A Kingdom in Ruin, a Girl on Fire: A Review of Rise of the Ash Kingdom
Let’s talk about this ride: a portal fantasy wrapped in trauma, fire magic, and a crumbling world hanging by the thread of a missing queen. If you’re someone who loves rich world-building, a reluctant heroine arc, and just a dash of chaos, then Briar Clarke’s journey through Elysian might just pull you in.
The Heart of It:
At the core, this is a story about belonging—. Briar, bruised by a brutal childhood and guarded to a fault, stumbles into a world that challenges not just her survival, but her belief in connection and home. She doesn’t start off as a sword-swinging warrior or spell-slinging chosen one, and in my opinion, that’s what makes her arc compelling. She’s raw, unsure, and clearly holding back something terrifyingly powerful.
The World-Building:
Now, let's talk Elysian—because this world is dense. The High Queen’s magic, the decaying land, the political rot, and the many fantastical realms Briar travels through—it’s all ambitious and full of potential. But I’d be lying if I said the beginning wasn’t rocky. There's a ton of info-dumping early on, and while I respect the author’s dedication to crafting a full mythology, it could’ve been dialed back a notch or two for clarity's sake. That said, once you acclimate, the rhythm settles in and you start to see the vision.
Characters & Conflict:
Briar is a classic "reluctant hero," and while sometimes her hesitation can frustrate—girl, fight!—it’s realistic, and frankly, refreshing in a genre full of insta-badasses. The allies she meets along the way? A deliciously shady bunch. I loved that you can’t fully trust anyone, and that ambiguity keeps the tension taut.
And let’s not forget the Dark Queen—a pretty familiar trope, yes, but executed with enough menace and mystery to keep me interested. I do wish we got more from her perspective, or at least more complexity to her motives beyond "wrongful ruler being evil," but hey, not every villain gets the moral ambiguity treatment.
What Worked:
🖤 Emotional depth and trauma done with care
🖤 A unique take on elemental power (that fire magic metaphor? 👏)🖤 Slowly unraveling mystery about Briar’s place in Elysian
🖤 Descriptive writing that hits cinematic highs in key scenes
What Didn’t:
❌ Heavy-handed exposition in the first few chapters
❌Some pacing issues—especially in the mid-journey slump❌ The secondary characters could use more page-time to breathe
Final Thoughts:
In my opinion, this book is a strong debut in what could be an epic series. It’s got all the classic fantasy bones—lost royalty, magic with a cost, chosen-one vibes—but its strength lies in its emotional core. Briar isn’t just saving a world; she’s trying to forgive herself for surviving one.
If you can survive the slightly overwhelming start, you’re in for a rewarding adventure.
⭐ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)
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