Review: High Above (Out of the Ash Book 1)

Review: High Above (Out of the Ash, Book 1)  

Author: Mari Freeman

Publisher: Decadent

Genre: paranormal romance

Reviewer: Tabitha

Review Rating: 4.5 LIGHTNING BOLTS

Blurb: Dragons annihilated civilization some ten generations ago. A few Crossbreeds, humans born with dragon-like characteristics, now lead opposing tribes who still battle for dwindling resources.

Rhone’s wings have been stripped from his body, his family killed, and his hopes of leading the Mountain people away from the constant threat of marauders destroyed.

Ketta’s life has been full of pain and anguish. Her brother rules her and the Lax tribe with a bloody fist. Tired of the violence, Ketta takes a stand and rescues Rhone from the brink of execution.

Armed with knowledge from Ketta’s somewhat addled grandfather, the unlikely pair embarks on a quest to heal Rhone’s wings. Along the way, the couple struggles to find the truth beneath hatred and lies. Desire and a mutual enemy bring them together; mistrust and secrets tear them apart. These lifelong foes will have to fly high above their differences to defeat a deadly dragon and save what’s left of both their tribes.


Review: Right from the start this story grabbed me. Some don't like prologues but you don't want to skip this one. It was phenomenal. The pictures this prologue painted was nothing short of amazing. You can feel Mari Freeman's words just seep into your bones. A vibrant world you can see crisply through that author's eyes and that's just the prologue.

Ketta is a dragon shifter that comes from a brutal blood thirsty tribe, Never knowing love or compassion until she meets Rhone. She finds herself wishing for a very different kind of life for herself and her people.

Rhone has lived with the tragic loss of his mate and father from a brutal attach from Ketta;s people. When he finds himself being rescued by the beauty he is drawn to her instantly. But he struggles with his feelings of tarnishing the memory of his loved ones by longing for the beautiful woman that should be his enemy.

Mari's characters have an animalistic quality I found very intriguing. Their movements and reactions linger somewhere between human and animal. But she manages to make them believable. Playing out vividly as if watching a movie.

I found the well thought out lore of this story mesmerizing. I would recommend this story to fantasy, paranormal, and romance fans as well. Mari brings something new to the table and keeps you enthralled and a little disappointed when it is over. Kudos Mari for sharing her magical imagination with her readers.

Happy Reading,

Tabitha Blake



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