“𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙞 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢. 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙞 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙨, 𝙞 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙣-𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨”

kingdom of claw was such an enjoyable and immersive read that kept me hooked from start to finish 🤭 one of the standout features for me was the multiple povs – it added so much richness to the story. getting to experience the thoughts, emotions, and motivations of not just the main characters but also the side characters made the world feel vibrant and alive

it was fascinating to see how everyone’s choices, big or small, influenced the story, and it helped me connect with the characters on a much deeper level ✨ i especially appreciated how each pov felt distinct, making it easy to follow while adding layers of complexity to the plot

i have to admit, though, i really missed the bloodaxe crew throughout this book 🥹 their banter, loyalty, and sense of humor brought such a fun and heartwarming element to the first installment, and i kept hoping to see more of them here

their absence made parts of the story feel a little heavier, and i think their dynamic would’ve added some levity and balance.

even with that, i still loved the story 💙 the worldbuilding was lush and detailed, and demi has a way of crafting characters you can’t help but root for (or against) 👀 the tension between the leads was palpable, and i appreciated how their growth felt natural and earned. the twists kept me engaged, and even though a few plot points were predictable, they didn’t take away from my enjoyment.

Kingdom of claw
#arc #netgalley

Firstly I want to thank NetGalley and @demiwinters for the opportunity to read #kingdomofclaw.

I want to start by saying i adored #theroadofbones. I loved the viking/mercenary aspect with #foundfamily.
Once I read The Road of bones I knew I wanted to continue with the series.
This book was everything I wanted. It picked up where book one had finished and some how managed to get so much better.
I loved the dual pov. I loved seeing both Silla & Saga’s pov, their growth and their spirit and going through so much.
The story covers different areas and characters but at the same time. So you always know what is going on with each of the characters.
I loved Silla’s development and Ray still managed to hold my heart.
I loved that we got to know more of Rey’s backstory and why he was so closed off.
I also enjoyed the fact that we met Jonas again (loathe him) what a creep.
I loved meeting Saga, her story was so heartbreaking but it showed her strength.

All in all this book was really great. I loved the pace, the backstories and I can not wait for the next book because that ending… Demi you did us dirty 🫣
Loved it 4.5⭐️

This is one of the few books advertised as 'BookTok Sensation' that actually lives up to the hype. While there weren't as many surprising twists in Kingdom of Claw as there were in Road of Bones, I was completely gripped.

Generally, I'm not a fan of authors adding new POVs in sequel novels (I rarely seem to connect to the new POVs in the way that I do with the original POVs) but the additional on Saga's POV was executed brilliantly and arguably Saga's plotline was more compelling than Silla's (which I found a tad slow in places) and definitely drove the story.

The romance was well done for both Silla and Saga but I found myself more invested in Saga's romance given her situation was so dire but I'm intrigued to see how it will develop in the next book in the series.

At heart, I'm an impatient being so a part of me does regret reading Kingdom of Claw given I'll now have to suffer an agonising wait until book three in the series is released...

3.5 rounded up.

If you like vikings, tension, an engrossing plot and detailed writing, then The Ashen series is the one for you.

We landed right where we left off from The Road of Bones — fast paced and exciting, and I was scrambling for all of the answers that I was desperate for. The middle of the book was a little bloated, and I felt like some of the chapters were filled with unnecessary, fluffy training scenes and could’ve been minimised. Having said that, it picked back up in no time and I was back on the edge of my seat.

I loved that the multiple POV included Saga, our main character’s sister, so we got to see the scheming from both sides regarding them both trying to find their way back to/save each other. It was fun to see a point of view from Jonas, too. Even though… 🗡️

The world building is wonderful; the author knows how to set a scene perfectly. The character development throughout this book was done really well and felt organic. And the romance… phew! Axe Eyes, you are a God.

I’m going to be honest, I’m gutted that the rest of the Bloodaxe Crew seem to be forgotten about and only mentioned in fleeting moments. However, our new character, Kass, certainly took some of the soreness off of that 😮‍💨 and I know that we’re getting a Hekla novella.

All in all, a great addition to the series. I’m excited to see where the next book leads us after all of those twists that Demi loves to throw our way!

Thank you netgalley for the arc.

6 STARS!!!

I loved the first book, but this one took things to another level. It might be too early to say, but this could be my favourite read of 2025! Everything about Kingdom of Claw was perfection - from the character development to all the twists and turns this story took.

The extra POV we had from Saga was everything I didn't know I wanted, and I can't wait to see her character develop. I can't believe I now have to wait for book 3, it's going to be agony.

Spoilers for book 1 - proceed with caution if you haven't read Road of Bones yet*
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶🌶.🫑

I absolutely devoured both Road of Bones and Kingdom of Claw this week! I enjoyed everything about these books and had to take a full day off reading to recover from the hangover that ensued. Book 2 of The Ashen series picks up where we leave off in Road of Bones following our loveable FMC Silla. We also get a prologue that divulges why King Ivar started executing the Galdur. Silla and Rey are en route to a safe house in the northern part of the country where Galdur are less persecuted than the rest of the kingdom. She is still reeling from the trauma and betrayals from Book 1 and has essentially learned that everything she thought she knew about herself and her life has been a farce. While in the north, she learns more about herself and starts training with her magic. We are blessed with chapters from the POV of Rey (insert swoon!!), the asshat that is Jonas, and Silla's sister Saga. Jonas is still up to no good and gives strong Tamlin vibes. Saga goes through so much and we learn what life as a captive princess has been like for her the past 17 years. She ends up allying with an emissary visiting from another country who is more than meets the eye (insert swoon #2 !!). So much happens in this book and I can't wait to keep reading! Demi Winters is now an auto-buy author for me! The level of character development we get for our main characters is incredible and learning more about the magic of this world was so much fun! I missed the Blood Axe crew and can't wait to reunite with them in the future. Except Jonas, he can suck eggs.

What to expect from Kingdom of Claw:

💀 Touch her/him and die
👑 Political intrigue
🥸 Hidden identity
💕 Romance
😒🌈 Grumpy x Sunshine
⚔️ Action and adventure
✨ Magical training
🌶🌶.🫑 Spice
🗣️ Multiple POV
💔 Emotional damage
🤝 Reluctant allies to friends
🤯 Unexpected plot twists

✨ Thank you Demi and Netgally for this re-release review copy. My views are my own ✨

This book hits the mark when it comes to creating that perfect blend of magic, action, romance and deep emotional turmoil. The setting is vivid and dangerous, and the stakes? High. It’s a story about stepping into your power, fighting for your survival, and finding your own path amidst chaos. If you loved The Road of Bones, this sequel will grab you by the soul and never let go. I’m so excited to see where this story goes.

Really enjoyed this next book in the series. Saga’s storyline is one I loved following, as emotional as it was. There is a recap at the start of this book which I liked as it’s been a while since I read Road of Bones. I’d absolutely recommend this series and can’t wait for the next book

I really enjoyed the first book and was so excited for Kingdom of Claw. I love the world building and just everything about this story, it’s so gripping and keeps me engaged. The writing flows beautifully I did miss certain characters and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I am really enjoying this story and cannot wait to see where it goes from here. I am hoping the next book is a little shorter. I do not think it needed to be as long as it was. I missed the Blood Axe crew, but I loved the new characters that were introduced.

A captivating read from start to finish, full of action, adventure, mystery and romance. I enjoyed every second of this!!