From the Ashes (Legend of the Liberator #1) (ARC) by Shelby K. Morrison - Starting March 6th 2015

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Leigh wrote: "Just starting ch. 10!

I have a question: is there an explanation later for why the MC's name switches from Aia to Maia sometimes? Don't give away any spoilers if this is significant, I was just w..."

I think she just prefers to be called Aia, but non-friends don't realise that ☺

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Danielle wrote: "Feel better Sarah!"

Jackie wrote: "Sarah, I hope you feel better soon!"

Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Thank you! Darn urine infection ☹"

And Sarah, seriously, I know your pain all too well. D-mannose powder is your friend. And LOTS of water and V-C. I'm telling ya. (If drugs cause mo..."

Thank you guys ☺ I'm getting pretty sick of it!

[Caron]

Finished Chapter 4.

Something that's crossed my mind. (view spoiler)[The girl that was cleansed when Cole was introduced...the smoke coming out of her was horrific. The thing that I've noticed. Obviously Aia's a girl, and so was the other bender. Are there any male benders or are they mostly female? (hide spoiler)]

[Shelby]

Caron wrote: "Finished Chapter 4.

Something that's crossed my mind. [spoilers removed]"

Just coincidence that the first one was female. Keep reading, you'll see :)

[Caron]

Chapter 5 answered my question. :)

[Danna]

Sarah wrote: "Chapter 5 [spoilers removed]"

My thoughts exactly for Chapter 5

[Danna]

Shelby wrote: "Danna wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Thanks, Shelby! :)

[Sarah Elizabeth]

I have one more reviewer to add - Irena

[[deleted user]]

Dang, I could have sworn the buddy read started the 8th, not the 6th! Oh well ... I guess I'll just start now then :)

[Sarah Elizabeth]

That's okay ☺

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[ I'm worried now. She finds out she's related to the wicked witch of the west so wants to plan a family reunion? Is she nuts?! I get that she's family and all, but she tried to kill her! It's not going to end well. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ dove's missing? (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[What exactly is a Bender? What's the Draining? Why are Benders hated? What war and what was it about? To be clear, Purifiers are a couple who burns Benders to "cleanse" them? I like all of the unanswered questions and the dual point of view. I really like the fast pace of the book and predict that Cole will turn and either is already secretly helping Benders—as the last line in the chapter suggests—or will begin to help them. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 37 (view spoiler)[ Cole is the emperor's son? Did we know that before and I've just missed it? (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Jackie wrote: "Chapter 2: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I had all those questions too. You find out more as you read further. I think benders are people with innate magic, and they can use that magic to 'bend' or change the world around them. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Sorry I'm late!! Starting now!!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Not a problem ☺

[Shelby]

Sarah wrote: "Chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ No it was a reveal. If you're in the chapter I'm thinking where he calls him father and about "his people" :) (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ thank you! I was worried that I'd missed it somewhere earlier in the book! I was like 'what? really?!' - I really didn't expect it! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ yes, the 'his people' thing sounded like a teaser too. Is Cole (view spoiler)[ a bender too?? intriguing ☺ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Shelby]

Sarah wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Chap 18 (view spoiler)[ Uh oh, you did miss something then in Chap 18. He does reveal he is a Bender. haha! When he looks at his Bender stones and says without them he'd be just like Aia, hunted. He uses his amber stones to stay in control. That's why he's always rubbing them. ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Chap 18 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I totally missed that! I did wonder what the heck the amber stones were about! I noticed he kept rubbing them and I thought it was odd! I think that was one of the chapters I read whilst in the doctor's waiting room and it obviously didn't go in. sorry! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Chap 18 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ just re-read it and remembered reading it. I must not be very with-it at the moment! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

chapter 38 (view spoiler)[ that really didn't seem like a dream. (hide spoiler)]

[Shelby]

Sarah wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Chap 18 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Haha! I'm the same way when I read. You never know when important things will glide right by. Note to everyone: Pay attention in Chapter 18. ;)

[Danna]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[I'm so glad Aia met Eve. I don't think Illcina could be trusted. I know that she thinks she's doing the right thing but she's not. (hide spoiler)]

[Danna]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[Is Cole a Bender too? I suspect the stones he's carrying in his pouch are there to control his emotions so he wouldn't reveal his bending. (hide spoiler)]

[Danna]

Chapter 18 again (view spoiler)[Ha! I knew it! The perfect cover. :D Who wrote that note? (hide spoiler)] The suspense is killing me. Really good story.

[Danna]

Sarah wrote: "End of chapter 20 discussion questions:
(Optional)

Spoilers removed

(view spoiler)[
Q1. Are you enjoying the book so far? Anything you particularly like or dislike?
I do. Nothing beats a fast-paced book with a good storyline. I like Cole and Aia as MCs. I also liked Dove and Lendor. I'm against Aia wanting a Draining.

Q2. Do you think Aia did the right thing by going after Illcina? Do you think she really had a choice?
Yes, at least she's not selfish. If she valued herself more, I think she wouldn't have agreed with the plan. She'd forsake Tharien and flee to another Kingdom but she chose to save the Kingdom despite everything. She doesn't have much choice but at least she chose the right thing. Also, I think the Emperor has some sinister plans for Benders behind his back and he's greedy. I think he should be usurped.

Q3. Do you think she'll manage to save her parents?
To that, I don't know what to think. Maybe? Maybe not? But I'm hoping she would or Cole would.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Danna wrote: "Chapter 18 again [spoilers removed] The suspense is killing me. Really good story."

(view spoiler)[ Very clever! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

It's just so tempting... ☺

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 42 (view spoiler)[ I don't believe she's anything like illcina. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 43 (view spoiler)[ I thought it was pretty obvious that her parents had given her up because she wad a bender from the memory that came back to her. (hide spoiler)]

[Wy'Kia]

Chapter 52 (view spoiler)[Aww...Cole likes Aia. "Cole and Aia sitting in a tree. B-E-N-D-I-N-G! And thank God he finally told her about his bending. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 44 (view spoiler)[ I'm really in two minds about this alliance with Illcina. (hide spoiler)]

[Shelby]

Kia wrote: "Chapter 52 [spoilers removed]"

Bahahahaha!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 45 (view spoiler)[ poor Cole! And now Aia's kind of screwed too. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 47 (view spoiler)[ poor Aia! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 49 (view spoiler)[ it's not good that she can't use her powers. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 51 (view spoiler)[ so her adoptive parents were purifiers. Her brother is an ass. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Chapter 54 (view spoiler)[ you can see where Illcina gets her anger from. (hide spoiler)]

[Leigh]

I finished up this morning; it was a fun read! Had some pretty tense moments when (view spoiler)[Aia is attacked by Leeches, and I mean the scary human kind, not the yucky, muddy water kind! (hide spoiler)] EEE! Lot's of things come together at the end, although I'm a bit disappointed and maybe sad that (view spoiler)[certain key characters don't make it! Why??? (hide spoiler)] Great Buddy Read - thanks everyone, especially Sarah!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Glad you enjoyed it Leigh! ☺

[Caron]

Chapters 1-7 (view spoiler)[I'm glad that people, no matter how few in number, are willing to stand up for the benders. Even if it means that they'd get taken away. Cole's want of protecting Aia proves he has a conscience. Alon sort of helped Aia with the stone. He refused to buy it so that she could keep it because he understands that she'll need it.

Aia's last words to that lady at the end of chapter 7 struck a thought. What if she is a bender? (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

I posted my goodreads review I will be doing a video review when I have a bit more time what a Great book. Does this count towards my reviews for my team?

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Yes Siobhan ☺

[Siobhan]

awesome :) also im going to bulk out my review a bit more i just needed to get it up before i forgot lol

[Brittany]

Caron wrote: "Chapters 1-7 I'm glad that people, no matter how few in number, are willing to stand up for the benders. Even if it means that they'd get taken away. Cole's want of protecting Aia proves he has a c..."

I agree! What if Cole is a bender also, just trying to get in good with the emperor.

[Caron]

Brittany wrote: "Caron wrote: "Chapters 1-7 I'm glad that people, no matter how few in number, are willing to stand up for the benders. Even if it means that they'd get taken away. Cole's want of protecting Aia pro..."

That would make so much sense!

[Danielle]

I was kind of thinking the same thing as you Brittany!