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Inkbound #1
Inked in Ashes
Escape the page, or die trying…
I’ve spent twenty-five years in the Hollow, poor as dirt, cursed with a stepmother who hates me, and dreaming about a faraway land that I don’t understand. Only two things that make life worth living are my falcon, Fetch, and my best friend, Molly.
But when Moll’s plot to land a royal husband at the palace ball goes horribly wrong, I find myself staring at a king with a glass stiletto buried in his chest and a blood-covered Molly standing over him. We’ve got to move… and fast, or we’ll both wind up swinging from the hangman’s noose.
Worse? The palace sorcerer is using everything he can to find the culprit including raising the dead.
More complicated? Duncan… brother to the King, whose eye I've unintentionally caught, a man whose secrets might be deadlier than the undead soldiers breathing down our necks, is making me second-guess everything I've ever known.
With revolution brewing and a mysterious man calling to me from my dreams, I have no choice but to embrace my fate…
But what if my fate is beyond anything I could ever imagine? What if the only land I’ve ever known isn’t home at all?
What if I’m trapped inside a fairytale, and the only way out… is through?
I’ve spent twenty-five years in the Hollow, poor as dirt, cursed with a stepmother who hates me, and dreaming about a faraway land that I don’t understand. Only two things that make life worth living are my falcon, Fetch, and my best friend, Molly.
But when Moll’s plot to land a royal husband at the palace ball goes horribly wrong, I find myself staring at a king with a glass stiletto buried in his chest and a blood-covered Molly standing over him. We’ve got to move… and fast, or we’ll both wind up swinging from the hangman’s noose.
Worse? The palace sorcerer is using everything he can to find the culprit including raising the dead.
More complicated? Duncan… brother to the King, whose eye I've unintentionally caught, a man whose secrets might be deadlier than the undead soldiers breathing down our necks, is making me second-guess everything I've ever known.
With revolution brewing and a mysterious man calling to me from my dreams, I have no choice but to embrace my fate…
But what if my fate is beyond anything I could ever imagine? What if the only land I’ve ever known isn’t home at all?
What if I’m trapped inside a fairytale, and the only way out… is through?
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2025
3536 people are currently reading
3700 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Mayer
161 books7,254 followersA long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I was born into a family of Star Wars nuts. I have a lot of siblings (somewhere I lost count but I think there was more than could be numbered on one hand) and being one of the young padawans I was subjected to Star Wars marathons, on a regular basis. If you've read any of my books you'll see there is often a reference to said movies as a small homage to my upbringing. May the force be with you and all that jazz.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
April 30, 2025
“I’ll get you my pretty and your little bird too”
Shannon Mayer does it again! She is definitely one of my favorite authors! This was such a fun read! There were notable references to Cinderella, Snow White, Wizard of Oz and more! I really enjoyed how the story unfolded. From the very beginning, it was very easy to follow. Well, this is an adult book. There’s no spice, light swearing and I would safely recommend this to someone 15+. I’m definitely tuning in for the next one!
Shannon Mayer does it again! She is definitely one of my favorite authors! This was such a fun read! There were notable references to Cinderella, Snow White, Wizard of Oz and more! I really enjoyed how the story unfolded. From the very beginning, it was very easy to follow. Well, this is an adult book. There’s no spice, light swearing and I would safely recommend this to someone 15+. I’m definitely tuning in for the next one!
March 28, 2025
“For all the readers who ever wanted to literally dive into the pages.”
* Hi, it’s me!
I absolutely loved this story! I will read anything Shannon writes and this book has everything you need in a fairytale: villains, magic, and a determined heroine. Shannon’s narratives always feature the best animal sidekicks, along with mystery, hilarious banter and inner dialogue, and romance sprinkled throughout. The side characters are delightfully funny, and the heroine often makes spur-of-the-moment decisions that keep readers flipping pages.
This enchanting novel follows the story of Harmony, a princess hidden within the pages of "Fairy Tales of the Ages" as a child to protect her from the evil sorceress Almira, who murdered her parents and stole the crown.
“The tale was, if nothing else, bittersweet. A father’s love for his daughter, and for his people.”
Inked in Ashes brilliantly weaves together all of the classic fairy tales into one captivating story. The story includes a cursed kingdom with a strict social hierarchy and a princess concealed within the pages of a book. It’s such a unique fairytale retelling, and I couldn't put it down. This book is a delightful mix of adventure, humor, and heart, making it a must-read for fans of fairytale fantasies! I can’t wait for the next book!
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
✨ Fairytale Fantasy ✨ Slow Burn Romance ✨ Found Family ✨ Lost Heir ✨ Badass Heroine ✨ Secret Identity ✨ Courtly Intrigue ✨ Dreamwalker Magic ✨ Falcon Animal Sidekick ✨ Hilarious Banter
“Our paths will cross again someday, Harmony Fallowell. And next time? I won’t let go.”
* Hi, it’s me!
I absolutely loved this story! I will read anything Shannon writes and this book has everything you need in a fairytale: villains, magic, and a determined heroine. Shannon’s narratives always feature the best animal sidekicks, along with mystery, hilarious banter and inner dialogue, and romance sprinkled throughout. The side characters are delightfully funny, and the heroine often makes spur-of-the-moment decisions that keep readers flipping pages.
This enchanting novel follows the story of Harmony, a princess hidden within the pages of "Fairy Tales of the Ages" as a child to protect her from the evil sorceress Almira, who murdered her parents and stole the crown.
“The tale was, if nothing else, bittersweet. A father’s love for his daughter, and for his people.”
Inked in Ashes brilliantly weaves together all of the classic fairy tales into one captivating story. The story includes a cursed kingdom with a strict social hierarchy and a princess concealed within the pages of a book. It’s such a unique fairytale retelling, and I couldn't put it down. This book is a delightful mix of adventure, humor, and heart, making it a must-read for fans of fairytale fantasies! I can’t wait for the next book!
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
✨ Fairytale Fantasy ✨ Slow Burn Romance ✨ Found Family ✨ Lost Heir ✨ Badass Heroine ✨ Secret Identity ✨ Courtly Intrigue ✨ Dreamwalker Magic ✨ Falcon Animal Sidekick ✨ Hilarious Banter
“Our paths will cross again someday, Harmony Fallowell. And next time? I won’t let go.”
May 13, 2025
OMG!! I am absolutely obsessed with this fairy tale retelling! Knowing there are even more Worlds, lives, and journeys to explore has me excited for what's to come! Harmony is such a fierce and compassionate FMC, and the way she shows up for her friend when it matters most had me cheering. And Duncan? Total swoon worthy prince! I’m desperately hoping we see more of him because I’m not sure if fate has other plans, but also those dreams have me completely hooked. I NEED more!! The world building was so much fun and completely immersive. I didn’t even realize how much I needed a bird sidekick in my life, but now I am absolutely convinced I need my own Fetch! I can't wait to see what happens next!
A very special thanks to the author + Simon Maverick for the gifted arc.
A very special thanks to the author + Simon Maverick for the gifted arc.
June 3, 2025
Ok. This one was truly unputdownable. Not only did I lose sleep “One more chapter”ing myself into the wee hours of the morning, I also ate cereal for dinner because any more time out of this story was unacceptable. There are some triggers, so please check the TWs. We have a strong FMC who is loyal to her best friend above anything. There was some healing of childhood trauma that was unexpected, but appreciated. There is a MMC, but the romance is very much secondary to the plot. I adored this fairy tale retelling and can’t wait to jump into the next one!
Harmony would do anything for her best friend Molly, including sneak her into the palace for a ball. But when she hears the crown prince is back and likes to take his pleasure in redheads that look exactly like Molly, whether they want it or not, she breaks in to get her out of there. She finds Molly traumatized and the prince with a glass heel sticking out of his chest. They just need to lay low and disguise themselves. Unfortunately for Harmony, the man she danced with at the ball was the other prince, and he very much recognizes her. He doesn’t tell anyone though, so what does he want from her?
Harmony would do anything for her best friend Molly, including sneak her into the palace for a ball. But when she hears the crown prince is back and likes to take his pleasure in redheads that look exactly like Molly, whether they want it or not, she breaks in to get her out of there. She finds Molly traumatized and the prince with a glass heel sticking out of his chest. They just need to lay low and disguise themselves. Unfortunately for Harmony, the man she danced with at the ball was the other prince, and he very much recognizes her. He doesn’t tell anyone though, so what does he want from her?
October 13, 2025
Perfect for fans of Once Upon a Time! Trapped inside a storybook, Harm doesn’t know it yet. Throughout the events of the book, we get to see peeks of other stories. While a little too modern for my taste, it didn’t detract from the story overall. The pacing was a bit rushed, but this was a fun read so I can’t knock it too much. I will absolutely continue this series!
May 14, 2025
Another DNF book
It was rather cringe inducing. It was an incredibly slow book. Not particularly interesting. Could not get past 20%. The MFC constantly getting lost in her thoughts was just annoying. Everyone having to force her to pay attention while in the midst of interacting with her. Just not worth wasting time on.
I can’t say I’ve ever been much of a fan of this author. Im even less of a fan of attempted remakes of fairy tales, like this one of Cinderella. This one was far too juvenile for the genre it’s being passed as. Particularly with the female characters being almost 30.
The fact that they were actually older than most MFCs was the only part I liked. These incredibly young MFCs in just about every one of these books is frustrating beyond belief. So that was a definite plus.
Recommended for those whose age still ends in “teen”. Otherwise you may want to keep looking.
It was rather cringe inducing. It was an incredibly slow book. Not particularly interesting. Could not get past 20%. The MFC constantly getting lost in her thoughts was just annoying. Everyone having to force her to pay attention while in the midst of interacting with her. Just not worth wasting time on.
I can’t say I’ve ever been much of a fan of this author. Im even less of a fan of attempted remakes of fairy tales, like this one of Cinderella. This one was far too juvenile for the genre it’s being passed as. Particularly with the female characters being almost 30.
The fact that they were actually older than most MFCs was the only part I liked. These incredibly young MFCs in just about every one of these books is frustrating beyond belief. So that was a definite plus.
Recommended for those whose age still ends in “teen”. Otherwise you may want to keep looking.
dnf
June 5, 2025dnf @24%
as soon as homegirl pulled out the random glass cutter with a suction cup i knew it was time to wrap it up
as soon as homegirl pulled out the random glass cutter with a suction cup i knew it was time to wrap it up
August 5, 2025
Living in the Hollow isn’t easy for Harmony, who lives there with her falcon friend Fetch and her best (human) friend Molly. While Molly is attending another one of the royal balls in an attempt to secure a husband, Harmony stays home worrying that the worst could happen. When Molly’s plan goes awry, Harmony shows up to find the king dead with a glass stiletto in his chest and her best friend covered in blood. Now, they must run for their lives, even as the castle sorcerer raises the dead to hunt them down.
This story if an awesome twist on the classic fairytales, with an immersive world that incorporates a new magic system, classic tropes, action and adventure, dedicated friendship and found family. The FMC is smart and crafty, loyal and protective, and has you cheering her on throughout the story. The MMC introduced, the king’s brother, is charming and swoon worthy, and provides a touch of romance to the story. There are some parts to the book that are a little dark and could potentially have triggers, but overall the story is captivating and intriguing, with a good pacing that keeps you turning the page. This book is reminiscent of the Once Upon a Time TV show, and I love every minute of it. Excited to read the next book and get some of my questions answered!
This story if an awesome twist on the classic fairytales, with an immersive world that incorporates a new magic system, classic tropes, action and adventure, dedicated friendship and found family. The FMC is smart and crafty, loyal and protective, and has you cheering her on throughout the story. The MMC introduced, the king’s brother, is charming and swoon worthy, and provides a touch of romance to the story. There are some parts to the book that are a little dark and could potentially have triggers, but overall the story is captivating and intriguing, with a good pacing that keeps you turning the page. This book is reminiscent of the Once Upon a Time TV show, and I love every minute of it. Excited to read the next book and get some of my questions answered!
July 1, 2025
ALC 🎧 Book Review 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Obsessed w/ this series!!
Definitely gave me all the Once Upon a Time vibes I’ve been craving lol. I esp love it when there’s two best friends, even though Molly had me arguing w/ a wall fr lmfao. Like pls just stay lowkey girl.
*I understood though.
My Peas & Mash, My HAM & EGGS- Tell me those aren’t the cutest lmfao.
I ate this up in a day, a pretty short audiobook, but so much happens in that lil span of time!! I love the whole storybook concept, I was fr tryna catch all the lil Easter eggs from all our favorite fairytales.
I’m still suspicious over Duncan though, but the way it ended has me running to Book 2. It def gives OUAT vibes, but it was also lowkey giving Kingdom Hearts!! *Sorta the same, but the protagonists in Book 1 just reminded me of Heartless for some reason lol.
Overall, probably one of my fave retellings!! Esp ‘cause it’s all of them in 1 🤍 Amelia Hugh did an amazing job, hoping there can be a duet soon!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Obsessed w/ this series!!
Definitely gave me all the Once Upon a Time vibes I’ve been craving lol. I esp love it when there’s two best friends, even though Molly had me arguing w/ a wall fr lmfao. Like pls just stay lowkey girl.
*I understood though.
My Peas & Mash, My HAM & EGGS- Tell me those aren’t the cutest lmfao.
I ate this up in a day, a pretty short audiobook, but so much happens in that lil span of time!! I love the whole storybook concept, I was fr tryna catch all the lil Easter eggs from all our favorite fairytales.
I’m still suspicious over Duncan though, but the way it ended has me running to Book 2. It def gives OUAT vibes, but it was also lowkey giving Kingdom Hearts!! *Sorta the same, but the protagonists in Book 1 just reminded me of Heartless for some reason lol.
Overall, probably one of my fave retellings!! Esp ‘cause it’s all of them in 1 🤍 Amelia Hugh did an amazing job, hoping there can be a duet soon!!
September 7, 2025
I love a good romantasy and this book is a good one based on girl dropped into a fairytale book just like I wish I could escape to sometimes! She must use her wit, tinkering skills, pet falcon (I love an animal side kick) and escape justice for her best friend killing the king. This book was full of an exiting cast of characters including a dramatic best friend, an evil sorcerer, a father like teacher figure, and even its own Prince Charming. I enjoyed diving into this fantasy world and all the epic adventure, twist and turns and hidden prophecies that came along with it! It ended in quite a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see what story the badass FMC ends up in next! My rating 4.4/5!
Thanks to the author and Crowns and Chaos PR for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Thanks to the author and Crowns and Chaos PR for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
September 11, 2025
Harmony the FMC as a baby is put into a book in a last ditch attempt to protect her; several years go by and she's surviving in The Hollow with her best friend Moll. The Hollow is essentially the slums where people are barely getting by. Her best friend Moll is set on finding a royal or influential match to hopefully raise both of there status and get them out of The Hollow. Harmony helps Moll prepare for an upcoming ball which will most likely be the last attempt to secure a husband as Moll is in her late twenties. Moll attends the event and something unexpected happens... both of there lives get thrown for a loop and neither one of them could anticipate what it would lead too...
This book was an absolute whirlwind! I absolutely loved the story building in the book. It painted a perfect picture and helped allude what would come next. It's a fantastic adaptation of Cinderella and I just ate the story up!
A shining star in this book was definitely Fetch 🦅
This book has suspense, drama and so much intrigue! I highly recommend starting the series now! I am jumping into book two as we speak 😊
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book was an absolute whirlwind! I absolutely loved the story building in the book. It painted a perfect picture and helped allude what would come next. It's a fantastic adaptation of Cinderella and I just ate the story up!
A shining star in this book was definitely Fetch 🦅
This book has suspense, drama and so much intrigue! I highly recommend starting the series now! I am jumping into book two as we speak 😊
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
March 23, 2025
This was such an enchanting read! I absolutely ate up this slow burn fairytale inspired romantasy. This book had some classic fairytale elements but they had their own spin which made this story super fun to read. I loved the world building and how there is so much left to explore in future stories. I can’t wait to see how the adventure continues.
Thank you to the author for the gifted arc.
Thank you to the author for the gifted arc.
October 24, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Honestly, this series caught my attention pretty quick as it moves fast and all the characters are actually good.
Shannon knew what she was doing when she created Molly and Harmony and that duo. Their friendship is the core of this book and it’s so beautiful.
Honestly, this series caught my attention pretty quick as it moves fast and all the characters are actually good.
Shannon knew what she was doing when she created Molly and Harmony and that duo. Their friendship is the core of this book and it’s so beautiful.
September 14, 2025
Finished the book, DNFing the series
I chose this book partly because I confused this author with a different one and partly because the concept sounded cool. And for the first several chapters, I thought this was going to be at least a four-star book. It seemed perfect for fans of Once Upon a Time--a princess sent into another world to protect her from an evil sorceress.
But as the story went on, several annoying things became apparent. One was that the narrator, Harmony, doesn't think things through at all well. For example, when (against all odds) she gets handed a good job (which would improve the financial situation of everyone she cares about), all she wants to do is run away--the very thing that will make it obvious that she's the culprit they're looking for.
Another problem that becomes apparent is that Harmony is, in fact, a Mary-Sue, even though the author writes well enough to conceal that for a long time. Other characters love or hate her, depending on what is convenient for the story (her step-mother's about-face was particularly unbelievable). She has a falcon that's magically obedient. She is an inventor of items that can't exist (like a taser), given the level of tech.
Ultimately the biggest problem is that Harmony is a modern-day woman in a setting that only has the trappings of fantasy. She takes it for granted that a light will come on when you press the button on a loupe. She hates 'the rich' with rhetoric comes straight from the internet, and 'the rich' behave in very over-the-top ways so you know they deserve to be hated.
The only reason I'm giving this book two stars (instead of one) is that it's moderately well-written. I can imagine that there are readers who will enjoy this book. But by the end--after way too many movie-style-hand-wavy events--I was just fed up. I won't be finishing this series.
I chose this book partly because I confused this author with a different one and partly because the concept sounded cool. And for the first several chapters, I thought this was going to be at least a four-star book. It seemed perfect for fans of Once Upon a Time--a princess sent into another world to protect her from an evil sorceress.
But as the story went on, several annoying things became apparent. One was that the narrator, Harmony, doesn't think things through at all well. For example, when (against all odds) she gets handed a good job (which would improve the financial situation of everyone she cares about), all she wants to do is run away--the very thing that will make it obvious that she's the culprit they're looking for.
Another problem that becomes apparent is that Harmony is, in fact, a Mary-Sue, even though the author writes well enough to conceal that for a long time. Other characters love or hate her, depending on what is convenient for the story (her step-mother's about-face was particularly unbelievable). She has a falcon that's magically obedient. She is an inventor of items that can't exist (like a taser), given the level of tech.
Ultimately the biggest problem is that Harmony is a modern-day woman in a setting that only has the trappings of fantasy. She takes it for granted that a light will come on when you press the button on a loupe. She hates 'the rich' with rhetoric comes straight from the internet, and 'the rich' behave in very over-the-top ways so you know they deserve to be hated.
The only reason I'm giving this book two stars (instead of one) is that it's moderately well-written. I can imagine that there are readers who will enjoy this book. But by the end--after way too many movie-style-hand-wavy events--I was just fed up. I won't be finishing this series.
April 18, 2025
Wow this is one of the most unique fairytales retelling that I I’ve read and couldn’t put down I was entertained throughout the book and now I NEED book 2
May 31, 2025
Inked in Ashes is book one in the Inkbound Series. I love the storybook setting, sprinkled with fairytale lore. Harmony's story includes a loyal best friend, a charming prince, a stepmother and stepbrothers who loathe her, an incident with a glass slipper, monstrous guards, and a loyal falcon sidekick.
Harmony doesn't remember anything from before William Fallowell found her in the woods and brought her home to be a part of his family. Now 25 years old, Harmony lives with her best friend Molly, scraping by with the rest of the poor who live in the Hollow.
Molly wants more from life, which includes marrying a nobleman from Little Alabaster. Unfortunately, her latest scheme draws her into the clutches of the villainous newly-crowned King Heinrich, and Harmony must save her.
During her mission, Harmony encounters Duncan, the king's brother, who harbors secrets of his own and is eager to aid her. What starts as a rescue evolves into a rebellion against the king and the wicked palace sorcerer, the puppet master pulling the strings.
The dark and ominous prologue pulled me right in, keeping me intrigued to the very end! Rereading it after finishing was a treat because of the many breadcrumbs scattered throughout, leading to endless possibilities barely explored in Inked in Ashes. I cannot wait to delve deeper into this world of twisted fairytales!
💫💖🗡️Tropes:💫💖🗡️
• Fairytale fantasy
• Slow burn
• Strong female lead
• Found family
• Lost heir
Harmony doesn't remember anything from before William Fallowell found her in the woods and brought her home to be a part of his family. Now 25 years old, Harmony lives with her best friend Molly, scraping by with the rest of the poor who live in the Hollow.
Molly wants more from life, which includes marrying a nobleman from Little Alabaster. Unfortunately, her latest scheme draws her into the clutches of the villainous newly-crowned King Heinrich, and Harmony must save her.
During her mission, Harmony encounters Duncan, the king's brother, who harbors secrets of his own and is eager to aid her. What starts as a rescue evolves into a rebellion against the king and the wicked palace sorcerer, the puppet master pulling the strings.
The dark and ominous prologue pulled me right in, keeping me intrigued to the very end! Rereading it after finishing was a treat because of the many breadcrumbs scattered throughout, leading to endless possibilities barely explored in Inked in Ashes. I cannot wait to delve deeper into this world of twisted fairytales!
💫💖🗡️Tropes:💫💖🗡️
• Fairytale fantasy
• Slow burn
• Strong female lead
• Found family
• Lost heir
April 2, 2025
I knew very early on in this book that it was going to be a 5 ⭐️ read! From ”For all the readers who ever wanted to literally dive into the pages.” to be exact. The prologue truly grips you and will not let go until the very last page. I was fortunate to receive the ALC copy and the narration was just incredible. There was only one narrator but I often forgot as she had such great variation between the characters!
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: No spice 🫑
Harmony is living inside the pages of a fairytale but she has no idea. She’s grown up in the Hollow, the poorest ring of Alabaster, but she’s made do with her best friend, Molly. Molly, however, is intent on finding a noble, rich husband and constantly goes off to (illegally) attend their balls.
Harmony receives some alarming news about King Heinrich and rushes off to the current ball to save Molly. When she finally finds her, it’s to her standing over Heinrich’s body with her glass slipper embedded in his heart. Convinced they’ve murdered the King, they run off to go undercover. Unfortunately, Harmony catches the eye of the King’s sorcerer, Relyk, and is asked to become the kingdom’s new falconer, putting them at daily risk of being caught.
Along the way, we meet the true Prince Charming of the story, Duncan. Duncan is Heinrich’s brother, but very clearly the better man. He’s also a Whisper but it takes some time to learn his powers.
For those believing books are not political, I dare you to read this book and continue to think so. There is a huge parallel between the dictator regime in Inked in Ashes to the political machinations of the current US administration. Inked in Ashes has an awful king (Heinrich), who is a know 🍇ist. Alongside him is the sorcerer, the most powerful Whisper in this kingdom (Relyk). Relyk is essentially using Heinrich as a mouthpiece to keep the powerful well.. powerful, and the poor way beneath them. Sound familiar??
Shannon just has a way with storytelling that has you completely immersed and living out the adventure with all of the characters. I will be counting down the days until the next installment in this series. Thank you so much Shannon and team for the ALC copy! 💛
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: No spice 🫑
Harmony is living inside the pages of a fairytale but she has no idea. She’s grown up in the Hollow, the poorest ring of Alabaster, but she’s made do with her best friend, Molly. Molly, however, is intent on finding a noble, rich husband and constantly goes off to (illegally) attend their balls.
Harmony receives some alarming news about King Heinrich and rushes off to the current ball to save Molly. When she finally finds her, it’s to her standing over Heinrich’s body with her glass slipper embedded in his heart. Convinced they’ve murdered the King, they run off to go undercover. Unfortunately, Harmony catches the eye of the King’s sorcerer, Relyk, and is asked to become the kingdom’s new falconer, putting them at daily risk of being caught.
Along the way, we meet the true Prince Charming of the story, Duncan. Duncan is Heinrich’s brother, but very clearly the better man. He’s also a Whisper but it takes some time to learn his powers.
For those believing books are not political, I dare you to read this book and continue to think so. There is a huge parallel between the dictator regime in Inked in Ashes to the political machinations of the current US administration. Inked in Ashes has an awful king (Heinrich), who is a know 🍇ist. Alongside him is the sorcerer, the most powerful Whisper in this kingdom (Relyk). Relyk is essentially using Heinrich as a mouthpiece to keep the powerful well.. powerful, and the poor way beneath them. Sound familiar??
Shannon just has a way with storytelling that has you completely immersed and living out the adventure with all of the characters. I will be counting down the days until the next installment in this series. Thank you so much Shannon and team for the ALC copy! 💛
May 12, 2025
Inked in Ashes is my newest fairytale retelling addiction!
This is a slow-burn Romantasy blending Once Upon a Time and Wicked into a unique new fairytale. I loved the obvious nods to fairytales cropping up in the story, but some were so subtle it was a real treat to pick up on them. Harmony is an extremely strong and capable FMC. Her story really intrigued me and I can’t wait to see how she grows over the trilogy.
You will be swooning over Prince Charming and loving the sisterly relationship between Harmony and Molly. The love and support Harmony and Molly have for each other is truly heartwarming. The story has its share of despicable characters and I do urge you to check the trigger warnings before reading, as some aspects of the story may not be for every reader. There was a great cast of side characters which added a lot of fun to Harmony’s story.
I devoured this book. It was easy to read and be transported into the world. I loved the perspective taken in the prologue and how creatively the world was built. Being set within a fairytale world brings loads of potential storyline’s for the next book and I am so excited to see where it is headed.
Thank you to Shannon Mayer for gifting me with an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is a slow-burn Romantasy blending Once Upon a Time and Wicked into a unique new fairytale. I loved the obvious nods to fairytales cropping up in the story, but some were so subtle it was a real treat to pick up on them. Harmony is an extremely strong and capable FMC. Her story really intrigued me and I can’t wait to see how she grows over the trilogy.
You will be swooning over Prince Charming and loving the sisterly relationship between Harmony and Molly. The love and support Harmony and Molly have for each other is truly heartwarming. The story has its share of despicable characters and I do urge you to check the trigger warnings before reading, as some aspects of the story may not be for every reader. There was a great cast of side characters which added a lot of fun to Harmony’s story.
I devoured this book. It was easy to read and be transported into the world. I loved the perspective taken in the prologue and how creatively the world was built. Being set within a fairytale world brings loads of potential storyline’s for the next book and I am so excited to see where it is headed.
Thank you to Shannon Mayer for gifting me with an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2025
As I’ve mentioned before, I really don’t like fairytale retellings; when an author I enjoy do them, I of course have to read them. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to love this book like all her others. However, I kept reading, and man oh man, did this book get good! The author just put those fairytales on their heads and shook them. LOL! I love Duncan and Harmony, but I must admit that it took a bit to warm up to Molly, but she got there, too. A few times, I thought I knew where this was going, and I was completely wrong. I so enjoyed this book with its twists and turns, fairytale glimpses, great action, and above all, great writing. I am eagerly anticipating the next book. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
May 13, 2025
WOW this one was a doozy of a read! I started this way back at the end of March but then life got to doing its thing and lifing, so wasn’t able to pick it back up until a few days ago. BUT once I did, Shannon sucked me into her brand new world where our leading lady has literally been sent into the pages of an omnibus of fairytales (without her knowing of course) and seems to be playing a very significant role in tales not unlike the ones we’re familiar with ourselves.
Cinderella takes centerstage for this entry novel to the Inkbound trilogy. It took the tale of the rags to riches princess were familiar with and posed the question of what if Cinderella was actually two people: one who fell within her own childhood storybook and was merely the inventor friend to the other girl who buried the heel of a glass slipper in the new king’s chest in self-defense the night of a ball, thus having to leave it behind when they flee? I know, so much to unpack there already.
* Harmony (our FMC): two adopted stepbrothers, one wicked stepmother, a deceased adoptive father who doted on her and called her Cinderella because her inventions would blow up in her face at times making them soot-stained. Glosses over emotionally and physically traumatic time in step-house by the time story begins, but emotions and memories revisited just like the characters. Lets Molly borrow the glass slippers she was traded by a townsperson in exchange for food. Bonded with an animal, though not mice: she’s got a falcon for a companion in dear Fetch.
* Molly (bestie side character): wore the glass slippers and was “royal” for an evening at a ball she was not meant to go to. Buried said glass slipper in the new king’s chest in self defense, thus having to leave it behind. Quest for slipper turned from the typical finding his Princess into quest to find would-be “assassin.”
There was a lot about this interwoven fairytale inspired fantasy that intrigued me. I had so many questions about the world and its characters which I think can be a good thing for an introduction to a new world. Means you’re engaged in how everything works and how the characters fit together or will impact the story. And Harmony seems to be a character that will play a big part in so many familiar stories, with a new twist of course. I’m super intrigued to see how this fantasy will play out in the next book and how/when Harmony’s origins will be further explored 👀
Thank you to the author Shannon Mayer for a chance to read an early copy of this new fantasy 🥰
Cinderella takes centerstage for this entry novel to the Inkbound trilogy. It took the tale of the rags to riches princess were familiar with and posed the question of what if Cinderella was actually two people: one who fell within her own childhood storybook and was merely the inventor friend to the other girl who buried the heel of a glass slipper in the new king’s chest in self-defense the night of a ball, thus having to leave it behind when they flee? I know, so much to unpack there already.
* Harmony (our FMC): two adopted stepbrothers, one wicked stepmother, a deceased adoptive father who doted on her and called her Cinderella because her inventions would blow up in her face at times making them soot-stained. Glosses over emotionally and physically traumatic time in step-house by the time story begins, but emotions and memories revisited just like the characters. Lets Molly borrow the glass slippers she was traded by a townsperson in exchange for food. Bonded with an animal, though not mice: she’s got a falcon for a companion in dear Fetch.
* Molly (bestie side character): wore the glass slippers and was “royal” for an evening at a ball she was not meant to go to. Buried said glass slipper in the new king’s chest in self defense, thus having to leave it behind. Quest for slipper turned from the typical finding his Princess into quest to find would-be “assassin.”
There was a lot about this interwoven fairytale inspired fantasy that intrigued me. I had so many questions about the world and its characters which I think can be a good thing for an introduction to a new world. Means you’re engaged in how everything works and how the characters fit together or will impact the story. And Harmony seems to be a character that will play a big part in so many familiar stories, with a new twist of course. I’m super intrigued to see how this fantasy will play out in the next book and how/when Harmony’s origins will be further explored 👀
Thank you to the author Shannon Mayer for a chance to read an early copy of this new fantasy 🥰
March 28, 2025
I both read and listened to Inked in Ashes. The narration was perfect and exactly how I envisioned the FMC to sound.
I love fairytale retellings. Especially fairytale retellings with a creative twist (or two) written for an adult audience. This was a cute, quick, cozy read. The world building is so creative and neat. I can't wait to find out more about it. Harmony the FMC is fearless and caring and then there is Duncan the MMC who shows up and is such a great guy. I can't wait to see where their relationship goes.
I love the strong healthy relationship between Harmony and Molly, her best friend and they are both of each other’s ride or die. It's nice to read about strong friendships for once. I also adored Fetch (I have some notions about him) and all the other side characters. They were such a great add on. Without spoilers, it was awesome to read about someone realizing their mistake(s) and apologizing for them and try to right their wrongs. It has a bunch of plot twists! This was a fun read, and I can't wait to see where it goes and what happens next.
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC and ALC copy.
I love fairytale retellings. Especially fairytale retellings with a creative twist (or two) written for an adult audience. This was a cute, quick, cozy read. The world building is so creative and neat. I can't wait to find out more about it. Harmony the FMC is fearless and caring and then there is Duncan the MMC who shows up and is such a great guy. I can't wait to see where their relationship goes.
I love the strong healthy relationship between Harmony and Molly, her best friend and they are both of each other’s ride or die. It's nice to read about strong friendships for once. I also adored Fetch (I have some notions about him) and all the other side characters. They were such a great add on. Without spoilers, it was awesome to read about someone realizing their mistake(s) and apologizing for them and try to right their wrongs. It has a bunch of plot twists! This was a fun read, and I can't wait to see where it goes and what happens next.
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC and ALC copy.
August 24, 2025
Harmony doesn't have much in her world except her falcon, Fetch, and best friend, Molly. When one of them is in danger, she must step into the royal court to save her.
This was a fun one! Here's what I liked:
The premise: This was a monster of a retelling! You have Cinderella, Wizard of Oz, and Snow White vibes to just name a few. But, this was such a quirky retelling. There is humor to all of it and it doesn't take itself too seriously which I adored. It's not high fantasy and I was here for it.
Harmony: She was such a good FMC. I loved her strength and her loyalty. I just know she's destined for great things in the following books.
The narration: Amelia Hugh does such a great job here. She changes her voice for the various characters and they are all spot on.
All in all, this was such a great start to a romatasy series!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
This was a fun one! Here's what I liked:
The premise: This was a monster of a retelling! You have Cinderella, Wizard of Oz, and Snow White vibes to just name a few. But, this was such a quirky retelling. There is humor to all of it and it doesn't take itself too seriously which I adored. It's not high fantasy and I was here for it.
Harmony: She was such a good FMC. I loved her strength and her loyalty. I just know she's destined for great things in the following books.
The narration: Amelia Hugh does such a great job here. She changes her voice for the various characters and they are all spot on.
All in all, this was such a great start to a romatasy series!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
September 30, 2025
Inked in Ashes by Shannon Mayer
Inkbound series book 1
Thank you to Shannon for entrusting me with a review copy!
Fairytale fantasy
Slow burn (no spice), found family, lost heir, bada$$ FMC, cinnamon roll Prince Charming, secret identity, multiple fairy tale elements, political intrigue, amazing falcon sidekick, great side characters, prophecy, monsters, rebellion, evil king
This was such a fun read! I enjoyed Harmony's journey and her commitment to trying to help everyone, even when it puts her in tight spots. I adored Duncan, the cinnamon roll prince, and hope we see more of him soon! The beginning was a lot of sneaking around but oh man the end was action and tension packed! I'm off to read book 2!!
Inkbound series book 1
Thank you to Shannon for entrusting me with a review copy!
Fairytale fantasy
Slow burn (no spice), found family, lost heir, bada$$ FMC, cinnamon roll Prince Charming, secret identity, multiple fairy tale elements, political intrigue, amazing falcon sidekick, great side characters, prophecy, monsters, rebellion, evil king
This was such a fun read! I enjoyed Harmony's journey and her commitment to trying to help everyone, even when it puts her in tight spots. I adored Duncan, the cinnamon roll prince, and hope we see more of him soon! The beginning was a lot of sneaking around but oh man the end was action and tension packed! I'm off to read book 2!!
March 22, 2025
Harmony + Duncan
-romantasy slow burn
-fairytale mashup
-trapped in a fable
-bound by magic
-lost heir
-badass fmc
okay i am actually SOOO blown away & impressed by all the little fairytale nuances! its like retelling but yet still SOOOOO unique!! i love them so much!! alsooo omg i LOVEEE billy!! 😂😂😂😂 they're actually HILARIOUSSS & i want more of them plsssss!!! great job Shannon! this book is sooooo amazing!!! plus like...this cover?? STAHPPPP it's SO STUNNINGGG i wanna cry!!! i can't wait to see how this is all going to play out!!
-romantasy slow burn
-fairytale mashup
-trapped in a fable
-bound by magic
-lost heir
-badass fmc
okay i am actually SOOO blown away & impressed by all the little fairytale nuances! its like retelling but yet still SOOOOO unique!! i love them so much!! alsooo omg i LOVEEE billy!! 😂😂😂😂 they're actually HILARIOUSSS & i want more of them plsssss!!! great job Shannon! this book is sooooo amazing!!! plus like...this cover?? STAHPPPP it's SO STUNNINGGG i wanna cry!!! i can't wait to see how this is all going to play out!!
May 19, 2025
Such an amazing book with a new concept of writing a retelling.
I was hooked by chapter one and it didn’t let me go until I wrapped it all up. There were some times in there where I did not know how the author would tie up some of the smaller storylines but I was pleasantly surprised with how it all came together.
I loved Harmony and her strong willed sassiness. I also now need my own bird familiar because fetch is so freaking awesome. Her BFF is entertaining and funny and everything you could want in a side character, even if I wanted to throttle her alongside harmony a couple times lol. While I absolutely adored Duncan, after getting over my mistrust, I just know that there is a greater love story waiting from her dreams.
I cant wait to see what comes next!
I was hooked by chapter one and it didn’t let me go until I wrapped it all up. There were some times in there where I did not know how the author would tie up some of the smaller storylines but I was pleasantly surprised with how it all came together.
I loved Harmony and her strong willed sassiness. I also now need my own bird familiar because fetch is so freaking awesome. Her BFF is entertaining and funny and everything you could want in a side character, even if I wanted to throttle her alongside harmony a couple times lol. While I absolutely adored Duncan, after getting over my mistrust, I just know that there is a greater love story waiting from her dreams.
I cant wait to see what comes next!
July 24, 2025
What a great book
This is a fairytale that you will not believe. I love the characters. Harmony is a great heroine. I could not put this book down. The story had some many emotions. I felt like I was in the story. I was living it right along Harmony. I can't wait for the next page. I recommend this book if you like love, magic, & action and adventure. Mayer did not disappoint. This is a great start to a thrilling story but not a fairytale like you remember.
This is a fairytale that you will not believe. I love the characters. Harmony is a great heroine. I could not put this book down. The story had some many emotions. I felt like I was in the story. I was living it right along Harmony. I can't wait for the next page. I recommend this book if you like love, magic, & action and adventure. Mayer did not disappoint. This is a great start to a thrilling story but not a fairytale like you remember.
January 3, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What a great way to start the year! This book pulled me out of a serious reading rut after a streak of disappointing reads. It felt like a breath of fresh air, magical, immersive, and so reminiscent of Once Upon a Time in the best way. I couldn’t put it down and loved getting lost in the story. So thankful I gave this one a chance. On to book two! 📚✨
What a great way to start the year! This book pulled me out of a serious reading rut after a streak of disappointing reads. It felt like a breath of fresh air, magical, immersive, and so reminiscent of Once Upon a Time in the best way. I couldn’t put it down and loved getting lost in the story. So thankful I gave this one a chance. On to book two! 📚✨
September 10, 2025
Cinderella retelling with action and mystery
This story was a Cinderella retelling. The FMC, Harmony, went by the name Ella when she couldn’t give her real name. She has a cruel stepmother and 2 horrible step brothers. Glass slippers are a major plot object and animals love her! She is the poor girl in rags that gets the attention of Prince Charming aka Duncan. There are tie-ins from other fairy tales like Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz too. I really enjoyed this story. There were some twists I didn't see coming and some that I did. You clearly were supposed to know the sorcerer was evil but didn't discover who his guards were until it was uncovered. Both the FMC and MMC were very like-able and the side characters were fantastic! I'm ready to go to Neverland with Harmony and her bestie Molly in book 2.
This story was a Cinderella retelling. The FMC, Harmony, went by the name Ella when she couldn’t give her real name. She has a cruel stepmother and 2 horrible step brothers. Glass slippers are a major plot object and animals love her! She is the poor girl in rags that gets the attention of Prince Charming aka Duncan. There are tie-ins from other fairy tales like Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz too. I really enjoyed this story. There were some twists I didn't see coming and some that I did. You clearly were supposed to know the sorcerer was evil but didn't discover who his guards were until it was uncovered. Both the FMC and MMC were very like-able and the side characters were fantastic! I'm ready to go to Neverland with Harmony and her bestie Molly in book 2.
September 28, 2025
4.5 stars from me. I loved how the traditional fairytales were woven into the tale. The humour and adventure were amazing. It was also completely unpredictable.
The end was a bit rushed but excited for the next one.
The end was a bit rushed but excited for the next one.
May 15, 2025
Love a good fairy tale retelling! Shannon Mayer does not disappoint. Cannot wait for the next book.
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