Book Review: The Ascended by Parker Lennox and Bree Grenwich
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Burner Kindle!
The Ascended by Parker Lennox and Bree Grenwich
Published: October 7, 2025
Series: Aesymarean Duet #1
Genres: Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door)
Quick Thoughts: The Ascended was type of book where I'd sit down to read and look up hours later wondering where the time went. It was easy to read and the plot never stopped moving. While there was overlap with popular romantasies out there, I’d still recommend if you want something fast-paced with an interesting magic system and deadly trials.
-
Here are the content warnings forThe Ascended as listed by the authors:
Graphic violence
Execution
Blood and bleeding
Self-harm (blood rituals)
Death of loved ones (including parental death)
Animal death (hunting)
Grief
Mild self-recrimination
Imprisonment
Torture
Graphic injuries
Gore
Life threatening situations
Sexual assault (off page, but discussed as part of backstory)
Forced sedation
Suicidal ideation
Self sacrifice
Betrayal
Psychological manipulation
Religious trauma
Forced separation from family
Sexually explicit scenes
Sub/dom dynamics
Restraints
Alcohol consumption
Drug use
Graphic language
Community rejection
Public humiliation
Characters being hunted by authority figures
-
Shadowy MMCs
Twins/Strong Sibling Bond
Hidden Identities
Deadly Trials
Vengeance Storylines
Mentor/Mentee Romance
What is The Ascended about?
Revenge demands the ultimate sacrifice. When twins Thais and Thatcher are thrust into the deadly Trials of Ascension, they'll navigate brutal competitions and forbidden desires, discovering some secrets are worth dying for—and others are worth killing for.
In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge starlight—a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension.
But when a priest's ritual exposes her powers, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into purpose: to kill the King of the Gods.
To take down one of the Aesymar, she must become one, even if it costs her everything.
The selection ceremony binds her to a mentor: Xül. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them.
Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm—a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves.
The cost of godhood is rising.
Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons.
Some stars are meant to fall.
The Ascended Review
The Ascended was the type of book I'd sit down to read and look up hours later wondering where the time went. While it has its flaws, it gave me the type of escapism that made me fall in love with romantasy in the first place.
Do you need to read Riftborne and Duskbound before The Ascended?
First thing's first: this is technically the third book to read after Riftborne and Duskbound. Just to give my two cents, while you don't have to read the other two first, I highly recommend you do. Having the context from Duskbound maximizes the emotional impact of the ending. Otherwise, I think it may feel a little random.
What I liked
On to things I liked. The language is contemporary and easy to follow, and the plot is constantly moving. We're following a few different subplots—the trials, Thatcher and Thais' revenge arc, the romance, and other storylines that unfold throughout. We even jump into Thatcher's POV occasionally. I never felt bored or like we were focusing on something for too long, which I usually don't say about a 750+ page book. I also absolutely loved the twin connection and really wished we got more of Thatcher and Thais together.
Books with trials are a dime a dozen these days, but the ones in this book are pretty unique and fun to read. Lately, I feel like authors are forcing trials into every fantasy book, making them feel like detached subplots rather than essential story elements. The trials here were symbolic of the power dynamic between mortals and the Aesmyrean and integrated into the plot really well. Each trial threatened to expose all the secrets Thais is holding close to the chest, which made them feel high stakes beyond just physical violence. All of the close calls had me at the edge of my seat!
What I didn’t like
My main complaint is that the worldbuilding and terminology were confusing at times. Though the magic and gods systems are really unique, they open up a few plot holes that don't make sense with the rest of the story. A lot of the backstory also came through unnatural, exposition-heavy dialogue from Xül. It felt too much like reading a history book, which made it hard to follow.
While I enjoyed the story, I did get flashbacks to a lot of popular romantasy books throughout. Similarly, I liked the romance but felt it was very similar to others I've read featuring a shadowy MMC. I don't expect something completely new every time I read a book, but if you're looking for a story that's totally fresh and unlike anything else, you might be disappointed.
So, should you read The Ascended?
I'll definitely be picking up the second book. The ending set the sequel up to wreak emotional damage, both from the plot and the romance. Definitely pick The Ascended up if you're looking for a fast-paced book with an interesting magic system and trials, especially if you don't mind seeing a lot of similarities to other popular romantasies.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
The Ascended FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
-
Yes, there will be a second book to The Ascended but the title and publication date has not been announced as of the writing of this post.
-
Yes, you can! According to the authors, The Ascended can be read as a standalone without reading Riftborne or Duskbound first (or at all).
However, I suggest reading them first because it gives a whole new meaning to the ending of The Ascended. Without the context of the first two books, the ending would feel just like a typical cliffhanger instead of the jaw dropping reveal it is.
-
You don’t have to, but I recommend it!
According to the authors, The Ascended can be read as a standalone without reading Riftborne or Duskbound first (or at all).
However, I suggest reading them first because it gives a whole new meaning to the ending of The Ascended. Without the context of the first two books, the ending would feel just like a typical cliffhanger (and a little random) instead of the jaw dropping reveal it is.
-
The Ascended is 4 🌶️ or explicit open door. That means readers are present for spice scenes and they are written in explicit detail.
-
These are the spicy chapters in The Ascended.
Chapter 2
Chapter 36 🫑
Chapter 48
Chapter 51 🫑
Chapter 52
Chapter 60
The chapters marked with a 🫑 are not spice scenes but they are steamy.