The characters were one-note for me and I felt like there was not much to their personalities. Felt very trope driven, strong female heroine that is strong for no discernible reason, and male lead with no personality other than he's hot. The romance was insta-love and I couldn't understand why they were willing to die for each other. I had a lot of questions about the worldbuilding, and felt like things just really didn't make a lot of sense about the world and how brutal their conditions were.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is another title that I requested on Netgalley way back when it was recently released. And here I am, getting to it years later! Shame on me! But I am getting to it, so let’s just focus on that part. Plus, now that I’ve been so late, the remaining two books of this trilogy have also released, so, as I plan on continuing this trilogy, I can jump right into those! But on with the review!

This book did have the dreaded “TikTok sensation” included in its promotional material, but I am pleased to say that this is one of the times that proves why I can’t just immediately discount every book that is tagged in this way! I actually really enjoyed this read! Yes, there are a few predictable tropes and the ending got a little muddled. But at the same time, the skill of the writing and characterization were much better than I usually find in comparable romantasy titles, and I blew through this read in only a few sessions!

It started out on a high note right away with the introduction of the main character and the brutal life she’s lived up to this point. It’s a fairly simple concept: a small group of humans stranded to live on the shelf of a mountainside, vulnerable to not only the harsh climate and one another, but also waiting for the inevitable day when they are cruelly whisked away by winged monsters, never to be seen again. The descriptions of life on this ledge were brutal, harsh, and necessarily violent.

And to survive in this place, Dawsyn (don’t get me started on the names…we have Dawsyn and Ryon…someone needed to take away this author’s “Y” key!) has had to become a warrior. But what makes this truly great is that we aren’t simply told this. We see, again and again, Dawsyn put these skills to the test, not only fighting off other humans but also the much stronger Glacians. There was one moment early in the book that particularly drove this point home, with Dawsyn choosing to end a conflict in the most brutal way imaginable. It’s these moments, where an author fully commits to the world and character they are writing, that raise a book in my estimation.

Further, when Dawsyn and Ryon inevitably begin working together, they don’t simply do away with the conflict between them. For her part, Dawsyn has no reason to trust Ryon and every reason to attempt to escape him, and I was pleased to see her remain in this mindset for a significant amount of time. In this way, by the time the romance begins to kick up more, it felt more earned and I was able to invest in them as a couple because I’d also had the time to come to understand them, especially Dawsyn, as individuals.

As I said, I liked the overall world-building as well. The story moves from the ledge itself fairly quickly, but I also enjoyed learning more about the Glacian civilization and the humans living below in the valley. While some of these twists and turns were a bit predictable, they mostly worked, with only a few stumbling blocks of unnecessary secrecy and “chosen one” plot points. My only true hiccup was a plot decision made at the very end of the book. Essentially, Dawsyn and Ryon come up with a plan to storm a location and seem to go about it in crazily risky manner. From a reader standpoint, I can see why this needed to happen, as part of this plan involved them gaining certain abilities that I’m sure will be necessary in the upcoming books. But as far as an actual plan? It essentially saw them sneak into a guarded location, intentionally get caught, be removed from said location to be executed, escape, and then….storm the exact same location to get back inside. It was just odd and clunky at times.

Overall, however, I had a lot of fun with this book! I think the one thing that really stands out is the overall strength of the writing. The dialogue was good, but there was also proper emphasis placed on descriptive elements. The pacing flowed, and I felt invested in the story from start to finish. If you’re looking for a solid romantasy read, this one is a good start to a trilogy!

Rating 8: Fast-paced and full of action, this is a romantasy worth checking out!

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on Dec. 28

I really enjoyed this one! The setting felt fresh and unique, blending New Adult Fantasy with dystopian vibes that hit all the right notes for me. It had a stark, cold edge that pulled me in immediately and kept the tension high throughout the story.

The writing style, though, took me some time to adjust to. While I’m no stranger to third-person narratives, this one initially felt more detached than I’m used to, making it harder to connect at first. But as I kept reading, I found the rhythm, and the story started to flow seamlessly.

Dawsyn is a total badass. She’s fierce, raw, and brave in a way that feels genuine yet unpolished, which makes her incredibly relatable. A little wild and headstrong, but with a maturity that makes her stand out.

Ryon, on the other hand, is the perfect partner and more than just a love interest. He’s strong and courageous but never overshadows Dawsyn or doubts her capabilities. I loved that he lets her take the lead, even when the risks are high. Also, if he wants to call me *Malishka*, I’m not complaining!

The ending left me completely shocked and in denial—talk about a cliffhanger! The concept is so cool, with a Nordic-inspired twist that initially reminded me of Skyhunter but for an older audience. The writing, especially in the beginning, captures the brutal cold and fear of the world so vividly.

That said, as the story progressed, some of that initial sharpness in the setting and character depth started to wane. While the plot remained solid, the overall execution lost a bit of its edge for me, which caused my enthusiasm to fade slightly.

Even so, this is a strong start with unforgettable moments, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

I love Stacey McEwan on social media, but I think I’ve learned that Romantasy just isn’t the genre for me. For those who love it, I think there’ll be much for them to enjoy in this story!

I have tried to pick this book up several times and honestly found the story idea truly interesting. I just could not get on board with the writing. I have a lot of respect for this author and do not feel this is a book for me. I am sure there are many others out there who will enjoy it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

Ledge begins with an intriguing premise: a small, isolated community living on the edge of survival, threatened by mysterious monsters. The atmosphere and world-building in the early chapters are engaging, capturing a sense of isolation and tension. However, once the FMC (female main character) is taken from her village, the plot shifts into more familiar romantasy territory. The dynamic between the characters, while enjoyable, feels somewhat predictable, and the story follows many of the genre's standard tropes without adding much originality.

Overall, Ledge offers an enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, romantasy read, but it could have explored its unique premise more fully.

I liked this, but at the same time, it was hard for me to fully grasp everything that was happening, The writing was incredibly difficult to get through, making me switch to the audio (I am behind on reviews) because of that. I appreciated the magic, though, and would strongly consider reading this author again.

Ledge by Stacey McEwan is a thrilling and romantic adventure that will captivate fans of fantasy and romance, particularly those who enjoy strong female leads, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers tropes, as they embark on a perilous journey with Dawsyn and Ryon as they navigate treacherous landscapes and confront the unknown.

Stacey McEwan does a great job with world building in this steamy sci-fi/fantasy.
While this genre isn't my typical go to, I found the plot entriguing and capivating.
A definte book to add to your list if you love fantasy.

Listen, I don't know what happened, but we need a redo.

I was so hyped for this book, I was specifically in a mood for some fantasy, winter vibes, cold, batmen. So this book was perfect for it, but it was so bad, sorry not sorry.

The first 50 pages felt so looong and then it got even worst, the main character was insufferable, she didn't have any personality, and mmc was even worst.

But THE WORST was their romance, it was so instalove, they were besties after one day AND HE LITERALLY KIDNAPPED HER THAT DAY.

Don't even get me started on the world building... Since like the middle I dozed off and basically idk what happened and honestly I don't care.

I wanted to like it, I really did, but it just wasn't why.

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

Slow burn, forced proximity NA fantasy that has you intrigued from the first chapter!

Good start to a new series. Looking forward to seeing what comes next.

What an interesting concept! I loved this as a first installment and can't wait to see what comes next. I've already downloaded Chasm!

I have seen some very mixed reviews and while everyone has their own thoughts and opinions I thought this was pretty good!

A lot of people are commenting on the rep and inclusion. I am not really a sensitive reader so I personally didn’t have a single issue with any of the rep throughout this book. That being said, I thought most of the side characters throughout this story were pretty funny! Some good banter too!

For a new author, debut novel, this read pretty well. Decent plot, intriguing world, decent characters (though some could be fleshed out more) some spice and good plot twists! I have read my fair share of debut novels and this lands somewhere in the 3-4star range for me.

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was great, the FMC was easily likable. The plot was very interesting and I am so excited for book 2, Chasm! That cliffhanger was…😳😳😳However, I really wish there had been more, that it had gone deeper into the story. I wanted it to be twice as long. I needed more connection with the characters.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommended this to my viewers. I thought that the fantasy world and characters were so unique and refreshing, and the story kept me on my toes. It gave me the right amount of romance (which I always look for in fantasy) and wasn't too difficult to wrap my head around a new world. I am very excited to read Chasm, and have preordered it already. Thank you for the opportunity to read this title early!

This was not my favorite, for writing alone. Nothing was wrong with it but it was not something I could get lost in and felt like I was reading a book .

Ledge was an icy adventure with plenty of heat. This story will suck you in quickly with Dawson, our main character who is one of the few humans who live on the Ledge. Any icy shelf with a sheer drop on one side. She is the only one left in her family. Everyone else has been killed by the cold, killed by others, or chosen. After Dawson herself is ‘chosen’, she has to survive both the cold and the cold blooded killers on the other side of the chasm.
Stacey McEwan did an amazing job of bringing this story to life with her ability to write banter and giving us some fan favorite tropes!
I could not recommend this book more!
5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

I loved the MC, she is a tough cookie and she can fight. I enjoyed the world of ice and can visualise it so clearly. Also some good humour in there which is always great. It's enemies to lovers, and I really liked the bond between the two MC.

With this being Stacey's debut novel, Ledge has so much promise to be an amazing series!

In Ledge, we follow Dawsyn, our heroine, who is stuck in a village on the ledge of a mountain where once a month winged creatures come to offer rations in exchange for a human "sacrifices" that are never seen again.

And this time our heroine is picked, and from that moment on, we follow an action-filled, slow-burn story full of revenge plots, political schemes, and, of course, an enemy-to-lover romance.

For me, the beginning was a little slow and hard to get into, I struggled to get my head around the worldbuilding, but once the pace picked up, I really did get stuck into the book. I was able to connect well with the characters and understand the world a lot more. I really do wish that the pace at the start was faster, or at least hocked me into the story a bit better than what it did, as I felt that with the fast-paced ending, it felt very rushed, and that pace could have been easily spread throughout the whole book..

With all that said, I did really enjoy Ledge; this dystopian fantasy romance really did capture my heart, and I can not wait for book two! I have so many questions that I need answers for now!

Thank you so much to angry robot Netgalley for allowing me to have this e-arc of ledge.