Queen of Ashes

Empire of Shattered Crowns #2

by May Freighter

Prince Thessian needs to strengthen the bonds with his allies in the Dante Kingdom, especially if he plans to protect his strong-willed regent. Life would be much simpler if his subordinates could stay out of trouble, and the criminal he's after didn’t make him doubt his family.

Meanwhile, Emilia is plagued with nightmares and feels she can't go on if she loses any of her dear friends. In a game of chess, pawns need to be sacrificed, but Emilia isn't used to others giving their lives for her.

With powerful mages crawling out of the woodwork and well-kept secrets that could shake the foundation of the continent, Emilia is certain she has deviated the main plot.

What will she and Thessian sacrifice for the greater good?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Royalty, Action, Young Adult

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2023

About the author

May Freighter is an award-winning, internationally bestselling author from Ireland. She writes Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Sci-Fi Mysteries that will keep you entertained, mystified, and hopefully craving more. Currently, she's attempting to parent two little monsters and hasn't slept in over 4 years.

Who needs sleep these days, anyway?

On days when May can join her fictional characters on an adventure, stars must align in the sky and meteors will probably rain down. So keep an eye out.

Her hobbies are photography, drawing, plotting different ways of characters' demise, and picking up toys after her kids. Not exactly in that order, either.

Sign up to May's Urban Fantasy Newsletter and get DESIRED for free here!

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Website: https://mayfreighter.carrd.co/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/May-Freighter/...
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/authormayfre...
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*****
HELENA HAWTHORN SERIES:
- Alexander: Memoirs (Prequel)
- Russian Roulette
- Demon Gates
- Crumbling Control
- Desired (Spin-off Novella)
- Alexander: Monochrome Interview
- Fated Origins
- Cherished (Spin-off Novella)
- Dark Affiliations
- Blood Witch
- Twisted Truths
- TBA

*****
ANNALISE STORM CHRONICLES:
- Case: 0
- Case: 1
- Case: 2

*****
EMPIRE OF SHATTERED CROWNS
- Queen of Deception
- Queen of Ashes
- Queen of Hope
- Queen of Hearts
- Queen of Dante
- Queen of Vows
- Queen of Revelations (TBA)
- Queen of Sacrifice (TBA - Final)

Reviews

[Once Upon a Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen of Ashes is the second book in this YA fantasy story about reincarnation into a fantasy, ancient era novel, so if you haven't read Queen of Deception yet - go do that immediately! You won't regret it, and feel free to read my review on the first book as well.

My love for the characters grew even more in this book, they are complex and fun to read about. The storyline is interesting and keeps you at the edge of your seat. There's really not much to say other than that this series has it all; from magic, interesting dynamics, foes, political schemes, characters depth and so much more. Honestly? I can't wait to continue in book 3 and I'm surprised not more of you lovely readers are reading this series 👀 hint hint 👀📖✨

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨
Loved the first book so I had to read this right after! Finished in a couple of hours and I’m ready for book 3🔥🔥!

This picks up right where we left off in Book 1. Again, this was fast-paced with action, secrets, lies, and betrayals. I kept turning the pages faster and faster.

“Have you ever been told that you keep strange company?”
Still can’t get enough of the Prince! He still has doubts about trusting Emelia. I feel like we learned a lot more about his character in this story. The twists about his family are even more messed up!🤯 Talk about a huge shocker I was not expecting!

When Emelia describes the Prince just like the novel does. I loved that part😍! And the slow burn! Ugh, there is so much I want to happen. I will say, I wasn’t expecting what happened at the end😉😉 but I’m happy about that. Yes to the little bit of action.

Laurence. He’s so easy to love too. He is secretly a caregiver no matter how hard his interior may come off.

“I mean it. As your friend and mentor, I will stand by you.”
Lionhart is one of my top characters. He made me laugh so much in this book. I love how protective he is. I mean I love all the guys but he really has a special place in my heart.

“I would prefer it if you use me.”
Clayton! Ugh, my precious heart. I seriously love that man! There is so much I want to say about him but I don’t want to spoil too much. Let’s just see what happens in book 3. I also like his sister a lot too.

Overall, this author has made me a super fan! I’m in love with this series. If you’re a fantasy lover. You will enjoy this so much. It’s not your normal fantasy and that’s what I enjoyed so much about it. Very original and I’ve never read a book like this before.

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the follow up to Queen of Deception and continues the adventures of Queen Emelia, Prince Thessian, and loyal friends and guards Lawrence, Ambrose, Cali, Lionhart, Clayton and many others.

This book jumps right in after the events of book 1 and flows nicely with a good pace.
There are lots of mini adventures running alongside Emelia's plot to help Thessian take over the empire, including hunting beasts, discovering slaves, fighting dragons and capturing the elusive criminal on the run.

Like the first book this was a delightful read which keeps you hooked and wanting to read more. It was nice to see relationships blossoming too.
Looking forward to reading more adventures in the next book!
(Arc review)

[Utena · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the romance is not in the second book, the comedy makes up for it. You will definitely like Laurence a lot.

5/5

a reader's guide to books and reviews | Pillowfort | Bookbub | LibraryThing | The Story Graph | livejournal | Litsy | Booksprouts

[stephanie cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**

ohhhhh these books and this author have me on edge! I am overly excited for the 3rd book after this ending.

Book two starts off strong, diving right into where the first book left off, with its fast-paced action, secrets, and betrayals.
The author wrote the characters amazingly. Emelia and the Prince are my favorites. They have that slow-burn tension you aren't mad about witnessing and are just enjoying the ride.

The plot of the story is like taking a deep dive and when you finally come up for a breath you are on the last page of the last chapter devastated it's over.

I highly recommend this series to others who enjoy fantasy, slow-burn romances, and a strong female lead.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paul Cobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great follow-up to Queen of Deception. I really like where the author is taking Emilia's story. The cast of characters is growing, but the author is doing a good job of keeping things from getting too confusing, while still developing the core cast. This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I almost knocked a star off because of that, but I really did enjoy the book, and there's no way I'm not going to read book 3, anyway. I think a cliffhanger on the second book in a series is less bad than one on the first. A cliffhanger on book 2 only means you have to wait for book 3 to find out what happens next. If you've already read 2 complete books, it's unlikely you aren't going to read the third. So I left my star rating alone. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I would rate this entire series. I like it very much, I enjoyed the plot from the start and I was fascinated by the main idea of an FMC reborn and transported into a fantasy world from one of her favorite novels. Still, something is lacking and now I know what that is (and this is purely personal preference) - the romance is missing. I keep waiting for it, there are some glimpses but it's all still in the making. I know romance isn't the main part of the story and I don't mind it, but still, I feel like it's missing the romantic subplot.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicole Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks up immediately where the first one left off! I appreciate that the author wasted no time recapping and just kept the story moving. I am intrigued by how much Emilia comments the story is veering from the original book with the choices made. I love how unknowns keep popping up with new and exciting characters that did not exist prior to those choices. Aside from all of that I am in love with the strong female main character who just wants the best for the characters of her favorite fantasy novel. I hope to see Emilia let go of some of her inner fears and embrace the tight group of supporters aka friends without fear of betrayal. I hope the author has plans to be quick about the next one as I am on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. Highly Recommended!!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erica Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen of Ashes, Empire of Shattered Crowns: Book 2 is a perfect follow up to Queen of Deception. It is exciting, dramatic and unpredictable - what’s not to love! There are some unexpected elements that make this a great read.

The sequel builds on the characters introduced in book one, adding depth to an already rich world. The author doesn’t rely solely upon the tropes of the genre and the twist that our heroine used to live in our universe before the fantasy universe adds spice to the story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ja Ja · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cried from happiness reading this book, I cant say how much it took me to write this review becasue I felt like rereading it once more. I see the details are showing the precise story that develops as you go through another scene and see the love of author to her characters. She is amazing one. I can tell I read more books in my life and I can tell this one brings the best of her. Storyline takes away any chances of confusion and the main characters are getting into plot deeper and deeper.

[JustPaige_in_a_book88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

** possible spoilers **

QoA picked up right where QoD left off and the action started right away. In this book we get to meet some new characters and see the character development as the plot continues forward. Queen Emelia is suffering from nightmares which end up being caused by a Mage. Prince Thessian finds himself in a Smokey situation (literally) when his right hand and some guards went out for a night of fun and came across someone doing experiments on the magic of mages and holding them hostage. He also gets smacked with some heavy information that he has trouble processing and believing. Sir Laurence takes a few hits in this book with the fire and then what happens between him and a close comrade. Without giving away any more spoilers, definitely go check this book out. I am hooked and can’t wait to find out what happen next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawn M. Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of Empire of Shattered Crowns does not disappoint this book is just as good as the first book in the series I can't wait for the next book the characters are interesting the storyline leaves you on the edge of your seat I'd love to see these books made into a mini series very well done!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paige Stillwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book as a ARC but this is a honest review.

This is the second book in the Empire Of Shattered Crowns and is just as well written as the first book. I love the new characters that where introduced in this book and the characters from the first book just get more interesting. I am so excited to get my hands on the physical copies when they come out! 100% would recommend

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen of Ashes is the second book in the Empire of Shattered Crowns series and picks up right where the first book ended.

In this book we continue to follow the FMC (Emilia) & two MMCs (Laurence and prince Thessian). The book is told in all of their perspectives.

Also the supporting characters we met at book 1 are back in action and we meet a few new ones too. This series has some really interesting characters who I enjoy reading about. The characters are well written and multi dimensional. Also their reactions to things seem realistic.

The book is fairly fast paced but not too fast. There’s again a lot of things happening but this time it was easier to follow because the characters and places were familiar from the first book.

In this book Emilia has to make some difficult decisions and we learn more about her and other main characters. Also the story is full of twist and turns from start to finish.

Again I really enjoyed the book. The writing is really good, the book is easy to read and the storyline keeps you hooked.

Can’t wait to read the next one and learn more about Emilia and also see where the story goes.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cracking series with each book as good as the last. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I cannot get enough of this series. What’s going to happen next I wonder. Emilia has her work cut out for her in this one that’s for sure. Cannot wait for book three. Highly recommended.

[Melissa Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Magnificent Series!

This series just gets more captivating with every turn of a page. It’s brilliantly written to wrap you up in hours of reading because you can’t put it down.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

May Freighter has done it again!
I am completely obsessed with this story! I love how more depth just gets added to the book and honestly the characters just keep getting better!
Laurence is the funniest character I have ever read! He’s becoming one of my favourite book characters I’ve ever read! He is just amazing to read about!
Honestly the storyline is written to beautifully and it makes it so easy to follow on!
I finished this book in one day I was obsessed! I literally could not put it down!
Honestly this is my favourite series I’ve read this year!!!

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I flew through book 2 in the Empire of the Shattered Crown. Again, I really liked it but I did not love it.

But, another gorgeous cover!

It was fun to hang out with Emilia, Thessian, Laurence, and their merry band of misfits again.
While I would have thought the story would continue in Emilia and Thessian working towards their goal of becoming a good regent and/or emperor, this book was more focussed on the “colouring in” of a lot of the magical elements of this new world. Which was fun but which was also a bit chaotic at times. The amount of added magical creatures was interesting to read about, but at the same time had me wondering when the focus went back on the lot.
Perhaps the next book will be the one to neatly tie everything together.

Regarding the prophecy that made Emilia into the Cursed Princess, I wonder if it is a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way?
***NOTE. Not SPOILERS per se, but some PLOT MUSINGS in this paragraph.***
Our world/adult Emilia (though I bet she would have a different name originally) read about this side character, princess Emilia, in the fantasy series called The Cruel Empire. The church of that book had deemed the princess to be cursed as she would bring about the end of the country or perhaps even the world.
Of course all valid for a magical world.
BUT. What if princess Emilia only received this prophecy because “our Emilia”, the reincarnated!adult!Emilia, is indeed the one to bring about the end? As in, helping Thessian? Our Emilia has been actively working on this since she was a child, so it would make sense to me. Plus, about halfway in the book, a raving follower of the church’s teaching says, “You are a calamity, a demon, a being that should not exist in this world.” (Emphasis mine.) Which is not really true for princess Emilia but I feel it is true for reincarnated!adult!Emilia!
It will be cool if we get to find out more about how and why she was transported to this magical land…
***Done with thinking out loud.***

3.5 stars rounded down. Looking forward to book three in this series, Queen of Hope!

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

[Anaïsu Anaïsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book, so I have high expectations for the second one, and it didn't disappoint, as it was even better than I expected.

The FMC is exceptional; with each chapter, you love her more and more. The story and all the characters are so well-written that it's impossible to stop reading; it's such a page-turner.

I love when a story is so well developed, and the world-building is so great that you can immerse yourself in that book, forget about the outside world, and fall in love with the characters and their journey.

Empire of Shattered Crowns series by May Freighter is a fantastic series that has all of the above.
I highly recommend it.

I can't wait to keep reading about Emily, Thessian, Laurence, and Cia.


I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Yardén Shoval · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this and the first part together, and got this, the second book for free in return for an honest review. Thank you Booksirens and author/publisher.

I’ll start with what I liked: this book has a fresh concept, wherein the main character find herself reborn into a fantasy world of a book she had read. With that inside knowledge, she is now tasked to survive. Sadly, the premise is the only good thing in this book.

There is no plot. So much so, that the book ends just like that, no cliffhanger, not much setup for the next book, nothing. It could have been an ordinary Tuesday and the author’s computer died where the book ends. I can’t find stakes, a through line, anything, and I really wish I did. Events, conversations, and relationships feel skimmed over, like someone was writing a book in chapter titles. Nothing important happens throughout the book. With painfully pedestrian writing we plod through everyday events with “crises” peppered in with no rhyme or reason, and what makes no sense, also makes no impression.

Next are the characters. There is no character development. No strong relationships defined between them. Again, no stakes for any of them in relation to one another. As a result there’s also no character growth. I can’t say I love or hate any of them, I simply don’t know them enough to care (or what makes them tick, motivates them, what they love/hate etc.)

There is one character specifically that is pissing me off and that’s Sir Laurence. He was made out to be a good and nice guy in the beginning but he’s acting more and more like a D-bag as the books progress. I still have no idea why by the way - it’s not like he seems to have ulterior motives or anything, he’s just an *ss.

Back to the premise - we don’t know anything about our heroine’s past life which is a huge miss since this is the most refreshing idea about this series. Two books in and all we know is that she read a book and is now living in it. What a miss! So many opportunities to add to who she is, flashback to her other life, dive into the differences between what she read and what she now experiences… I wish we had more of this.

If I were to give the author advice, as this review instruction is asking me to do, it would be to first have a clear idea of why the characters are here, today, with one another, of all times and places and people. What big thing is looming over them that they’re all working towards? And make it really big and grave, because even the peaceful, quiet invasion of one kingdom into another happens without even a raised eyebrow, let alone real objection. Then, I’d work really hard on getting to know my characters. Why are they who they are? What’s their backstory? Why is it important for the plot and how does it serve the plot? Then I’d work to flesh out the key relationships and really go all in. There’s no real villain in this story, and therefore no real heroes. We have a newly crowned queen who mostly does paperwork at her desk, and acts really well as a bossy royal although she supposedly led a whole modern-day life beforehand. We don’t see the effects of that on her. Lastly, don’t be afraid to write it all. In all it’s glorious detail and world building and GIVE US all of that background work and inner monologues and MEAT. But don’t get me wrong, don’t just write to fill a word quota, that’s almost as bad as not writing nearly enough.

Right now, all this book has is a good idea. Back to the drawing board please.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of the Empire of Shattered Crowns and the main characters are Prince Thessian of Hellion, and Queen Emilia of the Dante Kingdom who has lost most of her family after they were overrun by barbarians and betrayed. Her life is so different from her upbringing, alone and locked in a tower, thought to be cursed by her family and the citizens of the kingdom. Now she is treated as the queen and is working on trying to join with Prince Thessian to have him win the fight with his brothers for Hellion and therefore all the kingdoms. All she wants is somewhere to live in peace and freedom. Thessian has had to bring lady Riga back with him, but got badly injured on the return journey, only just being healed on arriving back at the Dante castle and receiving stronger healing. Thessian is trying to build allies within the Dante kingdom, but has issues to deal with as his second in command, Sir Laurence joins other team leaders within his travelling army, to go for a bit of light relief, only to find themselves somewhere completely unexpected. That cause quite a few issues and even huge damage to the city! Emilia gets plagued by night terrors and nightmares haunting her every bit of sleep, until she finds out something much more insidious is responsible. Her assassin Clayton of House Escariot is supposed to have found the man, Julio, Thessian has been hunting for years, after finding him experimenting on children at a research facility in Darkgate, to his disgust. Somehow he had managed to escape after the king was killed, only for some ghostly figure that looks like him being spotted by the servants!

Emilia decides to hunt whoever is responsible for her night terrors and also check out the strange disappearances of this ominous figure in the castle, through what must be a secret passage! Lady Riga as Thessian found out, is a fire mage, whose secret has been kept, from fear of the Church of the Holy Light, who have decreed mages to be evil, like Emilia herself was cursed from her birth due to some old prophecy! She finds that characters who were not well featured in the book she now finds herself appearing within, during this second reincarnation. Discoveries of who might have actually been funding these sick experiments comes as a huge shock to Thessian, making all he had believed be thrown into turmoil! For Emilia, she needs to find out why the bishop has been trying to take her down and why certain Lords of the kingdom are refusing to support her. There are also difficulties with her own guards and soldiers, who take umbrage against those of Thessian being in charge of them! They especially don’t like the fact that the new Head Guard is a female, Lady Cali, who is in love with Sir Laurence! Ambrose is still the best side character in the stories, always having been caring for Emilia since she was a child, helping her to reach the guild and Lionheart, as well as Emilia using her knowledge from the book she is now starring in, to make decisions and gain some influence and funds of her own. I can’t wait to see what Lady Riga will get up to, as well as Lady Cali, Sir Laurence and the wild beast child he rescued. So much happening, but Queen Emilia still needs the church to allow her to be recognized and crowned, before she can have Thessian take over, and she has an imprisoned bishop to bargain with! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Katherine Weda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed "Queen of Ashes" as much as I did "Queen of Deception," the first book in May Freighter's Empire of Shattered Crowns series.

Once again, I enjoyed the interactions between the three main characters (through whose perspective the story is told) and the notable secondary characters. Reading the novel in consecutive order with the first book was nice because book one was still fresh in my memory.

I can't quite recall if Clayton's sister, Isobelle, was in book one, but I like her character and interactions with Clayton and cannot wait for more scenes with her (or both siblings) in the future.

There were, however, a few things I believe could have been done better, but as an independently published author (and you wouldn't know it most of the time) Mrs. Freighter does exceptionally well in her story telling 95% of the time.

One major thing was the handful of plot holes leftover from book one. There was a character, who was rather an unhinged and clingy young woman from the Empire. The noblewoman arrived, was detained, caused a brief ruckus that merited only a few paragraphs and was never heard from again. Although she was a minor character, I still had questions because of her abrupt entrance and exit from the story.

Another plot hole that I noticed was the absence of Emilia's potential ladies-in-waiting. There are two scenes mentioning the subject in "Queen of Deception," however, we never find out how that plays out, granted the events of the first two books take place over the course of a few weeks (one to two months being a generous estimate), which leads to a second minor complaint.

The timing and pacing of the story. While I understand that the author is trying to make a series based off of the conflict (a human from earth reincarnates as a neglected, "cursed" princess in the backdrop of her fantasy novel and must navigate becoming queen), I feel that if she truly wanted to, she could have made a novel slightly longer and had a two book series rather than the four books she has planned.

I do appreciate her story idea because I have often wondered how it would feel to wake up in the world of a beloved story (either your own or someone else's) and the Empire of Shattered Crowns series does that fairly well.

One thing I liked about this novel was that in each instance of a more mature encounter between characters of the opposite sex, the author left the encounter to our imaginations, though some more innuendo-like comments were made in the narration. I thank the author for doing this because otherwise, I would have taken a DNF.

The world building was alright, but I did meet (however briefly) one of my favorite mythological creatures towards the end, though I can't name it for fear of spoiling. I did enjoy seeing the beastmen, whom I assume the author invented, and learning a little bit of their lore.

Overall, many of the positives from book one carried over to book two, and I hope the same will be said for the next books in the series.

I received a free, advance review copy from BookSirens and am leaving this review of my own accord.

[ashley stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Queen of Ashes" takes readers on a thrilling and complex journey through a vividly imagined world where alliances are forged, secrets are unveiled, and sacrifices are made in the name of the greater good.

The story revolves around Prince Thessian, who must navigate the treacherous waters of politics and power as he strives to strengthen alliances with the Dante Kingdom. At his side is the strong-willed regent, Emilia, who grapples with her own fears and insecurities as the weight of leadership falls upon her. The narrative is skillfully woven, balancing political intrigue with personal dilemmas.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the rich character development. Emilia and Thessian are multi-dimensional protagonists who face moral quandaries and inner conflicts. Emilia, in particular, is a compelling character, haunted by nightmares and the fear of losing her friends. Her vulnerability adds depth to her leadership, making her relatable and endearing.

May Freighter excels in world-building, painting a detailed and immersive picture of the continent in which the story unfolds. The introduction of powerful mages and well-kept secrets adds an element of mystery that keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the truth.

The pacing of the story is well-crafted, with a delicate balance between action-packed scenes and moments of introspection. The tension steadily escalates as the characters confront challenges, both external and internal, and make choices that could reshape their world.

"Queen of Ashes" is a tale of sacrifice, not only in terms of physical bravery but also the sacrifices of trust, loyalty, and personal desires. It explores the complexities of leadership, duty, and the consequences of one's decisions. As the story unfolds, readers will find themselves questioning what they would be willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

May Freighter's writing is engaging and descriptive, pulling readers into the heart of the story. If you enjoy fantasy novels with intricate world-building, well-drawn characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing, "Queen of Ashes" is a must-read. Prepare to be captivated by a world where alliances are fragile, secrets are dangerous, and the cost of power is high.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[rachel ♡ chapterswithrae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Ashes is book two in May Freighter’s Empire of Shattered Crowns series. I had the pleasure of reviewing the ARC of book one, and I’m quite happy to share how much I enjoyed the second installment!

Usually a fantasy series suffers from second-book-syndrome, but Queen of Ashes did not disappoint! The action was exciting and the plot moved forward in a way that made sense for the overarching series.

What I loved:
- The characters felt genuine and just like the first book. Sometimes characters suffer from re-characterization after the first book in a series, but that was not the case here. A the entire cast felt realistic and true to themselves.
- Clayton!!!!! He must be protected at all costs. I need more on-page interactions between him and Emilia. I won’t say more so I don’t spoil anything, but I! LOVE! HIM!
- Dame Cali reminds me of General Amaya from The Dragon Prince TV series. This is a huge compliment and I can’t wait to see more of her in the next book.
- I did not expect the major plot twist in the last quarter! I expected something big to happen, but I definitely did not see that coming. Well done, Freighter!
- I love the vibe of this series. It feels like a D&D campaign in the best possible way!

Room for improvement:
- I wish we got more information on Emilia’s past life. I understand why her character is written this way, but the suspense is killing me!

Overall, I am quite happy with Queen of Ashes and am rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4 for GR). Thank you to the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This paranormal romance is page-turning with exceptional characters and world-building that is realistic and intriguing. Their journey is enthralling with the queen of ashes, an empire of shattered crowns, fantasy romance that is epic, strong female lead, strong male lead, dark schemes, magic sword and sorcery, slow burn romance, fantasy, humor, drama, heartfelt emotions, adventure and action, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with queen of ashes and fantasy romance that will surely have readers flying on an exhilarating roller coaster ride that is unforgettable.
Prince Thessian needs to strengthen the bonds with his allies in the Dante Kingdom, especially if he plans to protect his strong-willed regent. Life would be much simpler if his subordinates could stay out of trouble, and the criminal he's after didn’t make him doubt his family.

Meanwhile, Emilia is plagued with nightmares and feels she can't go on if she loses any of her dear friends. In a game of chess, pawns need to be sacrificed, but Emilia isn't used to others giving their lives for her.

With powerful mages crawling out of the woodwork and well-kept secrets that could shake the foundation of the continent, Emilia is certain she has deviated the main plot.

What will she and Thessian sacrifice for the greater good?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this second book and I've enjoyed reading where the story is going. Recap Emilia has somemehow found herself in her favourite book as the Cursed Princess and has changed the story for a coupe against her father and brothers, with the help of Prince Thessian.
In this second book I feel as if Emilia is a bit lost. Where she's changed the main point of the story with her becoming Queen there are things changing that weren't in the book she loved to read and knew so well.
Lionheart is still supporting her as well as Lord Armel/Clayton who muscles seem to be quite distracting to Emilia!
We Met Lady Riga at the end of book one who is a mage with fire as her magical strength.
I've really enjoyed seeing how the story is continuing and changing with some shocking points in Emilia's eyes. Ambrose is still my favourite and some parts had me laughing out loud with her replies to some things Emilia says.
I can't wait for the next book to find if Lady Riga can improve her magic, with so much changed will the Kingdom thrive? Can Prince Thessian defeat those who are bringing the kingdom down and will Emilia get the free happy ending she deserves.
A great 2nd book must read from book 1 and I can't wait to see where book three takes me next.
I got this book free and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Breanna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This continuation scratches the itch left by the first in this series. The story picks up right from the last and immediately keeps you captivated with wanting to know what will happen next. The discovery of opposition leads into more action and exploration into some of the abilities of the newest loyal followers. The slow burn interwoven into this story gives you the necessity to know what or who will be with whom. This sequel has the perfect balance of action, adventure, drama, mystery and a few moments of bliss. The author does a fabulous job with the concept of second life lived inside of the story, the concept is complex and she does well to add layers to complexity. Especially exploring parts of the story that our main heroine has no idea about. Since the first story has changed a lot from the original plot Emilia is familiar with, will she be able to keep up as the story unfolds into a new chapter before her? You’ll have to read to find out! I myself cannot wait to read the next continuation of this series!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note that the books in the fantasy series, Empire of Shattered Crowns are not stand-alone books. To understand the story and the plot, it is necessary to read Queen of Deception first and to follow the sequencing of the books in the series. I really enjoyed the first book and its very original premise. I had high expectations of the second book and it did not disappoint.

In Queen of Deception, Emilia was reincarnated into her favourite fantasy, ancient era novel as a poorly treated princess who became Queen of Dante following the deaths of the King and her brothers, in a coup that was aided by Prince Thassian of Hellion.

Queen of Ashes dives right in, picking up without recap exactly where book 1 finished. Emilia is noticing changes in the main plot of the novel into which she has been reborn, and comes to believe these changes are a direct result of her presence and actions. Thassian is coping with challenges of his own. The book is a fast read with plenty to keep you turning those pages: adventure, challenges, action, magic, betrayal and a hint of romance. The cast of main characters are well developed and some new characters are introduced. I don’t think the plot moved forward much in this second book it feels like consolidation and preparation for book 3.

I give the book 4.5 stars and highly recommend the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Valeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again this author has written a compelling story that I can’t put down, and that I don’t want to end but I do want resolution for these characters. Whether hero or villain, or minor or background, the characters live and leap off of the page (or screen). I almost hear their voices in my mind as they converse, and with all their struggles and strengths and flaws I cannot help but like them. In the moments the heroine is almost too perfect, approaching unrealistic levels, she does things or says things or shows a glimpse of her normal, fractured person figuring out how to use what she can to the best for herself and others. She’s not selfless, but she genuinely cares along the way to achieving her own goal, which is about as decent as real humans can be I think. It keeps her relatable and makes the intertwining plots flow, and I can’t help but root for her. And I eagerly await the next book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Riza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Queen of Ashes in a day and a half (partly because college), why? Because it was unputdownable. The characters are my favorite part of the book, particularly the Armel siblings, who have overtaken Lionhart as my favorite. I didn't think it was possible, but here we are.

The plot moved along at a fast pace, and I really love how there are no filler chapters in this book. That makes it shorter than a lot of fantasy novels, but it's something I welcome. Emilia's indomitable personality is something I absolutely am in love with, and while I know she wants to retire to her own little piece of land (much like me), I hope that at the end, she remains queen. Hoping for too much? Perhaps.

I look forward to Queen of Hope, and I certainly Hope it takes after its predecessors and immerses me into the story so fully I will finish before I know it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.