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Aggonid's Realm #1
A Realm of Fire and Ash
Morte, a fierce fae of the Phoenix order and a respected commander of the Royal Guard, meets an untimely demise during a special ops mission to Bedlam Penitentiary. Her task is to eliminate a dangerous prisoner, but in doing so, she is reunited with her best friend, whom she has secretly loved for her entire life. Tragically, her joy is short-lived as she dies and wakes up in the underworld, where she faces an unexpected and deadly enemy, Aggonid — the ruler of the underworld, who sees her as a threat to his throne.
Determined to return to the realm of the living and to her beloved, Morte must convince Aggonid of her innocence and earn back his trust, all while avoiding his constant attempts on her life. As she fights to reclaim her freedom, Morte's very soul is at stake, not only facing the eternal torment of her new reality, but also navigating the complexity of multiple suitors vying for her heart.
Will Morte find a way back to the realm and the one she loves, or will she be forced to choose between them? A Realm of Fire and Ash is a tale of one fae's journey for survival, redemption, and the true meaning of love in the afterlife, where fate seems to have something more sinister in store for her. Tropes and universal fantasies
Determined to return to the realm of the living and to her beloved, Morte must convince Aggonid of her innocence and earn back his trust, all while avoiding his constant attempts on her life. As she fights to reclaim her freedom, Morte's very soul is at stake, not only facing the eternal torment of her new reality, but also navigating the complexity of multiple suitors vying for her heart.
Will Morte find a way back to the realm and the one she loves, or will she be forced to choose between them? A Realm of Fire and Ash is a tale of one fae's journey for survival, redemption, and the true meaning of love in the afterlife, where fate seems to have something more sinister in store for her. Tropes and universal fantasies
312 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2023
1600 people are currently reading
9565 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Haan
21 books284 followers#1 Bestselling Author x 4
A cousin to Billie Eilish (though she's never met her in person), blood descendant of Wild Bill Hickok, and a long line of artists and creators, Kathy Haan believes the secret to telling a great story is living one. The second youngest, in a massive horde of children between her parents, she did her best to gain attention and kept everyone entertained with jokes and wild stories.
She lives a life of adventure with her hunky husband, three children, and Great Pyrenees in the Midwest United States. While new to fiction, you might’ve seen her work in Forbes, where she’s a regular contributor. Or, in Notoriety Network’s 12x international award-winning documentary, #SHEROproject.
A cousin to Billie Eilish (though she's never met her in person), blood descendant of Wild Bill Hickok, and a long line of artists and creators, Kathy Haan believes the secret to telling a great story is living one. The second youngest, in a massive horde of children between her parents, she did her best to gain attention and kept everyone entertained with jokes and wild stories.
She lives a life of adventure with her hunky husband, three children, and Great Pyrenees in the Midwest United States. While new to fiction, you might’ve seen her work in Forbes, where she’s a regular contributor. Or, in Notoriety Network’s 12x international award-winning documentary, #SHEROproject.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
March 17, 2024
Okay so I am hopelessly in love with a man to the point where I talk to no other man in the 200 years we are apart and then I FINALLY reunite with him…to die… to go to the “underworld” to be grateful for the amount of d-cks that are constantly swinging around unclothed. 🙂 Where in some random way I now am going to have magic fae sex and be bonded with three different men. When I was happy being celibate because the man I have been in love with couldnt have sex with me because he was promised to an anchor. I just dont understand how we went from being shredded by our love to dying and sleeping with every. single. man. we talked to?
September 14, 2024
Severely lacking in character and relationship development to make these characters choices make sense.
February 12, 2024
I honestly could not tell you what this book is truly about. There was no character development or world building. Why are certain hearts some kind of cure? Werewolves? What in the heck is going on? I think it was an attempt at a slow burn between the FMC and her multiple mates but it was more like c*ck blocks and the MMC being a total jerk in all the worst ways. I gave 2 stars because there is some action and it is a readable book.
July 16, 2024
When a TikTok convinces you to read a book and it falls flat…the potential was there but it was so jumpy and the world building was half heartedly done.
June 20, 2024
Mid I guess?
Honestly like props for commitment but please get a proofreader... this book has hot scenes but it's also really hard to follow grammatically. Half the time I had to back up a page to figure out who was moving or talking. It's also quite confusing. (Spoilers) basically Morte is a Phoenix fae and can't die, but then she does. Pretty much as soon as she appears in the underworld she's told that if her "tether" didn't exist then she wouldn't respawn, and explains that her bf was the tether and was dead. But then the whole book she's wondering why she for real died as if she wasn't immediately told. There's also a Hunt that she only wins because of help from Az who is inexplicably super nice and Emeric who has two d*cks that also vibrate. The big bad devil is also a crybaby who misinterprets a prophecy and decides to kill her but then she comes back even though they say multiple times that if she dies in the underworld she's just for real gone but it's never actually explained why she didn't die? I guess we're supposed to assume it's bc of her multiple mates acting as her tethers but none of the characters wonder why tf she came back. Then there's a big event after the Hunt wherein everyone either fights or f*cks and everyone gets to bang her except Mr Two C*cks and then they realize they're all mates BUT the devil, Aggonid, is her like,,, main mate I guess? It's overall just super messy and confusing and feels like it was written in two days with no sleep. The stars are literally only for Az and the passable s*x scenes.
Honestly like props for commitment but please get a proofreader... this book has hot scenes but it's also really hard to follow grammatically. Half the time I had to back up a page to figure out who was moving or talking. It's also quite confusing. (Spoilers) basically Morte is a Phoenix fae and can't die, but then she does. Pretty much as soon as she appears in the underworld she's told that if her "tether" didn't exist then she wouldn't respawn, and explains that her bf was the tether and was dead. But then the whole book she's wondering why she for real died as if she wasn't immediately told. There's also a Hunt that she only wins because of help from Az who is inexplicably super nice and Emeric who has two d*cks that also vibrate. The big bad devil is also a crybaby who misinterprets a prophecy and decides to kill her but then she comes back even though they say multiple times that if she dies in the underworld she's just for real gone but it's never actually explained why she didn't die? I guess we're supposed to assume it's bc of her multiple mates acting as her tethers but none of the characters wonder why tf she came back. Then there's a big event after the Hunt wherein everyone either fights or f*cks and everyone gets to bang her except Mr Two C*cks and then they realize they're all mates BUT the devil, Aggonid, is her like,,, main mate I guess? It's overall just super messy and confusing and feels like it was written in two days with no sleep. The stars are literally only for Az and the passable s*x scenes.
April 8, 2024
What in the smut for smut sake no plot having…
April 21, 2024
I like how light the world building is in this. It was easy to follow along. I was throughly entertained the entire time. The TENSION??? THE WAY IT SNAPPED??? I wish it went a little more into detail about the ✨group activity✨ especially since they popped the 🍒. But that’s just me
February 20, 2025
After I tried to read Bedlam Moon I was weary to try another book by the same author. I don't regret it one bit. This book is all I missed in Bedlam Moon:
The pacing is great. The characters get time to shine. There is action, there is humor, there is spice. There is heartbreak at the end of the book. And a cliffhanger that gives a reason to read the next one.
One small critique: please use a font for handwriting that people can read and not guess.
Some quotes to give you a taste of this book:
The pacing is great. The characters get time to shine. There is action, there is humor, there is spice. There is heartbreak at the end of the book. And a cliffhanger that gives a reason to read the next one.
One small critique: please use a font for handwriting that people can read and not guess.
Some quotes to give you a taste of this book:
I blink. "You do know I asked you to bring her to me hours ago, right?" Am I remembering it correctly? "That's the thing, my lord. She's chained herself to the bed and refuses to unlock it."
He turn to me, his gaze intense. "For love is a journey, not a destination, and the truest bonds are forged by the strength of the heart, not just the passion of the flesh."
"They literally have nursery rhymes meant to scare children about you," she warns, and it warms my heart to hear it.
Less 'I'm going to use my shadow puppets to destroy the entire realm' and more 'I'll use my shadow puppets to destroy your enemies if only you promise to be mine'.
August 23, 2025
This story has a lot of potential to be even more exciting, but unfortunately for me it was hard to stay committed to reading and I almost didn't finish. As an example, the FMC, Morte, is over 1000 years old and a "fierce warrior" yet she got scared of underworld monsters crawling around at night time? Kind of defeats the bad@ss vibe for me. I did however, like the introduction of the Wild Hunt trope mixed in with the trials/games trope and the reasoning made sense for the sake of the story, and the slow burn between the FMC and her reverse harem was entertaining. But again, I felt like there wasn't a lot of material to get to know the character, and the POV of each MMC read like instant love which I'm not a fan of.
In a nut shell I really REALLY wanted to like this story because there were a lot of interesting/unique takes on the underworld trope and shifters, hellhounds, etc.; but because the story felt rushed through and I kept getting stuck on parts that seemed to be missing or didn't make sense I couldn't rate this higher.
In a nut shell I really REALLY wanted to like this story because there were a lot of interesting/unique takes on the underworld trope and shifters, hellhounds, etc.; but because the story felt rushed through and I kept getting stuck on parts that seemed to be missing or didn't make sense I couldn't rate this higher.
December 7, 2024
DNF at 64%.
Worldbuilding? Nonexistent. Character development? Nonexistent. Too many questions remain unanswered because everything feels too rushed.
I thought it might eventually get better, but I’m giving up at 64% for good.
Worldbuilding? Nonexistent. Character development? Nonexistent. Too many questions remain unanswered because everything feels too rushed.
I thought it might eventually get better, but I’m giving up at 64% for good.
February 11, 2024
Ok so first of all I swear I think Kathy Haan has crack in her books because I’m addicted!! I literally finished this book in one day. The FMC Morte is a badass phoenix who is of course in love with someone she can’t be with. Things take a turn when she is sent to the underworld but she soon finds out it’s not all bad being around the devil himself. You’ve got multiple mates, suspense, deals sealed with a kiss and soooo much spice!!! This is a must read and I can’t wait to read the second book! This has easily become one of my favorites!
October 3, 2024
I finished this book out of sheer stubbornness!!! I found this book on TikTok through a promotional video. The scene the video describes happens very quickly in the book and then the book takes a completely different turn than I expected based on how it was advertised. Could’ve been an oversight on my part because I didn’t read the blurb I just went off the video.
The writing did not flow whatsoever, I had to reread passages to kind of comprehend what’s going on and even then I felt more lost sometimes. There wasn’t any fluidity between scenes and I don’t think the timeline was done properly. Based on events she had been gone maybe a couple days and instead one character said she’d been there for weeks. The dialogue felt choppy on everyone’s part. Overall this book was just hard to follow along. Also there was no continuity with the characters personalities. The FMC felt like 10 different characters, and not in the she’s complex and multifaceted way, I’m talking in the sense that from scene to scene she was just a different character personality wise and it made no sense. Same goes for Caius as well.
Overall, I don’t recommend. I think for this book to be better it needs a heaaaavy editing process and for the characters to really be consistent with who they are. Morte is supposedly a commander of the kings special forces, an elite warrior that is renowned for her skills, and also has lived for THOUSANDS of years yet she comes off childish, naive, 0 survival or fighting skillset, weak. there’s scenes when all of a sudden she’s brave and can fight but it feels forced and not how she is 99% of the time lol
The writing did not flow whatsoever, I had to reread passages to kind of comprehend what’s going on and even then I felt more lost sometimes. There wasn’t any fluidity between scenes and I don’t think the timeline was done properly. Based on events she had been gone maybe a couple days and instead one character said she’d been there for weeks. The dialogue felt choppy on everyone’s part. Overall this book was just hard to follow along. Also there was no continuity with the characters personalities. The FMC felt like 10 different characters, and not in the she’s complex and multifaceted way, I’m talking in the sense that from scene to scene she was just a different character personality wise and it made no sense. Same goes for Caius as well.
Overall, I don’t recommend. I think for this book to be better it needs a heaaaavy editing process and for the characters to really be consistent with who they are. Morte is supposedly a commander of the kings special forces, an elite warrior that is renowned for her skills, and also has lived for THOUSANDS of years yet she comes off childish, naive, 0 survival or fighting skillset, weak. there’s scenes when all of a sudden she’s brave and can fight but it feels forced and not how she is 99% of the time lol
April 27, 2024
Ugh. Disappointed.
Too many holes, and the story line doesn't make sense. Strong female warrior who is in love with her best friend, he goes to prison for her, for eternity. She works for 200 years to finally be given a chance to break him out but is sucked into Hell, becomes this meek, scared female and 4 random men come to her rescue whom she falls for and becomes mated with? All while trying to escape to go back to her bff... but not really wanting to go back?? by the end of the book, she gets pulled back to the real world and you're left on a cliff. Too much going on in this world for such a short 300 pages..... will not read the rest of the series.
Too many holes, and the story line doesn't make sense. Strong female warrior who is in love with her best friend, he goes to prison for her, for eternity. She works for 200 years to finally be given a chance to break him out but is sucked into Hell, becomes this meek, scared female and 4 random men come to her rescue whom she falls for and becomes mated with? All while trying to escape to go back to her bff... but not really wanting to go back?? by the end of the book, she gets pulled back to the real world and you're left on a cliff. Too much going on in this world for such a short 300 pages..... will not read the rest of the series.
April 8, 2024
who??
I don’t know who green lit the character relationship/ development aspects of this book, but I spent most of it confused. Whiplash is mainly what I got, and that’s being generous. It gets two stars because when I did understand what was going on, it was decent and I did finish the book so that had to mean something, right?
I don’t know who green lit the character relationship/ development aspects of this book, but I spent most of it confused. Whiplash is mainly what I got, and that’s being generous. It gets two stars because when I did understand what was going on, it was decent and I did finish the book so that had to mean something, right?
February 17, 2024
Booktok Strikes Again...
The whole thing felt very rushed. No real character development.
I love smut for smut's sake- really. But could we at least get a conversation before they're magically in love?
2 stars for the spice alone.
I've gotta stop listening to Booktok.
The whole thing felt very rushed. No real character development.
I love smut for smut's sake- really. But could we at least get a conversation before they're magically in love?
2 stars for the spice alone.
I've gotta stop listening to Booktok.
March 29, 2024
spoilers ahead
Brief synopsis: a Phoenix fae pines after a guy that’s in an impenetrable prison. He took the fall for her because she’s his mate. But she doesn’t know that and is convinced she’s in love with someone she can never have. She goes on a mission inside this crazy prison to help capture an inmate that’s escaped. Somehow, she finds her way into her long lost lovers cell. They both die after being attacked by the escaped prisoner. She doesn’t regenerate this time and instead gets sent to hell for the unforgivable act that her lover boy took the fall for.
In hell, she meets Caius, and he’s quite the strange demon. It’s insta love and heart eyes for him and she’s in denial of the bond that’s clearly between them from the beginning. She’s sent to shack. She discovers that they seal deals with a kiss. So there’s lots of hot and heavy kissing to be done.
She meets a tall, dark, handsome and very pierced up dude named Azazel. He saves her and he’s got insta heart eyes too.
She then meets the devil, who happens to be Caius’ mate and lover. Caius is unhinged and doesn’t understand why she doesn’t love him and want to sleep with them both right away, even though she’s a virgin. It’s a love/hate relationship with Aggonid (which btw I hate that name). After a night of voyeurism on Mortes part, she gets sent back to her shack.
She hangs with Azazel and meets a hot hellhound dude named Emerit and he has two peens that are prehensile and vibrate. Hello fantasy man??
Beginnings of a lovely harem of hot muscly demon dudes and one God.
I’ll leave the rest of the story for you to read on your own and not spoil too much. I loved the story and will be starting the second book right away. Glad I found this series when it’s complete because that cliffhanger would’ve sucked.
General feels: not enough spice. I needed more exploring of the double dicked dude. More witty banter would’ve been awesome. She’s a badass and has lived a long life as a virgin pining after a guy that may or may not be one of her harem. I’m hoping there’s more group scenes and one on one bonding with each of her mates in the next book. This one’s all about laying the foundation and meeting each character. I like that she doesn’t immediately jump into bed with each of them but I was ready for it sooner than 70% of the book. All in all, a good one.
Brief synopsis: a Phoenix fae pines after a guy that’s in an impenetrable prison. He took the fall for her because she’s his mate. But she doesn’t know that and is convinced she’s in love with someone she can never have. She goes on a mission inside this crazy prison to help capture an inmate that’s escaped. Somehow, she finds her way into her long lost lovers cell. They both die after being attacked by the escaped prisoner. She doesn’t regenerate this time and instead gets sent to hell for the unforgivable act that her lover boy took the fall for.
In hell, she meets Caius, and he’s quite the strange demon. It’s insta love and heart eyes for him and she’s in denial of the bond that’s clearly between them from the beginning. She’s sent to shack. She discovers that they seal deals with a kiss. So there’s lots of hot and heavy kissing to be done.
She meets a tall, dark, handsome and very pierced up dude named Azazel. He saves her and he’s got insta heart eyes too.
She then meets the devil, who happens to be Caius’ mate and lover. Caius is unhinged and doesn’t understand why she doesn’t love him and want to sleep with them both right away, even though she’s a virgin. It’s a love/hate relationship with Aggonid (which btw I hate that name). After a night of voyeurism on Mortes part, she gets sent back to her shack.
She hangs with Azazel and meets a hot hellhound dude named Emerit and he has two peens that are prehensile and vibrate. Hello fantasy man??
Beginnings of a lovely harem of hot muscly demon dudes and one God.
I’ll leave the rest of the story for you to read on your own and not spoil too much. I loved the story and will be starting the second book right away. Glad I found this series when it’s complete because that cliffhanger would’ve sucked.
General feels: not enough spice. I needed more exploring of the double dicked dude. More witty banter would’ve been awesome. She’s a badass and has lived a long life as a virgin pining after a guy that may or may not be one of her harem. I’m hoping there’s more group scenes and one on one bonding with each of her mates in the next book. This one’s all about laying the foundation and meeting each character. I like that she doesn’t immediately jump into bed with each of them but I was ready for it sooner than 70% of the book. All in all, a good one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2024
Overall i did enjoy this book and i continued on to read the second one as well, but i do have a few thoughts.
I came across this book on TikTok and was interested by he tropes listed, i will say that while it does have some of the ones listed, it was nothing like i was expecting it to be. While it's advertised as an enemies to lovers, shadow daddy, spicy PNR reverse harem, that's not really what you'll get with this book. It's not really what i would class as an "enemies to lovers", there is a character that has shadow powers, but doesn't live up to the "Shadow Daddy" vibe all that well. It is a PNR RH, but the spice would only be at a 1.5 - 2 on my spice-o-meter. There is MM in this book, 2 of the MMC's are mates prior to meeting Morte.
Many of the other reviews mention that there is no real world building, no character development, and no solid plot, and they would be right. For someone who reads primarily PNR/ Fantasy Romance, the background knowledge of the common species (Fae, god, phoenix, hydra, etc) helps with understanding these characters.
The story follows Morte, a phoenix shifter who happens to be over 2 thousands of years old, and also the commander of a squadron of female phoenix shifter warriors. It introduces her as a tortured soul, riddled with gilt over the love of her life taking the fall for something she did and being sentenced to eternity in prison. An event happens and she somehow dies on a mission and is sent to hell.
Book 1 introduces you to the realm of hell, and Morte to her demon mates before everything comes crashing down during the cliffhanger at the end. Each of the mates has insta-obsession with the FMC, even if one of them is a total a-hole to her. While the story moves along with her time spent in Hell, the only in-depth look you really get into any of the MC's is into how torn with gilt Morte is over her best friend in prison.
This book does end on a cliffhanger and leads straight into the next book, which is already available.
I did enjoy this book, i read the second one, and i will be reading the final one when it comes out, but i also didn't expect it to wow me, and i got what i expected.
I came across this book on TikTok and was interested by he tropes listed, i will say that while it does have some of the ones listed, it was nothing like i was expecting it to be. While it's advertised as an enemies to lovers, shadow daddy, spicy PNR reverse harem, that's not really what you'll get with this book. It's not really what i would class as an "enemies to lovers", there is a character that has shadow powers, but doesn't live up to the "Shadow Daddy" vibe all that well. It is a PNR RH, but the spice would only be at a 1.5 - 2 on my spice-o-meter. There is MM in this book, 2 of the MMC's are mates prior to meeting Morte.
Many of the other reviews mention that there is no real world building, no character development, and no solid plot, and they would be right. For someone who reads primarily PNR/ Fantasy Romance, the background knowledge of the common species (Fae, god, phoenix, hydra, etc) helps with understanding these characters.
The story follows Morte, a phoenix shifter who happens to be over 2 thousands of years old, and also the commander of a squadron of female phoenix shifter warriors. It introduces her as a tortured soul, riddled with gilt over the love of her life taking the fall for something she did and being sentenced to eternity in prison. An event happens and she somehow dies on a mission and is sent to hell.
Book 1 introduces you to the realm of hell, and Morte to her demon mates before everything comes crashing down during the cliffhanger at the end. Each of the mates has insta-obsession with the FMC, even if one of them is a total a-hole to her. While the story moves along with her time spent in Hell, the only in-depth look you really get into any of the MC's is into how torn with gilt Morte is over her best friend in prison.
This book does end on a cliffhanger and leads straight into the next book, which is already available.
I did enjoy this book, i read the second one, and i will be reading the final one when it comes out, but i also didn't expect it to wow me, and i got what i expected.
February 19, 2024
This book was so disappointing. I saw a TikTok promoting this book and was excited because it seemed to have many tropes I'm generally interested in. I stuck with it to the end, hoping it would get better, but this book was so poorly executed that getting to the end was PAINFUL.
The world-building is HORRENDOUS. There are clearly many varieties of fae, yet they aren't explained other than briefly namedropping and expecting us to know what that means. The political dynamics between realms and rulers aren't explained. Two realms are ruled by kings, while one is ruled by a god, and they seem to oscillate between having civil and cordial relationships and being enemies. The magic systems at play aren't fleshed out in detail. I have no idea what any of the main characters are capable of when their magic is functional/unblocked. The main characters all end up having fangs at the very end that weren't mentioned at any point prior but suddenly appear just for the sake of feral mating and claiming. The characters also refer to mates, soul bond mates, tethers, and anchors as seemingly completely different romantic relationships but without any further explanation.
The romance wanted to be enemies-to-lovers, but seemed to forget that you actually have to build a relationship to progress from the enemies stage to the lovers stage. While some of the love interests were interested from the first introduction and consistent in their pursuit, one seemed to change his mind every other page. He insists he has to kill the FMC (but expresses remorse over it), then is unsuccessful and decides instead to seduce her in order to kill her, then continues to seduce her but now because he's IN LOVE, then decides to give up on seduction and go back to torturing and killing her. But then a magical fae sex event happens and now he's forgiven for LITERALLY KILLING HER because she's so grateful for the gift of his dick. Make it make sense.
To other readers hoping for an exciting fantasy RH series, I would recommend saving your time and skipping over this one.
The world-building is HORRENDOUS. There are clearly many varieties of fae, yet they aren't explained other than briefly namedropping and expecting us to know what that means. The political dynamics between realms and rulers aren't explained. Two realms are ruled by kings, while one is ruled by a god, and they seem to oscillate between having civil and cordial relationships and being enemies. The magic systems at play aren't fleshed out in detail. I have no idea what any of the main characters are capable of when their magic is functional/unblocked. The main characters all end up having fangs at the very end that weren't mentioned at any point prior but suddenly appear just for the sake of feral mating and claiming. The characters also refer to mates, soul bond mates, tethers, and anchors as seemingly completely different romantic relationships but without any further explanation.
The romance wanted to be enemies-to-lovers, but seemed to forget that you actually have to build a relationship to progress from the enemies stage to the lovers stage. While some of the love interests were interested from the first introduction and consistent in their pursuit, one seemed to change his mind every other page. He insists he has to kill the FMC (but expresses remorse over it), then is unsuccessful and decides instead to seduce her in order to kill her, then continues to seduce her but now because he's IN LOVE, then decides to give up on seduction and go back to torturing and killing her. But then a magical fae sex event happens and now he's forgiven for LITERALLY KILLING HER because she's so grateful for the gift of his dick. Make it make sense.
To other readers hoping for an exciting fantasy RH series, I would recommend saving your time and skipping over this one.
March 25, 2025
The whole ‘2000 year old virgin’ thing was all the confirmation I needed about how little sense this made. Combined with the jolting stilted writing style with so much left out, there’s not enough context to attempt infer enough meaning to encourage me to suffer through more than 15%.
I was brought to near tears in frustration over what the hell she could possibly be talking about and why the hell she didn’t think to share all the inner workings of her mind that she obviously omitted.
If you’re going to make me guess, I’m going to assume the worst, which is accurate to the quality and delivery of this idea.
There’s a difference between creating suspense and culminating stupidity. Without a foothold to grasp what could possibly be happening in YOUR made up world, we leave it feeling dumb for misunderstanding and worse for even trying at all.
She acts like a child, a multi-millennial child, yet we’re given no look into her thoughts or feelings on the bland yet naive way she’s spent millennia. There’s no reason to empathize or root for her because we don’t know her, only snippets of things that happen to her.
Even then, I’m not quite sure of their meaning, importance, or implications.
For example:
She’s afraid of dying where she ends up because ‘only an unknown abyss of darkness and fear’ await.
So, does that mean she won’t resurrect? Or she will, but resents waking up back in her shitty circumstances?
Stuff like this is a constant. We can’t read your mind and frankly wouldn’t want to. Such a waste.
I was brought to near tears in frustration over what the hell she could possibly be talking about and why the hell she didn’t think to share all the inner workings of her mind that she obviously omitted.
If you’re going to make me guess, I’m going to assume the worst, which is accurate to the quality and delivery of this idea.
There’s a difference between creating suspense and culminating stupidity. Without a foothold to grasp what could possibly be happening in YOUR made up world, we leave it feeling dumb for misunderstanding and worse for even trying at all.
She acts like a child, a multi-millennial child, yet we’re given no look into her thoughts or feelings on the bland yet naive way she’s spent millennia. There’s no reason to empathize or root for her because we don’t know her, only snippets of things that happen to her.
Even then, I’m not quite sure of their meaning, importance, or implications.
For example:
She’s afraid of dying where she ends up because ‘only an unknown abyss of darkness and fear’ await.
So, does that mean she won’t resurrect? Or she will, but resents waking up back in her shitty circumstances?
Stuff like this is a constant. We can’t read your mind and frankly wouldn’t want to. Such a waste.
April 15, 2025
Morte is in love with her best friend. Though they can never be together, there's still this sliver of hope that something could change. And then she dies.
Aggonid, king of the underworld, a god, the devil, would do just about anything to maintain control - keep things the way they are, the way he likes it. And then she shows up...
This book was a ride, and that's putting it mildly. It's not some expertly crafted, epic tale, but it doesn't need to be. The characters (and there are many) really drive the story. Whether it's Morte and her forbidden love affair with Wilder - who is stuck in a different realm, Caius, who would give anything to be the man to swipe her V-Card, Azazel, the one true gentleman, Emeric and all his playfulness, or the hot and cold Aggonid. You almost want to scream, "Pick one!" but also don't because in some sense, they're all worthy of being the one.
And really - shouldn't the one be the first man she ever loved?
Then, just when you think things are heading in the right direction, a wrecking ball crashes the party, and I literally had to put the book down and take a walk...
I don't know if I would call this a great read, but I will say I'm thoroughly enjoying myself, and that in itself is great.
Aggonid, king of the underworld, a god, the devil, would do just about anything to maintain control - keep things the way they are, the way he likes it. And then she shows up...
This book was a ride, and that's putting it mildly. It's not some expertly crafted, epic tale, but it doesn't need to be. The characters (and there are many) really drive the story. Whether it's Morte and her forbidden love affair with Wilder - who is stuck in a different realm, Caius, who would give anything to be the man to swipe her V-Card, Azazel, the one true gentleman, Emeric and all his playfulness, or the hot and cold Aggonid. You almost want to scream, "Pick one!" but also don't because in some sense, they're all worthy of being the one.
And really - shouldn't the one be the first man she ever loved?
Then, just when you think things are heading in the right direction, a wrecking ball crashes the party, and I literally had to put the book down and take a walk...
I don't know if I would call this a great read, but I will say I'm thoroughly enjoying myself, and that in itself is great.
March 10, 2024
I was confused
So generally I enjoyed this book, it was captivating, I was intrigued about the main characters and their stories were convoluted and intriguing.
The FMC Morte is a phoenix warrior, guilt and desperate to see her best friend who’s been imprisoned for years because of her when she’s called to help in the prison he’s being held at she thinks this is her chance. Until she dies and resurrect, instead she finds herself in hell.
The MMC is the devil himself Aggonid, his mate Cassius, Emeric and Az, fellow demons. All have one thing in common, their pull towards Morte.
There was good world building and lots of drama. My main confusion was following the plot, I understood everyone but Aggonid, it was slightly hinted to what his confusion was with regards to how he felt towards morte but honestly I was just as confused as the FMC to the hot and cold relationship 🤣
It ended on a cliffhanger and although I’m tempted to read book 2, the third book isn’t realised until 2025 so I don’t know if I might wait until I don’t have anything else to read and binge the last two
3⭐️ 1.5🌶️
So generally I enjoyed this book, it was captivating, I was intrigued about the main characters and their stories were convoluted and intriguing.
The FMC Morte is a phoenix warrior, guilt and desperate to see her best friend who’s been imprisoned for years because of her when she’s called to help in the prison he’s being held at she thinks this is her chance. Until she dies and resurrect, instead she finds herself in hell.
The MMC is the devil himself Aggonid, his mate Cassius, Emeric and Az, fellow demons. All have one thing in common, their pull towards Morte.
There was good world building and lots of drama. My main confusion was following the plot, I understood everyone but Aggonid, it was slightly hinted to what his confusion was with regards to how he felt towards morte but honestly I was just as confused as the FMC to the hot and cold relationship 🤣
It ended on a cliffhanger and although I’m tempted to read book 2, the third book isn’t realised until 2025 so I don’t know if I might wait until I don’t have anything else to read and binge the last two
3⭐️ 1.5🌶️
April 15, 2023
Cover Blurb:
Morte, a fierce fae of the Phoenix order and a respected commander of the Royal Guard, meets an untimely demise during a special ops mission to Bedlam Penitentiary. Her task is to eliminate a dangerous prisoner, but in doing so, she is reunited with her best friend, whom she has secretly loved for her entire life. Tragically, her joy is short-lived as she dies and wakes up in the underworld, where she faces an unexpected and deadly enemy, Aggonid — the ruler of the underworld, who sees her as a threat to his throne.
Determined to return to the realm of the living and to her beloved, Morte must convince Aggonid of her innocence and earn back his trust, all while avoiding his constant attempts on her life. As she fights to reclaim her freedom, Morte’s very soul is at stake, not only facing the eternal torment of her new reality, but also navigating the complexity of multiple suitors vying for her heart.
Will Morte find a way back to the realm and the one she loves, or will she be forced to choose between them? A Realm of Fire and Ash is a tale of one fae’s journey for survival, redemption, and the true meaning of love in the afterlife, where fate seems to have something more sinister in store for her.
Morte, a fierce fae of the Phoenix order and a respected commander of the Royal Guard, meets an untimely demise during a special ops mission to Bedlam Penitentiary. Her task is to eliminate a dangerous prisoner, but in doing so, she is reunited with her best friend, whom she has secretly loved for her entire life. Tragically, her joy is short-lived as she dies and wakes up in the underworld, where she faces an unexpected and deadly enemy, Aggonid — the ruler of the underworld, who sees her as a threat to his throne.
Determined to return to the realm of the living and to her beloved, Morte must convince Aggonid of her innocence and earn back his trust, all while avoiding his constant attempts on her life. As she fights to reclaim her freedom, Morte’s very soul is at stake, not only facing the eternal torment of her new reality, but also navigating the complexity of multiple suitors vying for her heart.
Will Morte find a way back to the realm and the one she loves, or will she be forced to choose between them? A Realm of Fire and Ash is a tale of one fae’s journey for survival, redemption, and the true meaning of love in the afterlife, where fate seems to have something more sinister in store for her.
March 19, 2025
*sigh* Where do I begin. I don't know, maybe I've been spoiled by other books, but this was REALLY difficult to read. Extreme moments of cringe, moments of "wtf?", and many moments of "wait...that doesn't make sense". I'm all about fluidity and consistency of details, especially the small details. The little things like where someone is sitting, or what they're wearing are important and when those details aren't fluid, especially when it's made a point to talking about it, and I have to go back and re read and realize it makes zero sense, it just irks me.
The cringe comes from many things. Some parts come across like you're reading the script of a low budget porn, or someone who has heard of spicy details but isn't quite sure what to say. Just random things coming out of mouths that are just odd. Idk, I finished it. Tried to like and understand it, but it's just too much of some things and not enough of others for me.
The cringe comes from many things. Some parts come across like you're reading the script of a low budget porn, or someone who has heard of spicy details but isn't quite sure what to say. Just random things coming out of mouths that are just odd. Idk, I finished it. Tried to like and understand it, but it's just too much of some things and not enough of others for me.
March 19, 2024
Honestly this book was a bit of a heartbreaker. So, so much potential, but no carry through.
We start with a real badass of a FMC in the first couple of chapters...the phoenix battalion is such a cool concept, and I was so so here for a badass squad of women.
And then she fell through the floor and it all went to shit. All of a sudden we're thrust into a new world with NO world-building, and then the MMCs are all introduced way too quickly and the FMC is way too chill about some things but also not at all chill about others, and they're making all these weird bargains and there's sexual tension with literally everyone even characters there shouldn't be any with, and and and.....it's a lot.
The lack of world-building was the real killer for me, but then the wonky relationship building was a close second. SUCH a shame because this has such awesome potential.
We start with a real badass of a FMC in the first couple of chapters...the phoenix battalion is such a cool concept, and I was so so here for a badass squad of women.
And then she fell through the floor and it all went to shit. All of a sudden we're thrust into a new world with NO world-building, and then the MMCs are all introduced way too quickly and the FMC is way too chill about some things but also not at all chill about others, and they're making all these weird bargains and there's sexual tension with literally everyone even characters there shouldn't be any with, and and and.....it's a lot.
The lack of world-building was the real killer for me, but then the wonky relationship building was a close second. SUCH a shame because this has such awesome potential.
April 16, 2024
I wanted to really love this, due to a booksta post and hype, but it fell super flat for me.
The plotting, character development and worldbuilding are not strong, and leave a lot to be desired. I found myself constantly confused about the magic systems, what species actually exist (werewolves, mer, phoenix, demons, etc etc etc), other realms, and please don't get me started on when she eats, where her clothes come from, where body parts are during sexy time. The details needed to be fully fleshed out.
Lots of moving parts and I think too many for this author to juggle.
We start with a couple scenes with the MMC that we were advertised, then quickly are overrun with a cadre of males from the Underworld.
Overall, I did enjoy some of the steam and spice, but the actual storyline did nothing for me.
The plotting, character development and worldbuilding are not strong, and leave a lot to be desired. I found myself constantly confused about the magic systems, what species actually exist (werewolves, mer, phoenix, demons, etc etc etc), other realms, and please don't get me started on when she eats, where her clothes come from, where body parts are during sexy time. The details needed to be fully fleshed out.
Lots of moving parts and I think too many for this author to juggle.
We start with a couple scenes with the MMC that we were advertised, then quickly are overrun with a cadre of males from the Underworld.
Overall, I did enjoy some of the steam and spice, but the actual storyline did nothing for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2023
omg
I absolutely love the story I highly recommend to anyone over the age of 18. This book is equally spicy, and it has had me literally on the edge of my seat, begging to read more as I came to the end of this book, I cried, I cried all throughout the book, but that’s not the point, I want to be able to get a signed copy from this author I have to own this book and I cannot wait for the second one to come out. I am absolutely obsessed and I need to have both of them and I need to know the rest of the story, it draws you in from the beginning you have of all kinds, and the most important one is a phoenix and the devil himself. I absolutely love the story and cannot wait for the next one to come out like it is absolutely amazing.
I absolutely love the story I highly recommend to anyone over the age of 18. This book is equally spicy, and it has had me literally on the edge of my seat, begging to read more as I came to the end of this book, I cried, I cried all throughout the book, but that’s not the point, I want to be able to get a signed copy from this author I have to own this book and I cannot wait for the second one to come out. I am absolutely obsessed and I need to have both of them and I need to know the rest of the story, it draws you in from the beginning you have of all kinds, and the most important one is a phoenix and the devil himself. I absolutely love the story and cannot wait for the next one to come out like it is absolutely amazing.
March 30, 2024
This is pure KU fantasy smut, and I really enjoyed it. I wish that it was a bit longer to build up the story. Sometimes you are whipped in different directions, but I read this book for a quick mindless read as a break and it did not disappoint! I think that the fantasy and realms are unique, again if the story was extended this would I bet be a more higher leveled book. I read that people did not like that the main character cried so much but I did not think so? It ends on a cliffhanger, with a lot of questions. Also there was a lot of edging in here, not on purpose but the “is this going to happen ever or no?”
4 ⭐️ cause I zipped through it and did not hate it. I’d give it 3 🌶️, should have been more if they got to the point!
4 ⭐️ cause I zipped through it and did not hate it. I’d give it 3 🌶️, should have been more if they got to the point!
December 6, 2025
I’m not sure 2 stars reflects my true feelings.. This book is a mess. Time jumps between paragraphs. Characters have thoughts like “after all this time” but she’s referring to a few days… she keeps herself for one man/male for 2000 years, but instantly finds herself panting and demanding 4 separate males take her virginity (over and over and over). No masterpieces here. But yet.. something about the very convoluted plot.. kept me reading. Even when I inwardly told myself to stop. I’m not even sure I would consider this a fun read. There is absolutely no sincerity in these characters, except possibly in the very beginning with Wilder? Thank goodness KU allows me to continue aimlessly trying to figure out where this train wreck will take me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
You have lost the one person you have loved for the last 2000 years. He's in prison for a crime you committed. Your lost in a world you know nothing of and you Phoenix fae beast dosnt bring you back to your own. The twists and turns the emotional roller coaster this book had me in let me feel the plot unfolding before me as the pages pulled me in deeper and deeper for a story that is like no other. If your looking for spice it's definitely there in treasure troves. If you like why choose, enimes to lovers, touch her and unalive. This story is for you Kathy... you have another fan for life. I will have your books on auto buy girl. Thank you for this book.
March 9, 2024
Jumbled and messy.
This was really hard to read. It has at the same time so much detail and descriptions, yet you're left feeling confused the entire time.
The characters were not fleshed out at all. I felt no connection between any of them. Our main phoenix is supposed to be strong and a leader, but she cries, tantrums, ....and is a virgin after thousands of years?
The attempt at slow burn/mystery just feels like missing information. The scenes jump around way too much without additional info needed to set the pace.
I've got to stop taking recommendations from TikTok.
Such a cool idea but not executed well.
This was really hard to read. It has at the same time so much detail and descriptions, yet you're left feeling confused the entire time.
The characters were not fleshed out at all. I felt no connection between any of them. Our main phoenix is supposed to be strong and a leader, but she cries, tantrums, ....and is a virgin after thousands of years?
The attempt at slow burn/mystery just feels like missing information. The scenes jump around way too much without additional info needed to set the pace.
I've got to stop taking recommendations from TikTok.
Such a cool idea but not executed well.
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