I enjoy fantasy books and romance books, and the combination thereof is one of my favorites when done well. Author Elizabeth Vaughan wrote a marvelous series 20 years ago titled <i>Chronicles of the Warlands</i>. Composed of 6 books originally, and starting with the phenomenal WARPRIZE, this series was utterly captivating. Vaughan came back and wrote a prequel to this earlier series in 2019 which was only ok, not like the great original books. Now, Vaughan brings us a new related series called the <i>Blood of Xy</i>.

The <i>Blood of Xy</i> series is clearly set in the same magical and primitive world as <i>Chronicles of the Warlands</i> but in a vastly different timeframe, and it’s unclear whether these books take place in the past or the future from the original series. ASHES OF XY is the first in this new series. It’s hard to read ASHES OF XY without comparing it to the epic greatness of WARPRIZE, and I think that riders who loved the original books will be disappointed by this latest tale. Even without suffering the comparison to Vaughan’s early glory days, readers may be underwhelmed in general by ASHES OF XY.

A civil war was just lost, and the new evil overlords are consolidating their power. The wet nurse for the born-on-the-battlefield heir to the throne escapes with her tiny charge, and finds herself thrown into a living situation with a crippled scholar who is a distant relative of the former (and current) rulers. There is a gentle romance between these two which is slow-blooming and sweet. I also like the mage and his half animal (but sometimes human) warrior who spirit the wet nurse away and then work in the background to try to save the kingdom. These characters don’t make up for the somehow one dimensionality of many of the characters, however, including the almost cartoonishly evil usurper king and queen.

Having fangirled so hard over the original series and eagerly awaiting this new release, I am disappointed to be so underwhelmed by ASHES OF XY. Having been such a loyal Vaughan fan for years, I will definitely pick up book 2, but with a little trepidation. New readers to this author would be much more richly rewarded to revel in the glory of WARPRIZE instead.

3.5

Kind of got lost cause there was a lot of info dump happening in every chapter but the characters were really well written

This cozy romantasy was a solid 3.5 star read for me that left me with high hopes for the continuation of the story. While Ashes of Xy introduces an intriguing world and cast, the pacing and plot feel more like a slow build than a full story. There were a lot of characters to keep up with and a lot of moving parts within different storylines that sometimes left me feeling a bit lost but I enjoyed the ride none the less! the last 20% did somewhat redeem the confusing aspects and I was genuinely routing for all the good guys and while cursing the bad. I wish we were given about 200 more pages or at least a few more chapters but as I mentioned I have a feeling book 2 will take the story up to the level I was hoping this story would be at.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC opportunity.

Premise: Two warring faction of the Blood. A lonely nursemaid escapes with the only heir to losing faction and seeks help from a cripple scholar.

A fantastical story dealing with war and betrayal within family while our main characters are anything but special- a weak nursemaid and a crippled scholar. I really enjoyed how the focus of story does not highlight the strengths of the characters but rather the flaws but it is through a network of people that things move long.

Although I found the storyline and the characters quite enjoyable I felt at times there was a lot of information dumping with no explanation; this could have been in an effort to keep the suspense however it makes those parts confusing.

Overall, those that enjoy a fantasy story with warring royals and yet very ordinary main characters will really enjoy this book. Betrayal, hidden convictions, defiance against power and love between friends and family shape this book into an entertaining story for everyone.

Tropes:
Found family
Political battle
Enemies to lovers

I enjoyed the world building in the book. It’s very descriptive and it brings you into the world. I loved Amari and Orval’s relationship with one another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth Vaughan for approving me to read this early!

I enjoyed this SO MUCH!
The world building didn’t make my brain spiral in confusion, I much enjoyed learning about this new world and the characters in it! It was well paced and I really hope we get another book, and I’d love to learn more of the history that is mentioned in this book!

I especially LOVED the character development of both Amari and Orval <3 and their relationship!

This book really took me by surprise! It started right in the action, and it reminded me a lot of something like Game of Thrones or The Priory of the Orange Tree. I can't believe more people aren't talking about it.

For the most part, the characters had very distinctive personalities. I absolutely adored Orval. It's always wonderful to see a quiet, bookish character when many protagonists are warriors. However, I really struggled to differentiate between the queen's blood companions. There were so many different women with very similar names, I had to really struggle to remember which was which. But I loved seeing a powerful queen and kind of an idiot king. Although Satia wasn't the most likeable character ever, she was definitely badass.

Speaking of blood companions, I really wish the lore of the different types of factions and magic were explained more. There were even references to elven races, but that was only briefly mentioned. I'm not super mad about this, because I imagine it will be explored more in the second book, which I will absolutely be reading.

The vibes of this book were really great. It was pretty dark, very similar to Game of Thrones like I said, but it also had humor and very, very sweet and pure romance. A lot of found family elements.

I had two main issues with this book. While the first few chapters were super clean, as I kept reading, I noticed spelling, wording, and punctuation errors popping up more and more frequently. Quotation marks were the worst offender. There were dozens of instances of misplaced or missing quotations. It was really distracting at times.

The second issue is that... Well, I was so excited for a really satisfying pay-off. I can't go into specifics too much without spoilers, but I will say quite the opposite happened. I was very, very, very unhappy with the ending of the book, enough to knock it down to 3 stars from the 5 stars I would have given it despite the punctuation issues.

I will still read the next book, despite the really disappointing ending, so hopefully, that will make up for it. Even with my disappointment, though, I am absolutely shocked more people aren't talking about this book. It has a lot of potential, and I would highly recommend trying it out.

I really wanted to love this book. And in some ways, I did. Ashes of Xy is full of quiet, emotional moments that feel real—raw, even. It’s a fantasy story that doesn’t lean on grand quests or nonstop action, but instead puts the spotlight on people just trying to survive, love, and make sense of their grief. There’s something refreshing about that. Something grounded and human.
The relationships are the heart of this book. The way it handles new parenthood, emotional vulnerability, and the deep ache of found family? Beautiful. Characters aren’t just sword-swinging heroes or tragic martyrs—they’re flawed and tired and scared, and I appreciated that deeply. Domestic scenes feel especially strong. There's real warmth in the quiet moments: shared meals, tentative conversations, unexpected tenderness between people who aren't quite sure how to hold each other yet.
But here’s the thing: the story itself never really comes together.
From early on, there’s a sense of drifting. The first third is all character introductions—which, again, are interesting—but by the halfway point, I realized I still didn’t know what the actual plot was. There’s no clear goal, no major conflict to latch onto, and that makes it hard to feel any sense of momentum. You keep waiting for a turning point, for the stakes to rise, for something to happen. But instead, it kind of... wanders. A few things escalate, sure, but not in a way that feels cohesive. Plotlines pop up and vanish. Big moments arrive without the build-up to earn them.
And the ending? It doesn’t really land. It’s more of a quiet fade-out than a finale. That might work for some readers—especially if you’re here more for the vibes than the plot—but I personally felt unsatisfied. I didn’t need a big battle or twist, but I needed something to feel resolved. Something to make the journey feel like it went somewhere.
The worldbuilding has sparks of brilliance. There’s magic, political tension, and ancient rituals that hint at a rich, complex culture—but most of it feels underdeveloped. Magic exists, but its rules are murky at best. Houses and factions are mentioned, but their relationships are confusing. It’s like looking at a painting through fog: I can tell there’s something beautiful in the background, but I just wish I could see it more clearly.
Stylistically, the writing can be a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s lyrical and poetic. Other times, it slips into stiff or overly stylized dialogue that doesn’t quite match the prose. The tone swings from elevated ceremony-speak to casual, modern-sounding lines, and the inconsistency pulls you out of the story a bit. Still, there’s something sincere in the way it’s written, even when it fumbles. You can tell the author cares, and that matters.
Representation is strong in concept—diverse characters, gender role reversals, queerness, cultural complexity—but not always fully explored. Some of the sapphic and cross-cultural relationships are sweet, but they’d be even more powerful with more backstory or tension to deepen them. There's a lot of telling, and I wanted more showing.
All in all, Ashes of Xy feels like a book full of potential that doesn’t quite hit its stride. If you love emotional, character-first fantasy and don’t mind a slower pace or a loose narrative, you might find something really meaningful here. But if you're looking for a story with a strong central arc, clear world mechanics, and satisfying plot development... this one might leave you feeling a bit adrift, like it did me.
Still—I'm glad I read it. Even if it didn’t all work, it gave me moments that will stick with me. And sometimes, that’s enough.

3.5 stars and rounding up to 4
I was immediately enthralled by the beginning scenes but very quickly felt lost.
I feel like a history that explained the world and the species of characters and gave a little history would have been amazing to ground the story
I haven’t read the other series by this author so I had nothing to base the world on. I read this as a beginning of a completely new series.
The highlight for me was the love story.
I would have loved to know more about the hearth mother religion and way of life as well.
Plus the waste story line- I felt as if I knew nothing about it.

All in all I finished it because it was so interesting but I just left lost and with gaping holes from not having read the previous series.

The exceptional way "Ashes of Xy-" intricately pieces together every detail and brings the vibrant characters is truly remarkable. The story immediately grabbed my attention with its detailed descriptions and captivating personalities. Laughs, sighs, and the occasional tear were all part of the emotive rollercoaster that immersed me in their captivating adventures. The craftsmanship in this narrative is truly praiseworthy, evoking a range of emotions that made the journey unforgettable.

This was my first book by this author. It's the first in a new series, but it's set in the world of her previous series. Reading this made me want to dive into the other ones. You do not need to have read the previous ones to read this one

I really enjoyed this, especially the worldbuilding. I still have so many questions. I don't know if they are answered in the other books. I love the vore and definitely want to know more about them.

The political intrigue was fantastic. There were so many plots going on. The new queen is ruthless and bent on dominating her new kingdom. She will let nothing stand in her way. She's vicious and bound with dark magic to five other women who are sworn to do her will.

I loved Amari and Orval. Their resilience, bravery, and budding relationship was fantastic to see, especially as they fought to look after the babies.

I can't wait to read the next one.

4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Elizabeth Vaughan for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Holy Moly. Ms. Vaughan, I was not familiar with your game. This story has everything. Political intrigue, warring family houses, found family, villains you love to hate, feel good romance, there’s nothing to not like.

The world building was *chefs kiss*. The characters were well thought out and made you feel.

Orval and Amari are perfect, I would’ve read a book with just them. This is 100% going to be an amazing series.