanks to Daniel Abraham and Orbit publishing for the opportunity to read this book !)
We follow Alys - emo queen of bad decisions
and Sammish - who is way too tired to be dealing with everything - and by everything I mean Alys' bad decisions.
In the beginning we don’t know much, apart from the hardship the characters see and face everyday from children. They need to make money to buy food and they will do that anyway they can - running cons and cutting purses.
They know as little as we do about magic, riches and crafted daggers. Then something happens that thrusts Alys, and through her Sammish, into a world where the decisions they used to make seem easy and nothing is certain
A great slow paced fantasy willed with morally grey characters, old gods and even older magic.
I really enjoyed this book, though there were at times were I was wishing that the suspense and mystery would give way to action sooner - the descriptions and world building started to drag slightly. But the action when it does come is enrapturing and definitely worth the wait. The plot twists and turns and so do the characters !
(Massive thanks to Daniel Abraham and Orbit publishing for the opportunity to read this book !)
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Early on I was worried the hook for this book about the city being special was going to be a bland "the city is a character" when it's actually just a setting. But I'm glad to be wrong, it turns that around in a way that I think works well.
Slow start, but good delivery, particularly towards the end.
Slow start, but good delivery, particularly towards the end.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Age of Ash is the first in Daniel Abraham's new epic fantasy trilogy - Kithamar. This is my first outing into Abraham's novels that wasn't The Expanse and I can honestly say it won't be my last journey to Kithamar.
This story is set in beloved Kithamar, a city so rich and full of beautiful history that has a tale to tell for each resident but a sinister secret at its very core that is kept hidden. We start in the slums of Longhill, home to two thieves - Alys and Sammish - who succumb to political and magical intrigue of this journey. When Alys' brother Darro is killed, she sets on a rampage of revenge. Sammish tries to guide her through the struggle but the more they learn the truth, the more our thieves realise that there is more to save than just themselves.
I do adore a story centred around a heist that involves action and humour. Abraham certainly creates a slow start to Age of Ash that is character driven but the action that we do get is an intense change. Abraham has created characters with such deep depth that indulge loss and grief that it really drew me to these characters and that can be a hard thing to do in such epic stories. The point of views could have been intertwined better as I did feel disconnected at times but they do fall into place the longer the novel goes on. Abraham has a knack for perfectly detailed imagery and with each description that was written there was a clear image in my head of the scenery. Kithamar is brought to the forefront of this and we can tell that Abraham is an atmospheric writer who knows how to take words from page to mind.
I did find myself noticing how slow and lacking the book was at times. For as much as the book was detailed and packed, the lack of action left me more eager for conflict and more of this would have held my attention more. There is no denying that this is an exquisitely written, character-driven story that focuses on grief and secrets. Abraham has lured me into this series already and I cannot wait to see where this goes.
Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is set in beloved Kithamar, a city so rich and full of beautiful history that has a tale to tell for each resident but a sinister secret at its very core that is kept hidden. We start in the slums of Longhill, home to two thieves - Alys and Sammish - who succumb to political and magical intrigue of this journey. When Alys' brother Darro is killed, she sets on a rampage of revenge. Sammish tries to guide her through the struggle but the more they learn the truth, the more our thieves realise that there is more to save than just themselves.
I do adore a story centred around a heist that involves action and humour. Abraham certainly creates a slow start to Age of Ash that is character driven but the action that we do get is an intense change. Abraham has created characters with such deep depth that indulge loss and grief that it really drew me to these characters and that can be a hard thing to do in such epic stories. The point of views could have been intertwined better as I did feel disconnected at times but they do fall into place the longer the novel goes on. Abraham has a knack for perfectly detailed imagery and with each description that was written there was a clear image in my head of the scenery. Kithamar is brought to the forefront of this and we can tell that Abraham is an atmospheric writer who knows how to take words from page to mind.
I did find myself noticing how slow and lacking the book was at times. For as much as the book was detailed and packed, the lack of action left me more eager for conflict and more of this would have held my attention more. There is no denying that this is an exquisitely written, character-driven story that focuses on grief and secrets. Abraham has lured me into this series already and I cannot wait to see where this goes.
Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved Age of Ash. This is a very different type of fantasy, in terms of story and storytelling. It follows Alys, a small-time thief in her pursuit of the mystery behind her brother’s death. Set in the city princedom of Kithamar, I loved how slow and quiet the book was.
Alys is a very driven young woman who becomes consumed by her beloved brother’s death. In her pursuit for justice or vengeance, she lets herself become blinded by the chase that she starts to lose sight of who she is. Along for the ride is Sammish, her sometimes crewmate, a girl who’s talent of blending in and being easy to overlook has made it impossible to be seen in the way she wants to be. Initially an ally, she sees her friend pulling away and becoming someone else entirely who she may not want to give her loyalty to. Together and apart, they find pieces of the puzzle and find that they are just small fish with a part to play in a very big pond.
With Daniel Abraham’s beautifully written prose, Kithamar becomes a character in the story as each chapter teaches us about another aspect of the city we are immersed in. As the events unfolds and the mystery is unraveled bit by bit, we come to realize how the city itself, as much as the people who live in it, is playing a role in the story.
Daniel Abraham’s plan for this trilogy is to have three complete stand-alone stories that happen in the same city during the same year, and here were are seeing one part of it. And you can really tell that more is happening behind the scenes than what we are seeing. In a grand scheme, we follow just a small plot with minor players mixing with bigger ones. This leaves a lot of room for a more intimate character-driven story that is best described as a slow burn that I found to be easy to put down and pick back up.
Age of Ash is a fantasy adventure that may be slow and intimate, but still delivers a satisfying story with a promise of bigger reveals to come.
Thank you to Orbit Books UK for sending me a copy of this book.
Alys is a very driven young woman who becomes consumed by her beloved brother’s death. In her pursuit for justice or vengeance, she lets herself become blinded by the chase that she starts to lose sight of who she is. Along for the ride is Sammish, her sometimes crewmate, a girl who’s talent of blending in and being easy to overlook has made it impossible to be seen in the way she wants to be. Initially an ally, she sees her friend pulling away and becoming someone else entirely who she may not want to give her loyalty to. Together and apart, they find pieces of the puzzle and find that they are just small fish with a part to play in a very big pond.
With Daniel Abraham’s beautifully written prose, Kithamar becomes a character in the story as each chapter teaches us about another aspect of the city we are immersed in. As the events unfolds and the mystery is unraveled bit by bit, we come to realize how the city itself, as much as the people who live in it, is playing a role in the story.
Daniel Abraham’s plan for this trilogy is to have three complete stand-alone stories that happen in the same city during the same year, and here were are seeing one part of it. And you can really tell that more is happening behind the scenes than what we are seeing. In a grand scheme, we follow just a small plot with minor players mixing with bigger ones. This leaves a lot of room for a more intimate character-driven story that is best described as a slow burn that I found to be easy to put down and pick back up.
Age of Ash is a fantasy adventure that may be slow and intimate, but still delivers a satisfying story with a promise of bigger reveals to come.
Thank you to Orbit Books UK for sending me a copy of this book.
I absolutely love Daniel Abraham’s books. The details and flow of writing suck me in and make everything so vivid in my mind. Definitely worth reading if you are looking for a new sci-fi/fantasy author!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes