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Legend of the Liberator #1
From the Ashes
For eighteen years Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But simmering beneath her polite surface is a dangerous gift, one which she must keep a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions, Aia’s lifelong goal of independence shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To rescue those she cares about will require accepting what she is. But can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded to save the very citizens baying for her blood?
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions, Aia’s lifelong goal of independence shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To rescue those she cares about will require accepting what she is. But can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded to save the very citizens baying for her blood?
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2015
3 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Shelby K. Morrison
4Ìýbooks34ÌýfollowersShelby K. Morrison believes fiction should be an escape and any great escape involves a world of wonder, characters you wish you knew, and good food. She can usually be found in three places; her office, the couch or....well just those two unless an overcast day calls her out of doors. She has a particular weakness for animals, Studio Ghibli movies, traveling, and Flamin' Hot Cheetos (resulting in a frequently stained keyboard). She is not opposed to tokens of appreciation, particularly edible ones. But if you really want to make her smile, drop her a line!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 2, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Shelby K. Morrison.)
“That’s why we call them Benders. Because they can bend the world around them.�
This was a good YA fantasy story, with several shocking revelations.
Aia was a strong character, even if she didn’t always make the best choices. It was clear how much she loved her parents though, and she always tried to do the right thing, even when it was hard.
“She refused to believe all Benders were destined to be inevitably evil. If she could control herself, so could others.�
The storyline in this was good, and there were lots of surprises and twists. I did find the story a little hard to follow at points, but I think that was just me! There was plenty of action, and even a bit of gore at points, and I did feel sorry for Aia and Cole.
“The war has shown everyone the true nature of these Benders. They allow themselves to be hosts for demonic creatures. They are pure evil.�
There was a little bit of romance, but not a lot, and I’ll be interested to see where that goes in the future.
“He didn’t care what the Emperor said. He knew who Aia was. And he’d stand by her.�
The ending to this was good, and it will be interesting to find out what happens to Aia and Cole in the next instalment.
7.5 out of 10
“That’s why we call them Benders. Because they can bend the world around them.�
This was a good YA fantasy story, with several shocking revelations.
Aia was a strong character, even if she didn’t always make the best choices. It was clear how much she loved her parents though, and she always tried to do the right thing, even when it was hard.
“She refused to believe all Benders were destined to be inevitably evil. If she could control herself, so could others.�
The storyline in this was good, and there were lots of surprises and twists. I did find the story a little hard to follow at points, but I think that was just me! There was plenty of action, and even a bit of gore at points, and I did feel sorry for Aia and Cole.
“The war has shown everyone the true nature of these Benders. They allow themselves to be hosts for demonic creatures. They are pure evil.�
There was a little bit of romance, but not a lot, and I’ll be interested to see where that goes in the future.
“He didn’t care what the Emperor said. He knew who Aia was. And he’d stand by her.�
The ending to this was good, and it will be interesting to find out what happens to Aia and Cole in the next instalment.
7.5 out of 10
May 8, 2015
4 stars!
"For eighteen years Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But simmering beneath her polite surface is a dangerous gift, one which she must keep a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions, Aia’s lifelong goal of independence shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To rescue those she cares about will require accepting what she is.
But can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded to save the very citizens baying for her blood?"
Arc kindly provided by author in return for an honest review.
This book was interesting, it wasn't quite what I was expecting (I was expecting some kind of Avatar the last airbender/Korra stuff lol) but what I ended up with was good! The storyline was very thoughtout, I loved the whole bender-discrimination as much as I hated it. THE WORLD BUILDING IS AMAZING. The fear tactic and threat of the benders, the breakers, all the past bender stories added to reading experience.
Even though I really enjoyed the book it was mostly because of the plot, not the main character Maia/Aia. I found her kind of passive? She'd always repeat 'Everything is fine' when the situation wasn't and that just annoyed the heck out of me! I would've preferred her to be more active in the plot progression. She didn't do much in my opinion, there were short training scenes and fighting scenes but that was all. I would've liked more training scenes and battle scenes so showcase her badass archery skills, or even her bending abilities once she overcame her fear. The bending abilities were kinda confusing, I mean can they bend everything? What objects/things? Is there an actual limit to their powers?
Cole - another main character/Bender hunter (Breaker). I liked his character and his plot twist, it took me a while to process the reveal since it seemed so impossible. He was a strong but complex character, I would've like for him to lighten up a bit. His mood was kind of serious from beginning to end with no humor or anything. I can't really talk about his character much because it'll spoil the book so you'll just have to read and see for yourself!
I loved Illcina. She was my favorite character, she had so many layers and mystery to her character. Her actions kept making me go back and forth on whether she was a good or evil. One moment Illcina seems like a psychopath intent on destroying everyone and tearing them apart (literally) and the next she's this victim that's been alone and has suffered for so long. I was kind of sad at the end, since I her character grew on me. I hope she reappears through some stories/tales?!
Overall the storyline kept my interest from beginning to end, the whole bending concept was intriguing, the writing/world building was fantastically done. I really enjoyed this read, I don't really go for arcs or r2rs since there's not a high chance of it being good but I'm glad this turned out well! Thank you again Shelby for providing me with this arc!
"For eighteen years Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But simmering beneath her polite surface is a dangerous gift, one which she must keep a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions, Aia’s lifelong goal of independence shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To rescue those she cares about will require accepting what she is.
But can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded to save the very citizens baying for her blood?"
Arc kindly provided by author in return for an honest review.
This book was interesting, it wasn't quite what I was expecting (I was expecting some kind of Avatar the last airbender/Korra stuff lol) but what I ended up with was good! The storyline was very thoughtout, I loved the whole bender-discrimination as much as I hated it. THE WORLD BUILDING IS AMAZING. The fear tactic and threat of the benders, the breakers, all the past bender stories added to reading experience.
Even though I really enjoyed the book it was mostly because of the plot, not the main character Maia/Aia. I found her kind of passive? She'd always repeat 'Everything is fine' when the situation wasn't and that just annoyed the heck out of me! I would've preferred her to be more active in the plot progression. She didn't do much in my opinion, there were short training scenes and fighting scenes but that was all. I would've liked more training scenes and battle scenes so showcase her badass archery skills, or even her bending abilities once she overcame her fear. The bending abilities were kinda confusing, I mean can they bend everything? What objects/things? Is there an actual limit to their powers?
Cole - another main character/Bender hunter (Breaker). I liked his character and his plot twist, it took me a while to process the reveal since it seemed so impossible. He was a strong but complex character, I would've like for him to lighten up a bit. His mood was kind of serious from beginning to end with no humor or anything. I can't really talk about his character much because it'll spoil the book so you'll just have to read and see for yourself!
I loved Illcina. She was my favorite character, she had so many layers and mystery to her character. Her actions kept making me go back and forth on whether she was a good or evil. One moment Illcina seems like a psychopath intent on destroying everyone and tearing them apart (literally) and the next she's this victim that's been alone and has suffered for so long. I was kind of sad at the end, since I her character grew on me. I hope she reappears through some stories/tales?!
Overall the storyline kept my interest from beginning to end, the whole bending concept was intriguing, the writing/world building was fantastically done. I really enjoyed this read, I don't really go for arcs or r2rs since there's not a high chance of it being good but I'm glad this turned out well! Thank you again Shelby for providing me with this arc!
April 17, 2017
Thanks to Shelby Morrison for giving me this book to review.
18 year old Aia has lived practically all her life as a high born in the Kingdom of Tharien, but she has a secret, she is a Bender, a person with powers, who are feared and hunted by Breakers. When her powers accidently break free, she has to run from everything she has worked towards and hide for her life. She is being hunted by a young ambitious Breaker, Cole, but he has secrets of his own. When Aia meets another Bender who is determined to destroy Tharien, she finds she has the fate of her Kingdom in her hands.
From the Ashes is a really good older YA fantasy novel. It is fast paced and has lots of twists and turns. This book is action-packed, well written with a bit of violence, but not too much.
Aia is a nice character who was caring and willing to sacrifice herself for what is right, however, while it was said in the book that she loves her parents, I felt she did not act like most people would at her parent’s fate. I preferred the character of Cole as he was protective and has a lot of hidden depth to him. I was expecting more romance in this book but I am glad there wasn’t because it would have come across as unrealistic and rushed, but I there is potential for some in the next book and I hope it does.
I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book. I would recommend From the Ashes to fans of Witch Song by Amber Argyle and The Shadow Soul by Kaitlyn Davis.
This and my other reviews can be found at
18 year old Aia has lived practically all her life as a high born in the Kingdom of Tharien, but she has a secret, she is a Bender, a person with powers, who are feared and hunted by Breakers. When her powers accidently break free, she has to run from everything she has worked towards and hide for her life. She is being hunted by a young ambitious Breaker, Cole, but he has secrets of his own. When Aia meets another Bender who is determined to destroy Tharien, she finds she has the fate of her Kingdom in her hands.
From the Ashes is a really good older YA fantasy novel. It is fast paced and has lots of twists and turns. This book is action-packed, well written with a bit of violence, but not too much.
Aia is a nice character who was caring and willing to sacrifice herself for what is right, however, while it was said in the book that she loves her parents, I felt she did not act like most people would at her parent’s fate. I preferred the character of Cole as he was protective and has a lot of hidden depth to him. I was expecting more romance in this book but I am glad there wasn’t because it would have come across as unrealistic and rushed, but I there is potential for some in the next book and I hope it does.
I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book. I would recommend From the Ashes to fans of Witch Song by Amber Argyle and The Shadow Soul by Kaitlyn Davis.
This and my other reviews can be found at
March 18, 2015
Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I've always been a fan of fantasy books so when I heard about the review opportunity and read the synopsis, I just couldn't let it pass.
In the whole empire of Dyel, there lived people with extraordinary power. This power is fueled by their emotion and can be released to influence or Bend anything according to their will. These people are called Benders.
Ultimately, this power brought fear to the hearts of ordinary people or the Kasahs. They believe that Benders were mere Shells or vessels for demons. Because of this belief, Benders were hunted by Breakers (the police force) to either to be Cleansed or Drained by the Purifiers.
We follow the story of Maia Wynnald, a highborn in the kingdom of Tharien, as she went into hiding after she lost control of her power which resulted to the injury of her brother.
Maia or Aia grew as a character as the story began to unfold. I liked the fact that she stands up for what she believed is right even if it meant sacrificing herself. She's not the best MC you could ask for but that made her more real.
Cole is a Breaker but little did everyone know that he secretly rescues Benders who he deemed worthy of saving.
The world building was good. You could easily picture out everything, which speaks for Ms. Morrison's skills. I liked the fact that book was fast paced and action-packed. You could easily finish it in one sitting but life had gotten in the way so I had to put this down several times. The characters were believable. I was hoping I could learn more about Eve, Dove, Lendor, Sovren and the others. I still don't know enough about them. Also, it was refreshing to read a YA novel with the romance kept to a bare minimum.
The book has all these twists put into the mix, some I saw coming while others surprised me when they were revealed. Despite the awful things done by our protagonist, I don't think I hate her.
There are still a lot of questions left unanswered. I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series. I'm dying to know what Cole and Aia would plan to do next. Also, I hope we get to see more of Dyel outside of Tharien.
I would definitely recommend this to all Fantasy fans out there.
I've always been a fan of fantasy books so when I heard about the review opportunity and read the synopsis, I just couldn't let it pass.
In the whole empire of Dyel, there lived people with extraordinary power. This power is fueled by their emotion and can be released to influence or Bend anything according to their will. These people are called Benders.
People fear what they don't understand.
Ultimately, this power brought fear to the hearts of ordinary people or the Kasahs. They believe that Benders were mere Shells or vessels for demons. Because of this belief, Benders were hunted by Breakers (the police force) to either to be Cleansed or Drained by the Purifiers.
We follow the story of Maia Wynnald, a highborn in the kingdom of Tharien, as she went into hiding after she lost control of her power which resulted to the injury of her brother.
Maia or Aia grew as a character as the story began to unfold. I liked the fact that she stands up for what she believed is right even if it meant sacrificing herself. She's not the best MC you could ask for but that made her more real.
Cole is a Breaker but little did everyone know that he secretly rescues Benders who he deemed worthy of saving.
The world building was good. You could easily picture out everything, which speaks for Ms. Morrison's skills. I liked the fact that book was fast paced and action-packed. You could easily finish it in one sitting but life had gotten in the way so I had to put this down several times. The characters were believable. I was hoping I could learn more about Eve, Dove, Lendor, Sovren and the others. I still don't know enough about them. Also, it was refreshing to read a YA novel with the romance kept to a bare minimum.
The book has all these twists put into the mix, some I saw coming while others surprised me when they were revealed. Despite the awful things done by our protagonist, I don't think I hate her.
There are still a lot of questions left unanswered. I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series. I'm dying to know what Cole and Aia would plan to do next. Also, I hope we get to see more of Dyel outside of Tharien.
I would definitely recommend this to all Fantasy fans out there.
January 15, 2016
You can see this and other reviews on my blog:
There are three main components I like when reading a fantasy story: action, a kick-ass/realistic heroine and a nicely done romance. Those things are usually what draws me to a story, but I won't toss a book aside if it doesn't have these things. From the Ashes has two out of three, with the third being a possibility down the road.
Action. This book starts off with a bang, almost literally. We open up with our heroine, Maia (nicknames Aia), as she runs away after knocking her prick of a brother upside the head with a log from a nearby fire. While most of us with siblings have definitely felt the desire to do that at some point in our lives, we don't do it with our illegal Bender magic.
Benders are hunted in the land of Tharien for no other reason than they exist, and therefore have the potential to become dangerous people. After Aia accidentally decks her brother with her magic, she has to run for her life from the Breakers. Breakers are the people who dedicate their lives to hunting down Benders and capturing them. Upon capture Benders have the choice the be Cleansed (death) or Drained (becoming an empty version of themselves). However, Benders who hurt anyone else lose that choice and are automatically Cleansed.
This aspect of the story really made me think of the Salem witch trials. Neighbor turning on neighbor was all it took to be convicted of being a witch. In From the Ashes there is no real way to tell if someone is a Bender. All it takes is a finger point, and if the suspect runs, they are considered guilty from there on out.
Heroine. There are two main characters in this story, Aia and Cole. Cole is the Breaker lieutenant charged with capturing Aia and bringing her in. Aia manages to evade capture on her own in the beginning. She doesn't use her Bender skills because she's afraid that if she does, she will become exactly what the people fear. Deadly. Dangerous. A killer.
When she's found by a group of Breakers, she doesn't resort to using her magic. Instead she uses her non-magical skills and shoots those assholes with her freaking bow and arrow. She bad ass enough that she doesn't even need to use her magic to escape at this point.
What I really love about Aia is that she's smart, resourceful, hard and she has a love for the people of Tharien. She's guarded and used to pushing her emotions down in order to prevent flareups in her magic. I love characters like these because they have so much potential to grow and become the greatest heroines. In the beginning she's lost, just trying to figure out how not to die.
Soon she has a cause worth fighting for, and she find people that she realizes are worth saving.
Romance. The romance between Aia and Cole here is so subtle that sometimes I convinced myself I was making it up. At first, Cole doesn't think Aia is even worth saving, so he uses her in his plans to save Tharien from the "evil" Bender, Illicina, bent on taking her revenge. I put evil in quotes there because Illicina is so much more than people think she is. But you will have to read to find out about that.
Ever so slowly, we see Aia and Cole come to respect each other, and Cole sees something different in Aia. He sees her determination, her courage and her willingness to die for the very people who would see her Cleansed.
There's no steamy kisses, or stolen moments in a dark corner. No vulnerable scenes where they confess their fears to each other as they're about to die. No white knight riding in to save the damsel in distress.
But I can still see the very subtle beginnings of what could develop into beautiful relationship later down the road. I'm rooting for these two to find their happily ever after, even if it's not with each other. I definitely think this story has a lot more to come, and this is only the beginning.
The Technical Stuff. The writing in this book is strong, with very few grammatical or structural errors. As a reader, you can really feel what each character is going through and what motivates each decision they make.
For these reasons From the Ashes gets a solid 4.5 stars out of me. The story is strong, with great writing. There really isn't a whole lot more you can ask for.
** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review
There are three main components I like when reading a fantasy story: action, a kick-ass/realistic heroine and a nicely done romance. Those things are usually what draws me to a story, but I won't toss a book aside if it doesn't have these things. From the Ashes has two out of three, with the third being a possibility down the road.
Action. This book starts off with a bang, almost literally. We open up with our heroine, Maia (nicknames Aia), as she runs away after knocking her prick of a brother upside the head with a log from a nearby fire. While most of us with siblings have definitely felt the desire to do that at some point in our lives, we don't do it with our illegal Bender magic.
Benders are hunted in the land of Tharien for no other reason than they exist, and therefore have the potential to become dangerous people. After Aia accidentally decks her brother with her magic, she has to run for her life from the Breakers. Breakers are the people who dedicate their lives to hunting down Benders and capturing them. Upon capture Benders have the choice the be Cleansed (death) or Drained (becoming an empty version of themselves). However, Benders who hurt anyone else lose that choice and are automatically Cleansed.
This aspect of the story really made me think of the Salem witch trials. Neighbor turning on neighbor was all it took to be convicted of being a witch. In From the Ashes there is no real way to tell if someone is a Bender. All it takes is a finger point, and if the suspect runs, they are considered guilty from there on out.
Heroine. There are two main characters in this story, Aia and Cole. Cole is the Breaker lieutenant charged with capturing Aia and bringing her in. Aia manages to evade capture on her own in the beginning. She doesn't use her Bender skills because she's afraid that if she does, she will become exactly what the people fear. Deadly. Dangerous. A killer.
When she's found by a group of Breakers, she doesn't resort to using her magic. Instead she uses her non-magical skills and shoots those assholes with her freaking bow and arrow. She bad ass enough that she doesn't even need to use her magic to escape at this point.
What I really love about Aia is that she's smart, resourceful, hard and she has a love for the people of Tharien. She's guarded and used to pushing her emotions down in order to prevent flareups in her magic. I love characters like these because they have so much potential to grow and become the greatest heroines. In the beginning she's lost, just trying to figure out how not to die.
Soon she has a cause worth fighting for, and she find people that she realizes are worth saving.
Romance. The romance between Aia and Cole here is so subtle that sometimes I convinced myself I was making it up. At first, Cole doesn't think Aia is even worth saving, so he uses her in his plans to save Tharien from the "evil" Bender, Illicina, bent on taking her revenge. I put evil in quotes there because Illicina is so much more than people think she is. But you will have to read to find out about that.
Ever so slowly, we see Aia and Cole come to respect each other, and Cole sees something different in Aia. He sees her determination, her courage and her willingness to die for the very people who would see her Cleansed.
There's no steamy kisses, or stolen moments in a dark corner. No vulnerable scenes where they confess their fears to each other as they're about to die. No white knight riding in to save the damsel in distress.
But I can still see the very subtle beginnings of what could develop into beautiful relationship later down the road. I'm rooting for these two to find their happily ever after, even if it's not with each other. I definitely think this story has a lot more to come, and this is only the beginning.
The Technical Stuff. The writing in this book is strong, with very few grammatical or structural errors. As a reader, you can really feel what each character is going through and what motivates each decision they make.
For these reasons From the Ashes gets a solid 4.5 stars out of me. The story is strong, with great writing. There really isn't a whole lot more you can ask for.
** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review
May 30, 2015
This book was brilliant. The characters were so well written and easy to relate to. The world building was phenomenal. The action was pretty much nonstop. It was just a thrill ride. And the ending had just the right amount of closure and the right amount of mystery. I will definitely be sticking with this series.
You can read a more detailed review on my blog here:
You can read a more detailed review on my blog here:
March 17, 2015
(Source: I received this ebook copy for free on a read-to-review basis)
From the Ashes had a very unique and interesting premise. I was immediately drawn in by the word bender because like the dork that I am, Avatar the Last Airbender (the animated show, not the smelly live action movie) was instantly the first thing I thought of.
Our main protagonist is Maia, though she likes to go by Aia. She is on the run because she accidently attacked her brother by bending and that is a big deal. Benders are feared in this world, thanks to rumors and lies spread by those in charge in ruling the land.
The writing was amazing, I could practically see everything Ms. Morrison was describing to me. Something else that I admired about the author's writing was how it lacked a lot of the typical clichés and she did not let romance take over the novel. In fact, there is not very much romance at all. You get the feeling maybe something might happen eventually at some point but it was refreshing not to have an insta-love relationship between Aia and Cole. For once, two characters seem to understand that when your life and the lives of everyone else in the world hang in the balance, there are more important things than drooling over each other. The characters overall grew as the story progressed, great character development.
There were lots of plot twists, some I saw coming and some that blew my mind. At the end, I actually did not hate the so called villain of the story. In my eyes, the bigger villain was the Emperor and the Breakers, pretty much anyone who spread lies about Benders. The Breakers especially (they hunt Benders for the Emperor) were awful and gross and I am not all that sorry that bad things happened to some of them haha. I understand they were kind of brain washed into their way of thinking and don't know much else, BUT they were pigs who should have at least known what they did to the women Benders was wrong, there is no excuse for what they did.
Overall I would recommend this book to pretty much anybody. It was enjoyable all the way through.
From the Ashes had a very unique and interesting premise. I was immediately drawn in by the word bender because like the dork that I am, Avatar the Last Airbender (the animated show, not the smelly live action movie) was instantly the first thing I thought of.
Our main protagonist is Maia, though she likes to go by Aia. She is on the run because she accidently attacked her brother by bending and that is a big deal. Benders are feared in this world, thanks to rumors and lies spread by those in charge in ruling the land.
The writing was amazing, I could practically see everything Ms. Morrison was describing to me. Something else that I admired about the author's writing was how it lacked a lot of the typical clichés and she did not let romance take over the novel. In fact, there is not very much romance at all. You get the feeling maybe something might happen eventually at some point but it was refreshing not to have an insta-love relationship between Aia and Cole. For once, two characters seem to understand that when your life and the lives of everyone else in the world hang in the balance, there are more important things than drooling over each other. The characters overall grew as the story progressed, great character development.
There were lots of plot twists, some I saw coming and some that blew my mind. At the end, I actually did not hate the so called villain of the story. In my eyes, the bigger villain was the Emperor and the Breakers, pretty much anyone who spread lies about Benders. The Breakers especially (they hunt Benders for the Emperor) were awful and gross and I am not all that sorry that bad things happened to some of them haha. I understand they were kind of brain washed into their way of thinking and don't know much else, BUT they were pigs who should have at least known what they did to the women Benders was wrong, there is no excuse for what they did.
Overall I would recommend this book to pretty much anybody. It was enjoyable all the way through.
May 29, 2015
I was given this ebook for free on a read-to-review bases.
I had battles with myself on what to rate this book. I initially wanted to rate it 3 stars, then 3.5. By the end I was filled with so much excitement and went for 4.
This book was a very quick read. I was hooked from the moment I started it. If life hadn't gotten in the way, I'm sure I'd have read it in one sitting. The characters are amazing and I like how the author wrote them. You get to know them more as the book progresses and the character development is clear. You learn a lot from them as they do from their actions.
If you think you know what to expect going into this book, you are mistaken. This book is not one of your cliches. There are so many plot twists and it's amazing. One would think all those twists would get tiring but no, not for From the Ashes. They helped the story along in so many different ways.
I definitely loved this book and recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, dark-fantasy or just something that's quick and easy to get into. It really wasn't that difficult to just fall in love with it.
I can't wait for the next instalment, Among the Flames.
I had battles with myself on what to rate this book. I initially wanted to rate it 3 stars, then 3.5. By the end I was filled with so much excitement and went for 4.
This book was a very quick read. I was hooked from the moment I started it. If life hadn't gotten in the way, I'm sure I'd have read it in one sitting. The characters are amazing and I like how the author wrote them. You get to know them more as the book progresses and the character development is clear. You learn a lot from them as they do from their actions.
If you think you know what to expect going into this book, you are mistaken. This book is not one of your cliches. There are so many plot twists and it's amazing. One would think all those twists would get tiring but no, not for From the Ashes. They helped the story along in so many different ways.
I definitely loved this book and recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, dark-fantasy or just something that's quick and easy to get into. It really wasn't that difficult to just fall in love with it.
I can't wait for the next instalment, Among the Flames.
April 1, 2015
As a die-hard Avatar: The Last Airbender fan I was naturally drawn to this book. Benders. Yay!
The Characters:
So this book starts of with a girl named Aia and she's a bender even though she doesn't want to be. At first I found Aia kind of a whiner. But as the book progressed, so does Aia. She still keeps some of her original thoughts, but she creates her own person. Which is one thing I really liked about her.
Cole was a different story. I loved the twists with him and they were totally unexpected. I just finished a book with another guy named Cole so it took me a while to separate the two but once I did I loved Cole a little more. You could tell that he does feel something for Aia but I love the fact that Ms. Morrison kept the romance to a low.
The Everything Else
One thing for sure is that I love Ms. Morrison's writing. I could picture everything and understood everything. The beginning was kind of slow and it didn't immediately capture my interest. That was why I gave this book a four instead of a five. The book doesn't really pick up till a little after the halfway mark but this is still a good read.
The Characters:
So this book starts of with a girl named Aia and she's a bender even though she doesn't want to be. At first I found Aia kind of a whiner. But as the book progressed, so does Aia. She still keeps some of her original thoughts, but she creates her own person. Which is one thing I really liked about her.
Cole was a different story. I loved the twists with him and they were totally unexpected. I just finished a book with another guy named Cole so it took me a while to separate the two but once I did I loved Cole a little more. You could tell that he does feel something for Aia but I love the fact that Ms. Morrison kept the romance to a low.
The Everything Else
One thing for sure is that I love Ms. Morrison's writing. I could picture everything and understood everything. The beginning was kind of slow and it didn't immediately capture my interest. That was why I gave this book a four instead of a five. The book doesn't really pick up till a little after the halfway mark but this is still a good read.
April 11, 2015
REVIEW TO COME
May 8, 2017
Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars
**I received a copy of this book on a read to review basis in exchange for an honest review.**
I really needed a nice, refreshing fantasy book with a different plot when I picked up this book and that's exactly what I got. This book had everything: an original plot, well-developed characters, and rich world building that wasn't overwhelming. However, there were some things I didn't like about this book--well, mainly just one.
First, let's start with the many things I did like. The number one thing I liked about this book was its totally original concept! It dealt with benders, people who could shape elements around them and bend them at will--think Last Airbender--and normal people who wanted the benders gone and out of their world. Yes, I know I just compared it to Avatar, but I say original because I've never seen the concept in a book. The way Ms. Morrison developed all of the bending abilities characters had, why they were being persecuted, and the rituals behind "cleansing" and "draining" them was absolutely wonderful. She developed the world and their beliefs as well as its layout and description/history so that it wasn't overwhelming. Instead of throwing all of the information at you like some fantasy books, Ms. Morrison slowly introduced different parts of the world as they were necessary to the plot's development.
I really loved all of the growth all of the characters, but mainly Maia (Aia for short) underwent throughout the story. At first, Maia had no idea what to do, but instead of sitting on her butt for someone to rescue her, she actually did something about it! Shocking right? Anyway, throughout the book Aia was faced with so many hard choices and had to weigh what she wanted versus what would help everyone the most.
Now, on to the things I didn't like. :( For one thing, I felt that the book was a bit slow at times. I don't know why, but I just wanted a little more action. As far as I know, I'm the only one who felt this way, so maybe there's something wrong with me. In hindsight, I feel that the book piked up around the 40% mark because enough world-building and character development allowed the plot to turn more action-filled. I understand why the book picked up at the 40% mark as it was the right time, but I still wish there had been a little more in the beginning. However, once the book did pick up pace, it didn't let me down and it kept the pace until the very end.�
The other issue I had with this book is that I could guess some of the plot twists in it. Again, maybe that was just me. However, I really liked that even though I'd guessed some of the twists, they didn't make the story any less interesting. There were definitely some twists I wasn't expecting, but again, I really liked the twists the book took.
Overall, From the Ashes was a good start to a new fantasy series, but I was expecting more from it. I will definitely read the next book to see where the characters and storyline go.
**I received a copy of this book on a read to review basis in exchange for an honest review.**
I really needed a nice, refreshing fantasy book with a different plot when I picked up this book and that's exactly what I got. This book had everything: an original plot, well-developed characters, and rich world building that wasn't overwhelming. However, there were some things I didn't like about this book--well, mainly just one.
First, let's start with the many things I did like. The number one thing I liked about this book was its totally original concept! It dealt with benders, people who could shape elements around them and bend them at will--think Last Airbender--and normal people who wanted the benders gone and out of their world. Yes, I know I just compared it to Avatar, but I say original because I've never seen the concept in a book. The way Ms. Morrison developed all of the bending abilities characters had, why they were being persecuted, and the rituals behind "cleansing" and "draining" them was absolutely wonderful. She developed the world and their beliefs as well as its layout and description/history so that it wasn't overwhelming. Instead of throwing all of the information at you like some fantasy books, Ms. Morrison slowly introduced different parts of the world as they were necessary to the plot's development.
I really loved all of the growth all of the characters, but mainly Maia (Aia for short) underwent throughout the story. At first, Maia had no idea what to do, but instead of sitting on her butt for someone to rescue her, she actually did something about it! Shocking right? Anyway, throughout the book Aia was faced with so many hard choices and had to weigh what she wanted versus what would help everyone the most.
Now, on to the things I didn't like. :( For one thing, I felt that the book was a bit slow at times. I don't know why, but I just wanted a little more action. As far as I know, I'm the only one who felt this way, so maybe there's something wrong with me. In hindsight, I feel that the book piked up around the 40% mark because enough world-building and character development allowed the plot to turn more action-filled. I understand why the book picked up at the 40% mark as it was the right time, but I still wish there had been a little more in the beginning. However, once the book did pick up pace, it didn't let me down and it kept the pace until the very end.�
The other issue I had with this book is that I could guess some of the plot twists in it. Again, maybe that was just me. However, I really liked that even though I'd guessed some of the twists, they didn't make the story any less interesting. There were definitely some twists I wasn't expecting, but again, I really liked the twists the book took.
Overall, From the Ashes was a good start to a new fantasy series, but I was expecting more from it. I will definitely read the next book to see where the characters and storyline go.
May 2, 2015
See my blog () on May 3rd for an interview with Shelby K. Morrison!
Thank you to the author, Shelby K. Morrison, for gifting me an ARC copy of From the Ashes in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. That's my first impression of this book. My second impression is pretty much identical! When I started reading this, I became so addicted to finding out what would happen in the end! It didn't help that people were constantly interrupting me with questions and problems but I prevailed! You may ask, what's so great about this book Laura? I am here to tell you just that! So go grab a drink and some popcorn because here we go!
First off, I think you all know I have a soft spot for fantasy books. This book had all the fantasy aspects: different world, strange powers whose origins are mysteriously shielded from the public, badass main character facing adversity, mentions of different languages and kingdoms, etc, etc, etc. One thing I really loved about the relationship between the public and the Benders is how it's so controlled by emotion and politics. Benders don't have to be dangerous but it's the people who fear them that force them to be dangerous. It's an interesting concept that can be applied to the real world. If we don't fear things, and scorn them and try to eliminate them, and instead nurture their powers and individualities with love and understanding, we'd be living in a much better world.
This book also had multiple POV's. They were brilliantly done. Even though they didn't have a heading that proclaimed it to be 'Aia's POV', it was still remarkably clear and the transitions between the POV's were spotless. It was like they naturally flowed together and the author didn't force another POV in where it didn't fit.
As for the characters, I loved how we got a good amount of background on most of them (pretty good for a first book in a series) through regular means or through character flashbacks in dreams or other things. It really allows you to see into each character's motive and how they think and feel. However, the reason this isn't 5 stars is because at times - especially at the beginning - I felt like I was being left behind. You know how when you join a conversation halfway through you can't just jump in and know it all. Someone has to explain it to you and tell you what you missed. I feel like there could have been a little more background on the kingdom, Benders, Breakers, and just the world in general. We got a lot of background on the characters but that doesn't tell you much about the world.
The Final Verdict:
An amazing example of a fantasy book! I can't wait to read the second book and learn what happens to Aia and Cole! I loved how the author didn't spring right into romance and just let things develop like they should. The POV's are flawlessly melded together and the idea behind the whole thing can be so much more. Definitely an onion book!
4.5 stars
Thank you to the author, Shelby K. Morrison, for gifting me an ARC copy of From the Ashes in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. That's my first impression of this book. My second impression is pretty much identical! When I started reading this, I became so addicted to finding out what would happen in the end! It didn't help that people were constantly interrupting me with questions and problems but I prevailed! You may ask, what's so great about this book Laura? I am here to tell you just that! So go grab a drink and some popcorn because here we go!
First off, I think you all know I have a soft spot for fantasy books. This book had all the fantasy aspects: different world, strange powers whose origins are mysteriously shielded from the public, badass main character facing adversity, mentions of different languages and kingdoms, etc, etc, etc. One thing I really loved about the relationship between the public and the Benders is how it's so controlled by emotion and politics. Benders don't have to be dangerous but it's the people who fear them that force them to be dangerous. It's an interesting concept that can be applied to the real world. If we don't fear things, and scorn them and try to eliminate them, and instead nurture their powers and individualities with love and understanding, we'd be living in a much better world.
This book also had multiple POV's. They were brilliantly done. Even though they didn't have a heading that proclaimed it to be 'Aia's POV', it was still remarkably clear and the transitions between the POV's were spotless. It was like they naturally flowed together and the author didn't force another POV in where it didn't fit.
As for the characters, I loved how we got a good amount of background on most of them (pretty good for a first book in a series) through regular means or through character flashbacks in dreams or other things. It really allows you to see into each character's motive and how they think and feel. However, the reason this isn't 5 stars is because at times - especially at the beginning - I felt like I was being left behind. You know how when you join a conversation halfway through you can't just jump in and know it all. Someone has to explain it to you and tell you what you missed. I feel like there could have been a little more background on the kingdom, Benders, Breakers, and just the world in general. We got a lot of background on the characters but that doesn't tell you much about the world.
The Final Verdict:
An amazing example of a fantasy book! I can't wait to read the second book and learn what happens to Aia and Cole! I loved how the author didn't spring right into romance and just let things develop like they should. The POV's are flawlessly melded together and the idea behind the whole thing can be so much more. Definitely an onion book!
4.5 stars
March 14, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and loved the surprises. I love a book that can keep me guessing!
July 10, 2017
*Arc kindly provided by author in return for an honest review*
Actual rating: 2.5
The premise of this story sounded very good: in a Kingdom that fears all those gifted with the power to “bend the world around them�, believing Benders to be vessels for demons, Aia, a Bender, will have to decide whether try to protect her people, or leave them at the mercy of a real evil.
The Pros:
The story was action-packed and fast-paced, with some surprising twists. There was a bit of romance, but � a breath of fresh air in the YA scenario! � the whole story did not hinge around it.
The Cons:
The worldbuilding could have been described more in depth, but, IMO, the greatest weakness of this book was her main character. While I really got attached to Cole, Aia just annoyed the heck out of me�
Although throughout the events of the book she developed and ceased to be the whining, naïve girl she was at the beginning, I still had trouble liking her.
Actual rating: 2.5
The premise of this story sounded very good: in a Kingdom that fears all those gifted with the power to “bend the world around them�, believing Benders to be vessels for demons, Aia, a Bender, will have to decide whether try to protect her people, or leave them at the mercy of a real evil.
The Pros:
The story was action-packed and fast-paced, with some surprising twists. There was a bit of romance, but � a breath of fresh air in the YA scenario! � the whole story did not hinge around it.
The Cons:
The worldbuilding could have been described more in depth, but, IMO, the greatest weakness of this book was her main character. While I really got attached to Cole, Aia just annoyed the heck out of me�
Although throughout the events of the book she developed and ceased to be the whining, naïve girl she was at the beginning, I still had trouble liking her.
January 5, 2018
*I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review*
First Thoughts
The cover for From the Ashes caught my eye on Azee's blog, . absolutely love the long red braid that Aia has going on. I commented on Azee's post, which Shelby K Morrison saw, so she reached out to me for a review!
I'm glad because From the Ashes was quite an enjoyable read! The opening scene grips you as terrified Aia runs for her life, having just been exposed as a Bender. Benders are feared in the Kingdom of Tharien because they have a magical power that can destroy.
The story reminded me of The Salem Witch Trials at times, which was pretty cool! There was such a hysteria surrounding Benders, it seemed like the Tharien citizens were just accusing anyone and everyone they disliked of being a Bender.
What I Enjoyed
Aia as a heroine. I admired the fight in her. She spent her entire life believing that Benders (like herself) were abominations that should be Cleansed. Still, when the very people that wanted to hunt her were threatened by an angry Bender, she stepped up to try and save them.
Cole. How awesome is he? Bender hunter by day, Bender savior by night. I loved his other secret, too! I never saw it coming!
What Could Have Been Better
I want more explanations! I appreciate that there was no info-dumping, but I wanted more information than there was! I wanted to know the history of the Benders, more about the Bender War, more about Bender powers, and more about the stones that Benders carry.
TL;DR
Long red braids on covers are cool. In Tharien, Benders=Bad. Reminded me of The Salem Witch Trials. The characters were cool. Cole has secrets. No info dumping, but I wanted to know more.
Pearl @
First Thoughts
The cover for From the Ashes caught my eye on Azee's blog, . absolutely love the long red braid that Aia has going on. I commented on Azee's post, which Shelby K Morrison saw, so she reached out to me for a review!
I'm glad because From the Ashes was quite an enjoyable read! The opening scene grips you as terrified Aia runs for her life, having just been exposed as a Bender. Benders are feared in the Kingdom of Tharien because they have a magical power that can destroy.
The story reminded me of The Salem Witch Trials at times, which was pretty cool! There was such a hysteria surrounding Benders, it seemed like the Tharien citizens were just accusing anyone and everyone they disliked of being a Bender.
What I Enjoyed
Aia as a heroine. I admired the fight in her. She spent her entire life believing that Benders (like herself) were abominations that should be Cleansed. Still, when the very people that wanted to hunt her were threatened by an angry Bender, she stepped up to try and save them.
Cole. How awesome is he? Bender hunter by day, Bender savior by night. I loved his other secret, too! I never saw it coming!
What Could Have Been Better
I want more explanations! I appreciate that there was no info-dumping, but I wanted more information than there was! I wanted to know the history of the Benders, more about the Bender War, more about Bender powers, and more about the stones that Benders carry.
TL;DR
Long red braids on covers are cool. In Tharien, Benders=Bad. Reminded me of The Salem Witch Trials. The characters were cool. Cole has secrets. No info dumping, but I wanted to know more.
Pearl @
February 1, 2019
(I'd got it as a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you,Ms. Morrison and Sarah).
This is a story about the eighteen-year-old highborn Maia Wynnald and starts with her escape from the palace after accidently injuring her brother,Damon, who intensionally pushed her to it when he knew the outcome. She is a Bender--somdone who has the power to bend things around them. Benders are hunted in the kingdom og Dyel. And now she's running for her life and finds an abandoned wood where no one dares to go--the Ashen Wood,a cursed place.
Aia hates to be a Bender. She is scared and ashamed of being someone so dangerous. She goes to Lowtown to be Drained of her powers by the Leeches. But a Drained is barely alive. Half alive. But then she meets a woman who tells her someone can help her--a rebel Breaker. Breakers are soldiers who hunt Benders. Can she trust this man? He meets her with Benders in hiding. Benders,who are believed to be almost extinct.
In the Lowtown street,she meets a woman who saves her from the Breakers. She discovers they share an opinion about Benders not all of them being evil. But then she fears her when the woman tells her name is Illcina--a Bender about whom there have been rumors that as a ten-year-old child she burned the whole church,killed her sister and her own parents. And now she's gone missing for twenty years. Illcina horrifies her by telling how most of the rumors are true. And then she tells her how she plans to tske revenge from Tharien by destroying it and she wanted Aia's help.
Aia tells Cole and together they try to save their kingdom from Illcina's wrath.
It was a great story with a good setting and excellent characters. Always action packed and full of surprises. But I thought they were initially just dragging her with the story without telling us much about the important things we needed to know first. For example,the Benders. I had scarcely an idea of what that term meant until alost half the book was finished--when Eve started training Aia.They just told us how they were feared and hunted in Tharien. Maybe it was supposed to be told at that particular time but it annoyed me nevertheless. But overall, the book was worth a read. I will be looking forward to reading and reviewing the second book in the series,Among the Flames!
This is a story about the eighteen-year-old highborn Maia Wynnald and starts with her escape from the palace after accidently injuring her brother,Damon, who intensionally pushed her to it when he knew the outcome. She is a Bender--somdone who has the power to bend things around them. Benders are hunted in the kingdom og Dyel. And now she's running for her life and finds an abandoned wood where no one dares to go--the Ashen Wood,a cursed place.
Aia hates to be a Bender. She is scared and ashamed of being someone so dangerous. She goes to Lowtown to be Drained of her powers by the Leeches. But a Drained is barely alive. Half alive. But then she meets a woman who tells her someone can help her--a rebel Breaker. Breakers are soldiers who hunt Benders. Can she trust this man? He meets her with Benders in hiding. Benders,who are believed to be almost extinct.
In the Lowtown street,she meets a woman who saves her from the Breakers. She discovers they share an opinion about Benders not all of them being evil. But then she fears her when the woman tells her name is Illcina--a Bender about whom there have been rumors that as a ten-year-old child she burned the whole church,killed her sister and her own parents. And now she's gone missing for twenty years. Illcina horrifies her by telling how most of the rumors are true. And then she tells her how she plans to tske revenge from Tharien by destroying it and she wanted Aia's help.
Aia tells Cole and together they try to save their kingdom from Illcina's wrath.
It was a great story with a good setting and excellent characters. Always action packed and full of surprises. But I thought they were initially just dragging her with the story without telling us much about the important things we needed to know first. For example,the Benders. I had scarcely an idea of what that term meant until alost half the book was finished--when Eve started training Aia.They just told us how they were feared and hunted in Tharien. Maybe it was supposed to be told at that particular time but it annoyed me nevertheless. But overall, the book was worth a read. I will be looking forward to reading and reviewing the second book in the series,Among the Flames!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2017
I loved this. I haven't read much in the way of fantasy for a while now, and this was a great way to return to it.
One of the best parts of this book (for me) were the descriptions. Lush, intricate, detailed, and yes, a little gory at certain points. There was enough for it to feel like I was watching a movie in my head through the characters' eyes.
And the characters! They were fleshed out lovingly, and I honestly felt like I was in their shoes, even the broken Illcina. It was easy to relate to and understand their motives, and they were all undeniably human. I felt a strong connection to Aia; her anxiety and the way she suppressed her anger in order to keep from Bending. Some might find her coping mechanisms/compulsions (namely her braiding) to be annoying, but they were realistic. Reminded me of how I restlessly pick at my fingernails or shake my leg when I'm anxious. I absolutely loved her drive and selflessness. She was a bit too optimistic at times, but again, I related to that. She was imperfect, but that's what made her real.
The amount of pain this book made me go through though..wow. I predicted that something would happen to Dove because of how good their friendship was, but not Illcina. That was painful, although Illcina had meant to decimate the entirety of Tharien, I felt for her. And the fact that she'd accidentally killed Eve, man. I'll agree that all of this was necessary and even realistic, however. Too many books unrealistically keep characters alive. Good plotting.
I'm interested to see where the friendship between Cole and Aia will lead. They're a bit too touchy to just be really good friends, IMO, and their affection slowly builds. Them being annoyed at each other in the beginning was a little cliche, but it made sense due to the differences in the way their minds worked and such.
Overall, an amazing book. The ending left me in suspense, and I'm itching to read the next installment.
A big thanks to Shelby K. Morrison for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
P.S: This review can also be found on my blog,
One of the best parts of this book (for me) were the descriptions. Lush, intricate, detailed, and yes, a little gory at certain points. There was enough for it to feel like I was watching a movie in my head through the characters' eyes.
And the characters! They were fleshed out lovingly, and I honestly felt like I was in their shoes, even the broken Illcina. It was easy to relate to and understand their motives, and they were all undeniably human. I felt a strong connection to Aia; her anxiety and the way she suppressed her anger in order to keep from Bending. Some might find her coping mechanisms/compulsions (namely her braiding) to be annoying, but they were realistic. Reminded me of how I restlessly pick at my fingernails or shake my leg when I'm anxious. I absolutely loved her drive and selflessness. She was a bit too optimistic at times, but again, I related to that. She was imperfect, but that's what made her real.
The amount of pain this book made me go through though..wow. I predicted that something would happen to Dove because of how good their friendship was, but not Illcina. That was painful, although Illcina had meant to decimate the entirety of Tharien, I felt for her. And the fact that she'd accidentally killed Eve, man. I'll agree that all of this was necessary and even realistic, however. Too many books unrealistically keep characters alive. Good plotting.
I'm interested to see where the friendship between Cole and Aia will lead. They're a bit too touchy to just be really good friends, IMO, and their affection slowly builds. Them being annoyed at each other in the beginning was a little cliche, but it made sense due to the differences in the way their minds worked and such.
Overall, an amazing book. The ending left me in suspense, and I'm itching to read the next installment.
A big thanks to Shelby K. Morrison for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
P.S: This review can also be found on my blog,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
I have always loved the fantasy genre. The thrill of getting to know a new society or a race or an entirely different universe than the one that we live in, has always excited me. From the Ashes definitely paid out in all the aspects that I look for in a fantasy book. The plot was intense, the characters were diverse, and the universe was rich!
I’ve always felt that the best thing about a book in the fantasy genre should be the universe. The amount of heart and soul that the writer has put into building a world that is more than the world we see in real life is what makes or breaks that book. And Morrison has done a great job of making the kingdom of Tharien and its society appealing to the reader.
Maia Wynnald, the protagonist of the story, is being hunted for being a Bender. Having known what she was and accepted that it was evil all her life, Maia must now learn to think differently about her powers and embrace them to save the kingdom. But heroes are not born in a day. The story gives her time and experiences and reasons to slowly develop into the hero that Tharien needs.
Other characters like the mysterious villainess � Illcina, the mentor figure � Eve, other friends she make in her journey like Dove and Lendor along with Cole Balain who is full of surprises add spice to the story. I would’ve loved to read more about other characters like her parents, Eve and the Emperor, Stephan. Maybe it will come up in a later book since From the Ashes is the first part of a series called Legend of the Liberator. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book, titled Among the Flames.
*A review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
I’ve always felt that the best thing about a book in the fantasy genre should be the universe. The amount of heart and soul that the writer has put into building a world that is more than the world we see in real life is what makes or breaks that book. And Morrison has done a great job of making the kingdom of Tharien and its society appealing to the reader.
Maia Wynnald, the protagonist of the story, is being hunted for being a Bender. Having known what she was and accepted that it was evil all her life, Maia must now learn to think differently about her powers and embrace them to save the kingdom. But heroes are not born in a day. The story gives her time and experiences and reasons to slowly develop into the hero that Tharien needs.
Other characters like the mysterious villainess � Illcina, the mentor figure � Eve, other friends she make in her journey like Dove and Lendor along with Cole Balain who is full of surprises add spice to the story. I would’ve loved to read more about other characters like her parents, Eve and the Emperor, Stephan. Maybe it will come up in a later book since From the Ashes is the first part of a series called Legend of the Liberator. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book, titled Among the Flames.
*A review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
May 4, 2015
I really liked the concept of this story despite the gruesome things they doto benders.
Aia's long held secret about being a bender has been finally revealed. She's on the run from Breakers but there's one Breaker, Cole, who might actually be an ally but he has his own secrets. There's another unlikely ally with a Bender who wants Aia's help in order to seek revenge from Tharien.
This might be a little slow at the beginning but the paced picked somewhere near the end especially with those secrets that were revealed.
I felt for the Benders especially the way they were treated including their family. Not much is mentioned about the history of the Benders except for the mention of the Bender War which doesn't say much, Although where little info about Benders being connected to nature. I liked the idea of the stones aiding them at the same time there's a stone that nullify's their powers.
I understood Illcina in wanting her revenge at the same I thought it was a wrong approach. I'm happy that despite how things ended Aia did her best to try and save her although the death of thise two Benders were such a waste. They would have been a more formidable alliance im the future.
If you're looking fir a romance, sadly it is nonexistent if there was it wasn't obvious but I'm looking forward to the development between Aia and Cole.
I hated the Emperor and Quinn, I knew the latter was up to no good and I had an inkling he may be the reason for Cole's downfall in the end.
If I mention more, I'd practically spoil the surprised but I can say I never saw some of those secrets coming.
I wonder how the next book would be, I can't imagine their life getting any easier.
I received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Aia's long held secret about being a bender has been finally revealed. She's on the run from Breakers but there's one Breaker, Cole, who might actually be an ally but he has his own secrets. There's another unlikely ally with a Bender who wants Aia's help in order to seek revenge from Tharien.
This might be a little slow at the beginning but the paced picked somewhere near the end especially with those secrets that were revealed.
I felt for the Benders especially the way they were treated including their family. Not much is mentioned about the history of the Benders except for the mention of the Bender War which doesn't say much, Although where little info about Benders being connected to nature. I liked the idea of the stones aiding them at the same time there's a stone that nullify's their powers.
I understood Illcina in wanting her revenge at the same I thought it was a wrong approach. I'm happy that despite how things ended Aia did her best to try and save her although the death of thise two Benders were such a waste. They would have been a more formidable alliance im the future.
If you're looking fir a romance, sadly it is nonexistent if there was it wasn't obvious but I'm looking forward to the development between Aia and Cole.
I hated the Emperor and Quinn, I knew the latter was up to no good and I had an inkling he may be the reason for Cole's downfall in the end.
If I mention more, I'd practically spoil the surprised but I can say I never saw some of those secrets coming.
I wonder how the next book would be, I can't imagine their life getting any easier.
I received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2015
Ms. Morrison has crafted a well written novel that will captivate and transport you into another realm and another time. A brilliant first book in her series, Legend of the Liberator.
We meet Aia Wynnald running down the darkening streets of the Kingdom of Tharian, fleeing for her life. A girl raised in an upscale area of the kingdom, she now seeks refuge in the outskirts of town, where the poor and outcasts reside. Her crime is that she is a Bender, a person with the ability to kinesthetically control objects.
In the world that Ms. Morrison creates, we find ourselves in an era that feels akin to the Salem Witch Trials. Benders are hunted and then sentenced to death or draining - having enough of their magical blood drained to leave them living a half-life. Fortunately for Aia she stumbles into the shelter of Symps - those who know that Benders are not evil, just different.
Her goal: to change her kingdoms perception of all Benders, that different does not equal evil - but first she must confront the most ruthless Bender of all, one who has plans to destroy Tharian and beyond. With the help of Symps, a rogue Breaker, and a handful of Benders who believe in her, Aia sets about changing her world.
In my opinion this series has the potential to be in the same league as a couple series written by Suzanne Collins. Utterly transporting and riveting, the created world and its inhabitants are beautifully crafted. I am now a diehard fan of Ms. Morrison's and cannot say enough good things about this book. It is a definite must read for everyone from young readers to adults.
We meet Aia Wynnald running down the darkening streets of the Kingdom of Tharian, fleeing for her life. A girl raised in an upscale area of the kingdom, she now seeks refuge in the outskirts of town, where the poor and outcasts reside. Her crime is that she is a Bender, a person with the ability to kinesthetically control objects.
In the world that Ms. Morrison creates, we find ourselves in an era that feels akin to the Salem Witch Trials. Benders are hunted and then sentenced to death or draining - having enough of their magical blood drained to leave them living a half-life. Fortunately for Aia she stumbles into the shelter of Symps - those who know that Benders are not evil, just different.
Her goal: to change her kingdoms perception of all Benders, that different does not equal evil - but first she must confront the most ruthless Bender of all, one who has plans to destroy Tharian and beyond. With the help of Symps, a rogue Breaker, and a handful of Benders who believe in her, Aia sets about changing her world.
In my opinion this series has the potential to be in the same league as a couple series written by Suzanne Collins. Utterly transporting and riveting, the created world and its inhabitants are beautifully crafted. I am now a diehard fan of Ms. Morrison's and cannot say enough good things about this book. It is a definite must read for everyone from young readers to adults.
May 1, 2015
From The Ashes (Legend of the Liberator #1) by Shelby K. Morrison
Eighteen year old Aia Wynnald had it all living as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien. Then she learns the truth about herself. She is a bender. Benders are feared and hunted, known for being evil.
Once her powers are released she fleas everything she knows, not wanting to become a monster. Soon Aia learns it is up to her to determine the fate of Tharien. She is faced with many challenges, learning to control her ability and not knowing who to trust. Will she trust the right people? Will she make the right choices?
I liked Aia. (She) being young and learning she is not who she thinks she is becomes a challenge for her to accept. Watching her accept who she is and learning about her abilities, how to control herself and learning about her family secrets was intense.
There is action, suspense and secrets. Well written with vivid details, I felt I was part of the story. I liked the originality, the plot , the characters. I felt there was a balanced blend of, drama, action and suspense to making me want to keep reading without stopping. I was hooked, I could not put it down.
I highly recommend to Y/A & Adult readers who love a great fantasy. I also liked the cover art. It captured a moment of the story and is quite fitting.
Eighteen year old Aia Wynnald had it all living as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien. Then she learns the truth about herself. She is a bender. Benders are feared and hunted, known for being evil.
Once her powers are released she fleas everything she knows, not wanting to become a monster. Soon Aia learns it is up to her to determine the fate of Tharien. She is faced with many challenges, learning to control her ability and not knowing who to trust. Will she trust the right people? Will she make the right choices?
I liked Aia. (She) being young and learning she is not who she thinks she is becomes a challenge for her to accept. Watching her accept who she is and learning about her abilities, how to control herself and learning about her family secrets was intense.
There is action, suspense and secrets. Well written with vivid details, I felt I was part of the story. I liked the originality, the plot , the characters. I felt there was a balanced blend of, drama, action and suspense to making me want to keep reading without stopping. I was hooked, I could not put it down.
I highly recommend to Y/A & Adult readers who love a great fantasy. I also liked the cover art. It captured a moment of the story and is quite fitting.
July 8, 2015
For eighteen years Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But simmering beneath her polite surface is a dangerous gift, one which she must keep a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted. When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions, Aia’s lifelong goal of independence shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom. Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To rescue those she cares about will require accepting what she is. But can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded to save the very citizens baying for her blood?
Self-published on 2nd May 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1511761383
Source: I received a free digital copy in return for my honest review. Thanks to author Shelby K. Morrison
My Review:
I enjoyed this YA fantasy set in Tharien. The descriptions of the scenery, people and places are detailed enough to be believable and the characters are complex. I particularly like Aia and think she'll appeal to teen girls in particular. Having said that, there is plenty here for the boys too. Cole is a strong character with a few surprises up his sleeve that I didn't predict. I enjoyed it, and I'm interested to see what happens in book 2.
Self-published on 2nd May 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1511761383
Source: I received a free digital copy in return for my honest review. Thanks to author Shelby K. Morrison
My Review:
I enjoyed this YA fantasy set in Tharien. The descriptions of the scenery, people and places are detailed enough to be believable and the characters are complex. I particularly like Aia and think she'll appeal to teen girls in particular. Having said that, there is plenty here for the boys too. Cole is a strong character with a few surprises up his sleeve that I didn't predict. I enjoyed it, and I'm interested to see what happens in book 2.
March 22, 2015
'From The Ashes' pulled me in from the beginning and it was a roller coaster to the end. The storyline was well written and I loved the creativity. The story was packed with action, creative writing, and mystery. I loved the characters! Aia was a great lead! I really liked her personality. Cole secrets were a bit of a surprise to me. I look forward to reading the next book. I would recommend this book to anyone who asks. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
March 22, 2015
This book was really good because of the twists and turns. The best part of the book was the ending, it left me wanting to read the next book. The only thing I didn't like was that the book seemed like the author was just trying to make the book longer but that didn't bother me much.
April 11, 2017
This was pretty good for a self-published YA book, but it did get a little repetitive at times. Still, the lead character was likable enough, though I did get confused between some of he supporting characters. Plus the main villain of the piece took way too long for her plan to come into action, and there was too much time for the heroes to warn everyone that she was coming for them.
April 22, 2017
What an amazing world this author has created! It's magic in a new form. Loyalty and friendship, family and love at it's best.
From the Ashes is well written. A really good YA fantasy novel.
My heart in my throat almost the entire time. Never knowing which path the book would go. Never knowing if Aia could trust the people she met, or what choices she would take.
I really love this book! And can't wait for the next book in this series!!
From the Ashes is well written. A really good YA fantasy novel.
My heart in my throat almost the entire time. Never knowing which path the book would go. Never knowing if Aia could trust the people she met, or what choices she would take.
I really love this book! And can't wait for the next book in this series!!
May 10, 2017
I found this quite interesting from the beginning. The action and suspense at the start is what drew me in. The way the Benders were treated sort of put me in the mind of the Salem Witch Trials. The emotion was well-thought throughout and I could feel for the character(s). The storyline was very well-written and I could picture each scene as if I were in a movie. I like the world the author built and felt like I wasn't just a voyeur but part of the movement within and surrounding the affect of this story.
May 9, 2015
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
Full detailed review was first up on :)
I was provided a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts and opinions.
This was one of the first book review request I responded to on GoodReads. And honestly, I had decided not to read it till near the release date, as Shelby requested a review close to the release date. BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER I MADE!
I should have read it way before. This would have been so worth breaking my promise to Shelby (I am so not sorry for this, Shelby - I really shouldn't have listened to you!).
"I know this might be hard to understand, but I don't want to Bend. I yearn for acceptance, freedom, air to breathe."
Coming the review - This series is based in a world of Tharien, a kingdom ruled by a douche-bag Emperor - I call hi m douche-bag at the start of my review to correspond with the douche-bagness he shows at the start of the plot.
The story starts with Maia or Aia as she likes to be called on the run, after she looses control of the bending abilities and hurting her brother. Now she is on the run to be Drained of her abilities so that she can be reunited with her family (Yeah right!).
She is a highborn, so she has this naive little attitude that everything is sunshine and the world is all black and white. She is a little hard to like personally, but as a character she makes tremendous growth through the course of the story. She goes from this naive little girl that thought a simple change would make everything alright to a girl who understood that life is full of tough choices that don't always fall in the category of black and white.
“He didn’t care what the Emperor said. He knew who Aia was. And he’d stand by her.�
Cole on the other hand, is a Breaker - the cops who hunt down Benders. Now he is man with a lot of layers. He is the perfect Breaker, good at tracking and absolutely amazing fighter, but he also has a lot of secrets - and no, I am not going to tell you even a single one of them cause hello!!! SPOILERS! :P
But the best part is Aia and Cole's relationship. It is easy to see that there is an attraction between them but there is no obvious pointing to it (Sneaky Shelby!) but the obvious growth between them is also a treat to watch.
"You are a threat because they made you so."
Now with every fantasy novel/series, it is expected that there will be a small degree of predictability in it. It is a credit to Shelby that even when i found myself thinking that this book was going the predictable way, she threw in a twist that I never saw coming.
And the fact that she has made a whole new world, is also commendable because it is believable - I could actually imagine this world and the people in it! The writing is simplistic yet beautiful enough that it keeps you sucked in till the end.
The only reason I am shaving off .5 Stars is because though predictability was handled quite well, it still was predictable enough to feel just a teeny tiny uncomfortable. But I still can't wait to read the next installment! So, Shelby - chop! Chop! Off you go writing! ;)
Full detailed review was first up on :)
I was provided a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts and opinions.
This was one of the first book review request I responded to on GoodReads. And honestly, I had decided not to read it till near the release date, as Shelby requested a review close to the release date. BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER I MADE!
I should have read it way before. This would have been so worth breaking my promise to Shelby (I am so not sorry for this, Shelby - I really shouldn't have listened to you!).
"I know this might be hard to understand, but I don't want to Bend. I yearn for acceptance, freedom, air to breathe."
Coming the review - This series is based in a world of Tharien, a kingdom ruled by a douche-bag Emperor - I call hi m douche-bag at the start of my review to correspond with the douche-bagness he shows at the start of the plot.
The story starts with Maia or Aia as she likes to be called on the run, after she looses control of the bending abilities and hurting her brother. Now she is on the run to be Drained of her abilities so that she can be reunited with her family (Yeah right!).
She is a highborn, so she has this naive little attitude that everything is sunshine and the world is all black and white. She is a little hard to like personally, but as a character she makes tremendous growth through the course of the story. She goes from this naive little girl that thought a simple change would make everything alright to a girl who understood that life is full of tough choices that don't always fall in the category of black and white.
“He didn’t care what the Emperor said. He knew who Aia was. And he’d stand by her.�
Cole on the other hand, is a Breaker - the cops who hunt down Benders. Now he is man with a lot of layers. He is the perfect Breaker, good at tracking and absolutely amazing fighter, but he also has a lot of secrets - and no, I am not going to tell you even a single one of them cause hello!!! SPOILERS! :P
But the best part is Aia and Cole's relationship. It is easy to see that there is an attraction between them but there is no obvious pointing to it (Sneaky Shelby!) but the obvious growth between them is also a treat to watch.
"You are a threat because they made you so."
Now with every fantasy novel/series, it is expected that there will be a small degree of predictability in it. It is a credit to Shelby that even when i found myself thinking that this book was going the predictable way, she threw in a twist that I never saw coming.
And the fact that she has made a whole new world, is also commendable because it is believable - I could actually imagine this world and the people in it! The writing is simplistic yet beautiful enough that it keeps you sucked in till the end.
The only reason I am shaving off .5 Stars is because though predictability was handled quite well, it still was predictable enough to feel just a teeny tiny uncomfortable. But I still can't wait to read the next installment! So, Shelby - chop! Chop! Off you go writing! ;)
May 3, 2015
My Rating:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The plot was intense as was the writing. The characters on the other hand while enjoyable to read, needed more development. It was a short book so just as I got into it, it begun to end and that kind of disappointed me.
The book pretty much starts as late and as action-packed as possible. And while I can see why you would begin a book like this so that the reader is drawn from the very beginning I would've liked it to start earlier. I wanted to see more of Aia's character from before she runs away so that I could connect to her more.
Cole is such a stoic character. One minute he would be the stiff soldier and the next he would be kind and compassionate to Aia. I would've liked to see a more flowing development of their relationship. But the plot twist about Cole (which I will not reveal) dropped the BIGGEST BOMB. I did not see that AT ALL. Thanks for that Shelby.
The writing itself was excellent. It was amazingly descriptive and detailed. I literally just found myself awing at how she puts sentences together because she puts them together so intricately. Reading it, I could feel myself seeing and feeling everything. In most books, the surroundings can be blurry butÌýnot in this book. DEFINITELY not in this book.
Generally, a very surprising and intricate book. The whole context of people with powers being condemned pretty much reminded me of every discrimination part of history and I LOVED it since I do love history. But the book ended too abruptly but I guess that means I HAVE to read the next book.
May 6, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
From the Ashes is the kind of book that is a pleasure to pick up after real-life issues have forced you to take a long brake from reading. What a novel! I barely finished the first book and I’m thirsty for the sequel.
A frantic witch hunt is what I would say happened throughout the 285 pages of the book. Of course ‘witches� are called benders here, who possess a not-always-sleeping power � a power that helps them bend the world. They do magic, if you like, but what a difference it makes if they get a different name! Benders are a new, exciting kind of magicians.
My absolute favourite things in this piece of YA literature were the plot twists. There were a lot of them and, even though there were some I could see coming, a few of them took me by surprise and I couldn’t help but gape at my e-reader for long moments � oh my gosh, they were very effective!
The world building was also pretty nicely done. The conflict between the benders and the breakers that goes back long, long years made a perfect basic concept on which the writer built Aia’s story skilfully. From the Ashes isn’t about the main character only though; Aia’s personal life intertwines with Tharien’s (hi)story � and with the lives of its people.
I've grown to love the members of a particular bender group, I really hope we’ll see more of them in the sequel. I adored Cole as well and I was happy the love story between him and Aia � I sense there is one � wasn’t forced that much in the first book. There were a million other things to concentrate on, so I didn’t miss it at all. For now it was enough to know that Cole cares about Aia and I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses later in the upcoming book(s).
From the Ashes dealt with some serious issues (attempted rape, mutilating) that gave a darker aspect to the story. I haven’t read many YA books that dared to be a bit more gruesome, a bit more shocking than what we are used to in the genre and I’m grateful for the author for taking this step, because � strange as it may sound � it added to the quality of the book.
Since I started with mentioning what I liked best about From the Ashes, let me finish with the thing I liked the least: the range of places where the story took place was very limited. Characters in fantasy novels usually travel a lot and here there wasn’t a lot of moving involved (in this sense). However, having read the whole book it looks very likely that the characters will start ‘walking down the road�, so I just have to wait and see.
Overall it was a very enjoyable ride for me and I’ll surely be back for the next dose, because I can’t wait to know what happens later.
This review was originally posted on
From the Ashes is the kind of book that is a pleasure to pick up after real-life issues have forced you to take a long brake from reading. What a novel! I barely finished the first book and I’m thirsty for the sequel.
A frantic witch hunt is what I would say happened throughout the 285 pages of the book. Of course ‘witches� are called benders here, who possess a not-always-sleeping power � a power that helps them bend the world. They do magic, if you like, but what a difference it makes if they get a different name! Benders are a new, exciting kind of magicians.
My absolute favourite things in this piece of YA literature were the plot twists. There were a lot of them and, even though there were some I could see coming, a few of them took me by surprise and I couldn’t help but gape at my e-reader for long moments � oh my gosh, they were very effective!
The world building was also pretty nicely done. The conflict between the benders and the breakers that goes back long, long years made a perfect basic concept on which the writer built Aia’s story skilfully. From the Ashes isn’t about the main character only though; Aia’s personal life intertwines with Tharien’s (hi)story � and with the lives of its people.
I've grown to love the members of a particular bender group, I really hope we’ll see more of them in the sequel. I adored Cole as well and I was happy the love story between him and Aia � I sense there is one � wasn’t forced that much in the first book. There were a million other things to concentrate on, so I didn’t miss it at all. For now it was enough to know that Cole cares about Aia and I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses later in the upcoming book(s).
From the Ashes dealt with some serious issues (attempted rape, mutilating) that gave a darker aspect to the story. I haven’t read many YA books that dared to be a bit more gruesome, a bit more shocking than what we are used to in the genre and I’m grateful for the author for taking this step, because � strange as it may sound � it added to the quality of the book.
Since I started with mentioning what I liked best about From the Ashes, let me finish with the thing I liked the least: the range of places where the story took place was very limited. Characters in fantasy novels usually travel a lot and here there wasn’t a lot of moving involved (in this sense). However, having read the whole book it looks very likely that the characters will start ‘walking down the road�, so I just have to wait and see.
Overall it was a very enjoyable ride for me and I’ll surely be back for the next dose, because I can’t wait to know what happens later.
This review was originally posted on
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