Ascendant (Songs of Chaos, #1)

by Michael R Miller

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Ascendant is the first book in the Songs of Chaos by Michael R. Miller. Released in 2020, it's 536 pages and is available in most formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

I grew up on a steady diet of Pern, Eragon, Hobbs' Farseer, and the like. Later on I devoured Novik's Temeraire series (it was published a lot later). This book is more on the Pern/Eragon YA(ish) side of the balance instead of gritty adult military dragon fantasy. It's well written and eminently engaging. The characterizations are believable and the protagonist is sympathetically rendered. It's very trope-y, but it's also quite good.

Interestingly enough, though the author and publisher are both in the British Isles, the spelling throughout is Americanized.

Enjoyable and immersive. Yes, trope-y but that's why we devour fantasy. There's a second book and a prequel out at this point, so it could be a good candidate for a weekend binge.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.