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Lady of Darkness #3
Lady of Ashes
She will not be the same as when she left.
Fire and Shadows.
Scarlett Semiria knew the cost of her actions the day she sacrificed everything to keep her family, her Courts, and her twin flame safe. At least she thought she did. When she discovers the cost was more than she could have ever anticipated, she finds herself once again forced to choose between saving innocents or saving the ones she loves. But this choice might just leave her so broken, even the stars won’t be able to bring her back.
Light and Dark.
Crown Prince Callan is more than happy to leave the Fire Court behind, along with the woman who chose someone else. But when he arrives home, he finds there is no escaping the world of darkness he has been dragged into. To protect his people and his kingdom, he is forced to enter into a dangerous deception that quickly turns into a game of cleverness and strategy, and he finds that he has allies in the most unexpected places.
Beginnings and Endings.
Fae Queen Talwyn Semiria has been waiting for decades for her cousin to return home. She had expected to find a kindred spirit. What she got was a brash assassin who does things her own way and flouts all traditional decorum. But she refuses to let Scarlett stand between her and what is best for her Courts. She will play nice for now, but when it comes down to going after the true evil that resides across the sea and threatens their lands, she’ll take it all and sacrifice everything.
*Everything hangs in the balance.
*One wrong move, and the scales will tip.
*Only ashes will remain.
Fire and Shadows.
Scarlett Semiria knew the cost of her actions the day she sacrificed everything to keep her family, her Courts, and her twin flame safe. At least she thought she did. When she discovers the cost was more than she could have ever anticipated, she finds herself once again forced to choose between saving innocents or saving the ones she loves. But this choice might just leave her so broken, even the stars won’t be able to bring her back.
Light and Dark.
Crown Prince Callan is more than happy to leave the Fire Court behind, along with the woman who chose someone else. But when he arrives home, he finds there is no escaping the world of darkness he has been dragged into. To protect his people and his kingdom, he is forced to enter into a dangerous deception that quickly turns into a game of cleverness and strategy, and he finds that he has allies in the most unexpected places.
Beginnings and Endings.
Fae Queen Talwyn Semiria has been waiting for decades for her cousin to return home. She had expected to find a kindred spirit. What she got was a brash assassin who does things her own way and flouts all traditional decorum. But she refuses to let Scarlett stand between her and what is best for her Courts. She will play nice for now, but when it comes down to going after the true evil that resides across the sea and threatens their lands, she’ll take it all and sacrifice everything.
*Everything hangs in the balance.
*One wrong move, and the scales will tip.
*Only ashes will remain.
660 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2022
3532 people are currently reading
21629 people want to read
About the author
Melissa K. Roehrich
15 books4,888 followersMelissa is a dark fantasy romance author who loves coffee, dragons, and constantly rearranging her bookshelves. She spends her time writing, reading, and homeschooling her three boys in the Middle-of-Nowhere, North Dakota, where she lives with her boys, husband, dogs, multiple barn cats, and chickens on a small farmstead. She is constantly trying to convince her husband they need to add goats and ducks to the mix, and one day, she'll succeed.
She's not here much, so if you're looking to connect, check out the following:
*Facebook Reader Group: Melissa's Dragon Cave
*Discord: https://discord.gg/GTY757MCXF
*Instagram: @melissa_k_roehrich
*TikTok: @authormelissakroehrich
She's not here much, so if you're looking to connect, check out the following:
*Facebook Reader Group: Melissa's Dragon Cave
*Discord: https://discord.gg/GTY757MCXF
*Instagram: @melissa_k_roehrich
*TikTok: @authormelissakroehrich
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,555 reviews
March 28, 2025
Ok but the ending… I need book 4 😭
August 27, 2023
Enough is enough. If you want to read about characters incessantly arguing with each other, then this is the book for you. If you want the characters and plot to develop throughout the story, you might want to find a different series. There's a difference between having strong characters who are stubborn at times and having characters who make childish decisions and refuse to grow throughout the story. The arguing between characters got so unpleasant I had to put the book down several times to finish. There's so much arguing that the plot barely moves forward and information is withheld by other characters for no reason at all. The first two books in the series had elements of these issues, but it really hit the fan here. I won't be continuing on in this series.
Read
April 6, 2025- post read -
fuuuucking hell. this book broke me, but put me back together just in time for it it to break me again.
- preread -
so, apparently i read the first 2 books, but never the third. hopefully this ones as good as the first two!! 🤍🗡️
fuuuucking hell. this book broke me, but put me back together just in time for it it to break me again.
- preread -
so, apparently i read the first 2 books, but never the third. hopefully this ones as good as the first two!! 🤍🗡️
July 13, 2023
I have never wanted to reach through a book and start slapping people more. 500+ pages of bickering and plot lines built on miscommunications and/or the reckless pride and power struggles between the characters.
The premise of this series is SO good, the magic system is super interesting, the element of mystery keeps me engaged. Why do the characters have to be a bunch of assholes?
Oh.. and if I have to read one more time about finding an alternative “use for that tongue” I’m going to throw my kindle like a frisbee through a plate glass window.
I have to finish this series because I feel compelled to know the outcomes and solve all the mysteries, but it will be done with much rage and resentment in my soul.
The premise of this series is SO good, the magic system is super interesting, the element of mystery keeps me engaged. Why do the characters have to be a bunch of assholes?
Oh.. and if I have to read one more time about finding an alternative “use for that tongue” I’m going to throw my kindle like a frisbee through a plate glass window.
I have to finish this series because I feel compelled to know the outcomes and solve all the mysteries, but it will be done with much rage and resentment in my soul.
July 27, 2023
5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“We are a family. We choose each other. We claim each other. We challenge each other, push each other, listen to each other. But it only works because we trust each other. And when we do not do those things? That is when we break. That is when unnecessary tragedy is allowed to bloom.”
Lady of Ashes is the thrilling third installment in the Lady of Darkness series and the book cemented itself as my favorite in the series so far.
Every time I opened this book I was flooded by so many emotions. There was so suffering and grief the characters have experienced.
The secondary characters truly shine in this book and I appreciate the author for ensuring they do not blend in the background as they usually do mid-series. They're all essential to the story and have their own journeys which I'm excited to see more of.
The Found Family dynamic is so beautifully done and I mentioned this in my reviews before, but I adore these characters and their bonds so much. It's as important as the romance and I always appreciate platonic forms of love.
Im both excited and terrified of the remaining two books. I can tell the author loves to make her characters suffer so I'm bracing myself for it.
Trigger Warning: death, torture, abuse, sexual assault, violence.
“We are a family. We choose each other. We claim each other. We challenge each other, push each other, listen to each other. But it only works because we trust each other. And when we do not do those things? That is when we break. That is when unnecessary tragedy is allowed to bloom.”
Lady of Ashes is the thrilling third installment in the Lady of Darkness series and the book cemented itself as my favorite in the series so far.
Every time I opened this book I was flooded by so many emotions. There was so suffering and grief the characters have experienced.
The secondary characters truly shine in this book and I appreciate the author for ensuring they do not blend in the background as they usually do mid-series. They're all essential to the story and have their own journeys which I'm excited to see more of.
The Found Family dynamic is so beautifully done and I mentioned this in my reviews before, but I adore these characters and their bonds so much. It's as important as the romance and I always appreciate platonic forms of love.
Im both excited and terrified of the remaining two books. I can tell the author loves to make her characters suffer so I'm bracing myself for it.
Trigger Warning: death, torture, abuse, sexual assault, violence.
May 12, 2022
Bahhhh that was amazing!!! I cried and laughed and felt all the emotions!! Such a good read many times I thought I knew what was gonna happen next and she would bring it a whole different way then I thought! Such a great read. Highly recommend!!
June 25, 2025
.....cliffhangers are just rude
also it took me like 3 months to get through the part between 40%-80%
also it took me like 3 months to get through the part between 40%-80%
December 7, 2022
Well that's it for me. I really gave this one a good try. I read the first two books and half of this one but unfortunately this became a DNF as I cannot get over the MC. She has been the thorn in my side from the beginning but my thought was that she may improve over time in her character development. Unfortunately not the case and I began to loathe reading any of her interactions. It became harder and harder to understand how anyone could stand to be around her let alone her being "loved" and embraced by so many. Very selfish, rude and immature on so many levels. She did not come across as a good person at all. And not in the oh that character is bad but so good at the same time. No. She was just plain not likeable at all.
Really sorry to see this happen when the story could've been great with a much better MC. In all the books I've read, I've never had this reaction to an MC like this. She really was that unlikeable. Tough to say and give this type of review.
Really sorry to see this happen when the story could've been great with a much better MC. In all the books I've read, I've never had this reaction to an MC like this. She really was that unlikeable. Tough to say and give this type of review.
December 16, 2023
Nearly 600 pages and 500 of them were Scarlett making terrible decisions and falling into a depression over the consequences (and then repeating said cycle).
And I have to listen to one more analogy on the darkness and the stars I may have to jump off a metaphorical cliff. It was soooo repetitive and tedious. I get it, we love a mental health rep. But we also NEED character development, I beg.
All the badass characters from book one were barely mentioned, and instead of being replaced by new and interesting characters we got pages and pages of silent soliloquies from Scarlett, Talwyn, and Callan (snore) on how sad and alone their little lives are whilst everyone around them breaks their back to make them feel special. I just can noooooot.
Another thing, when literally every main character is royalty or an equivalent it destroys the plot because there’s no fucking variation.
Aghhhh.
I did love the ending though. I do Stan killing love interests off (not a spoiler cos there’s like ten couples in this). Even if we know they won’t stay dead.
Also I had to skim read the smut which is unheard off cos quite frankly the MMC is so boring. The three times removed side characters have more sex appeal than he does. I would probably go as far as saying MIKALE has more going for him.
And I have to listen to one more analogy on the darkness and the stars I may have to jump off a metaphorical cliff. It was soooo repetitive and tedious. I get it, we love a mental health rep. But we also NEED character development, I beg.
All the badass characters from book one were barely mentioned, and instead of being replaced by new and interesting characters we got pages and pages of silent soliloquies from Scarlett, Talwyn, and Callan (snore) on how sad and alone their little lives are whilst everyone around them breaks their back to make them feel special. I just can noooooot.
Another thing, when literally every main character is royalty or an equivalent it destroys the plot because there’s no fucking variation.
Aghhhh.
I did love the ending though. I do Stan killing love interests off (not a spoiler cos there’s like ten couples in this). Even if we know they won’t stay dead.
Also I had to skim read the smut which is unheard off cos quite frankly the MMC is so boring. The three times removed side characters have more sex appeal than he does. I would probably go as far as saying MIKALE has more going for him.
March 12, 2025
I think i'm done with this series. The whole book was just everyone arguing and being stubborn for no reason. Scarlett is entitled, insufferable and blames everyone else on her problems and NEVER takes accountability. I genuinely don't understand how her love interest puts up with her. Everything about this book was repetitive, the writing, the arguments and the analogies.
June 16, 2025
Hmm, not my favorite in the series but I love how every book has an INSANE ending that makes you crave the next book.
April 25, 2025
**𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑲. 𝑹𝒐𝒆𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉 (𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 #3)
Release Date: October 1, 2022
4⭐️4🌶
While a love a strong BA female that goes after what she wants, Scarlett is a little too headstong. To the point that she makes extremely rash decisions, then used the excuse that she didn't have time to run her decisions by her mate and closest advisors. I found that very annoying, but so did all of the characters.
Much of this book is Scarlett facing the concequences for her rash decisions, and trying to figure out what her enemies are after. Then trying to get to those things before her enemy does.
I am still very much enjoying this series, and will continue on with the next two books. This series is definitely for Throne of Glass and ACOTAR fans!
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Political Machinations
🍁Fae/Vampires/Witches/Humans
🍁Enemies-to-Lovers
🍁Trained Female Assassin
🍁Revenge Plot
🍁Controlling Master of Assassins
🍁Throne of Glass vibes
🍁Older Fae Warrior as Teacher/Trainer/Lover?
🍁Hidden Powers/Potential
TW:
✨Violence
✨Training sequences
✨Biting
✨Betrayals
✨Secret keeping
Release Date: October 1, 2022
4⭐️4🌶
While a love a strong BA female that goes after what she wants, Scarlett is a little too headstong. To the point that she makes extremely rash decisions, then used the excuse that she didn't have time to run her decisions by her mate and closest advisors. I found that very annoying, but so did all of the characters.
Much of this book is Scarlett facing the concequences for her rash decisions, and trying to figure out what her enemies are after. Then trying to get to those things before her enemy does.
I am still very much enjoying this series, and will continue on with the next two books. This series is definitely for Throne of Glass and ACOTAR fans!
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Political Machinations
🍁Fae/Vampires/Witches/Humans
🍁Enemies-to-Lovers
🍁Trained Female Assassin
🍁Revenge Plot
🍁Controlling Master of Assassins
🍁Throne of Glass vibes
🍁Older Fae Warrior as Teacher/Trainer/Lover?
🍁Hidden Powers/Potential
TW:
✨Violence
✨Training sequences
✨Biting
✨Betrayals
✨Secret keeping
August 30, 2022
Okay I did not love this book for the first 1/3??? But mostly that was my fault. I think I waited too long to read it after it was released and I forgot too much. I spent most of the book just trying to figure out who all the characters were.
I never did figure out why Scarlett thought she had to leave Sorin to save him. I wish that would have been clarified more. She made this huge sacrifice and had her entire court angry at her and I never could figure out her reason for leaving them.
Callan bores me. He is whiney and annoying and I hated almost every chapter from his perspective. He was always so slow to act and I felt like his bitterness for Scarlett was insane. She was always protecting and trying to help him but he just wanted to pout because she didn't love him romantically.
I did love Tava. Though even she began to feel a little bland. I couldn't stand how "selfless" she always was. I sometimes feel like characters can get so trapped in their main personality trait it becomes their only one. I wish and hope in the next book she has more of a backbone and cowers less.
Sorin was great as always. Though I do wish he stood up to Scarlett more. I did appreciate him bein the voice of reason for her. He did a better job in this book communicating with her and not letting her just walk all over him. Which I appreciated.
Scarlett was, fine. I like her as a character but I also don't know if I connect with her. She does a lot of stupid things, but I guess that keeps her interesting. I actually really appreciate how flawed the characters are. As much as they frustrate me it keeps them real.
Talwyn is a bitch who can burn in hell. Fucking Azrael loves her and she is so hung up on her stupid ex and need for revenge. She is a selfish bitch who I wanted to murder the entire book. I knew she was goin to betray them. Idiot.
The next book comes out very soon so hopefully I will not forget what happened but just incase...
Alaric, is the assassin keeps head hancho. He basically raised Scarlett but also tortures her and thinks she belongs to him. He seems to be the "main" bad guy of the Maran Lords.
Mikael and someone else are also evil. One of them is the father to Tava and Drake.
Drake is Tava's brother. It took me way too long to figure that out. He is human. Seems like a cool dude.
Azrael Luan is in love with Talwyn, but I think is still on Scarlett's side. He is the prince of the Earth Court.
Ashtine is the crazy princess of the wind court. She lost her ability to "speak to the wind" in some dumb ass need to show Talwyn that people love her even though she sucks. I don't know if she will stay at Talwyn's side if there really is a war.
Briar is the prince of the Water court and is dating Ashtine. I don't know literally anything else about him.
Cassius is the son of the High Witch and has a mystery father. He is Avonleyan so he can like portal and possibly has other powers. He is Scarlett's guardian. So he feels her pain.
Main Things that happened-
*Talwyn joined the dark side because her twin flame Tarik came back from the dead. And she wants to destroy Avonleya because during the war they abandoned the Fae and are hiding behind a ward. She also blames them for the death of her parents. She learned to shape shift into a wolf and told Azrael to suck it.
*Finn, Sloan, King and Queen, all died. Very undramatically. Which sucked.
*Scarlett located all these necklaces that are suppose to morph and make a key to get into Avonleya but she did something and when Talwyn morphed them to the key it closed all the openings the Maran lords had made to get their people through.
* Sorin Died. I knew it. I knew it was goin to happen. I just had a feeling in my gut the author was going to do something savage and then it happened. I didn't cry because I honestly didn't believe he was really dead. And based on the last chapter of the book I think he's coming back. Thank God.
* Sorin also became Scarlett's source because Avonleya's need Fae to restore their magic. So Scarlett and can pull from Sorin to gain her magic.
*Sorin by being the source completed his end of the twin flame. Scarlett still needs to sacrifice something for Sorin to complete her own.
* Cassius was tortured because the Maran Lords were trying to convince Scarlett to take a loyalty bond with them. He refused and lost an eye. And now has a limp.
* Callan learned he was goin to be forced to marry one of the Maran Lords daughters. Instead he made a fake relationship with Tava. They discovered through their fake relationship that they may actually have feelings for each other and are in the very beginning stages of discovering what that means.
* The Maran Lords are ruling Windonelle because you know they killed the king and queen.
* Scarlett blew up the Black Syndict. Which is great.
* Scarlett can make a shadow dragon and ride on it. Her eyes also glow silver when she's at full magical strength.
* There is a shifter kingdom and the rulers are a brother Stellan and his sister or 2nd Arianna. They are very sexual and are kind of a wildcard on who they will align with. They don't particularly love Scarlett because Sorin took Arianna with him to save Scarlett without asking her brother.
I never did figure out why Scarlett thought she had to leave Sorin to save him. I wish that would have been clarified more. She made this huge sacrifice and had her entire court angry at her and I never could figure out her reason for leaving them.
Callan bores me. He is whiney and annoying and I hated almost every chapter from his perspective. He was always so slow to act and I felt like his bitterness for Scarlett was insane. She was always protecting and trying to help him but he just wanted to pout because she didn't love him romantically.
I did love Tava. Though even she began to feel a little bland. I couldn't stand how "selfless" she always was. I sometimes feel like characters can get so trapped in their main personality trait it becomes their only one. I wish and hope in the next book she has more of a backbone and cowers less.
Sorin was great as always. Though I do wish he stood up to Scarlett more. I did appreciate him bein the voice of reason for her. He did a better job in this book communicating with her and not letting her just walk all over him. Which I appreciated.
Scarlett was, fine. I like her as a character but I also don't know if I connect with her. She does a lot of stupid things, but I guess that keeps her interesting. I actually really appreciate how flawed the characters are. As much as they frustrate me it keeps them real.
Talwyn is a bitch who can burn in hell. Fucking Azrael loves her and she is so hung up on her stupid ex and need for revenge. She is a selfish bitch who I wanted to murder the entire book. I knew she was goin to betray them. Idiot.
The next book comes out very soon so hopefully I will not forget what happened but just incase...
Alaric, is the assassin keeps head hancho. He basically raised Scarlett but also tortures her and thinks she belongs to him. He seems to be the "main" bad guy of the Maran Lords.
Mikael and someone else are also evil. One of them is the father to Tava and Drake.
Drake is Tava's brother. It took me way too long to figure that out. He is human. Seems like a cool dude.
Azrael Luan is in love with Talwyn, but I think is still on Scarlett's side. He is the prince of the Earth Court.
Ashtine is the crazy princess of the wind court. She lost her ability to "speak to the wind" in some dumb ass need to show Talwyn that people love her even though she sucks. I don't know if she will stay at Talwyn's side if there really is a war.
Briar is the prince of the Water court and is dating Ashtine. I don't know literally anything else about him.
Cassius is the son of the High Witch and has a mystery father. He is Avonleyan so he can like portal and possibly has other powers. He is Scarlett's guardian. So he feels her pain.
Main Things that happened-
*Talwyn joined the dark side because her twin flame Tarik came back from the dead. And she wants to destroy Avonleya because during the war they abandoned the Fae and are hiding behind a ward. She also blames them for the death of her parents. She learned to shape shift into a wolf and told Azrael to suck it.
*Finn, Sloan, King and Queen, all died. Very undramatically. Which sucked.
*Scarlett located all these necklaces that are suppose to morph and make a key to get into Avonleya but she did something and when Talwyn morphed them to the key it closed all the openings the Maran lords had made to get their people through.
* Sorin Died. I knew it. I knew it was goin to happen. I just had a feeling in my gut the author was going to do something savage and then it happened. I didn't cry because I honestly didn't believe he was really dead. And based on the last chapter of the book I think he's coming back. Thank God.
* Sorin also became Scarlett's source because Avonleya's need Fae to restore their magic. So Scarlett and can pull from Sorin to gain her magic.
*Sorin by being the source completed his end of the twin flame. Scarlett still needs to sacrifice something for Sorin to complete her own.
* Cassius was tortured because the Maran Lords were trying to convince Scarlett to take a loyalty bond with them. He refused and lost an eye. And now has a limp.
* Callan learned he was goin to be forced to marry one of the Maran Lords daughters. Instead he made a fake relationship with Tava. They discovered through their fake relationship that they may actually have feelings for each other and are in the very beginning stages of discovering what that means.
* The Maran Lords are ruling Windonelle because you know they killed the king and queen.
* Scarlett blew up the Black Syndict. Which is great.
* Scarlett can make a shadow dragon and ride on it. Her eyes also glow silver when she's at full magical strength.
* There is a shifter kingdom and the rulers are a brother Stellan and his sister or 2nd Arianna. They are very sexual and are kind of a wildcard on who they will align with. They don't particularly love Scarlett because Sorin took Arianna with him to save Scarlett without asking her brother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
The ending of this hurt so bad! This series is still consistently on my mind & I am loving completely devouring it!
The ending of this hurt so bad! This series is still consistently on my mind & I am loving completely devouring it!
August 17, 2025
As Schmidt once said: NO NOTES.
March 29, 2023
4.5 🌟
I love this series! Wow, just wow!
Scarlett and Sorin are awesome even of they are both asses at times and not always the easiest people. This book broke my heart (who has already read this book knows which scene I mean! 💔💔) but I totally hope the next book will mend it... But even if it does not, I will love this world and its characters and continue the journey with them!
I love this series! Wow, just wow!
Scarlett and Sorin are awesome even of they are both asses at times and not always the easiest people. This book broke my heart (who has already read this book knows which scene I mean! 💔💔) but I totally hope the next book will mend it... But even if it does not, I will love this world and its characters and continue the journey with them!
June 7, 2022
Again, better than the last! I’m seriously getting into this series. Actual rating 3.5⭐️
Slight spoiler:
It’s still plotpoints based on miscommunication which annoy the fuck out of me.
Talwyn also annoys the fuck out of me. Girl, get your shit together seriously.
Slight spoiler:
It’s still plotpoints based on miscommunication which annoy the fuck out of me.
Talwyn also annoys the fuck out of me. Girl, get your shit together seriously.
March 31, 2024
And the binge read continues! Lady of Ashes is another inexplicably addictive instalment in the Lady of Darkness series, completely blowing open the world and increasing the stakes to unbelievable heights.
Now, the ironic thing about this romantasy series is that I actually don't really believe the main romantic couple loves each other as much as they think they do, lol. Especially in this third book, Scarlett and Sorin are constantly bickering and keeping things from each other. I mean, they keep telling themselves that they have an unbreakable bond and that they are ride or die for each other, but I honestly don't see that reflected in their actions. Oh well, at least the angry sex is hot, so there's that.
And fortunately, there is so much else to love about this series. Whereas book 2 felt suspiciously and eerily similar in its character dynamics and plot points to other big and well-beloved romantasy series, this third book really takes off in its own direction. I really liked learning more about the history to the different races inhabiting this world, and there were some truly shocking reveals that completely shattered any false sense of security I still had left at this point; and I loved it.
I also really like that we get two additional POVs to the main couple, which really increases the scope of the story and keeps the pacing steaming along at full speed. To me, the development of Queen Talwyn's arc in this instalment was the most compelling storyline in the entire series so far, dragging me across the entire spectrum of emotions without any remorse. And we finally stopped doing my homeboy Callan so awfully dirty, which honestly brought me endless amounts of joy.
While I shouldn't be surprised anymore at the deliciously cruel way that Roehrich ends each book, this brutal cliffhanger still left me seething and then staring blankly at a wall for a good couple of minutes. Ooooh the tension, the twists and turns, the emotional damage... I eat it up!!
Book 4, here I come!
Now, the ironic thing about this romantasy series is that I actually don't really believe the main romantic couple loves each other as much as they think they do, lol. Especially in this third book, Scarlett and Sorin are constantly bickering and keeping things from each other. I mean, they keep telling themselves that they have an unbreakable bond and that they are ride or die for each other, but I honestly don't see that reflected in their actions. Oh well, at least the angry sex is hot, so there's that.
And fortunately, there is so much else to love about this series. Whereas book 2 felt suspiciously and eerily similar in its character dynamics and plot points to other big and well-beloved romantasy series, this third book really takes off in its own direction. I really liked learning more about the history to the different races inhabiting this world, and there were some truly shocking reveals that completely shattered any false sense of security I still had left at this point; and I loved it.
I also really like that we get two additional POVs to the main couple, which really increases the scope of the story and keeps the pacing steaming along at full speed. To me, the development of Queen Talwyn's arc in this instalment was the most compelling storyline in the entire series so far, dragging me across the entire spectrum of emotions without any remorse. And we finally stopped doing my homeboy Callan so awfully dirty, which honestly brought me endless amounts of joy.
While I shouldn't be surprised anymore at the deliciously cruel way that Roehrich ends each book, this brutal cliffhanger still left me seething and then staring blankly at a wall for a good couple of minutes. Ooooh the tension, the twists and turns, the emotional damage... I eat it up!!
Book 4, here I come!
July 10, 2025
No, I'm not okay. Thank you so much for asking.
My heart, it hurts. It hurt for the first half, then the pain subsided and all is well. Then the last 10% is like hahahahahahha you thought.
There's a lot to unpack with this one. There is so many different characters that are plotting but all moving towards the same goal. The betrayals in this one are uh, not nice.
So yeah, this is my review and I will leave you with this:
It's about to get reaaaaal messy.
My heart, it hurts. It hurt for the first half, then the pain subsided and all is well. Then the last 10% is like hahahahahahha you thought.
There's a lot to unpack with this one. There is so many different characters that are plotting but all moving towards the same goal. The betrayals in this one are uh, not nice.
So yeah, this is my review and I will leave you with this:
It's about to get reaaaaal messy.
August 20, 2023
This could have been 200 pages shorter. I literally skimmed the smut because I care so little about the main characters. So much potential, but so poorly paced.
October 21, 2024
Rating- 4.5 stars
Honestly thought I had already said I finished this. Turns out I didn't 🤦♀️🤣 It was a really good book again - the ending blew me away.
Now patiently waiting for Amazon to deliver the next one 👀 it is meant to be coming today
Honestly thought I had already said I finished this. Turns out I didn't 🤦♀️🤣 It was a really good book again - the ending blew me away.
Now patiently waiting for Amazon to deliver the next one 👀 it is meant to be coming today
December 13, 2022
Ohh my gods...I died.
April 3, 2025
This whole series is absolutely phenomenal. Could I nitpick? Absolutely but I have given every book this far 5 stars and this one is no different. Immediately starting book 4. I’m 100% obsessed!
October 22, 2023
"I do not want a life without you in it. If the choice is a life without you or death at your side, I choose death, Scarlett. I choose wherever you are."
I didn't love the last book, but everything really came full circle in this one! I'm really falling for Callan and Tava. He really sees her and her potential! Having Callan's redemption arc was a major necessity because let's face it in the previous books he was more than a lil whipped by Scarlett. I'm not a lover of clingy, whiny male characters.
Scarlett discovered so much about her powers and herself! Her love for Sorin is really twin flame material. I can't wait to pick up the next book and see what she has in store for Talwyn and Alaric. I just know Sorin is already finding a way to get back to her because a love so epic can't simply die. The plot twists just kept coming and coming! The high witch is Cassius mom!? Nuri's betrayal? Or should I say her sacrifice for the orphans? 🥺 This book was really fun to read even a little heavy at times. It kept me guessing, and I love that. 😊
I didn't love the last book, but everything really came full circle in this one! I'm really falling for Callan and Tava. He really sees her and her potential! Having Callan's redemption arc was a major necessity because let's face it in the previous books he was more than a lil whipped by Scarlett. I'm not a lover of clingy, whiny male characters.
Scarlett discovered so much about her powers and herself! Her love for Sorin is really twin flame material. I can't wait to pick up the next book and see what she has in store for Talwyn and Alaric. I just know Sorin is already finding a way to get back to her because a love so epic can't simply die. The plot twists just kept coming and coming! The high witch is Cassius mom!? Nuri's betrayal? Or should I say her sacrifice for the orphans? 🥺 This book was really fun to read even a little heavy at times. It kept me guessing, and I love that. 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Scarlett pissed me off again and I’m petty with these freaking betrayals.
May 21, 2025
I enjoyed this book, but it sent my feelings and thoughts in all different directions.
I'm very invested in the world, the different populations and lands, and trying to figure out the lore and where we are going with the story. There are so many characters I love, and the dynamics between them were riveting in some cases.
I thought Tava was freaking amazing in this book. Seemingly no magic and unable to wield weapons. She shines because she is a kind, compassionate, brave, and decent human being. I loved her character in this book.
I loved Cassius, his loyalty and level headedness, and the awkward, prickly, and charged dynamic between him and Hazel as they learn to deal with each other.
Cyrus deserved a gold medal for the verbal take down he delivered. I wanted to clap, and also give him a big hug. Scarlett deserved it. Speaking of which...
Scarlett had some amazing moments in this book. Towards the end, she was an absolute badass, and I thought she was flipping awesome.
Before that, she drove me batshit crazy. I actively disliked her for a lot of the book. I felt like she learnt nothing from the mistakes she made, and her apologies were insincere. She behaved like a narcissistic brat, and the constant tantrums and sniping between her and Sorin pissed me off. Then when they weren't attacking each other, they were so sappy, I got bored.
Talwyn gave her a run for her money with the tantrums and bratty behaviour though. Good grief.
To be honest, if it weren't for the last few chapters, I would have liked the book a lot less overall, but the ending was absolutely bonkers, and I loved where it left off.
I listened to the audiobook, and it was well done.
I'm very invested in the world, the different populations and lands, and trying to figure out the lore and where we are going with the story. There are so many characters I love, and the dynamics between them were riveting in some cases.
I thought Tava was freaking amazing in this book. Seemingly no magic and unable to wield weapons. She shines because she is a kind, compassionate, brave, and decent human being. I loved her character in this book.
I loved Cassius, his loyalty and level headedness, and the awkward, prickly, and charged dynamic between him and Hazel as they learn to deal with each other.
Cyrus deserved a gold medal for the verbal take down he delivered. I wanted to clap, and also give him a big hug. Scarlett deserved it. Speaking of which...
Scarlett had some amazing moments in this book. Towards the end, she was an absolute badass, and I thought she was flipping awesome.
Before that, she drove me batshit crazy. I actively disliked her for a lot of the book. I felt like she learnt nothing from the mistakes she made, and her apologies were insincere. She behaved like a narcissistic brat, and the constant tantrums and sniping between her and Sorin pissed me off. Then when they weren't attacking each other, they were so sappy, I got bored.
Talwyn gave her a run for her money with the tantrums and bratty behaviour though. Good grief.
To be honest, if it weren't for the last few chapters, I would have liked the book a lot less overall, but the ending was absolutely bonkers, and I loved where it left off.
I listened to the audiobook, and it was well done.
April 30, 2023
The first part of this review contains no spoilers!
Book overall rating: 3.5/5
Enjoyment: 3.5/5
Ease of reading: 3/5
Spice Rating: 2/5
Yay it got good again!! This book regained the pace, energy and balance of the first book. I first read the series at the start of the year and have just finished my reread in time for the new book, reading this a second time around I still felt it destroying me emotionally.
☠️ Privilege. Everything always had to be earned with the Assassin Lord. What would be required of her to take a godsdamn bath? ☠️
⚔️ This was how the Assassin Lord worked. He tortured you, then he cared for you. He made you ache, then he made it better. Over and over again until he got what he wanted. ⚔️
The characters were developed better in this book, and we learnt more about some of the characters that I felt could have helped improve the plot in the last book. I spotted a couple of small errors but nothing that majorly affected the plot.
I spoke in my review of the last book about how it had fallen too close to being a veiled fanfic for my liking, whereas the first book was its own unique story with elements that were perhaps inspired by other books, I am very pleased to say this story is 100% its own in my opinion. Not only that but the plot we got was fantastic, it was heart-breaking and well thought out. I had an idea of where this was going to go, but some of the twists & turns took me totally by surprise which having read as many books as I have doesn’t happen often anymore.
❤️🔥 “She will crawl into the space between the stars and use her darkness to give the Fates physical form for the sole purpose of cutting them apart piece by piece for even trying to dictate her path, and I will be by her side handing her the blades wreathed in flames to do so,” Sorin snarled ❤️🔥
💞 “I am not selfless, Callan,” Tava replied, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “I simply care about the ones the kings and queens of this world forgot about. That is not being selfless. That is being a decent human being.” 💞
I am super happy that this series is back on track and I would recommend it!
Tropes checks
✔️Friends to Lovers
✔️Morally grey MMC & Assassin FMC
✔️Trainer x Trainee
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Fated Mates
✔️Slow Burn Romance
✔️Found Family
The next part of this review contains spoilers
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
Spoiler thoughts.
• Princess Ashtine’s social interactions and grasp on reality were well written, I hope this keeps up in the later books and isn’t written out.
• I am so so so so so glad that they didn’t just forgive Scarlett for keeping things hidden and once she was recovered they held her accountable, making her actually earn her trust. Her actions and the result they caused in the previous book were definitely avoidable if she had actually just spoken to them, them calling her out on her shit was just perfection to me.
• Callen & Tava were unexpectedly cute. I actually really loved them and I was not expecting to but it totally make sense, she is what he wanted all along went he was in love with the idea of Scarlett.
• Nuri’s betrayal was well written and the reasoning why was in line with her character. I like that she made the betrayal not because she was told to by the Assassin Lord/Her Daddy, but because all along this has been about the children to her.
• On my reread I spotted a few clues I didn’t spot the first time about a turn of events in the next book, I won’t write them here because it’s a spoiler for that book but I will say one had to do with something the Sorceress said after Scarlett tricked her.
• I would love a Cyrus backstory Novella, like we ‘The Reaper’ we have for Rayner, but about his early life with Merrik & maybe Thia’s death.
• Even knowing what I know in the next book, the events at the end of this book were really well written and my heart still broke.
• Rayner & Tula have my heart. If something happens to either one of them I will riot.
• When they tried to convince her Sorin had come to rescue her but she knew it wasn’t him because he called her ‘dear’ was where the heartbreak truly started.
• Scarlett not knowing what was real after being rescued, plus the bits we got of her and Cassius during him being tortured and left to dead caused me so much emotional damage.
Quotes.
💞 “But I figured out his other secret all by myself.” “Oh?” Rayner questioned, falling into step beside her. “Mhmm,” she hummed. “He smiles biggest when he sees her.” 💞
🥹 She shook her head, swallowing down the lump in her throat. This wasn’t him. He wouldn’t call her “dear.” His touch wasn’t the same. He didn’t feel the same. 🥹
🗡️ “This will be your only warning, Mortal Prince. Speak to her like that again, and her secrets will be the least of your worries.” 🗡️
💞 “Just because things are tense between us right now does not mean I love you any less, Scarlett. You are still mine. I will still sit with you in the dark, and together we will find the stars.” 💞
👑 “So eavesdropping is indeed something you have made a habit,” he teased, leaning down to speak in her ear so she could hear him over the din of the hall. “Always be listening, Callan,” she replied, a wry smile pulling at the corner of her lips. “You never know what you will hear.” 👑
💞 “I will, admittedly, become uncontrollably jealous if you create this sort of relationship with someone else,” he said. 💞
💀 Silence fell in the room, but it was soon interrupted by slow, psychotic laughter. The laughter grew and grew. Alaric turned to face Nuri Halloway. “Nothing about this is funny, you insane bloodsucker,” Mikale snapped, chucking the key he was holding at her. She didn’t even flinch when it cut a gash along her temple. “You are bound to us. If we go down, you go down with us.” “Oh, I always knew I would burn beside you for what I did,” Nuri replied through her laughter. 💀
Book overall rating: 3.5/5
Enjoyment: 3.5/5
Ease of reading: 3/5
Spice Rating: 2/5
Yay it got good again!! This book regained the pace, energy and balance of the first book. I first read the series at the start of the year and have just finished my reread in time for the new book, reading this a second time around I still felt it destroying me emotionally.
☠️ Privilege. Everything always had to be earned with the Assassin Lord. What would be required of her to take a godsdamn bath? ☠️
⚔️ This was how the Assassin Lord worked. He tortured you, then he cared for you. He made you ache, then he made it better. Over and over again until he got what he wanted. ⚔️
The characters were developed better in this book, and we learnt more about some of the characters that I felt could have helped improve the plot in the last book. I spotted a couple of small errors but nothing that majorly affected the plot.
I spoke in my review of the last book about how it had fallen too close to being a veiled fanfic for my liking, whereas the first book was its own unique story with elements that were perhaps inspired by other books, I am very pleased to say this story is 100% its own in my opinion. Not only that but the plot we got was fantastic, it was heart-breaking and well thought out. I had an idea of where this was going to go, but some of the twists & turns took me totally by surprise which having read as many books as I have doesn’t happen often anymore.
❤️🔥 “She will crawl into the space between the stars and use her darkness to give the Fates physical form for the sole purpose of cutting them apart piece by piece for even trying to dictate her path, and I will be by her side handing her the blades wreathed in flames to do so,” Sorin snarled ❤️🔥
💞 “I am not selfless, Callan,” Tava replied, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “I simply care about the ones the kings and queens of this world forgot about. That is not being selfless. That is being a decent human being.” 💞
I am super happy that this series is back on track and I would recommend it!
Tropes checks
✔️Friends to Lovers
✔️Morally grey MMC & Assassin FMC
✔️Trainer x Trainee
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Fated Mates
✔️Slow Burn Romance
✔️Found Family
The next part of this review contains spoilers
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
🥷
Spoiler thoughts.
• Princess Ashtine’s social interactions and grasp on reality were well written, I hope this keeps up in the later books and isn’t written out.
• I am so so so so so glad that they didn’t just forgive Scarlett for keeping things hidden and once she was recovered they held her accountable, making her actually earn her trust. Her actions and the result they caused in the previous book were definitely avoidable if she had actually just spoken to them, them calling her out on her shit was just perfection to me.
• Callen & Tava were unexpectedly cute. I actually really loved them and I was not expecting to but it totally make sense, she is what he wanted all along went he was in love with the idea of Scarlett.
• Nuri’s betrayal was well written and the reasoning why was in line with her character. I like that she made the betrayal not because she was told to by the Assassin Lord/Her Daddy, but because all along this has been about the children to her.
• On my reread I spotted a few clues I didn’t spot the first time about a turn of events in the next book, I won’t write them here because it’s a spoiler for that book but I will say one had to do with something the Sorceress said after Scarlett tricked her.
• I would love a Cyrus backstory Novella, like we ‘The Reaper’ we have for Rayner, but about his early life with Merrik & maybe Thia’s death.
• Even knowing what I know in the next book, the events at the end of this book were really well written and my heart still broke.
• Rayner & Tula have my heart. If something happens to either one of them I will riot.
• When they tried to convince her Sorin had come to rescue her but she knew it wasn’t him because he called her ‘dear’ was where the heartbreak truly started.
• Scarlett not knowing what was real after being rescued, plus the bits we got of her and Cassius during him being tortured and left to dead caused me so much emotional damage.
Quotes.
💞 “But I figured out his other secret all by myself.” “Oh?” Rayner questioned, falling into step beside her. “Mhmm,” she hummed. “He smiles biggest when he sees her.” 💞
🥹 She shook her head, swallowing down the lump in her throat. This wasn’t him. He wouldn’t call her “dear.” His touch wasn’t the same. He didn’t feel the same. 🥹
🗡️ “This will be your only warning, Mortal Prince. Speak to her like that again, and her secrets will be the least of your worries.” 🗡️
💞 “Just because things are tense between us right now does not mean I love you any less, Scarlett. You are still mine. I will still sit with you in the dark, and together we will find the stars.” 💞
👑 “So eavesdropping is indeed something you have made a habit,” he teased, leaning down to speak in her ear so she could hear him over the din of the hall. “Always be listening, Callan,” she replied, a wry smile pulling at the corner of her lips. “You never know what you will hear.” 👑
💞 “I will, admittedly, become uncontrollably jealous if you create this sort of relationship with someone else,” he said. 💞
💀 Silence fell in the room, but it was soon interrupted by slow, psychotic laughter. The laughter grew and grew. Alaric turned to face Nuri Halloway. “Nothing about this is funny, you insane bloodsucker,” Mikale snapped, chucking the key he was holding at her. She didn’t even flinch when it cut a gash along her temple. “You are bound to us. If we go down, you go down with us.” “Oh, I always knew I would burn beside you for what I did,” Nuri replied through her laughter. 💀
February 17, 2025
4.5 ☆ rounded up
Best book out of the 3 so far. It had more of an original plot and less acotar inspiration. I loves these books, the end had me seeing red.. how dare Talwyn do that heartless bitch. I'm looking forward to Lady Of Embers. I'm so curious how this series ends since it's connected to Rain of Shadows and Endings.
Best book out of the 3 so far. It had more of an original plot and less acotar inspiration. I loves these books, the end had me seeing red.. how dare Talwyn do that heartless bitch. I'm looking forward to Lady Of Embers. I'm so curious how this series ends since it's connected to Rain of Shadows and Endings.
July 9, 2023
Wow, still not better.
It gets so annoying, how this whole series seems to center around all sorts of abuses against the FMC. I started to skip passages, because it was obvious it was only going to be about her being tortured or sexually harassed, what a waste of time without having some sick kink.
Could have done a trilogy instead of five books, if one had just left out hours of such shit.
Still there are story holes so deep you can't see their end.
The FMC wanting to sacrifice herself for everyone else seems to be plotted to be her only trait to endear you, but it's just gross and makes the eyes roll like a ventilator.
With every book I hate Sorin more, he's just selfish, arrogant, insolent and seems like a guy with a very small penis. Always "furious" or "protective" such a boring character.
And not to forget to mention, how often there are tongues stuck out, like we are in a preschool. And the "banter" who feels just portrayed and so overdone.
Oh and I also question the overly present consuming of alcohol.
It gets so annoying, how this whole series seems to center around all sorts of abuses against the FMC. I started to skip passages, because it was obvious it was only going to be about her being tortured or sexually harassed, what a waste of time without having some sick kink.
Could have done a trilogy instead of five books, if one had just left out hours of such shit.
Still there are story holes so deep you can't see their end.
The FMC wanting to sacrifice herself for everyone else seems to be plotted to be her only trait to endear you, but it's just gross and makes the eyes roll like a ventilator.
With every book I hate Sorin more, he's just selfish, arrogant, insolent and seems like a guy with a very small penis. Always "furious" or "protective" such a boring character.
And not to forget to mention, how often there are tongues stuck out, like we are in a preschool. And the "banter" who feels just portrayed and so overdone.
Oh and I also question the overly present consuming of alcohol.
April 14, 2025
Lady of Ashes (Lady of Darkness #3) by Melissa K. Roehrich
She will not be the same as when she left.
Fire and Shadows.
Light and Dark.
Beginnings and Endings.
*Everything hangs in the balance.
*One wrong move, and the scales will tip.
*Only ashes will remain.
Rating: *****
Feels: Anticipation, Admiration, Jealousy, Heat
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Witches, Vampires, Magic, Paranormal
First published October 1, 2022: 660 pages, Audio Book
The more we find out about not only Scarlett, but the lands she inhabits, the lands beyond and the people she is surrounded with the more I am drawn in. I think I am absolutely drawn in and in love with this story and then the author throws something else in, more lore, more characters, more backstory, more magic, more of everything I love and I am drawn in further and never ever want this to end. Good thing I am a huge fan of rereads. I keep wondering if my reread will be the physical books (which I own a few copies of now) or the audio books as I have loved them so much. I knew I would love this story from book one and am still surprised by how much each book makes me love this story more. The darkness, the light, the found family, the magic, the world, how each person finds themselves adapting and managing in the world. Its just masterful. I cant wait to continue this story and fall even further in.
Audibook Review: Laura Horowitz (Narrator), Gregory Salinas(Narrator) : I have so enjoyed this story being brought to life by these narrators. They continue to bring such depth of emotion to this story that I am at time brought to tears as I listen. I know that this is an amazing story and I am so glad that it was entrusted to these two to narrate it as they have definitely done it more then justice. I love how these two tell this story with such passion and character. The pacing, tone, pov transitions and flow is always a pleasure without any distractions. I have literally played these to friends as an example of what I think an amazing audiobook is. I typically listen to my audiobooks on 1.5 to 2.0 and I listened to this at 1.75. I highly recommend this as an audio book.
This book has:
Strong FMC (Stabby)
Morally Gray MMC
Enemies to Lovers
Touch her and die
Found Family
Revenge Plot
Fae Courts
Hidden Identity
Politics
Magic
She will not be the same as when she left.
Fire and Shadows.
Light and Dark.
Beginnings and Endings.
*Everything hangs in the balance.
*One wrong move, and the scales will tip.
*Only ashes will remain.
Rating: *****
Feels: Anticipation, Admiration, Jealousy, Heat
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Witches, Vampires, Magic, Paranormal
First published October 1, 2022: 660 pages, Audio Book
The more we find out about not only Scarlett, but the lands she inhabits, the lands beyond and the people she is surrounded with the more I am drawn in. I think I am absolutely drawn in and in love with this story and then the author throws something else in, more lore, more characters, more backstory, more magic, more of everything I love and I am drawn in further and never ever want this to end. Good thing I am a huge fan of rereads. I keep wondering if my reread will be the physical books (which I own a few copies of now) or the audio books as I have loved them so much. I knew I would love this story from book one and am still surprised by how much each book makes me love this story more. The darkness, the light, the found family, the magic, the world, how each person finds themselves adapting and managing in the world. Its just masterful. I cant wait to continue this story and fall even further in.
Audibook Review: Laura Horowitz (Narrator), Gregory Salinas(Narrator) : I have so enjoyed this story being brought to life by these narrators. They continue to bring such depth of emotion to this story that I am at time brought to tears as I listen. I know that this is an amazing story and I am so glad that it was entrusted to these two to narrate it as they have definitely done it more then justice. I love how these two tell this story with such passion and character. The pacing, tone, pov transitions and flow is always a pleasure without any distractions. I have literally played these to friends as an example of what I think an amazing audiobook is. I typically listen to my audiobooks on 1.5 to 2.0 and I listened to this at 1.75. I highly recommend this as an audio book.
This book has:
Strong FMC (Stabby)
Morally Gray MMC
Enemies to Lovers
Touch her and die
Found Family
Revenge Plot
Fae Courts
Hidden Identity
Politics
Magic
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,555 reviews