8 powerful kingdoms have remained separate since after the Great War that detroyed the land of the witches. Rumor has it that a deadly curse cast by a powerful witch will take effect 100 years post end of war. But Mal, the princess from the Kingdom of Darkness, has seen what she must do. She must unite the kingdoms by marrying the cruel Fire Prince from the Kingdom of Fire and then stab him in the heart to break the curse. As Mal uncovers the truth about the Fire Prince, what seemed like an easy path forward starts to blur into something more complex.

This book was a great time! Definitely for the romantasy girlies that enjoy SJM's writing style and Rebecca Yarro's world building. The book was beautifully written, and the world building was lush and vivid. While it takes time to build the story, the payoff is 100% worth it.

The book includes many different POVs and relationship storylines, which was a risky decision to make in debut book as it slows the pace down significantly. There is a lot of time spent getting to learn the nuances of each character, and while it can seem slow and forced, it raises the stakes at the end of the book. I can see that this first book was intentionally written in a way to get the readers used to the characters and the world so that we can hit the ground running come the second book.

Highlights:
✨️ Fierce FMC
✨️ Enemies-to-lovers
✨️ Lush World-building
✨️ Multiple POVs
✨️ Extensive Magic System
✨️ Spice Level: 🌶

All in all, I did end up loving the book! The book is out and available now to read! I was also able to snoop enough to learn that the second book will be released in Sept 2025! I am beyond excited that we get the second book this year as well!

First of all, thank you so much J.F. Johns for letting me read this masterpiece early!

Okay. This book is amazing!!! I was hooked from the very beginning and I absolutely could not get enough of the different POVs!! It really brought everything together!! Mal is such a badass, Ash is such a sweetheart and all the other princes and princesses that we meet along the way really made this book for me! I love when I guess when something will happen and I did with Nyx at the end (and then I squealed) but I did NOT see the rest of the end coming!! Finding out who the seer is and who Mal’s parent are had my jaw on the floor!! I can’t wait for book 2!!

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash is a slower paced fantasy novel involving ancient curses, an arranged marriage to improve 2 kingdom's fragile alliance, and incredible world building with deeply detailed characters.

I am very critical of fantasy books. I do not like when they start to feel too similar. This is not another cookie cutter fantasy novel, it has unique themes. Her writing style brings something new and enjoyable to the table, which I was very thankful for. I cannot wait for the next book in this series, and I will definitely check out more books by the author.

slow burn
enemies to lovers
romantasy
arranged marriage

"I really do believe we were condemned from the start."

"Despite the armour of ice she wore, there was fire within her."

"Filling the silence with words because silence meant acknowledging things too painful to say aloud."

"Time is a river. No matter how much we wish to control it, to twist it backwards and forwards and to even stop it, we cannot. The river continues to flow. All you can do it let it guide you."

Thanks so much to NetGalley and J.F. Johns for this ARC.

This book is definitely in my top favorites list! It has everything Wyverns, Fae , Wolverines, Valkyrie, Witches, Dragons, Seers and more !!
Our MFC Mal, 4 th born may be cursed or chosen. Either way she has to kill the evil Fire Prince she’s promised to in order to break the curse. Is the prince really as evil as they say or he something completely different ?
This is going to be the next big hit ! Best part it’s by an Inde Author !! Slow burn, amazing plot, characters are amazing and the ending … Chefs kiss !! This is a book I will read over and over.

I was able to read an eARC thanks to NetGalley and J.F John’s
Thank you all for allowing me to do so !!

Romantasy is one of my go-tos so I was looking forward to this one! I did really enjoy the story however could see the inspiration from several other romantasy / fantasy books. I also at times struggled with the multi povs but overall really enjoyed reading this! The action picks up towards the end and sets us up for book two really well! Will definitely be looking forward to the next! .

Dark magic, romance, forbidden love, fierce characters and past mixed with present - mix them all together and here you are - new, great romantasy book to add to your neverending TBR!




It was a nice, enjoable romantasy. I am not always a fan of multiple POVs, but it was working great here.
I thought it will be a little confusing considering there are multiple POVs from multiple characters but it was so well done, it was easy to catch up.
What i liked the most were the stories about Tabitha Wysteria - the witch which were a nice add-on to the whole plot.
Kai and Alina absolutely stole my heart and i loooooved them!




I can't wait for another book to be released!

What truly elevates this book is its vibrant cast of side characters, especially the Wyvernian family. Each character—from the smug yet soft-hearted Kai to the brooding and unexpectedly endearing Kage—is memorable and nuanced. The bonds between them, built on love, loyalty, and quiet heartbreak, provide a strong emotional core that’s hard to resist.
The story is told through multiple POVs, which are well-executed and easy to follow, adding layers of perspective without sacrificing clarity. The lore of the kingdoms, the presence of mythical beasts, and the cultural depth woven into each region make this world feel both expansive and intimate. It’s clear the author put immense thought into every detail, and the result is a fantasy universe that feels lived-in and real.
While magic is central to the plot, it’s handled with elegance—powerful but not overwhelming, and always in service to the story.

This book had so much potential, but honestly, it ended up feeling more like a patchwork of other popular fantasy stories rather than something original. The heavy (and I mean really heavy) inspiration from other works is hard to ignore—at times, it felt like I was just reading a remix of well-known names, and structures. “House of X”-type factions, overly familiar character names, and dramatic world-building shortcuts make it hard to stay immersed. It’s like the book was trying to be ten different famous fantasy series at once.

On top of that, there are way too many characters introduced way too quickly. It gets overwhelming fast, and most of them don’t get enough development to feel meaningful. The story jumps around so much that it ends up feeling kind of messy and unfinished, like it needed a few more drafts to really pull everything together.

All in all, if you've read a lot of fantasy, especially YA fantasy, this one might feel more exhausting than enjoyable. The lack of originality really drags it down. I’d give it a 2.5, but I’m rounding up to 3 because there is an interesting idea buried in there—it’s just drowned out by everything else.

“A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash” truly surprised me—in the best possible way! I’ve read quite a few romantasy books lately, and honestly, many of them are starting to blur together. But this one? It felt like a breath of fresh air in the genre.

I absolutely loved the characters and their romance—it felt genuine and well-paced. But what really stood out to me were the fantasy elements. The world-building was stunning, and the magical aspects were beautifully woven into the story. I’m a total sucker for anything witchy, and this book delivered that vibe perfectly.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced fantasy that’s easy to read, has a solid plot, and just the right touch of romance, this one’s for you. Highly recommend!

There were a lot of things I liked about this book - disability rep in a main character, unique physical features, and a lot of novelty when it comes to fantasy. I was definitely intrigued by the story but ultimately felt like there was just a bit too much going on: too many character POV's, too many groups of people, and a lot of lore. There was also a bit more telling rather than showing in the authors writing. I think there is a ton of potential for this series!
Overall 3/5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and J. F. Johns for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was so shocked by how great this book was, couldn’t put it down!

I hate a naive female lead, so I loved that Mal, our FMC, was so strong and powerful.

I also love love loveddddd Kai and Alina!

Although the plot was great, I sometimes struggled with the writing style. I just felt like the descriptions were very dull in places and factual, rather than descriptive and emotional, if that makes sense?

This book is absolutely everything. There are not many books that I would compare to Fourth Wing, The Bridge Kingdom, and Throne of Glass (Mal gave me Manon Blackbeak vibes and I am obsessed) - In fact I have yet to really read a book that compares at all- until I read this one! J.F. Johns is such a phenomenal writer, reading her book was like watching a movie in my mind. This book is so wonderfully descriptive, vivid, and immersive, leaving me begging for more!

The book follows Mal Blackburn - the fourth-born of the Kingdom of Darkness who has been betrothed to the prince of the Kingdom of Fire. This marriage is supposed to break a century old curse- a curse placed on the lands by a witch – Tabitha- meant to place everyone in all 8 kingdoms in an eternal slumber. Before meeting the prince, the plan is simple- get married and stab the prince in the heart. Now that she is married to him things have become much more complicated!
I absolutely love that the story also gives the side characters mini arcs within and how J.F. Johns ties everything together at the end!

Did I mention there is a twist at the end?!?

I have not been more excited for a sequel in a long time!

Unfortunately, I dnfed this book @50%. I loved the premise, I loved the writing. In the beginning I got hooked, but as the story progressed, I didn't find myself invested in it. The characters felt rather flat, the world was enormous but at the same time not spoken enough of. I didn't understand the rules.

I think the potential was there, but the execution didn't get me hooked and when I was putting the book down, I didn't feel like coming back. I'm sorry to write this, maybe it just wasn't for me or maybe I'll come back to in the future and change my mind.

Thank you NetGalley and to J.F Johns for letting me read this book!

Really enjoyed A kingdom of shadow and ash. The world building creates such an atmosphere, so descriptive in a way that pulls you in. The characters are interesting, funny and at times dark.

I love the relationships between the siblings and also the relationship building between them. Each character has charm and you feel invested to know more about them. You can feel the tension between them and I was definitely routing for them. You are able to see the view points of most of these characters and their siblings, getting know them more through their interactions, which increases your understanding of them and the choices they make.

The plot is interesting and I found myself hooked to know more. Mal is given a task that will break a curse, she fully intends to uphold this responsibility. But as she gets to know her betrothed and then husband she realises this task may be harder than she first though.

There is so much to this story majestic creatures, witches, magic, love, betrayal, torture and so much more. The pace starts slow for me but as the story progresses you start to see that it develops and quickens in pace. The writer knows how to make you feel for the characters, even the ones you feel like you don't want to rout for. You are left wanting to know more as there is always some revelation that leaves you thinking and you really want to know how it ends.

enemies to lovers ⚔️
⚔️forced marriage⚔️
⚔️slow burn⚔️

Summary:
There was once eight kingdoms that lived in peace with one another. Then someone decided they wanted to put love over expectations of their kingdoms. The world went into turmoil and a witch cast a spell on the people of all eight kingdoms.
100 years later Mal Blackburn comes into the picture and finds that she is the one that is to break the curse and save everyone from the fate of what the witch has cast upon them.

This story featured multiple POV through the story which REALLY pulled it all together nicely. You got so many emotions and saw things through different peoples perspectives and it really wrapped it together great. At first I will say it was a little confusing but once I realized the book jumped through multiple POV I quickly got the hang of it and really enjoyed it.

The story itself was great but I found the pace of it just a tad slow for my liking. I had to turn to another book and then come back to this one because I needed a change in pace BUT that is just me.

I truly cannot wait for the second book to come the cliff hanger left me with my jaw on the floor and speechless. There was many different plot twist especially in the last 20% that really took me by surprise.

Favorite quotes:

“It is terrifying how all those you love so deeply could so easily turn their backs on you.”

“He thought to have known hunger. But this—this was something else entirely. She was like a drug, a fever in his blood, and if he was not careful, he would drown in her.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me early access to this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and author J.F. Johns for this Opportunity to read A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash in return for an honest review!

From the very first page, I was completely hooked! I devoured this book in mere days (which is fast for me given life); I could not put it down!!
Unlike anything else I have read this year, this story was beautifully and intricately written, with just enough twists and turns to keep you invested and guessing what would happen next without being convoluted or confusing.

I quickly fell in love and cannot wait to continue this story!

I think this was my most surprising read so far this year. I did not expect to enjoy it this much but this book really delivered!

⚔️ PLOT: 5/5

Family. Arranged marriage. Enemies to lovers. Court intrigue. Magic and a curse.

None of the concepts in this book are anything too unique or new, but the way the story was put together was extremely well done and didnt leave anything to be desired, because it felt perfect as was. I was shocked by a couple of the deaths, and although the "twist" at the end made a lot of sense and I saw it coming, it was the best way to end the story and leave it on a note where there could easily be a sequel (which there will be).

✒️ WRITING: 5/5

Sometimes I think multi-POV can get really confusing, especially when the character's name is not mentioned at the top of the chapter, but this was very well done and easy to follow. Off the top of my head, I believe it was 3 POV, which is not too many to keep up with.

A couple of the characters have interesting speech patterns, and the way their quotes were written were in a way that was true to their speech patterns while also being easy to read for the reader. (Ash has a stutter and Wren is just silly haha)

🐲💗 CHARACTERS & ROMANCE: 5/5

Mal and Ash were both well-formed characters, albeit slightly bland at the beginning of the story. There are a lot of characters in this book but I never felt like I was forgetting anyone or getting storyline confused. There are a few separate romances going on at the same time, and the spicy scenes are very well done, believable, and not too over the top, while still giving you that fun blushing feeling.

There are a lot of kingdoms in the story, so a lot of siblings to keep track of, but each character had their own personality and I felt like each one of them was needed in the story at some point or the other.


Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!!!

II have no words to describe how I’m feeling. Like being on a roller coaster, jaw dropping twists, love, betrayals, burn the kingdoms down epic. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know that loves fantasy reads. Amazing. Simply amazing. I loved every single second of it.

This story pulled me in with its dark, immersive world and the intense enemies-to-lovers dynamic that added real emotional depth. The political intrigue is sharp, but what stayed with me most was how the characters’ complicated relationships — full of tension, mistrust, and slow-burning connection — made the stakes feel personal and raw. The rich world-building sometimes slowed the pace, but it only made the moments of vulnerability and trust between the leads hit harder. Overall, it’s a layered, thoughtful fantasy that balances epic conflict with deeply human emotions.

“However … all that glitters is not gold”

“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”

So cool and interesting. This book surprised me and I fear this series has, without fail, a great potential to become a newest obsession of mine. Mal, Ash and Alina … all different people with different purposes with different paths in front of them. Alina is such a strong and resilient character and the relationship she develops with the Prince of Darkness is not as simple as it seems in this book. I cannot wait to watch it unfold !!!
And Ash and Mal … arranged marriage, enemies to lovers … slow burn … mild spice … betrayal and salvation … what more could we want from a fantasy romance book!!! The dynamic between the two made me slightly salivate but not to the point where I already know it’s an obsession … I’m simply biding my time before they can become one. The secrets of Mal’s heritage and her powers … her eyes hold it all but we, readers, are too blind to see it until the very end!!! I was suspecting something to be fair … but definitely not what happened in the end. And because of that … I cannot wait for the sequel !

“A king … can be whatever he chooses to be. That is what makes him a king. And strength, Fire Prince, comes in many forms”