Ashes: An Epic Sword & Sorcery Novel

Paul J Bennett

Sep 2019 · The Frozen Flame - Complete 8-book series Book 1 · Paul J Bennett

About this ebook

Magic is the key... but will it save them, or consume them?

Magical potential reveals itself without warning, altering the course of a person’s life forever. For those discovered with the gift, power and privilege await. Yet while the successful rise to the highest levels of society, those who fail are never spoken of again.

Natalia’s magical abilities revealed themselves long before they should have. Torn from her mother’s arms, she was borne away to the mysterious Volstrum and thrust into a world dominated by the wealthy and powerful. There, she has the potential to become one of the most formidable battle mages ever known. But the life they intend for her may destroy her long before any battlefield can.

Athgar's life was shattered the day his magical potential was released by the very fire that nearly consumed him. Rescued by Orcs and taught to control the fire magic threatening to destroy him, he becomes driven by revenge against those who slaughtered his people and carried his sister away in chains. But after meeting Natalia and nearly dying once more, he begins to realize something far more sinister is unfolding.

Now, she is on the run from her family while he desperately hunts for his. Together, they begin to unravel a conspiracy tied to the very magic that brought them together. But some secrets were never meant to be uncovered.

Ashes is the first book in the completed 8-book Sword & Sorcery series, The Frozen Flame.

Ratings and reviews

This is one of the best books I've read in a while. The characters come to life in a story that will keep you turning page after page. I think this author just became my new favorite.

Paul Bennett hits it out of the park with his new series opener. Great new characters in a brand new situation. It leaves me wondering if his two story lines will connect in the future. I am ready to read more about this one. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and asked to read this book before the prequel. In my opinion, you should read the prequel first.

I am a slow reader but l could not put this book down. I really enjoy how warm and caring and strong the main characters are. It counteracts the violence of the time.There are two threads to the story intricately woven together. One could be there hidden behind a tree or wall watching events unfold....

About the author

Paul J Bennett (b. 1961) emigrated from England to Canada in 1967. His father served in the British Royal Navy, and his mother worked for the BBC in London. As a young man, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983. He is married to Carol Bennett and has three daughters who are all creative in their own right.

Paul’s interest in writing started in his teen years when he discovered the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons (D & D). What attracted him to this new hobby was the creativity it required; the need to create realms, worlds and adventures that pulled the gamers into his stories.

In his 30’s, Paul started to dabble in designing his own roleplaying system, using the Peninsular War in Portugal as his backdrop. His regular gaming group were willing victims, er, participants in helping to playtest this new system. A few years later, he added additional settings to his game, including Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, World War II, and the all-important Fantasy Realm where his stories take place.

The beginnings of his first book Servant to the Crown originated over five years ago when he began running a new fantasy campaign. For the world that the Kingdom of Merceria is in, he ran his adventures like a TV show, with seasons that each had twelve episodes and an overarching plot. When the campaign ended, he knew all the characters, what they had to accomplish, what needed to happen to move the plot along, and it was this that inspired to sit down to write his first novel.

Paul now has four series based in his fantasy world of Eiddenwerthe, and is looking forward to sharing many more books with his readers over the coming years.