Overall, this book was really disappointing and a very long trudge to get through. I kept going in the hope there'd be a resolution that was satisfying and pulled all the tragic elements together, but the whole thing just felt like it peetered out.

Chrysanthi narrates in this book alongside Rhea and Lexos. I absolutely loved seeing her perspective and getting a glimpse into her view of their father and world as the youngest, most sheltered child who was often forgotten. She felt like the main character at times, her role in the narrative certainly larger than Lexos'.

There were also two chapters from Nitsos and I would have loved to see more of him, to understand him better. As it is, he remains hard to understand why he did what he did. It felt like he was meant to be a threat but it went nowhere, even the controlling people power he had at the very end of the last book never rears its head again. I felt like his potential was a bit wasted.

This sense of things not really coming through to full potential continued through to the ending. This is a tragedy that just sort of peeters out. There's no major confrontation, people just die and it feels like whatever vague goals the characters were reaching for are nowhere near achieved. I didn't know what they were after most of the time and there's no satisfaction in them making any noticeable progress. Yes, it's a tragedy and that means things don't go their way, but I'd at least like them to hit a goal and realise it wasn't what they wanted.

There is also no real change to the world for better or worse. Chrysanthi is about to change her world but I didn't get the sense that it would change anyone else's, even if she tried. But equally, her world isn't that changed. She'd back in a similar place and happy about that.

The lords are still in power, there's fighting, the Argoysi are basically all gone. It was the sort of tragedy of futility but without hitting any major character milestones to make it feel like the satisfying tragedy where they could have turned back if only they'd overcome some personal flaw. Instead, it felt like a slow, inevitable trudge to disappearing.

I was highly anticipating "In an Orchard Grown from Ash" but it proved to be a letdown for me as a reader.

The original book artfully wove political intrigue, a captivating magic system, and intricate sibling dynamics. However, these elements were regrettably absent in the sequel, leaving me with a strong sense of disappointment.

The first book had concluded with the stage perfectly set for a sequel that would delve deeper into the world established in the first book. I was hoping for more political maneuvering, and a greater exploration of the intricate relationships between the siblings.

It initially seemed promising that the sequel introduced chapters from the perspective of all four siblings. While this allowed for a deeper understanding of Chrysanthi and her development, the other siblings felt underdeveloped and almost superfluous to the overarching plot. The potential to develop more nuanced sibling dynamics went completely unexplored as they barely managed interacted with each other.

World building had been a highlight of the first book, and I had eagerly anticipated the sequel to expand upon this foundation. However, my hopes were dashed as the intricacies of the political landscape, the history of the world, and the inner workings of the magic system remained frustratingly unexplored.

Much of the first half was meandering without direction, things start to pull together in the second half but the final blow came in the form of a rushed and unsatisfactory ending. The resolution felt hurried, leaving loose ends untied and narrative arcs unresolved. It left me feeling disappointed.

As a fan of the first book, it pains me to say that the sequel failed to live up to expectations, I honestly can’t understand how this book could get it so wrong. This wasn’t a book for me but I’d still recommend people pick up the first in the series!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a Garden Burning Gold was not one my favorite book but it presented a fascinating world building and an intriguing dysfunctional family relationship.
It was the start and there were promises of a second part action packed and fast paced.
There's actions in this book, there's a lot of development but there's also some confusion and I felt I was not sure about what was happening.
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'In an Orchard Grown from Ash' by Rory Power.

'In an Orchard Grown from Ash' is the conclusion to Rory Power's duology, the first in which is called 'In a Garden Burning Gold' and although book 1 set up the sequel beautifully as all good duologies do, I did prefer book 1 over book 2. I don't know why but I felt the flow of Rory's words had much more of an impact on me in book 1 and I preferred the introduction to the characters more.

Well, now I’m suitably upset and heartbroken.

This books is a significant departure from book one in all respects: setting, character, motivations, plot, vibe, and more. And yet, I still loved it. This book is much more politically and relationship focused which I loved, but it didn’t quite have the sustained five-star feel that book one did. This book pivots to the siblings as a whole in its casting, with the addition of Chrysanthi’s and Nitsos’s POVs. I really appreciated this and grew to love and understand everyone on a deeper level, however I wish that Nitsos’s POV was expanded past the 250 page mark (in the UK edition) as he was so fun to read from. Also, go into it knowing that Rhea and Lexos take more of a backseat so that Chrysanthi can flourish - you will come to adore her, and the reason will make sense in the end.

Now, the writing was, perhaps, the most significant change in the book. ‘In a Garden Burning Gold’ had writing that was used to create a specific summery, Greek-inspired vibe, whereas this book’s writing was geared to the political machinations and psychological/belief shift. It was interesting to see how book one focuses on ownership on the sentence level, and this one focuses on additional information and intel. It’s hard to explain as I don’t know all of the correct grammar terms, but it’s so cool in regards to its effect on the wider themes! As for the magic-writing, I wish we had explored it more as I feel I understand less than I did in book one with the addition of Saint’s powers, but that’s just my preference for a more concrete magic system.

This book had so many twists, all of which caught me off guard! Also, let it be known that I went into a coughing fit after some events with Ettore and Falka. It kept each plot beat fresh and continually exciting, even though this story reads as fairly low-stakes, it is the individual decisions and character psychology that heightens them subtly. I wish that the Saint’s lore was explored more to heighten the shock factor, but it’s still pretty shocking if you ask me!

I understand why it ends the way it does, however, the plot seemed to have lost itself and went in a majorly different direction as to how I expected it. I would’ve preferred a more concrete ending as there were many loose-ish ends. I would definitely benefit from a reread, which I feel I will do soon, so that I can understand the bigger picture and more minute decisions the author and characters made! The ending is particularly brutal and heartbreaking, so how I will do a reread knowing the outcome of my favourite characters, I am unsure.

Overall, this is a fantastic duology but I feel like it hasn’t found it’s audience quite yet. You really need to trust the author as they know what they are doing, and it is amazing.

In an Orchard Grown from Ash takes all of the potential of the first book and flushes it straight down the toilet. The thing I thought most while reading this book was “what is the point?”

Rhea resurrected her husband, Michali, at the end of book 1 but there was really no point because he’s a complete non-entity in this book. In the first book, he was an actual character with a personality and hopes and dreams but in this one he’s just there. They have about two conversations in the whole book and then he just disappears from the story. What a waste of a plot point.

Nitsos, the youngest brother from book one might as well have died at the end of that book for all he did in this one. Despite his novel changing machinations revealed at the end of the book, he just wanders around for a bit and then dies before Rhea can confront him for what he did. What a waste of a plot point.

Lexos’ story also ends up utterly pointless as he spends the novel wandering around with various characters until near the end. He had a little bit of character development but not enough to save him.

Rhea was completely annoying and spends the novel slowly losing her mind and not allowing anyone to help her. She has surface level relationships with all of the characters and does very little else.

Chrysanthi is possibly the only character to get any real fleshing out and that’s only after she’s been sent out on a side quest and half the novel has passed.

In an Orchard Grown from Ash was a huge disappointment. It doesn’t build on the first book and the full blown rebellion I was promised in the blurb was a complete damp squib. By halfway through the book, I was completely bored and, even though I’m a fan of downer endings, this one did not feel earned in the slightest. I wouldn’t bother with it, even if you were a fan of book one.

I remember after finishing In A Garden Burning Gold how much I was looking forward to the conclusion. I very much enjoyed the premise, politics, magic and characters in that story. After reading this, the only word that keeps repeating in my head is "unsatisfying". I was certainly expecting more machinations, betrayals and all the backstory of the saints, which was mentioned so often in this story.
The strongest arc in the story is Chrysanthi's and I liked her growth and the developing relationship with Andrija. Unfortunately I can't say that about the other siblings stories. What seemed ripe for political conflict just ended up with Lexos and Rhea wandering around and not accomplishing anything. Nitsos finished the prior book as the man behind the curtain manipulating everything and then he's basically invisible here. And the end of his arc......still baffles me honestly. I still keep thinking about all I would have loved to read here.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

i just love Rory Powers's writing. Will definitely keep reading this series. The characters keep surprising me and the plot is getting more and more intersting.

The first book in this series was an enjoyable read for me, but this second book in the series lost me in the deep level of politics discussed. A well written book, just not for me.