Reviews

Ashes of Gold by J. Elle

dragonwriter's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Now that East Row is safe from the General’s drug ring, Rue has to return to Ghizon to save her other family. When she wakes up in a cell with Jhamal and the memory of a lost battle, her self-confidence is shaken. After an indeterminate time trapped underground, Jhamal, Rue, and Brie are rescued and taken to join the other survivors, and Rue is horrified to discover that their numbers have been halved. What’s worse, Central Ghizon is tearing itself apart, those loyal to the Chancelor setting fire to the homes and buildings of the various neighborhoods. Determined to fix her mistakes, Rue sets out to raise the ancestors to have them restore her people’s magic, but when a seer predicts that someone will betray her--already has betrayed her--Rue begins to doubt more than just herself. She doubts everyone around her. 

Book one was better in my opinion. For one thing, the Ghizoni had minor magic that they could use, but it was very weak. In book two, however, Rue is the only one able to use magic without being bound to an onyx. She is the ancestor’s glowing exception. I have no idea how the other Ghizoni lost their magic, even small as it was, leaving Rue to be the ONLY one to be able to use magic. Then her being in the cell felt very handwaved. She recovers her memories, but I don’t think it was ever explained how she was captured. Jhamal’s whole arc was very predictable, but I did like how people reminded Rue to be patient with Brie, who was actively trying to improve. I don’t like the friendship between Rue and Brie, because Brie literally sacrifices everything (home, family, magic) for Rue, but Rue still accuses Brie of being the traitor, and calls her selfish and a know-it-all to her face. Yet Brie lets it all slide off her back  and keeps trying to be better. Still, the ending was solid. The final battle and resolutions were all good--though I didn’t like how hung up Rue was on the REAL traitor, romanticizing him and keeping Julian at arm’s length. It didn’t feel right, like she kept treating everyone who hurt her better than those who remained loyal to her. It was the only disappointment in the ending.

firefox's review

4.0

Not as good as book 1 tbh

amichelle08's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

marydillon's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ori_on's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to like this book more but I just feel like it failed our protagonist. Rue is a great character, in my opinion, but I feel like she spent a lot of the book questioning herself and then her growth was rushed at the end. The "big twists" lacked the foreshadowing that would've made them interesting and impactful, and the whole betrayal plot point felt out of nowhere. Kai's arc would've been a lot better with proper foreshadowing too. Everything was rushed at the end but the middle was slow. Not balanced at all.

hulahoopes's review

4.0

This is an excellent sequel to Wings of Ebony. The story is tightly woven and continues the epic struggle of magic for the true Ghizoni people.

chromedove's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lost_in_tome's review

4.0

What a beautiful way to end this story!

I loved this from beginning to end. And let me tell you…THAT ENDING!!

Elle does a beautiful job taking heavy topics like race, injustice, how to be a true ally and setting it all in a detailed fantasy world.

I love to see character growth throughout a story and was very pleased to see this one start off on a heavier darker note. Though I loved the last book, I felt like Rue didn’t really have a lot of moments where we got to see her fail and rise up from it. This one gave me all of the character growth.

I will absolutely recommend this to everyone, no matter your age group!

Merged review:

What a beautiful way to end this story!

I loved this from beginning to end. And let me tell you…THAT ENDING!!

Elle does a beautiful job taking heavy topics like race, injustice, how to be a true ally and setting it all in a detailed fantasy world.

I love to see character growth throughout a story and was very pleased to see this one start off on a heavier darker note. Though I loved the last book, I felt like Rue didn’t really have a lot of moments where we got to see her fail and rise up from it. This one gave me all of the character growth.

I will absolutely recommend this to everyone, no matter your age group

colorfulleo92's review

3.0

It was an enjoyable read but I didn't quite enjoy the second as much as the first. Might be because it's a been a while since I read the first. 3.5 stars

adisiki's review

3.0

I can appreciate what this series was trying to do, but I just didn’t enjoy it unfortunately. The writing was better in this one, much less stuttering, but it felt way too simple for me. Her sister and her life in Houston was completely forgotten about, her insecurities and paranoia got annoying, and

WTF RIP JHAMAL YOU DESERVED WAY BETTER