*thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins Australia and Jo Spurrier for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


<i><b>"The things we deal with day and night will eat us alive if they see that we fear them."</b></i>

4 stars.

Ohh what a true pleasure this was to read! It was exactly what I was in the mood for. This story isn't full on, fast paced, that's not to say there weren't scenes that had action, because there were a few of those. But this is more a comfort read that you want to sink into and just let it wash over you and absorb into your body and mind. It was the right amount of magic, witch's, spells, mystery, love and friendship aswell as being set in a historical time period, that made this book equal the perfect equation. The characters were interesting and the story was captivating. It was a pure pleasure read and I can not wait to grab my hands on the sequel as I still want to know the answer to that question that has not yet been told. You know the one I mean if you have read this.

There is also a bit of a twist in this that is revealed at the end. It's not something that I had expected and took me by surprise. But now that I know, it makes sense even though I am bummed out by it. I do want to say more but my lips are sealed.

As I said, this is, at least it is for me, a comfort read. You know those kind of books that you aren't in a rush to get through, that you want to take your time with. That has a slower storyline than most but which doesn't impact it negatively, and gives you that warm feeling. The ones that are perfect for a rainy day. This is one of those and I love it for that. It doesn't get boring. I didn't lose interest. I'm going to buy a copy of this so I can have a physical copy to add to my book shelves. Highly recommended if you are in the right mood.

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Writing

So to be completely honest I didn't love the writing. It was kinda bland but the plot made up for it. The book didn't have a huge amount of world building as there seemed to be more of a focus on plot. So we didn't get a tonne of background except in regard to the Aleida.
While the plot was interesting there were also a fair few places where the book felt a bit slow.
I also didn't like the action scenes. They were kinda hard to understand which took away from the whole engaging aspect of an action scene.

Plot

The plot was my favourite aspect of the book. It was engaging and interesting. There was a lot of building up to the next plot point which kept me interested even when the book was a bit slow.

Characters

The two major characters of the book were basically opposite. One was a bit 1 dimensional and the other was interesting and thought out.
Dee who is our main character was the one that felt very 1 dimensional. Besides the arsehole of a step father and a little bit about her mother & fathers story we didn't really get that much about Dee herself. She felt quite flat and that made it difficult to connect with her and a main character.
Aleida had a lot more background which gave her a lot more substance than Dee had in the story. I also found Aleida really interesting which helped keep me interested when reading.

Overall

So overall the book was a bit all over the place. While I enjoyed some aspects there were a fair few things that I didn't enjoy. I enjoyed the plot and Aleida but didn't particularly care for the main character and the writing was a bit bland. I may still continue on with the series as I am interested to see where the story goes & also to learn more about Aleida.

I wanted to love this book! I have been searching for good, witchy books all year and I still haven't found more than one.
This novel, aside from being long (which is never a bad thing), is written in almost a Victorian style of writing, I appreciate that it suits the time and theme of the book, but it really takes away from the flow and enjoyment of the reading.
I also found the protagonist naive and hard to relate to,

Well that was fun. And witchy! But more magical witchy than creepy witchy. Although...there is definitely creep factor.

Magic, monsters, and witches with a wicked tongue, oh how they sing to my secretly dark little soul.
What a wee gem. From the slow burning beginning, I was intrigued. Elodie's life sucks, lets be honest, she needs to get out. Freedom seems to land in her lap when she receives a mysterious letter offering her a job - a way out. Once she embarks on her journey, and finally lands at her destination, the pace picks up. The action and magic scenes are entertaining, and WEIRD.
Right up my alley.
And I'm itching to get more of that magic. I NEED more magic. (Yes, it's a series, so I have to wait. Sigh).

This book is haunted by twisted monsters, boasts mysterious characters, and has a closely guarded secret. I was sent seeking answers and walked right into the middle of a magical war with two witches battling it out throwing curses around, fairy-tale style. But this isn’t a typical fairy-tale. This one’s all about the witches, and that makes my witchy little heart pump harder. Oh the wicked glee! I loved the quirkiness, I loved the magic, and I loved the snarky witches. I do have one question though. Do witches get a happy ending?

(I received an eARC from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.)

A Curse Of Ash and Embers is the story of a girl finding her place in the world and a woman trying to right some wrongs. Dee is treated like a slave by her stepfather and her mother keeps popping out the children for Dee to look after. She isn't good enough for school, she isn't worth that. She has chores to do instead. Aleida has been gone from home for a while now, but when a ghost arrives to tell her that her evil mother is up to more terrible things, she knows she has to go home and put a stop to this once and for all. As one girl leaves the only home she has ever known, the other must come home to the one place she doesn't want to be.

It feels like a story that has been told before. The premise wasn't new. Which is fine but I think when you combine that with slow pacing, you are going to forget all about this book in a month. The cover is gorgeous, but the market is being bombarded with similar covers and books with similar names. How is this book meant to stand out from the others?

The relationship between the girls shows potential, if there is a book two I would be interested to see how it has grown together and as individuals. When they meet, neither girl is at their best, but they compliment each other. Dee is used to caring for people and Aleida needs help. Aleida is fiery and unapologetic, Dee needs to stop apologizing for everything. With Aleida's talents and Dee's morals together they could become quite the force.

The writing is good, there is nothing wrong with it, the story was just slow. I didn't really get a sense of who these people were as their personalities where inconsistent. The most consistent character, in her actions and conversation seemed to be the neighbour's daughter, Melly. Some of the other characters seemed to be there to move the plot along, they didn't bring a lot of depth to the story. And I think maybe that right there was my issue. Their was no depth to the book. It felt like we were skimming over the story and not being immersed into it.
Give me rich world building, let me see the meadows and the orchard, let me see the broken down house. I didn't get any of that. Also I felt like there was a lot of potential with the magic, but it rushed through the magic scenes and battles. It was missing that something that I wanted.

While I thought it was missing something, I think my daughter would enjoy it.

This was a bloody good book. Ican spot an Aussie's writing a mile off and it was sooooo nice to read a fantasy written by one as Aussie writers voices pop like no other. A review will be up on my blog soon but a few things I loved:

My kiwi heart was SO HAPPY YOU HAVE NO IDEA that the book says 'arse' instead of 'ass'. DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, I KNOW IT'S WEIRD but honestllllly, that's what kiwis and aussies say and i just bloody loved it okay.

Elodie the main character has such bite, i love herrrrrr. a very spiky hufflepuff.

Tidbits of the world were dropped so cleverly at first like the differences between villages but after awhile it kinda stopped and noooooo i wanted more!

YAY NO ROMANCY ROMANCY WELL NOT REALLY! How refreshing for a ya fantasy not to have a love interest that takes over the entire damn book.

"I do my best thinking at night" <----- yessss Aleida, same girl, same.

Loved the murderous orchard and plants.

This book gave me real uprooted and wildwood dancing vibes. definitely check those books out if you enjoyed this one!

I have not seen a single negative review for this book, so I don't know what it is, but this book just wasn't working for me.

I was bored for most of the book and was counting down the pages for it to be over.

The setting was quite narrow which may have contributed. Most of the novel is set at the witch's house, and they don't do a lot of travelling.

But I think the main thing was that I just didn't get the characters. There was nothing wrong with any of them, they just all fell flat to me and I didn't care about any of them.

But the ending was good! It had a good amount of action and a decent resolution.

Overall I don't know what it was, but I just found this book boring. Hope that everyone else likes it more!!

So, I didnt realise i needed this book until I read it. Full of amazing characters who carry the story ever so well, I feel its an excellent addition to Australian fiction. Did I mention they are all women?

I loved all the leading ladies tbh. They are well rounded, stubborn and occassionally prickly and thats just the start. Elodie while undereducated is so ridiculously clever that I was in awe pretty much the whole way through. Aleida is initially broken but still so strong mentally. And Gryssa is just a greedy piece of work who will do whatever it takes to claw her way back to the world of the living.

The 'love interest' portion of the book was well rounded and more of a crush with the occassional perve rather than a major plot point and I LOVED IT! I am not a fan of lovey kissy taking centre stage without purpose and Spurrier manages to sprinkle the love lightly enough that it felt ample but not overexaggerated.

While the world building is not groundbreaking, any reader would easily be able to conjure up images of the characters various surroundings. In a novel which has a highly character driven narrative, it was well and truly enough.

Overall I just loved this book. Its the perfect mix of witchy business with self discovery and butt kicking babes. 4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! It was an easy read with a good plot! I liked the 'girl power' and the fact that evil witch didn't = actually evil, as in it was a facade that she was maintaining for her own benefit! I also like the reality of Dee's choice to become a witch, and how it wasn't immediate, but rather a slow process that took time. I thought the part about Kian was very clever, and the way the writing brought about subtle suspicions! Also loved the use of the crystal towards the end! A good read and a clever plot, really you can't go wrong!

I was a huge fan of the story line and world building in this book. The character development was very well done and i was hooked from chapter one.

I am two-for-two with YA books that promise to focus on the bonds between two female characters and actually follow through! There was a whiff of romance with a minor character, but the central dynamic that is the heartline of A Curse of Ash and Embers is the one between Elodie (Dee for short), a 16 year old girl leaving home for the first time, and Aleida, the witch she was hired to serve. If you're keen on a story with an endearingly sensible female protagonist who ends up in a mentor/protege dynamic with an acerbic, self-deprecating, morally grey witch, look no further! 

The beginning was a little rough for me, so I'll add a warning for those sensitive to emotional abuse - we first meet Dee struggling to cope in an unhappy household where she slaves away cooking and cleaning and looking after her siblings, all for no appreciation and constant insults and hostility from her stepfather. Her mother turns a blind eye as her husband dotes on her and their children, and shrugs off his antipathy towards Dee as normal since a man can't be expected to tolerate a child that isn't his own. While it wasn't exactly fun reading, I appreciated that Dee wasn't a victim of gratuitous abuse; her home life was miserable but not overly contrived and melodramatic. Still, I was relieved when a letter arrived to announce that Dee had successfully obtained a position as servant at Black Oak Cottage so the story could get underway. 

Of course, Dee understandably has mixed emotions about her change of situation. Sure, she hates her stepfather and wanted to be out from under his thumb, but she loves  her mother and siblings, and the idea of being cast out into the world on your own is pretty terrifying! She continues to think of her loved ones and miss them throughout the story, and naturally she also has issues with low self-esteem and feeling unworthy after all the verbal abuse she's endured telling her that she's useless, lazy and good for nothing. The inauspicious start actually has an impact on her character instead of just being an excuse for why she doesn't run back home when things get tough. 

I found it easy to invest in Dee and grew fond of her very quickly - she's snarky, street-smart and nothing if not resilient and pragmatic. She may not be very worldly or able to read and write, but she knows the value of hard work, is stubbornly loyal and doesn't scare off easy! (Such a Hufflepuff) I love that she's so grounded and down-to-earth and blessedly normal; Dee doesn't spontaneously develop superpowers or a Special Destiny or become entangled in the usual love triangle. It's a real novelty to have a heroine who isn't a Chosen One, isn't a princess or in a leadership role and doesn't embark on an epic quest or follow any of the typical storylines.  Instead this is a throwback to the more traditional coming-of-age story with Dee learning to harness her inner strength, overcome her personal hangups, and gain wisdom and empowerment. It takes me back to the good old days of Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small quartet about Kel, except we actually get a female mentor in this one!

Speaking of Aleida, I loved how complicated her character is - she may have killed the evil witch Gyssha, but she's no saint by any means! She prizes self-interest over nobility and makes no apologies for it, she is ruthless and doesn't give a damn about people's precious feelings if it gets in the way of her agenda, and she can be high-handed and infuriatingly mysterious. At the same time, she is quite self-aware and open about her morally dubious past, and she tries to do the right thing by Dee, offering her an out numerous times and trying to get her to flee to safety from the start. I'm such a sucker for the cantankerous authority figure who reluctantly takes a younger companion under their wing! (shades of Xena and Gabrielle, but without the gay vibes, unfortunately) Even though our introduction to Aleida is after being injured in the battle with Gyssha, she is still driven and fierce and never backs down from a fight. I love seeing her be such an unrepentant badass!

I thought the world-building was great; originally it didn't seem too different from the usual pre-industrial fantasy worlds, but as the story progressed, the author sketched in all these fascinating details that made reading this a wonderfully immersive experience. Being able to depict a new world without tedious info-dumping is a great skill, and I really admired the brisk clever writing that capably whisked the reader through scenes with magical constructs, interdimensional rifts, sprites and spirits, and various spells and enchantments, without ever faltering or becoming muddled.

The plot was also perfect to me - forgive the Marvel comparison, but this felt like Antman as opposed to Avengers. There weren't giant earth-shattering stakes, and I didn't feel there needed to be. I enjoyed that it played more like a domestic drama rather than a Grand Evil threatening to Devour the Kingdom, because the emotional weight of the conflict gave it the necessary dramatic heft. You don't need to have massive armies charging at each other, it can be just as satisfying to have two women supporting each other in taking on one powerful entity. 

I didn't realize that this was the start of a series and thankfully it's perfectly readable as a standalone, but I'm excited that there is another installment to come. I can't wait for more!

This is the main character that I didn’t know that I was desperate for. Elodie is SENSIBLE. She’s also not a princess, possessed of once in a lifetime mystical power, in the midst of a love triangle, or in anyway The Chosen One. She doesn’t even fall into insta-love with a mysterious stranger. I mean, she does meet a cute boy, but she’s not an idiot. Do you have any idea how refreshing this is? Seriously?
Elodie is just a young girl, who has had a bit of a crap time of it, but is persevering because she’s smart, stubborn, and sensible. Even when her new employer, who is supposed to get her away from her jerk of a step-father at home, turns out to be a sarcastic, quick-tempered, Witch, well..... even witches need feeding, and their dishes washed. Elodie reminds me of that friend who is going to remind you to hydrate, check if you’re hangry, and help you out when you’re in an anxiety spiral. SHE’S WONDERFUL.
Characters are allowed to have pasts, which I love. The world building is clever and thorough, WITHOUT needing 20 pages of exposition before you even get started on the story. There are real life “things” that may make some people push the age range up a little, but I think from 12 would be suitable. I’d recommend it to anyone who loved Patricia C. Wrede, or Tamora Pierce’s Kel. Perhaps for Sharon Shinn fans. There is a similar brevity to the writing that allows the reader to kind of rest inside the story, rather than be outside it. 4+ stars, and I will definitely be back for the next book

A Curse of Ash and Embers by Jo Spurrier is a novel in a new fantasy series by the author of the grimdark Children of the Black Sun trilogy (which started with Winter Be My Shield). That said, A Curse of Ash and Embers is being marketed as YA so at least you know it won't be quite as full of torture as the earlier series. Whether or not you consider the book to be YA is a matter of personal opinion; to me it's just a fantasy book, but I also wouldn't hesitate to give it to an interested teen.

A dead witch. A bitter curse. A battle of magic.

Some people knit socks by the fire at night. Gyssha Blackbone made monsters.

But the old witch is dead now, and somehow it's Elodie's job to clean up the mess.

When she was hired at Black Oak Cottage, Elodie had no idea she'd find herself working for a witch; and her acid-tongued new mistress, Aleida, was not expecting a housemaid to turn up on her doorstep.

Gyssha's final curse left Aleida practically dead on her feet, and now, with huge monsters roaming the woods, a demonic tree lurking in the orchard and an angry warlock demanding repayment of a debt, Aleida needs Elodie's help, whether she likes it or not.

And no matter what the old witch throws at her, to Elodie it's still better than going back home.

I really enjoyed A Curse of Ash and Embers and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Elodie was a very believable and grounded character, who generally leaned towards doing the sensible thing. The world she lives in is a fairly standard pre-industrial European-ish fantasy world, but at the same time magic is an uncommon phenomenon and Elodie didn't really believe in it until she left home. I enjoyed watching Elodie finding her place in her new world. It was a satisfying mix of "well, someone has to cook and clean" and her trying to reconcile her own experiences of her new mistress with the stories told by the villagers she meets.

I haven't generally been very much in the mood for fantasy books recently, but once I started reading this one (which I thought was a novella for some reason — it is not) I was instantly hooked on the story. Spurrier's writing style continues to be gripping even in this narratively more straight-forward book (first person, single narrator) and I certainly would not hesitate to pick up any other books of hers.

The story put me slightly in mind of Pratchett's Witches books, but more because Elodie seemed like she would fit in as an apprentice witch in that world than any more obvious similarities in satire or style. That said, I also really liked one particular worldbuilding aspect in A Curse of Ash and Embers: that the witches wants are basically clubs studded with crystals. Unlike a traditional style (eg Harry Potter) wand, they were as well suited to bashing people as wielding magic...

As I said, A Curse of Ash and Embers was a great read and I highly recommend it to pretty much all fantasy fans. The next book is out in 2019 and I'm hoping that means it will be a relatively short wait (fingers crossed for less than a year) before we find out what happens next. I should note that A Curse of Ash and Embers does not end on a cliffhanger or anything — the story arc is fairly self-contained — but I still want to read more. Hopefully soon.

5 / 5 stars

First published: September 2018, HarperVoyager
Series: Yes. Tales of the Blackbone Witches book 1 of 3 (I think)
Format read: ePub ARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

"We are the eye of the storm. We are the darkness behind the stars. We are the glare of the sun, and nothing touches us unless we let it."

Wow. I don't even know where to start with this book. I was captivated from the very beginning and was hanging onto every word.

Jo has perfectly created a world full of magic whilst still being based in reality. The terror of magic, but also the freedom and wonder it can bring.

A Curse of Ash and Embers tells the tale of our illiterate, but street smart, Elodie who gets employed by a mysterious letter through which she gets to leave her unhappy and emotionally abusive household. Elodie then travels to Black Oak Cottage to meet this mysterious employer, who turns out to be just as mystified at her appearance as they most certainly didn't send that letter.

Aleida, the mistress (and witch) of Black Oak Cottage, is reluctant to accept any help from Elodie and tries to send her off with some cash to fund her way. Elodie refuses as she will never return back home and she has nowhere else to go. This ultimately works out well for both Aleida and Elodie as they form a familial bond with both of them looking out for each other.

Elodie learns just how strong she is and what actual support, family and belonging feels like.

A great start to what is sure to be a brilliant YA (13+) Fantasy series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series due to be released in 2019.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Jo Spurrier, has created something beautiful with A Curse of Ash and Embers. On one hand, you have the gritty, the dark, and the increasingly complex plot-line which takes a little bit of focus to understand, and on the other, you have a wonderful world-building and character-creation, and something almost tangible in the sense of a coming-of-age, novel.
In admiration of the character building, Spurrier manages to create small, and large characters, all with a purpose. As the novel proceeds, we see that everything Jo does, is with purpose. Elodie, and the way she is written, creates a inspiring young-women, who is coming to an age where she is becoming her OWN women. It leaves enough of a mystery in why she is where she is, that you keep reading, not just because the book is wonderful, but because you want to know more. As a main character (or one of two), Elodie is smart, yet innocently unwise, vulnerable and strong, down-to-earth and still not without her basic necessities (bath, anyone?). Both Elodie, and Aledia have some hidden sides, and I look forward to how Spurrier decides to develop both characters in the coming books. As a disciple of Gyssha, Aledia has a ruthlessness that is inherent, but her kindness, and her willingness to teach, and guide, overwhelms her personality ten-fold.
Jo Spurrier, has deliberately created characters, large and small whom could have a whole new world written about just them.

A Curse of Ash & Embers is a fun fairytale/fantasy read. The story has a familiar feel, but also maintains an air of originality. The pacing is good, and there is plenty of action. Meanwhile, Elodie is a well-crafted and interesting character with whom I felt an immediate connection. Two of the things I like most about this work are the slightly darker storyline and the fact that romance, though loosely present, doesn't become the principal focus of the piece. For me this is a solid 4.5 stars, and I recommend it to YA fantasy fans looking for something a little different that will take them away from the standard tropes while still feeling like a familiar friend. I am certainly keen to read on in the series and find out what will happen to Elodie and Aleida next.