From Ashes

The Illuminator Saga, Book 1

By: Heather Wohl, Rusty Ogre Publishing

Narrated by: Danni Deguire

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

She's broken. She's dangerous. She wants revenge. And she has nothing left to lose...

Quistix Dedumal, an elf blacksmith, suffers a tragic, devastating loss the night a bandit invades her humble Bellaneau home in search of something called “The Illuminator.” After months of crushing loneliness, the disheveled half-elf is out for blood, seeing revenge on the man who shattered her once-contented life.

Soon, a wounded wyl, a brilliant esteg, and child-like dragonling soon join her on her cross-country journey, banding together in a riotous, misfit crew. But Destoria is a dangerous place. The isle is bursting with clever hybrid creatures, floating magical cities, budding romance, treacherous backstabbers, underwater creatures, infuriated inelm trees, drug-addled bandits, magical abilities, snow-encrusted landscapes, unique weaponry, and the Isle's sadistic, dikeeka-peddling new queen: Exos Tempest.

©2023 Heather Wohl (P)2024 Heather Wohl

Magical beings

Great magical fantasy story. Leaves waiting for next book to see if good overcomes evil.

Just as good as i knew it would be!

I read the book on paper when it came out and REALLY enjoyed it. So decided to give this a listen when the audio came out just for giggles. Really helped me understand a few things i missed. And the readers voice is like a hot cup of coffee on a snowy morning, just perfect.

Good first in a series!

Audio wasn’t perfect, but the narrators voice was pleasant. A very interesting story with a duplicitous queen and a grieving mother with mystery powers, seeking revenge.

A Whole New Whole to Explore

Lovers of High Fantasy will love this story. I want to read more about this alternative world. The characters are so relatable that I cared what happened to them. High Fantasy is one of my favorite genres. I highly recommend this story.

borderline

I tried listening to this book a couple of times and just couldn't get into it. It has a decent storyline and all but it just didn't grab my attention.

Well done

This books takes you immediately into another world. The writing is very descriptive and entertaining. I will read another one by this author.

Must read

You get so engrossed in to the story that it’s so hard to put down . I also feel for Quistix in this story I can’t wait to hear what happens in book 2

Good Story

This definitely grabbed my attention from the beginning. The story will, for sure, keep you interested in the series. Some of the characters did not interest me, but I have a feeling they will be important later on.
Overall it’s a good book, and will continue on with the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Lots of Sentient Creatures … and Violence

A lot is going on in this first book of the Illuminator Saga! So much, in fact, that it feels a little confusing at first as you're introduced to separate sets of characters who sometimes interact, but rarely. The book opens with a heart-rending scene of a mother and her 6-year-old son being attacked. She witnesses his brutal, senseless murder, setting off an arc for her that will continue into the next book; she first seeks revenge in this one. However, the attack was not random; she was specifically targeted for knowledge or an artifact others believe she has.

I listen to a fair amount of fantasy, and I was surprised at the level of violence in this book, starting with this opening scene. Several times, people or creatures are slaughtered in this book, and the author describes it and the aftermath in sometimes gory detail. I think I've had about enough discussion of entrails to last me a few days!

This book has a surprising cast of characters, not just the typical ones you see in fantasy. This world is full of sentient creatures. Imagine being able to talk with a young dragon without needing a bond, or sitting in a pub drinking and chatting with various furry critters. The young dragonling is absolutely adorable, acting much like a young child with high energy and great curiosity. The narrator did a great job voicing it and distinguishing the various characters. I loved it when the dragonling had on-screen time. One odd thing I wasn't particularly wild about, aside from the violence, was there was constant mention of farts. One particular species was known for its ripe farts, and they seem to happen often in this relatively short book. Just not a fan of fart jokes or mentions, in real life or fiction.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot or further characterization, as it is best to discover these things for yourself. This book does end on a cliffhanger, with one character's fate hanging in the balance. Again, I'm not wild about books ending in cliffhangers, but at least you’ve been warned!

Great story

Heather Wohl is a great author. She has a good imagination to be able to write like this. I can't wait to read the next book in this Saga.