She Who Rose From Ashes (Legënd of the Mystics) (2024)

I was given an advanced copy of this book for an honest review... and I LOVED IT! This book was more fast-paced than the first book I read by Sita Bennett. The characters appear almost dark and mystical, immediately drawing me in. Perfectly aimed at young adults with imperfect pasts (who's isn't?), who are walking toward a path of heart and truth!

This mix of futurism, dystopia and "new age" is a light, direct read stylistically, rather than containing complicated prose. The novel contains important spiritual truths. This prequel is darker in certain ways, than the first release in the series, Maya of the In Between. It's not too dark for teens though.

The romantic aspect of the story, as in the other book, doesn't overshadow the main story-line, which is rare in young adult novels. It fits in the story. And also surprisingly, it's clean enough for parents to be comfortable with their teens reading it.

I was uncomfortable with the protagonists easy use of violent magick (I wasn't always clear on if she was killing people or only making them unconscious), but that doesn't make the book bad. Actually, it makes it good in a way, because all good art makes someone feel something. For a teen novel, there is a lot of depth to this character.

People who have developed their empathic abilities (which everyone inherently has the ability to do, and which is different from being empathetic), will relate to that aspect of the story. I've done past life regressions where I experienced violence against me, so that was relatable too. It's also true in my experience and the experiences of others I know, that after death people are split into separate parts, and multiple pieces of people are then put together to create new people for new incarnations. In other words, the two people in this book who were once one soul makes sense to me.

The lockup and escape parts of this novel remind me of reports I have heard from acquaintances and friends of their experiences as milab victims or "supersoldiers" / augments.

The end is beautiful, and a pleasantly surprising departure from books of this type which are written for adults as well. What this group of people do at the end is based on the type of thing that multiple groups of people around the world have been doing in recent years, and many more of us are doing solo work to that effect. Let's hope it's all making a difference.

I plan to continue with this series if there are more books in it.

Gripping. Powerful. Filled with Eastern Wisdom.

This will be another bestseller from Sita for young adults or anyone interested in a fantasy read rooted in actual core mystical (& how to live happily) secrets within a great story.

As a mentor of Truth & Happiness Seekers in real life, I was lucky enough to read the original draft and just finishing the released version after being given a copy. It's magnificent basically.

Sita Bennett writes from a place of very deep & direct spiritual understandings and shares that with her readers as an act of power, care & love.

She Who Rose From The Ashes predates Maya of the Inbetween by a few hundred years and untangle the struggle to save humans from.... (i can't say sorry)

Few know that Sita writes silently (thoughtlessly) and essentially these storylines burst out through her, she has to write to catch it all. It's much like a mystical character in one of her books & again she has left her heart on the table with this latest offering.

Life following art and art following life.

Within this book are deep understandings mystics have known (with added fantasy of course) and handed down or discovered independently in various parts of the world over Millenia and Sita herself embodies through years of dedication to a deeper truer life beyond ego.

She cares about her readers and their well-being and to me that makes these books or sharings of her beautiful soul so special for those lucky enough to discover them.

This book! I haven't read in years but I was gifted this book and as soon as I picked it up I didn't want to put it down. Super engaging, fast-paced, strong characters, and most of all the content is just so valuable! The way Sita can weave powerful wisdom and ancient mysticism into her writing is second to none. A true GEM. I find my mind opening when I read She Who Rose From Ashes...

I was hanging to read this book after finishing 'Maya of the In-Between' and wow was I blown away. I was given an advanced copy of the book for an honest review and yet again I am speechless in an attempt to encapsulate everything Sita's writing makes me feel. The story that follows Ember's journey to unite with the four sorcerers is one of heartbreak, pure and authentic love & lust, danger and bliss. Embers character is so relatable even though she lives a very different life than most of us. Her brutal, unapologetic nature is inspiring and eye-opening and the ways in which she sees the world with newborn eyes completely sucks you into her experiences as though they are your own.

Before reading Sita's works I believed novels and fiction books to mostly serve the purpose of entertainment and as a means of escape. I mostly lent towards non-fiction as I wanted to feel as though I could take something away, like a new insight, from the book I was reading. Sita Bennett so gracefully showed me the power of storytelling, and just how much can shift when you fully allow yourself to dive into a novel.

Ember begins the story as a lone-wolf type woman on a mission, which made the relationships she developed throughout the novel significant. She can't achieve what she needs to achieve alone and must learn to trust, which hit home for me.
Heng and Ember's (brother/sister) relationship was really compelling and spoke to the deep sibling connection that can rarely be explained in words. The romance between Ember and Aaric was nuanced. His embodiment of masculinity was refreshing, and the way that he was not too intimidated to play a more supportive role on Ember's quest was sweet.

I often found myself pondering the book's deeper messages during my day, which are quite subtly woven through. I feel so grateful to have found Sita's Novels. It's a big statement but I don't think any other books I've read even come close. They are the perfect blend of mystery, magic, and adventure. Thank you! And pleaseeeee keep writing!

A tightly crafted story that explores the cycle of life and death and the idea of past life trauma in an interesting, unique way.
Even though it's a fantasy, it encouraged me to closer examine some of my own experiences with unseen phenomena that I thought were outside of understanding.
The characters were complex and flawed and written with a sense of honest emotionality that made me feel like a part of their world and quest.

I am surprised this book hasn't got more ratings. It is a fantastic fantasy adventure story with a powerful female protagonist and deep, mystical and spiritual undertones. The romance is one to aspire to and the general themes explored are so relevant for young adults. It does not follow the grungy, angsty tropes that often drench Ya fantasy. While the characters are morally grey and imperfect, they are dedicated to paths of light. We need more stories of this nature and I hope more people find this one!

This book is truuuly incredible! I can't put it down!! 😁 Very happy she brought another book out!

Recommend this highly!

Beautifully written and really took me on a journey. As a fire sign, it was extra special for me. I appreciate how this gives me a different perspective based on the stories behind the Maya novels.

I really enjoyed Aaric's character. He's such a light being and sweetheart. Ember will eventually realize why he is worth knowing.

I was hooked from the first page... No, the first sentence.
And did not want to put it down until the last.
It is not only an enchanting fantasy filled with elemental magic and dynamic, multicultural characters, it is also mysterious and suspenseful. I would almost label it 'Dark Fantasy', but while the cluster have questionable and morally grey pasts, they are driven by light and over their journey of transformation, become embodiments of Light itself....

Sita hooked me into Ember's epic quest, took me on an unpredictable ride full of twists, turns and romance, and left me pondering the very nature of existence, human consciousness and the idea of ascension... I could feel power in each page, and can still feel the monumental power of Ember's spirit lingering with me.

The relationships between the characters also feel realistic. Ember begins as a loner, isolated because of her dangerous past. She's in hiding because the Magic she carries has made her target to the System and she's full of mistrust. She must learn to trust those who are genuine around her - like Aaric, the Love interest who absolutely stole my heart.

I also loved the brother/sister relationship between Heng and Ember, which literally becomes telepathic at times. It encapsulates the interconnectedness I feel with my siblings.

Anyway, this is me processing all the feelings I still feel days after finishing this book. My only wish is that I could un-read it and start fresh again, because I cannot find anything else that combines all the elements that made this the perfect book for me!

This was a powerful read. Ember is a strong, intense protagonist, but she is not hard. Her gradual reveal of heart felt earned and I resonated with her sense of drive and purpose. After hitting the second half, I had no idea where the action would lead and did not expect the twists toward the end! A very gripping novel full of magic and splashes of different cultures.

Yep. Saw this cover pop up on my feed, then read the blurb, I'm in!!