Legacy of Ash: Book One of the Legacy Trilogy

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So there you have it, Legacy of Ash was a book that was simply right up my street. It felt like an old school fantasy, with characters that appeared real, and world building that revels in the fantastical. If this appeals to you, then what are you waiting for? Go grab a copy.

It’s over.” For the first time, his expression softened. “This is not the way, Katya. It never was. Surrender. Your wounds will be tended. You’ll be treated with honour.” Summoning her last strength, Katya hurled herself forward. A cry born of pain and desperation ripped free of her lips. All told, this is a powerful reminder of why epic fantasy, when done well, can be so enjoyable. There’s no question that it requires a bit of commitment, but it rewards the reader with an expansive tale that makes use of its considerable word count to build a vibrant world and tell a complex, thoughtful and character-led story. It’s also a rare example of an opening book in a trilogy which does genuinely feel like it was written to work as a standalone – it’s hard to imagine anyone finishing this and not wanting to know what happens next, but it all wraps up in such a satisfying manner that any threads left dangling feel like bonuses to explore in future rather than unresolved frustrations. The sequel, Legacy of Steel, has a lot to live up…but on the basis of this book, the Legacy Trilogy promises to be something very special indeed. Legacy of Ash is an epic fantasy debut aptly designed for well-seasoned epic fantasy readers, and I wouldn’t recommend newcomers to the genre starting to start their epic fantasy adventure here.I’ll start by saying Legacy of Ash is the very embodiment of an epic fantasy. There is a quest for freedom, there are legendary knights, characters who can wield magic, ethereal beings, and there is the age-old war between light and dark, although this book does give a somewhat fresh perspective on that! I know this book has been compared to Game of Thrones (what fantasy book hasn’t these days?) but I find this misleading. This is not a dark and gritty book, and if I had to compare it to any other series, I would say it’s more akin to The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne. A knight’s promise is not what it was, and the Council nothing if not persuasive.” Katya closed her eyes, lost in the shuddering ground and brash clarions of recent memory. And the screams, most of all. “One charge, and we were lost.” We’re just a few weeks out from the release of Legacy of Steel and I know some of you are thinking ‘I loved Legacy of Ash, but there was a lot going on. How do I get caught up in time? What is the story so far?

In truth, those deaths – and many others – had been commissioned by Ebigail Kiradin herself as part of her attempt to seize control of the Republic. To secure her position, Ebigail then had the Crowmarket kidnap the loved ones of influential Tressians, ensuring that nothing would oppose her coup. On the other hand, Legacy of Ash is a big old book, and it’s a bit of an ask to re-read the whole thing, so I’m delighted to present an overview of the story so far.

Overall: Contradictory, but Satisfying

Unable to bear the thought of working with the man who destroyed his mother, Josiri refused to cooperate with Viktor, but soon discovered ‘his’ wolf’s-heads’ treachery. Despite Viktor’s efforts at reconciliation, Josiri fell into drunken despair, refusing to have anything to do with repelling the Hadari. However, Calenne – whose own fear of Viktor was steadily turning to admiration and affection – offered to act as the rallying figurehead Josiri would not, in exchange for Viktor marrying her and freeing her of the Trelan name. As much as I would LOVE to recommend this debut to every fantasy reader, I think it would be beneficial for the book itself that it falls into the hands of readers who are clearly devout epic fantasy readers. Immensely remarkable and huge in scope, Ward concluded Legacy of Ash on a high note, making his debut a definite must-try for epic fantasy enthusiasts. I seriously have no idea where the story will go from here, the book felt like a large standalone with almost every plot-thread finished already, but I’m intrigued to find out more about what Ward left in store in his vision. It’s myth. One step removed from story. And stories have only the power you give them. It does no harm to listen.”

Katya caught one last glimpse of Calenne’s pale, dispassionate face. Then they were gone, and the horseman upon her. And yet Calenne Trelan, Josiri's sister, seeks only to break free of their tarnished legacy; to escape the expectation and prejudice that haunts the family name. Viktor Akadra is the Republic's champion. A warrior without equal, he hides a secret that would see him burned as a heretic. As Viktor Akadra rallied forces against the coup, Malachi realised that there was no hope of victory unless the Crowmarket abandoned Ebigail. Offering a sympathetic ear on the Council, he convinced the shadowy guild to release their prisoners, freeing others from Ebigail’s control and altering the course of the final battle. Meanwhile, Rosa freed herself from the pyre and saved Sevaka’s life.

The Plot: Complex, but Complete

Following suit of other books released of late, Legacy of Ash is told from multiple points of view. This is a technique that tends to be hit or miss with readers. In this case, it allows Ward to provide perspective about individual characters allowing the reader to glean the best insight about each character. The further into the book you read, you see how different characters are interconnected through their pasts and the changing perspective really helps the connection breadcrumbs come to the surface. The topics here are about your writing, how you write, muses, movie adaptations, writing blogs and books. Lots of books!