Quick Synopsis – This is the second in the Ashen series and features POVs from Silla, Saga, and Rey. This installment digs deeper into Íseldur’s forbidden magic and the simmering attraction growing between two unlikely couples.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Shake it Out by Florence and the Machines

Content Notes – There are depictions of violence, blood, death, child abuse, child death (off page), branding, slavery, addiction, cannibalism, and mental health issues.

First book’s review can be found here – The Road of Bones

Steamy Rating – 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Overall Rating – ⭐⭐⭐.5 out of 5

Review – This is the second in a series. If you don’t want mild spoilers, don’t read ahead.

I liked this a little better than the first book, though I’m sad we don’t get more of the Bloodaxe Crew. I think I would have preferred if one of the POVs had been a member of the Crew, but we are getting a novella, so I’ll have to impatiently wait. The second book does have a lot more filler plot because we are learning a lot more about the history of Iseldur and the classes of magic. We also have a new frenemy in the form of an ambassador from a foreign company. There are basically three different plots: Silla dealing with her gladur, Saga trying to outwit the Queen and protect her sister, and Jonas being a shitter version of Tamlin from ACOTAR.

I said what I said.

I liked that we got more background into the world and the mythos of the galdur. The one thing that still stood out to me was the villains are still very one-dimensional. We have this King and Queen from another land who conquered in the name of the bear god. But that’s their only driving force. They just want to conquer the world. There really isn’t any more motivation or effort to develop the land they conquered. It’s just kind of bland to me.

Also, this is more of a fantasy series with romance aspects, and I really liked that. The characters aren’t fighting to have sex every chapter because they’re magically bound to do so or whatever. I’m excited to see where this series goes and how it ends. Silla and Saga are in very different places by the end of this novel, and I could easily see how this could be a 5-book series. I can’t wait for the next installment.