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An Ember In The Forest
Aria is trapped. Locked away in isolation in a strange forest, without memories of who she is or where she came from, Aria fights to make sense of the small world around her. With only her name written on a piece of paper, and a wolf for company, the fight for freedom feels bleak as loneliness creeps in. Her only escape comes when she falls asleep each night to dream of him.
Casen is haunted. The prestige General of Landora, Casen Alvar, is haunted by nightmares about a girl in the woods he doesn’t know and can never save. These visions chase him from sleep, haunting his waking world until he feels a pull leading deep into the woods outside the safety of the city walls.
A rebellion is brewing. Ancient enemies are stirring, with whispers of another war surfacing. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as Casen and Aria fight to untangle the hidden web of secrets about who they are. Aria’s stolen memories are the key to unlocking who she is meant to be. The secrets of the System force Casen to face the dark truth about his world and which side he will choose to fight on.
Casen is haunted. The prestige General of Landora, Casen Alvar, is haunted by nightmares about a girl in the woods he doesn’t know and can never save. These visions chase him from sleep, haunting his waking world until he feels a pull leading deep into the woods outside the safety of the city walls.
A rebellion is brewing. Ancient enemies are stirring, with whispers of another war surfacing. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as Casen and Aria fight to untangle the hidden web of secrets about who they are. Aria’s stolen memories are the key to unlocking who she is meant to be. The secrets of the System force Casen to face the dark truth about his world and which side he will choose to fight on.
561 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2023
213 people are currently reading
7225 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
May 4, 2024
A freaking masterpiece. I ate this book up!!!
A young woman wakes up in a magical dome (a prison) with no memory whatsoever. Not a soul in there with her other than that of a wolf who knows and loves her. Together they spend their days searching for a way out and surviving in the magical dome living in the sentient cottage at its center that caters to her every need. Every night she dreams of falling, slipping through the hands of a mysterious man.
The tall drink of water and General of the guard is trying to quell a rebellion of humans who claim to have magic. Which is ridiculous considering magic was eradicated. On a patrol, he stumbles through a dome in the deep dark part of the forest only to find the woman he’s been dreaming about every day for 6months! EEEEEEK.
Angels, demons, humans with magic. A wolf with secrets. The angst, the mystery� the SLOW BURN 🔥 perfection.
Obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. I devoured every single page and was utterly lost to the authors beautiful and deadly world she created. This could easily be a gnarly movie or tv series. I cannot wait for more!!
A young woman wakes up in a magical dome (a prison) with no memory whatsoever. Not a soul in there with her other than that of a wolf who knows and loves her. Together they spend their days searching for a way out and surviving in the magical dome living in the sentient cottage at its center that caters to her every need. Every night she dreams of falling, slipping through the hands of a mysterious man.
The tall drink of water and General of the guard is trying to quell a rebellion of humans who claim to have magic. Which is ridiculous considering magic was eradicated. On a patrol, he stumbles through a dome in the deep dark part of the forest only to find the woman he’s been dreaming about every day for 6months! EEEEEEK.
Angels, demons, humans with magic. A wolf with secrets. The angst, the mystery� the SLOW BURN 🔥 perfection.
Obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. I devoured every single page and was utterly lost to the authors beautiful and deadly world she created. This could easily be a gnarly movie or tv series. I cannot wait for more!!
March 8, 2024
dnf at 30%. I really tried to get into this but I just couldn't. I didn't connect with either of the characters and it was just really slow. At 30% almost nothing has happened and I'm not interested enough to figure out if anything will.
June 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this book!! I think the concept was so unique and enthralling, and I could not bring myself to put it down despite being in a massive reading slump. I truly loved both of the characters so much, Casen was honestly such a hidden softie and Aria had me so invested. I think there is bound to be some serious character development as this series continues and I’m so excited for it! I also have to note how thoroughly impressed I was with the writing. It was so lyrical and quotable I felt like I had to annotate every single line. I absolutely recommend this book and I cannot wait for the next book to come out!
April 24, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ I had so much fun with this and literally devoured it in a day. The premise was so unique, and I loved uncovering Aria’s origins throughout the book. The tension between Aria and Casen had me drooling. This book is filled with angels, demons, witches, and a shapeshifting wolf. The politics and magic had me hooked from the very beginning, and I can’t wait to see how the world expands in future books.
The betrayal in this HURT!!! I felt like I was kind of expecting it but I was really hoping to be proven wrong. I think this book did a wonderful job of setting up this series, and I’m excited to continue when more books come out.
UNFORTUNATELY I started this thinking book 2 was coming out next week, only to find out it’s actually book 1.5 and a prequel, not a story continuation. I’m heartbroken.
The betrayal in this HURT!!! I felt like I was kind of expecting it but I was really hoping to be proven wrong. I think this book did a wonderful job of setting up this series, and I’m excited to continue when more books come out.
UNFORTUNATELY I started this thinking book 2 was coming out next week, only to find out it’s actually book 1.5 and a prequel, not a story continuation. I’m heartbroken.
April 17, 2024
This book is the most generic YA dystopian novel ever. The governing body is literally called "The System." It only takes one single conversation for the MC to start doubting the system. It is so obviously corrupt and classist though. There is no originality or depth. Everything was extremely cliche and superficial.
The bigger issue with this book though is the lack of explanations and world building. More than once I thought that perhaps I picked up the second book in the series instead of the first because we were thrown into this world with magic and class systems and mythical creatures with absolutely no background. I've read a million angel books and it still took me a bit to figure out that's what this book was about. Even now I still don't really understand this world.
The other big complaint I have was the amount of summarizing in this book. The first couple chapters did okay with actually "showing not telling" and there was some emotion. But quickly, the author just started summarizing what each person did that day, and eventually summarizing weeks at a time. It was so boring.
Ultimately, this book is a good outline for a novel, but never should have been the final product. It seriously needs a professional editor.
The bigger issue with this book though is the lack of explanations and world building. More than once I thought that perhaps I picked up the second book in the series instead of the first because we were thrown into this world with magic and class systems and mythical creatures with absolutely no background. I've read a million angel books and it still took me a bit to figure out that's what this book was about. Even now I still don't really understand this world.
The other big complaint I have was the amount of summarizing in this book. The first couple chapters did okay with actually "showing not telling" and there was some emotion. But quickly, the author just started summarizing what each person did that day, and eventually summarizing weeks at a time. It was so boring.
Ultimately, this book is a good outline for a novel, but never should have been the final product. It seriously needs a professional editor.
May 28, 2024
Please let it be known that the ONLY reason I finished this book was so I could have validation writing this, knowing it never got better. The book is 556 pages long and stuff doesn’t really start happening until page 520. That’s the most aggressive “slow burn� I’ve ever heard of. The plot moves so slowly that at times I feel after “weeks have gone by� that nothing has changed. She summarizes days to weeks in a single paragraph but then also overly explains a room/character in the very next line. Every girl character has “full lips,� “high cheek bones,� and “a curtain of hair.� Her descriptors became so redundant that every time I read one of those markers I rolled my eyes.
Each chapter struggled to hold my attention. But that could also be because of the countless spelling/grammar errors throughout this entire book. Some quotes don’t have an end quotation mark, she hardly ever uses possessive apostrophes, and there are several misspelled or added words that don’t make sense. There were also plenty of spacing issues and words missing letters.
That said, the concept was okay but half of the fantasy aspect wasn’t developed enough to make sense. It ended on a “cliffhanger� but I will 100% not read the next book.
Each chapter struggled to hold my attention. But that could also be because of the countless spelling/grammar errors throughout this entire book. Some quotes don’t have an end quotation mark, she hardly ever uses possessive apostrophes, and there are several misspelled or added words that don’t make sense. There were also plenty of spacing issues and words missing letters.
That said, the concept was okay but half of the fantasy aspect wasn’t developed enough to make sense. It ended on a “cliffhanger� but I will 100% not read the next book.
November 29, 2023
Ember in the forest had a concept that I hadn't run into in any fantasy/romancy story that I have come across yet. I loved the idea and how the warded cabin and grounds came into focus. It starts of slow and then little pieces start to come together. Soon enough the book throws you into the journey. I knew something big was coming towards the end and sure enough it left with me wanting to know so much more. Just as Aria is starting to piece back together who she is and her abilities...ugh!! Not to mention Casen's learned talents have me intrigued.
I can't wait to see how the chemistry blossoms in the next installment and where the story goes. Congratulations Emily on putting together this journey. I ate this book up in 2 days. I loved being an ARC reader for this book and will definitely be getting my hands on any more from Emily.
I can't wait to see how the chemistry blossoms in the next installment and where the story goes. Congratulations Emily on putting together this journey. I ate this book up in 2 days. I loved being an ARC reader for this book and will definitely be getting my hands on any more from Emily.
February 19, 2025
DNF @60%
I liked the idea of this book, but it feels as though it was poorly executed. The world building really needs some work. I found myself confused about how this world worked and how the magic worked. The background of how "the system" came to be and how the governing structure worked were not clear. The 2 main characters felt really 1 dimensional. Not a lot of depth. I felt confused about how Casen came to be this high-ranking general at only 25 years old? There were really no special qualities shown as to why he would be in such a prestigious position at such a young age. Also, what did he even do in that job? The descriptions of his work were very generic and vague. There were also a lot of spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book.
I liked the idea of this book, but it feels as though it was poorly executed. The world building really needs some work. I found myself confused about how this world worked and how the magic worked. The background of how "the system" came to be and how the governing structure worked were not clear. The 2 main characters felt really 1 dimensional. Not a lot of depth. I felt confused about how Casen came to be this high-ranking general at only 25 years old? There were really no special qualities shown as to why he would be in such a prestigious position at such a young age. Also, what did he even do in that job? The descriptions of his work were very generic and vague. There were also a lot of spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book.
April 27, 2025
iskreno ideja uopste nije toliko losa ali je tako predictable plot i glupo je sto je kraj kofol cliffhanger a citavu knjigu cura nema memories kao daj brate moze li ova aria barem malo biti korisna molim vas
casen i aria romance mi je isto beze kao mozda je do mene ali stvarno nisam dozivjela ovaj njihov “love story� i garant ce biti neki mates tako ti fazoni sto je ok ali generalno glupo opisano
opet dobra ideja ali glupo uradjeno kad izadje mislim da cu procitati ovaj prequel jer mi izgleda puno zanimljivije od ove knjige a sequel cu vrv skippati skroz AKO ikad izadje jer na kraju prve knjige pise da izlazi winter 2024 a nije izaslo nikada tako da vidi se da je autorki muka od ovog isto
nisam odusevljena ali hajde barem nesto da citam (gotta get that challenge going)
casen i aria romance mi je isto beze kao mozda je do mene ali stvarno nisam dozivjela ovaj njihov “love story� i garant ce biti neki mates tako ti fazoni sto je ok ali generalno glupo opisano
opet dobra ideja ali glupo uradjeno kad izadje mislim da cu procitati ovaj prequel jer mi izgleda puno zanimljivije od ove knjige a sequel cu vrv skippati skroz AKO ikad izadje jer na kraju prve knjige pise da izlazi winter 2024 a nije izaslo nikada tako da vidi se da je autorki muka od ovog isto
nisam odusevljena ali hajde barem nesto da citam (gotta get that challenge going)
January 13, 2025
Overall I liked it! There were definitely some unique elements to it. However, it didn’t quite have the “it� factor that gets me fully sucked into a book. I can’t quite place my finger on why. Maybe too much exposition?
December 10, 2024
I liked the story, but the page count and the slow pace made me spend waaaay too much time with this thing.
The characters are pleasant and the writing style is enjoyable.
The characters are pleasant and the writing style is enjoyable.
January 29, 2025
Bon bah j’ai trop hâte d’avoir le tome 1.5 dans les mains. J’ai besoin de la suite, c’est vital!
J’ai tellement aimé.
J’ai tellement aimé.
June 10, 2025
I put this book on hold because I wanted to give it my full attention and man am I happy I did that. The concept of this book was so well thought out. I loved the characters Aria and Casen and I loved the character development. I wasn’t expecting to read this book as fast as I did but, once I started I literally couldn’t put it down.
January 13, 2025
This book was so unique compared to other fantasy books I’ve read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series when it comes out!
November 26, 2023
This book had me from the get-go. I was drawn into this beautiful, devastating world. The author, Emily Grey, has a way of pulling you in, making you feel what the characters do. This book had me smiling, laughing, tearing up, and clenching my fists in anger. The main characters are strong and powerful with intense struggles within. You can't help but identify with them. I struggled to finish the book purely because I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to read more in this series. I don't think I want to leave Aria's prison.
December 24, 2024
Unfortunately this is just not a good book.
It had real promise! The start was excellent but once that's over with it, it descends into plain bad writing.
The plot becomes dull, and the characters once they meet each other become completely one dimensional. The side characters are all various versions of one another, nothing to distinguish them but names. Even the groupings of people. Dwellers Vs Unclassed or whatever it was are hard to tell from one another leaving the brain confused by the end of it.
The plot is ambitious but executed poorly and moves along at a pace that leaves a lot to be desired.
The world itself is also poorly explained and also over explained in a way that I can't even wrap my head around. Grey opts to tell rather than show which caused a lot of skim reading, so perhaps that is why I have spent to much time in this world and yet don't understand it at all.
There were also a lot of editing errors throughout which were really off putting. Repeating of words in the continuous sentences, incorrect spelling. and at some points even going against her own writing. (Cough, the whole Cas not knowing Rhea's name although he has already told the reader her name a chapter or so before)
Will not be continuing on with series
It had real promise! The start was excellent but once that's over with it, it descends into plain bad writing.
The plot becomes dull, and the characters once they meet each other become completely one dimensional. The side characters are all various versions of one another, nothing to distinguish them but names. Even the groupings of people. Dwellers Vs Unclassed or whatever it was are hard to tell from one another leaving the brain confused by the end of it.
The plot is ambitious but executed poorly and moves along at a pace that leaves a lot to be desired.
The world itself is also poorly explained and also over explained in a way that I can't even wrap my head around. Grey opts to tell rather than show which caused a lot of skim reading, so perhaps that is why I have spent to much time in this world and yet don't understand it at all.
There were also a lot of editing errors throughout which were really off putting. Repeating of words in the continuous sentences, incorrect spelling. and at some points even going against her own writing. (Cough, the whole Cas not knowing Rhea's name although he has already told the reader her name a chapter or so before)
Will not be continuing on with series
December 4, 2023
*I received an ARC copy of this book*
This was a fun read for me! I enjoyed seeing the story develop throughout, and I loved that we discovered things at the same time Aria did. I loved the slow burn from almost-enemies to lovers, and watching Aria and Casen's inner turmoil develop through the dual POV was fun.
I feel like there wasn't the clunky aspect some debuts have when developing their world building and explaining their magic system, which was a great plus for me. I can't wait to learn more about Aria's past and delve deeper into the unique political system created here.
There were some aspects I did question, but overall, I was hooked, and I can't wait to see more from this series. Especially with that ending!!
I am very grateful to have received an ARC copy of this book, and I really enjoyed the journey.
This was a fun read for me! I enjoyed seeing the story develop throughout, and I loved that we discovered things at the same time Aria did. I loved the slow burn from almost-enemies to lovers, and watching Aria and Casen's inner turmoil develop through the dual POV was fun.
I feel like there wasn't the clunky aspect some debuts have when developing their world building and explaining their magic system, which was a great plus for me. I can't wait to learn more about Aria's past and delve deeper into the unique political system created here.
There were some aspects I did question, but overall, I was hooked, and I can't wait to see more from this series. Especially with that ending!!
I am very grateful to have received an ARC copy of this book, and I really enjoyed the journey.
September 8, 2024
The typos and grammatical issues made this a difficult read from the start. Not to mention the “enemies to lovers� trope the author was working towards felt incredibly forced. I DNF’d at 46% of the way through. The MMC is incredibly cheesy and again this idea of “forced� applies to him too. The author tries to force this idea that he’s morally gray but he really isn’t. I felt confused the entire time I was reading due to the minimal world building. Paragraphs will jump spans of time but then later the author will say that a shorter amount of time has passed than previously indicated.
This book had so much potential but it just didn’t due to the above mentioned.
This book had so much potential but it just didn’t due to the above mentioned.
Read
March 18, 2024DNF at 35% - Not enough plot progression and the book is dragging for as beefy as it is. I feel like a lot is being forced on me vs shown to me.
Read
January 10, 2024DNF’d at 46% because, sadly, I was bored and just couldn’t get into this book.
December 17, 2023
🌶�: 2.5/5
⭐️:3.5/5
TL;DR: It wasn’t amazing writing, technically speaking, but I also wouldn’t be embarrassed to have my boyfriend read this over my shoulder (though that’s never stopped me before). I liked it, would recommend it to my fellow romantasy girlies, and will be reading the next one.
Genre tags: dystopian, fantasy, romance
Tropes: forced proximity, amnesia, fated mates-esque/soul connection
Other tags: multiple POV, LGBTQIA+, bad dads, war, gore/violence, dead moms club, romantasy, polytheistic, angels & demons, morally grey, caste system
Did I enjoy it: YES
Will I read the next one: YES
Who is this book for: people who like romantic fantasy with moderate spice levels. If you like Jennifer Armentrout you may be interested in this book.
There are explicit scenes, so I recommend this book for 18+ readers
Synopsis: the FMC doesn't remember who she is, is trapped in a forest prison with no way out, and is completely alone. The MMC is the son of the Head Counselor, a general in the human army, and is for some reason being drawn to our FMC - a being that he is pretty sure is an enemy of the human race. When they come together they will have to work together to uncover the truth of who they both are. But once they do, they will have some devastating choices to make.
My thoughts: Definitely enjoyed it. I can tell that Emily really thoroughly knew her FMC - the voice of her character is super clear. And I liked the MMC and the complexity of his personal relationships.
It is very fast paced, the action starts immediately and is very intriguing from page one. I liked the balance between being both plot and character driven.
The world building is interesting despite feeling a little like an afterthought to the character builds. While I don’t usually find caste systems interesting at all / laugh at them in most books (red queen I’m looking at you), this one was at least not annoying and was even a little interesting.
I knocked it down to 3.5 stars for a couple reasons. The writing could use some polish. Some of the book is wordy and there are grammatical errors. It feels amateurish, self published. While that absolutely won’t stop me from reading an interesting idea, it does impact my enjoyment. That is really the main reason for the lower rating. If anything this just makes me very excited to see this author grow and what she can do with a little more experience.
My rants: There’s one trope that always makes me so annoyed� A riddle/prophesy/some sort of “vague advice� that is glaringly obvious to everyone except the MCs, because they for whatever reason have “no idea what it could possibly be�. I can’t stand that they are clearly smart people in general so how can they not put some pretty obvious pieces of the puzzle together? Ugh haha. Also, I really wish there was more shown of the internal conflict/resolution process regarding the attraction between the MMC & FMC. While yes it wasn’t a jump their bones immediately book - the build up is quite nice actually - I wanted to hear more from them before anything happens so the payoff is higher.
Overall, I liked the characters, the world, and am absolutely looking forward to the next book!
*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*
⭐️:3.5/5
TL;DR: It wasn’t amazing writing, technically speaking, but I also wouldn’t be embarrassed to have my boyfriend read this over my shoulder (though that’s never stopped me before). I liked it, would recommend it to my fellow romantasy girlies, and will be reading the next one.
Genre tags: dystopian, fantasy, romance
Tropes: forced proximity, amnesia, fated mates-esque/soul connection
Other tags: multiple POV, LGBTQIA+, bad dads, war, gore/violence, dead moms club, romantasy, polytheistic, angels & demons, morally grey, caste system
Did I enjoy it: YES
Will I read the next one: YES
Who is this book for: people who like romantic fantasy with moderate spice levels. If you like Jennifer Armentrout you may be interested in this book.
There are explicit scenes, so I recommend this book for 18+ readers
Synopsis: the FMC doesn't remember who she is, is trapped in a forest prison with no way out, and is completely alone. The MMC is the son of the Head Counselor, a general in the human army, and is for some reason being drawn to our FMC - a being that he is pretty sure is an enemy of the human race. When they come together they will have to work together to uncover the truth of who they both are. But once they do, they will have some devastating choices to make.
My thoughts: Definitely enjoyed it. I can tell that Emily really thoroughly knew her FMC - the voice of her character is super clear. And I liked the MMC and the complexity of his personal relationships.
It is very fast paced, the action starts immediately and is very intriguing from page one. I liked the balance between being both plot and character driven.
The world building is interesting despite feeling a little like an afterthought to the character builds. While I don’t usually find caste systems interesting at all / laugh at them in most books (red queen I’m looking at you), this one was at least not annoying and was even a little interesting.
I knocked it down to 3.5 stars for a couple reasons. The writing could use some polish. Some of the book is wordy and there are grammatical errors. It feels amateurish, self published. While that absolutely won’t stop me from reading an interesting idea, it does impact my enjoyment. That is really the main reason for the lower rating. If anything this just makes me very excited to see this author grow and what she can do with a little more experience.
My rants: There’s one trope that always makes me so annoyed� A riddle/prophesy/some sort of “vague advice� that is glaringly obvious to everyone except the MCs, because they for whatever reason have “no idea what it could possibly be�. I can’t stand that they are clearly smart people in general so how can they not put some pretty obvious pieces of the puzzle together? Ugh haha. Also, I really wish there was more shown of the internal conflict/resolution process regarding the attraction between the MMC & FMC. While yes it wasn’t a jump their bones immediately book - the build up is quite nice actually - I wanted to hear more from them before anything happens so the payoff is higher.
Overall, I liked the characters, the world, and am absolutely looking forward to the next book!
*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*
January 23, 2024
I often talk about how I love BookTok and Bookstagram because of how many amazing indie, self-published or small press books I have discovered. The last couple of years I’ve read incredible debuts in cozy fiction, sci-fi, romance (spicy & not), poetry, and fantasy.
In fact, some of the best books I’ve read over the last few years have been self-published debuts - and I put “An Ember in the Forest� by Emily Grey high on that list.
The book takes place in a fictional world where a balance has existed between mortal and immortal beings after humans won a long and brutal war. The balance was achieved through magical means that are key to how things will flow into the future. This tension between human and non-human, Fallen and Angels, magical and non-magical beings is coming to a head once again.
Against this backdrop we have a story told from two perspectives - Aria and Casen. Aria is a woman who has woken up lacking in memories but trapped in an invisible dome, with dreams of a man just out of reach. Casen is a newly appointed general of the guard who is suffering from nightmares where he is unable to save a woman who is falling - he attributes it to stress and grief, but knows there is more.
What I loved about this story was the build up - there was a connection between the two from the very start, but there is much more to explore. There are heights and depths on this journey, twists and turns. A few times things feel forced to fit the conjoined narrative, but in general there is an organic sense of growth.
But there is also an exploration of suffering, of falling into yourself because there is simply so much despair and a lacking sense of self. There were specific reasons behind this, but I feel like everyone can find something of themselves in this story - I know I could.
Too many of these dual-perspective stories focus so much on the two protagonists that the other characters exist only in reference to the feelings of the main pair. That isn't a problem here - there are multiple characters who are emotionally engaging, and a roller coaster of feelings to deal with as a result. And even minor characters are not throwaways, as the touch they had upon the storyline is remembered by the main duo.
The 'romantasy' genre has become more crowded in recent years, but there is always room for talented writers with great stories to tell. An Ember in the Forest is one of the best books I have read in the last few years, and Emily Grey did a great job bringing these characters and this world to life. I am excited for the next entry and glad it will be here within the year!
In fact, some of the best books I’ve read over the last few years have been self-published debuts - and I put “An Ember in the Forest� by Emily Grey high on that list.
The book takes place in a fictional world where a balance has existed between mortal and immortal beings after humans won a long and brutal war. The balance was achieved through magical means that are key to how things will flow into the future. This tension between human and non-human, Fallen and Angels, magical and non-magical beings is coming to a head once again.
Against this backdrop we have a story told from two perspectives - Aria and Casen. Aria is a woman who has woken up lacking in memories but trapped in an invisible dome, with dreams of a man just out of reach. Casen is a newly appointed general of the guard who is suffering from nightmares where he is unable to save a woman who is falling - he attributes it to stress and grief, but knows there is more.
What I loved about this story was the build up - there was a connection between the two from the very start, but there is much more to explore. There are heights and depths on this journey, twists and turns. A few times things feel forced to fit the conjoined narrative, but in general there is an organic sense of growth.
But there is also an exploration of suffering, of falling into yourself because there is simply so much despair and a lacking sense of self. There were specific reasons behind this, but I feel like everyone can find something of themselves in this story - I know I could.
Too many of these dual-perspective stories focus so much on the two protagonists that the other characters exist only in reference to the feelings of the main pair. That isn't a problem here - there are multiple characters who are emotionally engaging, and a roller coaster of feelings to deal with as a result. And even minor characters are not throwaways, as the touch they had upon the storyline is remembered by the main duo.
The 'romantasy' genre has become more crowded in recent years, but there is always room for talented writers with great stories to tell. An Ember in the Forest is one of the best books I have read in the last few years, and Emily Grey did a great job bringing these characters and this world to life. I am excited for the next entry and glad it will be here within the year!
August 13, 2024
*ARC reader review*
Overview
by is a slow-burn romantasy in an angels/demons/humans environment that takes place in a fantasy historical world setting. Major themes include redefining oneself after memory loss, conflict between the identity the world has given you and the identity you've chosen for yourself, falling in love despite being from warring races, navigating tense political environments, and sifting through childhood trauma.
Overall Impression
Did the first chapter hook me? No. Did the ending make me want to read the next book? Resounding "yes." It's clear Emily Grey has a hell of an imagination (pun intended), and after completing her debut novel and the first book in this series, I'd love to read what comes next from her. If you can get through the tedious worldbuilding, you'll find yourself swept up in a fast-paced, thrilling fantasy that bends - and even breaks - the wildly overused clichés Grey manipulates with surprising twists in AEITF.
However, if the romance is a slow burn, then the plot progression is an excruciatingly slow burn at first. 44% of the way into the book, it still felt like the plot hadn't moved a centimeter in any meaningful direction - many threads had started, but none had begun to unravel yet. There is a degree of immaturity in the writing style that, in my opinion, diminishes the potential of this book. The endpoints for the various threads in AEITF read like they were the starting points for the author in the writing process: how everything ends up feels cohesive and compelling, but how it gets there feels incredibly shallow and plot-driven in several instances.
Loved
- Descriptions of the cities and the characters' magic abilities are vivid and easy to picture. This world is fascinating when the descriptions are well thought-out.
- Everything that happens in Aria's mind, from her loneliness to her self-reflection to her struggle to uncover the lost memories, is incredibly relatable and interesting. Being inside her head feels natural and mostly easy for this book. It's clear the author spent time thinking about how to capture complex emotions in ways that make the reader more and more curious to discover Aria's secrets alongside her.
- Both Casen and Aria feel like distinct characters with their own struggles and thought processes.
- Being inside Casen's head is how the real tension becomes apparent in AEITF: he falls in love with someone who should be an enemy, all while being completely unaware of the true depth of the issue because he doesn't actually know who she is (and neither does she). However, as Casen and Aria slowly unravel bits and pieces of her identity, Casen realizes more and more how dangerous their connection really is.
- Passage of time in most places is well paced and feels minimally written, but natural.
- Despite the quantity of clichés and overused topics, Aria's banter with Casen and the way Grey starts to twist the strings of this book around the 70% mark prevent it from feeling unoriginal. I loved being surprised by the way Aria stood her own with Casen. As the plot built toward the climax, the clichés and arguably YA themes started to detach from the fates we're used to seeing in fantasy novels just enough to hook me around the 60% mark. While I don't think it should take more than half of the book to be hooked enough to finish it, the amount of times I wanted to return to AEITF after that made the last 40% of this book a page-turner for me.
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Disliked
- Walking the line between what Aria knows and what she doesn't know in the first half of the book feels shaky and borders on hard to believe. The threshold for what she remembers and/or knows to be true seems to shift to fit the designated plotline, taking away from what would have felt natural for me personally. This could have been mitigated by giving more detail about that threshold through . Further, a lot of the language Aria uses makes it seem like she thinks at first, despite there being little evidence we have as readers to support that line of thought.
- Pacing is too quick at times, plummeting readers into new scenes, settings, or times without sufficient transitions. This makes some scenes hard to follow and prevents readers from being able to fully digest several key moments in the book.
- Casen's way of telling Aria about the history of made it extremely difficult to like Casen as a character, particularly when he described . His defensive, joking attitude made him immediately unlikeable in an irredeemable way for me.
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- Some thoughts and actions of the main characters defy common logic; for example, a smart character quickly dismissing a logically sound idea, saying it's "impossible." Things like this feel like they're catering to the plot and suppressing the characters' actual development. There is a thin line between making a character seem influenced by their environment and making a character do strange things to keep the plot moving.
- Quality of descriptions varies heavily throughout. Many descriptions of characters, in particular, are heavily reused with minimal or no language change . In some instances, there is too much telling and not enough showing; in other instances, the author hands the answer to the reader too predictably with amateur foreshadowing that betrays the book's secrets and adds a level of immaturity to the writing style.
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Overview
by is a slow-burn romantasy in an angels/demons/humans environment that takes place in a fantasy historical world setting. Major themes include redefining oneself after memory loss, conflict between the identity the world has given you and the identity you've chosen for yourself, falling in love despite being from warring races, navigating tense political environments, and sifting through childhood trauma.
Overall Impression
Did the first chapter hook me? No. Did the ending make me want to read the next book? Resounding "yes." It's clear Emily Grey has a hell of an imagination (pun intended), and after completing her debut novel and the first book in this series, I'd love to read what comes next from her. If you can get through the tedious worldbuilding, you'll find yourself swept up in a fast-paced, thrilling fantasy that bends - and even breaks - the wildly overused clichés Grey manipulates with surprising twists in AEITF.
However, if the romance is a slow burn, then the plot progression is an excruciatingly slow burn at first. 44% of the way into the book, it still felt like the plot hadn't moved a centimeter in any meaningful direction - many threads had started, but none had begun to unravel yet. There is a degree of immaturity in the writing style that, in my opinion, diminishes the potential of this book. The endpoints for the various threads in AEITF read like they were the starting points for the author in the writing process: how everything ends up feels cohesive and compelling, but how it gets there feels incredibly shallow and plot-driven in several instances.
Loved
- Descriptions of the cities and the characters' magic abilities are vivid and easy to picture. This world is fascinating when the descriptions are well thought-out.
- Everything that happens in Aria's mind, from her loneliness to her self-reflection to her struggle to uncover the lost memories, is incredibly relatable and interesting. Being inside her head feels natural and mostly easy for this book. It's clear the author spent time thinking about how to capture complex emotions in ways that make the reader more and more curious to discover Aria's secrets alongside her.
- Both Casen and Aria feel like distinct characters with their own struggles and thought processes.
- Being inside Casen's head is how the real tension becomes apparent in AEITF: he falls in love with someone who should be an enemy, all while being completely unaware of the true depth of the issue because he doesn't actually know who she is (and neither does she). However, as Casen and Aria slowly unravel bits and pieces of her identity, Casen realizes more and more how dangerous their connection really is.
- Passage of time in most places is well paced and feels minimally written, but natural.
- Despite the quantity of clichés and overused topics, Aria's banter with Casen and the way Grey starts to twist the strings of this book around the 70% mark prevent it from feeling unoriginal. I loved being surprised by the way Aria stood her own with Casen. As the plot built toward the climax, the clichés and arguably YA themes started to detach from the fates we're used to seeing in fantasy novels just enough to hook me around the 60% mark. While I don't think it should take more than half of the book to be hooked enough to finish it, the amount of times I wanted to return to AEITF after that made the last 40% of this book a page-turner for me.
-
Disliked
- Walking the line between what Aria knows and what she doesn't know in the first half of the book feels shaky and borders on hard to believe. The threshold for what she remembers and/or knows to be true seems to shift to fit the designated plotline, taking away from what would have felt natural for me personally. This could have been mitigated by giving more detail about that threshold through . Further, a lot of the language Aria uses makes it seem like she thinks at first, despite there being little evidence we have as readers to support that line of thought.
- Pacing is too quick at times, plummeting readers into new scenes, settings, or times without sufficient transitions. This makes some scenes hard to follow and prevents readers from being able to fully digest several key moments in the book.
- Casen's way of telling Aria about the history of made it extremely difficult to like Casen as a character, particularly when he described . His defensive, joking attitude made him immediately unlikeable in an irredeemable way for me.
-
- Some thoughts and actions of the main characters defy common logic; for example, a smart character quickly dismissing a logically sound idea, saying it's "impossible." Things like this feel like they're catering to the plot and suppressing the characters' actual development. There is a thin line between making a character seem influenced by their environment and making a character do strange things to keep the plot moving.
- Quality of descriptions varies heavily throughout. Many descriptions of characters, in particular, are heavily reused with minimal or no language change . In some instances, there is too much telling and not enough showing; in other instances, the author hands the answer to the reader too predictably with amateur foreshadowing that betrays the book's secrets and adds a level of immaturity to the writing style.
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June 17, 2024
I don't know if I might be experiencing some sort of fantasy fatigue, but lately, I feel like the fantasy books I'm reading are just okay, but nothing is really exciting me. However, I do feel like this book is probably one of the better books I've read lately, and there is a lot about it that I really enjoyed. Something about how the book is written or the vibe of the book sort of reminds me of all the dystopian books I used to read while I was younger. I'm not sure that this is an entirely accurate way to describe this book but I would consider it a dystopian fantasy because it definitely has fantasy elements with angels, monsters, and magic but I wouldn't consider it a high fantasy or an urban fantasy, something about it reads a bit dystopian to me. I think that may be why I enjoyed it because it felt different from the previous fantasy books I've read. This book is a dual point of view book, and it alternates between Aria and Casen and I enjoyed both their points of view. I also really enjoyed both their characters, and I felt like they really complimented each other. I loved that Aria has a magical animal companion in Rhea, and honestly, I think more books should feature a magical animal companion. I feel like the plot has a lot of mystery in it, especially in regards to Aria, who, at the beginning of the book, has no memories of her past. Things get revealed as the book goes on, especially with the connection between Casen and Aria. I enjoyed the romance that developed between those two characters and I feel like the author does a good job at answering questions as the book goes on but also leaves enough unanswered to make the reader want to continue on to the next book. I feel like the author has a lot of material to work with considering all that was set up in this book and I could see this becoming an epic, multi-book series if the author keeps the momentum of this book. I definitely thought it was a solid start to a series, and I can't really think of anything I disliked about the book. I think the only reason I wouldn't rate it higher is because if I compare it to some of my favorite books, it doesn't quite reach that level of enjoyment for me but it is definitely a solid start. I feel like this series has a lot of potential, and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for the sequel.
November 19, 2023
4.75/5
I read this book as a beta reader and as an ARC reader. I immediately fell in love with the unique world and story that the author has presented. Aria wakes up trapped in the forest with no memories of who she is. Every night she dreams of a man. Casen is the a general who is in charge with quelling a rebellion and outside threats. He dreams of a woman until their paths cross in the forest. Together they must escape the prison and discover who Aria is.
This dual POV allows the reader to experience the full scope of the story, and it is very well done! When a character has amnesia it can be difficult to convey things. The masterful description of Aria’s mind as a dark lake is powerful and beautiful! Casen’s knowledge of the world and helping Aria to discover who she is rounds out the politics and dynamics of the world.
The bond between Aria and Casen is so lovely and tender! The tension is believable and I truly love seeing their inner thoughts about the other.
The magic and politics of the world is so interesting! There are several different species, magic, and political adversaries at every turn. It is engaging and layered. Knowing this is only book one of this world, I am anxiously awaiting a return to the world to learn even more.
The other characters in the story help flesh out Aria and Casen, and I would have liked to spend more time with a few. Rhea is amazing and I cannot wait to see her back story!
The ending had me on the edge of my seat and screaming for book two! It will be a long wait, but so worth it!
This is a fantastic debut novel by Emily Grey! Do not miss out on this one!
I read this book as a beta reader and as an ARC reader. I immediately fell in love with the unique world and story that the author has presented. Aria wakes up trapped in the forest with no memories of who she is. Every night she dreams of a man. Casen is the a general who is in charge with quelling a rebellion and outside threats. He dreams of a woman until their paths cross in the forest. Together they must escape the prison and discover who Aria is.
This dual POV allows the reader to experience the full scope of the story, and it is very well done! When a character has amnesia it can be difficult to convey things. The masterful description of Aria’s mind as a dark lake is powerful and beautiful! Casen’s knowledge of the world and helping Aria to discover who she is rounds out the politics and dynamics of the world.
The bond between Aria and Casen is so lovely and tender! The tension is believable and I truly love seeing their inner thoughts about the other.
The magic and politics of the world is so interesting! There are several different species, magic, and political adversaries at every turn. It is engaging and layered. Knowing this is only book one of this world, I am anxiously awaiting a return to the world to learn even more.
The other characters in the story help flesh out Aria and Casen, and I would have liked to spend more time with a few. Rhea is amazing and I cannot wait to see her back story!
The ending had me on the edge of my seat and screaming for book two! It will be a long wait, but so worth it!
This is a fantastic debut novel by Emily Grey! Do not miss out on this one!
September 18, 2024
i struggled with getting through this book but wanted to give this new author a chance. i think that there is foundation for this book to evolve into a solid series like the author has planned but she definitely needs an editor. the book picked up and held more of my interest in the last 30% i would say.
i felt that sometimes i was rereading the same description of a setting or a person throughout multiple paragraphs. her descriptions of different characters we meet tend to be repetitive. every female has full lips and high cheek bones. i also felt that the timeline did not always flow. there were also grammatical errors throughout.
the world building was lacking, i found myself also confused with the different groups at play (classified vs unclassified, dwellers, fallen, the original families, etc).
it also appears that there is heavy inspiration taken from author, SJM specifically, as well as GRRM, and even JK Rowling?? my range of fantasy authors is not super deep at this point but i found several similarities while reading this book.
from what i understand it sounds like this book is getting a revamp. i don’t think i would go back and reread once it has been edited, but what i am hoping is that the author will continue to grow and improve her skills as she continues to write this series, and an editor will massively help her with this.
while reading the book i did keep in mind that this is the authors first published book and i applaud her for this accomplishment!
i felt that sometimes i was rereading the same description of a setting or a person throughout multiple paragraphs. her descriptions of different characters we meet tend to be repetitive. every female has full lips and high cheek bones. i also felt that the timeline did not always flow. there were also grammatical errors throughout.
the world building was lacking, i found myself also confused with the different groups at play (classified vs unclassified, dwellers, fallen, the original families, etc).
it also appears that there is heavy inspiration taken from author, SJM specifically, as well as GRRM, and even JK Rowling?? my range of fantasy authors is not super deep at this point but i found several similarities while reading this book.
from what i understand it sounds like this book is getting a revamp. i don’t think i would go back and reread once it has been edited, but what i am hoping is that the author will continue to grow and improve her skills as she continues to write this series, and an editor will massively help her with this.
while reading the book i did keep in mind that this is the authors first published book and i applaud her for this accomplishment!
November 20, 2023
An Ember in the Forest lights a spark that won’t easily be extinguished. Emily Grey’s debut novel and first in the Shadow and Ash series has it all: mystery, fantasy, dystopia, adventure, and, of course, romance. The compelling hook will captivate you, and as the action picks up, you’ll leave wanting more from Grey. She masterfully builds a world that feels familiar yet mysterious and weaves many threads that will be fantastic to follow throughout the series. The first person POV captures the immediacy of the emotional tension and action in a casual, playful manner that lets you bond with her characters from the first few lines. The setting straddles fairytale fantasy and urban political dystopia, easily marrying worlds that seem vastly separate. Most importantly, the plot-forward, action-oriented romance keeps you intrigued from the first glances between Aria and Casen, an unlikely destined duo. The slow burn opens plenty of space for their future to build into a blazing romance, and this book gives you just enough to tease the spice that will intensify in the rest of the series. Grey has the potential to be the next bestselling fantasy author and you won’t want to miss her debut. It will only go up from here, and the rest of the series is destined to be a whirlwind of thrilling adventure and hot romance.
*ARC Reader*
*ARC Reader*
December 15, 2023
An Ember in the Forest by Emily Grey has surprised me, in a good way. I had no good idea what I had gotten myself into, but I liked this book a lot.
Aria wakes up in a forest with no idea who she is, and that was all very mysterious to begin with. But then she meets Casen, who has dreamed about a woman. Together they try to find out who Aria is.
We have a dual POV, and that is always my favorite writing style. This way as a reader you get to know more, about the characters and about how they see the world. It starts a biot slow, but once you are into the story, you want to keep on reading. Emily Grey has a nice writing style, flowing, and the book is easy to read. This book has it all: great worldbuilding, magic, intrigue, fantasy and romance. The mystery of who Aria is and why Casen dreams about a woman, is a great plot.The bond and growing relationship between them is sweet to read about.
An Ember in the Foresy is a fantastic story, in a unique kind of world, with lots of different species/characters, with a nice flowing writing style, and it is a great dystopian debut novel. I cant wait to read the sequel.
Aria wakes up in a forest with no idea who she is, and that was all very mysterious to begin with. But then she meets Casen, who has dreamed about a woman. Together they try to find out who Aria is.
We have a dual POV, and that is always my favorite writing style. This way as a reader you get to know more, about the characters and about how they see the world. It starts a biot slow, but once you are into the story, you want to keep on reading. Emily Grey has a nice writing style, flowing, and the book is easy to read. This book has it all: great worldbuilding, magic, intrigue, fantasy and romance. The mystery of who Aria is and why Casen dreams about a woman, is a great plot.The bond and growing relationship between them is sweet to read about.
An Ember in the Foresy is a fantastic story, in a unique kind of world, with lots of different species/characters, with a nice flowing writing style, and it is a great dystopian debut novel. I cant wait to read the sequel.
December 12, 2024
3.5! I really enjoyed the story line of this book, but it did take me a minute to really get into it. It sat in my TBR for a while then I picked it up and put it back down quite a bit while reading probably the first 10 chapters. I saw the author ok TikTok and decided to buy the book from her there. For a debut fantasy novel, I think she did well! There are some noticeable typos in my copy but that comes with it being a self published debut novel. Nothing crazy.
The world building was a little lacking and un intriguing, but I feel like it has a good foundation to become a great series. I definitely can see a big build up happening. Most of the action is at the very end of the book. Lots of questions left unanswered and anticipation for that next book.
Overall I enjoyed the book and loved supporting an indie author. I wish her all the success and will be waiting for vol 1.5.
SPOILERISH ALERT:
I am intrigued as to why the last chapter was in Sam’s POV� not sure if I want her to have a redemption arc. I’m thoroughly p***ed off at her.
The world building was a little lacking and un intriguing, but I feel like it has a good foundation to become a great series. I definitely can see a big build up happening. Most of the action is at the very end of the book. Lots of questions left unanswered and anticipation for that next book.
Overall I enjoyed the book and loved supporting an indie author. I wish her all the success and will be waiting for vol 1.5.
SPOILERISH ALERT:
I am intrigued as to why the last chapter was in Sam’s POV� not sure if I want her to have a redemption arc. I’m thoroughly p***ed off at her.
January 19, 2025
Had highs expectations
I had very high expectations for this and found it a bit lacklustre. The premise sounded really good with the two MCs dreaming about each other. However the moment they connect, it’s like the author couldn’t decide if this was an enemies to lovers or fated mate trope. He starts of distrusting her and being cold and calculating as he realises what she is to all of a sudden I can’t live without you one morning. I actually had to go back and check if I had missed something - it was so abrupt.
The world building could be better. I couldn’t quite reconcile what sounded like a modern world/city in an old worldly fantasy concept. I also don’t understand the magic system. How did humans get their powers and how were they able to attack and wipeout angels/defeat the demons? So much so they give up their powers yet the fallen haven’t been able to rise up against them even though they could level a city in one fell swoop? SMH
The plot is interesting and I will read the next book but I hope it’s way better than this.
I had very high expectations for this and found it a bit lacklustre. The premise sounded really good with the two MCs dreaming about each other. However the moment they connect, it’s like the author couldn’t decide if this was an enemies to lovers or fated mate trope. He starts of distrusting her and being cold and calculating as he realises what she is to all of a sudden I can’t live without you one morning. I actually had to go back and check if I had missed something - it was so abrupt.
The world building could be better. I couldn’t quite reconcile what sounded like a modern world/city in an old worldly fantasy concept. I also don’t understand the magic system. How did humans get their powers and how were they able to attack and wipeout angels/defeat the demons? So much so they give up their powers yet the fallen haven’t been able to rise up against them even though they could level a city in one fell swoop? SMH
The plot is interesting and I will read the next book but I hope it’s way better than this.
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