Reader Reviews

Get Ready for a new story to be hitting your shelves! For the Fantasy Readers of this Generation this one is sure to get you hooked. Great pacing in this New World brought to the page! Twisting some of the favorites if you have been in the space, but unique to her own. A story thats going to make you wish it was another hundred pages. Digestible in a can't put down fashion or take your time type of read. I recommend the dont put it down! Enjoy the ride I got a feeling we are going to be reading her stories for years to come!

- STAINEDReadr

As many would say, fantasy is one of the best book genres out there. But what is even better than fantasy? High fantasy: with a world so different to our own that we would do anything to get to experience the magic. If that is exactly what you are looking for, captivating fantasy worlds and intricate plots, then 'The Dominons : Ash & Embers' is the perfect book for you. "In 'The Dominions : Ash & Embers,' author Cameron L. Jimenez crafts a captivating world with intricate worldbuilding that feels deeply lived-in, Jimenez brings the sprawling landscapes and diverse cultures of Darnella to life, as well as the complexity of, the main character, Asha and her compelling character, grappling with her own magical powers while navigating the treacherous training towards becoming the first female Soturi, making her journey both thrilling and emotionally resonant. The fast-paced action sequences and character development will leave any reader eager for the next chapter in this epic series.

- maddsalot

It is always so difficult for me to review books that I just cannot find the words to describe. When I finished reading The Dominions: Ash and Embers, I instantly wanted to start reading the second book! But, alas, I suppose I will just have to wait! This first book in The Dominions series is a fantastic beginning of what will undoubtedly be an epic fantasy about overcoming darkness both in the world and from within oneself. 

~Spoiler Free Synopsis~

The story begins with the protagonist, Asha, who is a Kappi officer training to become a Soturi warrior in a kingdom where the military structure is broken into three branches, with each branch focusing on the bond or magical link between a cadet and mythical creature. Kappis are the basic officers of the sky branch, and they bond with large phoenixes or firebirds that they ride into battle. Following her brother’s death, Asha begins Soturi training to glean more information about how he died and who ultimately killed him. She has her suspicions and her hunches tell her that her new Lieutenant, Anselem Eros, is ultimately to blame. However, she is willing to endure the brutal and cutthroat arena that is Soturi training as the first woman to potentially become a Soturi warrior in order to find out the truth. 

But, it isn’t just the deadly training benchmarks and the Major who mysteriously has it out for her that Asha must contend with, but she also must survive her own inner darkness, secrets, and magic that threaten to take control. Who can she really trust? Are there more secrets that lie within the ranks of the elite military academy? Is Anselem Eros truly the enemy? Asha must walk through the fire to find out.

~Review (Some Spoilers)~

With fast-paced action, intriguing mythology, robust world-building, strong and likable characters, and a touch of romance, this debut novel had me instantly hooked from the first page to the last. I knew this was going to be a very good book when I got to the chapter where Asha competes in Soturi selections, and she must survive both the Crucible and the Maze to officially be selected to train as a Soturi warrior. These chapters really show just how brutal the training is going to be for the warriors who survive. They also introduce an interesting world of mythical creatures and a magic system that is really just teased throughout the novel. We as the readers are just getting a small taste of how large and intricate the world of The Dominions truly is, which will undoubtedly unfold further as the series progresses. What we do see in the novel seems heavily inspired by ancient mythology but with interesting twists on timeless tales of familiar heroes. 

As far as novels go, world-building is important, but not as integral as the characters who inhabit that world. This book is able to masterfully balance the intrigue of the world-building with the inner worlds of each character. Asha is not just the standard badass female character who is perfect in every way and doesn’t face any struggles, but she is someone who is truly broken on the inside, clinging to dark secrets, fear, and guilt that prevent her from easily trusting other people and even herself. The book also mostly focuses on Anselem, who is powerful and intimidating, but also equally as broken as he faces darkness and secrets of his own. As Asha’s Lieutenant and also friend of her late brother, Anselem must deal with the guilt of her brother’s death while keeping his promise to keep her safe, without interfering in the challenges she must face to become a Soturi. He wants to gain her trust, but he tries to keep a fair distance as they both develop feelings for one another. In addition to the main characters, the side characters are also really well-developed with their own motivations, hidden pasts, and varying personalities (I loved Jeremiah and Kaira!). 

This novel is mature in the fact that the romance buds in a very realistic way, rather than the she-hates-him-he-hates-her-then-they-have-sex-and-are-in-love-all-of-a-sudden-type of way that is presented in most fantasy books nowadays. Sometimes love unfurls slowly and has to find ways to walk through the broken glass that each person has littered about their souls. If you are looking for a steamy romance fantasy that is basically borderline pornographic, you need to look elsewhere. Honestly, it is really nice to read a book where I don’t have to skip through chapters upon chapters of smut that masquerade as “adult fantasy.” And Asha, while she does develop feelings for Anselm throughout the novel, does not let those feelings interfere with her ultimate goals. She is serious about becoming a Soturi and she understands how it looks for a woman in a male-dominant field to begin a relationship with her superior. She cares about her reputation, which, unfortunately, a lot of women in male-dominant fields both in novels and in the real world don’t seem to care much about. 

This novel was an amazing find. I love fantasy, but I am at the point in my life where I don’t want to read about teenagers who act like adults and find themselves in mature situations but also simultaneously make decisions like and have the emotional instability of small children. This book is mature but still a fun and thrilling adventure. If you are a fantasy lover who is looking for something new and exciting, and who doesn't mind the romance and mystery to continue to develop and unfold over the course of what I assume will be several novels, I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of The Dominions: Ash and Embers!

- TheBeasKnees

Fabulous!! Grabs you quickly and does not let go!! The characters are interesting and have depth, very well developed. You quickly find allegiances for some and an intense loathing for others! The detail and descriptions are very thorough. You are drawn into this fascinating world where your imagination allows you to feel like you are watching every scene play out. 
I love the heroine – nothing short of an extremely strong independent Badass woman that anybody with a brain would think twice before crossing her! The main character of men in the book do not leave you disappointed either. They are every woman’s dream, strong, tough, manly men that takes care of business, while the male readers will enjoy the literal FIGHT that is in them. The characters are sassy, intelligent, loyal, and devoted to the cause (whichever one they have chosen). 
The creatures are so well described I could probably draw them – In my mind some are fabulously stunning and beautiful where others are horrifying scary enough for nightmares. 
Unique and different! Not the same run of the mill story line!! Interesting from the start to finish and CAN NOT wait for the second book – I did not want to finish it because I wanted more and more!! So, I just started reading it all over again!! Honestly, glad I did because so much happens and you pick up on a lot more the second read! It is just pure entertainment. Looking forward to where this adventure goes!!

- SCLreads