In my Romantasy era! The book started off a little slow but man o man did it pick up and deliver. What a stellar debut. Spicy in all the right ways with a beautiful story to go with it. The character development and just the story in general had me hooked!

For a 500+ page book, I was prepared for a lull in the flow of the story, but I wasn't bored once! The pacing, the characters, the revelations, THE BANTER!

Loved the magic system, Silla's character arcs (so far), and the plot! The love interest though... I'm gonna just let yall form your own opinions on him 😂

This romantasy is just that, the perfect thicc romantasy book, us romantasy readers love!

Did I take forever to read this book? Yes, but wow the ending killed me!! This was soooo good! Some parts were a tad slow but overall I really enjoyed this Viking romance. I can’t wait to read book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my review

Y’all. I just need to know why no one is talking about this book. Let me put you on.
The Road of Bones is a Viking fantasy with elements of heroes journey and personal growth.
It started out slow and I found myself struggling in the beginning to continue. In the middle when things started picking up I became more interested. After that- I couldn’t put it down. I was INVESTED.
The lies and deception by multiple characters had me reeling and took me by surprise multiple times. Every time I thought I had the rest of the story figured out, it went a completely different direction.
I love the different way that strength is portrayed through Silla and the result of underestimating her. Winters did a great job immersing you in the world and staying true to the values of Viking warriors shown through the Blood Axe Crew.
This story is the perfect mix of action, suspense, political intrigue, and a smidge of romance. It grew on me in the best way and became unputdownable. I can’t wait for a sequel!

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
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Silla and her father has been wanderers as long as she can remember. When tragedy happens she must leave her home to reach safety. But traveling alone is dangerous and she is no warrior. Enter a band of warrior vikings.
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What I liked:
-This is the viking book I didn’t know I was searching for. When I reread this I will definitely look to find audio so I can hear how all these names are pronounced though.
-I really liked Silla, despite her poor choices and being naive. She had this grit and drive under the surface. Loved learning about her and all the secrets kept from her as she was learning them.
-I chose my ship early on. I chose well. I loved that aspect of it.
-I really liked Silla’s friendships within this band of Vikings and I would love to see more of that in the next book.
-Also want lots more of Saga.
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4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Thoroughly enjoyed Road of Bones and looking forward to book two! #teamaxeyes

4.5 stars

Wow. Complex characters, deep storylines, lots of actions. Silla and her father had lead a nomadic lifestyle for their safety, but she never really knew why. When he is suddenly killed before her eyes, she’s thrust into a life and death journey to help uncover her true self and purpose.

Absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. A few times I could predict what was coming, but didn’t detract from the story and my enjoyment. Cannot wait for the second installment.

A well written story with great character development. I enjoyed reading The Road of Bones and look forward to reading more by Demi Winters!

It's official, I'm obsessed with Demi Winters. This book is five stars, no notes! I have not rooted for a FMC this hard ever. The adventure/journey had me hooked, and every character was perfect. This author knows how to write a villain. I can kiss my TBR goodbye because I'm dropping everything to read my ARC of book two.

This was a great story. The writing was very well done and I enjoyed watching the characters either grow and evolve or succumb to their traumas and issues. I did predict a few things but that comes as an avid reader and not all things are able to surprise me.

One thing that irritated me a bit was the pacing as far as the plot goes and the journey they were on. I love a good travel/quest story but this one felt a little dragged out. I was ready for the end of the secrets and for the characters to get to where they needed to go.

I'm looking forward to the sequel and seeing where the story goes and how it ends.

So many fun tropes and such an action packed read. I heard great things about this book and was not disappointed. It followed the traditional romantasy guidelines but with some twists and turns. Very good!

I enjoyed this book, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't take me a second to fall into the world. The world-building was jarring to my brain somehow, and I'll admit that could be because it's been a while since I have read fantasy that wasn't a cozy fantasy. The pay off though was worth it, this is the start of a very captivating story and I absolutely adored all the characters and the found family aspect of it. I can't wait to see what's next.

Is this like Little Red Hiding Hood if it was an adult Romantasy with hot Vikings?!

In THE ROAD OF BONES, we meet Silla Nordvig as she flees her homeland to seek refuge in a faraway city. Clinging to her slim chance of survival, Silla joins up with a crew of mercenaries. When dangers lurk around every corner, Silla and the infamous Bloodaxe crew will be tested, both in bouts of strength and in their bonds with one another.

Silla was an awesome protagonist! I appreciated her quiet brand of strength set against a world that was so openly violent. I liked that she was flawed, but still likeable. She makes a lot of mistakes and spends much of the novel owning up to them and then trying to fix what she can.

I found that the first half of the novel moved very slowly. I felt like I had a pretty steady foothold in the world itself but then it just took a loooong time for me to feel sucked in to the main action. But when things picked up, they really picked up! Everything got so messy and complicated and then I couldn’t put it down!

Will definitely be checking out book 2 when it releases.

My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for access to the eARC in exchange for my review!

This book was FANTASTIC- the best fantasy debut I have read in a long time! I recommend to any fans of fantasy and romantasy, especially if forbidden romance, found family, and grumpy/sunshine tropes are a favorite. Demi Winters is a talent and I can't wait to read the sequel.

The plot: Silla Nordvig is running for her life as bands of warriors hunt her down on behalf of the queen of Iseldur. As he lays dying, Silla's father urges her to survive by following the dangerous Road of Bones to Kopa. The Road of Bones stretches for a thousand miles and is full of monsters, mercenaries, and a gruesome serial murderer. Silla is alone and desperate for safe passage, deciding to stow herself away on a supply wagon heading north. Unbeknownst to her, she has embedded herself with the infamous Bloodaxe Crew. Silla must convince Axe Eyes, the harsh leader of the Viking Crew, to allow her to stay, while also fighting her attraction to the Wolf, his handsome second-in-command. All the while, the queen's assassins continue to hunt Silla and the crew faces danger at every turn. Can Silla survive the Road of Bones to meet safety in Kopa?

What I liked: I enjoyed this book so much - Silla is impossible not to root for. Demi Winters did an amazing job of building out a full cast of characters with deep back stories, clear motivations, and defined personalities. Reading Silla, Rey, and Jonas in particular was a treat, but Hekla and Sigrun are very well-developed for minor characters as well. I loved the unique magic system, as well as the novel Icelandic-inspired setting, but my favorite part was the twist on some familiar tropes. Silla is a strong heroine, but her strength lies not in extreme cunning or physical prowess - her strength is in her sense of self, kindness, and openness. Her growth throughout the challenging experiences with her father, Jonas, and the crew shape her into a darker person who remains full of light at her core. The slow burn with the brooding crewman had me smiling throughout, and I can't wait to see where this story goes next. There are so many secrets that remain to be uncovered regarding the magic, her family, and the mysterious kingdoms. I'm so excited to meet Saga and to see how Silla tackles her new set of challenges.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC!

**The Road of Bones** was an unexpected gem. I went into it thinking it would be a fun, lighthearted romantasy, but it’s far more of a complex fantasy with a romance that develops naturally alongside the action. Set in a Viking-inspired world, the story primarily follows Silla, a girl on the run from the Queen of Iseldur after her father's death. She embarks on a dangerous journey down the "Road of Bones" in search of refuge, where she crosses paths with the Bloodaxe Crew, a group of ruthless warriors, and that’s when the fun begins. The book is a refreshing mix of adventure, character depth, and emotional stakes.

What truly stood out were the incredibly distinct characters. Silla, despite her sunny personality, is no pushover—she’s strong, resourceful, and relatable. The other POV characters, like Rey and Jonah, are also well-developed, and even minor characters who seem like throwaways come back at just the right moments, making the world feel lived-in and connected. The traveling plot, though simple—characters journeying down a dangerous road—was anything but boring. The obstacles they face and the way they interact with one another kept me hooked from start to finish. The romance was perfectly paced, leaving me eager for the next book, and the world-building is rich without becoming too grimdark. The balance of light and dark moments was well done, making the brutal world feel real. My only minor gripes were the overuse of nicknames, some predictable plot points, and the underexplained magic system, though I’m hopeful that’ll be fleshed out in book two.

Wow! I really enjoyed this novel! I am always a sucker for a little Norse mythology and Norse vibe fantasy literature.

This book was unexpectedly good. Romantasy books lately have felt rather subpar but this one was very satisfying. The fantasy element as much as the romance felt well developed and interesting. The characters had the right balance of flaws and abilities/badassery. I am not usually a fan of the poor little damsel picked up by the brutes... but this was well done. You could see that although the FMC was indeed in distress, she had so much potential and would grow into her power... which the author took her time to make happen still without being annoying.

I loved the dynamic between Silla and Rey and how their relationship evolved from animosity to attraction -- very slow but still fun to watch. I like how someone can hold so many different roles in your life as you grown into yourself (pain in the butt, brutal teacher, undesired crush...). Rey is your perfect secretive, dark and broody man with a complicated past and a tight honor system... and he can't seem to resist wanting to help Silla. I also did like how she slowly but surely came to discover herself and her power while being hunted by people and creatures and betrayed again and again.

After finishing this book I ran and got the second one, I wasn't ready to leave this world yet. I needed more of the characters. Highly recommend the series.

I’m definitely in my Viking Romantasy era! What an exciting concept for a new series. I’m an absolutely hooked and will continue to read the series as they are published.

The Road of Bones, by Demi Winters, is the first installment in the author's The Ashen Series. According to the publisher, this is the first of what appears to be a five-book series. This story falls within several categories: enemies to Lovers, Forced proximity, and slow-burn romance. From self-published authors like Jennifer Armentrout to the blockbuster bestseller that is Rebecca Yarros’s The Fourth Wing, readers are hungry for fantasy storytelling where the romance is front and center but also delivers plenty of world-building, action, and adventure.

In this epic and immersive Viking-inspired, multiple POV's, romantic fantasy, a woman fleeing a ruthless assassin accidentally joins forces with a group of mercenaries and must use all her cunning to escape with her life—and heart—intact. 20-year-old Silla Nordvig has spent years traveling with her father for work, using different names in each town for safety. When her father is killed in a skirmish with bandits, he tells Silla to travel to Kopa, where a shield house awaits. It's a journey that requires her to travel the Road of Bones - a thousand-mile stretch that is so named because it's made with the bones of those who have died on it.

After barely surviving the first stretch of road, she hitches a ride with the Bloodaxe Crew (Jonas, Reynir, Hekla, Gunnar, and Ilias) - a group that's just as dangerous as their name suggests. A group with a contract from the Queen Signe to travel North where they hunt monsters who appear to be coming out of the mist. Silla has to take her chances by convincing them to help her survive the Road of Bones and reach Kopa before the Queen's assassin finds her. Silla Nordvig is running for her life. The Queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. Why, you ask? Sorry, can't tell you!

To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. All the while, the queen's ruthless assassin, Skraeda, hunts Silla obsessively. Skraeda has some interesting secrets of her own that become apparent later in the story. The web of secrets Silla had believed her whole life starts to unravel and she is left to pick up the pieces and find out the answers she desperately needs. Meanwhile, the identity of who Silla really is hangs over the story like a snake ready to strike at a moment's notice. And, if that wasn't enough, the author strikes a blow to your feelings by revealing yet another plot twist that will have you questioning everything.

The middle portion had some major pacing issues. There was not enough action for a supposed dangerous road haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer. I wasn't completely sold on the romance, but there was a specific reason that wasn't revealed until later. At times, Silla, (spoiler alert, not her real name), got on my nerves with her naivety and inner monologue. The world building is rich with Viking lore and complex characters, and while I came to hate the romance for reasons I won't spoil, I think that events ended up taking Silla right where she needed to be.

I’ve always been a fan of Norse mythology so I was super excited to read this one! I also love a good fantasy romance. I think this was a solid start to a new series. It has multiple POVs, forced proximity, found family, evil queen, Vikings and so much more. Can’t wait to continue the rest of the series!

While I was a bit hesitant with the pacing at first, this turned out to be such a captivating read! The large cast of characters is delightful and the secrets, mysteries, and big reveals are done in such a natural and authentic way while still creating a big emotional reaction. I loved this one!