Reign of Shadow and Ashes

The Gilded Insurgency #1

by A.R. Anderson

A Distrustful Blacksmith...Maqui has never been the trusting sort, especially of the gods. So, when a Daluyan priestess shows up at his doorstep one night, yelling for help, he’s not exactly inclined to let her or her wounded friend inside. However, Maqui’s optimistic brother has no such qualms. Once the injured woman awakens, and they learn the king has been killed—thus terminating the bond between the gods and mortals—it becomes a race against the clock to track down the exiled heir so the bond can be restored before the lands begin dying. Despite Maqui’s reluctant involvement, nothing could’ve prepared him for how drastically his life would soon change.A Reckless Priestess...As the next to ascend to High Priestess, Ayven always intended to be a proper Daluyan—which meant placing her duty above all else, primarily above fraternizing and worldly possessions. For most of her life, she’d tiptoed between piousness and dissent, all at the risk of execution by the no-nonsense Conclave that governs her people. But when she meets Nik, whose optimism and kindness reminds her there’s a life beyond the robes, she realizes some things are worth crossing the line for.Book 1 of The Gilded Insurgency series, REIGN OF SHADOW AND ASHES is set in a world influenced by Greek mythology and is a New Adult romantic fantasy that sweeps readers into a character-driven journey, exploring the themes of self-discovery, the cost of duty, and the fear of surrendering to love.Perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Scarlett St. Clair!—TRIGGER This book contains references to mild torture, suicidal ideation, depression, self-harm (not on page), attempted hanging, drug addiction, attempted rape, blood, graphic violence, profanity, and explicit sexual situations.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance

634 pages, Paperback

Published January 2, 2024

About the author

A. R. Anderson is a mom, a wife, and a word ninja, though, which one is contributing to premature gray hairs is still up for debate. When she's not slinging stories, you can find her annoying her daughters with impromptu concerts whenever they mention a buzzword from a favored song lyric.

Reviews

[Shilah Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this read! It has everything you could ask for just about for a fantasy romance: battles, fights, magic, royalty, love, a forbidden forest. This would have been a 5 star read if I didn’t get lost on some chapters. A new chapter would start and all of a sudden the characters are either split up doing their own thing or they all show up somewhere else.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free through good reads giveaway!
While I enjoyed it at times, I also found the characters lacked any real depth. Had I not gotten it for free I don’t know that I was invested in any of them enough to continue reading it. I’m not saying I would have DNF, because I enjoyed it, but I could see why someone might have. The world building was also tough. There was a LOT thrown at you very quickly, with little to no explanation, and you just had to stick with it.
I was worried for a minute that there wouldn’t be a conclusion, and it would be a straight cliff hanger, but ultimately I was satisfied with the ending…. Although it was for sure an ending on a question, that did for sure make me roll my eyes.
I read this on my kindle, and because of the slow/no real explanations, it took me a good week and 100 pages to really get into it - despite it opening with a literal stabbing.
I liked the magic system (despite still having a LOT of questions), and while I’m not attached to any of them, did in fact enjoy the characters and their banter. A lot of “are they or aren’t they?” In the beginning for me, with eventual answers, so there was some nice tension built also.
Overall, I didn’t LOVE this but I also didn’t HATE it. I would read the second book, but definitely wouldn’t be signing up for the preorder.

[R.Mencini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highly exceeded my expectations. It focused on three characters journeying together to find the lost heir. Mythology plays a role in the magic of this fantasy novel. And of course, the romance was a nice burn that gives the reader satisfaction in the end.
I fell in love with the writing style and the multiple characters. That’s what carries this book!
The only negative is the plotline that can be slow in some spots and the story is how you would expect it to go. That being said, it’s nice to have “happy” endings that don’t leave you screaming at the pages in anger.

[Sarah McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable fantasy

I received an advanced copy of Reign of Shadow and Ashes by A.R. Anderson. Having not read Anderson’s work prior to this, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed her world building, character development, and plot lines. The multi-POV perspective allows the reader to become invested in each character, their emotions, and their processing of situations. If you’re looking for an enjoyable fantasy or a new author, I’d recommend picking this up.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

Reign of Shadow and Ashes is a rich, myth-infused fantasy that delivers a gripping mix of high-stakes adventure, emotional depth, and slow-burn romance. A.R. Anderson weaves a character-driven tale full of moral complexity, simmering tension, and unforgettable heroes caught between gods, duty, and desire.

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recieved as an ARC and I enjoyed the story. Although slow at times this is a book that is still enjoyable. It is a first book in a series and I expect that the characters and story will only become better as the series progresses.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so close to being 5 stars. I really loved it. But the risk with multiple POV's is that one won't be as good as the others, and that's what happened here. Ayven is a great person, but she just doesn't hold a candle compared to Maqui and Eleni. I found myself wanting to skim Ayven's chapters to get back to them. And I was definitely bummed by Eleni's absence near the end.

[Christinaraven]

The beginning of a series with lots of drama, intrigue, twists and surprises. A mix of characters and a story that was entertaining and interesting to read and kept me glued to the end to see how it would all play out and what surprises would pop up and how all would intersect.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story but it was a long read and there were some slow moments throughout the story. I liked how everything was tied together through the characters as well and I feel the ending provided closure but still paved the way to continue the series.

[Rmplift, Rachel Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won my copy off of Goodreads giveaway! Post read review following soon.

[Tara]

I didn't find it interesting. The characters didn't intrigue me, and I was not open to finding out how the plot continued. The story was slow, and the characters were boring.

[Kayla Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I could ever ask for in a fantasy 🥹🖤

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reign of Shadow and Ashes by A.R. Anderson is the compelling first installment in the Gilded Insurgency series. This adult romantasy expertly weaves Greek mythology into a tapestry of complex characters and a gripping plot. Anderson’s writing style and pacing make the story easy to follow, ensuring that readers remain engaged throughout. The detailed and imaginative world-building enriches the narrative, while the well-developed characters drive the plot forward with suspense, danger, action, and unexpected twists. The ending is both satisfying and tantalizing, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.