Let me start off by saying this book, Feathers of Ash and Hope, book 1 in the Flameborn series by K.J. Altair had me hooked from the start. It follows a strong female character who hides a “curse” from the world. With a secret identity, she joins a special academy of large birds of prey fliers in hopes of bonding with one and covering her curse. During her time at the academy, she meets the secretive and gorgeous Tate, gains many friends as well as makes a few enemies. The writing is very fluid and kept me thoroughly engaged and interested. Spice was not closed door, but very well done. If you love romanstasy with secret identities, deadly trials, academy relationships, slow burn hot romance, magic and magical bonds with animals this book is for you! I give this a 5/5 stars with a spice level of 🌶️🌶️ I was able to read this ARC provided for free by #NetGalley and am so thankful I was able to read this! I cannot wait to read what the author does next! #FeathersofAshandHope

This book was actually really really good! 4.5 Stars!

I won't lie, in the beginning, I was very worried because it was sounding extremely close to Fourth Wing. But after you get past the initial world building, the author really came into her own making this story. I think you can tell it was inspired by Fourth Wing but the author worked well to make it unique for her and to make this story shine as her own.

As always, I love a fierce, badass FMC and a MMC who knows exactly what and who he wants. This was a forbidden love type romance so there was none of the enemies to lovers type bickering. I wouldn't say it was necessarily instant attraction, but it was close enough. The book is full of action so it keeps you engaged throughout the story & a little spice at the end, if you enjoy that.

There were a few questions that I felt like didn't get answered in this book and I'm hoping they get answered in the second installment when that releases. I love an open ending/clifhanger because it definitely leaves you wanting more and the author did not disappoint in that area! I know Book 1 is just coming out but I'm really excited for Book 2 lol

*The only reason I took off .5 stars is because of the blatant similarities to Fourth Wing in the beginning of the story. I think had it been spread out throughout the story, it would've been less noticeable. But people may not agree with it right at the forefront that way.

Thank you so much K. J. Altair, Edwyn Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC! You guys be sure to get a copy of this when it drops on June 6th! You won't regret it!! 🥰

Thank you to the author and publishers allowing me to read the ARC before the book came out. The story follows a young Ara who is faced with a difficult position, limited in her options she decides to join academy. Feathers are ruffled (pun-intended) and secrets are shared. The start of the book was hard for me to follow but once I was 100 pages in I was hooked! There were a minor spelling mistake and odd grammar but I still enjoyed the book. Many say it's like fourth wing but I haven't read fourth wing so the story was intriguing. I like Ara as a FMC and Tate as a FMC... my man was DOWN BAD! I can't wait for the second book and I will definitely be keeping up with the author

4-1/2 ⭐️
I really enjoyed and recommend this book by K. J. Altair and I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the series. “Feathers of Ash and Hope” has unique magic, interesting characters, compelling intrigue, good world building, disturbing villains, suspenseful conflict and questionable gray characters that I’m looking forward to finding more about.

I love that right off the bat the story is dual point of view and I was quickly invested in Ara and Tate as well as their friends and truly appreciate the wider story this provides.

They both have secrets, they both have enemies, they find each other but will that be enough? Can they find allies? Will they survive or will those secrets and brutal enemies tear everything apart.

❤️🌶️🗡️⚔️🪶🐦‍🔥

I’ve seen some reviews comparing it unfavorably to others in the same genre but let’s be honest, a genre exists because the stories have a similar basis and a lot of Romantacy has a familiar feel with recurring pieces but this is no retelling of other tales. Don’t be discouraged if aspects feel familiar, that feeling leaves quickly as the uniqueness of the world shows itself.

I’m hooked and ready for the rest of the story!

This review is of an ARC copy provided by the author via NetGalley - thank you.

What a fun book! Definite Fourth Wing vibes going on but with majestic/mythical birds instead of dragons.
Love, love, love the FMC. She was so confident, tough, and hilariously sassy. The MMC was brooding and powerful but also a bit of a cinnamon roll under the surface :) There was palpable tension throughout. So many secrets, when will they be discovered?? I would’ve loved a bit more character development for her friends to show how they became so loyal to her. The magic system is neat and the details of the Cursed Ones was unique. I’d like to know more about the history of the curse/Cursed Ones. Then the end...oh man the end! Broke my heart a bit and made me immediately want to pick up the book 2 to find out what happens next!

Thank you to K.J. Altair and Edwyn Publishing for allowing me to read this book!

I really enjoyed this book, the story kept me intrigued and I was invested in what happened to the characters.

Feathers of Hope and Ash is an extraordinary novel that effortlessly weaves together themes of courage, healing, and transformation. From the very first page, I was completely drawn into its rich, vivid world and unforgettable characters. The author’s storytelling is both poetic and powerful, balancing moments of heartbreak with inspiring hope.

What sets this book apart is its deeply emotional core — every feather and ash symbolizes the characters’ struggles and triumphs in such a beautifully symbolic way. The pacing is perfect, keeping me hooked until the very last sentence. This story not only entertained me but also left me reflecting on strength and the human spirit long after I finished reading.

If you’re looking for a moving, thought-provoking read filled with heartfelt moments and unforgettable imagery, Feathers of Hope and Ash is an absolute must. Highly recommended!

I absolutely devoured this book!! And that ending?! I CANNOT wait for the next book.

Feathers of Ash and Hope is the first book in a new romantasy series and follows the story of Ara and her time at the Skyrider Academy. Ara is "cursed" which puts not only herself but her whole family at risk and sees joining the military academy, bonding with a mystical bird and earning magic as her only way forward.

Of course she enrolls without her families knowledge so in order to not stand out in a male dominated academy and hide her true identity, she disguises herself as a boy.

Ara is such a fun FMC. She's feisty, sassy and full of life with a wicked sense of humour, the complete opposite of our brooding and mysterious MMC Tate. Both characters have secrets and flaws which only makes them more relatable and while this book focuses a lot on Ara, we do also get a glimpse into Tate's past.

The book is written in the first person with dual POV so you get both sides of the story. It's fast paced, action packed and full of banter and tension (definitely a slow-burn in every sense of the word). The writing style felt a little stilted in the beginning and some parts of the story were a bit vague but once everything came together, I couldn't put it down.

Feathers of Ash and Hope delivers a captivating blend of slow-burn romance, high-stakes secrets, and a richly imagined, Roman-inspired world where loyalty and love are constantly tested. Ara’s desperate quest to survive her curse and protect her family is both heart-wrenching and empowering, while her dynamic with the guarded, brooding Tate adds tension that simmers through every chapter. The Skyrider Academy, with its magical bird bonds and deadly trials, makes for an exciting backdrop, even if some worldbuilding elements could have been fleshed out more. With dual POVs and a swoon-worthy romance full of tension and trust, this book soars with emotion and danger.

If you liked Fourth wing, read this! This is set in a magical military academy for skyriders, who bond with magical birds. Ara hides as a boy so her four overprotective brothers won’t find out she’s training to be a skyrider. She catches the eye of Tate, who is harboring his own secrets.
Ara is one of my favorite FMC’s I’ve ever read! The love for her family and friends and how she didn’t want to disappoint them made her very easy to relate to. I LOVED her sarcasm and witty humor! The delicious tension and banter between Ara and Tate made this book hard to put down.
I hope we get more insight in the next book on the cursed and gifted magic. Also, that cliffhanger! I need the next book now!

This debut fantasy novel is a very interesting read. It kinda gives off the vibes of Mulan with a woman disguising herself as a man so she van enter a establishment that is clearly dominated by men. Overall I was quite impressed with the route the author decided to take.
It follows the story of a young girl Ara who is plagued with a curse. She knows that if she is discovered with this curse it could mean the end of her family. She decides to enroll into this academy to become a skyrider. However, she tells her family that she is going somewhere else in the mean time. Also the academy is only for boys so she has to disguise herself which works out pretty well.
From there she embarks on the training to become a skyrifer and perhaps learn more about this curse along the way. This book is filled with jam packed action and is a fun read.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Military Academy, deadly trials, bonding with a mystical bird, receiving magical gifts, badass FMC and brooding MMC? Yes, this sounds like the current romantasy trope hitlist… but what can I say? It‘s still working!

When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was a bit afraid that it would just feel like another Fourth Wing or DireBound. But far from it! Ara‘s and Tate‘s story can totally hold its own! While there obviously were some parallels, the storyline was unique and exciting. The characters (main and side), the world, the hints on what’s to come… I loved it all and can‘t wait for the second book!

So if you want to cure your book hangover from those two mentioned series above… look no further! Just also expect another hangover after reading Feathers of Ash and Hope!

Thank you, NetGalley and Edwyn Publishing, for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐

This book feels like a retelling of Fourth Wing, as it takes significant inspiration from the original story. The book has military setting, featuring flying creatures (birds) that form bonds with skyriders. One of the main characters possesses draining magic (cursed magic) which is forbidden in the kingdom.

Ara (FMC), is a daughter of high ranking military officer and carries a curse. To protect herself and her family, she joins skyrider academy in Telos, hoping to become a skyrider. She secretly enrolls without her family’s knowledge and disguises herself as a boy while also searching for answers about her curse.

Tate (MMC), broody, dark-haired, tall skyrider, centurion (division leader) with mysterious past and marked as deserter.

I really enjoyed the tension, romance, and witty exchanges between the main characters.
The story was so engaging that I was hooked almost from the second page. I couldn't stop reading until the very end, and now I must wait for the second book.

Overall, I lowered my rating because the plot felt quite similar to Fourth Wing. However, I hope the next book will be more unique, as the ending and cliffhanger show a lot of potential. A very promising debut, I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley, Edwyn Publishing and author for this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Upon reading the blurb my immediate thought was 'here we go, another Fourth Wing". But, hey, why reinvent the wheel. But after reading it, I was like, this is something different, better even. This book improved on a lot of things where Fourth Wing failed, Mainly, the slow burn romance. This book is totally Fourth Wing meets She's The Man. I loved that! Have not read anything like that in fantasy romance. It was truly a sloooow burn. I enjoyed her/his interactions with the friends at the academy. My only, and I mean only, negative feed back with this book was that I felt lost up until chapter 7 of this book. I really didn't understand Ara's true reasons for signing up at the Academy. Nor did I understand why the Academy exists as there was not a lot mentioned about the political climate. So I felt that more world building was necessary. Other than that, I really look forward to reading the second installment. I will recommend this book to others.

This story had potential, with moments of engaging action and emotional depth. However, it was hard to ignore how closely it mirrors Fourth Wing—from the plot structure to character dynamics and even some of the world-building. While it’s normal to draw inspiration, the similarities here felt too overt, making parts of the story predictable rather than fresh.

That said, the writing style is solid, and there are glimpses of originality that shine through. With more distinction and bold choices in future work, the author could really develop a unique voice. As it stands, this was an enjoyable read, but not one that stands out in a crowded genre.

This book was a fun read for me. I like the world building. The tension between the two main characters was also something that I enjoyed. It wasn’t instantly romantic. I like the banter between them. I can’t wait for the second book because the cliffhanger left me wanting more! I give it a five out of five stars!

Tate and Ara are attracted to each other... but both tried to stay away because of their own secrets. But their feelings become undeniable....

Love this roman-like story. Enjoy the magical part and the romance.... Ara and Tate are interesting characters and I enjoy their romance.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I couldn't put this book down! It had me hooked from the first page. The slow-burn between Ara and Tate, their banter, the tension, the secrets… The dual POV made it even better. I loved the pacing it was fast and gripping, and I was completely immersed in the world. I’m already counting down the days for book two. If you're into magic, romance, and characters that stay with you, this one's for you!

I absolutely loved this book!! I love that it’s a dual POV book from the beginning. The banter is also brilliant. I cannot wait for book two!

DNF at 20%

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book due to the level of similarity between the story so far and the plot of Fourth Wing. I understand that a lot of stories in this genre take inspiration from others, but the similarities here made it difficult to enjoy the story in its own right. I tried to push through as I assumed the plot would eventually diverge away from the Fourth Wing inspiration but the parallels between Ara’s conversation with Joel after her assessment and the conversation Violet has with Dain after she crosses the parapet were just too much for me.

I think the author had some really interesting ideas here. Both the magical creatures and the Roman Empire inspired setting really drew me to want to pick up this book, but the plot didn’t feel unique enough to set it apart from other books in the genre.