What do you think?
Rate this book
Legacy Trilogy #1
Legacy of Ash
Legacy of Ash is an unmissable fantasy debut--an epic tale of intrigue and revolution, soldiers and assassins, ancient magic and the eternal clash of empires.
A shadow has fallen over the Tressian Republic.
Ruling families -- once protectors of justice and democracy -- now plot against one another with sharp words and sharper knives. Blinded by ambition, they remain heedless of the threat posed by the invading armies of the Hadari Empire.
Yet as Tressia falls, heroes rise.
Viktor Akadra is the Republic's champion. A warrior without equal, he hides a secret that would see him burned as a heretic.
Josiri Trelan is Viktor's sworn enemy. A political prisoner, he dreams of reigniting his mother's failed rebellion.
And yet Calenne Trelan, Josiri's sister, seeks only to break free of their tarnished legacy; to escape the expectation and prejudice that haunts the family name.
As war spreads across the Republic, these three must set aside their differences in order to save their home. Yet decades of bad blood are not easily set aside. And victory -- if it comes at all -- will demand a darker price than any of them could have imagined.
A shadow has fallen over the Tressian Republic.
Ruling families -- once protectors of justice and democracy -- now plot against one another with sharp words and sharper knives. Blinded by ambition, they remain heedless of the threat posed by the invading armies of the Hadari Empire.
Yet as Tressia falls, heroes rise.
Viktor Akadra is the Republic's champion. A warrior without equal, he hides a secret that would see him burned as a heretic.
Josiri Trelan is Viktor's sworn enemy. A political prisoner, he dreams of reigniting his mother's failed rebellion.
And yet Calenne Trelan, Josiri's sister, seeks only to break free of their tarnished legacy; to escape the expectation and prejudice that haunts the family name.
As war spreads across the Republic, these three must set aside their differences in order to save their home. Yet decades of bad blood are not easily set aside. And victory -- if it comes at all -- will demand a darker price than any of them could have imagined.
800 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2019
820 people are currently reading
15.2k people want to read
About the author
Matthew Ward
58books418followersMatthew Ward is a writer, cat-servant and owner of more musical instruments than he can actually play (and considerably more than he can play well). He’s afflicted with an obsession for old places � castles, historic cities and the London Underground chief amongst them � and should probably cultivate more interests to help expand out his author biography.
After a decade serving as a principal architect for Games Workshop’s Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 properties, Matthew embarked on an adventure to tell stories set in worlds of his own design. He lives near Nottingham with his extremely patient wife � as well as a pride of attention-seeking cats � and writes to entertain anyone who feels there’s not enough magic in the world.
After a decade serving as a principal architect for Games Workshop’s Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 properties, Matthew embarked on an adventure to tell stories set in worlds of his own design. He lives near Nottingham with his extremely patient wife � as well as a pride of attention-seeking cats � and writes to entertain anyone who feels there’s not enough magic in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 448 reviews
December 7, 2019
Achievement unlocked: This is the 100th ARC/Review Copy I’ve read and reviewed!
Review Copy provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy debut aptly designed for well-seasoned epic fantasy readers, and I wouldn’t recommend newcomers to the genre starting to start their epic fantasy adventure here.
We all know how it goes; if it’s an epic fantasy debut, the particular book will immediately be advertised as A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones meets (insert another author/series/book here,) and Legacy of Ash isn’t excluded from that tradition. As much as I often find this kind of advertisement misleading most of the time, Legacy of Ash may have just done justice to this often-misleading claim. Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy debut with many characters and names to remember, imbued with the hint of huge scope found in A Song of Ice and Fire and action sequences that bear a resemblance to Bernard Cornwell’s.
Have you ever heard the argument that prologue sucked and unnecessary? I won’t lie, it’s an opinion that I can’t understand, or maybe I’m just lucky because I haven’t found any prologue that ends up becoming unnecessary to the main story. Prologues have the capability to set the tone, background, and premise of what’s to come in the main story, and Legacy of Ash, the first book in The Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward, did this wonderfully; it begins with a prologue that’s integral to the main conflicts that start fifteen years after the prologue.
The main story in Legacy of Ash follows the dispute between the two factions: Tressia and the Southerner. The bad blood and hatred running between the two factions have been going on for more than a decade, and the chances of reconciliation are close to non-existence. In the midst of their confrontation with each other, there’s a threat of an upcoming invasion from another different faction: the Hadari Empire. The characters in both factions have to come up with a solution to resolve their problems, or they risk being obliterated by the Hadari. That’s the premise of the first half of the novel; the second half took on a different direction that’s very heavy on politics. Legacy of Ash is a huge debut; it’s almost 800 pages long, and the two main story arcs honestly made the book felt like two books combined into one omnibus. The themes of overcoming friendship, family, loyalties, overcoming prejudice, and finding freedom were strongly apparent throughout the narrative; the characters magnified the effectiveness of these themes greatly.
Legacy of Ash has a large cast of characters to follow, and Ward did an incredible job in showing the perspective from each character. I loved that although some of the characters belong in the same faction, their respective personalities, background, and moral dilemma caused a division or unity. The main characters were well-written, Viktor Akadra was my favorite character from the book, but what I found to be more praiseworthy about this book was how Ward made sure that every single character—including the side characters—ended up becoming important to the overarching storyline.
Unfortunately, I have to admit that the characters took a long time�200 pages—for me to memorized and feel invested in without looking at the drammatis personae. As expected of an epic fantasy, there are a lot of names—not just characters—to remember here, but I felt like they’re delivered to the readers too rapidly that it made the names harder to stick. Plus, Ward’s storytelling style occasionally switches between using first, last name, and nickname of each character that it gets even harder for them to be easily recognizable. For example, Revekah Halvor is called Revekah in one paragraph, and she’s instantly called Halvor in the next, and then back to being called Revekah again. Another example, the name of the divinities, Ashana—the Hadari Goddess of the Moon—is known as Lunastra in Tressia, and Lumestra—Tressian Goddess of the Sun—is known as Astarra in the Hadari Empire. This style, done for many characters repeatedly, gets confusing easily.
The rough beginnings with the names aside, my investment for the majority of the characters were definitely there. Legacy of Ash has no shortage of well-written flawed characters. The characters and relationship developments between the cast felt believable. Also, I would like to add that Ward writes great female characters. Have I mentioned that Ward has written one of the most despicable—in a good way for the story—evil queen to ever exist on a fantasy book? Seriously, watch out for Ebigal Kiradin. She’s utterly abhorrent, selfish, and manipulative; she pretty much made Cersei Lannister virtuous in comparison. And I love it. Ebigal made the politics in the book so much more engaging and intense, and she has the role of becoming a huge driving factor in the second half of the book.
The world-building was intricate, and I loved how Ward has interwoven the myth and history of the world into the current conflicts that the characters faced. The magic was lethal, and it still has more room for explorations in the sequels. I’ve mentioned that Ward writes battle scenes that are similar to Bernard Cornwell’s style at the beginning of my review, and this notion was first proven in the big action sequences that happened halfway into the book; it closed the first half of the story terrifically. Both the characterizations and setup in the first half played a significant role in making the almost-hundred pages long war scenes intense, vivid, and unputdownable. Honestly, the battle that occurred in the middle section has all the potential of becoming a final concluding chapter of a particular book; Ward did this twice. Ward closed the second half with another huge battle scenes that are brimming with tension and high-stakes.
As much as I would LOVE to recommend this debut to every fantasy reader, I think it would be beneficial for the book itself that it falls into the hands of readers who are clearly devout epic fantasy readers. Immensely remarkable and huge in scope, Ward concluded Legacy of Ash on a high note, making his debut a definite must-try for epic fantasy enthusiasts. I seriously have no idea where the story will go from here, the book felt like a large standalone with almost every plot-thread finished already, but I’m intrigued to find out more about what Ward left in store in his vision.
You can order the book from:
You can find and the rest of my reviews at
Review Copy provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy debut aptly designed for well-seasoned epic fantasy readers, and I wouldn’t recommend newcomers to the genre starting to start their epic fantasy adventure here.
We all know how it goes; if it’s an epic fantasy debut, the particular book will immediately be advertised as A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones meets (insert another author/series/book here,) and Legacy of Ash isn’t excluded from that tradition. As much as I often find this kind of advertisement misleading most of the time, Legacy of Ash may have just done justice to this often-misleading claim. Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy debut with many characters and names to remember, imbued with the hint of huge scope found in A Song of Ice and Fire and action sequences that bear a resemblance to Bernard Cornwell’s.
“The Tyrant Queen’s reign is done, but vigilance remains. For just as the shadows are strongest on the brightest of days, we are never more imperiled than when we think ourselves safe.�
Have you ever heard the argument that prologue sucked and unnecessary? I won’t lie, it’s an opinion that I can’t understand, or maybe I’m just lucky because I haven’t found any prologue that ends up becoming unnecessary to the main story. Prologues have the capability to set the tone, background, and premise of what’s to come in the main story, and Legacy of Ash, the first book in The Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward, did this wonderfully; it begins with a prologue that’s integral to the main conflicts that start fifteen years after the prologue.
The main story in Legacy of Ash follows the dispute between the two factions: Tressia and the Southerner. The bad blood and hatred running between the two factions have been going on for more than a decade, and the chances of reconciliation are close to non-existence. In the midst of their confrontation with each other, there’s a threat of an upcoming invasion from another different faction: the Hadari Empire. The characters in both factions have to come up with a solution to resolve their problems, or they risk being obliterated by the Hadari. That’s the premise of the first half of the novel; the second half took on a different direction that’s very heavy on politics. Legacy of Ash is a huge debut; it’s almost 800 pages long, and the two main story arcs honestly made the book felt like two books combined into one omnibus. The themes of overcoming friendship, family, loyalties, overcoming prejudice, and finding freedom were strongly apparent throughout the narrative; the characters magnified the effectiveness of these themes greatly.
“It’s a big world. Lose yourself in it. I’ve learnt that it’s always better to do something than nothing.�
“Even if it means you’re following the wrong course?�
“How else will you find out where the proper course lies?�
Legacy of Ash has a large cast of characters to follow, and Ward did an incredible job in showing the perspective from each character. I loved that although some of the characters belong in the same faction, their respective personalities, background, and moral dilemma caused a division or unity. The main characters were well-written, Viktor Akadra was my favorite character from the book, but what I found to be more praiseworthy about this book was how Ward made sure that every single character—including the side characters—ended up becoming important to the overarching storyline.
“Treasure your family, Malachi. No one is poorer than a man who knows his wealth only when it’s lost.�
Unfortunately, I have to admit that the characters took a long time�200 pages—for me to memorized and feel invested in without looking at the drammatis personae. As expected of an epic fantasy, there are a lot of names—not just characters—to remember here, but I felt like they’re delivered to the readers too rapidly that it made the names harder to stick. Plus, Ward’s storytelling style occasionally switches between using first, last name, and nickname of each character that it gets even harder for them to be easily recognizable. For example, Revekah Halvor is called Revekah in one paragraph, and she’s instantly called Halvor in the next, and then back to being called Revekah again. Another example, the name of the divinities, Ashana—the Hadari Goddess of the Moon—is known as Lunastra in Tressia, and Lumestra—Tressian Goddess of the Sun—is known as Astarra in the Hadari Empire. This style, done for many characters repeatedly, gets confusing easily.
The rough beginnings with the names aside, my investment for the majority of the characters were definitely there. Legacy of Ash has no shortage of well-written flawed characters. The characters and relationship developments between the cast felt believable. Also, I would like to add that Ward writes great female characters. Have I mentioned that Ward has written one of the most despicable—in a good way for the story—evil queen to ever exist on a fantasy book? Seriously, watch out for Ebigal Kiradin. She’s utterly abhorrent, selfish, and manipulative; she pretty much made Cersei Lannister virtuous in comparison. And I love it. Ebigal made the politics in the book so much more engaging and intense, and she has the role of becoming a huge driving factor in the second half of the book.
“The irony of order is that it foments indiscipline. In seeking to control all we survey, we invite anarchy.�
The world-building was intricate, and I loved how Ward has interwoven the myth and history of the world into the current conflicts that the characters faced. The magic was lethal, and it still has more room for explorations in the sequels. I’ve mentioned that Ward writes battle scenes that are similar to Bernard Cornwell’s style at the beginning of my review, and this notion was first proven in the big action sequences that happened halfway into the book; it closed the first half of the story terrifically. Both the characterizations and setup in the first half played a significant role in making the almost-hundred pages long war scenes intense, vivid, and unputdownable. Honestly, the battle that occurred in the middle section has all the potential of becoming a final concluding chapter of a particular book; Ward did this twice. Ward closed the second half with another huge battle scenes that are brimming with tension and high-stakes.
“It’s myth. One step removed from story. And stories have only the power you give them. It does no harm to listen.�
As much as I would LOVE to recommend this debut to every fantasy reader, I think it would be beneficial for the book itself that it falls into the hands of readers who are clearly devout epic fantasy readers. Immensely remarkable and huge in scope, Ward concluded Legacy of Ash on a high note, making his debut a definite must-try for epic fantasy enthusiasts. I seriously have no idea where the story will go from here, the book felt like a large standalone with almost every plot-thread finished already, but I’m intrigued to find out more about what Ward left in store in his vision.
You can order the book from:
You can find and the rest of my reviews at
August 9, 2019
I enjoyed this! LEGACY OF ASH is another debut coming out this year that’s certainly worth a look if you’re into slightly more historical-feeling epic fantasy. It’s an interesting mix � it was pitched to me as A GAME OF THRONES meets Bernard Cromwell, and I don’t think that’s too far off the mark. It has great worldbuilding, and a big cast that allows the story to stay detail-oriented while maintaining quite a wide scope. There’s plenty of politics and backstabbing and generally terrible people to hate � and also good people having to face hard choices, and sometimes making mistakes as a result.
Despite the GoT comparison, one of the first things I noticed was that LEGACY OF ASH doesn’t go near the more explicit material in George RR Martin’s series. If you would have otherwise enjoyed Game of Thrones, but were put off by its fairly liberal use of sex and swearing, this book could well be perfect for you.
I should also mention that to begin with, I wasn’t sure that LEGACY OF ASH was going to grab me � not because it’s poorly written (the writing's great) and not because it takes a while to get into the plot (it doesn’t) - but simply because there are a lot of different point-of-view characters, and the story starts switching between them quite quickly from the get-go. That’s actually going to be a positive for a lot of people, and of course there’s the one rather popular series I've already mentioned that does exactly this. But I wanted to note it for other readers like me, who generally find this format a little harder to get into. Both to forewarn them that it’s written in this style, and to assure them that I enjoyed it anyway.
Once I got my head around the setting and the relationships of the characters to one another, though, the story really did draw me in. It’s quite a big book - my preview copy had to be split across two separate volumes! � but it moves at a solid clip. There are some nice twists, and both the plot and the development of the characters often moved in directions I wasn’t necessarily expecting. I very much liked the ending, too, which is always important.
All in all, an absorbing read!
Despite the GoT comparison, one of the first things I noticed was that LEGACY OF ASH doesn’t go near the more explicit material in George RR Martin’s series. If you would have otherwise enjoyed Game of Thrones, but were put off by its fairly liberal use of sex and swearing, this book could well be perfect for you.
I should also mention that to begin with, I wasn’t sure that LEGACY OF ASH was going to grab me � not because it’s poorly written (the writing's great) and not because it takes a while to get into the plot (it doesn’t) - but simply because there are a lot of different point-of-view characters, and the story starts switching between them quite quickly from the get-go. That’s actually going to be a positive for a lot of people, and of course there’s the one rather popular series I've already mentioned that does exactly this. But I wanted to note it for other readers like me, who generally find this format a little harder to get into. Both to forewarn them that it’s written in this style, and to assure them that I enjoyed it anyway.
Once I got my head around the setting and the relationships of the characters to one another, though, the story really did draw me in. It’s quite a big book - my preview copy had to be split across two separate volumes! � but it moves at a solid clip. There are some nice twists, and both the plot and the development of the characters often moved in directions I wasn’t necessarily expecting. I very much liked the ending, too, which is always important.
All in all, an absorbing read!
March 20, 2022
My thanks to Orbit Books, Netgalley and the Author Matthew Ward. I have a love for Epic Fantasy and Grimdark. Because I love it so hard, I don't read too much of it. When I do I'm exceedingly picky! This was Epic Fantasy at its finest. I'm truly amazed by now much I loved this first book. It had a large cast of characters, but not so many that you end up wondering who is who. I loved the characters, "mostly." I especially loved the magics? Both dark and light, and am looking forward to seeing more. Also, this first book of the trilogy had a solid ending. I was satisfied, and can't wait for the next 2 books. I could wish my life away with all the wishing I do! Right now? I'm wishing it was November, 2020! That's when book 2 is published😍
Update:Eh? I'll wait until the end game. If rather read them all at once! Also, I'm getting too old for all this re-reading stuff!😍
Update:Eh? I'll wait until the end game. If rather read them all at once! Also, I'm getting too old for all this re-reading stuff!😍
August 31, 2020
‘[[Much can change in time,]] said Anastacia. [[Truth becomes hope, and hope becomes legend. What was wild becomes settled, and fear lives on as prejudice. People remember where history forgets.]]�
~
Legacy of Ash is the first instalment in the aptly titled Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward. This book is a tome to say the least, rounding up at 764 pages, this is one hell of an ambitious epic fantasy and one that completely enchanted me.
To give a brief outline of what the book is about is somewhat of a challenge as the narrative slowly builds up to become quite complex, but here I go anyway. The Tressian Republic strive to conquer their neighbouring lands; in the south a Phoenix has arisen to lead the people of the Southshires towards a battle for freedom. However, when the Phoenix is slain hope dies with her, and all that’s left is a legacy of failure. We then move forward to fifteen years later, and the Prince of Hadari plots to set his army upon the lands of the Tressian Republic to further his rule and secure his seat on the Emperor’s throne. His eye is set upon the land of the Southshires, to the town of Eskavord. Josiri, and Calenne, the children of the infamous Phoenix, imprisoned within the walls of Branghall castle, must find a way to continue their mother’s quest for freedom and liberate the people of Eskavord, not only against the oncoming Hadari, but also breaking free from the Republic. With Josiri riddled with self doubt, and his sister Calenne desperate to rid herself of her mother’s memory, the task is not easy. Can Viktor, a soldier of the Republic, amend for his past deeds and offer salvation to the doomed Southshires? Can old wounds be buried and new alliances formed? This folks, is our tale.
I’ll start by saying, Legacy of Ash, is the very embodiment of an epic fantasy. There is a quest for freedom, there are legendary knights, characters who can wield magic, ethereal beings, and there is the age old war between light and dark, although this book does give a somewhat fresh perspective on that! I know this book has been compared to Game of Thrones (*ahem*, what fantasy book hasn’t these days?) but I find this misleading. This is not a dark and gritty book, and if I had to compare it to any other series, I would say it’s more akin to The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne.
Through the beginning chapters the novel boldly introduces an immense amount of characters. Ward throws the reader right into the middle of events, with minimal backstory or world building, and it is left to us to slowly piece the puzzle together as we read on. Now normally I’d find this quite jarring, but that was not the case here. Ward’s writing style, his skill in creating likeable characters, his ability to keep you intrigued, was something that reeled me in and had me hooked. I particularly loved that there were multiple plots set up, as the depth of the story continuously impressed me.
I think it’s noteworthy to mention that we do switch POV between characters a lot, often in the same chapter, but these switches were separated by paragraphs so it never became confusing. However, if you’re inclined to be put off by this, I urge you not to, because I felt there was a fundamental purpose to this style. Each character is interconnected one way or another with each other’s narratives, for good or ill they impact each other’s lives, and therefore Ward deliberately positions each point of view to give the reader the best insight. There are many schemes, lies, misconceptions, and drama, OH THE DRAMA! I was utterly enthralled by it all. It felt like a show I was watching unfold, and I couldn’t help but feel caught in it. That’s when you know you’re reading a good book, right? When you suspend reality, and can’t help but feel apart of the story... it’s the best! But anyway, to further my point this is a big novel, and therefore Ward uses that expanse to flesh out the characters in fairly short scenes, and skilfully build upon their narratives. I would say that the first half of the book is a character driven story, one that explores the tenuous bonds between family, friends, and delves into the nature of legacies, and of forgiveness.
So, which characters did I like the best? How long have you got?! There are a lot to mention, so I’ll do my best to keep it short(ish). Josiri, was a character that often wallowed in self pity and bitterness, which made him infuriating to begin with, but as he became stronger, and was able to overcome his narrow mindedness, I began to adore him. His sister, Calenne, in her desperation to step out from behind her mother’s shadow any way she could, did come across as selfish, but you understand her reasons behind it, and I grew to really root for her. Now, Viktor Akadra was one I immediately LOVED. I mean Viktor had heart, he genuinely cared for others, and his only goal was to make amends for his past; but Viktor had a shadow... and I’ll leave it to you find out exactly what that shadow could do!
Other honourable mentions were; Anastacia, who held so much magical power, she was just plain awesome. Then there was Melanna, the prince of Hadari’s daughter, who wanted nothing more than to become a warrior to fight beside her father, even though tradition dictated women could not partake in warfare. Oh and my favourite duo were Kurkas and Revekeh; these two made the most unlikeliest friendship, but somehow they were both perfect for each other, and their banter together was the absolute best!! Lastly, I’ll mention Ebigail, one of the main villains of the story, and she was the most villainiest of villains indeed! Jeez, she was ruthless; the way she could manipulate situations to ensure her dominance and power, was both maddening but also well played! It’s a cliche, but I loved to hate her.
~
‘Viktor didn’t cheer the death. Eyes stinging with sweat, he saved every breath for the strength it lent weary arms and a flagging heart. There was only the press of bodies. The dead and the dying trampled underfoot. And the determination to outlast the foe.�
~
Now, as I mentioned before the first half of Legacy of Ash is character driven, but after that point, my god there is one hell of a lot of tumult! Ward delivers some absolutely incredible action scenes, that made my battle loving, stabby stabby heart so happy! What I was most impressed by was the way Ward set up the characters like pieces on a chess board. He built the tension, the atmosphere, by strategically placing characters in various parts of the battlefield to ensure the reader gets a fully rounded perspective of the fighting from all sides, even the enemies line. A lot of fantasy books lately have opted to keep the magical/fantastical elements low key, whereas Ward goes all out and incorporates some awesome magical beings and creatures. Personally I appreciated this so much, because the fantastical is an element that is a huge part of the fantasy genre, the possibilities are endless, so why not celebrate that?! In Legacy of Ash, Ward created magical amulets which allowed magical and non magical users to control Simarka’s, which were mechanical lions, and kraikons, which were mechanical giants. From the Hadari side we had grunda’s which were like mechanical rhino’s that charged their foe. We also had a goddess� sword, dark magic, and a highly powered mystical malevolent being! Folks, this book was so freaking epic, oh and the ending, the very last page, left me SHOOK!
So there you have it, Legacy of Ash was a book that was simply right up my street. It felt like an old school fantasy, with characters that appeared real, and world building that revels in the fantastical. If this appeals to you, then what are you waiting for? Go grab a copy.
ARC provided by Orbit in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this amazing copy! Legacy of Ash is out now!
~
Legacy of Ash is the first instalment in the aptly titled Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward. This book is a tome to say the least, rounding up at 764 pages, this is one hell of an ambitious epic fantasy and one that completely enchanted me.
To give a brief outline of what the book is about is somewhat of a challenge as the narrative slowly builds up to become quite complex, but here I go anyway. The Tressian Republic strive to conquer their neighbouring lands; in the south a Phoenix has arisen to lead the people of the Southshires towards a battle for freedom. However, when the Phoenix is slain hope dies with her, and all that’s left is a legacy of failure. We then move forward to fifteen years later, and the Prince of Hadari plots to set his army upon the lands of the Tressian Republic to further his rule and secure his seat on the Emperor’s throne. His eye is set upon the land of the Southshires, to the town of Eskavord. Josiri, and Calenne, the children of the infamous Phoenix, imprisoned within the walls of Branghall castle, must find a way to continue their mother’s quest for freedom and liberate the people of Eskavord, not only against the oncoming Hadari, but also breaking free from the Republic. With Josiri riddled with self doubt, and his sister Calenne desperate to rid herself of her mother’s memory, the task is not easy. Can Viktor, a soldier of the Republic, amend for his past deeds and offer salvation to the doomed Southshires? Can old wounds be buried and new alliances formed? This folks, is our tale.
I’ll start by saying, Legacy of Ash, is the very embodiment of an epic fantasy. There is a quest for freedom, there are legendary knights, characters who can wield magic, ethereal beings, and there is the age old war between light and dark, although this book does give a somewhat fresh perspective on that! I know this book has been compared to Game of Thrones (*ahem*, what fantasy book hasn’t these days?) but I find this misleading. This is not a dark and gritty book, and if I had to compare it to any other series, I would say it’s more akin to The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne.
Through the beginning chapters the novel boldly introduces an immense amount of characters. Ward throws the reader right into the middle of events, with minimal backstory or world building, and it is left to us to slowly piece the puzzle together as we read on. Now normally I’d find this quite jarring, but that was not the case here. Ward’s writing style, his skill in creating likeable characters, his ability to keep you intrigued, was something that reeled me in and had me hooked. I particularly loved that there were multiple plots set up, as the depth of the story continuously impressed me.
I think it’s noteworthy to mention that we do switch POV between characters a lot, often in the same chapter, but these switches were separated by paragraphs so it never became confusing. However, if you’re inclined to be put off by this, I urge you not to, because I felt there was a fundamental purpose to this style. Each character is interconnected one way or another with each other’s narratives, for good or ill they impact each other’s lives, and therefore Ward deliberately positions each point of view to give the reader the best insight. There are many schemes, lies, misconceptions, and drama, OH THE DRAMA! I was utterly enthralled by it all. It felt like a show I was watching unfold, and I couldn’t help but feel caught in it. That’s when you know you’re reading a good book, right? When you suspend reality, and can’t help but feel apart of the story... it’s the best! But anyway, to further my point this is a big novel, and therefore Ward uses that expanse to flesh out the characters in fairly short scenes, and skilfully build upon their narratives. I would say that the first half of the book is a character driven story, one that explores the tenuous bonds between family, friends, and delves into the nature of legacies, and of forgiveness.
So, which characters did I like the best? How long have you got?! There are a lot to mention, so I’ll do my best to keep it short(ish). Josiri, was a character that often wallowed in self pity and bitterness, which made him infuriating to begin with, but as he became stronger, and was able to overcome his narrow mindedness, I began to adore him. His sister, Calenne, in her desperation to step out from behind her mother’s shadow any way she could, did come across as selfish, but you understand her reasons behind it, and I grew to really root for her. Now, Viktor Akadra was one I immediately LOVED. I mean Viktor had heart, he genuinely cared for others, and his only goal was to make amends for his past; but Viktor had a shadow... and I’ll leave it to you find out exactly what that shadow could do!
Other honourable mentions were; Anastacia, who held so much magical power, she was just plain awesome. Then there was Melanna, the prince of Hadari’s daughter, who wanted nothing more than to become a warrior to fight beside her father, even though tradition dictated women could not partake in warfare. Oh and my favourite duo were Kurkas and Revekeh; these two made the most unlikeliest friendship, but somehow they were both perfect for each other, and their banter together was the absolute best!! Lastly, I’ll mention Ebigail, one of the main villains of the story, and she was the most villainiest of villains indeed! Jeez, she was ruthless; the way she could manipulate situations to ensure her dominance and power, was both maddening but also well played! It’s a cliche, but I loved to hate her.
~
‘Viktor didn’t cheer the death. Eyes stinging with sweat, he saved every breath for the strength it lent weary arms and a flagging heart. There was only the press of bodies. The dead and the dying trampled underfoot. And the determination to outlast the foe.�
~
Now, as I mentioned before the first half of Legacy of Ash is character driven, but after that point, my god there is one hell of a lot of tumult! Ward delivers some absolutely incredible action scenes, that made my battle loving, stabby stabby heart so happy! What I was most impressed by was the way Ward set up the characters like pieces on a chess board. He built the tension, the atmosphere, by strategically placing characters in various parts of the battlefield to ensure the reader gets a fully rounded perspective of the fighting from all sides, even the enemies line. A lot of fantasy books lately have opted to keep the magical/fantastical elements low key, whereas Ward goes all out and incorporates some awesome magical beings and creatures. Personally I appreciated this so much, because the fantastical is an element that is a huge part of the fantasy genre, the possibilities are endless, so why not celebrate that?! In Legacy of Ash, Ward created magical amulets which allowed magical and non magical users to control Simarka’s, which were mechanical lions, and kraikons, which were mechanical giants. From the Hadari side we had grunda’s which were like mechanical rhino’s that charged their foe. We also had a goddess� sword, dark magic, and a highly powered mystical malevolent being! Folks, this book was so freaking epic, oh and the ending, the very last page, left me SHOOK!
So there you have it, Legacy of Ash was a book that was simply right up my street. It felt like an old school fantasy, with characters that appeared real, and world building that revels in the fantastical. If this appeals to you, then what are you waiting for? Go grab a copy.
ARC provided by Orbit in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this amazing copy! Legacy of Ash is out now!
March 10, 2020
Fantasy doesn't get any more legendary or epic than Ward's "Legacy of Ash." You want ancient kingdoms doing battle. You got it. You want heroes and heroines in rebellion against the boot of the oppressors. Here it is. You want magical powers so dark, so mysterious, so twisted. You can barely comprehend its limits. You found it.
The payoff in terms of a satisfying epic adventure is magnificent. However, patience must be counseled on the treacherous journey. The cinder block, referred to as a novel, is near eight hundred pages. And it is filled with so many characters and subplots and twists that it's hard to keep the players straight without a scorecard. Think of it as the lengthy setup on the chessboard before all the action starts. Bear with it because it will all make sense eventually and you'll be thunderstruck at how quickly the pages turn and how little sleep you'll get.
In terms of worldbuilding, Legacy of Ash dies a great job without ever fully spelling out the past histories of either the Republic or the Empire or the rebellious provinces. Even more mysterious is all the magic, both dark and light magic, and how fully the purveyors of magic are twisted and bent to the darkness. Who controls whom and how ancient are the powers? And who are the crows and crowmarket?
And the Kraikens are among the most mysterious things in the novel, man-made behemoths or siege engines imbued with magic. They seem in some sense out of place here.
The characters are not only numerous, but are complex, with ever changing motives and loyalties. Don't think you know how all the forces are arrayed and to whom loyalty is owed on the everchanging chessboard. Here, pretty much all the main characters are classic flawed heroes who are blinded by grudges, by the burdens of the past, by hubris, and by delving deep into forces they cannot begin to comprehend.
Viktor is of course the invincible warrior, but he slew the Phoenix, the hope of the South, and it's a burden he can never relinquish. He is also far more than the classic swordsman as he bears more than just guilt but a shadow that threatens to envelop him.
Josiri and Calenne are no less complex, mere children in the opening prologue and forever haunted by their mother's legacy. Can they live up to Katya's legend or are they imprisoned by it and unable to break free. Will they mature enough to become the leaders their people need them to be?
The payoff in terms of a satisfying epic adventure is magnificent. However, patience must be counseled on the treacherous journey. The cinder block, referred to as a novel, is near eight hundred pages. And it is filled with so many characters and subplots and twists that it's hard to keep the players straight without a scorecard. Think of it as the lengthy setup on the chessboard before all the action starts. Bear with it because it will all make sense eventually and you'll be thunderstruck at how quickly the pages turn and how little sleep you'll get.
In terms of worldbuilding, Legacy of Ash dies a great job without ever fully spelling out the past histories of either the Republic or the Empire or the rebellious provinces. Even more mysterious is all the magic, both dark and light magic, and how fully the purveyors of magic are twisted and bent to the darkness. Who controls whom and how ancient are the powers? And who are the crows and crowmarket?
And the Kraikens are among the most mysterious things in the novel, man-made behemoths or siege engines imbued with magic. They seem in some sense out of place here.
The characters are not only numerous, but are complex, with ever changing motives and loyalties. Don't think you know how all the forces are arrayed and to whom loyalty is owed on the everchanging chessboard. Here, pretty much all the main characters are classic flawed heroes who are blinded by grudges, by the burdens of the past, by hubris, and by delving deep into forces they cannot begin to comprehend.
Viktor is of course the invincible warrior, but he slew the Phoenix, the hope of the South, and it's a burden he can never relinquish. He is also far more than the classic swordsman as he bears more than just guilt but a shadow that threatens to envelop him.
Josiri and Calenne are no less complex, mere children in the opening prologue and forever haunted by their mother's legacy. Can they live up to Katya's legend or are they imprisoned by it and unable to break free. Will they mature enough to become the leaders their people need them to be?
May 19, 2023
7.71 on CAWPILE.
I need to start book 2. Right now.
I need to start book 2. Right now.
December 29, 2019
LEGACY OF ASH begins in the middle of a hotbed of action and events that have already taken place to set up the current situation. The Tressian Republic has accomplished much and acquired a good amount of territory leading up to this point. However, they are threatened on their southeastern border by the upstart Hadari Empire. The Hadari have been waiting patiently for the opportune time to strike and by all reasoning, this seems to be that time.
Situated between the warring Tressians and Hadari are the people of the Southshires. The inhabitants of this land at one time attempted to rise up against the Tressians and were eventually thwarted by the Black Knight Viktor Akadra and the army of the Republic. Now the Southshires finds itself a protectorate of sorts of Tressia, albeit one of convenience. The Tressians need the Southshires for its abundance of resources, but they ignore this territory for the most part until they need to replenish their stocks. Then and only then are they deemed important enough to broker with.
Crown Prince Saran of the Hadari, along with his daughter Melanna, believe that they have the key to overthrowing their hated enemy once and for all. They will use the pent up resentment and bitterness of the Southshires in an attempt to forge a military alliance that will make them all but unbeatable. But the Tressians are racing to make an alliance of their own. For they know that if the Tressian champion Akadra can sway Duke Josiri and his sister Calenne to align with the Republic, Hadari will be doomed to failure. The race is on to bolster each side as a war to end all wars seems more than imminent. Distrust and hatred die hard as years of neglect and oppression of the Southshires may ultimately come back to bite The Republic.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will freely admit that I like huge books. I mean, the more pages the better as far as I'm concerned. With that being said, I also realize that many authors cannot pull off a door stopper of a book without having some significant periods of inactivity and stagnation. Well, not so in the case of Matthew Ward and LEGACY OF ASH. This is a meaty epic fantasy book that never wavers or slows down for a minute. The amount of action, intrigue, and battle depictions packed into this one book would fill the majority of fantasy trilogies. Great news to be sure as this means we have so much more yet to experience from this series.
LEGACY OF ASH contained so many emotional moments for me. Mostly in the sections that dealt with the Southshires and their dilemma of being caught up in an incredibly difficult choice. On the one hand they finally would like to throw off the shackles of their rulers the Tressians, yet they also know that the invading army of the Hadari are pouring through the mountain pass and will most likely tear a bloody path through their own lands on the way to their final destination. Josiri in particular is conflicted by his absolute hatred of Viktor Akadra, who committed a past atrocity that is difficult for Josiri to forgive easily. Yet he may find himslef having to work with Viktor if a semblance of peace is to be attained.
This is one heck of a fantasy book but it is also an illustration of struggling to overcome past enmities and prejudices, not only of the oppressed but of the oppressor. Can you truly trust someone who once did something so horrible that it left you a broken shell of who you once were and devastated your entire family and people? I found so much more to enjoy about this book than I expected to going in. The characters are wonderfully complex and all of them are fighting an inner battle to change something within themselves. The thing that I especially like about these characters is that none of them are simple black and white, but just varying shades of grey. There is a degree of good and bad in each and every one and their motivations are not always clear at first glance.
I was going to compare LEGACY OF ASH to another series that I truly love, but in the end, I don't think it's fair to do so. I say that because this is a monumental fantasy achievement all its own in my opinion that needs to be taken as such. I will say that if you like your fantasies epic, filled with treachery/backstabbing, infused with a ton of brutal battle scenes, and with characters that you immediately feel a connection to, then LEGACY OF ASH is the book you should be reading. It will leave you stunned and wanting much, much more after turning the last page. That's hard to say with an 800 page book, but it was most certainly the case for me. Can't wait for the second installment in the Legacy Trilogy!
Situated between the warring Tressians and Hadari are the people of the Southshires. The inhabitants of this land at one time attempted to rise up against the Tressians and were eventually thwarted by the Black Knight Viktor Akadra and the army of the Republic. Now the Southshires finds itself a protectorate of sorts of Tressia, albeit one of convenience. The Tressians need the Southshires for its abundance of resources, but they ignore this territory for the most part until they need to replenish their stocks. Then and only then are they deemed important enough to broker with.
Crown Prince Saran of the Hadari, along with his daughter Melanna, believe that they have the key to overthrowing their hated enemy once and for all. They will use the pent up resentment and bitterness of the Southshires in an attempt to forge a military alliance that will make them all but unbeatable. But the Tressians are racing to make an alliance of their own. For they know that if the Tressian champion Akadra can sway Duke Josiri and his sister Calenne to align with the Republic, Hadari will be doomed to failure. The race is on to bolster each side as a war to end all wars seems more than imminent. Distrust and hatred die hard as years of neglect and oppression of the Southshires may ultimately come back to bite The Republic.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will freely admit that I like huge books. I mean, the more pages the better as far as I'm concerned. With that being said, I also realize that many authors cannot pull off a door stopper of a book without having some significant periods of inactivity and stagnation. Well, not so in the case of Matthew Ward and LEGACY OF ASH. This is a meaty epic fantasy book that never wavers or slows down for a minute. The amount of action, intrigue, and battle depictions packed into this one book would fill the majority of fantasy trilogies. Great news to be sure as this means we have so much more yet to experience from this series.
LEGACY OF ASH contained so many emotional moments for me. Mostly in the sections that dealt with the Southshires and their dilemma of being caught up in an incredibly difficult choice. On the one hand they finally would like to throw off the shackles of their rulers the Tressians, yet they also know that the invading army of the Hadari are pouring through the mountain pass and will most likely tear a bloody path through their own lands on the way to their final destination. Josiri in particular is conflicted by his absolute hatred of Viktor Akadra, who committed a past atrocity that is difficult for Josiri to forgive easily. Yet he may find himslef having to work with Viktor if a semblance of peace is to be attained.
This is one heck of a fantasy book but it is also an illustration of struggling to overcome past enmities and prejudices, not only of the oppressed but of the oppressor. Can you truly trust someone who once did something so horrible that it left you a broken shell of who you once were and devastated your entire family and people? I found so much more to enjoy about this book than I expected to going in. The characters are wonderfully complex and all of them are fighting an inner battle to change something within themselves. The thing that I especially like about these characters is that none of them are simple black and white, but just varying shades of grey. There is a degree of good and bad in each and every one and their motivations are not always clear at first glance.
I was going to compare LEGACY OF ASH to another series that I truly love, but in the end, I don't think it's fair to do so. I say that because this is a monumental fantasy achievement all its own in my opinion that needs to be taken as such. I will say that if you like your fantasies epic, filled with treachery/backstabbing, infused with a ton of brutal battle scenes, and with characters that you immediately feel a connection to, then LEGACY OF ASH is the book you should be reading. It will leave you stunned and wanting much, much more after turning the last page. That's hard to say with an 800 page book, but it was most certainly the case for me. Can't wait for the second installment in the Legacy Trilogy!
Want to read
October 22, 2020UPDATE: $2.99 Kindle US 10/22/20
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
March 31, 2020
DNF @ 52%
Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy telling the story of multiple characters in a vast world. Such a vague description that can describe just about any fantasy novel on the market, right? If you were to ask me what Legacy of Ash is about, that’s the only description I would be able to give you. Though I didn’t finish the novel, you would think after reading half the novel I’d be able to give a better description, but no.
I had a hard time getting into the novel. There are a lot of characters thrown at readers at the beginning with little time to get acquainted with them. I’m no stranger to big, epic fantasy novels, so it was surprising when it took me about 150 pages to get a handle on the key players and the world they live in. The characters and world building are quickly dropped on the reader as if they were on fire making it difficult to follow.
Even though I DNF’d at 50%, I’m still rating the novel three stars. Had I actually finished it, I probably would have still rated it three stars because its inability to keep me interested after I put the book down.
Overall, there’s an interesting story buried under all the characters and world building but there’s too much to wade through to get to the heart of the story.
*** I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy telling the story of multiple characters in a vast world. Such a vague description that can describe just about any fantasy novel on the market, right? If you were to ask me what Legacy of Ash is about, that’s the only description I would be able to give you. Though I didn’t finish the novel, you would think after reading half the novel I’d be able to give a better description, but no.
I had a hard time getting into the novel. There are a lot of characters thrown at readers at the beginning with little time to get acquainted with them. I’m no stranger to big, epic fantasy novels, so it was surprising when it took me about 150 pages to get a handle on the key players and the world they live in. The characters and world building are quickly dropped on the reader as if they were on fire making it difficult to follow.
Even though I DNF’d at 50%, I’m still rating the novel three stars. Had I actually finished it, I probably would have still rated it three stars because its inability to keep me interested after I put the book down.
Overall, there’s an interesting story buried under all the characters and world building but there’s too much to wade through to get to the heart of the story.
*** I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
November 7, 2019
It feels like a long time since I’ve last read a big, chunky epic fantasy book set in a pseudo-European medieval setting. Which is wild, when you think about it, seeing as these types of books are still so often the most recommended.
But reading Legacy of Ash managed to stir up a little bit of nostalgia in me. It was a similar sort of feeling to that of eating a really good meal that reminds me of your parent’s cooking. The restaurant might use fresher ingredients than you would have found at home � and if you’re honest with yourself, itmighteven be a little tastier � but there’s enough of a similarity there to tug at these memories without overpowering the joy of a new experience.
I’ll admit, I was a little unsure of the book at first. My stamina for large epic fantasy novels isn’t what it used to be, and it probably didn’t help that I came into this off the back of a book that pushed 1000 pages. This isn’t to say that there’s anything “wrong� with the opening. It’s just that there are quite a large number of point-of-view characters, most of which are cycled through right from the get-go. It took me some time to build up some familiarity with the cast and the wider world, but from there� it was plain sailing.
The story starts with a prologue which, in a break from tradition, isn’t a confusing mix of made up fantasy words that have little bearing on the actual book. Instead, we’re shown the end result of a failed rebellion set 15 years before the events of the story. We follow the revolution’s leader � the Phoenix � as she confronts the death of her cause. In turn, she is confronted by a young knight named Victor Akadra, who is wrapped in writhing shadows of forbidden magic.
Fast forward fifteen years, and Viktor is one of our main characters. There’s also Josiri and Calenne, children of the Phoenix and figurehead rulers of the loathed southern portion of the Tressian Republic. Tensions are still high after the Phoenix rebellion, and so these siblings are confined to their ancestral home. The North loves nothing more than to interfere in the political landscape of the south, but they may have to put their schemes and animosity behind them to deal with the threat of the invading Hadari Empire.
This touches on something that I loved about this book: all of these factions� all of these schemes� we get to see it all. There’s at least one POV character on every side, allowing us to see every conflict from all angles. It scratched an itch that I genuinely don’t think I’ve satisfied since A Song of Ice and Fire. Which sounds like damningly high praise, but in terms of the political maneuverings and machinations it genuinely does have a similar feel � although it’s not as over the top with the violence and sex.
This type of complexity necessitates a slower pace, which some readers might not enjoy, but which I loved. Those throwaway comments in one part of the world which have game-changing implications for characters in another? That is my jam. Inject it straight into my veins.
And then there’s the magic. Oh, there’s the magic. There are assassins that fly through the air in a cloud of clawing and pecking black birds. There are lion-shaped golems built for war. There are gods of sunlight and moonlight. Magical swords and ethereal antlered beings. And then there’s Viktor’s shadow�
And all of this feels understated. All of this seems tofitinto the world. Right up until it doesn’t.
Admittedly, there are a couple of major magical events towards the end of the book which, for me, seemed to progress a little too quickly. I wish there had been a little more of a build up for those, but this is just a minor quibble.
Taken as a whole, Legacy of Ash is an incredibly impressive piece of fantasy fiction. It has clear prose, characters that feel real and flawed, and a well-constructed world brimming with imagination. It may seem familiar when viewed from a big-picture perspective, but when you look closer, you can see the originality in the brush-strokes. It’s maybe not a book for those looking for something groundbreaking and unique, but fans of traditional European-inspired epic fantasy should find a whole lot to like here.
I loved it.
But reading Legacy of Ash managed to stir up a little bit of nostalgia in me. It was a similar sort of feeling to that of eating a really good meal that reminds me of your parent’s cooking. The restaurant might use fresher ingredients than you would have found at home � and if you’re honest with yourself, itmighteven be a little tastier � but there’s enough of a similarity there to tug at these memories without overpowering the joy of a new experience.
I’ll admit, I was a little unsure of the book at first. My stamina for large epic fantasy novels isn’t what it used to be, and it probably didn’t help that I came into this off the back of a book that pushed 1000 pages. This isn’t to say that there’s anything “wrong� with the opening. It’s just that there are quite a large number of point-of-view characters, most of which are cycled through right from the get-go. It took me some time to build up some familiarity with the cast and the wider world, but from there� it was plain sailing.
The story starts with a prologue which, in a break from tradition, isn’t a confusing mix of made up fantasy words that have little bearing on the actual book. Instead, we’re shown the end result of a failed rebellion set 15 years before the events of the story. We follow the revolution’s leader � the Phoenix � as she confronts the death of her cause. In turn, she is confronted by a young knight named Victor Akadra, who is wrapped in writhing shadows of forbidden magic.
Fast forward fifteen years, and Viktor is one of our main characters. There’s also Josiri and Calenne, children of the Phoenix and figurehead rulers of the loathed southern portion of the Tressian Republic. Tensions are still high after the Phoenix rebellion, and so these siblings are confined to their ancestral home. The North loves nothing more than to interfere in the political landscape of the south, but they may have to put their schemes and animosity behind them to deal with the threat of the invading Hadari Empire.
This touches on something that I loved about this book: all of these factions� all of these schemes� we get to see it all. There’s at least one POV character on every side, allowing us to see every conflict from all angles. It scratched an itch that I genuinely don’t think I’ve satisfied since A Song of Ice and Fire. Which sounds like damningly high praise, but in terms of the political maneuverings and machinations it genuinely does have a similar feel � although it’s not as over the top with the violence and sex.
This type of complexity necessitates a slower pace, which some readers might not enjoy, but which I loved. Those throwaway comments in one part of the world which have game-changing implications for characters in another? That is my jam. Inject it straight into my veins.
And then there’s the magic. Oh, there’s the magic. There are assassins that fly through the air in a cloud of clawing and pecking black birds. There are lion-shaped golems built for war. There are gods of sunlight and moonlight. Magical swords and ethereal antlered beings. And then there’s Viktor’s shadow�
And all of this feels understated. All of this seems tofitinto the world. Right up until it doesn’t.
Admittedly, there are a couple of major magical events towards the end of the book which, for me, seemed to progress a little too quickly. I wish there had been a little more of a build up for those, but this is just a minor quibble.
Taken as a whole, Legacy of Ash is an incredibly impressive piece of fantasy fiction. It has clear prose, characters that feel real and flawed, and a well-constructed world brimming with imagination. It may seem familiar when viewed from a big-picture perspective, but when you look closer, you can see the originality in the brush-strokes. It’s maybe not a book for those looking for something groundbreaking and unique, but fans of traditional European-inspired epic fantasy should find a whole lot to like here.
I loved it.
May 4, 2020
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum
Reading-wise, this has been a month of ups and downs, with plenty of surprises but also some disappointments. Then there are books like Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward which fell somewhere in the middle, making it a tough one to rate. You know how it is with epic fantasies—especially debuts. Often they are highly ambitious, full-hearted, and brimming with potential, but at the same time, you just can’t but feel there’s something holding them back. Sometimes it’s easy to put your finger on why exactly, but other times the problem is harder to spot because it may be a combination of little things compounded. I suspect this might be the case here, for while I was unable to find any major fault with this novel, I never really found myself hooked by it either.
Of course, the story’s scope may be a factor. Boiling it all down into a couple paragraphs for this review is going to be tough, but for context, the main conflict at the heart of Legacy of Ash is a rivalry between two factions. On one side of this dispute is the Tressian Republic and its champion Victor Akadra, trying his best to keep the peace within his realm, and on the other side is the Southshires, represented by Josiri and his younger sister Calenne. As the last two remaining heirs of Phoenix, who headed the insurrection against Tressia fifteen years ago, the siblings are political figureheads of a sort, doing their best to keep their heads down while trying to honor their mother’s memory and cause. But Josiri isn’t sure how long he can keep toeing the line as he comes under more and more pressure to rise up against the true authority in the south, held by the very man who killed his mother and crushed her rebellion.
However, few are aware just how tenuous Viktor’s position truly is. Although he is hailed as a hero, he harbors a dark secret, and knows how quickly the tides would turn against him if it is discovered. He is also a warrior and not a diplomat, the council’s politicking often leaving him out of his depth. Meanwhile, a new threat looms on the horizon in the form of an invading army from the Hadari Empire. Beset with enemies within and without, the Tressian Republic will need every single one of its defenders, even if it means old foes will need to set aside generations of animosity and hatred to work together.
Putting it that way, the premise behind Legacy of Ash seems pretty straightforward—even simple, almost. In reality though, many more characters and minor plot arcs are threaded through this main framework, fleshing out the novel. We’re offered a glimpse into every part of the world and a voice for each side of the conflict, thanks to the sheer number of characters and their perspectives. Here, Ward’s extensive background as a world designer and architect of tabletop games makes itself obvious; you can feel his passion for world-building and character and story development behind every detail and plot point. As a lover of RPGs, I definitely appreciated his effort to put together this robust setting and craft a sense of place right down to the smallest detail.
Still, what works for a tabletop campaign might not be ideal when it comes to an epic fantasy novel. You want to provide all the right elements in the right amounts without overwhelming the reader, and finding that balance can be tricky. If your story is going to be told through multiple POVs, for example, you’ll also need to develop each one fully so that their personalities resonate, and on this point, Legacy of Ash suffers a bit. Simply put, I felt myself inundated with POVs from the get-go, and they just kept coming. While following along wasn’t a problem—I’ve had enough experience with this genre—I found myself struggling to care about or feel invested in any of these characters. To be fair, I think effort was clearly made to balance page time and attention between all of them, but it wasn’t enough. There was no emotional attachment, interest in their relationships or concern over the outcome of their fates. As characters are what usually motivates me to keep reading, perhaps it’s no surprise that some parts presented a struggle.
Legacy of Ash left feeling torn as a result. After all, the technical aspects are strong, including the skill of the writing, tightness in the plotting and details of the world-building. What it lacked though, was something that’s maybe more personal, which left me feeling cold and neither here nor there, unable to tell if I truly enjoyed myself or not. That said, I do place high importance on characters, and when I can’t get into them, that tends to impact my experience heavily. My opinion is in the minority here though, with plenty of others having loved this book, so don’t let my review sway you from checking it out if you’re looking to try a new epic fantasy and the synopsis intrigues you. Despite the flaws I found it, it’s a decent and well-written debut that would appeal to the right audience.
Reading-wise, this has been a month of ups and downs, with plenty of surprises but also some disappointments. Then there are books like Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward which fell somewhere in the middle, making it a tough one to rate. You know how it is with epic fantasies—especially debuts. Often they are highly ambitious, full-hearted, and brimming with potential, but at the same time, you just can’t but feel there’s something holding them back. Sometimes it’s easy to put your finger on why exactly, but other times the problem is harder to spot because it may be a combination of little things compounded. I suspect this might be the case here, for while I was unable to find any major fault with this novel, I never really found myself hooked by it either.
Of course, the story’s scope may be a factor. Boiling it all down into a couple paragraphs for this review is going to be tough, but for context, the main conflict at the heart of Legacy of Ash is a rivalry between two factions. On one side of this dispute is the Tressian Republic and its champion Victor Akadra, trying his best to keep the peace within his realm, and on the other side is the Southshires, represented by Josiri and his younger sister Calenne. As the last two remaining heirs of Phoenix, who headed the insurrection against Tressia fifteen years ago, the siblings are political figureheads of a sort, doing their best to keep their heads down while trying to honor their mother’s memory and cause. But Josiri isn’t sure how long he can keep toeing the line as he comes under more and more pressure to rise up against the true authority in the south, held by the very man who killed his mother and crushed her rebellion.
However, few are aware just how tenuous Viktor’s position truly is. Although he is hailed as a hero, he harbors a dark secret, and knows how quickly the tides would turn against him if it is discovered. He is also a warrior and not a diplomat, the council’s politicking often leaving him out of his depth. Meanwhile, a new threat looms on the horizon in the form of an invading army from the Hadari Empire. Beset with enemies within and without, the Tressian Republic will need every single one of its defenders, even if it means old foes will need to set aside generations of animosity and hatred to work together.
Putting it that way, the premise behind Legacy of Ash seems pretty straightforward—even simple, almost. In reality though, many more characters and minor plot arcs are threaded through this main framework, fleshing out the novel. We’re offered a glimpse into every part of the world and a voice for each side of the conflict, thanks to the sheer number of characters and their perspectives. Here, Ward’s extensive background as a world designer and architect of tabletop games makes itself obvious; you can feel his passion for world-building and character and story development behind every detail and plot point. As a lover of RPGs, I definitely appreciated his effort to put together this robust setting and craft a sense of place right down to the smallest detail.
Still, what works for a tabletop campaign might not be ideal when it comes to an epic fantasy novel. You want to provide all the right elements in the right amounts without overwhelming the reader, and finding that balance can be tricky. If your story is going to be told through multiple POVs, for example, you’ll also need to develop each one fully so that their personalities resonate, and on this point, Legacy of Ash suffers a bit. Simply put, I felt myself inundated with POVs from the get-go, and they just kept coming. While following along wasn’t a problem—I’ve had enough experience with this genre—I found myself struggling to care about or feel invested in any of these characters. To be fair, I think effort was clearly made to balance page time and attention between all of them, but it wasn’t enough. There was no emotional attachment, interest in their relationships or concern over the outcome of their fates. As characters are what usually motivates me to keep reading, perhaps it’s no surprise that some parts presented a struggle.
Legacy of Ash left feeling torn as a result. After all, the technical aspects are strong, including the skill of the writing, tightness in the plotting and details of the world-building. What it lacked though, was something that’s maybe more personal, which left me feeling cold and neither here nor there, unable to tell if I truly enjoyed myself or not. That said, I do place high importance on characters, and when I can’t get into them, that tends to impact my experience heavily. My opinion is in the minority here though, with plenty of others having loved this book, so don’t let my review sway you from checking it out if you’re looking to try a new epic fantasy and the synopsis intrigues you. Despite the flaws I found it, it’s a decent and well-written debut that would appeal to the right audience.
February 27, 2020
This was epic in the true sense of the word. Just because a book is long doesn’t necessarily mean it will use a wide-angle lens to view the world. There can be extremely lengthy books with a very narrow scope. This is a book that tried to show you every angle possible. Each character had their own schemes, plots, motivations, background, and reasons to get behind one leader or another. Sometimes their loyalties weren’t as strong as they appeared to be, not even amongst family members. All of that came together to make this a very dense, complex, and intricate kind of book. There was a long learning curve to this one, but I believe the pay-off was sufficient.
If you enjoy stories like Abercrombie’s where you get to see all sides of a war, (and with more than just two sides to a war), this book could be for you. Unlike Abercrombie, however, these characters aren’t quite so dark, grey, and uncomfortable. I found it easier to relate to these characters than say, Glokta, the professional torturer. Since it’s easier to root for them it actually made it harder and more tense for me when five of them show up on a battlefield ready to slaughter each other.
Two of the main POVs are siblings, their mother was killed 15 years ago in a failed rebellion. Ever since then the North and the South have been at odds with each other. The brother, Josiri, is in love with a witch� it could lead to his execution. He’s also trying to fund and support another rebellion� it could lead to his execution. The sister, Calenne, doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the rebellion or her dead mother. She wants to shed her last name, flee her ‘prison�, and go marry a northerner to finally get rid of her past. She’s had a betrothal since before the war and intends to go through with the arranged marriage� but of course, things can’t just go smoothly for everyone. Where’s the story in that?
Another POV is the Black Knight. He’s a figure of legend. He has a secret as well� he has a barely contained entity that’s best described as a shadow. It can slaughter those around him, it turns the air cold, and he has little control over it when he’s stressed or angry. He’s also the one who killed the mother of the other two POVs. He’s also the one who could help bind the North and the South together, a necessary task since there’s a bigger threat looming. The Hadari are on a warpath towards the Tressians, and it’s a problem for both the North and South Tressians. Prince Saran is determined to claim his birthright and sit as the Emperor over all of them.
Princess Melanna is the daughter of the would-be Emperor, Saran of the Hadari. She is bound by her gender and is trying to break free of her restraints. In her culture women are not warriors, they are lesser to sons (not true for the other POVs cultures) and she’s determined to be her father’s heir. She’s determined to show she’s just as capable as a son would be and to make her father proud. She’s actually one of my favorites, she has a goddess that comes and talks with her and adds a whole layer of mystery to the story.
I definitely love-hate it when I can’t decide who I want to come out of a battle alive �. because my favorite characters are opposing one another in the war. It’s a sign that the characters and different perspectives of the cultures have been well explored so that you can equally sympathize with any of the factions.
I’m also a sucker for people who don’t like each other having to work with one another for a common goal. The fact that the Black Knight has to work with the two kids he orphaned created a lot of tension and intrigue into how things were going to play out.
The writing was excellent, I listened to this on audiobook and that can really make infodumps stand out in ways that may come across with more subtlety in text. The world-building was delivered smoothly and naturally with little exposition. This does require paying attention and having no distractions. There was a slow build-up of magical scenes that were toned in just the right way where you weren’t overwhelmed and it left you wanting more. There is a scene where an assassin tracks down some of the main characters, and when they appear they are shrouded in mists and linked to The Crow. There are stories told about the mists and not to walk out into the fog at night because you likely won’t return. All of it was just fascinating.
Despite its length, there wasn’t much I would have considered cutting. There are a few aspects that I think may have been condensed, and maybe other scenes could have been shortened � but all in all, this was written pretty concisely for how large the scope was. I mean we get to see every plot and scheme on the planet it felt like. I believe it was necessary to have a slow beginning that laid solid groundwork for something of this scale. There’s a saying that a well-written book will have a depth well beyond what’s shown on the page � like seeing just the tip of the iceberg � and I believe that this may be one of those times.
TLDR: A tome epic in scale and complexity. Intricate plotlines that weave together as one. Slower beginnings but with big pay-offs. Old school mysterious magic rather than having a magic system. Gods and goddesses. Multi POV. All sides of the war represented.
Ratings:
Plot: 14/15
Characters: 13/15
World-Building: 14/15
Writing: 13/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11.5/15
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
Final Score: 84.5/100 or 4.5 stars
If you enjoy stories like Abercrombie’s where you get to see all sides of a war, (and with more than just two sides to a war), this book could be for you. Unlike Abercrombie, however, these characters aren’t quite so dark, grey, and uncomfortable. I found it easier to relate to these characters than say, Glokta, the professional torturer. Since it’s easier to root for them it actually made it harder and more tense for me when five of them show up on a battlefield ready to slaughter each other.
Two of the main POVs are siblings, their mother was killed 15 years ago in a failed rebellion. Ever since then the North and the South have been at odds with each other. The brother, Josiri, is in love with a witch� it could lead to his execution. He’s also trying to fund and support another rebellion� it could lead to his execution. The sister, Calenne, doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the rebellion or her dead mother. She wants to shed her last name, flee her ‘prison�, and go marry a northerner to finally get rid of her past. She’s had a betrothal since before the war and intends to go through with the arranged marriage� but of course, things can’t just go smoothly for everyone. Where’s the story in that?
Another POV is the Black Knight. He’s a figure of legend. He has a secret as well� he has a barely contained entity that’s best described as a shadow. It can slaughter those around him, it turns the air cold, and he has little control over it when he’s stressed or angry. He’s also the one who killed the mother of the other two POVs. He’s also the one who could help bind the North and the South together, a necessary task since there’s a bigger threat looming. The Hadari are on a warpath towards the Tressians, and it’s a problem for both the North and South Tressians. Prince Saran is determined to claim his birthright and sit as the Emperor over all of them.
Princess Melanna is the daughter of the would-be Emperor, Saran of the Hadari. She is bound by her gender and is trying to break free of her restraints. In her culture women are not warriors, they are lesser to sons (not true for the other POVs cultures) and she’s determined to be her father’s heir. She’s determined to show she’s just as capable as a son would be and to make her father proud. She’s actually one of my favorites, she has a goddess that comes and talks with her and adds a whole layer of mystery to the story.
I definitely love-hate it when I can’t decide who I want to come out of a battle alive �. because my favorite characters are opposing one another in the war. It’s a sign that the characters and different perspectives of the cultures have been well explored so that you can equally sympathize with any of the factions.
I’m also a sucker for people who don’t like each other having to work with one another for a common goal. The fact that the Black Knight has to work with the two kids he orphaned created a lot of tension and intrigue into how things were going to play out.
The writing was excellent, I listened to this on audiobook and that can really make infodumps stand out in ways that may come across with more subtlety in text. The world-building was delivered smoothly and naturally with little exposition. This does require paying attention and having no distractions. There was a slow build-up of magical scenes that were toned in just the right way where you weren’t overwhelmed and it left you wanting more. There is a scene where an assassin tracks down some of the main characters, and when they appear they are shrouded in mists and linked to The Crow. There are stories told about the mists and not to walk out into the fog at night because you likely won’t return. All of it was just fascinating.
Despite its length, there wasn’t much I would have considered cutting. There are a few aspects that I think may have been condensed, and maybe other scenes could have been shortened � but all in all, this was written pretty concisely for how large the scope was. I mean we get to see every plot and scheme on the planet it felt like. I believe it was necessary to have a slow beginning that laid solid groundwork for something of this scale. There’s a saying that a well-written book will have a depth well beyond what’s shown on the page � like seeing just the tip of the iceberg � and I believe that this may be one of those times.
TLDR: A tome epic in scale and complexity. Intricate plotlines that weave together as one. Slower beginnings but with big pay-offs. Old school mysterious magic rather than having a magic system. Gods and goddesses. Multi POV. All sides of the war represented.
Ratings:
Plot: 14/15
Characters: 13/15
World-Building: 14/15
Writing: 13/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11.5/15
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
Final Score: 84.5/100 or 4.5 stars
September 20, 2021
I had read a bunch of good reviews for this and had a feeling it was going to be entertaining but holy shit are you F'ing kidding me Legacy of Ash is incredible. It's huge and cinematic and has some of the best characters, love 'em or hate 'em, you'll feel something for each and every one. And there's a ton of them. Thank the stars for the Dramatis Personae in the beginning because I did have to utilize that a lot for the first hundred pages or so but then things started clicking and because each character is so uniquely written once things were set they were burned into my brain. Each character also has like five jump out of your seat cheering moments. Anyone remember the movie from 1986 Aliens? Classic movie. I was eleven when my dad took me and some friends to see it and there's a scene where Hudson, played by the amazing and missed Bill Paxton says, "I say we grease this rat-fuck son of a bitch right now." The movie theater ERUPTED. Like people screaming and yelling, it was awesome. This book has a hundred parts like that. Sincerely, this was one of the more captivating books I've read this year and it is only the first part of a trilogy! I love how at the end the author says it's only the end of the beginning and I have already excitedly bought the next two in the series.
This book was complex but never too much so. It starts off with a ton of characters and places and names and councils and everyone is prim and proper and following customs and precedents but by the end it is blood and guts and piss and shit and dirt and grime and death and more blood but the whole time it is beautifully written and there is never a dull moment and I can't recommend this enough. Matthew Ward, you have written a damn good tale!
This book was complex but never too much so. It starts off with a ton of characters and places and names and councils and everyone is prim and proper and following customs and precedents but by the end it is blood and guts and piss and shit and dirt and grime and death and more blood but the whole time it is beautifully written and there is never a dull moment and I can't recommend this enough. Matthew Ward, you have written a damn good tale!
November 20, 2019
Thanks to Hachette Audio, Libro.fm, the author, and the narrator for an advance listening copy of Legacy of Ash (Legacy Trilogy #1) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ALC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.
George R. R. Who? A sprawling epic filled with multi-dimensional characters, political intrigue, intense magic, and large-scale battles, Legacy of Ash is sure to be at the top of many “Best of� lists in 2020. A perfect blend of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom. If you enjoy epic fantasy in any capacity whatsoever, make sure this one is on your wish-list.
Now, before you ask, Legacy definitely deserves a 5-star rating, but I had to dock it down to a 4.5+ due to a few things at the beginning and throughout the novel. First off, while I can recommend the audiobook as Suzannah Hampton does a phenomenal job with the narration (even with a heavy dose of male characters), you may be better off grabbing a physical or digital copy and reading along (if you can afford to do so). Main reasons I say that are thus (and they are actually the same issues I had when first attempting Adrian Selby’s Snakewood): there is a large cast of characters given to you in a short period of time AND you are thrust directly into the action from the get-go. Names alone, at least for me, need time to gel before I can really get rolling in a novel. With the way this book consistently ramps up in pace, it can become a chore remembering who is whose daughter, son, mother, father, etc. when you do not have a list handy. The action thrusting wasn’t a huge deal, honestly, but I did need to give myself a couple of run-throughs with the prequel chapter as I may have just not been in the right mindset.
Having said all of that, every single character that Ward has written into this hefty tome has significant importance to how the story plays out. Much like GOT, even the minor characters deal a hand or two into the game in order to shake things up a bit. While we play around in the POVs of several major players, I did feel that we could have been given more insight into their true thoughts and motivations; but when you are at such a rigid pace for 784 pages, I can see why that may have taken a back seat (at least for part 1 of a trilogy).
What really shines in this novel, aside from the political machinations and characters, is the magic system. Giant war golems, assassins disguised as massive tangles of blackbirds, goddesses of the sun and moon, etc. Magic is used heavily throughout the story and every bit is bigger and more explosive than the last. There is also one VERY important magical aspect that I’ll let you see for yourself.
I urge you not to hesitate giving Legacy of Ash a go. I know that large tomes, especially debuts, can be a little harrowing, but I waited on Brian Lee Durfee’s The Forgetting Moon for what seemed like forever and loved the heck out of it. Sometimes, all it takes is a recommendation from one person you trust and you’ll be glad you joined the bandwagon. Also, if you wanted to read A Song of Ice and Fire, but didn’t care for all of the explicit material, Legacy of Ash is a no-brainer.
George R. R. Who? A sprawling epic filled with multi-dimensional characters, political intrigue, intense magic, and large-scale battles, Legacy of Ash is sure to be at the top of many “Best of� lists in 2020. A perfect blend of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom. If you enjoy epic fantasy in any capacity whatsoever, make sure this one is on your wish-list.
Now, before you ask, Legacy definitely deserves a 5-star rating, but I had to dock it down to a 4.5+ due to a few things at the beginning and throughout the novel. First off, while I can recommend the audiobook as Suzannah Hampton does a phenomenal job with the narration (even with a heavy dose of male characters), you may be better off grabbing a physical or digital copy and reading along (if you can afford to do so). Main reasons I say that are thus (and they are actually the same issues I had when first attempting Adrian Selby’s Snakewood): there is a large cast of characters given to you in a short period of time AND you are thrust directly into the action from the get-go. Names alone, at least for me, need time to gel before I can really get rolling in a novel. With the way this book consistently ramps up in pace, it can become a chore remembering who is whose daughter, son, mother, father, etc. when you do not have a list handy. The action thrusting wasn’t a huge deal, honestly, but I did need to give myself a couple of run-throughs with the prequel chapter as I may have just not been in the right mindset.
Having said all of that, every single character that Ward has written into this hefty tome has significant importance to how the story plays out. Much like GOT, even the minor characters deal a hand or two into the game in order to shake things up a bit. While we play around in the POVs of several major players, I did feel that we could have been given more insight into their true thoughts and motivations; but when you are at such a rigid pace for 784 pages, I can see why that may have taken a back seat (at least for part 1 of a trilogy).
What really shines in this novel, aside from the political machinations and characters, is the magic system. Giant war golems, assassins disguised as massive tangles of blackbirds, goddesses of the sun and moon, etc. Magic is used heavily throughout the story and every bit is bigger and more explosive than the last. There is also one VERY important magical aspect that I’ll let you see for yourself.
I urge you not to hesitate giving Legacy of Ash a go. I know that large tomes, especially debuts, can be a little harrowing, but I waited on Brian Lee Durfee’s The Forgetting Moon for what seemed like forever and loved the heck out of it. Sometimes, all it takes is a recommendation from one person you trust and you’ll be glad you joined the bandwagon. Also, if you wanted to read A Song of Ice and Fire, but didn’t care for all of the explicit material, Legacy of Ash is a no-brainer.
Shelved as 'gave-up-on'
January 27, 2020DNF @ 15% into the book.
I actually have been reading this one on the side. It was available on Amazon but I was cleared to read it as an ARC.
Gosh.
It has characters and it has a dense story. However, after 15% cleared in the book I have no idea what the hell is going on. I don't care about anybody, I cannot connect to any one. I just don't know who or what I am following.
The prologue was interesting and I thought that the brother and sister whose mother was slain is who we would be following? Not really. Years later, and they just seem boring and or without any desire to avenge their mother.
I choose not to rate this book since I did not finish it. Yet, I will give my insight of the little I read.
I actually have been reading this one on the side. It was available on Amazon but I was cleared to read it as an ARC.
Gosh.
It has characters and it has a dense story. However, after 15% cleared in the book I have no idea what the hell is going on. I don't care about anybody, I cannot connect to any one. I just don't know who or what I am following.
The prologue was interesting and I thought that the brother and sister whose mother was slain is who we would be following? Not really. Years later, and they just seem boring and or without any desire to avenge their mother.
I choose not to rate this book since I did not finish it. Yet, I will give my insight of the little I read.
August 31, 2021
It took me a while to finish this book but damn was it worth it. This is pretty damn close to being a perfect epic fantasy novel. It's got knights. magic, political intrigue, war and mystery. And what's not to love about that.
Easily 5/5 stars
Easily 5/5 stars
August 27, 2021
Overall, a very good read. Started out a little slow (after the initial exciting prologue), and at first it seemed like it was just going to focus on political machinations. But, that all changed after the midpoint, and the bigger game became clearer. All I can say, without spoilers, is to stick with it. The characters are enjoyable, and the underlying fantasy elements are intriguing.
鲹پԲ:-⭐⭐⭐⭐
鲹پԲ:-⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 18, 2022
Odkaz popela bych asi nejlíp charakterizovala vlastními slovy autora �
.. Trezie, bašta velkoleposti a útlaku, byla zkrátka obyčejným místem, ne neodmyslitelně dobrým ani nenapravitelně zlým. Prostě jen� byla.
A Odkaz popela taky prostě jen� je.
.. Trezie, bašta velkoleposti a útlaku, byla zkrátka obyčejným místem, ne neodmyslitelně dobrým ani nenapravitelně zlým. Prostě jen� byla.
A Odkaz popela taky prostě jen� je.
Want to read
July 17, 2019Well this is quite an epic cover! Looking forward to it being released in November.
Read
January 15, 2020DNFed @ 59%
Might get back to this in the future, it's an investment that costs time and effort and I can't afford that atm.
Might get back to this in the future, it's an investment that costs time and effort and I can't afford that atm.
December 8, 2020
I picked Legacy of Ash up in a Kindle deal but I pretty much listened to it all via audiobook after listening to a sample of Hampton's lovely narration.
Here are a few things you can expect from Legacy of Ash :
A BIG book that is huge in scope;
An incredible start (I think it’s my favourite prologue EVER);
An EPIC and masterfully complex plot;
Warring peoples with a history riddled with injustice and oppression; and
An incredible world with even better characters.
A little bit about the narration�
This was actually a narration that I wasn’t sure about upon listening to it initially. At the point of listening to this sample, each time I had listened to a sample I had either hated it straight away or loved it. However, with this one I actually had to listen to the full five minute sample because I wasn’t sure about it. So, if you listen to the sample give it a go. I did end up grabbing the audiobook of this and absolutely loved the narration by Hampton, to the point that I searched her name to see if she had done any others.
I later did this with Steven Pacey and now he is one of my favourite listens, though that could also be heavily due to the fact I am listening to Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy! But we aren’t talking about that book. So�
On to the full review�
Firstly, I want to start, well, at the beginning. The prologue of this book is cracking. It is actually this amazing start to the novel that is the narration sample text, and it played a heavy part in my picking this up as soon as I did. I listened to it and was instantly grabbed, I read the book within the next two days I think. I wanted to know what happened after, so well done to Ward for starting a book with a marvellous hook.
If you have read any of my reviews about Anthony Ryan‘s books, you may know how much I LOVE a good start to a book. If you hook me at the start, chances are (unless you do a massive screw up) you have me right to the end and Ward succeeding in catching me and keeping me from start to finish!
Legacy of Ash is a chunky boy of a book, it is in my top ten largest books! How do I know this? I just checked on my ŷ, it’s my tenth largest read book. I think that is pretty impressive. Though, what is even more impressive is the fact that this didn’t feel like a big book. I am always game for a big book when it is done well, as I imagine is the case is for most people, because I want as much of it I can get.
As it is with many larger books, Legacy of Ash is inevitably slower in pace but it is necessary due to this books complexity. Though, having said that don’t think you will be bored, you won’t, this book has a solid plot that keeps you interested throughout with its characters (and there are quite a few), world building and magic system. Ward also combats the common problems one finds with a slower pace through many means, one of which is his plethora of characters as each one is filled with tension and intrigue.
The plot of Legacy of Ash in its most simplest of forms is one of several waring peoples. You have Tressia, the Southshires and the Hadari all thrown in and all with way too much history between them! In the middle of this melting pot of hostility you have a host of incredible characters. Ward did an incredible job of keeping each character distinctive in their personality and their motivations. Not only that, but despite the larger scope of characters in this book, all were relevant and had a significant role to play in the overall plot of the book.
I’m not going to go into detail about each of the characters, because as I have said there are a few of them. Just know you won’t be disappointed, least of all with Viktor. Gosh darn it do I love Viktor!
As my first Matthew Ward book I was very impressed with his prose, I found that I could visualise every aspect of this story. Everything was so well written, and beautifully weaved together. The world building was done magnificently, there was not a single point that I felt that he was to descriptive or his writing was over embellished. The word building is shown through the many character interactions and thoughts, it is naturally infused into all aspects of the story. I think what was most enjoyable was that Ward almost made it is mystery, he gives you just enough and leaves you to unravel the details of these peoples history yourself but without leaving you feeling lost!
I don’t want to harp on too much so I will end it with saying that Legacy of Ash is more than just an epic fantasy, it is a magnificent story with strong themes of overcoming the past, loyalty and friendship. It has memorable and incredibly written character all of which are living in an utterly enthralling world.
You know the drill, on to the rating�
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
You know, this is going to be a BUY THE HARDBACK! I think I put this as a 4 stars on ŷ initially but after reviewing it and realising how much I really enjoyed this book and what a masterpiece it is, I will have to change it to FIVE!
Here are a few things you can expect from Legacy of Ash :
A BIG book that is huge in scope;
An incredible start (I think it’s my favourite prologue EVER);
An EPIC and masterfully complex plot;
Warring peoples with a history riddled with injustice and oppression; and
An incredible world with even better characters.
A little bit about the narration�
This was actually a narration that I wasn’t sure about upon listening to it initially. At the point of listening to this sample, each time I had listened to a sample I had either hated it straight away or loved it. However, with this one I actually had to listen to the full five minute sample because I wasn’t sure about it. So, if you listen to the sample give it a go. I did end up grabbing the audiobook of this and absolutely loved the narration by Hampton, to the point that I searched her name to see if she had done any others.
I later did this with Steven Pacey and now he is one of my favourite listens, though that could also be heavily due to the fact I am listening to Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy! But we aren’t talking about that book. So�
On to the full review�
Firstly, I want to start, well, at the beginning. The prologue of this book is cracking. It is actually this amazing start to the novel that is the narration sample text, and it played a heavy part in my picking this up as soon as I did. I listened to it and was instantly grabbed, I read the book within the next two days I think. I wanted to know what happened after, so well done to Ward for starting a book with a marvellous hook.
If you have read any of my reviews about Anthony Ryan‘s books, you may know how much I LOVE a good start to a book. If you hook me at the start, chances are (unless you do a massive screw up) you have me right to the end and Ward succeeding in catching me and keeping me from start to finish!
Legacy of Ash is a chunky boy of a book, it is in my top ten largest books! How do I know this? I just checked on my ŷ, it’s my tenth largest read book. I think that is pretty impressive. Though, what is even more impressive is the fact that this didn’t feel like a big book. I am always game for a big book when it is done well, as I imagine is the case is for most people, because I want as much of it I can get.
As it is with many larger books, Legacy of Ash is inevitably slower in pace but it is necessary due to this books complexity. Though, having said that don’t think you will be bored, you won’t, this book has a solid plot that keeps you interested throughout with its characters (and there are quite a few), world building and magic system. Ward also combats the common problems one finds with a slower pace through many means, one of which is his plethora of characters as each one is filled with tension and intrigue.
The plot of Legacy of Ash in its most simplest of forms is one of several waring peoples. You have Tressia, the Southshires and the Hadari all thrown in and all with way too much history between them! In the middle of this melting pot of hostility you have a host of incredible characters. Ward did an incredible job of keeping each character distinctive in their personality and their motivations. Not only that, but despite the larger scope of characters in this book, all were relevant and had a significant role to play in the overall plot of the book.
I’m not going to go into detail about each of the characters, because as I have said there are a few of them. Just know you won’t be disappointed, least of all with Viktor. Gosh darn it do I love Viktor!
As my first Matthew Ward book I was very impressed with his prose, I found that I could visualise every aspect of this story. Everything was so well written, and beautifully weaved together. The world building was done magnificently, there was not a single point that I felt that he was to descriptive or his writing was over embellished. The word building is shown through the many character interactions and thoughts, it is naturally infused into all aspects of the story. I think what was most enjoyable was that Ward almost made it is mystery, he gives you just enough and leaves you to unravel the details of these peoples history yourself but without leaving you feeling lost!
I don’t want to harp on too much so I will end it with saying that Legacy of Ash is more than just an epic fantasy, it is a magnificent story with strong themes of overcoming the past, loyalty and friendship. It has memorable and incredibly written character all of which are living in an utterly enthralling world.
You know the drill, on to the rating�
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
You know, this is going to be a BUY THE HARDBACK! I think I put this as a 4 stars on ŷ initially but after reviewing it and realising how much I really enjoyed this book and what a masterpiece it is, I will have to change it to FIVE!
January 11, 2023
This book was fantastic! Even though the year 2021 hasn't ended yet, I am confident in saying that this book is my best read of the year! "Legacy of Ash" has everything I look for in an epic fantasy book, such as complex character arcs, a fascinating world, great worldbuilding, captivating prose, and an engaging plot.
The characters were very relatable and so human, they had a lot to deal with: doubts, loss, bad family relationships, and heavy-duty that they would have gladly left behind. I got so attached to the cast, even the secondary characters had their part to play. Also,I appreciated how mature the characters were (through both their age and the way they interact with others) as well as the fact that some of them had children to look after. It is quite refreshing from having a hero in their mid-twenties who has no other obligation than to save the world.
Otherwise, the worldbuilding was effective and the pacing allowed the scenes to be set while moving the intrigue forward. Thus, having a great balance between descriptive content and plot construction. I will not expand on why the worldbuilding appealed to me, because part of the fun resides in discovering it, I think.
The magic may be considered as a soft magic system. I am not sure whether I fully understand how it works, but it seems that the intrigue of book two will revolve around the magic since it has a lot to answer for...I cannot wait to learn more about it! Oh and I'll add one thing: animated bronze statues powered by magic, I say yes!
"Legacy of Steel" is already in my possession and will be read very soon! I'm hoping to complete this trilogy before the end of this year.
PS: I'll be soon uploading my reading vlog about this book in case you would like to follow my reaction step by step.
The characters were very relatable and so human, they had a lot to deal with: doubts, loss, bad family relationships, and heavy-duty that they would have gladly left behind. I got so attached to the cast, even the secondary characters had their part to play. Also,I appreciated how mature the characters were (through both their age and the way they interact with others) as well as the fact that some of them had children to look after. It is quite refreshing from having a hero in their mid-twenties who has no other obligation than to save the world.
Otherwise, the worldbuilding was effective and the pacing allowed the scenes to be set while moving the intrigue forward. Thus, having a great balance between descriptive content and plot construction. I will not expand on why the worldbuilding appealed to me, because part of the fun resides in discovering it, I think.
The magic may be considered as a soft magic system. I am not sure whether I fully understand how it works, but it seems that the intrigue of book two will revolve around the magic since it has a lot to answer for...I cannot wait to learn more about it! Oh and I'll add one thing: animated bronze statues powered by magic, I say yes!
"Legacy of Steel" is already in my possession and will be read very soon! I'm hoping to complete this trilogy before the end of this year.
PS: I'll be soon uploading my reading vlog about this book in case you would like to follow my reaction step by step.
November 7, 2019
I really liked the writing in this one and some of the characters were interesting, but the world-building felt constricted and there was way too much magic or maybe better put, magical, all-powerful beings for my taste. Still, a strong narrative kept me turning the pages somewhat to my surprise and I definitely plan to keep an eye for the next book if only to see where it goes as the ending is quite interesting.
August 3, 2023
I think this book deserves a lot more attention. It is a huge volume, true, but while I had a great year in books, this one definitely gets in top ten.
Legacy of Ash is a story with a well-constructed worldbuilding and a large cast of characters. I know that this may discourage many people to read this book but I tell you, it's worth it. First of all, unlike many so big books, when there are many PoV's - here characters are so clear that it's hard to get lost in who is who. There aren't difficult to pronounce names and with Ward prose the whole story is really easy to follow.
I have to admit that at first I thought that it'll be something good but not great, a good 4-stars read but nothing more. About 1/3 of the book I liked most of PoV's but I didn't have one person who I loved. But closer to 50% and more time spent with characters I could see how they grew on me and then I started to care for them more and eventually loved a few and liked the rest.
In Legacy of Ash we meet a bunch of strong men and women both younger and older and that's why I think this is the story for every fantasy fan. Yhere is politic, and betrayal and characters who aren't good or bad but something in between. There is magic and gods and some mystery creatures - and everything;s unique in its own way. Though it is long it doesn't drag, there's a lot of action and with so many different personalities it's hard to get bored. I had a great time reading this book and at the end, when everything seemed to be nicely wrapped up, the last page turned it around and now I can't wait for more.
Legacy of Ash is a story with a well-constructed worldbuilding and a large cast of characters. I know that this may discourage many people to read this book but I tell you, it's worth it. First of all, unlike many so big books, when there are many PoV's - here characters are so clear that it's hard to get lost in who is who. There aren't difficult to pronounce names and with Ward prose the whole story is really easy to follow.
I have to admit that at first I thought that it'll be something good but not great, a good 4-stars read but nothing more. About 1/3 of the book I liked most of PoV's but I didn't have one person who I loved. But closer to 50% and more time spent with characters I could see how they grew on me and then I started to care for them more and eventually loved a few and liked the rest.
In Legacy of Ash we meet a bunch of strong men and women both younger and older and that's why I think this is the story for every fantasy fan. Yhere is politic, and betrayal and characters who aren't good or bad but something in between. There is magic and gods and some mystery creatures - and everything;s unique in its own way. Though it is long it doesn't drag, there's a lot of action and with so many different personalities it's hard to get bored. I had a great time reading this book and at the end, when everything seemed to be nicely wrapped up, the last page turned it around and now I can't wait for more.
March 18, 2020
Legacy of Ash is the epitome of epic fantasy. Told from multiple perspectives, the story is complex, the world building rich and steeped in a deep history. It has magic, and deities, and a whole lot of intrigue. As a reader, one cannot ask for much more out of an epic fantasy novel. This is true epic fantasy down to the core.
That is not to say it is familiar in any way; in fact, the opposite is true. Legacy of Ash is one of the most unique stories I have ever read. And it is action-packed. As I was reading it, I had a picture in my mind of a world where war is constantly being fought. The Tressian Empire is a powder-keg, waiting to explode at the next spark. Matthew Ward delivers on that, sparking this story early and often. It is non-stop action from cover to cover, so much so that at times I could see my reading speed up, and I found myself flying through parts of the book.
There are A LOT of characters to follow, and, depending on your viewpoint, brings both positive and negative impacts to the story. For me, this is mostly a positive � if done right. The story is told from so many different perspectives the reader does not have the time to get bored with one character, as it is constantly switching before one has time to get comfortable. And that is a good way to put it: I never felt “comfortable� in this story. I mean that in a good way. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, be it due to the different perspectives, the pace of the writing, the tension and intrigue, or even the characters� storylines themselves. Reading this book, I was constantly leaning forward, breathing fast, heart thumping a mile-a-minute� wondering how it is all going to end.
Someone asked me who my favorite character was, and it was definitely Viktor. His story arc is so deep and dark; there is a ton of mystery there. And he leads much of the action, as so much of the story revolves around his decision-making. He is also the proverbial Vegeta of this book: bad guy or good guy? Hero or villian? I spent a lot of headspace reading this story wondering what Viktor’s true intent was. You will have to read to find out how that turns out, but the point is I was never comfortable with him, in a good way. In a story full of tension and intrigue that leads to so much action, Viktor is the dynamo that connects many of those dots.
For me, the one drawback to the way the characters were written was that it felt to me as though the author was trying to give equal face time to all of the characters, and I am not sure that worked as well as hoped. There are characters that just are not as interesting or as impactful, and I would have preferred to explore some of the more “main� characters a little more in depth. Every single character is important to the story, but I could have done with glimpses of some and more background and storytelling for others. Calenne, for example, would be one character whose story I would like to have explored more deeply.
Overall, Legacy of Ash is a really good book. It is epic fantasy at its highest, and I found it quite difficult to put down. I recommend for all fantasy readers everywhere.
That is not to say it is familiar in any way; in fact, the opposite is true. Legacy of Ash is one of the most unique stories I have ever read. And it is action-packed. As I was reading it, I had a picture in my mind of a world where war is constantly being fought. The Tressian Empire is a powder-keg, waiting to explode at the next spark. Matthew Ward delivers on that, sparking this story early and often. It is non-stop action from cover to cover, so much so that at times I could see my reading speed up, and I found myself flying through parts of the book.
There are A LOT of characters to follow, and, depending on your viewpoint, brings both positive and negative impacts to the story. For me, this is mostly a positive � if done right. The story is told from so many different perspectives the reader does not have the time to get bored with one character, as it is constantly switching before one has time to get comfortable. And that is a good way to put it: I never felt “comfortable� in this story. I mean that in a good way. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, be it due to the different perspectives, the pace of the writing, the tension and intrigue, or even the characters� storylines themselves. Reading this book, I was constantly leaning forward, breathing fast, heart thumping a mile-a-minute� wondering how it is all going to end.
Someone asked me who my favorite character was, and it was definitely Viktor. His story arc is so deep and dark; there is a ton of mystery there. And he leads much of the action, as so much of the story revolves around his decision-making. He is also the proverbial Vegeta of this book: bad guy or good guy? Hero or villian? I spent a lot of headspace reading this story wondering what Viktor’s true intent was. You will have to read to find out how that turns out, but the point is I was never comfortable with him, in a good way. In a story full of tension and intrigue that leads to so much action, Viktor is the dynamo that connects many of those dots.
For me, the one drawback to the way the characters were written was that it felt to me as though the author was trying to give equal face time to all of the characters, and I am not sure that worked as well as hoped. There are characters that just are not as interesting or as impactful, and I would have preferred to explore some of the more “main� characters a little more in depth. Every single character is important to the story, but I could have done with glimpses of some and more background and storytelling for others. Calenne, for example, would be one character whose story I would like to have explored more deeply.
Overall, Legacy of Ash is a really good book. It is epic fantasy at its highest, and I found it quite difficult to put down. I recommend for all fantasy readers everywhere.
January 8, 2022
Odkaz popela je pocitově daleko větší "macek" než ve skutečnosti.
Po dočtení mám pocit, že je to přesně taková ta asi průměrná věc, kterou za dva měsíce nebudete vědět, že jste ji četli, protože nemá zapamatovatelnou jiskru.
A to i přesto, že vás háže přímo do monumentálního válečného konfliktu, nutí vás posbírat si informace, učit se vazby mezi postavami a chápat je. V této fázi, když jsem se snažila zorientovat, mě to bavilo fakt moc, i když to čtení bylo únavné. To je tak prvních 100-200 stran. Jenže později jsem čím dál víc nabývala dojmu, že to není ničím výjimečné, ani fascinující. Že se věci dějí, aby se děly, jako jo, čtu, chápu, okej, ale vůbec to nejde prožít. A já bych chtěla bitvy prožívat s postavami.
Taky mi nesedělo extrémně rychlé střídání POV v průběhu celé knihy, bylo to jak špatně udělané střihy ve filmu, pokaždé mě to vytrhlo z nějaké mé čtecí flow. Podobně těžko jsem si zvykala na styl psaní, přibližně 80 % textu je psáno ve stejně dlouhých jednoduchých větách, které zapříčiňují, že to celé působí až monotónně. Nudně.
To jádro tam stopro je a mohla to být totální mňamka, ale...
ten potenciál zůstal neproměněný v šedi, co ničím nenaštve, ničím nenadchne, jen znudí.
Po dočtení mám pocit, že je to přesně taková ta asi průměrná věc, kterou za dva měsíce nebudete vědět, že jste ji četli, protože nemá zapamatovatelnou jiskru.
A to i přesto, že vás háže přímo do monumentálního válečného konfliktu, nutí vás posbírat si informace, učit se vazby mezi postavami a chápat je. V této fázi, když jsem se snažila zorientovat, mě to bavilo fakt moc, i když to čtení bylo únavné. To je tak prvních 100-200 stran. Jenže později jsem čím dál víc nabývala dojmu, že to není ničím výjimečné, ani fascinující. Že se věci dějí, aby se děly, jako jo, čtu, chápu, okej, ale vůbec to nejde prožít. A já bych chtěla bitvy prožívat s postavami.
Taky mi nesedělo extrémně rychlé střídání POV v průběhu celé knihy, bylo to jak špatně udělané střihy ve filmu, pokaždé mě to vytrhlo z nějaké mé čtecí flow. Podobně těžko jsem si zvykala na styl psaní, přibližně 80 % textu je psáno ve stejně dlouhých jednoduchých větách, které zapříčiňují, že to celé působí až monotónně. Nudně.
To jádro tam stopro je a mohla to být totální mňamka, ale...
ten potenciál zůstal neproměněný v šedi, co ničím nenaštve, ničím nenadchne, jen znudí.
April 9, 2020
4.75 Stars
Legacy Of Ash, by Matthew Ward is an extraordinary and epic fantasy, it is vast, complex and glorious. I positively adored this book, it truly reached the epic complexity so many fantasies aim for.
Synopsis: The Tressian Republic is falling, a shadow looms over it. In the aftermath of a failed rebellion and on the brink of a war with the Hadari, the leaders meant to represent justice and democracy are at war with eachother. As they fight among themselves with poisonous words and deadly means they ignore the pending war and focus on winning control of their Republic. The Republic’s Champion, Viktor Akadra, is the best warrior the Republic has and he has his sights on the upcoming war. However, he hides a dark secret, one that would see him burned. Josiri Trelan wishes to reignite his late mothers wish of rebellion, but he is a political prisoner constantly monitored. His sister, Calenne wants nothing more than to be free from the shadow cast by their mother’s legacy. But, as war looms and threatens the Republic the three natural born enemies must work together to protect their home. Can they put aside their differences and navigate the deadly political plots and even more deadly war threatening their home? And can they pay the price for the peace they so desperately want?
� Rich, Immersive, Evocative And Detailed �
The Writing Style/Narrative. Matthew Ward’s writing style is incredibly dense and complex, but in a positive way. I will admit that initially it can be quite confusing and difficult to get into as Ward has no qualms about throwing you head first into this world with his deep and intricate descriptions and style. He often flits between referring to characters by first name and surname so this may take some time to grasp as the cast of characters is very vast. However, this style really pays off once you are familiar with the characters as it is perfectly suited to the story’s complexity. The style is rich, immersive, evocative and detailed, you are easily absorbed into this world with the beautiful descriptions and naturally flowing dialogue making it feel real and alive.
Moreover, Ward does not shy away from creating world specific dialogue that has in world regional differences, for example, Goddesses have two different names depending on where you are from, while this takes some time to comprehend it adds an entirely new dimension to the story and world as a whole it makes it more realistic and fully realised, it promises a lot of potential and goes above and beyond that promise.
Ward opts for an interesting narrative, it is the multiple third person narrative perspective � I love the third person narrative and this does not disappoint. As I said the cast of characters is significant and the story is told from a lot of these characters perspectives, this initially is confusing but as you become immersed in the story the easier it is to navigate and the more you can appreciate the efficiency of this style choice. The story and world is vast so the multiple narratives allow us to follow a lot of events in detail and it shows us just how intricate this plot is (while ensuring we can understand it), it was the perfect choice for this story and really allows you to grow connected to the characters.
Due to the narration we get to see both sides of each of the wars/battles or general conflict throughout the entire story. This is unusual as we often are only able to see the “hero’s� view, yet in this story we see all sides of the story and there isn’t really a hero � it is incredibly unique and very refreshing to see such a wide scope that still maintains a sense of mystery and tension.
I really enjoyed this writing style and loved the way Ward used the multiple third person narration to gives us insight into the conflicts created, it allowed for some wonderful dramatic irony to be formed and added to the atmosphere overall.
� Expansive And Immense Story �
The Story/Plot. So, as an avid fantasy reader and watcher I have constantly seen books and shows promoted as “The next Game Of Thrones…If you loved Game Of Thrones then you’ll love this…GOT meets X� and usually this is innaccurate, not because the fantasy is poor but because it doesn’t live up to the epic vastness and complexity that GOT offers. Legacy Of Ash was also compared to Game Of Thrones and this time it lived up to the comparison.
Legacy Of Ash has an epic story full of minute and important intricacies, carefully woven elements that intertwine to create an incredible larger story and has the expansive and immense story and atmosphere that exists in GOT. The large cast, the wars and political battles, the multiple perspectives from both sides of the conflict, the boundless morally grey characters and the incredible lore all combines to create a story of epic proportions that truly stands up to the comparison it has been given. Legacy Of Ash shows that fantasy can be immense and breathtaking without overdoing the violence or sexual elements that are normally relied upon.
The story has multiple elements; firstly the failed rebellion led by Josiri Trelan’s mother. The story opens with a prologue depicting her and how the rebellion ends � a nice addition to the story as it immediately creates a deadly atmosphere with very clear ideas of which characters we think we will be rooting for. When the main story starts we see the effects of this failed rebellion, Josiri is a political prisoner, his people are seen as traitors and it sets up nicely for the conflicts that exist and develop as the story grows. This also creates a strong base for Josiri’s ideals, he wants to reignite his mother’s rebellion and we see this in action straight away. The rebellion is at the core of a significant amount of the conflicts in the story and is incredibly interesting. This was a powerful start to the novel and an incredible base to build upon- it was efficient, effective and intriguing.
Secondly, the Hadari war. The Hadari are on the brink of attacking the Tressian Republic, yet the leaders seem unfazed. Viktor wants to fight the Hadari and protect the Repblic, but to do so he needs Josiri’s help. This was another excellent element in the story as it opened up the beginning of the shifting alliances that we see as the story develops. This was a massive part of the story and was executed flawlessly, the battle and action scenes were remarkable, interesting, well paced and wonderfully detailed. I really enjoyed this element of the story and the interactions between Viktor and the Trelan family.
While the action scenes are excellent and I loved each and every one of them, the story also delves into political battles between the Republic leaders. The blackmail, the twisted words, the shadowy violence and the purely evil mastermind behind the cruellest changes is phenomenal. The political war was just as enthusing and intriguing as the physical fights and battles, it was clever, deadly and entertaining to watch characters make cold-hearted or desperate decisions in the pursuit of ambition. This was an excellent addition to the story and added another dimension to an already epic world.
I loved all of these elements my only issue that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was; the absolute end fight seemed to end pretty quickly, it didn’t feel quite difficult enough. Secondly, I feel like a specific character (avoiding spoilers!) was absent for too much of the novel, they are mentioned a lot throughout the middle but we don’t know anything about their situation from anyone’s perspective, while the majority of their absence is effective for reasons I won’t explain, I feel like maybe it was too much.
All of these elements combine to create an amazing and outstanding story, one that I loved every minute of, this really took me back to the roots of why I love fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed watching alliances form, break, shift and change as people fight, are manipulated and blackmailed. Every opinion you have of the characters are challenged as the story moves on, nothing is as it seems and there are no set “good guys� and “bad guys� (except maybe one character who, in my opinion, was pure evil) everything is in the grey and it is fantastic. This is a story that is perfect for traditional fantasy lovers, it uses the tradional and well known elements of fantasy and twists them into somthing refreshing and unique.
� Interesting, Unusual And Rich �
The World-Building/Magic System. Within this world the people believe in multiple Goddesses and those with magic are seen as having been gifted it by said Goddesses. However, having magic dictates you path in life but if you have ‘dark� magic you are seen as a witch who should be burned. The magic as a whole seems to initially have little relevance to the plot as a whole until the pieces start to fit together. I found the magic to be quite interesting, you see the effects of it continuously but the rules are a little less obvious, what we see is more of a personal experience of magic use rather than a guide to what it can and cannot do. I liked the idea of it coming from the Goddesses and look forward to seeing more about the magic and the lore as a whole. The light vs dark element was very cleverly done both dark and light magic is strong and able to beat the other, depending on who uses it and how it is used.
The Goddesses themselves are intriguing we get a few different stories about who they are and how they came to be, as well as their current role in this world. The stories differ because the history does, the lore is very rich detailing the defeat of a dark power, the guidance of the light and yet the history doesn’t seem wholly accurate according to other characters. This adds realism to the story with beliefs being moulded as well as allowing you to theorise yourself about who is correct. I really enjoyed the idea behind the deities and how they work.
The actual world itself is split, with the Southshires being the area in which the traitors live. The Capital homes the majority of the citizens, most notably the most influential families, each of whom have a seat on the council so that they can deal with issues democratically. I really liked this set up, specifically the democracy which is unusual in fantasy such as these which often depict a sole ruler like a Monarch. The idea of a council meant the political battles were much more interesting because there was a significant amount always at stake.
Furthermore, I loved the idea that when people marry they take the name of the spouse from the more influential family, not from the husband by default � I thought it added a nice element to the story that gave the world an intriguing dynamic. In fact gender as a whole is hardly an issue in the Republic, women fight and are some of the most determined characters in the story.
Finally, the world has a dark underbelly known as The Crow Market, a dark and cruel addition to a world that is deadly enough by day as it is. The Crow Market deals in death, The Raven’s favourite � Goddesses dominate the ‘religious� beliefs in this world but the Raven is an exception, and he was incredibly interesting � his game is manipulation and it goes beyond the terror of violence on many levels. I really enjoyed this aspect of the world as well, it added another thread to the web of deadly deals and promises made in the course of the story.
The world is very clevery crafted, the fantastic world-building and intriguing lore makes for an epic setting.
� Cleverly And Carefully Spun �
The Characters. This book is full of cleverly and carefully spun characters who feel real because they are gritty, flawed and diverse. So while there is room for more diversity in this book, the characters are still rather diverse with incredibly individual perosnalities and with a mix of strong female characters at the forefront. Each characer is easy to connect with and understand, their motivations are human, and their flaws make them vulnerable and likeable, I enjoyed reading about each and every one of them.
Viktor Akadra. My favourite character in the book, Viktor is the Republic’s champion � the man who killed Josiri’s mother and ended the rebellion. I did not think I would like him but I was so very wrong. Viktor is as complex as characters get. He is flawed, he is kind, he is for justice and wants to do what is right, and yet cannot consider himself a good person. Viktor’s intentions are usually good, but that does not mean he always acts in the best interest of everyone, but he is not intentionally cruel or evil, he just wants peace for the Republic. Yet, Viktor’s character, as the story goes on, begins to make more difficult decisions with each development and at times can seem vicious. I loved him!
Viktor has a secret though, one that would see him burn and it is one that tests him time and time again to the point where he may not even win. I really enjoyed the chapters from his perspective because at his core he is good, he wants to help but that doesn’t mean he can always make the best or kindest decisions.
Josiri Trelan. Initially, he really annoyed me, he is a great character driven by his mother’s passion but he is also flawed, he doesn’t listen to those closest to him. But, he is passionate, he wants to start a rebellion for his mother and for his people. He wants to protect his family no matter the cost. He was an interesting character, not my favourite, but I did like his perspective � it was interesting to see his opinions and emotions which helps you understand why he makes the choices he does. By the end I did actually like him and scenes with him and Viktor were some of my favourites because their sarcasm and wit was incredibly entertaining.
Calenne. Another character that took me a little while to warm to was Calenne but as her character grew I liked her more. She is a very determined character who is willing to compromise on her own happiness to be free from the Trelan name. Calenne is very headstrong and acts without thinking or for selfish reasons but she develops well and becomes much more likeable.
Ebigail Kiradin. Ebigail, the woman who is crueller than Cersei Lannister and the most manipulative character I have seen in a long time, I hated her with a burning passion. Ebigail is a master at manipulation and is sickeningly ambitious � and she is good at it. You can’t help but admire her intellect, no matter how much you may dislike her. She was a fantastic political opponent and scenes with her were thrilling and shocking, her plans were well thought out, and she knows how to play the game. An excellent character, even if I hated her.
for rest of review see:
I received an eARC of this book from netgalley/Orbit/Little Brown UK in exchange for an honest review.
Legacy Of Ash, by Matthew Ward is an extraordinary and epic fantasy, it is vast, complex and glorious. I positively adored this book, it truly reached the epic complexity so many fantasies aim for.
Synopsis: The Tressian Republic is falling, a shadow looms over it. In the aftermath of a failed rebellion and on the brink of a war with the Hadari, the leaders meant to represent justice and democracy are at war with eachother. As they fight among themselves with poisonous words and deadly means they ignore the pending war and focus on winning control of their Republic. The Republic’s Champion, Viktor Akadra, is the best warrior the Republic has and he has his sights on the upcoming war. However, he hides a dark secret, one that would see him burned. Josiri Trelan wishes to reignite his late mothers wish of rebellion, but he is a political prisoner constantly monitored. His sister, Calenne wants nothing more than to be free from the shadow cast by their mother’s legacy. But, as war looms and threatens the Republic the three natural born enemies must work together to protect their home. Can they put aside their differences and navigate the deadly political plots and even more deadly war threatening their home? And can they pay the price for the peace they so desperately want?
� Rich, Immersive, Evocative And Detailed �
The Writing Style/Narrative. Matthew Ward’s writing style is incredibly dense and complex, but in a positive way. I will admit that initially it can be quite confusing and difficult to get into as Ward has no qualms about throwing you head first into this world with his deep and intricate descriptions and style. He often flits between referring to characters by first name and surname so this may take some time to grasp as the cast of characters is very vast. However, this style really pays off once you are familiar with the characters as it is perfectly suited to the story’s complexity. The style is rich, immersive, evocative and detailed, you are easily absorbed into this world with the beautiful descriptions and naturally flowing dialogue making it feel real and alive.
Moreover, Ward does not shy away from creating world specific dialogue that has in world regional differences, for example, Goddesses have two different names depending on where you are from, while this takes some time to comprehend it adds an entirely new dimension to the story and world as a whole it makes it more realistic and fully realised, it promises a lot of potential and goes above and beyond that promise.
Ward opts for an interesting narrative, it is the multiple third person narrative perspective � I love the third person narrative and this does not disappoint. As I said the cast of characters is significant and the story is told from a lot of these characters perspectives, this initially is confusing but as you become immersed in the story the easier it is to navigate and the more you can appreciate the efficiency of this style choice. The story and world is vast so the multiple narratives allow us to follow a lot of events in detail and it shows us just how intricate this plot is (while ensuring we can understand it), it was the perfect choice for this story and really allows you to grow connected to the characters.
Due to the narration we get to see both sides of each of the wars/battles or general conflict throughout the entire story. This is unusual as we often are only able to see the “hero’s� view, yet in this story we see all sides of the story and there isn’t really a hero � it is incredibly unique and very refreshing to see such a wide scope that still maintains a sense of mystery and tension.
I really enjoyed this writing style and loved the way Ward used the multiple third person narration to gives us insight into the conflicts created, it allowed for some wonderful dramatic irony to be formed and added to the atmosphere overall.
� Expansive And Immense Story �
The Story/Plot. So, as an avid fantasy reader and watcher I have constantly seen books and shows promoted as “The next Game Of Thrones…If you loved Game Of Thrones then you’ll love this…GOT meets X� and usually this is innaccurate, not because the fantasy is poor but because it doesn’t live up to the epic vastness and complexity that GOT offers. Legacy Of Ash was also compared to Game Of Thrones and this time it lived up to the comparison.
Legacy Of Ash has an epic story full of minute and important intricacies, carefully woven elements that intertwine to create an incredible larger story and has the expansive and immense story and atmosphere that exists in GOT. The large cast, the wars and political battles, the multiple perspectives from both sides of the conflict, the boundless morally grey characters and the incredible lore all combines to create a story of epic proportions that truly stands up to the comparison it has been given. Legacy Of Ash shows that fantasy can be immense and breathtaking without overdoing the violence or sexual elements that are normally relied upon.
The story has multiple elements; firstly the failed rebellion led by Josiri Trelan’s mother. The story opens with a prologue depicting her and how the rebellion ends � a nice addition to the story as it immediately creates a deadly atmosphere with very clear ideas of which characters we think we will be rooting for. When the main story starts we see the effects of this failed rebellion, Josiri is a political prisoner, his people are seen as traitors and it sets up nicely for the conflicts that exist and develop as the story grows. This also creates a strong base for Josiri’s ideals, he wants to reignite his mother’s rebellion and we see this in action straight away. The rebellion is at the core of a significant amount of the conflicts in the story and is incredibly interesting. This was a powerful start to the novel and an incredible base to build upon- it was efficient, effective and intriguing.
Secondly, the Hadari war. The Hadari are on the brink of attacking the Tressian Republic, yet the leaders seem unfazed. Viktor wants to fight the Hadari and protect the Repblic, but to do so he needs Josiri’s help. This was another excellent element in the story as it opened up the beginning of the shifting alliances that we see as the story develops. This was a massive part of the story and was executed flawlessly, the battle and action scenes were remarkable, interesting, well paced and wonderfully detailed. I really enjoyed this element of the story and the interactions between Viktor and the Trelan family.
While the action scenes are excellent and I loved each and every one of them, the story also delves into political battles between the Republic leaders. The blackmail, the twisted words, the shadowy violence and the purely evil mastermind behind the cruellest changes is phenomenal. The political war was just as enthusing and intriguing as the physical fights and battles, it was clever, deadly and entertaining to watch characters make cold-hearted or desperate decisions in the pursuit of ambition. This was an excellent addition to the story and added another dimension to an already epic world.
I loved all of these elements my only issue that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was; the absolute end fight seemed to end pretty quickly, it didn’t feel quite difficult enough. Secondly, I feel like a specific character (avoiding spoilers!) was absent for too much of the novel, they are mentioned a lot throughout the middle but we don’t know anything about their situation from anyone’s perspective, while the majority of their absence is effective for reasons I won’t explain, I feel like maybe it was too much.
All of these elements combine to create an amazing and outstanding story, one that I loved every minute of, this really took me back to the roots of why I love fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed watching alliances form, break, shift and change as people fight, are manipulated and blackmailed. Every opinion you have of the characters are challenged as the story moves on, nothing is as it seems and there are no set “good guys� and “bad guys� (except maybe one character who, in my opinion, was pure evil) everything is in the grey and it is fantastic. This is a story that is perfect for traditional fantasy lovers, it uses the tradional and well known elements of fantasy and twists them into somthing refreshing and unique.
� Interesting, Unusual And Rich �
The World-Building/Magic System. Within this world the people believe in multiple Goddesses and those with magic are seen as having been gifted it by said Goddesses. However, having magic dictates you path in life but if you have ‘dark� magic you are seen as a witch who should be burned. The magic as a whole seems to initially have little relevance to the plot as a whole until the pieces start to fit together. I found the magic to be quite interesting, you see the effects of it continuously but the rules are a little less obvious, what we see is more of a personal experience of magic use rather than a guide to what it can and cannot do. I liked the idea of it coming from the Goddesses and look forward to seeing more about the magic and the lore as a whole. The light vs dark element was very cleverly done both dark and light magic is strong and able to beat the other, depending on who uses it and how it is used.
The Goddesses themselves are intriguing we get a few different stories about who they are and how they came to be, as well as their current role in this world. The stories differ because the history does, the lore is very rich detailing the defeat of a dark power, the guidance of the light and yet the history doesn’t seem wholly accurate according to other characters. This adds realism to the story with beliefs being moulded as well as allowing you to theorise yourself about who is correct. I really enjoyed the idea behind the deities and how they work.
The actual world itself is split, with the Southshires being the area in which the traitors live. The Capital homes the majority of the citizens, most notably the most influential families, each of whom have a seat on the council so that they can deal with issues democratically. I really liked this set up, specifically the democracy which is unusual in fantasy such as these which often depict a sole ruler like a Monarch. The idea of a council meant the political battles were much more interesting because there was a significant amount always at stake.
Furthermore, I loved the idea that when people marry they take the name of the spouse from the more influential family, not from the husband by default � I thought it added a nice element to the story that gave the world an intriguing dynamic. In fact gender as a whole is hardly an issue in the Republic, women fight and are some of the most determined characters in the story.
Finally, the world has a dark underbelly known as The Crow Market, a dark and cruel addition to a world that is deadly enough by day as it is. The Crow Market deals in death, The Raven’s favourite � Goddesses dominate the ‘religious� beliefs in this world but the Raven is an exception, and he was incredibly interesting � his game is manipulation and it goes beyond the terror of violence on many levels. I really enjoyed this aspect of the world as well, it added another thread to the web of deadly deals and promises made in the course of the story.
The world is very clevery crafted, the fantastic world-building and intriguing lore makes for an epic setting.
� Cleverly And Carefully Spun �
The Characters. This book is full of cleverly and carefully spun characters who feel real because they are gritty, flawed and diverse. So while there is room for more diversity in this book, the characters are still rather diverse with incredibly individual perosnalities and with a mix of strong female characters at the forefront. Each characer is easy to connect with and understand, their motivations are human, and their flaws make them vulnerable and likeable, I enjoyed reading about each and every one of them.
Viktor Akadra. My favourite character in the book, Viktor is the Republic’s champion � the man who killed Josiri’s mother and ended the rebellion. I did not think I would like him but I was so very wrong. Viktor is as complex as characters get. He is flawed, he is kind, he is for justice and wants to do what is right, and yet cannot consider himself a good person. Viktor’s intentions are usually good, but that does not mean he always acts in the best interest of everyone, but he is not intentionally cruel or evil, he just wants peace for the Republic. Yet, Viktor’s character, as the story goes on, begins to make more difficult decisions with each development and at times can seem vicious. I loved him!
Viktor has a secret though, one that would see him burn and it is one that tests him time and time again to the point where he may not even win. I really enjoyed the chapters from his perspective because at his core he is good, he wants to help but that doesn’t mean he can always make the best or kindest decisions.
Josiri Trelan. Initially, he really annoyed me, he is a great character driven by his mother’s passion but he is also flawed, he doesn’t listen to those closest to him. But, he is passionate, he wants to start a rebellion for his mother and for his people. He wants to protect his family no matter the cost. He was an interesting character, not my favourite, but I did like his perspective � it was interesting to see his opinions and emotions which helps you understand why he makes the choices he does. By the end I did actually like him and scenes with him and Viktor were some of my favourites because their sarcasm and wit was incredibly entertaining.
Calenne. Another character that took me a little while to warm to was Calenne but as her character grew I liked her more. She is a very determined character who is willing to compromise on her own happiness to be free from the Trelan name. Calenne is very headstrong and acts without thinking or for selfish reasons but she develops well and becomes much more likeable.
Ebigail Kiradin. Ebigail, the woman who is crueller than Cersei Lannister and the most manipulative character I have seen in a long time, I hated her with a burning passion. Ebigail is a master at manipulation and is sickeningly ambitious � and she is good at it. You can’t help but admire her intellect, no matter how much you may dislike her. She was a fantastic political opponent and scenes with her were thrilling and shocking, her plans were well thought out, and she knows how to play the game. An excellent character, even if I hated her.
for rest of review see:
I received an eARC of this book from netgalley/Orbit/Little Brown UK in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2021
Now THATS how you write epic fantasy. Easily one of the best books in the genre I’ve read in a while. I’ve now got high hopes that this will be the best fantasy series I’ve read since the Licanius trilogy.
The book started off with a fantastic prologue. When done right, and this one was, a prologue is so effective at pulling me into a story. After that things started a little slow, it took some time to set the scene and introduce all the characters. It was well worth the wait though.
The writing was mostly excellent, with an occasional tendency to veer into some overly descriptive prose. But man, the characterization was phenomenal. Ward did such a good job conveying the essence of each character very clearly and quickly. Each one get distinct and memorable. Viktor was the standout character for me, though the character arc for Josiri was so well handled. Special praise for Kurkas, his relationship with Revekah was a joy.
The writing switches frequently from many points of view, each one usually only a few pages which kept the pace moving.
I also loved the overall tone. Lots of grim and dark things happened but it was never overly bleak. Likewise the characters were all flawed but still plenty of noble people trying to do good which I appreciated.
In terms of comparison, I’d say this book will appeal to fans of John Gwynne and James Islington, who happen to be two of my favorite current fantasy authors.
Highly recommended.
The book started off with a fantastic prologue. When done right, and this one was, a prologue is so effective at pulling me into a story. After that things started a little slow, it took some time to set the scene and introduce all the characters. It was well worth the wait though.
The writing was mostly excellent, with an occasional tendency to veer into some overly descriptive prose. But man, the characterization was phenomenal. Ward did such a good job conveying the essence of each character very clearly and quickly. Each one get distinct and memorable. Viktor was the standout character for me, though the character arc for Josiri was so well handled. Special praise for Kurkas, his relationship with Revekah was a joy.
The writing switches frequently from many points of view, each one usually only a few pages which kept the pace moving.
I also loved the overall tone. Lots of grim and dark things happened but it was never overly bleak. Likewise the characters were all flawed but still plenty of noble people trying to do good which I appreciated.
In terms of comparison, I’d say this book will appeal to fans of John Gwynne and James Islington, who happen to be two of my favorite current fantasy authors.
Highly recommended.
March 27, 2020
*4.5
I really wasn't sure what to expect from Legacy of Ash--an epic fantasy debut that's nearly 800 pages is no joke--and although it took a little while to get fully acquainted with the world, once I was hooked I didn't want to stop reading it. This is a perfect example of modern epic fantasy in my opinion: it has some classic fantasy vibes and general ideas, but it's incredibly innovative and has some really exciting characters and storylines.
Legacy of Ash has a wide cast of characters and POVs that jump around a decent bit. The main focuses are Viktor, Josiri, Calenne, Melnna, and possibly a few more that I'm overlooking. I was a bit intimidated at first by all of the different character viewpoints, but as I started to get more into the story I found myself being able to more easily distinguish between each character and become more invested in their storylines. It did take a while to get to this point, as there are so many names and details to remember, but it was worth it for me personally once I got to that point. I think one of my favorite things about this book is that we get to see POVs from almost all sides (though it is a bit lacking in viewpoints from the more 'regular' classes of people), so we get a good understanding for the motivations behind the battles and discord, as well as an ability to become invested in both sides for various reasons--and maybe lost some support for certain sides!
Without getting into too many unneeded details for a review, Legacy of Ash centers around the Tressia, the Southerners, and the Hadari. The Tresia and Southerners have a long history of hatred between one another, and then the Hadari are essentially a third external threat that is threatening to attack the other two. We get to see characters from all three sides, which I appreciate, and I love how Ward made each section so well-developed that you can mostly understand motivations from all sides. By the end of the book I had really grown to be invested in the lives of most of the characters and it has made me really curious to find out what's going to be next, especially after the epic events of this book.
Ward's world-building was vast and exceptionally well-done. There's plenty of myth and history to give this world background and grounding, as well as current tensions and conflicts to keep the story going. I'm not sure that I fully understood how the magic system worked, but I was immersed in it nonetheless and am curious to see how it continues to develop. If you like your epic fantasy filled with politics and conflicts of all types, then you will have a great time with this book because it is overflowing with political intrigue and some captivating conflicts between characters and territories. There are also some truly epic battle scenes that were far extremely compelling and really added to the impact of other story events.
Ward has a very clear prose style that makes this book easy to fall into, though I will say that there was still something just a little bit rough around the edges about the writing. There were occasional places where dialogue or description felt awkward, but over 800 pages those ended up being less noticeable than they would've been in another book. That being said, since this is an epic fantasy debut it definitely just feels like Ward is figuring out his voice and I have the highest of hopes for the sequel.
Overall, I've given Legacy of Ash four stars! I look forward to seeing what Ward will bring next to this series.
I really wasn't sure what to expect from Legacy of Ash--an epic fantasy debut that's nearly 800 pages is no joke--and although it took a little while to get fully acquainted with the world, once I was hooked I didn't want to stop reading it. This is a perfect example of modern epic fantasy in my opinion: it has some classic fantasy vibes and general ideas, but it's incredibly innovative and has some really exciting characters and storylines.
Legacy of Ash has a wide cast of characters and POVs that jump around a decent bit. The main focuses are Viktor, Josiri, Calenne, Melnna, and possibly a few more that I'm overlooking. I was a bit intimidated at first by all of the different character viewpoints, but as I started to get more into the story I found myself being able to more easily distinguish between each character and become more invested in their storylines. It did take a while to get to this point, as there are so many names and details to remember, but it was worth it for me personally once I got to that point. I think one of my favorite things about this book is that we get to see POVs from almost all sides (though it is a bit lacking in viewpoints from the more 'regular' classes of people), so we get a good understanding for the motivations behind the battles and discord, as well as an ability to become invested in both sides for various reasons--and maybe lost some support for certain sides!
Without getting into too many unneeded details for a review, Legacy of Ash centers around the Tressia, the Southerners, and the Hadari. The Tresia and Southerners have a long history of hatred between one another, and then the Hadari are essentially a third external threat that is threatening to attack the other two. We get to see characters from all three sides, which I appreciate, and I love how Ward made each section so well-developed that you can mostly understand motivations from all sides. By the end of the book I had really grown to be invested in the lives of most of the characters and it has made me really curious to find out what's going to be next, especially after the epic events of this book.
Ward's world-building was vast and exceptionally well-done. There's plenty of myth and history to give this world background and grounding, as well as current tensions and conflicts to keep the story going. I'm not sure that I fully understood how the magic system worked, but I was immersed in it nonetheless and am curious to see how it continues to develop. If you like your epic fantasy filled with politics and conflicts of all types, then you will have a great time with this book because it is overflowing with political intrigue and some captivating conflicts between characters and territories. There are also some truly epic battle scenes that were far extremely compelling and really added to the impact of other story events.
Ward has a very clear prose style that makes this book easy to fall into, though I will say that there was still something just a little bit rough around the edges about the writing. There were occasional places where dialogue or description felt awkward, but over 800 pages those ended up being less noticeable than they would've been in another book. That being said, since this is an epic fantasy debut it definitely just feels like Ward is figuring out his voice and I have the highest of hopes for the sequel.
Overall, I've given Legacy of Ash four stars! I look forward to seeing what Ward will bring next to this series.
February 6, 2020
I'm bad at writing reviews but I'll try to give this one a shot. I think my 3 star review is a bit misleading and maybe I should bump it up to 4 stars. Just give me half stars already GR!
My biggest problem with this book is that I feel like it's 1 1/2 stories crammed into one book. There's a solid wrap up ending but then the book continues on, shifts the main location, and quickly runs through another plot. I just felt like either this plot should have more strongly wove through the whole book so it felt like less of a jump or chopped for the second book. The dramatic shift towards the end just left me a bit meh.
But overall, I think this is a strong beginning to a trilogy. I'm a fan of Viktor Akadra. I can't wait to see what Book 2 brings to his storyline. He's definitely the strongest character for me but there are some others I'll be rooting for as well.
My biggest problem with this book is that I feel like it's 1 1/2 stories crammed into one book. There's a solid wrap up ending but then the book continues on, shifts the main location, and quickly runs through another plot. I just felt like either this plot should have more strongly wove through the whole book so it felt like less of a jump or chopped for the second book. The dramatic shift towards the end just left me a bit meh.
But overall, I think this is a strong beginning to a trilogy. I'm a fan of Viktor Akadra. I can't wait to see what Book 2 brings to his storyline. He's definitely the strongest character for me but there are some others I'll be rooting for as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 448 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.