Ash and Gold by Lydia R. Outland is a haunting urban fantasy novel following the story of a daughter who was cursed in the guise of a blessing to never actually die. She is born again and again, in search of her mother and the mystical city, and destroys everything in her wake. Buggy, our protagonist, is oblivious to all of these ominous past occurrences and wants to enjoy a normal life. Suddenly she finds herself surrounded by two men who change the course of her life.

This fast-paced story is filled with intriguing supernatural elements that feel separate yet all come together to create a complex storyline. The author includes a lot of details to flesh out the world the character inhabits and creates a backdrop that balances between grim and ominous, but in either case the author ensures that readers are well acquainted with the world by the time the strange gets stranger.

The eerie narrative of the story remains constant throughout the book ensuring a steady flow of paranormal things being exposed. The author also explores the relationship between friends and family through the interactions of characters, which I think is an much more engaging way to convey information. We are given plenty of background on the protagonist to understand her, but I felt that supporting characters were not given as much room to develop, making this more of a character study rather than an ensemble story.

I would love to read more about the story of Waverley, if the author decides to explore it more in this series because I thought it was a very interesting aspect. This book explores another world completely dependent on the consciousness of the characters, which is fascinating.

There is also an LGBTQ relationship in the background of the story which neither seems like a forceful inclusion in the story nor ignores the importance of it. These small tidbits are mixed seamlessly into the story giving the book an authentic and fresh atmosphere, even amongst the metaphysical elements.

The writing style of the author makes the story much more memorable and interesting to read as well. I thought this book was super addictive. There is a proficient literary flow to the story that shows the authors talent with telling a story punctuated by intrigue that keeps readers constantly engaged.

Ash and Gold is an enthralling urban fantasy story that slowly takes readers into a mystery that is fascinating if not complex. This is a spellbinding occult fiction story that will appeal to readers looking for a cerebral and haunting novel.

Pages: 550 | ASIN : B09NW8JV42