WOW!! This was such a great read. It definitely had all Academy magic vibes that are going around right now and was super excited to read it.
The story was so good and easy to follow there were so many twist and turns throughout the book it kept me on the edge of my seat at times. I was so entertained with her sassy attitude it made the FMC lead so much better it wasn't childish but she definitely held her own.

I couldn’t put this book down, the details throughout the story kept me right there with the characters throughout and it didn’t feel overdone. I am ready for the next one, that cliff hanger it just ripped right through me waiting to see what will happen to them next. I am eager to find out about her bonded and what strengths come up when she starts to develop her own magic I can’t wait.

Thank you to the author and NetGallery.com for getting a chance to read and review this book.

My hearth is so happy I got picked for this ARC and I was gifted the opportunity to read it early! This review is is written voluntary by a very enthusiastic reader!

I give this book a solid 5 stars and the fact I'm still smiling and are giddy for the next one tells me it is a amazing book!
The smooth writing let me slide straight in to the story and kept my focused al the way through, until there was noting more to read. Yes I even read the acknowledgement & about the author haha, cause well you can only hope for a little more, right!

I love the academy vibes, the mix of HarryPotter meets the Ruhk riders from Throne of glass. I KNEW I needed a book about Rukh riders, or Strix or any flying creature. The magic system is intriguing and feels new. And there is so much more to discover and uncover about a lot of the the politics and those Mists and don't get me started about the secrets, although I guessed some ;) The main characters have tension from the start and it is such a joy to follow their road and how they get to end up where they will be. I love the details, the friendships and the overall writing it just keeps giving you a little information at the time and I can't wait for the next part!

I defintly put this one as a favorite I read this year!

This book had me hooked! The writing style really drew me in, the character development kept me invested, and the world-building was well done.

I’m really exciting to continuing with work from this author, I felt her style really coming through even though I was slightly worried about some Fourth Wing vibes in the beginning. After getting into the story it was clear that this work stands on its own!

I want to start out by saying I finished finished this book in less than a 12 hour time frame because I was so hooked!
Feathers of Ash and Hope is full of mistrust in an academy setting and has a variety of mythical creatures. If you're reading the summary and seem to think that this books sounds like other popular books, I encourage you to give this book a shot because it is vastly different. The author wrote a strong FMC and stuck true to the character throughout the book. I loved that we get to see both Ara and Tate's prospective, We get to see the conflicts they both face and their love blossom throughout the book. I also enjoyed that some of the scenes we got to see from both perspectives. The characters in this book have dimension and the side characters have enough detail and banter that you will love them too. This book is definitely a slow burn, has tension and would rate a spicy level of 2/5.
As for the writing, the book starts out slow due to world building but is strong and keeps the readers engaged and wanting more. It's written in first person POV (my preference) and switches between the two main characters. Overall, this book was really well written and kept me wanting more the entire time.
Final thoughts: This book was a 5/5 for me. I am already ready for the next book due to the CLIFFHANGER that I was left with. I literally screamed at the end and my husband thought something was wrong with me. I loved this book from start to finish and cured a reading slump that I was in for a while. Make sure to pick up your copy on June 6th!!!

Thank you K.J Altair, Edwyn Publishing, and Netgalley for allowing me to read my first ARC and leave a review. I was ecstatic when I got the email! I hope to be on the future ARC list for the rest of the series ❤️ I know this may seem silly but it was literally a dream come true for me when I got the email

Loved how the world is built and all of the complexities within the characters. The unique pov storytelling was a first for me and it was amazing!

"She's the Man” meets “Fourth Wing”.

This book sucked me in from the start and I found myself staying up way too late to finish it.

The story follows Ara, the youngest sibling of a military family with four older, overprotective brothers. She is cursed, and her magic drains those around her. Knowing that her curse is a death sentence, she joins a military college with hopes of becoming a sky rider. In order to hide her intentions from her brothers, she disguises herself as a boy.

While this book clearly draws inspiration from Fourth Wing, and early world building is similar, it stands out on its own with a unique set of characters, conflicts, and plot devices. Never was I bored reading, and the way it ended…I need to know what happens next!

At times, I wish some side characters were a little more flushed out, but overall, it was a solid start to a new series.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this work! I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Tropes:
- Romantasy
- Curses
- Friends to lovers
- Banter
- Hidden Identities

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall Spice:🌶️🌶️

Ara and Tates story is full of lies, betrayal, and hidden identities. Ara is an incredibly fierce FMC and there is so much more to Tate. I loved watching their story development and the relationship blossom. If you liked the war academy setting and how the riders had to prove themselves to bond like in Fourth Wing, you’ll really enjoy this! It’s not dragons but instead huge majestic birds - one of whom really adds to the story with her sassy comments and superior attitude. This is an a slow burn romantasy with incredible tension but it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger which is the only “negative” thing I have to say and that’s only because book two isn’t out yet so now I have to WAIT! Otherwise. Perfection!

i really wanted to love this book, and the premise really interested me and i was super excited for it, but i unfortunately had to dnf it, it just wasn't working for me and i was find it a little bit too similar to other books which i had previously read

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.