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Benyu Born of Ash
Neurodivergent Elemental, Roan, doesn’t belong in any of the worlds. She boils things, she dreams of death, and she keeps to the shadows whenever she can. But her copper freckles and ashy red curls make her about as subtle as the benyu, the fiery bird of the mythkeepers’ stories. On her nineteenth birthday, Roan’s village is beguiled by conquering Woodlanders. In an effort to save her people, she throws herself into a reckless blood bargain with Galin, the roguish Woodland general who challenges her heart, complicates her sense of self and unmasks the true nature of her magic. And he’s not the only one who wants to forge her into a weapon….Roan must find her own voice in the darkness of trauma and, like the benyu, rise from the ashes to set her people free.
- GenresFantasy
420 pages, Hardcover
Published February 1, 2022
4 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Katie Feavel
3 books35 followersKatie Feavel is an avid bookworm from Arizona. She has a master’s degree in criminology and uses her academic background to form ethically complex characters. Her neurologically diverse household further inspires her to create characters who do not fit the conventional mold but challenge us to normalize the spectrum of human experience. Katie spends her days collecting hobbies, lifting things, drinking coffee, fighting battles—against a pile of laundry or against Godlings in a fantasy land—and having kitchen dance parties with her husband and four young children. She believes the true beauty of fantasy is its ability to tackle significant social problems in a creative way. Benyu Born of Ash is her first fantasy novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 11, 2022
If you're a fan of a vast fantasy world, morally grey characters and tropes such as enemies-to-lovers and arranged marriage, then you might want to pick up Benyu Born of Ash, the first installement of The Ischyró Chronicles as it got it all!
The story follows the protagonist Roan, who's been an outsider due to her Elemental magic and dreams of death. She tries to keep to the shadows, but when her village is being invaded by the enemies, the Woodlanders, Roan does everything she can to protect her people. And that includes signing herself off to a blood bargain which reveals to bind her to the Woodlander's general Galin, who might not be the enemy Roan believes him to be. From there on, Roan finds herself on a path, trying to unravel the truth behind everything - her magic, how to save her people, her heritage.
The worldbuilding of this book is really impressive, and I have to admit it took me a while to grasp the whole concept. But I enjoyed how bits and pieces were revealed along and we were able to find out things as Roan did. Generally, Roan is a pleasant character to follow around. Despite her impulsive choices, she is a determined character who tries her best to save everyone around her while figuring out who and what she is. I really enjoyed how we were able to see everything through her perspectives, and how much her bonds with other characters played a big role in this. The relationships and bonds she had with her father, siblings, and especially Galin were probably my favorite aspects of this story. If you're a fan of a great slow-burn romance, then you should definitely try getting tortured by the tension between Roan and Galin. Often I found myself yelling at them, and I really enjoyed the scenes between them!
Overall, this is a great first installement that introduces us to a vast world, interesting characters to which is more than we can see, and opens up new questions and paths that make me very excited for the sequel!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows the protagonist Roan, who's been an outsider due to her Elemental magic and dreams of death. She tries to keep to the shadows, but when her village is being invaded by the enemies, the Woodlanders, Roan does everything she can to protect her people. And that includes signing herself off to a blood bargain which reveals to bind her to the Woodlander's general Galin, who might not be the enemy Roan believes him to be. From there on, Roan finds herself on a path, trying to unravel the truth behind everything - her magic, how to save her people, her heritage.
The worldbuilding of this book is really impressive, and I have to admit it took me a while to grasp the whole concept. But I enjoyed how bits and pieces were revealed along and we were able to find out things as Roan did. Generally, Roan is a pleasant character to follow around. Despite her impulsive choices, she is a determined character who tries her best to save everyone around her while figuring out who and what she is. I really enjoyed how we were able to see everything through her perspectives, and how much her bonds with other characters played a big role in this. The relationships and bonds she had with her father, siblings, and especially Galin were probably my favorite aspects of this story. If you're a fan of a great slow-burn romance, then you should definitely try getting tortured by the tension between Roan and Galin. Often I found myself yelling at them, and I really enjoyed the scenes between them!
Overall, this is a great first installement that introduces us to a vast world, interesting characters to which is more than we can see, and opens up new questions and paths that make me very excited for the sequel!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2022
Benyu Born of Ash First Book of The Ischyro Chronicles
Katie Feavel
Benyu Born of Ash is such a special book full of magic and incredibly relatable characters. I enjoyed the writing style that made this book so readable and enjoyable for me. Every time I picked the book up, I was lost completely immersed into this amazing world full of rich details where you can imagine the world, the sounds, the smells. It was truly captivating and mesmerizing. I am so impressed about the neurodiverse characters and bringing up their strengths and vulnerabilities within the story line. I recommend this book to everyone - I was highly entertained and my time in Katie Feavel's world was incredible.
Katie Feavel
Benyu Born of Ash is such a special book full of magic and incredibly relatable characters. I enjoyed the writing style that made this book so readable and enjoyable for me. Every time I picked the book up, I was lost completely immersed into this amazing world full of rich details where you can imagine the world, the sounds, the smells. It was truly captivating and mesmerizing. I am so impressed about the neurodiverse characters and bringing up their strengths and vulnerabilities within the story line. I recommend this book to everyone - I was highly entertained and my time in Katie Feavel's world was incredible.
January 31, 2022
Actual rating 4.5
I expected to enjoy this book, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! I'm so happy I was given the opportunity to read and review this book.
Apart from the cover, what really drew me into this book was the neurodivergent MC, Roan. I'm slightly obsessed with her and loved seeing the world through her eyes and understanding how her mind works. I thought that was a super cool aspect to the story! Normally I'm not a huge fan of 1st POV, but the writing in this book is just so beautiful. I couldn't see it working any other way besides first person.
Normally with book with tons of world building intimidate me, but once again Feavel webs the expedition throughout the novel seamlessly. I loved all the information we got and learning out more of the secrets over time.
Galin is probably my favorite character and my new book boyfriend! I'm obsessed with him! I think Roan compliments him so well. I loved watching their relationship grow and change over time. I'm so excited for the next book!
I expected to enjoy this book, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! I'm so happy I was given the opportunity to read and review this book.
Apart from the cover, what really drew me into this book was the neurodivergent MC, Roan. I'm slightly obsessed with her and loved seeing the world through her eyes and understanding how her mind works. I thought that was a super cool aspect to the story! Normally I'm not a huge fan of 1st POV, but the writing in this book is just so beautiful. I couldn't see it working any other way besides first person.
Normally with book with tons of world building intimidate me, but once again Feavel webs the expedition throughout the novel seamlessly. I loved all the information we got and learning out more of the secrets over time.
Galin is probably my favorite character and my new book boyfriend! I'm obsessed with him! I think Roan compliments him so well. I loved watching their relationship grow and change over time. I'm so excited for the next book!
November 22, 2021
“Not everything is as it seems.”
I won’t go in to too much detail about the characters because I want all of you to experience this journey for yourselves. Fangirling for me leads to spoiler territory. However, I will say there isn’t a single character in this book that isn’t considered “morally grey.”
This book is filled with secrets, heartbreaking and mind-blowing revelations, and betrayals. Reading this felt as if I were experiencing my first Caraval read all over again. Just a wild ride from beginning to end! When I thought I had everything figured out the author would throw me a curveball. I had no idea who to trust, and those I thought I could I wanted to slap upside the head.
In a world that’s built on deceit and glamour, you will find that not everything is as it seems. Who you thought were your enemies are actually your allies, and those closest to you have the tendency to drive that dagger in to your heart the hardest. I can’t wait to reread this book when the physical copy is out! If anything so I can soak up all the details I missed the first time.
I want to thank the author again for the opportunity to read this eARC of her debut novel. All thoughts are entirely my own, and I absolutely loved the start of what will surely be an epic series!
I won’t go in to too much detail about the characters because I want all of you to experience this journey for yourselves. Fangirling for me leads to spoiler territory. However, I will say there isn’t a single character in this book that isn’t considered “morally grey.”
This book is filled with secrets, heartbreaking and mind-blowing revelations, and betrayals. Reading this felt as if I were experiencing my first Caraval read all over again. Just a wild ride from beginning to end! When I thought I had everything figured out the author would throw me a curveball. I had no idea who to trust, and those I thought I could I wanted to slap upside the head.
In a world that’s built on deceit and glamour, you will find that not everything is as it seems. Who you thought were your enemies are actually your allies, and those closest to you have the tendency to drive that dagger in to your heart the hardest. I can’t wait to reread this book when the physical copy is out! If anything so I can soak up all the details I missed the first time.
I want to thank the author again for the opportunity to read this eARC of her debut novel. All thoughts are entirely my own, and I absolutely loved the start of what will surely be an epic series!
February 8, 2022
BENYU BORN OF ASH is the perfect read for lovers of fantasy with enchanting world building, morally gray heroes, arranged marriage and enemies-to-lovers romance. The story follows Roan, a neurodivergent Elemental whose visions of death and destructive powers make her an outsider. This, however, doesn’t hold Roan back from wanting to protect her community when they are invaded by the enemy Woodlanders. Roan recklessly signs herself off to a blood bargain that binds her to the Woodlander’s general, Galin, but what starts as a forced alliance soon reveals a different light. Despite his secrets and omissions, Galin doesn’t act like Roan’s enemy, and as she navigates the unraveling truths of her magic, he may be her one ally against those who would make her into a weapon. But to what end? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Though there were a lot of elements to keep up with, and I sometimes struggled to hold on to all of the pieces, the vastness of the world, with its mythology, magic and intrigues, roped me in. Roan was the perfect character to explore this story alongside. Though she had all the impulsiveness of her nineteen years, I appreciated the maturity of her inner dialogue and her observant and curious eye. She’s a character who makes mistakes but owns up to them, and her empathy for those around her made her impossible not to like. The author did a fantastic job in developing her throughout the story, and I loved seeing not just her inner growth but the evolution of her magic!
Family, friendship and romance all played a role in this story, and I loved how easily these elements co-existed, which isn’t always a given in a fantasy book! I loved the beautiful bond with her siblings and the burgeoning one with her father as much as I did the delightful, slow-burn romance with Galin. The tension was torture, but worth every second! I also really enjoyed Talc. No surprise here, since characters with pale hair are an established weakness of mine, but Talc really fascinates me. He’s a villain who does terrible things, but like all the characters in this story, I have a feeling there may be more than meets the eye, and I’m incredibly curious to find out if I’m right. Can’t wait to see what comes next in this story!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
Though there were a lot of elements to keep up with, and I sometimes struggled to hold on to all of the pieces, the vastness of the world, with its mythology, magic and intrigues, roped me in. Roan was the perfect character to explore this story alongside. Though she had all the impulsiveness of her nineteen years, I appreciated the maturity of her inner dialogue and her observant and curious eye. She’s a character who makes mistakes but owns up to them, and her empathy for those around her made her impossible not to like. The author did a fantastic job in developing her throughout the story, and I loved seeing not just her inner growth but the evolution of her magic!
Family, friendship and romance all played a role in this story, and I loved how easily these elements co-existed, which isn’t always a given in a fantasy book! I loved the beautiful bond with her siblings and the burgeoning one with her father as much as I did the delightful, slow-burn romance with Galin. The tension was torture, but worth every second! I also really enjoyed Talc. No surprise here, since characters with pale hair are an established weakness of mine, but Talc really fascinates me. He’s a villain who does terrible things, but like all the characters in this story, I have a feeling there may be more than meets the eye, and I’m incredibly curious to find out if I’m right. Can’t wait to see what comes next in this story!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
December 9, 2021
I went into this with the highest of expectations, and let me tell you I was not disappointed. The story and plot pulled me in and didn’t let me go. The magic system in this is one of my favorites that I have read recently, and the world building? Phenomenal.
I fell in love with Roan and her story the moment she appeared on page which was the very first second, you start off with her and her not being able to control her abilities and I’m just a sucker for that. Her character growth in this is amazing and I can’t wait to see where her character goes from here.
Galin is one of the other main characters and her LI , something about him I just didn’t trust throughout this book. I don’t know I’m just skeptical of good guys who come out of nowhere and try to be the answer to everything. That being said his character was fun to get to know and after everything being revealed I do love his potential and growth.
Talc was very intriguing and that ending left me thinking what else could he do? I chose hide quote for a reason because he’s my favorite character and he’s not even here that much, what can I say I’m a sucker for males with mysterious motives who has a amazing unique nickname for the MC.
𝑊ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑖 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛
Let me also just say the ending left me thinking about it for awhile, this book has left us mark and I can’t wait for book 2.
I fell in love with Roan and her story the moment she appeared on page which was the very first second, you start off with her and her not being able to control her abilities and I’m just a sucker for that. Her character growth in this is amazing and I can’t wait to see where her character goes from here.
Galin is one of the other main characters and her LI , something about him I just didn’t trust throughout this book. I don’t know I’m just skeptical of good guys who come out of nowhere and try to be the answer to everything. That being said his character was fun to get to know and after everything being revealed I do love his potential and growth.
Talc was very intriguing and that ending left me thinking what else could he do? I chose hide quote for a reason because he’s my favorite character and he’s not even here that much, what can I say I’m a sucker for males with mysterious motives who has a amazing unique nickname for the MC.
𝑊ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑖 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛
Let me also just say the ending left me thinking about it for awhile, this book has left us mark and I can’t wait for book 2.
February 9, 2022
Benyu Born of Ash is simply magnificent. Feavel's magical world is rich and mesmerizing. She's created an exciting and intriguing mythos with a character that demonstrates a relatable strength and vulnerability that readers cannot turn away from. I am a fan of all mythology, and this novel captured my imagination from start to finish.
November 28, 2021
Update: I decided to change my rating to 5 stars.
This is one of the few books of the year that left me thinking about it several days after finishing it. For that alone, I have decided to change my rating. It's difficult to impress me like that, and Benyu managed to do it. Kudos to Katie for a brilliant start.
I received an eARC through netgalley for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
Overall, great introduction to the series. I adored the world building from the get go. The magic systems and politics are well explained. I was easily pulled in.
As for the characters, the main character is neurodivergent. I felt this was handled with great care, and made for an intriguing main character. Roan experiences so many things in this book. My heart broke for her, but I'm so excited to see where her powers develop from here.
Galin is the general that changes Roan's word for better or for worse throughout the story. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to feel about him, and their relationship towards the end. Something still feels off to me about them, but we'll see how they develop in book 2.
Talc... Let me just say Talc was not in this book nearly enough. There is so much intrigue to his character. He is painted as the villain. He does terrible things, but so does everyone else in this book. They all walk the morally gray path, and that's part of the intrigue of this book. His connection to Roan is something I hope is better explored in the next book, because there's more of a story to tell there.
I'm excited to see where the story goes from here on out, because I feel we were just getting started!
Not everything is at it seems...
Overall rating:
5/5
Loved the story and the characters. I found myself engaged throughout. There definitely were times the pace slowed down, but that's probably due to it being the first of the series.
The relationship between Galin and Roan didn't pull me in enough for me to cheer for them, but I do think it'll be explored better in book 2. I'm also incredibly intrigued to see what Talc can become for Roan in future books.
For now, this is a great beginning for an intriguing world I can't get enough of fast enough! I definitely recommend and will be buying a copy for myself.
This is one of the few books of the year that left me thinking about it several days after finishing it. For that alone, I have decided to change my rating. It's difficult to impress me like that, and Benyu managed to do it. Kudos to Katie for a brilliant start.
I received an eARC through netgalley for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
Overall, great introduction to the series. I adored the world building from the get go. The magic systems and politics are well explained. I was easily pulled in.
As for the characters, the main character is neurodivergent. I felt this was handled with great care, and made for an intriguing main character. Roan experiences so many things in this book. My heart broke for her, but I'm so excited to see where her powers develop from here.
Galin is the general that changes Roan's word for better or for worse throughout the story. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to feel about him, and their relationship towards the end. Something still feels off to me about them, but we'll see how they develop in book 2.
Talc... Let me just say Talc was not in this book nearly enough. There is so much intrigue to his character. He is painted as the villain. He does terrible things, but so does everyone else in this book. They all walk the morally gray path, and that's part of the intrigue of this book. His connection to Roan is something I hope is better explored in the next book, because there's more of a story to tell there.
I'm excited to see where the story goes from here on out, because I feel we were just getting started!
Not everything is at it seems...
Overall rating:
5/5
Loved the story and the characters. I found myself engaged throughout. There definitely were times the pace slowed down, but that's probably due to it being the first of the series.
The relationship between Galin and Roan didn't pull me in enough for me to cheer for them, but I do think it'll be explored better in book 2. I'm also incredibly intrigued to see what Talc can become for Roan in future books.
For now, this is a great beginning for an intriguing world I can't get enough of fast enough! I definitely recommend and will be buying a copy for myself.
February 10, 2022
I was in the mood for NA fantasy, so it was the perfect moment to read Benyu Born of Ash! You guys know two of my favorite tropes of all time are enemies-to-lovers and arranged marriage, so when I witnessed these tropes slowly unfurl I was screaming in glee!
Katie Feavel has created a vast and lush world inspired by Norse mythology. The story is filled with faeries, elemental magic, Godlings and menacing creatures such as two-headed snakes and poisonous monsters. We follow the story of Roan, who has lived her entire life as an outcast, struggling to fit amongst the Lowlanders, afraid of her own powers.
As she is captured by the Woodlanders, a blue-eyed General of the king's army gives her an ultimatum: she must sign his deal and give herself over to him in order to save her people. Roan's life is now not her own and she finds herself trapped in a web of deception. The story is full of political intrigue and lies, the plot-twists keep coming at us at every turn! Combined with the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers I felt similar emotions as while I was reading The Cruel Prince by Holly Black! Betrayal and deceit at every page, we don't know who is good and who is evil!
"Not everything is as it seems..."
I can't wait for the sequel, I will definetly keep an eye on all upcoming works of this author because I am hooked! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
Katie Feavel has created a vast and lush world inspired by Norse mythology. The story is filled with faeries, elemental magic, Godlings and menacing creatures such as two-headed snakes and poisonous monsters. We follow the story of Roan, who has lived her entire life as an outcast, struggling to fit amongst the Lowlanders, afraid of her own powers.
As she is captured by the Woodlanders, a blue-eyed General of the king's army gives her an ultimatum: she must sign his deal and give herself over to him in order to save her people. Roan's life is now not her own and she finds herself trapped in a web of deception. The story is full of political intrigue and lies, the plot-twists keep coming at us at every turn! Combined with the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers I felt similar emotions as while I was reading The Cruel Prince by Holly Black! Betrayal and deceit at every page, we don't know who is good and who is evil!
"Not everything is as it seems..."
I can't wait for the sequel, I will definetly keep an eye on all upcoming works of this author because I am hooked! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
February 8, 2022
This book. One the cover is so beyond stunning. Two the writing is entrancing. I enjoyed the beginning intro showing us all about Roan and her childhood. How we find out she is actually not just a normal child and actually has powers of fire and death. She can burn people with a single touch. And she’s been dreaming of nothing but death. This book is full of magic and twists and turns. We jump to Roan at 19 and the story just takes off. If you love touches of mythology, wonderful and magical world building, fantasy galore, a touch of romance, a touch of darkness, this book is for you.
November 28, 2021
I went into this story not knowing much about what I was in for which I think is the best way to experience reading it.
This book kept me guessing. There were so many times when I thought I knew what was happening but the author would surpass my expectations.
'Not everything is as it seems' was mentioned several times in the story and what a statement it is. I got to the point where I didn't know who to believe, what to believe or who to trust. This goes to show how well developed the story and characters were. I felt the revelations the same way the characters did and this made me feel some intense emotions and really got my heart pounding.
The world building is fantastic and the little details helped immerse me in the narrative which only added to the enjoyment of reading this book.
I'm utterly hooked and I cannot wait to read more in this world.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing an eARC for an honest review.
This book kept me guessing. There were so many times when I thought I knew what was happening but the author would surpass my expectations.
'Not everything is as it seems' was mentioned several times in the story and what a statement it is. I got to the point where I didn't know who to believe, what to believe or who to trust. This goes to show how well developed the story and characters were. I felt the revelations the same way the characters did and this made me feel some intense emotions and really got my heart pounding.
The world building is fantastic and the little details helped immerse me in the narrative which only added to the enjoyment of reading this book.
I'm utterly hooked and I cannot wait to read more in this world.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing an eARC for an honest review.
January 17, 2022
I received an advanced copy of this book but I am giving my honest review!
From the beginning, this book intrigued me! I wanted to find out more about the world Roan lives in and how it works. The middle 2/3 of the book seemed a little slow with necessary world building. I was getting frustrated with what seemed at the time like plot holes and missing information yet all holes were filled in quickly at the end of the book. Even while reading, I knew there had to be something missing and it turns out it was all done on purpose to keep the reader and Roan in the dark to better understand what happens later in the book. All of the supposed “plot holes” were resolved at the end!
I left wanting more and really wanting to read the second book in the series! I feel like there has to be more hidden up Katie’s sleeves and cannot wait to see what she has in store for all of the characters.
From the beginning, this book intrigued me! I wanted to find out more about the world Roan lives in and how it works. The middle 2/3 of the book seemed a little slow with necessary world building. I was getting frustrated with what seemed at the time like plot holes and missing information yet all holes were filled in quickly at the end of the book. Even while reading, I knew there had to be something missing and it turns out it was all done on purpose to keep the reader and Roan in the dark to better understand what happens later in the book. All of the supposed “plot holes” were resolved at the end!
I left wanting more and really wanting to read the second book in the series! I feel like there has to be more hidden up Katie’s sleeves and cannot wait to see what she has in store for all of the characters.
January 17, 2022
Benyu Born of Ash is the exciting first installment in the Ischyró Chronicles!
"I boil things and I dream of Death and I do not belong."
Roan is a Neurodivergent Elemental, an oddity in her village. After her village is glamoured by Woodlanders, Roan is the only one that can save it. So she recklessly enters a blood bargain with a Woodland General. As she learns more about the Woodlanders and herself, Roan learns that nothing is as it seems.
All in all, I really enjoyed this! The cast of characters in Benyu Born of Ash are a really engaging group of morally grey / secretive individuals. I loved Roan as a protagonist - she's a little reckless, but her desire to save the people she cares about really made her an awesome character. The other major players Galin and Talc (yes I'm just listing the characters in the preorder incentive at this point) were really interesting, too! Although I'm kind of the president of Talc's hate club right now - I'm interested to see what he's up to. Galin is an interesting male lead because I wasn't sure if I should be rooting for Roan to trust him or not. All in all, the character arcs really shine in this! I can't wait to see the interplay between these three reach new heights as the series progresses. Also the side characters are fantastic! Galin's circle of friends/allies stole the show along with Roan's brother Leif. As a big fan of ensemble casts, the side characters were among my favorite characters and I'm really looking forward to seeing them in the next installment!
I really think Benyu Born of Ash is incredible and can't wait to see where the plot goes next and how the cast of characters will deal with the new developments and twists!
Special Thanks to NetGalley and Acorn Publishing, Inc. for the eARC!
"I boil things and I dream of Death and I do not belong."
Roan is a Neurodivergent Elemental, an oddity in her village. After her village is glamoured by Woodlanders, Roan is the only one that can save it. So she recklessly enters a blood bargain with a Woodland General. As she learns more about the Woodlanders and herself, Roan learns that nothing is as it seems.
All in all, I really enjoyed this! The cast of characters in Benyu Born of Ash are a really engaging group of morally grey / secretive individuals. I loved Roan as a protagonist - she's a little reckless, but her desire to save the people she cares about really made her an awesome character. The other major players Galin and Talc (yes I'm just listing the characters in the preorder incentive at this point) were really interesting, too! Although I'm kind of the president of Talc's hate club right now - I'm interested to see what he's up to. Galin is an interesting male lead because I wasn't sure if I should be rooting for Roan to trust him or not. All in all, the character arcs really shine in this! I can't wait to see the interplay between these three reach new heights as the series progresses. Also the side characters are fantastic! Galin's circle of friends/allies stole the show along with Roan's brother Leif. As a big fan of ensemble casts, the side characters were among my favorite characters and I'm really looking forward to seeing them in the next installment!
I really think Benyu Born of Ash is incredible and can't wait to see where the plot goes next and how the cast of characters will deal with the new developments and twists!
Special Thanks to NetGalley and Acorn Publishing, Inc. for the eARC!
April 19, 2022
I did receive a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is the first book in a new fantasy series starring Roan, a 19yo girl who finds herself in a sticky situation when she unknowingly signs a blood bargain forcing her to marry General Galin Greenhart, and catapulting herself into the middle of a political war and court intrigue. Add in the fact that she has some magical powers she doesn’t quite understand, and this is the beginning of a lovely little bundle of fantasy love for me.
It has magic, enemies to lovers/marriage of convenience tropes, a giant fictional world complete with a map in the front cover and mythical history, territorial males and fae folk, basically everything everyone loves.
I think if you like books such as Throne of Glass or From Blood and Ash, then this is definitely a book that needs to be on your radar
I really liked Roan and Galin as romantic leads and I thought the plot twists were really great and something fresh and new. I will say that the pacing between the first half and the second half felt a bit off, and some reveals or solutions felt sort of cliche to me.
But overall, I think this is a fun series and I cannot wait for book two! I need to know what happens next.
This is the first book in a new fantasy series starring Roan, a 19yo girl who finds herself in a sticky situation when she unknowingly signs a blood bargain forcing her to marry General Galin Greenhart, and catapulting herself into the middle of a political war and court intrigue. Add in the fact that she has some magical powers she doesn’t quite understand, and this is the beginning of a lovely little bundle of fantasy love for me.
It has magic, enemies to lovers/marriage of convenience tropes, a giant fictional world complete with a map in the front cover and mythical history, territorial males and fae folk, basically everything everyone loves.
I think if you like books such as Throne of Glass or From Blood and Ash, then this is definitely a book that needs to be on your radar
I really liked Roan and Galin as romantic leads and I thought the plot twists were really great and something fresh and new. I will say that the pacing between the first half and the second half felt a bit off, and some reveals or solutions felt sort of cliche to me.
But overall, I think this is a fun series and I cannot wait for book two! I need to know what happens next.
January 18, 2022
An absolutely thrilling debut novel, and one I’m so happy to have gotten as an ARC! It feels like I’m in on a delicious secret that I can’t wait for the rest of the world to know.
The world building is so intricate and complex, without being overly heavy. I love the way Katie winds mystery, politics, and intrigue throughout the story. The book started with a bang, slowed down a bit in the middle, but picked back up to resolve in such an intriguing-yet-satisfying way. Even during the slower middle of the book, the threads of mystery kept me hooked, turning the pages, eager to discover the truth. The writing really makes you dive headfirst into the main character; I loved how we learned truths as Roan learned truths. Roan is imperfect, flawed, but deeply relatable because of it. She’s also a determined, fierce, and inspiring female protagonist, which is always a huge bonus for me. Not to mention the utterly gorgeous and poetic prose interlaced throughout the story. Benyu Born Of Ash is going straight to the top of my recommendations list, and now that I’m finished with book 1, I cannot wait for the rest of this series!
The world building is so intricate and complex, without being overly heavy. I love the way Katie winds mystery, politics, and intrigue throughout the story. The book started with a bang, slowed down a bit in the middle, but picked back up to resolve in such an intriguing-yet-satisfying way. Even during the slower middle of the book, the threads of mystery kept me hooked, turning the pages, eager to discover the truth. The writing really makes you dive headfirst into the main character; I loved how we learned truths as Roan learned truths. Roan is imperfect, flawed, but deeply relatable because of it. She’s also a determined, fierce, and inspiring female protagonist, which is always a huge bonus for me. Not to mention the utterly gorgeous and poetic prose interlaced throughout the story. Benyu Born Of Ash is going straight to the top of my recommendations list, and now that I’m finished with book 1, I cannot wait for the rest of this series!
January 16, 2022
I haven't turned pages or formulated wild theories like this in a very long time! Do yourself a favor and clear some time in your schedule when you decide to crack this one open....it is impossible to put down!
In Benyu Born of Ash you'll follow Neurodivergent Elemental, Roan, as she discovers that life as she knows it isn't what it seems. This reading experience is akin to pulling on a lose thread absentmindedly,once the unraveling of this story begins there's no stopping it! You'll meet roguish generals and sinister priests.You'll travel through otherworldly locations and be immersed in a web of intricately spun lore. At times you'll feel swept away on a grand adventure and yet you'll always feel grounded by the familiar human emotion that drives this story.
Feavel serves up a feast for the senses with her debut fantasy novel. Her rich world building, political intrigue,and breakneck pacing make this a supremely good time while the flawed and intensely human characters make this story so much more. It isn't just the plot that your unravel here,each character is a puzzle and you will go on a journey with each as you come to understand their motivations, strengths,and weaknesses.
Benyu will keep you guessing until it's final pages and then leave you longing for more!
In Benyu Born of Ash you'll follow Neurodivergent Elemental, Roan, as she discovers that life as she knows it isn't what it seems. This reading experience is akin to pulling on a lose thread absentmindedly,once the unraveling of this story begins there's no stopping it! You'll meet roguish generals and sinister priests.You'll travel through otherworldly locations and be immersed in a web of intricately spun lore. At times you'll feel swept away on a grand adventure and yet you'll always feel grounded by the familiar human emotion that drives this story.
Feavel serves up a feast for the senses with her debut fantasy novel. Her rich world building, political intrigue,and breakneck pacing make this a supremely good time while the flawed and intensely human characters make this story so much more. It isn't just the plot that your unravel here,each character is a puzzle and you will go on a journey with each as you come to understand their motivations, strengths,and weaknesses.
Benyu will keep you guessing until it's final pages and then leave you longing for more!
May 15, 2022
This book… there are so many twists and turns that were beautifully played out. I was surprised and needed to know more. Roan is sassy af and I love it! I also don’t know what team I’m on. I love/hate both guys in her orbit. 😅
Similar vibes as Fortuna Sworn and Throne of Glass. A girl with powers she doesn’t know anything about and is protective of the people she loves. It’s only the first book of the series and I already know I’m going to be addicted to it!
Read if you enjoy:
• Enemies to lovers
• Arranged marriage
• Morally grey characters
• Fantasy/magic
I really enjoyed reading this book. I also listened to the audiobook which just added to the awesomeness! The writing was so beautiful, the imagery truly transported me to Roan’s world.
January 7, 2022
Fast paced, angsty, eventful. This book was such a ride! Everyone is morally-grey, there is no single character that is totally good or bad. Galin is a sweetheart, but am I intrigued by Talc, who (seems) to be the bad guy? Yes. Roan was reckless to the center of her bones, but girl is in for a long journey. I love the characters and the plot, but I hope in the next book we will get clearer explanation about the world and the magic system to understand what is going on better. But overall, it was a nice read! Looking forward the next book!
< Review copy received via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review >
< Review copy received via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review >
February 8, 2022
Left speechless!
I went into this without any expectations and ended up finding a new author and series I adore. The plot pulled me in from the first chapter and I loved the strong world-building.
Roan’s journey was captivating. Her character growth is absolutely phenomenal…from learning to control her abilities to saving her village and family. Galin also tugged on my heartstrings by the end of the book. I was initially skeptical of him and I’m glad my first impression of him was wrong.
I can’t wait for book two in this amazing series. I highly recommend it.
I went into this without any expectations and ended up finding a new author and series I adore. The plot pulled me in from the first chapter and I loved the strong world-building.
Roan’s journey was captivating. Her character growth is absolutely phenomenal…from learning to control her abilities to saving her village and family. Galin also tugged on my heartstrings by the end of the book. I was initially skeptical of him and I’m glad my first impression of him was wrong.
I can’t wait for book two in this amazing series. I highly recommend it.
Read
March 21, 2022As it happens sometimes, I tried. I really wanted to love this because I only heard good about it, and I also heard the villain is worth to keep an eye on but I just couldn't get into it.
I can't really tell if I would have loved it or not by the end as I gave up at chapter 4, which is probably the earliest I ever gave up on a book. Could be the wrong head space or anything, really.
I can't really tell if I would have loved it or not by the end as I gave up at chapter 4, which is probably the earliest I ever gave up on a book. Could be the wrong head space or anything, really.
January 31, 2022
"Today, I will be nothing if not fierce, unwavering flame. I am the benyu, born of the veiny red clay and white ash of the Roan."
This book was everything I wanted and more than I ever expected. Political intrigue, magic, hidden truths, fantasy, romance, and morally gray characters - just a few of the themes that made this book a page-turner. The thought and imagination that the author put into the world building and character development was not lost on this reader. For the first time in a very long time I actually had FUN reading and theorizing how the story would unfold.
Roan, the main character, is a neurodivergent who struggles with her magic and how she handles relationships with those around her. At first, I thought she was rude and I didn't understand her actions but as the story progressed and I learned more about her character and her thought process behind her actions ... well I don't want to give away too much but her development as a character was just what I was hoping for. I look forward to her stepping into her full power and becoming the truly strong character I know she can be.
The story as a whole flowed effortlessly. It was incredibly easy to follow - but the twists and turns will keep you guessing everything until the end. The world building, character building, and story progression were balanced perfectly and the ending will have you satisfied but definitely wanting more.
This book was everything I wanted and more than I ever expected. Political intrigue, magic, hidden truths, fantasy, romance, and morally gray characters - just a few of the themes that made this book a page-turner. The thought and imagination that the author put into the world building and character development was not lost on this reader. For the first time in a very long time I actually had FUN reading and theorizing how the story would unfold.
Roan, the main character, is a neurodivergent who struggles with her magic and how she handles relationships with those around her. At first, I thought she was rude and I didn't understand her actions but as the story progressed and I learned more about her character and her thought process behind her actions ... well I don't want to give away too much but her development as a character was just what I was hoping for. I look forward to her stepping into her full power and becoming the truly strong character I know she can be.
The story as a whole flowed effortlessly. It was incredibly easy to follow - but the twists and turns will keep you guessing everything until the end. The world building, character building, and story progression were balanced perfectly and the ending will have you satisfied but definitely wanting more.
February 2, 2022
Benyu Born of Ash is a must read!!!
Benyu Born of Ash is a beautifully written story that captivates the reader and propels them into a new reality filled with twists and turns, secrets and deceptions, glamor and hidden magic. I connected deeply with the main character Roan, who is strong, resilient, determined and also happens to be neruodivergent. The author, Katie Feavel, does an immaculate job utilizing rich word choice and vivid imagery allowing the reader to feel like they are in the story. This is truly one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read!
Benyu Born of Ash is a beautifully written story that captivates the reader and propels them into a new reality filled with twists and turns, secrets and deceptions, glamor and hidden magic. I connected deeply with the main character Roan, who is strong, resilient, determined and also happens to be neruodivergent. The author, Katie Feavel, does an immaculate job utilizing rich word choice and vivid imagery allowing the reader to feel like they are in the story. This is truly one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read!
June 1, 2023
For all my fantasy readers or people who want to dive into fantasy, this one is a must read! I am going to say that I’ve been anticipating this book since the day I started following the author on bookstagram and when I got the eARC for Benyu, I was SO excited. So, thank you katiefeavel for having me become one of your early readers!
I must say that I was completely blown away by this story. The writing is AMAZING and there’s a lot that goes into world building and politics so I feel that Katie did such a good job making sure everything flowed well and was easy to follow. There were no crazy info dumps (because I seriously hate that with a passion).
You have the main character Roan, who is a neurodivergent, and you first see how she struggles with her magic when she was younger, and how it has affected her relationships with family and the other people around her. It made me feel sad for her and you start to understand some of her actions whenever something bad happens BUT I don’t want to go too far into that because you just have to read it! The character development on Roan throughout this story is *chefs kiss*. I just know shes going to be such a badass in the second book.
“Not everything is as it seems” is repeated a lot throughout the book and it’s for a reason. I was pleasantly surprised with all the plot twists in this story and tbh I didn’t expect a lot of them. 😅
Galin is another main character in this book that I still don’t have thoughts on yet. From the beginning I didn’t trust him (or maybe just didn’t really like??) and I’m not so sure if I still trust him. There were a few hidden truths that were revealed towards the end of this book so I guess I’ll wait until the 2nd book to really see how I feel about him.
Lastly Talc…I definitely wanted more of him and I think the author purposely didn’t give him a lot of screen time for a reason and now I’m craving more. I have so many thoughts!
Overall, this is a series I’m committed to. I cannot wait for pub day so I can get a physical copy!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC but a huge thank you to Katie for sending me an e-copy as well!
I must say that I was completely blown away by this story. The writing is AMAZING and there’s a lot that goes into world building and politics so I feel that Katie did such a good job making sure everything flowed well and was easy to follow. There were no crazy info dumps (because I seriously hate that with a passion).
You have the main character Roan, who is a neurodivergent, and you first see how she struggles with her magic when she was younger, and how it has affected her relationships with family and the other people around her. It made me feel sad for her and you start to understand some of her actions whenever something bad happens BUT I don’t want to go too far into that because you just have to read it! The character development on Roan throughout this story is *chefs kiss*. I just know shes going to be such a badass in the second book.
“Not everything is as it seems” is repeated a lot throughout the book and it’s for a reason. I was pleasantly surprised with all the plot twists in this story and tbh I didn’t expect a lot of them. 😅
Galin is another main character in this book that I still don’t have thoughts on yet. From the beginning I didn’t trust him (or maybe just didn’t really like??) and I’m not so sure if I still trust him. There were a few hidden truths that were revealed towards the end of this book so I guess I’ll wait until the 2nd book to really see how I feel about him.
Lastly Talc…I definitely wanted more of him and I think the author purposely didn’t give him a lot of screen time for a reason and now I’m craving more. I have so many thoughts!
Overall, this is a series I’m committed to. I cannot wait for pub day so I can get a physical copy!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC but a huge thank you to Katie for sending me an e-copy as well!
February 10, 2022
This book grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go! The characters were a joy to get to know, each one layered and unique. The world building was so detailed, I felt as though I was submersed in the story right along with the characters. And when I thought I had figured out who to trust and the motives behind their actions, something would happen that would have me on the edge of my seat and prove how wrong I was! This was a completely engrossing and enjoyable read, and I am looking forward to the next in the series!
February 18, 2022
I bought this book because the plot sounded interesting, and I knew that I probably wouldn’t hate it. What I didn’t expect was to love it as much as I did! You can see the nods and the inspiration taken from other fantasy novels (especially ACOTAR), but I don’t know that I would have noticed it as much had I not just read ACORAR. The beginning of the book was definitely slow, but it was needed in order to really gain the back story and world building. I read the book in two evenings - staying up well past midnight in order to finish it.
April 11, 2022
5 Stars
I loved this story so much. Roan is fierce and her connection with Galin is swoon-worthy! I can't wait for book 2!
I loved this story so much. Roan is fierce and her connection with Galin is swoon-worthy! I can't wait for book 2!
February 28, 2022
I loved this book! Can’t wait for the second book in the series to come out!
December 14, 2021
I really had fun with this book. My main complaint would be that since this is the first book in what seems to be a series, it would have been nice to have a sort of glossary at the back. I figured it out as I continued reading but at first, I was incredibly confused. Another sort of complaint is that the main character's name is Roan and the sort of bird/land that the MC is from is called the Roan as well. Would have been nice to have some sort of distinction, maybe Roan with a lowercase r or maybe in italics. My last complaint, although this passed eventually is that in the first maybe quarter of the book, Roan, our main character, keeps fainting. It is a bit unnerving and it made me slightly annoyed that at the end of each chapter was her fainting and blacking out. While I understand the circumstances, it felt very choppy to some extent.
With my complaints out of the way, here are some things I liked: Roan was very interesting and is a neurodivergent character. I found it interesting the way she was portrayed which is maybe why she rubbed me in the wrong way sometimes. She would constantly go between hating Galin's whole existence to saying "I am his, he is mine" which was a tad annoying but I got through it.
I think the romance between Galin and Roan was good, again, I was confused with the magic system and all that stuff, especially the glamour thing that Galin used. Hopefully, that is explained in the next books.
Overall, good book. My rating is a 4.75
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review**
With my complaints out of the way, here are some things I liked: Roan was very interesting and is a neurodivergent character. I found it interesting the way she was portrayed which is maybe why she rubbed me in the wrong way sometimes. She would constantly go between hating Galin's whole existence to saying "I am his, he is mine" which was a tad annoying but I got through it.
I think the romance between Galin and Roan was good, again, I was confused with the magic system and all that stuff, especially the glamour thing that Galin used. Hopefully, that is explained in the next books.
Overall, good book. My rating is a 4.75
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review**
December 27, 2021
I was so excited to read this story by Katie Faevel since I'm a fan of hers on Instagram. I'd seen glowing reviews of her work and the artwork and cover art really made me eager to dive into her world. I signed up to be an advanced reader as soon as this story was released. I got an ARC both from Netgalley and Katie, directly, and as soon as I started reading I knew this book was something special.
Roan is a fantastic protagonist. I love that she's neurodivergent, and I feel like her struggles to read are genuinely portrayed with understanding and tact. She's resilient and determined and I found my feelings towards characters and situations often mirrored hers. She made me feel what she was feeling and think what she was thinking, so that I experienced the joys, embarrassment, shock and triumphs along with her.
From the start I loved Galin, but along the way I had my doubts, as Roan did. If you like steamy reads, we start to see a bit at the end, but I'm hoping for more in book 2 and beyond! And of course we have a great villain in Talc. That scene! Wow! Probably one of my favorites, and the most shocking, of the book.
This incredible story is just the beginning of a magical and richly creative world. As I got to the last few chapters I kept hoping for more. The last half hour of reading really blew me away. There was a lot that I didn't see coming and now that we understand the line "not everything is as it seems" I can't wait to see what happens next to all these characters. We've only scratched the surface of Katie's unique and imaginative world with Benyu.
Definitely recommend for fantasy fans!
Roan is a fantastic protagonist. I love that she's neurodivergent, and I feel like her struggles to read are genuinely portrayed with understanding and tact. She's resilient and determined and I found my feelings towards characters and situations often mirrored hers. She made me feel what she was feeling and think what she was thinking, so that I experienced the joys, embarrassment, shock and triumphs along with her.
From the start I loved Galin, but along the way I had my doubts, as Roan did. If you like steamy reads, we start to see a bit at the end, but I'm hoping for more in book 2 and beyond! And of course we have a great villain in Talc. That scene! Wow! Probably one of my favorites, and the most shocking, of the book.
This incredible story is just the beginning of a magical and richly creative world. As I got to the last few chapters I kept hoping for more. The last half hour of reading really blew me away. There was a lot that I didn't see coming and now that we understand the line "not everything is as it seems" I can't wait to see what happens next to all these characters. We've only scratched the surface of Katie's unique and imaginative world with Benyu.
Definitely recommend for fantasy fans!
January 24, 2022
“Not everything is as it seems”
Roan is an outsider, her Elemental abilities make it really hard for her to fit in. As a nine year old she is kicked out of school for boiling a bully’s arm just by touching it. On her 19th birthday, in an effort to save her people she makes a blood bargain with the General of the Woodlanders Galin. Roan will marry this General that she knows not to trust, and will move to the Woodlands with him. As Roan starts to learn how to manage her powers, she also learns about who she. She is born from the ashes and her destiny is unlike she could have imagined. Along this journey Roan must not forget that “not everything is as it seems.”
I adored Roan from the first pages of this book, she knew she was different and learned to discover she was special. The relationship growing between Galin and Roan is fun to see. She doesn’t trust him, and it’s not love at first sight but as she gets to know him better she realizes that he keeps secrets to protect her.
I loved the character development of both the main characters and the side characters. The author did such a great job at helping us understand inner turmoil as well as outward struggles the characters faced. The world building was so well done. As someone who is not a high fantasy reader, this felt so more realistic to me.
This book has it all, twists and turns, romance, fairies, fantastical creatures, and magic.
Wow what a cliffhanger! Now I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
Roan is an outsider, her Elemental abilities make it really hard for her to fit in. As a nine year old she is kicked out of school for boiling a bully’s arm just by touching it. On her 19th birthday, in an effort to save her people she makes a blood bargain with the General of the Woodlanders Galin. Roan will marry this General that she knows not to trust, and will move to the Woodlands with him. As Roan starts to learn how to manage her powers, she also learns about who she. She is born from the ashes and her destiny is unlike she could have imagined. Along this journey Roan must not forget that “not everything is as it seems.”
I adored Roan from the first pages of this book, she knew she was different and learned to discover she was special. The relationship growing between Galin and Roan is fun to see. She doesn’t trust him, and it’s not love at first sight but as she gets to know him better she realizes that he keeps secrets to protect her.
I loved the character development of both the main characters and the side characters. The author did such a great job at helping us understand inner turmoil as well as outward struggles the characters faced. The world building was so well done. As someone who is not a high fantasy reader, this felt so more realistic to me.
This book has it all, twists and turns, romance, fairies, fantastical creatures, and magic.
Wow what a cliffhanger! Now I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
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