by Rachelle Nelson
Publisher: Enclave
ISBN: 979-8886051865
I loved Rachelle's first book, Sky of Seven Colors, so when I heard about and then saw the cover of Embergold, I was thrilled to find out she was going to have a launch team. Being part of her launch team, I received the ebook ARC for my review.
Summary:
Fire dreamed of water, but the first sip would be its last.
Gilde has spent her life isolated in the wild marshlands, a place too wet for the dragon to go. She’s safe there, according to her father. So why is he asking her to leave with him now that she has come of age? There is more to Gilde’s family than she knows, and debts need to be paid.
Betrayed and shattered, she wakes in a crumbling mountain castle with the beast of her nightmares. Except this dragon speaks like a man and reads books. His kindness confuses her and opens a forgotten longing in her heart, all while Gilde plans her escape from a mountain full of secrets.
This place can unveil her past and why she was sacrificed to the beast—truths that may put both their lives in danger if they can’t learn to trust each other. But how can Gilde ever trust again? Especially after she discovers what dragons truly are.
Gilde has spent her life isolated in the wild marshlands, a place too wet for the dragon to go. She’s safe there, according to her father. So why is he asking her to leave with him now that she has come of age? There is more to Gilde’s family than she knows, and debts need to be paid.
Betrayed and shattered, she wakes in a crumbling mountain castle with the beast of her nightmares. Except this dragon speaks like a man and reads books. His kindness confuses her and opens a forgotten longing in her heart, all while Gilde plans her escape from a mountain full of secrets.
This place can unveil her past and why she was sacrificed to the beast—truths that may put both their lives in danger if they can’t learn to trust each other. But how can Gilde ever trust again? Especially after she discovers what dragons truly are.
My Review:
First, can we talk about the cover of Embergold? Isn't it incredible?! There's just so much to say about this story, I don't even know where to start. But, like Julie Andrews said, "Let's start at the very beginning."
We meet sweet Gilde as a little girl. You can feel not only her innocence, but her strong desire to please her father. A father who leaves much to be desired. We also meet Isa, who is the closest thing to a sister Gilde has, but Isa is young & married to Guntor, who like Gilde's father, isn't a pleasant sort. Gilde's isolation from the world truly shapes her!
As this is a Beauty and the Beast type story, you can well imagine that the "beast" is a dragon. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author wrote this characters and all of the mystery surrounding him and the castle. Goodness, there's so much I want to say about how Gilde comes to know the dragon. For a review, that would all fall under the "spoiler" idea, and the story needs to unfold piece by piece for you! Of course, books are involved throughout the story and I loved that! Gilde's time with the dragon covers a good portion of the book. SO much happens during their time together. Gilde finally has a chance to spread her wings away from her father's control and isolation... although she IS in a castle alone with a dragon. She's able to ask questions, learn more about herself, and to a degree, learn more about the world. That is, until she has to leave the castle and everything goes haywire!
We learn about Embergold, Gilde's father's desired use for it, and its connection to the dragon. *insert a grimace here! There's so much each reader can take away from this story. I did appreciate that the author was sure to weave in the fact that God exists and Gilde struggles to understand how He can exist with all that happens not only to her, but those around her. With some of the care Gilde receives from a couple the dragon introduces her to, there's a bit of family being the people you choose.
There's adventure from beginning to end. Sweet & tender moments (Remember the 1995 dance scene Casper with Kat & Casper? That's what I'm talking about), moments when your heart will break, and the thrill of triumph!
I have to say... I would LOVE a second book because I need some answers! lol I need more of the story!!
We meet sweet Gilde as a little girl. You can feel not only her innocence, but her strong desire to please her father. A father who leaves much to be desired. We also meet Isa, who is the closest thing to a sister Gilde has, but Isa is young & married to Guntor, who like Gilde's father, isn't a pleasant sort. Gilde's isolation from the world truly shapes her!
As this is a Beauty and the Beast type story, you can well imagine that the "beast" is a dragon. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author wrote this characters and all of the mystery surrounding him and the castle. Goodness, there's so much I want to say about how Gilde comes to know the dragon. For a review, that would all fall under the "spoiler" idea, and the story needs to unfold piece by piece for you! Of course, books are involved throughout the story and I loved that! Gilde's time with the dragon covers a good portion of the book. SO much happens during their time together. Gilde finally has a chance to spread her wings away from her father's control and isolation... although she IS in a castle alone with a dragon. She's able to ask questions, learn more about herself, and to a degree, learn more about the world. That is, until she has to leave the castle and everything goes haywire!
We learn about Embergold, Gilde's father's desired use for it, and its connection to the dragon. *insert a grimace here! There's so much each reader can take away from this story. I did appreciate that the author was sure to weave in the fact that God exists and Gilde struggles to understand how He can exist with all that happens not only to her, but those around her. With some of the care Gilde receives from a couple the dragon introduces her to, there's a bit of family being the people you choose.
There's adventure from beginning to end. Sweet & tender moments (Remember the 1995 dance scene Casper with Kat & Casper? That's what I'm talking about), moments when your heart will break, and the thrill of triumph!
I have to say... I would LOVE a second book because I need some answers! lol I need more of the story!!
About the Author:
Rachelle Nelson grew up reading fantasy novels and getting her clothes muddy in the pine forests of Idaho. These days, she still loves hiking through forests and libraries, though she’s a bit less fond of mud. Her debut novel, Sky of Seven Colors, released in 2023 through Enclave Publishing, and it features a colorless kingdom. Rachelle doesn’t write true stories, but she does write about truth. When she’s not doing that, she sings in a band with her husband who makes her happier than should be legal. If you like good food and honest conversations, you’re her favorite kind of person.
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