eARC Review: The Road of Bones by Demi Winter🦴

This was an interesting high fantasy based on the island of Iceland, Vikings, and Norse mythology. While I did find some issues with the primary love interest/one of the POVs of the story and found the plot lagging here and there, I still had a rather good time overall. 😊

The story follows four POVs: Silla, a young woman who finds herself suddenly alone with no idea of her background and is seeking safety; Jonas, a member of the Bloodaxe Crew who desperately wants to right his past; Rey, the leader of the Bloodaxe Crew who hides a world of feelings behind his cold exterior; and finally Skraeda, a royal assassin who will stop at literally nothing to get what she wants. 🗡️

Silla, is wonderfully naive to the world outside her life with her father and their constant need to move every three or so months. Her development through the book was probably my favorite of the bunch simply because of her tenacity and desire to prove herself. Her budding romance with Jonas immediately gave me red flags and a rather ick feeling at the very beginning. No matter how tragic his past is and how much grief has twisted him, Jonas was my least favorite of the POVs and I would honestly love to see this guy pummelled into the ground. 👊🏼

Rey was probably my second favorite POV of the bunch simply because of how differing his inner monologue is compared to the reactions of characters to him. His change of heart and character towards the last 25% of the book really made him out to be a much better guy than Jonas ever hopes to be, and I can’t wait to dive more into his character in the next book. 🔥

Skraeda was an interesting POV. She’s incredibly one-track minded, and her backstory makes her out to be a wonderfully twisted villain. I do wish we could get more of her simply because of how interesting her life before becoming an assassin was, but I guess we’ll never know. 🤷🏻‍♀️

As much as I did enjoy three of the four characters, I found the plot rather lagging until the 75% mark. Now, this isn’t bad, it’s just it felt like a lot of plot filler until the big finale. I personally could have done completely without the whole romance plot as I think this could’ve done wonderfully as an epic road trip fantasy. 🧳

Am I going to continue with the series? Yes, I’m very interested to see where Rey and Silla go and hopefully see Jonas get a good pummeling. 🤞🏼

Big thank you goes out to Delacorte Press for reaching out and offering this to me in exchange for an honest review and to NetGalley for providing me the eARC. And to the author for that crazy ending. 🤯

Publication date: November 5!

Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️

4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💫

“You’ve broken me…bewitched me…I know nothing except that I am miserable. All I can think of are your lips, the smell of your hair. How you felt in my arms; the way you made me feel so alive…”

The Road of Bones is the first novel in the adult viking fantasy romance series, The Ashen. The novel is third person multi POV with a main focus on Silla, a young woman who finds herself targeted by the queen of Iseldur for reasons she struggles to understand. Before her father is killed she is told of one safe haven she can find...but she must traverse the dangerous Road of Bones to find her way. In order to do so she realizes she cannot travel alone and after stowing away in a caravan of the infamous Bloodaxe Crew. She needs to convince them to help her but the brooding leader of the Crew is none too pleased with her secrets alongside his handsome right-hand man who tempts her to reveal everything. Yet the stakes get higher with each secret revealed and a ruthless assassin on her heels...will Silla find her way or be lost along the road?

I had a lot of fun with this book! The tension, the secrets, the action!

Silla is a character who is having to face a really big learning curve about herself and the world. She has this underlying goodness to her but she often falls into this tendency to hide things to protect herself. I felt for each revelation she faced and I rejoiced at those moments she got to feel truly free...even if it was for a moment.

Rey is the leader of the Crew and, boy, does he have some baggage. He is a male hyper focused on truth and at times he can be quite aggressive with it. As the story progresses I really liked Rey. I loved seeing him build a connection with Silla that was companionship and support. Also, this man has SO MANY SECRETS.

Jonas is the right hand man and he offers Silla that freedom to really explore herself. I love how he tempts and teases her but does he go through quite the change because of Silla.

There are additional characters that help round out the story - Hekla, Gunnar, Sigrun, and Ilias were the remaining Crew and that really enriched the world and story. Hekla as a female support for Silla especially stood out to me.

This book does contain spice. I would say 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. You start to see spice around the 50% onwards. The first one to two times are detailed but any spice onwards is mentioned but not detailed. Silla has had no prior experience with spice so you do get these fun teaching moments. I felt the romance itself was very much a first love kind of situation with the intensity and passion. It was nice seeing the time find comfort when bothYet there is still a lot to unpack going forward that has me very curious about book 2.

“I’m not a good man, Curls…But you make me feel as though I could be one…”

The story easily grips right from the opening. It holds nothing back so violence is detailed and graphic. There is the journey element of the story as Silla seeks to travel to Kopa while the Bloodaxe Crew are travelling to a nearby area for a mission with a payout they could only dream of. There is also the assassin's storyline as she tracks down Silla. There is the overarching story of what the queen wants with Silla, the oppression of magic in the realm, and what Silla is missing from her pasts. Throw in the unravelling of other character pasts and you have a story that keeps you on your toes because there is so much to explore and I feel so much to come. There are a lot of twists and turns; some I was able to predict pretty early on but others I was not anticipating. I also really enjoyed the banter, camaraderie, and the action. I felt the pacing helped this story move so well. The final 15% are jam-packed with revelations and intensity that I was left reeling. The ending was extremely well done and has me feral for the next book!

Overall an amazing start to a new series! Thank you Random House for this arc!

The Road of Bones is book one in The Ashen Series by Demi Winters.
An engaging adult romantic fantasy. This story feels so unique to me, and the twist at the end I never saw coming.
Very well written with fantastic characters and the world building was phenomenal.

I recently started The Road of Bones by Demi Winters, a book that promised a mix of Viking mercenaries, forbidden romance, and a dangerous quest. While the premise sounded incredibly exciting, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story.

Despite the intriguing setup and the potential for an epic adventure, I couldn’t quite connect with the characters or the pacing. Silla’s journey through the treacherous Road of Bones and her interactions with the Bloodaxe Crew didn’t hold my interest as much as I had hoped..

Given that I didn’t finish it, I’m giving it a 1-star rating. This reflects my experience without being overly harsh, as I recognize that every reader’s journey is different.

Sometimes, a book just doesn’t click, and that’s okay! I’m grateful for the chance to explore new stories and authors, even if they don’t always become favorites

This was closer to a 3.75 for me but I think the series is promising! I believe this was a debut and it honestly read like one. I don't mean that in a mean way but there is just some room for improvement. I did see some other people say they believe book two will be better which after reading this I would agree with.

Personally, I think I need to take a break from this genre. The pacing really bothered me, it was really slow up until like the 60% mark, and I am just not feeling fantasy rn. The vibes the story gave off didn't really appeal to me so I likely won't read more in the series but with that said I don't think this one was horrible. Like I said it has a lot of potential and a lot of people enjoyed it. I came for the viking romance and just wasn't really feeling how the story developed.

I really like the unique premise of this book and many tik tok fans got me excited for this one. I did find it to be a touch more violent than I’d prefer a fantasy book - I’m likely in the minority! I know that’s often part of fantasy. And it was also tricky to keep the characters straight

I just really couldn’t get into this one I have tried at least three times. I just couldn’t relate to the characters. I gave it fair shot it just overall wasn’t for me. I tried reading it and then I even got the audiobook and still couldn’t get into it.

Fantasy inspired by Vikings!

Silla Nordvig was used to moving around with her father from town to town never staying longer than six months at a time. She never expected to be attacked before even leaving Skarstad and finding out that her father wasn’t actually related to her because the Queen of Íseldur is searching for her. So now she has to travel through some of the most dangerous parts of Íseldur to Kopa and hopefully safety.

Silla knows that she can’t travel the Road of Bones by herself so she hides in a wagon of the Bloodaxe Crew but when she found she has to ask for mercy while keeping her secrets so they don’t kill her out of hand while they do a job that they need to keep secret.

The Road of Bones is really heavy on the fantasy setting with nothing as you expect because everybody has secrets with a lot of magic

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was 80 for me. It was an interesting read that kept me entertained, but also kind of had me in suspense as I read. I found that it was hard to guess what was going to happen, but also easy at some points between certain characters I enjoyed the development of the main male character in the book, but also found that the side characters had each something to give to the s. I also just enjoy the overall storyline, and the way the author uncovered the shocks and twist and turns .

Vikings! Found family! Magic!

This story started off a bit slow, but it was well worth it. The storylines that were woven together were exquisite. I enjoyed this very much!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to read!

I really enjoyed this book! Demi Winters writing style really captures the reader and I could not put the book down. I loved the banter between all the characters and especially between Silla, Jonas and Rey. A reader can see how Silla grows from being a girl who relies on her father, to becoming a young woman ready to defend herself. I was not expecting the surprise twist at the end or the cliffhanger. I need to read the second book yesterday! Definite five stars!

The Road of Bones is quite possibly one of my favorite Romantasy reads this year! It was a bit slow to get into at first, but once I hit 20% of the way in, I couldn't put it down! Very fast-paced and character-driven. I really loved the Icelandic/Viking inspired vibes interwoven with the world-building and magic system. Silla goes through so much growth and I enjoyed her perseverance from the moment she meets up with the Bloodaxe Crew. The fact that the narrative meshes many of my all-time fave tropes like found family, forced proximity and a slow burn romance with the most unlikely of warriors was a recipe for obsession. Thank goodness I had the ARC of Kingdom of Claw to immediately start upon finishing this one!

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters is a captivating fantasy novel that immediately drew me in and kept me engaged until the final page.

The world NEEDS more Viking and Viking-adjacent book heroes.

This book has everything (cue Stefan) - magic, secrets, romance, action, BETRAYAL. I was locked in the entire plot and had a hard time tearing myself away to do boring things like eat and work and sleep. The worldbuilding here was subtle but rich (no word-vomit overload of information) and takes Nordic warriors into a new realm. I’m very excited for the next book, and sad I have to wait for it to come out!

POV: multiple third person

You can expect: magic, mystery, traveling companions, journey, forced proximity, “touch her and die”, monsters, warriors, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract.

Rep: grief, headaches/migraines, nightmares, addiction and withdrawal, character with mutism who uses Sign Language, amputee.

Spice: 2/5

CW: public stoning, violence, murder, gore, domestic violence, death of a parent, death of a sibling, drugging, attempted rape

4.25 stars

Doing my best to keep this one spoiler free. Thanks to Demi Winters, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! This is a traditionally published version of a book that’s been on my TBR for ages and I’m so excited I got my hands on it!

I went into The Road of Bones expecting a typical romantasy with a Viking-inspired spin, but Demi delivered something unique, especially towards the end! I was pleasantly surprised when the plot took some turns I wasn’t fully prepared for, breaking out of the typical formula in a genre that can be somewhat predictable. (I say this as a HUGE fan of romantasy!) The writing was solid from start to finish, with an immersive, gritty tone that fit the world she built beautifully.

That said, the first half did feel slow to me. While I appreciated the details introducing the setting and characters, I found it a little tough to stay engaged at first. I also found the magic system a little hard to grasp, but hopefully that can be remedied in future books in the series, which I fully intend to read.

One thing to note in this is the violence. I’m not usually squeamish with reading, but I was taken aback by a few of the scenes. Be sure to check the trigger warnings and take care of yourselves!

Despite these minor complaints, this was a great read, and I’m still eager to read the sequel to see where Demi takes the story next!

After spending this year trying to read a few Viking inspired fantasy romances, I’ve come to the conclusion that they are just not exactly my thing. I will be giving this one a three star just because it was well written and I can see the appeal. It just wasn’t for me.

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: The Road of Bones (The Ashen Series, Book 1)

After barely escaping a brutal attack, Silla is alone in the world and mercilessly hunted by the Queen. To travel to safety, she must trek through The Road of Bones, notorious for being plagued by danger, monstrous creatures, and death.

Her desperate attempt to stow away becomes infinitely more complicated when her path crosses with an elite mercenary crew. Armed with her wits and half truths, can she survive The Road of Bones?

Tropes:
👀 Multi POV
☀️ Sunshine FMC
🩶 Morally grey MCs
⚠️ Enemies to lovers
🗣️ Banter
⛔️ Touch her & 💀
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Found family
🫥 Hidden identities
🔥 Slow burn 🌶️

Please allow me to introduce you to my newest obsession! This book captures everything I loved about The Witcher, The Last Kingdom, and Vikings. The world building is rich, fully immersing the reader in this brutal, dark world.

Silla may not be a warrior in a traditional sense but she possesses the heart of one. She’s bold, fearless, and resourceful but naive to certain ways of the world. This stellar ensemble cast of morally grey characters is so endearing and brought forth so many laugh-out-loud moments.
The romantic relationship develops slowly and the reveals had me screaming!

With a stunning blend of Viking-inspired fantasy and a perfect balance of plot and character-driven story, I enjoyed every minute traveling along The Road of Bones!

Ashes, I cannot wait for Kingdom of Claw. Huge thanks to the author, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the review copy opportunity! This is my honest and voluntary review

This book had potential for me, but I ended up putting it down around the 43% mark due to a lack of momentum. While I’ve read longer books with slower pacing, this one struggled with moving the characters’ situations forward, which made the repetition feel more pronounced. It was like a game of cat and mouse.

The main female character Silla was tough to connect with, though it’s understandable given that her world had only recently been turned upside down. Still, it was hard to see why other characters would continue to trust her, especially since they seemed to act out of character based on their initial descriptions—especially the first main male lead Jonas. The romance didn’t quite land for me either, though I assume there’s more to that later on.

The action scenes are definitely a highlight, and two of the three multiple POVs in third-person limited were a nice touch at times. But at times, jumping between perspectives made the story feel fragmented, leaving me wishing for a bit more payoff in each scene. The beginning had great tension and kept me engaged, and I would have loved to see that momentum continue with more plot progression or a bit more variety in the type of situations described.

This book was a JOURNEY. For me the world building at the beginning and all the new words (I learned at the VERY END that there was a glossary and how to pronounce section of the eBook)... so it took me until 25% to get into the book - let's call them some bumps in the road. But then I started to grow fond of the FMC - people are after her and she's on the run. She's created a path of lies and stumbles upon a crew headed the same direction she needs to go. I liked learning about the crew members and characters and their journey. There was grumpy/sunshine vibes and I loved a lot of the nicknames the crew gave the FMC (Curls, Hammer, Sunshine, etc). There are some twists and bumps on this winding road and that made this long-ish book worth it. For the romance readers - there's a little romance plot and spice but more of the fantasy theme than romantasy. It is an unfinished series so it has a to-be-continued ending but I think book one gave us enough of a wrap up to not be livid that the next book isn't out yet.

I will for sure read the next book in this series.

HOT VIKINGS! MAGIC! COMPLEX WORLDBUILDING! MULTI POV!!! This was utterly DELICIOUS in every way.

The story here centers on Silla, a woman with more than her fair share of secrets, seeking sanctuary in one of the last places in a brutal kingdom run by a megalomaniac king and his lethal band of specialized soldiers who roam from town to town hunting down criminals only to publicly execute them. The path Silla has to take cuts through a legendarily dangerous road, and as she faces threats from all sides, she’s forced to lean on a notoriously bloodthirsty, violent band of mercenaries for help in getting her to her destination.

IN SHORT: it’s every bit as enthralling, delicious, and unputdownable as you’d expect from a dark viking-inspired romantasy.

While this book quite literally has everything you could want from this subgenre, where it shined the brightest for me is in its worldbuilding. When I say this is a complex fantasy, I mean it – it took me a few chapters to be able to parse through the society structure, the magic, the characters, and the terminology – but once it percolated, I literally could not set this down. It’s violent, it’s high stakes, with plot twist after plot twist, an adorable found family trope (even if that found family could kill you where you stand and not even think twice about it), and enough sizzling romance to warm you up on even the coldest winter nights.

The plot is captivating, the writing is magnificent, the romance is delicious, and the way the story unraveled had me sending frantic texts to friends who’ve also read this in the middle of the night. I LOVED every second of this, even the growing pains it took me to acclimate to the complexity of the world in the first few chapters.

Pick this up if you’re also feral for vikings, want a dense and complicated fantasy to sink your teeth into, and are looking for another reason to binge watch the last kingdom on Netflix for the hundredth time. You’ll need it to fill the post-viking hangover void after finishing this one.