Welcome to Teir—a shining beacon of hope amidst the ravages of war…or the trappings of a gilded cage? SUMMER of DUST and ASH is the exciting sequel to RED SUMMER by Ana Lee. After reviewing the first book, RED SUMMER, I got a chance to get an ARC copy of the soon-to-be-released next book in the Stone and Scale series.

Summer of Dust and Ash (Stone and Scale Book 2)

Expected Release Date: April 26, 2026

Genre: Epic Romantasy

Featuring

– Multi-POV

– Slow burn

– Fated bonds

– Antagonist turned ally

– Love triangle

– Ultimate good vs evil

– Dragons and ancient magic

– Prophecies

– Corrupt government

– Political intrigue

– Secret high-stakes battles

Synopsis

Following an unforeseen treason and an unexpected attack on the New Orleans Council House, Wilder and his friends escape to the safety of Teir. But secrets, greater still than the ones kept by the people they trusted, arise just in time for Summer Solstice.

As the Red War builds between worlds, another—more ancient and more deadly—brews in the heavens. And its whispers are creeping into the heart of the Eadar.

The dragons, once believed by most to have never truly existed, begin to return—and they’re not playing by the rules. The mysterious Jeselle, born of both dark and dragon magic, takes her place as the first rider. And the hunt for the stones, all that stands in the way of Markus claiming control of everything he touches, finally begins.

But can Wilder and his friends stay alive long enough to find them? Can they truly trust the Magistrie to protect the Eadar, and the humans, from the Dahrk and the havoc it’s wrought? And most of all, can Wilder trust himself?

REVIEW

Book one was like “Harry Potter” meets “Percy Jackson” on Bourbon Street. Book two sends us into “House of Dragons” territory as Wilder’s journey continues. His and Terra’s will-they-won’t-they tension blends effortlessly with the dark political tension that’s brewing in the magical realms and threatening the human realm. And the dragon egg finally hatches!!!

Summer of Dust and Ash explodes! The stakes are high. Lee keeps a good pace as we learn more about each character and their stakes in the matter, without losing sight of our main character, Wilder.  Speaking of Wilder, his character has grown a bit, too, but he is still in denial about some things, which I liked. He’s not, “oh, I am magic, so I know it instantly and am very good at it.”  No, Wilder still has no clue, really; he is more powerful than he knows. 

We also start to wonder whether Wilder and his friends are on the right side of it all. Our villain is starting to look less villainous, perhaps? Or is it just all a lie to lure Wil in?  I was so with Wil in his internal struggle. We end, though, with the question, What do the dragons have on the overall situation?

I can’t wait to find out in the next book, “Son of Summer.”

My Rating 4 out of 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Lee is the debut author of Red Summer—the first novel of the upcoming dark, gritty, and fast-paced epic contemporary fantasy series, Stone and Scale.

Ana lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she spends her time reading, writing, or dreaming about reading and writing.

Her influences include (but are definitely not limited to) Cassandra Clare, Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Follow Anna and her books at @analeewrites on Instagram.