Thursday Treat # 16: The Tears of Artamon Trilogy by Sarah Ash.

I love fantasy trilogies and series. A nice long story that can suck me in and not let go is always an amazing find. And since many fantasy authors feel the same way, a lot of the books you find in that section of the book store come with at least one companion.

I stumbled across Lord of Snow and Shadows a few years ago and thought that the cover looked interesting. The back blurb also seemed promising:

"Raised by his protective mother in the sunny climes of the south, Gavril Andar knows nothing of his father-or of the ominous legacy that awaits him. but now the man who ruled the wintry kingdom of Azhkendir, a man infused with the burning blood of the dragon-warrior known as Drakhaoul-has been murdered by his enemies. Expected to avenge his father's death-and still his unquiet ghost-Gavril soon learns that becoming Drakhaon means not only ascending to the throne of Azhkendir but slowly changing into a being of extraordinary power and might. A being that must be replenished with the blood of innocents in order to survive..."

It seemed interesting and for a fantasy novel that I will love, it had a lot of elements I look for. I'll be honest, I am a sucker for dragons. :)

So I picked it up and read it and was sucked in. Ash created a world that was incredibly vivid and involved. Her story was not cheesy or overdone, but well written. Ash could write and write well! I was impressed, and I wanted to know where the story was going to go, so I went and searched online and found that the second novel was already out, and the third would come out in another week (what luck!).

I immediately picked up the second novel, Prisoner of the Iron Tower and read it in a matter of hours. I was sucked into the story and amazed at the imagery Ash was using. It was a novel of power and darkness.

The third novel, Children of the Serpent Gate proved to be a great conclusion to one of the best fantasy trilogies I have ever read. Each novel was a great story in and of itself, but together they created something much deeper and wonderful.

If you love fantasy at all, you need to add these to your TBR list. They are amazingly beautiful and will leave you craving more of Ash's work.