Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by stephisbookshelf13
A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash by J.F. Johns
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This one was a wild ride! I am honestly excited to see where the second book goes! Oh, and did I mention there are dragons, wyverns, and phoenixes?
Nearly a hundred years ago, the witches had all but been destroyed over the act of love, fracturing the world. In the aftermath, one of the Witch survivors cast a curse over the eight kingdoms.
As the years passed, everyone seemed to forget about the war or the curse as ancient history, a folktale told to scare each other around a campfire.
That is, until Mal Blackburn, fourth born and daughter of the Kingdom of Darkness, was born with the mark of a Witch: violet eyes.
Believing in the curse, Mal chooses duty before self and agrees to marry the Fire Prince, Ash, of the Fire Kingdom. However, there's a catch.
Mal intends to kill her future husband before the last of the one hundred years is up, to break the curse once and for all.
What she didn't anticipate was catching feelings for the man she planned to kill. What will Mal decide? Love or saving the world?
The moment I read the first line of the prologue, I knew this was going to be a story I would never forget. I was instantly drawn in by the writing style, poetic yet simple. It was such an easy, fun read.
The world itself is expansive and very immersive. I was definitely intrigued by all the different Kingdoms and courts and how they interacted with each other. I've yet to read ACOTAR, but based on what I know of it, this story was giving those vibes.
I also loved the characters and their personalities. There were quite a few MCs to follow, and honestly, each one felt unique and different, so it was able to differentiate the characters by their distinct qualities.
There were a few things that didn't hit for me, though. While I loved the characters, I feel like the main MCs, Mal & Ash, got a little lost and fell behind more as side characters in their own story. I wanted to see their relationship unfold more, but there was a bigger focus on a different romantic couple, which I did love.
Because of this, I felt like the pacing for 3/4 of the story was slow, and when the action hit toward the end, it almost felt a little rushed in the last half.
I am also the "show, don't tell" type of reader who enjoys a little more freedom with the imagination. But that is more personal preference, and didn't detract from the story itself.
Overall, this story is perfect for readers who love ACOTAR, ToG, and Fourth Wing, as well as enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, slow burns, dark magic, and prophetic curses.
Nearly a hundred years ago, the witches had all but been destroyed over the act of love, fracturing the world. In the aftermath, one of the Witch survivors cast a curse over the eight kingdoms.
As the years passed, everyone seemed to forget about the war or the curse as ancient history, a folktale told to scare each other around a campfire.
That is, until Mal Blackburn, fourth born and daughter of the Kingdom of Darkness, was born with the mark of a Witch: violet eyes.
Believing in the curse, Mal chooses duty before self and agrees to marry the Fire Prince, Ash, of the Fire Kingdom. However, there's a catch.
Mal intends to kill her future husband before the last of the one hundred years is up, to break the curse once and for all.
What she didn't anticipate was catching feelings for the man she planned to kill. What will Mal decide? Love or saving the world?
The moment I read the first line of the prologue, I knew this was going to be a story I would never forget. I was instantly drawn in by the writing style, poetic yet simple. It was such an easy, fun read.
The world itself is expansive and very immersive. I was definitely intrigued by all the different Kingdoms and courts and how they interacted with each other. I've yet to read ACOTAR, but based on what I know of it, this story was giving those vibes.
I also loved the characters and their personalities. There were quite a few MCs to follow, and honestly, each one felt unique and different, so it was able to differentiate the characters by their distinct qualities.
There were a few things that didn't hit for me, though. While I loved the characters, I feel like the main MCs, Mal & Ash, got a little lost and fell behind more as side characters in their own story. I wanted to see their relationship unfold more, but there was a bigger focus on a different romantic couple, which I did love.
Because of this, I felt like the pacing for 3/4 of the story was slow, and when the action hit toward the end, it almost felt a little rushed in the last half.
I am also the "show, don't tell" type of reader who enjoys a little more freedom with the imagination. But that is more personal preference, and didn't detract from the story itself.
Overall, this story is perfect for readers who love ACOTAR, ToG, and Fourth Wing, as well as enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, slow burns, dark magic, and prophetic curses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence