This story was such a lovely demonstration of perseverance and vulnerability. Seeing the healing journeys of *so many* of the characters in their different ways on their unique, non-linear paths has lead me to recommend this series as a healing tool to many in my circle. I enjoyed getting to see Silla's growth not only into her magic, but into her identity as Eisa and rallying her people behind her. Getting to meet and understand Saga, see her growth, and where we leave her at the end of the story has me chomping at the bit for the next installment. I'm looking forward to an expansion of the world, expansion of our characters, expansion of the magics, and the mayhem that comes with it all!

Somehow this book was even better than the first!! This was so well written and you knew exactly what each character is doing in different regions. The slow burn romance is just chefs kiss. I need book 3 immediately!!!

Ahhhhhhh I loved this so much! I think it's right on par with the first one; just as engaging and it doesn't drag anywhere with the plot or character development. This second book picks up right where the first left off but now we are following more characters and seeing more of the world that the author has created! It will keep you guessing all the way to the very end, and the ending!! I can't wait for the next one, I need it immediately!

This book following the FMC Silla and now her sister Saga as well. After Jonas' betrayal, Silla and Rey must find somewhere safe to hide out and for Silla to master her newfound powers. Saga, trapped in the castle of her murdered family, must make nice with the royals who have taken over the kingdom. She also has powers, and must use what she has to try to keep Silla safe from afar. Both sisters are on the verge of discovering an evil, gruesome plot run by the queen, which defies the laws of nature and humanity.

NEW FAVORITE FANTASY SERIES OFFICIALLY UNLOCKED!!!

WOW this book really brought everything I love in a romantasy series! The slow burn? Delicious. Give me 14 of them right now. Multiple POVs that kept the tension ramping up higher and higher with every chapter? Yes! Burning hatred for a certain character that will never earn my forgiveness and I will hold a grudge against for all of eternity? Oh yeah.😌 I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!

This book (and this series) takes us on a true journey, and I have sincerely thought about these characters every single day since I finished this book. I fear a reread is in my future sooner than later🤭
The romance is absolutely swoony and I LOVED seeing Saga and Kass's story unfold in addition to Silla's. When Kass speaks to Saga in his language and then tells her it means something different?! I had to pause to take a breath every. single. time. Your honor I LOVE THEM!!😭
The character development in this book from all the characters was wonderful and it felt so special to go on the journey with them. And the setup for book 3 at the end?! AHHH.

I don't want to say more for risk of spoilers, but I do want to say:
I don't compare books to Throne of Glass lightly, but this series gives the SAME feelings to me!!! Epic, incredible, life-changing, all encompassing. The wait for book 3 might actually kill me!!😄🫠

tropes + things:
+ "my warrior"
+ SLOW BURN SO GOOD
+ grumpy x sunshine
+ multiple POVs
+ secret scheming
+ would burn the world for her (or at least a boat)
+ big/shocking reveals!!!
+ Viking romantasy

INFINITY STARS FOR THIS SERIES! I have fallen in love all over again just thinking about ✨them✨ and my reread will start imminently. THANK YOU THANK YOU Delacorte Press and Demi Winters for this ARC!

Kingdom of Claw was first published as an indie title. It is the second book in The Ashen series by Demi Winters. I loved the first book, The Road of Bones, and it left off with a stunning ending that had me anxious to read book two and see where things went from there.

Kingdom of Claw lived up to the promise of the first book. Change is always a challenge for authors, and in this book, there’s a lot of change. Silla is no longer traveling with a large group, which was one of the standout features in book one. Back then, there was a sense of found family and there were a lot of interpersonal dynamics that added to the strength of the book. Now, Silla is stuck traveling with Reynir, and feels trapped. He’s making choices for her, and although she’s determined to keep the truth about her identity - which she just discovered in book one - secret.

Change is hard because when readers find something they like, they often want more of the same. For Silla to grow, however, she needs to be isolated and forced to confront the truth about who and what she is. Kingdom of Claw provides many situations that require Silla to grow. She’s dealing with new people, a new environment, mysterious disappearances that threaten the local people, and expectations from those who do know her truth.

Rey is also put into situations that require him to grow and change. The character development in this book is earned. It’s believable because it’s slow and steady, and they both make mistakes along the way.

Silla’s sister Saga - prisoner of the King and Queen who murdered their parents - is also going through her own growth arc. Her story is fascinating and her interactions with Kass add to the intrigue.

The tension and stakes increase as the pages turn. I’ve read it twice and found myself noticing so many things on my second read, which shows the depth of the storytelling and character and plot development. I’ve come to think of Winters as a meticulous writer. She’s very detailed without sacrificing the story development and holding your interest.

And in keeping with book one, Kingdom of Claw has an explosive ending, with starting revelations and challenges arising for both sisters and those closest to them. It definitely left me wanting more, and now I must not-so-patiently wait for book three.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for putting me out of my misery, aka approving my request for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review!

I can’t say enough good things about this series by Demi Winters. It is so smart and the world is so full. The Road of Bones was one of my favorite fantasy reads of the year, and I started The Kingdom of Claw the literal minute my ARC came through.

Although my expectations for this sequel were high, let’s be real—all I REALLY wanted was a certain couple to get together. And let’s just say I was not disappointed 🥵 But I also really have to commend Demi Winters on what she did with this second installment. KoC introduces not only a second protagonist, but also a second romance plot that plays out alongside (and often interrupts) Silla and Rey’s plot. It has no business working as well as it does. It could’ve been a disaster. AND YET. Saga’s POV and everything about her storyline had me on the edge of my seat. She quickly became my favorite character in the series. I can’t wait to see where she goes in book 3. (And Zurik is to die for. He is much more of a typical “shadow daddy” style romantasy male lead than Rey is, which just goes to show that this series can do it all 😉)

If I had one complaint, it would be that Silla and Rey’s story began to drag in the latter half of the book, but this is probably a testament to how attached I had grown to Saga by that point. I was kinda over Silla by that point and just wanted to be back in Askaborg Castle with my girl! Just like in RoB, though, at the 90% mark, this book WENT NUTS and I flew through to the end with my jaw on the floor. I didn’t think Demi Winters could top the “wtf” at the end of RoB, but she did… and then some. Because WTF. The wait for book 3 is going to be looooooong.

Overall, I am absolutely in love with this series and would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy or romantasy. There is so much to love here, and though this genre is super saturated right now, this series stands out.

This series is now on my list of god tier recommendations. Road of Bones was one of my favorite books of 2024, and somehow, Kingdom of Claw was even better! It exceeded all of my expectations and I can’t recommend it enough!! It’s the perfect romantasy and checks absolutely all of the boxes. It’s got excellent world building and character development, intriguing magic, political intrigue, secrets and betrayals, swoony Vikings, and two tension-filled chemistry-laden romantic storylines that will leave you gasping. We get more of Silla in this book, and she goes through an incredible amount of growth. I love her character arc. Rey is still a morally grey, brooding, dangerous, and damaged Viking warrior, but we get his backstory and it makes you fall even harder for him. We also get Saga’s point of view, and the introduction of her storyline was a stroke of genius. It made the plot more complex and raised the stakes even higher. I love her and am so excited for her journey. And don’t get me started on Rurik. He’s handsome, flirty, impulsive, and dangerous. He’s trouble in the best possible way and I can’t wait to get more of him. If you can’t already tell, this book sucked me in from the first page and didn’t let up until the very end. If you want a high-stakes romantasy bursting with action, complicated politics, a unique and lush world, magic, and the best romances I’ve ever read, go read this one immediately!
🧊
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
🧊
Read if you like:
▫️morally grey, protective heroes
▫️Vikings
▫️forbidden magic
▫️court politics and intrigue
▫️multiple POV
🧊
Thank you to Dell Romance, Random House, NetGalley, and Demi Winters for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love a good series and this is a GREAT one. I’m excited it’s continuing. There was the perfect amount of character development/additional information and suspenseful storytelling. Very talented author, I’ll continue to enjoy anything else she writes!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of Kingdom of Claw!

The Road of Bones was one of my favorite books that I read in 2024 so Kingdom of Claw was very highly anticipated for me. Extra points that Demi Winters added a recap of the first book at the beginning!

I loved Silla’s character development and appreciate a strong FMC that has to fight and train for her power and it isn’t granted over night. Also getting to learn more about Rey and watch them both heal together and come together. And we meet Saga! I loved everything about Saga’s POV, especially Kass! I cannot wait for the book!!

5⭐️

This series will be the death of me.

I’m unwell after devouring the second book. The plot, the angst, the banter, everything contributed to this amazing fantasy book. I greatly enjoyed the representation of different characters and how they embrace their differences. It brings a breath of fresh air to fantasy books.

I’m so thankful to Random House Publishing Group and Demi Winters for an arc of Kingdom of Claw.

NO SPOILERS**

Kingdom of Claw was a five star read! The characters and the world-building was everything I was looking for and more. The romance….🥰 🔥. Unlike The Road of Bones which had a slow start, Kingdom of Claw kicks off with a bang and maintains the excitement. We also get a new POV that I can’t wait to explore in the next book!
I have so much to say, but I’ll wait for when Kingdom of Claw is in readers’ hands. Expect twists, banter, secrets, and heart-pounding moments!

4.5 stars rounded up! Really really enjoyed this book and am bummed I have to wait an unknown amount of time for the next book! I am a romance reader first and really enjoyed the stories of both of the couples and especially the two MMCs. The two MMCs were very supportive, protective and accepting of the FMC's. This book had great banter, interesting lore/magic system/political dynamics. I also think the author did an amazing job handling the mental health struggles of the characters, adding a lot of depth to this book. I had a difficult time putting this book down.

I love the expanded world with the addition of Saga's POV and introduction of the Zagadkians. I'm especially curious to see how everything plays out after what happened during the last 10% of the book. I was a little disappointed with the decisions Saga and Silla made towards the end of the book after their personal journeys, but I will trust in the process!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the e-ARC!

The pacing on this was a bit off for me, but the author knows how to keep the audience hooked.

Of course I’m going to read more because I must know what happens!
I’d like book three to focus more on pacing. It seemed a bit disjointed to me.

Kingdom of Claw is the second book in the Ashen series. I enjoyed Road of Bones but felt it was a little repetitive concerning how long they were traveling.

This book improved by introducing additional POVs, which helped split up the story and give insight into other parts of this world. It was great to see the relationship between Silla and Rey but I preferred Saga and Rurik's storyline more - I found him to be a very likable character and honesty might be my new favorite character of the series.

The only issue I had with this book was the overall length of the book - it was over 600 pages and the story progressed at a fairly slow pace - the ending was fantastic and I am excited for book 3 but do hope that book is a little shorter

Demi Winters slays in this thrilling next chapter of The Ashen series where the enemies are aplenty, the betrayals are scandalous, and action is fire!

We finally get to meet Saga and see through her eyes all the horrors and tribulations she suffers at the hands of the kingdom's usurpers. Her story is full of pain and sorrow, but her will is steadfast and driven by the need to protect her sister. Trying to throw a monkey wrench into her plans is a group of foreign dignitaries visiting to hammer out a trade agreement with the kingdom, led by a smoldering and mysterious warrior that sees too much and has his own secrets and agenda. Is he a friend or foe? Saga has to be careful around him so she doesn’t spill secrets of her own.

Silla and Reynir face several problems of their own. Reynir’s secrets are discovered and he’s hunted by the king’s men–and every headhunter out to collect the handsome reward. Silla’s in more danger than ever so Reynir takes Silla to the safest place he knows, a home where he swore he’d never return to. There’s safety here but lots of demons for Reynir. It’s also a place for Silla to learn her magic and train to defend herself while coming to terms with her true identity. When people start disappearing, Reynir wonders if he and Silla have brought trouble to his homeland. The king’s forces are the least of their worries when an evil unlike any other is discovered and everyone’s lives are at stake!

Oh my GOODNESS this book is amazing! There is so much action, so much adventure, subterfuge, betrayals, secrets, and so much more! I was completely blown away by the extraordinary worldbuilding, the complex storyline, and the amazing characters! The fabric of this series is brilliantly crafted, with meticulous precision and expert handiwork. It’s absolutely amazing and I recommend the entire series. I can’t wait for the next book!

This is an amazing sequel.

Kingdom of Claw is an intense, Viking-inspired fantasy packed with political intrigue, slow-burn romance, and emotional depth. Silla and Saga’s journeys are gripping, with high stakes and gut-wrenching setbacks that kept me hooked. The romance felt refreshingly genuine, and the dual POVs added richness to the story. Some pacing issues in the middle, but Demi Winters’ character work is top tier.

Demi.

Demi Demi Demi. GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? We’re seriously gonna end like that? Is there a book 3 coming? What’s next?

This one DEF took me a lot longer to finish than I anticipated. I really don’t care for Saga’s POV until like way later in the book (like in the 60’s chapters). The beginning was wild and a lot going on and hooked me and the it kind of fell off track and picked up again around 70%ish. I like Silla and Rey and I’m happy for them BUT I think I might like Saga and Rurik more???? Ugh. I’m so intrigued and I need their story NOW. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Id like to start by thanking NetGalley for an eARC of this book! I’m very appreciative to have been given an opportunity to read it before the traditional publishing re-release.

This is book #2 in the Ashen series and I agree with many that the second book was better. Building upon the foundation in Road of Bones, Kingdom of Claw sees more from Silla and Saga and getting those POVs built intrigue and suspense. I will say a lot of the twists I figured out so I wasn’t necessarily surprised by much but I was entertained. This world is dark and twisted and there are still so many unanswered questions.

I really missed the Blood Axe Crew from book one and thought we’d see/ hear more from them but honestly it’s like they were almost completely forgotten in this book. I’m assuming we hear more about them in the next book but if not, that’s a shame.

I did think that this was the last book in a duology because none of the reviews I’ve seen on TikTok mention it being unfinished so I did spend a lot of the last 25% of the book wondering how they could possibly wrap up the storyline with the space left and that was clearly answered by a small cliffhanger: they’re not done.

Overall, I enjoyed myself in the story and while I found some of it a bit predictable I had a good time. Would definitely recommend and I do plan to read the next book when it comes out.

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!