I just finished A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash and… whew. This one was a ride. I’m giving it a solid 4 stars because even though it felt choppy in some places, the story hooked me and didn’t let go.

Mal Blackburn is my kind of heroine - sharp-tongued, morally gray, and not here to play nice. I mean, she’s sent to marry the fire prince… just so she can kill him? Yes, please. That setup had me immediately obsessed.

The world feels dark and dangerous, full of secrets, curses, and people who are definitely not what they seem. The enemies-to-lovers tension between Mal and the fire prince?🔥 Delicious. Add in dragons, witch magic, and court politics, and I was all in.

My only real complaint is that the pacing was uneven at times. Some scenes jumped too fast, and I felt like I needed a bit more breathing room in certain moments. But honestly? That didn’t stop me from tearing through the pages.

🖤 Dark fantasy lovers, this one owns my soul.

This book completely caught me off guard — in the best way. The world-building is rich, immersive, and utterly spellbinding. Each kingdom is so distinct and atmospheric, it felt like walking through a different realm with every turn of the page. From dragons and wyverns to wolves, serpents, and shadows, the magical ecosystem is vivid and alive.

But it’s not just the fantasy elements that pulled me in — it’s the emotional carnage. The last 10% of this book is a full-on assault to the heart: betrayal, sacrifice, longing... I was gutted. My chest is still tight thinking about it.

If you love books that keep you breathless with tension and rip your heart open at the end, this is your next obsession. I need book two yesterday.

Tropes Included:
🗡️ Hidden royalty
🐉 Magical creatures (dragons, wyverns, wolves)
⚔️ Enemies to something more
💔 Betrayal & heartbreak
👑 Rebellion & reclaiming power
🌙 Dark magic / forbidden power
💀 Chosen one (but make it cursed)!

Thank you Netgally and J.F. Johns for the opportunity to read such an incredible book!

Thank you so much NetGalley and J.F. John's for this eARC!

I will absolutely be recommending this book whenever I can. I love everything about it. The characters, the setting, the fae political/kingdom setup. The vibes are immaculate. I've been looking for a really good political setup since i finished some Holly Black books earlier this year. I absolutely love it and it was super easy to follow without being completely overwhelming. I greatly appreciate the couple of pages at the beginning that help the reader prepare for the setting and setup of the houses.

I'm getting a bit tired of dragon related books, but this was so well done! There is a lot of world building and the author is very descriptive in their scenes which was wonderful if a teeny bit overwhelming sometimes. This IS the first book in a series though and I'm excited to get further in and see everything come together. The twists!! The world is very dark and it's my favourite part. Mal is AMAZING. I! Love! Her!!!! She jumps right in, ruthless. Her whole family, the side characters are so much fun and add a lot of depth to the story. The romance I'm not completely sold on yet, I have such a love for enemies-to-lovers stories so I can be a little picky and I just didn't feel it. So, there's a lot more of them I need to see and a lot more they need to experience together. BUT there's still LOTS of time to develop!

I don't reread books very often, but this might be the first one I go back to. I love dark romantasy!

Extra: There's a trend the last few years of really intricate covers and designs that pull multiple elements of the book together to try and draw you in. It's very "choose 9 stock photos and let us go crazy" OR "here's this swirly fantasy design border, some flowers, and some text". I love this cover! Mal is GORGEOUS and deserves to be front and center! It's eye-catching and takes a genre that feels very same-y and throws in a little bit of fun difference. Thank you for that, it's so refreshing.

Did it have some Parts of very known Fantasy books? Yes. Did it make the book worse? Absolutely Not. I devoured the first 60% of this book. Then the pacing was a little off, which is also my only criticsm. The writing style is so captivating and the multiple POV of the characters is so nice. The writer just as a way with words.Also there are so many different characters, that also make you go through multiple emotions. In certain point of views i sat here laughing, in others with goosebumps and again in others with a Shock on my Face. Can‘t wait for the second book.

Cursed kingdoms? Check. Forbidden love? Check. Addicting? Check, check, check.

Incredible writing, wonderfully paced, and an addicting plot that kept gripping me in.

This was my first book ever read by J.F. Johns and I will definitely be reading more!!!

Thank you NetGalley and J.F. Johns for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was good! It blended political intrigue and romance in a fantasy setting. The premise was gripping and I was invested in the characters and story.

Mal is a fourthborn daughter of Darkness, destined for obscurity, until she’s pulled into a dangerous marriage alliance with Prince Ash, a man known for cruelty, fire, and a brutal past. What follows is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers journey that blends romance, court politics, and mythic curses. Besides Mal and Ash, the other characters and their relationships were developed well. There are a lot of characters introduced and it was a lot to get used to at first. I enjoyed the story being told from multiple POVs, but I will point out that at times it was difficult to know right away who’s POV it was when it switched. It would have been helpful to have the name indicated at the beginning of the character’s section. I thought the romance was just okay throughout, it felt a little insta-lovey with the relationships that developed. There were definitely charming moments that had me smiling. I just wish I felt a little more oomph from the relationships.

The world that we’re introduced to is very interesting–there are multiple kingdoms and houses, each having their own people with different magic and abilities. The world-building is expansive, but at times too expansive. With multiple kingdoms, magical bloodlines, bloodline politics, cursed lands, and an abundance of mythical beasts (dire wolves! dragons! wyverns!) I appreciate the complexity, though I found myself getting confused at times with massive lore dumps, especially at the beginning. Some POVs added richness, but others pulled focus, making the middle section feel a bit scattered.
Everything really came together in the end though. The buildup was definitely worth it and there were a lot of twists and turns I didn’t see coming! The last part of the book was action packed and set the stage for what looks like a darker world and characters to surface.

If you like your fantasy with grit, high stakes, enemies who slowly (and stubbornly) fall in love, and heroines who don’t flinch from hard choices, this one is worth picking up. Overall I enjoyed this story and am curious to see how the series unfolds!

So much better than I expected! A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash drew me in with its dark, haunting atmosphere and kept me hooked with its rich world-building and mysterious tension. The eight kingdoms, silent for a century after the destruction of the witches’ land, are finally stirring and what unfolds is a gripping, magical tale set in a world scarred by past betrayals.

J.F. Johns crafts a story that’s equal parts eerie, emotional, and captivating. The sense of foreboding throughout makes it a perfect read for autumn, with just the right amount of darkness intrigue, and slow burn!. I’ll definitely be recommending this to anyone who loves a brooding, immersive fantasy with high stakes and a touch of magic.

A Vibe-Packed Fantasy Debut Full of Potential

When I saw the cover of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash, I had to read the description, and once I did, I immediately requested the ARC. I'm so, so glad I did. This book was a solid 4 star read for me, and I loved every minute spent in this world.

This story has everything a fantasy romance lover could want: an enemies to lovers arc, dragon riders, waven riders, phoenix riders and more. Seven kingdoms on the brink of war, all while a cursed land looms in the background. The world-building was imaginative, and the vibes were immaculate.

The writing was good, and I truly hope this book gets picked up for traditional publishing. There's a lot of untapped potential here. While some parts felt a little predictable and I wish the author had trusted readers a bit more to piece things together, I also believe this is her debut novel—and she clearly has tons of talent.

By the end, I realised there were several twists I hadn't seen coming, and I was absolutely blown away. I'm beyond excited for the sequel, A Kingdom of Sand and Ice, and I can't wait to see how the author continues to grow.

If you’re a fan of epic fantasy romance with high-stakes drama and magical creatures, this one’s worth checking out. 4 stars for the vibes and the promise of what’s to come.

My top read of 2025 so far! I haven’t been this invested in a book since Fourth Wing. It had me hooked from the start & that ending?! Wow!

This was beautifully written and had a great plot flow. I loved the multiple romance storylines going on; the Multiple POV’s were never jarring & added depth. I was invested in Mal & Ash the most, the arranged marriage & enemies to lovers was executed perfectly. I almost teared up at some parts.

The detail that went into describing the different kingdoms and the various customs from them all was so fun to read about. The mystical creatures introduced through the story was also a fun element. Dragons, wyverns, shadow companions, wolves, huge snakes, witches, yes please!!

I never saw the twists coming at the end. I was in shock multiple times in the span of 30 pages. I need a special edition on my shelf ASAP & character art. I will be reading book two as soon as I am able to. This is one of my new Roman Empire books!!

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

There were a lot of things I liked about this book. The setting was interesting and there were several characters I really liked. However as a whole I don't think things came together successfully. It felt like there were a lot of stories competing to be the main focus with some of the storylines being more successful than others. Unfortunately I felt like Mal and Ash's storyline was the weakest. Their interactions felt very minimal and the way their relationship developed did not feel realistic or organic. The storylines with Kai, Alina, Kage, and Wren felt much more developed and flowed more naturally.

There was a lot of world building being done, some successful, some not. I thought the description and layout of the actual land was done well and it was easy to picture. The cultural differences between the lands were done pretty well. I appreciated the use of clothing and food to set the different lands apart. There were a lot of things that were not as successful. Mal has lived in a land of shadow and darkness her whole life, and it is described as being entirely greyscale, yet there is barely any mention about the Land of Fire being sunny and no mention of it being colorful compared to the Shadowlands. There is also the fact that the Wyverians eat rotten food for some reason that is never explained.

Despite having a lot of good storytelling, the multitude of small things that either didn't make any sense, or were never explained added up to make this book feel tedious. The ending would have been interesting and a great cliffhanger except the author didn't trust the audience to be smart enough to understand what was going on and instead literally spelled out the ending right before it happened.

If you're a vibes reader and don't need consistent continuity or don't care about the details then I think this book would be good for you. If you are someone who notices the small things or wants well thought out cohesive world building then this is probably not for you.

This book was a gripping starter to a promising series. The FMC was fierce, clever and ansolutely ruthless protagonist with a perfect enemies-to-lovers romance with Ash (the MMC). Ash was giving big golden retriever vibes! I loved that 😍
With magical and mystical immersive world building, you can envision the most beautiful 8 kingdoms from this book - the descriptions were immense!
From dragons to wyverns, this book had all of the mythical creatures creating the best fantasy vibes there is to offer!
This was a great debut perfect for a series launch and J.L.Johns knew what they were doing when giving us this book!😍✨

I wasnt sure what to expect and found the first few chapters hard to get into but im so glad I didn't give up.
I couldn't put this book down and read it in a week! Great writing and loved the diary entries which you find out who they relate to at the end.
You do need to use your memory on a few occasions in terms of characters etc so you can't skim read.
Noticed a few grammatical errors but then again may be how I read the book.
Its a fourth wing meets a disney story vibe yes it's dark in places but the love story makes it the worthy read. I'd happily have this story sitting on my enemies to lovers bookshelf

This book totally pulled me in with its rich world-building and intense slow-burn romance. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers stories wrapped in dark magic, political intrigue, and fantasy vibes, this one’s for you. The characters are complex and the stakes feel real, with plenty of secrets and twists that kept me guessing. I loved how the story balances romance and action without rushing either. Definitely recommend if you want a captivating fantasy with emotional depth and a touch of mystery!

💀 "This book grabbed me by the neck and said, ‘You like pain and politics, right?’ AND I SAID YES, DADDY."

This is not a cozy fantasy. This is not a lighthearted adventure. This is trauma in hardcover with political war crimes, magical rot, and morally grey men who brood so hard the shadows ask them for advice.

Kaelen is like if regret and emotional repression had a lovechild who also had the fate of the kingdom in his pocket. Bro is EXILED. Cursed. EMO. And somehow still hot??? Sir, I can fix you—but also, please don’t touch anything magical ever again, thanks.

Elara and Lucian? ICONIC. One’s probably going to betray you, the other already did, and I’d die for both.

There are no safe choices in this book. Only:

Forbidden shadow magic that absolutely corrupts
Ancient curses with “do not touch” labels
Shifting allegiances that made me question my own friendships
A kingdom so doomed it needs a prescription for antidepressants

The pacing??
Starts off like molasses in winter. Slow. Sticky. Mildly concerning. Then EXPLODES INTO SHADOW-FUELED CHAOS. One minute I’m reading about sad boys with swords, next minute I’m SCREAMING over ancient evils and emotional collapse. 10/10 whiplash. Would suffer again.

The romance??? HAHAHA—if you like slow burn with trust issues and delicious tension that might never get resolved because everyone is emotionally unavailable, welcome home. 💅🏻

This book said, “What if redemption was optional, everyone is cursed, and magic eats your soul?”
And I said: SIGN. ME. UP.

Send help. Send therapy. Send me a copy of A Kingdom of Sand and Ice!!!!

This was such a fun, fast-paced romantasy with all the tension I wanted. The world is dark and full of secrets, and the enemies-to-lovers setup worked really well. The cursed bloodlines, political scheming, and slow-burning attraction gave it the exact energy I look for in fantasy romance.

Mal was sharp and stubborn in a way that made her easy to follow, even when her plans were messy. Her dynamic with the fire prince had that perfect mix of danger and chemistry, and I never felt like the story dragged. There were enough twists and reveals to keep me locked in.

Also, I picked up a physical copy because the cover is absolutely beautiful. It’s one of those books that just looks like it belongs on display.

If you’re into fantasy filled with curses, court tension, and morally gray love interests, this one is a solid pick.

Witches were the monsters of bedtime stories, their sorcery both feared and reviled, their legends steeped in blood and betrayal. But what most did not realize—what they could never suspect—was that witches walked among them.


✨ Overall Rating 5/5
📈 Plot 5/5
🖊️ Writing 5/5
👤 Characters 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships 4/5
🗺️ World Building 4/5
🔥 Spice 2/5
😭 Emotional Damage 2/5
🤩 Entertainment 5/5


This is my first book my this author and I really loved it! I was sucked in throughout the whole story. I love the magic world and getting ti know all the siblings and their expected roles.

The old letters at the beginning of the chapters that share a love from the past was really great. I enjoyed taking time to try and piece everything together!


Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was sooo good!

From the very beginning, this book had me. Wyverns, a prophecy and an arranged marriage? Say less. I was hooked and got reeled in super fast. I finished this in one weekend!

What really stood out was how immersive the story felt. Getting to meet the characters and having the shift between their POVs was such a treat and made situations come alive and gave a multilayered view and added so much depth. Honestly, it felt like watching an epic fantasy movie unfold on the page.

It even gave me some Maleficent vibes (in the best way), and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this. The atmosphere, the people, the unique setup—it all just worked for me. And that ending? Mind blown. I need to know what happens next.

This was such a strong start, and I’m absolutely hyped to continue the series.

I received a free eARC from the author via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

A dark, slow burn enemies to lovers fantasy with witches, dragons, and high stakes. Mal is a fierce, unforgettable heroine, and Ash, the Fire Prince, brings surprising emotional depth. The pacing starts slow but builds into a gripping, twist-filled finale. Perfect for fans of political intrigue, curses, and angsty romance. Mal is God Tier amazing.

Absolutely adored this book from start to finish. The mix of warring kingdoms, dragons, arranged marriage and enemies to lovers completely hooked me. The pacing was great, the story never dragged, and I found myself flying through the pages.

I loved seeing the story from different perspectives. Each character felt layered and real, with secrets that kept me second guessing their motives. Mal was a standout for me, but honestly I was invested in all of them.

The world was rich and full of detail. I’m hoping we get to explore even more of the kingdoms in the next book. The ending caught me completely off guard and now I need book two immediately.

If you enjoy romantasy with strong characters, political tension and just the right amount of chaos, this is for you!

I absolutely loved this book! A spectacular dark romantacy that was incredibly done. I would love to see this as a series! I will be looking for more books by this author!