Ashlords

November 1, 2019
A dystopian flip of colonialism mixes with horses on fire. In the Empire, the dark-skinned Ashlords are a minority but have all the power. Each year they stage a spectacular multiday race on phoenixes--horses that rise from ashes at dawn only to die in flames each night. Pippa, the teen daughter of former winners, is this year's favorite, but she's challenged by Adrian, a tough Longhand cowboy from an oppressed group of rebels, and Imelda, the lone Dividian given free entry into the contest. The light-skinned Dividian were invaders who failed to conquer and who now live subject to the Ashlords (who credit their superiority to the intervention of their many gods). Phoenixes can have magical powers, depending on what you add to their ashes. It's a lot of stuff crammed into one novel. Reintgen (Saving Fable, 2019, etc.) fits it all in, mostly (the gods never do make sense), with economical, crisp writing, at the expense of character development and overall clarity. The most well-developed relationship, between Imelda and her friend Farian, is abandoned after the first chapters. The worldbuilding falters, too: They have sophisticated computerized technology, including holograms and video streaming, but rely on horses and carriages for all transportation. It requires close reading to understand that the pale, invading Dividian majority are oppressed; the facts are told piecemeal without the analysis that might have given readers insights into our own world's history of colonialism Too much hat, not enough cowboy. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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December 1, 2019

Gr 7 Up-Imelda, Adrian, and Pippa are all racers, but unlike regular jockeys they ride Phoenix Horses, mystical steeds that die each night and are reborn at dawn. Imelda enters the race as the poor scholarship student from a downtrodden minority, but will she play to win or to break the games? Adrian is the son of a rebel leader, aiming to win and become the face of a revolution. Pippa is the daughter of two past champions; she has trained all her life to win, but will romance be her downfall? The world in this novel is unlike other fantasy realms and depicts a complex history of battles, political stratification, and gods. Imelda, Adrian, and Pippa all have complete character arcs, a difficult feat with three narrators. The only thing that mars this fantasy is the bizarre choice to have Pippa's narrative written in the second person, which is very distracting at first. Many of the book's tropes suggest a future dystopia with the in-depth cultural history of war and strife, and a competition where the dominant group has an unfair advantage in both the game and the social system as a whole. VERDICT An exciting action tale set in a unique world. Hand this book to fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.-Jeri Murphy, C.F. Simmons Middle School, Aurora, IL

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2019
Grades 8-12 Each year, the entire Ashlord Empire turns its attention to the Races, a multiday event in which a dozen teenage alchemists riding phoenix horses compete in a brutal display of strength, strategy, and magic?sometimes with the help of gods. Horses burst into flames at sunset, leaving contestants to protect the ashes (and themselves) from sabotage until daybreak, when they summon their steeds back to race another day. Three of this year's riders race for more than the prize money: the daughter of two legendary Ashlord champions; a scholarship entrant from an oppressed people; and a revolutionary's son from a seceded nation. The main characters are well cast and equally compelling in their pursuits of glory, justice, and freedom. The world building is at times unclear?burner phones and viral videos appear alongside carriages and candles?and the use of second-person narration for one of the three characters could throw (or thrill) some readers. Despite the story's similarities to The Hunger Games and The Scorpio Races, Reintgen (Nyxia, 2018) mostly manages to avoid being derivative in this duology opener that promises a war-filled sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)