Rise of the Ash Kingdom by Elizabeth R. Olson

Rise of the Ash Kingdom by Elizabeth R. Olson | A Review

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. So I finished this debut book from Elizabeth R. Olson. The book is Rise of the Ash Kingdom, and it is the first in the series of A Sun and Moon tale......(I mean the name game is going perfectly, don't you think)

BLURB

After enduring a traumatic childhood, twenty-two-year-old Briar Clarke has learned two things: never get close enough for anyone to disappoint her again, and the fire living inside her must never reach the surface. But it’s these two things that prevent Briar from finding the one thing she craves deeply—a home. When Briar is involved in a tragic accident that should have killed her, she wakes in a different world entirely. Elysian, she is told, is a land where the magic powered by the High Queen keeps its creatures living. But the rightful heir is missing, a Dark Queen falsely sits in her place, and the land is slowly dying in response.
Briar must journey through the realms in search of a way back to her world. But when word spreads of this strange human’s impossible arrival, the Dark Queen takes interest, and soon Briar is fleeing more than just the crumpling realms. Forced further into Elysian, she encounters kingdoms plagued by political strife, danger lurking in every shadow, and untrustworthy allies with dark intentions. But with each step closer to her destination, Briar can’t help but feel like she’s moving in the wrong direction. There is something about Elysian soil that has awakened the fire beneath her skin. The very fire she has told herself must be kept buried at all costs. A fiery rage that could aid Elysian in the downfall of its false queen.
Briar has never fought a day in her life, and if she doesn’t do so now, any chance of saving Elysian—or finding home—will crumple to ash.

GENRE
High/Magical/Quest Fantasy

TROPES

☙ Found Family

☙ Dying Magical World

☙ Reluctant Heroine

☙ Forced Proximity (to some extent)

☙ A dark queen rules all

☙ Trauma caused by the disappearance of a parent

☙ Secret Powers

☙ Quest Fantasy

MY REVIEW

So I started reading this book a while back and I keep getting distracted because of work and other commitments, but my mind kept coming back to this story......and I keep thinking about Zelda when reading this story....This is a quest fantasy, and I was so intrigued by it. I have to say it did not disappoint me. The thing I loved the most is world building...Briar travel to so many interesting places.....and I was eating all the details up....I think that's why it reminded me of Zelda....I love a good magical world.

I am not diving into details, but long story short, the story was immaculately written. Briar is not a very strong FMC, but she has something in her....she is a survivor.....and I think she will become more as the story will progress. Dark Queen is a very interesting character.....she reminded me of the Evil Queen from Snow White. and what was up with Zaffar......he was too cocky......I was rolling my eyes at his attempts to flirt with Briar......I was like, Sir, please.....what the what.....But he was entertaining. On the whole, the story was great. Highly recommend it if you are a fantasy game player; you will love it.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★ | 4 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 4 Stars

Romance: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Characters:★★★★ | 4 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

World-building: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

DEDICATION

THE BEST PART

☙The world-building was really great

☙ Briar's journey is intriguing, and there are some mysteries that I keep thinking about.

THE WORST PARTS
☙ Zaffar cockiness was hilarious....I still can't say it's the worst part... I was laughing at him, so it counts as something.

Happy Reading!!

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