About the Book
Book: Embergold
Author: Rachelle Nelson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: March 18, 2025
Fire dreamed of water, but the first sip would be its last.
Gilde has spent her life isolated in the wild marshlands, a place too wet for the dragon to go. She’s safe there, according to her father. So why is he asking her to leave with him now that she has come of age? There is more to Gilde’s family than she knows, and debts need to be paid.
Betrayed and shattered, she wakes in a crumbling mountain castle with the beast of her nightmares. Except this dragon speaks like a man and reads books. His kindness confuses her and opens a forgotten longing in her heart, all while Gilde plans her escape from a mountain full of secrets.
This place can unveil her past and why she was sacrificed to the beast —truths that may put both their lives in danger if they can’t learn to trust each other. But how can Gilde ever trust again? Especially after she discovers what dragons truly are.
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About the Author
Rachelle Nelson grew up reading fantasy novels and getting her clothes muddy in the pine forests of Idaho. These days, she still loves hiking through forests and libraries, though she’s a bit less fond of mud. Her debut novel, Sky of Seven Colors, released through Enclave Publishing, and won both the Carol Award and Christy Award. Rachelle doesn’t write true stories, but she does write about truth. When she’s not doing that, she sings in a band with her husband who makes her happier than should be legal. If you like good food and honest conversations, you’re her favorite kind of person.
More from Rachelle
For the past decade or so, I have been a volunteer youth leader for teen groups. Some of my favorite memories have come from that position. Camp pranks, hilarious games involving edible mealworms, scavenger hunts, singing together at the top of our lungs, and speaking life into the lives of young women. When a girl sees herself through the eyes of Jesus, everything changes.
Some of my hardest moments have come from being a youth leader, too. There’s a kind of hurt that happens when we watch someone suffer, and we cannot take the suffering away. I have cried tears with teens who have been wounded by betrayal, carelessness, and abandonment. Those wounds go deeper when they come from a parent.
The truth is, God is the only perfect father, and we’re meant to be parented by Him. Learning to trust Him is a process, even if we had a pretty great (if imperfect) example of an earthly dad. But we live in a fatherless generation, when so many have experienced separation and pain in their family from divorce, or addiction, or generational cycles of pain. I’ve seen what that kind of pain can do to a heart, and how trusting others becomes almost impossible.
Almost.
Embergold is a story about betrayal and abandonment. It’s about two young people who never expected to find kindness in a harsh world. It’s about the healing of hearts.
I wrote it for myself, to remember what is possible. I wrote it for the young people I have loved. And for the parents who are still recovering from their childhoods.
Sin and brokenness happen in community. But, the amazing thing is, God designed the healing to happen in community too, among people. We need each other.
Review
I really liked this book! The cover is beautiful, and as soon as I saw the dragon, I was sold. I love dragons, so as soon as this came up for review, I signed up. And I am so glad that I did. Rachelle Nelson has crafted a wonderful story filled with danger and finding the world beyond yourself and family. Gilde was such an interesting character because with one horrible action from someone who should have cared about her, the world she knew was changed forever, and she found that it was much bigger than she imagined. Wil was so patient with her, and his care for someone he had just met was a wonderful illustration of Christian love for others.
I was kept reading all day until I finished this book because I had to know what would happen to these wonderful characters. The evils they faced seemed so overwhelming to them, but they were determined to be there for each other. I love how Gilde grew from a scared young woman into one who stood up for the ones she cared about. Her character development was astonishing without ever feeling unbelievable. The second half of the book was a bit slower than the beginning, but I still enjoyed it. Most of the characters grow in this portion, so it was never an issue that the story slowed down. The faith element was also really light, but maybe the author has a second book planned where this is expanded. I will certainly read it if she does! I would recommend this book to all who enjoy fantasy.
WARNING: This book discusses magic, alchemy, and dark creatures. It is never portrayed as good. On the contrary, it is always shown to be evil. There is some violence but it is not graphic. These elements are necessary for the story to move forward, so I would encourage you to give this book a try.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Blog Stops
Fiction Book Lover, April 8 (Author Interview)
CeCe Reads and Sings, April 8
Texas Book-aholic, April 9
MinReads and Reviews, April 9
Wishful Endings, April 10
The Lofty Pages, April 11
Blossoms and Blessings, April 12
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 13
Blogging With Carol, April 14
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 15
Devoted Steps, April 16
Madi’s Musings, April 17
Labor Not in Vain, April 18
Guild Master, April 19
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 20
Simple Harvest Reads, April 21 (Guest Review from Mindy)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Rachelle is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a hardcover copy of the book,and an envelope of fun goodies, including a signed bookplate and a pewter dragon bookmark!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Thank you for the review
Sounds like a book I will like.