This book was so good! Cosby was able to show what people are capable of to protect the people they love. And how our pasts can influence our choices. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time. And as always his narrator was great. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

This is only my second S.A. Cosby book, and I loved it just as much as when I read Razorblade Tears. Adam Lazarre-White's voice is so smooth and represented Roman's character so well. I did find that he speaks at a bit of a slower pace, so I did have to speed it up more than I normally do on audiobooks. We're following a family of siblings who have had some trauma in their life and are trying to navigate that. Their mother disappeared when they were teenagers, and it affected them all differently. The oldest brother Roman is a successful financial advisor in Atlanta while his brother Dante and sister Naveah live at home with their father. Roman goes back home after his father is in a hit and run accident and left in a coma. He finds out that Dante has gotten himself into some trouble with really bad people and his father's accident might have been an intentional attack. Roman finds himself getting in deep with this group to try to find a way to help his brother out of his situation while also taking the group down. I thought the first 6 pages were kind of out of place and not really necessary to the story, but I can overlook that. I enjoyed the complex relationship of the siblings and them basically doing whatever they need to do to protect each other. There are guns, sex, violence, hate talk and everything else that comes with gangs and organized crimes, and I enjoyed all of it. This is a really solid book, and I think the audiobook gave it a cinematic feel and brought the book to life.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for an advanced recording of this audiobook in exchange of my honest review. #KingofAshes #NetGalley.

S.A. Cosby delivers again with the gritty, emotional read. The narration was superb and elevated the story up another notch.
Cosby is a mastermind at the morally gray, utterly complex characters. You want to slap them and cheer for them and want better for them all in one. Throw in the villains who were so well written and so despicable, but never had a chance themselves and the characters set the story for this epic tale of crime and repayment and what it means to be family.

I always enjoy SA Cosby’s audiobooks. I thought this book was good but it wasn’t what I was expecting.

There is no doubt that SA Cosby is a great writer. I have loved his previous books but unfortunately this book did not appeal to me as much. I thought it was going to be a family drama. A book that deals with family dynamics and addiction. I love this genre. Unfortunately this book was about a drug cartel.

Roman left the family business to pursue his own interests in finance. He comes home when his father is in the hospital. He learns that his drug addicted brother has made some mistakes and owes the wrong people money.

Roman has to step in and fix the situation before they all end up dead.

This book felt like reading about the mafia or street gang that controls the town. The sort of people you do not want to owe money to. It was about Roman scrambling to come up with a plan to save his family. If that type of book appeals to you then this will surely be a hit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Listening Copy of this book for my honest review. The narration was 4 stars and the story was 4.5 stars. King of Ashes is now my favorite S.A. Cosby story. The book makes you ask yourself the following question, “What am I willing to do to protect my family?” Roman and his sister, Nevaeh, have to answer this question repeatedly throughout the book. As their brother Dante makes bad decision after bad decision, Roman continues to try to shield him and Nevaeh from Dante’s consequences as his moral compass shifts over and over again. This story has several layers and keeps readers enthralled from the beginning until the end. I liked how Roman's moral compass and boundaries shifted throughout the book. I didn't like the lack of decision making and critical skills of Dante and Cassidy. It was almost unbelievable.

I love S.A. Cosby's books and this on was no exception -- Roman Carothers was a very interesting and complex character. He ultimately chose to reign in hell than serve in heaven, but you couldn't help but sympathize and like him. The ending was so shocking and made you really understand both Roman and Dante's dynamic and life choices better. Cosby just did such a good job with this story and creating character's that have lots of gray area. Nobody is ever all good or all bad in Cosby's books and I think that's what draws me to them so much--he creates such life-like characters and stories.

This was great!! The violent undertones really set the atmosphere, I haven't felt this anxious about what would happen in a book in a LONG time. Each of S.A. Cosby's books I've read so far have been different in tone but they all have amazing writing. These characters were so compelling, and while in the hands of another author who couldn't pull this off this well I don't think I would have liked it, but I LOVED this.

I'm really sad about this one because I absolutely adored "All the Sinners Bleed." Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me like his last book did. I think that is more on me than the book so I'm giving it 3 stars because the writing is still really good and SA Cosby knows how to create a vivid atmosphere in his books.

This one ended up not working for me because of the overly sexualized content immediately at the beginning. I did get past all of that to then be slapped in the face with "pendulous breasts" and that pretty much was it for me. I never like when male authors write female characters because it is incredibly obvious when they do. I've never read a female author use the word pendulous when describing breasts. I get that this book is going for an even grittier setting than his last books, but the pendulous boobs aren't really necessary. I get it. Sex is a thing.

So yeah, I wasn't into that and I wasn't into this book.

I have been a fan of Cosby since his first book was released. Seeing this title being offered for review from NetGalley, I requested it. This one was selected to read while on vacation, so I had more time to focus. This one was grittier than others which I don't prefer.

The setting is a location that my family is planning on visiting, which was another reason I wanted to read this one. We are introduced to the family, Nevaeh and Roman, and their specific ownership of a crematory which quickly led me to know what the story would entail. This should not be a surprise to readers. Using the business to help his family was the only logically path, but soon we saw that he was able to use his background in finance to flip the script. Personally, I have been diving into finance education, so this part of the story really was the best since money is king. Being in control of your finances and not depending on others can set you free.

Adam Lazarre-White’s narration was well done. He voiced each character distinctly and really brought them to life. This is a different voice from previous books.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of this title. All opinions are my own.

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby - An unputdownable book FILLED with triggers. I repeat, if you have triggers, do not read this book. I have zero triggers so I loved this book. Fast paced from the very first page. The narrator was fantastic. The plot was amazing. I loved this whole book.

My third S.A. Cosby book, and once again—a grand slam. This might be his darkest and grittiest yet, and I devoured every page. King of Ashes follows Roman Carruthers, a high-flying financial adviser who’s pulled back to his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia, after a hit-and-run leaves his father in a coma. What unfolds is a layered, emotionally charged descent into long-buried family secrets, brutal debts, and a past that refuses to stay buried. A missing mother. A crumbling family. And a legacy built on smoke and fire. What I love about Cosby’s work—beyond the breakneck pacing and pitch-black grit—is that it’s never just a thriller. His books hit like noir poetry—grimy, tender, and unflinchingly human. And his inner nerd peeks out in the best way—his characters feel smart, complex, and real. This one is raw and unrelenting, but it also has heart—and that ending?!
YESSSSS. Cosby doesn’t just entertain. He burns the house down. Adam Lazarre-White brings razor-sharp intensity to the performance, elevating the tension and emotion in the story. Loved this one on audiobook and felt so invested in the characters because of his performance.

I had the pleasure of listening to King of Ashes ALC and absolutely loved it. Adam Lazarre- White narration was absolutely amazing.

Thank you @macmillan.audio

King of Ashes had me hooked from the first chapter. This is only my second S.A. Cosby book but I definitely think that it has become a favorite of mine! King of Ashes was a perfect name because the amount of stuff that BURNED! Whew! The twists and turns of this book, even when you thought you knew what was going to happen something else happened!

If someone asks me for a S.A. Cosby book I will definitely recommend this one! I definitely enjoyed this one, and I think I enjoyed the audiobook more than I would’ve enjoyed reading the physical book

#KingofAshes #NetGalley #sacosby #blackreadersofinstagram #blacksuspencethriller

This review is for the audiobook version of King of Ashes. Wow, the narrator, Adam Lazarre-White is an incredible actor. He brought such nuance to every single character -- even characters that only show up once! I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much if it hadn't been for his narration. Adam's voice is unforgettable and I can still hear him in my head! Thank you to Macmillan audio for the audio ARC in return for my honest opinion.

Gritty, violent and surprisingly thought provoking, this newest book by S.A.Cosby delivers a fast paced, unforgettable story of a brother’s struggle to protect his family. Roman comes home when his father is injured in an accident. He learns that there are some dangerous criminals that may be involved in the accident and that his own brother is in debt to them and they want their money. How far will he go to protect his family? The lines between good and bad get blurry as Roman tries to beat them at their own game.

I loved this story, it was well crafted and so intense! There is a strong current of family that runs throughout the story. Secrets, resentment and guilt add to the mix making this a story that is hard to forget. Well done!

5 ⭐️

10/10 love it! S.A. Cosby does it again! One thing this man is gonna do is write a thriller and make us invested from chapter one through the end. This was such as wild ride.

Amazing! Can’t wait for it to come to screen. Love the storyline, character development, and the high stakes.

I have never disliked a book narrated by Adam Lazarre-White, and this was no exception.

The narrator perfectly encapsulated the character of Roman and really played into the dark, gritty atmosphere of the story.

The story itself was very dark, and not for the faint of heart. I loved the family dynamic, and was entirely torn about being proud of Roman for doing what he needed to do to take care of his family, but also horrified by his actions.

The audiobook was an absolutely incredible experience. The whole reading felt and played in my head like a movie and I simply couldn't get enough. The way the characters unfold before our eyes in such a cinematic way was truly one of my favourite Audiobook experiences of 2025.
This was my first S.A. Cosby books and I really can't wait to get into more of his work.

One of the best crime/noir books I have ever read. SA Cosby is a master of the English language, and like James Lee Burke, can write thrillers that are also very humane, intelligent and literary.. He also has a good understanding of southern African American families and culture. Narrator is also superb. I have liked every book of his I have read, and this may be his best

S.A. Cosby's writing is raw, lyrical, and unflinching in King of Ashes, just as in his previous novels. He paints the South with a vivid palette—equal parts beautiful and brutal—and populates his story with characters who feel achingly real. Roman Carruthers, a successful Atlanta financial manager, returns to his dying hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia, after his father is hospitalized. What awaits him is a family in crisis: his sister Neveah is keeping the family’s crematorium afloat alone; his brother Dante is entangled in a dangerous gang’s debt; and an unsolved mystery surrounding their mother’s disappearance haunts them all. Roman will do anything he can to keep his family safe. Touching on themes of family loyalty and moral compromise, lingering trauma, family secrets, and the systematic failure in some rural towns King of Ashes is not to be missed for fans of Cosby's previous books.