Arowyn is one of a very small group of people called Ashwalkers, individuals who are brave enough to go out into the Ashlands and fulfill difficult jobs for pay in order to help their hometown survive.
In this brutal world, not many people are brave enough to do this work, but Arowyn and her best friends Briar are helping to keep their village from starving. When a job that is too good to be true falls into their laps, things get out of hand and Arowyn’s story takes off with a running leap as she forms an unwilling bond with a dragon.
Ashwalker is a book that immediately immerses the reader in the world, one that is war torn desperate, and full of dragons. The story itself also picks up quickly and keeps things rolling so there is never a dull moment, and I was invested in every moment of it. Arowyn has a tragic background and has been through a lot, and I admired how tough she was, while also clearly caring deeply for her village. I, of course, adored Blight from the moment she appeared (and of course her little nickname Arowyn provides) with her abundance of personality, even before she and Arowyn learned to find some middle ground between them. Watching the shaky bond between them grow was one of my favourite things throughout this book, as Arowyn deeply fears and reviles dragons, but even she begins to come to terms with what between her and Blight.
Reave is a sassy, morally grey seeming character that I also really loved so quickly. I’m a sucker for the characters with quick wit and a clear infatuation for their lady, and he does not disappoint. As his intentions become clearer, his motivations also open up and you can see that he is not as morally suspect as he first appears. I loved him as a character in every iteration as the mystery enshrouding him unravels bit by bit, and any scene he made an appearance in was all the better.
And let’s not forget the sweet, sweet tropes that made an appearance. I was not expecting the fake dating, but was I ever there for it and it was yet another highlight of the book.
All in all, Ashwalker left me with many questions as to what will happen next, and what more there is to the world introduced in this first novel. I cannot wait for the sequel as I am quite excited about this series, and I will be getting my hands on it as soon as possible.