Ashes of a Shattered Soul is a dark romantasy that fully commits to emotional devastation, cosmic scale stakes, and intense character driven storytelling. From the opening pages, the book establishes a sense of loss and rage that never truly lets go, and that emotional core is what carries the story forward.
The FMC is a powerful, immortal presence shaped by grief, duty, and an unbreakable will. She is not softened for the reader, and I really appreciated that. Her exhaustion with saving worlds and carrying the weight of countless lifetimes felt raw and believable. The reincarnation element adds depth to the story, especially as memories, identities, and past lives blur together in ways that constantly challenge both her and the reader.
The romantic tension is where this book truly shines. The dynamic between the FMC and the two MMCs is intense, messy, and deeply emotional. This is not a light love triangle. It is layered with shared history, longing, and moral ambiguity, and it slowly evolves into something far more complex. The yearning is constant, the stakes are personal, and the chemistry is undeniable. Fans of romantasy and morally grey love interests will absolutely eat this up.
The world building is immersive and vivid, filled with elemental magic, warrior clans, dragons, and shifter lore. While the scope is large, the author does a good job of grounding it through character interactions and found family moments that provide brief but meaningful emotional relief.

Ashes of a Shattered Soul by Alisa Perne is a dark romantasy that wrecked me in the best way possible.

This story is epic, emotional, and unapologetically intense. From the very first pages, it plunges you into a world shaped by grief, rage, and love that refuses to stay buried—even across lifetimes. The reincarnation element is handled beautifully, adding layers of heartbreak and longing that made every interaction feel heavy with meaning.

The characters are where this book truly shines. The immortal lead is sharp-tongued, exhausted, and deeply damaged in a way that feels earned, while the cinnamon-roll commander provides such a compelling emotional contrast. The tension between them is palpable—yearning, restraint, and inevitability wrapped together in a way that kept me glued to the page. And the love triangle? Less “triangle” and more emotional arson, exactly as promised.

Perne’s worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming—dragons, warrior clans, magic, and shifters all woven seamlessly into a story that never loses sight of its emotional core. The writing is immersive and atmospheric, balancing sweeping, cosmic stakes with deeply personal pain and desire.

If you love dark romantasy with reincarnation, morally complicated characters, aching slow-burn tension, and themes of redemption forged through suffering, this book will absolutely deliver. Ashes of a Shattered Soul is intense, romantic, and unforgettable—and I’m still thinking about it long after the final page.

Highly recommended for fans of emotionally devastating fantasy romance. 🔥🐉🖤

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.