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Wroge Elements #1
It Began With Ashes
Peace in Wroge came at a price.
The cost?
War.
Wroge was divided by the Saive War. The Arneuton kingdom enslaved the Keltir clans into their invasion, and swept across the territory, converting and conscripting the weak, culling the strong. Five Years of war, the blood of four races, millions of deaths. The Arneut conquered. The Keltir were released from their imprisonment, but the Vikir and Narz were forever banished from Wroge's borders.
Draven fought for peace. He fought another man's war and paid for his freedom in blood. But even peace comes with its price. Taxes to another man's king. Draven's fight might have ended with the Saive War, but the struggle to afford safety for his family is far from over.
When the Vikir threaten Wroge's northern border they come with a debt of their own. And it's not taxes they're after. They come because of the Keltir's betrayal in the Saive War. They come from blood.
But Wroge's fate won't be decided by ageing warriors and old grudges. The lives of four young men, divided by peace, united by conflict, will shape the future of the war torn land.
'It Began With Ashes' is the story of how life's greatest struggle is to accept who you are - a tale of broken promises, bitter grudges, and brotherhoods bound in blood.
The cost?
War.
Wroge was divided by the Saive War. The Arneuton kingdom enslaved the Keltir clans into their invasion, and swept across the territory, converting and conscripting the weak, culling the strong. Five Years of war, the blood of four races, millions of deaths. The Arneut conquered. The Keltir were released from their imprisonment, but the Vikir and Narz were forever banished from Wroge's borders.
Draven fought for peace. He fought another man's war and paid for his freedom in blood. But even peace comes with its price. Taxes to another man's king. Draven's fight might have ended with the Saive War, but the struggle to afford safety for his family is far from over.
When the Vikir threaten Wroge's northern border they come with a debt of their own. And it's not taxes they're after. They come because of the Keltir's betrayal in the Saive War. They come from blood.
But Wroge's fate won't be decided by ageing warriors and old grudges. The lives of four young men, divided by peace, united by conflict, will shape the future of the war torn land.
'It Began With Ashes' is the story of how life's greatest struggle is to accept who you are - a tale of broken promises, bitter grudges, and brotherhoods bound in blood.
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2012
About the author
D.E.M. Emrys
2 books58 followersD. E. M. Emrys. Author. Soldier by day, Soldier by night - Writer in between. Knows war to write war.
David Emrys, known as D to his friends, is a serving soldier and author. He has clearance to know more than he should, but not the sense to know better. Leaving education with no more than a fifteen year olds understanding of English Literature, D’s storytelling craft is self-taught.
Growing up with the heroic tales written by authors such as David Gemmell and James Barclay, D was inspired to write stories of his own. After joining the army D used his free time to focus on his dream of sharing shelf-space with his idols.
D testifies to the fact that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword – but swords make for better letter-openers. He lives where the army send him, but home is in Chelmsford with his girlfriend. They say that behind every great man there is a woman pulling the strings, but she lets him dance to his own song whilst being the perfect partner in step. D claims that his books would not have been written without her.
David Emrys is not his real name.
Nor is D.
Contact me on:
Blog http://written-with-a-sword.blogspot....
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dememrys
Twitter https://twitter.com/DEMEmrys
Email [email protected]
Published Works:
'From Man to Man'
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/From-Man-Wroge-...
Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-Man-Wrog... -
'It Began With Ashes'
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Began-Ashes-Wro...
Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/Began-Ashes-W...
David Emrys, known as D to his friends, is a serving soldier and author. He has clearance to know more than he should, but not the sense to know better. Leaving education with no more than a fifteen year olds understanding of English Literature, D’s storytelling craft is self-taught.
Growing up with the heroic tales written by authors such as David Gemmell and James Barclay, D was inspired to write stories of his own. After joining the army D used his free time to focus on his dream of sharing shelf-space with his idols.
D testifies to the fact that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword – but swords make for better letter-openers. He lives where the army send him, but home is in Chelmsford with his girlfriend. They say that behind every great man there is a woman pulling the strings, but she lets him dance to his own song whilst being the perfect partner in step. D claims that his books would not have been written without her.
David Emrys is not his real name.
Nor is D.
Contact me on:
Blog http://written-with-a-sword.blogspot....
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dememrys
Twitter https://twitter.com/DEMEmrys
Email [email protected]
Published Works:
'From Man to Man'
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/From-Man-Wroge-...
Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-Man-Wrog... -
'It Began With Ashes'
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Began-Ashes-Wro...
Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/Began-Ashes-W...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 16, 2015
Great book! Well written characters with a story that flows naturally one scene into another. The author introduces the reader to the history of our characters and their land gradually, and the action makes sense in the context of the overall tale. I look forward to reading this series going forward.
September 13, 2016
In the inspired style of David Gemmell, or Robert Howard, D. Emrys takes the minimalist approach to his stories. By that, I mean he lets the story speak for itself. Dialogue and action are the foundations of the world and story, rather than detailed description or extensive world-building facts. It can be a tricky approach to pull off, and most who attempt the strategy end up either losing their true writing voice or falling into simplicity. Fortunately for D. Emrys, the strategy mostly pays off and we readers are treated to a fully realized fantasy world replete with the mental and emotional maturity I demand from my modern fantasy reads.
When I imagine the author sitting down and drawing the beginning of the story, I don't imagine himself asking what the story will "be like," or what will happen in the plot. Instead, I imagine him sitting down and asking "what do I want my readers to feel?" Because ultimately, I think this a book more about 'feeling' than 'happening.' Sure stuff happens, there's a body count, fire, etc:, but the book is really about relationships. Relationships between father and son, between friends, and between complete strangers; it is how those relationships are formed and tested by traumatic events spiraling out of control that really make up the meat of the book. The world-building and the swords n' sorcery all show their respective faces to christen the book "fantasy," but at its heart, its a people book which cares more about the participants rather than the events themselves, and that makes the book greater than the sum of its parts.
Disclaimer/Notice: D.E.M. Emrys is a Goodreads friend of mine, but I attempted to make my rating and review as honest as possible. At no time did the author attempt to persuade me to read or review his book.
When I imagine the author sitting down and drawing the beginning of the story, I don't imagine himself asking what the story will "be like," or what will happen in the plot. Instead, I imagine him sitting down and asking "what do I want my readers to feel?" Because ultimately, I think this a book more about 'feeling' than 'happening.' Sure stuff happens, there's a body count, fire, etc:, but the book is really about relationships. Relationships between father and son, between friends, and between complete strangers; it is how those relationships are formed and tested by traumatic events spiraling out of control that really make up the meat of the book. The world-building and the swords n' sorcery all show their respective faces to christen the book "fantasy," but at its heart, its a people book which cares more about the participants rather than the events themselves, and that makes the book greater than the sum of its parts.
Disclaimer/Notice: D.E.M. Emrys is a Goodreads friend of mine, but I attempted to make my rating and review as honest as possible. At no time did the author attempt to persuade me to read or review his book.
December 1, 2012
Wroge has not seen war for twelve years, not since the Arneuton invasion. The Arneut rule, the Keltir serve, and the Vikir and Narz remain in exile. The blood of four races belongs to the earth of one land.
But what if blood was to run again?
Draven Reinhardt is a man with a nightmare of a past, dreaming of a better future. He paid his dues in blood and coin, settling for a quieter life, a better life. Gone are the knocks at the door from his past. But what happens when the future comes knocking?
Like any boy, Kale wants to follow in his father’s footsteps – if only he knew what they were. It’s hard enough to find his own feet in the walk of life, without knowing where he came from.
The walk of life is a lonely one for an outsider, Astartes will vouch for that. Raised a tax collector’s son, and born of foreign blood, he searches for a friend who will overlook the divide.
Divided, four races stand. United, someone will fall. Will the past shape the future, or can blood be washed clean?
‘It Began With Ashes’ is the story of how life’s greatest struggle is to accept who you are – a tale of broken promises, bitter grudges, and brotherhoods bound in blood.
The follow on from the short story From Man to Man follows Draven, his family and a host of other characters as the small village of Hearth is attacked by the banished warrior race of the Vikir.
Draven is an interesting character with a violent past, now settled into village life working at the blacksmiths, the book sets out initially with a dark tone as a twelve year old boy has his throat slit during a lads scuffle, with Dravens son Kale involved. Before any repercussions can be discussed the incident is somewhat overshadowed by the violent introduction of the Vikir as the village is decimated and the survivors escape into the forest.
After a difficult couple of days ride through the forest Draven and his fellow escapees join up with another group from the village, the travelling nomads the Sicrun, Astartes the tax collector and his son where the final battle takes place.
The story also follows Draven's wife Morganna's desperate plight as she and a group of the village wife's escape, Morganna has a bit of warriors blood in her as she takes on the Vikir giving chase but in the end to no avail as they are captured.
The story is told from alot of characters viewpoints, possibly too many for a such a short story. As the chief protagonist the story doesn't centre on Draven so much as everyone around him and I would have liked to have seen maybe a tandem storyline about Draven and Morganna's past. Also the Vikir warriors story may have benefited from a POV character to emphasize their quest for revenge against the banishment.
There is a good dose of action as all the characters fight for their lives and also alot of the story is given to the youngsters in the book and the tax collector, maybe these have prominent roles to play as the story develops but their character development seemed superficial to the crux of the story.
The story is fluent, well written and there is a lot of promise for the second outing of the Wroge Elements even though it ended to soon and I will certainly read the next instalment.
But what if blood was to run again?
Draven Reinhardt is a man with a nightmare of a past, dreaming of a better future. He paid his dues in blood and coin, settling for a quieter life, a better life. Gone are the knocks at the door from his past. But what happens when the future comes knocking?
Like any boy, Kale wants to follow in his father’s footsteps – if only he knew what they were. It’s hard enough to find his own feet in the walk of life, without knowing where he came from.
The walk of life is a lonely one for an outsider, Astartes will vouch for that. Raised a tax collector’s son, and born of foreign blood, he searches for a friend who will overlook the divide.
Divided, four races stand. United, someone will fall. Will the past shape the future, or can blood be washed clean?
‘It Began With Ashes’ is the story of how life’s greatest struggle is to accept who you are – a tale of broken promises, bitter grudges, and brotherhoods bound in blood.
The follow on from the short story From Man to Man follows Draven, his family and a host of other characters as the small village of Hearth is attacked by the banished warrior race of the Vikir.
Draven is an interesting character with a violent past, now settled into village life working at the blacksmiths, the book sets out initially with a dark tone as a twelve year old boy has his throat slit during a lads scuffle, with Dravens son Kale involved. Before any repercussions can be discussed the incident is somewhat overshadowed by the violent introduction of the Vikir as the village is decimated and the survivors escape into the forest.
After a difficult couple of days ride through the forest Draven and his fellow escapees join up with another group from the village, the travelling nomads the Sicrun, Astartes the tax collector and his son where the final battle takes place.
The story also follows Draven's wife Morganna's desperate plight as she and a group of the village wife's escape, Morganna has a bit of warriors blood in her as she takes on the Vikir giving chase but in the end to no avail as they are captured.
The story is told from alot of characters viewpoints, possibly too many for a such a short story. As the chief protagonist the story doesn't centre on Draven so much as everyone around him and I would have liked to have seen maybe a tandem storyline about Draven and Morganna's past. Also the Vikir warriors story may have benefited from a POV character to emphasize their quest for revenge against the banishment.
There is a good dose of action as all the characters fight for their lives and also alot of the story is given to the youngsters in the book and the tax collector, maybe these have prominent roles to play as the story develops but their character development seemed superficial to the crux of the story.
The story is fluent, well written and there is a lot of promise for the second outing of the Wroge Elements even though it ended to soon and I will certainly read the next instalment.
January 11, 2013
This is a well written book, and I found it quite easy to get into. The descriptions are good - if a little repetitive at times when it comes to describing people: we are constantly being reminded about the defining characteristic of some characters - and the story is intriguing. There is plenty of action, with the fight scenes not being skimped on but explored quite thoroughly, evoking more of the senses than just saying what the characters can see.
But From Man to Man was written purely from Draven's point-of-view, and I enjoyed his voice, his little humorous thoughts that he kept to himself, the things he left unsaid in general. We don't get any of Draven's POV in this book and I missed that a little. I hope he comes back later in the series.
We are introduced into the world well, not left confused by a lack of information but not having it all thrown at us at once with info dumps. There are a number of clans resident in Wroge, as well as the occupying Arneut people, who all seem quite ignorant about each other (the children at least), giving the perfect excuse for explanatory sections here and there about the war, or the world, or the politics or whatever. But these aren't cumbersome, giving us just what we need to know without being excessive and going into too much detail.
I liked the whole 'clan' thing, and that each has its own rites and areas of general expertise. Thought has obviously gone into it all and I'm looking forward to finding out more. One problem I had with the created societies was their oath - "Fraid and Govannon's bloodied blades". It just seems like a bit of a mouthful, and I sure wouldn't be able to be bothered to say this all the time, and I think even something like this would have been shortened down somewhat. Except maybe for things you really need to swear about.
There were a couple of other little things that didn't quite make sense, some that didn't quite sit right with me, but overall I very much enjoyed this book. There is a definite ending, but it is open enough to give you some clues as to what will be coming in the next instalment and keep you interested.
Full review at my blog :)
http://bookaholicsbookcase.blogspot.c...
But From Man to Man was written purely from Draven's point-of-view, and I enjoyed his voice, his little humorous thoughts that he kept to himself, the things he left unsaid in general. We don't get any of Draven's POV in this book and I missed that a little. I hope he comes back later in the series.
We are introduced into the world well, not left confused by a lack of information but not having it all thrown at us at once with info dumps. There are a number of clans resident in Wroge, as well as the occupying Arneut people, who all seem quite ignorant about each other (the children at least), giving the perfect excuse for explanatory sections here and there about the war, or the world, or the politics or whatever. But these aren't cumbersome, giving us just what we need to know without being excessive and going into too much detail.
I liked the whole 'clan' thing, and that each has its own rites and areas of general expertise. Thought has obviously gone into it all and I'm looking forward to finding out more. One problem I had with the created societies was their oath - "Fraid and Govannon's bloodied blades". It just seems like a bit of a mouthful, and I sure wouldn't be able to be bothered to say this all the time, and I think even something like this would have been shortened down somewhat. Except maybe for things you really need to swear about.
There were a couple of other little things that didn't quite make sense, some that didn't quite sit right with me, but overall I very much enjoyed this book. There is a definite ending, but it is open enough to give you some clues as to what will be coming in the next instalment and keep you interested.
Full review at my blog :)
http://bookaholicsbookcase.blogspot.c...
May 31, 2013
Fast-paced and gritty, this was an enjoyable read. Plenty of action with a nice blend of character and pace. Looking forward to the next one.
May 10, 2013
Original Review:http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/05/...
“An awesome tale, edge-of-your seats stuff.” ~The Founding Fields
If you’re somebody who doesn’t mind reading the odd self-published book like myself, you could do a lot worse than D.E.M Emrys’ epic fantasy tale, It Began with Ashes. It’s strong, confident and creates an enthralling tale with likeable characters with their own personalities. The book itself tells the story of coming to accept yourself as who you really are, as well as exploring other details such as character development whilst jostling with world building and some awesome action sequences.
Peace in Wroge came at a price.
The cost?
War.
Wroge was divided by the Saive War. The Arneuton kingdom enslaved the Keltir clans into their invasion, and swept across the territory, converting and conscripting the weak, culling the strong. Five Years of war, the blood of four races, millions of deaths. The Arneut conquered. The Keltir were released from their imprisonment, but the Vikir and Narz were forever banished from Wroge’s borders.
Draven fought for peace. He fought another man’s war and paid for his freedom in blood. But even peace comes with its price. Taxes to another man’s king. Draven’s fight might have ended with the Saive War, but the struggle to afford safety for his family is far from over.
When the Vikir threaten Wroge’s northern border they come with a debt of their own. And it’s not taxes they’re after. They come because of the Keltir’s betrayal in the Saive War. They come from blood.
But Wroge’s fate won’t be decided by ageing warriors and old grudges. The lives of four young men, divided by peace, united by conflict, will shape the future of the war torn land.
‘It Began With Ashes’ is the story of how life’s greatest struggle is to accept who you are – a tale of broken promises, bitter grudges, and brotherhoods bound in blood.
If you have any version of a Kindle, or a way of adapting a Kindle-formatted book to suit your appropiate e-reader format, then you can get a taste of what Emrys’ works are like for nothing, in the form of the short story, From Man to Man. The pricing of It Began With Ashes is pretty strong as well, and although it may be short, it’s a great teaser for what’s to come in this novel, as it picks up from where it left off, exploring Draven, his family and a large dramatis personae that find themselves caught in the midst of an attack from the Vikir, an exiled warrior race. The book itself is great at handling the cast of characters, so that the Point of View switches never seem jarring and they seem to flow naturally.
Kale, Draven’s son, is one of the main characters in It Began with Ashes and is a very interesting character to read the POV of, whose experience is harrowed following the death of a young boy his age having been killed by a friend. His character is affected greatly by the death, and you – the reader will be as well, as the book itself establishes a dark tone that will continue throughout.
If you’re tired of pages of pages of exposition in your fantasy novels, then Emrys ignores that, getting right to the heat of the action and character development, and you’ll quickly find out that a large portion of the book is action dominated, at least half. Don’t let that put you off though, because I’ve already mentioned that there’s plenty of character development.
The world building is also something not to be looked down on, with most being compared through conversations with characters as opposed to the narration, with a strong pacing to boot that doesn’t feel like it’s either too fast or too slow.
There are some people who don’t pick up first novels in a series when future issues haven’t been released yet, and that is understandable, but with a low price for It Began with Ashes, it’s really something that you can’t afford to pass by, because despite the fact that there is clearly intended to be future books, the novel can probably be read as a standalone as the book itself doesn’t end on a cliffhanger.
So with all of that mentioned, if you’re looking for some self-published work for a low price and have an e-reader, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t pass this opportunity by.
VERDICT: 4/5
“An awesome tale, edge-of-your seats stuff.” ~The Founding Fields
If you’re somebody who doesn’t mind reading the odd self-published book like myself, you could do a lot worse than D.E.M Emrys’ epic fantasy tale, It Began with Ashes. It’s strong, confident and creates an enthralling tale with likeable characters with their own personalities. The book itself tells the story of coming to accept yourself as who you really are, as well as exploring other details such as character development whilst jostling with world building and some awesome action sequences.
Peace in Wroge came at a price.
The cost?
War.
Wroge was divided by the Saive War. The Arneuton kingdom enslaved the Keltir clans into their invasion, and swept across the territory, converting and conscripting the weak, culling the strong. Five Years of war, the blood of four races, millions of deaths. The Arneut conquered. The Keltir were released from their imprisonment, but the Vikir and Narz were forever banished from Wroge’s borders.
Draven fought for peace. He fought another man’s war and paid for his freedom in blood. But even peace comes with its price. Taxes to another man’s king. Draven’s fight might have ended with the Saive War, but the struggle to afford safety for his family is far from over.
When the Vikir threaten Wroge’s northern border they come with a debt of their own. And it’s not taxes they’re after. They come because of the Keltir’s betrayal in the Saive War. They come from blood.
But Wroge’s fate won’t be decided by ageing warriors and old grudges. The lives of four young men, divided by peace, united by conflict, will shape the future of the war torn land.
‘It Began With Ashes’ is the story of how life’s greatest struggle is to accept who you are – a tale of broken promises, bitter grudges, and brotherhoods bound in blood.
If you have any version of a Kindle, or a way of adapting a Kindle-formatted book to suit your appropiate e-reader format, then you can get a taste of what Emrys’ works are like for nothing, in the form of the short story, From Man to Man. The pricing of It Began With Ashes is pretty strong as well, and although it may be short, it’s a great teaser for what’s to come in this novel, as it picks up from where it left off, exploring Draven, his family and a large dramatis personae that find themselves caught in the midst of an attack from the Vikir, an exiled warrior race. The book itself is great at handling the cast of characters, so that the Point of View switches never seem jarring and they seem to flow naturally.
Kale, Draven’s son, is one of the main characters in It Began with Ashes and is a very interesting character to read the POV of, whose experience is harrowed following the death of a young boy his age having been killed by a friend. His character is affected greatly by the death, and you – the reader will be as well, as the book itself establishes a dark tone that will continue throughout.
If you’re tired of pages of pages of exposition in your fantasy novels, then Emrys ignores that, getting right to the heat of the action and character development, and you’ll quickly find out that a large portion of the book is action dominated, at least half. Don’t let that put you off though, because I’ve already mentioned that there’s plenty of character development.
The world building is also something not to be looked down on, with most being compared through conversations with characters as opposed to the narration, with a strong pacing to boot that doesn’t feel like it’s either too fast or too slow.
There are some people who don’t pick up first novels in a series when future issues haven’t been released yet, and that is understandable, but with a low price for It Began with Ashes, it’s really something that you can’t afford to pass by, because despite the fact that there is clearly intended to be future books, the novel can probably be read as a standalone as the book itself doesn’t end on a cliffhanger.
So with all of that mentioned, if you’re looking for some self-published work for a low price and have an e-reader, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t pass this opportunity by.
VERDICT: 4/5
May 29, 2013
Originally published at Risingshadow.
I recently read D.E.M. Emrys' From Man to Man and liked it very much, because it was a good fantasy story, so it was nice to read It Began with Ashes.
It Began with Ashes is the first part of the Wroge Elements fantasy series. It's a much larger and more complex fantasy story than From Man to Man, which was an introduction to the Wroge Elements series. It Began with Ashes can be categorized as heroic and realistic epic fantasy.
I liked It Began with Ashes very much. It's difficult not to like it, because the happenings are interesting and easy to understand, and the author writes well about difficult themes and pays attention to the theme of acceptance. There are some minor flaws in it, because e.g. certain things could have been explained more thoroughly, but on the whole it's an excellent read and offers great escapism for fantasy readers who are looking for an enjoyable and fast-paced story to read.
Here's a bit of information about the world: The events take place in the world of Wroge, which is a fictional fantasy world that reminded me a bit of Britain under Roman rule. Because of the wars, Arneutons rule Wroge. They conquered and colonized Wroge, and the different clans have to live in servitude to them. Bits and pieces of the world are revealed to the reader as the story begins to unfold. I think that more things will be revealed in the sequels, because there are probably several things that haven't been revealed yet.
From Man to Man was a story about Draven, but It Began with Ashes follows the adventures and lives of Draven and Nicolas and their families. Draven, Morganna, Nicolas, Kale and Astartes are well portrayed characters that become more interesting as the story moves forward.
The beginning of It Began with Ashes is instantly addictive and exciting. The story begins with Astartes travelling on the road with his father, Nicolas, towards Hearth. Astartes doesn't see anybody, but he's sure that they're being followed. They're collecting taxes from Keltir clans. He manages to see a glimpse of a figure who has horns... Because this is only the beginning, there's much more to come, but I won't reveal here what happens to the characters.
D.E.M. Emrys keeps the pace brisk and moves the story fast forward, but doesn't hurry too much. He lets readers get to know the characters by writing about them, their lives and their backgrounds as the story progresses. I liked it very much that he wrote about certain happenings through the eyes of Astartes and Kale, because they were young characters and differed from the older characters. Reading about them was interesting.
Draven is an especially interesting character, because he's been a mercenary, but has given up his former life for the sake of his wife (Morganna) and son (Kale). Draven cares for his wife and son, but life isn't always as easy as it should be and he has to make difficult decisions: times are tough and working for the Guild would be more profitable than his current job and he would be able to feed his family. I think it's good that the author has created this kind of a realistic character, because it's interesting to read about his life and problems.
I think it's good to mention that there's a glossary at the end of this book. It's nice that the author has included a glossary, because it may be useful to readers.
Everybody who likes this story will be interested in knowing that there will be a sequel. According to the end of the book it will be called A Stirring of Dead Embers.
In my opinion D.E.M. Emrys has a talent for storytelling, because he writes entertainingly about the happenings. When I read this story, I thought to myself that the author loves writing and clearly intends to write an entertaining fantasy series for adults (the author seems to have lots of potential and that's a good thing). I definitely want to read what he writes next, because I enjoyed this story.
Good and entertaining fantasy for adults!
I recently read D.E.M. Emrys' From Man to Man and liked it very much, because it was a good fantasy story, so it was nice to read It Began with Ashes.
It Began with Ashes is the first part of the Wroge Elements fantasy series. It's a much larger and more complex fantasy story than From Man to Man, which was an introduction to the Wroge Elements series. It Began with Ashes can be categorized as heroic and realistic epic fantasy.
I liked It Began with Ashes very much. It's difficult not to like it, because the happenings are interesting and easy to understand, and the author writes well about difficult themes and pays attention to the theme of acceptance. There are some minor flaws in it, because e.g. certain things could have been explained more thoroughly, but on the whole it's an excellent read and offers great escapism for fantasy readers who are looking for an enjoyable and fast-paced story to read.
Here's a bit of information about the world: The events take place in the world of Wroge, which is a fictional fantasy world that reminded me a bit of Britain under Roman rule. Because of the wars, Arneutons rule Wroge. They conquered and colonized Wroge, and the different clans have to live in servitude to them. Bits and pieces of the world are revealed to the reader as the story begins to unfold. I think that more things will be revealed in the sequels, because there are probably several things that haven't been revealed yet.
From Man to Man was a story about Draven, but It Began with Ashes follows the adventures and lives of Draven and Nicolas and their families. Draven, Morganna, Nicolas, Kale and Astartes are well portrayed characters that become more interesting as the story moves forward.
The beginning of It Began with Ashes is instantly addictive and exciting. The story begins with Astartes travelling on the road with his father, Nicolas, towards Hearth. Astartes doesn't see anybody, but he's sure that they're being followed. They're collecting taxes from Keltir clans. He manages to see a glimpse of a figure who has horns... Because this is only the beginning, there's much more to come, but I won't reveal here what happens to the characters.
D.E.M. Emrys keeps the pace brisk and moves the story fast forward, but doesn't hurry too much. He lets readers get to know the characters by writing about them, their lives and their backgrounds as the story progresses. I liked it very much that he wrote about certain happenings through the eyes of Astartes and Kale, because they were young characters and differed from the older characters. Reading about them was interesting.
Draven is an especially interesting character, because he's been a mercenary, but has given up his former life for the sake of his wife (Morganna) and son (Kale). Draven cares for his wife and son, but life isn't always as easy as it should be and he has to make difficult decisions: times are tough and working for the Guild would be more profitable than his current job and he would be able to feed his family. I think it's good that the author has created this kind of a realistic character, because it's interesting to read about his life and problems.
I think it's good to mention that there's a glossary at the end of this book. It's nice that the author has included a glossary, because it may be useful to readers.
Everybody who likes this story will be interested in knowing that there will be a sequel. According to the end of the book it will be called A Stirring of Dead Embers.
In my opinion D.E.M. Emrys has a talent for storytelling, because he writes entertainingly about the happenings. When I read this story, I thought to myself that the author loves writing and clearly intends to write an entertaining fantasy series for adults (the author seems to have lots of potential and that's a good thing). I definitely want to read what he writes next, because I enjoyed this story.
Good and entertaining fantasy for adults!
May 2, 2013
This sequel of 'From Man To Man' is excellent,
To say that I thoroughly enjoyed 'It Began With Ashes' would be an understatement .... the characters of Draven, his friends and their families have really firmed up in my imagination and I can really picture them.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who likes the combination of Historical Fiction, Action, Adventure and a light touch of Fantasy.
I look forward to the next book of this series 'A Stirring Of Dead Embers'
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews...
To say that I thoroughly enjoyed 'It Began With Ashes' would be an understatement .... the characters of Draven, his friends and their families have really firmed up in my imagination and I can really picture them.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who likes the combination of Historical Fiction, Action, Adventure and a light touch of Fantasy.
I look forward to the next book of this series 'A Stirring Of Dead Embers'
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews...
August 25, 2015
First of all: The author gave me this book for free in exchange for a review.
Having read D.E.M Emrys' short story From Man to Man first, I thought - like a lot of people who reviewed this book - that Draven, or at least Nicolas, the Arneuton Tax Collector, would play a rather big role in the book, but this was not the case.
Instead of having the story center around a rather classical protagonist, a middle-aged ex-mercenary looking for a new way of life, It Began With Ashes takes us into a world of war seen from four childrens' point of view.
Draven's son, Kale, wishes nothing more than to one day be as strong as his father, and to fight gloriously with a sword.
His friend Deule, in the face of a harsh life, does something no one would have thought possible.
The Tax Collector's young son, Astartes', doesn't plan to become a tax collector.
And finally Damien, a young peddler who can create green fire from thin air.
Few fantasy author's choose this angle to portray their world's, and I applaus Emrys for having done it. Instead of being another dull story of an ex-merc's search for redemption (I've read too many of them), we see a bunch of 12-year-olds trying to figure out what's their place in life, and what's happening around them.
Seeing the world of politics and war around them though their eyes was a very strong aspect of the book and amongst the points I enjoyed most.
Characters are Emrys' forte. He portrays them vividly and layered, and I wish the book had been longer and more detailed so I could have gotten to know them better - especially Deule, who remained rather sketchy.
Being a short book (just abut 200 pages), especially for a fantasy book, there wasn't that much story inside. I was rather disappointed when the book ended, not only because I wanted to know the rest, but also because I felt that the book was incomplete as a novel. It was rather an episode of a longer tale. It's just a preference of mine, but I dislike episodic tales. I don't have a problem with cliffhangers per se, but I like my novels to have enough meat so I don't have the feeling that I read a chapter instead of a book.
What bothered me most in this book was something I couldn't overlook: messy exposition. It Began With Ashes being the first book in a series set in a fantasy world yet unknown to the readers, Emrys naturally had to introduce all the different social groups.
Unfortunately, I didn't agree with the way he did it. Instead of letting the reader guess and think on his/her own, he lets the characters explain to each other which clan is which.
And mostly, it sounded much like this:
A: Can you believe we once fought a war against the Germans?
B: Who are they again?
A: Oh, they're the beer-drinking folk with no humor!
Now, in the case of A and B, it's quite incredible that A would just shrug B's lack of knowledge about WW2 off like that without even rolling his eyes. In the case of the characters from It Began With Ashes, I was rather surprised by the enormous lack of knowledge some of these people possessed. As far as I understand, the War in their world happened only 12 years ago, no? And still they don't seem to recall who it was they fought against? That's just ridiculously stupid, if they really didn't know, or just the author being as subtle as a tank about his exposition.
I was not impressed with the way he threw huge chunks of information at me without even letting me guess once. And sadly, it happened quite a few times, which annoyed me to no end.
All in all, the book would have deserved a sparkling 4 star-rating if it hadn't been for the incredibly irritating telling instead of showing.
I liked the book and I hope that now that every last bit of information was thrown at me, the next book in the series won't have the same flaw.
Having read D.E.M Emrys' short story From Man to Man first, I thought - like a lot of people who reviewed this book - that Draven, or at least Nicolas, the Arneuton Tax Collector, would play a rather big role in the book, but this was not the case.
Instead of having the story center around a rather classical protagonist, a middle-aged ex-mercenary looking for a new way of life, It Began With Ashes takes us into a world of war seen from four childrens' point of view.
Draven's son, Kale, wishes nothing more than to one day be as strong as his father, and to fight gloriously with a sword.
His friend Deule, in the face of a harsh life, does something no one would have thought possible.
The Tax Collector's young son, Astartes', doesn't plan to become a tax collector.
And finally Damien, a young peddler who can create green fire from thin air.
Few fantasy author's choose this angle to portray their world's, and I applaus Emrys for having done it. Instead of being another dull story of an ex-merc's search for redemption (I've read too many of them), we see a bunch of 12-year-olds trying to figure out what's their place in life, and what's happening around them.
Seeing the world of politics and war around them though their eyes was a very strong aspect of the book and amongst the points I enjoyed most.
Characters are Emrys' forte. He portrays them vividly and layered, and I wish the book had been longer and more detailed so I could have gotten to know them better - especially Deule, who remained rather sketchy.
Being a short book (just abut 200 pages), especially for a fantasy book, there wasn't that much story inside. I was rather disappointed when the book ended, not only because I wanted to know the rest, but also because I felt that the book was incomplete as a novel. It was rather an episode of a longer tale. It's just a preference of mine, but I dislike episodic tales. I don't have a problem with cliffhangers per se, but I like my novels to have enough meat so I don't have the feeling that I read a chapter instead of a book.
What bothered me most in this book was something I couldn't overlook: messy exposition. It Began With Ashes being the first book in a series set in a fantasy world yet unknown to the readers, Emrys naturally had to introduce all the different social groups.
Unfortunately, I didn't agree with the way he did it. Instead of letting the reader guess and think on his/her own, he lets the characters explain to each other which clan is which.
And mostly, it sounded much like this:
A: Can you believe we once fought a war against the Germans?
B: Who are they again?
A: Oh, they're the beer-drinking folk with no humor!
Now, in the case of A and B, it's quite incredible that A would just shrug B's lack of knowledge about WW2 off like that without even rolling his eyes. In the case of the characters from It Began With Ashes, I was rather surprised by the enormous lack of knowledge some of these people possessed. As far as I understand, the War in their world happened only 12 years ago, no? And still they don't seem to recall who it was they fought against? That's just ridiculously stupid, if they really didn't know, or just the author being as subtle as a tank about his exposition.
I was not impressed with the way he threw huge chunks of information at me without even letting me guess once. And sadly, it happened quite a few times, which annoyed me to no end.
All in all, the book would have deserved a sparkling 4 star-rating if it hadn't been for the incredibly irritating telling instead of showing.
I liked the book and I hope that now that every last bit of information was thrown at me, the next book in the series won't have the same flaw.
February 24, 2013
I’ve been looking forward to reading It Began With Ashes ever since I read David’s short story From Man to Man, which was sort of an interlude/teaser for this novel. I have to say that the book was worth the wait, as from the first chapter you are drawn into the story! The novel is based in the fictional world of Wroge, which after a time of invasion, war and conquest, has held an unsteady peace between the various Kingdoms and Clans for the last twelve years. The wars fought over a decade earlier saw the rise of the Arneutons, who now rule Wroge with a strict hand, and the exile of the Vikir, a fearsome tribe of horn-helmed warriors, that were banished to the icy wastes in the North of Wroge.
In amongst these tribes are the Keltir, a clan that fought for the Arneutons during the war. After their loyal service during the war, the Keltir are now forced to scratch out a living on the border of Wroge. The Torne, a subsection of the clan, mostly live in and around Hearth Village, which is only a short distance from the exiled Vikir.
On the road to Hearth Village, Astartes is nervous. From the seat in his father’s cart, he is convinced that someone or something is stalking them through the forest. His father tells him not to be ridiculous, as no bandits would dare attack them this close to the village and more importantly, this close to the Mercenaries’ Guild. However, Astartes is not convinced and as the cart passes through a dark clearing, he notices a human shaped figure watching them, but this is not what scares him the most, it’s the fact the figure is wearing a horned helmet…
Meanwhile in Hearth Village, Draven is part of the Keltir and has a dark and dangerous past. Serving as a mercenary, Draven fought during the Arneuton invasion and numerous other wars. However, after the birth of his son Kale, Draven gave up the hard but well-paid life of a mercenary to settle down with his wife and son. Draven and his family managed to survive in the small village of Hearth after Kale’s birth. However, twelve years on, things have become dire and Draven must return to his job as a sword-for-hire to feed his family, much to the distress and anger of his wife Morganna. However, on the eve of Draven’s departure, fate turns against him and sends an old and dangerous enemy to Hearth Village resulting in Draven, Kale and Morganna’s world being turned to ash.
This book was great! Interestingly, when I was reading this book I was also listening to The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett as an audiobook. Both of these books are quite similar- they’re both fantasy novels and are set in a medieval sort of environment. However, out of the two novels I can honestly say that I preferred It Began With Ashes! As I said above, the vision of the helmeted warrior in the first chapter really caught my attention and after that, I was totally hooked with the novel! I love that fact that you find out more about Draven’s past in this novel, whereas in From Man to Man it is left really mysterious.
I can’t wait for the next instalment of the Wroge Elements to find out more about Draven and Kale’s story! I would suggest this book to anyone who is a fan of fantasy novels. I also think that fans of The Warded Man would really enjoy this novel and should definitely check it out! I’d also say that you should definitely read From Man to Man before you check out this novel, as it really adds to the plot in this book. Plus, as a short-story on its own, it is a really great read!
For more book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
In amongst these tribes are the Keltir, a clan that fought for the Arneutons during the war. After their loyal service during the war, the Keltir are now forced to scratch out a living on the border of Wroge. The Torne, a subsection of the clan, mostly live in and around Hearth Village, which is only a short distance from the exiled Vikir.
On the road to Hearth Village, Astartes is nervous. From the seat in his father’s cart, he is convinced that someone or something is stalking them through the forest. His father tells him not to be ridiculous, as no bandits would dare attack them this close to the village and more importantly, this close to the Mercenaries’ Guild. However, Astartes is not convinced and as the cart passes through a dark clearing, he notices a human shaped figure watching them, but this is not what scares him the most, it’s the fact the figure is wearing a horned helmet…
Meanwhile in Hearth Village, Draven is part of the Keltir and has a dark and dangerous past. Serving as a mercenary, Draven fought during the Arneuton invasion and numerous other wars. However, after the birth of his son Kale, Draven gave up the hard but well-paid life of a mercenary to settle down with his wife and son. Draven and his family managed to survive in the small village of Hearth after Kale’s birth. However, twelve years on, things have become dire and Draven must return to his job as a sword-for-hire to feed his family, much to the distress and anger of his wife Morganna. However, on the eve of Draven’s departure, fate turns against him and sends an old and dangerous enemy to Hearth Village resulting in Draven, Kale and Morganna’s world being turned to ash.
This book was great! Interestingly, when I was reading this book I was also listening to The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett as an audiobook. Both of these books are quite similar- they’re both fantasy novels and are set in a medieval sort of environment. However, out of the two novels I can honestly say that I preferred It Began With Ashes! As I said above, the vision of the helmeted warrior in the first chapter really caught my attention and after that, I was totally hooked with the novel! I love that fact that you find out more about Draven’s past in this novel, whereas in From Man to Man it is left really mysterious.
I can’t wait for the next instalment of the Wroge Elements to find out more about Draven and Kale’s story! I would suggest this book to anyone who is a fan of fantasy novels. I also think that fans of The Warded Man would really enjoy this novel and should definitely check it out! I’d also say that you should definitely read From Man to Man before you check out this novel, as it really adds to the plot in this book. Plus, as a short-story on its own, it is a really great read!
For more book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
November 28, 2012
I do not often read fantasy written in an Iron Age setting, but I've been following this emerging writer for quite some time, so I gave it a shot. And you know what? I enjoyed it.
It Began With Ashes is Emrys' novel debut. He succeeds in where most fantasies fail by avoiding passages of exposition in favor of action and character development. And when I mean action, I mean lots of action. At lest fifty percent of the book has the characters fighting for their lives, and there are a lot of characters.
The book opens up with Astartes, the 12 year old son of the Tax Collector Nicholas. Then it introduces Kale, the twelve year old son of Draven and Morganna Reinhardt, ex-mercenaries and also characters that get their own time in the sun. While the two boys and the sword wielding married couple are the ones who lend the reader their eyes, there is a whole cast to support each of them. There is Deule and Damian, two more 12 year old boys. McGowan, Draven's employer. Ivebian, Draven's friend and skull-crusher cohort. Not to mention a handful of red shirts that shall not be mentioned for spoiler sakes.
For a short novel, I couldn't help but think, "This is a lot of people, but who's the main character?" That's one of the weak points of this novel. I want to say it's Astartes and Kale over any of the adults because they undergo the greatest character development and ask the heavy questions like, "Why is all this blood and killing not affecting anyone else?" If that is the case, this novel is less about the veteran soldiers and more about the children trying to cope with death dumping its bowels all over them through the adults' sword work.
Emrys' world building is effective without slapping the read upside the head with a history text. Most of it is conveyed through character interaction with the world and their thoughts. It's based in an environment much like Roman occupied England with Viking's beating down on the heads of the poor villagers while their occupiers tax them to death. The names are easy to pronounce, especially if you've played Skyrim. Emrys has a glossary at the end of the book, but it really isn't needed unless you're into that kind of thing. His writing is clear and straight forward enough that the context tells the reader everything.
His pacing is good. It gallops along at a steady speed with only a few pot holes. The village raid foes on a bit too long and the book ends to soon. Yes, way too soon. While It Began With Ashes does have a plot from the beginning that is achieved by the end (Get to the Mercenary Guild.) and follows the story rule of rising action, climax, and falling action; it felt like it needed more. The ending is like the horse smashed into a garbage truck going 60 in the opposite direction. It could have been longer and I wouldn't have cared.
So why 4 stars?
It's a well structured story with an easily understood but complex world. The characters are distinct with their own problems and thoughts that develop over time. And he can write.
Looking forward to the sequel.
It Began With Ashes is Emrys' novel debut. He succeeds in where most fantasies fail by avoiding passages of exposition in favor of action and character development. And when I mean action, I mean lots of action. At lest fifty percent of the book has the characters fighting for their lives, and there are a lot of characters.
The book opens up with Astartes, the 12 year old son of the Tax Collector Nicholas. Then it introduces Kale, the twelve year old son of Draven and Morganna Reinhardt, ex-mercenaries and also characters that get their own time in the sun. While the two boys and the sword wielding married couple are the ones who lend the reader their eyes, there is a whole cast to support each of them. There is Deule and Damian, two more 12 year old boys. McGowan, Draven's employer. Ivebian, Draven's friend and skull-crusher cohort. Not to mention a handful of red shirts that shall not be mentioned for spoiler sakes.
For a short novel, I couldn't help but think, "This is a lot of people, but who's the main character?" That's one of the weak points of this novel. I want to say it's Astartes and Kale over any of the adults because they undergo the greatest character development and ask the heavy questions like, "Why is all this blood and killing not affecting anyone else?" If that is the case, this novel is less about the veteran soldiers and more about the children trying to cope with death dumping its bowels all over them through the adults' sword work.
Emrys' world building is effective without slapping the read upside the head with a history text. Most of it is conveyed through character interaction with the world and their thoughts. It's based in an environment much like Roman occupied England with Viking's beating down on the heads of the poor villagers while their occupiers tax them to death. The names are easy to pronounce, especially if you've played Skyrim. Emrys has a glossary at the end of the book, but it really isn't needed unless you're into that kind of thing. His writing is clear and straight forward enough that the context tells the reader everything.
His pacing is good. It gallops along at a steady speed with only a few pot holes. The village raid foes on a bit too long and the book ends to soon. Yes, way too soon. While It Began With Ashes does have a plot from the beginning that is achieved by the end (Get to the Mercenary Guild.) and follows the story rule of rising action, climax, and falling action; it felt like it needed more. The ending is like the horse smashed into a garbage truck going 60 in the opposite direction. It could have been longer and I wouldn't have cared.
So why 4 stars?
It's a well structured story with an easily understood but complex world. The characters are distinct with their own problems and thoughts that develop over time. And he can write.
Looking forward to the sequel.
May 8, 2013
It Began With Ashes is the sort of book that I like to pick up - an author I've never heard of, writing my kind of fantasy. Generally speaking, when a book hits this combination, it tends to fall into one of two categories after reading: 1. Books I really like, and 2. Books I can take or leave (with "books I really don't like" being a much rarer option not worth numbering). Ashes comfortably sits in the pile of books under category 2.
The book shows some pretty good promise, with a solid story, decent characters and some good scenes. There's not an awful lot of the world uncovered within the pages, but saying that, we don't cover too much ground, and what we do see of the world is subtly revealed as and when necessary. There's little snippets here and there that show there's more to the world than the story itself covers, and I think that builds well for the continuation of the series.
Generally speaking, the characters interact well, and where necessary there's some solid enough background to them - revealed much like the geography, on an 'as necessary' basis that works well to keep the flow of the story at a good pace. The writing itself allows for the pages to turn at a swift rate, helped along by a good, honest fantasy storyline. We're not saving the world here, just trying to keep our little corner of it safe from marauding raiders. Given this, the conflict almost writes itself and the characters approach it well, a little too well at times for my personal tastes.
For me there was a little too much brevity in and around the fight scenes, with the grittiness of the situation losing out. I also found a bit too much repetition with the "Is’d ko fehd!" war cry of the Vikir raiders and the promise of "One day I’ll be as strong as you, dad" seeming to take up a disproportionate number of the 48,000 odd words, making the eyes roll a bit when I should have been gripped by the action. Several times the end phrase of a chapter or section was repeated by a different character in a different situation at the start of the next and it just didn't read as a natural break for me, especially when this happened three or four times in quick succession towards the end of the book.
This aside, and ignoring some simple mistakes in the writing that somehow always seem to find their way into a finished product even of the highest order, my main gripe with Ashes is the length. At just under 50,000 words it's more of a fat novella than the slimmest of fantasy novels. The ending, while not exactly a sudden, cliffhanging event, did read more like the end of a section than the end of the book and with the promise of a continuation in an upcoming sequel, I couldn't help but feel I've only read half a book here. For me, another volume of similar size to this effort would combine nicely with Ashes to make a standalone novel, or perhaps the start of a longer series. There's certainly enough of a story and enough talent in the writing for a polished up, novel-sized offering to stand its ground well amongst the new wave of fantasy debutants.
The book shows some pretty good promise, with a solid story, decent characters and some good scenes. There's not an awful lot of the world uncovered within the pages, but saying that, we don't cover too much ground, and what we do see of the world is subtly revealed as and when necessary. There's little snippets here and there that show there's more to the world than the story itself covers, and I think that builds well for the continuation of the series.
Generally speaking, the characters interact well, and where necessary there's some solid enough background to them - revealed much like the geography, on an 'as necessary' basis that works well to keep the flow of the story at a good pace. The writing itself allows for the pages to turn at a swift rate, helped along by a good, honest fantasy storyline. We're not saving the world here, just trying to keep our little corner of it safe from marauding raiders. Given this, the conflict almost writes itself and the characters approach it well, a little too well at times for my personal tastes.
For me there was a little too much brevity in and around the fight scenes, with the grittiness of the situation losing out. I also found a bit too much repetition with the "Is’d ko fehd!" war cry of the Vikir raiders and the promise of "One day I’ll be as strong as you, dad" seeming to take up a disproportionate number of the 48,000 odd words, making the eyes roll a bit when I should have been gripped by the action. Several times the end phrase of a chapter or section was repeated by a different character in a different situation at the start of the next and it just didn't read as a natural break for me, especially when this happened three or four times in quick succession towards the end of the book.
This aside, and ignoring some simple mistakes in the writing that somehow always seem to find their way into a finished product even of the highest order, my main gripe with Ashes is the length. At just under 50,000 words it's more of a fat novella than the slimmest of fantasy novels. The ending, while not exactly a sudden, cliffhanging event, did read more like the end of a section than the end of the book and with the promise of a continuation in an upcoming sequel, I couldn't help but feel I've only read half a book here. For me, another volume of similar size to this effort would combine nicely with Ashes to make a standalone novel, or perhaps the start of a longer series. There's certainly enough of a story and enough talent in the writing for a polished up, novel-sized offering to stand its ground well amongst the new wave of fantasy debutants.
February 5, 2013
It Began With Ashes by D.E.M. Emrys is the first book in the Wroge Elements series. I first journeyed into this particular world when I read the prequel From Man to Man a few months ago. When I was sent this book to review, I was hoping for an exciting read and a deeper look into the story of the main character of the novella.
I was not disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised because not only did we get to see more of Draven Reinhardt, but we meet his son, wife, neighbors and a whole slew of new and interesting characters. The book starts off with the tax collector Nicholas and his son Astartes who are journeying on horseback to collect the taxes of the different clans in the area. Then we hop to Draven's son Kale and his friends. And even to Draven and his wife Morganna.
Draven is much more outspoken in this novel. The kind of character that others look to for advice. The one who always has a plan. I liked watching him develop in this story and I loved his interaction with his fellow blacksmith and his friend even in the midst of battle. It was actually incredibly funny. It reminds me of a scene in Robin Hood where a couple of his merry men are pretending to fight over something to slow down the kings guards.
But I digress.
Ivebian was one of my favorite characters. As strong as an ox (and apparently as big as one too) but with a heart of gold for the people he cares about. He was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Morganna was a force to be reckoned with in her own right. She was a strong and confident character but extremely caring.
The story itself started out with a suspenseful scene and I loved that. Throws you right in to the thick of things. There was action all over the place in It Began With Ashes but with enough down time in between for it not to be overwhelming. On the other side of the coin there was not too much down time so as to get drawn out and boring. Great balance.
It was interesting to see things from Kale's and Astartes's point of view. They're 12 years old and unlike a lot of children their age they're extremely resilient. And something happens at the beginning of the book that I think causes them to mature just a little bit more than they should have had to at that point in time but in the end serves to make them tough enough to handle what's being thrown at them.
The Vikirs were interesting to read about. They reminded me of Vikings (and I suppose rightfully so). They were big and menacing and terrifying to anyone they came across... but the Torne and the Sicrun and even Nicholas and Astartes had wills of steel and were not to be overcome easily.
This was a really good book. Like it's prequel. I would recommend to anyone interested in medieval feeling epic fantasies. Or just anyone looking for a book with a lot of great action sequences. This one will not disappoint. It's funny, it's a thriller, and it was a very quick and easy read. Check it out!
I was not disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised because not only did we get to see more of Draven Reinhardt, but we meet his son, wife, neighbors and a whole slew of new and interesting characters. The book starts off with the tax collector Nicholas and his son Astartes who are journeying on horseback to collect the taxes of the different clans in the area. Then we hop to Draven's son Kale and his friends. And even to Draven and his wife Morganna.
Draven is much more outspoken in this novel. The kind of character that others look to for advice. The one who always has a plan. I liked watching him develop in this story and I loved his interaction with his fellow blacksmith and his friend even in the midst of battle. It was actually incredibly funny. It reminds me of a scene in Robin Hood where a couple of his merry men are pretending to fight over something to slow down the kings guards.
But I digress.
Ivebian was one of my favorite characters. As strong as an ox (and apparently as big as one too) but with a heart of gold for the people he cares about. He was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Morganna was a force to be reckoned with in her own right. She was a strong and confident character but extremely caring.
The story itself started out with a suspenseful scene and I loved that. Throws you right in to the thick of things. There was action all over the place in It Began With Ashes but with enough down time in between for it not to be overwhelming. On the other side of the coin there was not too much down time so as to get drawn out and boring. Great balance.
It was interesting to see things from Kale's and Astartes's point of view. They're 12 years old and unlike a lot of children their age they're extremely resilient. And something happens at the beginning of the book that I think causes them to mature just a little bit more than they should have had to at that point in time but in the end serves to make them tough enough to handle what's being thrown at them.
The Vikirs were interesting to read about. They reminded me of Vikings (and I suppose rightfully so). They were big and menacing and terrifying to anyone they came across... but the Torne and the Sicrun and even Nicholas and Astartes had wills of steel and were not to be overcome easily.
This was a really good book. Like it's prequel. I would recommend to anyone interested in medieval feeling epic fantasies. Or just anyone looking for a book with a lot of great action sequences. This one will not disappoint. It's funny, it's a thriller, and it was a very quick and easy read. Check it out!
February 26, 2013
Having read From Man to Man I was expecting to read more of Draven's adventures, with Shrike probably playing a significant part. So I was rather surprised that the story opened with Nicolas, the Arneuton tax collector and his son, Astartes.
Sure enough the action soon moves to Hearth village and Draven is making plans to rejoin the Mercenary Guild. However my preconceptions were soon subverted as it becomes clear that in many ways this novel is the story of a different generation, that of Draven's son, Kale, and his peers.
In contrast to From Man to Man, which is after all a short story, this story encompasses quite a considerable cast of characters which Emrys handles really well. What is more the story moves along through a number of twists and turns at an engaging pace. Action packed sequences are well balanced with the need to gradually reveal background information about Wroge, Emrys' world setting.
The ending clearly sets up the next instalment in what is obviously intended to be a series. However, unlike some continuing series where the end of a book can feel arbitrary, there is a clear sense of resolution at the end of From Man to Man; albeit with some unfinished business.
Just a couple of minor quibbles hold me back from a five star rating. Although some reviewers have criticised some character descriptions as being repetitive there was only one which I found grating. The description in question being Deule the knotted-haired boy; somehow the double past participle seemed awkward. Elsewhere I baulked at a broadsword with a curved blade. However these are minor blemishes in an otherwise excellent first novel. I'm looking forward to the follow up - A Stirring of Dead Embers.
Sure enough the action soon moves to Hearth village and Draven is making plans to rejoin the Mercenary Guild. However my preconceptions were soon subverted as it becomes clear that in many ways this novel is the story of a different generation, that of Draven's son, Kale, and his peers.
In contrast to From Man to Man, which is after all a short story, this story encompasses quite a considerable cast of characters which Emrys handles really well. What is more the story moves along through a number of twists and turns at an engaging pace. Action packed sequences are well balanced with the need to gradually reveal background information about Wroge, Emrys' world setting.
The ending clearly sets up the next instalment in what is obviously intended to be a series. However, unlike some continuing series where the end of a book can feel arbitrary, there is a clear sense of resolution at the end of From Man to Man; albeit with some unfinished business.
Just a couple of minor quibbles hold me back from a five star rating. Although some reviewers have criticised some character descriptions as being repetitive there was only one which I found grating. The description in question being Deule the knotted-haired boy; somehow the double past participle seemed awkward. Elsewhere I baulked at a broadsword with a curved blade. However these are minor blemishes in an otherwise excellent first novel. I'm looking forward to the follow up - A Stirring of Dead Embers.
March 1, 2013
Having read the short story 'From Man to Man' and enjoying my brief time in the world Emrys has created, I was very eager to read more and to see where he would take things.
'It Began With Ashes' opens up that world spectacularly well and, as a bit of a fan of heroic fiction, I immediately felt comfortable as the story unfolded.
I'm very partial to reading David Gemmell and I felt the hints of influence in this book and was prepared for a similar experience but the atmosphere was quickly claimed by the author as his own and on more than one occasion I had the rug pulled from under me, keeping me alert and switching off my sense of knowing what was going to happen next.
There is plenty of action here that kept me rapidly pressing the next-page button and there's also a very human heart beneath it.
A great mix of action and character that will certainly cause me to purchase more.
I really want to go back to this world and find out what happens next.
Excellent stuff!
'It Began With Ashes' opens up that world spectacularly well and, as a bit of a fan of heroic fiction, I immediately felt comfortable as the story unfolded.
I'm very partial to reading David Gemmell and I felt the hints of influence in this book and was prepared for a similar experience but the atmosphere was quickly claimed by the author as his own and on more than one occasion I had the rug pulled from under me, keeping me alert and switching off my sense of knowing what was going to happen next.
There is plenty of action here that kept me rapidly pressing the next-page button and there's also a very human heart beneath it.
A great mix of action and character that will certainly cause me to purchase more.
I really want to go back to this world and find out what happens next.
Excellent stuff!
August 21, 2013
I always like to read new authors, as every now and then you find a real story teller. David is one of those! I was drawn in by the end of the first chapter and kept engrossed all the way to the end. Looking forward to the next book
October 16, 2013
***I received a free copy in exchange for a book review***
I enjoyed this 23 chapter book. My favorite lines: 1) It had gone too far for sense now. 2) The darkness offered no answer. It had taken everything from him. 3) “I was thinking on my feet–the plan was to find Draven, and he’d come up with the real plan!” 4) “Those Gore things may be demons for bedtime fables to scare the young but it t’ain’t just beasts roaming the forest no more.”
The tax collector, Draven, was away on a mission when his town was invaded by Vikings. Kale, his 12 year old son and Morgana, his wife, along with other people from the village were in grave danger–either they’d be killed on the spot or kidnapped and tortured.
I thought it was brave the way Kale and Morgana stepped up to the plate to protect their friends. Draven must have taught them well.
I loved that the plot was action-packed. Kale and his friends were little boys but had to grow up fast! Deuk was Kale’s best friend. He went crazy and slit another kid’s throat in front of the adults. That was a very intense scene. For the most part, I sat on the edge of my seat because no character’s life was guaranteed.
Besides suspense, there were also bits of humor with Draven’s co-workers, so I even laughed a little.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
I enjoyed this 23 chapter book. My favorite lines: 1) It had gone too far for sense now. 2) The darkness offered no answer. It had taken everything from him. 3) “I was thinking on my feet–the plan was to find Draven, and he’d come up with the real plan!” 4) “Those Gore things may be demons for bedtime fables to scare the young but it t’ain’t just beasts roaming the forest no more.”
The tax collector, Draven, was away on a mission when his town was invaded by Vikings. Kale, his 12 year old son and Morgana, his wife, along with other people from the village were in grave danger–either they’d be killed on the spot or kidnapped and tortured.
I thought it was brave the way Kale and Morgana stepped up to the plate to protect their friends. Draven must have taught them well.
I loved that the plot was action-packed. Kale and his friends were little boys but had to grow up fast! Deuk was Kale’s best friend. He went crazy and slit another kid’s throat in front of the adults. That was a very intense scene. For the most part, I sat on the edge of my seat because no character’s life was guaranteed.
Besides suspense, there were also bits of humor with Draven’s co-workers, so I even laughed a little.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
January 13, 2014
It Began with Ashes was a great read the story and characters were both interesting. I liked the characters relationships, my favorite scenes were
1. when Draven & McGowan were in the smithy when the Vikir attacked..
McGowan slammed the door shut as the first raider reached the entryway, and the two Blacksmiths backed away into the workshop.
“That’s bad for business that,” Draven said.
“What is?”
“Slamming the door in the customer’s face.”
2. when Ivebian & Shrike were in the stables when the Vikir attacked..
With a splintering of wood, a hammer smashed through the door panel, and the noise of the Vikir came louder through the hole.
“Gotta give it to ‘em, at least they've learnt how to knock first,” Ivebian said.
“It’s only polite to answer.” Shrike let loose the string and the arrow streaked out the crack. A howl of pain answered his shot.
This story was full of action as well as humor which was easily to follow and i was quickly drawn in. It was also interesting to how the children are in the story and to see things from thier point of view.
Ivebian is possibly my favorite character....
...I look forward to the next installment.
1. when Draven & McGowan were in the smithy when the Vikir attacked..
McGowan slammed the door shut as the first raider reached the entryway, and the two Blacksmiths backed away into the workshop.
“That’s bad for business that,” Draven said.
“What is?”
“Slamming the door in the customer’s face.”
2. when Ivebian & Shrike were in the stables when the Vikir attacked..
With a splintering of wood, a hammer smashed through the door panel, and the noise of the Vikir came louder through the hole.
“Gotta give it to ‘em, at least they've learnt how to knock first,” Ivebian said.
“It’s only polite to answer.” Shrike let loose the string and the arrow streaked out the crack. A howl of pain answered his shot.
This story was full of action as well as humor which was easily to follow and i was quickly drawn in. It was also interesting to how the children are in the story and to see things from thier point of view.
Ivebian is possibly my favorite character....
...I look forward to the next installment.
August 2, 2013
I received this book for free for my review.
This book follows several characters including a tax collector and his son, ex-mercenaries and their families when their village is attacked.
While the characters were well developed and the fight scenes were epic, I think my main issue with the book was just the sheer brutality of it. This book involves killing. And lots of it. That usually doesn't bother me, but it was the sheer glee that a 12-year-old was going at it.
Wasn't my kind of book, but I think that others who enjoyed books such as Prince of Thorns would love it. It is fast paced and short, but an interesting read and a great start for the author!
This book follows several characters including a tax collector and his son, ex-mercenaries and their families when their village is attacked.
While the characters were well developed and the fight scenes were epic, I think my main issue with the book was just the sheer brutality of it. This book involves killing. And lots of it. That usually doesn't bother me, but it was the sheer glee that a 12-year-old was going at it.
Wasn't my kind of book, but I think that others who enjoyed books such as Prince of Thorns would love it. It is fast paced and short, but an interesting read and a great start for the author!
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