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A TIME OF ASHES: an epic, worlds-spanning dark fantasy adventure (Fate and the Wheel Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

A quest through a thousand worlds. An aeons-old foe. Not even the gods can help. It’s killing them, too.


A Time of Ashes is Astounding ... One of the finest fantasy novels I have read * * * * * - Storytellers on Tour

The worlds-building in this novel was incredible - M. Fitzgerald, Adjective+Noun

One of the most interesting and exciting new writers to emerge north of the border since Iain Banks - Gary Gibson, award-nominated author of Stealing Light

Ideal for fans of George R. R. Martin's
A Game of Thrones or books by Liani Taylor, China Miéville, Patrick Rothfuss, Josiah Bancroft or Peter Flannery


IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE CORRUPTION CAME, Murrin Kentle lived in a world where the largest island could be walked across in a day, and humans traded and fished in bladeships made from the bones of the gigantic and bizarre sea monsters patrolling its stormy, bottomless oceans. As a truthkeep of the Brotherhood of the First Mind, it’s been his duty to fight the decay of knowledge with religious fervour. A fervour he has increasingly struggled to maintain.

Before the Corruption came, Sheehan hahe Seeheeli was a carefree countess of the Shi’iin. Amphibious and fiercely matriarchal, her people have maintained an uneasy coexistence with the human scholars dominating the islands. Then an emissary of the gods brings news of an impending catastrophe. Now, she and Murrin must embark on a desperate voyage in the hope of salvation, although both the subject of their search and the path they must take remain stubbornly obscure.

Before the Corruption came, a wild young man named Coll grew up in a desert town, consumed by rage over what was done to his mother. His thirst for retribution will set in motion a train of events not even the gods could fully have foretold.

NOW THE CORRUPTION IS HERE, and nothing in Murrin's world, nor any of the worlds of the Sundered Realm, will ever be the same.

By turns touching, humorous, tense and horrific,
A Time of Ashes is a thrilling and wildly imaginative genre-bending tale of existential discovery: the first part of Fate and the Wheel, a beautifully-written epic tale of friendship, loss, revenge, war, and survival against crushing odds.

(contains strong violence, disturbing adult situations and elements of horror)


'
The rumble of the approaching fire was like something physical. It made his bones vibrate, more insistent by the second until he thought his ears would rupture. Those left on deck not preoccupied with trying to keep the rigging from flying apart watched their nemesis with pop-eyed incantations or yells of terror.'

'
Chet knew this rootless, prickling sensation in the pit of his gut. How could he forget? It had consumed him that day on the dais. His first meeting with Murrin – his first real view of the man, his cognast friend Gald’s old-man scrawniness making Murrin seem even more absurdly, enduringly massive.'

To see more, scroll back up and click the 'Read Sample' feature at the top left side of the page.


Readers are saying:

* * * * *
Wow, what a book! - M. Dunsford, Amazon

* * * * *
I loved this. It's extremely well written in a very visual style – almost cinematographic – and the characterisation is fantastic. - S. Baker, GoodReads

* * * * *
A marvellously clever and inventive read. Can't wait to read the next one. A total original. - M. Irvine, Kobo

* * * * *
A very well thought out book with vivid imagery. Can't wait to see how the story continues in the second book. - Graham, Amazon

* * * * *
Great imagination and the ability to paint an extremely vivid picture with words. An Author to follow! - A. Wilson

Definitely a world I want to return to - Rowena Andrews, Goodreads

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 2 books in this series.
This option includes 2 books.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07DY8WFS7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fractal Symmetry
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 21, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 508 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1386731191
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Fate and the Wheel
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

About the author

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Ru Pringle
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'Ru Pringle is one of the most interesting and exciting new writers to emerge north of the border since Iain Banks' - Gary Gibson, award-nominated author of Angel Stations, Against Gravity and Stealing Light.

'Rudy Rucker on drugs' - BestSF

Ru Pringle has written for a living since his late teens, beginning with regular features in numerous magazines and newspapers. His critically acclaimed early short fiction was published in Interzone. After several years as a touring musician, his first two books were published in the summer of 2018: A Time of Ashes and Hunting Gods, the first parts of the fantasy / SF epic Fate and the Wheel.

A dark near-future thriller, October Song, followed in October 2018, then the irreverent music-themed SF comedy Surfers and two-part epic space opera The Seed in 2020. He is in the final stages of editing a fast-paced science fiction thriller - watch this space for details.

He lives in the southwest Highlands of Scotland.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
17 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    A Time of Ashes is one of the most complex and unique fantasy books I have read, and it was absolutely amazing. The book straddles the line of a few genres; epic fantasy, grimdark and even science fiction. I settled on including it in grimdark due to some of the graphic, violent, and dark scenes in the book. The scenes are integral to the story and in no way gratuitous.
    The story follows the arc of several characters, most notably Murrin Kentle, Chet, Sheehan hahe Seeheeli, and Coll as they embark through dangerous worlds to find the Construct and stop the Corruption. The Corruption will destroy all worlds in all realms. The complexity of this book is astounding and it highlights the need for indie authors must have their stories told. This book is on par with the best of fantasy writers. Mr. Pringle is incredibly skilled at the development of all his characters, and there are numerous ones besides those I mentioned. I felt their happiness, fear, pain, exhaustion and sorrow as they leap off the pages. He is brilliant at world building, or should I say worlds building. I lost count of the realms that these characters went to. Each one was fully developed, from a desert, to barren lifeless islands, to empires ruled by despots, and worlds with endless seas, these places were brought to life for the reader. It was never confusing, as chapters would focus on a different character and the worlds they encountered. It is writing that leaves the reader in suspense for the next time you encounter the characters and how they are faring in the world they find themselves in and how, and if, they will ever find their way home. Mr. Pringle’s world building is perfect and his characters are first-rate. A Time of Ashes is one of the finest fantasy novels I have read and I highly recommend it.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mary Dunsford
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked from the first page - couldn’t put it down!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Wow, what a book! I’m not normally much of a sci-fi fan, but I was hooked from the first chapter, and so chuffed that this is only book one of a series. It continued to enthrall me, and I’m totally invested in the characters (I especially like Sheehan and Coll!)... I need to know what happens next!!! Off to buy book 2...
  • Polly.
    4.0 out of 5 stars There is a lot going on.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    My first time reading a fantasy novel. I bought it as I had enjoyed "October Song" so much and wanted to read another of Ru Pringle's books. I found that I cared about the characters and now I shall have to read "Hunting Gods" to follow them. Not to keen on all the violence though.
  • Graham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    From the first page I was hooked. You will be transported to whole new world of adventure with characters that are introduced in a way that you feel connected to them. A very well thought out book with vivid imagery. Can't wait to see how the story continues in the second book.
  • Alexander Wilson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fantastic read, seems like I’ve been transported into a different world and am looking forward to see how the series develops. Great imagination and the ability to paint an extremely vivid picture with words. An Author to follow !
  • Jon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and intriguing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Kept me wanting to pick it up again and again. A thoroughly enveloping environment and many fully rounded characters to care about.

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