Why can I only do 5 stars?

I was so excited to get this ARC and get into reading. The cover art sucked me in and the story never disappointed.

Sure, parts of the plot gave me deja vu from other romantasy reads - but let’s be real, I didn’t care.

This book is my ROMAN EMPIRE! I spent 10 minutes just saying, “I am not ok” when I finished.

Every character is unique and well defined. Johns gives you time with so many of the players in the story that you don’t feel like book is all about 1 person.

And the world building is WOAHHHHH. The magic, the creatures, the different races of people. So perfectly detailed and presented.

There is intrigue, there is love, there is loss, there is betrayal, there is deceit. I will never stop recommending this book.

This book dared me to stop reading ... and I couldn’t. I’ve never made some many highlights in a book before. My only problem is .... where is book 2?

It took me a little while to get into this book and fully understand the magic system, but once I did, I was hooked. What started as a slow burn quickly turned into an emotional rollercoaster I couldn’t put down.

Mal, the fourth-born royal of the Wyvarian kingdom, is sent to marry Prince Ash of the Fire Kingdom in a last-ditch effort to repair a broken alliance. But beneath the political arrangement lies a deeper, more dangerous purpose—an ancient curse that Mal knows is her responsibility to break. Determined to remain distant and complete her mission quickly, she plans to be in and out of the Fire Kingdom within two weeks, even if it means plotting her new husband’s death before they’ve ever met.

Ash is a mystery. He comes across as cold and cruel at first, but it soon becomes clear that his silence is not due to indifference—his voice itself is dangerous. The more he speaks, the more risk he poses, making his quiet demeanor a form of protection, not detachment. And yet, from the beginning, Ash is drawn to Mal. Slowly, carefully, he steps out of his comfort zone to connect with her, and what follows is a gorgeously written, slow-building romance full of tension and tenderness.

As Mal and Ash begin to unravel each other’s walls, the stakes only rise. Bound by duty yet torn by love, both are faced with the knowledge that only one may survive. With the curse’s deadline looming and the Witch Kingdom rising in power, choices must be made—and sacrifices are inevitable.

If you’re looking for a fantasy romance that blends high stakes, rich lore, and unforgettable characters with just the right amount of spice, this book delivers in every way.

I was so excited based on the blurb, the cover and the comps, to start this book. This was comped to be "Perfect for Fans of Fourth Wing, The Bridge Kingdom, and Serpent & Dove!", with two feuding kingdoms, and a marriage between a shadow princess and fire prince to end that feud. So I went in expecting spicy romantasy, with hot tension, lot's of chemistry, and a little bit of cool magic. I think that was my first mistake. The comps really do a disservice to this book, sadly. Because this was nothing I was expecting, and kinda in a bad way.

A kingdom of shadow and ash tried to be romantasy, and at the same time have politics, lush world building, lot's of povs, and interesting prophesies. And I think that's were it failed. I loved the premise, and the world building. Eight different kingdoms, with special magic systems, different species of magical animals, different customs - and a war hundred years ago, that stopped all communication between them, until Mal is set to marry the Fire Prince. It sounds so good right?

But in reality we get, a lot of pov characters, a prophesy that doesn't really make sense, little to no romance and tension/chemistry between characters*, slow explaining of everything, and 400 pages of nothing happening. I didn't care about any of the characters, or their motivations. Very many of the characters had a very black/white morals or thinking. And most had no reasons or motivations to do what they did. Because of that it felt like there was no clear plot at the starting 60% of the book.

And the book was so slow. Everytime I felt that something was happening, it just ended abruptly. it took around 80% of the book that something actually happened. Sadly, because I didn't really care about lot of the characters, I didn't care about the plot twist and revelations of the end either.

*more about the romance: the little romance we have, seem to be hate to love, in literal days, because to my understanding this whole book happens in the span of like two weeks. we don't get to see any tension, any crushes on anything like that. All the couples that just need to love each other or be together, are together instantly when needed, with no proper back up. Also one character - Wren - acts and feels like a child (I don't know if her age is actually mentioned, but based on the way she is talking about her little sisters and brothers, I feel like she has to be at least 18) , but also to my understanding is to be a love interest to an adult.

I'm so sad that this book didn't end up be what I was hoping for, but if you're looking for a fantasy book, with politics, prophesies and a hundred year old curse, this might be for you. Just don't go into this book thinking it will be similar to fourth wing.

2,5 stars.

Honestly.. the fact that they eat rotten food is really gross. 😅
However the plot, especially in the later half of the book is what made me stay up too late reading to see what's next.

ARC provided by NetGalley (thank you!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly the cover is stunning. I’m definitely purchasing the physical copy as a trophy for my shelves!

I really enjoyed my time reading this book. I loved all of the characters we followed especially Mal. I felt like I could put this down! I cannot wait for the second book!!

Kingdom Of Shadow & Ash

⭐️4 stars!

♦️ Badass, likable FMC
♦️ Witches, wyverns, dragons, & dark magic!
♦️ 3rd person POV
♦️ Arranged marriage/forced proximity
♦️ Enemies to lovers

Mal is the 4th child of the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Shadow. This is unusual, as traditionally in their kingdom royalty only had 3 children. Mal agrees to marry the prince from a kingdom they have rivaled, the Kingdom of Fire. However she knows once she married him, she’ll have to kill him to break a century long curse. As the story goes on, more questions come up about Mal, the Prince, the curse, and who to trust.

This story really hooked me in! It is in 3rd person POV, which typically I struggle with but didn’t bother me here. You’ll like this if you enjoy court/political intrigue with fantasy, forbidden love, and enemies to lovers. The minor characters and side plots in this story stand out. Both the FMC and MMC have strong sibling bonds that I loved and add emotional weight. There are clear seeds planted for future character arcs, especially for more of the minor characters, and I’m excited to see where the series goes!

At times, the pacing felt uneven and the characters a bit flat, but the ending really picked up with a twist that left me eager for more. I’ll definitely continue the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I freaking loved this book! It had everything I love in a romantasy!

This story was so complex, with so many sub plots. I found myself with emotional connections to so many of the characters. The world building and back story is very well done, detailed but not overwhelming or repetitive. We follow Mal Blackburn, the youngest daughter of the King and Queen of the Wyvernians, who is to be given in marriage to Ash Archeron, the Fire Prince of the Draconians, to help establish peace. She's been told her whole life that he is ruthless, but obviously there's more to the story. We are quickly swept into a tale filled with surprises as we follow the political machinations of the witches, Wyvernians, and Draconians.

I loved the romance in this book. It started out slow burn, with our characters really getting to know and understand each other. With twists I didn't see coming, this book kept me on the edge of my seat!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 20%. The writing was a struggle to get through for sure. It felt very green in my opinion.

Dark magic, wyverns, political betrayal, and forbidden love collide in A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash, a gripping romantasy that pulls no punches. We follow Mal Blackburn, a fierce, cunning heroine sent to assassinate the Fire Prince, but destiny has far more in store. From court intrigue to ancient curses, the world-building is vivid and full of tension, with magical creatures and gods shaping every twist.

Mal and Ash’s slow-burn romance is intense and layered, but it’s the secondary couple, Kai and Alina who truly stole my heart with their fiery, emotionally charged arc. While some transitions felt rushed and a few world-building elements veered into cliché, the plot's complexity and the cast's depth made it hard to put down.

Multiple POVs, prophecies, dragons, sibling bonds, and brutal plot twists make this a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and enemies-to-lovers tales. That ending? Absolutely ruthless.

"A Kingdom of Shadows and Ash" by J.F. Johns is a gripping fantasy novel filled with dark magic, political intrigue, and intense battles. The story follows a compelling protagonist as they navigate a treacherous world filled with dangerous creatures and power-hungry factions.

Johns excels in creating a rich and immersive atmosphere, with vivid descriptions and a well-developed magic system. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the very end. The characters are complex and relatable, each with their own motivations and secrets.

Some readers may find the pacing slow at times, with a heavy focus on detailed descriptions and character development. However, the payoff is worth it, as the climax is both satisfying and sets the stage for future installments.

Overall, "A Kingdom of Shadows and Ash" is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.

GUYS. G U Y S. This is not a drill, I absolutely ate this up. The only reason it took me two days to finish is the fact that I picked it up on Sunday evening, I WOULD not have left my armchair, I would probably have given cereal to my children for dinner, I genuinely thought of taking a sick day and just stay in bed and froth this one up.
I enjoyed EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of this book!!! The premise was intriguing (who doesn't love an ambiguous century old curse?!.) The writing (it has been criticized a lot but I found it descriptive enough to flesh out the world and the lore) and sprinkled everything and everyone with that whimsical dark fairy tale/fantasy sprinkle. All the different kingdoms, houses, characters and creatures were so interesting and even though there was a fair amount of information to digest, I thought it was relatively easy to follow and I enjoyed creating those images in my head so much!

I felt that the multiple POVs was a brilliantly executed device and even though some might argue it doesn't make us feel massively invested in Mal and Ash, I actually found it very refreshing (and in a funny way very cinematic?) and allowed me to relate to almost every single character but also make the supporting characters that much more interesting and real. Sometimes you read a book and anything other than scenes which include the main characters feel like a filler, well THIS IS NOT IT. I found the subplots to be (possibly?) even more satisfying at times (Alina and KAI?!). The sibling bond/ love/ relationships was an absolute highlight and so beautifully portrayed. It made me so much more invested in the story and there is a point at the end, I cried sad sad tears (iykyk). I also found Tabitha's diary entries were great at tying everything together and setting the ground/ tone at the beginning of each chapter.

Mal is a brilliant MFC and was everything I would like to see, strong, resilient and a true warrior in her own right (better than most men due to her lifelong training). Ash was so easy to love and it was great to see a MMC who is insecure and struggling with his vulnerability. Their romance for me made sense and was delivered well. Kai and Alina's storyline stole my heart and I found her character arc the most satisfying, given that the next book is called Kingdom of Sand and Ice, I am here for her era of female rage, CANNOT wait. If you're wondering about the spice, I would say that it is a bit on the YA/ NA side but for me it worked really well.

The last 20% of the book kept me on a chokehold and I will be absolutely picking the next one up, not sure what to do with myself given that the first book has not even been published yet! And, as superficial as it might sound, the COVER is everything, absolutely breathtaking. I think that anyone who loves Sarah J Mass, Jennifer Armentrout, Charissa Broadbent, Kristen Ciccarelli will devour this, I really hope this blows up to be the next best thing. I am so excited for what J. F. Johns has in store for us, she is just getting started.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my review copy, I immensely enjoyed this one. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC

Wyverns, dragons, magic, and 8 Kingdoms that have not been united for over 100 years… until Mal Blackburn, the fourthborn child of the Wyverians with Witch eyes is promised to marry the Drakonian Fire Prince. But Mal has ulterior motives. She must kill the prince to break a curse that no one believes in to save everyone…

This started out GREAT. The first 10% of this book I was like hell yeah this is dark and gritty, and Mal was an interesting character right off the bat. Unfortunately, as the story continued it lost me. This book clearly takes inspiration from very popular romantasy books/series making it feel lackluster and the characters not wholly original.

The world building was okay, however, I wish there was more “showing” than “telling”. Many times there would be paragraphs describing other Kingdoms when it was unnecessary, breaking up the flow of the story and making it feel clunky

The insta-love was my biggest gripe. I felt that the romance was unconvincing and that none of the characters had any chemistry.

However, this has really good bones and has the potential to set up the series well

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash draws inspiration from many romantasy tropes but introduces some refreshing elements that stood out. The world building was good though I felt more detail was needed in some areas.

While the pacing starts strong, the story drags in the middle. The focus on secondary characters meant that Mal and Ash’s romance lacked enough development to be convincing.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 72%.
Let me start with the good.
There is some truly gorgeous prose here. I have never marked so many phrases I loved in an ebook before. Many descriptions, or even minor parts to larger sentences, are poetic and vivid.
The main character is a badass. She knows how to defend herself both physically and verbally, takes no prisoners, is entirely herself, and also has the softness that comes with knowing healthy familial love. And she’s smart— she is quick to notice things, which is sadly not something I can say for all the supposedly strong heroines I’ve read in fantasy fiction.

Now for the less good parts.
While the descriptive phrases are often stunning, they’re also overused in a lot of places. Certain aesthetics are described in moments they don’t need to be, when they add nothing to the content of the story. Sure, it’s lovely to read some of it, but it interferes with the flow of the plot enough that it gets frustrating.
The worldbuilding is told rather than shown, and inserted randomly at moments that don’t make sense.
Mal and Ash’s relationship have no chemistry until they decided they like each other out of nowhere. This comes after a series of miscommunications (which are, blissfully, due to an actual reason: Ash’s insecurity about his stammer). But their care for each other feels completely unearned.

The biggest issue I have, however, made me contemplate DNFing multiple times (before I finally did): the inconsistency of the writing.
There are multiple POVs throughout the book, but they’re never introduced. At first, it seems as though Mal is the only one whose perspective we’ll get, and that’s fine. But then it jumps to her brother, and then later to side characters from other kingdoms, and none of it makes a whole lot of sense. There are essentially no transitions to explain the narrative shifts, and with it sometimes changing mid-scene, there are many parts of chapters that are difficult to read.
Action scenes feel like afterthoughts, with very little explanation of what’s happening, and then it’s over. There is a complete lack of tension in these moments, because there’s no build up nor any payoff.
The resulting jerky nature of both the writing and the characterization of characters is, by far, the main reason for my rating being what it is (right now, I'd have it at 2 stars).

I really wish the pacing had been better planned; the book drags in some places and then speeds through the action scenes so that it feels like nothing is happening overall. I’d have liked to have the characters be given more time to be introduced, so we could get to know them, rather than have side characters take over the majority of the narrative with very little reason as to why. It feels like they’re there simply to pad out the length of the book and make the world feel bigger, but it instead leaves everything feeling rather flat. The maid reveals herself almost immediately, eliminating the possibility for tension and the impact of a reveal. The spymaster, Wren, is supposed to be brilliant, but tells Mal everything she knows upon their first meeting. (And don’t get me started on Wren’s characterization—it’s one of my biggest issues with the book).

The paragraphs in the electronic copy I read are also not indented, and at times not separated properly from thought to thought, making it even more difficult to read. I hope this is fixed for the published copy.

I will come back to it at some point. I really want to know how it concludes, because the story is still interesting to me. But for now, I simply can't get through it. When I do finish it, however, I'll come back to update my review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and JF Johns for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 2 stars (currently)

Review posted to StoryGraph: May 7, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/bb1ceb7c-7fa9-47c0-b6f2-924831beea14)

Inspired by many different romantasy novels before it, A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash does make a point to have unique plot points that enjoyed. I loved that Mal, our MFC has a loving that care for her, and have a big part in the plot. And Ash, the MMC has a stutter, and insecurities that shows he’s human. Mal's brother Kai has a relationship with Ash's sister Alina, which fell into the more instalove banter troupe, but I didn’t mind it too much as the character arc of Alina was well done.
I like that we get to see the people of these kingdoms. This world seemed large and lush with diverse characters, however, I would have liked to see more about who these people are and more about the various religions and politics of each court.
We have journal entries at the beginning of each chapter that I didn’t really like. I found them to be pointless and didn’t provide anything to the plot, or build up the story/world. This could have a good way to get the audience random world building.
I think the storyline of Mal wanting to stab Ash to end a curse seemed a bit silly. She doesn’t think about what would happen to her family if she were to be caught killing the soon-to-be king of a land. She doesn’t think about an exit strategy, and nor does she think about how that would definitely cause war to break out. Her sister even calls her out for this lack of plan, and we don’t get anything from Mal about that. Maybe if she planned on killing him in a more sneaky manner this wouldn’t have been so jarring, but stabbing him is a bit obvious.
The world is lush and the story is fast paced, but a lot of it drags in the middle. I would have liked to see more of Mal and Ash in this novel. Unlike other romantasy books, we focus more of the secondary cast than the two love interests, and I think their love story suffered because of it. By the end, I didn’t trust that they liked each other with the little page time they got together.
I enjoyed this and will read the continuation, but I would like to see more of the main cast together.

5 ⭐️♾️

Firstly, thank you to J. F. Johns and NetGalley for the e-ARC. What a phenomenal book this was!

Wow, wow, wow. I’m speechless. It’s taken me a few days to process everything, and even now I’m still in a state of perpetual shock. Those last few chapters had me absolutely crashing out!! 😭😭

This has to be the most insane thing I’ve read this year. Considering I’ve already read nearly 100 books in the first half of 2025, that’s really saying something.

There’s so much I want to say, and yet I haven’t the faintest idea where to begin. From the world-building to the dragons, wyverns, fae, the dark magic, and the intricate characters with their distinct personalities, it was all so immersive. It’s a slow burn in the best way, and I really took my time to absorb everything. That said, I found it easy enough to follow.

There are so many plot lines interwoven into the core narrative centred on Mal Blackburn. First off, I have to say, I adore Mal. She’s quirky, headstrong, and resilient. Actually, I adore the entire Blackburn family, especially Kai. I’m very soft for that man. The found family element was beautiful. Even though Mal feels like an outsider within her own family, they never treat her as such. There are just so many layers to them. From Kai, to Kage, and to Haven, God, there’s so much I want to talk about, but I’d risk spoiling too much.

Mal Blackburn is the fourthborn daughter of the Kingdom of Darkness, and is set to marry the Fire Prince in a bid to unite the kingdoms. But, she has an ulterior motive, which is to kill the prince, thus saving her people and kingdom and break the curse and prophecy that’s been inflicted on the eight kingdoms.

Again, the found family dynamic really stood out. I loved Ash’s relationship with his sister, Alina. The author did an incredible job showing the bond between the children of both kingdoms. It was truly heart-warming to see.

As the story progressed and the relationships developed, it became an absolute rollercoaster. I got emotional whiplash. I’m still reeling from everything that happened. In saying that, it’s perfectly set up book two, which I’m so incredibly excited about. I can’t wait to see more of the kingdoms, learn about them, the different families and meet new characters, and just uncover more of this fantasy world.

Tropes

Arranged marriage
Enemies to lovers
Forbidden romance
Found family
Magical creatures
Court politics
Prophecies and gods and ancient curses

4/5 stars.
Amazing world building, character chemistry is off the charts, and the mythical creatures are so cool!!

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the slow burn and getting to see side characters storylines weaved throughout the book. I highly recommend this book as a 2025 read!!

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book completely swept me away. I was surprised by how quickly I got hooked, especially since it’s written in third person. The multiple POVs kept the pacing fresh and engaging. While there was one perspective I didn’t fully connect with, it felt intentional and added to the story's depth.

What stood out most was the richness of the worldbuilding. From the kingdoms to the mythology, family legacies, and creature companions, everything was layered and well thought out. The recurring chapters featuring Tabitha Wysteria’s retellings added a haunting, prophetic tone that gave the story an epic feel.

Character-wise, I was obsessed. Mal was fierce, determined, and never passive. Her dynamic with Ash had exactly the kind of slow burn and tension I love. Ash, the Fire Prince, was a refreshing male lead. He was cold and guarded when needed, but also vulnerable and protective. His role in the Drakonian court was compelling and layered.

Kai and Alina completely stole my heart. Their chemistry and angst were off the charts. Kai’s playful, cheeky nature was the perfect contrast to Alina’s more restrained, duty-bound personality. Watching her push back and forge her own path while Kai believed in her was so satisfying.

The plot moved a bit slowly in parts, and the ending felt rushed. It either needed to happen earlier or be expanded across more pages. Still, the twist at the end was well thought out and left me excited to see where book two begins.

If you love multi-POV fantasy with gods, prophecies, slow burns, forbidden romance, and strong family dynamics, this book is worth the read. I didn’t want it to end.

4.75 stars!

I want to thank Netgalley and J.F. Johns for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
If you're looking for enemies-to-lovers, she falls first when she doesn't want to, amazing and complex main and minor characters, unexpected and earth-shattering plot twists? READ THIS.

This story put me in a chokehold, immediately. Honestly, this ARC was life-changing in the way that I want to scream from the rooftops about it. The way J.F. threads her words and story together is beyond riveting. It's absolutely brilliant. When an author can craft their writing in a poetic way and it not be excessive, it's a talent unlike anything else.

Mal Blackburn.
Oh darling, how I love you fiercely. My favorite.
Our main female character. I'm about to struggle to explain this complex woman. You've heard of a shadow daddy? Mal is a shadow mommy. Her darkness was light for my soul. Her attitude? Chef kiss Her intelligence? Out of this world. I've never read a character that has the same fiery sass and comebacks as me. Her determination is something I wish I possessed. She's headstrong and hard-headed, and unlike some characters I've read in previous books, it's not annoying or frustrating but inspiring.
“A thing born of despair, sculpted of nightmares, woven together by forgotten gods.”
“The dead longed for her, called to her, promising an end to everything that ached. It would be easy. One step. One breath. One surrender.”

Ash Archeron.
Oh how I questioned my love for you, but you won my heart.
Our main male character. This man is soft, but not weak. He has a stutter, but each word holds deep meaning. He's had his fair share of trauma and struggles to open up. But when this man finally lets down his guard? PERFECTION. He's not as complex as Mal, but they balance each other.

This book is giving creatures from the Maleficent movie with Angelina Jolie.

I don't have the words for all of our beautiful minor characters that really represent. They are diverse in their beliefs, religions, looks, and even their speech. Each one, I adored more and more, with each passing page. Alina will forever have a piece of my heart. Vera is such an evil little twit. Wren is an adhd baby that I never want to let go of. Kai can take me against a tree. Kage is too smart and quiet, never know his motives. Haven is a babe that I still cry over. I could go on and on.

All I have to say is, grab this book because it will alter your brain with the plot twists, characters, and magic system.

“A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash” had such a strong, promising start but ultimately didn’t hold me the way I hoped it would. The opening chapters really pulled me in. The atmosphere was moody, mysterious, and totally up my alley, and the vibes had that perfect dark romantasy tension I love. For the first 15% or so, I was locked in.

But somewhere along the way, the momentum started to fade for me mostly because of the way the POVs were handled. I usually love multi-POV when it’s done well, especially if it builds tension or deepens the character arcs. Here, though, the transitions felt a bit jarring, and I found myself struggling to stay grounded in the story. It broke the flow and made it hard to connect with the emotional through-line I was craving.

That said, the worldbuilding is intriguing, and there’s definitely a lot of lore and history tucked into the corners of the plot for those who enjoy digging into that. There are elements of the magic and shadow politics that I think would really click for fans of slow-burn world reveals.

It just didn’t fully deliver what the beginning promised at least for me.

Still, I think readers who don’t mind looser structure and like atmospheric fantasy with layered mystery might really enjoy this one. If you’re someone who can overlook some POV disjointedness in favor of tone and world, it’s worth checking out.