Books of Wonder

Ashlords

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Every year since the Ashlords were gifted phoenix horses by their gods, they’ve raced them. First into battle, then on great hunts, and finally for the pure sport of seeing who rode the fastest. Centuries of blood and fire carved their competition into a more modern spectacle: The Races.

Over the course of a multi-day event, elite riders from clashing cultures vie to be crowned champion. But the modern version of the sport requires more than good riding. Competitors must be skilled at creating and controlling phoenix horses made of ash and alchemy, which are summoned back to life each sunrise with uniquely crafted powers to cover impossible distances and challenges before bursting into flames at sunset. But good alchemy only matters if a rider knows how to defend their phoenix horse at night. Murder is outlawed, but breaking bones and poisoning ashes? That’s all legal and encouraged.

In this year’s Races, eleven riders will compete, but three of them have more to lose than the rest—a champion’s daughter, a scholarship entrant, and a revolutionary’s son. Who will attain their own dream of glory? Or will they all flame out in defeat?

Customer Reviews (5.0 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Hannah ★★★★★

The pacing of the races pulled me in from the first chapter—you can almost feel the heat off those phoenix horses. It’s the kind of fantasy that makes you forget you’re reading until you blink and realize an hour’s gone.

Lily ★★★★★

The world-building here is so rich I felt like I was standing in the dust at the starting line, watching those phoenix horses breathe fire before the first race. It's rare for a fantasy to make a yearly tradition feel this lived-in and urgent.

Timothy ★★★★★

The phoenix horses and the ritual of the race pulled me in from the first page—the way the Ashlords' bond with their mounts is woven into every hunt and competition feels genuinely fresh. I read it in two sittings, and the pacing of the yearly race buildup kept me turning pages past midnight.