This was an interesting book, overall, I enjoyed but I think it was trying to do too many things so it felt a little disjointed and slow in the beginning then very fast paced at the end. Alora begins pining after her best friend and eventually finds out he loves her too, but before their life can begin their village is attacked and everyone but her ends up dead. She then transforms into a badass assassin, we just don't see that... which felt a bit odd. It skips time and then the real story begins when she has a one night stand with Ryn which leads into an unexpected betrothal. I really enjoyed the second half of the book which is why I will totally wanna continue with the series and why it gets 4 stars. I think if the beginning had been structured a bit different it could've been a 5 star read cause I really liked Alora.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

First I want to thank the author, publisher, and netgalley for making it possible for me to read this book. It wasn't bad but wasn't really what I was expecting either. Sadly it fell a little flat for me

This book kinda gets lost in the world building but it was still a great story. You have a great mfc who is ready to kick butt and you have plenty of spice to see you through the story. Thank you NetGalley

Book 1 of a new series with fantasy, spice, and dark romance - what more could you want? Only the sequels!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC gifted in exchange for my honest review.

A fantasy book with a strong FMC this book has some of your favorite franchise vibes to this. With Dark Romance & Fated Mates & Arranged marriage.

Alora is strong & determined. It was a bit of all over the place so this could be a hit or miss. With a lot of common themes and plots of some of your favorites but I enjoyed it enough.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

🌶️🌶️
The title is very fitting for this book. I imagine the FMC Alora just repeatedly tastes ash as the hits just keep coming. It's hard not to relate to Lor as a fellow bookworm and I love that she never loses that side of her. I really enjoyed this book, but there were some small things that struck me as odd. The pacing was very rushed at times and some events felt like they came out of nowhere and needed a little more explanation than what was given. The worldbuilding was strong and immersive. The side characters were hit-and-miss but mostly lovable hits.

The ending had me cursing Ember Johnson mostly how dare she break me like this and when can I read book two?!?! The book just had so many twists and turns and I need to know what happens to Lor next and who is on the receiving end of her fury now. I really appreciate the full color art included in this book. Can this be standard even in ebooks please! This is definitely for people who like their fantasy dark and MCs raw, real and with high murder counts. I am hopeful this is another ACoTaR situation where book two is a 6-star read and I will be waiting for that ARC signup!

🔥Found Family
🗡️Assassin FMC
🔥Fated Mates
🗡️Peasant to princess
🔥Feminine rage
🗡️Hidden powers
🔥Prophecy
🗡️Vengeance

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cursbreaker Books and author Ember Johnson for this eARC

Daughter of Shadows and Ash was a fun read.
I loved the way Alora grows through her journey of revenge. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning and I would have liked the worldbuilding to be a bit more fleshed out, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and am excited to see where the story takes us in book 2.

Okay wow! I loved this book.
The world building dragged me in and I felt fully submerged before I even had a chance to realise it! I truly felt as though I could see it around me.
I loved the fact we had a strong fmc and how the spicy moments didn’t over shadow the story!

A strong FMC dealing with heartbreak? What more could you want from a fantasy aside from the twists you get from this quick read! Great world building where I didn't feel like it was too much but gave me just enough. Really enjoyed this, just wish it wasn't so rushed at some parts.

The story was very interesting and had me on the edge of my seat. The storyline is captivating and exciting and I didn't want to stop reading the book. Alora is a strong FMC and I really came to love her as she is very relatable. After this ending, the book definitely has me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Daughter of Shadows and Ash by Ember Johnson is a captivating young adult fantasy that blends dark magic with heart-pounding romance. The writing is sharp and immersive, with vivid world-building that pulls you right into its mystical universe. Alora, the fierce and determined main character, is a standout—her quest for vengeance after the loss of her loved ones makes her journey both emotional and empowering. The dialogue between characters is engaging, and there are some well-written spicy moments that add depth to the romance. If you're a fan of dark fantasy and romance, this book is a must-read!

Thank you so much to Netgalley for this eARC!

Daughter of Shadows and Ash was a book full of twists and turns! It kept me hooked through the very end and left me wanting more. Alora is a strong FMC that is fierce and ready to avenge her loved ones. I enjoyed the character dialogue and there were some spicy moments that were written well. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a dark fantasy romance for their TBR! Cannot wait for book 2!

Okay I loved this book. **ARC REVIEW**

#daughterofshadowsandash written by @author.emberjohnson

When her loved ones are brutally murdered and the life she had always known ripped away from her in the most brutal way, Alora vows to enact revenge. However fate had other plans. Alora must choose between her heart and her vow of vengeance.

This is definitely for those readers who love the Maas universe, especially the assassin's blade. The book is fast paced, frustratingly so in places and has all the best elements of a fantasy - a mate bond, shadow magic, assassin's, royals, conspiracy and a strong FMC. My only criticism was that I wanted MORE! Id love for more time to be taken in each city Alora visits on her journey, to feel the connection between characters more. Alora is just so lovable and bad ass, id love to see more of the support network she builds.

Finally, of course this book ends on a cliff hanger that will want you picking up the sequel immediately! Oh and the playlist is AMAZING!

It was the perfect book to cure a book hangover and finish before Onyx on Tuesday!

This is on kindle unlimited so I've tagged a few romantasy review accounts! Hope that's okay guys!

I received this from netgalley for an honest review

This was just an OK read for me. The storyline is decent, but the characters were underdeveloped which left me feeling unconnected to the characters and A LOT was crammed into about 200 pages so much of this story felt rushed. The book really struggled to hold my attention for the first 50% but towards the end it did get really good, and the ending left me wanting to continue to series. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I was highly attached at the beginning of this book. I enjoyed experiencing the dynamic of the village, getting to know Lor, her grandmother and her relationship with Mael. By the end of the first quarter I was really rooting for her and Mael making it… Having totally forgotten what the description mentioned.

The way we got to experience Lor manifesting her powers for the first time was amazing! The way her shadows and fire abilities flourished and consumed all at the same time was next level imagery. Lor’s demand for revenge spoke to her character and how see wanted to use her time while still living.

From then on, I struggled to stay engaged in the story. I found the flow was off and I had a hard time vibing with it. I enjoyed the assassin element for Lor’s story, it helped get her to where she needed to be and to add another layer to the story. However, it felt like there were many sections that didn’t feel necessary to the plot, and the timeline progressed in a way that made me feel like the flow was very choppy. This is the first book in a series and could very well tie everything together as Lor continues on in her journey.

🔥 Revenge, fate, and forbidden love collide in this addictive fantasy romance. Daughter of Shadows and Ash is perfect for readers who love fierce heroines, brooding princes, and slow-burning tension that aches.

Alora’s story is one of grief and vengeance—when her loved ones are taken from her, she carves a new path as an assassin, hunting down those responsible. But fate has other plans. One passionate night with a mysterious stranger changes everything, and when she meets him again in the throne room of the Sunnevean King? He’s not just any noble—he’s the prince she’s now betrothed to... and her fated mate. (Cue the gasps.)

This book has it all—political intrigue, courtly drama, an enemies-to-lovers romance that burns, and a heroine who is both deadly and deeply vulnerable. Alora’s struggle between vengeance and love is gripping, and the stakes only grow higher as dark forces rise. The world-building is immersive, the tension between the leads is electric, and the emotional depth gives this story so much heart.

If you love The Bridge Kingdom, From Blood and Ash, or The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Daughter of Shadows and Ash will absolutely hook you. Get ready for a whirlwind of action, angst, and romance that will leave you desperate for more.

3.5 stars.

it took a little too long for this to shift gears, for me. the contrast was a little too much—some parts were too slow, while others felt rushed. the inconsistent pacing gave me a literary whiplash at times. i think the idea is definitely there, though. i just think the execution could've used a little more work.

This book was very SJM like. The first half of the book was like a long introduction and by the time it started getting good I was just not interested anymore. That being said, it is Throne of Glassish, so just because I didn't care for it doesn't mean someone else won't love it.

3.5 - Overall, this was a good easy read. I liked most of the MCs, I wouldve liked more of Lors Grandmother! At some points it felt a little rushed and I would have liked a little more detail and backstory. I couldve used about 50 more pages. I was left with more questions than answers and will be looking forward to getting those in book 2.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Ember Johnson and Cursebreaker books for this ARC!