So this follows Tori, who’s basically a princess in this strict matriarchal empire where her own mother would literally execute her if she stepped out of line… and the problem is, she already has.

She’s hiding forbidden elemental magic tied to something ancient, something her empire does NOT play about. And once it becomes clear she can’t hide it anymore, she runs… straight into Peach Blossom Grove.

And listen… this is not your cute magical escape.

This place is alive. Watching. Testing. Breaking you down just to rebuild you.

Okay but WHY is her own mother her biggest enemy…

I went into this thinking I was getting a pretty fantasy with magic and politics…

and this book said no, we’re going deeper than that.

This is about what happens when being yourself is dangerous.

When love feels conditional.

When survival means shrinking… and freedom means risking everything.

Tori isn’t just running from her mother.

She’s running from the version of herself she was forced to become.

And that internal pull?

That “if I choose me, I lose everything” feeling?

Yeah… that sat heavy with me.

Peach Blossom Grove though?

Whew.

The sentient forest, the immortals, the way the magic literally reflects who you are as a person… it’s not just worldbuilding, it feels personal.

Like if you don’t know yourself, this place will expose you.

And the whole “weapons choosing their owners” thing?

Yeah… I ate that up.

Now let’s be real for a second…

this is a slower, character-driven story.

So if you’re expecting nonstop action, you might side-eye it a little at first.

I saw that come up in reviews too.

But the depth?

The emotional tension?

The identity struggle?

That’s where this book really shines.

This isn’t just about power.

It’s about what it costs to finally choose yourself…

when everything you’ve ever known is telling you not to.

What a gorgeous, mystical world to visit!

This is listed as Book 1 and I, for one, can't wait to dive right into the next one when it's available! The author has created a beautiful, matriarchal world full of magic, adventure, and intrigue. What a great chance to see what it would be like if women ran things for once! Of course, she makes a lot of political and social commentary along the way reminding us of that old adage that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

If you love high fantasy books filled with magical settings straight out of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, this is a great read for you. The stakes are high, magic is forbidden, and our MC is of course a magic wielder (a general term but also what they call them). I really love a lot of the supporting characters in this one, and like many fantasy books you might want to take notes or something because there are so many you might get confused.

The world building is wonderful, no info dumps or slow parts - it felt absolutely seamless. And the characters were also well built, which doing both great is extra special!

As with many books like this, there is a great deal of violence, including SA, and dysfunctional family dynamics.

A character driven, epic fantasy for those who love matriarchal empires and forbidden magic ✨️

Whispers of the Elixir pits Tori, heir to the Min empire, against her mother, Empress Zinchen. The strong willed Empress will stop at nothing to shape the world in her own image, including destroying those with ancient forbidden magic. Which Tori unfortunately has.

Princess Tori is tired of being her mother’s lap dog and living with the awareness that everything is carefully orchestrated to showcase her mother’s splendor. While children starve in the streets, the court lives in splendor. One rebellious act by Tori becomes the spark which drives Tori to unleashing the magic the empire despises.

With immersive world-building, a complex storyline, elemental magical system, hidden ancient realms, and strong female protagonists, book 1 in the Order of the Ember series is a character driven epic fantasy that weaves a spell around you. As a reader I was compelled to keep turning pages well into the night and felt as if I were fully immersed in the world of the Min Empire and the rebel's Peach Blossom Grove.

This novel is truly epic in its scope and depth. At almost 600 pages the complexity of the world building and plotlines has plenty of room to unfold. Nothing is rushed or glossed over in an attempt to shorten the tale. The vivid prose is consistent throughout with no lagging in pacing and seamless transitions from one scene to the next.

I received a complimentary copy from Love Books Tours. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Recommended for fans of:

✨️ Epic and High Fantasy

✨️ Matriarchal Empires

✨️ Political Intrigue

✨️ Forbidden Magic

✨️ Legacy & Identity

✨️ High Stakes

✨️ Power & Defiance

✨️ Complex Characters

✨️ Immersive World Building

afelton6212 Well it's the end of another read along. l've really enjoyed this one just like all of the owners.

But this book. Was so so worth the read. I couldn't put this down. The world building in this book was top notch and it was so detailed I felt like I was in this book.

This book was between different characters which I found to be so nice. and I adored the political give and take between Zinchen and Tori I really felt like brought a new layer of depth.

I think thought I loved reading about Tori and how she evolved I mean her basic skills were even not the best but the more confident she got the better she learns to accept her powers and basically start from scratch it's something to behold for sure.

I liked the different pov in this book I felt for Tori. She had a lot riding on her success but did so good. I mean her own mom wasn't on team Tori which broke me some.

Ok ok I can't say more I don't want to say or give anything away just go and get this book.

When I started Whispers of the Elixir (Order of the Ember Book 1) by CP Silver I was expecting fantasy with a royal twist, instead I got something much more layered. At the center of the story is Tori, a princess in a matriarchal empire who learned how to survive by staying just inside the lines. When hiding it is no longer an option, she leaves everything she knows and ends up in a mythic realm where magic isn't a tool you use, its who you are.

What worked for me was the tension between Tori and her mother, driving so much of what happens. The magic system stands out because it's tied to who someone is at their core instead of just what they can do.

If you like fantasy that lives in characters, building an entire world around them then this is one to pick up.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy stories where magic and the main character are closely tied together. It feels like the beginning of something bigger, and I am curious to see where the series goes from here.

I had such a great time on the read along for Whispers of the Elixir. It was such a beautiful book. I really enjoyed answering the questions. Each one of them was unique. They all made you really think what your answers would be. I also enjoyed being able to see everyone else’s answers.

This book was a big one but I loved every bit of it. C.P. Silver did a phenomenal job with this story. I loved the characters. I liked how each of the chapters had names and not just the number. C.P. had a way with words and they just pull you in. I love the world she created. The magic system was amazing. I love how well Tori was. She was my favorite character. I cannot wait to see where the series goes next.

This book has beautiful world building and an inter magic system! I enjoyed that this was multiple POVs and getting to know each character. The matriarchal society in this book was a plus as well! I cannot wait for the next book in this series as the ending left me with so many questions!

I will say with this being the debut novel of the author I will say that she did a spectacular job of crafting the story. I will say the characters and the plot were very engaging and she managed to create a book that kept my attention the whole time. You have to have a deep admiration for the character Tori as she managed to give up thr lifestyle that she was accustomed to in order to properly embrace the magical gifts that she was blessed with. I am truly thankful that I took the time to read this book.

Whispers of the Elixir by C. P. Silver is a vibrantly imagined fantasy that stands out for incredible world-building and setting. The politics, magic system, and culture all blend together into a vivid world that has been a pleasure to explore. From warriors and a sentient forest to powerful magic wielders and the creatures such as the Tailu-bird, the world feels truly alive.

The story itself is just as engaging. I was intrigued by Tori’s struggle to break free from her mother’s control while navigating the influence of a leader determined to bend the world to conform to her own set of ideologies. Tori’s journey adds emotional tension to an already complex landscape, and I enjoyed seeing her forge her own identity.

A lot happens over the course of this book—sometimes so much that a few moments could have been condensed slightly—however I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The descriptive writing makes the setting easy join and follow, and the characters, relationships, and unfolding conflicts kept me invested throughout.

This was a brilliant and immersive read, and I’m definitely excited to see what comes next!

What a book! The characters, the world-building... but also the writing style, and the not-too-long chapters!

So, while unfortunately my book review was delayed, this was not because this story did not grab my attention 🩷

Tori was such a great character to follow! And while, she already started as a kind one, she was still the product of her environment, and a bit prejudiced and arrogant here and there. This made her more relatable and human. And her evolution and progress more powerful to witness. You could really see her struggles, and how she fought against who she was. But ultimately, to achieve real progress, power, and self-fulfillment, don't you have to accept all parts of yourself?

Yes, it is quite a long book. But, having finished it, it is clear that the story is rich and far from over. We were following multiple characters, and I cannot wait to see how some of the stories will keep intersecting as we go. And so many backstories to read about! I really can't wait to know more. About the characters, and the past - battles, alliances, peoples... So much was covered, but so much still to be explored?

I was a bit lost at times at the beginning, but that is one of my usual struggles with fantasy and my lack of visualisation skills 😅

Whispers of the Elixir is a story of politics, magic and determination. It is a brilliant fantasy story with strong female lead political intrigue and unique magic systems that promises so much more in the next instalment.

The authors writing style was really easy to read and had a nice flow to it. The author has crafted the world beautifully and the characters are multileveled and the story is driven by the characters and their determination.

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what comes next.

I really the enjoyed this story as the author used a matriarchal system for the world which is a really interesting premise to me. I also like the magic system which used in this world and this is something which makes it different to other systems which i have read from. I really enjoyed reading from the viewpoint which has been written from and can not wait to see where this goes in the future.