Red Rising meets The Scorpio Races in this epic fantasy following three phoenix horse riders–skilled at alchemy–who must compete at The Races–the modern spectacle that has replaced warfare within their empire.

Every year since the Ashlords were gifted phoenix horses by their gods, they’ve raced them. First into battle, then on great hunts, and finally for the pure sport of seeing who rode the fastest. Centuries of blood and fire carved their competition into a more modern spectacle: The Races.

Over the course of a multi-day event, elite riders from clashing cultures vie to be crowned champion. But the modern version of the sport requires more than good riding. Competitors must be skilled at creating and controlling phoenix horses made of ash and alchemy, which are summoned back to life each sunrise with uniquely crafted powers to cover impossible distances and challenges before bursting into flames at sunset. But good alchemy only matters if a rider knows how to defend their phoenix horse at night. Murder is outlawed, but breaking bones and poisoning ashes? That’s all legal and encouraged.

In this year’s Races, eleven riders will compete, but three of them have more to lose than the rest–a champion’s daughter, a scholarship entrant, and a revolutionary’s son. Who will attain their own dream of glory? Or will they all flame out in defeat?

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! I am a huge fan of The Scorpio Races, and when I saw this book’s description mention that it was that meets Red Rising, I was immediately interested. I’ve went most of my adult life trying to dispute the fact that I might be a horse girl, but y’all, I think I always have been. From collecting horse figurines to getting a dapple grey stallion as my patronus on Pottermore– the signs have always been there. There is just something about these giant, strong, and majestic animals that instill both love and fear in me, and these phoenix ponies in the world of Ashlords are no exception. The outside of this novel will reel you in with the promise of fierce, burning beasts and the lore inside DELIVERS. This is a good time to judge a book by its cover!

I am a sucker for a story with a good and unique mythos. Ashlords throws you into a dystopian universe where the land has been divided, and the only time they converge is for The Races. Riders from all over the country vie for the opportunity to participate, but only the craftiest and most compelling make it in. Most years, it is just a collection of Ashlords (the current group in power, rich and cunning) and one Dividian representative, who comes from an outlying city on a ‘scholarship’ of sorts with equipment and a horse provided to them to show the goodwill of the Ashlords to their lessers. However, this year is special as they have allowed a Longhand into the mix, who are known for a failed revolution and have not been trusted ever since. What these eleven riders have in common is a shared proficiency in alchemy. Why alchemy, you ask? Well, with these Races, normal horses would never make it, and it would make for boring viewing for all the watchers at home. No, the equines in this race are phoenixes.

Hands down the coolest part of this story is learning about how the phoenix horses work. The animals are brought to life each morning by sunlight; their ashes are expertly crafted with magical components that enhance their abilities. For instance, there is one called Latchlock that will make the horse grow spikes that are invaluable when in close quarters with other riders. There are offensive moves as well as defensive ones like that, and in addition, there are poisons that can ruin a horse’s chances to survive until sundown, which is when the creature must be ended to start all over again the next day. A rider can use any of these things at their disposal and are even equipped with a weapon that can be used to shatter an opponent’s bones so they are rendered unable to ride– but the only unforgivable thing is murder. Riders are even often approached by Ashlord gods such as Madness or Dread, promising help in return for a favor. These races are ugly and unfair, but god do they make for good entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, the characters we follow are all so diverse in their motivations and even how they are written; for example Pippa, a daughter of two previous champions, is a celebrity of sorts, and her chapters are told in second person and makes the feel of her POV that much more personal and hard-hitting, because such a character might be hard to sympathize with (as so many of the other Riders have a tough time discerning her true goals and feelings) without an inner dialogue. Imelda, otherwise known as the Alchemist, is a strong first person that you follow breathlessly, almost looking at her through her brother’s eyes as he watches her rise to infamy. Although the novel is told in different perspectives in this way, it is very easy to keep up with and to know who’s talking as they are all so radically different. It builds tension as you leave one Rider in a tough spot to catch back up with another who may be finding their way with ease.

All in all, this fantastical roller coaster ride is thrilling and once the Races begin it’s impossible to put down. The lore is deep and wonderful, and I could easily see sequels or even prequels being made because there is just so much going on in this story. Whether it’s the gods or ghosts or just human nature, you will be on edge from the lengths that these Riders will go through to WIN. I find it interesting as well that this book was born because of ANOTHER novel where this world made a small appearance, and readers loved the phoenix horses so much that the other idea was scraped as Scott delved into this goldmine he had found. I want more books like this! It was a joy to read and I’m excited to be posting this review on its bookday!

5/5 stars