Feathers of Ash and Hope
Rating: 5 stars
Ebook

Thank you Netgalley and K.J. Altair for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Feathers of Ash and Hope is a masterfully written debut novel that had me hooked from the first chapter.

Ara’s journey was both heartbreaking and healing, as she navigated a world filled with challenges and betrayals. The world-building was immersive and created a setting that felt both expansive and intimate. Themes of hope, resilience and the quest for redemption resonated deeply, making this a standout fantasy novel for me.

The supporting characters added depth and emotion to the story, each playing pivotal roles that enhanced the FMC’s journey. The relationships were complex and evolved in ways that felt both authentic and earned.

The pacing was well-balanced, with moments of tension and introspection that kept me fully engaged.

Feathers of Ash and Hope is a standout in the fantasy genre, offering a narrative that is both enchanting and thought-provoking. K.J. Altair has crafted a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Thank you to K.J Altair and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
I finished reading and this book is great. This is a debut novel that is written very well. It kept me interested throughout the whole story. I loved the bonding to animals that are specifically connected to them. This is a slow burn romance with a broody MMC and a FMC who can definitely defend herself with magic.
Can’t wait for book 2 ❤️

"Alexa, send me a book similar to Fourth Wing, but make it birds instead of dragons"

It was good. Very FW-esque. Is it up to par with FW? No, but I think it has potential. I love the dual POV.

This gave me Fourth Wing / TOG vibes a bit, but with Ravens, and it absolutely hit for me!!

Tate and Ara's chemistry and tension is so good. Like, sooo good. And my jaw as literally on the floor about 80% of the way through! Like.. whattttt?!?! I will absolutely be reading Book 2, and most likely anything else ever offered by this author.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Edwyn Publishing for the honor of reading this ARC!

Publication Date : 6.6.2025

4.25 Stars!

I received a copy of Feathers of Ash and Hope from Netgalley and Edwyn Publishing. This review and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It was similar to other war college books....ahem Fourth Wing, but instead of dragons, they ride birds. As the book went on, it became its own story. There were a couple of things that bothered me, there was a lot of repetition when comes to when Ara complains about her brothers being overprotective. I also felt like the love betwen Ara and Tate was borderline instalove. There were some unanswered questions that I hope will be answered in the next book and I hope the pace will pick up. The middle was a little slow.

I loved the personalities of the birds in this book, it definitely helps me miss the dragons from Fourth Wing a little less. Overall I feel like this book was a really good start to a new series and I'm excited to see what will happen next.

I loved this book from beginning to end... . It had everything you could ask for in a romantasy. I couldn't put it down. This was a new to me author as I received a gifted chippy from Netgalley but I will decibel be waiting for the next book and will be following this author.

If you loved Fourth Wing and Dire Bound, you cannot skip Feathers of Ash and Hope! This book blew me away. We follow Ara, the hilariously sassy, fun, reckless FMC as she enrolls in the sky rider academy in hopes of bonding a magical bird. While there she meets Tate the oh so broody MMC who just happens to be one of her leaders. As sparks fly between them, the banter is hot and the burn so deliciously slow. A heart pounding ending will leave you begging for more. I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

I enjoyed this book - it definitely gives a Fourth Wing, war college vibe. I love a bonded with magical creatures moment! I think I like the relationships between the main characters and like that there’s a focus on friendship and family and not just romantic relationships within the book. I feel we could have done with a bit more tension and yearning between the two main characters but I liked that it was more of a slow burn and the author makes us wait for it a bit! Not sure I fully understand the magic system yet and feel that there could have been a bit more world building in that regard. Loved a strong FMC. Excited to read the next book hopefully!

What a fantastic debut!!! Do t you just love it when you start a new book and you get hooked immediately? Some of my favourite tropes where what drew me in initially and what a fantastic job the author has done in bringing them to life! The characters are very easy to connect to, the plot and pacing were perfect and I just LOVED the slow burn romance ❤️‍🔥 the tension between our brooding MMC and the badass FMC is off the charts! And while I loved the romance I never overtakes the plot. There’s deadly trials, animal companions and some lovable side characters! If you’re a fan on academy setting fantasy romance don’t miss out on this one 🔥

I posted video reviews to my Instagram and TickTok @her_bookish. life account on 6/8/2025. Amazon and Goodreads review was posted on 6/9/2025.
The links for the reviews and accounts are attached.
Below is the review I left on Amazon and Goodreads.


Dark, tempting, delicious and much sweeter than anticipated “ -Ara

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫= 4.5 stars

I received this book from NetGalley as a ARC and am so grateful I did.

I loved this book so much that I also purchased the paperback to support the author and publishing company.

Feathers of Ash and Hope is the first book in the Flameborn series by K.J. Altair. When I tell you that this book quickly had me not caring if my house was burning down around me, as long as my reading was not interrupted.

The FMC Ara/Summer is strong, smart and confident (no whining with this character). The MMC Tate has a tortured soul and is dark, tempting and as delicious as chocolate cake. Both characters are carrying heavy secrets that are revealed as the book progressed.

The world building is imaginative and detailed but in the best way. The details don’t drag the story on but instead enhances it.

Tropes you’ll find in this book:

Hidden Secrets

Friends to Lovers

Forbidden Love

Slow Burn Romance

Forbidden Magic

Found Family

Magical Beast Bonding

Good vs. Evil

Strong FMC

Dual POV

Militaristic School

Magical Systems

Cursed

Do yourself a favor and just read it. You’ll thank me later.

Pretty soon we’ll all be craving chocolate cake. Hopefully K.J. Altair won’t make us wait too long for the next slice

I adored this story- I couldn’t put it down for a second!!!
Every detail of this book was well thought out and progressed at a wonderful pace, I couldn’t get enough! The setting was detailed and rich, each character was beautifully written, with clear motivations and emotions. Ugh so many points in this story had me gripping my seat in anticipation, it was a wild ride and so incredible!!
Also,
The yearning was absolutely delicious and perfectly suspenseful!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to get my hands on a shelf trophy and the next book!!!!

It was the premise that reeled me in, and the first chapter honestly was quite good, but I kept thinking I reading a version of Four Wings. I know many books have jumped on a military academy. The premise initially drew me in, and I found the first chapter quite good. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was reading a version of "Four Wings." While many books have jumped on the bandwagon of military academies and magical creatures, "Feathers" felt particularly derivative, with its similarities to other works being too obvious. and magical creature bandwagon; however, with Feathers, it seemed derivative, and the similarity seemed a little too obvious.


Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity

If you read Fourth Wing and wished it was mythical birds instead of dragons, or simply want a cure to your Fourth Wing hangover, this is the book for you!

Taking place in a world inspired by the Roman Empire, Feathers of Ash and Hope is a compelling, but familiar, romantasy. It is set in a magical academy for skyriders: those who bond to a mythical bird to help protect the borders of their world, marked by mists that swarm with monsters and other enemies.

Ara has spent her life with four overprotective brothers and a secret that could get her and her whole family killed for harboring her. She is cursed; magic-resistant and damned by decree as a result. But she and her family have kept her safe for twenty years, and she’s ready to shed the upcoming expectation to be married off. She then decides to join one of the aeries in the kingdom and become a skyrider, but to protect herself (and prevent her brothers from finding out), she enrolls with a false name and pretends to be a boy. Of course, she’s not the only one at the academy with secrets, and running into her childhood crush also wasn’t in her plans.

Even if some things are slightly predictable (mostly the Binding-related reveal that I won’t spoil here), I had a great time with this book. Unfortunately, that also meant I was so invested that I read until I finished it around 3am this morning, but my life choices are irrelevant. Feathers of Hope and Ash is clearly just the start to what I’m sure will prove to be another hit romantasy series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Edwyn Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 4.25 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: June 9, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/8ca90bd9-219c-40f3-b3f8-428e85654913)
Review posted to Instagram: PENDING

Feathers of Ash and Hope by K.J. Altair has a STUNNING cover and a promising premise—curses, magical birds, and high-stakes trials at a fantasy academy—but ultimately it fell flat for me due to its overwhelming similarities to Fourth Wing.

I appreciated the worldbuilding and Ara’s fierce drive to protect her family, but the character dynamics, plot points, and even class names felt too familiar to enjoy this book on its own merit.

- The FMC is the youngest sibling whom everyone underestimates
- The MMC has dark hair and golden eyes...
- Set in a Mountainous region with Wards & Mental Shields
- Threshing vs Assessment complete with obstacle course...
- Ava befriends Calix in line vs Violet befriends Rhiannon
- Professor Etario vs Emetterio
- Commander Joel vs Squad Leader Dain
- Strategy vs Battle Brief classes

Thank you to NetGalley and Edwyn Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2.5 Stars rounded up for a debut author

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5
I received an ARC from NetGalley and wow—this book completely pulled me in. If you’re a fan of Fourth Wing or Silver Elite, definitely add this to your TBR. It hits all the Romantasy sweet spots: a magical academy, animal bonding, rare gifts, a forbidden slow-burn romance, and the fates weaving their way into everything.

Yes, it leans into familiar tropes—but in the best way—and still manages to carve out a story that feels fresh and unique. I was hooked from the very first chapter. And that ending?? Rude. But in the kind of way that makes me want to scream and then immediately pre-order book two. I’ll be counting down the days for the next installment in the Flameborn series.

Thank you tot Net Galley and K.J. Altair for the ARC.

Plot 4.25/5
Characters 4.5/5
Ending 4.255
Interest 4.5/5

Overall 4.25/5

-At first I was a little skeptical of this book. The writing felt a little off because it felt like it needed to detail everything at first for us to understand things as readers. Which is a good thing, but I feel like it could have gone by it another way. Other than that, I was truly entertained by the whole book and storyline. I always love a good school, especially these types where they can be pretty deadly. But I do wish that we saw more of the classes, trials and what they learn rather than the main focus being the relationship most of the time.

-The characters were great. To be honest, I quite liked how Tate knew that Ara wasn’t actually a boy so it made their relationship that much more interesting. But, I wished that there were more repercussions for Ara faking her identity, it felt like it was fully brushed over whenever someone was finding it out, even her brother (I don’t know about the other ones). Individually, the characters were fun. Ara was definitely the badass female character I really like. She had her skills but she wasn’t perfect in everything which was appreciated. Then we have Tate. He did kind of turn into that cinnamon roll guy whenever he was around Ara which was very sweet.

-The ending had quite the reveal. I thought things were the other way around and with that reveal, I really want to know what’s in store for these characters in the sequel. I’d love to read more. I do hope that we get to see more of the world and how it works with the birds / phoenixes and such.

Thank you to NetGalley and KJ Altair for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC and provide my honest opinion.

I loved the world building, character development, and relationship/banter between the two MCs.

If you like the following, you like this book:
-Badass FMC x Brooding MMC
-Military College
-Trials
-Animal bonding
-Forbidden love
-Slow Burn
-Elemental magic
-Dual POV

Looking forward to the next book!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The debut fantasy romance by KJ Altair, Feathers of Ash and Hope honestly took me by surprise (in a great way)! I was almost instantly hooked in the story, with its unique world building and plot points. I loved having the multi POV’s, and I could really feel the emotional connection between Ara & Tate - it was beautifully written and drew me into the story. I found myself having an extremely hard time wanting to put it down and I devoured it!

I really loved reading a strong female lead who knows what she wants and is not afraid to reach out and take it. I absolutely cannot wait to continue the story!! Highly recommend everyone give this one a read - it was well worth it!

I really wish I could read this book again for the first time. I loved every second of it, trying to cherish it like a newborn baby.

Tamara, or Ara for short, devices a plan to visit her cousin for three months, but instead, she will actually join the Skyrider Academy, comes after overhearing her Mother and brother talking about fulfilling their end of her betrothal to the Crown Prince. She thinks that in doing so, she gain magic by bonding to a mystical bird to save herself and her family before anyone finds out about her curse.

I loved having dual POVs of both Ara and Tate to simultaneously learn how they both feel and think. They are both strong and independent characters. The banter was perfect, making me laugh and feel giddy. Even quips between the main and side characters was great.

I will be ready to devour the next book when that come out.

I received an ARC from NetGally but all thoughts are my own.

Feathers of Ash and Hope surprised me in the best way. K.J. Altair brings a unique blend of lyrical writing, emotional stakes, and slow-burn fantasy romance that had me fully pulled into the world by the halfway mark.

Pros:
•The worldbuilding is gorgeous and different this isn’t your typical elemental magic system. It feels spiritual, symbolic, and a little haunting (in the best way).
•The main character has heart. I really connected with her grief, her resilience, and her quiet strength.
•The slow-burn romance has so much potential. The tension is there, the connection is believable, and I was absolutely living for every moment they were on the page together.
•The writing style is poetic but still accessible. I highlighted so many passages because they just hit.

Cons:
•The pacing is a bit slow early on. It takes a minute to find its footing and momentum, especially as you’re trying to get a grip on the magic and the stakes.
•Some secondary characters felt like they needed more fleshing out I wanted to care more about them than I actually did.
•A few plot threads felt teased but not fully developed… yet.

All in all, a strong start to the Flameborn series that blends emotional storytelling with rich fantasy in a way that sticks with you. I’ll absolutely be reading Book 2 and I have a feeling this series is only going to get better.