A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash” by J.F. Johns is an extraordinary book that takes topics and themes that you could never guessed be put into this magical book. From the world to the plot, everything was meticulous and perfect. The characters were spot-on and the multiple POV’s gave us a feel into many of the characters that played a big role in the plot. The author introduced the world perfectly

Themes:

🖤 Prophecies and Curses
⚔️Badass FMC
🥀 Enemies to lovers
💀 Arranged Marriage
🐉 Dragons and Wyverns



During the Great War 8 kingdoms turned on each other. The kingdom of witches was destroyed and the remaining cursed 7 haven’t known peace since. The witches roam the wastelands, plotting their revenge.

For centuries, the rulers of the Kingdom of Darkness bore only three children. Always three. An heir, a warrior and a truthbearer. Mal Blackburn is an anomaly, the fourth born child, with purple eyes. Witches eyes.

In an attempt to restore peace to the lands, the kingdoms of fire and darkness broker a marriage between Mal and Ash, the crime prince who is known across the lands with a reputation for cruelty.

However Mal has other ideas… to kill the prince. If she succeeds, she could break the curse that many don’t believe in.

I am a demon born from darkness, a beast carved from shadows. You touch her again and I will show you what the afterlife looks like.


If you loved Bridge Kingdom I highly recommend this 🫶

A dark romantic fantasy, brimming with magical creatures, political intrigue and hidden magic. I couldn’t put it down. The characters, amazing. The FMC is a complete badass but yet somewhat vulnerable and unsure of herself. The MMC wonderfully unique. A host of secondary characters that I cannot wait to read more about (I even obsessed over them more at some parts)

The ending left me shook and desperate for book 2!

Title: A kingdom of Shadow and Ash
Author: J.F. Johns
Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy, New Adult, Romance
Release Date: 31 of May of 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley and J.F Johns for this ARC.
“A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash” by J.F. Johns is an extraordinary book that takes topics and themes that you could never guessed be put into this magical book. From the world to the plot, everything was meticulous and perfect. The characters were spot-on and the multiple POV’s gave us a feel into many of the characters that played a big role in the plot. The author introduced the world perfectly, telling us about it without overwhelming the mind. The writing was lyrical but practical, helping us imagine scenes vividly.
On the other hand though, there were a few point of views that i just didnt care for and something i wish the author did was write in whos POV the chapter was written in before it started as I was kind of confused by who we were following at the start. In addition, I wish that the author would have put more effort into showing others relationships and telling us more about Mal’s parents.
In conclusion, this book is perfect for all fans of fantasy that just want a spark of vengeance.

A worthy new addition to the romantasy genre. I enjoyed the dark and mysterious world that J.F. Johns created: lots of court intrigue and political games, magic, fantastical creatures, a 100-year curse, and an impending war looming over it all.

The initial setup of the kingdoms may feel very familiar to a seasoned fantasy reader, and it felt especially ACOTAR coded at first. I am happy to confirm though that as the story goes on, the worldbuilding develops into something more distinct and able to stand on its own successfully. Even more of this will come into play for book 2, it seems, as the action is likely to shift to new locations, which I always enjoy.

I also appreciated the slow-burn romance that didn't overshadow the plot. However, the switch to the couple felt quite abrupt, and I thought the emotional connection needed to be built up a bit more, in order to shift the relationship from lust to love.

The similar abruptness also affected the ending of the book: we've been building up to this moment the whole book, for it to then be over too quickly (and in my case - predictably). We're left with lots of questions though, so there's plenty of intrigue going forward into book 2.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader copy and looking forward to more from this author!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage
Magic/witches
Court intrigue

Thank you for allowing me this ARC!
At no point did I see the plot twists coming!! Each page kept my attention, and the ending leaves me with so many questions! Loved the slow burn between Mal and Ash; at one point, I had no idea how they would even fall in love! Will definitely be coming back for book 2.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Kingdom of Ash by J.F. Johns is a fiery blend of fantasy, romance, and revenge that fans of Fourth Wing, The Bridge Kingdom, and Serpent & Dove will devour.✨️

Set in a fractured world where magic is feared and kingdoms stand divided, this enemies-to-lovers tale delivers high-stakes tension, simmering romance, and a heroine you can't help but root for.

Mal Blackburn is fierce, complex, and driven by a mission that could either save or doom the realm! Her journey to assassinate the infamous Fire Prince sets off a chain of events laced with danger, secrets, and unexpected alliances.
As the land of witches, fire, and dragons comes alive on the page, J.F. Johns weaves a compelling narrative full of twists and dark intrigue.

The romance sizzles without overshadowing the plot, and while familiar tropes like secret powers and forbidden love are present, Johns gives them a fresh, immersive spin. Mal’s internal conflict and slow-burning chemistry with the prince adds depth to what could have been a straightforward revenge plot.

Kingdom of Ash stands out for its emotional tension, strong female lead, and richly built world.

While fans of the genre might see echoes of other fantasy hits, this story holds its own with engaging pacing and satisfying drama. A must-read for lovers of magical politics, sharp banter, and dangerous love.

So glad I got my hands on this ARC — I was hooked by the premise (witches, dragons, curses, political marriage…say no more!) and the stunning cover definitely helped. I started slow, but once I got back into it, I devoured it in 48 hours — perfect for my long bus trip!
I loved the world-building, the multiple POVs, and the tension between characters. Mal was a strong, fierce heroine, and Kai quickly became a favorite. I wanted more of Ash, but I’m sure we’ll get that in the sequel - I cannot wait!
The story had familiar romantasy elements, but the pacing, characters, and twists kept it engaging. The final chapters were brutal and left me wanting more.

If you like enemies to lovers, magical creatures and a slow-burn romance with emotional twists, then you’ll love this! Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC and big congrats to the author!

What a masterpiece this book is!

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash gives everything you could want in a fantasy: witches, fae, gods, dragons, wyverns, and a host of other otherworldly creatures and beasts.

The world building and character development is really good, I loved getting to know all of the characters and discovering the world the story is set in.

Kingdom of shadow and ash follows multiple POVs that you will most likely come to like even if you don’t in the beginning!

The plot is packed with twists that will leave you feeling the need to continue reading and the book is full of mystery right up until the final pages, constantly challenging your assumptions about the characters and their history. I couldn’t put it down, and I loved every moment of the journey.

"Now they will wait to see whether we are willing to sacrifice our love to this game. I will not.." - J.F. Johns

Thank you to J.F. Johns for allowing me to read this book early

The eight kingdoms have been at odds for nearly 100 years. With a dark curse looming threatening all, who will be able to save them? This is a story filled with revenge, long-lasting feuds, romance, and a princess with cursed eyes looking to save them all... Or bring about their doom.

The plot of this story kept me wanting more, between the dragons, wyvern, witches, and romance (and some spice). Not to mention characters that you can't help but get attached to. You won't be disappointed with this one.

If there was one thing I had to choose to change it would be the pacing of some parts of the story, but that's just nitpicking at this point.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Fourth Wing, The Bridge Kingdom, and Serpent & Dove, with hints of A Court of Thornes and Roses

Troupes: enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, court intrigue, and dark magic.

The cover and title of this dark fantasy novel is what drew me in originally. It’s set in a fantasy world with ancient curses, that last 100s of years, and enemies-to-lovers romance.

We follow Mal Blackburn, fourth born of the Kingdom of Darkness, who is sent to marry the Fire Prince, Ash. However, they don’t know that she is actually sent to kill him. The novel also follows Mal’s brothers; Kage and Kai, and Ash’s sister; Alina.

It took me a few tries to get fully into the story, but once I did, I was able to stay within the world quite well. The slow-burn romance was SLOW and then abrupt; which definitely can throw a reader off.

I don’t mind 3rd person when I pick up a book, however, my biggest struggle with this was the multiple POV’s jumping all over the place. It could be the way the ePUB is set up, but the epigraphs kept throwing me off (maybe Im just use to them being before the chapter number..)

Add this to ur TBR asap. This book gets a well-deserved 5 stars. This is one of the best romantasy books I have read to date.

Magical kingdoms, enemies-to-lovers tension, and plot twists so wild you have to take a second to find the hidden cameras. If you're into epic quests, slow-burn angst, and audibly gasping at fictional characters, this is your next favorite read. 10/10 would recommend this.

I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this but I did. It has everything you’d expect from this type of book. It’s had high influence from many others in this genre.
That being said when it going I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t wait to pick it up again.
I felt the pacing was a little off in times the intimacy between Mal and Ash felt rushed but was worth it afterwards. it could perhaps could have been a little shorter. You do meet a lot of characters and I had my favourites as I’m sure others will!
I loved Kai he was perfectly naughty
All very shocking and it was quite refreshing to see people killed instead of magically alive again 👀

4½

For my fantasy book lovers!

• Enemies to Lovers
• Slow Burn
• Court/Politics Settings
• Family Dynamic/ Sibling bonds
• Multiple 3rd person POVs
• ✨ Dark Magic ✨
• 🌶️ ( Rated PG )
• Cliffhanger

Here you meet Mal Blackburn, who feels left out in her world. Aggress to a marriage proposal, to the Fire Prince. Everyone is thinking, the unity will end a feud that started long ago between kingdoms. Little do they know she must drive a stake into the Princes heart, to save their kingdom.

The cover alone peaked my interest.
The plot itself I enjoyed. At times the transitions, weren't as smooth between chapters or POVs. Was it enough to steer me away from finishing the book ...obviously not.
The dynamics between the characters had me giggling and giddy. The twists towards the end, was not something I expected. It definitely left me wanting more. I'm excited to see what the future holds for this universe.

Thank you Netgalley and J.F Johns for the ARC 🫶🏾

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Alright guys- you like all the popular romantasy stuff out there right now? Well this book should be getting special editions left and right because it’s as good as if not better than lots of the other highly anticipated reads. I LOVED this book and highly recommend it!!! One of the best reads of this year so far. 5/5.

I was hooked at the beginning and found this to be such an interesting and fun concept. Unfortunately by the time I hit 50% I was quite bored and struggling to keep going. The characters were a breeze of fresh air, but the plot fell flat after about 30%. I would definitely recommend to others who I think would love this, unfortunately I feel like I was possibly missing some information.

What I liked
3rd person with multiple POV
Female main character
Shadow magic
Arranged marriage
Enemies to lovers

What I didn't like
Struggled a little in the beginning with the writing style
Felt like the relationship went from enemies to lovers to happily married a little bit too quickly


A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash is a great example of the romantasy genre. I loved the enemies to lovers forced into an arranged marriage for political schemes tropes. The author had unique world building and I appreciated the different races from the differing kingdoms. I especially adored our main character Mal. She reminded me a lot of Manon (in the very best way) with the wyvern, her dark aura and mannerisms.
I struggled a little bit to get into the writing style in the very beginning and I do feel like we went from enemies to happily married a little quickly but these didn't deter me from rating this book 5 stars. I really enjoyed it and eagerly anticipate book 2!

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

*** I received this ARC copy of “a kingdom of shadow and ash” from through NetGalley ***


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
🌶️/5
📔 3rd person narration

Wow is all I can say!! I ate this book up! It is a long read, so buckle up and enjoy the ride! This book gives me all the ACOTAR / Fourth wing vibes with a hint of Queen Chartotte.

The relationship development between Mal and Ash was such a fun journey. I love how Mal is a strong female lead and held her own. Ash was toootally here for it too!

I loved all the side characters as well! With being 3rd person the author let us see numerous story lines at once which allowed for multiple romantic stories to unfold.

This book did have some spice, however , it wasn’t extremely descriptive. I’d say 1 / 5 on that scale.

Overall I’d highly recommend this book if you want a great fantasy book!!

This book was very well written and had an immense amount of world building that really made it a stand out. The romance felt a little lacking in earlier parts of the book with the main couple and the multiple POVs where a bit much. However the plot didn’t feel stagnant and the premise was well written and thought out.

Tropes
•Arranged Marriage
•Enemies to lovers
•Dark Magic
•Court Intrigue

The book was marketed to be a Romantasy but I definitely felt it was high fantasy. I loved the world building, the magical system, and prophecy aspects of the book. You have so much in the book from witches to wyverns and so much more. I personally would have loved a little more of romance written into the book. The book being written in third person and some of the characters names reminded so much of other popular fantasy books. I appreciated the MMC being a different style with his powers than the popular shadow MMC. Mal and Ash needed more to their love story than spending one day together then falling in love. Overall an okay read and good first book. Thank you NetGalley for giving me an eArc. I will be posting on my Goodreads my review as well.

This is the best book I have read this year so far by far!!
I absolutely loved everything about this story, the setting, the plot, the way the story was written, the multiple POVs - it was perfect and had me hooked from the start. The diary snippets from Tabitha at the beggining of each chapter was a clever touch lending weight to the curse and how it came about. I thought I had a theory about how this book would end but I was wrong - the end had a massive twist I did not see coming. It was very emotional for many reasons and yet it was the perfect end to this story to ready us for the second installment in the series.
I feel like this book is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Rebecca Yarros - it also vaguely reminded me of the way the Game of Thrones series is written.
Overall I really cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. If I could give it more than five stars I would.

Thank you to Netgalley and J.F. Johns for the opportunity to read this as an e-ARC! I cannot wait for the second installment in the series!!