First, Become Ashes

Name: First, Become Ashes
Brand: Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd
SKU: 9781250216328
Price: 35.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By K.M. Szpara

0.0 (0 reviews)

3.22

( 959 ratings, 273 reviews)

Summary

First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara delves into the journey of Lark, a young man emerging from a cultistic upbringing, exploring a world vastly different from everything he’s known. The book blurs the lines between fantasy and reality as Lark, along with other cult survivors, navigates newfound freedoms, powers, and beliefs while confronting the truth about his past. It's a gripping exploration of identity, belief, and the complex transition from control to liberation.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$35⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$37⁹⁹~~

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First, Become Ashes

$35⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$37⁹⁹~~

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to stories about challenging identity and belief systems in a world where magic intertwines with personal discovery. The narrative explores themes of faith, freedom, and self-realisation, offering a unique mix for fans who appreciate complex character journeys in speculative settings.

Description

The Fellowship raised Lark to kill monsters. His partner betrayed them to the Feds. But Lark knows his magic is real, and he'll do anything to complete his quest.

For thirty years, the Fellowship of the Anointed isolated its members, conditioning them to believe that pain is power, that magic is suffering, and that the world beyond the fence has fallen prey to monsters. But when their leader is arrested, all her teachings come into question.

Those touched by the Fellowship face a choice: how will they adjust to the world they were taught to fear, and how will they relate to the cult's last crusader, Lark? For Kane, survival means rejecting the magic he and his lover suffered for. For Deryn, the cult's collapse is an opportunity to prove they are worth as much as their Anointed brother. For Calvin, Lark is the alluring embodiment of the magic he's been seeking his entire life.

But for Lark, the Fellowship isn't over. Before he can begin to discover himself and heal a lifetime of traumas, he has a monster to slay.

First, Become Ashes contains explicit sadomasochism and sexual content, as well as abuse and consent violations, including rape.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara is appreciated for its exploration of trauma and healing. The writing is noted for immersing readers in a world where exploitation and tenderness coexist, making these themes feel both familiar and inescapable.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250216328

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 April 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 137.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 262g

Pages: 304

Collections

Fantasy Fiction General Fiction K.M. Szpara Literary Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy

About the Author

K.M. Szpara is a queer and trans author who lives in Baltimore, MD, with a small dog and long cat. He is the author of speculative novels such as FIRST, BECOME ASHES (2021), DOCILE (2020), and a third that will follow up on his Hugo and Nebula nominated novelette, "Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time." They're about cults and trauma, consent and debt, and a horny trans vampire, respectively. His short fiction appears in Tor.com, Uncanny, Lightspeed, and more. You can find himme on the Internet at kmszpara.com and on Twitter and Instagram at @kmszpara.