A Curse of Ash and Embers follows Elodie, who is sent away from her stepfather, mother and siblings to work at Black Oak Cottage. But as Elodie journeys there, she will discover that she is working for a mistress named Aleida, who is left to care for the house after the passing of Gyssha Blackbone, an infamous witch.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, despite it being rather slow to start off with. However, I found myself flying through the novel once Elodie arrives at Black Oak Cottage. I really liked the writing style and found the magic system to be thoroughly interesting. As a feminist, I enjoyed Elodie’s strong character and was glad to see that, even though there are a few hints of romance, it is not the main focal point of the novel. I found myself caring a lot about Elodie as she described her stepfather’s attitude throughout the first few chapters. I also enjoyed the incorporation of ghosts in the first scene between Elodie and Aleida.
Rating: 7.5/10
Writing: 9/10
Plot: 6.5/10
Characters: 7/10
Recommended For: Teen or Adult Looking to Delve Into a new fantasy world.
The trials and tribulations of an English upper class noble are thrown into increasingly dangerous–but equally hilarious–lengths in American author Mackenzi Lee’s novel ‘The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue’. The story centres around Lord Henry Montague as his affluent father sends him away on a Grand Tour throughout Europe with his sister and close …
GHOST BIRD follows the tale of Aboriginal twins Laney and Stacey, who grew up in their lower-middle-class rural Australian town. Their idyllic life, however, is thrown for a curveball when Laney mysteriously goes missing after going out with her friends. Through a bizarre series of premonitions that fringe on the supernatural, Stacey becomes obsessed with …
Highway Bodies is the second novel from Australian author Alison Evans after their debut novel Ida, which received a mixed opinion from readers, reviewers and critics. Set to be released in the February of 2019, Highway Bodies tells the tale of three distinct groups of Melbourne teenagers as the world around them falls victim to …
Elizabeth Murmur is moving with her unusual friend Zenobia to Witheringe House, the place where her dad grew up with his sister Tourmaline. Zenobia loves it and is convinced that there is a Spirit Presence in the East Wing, where they are forbidden to go. She tries to contact it using a book on clairvoyance, …
In 1984, one of modern literature’s most celebrated works, readers are introduced to Winston Smith, who lives in a dystopian society in which everything–from actions, movements, careers, and, even in some cases, thoughts–are monitored and recorded tirelessly. In this society, all individuals are governed by organisations who mandate conformity and allegiance, and who will cause …
Dragonkeeper is the first in an enchanting book series created by Carole Wilkinson. The first novel follows Ping, a slave to a ruthless master who begins a strong friendship with a captive dragon. Together, the two of them are able to escape the master and journey to Ocean, a distant land far from the ancient …
Book Review – A Curse of Ash and Embers by Jo Spurrier
A Curse of Ash and Embers follows Elodie, who is sent away from her stepfather, mother and siblings to work at Black Oak Cottage. But as Elodie journeys there, she will discover that she is working for a mistress named Aleida, who is left to care for the house after the passing of Gyssha Blackbone, an infamous witch.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, despite it being rather slow to start off with. However, I found myself flying through the novel once Elodie arrives at Black Oak Cottage. I really liked the writing style and found the magic system to be thoroughly interesting. As a feminist, I enjoyed Elodie’s strong character and was glad to see that, even though there are a few hints of romance, it is not the main focal point of the novel. I found myself caring a lot about Elodie as she described her stepfather’s attitude throughout the first few chapters. I also enjoyed the incorporation of ghosts in the first scene between Elodie and Aleida.
Rating: 7.5/10
Writing: 9/10
Plot: 6.5/10
Characters: 7/10
Recommended For: Teen or Adult Looking to Delve Into a new fantasy world.
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