RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Ashes of Gold (Wings of Ebony #2) by J. Elle
We received an advanced reader copy of this book.
Published: January 11th 2022 by S&S/Denene Millner
Review:
Myth: 4.5/5
Powerful, raw, direct, Rue, throughout the trials of the second book, remains consistently Rue, and I loved that. The fact that she is so true to herself, really makes the concept of betrayal that much worse. She’s being open and out there with those around her, but you can’t imagine who, that she’s decided to trust, might not do the same with her. It makes for an even more action packed experience, not only are you on this danger filled journey with Rue and her team, but you’re also trying to sniff out a betrayer, definitely makes for a compelling read.
Rue’s romantic threads were a little less direct. This was where Rue seemed most torn between her new responsibilities to her Ghizon people and her life and family in East Row. Plot points make it difficult to reconcile some of the characters feelings and actions, but it certainly doesn’t take away from the overall message of the story.
Side note: The interactions between Rue and Bri will 100% stick with me, in the first book, they had a scene that was a perfect representation of white women’s tears and in this book, they had a great scene of checking your privilege. It was so impactful for me to see these scenes play out, even in a fantastical setting, they were more relevant to me to experience this way than they would be from any textbook.
Magic: 4/5
Rue is on a mission to save her people and reclaim their magic from the Chancellor. She struggles, this book encompasses her mistakes and the ramifications, but it’s Rue, so she picks herself up, puts herself back together, learns from her mistakes and tries something else.
Overall: 4.5/5
I love that through it all Rue stays true to herself. She learns new things about herself and that can change her opinion on a position that she previously had, but she knows her heart in a given moment and she’s not afraid to speak it. There is a fear vs love concept in the book that, even before Rue hears of it, you just know she lives it. She is a fantastic heroine, putting it all on the line to save her people.
Other books in the series:
