OF FIRE AND ASH

Welcome to the kingdom of Soldonia, where three intertwined stories unfold.

After Bair’s accidental death following a challenge she issued, his sister, Ceridwen, is branded with the mark of the kasar and banished from their fortress by their father, the king. She becomes an Outrider, patrolling the wildlands. When she learns that a neighboring state is being invaded by the empire of Nadaar, she decides she must return home to warn them of the impending threat. Meanwhile, royal-born Rafi is haunted by the ghost of his dead brother. He is trying to leave behind his old life and start over as Nahiki, the humble guest of a fisherman—but the past will not let him go so easily. Multilingual Jakim, who was formerly enslaved, has recently become a Scroll and is eager for an adventure; little does he know that one little lie might bring the end of everything he holds dear. The novel pays much attention to worldbuilding, with the action picking up in the final quarter of the story. The introspective protagonists are realistically flawed: hot-headed Ceridwen puts the people she cares about in danger; Rafi lies about his true identity not only to his friends, but to himself; and Jakim must critically engage with the religion he has chosen to devote himself to. Ceridwen has red hair and bronze skin; Rafi has beaded black hair; and slender, boyish Jakim has brown skin.

A promising series opener for patient readers.