This second book has left me speechless and needing more!! Some series suffer from second book slump and this one absolutely does not. The past is catching up, emotions are running high, and all the secrets that are revealed will leave you glued to the pages and wanting more!! This is a must read for any fantasy lover and I can’t wait for the next book!!

The number of times my jaw DROPPED as I read this book! I loved "The Road of Bones", but "Kingdom of Claw" raises the bar. The romance.... is more than I could have asked for. Demi Winters somehow keeps you guessing the entire way through this series and blows your mind when you find out the truth. I really enjoyed meeting new characters and watching relationship dynamics change. The world building is also pretty in depth but enjoyable, leaving plenty of room for growth while still painting a captivating picture.

I cannot wait for book three!

This book was honestly so incredible compared to book one of the series. I loved learning all about the main character's origins and the true lore behind who our main character is and the family she is supposed to be a part of. It was definitely well written and skipped right to the chase. There is a balanced amount of conflict in this story which allowed the story to progress and I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

This was an amazing follow up to Road of Bones! I love the new characters we meet and the growth and changes we get from the ones we already know! The plot was steady and easy to follow while keeping me engaged and on the edge of my seat! There were so many times I gasped and white knuckled my kindle and couldn’t read fast enough to find out what was going to happen next!! I cannot wait for the next in the series! I have no doubt it will be great too!!

I love this series! Although this book is about 600 pages I finished this in three days. The slow burn between Silla and Rey was everything, I love a slow burn romance. I also end up loving Saga, there is trauma from being raised as a captive by the people who murdered her family. My heart broke for Silla and Saga of everything they had to endure. It also had me kicking my feet on the romance and banter so many character to fall in love with, except for Jonas, I still hate you! This is such an incredible series and can't wait to continue the story with these amazing characters.

Received an Arc for this second book in the Road of Bones series and really enjoyed it!

In this book we get several POV’s (Silla, Rey, Saga(sister), and unfortunately Jonah 🙄)

It starts off immediately where the first book ends with Silla and Rey heading to safety after he helps Silla break free. We’re once again trudging through the forest etc with Rey and Silla, but then you also get a LOT of Saga’s story in this book.

As with RoB’s, I was immersed again in this world and I loved almost every minute of it.

First some cons and why this book didn’t get the 5 stars that ROB’s did.

- Not enough of Rey and Silla in my opinion. I kept finding myself wanting to hurry through everyone else’s chapters to get back to them because their “romance” really just starts in this book and that’s who I cared about.

-Jonah being in this book was pointless and I hate him.

- I felt like after reading and figuring out the complexities of Road of Bones that this book should have and could have been faster paced. I understood why Road of Bones started out slooooow because it’s a lot of world building, but this one was slow too for no reason. By this book you should know the world building…

-I did find myself bored at times (especially in other character POV’s)

-book is WAY too long and lots of stuff could have been cut out

NOW ONTO THE GOOD 😊

-I still really enjoyed the plot for this book and when Rey and Silla were “on screen”, I was still eating up every moment I could get!

-Saga’s story was interesting (but maybe she should have just had her own books)

-I love the world, the magic, the creatures

-the banter was bantering

-the writing is still Superb ❤️

-I especially love that this series is so different and unique from other fantasy books

Overall, I still love this series and this author so much!

WOW this book did not disappoint and really solidified this series as one of my all time favorites. This was everything I wanted in a sequel following the Road of Bones! Amazing character development, more magic & lore, all the slow burn tension, and that new POV?! There must be something in this series because whatever it is, I am ADDICTED.

The plot of this series just continued to THICKEN throughout book 2. Every new development had me on the edge of my seat, especially with the multiple POVs. We meet 2 new characters in this book and I have to say, they really stole the show for me. The way every interaction of theirs had me GIDDY - I really could not get enough of them!!

Another highlight of this book? Easily the SLOW BURN. I have not read a slow burn this satisfying in so long and I am OBSESSED. The character development, the yearning, the tension - the progression of the love story in this series is so perfectly paced to me!

Now that ending had me SWEATING😰 My emotions were all over the place, and with the way things left off, book 3 is already set up to be SO INTERESTING. I love where this series is going and the way each book keeps ramping up and building to something even more EPIC. I cannot wait to see where book 3 takes us and what’s in store for these characters!

Book one was good, but man.. book 2 was better!

The politics, the slow-burn, the struggle and anxiety, I loved every minute. If you love Viking inspired fantasy, if you love complex grey characters, if you loved the first and are dying to see how Rey and Silla's relationship develop, you will not be disappointed. An enthusiastic 4 stars!

This was the perfect book two for this series: progression of relationships, diving deeper into the characters’ magic and pasts, the introduction of the true big bad, and expanding the world itself. The Norse mythology elements and unique characters and magic system make this series feel so refreshing to read. It’s also so FUNNY and sweet and the dialogue is great.

I LOVED the addition of Saga’s story, and I love even more the direction it’s taking. So much intrigue and a feeling that you are unsure who to trust. There are found family and romance brewing on both sides, and I liked the back and forth between the two sisters via the POV reveals.

My only complaint is this book took me a long time to finish because of how frequent the POV changes were. It was hard to hold onto momentum when there were so many cliffhanger moments that switched POVs.

Thank you so much to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I have to say I did not enjoy this book as much as as the first. It took me a long time to get into Saga's story. Once her story got interesting to be me the book really picked up and fell in love with it!

I loved this book, possibly more than the first. I love a good slow burn and there is a lot under the surface with this one, and the ending.... just ugh.. there is so much yet to come.

This could possibly be even better than the first book in this series. Engaging, interesting, exciting. I love the setting, the characters, the story, absolutely everything!

This was absolutely amazing! The world-building got even deeper, the characters had so much growth, and the twists kept me completely hooked. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, the story threw in surprises that had me gasping. The new characters added so much to the plot, and the emotional moments really hit hard. Silla’s journey was intense, and I loved getting more insight into the world and characters. And that ending? Did NOT see it coming at all! Demi Winters really knows how to keep readers on their toes. I’m already dying for the next one!

Extremely well done - enjoyed it more than Road of Bones. Knowing some of the secrets thankfully didn't mean I knew all of the secrets. And, OMG, that cliffhanger ending has me aching for the next one! I knew this was part of a longer series but it really didn't have to hurt me like that LOL

A huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC! (Sorry it took so long to finish!)

4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💫

“I want you…More than air. More than anything in this gods damned world, Silla.”

Kingdom of Claw is the second installment in the adult romantasy series, The Ashen. Written in multi third person POV, the story mainly focuses on Silla and Saga, two women both fighting for their lives in a kingdom seeking to bring them to their knees.

Silla, still recovering from a betrayal and reveal that nearly killed her, has come to accept safety in the place she once dreamed up is not meant to be. Forced to work with Rey, the ruthless leader of the Bloodaxe Crew, Silla quickly learns this man is filled with secrets. Stuck hiding away with him far up north, Silla knows she must unravel the mysteries of her magic to save the person she loves even if it means fighting with herself.

Meanwhile Saga is a political prisoner trapped behind the walls of a castle that seeks to control her. With her marriage to the family responsible for the death of her parents looming close, Saga is forced to confront a secret that changes how she views her foster family. Her goal now is to bring them down...but what if a certain dignitary becomes privy to her secrets and wants to help her for a cost? In a world where secrets are worth more than coins, can Saga afford to trust or will find herself consumed?

This book puts you through the PACES.

Silla becomes so much stronger in this one as she confronts her identity and past. I loved this journey of growth and the realism that she will falter at times. I love her obsession with chickens and her determination. I loved seeing what small things inspired her to keep going and I am filled with anxiety at some of the choices she made.

Saga is a character I feel so much towards. She definitely had her entire world turned upside down but she refuses to fall silently. There are moments of vulnerability for her and she does make a few mistakes but I feel going into book 3 she will be so much stronger for it.

There are additional POVS like Rey and Jonas that show up which I felt did a good job in opening up the world and giving us a glimpse into the larger lore. Rey has my heart. I could see the writing on the walls in book 1 but the actually fall? He fought hard but the reward at the end was beautiful. Meanwhile Jonas...I am holding out from some redeeming. I can see he is struggling but boy is he making some mistakes.

“If you knew the sordid thoughts I’ve had, Silla, you’d run the other way.”

The spice in this book is about 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. It is a slow burn romance as there are some much bigger issues to figure out initially. I liked seeing companionship grow between Rey and Silla. I found the tension between them worked so well and when we got spice in the second half (around 70%) it was the perfect pent up situation...and the aftercare?!?!? Yes there are some growing pains with the romance but by the end I LOVE this couple. Spice is explicit and detailed. Saga does also have a blossoming romance but it is not spicy...not yet.

The story itself has A LOT going on. I felt the pacing worked well for the story and we get to explore storylines across the realm from Saga and the secrets happening in the king's castle to Silla learning her magic to the mystery attacks happening in Rey's homestead and Jonas trying to avenge his brother. It does take a few chapters to get the hang out but once you're in you are SUCKED in. There are excellent action sequences, so much fun banter and tension as their characters spar with each other, and the satisfaction of unveiling secrets. Now there are some anxiety-inducing moments of "OH NO, no, no, no!" These had me on pins and needles but I have faith and so should you. The climax of the story had been curled up in a ball and I am still waiting for one final shoe to drop. The ending has a bit of a cliff for some things but I feel good enough to wait comfortably for the next book, which I greatly appreciate.

Overall, this was an excellent sequel and you will not be able to put it down!

Thank you Dell Romance for this arc!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow. This has very quickly become one of my favorite series of all time. The first book was great but this one was absolutely incredible. The world building was very detailed and interesting, I am not typically a huge fan of Norse mythology but the plot was so captivating I couldn’t put the book down. I love all the characters and their growth throughout these books, and I loved getting Saga’s perspective. I truly did not see that ending coming and my jaw was on the floor. Can’t wait for the next book!

This one was a slow start for me. It look a little bit but once it caught my attention I had a really hard time putting it down! Sigh me up for all the Vikings books

I actually listened to this on Audible while following along on kindle and wow wow, I loved it. Book 1 was so good and book 2 was even better!!

For about 70% of this book, I thought it was the last one so when more mysteries kept piling up and things weren’t being solved I had the realization that Kingdom of Claw was def not the final book. My face was literally just 👁️👄👁️ once it finally dawned on me.

That being said…THIS WAS JUST AS GOOD AS THE ROAD OF BONES!!!! I need the next book immediately, please!! Demi has earned herself a life long fan out of me and I will never stop thinking about this series. The addition of Saga’s POV was my favorite part! Following her story was so much fun and kept the plot fresh and dynamic. Am I a full on simp for Rusik?? Absolutely, yes. That man can do no wrong in my eyes.

I will be, not so, patiently waiting for any inkling of news regarding the continuation of this story and I can’t wait for more!!

Thank you to Dell Romance, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

Great second book! I liked the different point of views. I also loved that there was a recap of the first book in the beginning. I wish more authors did this, it helps so much when there is time in between the two books.