When Balagir awakens at the fire with no recollection of his past, he discovers he is an ashen—a mysterious group of black-eyed vagabonds, addicted to the smoke they must pay the ghostly piper in exchange for power. With the help of a unique chisp (a sentient spark) and a band of nefarious companions, Balagir will have to traverse the northern wilds, cross seas and survive foreign wars if he is … is to discover the truth behind the Ashen Levels.
The Ashen Levels is dark, progression fantasy with underlying GameLit elements.
This is the COMPLETE version, and contains all five parts of Balagir’s journey.
more
A unique series in which Balagir travels through a world as mysterious to him as it is to the reader. I never knew what was coming round the corner in a tale that blended elements of litrpg, dark & epic fantasy, myth and riddles. I recommend if you’re searching for something you haven’t read before.
I’m uncertain how to explain but I enjoyed this story the same as I enjoyed Labyrinth. On the very surface some harmless fun but dig deep and realize how darkly twisted the paths truly are. Get caught up frolicking through the adventure only to come face to face with grim consequences. I suppose the author’s talent in writing this is a bit like that of a sword swallower! Or perhaps I ought to say a fire juggler!
The Ashen Levels by C.F. Welburn is all five books in one edition, FLEDGLING; JOURNEYMAN; ADEPT; HERO; PARAGON. Welburn has a beautiful writing style, and a wonderful imagination. This story has a very unique magic system and odd, wonderful characters. I can’t say enough about this story. If you read one book this year, or any other year, for that matter, you must read The Ashen Levels! You will be thoroughly delighted!
Do you like adventure, misfits, shady characters, riddles, and puzzles? This story has all of that and more! How can I describe this book? I feel like Alice in Wonderland who fell down the rabbit hole. It really does have a little bit of everything.
In Fledgling Part 1, Balagir is the underdog. He starts out knowing almost nothing and gets taken advantage of from the get-go. He keeps his wits about him even in the trickiest of situations. His wits and sheer determination keep him alive in a world where anyone will use you for their own gain. As he succeeds at different challenges, he levels up like in a role-playing game. I love how he starts getting the hang of things. The first book ends with him sailing away in search of answers. The tone is hopeful as he heads towards his next adventure.
In Journeyman Part 2, Balagir heads to the high seas. He’s the first Ashen to ever captain his own ship and most of his crew are Ashen too. He began as an underdog in Fledgling but has become a leader. He is more ruthless but only when necessary. He sees the value of having companions that won’t stab you in the back. Those are hard to find among the Ashen.
Balagir faces new challenges as he journeys seeking answers about the Ashen and his origins. In these challenges, he has not only his own life to think about but also the lives of his men.
There is a bit of a recap in the last chapter. It’s well done but I would prefer not to have it.
In Adept Part 3, Balagir’s adventures continue. He forms a company of Ashen, but they aren’t willing to give themselves a name just yet. He’s a good leader and able to work out problems. The story moves at a fast pace and ends on a cliffhanger. The series is complete, so you don’t have to wait to find out what happens next.
C.F. Welburn creates colorful characters and his descriptions are punchy. A few times I even chuckled.
In Hero Part 4, Balagir has seen a vision of the future. Trying to convince those on the brink of war to unite against a greater threat is turning into an impossible task, especially when he is betrayed. The more Balagir learns, the more questions crop up. He also meets heroes of legend, but they aren’t what he was expecting. When the war starts, the battle is fierce. Will the heroes arrive in time to help?
Part 4 ends on a high note with questions left unanswered. I’m looking forward to the conclusion in Paragon. I wonder how C.F. Welburn will tie up all the loose ends.
Even though there are too many people to keep track of, I still followed the story without any problems.
When the ash falls, what will be left of the Ashen?
All our questions get answered in Paragon Part 5. This is the final battle, but it’s fought on several fronts. Balagir has many clues to unravel, people to see, and places to be, but many places are no longer safe, and the Ashen are more despised than ever.
It’s quite an epic tale. I felt sorry for Balagir and his closest companions, including the entity called Arrow. The ending is more satisfying than I thought it would be in light of all that goes wrong.
My only complaint with the final book is that too much was left at the end to wrap up. A few of the reveals could have been shared in earlier books.
I listened to the audiobooks. The narrator, Jez Jameson, perfectly captures the tone of the story and the voices of the individual characters. He’s quite brilliant at it.
A dark, yet fabulous tale about a man called Balagir, this story begins as he awakens without memory of his past. Balagir is forced to go through trials and riddles, one more dangerous than the next as he tries to uncover what has happened to him.
Written in most exquisite prose, this tale is expertly told. The book gives off an intriguing and creepy, almost fairytale-like, feel (the old kind, mind you), which I found highly entertaining. Everywhere Balagir turns, there is a challenged he must face, and it is absolutely fantastic!
And what a satisfying ending to an otherwise great series! The threads weaved throughout this story are flawless, and how it all comes together at the end is expertly done. I loved the conclusion!
I cannot recommend this enough, for I’ve absolutely devoured this series listening to the audiobooks! I feel empty now, knowing Balagir won’t be joining me in my day-to-day life. The narration done by Jez Jameson leaves me wanting for more on its own, let alone the fabulous story CF Welburn has penned here!
Fantastic world-building, great characters, superbly merged GameLit elements, intriguing mysteries, and great action! I cannot stress enough how great this series is. Just buy it already!