Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler

Long ago, a magical war destroyed an empire, and a new one was built in its ashes. But still the old grudges simmer, and two siblings will fight on opposite sides to save their world, in the start of Django Wexler’s new epic fantasy trilogy

Gyre hasn’t seen his beloved sister since their parents sold her to the mysterious Twilight Order. Now, twelve years after her disappearance, Gyre’s sole focus is revenge, and he’s willing to risk anything and anyone to claim enough power to destroy the Order.

Chasing rumors of a fabled city protecting a powerful artifact, Gyre comes face-to-face with his lost sister. But she isn’t who she once was. Trained to be a warrior, Maya wields magic for the Twilight Order’s cause. Standing on opposite sides of a looming civil war, the two siblings will learn that not even the ties of blood will keep them from splitting the world in two.

Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler is an action-packed adventure that keeps the pages turning. We see the heart-wrenching separation of two siblings as Maya is practically ripped away from her family and her brother, Gyre. Years later, we meet back up with them. Maya is nearing the end of her training to become a centarch of the Twilight Order, the same group who took her away when she was only 5. Gyre has gained a reputation for being a rebel in a small group of people dedicated to bringing down the Order.

Through Maya’s perspective, we watch as she grapples with upholding the values of the Order while also dealing with falling head over heels for another young woman, Beq. Separated from her master (the one who has been training her), she must go on a mission with Beq, Varo, and Tanax — all people she has never worked with before. Her parts show that the Order maybe isn’t the ultimate face of evil and oppression like we might have assumed in the beginning. Varo, for example, provides some great deadpan humor that juxtaposes nicely with the tension between Maya and Tanax, who are on opposite sides of the Order.

From Gyre’s point of view, we see the bitterness he has allowed to well up inside of him. He has used it to further his cause to bring the Order down. He and his teammates believe that there is a major disconnect between what the Order thinks it’s doing and what is actually happening. Politics are certainly at play here. 

The book has excellent action sequences. If you’ve got a visual imagination, reading the scenes is like watching a movie. The detail isn’t overwhelming, but it’s enough to still give a clear picture. For instance, I particularly enjoyed the scene where Gyre meets Kit for the first time, running from the Auxies (essentially guardsmen). It introduces Kit brilliantly as a no-nonsense, all-thrills young woman who isn’t afraid to take some risks. 

This book moves quickly and is incredibly readable. Some of the chapters are relatively long at 30+ pages, but they honestly flew by. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was very well done in this regard. There was always something happening, whether it be world development or character, relationship, etc. development. Not once did I think, “Why is this here?” The scenes where Maya struggles with her feelings for Beq, hoping they’ll be reciprocated? (As a side note, the LGBTQ+ aspect of the novel is accepted in the world at large. It’s a part of some people’s characters but is not their defining aspect as people.) The internal tension is palpable and amazing to read. Kit having a heart-to-heart with Gyre? Yes, please. 

There’s a glossary in the back, which while not strictly necessary, does add some flavor to the already impressive world-building. We’re thrown right in and follow two characters already familiar with most of the world, but everything is fairly easy to follow. Answers are there. The world feels lived in and complex without the story itself being overly complicated. It’s a great balance.

Overall, I was highly impressed. Ashes of the Sun is a book I definitely recommend. The just honestly fun action mixed with the amount of depth in the world and characters and relationships make this large tome super accessible. 

(We received an ARC provided by the publisher. Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler will be published on July 21, 2020.)