Ashes of the Rahn'ka is a work of fiction in the fantasy, romance, action, and adventure sub-genres, and was created by author duo Amanda Muratoff and Kayla Mansur. Written as the first part of A Rebel's Crucible series, this engaging and action-packed story is best suited to mature readers owing to the presence of explicit language throughout, scenes of a sexual nature, and graphic violence. We find ourselves with Rae the thief and ex-military man Damien, whom readers of the first three books in the Pantracia Chronicles will recall meeting. When these fiery souls come together, Rae realizes that Damien’s fate, and indeed the fate of Pantracia, may lie in her hands.

Author team Amanda Muratoff and Kayla Mansur continue their superb epic fantasy chronicles with a new adventure that can be enjoyed without any prior knowledge of the world but will also deeply enhance it for those who are returning readers. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this work was the effort that has gone into shaping Damien’s psychological narrative, blending emotive realism into the fantasy concepts to give us a truly tormented hero whom we can easily fall in love with. Adding the street smart and fierce Rae into the mix makes a perfect juxtaposition of energies, and their passion and emotion keep readers on their toes from cover to cover through a well-plotted adventure. Overall, I would certainly recommend Ashes of the Rahn'ka to fans of immersive and accomplished fantasy fiction.

It is said that redemption follows those who forge a new path, and this story certainly delivers that premise. Ashes of the Rahn'ka is Part 1 of A Rebel's Crucible by Amanda Muratoff and Kayla Mansur. The main protagonist, Damien, has taken the disguise of Bastian after leaving the Helgethian military. A wanted man with a huge bounty on his head, he then crosses path with a stunning thief named Rae, a top-notch member of a criminal guild known as the Ashen Hawks. Little does he know that Rae wants to collect the bounty on his head. Damien is the next chosen Rahn’ka, and his inexperience in wielding an ancient power bears a heavy toll in his mind. Rae is growing more intimate with Damien, and with destiny bringing them together, the power of the Ranh’ka will be unleashed—if Damien can hold on to his sanity.

This fourth book in the Pantrancia Chronicles that focuses on Damien’s life and adventures shows a structured character development that complements the world-building. Romance and adventure intertwine with dark secrets. The best part of it is that it reflects Muratoff and Mansur’s efforts in building the relationship between Damien and Rae. Word choices are well crafted so that the story keeps moving. As a collaborative work, Ashes of the Rahn’ka has a consistent tone that blends well with scenes and imagery. This book can be read as a standalone, but it will be even more entertaining if you follow the series, as there will be a new adventure that you can look forward to.