This book had everything I crave in a romantasy—shadowy magic, high-stakes betrayal, and deadly secrets. The world was dangerous and intoxicating!

The character arcs were layered and believable, with growth that felt earned and real. The political intrigue was just the right amount of messy, and the story never lost momentum. From the opening chapter to the final act, I was fully locked in. It hit me with twists I didn’t see coming.

This was a phenomenal read. I’m already counting down the days for book two. If it’s anything like this one, I’m in for another wild ride.

Ahhhhhh!!! I’m screaming!

The God of Shadows!

Wow, wow, wow. I am blown away by this story!

If you love wyverns, dragons, wolves, blood, fighting, enemies to lovers, and so much more, this is not a book you want to miss out on!

———
Mal Blackburn doesn’t know where she comes from, but that doesn’t stop her from learning that she’s a part of a big prophecy that is intent on her murdering the Fire Prince.

After being propositioned from the fire court, Mal accepts the burden of marrying (to murder) the fire prince and unite her kingdom with theirs, as well as to end a century long curse.

There are many twists and turns throughout this book that left me sad, enraged, engrossed in the final pieces clicking together. I cried at the Nyx’s death, and smiled when Mal realized killing Ash would only mean he can be reborn again.

I cannot wait for book 2!

This book had everything I look for in a romantasy: dark magic, murder, political intrigue, wyverns (yes, wyverns!), forbidden love, and a plot that was an absolute wild ride. I was hooked from the very beginning, and things only got more intense once the wyverns came into play—those scenes were some of my favorites.

The character building was really well done, with noticeable growth throughout the story that felt natural and engaging. The pacing stayed steady the entire time, keeping me interested from start to finish. And the ending? Absolutely insane. It was gut-wrenching, emotional, and packed with twists that I didn’t see coming.

Honestly, there wasn’t much I disliked or wished had been done differently. The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is because, while I really enjoyed it, I wasn’t completely consumed by it in the way my top-tier, 5-star reads usually make me feel.

That said, I’m so excited to see where this series goes next—I can’t wait to get my hands on book two!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, JF Johns, and Independent for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Tropes:
💫 Forced Proximity
💫 Enemies to Lovers
💫 Arranged Marriage
💫 Lost Heir
💫 Strong FMC
💫 Chosen One
💫 Multi POV (3rd person)

Key themes:
☀️ Witches and Warlocks
☀️ Dragons and Wyverns
☀️ Kingdoms at war
☀️ Curses
☀️ Dark Magic

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶/5

This book has all the classics for a Romantasy book. Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were a lot of things that kept me on my toes and wanting more but the pacing was just off. Like some places felt rushed and others just lingered on.

There was a lot of world building in this book. Definitely setting the stage for future books. I did enjoy the world set up but I did get slightly overwhelmed but it did redeem itself in the end.

Mal Blackburn (FMC) was the fourth born in a kingdom where only 3 children are produced by the royal family. What is her fate going to be? She was literally the spare child but she was born not like her siblings. She was born with Purple eyes. The same color that Witches have, but she was no witch right? Like she can't be. No one in her family was a witch.... we see her truly come into who she was meant to be as the story progressed. We find out her history and who she must kill to relieve her land of a curse that was set forth 100 years ago...

Ash Acheron (MMC) the prince of the Fire Kingdom. Heir to his throne but Arranged to marry Mal who is from an enemy kingdom. The two are literal opposites. I low key feel like he falls first but it kind of is mutual in the timing but he does show it first!

The ending 20% will leave you hooked that's for sure! Im excited for the book to come out. I hope that the AI cover changes but overall, i am happy with the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5 stars

While the premise of kingdoms, magic and wyverns is familiar this book offered elements of surprise with burdens of emotions. I loved Mal and how confident she was throughout this entire book. I felt upset that she and everyone else knew the kingdoms fate was upon her shoulders. I loved the fast paced chapters and story line, the character development was something else.

I wasn’t a fan of the dual POVs, I found them quite difficult to follow. However I’m glad we got to see Kai and Alina develop and I want more of them in the second book 🤞🏻

Thank you so much to Netgalley and J.F.Johns for allowing me to read this fantastic story early, I would definitely recommend friends to pick this up.

Mel is my type of person I liked her. I was surprised by this book I don't usually like fantasy, but this one had me hooked. I need more.

Really enjoyed this book, well written, great storyline and great characters!!! It hooked me in really easily

A classic romantasy setup - fallen kingdoms, lost magic, and a heroine at the centre of it all. While the premise is familiar, A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash still manages to offer moments of surprise and emotional weight. I liked the dual POVs and the slow-building romance, though I did find the worldbuilding a bit surface-level at times.

The plot moved quickly, sometimes at the expense of deeper character development, but I appreciated the emotional beats and the high-stakes finale.

🌑 Tropes you’ll find: Chosen one, lost heir, brooding protector
📖 Overall: Fast-paced and fun, ideal for readers who love fantasy with a romantic core

This book, this book, this book.

Okay. First of all, I did notice a lot of similarities in names and themes when it comes to the Throne of Glass and ACOTAR series. I’m not sure if it’s coincidence or not.

But.

It took a whole different twist. Like… I started panicking in the last 20 or so pages because I wasn’t aware there will be a second book. I thought the ending would be rushed which I am very very glad it wasn’t.

My favorite characters for sure are Mal, Kai, Kage, and Ash. I may have crushes on the males.

I’m very curious to see what happens next. But the fantasy on this book is incredibly. I really enjoyed the world building and the differences between different kingdoms. I also enjoyed how there were multi-layered perspectives on each character. For example, from Mal’s POV in the beginning, she seemed lost. Not weak but vulnerable. And yet, when we’re introduced to her from Ash’s perspective, she’s a fierce warrior. Cunning and dangerous. I thought it was awesome.

I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy as a little trophy since I was very fortunate to read the ARC of this book.

A big thank you to NetGalley and also to J.F. Johns and the team handling all of this. I can’t wait to read book 2!

Really struggled to connect with this one. The premise intrigued me, but the execution didn't land for me, particularly with the way characters were handled, I didn't gravitate towards any particular character, and found it difficult to keep track of all of their motivations throughout the story.

I was drawn to this book to request it because of its cover. They say `don’t judge a book by its cover` but I am so glad I did. I loved it just from look of it and I was right. It is swoon worthy. From the very beginning I was hooked. It started with a tragedy that caused a witch’s curse, this then gave us little snippets of history at the start of each chapter. Almost like a story within a story. It was fast paced and unravelled little secrets as it guided you through the present storyline, which was fun and kept you guessing throughout. There seems to be a forbidden love that transpires and effects the realms in this fantasy world.
This book gave me Game of Thrones vibes with lands of witches, wyverns/dragons/phoenix riders, seers and wolves. It was clear from the start that there were a lot of lands and realms to understand but they were well written and created interesting world building but at times it was a bit of an effort to keep track (like Game of thrones). I had to put some information to one side and revisit later. Even so it kept me intrigued to carry on and see what happens next.
Fans of Throne of glass will devour this book- especially the Manon and Dorian story + mix it with Queen Charlotte- Bridgeton vibes but in a magical realm and you have this book waiting to be eaten up.
I found this to be a multi-layered book, that had three gripping storylines in one.
First being the chapterly journal entries into the past,
Mal and Ash (fire prince) arranged marriage for political alliances,
And our Kai and Alina`s potential love story.
Until I figured out the layers of this book I wasn’t quite sure which I was more invested in but I found myself falling for Kai, he is funny, protective, reckless, a loveable rogue that has Carrion Swift (Quicksilver) and Ridoc (fourth wing) side character draw and appeal.
I wasn’t sure who I was rooting for Mal and Ash or Kai and Alina but feel harder for Kai and Alina, I found myself looking forward to their story parts and was totally invested in their love. Whereas Mal and Ash had to grow on me but totally did and was fully invested. But we do need a more detailed duel POV book for Kai and Alina, as I just couldn’t get enough, please!!
Once I got over my small bump in the middle with story layers, I ate this book up. The last 150 pages were on fire and I raced through them as I couldn’t put it down. I loved the character progression, the twists and turns. I cannot wait for book two. I would want to re-read this again before the next one to lay the foundation again for the second instalment.
I would recommend this book to others, it’s a five-star read for me.
I am eager for it to be released, as I now need the Bookshelf trophy of it.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and J.F.Johns for allowing me to read this fantastic story early, I cannot wait to tell everyone about it on my socials and convince them to pick it up. As they don’t know what they are missing.

This was a really interesting read. It felt a little more YA but overall a great read. It hooked me in right from the get go, and a lot happens. The characters were enjoyable and the romance is fun. Thank you so much for this ARC opportunity!

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash had me instantly hooked with its dark magic, deadly politics, and dragons—what more could a fantasy lover want? It ticks all the boxes for high-stakes romantasy: an arranged marriage with enemies-to-lovers tension, powerful prophecies, ancient curses, court intrigue, and of course, magical creatures like wyverns and giant wolves. The setup is compelling from the start.

Mal, the fourth-born daughter of the Kingdom of Darkness, is such a fierce, calculating lead. I was drawn to her from the beginning—she’s the kind of sharp, unapologetic female character I love to follow. Her mission? Marry the Fire Prince to bring peace… and then kill him. No big deal. But underneath the political games and duty, there’s a prophecy lurking, one that threatens to change everything.

I really loved the complexity of the world, but I’ll admit, the story wasn’t without its bumps. The multiple POVs—though interesting—were a bit jarring at times. Just when I’d settle into Mal and Ash’s story, the narrative would shift to her brother Kai and Ash’s sister Alina, or Kade and Wren, characters from other kingdoms. While I appreciated getting to know each of them, I found it hard to fully connect with anyone because the switches were so frequent. I was craving more depth and time with the main couple to really buy into the romance.

Also, let’s talk spice. This is listed as adult, but the romance is definitely more on the YA side. There’s a slow burn, but not much payoff in terms of steam, which might disappoint readers expecting more heat. Personally, I didn’t mind the lower spice level, but I know some readers will go in expecting more.

BUT—credit where credit’s due—the last 15%? Absolutely wild. The twists had me gasping, and that ending left me dying for the sequel.

..."If it meant protecting her kingdom- she would sacrifice herself to the flames."

Wow. I devoured this.

Kingdom of Ash and Shadow by J.F. Johns had me hooked from the very first page. The world-building is vivid and immersive, wrapped in a dark, enchanting atmosphere that draws you in completely. Every detail deepens the sense of mystery, rebellion, and magic. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is done so well here, full of slow-burn tension, sharp dialogue, and unexpected vulnerability. Add to that some jaw-dropping plot twists, sprinkle in some wyverns, and this book becomes an absolute rollercoaster.

If you love fantasy with rich lore, complex characters, and a romance that simmers beneath the surface, Kingdom of Ash and Shadow is a must-read. I’m officially obsessed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC and to the author J.F. Johns for bringing me on this magical journey.

Let me start off by saying: 5 stars through and through. I was HOOKED and I cannot wait for the next book already:

Spoiler free review:
Great world building. Lots of familiar fantasy themes and tropes but if you love all of that, you’ll love this too. And the storyline takes a unique approach to some of the more common fantasy elements so that keeps things super interesting.

The writing is beautiful. The characters are memorable and complex. The romance is lovely. I prefer a few more 🌶️ personally so I wouldn’t call this spicy per se - but the yearning is yearning and it’s a great part of the story.

The only “gripe” I have with the book is just that SO many of the names used in this book are also used in other big fantasy books. Mal, Nyx, Kai, Kage, Ash Acheron… when I first started reading that sort of took me out of it. But by the end I didn’t care. So if you’re feeling the same way stick with it because it’s worth it in the end.

I’ll also say 3rd person POV isn’t really for me. I think this would have been stronger as a first person narrative that changed with each chapter. But I still loved it and can’t wait to read more!

less is more. that is my main issue with the book. the storyline was trying way to many different things at once, that none of it was fleshed out and good because the author was doing way too much. why did it have 7 different pov? why introduce 8 different kingdoms but give no backstory to all but one?
the writing was also trying way too much hard to be lyrical and poetic but it just flopped. it was way to over complicated to the point were i had no idea what was going on because the author spent 2 whole pages describing what the main characters anger was like.
all of this to say, it was quite disappointing

This book was wonderful! The world was beautiful written and full of plot twists. And the romance was so swoony!

I really enjoyed this book and found myself totally pulled into the story! The kingdoms were fascinating to read about, and there were some great plot twists that kept me hooked. I especially loved the characters—Mal and Kai were my favorites. Their sibling bond was such a strong part of the story and really stood out to me.

The pacing was a little slow in some spots, and I did get a bit lost in the descriptions here and there. Also, the multiple POVs could be a bit confusing since there weren’t any clear headings to show who was speaking. But once the story picked up, especially toward the end, I was completely in. The ending was really captivating and now I’m super excited for the next book.

Tabitha’s diary entries at the start of each chapter were such a fun addition—I loved reading those. Overall, this was a great romantasy read and I’d definitely recommend it!

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

A Gripping Fantasy Romance You Won’t Want to End

Did you ever read a book that you wanted to devour in one go, but also wanted to savor because it was that good? This is that book. J.F. Johns delivers a fantasy romance packed with rich world-building, unforgettable characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing with every turn.

From the very beginning, the story draws you in with a beautifully crafted world (bonus points for a map!) and a dual timeline that builds suspense masterfully. Mal is a fierce, complex lead who gives off major Manon Blackbeak vibes, while Kai brings humor and heart that balances out the tension perfectly. The slow burn romance and “my wife” moments had me hooked, and the enemies-to-lovers trope was done so well.

This book is a page-turner filled with twists, character depth, and moments that will absolutely gut you—in the best way. The epilogue left me speechless. I didn’t want it to end, and now I’m desperate for book two.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded to 4/5
Spice level: 2/5
Tropes: enemies to lovers, “my wife,” slow burn, fantasy romance

Huge thanks to NetGalley and J.F. Johns for the opportunity to read this ARC. I cannot wait to hold a physical copy—and to see where this story goes next.

Pre thoughts-
Fantasy Romance

Post thoughts
- a map!!
- Great world building in the beginning of the book
- Mal is a strong character
- Kai is a hilarious
- Dual timeline

Overall
It is a great fantasy romance read with a lot of twists and turns and substance to the plot line. Can’t wait for this series to continue.

Stars 3.75 rounded to 4/5
Spice 2/5

Tropes
- enemies to loves
- “My wife”
- Slow burn
- Fantasy romance

Thank you to NetGalley and J.F. John’s for the opportunity to review this ARC.