WOW! FIVE STARS! I thought the first one was good but this one blew me away. I simply couldn't put it down!

First off, I have to say that the chemistry between the main love interests... impeccable! I love an MMC who is down so bad for the FMC and this heavily delivered on that front. The amount of times this man had to cool down in the freezing cold stream was great IYKYK.

I also enjoyed the addition of Saga! It was interesting to see what her situation has been like all this time. I for one can't wait to see more of Saga and Kass in the coming books. We also get to learn more about the magic system in The Ashen Series!

This book has everything you need: a beautiful romance, new characters to love, found family, actual family, betrayal, hidden identities, and more magic. It was full of surprises and adventure which is surely to captivate any reader.

As the second book, I couldn't wait to read this with how much I enjoyed the road of bones. From the first book I was a fan of Ray, and so to see Ray and Silla relationship finally pick up I was thrilled. I was skeptical of Saga, as I feel sometimes stories bring in to many storylines. However, I was expecting to LOVE her storyline as much as I did. Trapped in a castle by a family who murdered her entire line, she meets Kass. A stunning man of secrets and fabulous one liners. Forbidden glances, action, viking vines, touch her and die.. what more could you want? My only downside was I had a hard time getting into the story, as it felt like the story didn't really process for a bit there. But once I got into, I couldn't put it down.

This was such a good sequel!!!

This book picks up right after the events of the first book (so this review will be a tad vague so that I don't spoil that book or this one, go read it for yourself). We still see some of the same characters of the previous book, we follow Silla and Rey and some others. We see what happens with them after their journey, as well as following a new storyline.

We also follow Saga and her story in this book. Saga had her throne taken from her, her family murdered, and is betrothed to her enemy...this girl has nothing to lose and everything to gain. And she wants to destroy the queen, who took everything from her and is a turd to her.

We love a strong and intelligent FMC in this household!

This book has enemies to lovers, secrets and mysteries, forbidden magic and unlikely relationships.

I would highly recommend this series to fans of For the Wolf and A Fate Inked in Blood. If you're looking for a new fantasy to love, give this one a go!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Absolutely amazing, I loved every second of this book. Normally the first outshines the second but I think this one can really hold it own.

Overall, I am really enjoying this series, however I feel like this book unfortunately suffered 2nd book syndrome, despite the influx of new characters and plot lines.

I was really looking forward to this when I found out we would get a dual POVs/side by side storyline with the two sisters. And though that was an element I actually enjoyed, it was a disservice to the story a bit because it created a gap for readers to find enjoyment in one storyline more than the other. Because of the serious pacing issues with Sillas story, I find myself wanted to get back to Saga’s chapters time and time again.

We lost the found family element, and yet the same somewhat monotonous storyline was used to advance the plot for Sillas POV. The “coming into her powers” chapters really dragged for me.

The romance between Silla and Rey took a bit of a nosedive. Where we got to experience some incredible tension in the first book, the chemistry in this book felt forced and rushed, with all of the “trials” the pair experienced easily resolved as soon as they came up. The spice was underwhelming compared to the first installment. I really needed more clash of dislike to lovers to feel the tension ultimately.

I am still excited so see where this story goes and look forward to reading the rest of the series and more from this author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This is one of those rare series where the sequel is holding up to the original! I cannot wait for the next installment, this author is quickly becoming a must read for me.

If you liked book 1, don’t hesitate to grab book 2!

I’ve heard so much about this series and they wernt wrong this is a must read it’s amazing and maybe one of my favorite reads of the year

Imagine the best fantasy world you’ve ever gotten lost in. The story that made you forget you were reading. The cliffhanger than has you counting the days until the next book.

This one is even better.

Demi Winters’ The Ashen series is a Roman Empire Read.

Kingdom of Claw is the second book in the series and comes out in a gorgeous new hardcover on February 4, 2025. Until then, it’s available on Kindle - along with Book 1: The Road of Bones.

As with The Road of Bones, Kingdom of Claw kept me guessing until the very last page. I still am. In hindsight, the twists make sense and the groundwork was there - but what an experience to read this for the first time as I didn’t see ANY of it coming (well, maybe one thing ❤️). *The woman was too stunned to speak*

I don’t even want to share too many tropes here as you should go in as blind as you can.

But I will tell you this is one of the most beautiful stories of healing - both from trauma and addiction - I’ve ever read. Winters tackled these difficult subjects with so much care, she took her time with this aspect and made it impossible not to feel empathy.

Kingdom of Claw introduces a new main character, Silla’s sister, Saga. I adored the way Kingdom of Claw was written as a dual POV between the sisters - I’m not sure I’ve seen that before. And, I’ll be honest, usually when there’s a dual POV, I have a favorite and can’t wait for the story to turn back to that character. That’s not the case here - the characters, the settings, and the respective dramatic elements were both incredibly paced and never once did I wish to turn back to another character. Plotting perfection.

Another easy 5⭐️ from me for Winters. Beware of a cliffhanger here, I’m not sure how I’ll survive the wait for Book 3 but I’m sure glad to be along for the ride.

4.25 stars. Second book in the series - must read the first book before this one!!!
I don’t even know what to say. This book was excellent and infuriating and aggravating and I was filled with hate and frustration basically the whole time.
There were definitely parts that were unpredictable and some that were predictable. At the beginning of the book I was kind of annoyed every time we switched over to her sister's POV, but by the end I was fully invested in that story line so trust the process if you feel this way as well!
And we don’t even have a release date for the next book? Ugh. I need it now!
Also, can we get this on audiobook with some fun accents?

Love love love this series! Wow, after the ending of book one, I just had no idea where things would go! And Demi delivered! So many twists and turns, discoveries, magical awakenings and general bad assery. Omg Sila! Gf!!!!! I love her so much. And the ending could not have left me wanting more. Oh my gosh!!! The way I need a printed copy in my hands to re-read! I cannot wait. Read the Ashen series stat, okay!

Thank you for the advanced copy. I cannot wait for the re-release! I’ll be taking it up all over booktok for sure!

It's not often that I read the second book in a series, and like it MORE than the first, but it happened with this book. I was craving details on the world and the magic system after finishing Road of Bones, and Kingdom of Claw delivered! We get soooo much-needed worldbuilding, but it was delivered so smartly, in a way that didn't feel rushed or like info-dumping. I am so obsessed with this world, but also THE CHARACTERS. The author made me love the heroes and (I didn't think it possible) despise the villains even more than I did after finishing book 1. I had my doubts about our FMC, Silla, at the start of the series, but she turned into such a badass in this book. We get more backstory on Rey, and it just makes his broody, grumpy demeanor in book 1 make sense. The romance between the two of them is elite *insert swoony heart eyes here*. There is so much pining and longing (and lots of cold ice baths), and even the spicy scenes were done in a way that felt really emotional and tasteful. We also get an introduction to new characters, Saga and Kass, which was helpful for understanding how everything is linked together in this world, as the different characters are living in different areas of the realm. There was even a Road of Bones recap at the beginning of the story to refresh on what happened in book 1; I wish more authors of series included this! I have a terrible memory and sometimes forget details of a book after finishing it, so it was a nice little reminder of all the plot points going on before the start of Kingdom of Claw. There is A LOT going on in this book, which I loved, and I think is natural with so many different POVs, but I can see some people possibly finding it confusing. I did miss reading about the rest of the gang from the Bloodaxe Crew in this one, but hopefully we'll get more of them again in book 3!

TLDR: I just really, really love this series and cannot wait to dive into book 3 (whenever it comes out). 5 screaming stars. Thanks, Netgalley for the e-ARC!

The story picks up with Silla Nordvig after the devastating revelations of her true identity. She is now on the run with Reynir "Rey" Galtung, the brutal leader of the Bloodaxe Crew. Their chemistry sizzles as they navigate their alliance, a classic enemies-to-lovers romance. However, Rey has his own secrets, which makes their journey fraught with danger.
Silla is determined to master the magic she's only begun to understand. She struggles with her new reality and the woman she used to be. The subplot follows Saga Volsik, who is trying to dismantle Queen Signe's plans and find her sister Silla. Her interactions with a dignitary introduce a mix of political intrigue into the storyline.

The world-building continues to shine in this sequel, with the Kingdom of Íseldur coming alive through detailed descriptions of ancient magic and complex social hierarchies. The balance of romance, action, intricate plot twists, and political intrigue sets "The Ashen" series apart from other romantic books because the romance never overpowers the larger narrative of a kingdom on the brink of chaos. Silla and Saga are fighting against impossible odds, and their storylines highlight the novel's themes of resilience and finding their identity. I don't know if I can wait for the next book in the series.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine, Delacorte Press.

How often do you read a book that’s better than the first? For me, it hardly ever happens. This book was PERFECTION. There were things I didn’t expect, such as adding Saga’s storyline, that served to create the perfect amount of tension. It’s been a long time since I’ve given five stars to a Viking romantasy book, but this one gets all of them and more.

Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters is a captivating sequel that picks up right where The Road of Bones left off. Winters continues to weave a complex tapestry of political intrigue, forbidden magic, and undeniable romance.

At the heart of the story lies Silla And her struggle to master her power as well as find herself. I won’t even try to lie, I was living for Silla and Rey’s love story in this book. Their love is both thrilling and emotionally charged and I could not get enough. Just goes to show, never to trust the blonde first love interest.

Saga's arc is equally compelling, though it starts a bit slower than Silla's. However, the introduction of Cass adds an intriguing layer to the story. His enigmatic personality and unique perspective make him a fascinating character to follow. I particularly enjoyed the audiobook narrator's portrayal of Cass's accent, which added depth to his character. I’m excited to see how their relationship develops.

Winters' writing is both evocative and powerful, creating a vivid and immersive world. The action sequences are thrilling, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. If you enjoy romantic fantasy with complex characters and a captivating love story, Kingdom of Claw is a must-read. I can't wait to see where the series goes next.

Wow. I cannot say enough how much I love this series. It’s very rare that I have two 5 star reads in a row and even more rare that I give 5 stars to the first AND second book in a series but this book deserves every star given and then some.

‘Hope was like a carnivorous plant, lovely and bright to lure you in. That was when the gods sprang their trap.’

Every single character is extremely unforgettable and relatable in some way. This book touches on a few subjects that just makes you feel seen by the author even as one single reader. I honestly could not express in words how I felt during and after reading this book. All I have to say is when you sit down to read, be sure you have the time to read the whole thing because that’s what you will want to do.

The world Demi made in this book is one of my favorites by far. The magic is unique and the character relationships feel so real. Too often in a romantasy you find yourself reading an enemies-to-lovers/reluctant allies-to-lovers and it goes from them just disliking each other for whatever reason, to all of the sudden they are in love and can’t stay away from each other.

This book has no such thing. You get to have the experience of being reluctant allies and build up to them falling for each other and actually get to understand the reasons why.

Seriously this author has a hold on me and I love it. I am bouncing with anticipation for the next book and I don’t even regret reading the first two without having the entire series released yet. This wasn’t just a story, it was an experience and an amazing one at that!

I didn't expect to love this series as much as I did and could just keep vanishing into worlds of noise inspiration, I need more now

I loved this book!!!! I loved having the dual POV to see what’s going on for both of the sisters. The story was very intriguing and I couldn’t put it down. The romance… obsessed.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a read on book two.

Wow. Talk about intense, high stakes, all my little quibbles from the first book were solved, expanded upon. I'm not a big fan of the romantasy genre, but for a book being billed as romantasy, I feel like there is more going on here. There is a story and I like where it is heading.

I feel awful for the situations the two sisters are being thrust into. I like their romantic counterparts and I love how this book ended where the road to good intentions and happy endings is paved with sacrifice.

This time the only issue I have in this book is the crew from the first book are gone / missing / no longer touched upon. The author spent some good time building them up in book one to completely remove them from the plot of book two. They are mentioned briefly here and there and I do hope they pop up again in book three.

All in all, for someone like me who is picky with this type of genre, I'm enjoying myself.

I read Kingdom of Claw as an indie and loved it then...and I loved this edition just as much. I love the journey Silla goes on and the side characters are some of my favorites. I can't wait for more of Silla and Saga in the future!

This is officially my favorite book series! I absolutely love this and can not wait to see what the next book leads us! As a second in a series, I always worry if it can live up to the first books hype and let me tell you, — Kingdom of Claw does!