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Instrument Of Omens #2
Memories of Prophecies
The memories of the past may be forgotten, but prophecies linger.
Cinder Shade and his fellow cadets have survived a brutal mission in the vast wilds of the Dagger Mountains. Laying to rest many of their brother warriors, they return to the Third Directorate, battered, bruised, and weary of soul.
But the world turns, and new challenges press. Cinder must set aside his grief, especially when granted a task by Anya Aruyen, the elven princess with whom he shares an inexplicable bond. She urges him to further master his skills as a warrior and become worthy of fighting at her side.
Others have also taken note of Cinder. His name is spoken in the high halls of elven palaces. The empress watches him, wondering at his unmatched abilities. So, too, do the dwarves. They fear Cinder, worrying that he is the embodiment of their darkest prophecies.
And in the distant north, shadows gather. They whisper of their fallen god, Shet, dead three thousand years now. Whispering of his rebirth.
But when the prophecies speak conflicting portents and none can decipher the truth, what path can even a consummate warrior take?
Cinder Shade and his fellow cadets have survived a brutal mission in the vast wilds of the Dagger Mountains. Laying to rest many of their brother warriors, they return to the Third Directorate, battered, bruised, and weary of soul.
But the world turns, and new challenges press. Cinder must set aside his grief, especially when granted a task by Anya Aruyen, the elven princess with whom he shares an inexplicable bond. She urges him to further master his skills as a warrior and become worthy of fighting at her side.
Others have also taken note of Cinder. His name is spoken in the high halls of elven palaces. The empress watches him, wondering at his unmatched abilities. So, too, do the dwarves. They fear Cinder, worrying that he is the embodiment of their darkest prophecies.
And in the distant north, shadows gather. They whisper of their fallen god, Shet, dead three thousand years now. Whispering of his rebirth.
But when the prophecies speak conflicting portents and none can decipher the truth, what path can even a consummate warrior take?
602 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2021
637 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Davis Ashura
22 books518 followersDavis Ashura is an author of such sublime depth and beauty that his works have been known to cause a tear to fall from the eyes of even the hardest of hearts.
Just kidding.
But he does write.
This humble writer, who refers to himself in the third person, resides in North Carolina, sharing a house with his magnificent wife who somehow overlooked Davis’ eccentricities and married him anyway. As proper recompense for her sacrifice, Davis then unwittingly turned his magnificent wife into a nerd-girl. To her sad and utter humiliation, she knows exactly what is meant by ‘Kronos’. Living with them are their two rambunctious boys, both of whom have at various times helped turn Davis’ once lustrous, raven-black hair prematurely white (it sure sounds prettier than the dirty gray it actually is). And of course, there is the obligatory strange, adopted cats (all authors have cats-it's in the by-laws). One eats everything placed before him and the other has the world's stinkiest breath.
When not working – nay laboring – in the creation of works of fiction so grand that hardly anyone has read a single word of them, Davis practices medicine, but only when the insurance companies tell him he can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
May 6, 2021
Wow Davis Ashura's Instrument of Omens series is blowing me away!!!!
Well, it pretty much blew a lot of people away, looking at the amount of Amazon and Goodreads reviews it has. Memories of Prophecies is the second book in the series and a terrific follow-up to Book 1, A Testament of Steel. There are so many things I love about this story. Forgive me while I gush. But first, let me tell you what it’s about.
Cinder Shade woke up to find his family dead and all of his memories erased. He ends up at school for warriors, competing for status against elves and dwarfs who see humans as inferior creatures, for they have lost their ability to work magic. But Cinder soon proves that he has far more talent than any human who has trained at the school before. He attracts the attention of a beautiful female elf, who takes him as her apprentice, so to speak. He wins her admiration, but love between the two of them would be forbidden. It’s hard to give a good summary of book 2 without spoiling book one, so I’ll leave it at that.
Cinder is a fantastic character, a strong protagonist who has everything you could want in a hero: he’s larger than life, pops off the page, has a clear sense of purpose and destiny. His skills are constantly ‘leveling up’ and so are his enemies. His counterpart, Anya, is a woman any man could want, able to see past the racism of her kind when it comes to humans. She is a strong female, a warrior, capable and shrewd, and a perfect match for Cinder.
I think the thing I love most about these books is the sheer quotability of Davis’s prose, which is loaded with good life-wisdom. His characters are down-to-earth good people you could see yourself meeting on the street. The type of people I would aspire to be. The action/adventure never lets up and the pacing is flawless. Cinder has to fight tooth and claw for every gain he can win, and he never fails to deliver. I can’t recommend this series enough.
Well, it pretty much blew a lot of people away, looking at the amount of Amazon and Goodreads reviews it has. Memories of Prophecies is the second book in the series and a terrific follow-up to Book 1, A Testament of Steel. There are so many things I love about this story. Forgive me while I gush. But first, let me tell you what it’s about.
Cinder Shade woke up to find his family dead and all of his memories erased. He ends up at school for warriors, competing for status against elves and dwarfs who see humans as inferior creatures, for they have lost their ability to work magic. But Cinder soon proves that he has far more talent than any human who has trained at the school before. He attracts the attention of a beautiful female elf, who takes him as her apprentice, so to speak. He wins her admiration, but love between the two of them would be forbidden. It’s hard to give a good summary of book 2 without spoiling book one, so I’ll leave it at that.
Cinder is a fantastic character, a strong protagonist who has everything you could want in a hero: he’s larger than life, pops off the page, has a clear sense of purpose and destiny. His skills are constantly ‘leveling up’ and so are his enemies. His counterpart, Anya, is a woman any man could want, able to see past the racism of her kind when it comes to humans. She is a strong female, a warrior, capable and shrewd, and a perfect match for Cinder.
I think the thing I love most about these books is the sheer quotability of Davis’s prose, which is loaded with good life-wisdom. His characters are down-to-earth good people you could see yourself meeting on the street. The type of people I would aspire to be. The action/adventure never lets up and the pacing is flawless. Cinder has to fight tooth and claw for every gain he can win, and he never fails to deliver. I can’t recommend this series enough.
January 19, 2022
4.5/5
If you liked Book 1, You'll LOVE book 2. It's as simple as that...
Eagerly waiting for the next entry...
If you liked Book 1, You'll LOVE book 2. It's as simple as that...
Eagerly waiting for the next entry...
March 6, 2021
I read this as part of being an advanced reader and was thoroughly impressed with what I discovered. The book had me gripped from the very start, the writing compelling, the characters intriguing and complex.
The premise of Cinder discovering himself as a warrior and his secret power which enables him to become stronger which no one human has been able to achieve in centuries was a gripping idea.
The conflict was engaging, a balanced scale of enough tension and conflict as well as exposition which leaves many unanswered questions finally resolved.
The characters were complex and believable, the relationships between them all interesting and different in their own rights.the dialogue was very naturalistic and believable which aided in being able to connection with the characters also.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fantasy read that involves a good pace, conflict and tension and of course the fantasy genre containing Elves and Humans and the fight to save the world.
The premise of Cinder discovering himself as a warrior and his secret power which enables him to become stronger which no one human has been able to achieve in centuries was a gripping idea.
The conflict was engaging, a balanced scale of enough tension and conflict as well as exposition which leaves many unanswered questions finally resolved.
The characters were complex and believable, the relationships between them all interesting and different in their own rights.the dialogue was very naturalistic and believable which aided in being able to connection with the characters also.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fantasy read that involves a good pace, conflict and tension and of course the fantasy genre containing Elves and Humans and the fight to save the world.
July 31, 2024
So many unanswered questions were clarified, the plot is strong and compelling, and grabbed me from the beginning. The characters are interesting and I liked how they evolved, especially Brilliance and Fastness, there is more to them than mere animals. The confusion of Cinder and Anya, their dreams or memories of a past life, are finally cleared up as realisation sets in. Cinder has achieved what no one believed possible, not only has he become a fierce warrior, he is able to tap into a part of him, his jivatma and conduct it to enhance his speed and abilities, which no human has managed in centuries, which leaves the Dwarves and the Elves both fearful and hopeful as well as confused and apprehensive about who or what Cinder actually is. Is he the hero they are expecting or the evil threatening their world? All know that they have to keep an eye on him. Cinder evokes such loyalty and respect from his teachers and classmates, yet not all are willing to, believing him to he from an inferior species. The plot is complex but riveting, the characters interesting, the relationship between the different species is set in prejudice, although Cinder has achieved a feat few thought possible, respect and commeraderie between his fellow students, be they Human, Dwarf or Elves. There are theories of Prophecies, for both the Dwarves and the Elves, they are trying to decifer and understand if they have interpreted it correctly or not. I'm really looking forward to how their journey continues. Intriguing and exciting and I can't wait to read more!
July 27, 2024
This series is incredibly addicting! Jumping straight into book 3
April 8, 2021
The first book in the series had a laundry list of issues but I saw potential for this series so I decided to check out the sequel. Turns out that the sequel is a worse, more boring book with all the same issues as the first book but in addition to those the author here decided to slow down the pacing and insert more useless dream sequences. I think I've reached the end of my rope with this series. Good luck to Davis Ashura and his fans but this just isn't my cup of coffee.
July 26, 2021
Always nice to read a classic fantasy. I need book three.
December 27, 2021
Rating 4.5 stars
Much like the first book. In fact every book I have read from this author has the same things that have been great and things that I didn't like. The characters are the driving force for me. Cinder is the kind of man everyone wants to be. Good at everything but not conceited. He truly believes that every person not matter their race can be brothers in battle. He works harder than anyone to achieve his goals which inspires others. The love story between him and Anya is taking forever but that is understandable in the context of the story. For the most part the story is very interesting. It is still hard to follow at times. There is too much of the first trilogy in this book and the information from that series to this one don't exactly line up. It makes me wonder if I will ever get a good explanation about what is happening. Overall though the good parts far outweigh the minor annoyances of part of the story. Can't wait for the next book.
Much like the first book. In fact every book I have read from this author has the same things that have been great and things that I didn't like. The characters are the driving force for me. Cinder is the kind of man everyone wants to be. Good at everything but not conceited. He truly believes that every person not matter their race can be brothers in battle. He works harder than anyone to achieve his goals which inspires others. The love story between him and Anya is taking forever but that is understandable in the context of the story. For the most part the story is very interesting. It is still hard to follow at times. There is too much of the first trilogy in this book and the information from that series to this one don't exactly line up. It makes me wonder if I will ever get a good explanation about what is happening. Overall though the good parts far outweigh the minor annoyances of part of the story. Can't wait for the next book.
October 9, 2023
Elven high society faces an uncomfortable quandary. A human rises mastering skills of prophecy. Superiority threatened, royalty scandalized. Worse still, a great evil has returned.
Prejudice, forbidden affection, discovery & thrilling battles! Dynamite sequel!
Prejudice, forbidden affection, discovery & thrilling battles! Dynamite sequel!
June 9, 2024
That's enough for me. Something is missing here that is hard to define. I guess it's all a little formulaic. Ignoring the spotty grammar, the flow is okay... and that's all I have to say about that.
April 1, 2022
Cinder Part 2!
I really enjoyed this tome! It contained far too much cussing, for a while I thought I was aboard a ship with a gang of sailors.
I really enjoyed this tome! It contained far too much cussing, for a while I thought I was aboard a ship with a gang of sailors.
August 12, 2021
After I finished with book 1, I had to immediately pick up book 2. Cinder is still at the Third Directorate, now starting his second year. It's not a spoiler to say that he's wearing the ruby-crusted pin to mark him as the leader of the entire class.
Then we're off on missions, and not a single one goes the way leadership planned. Each time they are overrun by monsters, and each time they don't come back with a full compliment of soldiers.
In between all the battles, which are well done, we have the burgeoning love story between Cinder and Anya. It's a back and forth, honor driven pile of nonsense. We can't be in love. Yes we can. No
we can't, I'm an Elven princess and you're nothing but a human. Okay you're right, but I still love you. Sigh. Yes, I realize some people will love it, but it's too long and takes over half the book before they do anything.
Yikes.
On the mythology front, we have new information coming forward, including who the Quechon that the Elven Empress depends on is, as well as the bigger names of evil. I won't spoil, but the last 15% is pretty solid.
What I think the author does best is mix up the mythology. Most books are pretty straightforward when it comes to this, stating the mythology and then making it come true.
Here, we have snippets of knowledge, false knowledge, opinion, and very little in the way of facts. At times this can be annoying, but for me it's an interesting template as to how to handle something like this.
Overall, I did enjoy book 2 but not quite as much as book 1, which I attribute to the love story between Cinder and Anya. It still deserves a 5/5 star rating, but there were cracks in the veneer of the masterpiece that was book 2.
Then we're off on missions, and not a single one goes the way leadership planned. Each time they are overrun by monsters, and each time they don't come back with a full compliment of soldiers.
In between all the battles, which are well done, we have the burgeoning love story between Cinder and Anya. It's a back and forth, honor driven pile of nonsense. We can't be in love. Yes we can. No
we can't, I'm an Elven princess and you're nothing but a human. Okay you're right, but I still love you. Sigh. Yes, I realize some people will love it, but it's too long and takes over half the book before they do anything.
Yikes.
On the mythology front, we have new information coming forward, including who the Quechon that the Elven Empress depends on is, as well as the bigger names of evil. I won't spoil, but the last 15% is pretty solid.
What I think the author does best is mix up the mythology. Most books are pretty straightforward when it comes to this, stating the mythology and then making it come true.
Here, we have snippets of knowledge, false knowledge, opinion, and very little in the way of facts. At times this can be annoying, but for me it's an interesting template as to how to handle something like this.
Overall, I did enjoy book 2 but not quite as much as book 1, which I attribute to the love story between Cinder and Anya. It still deserves a 5/5 star rating, but there were cracks in the veneer of the masterpiece that was book 2.
March 22, 2021
I read the novel as an advanced reader for Heroic Books.
As the first sequel, I found the story trying to balance its connection with BOOK 1 while at the same time trying to move forward with the story, which made for an unsteady pace and hard to follow story. The dialogue in the first six chapters could use some editing, as the voices of each character sounded significantly monotonous, despite their strong and well written perspectives/thoughts. The early dialogue between Cinder and Anya, aside from sounding very similar, it places them at the same level, which isn't the case in this part of the story. Anya is still far superior to Cinder when it comes to knowledge and training and their dialogue shows them as equals - also some of their interactions resemble more of a sibling relationship than two people who share feelings for each other.
I also felt like the story was telling a lot rather than showing, particularly in Chapter 4 when Cinder is having a nightmare.
Despite a rocky start, the story really gains momentum in and after Chapter 7 and it never loses it. The dialogue improves tremendously, specially between Cinder and Anya as their relationship develops further along. However, the setting and the character's thoughts are the true MVP's elements of this novel. Well constructed, interesting and addictive, it's hard to pause the reading because you become extremely invested in the story and all the mystery surrounding everyone all thanks to the full detailed fluid yet undisruptive descriptions.
Chapter 7 also brings the previous average six chapters together, while setting the story until the very last chapter due to Cinder having to deal with the fallout of his encounter with the aether-cursed bear. This scene adds the first humanising layer I believed lacked in Cinder in the first six chapters. Nonetheless, chapter 7 also has the worst scene of the book which is the conversation/dialogue about the fish and chicken between Cinder and Jozep - it really felt unnecessary and weird. I believe the story works better without it.
The confrontation between Cinder and Estin in chapter 11 really cemented their relationship as protagonist and antagonist, something which I felt was lacking in the first six chapters as both were acting fairly similar.
The repeatedly mention of the diptha lanterns can slow and at times actually cut the pace of the story.
The MVP character of the story is definitely Fastness. The dripping sarcasm and his insults towards Brilliance really show this whole new side of Fastness and he stops being just Cinder's incredibly rare horse who loves apples and running who's also able to speak with his rider, he gains now just this comical and at times savage but it really shows how truly invested the stallion is in this mission and how much the horse truly cares for Cinder. This side of Fastness makes me wish it hadn't taken 44 chapters until I got to see it.
The relationship between Cinder and Anya evolved at a perfect pace. The transition from student/teacher respectively to lovers was fluid, which allowed both to develop not just as individuals but as a couple too - as Cinder grows into a better warrior and realises his worth with and without Jivatma and Anya finds and creates and identity for herself outside of her family and the expectations others have for the female elf, while finding strength in one and other. Their ending was fitting for the couple as it was the culmination of all their fighting and sacrifice to keep the other safe.
The biggest shock at the ending was Estin as the selfish antagonist shifts into a somewhat anti-hero figure. The change appeared out of nowhere but once again, thanks to the exceptional used description it didn't feel forced but rather the opposite. The change in Estin's path without having him lose his core features was perfectly executed, cementing him as an ambiguous character and creating an intriguing cloud of mystery with his vow of silence and the secret society, leaving you in the unknown and wanting to know.
I do wish there would have been more Riyne and his redemption arc from foe to friend. His moments with Cinder really showed the elf's true colours - his figure as a valiant and skilled warrior as well as a friend, but given his antagonistic role in BOOK 1 I had hoped to see the character have a bigger presence, possibly even a confrontational scene between Estin and Riyne where it showed him freeing himself from Estin's influence.
As the first sequel, I found the story trying to balance its connection with BOOK 1 while at the same time trying to move forward with the story, which made for an unsteady pace and hard to follow story. The dialogue in the first six chapters could use some editing, as the voices of each character sounded significantly monotonous, despite their strong and well written perspectives/thoughts. The early dialogue between Cinder and Anya, aside from sounding very similar, it places them at the same level, which isn't the case in this part of the story. Anya is still far superior to Cinder when it comes to knowledge and training and their dialogue shows them as equals - also some of their interactions resemble more of a sibling relationship than two people who share feelings for each other.
I also felt like the story was telling a lot rather than showing, particularly in Chapter 4 when Cinder is having a nightmare.
Despite a rocky start, the story really gains momentum in and after Chapter 7 and it never loses it. The dialogue improves tremendously, specially between Cinder and Anya as their relationship develops further along. However, the setting and the character's thoughts are the true MVP's elements of this novel. Well constructed, interesting and addictive, it's hard to pause the reading because you become extremely invested in the story and all the mystery surrounding everyone all thanks to the full detailed fluid yet undisruptive descriptions.
Chapter 7 also brings the previous average six chapters together, while setting the story until the very last chapter due to Cinder having to deal with the fallout of his encounter with the aether-cursed bear. This scene adds the first humanising layer I believed lacked in Cinder in the first six chapters. Nonetheless, chapter 7 also has the worst scene of the book which is the conversation/dialogue about the fish and chicken between Cinder and Jozep - it really felt unnecessary and weird. I believe the story works better without it.
The confrontation between Cinder and Estin in chapter 11 really cemented their relationship as protagonist and antagonist, something which I felt was lacking in the first six chapters as both were acting fairly similar.
The repeatedly mention of the diptha lanterns can slow and at times actually cut the pace of the story.
The MVP character of the story is definitely Fastness. The dripping sarcasm and his insults towards Brilliance really show this whole new side of Fastness and he stops being just Cinder's incredibly rare horse who loves apples and running who's also able to speak with his rider, he gains now just this comical and at times savage but it really shows how truly invested the stallion is in this mission and how much the horse truly cares for Cinder. This side of Fastness makes me wish it hadn't taken 44 chapters until I got to see it.
The relationship between Cinder and Anya evolved at a perfect pace. The transition from student/teacher respectively to lovers was fluid, which allowed both to develop not just as individuals but as a couple too - as Cinder grows into a better warrior and realises his worth with and without Jivatma and Anya finds and creates and identity for herself outside of her family and the expectations others have for the female elf, while finding strength in one and other. Their ending was fitting for the couple as it was the culmination of all their fighting and sacrifice to keep the other safe.
The biggest shock at the ending was Estin as the selfish antagonist shifts into a somewhat anti-hero figure. The change appeared out of nowhere but once again, thanks to the exceptional used description it didn't feel forced but rather the opposite. The change in Estin's path without having him lose his core features was perfectly executed, cementing him as an ambiguous character and creating an intriguing cloud of mystery with his vow of silence and the secret society, leaving you in the unknown and wanting to know.
I do wish there would have been more Riyne and his redemption arc from foe to friend. His moments with Cinder really showed the elf's true colours - his figure as a valiant and skilled warrior as well as a friend, but given his antagonistic role in BOOK 1 I had hoped to see the character have a bigger presence, possibly even a confrontational scene between Estin and Riyne where it showed him freeing himself from Estin's influence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2021
Firstly, thank you to Heroic Books for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book!
Memories of Prophecies was an interesting read; an engaging depiction of an interesting fantasy world with fun characters and a well-paced and thought out plot. It is fundamentally a 'cultivation' story - where the readers follow the main characters as they develop their skills and motivations - which meant that Davis Ashura could really delve into the framework of the world and give us a really interesting understanding of the construction of this universe.
However (and this is a big HOWEVER), it meant that a vast swathe of the story was devoted to training sequences and library visits. Cinder's routine at the Directorate clearly bored him and it bored me too. Whole chapters from the first third of the book could have been reduced to one or two sentences. I did really enjoy getting to know the history and lore of Cinder's world through his research, and Ashura writes about it in a way that genuinely grabs your attention, but after reading the eighth chapter about it I'd had enough.
I loved the action in this book. A lot of the training scenes were repetitive but the actual battle scenes were an absolute joy to read . We hear a lot about Cinder's prowess at fighting (a lot of this telling/showing unbalance goes on in the book) and strategizing but in these scenes we actually see it. This world's magic system is particularly tied to fighting and reading about the action helped me to understand some of the more abstract concepts.
The characters themselves are decently constructed and play a good part in fleshing out the world, but a lot of the dialogue is awkward, particularly when trying to be humorous. The dialogue between Cinder and his main rival, for example, is often wooden and clunky and when Ashura tries to inject emotion into their interactions it feels exaggerated and out of sync with the scene. I exaggerate for effect, but reading lines like these really took me out of the story. It felt like Ashura didn't trust himself to show the readers how the characters felt for each other and had to resort to telling us, which is frustrating because his portrayals of friendship and romance in the story were very compelling and delicate.
All in all, I enjoyed Memories of Prophecies, but it could be much better. The worldbuilding is excellent and the action is a joy, but the characters and dynamics need sprucing up. I recommend Vimalathithya/(Critically Reasonable)'s review of the book for context on some of the concepts in the book, which derive from Indian literature and spirituality.
Memories of Prophecies was an interesting read; an engaging depiction of an interesting fantasy world with fun characters and a well-paced and thought out plot. It is fundamentally a 'cultivation' story - where the readers follow the main characters as they develop their skills and motivations - which meant that Davis Ashura could really delve into the framework of the world and give us a really interesting understanding of the construction of this universe.
However (and this is a big HOWEVER), it meant that a vast swathe of the story was devoted to training sequences and library visits. Cinder's routine at the Directorate clearly bored him and it bored me too. Whole chapters from the first third of the book could have been reduced to one or two sentences. I did really enjoy getting to know the history and lore of Cinder's world through his research, and Ashura writes about it in a way that genuinely grabs your attention, but after reading the eighth chapter about it I'd had enough.
I loved the action in this book. A lot of the training scenes were repetitive but the actual battle scenes were an absolute joy to read . We hear a lot about Cinder's prowess at fighting (a lot of this telling/showing unbalance goes on in the book) and strategizing but in these scenes we actually see it. This world's magic system is particularly tied to fighting and reading about the action helped me to understand some of the more abstract concepts.
The characters themselves are decently constructed and play a good part in fleshing out the world, but a lot of the dialogue is awkward, particularly when trying to be humorous. The dialogue between Cinder and his main rival, for example, is often wooden and clunky and when Ashura tries to inject emotion into their interactions it feels exaggerated and out of sync with the scene. I exaggerate for effect, but reading lines like these really took me out of the story. It felt like Ashura didn't trust himself to show the readers how the characters felt for each other and had to resort to telling us, which is frustrating because his portrayals of friendship and romance in the story were very compelling and delicate.
All in all, I enjoyed Memories of Prophecies, but it could be much better. The worldbuilding is excellent and the action is a joy, but the characters and dynamics need sprucing up. I recommend Vimalathithya/(Critically Reasonable)'s review of the book for context on some of the concepts in the book, which derive from Indian literature and spirituality.
March 30, 2021
So... first thing is first, as I do not want to seem like I am just being overly critical. I LOVE this series. Between the story and the lore, there is a lot packed into these books that I adore.
There are some things that annoy me. They are hard to pinpoint or explain, but I will give it a shot.
Davis has a tendency to tell, rather than show. Far too much time is spent re-hashing ideas or whole thoughts from a previous page. Exposition given in text, rather than shorter, easier to digest dialogue.
A book and a half in and I feel that he is still trying to explain the characters or ideas, rather than just let them be. Reaffirmations of character are nice and all, but it happens enough through the story that it slows the pace and I feel like any forward progress has stopped to reflect on the specific circumstances. Or the same "Will they/won't they" and "this is taboo", "This is bad but we're doing it anyway" kind of lines, that it just gets stale.
There was not enough time to really explain the sudden turn of certain characters toward the end. Estin in particular is thrown in a completely different and earnest light at the end, with little explanation or really any redemption time. He's just casually mentioned as a part of this super-secret society, with much of their goals hidden from the reader. No time is really taken to explain that.
A chapter or even a section from the point of view of Estin would go a long way toward that, I think. Or more direct interactions with Cinder from the weeks that were hashed out in the mountains. Small character scenes that show that maybe Estin is a changing character. Explain how and why he is doing what he is doing.
Riyne got a better redemption arc than Estin, though it did feel rather immediate.
Though the suddenness of change does kind of work, it leaves the expected moment of understanding as a flash fire, rather than a hard-won moment. We don't know enough of this society to understand what it might mean.
Also throwing Lisandre in at the end mysteriously being there to help at the right time was more "Ok, well that's what he's doing...". He's also somewhat of an underdeveloped character at times.
In closing, I would like to speak directly to Mr. Ashura:
Thank you for sharing your work. Writing is not an easy craft and regardless of my above troubles, I am committed to continuing along with the series. None of this was distracting enough to keep me from devouring the book as a man possessed.
We are overly critical of the things we love sometimes. Devesh knows I won't stop reading at this point and I eagerly away book 3.
There are some things that annoy me. They are hard to pinpoint or explain, but I will give it a shot.
Davis has a tendency to tell, rather than show. Far too much time is spent re-hashing ideas or whole thoughts from a previous page. Exposition given in text, rather than shorter, easier to digest dialogue.
A book and a half in and I feel that he is still trying to explain the characters or ideas, rather than just let them be. Reaffirmations of character are nice and all, but it happens enough through the story that it slows the pace and I feel like any forward progress has stopped to reflect on the specific circumstances. Or the same "Will they/won't they" and "this is taboo", "This is bad but we're doing it anyway" kind of lines, that it just gets stale.
There was not enough time to really explain the sudden turn of certain characters toward the end. Estin in particular is thrown in a completely different and earnest light at the end, with little explanation or really any redemption time. He's just casually mentioned as a part of this super-secret society, with much of their goals hidden from the reader. No time is really taken to explain that.
A chapter or even a section from the point of view of Estin would go a long way toward that, I think. Or more direct interactions with Cinder from the weeks that were hashed out in the mountains. Small character scenes that show that maybe Estin is a changing character. Explain how and why he is doing what he is doing.
Riyne got a better redemption arc than Estin, though it did feel rather immediate.
Though the suddenness of change does kind of work, it leaves the expected moment of understanding as a flash fire, rather than a hard-won moment. We don't know enough of this society to understand what it might mean.
Also throwing Lisandre in at the end mysteriously being there to help at the right time was more "Ok, well that's what he's doing...". He's also somewhat of an underdeveloped character at times.
In closing, I would like to speak directly to Mr. Ashura:
Thank you for sharing your work. Writing is not an easy craft and regardless of my above troubles, I am committed to continuing along with the series. None of this was distracting enough to keep me from devouring the book as a man possessed.
We are overly critical of the things we love sometimes. Devesh knows I won't stop reading at this point and I eagerly away book 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2022
4.5 Stars 🌟
I read the first book a little while ago and it took me a bit to begin to remember the events that happened before. Once things started coming back, they began to return pretty quickly. In this series, we met a young man whose parents were killed when he was young and he almost died while hiding in a well. When he was rescued from the well, not only did he not remember ANYTHING about his life, but he also had his clubfoot miraculosly healed and began to develop into an extremely talented warrior. The first book took us on that journey. The second book continues that story, but we begin to learn more about what EXACTLY might have happened to that young boy in that well and specifically what the ramifications might be.
He develops a close friendship with Anya, who is an Elven Princess and the two of them discover that they both had "near death" experiences and they both seemed to evolve into people who were different from who they had been prior. This book is part of the Epic Fantasy genre and has a world built with a fairly complex magic system. There are also Elves and Dwarves - and we begin to see other wonderful creatures such as talking trees, talking horses and even dragons.
This book spends a lot of time giving us clues and hints of "who" these two characters might be and it becomes quite clear to the reader before it is explained in the book. There is a lot of descriptive prose and day to day details that could have been cut out and I don't think it would have impacted the story at all. But, for the most part, it wasn't too bad and the story moved along fairly easily.
I alternated between listening and reading and the narration was done by Nick Podehl. I have to admit that he is a narrator that I enjoy so I found myself listening to the majority of the book. The book ends at a nice stopping point - you still want to find out what is coming next, but it isn't an awful cliffhanger.
I'm not sure how many books there are going to be in this series. If it is going to be a trilogy, then it seems as if a lot is going to have to happen in the next book - but I'm invested and will be happy to continue on the journey.
I read the first book a little while ago and it took me a bit to begin to remember the events that happened before. Once things started coming back, they began to return pretty quickly. In this series, we met a young man whose parents were killed when he was young and he almost died while hiding in a well. When he was rescued from the well, not only did he not remember ANYTHING about his life, but he also had his clubfoot miraculosly healed and began to develop into an extremely talented warrior. The first book took us on that journey. The second book continues that story, but we begin to learn more about what EXACTLY might have happened to that young boy in that well and specifically what the ramifications might be.
He develops a close friendship with Anya, who is an Elven Princess and the two of them discover that they both had "near death" experiences and they both seemed to evolve into people who were different from who they had been prior. This book is part of the Epic Fantasy genre and has a world built with a fairly complex magic system. There are also Elves and Dwarves - and we begin to see other wonderful creatures such as talking trees, talking horses and even dragons.
This book spends a lot of time giving us clues and hints of "who" these two characters might be and it becomes quite clear to the reader before it is explained in the book. There is a lot of descriptive prose and day to day details that could have been cut out and I don't think it would have impacted the story at all. But, for the most part, it wasn't too bad and the story moved along fairly easily.
I alternated between listening and reading and the narration was done by Nick Podehl. I have to admit that he is a narrator that I enjoy so I found myself listening to the majority of the book. The book ends at a nice stopping point - you still want to find out what is coming next, but it isn't an awful cliffhanger.
I'm not sure how many books there are going to be in this series. If it is going to be a trilogy, then it seems as if a lot is going to have to happen in the next book - but I'm invested and will be happy to continue on the journey.
March 16, 2021
A book that will get you hooked since chapter one! After reading the first book I was looking forward to read more of Cinder's journey and oh boy what a journey that boy is going on!
Everything about this book - from the amazing descriptions, to the character's dialogue and most importantly to the sexual tension between Cinder and Anya that got me screaming in frustration at them - made me react in ways I wasn't expecting to react in. The world we are submerged in is described in such a way, that makes one feel right by the character's side, as astonished and perplexed as any of them depending on what they face. Davis was able to create such a realistic and familiar world that just by reading you can hear, smell and feel everything written in the pages in front of you.
Be ready to be faced with the inner conflicts of both Cinder and Anya that add depth, mood and humanism to these characters in ways we weren’t expecting. They want to learn as much about their past lives as we do, and we cannot help ourselves but see them struggle as they try to understand themselves and their feelings. Furthermore, we have the sexual tension and conflict between Cinder and Anya – as much as it can infuriate you at times, it definitely provides the hook we did not have in the first book and it absolutely will make you look forward to the next book! The tensions and conflicts throughout just made me scream in anger and despair, throw my hands up in the air in surrender and hope to know what exactly will happen next.
I am beyond ready to read more of this series, and I think a lot of other readers won’t be able to put this book down once they start reading it. Davis built a world and characters that I’m sure will stay in one’s mind forever.
Everything about this book - from the amazing descriptions, to the character's dialogue and most importantly to the sexual tension between Cinder and Anya that got me screaming in frustration at them - made me react in ways I wasn't expecting to react in. The world we are submerged in is described in such a way, that makes one feel right by the character's side, as astonished and perplexed as any of them depending on what they face. Davis was able to create such a realistic and familiar world that just by reading you can hear, smell and feel everything written in the pages in front of you.
Be ready to be faced with the inner conflicts of both Cinder and Anya that add depth, mood and humanism to these characters in ways we weren’t expecting. They want to learn as much about their past lives as we do, and we cannot help ourselves but see them struggle as they try to understand themselves and their feelings. Furthermore, we have the sexual tension and conflict between Cinder and Anya – as much as it can infuriate you at times, it definitely provides the hook we did not have in the first book and it absolutely will make you look forward to the next book! The tensions and conflicts throughout just made me scream in anger and despair, throw my hands up in the air in surrender and hope to know what exactly will happen next.
I am beyond ready to read more of this series, and I think a lot of other readers won’t be able to put this book down once they start reading it. Davis built a world and characters that I’m sure will stay in one’s mind forever.
March 10, 2021
A very strong, engrossing fantasy novel. I would recommend that readers read' A Testament of Steel' first in order to fully enjoy and appreciate the story and the craft put into building and shaping the world of the novel but enjoyment would not be greatly lessened if readers came to this cold (indeed it might then mean you read other works by Ashura!) As someone who has mostly only read fantasy rooted in European models of inspiration, it was fascinating and informative to read something that draws inspiration from another world heritage. The story makes use of and subverts usual narrative tropes in fantasy ( hero from a poor background/dormant evil ready to be reborn/ combative relationships with other species) whilst creating a relatable and interesting cast of characters. The pacing of the flashbacks/visions was something that I was less engrossed in and the differing information available to characters was often confusing: if Shokan and Sira are such central figures in the lore of all the races with their stories well known, why are Cinder and Anya slow to piece together what is happening? I sometimes felt that all the details of the flashbacks/previous lives/other worlds were a bit confusing and hard to keep track of and that it was best to just keep reading and let hindsight make sense of it all. (Does coming to these books with a prior knowledge of Ashura's other works help with this?)
March 11, 2021
I was an advanced reader for this novel, and while starting slowly, the novel picks up where the first left off, developing the mystery and characters at a rapid and delectable pace.
The continued uncovering of Cinder and Anya's mysterious pasts, and the conflict & drama this leads to was the backbone of the novel, and at times it was hard to put the novel down. Ashura masterfully teases just enough information, giving the reader enough of a glimpse into the pasts and the internal workings of these characters to be satisfying, but not enough to give away the mysteries the novel continually develops. I am particularly intrigued by the mentions of Earth as another realm - what are the implications of this!? I can't wait to find out.
The characters are engaging and likeable, creating an ensemble of humans, dwarves, elves and animals that you want to see succeed, and witnessing the world through the eyes of a broad scope of characters was an incredibly effective and engaging narrative choice that led to some significant moments of emotional payoff, and have developed the potential for even more conflict, payoff and resolutions in the novels to come. The final chapter in particular was mouthwatering both in its promise of future tension, and the emotional climax of the core relationship of the novel.
Seminal feels like a world that is just getting started, and I am excited to continue inhabiting it as the future novels are released.
The continued uncovering of Cinder and Anya's mysterious pasts, and the conflict & drama this leads to was the backbone of the novel, and at times it was hard to put the novel down. Ashura masterfully teases just enough information, giving the reader enough of a glimpse into the pasts and the internal workings of these characters to be satisfying, but not enough to give away the mysteries the novel continually develops. I am particularly intrigued by the mentions of Earth as another realm - what are the implications of this!? I can't wait to find out.
The characters are engaging and likeable, creating an ensemble of humans, dwarves, elves and animals that you want to see succeed, and witnessing the world through the eyes of a broad scope of characters was an incredibly effective and engaging narrative choice that led to some significant moments of emotional payoff, and have developed the potential for even more conflict, payoff and resolutions in the novels to come. The final chapter in particular was mouthwatering both in its promise of future tension, and the emotional climax of the core relationship of the novel.
Seminal feels like a world that is just getting started, and I am excited to continue inhabiting it as the future novels are released.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2021
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, and though I haven't read a fantasy story in what feels like forever, this book captivated me and maintained my interest until the very end.
I really enjoyed the variety of different cultures described in this story, and I could really sense the socio-political atmosphere of the world. The worldbuilding was solid and confident, and each location had a distinct charm about it. I also liked the intricate magic system and mythology created, and the rules of the world were consistent throughout the story. There were some chapters that seemed to halt the action purely to allow Cinder's power to progress - this was especially noticeable in Cinder and Anya's journey after exiting Shalla Valley and Cinder learning his new Talents. Finally, the main thing that at times broke my immersion was the repetition of the lore - there were multiple explanations of concepts already learned, and there were almost identical reactions to people learning things like the difference between lorethasra and Jivatma.
Overall, I enjoyed the cinematic language moving us from one place to the other, it follows the action very closely so battles and fights intertwine well with moments of rest. At times, the language verged on descriptive, so I think more trust should be put in the reader and their ability to read between the lines, especially in conversations. Having said this, I am captivated by this world and I would love to read the next part!
I really enjoyed the variety of different cultures described in this story, and I could really sense the socio-political atmosphere of the world. The worldbuilding was solid and confident, and each location had a distinct charm about it. I also liked the intricate magic system and mythology created, and the rules of the world were consistent throughout the story. There were some chapters that seemed to halt the action purely to allow Cinder's power to progress - this was especially noticeable in Cinder and Anya's journey after exiting Shalla Valley and Cinder learning his new Talents. Finally, the main thing that at times broke my immersion was the repetition of the lore - there were multiple explanations of concepts already learned, and there were almost identical reactions to people learning things like the difference between lorethasra and Jivatma.
Overall, I enjoyed the cinematic language moving us from one place to the other, it follows the action very closely so battles and fights intertwine well with moments of rest. At times, the language verged on descriptive, so I think more trust should be put in the reader and their ability to read between the lines, especially in conversations. Having said this, I am captivated by this world and I would love to read the next part!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2021
Memories of Prophecies is an incredibly well written book and does an impressive job of taking the baton from A Testament of Steel and keeping stride in a way most sequels are not able to do. Through the book you not only continue to unravel more of Cinder's history but, thanks to frequent POV swaps, also that of many supporting characters and the world of Seminal as a whole. The world building is near perfect for me for two main reasons. The first is that while you are given more than enough detail or descriptors to put a scene together in your head, you are not given excruciating detail so that you have no room to use your own imagination in setting scenes and the second being the way the anchored worlds are being connected without it taking away from the current story just to remind you there is a connection. The one thing I did not love about A Testament of Steel was that it seemed like so much had taken place throughout the story without anything really happening. This is most certainly remedied in Memories of Prophecies as the truth of Cinder, Anya and others are slowly revealed to themselves and the reader alike. All in all this is a fantastical addition to a gripping series. I highly recommend reading this book and reading or listening to(I'm a big fan of the Audiobooks as they are narrated by the wonderful Nick Podehl) the rest of the Anchored Worlds novels and pay attention to the subtle references to our world they definitely provide unexpected laughs.
March 17, 2021
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, for which I am eternally grateful.
Before we delve into my thoughts - Dear Mr. Ashura, you had better be working on the next book because I'm going to need it immediately, please and thank you.
Now, for the book itself. What I adored about 'A Testament of Steel' was that it started off with a bang and kept going. This book was no different. The story picks up right where the first book left off, following our hero, Cinder, in his second year at the Third Directorate, and honestly, the story just never slows down. But in a really, really good way. Trust me. There is so much action in this book! AND all of the action is incredibly well written, to the point that I found myself audibly, literally gasping in response to what was happening on more than one occasion. (I MIGHT have screeched a few times as well while reading but there is no proof that it actually happened.)
All of the characters progressed so immensely in this book, not ridiculously so, but in a logical fashion, and I. Love. Character. Growth. !!!! It is one of the most frustrating things as a reader to have characters that are either stagnate, or progress too rapidly with no explanation as to why. This book had neither. The characters develop, but it makes sense how and why they are.
All in all, this book was an amazing addition to this series, and I cannot WAIT to see where the story goes next!
Before we delve into my thoughts - Dear Mr. Ashura, you had better be working on the next book because I'm going to need it immediately, please and thank you.
Now, for the book itself. What I adored about 'A Testament of Steel' was that it started off with a bang and kept going. This book was no different. The story picks up right where the first book left off, following our hero, Cinder, in his second year at the Third Directorate, and honestly, the story just never slows down. But in a really, really good way. Trust me. There is so much action in this book! AND all of the action is incredibly well written, to the point that I found myself audibly, literally gasping in response to what was happening on more than one occasion. (I MIGHT have screeched a few times as well while reading but there is no proof that it actually happened.)
All of the characters progressed so immensely in this book, not ridiculously so, but in a logical fashion, and I. Love. Character. Growth. !!!! It is one of the most frustrating things as a reader to have characters that are either stagnate, or progress too rapidly with no explanation as to why. This book had neither. The characters develop, but it makes sense how and why they are.
All in all, this book was an amazing addition to this series, and I cannot WAIT to see where the story goes next!
April 5, 2021
A very satisfying ending/teaser
Finally we start to see our hero and heroine come to terms with their possible connection/past lives..I should say I was rooting for their budding romance ever since book 1 haha. But there's SO much more to it than that. Book 2 begins with more training and hard, sometimes fatal lessons for Cinder. You feel for him. But he finds solace in his remaining friends, and also in Anya, who takes him under her wing for even deadlier training than he's had so far. Most of book 2 is centered around these two and their growing...Companionship. Cinder learns more about his abilities, and both he and Anya are left with even more questions about their past than answers. But the answers are close at hand..A lot of suspicions are confirmed about who's who, and those in opposition start to put their heinous plans in motion. We even catch a glimpse of an ancient and deadly foe, and mythical creatures once thought to be dead or completely fabricated. The winds of change are blowing in Seminal, and by the end of book 2 Cinder seems to have made more enemies than friends. There are even some right under his nose who seem to think he's more evil than he is good...Can't wait for the next installment!
Finally we start to see our hero and heroine come to terms with their possible connection/past lives..I should say I was rooting for their budding romance ever since book 1 haha. But there's SO much more to it than that. Book 2 begins with more training and hard, sometimes fatal lessons for Cinder. You feel for him. But he finds solace in his remaining friends, and also in Anya, who takes him under her wing for even deadlier training than he's had so far. Most of book 2 is centered around these two and their growing...Companionship. Cinder learns more about his abilities, and both he and Anya are left with even more questions about their past than answers. But the answers are close at hand..A lot of suspicions are confirmed about who's who, and those in opposition start to put their heinous plans in motion. We even catch a glimpse of an ancient and deadly foe, and mythical creatures once thought to be dead or completely fabricated. The winds of change are blowing in Seminal, and by the end of book 2 Cinder seems to have made more enemies than friends. There are even some right under his nose who seem to think he's more evil than he is good...Can't wait for the next installment!
December 14, 2021
This was a good sequel to the first book, picking up right where we left off in A Testament of Steel and already we have drama within the first five pages!
There is so much happening it seems almost overwhelming with plot and subplots woven throughout as the tension builds up to the appearance of Shet, the ultimate antagonist of this series. then there’s the sinister subplot and revelation of Then, there is that damn curveball of a prophecy about
Even in the moments of happiness and lull, there was tension brewing in the background just waiting for it to pop.
The characters are all so damn complex and shady! Everyone has their own ulterior motives and this is all happening while Shet is on the verge of breaking free from his prison!
There is so much happening it seems almost overwhelming with plot and subplots woven throughout as the tension builds up to the appearance of Shet, the ultimate antagonist of this series. then there’s the sinister subplot and revelation of Then, there is that damn curveball of a prophecy about
Even in the moments of happiness and lull, there was tension brewing in the background just waiting for it to pop.
The characters are all so damn complex and shady! Everyone has their own ulterior motives and this is all happening while Shet is on the verge of breaking free from his prison!
July 10, 2024
This book lost my interest around the halfway mark. I mentioned in my review of the last book that the story had pacing issues, and this book doubles down on that problem. Not only does it feel like the series is treading water by frantically kicking its feet and getting nowhere, but in some storylines, it feels like it is going backwards rather than forwards. For a story that I was already getting impatient for it pick up the pace, this sucked the momentum right out of the story for me and I eventually gave up.
It gets three stars because I recognise that people who can enjoy the action for action's sake and can enjoy just being part of this kind of medieval military-based fantasy world without needing the story to move forward meaningfully will enjoy this book far more than I did. This story is competently told for that kind of reader, so it gets a score that I think is worthy of that status.
For this reader, though, this story meanders rather than meaningfully moves forward, and that always makes me feel like I'm wasting my time. So I'm moving on to something else, and if you're anything like me as a reader, then I think you'll probably rate this one about a 2-star level.
It gets three stars because I recognise that people who can enjoy the action for action's sake and can enjoy just being part of this kind of medieval military-based fantasy world without needing the story to move forward meaningfully will enjoy this book far more than I did. This story is competently told for that kind of reader, so it gets a score that I think is worthy of that status.
For this reader, though, this story meanders rather than meaningfully moves forward, and that always makes me feel like I'm wasting my time. So I'm moving on to something else, and if you're anything like me as a reader, then I think you'll probably rate this one about a 2-star level.
March 16, 2021
What I have found in all of Davis Ashura’s books: resiliency of spirit especially following the wake of tragedy, honorable characters learning from wisdom, camaraderie by forgiving others, class warfare and seeing past one’s outer shell to know the person underneath, standing up against wrongdoing and evil, a deep love between Rukh and Jessira that transcends many trials.
Cinder is a warrior pushing past the limitations of humans in a class-based society where humans are the weakest. With his limited memories, the characters around him are acting on prophecies he is unaware of. Memories of Prophesies follows delves deeper into the world of Seminal with more connections to The Complete Chronicles of William Wilde. I personally prefer reading the Castes and Outcastes series first and then William Wilde before reading the Instrument of Omens series. The backstories of these books bring clarity to Cinder, Anya and the evil ones they are fighting.
If you liked the first book, A Testament of Steel, this new one ramps up the action, world building, with more into the extensive history of the land. It’s a great second book to the series.
Cinder is a warrior pushing past the limitations of humans in a class-based society where humans are the weakest. With his limited memories, the characters around him are acting on prophecies he is unaware of. Memories of Prophesies follows delves deeper into the world of Seminal with more connections to The Complete Chronicles of William Wilde. I personally prefer reading the Castes and Outcastes series first and then William Wilde before reading the Instrument of Omens series. The backstories of these books bring clarity to Cinder, Anya and the evil ones they are fighting.
If you liked the first book, A Testament of Steel, this new one ramps up the action, world building, with more into the extensive history of the land. It’s a great second book to the series.
March 22, 2021
Another excellent story in the Instrument of Omens – with smooth prose, clever, well-written dialogue and more of the rich history and lore we've come to expect.
I particularly like the introduction of more character points of view — which are smaller sections interspersed throughout the book — especially that of Fastness and Brilliance, a masterstroke and very well done.
I also love that just when I think a minor thread is about to be tied off, it, instead, unravels to become something bigger.
While I'm thoroughly enjoying the story, I do feel a little like some of the details/descriptions that aren't relevant to the story could be condensed or even left out altogether. In some (minor) cases, this includes a little bit of repetition, particularly when it comes to Cinder's feelings and explanations of his power. Other than that, I'm enjoying the progression of the story and watching Cinder cultivate, and come to terms with, his newfound skills and abilities.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a slower paced story, with solid writing and plenty of action to break up the intricate, and thickening plot.
I particularly like the introduction of more character points of view — which are smaller sections interspersed throughout the book — especially that of Fastness and Brilliance, a masterstroke and very well done.
I also love that just when I think a minor thread is about to be tied off, it, instead, unravels to become something bigger.
While I'm thoroughly enjoying the story, I do feel a little like some of the details/descriptions that aren't relevant to the story could be condensed or even left out altogether. In some (minor) cases, this includes a little bit of repetition, particularly when it comes to Cinder's feelings and explanations of his power. Other than that, I'm enjoying the progression of the story and watching Cinder cultivate, and come to terms with, his newfound skills and abilities.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a slower paced story, with solid writing and plenty of action to break up the intricate, and thickening plot.
March 17, 2021
David Ashura’s novel was both captivating and executed well.
It started of slow, but I respect that this was due to the character and world building, easing the reader back in.
The novel soon picked up the pace and I became even more intrigued. The characters were likeable and the status that they held within the plot was quickly evident.
I also adored Ashura’s use of incorporating animal characters and having chapters in their perspective. It made for a refreshing and unique change as it’s something I have never really seen other authors do prior, and was highly enjoyable.
The main plot between Cinder and Anya was somewhat predictable but Ashura made it so that it was still enjoyable to read and watch as the characters unravel the truth.
Overall, the novel made for a enjoyable read. I quickly became invested in the characters and their story, and I’m excited for the next instalment in this series. Ashura did both his characters and his world justice within this novel, and I can only expect him to continue to do so in his next works.
It started of slow, but I respect that this was due to the character and world building, easing the reader back in.
The novel soon picked up the pace and I became even more intrigued. The characters were likeable and the status that they held within the plot was quickly evident.
I also adored Ashura’s use of incorporating animal characters and having chapters in their perspective. It made for a refreshing and unique change as it’s something I have never really seen other authors do prior, and was highly enjoyable.
The main plot between Cinder and Anya was somewhat predictable but Ashura made it so that it was still enjoyable to read and watch as the characters unravel the truth.
Overall, the novel made for a enjoyable read. I quickly became invested in the characters and their story, and I’m excited for the next instalment in this series. Ashura did both his characters and his world justice within this novel, and I can only expect him to continue to do so in his next works.
March 18, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable read! Davis Ashura manages to give a fresh take on the fantasy genre whilst also giving a nod to classic high fantasy such as LOTR. The plot, characters and narrative are engaging with Ashura subverting the standard good vs. evil narrative to make for a very interesting story.
I particularly enjoyed how chapters were written from the perspectives of various characters, (including some of the mythical creatures) this served to create a steady tension throughout. Ashura also explores origin and myth making stories through the characters in his novel and how mistranslations lead to opposing views...
Ashura is particularly talented at writing battle and action sequences that promise to be real page turners. Normally, I find battle sequences to be too long and drawn out but the balance and pacing here is spot on.
My one criticism would be that the language and tone does tend to jump about from modern phrasing and usage to antiquated and formal narratives. However, this does not detract overall from the rich world and characters that Ashura has created.
I particularly enjoyed how chapters were written from the perspectives of various characters, (including some of the mythical creatures) this served to create a steady tension throughout. Ashura also explores origin and myth making stories through the characters in his novel and how mistranslations lead to opposing views...
Ashura is particularly talented at writing battle and action sequences that promise to be real page turners. Normally, I find battle sequences to be too long and drawn out but the balance and pacing here is spot on.
My one criticism would be that the language and tone does tend to jump about from modern phrasing and usage to antiquated and formal narratives. However, this does not detract overall from the rich world and characters that Ashura has created.
May 12, 2021
A piece of gold
Allow me to give you a little background of my experience with this author. At the time of writing this I have read the first and the second books of the Instruments of Omens book series, and I have loved them.
The first thing that stood out to me when reflecting on these two books is that there are no mistakes. I do not mean that it is perfect but rather that it has no spelling mistakes that comes from a cursory examination from an editing crew. This allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the book.
The second thing is the flow of the book. I never felt that I had to slow down, nor did I feel the need to rush. When something that would be redundant is to happen it is either short but concise, or mentioned in a few sentences in passing.
As a younger reader of this novel I have also expanded my vocabulary by looking up words I do not know during my reading.
All in all I have thoroughly enjoyed this masterpiece which is slowly coming together. I wish we’ll on all who read and hope they enjoy as much as I have.
Allow me to give you a little background of my experience with this author. At the time of writing this I have read the first and the second books of the Instruments of Omens book series, and I have loved them.
The first thing that stood out to me when reflecting on these two books is that there are no mistakes. I do not mean that it is perfect but rather that it has no spelling mistakes that comes from a cursory examination from an editing crew. This allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the book.
The second thing is the flow of the book. I never felt that I had to slow down, nor did I feel the need to rush. When something that would be redundant is to happen it is either short but concise, or mentioned in a few sentences in passing.
As a younger reader of this novel I have also expanded my vocabulary by looking up words I do not know during my reading.
All in all I have thoroughly enjoyed this masterpiece which is slowly coming together. I wish we’ll on all who read and hope they enjoy as much as I have.
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