The Frost Witch hooked me right from the start with its dark, beautiful world. Velora is a land cursed by the gods 400 years ago and is slowly rotting away, driving those who can to flee while leaving the rest to famine, poverty, and decay. It’s haunting, immersive, and the perfect backdrop for a story filled with impossible choices, dangerous trials, and just the right amount of magic. This is definitely a games and trials/forced proximity trope romantasy and I loooooved it. Seven gods, seven gates, seven trials. Survive them all, and the FMC's curse could be broken.

Our FMC is Koryn, a witch cast out by her coven and still carrying the weight of her grief. She’s complex, flawed, and super relatable (which is such an awesome change from all of these FMCs who are tiny and fragile but all of a sudden know how to wield a sword/knife/magic and are the best in their age?) - such a compelling protagonist to follow. The challenges themselves never felt like filler. Every gate, trial, and stretch of travel was purposeful and pulled me deeper into the story - such a page turner! I thought I was usually good at predicting the twists of a lot of the romantasy I read, but I never could guess any of these. The slow-burn romance with Garrick added delicious tension (though I’m hoping he gets more depth in the next book!). After Koryn saves him in one of the trials, they become bonded to each other and through months develop a bond (which also in some romance books, it's like 2 weeks!) so this was much more believable. This was an incredibly engaging read, equal parts action, magic, and heart, and I’m rating it 4.5 stars. I’ll be counting down the days until book two!

Another really enjoyable read courtesy of NetGalley!

Whilst this book touches on a lot of common tropes within romantasy (forced proximity, enemies to lovers, games and trials), I still found this a page turner that kept me reading. I liked the idea of how witches are made which was a bit unique for this novel. However, what really set this apart from other titles for me is Koryn the protagonist. I loved how multifaceted and complex she is and her backstory seemed very well thought through. I found her to be very sympathetic and loved her witty dialogue. Her journey of growth and self-acceptance was also one of the most compelling narrative arcs of the book. A lot of the major plot developments took place towards the end of the book (including a cliffhanger), so I would like to see how things unfold in the next novel. In particular I don't think the MMC Garrick had lots of growth or depth provided in this installment so I'd look forward to having a better idea about his history and development in the future.

Overall, this was an interesting read and I would love to see where the story goes in the future.

This was a romantasy unlike any of the others, I devoured it! It was fast paced and I love the everything from the world building, the characters, the various mythical beings ... just everything you want in a romantasy! Cannot wait for book 2!!

Wow!
A fantastic slow burn, packed with action and twists.
The slow development of the characters, every chapter revealing something new, wonderful world building all made me really enjoy this read.
I’ve grown a little tired of the same old feisty female with snarky remarks and insta love so this was right up my alley.
If you liked ‘The Games Gods Play’ you’ll absolutely love this!

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

I WAS NOT READY.

I love Ash's writing style. It always feels so emotive. From the first few chapters, I was already locked in with Koryn and wanted to cry with her, scream with her, hurt the people who hurt her. Koryn was truly a main character after my own heart and I only clung harder to her the further we got into the story and the more I saw her grow. She's brave, kind in a way she doesn't see or understand, and so, so relatable. She is flawed and selfish and sometimes short-sighted. She is strong in ways I felt, beautiful in ways I wanted to feel. She is exactly who I needed to read about.

The story itself was incredibly compelling as well. From early on the reader can tell there are other factors at play than what is presented. I was sure there was more to our leading man, more to the task given by Moira, possibly more to Koryn. Maybe it's because I followed her through her Secrets of the Faerie Crown series (and adored those as well), but I trust Ash and her storytelling abilities and, instead of getting frustrated by not having all of the information, i found myself settling into the knowledge that it was going to come at exactly the right moment and I would be thankful that it didn't come sooner. (Spoiler alert: that is exactly what happened.)

The experiences in the gates were engaging, the time between while they were traveling didn't feel repetitive, and the climax of the book was WELL worth the journey. Top that off with the steaming slow burn romance and the payoff that took I sweet time getting there, and it spells out a solid 5 star experience for me. I love Ash's books and I am so excited to see where this new series goes!

★★★★★

Genuinely thought I was becoming a romantasy hater before I picked this book up. HOWEVER this book did everything right (for me).

✶enemies-to-allies-to-lovers
✶slow-burn romance, fast action
✶religious themes
✶trials
✶witches/covens/fae/familiars/mystical creatures
✶found family
✶betrayal

Koryn was just a grieving young girl, and then she was a witch. 400 years later and she’s still just a grieving young girl, probably one of the reasons she got kicked out of her coven. Now, in order to work her way back to a group of sisters who lowkey don’t like her (and vice versa), she needs to complete 7 impossible tasks to appease the gods and restore her barren homeland to its formal glory, or whatever it was like before the curse befell them all. Between an irksome (handsome) bounty hunter, a rag-tag group of questers who all kind of suck, a literal uphill climb from hell, BEASTS, and lies… what chance is there to make it to the final gate?

When I tell you the last 20 pages had me gasping out loud, cursing the author (in the best way), and googling book 2’s release date… my poor heart. I love romantasy again and I need MORE KORYN MORE GARRICK AND MORE DARK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“I can barely begin to fathom your depths, witch. But I want to know them all.”

“The day you take me down is the day your Dark God walks upon Velora.”

“He jumped in front of her. The way no one had ever protected me. My power responded to the rage I felt for the girl I’d been, who died alone in those woods.”

"I have failed everyone in my life." I could hear his heartbeat. I could feel it in my bones. “Did you ever consider that they were the ones who failed you?”

The story takes place in Velora, a land cursed by the gods 400 years ago and slowly rotting away ever since. People are fleeing the continent—at least the ones who can. Those who stay are left with famine, poverty, and decay.

Our FMC, Koryn, is a witch cast out by her own coven. She’s wandering the world alone, trying to scrape together enough coin to escape this dying land. But of course, things change: through a twist of fate, she ends up taking her dead sister’s descendant’s place in a divine “challenge.” There are 7 gods, 7 gates, and whoever passes all 7 trials will break the curse and save the world.

At this point, I got excited—“games and trials” trope, yay! But I never quite felt the high stakes here :(

Naturally, the MMC is also among the chosen seven. He’s broody, moody, a little grumpy. During the first trial Koryn saves him, which forges a bond between them… cue the forced proximity trope. Their shared journey and the trials were fun, but the emotional bonding part fell a bit flat for me.

Normally, I’m pretty good at guessing plot twists and cliffhangers. This time? Nothing. I had zero clue what was coming. I could say the author cleverly pulled the rug out from under me, but honestly, it felt more like the foreshadowing just wasn’t there. So I kept reading and reading, swept along with the current—which I really enjoyed!—but it wasn’t what I expected. I like when a book makes me stop and think about how the story might twist.

Overall… the book had huge potential. The tropes were great, the premise was strong, and the ending/cliffhanger absolutely delivered the jaw-drop moment. But I still closed the book with a sense of something missing. The execution felt a little underdeveloped, and the finale a bit rushed.

Some delightful things I have to mention:
- Koryn is not the flawless warrior-amazon FMC we so often get. She’s short, curvy, panting her way up mountains, sore and exhausted, battling muscle cramps—and she can’t even cook. Relatable.
- Sassy familiar, who gave me strong Andarna vibes.

if you want a spicy fantasy romance, with slow burn, , that has plot and a good story and delicious mmc and fmc then this is what you need

Five stars+++
This book had me hooked from the very first sentence. It was unique, gut-wrenching, empowering, traumatic, emotional...I could go on and on. Emberly Ash did an absolutely spectacular job wrecking my soul with this story that was so poignant and unique but still had the fun fantasy elements we all know and love. A frost witch who's supposed to be heartless and cold but quietly cares and wants to protect the weak she encounters. As someone who is very loving but externally a bit rough around the edges, this story made me feel so seen. While the main characters has survived and protected her family line as much as she can over the centuries, she's also done terrible things that she views as unforgivable and has the hardest time coming to terms with the concept that the MMC keeps trying to show her: that she has been failed by everyone who was supposed to love and support her and she is worthy of love and forgiveness. The story is full of stunning dark fantasy world elements and gritty emotional trauma. So little sunshine and hope in this despair filled world. And don't even get me started on how well done the flashback scenes were. Each one was so perfectly timed and placed that you got just enough to understand the present day scene without being pulled so far from the now that you get distracted.

Did I mention there are magical bargains, trials, gates and a magical familiar that scratches the same parts of my heart that baby Andarna did? I cannot express how lovable and sweet and SASSY this creature is and I need one, stat. Speaking of sass, this book takes our favorite romantasy tropes, pokes fun at them and then executes them anyways in the absolute best way. ("Let me guess, they only had one room at the inn?")

The FMC is a body positive icon who isn't some small waiflike but somehow super strong character. She's thick, stunning and gets pretty damn tired of the constant cardio and training regimen/journeying across realms which is so refreshing. The healing from self-hate and trauma arc is done in a way that makes the reader sympathize with Koryn instead of wondering why she's being so awful to other people (*cough NESTA cough*). Overall, I cannot wait for the next book to see how these emotionally complex and relatable characters continue to develop.

The Frost Witch (The Covenants of Velora Book 1) by @emberlyashauthor is a paranormal fantasy full of magic and suspense, slow burn romance, spice, tension, and dark deity influences. It’s got everything and then some!

Our FMC is Koryn, a human who has just been made into a witch by being resurrected after her death. We learn that “Witches are not born, they are made.” After a brief encounter at a tavern to introduce major characters and influences, Koryn is thrust into a situation where she has to survive the deadly 7 gates to save her land from a curse, which was created to slowly kill the land, as well as all those living, and all remaining magic. Koryn is fierce and fiercely independent, and even though her heart is dead, her emotions are very much alive. She hates how weak she is made to feel going through all these challenges and is affected immensely by her traveling companions. Especially, and infuriatingly, Garrick. For hundreds of years she has not allowed herself to feel mercy, or love. Rarely, she’s felt compassion. And now she’s grown fond of not just one human from beyond the gates, but this mysterious stranger, and a mythical creature. These seven gates will show her whether her remaining humanity will help her or kill her.

The MMC is Garrick the Red. He’s a somewhat shady human that possesses some abilities he shouldn’t have. They become life bound by a debt and the more they travel and face these challenges, the closer they get. Sure, Koryn is thorny and tosses out caustic comments, but you can see him falling for her. He’s a solid guy, providing both physical and emotional support, but you never quite trust him.

The premise is fantastic, there were lots of twists, the world building and the constant revelations about both main and side characters kept me intrigued and there’s a snarky teenage dragon that steals every scene she’s in. Don’t miss this book!

What an amazing book - I read it within a day because I just couldn’t put it down. Some books take a while to get into but this was immediately gripping. I loved the character development throughout and can’t wait to read more by the author.

This fantasy adventure kicks off with a bang - the FMC’s death and transformation into a witch, and it never really lets up from there. Koryn, a curvy exiled witch, finds herself on a quest to save the continent, one that requires her to pass through a series of temple gates. Each gate comes with its own trial - mercy, justice, sacrifice, devotion, memory - testing not just her magic but also her resilience and heart.

A near-death encounter ties her fate to Garrick, a silver-haired, half-fae bounty hunter, through a life bond. Their uneasy partnership slowly grows into something deeper, though secrets and bargains still hang over them. The flashbacks to Koryn’s past life add another layer, showing the choices and sacrifices that shaped her into who she is now.

What stood out most for me was Koryn’s self-love and growth arc - it felt empowering and authentic. The dragon familiar (and its wonderfully sassy commentary) was another highlight, balancing tension with humour. Just when I thought I had a handle on the story, it ended on a cliff-hanger and a betrayal I absolutely didn’t see coming.

If you enjoy trials of character, slow-burn bonds, and familiars with personality, this one’s worth picking up.

I’m officially bewitched by The Frost Witch, the captivating first instalment in The Covenants of Velora Trilogy by Emberly Ash.
The world of Velora and the progress through each gate are richly imagined, drawing you in with every turn of the page. The layered “before” flashbacks add depth and enrich Koryn’s journey in powerful and unexpected ways. The ending and the epilogue! Book two just shot straight to the top of my TBR list.
4.5/5

The Frost Witch

Emberley Ash

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Best fantasy book I have read in awhile!

At first, I was a bit lost with the world building and specifics of the world of magic within Velora. However, once this settled in and the plot started to reveal itself, it became addictive.

The story follows Koryn, a witch, as she is sent on a quest by her estranged Coven to fix the dwindling magic in the country of Velora. To do this, she has to enter and pass through the seven gates, trials set by the gods.

The plot is gripping and the chemistry is well developed. I was shocked when it actually ended and wished for more!!

Thank you Netgalley and Emberley Ash for this remarkable read!

I absolutely devoured this book, it was so good. The first book I've read by Emberly Ash and I think I'll have to read her other series. I really enjoyed her writing style and the storyline was fab. Koryn has been exiled from her coven and must break the curse before her coven lets her back. Was a fast paced which I liked and didn't drag out. the ending has just thrown me and now I need to read more. So happy I was able to read this book, and followed another keen readers recommendations.

I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!
Thank you NetGalley for a review copy!

the yearning, and tension in this book??? goshhhhh🤧
omg that finall!!!🤧🤧🤧
without context "𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓱𝓸𝓶𝓮, 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮."🤭🤭 i melted🤭🤭
I need book 2 asappp

quotes:
••
“𝕬𝖓𝖉 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖘𝖚𝖕𝖕𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖊𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖒𝖊 𝖆 𝖘𝖙𝖚𝖇𝖇𝖔𝖗𝖓 𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍, 𝖎𝖙 𝖎𝖘 𝖆 𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖒 𝖔𝖋 𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙?”
“𝖄𝖊𝖘.”
••🤭
“𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽.
𝓖𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓼, 𝓚𝓸𝓻𝔂𝓷.”
...
“𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪 𝔀𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷’𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾?
𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶𝓼 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓮,”
𝓜𝔂 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓼𝔂 𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓼 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷, 𝔀𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓽 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓭 𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓱 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓼.
“𝓘𝓽 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯,”
“𝓕𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓻𝓮𝓹𝓪𝔂𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽"
••

tropes:
☆🍁dark fantasy romance
☆🍁why choose (slow burn)
☆🍁enemies to lovers
☆🍁forced proximity
☆🍁meddling gods
☆🍁deadly trials
☆🍁dragons
☆🍁shifters

I thought this book was good. I did have a hard time getting into it though. There is a lot of time showing the character development of the FMC. I really like the fact that she is not a waif thin twenty something. Koryn is having to struggle with her own inner issues around what her heart wants and what she feels vs what the outside world says she should feel and do. The ending was not something I saw coming, so I am excited to see where our characters end up.

The combination of witch trials, familiars, and broody men really give this book some sustenance. I enjoyed the unique take on witches lives - this will definitely be a series I’ll keep an eye out for in the next.

Holy twist!

I did not see that coming.

What an interesting and intriguing magic system and world. The gates are unique and I can’t wait to get back in them and see how this all plays out.

It has been a really long time since I read a fantasy book, and this one is a reminder of why I LOVE the genre. What I really enjoyed about TFW is that we don't begin with a weak human girl who is magically bestowed with these powers. Koryn has always been headstrong and brave from the very beginning of the book, and I loved seeing her embrace the same personality even as a witch.

The romance in TFW is romancing. I ATE UP the slowburn scenes, and trust me when I tell you, the wait was worth it. Emberly was delivering on the spice.

I really enjoyed the plot as well. I don't think I have read anything similar to this before because not a single book comes to mind for me to compare it to.

Would I be waiting desperately for The Covenants of Velora Book 2 after that ending? Heck yes!