Frost and Iron

by Edale Lane

A hunter from the marsh. A queen forged by duty. A bond neither expected.

Lark Sutter has never feared the wilds of Saltmarsh Reach. Raised by her iron-willed grandmother and tempered by wild weather, loss, and hard survival, she’s become a hunter and fighter who protects her own. But when a raider attack leaves her friend on the brink of death, Lark is driven to the last place she ever thought she’d go: Verdancia’s gleaming capital, demanding aid from a queen she has no reason to trust.

Queen Azaleen Frost is no stranger to sacrifice. Crowned young, she rules Verdancia with a steady hand and a heart kept tightly guarded. Duty rises above all—until Lark storms into her hall, mud on her boots, fire in her eyes, and desperation in her voice—shaking Azaleen’s resolve in ways she cannot ignore.

As Verdancia edges toward open conflict, fate binds Lark and Azaleen in an uneasy alliance. Threatened by war hawks, cultists, looming shortages, and scheming politicians, the two women must stand together if they hope to save their people and fortify the kingdom for what lies ahead.

A sweeping post-apocalyptic sapphic epic, Frost and Iron blends political intrigue, survival, found family, slow-burn romance, and front-line action. Perfect for readers who love fierce heroines, dangerous alliances, heart-wrenching stakes, and richly drawn worlds on the brink of war.
Start reading today.

391 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Edale Lane is an Amazon Best-selling author and winner of Rainbow, Lesfic Bard, and Imaginarium Awards. Her sapphic historical fiction and mystery stories feature women leading the action and entice readers with likeable characters, engaging storytelling, and vivid world-creation.

Lane (whose legal name is Melodie Romeo) holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, a master’s in history, and taught school for 24 years before embarking on an adventure driving an 18-wheeler over-the-road. She is a mother of two, Grammy of three, and doggy mom to Australian Shepherds. A native of Vicksburg, MS, Lane now lives her dream of being a full-time author in beautiful Chilliwack, BC with her long-time life-partner.

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Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frost and Iron was a fantastic future fantasy sapphic . I will look forward to reading how these stories continue. Lark and Queen Frost are compelling characters It was very interesting reading, a slow burn and that first kiss is beautifully done.

I received a free ARC copy for review

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt as if I were a part of this new, dystopian world I was reading about. The world building was well done and I could picture such a world actually coming to be. The story is engaging and kept me turning the page. Even though there is a large cast of characters, each has been well drawn and given distinct personalities. This is a great start to what I imagine will be an incredible series and I'm looking forward to the next installment. This is perfect for fans of dystopian works with vivid world building, power struggles, and really slow burn sapphic romances.

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

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting New Book

Edale Lane’s Frost and Iron is a must read. Richly developed characters and plot. This book sucked me in from the first chapter and never let go.

[Donna Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frost and Iron : The Ashland Chronicles bk1 ARC
Strong introduction to Queen Azaleen Frost and her Ice Queen status.Her kingdom is laid out with poor, uneducated people with the Mother River military posts, after the War of Ruin.
This futuristic tale is after the radiation levels have cleared in the New Era about 100 years into the future .
I liked the rebuilding of libraries so mistakes can be learned from
Edale Lane's historical background forms the richness of this dystopian tale to begin printing presses and textile mills with water wheels, pigeon carriers, tool making and ship building with great descriptions
Edale's writing transports you like" the village stitched together on the bones of storms" The fighting of the guards scene to enter the Frost Palace is really well written. I did need to Google some military vocab but they made sense on the search for medical supplies and attacking the Iron Relm with the reckless leader. Can Lark stay to protect and melt the Ice Queen? Great title for a series. I appreciated the authors notes on future world building. This is going to be a cracker series. Can't wait for book 2

[B, · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Frost and Iron, Edale Lane launches what promises to be another successful series. The dystopian story is her most recent release and the first book in the Ashland Chronicles.

Lane sets the dire tale about a century into the future, centering the story on the scattered, scarce resources and individuals left after an atomic war devastates the world.

Readers are presented with an array of characters representing five disparate political entities.

Most noteworthy in this edition are a key leader, an Ice Queen, along with a young woman who’s a member of the leader’s military.

Lane founds the series on solid footing with an engaging plot, well formulated, multi-dimensional characters, and compelling interactions between selected residents of the different nations.

Frost and Iron positions the Ashland Chronicles well to capture readers and hold their attention from book to book.

[Wes McGie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing start to a new series by Edale Lane. This book has wonderful post-apocalyptic world-building. I’d love to know more about its history. I was fascinated by how the people used whatever material and technology they had. It also has a cast of terrific characters. I was interested in everyone’s story, good and bad. There are also great creature and human mutations. The action was riveting, I loved the romance, the geopolitical maneuvers were intriguing. This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.

[Cathy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary as Hell, and a MUST READ! So, we all know history, right? And we know that not learning from history leads to, well, the dystopian world that occupies the pages of "Frost and Iron". No need to go into details about the nuclear war(s) and cataclysms that wiped out what we currently call USA. The result is that Verdancia, Appalachia, Red River Republic, AlgonCree, and Pacifica Confederation, five disparate nations of survivors across the continent, continue to war with each other, because each group controls assets or resources that the other groups need. For the most part, the groups are led by, well, men. Hence, the warring continues. The nations also must contend with attacks by monstrous "human" survivors of nuclear blasts, who live in outlying, outlaw zones - the Burnt Plains, Dead Coast, and Borderlands. Hope resides in two of the five nations, Verdancia in the southeast corner of the continent and AlgonCree in the northeast - both nations led by women. Azalean Frost, queen of Verdancia, risks attack, capture, or death, to journey from what we now call Georgia, to meet AlgonCree High Chief Batise in the northeast, and unite the two nations for mutual benefits through trade and commerce, as well as self-defense against the remaining three nations. "Frost and Iron" is so deep with details and descriptions, it provides a clear image of where we, in 2026, could be headed. Edale Lane, with broad imagination and extensive, exacting research, has created a world none of us should want to inhabit. Oh, lest I forget, "Frost and Iron" is a love story! Azalean, in the midst of leading, and protecting Verdancia, realizes there is more to life than being a queen, and she finds love. I will let you discover the details on your own. Just know that I received an ARC of "Frost and Iron" and this is my enthusiastic and honest review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing, wonderful book. So much world building and attention to detail. So many characters - but not too many to keep track of. A really interesting post apocalyptic setting, where there are various regions of North America, with one particularly clear inspiration for one character and their part of the world, with one area that is run by AI - which doesn't seem to be a good thing in this case, a computer matching people to marry so they will increase the population and do work that increases the good things in the area. There's a lovely starcrossed mm relationship in this area, too, because of course population growth restricts couples to mf only. So one stays, and one escapes and I look forward to how that will play out later.

Queen Azaleen Frost is wonderful, a good ruler who still has moments of unsureness and vulnerability. She has to keep things to herself, like the lack of medicines and supplies, so when Lark comes to beg for some Azaleen doesn't have it. After Lark and the team she's assigned to retrieve the medicine and it is too late for the friend Lark wants to save, she is angry at Azaleen but she decides to stay and help as part of the army, including a lovely reunion with her father.

Lark, Azaleen and the team travel to Algoncree (Canada) and meet the head of government there. During this time, Lark and Azaleen become closer. But when they get home, has an invasion already begun?

Such a cliffhanger ending, but who knows where it will go from here?

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of a dystopian saga and it is amazing. So much texture and depth. Edale Lane has done amazing world building about what could happen to the US is the wake of a nuclear word war. The country is now broken into 5 very disparate realms each governed differently with widely different cultures. The book cuts from one country to another as one country who believes in manifest destiny prepares for war. Another country - Verdancia is ruled by Queen Frost. She is a great MC willing to do her duty for her country but who sometimes longs for love. Our other FMC is a swamp rat from a small town who has acrobatic skills among many others! Working on the Queen's special ops team is the first time she has really been away from her family and village. The romance is a very slow burn. There are a lot of characters from all countries but each is drawn clearly and adds to the plot. You can feel the feelings as people cope with the new world. This is a terrific book. I kept saying, one more chapter and not wanting to put it down. The world is believable enough to really provoke thought and I walked away wondering what if ... The only downside -- it end on a major cliff hanger and now I have wait for the next one!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine you are living about 100 years in the future - what advances have made life easier and life is a dream? Except its not...Instead the world has been devastated by war. All the comforts of the future are gone. In fact its difficult to even find a running car or truck. Mass transportation doesn't exist. BUT there are survivors and they will move on!

In this dystopian world built by author Edale Lane some have more comforts than others. Everyone is just trying to survive and rebuild - but what that looks like becomes the backdrop for a fascinating adventure.

Some just want peace and prosperity, but one wants total domination for his nation. Another nation is ruled by an "Ice Queen" who does have the good of her people at heart. It is this Queen who drives the story as she is challenged by a young woman who pushes the boundaries to get medicine for her small village. These two will challenge eachother's ideas of what it means to survive and thrive and what it means to lead the people. Its an amazing world that moves quicklly and keeps you thinking. And when you get to the last page you'll be wanting Book 2 now. Veery highly recommended!

[Debbie Fahlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

EDALE LANE

FROST & IRON

MY REVIEW

I don’t care what I read by Edal Lane, be it romance, thrillers, or dystopia, she knows how to engage the reader to keep turning pages and this book is no different!

A nation ruled by an Ice Queen and the young woman, Lark, in her elite military force. They are faced with ruin of their world 100 years in the future and now must rebuild their nation. There are 5 different nations struggling to survive and as expected there is a lot of fighting.

Edale Lane gives you a rich background of the history involved in rebuilding the nation as only she can do! Can the Ice Queen be thawed and will she be successful in gathering everything she needs to rebuild and keep the other nations at bay?

This book will draws you in and when you reach the last page, you will be waiting anxiously waiting for Book 2!

I received an ARC from the author.

[karen fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be an epic series. Edale has done such an in depth creation of a post apocalypse world that is riddled with facts and possible truths that makes it totally immersive and believable. There are just so many characters, each with their own personalities and backgrounds you almost feel like there is too much to take in and learn but it is written so that you are gently steered through the different lands and people in such a way that you can gradually take it in without realising the enormity of it all.
There is even a map of the lands so you to keep tack of where everything is and each nation has its own symbol, flag and motto, Edale has invested an awful lot of time and energy into the whole concept and I am so invested in wanting to find out what is going to happen next. I am chomping at the bit for the next book to come out already.

[Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set about 100 years in the future, after a nuclear war reshaped the world, Ashland Chronicles Book 1 follows five distinct nations struggling to survive with vastly different cultures, beliefs, and resources. Through multiple viewpoints, the story reveals mounting tensions, power-hungry rulers, and the threat posed by one nation’s dangerous belief in manifest destiny.

The narrative ultimately centers on a nation ruled by an “ice queen” and a young woman who joins her elite military force, adding a strong personal and emotional layer to the larger conflict. The world-building is vivid, the pacing engaging, and the story left me eager to continue with Book 2.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an epic fantasy! The extensive worldbuilding, the realistic portrait of the post nuclear war world, the complex yet clear recount of five countries surviving the aftermath of mass destruction, the beautiful wise queen is admirable, her love interest, the young brave solider is believable and likable. It has the " Game of Thrones" vibe without the overall violence and graphic sex scenes. It is a very long book, with dozens of unique characters, but never boring. Can't wait for the next one!

[Eva Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic initial installment of what will likely be a 3- or more-book series. It's a sloth-burn, dystopian tale of epic proportions and I can't wait for the next installment.
I love it when I find an author who is able to keep a story riveting while also world-building a plausible dystopian setting that does not, as yet, exist but could, if we allowed it to happen.
And OMG! what a cliff-hanger!

[Dawn McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exhilarating look into a future created by nuclear destruction. Fascinating settings with newly formed societies fighting characters created from horror and those seeking to enhance their status. Within this is a leader and a swamp rat trying to create security while their love for each other develops.