Big thank you to NetGalley and the Quercus Audio for allowing me access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator’s voice was clear and easy to listen to, however, I found it slightly on the slow side as I was easily able to keep up at 2x speed. There is some differentiation between character’s voices but this could be developed further with more voice acting to keep the listener more engaged.

I had high hopes for A Dawn of Onyx and enjoyed the beginning of this book, quickly feeling immersed in the world. I appreciated the simplicity of the world building, naming all the places after precious stones allowed me to pick up the world quickly and focus on the plot.

After the initial first 20% of the book the pacing began to drop off and there seemed to be little driving the plot forward. Overall the plot began to feel very formulaic and reliant on tropes. As time passed I felt less and less engaged in the the story and the characters began to feel whiny and one-dimensional.

Although I don’t feel a need to pick up the second book, I would recommend this book to those who enjoyed The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this audiobook

I finally get the hype! I loved this book. The plot twists the slow burn it was perfect!

This was a really solid fantasy debut. I was instantly hooked with Arwen and Kanes story. The story had a good slow burn and I really enjoyed how it played out and the ending.... I need book 2 now, I need to know what's going to happen next. If you enjoy a book with fantasty, touch her and die vibes and a good plot development then check this one out.
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a brilliant job with Arwen. I also enjoyed Joe's chapter from Kanes pov at the end. I hope book 2 is more of a duo narrative.

A Dawn of Onyx is what I would consider a formulaic romantasy. You have all the tropes and elements that readers seem to love these days, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, strong female character and so on. However, everything felt already read, hence why I say its “formulaic”: nothing new, everything basic, annoying characters, and stale prose.
It’s not that it’s a bad book, but I didn’t like it either (and I went into this with zero expectations) so I gave it 2.5 stars. I 'm not sure I'll continue reading this series.
I think that those who appreciate these tropes and just don’t want to reread a court of thornes and roses or the bridge kingdom over and over again should give it a try.

A lot of my friends have been telling me to read this and it did not disappoint. While a slow start, it picked up about halfway through. I never guessed the plot twists, and that's always a good thing in my book!
I really enjoyed the narration.

It was the audiobook version that I listened to as an ARC from Netgalley. I was drawn in by a pretty cover and was delighted when I was approved. This story is book one in the The Sacred Stones series and with the way that the story ended, I will definitely be waiting to see what happens next whenever book two is released.
This story was published on 12th October 2023 so it is out now and available to read/buy. I would highly recommend it, it was a five star read for me.
The beginning for me was quite slow but in reflection this was probably a good thing because it was a fantastic way to worldbuild and the romance in this story was a slow burn. There are some spicy and quite nicely done fantasies, dreams and then eventually actual contact but it was well written, the slow pace actually added a lot of tension to those scenes. It added a lot of yearning and wanting so actually, I’m glad for it because the end result was definitely worth it.
The FMC for me was again, someone naive and sheltered who is brought into the wider world, everything she thinks she knows is slowly ripped away from her and there is devastating news (I did see it coming) by the end of it. I do like that she was resilient, although her immediate reactions weren't to my liking, Arwen is someone who just adapts and does what needs to be done. Overall the character development was great and I’m interested to see how she fares next on her journey.
There are amazing side characters, all very likeable. The MMC is just great, I liked him immensely. Funny, charming and I’m convinced they are a fantastic match so hopefully by the end of the series a happy ending can happen for Arwen.

While I felt this was a fun read, the world building was lacking and I wasn’t invested in the plot because the war was never really explained to us.

The romance was a little insta lovey and not really a true enemies to lovers , even though the plot was set up perfectly to create angst and tension.

All in all if you are looking for a fun romantasy read you will probably enjoy this as I still had a good time reading but I just wanted more.

There was a lot that I liked about this book. The Kingdom vibes are always entertaining to. I love royal/political intrigue and was interested in following Arwen’s exploration of the Onyx kingdom. But there were parts of the story that just left me wanting something a bit more original. I think this story is entertaining and I enjoyed the characters but it just felt very familiar, like I’d already read it. And though that can be a good thing often, in this case it made me feel a bit bored at times. The dynamic between the MCs was great though and it kept me intrigued enough to finish the book, but still wanting a bit more to make me fully invest in following the rest of the series, I did like the narrator though. She made it easy for me to speed up the audio and still be able to follow her different expressions which isn’t always possible,

I enjoyed A Dawn of Onyx more than most romantasys I've read recently. The characters were relatable and the romance was a tension-filled slow burn with all the best tropes.

There were slower points in the middle, but the end really picked up. I also liked that their relationship wasn't all about their physical attraction to each other and spice.

The little spice there was was written well, too.

Looking forward to reading the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

I went into this with rather low expectations, I hadn't really looked into it much and I've been feeling a bit burnt out on romantasy books lately, so I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.
It just really hit the spot for me in terms of romance and the fantasy plot.

I really enjoyed both main characters, and their romance had me squealing at times. It's not the best enemies-to-lovers arc, but I still really enjoyed the progression of their romance.

The worldbuilding was decent; it didn't really stand out, but I think the world is well-crafted, and I found it easy to understand what's going on.

The plot relied on certain tropes, and it was quite predictable at times, but it was mixed with some twists I didn't expect. Overall, I was really invested in the story and found it quite addicting.
The ending definitely took it up a notch and I'm now eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it to fans of romantasy.

I loved everything about this book. The plot. The slow burn romance. It was just everything I love in a fantasy. This is only my second attempt at an audio book and I think I’ll still read the book as I tend to read a lot faster and take it in better that way.

I was bombarded with this book all over bookstagram and booktok, and logically, as the mood reader that I am, I had to add it to my TBR and would plan to read it eventually (meaning in one of my mood reading breakdowns). That is until I found it on Listen Now on NetGalley, and I had to stop everything that I was reading because I needed to start it ASAP.

I got hooked on the premise of the book because I am a sucker for strong female characters, and when I read Arwen (our MFC) is taken to save her family's life to the most dangerous kingdom of the infamous Onyx King, I knew this was the book for me.

This book is very straightforward; we have enemies and lovers in a fantasy setting in the middle of a war between kingdoms. Our heroine has to put her differences aside to use her abilities to heal her "enemies."

I was hoping for a little more spice or banter since most bookish accounts I have seen promoting this book tend to read spicier stories. At times, I found it a little bit too YA (not a bad thing, not what I was expecting), and the slow burn had me anxious as hell, but this gives me hope for book two, and I am excited about it.

Saying this, since I did the audio, the intro mentioned a dual narration, so normally, I thought it would be like that in the book, having chapters for each of our characters. However, there is only one chapter narrated by our MMC, and it's at the end. I don't particularly appreciate it when audiobooks do this because it creates false expectations.

Surprisingly enough (I am still pinching myself for this), Joe Arden commented on a video I created about this book, and he did mention he only narrates the last chapter but that there will be a lot of him in book two, so that's something to look forward to.

This is a good fantasy book, and I have to say I enjoyed it; as with most first books, this is a lot of information, and I am guessing we will get more meat in the bone in book two, and I am excited about it.

The narrative is well-crafted, featuring compelling main characters and an intriguing plot that has piqued my interest in exploring the sequel. While my overall impression is positive, I find that the worldbuilding could benefit from additional depth and creativity. In particular, the choice of naming kingdoms after gemstones such as Onyx, Amber, and Peridot strikes me as somewhat conventional. While opinions on creativity may vary, I personally believe that diversifying the worldbuilding elements could enhance the richness of the fictional universe. Perhaps introducing unique cultural nuances, historical contexts, or distinct geographical features would contribute to a more immersive and captivating setting. Despite this minor critique, I look forward to delving into the continuation of the story.
Thank you for this ARC for a honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden. I had heard so many amazing things about this series and it did not disappoint! This is a fantasy romance which had me hooked from the first page all the way to the end and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. The slow burn romance was so good and the world was super immersive. There were a couple things that happened towards the end that frustrated me and lowered the rating but overall it was a great experience. Definitely picking up book two!

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Secret Identity, Enemies to Lovers, Kingdoms at war, Who hurt you, Morallygray mmc

Many people have recommended this book to me so when I got the Audiobook Arc I was so excited! I enjoyed this book a lot and honestly it helped me get out of a really tough reading slump I have been in for about two months now. The narrator was good and I really think she did the characters well with different voices. It’s easy to follow, it’s exciting, the characters are good and the world is really interesting. There was a lot of world and plot building in this one as I do believe there is a sequel coming now in 2024 so it was lacking a little bit in action but I still enjoyed it a lot. The romance is a great slowburn enemies to lovers and I am here for it. The spice was great but not too much and I really appreciated it. I am absolutely looking forward to reading the next book in this series and I would absolutely recommend this if you love a good high fantasy romance!

Thank you for allowing me to read this!

Loved the audiobook, I enjoyed the story as it was fast passed with elements I have not personally come across before, as well as using familiar tropes and allowing the story to progress and develop.

I loved the plot and the character, however Arwen felt slightly underdeveloped as she continuously contradicts her character, and while insisting she does not want to trust others, she trusts very quickly. However, her progression and relationship with the other characters over time was well done.

Highly enjoyed this read, and would recommend and read the author again!

I loved the narrators for this audio version of A dawn of onyx!

Arwen is a healer and finds herself taken to the Kingdom of Onyx as a prisoner.
As a character I really liked Arwen. She starts off riddled with anxiety and we see her grow in strength as the story unfolds. Kane was also a favourite character but I don’t think we have yet gotten to really know him in any meaningful way.

I feel like alot of information still needs to come to light to really understand the dynamics between the kingdoms but overall I really enjoyed the storyline and look forward to the next instalment.

I loved the added perspective at the end and would love to have more of Kanes POV in the next book 😍

This Romantasy wasn't anything original or memorable, yet it was surprisingly fun to listen to.

Arwen Valondale is your common village girl with not-so-common healing magic. Her country of Amber is being decimated by the forces of the Onyx kingdom. She has already lost her brother to the conscription, and now it might soon be time for women to fight too. Then the war comes to their doorstep, and she becomes a prisoner in the Onyx King's fortress. She is woken up to the realities of the world and has to find the courage and strength to face them.

There is not much when it comes to the setting. Nine countries are named after nine Holy Gemstones that are never mentioned again, only when swearing on them. There is witchcraft and legends of monsters and fae. It's all very bare-boned.

The story was serviceable. It was more there to allow the characters to build their relationship. We only went more in-depth at the end of the book. There were a lot of sudden reveals that kind of came out of nowhere, yet were also very what one would expect from this kind of story. I did enjoy the first revelation, though. That was somewhat unexpected.

As for some interesting characters, we have Mari who is the kind of chipper character that instantly befriends Arwen. While again not so original, I enjoyed her character. She just does what she decides to do and damned be the consequences. Arwen herself does suffer from some classic Romantasy character tropes, yet most of the time I didn't have a problem with her and she does have pretty good banter with everyone. As for our romantic interest, I can't say much without spoiling him, but he again falls under the typical dark and troubled trope. Yet, somehow, he still wasn't insufferable.

Then of course there is the romance. It is enemies to lovers with a bit too much insta lust. I did enjoy the banter quite a bit. It was probably what I enjoyed most about the book.

Lastly, I consumed this book as an audio version, and I think Joe Arden's voice was one of the reasons for my enjoyment. While it wasn't the best narration I ever experienced, it has definitely been one of the better ones out there. It was easy to understand, with proper pauses, and each character had its own distinctive voice.

This review may seem like I am complaining more than praising the book. While I wasn't sure between 2 (ok) and 3 (liked) stars at first, I think my enjoyment leans more towards 3 stars. I am not sure if I want to pick up the sequel when it comes out, but I might revisit the entire series once it has been completed.

I received an ALC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First I have to say thank u smmmm to the author and publishers for the ARC!

I listened to the audiobook and it took me a while to get into the authors narration but once we were into it, I GOT INTO IT. I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. This has got everythinggggg you want in a fantasy book, fae, romance, a morally gray mmc, the TENSION … *chefs kiss* Kane had me giggling and blushing fr, like I cannot with this man!!! I will recommend this book until my voice goes hoarse. I am obsessed. And the ENDING?!?!? All I’ll say is Kate Golden you are sooooo lucky the second book is coming out soon!!!

My rating for this book is 3.75⭐️.
I really enjoyed this book, the twist and turns, really didn’t see it coming especially the ending. I can’t wait for the second book.