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I've finally starting the widely acclaimed Songs of Chaos! I love modern fantasy with the grittiness and sense of reality, but this reminded me that classic fantasy (with a twist) still rocks!

This is nostalgic and charming, but do not fear, it is not just a regurgitation of the fantasy of the past. Initially, this felt like it was exploring the traditional tropes with smooth, engaging prose. The peasant boy wanting to defend the realm. The discovered dragon egg. The grumpy mentor. The princess with a heavy burden. But, to me, 'trope' is not a dirty word. Tropes have the potential to be fantastic, but it all depends on how they are handled. Ascendant takes these familiar tropes and gradually takes them in unexpected directions that injects a freshness into the tale.

Whilst initially it appears that there is a clear "good" and a clear "bad", the waters are certainly muddied. An "evil" force is always there, but the mystery and contention comes in who pulls the strings of this force... and also the internal conflict of some of those involved. The questions are far from being fully answered, and they have well and truly hooked me into this series. The world felt rich and expansive, despite us only dipping our toes into one corner of it. It really feels like a place that will be fascinating to explore further, and I cannot wait to do so.

My priority is almost always the characters. Here, we have great characters. The classic dragon and dragon-rider has been subverted. Holt is such an endearing main character. Yes, he can be infuriating, but this is in a way true to a teenager, and certainly does not feel jarring or aggravating. Ash, the blind dragon, is such a fresh take on the genre. He is wonderfully crafted. I would fight to protect him! The rest of the cast is relatively small, but each is given time to develop their own unique characteristics. I really appreciated this small cast in an epic tale, as it felt like an intimate story and I felt as swept away by the extraordinary events as Holt himself did.

Again, I loved the classical inspiration. I may be wrong, but I believe I spotted some Tolkien Easter eggs...

Ascendant is a book suitable for all fantasy readers. It could be read by teenagers getting into fantasy, but does not feel "childlike". It is nuanced, easy to read and engaging. What more can you ask for?

4.25/5 STARS