Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Dragons, wyvern, fae, magic and a bit of forbidden love sprinkled in, what’s not to love?! I was hooked from the very first page.

Mal is a formidable, no fucks given FMC. I loved how smart she is on top of being a warrior. Her and Ash’s enemy-ish to lovers storyline has my complete heart.

I thought the world building and political side of the book was SO interesting. Seeing how all the different courts act and scheme against each other through the different POVs meant there was never a dull moment in the book. And after that ending!!!! What a twist, I’m absolutely dying to get my hands on book two.

Thanks to NetGalley and J.F. Johns for the ARC!

4.75/5 stars BUT i’m rounding to 5 cause this is DESERVED!

dragons and betrayal and murder, oh my!

i was hooked almost INSTANTLY, by the end of chapter 3 i was SOLD. this was a book i was reading all day, kindle in hand while cooking, cleaning, the whole nine. i could not stop.


i love love love when a book has a 3rd person pov, that makes it so much easier for my brain to play that movie ya know?

the world building in this? IMPECCABLE. the kingdoms *chefs kiss*. i felt like each character we met was so necessary, there wasn’t a moment i was reading where i said “this chapter could’ve ended.” i didn’t want it to end. i’m sitting here SAD i don’t have book 2 ready to read right now.

my favorite kind of fmc in fantasy novels are the ones who don’t NEED the mmc. the ones who are strong, and fierce. and we have that here with Mal.

however, the YEARNING between Kai and Alina?! GIIIIRRRLLLLLL i’m on my knees.

basically, i need A Kingdom of Sand and Ice so my life can be complete again.

the tropes we see here:
- arranged marriage
- enemies to lovers
- kinda forbidden love
- lowkey found family

Wow! This book was a fantastic read! I devoured it.

I loved the character development, banter and the unique magic system. The world building and pacing of the story was great. This was an enemies to lovers, slow burn romance.

Witches, princes and dragons oh my!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC 🫶

I have to admit that i loved this book so much more than what i was expecting. The world building, the characters, the different plots but also the connections were incredible and also so easy to understand. I have a little problem with the relationships because it felt for me that everything was just so rushed and they didn’t get to know each other, but it was okey

I honestly thought that the third person narration and the multiple pov’s could be a problem, but in reality this made the book so much easier and more interesting for me.

I really really need the next book RIGHT NOW after that ending and all the answers (and more questions) we got.

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25 STARS

I had such a good time reading this book! It immediately draws you right in and the world building was so easy to understand. It never felt like random things were just being thrown in to make the world more complex. This made the pacing of the book perfect!

I also really loved the mix of characters we got who most are really likeable and having really varied characteristics that picking up on whose POV we were in was not a challenge at all! The romance also felt organic and not over done. It's mention that it's a slow burn for the two MCs but I would say more it is more along the lines of an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story which makes the relationship progress more drawn out.

I'm honestly really excited to continue this series in the future!

Thankyou to J. F. Johns, Independent and NetGalley for an ARC of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash.

If I could scream right now, I would. That ending was utterly breathtaking. I was left on the edge of my seat, heart pounding, desperate for more. This book isn't just a story it's a full-throttle, emotional rollercoaster, and I already know the rest of the series is going to be explosive!

At the heart of the novel is Mal, a fierce and determined heroine caught in the web of a centuries-old curse. She's betrothed to the Fire Prince—a political union meant to forge peace between their divided kingdoms, but also a chance for Mal to fulfill a deadly promise: plunge a dagger into her future husband’s heart and end the curse once and for all. What follows is a whirlwind of engagement festivities, diplomatic tightropes, broken hearts, and unexpected alliances. And just as the heirs begin to find their footing, an even darker force creeps closer witches, war, and something far more ancient and dangerous than anyone expected.

This story has so many layers, it’s hard to pick a favorite. The worldbuilding is immersive and intelligent, with diary excerpts that masterfully unravel the past while adding tension to the present. The characters are richly drawn, each distinct and unforgettable. It’s rare to meet such a large ensemble cast and still feel so deeply connected to every single voice.

Mal is absolutely the standout, driven, loyal, and utterly compelling as she grapples with her growing power and impossible choices. Alina, too, stole my heart. Raised to be obedient and quiet, she’s slowly finding her voice, her fury, and her teeth and I cannot wait to see how bloodthirsty she becomes. The sibling bonds, sparks flying with rival-turned-romance pairings, and the carefully negotiated alliances all felt heartbreakingly real and emotionally resonant. If I had one minor critique, it’s that the Fire Prince, despite being a central figure, sometimes faded behind the brighter personalities around him, but I have a strong feeling he’s going to surprise us in the next installment.

This book devoured my attention. I postponed real-life obligations just to stay in this world a little longer. It’s fast-paced, emotionally rich, and full of the kind of tension that makes it impossible to put down. I’m already bracing myself for the chaos to come!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This was an excellent read. There is tons of story building, character building, and lore. It feels very slow, but once you get a picture of the past, then you get the story of the present. I really enjoyed all the kingdoms and learning about how each one runs and who’s in line for the throne. It was really interesting as well to see Tabitha’s diary entry’s at the beginning of each chapter. It really helped see into the truth and the past. The ending was immaculate! It left just enough cliffhanger to prepare for the next book, but didn’t leave me hanging with an ending. I hope Mal and Ash get an eventual happy ever after, but this book threw so many curve balls I have no idea. 10/10 would recommend if you like fantasy with romance and very little spice.

This book completely captivated me from start to finish. The female main character is an absolute powerhouse—fierce, unapologetic, and fully walking in her truth. Her strength and presence command every page, and I was enthralled by the way the world seemed to bend to her will. The plot was gripping, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, the twists near the end left me absolutely stunned. The unraveling of secrets was executed flawlessly. I genuinely loved every moment of this story and I’m eagerly awaiting book two—it cannot come soon enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and J.F. Johns - the lovely author - for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🧡

I just have to say this cover!!! 10/10!! It’s so beautiful

✨The Fun Bits ✨

This book completely sucked me in! I can already see it becoming a hit in the booktok/ bookstagram world. I flew through it with barely any breaks because I couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely a long read, but the fast-paced chapters made it go by quickly.

The world-building was rich and immersive—so many kingdoms, layers of history, and hidden secrets that I’m hoping we’ll see more in the next book. There’s magic and dragons, wyvern, witches and so much more mythical beings!

Every character introduced had depth, and surprisingly, I enjoyed reading all the different POV’s. I usually struggle to care about secondary characters (loyalty to the main ones and all that), but I really enjoyed following all of them here. The third-person POV didn’t bother me either and actually I preferred it!

✨ MC Spotlight ✨

Mal and Ash are the main characters and they were bittersweet. The spicy scenes were on the light side- present but a little soft but honestly the story and action was much more interesting 🤷‍♀️ What’s different about the male MC is that he is not a regular alpha kinda a guy which is a refreshing change for this type of genre.

✨ What Else to Expect ✨

It ends on a cliffhanger—one of those that flips everything upside down and leaves you desperate for book two. While there are some familiar romantasy tropes, the story still manages to feel fresh and stand out on its own, which is probably why I loved it so much!

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

✨ Tropes ✨ (might be considered a spoiler)

⭐️ enemies to lovers, almost instant love
⭐️ court intrigue
⭐️ arranged marriage
⭐️ multiple POV
⭐️ Many kingdoms
⭐️ prophecy

Reading this book was an absolute delight—I found myself completely captivated and reluctant to put it down. Mal Blackburn, our fierce and complex protagonist, is bound by duty to marry Ash Acheron. However, to break a century-old curse, she must make an impossible choice: kill the Fire Prince before time runs out, or risk unleashing an unknown fate.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Mal and Ash was executed brilliantly, adding tension, depth, and heart to the story. I adored every moment of their development. The plot was fast-paced and filled with twists—especially toward the end, which was pure chaos in the best way possible. I was flying through the pages, desperate to see how it would all unfold.

With its irresistible blend of forced proximity, romantic tension, and unrelenting suspense, this book checks all the boxes of what I love in a romantic fantasy. Never a dull moment. A solid 5 stars—and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!✨🐉📖

This was the most incredible book I have ever read! I feel like I could talk about this book forever and still have things to rave about. There was just so much thought and detail that went into every character, every setting, every kingdom, every storyline - just incredible. I was completely amazed how the author was able to weave together so many storylines and still keep it a cohesive story. I also loved the overarching storyline from Tabitha Wysteria - the witch who originally cursed the 8 kingdoms. I enjoyed coming back to her retelling at the beginnings of every chapter as a little insight into what happened in the past.

I truly think the growth of all the characters was very well-done. We start off with Mal Blackburn who is quite headstrong and is hell-bent on killing the Drakonian Prince thinking he is a brute, but we see her quickly come to realize that things are not always as they seem once she meets Ash. I loved the vulnerability in Ash's character as well, it made him more relatable and I could empathize with the way he acted in the Drakonian court. I do have to say that although Mal and Ash were the stars of this particular installment in the series, Kai and Alina stole my heart. The yearning between the two was out of this world and I can't wait to see how their side of the story unfolds in upcoming books (hopefully!!).

My only critique would be that I don't have the second book in my hands already and I now have to wait an unknown amount of time until I can jump back into this world hahaha Thank you JF Johns for trusting me with an ARC of your book!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest review.

This book took a little bit to get into, but once I got into it I really couldn't put it down! It was fast paced, definitely not a slow burn... but the twists and turns in it really kept me wanting to read more. The world building was really interesting and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Mal Blackburn is the fourth born daughter of the Wyverian royal line. She loves her life in the kingdom, which she enjoys with her 3 siblings. Alas for Mal, her fate has been decided for her: she is to be married to the Fire prince, who is said to be cruel. Will she survive this marriage under oath?

For fans of wyverns, witches and warlocks, dragons, fae, valkyrians, phoenixes and huge wolves: this is a story for you. Even though the title is a bit basic (A blank of blank and blank is very popular among authors these days), the book starts in a slow simmer until it ramps up to the grand finale, leaving you wanting the next book stat.

What kept me reading?
- What STARTED me reading was the stunning cover. I know, don't judge a book by its cover, blah blah, but it definitely does help in my choices to pick up a book.
- Alina is a meanie in the beginning, but she for sure grows along with the book.
- *does grabby hands* Kai.
- Had me wondering what was going on with certain characters and OH BOI does the plot deliver.
- Just the drama of it all. Oh my lord.
- The Wyverians are just badass.
- Love the extra layers that the Fire Prince has.
- It has people who can kill you but are cinnamon rolls, people who look like they'll kill and actually will kill you, and just killers who end up being cinnamon rolls I guess.
- The dynamic between Kai and Kage was chef's kiss. Would love to see more of them.

What icked me (a little)?
- The tidbits at the start of the chapters (by Tabitha Wysteria) seemed a bit random and after reading, I still haven't really found their function.
- Sometimes the relationships feel a bit rushed, this is definitely NOT a slow burn.
- The rotten food thing was a bit weird in the lore, but I guess we'll just take that as their quirk.

All in all it took me a little time to get into the story but by the time I got to the end, I couldn't put it down. And I am really excited to read the next book.

This book was provided by NetGalley as an ARC. Thanks to them and the author for this opportunity!

3.75 stars
thank you netgalley.com and JF Johns for allowing to read this arc for my honest review

this first book of a multi-book fantasy series follows mal blackburn as she decides whether or not she will break the curse set upon the seven kingdoms by tabitha wysteria after her husband was killed.

this novel includes multiple POVs, oath marriages, fae, witches, and more. if that is something you are into, this may be the novel for you!

this novel was well-paced and had some interesting characters. though, i will say that i felt as if the character names were lacking originality.

some things i really loved about this novel: the prologue!!! that prologue was possibly one of the most engaging prologues i have ever read.

alina acheron! she was my favorite character! i loved her inner monologue and her inner battle to find a place where she belongs. her growing tension with kai blackburn also kept me kicking my feet and giggling.

i loved how different each of the blackburn siblings were (kage, mal, kai and haven), you can tell that they really each had a separate purpose for the story.

somethings i didn’t love about this novel: waaaay too many POVs, i like a lot more mystery especially for the first novel of a series. i also don’t love when novels switch POVs in one single chapter. another thing i didn’t love was the sudden change between mal and her “love interest”, they went from barely acknowledging each other to instantly in love making it feel more like insta-love than slow burn enemies to lovers.

otherwise, i am very excited to read the next book and hope the story continues to be as exciting!

view this review on fable and instagram (@readingbyleisa)

this has everything you want in a fantasy book! so good and so amazing. it kept me on the edge of my seat! i can’t wait for the next one.

The story line of this book was top notch! I did get a little confused a few times throughout, but I wonder if that was also due to the many POVs.
The world building intrigued me right from the beginning and I was instantly hooked.
The FMC seemed like such a timid character in the beginning but then all of a sudden was this badass fighting and threatening to kill people-threw me off a little bit.
The MMC is just a beautiful cinnamon roll even though he's known as a cruel prince. And the poor guy-I felt soooo bad for him!

I'm interested to see where the next book takes us!

I found this book stunning from beginning to end, full of excitement! I was fully immersed with the characters and the world and didn’t want the book to end. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this ahead of release and cannot wait for the buzz and fans to start gathering in mass when it is released!

This book was pretty fun and filled with a lot of interesting twists and did a good job keeping me hooked throughout. The main characters were very interesting and i liked the depth to their characters but i wish we had a bit more depth and different personalities for the side characters.
The writing style is really nice and kept me engaged with the gothic style the author created. the pace is a bit slow due to the many different character perspectives we get but i actually liked seeing everyones thoughts.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for letting me read the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, even the side characters (Wren). I am curious to see what will happen in the next book. I am curious to see if something will spark between Wren and Kage or if he really prefers men.

I do feel like the author could have gone into more detail about the magic and the overall plot. To me it was missing some explanation.

The spice wasn't crazy which I often prefer.

Overall I would say a 4 out of 5 rating for me.

Love the artwork for the front cover.

I don’t know if I can even formulate words for how incredible this book was. For 100 years the eight kingdoms have not spoken until Mal Blackburn is betrothed to the Fire Prince. But a curse is whispered and rumoured and the only way it can be broken is by Mal killing the Fire Prince.
This is a world filled with witches, dragons, wyverns and other mythical and mystical beings. I absolutely adored the book and the storyline, I was kept on the edge of my seat and every twist had me gasping!
The slow burn, enemies to lovers… incredible. Mal and Ash have my heart.
Mal is a badass FMC and she had these beautiful pockets of wisdom for the other characters in the story I just loved reading what she had to say.
I loved that the story followed so many characters and not just the main plot line, we got to know so many of the characters and their intentions/ motivations through 3rd person POV. This is an addictive dark fantasy with plenty of political scheming and old feuds reignited.
This is one of my top 5 reads of the year and I will be recommending this to everyone I know.