Synopsis
Ashy is a term used to describe dry skin and is commonly used within the Black community. Our skin turns a harsh grayish-white, becomes rough, cracks, and invites criticism. Ashy is grotesque, not beautiful. Ashy is ghetto, not professional. Ashy is undesirable, not valued. That is what many people think.
This book takes back the negative association with being ashy and turns it into a right, a privilege, a power… a superpower.
Ashburn is born in a haunted region of Africa known for its enthusiastically ashy citizens. Their skin allows them to create the friction needed to birth weak flames. They were the first to discover, create, and harness fire. Their powers are used for general house duties and occupations. Although their powers are useful, they are not strong enough to defeat the spirits and deities that lurk in the night.
Due to the arid climate, young children are lathered in oil and grease to prevent them from prematurely igniting their powers. Oh, how they yearn to be free of the crude moisturizer and become ashy like the adults. Upon completing kindergarten, they are allowed to be ashy and use their powers.
Ashburn discovers that his ash powers are much more powerful and destructive than everyone else’s. Is he one of the legendary burning warriors, the Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma, the ones strong enough to defeat the monsters of the night? All will be revealed in this story of adventure, African folklore and mythology, as we reclaim the word ashy.
Review
Had the opportunity to read this for the Indie Ink Awards and owned a copy on Kindle, so I gave it a go. A title like that, and a cover this cool? I love sharks.
Before coming of age as they enter kindergarten, all children are coated in continuous grease. Oils, lards, anything that reduces friction. This is not just a cultural decision, it is a government edict. This allows parents to protect their children from themselves, from their ashiness. From their power. Ashburn has just reached the day of coming into his ash. He and his classmates are all so excited! An end to the soggy bedsheets, the sliding grips on school pencils, the smudges of grease on test papers. A day that they view as being welcomed into the world. But then something happens that ruins Ashburn’s day, something that sets off a chain reaction that takes him far and wide from his family. His power is too great, his ash too strong. Now he must leave with a general he just met to study to become a Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma, an ash warrior. What follows is over a decade of fighting, insights, and learning, of deep training sessions and self discovery. It’s not all bad, but it’s certainly far from all good.
I thought there was something inherently funny and entertaining about the title and basis of this story, but the author has chosen to reclaim this word, this thing, and instead made it a superpower. In the world we live, where being seen as different can make life hell, this term has become anything but fun for the people it’s labeling. The story is not overtly political, or commenting outright about race, but it is assuredly proud to be a black story. Proud to be African. So now, they claim this as a deeply personal and powerful title. The Ash Warriors, the Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma, keep the evil creatures and demons at bay, allowing those with lesser powers to remain in safety and normality. And I really appreciate how much the author just fully went for it, really leaning into their concept. This is the real plains of Africa, yet it is spiritual and rich and supernatural. It is urban fantasy layered over the sheen of real life for real people. These warriors protect the innocent from harm.
Ashburn is a great character, the general a solid mentor character. I particularly enjoyed that he didn’t just have all the answers. His training includes trying out multiple things, time on self reflection, and trial and error without anger from his superior. He is allowed to be a kid while still being shown how serious his powers are. Inquisitiveness is inspired, and self discovery proves paramount more than once in Ashburn’s journey. Still, there are some points that feel glazed over, some time jumps that felt they could be seen as rushed. If the author desired, the story could be lengthened into a fully fledged fantasy epic. I personally don’t think this expansion would need to span multiple books, but I definitely would have remained locked in for another hundred pages. Regardless, the story as it stands is worthwhile and a read I really enjoyed, I am in no way trying to detract from that.
So, my favorite part, the shark(!), goes by Riptide, and he is awesome. A flaming tiger shark, brought to life with ash powers, and wholly different from all the others’ powers. I think the cover perfectly captures the creature, and I loved the description of it swimming and moving through the air as if it were in ocean waters. What an idea! To think of an aquatic animal to appear as a powerful creature made of flames is something that would never have crossed my mind—I was stoked to be reading it during Shark Week too. There is, of course, the added layer that Ashburn is singled out as different yet again because of this, but I loved his ability to roll with it and conquer so much adversity. And that strength is echoed back at him by showcasing such a misunderstood animal as his power—and so unlike the others, who mainly create weapons or armor.
The evolution and trials from apprentice to Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma felt somewhat reminiscent of the Triwizard tournament but encapsulated down into only a couple of chapters. The feats required of them were interesting, featuring trials of mental fortitude, personal strengths, as well as the ability to work and adapt as teammates. This is the portion of the tale that would typically be seen in the second installment of a story, a la Luke on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back, but I actually kind of appreciate the fact that the author just kind of moves us along. It is by no means something anti-climactic or uncool or not intense, it just isn’t Ashburn’s main point for the story. I can vibe with that.
The ending twist did surprise me a hell of a lot, but I do think some additional length would have lent itself to that emotional gut punch. The delivery of which is already solid. Then we get a bit of a training montage, as well as a blur of a year, and then it’s like we’re teaming up with the Young Avengers. For me, this was very awesome. It plays on how dire the situation is, how powerful and steadfast the young Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma are, and just how much they are willing to sacrifice to save the lands and peoples of Africa. It is an enticing level of stakes, and the author certainly delivers. I would be interested to see if there’s a sequel in the works, and I’d be stoked to read it.
For fans of superhero or superpowered stories. Of strong characters and uneven odds. Of urban and epic fantasies. This is a solid origin story, and you’ll be hoping for more.
Leave a Reply