Fans of Adrienne Young's Sky in the Deep and Jensen's "A Fate Inked in Blood" will find their itch for Viking adventure/romance fulfilled in this one. It has a slow start and takes a while to draw the reader in, but once you're invested, it makes for a pretty good yarn. Eager to read the sequel.

I was actually a beta reader for this book before it got picked up trad. Demi is a fantastic writer who soils ethereal worlds that you can truly dive into!

Great book, super exciting and enjoyable. I am really looking forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this eARC.

An immersive fantasy story with an intriguing cast of characters. I enjoyed all of the world building and still hope for more to come. The layers of inspiration from Norse mythology and culture were quite enjoyable.

Great start to the series!

A Viking inspired magical romantasy? Yes please.

The romance has an excellent build. The villain is extremely easy to hate (which we all love).

The story may be your typical young girl alone in a magic world but there are some unique things that set this one apart.

Can’t wait to see what comes next!

This is such a fun read! If you like third person fantasy books this is right up your alley.
The Viking and magic setting is done super well there are so many twist and turns you keep wanting more.

Please check content warnings.

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters is an exhilarating fantasy adventure filled with danger, dark magic, and high-stakes survival. The story follows Silla Nordvig, a young woman on the run from the Queen of Íseldur’s ruthless assassins. Her only hope is to travel the deadly Road of Bones—a thousand miles of treacherous terrain haunted by warbands, dark creatures, and a mysterious murderer lurking in the shadows.

Silla’s journey is a thrilling race against time, and Winters does an incredible job of building tension as she faces seemingly insurmountable odds. After a harrowing start, Silla’s path crosses with the notorious Bloodaxe Crew, where she must earn the trust of their enigmatic leader, Axe Eyes, while trying to navigate her growing attraction to the dangerous and handsome Wolf. The chemistry between the characters adds a layer of intrigue and emotional complexity to the story, making it more than just a survival quest.

The world-building is rich, with an atmosphere steeped in danger and mystery, and the Road of Bones itself becomes a character in its own right—an unforgiving and haunting setting that constantly tests Silla’s strength and determination.

If you love fantasy stories with strong female leads, perilous journeys, and a touch of romance, The Road of Bones is a fast-paced, gripping read that will keep you hooked until the very last page. Silla’s quest for survival is fraught with danger, but her resilience and resourcefulness make her a heroine worth rooting for.

This Viking inspired story stole my breath away. The characters in this book are so creatively flawed and raw, it was so mesmerizing to read. The FMC is one of my favorite characters I have ever read. The romance and plot balanced eachother out so well. This is by far one of my top reads of the year. If you enjoy fantasy, Vikings, romance, and plot twists then pick this up!

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC. 4.5 for this book. This took me a bit to get into and I had a little harder time with pronunciations and trying to understand the world. Took me a while to realize the glossary and pronunciation guide was at the end of the book but also like to avoid these due to potential spoilers. Once I got the hang of the world I needed to know what would happen. I love seeing the growth of the MFC and the twist and turns. I figured out a couple right away but loved to see how it developed. Now I need to have the 2nd book to finish the story!

OMG. This was such an amazing story. I’ve never read a Viking Fantasy series before so I didn’t know what to expect. But this book has:

🌟 Vikings
🌟 Magic
🌟 Betrayal
🌟 Adventure
🌟 Sacrifices
🌟 Enemies to Lovers

All the things you need to create an amazing fantasy series. I’m super excited to read book 2 next!

I loved this book! Once I started reading I couldn’t stop, and I’m not a huge romantasy lover but I really wanted to give this book a chance! And I’m so glad I did, the mystery element within the story kept me on my toes and I can’t wait t9 get my hands on the next book!

I loved this book! The beginning was a little slow going but one found that’s normal when it comes to fantasy books! By the end I was hooked and ready to just into the next book!

Silla thought she knew her father, but as he lay dying she discovers that she is not his daughter and that the Queen is after her. All she knows is that she must make it to Kopa to find out more. The Road of Bones to get to Kopa is a dangerous journey and Silla doesn't know if she will make it alone. When she sneaks into a wagon headed North on the road and gets caught by the band of warriors, Silla will have to convince the hard eyed warrior and his handsome right hand man to let her travel with the group. Will she make it to Kopa without being caught by the Queen's people and will she make it unscathed from the two warriors in the group?

I would recommend this as a new adult novel to anyone that enjoys fantasy with romance. The story kept me engaged after a slow start and the ending left me wanting the next book in the series.

What an amazing debut!

The Road of Bones is a Viking fantasy with a loveable female lead, strong female characters, amazing fight scenes, and an incredibly interesting magic system. Oh, and also several amazing plot twists that you think you guessed but you didn't.

Winters uses vivid imagery to build Silla's world, and readers are thrown right into the action. This is a very fast paced book with several slower moments, so although the characters are always on the move, there's still plenty of details and conversations to help readers learn about the characters, their motivations, and their secrets. There are many dark moments--check the triggers warnings at the start of the book--but they make sense within the world and within the Viking culture, and there are also many lighter moments to balance, especially moments that show off Silla's kindhearted nature and her ability to bring light and joy to others. There is a strong sense of found family, but the female friendships were especially fun, and I really appreciated the wide range of female character types that were shown. Silla is not a warrior like so many FMCs who are popular today, but she is a brilliantly written woman who does learn to protect herself and has a strong sense of family and self. And there are several other female warriors who are totally badass but still have character and personality.

The romance in this book didn't go how I expected, which I really liked. I had some suspicions as I read, but I didn't see the twists coming, and I can't wait to read Kingdom of Claw to see how things play out. I also can't wait to learn more about some characters that were introduced near the end of this book and to see more development of the magic system.

The Road of Bones is a longer book, but it doesn't feel long because the action is almost non-stop, the characters are so much fun, and Silla's growth is amazing. This is a wonderful debut and a strong start to the series.

The Road of Bones: Silla finds herself on the run from the queen’s soldiers after her father is killed and secrets are revealed. To reach a safehouse she must travel the Road of Bones, a journey full of war bands and dangerous creatures. Silla sneaks onto a wagon of the Bloodaxe Crew, who have their own reasons for traveling the road. She makes herself useful to gain their protection, and gradually becomes friends and more, though her secrets hold her back.

You can expect:
Viking Romantasy
Forbidden Magic
Hidden Identities
Who Hurt You
Only One Horse
Found Family
Disability Rep
Grief and Addiction
Secrets and Betrayal
Cryptid Creatures
Norse-inspired World
Early20s MCs
Multi, 3rdP POV

I liked the romantic development, there were hints about where it was leading and I am happy with how it ended up. I figured the resolution wouldn’t come until the next book, but I’m sure there will still be more at play there. The Road of Bones wrapped up nicely, there wasn’t really a cliffhanger but definitely leaves plenty left for the series to explore. Two of five books have been released and I look forward to reading the rest!

I rated this 4.25 on Storygraph as I did really like it and see the potential of the series, but there were some awkward and slow parts in there too.

I got this audiobook on one of Audible’s two for one sales, drawn in by the Norse inspired world. Then it came up on NetGalley now that it’s being traditionally published by Dell, so thought it would be a good excuse to get an easy review, and so glad I jumped in now. It was great to tandem read to get some pronunciations and follow along. The narrator did a wide variety of voices well. Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

I really liked the blurb for this book, the concept was really cool! I like the fantasy viking genre that I first found in 'A Fated inked in blood.' This is a republication and I did like the update to the cover art. Overall this is a very long book, so be ready to read. The blood axe crew is interesting group of misfits and bring the story together so well with their. I was a little iffy about the main characters Silla, she lies and gets caught on a repeated cycle way too much. I understand she is trying to get to her destination and will do anything to get there, but we need something else also. She is being chased by one of the queen's lackeys who seems to come back from death way too many times. Towards the end a love triangle starts to be apparent, and unfortunately it does not end how I want it from reading the blurb for the next book. Hopefully I will get over that and read the next book since the writing and story are pretty good. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Demi Winters is an automatic buy author after this book! This was my first introduction into Viking romantasy and let me just say that it did not disappoint.

The book follows our FMC, Silla, as she is being hunted by Queen Signe’s warriors. But why does the queen want her??? People seem to notice her scar. This book quickly sets up a juicy plot as you uncover more of Silla’s mysterious past as she figures it out along with the reader.

As Silla is on the run she comes upon the Bloodaxe Crew. She convinces their grumpy leader to take her in. Especially with her cooking. But there is someone else in the crew who takes a special interest in her…

This book had me immediately wanting to know more and I just couldn’t put it down! It had everything I could have asked for with action, plot, mystery, and romance. You’re going to want book 2 immediately after!

I want to start by saying, thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I do not want to bash anyone who enjoyed this book but boy it was NOT for me. All the raving reviews I genuinely do not understand.

- weak FMC
- love triangle (allegedly. I did not get that far)
- Viking? romance
(the names were all so hard to pronounce I gave them different names)
- found family

I did DNF this book at about 50%.
The beginning HALF of this book was painfully slow. Not much was happening. It was multi pov chapters but never labeled. You just kinda had to read a few sentences to figure out whose pov you were actually reading.

Silla, one of the main characters, is absolutely useless, a complete mess. A damsel in distress with way too much plot armor. At least she recognizes she’s as helpful as an 8 year old. Also her eating these weird leaves throughout the book remind me of a drug addict. One of the characters literally tells her it’s poison and she continues to take them.

I have zero desire to ever pick this book up again. Maybe it will be for you, but it is not for me and that’s ok.

found this book overall very entertaining. While the pacing may feel slow at times, and some plot points a bit predictable, these are minor drawbacks compared to the overall quality of the work. It’s a strong recommendation for readers who enjoy a blend of fantasy and romance.

The first five chapters are a little wordy and overly descriptive. At times, Silla, the main character, daydreams in ways that are filled with rich analogies and similes, to the point where the main idea can get lost. It feels a bit unrealistic—no one really thinks in such elaborate metaphors in their own head. A more authentic inner dialogue might improve these scenes.

Another aspect that could use some clarification is the relationship between Silla and Rey. It's a bit confusing whether their bond is purely platonic, with Rey seeing Silla as a little sister, or if there are hints of repressed romantic feelings. If this ambiguity was intentional, it still left me uncertain, so a bit more clarity could strengthen this dynamic.

Overall, this book delivers a compelling and well-structured narrative that keeps the reader engaged. The characters are skillfully developed, with relatable and multifaceted personalities that grow throughout the story. The balance between action and introspection makes it a captivating read, and I can’t wait for book 2!

Oh this one is going to be SO big.

And it’s definitely going to be my personality for a while.

Grab your coffee and your glossary - because you’re going to need both.

The coffee because you will stay up until 3AM to keep reading.

And the book’s Glossary because Demi Winters will throw you right into a complex, twisty and utterly haunting story and trust you to do your job as a reader to keep up with the action. That’s my favorite part.

***
The details:
- The Road of Bones is one of the top Romantasy books I’ve read all year on all fronts: storyline, character work, writing style, world-building. All of it.
- It’s the first of two (and counting) books in Winters’ The Ashen Series.
- It’s recently been picked up by Random House and a gorgeous hardcover comes out November 5.

The first thing I’ll say is that this was an easy five-star, but it’s not an “easy” read. The best books never are, and I loved every second of Winters’ storytelling. It was utterly unpredictable - I never knew where this one was going, and if you’ve read enough Romantasy you know how incredible (and rare) that can be.

- Viking-inspired Romantasy: get your glossary ready
- FMC with a mysterious background, unknown even to her
- Road trip with some reluctant heroes, or honorable bandits depending on how you look at it
- Found family
- Multiple POVs
- Only one horse

To Silla: Girl, you have got to stop wandering into the woods without a blade at the ready.

To Everyone Else: You have got to run to preorder The Road of Bones (and Kingdom of Claw).

Thank you to Random House Ballentine and NetGalley for an advance ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of Sarah A. Parker and Penn Cole.