Alchemy & Ashes
Amy Yoirke
Fantasy Romance
The daughter of a failed rebellion. The king who killed her father. A love that could tear the kingdom apart.
Sylvie has always lived in her sister Adria’s shadow. But at the Great Festival, she finally has her chance to step into the light: by striking down God-King Ronan, the man who destroyed her family. Adria may have led the rebellion, but Sylvie will be the one to finish it.
Ronan has spent years rebuilding a kingdom broken by the war that claimed his father and shattered his faith. But peace has come at a price. Surrounded by enemies and burdened by secrets too dangerous to reveal, he’s losing control: of his court, his magic, and maybe even himself.
The closer Sylvie gets to Ronan, the more she’s drawn to the man she vowed to kill. Wanting him would mean betraying not just her sister, but her people and the memory of her parents. Trusting Sylvie could cost Ronan the throne—or his life. Because even if Sylvie refuses to strike, Adria won’t hesitate to finish the job.
The road to the throne runs through his heart. And only one sister will claim it.
Uncaged Review: This is the first book of the Shadowbound Duet in an exciting new series by Ms. Amy Yorke that, of course, I was eager to read! While shadow-born Sylvara “Sylvie” is on her way with her sister, Adria, and faithful companion and teacher, Larus, to the Great Festival held by God-King light-born Ronan of Alta. Sylvie’s main goal in going to the festival is to avenge her family by becoming close to Ronan and finally killing him even though she doesn’t want to really kill anything. Of course, things don’t go according to plan and as Sylvie gets closer to Ronan, she even saves his life even though she doesn’t mean to and learns that someone wants all the shadow-born gone. Sylvie must also find a way to stop this before becoming one of the captured while trying to decimate Ronan and not fall in love with him. Sylvie must stop the ever-present war that will not only annihilate everything Sylvie holds dear, including her only living family, but destroy her world as she knows it.
What an amazing romantasy book with a great group of characters and such imaginative world building that the tale instantly magically transports you to a fantastical realm that makes you eager to visit! The magic/alchemy of each character isn’t fully explained even with the schools of magic listed, and the characters are all listed. The map of the different places does help in visualizing the world though too. Sylvie and Adria are just like any normal sisters they fight, but on a grander scale and with actual weapons, which definitely heightens the age-old animosity between the two. Especially how Adria treats Sylvie just makes you angry at her. No wonder Sylvie struggles with killing anyone. Sylvie is powerful. Her enchantment is hidden, but she doesn’t discover it, but as the book unfolds you realize just what she is capable of. While God-King Ronan might be perfect in everything, including his light-born magic that you can’t help but fall for him. So is perfect fodder for a magical book boyfriend! Sure, the book ends unresolved, which a lot of people might not like, including me somewhat, but even with that, you can’t help but hope good things will happen with Ronan and Sylvie finding a way to be together. I do look forward to the next in the series and hope it will be out soon.
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst
4.5 Stars
