Book One of The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga

I don’t know if anyone else has the same problem, but after reading a lot of fantasy, it becomes difficult trying new things because so many similar characters, stories and worlds. I guess it comes with the genre. So once you had your fill, you basically stop wanting to read about more dwarves, elves, magical abilities, etc.

Imagine my surprise then when I came across a fantasy novel that both sounded interesting and was interesting from the beginning.

“Condemned as a murderer for killing the man who dishonored his sister, Blaine “Mick” McFadden has spent the last six years in Velant, a penal colony in the frigid northern wastelands. Harsh military discipline and the oppressive magic keep a fragile peace as colonists struggle against a hostile environment. But the supply ships from Dondareth have stopped coming, boding ill for the kingdom that banished the colonists.

Now, as the world’s magic runs wild, McFadden and the people of Velant must fight to survive and decide their fate …”

This description doesn’t even come near to what else is happening in the world of Mick, Connor and other characters (there are many). The story progresses quickly and we learn many different things along the way which will probably help our lost characters get to the bottom of everything (and possibly heal the world’s magic) but for that, we will have to wait for the next sequel.

I did get lost a bit amid all the Mick’s friends from Velant, as not all of them manage to separate themselves into characters you can remember but I didn’t consider that a detriment to  the book.

I must say I enjoyed the fact that magic got incorporated into everyday people’s lives in a quiet manner that gets unraveled later. The loss of that magic is felt rather badly.

I also loved the part where we learn about how resilient humans are, even in the worst of situations, most people will fight for a chance to live. Resilience seems to be a part of human nature.

Tagged: Book review, Gail Z. Martin, Ice Forged, The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga