I really enjoyed this story! I really enjoyed how Hitomi tried to do as little harm as possible in getting Stormwind free, and also how even though she felt guilty about what harm she needed to do, she was able to move on without beating herself up over it. The resolution to this book felt about as complete as I could hope for from a second book. The book's plot itself is resolved, but there's still a significant amount of series plot arcs that are waiting for the next book to get any closure. There are a lot more secondary characters in this book than there were in the first one, as well. And I really love some of those characters! Brightsong and Stormfall and Huda are all favorites. I really want to see what book three brings! ( )

I think Ms Khanani is an excellent writer. This novel length follow up was very enjoyable and I will be eagerly awaiting the next in the series. ( )

Second in the series and I had the same experience: I was completely engaged, loving the story and the characters, then realized that there were not enough pages left to finish the story arc (to MY satisfaction).
I was left wanting, again.
Well done, Ms Khanani! ( )

Book 2 of The Sunbolt Chronicles
In the year since she cast her sunbolt, Hitomi has recovered only a handful of memories. But the truths of the past have a tendency to come calling, and an isolated mountain fastness can offer only so much shelter. When the High Council of Mages summons Brigit Stormwind to stand trial for treason, Hitomi knows her mentor won’t return—not with Arch Mage Blackflame behind the charges.
Yay! I get to return to the world of Hitomi and the Eleven Kingdoms!
Everything I've read by Khanani so far I've loved, and although I had to wait a while for this one, it is well worth the wait. I reread Sunbolt when Memories of Ash appeared on my kindle ((pre-ordering is awesome when it works)) just to jog my memories of characters and plots. I tend to forget the details and need that reminder. And I'm so glad I did, because I loved my reread of the first book and could dive straight into book 2 without any of the "who s/he" moments I might have had without that reread.
I just love the world that Khanani is expanding on her. In Sunbolt it is a much tighter, narrower focus. We get to see some of a city, and then we're pretty much isolated away from the outside world. Here we get to travel around much more of the kingdoms, learn more about the mages, and even parts of the history of the world. And all without ever getting lost in an info-dump or losing the urge to turn the page and find out what happens next.
Yesterday it rained pretty much all day long, so I barely left the house, this was the perfect book for me to spend reading. That's really all I did with my Sunday, and I'd call it damn productive :) ( )

Even better than the first! Memories of Ash was a wonderful roller coaster of fun. Hitomi is so wonderful and resourceful but I live how she always gets the crap beat out of her. She's powerful and amazing but not too powerful and amazing. Khanani does a great job of throwing her main character in trouble and getting her out of it in a believable way. And all though she gets beat up a lot, the book is still definitely a fun romp that ends well.

I'm honestly really in love with the concept of honour in this book and how it affects everything. But it's not any kind of sexist or gross honour, it's an awesome honour that is deeply engrained in many of the characters and affects the outcome of the book.

I loved Sunbolt and this just improves on everything. The pacing is better and the characters are amazingly done. This earns a spot on my favourites list. Everyone needs to read this series. ( )