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Remember the Dawn
Starlight. Steel. Ahryn and Ezai must unite.
Ten years ago, the Starsingers--tyrannical magicians who draw their power from the stars--suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of an ancient order of magic-resistant peacekeepers.
Their rebellion quelled, their magic controlled, the five families of starlight magicians have been forced to live in a fragile truce with the starless commoners...until now.
When an assassin begins killing Starsingers, the defiant peacekeepers are blamed, for who else could slay a magician?
EZAI is a storied peacekeeper. He has been tasked with finding the true killer, and he must do so before the balance of power is disrupted. But the Starsingers plot against him.
AHRYN is the eldest child of an Astral House, and she alone survives the murder of her family. She seeks justice, but the other families wish to use her fury, and her family's legacy.
As another war approaches, Ezai and Ahryn form an unlikely alliance. Together, they must unlock a secret of the past and find the assassin before it's too late, for a greater evil looms.
Ten years ago, the Starsingers--tyrannical magicians who draw their power from the stars--suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of an ancient order of magic-resistant peacekeepers.
Their rebellion quelled, their magic controlled, the five families of starlight magicians have been forced to live in a fragile truce with the starless commoners...until now.
When an assassin begins killing Starsingers, the defiant peacekeepers are blamed, for who else could slay a magician?
EZAI is a storied peacekeeper. He has been tasked with finding the true killer, and he must do so before the balance of power is disrupted. But the Starsingers plot against him.
AHRYN is the eldest child of an Astral House, and she alone survives the murder of her family. She seeks justice, but the other families wish to use her fury, and her family's legacy.
As another war approaches, Ezai and Ahryn form an unlikely alliance. Together, they must unlock a secret of the past and find the assassin before it's too late, for a greater evil looms.
- GenresFantasy
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2018
16 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Macdonald
2 books16 followersI write science fiction and fantasy. I live and work in Calgary, Alberta, but mostly just play video games and watch Netflix (except during the NALCS season—#TSMWIN). I refer to myself as a geek-culture emissary, and I am passionate about bringing the word of nerd to the world.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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October 18, 2019Read for the Fantasy Hive team as part of SPFBO5: https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/10/sp...
Picking up on what TO said, this does have a traditional, or better yet, typical fantasy cover, and it does have a typical magic vs non-magic setup, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. If these things weren’t so successful they wouldn’t be typical in the first place, would they? And on the note of the cover, while it isn’t my personal style of choice, it’s professionally done. This level of quality extends internally, with graphics on the title page making for some fantastic production value.
(Note: while it’s things like these internal graphics that prove a self-published book can flex its muscles just as much as any mass market traditionally published work, not all self-published authors can afford this, and that’s FINE! Don’t measure your work with doodles – do it with scribbles. I mean words. Do it with words).
This jumps straight into the action, which is something I personally enjoy. Val immediately commands your attention, though the arrival of her brother was a little list-like in its description – but this generally relaxes as the story continues, with a reasonable balance of worldbuilding with infodumping. What isn’t so relaxing is the typos. For a book with such strong production values the typos let the side down, but I won’t hold this against it.
I’m a big fan of the starsinger magic concept. One line in particular really shone for me: ‘You are the singer, not the song’. Kick. Ass.
All that said, there’s lots going on, but not a lot actually HAPPENS in the opening chapters. Just lots of talking about socio-political tensions. Which is a shame, as this has a lot of promise, and the story delivers as it unfolds. The pacing didn’t put me off reading it (this wasn’t a DNF for me) but it did make me think HURRY UP AND GET ON WITH IT! And it did, but it took too long to get there.
Picking up on what TO said, this does have a traditional, or better yet, typical fantasy cover, and it does have a typical magic vs non-magic setup, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. If these things weren’t so successful they wouldn’t be typical in the first place, would they? And on the note of the cover, while it isn’t my personal style of choice, it’s professionally done. This level of quality extends internally, with graphics on the title page making for some fantastic production value.
(Note: while it’s things like these internal graphics that prove a self-published book can flex its muscles just as much as any mass market traditionally published work, not all self-published authors can afford this, and that’s FINE! Don’t measure your work with doodles – do it with scribbles. I mean words. Do it with words).
This jumps straight into the action, which is something I personally enjoy. Val immediately commands your attention, though the arrival of her brother was a little list-like in its description – but this generally relaxes as the story continues, with a reasonable balance of worldbuilding with infodumping. What isn’t so relaxing is the typos. For a book with such strong production values the typos let the side down, but I won’t hold this against it.
I’m a big fan of the starsinger magic concept. One line in particular really shone for me: ‘You are the singer, not the song’. Kick. Ass.
All that said, there’s lots going on, but not a lot actually HAPPENS in the opening chapters. Just lots of talking about socio-political tensions. Which is a shame, as this has a lot of promise, and the story delivers as it unfolds. The pacing didn’t put me off reading it (this wasn’t a DNF for me) but it did make me think HURRY UP AND GET ON WITH IT! And it did, but it took too long to get there.
July 9, 2019
A.M. Macdonald gives us an entertaining read in Remember the Dawn. If you like fun and interesting magic systems, you’re in for quite the treat with this one! Astrals, the magic users of Macdonald’s world, use the power of the stars—and particularly of their family’s constellation—to power their spells. But something sinister is afoot as two scions of an influential family are assassinated. Thus begins Macdonald’s tale that is equal parts finding yourself story and epic fantasy.
Hands down, the best part about this novel is the magic system. I absolutely loved the intricacies of the way magic works in this world. Since all magic is powered by specific constellations, what happens if one’s view of the stars is obstructed? It’s impossible to cast spells, or one’s spells are much less powerful. This was interesting, but Macdonald has done the hard work of thinking through the implications here. Magic users have houses with many skylights, or if they are in an underground area, they tend to build shafts to allow starlight in. The way the magic works has repercussions not only on the architecture of the world but on a number of important events in the plot. It all feels very well researched and laid out. Even beyond the magic system, the worldbuilding is very strong in Remember the Dawn. The Astral families, since they aren’t allowed to rule outright, have essentially established an economic hegemony which allows them to rule, if not in name at least through their influence. Again, the intricacies here are excellently crafted. There are also some very intriguing and well crafted elements to the religious system in the world. While I might have liked to have discovered more about this aspect of things, I imagine that it will play an even larger role in subsequent novels—which is something I look forward to! While not every character connected with me, I did think that Takha was particularly interesting in terms of his personal story arc. He changes while staying the same in many ways and I was invested heavily in his arc.
There are some weaknesses that need to be mentioned, however. The most disappointing was the number of typos that plagued the novel. From almost the first page this was a noticeable issue that ended up distracting from the story. In addition, there were a number of odd turns of phrase. For instance, in one scene where some ale is knocked over and splashes on a character’s cape, we read, “she shook fallen ale from her cape,” which is a weird way to word that. The pacing was also a bit uneven at times. In parts the novel was well paced, but other parts seemed to drag a little, the end game almost seemed to move too quickly only to be followed by what was probably one or two chapters too many of anticlimax and setup for the next book in the series.
Remember the Dawn has a creative and unique magic system that shines throughout the novel and is strongly integrated with the plot. The worldbuilding overall is excellent and tantalizes with even more to be discovered. This is marred by some poor copy editing and uneven pacing that detracts from the overall quality of the story.
6.5/10
3.25/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
Hands down, the best part about this novel is the magic system. I absolutely loved the intricacies of the way magic works in this world. Since all magic is powered by specific constellations, what happens if one’s view of the stars is obstructed? It’s impossible to cast spells, or one’s spells are much less powerful. This was interesting, but Macdonald has done the hard work of thinking through the implications here. Magic users have houses with many skylights, or if they are in an underground area, they tend to build shafts to allow starlight in. The way the magic works has repercussions not only on the architecture of the world but on a number of important events in the plot. It all feels very well researched and laid out. Even beyond the magic system, the worldbuilding is very strong in Remember the Dawn. The Astral families, since they aren’t allowed to rule outright, have essentially established an economic hegemony which allows them to rule, if not in name at least through their influence. Again, the intricacies here are excellently crafted. There are also some very intriguing and well crafted elements to the religious system in the world. While I might have liked to have discovered more about this aspect of things, I imagine that it will play an even larger role in subsequent novels—which is something I look forward to! While not every character connected with me, I did think that Takha was particularly interesting in terms of his personal story arc. He changes while staying the same in many ways and I was invested heavily in his arc.
There are some weaknesses that need to be mentioned, however. The most disappointing was the number of typos that plagued the novel. From almost the first page this was a noticeable issue that ended up distracting from the story. In addition, there were a number of odd turns of phrase. For instance, in one scene where some ale is knocked over and splashes on a character’s cape, we read, “she shook fallen ale from her cape,” which is a weird way to word that. The pacing was also a bit uneven at times. In parts the novel was well paced, but other parts seemed to drag a little, the end game almost seemed to move too quickly only to be followed by what was probably one or two chapters too many of anticlimax and setup for the next book in the series.
Remember the Dawn has a creative and unique magic system that shines throughout the novel and is strongly integrated with the plot. The worldbuilding overall is excellent and tantalizes with even more to be discovered. This is marred by some poor copy editing and uneven pacing that detracts from the overall quality of the story.
6.5/10
3.25/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
December 20, 2018
A.M. Macdonald has written a highly immersive tale where magic comes from the stars. There are tales, and remnants of history lost to the ages. The Purge had taken all the knowledge of the origin of the Astral, families whose members can use the power of their star, and the stars are each unique to their houses.
They are opposed by only one force of justice, The Order of The Dawn, and for 10 years a fragile peace has followed the war of the Astral uprising against the Order. The only law in the land is that of the arbiters of the order. They are the only ones with the power to control the Astral families. They have been the keepers of peace for Celaena for millennia.
Before long, the city expanded to fill the entire horizon, surrounded by great walls of white leystone and trimmed with various fabrics and fauna. Enormous gates cast shadows over the rivers flowing into the city from each direction, the gates hundreds of feet high and guarded by enormous statues of the apostles, seven in total, each gate flanked by a different pair. No one knew their names, so long and so lost was the information. Only stories had survived the purge, but even then, the identities and origins of the apostles remained a mystery. The world only knew the apostles represented the will of Gethael, the prime celestial. The Bringer.
Yet, as the wealth of the houses rises on the backs of the starless, a faith begins to grow within the ranks of the common folk. They are being driven past poverty by the demands and control the Astral families wield, the taxes they levy, and the goods they control from their lands, They have sparked a quiet rebellion within the ranks of common workers. The Faith has returned to Celaena, guided and encouraged by a neutral Astral family. The Ferai and their alliance with the order, their refusal to join the Astral families in the war made them appear weak and passive, but it is the tenets of justice which the Ferai wish to uphold. Their daughter Ahryn, a student of the academy of startouched, finds herself thrown into events much larger than herself and a disgraced arbiter may be the only hope she has to seek any justice.
The sudden events of Astrals being murdered by a force of defiance is unbalancing the peace. A force that can’t be discerned by our main character, Ezai, an arbiter, the son of the legendary Eagle of the Order of the Dawn, and a righteous man of the tenets of justice the order teaches. What he suspects, quickly turns against him and he is cast out of the Order of the Dawn. Sworn only to his existing bonds. He swears that the Order is being led astray and feels powerless to stop it. Together, Ezai and Ahryn must unravel a devious plan to bring the Astrals to absolute power and the Order of the Dawn to its knees.
While Celaena fights itself from within, a greater evil is growing, and a young cloud-watcher who has found the disturbance, is dismissed, deliberately, by an unseen hand. When he finally feels he has the right person to listen to his perilous news, he suddenly disappears. Even the doom of the world itself is no impediment to greed and power.
A well told tale of magic, espionage, subterfuge, greed, and dark power, Remember the Dawn is a satisfying novel that hints at a deep history. The world building is powerful, seen through the characters who are brought to life in vivid detail. There is no shying from the horror of violence within its pages. This will appeal to classic high fantasy readers that love a story which takes them so far from reality, while still hitting us emotionally, very close to home.
They are opposed by only one force of justice, The Order of The Dawn, and for 10 years a fragile peace has followed the war of the Astral uprising against the Order. The only law in the land is that of the arbiters of the order. They are the only ones with the power to control the Astral families. They have been the keepers of peace for Celaena for millennia.
Before long, the city expanded to fill the entire horizon, surrounded by great walls of white leystone and trimmed with various fabrics and fauna. Enormous gates cast shadows over the rivers flowing into the city from each direction, the gates hundreds of feet high and guarded by enormous statues of the apostles, seven in total, each gate flanked by a different pair. No one knew their names, so long and so lost was the information. Only stories had survived the purge, but even then, the identities and origins of the apostles remained a mystery. The world only knew the apostles represented the will of Gethael, the prime celestial. The Bringer.
Yet, as the wealth of the houses rises on the backs of the starless, a faith begins to grow within the ranks of the common folk. They are being driven past poverty by the demands and control the Astral families wield, the taxes they levy, and the goods they control from their lands, They have sparked a quiet rebellion within the ranks of common workers. The Faith has returned to Celaena, guided and encouraged by a neutral Astral family. The Ferai and their alliance with the order, their refusal to join the Astral families in the war made them appear weak and passive, but it is the tenets of justice which the Ferai wish to uphold. Their daughter Ahryn, a student of the academy of startouched, finds herself thrown into events much larger than herself and a disgraced arbiter may be the only hope she has to seek any justice.
The sudden events of Astrals being murdered by a force of defiance is unbalancing the peace. A force that can’t be discerned by our main character, Ezai, an arbiter, the son of the legendary Eagle of the Order of the Dawn, and a righteous man of the tenets of justice the order teaches. What he suspects, quickly turns against him and he is cast out of the Order of the Dawn. Sworn only to his existing bonds. He swears that the Order is being led astray and feels powerless to stop it. Together, Ezai and Ahryn must unravel a devious plan to bring the Astrals to absolute power and the Order of the Dawn to its knees.
While Celaena fights itself from within, a greater evil is growing, and a young cloud-watcher who has found the disturbance, is dismissed, deliberately, by an unseen hand. When he finally feels he has the right person to listen to his perilous news, he suddenly disappears. Even the doom of the world itself is no impediment to greed and power.
A well told tale of magic, espionage, subterfuge, greed, and dark power, Remember the Dawn is a satisfying novel that hints at a deep history. The world building is powerful, seen through the characters who are brought to life in vivid detail. There is no shying from the horror of violence within its pages. This will appeal to classic high fantasy readers that love a story which takes them so far from reality, while still hitting us emotionally, very close to home.
December 28, 2018
What an extraordinary epic. Here you will find a well-thought out religion, magicians, and even a cool assassin to secretly root for. This book grabs you in chapter one and doesn't let go until the epic conclusion. Can't wait to see what's next in book two.
January 2, 2019
Great start to the series
This book grabs you in the first chapter. Then you can feel it building to the climax like a slow burning fuse. Towards the end it is tough to put down.
This book grabs you in the first chapter. Then you can feel it building to the climax like a slow burning fuse. Towards the end it is tough to put down.
March 22, 2020
Unique magic system. Worth checking out. Audible narration is very good also
April 6, 2020
I received a free copy from voracious readers. After the first few pages I was a bit Leary. However I continued and was very glad I did. E joyed the book and cared about the characters. I was sorry when it was over.
April 5, 2020
* Received a free copy from VRO in exchange for an honest review *
I really enjoyed this book. The magic system is interesting and unique. The world is well built with religion, culture, and society well defined and explored. The characters are three-dimensional and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I really enjoyed this book. The magic system is interesting and unique. The world is well built with religion, culture, and society well defined and explored. The characters are three-dimensional and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 5, 2019
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
So here goes: This was a solid and enjoyable story set in a well-described world that hints at a really neat history. The detail given to the various fantastic elements of the setting makes it feel very richly imagined and the author clearly took quite a bit of care fleshing out the various factions and characters involved in the plot.
The writing is a little clunky in a few places and both the plot and character development towards the end of the novel feel a bit rushed, but overall this was a fun read and sets itself up nicely for a sequel without leaving too many loose ends.
Probably a 3.5/5
So here goes: This was a solid and enjoyable story set in a well-described world that hints at a really neat history. The detail given to the various fantastic elements of the setting makes it feel very richly imagined and the author clearly took quite a bit of care fleshing out the various factions and characters involved in the plot.
The writing is a little clunky in a few places and both the plot and character development towards the end of the novel feel a bit rushed, but overall this was a fun read and sets itself up nicely for a sequel without leaving too many loose ends.
Probably a 3.5/5
March 16, 2021
This book took me a bit to get into. There were some grammatical errors in the beginning (that have been corrected in later versions) that threw me for a loop a bit. Once I got passed those it was a fun read. Reminds me of a mix of Red Rising and Star Wars. The ending left it open for a sequel and I’d be interested in knowing what will happen with the MC. The themes are similar and it was a good read! Great indie read by an indie author!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews