I was conflicted about this book. I found it extremely hard to connect to the characters and therefore the plot because I found myself skimming and overalls not enjoying the book. That’s not to say the plot wasn’t great because it has amazing potential and the author did something original with it.

The premise of this was so promising and I was really excited to dive into this world but it just missed the mark for me. Out of the 500+ pages the best part was the last 10% and the lead up was just too much world building and pointless conversations.

So much happened in the last 10% that I am slightly intrigued to see where the next book goes, maybe this one is just setting up for an amazing sequel?

Thank you to netgalley for my arc

I enjoyed this book. The world building was fantastic. The main FMC was strong, The world interesting and the last 100 pages, I could t put down. I loved the MMC, I liked the fact that he was strong and cold, but also that he is unique. I loved the sibling bonds and the chemistry between all of them. I loved that this book had twists and turns that leave you gasping.
I did struggle a bit with following some of the story, and found it could be a little confusing, however I cannot wait for the next one!

Five. Freaking. Stars. If I could give six I would. I am still getting withdrawal symptoms from the last hundred pages of this book.

The worldbuilding in this book is everything I could ever ask for. Dragons? Check. Wyverns? Check. Direwolves? Check. Pegasus? Check. Phoenixes? Check. Fae? Check check check. This world that JF Johns has created is astounding, and her ability to weave them all together so harmoniously just makes it all the more special. Each kingdom’s residents have a distinctive feature and unique magical trait that separates them from each other. Obviously the fae have pointed ears and are especially attuned to nature, the valkyries live on islands suspended above the mainland and remain neutral in conflicts, the witches have purple eyes and when they wield magic there’s green smoke, but the WYVERIANS and the DRAKONIANS have freaking horns.

This story centers around Mal Blackburn, the fourthborn child of Wyverian royalty (an anomaly) and her secret quest to fulfil her destiny as the cursed one meant to kill the chosen one - Prince Ash Acheron, heir to the throne of a rival kingdom - whom she is betrothed to.

This book is more than that though. We have our enemies to lovers, forbidden love, arranged marriages, yearning and slow burn, cursed one x chosen one tropes but not just from the MMC and FMC, but from the SLEW of other fierce, kickbutt FEMALE characters that makes this story all the more special.

One other thing that really stood out for me is the way JF Johns writes about the bonds between siblings. Almost all of the characters we meet in the book have a sibling or sibling(s) who are fully and truly on their side, and it’s great to see the sibling bonds running strong throughout the book.

Book 2: A Kingdom of Sand and Ice comes out September this year (2025) and I’m already stoked to read this given all the possible plot points the author has set up at the end of book 1. It is going to be another amazing ride for sure!!!

Mal Blackburn is a wyvern rider who has to marry the fire prince to form an alliance between the fire and darkness kingdoms after the 8 kingdoms have been at war to eradicate the witch kingdom. Mal however has her own agenda, if she kills the fire prince then she can end the curse.

There is so much depth to this story, great plot twists, betrayals and romance and I cannot wait to see what happens in the following book. I really liked the sibling element of this book, especially the relationship between Kai and Mal. I also liked how we got flashbacks about how the curse came about and the war between the kingdoms and the witches.

Thank you to J. F. Johns and NetGalley for this free arc in return for an honest review.

I AM UNWELL!!!

What a read! What a main character! I was drawn in from the cover alone, and it did not steer me wrong because this book was so much more than I expected and could have hoped for!

Mal Blackburn is such an incredible FMC. Forced into marriage with the feared fire prince, Mal knows that there is more than one way to fulfill a prophecy and sometimes it's at the tip of a blade. The fourth-born daughter of her kingdom, Mal grapples with her identity and place amongst her family. I loved that she was never treated as an outsider, but that her family showed her unconditional support while she discovered her inner strength and purpose.

Mal's brother Kai nearly stole the show for me, he is such a multilayered character who you cannot help but continually root for and the way he centred Alina!?! Chef's Kiss!

Between the wyverns, witches, court intrigue, the FMC's stabby intentions, the TENSION and prophecy, this book has something for every fantasy reader. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC, and the chance to live in this story in exchange for an honest review.

wow wow wow wow wow wow if this book is not in my top books of the year I will be so surprised

Mal was an amazing main character to follow & I really her, she had a similar personality to manon from from TOG and the addition addition of wyverns really enhanced that. It was very interesting now she fit into her family & how she felt like har only value was to agree to the arranged marriage.

Ash was also a lovely character to follow, a very interesting love interest who also had his own motives. I really liked how lovely they showed what i assume is anxiety & panic attacks surround his stutter & how he slowly learned he didn't have to hide it.

I also loved all of the side characters, but we got so many POV's they didn't even feel like side characters, they were all so fleshed out had there own personalities and there own things going on.

This world already feels so big even from just this book & we only properly saw 2/8 kingdoms so I'm so excited to see even more with the characters we follow in the next book.

The plot was so vast and there was so much going on but it was all introduced slowly and in a way where it never felt overwhelming.

Absolutely loved it, Such an easy 5 stars!!

Thanks to @netgalley ,and the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Feel like this would be good for romantasy starter people who enjoy lighter easy to follow fantasy. For me it lacked the emotional depth and character building that im used to.

A slightly darker 'romantasy', I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this book to be honest but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Slightly slower paced at the start due to world building but it is solid, complex and morally grey characters which is always fun. I did find myself sometimes a little confused by the multiple POV's but, honestly, that may just be a me problem.
Fae, Wyverns, Phoenix's, witches...honestly, a pinch of everything.
A solid start to a series.
Thankyou for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Dark and addictive!

Enemies to lovers, forbidden love and a strong, fierce FMC - SIGN ME UP!

Great plot and so very beautifully written, I was hooked from the start. Simply amazing.

Thank you John. F. Jones and Netgalley for giving me a digital copy of this gem.

Not going to lie, when I read the sentence "The forrest of Silent Cries was silent" on page 12 I did not have much hope left for a pleasant reading experience. Luckily that ended up being by far the worst (and to be honest also kind of funny^^) offense on these 576 pages.

Aside from some steamy scenes, this book felt more Young Adult than I had expected. I had a hard time figuring out why I felt that way. Looking back, I think it is mostly rooted in how their lives seem so dictated by their parents.I am aware that is part of the conflict, but until we saw some rebelling much later in the story, it at times felt like I was reading about young teenagers, especially when it came to Mal and Ash. There is definitely a narrative divide between the reigning royals ("the parents") and our main cast ("the kids").

Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good YA novel (even though I want to reiterate that in the end, this is not YA!). One of the things that I have observed is that they often go hard on the world building and that is very much a focal point for A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash as well. Oftentimes, it feels like you are right there with them and within just a few pages I could easily imagine the world the author was describing. I enjoyed the immersion, even though I have to admit that sometimes it was almost too much. Some paragraphs absolutely packed with adjectives could have given way to more smooth story telling. Regardless, if you want to see a story come alive around you, this one is for you.

Looking at the relationship of our MCs, I want to compliment the author on creating a great setting for the enemies to lovers trope. Not just a simple misunderstanding. No, she wanted him dead and she was going to get it done herself, no matter what. In the end though, they went from enemies to full on lovers pretty quickly. Some will disagree with me there, since there is definitely plenty of internal monologue. And who would blame Ash? I would also fall in love with Mal walking into the arena like a literal goddess. Still, some more development in their actual communication would have made this even stronger.

Overall: I will be reading book two in the series, so that probably already speaks for itself ;) I might have some small gripes with the very enthusiastic world building and how our MCs found their way to each other, but the vibes are all there! The story is good and it hooked me enough to want to know what happens next. Really looking forward to some more witchy action!

A solid 3.5 stars ★★★⯪☆

A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash swept me into a richly magical world filled with wyverns, dragons, Valkyries, witches, and more — and I genuinely think this one is underrated.

The plot blends court intrigue, prophecy, and a cursed kingdom, with an arranged marriage trope that feels refreshingly different (she actually has a choice!). I especially loved the character development — not just for the main couple, but for the supporting characters as well. The world expands naturally through their stories, which added a lot of depth.

Also… can we talk about the iconic quote?

“He is my husband. I shall sit on him however pleases me.”
Instant favorite.

The last 10% totally caught me off guard with a twist I didn’t see coming — and now I’m so ready for book two.

📚 Tropes & Highlights:
• Prophecies & curses
• Magical creatures galore (wyverns, Valkyries, dragons)
• Arranged marriage with agency
• Political/court intrigue

I really enjoyed the premises of this book.

Unfortunately, I was unable to truly get invested. I felt there was too much going on with so many characters I struggled to know which one was the sibling, what each problem they each had etc.


I could see this being good for fans who enjoy very complex storylines. In my opinion however, I felt it was just too much all at once for the first book in a series.

FIVE FREAKING STARS

"A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash" will be living rent-free in my head for the foreseeable future. JF Johns' writing is everything I love in a romantasy - descriptive, poetic, and absolutely captivating. She's a true storyteller, effortlessly pulling me into this haunting, enchanting world. Usually, when I love a book, I can't put it down. This time, I forced myself to slow down because I didn't want it to end. It's that kind of magic which makes a book a 5-star read. I'm already counting down the days until I can revisit this world the second installment, "A Kingdom of Sand and Ice".

thank you to net galley and J. F. Johns for providing me with an e-arc

oh my goodness, what a book. I neeeeed the next one!!

First of all, such an interesting story. I was hooked from the beginning and had a great time throughout. J. F. Johns has a beautiful way of using words to describe the story, the characters and their emotions and the setting. I could imagine it all so well and in great detail.
What also should be mentioned are the great characters (not only main characters but also side characters, who you come to love and also get their perspectives which makes this book so much more interesting).

My favourite part of the book is the immersive world building. The different kingdoms and their respective royals and culture are so well described that it transports the reader.

The marriage oath (aka forced marriage) theme is also one of my favourites, as I love an enemies to lovers arc. Having a third person narrator also allowed the reader to enjoy that trope with more than just the protagonist (Kai & Alina..👀) The twist of the curse, magic & magical creatures, betrayal, and the suspense throughout was the cherry on top!

Hot tropes:
-Enemies to lovers ❤️
-Forced Marriage 💍
-Slow burn 🔥
-Mythical/magical companions 🦄
-Gods & prophecies 📜
-Light spice 🌶️

Thank you to J.F. Johns & NetGalley for an ARC of A Kingdom of Shadow & Ash!!

This book had a strong premise—political marriage, curses, revenge, and a dangerous secret—but the execution left me feeling overwhelmed and underwhelmed all at once.

The fantasy world was intriguing, but there was just too much going on for me to follow. Between the eight kingdoms, witches, dragons, curses, and shifting alliances, I often found myself confused about what was happening and why. The world-building lacked clarity, and the constant introduction of new elements made it hard to stay grounded in the story.

Mal Blackburn had potential as a main character—dark past, hidden power, deadly intentions—but I struggled to connect with her. Too many secrets and not enough development made it hard to really care about her mission or fate. The Fire Prince, too, felt more like a vague concept than a fleshed-out character.

Overall, the book had some good ideas, but they were buried under a tangled plot and uneven pacing. I can see this working for readers who love layered fantasy with lots of moving parts, but for me, it was just too much to track without enough emotional payoff.

Really fun and exciting, interesting plot that was well paced throughout! I connected with the characters and overall it was a wonderful experience reading this!

Thank you to J.F. Johns and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash in exchange for my unbiased, honest opinion.

Wow! This was so unexpectedly good. Admittedly, the title of the book had me thinking this was going to be part of the masses of cookie-cutter Romantasy novels being churned out at mock speed. I am so happy to be horrendously mistaken. I did not find the parallels to the other books mentioned in the tagline, but instead found a book full of impeccable writing and fresh perspectives.

The story was incredibly inventive and original, the characters strange and unique in the most wonderful way, and the setting was a dark atmospheric pleasure to read. Was it an enemies-to-lovers romance, yes, but was it done with characters that felt wholly new? for me 100%.. I loved the moody vibes and thought the world-building was rich and fully realized, which doesn't always happen in book 1 of a series. I loved Mal's thirst for redemption and vengeance. I loved the anger and the heat and the spice! woah lordy, that was top tier. Also, no "icks" to be found, which is so so rare. All in all, this was a fantastic romantasy novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and is wholly worthy of recommendation.

Don't mind me, I'll just be over here biting my nails and pacing the floor until we get book 2. Thanks.

WOW, Kingdom of Shadow and Ash was a lot of fun! So many characters to fall in love with in this book. When I reached 7o% of the way through I didn’t want it to end (so I kept taking breaks so the book would last longer). I did have trouble keeping track of all of the different kingdoms and their heirs, but I got the hang of it eventually! Very excited for book two that comes out in September!