The Frost Witch by Emberly Ash

4.5 Star Review

Thank you @NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

The first book in this new series by Ash follows a 400-year-old witch, Koryn, as she tries to save her world from a curse from the gods. She enters the trials of The Seven Gates to save another and soon finds herself life bound to a notorious bounty hunter, gaining a familiar, and learning to defend herself when magic is no longer available to help her. Each gate presents a new trial by a different god, increasing in danger.

If you love…

Ø Enemies to Love

Ø Slow Burn

Ø Forced Proximity

Ø Gods

Ø Dragons

Ø Betrayal

Ø Fae

Ø Witches

…this is for you!

This story will pull you in like it did for me. Koryn is intent on being a witch – they have no heart and kill without remorse – but her true nature betrays every choice she makes. When she saves Garrick, the bounty hunter who should want to kill her instead of protect her, she forms a life bound between them. As they go through the trials together, he not only protects her but teaches her to protect herself. It is a slow burn that has you turning pages to see if – or when 😊 – they will finally make their move.

The writing is phenomenal, the pacing perfect, and the entire premises refreshing and EXACTLY my cup of tea. The only reason I gave 4.5 stars instead of 5 was personal preference. There was too much description and prose over dialogue (for me) to start, and I didn’t really get into it until about 50% of the way through when the ‘baby’ dragon was introduced and the dialogue picked up. If you get past that, though, it’s worthwhile. By the end, all the character development that took time to start makes you connect with Garrick and Koryn, and the ending… It broke me!

If you haven’t picked this one up, I 1000% recommend adding it to your TBR! I can’t wait to read the next book! I’ve already started Crown of Earth and Sky!

What can I say!!?? I went into this book thinking l'd enjoy it but didn't think l'd be in for the ride I was. Let me clear, if it's a book about witches I'm here for it - but this was so much more than I expected.

Korlyn, is our FMC, on a journey to help restore magic and power to her land after being put under a curse by the gods. On the way she goes on a journey of self discovery, friendship & love.

Iloved the insights into Koryn's past we got, mixed with the current plot line. The 'challenge' of each gate gave deeper meaning to these flashbacks as well as the ongoing plot.

Despite the blurb telling us there would be a dragon - I still was not expecting Isanara to appear. LOVED her. She gives Andarna level attitude along with insight and humour. "A man who acknowledges what he does not know. I approve. He may stay." - I need an Isanara in my life and she may have taken top spot in my list of favourite dragons.

The romance in this book is slow burn - I'm talking 80% through until we get any romance action - and even then it's ripped from us.

I think I must need some brain training as the endings in these books are shaking me. The Frost Witch is no exception. Excuse me Miss Emerbley Ash but what the hell!!?? How can you layer that much betrayal on us!!??

Sign me up for book 2 now please!!

Thank you to Emberly Ash and Netgalley for the opportunity to receive this ARC🫶🏻
4.8 ⭐️
This book was such a good read! I enjoyed following Koryn on her journey through the trials, battling between choosing what she truly wants and what she believes is her duty. This girl clearly loves her bargaining because she has dug herself quite a few holes with a few deities, and I am anxious to see how that unfolds.
I always love a sassy dragon companion, and this book delivered. Isanara is still in her adolescence, and it shows with her sassy remarks and moody moments.
On to Garrick, he’s got some explaining to do. I desperately wish we knew more about him and with the ending we got in this book, I’m excited to see how the next book dives deeper into who he is and his past.

Honorable mention for Tomin, I love his gentle and kindness towards the supplicants, especially Koryn, as witches do not have a good reputation.

What did I just read??? It doesn't matter because I enjoyed it so much.

The Frost Witch is a book like no other. From the very first page, you know this book is going to give you everything you never thought you needed.
Koryn, our FMC, has been cast from her coven. She has done some bad things, but she also has a lot of empathy left. She is cold, she is alone and she needs money. Velora, the place where our story takes place has been cursed. People are starving, it is dark and cold, and life is tough. Koryn is given a chance to return to the coven, but she must pass the Seven Gates, which is the trial of the God which no one has ever passed, like ever, in order to save Velora.

Great story, perfect plot. The journey is incredible, and there is a dragon familiar!!! Eagerly awaiting the next book.

Thank you, Netgalley and Cara Maxwell Romance, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Koryn is a witch, one whose heart no longer beats and who belongs to the dark god. She takes on the seven gates of the seven gods in her great grand niece's place, a challenge that no one else has survived before...

I really enjoyed this story. We follow Koryn as she tries to survive all the gates. She ends up saving Garrick at the gate of mercy, who she slowly falls for. I liked the idea of the gates, it is sort of trials but not what we normally get. You have to show mercy, give justice for a crime that you committed, be willing to sacrifice, or show devotion. Can you forgive yourself for a crime or what you are willing to sacrifice so the world can prosper again.

The story keeps a good pace, and we have some interesting characters, though I would have liked to know more about their original motivation for taking on the gates. Koryn is such a likable character, and we get a cute companion later. We don't get to know a lot about Garrick until the very end, but perhaps we'll get his viewpoint in the next book. There is a lot happening in the last few chapters, which leaves us withvso many questions... Hopefully, book two will be out quickvand I look forward to reading it!

I loved the emotional growth of Koryn, a more than 300 year old witch who has been outcast from her coven. Without her coven's magic, and estranged from her family, she is out of options. But when she gets an offer she can't refuse - save the continent of Velora, and herself—by passing each test posed at the Seven Gates, she jumps on it. But along the way, despite the seemingly insurmountable tasks, she manages to not only gain a dragon familiar, but somehow fall in love with a deadly warrior that becomes her fierce protector. This is a long book, and there is a list of trigger warnings at the beginning that you may need to check out, but otherwise, it is a great read.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the storyline, I loved the MMC and I loved the FMC. It had the perfect mix of fantasy, romance, desire, longing and growth.
Reading it was like experiencing first hand the development of the characters. It sucked me in and molded itself around my mind.
I would definitely recommend snatching this one up!

Me & the frost witch 🤝 wearing our hearts on our sleeves


You guys this book😩!! THANK YOU NETGALLEY🫶🫶

It offered something new and it was so refreshing!! As soon as I finished probably the 3rd chapter in this book I was hooked and literally couldn’t put it down and took it with me on my walks. (you can imagine how hard it was trying to read on a iPad while walking)

I loved how the author allowed us to glimpse into her past in small snippets that correlate with her present actions. UGH I was eating this UP🥺😭
She’s constantly pushed to be “heartless” and not have any mundane feelings as a witch, but often uses memories and emotions in ways that deem her as being weak😩 MY SHAYLA.

But, I totally recommend this book to anyone who’s in a witchy mood with just a bit of romance/romantasy action. Clutch your pearls and get ready for some trials!!!

Interesting, albeit a little spooky more than romantasy. Still, a fun read that made me excited for the hour I set aside each night to read before bed.

5 ⭐️. Loved this novel. It is beautifully written and had me from the first page. Witches, magic, enemies to lovers and an ending that left me needing book two immediately!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

The Frost Witch pulled me in right away and kept my attention from start to finish (I can’t wait for the next book!)

*strong FMC
*witches
*world building
*enemies to lovers
*slow burn
*betrayal
*cliffhanger

This was *such* a fun read and I’m strongly suggesting grabbing this one!



Thank you to Cara Maxwell Romance and NetGalley for the DRC

Incredible.
Emberly Ash truly created a masterpiece with The Frost Witch. The storyline was captivating from start to finish, and the slow burn romance was top notch. What a brilliant spin on the tenuous relationship between witches, humans, and fae.
I have the biggest book hangover now! And cannot wait for the second one.

A 5-star read for me! Through the world-building and character development, the story flowed smoothly and easily. Written from Koryn's point of view, the chapters often switch between the past and present. The chapters written about specific moments in her past supported the present storyline and helped me, as the reader, to better understand her motives and outlook on certain people and situations. Koryn was feisty and often bitter, but she earned those emotions over her 377 years of life and learned how to protect her non-existent heart.

This slow-burn was a little slower of a burn than I normally would like to read, but that is part of the draw for book two! For how much Koryn was lusting over Garrick, I expected, or rather HOPED, that their constant close proximity would lead to developing their relationship more. Not just physically, but intellectually as well.

Emberly Ash's promise of Koryn's situation developing into a why-choose with a lot more spice to come has me extremely excited to see where the story takes us in book two! Especially after that cliff-hanger plot twist!

Thank you to Cara Maxwell Romance, NetGalley and Emberly Ash for the e-ARC book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, just wow. The Frost Witch is pure magic—literally and figuratively. The story moves at a great pace, pulling you in so you care about every character. You’ll laugh, love, hate, and root for them all.

There’s a mystery that sneaks up on you, and just when you think you’ve got it, Emberly hits you right in the feels. The ending will leave you hanging—heartbroken but eager for the next book.

If you like fantasy with strong characters and real emotion, you need to read this. Emberly’s storytelling is next level, and I’m so ready for book two!

A slow burn, challenge based romantasy that is worth the read! This one is going to explode on BookTok after it comes out. We follow the main character Koryn through a quest through the gates of several gods. As a witch she wields her power and struggles for control as she hits unexpected twists immediately and along the journey. I loved Koryn, her perseverance, stubbornness, and human empathy. Highly recommend, this book gets better every chapter that passes and I’m going to be staying tuned for book two! Thank you @netgalley and Emberly Ash for the eARC!

First I would like to say a huge thank you to NetGalley and Emberly Ash for opportunity to ARC review this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was so amazing and a definite 5 star read for me. From start to finish it had me absolutely hooked and I was completely sucked into the story.

We start with the death of the FMC Koryn and see her resurrection and transformation to a witch. "Witches are not born, they are made." We then see her journey in attempting to complete the deadly 7 gates in order to save her world from the long implemented curse, created to slowly kill the land and all of the inhabitants and magic within.
As a witch she is not meant to feel such "useless" or "pathetic" feelings like hope, sympathy, compassion, or mercy. But not even three hundred and seventy-seven years spent as a witch trying to rid herself of these things could take her humanity from her. Will it be to her benefit or her downfall?

Some of the tropes include :
-forced proximity
-slowburn
-enemies to lovers


I truly enjoyed following Koryn's story. I was constantly conflicted between being unable to put the book down because I just HAD to know what happened next, and desperately not wanting it to end. It was also a nice change of pace for me to see more of a morally gray FMC.

I can not wait to see what happens in book 2 and I fear I will be chomping at the bit until I'm able to get my hands on it! I did not see the ending coming AT ALL and I can't wait to see the "why choose" come to fruition in book two.

If you enjoyed Throne of Glass, Shield of Sparrows, Blood of Hercules and those types of books I would definitely recommend giving this book a try. Just to be totally clear it is not the same or a repeat of these books and that is not what I am saying. I'm just saying if you enjoyed those books for the vibes, the adventure, and journey this book may also be of interest to you.

4.5 stars! Another incredible start to an Emberly Ash series! This book has everything: witches with powers based on the way they died, a sassy teenage dragon, one love interest…and a hint at a second, magical portals that sound like they’ll be good but are STRESSFUL, light hints at the author’s other world, and mysteries unraveling around us!!

Koryn has been a witch for 377 years, the world around her is cursed, and her last living relative (a many great granddaughter of her sister) is on a crash course with death. Instead of letting that happen, Koryn steps up and begins an epic quest to spend the next few months traveling through magical gates, meeting the gods, and attempting to break the curse. If she happens to save the life of and become bonded to famed bounty hunter with a mysterious past Garrick the Red (the red refers to the blood of his enemies, duh)? Well that’s just a bonus!

Something Emberly Ash does incredibly well is create a cool, unique magic system - and it makes sense instantly. Like yes, dying in the cold would give you power over frost or being burned at the stake would give you power over fire, it just makes sense! She also creates an incredible, tough FMC who can take care of herself (even if others want to try and help her out themselves). My favorite favorite character in this, to ono ones surprise, is Isanara - our sassy teenage dragon that both refuses to leave Koryn’s side and yet never stops the sarcastic comments!!!

My jaw was on the floooooor with one of the major final twists, and I cannot wait to see how this world continues!! Thanks so much to Emberly Ash and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

The Frost Witch is a fantasy that leans into elemental magic, hidden power, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers plot. I loved loved loved this book, I'm internally screaming as I told myself 'no more unfinished series'. I need book 2, the ending left my jaw wide open! And that last sentence, ahhhhh!!

I loved the world building, the characters (especially the FMC) and the writing style. The only reason I had to give it a 4.5 star, was simply due to the slow burn being slooowww. At points I was almost tearing my hair out. A little slow for me, but others may love that build up!

Thank you Emberly for approving this ARC read. I really can't wait for book 2.

I just finished The Frost Witch and had to set it down while internally screaming because what a wild, emotionally layered ride that was. I’m honestly still reeling.

Koryn is a force of nature; fierce, icy, yet heartbreakingly human. From the very first page, I felt the ache of her childhood, an ignored, overlooked girl who was forced to carve out her identity in a world that never once showed her mercy.

And yet… despite the walls she’s built, despite the sharp edges she’s honed like armor, there’s a raw kindness buried in her soul, something she tries to smother, but can’t completely extinguish. That duality is what makes her unforgettable.

What Emberly Ash does so brilliantly is give us fragments of Koryn’s past.... enough to feel the weight of her pain, but never all at once. You’re pulled deeper and deeper, slowly unraveling how she became the witch she is, one forged by frost, but with a heart still capable of warmth.

And then there’s Garrick. Mysterious, commanding, and tied to Koryn in ways that are as twisted as they are tender. I won't spoil anything about him because he is a journey on his own but his presence is felt like a shadow that never quite leaves.

He is a steady heartbeat in Koryn’s unraveling world, and the kind of character that sneaks up on you and carves out a space you didn’t know you were saving.

This book is layered in betrayal, the kind that makes you question everything and yet, it’s laced with loyalty, burdened with secrets, and pulsing with a strange, forbidden kind of love. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Emberly Ash threw me off a cliff.... and then dropped the Dark God into the story.

And all I can say is: I wasn’t ready.

If I weren’t so shocked, I’d probably be crying. The Frost Witch didn’t just grip me it shattered and reassembled me. If you're into morally complex heroines, aching mystery, and frost bitten fantasy realms with teeth, this book demands a spot on your shelf.

Just wow! Emberly Ash you've done it again! This book was fantastic and heartbreaking in equal measure. It had me gripped right from the start and I literally didn't put it down until I'd finished it. It is dark and gritty, and doesn't pull any punches with the rollercoaster of emotions it hits you with. However, there are some lovely light moments with the introduction of Isanara once the trials get going.
I loved the whole premise of this book. A nearly 400 year old witch alone in a cursed, dying world; a big, broody bounty hunter; a series of trials; secrets and deceit; enemies to lovers with slow burn spice. The world building and magic system were so cleverly woven together throughout the narrative. I found the witches' magic system really interesting and unique with how it is tied to the manner of their original death. I really loved having the 'before' flashback chapters that give us Koryn's background story interspersed with the present chapters. I
The characters are so beautifully written and developed. Koryn and Garrik are both flawed and have secrets but are both likeable. I was rooting for them from the get go.
There were a few twists that I just did not see coming at all, which I loved, as I was so engrossed in what the characters were going through at that time. The ending hit hard - it may have broken me a bit! Book two cannot come quickly enough now. I need to know what happens next. What a start to this trilogy!
Huge thanks to Emberly Ash, the publishers and NetGalley for the privilege of being able to read an advanced reader copy.