Willow of Ashes

NecroSeam Chronicles | Book One

Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
434 Pages
Reviewed on 09/23/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Writer's Digest award-winning fantasy author Ellie Raine is a voracious BookWyrm when it comes to epic adventures, detailed world-building, and thrilling battles. Fueled by coffee-bean concoctions brewed by the finest caffeine alchemists in the kingdom of Atlanta, Georgia, she only emerges from the depths of these daring tales when she is summoned back to the physical realm to spend time with her brood.

Her high fantasy series, the NecroSeam Chronicles, has won several awards including First Place in Fantasy for Writer's Digest, a Silver Medal for Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, and additional awards from Readers' Favorite and the Book Excellence Awards.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I really enjoyed Willow of Ashes, Book One of the NecroSeam Chronicles by Ellie Raine. I’m glad I came into the series at Book One. This is one of the most fascinating and weird universes I have ever encountered. I like that. Think of it. A world where death rules. A world where everyone and everything is centered around death. A world where death is not as permanent and unknowable as it is here in our world. I found it intriguing. I have seen epic world building in science fiction before but never have I seen it done on this scale in a magical setting. Ellie Raine has quite the imagination and she shares it with us like a master storyteller. Her world is rich, mysterious, inviting, and frightening at the same time. You will want to visit it again and again.

Ellie Raine has a unique voice which fits her story and this world perfectly. The setting is powerful and never have I seen the theme of death explored so intimately. Necromancy is not new but, as far as I know, it has never been explored or utilized as it is here. The characters are unique, and the plot is driven along in part by that very uniqueness. Xavier and Alexander are twins with a big problem. How this happened and how it will be resolved will change everything. Every character is interesting not only as a character but as representations of their various species. Willow of Ashes is a deep book and a little dark. But it is a lot of fun.

LAG

This is an excellent book. The complex world created by Ellie Raine is unique and imaginative in my experience.

The book has different yet similar technology and magic systems and a different kind of evil. I also liked the author's take on crows, ravens, dragons, and shifters. The dialog was very good and I found myself reading long into the night past my normal bedtime on several occasions.

I recommend this book for lovers of Epic Fantasies. I have also read and enjoyed the next two books in the series. Ellie Raine extends the world she has created and the story lines get more involved and interesting. The action moves along without the repetitive rehash found in other books. The author adds many plot twists that keeps the reader engaged and guessing, which adds to the enjoyment.