I really enjoyed this book. It was a lot more epic fantasy based than I expected from a romantasy story and I thought he politics and fantasy element really shone through and the romance side was more a side story… though I enjoyed that too.
The world building was expansive and the characters felt just as developed and I was rooting for them from the get go.
Overall if you’re a fan of fantasy books with a romantic subplot I’d definitely recommend this.

This was a 5 star read from me!
I wasn’t sure what I was going to get in regards to this one, but it went beyond my expectations. It was fantastic and I’m now obsessed,

The MC’s and their families were amazing. Loved how different each of them were but also how they compliment eachother too.

The world was awesome - very unique. Enjoyed the use of the dragons and Wyverns. Felt the MC’s romance wasn’t rushed and came together well.

The storyline itself was paced great and I enjoyed having multiple Povs, really made the story come together.

A great book and I’m sad there’s currently not more to read! Can’t wait to see what happens next.

This one was a wild ride! I am honestly excited to see where the second book goes! Oh, and did I mention there are dragons, wyverns, and phoenixes?

Nearly a hundred years ago, the witches had all but been destroyed over the act of love, fracturing the world. In the aftermath, one of the Witch survivors cast a curse over the eight kingdoms. As the years passed, everyone seemed to forget about the war or the curse as ancient history, a folktale told to scare each other around a campfire.

That is, until Mal Blackburn, fourth born and daughter of the Kingdom of Darkness, was born with the mark of a Witch: violet eyes. Believing in the curse, Mal chooses duty before self and agrees to marry the Fire Prince, Ash, of the Fire Kingdom. However, there's a catch.

Mal intends to kill her future husband before the last of the one hundred years is up, to break the curse once and for all. What she didn't anticipate was catching feelings for the man she planned to kill. What will Mal decide? Love or saving the world?

The moment I read the first line of the prologue, I knew this was going to be a story I would never forget. I was instantly drawn in by the writing style, poetic yet simple. It was such an easy, fun read. The world itself is expansive and very immersive. I was definitely intrigued by all the different Kingdoms and courts and how they interacted with each other. I've yet to read ACOTAR, but based on what I know of it, this story was giving those vibes. I also loved the characters and their personalities. There were quite a few MCs to follow, and honestly, each one felt unique and different, so it was able to differentiate the characters by their distinct qualities.

There were a few things that didn't hit for me, though. While I loved the characters, I feel like the main MCs, Mal & Ash, got a little lost and fell behind more as side characters in their own story. I wanted to see their relationship unfold more, but there was a bigger focus on a different romantic couple, which I did love.

Because of this, I felt like the pacing for 3/4 of the story was slow, and when the action hit toward the end, it almost felt a little rushed in the last half. I am also the "show, don't tell" type of reader who enjoys a little more freedom with the imagination. But that is more personal preference, and didn't detract from the story itself.

Overall, this story is perfect for readers who love ACOTAR, ToG, and Fourth Wing, as well as enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, slow burns, dark magic, and prophetic curses. 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4).

DNF at 70%

When I first picked this up I was super excited, I really loved the cover and the story concept, I had enjoyed reading it up until I got to about 40%, where it felt like it was just kind of not really moving anywhere major and was a bit slow. I hit 70% and it still felt the same.

I thought the world building was good. I did really like that the Author had given some background lore into each house that got introduced throughout the story. I liked Mal, Alina and Kai’s character a lot, they were written well. I also liked that the writing was descriptive/poetic.

But the pacing was incredibly slow, so I sort of lost the excitement to go back and read it sometimes and it almost felt like a chore. I’m a fan of multiple POVs and third person, but sometimes I got a bit confused.

I found that the FMC who is Mal, And the MMC Ash, there was no connection between them at all, even for a slow burn I felt it lacked a lot of anything, compared to Alina and Kai, I was more looking forward to reading their POV as there was evident chemistry between the characters.

I did really like the idea of the concept with the different houses, the mounts they had and also the lore about the witches etc. So I think at a later date I’ll try to finish it but for now I need to chill from it.

I do not have too much to say about this one. First of all the cover is gorg I love how spooky it looks lol.

The world building in this book was pretty easy to grasp. I also appreciated that she had a list of characters and a map at the beginning of the book, since that was a big part of the work building. The plot was pretty straight forward for the most part, but also there were a lot of different views of the curse so it kept you guessing which one was accurate. I was also surprised with the little plot twist at the end too.


As for the characters I did enjoy our main ones, and I am so glad it was multi-POV. There were also a few side characters I really did enjoy and it was nice getting to see their little adventures and romances throughout the book as well.

Some parts did feel slow for me though. I feel like not much happened to keep the plot going until like the last 100 pages. But as I said the ending was pretty good so im interested to see what happens in the next one !

Thoroughly enjoyed, it took me a little while to get fully immersed but once I was in I was hooked. Will be keeping an eye out for all future releases!

I want to first thank the author and netGalley for the eARC.

This book is a whirlwind. It starts off a bit slow while it establishes the character and the world but you get to explore one of the few loving families in a fantasy novel. I found Mal's family so sweet and loving in their own unique way. Very much reminded me of the Adams family.

Her betrothed is so interesting too. He is not your typical love interest and I loved him all the more for it. Their dynamic was so sweet and wonderful together, my biggest complaint was just wanting more of them as a couple in the book.

I was surprised at how well rounded a lot of the minor characters were. They each had a unique personalities and the lore for all the kingdoms made me want a million spinoffs.

I found myself struggling to enjoy Alina but somehow enjoying her PoV because it was so different from the other characters. Kai was a total standout character too.

This book is so entertaining I was up late reading and read the whole thing in a day. By the time you hit the 20% mark, you are interested, by the time you hit the 50% mark....good luck putting it down. No spoilers but there was a twist at the ending that genuinely surprised me (actually a couple).

This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. So much more complex and well written than a standard fantasy romance. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series and will be putting this author on my watch list for anything she writes.

High Fantasy readers, PLEASE READ THIS.
This story hooked me from the beginning. It was life changing. What I will say is that it is HIGH FANTASY. A lot of court politics, complex characters, MAGIC, plot twists, etc. Everything that makes fantasy awesome! The writing style was breathtaking brilliant and engaging. This book has everything, arranged marriage, dragons, fae, wyvern, witches…everything that makes fantasy-fantasy! I loved the storyline and enjoyed it all the way through. Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read this!!

3.75 stars

I really enjoy this book. The world building was fantastic and I enjoyed the history of the world. The different kingdoms were great.

However, whilst I did enjoy this book there were some things that I didn’t like

At some points the language was a bit flowery and embellished ‘her voice a blade wrapped in velvet’ ‘he moved like liquid sin’.
I also think there were too many character perspectives. I originally thought this would just be from Mal’s perspective. But then we also got Kai, Alina, Ash, etc. whilst I did enjoy their POVs for the most part. They often changed at random by chapter with no explanation as to the timeframe. I think character names on the chapters would have helped. However, the POV did also change within chapters.
It also felt like nothing really happened in this book until the last 15-20% where all the different character side plots came together.
I also felt like Ash and Mal’s relationship wasn’t developed enough. They didn’t talk then they had one conversation and were suddenly in love? I think Alina and Kai’s relationship was a lot better in terms of development and I really enjoyed their interactions and I’m excited to see where their relationship goes.

That being said the ending was fantastic. Some things I didn’t predict and others I didn’t I do have to say <spoiler>why kill Haven? I loved her. Also Hagan betraying Alina and taking her horns! I’m so sad for her</spoiler>

Can’t wait to read the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and J. F. Johns for allowing me to read and review this eArc

4.25 stars

Thank you netgalley and J.F.Johns for this arc.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was pretty much hooked from the get go in this dark fantasy world with all the mythical creatures and magic which I love!

I enjoyed the multiple POV even though it was third person and really grew a connection with the characters throughout the book.The concept of the kingdoms I particularly liked along with all the side characters who we were introduced to who all came with great significance to the plot.

There are marriages of convenience, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, action, battles and betrayal. Along with Dragons, Wyverians, Wolves, Witches , magic etc…
What more could you want!

I am already looking forward to the next book within this series and seeing what will happen next.

Definitely a one to add to your TBR list!

"–this was not the end. No. This was only the beginning."


Are you kidding me?!
This book is a freaking masterpiece! Bring down a confetti of praises for J.F. Johns 🙌🏻🎉 I rated this book 6⭐ which is a god-tier ranking for me.


I'm really glad that when I was browsing @netgalley and saw that gorgeous cover, I didn't hesitate to press 'request ARC'. Also thankful to Netgalley and J.F. Johns for approving and providing this masterpiece (you're gonna be mad at me for saying 'masterpiece' multiple times in this review)


THE SETTING: 9/10
Look at the map, it's gorgeous! The name of the kingdoms are kinda typical and common, but the addition of the Kingdom of Air and where it is located, makes it unique for me. It reminds me of One Piece's Skypiea 😘🤌🏻

THE WORLD BUILDING: 10/10
I love how each kingdom has their own traits, characteristics, languages, and pets (can I call them pets?) that makes them different from one another. It was described vividly and easy to understand. Love, love, love the concept of the Kingdom of Darkness. The food they eat is all ROTTEN. Gross but unique, and I'm here for it! The animals that represent each house, OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS, it wasn't just a symbolism, they're REAL — living and breathing!

THE CHARACTERS: 10/10
Why isn't a single one of these characters' average looking? THEY'RE ALL GORGEOUS 😍 I love Mal, I would grovel in her feet and die for her, but the rest? I would jump infront of a bullet for them too 🤭 And, it's so nice that there's not a single sibling rivalry going on, they all just love one another.

THE WRITING: 9/10
Like I said, it was easy to understand and follow. It wasn't perfect but who cares? Remember this is a self published book. In addition, I also love that in each chapter there's a sneak peak from Tabitha's point of view/diary. That one makes the story more intriguing

THE PLOT: 1000/10
I LOVE IT. I'M OBSESSED. I'M GONNA BE ENVIOUS TO THOSE WHOSE GONNA READ THIS BOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME. FREAKIN' PERFECTION 😘🤌🏻



OVERALL RATING: 10/10
This is a ✨MASTERPIECE✨


P.S.
If I live in the US right now, I would click that pre-order right away. Too bad I live in the Philippines, and ordering from the US costs me a LOT of money 😭

A rich, imaginative world with layered lore and a finale that truly delivers. While the story takes its time unfolding, the explosive final act makes the slow build worth it. I especially loved the depth of the world building and the dynamic between Alina and Kai, more of that, please! Mal and Ash’s romance could’ve used a bit more time to simmer, but I’m still hooked and excited to see what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and J.F. Johns for the ARC.

First of all, Mal? LOVE her. Such a badass FMC and I’m so excited to continue to see her growth throughout the series. I loved this, I loved the world building, I loved all the twists. Can’t wait for book 2!

Thank you J F Johns for allowing me to read your book in return with my honest review. This book was good and had potential, I just felt like things were missing. Maybe they will be in book 2. I look forward to reading it.

This fantasy romance novel features a unique and original storyline supported by immersive, in-depth world-building. While it primarily follows Mal Blackburn, the story is told through multiple POVs. Each character brings a valuable perspective that advances the plot, and I found myself just as invested in the side stories as I was in the main arc. The character and story development throughout were strong and consistent - aside from the obvious villains, I genuinely liked every character in the book.

At times, the writing felt a bit repetitive and disorganized, in particular some phrases/words were overused and the paragraph structure often sounded incomplete. But at around the 20% mark, something shifted and I couldn’t put it down. Whether the writing improved or I simply settled into the flow, I quickly became lost in the story.

One of the standout aspects for me was how the author portrayed the cultural differences between the kingdoms. Each one felt distinct and well-developed, which highlighted the vast contrasts in their values and traditions. This made the interactions between characters from different regions especially engaging. The inclusion of so many fantasy elements - wyverians, drakonians, fae, etc. - made it stand out compared to many other fantasy novels I’ve read recently. The world JF Johns has created is so vast and well thought-out, I feel like there are endless possibilities for the direction of the series.

The ending was unexpected and left me wanting more. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series and recommending it for next month’s book club. I also need to get my hands on a hard copy. The cover is a work of art and perfectly embodies Mal Blackburn.

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash is a Multiple POV, Enemies to Lovers, Dragons AND Wyverns, Arranged Marriage, Cursed Fates/Prophecies Dark Romantasy that had me hooked from the moment I began reading.

The world building in this book is very thorough & carefully created to give you a true understanding of each kingdom & their characters. In A Kingdom of Shadow & Ash you begin your journey with Mal Blackburn the fourth born princess of the Kingdom of Darkness who has been given the choice to marry & unite her kingdom with the Kingdom of Fire in order to bring the eight kingdoms back together after 100 years apart. Marrying the Fire Prince will not be Mal Blackburns' only task, she plans to kill the Fire Prince to destroy a 100-year curse & save the 8 kingdoms.

I am absolutely obsessed with this story, the characters throughout this book are all so different & it is easy to see their personality show through each (Multiple POV) chapter.

I will say that I am very heartbroken, absolutely shocked & desperately wishing I could read book two.
I personally did not expect the ending, but it tied SO MANY little details back together. I am absolutely obsessed with this world, the characters & the possibility of where the author takes the story next.
Wonderful job & thank you so much to J.F. Johns & NetGalley for the eARC & the opportunity to read this book!

I always make snap judgments about books based on their covers, sucker for a beautiful cover, and when I saw this one on NetGalley I immediately requested this one shortly after reading the synopsis.

I do have to say from reading the synopsis and from the beautiful cover I actually didn’t enjoy this books as much as I thought I would, but it is by no fault of the authors or the story. The writing in here is beautiful, everything I could hope for when reading, and the story was incredibly great. I would describe this as a medium-slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, with a healthy amount of misunderstanding dashed in. The world building is great and there’s a large cast of characters you get to meet and love, or hate. And there’s just enough “mystery” to it in several elements: the curse, Mal’s existence AND her eyes, plus the witches!

So why is this 4 stars at not 5? It felt like a lot packed into a very small book and yet it’s around 600 pages long. But that’s because it is A LOT, there’s a lot of characters, and several of them have parts of the story written in their POV, and sometimes it takes a paragraph or two before you figure out whose POV you’re reading. The world itself is huge, encompassing 8 different kingdoms with at least a little history and characters from each one. Sometimes the pacing was slow, sometimes I felt like I was flying through chapters, and then other time I felt like I was flying through chapters and taking in a huge amount of information to realize I had only read maybe 5 pages. In some ways there was just a little too much in places and for me it was a bit overwhelming, but that is 100% my issue obviously.

There is a nice (😠) little cliffhanger ending so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next books, because even though this might not have been a 5 star book for me, I still enjoyed it every bit of the way!

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book absolutely took me by surprise. I’d never read anything by this author before and was just instantly intrigued by the cover and blurb but wow did this book take me for a ride!
I absolutely devoured this book from the first page, you got a taste of enemies to lovers - a forced marriage. You got 3rd person POVs from multiple people - which it does switch between quite quickly but doesn’t take away from the story at all!
The authors writing flowed really well and it contained perfect world building throughout and it was easy to read and follow along with the story line.
The last 15% of the book had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It truly takes you for a ride and that cliffhanger??? Get me book 2 immediately!!

Thank you so much NetGalley and J.F Johns for this eARC!

I truly loved the premise of this book! Arranged marriage and forced proximity are some of my absolute favorite tropes, and right off the bat we learn that the FMC is intent on assassinating her betrothed to end a century long curse. So, we know we are set up for a tension-filled enemies to lovers tale with plenty of betrayal.

The FMC is fierce and loyal, the MMC is sweet, vulnerable, and protective. This has all the makings for an incredible romantic fantasy. Where it fell a little short for me is it has multiple (at least 4) POV's and so I found it more difficult to form a deep connection with the characters with the constant switching between POVs. It does eventually come together at the end of the story, but some of the pacing felt off to me in the middle of the story while we are changing scenes to follow the cast of characters.

This has:
-Muti POV, 3rd person
-Arranged Marriage
-forced proximity
-Enemies to lovers
-political scheming
-dragons/wyverns
-prophesies/curses
-plot twists
-🌶️ low spice (there is sexual content, but it is not overly detailed/graphic)

Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!!! This book blew me away , at first I was hesitant on if I was going to like and I absolutely loved this story!! At the beginning it gives you all the information on 8 kingdoms and an entry from 100 years ago. At first I was like this is alot of information but don't worry as this story goes on you get the clarification through out about the different kingdoms and the princes and princesses. So A kingdom of Shadow and Ash is an enemies to lovers,cursed fate, arrange marriages, betrayal and plot twist story .You will adventure along with Mal who is a strong female character that is determined to kill the fire prince, to save the kingdoms from a curse placed 100 years ago .However, killing the fire prince might not be so simple...yeah I know intense right !!Not only do you follow the main characters through this story there are other characters that you meet and all I can say is I absolutely loved the character building and world building in this book all the detail that was put into making each setting and person I could picture it so well as I was reading. I would find myself laughing or smiling at how the characters interacted with each other. Now I would say I think the romance between specific characters could've used more slow burn tension maybe more banter between the two and built the relationship even more but gosh I still really enjoyed it. The plot twist, betrayal and shock in the book literally had me gasping and being like are you for real right now!!! As you read you do get Diary entries from a specific character and you get multiple point of views from different characters as you read and I think that really helped get the full story. This definitely ended in a huge cliff hanger and I'm ready for book 2 I need it now!!! Get this book and add it to your TBR you won't be disappointed.