This was an amazing sequel and I loved getting to learn more about her sister. I am really excited to see what happens next in this series.

DEMI! What are you trying to do to me?! Road of Bones was epic and Kingdom of Claw kept the pace and story going brilliantly. I am wildly addicted to the characters and what happens to them as the plot unfolds. Demi is not only a truly wonderful person, but her writing is blooming into a world of vivid characters with enthralling plot twists and turns. I literally cannot wait for more from this series!

Kingdom of Claw is a fast-paced romantasy follow-up to Road of Bones that picks up with Silla after she was sold out by Jonas. She balances to escape her captors and eventually partners up with Rey aka Axe's Eyes whom she assumed hated her. She soon learns about her magic and who she truly is. She fights her identity, powers, and her growing feelings for Rey.

The story also follows Silla's sister Saga who has been kept as an unloved adopted daughter of the Queen Signe. Saga finds comfort with a possible ally and starts using her mind reading powers to help her sister. Saga and Silla eventually start communicating in their minds after years apart which is comforting to them both.

I really enjoyed this series and grew to love Rey, Silla, and Saga. I can't wait to see that happens in the next book! I highly recommend to lovers of fantasy romance.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful continuation of one of my favorite fantasy romance series! Lpved seeing these characters grow and change from the first book and I lpved seeing where the plot was headed.

From the moment I read the dedication I knew this would be a stunning sequel. The villan arc alone kept me stuck in and demanding to know how we got here and to what lengths we might go. The multi point of view didn't leave any characters story lacking and the pacing of the transitions was comfortable. This read was an easy yes for me. I can hardly wait for the next installation.

Having a second book that is as good, if not better than the first is a hard feat in a series but Demi Winters fulfilled that with Kingdom of Claw.

Genuinely LOVED Sagas POVs and to see her evolution from a terrified girl in her own metaphorical cage to a brave, independent woman. Seeing her relationship with Kass and the others at the castle grow and her find herself again made me so happy.

The pacing of this book was also spot on. So often when you’re showing multiple POVs it’s really hard to keep the reader engaged if you flip through to each persons perspective too soon or too late. In this book you got enough of each perspective that when you switched POVs it didn’t take anything away—it added to it.

I LOVED The Road of Bones, it was one of my top reads of 2024 and this book had a lot to live up to. I think it succeeded for the most part !! I was really invested in Sillas story and where she was going, as well as intrigued by everything else going on. The world building was great and I am INVESTED in this series. Closer to a 5* than 4*.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
4.25 stars
I enjoyed this next installment of the series! Just like the first book it starts out slow, but the second half moves quickly and has a lot of suspense and twists and turns. I enjoyed the romances and the different POVs. I even enjoyed getting Jonas and his POV.

THIS BOOK! i am obsessed! i think it was even better than the first which was also a 5⭐️ read for me! i loved the addition of Saga’s POV! so interesting and the romance between rey and silla is DELICIOUS! literally cannot wait for the next book in this series! might just be one of my new favorite romantasies of all time!

Before I start this review, I want to thank Netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read this amazing arc!

5⭐️

I read this book a couple days ago and it has been all I’ve thought about since then. I love the multiple POVs and the plot twists after practically every chapter! From the romance to the mystery, it’s everything I could ask for in a book! The political intrigue and the mysterious creatures kept me hooked from the start. The world-building was phenomenal and character development was truly amazing. The hardships each character has gone through to make them who they are now is truly heartbreaking but makes me love them more for not giving up. I do miss the crew from book one, but I hope to hear about them in book 3! This was my first Vikings fantasy series and it did not let me down! I had such a fun time reading this and I know many others will too!!

This book includes:
slow burn 🔥
mystery 🔎
vikings ⚔️
forbidden magic 🧚
betrayal 🎭
and so much more!

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐰 (The Ashen Series, Book 2)

In this thrilling followup installment, we follow two FMCs as they navigate their respective precarious situations. Members of the Bloodaxe Crew set out on various journeys and missions. We learn more of the Queen’s machinations and meet a new character that I am so eager to learn more about.

Tropes:
👀 Multi POV
🤝 Reluctant allies
🩶 Morally grey MCs
🫂 Forced proximity
🗣️ Banter
⛔️ Who did this
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Found family
🛏️ One bed
🔥 Slow burn 🌶️

Once again, the inner monologues of the multi POVs are brilliantly done. Loyalties and resolves are tested and concepts of family, sacrifice, self-worth are intricately explored. Bound by fate and bargains, how will the pieces fall into place? I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for these characters!

I was utterly captivated by the interwoven storylines, slow burn romances, and wicked twists and turns in Kingdom of Claw. This series has me completely under its spell and I never wish to be freed.

Huge thanks to the author, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the review copy opportunity! This is my honest and voluntary review

Summary: In the sequel to The Road of Bones, Silla is on the run with Rey after the truth of her identity is revealed. As they hide together, Silla discovers some of Rey’s own secrets. Determined to save her sister, she must master her magic and confront her inner demons. On the other hand, Saga, plots against Queen Signe’s plans while being tangled with a Zagadkian dignitary who knows her past. Together, Silla and Saga must embrace their destinies to stop a growing chaos in Íseldur, as ancient magic begins to stir once more.

HOLY COW, this book is a masterpiece. To be completely honest, some of the characters (*cough* the "curls" and "the Wolf" pairing *cough*) in the first book were a tad annoying, but the ending told me I needed to continue the series, and man-oh-man am I glad that I did! The switching between POVs was perfect in this book. I found myself wanting more just before it switched, and then getting sucked into the next characters' storylines. The character growth in the second installment was exactly what I felt I was missing from the first book. I also loved Winters' portrayal of Saga. She held strength in her own way, but wasn't the typical "I'm just going to have a major breakthrough" FMC that a lot of fantasy storylines have. Saga lives with agoraphobia and doesn't actively try to break out of those tendencies, instead working (with so much strength) with the hand she was dealt. And the ROMANCE in this book! Unlike that man-child who took up a lot of my reading time in the first book, I couldn't get enough of the pairings throughout Kingdom and Claw, and I loved the balance of romance with intense, sitting-on-the-edge-of-my-seat, action scenes.

THAT ENDING THOUGH - I am ravenous for the third book and am devastated that I'll now need to wait not-so-patiently for the next installment.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Demi Winters for access to the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Remember, Moonflower, it is always darkest just before dawn”

This was such a great second installment to the series and just added on to all the things I loved about The Road of Bones!

I fall in love with Silla a little more each time I read from her pov and I was so proud of her growth by the end of this book. She never stops being herself, even when she’s surrounded by fierce warriors, and I loved watching her positivity rub off on everyone around her. And the way Rey takes care of Silla and helps her heal? Yeah, I’ll take 10 please.

“You see blundering. I see progress. There is beauty to behold in the in-between”

But, it was Saga and Rurik that stole the show for me. Saga was giving major Auren vibes and I loved her immediately. She has some claws just waiting to come out and I can’t wait to watch it happen. And flirty, secretive, rule breaking Rurik is so good at bringing that part of her to the surface. I loved the way he knew when to push Saga but also sensed when she needed comfort.

And of course in typical Demi Winters fashion, the last leg of this book had my pulse pounding and left me desperate for more.

Tropes include:
•Norse mythology
•Forced proximity
•One bed
•Multiple pov
•Two seperate relationships
•Secrets/betrayal
•Court politics

Kingdom Of Claw

Book 2 in The Ashen Series
Book 1 -> The Road of Bones

Thank you to Penguin Random House for this review copy.

I really enjoyed this book. The Road of Bones caught me off guard with how much I enjoyed it, and Kingdom of Claw somehow was even better for me. Viking/norse inspired stories aren’t usually my favorite, but the author easily makes this world understandable and enjoyable. I found Saga’s POV so interesting and a great addition in this story, her story was engaging. Silla’s journey was beautiful in this story, seeing her progress through acceptance of her identify and dealing with her past trauma and addiction was so heartfelt.

loved this one so much more than road of bones! i really enjoy the author's writing style and her ability to create intriguing characters. i look forward to her next book!

“Kingdom of Claw” by Demi Winters is the second book in “The Ashen” series.
My rating is 4,5 ⭐️

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the review copy of the book. The opinions from this review are completely my own.

The story continues after the end of Road of Bones and we have new locations and perspectives added. Now the story is told from 4 main perspectives (Silla, Rey, Saga and Jonas).

I liked the writing style and the development of the plot and characters in this book more that in the first one. Even if it is still very long, the pace is more balanced.
Silla is my favorite character and I like to see her accepting her magic and finding a family. Also, she is trying to heal from the hurt and betrayal she went through.
Rey was a mysterious character in the last book and here we find more about his past and see him with people from his home town. The relationship between him and Silla develops slowly as they discover the connection from the past.
Jonas was the character I hated the most and every time there was a chapter from his POV I wanted it to end.
Saga had a minor part in the first book, but now we find more about her and the sad story of her past. As she was in a different location we get also more information about queen’s plans. There is also a new romance added, as the mysterious Kass is introduced. The twist at the end about his identity was a bit predictable if you read many fantasy books but it is not a bad thing.

Overall this is a complex story, with magic, action, twists, secrets and violence. Please check the content warnings before starting reading (http://demiwinters.com/trigger-warnings/)

This was a great continuation of The Road of Bones. I got to connect with my favourite characters and meet some new favourites. I felt like I was woven into this world with the characters. There were parts of the story where I didn’t have an emotional connection and I felt like I should have. I would have given 5 stars if I had had that emotional connection.

One of the fmc’s seemed pretty selfish at times and I understood her reasoning. She took it too far sometimes but she grew. She was less whiny and shellfish and she grew. This made me appreciate the story. The character development was well done and I received my revenge in one of the characters that deserved it from Road of Bones. The two books in the series flow well and I’m excited to read the third book in the series.

The cliffhangers on both ends of this book have me wanting to know what happens and why certain things are the way they are. I also still need revenge on certain characters and I feel like it’s guaranteed that they will get what they deserve. I’m excited to see where the story continues.

Loved this just as much as the first book, Winters writing is just beautiful, immersive and evocative can't wait to see what else she writes in future, highly recommend this series to fans of romantasy with depth and a propulsive plot

I loved book one The Road of Bones. And was super excited to start book two Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters.
This is an absolute masterpiece of atmospheric horror and amazing storytelling.
This book had me flying through the pages. I really enjoyed the characters and the world building.
The world-building is fantastic, and the characters—especially the banter between them—kept me hooked.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine & Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

This is the sequel to The Road of Bones. It follows both sisters now, Silla and Saga as they work to help one another. It is a beautifully written sequel and a delightful series. Fans of A Fate Inked In Blood would like these books!