I didn't realize this was part of a series (the conclusion no less!) until after I started reading it. I probably would have understood a lot more had I read them in order, but I still ended up loving this world!

This is the conclusion to The Draconis Memoria trilogy and I liked it quite a bit. I gave the first two books in the trilogy 4 stars each, but this time around I didn't enjoy the reading journey quite as much. This one was more a 3.5. I think some of it had to do with pacing. I felt this book was very slow to get to it's conclusion. There were several places that it dragged and I just wanted the story to move on. Another thing was, I really wanted to see more at the end of the book about what happened to certain relationships and how they end up. There were mostly hints about romances, but nothing more. The characters in general could have used a little more work. I think that there being so many characters in the series, it made it harder to really get to know them as well as we could have. Because there were so many, I would forget who a person was now and then, or get them mixed up, but for the most part the author does a good job at juggling them all.

One of the best things about this series as a whole is the magic system and the portrayal of the dragons. Anthony Ryan did a great job with the world building. Another thing I loved about this book in particular were the airships. I guess I have a thing for those. While I enjoyed reading this trilogy, thought it was very well written, and gave the books high ratings, I still do not count it as a favorite. I think the reason is simply that it was not as easy to connect with the characters as I wanted and the story is more plot driven than character driven. I still highly recommend this trilogy to anyone that likes dragons or steampunk inspired fantasy though.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book.

The Empire of Ashes was a very satisfying conclusion to an intriguing epic series. As usual, Anthony Ryan built an interesting world concept and complex characters who grew in depth as the series progressed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[4.5/5 stars!] Empire of Ashes solidified Draconius Memoria as one of the best series I've ever read!

For me this book started out with a bang and didn't let up until the whirlwind finale. So much action and conflicts coming to a head that I wouldn't recommend venturing into the last 25% if you have to get up early the next morning. This isn't the kind of book easily set aside.

My favorite part was the convergence of storylines. This multiple POV series is unique for me because I feel equally drawn to all of the characters. It made for an amazing read because no matter which perspective had the stage, I was enjoying the ride immensely. Seeing how each person's tale ended was particularly satisfying, as was the conclusion. I was really nervous this final book was going to be a letdown after how hard I've been fangirling for the series. It had a lot to live up to, and I'm so happy to report that it delivered.

As you would assume, this final book focuses more on action and conflict than exploration. The discovery of so many breathtaking places in the first two volumes is what helped solidify this series as a favorite. However in Empire of Ashes exploration is set aside in favor of action, conflict, and momentum. I missed that component a little, but at some point I guess it had to end (maybe I'm most upset that it ended at all - I want more!!). The story also contained quite a few answers to some burning questions I've had throughout the series. I find that the more I know, the more I want to discover. I'll just throw it out there that this world is screaming for a prequel trilogy - there's so much cool stuff packed into the histories that I feel we've only just scraped the surface thus far (Anthony Ryan, please write more!). :)

Let's talk a minute about the dragons (or drakes, if you want to get picky). I absolutely love how well this series portrays dragons. Every aspect of their existence on this world and how it's in conflict/harmony with humanity was in line with my favorite types of dragon stories. They're not magical or ethereal, but their raw bestial attributes makes them feel magical, but still like the type of beings that could exist in our world. It might be funny to call them "realistic" dragons, but that's how my dragon-obsessed mind thinks about them and why I loved them so much. Add to all of that practical uses for their blood (in the same vein that metals are useful to humans in Sanderson's Mistborn series), and consider me sold.

Overall, Empire of Ashes had a lot of expectations to hold up to, and I'm thrilled it met all of mine. I'm still kind of reeling from the ending, but I'm certain that these gorgeous hardcovers will have a place of honor on my favorites shelf from here on out.

Recommendations: this series has quickly become my #1 recommend for fantasy readers, especially those who love dragons. It's a cool flintlock fantasy that promises adventure, excitement, and intrigue at every turn. It is among my personal favorites and has the Obsessive Bookseller's official stamp of endorsement. ;)

Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller

I thought this was a stand-alone when I accepted it from NetGalley, but discovered it was book three in a long, complicated series.

The story throws the reader right in where the previous ones must have ended. So most of this book, until the last fifth, was preparation for an amazingly complex final battle.

I found it difficult to engage with the characters, partly because third book, but also the characters kept taking a magical drug that propelled them into the past. So it seemed as soon as the pacing would begin to pick up, wham, another long flashback. Mind, these flashbacks might mean a lot more to a reader of the previous volumes.

There was also what I considered way too much from the villains' point of view. I get it, these are villains. I didn’t need yet another scene of killing hapless innocents in gross ways to get the idea across that these are all connected to the Big Bad, a White Dragon.

On the plus side, the world-building was complex and intriguing, with machinery, dragons, psi powers and magical drugs all mixed up. There was also quite a bit of petty politics, which again might have had more impact if I’d known the characters before. But a lot of them were so short-sighted and selfish I don’t know that I would have wanted to follow them for three long books.

It’s a strongly plot-driven book, with plenty of action and an interesting world, that comes to a gigantic smashup of a climax.

Strongly suggest potential readers begin with book one!

In The Waking Fire and The Legion of Flame, we started a steampunk adventure where an expedition to the heart of the Arradsian continent unleashed the legendary White Drake. The White led its forces on a campaign of global destruction that has upended the old order of Corporate and Imperial dominance.

In The Empire of Ashes, Clay Torcreek and his company of Longrifles must complete a mission to find a weapon that can bring down the White Drake. Meanwhile, Captain Corrick Hilemore and Lizanne Lethridge are each trying to organize groups of survivors to fight against the White's forces.

Another long volume, the book devotes quite a bit of time getting all the pieces in place for the final showdown. Ryan has a fondness for switching POV's when characters are in precarious situations, leaving the reader in suspense. This trick is one of many ways he invokes the feel of the old pulp adventure novels, while updating them to 21st-century sensibilities. The whole series combines the most fun aspects of classic pulp adventure---Lost World, Hollow Earth, Spy Adventure, Political Intrigue, Naval Adventure, Pirate Adventure, Edisonade, Dragons---while simultaneously subverting the colonialism and misogyny that were mainstays of those genres.

Verdict:
This is an epic ending to an awesome steampunk adventure!

The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan is the 3rd and final book in his The Draconis Memoria trilogy. This series is an epic fantasy, with an amazing amount of details and world building that includes magic, war, destruction, blood blessed and dragons. Though the dragons are a major part of the storyline, it is the blood blessed humans who drink the blood harvested from dead dragons that give them the magic to perform many amazing powerful feats. The story revolves around a war, with the Dragons (Red, Blue, Green & Black) lead by the all mighty White Dragon, who are bent on killing all humans, with the help of “spoiled” (humans mentally converted by the White to do his bidding).
As the White Dragon and those enthralled build a powerful and dangerous army to take over the world, the story line continues with the POV of the three leading characters we met in the first book…Lizanne, Clay, Hilemore. There is also a Pov in the eyes of Sirus, who is spoiled, and working under the White enthrallment. This is a dark complex world created by Ryan, with the horrors of the battles, as fight they fight for survival in a war against the Dragons onslaught.

Lizanne and Clay, who continue to be the main characters, are both blood blessed, which enables them to use the effects of the powers from drinking the blood to use magic to fight against the enemy and find a way to defeat them before it’s too late.

I did feel early on, the complex details and the many characters throughout dragged the story a bit, especially since this was over 600 pages. The last third of the book was thrilling as we raced to the climax.
What follows is an exciting, dangerous, intense storyline filled with non-stop action. All of our heroes are on their own, with no contact; and as the tension grows, we fear for their lives, as well as losing hope that this is battle they cannot win. To tell too much more would be spoilers, as this is a difficult review to write, with so many details. I will say that I loved Lizanne, as she was some tough heroine, who refused to ever give up, and I loved Clay.

Anthony Ryan does a masterful job in bringing this intense and complex story to a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy epic fantasies, in a sort of sci-fi dystopian world, with lots of action, then you should be reading this series.

The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan

Pros: lots of action, some new revelations

Cons: very short epilogue

Clay is returning from the South with a new mission to help defeat the white dragon: find a sunken treasure in the Krystaline Lake, deep in dragon country. Lizanne has the tinkerer, but unlocking the Mad Artisan’s secrets isn’t easy, nor is finding safe haven for the growing number of refugees she encounters. Sirus, General of the White dragon’s army of Spoiled, marches his troops across the world, pillaging and ‘recruiting’ as they go under the watchful eye of the insane Catheline Dewsmine. But he’s got a plan to betray his masters once the time is right…

If you like your books with lots of action and military campaigns (on land, sea, and sky) then this is the series for you. The action quickly ramps up and the majority of this book is one battle after another. It’s impressive how the characters persevere despite the losses each side takes. It’s also impressive how the author keeps each fight scene fresh, bringing in new tactics and weapons as well as varying the locations and situations.

You finally discover who the Mad Artisan is, and see some newly invented war machines. You also learn a little bit more about Kris, though I’d have enjoyed learning more about her people and how they tinkered with the dragons.

Normally I like short denouements to books, but while the epilogue does touch on what everyone’s doing after the book ends, I would have liked more details of how they pick up the pieces. The ending is highly satisfying, but it’s hard leaving characters I’ve come to love.

This is an excellent series with a highly unique magic system and some excellent worldbuilding and characters. I highly recommend it.

I find myself sadly wrapping up a number of series this month, leaving me feeling like I am saying goodbye to a number of dear friends. Today’s book is the finale in the Draconis Memoria, Anthony Ryan’s newest trilogy. The final book is called The Empire of Ashes, and I will tell you right off the bat that it sticks the landing. If you liked The Waking Fire or The Legion of Flame, I have no doubt that the final book will give you everything you want. I am going to direct this review to those who have read the first, or first two, book(s), but if you are unfamiliar with the series you can find my sell on The Waking Fire here. It would be easy to say “it’s just as good as the others” and leave the review at that, but Empire does a great job distilling and promoting my favorite elements of The Draconis Memoria – and as we close out the series, this seems like a good time to talk about them.

The Plot – Empire brings it all together. The plot of Draconis has been steller from the start: ragtag group of individuals banding together in a industrial world to stop a dragon menace with guns and magic. As the series has progressed it has been one twist after another, with the plot pulling you along at a breakneck pace. While Empire still has the same level of engrossing story as the previous two books, where it improves the plot is how everything comes together. Anthony Ryan must have planned this story on a giant conspiracy board because every seemingly unrelated thing in the books come together in the end to form a huge picture. The level of detail and connection in the plot is astounding and I felt elated as I watched all the pieces from this series fall into place.

The World – Each book in Draconis has expanded the scope of the world. Waking started on a single island, Legion expanded to the major continents/empires, and Empire shows the you full world that Ryan has crafted. I was surprised at how well Empire managed to balance fleshing out its entire world and a focused engaging story. Ryan’s ability to paint a huge sweeping picture of a living world with tons of different governments and peoples, while also losing none of the pacing and immersiveness of his plot is a step up from his past work with his last series, The Raven’s Shadow. On top of all of this, the plot of Empire sees the birth of a technological arms race to combat the White’s power that is spectacular to witness. Ryan’s talent for fight scenes comes through in spades as you read spectacular show downs of magic, machines, and dragons.

The Characters – While there are many reasons I would tell you to read this series, the greatest is its characters. The cast of this book contains a number of my new favorite characters, including one that might be my #1 badass of all time. When I started The Waking Fire, I thought Clay was the coolest guy in town. While my love for Clay has in no way been diminished, I have realized that there is an even greater champion of amazingness in this series: Lizanne. I don’t normally focus so much attention on a single character, but Holy Christ do I love Lizanne. She effortlessly mixed uptight bureaucrat, fearless leader, and unstoppable badass into one incredible, and believable, person. She feels flawed enough to be real, but capable enough to be someone that would have entire history books written about her. Her reactions to everything are priceless, her fight scenes and stunts are legendary, and she is someone I really wish I could be friends with. While she eclipses the others, the entire cast of Empire has these qualities in some form, and I found I was not ready to leave this world when I was finishing the last pages.

The Empire of Ashes is a phenomenal conclusion to a series that has only gotten better in each book, and started off strong. My one and only criticism of it is that there is a pretty obvious Chekhov’s Gun that is left on the table, Ryan even makes a nod to it, and it left me pretty disappointed. However, other than that Empire is everything I could have wanted it to be and I cannot wait to find out what Ryan has in store for us next.

Rating:
The Empire of Ashes – 9.5/10
Draconis Memoria – 9.5/10
-Andrew