Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

This book is a fantastic, action packed fantasy tale. Our FMC, Liora, is a bit naive in the beginning but quickly blossoms into an independent and very lovable character. Despite all of the hardships she endures, she continues to grow stronger. Zarek is our misunderstood MMC. This book could best be described as a slow burn, arranged marriage trope with political intrigue and mistaken identity.

I loved all of this book and much of it was very unexpected. I read ALOT of books and this one definitely served up some surprises that left me picking up the book whenever I had a minute to read. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

It took me until April to finally have my first 5-star read! I hadn’t even finished this book yet, and I was already recommending it to everyone I know. The storyline is incredibly captivating, and the slow burn romance had me feeling all the feels.

A princess is given away in an unusual arranged marriage but she is more than anyone could have bargained for. Princess Lilias should be terrified, she is marrying King of Vsenrogs assassin. Instead of being terrified or crying like most princesses when married off to benefit their kingdom, she made a pack to uncover all his secrets, one little problem is what is she falls in love? Then where will her loyalty lie?

I want to thank Meredith Hart and the publishing company for providing me with an advance reader copy.


Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice 1/5 🌶️
LMAO 1/5 🤣
Tears 1/5 😭
Banter 3/5😉🥹

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC.

I don't even know where to start with this review. I devoured this book. The summary sounded very Throne of Glass like and with that being my favourite series I thought would like it. I was not expecting to love it.

Tropes like forced proximity and arranged marriages are never really my go to, but this was very tastefully done. Lilias seems to be dealt poor hand after poor hand and she hardens herself to deal with it. She isn't a damsel in distress, nor is she one of the FMC's who miraculously knows what she's doing with a sword without ever training. She's dutiful but you can see her open up more and how she feels behind her armour.

Zarek feels like a golden retriever dressed in a morally grey outfit. He dotes on Lilias and doesn't feel enough for her. He is living a lie himself and tries (poorly I might add) to tell her the truth.

It's a true high fantasy book with quite a refreshing storyline, not focused and centred around Fae/elves. I am a little confused about the role of the elf that came from the mine as well as why everyone just believes the Vsenrog king about ailing health and death where folk can see that they are not ill/dead. but hopefully that's answered more in book 2. I had rated this a 4.5* but rounded up to 5* for Goodreads and Netgalley as half stars don't exist. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for this ARC!

I hadn’t heard of Meredith Hart before— after reading Bride of Ash and Dust, I can safely say I will read anything she writes, including her grocery list.

I was immediately hooked by the first line of this book. Princess Lilias receives the news that her lifelong betrothal to the Prince of Ethiria has been cancelled, and she is now betrothed to the Prince of Vsenrog. They call him “The Snake” because he’s not only a Prince but the King’s hired assassin and spy.

Prince Zarek isn’t exactly thrilled about his surprise betrothal, either. Zarek was a hostage from a neighboring kingdom during wartime, and when his kingdom fell, he was made Prince of Vsenrog. His life has been a series of manipulations, and he is sure that this betrothal is just another one of King Malrik’s schemes to use him to do his bidding.

After the wedding, Zaerk and Lilas notice that something isn’t quite right in Vsenrog. They embark on their wedding tour together and become allies against what awaits them around every corner. However, not even they could anticipate the depths of the schemes that await them.
The pace of this book was so perfect. I could not put it down, even when I tried. I loved the depth of each of the main characters and how quickly the chapters switched POV—this made the plot move along SO FAST for me! As the story progressed, it was so intriguing to see the layers Zaerk carefully pull back and reveal his true identity.

BUT OMG THAT ENDING!? I cannot wait for the next book. I am so curious to see what comes next for Zarek and Lilias. I hope we get to know more about Lilias, too. I feel like there’s much more to her than we have seen so far, and I am SO HERE FOR IT!

(Full review of book will be posted on social media account linked below on 4/10/26 for release day)

This book had me in a full chokehold. Arranged marriage? Assassin husband? Slow-burn so sharp it hurts?
I devoured this in one sitting and immediately needed book 2 injected directly into my veins.

Zarek is everything. Deadly but gentle. Guarded but deeply principled. Sleeps with daggers strapped to his body… yet treats Lilias with absolute care and respect. The yearning. The restraint. The consent-forward slow burn. It’s exquisite torture in the best possible way. 🥵🖤

What makes this book truly stand out, though, is how thoughtfully it handles sensitive themes.

⚠️ Trigger Warning:
This book includes discussion of coercion, non-consensual intimate acts, and grooming involving the FMC in her past (not by the MMC).

Lilias has been manipulated by a trusted authority figure (her tutor), who deliberately misled her about consent—inventing false rules, shifting blame onto her, and exploiting her lack of understanding. The betrayal is profound, and the book does not romanticise this. Instead, it treats it with seriousness and care.

Zarek is instrumental in helping her understand that what happened to her was not okay. He clearly and explicitly explains that:
- Consent must be freely given
- Consent can be withdrawn at any time
- Saying yes to one thing does not mean saying yes to everything
- No one is ever “owed” access to someone else’s body

Watching Lilias slowly realise that she was coerced—and that the shame she carried was never hers—was powerful, painful, and deeply validating. This aspect of the story is handled with empathy and intention, and it genuinely matters.

Add in political intrigue, delicious tension, emotional depth, and spice that earns every moment, and this book becomes unforgettable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Addictive. Intense. Emotionally intelligent. If you love fantasy romance with sharp edges, deep care, and slow-burn longing that wrecks you—read this immediately. I NEED book 2. 🖤🔥📖

I knew from the very first chapter that this was going to be a binge read—and I was absolutely right. It hooked me instantly with its fast-paced plot and kept me fully invested the entire time.
The dual POV was one of my favorite parts. Being inside both Lilias and Zarek’s heads added so much depth. Lilias is exactly the kind of FMC I love—resilient, sharp-tongued, and layered in a way that makes her feel incredibly real. And Zarek? Morally gray in the best possible way. His past adds so much complexity to his character, and the more you learn about him, the harder it is not to be completely invested.
This book is my perfect recipe—banter, tension, and an arranged marriage where they don’t even meet until their wedding day. The yearning is so good. Add in the deadly political intrigue, and it just elevates everything. The brief introduction of Eleven and magic only made me more invested into the series. The twists genuinely caught me off guard, and I couldn’t put it down.
The author also did an amazing job creating characters you absolutely loathe, which made the stakes feel even higher.
And that ending? Completely up my alley—leaving you with so many questions that you’re immediately begging for book two. Finding out there’s a prequel novel too? Yeah… I need that ASAP.

Bride of Ash and Dust is an easy five stars for me.

By chapter two I was completely hooked, and I ended up devouring the entire book in just over 12 hours. It’s one of those reads that pulls you in so effortlessly — I genuinely didn’t want to put it down.

This is such a strong first book in a series. There’s so much to sink your teeth into — the plot, the world, the characters — and yet it still leaves you with just enough unanswered questions to make you desperate for the next instalment.

The character development was one of my favourite parts. Watching both the FMC and MMC evolve, and gradually getting to understand them on a deeper level, made it so easy to feel invested in their journey.

Lilias, the FMC, is exactly the kind of main character I love. She’s strong, stubborn, and full of sharp sarcasm — but what I really appreciated is that even when she doesn’t feel capable, she still shows up and gets things done. She has that “put your big girl pants on and handle it” energy, and I was completely here for it.

And the slow burn romance… just swoon. The tension, the “will they, won’t they,” the constant pull between them — it was done so well. It had me fully invested, quietly screaming “just do it already,” and completely addicted to every interaction.

I also loved how the antagonists were handled. I genuinely couldn’t decide which of the “baddies” I disliked more — it’s one of those stories where your hatred just keeps building and expanding as things unfold.

The magic system feels like it’s only just beginning to reveal itself, which makes me even more excited for what’s to come. There’s clearly so much more depth to explore in the next book.

Honestly, I’m so impressed with this one. It had everything I want in a fantasy — strong characters, addictive pacing, tension-filled romance, and a world that leaves you wanting more.

I absolutely loved it.

Bride Of Ash And Dust by Meredith Hart

Okay, it's one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far. I was hooked by the story and the writing style.

We follow our FMC Lilias, who is a princess whose destiny she cannot choose. She has to marry the Snake, foster son of a cruel and ruthless king.
But Zarek is not just Vsenrog most infamous assassin. There's nore than meets the eyes.

I was on the edge of my seat for a good part of this book !
Lilias annoyed me a little during the forst part of the book, she was too naive.

This book is action packed, and there are so many plot twists. I had such an amazing time reading it and I can't wait for the sequel ! Especially after that cliffhanger !

If you love:
⚔️ slow burn
⚔️ yearning
⚔️ betrayals
⚔️ political scheming

This book is for you.

She’s been engaged to a prince her whole life but ends up having to marry a hostage assassin instead. This book had me hooked and on the hedge of my seat the whole time. The political intrigues where thick and the attraction was sparkling. I absolutely Loved Zarek ! He might be an assassin but he's a walking green flag and all around sweet and thoughtful guy. And can we talk about the way she managed to create a princess that’s innocent but not dense or dumb ? Shes strong and resourceful. My only dislike is that it kinda ends in a cliffhanger and I NEED TO READ BOOK 2 LIKE NOOOOOOW !!

I've read the prequel to help me wait until the second one comes out ❤️

This book pulled me in with its mix of political tension, arranged marriage, and a deliciously slow-burn romance. Princess Lilias is suddenly forced into a marriage with Zarek, the feared assassin known as the Snake of Vsenrog, but their dynamic quickly becomes the heart of the story. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop because, despite all the mistrust and secrets, the chemistry between them felt natural and full of tension. Zarek’s reputation says one thing, but his quiet protectiveness and restraint made him much more interesting than I expected, while Lilias surprised me with her strength and determination. The dual POV worked really well and made it easy to understand both characters as they slowly learned to trust each other. The writing is easy to follow, and while the fantasy elements are light for now, the political intrigue and twists kept me invested. Some parts felt like they were setting up bigger things for later books, especially with the hints of magic and unanswered questions. Overall, if you enjoy romantasy with yearning, forced proximity, and a true slow burn, this is definitely worth picking up. Thanks to Meredith Hart and NetGalley for this ARC.

The thing I enjoyed the most was the dark humor woven throughout the novel so effortlessly. It’s my language and I love it. I also loved that the author gave a content warning immediately, it honestly made me more excited for the book as I was expecting slightly more juvenile in character mentality. The only improvement at the beginning would be a pronunciation guide. I’m a huge fan of a pronunciation guide. I can live without a map, though I do love one if given a choice, but I’m hardcore team pronunciation guide for all books.

This novel ended up being a delightful, it was more engaging than anticipated which was a lovely surprise. It’s a faster read, but doesn’t sacrifice depth and complexity. It’s an intriguing story that while giving hints at the master plan and political intrigue at work, it still leaves you guessing at exactly where the author is taking the story. It has more than one phenomenal plot twist that sets the stage for an anticipated to be continued... (Queen of War and Ruin, 2nd Book). The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but a clever place to end book 1 given the plot twists and information divulged. It’s a good paced slow burn. Especially as an arranged marriage it reads like an appropriate romantic timeline taking into account the personalities of the main characters, Zarek and Lilias. There is one particular moment of sweetness when Zarek can’t stop thinking about an unprompted kiss that just made me smile. Hart wrote about the sensitive topic of Lilias being taken advantage of by other characters early on, her lack of understanding, especially the negative and long reaching implications for herself, and more, all without dumbing Lilias’s character down. It was delicately written and enhanced the storyline with realism. As a princess Lilias expected to be used, but only to a certain extent, and it was supposed to come with a degree of respect. It showed how deeply the FMC was betrayed from before the beginning of the story. Showing how deep the manipulation in her life went and how many people were using her as a pawn. Overall a great read with a lot more depth than expected and a lot of anticipation for the story to continue as I’m very interested to see where things go.

Reviews will be on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes and Nobel. It will be on my tik tok and insta as soon as I start uploading. Will update name and tag all authors.