A Shift in Ashes by Maddox Grey, narrated by Krys Janae, is a wild ride full of dragons, fae, and—oh yeah—a fair amount of chaos. I mean, when your rescue mission involves a princess who’s also a dragon (and lives in a realm full of her equally fiery cousins), you know things aren’t going to be simple. Throw in an exiled fae king scheming to take over all the realms and a certain smooth-talking someone who might be too charming for his own good, and you’ve got yourself a seriously tangled fantasy adventure.

The best part? It’s not just action for the sake of action. There’s heart here, especially in the way the main character’s loyalty to Eddie drives the plot. The banter between the characters was a highlight for me—sharp, snarky, and just the right amount of bite. Plus, Krys Janae’s narration was solid. She gave the characters distinct voices, especially Mikhail, who was somehow exactly as dangerously seductive as I imagined.

But I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings. The pacing felt uneven at times, and there were moments where the world-building got a little... extra. I love a detailed fantasy realm as much as the next person, but there were spots where it felt like it was trying too hard to explain everything. Still, when the story moved, it moved, and those dragon scenes? Chef’s kiss.

All in all, I’d give this one a solid 3.5 stars. It’s fun, a little messy, but undeniably creative. Thanks to Maddox Grey, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the chance to check out the audiobook ARC. If you’re into high-stakes rescues, reluctant partnerships, and, well, dragons, you might want to give this one a listen.

A Shift in the Ashes by Maddox Grey is an exhilarating addition to the *Lost Legacies* urban fantasy romance series. With action, intrigue, and romance, it blends magic, dragons, and fae in a world where stakes are high and allegiances can shift at any moment.

The story follows the protagonist, who is tasked with a seemingly straightforward mission: fulfill a blood debt, rescue a princess, and navigate the dangers of a realm full of furious dragons. But, as with most missions in this series, things quickly spiral into chaos. The twist? The princess is not just any princess—she’s a dragon herself. The complexity of the mission grows, especially when it becomes clear that a much darker force is at play, with an exiled fae king plotting something that could destroy all the realms.

Grey’s writing is fast-paced, and the stakes are immediately clear, creating an engaging narrative that pulls you in from the first chapter. The blend of urban fantasy elements like magic, dragons, and fae keeps the plot fresh and exciting, with each page offering new challenges for the protagonist and their allies. The world-building is impressive, with rich, layered details that make the different realms feel real and fully fleshed out.

The main character is strong-willed, determined, and more than capable of holding their own against the myriad dangers they face. Their bond with Eddie and the mission’s personal stakes lend emotional depth to the story, making it more than just a rescue mission. However, it’s the dynamic with Mikhail that truly adds another layer of complexity. Mikhail’s dangerous charm and clever tongue keep the protagonist on edge, and their evolving relationship adds tension, suspense, and, of course, romance to the narrative.

While the plot is filled with action and suspense, the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times. There are moments where the focus on building the relationship with Mikhail slows the action down, but the tension between the characters keeps things interesting. Additionally, the reveal of the fae king's plot is a bit predictable to those familiar with the genre, but it still delivers enough twists and turns to keep readers engaged.

Overall, A Shift in the Ashes is an exciting and satisfying continuation of the *Lost Legacies* series. With its well-crafted characters, intricate world-building, and a perfect mix of romance and fantasy, it’s a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys urban fantasy with a healthy dose of dragons, magic, and dangerous intrigue. While not without a few minor pacing issues, it offers a thrilling ride that leaves you eager for the next book.

A Shift in Ashes: A Slow Burn Romantic Fantasy (Lost Legacies, #4)
by Maddox Grey
Heading into a complicated RPG adventure our main characters find there is more to the plans of the enemy transfer multiple worlds. The Fae and the demons battles and conflict are instigated over history, yet this pit them against more than one species. They banished the Fae prince, the demons, the de-vowers, and the seraphim locked each in their own realms. The core group of friends have to not only find the plot, but investigate why and how things have changed. They are facing their greatest danger, and finding their love is the motivation to work through it all.

3 ⭐
It was a quick and funny read - well I listened to the audiobook so funny audio? 😁
The slow burn was great and the FMC while sometimes irritating was entertaining so that's a plus
Great representation of POC and LGBTQIA+!

The narrator was absolutely brilliant and I will definitely pay closer attention to her 5/5 ⭐

I got the audio arc thanks to the NetGalley which I am so grateful for!
#AShiftinAshes #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of A Shift in Ashes. I absolutely love this series and I will always continue with it. The plot is excellent, with great witty and funny remarks made by characters. The characters and world building balanced through different realms and supernatural beings is amazing and breaks down a complex idea into something highly enjoyable and readable. I 1000% recommend this series.

A Shift in Ashes by Maddox Grey is book 4 of the Lost Legacies series


Nemain is a four-century-old feline shapeshifter with devourer magic who is kicking butts and taking names once again in this continuation of a fast-paced fantasy action adventure with a large blend of different magical beings with LGBTQIA+ representation, and a dash of romance. The world and magical beings are complex and some are a bit snarky and a touch vindictive which I love. The friendships are fiercely loyal and they love like no other.  Especially when Nemain tries her hardest to ignore her pull to avoid being heartbroken with the loss of yet another person they fall in love with. Mikhail is a centuries-old fae vampire who has all the time in the world to wait for her but his longing is running his patience thin. She just needs a bit of a push in the right direction. 😘 This edition adds some new characters with new problems for Nemain and friends.


Side note: The vampires in this series are unlike the traditionally written ones that we are all used to. No, they do not sparkle in the sun, but some can vanish in smoke or have other interesting abilities due to being mixed with fae giving them different magical abilities.  


This book is packed with so many different things with diverse representations so it's best to just list them 


Morally Grey FMC/MMC
Strong respected female leaders
Slow Burn Romance
Enemies to lovers
One bed
Steamy magical dancing
Seely Court Nonsense
Deadly Tournament
DRAGON Shifters
LGBTQ Rep
Deaf representation
Mysterious Magic
Mixed Fae
Daemons
Fae Vampires
Shapeshifters
Witches/Warlocks
Man eating plant
Grumpy Talking "cat"
Portal Magic
Realm Jumping
Found Family
Snarky banter


*SPOILERS* Brief recap cliff notes 


Nemain and her friends go on another dangerous mission but first, Nemain must do her duty to attend the Unseely Queen's First Day of Spring celebration and officially announce who her actual parents are. The only good thing was knowing that her mother would hate it as much as she does. Dressed to the nines that don't include her usual weapons and expected to take a date, Nemain's usual choices are conveniently unavailable so Mikhail is her only option. Not thrilled with the idea due to her unmistakable attraction to him, she tries to keep him away but of course, things don't always happen like you plan. Just like they were all surprised when the Queen presented Nemain to the court as the daughter of The Morrigan and The Earl King- nephew of the Queen, she also announced that Nemain has a new position as the Queen's knight. For now, it is in name only, but the future could be a problem. Due to ties to the Seely Court, Nemain's parents could not be officially announced as the Queen's knights so the Queen hasn't had one for centuries, but they unofficially filled the duties of the title.


After the show at the Spring celebration Nemain had to put on in front of the court for the Queen to send a message to all in attendance, she and Mikhail gather some information she and her band of misfits needed that is not only a mission for the Queen, but also to to help Eddie find his one true love, but the Queen wants her Knight to go there to see what the Dragon's are up to. The Queen's spies heard that she and the Seely Queen's enemy have been working with the Seraphim, Devourers, and Dragons so she wants to know exactly what they are doing. Nemain's Fire Daemon best friend Pele also wants to tag along to make peace with the Dragons to end the exile and free the Dragons and allow them to finally have the option to leave the Dragons Realm they have been trapped in by offering a peace treaty. It's been a long time since Eddie was banished from the Dragon Realm failing to find a way back and having his magic suppressed not having access to change. He is desperate to see the love of his life who happens to be a Dragon Princess and her father was the one who banished him. This is the perfect time to honor Nemain and Eddie's blood debt formed with each other. 


Eddie is reunited with the love of his life Cerri and finds out that since he's been gone, her father has tried and failed to marry her off. He tries to convince her to leave with him back to the human realm but she is reluctant to leave the other Dragons to deal with her father's rule. The Dragons are having a huge meeting, celebrations, and a tournament that will include all the factions. The tournament is for male Dragons to compete and the winner will get to marry Cerri. Similar to an auction to win a prized cow. With all the Dragons in attendance, it's the perfect time for Pele to try and offer a peace treaty with them, or initiate a coop as she is transitioning to be the leader of the Daemons replacing her father who wishes to retire and finally mourn the loss of her mother without the worry of leading the Daemons in the human realm. She has been hiding and protecting all the dragons who were banished from the Dragon Realm for many years and wishes to have them all have safe passage between the realms with this treaty.


At the Dragon celebration the day before the tournament, Nemain and Mikhail needed for information to find out what Cerri's father was up to.  In an unexpected heated display to hide their digging around for what she was doing in the Dragon realm, it was a convincing ploy to not let the Dragons know what they were actually doing, but it complicates Nemain's feelings to break through the wall she keeps up against Mikhail. Things got seriously dangerous when Eddie decided to put himself in the deadly tournament to win the hand of his beloved and many of the Dragons in the tournament were fighting to the death. Cerri's father was hoping that he would be taken care of once and for all without getting his own hands dirty and the satisfaction of it done in front of a large audience. This mission was more than they expected and everyone is in danger. Nemain is finally forced to admit to herself how she truly feels about Mikail when he decides to take an action that he may not ever return from in order to save her life and allow her and her friends to escape.  


I received the audiobook courtesy of NetGalley, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this edition for lovers of fantasy, action, adventure, banter, romance, and a side of spice.


 #AShiftinAshes #NetGalley

5🌟

"A Shift in Ashes" by Maddox Grey is a captivating slow-burn romantic fantasy that had me hooked from start to finish. Maddox Grey masterfully balances action, emotion, and humor, delivering a story that is both intense and heartfelt. Nemain's journey is rich with danger, political intrigue, and evolving relationships, particularly with Mikhail and Dante. The diverse cast and inclusive world-building stand out, making the story more vibrant and relatable. Themes of found family, loyalty, and epic quests add depth to the narrative. The banter is top-notch, and the romance is deliciously slow. Grey’s attention to detail and world expansion is impressive, and she’s earned a spot as a must-read author for me. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers!

Tropes/themes:
🌟 one bed 🛏
🌟 found family
🌟 touch her and you die ☠️
🌟 slow burn 🌶

Another terrific book in the Fae, Demon, Dragon, Otherworldly Realm…
Of note: This is book #4!

Nemain returns, and once again is given Impossible Tasks to carry out. Aside from being Assigned something that she in No Way wanted!

If you can see through all the blood, gore, ripping, clawing and so on … this has some beautiful, wonderful underlying moments!

Also, the fact that the Friends Stick Together through thick and thin, well…it’s just amazing!

Add in to that the sparks flying around Nemain and Mikhail…and wow, you are in for a treat!

I absolutely Did NOT like the ending, as it calls in all the bad feelings that I did not want…at the end.
BUT…it also means that there IS going to be another book! So there’s that!! 😄

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

#AShiftInAshes by #MaddoxGrey and narrated beautifully by #KrysJanae.

Thanks so much to #NetGallley and #VictoryEditingNetGalleyCoOp for an ARC of the audiobook which has already been released, so you should be able to find it now.

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I wrote to the author Maddox Grey and got the earlier books in this series and am reading them now! I am having the BEST TIME and can't wait to recommend this series to my tiktok and instagram followers - they're going to love it too. Thank you so much!! (Also this author was responsive, awesome, and just a delight. I can't say enough nice things about this ARC experience).

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This might just be my favorite!
More worldbuilding, new characters and an intriging story in the fantasy univers I really-really like!
Nemain, she is so great! And Mikhail I like you too! But this time we are also following Eddie and his "Princess"

Action-packed romantasy, yes indeed! Oh and dragons!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC

While I've enjoyed the previous novels in this series, I feel like I'm starting to get annoyed by all the love interests. It seems like our fmc has a new boyfriend/girlfriend in every book. Other than that I liked the book. The dragon realm and all the gladiator-alike fighting was enterataining. I'd like to see more of the relationship that blossomed in this book because I've been waiting on it since book one. I both liked and disliked it, but I'm interesting in the next book

A shift in ashes is book 4 in the lost legacies series. With the last book being in a different characters POV, I was super excited to get back to Nemain’s story!!

I will say that you can definitely feel the tension between Nemain and Mikhail in this book growing!! This series is definitely a slowww burn so get ready for all the angst 🔥

While this book has a decent amount of court politics, it is still action packed and even some 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I listened to the audiobook for this whole series and absolutely LOVE the narrator!!! She was perfectly casted! Her accents are amazing! 10/10 recommend♥️

I absolutely loved "A Shift in Ashes" The dragons brought an extra layer of excitement and danger to the story, making it a thrilling ride from start to finish. The plot seems simple—rescue the princess—but when the princess turns out to be a dragon in a realm full of angry dragons, things get complicated fast. The stakes feel high with an exiled fae king plotting, and the characters, especially the strong and witty protagonist, make it even more engaging. The combination of action, dragons, and twists kept me hooked throughout!

Krys Janae’s narration was phenomenal and brought the story to life in such a captivating way. Her ability to differentiate characters and deliver emotions made the entire experience even more immersive. Her voice truly added depth to the action-packed plot, making the story all the more exciting and memorable.