Ashes of Xy is a quiet, emotional fantasy rooted in survival and found family. Amari, a war-weary woman protecting two infants, collides with Orval, a reclusive scholar scarred by both politics and the past. Their bond grows slowly amid a kingdom teetering under tyrannical rule. The pacing stumbles—intimate moments drag while larger conflicts feel underdeveloped—but the heart of the story lies in its characters. Not as sweeping as Vaughan’s earlier work, but still a grounded, tender entry into her world. Better if you’ve read *Warprize* first.

The world buiding was a bit of a let down for me; I've seen now from reviews that this was set some years later off of some series of the author so I wish the history of this world were explained a bit better for readers like myself who hadn't read the first series. I also wasn't that interested in the romance; it felt like I didn't get much time of them together enough to be invested in their future.

I gave Ashes of Xy a solid 3 stars. The storyline was genuinely compelling. There’s something powerful about a desperate mother fleeing a war-torn kingdom, carrying not only her own child but the future heir to the throne. That hook had me instantly invested.

But I’ll be honest the multiple POVs made things feel a little scattered for me. I often found myself confused about who was speaking or whose thread I was following, and that pulled me out of the story more than I’d like.

That said, Amari and Orval completely stole my heart. Their relationship was the heart of the book for me. Soft, slow-building, and unexpectedly tender in the middle of chaos. I adored watching them go from strangers to allies, leaning on each other in a world where survival felt impossible. Orval, with his quiet strength and scholarly mind, was such a refreshing male lead.

This isn’t your typical sword-swinging fantasy. It’s about endurance, caretaking, and the kind of courage that doesn’t always get sung about. If you're into quieter fantasy with emotional stakes and unexpected bonds, this one’s worth checking out… just be ready for a few head-spinning POV shifts.

This one knocked me off my feet. It’s a dark fantasy that drenches you in atmosphere with crumbling castles, blood magic, and a heroine who refuses to be broken. The slow burn romance with an unexpected ally had my heart pounding, especially as the lines between friend and foe blurred. What really got me was the emotional weight—loss, loyalty, and the desperate fight for hope. Every twist hit like a punch, and I marveled at how the story balances raw grit with tender moments.

If you’re drawn to characters who find strength in pain and love in darkness, this will stay with you.

Ashes of Xy is a gripping, character-driven fantasy set in the aftermath of a brutal civil war, where politics, trauma, and hidden heirs collide. From the first scene, Amari of Uyole struggling through chaos with two infants, this story had me hooked. Amari, a fierce, determined mother, and Orval, a disabled, bookish scholar, form an unlikely yet deeply moving bond that anchors the novel’s emotional core.

Elizabeth Vaughan’s world-building is vivid and immersive, with the grit of war and depth of lore pulsing through every chapter. While the political backstory can occasionally feel dense, it lays a strong foundation for what’s clearly the beginning of an epic saga. Vaughan avoids tired tropes, especially in portraying the ceremonial bond between Amari and the queen’s heir, adding cultural richness and emotional resonance without falling into cliché.

Fans of Game of Thrones and anyone drawn to stories about found family, strong maternal figures, and high-stakes loyalty will find a lot to love here. The prose is fresh, the themes are bold, and the action delivers… especially in the final stretch. And that prologue for book two? Absolutely chilling in the best way.

A solid 4-star read: intense, beautiful, and brimming with promise. I’m already counting down to the sequel.

Ashes of Xy is a compelling, character-driven fantasy set in the aftermath of civil war, where politics, trauma, and hidden heirs collide. Emotional core is main characters. Amari is a fierce, determined mother trying to survive with both her baby and the late queen’s infant daughter. Orval is the classic reluctant scholar—disabled, private, bookish—and an absolute gem of a character. Seeing these two build trust and forge an unlikely bond was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

I highly recommend it to all Game of Thrones fans. Story shows us strong maternal figures, gives us defenition of term "found family" and feelings that it's only beginning of something really great

I really really loved this book, although at times I was very shocked by some of it's language. it is a world I am super excited to see and read more of.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

I like books that start in the middle/towards the end of a conflict, it shows how characters are in the moment and often gives more depth to how they are perceived within the story.

This is definitely a heroes journey story, though it doesn't start where you think it starts, set in, what I would describe as in a setting where people are turned around and disorganised post a civil war.

NGL I'm not the biggest fan of the Queen, but I do understand having to make the best of a terrible situation inherited, which leads to having Orval and Amari out on their asses and trying to make the best of it.

The world building is great, I would love to have learned a bit more on the factions and the specific power struggles that seemed to become relevant down the line, but I feel like this part was expecting the readers to have reader the authors other books - I believe there were numerous characters that had emphasis in this book that I just didn't get, then I read a review that mentioned these characters were more upfront and center in a previous series.

Pacing wise. It was a bit all over the place, like I mentioned it starts off very high speed in the middle of war, then it slows down to near a slow, becomes faster and then slog, bit of whiplash there. Also there is a big focus on pregnancy and motherhood, that while I don't have an issue with was at times a bit out of the place with the story (see note about pacing), like it does emphasis that Amari is a good parent but I don't know if I'm missing something here.

Anyway overall 3.5 stars, good start to the first in a series.

Okay, full disclosure: Ashes of Xy had me hooked from the first scene: Amari of Uyole hauling two babies through a brutal civil war is instantly gripping. But by the halfway mark, I found the lore layers getting a bit… dense.

Vaughan’s world-building is undeniably vivid. You can feel the rumble of battle and taste the grit. Given her previous books, it’s no surprise she writes war so well. There were moments when all the backstory and politics felt like they were weighing down the action, but I totally understand that the world-building was essential before the next book comes out.

A few standout positives: the bond between Amari and the heir isn’t some fated “mate” trope you’ve seen a dozen times in Romantasy—it’s a traditional ceremony of the kingdom that adds cultural weight while making their free choice impactful and all the more romantic. Plus, Vaughan’s language is fresh and her tone strong, giving every scene a vivid immediacy.

The core relationship—Amari’s fierce protectiveness over both children—remains incredibly moving, and when the story shifts back into high-stakes action, it truly delivers. And that prologue for the next book? Completely intriguing—I’m already counting down to the sequel.

If you love fantasy, are unafraid of heavy themes, and don’t mind wading through a thick storm of lore, Ashes of Xy will reward you. For me, it was a solid 4 stars: beautiful and intense, just a touch dense in places.

Thanks to NetGalley and Elizabeth Vaughan for the ARC!

While the synopsis makes it seem that this book revolves around a wet nurse who flees with a baby heir after the king and queen are killed in a struggle for the throne, and the scholar who gives them sanctuary to keep them safe, there is a lot more involved. Multiple POVs pop up throughout this book, perspectives from each side of this war aftermath.

There is romance in this book, slowly given and I would said a kind of side plot to the political drive. Outside of the struggle for the throne we see the other “kingdoms” and if they cower under the new reign or are deciding to go against it.

I liked how the characters were written, maybe I should’ve read up more on the world though because some words were thrown at me and I just struggled threw it all. While I don’t like Queen Satia, and was very happy whenever things didn’t go her way, you gotta admit that the woman can get things done. She’s smart, knows how to play the King because he’s an idiot.

I would like to see more of the marcusi in this plot, I also don’t understand what’s really happening with Orval and Amira. For future books in this series I mean. The overarching series plot is kind of escaping me, unless it does a 18 yr time jump for Lara to go for the throne I mean. Or is the plot about the multiple fractions that will rise up against these new monarchs? I guess I’ll find out.

All in all, I did very much enjoy this book. It was written in a way that I just wanted to keep going. The end was a bit abrupt, nothing to tell you where it’s going next but the rest of the book was good enough that I want to find out anyway.

Este libro me tomó completamente por sorpresa. Desde la primera página te lanza de lleno en la acción, con un ritmo que recuerda a sagas como Game of Thrones o The Priory of the Orange Tree. Me sorprende que no se hable más de esta historia, porque tiene muchos elementos que atrapan: política, magia, traiciones, y una vibra oscura que se equilibra muy bien con momentos de humor y ternura.

Los personajes, en general, están bien construidos. Me encantó Orval: siempre es un placer ver personajes más tranquilos y estudiosos, sobre todo en un mundo donde predominan los héroes de espada en mano. La reina Satia, aunque no sea la más simpática, es imponente y demuestra fuerza real, en contraste con un rey bastante... desorientado. Eso sí, me costó mucho distinguir a las compañeras de sangre de la reina: nombres parecidos, roles poco definidos… se vuelve confuso en más de una escena.

En cuanto al mundo que propone la historia, es claramente rico y amplio, pero me quedé con ganas de más explicaciones sobre las distintas facciones, la magia, y sobre todo esas referencias a razas élficas que se mencionan al pasar y no se desarrollan. Entiendo que quizás sea parte de un desarrollo mayor en los próximos libros, pero en este tomo se sintió como una oportunidad desaprovechada.

Hay dos puntos que empañaron mi experiencia. Primero, la edición. A medida que avanzaba noté cada vez más errores de puntuación, ortografía y especialmente de comillas mal colocadas. A veces interrumpían tanto la lectura que me sacaban del momento. Ojalá el libro tenga una edición revisada en el futuro, porque el contenido lo merece.

El segundo problema fue el final. Sin entrar en spoilers, esperaba una gran resolución o algún tipo de cierre fuerte, y lo que obtuve fue más bien una preparación para lo que vendrá. Se siente como un largo prólogo a la verdadera historia, lo cual fue bastante decepcionante considerando el desarrollo emocional y narrativo que se venía construyendo.

It’s fun to see a book about the Chosen One — the orphan princess of a fallen queen, inheritor to a kingdom ruled by a cruel king and queen — told through the POV of her adoptive parents.Orval is a member of the ruling family (fourth cousin twice removed) who took one look at the politics of court and retired to become a poor scholar, renting a room above a brothel. In one night he became the husband of Amari, and a father to twins — the princess and her milk brother, Amari’s son. Amari went from being a wetnurse to a princess to being married, from having one child to having twins, and the both of them, over the course of the book and through a few adventures fall in love in the sweetest way.

The evil king and queen are a wonderful mix of bad and evil, with Queen Satia — at first — acting no more evil or horrible than any ruthless queen would on winning a civil war that has half the nobles (if not more) hating her and her husband for winning. Her temper and mood swings are more the result of a stressful pregnancy than any maniacal cruelty. Rather than killing a disobedient housekeeper and palace guard, she has them exiled. Rather than murdering Orval and Amari, she has them exiled.

She’s aware that taxes will be unpopular, that her kingdom is broke, and her husband is a fool who wants grand parades and a giant, naked statue of himself that must somehow be paid for … but she’s not a complete monster, and I like that. I don’t like her as a person, mind you, but as a character I think she’s a lot of fun.

There’s quite a bit of world building, or rebelling baronies, various political factions, mages and elves, different religions, different cultures and different groups of people who are all working towards there own ends. The book feels nicely epic, for all that it’s a slow, leisurely slice of life story of Orval and Amari changing diapers, feeding infants, falling in love and worrying about how they’re going to protect the people they love.

And I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was quite surprised by this book to be honest. For some reason I thought it would be packed with lots of cruel fighting scenes and a lot of action. But through reading this book I got quite a mellow feelgood feeling.

I liked the big contrast between all the sweet, feelgood scenes and the fighting scenes that did occur.

I do feel however that some roles didn't make a lot of sense and even though this is only book one of the series, it feels like some stories weren't yet ready for the book to come to an end.

I absolutely adored Orval and I am convinced we need a lot more men like him.

I loved both babys and the fact that breastfeeding was quite a prominent occurrence. And Amari is just a bad ass mum!

I am really excited to see where the story is going next. I'm ready for book two!

I felt this was fast paced right from the beginning and threw me in the deep end. It did capture me but then i felt a teeny bit lost.

I haven’t read anything else by this author so I had nothing to base the world on

Fantasy, bit dark and deep at times, some romance element.
.
I did finish it and glad I did.

“Beware the learned ones, for not all warriors wield steel”
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC!
Ashes of Xy by Elizabeth Vaughan was such a fun, daring and vivid read, I loved the fast paced feel of the story-line and adored how deeply we got to know the characters throughout their journey.
Our story begins when we meet our brave royal wet-nurse Amari, who has been tasked with the care of the recently slain queens newborn daughter, the only hope for the royal bloodline. Amari has her own newborn son and takes on the brave task of caring for both children and does not hesitate to risk her life, running with and blindly trusting Vren of the Marcusi. Her place of safety turns out to be the modest yet secure home of Orval, a most beautiful natured and gentle soul of a scholar who, while clearly being immediately out of his depth with two babies and a woman entering his home unannounced, does not hesitate to help them putting his life on the line. What develops from there is such a joy to read. The cast of supporting characters in their journey are so unique and bring so much to the story, from the self-indulged newly crowned Queen, the difficult Chained Mage and the mysterious Vren of the Marcusi (just to name a few) there is so much more to delve into and I can’t wait to continue with this fantastic world.

First and foremost, I would buy a poster of that cover. It is absolutely stunning. This book is packed with action, distinct personalities, darker vibes, and an engaging story. I really enjoyed it. There are some issues. I feel like the ending could've been better and there are side characters that are difficult to tell apart - it doesn't feel like they really exist outside of the story. Definitely would love to read more from Vaughan, though.

An incredible opening to what is going to be an exciting series (I hope).
Different characters and stories woven together has created an interesting world with an intriguing magic system.

I very much enjoyed this fantasy story about two people struggling to survive and protect those they care about--and finding something more in the process. Told through revolving POVs, mainly those of Amari and Orval, the story follows the end of one ruler's reign and the beginning of another's, focusing not on the victors but on those threatened by them, including the former queen's newborn daughter. I fell in love with Amari's strength and Orval's kindness and cheered them on as they faced troubles and tribulations until finally finding a place to call home...together. The next book in the series will have a lot to live up to, and I'll be keeping an eye out for it!

I had two main issues with this book. While the first few chapters were super clean, as I kept reading, I noticed spelling, wording, and punctuation errors popping up more and more frequently. Quotation marks were the worst offender. There were dozens of instances of misplaced or missing quotations. It was really distracting at times.
The second issue is that... Well, I was so excited for a really satisfying pay-off. I can't go into specifics too much without spoilers, but I will say quite the opposite happened. I was very, very, very unhappy with the ending of the book, enough to knock it down to 3 stars from the 5 stars I would have given it despite the punctuation issues.

The worldbuilding has sparks of brilliance. There's magic, political tension, and ancient rituals that hint at a rich, complex culture-but most of it feels
underdeveloped. Magic exists, but its rules are murky at best. Houses and factions are mentioned, but their relationships are confusing. Its like looking at a painting through fog: I can tell there's something beautiful in the background, but I just wish I could see it more clearly.
Stylistically, the writing can be a mixed bag. Sometimes it's lyrical and poetic. Other times, it slips into stiff or overly stylized dialogue that doesn't quite match the prose. The tone swings from elevated ceremony-speak to casual, modern-sounding lines, and the inconsistency pulls you out of the story a bit. Still, there's something sincere in the way it's written, even when it fumbles. You can tell the author cares, and that matters.
Representation is strong in concept-diverse characters, gender role reversals, queerness, cultural complexity-but not always fully explored. Some of the sapphic and cross-cultural relationships are sweet, but they'd be even more powerful with more backstory or tension to deepen them. There's a lot of telling, and I wanted more showing.

DNFed at 30%

Unfortunately this book was just really not my cup of tea. While I knew there would be a focus on raising the babies, the heavy focus on pregnancy, nursing and changing diapers was not at all appealing to me. Also I just couldn't connect to the characters at all.

I think this book could really work for someone else, just not for me.