Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. This book lived up to the hype! WOW what a great setup for a truly (what I think) epic series!! I can't wait to read book 2!!

This was such a fantastic read!! I hate to compare things to SJM, but this is truly the closest I've ever come to the feels I got when reading the Throne of Glass series.

I absolutely loved the lore and how each kingdom was different. I enjoyed every character and the author did a fantastic job making me love each character in their own way and ripping the rug out from under me in the end. I won't say I didn't see a couple things coming towards the end, but there were MANY things I didn't see at all. I was happy, sad and completely destroyed for some of the characters. I would happily read this again and I absolutely can't wait for the next book!

I’ll start off by saying the cover of this book is gorgeous. I love the art depiction of Mal and of course her purple eyes! (It does scream a little of ACOTAR/Rhys to me but that’s not necessarily a bad thing).

I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy/romantasy lately and found myself needing a break after reading what felt like the same story but different over and over again. This book took me right out of this slump. I would also like to start a campaign to make Witch romantasy more of a thing. Again, another welcomed change from the typical.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable book with a lot of meat to get stuck into. It’s longer than your standard 400 pages and describes settings and actions really well through multiple POV. I found Mal to have quite a bit of character development through the story which kept me engaged and overall she was very likeable. I’m the type of reader who often takes a while to warm up to the FMC so it was nice to be able to connect to a character immediately.

The book does end on a cliffhanger so please please give us book 2 quick!!

What can I say? I really enjoyed this arc read, drank it right up. All your classic fantasy moments can be found here and I found myself eager for more and more. Who doesn't love a little magic, a little love, a little multi pov story line?

I loved the characters and their contrasts, but I will say Kai was a real highlight for me. I would have read six books on him alone. If you love a plot twist, if you love tension, betrayal and forbidden moments. I vote yes on this read and will promptly be seeking out book two.

WHEW. What started as what I thought would be your typical "arranged marriage/enemies to lovers" story ended up being much, much more. This book is packed with mystery, longing, betrayal, heartbreak, and all the other delicious themes I absolutely ATE UP.

The FMC, Mal Blackburn, struggles to contain her own secrets in a distant kingdom where it's hard to tell enemies from friends and dark curses are looming on the horizon. Can this "chosen one" put aside her feelings and do what needs to be done to save the kingdoms?

The cast of characters is interesting and full of unique, lovable (and not so lovable) companions to Mal's journey. But who can we trust? 😭

This book has the perfect amount of spice and yearning. 🌶️ I was screaming and kicking my feet when things started happening.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

I'm so ready for Book 2!

Thank you J.F. Johns and NetGalley for the ARC!

A KINGDOM OF SHADOW & ASH
J.F. Johns
5 ⭐️
2🌶️

➽─────────❥
Wow! This book has it all - brilliant world building, loveable strong characters espically Mal ❤️ impeccable character development. Strong plot. Multiple POVs and gut- wrenching scenes.
“You’re not a witch, my dearest sister. You are a Wyverian.

I can’t wait for book two to come out! It was left on such a cliffhanger!

Amazing work!

“But for once”, she whispered, her voice breaking. “I want to choose me”.

❤️

WHAT A BOOK!! And WHAT A FMC 😍 I think Mal has to be up there with one of my favourite characters ever written. The absolutely sass and attitude but then softness and consideration. I spent my whole time reading this kicking and screaming, giggling and highlighting so many parts. LOVED this and cannot wait for the next one!!!

Let’s be honest: I picked this one up because the title screamed "epic romantasy drama," and wow—this book really said "Let’s throw everything into the cauldron and see what sticks."

We’ve got a rebellious heroine with a tragic backstory (because of course), a dark and broody love interest who’s clearly trouble, kingdom on the brink of chaos, and enough secrets to make a soap opera jealous. Does it all make perfect sense? Not always. Did I keep flipping pages like a gremlin at 2 a.m.? Absolutely.

The pacing is wild—in a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of way—and sometimes the emotional stakes don't quite land because the plot just barrels ahead like a freight train. But honestly, I wasn't mad about it. Sometimes you need a book that's more vibes than logic.

Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it fun, dramatic, and just the right amount of messy? Yes. If you like your fantasy with angsty romance, rebel plots, and characters who make terrible decisions for good reasons, this might be your next guilty pleasure.

3.5 stars and a dramatic hair toss.

Set after a devastating war in which seven kingdoms united to eradicate the Witch Kingdom, this story unfolds in a world left fractured and cursed for nearly a century. Peace is uneasy, tensions run high, and ancient magic simmers just beneath the surface. When a political marriage meant to break the curse binds two enemy kingdoms together, secrets, betrayals, and forbidden feelings threaten to ignite a war that never truly ended.

At 50%, I was already DOWN BAD. Yes, the opening is heavy on world building (dense, immersive, occasionally overwhelming), but once the dust settles and the story shifts into character-driven chaos? I was gone. Hooked. Swooning like a Regency debutante (or Mal in a corset ha).

Mal? Sharp, feral, emotionally barricaded. Alina? All elegance and frost with rebellion simmering beneath her skin. I have a medically inadvisable crush on them both. And Kai and Ash? I was not prepared. I am not okay. I will be naming my next houseplant after them.

Also, can someone with artistic talent PLEASE bring these descriptions to life? I can’t visualize to save my life, and it’s a crime for these scenes to exist only in text. I’m begging.

Update now that I’ve finished: I regret to inform you that I am still very much unwell. This cast has me in a chokehold. I would throw hands, light torches, and start an uprising for any one of them. Special mention to Kage, the resident grumpy academic who made “unfriendly librarian” my new type. I need more of his dry wit. More bickering. More sibling love. More everything in book two. I’ve tethered myself to this series and I’m not looking for a lifeline.

Thank you to NetGalley, Independent (Indie), and J.F. Johns for the privilege of reading this ARC in exchange for my completely unhinged, entirely honest opinion.

Mal Blackburn has always been different. Born with purple eyes exclusive to witches, she’s always heard whispers about herself. A witch hasn’t been seen since the war that wiped them straight out of existence a century ago. Now Mal is facing an arranged marriage meant to unite the Kingdom of Darkness with the Kingdom of Fire. However, she doesn’t plan to help unite the kingdoms. She plans to kill the fire prince and break the curse that’s been waiting to take effect for the last century, but what will happen when she discovers that her future husband isn't the cruel man he’s rumored to be?

The first couple chapters had me so confused that I almost ditched this book. I decided to give it a chance anyway and I am so glad that I did because it turned out to be really good. We follow a range of characters through their rotating perspectives, and each chapter is broken up by bits of journal entries from the woman who cast the curse looming over the few who believe in it. There’s a huge cast of characters, but it works out because many are well developed and we hop around perspectives all book long. However, you might need to prepare yourself because it’s going to take a good minute to get everyone down.

The romance between the main couple, Mal and Ash, was nice but I didn’t feel the fire the two swore they felt burning between each other. If anything, they seemed doomed from the start, and without dropping spoilers… I still feel that way about them. The real chemistry was all between Kai and Alina. Those two were sizzling every time they even thought about each other!

I do think the author needs to find another way to describe facial expressions though. If anyone decides to take a shot every time someone’s lips curled, they’d have alcohol poisoning. I don’t think I want to ever see anyone’s lips curling in a book again after this, so I hope there’s a lot less of that in the next book.

That said, this was a really good read. If you’re looking for excellent world building, intricate plots, enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies, great sibling dynamics, court politics, magic, and a good dose of betrayal, then I urge you to pick this up. When I reached the end of the book, I kept telling myself that I was going to read one more chapter and found myself still awake and totally blown away by some of the revelations at 3am. The foreshadowing was flawless, the story kept me entertained until the very end, and now I’m excited to see where this goes in the next book.

Immediate 5 stars! I devoured this book. I loved all the characters and loved the change of POV throughout. I loved the slow mystery to solve of the curse. I cannot wait for book 2…however will I do that with that cliff hanger

I really liked the information of the different characters and lands. I had multiple favorite characters in this book.

The plot twist was good. Some things were a little predictable for me and I didn’t mind that. Others threw a curve ball at me completely. I was constantly trying to solve what the truth was

I was riveted by this book. I enjoyed the snippets at the begining of each chapter that gave a bit of insight to the past and what may happen.

I enjoyed being told the story from different characters perspectives - this really gives depth to the overall story and plot which can often be lacking in a single or dual pov.

The magic system and world was unique but included elements that I enjoy from other books: witches, dragons, wolves.

It was great that we got different romantic story lines and not just those of the ‘mmc/fmc’ and I hope we get more development of these in the next book.

Plot twists coming at you towards the end but also made sense and gave you the ‘ahhhh that’s why’ moments although the very end had me screaming. How what why!!!!

Overall it was a great read.

4.25-4.5, this was incredible !!! I received this book as an arc through NetGalley, and am so happy I did. The magic system in this book is incredible, and the writing is absolutely stunning. This book follows Mal Blackburn, a wyverian princess engaged to Ash Archeron, a drackonian Prince, and a fight against a curse that could destroy the Eight Kingdoms of their world. If you love dragons, wyverns, fae, arranged marriage and slow burn this is everything wrapped in one. I am so excited for the next book.

I really enjoyed this book, it got me out of another book slump and the writing style was brilliant. I found it fast paced but also very descriptive and the world building was amazing. It had everything you could want from a fantasy read from romance and spicy scenes to adventure/danger, monsters and even dragons!

Mal is a awesome main character, I love how powerful and strong she is, it’s so much fun to read!

I loved this slow-burn romantasy full of political intrigue, unique magic, and a strong heroine. The romance balanced well with the plot, and the spice was just right.

With dragons, witches, curses, and wars, the worldbuilding is fantastic. If you enjoy Throne of Glass or ACOTAR, this series is definitely worth starting!

There are eight kingdoms that haven't had any real connection since the witch wars a hundred years ago. Mal Blackburn, the fourth child of a family that only ever has three, is being pushed into a political marriage with a haughty prince. He seems very above it all and doesn't really talk to people. But as you can imagine, things go as well as you would think when eight kingdoms who haven't seen each other for a hundred years hang out at a royal wedding. There's chaos, witches, wyverns, and dragons. And she's supposed to stab him in the heart.

Absolutely, yes! This was my first eARC with NetGalley so thank you JF Johns and NetGalley for the opportunity to dive into this world with these characters. I don’t know what JF Johns put into the writing and characters, but I legit loved all of them and found their growth to be amazing.

The pace, the world building, the mythical creatures, the fight scenes. All of it was created so beautifully that I couldn’t put the book down. The latter end of the book was giving me GOOSEBUMPS and chills!

Great debut!

Eight kingdoms once lived in peace. A peace that was shattered when someone chose love over obligation. The resulting war destroyed a kingdom and resulted in a curse upon the remaining seven. A hundred years later, Mal Blackburn's arranged marriage may be the key to restoring peace and breaking the curse. But, can she do it? Kill the man she is married to? Or will the curse come to pass?

What an unbelievable ride!! I loved it: the world building, the characters were so complex and well written and I cannot wait for book 2. Mal is a fierce FMC, witty and tough and passionate-truly unique. And our MMC Ash is quiet and shy and complex and just the right amount of tough. Their relationship was so tension filled and, although the slow burn nearly killed me, I loved it so much.

My only real complaint is the ending felt a bit rushed, I could have used a bit more explanation surrounding some of the reveals, but that in no way dampened my enjoyment!

I really loved the book! One of my favorite of the year, the plot was very good and I didn’t see it coming! The main characters are so unique and I loved the growth between them! Can’t wait for the sequel!!!

I absolutely loved this read! Mal is such a strong and captivating lead. She's powerful and fierce, which is everything I love in a main character. The world-building is equally impressive, with a setting that feels extensive and intense. The magic system is rich and nuanced, the kingdoms diverse and alive, and the lore is so intricately done that I was instantly pulled into the story.