My personal acquaintances know that I am a literary omnivore and can find books to enjoy in several different genres. That being said, I am a person who does not like to waste her time, therefore I am extremely picky about my choices. My preferred reading material is historical fiction, so it was a pretty safe bet that I would like this book. But I think I should preface this review by also stating that I am exceptionally fond of historical epics, such as those written by James Michener and James Clavell, and I have always had a fascination with Asian cultures and the idea of fulfilling a destiny. I ADORED Shogun, Tai-pan, Memoires of a Geisha, and I watch every subtitled Chinese film I can get my hands on. Furthermore, I am a huge fan of Ayn Rand, one of my all-time favorite books being We The Living in which the heroine struggles to come to terms with the concept of communism in the midst of a revolution. EMBERS OF HEAVEN put me in the mind of all of those things (I mean that as the highest of compliments!) and exceeded any expectation I could have held.

EMBERS OF HEAVEN is a work of historical fantasy set in Syai (an alternate China) in the mid-twentieth century during a transitional age between the old and new systems of rule. Amais is the protagonist who has been groomed her entire life by her grandmother, an exiled relic of the Imperial era, for the task of reviving jin-shei. Amais accepts her destiny and returns to her ancestral homeland determined to find the revered sisterhood and everything it entails. There she experiences disillusionment, regret, purpose, fulfillment, and love in all of its forms.

Iloh and Xuan are the two men vying for Amias’s affections. Iloh is revolutionary leader of the Golden Rising and her first love, and Xuan is a chance encounter who becomes co-conspirator and steadfast husband who only wants to keep her from harm. Although the relationship between Amais and Iloh is a constant presence and an entity in itself throughout, in all fairness, I am not sure that the amatory elements between Amais and her male interests are as strong or pervasive as readers of romantic novels have grown to expect. This did not bother ME in the least. There were so many other examples of love and human interaction that I was never bored and looked forward to the turning of each new page. But there is another element of romance that dominates the entire book—the romance of a bygone age—which Alexander brings to life in glorious fashion.

Alma Alexander is not a writer, she is a poet. Her writing is lyrical and mesmerizing, evoking a dreamy, otherworldly feel. Her scenes are so beautifully wrought that, due the sheer musicality of her writing, I often had trouble reading the words through the tears in my eyes. She realistically captures the passionate zeal and fervor for the concept of idealism, cunningly set against the backdrop of harsh and sometimes brutal reality of rebellion, but also provides a constant reminder that even in the throes of destruction, we are capable of great humanity. Hope, promise, and the sacred, unspoken bonds of humankind can be summed up by this one quote from the book:

“No matter what they put you through, when they break your body or poison your mind—if you can hold on to a single warm memory that you treasure, it can be your passage back to the world of light. Those memories are the embers of heaven, and from them life and love can kindle again.”
-The Song of the Nightingale

EMBERS OF HEAVEN was a privilege to read and a pleasure to review. The writing took care of itself. I simply did my best to reflect the quality of the work and convey how much the book moved me. Alma Alexander is the REAL talent here! I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, romantic or otherwise. I eagerly look forward to reading THE SECRETS OF JIN-SHEI, the first book of the series.

Thanks to the author for providing an ebook. I was not monetarily compensated for my review.