3.5 - Overall, this was a good easy read. I liked most of the MCs, I wouldve liked more of Lors Grandmother! At some points it felt a little rushed and I would have liked a little more detail and backstory. I couldve used about 50 more pages. I was left with more questions than answers and will be looking forward to getting those in book 2.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Ember Johnson and Cursebreaker books for this ARC!

I really wanted to love this book, it has big Beauty and the Beast and ACOTAR energy. But for me it was just ok, and some parts were quite fun. The time covered in sequence really removes you from the characters experience. She may have been better off experiencing those things in flashbacks or going back and forth between current and past. I’m happy to give extra grace to a debut. It was just hard to connect.

I had a difficult time getting into this book. Parts of its seemed super rushed, and left me lost and wondering how the heck we got here. I'd have to go back and reread the section just to realize it didn't really tell me.
About halfway through the story, it gets better. At that point, the pace becomes much less confusing and the plot becomes much more immersive. The last half of the book is 5 stars. The first half is a 3, so we'll average it out with 4 stars.

Omg I loved this book, I devoured it so quickly too! It was a lovely read and waiting on the sequel! Can we have it now please 😅✨

Hehehehehehehe. So much fun. Oh my gosh. Imma keep kicking my feet while I wait for the sequel!! I need it in my hands now

Packed with lots of action, character development is fantastic and suspense filled. At times the story jumped around and left this reader confused. But overall I'm glad I held on and finished. Thanks #Netgalley and #CursbreakerBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/5 🌶️

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What to Expect:
👑Revenge
💜Vengeance
👑Fae-Human
💜Morally Grey FMC
👑Fated Mates
💜Assassin
👑He Falls First
💜Found Family
👑Dark vs. Light

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First off, Thank you so much to NetGalley, and Ember Johnson for the ARC—this was such a ride! 🫶🏼

This book was a fun, fast-paced fantasy with some incredible moments that kept me hooked. Alora, our FMC, is a morally grey assassin on a vengeance-fueled journey after losing her family/loved ones. I loved her protective nature and how grief pushed her to become such a serious badass (morally grey mommy!!!). Plus, throw in magic, betrayal, fated mates, and a swoony romance with a Sunnevean prince? I was kicking my feet over the chemistry between Alora and Ryn. His sweet nickname “love” and all that yearning?! Literal perfection, though I will admit their bond definitely leaned towards insta-love. Still, the tension and romantic build-up had me swooning, blushing, and giggling.

While the story was gripping, the pacing and time jumps made some parts feel a bit rushed. I wish there was more backstory on Alora’s powers and her importance to the kingdom—it felt like such a key part of the plot that could’ve (and probably should’ve) been explored further. The middle bit dragged for me some, but the beginning and ending were strong enough to keep me engaged and wanting to keep on with the book. Oh, and that cliffhanger?! You can bet that I am already counting down the days until book two drops! If you’re a fan of Throne of Glass, Lady of Darkness, or An Heir Comes to Rise, you’ll definitely want this dark fantasy romance on your TBR!

I really wanted to enjoy this story - the writing was breathtakingly immersive. The first few chapters were oh so engaging and descriptive to the point of actually feeling as though I was there. The characters are where I feel the story fell flat on - the Throne of Glass inspiration was incredibly intense and I guess it was well done. Throne of Glass is my favorite series of all time, but yeah, the influence in this book is strong - not a bad thing by any means! The characters just in general felt very YA - the scenes, the story line was adult, but the characters were just not it. I will be reading book 2 however because this book left me with so many questions that I really want answers to!

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

1 ⭐️

WARNING THIS REVIEW HAS SPOILERS!

This book wasn’t bad, but requires a lot of improvement. I found the chapters jumped without fully detailing the worlds or how we came to that moment.

We start by following Lor who is finding vengeance for what has happened to her village. We then later meet a couple of assassins along the way, who she will supposedly become an heir of, and suddenly she meets Oryn who’s her mate and she cannot live without. To then she’s married, and then kidnapped and locked in a dungeon because a scientist wants to investigate her power, but still there is some mention of finding revenge ?

I feel there were too many ideas in this book. As the first book in the series, some details would have been better left and expanded later as the series goes on. Particularly, in regard to Lor’s power which is briefly mentioned at the start of the book and suddenly by the end she’s an expert wielder of it ?

There’s a mention of war but we never really know why or what Lor’s role in filling the prophecy will be. I strongly feel key story stepping stones were missed and as a result this was not executed well.

Sadly I won’t be continuing this series. As I felt detached from the characters and storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

This book jumped around to much for me. Left me confused at times. I enjoy the characters and the plot but it needs more editing.
I almost dnf but I pushed through.

Thank Netgalley for the Arc!

This was a quick read, but sadly I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.

The Daughter of Shadows and Ash by Ember Johnson was a great story about a girl named Alora.. Alora, lives in a small village with her grandmother, until trouble finds them. Now, alone in the world, Alora, with fear of her new powers, has to find a way to live with no home, no friends, and only vengeance to lead her. As she takes her revenge on the assailants that turned her life upside down she’s befriended by Vanya. Vanya is an assassin who takes Alora in and trains her as an assassin.

After years of living and training at the guild, Alora continues on a journey that leads her to the palace, her mate and the last enemy who destroyed her home.

This story ends on a cliffhanger so I am looking forward to the next book in this series called Princess of Flames and Fate.

I loved this book and all the characters! Reading about Alora’s journey and growth throughout this book makes me impatient for the next book. Even though my heart broke for her so many times, I admired her resilience. We love a FMC who takes matters into her own hands! I did feel like parts of the book were a little rushed, but otherwise I enjoyed this!

This is a tough one to write- my feelings are so mixed about whether I loved it or not. The plot, world building, and character arc are phenomenal. 5 stars all the way and really sucked me in. The FMC was strong and tenacious. She experiences so many events and emotions and navigates them in such a believable and relatable way that you really empathize and root for her.

What I struggled with was the pacing of the story. The very beginning was thrilling and sucked me right in. The middle dragged and felt like it jumped around a lot... almost like the original book was significantly longer, and when they pared it down, they didn't revise to help it flow better. The very end was again engaging, and the cliffhanger ending left me wanting to read the next- it's intended to be the first in a trilogy.

This is a captivating read for fans of epic fantasy romance, particularly those who enjoy stories of strong female protagonists, forbidden love, and the struggle between light and darkness, as it masterfully weaves together themes of vengeance, self-discovery, and the power of love to overcome even the most daunting challenges.

This intense, fast-paced fantasy had me hooked from the start. Alora, a morally grey assassin, embarks on a journey of vengeance after losing her loved ones. Unexpectedly, she finds herself betrothed to her fated mate, the Sunnevean prince she spent one passionate night with. The story is packed with action, romance, and political intrigue, creating a vivid and immersive world. I loved Alora’s strength and the emotional depth of her character, though the timeline jumps felt a bit rushed at times. With themes of revenge, love, and redemption, this book is perfect for fantasy romance fans. The cliffhanger ending left me eager for the next one.

Daughter of Shadows and Ash is a book perfect for fans of Throne of Glass with intense world building and descriptive imagery that really pull you into the world with the main characters from the get go. The characters have great development as the book progresses with great interactions and experiences that truly paint a picture of who and what they represent.

There were times where things got a bit repetitive and/or felt drawn out unnecessarily. However the FMC was badass and very likable despite a few flaws in her character.

If you're a fan of Throne of Glass. but make it YA with magic, romance, betrayal, and fated mates, this book is for you!

If I’m being completely honest, I’m still trying to untangle my thoughts after reading Daughter of Shadows and Ash, my first foray into Ember Johnson’s work. Did I love it? Hmm. Did I hate it? Definitely not. Let’s just say my feelings are currently residing in the murky middle, sipping tea and pondering their next move.
First things first—Johnson does not skimp on the action. There is a lot going on here. The plot? Solid. A vendetta-driven adventure with a touch of mated love (because what fantasy novel doesn’t throw in some romantic destiny?), and, of course, a prophecy. Because if there’s one thing fantasy authors love more than world-building, it’s a good old-fashioned ominous prophecy.
Now, about our leading lady, Alora. She’s sassy, she’s sharp, she’s magic personified—but half the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on with her. One moment she’s cracking jokes, the next she’s diving headfirst into danger, and somewhere in between, she left me flipping back pages wondering if I missed a memo. Still, she carries the story with enough charm and grit to keep things interesting.
The supporting cast? Plentiful. Maybe a little too plentiful. Some of them felt like they deserved more screen time to really shine, especially considering their importance to the plot. As it stands, they were a bit like attractive strangers at a party—intriguing, but not quite memorable enough.
And let’s talk pacing. The book oscillates between rushed sequences where I felt like I was sprinting to keep up, and moments that lingered a little too long, repeating details I already grasped. That said, the ending? Chef’s kiss. A breathtaking cliffhanger that left me staring at the last page, blinking in disbelief, and frantically searching for details about book two.
Despite my mixed feelings, Daughter of Shadows and Ash left me with a boatload of unanswered questions and a curiosity that won’t quit. So yes, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the sequel, hoping for a little more clarity, a little more character depth, and a lot more sass from Alora.
Final verdict: If you're in the mood for a fast-paced fantasy with action, intrigue, and a heroine who bites off more than she can chew (but somehow makes it work), give this one a go. Just be prepared for a wild ride that might leave you with a few question marks floating above your head.

After her loved ones are slain, Alora embarks on a journey of vengeance that transforms her into an assassin, but when fate leads her to a passionate encounter with a handsome stranger who turns out to be her fated mate and the prince she must marry, she must choose between her quest for revenge and embracing love to save two kingdoms from dark forces.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of Daughter of Shadows and Ash and recognize that this is Ember's debut novel, but I feel the story has untapped potential that wasn’t fully explored.

In my opinion, the book could have been split into two parts to allow for deeper character and world-building, as there were several gaps that required readers to fill in on their own.

The first part could focus on the protagonist's childhood, helping readers form an attachment to her loved ones and her hometown, before diving into the beginning of her revenge.

The second part could then focus on her development, as well as her growing romance with the stranger who turns out to be her fated mate and the prince.
Tropes included in this book:
• Fated Mates
• Revenge
• Morally Grey FMC
• Found Family
• Magic

After reaching out with Ember to express my concerns of this book, she revealed to me that the final edits of this book were not included in this publication, and I am excited to see the how this improves the book.

I received this as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I had mixed feelings about Daughter of Shadow and Ash. The book started off slow, diving into layer upon layer of backstory that often felt like a backstory to another backstory. While I appreciated the author’s effort to build a rich world and complex history, it detracted from the main plot and left me feeling disconnected early on.

The connection between Mael and Alora showed promise, and I was starting to enjoy their dynamic. However, I didn’t feel their bond deeply enough to truly experience the heartbreak that the story seemed to demand. If the emotional weight of their relationship had been stronger, I think I would have been more invested in Alora’s transformation into an assassin.

By the halfway mark, I realized I still didn’t have a clear sense of the main plot. While some parts of the protagonist’s journey were enjoyable, the story lacked the tension and engagement needed to keep me turning the pages. The climax, when it finally arrived, was packed into the very end of the book and felt rushed.

The conclusion left me feeling more confused than intrigued. It seemed intentionally vague, likely to set up the sequel, but instead of building anticipation, it left me wondering, “What did I just read?” I even reread the ending, thinking I had missed something, but it was simply the way it was written.

While Daughter of Shadow and Ash had its enjoyable moments, the slow pacing, lack of clarity, and rushed conclusion made it difficult to fully connect with the story. If I come across the sequel, I’ll read it out of curiosity, but I won’t be waiting eagerly for it.