📖 ARC Review: Dawn of the North (Ashen #3)
✨ Release Date: February 2026

Huge thanks to Random House Publishing, NetGalley, and Demi Winters for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was PERFECTION. Let me say that again PERFECTION. I loved every single page. I kept telling myself just one more chapter, and then suddenly hours had passed because I simply COULD NOT put it down.

Demi’s writing is everything, dark, immersive, and the banter is wickedly funny. The Viking inspired world is brutal yet beautiful, filled with eerie creatures and high stakes tension that kept me SALIVATING. The characters in this book specifically are everything. Honestly all of them, obsessed. Maybe mostly obsessed with Kass and Saga.

I loved the first 2 books, and this one did not disappoint! Book 3 may be my favorite yet. I enjoyed reading the relationships from previous books evolving into something even better and deeper. love this series so far

Thank you Delacorte Press & NetGalley for the electronic advance reader copy! This is my first series from this auther, so I'm so excited to dive into this book ASAP. I will be updating this review as I read.

What am I looking forward to most in this read? Romance, immersive world building, action-packed plot, found family vikings

I am extremely lucky to be a part of Demi Winters' Street Team and I thank her and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Demi Winters had already cemented herself as my favourite fantasy writer the second I read The Road of Bones, and it genuinely baffles me just how much better every single book becomes. Dawn of the North is the 3rd instalment of the "Ashen series" (fourth if we're counting the novella) and while series often suffer from the curse of dragging for too long, or making readers losing interest at some point in time, Demi has managed to keep me absolutely engaged while also happy & pleased that enough plot points are being solved in every book to keep me going without frustration. I have read a lot of fantasy books throughout the years, but I don't think I can remember a single fantasy series that has made me this obsessed for so long and that has managed to just kept getting better and better with each release.

I honestly just want to live inside this book. I adore Silla & Rey and every single moment I get to read their POV's - whether they're together or not - is a moment very much appreciated (even their moments together fill my own hearthfire thoughts (I mean, she loves to shave his beard and he loves to brush her hair, for god's sake). I have to confess I was slightly scared for what was going to happen to their relationship, considering the new challenges and the new world they found themselves in after the Kingdom of Claw, but their bond just grew stronger and even more beautiful than what it already was. They are, by far, my favourite couple in a fantasy book, and I am so excited to see them growing and supporting each other through the upcoming challenges.

"She was the other half of him, his light and hope, his reason for breathing. She was his lone hearthfire thought, and he would shelter her warmth as long as she'd let him."

Saga and Kass were already absolutely delicious in the last book, but in this one they really shone. I loved how Kass was so persistent with his admiration and love for Saga and I absolutely loved seeing Saga grow under that same love. I can't wait to see where all these characters are going and how the plot is going to develop - and Demi certainly left a lot of crumbs for us to be starving for more. Hekla, Reyvind... every single character is a feast to read, and while it pains me to say it, even the villains are interesting to a point where you can't help but begrudgingly be curious about what interesting tidbits their POV's will bring us (even if I also just want them gone.).

Demi Winters is an immediate read to me as well as an immediate 5 stars read and the only thing I have to say (lest I start writing poetry about how much I adore all these characters again) is that if you haven't started reading the Ashen series yet, then you must do it as soon as possible. Trust me, you won't regret it.

"It smelled of blood and smoke. Looked like chaos incarnate. Yet it felt like a new world."

Firstly, thank you so much to Demi Winters, her team, and NetGalley for this ARC of one of my most anticipated releases of 2026

The Ashen Series is GOD TIER
Vikings (X)
Magic (X)
Incredible character development (X)
Perfect romance/fantasy balance (X)

Dawn of the North was everything I hoped it would be. The Ashen Series has skyrocketed to one of my favorite fantasy series.

Book 3 picks up right where we left off in book 2 and 2.5. I did struggle a bit in the beginning with the frequency of the POV jumps, but by the halfway point I was LOVING everything including the multiple POVs.

Saga’s character arc has been my absolute favorite part! The female empowerment of this series is top tier and this book brought it to an entirely new level.

The culmination of plots that have been masterfully woven since the first book in this one was incredible

I think one of my favorite things about this series is the fact that every book ends in a way that has me excited for the next book without leaving me weeping with a painful cliffhanger.
I will come back and write a more end depth review after the release of this book, but for now, this was just another AMAZING addition to this incredible series.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC ebook from NetGalley and had the chance to read this early before it comes out in February! Thank you to Delacorte Press!!!! (And thank you to Demi Winters for writing such an excellent series and sharing it with the rest of us!!)

For the third full book in a 6-book series, there was NO slowing down!! There wasn't a single moment where I felt a chapter was filler, even with the switching of POVs. Everyone brought something new to the collective story and I was eating it UP.

The way Demi is able to craft such a well-honed story with her characters all in multiple locations, is honestly so incredibly beautiful. The weaving *wink wink* of how everything will eventually connect is FUN, but it's not so straightforward that you can guess where and what events are leading up to. I was gasping so often that my husband kept giving me looks and asking if I was alright😅

I feel so lucky to have read this early and for it to be through and through one of the BEST books I've ever read. I'm not usually a reader who annotates. I'm usually just along for the ride, but the Ashen Series has switched a light on in that corner of my brain. I have theories, favorite quotes, and such LOVE for her characters.

Needless to say, I will be biting at the bit for the official copy to be in my hands in February!!! (And also crying because I have to wait for the next one 😅)

#ashenseries #demiwinters #booktok #roadofbones #kingdomofclaw #dawnofthenorth #arc #bookreviews #booksta

I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, but this one! This one was everything I want in a fantasy. I loved how we got to explore more of Saga’s character, while also expanding on the world and the setting. Demi has created such a deep, lore-filled world, and I love how immersive it is!!

All in all 6 stars from me! This is one of my favorite books of the year!

Thank you to Net Galley for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Demi Winters has done it again and knocked it out of the park. Dawn of the North is the third book in The Ashen series, and it expands on the world and provides even more depth to our beloved characters. If you loved playing Skyrim and enjoyed reading Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass, this book and series are for you.

It is strongly recommended that you read Hekla's novella before reading this book. While it is optional, you will have a greater understanding of Hekla and her new companions, as well as further insight into the quest she is on for most of this book.

This book expertly weaves together three separate storylines through six points of view, and the character development is unparalleled. The start of the book is a bit slow in the setup, but after the first 10% or so, it really takes off and soars. We see how Silla deals with her mother's bargain, and we watch Saga really grow into the woman Kass knows she can be. We see Hekla struggle with her complicated relationship with romantic relationships and also embrace her leadership skills. We see Jonas be, well, Jonas. His suffering is, in my opinion, the comedic relief of the series.

There are a lot of answers provided in this story while also leaving things open-ended enough for the reader to see exactly where we are going next. One of my favorite things about this book was the ending. We are not left dangling from a cliff we didn't know we were walking off of. Instead, we are given a 'happy for now' with a clear indication of where we will be going next in the series.

Overall, I love this series, and I love this book. It has quickly made its way into my top five series of all time. Get started now with The Road of Bones, Kingdom of Claw, and Roots of Darkness to catch up on the series before this release on February 3, 2026! You won't regret it.

I want to thank the publisher for providing an advance e-copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You will find my review on Goodreads and Storygraph, linked below.

This series just keeps getting better and better. If you loved the previous two books in the series, this one will be no different. Demi Winters does such a beautiful job of writing so many different POVs, where so much varied storylines are occurring, only for them to weave together beautifully at the end.

I believe there were 6 points of view in this book, and there was only one that I didn’t care for. It didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book because they were pretty few and far between, but I just don’t feel particularly interested in what Jonas is up to. I’m sure what he’s up to will become relevant later, but it’s hard to care when his character is just pretty pathetic and making all the wrong choices out of wrongly targeted grief. Aside from Jonas though, there wasn’t a single point of view I was disappointed to read

Rey and Silla continue to be a joy to read. I love how much he adores her and his softness for her, and I love how she loves all of his grumpiness. Challenges are thrown at this pair throughout the book, but they overcome them together. Rey also supports Silla and always has faith in her ability to fight for herself.

Hekla’s story continues from Roots of Darkness, and she continues to develop as a leader. Her romantic storyline with Eyvind progresses a bit, but I’m excited to see where it goes from here because I think that plot line still has ways to go.

Now the absolute highlight of this book for me was Saga and Kassandr and their journey together in Zagadka. Their relationship was left on a bad note at the end of book 2, and there’s nothing I love more than the redevelopment of a relationship post betrayal. If Rey is the classic grumpy hero, then Kass is the classic golden retriever. He’s funny and absolutely obsessed with Saga. Kass supports her journey from prisoner to warrior in this book wholeheartedly. I just love him and her and their dynamic so much.

Loved where the story ended and can’t wait to see where we go from here!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House & Demi Winters for the chance to read & review this ARC. First of all, WOW! It is not easy to keep a narrative clear with 6+ POVs but DAMN, Demi nailed it! After the major cliff hanger from Kingdom of Claw (sorry not sorry but I am a sassy Kass girly and needed more of 'The Beast' 😉!), I was READY to dive right in, and I was absolutely amazed with the pacing... I literally could not put the book down!

At the beginning, each chapter is follows a different story line from the last two novels and novella, which I was easily able to follow thanks to the VERY helpful and concise recap in the front of the book. At no point did I feel like any characters/story lines missed the mark or were lacking due to the multitude of POVs. Things were moving so fast in each story line that I never felt that I was missing out with a change of POV. The flow was perfectly executed, even towards the end when there was more that one chapter of a specific story line (thank you Demi for setting things up this way so I didn't skip through chapters to find out what happens!). I also really appreciated that a lot of loose ends from the last few books were tied up, but there is so much space to explore this world further, and at least some of our characters have more room for growth.

What I loved:
🫶 The 'resurrection' of a certain vindictive warrior - I love to hate him, and his story has been written so well, that I can't help but empathize with him a bit. He's salty, he's complicated and I love his BS. This whole story line has me VERY intrigued.
🫶 Kass and the other beasty boys - interesting take on werewolves/shapeshifters, hope we get to find out more of the lore around these guys! (Can we PLEASE have more of Rov trying to 'handle' Kass? lol)
🫶 The pacing/experience of each relationship. It's so nice that there is variety in how these relationship develop and grow, and not every couple follows the same trajectory - it makes things feel more real.
🫶 How each of our FMCs are still healing from their own trauma (which we learn about in the previous books), and need something different to help with their healing. Saga's journey was particularly moving... I loved watching her go from scared to angry to empowered!
🫶 Perfect amount of spice 🌶️ - kept things interesting without driving away from the plot (not everyone got their moment though, so yet another incentive to read the next one!)
🫶 Our MMCs being cheeky with each other - MORE OF THIS IN BOOK 4 PLEASE!!
🫶 Zagádkia & the politicking required in this new part of the world (great world building outside of Íseldur!) - also loved the little language translations, which helped me literally hear the accent when reading 😍

What I felt was missing:
🙅‍♀️ It seemed like all our protagonists were set up to too easily defeat their respective villains in this one... this book was satisfying for closure on a lot of fronts, but I almost missed the realness of their hardships from the other books (Silla took so many Ls in book 1 for instance, and poor Saga could never catch a break in book 2). Honestly I think this was something that got lost due to the multitude of POVs. Didn't ruin the book for me by any means, but I hope that the antagonists gain a little traction in the next one, just to keep things interesting.
🙅‍♀️ There was some comedic relief scattered throughout (Gunnar's pranks, Kass serving sass, the love triangle debacle & Kritka being 'helpful'), but I love these silly moments as they make me kick my feet in the air, would love a little more of this (especially if the next book is going to be as devastating as I think it will be)
🙅‍♀️ New characters - I was very glad to further explore the experience of established and well loved characters, but I would like to see one or two new(ish) characters take a more central part in the next one (Khiva?)

Between the additional world building, satisfying closure of plot arcs, and the continued development of beloved characters, Demi has written an excellent book. The end of this one has set things up perfectly for an interesting 4th book with an opportunity to explore some new lore that hasn't yet been tackled in this magic system. Dawn of the North absolutely hit the mark and I cannot recommend this series more! Thank you Demi for doing this one justice ❤️

Demi Winters Has Done It Again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel like I won the lottery getting approved for this ARC! Demi continues to raise the bar with each installment in this series.

What I Loved
Dawn of the North picks up right where we left off in Kingdom of Claw and Roots of Darkness (Hekla's Novella), complete with a thoughtful summary at the beginning of this book that made jumping back into this world effortless. I was immediately re-immersed and emotionally invested from page one. Actually, the emotional investment never went away. 😮‍💨

The multiple POVs are handled well with each one feeling like its own complete story while effortlessly weaving into the main plot. I never once felt confused or like the narrative was muddled, which can sometimes be difficult to pull off with this many characters. It reminds me of the best aspects of Game of Thrones with its complex political intrigue and multiple storylines, but with better character development and more satisfying payoffs.

Character Development
Saga's growth from book one to now is honestly some of the best character development I've ever read. And RURIK dear lord...the love and devotion he shows Saga throughout the book had me swooning just as he did in Kingdom of Claw. The way he stands by her, believes in her when others doubt, and knows exactly when to help versus when to let her work through challenges herself? Loved everything about their dynamic. I will be sitting front row for the next book to see how their relationship progresses.

The other character dynamics were great as well: Eisa/Rey, Hekla/Eyvind/Kritka, Ivar/Signe, Jonas, & THRAND? GET THIS MAN A NOVELLA!

Why This Series Deserves All The Hype
Demi has created a world where I genuinely empathize with every single character, even the antagonists feel fully realized and human. The way she balances multiple complex relationships, political intrigue, character growth, and world-building is phenomenal.

Every book in this series has been better than the last, and at this point I'll read anything Demi Winters puts out, including her grocery list if that's all she'll give us. This series absolutely deserves every bit of hype it's getting and I can't wait to see what happens in book 4!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for trusting me with this INCREDIBLE ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine / Delacorte Press for the ARC!

This book picks up at both the end of Book 2 and 2.5. We've got some new POVs with a few new characters introduced in the book 2.5 Novella.

Hekla and Eyvind - Hekla's POV is new in this main series (she's the main focus of book 2.5) and I already liked her so much more in this book than in 2.5 for some reason. Eyvind is Rey's childhood friend and these two end up in some side quests. I enjoyed their storyline in this book, although I wish their miscommunications from the end of book 2.5 was resolved much quicker than it was in this book.

Saga and Kass - For me personally, these two stole the book this time. Saga's personal and character development continues to progress exponentially throughout the book. I was already eager for more of Kass at the start of this book and I think he's going to be a favorite character for the series, as he's so unapologetically quirky and mischievous.

Silla and Rey - I struggled with this storyline a bit at times. At the end of Book 2, we know about Silla's mother's deal with the god of chaos and him now living within her. There's a lot of focus in this book with regards to the struggle with the god of chaos and at times felt like somewhat of a placeholder for me. In the last book she has tremendous growth and character development, along with her relationship with Rey and in this book their storyline didn't excite me as much.

Overall, this book feels like it's setting up a really epic book 4 and I can't wait!

Dawn of the North by Demi Winters

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this title!

I had an absolute blast with this 3rd book of the Ashen Series! By far my favorite book in the series! Because there were several POVs, I felt like I was completely immersed in the book. The imagery had me watching it in my mind’s eye as if it was playing on my tv screen. The author has so descriptive, without being overbearing in the details, that I could see everything play out perfectly as she described it. I cannot WAIT for the 4th book to come out… no seriously, can I get it like now?! Amazing book!

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired romantasy, The Ashen series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she guards vigilantly threatens to ruin all her plans: a shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious Isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hellbent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

This book has been published to my Goodreads and Instagram. As soon as Amazon allows review of this title, I will be reviewing there as well! Happy reading!

To say I was excited to read Dawn of the North is an understatement. The Ashen series is quickly becoming one of my top three reads of all time. So yes, I rated this 5 stars, but really it’s more of a 4.75 for me.

First, the good, because there is so much of it. Demi Winter’s writing is incredible. Her characters feel so real to me without ever being annoying or boring. And her world building is vivid and immersive without ever being weighed down in unnecessary detail, except that first 100 pages of book one.
Hekla and Kritka will forever hold a special place in my heart. Their banter is endearing and I could easily read a whole series just about them (we need Roots of Darkness, part 2 please). Every character has their own arc in this book which made this book very satisfying with completing some plot lines. I'm probably in the minority loved the multiple POV's. And Havoc. We definitely need more Havoc in the future.

Now for why I knocked it down slightly. (Minor spoilers ahead). I’m starting to lose interest in Jonas and Queen Signe. I want to care about them as the villains but their revenge storyline is starting to feel a little tired. It seems like book four will be centered on them, and I am sure Demi will work her magic to make it amazing, but when I closed Dawn of the North I felt a bit empty about it.

Even with that small complaint, this series continues to blow me away. At 4.75 stars it is still one of the most captivating fantasy series I have ever read. And will definitely be top shelf material when my bookshop opens in spring.
Thank you to Delacorte and Netgalley for the arc.

Thank you so much for the chance to review this book! So one- I absolutely love that we get recaps from the previous book at the beginning, should definitely be a new standard in all series! I have been so invested in this series since it came out and book 3 did not disappoint. Even though it did add more POV’s I do think it was very well done, sometimes when there are a lot t can get confusing. I did feel like the first part of the book was a little “filler” but when it got to part 2 it really took off and shined!

Five stars no notes. Demi is mother and cam do no wrong.

No I'm all honesty this series is hands down one of my all time favorites. The writing is good tier amazing. The characters are incredible. I just am obsessed

Let me start by saying Demi Winters knows how to build a world. Dawn of the North is the third book in the Ashen Series, and it plunges us deeper into the icy, myth-soaked realm of Íseldur. The stakes are high, the magic is wild, and the Volsik sisters, Silla and Saga, are caught in a storm of gods, politics, and personal reckoning.

Silla is now the lost heir, carrying a shard of a god inside her. That alone would be enough to unravel most people, but she’s also trying to unite the northern jarls and overthrow King Ivar Ironheart.

Meanwhile, Saga is trapped on the Isle of Zagadka, forced into impossible choices that test her loyalty and her heart. The mist creeping across the land adds a layer of dread.

The romantic and sexual encounters, while steamy and well-written, made me want to skim. There were moments when I wanted more focus on the political intrigue, the magical aspects, and the weight of the sisters’ journeys.

That said, Winters still delivers a compelling ride. The setting is gorgeous and dark, the characters are layered and complex, and the pacing builds toward a satisfying crescendo. Silla and Saga are heroines worth rooting for, even when their choices are messy.

If you love romantasy with divine possession, and fierce women, Dawn of the North is absolutely worth your time.

Be ready for heat along the way.

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dawn of the North continues following our main characters with POV from Silla, Saga, Jonas, Signe, Rey, Rurik, and Hekla.

I loved this book! The first two in this series were automatic loves for me, and I really enjoyed watching the characters develop, the friendships deepen, and learning more about the mythology and world. I loved seeing Saga and Silla come into their own in different ways, and I appreciated the nuanced side characters. Rurik was a real stand-out for me in this book and my favorite storyline was Saga. I think Winters' ability to navigate mental health themes amidst this gripping plot is masterful.

The first two books were automatic 5-star reads for me (a rarity!), and this one was a 4. I loved the story, character development, and romances, but found that some of the writing was not as tight and a couple of the storylines felt "stuck" and that they dragged on. I still love this series, and plan on pre-ordering the hardcover and re-reading it in February. I recommend folks read it so we can talk about baby chicks, our mutual love of Rurik, Saga's quiet strength, and Silla's warmth.

I do not have enough good things to say about this book.

First off - THANK YOU for the very detailed recap of the prior two books. I read them each as they came out and I have too much FOMO about my TBR to go back and reread before a release so any author that will give me the details quickly is my favorite.

OK continuing on. I normally lose interest in series where there are ever expanding POVs but somehow Demi Winters has done the impossible and I am invested in EVERY SINGLE storyline. I mean, I DNF Kingdom of Ash out of boredom so I'm serious when I say I don't usually like too many POVs. I also felt like each POV went through a natural stopping place or pivoted to an adjacent POV so it wasn't as jarring as a lot of writers who do this.

My girl Silla and Rey though - perfection. He is the ultimate book boyfriend. Their relationship progressed so perfectly and his unwavering loyalty and devotion was so lovely. No red flags here!

Saga and Kass - Sneaky Kass trying to give Rey a run for his money. I love this beastly prince and his support of Saga. And Saga, I loved her journey here. She has come soo far.

Hekla is also my girl. I'd love to have a beer with her and discuss the shortcomings of men.

Finally - the sister love. I was so happy for them to reunite. I thought this book ended on a great note and I can't wait to see what's in store.

INCLUDES SPOILERS

Dawn of the North by Demi Winters
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Demi Winters DID IT AGAIN. FIVE BEAUTIFUL STARS. Usually when stories are planned to be more than three books, the second and third books suffer and “feel” like fillers. Not one book in this series have I perceived as a filler. This book was such a thrilling whirlwind of a story. The plot ebbs and flows in pacing, the characters are challenged, and the relationships have their struggles. At times, I WAS SO IRRITATED at the characters and/or how the storyline was moving forward. Overall, this was a GREAT thing! It kept me wanting to read, to see how things or the characters would change and/or grow. The writing is articulate, detailed, and descriptive. The characters are complex, nuanced, and authentic. The plot has SO many layers, both in the overall series and in this specific book. As the story moves forward, some of the mystery is revealed, details are shared, and relationships change, all while at the same time unique mysteries come into sight, new challenges arise, and other secrets go unanswered.

What I loved about this book was the alternative POVs, including Silla, Rey, Saga, Kass, Hekla, Jonas, and Ivar. I recently read a book with several POVs and it was a snooze because the other POVs added absolutely nothing to the plot or the other POVs were from side characters that were not critical to the plot. I can say, that is not what occurred in this book. Demi did such an excellent job ending one POV right when you wanted more, so you would keep reading to get back to that POV. BUT, you would then love the next POV and your mind would change because you now would not want that one to end. It was an ever changing game of whose POV you were dying to get back to. This kept me on edge, thinking about the story when I was not reading, and craving to read forward to learn more.

I also really loved each characters’ development. All characters in this story are flawed, make mistakes, and are challenged to make choices for growth. Not all characters choose growth, rather they choose revenge. I read some reviews that people did not like Jonas’ POV, but I did. It was sprinkled in throughout the book and his chapters were short. I really enjoyed his view and how his antagonist perspective grew and was manipulated. I sat their and read his chapters thinking “you stupid man, you are so stuck in your revenge you cannot see how you are being manipulated!” and then I thought, “well too bad, you’ll get what is coming to you.” Including how the antagonist grows further into the realms of evil from his own POV is unique and I highly enjoyed it. I initially did not like Saga’s POV, I was less pulled in because of how drawn I was to Silla and Hekla’s stories from previous books. However, as Saga’s character grew, I loved her chapters just as much as the others.

Further, I loved all the various relationship developments. I was getting on edge about Hekla, wanting her to try a sliver of vulnerability, with both love interests; but again, this angst and frustration was a good thing. The emotions provoked in me as a reader lead to me craving reading more from Hekla’s view to see if she would finally move forward. She does move forward, a moderate amount, which was so satisfying as a reader. Her relationship development is a slow, slow burn. WELL DONE, Demi 😊 I cannot wait to see how Hekla continues to grow and give her MMC a chance, she deserves a strong love! The relationship between Saga and Kass was fantastic and the growth was beautiful, for both of them. Further, Silla and Rey come out strong at the end and that made my heart happy.

The plots were intriguing and unique. Silla, Saga, and Hekla are all on their own journey and have their own plot that includes action and mystery. As this book progresses, the storylines intertwine and eventually become one. The meta thought to create 3.5 books thus far to have three different storylines eventually come together was done thoughtfully, descriptively, and slowly (not all rushed in one book).

I am super excited about book 4! The dynamics between Rey and Kass are going to be brilliant! Grump and extravert/flirty will create such a fun story, I cannot wait. Further, Demi hinted at some of the leadership differences and minor bumps Silla and Saga ran into. I see these issues growing bigger and challenging Saga and Silla, again- cannot wait to see how this progresses! Further, watching Hekla challenge herself and grow into a love that she deserves will be heartwarming to read. Hekla’s novella was my favorite of the first 2.5 books, I have a special place in my soul for her story. Lastly, that cliffhanger with Singe was awesome and to see how she and Jonas grow as antagonists is one I really look forward to.

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I have two factors of this book I did not like/love. Of note, the issues were either resolved or did not globally take away from the storyline or how much I loved this book/series. Also of note, my critique included in the next two bullet points occur while Rey is out of town, making all of this an extra layer of shadiness and why I just did not like this part of the story.

- I was frustrated at how quickly Silla doubts Rey. I get she has a god inside her being all negative, but that did not make sense to me for why she would not question her automatic assumptions about Rey. Two full books have been written about the slow trust that built between them, from allies, to friends, and now lovers. They may be newly in a romantic relationship, but the undeniable behavior Rey has displayed at his care for Silla and Silla eventually fully trusting him (to the point that she shared ALL her secrets with Rey) was SO well written, to then have Silla doubting him without any question was jarring. I also get that she was having a lot of self-doubt about being temporary queen, but her trust in Rey was a separate construct that, again, had been developed extremely well over two books. Rey gave her his word that he would do certain things, so when those things did not happen, I was surprised at her willingness to doubt him and his word, and not question that something else could be happening.

- This was then layered in with the fact that Silla was also behaving as a naïve MFC in regards to another male flirting with her. It was obvious to us as a reader what this other male was doing, but it was also obvious to her to the point that she would comment to herself about his flirty behavior. But, instead of owning that this was happening to her, she denied it and then just kept trucking forward with this guy, the flirting would happen again, and then she would deny it, again. I was then thrown when Silla started disclosing secrets to this flirty man, whom by the way Rey told her to be careful around. Rey had to work super hard to earn Silla’s trust and warned her about this guy, but she just continues on denying his flirty behavior AND tells him secrets with little hesitation (she thinks for one second about keeping information from this man, but then decides to tell him anyway). These two pieces felt unauthentic to how Silla had previously been written and I was not a fan.