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Shattered Gods #5
The Ashlands
A Desert of Living Death
Four centuries ago the Stewards rained ash on the heartland of an empire for the year of a day, murdering the Elentian Empire, and orphaning the Hasran Imperium where I was born.
The stories say the ash drains magic, and that any who ventures into the ashlands will need to contend with the armies of unliving swimming beneath the ash. Unliving as old as the Mad Imperator Jhordil himself.
My final tomb lays somewhere out in that terrible ocean of soot. Before I can help Li, or settle the Hasran civil war, I need to find it. I need to understand who and what I am if I am ever to fight my aunt, or the demon princes she no doubt controls.
I will sail into those uncharted lands, and I will prevail. I have to. The cycle depends on it.
Four centuries ago the Stewards rained ash on the heartland of an empire for the year of a day, murdering the Elentian Empire, and orphaning the Hasran Imperium where I was born.
The stories say the ash drains magic, and that any who ventures into the ashlands will need to contend with the armies of unliving swimming beneath the ash. Unliving as old as the Mad Imperator Jhordil himself.
My final tomb lays somewhere out in that terrible ocean of soot. Before I can help Li, or settle the Hasran civil war, I need to find it. I need to understand who and what I am if I am ever to fight my aunt, or the demon princes she no doubt controls.
I will sail into those uncharted lands, and I will prevail. I have to. The cycle depends on it.
- GenresFantasy
570 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 30, 2022
About the author
Chris Fox
87 books679 followersBy day I am an iPhone developer architecting the app used to scope Stephen Colbert’s ear. By night I am Batman. Ok maybe not. One can dream though, right?
I’ve been writing since I was six years old and started inflicting my work on others at age 18. By age 24 people stopped running away when I approached them with a new story and shortly thereafter I published my first one in the Rifter.
Wait you’re still reading?
Ok, the facts I’m supposed to list in a bio. As of this writing I’m 38 years old and live just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the beautiful town of Mill Valley. If you’re unsure how to find it just follow the smell of self-entitlement. Once you see the teens driving Teslas you’ll know you’re in the right place.
I live in a tiny studio that I can cross in (literally) five steps and don’t own an oven. But you know what? It’s worth it. I love developing iPhone apps and if you want to work in San Francisco you accept that rent for a tiny place costs more than most people’s mortgage.
If you and about 2 million other people start buying my books I promise to move out of Marin to a house in the redwoods up in Guerneville. No pressure. Wait that’s a lie. Pressure.
I’ve been writing since I was six years old and started inflicting my work on others at age 18. By age 24 people stopped running away when I approached them with a new story and shortly thereafter I published my first one in the Rifter.
Wait you’re still reading?
Ok, the facts I’m supposed to list in a bio. As of this writing I’m 38 years old and live just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the beautiful town of Mill Valley. If you’re unsure how to find it just follow the smell of self-entitlement. Once you see the teens driving Teslas you’ll know you’re in the right place.
I live in a tiny studio that I can cross in (literally) five steps and don’t own an oven. But you know what? It’s worth it. I love developing iPhone apps and if you want to work in San Francisco you accept that rent for a tiny place costs more than most people’s mortgage.
If you and about 2 million other people start buying my books I promise to move out of Marin to a house in the redwoods up in Guerneville. No pressure. Wait that’s a lie. Pressure.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 22, 2023
Ashland's? More like the smashlands... I'll see myself out...
Spoiler alert btw!
Normally I dislike the addition of a last minute threat to the cosmos. It just seems a little childish to build up this massive threat, and then at the last minute introduce someone even they fear...
Especially considering all of the other threats had been slowly but surely revealed, and artfully I may add.
But this again, felt natural, so I cannot fault it. I am excited to see where the series goes next!
Another note, and this one is a super spoiler, so do not read this if you are yet to read the book...
You gone?
Of course you are not!
Go...
Now?
Oh well, on your head be it.
I kind of felt the relationship between Li and Xal was a little forced, and kind of unnecessary background detail. I am all for romance and the promise of sexy times... But it felt a little shoe horned in. And I felt she wasn't really necessary until the bit where they retrieved her and got life magic.
The mortal equivalent of a magical macguffon.
But these scenes were few and far between so they really didn't wreck my immersion or my enjoyment of the story.
It's like when a friend tells you about a clearly made up story about them and some other person getting it on... Clearly made up but not something you would typically question them on.
What was I writing?
Spoiler alert btw!
Normally I dislike the addition of a last minute threat to the cosmos. It just seems a little childish to build up this massive threat, and then at the last minute introduce someone even they fear...
Especially considering all of the other threats had been slowly but surely revealed, and artfully I may add.
But this again, felt natural, so I cannot fault it. I am excited to see where the series goes next!
Another note, and this one is a super spoiler, so do not read this if you are yet to read the book...
You gone?
Of course you are not!
Go...
Now?
Oh well, on your head be it.
I kind of felt the relationship between Li and Xal was a little forced, and kind of unnecessary background detail. I am all for romance and the promise of sexy times... But it felt a little shoe horned in. And I felt she wasn't really necessary until the bit where they retrieved her and got life magic.
The mortal equivalent of a magical macguffon.
But these scenes were few and far between so they really didn't wreck my immersion or my enjoyment of the story.
It's like when a friend tells you about a clearly made up story about them and some other person getting it on... Clearly made up but not something you would typically question them on.
What was I writing?
January 6, 2023
Book 5
All of the dreams and worries of Xal are coming true this one is the best so far and now I have to wait until what Summer for the next book.
Mr Fox has out done himself in this story.
Now I'm in limbo for the next book from this Author.
And I'm doing the same for one of my other favorite Authors Mr D A Roberts.
All of the dreams and worries of Xal are coming true this one is the best so far and now I have to wait until what Summer for the next book.
Mr Fox has out done himself in this story.
Now I'm in limbo for the next book from this Author.
And I'm doing the same for one of my other favorite Authors Mr D A Roberts.
January 15, 2023
Wonderful
This book was "edge of your seat" interesting. I like how I am made to see or guess at the events like the characters and it does really make you a part of the story! Need the next one already!
This book was "edge of your seat" interesting. I like how I am made to see or guess at the events like the characters and it does really make you a part of the story! Need the next one already!
Read
March 10, 2023Great story
A very fun continuation of the story. Alot of things moving, and some big players are joining the start of the godswar. In the next chapter of the story I look forward to seeing what Xal and his allies do to fight back against his enemies.
A very fun continuation of the story. Alot of things moving, and some big players are joining the start of the godswar. In the next chapter of the story I look forward to seeing what Xal and his allies do to fight back against his enemies.
August 11, 2024
Another Great Story
This was another great story in this series. I really enjoy the characters in the story. Hopefully the forces of good will triumph over evil.
This was another great story in this series. I really enjoy the characters in the story. Hopefully the forces of good will triumph over evil.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews