Book: Ashen Wings by D.L. Houpt
Reviewed by IvI
Rating: 4/5
I really enjoyed reading this book. The worldbuilding was so interesting, and I loved the factions' names and their own unique people and styles. The map at the beginning was amazing, it's always a PLUS to have one, and this one was stunning. Though I never truly understood why they went to war with each other, and why they killed the last guardian and destroyed an entire faction. And afterward, why did some of them close their borders to any refugees? And that brings me to the FMC, Nova, who was from the erased faction, with a truly devastating past obviously, and now working as a mercenary. She's 28yo and the best assassin in Smoke. I get that she has such low self-esteem, but she made really poor choices, time and time again. By the end of the book, I was almost hating her. She was more focused on the King of Shadows' chest than on finding the only person on the continent who could help them all! Jace was ok, though he was the typical broody handsome king, and I thought Isra and Roe were far more interesting, but we didn't get much about their stories. Hopefully in book 2?
Though the plot twists felt a bit predictable and I still have so many questions about everything, it was a great story.