I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley. I honestly need the next book asap. The story line captivated me from the beginning! The author did an amazing job giving us multiple POVs which enhanced the plot. The tension between Mal and Ash was done right. We could really feel
The conflict that Mal endured throughout the story. Overall, a great fantasy read. I’m excited to see where this story goes.

3/5 ⭐️
I really like the premise of this book and think it has serious potential. However, for a first book in a romantasy series there are way too many character pov's, to the point where I didnt feel a connection to any of the characters. On the topic of pov's, I wish there was a header with who the chapter will be focusing on at the beginning of each chapter. I also wish we knew more about the magic system as I was confused about it a few times. While I will be continuing this series to see what happens, I do think the series needs work.

-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-badass fmc
-cinnamon roll mmc
-dragons, wyverns, pheonixs etc.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of those book.

Fantastic start to an epic fantasy that will make you bed for more!

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash is a story told through multi-POV perspective, and follows Mal Blackburn as she travels to the Kingdom of Fire to marry its Prince. A princess with witch’s eyes has always been hidden, a child to break the curse put on all the kingdoms by a witch of the past by stabbing the heart of a prince.

Kingdoms have been divided for a hundred years, a century past the war that engulfed the witches kingdom, and burned it to ashes. Witches want revenge on the ones that turned on them. And everyone keeps secrets.

Throughout the story we find out more of a curse and its maker, the witch Tabitha - each chapter prologued by an entry from the witch’s diary. A witch that fell in love and started the Great War that saw the whole world turned upside down. Until a child is born of a Kingdom of Shadows destined to break the chains.

The multi-POV is done incredibly well, and we are introduced to so many main and side characters, their histories and current time as they keep secrets and fight to break the curse, each in their own right. With a hundredth anniversary looming, Mal and her friends must make the choice, but who survives to see another day?

Relationships are well drawn out. The love stories that was never meant to be told so beautifully. Mal and Ash, Alina and Kai, Wren and Kage. And the final betrayal that will break them all.

This was a 5 star read for me - the world and character building deserves an applause, and the last 30-40% will keep you at the edge of the seat, so if you’re planning a good night sleep, you’re unlikely to get it. Brilliant storytelling from a new to me author, and one I will be watching very closely! Can’t wait to see what happens to the survivors of the final battle as they take on the true evil in the next instalment.

I was lucky enough to be sent this arc via netgalley and am giving my honest review after finishing it. There will be NO spoilers.

To start out I expected another fantasy book where there is a curse to break and forced marriage and of course secrets… but this book pleasantly surprised me with being great at making it its own type. Its details and plot is what made a huge difference. I really liked the characters as well. The FMC comes from a land where women and men are equal and they learn to protect themselves are involved in everything. She is so smart and strong and not just in a way of fighting. You see this when you see her after she is forced to marry the evil fire prince. You see more of who she is at heart even though she thinks so low of herself. The side characters are great as well. I really liked her brother Kai. I definitely need more of him please!

The book had good flow and didn’t have much time of lagging material to keep the reader interested. There is a little sprinkle of spice but truthfully it great as it is. I like the moments between characters where the banter is bantering and the rawness shows. My mouth was definitely on the floor at one point and I couldn’t believe the turn of events even though I saw it coming. The way it was written made me forget about it and want to be apart of the story.

The way it ended surprised me and I definitely want to see what comes next!

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash is a dark, thrilling fantasy full of magic, political intrigue, forbidden love, and fire-breathing creatures—and I was hooked from page one.
From wyverns and dragons to ancient curses and dangerous court games, this book checks every box for fantasy lovers. The plot is fast-paced and full of tension, with just the right mix of romance, danger, and dark magic. It’s brutal, beautiful, and utterly addictive.
We follow Mal Blackburn, the fierce and cunning fourthborn daughter of the Kingdom of Darkness. Sent to marry the Fire Prince as part of a fragile alliance, Mal’s real mission is far more dangerous: assassinate him, break an old curse, and save her people. She’s a sharp, calculating lead, and I loved every moment with her. She’s the kind of powerful, unapologetic heroine I always root for.
The worldbuilding is rich and immersive—giant wolves, magical creatures, rebellions, and long-buried secrets keep the stakes high and the pages turning. There’s a perfect balance of bloodshed, betrayal, loyalty, and moments of unexpected softness. And the ending? Completely devastating in the best way. I’m already counting down the days until the sequel, A Kingdom of Sand and Ice.
One of the standout elements for me was the romance between Kai and Alina. Their dynamic had so much emotional weight, and Alina’s arc of reclaiming her strength and agency really resonated with me. I’m especially excited to see how her story unfolds next, especially after that ending twist.
If you're a fan of:
Fierce heroines
Enemies-to-lovers and forbidden romance
Dragons, wyverns, and magical beasts
Complex sibling bonds
Court intrigue and dangerous secrets
...then this book belongs at the top of your TBR. I absolutely loved it and can't wait for more.

At first I wasn’t sure, like the beginning was a bit slow, but then wow, this book really surprised me. The world is so deep and magical, with all these 8 kingdoms and curses and hidden truths. It felt like the story just grew bigger and bigger with every chapter. I love Mal and Ash so much. Mal is strong but also broken in some ways, and Ash got this soft heart but also danger around him. Their romance was slow burn and so full of tension. Also, the magic system is really interesting. It was never boring, even when it was more quiet. And the side characters.This series has huge potential and I’m definitely staying for the journey. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. I’m sharing my thoughts voluntarily and with genuine appreciation

I was able to get this ARC through NetGalley and would love to give a huge thank you to J.F.Johns for the approval.

Mal Blackburn always knew she was different than her brothers and sister. Fourthborn’s a rare occurrence in the kingdom. Arraigned to marry the fire born prince Mal knows she must kill him to end the curse that has plagued them for 100s of years. But is everything as it seems??

Once Mal and her siblings arrive to the Fire kingdom they get to meet the other princes/princesses from the other 7 kingdoms. In doing so they are able to gather knowledge of their customs and the stories of the curse that have been passed down to them. Who can they trust? Are any of them as they really seem to be?

Darkness has always been around them. The witches and warlocks are real and they are finally coming back for their revenge. Can Mal save the kingdoms or will they all fall into ruin by the witches??

I loved this book! The end of it had me completely flabbergasted. I am hooked and cannot wait to read the rest of the books that follow.

From the very first chapter, ~A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash~ pulls you into a beautiful world where ancient prophecies, fractured kingdoms, and forbidden magic collide. J.F. Johns delivers a compelling and emotionally layered fantasy filled with tension, romance, and mystery.

The story centers around a strong, morally complex protagonist ( Mal Blackburn)—haunted by her past and torn between duty and desire.

The setting of the book is richly imagined, with a history that feels ancient and lived-in. Shadow magic, mysterious bloodlines, cursed royalty, and hidden rebels all add depth and atmosphere. There's a constant feeling that something darker lurks beneath the surface, which keeps the tension high throughout.

The romance element—slow-burning, tense, and layered with secrets—will definitely appeal to fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope. While the relationship has moments of genuine emotion, it’s also filled with the kind of sharp dialogue and chemistry that makes it hard to look away.

Overall, ~ A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash~ is a gripping start to what feels like a promising series.

If you love :

🖤 Dark fantasy
🖤Morally gray characters
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Found Family

This book is definitely worth picking up.


Ah I forgot to say ...the art of maps inside the book is amazing!!!

A big thank you to the author @jfjohnsbooks and @netgalley for this opportunity.


🖤A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash is out 31st May 2025 🖤

This was really good. It had a kinda slow start and some things I thought were a little off in the beginning, honestly, I kind of skipped the diary entry in the beginning of each chapter. I just didn’t like how that portion was written, but once I got hooked, I could not put it down. I absolutely loved Mel and Ash, well Actually, there were a lot of characters that I really enjoyed. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Ash having a speech impediment, but once Mel helped him overcome his challenge is I accepted it as well..I really liked how descriptive everything was too. The author did a really good job. I love how all eight kingdoms were so unique from each other, but still held familiarity. overall I really enjoyed this. I will definitely be reading the next book and purchasing probably this whole series when it does come .Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

(DNF 20%)
I really couldn’t get myself into this book. I don’t know if it’s the writing style or what but something put me completely off everytime i tried to read this book. It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for receiving this ARC, all opinions are my own

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this book. It’s going to be a long wait for book 2.

The story follows a fated curse and the people involved in breaking it. There are 8 kingdoms involved in the story that follows Mel and Ash and their arrange marriage.

I really liked the main characters Mal and Ash and how their relationship develops. They both have vulnerabilities and strengths and appeared more real to me for them.

There is quite a large cast in this book and the story is told from multiple POVs what doesn’t distract from the story. I look forward to learning more about these characters in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and J. F. Johns for the ARC

“You are the fucking sunshine, Alina Acheron”

“Sunlight. That’s what he was”.

My Blackburn siblings describing the Acheron’s as the sun!!! Giggling and kicking my feet!!!

I ate this book UP! This was class and I throughly enjoyed it. I wasn’t expecting all the twists and turns this book took and those last few chapters were a wild ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc, I’m 100% invested in all the characters so can’t wait for book two.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.**

This book was AMAZING! It weaves together century-old diary entries with the modern day story in such an interesting way to create unexpected twists.

It has a pretty big cast of characters from 8 different kingdoms, but Johns’ had this skillful way of slowly introducing them so you don’t feel overwhelmed and can really connect to each one. And while written in 3rd person, the chapters jump between these different characters to keep the reader informed and entertained.

And the relationships were *chefs kiss*. Honestly rooting for every one of them, although like most other readers, I fell a little harder for one of the “side couples”.

I highly recommend to all high fantasy readers!

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was SO good! Did not expect to like this as much as I did.

I really enjoyed the multiple POVs throughout and learning about Tabitha through her diary entries each chapter.

Really liked our FMC Mal and the development of her relationship with the MMC Ash, and the vulnerabilities they had to overcome but I really liked that we had another couple too! I am a Kai and Alina stan - the banter and the tension got me!! I think I honestly prefer their relationship and I pray they are endgame.

'You are not a nobody. You are the f*cking sunshine Alina'.

The plot was good, kept me constantly interested but the last part of the book was intense! I could not put it down. Did not see the twists coming and I need the next book like yesterday. Can't wait to continue the story!

PS. The chapter art and map were stunning!

i devoured this book omg! it had all the elements that i was looking for in a book -- enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, and political tensions. this book is written with multiple pov's, which i kinda found overwhelming at times unfortunately. i also found that the pacing was off, with the first half pretty slow and not lots going on, but after that it picked up and regained my excitement! i loved mal, our fmc, and how she stood up for herself! i, of course, loved ash, and his soft side, and i loved how they developed something so much more as the book went on. i cannot wait for the second book!

(Disclaimer: I received the ARC from the publisher, but this has in no way influenced my review. My thoughts are entirely unbiased and honest.)

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash is a book that I would've definitely devoured if I was younger.

Like its title, it is your typical fantasy. Despite the cast of characters, unfortunately, none stood out for me that I am bored after finishing it (even with the wyverns).

Hoping that the author would reconsider the sequel's title because we're so over saturated with this type of fantasy stories.

I think this perspective is purely my own though, so take this review lightly.

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash by J.F. Johns opens with a bang - a witch’s curse that instantly sets the tone for something dark, magical, and epic in scope. The story is told in third person with multiple POVs, which I usually find overwhelming but it worked really well here. It helped expand the world and gave insight into so many corners of this fractured realm.

Loved Mal, the FMC. She’s strong, opinionated, and emotionally grounded and her bond with her siblings and parents felt real and loving. Ash, our MMC (aka The Fire Prince) might seem like your typical broody royal, but he’s surprisingly soft. He has a stutter and is super self-conscious about it, which made him feel really human and relatable. Their dynamic is initially strained - arranged marriage etc but it develops into something very sweet.

However, the second lead couple completely stole the spotlight for me - Mals brother Kai and Ash’s sister Alina. Their forbidden, slow-burn relationship? SO GOOD. The tension between them was actually better than the main romance at times.

Now, the stuff that didn’t totally work for me...

The book tries to do a lot - romance, politics, world-building, magic, prophecy, and a ton of POVs. The idea is amazing: eight kingdoms with different magical systems, magical creatures, and a war that cut them off from each other… until Mal is arranged to marry the Fire Prince to reunite them. The prophecy lacked clarity, and the central romance didn’t always deliver the tension or payoff that I was craving. The pacing was also a hurdle - it’s slow. For the first 50% of the book, not much really happens. Even the moments that felt like they were building toward something often ended too quickly.

That said- there is a lot to love here. The world is cool, the characters I connected with really stuck with me, and the ending left me curious enough to want the next book.

If you’re into these tropes, I still think it’s worth checking out:
🖤 Dragons / Wyverns / Magic
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Arranged marriage
🖤 Forbidden romance
🖤 Found family vibes + sibling love

This book was absolutley insane. I loved every minute of it. Honestly one of my favorite enemies to lovers books I have read. I can not wait for the second book, and would pay an ungodly amount of money to be able to read the second book right now.
I absolutley love the character building in this book as well as the politics and the magical creatures. I don't know who I should root for because all of the characters are developed so well. I could not put this book down and now it is 4 am and I am going to spend at least 3 hours trying to figure out what the cliffhanger will be.
You have to read this if you like romantasy and amazing world building!!

Thank you so much for the ARC NetGalley!!

Give me FMC that want to stand men, like please.

This book had me hooked with its promise of enemies to lovers in a fantasy setting and dragons and all the magic ones heart desires! There were defintiely all those elements in this book, which was amazing, what I feel lacked in this book was the book being fleshed out and reading smoothly.. There were times when it felt disjointed or too hard to follow, but seeing as we're jumping into a new world, this was something I anticipated.

As it's the first book in the series, my hope is this story will continued to improve and be a fantastic fantasy series that it has the potential to be!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!