This book focuses on Dawsyn, a 24-year-old badass, has lived her whole life on the icy Ledge, where her and other humans are forced to survive the harsh environment and the possibility of being plucked by one of their winged captors, the Glacians. One day, Dawsyn is swooped up by one of the Glacians and given the choice of certain death or possible death by running down the mountain. She chooses to run and reluctantly allies with half-Glacian Ryon to make her escape. But the world outside of the mountains and chasms is just as dangerous as the place she just came from.

There were a lot of world-building choices that pulled me out of the story. More humans seemed to die on the ledge for reasons other than being picked up by Glacians, surely, it’s inefficient? There are at least two different types of magic; where do they come from? Religion? Trade?

While the writing style was pretty strong, the plotting and pacing made it clear this was the author’s first book. The middle was the definition of a sagging middle, with the first conflict out of the way and no secondary conflict already in place or character growth continuing to maintain the momentum. Even once we got past that part, the twists were very predictable.

Speaking of characters, Dawsyn had very little character besides “badass with an ax” and Ryon just alternated between “loves Dawsyn” and “wants revenge” so neither was a super compelling character and together, they did not make a super compelling relationship.

Also, as much as I’ve seen people claim this book has “LGBTQ+ representation,” only the human side characters are queer, neither Dawsyn, Ryon, or any Glacian mentioned are queer. There's the two sapphic queens, the owner of the inn who is gay, a witch who is sapphic in some regard, and the inn's supplier who is nonbinary. The supplier gave me the most pause, not because he's nonbinary and uses he/him pronouns (pronouns =/= gender so I'm perfectly fine with that), but because of how Dawsyn talked about him and I was worried he was edging on being a stereotype. Really, we didn't get that much meaningful interaction with the latter three, who I could tell were supposed to be Ryon's quirky found family. Maybe in future books, we'll be able to see more of their personalities and it'll be clearer that they're more than whatever stereotypes I was afraid of, but spoiler alert, I'm probably not going to be reading more of this series.

In fact, speaking of those characters, I found it odd that those characters were built to be Ryon’s found family, when it really should’ve been the other half-Glacians who not only helped raised him, but were working with him to build a revolution! That only occurred to me in writing out this review, but it seems like the perfect missed opportunity for, if nothing else, two found families!

I rated this two-stars. I think the people who this book is made for are going to really enjoy it. If you don’t normally like NA romantacy books, you can probably pass on this one.

Ledge is the first book in the fantasy romance Glacian trilogy by author, Stacey McEwan.

Dawsyn has grown up on the ledge, a small community set high up on a mountain chasm where all she has known is fear and the cold. When she is taken by the terrifying Glacian's and faces a turning point for her and her people, will she be brave enough to withstand everything thrown at her as she faces those who are responsible for the enslavement of her people.

Part fantasy, part romance, this story will delight fans of these genres. The romance is medium burn with just enough spice. I enjoyed the epic world building, interesting and strong characters and fast paced action.

Be warned the book ends on a cliffhanger so you will have to eagerly await book 2. I look forward to diving into book 2 when it comes out. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc of this novel.

4.25 Stars/2 Chilis

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Publishing for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I was prepared to not like this book. In fact, I went in ready to roast this book. Why you ask? Because we have yet another Booktoker writing a book, yet another tale about a heroine rescued by a hero, etc. Or so I thought. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, in the best ways possible and happy to say very much proved wrong.

Trigger warnings: violence, murder, attempted murder, attempted assassination, mass murder, mass kidnapping, mass captivity, kidnapping, imprisonment

What I liked:
-Our heroine, Dawsyn, is an absolute badass. If you think I’m kidding, there is a scene where another woman is flirting with our hero, Ryon. Dawsyn approaches the twosome where the other woman says something rude to Dawsyn, along the lines of, “I’ve called dibs, move along honey.” Rather than responding in any way, Dawsyn merely looks at the woman in such a way that she apologizes and moves on. Again, Dawsyn doesn’t say a word. Then she seduces Ryon. It was incredible.
-There are a lot of things you don’t know as a reader despite this being third person. I love a good reveal and the fact that we weren’t privy to everything, just like Dawsyn.
-Our heroine is very much able to protect herself, but also still needs help from Ryon to navigate a strange and foreign world to her.
-Ryon is a very masculine character, but also very willing to allow Dawsyn to own and lead their relationship. She seduces him, she determines their relationship, she controls the narrative.
-There is a clear set up for the next books and I am honestly so excited for the sequel. I can’t wait. I’m on board.
-I initially wasn’t sold on the premise, I’ll be honest. It seemed silly to me, but this was such a well thought out, nuanced tale that was more than I expected and also very unique.

What I struggled with:
-Dawsyn and Ryon… look I’m going to say it: the names are standard but just spelled differently so it looks exotic. Just give me Dawson and Ryan. It’s ok. I’m fine with it.
-I personally don’t like books written in the present tense. It throws me out of the novel. That aspect of this isn’t my favorite, however I was still very involved in the world and it didn’t mess with my experience once I was in the world and bought into the story.


This book was everything I needed and I’ll just say this: I read this entire book while traveling (not on vacation but literally in an airport traveling on a plane) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend it and I cannot wait for the next book.

Wow! Great debut from Stacey McEwan. The world building was original and great, loved the questing portions of the plot and the steam was on point. The story is interesting and face paced and the main characters are nuanced and likable. Can't wait for book two!

This book took me longer to finish than I expected because I had to keep taking breaks. I loved and felt so there with the characters, that whenever something happened I needed to literally walk away and come back.

Based wholly on those breaks and when in the book I needed to take them, I can say that this book is perfectly paced and the ebbs and flows of the plot are as soothing and intoxicating as the magic in the pool of Iskra. I’ve never wanted to pick back up a book so soon after finishing it.

One of my favorite things about this book (aside from the characters) is the language used both in and out of dialogue. When the characters are talking to each other, not only does their individual personality come through but it really feels like a fantasy book in the cadence of their speech. I was constantly aware that I was witnessing something magical and of-another-world. Despite the true, heartwarmingly, human moments in the book, there was nothing pedestrian about it because of the words the author used in those moments.

Throughout this book, I got a sense that Stacey McEwan was sharing her wishes for the world. Some were small and simple like a man with huge hands who loves a woman with a sharp with - honestly, same. Others were huge; the type of hopes we have but rarely know how to chase. Things like making the world “A Better Place” where people are not forced to go without freedom and comfort so that others may benefit, bluntness is welcome so long as it’s used without judgment, and differences are used as strengths to join forces against those with their heels on the backs of others. I loved being in a world where these wishes became plans and actions and I thank the author for sharing it with me.

Will destiny kills or saves?

Living on the Ledge battling the harsh winters, we meet Dawsyn who is capable of surviving anything her own. Up there on the little remote community, humans are either seen as food or sports. While the magic system and the worldbuilding is moderately okay, I still found myself asking questions that are unanswered.

The romance is okay, and yes, there is spice. I'm not attached to the characters, especially both the main character and the love interest, but the buildup was still okay.

Now, the writing was what hooked me. From the very first page, I was already drawn to how the author articulated intricately the story. It was lyrical in a sense that wasn't overtly flowery. It was what drawn me to turn page after page.

Thank you to Angry Robot and Netgalley for approving my request of the eARC!

I had been so excited for this book for so long, that when the author announced it was going up on Netgalley, I have never requested a book so fast!

Welcome to the Ledge, where if the cold doesn’t kill you or being picked up by a winged Glacian, a fall into the Chasm surely will. There is no escaping. Dawsyn was born on the ledge and it’s all she’s ever known. She is tough and a fighter. Until one day she is chosen by a Galcian in the culling, now her life will never be the same.

I always look forward to picking up a fantasy book. The reading escape that they provide is incomparable. This one was no different. The imagery that the author was able to pack into this book was incredible. I was able to travel to a whole new world, and learn about a new way of life. The concept behind the Ledge and the Glacian colony was fascinating and also heartbreaking. This book ends on a huge cliffhanger and I will be slowly dying until the second book comes out.

If you are looking for your next fantasy book, look no further. This one has it all!


Thank you so much to #netgalley and #angryrobot for the opportunity to read this book and give it my honest review.

GREAT DEBUT DESPITE A FEW MINOR BUMPS

Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐

The first thing that drew me in to this book was the setting and the atmosphere. The humerous banter and the chemistry between Dawsyn and Ryon made me hang around. But there were a few things, that bothered me...

👍 What I Liked 👍

Universe: The world of the Glacians fascinated me right from the start. I loved the wintery brutality and the survival-of-the-fittest vibes. It felt like something new and unique. The grit really pulled me into the world and the fantasy elements.

Chemistry: Right from the beginning there is obvious chemistry between Ryon and Dawsyn, our two MCs. At first the chemistry was that of two enemies trying to size each other up and tear one another down. Which was super fun to read! But as the sexual tension entered the equation, the chemistry took on a new form. And as a fan of enemies to lovers romance, I was there for is!

Banter: Though this is a very dark and brutal world, there is still delightful, humerous banter. And that just gets me every time. Both as enemies and lovers, Ryon and Dawsyn deliver worthy one-liners.

Ending: Of course I won't spoil the ending... But I liked it!

👎 What I Disliked 👎

POVs: Most of this book is narrated from Dawsyn's POV. Which was why I found it really strange when Ryon suddenly had a chapter. And then another. And then another. But in the end it was only a handful, while the rest was from Dawsyn's POV. To me it was just confusing, annoying and really not necessary.

World building: Yes, the world was my favourite part of this book. And I really needed more of it. There were simply too many things left unsaid about this world. Especially in regards to the Glacians. But I hope we'll get more of that in a later book.

Wow! This was my first read by this author and can I just say it was amazing! The world building was top notch, Dawsyn was a complete bad*ss that has strength and courage. Ryon is a great addition, but I felt that the FMC stole the show for me, which I'm good with. I couldn't put this book down and need the next book ASAP! If you enjoy NA fantasy this will be a great read for you!

Okay so I have mixed feelings about this book...on the one hand, I liked the description of the places and the author nicely sets the scene in the first few chapters. Introducing the characters and the sub plot so we all know what's happening...but in reading this so quickly after the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series, it pales in comparison, which is not the book's fault I might add!

The enemies to lovers happens over a very short timeline which to me seems unrealistic. Dawsyn and Ryon, the main characters in this dystopian fantasy, are the typical fantasy duo, a big bulky male with wings and a sassy weapon weilding no-nonsence female. I didn't engage with them because I didnt find out a lot about them; what makes them who they are just wasnt covered.

This is a dialogue heavy book and I struggled with it. Also, Ryon uses the word "girl" in almost every sentence aimed at Dawsyn...which began to grate on me. There's a lot going on and at times it can get busy with description and speech.

However, I didnt see the ending of the book coming! At all. All the right steps were taken to set up book 2 nicely.

I have not been able to put into words how much this book blew me away.
I am so glad I was able to read an ARC of this book because I preordered the physical copy immediately after finishing it.

This book has everything I long for in fantasy romance books. (An underrated genre let's be honest)
High fantasy, romance subplot, female protagonist that is not here for anyone's BS, magical fantasy elements, a love interest that tried so hard not to fall for his "captive," as well as the forbidden romance vibe.

Dawsyn grew up on the Ledge. Starving, cold, and fighting to survive is all she knows. She's watched her whole family suffer and perish on the ledge. But Dawsyn is the ultimate survivor. Think adult hunger games with the stakes times 100. The story sucked me in from the beginning and it was a wild ride all the way to the end. I am fairly good at predicting where stories are going because of how much I read, but I did NOT see this one coming. The end had my jaw on the floor and left me so mad (in the best way). I cannot believe McEwan is a debut author when she handed us this gold. If you love dark fantasy romance where the stakes are life and death this is for you. It was sad, it was intense, and the romance was just everything I love to swoon for. I cannot wait for more of this series and more from this AUTHOR!!

McEwan has any and all trigger warnings listed at the beginning which was so helpful.

Honestly this is what I needed to renew my faith in the fantasy romance genre. THANK YOU STACY MCEWAN.

What a fun fantasy adventure! I enjoy this first book and cannot wait to see where it goes. My only complaint is I wanted more! I felt like the story moved too fast with so much going on. I would have enjoyed it slowed down a bit.

The premise of Ledge really pulled me in. A society of people living in the harshest of environment, their village perched on a ledge. Their life consists of survival and awaiting the meager rations that are given to them by the winged Glacians in return for sacrifices.

Dawsyn is the lone surviving member of her family, using her axe and sheer strength to survive. When she is chosen for sacrifice as well as others, she is thrown into another fight for her life.
This was a 3.5 star read for me. A lot of it has to do with the fact it’s a little lacking in the world building. There isn’t a lot of information such as the hows, whys, or even history of the Glacians. I felt readers were expected to accept things at face value. Also, I would have liked to see more initial character development with Dawsyn in the beginning. I would have liked to see more time in the beginning spent with her day to day survival and maybe filling in more of her family history. This is more a personal preference than anything else.
McEwan’s writing is strong. It’s very wordy in places which does slow down the pacing a bit, but she had a wonderful grasp of imagery and her use of metaphors is really nice. She does a really nice job in the action and even the romance.

Overall, I think this is a pretty solid start for a debut novel and book one of a series. The series has a lot of potential, and if that doesn’t compel you to read on in the series, then the cliffhanger definitely will.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Ledge.

Okay, I loved this story! It just drew you in from the start. The characters, the world-building, the plot - I loved it all.
Dawsyn is a strong, fiercely independent woman after her time on the Ledge, and Ryon has endured his own battles along the way, but together they can do anything. And what they had planned was huge.
I enjoyed the little twists and found this to be a really easy book to read. It flowed well.
An amazing debut novel! Can't wait for book 2.

5⭐️ 3🌶

This was a debut novel done right! I was hooked from the first sentence. The characters, the world building, the political and social dynamics were all wonderfully crafted.

Dawsyn lives on the Ledge a frozen wasteland with no escape. Many years ago Glacians, a winged humanoid species, kidnapped human villagers and dropped them on the Ledge. Twice a year the Glacians pick humans to take with them back over the Chasm never to be seen again. This year Dawsyn is selected and must fight to escape the Glacians with the help of a half-Glacian named Ryon who has his own agenda.

I loved both Ryon and Dawsyn. Their banter and chemistry was amazing. Dawsyn is a total badass, I feel like in a lot of books the FMC doesn’t always have the skills to back up their confidence, but she did! She was cunning, resourceful, pragmatic, and cared deeply about those left on the Ledge even when they had only ever been her competition for resources.

Ryan was such an antagonizing and yet lovable guy. They way he tried to fight his attraction to Dawsyn was pretty adorable because he didn’t stand a chance.

Dawsyn Sabar lives on a mountain. On the Ledge. She’s lost her mother, father, grandmother and sisters to the Chasm or the Selection.

Glacians rule the mountain and pick humans away from their families. Nobody knows where they’re taken or what happens to them. Until it’s Dawsyns turn.

We meet Hector from the Ledge, Ryon, the Glacian King Vasteel, Glacians, Esra, Salem, Baltisse, the human Queens and mixed bloods, half human/half Glacian.

I loved Dawsyn. Loved the banter between her and Ryon. The stories she was told as a child, the new ones she didn’t know about as an adult and discovering secrets about her grandmother.

The ending….I want the Iskra to unleash its fury please. Thank you. And I can’t cope right now and imma need book two right now!!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book has such an original premise for an adult fantasy novel. Dawsyn is the sole surviving member of her family on the Ledge, an isolated settlement of humans confined on an inescapable icy mountain by Glacians. Axe-wielding Dawsyn is as harsh as her environment, but when she is chosen by the Glacians for whatever they do to humans, her survival skills are truly put to the test.

Ledge blends survival story and political fantasy, with a dash of dystopian and of course some romance. I am always a fan of enemies-to-lovers, reluctant allies, and forced proximity, but I expected a bit more from Dawsyn and Ryon’s romance. The pieces didn’t all quite connect for me the way they should have. I want more!

The story is fast-paced, full of action and reveals. The setting and characters were well developed (I really loved the side characters at the inn!). This book kept surprising me until the very end. I’m not sure what to do with that ending…HOLY CLIFFHANGER. I absolutely need to know how that gets resolved in book 2.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book, but I immediately fell in love with it. 

Dawsyn is such a complex and well rounded main character. She is strong and witty right out of the gate. She has relied on her strength for years to survive her life on the Ledge.

I love that it was never a negative for Dawsyn to be strong, take up space, defend herself, or have a sexual appetite. One of my favourite things about fantasy romance is there are no rules for the social constructs in the world you build and Stacey McEwen built such an incredible world. It was tough and dangerous, but it was also unique and amazing. 

I adored Ryon. He was such a wonderful counterpoint for Dawsyn. He matched her wit and took as good as he gave. He was patient and took the time to understand before reacting. My absolute favourite thing was no matter how much he may disagree with or want to change a decision Dawsyn was making, he understood that it was her decision. It didn't matter what he wanted her to do, it mattered that he respected her ability to make a decision for herself and face any consequences that came from it. He supported Dawsyn and fought beside her. If he thought she was making a dangerous decision, he went with her and tried to keep her safe. 

I also loved that they each had their own purpose and they figured out how to work together towards both goals. 

The side characters were so colourful and entertaining too! They added so much depth to the world.

I am so excited to see more of this world as the rest of the series comes to life. Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot Books for the ARC copy!!

Wow! What a book! I had been going through a reading slump lately and I am thrilled to say that slump is over. This book was riveting, deep, and yet funny. It has a little something for every adult reader: romance, adventure, revenge, royalty, secrets, and the family that you make through friendships.

Dawsyn lives a hard life surviving on the Ledge. An arctic tundra where food is scarce and the people are dwindling. Glacians come once a year to take some of their people at random, never to be seen again. Dawsyn discovers life on the other side of the Ledge and fights for her life, her people, and for revenge.

Ryon has grown up being picked on for being a Glacian half-breed. He has worked his way up through the Glacian castle and learned to fight. After teaming up with Dawsyn, he too will fight for his life, his people, and for revenge.

I wanted to savor this book because there were so many great quotes within it. Stacey McEwan really put a lot of thought and planning into this masterpiece. I can't wait for the second book in this series! My favorite character was Salem who was primarily concerned with feeding everyone and I can relate.

I would recommend this book for adult readers who enjoy fast-paced adventures with romance. Especially for readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games series. This book does have the following triggers: violence, starvation, suicide, and death of a child.

Please note: an electronic ARC of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

TW: suicide, attempted SA, very questionable POC and non binary rep, infantilization, death of a child

Actual - 1.5

The premise was fun and I was excited to read this but it fell flat in every way. Im not generally a harsh reader in terms of critique since I read for vibes, but there were too many issues for me to not be anything but.

There were too many inconsistencies. The world building was so bad. The main “villains” need humans souls in order to stay immortal, which is cool and all, but tell me why they held their captured humans where the environment / wild animals / the literal edge of a cliff could kill them?

The FMC is constantly described as being weak due to growing up in starvation so why is she so strong in action? Why is she so perfect and everyone is in love with her and her beauty and would do anything for her? Except the love interest refusing to stop calling her “girl” despite her asking him to multiple times.

The supporting characters introduced were not all relevant to the plot (or showing up out of nowhere to heal people everytime trouble brews), and I felt like some were written just for a tick in the “representation” box. And that rep by the way? Incredibly questionable. The love interest is described as a black man who is a beast, violent etc, and the non binary character was only there for being the token gay best friend. I think a sensitivity reader should have been hired because perpetuating these stereotypes is too harmful.

Outside of all that, the story itself was boring. The pacing was slow and it felt like nothing happened for a good 1/3 of the book. There were too many wholes in the world and the plot itself to not make it enjoyable.