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Ember and Ash
The old ones will have their revenge.
Two peoples have been fighting over the same land for a thousand years. Invaders crushed the original inhabitants, and ancient powers have reluctantly given way to newer magics. But Ember was to change all this with a wedding to bind these warring people together -- until her future goes up in flames.
Ember's husband-to-be is murdered by a vengeful elemental god, who sees peace as a breach of faith. Set on retribution, she enlists the help of Ash, son of a seer. Together they will pit themselves against elementals of fire and ice in a last attempt to end the conflicts that have scarred their past. They must look to the present, as old furies are waking to violence and are eager to reclaim their people.
Two peoples have been fighting over the same land for a thousand years. Invaders crushed the original inhabitants, and ancient powers have reluctantly given way to newer magics. But Ember was to change all this with a wedding to bind these warring people together -- until her future goes up in flames.
Ember's husband-to-be is murdered by a vengeful elemental god, who sees peace as a breach of faith. Set on retribution, she enlists the help of Ash, son of a seer. Together they will pit themselves against elementals of fire and ice in a last attempt to end the conflicts that have scarred their past. They must look to the present, as old furies are waking to violence and are eager to reclaim their people.
528 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
18 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Freeman
47 books144 followersPamela Freeman is an Australian author of books for both adults and children. Most of her work is fantasy but she has also written mystery stories, science fiction, family dramas and non-fiction. Her first adult series, the Castings Trilogy (Blood Ties, Deep Water and Full Circle) is published globally by Orbit books. She is best known in Australia for the junior novel Victor’s Quest and an associated series, the Floramonde books, and for The Black Dress: Mary MacKillop’s Early Years, which won the NSW Premier’s History Prize in 2006.
As of 2015, she will also be publishing historical novels under the name Pamela Hart.
As of 2015, she will also be publishing historical novels under the name Pamela Hart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 14, 2012
I liked the intricate way that the spiritual beliefs of the characters and magic were interwoven into this story. There is depth in this novel, but it was also an easy read. I'd recommend it to traditional fantasy readers.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
April 8, 2012
Originally posted here: http://tsanasreads.tumblr.com/post/20...
Ember and Ash by Pamela Freeman is a set twenty years after the events at the end of the Castings Trilogy (Blood Ties, Deep Water and Full Circle). It is technically a sequel, and some of the characters from Castings do pop up again, but it very much stands alone. I think the main thing one would miss from not reading Castings, is a deeper exploration of the past colonial racism and oppression. Oh, and there are some spoilers for who survives the world almost ending in Castings, although not all the prominent Castings characters rate a mention.
A few words on comparisons with the Castings Trilogy first. Castings is a story about colonial invasion, ongoing racial oppression and revenge. It’s much more violent than Ember and Ash and found some aspects (there was a lot of — realistic — sexual violence) very haunting. In terms of social world building, parallels between the Travellers, the oppressed original inhabitants of the Domains, can be drawn to just about any displaced indigenous peoples. However, in Ember and Ash there is less overt racism and, while still relevant, race plays a less life-defining role.
Ember and Ash is more a story about places and the powers that reside in different landscapes. The Ice King, who made some background appearances in Castings, is much more prominent, ditto the Power of Fire. It’s also a story about how tenuous the status quo can be and how legal equality does not necessarily translate to social equality, especially when things start to go wrong.
This is the kind of book you can’t read too quickly lest you don’t absorb all of it. Freeman’s writing style is somewhat literary, dwelling on magical symbolism as much, if not more, than action. In some ways, it reminds me of Margo Lanagan’s Tender Morsels, but in style more than content. There was also a lot of lovely imagery, some of it bordering on metaphorical.
The story opens with Ember’s marriage ceremony going awry when the Power (spirit/god) of Fire makes an appearance and takes back the gift of fire until such time as Ember makes the long journey to Fire Mountain. And incidentally, he incinerates her husband. And so begins the quest. Aided by Ash, her sort-of-cousin-but-technically-nephew-and-not-by-blood-anyway, and a few other friends, relatives and guards, she sets off. Meanwhile, the people left behind — her father the Warlord, her mother the seer — are left to organise some means of surviving the not-as-distant-as-it-previously-seemed winter without any fire.
I very much liked Ember as a character. Raised to be a Warlord’s wife by her father and skilled in negotiation, her Traveller mother makes sure Ember knows other practical skills as well. Ash starts off thinking of Ember as his silly highborn cousin who cares only for a good marriage. As the story progresses and Ember is given the chance to prove herself on their journey, he comes to respect her intelligence and character. It was very well done and an interesting transition to watch.
I enjoyed Ember and Ash, but I think I liked Castings more. In the end, despite a similar style, they are structured very differently with different aspects of world-building as story foci. On the other hand, Ember and Ash was more consistently enjoyable since, unlike Castings, it didn’t have interludes of miscellaneous cameo characters between PoV character chapters. In Castings those broke up the flow a bit, despite it all coming together at the end. The romantic plot line in Ember and Ash is unconventional (I don’t think I can explain how without spoilers) but more prominent than any in Castings.
Ultimately, I think more nuance will come through in Ember and Ash if you’ve read Castings before it, but Castings is not for the faint of heart and not necessary to enjoy Ember and Ash.
4.5 / 5 stars
Ember and Ash by Pamela Freeman is a set twenty years after the events at the end of the Castings Trilogy (Blood Ties, Deep Water and Full Circle). It is technically a sequel, and some of the characters from Castings do pop up again, but it very much stands alone. I think the main thing one would miss from not reading Castings, is a deeper exploration of the past colonial racism and oppression. Oh, and there are some spoilers for who survives the world almost ending in Castings, although not all the prominent Castings characters rate a mention.
A few words on comparisons with the Castings Trilogy first. Castings is a story about colonial invasion, ongoing racial oppression and revenge. It’s much more violent than Ember and Ash and found some aspects (there was a lot of — realistic — sexual violence) very haunting. In terms of social world building, parallels between the Travellers, the oppressed original inhabitants of the Domains, can be drawn to just about any displaced indigenous peoples. However, in Ember and Ash there is less overt racism and, while still relevant, race plays a less life-defining role.
Ember and Ash is more a story about places and the powers that reside in different landscapes. The Ice King, who made some background appearances in Castings, is much more prominent, ditto the Power of Fire. It’s also a story about how tenuous the status quo can be and how legal equality does not necessarily translate to social equality, especially when things start to go wrong.
This is the kind of book you can’t read too quickly lest you don’t absorb all of it. Freeman’s writing style is somewhat literary, dwelling on magical symbolism as much, if not more, than action. In some ways, it reminds me of Margo Lanagan’s Tender Morsels, but in style more than content. There was also a lot of lovely imagery, some of it bordering on metaphorical.
The story opens with Ember’s marriage ceremony going awry when the Power (spirit/god) of Fire makes an appearance and takes back the gift of fire until such time as Ember makes the long journey to Fire Mountain. And incidentally, he incinerates her husband. And so begins the quest. Aided by Ash, her sort-of-cousin-but-technically-nephew-and-not-by-blood-anyway, and a few other friends, relatives and guards, she sets off. Meanwhile, the people left behind — her father the Warlord, her mother the seer — are left to organise some means of surviving the not-as-distant-as-it-previously-seemed winter without any fire.
I very much liked Ember as a character. Raised to be a Warlord’s wife by her father and skilled in negotiation, her Traveller mother makes sure Ember knows other practical skills as well. Ash starts off thinking of Ember as his silly highborn cousin who cares only for a good marriage. As the story progresses and Ember is given the chance to prove herself on their journey, he comes to respect her intelligence and character. It was very well done and an interesting transition to watch.
I enjoyed Ember and Ash, but I think I liked Castings more. In the end, despite a similar style, they are structured very differently with different aspects of world-building as story foci. On the other hand, Ember and Ash was more consistently enjoyable since, unlike Castings, it didn’t have interludes of miscellaneous cameo characters between PoV character chapters. In Castings those broke up the flow a bit, despite it all coming together at the end. The romantic plot line in Ember and Ash is unconventional (I don’t think I can explain how without spoilers) but more prominent than any in Castings.
Ultimately, I think more nuance will come through in Ember and Ash if you’ve read Castings before it, but Castings is not for the faint of heart and not necessary to enjoy Ember and Ash.
4.5 / 5 stars
October 1, 2011
"Ember and Ash" takes place several years after the Castings Trilogy, but is set in the same world and some of the characters from the trilogy make an appearance in this book. Ember is the daughter of Arvid, the warlord, and Martine, the stonecaster. Ash is the son of the seer, Elva. I really enjoyed visiting Ms. Freeman's world again and learning more about the elemental gods, such as Fire, Water and Air. The author's world and character building was beautifully done.
Ember was a great character--strong, determined, and willing to make difficult sacrifices to help her people. And, I loved Ash's loyalty, protectiveness and committment to her. Their journey to the Fire Mountain was thrilling and fraught with all kinds of challenges and danger.
Arvid's attitude toward Martine made me grit my teeth a few times, and I admired her ability to face his anger and coldness with calm serenity. He did, however, redeem himself later on in my eyes.
Ms. Freeman's lyrical descriptions of the country, creatures, peoples and Powers of the Eleven Domains kept me turning page after page and added to my enjoyment of this novel. I could almost feel the brutal cold of the Ice King and the scorching flames of the elemental god, Fire.
I found the ending to be very satisfactory and would highly recommend this book to any fan of fantasy.
Ember was a great character--strong, determined, and willing to make difficult sacrifices to help her people. And, I loved Ash's loyalty, protectiveness and committment to her. Their journey to the Fire Mountain was thrilling and fraught with all kinds of challenges and danger.
Arvid's attitude toward Martine made me grit my teeth a few times, and I admired her ability to face his anger and coldness with calm serenity. He did, however, redeem himself later on in my eyes.
Ms. Freeman's lyrical descriptions of the country, creatures, peoples and Powers of the Eleven Domains kept me turning page after page and added to my enjoyment of this novel. I could almost feel the brutal cold of the Ice King and the scorching flames of the elemental god, Fire.
I found the ending to be very satisfactory and would highly recommend this book to any fan of fantasy.
October 10, 2017
Pamela Freeman is the author of a brilliant fantasy trilogy called ‘The Castings,’ comprised of Blood Ties, Deep Water and Full Circle, which I really loved.
Ember and Ash is a stand-alone novel set in the same universe but a generation after the events of the trilogy. It begins with the wedding night of the heroine, Ember. Her husband is killed within moments of them taking their vows, by a vengeful elemental god. The tragedy re-opens old wounds and destabilises the fragile peace of the land. Ember sets out on a quest to defeat the god and save her people, accompanied by one of her kin, Ash, the son of a seer. Their journey will test them to their limits, and help remake their world forever.
It was wonderful to return to the world of ‘The Castings’, where every new-born child is named for the first thing the mother sees after the baby is born. One of the things I love about Pamela’s writing is the way the stories of minor characters are given unexpected weight, so that everyone’s lives have meaning. She is also courageous enough to give us an unexpected ending which nonetheless rings true with the world she has created.
Ember and Ash is a stand-alone novel set in the same universe but a generation after the events of the trilogy. It begins with the wedding night of the heroine, Ember. Her husband is killed within moments of them taking their vows, by a vengeful elemental god. The tragedy re-opens old wounds and destabilises the fragile peace of the land. Ember sets out on a quest to defeat the god and save her people, accompanied by one of her kin, Ash, the son of a seer. Their journey will test them to their limits, and help remake their world forever.
It was wonderful to return to the world of ‘The Castings’, where every new-born child is named for the first thing the mother sees after the baby is born. One of the things I love about Pamela’s writing is the way the stories of minor characters are given unexpected weight, so that everyone’s lives have meaning. She is also courageous enough to give us an unexpected ending which nonetheless rings true with the world she has created.
May 10, 2011
Ember and Ash is a solid addition to Freeman's Domains. This elemental based book is filled with well rounded characters and an interesting plot coupled nicely with Freeman's lyrical writing. If the plot does lag in places, it's incredibly easy to overlook.
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
September 15, 2012
Set 20 years after the events of The Castings Trilogy, it was a great way of catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
May 8, 2019
DNC at 60%
Going by the genre and description I really thought this book was for me. But after 300 pages of the most boring female character since Bella Swan I had to put it aside. I might have been able to stick it out in this world if not for the rampant and pointless misogony (there's only so many times you can listen to the main character describe herself as "just a woman") or Ember's lifelong dream of being married off for political gain.
The writing style was ok, but the overload of plant and animal names just came across as childish. It's not the worst book ever, but it was underwhelming in every way.
Going by the genre and description I really thought this book was for me. But after 300 pages of the most boring female character since Bella Swan I had to put it aside. I might have been able to stick it out in this world if not for the rampant and pointless misogony (there's only so many times you can listen to the main character describe herself as "just a woman") or Ember's lifelong dream of being married off for political gain.
The writing style was ok, but the overload of plant and animal names just came across as childish. It's not the worst book ever, but it was underwhelming in every way.
June 16, 2011
Ember and Ash is a fitting installment to the The Castings Trilogy. I enjoyed returning to the Domains twenty or so years post Bramble, Acton, and the Enchanter. Our heroes and heroines are the descendents of characters from Casting. Ms. Freeman takes us on a new journey through the Domains and introduces us to the old gods -- up-close and personal. As before, each Domain has a story and a unique role in the destinies of this new generation. At the conclusion of the Casting Trilogy, the people of the old blood (dark hair and red heads) and Acton's people (Blondes)a thousand years earlier found their way to a bloody truce. Lies and truths buried for more than a thousand years were at the heart of an Enchanter's madness that resulted in the death of many beloved characters. I left the Casting Trilogy satisfied with the conclusion but mourning so much loss.
I was prepared for the sacrifices Ms. Freeman is willing to make to illustrate tragedies that come with desperation and bad karma. Ember and Ash had many of these sad and dark moments of loss but also the gain of new heroes and legends.
I truly enjoyed this book once I got the rhythm of it which was about halfway through. My delayed engagement had little to do with Ms. Freeman’s pace and story building but more so my personal preference when reading fantasy. Ms. Freeman is a captivating storyteller but her writing is akin to a well narrated fireside tale. She does not speak to her readers with poetic or lyrical prose but rather practical and concise words laid out on the page. Her writing style captured my imagination and emotions but it felt like an extraction vs. the seduction I experience with Robin Hobb (Royal Assassin) and Juliet Marillier (Seer of Sevenwaters). Like I said, it’s a matter of personal taste but worth mentioning for those who share my preference.
When I look at the work in its fullness, I have to go with four stars or more like four and a half. I enjoyed the journey through the Domains, the elemental gods, the life and death struggles, and the unexpected twist at the end -- bittersweet but satisfying. There is no cliffhanger. This is a freestanding book that would be difficult to understand without reading Casting Trilogy which I highly recommend to fantasy lovers.
I was prepared for the sacrifices Ms. Freeman is willing to make to illustrate tragedies that come with desperation and bad karma. Ember and Ash had many of these sad and dark moments of loss but also the gain of new heroes and legends.
I truly enjoyed this book once I got the rhythm of it which was about halfway through. My delayed engagement had little to do with Ms. Freeman’s pace and story building but more so my personal preference when reading fantasy. Ms. Freeman is a captivating storyteller but her writing is akin to a well narrated fireside tale. She does not speak to her readers with poetic or lyrical prose but rather practical and concise words laid out on the page. Her writing style captured my imagination and emotions but it felt like an extraction vs. the seduction I experience with Robin Hobb (Royal Assassin) and Juliet Marillier (Seer of Sevenwaters). Like I said, it’s a matter of personal taste but worth mentioning for those who share my preference.
When I look at the work in its fullness, I have to go with four stars or more like four and a half. I enjoyed the journey through the Domains, the elemental gods, the life and death struggles, and the unexpected twist at the end -- bittersweet but satisfying. There is no cliffhanger. This is a freestanding book that would be difficult to understand without reading Casting Trilogy which I highly recommend to fantasy lovers.
December 28, 2011
The whole concept of the book is really interesting.
It's really obvious that this book is a sequel to a much more detailed story, or in this case trilogy---The Castings Trilogy.
What's good though is that you don't need to have any prior knowledge of it to still, to an extent, enjoy reading this book. However, it would probably make the book more interesting and effective if you had read the previous books first.
Because, while I was reading it, everything was fairly rushed. We were supposed to feel a sense of hurt, or sympathy towards certain characters, namely Martine, but since I'd only just 'met' her, it wasn't carried out that well. I think Freeman relied on previous feelings we might've carried over from reading the first books.
Furthermore, I don't know if Ember or Ash (Elva's son) were in the trilogy, but I didn't really care about what happened to them, to be honest. They were still interesting though, and there was quite clear character development in Ember.
All in all though, I think it was carried out really well. Martine was probably featured in the previous books. I haven't read any of them, but the turmoil she went through with Arvid, still managed to get to me even a little bit. All the fine details about the world were touched, but didn't get overwhelming and there wasn't really any info-dump, or if there was, it was handled well.
If part of the reason of the book, was to make others read her previous novels, then Freeman did her job. Just enough back story leaked through to intrigue you, but not enough to give everything away. And from what I've read, her characters seem realistic as well through the emotions they feel and the way they react.
This is probably contradicting to what I've said before, but even though I'm intrigued about this world, I'm not that hyped about reading about it. It's because it seems like a pretty hefty read. Just imagine a whole world, with its history of turmoil, bloodshed, woes and victories, and not to mention world-shattering change, crammed into three books. That's the feel I'm getting though, and it's probably because from reading Ember and Ash, even though I was only exposed to little amounts of it, it showed to me a great deal, that that world is really complicated. Really complicated.
It's really obvious that this book is a sequel to a much more detailed story, or in this case trilogy---The Castings Trilogy.
What's good though is that you don't need to have any prior knowledge of it to still, to an extent, enjoy reading this book. However, it would probably make the book more interesting and effective if you had read the previous books first.
Because, while I was reading it, everything was fairly rushed. We were supposed to feel a sense of hurt, or sympathy towards certain characters, namely Martine, but since I'd only just 'met' her, it wasn't carried out that well. I think Freeman relied on previous feelings we might've carried over from reading the first books.
Furthermore, I don't know if Ember or Ash (Elva's son) were in the trilogy, but I didn't really care about what happened to them, to be honest. They were still interesting though, and there was quite clear character development in Ember.
All in all though, I think it was carried out really well. Martine was probably featured in the previous books. I haven't read any of them, but the turmoil she went through with Arvid, still managed to get to me even a little bit. All the fine details about the world were touched, but didn't get overwhelming and there wasn't really any info-dump, or if there was, it was handled well.
If part of the reason of the book, was to make others read her previous novels, then Freeman did her job. Just enough back story leaked through to intrigue you, but not enough to give everything away. And from what I've read, her characters seem realistic as well through the emotions they feel and the way they react.
This is probably contradicting to what I've said before, but even though I'm intrigued about this world, I'm not that hyped about reading about it. It's because it seems like a pretty hefty read. Just imagine a whole world, with its history of turmoil, bloodshed, woes and victories, and not to mention world-shattering change, crammed into three books. That's the feel I'm getting though, and it's probably because from reading Ember and Ash, even though I was only exposed to little amounts of it, it showed to me a great deal, that that world is really complicated. Really complicated.
January 3, 2011
"Ember and Ash" is a fantasy set in the Last Domain of the Eleven Domains. The fantasy setting revolves around the Great Powers: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Forest and Ice. The book starts off with a disastrous wedding followed by an emotional argument between the protagonist and one of the Great powers, whose consequence is that fires all over the domain are smothered and cannot be re-lit. This being a horrible situation in the cold northern domain, the protagonist Ember, the daughter of the warlord of the Last Domain, is set the task of stealing an ember from the Fire mountain, which is the seat of Fire. There are a few other characters of note: Arvid and Martine (the rulers of the Last domain as well as the parents of Ember), Ash Senior and Ash Junior (the former being favored of Water, and the latter being a peer of Ember who shares the trials of the journey with her), Cedar (a strange young man with the power of stone-casting), and Elva (Gods-touched, able to speak with the gods and relay their messages to the peoples).
The character development is done beautifully. There is a certain dynamism lacking in the main characters which can be forgiven thanks to the intricate weaving of the story which makes each character perfect for his or her role. Each of them shows sudden out-of-character jumps which can almost be thought as pushing the boundaries, but they go back to their two-dimensional role post the aberration. This was my only complaint with the book. Other than this, the plot is highly developed, and left me waiting to know more. The descriptions are lyrical, and the fantasy setting is amazingly beautiful. Initially, I was a little confused due to the storyline being broken up to follow the paths of four or so characters one after the other. However, it all comes together in a climactic finish and all the loose ends are tightly wrapped up. The whole book sets the heart rate at a little-faster-than-normal pace, the breaths shallow and fast, waiting, waiting, to know what happens at the end. But, unlike some other books where the end is all that matters, the journey through the book is illuminating and leaves the reader with a satisfaction that is hard to deny. I would recommend this book to all fantasy readers out there, with the advice to be patient with the story-line initially. It is definitely worth the read!
The character development is done beautifully. There is a certain dynamism lacking in the main characters which can be forgiven thanks to the intricate weaving of the story which makes each character perfect for his or her role. Each of them shows sudden out-of-character jumps which can almost be thought as pushing the boundaries, but they go back to their two-dimensional role post the aberration. This was my only complaint with the book. Other than this, the plot is highly developed, and left me waiting to know more. The descriptions are lyrical, and the fantasy setting is amazingly beautiful. Initially, I was a little confused due to the storyline being broken up to follow the paths of four or so characters one after the other. However, it all comes together in a climactic finish and all the loose ends are tightly wrapped up. The whole book sets the heart rate at a little-faster-than-normal pace, the breaths shallow and fast, waiting, waiting, to know what happens at the end. But, unlike some other books where the end is all that matters, the journey through the book is illuminating and leaves the reader with a satisfaction that is hard to deny. I would recommend this book to all fantasy readers out there, with the advice to be patient with the story-line initially. It is definitely worth the read!
April 4, 2011
This was a really fun book to read. At times the multiple viewpoints made it difficult to follow the plotlines, but everything comes together in the end. The descriptions are moving and evocative, and I found myself rereading parts because they were so good. It appears that this book is set in the same world as the author's previous books, so I think there were some things that I missed because I hadn't read those, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
The magic in this novel is organic, based on Powers of nature, which isn't exactly new, but the author does a good job of making each elemental terrifying in its own way. The inhabitants of the Domains are real--their descriptions make perfect sense. The romance between the two protagonists is written well, without seeming trite or overly purple. Conflicts between characters are carried out to their natural conclusion, but it's not a boring happily-ever-after; just as in the real world, not everyone can have what they want. All the storylines seemed to be wrapped up, but there is definitely room for more to be told about the Domains, so I'll be looking for more from this author.
I received this book as an e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley.
The magic in this novel is organic, based on Powers of nature, which isn't exactly new, but the author does a good job of making each elemental terrifying in its own way. The inhabitants of the Domains are real--their descriptions make perfect sense. The romance between the two protagonists is written well, without seeming trite or overly purple. Conflicts between characters are carried out to their natural conclusion, but it's not a boring happily-ever-after; just as in the real world, not everyone can have what they want. All the storylines seemed to be wrapped up, but there is definitely room for more to be told about the Domains, so I'll be looking for more from this author.
I received this book as an e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley.
July 2, 2012
This book picks up about 20 years after the original series and follows the adopted son, Ash, son of Ash. Brings together many of the older characters from the original trilogy, but is the story of the children of... Fast paced, starts out with a bang and really goes. Multiple story lines, all really enjoyable. A somewhat sad but positive ending.
December 20, 2012
Ember and Ash is a standalone novel set in the world previously established in Freeman’s Castings Trilogy. As I haven’t yet read these books, I did feel like I was missing something at first. The fantasy world is rich in magic, history and customs and it’s clear a lot of time has been spent world building. The elements of magic are really well done, and I loved the idea of ‘Sight’, a gift that some people possess, allowing them to communicate with the gods, or read the future by ‘casting’ (reading stones in a way similar to a Tarot reading). I also really liked that there were two sets of gods in this world; the local gods that more or less stay out of people’s lives, and the Powers; older, elemental gods with a habit of meddling and manipulating when the mood takes them. A lot of this information is introduced gradually and naturally, and at no point did I feel overwhelmed with backstory, or like I was being given a history lesson. I imagine this is quite tricky for an author to do; making the world accessible to new readers without bogging the fans down with reiterations, but I thought this balance was just right.
As the blurb suggests, the direction of Ember’s life is abruptly changed when the god, Fire, crashes her wedding, toasts her husband-to-be, takes back all the fire in the Domains, and orders her to come to his mountain to steal it back from him - if she dares. The other key players in the book are Ash and Cedar, two brothers who are the sons of Ember’s mother’s adopted daughter (takes a moment to get your head around, I know). They accompany Ember on her mission, and Cedar quickly became my favourite character.
Also in the mix are Arvid, the warlord of the Last Domain (Ember’s father), who struggles to find a way of keeping his kingdom from falling apart, and his people from freezing without fire for the winter; Martine (Ember’s mother), a powerful Seer whose secrets cause no shortage of friction; and Poppy (Ash’s and Cedar’s sister), who must warn the people in the outlying villages of the danger, and search for a way to protect them from the encroaching winter.
I found it interesting that we also get to know the people of the Ice King’s Country, a people who have barely enough food to survive, freeze every day of their lives, and who have been raiding and warring with the people of the Domains for years. The new generation of leaders under the Ice King hope to improve their situation by trading with the warlords from the Domains, rather than carrying on the endless fighting. However, the two have been at war for so long, and many on both sides still harbour resentment and hatred for the other that you just know things aren’t going to go smoothly.
In this way, though, we’re able to sympathise with both sides. There’s nothing that annoys me more than a story that makes the ‘bad guys’ evil just for the sake of giving the ‘good guys’ someone to kill. There’s none of that here, and everyone has a clear and valid motivation for doing what they do. It also becomes clear that not everyone can get what they’re after, and it was this aspect above all else that I felt really made the story for me.
At this point, I feel I need to state that this is not a high action story. While there are some action scenes and intense moments, if you go into it expecting lots of epic battles and magic spells flying all over the place, you’re going to be disappointed. This is a character-driven story, with romance sub-plots. Even the journey to the mountain itself does not seem hurried. But the world is so well crafted, and Freeman takes the time to paint the world with such vivid descriptions of the locations, that I found myself wanting to slow down and spend a bit more time to really appreciate each location. And the writing itself is no less compelling for its lack of action. At times I found myself re-reading sections because they were so beautifully crafted, and the settings so fascinating. If you’re happy to read the book in this way, taking it at a slower pace, and letting the author lead you through it, I think you will really enjoy it.
The one downside I found with this book was that it took me a little while to fall in love with the characters. This might be because I haven’t read the Castings Trilogy, where some of the older generation characters first appear, and having a connection with them would probably make it easier to slip into the world in the beginning. There was also a lot of jumping around to the different characters, introducing them all and their individual missions, that I found a bit frustrating initially. I wanted to stay with Ember’s party, so leaving it to follow a minor character every other chapter got on my nerves slightly. This happens less and less as the book goes on, and, to be fair, is necessary to the story, so by the end when all the threads are tied together very neatly, I was willing to forgive the author for this.
A few reviews I’ve seen have complained about the ending, but I’d like to say I was very satisfied with it. I won’t spoil anything, but I think to end it in any other way would have been disrespectful to the characters and to the author’s world that has been so lovingly and meticulously crafted.
As a writer, I’ve learned a lot from this book, it’s given me some valuable lessons on pacing and character development. I’ve read a bit about the Castings Trilogy, and after thoroughly enjoying Ember and Ash, I will definitely be seeking out more of Pamela Freeman’s past books, and following her work in the future.
Overall
Pros
Beautifully written
Main characters are compelling
Great world-building, filled with history and customs that make it come alive
Cons
Took me a while to get into
Some of the minor characters added very little
Rating
4.5 / 5
As the blurb suggests, the direction of Ember’s life is abruptly changed when the god, Fire, crashes her wedding, toasts her husband-to-be, takes back all the fire in the Domains, and orders her to come to his mountain to steal it back from him - if she dares. The other key players in the book are Ash and Cedar, two brothers who are the sons of Ember’s mother’s adopted daughter (takes a moment to get your head around, I know). They accompany Ember on her mission, and Cedar quickly became my favourite character.
Also in the mix are Arvid, the warlord of the Last Domain (Ember’s father), who struggles to find a way of keeping his kingdom from falling apart, and his people from freezing without fire for the winter; Martine (Ember’s mother), a powerful Seer whose secrets cause no shortage of friction; and Poppy (Ash’s and Cedar’s sister), who must warn the people in the outlying villages of the danger, and search for a way to protect them from the encroaching winter.
I found it interesting that we also get to know the people of the Ice King’s Country, a people who have barely enough food to survive, freeze every day of their lives, and who have been raiding and warring with the people of the Domains for years. The new generation of leaders under the Ice King hope to improve their situation by trading with the warlords from the Domains, rather than carrying on the endless fighting. However, the two have been at war for so long, and many on both sides still harbour resentment and hatred for the other that you just know things aren’t going to go smoothly.
In this way, though, we’re able to sympathise with both sides. There’s nothing that annoys me more than a story that makes the ‘bad guys’ evil just for the sake of giving the ‘good guys’ someone to kill. There’s none of that here, and everyone has a clear and valid motivation for doing what they do. It also becomes clear that not everyone can get what they’re after, and it was this aspect above all else that I felt really made the story for me.
At this point, I feel I need to state that this is not a high action story. While there are some action scenes and intense moments, if you go into it expecting lots of epic battles and magic spells flying all over the place, you’re going to be disappointed. This is a character-driven story, with romance sub-plots. Even the journey to the mountain itself does not seem hurried. But the world is so well crafted, and Freeman takes the time to paint the world with such vivid descriptions of the locations, that I found myself wanting to slow down and spend a bit more time to really appreciate each location. And the writing itself is no less compelling for its lack of action. At times I found myself re-reading sections because they were so beautifully crafted, and the settings so fascinating. If you’re happy to read the book in this way, taking it at a slower pace, and letting the author lead you through it, I think you will really enjoy it.
The one downside I found with this book was that it took me a little while to fall in love with the characters. This might be because I haven’t read the Castings Trilogy, where some of the older generation characters first appear, and having a connection with them would probably make it easier to slip into the world in the beginning. There was also a lot of jumping around to the different characters, introducing them all and their individual missions, that I found a bit frustrating initially. I wanted to stay with Ember’s party, so leaving it to follow a minor character every other chapter got on my nerves slightly. This happens less and less as the book goes on, and, to be fair, is necessary to the story, so by the end when all the threads are tied together very neatly, I was willing to forgive the author for this.
A few reviews I’ve seen have complained about the ending, but I’d like to say I was very satisfied with it. I won’t spoil anything, but I think to end it in any other way would have been disrespectful to the characters and to the author’s world that has been so lovingly and meticulously crafted.
As a writer, I’ve learned a lot from this book, it’s given me some valuable lessons on pacing and character development. I’ve read a bit about the Castings Trilogy, and after thoroughly enjoying Ember and Ash, I will definitely be seeking out more of Pamela Freeman’s past books, and following her work in the future.
Overall
Pros
Beautifully written
Main characters are compelling
Great world-building, filled with history and customs that make it come alive
Cons
Took me a while to get into
Some of the minor characters added very little
Rating
4.5 / 5
August 1, 2022
This book is a great follow on from the castings world. Set 20 years after the trilogy, we meet up with old characters and how they’ve gotten on in life and meet new ones along the way. I really liked this as a follow up book because it’s all in the same world and again has great world building elements. You could e easily read this book as a stand alone because the plot doesn’t heavily rely on what happened in the trilogy, but you are definitely well rewarded with extra tidbits of information if you have read them.
I liked the plot of this book and it more heavily focusing on the old gods and the more mythical side of the world. It has a great narrative flow and the characters have some great chemistry. It’s great to finally know about why the ice king was suddenly taking so much land! This book closed all the questions I had left floating around in my head which I really love because you hardly ever get complete closure with fantasy books.
Ash and Ember make a great duo to follow in this novel, again the book follows multiple viewpoints which all coalesce at the end. I was a little disappointed by the ending, I hate the whole I have to do this for my kingdom troupe. I also felt the ending was very sped up compared to the beginning, there wasn’t any reunion at the end after they’d come back from the mountain, it just suddenly jumped forward 9 months. Otherwise a decent follow on novel and ending to a well written world.
I liked the plot of this book and it more heavily focusing on the old gods and the more mythical side of the world. It has a great narrative flow and the characters have some great chemistry. It’s great to finally know about why the ice king was suddenly taking so much land! This book closed all the questions I had left floating around in my head which I really love because you hardly ever get complete closure with fantasy books.
Ash and Ember make a great duo to follow in this novel, again the book follows multiple viewpoints which all coalesce at the end. I was a little disappointed by the ending, I hate the whole I have to do this for my kingdom troupe. I also felt the ending was very sped up compared to the beginning, there wasn’t any reunion at the end after they’d come back from the mountain, it just suddenly jumped forward 9 months. Otherwise a decent follow on novel and ending to a well written world.
August 1, 2017
ugh. full review to come
April 18, 2025
I loved it, as I loved the first 3, but only missed out on the fifth star rating as I felt it ended rather quickly and I was hoping for more. It could have led into another 1-2 books I think 🙂
February 8, 2022
The Castings Trilogy was my favorite books/series of 2021. I was happy to delve back into this world carved by Pamela Freeman.
I will say that I did not enjoy this book as much as the original trilogy, but it was still gripping and satisfying! I think the biggest problem for me was the characters. I didn’t relate to any of them like I did in the original trilogy, but I still enjoyed it regardless.
There was more romance than in her previous books which isn’t really my favorite aspect of fantasy epics but it wasn’t overwhelming, thankfully.
This is a stand-alone and doesn’t necessarily have to be read after the trilogy, but I highly recommend it as that will give you a good background on the world and even some of the characters.
My last comment is about one character in particular: Arvid. In the OG trilogy, Arvid was way cooler. He almost seemed to be a completely different person in this companion book? It was slightly disappointing but I do think it added to the story in spite of that.
I hope Pamela Freeman writes more books in this world as I will eat them up!
I will say that I did not enjoy this book as much as the original trilogy, but it was still gripping and satisfying! I think the biggest problem for me was the characters. I didn’t relate to any of them like I did in the original trilogy, but I still enjoyed it regardless.
There was more romance than in her previous books which isn’t really my favorite aspect of fantasy epics but it wasn’t overwhelming, thankfully.
This is a stand-alone and doesn’t necessarily have to be read after the trilogy, but I highly recommend it as that will give you a good background on the world and even some of the characters.
My last comment is about one character in particular: Arvid. In the OG trilogy, Arvid was way cooler. He almost seemed to be a completely different person in this companion book? It was slightly disappointing but I do think it added to the story in spite of that.
I hope Pamela Freeman writes more books in this world as I will eat them up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2011
I have always been a sucker for the elements. It’s one of the reasons I decided to request this book for review. That said, I think that they have been done to death in some ways and I was a little worried about that going in. Thankfully, I needn’t have wasted the energy, because for me, the way the elements have been utilized in this story were refreshing and riveting.
Freeman paints a lush and wondrous world in her book, full of a variety of peoples with rich histories and beliefs. I could get lost in it so easily, and did in fact, charging through this book at lightening pace. I think the world building was pretty phenomenal, and loved the way the elements played into each group, and their beliefs.
I also particularly enjoyed the layers of political/social/religious belief in the story. The main characters come from a background of two peoples, one of which has been subsumed by the other. They have taken some of their beliefs underground, as they are forbidden to share certain knowledge with non Travelers, and this influences heavily on the plot of the novel.
There were an assortment of characters in the book, who all remained true to themselves throughout the novel. Ember is feisty, and marked by the element of Fire, and Ash by Air. They are cousins, but not by blood. Throughout the novel they are drawn closer together; it’s a subtle kind of romance. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I was really satisfied with how their interactions played out throughout the novel, though I am sure some will not be.
The secondary characters were all interesting as well, each having their own driving motivations and story lines that were also fulfilled throughout the novel. I particularly enjoyed Cedar’s storyline, and the way his character grew – I loved that I could imagine and daydream about these characters lives beyond the novel.
I could spend a lot more time in this world, so will be interested to see whether the author revisits it with other characters and stories. If you love fantasy, magic, escaping the real world, and just good stories in general, you should definitely check this out. I give it a 4 star rating.
Freeman paints a lush and wondrous world in her book, full of a variety of peoples with rich histories and beliefs. I could get lost in it so easily, and did in fact, charging through this book at lightening pace. I think the world building was pretty phenomenal, and loved the way the elements played into each group, and their beliefs.
I also particularly enjoyed the layers of political/social/religious belief in the story. The main characters come from a background of two peoples, one of which has been subsumed by the other. They have taken some of their beliefs underground, as they are forbidden to share certain knowledge with non Travelers, and this influences heavily on the plot of the novel.
There were an assortment of characters in the book, who all remained true to themselves throughout the novel. Ember is feisty, and marked by the element of Fire, and Ash by Air. They are cousins, but not by blood. Throughout the novel they are drawn closer together; it’s a subtle kind of romance. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I was really satisfied with how their interactions played out throughout the novel, though I am sure some will not be.
The secondary characters were all interesting as well, each having their own driving motivations and story lines that were also fulfilled throughout the novel. I particularly enjoyed Cedar’s storyline, and the way his character grew – I loved that I could imagine and daydream about these characters lives beyond the novel.
I could spend a lot more time in this world, so will be interested to see whether the author revisits it with other characters and stories. If you love fantasy, magic, escaping the real world, and just good stories in general, you should definitely check this out. I give it a 4 star rating.
May 25, 2011
This really is a book you shouldn't judge by its cover! Cause the cover is just blah and a bit boring and more western looking and the story, OMG, it was AMAZING! Based on the cover I would have expected cowboys (I'm not really sure why) and this book was so absolutely wonderful and was certainly not a western. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not my thing.
I loved the storytelling! Somewhere along the first chapters I got the feeling there'd been another story set in the same world and as it turns out, the author wrote a trilogy I think is about the main character's parents. But while we don't know everything that happened there, this doesn't take anything away from the storyline.
I loved Ember! She's a strong girl and she learns a lot along the way. She's very brave and stands up for those she loves, I could feel her pain and so wanted everything to work out for her. And Ash, gosh, he's wonderful. You really need to read this book for yourself, but Ash will stay in my head for some time to come. He's not the most handsome man around, but his personality is beautiful.
I thought all the Powers involved were really interesting and I'm definitely going to read the other trilogy Freeman's written soon! I'm hoping Ember and Ash will have a sequel, cause I'm not ready to let these characters go and
**SPOILER WARNING, light up to read**
I really need my happily ever after! I need more Ember and Ash together, the ending left me feeling sad and going: NOOO! They HAVE to be together!
**End of spoiler**
I got sucked into this story from the very first page. If you like fantasy and are looking for a good story: READ THIS BOOK! I absolutely loved it!
My rating: 5 stars
I loved the storytelling! Somewhere along the first chapters I got the feeling there'd been another story set in the same world and as it turns out, the author wrote a trilogy I think is about the main character's parents. But while we don't know everything that happened there, this doesn't take anything away from the storyline.
I loved Ember! She's a strong girl and she learns a lot along the way. She's very brave and stands up for those she loves, I could feel her pain and so wanted everything to work out for her. And Ash, gosh, he's wonderful. You really need to read this book for yourself, but Ash will stay in my head for some time to come. He's not the most handsome man around, but his personality is beautiful.
I thought all the Powers involved were really interesting and I'm definitely going to read the other trilogy Freeman's written soon! I'm hoping Ember and Ash will have a sequel, cause I'm not ready to let these characters go and
**SPOILER WARNING, light up to read**
I really need my happily ever after! I need more Ember and Ash together, the ending left me feeling sad and going: NOOO! They HAVE to be together!
**End of spoiler**
I got sucked into this story from the very first page. If you like fantasy and are looking for a good story: READ THIS BOOK! I absolutely loved it!
My rating: 5 stars
June 17, 2011
Ember and Ash is a big book. Like really big. I can't say i was tired with it though. I read so many YAs and this one is pure fantasy. The more adult-like. It felt good reading it.
The multiple POVs in the book give the story a different way to enjoy it. You don't just follow the protagonists but people less important and from different tribes, ideas, etc. Result of that is to get a better idea of how the world thinks and acts without being confusing. It's so full of adventure and less battles and stuff, that you travel through the whole world actually.
I also liked how the gods was actually the nature elements (Water, Fire, Air, Earth, Ice,etc), how they communicated with people and how they had their own part in the book too. Neither everything was god's fault neither human's.
As for Ember and Ash. Wow! They relationship is so tense. They are like brothers but with time they start feeling different for each other. But they always care, and don't afraid to do sacrifices for each other even if it hurts them or it's for the greater good. They are also so different and strong characters. You feel the power in them. They leave their mark to their world and the story and their chapters were definetelly my favorite.
Another cool thing i noticed was how the chapter's were named after the place the person we follow is and not in numbers or titles. It was cool, and with the map you could see anytime where you were.
Ember and Ash is something new in fantasy. I enjoyed every part of it, and its characters with their little secrets. And the world, had some interesting stories and history that i would love for more books in it with the same or new characters.
The multiple POVs in the book give the story a different way to enjoy it. You don't just follow the protagonists but people less important and from different tribes, ideas, etc. Result of that is to get a better idea of how the world thinks and acts without being confusing. It's so full of adventure and less battles and stuff, that you travel through the whole world actually.
I also liked how the gods was actually the nature elements (Water, Fire, Air, Earth, Ice,etc), how they communicated with people and how they had their own part in the book too. Neither everything was god's fault neither human's.
As for Ember and Ash. Wow! They relationship is so tense. They are like brothers but with time they start feeling different for each other. But they always care, and don't afraid to do sacrifices for each other even if it hurts them or it's for the greater good. They are also so different and strong characters. You feel the power in them. They leave their mark to their world and the story and their chapters were definetelly my favorite.
Another cool thing i noticed was how the chapter's were named after the place the person we follow is and not in numbers or titles. It was cool, and with the map you could see anytime where you were.
Ember and Ash is something new in fantasy. I enjoyed every part of it, and its characters with their little secrets. And the world, had some interesting stories and history that i would love for more books in it with the same or new characters.
April 19, 2014
Eh. This was OK, I suppose. Some parts were definitely better than others - the last few hundred pages were gripping, even if they staled to a lame ending. This book had multiple viewpoints, which worked in the beginning but got increasingly frustrating towards the end where you just want to follow the main story and its protagonists, who I did enjoy as characters. It was well-written and not too riddled with clichés, had a very interesting world filled with gods and Powers, and an cool take on magic and fortune-telling. Unfortunately, for me these basic positives were not enough to make up for some serious deficiencies. The beginning of the novel seemed like a series of events rather than a plot, meaning that it took me a very long time to care about anything. All the supporting characters were under-developed (maybe with the exception of Poppy and Martine). The changing viewpoint was frustrating. The climax had a good twist, but the resolution - ugh! What a way to squander the protagonist's extensive talents. All of the bravery and intelligence that Ember has displayed throughout the book essentially gets thrown back in your face. I don't disagree with her final decision, I just wish that Freeman hadn't relegated her to such a stereotypical position in this misogynistic world of hers. I expected more.
That said, it's a fair read, good if you want something simple if vaguely disappointing. Eh. A different ending would have made a world of difference - skip the epilogue if you do take this on.
That said, it's a fair read, good if you want something simple if vaguely disappointing. Eh. A different ending would have made a world of difference - skip the epilogue if you do take this on.
August 22, 2011
Posted at Blue Fairy's Bookshelf on 8/22/11
Ember and Ash
Pamela Freeman, 2011
Recent Release, copy for review provided by Netgalley.
Premise: Ember thinks she has her life planned out. She is going to marry another warlord's son, uniting his land with her father's. Unfortunately, the godlike Powers that allied with her mother's people in the old days have other ideas, and soon Ember and her cousin Ash are plunged into a dangerous journey to save their people from the will of the capricious Powers.
I feel slightly odd about this review. It was a competently written book, and each part was well done. I'm just not sure that it managed to become more than a list of interesting scenes.
I wanted to read this book because I had read the first few sample chapters and really liked them. It seemed as if the theme of the story would be these brave people fighting for the right to not be playthings of these elemental Powers. I liked that a lot. There was some of that, but it felt lost in the somewhat silly plot complications.
I also felt that all the changes Ember went through over the book caused her to grow into a character I didn't like nearly as much as I liked her at the start of the book.
I thought the climax didn't follow from how the characters had been previously acting and found it unsatisfying. In the end, I have to call this a decent book that rubbed me the wrong way and never fully came together.
2 Stars - An Okay Book
Ember and Ash
Pamela Freeman, 2011
Recent Release, copy for review provided by Netgalley.
Premise: Ember thinks she has her life planned out. She is going to marry another warlord's son, uniting his land with her father's. Unfortunately, the godlike Powers that allied with her mother's people in the old days have other ideas, and soon Ember and her cousin Ash are plunged into a dangerous journey to save their people from the will of the capricious Powers.
I feel slightly odd about this review. It was a competently written book, and each part was well done. I'm just not sure that it managed to become more than a list of interesting scenes.
I wanted to read this book because I had read the first few sample chapters and really liked them. It seemed as if the theme of the story would be these brave people fighting for the right to not be playthings of these elemental Powers. I liked that a lot. There was some of that, but it felt lost in the somewhat silly plot complications.
I also felt that all the changes Ember went through over the book caused her to grow into a character I didn't like nearly as much as I liked her at the start of the book.
I thought the climax didn't follow from how the characters had been previously acting and found it unsatisfying. In the end, I have to call this a decent book that rubbed me the wrong way and never fully came together.
2 Stars - An Okay Book
December 2, 2011
This tale really feels like it is part of a larger world. It's a good introduction to that world - one where gods are less than Powers, where rolling die can reveal the future, where each element and abstract concept is manifest - but it can all get a little much at times.
This is not a swashbuckling adventure story (the summary make that pretty clear, but it should be stated again for the record). This is a somewhat mild walk through a magical land. People die or become misplaced along the way, find themselves, and carry on the legacy of the world. Despite all the rushing around and the ticking clock, it gives the impression of a sedentary journey. This is definitely a story about the party's travel, not the destination.
The ironic thing is that I liked everything about this book .. except for the titular characters Ember and Ash. I couldn't understand why they liked each other, why the romance kept trying to bloom, or why I should even care. Eventually I just gave up an accepted it as something declared by fiat - which made the climaxxx all the more unpalatable.
This is not a swashbuckling adventure story (the summary make that pretty clear, but it should be stated again for the record). This is a somewhat mild walk through a magical land. People die or become misplaced along the way, find themselves, and carry on the legacy of the world. Despite all the rushing around and the ticking clock, it gives the impression of a sedentary journey. This is definitely a story about the party's travel, not the destination.
The ironic thing is that I liked everything about this book .. except for the titular characters Ember and Ash. I couldn't understand why they liked each other, why the romance kept trying to bloom, or why I should even care. Eventually I just gave up an accepted it as something declared by fiat - which made the climaxxx all the more unpalatable.
July 14, 2012
It's fairly obvious to see why this book won the 2012 Aurealis Award in the Fantasy Novel category. There's something very beautiful about the simplicity of the plot; princess goes on quest to retrieve Fire.
Two of the things that I absolutely loved about this novel were the following;
The names. Within the universe that Freeman has created there are different races, different nations, different tribes, and they are easily distinguished by their names. Some are named after trees and flowers and other such things of nature, but then there are those who have more traditional 'fantasy' names. The attention to detail in this book is gorgeous, from the names to the honorifics to the way the characters treat each other and the world around them.
The other thing that I loved was how the elements were interpreted as gods.
There's so much more that I could praise about this novel (and have praised... but then deleted because it didn't quite fit and also because of reasons) but I think that you should just read it for yourself.
Two of the things that I absolutely loved about this novel were the following;
The names. Within the universe that Freeman has created there are different races, different nations, different tribes, and they are easily distinguished by their names. Some are named after trees and flowers and other such things of nature, but then there are those who have more traditional 'fantasy' names. The attention to detail in this book is gorgeous, from the names to the honorifics to the way the characters treat each other and the world around them.
The other thing that I loved was how the elements were interpreted as gods.
There's so much more that I could praise about this novel (and have praised... but then deleted because it didn't quite fit and also because of reasons) but I think that you should just read it for yourself.
June 9, 2013
I've never read anything by Pamela Freeman before, and I really love the world she's created here. And, after looking at her website, it seems that her Castings Trilogy books are set in the same world so I may have to give them a read as well.
The world she's created is large and filled with lots of different groups of people. The Travellers are still hated and despised by some of Acton's People, who invaded the Traveller's land to begin with. The land is split into domains which are ruled over by Warlords. The Gods speak to certain people and magic is widely known of. Stonecasting is a well used way to tell the future.
It's a very different world from which we live in and Pamela has written it well. The hatred felt from some of Acton's People toward the Travellers is well known by some, I'm sure. The characters are likeable, and there are loads of them to choose from as well, so many that I'd have trouble picking a favourite. Very well written and a really good read, I definitely recommend it.
The world she's created is large and filled with lots of different groups of people. The Travellers are still hated and despised by some of Acton's People, who invaded the Traveller's land to begin with. The land is split into domains which are ruled over by Warlords. The Gods speak to certain people and magic is widely known of. Stonecasting is a well used way to tell the future.
It's a very different world from which we live in and Pamela has written it well. The hatred felt from some of Acton's People toward the Travellers is well known by some, I'm sure. The characters are likeable, and there are loads of them to choose from as well, so many that I'd have trouble picking a favourite. Very well written and a really good read, I definitely recommend it.
July 18, 2012
I really did enjoy this read, and while I didn't quite *like* the ending, it was the right end for the society.
Ember has a path laid out for her life. She's going to marry Osfrid and unite two kingdoms. It's what is planned. Until the part of the marriage cermony where they leap the fire together, and Osfrid is consumed by fire. Fire speaks directly to Ember and sends her on a quest, when she resits he takes fire away from almost everyone, it's never really explained why certain fires remain, but there are a few. Add to it that the weather looks set to get colder and Ember has to endure a quest with some of the guards. As they continue on the quest many of the people with them are killed or leave. Almost everyone on this quest has something that will change them in the story.
I liked it, when I finished I was satisfied with the ending, not entirely happy with it, but it was consistent with the characters as established.
Ember has a path laid out for her life. She's going to marry Osfrid and unite two kingdoms. It's what is planned. Until the part of the marriage cermony where they leap the fire together, and Osfrid is consumed by fire. Fire speaks directly to Ember and sends her on a quest, when she resits he takes fire away from almost everyone, it's never really explained why certain fires remain, but there are a few. Add to it that the weather looks set to get colder and Ember has to endure a quest with some of the guards. As they continue on the quest many of the people with them are killed or leave. Almost everyone on this quest has something that will change them in the story.
I liked it, when I finished I was satisfied with the ending, not entirely happy with it, but it was consistent with the characters as established.
June 8, 2011
While the book was interesting and it was nice to see characters return from the Castings Triology this book felt rushed and almost childish. The ending was too simple and came too suddenly. I felt like the concepts could have been developed more.
***********************Spoilers****************************
I also think the reasoning behind why Ember couldn't marry Ash was hogwash. They could have united the two people via trade and not marriage. It was a rushed conclusion and I felt like the author wrote it that way because she felt like the story couldn't/shouldn't have a happy ending.
***********************Spoilers****************************
I also think the reasoning behind why Ember couldn't marry Ash was hogwash. They could have united the two people via trade and not marriage. It was a rushed conclusion and I felt like the author wrote it that way because she felt like the story couldn't/shouldn't have a happy ending.
May 13, 2011
20 years after the Castings trilogy and dealing with a deeper, more fundamental level of "gods" than the first three, this book logically extends the format of the others by completely eliminating the small personal vignettes that helped the author build her world, and becoming completely plot oriented, although retaining multiple viewpoints. Pretty essential to have read the trilogy first, I'd say. This is a very complex and unusual world, and Ember/Ash extends the complexity in a very good way. There are a few minor plot and character jumps that didn't really fit, but overall this is a fine book.
September 3, 2011
c2011. Set in the same world as the Stonecasters trilogy and a generation on. Ash, now the prowman, makes an appearance but the story really revolves around Ember - the daughter of Martine and Arvid and Ash - who, although being named after the 'old' Ash, spurns the Power of Water. The story entails a journey (of course) and multiple POVs again. Story was good, pacy and just enough of the old characters to make it easy to get into. Certainly, do not depend on Ms Freeman to give you a standard ending - and whilst not a shock ending - not quite what I was hoping for. Certainly on the lines of Bramble and Acton, though. ' Lies throw up dust that blinds the teller as well as the listener.'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2015
I wasn't sure about this one at first. I didn't care for the main character Ember. As I got further into the book though, I could see the character developing. The more she experienced, the more she had to draw on personally and the more more she learned to trust the judgement of those with her. Ember grew up through the course of her quest which is what quest stories are meant to do in some ways. I was mildly disappointed this wasn't beginnings of a series instead of an addition to an already created series. But hey, the world-building suggests the earlier books may be worth tracking down. Which I plan to do. So two thumbs up, a quick and solid read.
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