Prince Aeveus is a wanted man. The kingdom has put a bounty on his head for killing his father. Everyone saw him kill the King but he didn't do it and needs to find the person who did. Karessa is determined to win the reward for the capture of the prince. She wants to help her family have a better life. She decided she will need some help on her quest and teams up with Clyde who is a tracker and his companions Matthias and Esteriella. They go on a wild adventure full of magical creatures, battles, and surprising twists!

I really enjoyed the plot. The fighting scenes were so good. I was never bored or wishing more would happen. It was very fast paced and I could not get enough of it. I do kind of wish the romance had a bit more build up to the relationship. But I still enjoyed it and loved their story. I absolutely loved that you explained a lot in the Authors note. It was like all of the questions I had were answered and that was so awesome!

Can't wait for the next book! Thank you Dartanyan Johnson and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC Team!

🪨Ashes & Rubble💎
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️3.5 but I rounded it up.

When I read the summary for this novel, I was excited to read it. I think the plot is fun and reminds me of quest oriented epic fantasies. The comradery between the unlikely squad was warm and the banter funny at times.

Sometimes though the dilaogue felt forced and cliché. I don't think the main characters were ever fully described. I know I'm the kind of reader that enjoys a clear image of what the characters look like. Because of that, I wanted more depth from the characters and felt that by the end I still didn't really know them.

I would have liked more memories of Karessa and her brother to really solidify her motivation for hunting down Peince Aeveus. By the end of the story, I wanted to know they would make it out on top, so even with me wanting more from the characters, I still cheered for them and liked them.

The romance felt very sweet and demure which is surprising when Prince Aevrus is supposed to be morally gray. I didn't get morally gray from him, I got misunderstood and that while he was deadly with his combat skills, he's a big softy. Lol.

Overall, I feel like there needed to be more world-building and character development. Even with that in mind, I liked the pacing of the plot and the adventurous feel of Karessa and her comrades quest. If you're not a character driven reader like I am, you'll enjoy this book!

Thank you Dartanyan Johnson and NetGalley for my ebook ARC!

✧₊‧˚⁀➷ 1.2/5 .ᐟ

ʚɞ ⁺˖ pros. i had high hopes for this, but it was just. forgettable? but a very quick read—i completed it in two hours—so at least it doesn't drag. matthias and ester were cute, somewhat. the "he'd wait for her for 100 years" bit is just adorable.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ cons. i didn't connect to anything, any characters, any storylines, or any of the romance. the writing, directly from wattpad. dr. seuss-y alliterations right from the prologue, descriptions that are written as asides instead of being integrated with the actual story. the plot was a sequence of very generic stock events in fantasy with no unique personality to any of them. karessaevius would have been normal romantasy slop either way, but whore male lead who "has never thought of women as people" until the female lead showed up is just icky when written by a male author. in general, the characters are immensely shallow, romantasy leads #5689 and #6723. they're stock people in a stock universe doing stock things. just extremely uninspired.

i received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for a review.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ARC Review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Ashes and Rubble starts off with the king supposedly being murdered by the prince, but he insists he is innocent. Meanwhile, a girl whose brother died the night of the attack seeks to collect the bounty on the prince’s head to help provide for her brothers wife and child.

This story was a lot of fun to read. There were several great elements of fantasy written in, at times it felt like our characters were going through a D&D campaign traveling from one city to the next and facing various enemies along the way. The characters were well developed and had a lot of depth to them. Overall I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!

Thank you to Dartanyan Johnson, D.CATZ publishing, and NetGalley for this free eARC in exchange for an unbiased review

Thank you to NetGalley and D.CATZ Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I thought this was a decent cozy fantasy with an interesting adventurous premise but unfortunately I just couldn't connect with the characters, I don't feel attached to them. There wasn't enough character development, so therefore I couldn't really get into their situations. The romance was endearing and okay. Overall, it was just an okay read for me. I don't think I'll be continuing the series because I don't think I was the target audience for this but still grateful to have read it.

I really enjoyed this book. There was just one spicy scene, but it was good! The characters were well executed and so were the relationships. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed, and I would have liked to know more about Aeveus’ time ruling the kingdom.

From the chaos that erupts in the kingdom, the main characters find themselves on an epic quest that takes them to unexpected places and to face new challenges.

This was a great read. I especially enjoyed the worldbuilding and how there were many kinds of magical communities and creatures. The story was exciting with great fight scenes. I also liked the dynamic and humor between the characters.

I liked that there wasn’t too much romance and the only issue I had was that it felt a little rushed, I would have liked a little more depth and backstory to the characters.

I've read Ashes & Rubble by Dartanyan Johnson, an adventurous fantasy with a pinch of romance.

It's about a prince Aeveus, who gets accused of murdering his own father, the great King, and escapes prison together with his 2 best friends Matthias and Estriella to find the real murderer. On his path he meets Karessa, a regular human girl, who is in search of prince Aeveus to get the bounty on his head. But she doesn't know it's him, because of a spell. Together they make a wonderous and adventurous journey.

I really loved the story and it got me captivated from minute 1 until the end.

The author has taken us on a journey with trolls, elves, ogre, chimaera's in this wonderful story. Can't wait for the next ones (books) to be released.

I've read this as an arc by Netgalley, the author Dartanyan Johnson and D.CATZ Publishing and I give it definitely a 4-star read!

I’m going to DNF this book. I don’t usually leave star ratings for DNFs but I have to on Netgalley. This book feels like I was dragged into book three of a series and know nothing about the characters, setting or plot. It’s going in one ear and out the other. It’s just a collection of scenes with no through line between any of the. I don’t know what else to say.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the ARC.

Overall, a perfectly fine read. We have a quest within a quest, secret identity, and some hijinks along the way. The writing felt like it had a bit too many contemporary quirks and lingo for my taste, and I didn't really pick up on any romantic vibes or tensions and the talk about love felt like it came out of nowhere.

Personal preference, the random things that needed pronunciations would be just fine in a glossary instead of in line parentheses, which were a little distracting.

Ashes & Rubble is a fantasy adventure with betrayal a d secrets! After reading the prologue I knew I was going to be hooked and couldn’t stop turning page after page. The romance aspect didn’t feel very fleshed out. However this is an all round good book and I would recommend.

I really enjoyed this book! Had all of my favourite things in it, Magical creatures, funny MC, banter, adventure and a great story!

The prologue had me hooked immediately and I just had to keep reading to find out what had happened. The twists were great too and unexpected which made for a good read.

I enjoyed the MC relationship with each-other and with their fellows. They developed well. The pacing of the story was great too and the action was well written and not rushed at all.

Looking forward to the next one coming out!

This story had a decent plot and good world building. The characters were enjoyable and the pacing was good. I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy high stakes fantasy. My only note and the reason it got a 3 stars instead of 4 is because the romance could’ve been developed better and for me it didn’t work well with the overarching story line and themes within the book.

In an unexpected attack on the king, Prince Aeveus is suddenly found wanted for the murder of his father. While on the run in a quite convincing disguise, he encounters Karessa, who is searching for him with the hopes of earning the bounty on his head. Throughout the book, they encounter numerous dilemmas as they search for the true murdered of the king.

I really enjoyed this book. I feel like it had just the right amount of romance and action, and a fitting pace was kept throughout the book. The battle scenes were also very well- written, leaving me eager to know how their outcomes.

The only thing i feel put my rating down slightly was the fact that i feel the characters didn't have enough depth to them. I think if they had more of a background to them, one they shared between themselves throughout the book, it would make them feel more alive.

Overall, however, I really enjoyed Ashes and Rubble, and i can't wait for book 2 . Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the chance to read this book.

"Ashes and Rubble" was engaging, with an effective pace throughout. The battle scenes were well-written and immersive. I am looking forward to further character development in the second book, especially between Aeveus and Karessa. I think “Ashes and Rubble” did an overall good job of laying the foundation going into book two.

Thank you Net Galley and Dartanyan Johnson for the early copy.


I thoroughly enjoyed this read. There is deceit, adventure, and excellent world building. My only critique is I think the romance could have been better crafted. All of a sudden love was being thrown around and it was weird.

Ashes & Rubble is a gripping, fast-paced fantasy adventure that thrusts readers into a kingdom riddled with deception, danger, and intrigue. Dartanyan Johnson masterfully weaves a tale of betrayal and survival as Prince Aeveus, falsely accused of regicide, races against time to uncover the truth before he is captured and executed. Meanwhile, bounty hunter Karessa and her enigmatic elven partner, Clyde, add depth to the chase, making for a thrilling game of cat and mouse through monster-infested terrain. With compelling characters, rich world-building, and high-stakes action, this first installment of A Kingdom Cast in Shadows is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy filled with mystery and adventure.

Ashes & Rubble” by Dartanyan Johnson – A Thrilling Fantasy Full of Mystery and Action

Dartanyan Johnson delivers an exciting fantasy adventure with Ashes & Rubble, packed with action, suspense, and unforgettable characters. From the very first page, this story pulls you in and keeps you hooked.

What’s the story about?

Prince Aeveus Fehlik has been accused of murdering his own father. The problem? Everyone saw him do it—but he knows he didn’t. Now he’s on the run, trying to find the real killer before the royal guards catch him. His only clue is the symbol of a forgotten territory, but time is running out. If he’s captured before he can prove his innocence, he will be executed.

For Karessa Auruchie, the bounty on Aeveus’ head is a chance to escape the slums and start a new life. She teams up with Clyde, a charming and skilled elven tracker, to hunt him down. But as they get closer to their target, they begin to wonder—what if Aeveus isn’t the villain everyone says he is?

Why should you read this book?

🔥 A great mystery: How can someone commit a crime they didn’t commit? The truth keeps you guessing until the very end.
⚔️ Action-packed and exciting: From dangerous forests to intense battles, the story never slows down.
🖤 Interesting characters: Aeveus is determined to clear his name, while Karessa and Clyde add humor, charm, and tension.
🌍 A rich fantasy world: The kingdom is full of danger, secrets, and political intrigue.
✍️ Easy to read and engaging: The writing is fast-paced, vivid, and full of great dialogue.

Final thoughts:

Ashes & Rubble is a perfect mix of adventure, mystery, and strong characters. If you love fantasy stories with action, suspense, and surprising twists, this book is a must-read. A well-deserved 5 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Actual review closer to 3.75 stars. The story itself moved right along for me. I liked the group and their dynamic as they made their journey together. I would have liked to have gone a smidge deeper into the characters and the romance angle been a little more fleshed out.

This book is amazing! The characters are so good and the world building is really awesome. The magic and magical creatures are well written and interesting, and the plot is so interesting, I had trouble putting this one down! If you love fantasy, I highly recommend this one!