Ashes of Aldyr (The Obscured Throne Trilogy Book 1) by Russell Archey – Review by Angela Hayes

Ashes of Aldyr by Russell Archey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

“He looked to his left at the aldyr tree that grew precariously near the edge of that mighty drop. It should have remained blooming throughout the fall and winter despite cold, darkness, and snow. Now, it was dead—a lifeless reminder of what was happening to his world. Lush and full of timeless vigor, the aldyrs are sacred to the world. Now, they all lay dry and lifeless; broken like the world that once was.”

Ashes of Aldyr is the first book in The Obscured Throne Trilogy by Russell Archey. This is my first read by Mr. Archey, so I really didn’t know what to expect from his work- but the title , cover and blurb captured my attention, so I grabbed a copy and set off to explore.
This is a really great start to the trilogy- which, if this book is anything to go by, looks set to be fantastic. I loved Mr. Archey’s darker take on an epic fantasy story- weaving an action-packed adventure I won’t soon forget. He has a bold and dynamic style that really works well with this genre. His world building skills are also excellent- crafting a world that came to life before my eyes. It was so easy to imagine everything he was describing, like it was playing out on a screen, not merely words written on a page. I can see this making a great movie or television series.
This is a bit of a multi-layered story- with a bit of a dystopian feel in places. The storyline is quite original, with lots of dramatic developments and other clever and unique touches that made the story an intense page turner. I started the story thinking I would just read a few chapters and then go to bed- well, several hours later and wayyy past my bedtime, I finally finished and came up for air. Sleep is over-rated…. right?.
This is a series I definitely want to continue…. I am hooked and can’t wait for more- the sooner the better!
If you love fantasy with a darker, edgier feel- then this is definitely the book/series for you!
Bring on Book #2!

Thank you, Russell Archey!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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