#ashen-crest

[ladyazulina]

I took a quiz just to have fun and because it was @ashen-crest the one who sent it to me in her latest newsletter, I thought "What if I do get ending up with Ambrose?"

Hmmm?! What if?!

Your Result:

Ambrose

You are… Ambrose Beake! Reserved, polite, brilliant, and utterly professional. Your ideal evening involves a good book, a cup of tea, and a hearty dollop of peace and quiet. You may come across as prickly to those who don’t know you, but under the surface, you are a passionate friend who would do anything for those you care about. Read A RIVAL MOST VIAL: POTIONEERING FOR LOVE AND PROFIT to learn more!

#ashen-crest #a rival most vial #potioneering for love and profit #ambrose beake #ambrose #potioner #quiz #character quiz #queer character #r.k. ashwick

[lacependragon]

Pay day!!! Which means I can finally get these! Gosh I'm excited.

First one is How to Sell your Blood and Fall in Love by @brynwrites. Already own the first novel in the series (which is a companion) and am currently reading and loving it.

Second one is A Rival Most Vial by @ashen-crest.

I have been so hype to buy both of these. I love filling my shelves with indie paperbacks. Something really satisfying about it.

#lace speaks #ashen-crest #brynwrites #ahhh!!!! #im so hype

[by-allison-kai]

So I've finished @ashen-crest's A Rival Most Vial, and I can't discuss the emotional punches with my wife (yet), so I'm gonna ramble here.

Spoilers ahead, obviously.

Also tw for personal trauma, shitty families, and abandonment issues.

AC, you are masterful at crafting characters that tug at the heartstrings!

As someone who's still untangling my own issues re; abandonment and general family shittiness, Ambrose's story prompted such a visceral reaction that my wife had to make sure I was okay.

(To be clear, I'm fine!)

"Apparently, he was very easy to leave behind." OW. My heart!

And that shitty letter from Pearce, the thin-as-vellum excuse for not coming back to the shop for its anniversary? Oof. I wanted to hug Ambrose again. And punch Pearce.

Anyway, this post isn't to dig into my trauma, but to applaud how brilliantly you write these emotions and situations.

#ashen-crest #A Rival Most Vial

[author-a-holmes]

Book Review: The Stray Spirit by R.K Ashwick

I, admittedly, went into A Stray Spirit with some hesitance because it's not my usual brand of fantasy. The magic in the world of Thalis is softer, and quieter, than I've grown to expect from my fantasy favourites, and yet…

It works.

It works beautifully. So much so that by the time I'd realised I'd fallen in love with the characters, I was already seven chapters into this masterfully woven adventure. R.K Ashwick weaves the story through your head much like the lutesong that our protagonist, Emry Karic, plays at the Red Rat inn.

Emry is kind, and relatable. He has goals that anyone can empathise with and understand, and a backstory I was eagerly waiting to discover as the tale progressed.

Cal is headstrong, stubborn, intelligent, and a perfect companion to work alongside Emry, balancing out his character. I can see their character developing even more beautifully as the series progresses and I can't wait to see where she goes next.

Aspen is an absolute sweetheart. They stole my entire soul the moment they caused trouble with Stef in a fabric store. If you've read the book, you know exactly the scene I'm talking about. It painted such a vivid picture of innocent mischievousness, I laughed aloud, and if you don't know the scene I'm talking about, then you should absolutely pick up this book and find out!

This is an entirely enchanting tale, with enough adventure and tension to keep you engaged, while weaving affection for the characters through every line you read.

A truly beautiful piece of writing. I wasn't intending to purchase a copy in paperback, but now I've finished it I think I'm going to have to (I have, in fact, already put my order in!). It would be a crying shame not to add this book to my shelves, and I'm eagerly awaiting more stories of Emry, Cal and Aspen in the future.

#Book Review #Arc Review #The Stray Spirit #R.K. Askwick #Ashen-crest #Honest Review #5* Review #Emry Karic #Aspen #Low Fantasy #Ari Speaks #Arista Speaks #Ari Reviews #Arista Reviews #Indie Authors #Indie Author #Cozy Fantasy

[drabbleitout]

DIO I had a dream about garnet and Beau and Ives! Someone was trying to kidnap Beau and make him be evil, but this was before he knew Garnet, and they ended up traveling together? I have no idea, but Garnet helped him out so everything is fine

!!! RK that's amazing!! But I am so sorry these gremlins were pestering you in your sleep!! (I'm actually flailing at the idea!) But I'd love to hear details! 😆 Was Beau still a robot? Did he meet Garnet by chance? Was Ives having to keep the peace?

But this sounds like it could have been pure chaos or hilarious maybe both. Was this like a road trip scenario? I can't even imagine being stuck with those two on a road trip. But I'm so glad everything was fine! A road trip AU actually sounds like a lot of fun and now you've got me thinking!!

Thank you for telling me about this! I hope they don't pester you in the future, but if they do I'd love to hear about it 🤭

#ashen-crest #asks #The idea of Beau trying to hitchhike with Garnet is killing me! #I have never dreamed about ocs/a wip before I'm so jealous!! #But also so honored that these idiots were there! #This idea has such good potential!! How dare you throw these seeds at me 🤭

[memento-morri-writes]

Trick or Treat!!

In exchange for giving me a lovely treat, you also get a lovely treat!

Kristopher nodded, adjusting his fingers on the reins as he spoke. “On the count of three, then. One, tw-“ And suddenly Fallon was flying past him, Alena stepping up into a near gallop. “Your Majesty!” Kris sputtered, kicking Phillip into a gallop behind her. However, even Phillip’s speed was not enough to best Fallon’s head start. She slowed Alena to a stop in the clearing, laughing. “Good girl, Alena. We beat them.” She heard hoof beats as Kristopher and Phillip arrived, less than a minute behind. “Oh look, it appears the boys finally caught up.” The Prince dismounted, scowling. “You cheated,” he said, crossing his arms. “The race was set to begin on three.” Fallon dismounted as well, pulling a treat for Alena from her pocket. “You never said it was to be a fair race,” she said, grinning. “That should have been implied when I said a race!” Kristopher half-shouted. Fallon turned back to Alena to hide her grin. “I suppose I must have misunderstood, then.” She raised a hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter. Kris tethered Phillip to a tree, grumbling as he did so. When he was finished, he turned back to her, composure mostly regained. “Well then, I suppose my preparations have been in vain. There is no point in giving out prizes in an unfair race, is there?” “Prizes? You said nothing of prizes!” Fallon whirled around, but Kris was already disappearing into the clearing. Now it was his turn to hide a grin.

#ashen-crest #Morrigan replies #writeblr trick or treat #wip: atqh #atqh: snippets #atqh: FxK #atqh: Fallon #atqh: Kris #this is from their first date btw #and I fucking love it #my two disasters #god I love them #fuck #I'm in love with them being in love #or rather with the knowledge that they will fall in love #since this is their first date of sorts

[oblivions-dawn]

Wing: share a snippet that you daydreamed about before writing it (or a snippet that you were really looking forward to writing.)

Talon: share a snippet that tugs at your heartstrings- can be sad or happy!

Wing:

“Aren’t you thirsty, Lady Serana?” Vigdis turned. Every pair of orange eyes stared back at her, perfectly still; a pack of wolves awaiting to descend upon their vulnerable prey. The hunter instinctively moved her freckled hand to reach for her dagger— Her wrist was snatched within a cold, firm grasp. She looked back and found Serana’s persimmon gaze, wide and pleading. Vigdis’ breaths were hard yet steady as she matched the vampire’s silent question with her own bewildered expression. Serana merely tightened her grip in response. There was no other way. “I won’t hurt you.” Vigdis twisted her arm, the inside of her wrist face-up. Serana shifted her grip; her thumb slipped beneath her sleeve and shoved the cuff back to reveal the freckled yet heavily scarred skin that lurked beneath. The vampire’s nail traced the faint blue veins that streaked across the rosy flesh, stiff under her touch. The hunter forced a harsh exhale through her nose as the nail pierced her skin. Blood pooled, then trickled down her arm. Serana held the chalice beneath the wound, and both watched as the ichor dripped into the spiked cup. When Serana’s grip loosened, Vigdis pulled her arm away. Her ice-blue eyes flickered to the vampire’s face, whose gaze was intensely fixed on the chalice. Serana swallowed hard, then lifted the goblet to her lips, and tilted it up. [Good fucking--FUCK. This was an idea that sort of came to me VERY early on in the chapter or before, and I--oh my god. I spent days upon days dreaming about it, giddy for the moment when I would write it--and it still to this day is one of my absolute favrouite scenes. It just came out so so well. It's so TENSE and--ughughugh.]

Talon:

He raised the dagger above his head— Serana shot an ice shard into his neck. Vyrthur’s persimmon eyes grew wide. He dropped the dagger, and it clattered beside her ear. He sputtered; choked; gurgled. Blood gushed from his mouth and splattered onto Serana’s cheek. He leaned back, then fell onto his side. Serana seized his blade—then stabbed him again, and again, and again. Tears streamed down her bloodstained face as she drowned in fear; the air she breathed was fire and water that consumed her. Vyrthur’s expression burned behind her eyes, matched with that of the Daedric Prince she once blindly worshipped. She was nothing but a caged animal; a prize to be won and coveted; a vessel for evil. Strong hands clutched her arms and jerked her back. Serana whipped around, the dagger still in her hand—only to face familiar ice-blue eyes that stared at her. As she took in the expression before her, the sun prickled at her skin; a breeze ghosted through her dark hair and brushed her damp cheeks. Vigdis’ faint scent drifted to Serana’s nose—sweat, blood, earth, and rain swelled in her lungs. The smell was unmistakable; it belonged, undoubtedly, to the red-haired hunter, who was real and alive, whose warm hands wrapped so firmly around her arms that it hurt, whose icy eyes burned amongst the constellations of her freckles. “I . . .” Serana tried, her breath shaky. Vigdis shook her head. “You don’t have to explain. Not to me.” [I could really choose any scene that sends Vigdis or Serana into a PTSD spiral but this . . . . this tugs my heartstrings just right. It's another favourite of course lkdxjgkdmgkf. My only complaint is that's all Vig says HHAHAHAHAHA]

#Senu Responds #Senu's Writing #ashen-crest #Skyrim OC #Vigdis #Serana #Serana Volkihar #THANK YOU FOR ENABLING ME AAAAAAAAAAAAA

[hi-5-sunflower]

I finally got to read The Stray Spirit!!!

Hey everyone!!! 👋😀 I just wanted to drop in to say that I am SO STOKED to have had the opportunity to read @ashen-crest 's book The Stray Spirit and it.

is.

AMAZING!!!!!! ❤️🌱❤️

Seriously. If any of you have been following her tumblr you know how much dedication went into this story, and wow, does it show!!! I'd learned quite a bit about the characters (Emry!🎵 Cal!📚 Aspen!🌸) as well as the general themes and ideas of the book via writeblr, but nothing prepared me for the sheer amount of joy, wonder, emotional depth, and beautiful worldbuilding is packed into this book!!!

So if you like cozy fantasy that's not centered around combat but that has no shortage of excitement, that has your new favorite characters ever, and that has magical fantasy elements that feel familiar while also being refreshingly unique, go preorder it right now!!! You'll be so glad you did!!! 😊

#fantasy books #book recommendation #the stray spirit #ashen-crest #others writing

[b-a-pigeon]

(Slightly late) Review of The Stray Spirit!

Hi sorry for the surprise hiatus - I'll be back soon - but first, I read @ashen-crest 's debut novel & you should too! I got an ARC (and am sharing this review voluntarily etc) but didn't manage to finish until release day, oops. Still wanted to drop my review w/ the encouragement that y'all go buy it now that it's out!

* * *

TSS was such a charming read!

There’s something so compelling about exploring a fantasy world through characters with relatively mundane lives; the protagonists are a musician and an academic, and they piece together some understanding of the central magical mystery in part through folk songs and books. The worldbuilding is so vivid and the use of stories and songs to convey history helps a lot with that!

It’s just overall very cute (especially everything about forest spirit Aspen, and the romantic subplot) but it’s not twee or cloying at all. There are actual stakes, both in the magical “surges” central to the plot and the fact that the characters have like, realistic adult conflicts and problems that take time and effort to resolve. The tone stays pretty lighthearted throughout, but there are enough moments of tension and emotion to keep it compelling!

There’s also some really nice natural scene-setting and some lovely illustrations. I hadn’t expected the art so it was a pleasant surprise to scroll up to it!

Check this one out if you want to read a fantasy book that’s lighthearted but not without stakes, with likable characters & some really solid worldbuilding :)

* * *

Buy it here!

#the stray spirit #book review #book rec #book recs #rk ashwick #ashen-crest

[talesofsorrowandofruin]

🌸 Cherry Blossom

What’s your dream writing project? The thing you’d write if you had all the time and money you needed?

🌹 Rose

Drop a favorite line you’ve written! Or, if you’d prefer not to share anything: talk about a scene you really enjoyed writing.

Thanka! :D

What’s your dream writing project? The thing you’d write if you had all the time and money you needed?:

...Hmm, I'm gonna go with a Dickens-inspired plot bunny that's been bouncing around in my head for a while. It'd be inspired partly by Bleak House and Our Mutual Friend, so obviously it'd be realllllly long, complicated, and with at least ten main characters. I haven't got the time or motivation to write it now (and have far too many WIPs anyway), but when I have some free time and fewer WIPs I'd like to try writing it.

Drop a favourite line you’ve written! Or, if you’d prefer not to share anything: talk about a scene you really enjoyed writing:

I've a lot of favourite lines, but I think my all-time favourite (so far) is the end of The Power and the Glory book 2:

Ilaran stared out the window at the dragon, the snake, and the necromancer talking to them. "…Tell me, someone. Just what happened while I was dead?"

#ask #ashen-crest #writing #my writing #my WIPs #WIP: necromancer

[alistonjdrake]

What is Justynas favorite season & seasonal snack?

yes hello thank you for giving in to my cries for attention.

Justyna's favorite season is spring due in part that she grew up in her father's "isolated" country house and that was the time of year when the weather was mild enough for them to open up to visitors and she enjoyed her nature walks.

Totally opposite though, her favorite seasonal snack is chocolate-covered gingerbread.

#tnc #asks #ashen-crest

[nikkywrites]

🍎🍋

🥺🥺 you know, I do semi-regularly-ish doubt my worldbuilding (it’s either surprisingly decent or disappointing, in my eyes, though I am aware that I’m probably a bit too harsh but I do think I am getting better at it), so this was surprising and nice to hear. Thank you!!

#ask #asks #ask game answered #fruit ask #ashen-crest #ashen crest

[spacetimewraithwrites-archive]

Congrats on Destiny coming out, I can’t wait to read it!!!

OMG thank youuuuu!!! 😭 I'm so excited FOR you to read it!! I hope you like it!!

#ask #ashen-crest

[emelkae]

Happy STS!

Sun emoji: what parts of brainstorming really get you going? Is it playlists, picrews, research, doodles, whiteboards? How do you narrow down your ideas?

I am... a disorganized mess when it comes to brainstorming 😅 I do all that stuff, but I can't say one part of it in particular is the most inspirational to me.

I tend to get my ideas while driving or out on a walk. When I get them while driving, I record them on my phone (I am NOT condoning doing anything while driving that isn't completely focusing on the road btw). During walks I type them into my notes app. I have several minutes of recordings and several thousand words of scene/character notes.

So basically I don't narrow down my ideas either ahaha

#answering old sts asks from last week :D #sts #storyteller saturday #me. #thanks for the ask! #ashen-crest

[maguayans]

🧥 warm coat: share a happy or fuzzy scene from your wip!

Hello, ma'am! Thank you for the ask and for making this themed writeblr asks. I hope you're well today. Send my regards to Leia as well. 🐈🍂 🧣

🧥 Warm Coat: Share a happy or fuzzy scene from your wip!

From Prologue, The Morose Cat

Camie placed the cake in the middle of the mat, still in its box, keeping it away from the cats. Any time now he would arrive and eat their first meal of the day. One of the orange-patched cats took the space on her lap while she waited.

“Something smells sweet,” Camie flinched, hearing his voice. “You’re late, Cam.”

She pushed the cat off of her and stood up. “You were here already?”

“Fell asleep.”

“It’s cold here, Dom. Did you bring a blanket or something? You’re not wearing a jacket.”

“I like the cold.” He smiled, reassuring Camie. “I’m hungry though.”

The girl brought her smile back, dragging the boy by the hand to their little table. Their food still warm inside a thermos food container, stacked on top of one another.

The two settled on the wooden floor. Camie took the cake out of the book, put the candle in, and lit it with a match. The sweet white lettering on the cake read: Happy Birthday, Dominique.

October-themed Writeblr Asks 🎃👻

#wip: the morose cat #ashen-crest #am-replies #ecwtmc

[memento-morri-writes]

🌹 Rose

Drop a favorite line you’ve written! Or, if you’d prefer not to share anything: talk about a scene you really enjoyed writing.

I have a list of my favorite lines here! My top faves are the one from "the Incident", the first one from "Aftermath", and the one from "Aftermath (again)".

My favorite scenes, however, are "the Incident" and "Not Okay".

#ashen-crest #Morrigan replies #sts #sts asks #storyteller saturday #can you tell I love writing angst?