Cinders & Ashes Book Five (Cinders & Ashes #5) (2024)

Another great entry. I've been burning through these books. So addicting! I'll be doing a full series review in the final part!

Review to come at the end of the series, this one was hard to put down!!

Wow, another great book in Aratare's series! I have mixed feelings about book six with the way this one ended. I fear the Death Mage, Marikoth has put King Rohan in a situation where there is no way out in order to save his people and betray his love for Prince Finn!

If King Rohan has to choose to pair with Marikoth (that means sexually too), I fear it will bring Prince Finn such heartache and pain that the anger he keeps under control will burst out and become the Prince of Death.

I definitely did not want Rohan with Marikoth! I feel the bad situation that will come with book 5.

אז חשבתי שזה הספר האחרון בסדרה, אבל לא!!! יש עוד אחד אחריו ולמרות שאני מאד נהנית, אני כבר מחכה לסוף, כי אתן יודעות איך זה סדרות ארוכות - There’s only so much you can take.

בכל מקרה, הספר כתוב היטב וכמו קודמיו הוא מספק אקשן ותככים לצד רומן מתוק (לפעמים אפילו קצת יותר מדי) בין שני גיבורים חמודים להפליא, שמתחבטים לאורך הדרך עם על מיני דילמות אישיות, פילוסופיות, מוסריות ופרקטיות.

אני בהחלט ממשיכה לספר הבא!

Rating: 3.5 stars

While good, I found myself wanting to get to the final story already. I think it would have been better if the author shortened the story a bit.

This series just keeps getting better and better. I love Finn and it is awesome to see him become more powerful because as such a good person, he is only going to use his power for the best. Things are really coming to a head with the evil Marikoth in charge of the Fae kindom and now threatening the safety of those in the human realm. I can tell things are really coming to a head for the conclusion in the next book. I listened to all of these books after they were released on audio, but sadly book 6 is not yet. So the question is do I wait for the audio which is performed so well by Edward Fox and Hannah Hart or read on to find out the characters fates?

Oh wow!!

I love how the story is going so far, I’m looking forward to see how the characters stop the villain from fulfilling his crazy dreams of ruling the Empire. I hate that book 6 is not on Audible so I’ll have to read it. That’s not a hardship but I enjoy listening to it in the car .

Audio: 5 stars Edward Fox and Hannah Hart do a great job with the duet!

Book: 4-4.5 stars

And we are back baby!! This book was great, way better than book 4! haha now on to the finale!!

I also still love the bromance between Leonid and Serxio! haha

loved it

I am enjoying this series and the growth individually and as a couple that Finn and Rohan is making. Interesting and funny secondary characters.

another amazing part

All I can say is that I hang on every word and at every cliffhanger I waited with bated breath for the next installment

Another great one! I'm really excited for book 6

I have no words, this book and series, by extension, was just wow, X Aratare really knows how to weave a tale, you say a gay retelling, I say it has surpassed the original by leaps and bounds.

2023: 4.0

M/M, 🌶️

I enjoyed the storyline, but at times found it confusing.

At this point, I’m just reading to know what happens at the end. I’m not really impressed by this series and the execution leaves a lot to be desired. It was a cool concept but it’s just meh overall. I like the diversity in the series though.

This series continues to progress in such interesting directions, I'm always surprised at what new developments come from each additional book.
Highlights: Finn's self exploration continues and his personal development is awesome. I love the newest revelations about death mages vs. death's chosen and further study of the tomb.
Cons: this series sometimes feels a little slow to me, where each book could progress faster toward whatever the ultimate conclusion will be but is instead developing slowly to draw it out. But drawing it out isn't actually building suspense, it's just getting annoying.
I'm also not sure about some of the extra characters, like the king and queen from the other countries in the former empire who Finn maybe wants to overthrow?? Kind of confused where that's going and seems a little counterintuitive to Finn's personality in the previous books.

Book five gives us more depth to the basis that is Finns and Rohans love and purpose. Both their love for each other provides the strength and support that both need to steer through the treachery that is merikoth. Though you can, but help feel sorry for him briefly as he is a result of ignorance, bigotry, and misinformation (sounds pertinent in this day and age). The only question I have is how does X Aratare do this?. A master storyteller takimg a simple story such as cinderella and creating a 6 book wonder in the relms of toilkin and Hugo.

What a cliff hanger! As always, x aratare has done it again. truly love this work, obsessed with this story and it’s characters. 😩❤️❤️