A good read and a twist on Henry VIII if women were the rulers and men had to deliver to their Queen female offspring. I loved the tete de tete between the throne and Lady Alice the best! The problem I had with the book was too much narrative and not enough dialogue. It was more like reading a journal. Still it was a fun read and is the first in a series. I give this a solid 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was really intrigued when I first read the description of The Throne of Ash. The concept of an alt reality similar to that of Tudor England, but where it's a matriarchal society made me super eager to read. However I was disapointed. The story concept is brilliant and I would of loved to learn more about the diffrent houses and lands but unfortunately the delivery was lacking.

Elizabeth is the heir to the throne of the kingdom of Ash and her elder sister Cecily is the queen looking for her first consort. The man Cecily chooses happens to be the secret lover of Elizabeth due to the maschinations of his family. We discover all of this in the first few chapters and apart from the end that I won't go in to, there isn't much intrigue or action to drive the story forward.

There is a lot of narrative and very little dialogue which at times made it a very frustrating read. Our main characters especially Princess Elizabeth feels very 1 dimensional, even though the whole book is from her perspective. It feels like half the book has been cut out in the middle but I felt the ending lacked the emotional punch that was intended because we didn't really know the characters.

Overall the story itself has a great concept and the world felt rich and had depth to it that makes you want to know more. But that's exactly why it's slightly disappointing because your let down by not being able to connect to the characters and empathise with what they are going through because you don't fully get to know them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc

A tudor inspired fantasy with romance and lots of politics. I found the world building quite fun and the plot was good however it could have been developed more as it did begin to feel abit flat throughout!

With its Tudor-inspired setting and a world where women hold power while men are little more than political tools, The Throne of Ash has a fascinating premise. The story centers on Queen Cecily, bound by tradition to wear the Queen’s Face mask and choose a Consort to produce an heir. When she unknowingly selects her sister’s lover, ambition and jealousy ignite a dangerous game of politics and betrayal.

The novel’s strongest point is its worldbuilding. Porter crafts a court ruled by rigid etiquette and ruthless maneuvering, where every decision carries weight. The dynamic between Cecily and Bess is particularly intriguing, as sisterly duty clashes with personal desires. The idea of men being sidelined in the political sphere is a refreshing reversal, adding an interesting layer to the court intrigue.

Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t quite live up to the concept. The writing feels clunky at times, making it harder to get lost in the story. The beginning is especially slow, weighed down by exposition and excessive detail before the real conflict gains momentum. While the stakes eventually become clear, it takes too long to get there.

That said, if you’re patient and enjoy slow-burn political intrigue, The Throne of Ash does have rewarding moments. The shifting power dynamics and betrayals keep things engaging once the story picks up. It’s not without its flaws, but for fans of courtly drama with a unique power structure, it might still be worth a read.

The Throne of Ash by Lissy Porter is an exciting Tudor-inspired fantasy filled with intrigue, political maneuvering, and courtly romance. The world-building is rich, and the atmosphere captures the tension of the Tudor era. While the plot is engaging, some parts feel a bit slow, and the characters could have been developed further. Overall, a solid 3.5 stars—gripping and enjoyable.