Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC

Wyverns, dragons, magic, and 8 Kingdoms that have not been united for over 100 years… until Mal Blackburn, the fourthborn child of the Wyverians with Witch eyes is promised to marry the Drakonian Fire Prince. But Mal has ulterior motives. She must kill the prince to break a curse that no one believes in to save everyone…

This started out GREAT. The first 10% of this book I was like hell yeah this is dark and gritty, and Mal was an interesting character right off the bat. Unfortunately, as the story continued it lost me. This book clearly takes inspiration from very popular romantasy books/series making it feel lackluster and the characters not wholly original.

The world building was okay, however, I wish there was more “showing” than “telling”. Many times there would be paragraphs describing other Kingdoms when it was unnecessary, breaking up the flow of the story and making it feel clunky

The insta-love was my biggest gripe. I felt that the romance was unconvincing and that none of the characters had any chemistry.

However, this has really good bones and has the potential to set up the series well

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash draws inspiration from many romantasy tropes but introduces some refreshing elements that stood out. The world building was good though I felt more detail was needed in some areas.

While the pacing starts strong, the story drags in the middle. The focus on secondary characters meant that Mal and Ash’s romance lacked enough development to be convincing.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 72%.
Let me start with the good.
There is some truly gorgeous prose here. I have never marked so many phrases I loved in an ebook before. Many descriptions, or even minor parts to larger sentences, are poetic and vivid.
The main character is a badass. She knows how to defend herself both physically and verbally, takes no prisoners, is entirely herself, and also has the softness that comes with knowing healthy familial love. And she’s smart— she is quick to notice things, which is sadly not something I can say for all the supposedly strong heroines I’ve read in fantasy fiction.

Now for the less good parts.
While the descriptive phrases are often stunning, they’re also overused in a lot of places. Certain aesthetics are described in moments they don’t need to be, when they add nothing to the content of the story. Sure, it’s lovely to read some of it, but it interferes with the flow of the plot enough that it gets frustrating.
The worldbuilding is told rather than shown, and inserted randomly at moments that don’t make sense.
Mal and Ash’s relationship have no chemistry until they decided they like each other out of nowhere. This comes after a series of miscommunications (which are, blissfully, due to an actual reason: Ash’s insecurity about his stammer). But their care for each other feels completely unearned.

The biggest issue I have, however, made me contemplate DNFing multiple times (before I finally did): the inconsistency of the writing.
There are multiple POVs throughout the book, but they’re never introduced. At first, it seems as though Mal is the only one whose perspective we’ll get, and that’s fine. But then it jumps to her brother, and then later to side characters from other kingdoms, and none of it makes a whole lot of sense. There are essentially no transitions to explain the narrative shifts, and with it sometimes changing mid-scene, there are many parts of chapters that are difficult to read.
Action scenes feel like afterthoughts, with very little explanation of what’s happening, and then it’s over. There is a complete lack of tension in these moments, because there’s no build up nor any payoff.
The resulting jerky nature of both the writing and the characterization of characters is, by far, the main reason for my rating being what it is (right now, I'd have it at 2 stars).

I really wish the pacing had been better planned; the book drags in some places and then speeds through the action scenes so that it feels like nothing is happening overall. I’d have liked to have the characters be given more time to be introduced, so we could get to know them, rather than have side characters take over the majority of the narrative with very little reason as to why. It feels like they’re there simply to pad out the length of the book and make the world feel bigger, but it instead leaves everything feeling rather flat. The maid reveals herself almost immediately, eliminating the possibility for tension and the impact of a reveal. The spymaster, Wren, is supposed to be brilliant, but tells Mal everything she knows upon their first meeting. (And don’t get me started on Wren’s characterization—it’s one of my biggest issues with the book).

The paragraphs in the electronic copy I read are also not indented, and at times not separated properly from thought to thought, making it even more difficult to read. I hope this is fixed for the published copy.

I will come back to it at some point. I really want to know how it concludes, because the story is still interesting to me. But for now, I simply can't get through it. When I do finish it, however, I'll come back to update my review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and JF Johns for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 2 stars (currently)

Review posted to StoryGraph: May 7, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/bb1ceb7c-7fa9-47c0-b6f2-924831beea14)

Inspired by many different romantasy novels before it, A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash does make a point to have unique plot points that enjoyed. I loved that Mal, our MFC has a loving that care for her, and have a big part in the plot. And Ash, the MMC has a stutter, and insecurities that shows he’s human. Mal's brother Kai has a relationship with Ash's sister Alina, which fell into the more instalove banter troupe, but I didn’t mind it too much as the character arc of Alina was well done.
I like that we get to see the people of these kingdoms. This world seemed large and lush with diverse characters, however, I would have liked to see more about who these people are and more about the various religions and politics of each court.
We have journal entries at the beginning of each chapter that I didn’t really like. I found them to be pointless and didn’t provide anything to the plot, or build up the story/world. This could have a good way to get the audience random world building.
I think the storyline of Mal wanting to stab Ash to end a curse seemed a bit silly. She doesn’t think about what would happen to her family if she were to be caught killing the soon-to-be king of a land. She doesn’t think about an exit strategy, and nor does she think about how that would definitely cause war to break out. Her sister even calls her out for this lack of plan, and we don’t get anything from Mal about that. Maybe if she planned on killing him in a more sneaky manner this wouldn’t have been so jarring, but stabbing him is a bit obvious.
The world is lush and the story is fast paced, but a lot of it drags in the middle. I would have liked to see more of Mal and Ash in this novel. Unlike other romantasy books, we focus more of the secondary cast than the two love interests, and I think their love story suffered because of it. By the end, I didn’t trust that they liked each other with the little page time they got together.
I enjoyed this and will read the continuation, but I would like to see more of the main cast together.

5 ⭐️♾️

Firstly, thank you to J. F. Johns and NetGalley for the e-ARC. What a phenomenal book this was!

Wow, wow, wow. I’m speechless. It’s taken me a few days to process everything, and even now I’m still in a state of perpetual shock. Those last few chapters had me absolutely crashing out!! 😭😭

This has to be the most insane thing I’ve read this year. Considering I’ve already read nearly 100 books in the first half of 2025, that’s really saying something.

There’s so much I want to say, and yet I haven’t the faintest idea where to begin. From the world-building to the dragons, wyverns, fae, the dark magic, and the intricate characters with their distinct personalities, it was all so immersive. It’s a slow burn in the best way, and I really took my time to absorb everything. That said, I found it easy enough to follow.

There are so many plot lines interwoven into the core narrative centred on Mal Blackburn. First off, I have to say, I adore Mal. She’s quirky, headstrong, and resilient. Actually, I adore the entire Blackburn family, especially Kai. I’m very soft for that man. The found family element was beautiful. Even though Mal feels like an outsider within her own family, they never treat her as such. There are just so many layers to them. From Kai, to Kage, and to Haven, God, there’s so much I want to talk about, but I’d risk spoiling too much.

Mal Blackburn is the fourthborn daughter of the Kingdom of Darkness, and is set to marry the Fire Prince in a bid to unite the kingdoms. But, she has an ulterior motive, which is to kill the prince, thus saving her people and kingdom and break the curse and prophecy that’s been inflicted on the eight kingdoms.

Again, the found family dynamic really stood out. I loved Ash’s relationship with his sister, Alina. The author did an incredible job showing the bond between the children of both kingdoms. It was truly heart-warming to see.

As the story progressed and the relationships developed, it became an absolute rollercoaster. I got emotional whiplash. I’m still reeling from everything that happened. In saying that, it’s perfectly set up book two, which I’m so incredibly excited about. I can’t wait to see more of the kingdoms, learn about them, the different families and meet new characters, and just uncover more of this fantasy world.

Tropes

Arranged marriage
Enemies to lovers
Forbidden romance
Found family
Magical creatures
Court politics
Prophecies and gods and ancient curses

4/5 stars.
Amazing world building, character chemistry is off the charts, and the mythical creatures are so cool!!

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the slow burn and getting to see side characters storylines weaved throughout the book. I highly recommend this book as a 2025 read!!

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book completely swept me away. I was surprised by how quickly I got hooked, especially since it’s written in third person. The multiple POVs kept the pacing fresh and engaging. While there was one perspective I didn’t fully connect with, it felt intentional and added to the story's depth.

What stood out most was the richness of the worldbuilding. From the kingdoms to the mythology, family legacies, and creature companions, everything was layered and well thought out. The recurring chapters featuring Tabitha Wysteria’s retellings added a haunting, prophetic tone that gave the story an epic feel.

Character-wise, I was obsessed. Mal was fierce, determined, and never passive. Her dynamic with Ash had exactly the kind of slow burn and tension I love. Ash, the Fire Prince, was a refreshing male lead. He was cold and guarded when needed, but also vulnerable and protective. His role in the Drakonian court was compelling and layered.

Kai and Alina completely stole my heart. Their chemistry and angst were off the charts. Kai’s playful, cheeky nature was the perfect contrast to Alina’s more restrained, duty-bound personality. Watching her push back and forge her own path while Kai believed in her was so satisfying.

The plot moved a bit slowly in parts, and the ending felt rushed. It either needed to happen earlier or be expanded across more pages. Still, the twist at the end was well thought out and left me excited to see where book two begins.

If you love multi-POV fantasy with gods, prophecies, slow burns, forbidden romance, and strong family dynamics, this book is worth the read. I didn’t want it to end.

4.75 stars!

I want to thank Netgalley and J.F. Johns for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
If you're looking for enemies-to-lovers, she falls first when she doesn't want to, amazing and complex main and minor characters, unexpected and earth-shattering plot twists? READ THIS.

This story put me in a chokehold, immediately. Honestly, this ARC was life-changing in the way that I want to scream from the rooftops about it. The way J.F. threads her words and story together is beyond riveting. It's absolutely brilliant. When an author can craft their writing in a poetic way and it not be excessive, it's a talent unlike anything else.

Mal Blackburn.
Oh darling, how I love you fiercely. My favorite.
Our main female character. I'm about to struggle to explain this complex woman. You've heard of a shadow daddy? Mal is a shadow mommy. Her darkness was light for my soul. Her attitude? Chef kiss Her intelligence? Out of this world. I've never read a character that has the same fiery sass and comebacks as me. Her determination is something I wish I possessed. She's headstrong and hard-headed, and unlike some characters I've read in previous books, it's not annoying or frustrating but inspiring.
“A thing born of despair, sculpted of nightmares, woven together by forgotten gods.”
“The dead longed for her, called to her, promising an end to everything that ached. It would be easy. One step. One breath. One surrender.”

Ash Archeron.
Oh how I questioned my love for you, but you won my heart.
Our main male character. This man is soft, but not weak. He has a stutter, but each word holds deep meaning. He's had his fair share of trauma and struggles to open up. But when this man finally lets down his guard? PERFECTION. He's not as complex as Mal, but they balance each other.

This book is giving creatures from the Maleficent movie with Angelina Jolie.

I don't have the words for all of our beautiful minor characters that really represent. They are diverse in their beliefs, religions, looks, and even their speech. Each one, I adored more and more, with each passing page. Alina will forever have a piece of my heart. Vera is such an evil little twit. Wren is an adhd baby that I never want to let go of. Kai can take me against a tree. Kage is too smart and quiet, never know his motives. Haven is a babe that I still cry over. I could go on and on.

All I have to say is, grab this book because it will alter your brain with the plot twists, characters, and magic system.

“A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash” had such a strong, promising start but ultimately didn’t hold me the way I hoped it would. The opening chapters really pulled me in. The atmosphere was moody, mysterious, and totally up my alley, and the vibes had that perfect dark romantasy tension I love. For the first 15% or so, I was locked in.

But somewhere along the way, the momentum started to fade for me mostly because of the way the POVs were handled. I usually love multi-POV when it’s done well, especially if it builds tension or deepens the character arcs. Here, though, the transitions felt a bit jarring, and I found myself struggling to stay grounded in the story. It broke the flow and made it hard to connect with the emotional through-line I was craving.

That said, the worldbuilding is intriguing, and there’s definitely a lot of lore and history tucked into the corners of the plot for those who enjoy digging into that. There are elements of the magic and shadow politics that I think would really click for fans of slow-burn world reveals.

It just didn’t fully deliver what the beginning promised at least for me.

Still, I think readers who don’t mind looser structure and like atmospheric fantasy with layered mystery might really enjoy this one. If you’re someone who can overlook some POV disjointedness in favor of tone and world, it’s worth checking out.

I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book.

This was fantastic! Honestly I've read loads of fantasy themed novels, it's one of my favourite genres, this though is the best modern one I've ever read. No it's not modern in the world is similar to ours just newly written modern. Nothing was predictable, however if you read this again you would see all the ways that led to everything occuring in this book and I loved it! Yes there were many povs in this book but it works. They flow seamlessly one into another, and most books I've read have suffered from just one pov that make them fall flat. This doesn't at all, this works! It gives you a little of everything you need the most to see this amazing story from all sides! You will fall in love with every character just like I did, and you will feel all that they feel.

This author pulls you in with a story, that allows you to seamlessly follow along, feel every emotion a character feels as if you were them, and show you worlds you can picture. All without cramming everything to the beginning or always all at once down your throat, like I've read a lot lately. This book is magical and perfect and this will stay as my top favourite book this year. It was everything I I've been looking for and everything I need. This has stolen my heart and I can't wait for the rest of them! I have literally zero complaints! I am over the moon with this book, this world and these characters!

Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart again, this was amazing!!

I had high hopes for A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash, but in the end, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The premise was intriguing; enemies-to-lovers, dark magic, and a strong, secretive heroine, but the execution felt a bit uneven.

Mal is a character with potential, but I didn’t always feel connected to her. At times, her actions seemed inconsistent, and I found it hard to get invested in her motivations.

The world-building was interesting, especially with the dragons and the political tension, but some parts dragged or felt a bit repetitive. It didn’t always hold my attention in the way I wanted.

Overall, A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash isn’t a bad book, but it didn’t leave me eager for more.

Wyverns. Magical creatures. Dark forbidden magic. Witches. Some spice. I really enjoyed the main characters in the book because they were not the stereotypical genre characters that you see reskinned in almost every romantasy type of book. They seemed realistic in their thoughts and actions. Did not see the twists near the end and now I’ll have to wait for the sequel to this!

This book was OUTSTANDING!!! It hooked me from page one !! The characters were very likable, the plot flowed and there were surprises all through out I wasn’t expecting !! The curse and even the magic system was so intriguing! I want to be a Wyverian now !!!

The author knows how to pull you in with descriptive imagery and world building that takes you somewhere new ! The different houses made it feel reminiscent of game of thrones while holding on to a uniqueness that’s undeniable !

6 stars out of 5 if I could rate it that !

This. Was. Amazing. I think this could be a contender for a favorite fantasy of the year for me.

It was epic, it had slow burn, tension, politics, intrigue, heartbreaking sadness and magic. I couldn't help but think this would be a fantasy romance for Manon from Throne of Glass, but if Manon was dialed up by 100.

I LOVED that the main female character was strong from the beginning. I loved the relationships and dynamic of all the characters, it had banter, realistic feelings of sibling bonds, and touch her and die vibes.

It had big feminism tones too, which I adore. I finished this in about a day, I could not put it down and I NEED the second book badly. This will be a book I buy for my shelf and I will follow this author from now on. Just amazing.

Very captivating! The world, the magic and the characters - loved every part of it.
This story drags your entire being through every emotion possible: laughing, crying, screaming and, of course, the staring at the wall in the "what the hell just happened?" moments.
Fair warning, the last 20% or so of the book might break your heart...multiple times. Still, this book is so worth it ❤️

Honorable mention for Wren and Kage. The interactions between these two is something else.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the J. F. Johns ❤️

I love the cover and the story! I really enjoyed the story line and the characters but felt like a few areas moved to quickly. Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

I was drawn in immediately with the world-building and the multiple 3rd person POV.

I felt the middle slowed down slightly, but the ending had me screaming.

I love a good romantasy with the plot being the main focus and the romance being the second, this was exactly that.

I am ready for book two!

In A kingdom of shadow and ash, We are following around 2 characters, Mal Blackburn and ash Acheron. In order to break the curse that was put on them, one of them has to kill the other. But you’ll have to read to find out where that takes us! 🤭 We get political intrigue, multiple pov and romances, magic dragon riding and so much more!

✔️ Romantasy
✔️ Arranged Marriage
✔️ Strong FMC
✔️ Wyverns & Dragons
✔️ Witches
✔️ Multiple POVs
✔️Enemies to lovers
✔️ Forbidden love

I enjoyed this read! Rating it 4⭐️ I love the dark, mysterious vibes, with a splash of sunshine. The Drakonians and wyverians couldn’t be more opposite, but they are united together through the marriage of our main characters. And through it all they learn that the other side is not as bad as the rumors had them believe But there are other threats among them!.

I did take a star away because to be honest the romance wasn’t slow burn the way I like. I thought it was very weirdly paced. The characters didn’t interact that much so it felt very rushed. Not only between Mal and Ash but also with Kai and Alina. Also scenes would change so suddenly that I got confused a few times. And I do think it could have used less description. The author liked to describe every detail! So this book could have been a good 100 pages less.

I did enjoy it though!

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for this ARC!

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book so requested it, and was not disappointed. I love a story with indepth world building, it really was needed with this one to help flesh out the full background and different kingdoms.

It jumps to different POV's (not just MMC and FMC) so you do have to pay attention, but it does give more insight into what is going and more dimensional. It also gives you time to bond with some of the side characters, who I hope we continue to follow in the next book.

Our FMC, Mal, I feel is influenced by Maleficent. She is strong, opinionated, but willing to do what is required to protect her family and kingdom. She is very different to her family, but I like that she isn't completely outcasted as seen in other books. Ash isn't your typical MMC either, whilst he is strong and well trained, he does have a side he afraid of most to see and has deep insecurities that effect in the simplest of tasks, which makes him relatable to all.

I cannot wait for the second book and to see how the author continues the plot, especially after that ending!

- Enemies to lovers
- Forbidden love
- Multi POV
- Magical creatures (including dragons AND wyvern, yes there is a difference)-- Slow burn romance
- Court politics/intrigue
- Prophecies
- Arranged Marriage

Wow what a book. First of all, thank you to NetGallery and J.F.Johns for sending me this ARC.

I have loved it. The story is magnificent, the lore, the magic and the characters were everything. I cannot wait for the next book and that ending 👌🏼 glorious. What a turn of events.

Perfect for fans of romantic fantasy such as ToG, Fourth Wing and The Cruel Prince.

- Magic
- Prophecies/Cursed
- Arranged Marriage
- Dragons/Wyverns

I will 100% be purchasing a physical copy of this once available 👏🏻