The Road of Bones by Demi Winters is the first book in the five book Ashen series. Silla Nordvig is running for her life. The Queen is hunting her and after her father is killed Silla must travel the Road of Bones to make it to a safe-house awaiting her. On her journey she joins up with the Bloodaxe Crew, a small group of mercenary warriors who don’t let just anyone into their group. Silla must win over the Crew so she can safely accompany them on their journey towards Kopa, all while avoiding the Queen’s assassin and military who are all looking for her.

This book was indie published about a year ago but the whole series of was picked up and will now be traditionally published.

It took me a while to get into this book but once I got started, I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it in just a few days. It’s full of adventure, plot twists, and a slooowwwww burn romance. The witty banter and internal monologues of a few characters had me literally laughing out loud. There’s a nice blend of Viking/Nordic culture and fantasy elements. I cannot wait to read the second book!

This might be a book for you if you enjoy:
- Vikings
- Hidden magic
- Touch her and die
- Forbidden romance
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Morally grey heroes
- Self-discovery and growth
- Witty banter
- Multiple POVs
- Found family

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Road of Bones is another on-trend romantasy book that's heavy on the romance asnthebprimary plot focus and then the fantasy element as secondary. The concept of the story is interesting, but there were some elements that took away from the story. One of these elements was the pacing, which never really found it's groove. I read fantasy and science fiction books (amongst other genres), so I'm used to world building in a story as well as detailed scenes. This book had a sort of quick start and then lulled for an extended period of time until it sort of picked up again and then lulled again. It was also hard to connect with the characters. I do believe, however, that readers who want more romance with a smidgen of fantasy will probably enjoy this book.

I loved this book. I had been looking for a good Viking romantasy and this fit the bill. The lore, the action, and the romance are all top tier. Can’t wait to dive into book two. I have a feeling it’s going to be even better than the first.

This book was enjoyed! It was detailed, the story was always engaging and the characters were having continuous growth. I loved every second of it!

A slow burn romantasy with Icelandic and Old Norse influences that starts pretty slow but quickly becomes intriguing. The plot twists kept things interesting but it does end with a HFN.

Can't wait to read the sister's story which is previewed in the epilogue.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was kind of slow at first, but then it really picked up. I will say that the romance in this one wasn't my favorite, but I'm hoping things change for the second one. How the book ended made me think that it will change to how I want it. I liked the characters and I really loved the group of thieves and how they are family to each other. Can't wait to read the next one!

Unfortunately, this book was not at all what I expected it to be. It think it was caught between a traditional fantasy and romantasy, but didn't do either of them well.

The writing was okay, but the plot was inconsistent and the book was overall too long. There was random parts that were graphic for seemingly no reason. I didn't really enjoy reading any of our main characters and was pretty annoyed with the POV switches that happened without any indication on who it would be. The romance was not interesting.

I won't be picking up the second book and not sure who to recommend this to.

Rated 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

Silla is working in a village as a baker, her dad gets killed by some thugs, as he’s dying she finds out he’s not actually her dad and he tells her she needs to head up north to find sanctuary. She stows away in a wagon led by a dangerous crew that’s heading up north to investigate a mysterious string of murders. She must grapple with the secrets and of her past and the slew of lies she’s telling everyone, including her new love interest, while on the road to safety.

I thought the betrayal scene was over the top. It didn’t quite fit with the character arc I’d seen with the rest of the book. I did think that all that happened with skraeda played out really nicely. I also don’t get the Rey thing - I don’t think it currently makes for a very compelling romantic plot.

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!