Holy cow, you guys, this book! It’s so incredibly rare that a second book in the series is good, if not better than the first book. I didn’t think it was possible that I would love Kingdom of Claw more than The Road of Bones, but it’s true.
Usually I give a summary of the plot with my review, but I don’t want to spoil the plot, so instead I’ll provide a pro/con list of reading this book.

Pros:
• The character development- expertly done. This is textbook, professional level.
• The romance!! Oh my goodness! It’s perfect, not too little, not too much.
• The story development- there are no lulls, no dull moments, the action and actions of the characters keeps this story moving the entire time. This is a thick book and I devoured it in 2 days.

Cons:
• The book ends. I didn’t want it to ever end.
• The cliffhanger and the fact that I now have to wait to read what happens next.

Seriously, this series is absolutely incredible. It’s lining up to be an all time favorite. I cannot wait to read what happens next. Do yourself a favor and start reading this series today. Now, preferably. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.

Kingdom of Claw sets the standard on sequels. The second book in the Ashen Series dives further into the intricate relationships that started in The Road of Bones while setting up for the rest of the series. There is not a dull moment in this story.

The romance doesnt overpower the plot, but enhances it.
The character development is *chefs kiss*.
The emotions that you as the reader feels toward these characters... unmatched- and im talking a full range of emotions!
The BANTER- swoon.
VIKINGS? Vikings. Yeah. That's all you really need to know.

There isn't another story out there like this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for a review.

5 stars

The perfect sequel to the first book.

This series just keeps getting better and better! Every romantasy fan should read this!!
The world is so rich and the romance meshes well with it. The characters' arcs keep getting more interesting and intricate, yet at the same time their motivations are becoming clearer.
I have so many questions and theories that I hope will be answered in the next book.

One of the best book series I've read so far in my life!

Excuse me, what was this?!

Book two is rarely much better than book one. This is an obvious exception. This book was absolutely fantastic. I never wanted it to end! Also, normally I don't like when you add completely new character POW`s to a new book but the author did both stories so goodthat I wanted to read both POWs equally. The first book was more like a romantic fantasy, but I think this one transitioned more into a fantasy romance. Without the romance taking over the story itself, of course.

The author had also managed a fantastic mental health rep. So well maintained and realistic.
I cannot recommend this book/series enough. Will definitely be one of my favorites this year!

I haven’t been hooked like this in ages. This book is pure magic. I am beyond astounded by the complexity of the characters, the beautiful but not overly complicated world building, ugh just everything about it. I am so excited for where this story goes!

Such a good sequel to the first book. I loved the growth of Rey and Sillas' characters and their relationship. I'm also glad she didn't give Jonas a redemption arc because he is continuously turning his back on the crew. The twist at the end of the book is crazy and I can't wait for the next one in the series to come out to see how the story continues to unfold!

This book was amazing! I loved that we got to meet new characters and see more of the world. It was so fun to see some relationships develop throughout. I also appreciated the way Demi approached the trauma of the characters in this book.

The ending left me NEEDING to know what happens in the next book, and I need it like yesterday!

I loved the Road of Bones and this sequel did not disappoint! The recap at the beginning is super helpful! Silla's struggles are well handled and you just can't help but root her and her chipper personality that is still so fun to read. I love the character development and relationship that slowly builds with support and vulnerability and not without its share of challenges. The style is still engaging and interesting to read as well as being well constructed and the mysteries that are slowly revealed are excellent! I continue to be surprised by this storyline and it's exciting to not know where this is going. Will be eagerly waiting for the next book!

I didn't think I could fall further in love with the Ashen series; and then I re-read Kingdom of Claw. Mesmerized, enraptured, obsessed. The way that Demi Winters incorporates emotional struggle, growth, banter, slow burn, with epic plot and world building is just outstanding. She will forever be an autobuy author for me and I cannot wait for more from this world!

Having read Road of Bones last year, I was eager to continue Silla’s story in Kingdom of Claw. After starting KoC, I was not only pleased to continue said storyline of Silla and Rey, but was introduced to another equally intriguing storyline of Saga and Kassandr. Demi Winters captures your attention right away and tells each characters tale in such a captivating way that had me on the edge of my seat each chapter. I look forward to learning the fate of both Saga and Silla in the next book!

An even better second installment to a great first book. Kingdom of Claw took everything that I enjoyed about Road of Bones and upped the ante. While Road of Bones started off a little slower, Kingdom of Claw hit the ground running. I loved the addition of Saga's storyline. As Silla and Saga work help one another, but are unaware of each other's efforts, the tension continues to grow and it gives the plot a lot of momentum, keeping the pacing strong. The other characters are also well fleshed-out, and the world-building keeps getting expanded upon. The romance is also SO fun and satisfying. However, my one bigger gripe is that it does feel like the plot is getting a tad bit convoluted, without that level of complication being fully earned. There were a lot of new concepts/reveals/threads introduced in this book. I didn't love every one of them, and it also made me unsure whether they would all be resolved in a satisfying way. I think the third installment will help clarify these concerns, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine, and Demi Winters for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This series is so incredible! I loved the pacing and the plot even more than the first book and my thing viking inspired gets me so incredibly excited. There is so much great character development as well. I cannot wait to add this to our library.

Kingdom of Claw was a hard read for me.

Starting right after the events of The Road of Bones, Claw features all the characters I loved (as well as some new ones), more unique magic, and greater worldbuilding. However, the pace was, overall, slower, and I found it very easy to put down and forget about.

Silla and Rey are our two familiar POVs, and Saga, Silla's sister, is our newest lead. Saga is a great character. She's very different from her sister, which makes sense as they've been raised under very different circumstances. Saga was spared when Ivar took over the kingdom and killed her family, and she's been a prisoner ever since. Although she's treated well enough, Saga's home is still a cage, and one that she's scared to leave. Saga's struggles are realistically written despite not being something with which most people can relate, and Winters makes it clear that she has extensively researched Saga's condition. Overall, Saga is a more timid character, but she experiences some real character development, and it's fun to see her grow.

Silla's story, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. Having discovered in the first book that she is a Galdur, Silla begins training her abilities, and the expansion of the magic system is super interesting and fun to read. But growing her powers requires Silla to make peace with her past, and that's a struggle. It was also a struggle for me because Silla's internal denial and debate drags on for a long time. She has Rey's support during her training, and while I love where the relationship between the two is going, the slow burn moves a bit too quickly, and Rey's guilt trip is similarly dragged out. I found myself skimming a lot of Silla/Rey's chapters just to get more of Saga (and Rurik).

Kingdom of Claw has a lot going on, and Winters' writing is strong enough that I feel confident that she can pull everything together and make a great series. However, these books are quite long, and I know I'm going to forget a lot of important details before the next book is released. I'll probably finish this series, but I'll wait until all the books are out to pick them back up.

I’m not even sure I have words to do this book justice.

Somehow Kingdom of Claw was BETTER than The Road of Bones which I did not think would be possible.

I literally could not stop reading this book, it consumed all my waking thoughts.

I LOVED the slow burn romance in this book and how much Silla grows into herself and her powers. I also adored the new characters and felt so many emotions during Saga’s chapters.

Some tropes I really enjoyed in this were: forced proximity, found family, and ~kinda “the chosen one”.

Cannot recommend this book (and series) enough for fans of romantasy.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for this eARC.

I really did not believe that a sophomore book to Road of Bones would amaze me just as much as the first one did, but Kingdom of Claw has.
The way Demi Winters has woven together such a beautiful and unique world, created such in-depth characters and given representation to different communities is amazing.
Kingdom of Claw took a lot of interesting turns but they were very well led up to.
This is a book I have not been able to put out of my mind and the third book is one of my most anticipated reads.

This is honestly a hard review to write - and only because I love this book SO MUCH. I want to write about everything that happens, but that would spoil it. So just do yourself a favor and go read these books. I also want to point out that even though this is the second book in a series, it did not fall into the common pitfalls I have come to notice in a lot of sequels. It felt like a perfect continuation of the story, without being a placeholder.

I am enjoying that Viking inspired stories are having a moment, and this setting did not disappoint. The author did a fantastic job of world building, and it was so easy to get completely immersed in the story and world.
I have not felt so connected to characters in a long time. Romance, betrayal, banter, I enjoyed every second with them, and cannot wait for the next installment.

If you love your female main characters sweet yet bad*ss in their own rights, with a side of grumpy and sassy men, these are the books for you!

I enjoyed the pacing and the plot so much more than the first book. The characters continue to grow and learn more about their magic while breaking down trauma responses. I loved that the Author took her time telling the story but didn’t drag on or over use the same phrases. The chemistry between characters and the action was well balanced with a mix of revenge. I am so excited for book 3!!

Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters is the second book in The Ashen series. It picks up where Road of Bones left off, with Silla fleeing Kopa with Rey. They are surprised to see their faces on wanted posters so they have to go into hiding in Rey's hometown. Silla and Rey craft a plan to help Silla master her magic while they are in hiding, but find themselves in the middle of another crisis. Readers also get to follow Saga, Silla's sister, as she navigates a tricky political world in the castle of her parents' killers, betrothed to their son. Both Silla and Saga need to find the strength and courage to follow their destiny, save themselves and their loved ones, and stop the chaos from sweeping the land.

As someone who reads voraciously, I often forget plot points from previous books in series. Kingdom of Claw starts with a recap of the previous book, Road of Bones, which I found helpful and very much appreciated! I hope the author continues with this in future books in this series.

Overall this was a great sequel to the first book. There were some parts that were slower however important in contributing to the rich-world building and setting up the plot that occurred later in the book. There was a lot of personal growth and backstory revealed. Some big twists throughout, especially towards the end. I really appreciated having multiple POVs and seeing how the characters' paths converged as the story progressed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me an advanced reader copy of the ebook. This did not influence my review of this book. Kingdom of Claw is expected to be published on February 4, 2025.

A badass sequel to a solid new series. This is bound to be everyone's new favorite series especially with all that is has going for it. Love, adventure, newfound family, rivalry, and so much more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

Jaw on the floor - I’m obsessed.

Kingdom of Claw is book 2 in The Ashen Series by Demi Winters and it did not disappoint. I was enthralled with Silla’s story from the first book and learning more about Saga was incredible in book 2.

If you are in a reading slump and like fantasy romance, I feel like this is for you. These books do not let up, and there is stress, tension, and an intense plot throughout. I found myself wanting to chuck my Kindle at the wall a couple of times (thanks for the stress Demi). Demi does a great job of having a slow build at the same time as having an action packed story.

There are two main couples in this book and I cannot wait to see their stories continue. There is such a good banter and romance.

I believe there are supposed to be three more books coming in this series so it is time for you to start ❤️