Roots of Darkness (The Ashen Series) Review
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Available on Kindle Unlimited or for purchase June 10, 2025
What is The Ashen Series?
The Ashen Series is author Demi Winters’ debut series. Originally indie published, this author debut was picked up by a traditional publisher and is in the process of being rereleased. This is a planned 5 book series with the first two books already available. (And the third coming out next February!) Books that are currently available for the series are The Road of Bones and Kingdom of Claw. Plus there is a bonus chapter from the POV our favorite grumpy male main character available through the author’s news letter.
Roots of Darkness, the novella told from the point of view of Hekla Rib Smasher, is now available for preorder and will be released June 10. It takes place about 2 weeks after the events of Kingdom of Claw, although if you choose to read it before Kingdom of Claw, it won’t spoil anything for you. Originally, Hekla’s point of view was meant to be included in book 2 of the series, however, the book was already considerably long and Demi Winters decided to give Hekla and the rest of the Blood Axe Crew their own short story. Winters said you can omit this book from your reading of the series and not miss anything, but I would highly recommend it if you are a fan. Aside from the fact that it is SO good, there are a lot of important things that happen in the novella that you won’t want to miss.
It is important to remember this is a dark, romantic fantasy intended for adults. As such, it touches on topics that may be sensitive or too graphic for some readers. The author has provided a list of trigger warnings that can be reviewed before reading.
Roots of Darkness Official Blurb
*** The Road of Bones spoilers
“Traveling the Road of Bones was only the start of Hekla’s troubles.
The Bloodaxe Crew have arrived at the village of Istré—beleaguered and missing three of their members. They might be down in numbers, but Hekla ‘Rib Smasher’ is determined they’ll complete their job all the same: defeat the evil mist with a heartbeat and keep the citizens of Istré safe. What she didn’t expect is for Istré’s bull-headed chieftain to block her every move.
Exasperated, Hekla throws caution to the wind for a single passion-filled night. But to her horror, the mysterious, red-cloaked warrior to whom she’d spilled her deepest secrets, is the Bloodaxe Crew’s new temporary leader and ally—Eyvind Hakonsson.
Hekla must now learn to play by Eyvind’s rules while guarding her heart. But when it becomes clear that his plans align with the chieftain’s, Hekla takes matters into her own hands.
Nothing will stop her from keeping the innocent people of Istré safe—not even the man who haunts her thoughts.”
What did I like about the book?
I loved this novella!
This book was made for every woman who has been made to feel lesser than, simply for being a woman. As Demi Winters said, “[She] put all of [her] feminine rage into this one for you”, and it shows. As a woman and a warrior, Hekla is in a constant position of having to prove herself more than her male peers. She cannot be weak, she cannot be slow, she cannot let anyone question why she’s there.
Roots of Darkness was fast moving, exciting, and had a delicious new main male character (who’s basically perfect). I wasn’t expecting so much action to be present in this story. As a novella, I had anticipated a brief glimpse into what the characters were doing in Istre, but this was exhilarating and romantic. It has tons of mystery, insane character development, and (my personal favorite) an animal sidekick.
My favorite thing about this story was its presentation. It flips between past and present allowing snippets of information at a time. I loved being informed of the relationship between Hekla and Eyvind piece by piece.
What did I not like?
My only complaint is that there is not more of it. This could have easily been a full-length book. It reawakened my need to read more of this world, only to have to wait until the next book release months from now.
Thank you to Demi Winters for a free arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
