What I’m Reading: Ashes of The Sun

It’s been a while since I’ve done a What I’m reading post. I’m not sure why. Anyway that’s not important. The point is I’m doing one now. I’m not in the mood or frame of mind to do a whole review today (I’m like 4 books behind) and don’t know about tomorrow so I’m gonna do this instead.

My Current Read

Ashes of The Sun, by Django Wexler
Burningblade & Silvereye #1
Orbit
Release Date July 21, 2020

“Long ago, a magical war destroyed an empire, and a new one was built in its ashes. But still the old grudges simmer, and two siblings will fight on opposite sides to save their world, in the start of Django Wexler’s new epic fantasy trilogy

Gyre hasn’t seen his beloved sister since their parents sold her to the mysterious Twilight Order. Now, twelve years after her disappearance, Gyre’s sole focus is revenge, and he’s willing to risk anything and anyone to claim enough power to destroy the Order.

Chasing rumors of a fabled city protecting a powerful artifact, Gyre comes face-to-face with his lost sister. But she isn’t who she once was. Trained to be a warrior, Maya wields magic for the Twilight Order’s cause. Standing on opposite sides of a looming civil war, the two siblings will learn that not even the ties of blood will keep them from splitting the world in two.” – Goodreads blurg

I’m about 50% finished with this one and I’m really liking it. It’s one of those two siblings on the opposite sides of a conflict kind of stories. The team at Orbit graciously sent me a copy a little while back and I figured it was time to get it read. It’s my first Django Wexler novel so I wasn’t sure what to expect. So far all is going good.

The really interesting thing about this book is it has a strong Star Wars vibe but without the whole galaxy far far away thing. There’s these swords (haken) that are very reminiscent of light sabers and people carry around a kind of blaster weapon. There’s this “Order” which kinda has Jedi vibes about it even down to the whole master/padawan thing, though in this case the Jedi is a Centarch and the learner is an agiathos and the Force is replaced with a magical energy called deiat. The evil empire is in this case a republic though. Anyway, Star Wars seems to have been an influence and I’m digging it though I could see where some would think it unoriginal.

As I said I’m half way through the book and the action is getting a little more intense with some major consequences. The endgame isn’t in sight yet. The two siblings Maya and Gyre are interesting and compelling so far and I’m finding myself pulling for both in their own ways. There seems to be a lot yet to be explored in this book with ancient empires and forces having a lasting impact on the present and lots of word building in the background.

I’ll have a review up not too long after I finish it as it’s due to be published July 21st.

– Jason