Children’s Book Review

by Scott Reintgen

Ashlords occurs during this year’s annual Races where ELITE alchemists race phoenix horses over the multiday race. A critical part of the race is the riders’ ability to resurrect the phoenix horses from ashes and alchemy each sunrise. The horses then die in flames each night. The real danger begins after sunset, when the riders must not only survive the night, but also protect their ashes at all costs. While murder is against the rules, crippling riders and tainting ashes are not only allowed but actually encouraged. Let me introduce you to the three main characters of Ashlords:

Pippa is an Ashlord; the only child of two former champions who has been trained since birth to win this race. The dark-skinned, darkhaired Ashlords are the powerful, entitled ruling class in the Empire. They believe their superiority is directly tied to their gods who require blood sacrifices. Adrian is the son of a Longhand rebel. He has been groomed to win the race and become the face of his father’s planned revolution. The Longhands were once Ashlords, but some years ago they rebelled and chose to be responsible for their own lives, rather than relying on the Ashlord gods. Imelda has become a household name since her Phoenix Alchemy videos went viral. She is the token Dividian who has been invited to race as a charity case. The fair-skinned Dividians are not native to the Empire. They were originally explorers who landed on the Empire’s shores and failed to conquer the native Ashlords. The Dividians are now oppressed and persecuted by the Ashlords. Ashlords is a dystopian fantasy – something I never even considered might exist! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games. I’m looking forward to the sequel, Bloodsworn.