Building From Ashes (Elemental World #1)
by Elizabeth Hunter
For a thousand years, powerful earth vampire Carwyn ap Bryn has served others. God. His family. His friends. But tragedy and loss disrupt his peaceful existence, causing him to question everything he has committed his eternity to.by Elizabeth Hunter
Brigid Connor has known about vampires since they rescued her from a painful childhood. But not even their vast elemental power can save her from the demons that torment her.
As loyalties are tested and new paths are forged, a lurking danger slowly grows in the Elemental World. Carwyn and Brigid will learn that even secrets revealed can come back to haunt you when you least expect it.
A continuation/spinoff of the Elemental Mysteries series. The timeline in this books stretches from BEFORE A Hidden Fire starts (so you see a little character history) until AFTER A Fall of Water finishes. As I’m sure lots of you could tell, Carwyn had quite a few things going on in his life that didn’t make it into Gio and Beatrice’s story. So Building From Ashes explores that storyline and also sets up the Elemental World for some new adventures...
My Review
Oh my goodness! I swear to you everything Elizabeth Hunter writes if freakin’ gold! I have yet to read any of her work that I haven’t raved about and Building From Ashes is no exception.
Building From Ashes is the first book in the Elemental World series. This is a companion series to the Elemental Mysteries. The main protagonists are the fun loving Carwyn, whom we have met in the Elemental Mysteries and a new character Brigid. Now, you don’t necessarily need to read the Elemental Mysteries in order to understand and enjoy Building From Ashes. However, I would recommend that you would. Not only are all the books in the Elemental Mysteries fan-freaking-tastic but I think reading those first lends more of a well roundedness to the characters and plot that you wouldn’t get simply reading Building From Ashes as a stand alone. Especially in regards to Carwyns character. As a reader we only glean certain attributes and characteristics from the Elemental Mysteries as he’s only a secondary character. But in this series we get his whole story, his history, his family, his struggles and his inner dialog. He isn’t just the awesomely funny, Hawaiian shirt wearing Priest. There is great depth and beauty to this man and I just adore his character.
I must confess I can be kind of wishy washy with companion novels or companion series'. I get so focused and involved with the main characters from the previous series that it’s hard for me to make the mental switch. But Ms. Hunter did justice to this book. Tying all of the subtle nuances as well as the main plot from the Elemental Mysteries into the fabric of Elemental World perfectly. It was so seamless and brilliant I seriously want to write her and ask if she had this planned out all along?
The blurb above describes the book fairly well, albeit it’s a gross generalization. I will add this book does what the first book in the Elemental Mysteries does and that is it goes through a vast expanse of time; a little over one thousand years worth. We also get to experience the romance and courtship of Brigid and Carwyn which was written with such sweetness and beauty. It honestly wasn't cheesy or forced. And the love shown between the two characters took it’s natural course, meeting challenges and hope for the future.
I usually don’t put spoilers in my reviews and I am not about to start now. But I will encourage you to read this novel as well as any other works Ms. Hunter has written. If you enjoy Mysteries the Paranormal with a dash of Romance then this will not disappoint.
5 Stars for Building From Ashes!
