Red Rising meets The Scorpio Races in this epic fantasy following three phoenix horse riders–skilled at alchemy–who must compete at The Races–the modern spectacle that has replaced warfare within their empire.Every year since the Ashlords were gifted phoenix horses by their gods, they’ve raced them. First into battle, then on great hunts, and finally for the pure sport of seeing who rode the … hunts, and finally for the pure sport of seeing who rode the fastest. Centuries of blood and fire carved their competition into a more modern spectacle: The Races.
Over the course of a multi-day event, elite riders from clashing cultures vie to be crowned champion. But the modern version of the sport requires more than good riding. Competitors must be skilled at creating and controlling phoenix horses made of ash and alchemy, which are summoned back to life each sunrise with uniquely crafted powers to cover impossible distances and challenges before bursting into flames at sunset. But good alchemy only matters if a rider knows how to defend their phoenix horse at night. Murder is outlawed, but breaking bones and poisoning ashes? That’s all legal and encouraged.
In this year’s Races, eleven riders will compete, but three of them have more to lose than the rest–a champion’s daughter, a scholarship entrant, and a revolutionary’s son. Who will attain their own dream of glory? Or will they all flame out in defeat?
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I flew through this book. It catches you right from the beginning and immerses you in this new world completely. The beginning reads like Carve the Mark. Then it becomes reminiscent of the Hunger games in more modern times. This story focuses on three of the eleven contestants in a Phoenix horse race which is much more than just a race, a small town Davinian (lower class citizens) girl, a rebel leader boy and the darling girl of the upper class. The action is quick paced and the writing flows beautifully. I loved the concept of the Phoenix horses. The death and rebirth are a given but the author added an alchemical boost to the phoenix’s attributes depending on what was added to the ashes directly before the rebirth. The best part is that the story focuses on one specific thing, the race. You get the details, the explanations and the feelings. He didn’t try to add too much all at once. It’s a clean read too. I wouldn’t object to my young teenager reading it. The story ends well. You’re not left on too much of a cliffhanger but it is definitely leading up to the second book. Which I am eagerly waiting for.
With comp titles like Red Rising and The Scorpio Races, combined with a stunning cover and intriguing description, I jumped at the invitation to read and review Ashlords. Being a fan of Reintgen’s Nyxia Triad series, I anticipated an exciting read, but this? Completely above and beyond my expectations.
Phoenix horses – what an outstanding concept. Toss in alchemy, a Hunger Games-ish race, gods, spirits, a brewing war, and you’ve got an addictive read. I have to admit, the world-building overwhelmed me a bit at first, but I settled in by the second chapter.
And the characters! Three POVs: Imelda – a talented alchemist and underdog, Adrian – probably the biggest threat to the Ashlords and the face of the rebellion, and Pippa – the daughter of two champions and favorite to win. Pippa’s POV is in second person, something I haven’t come across in YA fiction. You may start out rooting for one, but will likely change your mind more than once before it’s over. Don’t underestimate any of them.
There’s more than the race going on in this novel. With war, rebellion, and unrest stirring, the next book in this duology promises to be just as compelling. From nearly the first page, this action-packed, intense plot races (almost literally) to the finish. I can’t wait for the next book – bring on the next rebirth!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Since the Ashlords were gifted phoenix horses by their gods, they’ve raced them. From battle to great hunts, and now for the pure sport of seeing who rode the fastest. Centuries of blood and fire carved their competition into a more modern spectacle: The Races. Over the course of a multi-day event, elite riders from clashing cultures are fighting for the crown. The modern version of the sport requires more than good riding, it requires them to be skilled in creating and controlling phoenix horses made of ash and alchemy, which are summoned back to life each sunrise with uniquely crafted powers from better lungs to cover impossible distances and challenges before bursting into flames at sunset. But the alchemy doesn’t matter if the riders can’t protect their horse at night. Murder is illegal, but breaking bones and poisoning the ashes? All legal and encouraged!
This year’s races include eleven rides, but three of them have more to lose than the rest!
An Ashlord. A Dividian and a Longhand. 3 people from 3 different living environments.
Pippa is an Ashlord noble and comes from a family of champions.
Adrian is a Longhand and is a revolutionary’s son and with a different purpose than just winning the races.
Imelda, The Alchemist is a scholarship entrant, and while this has been her whole life dream, now she doubts herself she will even make it alive!
This book is an interesting story about the differences between each character involved. The book is being explained from 3 pov’s: Pippa; Adrian & Imelda. While Pippa’s story is being explained in the 2nd person, Adrian & Imelda’s is being told in the 1st person. I found this change so amazing because it gave me the impression that someone else is telling Pippa’s story like she’s just participating and someone else tells her story and how she feels – I guess is pretty fitting for her since she’s so known between their Ashlords and she’s a figure everyone knows, but no one knows her for the real her.
The book is so amazingly written. you have Ashlords, Dividians, and Longhands each got into these races one way or another. Pippa – has trained all her life for this. Coming from a family of champions there was no doubt she will be on the races; Adrian – He’s brought to the races because of Daddy who has a bigger plan than just his son winning the races – he is planning a war and wants everyone to remember the Longhands! And Imelda – She was brought to the races thanks to Pippa who used her as a shield to take the attention of the paparazzi from her not-so-nice pictorial. While Imelda has been dreaming for this moment all her life, now facing it, makes her doubt herself she will win or even get alive from the races.
This book is definitely something I’ve never read before. I’ve never read a story about phoenix horses who come to life at sunrise and need to die at sundown. The way the races are being described makes you feel like you’re taking part in them, you’re the rider, you can feel the mountains flying behind you, the wind whipping your face and biting on your skin, the horses huffing and running like there’s no tomorrow. During the race they encounter so many obstacles and just being a good rider and a good alchemist is not cutting it, they need to know how to fight, or at least defend themselves, they need to remember the entire map so they know what type of powders they need for the alchemy, they need to make plans to take the best route and win the races.
While everyone joined or was brought to the races for different reasons, in the end, each one of them had a goal. While Adrian has come on the 2nd place, Pippa won the races and is getting prepared for what’s yet to come, and Imelda, went ahead with her plan and now is on the run fighting a war that was long-awaited.
I loved each character in this book. Adrian is big and fierce and even if he is scared he is not showing it, his personality is so strong that even when he is on the brink of death he doesn’t show his fear. Pippa while is showed as a vain person at the beginning throughout the book she grows so much, she shows compassion a trait that in Ashlords is look upon – they don’t show mercy to anyone. And Imelda if she was scared at the beginning, once she set up her plan on breaking the races rules nothing can stop her anymore. She won’t bow down for anyone!
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This story has such a unique premise. There’s a major race that happens every year with Phoenixes. The race is grueling and very dangerous. The racers try to knock each other out of the competition at all costs. The Phoenixes die each night in a burst of flames and are raised from their ashes each morning by the rider, through alchemy and magic. The Alchemists choose the strength and features of the Phoenix through mixing certain chemicals. Really cool concept!
The book starts off kind of slow, but it gets really adventurous and suspenseful as it goes on. I was on the edge of my seat wondering who would win. But, I felt the characters were written in such a way that I really didn’t like any of them all that much. It definitely wasn’t a character driven story. It was more about the race and how the Ashlords treated those who didn’t follow them.
I liked it. I just didn’t love it. I have loved everything that Scott Reintgen has written, so I was surprised this one wasn’t what I expected.