A Heart of Blood and Ashes
by Milla Vane
Release Date: February 4, 202
Publisher: Berkley
Book #1 in the A Gathering of Dragons series
Number of pages: 555
Fantasy Romance
Ages 15 and up
CW: rape, child abuse, grief, death of a parent, torture
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A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil–until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.
Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents’ murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king’s daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.
Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones–because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own…
I have no words. Seriously, I have no idea how to talk about this book without gushing and/or giving spoilers. I loved it so much! To say I’m a regular reader of fantasy would be generous. I read fantasy intermittently. While I love great world-building, I’m also impatient for the world-building to give way to more story. I didn’t have to wait long in this book. While the first few chapters did go a bit slower for me, once Yvenne and Maddok were in the same place this book flew by.
Yvenne is a spectacularly strong MFC. She may have been held back, hidden, and hurt by her family since the time she was born, but she has persevered. She doesn’t let the fact that she has been maimed and given lifelong injuries hold her back from doing what she believes is right. And Maddok is just the person to help her reach her goals. This is great since she is the perfect person to help Maddok get revenge on her family. These two may need to work together, but that doesn’t mean they like each other. Maddok doesn’t trust Yvenne and for some time even believes she contributed to the deaths of his parents. So there is a lot of push/pull in this story. Maddok and Yvenne are fire together so it’s hard for both to resist, but his mistrust and trying to protect her heart keep things interesting.
When Maddok and Yvenne are getting along they are witty and playful with each other. Maddok’s dragon, the people tasked with being his guard, are quick to fall under Yvenne’s spell. She is so darn likable and that infuriates Maddok. He doesn’t want to like her! There are times Maddok is just plain awful to Yvenne. His dragon is not afraid to call him out for his actions either. They enrich this story so much, each having something different to bring to the journey they are taking.
The moment Maddok realizes what he stands to lose and how horrendous he’s been to Yvenne is nothing short of phenomenal. He goes scorched earth and will not rest until he sees her safe in his arms. But as I said, Yvenne is no shrinking violet. She’s right there helping to save herself and protecting Maddok as well.
This story is full of strong women, flawed by loving men, goddesses and gods, matriarchal societies, tons of yearning, and tight friendships. I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
5 stars
All In Good Time 