I really liked this book. There were parts that got a bit too graphic for me, but the worldbuilding and my love for Yvenne made me want to keep going. I appreciated the list of content warnings provided by the author.

I loved the progression of the romance between the two mains. I thought the tension was handled really well, and that Vane did a good job of making sure that Yvenne called the shots and it was clear to the reader that she did. Any apprehension I had over some parts was allayed over the course of the novel.

I will definitely be continuing on with the series! Thanks for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I’d like to make a prediction. A Heart of Blood and Ashes is the going to be on my best of 2020 list. You may say it is too soon to call, being only February 6th. But wow!

Milla Vane is the alter-ego of Meljean Brook. So I kind of knew what I was getting. A complex, yet lush story line. Sharply defined characters – flawed primary characters that are somehow still perfect and secondary characters that add depth and perspective to the tale. And a world intricately built just for them. And me. I immersed myself in A Heart of Blood and Ashes.

Maddek’s and Yvenne’s entwined stories are salient, agonizing and exhilarating. I was amused as often as I was saddened. These two have issues that keep them apart because there is a major communication issue. But there is much to draw them together also. Including a sizzling hot sexual attraction. Speaking as someone who tends to skim those passages, I recommend you read them all. Far from the usual, the sex scenes were creative, blazing and, dare I say, satisfying.

Maddek and Yvenne are still hanging out in my reader’s mind. I will be more than ready when the next installment is ready. The romantic fantasy world will never be the same for me!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

PHEW. An intense, epic, brutal barbarian romance, but once I was invested in the story, it had me full-stop. Be sure to check the content warnings for this one, because they're definitely important. Maddek is a full-on alpha hero who has to learn what it means to be a great king as well as a warrior, and Yvenne is a strong-willed heroine who is willing to teach him how, although it might mean letting down the walls she's painstakingly built up in order to do so. Their union is definitely a passionate one on all levels, and I really loved how Yvenne refused to put up with any of Maddek's barbarian BS. By the end, there's no doubt that he's absolutely weak for her even if it takes him a while to realize it. The worldbuilding was immense and thrilling, exactly the kind of rich fantasy world I love diving into headfirst, and I can't wait for the sequel!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The plot concerns a journey and a proposed alliance / marriage between two people from opposing kingdoms. Maddek of Parsathe is a leader of a contingent of barbarians and son to the King and Queen of Parsathe. As the book opens, Maddek receives news of the death of his parents, and he soon learns that they were killed by Zhalen, the regent king of Syssia, while in Syssia to assess a potential bride for him as Parsathean tradition dictates.

Together with three other realms, Syssia and Parsathe comprise an alliance against a powerful and evil enemy known as Anumith the Destroyer. The alliance council has accepted testimony that Maddek’s father assaulted a Syssian woman and his mother killed one of the Syssian princes. Zhalen’s executions of Maddek’s parents in retribution for these acts were therefore deemed legal. Maddek is certain these are only Zhalen’s pretexts and he burns with the desire to avenge his parents.

The complete review can be found at the link below.

5 Hearts, Recommended Read
SJ, Romance Junkies

In A HEART OF BLOOD AND ASHES, the first in A Gathering of Dragons series, author Milla Vane crafts an outstanding fantasy romance where barbarians battle in war and the gods are real. This recommended read is rich in emotion and well-crafted storytelling. The characters are deep, the emotions they feel both raw and tender. It's an exceptional romance well worth several reads to catch all the nuances.

The barbarians have a strained alliance, working together to fend off an even greater enemy in the savages and the evil left behind by the Destroyer. But when the Parsathean king and queen are killed, it's up to their son, Maddek, to find justice--or in his eyes, vengeance.

Maddek has been away protecting his people, and upon his return, finding his parents murdered in a terrible betrayal, he decides to avenge them by taking hostage the daughter of their murderer.

Yvenne is not as weak or frail as she appears. Though small and physically beaten down, she's actually a woman with power, the last in a line of warrior-queens, and she knows exactly what happened to Maddek's parents, though she's forbidden to talk about it.

So begins a story filled with feeling and action. Watching Maddek process his emotions and grow from a warrior to a man who might be king is exciting, as thrilling as watching Yvenne blossom from a beaten-down woman hiding inner strength into a kingmaker, a warrior-woman blessed by the goddess.

Milla Vane does an outstanding job of building a world in which different barbarian kingdoms politic with each other while a son tries to do right by his people. And the growth of Yvenne, knowing what she came from, what she suffered, and how she acts once "freed," clearly shows the maturity of such a deep, emotional character.

Such a thrilling, romantic--yes, and creative novel. A HEART OF BLOOD AND ASHES sets the reader up for so much more in this lush, rich world of strength, where fight makes right and true power comes from not only the outside, but within.

A definite must for fantasy lovers.

Recommended Read!

This barbarian romance features two traumatized main characters healing and learning to be partners. It also has a truly wonderful heroine, a hero who needed to grovel more, and some first book world-building and pacing issues.

This is a difficult book for me to review because it hit one of my triggers really hard. When I feel like a main character is unsafe with their romantic partner, it’s not something I can shake off. I think the author didn’t ignore the behavior or argue that it was the right thing to do, but I also never fully recovered my trust as a reader.

Content warnings: domestic violence and intimate partner violence (both in the past of numerous characters and in aspects of the primary relationship), torture, rape (worldbuilding, supporting characters, and backstory), and graphic violence.

I will admit that the sole reason I picked this one up is because Milla Vane is also Meljean Brook and I love Brook's steampunk series. While A Heart of Blood and Ashes is very different, the same fully realized world is present. It's hard to find good fantasy romance books, there usually light on one of the genres or the other, but this one captured both the fantasy and the romance elements perfectly. The world that Vane creates is dark and brutal, but its not without its lighter moments. While I felt that Vane pushes her characters and plot further, I was very much reminded of Elizabeth Vaughn's Warprize.

Maddek and Yvenne have a complicated romance - you know the whole kidnapping and revenge thing kind of puts a damper on the whole deeper emotions. These two aren't always nice to one another, which can be one of those lines that readers don't want to cross, and normally, I would say, I don't like those kinds of romances, but I couldn't put this one down. This strange world (complete with giant lizards) was just so interesting. And despite the dubious actions of Maddek, the romance between him and Yvenne was compelling, and I appreciated that it was hard won (not much instalove here).

So, if you're like me, and desperate for more fantasy romances to be published, this will appeal. The world building is strong, the romance is kind of dark (think Grace Draven), but the story is immersive and builds to an overarching conflict that will take readers into subsequent books.

‘She had promised to make his life a misery. He still believed she would. But in that moment, he’d realized his life would also be a greater misery if Yvenne wasn’t in it.’

Epic! Positively EPIC! A Heart of Blood and Ashes is, without doubt, one of our favourite fantasy romance stories ever. Embarking on this adventure of vengeance, lust, passion, loyalty and love we became instantly swept up in Milla Vane’s fantasy dark romance! We met a brave and battle hardened warrior and a heroine with the heart of a warrior-queen who both consumed us in a rich, seductive, passionate and vivid world so expertly woven together with masterful storytelling! What an adventure! Netflix…take note…you NEED to bring this book to our screens!

“Only a fool would underestimate you, Yvenne….”

This is a lengthy book as the author really takes her time building her spectacular fantasy world. It’s so rich and detailed, and her imagination is extraordinary. The world building is phenomenal and breathtaking, never does it halt the flow of the story, and instead drawing the reader into brutal and unforgiving a world of gods, monsters, warriors, and magic with a sort of medieval feel about it, reminiscent of Game of Thrones/Witcher in a true fantasy romance. We became instantly transfixed.

“There are enemies, and there are monsters. Always slay the monsters first, because enemies may one day become allies, but monsters never will.”

Maddek is a battle seasoned Commander whose world is decimated when his parents, Parsathes King and Queen are murdered. It is a loss and pain unlike any other Maddek has experienced. He immediately sets out on a quest to seek vengeance on those responsible.

He comes upon Yvenne, the daughter of the cruel King Zhalen, the man responsible for the murders of Maddeks parents. Yvenne proposes a deal to Maddek – to save her from a betrothal to an old King, she proposes she and Maddek marry and have a child, in order to both rule. Yvenne is also seeking revenge on the King for his cruel treatment of her and free her people of his tyrannical rule.

‘Also true was that every wound inflicted on an entangled heart bled more.’

With a common enemy and a need to better their people’s way of life, Maddek agrees to her deal. Seeing her as manipulative and treacherous, as a woman not to be trusted, Maddek warns the marriage is in act only and that love and affection would not come readily.

‘He held her gaze for another long moment, an odd tightness squeezing within his chest.’

Yvenne is not what he had envisioned as his bride – frail and weakened by years of abuse and torment at the hands of her father and brothers, Maddek soon learns Yvenne’s physical hindrances hide a courageous and tenacious heart! She too, is a true warrior! Maddek needs to see past his preconceived views of her to find the heart that beats beneath.

‘She was like a broken doll, put back together. Put back together stronger.’

The sparring between Maddek and Yvenne was at times humorous, other times heartbreaking and often very, very sensual. The heat factor was off the charts! The dual perspectives were paramount to the romance of the story, as we found ourselves despairing at Maddek’s reasoning, though we did understand his feelings and reluctance. Through Yvenne, we learn the heartbreak and torture she experienced throughout her life and her story tore at our hearts. Pain and sadness would have been her only friends during her lifetime, if not for her mother, Queen Vysen’s, love. Yvenne’s story broke us, her strength and beauty enamoured us.

“If you intend to kill me, I only beg that you do it quickly. My life has been a torment. I pray my death will not be.”

We can’t say enough about the stellar writing of Milla Vane. Vibrant and imaginative, haunting, brutal, passionate, menacing and exquisitely vivid, her words burst before our eyes! It was magnificent! The romance aspect was everything we could have hoped for. Absolutely stunning and compelling reading. And the end….spellbinding perfection!

We closed this story with eyes brimming with tears, hearts full of adventure, reflecting on a story that rendered us willing captives. Bravo! There is no cliffy ending, however we’ll be beside ourselves waiting for the next book in the series, A Touch of Stone and Snow, to release in July!

“Queen Vysen had told her that love was not something to avoid. For when love was given freely or genuinely returned, everyone it touched was strengthened by it. Yet love could also blind, just as anger and hatred and fear did. I could be wielded as a weapon. It could hurt, when it was rejected betrayed or lost. It could be confused with lust, or with pleasure, or with gratitude – for it often entwined with other emotions and was not so easily separated from them. ‘

If you would of told me one of my favourite reads this year would be a Barbarian Fantasy romance, I would have kindly told you to move along. But alas, here we are.
As a novice to fantasy A Heart of Blood and Ash came out of the blue but left a mark that has remained long after reading. The blurb alone was enough to pique my interest but it was the epic and wondrous story that kept me hooked.

It’s a tale of vengeance and bloodshed driven by Maddek’s need for retribution for the unlawful and treacherous murder of his parents. His plan to exact his revenge is to capture Yvenne who is the daughter of his enemy. Yvenne is not what he expected in the least, she looks sickly and but her spirit is strong. What she lacks in strength she more than makes up for in resilience and fortitude. Their alliance is the turning point of the story and really spoke to me as a lover of romance.

Milla Vane’s novel made for compelling reading and really welcomed me into a genre I have previously shied away from. I’m awaiting the next novel with baited breath and can’t wait to once again back in the gathering of Dragons.

A hundred thousand million stars because this is beauty incarnate!!!

A savage warrior is on the warpath and caught between his vengeance and fury is a princess who has been wishes to aid him take his revenge.

An ancient evil is rising, and it is up to them to unite the realms in a fight against time and annihilation.

I am so insanely, irrevocably, and unquestionably in love with this story. I cannot believe that I didn't know about Milla Vane before because what have I even been doing if not reading her books??

I am a huge HUGE fan of fantasy romance and this book is exactly what I have always been looking for in a story. The best part about this world is that the author eliminated the concept of sexual violence as a form of courtship, which we see so prevalent in fantasy. I can't even tell how extremely elated I am about this simple fact.

The world building in this story is incredible, detailed and just such a pleasure to read. I am not afraid of big books and this book is huge. The story flowed like a dream and I just cannot wait to read more stories in this fascinating world.

Yvenne and Maddek are my favourite right now. But I have to be honest, I love Yvenne with a burning passion. This woman has so much strength and so much love. I adore her in every way and I honestly think she made Maddek a much better person.

No shame, I cried at least 5 times because Yvenne was reciting her stories and I wanted to hug her but couldn't.

After the Destroyer came and decimated the Western realms, its people had no choice but to form a tentative alliance against him. Now, decades later and growing a bit complacent, some of the Kingdoms have begun garnering for more power within the alliance.

Maddek, who has been away defending their boundaries against invasion, returns at the news of his parents’ deaths. Framed as an execution for wrongdoings, Maddek knows this to be a lie and that his parents were really murdered. Unfortunately, the alliance prevents Maddek from being able to openly retaliate, so he does the next best thing.

Maddek decides to take to wife the daughter of the King responsible for his parents’ deaths. Using her as a tool to gain power to the traitor’s Kingdom. Turns out, Yvenne is okay with this because she wants to see the downfall of her tyrant father just as much, if not more, than Maddek, but she also isn’t going to sit meekly by while Maddek’s plans take fruition. Challenging each other every step of the way, they’ll both need to discover what it takes to rule a Kingdom or die trying.

A Heart of Blood and Ashes marks the return of Milla Vane (aka Meljean Brook). There was no way I was not going to read this book. Many might remember the short story in the Night Shift anthology. If not, or if you haven’t read it yet, it’s not a problem. A Heart of Blood and Ashes takes on a whole new set of characters, although it is set in the same world.

This is a long, almost circuitous story that builds upon the world and mythology with each pass of the circle. Adding new information as we go. I enjoyed every word. It’s, at times, brutal, violent, tense, sexy, tangled and myriad other descriptors.

Mainly focusing on Maddek and Yvenne two opposites coming together with the same goal: to usurp her father King to thwart off the trouble he’s causing with his bid for more power and—more simply—revenge. I liked that in order to accomplish their goals they each much adopt the other’s strengths. Yvenne, a woman kept locked away for most of her life, must gain physical strength. She already possesses strength of mind and character, but she needs to learn to utilize her body’s capabilities however they present themselves. Probably most importantly, though, Maddek needs to learn how to really lead, how to rule, and one thing that Yvenne has done in all her years locked away is observe and learn. She knows what the people want, what they need, so she teaches Maddek about caring for a Kingdom with equal parts ruthlessness and compassion.

The story goes round-and-round reinforcing these edicts, building upon them and in the process, building upon the relationship between Maddek and Yvenne. Even though they are allies of a sort doesn’t mean they are not also enemies….at least at the beginning. Slowly they let their respective guards down and realize that they can have so much more than an alliance, they can be partners they can love each other, they can build something sold. It’s beautifully developed with such care, and a suspension of vulnerability on both their parts.

If you can’t tell, I loved this book. I want to spend a week just reading in this world, I want the next book NOW! While Maddek and Yvenne’s personal conflict is contained within Blood and Ashes, the return of the Destroyer is on the horizon and I think it’s fair to say that overarching storyline will impact how the series proceeds. And, luckily, it seems like we won’t have long to wait for the second book.

‘She had promised to make his life a misery. He still believed she would. But in that moment, he’d realized his life would also be a greater misery if Yvenne wasn’t in it.’

Epic! Positively EPIC! A Heart of Blood and Ashes is, without doubt, one of our favourite fantasy romance stories ever. Embarking on this adventure of vengeance, lust, passion, loyalty and love we became instantly swept up in Milla Vane’s fantasy dark romance! We met a brave and battle hardened warrior and a heroine with the heart of a warrior-queen who both consumed us in a rich, seductive, passionate and vivid world so expertly woven together with masterful storytelling! What an adventure! Netflix…take note…you NEED to bring this book to our screens!

“Only a fool would underestimate you, Yvenne….”

This is a lengthy book as the author really takes her time building her spectacular fantasy world. It’s so rich and detailed, and her imagination is extraordinary. The world building is phenomenal and breathtaking, never does it halt the flow of the story, and instead drawing the reader into brutal and unforgiving a world of gods, monsters, warriors, and magic with a sort of medieval feel about it, reminiscent of Game of Thrones/Witcher in a true fantasy romance. We became instantly transfixed.

“There are enemies, and there are monsters. Always slay the monsters first, because enemies may one day become allies, but monsters never will.”

Maddek is a battle seasoned Commander whose world is decimated when his parents, Parsathes King and Queen are murdered. It is a loss and pain unlike any other Maddek has experienced. He immediately sets out on a quest to seek vengeance on those responsible.

He comes upon Yvenne, the daughter of the cruel King Zhalen, the man responsible for the murders of Maddeks parents. Yvenne proposes a deal to Maddek – to save her from a betrothal to an old King, she proposes she and Maddek marry and have a child, in order to both rule. Yvenne is also seeking revenge on the King for his cruel treatment of her and free her people of his tyrannical rule.

‘Also true was that every wound inflicted on an entangled heart bled more.’

With a common enemy and a need to better their people’s way of life, Maddek agrees to her deal. Seeing her as manipulative and treacherous, as a woman not to be trusted, Maddek warns the marriage is in act only and that love and affection would not come readily.

‘He held her gaze for another long moment, an odd tightness squeezing within his chest.’

Yvenne is not what he had envisioned as his bride – frail and weakened by years of abuse and torment at the hands of her father and brothers, Maddek soon learns Yvenne’s physical hindrances hide a courageous and tenacious heart! She too, is a true warrior! Maddek needs to see past his preconceived views of her to find the heart that beats beneath.

‘She was like a broken doll, put back together. Put back together stronger.’

The sparring between Maddek and Yvenne was at times humorous, other times heartbreaking and often very, very sensual. The heat factor was off the charts! The dual perspectives were paramount to the romance of the story, as we found ourselves despairing at Maddek’s reasoning, though we did understand his feelings and reluctance. Through Yvenne, we learn the heartbreak and torture she experienced throughout her life and her story tore at our hearts. Pain and sadness would have been her only friends during her lifetime, if not for her mother, Queen Vysen’s, love. Yvenne’s story broke us, her strength and beauty enamoured us.

“If you intend to kill me, I only beg that you do it quickly. My life has been a torment. I pray my death will not be.”

We can’t say enough about the stellar writing of Milla Vane. Vibrant and imaginative, haunting, brutal, passionate, menacing and exquisitely vivid, her words burst before our eyes! It was magnificent! The romance aspect was everything we could have hoped for. Absolutely stunning and compelling reading. And the end….spellbinding perfection!

We closed this story with eyes brimming with tears, hearts full of adventure, reflecting on a story that rendered us willing captives. Bravo! There is no cliffy ending, however we’ll be beside ourselves waiting for the next book in the series, A Touch of Stone and Snow, to release in July!

“Queen Vysen had told her that love was not something to avoid. For when love was given freely or genuinely returned, everyone it touched was strengthened by it. Yet love could also blind, just as anger and hatred and fear did. I could be wielded as a weapon. It could hurt, when it was rejected betrayed or lost. It could be confused with lust, or with pleasure, or with gratitude – for it often entwined with other emotions and was not so easily separated from them. ‘

Milla Vane's A Heart of Blood and Ashes is more in the spirit of an epic fantasy rather than romance. This one just didn't keep my attention as much as I had thought it would. It's a hefty novel with a slower pace. There are also a lot of players and threads, and I think I was wanting more of a romantic connection instead. As such, I'll be passing on this series. I would definitely recommend this one for epic fantasy series lovers.

Wow. This book was so unlike anything I've ever read before. Barbarians on horseback, dark magics, lies, and truths, and pain, and love. I was utterly captivated the entire time I was reading, though there were many parts that were painful.

Maddek is the alliance council's military commander, and his parents were the rulers, or Rans, of his homeland, Parsathe. But, they were recently murdered, and falsely accused of treachery, by the corrupt king of a fellow alliance nation. He swears he will seek vengeance, but the council forbids him to harm the king, or his sons, two of whom sit on the council. His trusted Parsathean countryman on the council cautions him against any rash decisions, as it's likely he will be voted the new Ran. So, he must head home to Parsathe, to join his people for the vote on their new ruler, while plotting how to get his revenge. Unexpectedly he learns that the king has a previously unknown daughter, and that she is the one who wrote to his parents, luring them to their deaths. He plans to kill her in retaliation, but he's shocked by her actions, and her proposal, when he finds her.

Yvenne is a desperate woman, with nowhere else to turn. Mistreated, abused, and locked away by her father, the king, for her entire life, she has sent word to the warrior son of the murdered Rans of Parsathe. Her message is that she is the one who wrote to them, asking them to come. She has shared the details of her caravan with him, with hopes that he will show up to abduct and then marry her. She doesn't expect that he'll just want to kill her instead. Though she is thin and frail, her brain is her biggest asset, so she thinks fast and talks him into her plan, taking her to wife instead, in order for them both to get the revenge on her family that they crave. But, he doesn't trust her, and even though she's only ever been honest with him, he can't believe any of her words. So, she bides her time and prays for the day that he'll let her speak of her time with his parents before their deaths.

Maddek and Yvenne had a strong pull towards each other from the very beginning, but there were just SO VERY MANY obstacles to them truly being together. Of course they were betrothed, with plans to marry, but it didn't seem there could ever be any real love or trust between them. They were essentially just enemies who happened to be hot for each other, and had a joint purpose, for quite a while. In fact, while Yvenne constantly tried to make inroads with him, Maddek was continually terrible to her. He threatens her from the beginning that if she speaks of his mother, that he'll rip out her tongue. And he is deadly serious about it. Even once he starts feeling more for her, and believing her about other things, he still won't let her speak of his mother. It led to a couple of sad, scary encounters between them, and I was constantly worried what might happen. I'm not used to feeling that way about my heroes, but after what he'd been through, and with the information he had, you almost couldn't blame him for his wariness.

Maddek's Dragon, or his 6-person personal guard, were delightful, and I loved getting to know them, as Yvenne did, on their journey. They seemed to come to trust and care for her long before Maddek was able to. I enjoyed all the group's interactions, especially all their constant ribbing of each other, as if they were all siblings. I also loved how male and female warriors were treated equally in Parsathe, and both were equally valuable to the Ran.

This story was quite dark at times, which is not something I typically gravitate to. There was plenty of violence, and bloody skirmishes. The hero and heroine have a couple of physical encounters that are scary and violent, including their first meeting, before they actually manage to fall in love. But the world building was so unique to anything I've read before. I think the reason it all worked for me is because it's a Fantasy/Paranormal romance, and not a contemporary. I would not have accepted as easily many of the hero's flaws and actions if this had been a modern story. The story felt like an old school romance in many ways, with all the mistrust, miscommunications, and lack of important information shared between the main characters, which often led to angst and heartbreak. But all these elements worked together to keep me hooked on the story, and really pulling for Maddek and Yvenne to get their revenge, and their Happily Ever After.

I'm very excited for this series to continue, even though it looks like we'll be in a different part of the world for book 2, with brand new characters. I hope that we'll see the characters from this book again, as I really fell in love with them all throughout the story. I highly recommend this one, if this type of story in any way appeals to you.

This was my most anticipated read of 2020. Milla Vane, also known as Meljean Brook, is the author of one of my all time favorite romances, The Kraken King. If you haven’t had a chance to read this wonderful steampunk/fantasy romance yet, do yourself a favor and go one click because it’s simply amazing and Zenobia and Ariq are magnificent.

I will admit that I dove into this world as soon as the ARC hit my Kindle in November, which means I’ve already finished a reread in anticipation of writing this review. I imagine I will lovingly place this book on my keeper shelf and revisit it often because A Heart of Blood and Ashes was everything I had hoped it would be. Worldbuilding with depth and complexity, wonderfully fleshed out characters, and packed with brutal fight scenes and heart rending emotion. I could have read another 400 pages.

Depicted as a barbarian romance and set in a medieval like fantasy world, Ms. Vane introduces readers to Maddek, leader of the Parsathean warriors and son of their King and Queen, and to Yvenne of Nyset, heir to the throne who has been locked away and abused for the entirety of her life by a father who craves power and control. Their relationship begins when Maddek learns of his parents deaths at the hands of Yvenne’s family and vows vengeance.

This book isn’t an easy read and I predict that there won’t be a lot of three star “meh” reviews. You will either love it or dislike it and have issues with its intensity. Maddek and Yvenne begin as wary allies without trust or respect. Maddek is grieving and angry over his parents deaths and holds Yvenne accountable for luring them to her country to begin with. He doesn’t treat her well and only agrees to the idea of them marrying and producing an heir in order to gain Yvenne the throne so that he can have his revenge.

Yvenne has been shut away in a tower for her whole life and witness to so much violence on her mother that it’s hard to understand how she can still be so good at heart and intuitive. But she is, and eager to experience the world and lift her people up from the nightmare of her father’s rule. She is frail of body, but strong in spirit and wise beyond her years. Her attraction to Maddek is instantaneous, and as their interaction grows so do her feelings, but I felt her pain when he treated her terribly or made her feel small or not good enough. My heart ached for her.

This is absolutely a slow burn, gradual build romance. Maddek has to let go of his pain and suspicion and Yvenne has a lot to teach him about what it means to be a king. There is this connection between them that is obvious from the moment they meet, but in this violent, brutal world with all its political maneuverings and threats of a reemergence of an old enemy, can they find common ground and build a lasting partnership? Their story is told in alternating POVs so it’s easy to get into each of their heads and truly understand each of their motivations, wants and desires. I’m not sure if this story would have worked quite as well any other way.

I don’t want to dive too deep into all the geographical and political worldbuilding, but despite how intricate and complex it is I feel like the author did a fabulous job of introducing readers to this epic world full of mystical creatures, warriors, and goddess-touched queens.

They are surrounded by an extraordinary cast of secondary characters and I loved them all. I hope to see them in future installments. I know the second book in the series, A Touch of Stone and Snow, shifts to a different kingdom and new protagonists, but I have a feeling we will circle back around and see Maddek’s Dragon warriors again when The Destroyer returns. At least I believe so.

This book was intense and there were scenes that made my heart ache and I couldn’t help but worry and fret. At times Maddek made me angry and sad and I yearned for him to be better. Yvenne’s growth was lovely to watch and I cheered for her with every victory and accomplishment. A Heart of Blood and Ashes was epic fantasy romance at its finest and I am on the edge of my seat in anticipation for the next installment.

Final grade- A

Content Warnings- Violence, mentions of rape and torture

Favorite Quote-

“Your bride has a habit of unseating us during our ambushes,” Kelir said dryly. “We come to preform legendary feats, and she opens the gates.”

A Heart of Blood and Ashes is a sweeping fantasy filled with passion, adventure, and romance. The story centers on the alliance and unlikely romance between Yvenne, rightful heir to the Syssian throne, and Maddek, High Commander of the Army of the Great Alliance and son of the slain King and Queen of Parsathe. When Maddek learns of the Syssian treachery that killed his parents and is forbidden to touch King Zhalen or his sons, he goes after Zhalen’s recently discovered daughter, Yvenne. But instead of killing her, Maddek is marginally convinced of her worth as a bride and future mother to his children. Their pairing is uneasy, and their journey is filled with heart-wrenching ups and downs, but ultimately is a romance of legend.

The story is shared in the alternating POVs of Maddek and Yvenne, so the reader is privy to both characters’ thoughts and feelings. Both have suffered a great deal, but where Yvenne is open and willing to trust, Maddek is quick to doubt and react. Yvenne was imprisoned and tortured by her corrupt father and brothers. She lived her life locked in a tower, caring for her poisoned and fragile mother. She only knew of the outside world through her mother, who had the goddess gift of sight beyond sight. Hoping to escape, Yvenne sent a letter to Maddek’s parents, looking for a potential match. But King Zhalen found out and ultimately killed the visiting king and queen. Maddek does not and will not trust Yvenne, seeing her as only a tool for vengeance.

As the pair spend time together, Maddek finds himself conflicted. He’s attracted to Yvenne, but feels he can never trust her, and reminds himself of this often. He looks at her through the eyes of an angry warrior; she is a fortress to be conquered. He is harsh in word to her and then beats himself up over it. He is tormented by his conflicting emotions. But after each skirmish between the pair, they grow. The lessons as they learn to trust one other are painful at times. My heart hurt for both. But each time they make it through the pain, they are closer and stronger. This makes the story richer, fuller.

While I’ve focused my review on Maddek and Yvenne, this story is much larger than their romance. A Heart of Blood and Ashes is epic in scope. Milla Vane builds a world filled with wondrous creatures, dangerous magicks, gods and goddesses, and so many different and amazing characters and peoples. The Great Alliance is between six realms, and they are only part of the larger Western Realm, which is in imminent danger due to the pending return of the Destroyer.

A Heart of Blood and Ashes is a passionate fantasy with top-notch world building and character development. There are bloody battles and exciting adventures; sexy romance and heart-wrenching emotions. I couldn’t put this one down and can’t wait for more!

Review will post on the blog on 2/3/2020.

My Rating: A-

This one of those books that the story is SO good you can forgive the parts you don't care for, this is the beginning of a true fantasy (trilogy?) and I love many things about it , I REALLY loved the lack of a cliff hanger ending I was expecting.
On the other side it spent too much time in sexual situations to the point I just scanned right through them after the first couple, the hero was a true barbarian for much of the book but you do grow to like him although it takes awhile. The book is fueled by tragedy and revenge but a lot of time is spent in the heads of our couple so you can understand the very complex relationship they have and you will hate the idiot hero more than once before he finally gets his head attached to his brain.
I can't wait for the next book but I am very happy with the way she ended this one, I really thought I was going to have a cliff hanger ending or at least a situation that you are left with no solution but not so, this has a real ending but there is a "big bad" coming (think of a Sauron-like enemy from Lord Of The Rings) but he is a ways off and a battle for the future. 4 Stars only because I spend a lot of time disliking our hero before you will love him and the overdone sex.

A Heart of Blood and Ashes begins a new, dark fantasy series from author Milla Vane (aka Meljean Brook). It's a world rebuilding after being torn apart by the Destroyer and holding tentative alliances as each kingdom focuses on protecting itself from invaders. It's been roughly a generation since the Destroyer swept through, but now rumors claim he is returning to lay waste again. That might be the big picture, but Parsathe warrior Maddek is focused on a smaller, more personal one: his king and queen (and parents) have been murdered by a corrupt king and to keep the peace, the alliance forbids Maddek to fight. But Maddek will have his revenge, no matter where it takes him.

Maddek is a tough character. You can sympathize completely with his pain, grief, and rage. His parents have been murdered and the leaders of the alliance they have sworn to help aren't interested in true justice. Lies have been told, and the alliance would rather have temporary peace at the cost of good leaders and turn a blind eye to the corruption Zanathe is spreading throughout the land because it doesn't effect them at the moment. It isn't a surprise that he wants revenge and may do some reckless things to get it. He decides to go after Zanathe's daughter Yvenne- who he believes had something to do with his parents' deaths. Here's where he starts losing me. There's no evidence Yvenne had anything to do with the murders. But Maddek would be happy to kill her and then go after Zanathe and his sons even if that means his own people are attacked by the alliance. Everyone expects him to be the next Parsathe king, but he isn't thinking of his people- only his hatred. He's fully prepared to use Yvenne as a tool of revenge, whether that means killing her or having children with her that will usurp Zanathe on the throne. Maddek refuses to listen to Yvenne about his parents, and ignores evidence of her own suffering under her father to better fit his ideas. He sees her as weak and lashes out at her every chance he gets- then gets mad at her for not wanting to talk to him and tell him personal things.

Yvenne is patient and cunning, but also has a joy in seeing the world that makes her seem younger than she is, and it is delightful to see someone who has suffered her whole life not give in to rage and hatred, but allow joy and hope to live alongside those darker emotions. She's not all sweetness and light, but has a bloodthirsty practicality to her that I really enjoyed. She's fully prepared to fall in love with Maddek because she's heard about how honorable and strong he is, their goals align and she believes they should be able to work together. But that isn't a side of himself that Maddek shows her. It's painful to watch her start to connect with Maddek only to be slapped back down as he tells her she's only a vessel for revenge. Even after he snaps at her to remind himself to not fall in love with her, she doesn't know that. But every time her hope is crushed, or disaster happens, Yvenne gets up. And we learn what she tries to teach Maddek- you only really know a person after they've been defeated and if they get up again.

A Heart of Blood and Ashes was a hard book to get into, but when Yvenne entered the scene I started to get into it more. Maddek might have been a sympathetic character in terms of his pain and grief, but I didn't like him as a person- especially in the beginning. The narrative switches between Maddek and Yvenne so we get to learn their inner thoughts and drives, and Maddek doesn't change for most of the book. By the end, he does become more the kind of main character we can appreciate and there is a great scene as the army storms the castle to rescue Yvenne where we can cheer Maddek as finally really understanding things- and recognizing Yvenne as a strong person all her own. As one of the other warrior points out, they come in to perform legendary heroics and Yvenne very simply takes care of things ahead of them.

A good ending made the long and slightly plodding pace of most of the book worth it for me, but I'm not sure I'd pick up the next book in the series based on this one.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

In this epic fantasy adventure tale, several kingdoms of the Western Realms are united in an alliance despite their previously adversarial stances because a great common enemy called the Destroyer caused them to put aside differences. Their foe was pushed back but not totally defeated so the alliance stands. When supreme commander of the armies, Maddek, learns royal his parents have been murdered by a corrupt king, he is forbidden revenge by the alliance council. The evil King’s daughter, Yvenne, had been held captive her whole life. Yvenne’s only hope at freedom was Maddek’s parents arranging a marriage between them until they fell at her father’s treachery. Maddek is nearly consumed with his grief, rage, and deep need for vengeance. After taking Yvenne captive, Maddek forms an uneasy alliance with her as they have the same goals: to destroy her father and most of her equally detestable brothers. He does not fully trust this enemy’s daughter nor does Maddek believe his mother chose such a small, seemingly weak slip of a women to be a queen and Barbarian’s bride.

The majority of this story takes place on a long journey where plans are made to overthrow their enemies. Yvenne has much to learn about life outside of her tower prison as well as the physical skills of a would be warrior queen. After spending her life totally confined, the world is a new and glorious place but also filled with many dangers. The blood of a goddess runs in Yvenne’s veins so she has talents and skills than are needed to achieve their objectives. For Maddek and Yvenne personally and logistically, clashes are fought on more than one front because signs indicate the Destroyer is coming back and he has spies and allies to help.

Yvenne and Maddek have a tenuous relationship. Is she telling the truth about his parents, or is Yvenne another great deceiver? They spend a considerable time in a relationship fraught because of his distrust and her frustration with her Barbarian’s stubborn refusal to believe Yvenne’s sincerity. The tension is also of the physical kind because Maddek’s growing attraction to his would-be bride leaves him quite conflicted. Not surprisingly, Maddek and Yvenne’s connection is rather complicated with all that is going on between them on more than one battlefield of the heart and soul.

Ms. Vane has done a remarkable job with this impressive tale which is first in a series called A Gathering of Dragons. To clarify, Dragon refers to the guards who accompany and serve to protect Maddek, not the fire breathing kind. Though this is a lengthy story, it is well paced and will keep readers’ attention. At times the angst in Maddek and Yvenne’s relationship is high and events in the story are filled with trials and danger; however, those are the elements that will keep readers glued to the pages wondering what will happen next. Fans of Ms. Vane will be well pleased while new readers will be glad they found such a well told tale.

YES, praise the book gods that we have Milla Vane/Meljean Brook back in rotation! No one does an angsty speculative romance with quite as much style as she does, and I am so happy to see a series kicking off in "The Beast of Blackmoor" world. I'm somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars, because I do think this is a bit long for my tastes-- I would have liked about 25% trimmed out. But aside from that, I absolutely love Yvenne, especially as a strong female lead who does not have to be physically strong to be portrayed as a worthy player in this world's chessboard of machinations. Her inner strength is formidable & a good counterpart to Maddek's physical prowess. I will say that Maddek was a little iffy for me- such an asshat at points, but he gives good grovel when needed.
Overall, this is a solid first full novel in this world, and I'm excited to see more action unfold as the series progresses