Overall I liked the book. Smooth writing, not too slow paced, good world building. Not spicy in my opinion and not very dark. Really like our FMC as Lydia is more real and sensible. A good mix of mystery, action, and fantasy with not a lot of info dumping, I think for a first book in a series it’s right on point and track. I’ll read the rest of the series.

Amazing world building 👍
Strong female lead who is a total badass 👍
Addictive series 👍👍👍👍👍
Clear your schedule - you're going to want all the time for this series.
Lydia wakes up with a strange tattoo - and so it begins.
Aon and Edu seem to be the love interests - though I'm not sure I like either.
This series has so much potential - huge fan!

A dark and twisted story

Lydia is trying to live her life, working at a hospital, when one night she and her best friend get hunted by strange creatures. Though they try to fight and Lydia even defeats one of them, they are eventually transported to another world. A world with magic: Under. There, all the humans stolen go through a Ceremony where they either get powers associated with one of the six ruling houses or die. But Lydia is different because she doesn't belong to any house. And she's drawn the attention of Aon, a mysterious and dangerous king.

This book was very exciting. It was quite quick and fast-paced, which could have felt rushed, but instead, it made the story all the more addictive. Lydia is an absolute badass despite the situation she finds herself in and I love her for it. The story is gripping and dark, twisted in the best way, and I'm very eager to know what will happen next, as this one felt more like an introduction to the world and everything. Speaking of the world, I found it really interesting and well put together and I'm excited to discover more in the sequel. The relationship between Lydia and Aeon is very intriguing and very, very dark as well, and I can't wait to see how it turns out for them in Under. All in all, a surprising and exciting read that kept me on the edge.

I recommend if you like fast-paced dark fantasy stories.

"You are stronger than this, I can feel it. Fight. Fight, Lydia. You and I are not yet done."

I hate giving bad reviews, but I was just not a fan of this book. It felt like it could have been a really good introduction to a book but it seemed to be very drawn out without actually moving the story along. I know that this is the first in a series but it felt very incomplete. It's a very dark book and I would struggle to call it a dark romance because there is literally no romance at all in the entire book. It's very possible that I was not the right target audience for this book, although I have read and enjoyed other dark romances in the past. It's also possible that the rest of the series improves and provides more of an actual story and not several different characters all saying the same things just from different viewpoints. I will not be reading on because it feels like this might go darker than I'm interested in going. Pain, for the sake of simply causing pain because you can, is not appealing to me. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Completely hooked for the VERY beginning! Romantsy books are usually a little slow with pacing at first, but I did not have this problem at all! I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was very well developed.

This was not what I expected. But I am not complaining. I am pretty satisfied with the reading, and even if it wasn't something memorable, it was still nice and a good book to just mix up my reading.
The writing is pretty smooth and the pace is fast, you don't have a single moment of boredom, and things keep happening. And the MC is good. I enjoyed Lydia, she is strong-willed and quite pragmatic (and yes, I love to read about pragmatic people!!), but she is also fun. She has a peculiar sense of humor, that's for sure, but it worked for me.
And the idea of this world is interesting. I had fun discovering this new setting, and there are a lot of things to appreciate.
I didn't have a problem per se, with this book, but it is a sort of introduction to this world and these characters, and even if it was nice spending time with it, I won't keep it with me.
It's one of those books that do their job, they entertain you and are not bad, but you'll forget pretty soon.
Ah, a big plus! Lydia is a great MC, but some of the other characters are... fascinating, especially Aon!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this! Omg. I loved this book, this is my first book from this author but surly won't be my last! It's not my normal type of read but I tried it and do not regret it. Can't wait to read the other books in the series.

King of Flames is a dark paranormal fantasy romance that is short and not so sweet. I do enjoy a good dark romance and feel there is a lot of potential in this story.

Kathryn Ann Kingsley creates such seductive and sexy paranormal romances and I adored her previous series, The Iron Crystal. I think The Masks of Under is a much slower burn than I had expected, but the premise was strong enough to reel me in. There is solid world building, interesting monsters and enjoyable characterisations. I really like Lydia, she has a unique back story and it does seem like we are going to enter a world of kink in the later books. I also hope we will get to explore more of Nick’s story with his transformation later in the series.

Overall, I think this is a solid first book, but I did find the story was quite slow. I am looking forward to seeing how the series progresses and this is an interesting revision of Kathryn’s earlier works.

I would recommend this to lovers of dark and paranormal romances.

I had a really hard time getting into this story, but as I got farther into it.. i liked it...but idk if ill continue the series. The world building was complex, and very different than what I am used to when it comes to fantasy books. I loved how Lydia is a forensic autospy technician- usually that position is held by a man (at least in every crime tv show i've watched) and how she loves horror movies, which help her later on. I love how she isn't your typical FMC, she was odd and quirky, But this story had a lot of parts to it that just weren't what I was into, or would typically read about so i felt like thats why I had a harder time with this book. i just couldn't connect to the story or the characters as much as i was hoping for, which is something that I need to really enjoy the book.

King of Flames by Kathryn Ann Kingsley is an enthralling dark fantasy that grabs you from the start. The book blends danger, magic, and forbidden romance into a captivating read.

In the world of Under, where everyone belongs to one of six powerful houses, our heroine is an outsider with no apparent magic. When the Ceremony of the Fall exposes her as powerless, she becomes a target. Enter Aon, the mysterious and seductive king of the House of Shadows. Despite his dark reputation, his intense chemistry with the heroine is impossible to ignore.

As political tensions rise and deadly power struggles ensue, the heroine must navigate this treacherous world while keeping her connection with Aon hidden. The plot is fast-paced, filled with twists and intrigue, and the romance is deliciously slow-burn.

For fans of morally ambiguous heroes and fierce heroines, King of Flames is a must-read. This first book in a six-part series sets the stage for more intrigue and sizzling romance, and I’m eager for the next installment.

I was really curious to see how this book will unfold. I read a few books from this author before and I have to say, I didn't really liked them, but I decided to try again, since the premise sounded quite interesting.

While this book was better in my opinion, one issue I had with the other books is the fact that the story felt quite dragged, and while reading I was waiting and waiting for something to happen. Because of this, I couldn't really connect with the book as much as I wanted

The main idea of the story is indeed interesting and I liked the characters, again, as an idea, but the writing could be better and transform this book in a great one

A dark, seductive fantasy that I was not able to put down!

King of Flames by Kathryn Ann Kingsley is the kind of book that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go.

This dark, steamy fantasy delivers a thrilling mix of danger, magic, and forbidden romance that will leave you absolutely hooked. If you’re a fan of villainous kings, sinister games, and irresistible chemistry, buckle up, this book has it all.

Our heroine is the ultimate outsider in the world of Under, a place where magic rules and everyone belongs to one of six powerful houses. Everyone, that is, except for her. She’s powerless, or so it seems. But when the ancient Ceremony of the Fall reveals her lack of magic to the entire kingdom, she finds herself marked as both a mystery and a target. Prey in a world where weakness is not tolerated.

Enter Aon, the enigmatic and dangerously seductive king of the House of Shadows. Masked and mysterious, he’s known as a monster, a killer, a ruler who keeps to the shadows. Yet, despite the warnings, our heroine can’t help but be drawn to him. His voice haunts her dreams, and his touch sparks something dark and irresistible within her. Aon is the ultimate bad boy, cloaked in darkness and power, and their chemistry is off the charts.

But King of Flames isn’t just about steamy romance (though there’s plenty of that). As the magic of Under begins to shift and a deadly power struggle breaks out among the six houses, our heroine finds herself caught in a dangerous game. With Aon’s rivals circling, she must navigate this treacherous world while keeping her bond with Aon hidden, or risk being destroyed by those who see her as a threat.

Kathryn Ann Kingsley has crafted a dark and addictive fantasy world filled with high stakes, ruthless politics, and enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot is fast-paced, full of intrigue and surprises, and the romance is deliciously slow-burn. Aon is a captivating anti-hero, dark, dangerous, and impossible to resist, and watching his relationship with the heroine evolve is pure entertainment.

If you love stories with brooding, morally gray heroes and fierce heroines who refuse to back down, King of Flames will be your next obsession. The book kicks off a six-part series that promises even more intrigue, danger, and sizzling romance, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens next.

Thank you to the publisher Second Sky , the author Kathryn Ann Kingsley , and Netgalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

Oooooh the spice of this romantasy!! I ate it up! Shadow daddies, a kingdom broken into 6 "houses," an arranged marriage - this has just the right balance between plot, spice, mystery, and thrill. I can't wait for the sequels!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

King of Flames by Kathryn Ann Kingsley is a wild ride from start to finish, with its unique world-building and dark, mysterious plot. Lydia’s life takes a sharp turn when she wakes up with a mysterious tattoo and is attacked by a body she was examining. From there, she and her best friend Nick are pulled into an alternate dimension called Under, a world filled with monsters and ancient beings. The intrigue builds as Lydia navigates this strange realm, with a growing connection to the enigmatic Aon, the darkest figure in the Under.

Though marketed as a dark fantasy romance, the romantic aspect takes a backseat in this installment, with little spice or steam. Instead, the focus is on world-building and setting the stage for future books, leaving readers with plenty of unanswered questions and a soft cliffhanger. If you're into dark fantasy with a slow-burn romance and a world full of danger and intrigue, this series is worth checking out.

I really enjoyed this but it’s such a different take on fantasy that I find myself at a loss for how to describe it other than to say you should read it if you enjoy fantasy.

This book was a lot better than I thought it was! I'm always a hit or miss when it comes to fantasy but I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow but overall a good book to start an new series

Thank you to Second Sky and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly don't really know what to say about this book. I thought I was going to love it and I really wanted to but it just did not hit the mark for me.

Whilst it was a pretty short book it felt like it dragged a bit and I was waiting for something to happen. By the 70% mark nothing really happened to grip my attention. Maybe if it was a bit longer and had a more to it I'd be itching for the second book but unfortunately I finished it feeling flat and disappointed

King of Flames by Kathryn Ann Kingsley was such a great first book to the series. Once I got into it, I just couldn't put it down! It follows the FMC Lydia who is thrown into an unknown world of Under where there are beings and creatures that could eat you, and masked men that are a mystery and invading her dreams.
The world of Under was so unique, and I really started to enjoy getting to know the characters better. Lydia was so headstrong and stubborn and I loved that about her. Aon is still a mystery to me, and I'm not sure if I love/hate him yet, but I'm hoping the next book will clear that up! I'm hoping for some spice in the next book because I just know it's going to be 🥵. I'm already excited to get into the next book and it's a bonus that it's a COMPLETE series!

I did not know what to expect before reading this ARC but I enjoyed it. The one thing that stood out to me was the world building - it gives off steampunk fantasy fire vibes, if that makes sense. I liked Lydia’s character - she’s quite feisty yet sensible. This book was shorter than I thought it would be, so I was hoping to have it slowed down a bit - some scenes were too fast while others were too slow. To be honest, I did not know what the heck was happening in some parts but it was unique and interesting nonetheless. I am curious to see what will happen with Lydia and Aon, and I am hoping that Lydia will see her friend Nick again.

A forensic scientist is taken from her home on earth and dropped into another universe and forced to participate in an ancient ceremony and be placed under one of the six ruling houses... yet she's caught the attention of a much darker king who is as seductive as he is deadly, can she survive? The first book in a six book series following Lydia, a forensic scientist who is abducted into a strange world filled with magic and kings who rule over everyone. Lydia wants nothing more than to get back home to earth but she's caught the attention of certain kings, and of the King of Shadows, Aon who is about to rise... for her. Aon and Lydia share a connection, they can see each other in their dreams... and Aon is known for being the most ruthless and deadly kings.... but he was meant to be laid to rest, and now he is about to arise.... and he wants her all for himself. Aon's rivals are determined to get rid of him and when Lydia's connection to him is discovered her own life is in danger... can she trust the cruel king who is determined to keep her for himself or will she find a way to free herself? This was definitely a fun start to the series and I can't wait to see where the next book grows. This one definitely felt so short and I am so interested in seeing how the second one continues the story and the relationship between Aon and Lydia! It's a fairly fun read and very easy to get into for fans of fantasy romance books with simple structures and easy to read plots.

Release Date: August 26,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Second Sky for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*