The Ascenditure is one of those books that grabs you and doesn’t let go. Set in a gritty, rain-soaked world where climbing mountains isn’t just sport—it’s survival—this story follows Klarke Ascher, a determined young woman fighting tooth and nail for a spot on the kingdom’s elite climbing team. But climbing, as it turns out, is the least of her battles. The real summit is freedom—from a system that sees women as nothing more than property, from a king who silences dissent with gallows, and from a future that promises marriage to a stranger if she fails. There’s rebellion, resilience, and a whole lot of heart.

I couldn’t put this one down. The writing is so visceral. From the opening chapter where Klarke scales a cliff in a soaking rainstorm—mud on her boots, blood on her fingers—you feel everything. “The only place I truly feel free is pressed against granite,” she says. The climb isn’t just physical; it’s symbolic, and Robyn Dabney writes those moments with so much tension and grace.

What hit me hardest, though, wasn’t just the injustice Klarke faces—it was how real it all felt. The sexism, the corruption, the constant need to prove herself twice as capable just to be considered. There’s this scene after she crushes the climbing trial, and yet she still gets passed over for a spot on the team. The moment Russet Kamber is named instead, you can feel her heartbreak, and it’s not just personal—it’s political. The city erupts in protest. People die. And Klarke doesn’t crumble. She runs straight into the chaos. That moment when the crowd starts chanting her name gave me chills.

Klarke’s relationship with Kiel is layered. When he proposes to her—not out of romance but out of desperation to keep her from being married off—you feel how trapped they both are. And when she tells him she’s going to flee to Kobo, where women are free, I wanted to jump into the book and help her pack. But then the city rises, the people rally behind her, and Klarke changes course—not to run, but to fight. That shift is powerful.

I’d recommend The Ascenditure to fans of The Hunger Games, The Handmaid’s Tale, or anything with strong feminist vibes and high-stakes rebellion. It’s perfect for readers who love flawed but fierce female leads, rich world-building, and stories that blend action with soul.

Pages: 358 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CD9J6NNZ