Embers by Travis Simmons is a spellbinding adventure about bravery and destiny. Dravos is an orphan from Helmscrest, the Golden City. He lives in a place called the Web, which is run by his friend Asher. The Web is a safe haven for those the city has forgotten: the homeless, insane, vagabonds, and the blinkers, who are the truly dangerous ones. Rylan Braccus, the Commander of the Southern Realm, is on a mission to arrange a meeting that may finally end a thirty-one-year conflict between the elves and men. Braccus soon learns that bringing peace to Zanir is the most dangerous task he has ever embraced. Meanwhile, Dravos learns that someone plans to destroy Helmscrest, his home, and that an evil Paladin wants to steal his unique gift.

Embers by Travis Simmon is a fantastic read that blends religion and politics with the supernatural and science. It is infused with political intrigue, conflict, magic, suspense, romance, mystery, and just the right amount of epic battles to keep you turning the pages. The thrills are many, combined with strong writing, excellent world-building, engaging characters, genuine dialogue, and exciting action. I enjoyed following Dravos and Asher and their solid partnership. Embers is an enthralling start to a new series. It has the perfect finale, leaving you wanting to read the next installment. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy a well-crafted fantasy adventure.

Embers by Travis Simmons takes readers to the Golden City of Helmcrest where Dravos, an orphan with a stolen purse in his hand, is chased by a guard. He knows the city so well that the guard soon loses him and he emerges on the city’s rooftops to watch the sunset. Dravos will soon find himself entangled in an age-old conflict; one that goes beyond the current conflict between elves and men. Meanwhile, the Grandmaster summons Commander Braccus, the Order Commander keeping the peace in the townships and the wilderness that runs north of the Divide. He is tasked with ensuring the temporary truce with the great elven houses of Olimer is consolidated. There have been thirty-one years of conflict between elves and men, and Braccus is given the dangerous mission to have a formal declaration of peace signed by the great elven houses.

Travis Simmons’ Embers is a riveting story of the conflict between men and elves. The author has created an imaginary world, compelling characters, and a plot that produces a surprise or mystery around each twist and turn. What I liked about the book is the character of Dravos, a street-wise orphan forced to fend for himself and caught in a conflict that threatens to destroy his home and a budding relationship with the beautiful Sophie. Dravos and Sophie are characters readers can relate to, interacting in an alternate world that contains many different elements, including a unique setting, magic, and other-worldly characters. Embers reminds readers that most of the time, peace comes with a price and that we have to work to achieve it.

Thirty-one years of war with the elves have taken its toll on Zanir. The land is suffering, along with the people living through this confrontation. In a last-ditch effort, the governors of the land come together to devise a daring plan which could lead to a lasting peace. They intend to send one of the kingdom's most popular warriors, Commander Braccus, to the Great Elven Houses of Olimer to negotiate for permanent peace. Not everyone is happy with this plan, and the discontent spreads along both sides of the divide. With monsters roaming and rumors of strange apparitions tormenting the countryside, Braccus must find a way to bring these two warring kingdoms to an accord, for the sake of his family, in Travis Simmons's Embers.

In Embers, Travis Simmons delivers an interesting political intrigue set against the backdrop of a land wreathed in turmoil and superstition, creating an enthralling storyline. The characters in the story are well-defined, with detailed backstories related to their origins and motivations. Braccus portrays a man dealing with the weight of divided loyalties when Dravos' activities in the city create a riveting subplot. The mythical creatures in the story are a delight to read about through Simmons' excellent explanation of their makeup and history. The pace is steady, but momentum builds consistently through to the climax. Embers is nicely balanced, with its fair share of subversive plots and intrigue, and when you throw in the romantic subplot, it all comes together nicely; this is a masterpiece readers will enjoy.

Embers by Travis Simmons is an epic fantasy novel. Elves and men fought decades ago in a great war that ravaged the land and separated their people. The masses may think the war is over, but tensions between the two races remain high. Those in power know the only thing that's changed is the battlefield as the war is now fought secretly in the shadows. The leaders of both sides long for peace. Ryland Braccus, Commander of the Paladins, journeys beyond the Divide and into elvish territory on a diplomatic mission. Those working in the shadows block the way and Braccus reluctantly has to spill more blood before Zanir can find peace. Meanwhile, Dravos, an orphan living amongst thieves in the sewers, is soon thrust into the grand game being woven by those seeking bloodshed. Their fate is uncertain, and both men risk it all in a bid to unite the once-allied peoples.

Embers by Travis Simmons delivered the fantasy vibes I hoped for. It had deep and imaginative mythology that was easy to wrap my head around as Travis introduced his lore in moderate doses. The fight scenes had all the grandeur that only fantasy can deliver and the skirmishes flowed across the pages. There was also some light romance that was handled with tact. I found the romance quite endearing as a result of the author’s sensitivity when setting the stage. Travis didn't resort to weird fetishes or anything erotic to sell me on their love and that to me always separates a true author from all the rest. He let his writing show me how they felt and after reading this book, I could tell he enjoyed creating a unique world populated with authentic characters. An epic fantasy tale that I recommend to readers looking for a great story with magic.