Ashes of Xy — Elizabeth Vaughan (prerelease)

A heartfelt, character-focused fantasy that’s full of promise—but left me a little lost

I really wanted to love this book. And in some ways, I did. Ashes of Xy is full of quiet, emotional moments that feel real—raw, even. It’s a fantasy story that doesn’t lean on grand quests or nonstop action, but instead puts the spotlight on people just trying to survive, love, and make sense of their grief. There’s something refreshing about that. Something grounded and human.

The relationships are the heart of this book. The way it handles new parenthood, emotional vulnerability, and the deep ache of found family? Beautiful. Characters aren’t just sword-swinging heroes or tragic martyrs—they’re flawed and tired and scared, and I appreciated that deeply. Domestic scenes feel especially strong. There's real warmth in the quiet moments: shared meals, tentative conversations, unexpected tenderness between people who aren't quite sure how to hold each other yet.

But here’s the thing: the story itself never really comes together.

From early on, there’s a sense of drifting. The first third is all character introductions—which, again, are interesting—but by the halfway point, I realized I still didn’t know what the actual plot was. There’s no clear goal, no major conflict to latch onto, and that makes it hard to feel any sense of momentum. You keep waiting for a turning point, for the stakes to rise, for something to happen. But instead, it kind of... wanders. A few things escalate, sure, but not in a way that feels cohesive. Plotlines pop up and vanish. Big moments arrive without the build-up to earn them.

And the ending? It doesn’t really land. It’s more of a quiet fade-out than a finale. That might work for some readers—especially if you’re here more for the vibes than the plot—but I personally felt unsatisfied. I didn’t need a big battle or twist, but I needed something to feel resolved. Something to make the journey feel like it went somewhere.

The worldbuilding has sparks of brilliance. There’s magic, political tension, and ancient rituals that hint at a rich, complex culture—but most of it feels underdeveloped. Magic exists, but its rules are murky at best. Houses and factions are mentioned, but their relationships are confusing. It’s like looking at a painting through fog: I can tell there’s something beautiful in the background, but I just wish I could see it more clearly.

Stylistically, the writing can be a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s lyrical and poetic. Other times, it slips into stiff or overly stylized dialogue that doesn’t quite match the prose. The tone swings from elevated ceremony-speak to casual, modern-sounding lines, and the inconsistency pulls you out of the story a bit. Still, there’s something sincere in the way it’s written, even when it fumbles. You can tell the author cares, and that matters.

Representation is strong in concept—diverse characters, gender role reversals, queerness, cultural complexity—but not always fully explored. Some of the sapphic and cross-cultural relationships are sweet, but they’d be even more powerful with more backstory or tension to deepen them. There's a lot of telling, and I wanted more showing.

All in all, Ashes of Xy feels like a book full of potential that doesn’t quite hit its stride. If you love emotional, character-first fantasy and don’t mind a slower pace or a loose narrative, you might find something really meaningful here. But if you're looking for a story with a strong central arc, clear world mechanics, and satisfying plot development... this one might leave you feeling a bit adrift, like it did me.

Still—I'm glad I read it. Even if it didn’t all work, it gave me moments that will stick with me. And sometimes, that’s enough.

Ashes of Xy is set to be released April 22, 2025 and can be found here. I’m unaffiliated with the author, publisher, or Amazon.