4 stars

The Road of Bones is a great example of what the Romantasy genre can bring.

This has Vikings in a fantasy world where our main character must flee for her life, and while fighting danger at every turn, also must deal with the trusty "enemies to lovers" slow burn. I would give this book a 3/5 for slow burn, its not the super pinning long-winded will-they-wont-they that I love, but it does a good job that fits well with the overall plot.

I cared about the other characters in the book and was interested to see where the plot goes. It is high stakes and has a fairly active pace which keeps me engaged, especially with it being a longer book for a first in a series in this genre.

I will say that although nothing particularly triggering happens, it has very dark themes and graphic violence which you should be aware of before going in if that impacts you.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, despite feeling a bit fatigued with the Romantasy genre at the moment. I have the sequel ready to read and look forward to diving back in.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*Road of Bones*, a gripping Viking-inspired fantasy follows a woman fleeing the shadows of her father's death. In a twist of fate, she persuades a fierce band of Viking warriors to let her join their caravan North. What unfolds is a tale brimming with high-stakes tension, hidden secrets, and captivating intrigue. Romance blossoms amidst the chaos (with just a touch of spice), yet it never overshadows the riveting character dynamics that drive the story.

However, I will say this about the FMC. I love Silla’s cheery disposition despite the grief and chaos that surrounds her. She has this inner strength which counters the physical strength of the Bloodaxe crew. My favourite quote of hers was “She just wanted chickens.” Granted I have cited it out of context but it captures how much she wanted a simple life and appreciates the small things in life.

The Road of Bones was a fun read! I hadn’t realised how much I’d been craving a fantasy romance that would grab my attention and hold it, The Road of Bones did just that, I really enjoyed it and the twists surprised me.
It is / has:
•F/M fantasy romance with Viking inspiration
•Hidden identities
•A story inspired by red riding hood
•Multiple POVs
•Start of the Ashen series (currently in progress and incomplete)

Reasons I enjoyed this book so much:

•We have a great range of characters, from Silla our on the run FMC travelling The Road of Bones, the Bloodaxe Crew (who are diverse and have some strong women characters), and the people following them all.
-Silla is a great FMC to follow (even when I found her exasperating at times), she grows becoming more self-sufficient.
-Morally grey characters and the villains who made the story incredibly engrossing, aided by the multiple POVs.
-The Crew. I adored the crew’s dynamics, the team banter and the friendships. The friendships between characters was given space to develop (particularly Silla and Hekla).

•The romance - there is tension, opposites attract, and a potential love triangle dynamic. There are some scenes I will go back and read again.

•The world and magic system were intriguing - I’ve questions because the world is interesting.

•Further themes are explored, including mental health (specifically addiction), grief, trauma.

My only criticisms are some of the character’s choices are at times dubious (but there was character growth) and I wished that there was more of the creatures unique to the fantasy setting (but there are more books)…

I have been left me with so many questions - so I’m very excited to see where this series goes.

I love this book so much I cannot wait to read book 2! Really fantastic book which actually deserves the hype! It was really well written, I really enjoyed the world building and loved the characters. I also hated a few of them they were really well written and not sure how the author managed to create such a world with well written characters in under 500 pages! There were twists and turns I did not see coming! Five stars all day!!

The Road of Bones is a chilling and atmospheric thriller that masterfully blends horror with folklore. The eerie setting and relentless tension create an immersive, almost claustrophobic experience. The writing is sharp, and the supernatural elements add an extra layer of dread. While some parts feel a bit rushed, the overall suspense and haunting imagery make it a gripping read. A solid choice for fans of eerie, folklore-infused horror.

This was an interesting read that was just that bit different, and I has seen it mentiomed a few times. I wasn’t disappointed and enjoyed the story, and found that it moved in ways I didn’t anticipate. Interesting characters and well written, it is one I would read again.

This is a brutal tale of survival, found family, betrayal, revenge, and identity, enriched by Nordic folklore and set in the fantasy Kingdom of Iseldur.

The story follows Silla, who witnesses her father's murder and must travel the perilous Road of Bones to reach safety. True to its ominous name, the road is notorious for its dangers, littered with the remains of travellers who met their demise along the way. How will a lone girl survive days and weeks while being pursued by the Queen's warriors?

As with many travel-focused narratives, it is crucial that the journey does not overshadow character development. This book balanced it well and has all the necessary character arcs to deliver a compelling story. This allowed for full immersion in the world and its lore. Honour and duty define the code by which warriors live, but the uncovering of lies and secrets drives the story forward. With scenes meticulously crafted to maintain suspense while avoiding premature revelations. The book succeeds in delivering suspenseful storytelling with danger at every turn, though some twists become predictable as the narrative progresses.

The author warns readers about uncomfortable and explicit scenes in the book, which may be troubling for some. I appreciate the dedication and my heart swells with pride for all survivors out there.

A pronunciation guide and glossary are included at the back of the book, and I strongly recommend that readers refer to these resources—they help with the reading flow.

A Viking Romantasy story, would have appreciated more world building & magic, 600 pages+ of romance between 3 characters. Sadly not for me due to the pacing & needing deeper character development.

In The Road of Bones, a Norse-inspired epic fantasy, our main character Silla is by herself for the first time after her father is killed while they’re on the run. Before he dies, her father reveals a secret that has Silla doubting everything she’s ever known - and running for her life. While travelling the deadly titular Road of Bones she meets the Bloodaxe crew, who agree to get her safely where she’s going in exchange for help on their mission.

One of my favourite aspects of this book was seeing Silla’s relationships with the Bloodaxe Crew grow, especially with Hekla (my personal favourite character!) who teaches her knife-work and self defense. There was great disability rep and the author doesn’t shy away from the more difficult parts of living with a disability, especially as a warrior, but the characters are still strong and fierce, and are never depicted as incapable. I thought that every member of the Bloodaxe Crew was very well developed, and their camaraderie was so vibrant, it was truly a joy to read.

Although Silla doesn’t become a badass warrior overnight, and her progress in training is slow (yet realistic), Winters makes it clear that her skills lie elsewhere. She is an experienced forager, and Silla is constantly gathering ingredients for the Crew’s meals, as well as herbs for balms and tinctures that she shares with the Crew as they travel. Silla was incredibly sheltered by her Father, and because of this, she is quite naive and doesn’t know how to navigate the real world. Those around her often grow frustrated with her, and she has a lot of hard lessons to learn along the way, but by the end of the book Silla is stronger, wiser, and knows how to stand up for herself and is on her way to truly knowing herself outside of the boxes that other people have put her in.

I do think that this book was slightly too long. There were a few instances towards the middle of the book that I found repetitive, where the Bloodaxe crew travel for a little while, Silla annoys Rey, the group stops for the night, Silla trains with Hekla, and then they do it all over again. I appreciate that this was a good opportunity to show Silla’s character development and her changing relationship with the Crew, but I think a few chapters could have been edited out. Despite this, things really heated up in the last quarter of the book, and it set the scene perfectly for book two. I’m looking forward to picking up the sequel!

This book / series has so much potential!
Potential spoiler: triggering tropes at the end of this review
This book set up and premise is amazing. It’s so intriguing and I was so excited to read it. The first 70% of the book was okay. The last 30% was good.
I like that both Silla and the crew have their own objectives but it felt that the crew’s mission got forgotten about and then needed a last little call back in the last 5% of the book. The tension between silla and Rey all the way through was amazing and I think set up a nice story line for the next book. I’m hoping that this can be an excellent series that gets better throughout

I did not see the ending of Jonas and silla to go from lovers to enemies in such an extreme way.

Trigger warnings: lovers to enemies (80% ish), drugging (80% ish) , drug addiction (throughout)

I was *so* excited to see that this book was coming to the UK, because I had seen it reviewed by US bloggers and it sounded SO GOOD!!! There are so many elements to love about this book: a softer female MC (who isn't a warrior, but is still battling things), a fresh setting, vikings, secrets, and a take on addiction, which isn't something you see in fantasy and I thought was so well done.

Silla is, quite simply, the every-woman. She has no special skills, she isn't a warrior, she didn't train secretly as an assassin, or suddenly finds that she can wield magic like a pro... She can cook. She is clumsy. But unlike other books (I'm looking at you, Twilight), she didn't come across as a blank slate. She is constantly trying and wanting. She is also battling inner demons and the fact that her life has suddenly been turned upside down.

There were only a couple of things I didn't love. Firstly, the middle of the book does drag quite a bit. There are large bits of the book where Silla is just... observing things and having conversations and nothing really happens. Secondly, some of the elements/conflicts have a repetitive nature. Eg., Silla gets caught in a lie, promises never to lie again, then proceeds to lie, gets caught in a lie... Rinse. Repeat. The issue with some of this in fiction is that it is absolutely true to real life– people do behave this way– but in fiction, it has the potential to elicit a giant eye roll. Finally, **potential spoiler** the behaviour of the love interest shifts quite abruptly and it didn't ring entirely true. I mean, people were warning her about him the whole time, but I took it to mean he was a player, not a psycho.

All this aside, I loved Road of Bones. The ending (by which I mean the last quarter of the book) was incredibly strong: unique, twisty, heart-rending, epic, and this is also where we saw Silla hit back, rather than just running. The supporting characters are varied and unique, the world-building richly realised, and I can see Silla becoming an absolute badass as her story moves forward. I will definitely be picking up book two and I can't wait to see what else Demi Winters creates.

I confess it took me a while to get into The Road of Bones but I'm glad I did. I liked Silla's growth throughout the novel. There were two love interests but I didn't particularly like one so without spoilers I'm glad it played out the way it did.

I loved the TV show Vikings/ Vikings Valhalla so I really appreciated the viking setting. The Fantasy and Romance elements were very well balanced.

I would recommend this for fellow lovers of Vikings and also Danielle L Jensen's A Fate Inked in Blood.

*Thank you Netgalley and Orion Publishing for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book had me straight away, I really love the back and forth banter and tension between the main characters. I was interested in the story line and I liked all the characters.

One thing I wish there was more of, was world building. I'd like to know more about the royals, how do people feel about them, what are they like, is there any political conflict. Then the magic, why are people with magic treated that way, why do some have it and others don't, what are the different types.

I suppose the book lacks this because the main character doesn't really know this herself, but where we read from others POV there was potential for more information about the world to come out.

Overall I enjoyed the book the start and the ending had been really interested, with only a slight lull in the middle.

FMC: 20
MMCs: twenties

A captivating new world, characters that you just root for, and an end game goal that is hidden behind challenges and obstacles aplenty. This was right up my street!

Due to health issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

Romantasy set amongst the vikings? Say no more! I loved this book so much. It felt like such a fresh take on this genre. It started off a little slow for me, just me trying to figure out what was going on, but then it ramped up and left me so eager for Book 2 next year. I think the magic system could use a little more explaining but I have a feeling we'll dive deeper into that in the second book. I would highly recommend this book (and have been)!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I struggled to read this book only because the format that I got was terrible. I had to keep zooming in and that's the only reason why it took me so long to finish the book.
I was drawn to the viking story, not having read one before and from the first page I was transported. The language used, the descriptions used and the world building were all spot on. There was nothing that pulled me out of the world, no random modern saying or description.
Silla is our FMC. She and her father are in hiding, although it takes a long time to figure out why that is. Tragedy strikes and Silla finds herself on her own before she ends up on the Blood Axe Crew's wagon. Coming behind her is an assassin, Skraeda, sent by the queen who has magic and isn't afraid to use it. She's arrogant and cocky but with her own dark past.
Silla is a timid girl at the beginning of the book, quiet and desperate to make it to Kopa to survive. Her character development is so subtle because she is emotionally intelligent and just a good person, but she does become more resilient with the help of the Bone Axe Crew. I loved this found family but I won't comment on the romance... Enjoy that one because I know I did.
Silla isn't a badass and she doesn't turn into one overnight, or suddenly know how to fight effectively and I really appreciated that. She didn't just decide that she could do it on her own and end up failing only to have someone to come and save her. Her development was almost natural and completely believable. She fought her demons and to an extent, she won.
This book had everything I wanted, multiple POV's, violence, gore, romance, spice, adventure and secrets. However, everything was very slow at the beginning and the nicknames confused me a little bit at the beginning.
The book starts off a little slowly with the world building, which felt authentic and real, but came into its own and just kept throwing hits and punches that made my head spin... Did I mention secrets?
I will absolutely be diving into the second book because I HAVE TO KNOW!!!!!

Thank you to Gollancz and Demi Winters for approving my request for a Netgalley digital arc of The Road of Bones in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was excited to read this book as I do love a good book about Vikings, inspired by Norse legends and anything romantasy.

The Road of the Bones is a stunning epic fantasy about treacherous secrets, dangerous magic, ferocious unnatural creatures, and a perilous journey of survival with a band of Viking mercenaries called the Bloodaxe crew. Demi Winter's writing creates a vivid world inspired by Norse culture and mythology with high-stakes, dynamic pacing and rich, authentic storytelling. She crafts a story that not only entertains but also highlights the complexities of trust and survival in her harsh world. The world-building is majestic and sweeping into a dark, dangerous, wintry world – full of powerful magical secrets, fierce warriors, and eerie creatures.

Demi Winter does a fantastic job of creating a large cast of distinctive, inclusive cast characters living with disability and LGBTQ representation characters who are fierce, tenacious, and bold. I love how she crafts different types of characters, from those who are greener in the ways of life and the world to the jaded, bitter souls who've experienced pain and suffering. She crafts complicated relationships, dynamics, and interactions within her social order and groups, especially in the Bloodaxe crew, who have lots of flavours personalities that you can easily remember and find kinship with. At times, I felt the warmth and camaraderie come alive off the page with the members of the Bloodaxe crew as they share meals and banter in camp.

I loved how endearing Silas is as a softer-styled protagonist. She's been somewhat cloistered from the real world in her life before this adventure, meaning she can be incredibly naïve, a bad judge of people's intentions, a terrible liar, and makes a lot of awful decisions and mistakes. Cooking, making a fire, and trying to be invisible are her only life skills. Her character development is a steep learning curve: finding her inner strength, learning survival skills in the wilds, self-defense, standing up for herself, and how to interact with people.

A dark, rich adventure romantasy with forbidden romance, lots of curve balls, and surprises that will have you holding on to the edge of your seat with its rollercoaster ride storytelling style. It feels like one minute you're plodding along on your horse nicely, and the next thing it bolts, leaving you cling on for dear. If you loved An Ink Fated In Blood, Lord of the Rings, and The Last Kingdom, you're going to love The Road of Bones for its Viking spirit, diverse lore, and a company of characters bonded together in loyalty and blood

A completely absorbing story that ticks all the boxes - we have a strong female character I was wholeheartedly rooting for, secret magic, danger and action, a lovable band of warriors, and romance. I devoured this story, constantly on the edge of my seat and waiting to see what would happen next. Silla's in a real tight spot and it's difficult to see how things will be able to work out for her, but she is determined and charming and has managed to soften hearts with her charm and fire. Though The Road of Bones follows Silla's story, we do have a couple of POVs in there which I enjoyed, though my favourites were Silla's and the warriors. At times I was indignant on Silla's behalf and the story is so well written that her emotional rollercoaster was my emotional rollercoaster. This story really has something for everyone and I can't wait to see where Demi Winters takes us next on Silla's journey.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

This one started a little bit slower but once it picked up, I was really happy I didn't put it down. There was some info dumping and I had to try my best to remember all but that was okay, it's fantasy after all and what good fantasy doesn't require a notebook? I liked the banter, liked the characters AND most of all, I liked there was growth for all through the story. Definitely recommend to fantasy lovers.