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Circle of Ash Paperback – June 11, 2020

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

"...masterful worldbuilding, a rich tapestry of character-centric threads, and nonstop action and adventure make this a must-read for those who enjoy shelf-bending and genre-blending storylines.

An absolute grand-slam first installment of an SF/fantasy series." —
Kirkus Reviews


By the churning banks of the Ashlit Mire and the crumbled black of a sprawling ruin, the town of Kualabu stands an uneasy watch. As the daughter of one of its most prominent families, Dayang Marchadesch trains to face the dangers of the world beyond the walls while contending with the realities of growing up behind them.

Down the southern stretch of the Caustlands there runs a river, and on an island that splits the water's flow there sits a monastery, centuries old: the Presilyo, training ground for certain followers of the Triune Path, raised almost from birth in its service. It is not an easy place to come of age, but Sanyago and his brother Laris will have to find their way through and face the dangers of the life set out for them.

Out in the furthest reaches of Earthmarch, Juliaen Draecsl works alongside her family, helping to push the boundaries of her Nation further out into the quartzwood wilds, dreaming of duty and deeper purpose. Lives often collide in unpredictable ways...

This is the second edition of the novel, revised March 2022 with about 10,000 words of new content.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08B33Y93P
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (June 11, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 560 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8652350178
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.41 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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Sterling Magleby
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Hi! I'm Sterling Magleby, and I write stuff. Most of what I've written has been "speculative fiction" (Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror) but I enjoy reading most types of fiction and non-fiction. Besides the stories available in my anthology available here on Amazon, Windows in the Dark, you can find a lot of my short-form work on reddit.com/r/Magleby, and www.SterlingMagleby.com.

My most recent major work is the Second Edition of the Fantasy/Sci-Fi novel Circle of Ash, which is available here in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover. I wrote Circle of Ash because it was the kind of book I wanted to read, and because I wanted to put something really unique out into the Speculative Fiction space. If you're looking for a different kind of fantasy novel, I hope you'll find it here.

I was born out in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, and eventually moved back there after spending time away for school and military service. I currently live in Salt Lake Valley.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
    This is a great book! It's hard to write a review for it though, the exposition is so well done that talking about the plot would ruin the way the story unfolds. Each chapter moves it forward, and there's an effiency here that almost defies description... There's no long boring descriptions of the way things are or the way they look, I just knew that stuff by reading on, and my understanding of the world grew along with it. There's a lot of factions and each has associated vocabulary for the various regions and peoples. This took some figuring out.

    If you've read any other work by this author online, this book is just as well written as that, but far more grand in scope. The world building is excellent, the characters are fully fleshed out with their own distinct personalities, and the setting is very weird but with familiar elements - there's magic and fighting, along with technology and political strife. There's an interesting mix of sci-fi and fantasy that I can't think of anything to compare to.

    The book itself is nice, with great cover art, a map, thick stock, and a large size. I finished it awhile ago and I'm still thinking about it. Wanted to let it percolate a little before writing this to try doing it justice. Recommended read!
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2020
    I enjoyed this book and its novel, inventive approach to fantasy and science fiction. Unfortunately, the pacing was slow at the beginning and then rushed at the end. A lot of setting information didn't arrive until halfway through the book, either, which made things a bit confusing for longer than perhaps they should have been.

    All in all, I'm glad I read it and will be keeping an eye out for the sequel.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2020
    I was excited to finally read the finished product after following the author for some time online. They always posted snippets of the world they were more fully exploring in the book, and I was hooked. It did not disappoint! The characters were fleshed out well with diverse backgrounds, the world is explored in many ways but tons more are left that we haven't seen (Like the Deisiindr or other Caustland States) and would love to see more. Can't wait for the next one!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2020
    Sterling Magleby transports you to a world familiar yet alien. The main characters grow up in completely different environments, which allows the reader to learn about the world as they do. They find friends and fight enemies, until ultimately coming together to face a greater evil.

    You feel like you grew up beside the two protagonists, which will cause you to feel joy at their successes, and terror at their danger. Circle of Ash will leave you wishing you could jump into the pages and experience the world yourself.

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2020
    Sterling Magleby has rapidly become one of my favorite authors.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2020
    This book draws you in immediately. Superb worldbuilding keeps the reader wanting and looking for answers throughout. Magleby provides tantalizing clues that hint at apocalyptic origins and terrifying secrets. Fantastic read, left me wanting more!

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020
    Taking place in a world familiar to our own, Circle of Ash transports readers to a world of magic and politics. Told in the point of view of multiple characters, Magelby ties the story together for a suspenseful finish. Starting from their youth, we experience each character's trials and tribulations as they seek to learn the truth about both their world and of themselves. Not only are the characters themselves interesting ( both main and side characters) , but the short glimpses of the lore of this world leaves you intrigued and looking for more info. This book met my expectations and I can't wait to read more.

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020
    This book is entralling in all of the best ways. The story telling will hold your attention and makes it difficult to put down.

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Chandni Chandwani
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book !!!
    Reviewed in India on August 17, 2020
    This book is awesome. It keeps reader engaging till the last.
  • Maree Jamieson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, read it! Can't wait for the next one!
    Reviewed in Australia on August 31, 2020
    I really enjoyed Circle of Ash. The characters were well drawn and the world rich and intriguing. While the story was completed in the book there are so many more questions as tantalizing bits of history and culture are explained in part. I reccommend this book to anyone who likes sci fi/fantasy and good writing.