Shadow and Flame (Ascendant Kingdoms, #4)

Ascendant Kingdoms #4

by Gail Z. Martin

Blaine McFadden and his allies have brought magic back under mortal command and begun to restore order to the beleaguered kingdom of Donderath. Now, new perils and old enemies gather.

Foreign invaders, a legendary dark mage and vengeful immortals fight Blaine's battered forces for control of the continent, and Blaine's weary army is the only thing standing between a kingdom struggling to rise from the ashes and a descent into fury and darkness.

This is the final reckoning.

The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga
Ice Forged
Reign of Ash
War of Shadows
Shadow and Flam

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Audiobook, Epic Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic

627 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

Gail Z. Martin discovered her passion for science fiction, fantasy and ghost stories in elementary school. The first story she wroteat age fivewas about a vampire. Her favorite TV show as a preschooler was Dark Shadows. At age 14, she decided to become a writer.

She enjoys attending science fiction/fantasy conventions, Renaissance fairs and living history sites. She is married and has three children, a Maltese and a golden retriever.

Gail Z. Martin is also Morgan Brice, which is her pen name for urban fantasy MM paranormal romance.

In addition to the online sites listed below, you can find me on
Facebook.com/Groups/MartinShadowAlliance
Facebook.com/Groups/WorldsOfMorganBrice
Twitter: @GailZMartin and @MorganBriceAuthor
YouTube: YouTube.com/c/GailZMartinAuthor
IG: @MorganBriceAuthorGail & Larry newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj
Morgan Brice newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dy_8oL
BookBub for Morgan: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/morga...
Bookbub for Gail: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gail-...
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Morgan-Brice/e...?
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Z-Martin/...
Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail) www.Pinterest.com/Gzmartin

Reviews

[Susan Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book of the series. There was a flavor of all the previous books tied up in this great finale. Excellent epic fantasy all the way around.

[Susan1566 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, lots of action (quite violent at times), good story and characters, magic, basically everything I'm looking for in a book. The whole series is worth reading.

** the author is actually GAIL z martin not Gale **

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally Blain and friends fight the battles that bring the series to a close. Shadow and Flame is mostly about the battles that have to be fought to keep the kingdom free. I listened to this as an audio book and enjoyed reconnecting with the characters from the previous three books. The narrator did a good job with the story. The male voices were very good. The female were just so so but that is often true when only one person does the story. Start at Ice Forged and read in order. That lets you get to know all the action and all the characters.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had not read any of the three prior books in this series which make getting into this novel somewhat difficult. The first 100 plus pages were background after the compulsory fighting first chapter, which almost made me stop reading as two characters were having a conversation while fighting as if they were walking down the street on a quiet day.

Eventually I got up to speed with the framework of the story. Martin does a good job with creating evil bad guys with all kinds of evil powers, but few characters had enough depth to get me interested in their fate. The one she must have cared the most about was named Connor. I don't know his background, but he had real challenges--unlike the main protagonist, and was in real danger.

So, don't read this one unless you're planning to read the first three and know this kind of fantasy is as much about setting in motion a mammoth plot around a large cast of characters.

[Christopher Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally the saga ends with everything being tied up in a nice bow for readers. This book was the best out of the series where the main characters are fighting for their lives constantly. No matter where they turn, the heroes are looking down the battlefield at a new wave of the enemy. I saw Blaine McFadden takes a sidestep as the primary character in this book and the tale of Connor Bevin becomes more of the focal point in this book. It was a change of pace this series needed. I enjoyed the book, but am glad that I have read the series and will probably not pick it back up again. As other readers have stated, this series needed "something else". I enjoy Gail's other series and characters (The Summoner, Jon Marc) because they are more relatable... but Blaine McFadden's family/friends can be entertaining to read about.

[Volpot · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. First 75% seemed to follow previous book...somewhat padded with fights and new characters thrown in that didn't advance the plot and seemingly only to add to page count. Then the last 25% of book was a rush to tie up all of the loose ends generated by all of the extraneous events and characters from the earlier part of the book and still achieve a wrap-up.

[Ryan Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid conclusion to the series. I suspect I waited too long between the last two books because it was a struggle to reconnect with the story and the characters. Overall, I enjoyed it, but like the rest of the series, it's not good enough to make it into my list of favorites.

Rating: 7/10

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tragic let down by a series that started off so well. All buildup with literally nothing to justify it ultimately.

Seems to be a common complaint when it comes to other readers reviews of this author.

[Marylynn Heidt bickley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this series. Great bones, but no meat. I cared little for the characters, and really dislike Blaine and Kestrel together. They were like siblings who married. No chemistry.

[Desiree A. Mingear · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 book saga

Excellent series.
wish that series was longer. Now what can I read? Gail, you need to write more books soon!

[Darin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually really good.

[Phyllis M. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so nice when plans come together!

[Coqui Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot Summary: "Shadow and Flame" is the thrilling conclusion to the Ascendant Kingdoms series. Blaine McFadden and his allies have successfully restored magic to the kingdom of Donderath, but their challenges are far from over. As new perils arise and old enemies resurface, Blaine's weary forces must defend their homeland against foreign invaders, a legendary dark mage, and vengeful immortals. The stakes are higher than ever as Blaine and his companions face a final reckoning that will determine the fate of their world.

Characters: Gail Z. Martin continues to excel in character development. Blaine McFadden remains a compelling protagonist whose leadership and resilience are tested to their limits. The supporting cast, including his loyal friends and formidable foes, adds depth and complexity to the narrative. Each character's journey is intricately woven into the larger story, making their struggles and triumphs resonate with readers.

Writing Style: Martin's writing is vivid and immersive, capturing the battles' epic scale and the magical world's intricate details. Her ability to balance action-packed sequences with moments of introspection and character growth keeps the narrative engaging. The well-managed pacing ensures the story builds to a satisfying and climactic conclusion.

Themes: The book explores themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the enduring fight between good and evil. The restoration of magic serves as a metaphor for hope and renewal, while the looming threats highlight the constant struggle to protect what is cherished. The interplay between light and darkness, both literal and metaphorical, adds depth to the story's moral landscape.

Overall Impression: "Shadow and Flame" is a fitting and exhilarating conclusion to the Ascendant Kingdoms series. Fans of epic fantasy will find much to enjoy in this book, from its richly developed characters to its high-stakes plot. Gail Z. Martin has crafted a memorable and satisfying finale that leaves a lasting impact—highly recommended for readers who love epic battles, intricate magic systems, and deeply human stories.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, issues are cleared up. But again I wanted more, I just don't know what.

I mean after reading, it really could not have ended any other way.

But the battles ended quickly, a new character was introduced and eliminated within a couple chapters. I mean I enjoyed it, but I really think it could have been better.

I was left with the feeling of, really, that's it.... I wanted something deeper. But it seems this series was written in a clipped manner. Almost like it was planned that way.

I do enjoy Ms. Martin's story arcs, but I want more deeper world building and character building. I am hoping her next series or book will bring me that depth. Only time will tell.

It is a decent read, a good read, but I think that she has done better in some of her previous works with the characters and the world building. If you have read the previous books in the series, you should read this. Just remember, it is written just like the previous stories.

[Beau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I swear to god Connor has died like three hundred times now. This was an okay book but everything was so easy! Characters were introduced randomly and not built up well (nagok) and the deaths were meh. Come on, at least maim one of the main characters (and I don't mean turn him into a ghost like connor). This was frustrating to read because there were no real difficulties for the characters and while the story was great I honestly did not care about any of the characters in it!
On the plus side there were some great moments (the 'ambassadors' for one) and there were moments that I genuinely enjoyed in the book; it was by no means bad, just not as good as it could have been.

[Joanne Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great end to a great series.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than bk 3. Honestly i've kept reading the series because I like the character "Connor" so much. A unwilling hero.

[Susan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Science Fiction read. This book has a lot of action and keeps the reader entertained. There were some twists in the story that I had not expected.

[Keith]

A tying together of all the pieces although a bit improbably that all of the main characters make it. I enjoyed the 4-book series and hope the author writes another fantasy series again some day.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ending to the series. Like to see a separate series that discusses what happens to Donderath and if everything returns to normal.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series just got really boring.