In a land torn asunder by a monstrous invasion, the only thing protecting the enclaves of thinking
people in Southern Holm are high walls and the valiant warrior troops that strive to beat back the
hordes, one troll at a time. When Saria and her Shadow Blades are asked to take on a secret
bounty to retrieve a magical artifact from a forgotten temple, Saria’s suspicions aren’t aroused.
She’s too busy hiring an archer and preparing their new mage to worry about anything but the
job ahead of them.
At least not until another troop attempts to collect a bounty—on the Shadow Blades’ heads.
Saria should have known better than to accept a mission to recover this Ashen Orb for the
notorious sorceress Brar Opalback. After surviving the assassination attempt, she and her fellow
warriors—Lithia, the shadow fae archer, Perric, the human paladin, Ayre, the elven thief, and
Jileli, the half succubus blood mage—must outwit wild and deadly forests, ingenious traps, and
undead armies if they hope to get any answers.
It would be a shame to die without ever finding out who wanted you dead.
The Ashen Orb Bounty by Patrick Dugan is an action-packed, light-hearted romp that’s perfect for fans of D&D style adventures. It doesn’t aim to be profound or groundbreaking, and that’s exactly what makes it such a blast. If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced, trope-filled, and joyfully familiar, this book delivers on every front.
This is comfort fantasy at its best. It leans heavily into beloved tropes, ragtag teams, artifact-hunting quests, rival guilds, quippy banter, but uses them with enough charm and energy that it never feels stale. You won’t find any deep philosophical musings or intricate political intrigue here. What you will find is a fast-moving plot, a fun cast of characters, and a world brimming with adventure, competition, and just the right amount of chaos.
The group dynamic is one of the book’s biggest strengths. The banter between characters is snappy and entertaining, and their chemistry really drives the story forward. I especially enjoyed how each team member brought something different to the table, skill-wise and personality-wise, and how their interactions created both tension and camaraderie. The quest to retrieve a powerful relic gives the plot a strong sense of purpose and momentum, and the added layer of rival factions all competing for jobs added a nice edge of tension to the mix.
That said, there were a few moments that rubbed me the wrong way. Small annoyances here and there in terms of character decisions or dialogue that felt a little too modern or out of place, but nothing that seriously detracted from my enjoyment. It’s the kind of book where you’re not picking apart every detail; you’re just along for the ride, and that ride is a good one.
The ending is quite open, which might not work for everyone. But for me, it wasn’t a letdown at all. Instead, it left me curious and eager to see where the story goes next. It’s clearly setting up for a larger arc.
All in all, The Ashen Orb Bounty is a great pick if you’re after a quick, entertaining, and familiar-feeling fantasy adventure with strong “D&D campaign” energy. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. Sometimes, you just want a fun, tropey quest with a lovable crew , and this book hits that sweet spot perfectly.
