#RK Ashwick

[skygemspeaks]

Hello happy pride month, here are some sweet and relatively low-stakes queer reads for you:

Cursed Cocktails by SL Rowland - a blood mage retires after decades of fighting to protect his people, and moves to a small coastal town where the heat will be good for his chronic pain. He opens a cocktail bar and maybe falls in love with his business partner.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune - case worker has to investigate a group home of very powerful magical orphans. One of them is the antichrist. He tries not to lose his mind. Finds love (platonic and romantic) along the way

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree - badass orc barbarian decides to retire from her life of fighting and opens a cafe in a town where no one has heard of coffee before. Finds a family along the way.

A Rival Most Vial by RK Ashwick - two rival potion shop owners who hate everything about each other find out they have to work together on a potion for the mayor. Find out that maybe they don't hate each other that much after all. Oh and there's a found family in there somewhere.

[noahhawthorneauthor]

If you're looking to build your TBR, why not try these queer indie books by the hosts of our podcast?

Remember, you can read queer all year, not just for pride month. 🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈📚

Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms (All royalties for June are being donated)

Swords and Seers

Dear Bartleby

Fella Enchanted

The Forgotten Lyric

The Stray Spirit

Phantom and Rook

This Doesn't Mean Anything

Fiorenzo

A Rival Most Vial

Kit & Basie

Right Here, Write Queer Linktree

@nothwell @ashen-crest @tesscarletta @ninawolv3rina

[nothwell]

What is beta reading? How do you become a beta reader? And how do you get the most out of the feedback you receive from beta readers? Three indie authors come together for a rousing discussion, including some wild stories.

RK Ashwick (she/her) is the cozy fantasy author of the Lutesong series (beginning with The Stray Spirit) and the Side Quest Row series (beginning with A Rival Most Vial). You can connect with her at @ashen-crest

Tess Carletta (she/her) is the author of Kit & Basie, a queer cozy romance, and its sequel, Patchwork. You can connect with her at @tesscarletta

Noah Hawthorne (he/they) is the author of the queer fantasy series Adventures in Levena, beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at @noahhawthorneauthor

[author-a-holmes]

A Captured Cauldron - ARC Review

A Captured Cauldron is the second book in this series, and once again RK Ashwick didn't disappoint.

It was a delight to return to Rosemond Street and reconnect with the bright, original, characters that inhabit it (Although, personally, I missed Ambrose the most!)

This time, there's a Potions Convention, and it brought back many fond memories of my own visits to Con's, so much so that even though I knew to expect the imminent kidnapping from the blurb, I was STILL shocked when it actually happened.

Book Two also has a new POV in the form of Dawn, the lovely wandmaker of Rosemond and Ambrose's best friend. I'm not always a fan of additional POVs in later books, but in this instance, it worked wonders. It gave us the opportunity to see how other people in Rosemond Street were handling Ambrose being missing, other than Eli who, for obvious reasons, was a mess.

It was also lovely to watch Dawn try and navigate the guilt she felt handling a new crush, while her best friend is missing. Overall, A Captured Caldron was a delight from start to finish. I finished the entire book in under five hours, and I can't wait to get my hands on a paperback so I can coo over that glorious cover.

I received an ARC of this book from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[authorlaurawinter]

So @ashen-crest is sharing tons of A Captured Cauldron art and I can finally reblog it constantly and scream that this has been my personality for the last month and I am FERAL

I’m celebrating by relistening to A Rival Most Vial and pretending I can squish Ambrose’s cheeks in my dreams.

Seriously, it is so good you are not prepared.

[author-a-holmes]

@ashen-crest Look what crossed me Dash :D <3

waitomo glowworm caves, new zealand.

[dahldahlbills]

finished reading a book that was so so good what am I supposed to do with myself now how do I move on from that

[space-writes]

TBR tag game

tagged by @memento-morri-writes, thank you! just about getting this one in before the new year starts~

here’s 9 of the books I read this year that I really enjoyed:

[ID - a 3 by 3 grid of book covers. The books are written out in the post below]

Eyetooth by mars adler (@marsadler) - the impact this had on me cannot be understated

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark - which i literally could not put down, I was walking to and from my train reading this. absolutely insane

The Scholomance series by Naomi Novik - yes that’s a sneaky three books for the price of one but they’re SO GOOD

Snowed in With Benefits by Misha Horne - listen i will never not rec Misha’s books if you like spanking and feelings. always a 10/10 time

Leech by Hiron Ennes - the worldbuilding in this was just PHENOMENAL

Claustrophlia by Erza Blake - this has to go on here because it was insane and is rooted in my brain. if you were here for the brief spate of Posting about it, you know

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca - if you’ve read this you’ll know exactly why i loved it, and if you haven’t GO DO THAT

So You Want to Be a Game Master by Justin Alexander - i’ve been reading Justin’s blog for years and his DM advice is top notch

Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi - one of my goals this year was to read more poetry, and i think this was my favourite collection of the 12 I read

my TBR is so long it’s painful, but here’s some I’m hoping to actually get to next year:

[ID - a 3 by 3 grid of book covers. The books are written out in the post below]

Prince and Assassin by Tavia Lark

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

A Rival Most Vial by RK Ashwick (aka beloved @ashen-crest)

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

The Demon Cycle by Peter V Brett

The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

As many of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books as possible

true to form, it's all gay and fantasy goodness, so hopefully I'll actually manage to read the books I intend to read, instead of reading like a hundred books of Not The Things I Planned to like i did this year TT_TT

no-pressure tagging @princessbonecrimes @thegreatobsesso @viscerawrites and @winterandwords to share 9 books from this year and 9 books on your TBR (definitely not fishing for recs that would be irresponsible to the 1000 book-long TBR i already have >.>)

[cinnastray]

Hello, happy Sunday!

This is another illustration for RK Ashwick's new book, "The Spirit Well" <3

[author-a-holmes]

Ah! That's awesome! Congrats!! <3

me, scrolling through the clock app: ooh, a video of cozy fantasy reads! that’s fun! I’ll add that one to my tbr…and that one…

*the person holds up The Stray Spirit*

me: wait wait hold on i WROTE THAT ONE

[ambiguouspuzuma]

I realise I'm a little late to the party on this, but I recently finished reading @ashen-crest's wonderful A Rival Most Vial and I have been struggling to put the words together for my review. I signed up for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts, but I have to say that my feelings have rather taken over.

Those who have heard me speak on it before will know that I'm no great reader of romances. There are some who hear terms like "slow burn" or "enemies to lovers" and come flocking to the shelves, but I've never been a particular fan of the format or its various tropes. Still, reading page after page of RK Ashwick's heartfelt novel, I couldn't help but fall in love with it, despite my initial preconceptions, which... well, I suppose that's the trope, isn't it?

You may have also seen me talk about the superficial reasons to find this book beautiful. Ashwick is clearly a master of the finishing touches, which reach beyond the professional cover to a word-perfect blurb, the way chapter headings are cleverly replaced with steps in a recipe, the way point-of-view characters are identified with their idiosyncratic vials, and even some hand-drawn inserts to tie a bow on the top.

I am now pleased to confirm that this story tastes as good as it looks. The narrative is all heart, and you don't need to be a fan of other tropes like "found family" or "hurt/comfort" to find yourself falling in love with the inhabitants of Rosemond Street, who combine for a perfectly cosy read that might have kept me warm throughout February, if I hadn't found myself racing through the pages in half the time.

Although the core of the tale is a comforting one, Ashwick sprinkles enough conflict and subplot to keep the plot moving at a healthy pace, and enough jeopardy to leave you genuinely invested in a happy ending. I found myself tearing up with the characters, and wishing I could visit the Scar to share some cookies and tea and much-needed hugs. If Ambrose wasn't relatable enough, his story is scarily similar to that of my own current protagonist, Nathan Warner of Going Quietly, which left me especially susceptible to his charms, but I dare anyone to defy them.

The Scar itself is a wonderful piece of worldbuilding, and there are some other innovations, from the messaging system to Tom the automaton, and flourishes in things like potion ingredients. By-and-large, however, Rosemond Street is a setting which will be familiar to any reader with a passing awareness of genre staples, from the fantasy races to their trades catering to Dungeons & Dragons style adventurers (albeit with a contemporary American blend, with some clever references to college campuses, organised sports and trade journals which makes it feel much closer to home).

This is not a bug, but a feature. In leaning on those existing archetypes, Ashwick is free to tell this character-driven story without being bogged down by the sort of gibberish and exposition that has hamstrung many other fantasy tales. Without it, A Rival Most Vial is deliciously readable, its prose perfectly weighted, accessible with just enough flavour and texture to satisfy all tastes at once. It melted the heart of this crusty old cynic. If you're in need of a little warm honey to soothe your soul, I have the perfect potion to recommend.

[skygemspeaks]

Book 2 of the sidequest row series is finally here! Hell yeah! These are seriously some of the prettiest books I own 😍 Finished RWRB just in time too, so I can get started on this immediately

[ettawritesnstudies]

Indie Author Interview: R.K. Ashwick talks about A Captured Cauldron

General Preorder Link. If you choose to order it through this Bookstore affiliate link, I will get a small commission, but you can also support any indie bookstore of your choice! Sign up for Preorder Goodies Here! Etta: Hi, I am Etta Grace and welcome back to my YouTube channel. Today I am joined by RK Ashwick and we’re going to be talking about the second book in the series that we’re…

[nothwell]

What is it about rivals-to-lovers that makes readers ravenous for it? Five indie authors form a roundtable to discuss a favorite trope.

RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of the cozy fantasy A Rival Most Vial and its sequel A Captured Cauldron, as well as the Lutesong trilogy beginning with The Stray Spirit. You can connect with her at @ashen-crest

S.O. Callahan (she/her) is the author of the Fella Enchanted cozy fantasy duology and co-author of the Fae and Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with her on instagram @ s.o.callahan

Luna Daye (she/her) is the author of the epic fantasy Thoraius Saga beginning with Swords and Seers and the romantasy series Fated Fae beginning with Fae’s Mate. You can connect with her at her website: lunadaye.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of the cozy fantasy series Adventures in Levena beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at @noahhawthorneauthor

Sarah Wallace (they/them) is the author of the cozy fantasy series Meddle and Mend beginning with Letters to Half Moon Street and co-author of the Fae and Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with them on instagram @ sarah.wallace.writer

[author-a-holmes]

My Preorder Goodies Arrived!

@ashen-crest I think the stamp across the seal is the cutest thing ever, I knew what it was before I even flipped it over to see if it was a letter for me or mum!

As with the preorder lovelies from Stray Spirit, I've stuck the sticker and message on the inside cover to keep them together!

If you'd like to get your hands on these pretties, check out the preorder page on Ashwick's website <3

[authorlaurawinter]

Tagged by @battyaboutbooksreviews

Make a poll with five of your favorite books (...series...) and let booklr pick its favorite out of those, and tag five more.

Is this me just begging more people to read my favorites so I can gush about them? Yes.

Tagging @ashen-crest @inks-books @abalonetea @xenascribbles and anyone else who wants to play!!