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The Medicine Princess #1
Of Ashes and Wildflowers
Princess Naria has always preferred crafting medicines to wearing tiaras. Living in a secluded forest village, she studies healing after a huge fire destroyed her kingdom eighteen years ago. But when a gilded carriage arrives, her people rejoice while she reaches for her anxiety powder. The time has come for Naria to rejoin royal society and rebuild her fallen kingdom as a queen.
However, even her heaviest science books seem simple compared to life at the palace. Worse still, she’s being forced to marry the roguish Prince Lukas, who declares that Naria’s only use is to bear him heirs and that her kingdom should remain in ruins.
Determined to escape her engagement, Naria spends her nights sneaking away to the crystal-walled, underground realm of the faeries. Yet, while the faery prince might be willing to help her people, behind his charming looks lies a sinister obsession for his darling new princess. To deepen her troubles, the more Naria finds herself in heated exchanges with Lukas, the more she begins to fear she’s falling for the wrong prince.
Because only a selfish princess would fall for the one prince who has vowed to forever leave her kingdom in ruins.
However, even her heaviest science books seem simple compared to life at the palace. Worse still, she’s being forced to marry the roguish Prince Lukas, who declares that Naria’s only use is to bear him heirs and that her kingdom should remain in ruins.
Determined to escape her engagement, Naria spends her nights sneaking away to the crystal-walled, underground realm of the faeries. Yet, while the faery prince might be willing to help her people, behind his charming looks lies a sinister obsession for his darling new princess. To deepen her troubles, the more Naria finds herself in heated exchanges with Lukas, the more she begins to fear she’s falling for the wrong prince.
Because only a selfish princess would fall for the one prince who has vowed to forever leave her kingdom in ruins.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2024
91 people are currently reading
2635 people want to read
About the author
Erin Fae
2 books111 followersHello! Thank you for stopping by my page. You may know me as ErinTheBookFaery on TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
June 5, 2024
Of Ashes and Wildflowers has it all: mesmerizing world building, a determined MFC and an adventurous and unique story that keeps you turning the pages.
From the moment I read “It is much easier for a healer to fix a bruised head than a bruised ego, Your Highness’ I knew I loved Naria. We get witty banter for days with a determined Princess that slays in a world that seems to have all cards stacked against her.
This book gives off The Cruel Prince vibes in the best way possible. Secret rendezvous and plotting in a lush and magical setting versus a Prince you can’t stop rooting for makes an intriguing impossible choice for both Naria and us readers.
The plot has surprises up its sleeve and keeps you enthralled until the last page.
I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review and honestly can say this is a big fat 5 star read.
From the moment I read “It is much easier for a healer to fix a bruised head than a bruised ego, Your Highness’ I knew I loved Naria. We get witty banter for days with a determined Princess that slays in a world that seems to have all cards stacked against her.
This book gives off The Cruel Prince vibes in the best way possible. Secret rendezvous and plotting in a lush and magical setting versus a Prince you can’t stop rooting for makes an intriguing impossible choice for both Naria and us readers.
The plot has surprises up its sleeve and keeps you enthralled until the last page.
I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review and honestly can say this is a big fat 5 star read.
June 6, 2024
I've gotten a digital copy of this book as an ARC reader in exchange for my honest review and I have to say if I could give it more than 5 stars I would 100% do it.
The world building is beautiful. I couldn't have put this book down if I wanted. Princess Naria's determination for her people and willingness to push forward even when the whole world seems against her is just amazing.
The whole time I was reading I couldn't help but try to figure out where the next plot twist would come from. By the time I finished reading the book I have gasped at least a dozen times and it left me craving for more.
It's just one of those books that leaves you craving for more. Personally, I will be counting down the days until I can read more of this amazing world and see what comes next in Naria's story.
The world building is beautiful. I couldn't have put this book down if I wanted. Princess Naria's determination for her people and willingness to push forward even when the whole world seems against her is just amazing.
The whole time I was reading I couldn't help but try to figure out where the next plot twist would come from. By the time I finished reading the book I have gasped at least a dozen times and it left me craving for more.
It's just one of those books that leaves you craving for more. Personally, I will be counting down the days until I can read more of this amazing world and see what comes next in Naria's story.
October 22, 2024
To be honest, I didn‘t particularly enjoy this book. It was nice for a break from studying and I must say I liked parts of the book which really had potential to me. First of all, I didn‘t like the love interests. The two princes were both 🚩to me. I would’ve liked for them to have two extremely different personalities because I felt like they were too similar. Also Lukas’s character development didn’t make sense to me. I always wondered why he was SO against helping Naria rebuild her kingdom since he never gave her a real reason. To add, he never gave her an apology for the whole “I’ll drag you down the aisle if I have to”. Never really liked him because of that. The other LI was too plain in my opinion… he was also too obsessive. The “if we are married, I basically own you” disgusted me. At some point it almost felt like reading a dark romance book with an obsessive male love interest. I never had a favorite but if i’d have to name one, i’d say Lukas. He was still way too moody and since he never apologized, I never warmed up to him.
For me, the book lacked some worldbuilding too. I also wanted to add the fact that Naria was introduced with a love for her people, yet we never really saw her interact with them. Instead of her anxiety powder she preferred wine which also didn’t make sense. Throughout the whole book she only once made special medical powders and if so only applied basic aid. Would’ve loved to see more of her healer abilities.
All in all, I loved reading it while I was on vacation but it was far from a masterpiece. I’m looking forward to book 2 and I’d still like to help Erin Fae grow her audience even more because she deserves it!! For a basically self-published book this was great!
This was a honest review and Erin, if you read this: I never meant to offend you or your book, I just wrote what was on my mind. I really think your stories have a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to more of your books!! <3
For me, the book lacked some worldbuilding too. I also wanted to add the fact that Naria was introduced with a love for her people, yet we never really saw her interact with them. Instead of her anxiety powder she preferred wine which also didn’t make sense. Throughout the whole book she only once made special medical powders and if so only applied basic aid. Would’ve loved to see more of her healer abilities.
All in all, I loved reading it while I was on vacation but it was far from a masterpiece. I’m looking forward to book 2 and I’d still like to help Erin Fae grow her audience even more because she deserves it!! For a basically self-published book this was great!
This was a honest review and Erin, if you read this: I never meant to offend you or your book, I just wrote what was on my mind. I really think your stories have a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to more of your books!! <3
June 6, 2024
This book is amazing!! The banter in the first few chapters has me smirking and I loved that the main character has personality instead of just being there for the plots necessity. Every page made me want to read it all and in reading I felt as if I was there!
I recommend this highly if you want morally grey princes, faeries and even a sprinkle of other magical creatures that will leave you wanting the second book immediately.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review and here it is :)
I recommend this highly if you want morally grey princes, faeries and even a sprinkle of other magical creatures that will leave you wanting the second book immediately.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review and here it is :)
May 22, 2025
I loved it! I couldn't put it down and had to finish it tonight. I can't wait for someone else to finish it.
June 11, 2024
'Of Ashes and Wildflowers' by Erin Fae is simply one of the best books I read this year!
I received a copy of the book as arc reader in exchange for an honest review so here it is.
The characters
I adore the FMC Naria, she is smart, funny and determined with immense bravery. Her knowledge about medicine is admirable and gives some great little plot lines. Her love for her kingdom is beautiful and you feel it through the pages as she tries to save it by 'sacrificing' herself.
The two princes are such diverse characters yet both equally interesting. The book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, trying to figure out who the real bad guy is and who isn't. I honestely felt like Sherlock Holmes at some point, specially with all the subtle but good written forshadowing.
The story
The storyline is dynamic and the plot twists are unexpected and make this such a special book. I went into this, thinking it was one of those fantasy books that follow the basic tropes (don't get me wrong I love those), instead it surprised me in many ways and I wasn't able to predict what was going to happen.
The foreshadowing was done so well and like I mentionned before, I felt like a detective. The amount of times I stood up and walked around in my room, talking to myself as I was trying to figure out what had happened to her kingdom and who had done it.
On another note, I do wish we would have been spoiled with a fantasy map of the world, maybe this is a fun idea for the next books (that I will for sure read!). I would've loved to see the dynamics of the kingdoms with all the special names and environments. :)
The romance
The romance in this book was, like the rest of the book, a rollercoaster of emotions. The one page I was shipping Naria with Lukas and the next with our mysterious Fae prince. The tropes worked out so well and complimented each other in many ways. I'm very curious to see how things process in the next book!
Erin Fae gave us a story that honestly deserves to go viral on booktok and other platforms so if you're considering buying the book, DO IT!!!
I received a copy of the book as arc reader in exchange for an honest review so here it is.
The characters
I adore the FMC Naria, she is smart, funny and determined with immense bravery. Her knowledge about medicine is admirable and gives some great little plot lines. Her love for her kingdom is beautiful and you feel it through the pages as she tries to save it by 'sacrificing' herself.
The two princes are such diverse characters yet both equally interesting. The book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, trying to figure out who the real bad guy is and who isn't. I honestely felt like Sherlock Holmes at some point, specially with all the subtle but good written forshadowing.
The story
The storyline is dynamic and the plot twists are unexpected and make this such a special book. I went into this, thinking it was one of those fantasy books that follow the basic tropes (don't get me wrong I love those), instead it surprised me in many ways and I wasn't able to predict what was going to happen.
The foreshadowing was done so well and like I mentionned before, I felt like a detective. The amount of times I stood up and walked around in my room, talking to myself as I was trying to figure out what had happened to her kingdom and who had done it.
On another note, I do wish we would have been spoiled with a fantasy map of the world, maybe this is a fun idea for the next books (that I will for sure read!). I would've loved to see the dynamics of the kingdoms with all the special names and environments. :)
The romance
The romance in this book was, like the rest of the book, a rollercoaster of emotions. The one page I was shipping Naria with Lukas and the next with our mysterious Fae prince. The tropes worked out so well and complimented each other in many ways. I'm very curious to see how things process in the next book!
Erin Fae gave us a story that honestly deserves to go viral on booktok and other platforms so if you're considering buying the book, DO IT!!!
June 7, 2024
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! At first I didn't know what to expect. I found this girl on TikTok crying because no one wanted to publish her book. She talked about the book and I knew I would enjoy it. The way she wrote it, the way she built on the characters. I loved it. And hope if you read it, you will too! I had many emotions during reading, anger, excitement, disgust. I read it in 2 days and I normally don't read that fast. (It was an easy read) Hope you'll bring out more of the Naria stories!!! I would buy them all!
June 4, 2025
I loved this book. loved the banter. I wish it had an audiobook.
June 10, 2024
I was lucky enough to receive a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was an absolute rollercoaster! I really enjoyed the story immensely. All the secrets and plot twists really kept me entertained till the very last page.
Every character was so well written and really contributed to the story. And who doesn’t love some good banter between characters?
This book reminded me a little of The Cruel Prince and The Apothecary Diaries. Don’t get me wrong, it is still entirely it’s own story! But if you liked those, you will definitely love this book!
This book was an absolute rollercoaster! I really enjoyed the story immensely. All the secrets and plot twists really kept me entertained till the very last page.
Every character was so well written and really contributed to the story. And who doesn’t love some good banter between characters?
This book reminded me a little of The Cruel Prince and The Apothecary Diaries. Don’t get me wrong, it is still entirely it’s own story! But if you liked those, you will definitely love this book!
June 7, 2024
i absolutely adored this!! i loved that Naria felt well rounded as a FMC compared to most romance heroines! the banter was great, i loved both MMC i was constantly jumping between which one i wanted Naria to end up with!! absolutely looooved
(i received this as a digital ARC in exchange for a review)
(i received this as a digital ARC in exchange for a review)
February 24, 2025
I loved everything about this book!!! I can't wait for the second book!!! The plot, the suspense, the enemy to lovers, the feary crystal vibes, its just amazing! Also, I struggle a lot with reading and especially in English, this is my first book I have EVER finished in English and the second book I have read in years!!! I have never read a book so fast in my life! I really enjoyed everything about it! I am so thankful for this beautiful story and world, I cannot wait for the next book!!! I would 100% recommend reading this, especially for dyslexic people like me!!! 💕🧚🏼♀️✨
April 11, 2025
ARC REVIEW🫶🏼
I totally forgot that I had received this arc but am still grateful and will still give my honest review.
This book has an amazing concept, including faeries as well as princes and believe it or not… goblins. I really liked the concept 10/10 and I really liked how the world was described.
In the book, we follow Naria, who is the princess of a burned down kingdom. She is searching for connections/alliances to build her kingdom back up to safe her people currently living in the woods. When the prince of another kingdom does not want to help her rebuild, she goes to seek help in the faery kingdom. This however is not the kindest kingdom known.
I really loved the story development and the ending was amazing. The plottwists were great, there was just very little buildup so it kind of came out of nowhere, which took away from the awesomeness. I did however enjoy the story as a whole. What I did not enjoy where the characters in this book. Not a single character interested me, and the fmc felt so stubborn and dumb to me, it made me annoyed. I also did not really understand Luca and his moodswings. What a weird dude that is. The weirdness in the faerie prince was also a slap in the face to me.
Overall I really liked the story, the characters just made me want to swipe through the book because it had me rolling my eyes and becoming annoyed. That is the reason I give it 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
If you want a fantasy that is heavy on romance, not huge on world building and has very interesting plot characters, than this is the book for you. The characters just weren’t it for me and that is okay, but for me that is important to enjoy a book
I totally forgot that I had received this arc but am still grateful and will still give my honest review.
This book has an amazing concept, including faeries as well as princes and believe it or not… goblins. I really liked the concept 10/10 and I really liked how the world was described.
In the book, we follow Naria, who is the princess of a burned down kingdom. She is searching for connections/alliances to build her kingdom back up to safe her people currently living in the woods. When the prince of another kingdom does not want to help her rebuild, she goes to seek help in the faery kingdom. This however is not the kindest kingdom known.
I really loved the story development and the ending was amazing. The plottwists were great, there was just very little buildup so it kind of came out of nowhere, which took away from the awesomeness. I did however enjoy the story as a whole. What I did not enjoy where the characters in this book. Not a single character interested me, and the fmc felt so stubborn and dumb to me, it made me annoyed. I also did not really understand Luca and his moodswings. What a weird dude that is. The weirdness in the faerie prince was also a slap in the face to me.
Overall I really liked the story, the characters just made me want to swipe through the book because it had me rolling my eyes and becoming annoyed. That is the reason I give it 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
If you want a fantasy that is heavy on romance, not huge on world building and has very interesting plot characters, than this is the book for you. The characters just weren’t it for me and that is okay, but for me that is important to enjoy a book
March 6, 2025
I’m not sure if this is a 2-star or 3-star book. While I loved the first part of the book and the idea in general, the ending was disappointing. Many of the questions I had were never answered. Why did Lukas change his behavior so suddenly? Why did he behave like that in the first place? Why did Naria and Lukas fall in love at the end? The romance felt unclear and forced. As for Arenn, I think the author did him dirty - he seemed normal at first, but then he became a horrible person, and that didn’t make much sense. The main character suddenly started feeling that something was wrong, even though, until the end of the book, he hadn’t done anything wrong except suddenly becoming a jerk just for the sake of the plot. Also, I didn’t understand why Ikelos eventually burned the school if they had made a money deal, and the Fae king and queen seemed too willing to ignore their daughter’s problems. However, I did like the idea of the magic exchange. But the ending felt too rushed. I might read the second book, but I think the story could have been condensed into one book with better writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2024
4★
I'd like to thank the author for offering me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a novel with a fairytale vibe that takes us into a fascinating world, with endearing characters.
Where to start! I'm really impressed that this is Erin Fae's first novel.
First of all, the writing is very enjoyable and addictive: I devoured it because it reads itself so well. I particularly liked the way the author invented new words to fit in with concepts from our world and I didn't notice any typos when I was reading it! I just had so much fun with this whimsical read.
Naria, our heroine, is the face of a typical fairytale princess, but with a modern twist. She knows that she's not the most powerful, that she can make mistakes or be too naive, but she doesn't let herself be beaten and is capable of standing up for herself. It's true that at times, Naria makes some rather... surprising decisions that lead her into dangerous situations. This side of her slightly bothered me but she's far from unbearable. She is courageous and her knowledge of medicine is refreshing to read moreover her loyalty to her kingdom is remarkable and admirable..
Honestly, I saw in her Evangeline from ‘Once Upon A Broken Heart’ , a protagonist I really like, so...
Speaking of Naria, I really enjoyed her friendship with Raena. It's nice to see a real friendship between two women, ready to support and help each other, that lasts over time.
In terms of the plot, the universe is well constructed, and there's a real amount of world-building that's very much appreciated. Unfortunately, I saw quite a few of this novel's plot twists coming quite early on in my reading (which isn't so bad in itself, since that's where I personnally think the charm of fairy tales lies; they may be predictable, but they're always enjoyable). The last 10% of ‘Of Ashes and Wildflowers’ was also a little too rushed for my taste, which left me a little out of the loop of all the chaos... But frankly, I wasn't that disturbed by it.
Finally, regarding the romance!
Well, first of all, I had no idea that this book was a love triangle, and I hate love triangles, so I was pretty apprehensive about this side of the novel. Honestly, it went down very well with me and I can only applaud the author for getting me to accept and not be bothered by it.
I was instantly very intrigued by the character of Lukas, and I immediately noticed that there might be something more to him than just his disparaging remarks. I very much enjoyed his development, although I found him a little too persistent on certain points, but that could be a choice of the authort?
On the other hand, my first impression of Arenn was that he was suspicious (no spoiler, simply my thoughts and feelings). Here again, this character adds a whole new piece to the puzzle of this story, which I certainly like.
In the end I kind of saw them as a division of the character of Cardan of the "Cruel Prince" : Lukas looks like Cardan in his mental side while Arenn looks physically like Cardan, at least according to me.
Oh and little bonus point for the fact that there is the trope "only one horse" which is always a pleasure in a romantasy novel!
And I was also surprised to see that it was a first instalment - I thought it was a stand-alone! I'd love to read the sequel.
All in all, I highly recommend this book, which blew me away for a first novel, and I can't wait to meet these characters again in the sequel.
ps: I just found a small inconsistency between the fact that they say that the vast majority - or even all the inhabitants - of the village of Naria do not have a last name and the fact that Ivy has one at the end (but it can be a misunderstanding on my part). It simply felt a bit odd, I guess ?
I'd like to thank the author for offering me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a novel with a fairytale vibe that takes us into a fascinating world, with endearing characters.
Where to start! I'm really impressed that this is Erin Fae's first novel.
First of all, the writing is very enjoyable and addictive: I devoured it because it reads itself so well. I particularly liked the way the author invented new words to fit in with concepts from our world and I didn't notice any typos when I was reading it! I just had so much fun with this whimsical read.
Naria, our heroine, is the face of a typical fairytale princess, but with a modern twist. She knows that she's not the most powerful, that she can make mistakes or be too naive, but she doesn't let herself be beaten and is capable of standing up for herself. It's true that at times, Naria makes some rather... surprising decisions that lead her into dangerous situations. This side of her slightly bothered me but she's far from unbearable. She is courageous and her knowledge of medicine is refreshing to read moreover her loyalty to her kingdom is remarkable and admirable..
Honestly, I saw in her Evangeline from ‘Once Upon A Broken Heart’ , a protagonist I really like, so...
Speaking of Naria, I really enjoyed her friendship with Raena. It's nice to see a real friendship between two women, ready to support and help each other, that lasts over time.
In terms of the plot, the universe is well constructed, and there's a real amount of world-building that's very much appreciated. Unfortunately, I saw quite a few of this novel's plot twists coming quite early on in my reading (which isn't so bad in itself, since that's where I personnally think the charm of fairy tales lies; they may be predictable, but they're always enjoyable). The last 10% of ‘Of Ashes and Wildflowers’ was also a little too rushed for my taste, which left me a little out of the loop of all the chaos... But frankly, I wasn't that disturbed by it.
Finally, regarding the romance!
Well, first of all, I had no idea that this book was a love triangle, and I hate love triangles, so I was pretty apprehensive about this side of the novel. Honestly, it went down very well with me and I can only applaud the author for getting me to accept and not be bothered by it.
I was instantly very intrigued by the character of Lukas, and I immediately noticed that there might be something more to him than just his disparaging remarks. I very much enjoyed his development, although I found him a little too persistent on certain points, but that could be a choice of the authort?
On the other hand, my first impression of Arenn was that he was suspicious (no spoiler, simply my thoughts and feelings). Here again, this character adds a whole new piece to the puzzle of this story, which I certainly like.
In the end I kind of saw them as a division of the character of Cardan of the "Cruel Prince" : Lukas looks like Cardan in his mental side while Arenn looks physically like Cardan, at least according to me.
Oh and little bonus point for the fact that there is the trope "only one horse" which is always a pleasure in a romantasy novel!
And I was also surprised to see that it was a first instalment - I thought it was a stand-alone! I'd love to read the sequel.
All in all, I highly recommend this book, which blew me away for a first novel, and I can't wait to meet these characters again in the sequel.
ps: I just found a small inconsistency between the fact that they say that the vast majority - or even all the inhabitants - of the village of Naria do not have a last name and the fact that Ivy has one at the end (but it can be a misunderstanding on my part). It simply felt a bit odd, I guess ?
May 26, 2025
The story is great! Quick easy read. The writing and world building, however, was lacking for me😕 But definitely kept me entertained!
June 11, 2024
Of Ashes and Wildflowers is honestly beautiful. Naria's dedication to her kingdom is truly inspiring, and the relationships between the two male love interests—a fae prince and a human prince—are masterfully framed. Initially wary of the fae, I found myself rooting for them, but the ending was perfect and left me eager for more. The world-building is immersive, and the story is an easy, engaging read.
Naria is a refreshing main character, balancing strength and vulnerability. Her friendships are just as important as her romantic relationships, adding depth to her character and the story. This book is a must-read for fantasy lovers!
I received a digital ARC copy in return for an honest review~
Naria is a refreshing main character, balancing strength and vulnerability. Her friendships are just as important as her romantic relationships, adding depth to her character and the story. This book is a must-read for fantasy lovers!
I received a digital ARC copy in return for an honest review~
June 9, 2024
EEEEEeeeEeeeeEkKk!!!!
YOU NEED TO PREORDER THIS BOOK!
Romantasy, fae, two prices vying for our female mc’s hand in marriage.
I am DYING to read more, i could not get enough of this beauty.
YOU NEED TO PREORDER THIS BOOK!
Romantasy, fae, two prices vying for our female mc’s hand in marriage.
I am DYING to read more, i could not get enough of this beauty.
June 15, 2024
I received a digital ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, and so an honest review is what I will give.
I did not particularly enjoy this book. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that I promised to review it, I probably would have DNF'd it. Full respect to Erin who seems lovely, and I enjoy seeing their tiktoks on my FYP. The author's energy is lovely!
The book, on the other hand, just falls a little flat for me. One of my biggest gripes, is that honestly if you switched out physical descriptors and names? I'm not sure if I could keep the two Love Interests apart. They both had the same mercurial nice one moment and then completely off the walls the next type of behaviour. And I'm not saying the book is bad, because the LIs are red flags, far from it, but there's honestly nothing particularly likeable about the main cast.
Someone else mentioned that part of it is probably due to the lack of world building. How we're told how much she loves her people, but we never really see her with her people. We don't get to see that bond, that development. Which might actually be my issue, there's a lot of telling, and not as much showing when it comes to important things like that.
As to the plot, there are things I predicted, and things I did not, but honestly I can't say I found the resolution particularly satisfying. It felt fairly rushed all things considered especially after the slower pace at the beginning of the book. I feel like this would have benefitted significantly from being a much, much longer book. Or perhaps even split up into multiple books with additional sub plots added to flesh out characterization.
That said, perhaps I'm just not the target audience for this book and that's okay. :) I invite you to check the book out for yourself. I've always been a strong proponent of using other people's reviews at guidelines, but not actually letting them shape my consumption of media. There are plenty of things that are disliked by many, that I quite enjoy. So don't let other people's opinions hold you back if it's something you want to read!
I did not particularly enjoy this book. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that I promised to review it, I probably would have DNF'd it. Full respect to Erin who seems lovely, and I enjoy seeing their tiktoks on my FYP. The author's energy is lovely!
The book, on the other hand, just falls a little flat for me. One of my biggest gripes, is that honestly if you switched out physical descriptors and names? I'm not sure if I could keep the two Love Interests apart. They both had the same mercurial nice one moment and then completely off the walls the next type of behaviour. And I'm not saying the book is bad, because the LIs are red flags, far from it, but there's honestly nothing particularly likeable about the main cast.
Someone else mentioned that part of it is probably due to the lack of world building. How we're told how much she loves her people, but we never really see her with her people. We don't get to see that bond, that development. Which might actually be my issue, there's a lot of telling, and not as much showing when it comes to important things like that.
As to the plot, there are things I predicted, and things I did not, but honestly I can't say I found the resolution particularly satisfying. It felt fairly rushed all things considered especially after the slower pace at the beginning of the book. I feel like this would have benefitted significantly from being a much, much longer book. Or perhaps even split up into multiple books with additional sub plots added to flesh out characterization.
That said, perhaps I'm just not the target audience for this book and that's okay. :) I invite you to check the book out for yourself. I've always been a strong proponent of using other people's reviews at guidelines, but not actually letting them shape my consumption of media. There are plenty of things that are disliked by many, that I quite enjoy. So don't let other people's opinions hold you back if it's something you want to read!
June 24, 2024
Of Ashes and Wildflowers by Erin Fae
4/5 ⭐️ 1/5 🌶️
Dedication: “To all my fellow book goblins. Prince Lukas and Prince Arenn cannot wait to meet you…”
I received this as an arc but this review is all my own. Thank you so much Erin Fae for sending me this!
I want to start it by saying from someone who has severe anxiety it’s so great seeing that representation in a book especially a Fantasy / Romantasy book since those genres are my absolute favorite.
I loved the world building in this book but u definitely would have loved to learn more about it. If I didn’t tell myself to slow down I would have read this in one sitting since it was an easy uncomplicated read and the vibes WERE VIBING 💜. I felt like the pace overall was good but there were times where the writing felt slightly rushed even for a fast paced book like this.
Overall a GREAT debut novel for a self published author. A lot of hard work and love went into this and I can see that. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as anything else Erin Fae puts out.
4/5 ⭐️ 1/5 🌶️
Dedication: “To all my fellow book goblins. Prince Lukas and Prince Arenn cannot wait to meet you…”
I received this as an arc but this review is all my own. Thank you so much Erin Fae for sending me this!
I want to start it by saying from someone who has severe anxiety it’s so great seeing that representation in a book especially a Fantasy / Romantasy book since those genres are my absolute favorite.
I loved the world building in this book but u definitely would have loved to learn more about it. If I didn’t tell myself to slow down I would have read this in one sitting since it was an easy uncomplicated read and the vibes WERE VIBING 💜. I felt like the pace overall was good but there were times where the writing felt slightly rushed even for a fast paced book like this.
Overall a GREAT debut novel for a self published author. A lot of hard work and love went into this and I can see that. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as anything else Erin Fae puts out.
June 13, 2024
I got this as an ARC cause the author mentioned fae and you know that means I’m down! The story has so much to offer from a very tragic beginning. Which adds a lot to the story to a main character who is quite literally such a powerhouse. I loved the waymedicine was written in this.
As for the MMC I really needed some time to warm up to him but after a while he had me on his team.
I would have loved for the world to feel a little more elaborate and bigger. And I would have loved the book to be longer so we could have dived deeper in the story cause it all felt like it was happening too fast sometimes. But would absolutely recommend this book!
As for the MMC I really needed some time to warm up to him but after a while he had me on his team.
I would have loved for the world to feel a little more elaborate and bigger. And I would have loved the book to be longer so we could have dived deeper in the story cause it all felt like it was happening too fast sometimes. But would absolutely recommend this book!
July 5, 2024
I probably could’ve finished this in one sitting if I had the time! Great world building and very interesting characters. It occasionally read a bit on the young side and I think my teen self would’ve ate this up! I also felt like I had whiplash from some of the characters, I definitely changed my mind about a few characters as the story progressed. The last half of the book seemed to move a lot quicker than the beginning and some of the story was predictable but there were also some things that I did not see coming. The ending had me like 🤯 I am excited to see where the story goes from here!
June 12, 2024
I read this book while procrastinating on multiple deadlines, and I must say, this book is absolutely perfect for it. I read it in two sittings (because I did have to sleep in between) and couldn't put it down. It is a very much enjoyable story and I'd recommend it to anyone who is in need for a little bit of relaxation at the end (or start) of their day.
However, there were some things that bothered me. Like many tales that are written surrounding the fae, the relationships are toxic at best. The reader is never really introduced to the main character, which creates a habit of things feeling "out of character" purely because we don't know who she is outside of stressful situations. Additionally, her actions seemed illogical to me at times,like when she suddenly appeared to be a gold digger.
While we learn beforehand that this character cannot function without her anxiety powder, we don't see her using it on herself and she prefers to down multiple goblets of wine instead. Other outside of these social situations where she is anxious (same girl) she is a relatively confident character with a few shaky limbs here and there. She is said to be a healer, and while we are being told that she makes special powders, we only see her applying basic first aid skills.
Regarding the writing, I wouldn't say that it is amazing, but it makes do. Some scenes feel rushed. All the revelations are made through dialogue, which means there isn't that much actual proof provided. There is some foreshadowing in the book, but the ending is was confusing and sudden to me. Like the main character, I didn't feel like we truly got to know these characters.
Concluding, it was a fun book, very suitable for escapism, but not a masterpiece. I do very much look forward to reading more from this author and I hope to see her grow in her work, because I do think she is capable of it
I was gifted this book in exchange for a honest review, thank you dear Erin Fae!
However, there were some things that bothered me. Like many tales that are written surrounding the fae, the relationships are toxic at best. The reader is never really introduced to the main character, which creates a habit of things feeling "out of character" purely because we don't know who she is outside of stressful situations. Additionally, her actions seemed illogical to me at times,
While we learn beforehand that this character cannot function without her anxiety powder, we don't see her using it on herself and she prefers to down multiple goblets of wine instead. Other outside of these social situations where she is anxious (same girl) she is a relatively confident character with a few shaky limbs here and there. She is said to be a healer, and while we are being told that she makes special powders, we only see her applying basic first aid skills.
Regarding the writing, I wouldn't say that it is amazing, but it makes do. Some scenes feel rushed. All the revelations are made through dialogue, which means there isn't that much actual proof provided. There is some foreshadowing in the book, but the ending is was confusing and sudden to me. Like the main character, I didn't feel like we truly got to know these characters.
Concluding, it was a fun book, very suitable for escapism, but not a masterpiece. I do very much look forward to reading more from this author and I hope to see her grow in her work, because I do think she is capable of it
I was gifted this book in exchange for a honest review, thank you dear Erin Fae!
June 19, 2024
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review so here it is!
This is a very easy read fantasy romance that I enjoyed a lot. The writing draws you in quickly and was overall an enjoyable experience. The cliffhanger ending makes me guess there’s another book and I will definitely be reading it once it’s released! Overall I think this is a book worth reading.
There were a couple of things I had issues with, the main one being I didn’t think the book was long enough! I felt like there was quite a lack of getting to know the main character, as others have mentioned, we’re told she loves her kingdom very much but never get to see that in action and I think that’s a common theme throughout the book. At one point she is choosing between two purple dresses but we never get to find out anything more than that.
A character very willing gives her a lot of information very quickly without any suspicion, and then happily allows that information to be told to another character and that just didn’t make sense to me. She becomes best friends with a lady in her court within a week of knowing her but we don’t get to see much of that connection. Everyone just seems to trust everyone else at face value. I think there could have been more depth and description to most of the book, I like to be able to picture things and get into the nitty gritty of the detail.
Overall a great quick easy romance book that it well worth a read!
This is a very easy read fantasy romance that I enjoyed a lot. The writing draws you in quickly and was overall an enjoyable experience. The cliffhanger ending makes me guess there’s another book and I will definitely be reading it once it’s released! Overall I think this is a book worth reading.
There were a couple of things I had issues with, the main one being I didn’t think the book was long enough! I felt like there was quite a lack of getting to know the main character, as others have mentioned, we’re told she loves her kingdom very much but never get to see that in action and I think that’s a common theme throughout the book. At one point she is choosing between two purple dresses but we never get to find out anything more than that.
A character very willing gives her a lot of information very quickly without any suspicion, and then happily allows that information to be told to another character and that just didn’t make sense to me. She becomes best friends with a lady in her court within a week of knowing her but we don’t get to see much of that connection. Everyone just seems to trust everyone else at face value. I think there could have been more depth and description to most of the book, I like to be able to picture things and get into the nitty gritty of the detail.
Overall a great quick easy romance book that it well worth a read!
June 24, 2024
For a debut novel, independently published, I am very impressed.
This book was incredibly wholesome, and there were moments I was smiling so much my cheeks hurt.
I read a lot of dark romantasy, so to have a little bit of sugar as opposed to spice was an adjustment for me but I really enjoyed it.
There were definitely some darker moments, but I found these to be tastefully addressed.
Because I am so used to smart arse sass machines it took me a little while to adjust to Naria, but the different take on a fantasy FMC was refreshing and unique.
The twist at the end of the book caught me by surprise as well!
A couple of things - some of the dialogue was a little bit much (sometimes it's better to show rather than tell, and the author does this quite well in areas - I liked how Naria's anxious tell was described with her rubbing her clothes, and this was so effective it could have been used elsewhere). Secondly, I can clearly tell that Erin has got a lot of love for her characters which is valid, but this meant that problems they faced were easily solved, almost as if she didn't want them to suffer. I understand this, and absolutely I'm down for a HEA, but making them work for it would really elevate this. Maybe I'm a sadist, I'm not sure😂 It was from about page 100 that I really started to get engrossed, and I'm glad I kept reading.
I've been looking forward to this book since Erin's TikTok came up on my fyp, and I pre-ordered the minute she announced its kindle release. I'm so pleased to say it was worth it and I wasn't disappointed.
I look forward to the next installment!
This book was incredibly wholesome, and there were moments I was smiling so much my cheeks hurt.
I read a lot of dark romantasy, so to have a little bit of sugar as opposed to spice was an adjustment for me but I really enjoyed it.
There were definitely some darker moments, but I found these to be tastefully addressed.
Because I am so used to smart arse sass machines it took me a little while to adjust to Naria, but the different take on a fantasy FMC was refreshing and unique.
The twist at the end of the book caught me by surprise as well!
A couple of things - some of the dialogue was a little bit much (sometimes it's better to show rather than tell, and the author does this quite well in areas - I liked how Naria's anxious tell was described with her rubbing her clothes, and this was so effective it could have been used elsewhere). Secondly, I can clearly tell that Erin has got a lot of love for her characters which is valid, but this meant that problems they faced were easily solved, almost as if she didn't want them to suffer. I understand this, and absolutely I'm down for a HEA, but making them work for it would really elevate this. Maybe I'm a sadist, I'm not sure😂 It was from about page 100 that I really started to get engrossed, and I'm glad I kept reading.
I've been looking forward to this book since Erin's TikTok came up on my fyp, and I pre-ordered the minute she announced its kindle release. I'm so pleased to say it was worth it and I wasn't disappointed.
I look forward to the next installment!
June 9, 2024
I received a digitial copy of this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review and well… i give this book a solid 4.75 stars!!
I absolutely fell in love with this world & really just appreciated how every character was so fleshed out and as if they all have their own back stories, rather than feeling flat and only added in for the plot. I also adored the friendships in this book, not just the romance aspect (which is a WHOLE thing in itself I am a mess and don’t even know who i’m rooting for anymore - the two princes are written PERFECTLY)
There were so many points where I thought i’d figured out the next plot twist… but i literally didn’t have anything figured out!
I truly can’t wait to read more of this series and can confidently say I will be purchasing this physical book & anything else Erin publishes in the future (i love your writing style!!)
I absolutely fell in love with this world & really just appreciated how every character was so fleshed out and as if they all have their own back stories, rather than feeling flat and only added in for the plot. I also adored the friendships in this book, not just the romance aspect (which is a WHOLE thing in itself I am a mess and don’t even know who i’m rooting for anymore - the two princes are written PERFECTLY)
There were so many points where I thought i’d figured out the next plot twist… but i literally didn’t have anything figured out!
I truly can’t wait to read more of this series and can confidently say I will be purchasing this physical book & anything else Erin publishes in the future (i love your writing style!!)
June 10, 2024
Of Ashes and Wildflowers feels like reading a classic romantic fairytale with some modern flair. It is a departure from a lot of modern fantasy romance. Instead of grit, you get whimsey (which I appreciate). The witty banter between love interests is excellent, Naria has a distinct voice/personality, and you really don't know who the endgame couple will be. The world Erin Fae has created is different from anything I have read so far, and I look forward to her future novels. Without giving spoilers, I am excited to see where Naria's story goes and dive deeper into the characters in future novels. After it launches, I look forward to having shipping discussions!
I received an ARC to give my honest review ahead of the launch.
I received an ARC to give my honest review ahead of the launch.
May 21, 2025
It was…okay. I enjoyed the world it was set in (although I’d have liked a bit more world and character building) and it did entice me to know which prince was going to end up being the better person/match. I flip flopped on who I liked best throughout the story. I just don’t think this was the book for me is all. But I’m interested in reading the second book to see if that packs a bit more excitement and mystery (the mermaids are enticing)! I’m not sure how I feel about any of the characters though…
June 5, 2024
This book was such a breath of fresh air! If you've read any of my romantasy reviews, you know my biggest complaint is usually that female friendships fall by the wayside after just a few chapters. But Erin created a wonderful friendship that lasts the entire book and is integral to the plot! The other female characters are also vital to the story--perhaps even more so than the two princes.
Naria, the main character, is wonderful: strong, determined, compassionate, and willing to learn from her mistakes. And her newfound friend, Raena, is equally brave and kind.
Erin excels at worldbuilding, and her descriptions really brought each setting to life. Her invention of terms, like "mindjarring" for a concussion or "heartflow restoration" for CPR, really made me feel like I was in another world.
If you're in the mood for a fast-paced romantasy full of mysteries, and faeries, goblins, and even mermaids, definitely pick up this book when it comes out on June 21! Plus, it looks like there'll be a sequel at some point!
Thank you to the author for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Naria, the main character, is wonderful: strong, determined, compassionate, and willing to learn from her mistakes. And her newfound friend, Raena, is equally brave and kind.
Erin excels at worldbuilding, and her descriptions really brought each setting to life. Her invention of terms, like "mindjarring" for a concussion or "heartflow restoration" for CPR, really made me feel like I was in another world.
If you're in the mood for a fast-paced romantasy full of mysteries, and faeries, goblins, and even mermaids, definitely pick up this book when it comes out on June 21! Plus, it looks like there'll be a sequel at some point!
Thank you to the author for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2024
I received a digital ARC in exchange for honest review and here it is.
Lovely magical story with twist and turns that gives your mixed feelings of the love triangle between Naria and the princes. You get to little fall in love and fall out of love with the characters.
This book is very well written and so easy to read even when english isn't your first language. I had really hard time pausing my reading because the story just took me away and got more and more interesting when you get further in the story.
I still give this 4/5 stars but that is just because I thought that the part with the part mermaid baby didn't give really anything too important for the story. It was little strange mention in otherwise beautiful story.
Lovely magical story with twist and turns that gives your mixed feelings of the love triangle between Naria and the princes. You get to little fall in love and fall out of love with the characters.
This book is very well written and so easy to read even when english isn't your first language. I had really hard time pausing my reading because the story just took me away and got more and more interesting when you get further in the story.
I still give this 4/5 stars but that is just because I thought that the part with the part mermaid baby didn't give really anything too important for the story. It was little strange mention in otherwise beautiful story.
September 23, 2025
It was a decent book but I think I would’ve liked it better a few years ago when I wasn’t as into high fantasy. It was realistic but also with fae, the plot was interesting and unexpected but I didn’t get into it until the last few chapters. Not knowing which love interest was right should’ve been fun but it wasn’t bc she made them both bad. Again not a bad book but it didn’t hold my attention or give me the high stakes plot I needed.
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