Three and a half
This started out as quite a typical YA fantasy with a Princess who felt she should change the world or at the very least her little part of it. Ava is quite spoiled and definitely very headstrong but I did feel that she honestly wanted to do the best for her kingdom and its people. She feels stifled by the way females are perceived and frequently ventures out to spend time away from the palace. Things come to ahead when she clashes with family about the war they are in the midst of and how things need to change so Ava sneaks out to join her best friend as he tries to protect a vulnerable grain store . As battle rages Ava realises they cannot win and as those around her fall she's forced to run but has she ran toward safety or even more danger ?
There's an interesting assortment of characters here and I particularly liked Bridger who has always been Ava's cohort when it comes to mischief although hasten to add theirs is a refreshing platonic relationship. We are introduced to people who possess magic who as the story progresses added much needed levity with their somewhat brazen behaviour. Then of course there are those who can shift into Wolves , a race of people persecuted by not only the King but also the neighbouring Kingdom with whom they are at war. Which brings me to those who attack Ava and this is when the author added a character to test Aca's resolve.
I will say no more but yes there is the almost obligatory love triangle but as this story ended a strange resolution that leads me to wonder how things will progress in the next book. It's left in such a way that as much as I was happy for Ava there are still things in motion that leave at least two characters on a precipice. These are likeable characters in an unfortunate situation and I am intrigued to know what will happen next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from NetGalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my exclusively my own.

I was excited for this book however I was ultimately disappointed by it.

My main issue with this book is the writing itself. I didn’t like the pacing, world building or character development. I found most of the characters to be very one dimensional and so many scenes felt rushed that I couldn’t feel connected to them, their relationships or the world itself.

This book is about the struggle of following ones own dreams vs doing what they believe is best for their people and those they love who rely on them. There is a lot of inner turmoil. It also deals a lot with the limited role of females in some cultures. “ there is no power in my title, no sway or authority. Being a princess in Ankara is to be silent, unseen, and insubstantial in the world.”

I really enjoyed the dialogue. There is a lot of great, fun banter. I smiled often and even laughter at times.

“Or if I am to be paraded out for your court like a prize pig, perhaps you prefer I hold an apple in my teeth?” He steps forward, closing the space between us and whispering, “Are you afraid we’ll eat you, Princess?” “I’d happily let you devour me, if only I were sure you’d choke on it.”

Ava is such a wonderful character. She is strong, feisty, speaks her mind, and is comfortable with being herself. The chemistry between Ava and every other character was great.

I did enjoy this book a lot, but the ending really frustrated me. It was very rushed. It could have used another hundred pages. I don’t want to give up any spoilers, so I will just say that I didn’t care for the author’s choices at the end.

Some of my favorite quotes:
“I will not fall, Father, of that I am certain. I was born to soar.”
“Your power is your own; it is granted only by you and no one can take it from you.”
“I will always choose love. Hate is a burden I no longer have the strength to carry.”
“Strength doesn’t come at the tip of a sword; it comes from having the courage to make hard choices and the fortitude to carry the consequences.”

Thank you so much to TrueType Press for providing me with an ARC for an exchange of an honest review.

This was a decent fantasy read. The only thing I knew about it going into the book was that it featured werewolves after reading the cover and I didn’t really have any other expectations otherwise. I liked reading about Ava as a main character--she’s definitely determined, strong-willed, and confident in herself, which I admired. The world building was interesting to read about too and I had fun following Ava on her journey and visiting the various courts while reading this book.

The main thing that I didn’t like about this book was how rushed it felt. If you like books that are fast-paced, you probably will enjoy this book because it felt like I was speeding from scene to scene. I normally do like fast-paced books, but the pace of this book made me feel more confused than excited about what was going to happen next. I think this also affected the relationship between the characters as well, such as Ava and Callan. I had a hard time believing their relationship because of how rushed it felt and because of the insta-love trope.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, medieval-esque fantasy read with interesting world building, I’d recommend reading Kingdom of Shadows and Dust!

I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Not was I was expecting. In a great was!! I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read more.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read kingdom of shadows and dust.
Firstly this draws you in from the get go wolf shifters Kings, castles what's not to like, however whilst the story sounds great and the characters are enjoyable the ending was a let down.

I loved the development of this story, Ava was amazing character and her development was an interesting one. The only reason this isn't a 5 star for me is because of the ending. It disappointed me a bit but i hope the story continues as i feel there is more to be told about these characters and the repercussions of the end.

Kingdom of Shadows and Dust follows Ava, a princess whose kingdom is embroiled in a war with a neighboring kingdom. As Ava becomes more immersed in the war, she finds out that things are not always what they seem, and as she uncovers greed, secrets, and power-hungry motivations, Ava must decide who and what she is fighting for.

Ava wants to be more than just a princess and a political pawn and spends much of the story on a physical, as well as an emotional, journey. She learns so much about herself and what kind of leader she wants to be. She learns what it means to be strong. Above all, she understands that there are many different kinds of love, and all are worthwhile and good. Ava grows and learns so much over the course of the story, and she never loses that fierce determination to help her people.

I’m still not sure how I feel about the love triangle. I like both of Ava’s potential love interests and can totally see her with both. They both have a deep and profound respect for Ava, though one seems to truly love her, which makes sense since he’s Ava’s fated mate. He, like Ava, is willing to sacrifice anything to see her protected and happy. The other potential romance has a lot of chemistry and witty banter and is promising, but it isn’t as deep and strong as the first. It’s interesting to see who Ava chooses as she grapples with staying true to her heart and doing what is best for her brother and her people.

I love some of the other relationships Ava had, including her lovely bond with her younger brother and her long-lasting friendship with her best friend. Ava’s motivation often stems from protecting those she loves, especially her brother, which says a lot about her character and the strength of their love. And I love that she has such a strong relationship with her best friend. They have been so close for so long that they act more like brother and sister than friends, and it’s clear that they love each other (in a totally platonic way). And I think that’s what at the heart of this story – love. What are you willing to sacrifice to protect those you love? Can love conquer all? Is there room in one’s heart for many different loves? Do people show love in different ways?

I do wish there was a bit more world-building, as I found so many aspects of the book really interesting. The story introduces many different kingdoms, lands, people, legends, and magical elements, but they weren’t as vividly described as I had hoped. However, I believe this is the first book in the series, and these elements will probably be developed more in future books.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more by this author. The story is filled with action, romance, political drama, battles, humor, natural disasters, secrets, betrayal, and more. I think readers who enjoy YA fantasy will enjoy Kingdoms of Shadow and Dust. Thanks so much to NetGalley, TrueType Press, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I will post links closer to pub. date.

I received an e-arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

I had a lot of mixed feelings about this story.
I definitely enjoyed the plot and thought the story was quite different with the Magus(similar to fae) and Turnskins(Werewolves) present throughout the book.

It was a fast paced read, but that may have been just because I read it in one sitting. It features all the things I enjoy in fantasy, royalty, betrayal, love.
I had thought I knew where the end was going and I was slightly disappointed because I really adored Callan and that’s what I wanted.
I wasn’t much of a fan of Aldin, I think he always seemed to try too hard, but he does make a good king.
Whilst the world building was there, it was lacking and I felt I didn’t know too much about any of the countries featured. And I would have loved more backstory on Callan and the Magus.

But overall, I really did enjoy this read. As I mentioned, I read it in one sitting and I definitely recommend this book.
It releases in September!

A story told from the point of view of a princess who wants to be more than just a noble woman. Ava has no desire to be a lady of the court and would rather fight with the army. She is stubborn and has been sheltered from the reality of what is beyond the castle walls, until she discovers for herself what battle is like. Ava loves fiercely, especially her little brother and will protect those she loves as well. Ava meets a Turnskin named Cassan, whom she has a special connection with, but Cassan keeps secrets from Ava. Ava ends up with the enemy king, who is more than he seems, for he wants peace between their kingdoms and begins negotiations. Ava's loyalty is to her brother, who is the heir, and will make sure it remains that way, even if she has to sacrifice herself. Ava's experiences have shown her what she must do in order to keep her people safe, even at her own expense.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

ARC from NetGalley

I found this cover kind of misleading. It makes it seem like a traditional paranormal romance, but it's really more proper fantasy with castles and kings and then there's also a wolf shifter.

I didn't dislike this book, but eh. It was a bit hard to get into. I found myself really disappointed by the ending. For starters, I'm not the biggest fan of the true mate trope, particularly when there isn't any build-up. It's like oh hey were are destined, and that is the entire reason we are attracted to each other. It's kind of hard to get on board with that. There's nothing/no one to root for. You don't really get to know the characters before they are immediately in love with each other so I have no investment in their relationship. I found myself rooting for the other guy, and I thought things were going in a particular direction only to have it torn away at the very end, and maybe some people were stoked about that, but I found it very meh.

I loved the book and can’t wait to find out what happens next in the story. It is a fast read and the characters have their own personalities and it comes across well.

I have such mixed feelings about this book I am not sure where to start.

I definitely loved the story and I think it's got so much grasp, I was really invested and I found Ava a super relatable character, we all struggle with choices and we all doubt ourselves a lot.
But something about the writing and the pace of the book wasn't right. It felt really rushed at times and, even though I already know this is going to be a series, it just feels like even the first book was not explored enough. Some of the scenes, the love stories, it just felt rushed to me.
I think the characters are nice, but almost everyone is good except for the couple of evil characters and it would have been amazing to see some morally grey characters around, maybe some development in them.
I also think the world building could be explored some more, the world sounds amazing and with great opportunity to explore the Magus areas, Sandoval, Aldin's kingdom, etc!
There are a few grammar errors and the writing (in my humble opinion) could be improved in some sections.

Despite all of this, I'd still struggle to give it less than 3/3.5 stars because I actually did enjoy the story A LOT, and I read this in two days! I am already looking forward to the next book tbh.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be interesting, albeit a little predictable. I loved that she had a best friend of the opposite sex that was not a love interest... that was refreshing.

This story did have some twists and turns that were unexpected. There was a good flow to the story with lots of different types of people (species, etc...) lots of action and and a sweet romance. (Although I have some mixed feelings on how that all resolved)

I am definitely interested in how this story progresses.

Rather than bury the lede I'm going to say it right up front: this was really not a very good book.

First, the writing was frequently clunky. Consider the following passage from early in Chapter 3:

"I don't want to live in a world where women--noble or otherwise--are subjugated to men. I want to be free to choose my own path, like you."
She turns to face me. "You are so like your mother."
I prop my head on my arm. "Tell me about her again."

Let's be clear here, the protagonist, Ava, is not a child. I don't recall her age being specified, but while she may be young, she's definitely an adult. She's old enough to disguise herself and go to war, get married, plot to subvert the king's will, and serve as regent after her father's death. That's not a child, but coming from an adult that's an absurd conversation.

Second, for someone as "rah rah girl power" as the passage above exemplifies, Ava largely lacks agency throughout this book. Aside from a pair of decisions made in quick succession early in the book, most of the story does not involve her doing things but rather things happening to her. Even at the end of the book she's saved from having to go through with a difficult choice by a fairly ridiculous <deus ex machina (there's an earthquake and the castle collapses).

Finally, there's an absurdly forced love interest (iterally forced: they're somehow magically bonded telepathically for no clear reason), and other than the way it's forced, the writing doesn't make it feel like there's much of a connection. I honestly was disappointed when Ava went off to live with Callan and the Turnskins, because not only did I never really buy in to that relationship but she completely gave up on her brother and on her duty to her nation and people, which had been repeatedly emphasized as the two most important things to her.

Two stars might be a bit generous, but it wasn't enough of a disaster to merit just one star, so here we are; in a more granular system it might be 1-1/2 stars (or perhaps 3 out of 10).

I enjoyed this book a lot. The writing was a bit basic; the descriptions and dialogue were short and often felt forced, especially in the beginning, and yet this was a very relaxing read. Each scene of the story was quick and to the point and while I found Ava annoying in the beginning, I quickly grew immersed in her story. Ava’s love for her family, friends and people was truly her best quality. I liked how the author chose to deal with the love triangle, but I admit I was expecting a different ending. I guess the way it ended was more romantic overall. I just thought the highlight of this story was Ava’s commitment to her kingdom and brother, and not the romantic sub-plot. A few more years of angst and duty would have made this story more meaningful, in my opinion.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this book!! I don’t read a lot of fantasy but I’m really glad I gave this a try. The whole book played like a movie in my mind while I was reading. The writing was smooth. There were a lot of characters but I never had any trouble keeping up with the story or the plot.

Princess Ava is such a strong and amazing character. She is also very funny and will not back down to anyone. This is a character that any female can look up to and also identify with. I love strong female characters. Ava wasn’t ever a victim or a damsel in distress. Ava is a fighter and knows what she is going after.

I really enjoyed how all the characters interacted with each other. The bickering and the batter was really enjoyable to read. At no time was I ever bored with a conversation or an interaction.

Now, I do get tired of reading story’s that have love triangles in them. However, at no time did this book cause me to roll my eyes. The story line never felt tired or played out. I can’t say that about a lot of books that have love triangles in them. This story was felt fresh and fun. I’m actually a little sad I finished the story. I can’t wait to read it again!

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This is not what I was expecting at all. I was pretty disappointed.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Kingdom of Shadows and Dust by Sherry D. Ficklin is an amazing YA fantasy debut. It reminded me a lot of From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout, and I'm sure fans of that series will enjoy reading this book. The story revolves around Ava, the royal princess of Ankara. Although her father the King wants to marry her off to secure a political alliance, Ava does not want to conform to gender roles. She fights in battles and rescues children who are falsely imprisoned. She is the definition of Girl Power.

A large part of the plot involves a love triangle. Although some readers may be turned off by that cliche, I thought it was well done. There is no "insta-love" here. Ava falls gradually in love with Callan, a Turnskin, the author's term for werewolf. Soon afterward, she is "imprisoned" by the Shadow King, Aldrin, the King of a neighboring country. However, Aldrin turns out to be a decent fellow, and I enjoyed the witty banter between him and Ava. Ava will be forced to choose between the two young men. While one match will help her country and secure an alliance, she's formed a close bond with the other one. Overall, this story is part love story, part fantasy, part action adventure, and part court intrigue. Fans of From Blood and Ash and similar YA Fantasy books should definitely check out Kingdom of Shadows and Dust when it comes out.

This book had so much potential, and I was super excited to read it. Unfortunately it didn’t quite live up to the cover and blurb, and the plot sort of dragged a bit, but nonetheless it was an okay read to just pass time with.